[OPEN] earth rumble yeaaaaa

[barefootbender]

Date & Time: Monday, March 18, 2:00 pm
Location: a small open area wedged between buildings just outside the Hold.
Characters: Toph Beifong (barefootbender) and you!
Summary: There was quite a lot of interest in Toph's earthbending, and she isn't going to pass up a chance to show off to everyone! Toph puts out a message to the network telling people where to go if they want to see (or if they wanna challenge her!), and everyone is invited. Snarkiness, blind jokes and amazing earthkaratemagic ensue. (Either prose or brackets are fine.)
Warnings: none anticipated


[Around lunchtime on March 18, the following video message is posted to the network:]

HELLO, fellow Transports! Today's your lucky day! I, Toph Beifong, greatest earthbending master who ever lived, teacher of Avatar Aang, have decided to take out some time to display my talent for the curious. I know some of you that I talked to a coupla weeks ago wanted to see, so here's your chance.

And more specifically... I'm gonna take some challengers! So if you think you can take me on, let's go! I'd like to see you try.

[The camera swings away from her face and down at the floor, where there's an incredibly intricate and detailed model of the streets outside of the hold, that appears to be made out of rock. A little stone figure of Toph is standing in an open area about 5 minutes away from the apartments.]

I found a little bit of space, so come to this spot. I'll be ready at about 2 pm.

A.

Toph told everyone 2 pm because she wanted a little time to get this area ready. It's actually pretty small, so it's really not ideal for the kind of enormous show she'd like to put on for everyone, but it'll do. As far as she can tell through her feet, this city stretches on for miles and miles and miles. It's amazing, really - even bigger than Ba Sing Se, and Ba Sing Se was enormous - and unlike Ba Sing Se, the earth below is almost entirely covered in rock and metal over that entire expanse of city. It's pretty crazy, this future stuff.

If you get there early enough, or maybe if you just happen to come across her, you'll find her lounging on the ground eating instant ramen out of a styrofoam cup, or squashing back down her "map," or clearing out chunks of broken asphalt and cinder block by sending them to the tops of the surrounding buildings with a swipe of her fist. She seems pretty focused on these little tasks.

B.

At 2 pm, whether people are there or not, she's ready. It's time for some exercise after sitting around for two weeks. She stretches, does some push ups and sit ups, and finally plants her feet flat on the ground. Thrusting her arms forward, a sheet of rock suddenly sprouts from the ground, and she turns about 30 degrees and does it again, until there's a ring around her.

Whether you just want her to show you some tricks, or you want to challenge her, it's best to just walk up and announce yourself!

...Otherwise you might get a sidelong, suspicious glance from her as she waits for you to say something, especially if you're a stranger or someone she's never met in person.

Comments

A

[priad]

A metal clad giant watches her, the only sound the buzzing of his powered armor as he shifts slightly, watching her motions. Eventually, he clumps heavily towards her, and rumbles in a voice a little too deep to be entirely human.

"I'll confess to being curious as to what you're about."

That's about all she gets as a greeting, the gunmetal figure looking her up and down thoughtfully. Mostly, Priad is just curious what the tiny little girl will do.

A.

[innominata]

[ The girl watches Toph toss the rubble away for a moment before speaking up. ]

How do you do that?

[barefootbender]

Thankfully for this big metal guy, Toph is already aware of the existence of enormous metal people - you can thank a certain Transformer for that. That fact, that's who she thinks it is when she senses him approaching from yards and yards away down the street.

But when he talks and it's not the same voice, it makes her stop and look at him. Even though she can't see, her expression of surprise isn't any different, eyes wide and eyebrows up.

"Huh? There are more of you??"

But he's kinda different from Wing. He's not entirely made out of metal. Her surprise twists into confusion as she listens for him to explain himself.

Re: A.

[barefootbender]

[looks like she nabbed the attention of a passerby. Toph hurls another chunk up before turning towards the voice and dusting her hands off.]

Earthbending. Man, nobody knows about bending here, do they.

[innominata]

That doesn't look like any sort of bending.

[priad]

"More of my kind? No, I am the only Space Marine in this place." He shakes his head, opening and closing his hand, which is accompanied by more metallic whirring.

Indeed he is not the same as Wing, Priad is mostly flesh beneath his armor, with no major augmetic replacement parts. He's posthuman, but still... human enough, for an 8 foot tall being.

"I've heard briefly about bending before. From a... student of mine, you might say. But I haven't se..." He notices her eyes, and says in a softer voice, "I haven't observed it."

[barefootbender]

[Toph doesn't get what he means at all, and he's still sounds more like Wing than an actual person. But she does pick up on that awkwardly avoided usage of the word "see." Well, at least he's trying to be considerate, even if he basically failed at it.

Smiling sarcastically, she crosses her arms and turns her body so she's facing him.]

That's funny. I've never observed it either!

[barefootbender]

[duh. jeez. maybe this one's a local and not a transport.]

Not literal bending, that's just what it's called. Well, I guess in the case of metal I could actually bend that.

[innominata]

Than mayhaps you ought to call it by what it is.

[priad]

Priad grunts. "I understand. Well, as I said, I was curious, and I've been impolite. I am Priad of Ithaka, of the Iron Snakes."

He hunches slightly, focusing on her as she turns around, his booted feet pushing a little into the soil.

"Why are you taking challengers?"

[barefootbender]

....uh-huh. [sucks her teeth.] And what would that be, exactly, miss expert?

[innominata]

Shouldn't you know considering you're the one doing it? Or do you need someone to give you all the answers?

[barefootbender]

[the tiny vibrations from him moving his feet his feet light him up like he's a Christmas tree. Yes, she can tell now that he's mostly a person, just an enormous person and covered in a lot of metal.

She unfolds her arms to give him a shrug, dismissing the impoliteness. whatevs, metal guy, it's cool.]

Oh, I see you heard my message, huh? Basically, I'm bored to death and I need some exercise. You wanna go?

[barefootbender]

You'd think I would know, but apparently I'm too just stupid to use a more adequate word than the thousands-of-years-old term for it. So clearly I gotta defer to you and your superior understanding on this one.

[priad]

Yes, I did. What sort of exercise are you proposing? [ Priad flexes his lightning claw briefly, letting a bit of energy pulse into the oversized fist and clawtips in order to "wake it up", already suspecting what she has in mind ]

[innominata]

[ Dryly: ] At least you're aware of your limitations.

[barefootbender]

[oh, what is that. she hears it and she kinda feels it. getting firebender vibes now.]

Well, just what it sounds like, some one-on-one friendly sparring. But, uh... don't take this the wrong way, but I dunno if it would be very fair for me to fight you.

[barefootbender]

.....right.

[What a total weirdo. Toph rolls her eyes and turns away from her, planting her feet and sending another chunk of cement up into the air.]

Well? I'm waiting to hear your wisdom.

[innominata]

Aren't you too stupid for it?

[priad]

[ Priad nods his head, and she can almost feel his amusement from a change in balance. This guy is a warrior, no play-acting in him whatsoever, from his stance. ]

As in: you're afraid of defeating me so soundly I'd weep? [ He laughs, the sound less metallic than his other vocalizations. ]

It wouldn't be the first time a person of your age has bested me. Perhaps after this I'll tell you about the cheese run, how I was beaten, and how I beat Veii squad when I was your age.

A

[chore_boy]

Coby had always been one to appreciate exhibitions--there had always been a few Marines inspired to fight with one another for the sake of petty things and important things alike. Duels were not uncommon, especially not if even Admirals could partake in them. He stood out and watched Toph clear the area for her ring, adjusting the set of his saber so he could get into the habit of feeling it out.

Given her abilities, he wasn't certain how many people would actually be able to trump her. Whatever Devil Fruit she ate, he was certain it was a paramecia, though. His needless jargon and terminology would be vastly appreciated by only a handful of people.

[barefootbender]

[...that sounds like a pretty cool story. But FOCUS, TOPH. At least for once he's not outright dismissing her for being a kid, there weren't a lot of times older guy types like this ever didn't.]

Not to toot my own horn here, but that's exactly what I'm worried about. [crosses her arms.] You seem to be mostly a regular person, but it sounds like you're basically glued into that suit you're wearing. If I was really giving it my all, I could smoosh you in your own armor.

[priad]

You probably could. [ Priad cedes easily. ]

But people who try to smash me in my armor generally have other concerns. Ones I won't bring to the table here because, well, you're trying to get exercise.

[ He makes a show of setting his boltgun down on the ground. It is a huge, metallic object that weighs more than Toph does. ]

I don't have pride, except that which I get from being a son of Ithaka, and an Iron Snake, and you cannot break that.

As for being mostly regular, well, we shall see, won't we?

[ He unslings a huge pole from across his back, and removes a barbed lance tip from the end of it, making it into a 9 foot long pole that looks suitable for thumping people. He holds it in one hand, the other still crackling with energy from his lightning claw. ]

Let's give each other an objective, eh? You knock my helm off, it is a win for you. I knock your hat off, I have the victory.

[barefootbender]

No, I'm pretty sure it's you nitpicking something pointless just to be annoying.

[toss rock, toss rock, toss rock. Toph doesn't intend to waste a whole lot more time with this person.]

[barefootbender]

Toph is busy pacing around in a half-squat stance, her footsteps slowly flattening the ground around her as she walked, when she calls out to the creepy guy silently watching her for the past few minutes.

"You gonna say anything, swordman?"