Nine

[pendantry]

[It's moving day.

It took her a while to think about it, and another while to really decide, but after more than enough talking to herself on the matter, Raven is moving out of building two and into an empty room in Leon's house. Maybe they aren't family anymore; it doesn't matter, Raven is sick of living so completely alone, with an empty floor and emptiness all above her, too.

Maybe she isn't so thrilled to have Sokka and Ikki's noisy house as close neighbors...but maybe she's also kind of glad for it. For the closeness of people she can pretend to teeter on the edge of trusting. Kyle will also be closer to Soren and she thinks that'll do her good.

She didn't think to warn Leon of any of this beyond a short message this morning, so at least the first part of her day involves a long walk carrying a few packed boxes. Kyle follows along behind, half-carrying a drawstring bag of things - it's not a very heavy bag, she's just being lackluster about it. It is a distance to house 59 and Raven keeps turning around to offer encouragement.]

You like Leon. It'll be okay. [Never mind all of her own private apprehension. As she passes through the plaza she looks at Slash 'n' Crash with a sigh, wondering if they found her note about being busy with moving and coming to work late.

Once Leon's sorted out her moving issues, though, she walks through the smithy door looking...content. Maybe smiling. Depends on who's in there.]

Comments

[markofthewise]

[Sokka slides off the top box again and frowns. He feels ridiculous carrying so little compared to her.]

... there.

[pendantry]

Why do you look like that? ...Everyone looks like that when they try to carry these for me.

[markofthewise]

Well, you know, it doesn't feel like helping just carrying one box.

[pendantry]

I don't have very much to move. [Half of her life is spent in the smithy - more than half - and nothing needs to come from there.] You can come back to the apartment and get other things if you want.

[markofthewise]

[A shrug.] Works for me. So... I guess you and Leon are pretty close, huh?

[pendantry]

I guess. We thought we were family. [Even before the invasion, though, she had not disliked him, had felt a kind of companionship while talking to him.] I...think we're friends.

[markofthewise]

[He nods approvingly.]

Good. Me and Winry were thinking of asking him to join us full time.

[pendantry]

Really?

[Raven starts walking again, with Kyle following along behind.]

What about Asami?

[markofthewise]

Her too. And we'll hire someone new! You know. For actual weapons. So I'm not the only one. We'll have interviews.

[pendantry]

What are interviews? I don't think anybody else here knows how to make weapons.

[For a moment, she aches for Gaius's steady presence.]

It could get crowded.

[markofthewise]

You know. A way of making sure a worker at the smithy has what it takes to be part of the team. They have the skills and what it takes to interact with the team.

[Crowded he's not worried about. They'll just do shifts or something.]

[pendantry]

Did you...make me do that? [And if so, how did he accept her? Skills, sure, but interacting?]

[markofthewise]

Not... really? This interviewing thing is kind of a new process.

[pendantry]

[A shrug. He's the boss. Maybe she won't have to participate in things based in interaction.]

Where did you get the idea?

[markofthewise]

Winry. She's been promoted to co-owner.

[... as an fyi. Things Raven should know now.]

[pendantry]

Oh. I didn't know.

[But she does now. It's a little weird, but good that Sokka and Winry made up enough to be...both her bosses together.]

Then you two have to agree on new people?

[markofthewise]

[There could never be too many bosses. Especially when Sokka was one of them.]

More or less. But your input would be good, too. I mean, if there's someone you happen to hate? We won't even let them get in the door.

[He may have had his issues with Raphael, but even back then, he was that way. When Jay and Raphael formed a rivalry, Sokka wouldn't let Jay into the shop.]

[pendantry]

[It takes too much effort to hate most people. Only if they're cruel to animals or monsters does she really have negative emotions about them.]

My feelings shouldn't keep business away anyway.

[markofthewise]

Well it's not exactly like we're trying to drive a profit.

[He lets his feelings get in the way of business all the time. Like feeling like he needs a nap instead of working.]

[pendantry]

[People talk. Burdened by her boxes of stuff, Raven's shrug is less pronounced than it would be usually.

Then she looks around her stack again, tilting her head in his direction.]

Are you okay, Sokka?

[markofthewise]

I'm fine? Why would I not be fine?

[In fact, he was more or less fine. There was baggage, to be sure. But right now, he was as close to normal as he had been.]

[pendantry]

[Face reddening, Raven looks back at her box stack with all the determination she can summon.]

I just wanted to know.

[markofthewise]

[Maybe it's what's not being said that is at the heart here. So he tries to read between the lines.

And cleverly asks:] Are you okay?

[pendantry]

Yes. [She's better than she has been in a while, too. The 'showing recognizable concern for others' thing is just something she needs to work on.]

I think...I'll like this house.

[markofthewise]

[Well, by now, they're probably IN the house. Setting things down.]

Seems as good as any place. And hey, Leon is quiet. Like you. Which should make it very... peaceful? [Boring.]