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Post by iphigenia on Jan 27, 2010 5:33:33 GMT -5
"Don't worry about it, everyone needs help sometime and you've certainly done more in your condition then anyone else probably could have." She gingerly, but quite easily picked up Toph and began lightly jogging down the road. She was careful not to hold her too tightly, but tight enough so that she would not be jostled around too much. Then she focused on keeping the steady rhythm of her running. Following the advice of one of the mages who had instructed her. Keeping a steady beat was required, following the music that you set for yourself. She kept that beat, feet pounding but never losing a single step. Her breathing began to steady itself, in four steps and out four steps. All the while, their destination was growing closer.
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Post by Toph Bei Fong on Jan 27, 2010 6:47:20 GMT -5
Toph was self aware enough to realize her problem with accepting Iphie's help most likely steamed from when her parents never allowed her to do anything for herself. Since then she's won tournaments, fought in a war, traveled the countryside with nothing to her name but her wits, staff and bending. But the frist time someone tries to help her out, she suddenly that five year old in a petticoat and braids that wasn't even allowed to leave her house.
It wasn't fair to Iphie to be pissed off at her. This was entirely her own issue. So she tried to let it go.
Compared to the Earth Wave, the jostling Toph experienced in Iphie's arms were so slight that she barely noticed. This gave her time to try let go of this stupid irrational problem she was having. It was hard, and made harder by the fact that, now that her feet weren't touching the ground, she was totally blind.
Not her fault. She still doesn't know. Toph thought. She took a deep breath. Let go of the anger.
It was hard. Her legs still hurt
Who's fault is that? she asked herself. Let go of the anger.
Finally Toph relaxed, as much as he could with her arms around Iphie's shoulders She felt way to thin to Toph, whose senses were so starved for input they fixated on what they could feel. I wonder if a decent meal would begin to pay her back.
The, a curious thought hit her. She truned her head so that she was facing where she was reasonably sure Iphie's face would be.
I owe this woman everything.
Toph tensed up in Iphie's arms.
Well at least she wasn't angry anymore.
Now she was terrified.
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Post by iphigenia on Jan 27, 2010 6:57:26 GMT -5
Iphie felt her tense up and start to move. It pushed its way past the rhythm she had built up and she began to slow down slightly. Then she focused on moving her arms around Toph so that she could be more comfortable or whatever it was she wanted. It was tricky enough to keep a grip on a person even if they weren't struggling. The maneuvering brought her closer, almost cradling Toph to her chest. Not that it bothered Iphie at the moment. She was still half lost in the rhythm of her feet.
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Post by Toph Bei Fong on Jan 27, 2010 7:15:52 GMT -5
Toph felt herself being pulled closer, and for a second, seriously considered pushing away. The impulse was sudden and immediate like a reflex. She stopped herself, but it was a near thing.
Her face was growing hot again. This was stupid. She was being stupid. Iphigenia was probably just getting a better grip on her. Toph's weight might have been nothing for whatever special power she had, but she was a lot taller than Iphie, so it had to be tricky to balance that weight in her arms. Especially when said weight was not cooperating and moving around.
Toph stopped moving, save for her toes, which were bunching and unbunching vainly seeking soil to 'see' with. Her face was still pointed in the direction of Iphie's. It did not occur to her that this could be mistaken for staring.
"Are we almost there?" she asked, and silently cursed herself. Her voice was all wrong, it sounded soft and meek. This whole thing was going wrong.. Just because she saved her life was no reason for Toph to...
To what?
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Post by iphigenia on Jan 27, 2010 7:29:42 GMT -5
"We're close enough." Iphie said offhandedly. Something pulled at her subconscious, telling her she'd missed something important but with the beat going it was lost somewhere. Though it wasn't entirely missed. She's a dirt wizard and she wasn't wearing shoes. The thoughts flowed quickly through her mind. She likes the feel of the ground. I'm carrying her so she isn't touching the ground. Iphie slowed down and knelt suddenly. resting half of Toph on her knee her left hand swung down and scraped out a chunk of dirt about the size of her fist. "Here, hold this, it should calm you down a bit." She handed over the dirt clod, of course the kneeling action had brought their faces within inches of each other. Iphie was distracted trying to make Toph feel better and stop squirming to take much note of it. Iphie then slid her hand back under Toph and began running again, continuing the beat.
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Post by Toph Bei Fong on Jan 27, 2010 7:50:34 GMT -5
Toph held this small clod of earth tightly in her hand. This was supposed to make her feel better? Of all the --
Ah, who was she kidding? It worked.
When Iphie had slowed down, then knelt, the blind eartbender did not know what to expect. Iphie as very close; she could feel her breath on her face. It made her head spin, and for a about a heartbeat's span of time... she thought...
She nearly missed the earth as it was dropped in her hand, but once she felt it... damn if it didn't center her some. Her feet stopped flexing, and her mind stopped wandering down paths it need not take. She had something to 'look' at with her earthsight, and so look at she did. She gripped it tightly, careful to keep the rest of her body still. It bent in her hand, responding to her power. Its assumed the shape of a star, then a tiny pyramid, then a cube, then a heart, then a ball...
The most basic of basic earth bending. It was what was taught to toddlers with the gift in her homeland.
Now I'm being carried like a baby as I play a baby's game, Toph thought. Yet the anger didn't come this time.
"Thanks. I needed that," she said in that same soft voice. Ugh! What is with me today?
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Post by iphigenia on Jan 27, 2010 7:58:10 GMT -5
"Glad to help. Figured it might do a little something." She said as she ran. "I suppose it's not the full on grassy plains but sometimes it's nice to keep a little bit of your roots along with you." She bit her lip when she said this. What a stupid thing to say, especially for her. She, who had burned every bridge back home and had done it happily. Some roots were buried much deeper than others, and some, once pulled, never grew back.
As they approached the city they passed by slow moving wagons and the odd group of travelers. Traffic along the road was picking up and Iphie was forced to slow down. After a few more minutes of slowing she completely stopped again, realizing something. "Hey, do you think you can walk. I can keep carrying you if you want but if you'd like to enter the city by your own two legs I understand."
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Post by Toph Bei Fong on Jan 27, 2010 8:14:01 GMT -5
Toph's smirk finally reappeared as Iphie stopped running. "I think i can manage from here."
She slid down from Iphigenia's arms, and onto her feet. The word suddenly leaped back into existence around her, and she sisghed with relief. Her right leg still quivered a little under her, so she reached for her bracelet and reformed her staff, shortening into into a walking stick. The dirt clod she bent and fitted onto the head on her new walking stick. She had not realized that the last form she had make it assume was that of a heart.
"I need food, a bath, some ale, and a man. Maybe in that order, I haven't deiced yet," She said with a laugh as she they headed into the city. "It not everyday that you come within a hummingbirds heartbeat from dying, time to live it up! Anactoria will still be missing tomorrow. How about you, Lil' Bit?"
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Post by iphigenia on Jan 27, 2010 8:32:53 GMT -5
"Well finding a man might seriously damage my chances at meeting the princess, but I'll join you for the food, bath, and ale. I suppose I should start looking for a new wardrobe too." The small freudian slip about the bath completely went over her head. "It's times like this I wish I still slept. Nothing like a long rest after a longer journey." She smiled flashing her teeth, probably for the first time since she had left the temple. Everything was so nice here, the sights and sounds were almost overwhelming for the slightly cloistered life of Iphie. Everywhere she turned was a new sight to see. People of other races, species, and walks of life passed by. Maybe when she was free she'd forget about wandering the world. If she stayed here the world would just pass by.
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Post by Toph Bei Fong on Jan 28, 2010 1:27:37 GMT -5
Toph missed a step when Iphie mentioned joining her for a bath. She was glad she could blame it on her wakened legs.
Is she... flirting with me? Toph asked herslef. She had not sensed any change in Iphigenia heart rate of breath to suggest a proposition or even excitement. If anything, she felt more calm than she had been in the cave... more relaxed somehow.
"Yeah, you still haven't told me if you cant sleep or if you don't sleep," said Toph, teasing. "Cause, there is a difference you know."
Toph blew at her bangs again. "I do know this bathhouse here were we can get three of the things on our list, and you don't have to worry about men. They even have a small boutique next to it for you to find some clothes. Its not far from the castle either. "Course if you'd rather make your own way now that you're finally here I'll understand..."
Toph was not entirely sure which option she was most looking forward to.
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Post by iphigenia on Jan 28, 2010 1:39:14 GMT -5
"Well I don't think we should split up quite yet. I'd like to make sure you really are ok before I cut you loose. After all, I'm not a doctor and you might want to have a professional check you over." Her eyes continued to flit around toward every movement and bright color. "Besides, you seem like you know your way around and I'm definitely out of my element. So I think I'd enjoy your company at least a while longer." She smiled at Toph, the possibility of escaping her past seemed real now that she was here. It felt like a heavy load had lightened. "I don't sleep, I've tried it but I usually just zone out a bit. Not exactly restful." She shrugged rather nonchalantly as Toph led them off to the bathhouse she had mentioned.
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