002 - Video

[dustonmyfeet]

[The feed flickers on to Toph in a swivel chair, idly twisting back and forth as she talks. Restlessness is plain in her features. Her tone is wry.]

Okay, so. Since I seem to keep getting questions about it, if you couldn't tell, I'm blind. [She illustrates this by waving a hand in front of her face.] Yep, that means I can't see anything. Complete darkness. All of that. Ooooooh.

[She leans back, looking especially wry.] So if we can get past the incredible magic blind girl thing now, I've got a question.

Normally I have a way I can "see" through my feet, but with the turtle on the fritz, that's not working, and I'm not just going to sit around and pick my toes whenever Mr. Flippers decides he's got a head cold.

I need someone -- or a couple people, I don't care -- who know how to fight blind. I'm a fast learner, and I know how to move, so teaching me isn't going to be a problem.

Only complication? You have to come here. I'm at Korra's in the Metal sector. She's currently out saving the world or something, and I'm not getting run over trying to reach you. She's got the space here, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Comments

[gathersnomoss]

I've fought against a blind man before, but I don't know how helpful I'd be as a teacher. But if you want someone who isn't going to assume you're made of glass because your eyes don't work like most people's...

[Zel had done a lot of fetch and carry for Rezo before their falling out, and had interacted with the people Rezo cured. While things like 'reading labels in a shop' and 'checking colors of potions' were hard to do for a blind man, Rezo managed most things.]

You also might try staff training. People will let a blind person with a stick go places they won't let normal weapons in, and being hit with a heavy stick hurts. Without special powers, a lot of people are having to pick up a weapon.

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[dustonmyfeet]

Not even an assumption. I'm definitely not made of glass.

[Bear with Toph; she's feeling more than a little irritated without her earthbending and her sight, so snark levels are especially high.]

I'm up for whatever works. Staff is fine -- the challenge is just knowing where to stick it.

[Her head tilts slightly.] So you fought a blind man. How'd he fight back?

Re: video;

[gathersnomoss]

Some magic, which isn't helpful right now, I know. But for a blind man in robes, he could dodge and parry a sword with his staff pretty damn well.

[Zel is not happy about his inability to even land a hit on Rezo.]

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[dustonmyfeet]

[Rezo was a special snowflake, Zel. Don't take it too hard.]

Huh. Guess he must've done it by the sound.

[It's at least got Toph thinking now.]

Could work.

You know the staff, or just the sword?

Re: video;

[gathersnomoss]

Just the sword, so I'd be a poor teacher but a good sparring partner. A lot of people here use swords.

[lineality]

[This is weird.

This is so weird.

Still, Lin doesn't have to think twice. If nothing else, she can think of it as returning a favor.]

I might be able to help with that.

[dustonmyfeet]

[We're here to make your life ever-weirder, Lin. Meanwhile, immediate interest from Toph.]

Yeah?

. . . You're not blind too, are you?

[Two blind earthbenders on the same turtle . . . now that would be weird. Never mind this whole mother-daughter reversed ages thing.]

[lineality]

No, but I've trained blind before. [THANKS MOM.] I can't say I've done it in a while, but I figure it'll be easier if you learn with another earthbender.

[dustonmyfeet]

Dude. Whoever taught you that was a genius.

[Or Toph is just really excited.]

Most people rely way too much on their eyes anyway.

Yes. Let's do it!

[She knew she liked this woman.]

[lineality]

You could say that. [She's amused despite herself.] When do you want me to come over?

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[sciencewhizard]

[ Wally cocks his head to the side and stares at the screen for a moment. ]

You see through your feet?

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[dustonmyfeet]

[Deadpan because it's a magic blind girl question -- but Toph is just generally grumpy right now. Raising one (admittedly very dirty) foot, she wiggles her toes at the camera at him and indulges the question, if somewhat flatly.]

Yep. I sense the vibrations in the earth. I can pretty much see everything anyone else can see -- except you know, colors, features of the face, that kind of thing.

Just not right now.

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[sciencewhizard]

[ Wally can totally be a butt at times, but he means well. ]

Huh, sounds like some kind of fine-tuned sonar ability. That's actually pretty cool.

I wish I knew people who could help with that, but I can't say that I do. Unfortunately, Batman's lacking on the echolocation. [ Heehee, he made a funny. ]

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[dustonmyfeet]

[Toph is normally pretty indulgent with these questions, because it means showing off. Right now they just remind her of what she doesn't have. She won't hold it against him, though.]

It is pretty cool. I invented it, too.

[Okay, she's getting a little ego boost from this after all. Meanwhile, though:]

Batman? Like . . . a guy who's part bat?

[Wally, you've got some 'splaining to do.]

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[duelkatana]

[Interesting. He's done plenty of fighting and training blind... and he's met Korra before.]

Are you familiar with any fighting styles at all?

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[dustonmyfeet]

[You've run into one of the few people you don't need to initiate in voice with, Leo, and you're still using voice?]

[Toph's head tilts slightly, taking in the new voice, sizing it up.]

I'm an earthbender. Basically I use earth and rock to fight for me. You learn it using a lot of stances -- certain hand moves, feet moves, and so on. There's a lot the same in it as using martial arts. And trust me, when you've got a bunch of earthbenders slinging two tons of rock at you, you learn to move fast.

But just bare hands or weapon fighting . . . [Her shoulders lift.] Never had the need.

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[duelkatana]

[What can he say? Paranoia is a fine art.]

[Leo's silent for a few moments, rolling that information around in his head. He knows about these "benders", but he's seen very few examples of them in action. Maybe he can get a demonstration when... if this whole fiasco gets resolved.]

[Anyhow. If she's already got experience in martial arts, that gives them something to work with, at least. And while he usually wouldn't agree to give fighting tips to the average stranger... let's just say he kind of owes Korra a favor.]

I'm sure we could work something out. [His tone takes on a sightly more relaxed inflection.] So I take it you're a friend of Korra's?

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[dustonmyfeet]

[Fair enough!]

[A grin from Toph.] Cool. What's your background, though?

And yeah. Korra and I are from the same world -- just different times. [She scratches inside her ear with the tip of her pinky.] Never met before here, but. She seems to know me okay, and I trust her.

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[anything_it_takes]

[Well if Big Leo doesn't think security is an issue, who is Leo to insist on encryption? But he's still sticking to voice.]

You beat me to it.

[That's a squeak of facetiously indignant outrage, it is. Lil' Leo was going to volunteer, but the fact is his senior-by-three-years is that much more qualified for this lesson.

Aw man, he was hoping to impress one of Korra's friends.]

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[duelkatana]

[That takes Leo off guard. His pause is almost long enough to be considered comical, but then he breaks into an equally jesting laugh.]

Sorry, Little Ninja. Finders keepers. [Oh, but can you hear the eye ridge raising?] Unless you want to tag along.

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[anything_it_takes]

[Dude, don't call him Little Ninja in public! Embarrassing!

Indignation gives way to competitive one-upmanship, and both are audible in the small choked noise – or is it a scoff? – that precedes his reply.]

I'll tag along all right. You'll need somebody to pick up the slack when it gets to be past your bedtime.

[Aaaaand let the age snark begin.]

audio; anon location

[demon_brat]

I've been trained to fight in complete darkness. Would that suffice?

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[dustonmyfeet]

[Young voice, really formal diction. Interesting combination. Toph leans her chin into her hand.]

Considering blindness is pretty much complete darkness without being able to turn on the light, then yeah, I'd say so.

What's your experience?

audio; still anon

[demon_brat]

Extensive. My initial trainer had great plans for me as a conqueror, so they made sure I was properly prepared for any fighting situation. I have kept up and improved on my training since.

[That's one way of putting it.]

What experience are you looking for?

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[dustonmyfeet]

Conqueror. Okay, then.

[Deadpan. Who is this kid -- Fire Lord Sozen?]

Most people rely way too much on seeing. I can't. But that doesn't mean I want to be defenseless whenever my bending goes out. I don't know what I'm looking for, because though I've always been blind, I haven't been blind since I was six.

So you tell me. What do you think I should look for? We'll start from there.