[Video]

[namigational]

Hey, has anyone seen the quest on the board about going down to ...uh, Deepground? Anyone thinking of taking that up? I kind of want to chart the caverns around here, so... I'd like to go if you do.

[The fact there might be treasure down there has nothing to do with it, of course.]

Comments

[fieldtrip]

There was someone at first, sort of, but... he left. [She sounds just a little sad about it, too.]

It just gets a little tiresome to have to explain the same things over and over again. At this rate I'll make someone put together a flyer for me, and I can hand them out!

[namigational]

A flyer saying 'Toph can take care of herself, stop asking?' [She grins. Not that Toph can see that, but Nami hasn't quite clued into that part.]

...I'm sorry about your friend. You mean he went back home again?

[fieldtrip]

Yeah. Turns out he must've gotten sick, so they sent him home at least until he gets better. [Toph doesn't want to talk about things that are going to make her sad, though, so she goes on.]

And the flyers would be more like... [She clears her throat and does a pretty damn good imitation of an announcer's voice.] This is Toph Beifong, she is blind, she can feel where you are, she can earthbend, and no, she doesn't need your help! Get over it.

[namigational]

[There's a brief pause, because the fact her friend got sick is faintly relevant to Nami's interests. But then it's followed by the news that the girl she's talking to is blind, and her kneejerk reaction to the idea of taking a small blind girl down into the caverns is...

...uh. Well, she's already come up against Toph's pride. Not going to ask the obvious question. Instead, she asks:]

What's earthbending?

[fieldtrip]

[Yeah, don't go there, Nami. Seriously. There could be a full on tantrum on your hands.]

That's going on the pamphlet, too, [she grumps.] It's an inborn skill, controlling the earth through willpower and martial arts. I can't believe none of you've heard of it.

That's how I 'see', by sensing the vibrations in the ground through earthbending. Being blind doesn't mean I'm helpless. Got it?

[namigational]

[Whoa. Okay, point taken.] That sounds so useful. We don't have earthbenders where I'm from. If you wanna come, you're more than welcome.

[And Nami will have no compunctions about hiding behind a blind girl. Shameless.]

[fieldtrip]

It is useful, [she says smugly,] especially down here. Not that I wouldn't like to be on the surface again, but caves are kind of my natural habitat.

So what's the plan? Did you get other volunteers?

[namigational]

Plenty, by the looks. I was sort of thinking someone else had to be planning this by now, but I guess... nobody had got round to it yet. I guess I'll give a few days for people to get ready for a trip and then...go.

[She's not the master of planning. But she'll get there.]

[fieldtrip]

[Toph's hardly one for plans, either. She shrugs.] Sounds good to me. The more the merrier.

Think we'll find anything interesting down there? It's getting a little boring around here.

[namigational]

I hear there might be some kind of artifacts down there. Interesting stuff. Probably worth a lot.

[fieldtrip]

Nice, [she says appreciatively.] Not that I really need the money after the tournament, but who could say no to spooky underground artifacts?

[namigational]

There was a tournament? [You made money?]

[fieldtrip]

Yup. It may have been a little bit less than legal, [she says smugly,] but you get prize money for winning fights. It was great! I do it all the time at home.

[namigational]

Hohh, really?

[...]

D'you get many bets placed on you?

[fieldtrip]

The little helpless blind girl? Please.

But I think I have more of a reputation now after beating five different opponents into the dust.

[namigational]

Pity. I could've made a killing.