[ Calling her Crusher instantly puts him high up in her good graces. As a result, she sounds magnanimous when she says, ] You had to learn I'm always right at some point.
How the hell does the Earth tell you when someone's lying?
[He 100% believes her because HOW ELSE IS SHE HOW SHE IS bit also: what?]
And hey, it's not scamming when you run the place. But...yeah.
I got a friend who's good at running things: it's a shithole right now, so I figure with a bit of start up she could turn it around. And if you own it, you get a lot of the rewards.
I'm listening to the vibrations things make through their contract with the ground. Earth is all about subtle movements -- and turns out heartbeats are a really good tell.
[ Not perfect, but really good. Unless you're a crazy bitch like Azula !!
His willingness to immediately believe her capabilities continues to make Toph extremely positively disposed toward him. Also: it's totally scamming. She has less than zero respect for institutions. ]
So you're just after my money, huh? ... That works. If you think she can handle it, I'm in. [ She has absolutely no interest in running something after the experience with her school. Toph truly cares about the school, so she'll do it, but it's tedious as hell. ]
You just doing that all the time, too? Like sorting through all that information gotta take a lot of effort.
[girl YOU ARE 13 HOW IS LISTENING TO THE VERY VIBRATIONS OF THE EARTH SO UNCONSCIOUS FOR YOU.]
Yeah. She can handle it. And probably wouldn't take a coin until she had a full plan in place and a real arrangement worked out with you. She's Mitsuru Kirijo, by the way.
[ You try being a desperately bored sheltered Confucian daughter and having a massive natural aptitude for one thing, ok? ]
Not all the time -- the subtler stuff I have to pay attention, but for the most part, yeah. It's how I perceive the world. How do you seeing people deal with all the stuff you're seeing?
[ It seems super obvious to her. ]
She's a plan person, got it. Okay, sure, we can talk. I really wasn't looking forward to getting a job, anyway.
Yeahhhh, so, nobody else actually earthbends the way I do. I made up my own style and learned from the badger-moles, who were the original earthbenders. I'm the best in the world for a reason.
[ There's some obvious pride in that comment, but for the moment Toph is more explaining than boasting. ]
I'm sure we can find something for you to do, [ Toph answers with an audible smirk. ] What're you good at? Gimme the rundown.
[ hello immediate job interview for a business that doesn't yet exist ]
[....Badger-Moles. Huh. But okay, sure. Definitely adds some context for what the hell this 'bending' even is. But he's pulled from that thought by the sudden job interview, and gives an aggravated sigh.]
We're doing this now? Fine....
[...Huh. whY is he good at. What a weird question to think about.]
Not a hell of a lot a casino would need... I'm good at fighting. I can cook. I... do a lot of people watching, I guess? And I got a pretty good memory for things people say.
If I cooked for everyone who asked me too, I'd never get a break. No.
[He will absolutely make her something sometime, and between how casual his rejection is and her ability to suss out people's truths? Yeah, it's likely obvious. Bringing her a quick lunch on duty would be simple. Hell, maybe he should just as thanks for accepting this request.]
I don't mind keeping an eye out for people causing shit, though. I did that a bit before at the bar here, when there was some kinda... curse-thing making people lose it.
Offer's open any time you want to make some cash by feeding a poor blind girl in need.
[ Toph is just collecting staff left and right. She gets something out of it, of course, but so far it's mostly an excuse to pass along some of her ill-gotten money. What's the point in having money if you don't spend it on people? ]
You really want pity money instead of doing something for it?
[ She's come from a war-torn world, Toph has to make sure everything's safe first. That being said, that leaves them with uncomfortable feelings talk. ]
Um, okay. But we don't have to talk about it. Seriously. It's all fine.
[ It somehow hadn't occurred to her that other people could be having an issue with that. Toph falters. She can't really leave a friend in need... and Sandry is a friend. ]
... You aren't? Wow. Uh. Yeah, where are you? I'll come to you.
[ It doesn't take long for Toph to make her way over. She doesn't earthbend herself along at high speed, but she doesn't dawdle. She knocks and the door opens and she's frowning slightly, concerned. ]
[ Sandry gives a wavering smile at the joke. It's funny because it's actually true.
She lets Toph into the house, closing the door behind her. Inside the common room is a spinning wheel and a long woven piece of cloth on the table. The cloth has two large blocks, one yellow and one rust colored, both with a border of white on all sides. Also on the table are two teacups and a teapot, and Sandry indicates for Toph to sit at one of the chairs, settling into the other one herself. ]
Yes, actually. I... am afraid I know the answer, but I have to know. The life... where I worked in the tea shop and served you tea and cookies, it... wasn't real, was it?
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