Katara's hand stopped at a certain page. "Hey, this one sounds interesting." She read the title of the story. "Chatrooms. I guess they mean rooms where people chat?"
"Which might be anywhere, since people do have conversations at almost any location," Aang reasoned.
"So, if you want to really find out what this whole thing is about, just start the story," Toph concluded.
Meat&Sarcasm is logged in.
Meat&Sarcasm: Hey, anyone here?
Meat&Sarcasm: He-lloooooooo…
BlindBandit is logged in.
BlindBandit: Pipe down Snoozles, I've showed up.
Meat&Sarcasm: Toph! What are you doing here in an Internet chatroom?! You can't even see!
BlindBandit: The power of technology, doofus. I got the complete set – NetReader, voice recognition and everything.
Katara stared strangely at the book. "Okay, did anyone understand any of that?"
"I understand that Sokka's still Snoozles, which isn't anything new," Toph grinned.
"Yeah, but what's with you, Katara?" Sokka asked his sister. "You sound like you were reading the script of a play or something."
"That's because this whole story is written in that format," Katara explained. "You know, with different characters and the lines they're supposed to say. I'm not sure what 'logged in' means though, and why is Sokka called 'Meat&Sarcasm'?"
"Because that's what he is?" Aang suggested.
"Makes sense. I mean, I'm the Blind Bandit, right?" Toph said. "So all these names are based on what we are in real life, which means if Twinkletoes is in here, he'd probably be called something with an 'Avatar' in it. Or maybe just plain Twinkletoes," she grinned.
"What, and Zuko's 'Scarface'?" Sokka laughed as he pointed at said Scarface, whose face didn't seem any better.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't make fun of my face, thank you very much."
"Don't mind him Zuko, he's just being his usual idiot self," Toph said dismissively.
"I heard that!"
"Big deal."
Meat&Sarcasm: Lucky you. Must be nice having rich parents.
BlindBandit: Not so nice when they're too damn overprotective of you. It took me almost forever to convince them that I wouldn't hook up with some perverted stranger over the Internet – although I guess I broke my promise, because I'm talking to you.
Meat&Sarcasm: Very funny |-(
Aang blinked once. "What did you just say, Katara?"
"|-(" Katara repeated. Then she looked up at the others with wide eyes. "Okay, what was that?"
"Another of the hundred and one weird things that's happened to us ever since we got this book," Sokka answered.
"Well, at least the me in the story knows that Sokka's a perverted stranger," Toph smirked.
"Very funny," Sokka responded drily.
Zuko nodded his head. "This author sure knows you well."
WaterbendingGal is logged in.
WaterbendingGal: Hey there. What are you guys talking about?
Meat&Sarcasm: About Toph's sudden intrusion into the Internet when she's blind.
WaterbendingGal: Oh, that. How's the equipment coming along, Toph?
BlindBandit: Pretty good, thanks Katara.
Meat&Sarcasm: Wait, you knew about that already?! How come no one ever told me?!
WaterbendingGal: Why should we tell you anyway?
BlindBandit: Yeah Snoozles, it's got nothing to do with you.
Meat&Sarcasm: Yeah, yeah, I'm just the fly on the wall here. Just ignore me.
BlindBandit: I already am.
"And how many times have I been just the guy in the sidelines in stories already?" Sokka ranted. "Even in real life, you guys think I'm just a big joke!"
"Hey, you are a big joke," Toph piped up.
"Not. Funny."
"Alright Sokka, we apologize if we've made you feel like you're not important," Katara said, though she was suppressing a smile. "We'll be sure to consider your feelings from now on."
"That sounds better," Sokka said, finally grinning.
AvatarAang is logged in.
AvatarAang: Hi guys.
BlindBandit: Hey Twinkletoes.
AvatarAang: Is that you, Toph? Wow, you did manage to persuade your parents to get the software you wanted then.
"It does sound like I've got my parents wrapped around my finger or something," Toph observed. "Pity that's not how it is in real life."
"Oh come on, you just helped the Avatar save the world and invented a mew bending skill to boot!" Sokka exclaimed. "There's no way they'd still think you're defenseless, right?"
"Well, they don't try to imprison me anymore, so yeah, I guess there's some improvement. In fact, I think they just might understand me just that little better now," Toph said, smiling slightly.
"That's great, Toph," Katara said, happy for her friend.
"Yeah. But they still won't let me talk to perverted strangers though," Toph grinned, earning a glare from said supposed perverted stranger.
Meat&Sarcasm: And as usual, no one bothers to tell me anything. Fine.
AvatarAang: Sorry Sokka. I didn't mean to forget to tell you.
Meat&Sarcasm: Never mind. Hey, what's the deal with your user name anyway? Seriously, is 'AvatarAang' all you can come up with?
AvatarAang: I think it's fine. I am Avatar Aang after all.
Meat&Sarcasm: Yeah, but you gotta be a bit more creative to show off your coolness! 'AvatarAang' just doesn't cut it.
"Well, what else is he supposed to call himself?" Zuko asked. "There's nothing wrong with being straightforward."
"I agree with Zuko, although I still think Twinkletoes sounds better," Toph grinned.
Sokka raised his hands in self-defense. "Hey, that's just something me in the story said. Personally, I don't really care what Aang calls himself, okay?"
"Fine with us, as long as you don't go saying that 'BlindBandit' is a cheesy name," Toph replied.
"No problem."
BlindBandit: And 'Meat&Sarcasm' does? You'll be scaring away any potential girlfriends on the Internet, Snoozles.
Meat&Sarcasm: Not like it matters, I'm already all set with Suki. She doesn't mind my user name anyway.
BlindBandit: Hey Katara, since Aang's your boyfriend and all, why don't you give him a user name? That way he won't embarrass you in Internet chatrooms.
WaterbendingGal: I think Aang's user name is already fine :)
AvatarAang: Thanks Katara :)
Meat&Sarcasm: Someone get me a virtual vomit bag, I think I'm going to be sick.
"Yup, this author does know me well," Sokka agreed while nodding his head. "If I have to count the number of times in real life I felt like throwing up because of you two -"
"Yeah, like you're any better with Suki," Katara retorted. "Does she call you 'Meat&Sarcasm' when you're alone together as well?"
"That's none of your business!"
"Neither is what I do with Aang any of yours!"
"Nothing's better than a good old sibling squabble, eh?" Toph grinned while Zuko and Aang made no effort to hide their own smiles.
BlindBandit: You could always log off, you know.
Meat&Sarcasm: Fine, I think I will.
Meat&Sarcasm is logged out.
BlueSpirit is logged in.
BlueSpirit: Hey guys. Did Sokka just log out?
BlindBandit: Yeah, you just missed him.
"And from this, I conclude that the phrase 'log out' means leaving a conversation," Sokka proclaimed while stroking his imaginary beard.
"Good for you, Professor Snoozles," Toph replied. "Now shut your trap and just listen to the story."
Meat&Sarcasm is logged in.
Meat&Sarcasm: Okay, I've decided to forgive you guys. Oh, hey Zuko.
BlueSpirit: Hey Sokka.
Meat&Sarcasm: Nice user name. Better than Aang's anyway.
BlueSpirit: I think his user name is fine. It's Azula's that's the worst.
FireLordAzula is logged in.
Sokka winced. "Ugh, that really is bad."
"Not that unexpected of Azula either," Zuko added.
"Looks like Snoozles has competition for 'Biggest Ego of the Four Nations'," Toph concluded.
FireLordAzula: Talking about me, dear brother?
Meat&Sarcasm: 8O What are you doing here Azula?!
FireLordAzula: I'm using an Internet chatroom, obviously.
Meat&Sarcasm: Alright, who let her in?! Zuko?!
BlueSpirit: It wasn't me!
Zuko snorted. "Like I would ever let Azula into anywhere."
"You did let her into the asylum," Aang pointed out.
"Not that there's anything wrong with that though," Sokka added quickly while grinning.
"It's all for the good of the world," Toph nodded.
BlindBandit: Relax Snoozles, it's a free country. If she wants to be here, it's not like we can stop her.
FireLordAzula: Besides, if even people like you can be here, I don't see why I can't.
Meat&Sarcasm: I am sorely tempted to log out again.
BlindBandit: You change your mind like a girl changes clothes.
Meat&Sarcasm: You won't be putting me off by quoting Katy Perry, Toph.
BlindBandit: Not like I was trying to anyway.
"Never mind who's 'Katy Perry', we'll just assume we know, as usual," Sokka said quickly when he saw Aang open his mouth.
BlueSpirit: Um, do you two still remember that the rest of us are still here?
WaterbendingGal: Never mind them Zuko, they're obviously too busy to bother with us. Aang, you still there?
AvatarAang: Yup.
"Is it just me, or does Twinkletoes seem to not get many lines in here?" Toph said.
"That's because he has good sense," Katara answered, smiling at her boyfriend.
"Yup, anyone who calls himself frankly 'AvatarAang' should have some good sense."
"Touché, Snoozles," Toph grinned.
FireLordAzula: So the little Avatar is here as well. How lovely.
Meat&Sarcasm: Got a problem with that, Azula? If you don't like it, you could always leave.
FireLordAzula: No need to be so touchy, little boy.
Meat&Sarcasm: What did you just call me?!
"So she doesn't have any better nicknames than 'little boy'?" Toph smirked. "She's definitely fallen low."
"Doesn't mean I like being called that though," Sokka said grumpily.
"Oh come on, we all know that even you need potty breaks."
"Shut up, Toph."
WaterbendingGal: Sokka, calm down, she's just trying to rile you up. Azula, we don't mind you joining us, but if you plan on being rude then you'd better leave.
FireLordAzula: Looks like I will, since I'm apparently not very welcome here.
FireLordAzula is logged out.
Meat&Sarcasm: Phew, thank the spirits she's gone. Zuko was right, her user name totally sucked.
"Totally," Sokka nodded.
BlindBandit: Actually Snoozles, I should be going too. Got lots to do, you know.
Meat&Sarcasm: Oh come on, not when the real fun's starting! Besides, why are you so busy anyway? Aren't you on vacation from your metalbending school at your parents' house?
BlindBandit: Earth Rumble Seven tonight, and I'm definitely not going to miss it. First time since after the war that I've participated in an earthbending match. Really looking forward to it.
"Earth Rumble Seven? Now that sounds pretty cool," Toph grinned.
"Speaking of which, what happened to the Boulder and the others after the war?" Katara asked. "We met them during Zuko's coronation, but I haven't seen them since."
"Oh, they're probably wandering around the Earth Kingdom, living the good life," Toph said dismissively. "I wouldn't mind taking a tour of the Earth Kingdom myself sometime, you know."
"But didn't we pretty much travel around the world when we were with Aang?" Sokka pointed out.
"Oh yeah, running for our lives from the Fire Nation with the fate of the world resting on our shoulders is the perfect vacation. Very relaxing."
Sokka paused. "Well, there is that."
AvatarAang: That's cool. Where's the location?
BlindBandit: Same place from before. All the old gang are going to be there: the Boulder told me so in his email a few days ago.
Meat&Sarcasm: 8O The Boulder has email?!
BlindBandit: Times are changing, Snoozles. Everyone's going tech. Okay, gotta go now. See ya.
BlindBandit is logged out.
"I'm pretty sure the Boulder isn't the type to 'go tech' or anything," Toph remarked. "I don't even know if he's ever written a letter before, much less an 'email'."
"But he'd definitely be there for Earth Rumble Seven, if there is something like that, right? I'd love to see him in the ring again!" Sokka punched his fist in the air in excitement.
"Just be sure you don't sit too up front though," Katara smirked.
"Nonsense! The first row's where the real fun is! Who cares about a few stray boulders?"
"Considering said few stray boulders might actually kill me, I'd care a lot," Aang said as he gulped nervously.
AvatarAang: Katara?
WaterbendingGal: Yeah?
AvatarAang: Wanna go penguin sledding?
WaterbendingGal: Sure.
Meat&Sarcasm: Hold on a sec, what are you two doing back in the South Pole?!
WaterbendingGal: I was taking Aang back to meet Dad.
Meat&Sarcasm: You're taking your boyfriend home to your parents - parent, I mean, and you didn't even tell me?! I'm you brother!
WaterbendingGal: And I'm logging out. See you in a minute, Aang.
AvatarAang: Okay, see you.
WaterbendingGal is logged out.
AvatarAang is logged out.
"Why would Katara want to take me back to meet her dad?" Aang wondered. "I've already met him before."
"Man, you really don't get it, do you?" Sokka tsked disapprovingly. "It's sort of like making it official, announcing to the whole clan that you two are together or something like that. And don't you try pulling off something as big as this behind my back, got it?" he added as he turned his eyes to Katara.
"Well, I've never seen you bring Suki home, and it's not like you're going to tell me when you do that, right?" Katara retorted.
"You're just my little sis! Why should I tell you?"
"Same reason why I shouldtell you!"
"Yup, more of that good old sibling love," Toph smirked.
Meat&Sarcasm: Let me guess: you also have to go now, Zuko.
BlueSpirit: Actually, I have a meeting with the governors of the Fire Nation provinces in about ten minutes, so… yeah.
Meat&Sarcasm: *sigh* Never mind, just go on then.
BlueSpirit: Okay, thanks.
BlueSpirit is logged out.
Aang looked towards Zuko. "The Fire Nation has provinces?"
"Well, it's a big country after all, with a number of islands inside its boundaries, so we divide them into provinces according to their geographical location…" Zuko noticed the Avatar's blank expression and sighed. "Oh never mind, it isn't important anyway."
Meat&Sarcasm: And once again, I'm the only one online. Might as well go find Suki instead.
Meat&Sarcasm is logged out.
Toph shook her head in disbelief. "You should have done that from the start, Snoozles."
"But then this story wouldn't take place at all!" Sokka countered.
"And so what if it doesn't? I mean, what would we have to lose if this thing didn't exist?"
"Well, we wouldn't learn about 'chatrooms' for a start! But come to think of it, I still don't quite know what they are," Sokka admitted as he scratched his head.
"I guess they're some kind of script?" Aang speculated, his voice trailing off in a question mark.
Toph shrugged. "Who knows? This might turn out to be yet another crazy thing from their world. Now why don't we get back to Sokka and Azula in love, shall we?" she grinned.
The others nodded enthusiastically, and Sokka just groaned.
Okay, after almost a week of hell filled with cramming for exams, practicing for an elocution competition and a faulty word processor to top it all off, chapter 25 is finally - finally! - here. And featuring a common genre in the fandom as well - let's face it, almost every reader on this site has come across something like this before. Any comments - not clique enough? Too boring? Or am I just worrying myself? - are very welcome, and I hope to see you all again soon! Seriously, I do; I don't like disappearing from my fics for too long, you know.