Silver
LOST
“It’s just way too hard to let go”
Sokka's life was presented in his mind with a series of strategic options.
Wake up at 5am, complete your morning workout, take a shower and get ready.
Today was no different.
As the sky started to tinge morning blue, he rode along the streets of Ba Sing Se on his bike. Pedaling with his three different bags on his back as if he was in a triathlon.
To Sokka, nothing could have felt better than the rising sun rays warming up his skin and drying his freshly washed hair. He had tried his best to put effort into every activity he did, even if it meant taking the harder path.
“How’s the weather down there Sokka!!”
Above flew his sister and friends laughing on their flying bison.
“It feels GREAT. No fur or flying bugs!” He yelled sarcastically.
Honestly he didn’t even understand how “flying bison” could be an accepted mode of commute in today’s age.
As they floated past at a high speed, Sokka continued on his way counting through his schedule for the day.
--
Locking his bike at the rack outside of campus, he made his way to the locker rooms to drop off his two sports bags. One filled with his gear, and the other with snacks for himself and the team.
Mostly himself.
The time shifted perfectly, making his way to Jet’s classroom at the same time he does everyday. It was the highlight of his morning.
Jet always hung around his desk with his friends before class. His smirk as he spoke was mischievous and cute and Sokka knew how lucky he was.
When he made his way through the door he waved over to catch Jet’s attention. Sokka noticed the flash of surprise that wiped through Jet’s face. It confused him at first, after all he showed up at this time everyday.
It was definitely the good kind of surprise. Like when you see someone you haven’t seen in years.
Definitely.
“Oh… Sokka there you are.”
“Did I come later than usual?” He questioned rhetorically.
His hands laced together with Jet’s perfectly, and he listened as Jet recalled his night before. It was always something new, whether it was him getting into trouble with the rest of the so-called “freedom fighters”, or making plans for the future.
Though he never mentioned it, Sokka always hoped that one day he would be brought up in the vast future that Jet had planned out for himself.
“You just have practice today right?” Jet came close to Sokka, almost pouting like the thought of Sokka even going to practice made him upset. Their eyes locked while judging each other's thoughts.
“I’m pretty sure that’s it… There might be something I’m missing though...”
With a tonal change Jet’s words became piercing to Sokka’s ears.
“Well if you think that’s all you have then don’t go changing your plans.” Jet’s smirk remained on his face as he spoke but for some reason there was an underlying suspiciousness about it.
He must've been overthinking. Jet acted like this all the time.
“I can’t control if I'm needed.” Sokka snickered, “What can I say, I’m a popular guy!”
Jet scoffed a bit, turning his head to focus on the conversation that Duke and Bee were having.
At least he thought it was funny.
Their hands continued to swing together, to and fro like a bell in a clock.
When they were locked together like that, Sokka felt secure.
By Jet’s side, Sokka was necessary.
That was the story.
–-
Loser
“And my time is a piece of wax falling on a termite
That's choking on the splinters”
“You said we would go today! It’s already been a week since they asked us to perform!!”
“I know but I can’t go out!”
Katara held her hands on her hips in a defiant pose. She had waited until Sokka’s practice ended to bring him to a new venue that had invited her band, Raava, to play.
“Then I’ll just go by myself!.”
This normally wouldn’t have been a problem, but as any older brother and self proclaimed music manager would say:
“It’s not safe!”
“Not safe?!”
Now he had done it.
“I’m not a kid anymore Sokka! If you're gonna get all uptight about me going by myself, then you gotta get up, grab your tricycle and go there with me!!” She fumed.
“It’s not a tricycle. It has two wheels!”
“Are you coming or not?!” Katara had already started to walk off, and she was right. He couldn’t go back on his words now.
What Jet said wasn’t even that serious. And it’s not like he could get mad. He was going for his sister.
Katara, Aang, Toph, and Yue formed a band called Raava about a year and a half ago. Sokka was originally supposed to join as a second bassist but from his filled up schedule of sports and clubs, there was no room. The team decided that “manager” would be the best position, though this is the first time that he’s ever done something manager-like when it comes to the band.
A week ago, Sokka and Katara got a letter in the mail from a venue called “The Garage”. Both of them had never heard about it, same for everyone else in the group, and with a mass debate Sokka made the final call that he would go check it out.
See if it’s somewhere they would want to show their talent or whatever.
The venue itself wasn’t that far from Sokka and Katara’s apartment, and by sunset finding the place wasn’t hard. All they had to do was follow the mass amount of people that seemed to have a keen interest in a closed dumpling shop.
Already when walking into the alley Sokka felt suspicious of the place.
For one he was in an alleyway, and second he couldn't seem to ignore the strong smell of tobacco and weed.
“All of these guys are mostly our age…” He muttered to himself.
Sokka took a sigh in relief for not letting Katara go by herself.
As the two siblings walked down the narrow staircase a nervous atmosphere surrounded them.
Just what were they walking into?
But with their slow unison steps, the smell of smoke seemed to dissipate into the air and was replaced with an aroma of frankincense. They reached the end of the stairs to see an open area filled with people.
Sokka gave an amazed scoff to the appearance of the place. The walls were dark red with music memorabilia lined across the walls. Glowing lanterns hung from the ceiling and illuminated the place in a warm radiance.
The crowd was lively. Separate groups and circles all grouping together and talking about who knows what. Everyone seemed so happy and at ease.
“This place… is so cool.” Katara remarked in amazement.
Sokka agreed with her words almost too much, but he couldn’t switch gears so easily.
“Let’s go see what these guys are up to…”
Katara rolled her eyes at Sokka’s stubbornness and followed him around the groups over to a more empty area.
A short walk forward brought the two to a seating area on the side of the venue. Each table had a clear view of the stage which stood smack middle at the front of the place. It was a wide wooden semicircle which took up most of the front and stood up at least 4 feet off the ground.
The two took a seat on the far end, still being able to see the stage but being out of view from the general public.
There was no music being performed. It seemed like the two had walked in just as a set was being finished. One of the members of the band saying their farewell words.
“Thank you for having us again, we always love being able to perform for this audience… You guys are amazing!” She spoke.
Katara turned over to Sokka with a huge grin.
“Imagine if we were up there with all the people that come here! I know you’re still suspicious, but this place seems really cool.”
“Don’t judge a book by its cover Katara… who knows what this place is hiding.”
A hefty sigh rolled out of her mouth before she stood up.
“Well while you brood, I’m gonna go get us some soda.”
Sokka tried to stand up to follow her but was stopped in vain as she pushed him back down in his seat.
“I’ll be back.” She said obviously.
When her distance was growing Sokka chuckled to himself in a bewildered state.
“i’M noT a Kid AnyMoRe sOkKa!” He mocked
Who does she think she is??
–-
Closer
“Help me get away from myself”
Right as the next band finished setting up their equipment Katara came back with their drinks.
The first thing he noticed about them was the audience reaction. Just as the first member spoke the people who were loitering outside poured in from the stairs. The customers lined up near the bar pushed in closer to the stage, and even some staff paused whatever task they were doing to stand by and watch their set.
Katara’s eyes lit up in anticipation.
“Oh! I heard at the bar they're really famous for playing here.”
“Are they really?” Sokka seemed to hyperfocus on whatever this band was gonna bring to the table.
His own taste in music was classic dad rock like the Foo Fighters and lighter tunes like the Beach Boys. From a first impression, this band seemed like they would be playing straight metal.
Definitely not his type.
A guy who seemed slightly familiar was the first person to say anything. He opened the set up with a charismatic greeting. It felt like he knew every single person watching him, even though the thought of that was completely impossible.
The guy tied his dark shoulder length hair up into a high bun, exposing his broad shoulders and tattoo that wrapped around from his neck to his collarbone.
From his confidence Sokka’s first thought was that he was the main vocalist, but just as the guy finished his words another boy stood up to the mic.
Jet black hair that shagged down right past his chin, and deep amber eyes that Sokka could spot from the back of the venue. They glowed just as brightly as the lanterns.
Sokka’s thoughts centered on the boy's seemingly ethereal special effect makeup that covered the left side of his face. It shined with white and silver paint and melded in with the rest of his skin as if it were real.
When they started their first song, Sokka could immediately understand why everybody and their mom wanted to see them perform.
He got chills.
The song began with a simple drum. The boy nodded his head along, encaptured in trance.
Then came the bass, and with it he sang.
“You let me violate you.”
His voice was smoky and deep, and with each lyric Sokka felt himself being dragged deeper into the realm of chords that seeped through the speakers.
It was harsh, jarring, and almost perverted.
Sokka started to regret his choice to sit so far back. He wanted to experience it closer. Completely immersing himself in the distinctive sound that they produced with sheer passion.
He couldn’t tell if he hated it, or loved it. But in a flash, they ran through their entire set with small breaks in between. Leaving the stage way more impactful than when they first walked on.
“Wait… it’s over?” He struggled out.
As the last member walked off the platform Sokka finally felt able to pry his eyes away from the front, immediately locking eyes with his sister.
It seemed she had the same reaction too, her eyelids wide and mouth dropped open in amazement.
Still scatterbrained from the performance, Sokka put a hand to his temple, trying to make sense of anything around him, and with a hoarse voice uttered the only thing he could remember.
“Ashen Dawn…”
--
Shut Up My Mom’s Calling
“I always find a way to say the wrong things”
When the final band played their last song that’s when the night started to gear up. The many artists who were just playing slowly started to file into the general area, some meeting up with people they knew in the audience and others sticking to the walls just enjoying the time. General music started to pour in from the speakers, probably from a DJ that Sokka hadn’t spotted yet, but all he knew was that he needed to find a way to speak with a member of Ashen Dawn.
Katara had left him for the second time to find one of the owners, and that left him to start his own search.
He didn’t have a real reason to speak to them. Both him and Katara silently decided that no matter what, their band was going to play on the Garage’s stage.
He just felt like he had to.
Shuffling through the horde of people dancing and talking, Sokka tried to spot any member from the band. It didn’t take long for him to find one, in fact he found two.
The bassist and drummer sat at a high table at the opposite side of the venue. They seemed encaptured with each other as they talked over two shirley temples. He was reminded of Jet and him.
Their mini date wasn’t going to get in the way of his goal though.
As confident as he could, he stepped over to their table, but when they looked over at him, all of his bravery was seemingly lost.
“Hey! You need something?” The girl with bubble braids spoke up first.
“Uh… yeah! I well- I really liked your guys’ set…”
Good going Sokka.
The other girl furrowed her brows in confusion, her previous smile completely disappearing from her face, leaving it with a monotone stare.
“Oh… Okay. Thanks.”
There had to be something Sokka could do to pick up the conversation. Anything slightly interesting.
“Where do you guys get your concept from…? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The monotone expression that the black hair girl had softened up into a neutral position, and Sokka could finally relax his muscles.
The one who seemed nicer pondered for a moment before responding to the question.
“We can’t really answer that the best…”
“If you really want to know, you should talk to Kuzon or Spirit. I think they're both near the bar.” The black haired girl finished.
Sokka was sent on his way to the bar swiftly, the one whose name he caught as Mai subtly shooing him away.
“Hope you’re able to talk to them!!” The girl named Ty Lee waved him goodbye.
Sokka didn’t know how to feel about the two members, he couldn’t tell if he made a good impression or made them hate him. In his mind, he was able to see them similar to the rest of his friends, in their own quirky way.
Moving closer to the bar Sokka was able to hear a loud commotion, and through quick investigation he spotted both Kuzon and Spirit surrounded by both boys and girls alike.
Spirit held a cup of water in his hands while speaking to about 8 people that encompassed him. He wore a painfully playful expression while listening to their praises and excitements, even throwing his arm over a guy's shoulder and pulling him in, whispering something inaudible in his ear.
Sokka’s face scrunched in displeasure. The guy seemed like a total player, but then again what was he supposed to expect. What was he even expecting?
Moving closer he finally caught the attention of the singer who, at eye contact, almost spilled his water on the floor. He held a deer eyed stare at Sokka and froze.
Coming closer to his group, Sokka finally approached the singer.
“Would I be able to talk to you? I have a few questions about… the venue.”
A string of silence stalled through, before Spirit answered in a stutter.
“Yeah, I can talk” He quickly split apart from his admirers and followed Sokka to a more open space.
“Sorry I know this is a bit random… My name’s Sokka.” While speaking over the loud music Sokka stretched out his hand to the singer, who still seemed delirious.
“Nice to meet you…” A pause, “Sokka.”
He let out Sokka’s name with a breath, and though slightly perplexed by Spirits personality, Sokka continued on.
“Well actually, my sister and her band were invited to play at this venue and- I guess I wanted to ask if you liked performing here.”
It wasn’t what he said he was going to ask, but then again- what he was going to ask was a bit stupid.
Spirit’s constitution shaped up at the serious question, nodding his head in confirmation while talking.
“Not much to say” He started, “this place is great. I've been playing here for years and I’ve met a lot of great people.”
A satisfied grin formed on Spirits lips while he scanned the entire venue. Sokka couldn’t even imagine the memories that must've been made in such a place, his sight being drawn to the singer's face paint again.
On closer look, it really did seem real.
“Your special effect makeup is really sick.”
The words came out without thinking.
“What makeup?” Spirit wrinkled his eyebrows, completely perplexed by Sokka’s compliment.
With a gesture from Sokka, alluding to the left side of his face, Spirit's brain registered what Sokka was telling him.
“Oh! Yeah the makeup! Mai does it… the bassist.”
“We met.” Sokka noted with a small snicker.
The both of them watched each other with a smile, even talking about other random topics that came up in conversation. Like how the venue didn’t allow any narcotics inside due to the large minor crowd.
“That's why they were all outside!” Sokka laughed.
Sokka’s first impression of Spirit had been completely wrong.
He was a really cool dude.
“Sokka there you are!”
Katara appeared behind a random group of girls in matching clothing.
“I just talked to one of the owners, sorry for making you wait.”
“No worries, I’ve just been doing my thing.” Sokka joked.
Looking back at Spirit, Sokka signified his need to leave. Spirit understood and gave him a nod of approval and farewell.
Walking away to catch up with Katara, Sokka gave a final wave to the singer.
“I’ll be back tomorrow!”
Spirit then shouted beyond the crowding figures.
“I’ll be seeing you.”