[This is a frustrating conversation — not only because Bucky is advocating for a position that Sokka finds extremely difficult to accept, but also because he is simultaneously telling Sokka he's smart enough to make his own decisions while also making it very clear that one decision would be incredibly stupid. And Sokka — isn't used to that kind of conversation from adults. Katara, maybe. But Gran-Gran is too no-nonsense for this kind of thing, and his dad — actually, Sokka doesn't want to think about his father right now.
It isn't like Sokka doesn't know when to retreat or stand down; he's had to do it before. He had to do it shortly before arriving here, even. But there's a big difference between hiding away, and fighting until you need to make a choice to stop. He doesn't want to hole up somewhere because it goes against the way he was raised — and the way he wants to be, for Team Avatar and for anyone else who might need his help. But beyond that knee-jerk reaction of No way, Sokka also knows that he doesn't understand life here. He's only been here for, what, a couple of hours, and already he's painfully aware that it's incredibly different from anything he knows. It's hard to be logical, because he has strong feelings about what being a warrior means to him, but he has to be logical regardless. And that means learning more before making any decisions, this included.
Bucky is the only resource that Sokka has at the moment, and the whole point of sticking with him is to learn. Sokka can't dismiss his opinions, even if he kind of wants to, because that would be stupid. He's never going to find out what makes war here so different from the war he knows, unless he asks more questions. And ever since Sokka first met Suki on Kyoshi island, he has tried to be open-minded, and he has tried to learn as much as he can. Sokka knows how to humble himself and admit when he's wrong, or out of his depth, and he knows how important that is to improve — as a warrior and a person.
So with another glance at the basement, Sokka says:]
Okay. But you're going to have to explain exactly what a heavy bomber is.
[And more about the way war works here. Meanwhile, Sokka shuts the basement door and follows Bucky outside — also warily, because even though Crazy Neighbor Lady wasn't the worst of what he assumed he would encounter, he'd rather avoid her for the rest of his time here.]
no subject
It isn't like Sokka doesn't know when to retreat or stand down; he's had to do it before. He had to do it shortly before arriving here, even. But there's a big difference between hiding away, and fighting until you need to make a choice to stop. He doesn't want to hole up somewhere because it goes against the way he was raised — and the way he wants to be, for Team Avatar and for anyone else who might need his help. But beyond that knee-jerk reaction of No way, Sokka also knows that he doesn't understand life here. He's only been here for, what, a couple of hours, and already he's painfully aware that it's incredibly different from anything he knows. It's hard to be logical, because he has strong feelings about what being a warrior means to him, but he has to be logical regardless. And that means learning more before making any decisions, this included.
Bucky is the only resource that Sokka has at the moment, and the whole point of sticking with him is to learn. Sokka can't dismiss his opinions, even if he kind of wants to, because that would be stupid. He's never going to find out what makes war here so different from the war he knows, unless he asks more questions. And ever since Sokka first met Suki on Kyoshi island, he has tried to be open-minded, and he has tried to learn as much as he can. Sokka knows how to humble himself and admit when he's wrong, or out of his depth, and he knows how important that is to improve — as a warrior and a person.
So with another glance at the basement, Sokka says:]
Okay. But you're going to have to explain exactly what a heavy bomber is.
[And more about the way war works here. Meanwhile, Sokka shuts the basement door and follows Bucky outside — also warily, because even though Crazy Neighbor Lady wasn't the worst of what he assumed he would encounter, he'd rather avoid her for the rest of his time here.]
We should go left.
[Crazy neighbor lady lives on the right.]