[In a perfect world, Sokka would have had plenty of time to delve into learning all about modern utilities. He understands 1960's technology better than he did when he first arrived, but speculating about things like the most efficient way to access pipes in a building this large is still a little outside his skill set, as is guessing the nature of the possible backrooms in a store like this. Floor plans weren't high on his library research list; shopping hadn't been a priority, either. He might have been able to research department stores and related locations if he didn't spend several hours each weekday in school, which has significantly cut down his ability to learn practical things, but that would have attracted too much attention.
There's a moment, then, in listening to their conversation where Sokka thinks that maybe he should just stick to fighting. He was a planner, back in his world, but even in a place with enemies he understood, he messed up and made a judgment call that cost him — cost his dad — a lot. And here, he isn't fighting with warriors, and typical battle tactics won't work because the mannequins can't die. Sokka knows, because he tried hard to kill one.
But it's the mention of a back door that moves him from questioning his usefulness back into really thinking. He thinks of the Royal Palace back in Ba Sing Se, and how he managed to get inside that back door without anyone noticing, because he was dressed as a busboy. Hence, he abruptly blurts:]
We need disguises!
[Which, in retrospect, sounds like a non sequitur and probably also makes him seem a little ridiculous and/or stupid, because they're not hiding from humans, but that's fine. Sokka is used to that, and besides, the idea is relevant, so he continues explaining:]
The mannequins forget about us if they don't see us [There's a reason they haven't been hunted down in this furniture fort], so we need to disguise ourselves. Not as people. As objects. Boxes or clothes racks or furniture. Then we can go to any room we want.
[If they don't recognize them as human, then they might be able to sneak right by them. They're surrounded by objects they could potentially use for this. He could cut into these very sofa cushions to make a suit, for example.]
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There's a moment, then, in listening to their conversation where Sokka thinks that maybe he should just stick to fighting. He was a planner, back in his world, but even in a place with enemies he understood, he messed up and made a judgment call that cost him — cost his dad — a lot. And here, he isn't fighting with warriors, and typical battle tactics won't work because the mannequins can't die. Sokka knows, because he tried hard to kill one.
But it's the mention of a back door that moves him from questioning his usefulness back into really thinking. He thinks of the Royal Palace back in Ba Sing Se, and how he managed to get inside that back door without anyone noticing, because he was dressed as a busboy. Hence, he abruptly blurts:]
We need disguises!
[Which, in retrospect, sounds like a non sequitur and probably also makes him seem a little ridiculous and/or stupid, because they're not hiding from humans, but that's fine. Sokka is used to that, and besides, the idea is relevant, so he continues explaining:]
The mannequins forget about us if they don't see us [There's a reason they haven't been hunted down in this furniture fort], so we need to disguise ourselves. Not as people. As objects. Boxes or clothes racks or furniture. Then we can go to any room we want.
[If they don't recognize them as human, then they might be able to sneak right by them. They're surrounded by objects they could potentially use for this. He could cut into these very sofa cushions to make a suit, for example.]