The afternoon off <Shai City, North Pole>

[nati]

The day began quietly as it always did with Nati, a quiet serene ritual to which she could relax and face the day in a good mood. It started with the old ceremony of massaging her feet and legs, to encourage the blood flow, and then placed them in hot water, her hands glowing in the water she focused on opening all of the blood vessels. Nati winced a little, the slight cramped feeling she always got when she did this. Next was the washing her face with a gentle soap and the application of soft perfume, and the combing of long russet hair with an old ivory comb.

Nati took her time when it came to braiding her hair, and carefully fixing in three white feathers behind her left ear. She put a hand on her large birth mark, starting at the corner of her left jaw, and with a sigh tugged her plait forward to hid it. Finally Nati dressed in her long skirt and woollen stop, edged with soft prized white fur.

“Good Morning, Mother and Father!” Nati said quite brightly, bowing her head slightly as dictated by her culture. Nati’s parents both looked up, smiling as breakfast starting to be served. Nati seated herself opposite her mother and drunk deep from her steaming hot cup of tea. Father was thumbing through some papers with one hand, raising the pipe to his lips with the other.

“Hmm, we need to watch our trading with the Kan-lee family, I believe that items are going missing between destinations..” He rambled about some numbers and other worries about his thriving business. Nati looked up when her brother stumbled in, looking tired and slightly dishevelled. Nati gave Kian a quick kiss on the cheek, and smiled warmly.

“Did Master Pakku train you into the ground this morning?” Nati asked casually.

“Yeah, and didn’t let up with the sarcastic quips either.” Kian reached out for a small loaf of bred. Nati shrugged, helping herself to some porridge and dried fruits.

“Oh Nati, can you be home for lunchtime today? I was hoping for us to go to the market and get your Grandmother a present before we went to visit her.”

“I’ll only be doing the morning class, I was able to get the afternoon off” Nati said, looking forward to the visit. Breakfast was eaten in relative silence until Nati had to dash off to the healer’s hut for the morning lesson.

Nati walked briskly along the icy pavements, nodding and hailing good morning to people she knew well.

“Miss Nati!” a small voice cried from a short distance away. Nati glanced over her shoulder, then bent down to sweep the young girl into her arms. Jerra threw her arms about Nati’s neck.

“I didn’t realise you were now in the morning class!”

“My mama had me moved up yesterday.” Jerra replied, shifting to get herself comfortable as Nati carried on walking quickly to the healer’s hut, a good quarter hour walk from her large home. The pair made it to the hut early, and Nati fetched the large wooden carving they would use to pinpoint certain chi channels, and then Nati would conduct a basic reading and writing lesson, a new duty recently added.

The morning passed quickly and without any trouble, minding the fact the one of the younger girls managed to spill ink over her parka, to which Nati managed to bend out using some water.

Nati stepped out of the hut, stopping to breathe in the crisp air and forget about her current problems in life. She then carried on walking along side the canal, causally watching the small water bender powered gondola floating along.

[nati]

Nati took pleasure from walking slowly, smiling to familiar faces and sometimes raising and arm to wave to distance faces travelling along the barge. She watched a herd of children storm past, chattering and shouting about something. Nati for a moment, felt a pang in her stomach, wondering when she’d finally be blessed with a child. And of course when thought about Nati couldn’t seem to keep the attention of a young man for a while, her pretty face attracted them, but her in-confidence and stuttering made sure they didn’t stick around for long.

Nati arrived back home in a slightly gloomy mood, soon to be lifted with her mother’s bright attitude and infectious charm. She eased off her parka, hanging it from a small peg near the doorway.

“What’s for lunch?” Was all Nati asked as she stepped into the living area, about one step lower than the entrance way.

“Some left over meat stew with some fresh bread.” Mother sat down at the low table, serving steaming, delicious stew. It was just the two of them at this time in the day, Kian was out somewhere, probably ice skating, whilst Father was out packing crates and overseeing his business. It seemed surprising that he still actually kept his hands in the business like that; he had enough man power to do the rest.

Mother and daughter sat quietly chatting about recent events in the large family, though Luqen had a small surprise to spring on Nati.

“Your cousin Kamanirk is pregnant!”

“Wonderful! How far?”

“She’s missed about 3 cycles I think, she’s wishing for a boy” Mother smiled, and Nati looked overjoyed at this news.

“I guess we need to get our looms busy then.” Nati said with a soft smile, already arranging the pattern and colours in her head. They finished lunch, and chatted a while longer, Nati talking about her morning in the lesson and Luqen only reported the mess the cook left in the kitchen after breakfast. Nati cleared away lunch, and the pair donned their heavy parkas and they left the house, heading towards the main market.

[taartoq]

Padma hummed as her graceful, delicate fingers wafted over the selection of sea grapes in the market stand. The aroma was strong and wonderful to those who enjoyed the flavor and scent of sea grapes, and their freshness from the morning's harvest was evident in their rich, bold green color.

Meanwhile, Taartoq stood away from the stand, hands in sleeves, as he patiently stood beside his wife and watched her take her sweet time selecting groceries. He reflected on why he had chosen to come along with her this fine day. She was one for quality, but not as much so as Taartoq, so she would naturally spend a decent amount of time looking over merchandise for fatal flaws.

He may have sighed and rolled his eyes a few times, but Taartoq was patient for the most part. The marketplace was booming that early afternoon period as always.

Gondoliers made their way down the canals, people strode on the icy pathways, children played ice marbles and pretended to be warriors. Taartoq wasn't a fan of large crowds, but he didn't much care as long as he wasn't seperated from his wife in this midday rush. She soon made her decision and purchased the sea grapes, placing the thin, low-quality buckskin sheet wrapping the produce into in the pouch draped over her shoulder.

Padma turned her elongated oval face to her husband, "All right, dear. Let's look around a little longer, dear." Her tone was soft and sweet, the dusky brown lips gracing her small mouth covered with a thin layer of balm that cast a near-transparent pink hue on her lips. She batted the dark eyelashes of her almond-shaped eyes, the pale azure pupils settling on Taartoq's parka-clad slender figure. "If we must.", he said with an almost unnoticeable nod. It wasn't his favorite plan, but he had nothing better to do at home. Except maybe practice waterbending or read a book.

[nati]

Nati is grateful for the extra lays on her feet, the cold nips at her nose and ears. Nati helps her mother out into the street, holding onto her walking stick as Luqen buttoned up her thick cerulean parka, and took her walking stick firmly. Luqen was very healthy, but had suffered a leg injury in the Siege Of the North, a slight unpleasant reminder. Nati made sure her mother walked daily, and eased any pain with her own hands.

Mother and daughter linked arms and made their way to the thriving market. The smell of fish is the most overpowering resident smell amongst the many the market has to offer. If it was something Nati loved, it was loosing herself in the crowds, looking over charms and making agonizing choices over the smallest of matters.

Lugen squeezed her arm and then pointed to a familiar stall. It was pilled up with animal pelts, some treated and cut to a fine finish, others neatly rolled into small packages and such. Nati waved to her cousin, a stocky man in his late forties, handing over the ware to customers. He stopped to wave briefly before going back to arguing with a customer about prices or something.

“Nati, how about we get your father some sea grapes? He is very fond of them!” Luqen pointed to the stall where a young couple were making their choice. Nati looked at the woman twice, and thought she looked familiar. Luqen hobbled over to the stall, and picked a random handful from the top. Nati suddenly smiles at Padma.

“Excuse me, but you work in the healer’s hut?” Nati’s expression appears to be a friendly, welcome one and most react pleasantly to her, depending if Taartoq’s patience wishes to be stretched anymore.

[taartoq]

Padma lifted her dainty left palm to her chest, "Why, yes I do...I thought you looked familiar for a second. Nati, right?" She knew the girl somewhat, pairing her face with her name. A demure smile came to her face and she swept a few strands of her waist-length black hair away from the rim of her hat and out of her face.

"I would like to introduce you to..." Padma quickly inched backward to stand side-by-side with her husband, standing two inches below him in height. She placed her hand on Taartoq's back and pushed him forward softly. He complied, but only so as not to slip and fall over forward from the push. While Taartoq grumbled softly inside, Padma continued, "...My husband, Taartoq. He is an archivist."

Taartoq knew he had to be patient, as Padma saw one of her friends and was bound to talk for a lengthy period of time. "It's nice to meet you.", he said along with a stiff, abrupt bow. She seemed like a nice woman, but Taartoq's high-society upbringing had caused him to regretfully be a bit discriminatory toward lower-class citizens. He never showed this trait, though, keeping it well-hidden because he was ashamed he could think this way unintentionally. He knew Padma hadn't a prejudiced bone in her body, and he admired her greatly for this quality.

Taartoq suddenly noticed one of Padma's brothers off in the distance. He didn't quite know which one it was, because to him, they all looked the same; tall, hulking, and overweight, and each one of them would tease Taartoq for being the kind of person he was. Taartoq was inherently tall and slender, granted a slightly feminine willowy shape, thus not being the ideal for a warrior of his people. This didn't matter to Taartoq, since he never aspired to being a warrior in his life. A master waterbender, maybe, but never an elite warrior.

"So, how are things? Oh, is this your mother? I can see a family resemblance.", Padma chimed, following up with a slight giggle. Taartoq let out a breath, visible in the cold, crisp air of the North Pole. He knew they'd be there awhile, and Padma's brother would inevitably come to say hello.

[nati]

Nati's eyes light up with a pleasant expression, and her hands slip into her sleeves on the pretense of looking demure and acceptable, though her hands were actually starting to feel numb. She nods once, signaling that Padma's guess was correct about her name. Nati had faint memories of Padma, a smile here and there, but she rarely saw her at the healing hut, and if a shift was shared, it was normal always too busy for the exchanging of personal information. Meeting new people delighted Nati when she thought she knew so many.

"Padma? If my memory is correct!" Nati's teeth slightly press on the top of her lip as Padma inches back and pushed her husband forward. Nati quickly bows back, a bit deeper than Taartoq's, short curt bow. Nati let her gaze slid over Taartoq, he was finely dressed and so was Padma, with her soft features and delicate hands, was quite the artic beauty. Nati studied their features guessing them to be roughly in her age group, perhaps give or take a couple years. Maybe it was Nati being over senstive, but did she get the faint feeling that Taartoq...was a little impatient? She put it down to the chill settling in her legs, and shifted on the stop to keep the blood flowing. "A pleasure."

Luqen was had just finished paying for her sea grapes and had slipped a small packet into her bag, and then hobbled over to Nati's side, resting a little heavily on her cane. Luqen smiled to Padma, and inclined her head in respectful greeting. Nati laced her arm through her mother's free arm.

Nati smiles again, reveling a set clean teeth, not perfectly straight but not detracting from Nati's prettiness. "Why yes everything is well! We are just enjoying some shopping before we visit my grandmother." Nati runs a hand over a braid, a comforting sort of habit. "I guess you are out for similair reasons?" Nati adds a small laugh, feeling a rush of warmth through her body, enjoying making small talk with another woman her age. She then places a gloved hand on her mother's shoulder, a fond gesture. "Yes! This is my mother. Mother this is Padma and her husband Taartoq, she is a healer at my station and Taartoq is an archivist."

"I am Luqen, lovely to meet you Padma." Luqen says politely. "I see you share a fondness for sea grapes dear, very good for a sore throat if boiled..." Nati, with quick skill turns the conversation back to Padma, she knows only too well that once her mother hits a tangent, she is unlikely to stop.

"I trust your morning hasn't been too taxing? I helped with the early class this morning, and my, the children can have such energy at sun rise!" Nati chuckled.

[taartoq]

"Oh, no, not at all. Neither Taartoq or I were to go to work this morning, so it was peaceful." Padma stated as she threw a friendly smile to Luqen. Her head tilted to the left as she smiled, as was typical, and the folds of skin by her eyelids creased a bit. Taartoq offered an unconvincing half-smile to the woman and nervously looked her way to see if Padma's brother was near. Padma locked her arm with Taartoq's, taking a hint from Nati, and she felt Taartoq jittering slightly. Rather than ask if he was okay when she looked at his distracted expression, she looked back at the two women and said, "Oh, yes, Luqen, I agree. Sea grapes are good for many other things too."

Taartoq unhooked his arm from Padma and slid it around her back, placing his hand on her waist. Such a move wouldn't limit Taartoq's movement as before, which settled his nerves slightly. Padma looked back at her husband and smiled, "I came here looking for fresh eel to make eel broth tonight. It's one of Taartoq's favorites, you know." She exclaimed, gesturing with one hand while the other rested on her purse. She suddenly appeared a bit more sly as she leaned in toward Nati and moved her spread hand against the side of her mouth, whispering, "They say it gives a man virility."

She placed her hand over her mouth and giggled as her husband's face flushed with color. "Dear...", he said, clinching his jaw, "That's not why I like it..." Taartoq rolled his eyes and placed both hands behind his back, attempting to look unscathed by his wife's embarassing comment.

[nati]

Nati has no idea if to laugh or cringe, she giggles at the daring boldness of Padma, and feels a warmth spread through her body. Nati has always been a social creature and enjoys simple conversation, and it seemed she had found a good gossip in Padma.

“Yes, well there is always that Padma!” Nati smiles, a slight flush of colour on her cheeks, she leans forward to whisper. “I heard my mother used the same trick to get me and my brother!”

Nati feels a slight squeeze on her arm, a sublte message from her mother that they need to be going. Nati glances to her mother out of the corner of her eyes, nodding her head ever so slightly.

“Padma, it shames me to say this but my mother and I have an appointment to keep, we need to be moving on, but it would be lovely to catch up with you another time.” Nati’s tone is at first regretful, then lightens up at the suggestion of another meeting.

“It would be a pleasure if you and your husband would join us for dinner one evening.” Luqen added, her crinkled eyes shining with fondness.

[taartoq]

Padma laughed at Nati's retort, and while Taartoq rolled his eyes again, he couldn't help but smirk. His wife was a bold one, somewhat of a trickster, at that. Sometimes, she was a joy to be around, but she could be downright embarrassing if she felt like it. However, her lighthearted attitude could do wonders for Taartoq's normally high-strung disposition.

"Why, we would be delighted to join you, Luqen," said Padma, a smile gracing her lips. She bowed slightly while her husband stood behind her, a distracted gaze present in his sky-colored orbs. He no longer saw Padma's brother meandering about, and he was glad. He didn't feel much like being chided that day. Right now, he just wanted to go home, which would happen soon enough.

Taartoq and his wife then waved goodbye to Nati and Luqen, Padma saying farewell to her new friend while Taartoq sighed in relief. He could finally go home this fair afternoon and do something enjoyable. Freedom at last.

The two walked away from the mother and daughter, Padma retaining a natural swishing motion in her slender yet curvy hips and Taartoq with his normal stuffy, stilted stride. He turned to his wife, exasperatedly looking her straight in the face. "Dear, did you have to say that to her? And her mother, even?"

Padma giggled, placing her mitt-covered hand over her mouth and closing her eyes. "Honey...", she said while interrupting herself with another giggle, "...I was just being silly. You know that."

Taartoq held the same exasperation in his facial expression and voice. "Yes, dear, but you know that isn't the reason why I like eel broth."

Padma turned her face away from Taartoq, looking straight ahead as she walked, "Of course not..." A sly grin entered her face as she continued, "It's why I like it."

Taartoq stopped right in his tracks, his face flushed with color. Padma's giggles erupted into a louder cackle as the two continued in the crowd. Soon, the tip of Padma's fur-lined azure hat and the top of Taartoq's raven-colored hair seemed to disappear into the throngs of people in the marketplace, headed home for a comfortable evening together.

-Taartoq has left this thread-

[nati]

“She seemed to be very nice Nati, but her husband…very far off, almost rude!” Luqen commented as mother and daughter made a quick purchase at a shall, hiding the small present away in her parka pocket. Nati shrugged, placing a hand on her mother’s waist as they walked, to keep her cane dependent mother up right.

“I wouldn’t think so, maybe he’s not good with meeting new people.” Nati offered another explanation. “I certainly suffer the same problem! Oh, when is this large party going to be held?” Nati turned her head to her mother, one plait falling across her front.

“In about 2 weeks I believe, we need to buy you a new outfit for then.”

“Why?” Nati smiled, asking rather innocently. Luqen threw Nati a mischievous plotting look, making Nati’s face drop. “Oh not that topic again! You’ll have grandchildren soon enough! Kian is trying his best to win that girl over!”

Luqen smiled knowingly, pressing on. “I think you want to be settled, and why not see if there is a handsome young warrior at the party, we’ll be inviting a lot of families with sons over.”

Nati rolls her eyes, meaning no offence, to which Luqen laughs.

“We’ll see mother, we’ll see.” Nati finally says.

-Nati has left the thread!-