Breeze <Ba Sing Se, Earth Kingdom>

[earthking]

An immediate, striking clap above his the Earth King's head brought forth the celeritous footfalls of a palace page. Who, after a few words from his Majesty, speed off with the swiftness of an airbender ahead of them. The Earth King, Bosco and their company followed behind at a steady and relaxed pace, arousing the attention of the royal palace guards who began marching from their watchful positions to intersect the five of them. Forming up in a rehearsed, square perimeter upon meeting them. Escorting them towards the dining hall.

The Earth King, and maybe even Bosco, was rather oblivious if not unmindful of the guards presence. Their function and appearance having been an ingrained part of his Majesty's life for possibly longer than he could recall. A sight as ordinary as simply waking up.

On the other hand, his attention was garnered by the antics of his pet, Bosco, and Xuan's young children. Despite the animal's teeth and sharp claws that his highness refused to have remove as Bosco grew older, he was anything but ferocious. Gentle and lethargic, always. But far more tamer than even the platypus bear he shared a remote kinship with. A kind hearted animal despite its size, as he watched its amiable attitude towards the children.

[xuan]

Xuan gave a short bow to the guards that walked with them, but only one of them gave enough attention to tilt his head slightly, the rest were much too alert to worry about a nobles gesture. All the same she smiled as her children enjoyed the company of the bear not seeming to notice the guards on all sides.

Jiang strained in her mothers arms, she wanted to walk with her brother, to be closer to Bosco. With a grunt from her and a laugh from her mother she was set on the ground, but her hand was held tight so she wouldn't fall over. She grabbed a handful of fur around the bears middle and used that for as much support as she did her mothers hand, the bear didn't seem to notice.

""What shall we be having?" Bo asked the king as he scratched Bosco behind his ear. the small boys stomach growled and he fought the blush of embarressment that wanted to rush to his face.

[earthking]

"Why a feast of course!" His Majesty cordially exclaimed. Arms throwing hands skyward in celebration. "As any dinner meal should be, yes?" Simling and nodding warmly.

"From the moment one breaks their fast in the morning, the portion of a meal should gradually increase." Extrapolating his opinion on food as the company made their way up the stone stairs into the palace.

"It is advisable that the morning meal be light," he began. Holding his left hand, with a pointed forefinger into the air as he continued.

"Light enough to help wake one's body but not perturb the belly. The noon day meal need be a little heavier. More food to match the belly's growing hunger. Yet, not enough to weigh one done upon the meal's completion for it is only midday and there would still be much more to accomplish."

The Earth King let his left hand drop. Raising his right hand then, open palm up, as he began to expound the last leg of his culinary philosophy. "Which brings us to the matter of the evening meal. Likely combining the portions of the morning's and midday's meal in itself if not having its own portions as well. This meal not only satiates the belly until the coming morrow but signals to the body that it should slow down. For in the evening tide we should begin to relax ourselves, preparing are body for that night's eventual slumber."

Though realizing he did not answer Xuan Yen as she likely wanted, His Majesty nodded to himself. Considering that what he gave was a good enough answer to start with, himself noting how he carefully and deliberatly left out the mention of inbetween meal and snacks. Not just because she had young children present in so much as Bosco hearing was no short of astounding when words such as "snacks," "pastries," "sweets" and "desserts" where ever mentioned in his vicinity.

The Earth King's culinary philosophy, though not always followed by himself, allowed his mind more than enough time to oraganize a speech. A speech of what he would now inform Xuan Yen about what their meal would consist of while carefully avoiding words that would immediately incite a cheering roar and salivation from Bosco that would then send the Grizzly Bear charging through the guards and into the dining hall, if not into one of the kitchens, before everyone.

[xuan]

Xuan smiled and nodded her head slightly, "As wise a philosophy as any your majesty, your ways are good enough to tutor a child," He complimented him, but watched her step closely so as to not stride too close to the king, she had been in the presence of royalty before and even standing too close brought the unkind attention of guards.

"A feast, yay" Bo clapped his hands and twirled in a small circle before walking with a small bounce to his step next to Bosco. Jiang was giggle too, probably not as much to the thought of a feast as to the sight of her normally formal brother bouncing around like the child he was.

"You really are too kind, your highness, to have tolerated my children through the afternoon, I know they can be a bit overwhelming," she smiled, apologizing for Bo's behavior under her silk words. She realized only now that she should have been apologizing for her behavior as well since she had done little more than rest the afternoon away with Bosco in the shade and the breeze. She felt slightly embaressed now that she realized her fualt, but she felt that there was nothing to be done about it. If the king did not vocalize his disappointment in her behavior she would keep her shame to herself and leave things at that. She planned to be extra conversational over dinner so as to make up for her afternoon.

[earthking]

Today is too good of a day for that! His Majesty told himself.

Half turning back to glimpse as his entourage of Bosco, noble lady Xuan Yen and her two children. The ever present retinue of personal guards, on the other hand, vaguely acknowledged as always.

Eating the sound of their footfalls, the soft carpeting of the Islamic green walkways gave the spacious yet empty hall a ethereal silence. Quiet and deathly as a mausoleum if not for the activity and scampering of his Bosco and Xuan Yen's children that told there were life still to be had. Like the chittering birds in a graveyard. Unconcerned with the realms of the dead when life was still to be had.

Striding across the link of walkways, a system of bridges atop the marble lake of dining room floor, the Earth King led them out of the dining hall. Cooks, servers and other attendents briefly as they watched their ruler walk past the table and turn down a corridor. Understanding, they bustled into activity and followed. Trailing behind his majesty and accompany entourage or dashing off into outlying corridors to head them off before the diner arrived at their intended destination.

So swift and expedient in their duties that once the Earth King finally arrived at the balconied verandah overlooking the royal garden he was greeted to an already established setting. Table and chairs dressed without the slightest visible wrinkle. Candles decorated and lit while the sun slowly set in the background. Unblemished silverware and dishes already in place and servers standing at attention.

Yes, his highness thought. This is far much better, taking in the continual caresses of soft breezes of today's lively, balmy weather.

This would be how the evening meal ending a most excellent day should be spent, eyeing the royal gardens as the scent of nectar wafted in his nose. Maybe if they were lucky, Xuan Yen's children would be entreated to the melodious song of the nightingale that had taken up residence in the gardens.

[xuan]

Xuan Yen watched as the dining room passed and they ddin't stop, she was curious as to their location, but she knew better than to ask, besides it became clear enough soon when they stepped out onto a balcony overlooking the gardens. It was a beautiful sight and her breath was taken away for a second, but was brought back when Jiang giggled and ran towards the set table, her brother trailing behind and Bosco at his side.

"Your highness, you honor me highly with such a wonderous view," she bowed deeply to the king, truely moved by the sight of the garden. She took her set to his right, a chair being held out to her by a servant. Two other servants pulled out chairs for her children as well and they sat to Xuan's right with jiang closest and Bosco between the children.

"Mama," Jiang said with a smile as she pointed to hummingbirds that flited around the balcony, giggling as she did. Bo smiled too and bowed his head silently to the king. Even when he brought his head up he kept his eyes closed as he felt the soft wind caress his bare cheeks.

[earthking]

"It only makes sense," His Majesty interated at Xuan Yen's remark and the deep bow from her and her children. "That such a pleasantly wonderful day as this caused by both good weather and good new friends," adjusting his crown and glasses amidst the light breezes, "should be appropriately met and blessed with just a pleasant a parting."

Offer an out reach palm to the view beside's him. The table and seating arrangements where all could look out onto the garden and slowly waning light of a sunset without having to turn around. Merely turn their heads to one side at most for a full view.

"Is that not correct, Bosco?" Turning towards his beloved pet who was now having a bib cautiously tied around him by one of the servants, Paws clapping in imitation of his master, knowing that action often brought food soon afterwards. With a smile and a chuckle His Majesty followed suit, a single clap to signal the beginning of the meal. Servants slinking forward with tea and the first course of appetisers and soup.

[xuan]

Xuan Smile, "Well met, your highness, I couldn't have said it better myself," She inclined her head as tea was poured for into a small cup. She stopped a servant and requested that her children be given milk instead of tea, she probably would never get over the fear that Jiang or Bo would tip the scalding water onto their sensitive skin.

"Do your priests make the wind, like the air people?" Bo asked out of the blue, thinking back to when they had first arrived that afternoon. He had heard of the air noamdes from his grandfather and their existnace was kind of a fasination to him even though he was tols they were all gone. Bo always wished he would met an air bender one day.

"Bo, you know better than that," Xuan gave Bo a bit of a harsher look than she was used to before she took a sip of tea. She tolerated a lot, but she would probably never forgive her husbands father for filling Bo's head with Air bender nonsense.

[earthking]

"It is quite alright," His Majesty interrupted Xuan Yen with a mere smile and dismissing wave at what he assumed to be a scolding for the boy's mere impertinence.

Indeed, he told himself, it would be a grand thing to actually have a chance to meet even one of those sky people, longingly looking at the palace walls. A traditionally self-imposed imprisonment he continued. One his own heir would likely maintain as well when his time to rule over the kingdom of Earth arrives.

"No young Bo," he began as a servant returned with a porcelain pot, much like the one used tea, full of milk for Xuan Yen's children. "Unfortunately, the priests lack such an ability like that of the Air Nomads. However they are quite adept in seeking and requesting the assistance of the wind itself. At times communicating with wind spirits themselves, such as Dong Feng and his sibling Din. Though not always at the same time"

[xuan]

Xuan set her eyes on the table, a little embarassed of herself for having her scolding scolded. Bo, though pleased to not have his mothers glare, felt a little sad that the priests weren't Airbenders. Though before his hopes fell to far an impossible idea entered his head, an idea only a youngling would believe possible.

"I'm going to be an Airbender, when I get older. And I'll come and make wind for kite flying for you any time, your highness," Bo smiled at the king, believing that one day it would truely be possible for him to do such a thing. Jiang giggled as she took a sip of milk making a "ya-ya" sound that was often her words of approval.

Xuan opened her mouth to say it wasn't possible, but thought better of it and smiled at her boy, "That would be a lovely thing, dear,"

[earthking]

"A remarkable thing indeed," his majesty agreed without skepticism in his tone. He meant nothing of it as an obvious impossiblity and was merely indulging the boy. "I certain you'll be a favoured guess at kite flying festivals in the city if not throughout the kingdom."

Only the young, the Earth King smiled broadly. Only the young could have such idealistic hopes and dreams, looking and the soft smoothness of his own hands and palms unaccoustomed to labor while he plucked a pair of chopsticks from a servant.

Once upon a time, he himself had imagined being gifted as well. Becoming an earthbender when the time came. He would become a great and powerful earthbender king as those of legend and history. Maybe even one powerful enough to lift a section of the palace wall into the air with little strain. Using the palace wall as his own personal training weight whenever he practiced bending or exercised. Not that he hardly did either now anyway.

Alas, the Gods of Heaven and Earth did not decree such a thing for his highness. Nevertheless he intended to become a great king as befitting his heritage, bender or not.

[xuan]

Bo smiled wide thinking of bending the wind for festivals. He took a big bit of the food on his plate, his smile inplace. Jiang played with her food more than she ate it, she pushed rice in little circles, eating some every now and than. Xuan payed little attention to it, the baby wasn't expected to have nearly the etiquet she or her son where, she would learn soon enough anyway.

"Your highness, you have been so kind to us today, I could not have asked for a better afternoon," she bowed her head a little. She had already finished eating the portions she had recieved and was now slowly drinking her second cup of tea.

"Aih," Jiang said giggling with a word that almost sounded like 'Air' as she pointed at her messy plate.

"No, honey that's-" Jiang stopped. She had already gotten up to start cleaning Jiang off when she looked down at the girls plate. Three spirals sat on her plate, the Air nomad insignia. Xuan was wide-eyed, she wasn't sure if she should be happy that her child was obviously aware of their conversation or scared that she could draw a symbol she had never seen.

[earthking]

"Oh?" The Earth King leaned over to see. Intrigued by the wide eye expression in the noblewoman Xuan Yen's eyes as the party progressed into the main course of their dinner meal. It seemed that the little toddler had scrawled or created something on her plate of rice as she played an ate it at her own leisure.

"Hmm," for a moment lifting up the lens of his rimless glasses that often settled securely onto his nose.

"Quite an impressive medium for a work of art," chuckling as he inspected the child's pattern of rice. "It looks rather close," he began, "if not accurate representation to the Air Nomads' traditional symbol for airbending. Rather than the Northern and Southern Water Tribes' traditional symbol for waterbending," he concluded. "Though both symbols do use spirals in their work."

"Quite well astute for one only so little," smiling at little Jiang. "She may be able to come a great a scholar as your Bo as well."

[xuan]

Xuan looked at the king her mouth still in a rather unflattering codfish shape. She was shocked that he could be so calm, Jiang was two, hardly capable of knowing about things she had never heard of.

"Ye-yes, your highness," she stammered finally, trying to gracefully accept his compliment, "Th-thank you," she really had had enough embaressment for one day. First Bo and his Air bending dreams and now jiang drawing symbols on her dinner plate.

"Jiang is going to be a bender to, see, that's what it means," Bo nodded proudly at decoding his sisters rice swirls. "She wants to life in the clouds like her big brother," he smiled at the little girl and she giggled back while Xuan simply returned to her seat a little dazed. She didn't want to discourage her children, but nonsense was not really something that had been tolerated in her family and this was pure nonsense; there were no more air benders... were there?

Xuan looked at her colling tea, trying to make sense of her own children, a part of her simply wanted to dismiss their actions as childhood fantasies, but something in her told her that they weren't all wrong.
"Air benders, huh? not possible," she said under her breath as she took last sp of luke warm tea.

[earthking]

Adorable yet so bittersweet, his majesty, the Earth King believed.

On the surface, his face maintained a hopeful smile though wanting to sigh in pity of the children's dreams. Aspirations that were indeed absurd and unaccomplishable as he knew, just as the children's mother, Xuan Yen, knew and understood as well. But why stifle such desires in the young so early?

Indeed, he did understand what Xuan Yen was doing what was only correct and apporiate but such ambitions would as the children had would eventually burn themselves out. Forgotten or redirected if not finally understood as folly as many of his own dreams were so that he would instead fuifill his given role.

"Me? I always wanted to be an earthbender," his majesty joined. Encouraging if not subtly redirecting. "I always," turning his left hand into a person, ring finger behind his palms as the other fingers were used as limbs, "wanted to see how far and high I could jump using it. Like in the story of the one kid who bounced himself to the moon with his earthbending," he chuckled.