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Post by misui on Nov 15, 2008 12:17:14 GMT -5
The odd girl seemed to be her usual self, pointing out the obvious in the worst way possible. She groaned a little inwardly, she'd been hoping that the gossip would die down but it seemed like some people just couldn't leave well enough alone. How far spread could this possibly be? Surely Desna only knew because she spent some time in the healing huts, outside of the huts who else would beleive such blatant and yet true gossip. Misui chose to slid past the rumors and instead she moved herself closer to Ryota and rolled her eyes at the younger girl. " You know how people like to talk about nothing. "It was a true statement, weather they were correct or not she had no need to divulge, she knew the extent of her flirting with Ryota went a little beyond the cultural norms, but they were in love and it all worked it's self out so there was no real reason to make badger mole hills into ant colonies.
Aden seemed a little more cut off from the gossip of the village, he simply congratulated them and Misui smiled, aside from a bit of single mindedness he was a rather nice boy. " Thank you Aden." Now her attention was back on the two of them, it was odd to see either of them social but maybe that was what made it work. " Speaking of, have you two known each other long?" It didn't seem like too prying a question, after all, they were dancing a while ago weren't they? If they weren't dating then they were at least sweet on one another. It would only make sense.
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Post by desna on Nov 15, 2008 12:45:18 GMT -5
Aden seemed dumbstruck that people could fall in love so illogically, it was slightly amusing to know that there as someone with a similar frame of mind that she had. Marriage was too perminant, too binding, you have to live with people and everything changes because of it. Of course she'd have to more into the city, that would mean her plants would die. No one would want to face the walk across the tundra to preserve her grandparents home and a bunch of vegetation.
She continued to sip on her tea rather impassively, watching the couple seemingly to fawn over one another without saying or doing anything. They emitted that creepy lovely lovey feeling that newly engaged people seemed to give off in waves. It was frightening really.
Though Misui seemed to be leading back towards a topic she tried to avoid previously, What was it with healers, they had this innate desire to get dirt on every one but insinuating that she and Aden were..... Desna choked on the tea and glanced towards Aden, Ryota and Misui in turn, they were kidding right. " A couple weeks ago, we're friends...." She looked at Aden a little strained " Right...?"
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Post by nati on Nov 16, 2008 10:32:46 GMT -5
Nati nodded as Taartoq made his reply, and she wondered if he had changed greatly from the trip, though she lacked a close acquaintance with him to really know what he was like. She wasn’t normally one to take great dislike to people (but Saghani did appear to be an exception), she did find herself liking Taartoq, even with his slight pompous manner, the young noble was polite to her. Nati blinked, the word last word indeed having its strong impact. The realisation had just dawned on her at that moment, this strike back was aggressive, and she was aiding in that.
Suddenly a little sick to her stomach, Nati managed a weak kind of smile at Taartoq. She was a Healer, a very good one at that. Her art was meant to cure and treat wounds, but in healing her own men, she was helping kill lives on the opposite side. She didn’t know how to answer Taartoq.
“Peace, of course, that’s what we’re supposed to be about.” She replied, her eyes then darted across to watch Saghani depart. “And yet he’s determined to change all of that, foolish man.”
“I have only volunteered because my brother is going, to what I can to ensure he’ll come back, you understand.” She spoke softly to Taartoq, hoping and knowing somewhat he wouldn’t judge her so harshly. Most had been quite, respectful of her choice, she was an unmarried woman, she held a little more freedom of movement and decision, no husband to make her stay at home. She then glanced back at Miss Ukaleq and felt a quick pang of guilt, she was on the verge of rudely abandoning her!
“Taartoq, I was just chatting with Miss Ukaleq, I’m sure you know her, shall we make our way back to her?” She suggested, at least getting a group of them together would make talking easier and more pleasant.
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Post by ukaleq on Nov 16, 2008 18:17:03 GMT -5
Ukaleq had wandered some, leaving the side of the quiet, young Hebirei. Indeed, she did feel somewhat abanadoned by Nati and also by her Father. It was not his fault.. he did not know that Nati was one of the lead healers on this journey and would be just as busy saying her goodbyes. She turned towards the nearby fountain, the water rippling over the porcelain smooth surface of frosted ice and snow as it trickled down it's many layers. Her lips curled into a smile at the sight, watching the young children run about it, her heart strings tugging at the thought of poor Naira. Her younger sister, ten year old Naira was at home with her Mother and Brother, caring for the elder Quanah's burns. He was healing... decently, but an infection had set in and Mother needed an extra hand.
Celebrating the Water Tribe's successful defense against the Fire Nation was bittersweet for her, though she had done well to hide her concern. Ukaleq reached up a hand, her fingers tightly insulated in gloves of seal-gray, soft leather, to brush back a strand of gently curl dark hair away from her face as stepped forward. A low wall of densely packed snow encircled the fountain's area, opened in many spots to allow for passage of foot traffic. Unknown to her that Nati had just pointed her out, The young noblewoman moved forward to take one of the empty spots on the wall so that she might watch the running children and their mothers sit and chatter among each other.
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Post by ryota on Nov 17, 2008 10:54:19 GMT -5
Was the shoe now, in fact, on Aden's foot? It seemed so. Instead of talking about him and Misui (which he could honestly do all day with any random stranger), the focus could now be shifted on Aden and the friend by his side. Ryota, with all his "expertise" at perceiving traits in people, thought Desna did seem a bit shocked when Misui suggested the two may have been an item. Regardless of their relationship, Ryota smiled and replied to Aden's kind encouragement by shaking his hand.
"So yeah, you two? Eh?" Ryota would try his best attempt at joking around with Aden as their hands were still locked together. Just the fact that the two, who were both northerners, were spending time in each others' company in public made the southerner think there must have been some spark between them. It seemed to him like the mothers and fathers within the city wouldn't allow it otherwise, considering how he and Misui were regarded by Renji - and they were adults! He fully expected boys and girls would, by choice, segregate themselves to those who shared their gender during their childhood. After marriage came (at that surprisingly young age!), then things could be eased. Right?
Ryota was so confused at that point, but he tried to distract himself by keeping on with his little foolish jest toward Aden. Moving across the small circle of the four over to Aden's side, by now having let free of the waterbender's grip entirely, Ryota aimed to elbow the young man in the side. By now, he was just making things up as they went solely for the sake of humor. Ryota smirked, knowing it really wasn't like him to turn the tables like this. He still knew Aden may take it better than some, perhaps. "How come her neck is still bare?"
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Post by taartoq on Nov 17, 2008 11:49:22 GMT -5
Taartoq was a bit disappointed to see Nati was drawn in like the rest of the crowd, especially after she had acknowledged the very meaning of their people, denounced that officer, and rationalized her feelings away in the very same sentence. There was nothing left for him to say after that, except...
"Why do you think we stayed isolated for so long?" under his breath and through his teeth, Taartoq muttered right after Nati explained that young Miss Ukaleq had previously warranted her attention. Taartoq tilted his head slightly as he looked to the young woman sitting against the wall, hinting to Nati he didn't care much one way or another. She could do as she pleased and he wasn't going to stop her. There was nothing wrong with tearing herself away and speaking to her fellow human.
"Of course," he said, stepping aside and, in an elegant motion, extending his hand in Ukaleq's general direction, "lead our way." He had no reason to speak to the young woman, other than a swift eradication of boredom, but he would follow Nati either way.
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Post by aden on Nov 17, 2008 17:05:34 GMT -5
It seemed that very quickly the focus of the conversation had shifted from the newly betrothed couple onto himself and Desna. Misui's question was casual enough, but Aden was not so socially inept as to miss the implication. Upon Desna's answer he found himself nodding slightly in agreement as he added, "Sounds right."
However, despite their attempts to set the record straight on whatever perceived raltionship they had, Ryota seemed to continue with Misui's train of thought. He was joking, that much was obvious, but Aden felt a strange impulse to say something in retaliation. The young warrior caught himself, though, despite a joke about Ryota's back hair that was just waiting to slip out.
Instead he just forced out a good-natured smile and raised an eyebrow slightly. "It's not that cold out," he said, keeping his tone intentionally oblivious to Ryota's insinuation, "But if you'd like you may borrow my scarf." The last line he addressed to Desna and he tugged at the edge of the black scarf that was wrapped loosely around his neck.
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Post by misui on Nov 17, 2008 20:30:48 GMT -5
Misui couldn't help herself from smiling, they had all the signs of puppy love, denial, excuses, flushed cheeks at the mention of any sort of relationship. She often found this in her younger brother when she asked him about his female companions. It was really adorable, the return of the warriors breathed new life into the North, many young men came from the battle field to a pretty equal number of girls who found the strong battle hardened men some what attractive.
There was just something about success for the North that seemed to bring sparks forth to create couples, like herself and Ryota then the stoic Aden and the odd ball Desna. Honestly they would compliment one another, just like her own brash personality fit with Ryota's lackadaisical tendencies. She smiled and leaned herself on Ryota's arm snuggling herself up to him casually their hands still linked. No doubt the seeds of relationships were spread all over the North by now. Even though some fell apart, like the poor Heberei who's marriage was dissolved, she was sure that her own union with Ryota would last until they were both old and gray with grandchildren coming to visit them.
" How sweet of you" Misui offered to Aden with a bit of a playful smile, perhaps he hadn't even thought of engagement yet, he was old enough but there was nothing wrong with waiting. Sometimes if you wait patiently the right man just falls into your arms. She was going to make another comment about how the two of them were flushed, Desna more so then Aden but she allowed it to slip away. After all she felt she'd provoked the young couple more than was necessary for now. No doubt their parents would launch simular questions at them if they continued to be together as they were.
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Post by desna on Nov 17, 2008 20:32:13 GMT -5
It was all she could do to not chew the fat man out, a hand went to her neck defensively and she checked to make sure her dress was still the high collared one she'd put on. She had no intention of getting married! it was so constricting and confining, didn't they know how much she'd have to give up in exchange for that? It was frightening to even talk about it. In fact her eyes were on the area around them, planning her escape route should this turn sour. It was fairly obvious she wasn't comfortable with the conversation.
It wasn't that Aden was a horrible boy, not at all, he was a good FRIEND, sure she worried about him more than she thought possible, perhaps on par with her plants and Pikatti but he was just a friend, nothing more. She wouldn't allow it to come to anything more. Even if he was that cute boy she saw on the training feild sometimes she wouldn't want to get married, That sort of things raised more questions then it answered. It wasn't something you could just jump into and let the rest work it's self out. You needed to plan and people fretted over you for weeks and then your entire life was altered.
Aden seemed to handle the quip well enough though. She forced a bit of a smile and chuckled nervously, she rubbed the side of her neck, which was covered in a pale blue collar for her mini jacket. Though the moment she realized she was doing it she stopped putting her hand at her side. Since when did she do that? It seemed like one of Aden's usual gestures. " Nah, I'm warm enough." She said simply not wanting to say anything that would spark the conversation back up.
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Post by ryota on Nov 19, 2008 16:13:04 GMT -5
That certainly wasn't what he intended, to make Aden seriously offer his scarf over to Desna in case she were cold. To him, it sort of seemed like they took his words in the entirely opposite route than what he originally intended. He was certain some crack about 'bare necks' was a common quip up in the north, but it appeared that Aden took him seriously and Desna even more so. The girl even seemed nervous at what he said. Not quite the outcome Ryota wanted at all.
All things considered, Ryota smirked uneasily. He looked carefully between each of the other three folk locked in this conversation, wondering if there was any reason whatsoever to start worrying. Whatever was about to happen, he figured a good change of subject would allow for less of a potential offense toward anyone nearby. Aden, being a warrior and northern, probably had his ear talked off about the mission he probably would be joining in, but what else was there to be said? Maybe something pertaining more to Ryota himself? Suddenly, he was struck with exactly the key to solving everything. "So I heard Master Paco was going to the South Pole...you know, my home? I wonder if he's even there already."
Ryota had never personally met Master 'Paco' (who he so unabashedly referred to him as, due to complete ignorance), so he wouldn't know to pick him out of any crowd. It still brought him a bit of pride to think his home tribe was worth rebuilding, though. Maybe something substantial to return to with his wife Misui one day.
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Post by aden on Nov 19, 2008 21:40:08 GMT -5
Aden actually couldn't help but feel some twisted pleasure in Desna's discomfort throughout the conversation. Certainly he would agree with her in denying any sort of relationship, but Aden was used to this sort of ribbing between warriors and seemed to be able to handle it better than she did. In some ways it was small payback for her dragging him onto the dance floor against his will.
However, a strange look marred his features when Ryota mentioned Master 'Paco'. For a moment Aden wasn't sure what the Southern Warrior was talking about, but when he realized the mispronunciation he chuckled slightly. "It's Master Pakku," he corrected Ryota, "And I would imagine so. A ship powered by waterbenders can cover surprising distance."
Aden paused briefly and downed the remains of his mint tea in a quick gulp. He cast a look around them, taking a measure of the people milling around the tables to see if there were any more people he knew. And as he started to turn back, he also thought to ask, "So will you two be settling down in the North? Or are you making arrangements to regroup with the other Southern Tribe's warriors?"
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Post by misui on Nov 20, 2008 10:49:16 GMT -5
Misui decided to speak up to answer this one, at the very least it would be good to give the younger couple a bit of a rest, Desna's cheeks looked about ready to burst into flames, There was a small bit of satisfaction in this assessment, she knew enough about people and about love if her younger brother was anything to relate this too. If they weren't dating they soon would be from the look of it. Silly children in love, not yet ready to lay down the world to be together, who could blame them, they were only just starting to figure themselves out.
" We'd planned to Marry after a year if Ryota still has to go and fight, we'd be living in the South with Ryota's family." She smiled, a bit proudly at that, There was no shame what so ever in moving down there to raise a family. A lot of open space, no doubt his parents would be grateful to have him home. Not to mention she'd hate raising a family with someone who'd family she didn't even know. Especially after the mob scene a couple nights ago where Ryota was shoved head first into her large and extensive family.
But something stuck, were people going down South? She knew Pakku was, he'd delayed since the second siege was on the horizon, were the warriors returning home as well? " Did you hear anything about the Southern Warriors?" She asked pointedly a little curious herself.
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Post by desna on Nov 20, 2008 10:57:19 GMT -5
Desna frowned, Aden did very little to help dispel the fact that they weren't an item, everyone seemed to be assuming that of them recently, that big man out on the docks and now this lovey dovey couple seeming intent on shoving their relationship in everyone's face. She was only beginning to calm down the bright flush in her cheeks, it was a pain to say the least.
She looked at Aden, watching the slight confusion as he registered just who it was the southerner was talking about, some sort of quiet washed over her and she could feel her hear beginning to speed up, not quite, more like beat louder, a small flutter now and then. It was sort of a shock. On the one hand, the logical hand, she was about to have a stroke or a seizure or something and she didn't know it yet, on the other... perhaps she was in love.
There was only one thing she could do, leave and bury her head in snow until she came back to her senses. It seemed normal enough for crushes to develop, she'd just wait for it to go away so she didn't ruin her friendship and then her life. Nothing good ever came out of a relationship, she was living proof of that. " Hey Aden, I think I see a friend of mine, I'm gonna go dance? kay?" Desna sat down the Ice cup and gave him a smile, shooting similar ones to Misui and Ryota. " Nice meeting you two." And then she wandered off into the crowd feeling the need to clear her head, NOW.
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Post by nati on Nov 21, 2008 15:18:19 GMT -5
Nati picked up from the air around Taartoq that her answer hadn’t been most pleasing, and to her own great annoyance, she wondered why she wasn’t going to the South instead, there she could do so much more! Ukaleq’s father had thought she was going there as well…but her mind was made up, and she could not back out now, Dalla would left short handed with the younger healers, in which they planned to carry on with their training, and gain more field experience. Her peaceful life was going to have changed by tonight, the new robes her mother had made for her, for the lighter weather, and that she was going to be wearing pants instead of her dresses and skirts…
But Kian would not change his mind, he’d risked his life twice for the Tribe now, and now he seemed to have the taste of success, he was going to pursue it relentlessly. She sent a glare Saghani’s back disappearing through the crowd, and then nodded to Taartoq, carefully moving towards Ukaleq. She smiled pleasantly to Miss Ukaleq, hoping to veil her current emotions from the pair of them.
“I presume you know Taartoq, Miss Ukaleq?” Nati asked, all nobility knew each other, informally or so.
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Post by ryota on Nov 21, 2008 15:35:42 GMT -5
That was a surprise, even to him. Ryota hadn't really thought much about where he and Misui would live after that year was up; north or south, maybe even in the Earth Kingdom where they could be widely regarded as an odd foreign family no matter which city or town they decided to settle in. He seriously contemplated just living in the North Pole, because he'd have to return there anyway to reunite with his true love after the year was up. It was confusing to hear her say different - enough to make him widen his eyes, tilt his head, and raise his hand as if he would interrupt as he looked straight at Misui.
That in itself was interrupted when Desna decided to randomly leave. By now he knew he had offended her and had to apologize, but didn't think a similar departure from the small crowd would be polite at all. Likewise, he didn't want to leave Misui's side at the moment. If he found Desna later, he would apologize. Or...
"Er...sorry," Ryota scratched the back of his head, smiling uncomfortably as he looked at Aden, then at the spot where Desna used to be. "I was only kidding..."
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