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Post by ryota on Jul 14, 2008 16:53:05 GMT -5
So he finally got one. A fragment of soapstone, round, smooth, and polished to perfection rest in his palm. The cool shades of the powder blue stone contrasted the warm caramel hue of his skin, but the meaning of the object itself lay in much more than its icy appearance. Ryota, having purchased it for a fair price from a local vendor, was going to give it to Misui. A sign of the promise he made to never forget her, even if he left her side for the Earth Kingdom in the near future. In so many ways, it was identical in theme and purpose to a betrothal pendant.
The problem? He had no clue what to engrave on its surface.
Ryota considered a few options over and over in his head. Maybe her totem, perhaps some lovely writing, maybe a spiritual or tribal emblem? His first suggestion wasn't exactly the best, since he didn't even know her guardian spirit, so he was much more likely to choose one the other two. Still, the symbol of the Water Tribes or that of waterbenders seemed so overdone. He'd seen plenty of women wearing the exact same insignia on a necklace, and dearly wanted something more unique for his beloved Misui.
Thus, as he sat on a bench nearby the marketplace, he was lost in thought. The day had descended to late afternoon, but the sun still lit up the sky. People rushed all along the walkways before him, buying or selling wares, but he appreciated the moment of rest where he could think things over. That stone would probably lead to so many sleepless nights, but he hoped he wouldn't have to take it back to the Earth Kingdom with him.
Ryota sighed. Leaning forward as he sat, he couldn't take his eyes off the small, round disc. He would rub it, examine it closely, and flip it around a bit, but the least of these eventually lead to a rather embarassing moment. As he tried to roll it across the backs of his knuckles absently, it fell freely right off his hand and casually rolled onto the icy walkway before him. "Aw, crap..."
Eyes widening, muscles tensed, Ryota quickly made his way into the sparse crowds in search for that poor little stone. He didn't want to lose it soon, nor did he want it to stumble some unsuspecting elderly person. He hoped all his "sorry"s and "excuse me"s could bring him to his destination. No luck so far...
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Post by sokka on Jul 14, 2008 21:50:30 GMT -5
Shona was deep in though. He was tired from work. Smelt of fish and his daughter's wedding was approuching in a weeks time. He couldn't help feel a sense of loss. Kokomi was grown up, Kavik was...well he didn't know what Kavik was. Perhaps a memory or ghost of a past he wish he had control over.
As of late he had been keeping busy at work and helping Halona at his house. She was still wide as a whale and would be bursting soon. A smile crossed his face when the though of the new baby reached him. He will try again with this one. Perhaps he will make a better son this time.
He also stepped on something he looked down to see a piece of soapstone roll right in front of him. He elder fisherman picked it up and fiddle with it. It was very nice perfect for a necklace he looked around to see if it had an owner. Then the young man wondering around looking for something. He walked up and tapped his shoulder.
"Are you looking for this lad?"
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Post by ryota on Jul 16, 2008 1:20:56 GMT -5
Sweeping the area with his eyes, bent over so slightly and moving so slowly that the people in his midst were often led to take plenty of detours as he looked. Not one person approached him, breaking his attention to ask what was wrong, that is until a kindly-looking man of middle age tapped him on the shoulder. Standing up straight, he turned to see the large fellow holding his desired stone right before him. Ryota had to smile, but held off on hugging this veritable stranger until he knew him better. He was just so happy to find it before it got lost or hurt someone!
"Hey thanks," Ryota said, holding out his palm in hopes the man would return it. The southerner didn't see a reason why he wouldn't, unless he was one of those greedy sorts who expected a fiscal reward for no apparent reason. That just wouldn't make sense. "Yeah, I was looking for that. I'm..."
Ryota paused, scratching the back of his head. It was the first time he'd told his intention to anyone, but to say it to a stranger was all but inevitable that day. He hadn't seen anyone he knew since he left the barracks much earlier, not even Misui herself. It felt strange, but he also found difficulty trying to explain its exact purpose. Oh, well - there goes nothing! "It's for a girl I like. It's sort of for a betrothal pendant...kind of."
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Post by sokka on Jul 16, 2008 13:47:22 GMT -5
The fisherman handed him back the stone happy that he found the owner. He smiled at the young man softly. He seem to treasure that stone muchly, he wondered what it was for.
He got his anwser when the young man said he was making a bethroel pendant. Shona chuckled.
"I figured as much, lucky man you are, it's good to finds some cheer these days, as of late, it's been dismal with the bombing. Glad we can now return to some form of normalcy" Shona thought back to when he was a lad and making his own pendant.
"Ahhh that was ages ago.." He said to himself recalling, he turned back to the young man and introduced himself.
"We'll glad I can help you out, I'm Shona, have you figured out want you are going to carve?" Shona asked remembering what he carved for Nezumi, it was her totem the hare. He laughed inwardly at the humor. And owl married a hare. That was rather funny. He scratched his neck reveling his own chocker with fish hook and feather.
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Post by ryota on Jul 20, 2008 14:37:47 GMT -5
Ryota found himself a bit confused when this man, 'Shona', appeared to begin some odd tale that had no beginning. No introduction offered as to what that was and why it happened ages ago. Of course, he expertly managed to overlook the obvious connection between the stone in his hand and the fact that this older fellow was probably married. Ryota simply smiled in return, taking the prior compliment in stride. It was a different matter when Shona asked him the very thing he was wondering beforehand.
"I...don't know," Ryota said, lips forming a slight pout and shoulders slumping a bit. Mulling the matter over, he couldn't come up with a single idea so original that it would show his affection for her. It could represent his faithful promise to her, and she'd no doubt appreciate it wholeheartedly. But only to take that first step and settle on a decision...it was harder than it seemed.
Wait, could that be it? Promise...that was a fine thought. It was a beautiful sentiment for her, and the very idea would probably bring back to her mind his very words each time she laid eyes upon it. Promise.
Ryota scratched his head, or rather ran his mitten over the curled surface of his hair since his hand was somewhat restrained, while his eyes peered over the smooth disc of a stone that lay in his other palm. "I actually think I have an idea," he said, voice drawing to a hush, "Promise..."
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Post by sokka on Jul 22, 2008 14:28:59 GMT -5
Shona scratched his neck as the young man looked puzzled at Shona's question. Apparently he didn't know what to carve on his "kind of" betrothol pendant.
Shona heard him whispered the word "promise" Promise? What kind of promise? That was interesting thing to say. Was that what he was going to carve.
Shona curiousity got the hold of him and he asked. "What do you mean? Promise? And What do mean by "kind of"?" He asked recalling he last answer to one of his questions. Shona took off one of his gloves to scratch at his bearded chin.
He recalled that most of his siblings had that same sort of problem. What to carve...and why. He remember his youngest brother Atka who carved star for Kanut. Because it was the simplest design he could do. Sighing Shona titled his head and said.
"Sounds like do have an idea, but like I said...what does it mean?"
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Post by ryota on Jul 24, 2008 13:44:45 GMT -5
Ryota knew he had forgotten to mention something. It wasn't rare for him to say something that required a solid explanation, and to hear someone ask what he actually meant was equally common. Ryota had to smile uneasily at the man. "Oh, sorry..."
Holding the stone between his thumb and index finger, he looked it up and down as light could barely reflect on its matte surface. It was a fine stone, it was. "Well, I'm not from here. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe, and have been in the Earth Kingdom for the past two years."
Feeling a bit confused himself at what he just said, he briefly shook his head and squinted his eyes. It wasn't quite what he meant to say right off the bat. "Er, until now. I mean, I came with some warriors from your tribe to fight in the siege...glad we won, but I met this girl, see..."
Looking around impatiently, the alluring image Misui's face floated through his head like a cloud. He even allowed a bit of smirk to grace his features. Of course, his gestures were quite animated and suitable for all that he said. "We kind of...hit it off. I like her, and she likes me, but we live so far apart. So I said to her, I said...I would make a promise that I would return."
Puffing out his chest a bit, it was clear he was proud of his clever idea that allowed him to stay with Misui, even if they were an ocean apart. "Even if the war didn't end a year from now, I would come back and take her hand in marriage. And she agreed. That's what it's all about."
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Post by sokka on Aug 8, 2008 13:02:14 GMT -5
Shona watched the young man finger the soapstone. He heard him respond to his questions.
"Er, until now. I mean, I came with some warriors from your tribe to fight in the siege...glad we won, but I met this girl, see..." Shona was a bit confused,
“My tribe? You do realize that I was born and raised here…from what I heard you’re a warrior from the southern tribe?” Shona scratched his head and lifted an eyebrow in befuddlement, What was this kid talking about?
"We kind of...hit it off. I like her, and she likes me, but we live so far apart. So I said to her, I said...I would make a promise that I would return." Shona lifted both eyebrows in amazement. How endearing, this man pledged to return to this woman even though they are separate tribes. "Even if the war didn't end a year from now, I would come back and take her hand in marriage. And she agreed. That's what it's all about."
Shona smiled fondly at him. “Now it makes sense. I think ‘Promise’ would be a find thing to carve on the stone. Every time she will look on it she will think of the promise you made and will wait for you to return…it’s very romantic really.”
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Post by ryota on Aug 9, 2008 1:15:58 GMT -5
Ryota felt like a fool when this man misunderstood what he said, but didn't let it bother him too much. He was much to intent on listening to what else he had to say in response. He honestly valued the man's opinions on his upcoming betrothal, even if he was a total stranger. "Yeah, I am actually from the South Pole - we came here from a bay outside Ba Sing Sei. This place is real different and huge, but..."
Before he knew it, he had drifted off into some odd tangent that was on a crash course to irrelevance. Thankfully, he could correct himself in time. "Er...I'm Ryota, by the way. Thanks for your opinion, I appreciate it a lot," he said as he held out his hand in greeting, a friendly smile stretched across his face, youthful light shining through his features. There was no doubt Ryota was both excited and nervous about the future. Whatever it brought was good enough for him!
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Post by sokka on Aug 21, 2008 12:40:33 GMT -5
Shona watched as the young man drifted into another topic. His eyebrow lifted up again once he mentioned that he came from the bay, but he caught himself made an introduction
. "Er...I'm Ryota, by the way. Thanks for your opinion, I appreciate it a lot," Shona saluted him.
"No problem you seem like a nice young man, I don't mind helping out. Besides it's nice to see my opinions valued much." He cocked his head and asked, "Do you have any family around here or do the soldiers say at the barracks?" It's was a good question, it was hard to be in big city and without any family. Not mention the barracks are rather small, out of the kindness of his heart, he asked.
"I am sure you miss a home cooked meal if you are. You are welcome to come over for dinner then standing out here in the cold. Plus we don't have much people in the house so we can do with some company."
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Post by ryota on Aug 21, 2008 15:33:04 GMT -5
Ryota was, of course, flattered at the man's opinion of him, but found himself scratching his head at the question that followed. "No, I don't think so," he said, referring to any relatives that may have lived in the city. It didn't make sense that he, a southerner whose entire family had lived in the South Pole as far back as he could remember, would have close relatives somewhere in the Northern Water Tribe. He had heard of a few who ventured away, but not much contact could ever be established. Oftentimes, they'd never hear from them again. Scrunching his nose, he shook his head in disagreement. "No, definitely not." He was certain his relatives were definitely all back at the Southern Water Tribe, except his father at Chameleon Bay.
But, at Shona's offer, he was more than happy to oblige the man. Little did Shona know he cavorted with Misui on a few nights, but a home-cooked meal was always quite welcome. "I'd be delighted," Ryota said with a grin, gesturing forward so the tall man could lead the way. Whether or not the man had a wife and kids, the fact that he said 'we' hinted that he didn't live alone. "I'd love to meet your family."
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Post by sokka on Aug 21, 2008 16:02:24 GMT -5
Shona was pleased that Ryota accepted his hospitality smiling he lead Ryota down a canal that lead to his home. At Ryota's last statement Shona laughed as he made a right.
"Ahh not so much family anymore. My children are all grown...well sort of. Kokomi us getting married and well..." Shona face fell a little bit as he said the last part. "I don't know whatever happened to Kavik, my wife and I believe that he might be dead." He sighed shaking his head but then chuckled.
"I shouldn't be burdening you with that nonsense. Nezumi will be there and I think my sister in law Halona would be their too." He finally reached his house that was marked by caribou antlers.
"Come inside and warm up." He opened the door and let he and Ryota in.
The house was routun and had a fire pit and several places chairs and a long bed to lonuge upon. Nezumi, Shona's plump but petie wife was stoking the fire as Shona took off his coat and hung it on a hook he introduced Ryota to his wife.
"Hun this Ryota, he is one of the soliders that is staying in the city, I've invited him for dinner, Ryota this my wife, Nezumi" He added on with a quirk of his lips.
"The best cook in the North." She chuckled as she took the fish from him and headed to the kitchen to prepare it. "Your mother would object to that comment. But Ryota welcome to our small but cozy home sit and make yourself comforable. You probably had your ear talked off my husband." She said laughing as she skinned the fish as Shona bent down to check the fire. His owl tattoo showned in the light.
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Post by ryota on Aug 21, 2008 16:22:21 GMT -5
Kavik? Ryota had to wonder, was it the same Kavik he'd met at Chameleon Bay, who sailed all the way from the Northern Water Tribe with his buffalo-yak? This man's son? What a coincidence!
"Wait, Kavik is your son?" Ryota asked, unfortunately led to return only a wave to Nezumi as he was caught up in excited confusion. In the meantime, he was at least able to remove his parka and give it to Shona to place elsewhere. "I met him in the Earth Kingdom! He's about this tall," he held his palm to the very tip of his headband, that of a new one purchased in the Northern Water Tribe rather than the one he kept since he left the South Pole. That one had suffered so much that it was practically falling apart.
"A little younger than me, kind of thin, a little...well," pursing his mouth, raising a hand to his chin in thought, he wondered how he could put it delicately that his son was somewhat flamboyant. Surely, Shona had heard it plenty of times. Subject change time! "Well, he has long hair with a small braid, and had a pet buffalo-yak? Is that the same Kavik? Your son? 'Cause he's not dead..."
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Post by sokka on Aug 21, 2008 17:18:44 GMT -5
Shona got up and paided attention just in time to hear Ryota respond to his comments about his son.
He was floored. Kavik was alive. He turned his head as Ryota discribed what Kavik looked like and even mentioned Denali. Nezumi turned from the kitchen with the fish and stared at Ryota.
"You mean my baby isn't badge-mole food!?" Shona sat down as everything began to sunk in. "Thank Twi and La...he's alive...or at least I hope so. Spirits only know what could have happen to him since then." He watched his wife start to grill the fish as she started talking about how happy to hear that son was still alive, however she also added that he should "Get his skinny butt back home."
Shona looked up at Ryota and said: "Thank you for telling us. He ran off months ago, we don't know where he went or why he left. Well we have an idea. But thank you for giving me peace, maybe now I can start looking for him." He said the last part a bit to himself.
Nezumi finally served the grilled fish with sagewood and lemongrass as well as some arctic herbs. "Fish is done!."
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Post by ryota on Aug 24, 2008 18:41:13 GMT -5
Ryota was...well, sort of overwhelmed at the moment, but for good reason. He didn't say much after Shona and Nezumi practically jumped through the roof in joy, but still felt good and satisfied he informed them their 'baby' didn't die a horrible tragic death. At least they could be assured he didn't die in the war...yet. Well, the Earth Kingdom was a big place, not necessarily a danger for foreigners as long as they played it smart. Kavik didn't seem so dense as to wander into a marked Fire Nation encampment, proudly and ignorantly proclaiming his Water Tribe origin while parading atop his buffalo-yak. If cards weren't played right, that could mean instant death - or slightly less instant, yet equally painful death. Either way, he'd be quite thoroughly dead.
"Time to eat, I guess?" When everything seemed to calm down, Ryota smiled sheepishly at the older man. He followed Shona to the table and sat near him and Nezumi, eager to enjoy the meal. It smelled excellent, and aromas often didn't lie. However, once Shona mentioned something about searching for Kavik, things weren't resting easily in Ryota's stomach - and not just because it was rumbling quite a bit. "I don't think that'd be a good idea to leave the tribe. If you stayed here, he'd at least know where to find you when he came back. Just my opinion..."
As his eyes caught sight of Shona's tattoo, a wonderful sentiment came to his mind...
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