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Post by hotaru on May 26, 2008 13:28:58 GMT -5
Hotaru once more found herself in the healing huts, her aunt was getting some parenting tips from the older healers who insisted on holding the small child. It seemed babies were the perfect thing to smooth over any insecurities she'd have adjusting to life in the North. Hotaru on the other hand was feeling put out. It seemed like they didn't have time for her, perhaps it was the baby, perhaps they just didn't like her anymore, she had her little insecurities. Most people did though... didn't they?
Her Uncle was always busy working now, worrying about supporting his new family, helping to rebuild the city, putting money away for some reasons Hotaru didn't understand. He used to take time to play with her, walk her to writing and reading classes, now she felt alone. She wanted her mother who always had a moment to tell her a story, or her father who had no problem twirling her around at her insistence. They had been gone for so long, she missed them. They might be back today, tomorrow, next week, she didn't have any idea. All she knew was that her parents have never been gone for this long before. She sighed idly wondering when they'd be home.
Her father promised to bring her something really nice, perhaps word of the siege reached them and they decided to wait before coming back. Thats what Kaden had said at least. It seemed believable. Hotaru knew they were going to come home eventually, it was just a question of when. Hotaru sat on an empty cot watching the healers come and go. She clunked her boots together wishing for something to pull her out of the slum she'd fallen into. Nothing seemed to be going right anymore.
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Post by nekochi on May 26, 2008 14:04:27 GMT -5
Padma put a hand over her mouth to cover a little gasp. Oh! How bold of Nati! To go walking with an eligible man who was neither a brother nor a close family friend or your betrothed! It was certainly a bit taboo to one who had been raised such as her, but she wasn't sure she completely disapproved of such an act. After all, poorer girls like Nati didn't have the dowry, nor the social position for a traditional arranged marriage and they had to be more assertive if they hoped to catch a man. As her mother said, it took a man to catch a fish, but only a woman could catch a man.
"Oh how wonderful!" She clapped her hands together. "I am so happy for you!" The story was romantic indeed. Nothing such as that had happened before or after her marriage to Taartoq, unless you counted that she had saved Taartoq from drowning himself when he fainted into the Spirit Oasis. Of course, such a role reversal hardly had the excitement of a warrior rescuing a beautiful maiden from peril. "What was he like? I have heard a little about Chamir, but I have never actually met him. And has he shown an interest in you since? I feel quite sure that he must have. And Misui, you were there at the healing huts during the seige as well? What part did you play in this romance?"
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Post by misui on May 26, 2008 14:17:27 GMT -5
The teen smiled briefly at Nati accepting her subtle thank you, she didn't want to dwell too much on what happened during the pairs little trip into the channel, she remembered it clearly enough. How she moved all that water, breaking societal codes and ignoring the rules she followed as a member of Shai. Honestly she had no idea she could do much other than healing and moving water from one place to the next. She didn't seen any use for it, she wasn't a warrior, she couldn't be. It made her stomach turn uncomfortably to think about it. She prayed no repercussions came from the act. If she didn't do it, perhaps Nati and Chamir wouldn't have made it out of the freezing water. She didn't want to think about that.
Misui was a little surprised when she was addressed by Padma, her intention had fully been to dissapear into the background of the conversation, allowing the flighty girls to go on about whatever it was they seemed to be interested in at the moment. Still her cheeks flushed lightly as her mind once more returned to her stocky male caller from the South. There was no reason to chide Nati for her forwardness with a man, she was worse, she'd actually kissed the man she walked with. Her hands found their way to her lips lightly as she tried to rid her skin of the scarlet tone. " I was in the huts, all I know is that Chamir seems to be a very stubborn man, he left before he was dismissed."
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Post by nati on May 26, 2008 15:29:51 GMT -5
Nati felt herself on the verge of more hysterical giggles, so she took a sip of tea to try and calm than urge. She did however feel a large smile spread across her face. She was glad that Padma was entertained by the little story, it had been the most uplifting thing to happen during the siege, or at least something to take her mind off things during a bad day. Her azure eyes looked happy and carefree; this little gossip session was turning out to be good for her spirits.
Nati glanced at Misui, seeing that she was being quiet, and felt a little worried that her and Padma were taking up most of the limelight. She felt flattered, a little blush coloured her cheeks.
“Well he’s never like any man I’ve met here! Very easy sort of manner, like he’d move easily in any circle..’ Nati tried to sum what small impression she’d got of Chamir during the brief time she’d met him. “I haven’t seen him since, I’ve been so busy with everything.’
She gave a sheepish sort of grin as Padma fired off the next round of questions to Misui. Padma had great energy and a niceness that was refreshing to Nati. She laughed at Padma’s question Misui.
“I think she helped, Chamir left a kiss here.’ She pointed to her brow for a moment, knowing this would probably off set the giggling all over again, and bring up some more blushes, she felt like a rebel now she’d reflected on it.
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Post by hotaru on May 26, 2008 15:54:55 GMT -5
Hotaru curled up on the bed after a few minutes, her eyes closing lightly in an attempt to regain some sleep the baby continually tried to steal from her at night, only a few restful moments passed before she heard her name being hissed. She sat up her cheeks lightly tinted with a blush and some of her bangs plastered to her face. She rubbed her face with her sleeve and looked over to her aunt who was only a few steps away trying to catch her attention. The little girl sighed a bit hopping off the bed and wandering over to the woman with a clueless dazed expression. " Hotaru honey could you get us some tea? We're rather busy. We'd really appreciate it." The little girl blinked at her aunt a little clueless before the request set in and she nodded.
With a small pat on the head from her aunt she was off plodding to the small kitchenette. She grumbled to herself about wanting to sleep but she was a good girl, she would do what was asked of her. Still a small yawn slipped out between her fingers as she fiddled with the teapot and cups. There was no tray it seemed, she pouted, it was a lot for her to carry, at the least she was able to hear the water, cheating a bit. No one was around, who would it hurt. She noticed the tea leaves already left out from another who had no doubt wanted a drink. She tossed some of them into the hot water and carefully got the cups into her arms taking the tea pot by it's handle. She struggled walking with the burdensome and awkward weight. Why was she suddenly her aunt's little slave.
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Post by misui on Jun 3, 2008 15:33:20 GMT -5
Misui couldn't help but shake her head at the women, she still wasn't interested in gossip and the like, it seemed like a very indirect way to talk, fluttering from one topic to the next with a giggle and a poor excuse for a segue. She didn't have much patience for it in all honesty. Her eyes lingered over Nati and then over Padma, they were both rather high classed while Misui's family was securely working class. This thought only bothered her, making her believe she'd be much more useful helping at her family resteraunt instead of being forced to get her hours in at the healing huts.
Didn't they have enough idle women about to care for the sick and injured? They were leaving steadily with only special cases left in the huts. Those men didn't need much assistance, just time to heal. But the comment on a kiss left her to think a bit about her own kisses which she seemed to give away so cheaply to her own Southern caller, she felt a bit cheap thinking about it now but at the time.... All that really mattered was that he didn't seem to be playing her for a fool, the sentiment they shared was genuine, perhaps that was just what she wanted to believe.
A light pink color tinted her cheeks and her eyes drifted towards the kitchen as a young girl struggled with more than her share of a load. Misui bowed to the pair at the table moving to get up and assist the pre-teen. With a warm sisterly smile Misui stabilized the tower of cups about to drop and scatter about the floor. " Need some help?"
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Post by ukaleq on Jun 4, 2008 13:01:12 GMT -5
Ukaleq had left the gondolier with a shy smile as he thanked her for her assistance with the little girls. It had been her pleasure and they were quite well behaved for children. Even more, she smiled at his generous offer and nodded her head, speaking that she would only be a few minutes if at all and that she would appreciate if he waited for her return. She wondered though as she walked, how the siege had effected them. The gondola had held a somber tone to it, even with the children. She had left them at Mistress Luksa's hut, a very stern and strict elder. She did not wish to bother their lesson, so she had proceeded onward to another hut.
Most of the Healing Huts had Head Healers who oversaw them. Her mother was one of them but she had since taken a leave due to her Husband's and Son's injuries. The call to enter the shelters had caught them off of surprise and so Naylei had little time to make sure her supplies were well stocked and then their three story home close to the Temple Palace had taken a bit of a hit itself during the destruction. Her mother would have made this trip herself to check on her students, but Father insisted she stay home and rest so she wouldn't make herself sick with worry if she saw all the injured that she would be unable to help. It was an odd theory, but Mother listened and quietly tended to her husband and only son, after all.. he was getting married soon and his new wife did not need an injured warrior on her hands.
A slender gloved hand pushed aside the fur hides that covered the door and kept the chill breeze. that sometimes came off the glaciers that rose up behind the city, out. The short woman did not even have to duck under it quickly as it swung down behind her. Her dark eyes glanced off to the side for a moment, down at a small ice sculpture next to the door. The little bear-badger cub was sitting upright, a paw raised next to its head. One of the many spirits of Healing... a blessing upon whoever entered this hut. Ukaleq smiled and reached out with a hand, her finger just brushing the cub's nose.. a small sign asking for luck. The young woman then lifted her round face upward, her cheeks red as her lips spread into a smile.
So the Healing Huts were quiet active today. She recognized two of the young women in them. Mistress Padma, wife of Master Taartoq and Mistress Nati, an older woman who her Mother knew well and spoke of her healing skills often. Ukaleq stepped forward, the tulle 'fins' in her umber hair fluttering as she moved further in. The davy's grey rabbit fur brushed her cheeks and neck, the hood of her warm parka hanging across her shoulders and along her back. She had pulled her four braided loops out and they laid across the folded fabric clustered close to her jaw. A ivory pendant was position at her collar bone, a long tendril of soft grey fur hanging from it. The Sleeves were overly large, and when they hung at her side they tended to make her shape like that of a female penguin. However, she kept her hands together across her torso, buried inside the warm of the sleeves. The royal blue fabric slid over her body and hips easily, moving very freely, but it stopped at her knees where the hem draped in lazy halfcircles, rimed with fur. The box pleats of her cream colored skirts, layered three skirts deep flared out as she walked, kicked by her seal hide boots.
The noblewoman stepped forward pas the fortune totem, taking time to brush out the crinkles at the waist of her parka while she waited for one of the two healers to address her.. It was never wise to interrupt a Healer's work.
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Post by nati on Jun 8, 2008 15:29:20 GMT -5
Nati let a small silence lapse in the group, she didn’t want to be the only one talking! Her mother had been called a gossip many times, Nati didn’t want to think she’d inherited all of that from her, perhaps at least some of her father’s self control. Nati kept her back straight, and remained well posed, her mixing with the higher circles in the last few years had taught her that much, but she did miss the old days where you didn’t have to bow every time you met someone or had to speak in a particular way. Oh well, it was the way of the world.
Her expression remained cheerful and pleasant, her azure eyes warmed by the tea and company. She sipped the tea, not really caring to much for the taste, just savouring the warmth of it creeping down her throat. Her hand idly smoothed over her skirts, and then rested gently on her knee. Padma’s manners and general demeanour had always been very elegant and refined, Nati felt the movements of her wrists should be more graceful, maybe the way she walked a little lighter.
Misui suddenly inclined her head, and left without a word to either Padma or Nati, and glancing over her shoulder, found that she was helping a younger girl. Nati nodded her head a little in understanding, then turned back to Padma.
“I’ve seen that girl about the Huts a lot recently, I heard she’s been doing errands all over the place.” She said, reaching out to trace the lip of her cup with her thumb. She suddenly felt a loss for conversation, looking about for a moment or two as the first round of awkward silence started. Her brain was furiously trying to find something cheerful to talk about, maybe the baby again? Discuss names?
Suddenly, she heard someone approaching their little table in the corner, only to find that it was a noblewoman! Nati turned her head around, and greeted the woman with a pleasant, welcoming smile. The young woman was finely dressed, her hair braids taken a step further and looped back and bound with fabric. A name popped into her head, she was the daughter of one of the Master Healers. Miss Ukaleq.
She gestured to Padma that she would perhaps only be a minute or so. Nati stood up, automatically smoothing out her skirts, and hoped her hair wasn’t messy. Her sleeves weren’t loose enough to slip her hands into, so she kept them clasped infront of her, and bowed politely.
“Miss Ukaleq! It’s a pleasure to see you here; I hope your family are well and recovering.” She said, her voice filled with warmth. “Is there anything I can assist you with?”
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Post by ukaleq on Jun 10, 2008 12:39:00 GMT -5
Her eye brows arched as she finally garnered the attention of the healer. Yet they quickly settled back again as her eyes thinned, her cheeks pressing the lower lips up as she smiled, her lips spreading. The young woman would incline her head towards the taller healer, the delicate and curled strands that hung from the crown of her head around her face swayed with the movement, as did the two braids that hung against the front of her shoulders, wrapped tightly in navy blue ribbon, tucked up and secured behind the frills of spring green tulle.
"Good afternoon, Healer Nati.." She spoke softly, timid like a field mouse even among the healers. Perhaps it was because Mistress Padma was in the room. It was one of Ukaleq's deepest secrets: the harmless Crush she possessed on her long haired, studious Husband. Master Taartoq of the Archives. It was one of the reasons, other than her own curiosity, that Ukaleq accompanied her father to so many of his meetings. So that she might visit the Archives. The young woman's dark eyes flickered towards the lovely lady, her figure so slender even in the layers of the arctic. She pressed her lips together, her jaw tightening for the briefest of moments before turned her young gaze back to Nati. "My mother is in need of supplies.. some new bandages and the usual herbs for treatment of burns and fevers."
She dropped her gaze for a brief moment as she slipped her hands inside their opposite sleeves, gripping her lower arms as she did so. "She asks for only the minimum that you can provide.. Mother knows how much your supplies are needed and how low they must be running.."
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Post by nati on Jun 12, 2008 7:57:36 GMT -5
Nati’s smile softened into a friendly expression, her long braids sweeping across her body as she nodded to Ukaleq’s request for some wrappings and herbs, then frowned a little, she hoped the injuries of those needing the items were not too ailing. Her dark eyebrows arched a little as she smiled again, but had to dip her head forwards a little so she could hear the quiet voice of Miss Ukaleq. Her meekness she found to be very surprising, a good step past demure, for a noble, her manners would impeccable and delicate, but Nati felt the nervous vibes off her a few times before. Nati knew she just had to be polite and nice to her.
“Herbs for cooling fever and some aloe for burns…” Nati repeated softly, counting the two on her hands. She then smiled, her teeth white and even against the dark colour of her lips. “Certainly Miss Ukaleq, I’ll just fetch them for you.” She felt herself slip from her normal manner of speech to the more formal manners she had to use in the higher circles. It could almost be stifling, it didn’t always come naturally.
“I’ll only be a moment.” Bobbing her head again polity, Nati hurried off to the supply room. The doorway was covered with a heavy clothe curtain, and pushing it gentle aside, Nati stepped into the room that was a little colder than the rest of the Huts. Several shelves lined the walls, with pots and small box stacked up neatly. Pulling the lid of some jars, Nati scooped out the various packets of herbs. Placing the lids back neatly and quietly as she could, the young healer went to find rolls of clean bandages.
“Did she have a bag?” Nati asked herself, wondering if she needed something to carry it back in. Deciding on simply using an old sheet, she wrapped it up carry and secured the package with a knot which could be easily carried. Leaving the room as she’d found it (a bit of mess rather unfortunately, and she made a note to tidy it up later) Nati found her way back to Ukaleq, holding the medium sized package out for Ukaleq to take it.
“We had been running dangerously low a few days ago, but we’ve managed to find more, so your Mother is welcome to as much as she needs.” Nati said, using her hands to gesture a little when she spoke. “If your Mother is struggling at all, I would be more than happy to come help her. Only if you need it of course.” She added, careful not to assume Miss Ukaleq’s mother couldn’t manage. Nati didn’t want to offend a noble.
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Post by ukaleq on Jun 13, 2008 22:12:17 GMT -5
A smile was given from the timid woman in manner of thanks as the Healer offered her service. Ukaleq's dark eyes lit up like the ocean does under a sunrise at the generous offer but she did not say a thing. The eldest daughter was indeed a shy one, very timid around the most harmless of things. She spoke softly and with the utmost proper tones.
She inclinded her head inward, holding her arms closer to her as she waited. Again, her eyes flickered the Mistress Padma. Oh how lovely she was. Only a woman as slender as she could pull off some fantastic fashions. The colors she wore were perfectly matched, the furs of the highest quality. Yes, Ukaleq was envy of her and her husband, yet she bit her tongue always and deep down, wished them the best and all the happiness. She was still young herself.
Her gaze lifted once more and Ukaleq watched as the cloth curtain fell down to the side. A storage room. Nearly every healing hut had one and their layouts were often the same. Ukaleq was quite familiar with them and could have gotten the ingrediants herself if she had been in her Mother's hut. That particular hut had been wiped out however, along with others, and until her Mother could reestablish herself in a new one built by the city's benders, she was forced to refill her supply with the generousity of others. Who knew when they would get a shipment from the Earth Kingdom? The Healers were doing what they could with bending, but like everything, bending was no quick fix for catatrosphic injuries.
She waited quietly, rocking back and forth very subtly while she listened to the faint sounds of the Healer gathering her things. When she returned, Ukaleq again graced her with a smile. "Thank you so much, Healer Nati." She bowed her head as she reached out to accept the items. "I will tell your mother of your offer. My father has almost fully recovered but Quannah is battling a fever brought on by infection of his burns. Mother is working hard to pull the infection out.. and she is weary, so I will let her know. Thank you." Again, another curt nod but as she spoke, even Ukaleq looked tired. She was worried about her Brother who seemed to drift in and out of consciencous. His wedding had already been post poned.. they did not want to cancel it if he didn't make it..
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Post by hotaru on Jun 14, 2008 10:09:33 GMT -5
Hotaru found herself blushing as the older woman assisted here, she looked down nodding to the woman accepting her help before timidly looking up at her. She was pretty in her own way, but she;d never known someone to be ugly, the thing she noticed most was her tanned skin. Hotaru wanted that, to be able to fit in. not that it mattered much now, Soon her parents would be home and they loved her no matter what, they wouldn't ignore her like her aunt and uncle because of a squirmy little baby who did nothing except cause trouble for everyone, crying at night, fussing in the day, making the house smell, taking away everyones time and energy...
As she handed over some of the load to the healer she smiled shyly to the girl. " Thank you...." adding a small bow of her head and leading the duo to the table several healers and her aunt shared discussing babies and children, her little cousin was in the arms of a woman she'd never seen before, that was worrisome.
" A bay leaf is the perfect thing to calm a babies stomach, set it in some warm water and let it stew for a while, add some sweeteners if you have any, spirits know they're hard to come by but I know where you can get the leaves." Timidly Hotaru looked at the group waiting for the right moment to step in, she didn't want to bother them and didn't want to interrupt. It seemed like no one had noticed her. She didn't like to be rude, her aunt would chide her for such behavior and she was being bossed around enough as it was.
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Post by misui on Jun 14, 2008 10:32:56 GMT -5
Misui followed the girl holding a small stack of the cups easily, her eyes followed the outline of the room, It seemed the young miss Ukaleq had joined the group she left, it was a good thing, as well as Misui tended to carry herself she was uneasy with most of the higher circles. The only reason she felt at ease with Nati was because she wasn't born into the upper circles, rather her family clawed their way there. It meant Nati was truly a middle classed girl on the inside. Like some of the other nobles she didn't judge or look down on Misui for working for her living with her family. It seemed all those women had time for was gossip, that was just troublesome to the practical girl.
Finally she took in the gaggle of females attempting to chat about children it seemed. Perhaps gossip was not solitarily for the upper circles, others seemed to reveal in it too. She rolled her eyes waiting for the little girl to announce herself but as seconds ticked on it seemed there was no such move from the child. Shaking her head with a small sigh she set the cups down on the table effectively revealing their presence and getting their attention. Misui had no time to spare for people who were wrapped up in themselves. She kept a polite smile at the girls,
" Hello Misui." One of the older healers who were sitting with the group nodded to her presence, used to her subtily brash behavior. The girl in turn nodded to the healer cautiously, she knew the woman wasn't impressed, one should wait until called upon to enter the conversation.
" it seemed that this was a lot to carry for a little girl..." Misui commented quietly, only people who read too far into it would take the comment for the insult it was. She wasn't impressed with the lot for giving a child such a hard task on her own while they gossiped about spirits know what. Standing up she pet the girl on her head giving her an encouraging smile. Adults were trouble sometimes.
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Post by hotaru on Jun 14, 2008 11:30:01 GMT -5
Mica looked at Hotaru and Misui for a moment a smile forming on her face, as usual, letting any negative energy go, she was finally starting to fit in and she didn't want to ruin that. " Thank you very much." Not two seconds after the tea was set out did she take the pot from Hotaru taking the role of hostess and pouring the liquid for her new found friends. She ignored the mummers at her expense, people wondering if he'd become an earth bender. She knew that he would be just as water tribe as anyone else. Her family had no history of earth bending as far back as it went, Kyuso would be either a non-bender or a water bender like his father. He was perfect to fit in, blue eyes dark caramel skin chocolate wisps of hair. He was gorgeous like his father.
Hotaru blinked at her aunt as the tea pot left her hands. Didn't the woman who'd attempted to be a sister to her before feel any need to thank her? Only the teen healer had gotten one, she didn't even get a smile... then felt a hand on her head as Misui showed her a small sign of affection. She felt like crying though...she was all but ignored by her family, her eyes looked up to the healer who'd helped her and she offered a sad smile before walking away. Now that her aunt was sated perhaps she could go play, take her mind off of things, being cooped up on her leash was growing quickly tiering, she needed to release some tensions too... she'd be sneaking off tonight.
[Hotaru has left this thread]
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Post by misui on Jun 14, 2008 11:46:59 GMT -5
Misui watched the girl go shaking her head lightly, had there not been standards set she might have given each woman in the circle a firm smack but she hadn't the time or energy to waste on people like them. All they seemed to be worried about was their little circle of kinship. She had to head back to the table of social elites she stumbled into now, before it seemed too rude of her leaving them. Her head inclined to each woman as she took her previous seat.Rather than make a big scene she sat quietly offering no fodder for discussion or explanation for her sudden disappearance then reappearance. Sometimes she wondered who kept woman in obedience in this society, the men or the women themselves.
Her eyes closed with a silent breath and she let her mind wander. What would her own children look like? Would they be skittish like the girl she assisted, bright and bubbly like other children, maybe quietly content to stay at her side as she went about her daily chores. The father was another point of interest, of course she immediately thought of the man she'd been seeing since the siege ended, he'd be a good father from what she could tell. He was a hard worker, honest, soft spoken, handsome....It was hard to keep a stupid smile off her face, she didn't want to start acting like a giddy teenager.
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