Life Anew (Private) <Shai City, North Pole>

[taartoq]

In the courtyard, drawing water from a large urn and practicing waterbending drills, Taartoq was pensive. He was mostly bending water slowly in streams that follows his hands, only to soothe his troubled mind and soul. Ever since that momentous day at the spirit oasis, where a secret uttered brought a new future, things in that household were different. As strong as his bravado seemed, Taartoq still felt traces of doubt, worry, and dread.

Even though the present held relative peace, dwelling in a house reconstructed like most of the tribe, there was still shaky ground for the family. On a nearby ice partition sat Ning, his snow-white feathers fluffed to ensure warmth. Taartoq knew his favorable audience well, and the catowl was glad to be back from the fray. Taartoq remembered well how he found the creature shivering from fear, lodging himself in an icy crevice after the battle had ended. But that was all over. Taartoq had his own difficulties now, no matter how petty his fears were.

Trailing in fluid and elegant motions like the very water he bended, his hands were warmed by steel blue gloves. Boots an identical color covered his feet, and his Carolina blue trousers bore a pattern like cresting waves around the cuffs. The lilac robe he wore was long, its hem stopping between his knees and ankles, with a mandarin collar and side slits trailing from the mid-thigh downward flanked by thick indigo borders. The flared cuffs of the sleeves bore the same wide indigo trim, while the sleeves of the garment were a subtle baby blue.

Around his waist was a midnight blue sash, with white edges decorated by rows of tiny midnight blue dots. The shawl-like mantle he wore was blue-violet with trims of white fur all about, Its collar was high and wide, with an ivory clasp engraved with a waterbender emblem cinching the neckline. His finely-crafted clothing fit well and kept him warm, as was his whole intention. His dark, seal brown hair was the usual style, with three tiny braids wound from the hair behind his ears.

Introspective was he, though he still kept an air of consciousness throughout his reflective moment of self-training. He supposed the nightly waterbending classes would start up again soon, to help him calm his nerves and keep his mind off himself and his worries. But he realized that would even take a while. Citizens of the tribe concerned themselves with things more important than advanced training for high-class citizens, such as reconstruction of the city. If not for personal turmoil leading him to withdraw himself, Taartoq knew he would be out there helping with his own two hands.

[nekochi]

The last few days had been busy ones. Shortly after telling her husband that she was with child, Padma had shared the joyous news with her family. First her parents and brothers, then their wives, and finally her beloved sister-in-law. Her parents had been ecstatic of course, after her two years of marriage and still no news of another grandchild, they had begun to wonder if Taartoq could produce a child at all. Her brothers had offered many words of congratulation, especially her two older who assured her that their children would be excited over the news of a new cousin on the way. However, it was Nisha's words that had stuck with her. The woman was happy for her of course, but she couldn't hide the worry she felt about her younger brother.

Yes, perhaps she had forgotten about her husband's needs in the elated happiness that had made her world spin so recently. Taartoq had seemed positive during their time at the shrine, but he was an expert at hiding his mood, even from his best friend and loving wife Padma. Padma listened to her boots crushing and condensing the loose snow underfoot as she traveled up the walk. Ever since she had found out about the baby it had seemed the cold bothered her more quickly and she used her free gloved hand to pull her parka around her more tightly. Over her other arm she carried a basket of household goods. More whale oil for the lamps, fresh eel to make dinner with tonight, sea salt, and other necessities that she had picked up on her trip to the market. As well as a supply of candied fruits that her mother had given her, for "when the cravings came calling" that she had bought recently from a trader. She was grateful of course, but she had a sinking suspicion that her mother had not just "happened to bump into her in the market" as she phrased it, but had gone specifically to find her. No matter. The gesture was appreciated.

Slipping quietly into the courtyard so as not to disturb Taartoq while he was bending, Padma found a resting place and sitting behind him to watch, she was a bit disappointed to find that her arrival soon attracted attention. Wings spread gracefully, Ning alighted, making a silent journey to land beside his mistress and presently began to nudge his head against her shoulder. "Tsk. Naughty bird," she scolded half heartedly. She was quite fond of the catowl and his was all too aware of this fact. "No, no rabbit vole for you yet. You know how I feel about feeding you before your dinner time. Shush now." She tried to keep her voice quiet, but knew that Taartoq would have noticed her by now. Offering the avian feline a pat on the head, she stood and moved next to her husband. "How was work today, darling?"

[taartoq]

At his side was Padma, heard and not seen as his head was turned. As his cyan eyes slowly met with her own, they ascertained all that was needed. Maneuvering the water back into the urn, smoothly and fluently due to years of bending ink to transcribe documents with remarkable accuracy, he hooked his hands behind his back. Knowing Padma, he assumed the news had been spread to every single member of their immediate family by then. It was to be expected, but he by no means condemned such a course. Such pressing news ought to be made known, despite Taartoq's fears and anxieties. Letting out a deep breath, the air from his nostrils pouring out like a gentle mist, he kept standing with impeccable posture.

Taking a step around his wife, he observed the interactions between Ning and Padma, as well as the bag in his wife's arms. It explained her prolonged absence, during which she had revealed the infant's existence. As he arced around Padma's other side, he answered his wife. "Tolerable. It was merely a short time, where the other archivists and I were to assess any damage to the archives."

[nekochi]

"Then I take it that nothing was damaged badly? That at least is good news. It would have been disastrous if the scrolls had been exposed to the elements." Not only would the information have been damaged, but replacing the scrolls would have been expensive. Paper came from trees, something that were relatively rare at the poles and most of the paper they had was imported from the Earth Kingdom. With the increased Fire Nation occupation of the oceans of the world, any sort of trading was becoming more dangerous and, as a result, more expensive.

Padma shivered slightly, pulling her hood up over her head. "It's cold today. I'm going to go inside and get started on dinner. I was planning on making you eel broth tonight." A smile played upon her lips and she ran a gloved hand across his face. "Are you planning on coming in soon?" Her tone was soft and edged with worry. It was obvious that she would have liked to know exactly how he was doing. But Taartoq was secretive. He kept his feelings inside more often than not and even if she had asked him it was likely that he wouldn't have revealed what he was thinking to her in full. From her two years of marriage she knew that her best option was to show him that she was thinking about him, that he was always on her mind, in subtle ways and wait for him to tell her what was on his.

[taartoq]

Taartoq allowed Padma's question to become her answer, at least in part. He only nodded his head subtly at her inquiry. He then extended his hand, movements of his fingers and wrist calling forth a stream of water that returned to his palms. Restraining it to an orb above his palm, he turned to his wife when she spoke again. "I will soon, yes."

Even if he hadn't already known his wife's pregnancy, he still wouldn't have suspected a thing from Padma. She knew he enjoyed eel, despite its reputation earned as a provider of male potency. Gently stepping away, he could only reflect on matters further as he moved that serpentine stream of water about. Not a word had escaped his mouth that morning to his fellow archivists about the new addition to his family.

He may have been ashamed on some level or perhaps apprehensive of undue praise, but especially weary of any jokes and jibes at his expense whatsoever. Taartoq simply was not in the mood for such frivolity. Losing himself in a practice of forms and stances, a period of time passed in which Padma had probably finished their evening meal. Perhaps an hour's time, probably even less, but Taartoq had ceased his practice upon that realization. The water was soon returned to the vessel, and Taartoq promptly returned himself to his home.

[nekochi]

Padma stirred the broth, dipping the whale bone ladle deep into the soup to draw up some soup which she poured on a small saucer that lay beside the pot. After giving the sample a minute to cool, she drew the saucer up to her lips and took a sip. Just about perfect. Taartoq would be pleased. She hummed a lullaby as her thin fingers twisted a knob to bring the dish down to a simmer. The burner had been a Water Tribe invention. They needed a special way to heat their meals as the whale oil used in the north burned differently than wood.

Firelight played prettily across the icy walls, working like little mirrors to reflect the light around as she prepared the side dish. A salad that was made primarily with seaweed. An acquired taste perhaps, but one she had always fancied. Especially pickled and dried seaweed. Her stomach growled slightly at the thought. Cool blue eyes looked up from her task as she heard her husband return. She smiled warmly at him and motioned for him to sit down on the animal skin beside her. "You're just in time. I was just finishing this up." Padma again dipped the ladle into the eel broth, drawing up a hearty proportion which she spooned into a bowl and handed to Taartoq.

[taartoq]

Seating himself at a short ice table shaped in a large circle atop a series of warm and fluffy animal pelts, Taartoq was pleased to find the meal prepared right as he entered. Before partaking in the meal, the waterbender closed his eyes and offered thanks to the spirits in a brief prayer, muttering in an undertone. Despite his apparent cynicism, Taartoq was a very spiritual person in many aspects - He oftentimes trusted the spirits more so than human beings. As he parted his eyelids, the tantalizing smell brought his rosy lips to smile. "Fantastic," he said with a pleased tone.

"I can't wait to dig myself into it...up to my elbows, even." Taartoq was, of course, kidding. While his tone was entirely serious, he knew his wife would take it exactly the way in which it was intended. Sarcasm. The archivist made fine use of it, mostly during his good moods. His demeanor at that could best be described as lukewarm, being neither good nor bad. As he raised the ivory spoon to his mouth, thoughts of family life occured to him.

He supposed the future would not only bring more to that small table, but complete changes to his life in general. He was far from prepared, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. However, such bitter thoughts never detracted from the pleasing taste of the soup he drank.

[nekochi]

Padma smiled as her husband sat down, offering her a compliment with a rather sarcastic undertone. That usually meant he was in a good mood. And oh, how she hoped he was. She hated for her loved ones to be upset, especially when she knew it was her fault. But if the people she cared about were happy and safe then all the world was right and she was at peace.

"Perhaps I should make more so that you can bathe in it as well," she teased. It was nice to have such a quiet meal together. It was a huge change from the past few days where she had been so busy and Taartoq had often been out late, making repairs to the house. And of course it was a world apart from those terrifying days spent in the shelter, listening to the bombs exploding around them and wondering if they would die down there or, a thought that was almost more frightening, coming out to find their warriors and healers dead and the city under Fire Nation control. The worst part was not knowing. In the shelter it had been impossible to tell even if it was day or night, how long the frightening had been going on, how much longer it would last. She was glad to put that behind her. She was glad to be enjoying a bit of normalcy with her husband. Glad that there were no secrets between them.

[taartoq]

A sardonic grin soon faded from his features. The thought of fatherhood drifting through his head again, he let out a sigh as he looked down into his soup bowl. Stirring slowly, it was clear his mind was elsewhere. Taartoq was glad the ordeal was over and most everyone he knew was safe, but so many new prospects still lurked on the horizon. Who knew if their city would be safe for long? What kind of world would their child be born to?

Leaving his spoon in the bowl, he bended a small globule of the broth into his mouth. With a deep breath, he turned to his wife Padma. What he was about to say might change his opinions, but he was merely sparking the conversation to suit Padma's own interests. She was one of few people with whom he would do such a thing, perhaps the one and only. "Do you think our child will be a boy or a girl?"

[nekochi]

Padma placed a hand over her slight baby bump. Light from the burner's fire and something intangible cast a glow on her face that was quite becoming against her warm skin tone. Soon she'd be able to feel the baby kick, it's heartbeat. "Mother says she hopes that it's a girl. After all of my brothers, I think she hopes she can have the girls she wanted in her grandchildren before she gets another boy. She always said that my brothers were difficult before they were even born, but I was always a perfect angel." A smile came to her face. She hadn't always been a perfect angel, but she could see how her brother would have thought her one compared to her rowdy brothers. "The pregnancy's been so easy thus far. I've only had morning sickness a few times and I haven't felt terribly fatigued most days. I'd be happy with either a boy or a girl, but I have a feeling it's a girl."

[taartoq]

Having foregone the use of his ladle-like spoon of ivory since his first sip, he was now dwelling moreso on his waterbending to bring it to his mouth. With minimal effort, he rose an occasional dollop of broth to his lips while listening to his wife's reasoning. One could wish their hardest to bear a child of a certain gender, but it was all up to destiny in the end. Nothing they could do would change the sex of the infant. The influence was simply out of their grasp. Regardless, Taartoq shared the same ideal as his wife. He would prefer if the child was a girl, at least their firstborn. A son to carry on the family name would come later, more than likely. Padma would probably love to bear more children, despite her husband's apprehension.

Lowering his half-empty bowl to the table, Taartoq twice nodded his head slowly as Padma commented on her condition during pregnancy. "Wonderful news...and perhaps we should trust your intuition. It seems you and your mother share the same hope as I."

Allowing his head to drift downward a bit, his eyes staying locked on Padma. Extending his hand toward hers, he grasped her palm in his own. "We can only hope our girl will be as perfect an angel as my one and only."

It was then that he allowed himself to smile with all sincerity.

[nekochi]

Padma couldn't help smiling as she drew the spoon to her lips. Taartoq had always been excellent at bending, such a natural that he preferred using it to the manual labor of the less gifted when performing everyday tasks. Even now, he had taken to bending his soup into his mouth, something that was perhaps a little rude, but was a trait she had always found endearing.

As predictable as his chosen method of eating was his desire to have a daughter. He had always been wary of boys. He had good reason to be. In his youth, he had been teased by boys for being too feminine and even now the jabs and jeers stuck with him. It was easy to see just how leery he was every time he met with her brothers, boys who had started out as rowdy and mischievous as a boy could be and had turned into the very definition of men when they had grown. Those visits were always awkward.

But predictability was not always a bad thing. It was nice to know where you stood. And as Taartoq lovingly took her hand in his it was easy to know where she stood in their relationship. Their relationship was one filled with endless love for one another. Perhaps not romantic love, but romantic love was overrated. Romantic love often fizzled and died with age. But the type of love they had... That only grew with the passing of the seasons. Padma understood this well and couldn't be happier. Not only was she married to the one man she loved the most, but she was to have a baby girl soon. She knew she shouldn't get her hopes up one way or the other, but in the soft light of the evening their words seemed finite. "We're going to have a daughter..."

[taartoq]

The remains of his broth disappeared before long, after which he partook in the pickled sea vegetables artfully arranged on a plate before the lovely couple. Careful not to exceed any more boundaries of good taste other than waterbending his broth, which he did only in the privacy of his own home, Taartoq made sure to stay the picture of good manners. He hoped his child would grow to be the same way, though doubted the youth could be molded to his exact ideals. He doubted many things about the future, foreseeing his offspring to be like every other spoiled creature out there. Not a good outlook, but it would surely change whether he knew it or not. Taartoq was almost certain of one thing, however. His children would most likely be waterbenders like himself and Padma. Both had the gift and were by all means skilled, but there always was a slim chance their child could wind up unable to bend. He slowly painted a mental picture wherein he taught his son the basics of waterbending, as his own father was unable to do. The quaint image soon faded to one much more negative.

With a prolonged blink or two, he let out a sigh. His wife was optimistic, sure their child would be a girl as they both wanted. Taartoq was certain Padma knew what she was talking about, which was somewhat of a relief. He knew the opposite sex sometimes had great intuitive powers, and his wife was not an exception. She could have been more aware of the child's gender than either of them thought. Lowering his hands to his lap, his eyes seemed focused on nothing at all as he spoke. "I look forward to it. That will be the answer to a prayer."

[nekochi]

Padma finished her broth slowly, enjoying the silence in their peaceful household. Soon this silence would be filled with the cooing of a baby girl, then laughter, then footsteps, and sometimes tears. But the tears never lasted long. She had always been good with babies. Even Yahto, who had been fussy and troublesome as soon as he was born and on through his toddler years, had never cried for too long when he was in his big sister's arms. Of course, Yahto was thirteen now and just yesterday she had witnessed Shiye playfully teasing their youngest brother about the kiss he had stolen from a girl at the healing huts. He was hardly the same little boy who she had helped her mother feed and change his diapers. Children grew up so fast.

By the time Taartoq spoke again, she had finished another bowl of broth as well as the majority of the pickled seaweed. She had eaten more than usual, but a healthy appetite was a sign of a healthy baby as her mother always said. "Yes, so many prayers..." She mused dreamily. Yet... She couldn't help wondering if the meal had alleviated her husband's built up fears and tension at all. She was probably the person who knew him best, and yet, even she could not always tell what was hidden behind his mysterious eyes. She placed her elbows on the table and folded her hands together, resting her head on top as she smiled softly at him. "Tell me husband... What else is on your mind?"

[taartoq]

Taartoq expected it, in some small way. Padma was eating a bit more than usual, or what was normal back before her pregnancy began. He questioned why he hadn't seen it before, with so many obvious signs, but he decided to get on with his life instead of mentally kicking himself for overlooking the obvious. Perhaps it was a subconscious matter, as the idea of fatherhood and pregnancy wasn't the first thing he would suspect. For all intents and purposes, he was caught off-guard that day at the Spirit Oasis.

Her question would open a floodgate of words and feelings, but so little time was there to express them all. Taartoq was both fortunate and grateful that his very wife was one who understood him so well as to sense his dismay. "There are many things. Life and the future. Our home and tribe. Work at the archives. You, our child, and I..."

Bowing his head slightly, eyes toward the smooth table and hands were neatly folded in his lap, legs crossed. "Perhaps the foremost of these is a desire to return to life as it once was. But it seems we and our people have done so well even the second time around.

As was the usual case, Taartoq tried to forego needless details that he saw as mere annoying complaints. Although Padma specifically asked, he felt no temptation to keep boring his wife. His voice somewhat abrupt, his feelings were indeed clear. "You need not be concerned for my sake, darling."