The Kite Festival <Lun Yang, Fire Nation>

[jericho]

The early morning sun hung low in the eastern sky, casting elongating shadows over the public garden. The day had just begun and it already had all the makings of a perfect one. The air was soaked with the sun's comfortable warmth and there was a cool breeze that Jericho swore she smelt the coast on. The Fire Lord himself couldn't have created a more perfect day to hold The Kite Festival on.

Jericho had already made her way to the Kite Festival, before the crowds and the scrutinizing eyes. This gave her time to talk to those who ran the booths, the festival, without her mother- or worse, Madame Masaki- breathing down her neck. To quite her overbearing 'teacher' "It's not right for a young woman of breading to speak with the help."

Jericho pulled her violet parasol closer, shading the back of her neck from the sun's golden rays. Like most of her favorite items, her parasol was painted with ornate panda lilies. She had been resting on the banks of the pond since the other early rises had begun showing up, though the festival had at least another hour before officially beginning. With a sigh the young woman dipped her bare foot into the pond, enjoying the feeling of returning to her casual yukata she usually adorns.

The young woman turned her head to the clear blue sky, giving a small knowing smile. Soon it would be painted with the kites of the noble houses of Lun Yang, the family who keeps their kite in the air the longest, wins. It's a silly competition, for nothing of importance other than fun- or bragging rights if you are as pompous as some of the families in Lun Yang are. She half wondered who would be flying her family's kite this year, considering her father had yet to return from his latest tour. A sudden excite rose up in Jericho and held on her lips in the form of a smile that rivaled the brilliance of the sun. 'Maybe I could fly the family's kite this year.

[sekar]

Sekar husled around the clinic looking both annoyed and tired. He scuddled around helping patients.

"Tomo, can you hand me some more anti-septic?* He as his nurse as he was cleaning cuts. Hao was also he working alongside Sekar. He was retired and only had privite jobs, but these days he has been helping out Sekar in various ways. Now he was doing some nurse work with wrapping bandages.

"So how was the party? " Asked Hao for the fifth time today. Sekar kept dodging the question. Right now he didn't even respond. "Sekar! Please, do grow up and tell me what happened." Sekar was blunt.

"You want gossip? Fine, found a cute rich girl, flirted with her and left." Hao blinked as Sekar looked at the window smiling.
"Honestly! Sekar why didn't you flirt with women your age...how old was she." Sekar watched the kites and sighed.
"Her name as Jericho, from the Xanin house. pretty cute too. Hmmm, can I play hooky today?"

[zhen]

It was always so nice to see the Kite Festival, all the magnificent colors lighting up the blue sky above the capital. Such fond memories it gave the aged firebender, whose time was currently spent on a stroll with her great-grandson. Five years of age, he ran around Zhen and about the street with his ball, having a joyous time while his great-grandmother watched serenely. Wearing a ruqun consisting of a burgundy top with misty rose trim and bell sleeves bearing exquisite patterns embroidered on the cuffs also in misty rose, as well as a floor-length Thulian pink skirt held up by a black sash. An eggplant-colored pendant shaped as a thick ring hung from her waist, tyed to a vivid crimson rope that draped around her sash. Her shoes, though occluded by the skirt, were simple black slippers that curled at the toes in the popular fashion. Her iconic white jade pendant also hung from her neck, accompanied by silver disk earrings.

"Great-grandmother! Watch this!!!" The young boy's tawny eyes light up with exuberance as he balanced the ball on his head. Grinning, the elderly woman put her hands on her hips. Almost mocking the boy, she said; "But how long can you keep it up there? And can you walk with it there?"

The boy took a few steps before the ball fell off his head. "Aww," said Zhen, walking up to the boy and kneeling down to pick up the ball. For a woman of such advanced years, she had little difficulty in her movements, but that could be attributed to her routines of yoga and firebending drills. Her mind was as sharp as her body, and the elderly firebender showed little sign of giving up in life. She was indeed full of youth. Then walking a few yards away from the boy with the ball in her arms, Zhen threw it to her great-grandson.

"Catch!"

She yelled to him, though he reacted a little too late. The ball flew past his hands and into a nearby building, the sign of which depicted its use. Being a clinic, she wished the next sound she heard wasn't a loud crash. Wincing, then sighing, she grabbed the young boy's hand and lead him inside. "Come on, Taotu. Let's go say we're sorry."

The little boy looked up at his grandmother, though the height difference between the two was admittedly low. Confused, he said; "But you threw the ball!"

Zhen looked the boy straight in the eye. He was entirely correct, but she couldn't allow him to be alone on the streets. "You're still coming with me..."

Walking with the boy into the clinic, she called out to anyone within; "Hello?"

[jericho]

A few armature kites, kites flown for the sake of being flown, had already took to the sky. Simple red box kites, and other simple designs usually colored in reds or oranges; the more elaborate, ornate ones were to come later. Jericho smiled fondly thinking of her family's kite, an amazing red and gold dragon, with wings and all, and when the wind hit it just right the breeze flew through the hollow paper center making the kite undulate and the wings flap, making it look serpentine, making it look almost real. Jericho could not wait until her mother arrived, in hopes that she may hold the reigns on her family's kite this year.

The festival was beginning to fill with more than just the early risers, but true blue patrons had begun to show up. The young woman stood up slowly from the pond, her bare feet curling around the grass beneath her as she twirled her parasol gingerly, walking back toward the booths with no real aim or purpose other than getting a better look of the faces of those who were flying the kites. Silently, Jericho wished she had thought of bringing her sketchpad, it would be an amazing scene to depict. Maybe there was a booth selling them, or something of the sort. Jericho quickly changed her direction from the clearing created to fly kites to the dozens of booths set up for the bender. Someone was bound to have a sketch book, a journal, something!

[sekar]

CRASH!!!

Sekar conversation was cut short. "What the hell was that! Hao walked into the hall to find a ball in the middle with glass all around it. Hao was not happy.

"Gods damn it what hooligians are causing trouble!?" Sekar took the ball and headed down the hall to the entry room to answer the door. He was stopped by Tomo who look upset.

"Master! Mister Kaoshu is seziuring again!" She shouted, just as Yuka and Motoko ran in.
"Just use muscle relaxiants and get use 2Ah needles around his should and Chest chi nodes. Block those and reroute those away from the lungs and heart.
"Yes Sir!" Tomo ran back as Sekar walked down to open the door,

What he saw was very old lady and young boy. Sekar wore his work cloths his long black hair was done up in a loose braid he had small onyx feather earring on his right ear. For some he looked hansome even in his work clothes which were grimy from work.

"So you decided to disturb my clinc...I am sure you will pay for the damages your...grandson caused." He insinuated as he tapped his foot, mango eyes sharp and angry

[zhen]

It was only to be expected when a man stormed angrily down the hall, ball in his hand. Despite his cranky demeanor, Zhen would try and handle the matter gracefully. Walking toward the man, she held a hand to her chest. "My deepest apologies, but I must let you know that my great-grandson didn't do it." Zhen felt like emphasizing that fact about Taotu, since she was far from ashamed of her progeny. Yes, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy, and she wasn't afraid of the long life she had been blessed to live.

"It was all my fault, and I'm so sorry." Bowing to the man, she stayed calm. She wasn't very nervous with the situation, since honor was expected toward the elderly. And with her head erect, not leaning over in embarassment as would a timid person, Zhen looked the man straight in the eye. Her confidence clearly unshaken, she said; "I intend to pay the full price."

[xin]

Xin sighed softly, the kite festival couldn't be held on a more magnificent day and yet she felt forlorn. It was the first time her family wasn't present with her, and by her family she of course meant her younger brothers. Her parents never had time for such frivalties. Shoulders slumping the young woman lingered near the pavilion in the park. Her eyes hidden in the shade while her lower body was only just in the sunlight.

Her hands folded politely, one over the other in her lap. Her hair was fashioned up into a low loose bun set with a flowered comb. Smaller strands of hair hung gently in her face light as feathers and ebony as thick ink, the few staff left in her families mansion said she looked lovlier than the sun at mid morning. She didn't feel beautiful though, far from it, she was alone. Her family in the earth kingdom while she was here... back home, just like she selfishly wanted. Only there was no joy in it without the rest of the family.

Her yutaka was a royal purple, trimmed with gold and scarlet falling in a pool around her feet. Shear webbed gold fabric encased the curve of her hip traveling around her abdomen to her back where a jeweled pheonix set the center of the bow the delicate material made. Casting her eyes from the kites in the sky to the grass her painted eyelashes became hooded with thick black paint contrasting to her powdered violet eyeshadow. Fed up with wallowing in her own pity the young woman decided to see what there was to do.

[Teiú]

(Teiú is coming from: Roads & Musicians)

And so, Lun Yang at last.

Teiú finally arrived on the city only owning his backpack and clothes. His mount, the ostrich-horse, was sold before reaching Lun Yang.

The deserter was looking like a beggar. His clothes were ragged and his chest plate was dark, covered with a dark dust, due to his fight with two traveling soldiers on the Sun Sei road. Scratched and dirty, shaken and tired, Teiú entered the capitol through one of the many small streets of the outskirts of town.

As Teiú reached one of the great squares of the city something surprised him. The streets were crowded with people. A festival was running in, something about kites, as Teiú realized after looking at the sky. It was good thing for Teiú as sp he could try to hide himself into the people but it was a bad thing also as soldiers were all over the place. Teiú was lost in the town and he needed to ask someone for help if he wanted to find the secret sect of “The Rebellion”. But first, thought Teiú, he was in need of getting new clothes… and a bath would be cool too.

But where to find something here before getting caught by the Fire Nation?

[sekar]

"I hope you can, most of my money is spent on making sure my patients are cared for." Sekar replied looking Zhen also in the eye.

"If you may please come in. Oh the ball in my custody for now." Sekar turned to find Hao mopping up something.
"Did Rin peed himself again?" Hao nodded "He's been taken back to the children's ward. Did you find the culpirts to broke the window?" Sekar had Zhen and her great-grandson sit on bench.
"These are the ones that did it, it was accident though." Hao finished cleaning up and burned the rags.

"Tomo got the glass clean up and Motoko warded off the area. How are they going to pay for the damange?"
"Well let me ask them."

Sekar leaned on the side of the wall and spoke to Zhen, "Well I you can pay for the damnage with money or service, The little one is except from the latter, either way your not leaving the clinic until you pay up the damage."

[xin]

Citizens crowded the streets lingering near games and vendors, she could see some people she'd met in the upper crust elite functions walking about with commoners. Xin bowed her head lightly to hide a faint smile. She thought it was a good trend, it would be dishonoring their family to show or express her feelings, that could lead to an angi kai, they didn't reserve them for men only. With the firenation colonizing the earth kingdom like they are the government has been cracking down harder than usual.

Her eyes lingered over a fish game, a small child cried as the gold angel fish broke through the small paper fan. Another smile crossed her lips, this one she didn't hide. Poor thing, she remembered coming here before and playing that game with her siblings. Her youngest brother tried all day attempting to catch the fish. It wasn't until Xin pleaded with the merchant for one that he stopped his crying. The fish is long since dead.

She could remember Lang muttering that it was a festival fish, what did they expect? The smile turned into a trained expression of nothingness as she continued on. Was her brother always so aggressive? She didn't remember it when she was smaller, they were close as siblings could be. She thought they'd always love one another. They didn't even come to see her off when she left. Closing her eyes tightly she tried to force the tears that were building away. There was no time for crying right now. Not on such a beautiful day.

There were times when she wished things would be different and that she would have power over the world, there wasn't much she knew about it. If the earth kingdom and fire nation could get along there might be a chance, that didn't seem to be happening. Why couldn't the earth people understand the firenation is only trying to help, to industrialize them and to make the world better. Thats what they were doing right? She didn't really know, it didn't even occur to her that she'd stopped moving in the middle of the street.

[zhen]

So apparently the man was a doctor, or perhaps a nurse. Maybe a shaman or herbalist? Whatever he did, he dealt with patients all the same. Zhen understood why he needed all the money he could scrounge. Clinics were a worthy cause, and the elderly firebender respected that. Sitting beside her wiry great-grandson, the boy's hair in a messy topknot, she peered her sienna eyes at the raven-haired man. With her voice serious, not once breaking, she replied; "Of course, sir. I am a firebending master of prestige in the city of Yin Rei. I will have no difficulty reimbursing you for the accident."

Just then, she reached into the lapel of her robe and rummaged around. Where was it? She knew she had a pouch of coins lying around in there somewhere. Maybe on the other side? Removing her hand from one lapel, she quickly slide her opposite hand into the other. Why was it so hard to find? A grim thought crossed her mind as her face grew blank.

Zhen supposed she may have forgotten her money, or that she was even robbed. The latter was entirely possible, considering she seemed an easy target. After a split-second, however, she found the pouch and pulled it out. Even if she had unintentionally mislead the doctor, her fine clothing informed anyone that Zhen was not of low class. And of course, her claim of firebending mastery wouldn't be in vain. She could always send off a few lightning bolts to prove her claim, even though that wouldn't do a thing to pay for the window.

Holding the pouch toward the cranky man, she grinned. "I do hope this is suitable."

[jericho]

A soft smirk crossed Jericho's painted lips as she thanked the vendor kindly for the simple sketchpad and brush. Though the smirk was more to herself than to the merchant. She had bartered the price down from gold to silver pieces without even batting an eye, and for the few silver pieces spent she was able to get not only the sketchpad and the brush, but ink and a simple red cotton bag to carry everything in. The young woman studied the back, her amber eyes scrutinizing the bland fabric. It was not at the extravagance level she was used to but for the price of everything she supposed it was worth it. Perhaps she could manage a trade later on in the festivities for something more suited to her taste. Hiking the bag with her newly purchased materials up on her shoulder and folding her parasol up Jericho thanked the merchant once more before striding off, her hips swaying slightly with each step.

Thick crowds were beginning to form as the festivities began. Children laughed and gossiped leapt from the eager mouths of the noble woman. The slight breeze that kept the kites in the sky afloat continued to caress the patrons, shifting the silk of Jericho's yukata about her ankles. The thought that had struck the young woman earlier had rushed back, nearly forgetting her need to sketch entirely. Her mother, she had to be here by now. Frantically Jericho's bare feet slapped the buoyant grass beneath her, her amber eyes burning with the need to find her mother. She had to ask before the contest begun, and though there was ample time before that she needed enough time to fetch the family's kite if her mother did not bring it.

Due to Jericho's frantic pace she hardly saw the girl right in front of her. With a soft bump their shoulders connected. The young woman lost her balance momentarily before quickly catching it, reverting back to her years of swordsmanship. A verbal lashing was poised and ready on her tongue before she swallowed it, realizing it was more her fault than the girls. She was about to apologize before she set eyes on the girl's soft pale face, and feather light hair. Jericho brushed her own thick ebony locks away from her face, attempting to get a better look at the girl. She seemed so incredibly familiar, but the young noble couldn't quite put her finger on it. "I beg your pardon, but have we met before?" Yes, the line was cliche, but Jericho's curiosity came first, she couldn't stop the question from leaving her lips. She just had to know.

[xin]

Xin was wrapped up in her own world, not much penetrated through her growing emotional shell; until a knock on her shoulder caused her to stumble lightly. Her hands went over her chest in embarrassment and her cheeks flushed as her attention turned towards a familiar, angry young noble woman. She looked as if she was about to breath fire and take out some very unwarranted aggression on her. Wincing back slightly the pale girl blanched, ready to coil into herself whispering apology after apology but she didn't expect the woman's words to be a question. Her painted eyelids fluttered softly as she looked at Jericho, well she supposed they never really spoke to one another directly... though they attended many of the same balls and were a year apart in age.

As a would be noble her parents made sure she knew everyone above and below her in rank. The Xannin's were a family of humble beginning, new money, While Xin's family was one with ties to the royalty of the fire nation as scribes and merchants as far back as the records allowed. Still she fancied the woman was above her, specifically the reason Xin was in the firenation, her family rank wasn't all that impressive. She was here to marry a man with a higher position, to make her family honorable.

Her brother would join the military, become a general, he had the ambitions, and her youngest brother would continue in her fathers position as a scribe and record keeper. Xin's full lips, today only painted with a soft rose pulled into a line, of course she could play around with Jericho, jokingly allude that she's an idiot for not knowing who she was but it seemed callow and petty.

Instead she bowed her head lightly casting her soft brown eyes downward in modesty. Out here on the open streets she wouldn't risk anything , she'd be compliant and humble. " Xin Che Shi', I've attended a few formal functions were we've met casually, though I doubt we've ever exchanges pleasantries, it's nice to meet you Miss Jericho"

[sekar]

Sekar watched the woman searched for her purse with quiet amusment no doubt this woman seemed cheeky. Mostly like a fire bender that can sear his ass. Sighing he took the money and counted it. Taking some gold and counting it as well. He handed the purse back.

"This will do ma'am You and your great-grandson are free to go but I'm keeping the ball if you don't mind....I think the children in the ward down the hall need something to keep them distracted." Mused Sekar as he balanced the ball on his fingers. Catching it again, Tomo tapped on his shoulder.

"Sorry master can you light this for me? I need to head into Quarentine." Sekar lit the candle and as Tomo slid on her face mask and walked the other direction. Sekar rubbed his forehead and made a guesture

"Ok thank you Ma'am I need get back to work. If this keeps up I won't be able to fly my kite for the festival." Sighing Sekar walked down the hall musing to himself.

"Doctor's work is never done."

[zhen]

Though grateful the man accepted her payment, she assumed a rather cross expression when he kept their ball. Zhen saw it as a rather selfish act, and the doctor himself should have known better. Even though his reasons for keeping the ball were noble, he could have lightened up his attitude. Shaking her head while the man wasn't looking, the elderly firebender slid off the bench and beckoned her young great-grandson to follow. "Come, Taotu. I can get you another ball."

Her voice hushed, a reply to the irate doctor never escaped her lips. He apparently had other things to do, affording no time for him to even say a simple farewell. Not even did he thank her for the payment, as she could have simply pretended that nothing was broken and left the clinic to fare for itself. It was understandable, but courtesy was always more than welcome to Zhen.

Walking out the door, her hand on Taotu's back to keep him moving, the two joined the crowds of the busy street. Amidst festival games galore, Zhen spotted her great-grandson's mother and father nearby. Patting the boy's back, she muttered in his ear; "I'll meet you and your parents later. Tell them I wanted to take a look around further before the main events begin."

Nodding, the boy ran over toward Zhen's grandson and his wife. The master of firebending smiled and waved, then turned her back to head down the street. Though what immediately caught her eye was a rather seedy-looking man riding upon an ostrich-horse. He seemed out of place, and Zhen couldn't help but stare.