The Ball <Lun Yang, Fire Nation>

[jericho]

Jericho stared transfixed by the flames, her amber eyes dancing in the moving light. It was almost a shame that Sekar had snuffed it out so very quickly. It was the truth, what the good Doctor had said, that the ability to bend was both a blessing and a curse, the dual edged sword. But, like the sword, it was the beauty in the danger of it that Jericho was attracted to. Kendo was like a dance, and Fire bending, an art.

Though he had asked her a question, Jericho felt the need to go back and address something he said moments earlier. "Birds of prey are far from ugly, Doctor." Jericho closed her eyes and let the night air slip through her as she breathed deep. Her face became pacified, placid. In fact it was the first calm look she had worn since she took to her canvas the previous night. She spoke with eyes closed, her voice intense. "They've a silent intensity about them. They are, honestly, remarkable creatures." Jericho opened her eyes slowly, and let out a small laugh at herself before looking over at Sekar. "Forgive me, sometimes I forget myself."

She held Sekar's gaze for along time, her eyes mirroring his before she turned away, looking into the Ball she had left. Who was it for again? "My father's a military man, as I've mentioned before. Military has been apart of the Xanine side for as long as the war has been on. He may not have been blessed with sons but he was given a daughter with bite." Jericho laughed to herself, recalling one of her earliest memories of kicking one of the poor servants who had attempted to bathe her in the ankle. "Kendo is my connection to that military bite, and I enjoy it more than any of those frou frou dances I was taught in the Academy."

She turned back to look Sekar in the eye, a small frown creasing her brow. A thought had just come to Jericho and she needed to voice it. "Won't you be missed inside? Not to be rude. or presumptuous, but I'm invited to very nearly every party in Lun Yang due to my standings and you're... well, as far as I know you haven't been. I'm sure someone inside is looking for you Dr. Sekar."

[sekar]

"Birds of prey are far from ugly, Doctor. They've a silent intensity about them. They are, honestly, remarkable creatures...Forgive me, sometimes I forget myself."

Sekar smiled a rich warm smile.
"I am glad you think so...it's odd really, ever since I was very small child. My first companions where accaully the crows and ravens...Hmmmm" As Sekar locked eyes with her he felt his heart pound in his chest. He hated looking people in the eyes. As long as he could remember he was terrified when people started at him. He looked away. His cheeked flushed.

"My father's a military man, as I've mentioned before. Military has been apart of the Xanine side for as long as the war has been on. He may not have been blessed with sons but he was given a daughter with bite. Kendo is my connection to that military bite, and I enjoy it more than any of those frou frou dances I was taught in the Academy."

Sekar mango eyes sparkled as she spoke. She did indeed have quiet a bite. She took good bite of Sekar and didn't let go. Sekar was if anything quiet smitten.

"Won't you be missed inside? Not to be rude. or presumptuous, but I'm invited to very nearly every party in Lun Yang due to my standings and you're... well, as far as I know you haven't been. I'm sure someone inside is looking for you Dr. Sekar." Jericho asked her voice had touch of concern. Sekar frowned thinking about Tomo. Normally she likes to leave him to his own devices and never pester's him. But she might have left with Huo back to the Hut-In-The-City. But he never really knows.

"Well I don't have anyone really expecting me. Except for my nurse Tomo. She wanted to come so she came as my escort. Most likely she thinks I went home, because was sorta forced here my my mentor. She know I hate parties and rather be left in my study reading. But for once I am glad I did go...If I didn't I wouldn't have met such a wonderful woman." Sekar smiled fondly and got up.
"With that said. I must be going to find Tomo. But I don't want to say good bye, Rather, we will meet again soon Miss Jericho. Infact I will leave with this." Sekar leaned over and gave her one of his feather worn in his top not as well as. A chaste kiss.

"I hope I am worthy to court you Miss Jericho. I would like that very much. Till we meet again." Sekar bowed and left opening the door so she may again join her mother.


((Sekar Has Now left the RP))

[jericho]

Jericho wanted to push Sekar away, to pull away. To scream, to shout, to anything. How dare he be so arrogant as to steal a kiss from her, The Xanine Spite Fire. How dare he assume he could commit such an act without any repercussions? How dare he make it so hard for Jericho to push him away?

Jericho's face flushed with a mixture of anger, embarrassment, and something else she couldn't quite pinpoint. Her face was so red it could easily have been seen through the makeup she wore. A spiteful lashing positioned itself on the tip of the young woman's tongue, but nothing came out. It wasn't until Sekar left, and was presumably far out of earshot that she regained her voice once more. First she let out a frustrated growl that sounded like a mixture of a dragon ready to attack or a volcano ready to erupt. The Young woman's entire body was tensed. Her palms were clenched to hard- curling around the feather Sekar had given her- her finely manicured nails were digging into the palms of her hands, creating delicate crescent moon indents in her flesh. Jericho bit her lip harshly and waited for the emotion to subside, she couldn't return to the ball like this. Her mother would question and she was likely to bite at anyone who even looked at her the wrong way.

Jericho closed her eyes in a slow blink and began to breathe the way she did when holding a sword in her hand. In for five counts, out for ten, in for five counts, out for ten. Eventually her palms unclenched, and her muscles relaxed. The young woman slowly lifted the feather to her eyes, twirling it gingerly between her thumb and forefinger. Now that she had calmed she was able to appreciate the gift. A simple raven's feather that seemed to be much more than that, it was, really, quite stunning. In a simple motion she slipped the gift into her Kimono's sleeve, and sighed. Thinking of the courtships both Yishugei and Sekar had proposed to her.

For now she emptied her mind of all thoughts, stood up, and walked back into the the now boring-compared-to-what-just-happened festivities, to find her mother. Ai may not have been much company at these events, but her mere presence would console her contemplative daughter.

[Jericho has left the thread]