Days of Shai City <open 2 all n' any>

[aden]

The day after next...

Months since the Fire Nation's latest attack and still there was work to be done. Granted the work was typical repair and maintenance, the sort that had always been required of the city's utility benders, but this day's issues were rooted in the aftermath of the Second Siege. The sun was well on the way to its zenith and the citizens were going about their daily lives. Scarcely a whisp of a cloud marred the sky and the glare of sunlight off the white snow covered buildings was enough to blind anyone not accustomed to it.

"That's just shoddy craftsmanship," Aden heard his father say as he circled around the western abuttment to an ice bridge. The young former warrior, now fully apprenticed to his father as a utility bender stepped up to the edge of the canal that the bridge spanned and looked up at its underside. "See there?" his father pointed out, aiming his index finger at a hairline crack that ran the length of the bridge all the way up to a missing section of its center that had collapsed the night before.

"Yeah," Aden nodded in response, "Looks like there's two different grains of ice meeting right at the fault."

"Precisely. Looks like this job was hastily done in the aftermath of the Siege and then no one ever got around to fixing it up proper... It' was such a mess back then, I'm amazed there aren't more bridges and buildings showing disrepair."

"Lucky no one was around when that section broke off then."

"Mhm..." Aden's father, Kojaq hummed in agreement. "Well, it's not going to get fixed with us just staring at it. Start setting up some blocks on the street corners so people don't come this way. Put a bouy up in the waterway too."

"On it," Aden said, offering a nod as he headed toward the nearest intersection of the canals to stop anyone who might think to use the busted bridge. There were a number of people on the walkways, but traffic through the waterway was thankfully minimal in his direction. Once he reached the corner he set about solidifying a tall floating pillar of ice in the middle of the canal set a few yards back from the actual intersection. Aden also erected a thin, waist-high wall that obstructed most of the walkway. On it he used his finger, and some slight bending to smooth out the lines, to write the character for 'Construction.'

Aden stood up then and glanced around, noticing that his actions had garnered the attention of a few people around him who seemed vaguely interested in seeing what was being constructed. The young apprentice spared them a momentary glance before getting ready to skirt across the canal and block off the walkway on the other side.

[ukaleq]

The young woman stepped along the Palace Canal, a larger canal than most, and lined with details carvings, miniature little temples made out of crystal clear ice that sparkled in the sunlight. The Palace Canal circled the upper ring, the Pamit Ring and provided access among the ring for nobles, while remaining just one level lower than the actual Palace Ring which was a barren platform perfect for giving ralling speeches. Totem poles rose up, framing a view of the ocean and it was on this platform that the Master Pakku and the young Katara from the Southern Tribe had battled.

She walked along the Palace ring towards the East Side, where it joined with the East Canal that stretched out along the east side of the city, through varying levels and locks. The East and the West Canals were practically all Locks while the Ring Canals ran the semi-circle levels of the and then there were all the in betweens. It was perhaps a little out of the way to ask Nokose to meet her here but it was closest to her home. Her hair was brushed back as usual, those tight and neat braided loops hanging two over her shoulder and two behind her back, threaded with navy blue ribbons. Her parka was snug and warm, the ivory pendant carved with a rabbit dangling from where her hood and white fur peaked at her throat.

Clutched at her chest, carefully cuddled by her hands was a small rag doll. Made from a patchwork mixtured of fabrics, the little girl's skin was mahogany suede and her hair a mixture of soft, thin rope and braided strips of dark calico fabric. Her hand idly smoothed the doll's hair, her fingers clothed in those dark grey gloves that she wore so often. She plucked at the tuffs of white fur decorating the doll's parka and teeny tiny boots as she walked along the canals.

Ukaleq kept her head down, watching the ground infront of her and the few people along the walkway absent mindedly while her mind was else where. She did not notice that the bridge ahead of her, crossing between two buildings and their balconies, was under construction, the small crew setting up and working. She did not notice the low wall that had been erected, characters for construction etched into the surface. The boot of her toe kicked against the wall, and she lifted her head suddenly with a startled noise and wide eyes. Her dark navy eyed blinked.. and she stood a step back as her pressed her cupid's bow lips together.. and she looked up into the bright sky. "Oh.." She made the realization, not even noticing the dark skinned apprentice near with the wolf tale. Well now she'd have to go around...

[nokose]

Getting closer and his body was feeling even more distruptive.

Nokoseuhbholke hardly gave even a speck of attention to passengers today, too focused on time that drifted by until the appointed time. His navigation tugged him between nearing and avoiding an arranged meeting place.

"Insanity," saying to himself on a now empty gondola.

Hiding under a bridge, Nokose squated low and leaned his face over the side for the umpteenth time today. He gazed bitterly at his features and brushed braided locks from his ears. He leaned there wondering if he was finally going to vomit and partially wanted to vomit if it meant spewing this anxiety from him.

"This lacks any true sense," fingers trailed through his scalp between rows of braided hair that jumped back and forth like an upset sea. There was hardly much time in sleep the night before. Since awaking the day was leaving him frustrated and disappointed.

"Capitulate," sighing after sitting down in his gondola. "All I'm ever allowed to do is it? Nothing for myself." Slapping palms together as if in prayer, but if he did would desperately pray otherwise. Slapping his hands to the floor of the gondola, Nokose pushed himself to his feet then finally propelled from under the bridge and back into the main canal lanes.

Minutes later, his apprehensive approach came to a halt with his previous vexation becoming replaced by this new annoyance at the bridge construction project now blocking his path. And yet the sight of someone there upon the bridge brought him closer.

"Ho, Aden!" Calling in greeting with a raised hand. "I see you have found work to care for your... expenses." he hinted, recalling what money the boy and a companion of his owed to himself and Elechuto after a few games of Pai Sho played amidst the backdrop of a new Fire Nation siege.

[aden]

Aden had just stepped up to te edge of the canal and begun to freeze a walkway for him to cross to the other side when he heard someone call his name. The voice was vaguely familiar, and when he scanned the area around he saw a gondola drifting his way. It took a moment of recollection, but he eventually recognized the gondolier. Not many people had skin quite so dark as this man, so it made him stand out among his memories.

The young bender stopped in place and raised a hand in greeting.
A brief, puzzled looked crossed his features at the mention of some expenses, but it soon came back to him about the boardgame on boat during the Siege. A sigh of recognation escaped his lips and he even managed a slight smile.

"I'd thought you or your friend might have come to settle that long ago if you were truly interested in holding me to it," Aden replied, running his fingers through his hair and then trailing them down to the back of his neck. "Though now I have the means to pay for it... What was the final tally?"

The young bender glanced around as he spoke, feeling somewhat awkward about discussing gambling debts in public like this. His father was a fair distance away, but even so he didn't feel like presenting the image of him being a notorious gambler, even to complete strangers. The only person near enough to listen or care, though, seemed to be a young woman about his age who was standing idly by his construction barrier. By her clothes she seemed to be from a wealthy family, but her face was unfamiliar.

[ukaleq]

She looked to the side, to the canal that ran alongside the walkway. She stepped back, skirts swishing against the powder-strewn walkways while her eyes raised upward to the second story bridge. It was then that after a moment of staring, that she saw the hairline crack. Barely visible, it was unnoticeable unless someone delibertly was looking for a flaw. She raised a hand to her mouth, a small gasp of recognition slipping from her as she realized exactly why the barrier had been erected. She had been foolish for not looking where she was going. It was then that she noticed the young man nearly next to her.. and the gondola out in the canal. Instantly, her eyes widened and she stepped back again, her hand dropping quickly to her mid-torso and both her hands slipped quietly into her long draping sleeves. An embarrassed smile crossed her lips as she dipped her head down, hiding her eyes behind thick lashes.

“..I beg your pardon.. I was not looking where I was walking..” She admitted sheepishly, holding that handmade doll close to her with her folded arms now. Strands of hair fell from her hair line in wide arcs to encircled her face, curling under her round jawline. It was then.. “Oh! Nokose!” She called out quietly and softly with excitement in her voice. Her head rose again, her raspberry colored lips curved into a smile. She gave him a wave with her hand, fingers gently curled as she stepped forward towards the canal’s edge and coming up nearly alongside the young engineer who had just started to build an alternative walkway around the construction zone. Carefully, she made certain to not step into his area, lowering her hand to pull on her skirt to keep it away from his work areas. “I’m sorry..” She apologized for getting into his way as she again raised her head to the water and where Nokose was standing in his gondolier.

Her cheeks were made rounder by the smile as she placed both of her gloved hands on the doll and held it out at arm lengths. The doll was crude, but it was still made of fantastic fabrics of different textures and colors. “What do you think?”

[nokose]

"Elechuto and I figured you 'responsible enough young man,'" Nokoseuhbholke began to intone. "So we let you be in the belief that you are the sort of man who repays his debts in life. In due time of course.

"Your tally may take you some time, I should admit," he continued just as an idea began to flow through his mind. "But it can be lessen in exchange of a few favours, perhaps. Good deeds as they may be..." Nokose's voice trailed off upon now realizing who the woman next to Aden was once she had finally decided to reveal herself.

Suddenly nervous, Nokose seemed to have withdrew into himself at Ukaleq's appearance. Embarrassed, he looked away from both her and Aden. For Aden: embarrassed at his behaviour in front of him at Ukaleq. For Ukaleq: embarrassed that she may now think of him as a gambler. Curse that Elechuto!

"Well," he turned towards her upon deciding to answer his question. But it was difficult to look at her gift, even more so her. Why was his head swimming and when did he start feeling so warm? He understood what the gift was but it was difficult for him to focus on it, of the effort and artistry she put into it.

"She will adore it," he commented swiftly.

[pika]

This week had not been the most pleasant of weeks for Pika. His father had approached him to take up the family business and join his other brothers on one of the Harta's merchant ships. Honestly? The last thing the young man wanted to do was go into the family business. He remembered how his mother had struggled raising so many kids by herself...and then went on to see in-laws going through the same thing. Sure, Pika wasn't married yet...hell, he had yet to even settle on one girl at this point to focus his charms on. But eventually he did want to find a good woman to marry, and he wasn't too keen on rarely being home to enjoy her company. Thankfully, he'd managed to blow his dad off yet again...but only for a little while it seemed. The merchants would be back in a few months time, and by then his dad fully expected him to sail out with the fleet.

Right now though, he wasn't dwelling on that most unpleasant conversation. Afterall, there were MUCH more enjoyable things to think about...such as the two lovely young women he was escorting. Pika had a girl on each arm, and they seemed to be positively smitten with him, giggling as he told them the story about he and Aden getting drunk and nearly getting killed when they went buffalo yak tipping. Honestly, he had really meant to help Aden just cut loose for once. And it had worked! Hadn't he danced with that girl at the celebration? The girl's name escaped him now...and as cute as she was, she just wasn't his type. Maybe if she had been, he would've remembered more about her.

Anyway...he'd agreed to accompany the girls from their gondola to a nearby seamstress, quoting that with all the construction going on, it was quite easy to get detoured and turned around. Of course, the excuse was lame, but it had paid off as they had readily agreed to let him escort them personally. The girls were pretty, sure enough...but as they neared his destination, he was kind of glad that he was almost done with his self-imposed duty. Yes, the pair were awful nice, but neither were the type he'd want to really pursue anything with.

"And here we are ladies. Alas, I wish we could extend our little interlude, but I have a prior engagement that I can't back out of," he said smoothly. "Good day to you both."

Okay...so that wasn't the total truth. He didn't really have anything pressing he needed to do, what with his classes already over for the day. But Pika was pretty sure that he could find something else to do. And as luck would have it, he spotted a rather familiar looking figure...

"Hey Aden!" he called out. As he drew closer, he noticed a somewhat familiar young woman and a waiting gondola in the canal waters. He bowed his head just slightly to Ukaleq, "Good day miss," he said, a charming smile on his face.

He...didn't say anything to Nokose. Not out of rudeness, but Pika wasn't exactly in the habit of engaging in random conversation with gondoliers.

[aden]

Aden retained his posture with his hand hooked around the back of his neck as Nokose went on about methods of repayment. To be honest, the entire concept of being in debt was unpleasant to the honest young man who had so far lived his life by the straight-and-narrow. He would just as soon pay off Nokose's gambling cheat of a friend who, Aden was convinced, had rigged the game somehow.

The young waterbender paused a moment before responding, and he watched the interaction between the gondolier and his female acquiantence. The sudden shift in mannerisms hinted that perhaps he had some sort of affection for her, or at least that he wanted to appear perfectly proper in her perspective. Once Nokose had answered her, though, Aden attempted to reclaim his attention by speaking directly towards him. "Just tell your friend to give me the number and I'll give him what's due," he said, hoping that his language was plain enough and his tone final enough to lay that matter to rest. Neither of them seemed to want to continue the conversation in present company.

But even as that matter seemed to be resolved, another popped up almost instantly. The greeting call of a familiar voice stole Aden's attention from Nokose and the young lady, and had his head turning to face an incoming acquaintence.

Pika Harta. The sight of him brought to mind a number of thoughts and memories, but Aden did well to remind himself that they had already buried the pick-axe, as it were. Part of being a man, after all, was the ability to move on and forgive past wrongs. And even though Aden would take his time before he trusted Pika completely, he was willing to give the other boy's friendship a chance to grow.

"Hello," Aden called in return, taking a small step away from the edge of the canal and out from between Nokose and the girl. It was his own way of trying to prevent this new conversation from blocking any further dialogue between the other two.

"What brings you to my construction site?" Aden asked, kicking his warning barrier with the toe of his boot while he smiled slightly. "And without a hard-hat, no less."

[ukaleq]

“..Really?!” She seemed a little too excited at the prospect of her little doll, as poorly made as she was, would be loved by the little girl it was intended to be. Her cheeks flushed red as her true smile, not that shy, diminutive one, shown through; a wide cheeky grin that made her eyes both widen and squint with glee. Her arms, stretched outward, lowered quickly and she held the child’s doll to her now, wrapping her arms once more around it and herself, grasping both elbows. It was now that she really truly noticed the other men. There was the one standing near her infact, who she had inched by at first in her excitement to show Nokose the doll. Now she found herself pressing her lips together and lowering her eyes. She had intruded on them, the two men.. how very rude. She dropped her eyes, averted her dark navy blue gaze from the man whose face was framed by those two braids, much of his hair pulled back into a warrior’s wolf tail.

She wondered briefly, looking up at him if he was a warrior.. an warrior who was helping rebuild the city now like most of them had. Her father, Qillaq, had often shared with her stories of their heroism and their acts of greatness throughout the city. He himself had been a warrior and still was in all his heart though he served more as an Adviser to Chief Arnook now and his council. Surely this man with the warrior’s wolftail was someone worthy of her respect. She stepped away from him again, her feet dangerously close to the edge of the canal with it’s raised lip that kept wandering feet from going over.
There was another man now who approached, casually walking as he separated from a gaggle of ladies who had been hanging on his arms. Those girls split off down another street, and Ukaleq watched him approach with a quick upward glance of her eyes. He was smaller than the others, very narrow in face with shoulder length hair that was carefully brushed and kept. Much of his hair was also pulled back into a wolf’s tail with three braids pulled out of it next to his ear. She blinked once, then twice.. he was familiar. Familiar..

She raised one hand to her face, her fingertips touching her chin lightly, pulling gently at her lower lip as she once more dropped her head. ”Good day, Miss” He greeted her, and in return he would only receive a quick, polite and uncertain bob her head and shoulders. Ukaleq was bothered by his familiarity, but more so she was bother by so many men around her now. Unfamiliar and yet familiar. There was only Nokose who she knew.. well.. she didn’t know him all that well but they had talked, she had gotten to know his nieces.. and through them, him in a way. It was now, holding the doll closer to her and standing ever so near the canal that she glanced towards him. The young woman looked up towards him through the loose strands of hair that curled in front of her face, arching down to her cheeks and jaw with tiny kisses of frost clinging to them. She brought her plump, violet tinted lips together.

[nokose]

"... mm." Was the closest thing Nokoseuhbholke's sealed lips gave in response to Pika's, the fellow waterbender teacher, appearance. Though often only have met him in passing, he heard well enough about Pika from other instructors to form a decent enough opinion of him. A promising instructor with poor character, he would suppose.

Unconcerned by Pika's interruption and now his being preoccupied with Aden, Nokose swept an arm across the waters alongside his gondola then swept it back in the other direction with an upturned palm. With it a small tendril of water followed his hand and detached itself from the canal. Held in midair, Nokose swept a hand under and over the now globule forming it into a solid tablet of ice. Holding it in one hand he next began scrawling small characters upon it with a pinky finger, his waterbending carving the message into the ice tablet.

"Aden, unwilling to chaperon and lessen your debt, you aid as what you owe me facilitates the purchase of a new dress for a niece. Be wary when you repay Elechuto that same amount lest you owe him more."

"Aden," Nokose announced for his attention. Upon having it he gently lobbed the tablet up towards Aden then bowed his departure towards the young man, leaving him to the company of Pika. In a waterbending push Nokose then began to laterally drift his gondola towards Ukaleq. Inwardly queasy, Nokose questioned to himself as to why he was feeling rather hot or his belly knotting up as he docked along the sidewalk. Nibbling at his lower lip, his eyes remained downcast while waterbending ice to his to foot in order to anchor him there.

"...," trying to lift his head as his arm, shaky at first, began to rise. "Shall we... go now?" Nokose held out his hand towards her.

[pika]

"What brings you to my construction site? And without a hard-hat, no less."

Pika tilted his head a moment, taking a look at the barrier. He'd heard that Aden was part of the reconstruction that seemed to be ever ongoing around Shai, but he'd yet to believe. As skilled as his peer was at waterbending, he would've thought he'd be doing...well...something less mundane.

"With the way you bend? I think I'd be safer around you than around a bunch of firebenders," Pika teased. His words were just that though. While he may have been a skilled bender, he lacked the experience that Aden's time in the Earth Kingdom had garnered. "I had just finished being the upstanding gentlemen and escorting a couple of ladies to their destination, and saw you here."

"Aden."

The young man turned his head a little and watched as Nokose pitched an ice tablet up to his friend. Now what was that all about? What exactly had he interrupted between Aden and the gondolier?

[aden]

Nokose caught Aden's attention just a moment before tossing a tablet of ice his way. Rather than try to catch the heavy slab with would likely result in some pain or a broken piece of ice, the younger man simply used his bending to halt its descent smoothly and easily. Aden held the tablet aloft with one hand and then physically gripped it with the other. A quick glance over the writing delivered the message, or at least the gyst of it -Aden couldn't help but think "pay me back later" would have sufficed- and then he gave the boatman a curt nod.

Nokose seemed to shift his focus over to the young lady after the transaction, and Aden was left to regard Pika. He smiled slightly in a somewhat late reaction to Pika's earlier comment, but noticed that the other young man was looking at him curiously. He figured it must be the secretive tablet that Nokose had thrown him. The itch to ask what was on it showed clearly on Pika's expression.

"Just a note about the canals," Aden explained fasely as he casually dissolved the message into a stream of water and tossed it over his shoulder into the waterway. The young bender brushed his gloved hands off in front of him and then swept one hand trough his hair, trailing it down a side-braid to tug momentarily on the tuft at the end. For a moment he had considered telling the truth, though in such an over-obvious tone that Pika wouldn't actually beleive it. But Aden had reconsidered when he took into account the possibility that even jokingly connecting his name with gambling debts would be more than enough excuse for Pika to spread the rumor around.

"So who were-"

"Aden, what's the hold up?" his father called from down the canal. Aden turned his head quickly to see Kojaq standing up on the abuttment of the bridge, looking down at him from the ledge.

"Just a second," he called back. Aden returned his glance to Pika and rocked lightly on his heels as he debated how much more time he could spend socializing before getting back to work. "So where are you heading now?" he asked, almost hoping Pika already had a destination in mind.

[ukaleq]

“Huh?” She made the questioning sound gently as she heard the bump of the gondola next to her, the crack of ice as Nokose planted his foot on the higher edge and commanded ice to creep up and surround his foot. She glanced to the side, seeing him standing there with his knee bent and a gloved hand extended. Her eyes flirted down to his hand, to the gentle extension of his fingers and then back up his arm to his long face with its broad and flattened nose. She felt a sudden rush of hesitation.. her father would scold her for going with him, she thought. Yet, he was a gondolier. She was simply taking his boat to visit his niece who was celebrating her birthday.

“Yes…” Slowly, as she unfolded her arm from where it was wrapped around the large doll in her arms. “Yes. Lets.” Ukaleq’s smiles reappeared, as fleeting as it could be. Her slender fingers were placed into his hand, the weight of her palm coming to rest in his hand as she turned to him. She took a step, the toe of her leather boots appearing under the three layers of cream-colored skirts with their box pleats. Ukaleq turned her head and offered the two gentlemen that same hesitant smile. She wondered briefly what they thought of her; the worker with the braids hanging along his face who held the tablet of ice for a moment before he dissolved the ice and let the water fly over his shoulders. The other man as well, though he had greeted her, he had no interest in her. All the better, it was right for her to stay out of their way and their business. However, it would be rude of her not to wish them the rest of their day.

”Good afternoon, Gentlemen.” She spoke gently with a nod of her head, those loose strands of hair bouncing at her hair line. Her weight shifted on her feet, moving forward stepping onto the boot with Nokose’s hand to help her. Skirts fluttered down around her feet, once more hiding her flat boots while the dark cerulean blue parka settled over her skirts, as long as her knee with the grey rabbits fur edging the hem. Ukaleq would have waved to them but her arm was wrapped around the rag doll tightly, careful not to drop the precious package into the ice cold water.

[nokose]

Nokoseuhbholke had braced himself enough, feeling a fool for what he was doing; being so brash, being so forward. That sort of behaviour was more in favour towards Pika, licentious man Nokose pegged him as, and suitable for women less than Ukaleq. Her reprimand he was well enough prepared for in those brief moments. Her rejection on the other hand on the other hand was a visceral heart skipping, intestine knotting, bowel clinching reaction reminiscent to almost every encounter engaged in battle with the Fire Nation.

But, she said “yes” to him instead. ’Yes,’ she says, reassuring himself. Nokose’s body retreated into the warmth of his parka when her back was turned and tried not to risk a smile now. And if he did, it was not seen above the rim of his parka. He waited until she was settled in, then with a bow to Aden and Pika Nokose held up a raised hand on either side of him and slowly levered them in either direction, back and forth. With no others boats nearby and this section of canal-way being wide enough for two, he was able to turn his gondola around from where they floated rather seek another canal-street or loop.

“It will be some minor time before we reach our destination,” he told her.

Nokose kept his back to her as he navigated the craft from the Pamaut Ring, drifting away back to back. It wasn’t until after they were finally lowered down a canal lock into the central ring, where much of this city’s life congregated, that he turned around towards her. “… f, forgive my intrusion ma’am,” gently speaking up. “Has… your day been as well, as your appearance reveals I can assume?”

[ukaleq]

"Mmm..." She responded coyly and politely as the gondala began to glide through the water, the gentle waves of the still canals lapping at the bow of the narrow boat. The young noblewoman sat at the front, kneeling on her legs with her skirts and parka spread over them. The toes of her dark hide boots poked out from under the multi-layered cream skirts. She held the doll on her lap, beginning to relax as the gentle waterbending pulled them further away from the two other men. She sighed in relief, closing her eyes to the gentle swaying. She could feel Nokose's weight shifting as he waterbended, his hands reaching into the air, grabbing at the water and pulling the boat through the medium of water.

His voice reached her. "“… f, forgive my intrusion ma’am,” Intrusion? Her eyes opened, but she kept her head forehead as her breath caught in her throat. She held it there waiting for him to speak again. “Has… your day been as well, as your appearance reveals I can assume?” Her dark, navy blue eyes blinked once.. twice. She turned her head to look over her shoulder, her rosy and plump cheeks pressing against the grey fur of her hood and the curve of her shoulder. Looking out at the sweep of white ice and snow that lined the canals, she paused and pressed her thick lips together before..

"I guess so." Her eyes flickered up to his face, dark skin taught across his brow and jaw as her musical voice answered with a gentle laugh. She blinked, almost batting her eyes before she turned her face forward. She inhaled, her shoulders raising up and then she exhaled in a content side. "My Father and Brother are recovering still. Father is improving greatly. His arm is nearly mobile.. but Quanah.. He... still carries a fever and suffers illusions at night. He moans in pain.. all the time. It's... heartbreaking." Her voice choked and she closed her eyes, pressing her lips together as her head dipped. So long after the battle with the Fire Nation.. and he was not getting well. An infection raged in his burns.. one her Mother's skilled healing could not tend to.