What to do, What to do..

[fu]

Fu-Lan furrowed her brow and crinkled her nose as the light of the setting sun shocked her dim adjusted eyes. She had spent all day in the torch-lit library in lower Ba Sing Sei. Normally, this would never be a good idea. Fu wasn't skilled in defending herself and looked of noble birth. To be wandering the "rubble", as some called it, of Ba Sing Sei could be incredibly dangerous for a young girl. Especially at night.

Fu wrapped her pale beige poncho around her, trying to hide most of her well-tailored dress. The wind picked up, brushing the scent of dirt, saw dust, and smoked meats past her nose. This was a much different world than where she lived. Most people she finds herself accompanied by have never even stepped foot in the middle ring. She always thought it was strange, though, to not know what's around you.

The buildings in the lower ring were mostly years behind on modern trends or affairs. Most have stayed without paint or patched roofs. Laundry lines were strewn from upper story, to upper story, with under garments and sleep wear, over alley ways and streets. People would yell horrible things to each other while children fought in the dirt over pieces of rotten candy. There wasn't much discretion towards things like that.
Fu yawned, catching the attention of a few vendors trying to make their weekly wage. They were large, stalky men with rough auras and scruffy faces. Not the kind of people Fu would want to run into in the dark. Fu quickened her pace until she got near the entrance gate. This gate lead travelers from the outside in. For Fu-Lan she would wave her passport and get a ride on the monorail to the upper ring form the middle. Fu reached in her breast pocket and showed the earth-bending guard a piece of parchment with a rounded silk tree blossom - the Fan family crest. The guard shook his head, no young woman in the right mind should be down here. Alas, he let her through and she boarded the monorail.

She sighed relief as she looked for an open seat.

[fu]

Fu-Lan sat alone. Her face conveying her current interest with furrowed brows and drowsy eyes. The softly padded, wooden benched which she perched on was no match to the angora fur arm-chair she was used to. Soon, she would find herself lying upon a bull-hide and covered in the sweetest silk sheets with a fur comforter. Maybe, she would ask one of the maids or a relative to make her something to eat. She could kill for some lightly roasted Emu meat and coconut milk and lemon grass soup. Although lemon grass wasn't very expensive, the coconut milk her family had was imported from the Fire Nation tropics. Fu couldn't quite think of the island. Perhaps, it was Inigi? Ginigi? Who knows. It didn't matter all that much to her anyways.

The sun started to vanish under the horizon, leaving only its red, pink, yellow, and orange breath.

The train had stopped at the entrance to the upper ring. Fu got from her seat. As the train doors opened, with the help of some friendly Earth Kingdom workers, it let in the cool, fresh air. The crisp oxygen flooded her lungs as Fu-Lan was help down from the single step. The men bowed to her, she nodded her head in appreciation. It was always so interesting to her how Ba Sing Sei held so many different worlds. Her father had always told her that with out the lower class, there would be not middle ring - and without the middle ring, why, the upper ring would have no meaning of existence. It was all a chain, she decided.

Fu-Lan walked along the riverside. She would soon be home, so she took her time, watching the water ripple against the walls keeping it secure. She was always in awe at the little insects that could stay afloat on top of the water. "Watertribe bugs" she called them. When she was little, she had made names for the bugs she said in example, the lightning bugs she would star at were "Firebender Flies". Fu laughed at herself, how silly she was!

She was in good spirits as she continued to walk.

[xun]

Dressed in his judicial gown, the expression on Xun’s face was sat grimly staring at the manmade river was akin to a blank slab of stone; his jaw clamped so tightly he could have crushed a rock between his teeth. Nature’s changing of the guard as the sky darkened went almost wholly unnoticed by him in his somber mood.

Before returning to Ba Seng Se from his latest excursion outside the city’s walls, Xun had feverishly prayed that this world was an illusion—a nightmare he had awoken from. But the red banners and flags draping across the city were still in place when he arrived at Ba Sing Se this late afternoon. Crimson clad soldier and their metallic, self-propelled carriages still patrolled the streets. And his job of hunting, prosecuting and executing high-profile fugitives began to include patriots of his great kingdom.

The fists at his lap clenched and looked at the wrapped bundle of armour next to him caked with dirt and lightly speckled with blood. Wasn’t the Avatar’s return suppose to keep this from happening? Looking skyward, he continued to question since that day. The world was not supposed to turn out this way. Defeated as he felt, as he looked, he would still wait for this to pass. It was not rumor: that the Earth King was still on the loose, that the Avatar—ineffectual as he proved to be—was still alive. This new regime won’t last, he wanted to believe, and when it crumbles he would want to be among those filling its grave.

“Evenin’ ma’am,” the voice falling from his sounding like tumbling gravel. He pinched two fingers just over his brow and inkling his head as if he were tipping his hat to her.

[fu]

The darkness finally devoured the sky, only letting the stars breech its thick covers. On that number, the moon was full tonight. Its white light reflected off the water beside her and bounced to her face and clothes. She wondered to herself what she looked like. If the light made her look fat, thin, old, young, imperfect? Whatever it may be, she shrugged and continued to walk. The air chilled from the drop in temperature, so Fu kept her hands in the opposing sleeve.

Fu looked down and at that moment realized she was walking through Bai-Bai grass - also known as "Sneezing Grass". The pollen was so strong that it surely made ANYONE sneeze. The only reason they kept it around was for the beautiful flower buds it made.

Fu started to sneeze rapid fire. Maybe four or five times before running to the sidewalk. Fu dabbed her nose with her sleeve and sighed relief. She shivered before hearing "Evenin' ma'am".

Fu slowly looked over and smiled sheepishly. She didn't even see the man. She nodded her head semi- gracefully, "My apologies, sir, I did not see you," She smiled again, "Good evening to you as well." Fu-Lan never liked talking all proper and what-not, but her family's reputation was always at stake.

[xun]

Xun lethargically waved aside her apology with a large, meaty hand poking through his sleeve. “Just be grateful that this day has not been windy at all,” his voice gingerly rumbled, rolling his head towards her, his abnormal size almost making her at head height to her even when he was sitting down.

“Your sinuses would not forgive you until the day after tomorrow. Excuse me a moment,” Xun slapped his hands onto his knees underneath his robe then began pitching himself forward as he lumbered to his feet in a wide berth. Rearing to his full height he dwarfed Fu-Lan like the (former) Earth King’s bear—such a very weird looking animal—standing over a toddler. Soon enough, whether out of necessity or refrain from scaring her, Xun stooped back over to gather his belongings that set beside him then easily hefted them across a shoulder in spite of their weight.

“I should be returning home as well,” he announced to her, “but it’d be rude for a magistrate not to offer his services briefly to escort you home if needed,” offering out of courtesy though her safety was guaranteed within this ring Ba Seng Se even before the Fire Nation began patrolling under martial law.

[fu]

Fu watched as he stood to full height. She had been around some very tall idividauls.... But he.. He was a very tall individual. Although, awkward as it was, Fu-Lan continued to watch. He moved unlike anyone she'd seen. She wondered if that was actually the truth, or she was just thinking it.

By this time the man had offered to walk her home. By denying him, not only would that offend him, but the manners her father tried so hard to engrave into her brain. She smiled, "That would be much appreciated. Thank you."

She stared at him once more and started to walk as soon as she knew he was coming. No matter - her gaze eventually feel back to the floor. The cobble stone path was also interesting.Each stone was a different shade of gray. In between were small mazes of moss.

She remembered when she was a child, she used to walk on the stones making sure she never touching the green fuzz. Her father used to go late afternoon walks with her, as he inspired her with stories of the places he's been and the "adventures" he had embarked upon. Fu was like her father in so many ways - proud, cunning and crafty; but most of all a huge exaggerator. Speaking of exaggerations..

Fu felt a small pressure on her arm. She looked to her shoulder and screamed at a decibel that human ears shouldn't be able to apprehend and jumped back swatting the small bug off of her. She shivered rubbing her arms.. "Big bug, big bug," her uneasy-hushed tone voiced. She didn't much enjoy the company of bugs.

[xun]

Figures, Xun regrettably thought to himself that such situations never failed. As half-hearted as his offer was, more concerning with returning to his own home, Xun had no certain intention of escorting the young lady to her home. He would have gladly accepted the decline of his offer and content himself with watching her head off in the distance and then make his own way to the next earthbender-operated monorail leaving for the middle ring. His courteousness as a man, a father, a civil servant was heeded this and now led him to quietly following her like a pet golem or pet badgermole.

But briefly it would appear his services were suddenly in dire need. Xun forced his tired body into action and balance at the sound of her vertigo inducing shriek. He dropped the belongings at his shoulder, more in surprise than readiness. Upright again, he snatched his jitte, a two prong tine from his sash and brought it to bear against her assailant.

If he could find her would-be assailant.

"Big bug, big bug," the young lady’s voice husked.

“…” Xun felt like greeting his own palm about now. At least she is okay, he tried to tell himself, and that she was a girl afterall.

[fu]

Fu-Lan stood wide-eyed for a moment, with arched eye brows. She was a little paranoid of this guy - it was just a bug, what was the need for weapons..? She exhaled relieved when he also relaxed his position. Fu-Lan wondered who he was. Surely, if he was on the upper ring, he lived, or at least had business, up here. He father used to assure he that only the most noble and humble gentlemen would reside up here. She would have to disagree. If anything, it was more dangerous than the lower ring, for if something did happen, no one would expect or even hear about it. But then again, it was rather rare, but there are always rumors about - especially with all her female relatives that just can't get enough gossip.

Fu folded her arms into her sleeves. She was a complete pansy when it came to the cold. They walked a few steps before Fu realized how rude she had been, she didn't even introduce herself. She turned to the still nameless man, "My name is Fu-Lan Fen," she said. Pff, I sound like a freaking drone. Once again Fu mentally rolled her eyes to herself. She never knew why a 'Hi, I'm Fu!' wasn't ever good enough.

[xun]

"Fen, eh?" Xun repeated the surname as if her were processing its existence. As if a part of his mind was rifling through a filing cabinet and fingering through a list of names as he went. A rank that meant this young lady and her family lived here in the city’s upper ring. A noble perhaps, even if a minor one? He couldn’t recall one. Maybe a noble house like his own that lived outside Ba Sing Se and was also forced to flee here because of the Fire Nation’s advance? Or maybe her father was some high ranked, long blooded civil servant that worked close to the palace? Maybe an aristocratic pedigree like the Bei Fong’s or the new money and new blood belonging to the merchants?

He shrugged. The place of her family was not an immediate and dire concern for him. Her standing should not be an importance to preclude his helping her after all. Besides, if any of his own daughters were out after dark and even after the Fire Nation’s imposed curfew, he preferred they didn’t make their way home alone. “A pleasure Ms. Fen,” his voice rumbled like a falling rock slide. “I am Xola. Magistrate Xun Xue Xola, currently at your service, miss.”

[fu]

Fu squinted her eyes and lifted the corners of her lips, not so much of an emotion, rather a planned action. Being polite had its downfall. As much as she was glad this man was kind and not , to put it bluntly, creepy and aggravating. This was a good transaction from having to reject men that she would rather eat river rats instead of leading them to her home.

The night breeze whipped her hair against her face, she didn't mind though. They walked in mostly silence, the occasional statement or question, but no striking conversation. It was then Fu realized, as they were almost at her house, that she stayed in a house with a dozen old, incredibly inappropriate (aka horny) woman . Fu laughed at the thought of her aunts seeing a grown man walking her to the front gate.

Fu Lan shared her thoughts. "Magistrate Xola? I think it would only be fair to warn you that my relatives, although raised me to be polite, don't always find shame in being hypocritical.. Actually,"she started in between laughs, "they really never do."

Fu Lan nodded to the gates men and they opened it for her. "I thank you for walking me home, here will be fine. If you wish you come in you are more than welcome but you have been warned." she cracked a grin.

Before Fu Lan could finish her thoughts a high shrill broke through the night.

"Fuu! Who's that with you?" Followed by giggles and small commentary.

Rolling her eyes, Fu stated -"You have been warned."

[xun]

"Oh?" Bending towards Fu's amused warning or her relatives' discretion. "I may believe, from experience, that their personal leniency may be on account having taught you how not to behave." He lifted his board shoulders. "Or on account of familial intimacy and enjoyment of embarrassing you," nodding at his conclusion as they neared the gate leading into her family courtyard.

She turned back towards him as the gateman began to fiddle with a heavy iron key to open the courtyard gate. "I thank you for walking me home, here will be fine," she said, causing him to not in affirmation. If you wish you come in you are more than welcome but you have been warned." she broke into a curiosity inducing grin.

Before Xun could began his retreat, the two where quickly approached by a voice belonging to who he assumed to be the young lady's mother. Fu seemed to hiss to him her final admonishment, if not suggestion to hustle his departure.

"Magistrate Xola, ma'am!" Calling across the courtyard with a tip of his wide-brimmed hat . "Just seeing the Lady Fen home before the hour of curfew is all." He nodded to Fu a parting and began to back away.