Book 4: Winds from Tomorrow [Action: May 30th-June 1]

[savedtheworld]

[Action: Days 5-7]

[It's odd for Aang, waking up in House 56. What is this, some sort of bunked bed? He can't remember whatever led him to sleep there. Doesn't this violate his decision to maintain some distance from his younger friends? He slips out of the house early in the morning, or tries to. It's possible that anyone else in the household could have caught him before he was able to leave.

Aang spends the rest of the day and the next two days going back to his daily routine. He meditates in the forest near Avatar House. He goes through town, either casually strolling or zipping through on his Air Scooter, to stay social. On Day 5, he also has to set up his tent near his meditation spot again. Where could his old tent have gone?]

[ooc: Aang is aged up (kinda)-canonically to around his 40s. He also remembers Luceti in an alternate way where he was brought here at this age. The shift has also caused some memory fluctuations (who's that Yakone fellow again?), although the possibility always remains that he's actually from a somewhat alternate version of canon (aka my handwave if my few assumptions get jossed)

Replies come from beardofbalance.]

Comments

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

It calmed down a little today.

[Still. Hesitant.]

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[He nods understandingly.]

Well, you're still here. That's a good start.

[Some noodle slurping.]

Day 6 1/2

[markofthebrave]

I guess so.

[She looks down.

Come on, Katara, you're braver than this.]

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

How old are you?

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[He starts to raise an eyebrow when she looks down, but he just gives a laugh after she actually asks the question.]

I'm just a 41-year old monk.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

[...just?

And he doesn't need to pull that on her.]

That's closer to my dad's age.

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[And you're closer to our daughter's age.]

Well, that's an easy way to make me feel old.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

Imagine how I feel.

[It was strange enough with him two years ahead. This is... a lifetime. She's talking with a stranger. He might not even be her Aang at all, but how could she find out? So much time had passed...]

I'm used to being older than you.

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

I understand it's a lot for you to get used to, Katara. Especially if you try imagining me at that age with this beard. [He then smiles again as he strokes his beard.] But I admit, it is kinda fun to finally be the older one, if only for a little while. [While also increasing the pressure.]

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

What's nice about it?

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

Heh. Well it feels neat to be like a mentor for everyone, even if this place makes it really hard to do advice right. And... [A shrug.] I guess I just like to be able to say I'm the oldest. But hey, when you remember the iceberg, I really have always been the oldest.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

Well, I always said you had great wisdom.

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[A very nostalgic look comes over his face.]

You did. I heard you while I was getting my tongue stuck to my pole. Being around all of you here, it really does feel like talking to living memories sometimes.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

So you... remember that?

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

Of course, Katara! How could I ever forget that day?

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

I don't know. It's been a long time and... who knows, it might not have happened for you at all.

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[His face starts to sink as he realizes what she's getting at.]

Oh. You think I'm a different Aang.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

No, I don't think that. I just know it's possible.

[Probable, even.]

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

I see. I guess it would make sense with the way this place is, especially during experiment week. There needs to be an easier way of telling these things.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

Well... maybe it would help if you told me some of what you remembered.

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[He rubs his head.] That would be the smartest move, wouldn't it? [He looks down into the noodles as he gathers his thoughts.]

I was raised as an air nomad, and everything changed when I turned twelve. I found out I was the Avatar, and... that led to me running away. To the iceberg. From just now, I'm guessing this must match what you know. You and Sokka discovered me a hundred years a later. [A small smile.] We went penguin sledding. And after we had our first fight with Zuko, and... you found out that I really was the Avatar... we set off so I could start learning the other elements.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

...well, so far so good.

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

Good! We went to the North Pole, first. I started learning Waterbending from Master Pakku and then my teaching passed over to the esteemed Sifu Katara. [A wry smile.] Then we went to the Earth Kingdom. Hm... that was where we met Toph, and I started learning Earthbending. I had a real hard time at first, but eventually I managed to tackle it.

[He flt silent for a moment. Next we the desert and Ba Sing Se. Memories that still hurt.] That's when we had losses. Lost Appa in the desert. Jet... Jet fell at Lake Laogai. And for a little while, I... was gone too.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

[...this is all too general for her to figure out, and as she was about to ask for more detail, he started talking about, well. That.

And there wasn't any more to say. She goes very still.]

You still remember that?

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[Part of him's a little hurt by his recollection's being questioned. But he understands the necessity of it, with all the tricks that this place plays. He tries to keep up a smile as he continues.]

That's something I can't just forget. [He closes his eyes to dismiss the painful electric memories, and opens them looking back at Katara.] And I still remember waking up for just a few moments and seeing just your face. That smile was the best welcome I could have asked for. [The smile has become more genuine by the end of the sentence.]