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

[beardofbalance]

Definitely. ["Trust your heart and you will be with the one you love." "Just as you reshaped those clouds, you also have the power to reshape your destinty."] I guess I could compete with her in the fortune telling business, too.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

Mmm.

[She glanced down for a minute, before she glanced up at him, smiling - a sort of pained, sort of joyful smile.]

I keep feeling like I should ask you all kinds of questions about my future, like I asked her. And I want to hear all about your kids, and who Sokka, Toph, and Zuko married, and if we all see each other and - so many things. But one thing I've learned in Luceti is... that what matters most to us is our memories, and our memories make us who we are. And the Aang that I know... he has memories that I don't have. And I have memories here which he doesn't share. And things are already hard enough because of that... so even though I want to know, I don't want to make things worse.

[The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you.

She looked down for a moment and then up at him, still smiling that same, tremulous smile.]

So tell me if we're happy. Tell me if we're all safe, and healthy, and I'll believe you. Because I really want to know. But I have to think about my memories. I have to think about what I know the you that I know wants...

[...to be close again]

...and I have to guard that.

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[He looks a way for a moment, as he tries to tone down the goofy smile formed on his face.]

You really are something else, Katara. And I really appreciate you looking out for Little Me. I'm more concerned for you, naturally, but... if we both keep on looking out for each other, things will end up alright.

[He stands up and puts a hand on Katara's shoulder, looking down into her eyes.]

Just know that we will be happy, Katara. Happier than you can imagine.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

[She took a deep breath and looked up at him, smiling.]

I can live with that.

[And, for the first time, the weirdness in meeting his eyes was - not replaced, but mixed with something else. Happiness. Satisfaction. And - most importantly - genuine recognition.]

Day 6 - [1/2]

[beardofbalance]

Great. Now that that's out of the way, there's something I just have to show you.

[He releases her shoulder and steps back, adopting a more solemn expression.]

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[It quickly becomes goofy again, as he backflips several yards away.]

Watch this, Katara!

[He then goes through some more breakdancey-Airbending moves as seen in the opening credits. It ends with him kicking while spinning on his back to release a blade of air. And it's controlled so that it blows by Katara with no more force than a relaxing breeze.]

Day 6 1/2

[markofthebrave]

[Un. Expected.]

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

[And then she laughs, and when he's done, she claps her hands, the breeze having blown her hair back.]

That's amazing, Aang! You were always a powerful bender, but that was fantastic!

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[And that fills his need for Katara praise that he had missed from the time he remembered being here. He gets back up to his feet with a sheepish grin, still remembering the importance of the phrasing "powerful bender".]

Thanks, Katara. I'm glad you liked it. I figured it wouldn't hurt for you to know that I'm gonna get even better at bending over the years.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

Yeah, it was really impressive!

[There is the barest pause.]

What about me? Does my bending change?

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

Of course. It's only going to develop into something even more awesome as you grow older, and you'll become even more of a Waterbending master. Once you work with something every day of your life, new moves and styles can develop very organically.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

["Even more awesome."

Katara is giddily gratified with this.]

That's good to hear.

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

And it'll be even greater to live through! You might have even started some improvements here in Luceti, with how long you've been here.

[There's some itch at the back of his mind involving Waterbending, now that he's thinking about it. Something he has a feeling Katara should be warned about. But he knows that whatever it is, it's connected to those closed-off memories that he hasn't wanted to remember.]

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

I've got some moves that Sokka said were from the Southern Style.

[Her most precious secret that she wishes she could remember.]

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

Really! Anything you can show off now? [He sits back in his seat.]

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

[She blinked, surprised at this.]

Really?

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

Sure! I wouldn't mind seeing what you've been learning.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

Okay... a lot of the differences are really subtle.

[She stood up and streamed some water out of the waterskin.]

Many of the basic moves are the same, and all the basic principles hold true - it's only when you get to the more advanced forms that you can see a difference.

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[Aang leans forward curiously with his chin in his hands.]

I'm interested already.

[If it was anything other than Waterbending and Katara, he'd be a lot more bored.]

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

They seem to have more moves designed for closer combat--

[She raised one arm in a circular motion and the water coated it with a small, continuous shield, while simultaneously the other arm moved forward and out in a harsh jet of water.]

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[He gives an attentive nod as he silently follows the movements. He appreciates it as a good show, but at the same time he thinks over her movements on a more technical level, comparing them to his own knowledge from over the years.]

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

[She shrugs.]

There are a few modifications on the other moves, but some of it just comes down to different response time and slightly different results. The Northern Style water whip is a little bit better at precision, and the Southern Style is a little better for a wide spread.

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

[He lightly applauds.]

That's really intriguing. It's great that you're still picking up new tricks even here, Sifu Katara.

Day 6

[markofthebrave]

[She smiles a little at the name 'Sifu Katara' - it sounds so strange coming from someone so much older.]

Well, I had an advantage. I got to meet someone who grew up in the Southern Style.

Day 6

[beardofbalance]

Really? This was someone from our world? [He was definitely at a loss to think of someone who would match - unless it was someone from the past, or her future.]