Book 10.5: Aang Meets the Fourth Wall

[savedtheworld]

[Aang was not a happy nomad.

Actually he was feeling relatively in good spirits. His depression was curbed for the time being after drinking some unique mix of special calming teas which may or may not have somehow been spiked with just a hint of cactus juice.

It was when he was trying to meditate outside the back of House 56 when his frustrations began. There was just so much... noise. Noise, noise, noise. Like there was a party near his house. Where did all these people come from?

Eventually, Aang had enough. He rushed around to the front of the house and perched himself on the Sokka head statue to address the crowd.]

Hey! What's with all the noise?!

[The fourteen-year old monk clears his throat.]

Sorry. I mean.. Can you keep it down a little?

Comments

[ohmyland]

[Aang will probably hear a BOING-ing sound as Felix was trying to make heads or tails of where he was in this crowd of tall people. Jiminy Jaminy, what game did he somehow jump into!? He hears someone yelling with as much confusion as he was and decides to head in the direction of the voice. It's actually a little clearer near the house and Felix can finally get a breather.]

Well I would sure like that myself, then maybe I can get my questions answered!

[savedtheworld]

[So many people... without even wings. Aang doesn't know what to make of it.

But this person looks friendly at least.]

What's wrong? And where exactly... did you come from?

I-I can't resist

[airbound]

[Man is it cold, this is like being in the South pole all over again. But the place was familiar at least. The throng of people are getting her lost, though. So when she hears Aang's yell, she turns and makes a bee-line for his position.

Oh good, familiar house!]

Grandpa Aang!

Good, all Jinoras are welcome!

[savedtheworld]

[Well that's a familiar voice in the crowd of people. He missed his oldest granddaughter - so he hops down from the Sokka head to scoop her up in a hug.]

Jinora!

[ohmyland]

Well, I'm not where I should be to start, and my being here wasn't my intention at all. So I'm just trying to find the exit to this game and get back to mine, Fix-It Felix Jr. [He's pretty sure the arcade's going to open in a few hours.]

I appreciate it, if you could help me and direct me to the exit, young man.

<3

[airbound]

[She grins and giggles when she's scooped up and hugged. She happily hugs him back.]

I missed you! Everybody still here?!

[savedtheworld]

I missed you, too! [And then he makes a sly grin.] Hey, how'd you know to miss me without remembering here?

[savedtheworld]

Oh! Well... I don't know what you're talking about. But this place, Luceti? It doesn't really have an exit.

[somebodythatusedtahno]

[Well the party don't start til Amon walks in.

Somehow, Amon has managed to put together a makeshift stage. It's difficult to tell how. One would imagine that Luceti doesn't contain quite so many soapboxes as that. It's entirely a mystery where he found the sound system to make his mic work.

But there he is, contributing to the noise annoying the Avatar as he continues his no doubt insidious terrorist propaganda...]

So, what's the deal with swampbenders?
I mean, they live in a swamp. And, uh, they think everything tastes like possum chickens. And...banjos....

...Actually, uh, I forget where I was going with that one. Let me start again.

[...or...bad stand-up comedy...?]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang's heard of Amon. But he never really knew what he looked like. Aang laughs... really it's just refreshing that with all the worlds represented here, he's now hearing jokes about stuff from his world]

No, don't stop! I thought you were going somewhere funny with that one!

[airbound]

[Her smile drops as she turns serious.]

When I got here, I remembered being here before. But then, I keep getting lost because of all the people, and started missing you and others.

[savedtheworld]

Oh. I'm sorry that happened, Jinora. [It's a scary thing to imagine; any of the grandchildren lost in Luceti without any idea of their relatives being around. But he smiles at her.] Then I'm glad we found each other again!

[somebodythatusedtahno]

[...Wait, that wasn't silence greeting his joke.

Or, you know, some random crowd member shouting something insulting. That sometimes happened.

He stares at Aang, although it's a little hard to tell with the mask.]

You...thought it was funny?

[oceanviews]

[Eek! The sudden shouting is almost enough to make Kiki drop her broom, though she does struggle with it for a moment to stop it from clattering to the ground.]

I'm sorry, is it not always this busy around here?

[The village is certainly no Koriko, but it seems to be a good match in terms of the number of people walking around.]

[savedtheworld]

Yeah, of course I did! Swampbenders are so silly, it's easy to laugh about them! And their banjos!

[AND SO IN ANOTHER LIFE THEY COULD HAVE CALLED EACH OTHER FRIEND.]

[savedtheworld]

N-not really, but you don't have to apologize. I'm sorry I lost my temper for a moment there. I should be welcoming you instead! You're new, right? [And... oddly without any wings.]

[airbound]

Yeah.. [She brightens again though.] Me too! I don't remember this place ever being this crowded though!

....so, is everyone still here? Katara, uncle Sokka, Roku. [She brightens some more, glancing toward the house.] Ikki?

[savedtheworld]

I know! It's noisier than ever! [So many people without wings... come to think of it, even including you, Jinora.]

They're still here... plus Toph and Bolin and now Suki too. Your grangran's just... not here, for now. [A slight frown, but he picks it back up, to focus on enjoying Jinora's presence.] Ikki's going to be happy to see you again.

[somebodythatusedtahno]

[And so a single tear runs down Amon's cheek.

Not that Aang would know. Mask and all. But it sure feels good to have someone appreciate him. His dream...it has come true....]

Yeah. Yeah! That's what I was talking about.
They're a funny people.
Like, this one time, uh.
An earthbender goes and visits the swamp.
He gets along great with the tribe, but being from Ba Sing Se, he can't get over the way they all dress.
So one night he takes one of them aside and asks, so, why do you all just wear leaves?
Swampbender says, pants are an illusion, and that's that.
So, next night, after dinner, earthbender gets up in front of the tribe and says, I've got a magic trick for you.

[...Because magicians perform illusions.
And pants are an illusion.
Which he will be happy to explain if Aang is confused by it at all.]

[savedtheworld]

[He listens patiently with a smile.]

A magic trick? Like pulling a rabaroo out of his hat?

[oceanviews]

It seems that way. [Which is odd, given moments ago she was on a delivery and suddenly ended up in a whole new place.]

Ah, but yes, my name is Kiki. [Introductions are always important.] Thank you for the welcome, but where exactly am I?

[somebodythatusedtahno]

[...Well, that was fun while it lasted.]

No, uh. Like.
Like wearing pants.

It's an illusion.


Magicians do illusions.

[savedtheworld]

It's nice to meet you, Kiki. I like your name, it sounds like Ikki! And my name's Aang. We're in Luceti right now! And, uh, kinda stuck here.

[savedtheworld]

He made his pants magic?

[gangnamguru]

Relax a bit, kid! It's cool, just go with it!

[From behind his glasses, a particular pop artist grins]

It's a party, and a party means noise right?