savedtheworld | Book 13: Sunshine [Video/Action]

[It's another New Feather season, which normally means more busy times at the Welcome Center in setting up to greet the new arrivals. But today, Aang's preoccupied himself with something else: that it's been a whole year since Ikki first appeared here in Luceti, and he had seen the first fellow air nomad since he'd woken from the iceberg. He remembers that light she brought into his life. He knows that she might realize this, too - that aside from the few weeks in which she was briefly sent home, it's been a year since she's been seperated from her home. From her family that raised her and her baby brother who has just been born. So he's intent on making this day as special as possible. In the morning, when she wakes up, he's ready to give her the full royal princess treatment, and others around the house are encouraged to do so as well, even wearing clothes that look like those of a royal retainer.

That morning, he does find some time to himself to address the journals.]

[Video, Filtered from Ikki]

[Aang's wearing a servant-y get-up that looks something like this, with his arrow peeking out from the hat. There's mixed emotions on his face. He's sad at Ikki been trapped here and away from her family for so long - while having to endure all the stresses and traumas that come with Luceti life. But he's also sentimental and grateful for all the time he's been able to spend with Ikki and make her feel better - time that he knows he won't have at home.]

Hi, everyone. It's me, Aang. I just wanted to make sure you all knew that today... It's a very special day. Today it's been one year since Ikki got here in Luceti. Her family was only here for a little bit after she first got here, and she hasn't been able to see them here since then.

So, I just have a favor to ask you. If you see Ikki today, can you do what you can to help treat her like a princess? An Avatar princess! I want her to remember this day as... as a reminder and a celebration of all the good times she's had here and all the friends that she's made here. So that she doesn't have to associate it with... you know, with missing her family. I really want to thank everyone who's looked out for her in this time and made her smile. And I hope we can keep on making her smile for as long as she'll be here.

[Action]

[He does manage to spend some time in the day not entertaining Ikki after school. He spends about a half hour at the Welcome Center to try to greet new arrivals and such, and he also spends some time at the bakery, where he makes some treats for Ikki - while keeping in mind what to prepare for Katara's coming birthday. And he leaves some extra - cookies, cupcakes and the like - for anyone who stops by.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What do you mean? I just want her to have lots of fun today. Am I... overboard?

I'm just concerned that she might begin to feel... like she always has to be happy. And bury whatever other feelings she might have just to make sure you or anyone else doesn't know she's sad. She takes everything so well in stride, and that might be her personality, but ... perhaps that is what makes it more concerning.

Still, if all of this is being treated more like a birthday celebration for her, I can't complain too loudly.

It's kind of birthday-ish without being a full birthday. But... I understand what you mean. I don't want her to bury things. I want to talk to her about these things. I just want her to... to have the option of having fun today and focusing on the good times. But I'll be ready to help her... if she wants to talk about the sad things, instead.

You should let her know that as well - let her know that, yes, you're focusing on the good times today, but that if she does feel bad about it - if she even realizes the passage of time, at her age - that she can talk to you about it. Or even me, if you think that would be easier on you. I know it's not easy for you, either.

You're right. It's not easy. I get hurt to think about it. And as happy as she can be here, and as happy as I am to know her... I can feel guilty too, for feeling that with everything she's separated from, here. [It almost makes him glad in a sense, how abruptly people can disappear from here. Because if there was a choice... he doesn't want to think of how hard it could be to let Ikki go.]

I'll tell her she can talk to whoever she wants to... out of you and me and Katara and some of the others. I know that... I'll have to deal with this myself if I have to. Even if it's not easy.

You can talk to whoever you want to as well, Aang. It can be difficult, being thrust into that sort of position - having to look after someone else as well as yourself, no matter how equipped you feel you are to deal with it.

It... it can be pretty hard. I mean... we do have lots of people who help, and Katara already knows a lot about taking care of kids. But even with all that, it can still be hard. And I worry about whether or not I'm treating her the best that I can.

I have no doubt about that last part. You just have to remember that you are young as well, and you've already had many burdens to field, mostly on your own - charged with saving the entire world, remember? And yet somehow here you are still able to enjoy life and what it provides. That's very admirable.

Thanks, Raine. It... means a lot to hear that. I do always try to look for the best in things. And Ikki's really good at enjoying life, too - even better than me!

The family resemblance is uncanny in that regard. And you two take to one another so well. I can't even imagine the idea meeting a distant relative, myself...

It is really weird to imagine. Do you think you'd... have any like that, someday?

... Me? I suppose anything is a possibility, considering that there's a precedent for it, though it's not something I often think about.

Right! I guess not. But you might as well be careful... you know, just in case! I wasn't sure I'd be a father someday before Ikki showed up, after all...

A father, let alone a grandfather, at your age. Still, even if I know the possibility is out there, it's still hard to imagine someone like that showing up for me. If it ever happens I'll just have to ask you for advice, won't I?

I- I guess so! [He says with a nervous laugh.] It's weird to think of it... but maybe I'll be a sifu of parenting someday!

It sounds a little strange when you put it like that...

Well it's not really a normal situation to start with.

Fair enough. One would hope that it doesn't become too commonplace. ... Though for all we know, many of us could already have some kind of relations out there in other enclosures, or even among the Malnosso, and not even be aware of it.

I...

[He pauses for a moment with a deep frown.]

That's really scary just to imagine.

[Those children from the future, maybe even children beyond that... or maybe even Aang's own ancestors. It's horrible to imagine any of them suffering in other enclosures.]

[She probably should have minced her words, knowing it was Aang she was talking to. But it was a possibility they'd all have to eventually consider, one way or another. The world was large, and the amount of people in it, drawn to it -]

... yes, I know. It's not something to dwell on, in any case, but ...

Right. We have to - keep all possibilities in mind. I understand.

Yes, though for now, we can only focus on what's in front of us. And that means you, Ikki, and everyone else here.

Yeah. That's a better way of thinking of things. I - I'll stick to that. [Part of becoming the Avatar for Aang had been learning to look past what's directly in front of him to see the bigger picture, the entire world that was suffering from this war. But here? The bigger picture was painful to think of when he didn't have the means to help it. So he'd settle for keeping his mind and his priorities in the present here - after all, with how unpredicably people come and go in this world, the present is the only reliable time.]

Good. I know it won't be easy, but I know you'll do your best.

Book 13: Sunshine [Video/Action]

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