savedtheworld | Book 13: Sunshine [Video/Action]

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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

Well... she's 7! But I guess you could say she's like 8. But I guess your right. Too many kids get stuck here without people to take care of them.

[Wow, yeah, that's pretty young. A few years older than Sophie was, but still...just a kid. Norma hit the target right in the middle, it seems. But wait a second - she frowns, then tilts her chin up with a pout.]

Hold on, aren't you a kid, too? You're pretty puny from what I can remember, Cueball.

I'm more of a teen now... a growing one! [He's at least around Katara's height now!] I'm 15 now if you don't count that little time I spent at home! And I guess I'm more used to living on my own, anyway.

What, seriously? [Okay, fine, she was going to guess about early teens anyway, but that's still two years older than Norma expected. And it just makes her seem like she's not all that grown up at all. Bleh, she honestly can't wait to hit twenty and be done with it.] Jeez...second time I've been wrong about this. You people just kinda look young, I guess. It's in the face.

And the lack of hair.

[Well. It can't be argued that he still has a baby face. ...At least until whatever age it is that he enters Cheekbone City.]

Hey, what's wrong with not having hair? [He says with a rub at his head.] Lots of super old people don't have hair too.

[Two kids who await the day they physically grow - truly a tale of life. Though Norma's not exactly looking for cheekbones. She craves something a bit more in the chest department but details.

And dang, he wasn't supposed to hear that--]

...Yeah, because there are so many bald kids--sorry, teens, running around this place. Lemme just start counting 'em off...

[At least Aang is gifted enough to have been told what he'd be getting. While who could tell if poor Norma could ever get the "stuff" she wants?]

Well there's - [A thoughtful pause.] Not a whole lot, I guess. I haven't really been around kids my age who're bald since the Air Temple.

[ONE DAY, OKAY. ONE DAY. And it better be sooner rather than later, she will cut a bitch.]

Yeaaah...how come you don't have any hair anyway, huh? I mean, from what it sounds like your saying, people in your world don't have any hair or something. Does it just not grow or...what? That's kinda weird.

[Keep telling yourself that.]

Oh! Well - it's not like that! [He laughs. It feels like a long time since he's explained this - he's used to most people he knows being aware of the why.] It's just part of my culture. I'm a monk! And we air nomads, we shave our heads so that people can see our arrows!

Oh. [...] Oh! Uh...jeez, sorry, I didn't know it was that important. [Wow, way to go, Norma, making fun of his culture and possibly his religion What a winner you sure are. She shifts in her chair a little, chewing her lip uncomfortably. Bleh, what a blunder.]

So...those arrow things are kinda super special or something? What do they mean, anyway?

[He doesn't really mind it. It's not like she was trying to be mean about it, so he just goes along. Explaining his culture and the enthuisasm that comes with it really is one of the best ways for him to cheer himself up.]

They really are super special! They run along our chi paths, and they're based on the markings that the sky bison have naturally! Cuz they're the original airbenders, y'know.

Uh...sure, right. [Hahaha, she has no idea what he's talking about with his 'chi' and 'sky bison' stuff. Though Norma at least can recognize what he means by that air bending stuff he's talking about. She still, sadly, couldn't use wind magic, but whatever.]

So, these sky by-suns or whatever were the ones that taught you all to use that windy stuff? Were they like spirits or something or what?

They're animals! They're big and fuzzy! [And he flips on the video and holds the journal out the window. Appa's out there, chowing on some hay they found. It may not be too unfamiliar a sight - with how big he is, it's hard to miss at least his silhouette whenever he flies over the village.]

[Norma nearly falls over when she sees that thing appear in in the journal camera. With a yelp, she recoils, thinking it some kind of monster from her world - an ancient, kindasorta sacred one, but still a very dangerous one.] Whoa! That thing's huge! It looks like a Grand Gaet! ...Though more furry and less scaly. And with a whole lot more legs.

Jeez...Red'd have a field day with that thing. I can just hear him going nuts about it.

Red? Who's he? Anyone who likes Appa is a friend to me!

Red's a friend from my world! He was a monster tamer and stuff, so he was all into weird animals like you've got. Kinda loud and real dim-witted, but I think you guys'd have a lot to talk about! He even had a cool animal too, only smaller and, uh...less like a cow...gaet...thing!

Well he sounds super nice! And he had a cool animal?! Was it big enough to ride at least?

Uh, well...Spot was pretty big, but not as big as your whatchamacallit. You might be able to get one person to ride him if you're lucky. [Actually, now that she remembers a bit, Giet did take Shirley away on his back once or something.] Maybe someone kinda small, I mean. He was kinda just like a really big dog. Though he also was pretty strong...being a Grand Galf n'all.

Really? That does sound super cool! I never heard of a Great Galf but I'll definitely try to ride him if I somehow meet him sometime! I bet it'll be a real blast.

Well, if Spot lets you ride him! He's real smart, and according to Red, the Grand Galf's supposed to be one of the smartest monsters on Melfes. So I dunno if you can just jump on his back and ride off into the sunset or something. I don't think he or Red would like hat very much.

Hey, we'd see! I'm really good with animals. But I definitely won't do anything that'll make him or Red unhappy! [Although he has been known to enjoy the challenge when animals such as hog monkeys don't like to be ridden.] I'm sure it won't be a problem if I make friends with them.

Well, if either of 'em ever show up, then yeah! Red's pretty easy to get along with once you get to know him - even if he looks a little rough around the edges. Spot's pretty much the same, and I think he's got a soft spot for laaadies, too~! He was real nice to me and Shirl, and he tried getting on with C, but she was a little too tough for his tastes, I think.

[Norma sighs a little, and her head tilts back to look at the ceiling with a strange, wistful smile. Damn did she miss those two gits. It felt so weird and quiet without them to hassle.]

I see. I think I can definitely be friends with both of them! [And then, a little more hesitantly.] It sure sounds like you have a lot of friends, Norma.

Yeah, I did. [There's a small hint of sadness in her voice, but it's easily veiled with a smile and fond memories. Yeah, she misses all her friends that aren't here, but they're better off back where they belong, even she has the sense to admit that.] But I've also made a whole lot more friends here, too, so I guess it all balances out in the end, right?

Right! [He picks up on the sadness and can only imagine it. Katara and Sokka have been here with him from the beginning, and most of his other friends have come and gone. It's difficult to imagine what it would be like without them. Maybe he would be lost. But then again, Norma's attitude is uplifting. And reminds him of all the dear friends he's made himself in Luceti.] Balance is super-important! And... I'm really glad you have lots of friends here, Norma. I make a whole one more, right?

Book 13: Sunshine [Video/Action]

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