Book 15: Shrinking Soul [Action]

[savedtheworld]

[Action]

[Aang has been acting strange ever since the last two days of Malnosso World. He's been feleing a strange fear - an anxiety of being around other people. It's something that he can't quite place. In his head, it's easy enough to interpret this as a new onset of the last air nomad blues.

He's been trying to go about his every day life, but it's difficult. He avoids most of his social obligations - visiting the Welcome Center and the bakery less and less. He goes to school, but he mostly keeps to himself. He'll still say hi to friends and stuff - he especially makes sure to spend time with his housemates to make sure they don't worry about them. However, all meetings are briefer than usual - he's quick to find excuses to end conversations and excuse himself.

Aang can still be found at a number of locations around the village throughout the week. He spends a lot of time at the library because reading turns out to be a great solitary activity, and people are less likely to disturb him. At House 56, he spends a lot of time at the hot tub of all places primarily due to being sure that no one else would join him. He goes into the forest a lot to take nature walks. And he'll also take Appa up on trips to the mountains occasionally for perfect isolation - which reminds him of home. Appa's the only one who doesn't make Aang feel anxious, at least. There, he explores and meditates to try to find peace within himself.]

Comments

Your belief about the hot tub have been misplaced Avatar... mwhahaha

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh could be said to be a man who loved hot water, his love of tea was widespread, but he also enjoyed a nice hot bath, there was something very relaxing about the hot water. It was especially good to ease the tension of the muscles when first waking up. This was especially true when the weather started to get colder.

When he reaches the hot tub, he quickly strips down, and after having a short rinse eases himself in]

Aaahhhhhh that feels wonderful!

[He didn't particularly notice if anyone else was in there, but they just got some company if so]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang is just quiet on the other end of the hot tub. Mostly looking like he's just seen something that's mentally scarring. He just soaks there, his eyes widened. And yes, definitely afraid.]

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh moves his neck around a bit, and sinks in enjoying the feeling of the heat on his back. He straightens for a moment, and then breathes out increasing the heat of hot tub a bit. Having increased the temperature to a higher level, his posture relaxes once again. Its then that he notices Aang]

Oh, sorry didn't see you there. I hope it isn't too hot for you.

[savedtheworld]

[Wow, that is kind of hot! He rises a bit above the water to try to balance out his body's temperature. He is wearing shorts, at least.]

N-no, it's still good! It's... still a good amount of hot!

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh raises an eyebrow at Aang, he had been acting a bit oddly for awhile now]

Well, you can adjust your body temperature with your fire breath to make it more comfortable.

[savedtheworld]

Right... my breath of fire! G-good idea! And as a waterbender, I guess I've got a touch of cooling too! But you know... I was thinking of getting out soon anyway!

[winds_voice]

[Aang may think that he's alone up in the mountains, but Eley likes to head up there himself from time to time, for much the same reason as him - to find solitude. While he has no trouble spending time with his friends, he still feels the need to recharge and reflect alone every so often.

...naturally it's Appa that he notices first. It was hard to miss the big flying bison drifting overhead. And Eley being Eley, he has to go and investigate. He doesn't often see others up here.

What he finds is a friend, Aang. At first he doesn't realise that he's trying to meditate, coming from behind, and approaches with no hesitation.]

Is... everything all right?

[savedtheworld]

[And he was reaching such a good place in his meditation, too. Sure, things didn't exactly feel right. But he felt calm and comfortable. It had to be a step towards confronting this.

But he hears the familiar voice - and he feels that anxiety wash over him again. His posture becomes uncomfortable - he remains in a meditative position but opens one of his eyes.]

M-me? Eleytheria, is that you? I'm fine, really!

[winds_voice]

Yes, it is.

[Hmm... something about the way his posture shifts and his hesitation in speech made Eley wonder if that was really true. He comes closer to the boy now, sitting down beside him.]

I am not convinced. You seem rather anxious about something... and I know that when I retreat up here, it is usually because something is wrong.

[savedtheworld]

[Whenever he comes up to the mountains, it's usually with friends and often to explore. But here he is, alone. For some reason, he finds himself recalling what Katara had told him long ago, about how he shouldn't try to just become a guru on a mountain. It felt like forever since they had a talk like that... but right now, his fears are making him wonder what's wrong with just staying on a mountain?]

I... I guess I'm just trying to solve a problem. That's all. It's - not anything to worry about. [He tries not to like to Eleytheria, but he also doesn't think he'd understand the full extent of the problem.]

[winds_voice]

A problem?

[Unfortunately, that just seems to make Eley all the more attentive towards him. While he sometimes found it difficult to understand the many problems of humanity, it didn't mean that he didn't like to help. Or to attempt to anyway... especially when it came to those he would call friend.

He can see that Aang is still reluctant to talk to him about it, but perhaps it was just that this problem was too much for him to contend with on his own. Eley looks to him, watching him carefully.]

Perhaps if we worked together, we can solve your problem. Then again, I suppose that would depend on what exactly it was we were trying to find an answer to.

[savedtheworld]

[Working together? That would be one if his first choices, usually. But as it is, the very idea makes him uncomfortable and afraid.]

I... I don't know, Eley.

[A deep breath.]


I don't wanna be around others.

( Library - Action )

[padme_amidala]

( Padmé likes being active; if she isn't exercising her body then she is exercising her mind. After noticing a certain soreness in her body from hitting the practice dummy a little too vigorously, she decides to take a trip to the library and spend the better part of the day reading and researching. She spots Aang from in-between the shelves and she pauses, wondering if he wants to be left alone. )

Aang? ( There is something amiss. He doesn't look as happy as he usually does. She can't help but worry. ) How are you?

( As she approaches him, she hugs a book to her chest. )

( Library - Action )

[savedtheworld]

Padme? [He says as if surprised to see her. And he was so sure he could get some alone time this time.]

I'm - I'm fine, really! [And stuffing his face into this book instead of looking right at her.]

action;

[ex_tessen852]

[Maybe After one of those trips to the mountains, Aang would find a very concerned Suki. She had been feeling odd as well, but over different things. At first, it was about being perfect, but ever since she returned from the mission it was about losing Sokka. She found herself spending more and more time at the Avatar house waiting for her boyfriend to return.

When she saw Appa though, she gave him, and Aang, a friendly wave. There was clearly something wrong, but there was something wrong with everyone it seemed.]

Hey. [A weak greeting when he landed.] Haven't seen you around in awhile.

action;

[savedtheworld]

[Oh, it's Suki! Normally her presence is a welcome surprise. As he hops down from Appa's back, though, he instead feels that nervousness and anxiety.]

Suki, hi! Really? I... I haven't seen you either! [Part of him does miss her, but he just feels... so afraid of being around her.]

action;

[ex_tessen852]

[It was pretty hard not to notice how odd he was acting, but then again, she was acting pretty weird herself.]

Aang? Is everything alright?

action;

[savedtheworld]

Me? [He turns around, looking to see if she could be talking to anyone else.] I'm fine! Are you fine?

action;

[ex_tessen852]

Um... as fine as I could be. [Other than this intense fear of losing Sokka.] You're acting a bit... off.

action;

[savedtheworld]

Off? What to do you mean? What did I do? [He says nervously. He's not sure what he'd do if she realizes the truth of what's bugging him. Mostly because... he doubts she'd really understand. That makes the anxiety worse.]

[isgorgeous]

[ Aang you've been in the hot tub a long time. Bolin is starting to get kinda worried because you are probably really pruney by now. So Bolin is knocking and maybe peering in to see if Aang is actually alive or if he drowned. ]

Aang? Buddy, are you okay in there?

[savedtheworld]

B-Bolin? [He is certainly a very wrinkled monk at this point, as he almost shrinks down within the tub.] I'm - me, I'm fine! That's all.

[isgorgeous]

You sure? You've been in there for ages, you've gotta be be red as a lobster-shark.

[ He doesn't mention the part where it's really weird that his best friend has been playing super hermit for ages. ]

[savedtheworld]

Really? You... you just must have the wrong time. I just got in here a little while ago, honest!

[isgorgeous]

Huh, I thought I heard you in here when I got back from training with Toph. [ Which was over an hour and a half ago. ]