Earth. Fire. Air. Water. Seventy years ago, Avatar Aang and his friends heroically ended the Hundred Year War, and transformed the Fire Nation Colonies into the Federation of United Peoples, a society where people from all over the world live and thrive together in peace and harmony. They named the capital of this fifth nation Union City. Avatar Aang accomplished many remarkable things in his life, but sadly, his time in this world came to an end. And like the cycle of the seasons, the cycle of the Avatar began anew.=====Welcome to Avatar: The New Age! As the opening and name of the quest imply, this will be taking place in a similar timeframe as Legend of Korra, though Aang died a few years later and a lot of the stupid shit from the comics and Korra won’t be making an appearance. I’m not saying this will be a fixfic, but I am saying that the only good part of this franchise is the original series. A couple of Korra episodes and like 2/5ths of the contents of the novels are okay too, I guess. What I’m saying is, don’t expect rugs, dykes, enbies, or to be able to metagame too hard. Now, without further ado:
{Spring, 174AG}[Yue Bay, Union City Waters]Thirteen years after the peaceful death of Avatar Aang, a fate afforded to few in his position, the new Fifth Nation, the United Federation of Peoples, has continued to prosper. Its beating heart, Union City, is a cosmopolitan hub of social and technological progress, culture, and the bending arts. It is here that the destiny of the world in the era of the new Avatar will be decided, a crossroad between the Four Nations, the myriad clashing ideals held by its citizens, and even the past and future. Three vessels cutting through the calm waters of sheltered Yue Bay in what was once the western Earth Kingdom carry those who hold the world’s fate in their hands, whether they know it or not. Each bringing their own burdens with them to the nexus, spoken and unspoken both, harried by the world’s expectations raised to lofty heights by their progenitors and predecessors, and brought by desires not fully understood by them, these youths know not the peril they’ll face in the City of the Future. On the first ship, a sleek and modern cutter flying a white-on-lavender pennant not belonging to any of the five nations, in a stateroom decorated in the furs and colors of the Southern Water Tribe, sits a girl. But she doesn’t sit on the overstuffed bed, or the fur-cushioned chaise, or even the hardwood chair set at the unused vanity; no, she sits with her knees to her chin in the corner by the closet door, shielded from view of the cabin door and off of the portion of the floor covered by the rug. In spite of the clicking radiator on the wall, the girl is bundled up in a light blue parka, and, despite having left the South Pole weeks ago, darker blue snow pants lined with fur. Were there anyone else in the room with her, they would be able to observe the occasional shiver, though the accompanying shaky breath would let them know it was anything but cold that she huddles into herself to ward off. >(2/4)
On the second, a lavish liner bearing the colors of the Earth Kingdom, and on a tour of the Mo Ce Sea with a stopover in Union City, happenstance brings together two of the ordained youths, though they have yet to meet. In an ironic twist, of the two, the one in the traditionally loftier position occupies a humble second-class cabin. His accommodations are unused as well, though not untouched, as the bed is pushed against the wall and the dresser into a corner. This isn’t to allow him a place to sit and rock though, as the teen, sweat-drenched despite the early spring sea air blowing through the cabin’s open porthole, frenetically executes the same series of katas on repeat, refining them each time. It’s the only way to truly occupy his mind, which seems to grow foggier as his transport approaches Union City. The other teenager, tanned despite the presence of both a shirt and a jacket, reclines on her four postered, first-class bed. She hadn’t intended to get such a suite, but it was a surprise gift from her family's eccentric patriarch, at least it gave her more room to pace when her feet got too jittery to let her journal. At this point, she had taken to reading the diary, despite her reason for journeying to Union City being an escape from her old life, at least in part. The third vessel is a dingy old ferry with a beaten up Federation flag fluttering above its open middle deck. On lonely the aft deck, the last of the ensemble-to-be leans against the ship’s rear railing, seaspray staining his collar and flicking into his gray eyes ignored as he mutters a rehearsed speech under his breath. Before shaking his head and trying again, the words barely changed but his whispered tone pitched up, his cadence slower. He shakes his head again, and pounds the railing. It's cold out here, but he has to know what he’ll say when he gets there, even if he can’t bear to look at the city now, there’s no way he’s not going to have his back turned to Memorial Island and the city’s Air Temple when the ferry passes them by. So, this is the story of the new Avatar, but which of this fated cast are you?>(3/4)
>[1] The Exploited Avatar. Tradition dictated that the Avatar be informed of their status on their sixteenth birthday, though this had been bucked in recent cycles; Aang was told early, facing the threat of war, and Kyoshi was told late, on account of an earlier misidentification. You were told of your status when you were seven, uprooting your entire life and placing you into the watchful care of the White Lotus. It was a measure that was allegedly put into place by your predecessor, Avatar Aang, but you doubt he wanted his successor to be watched like a hawk and not allowed to wander out of sight of the walls of a fortified compound. When you hugged your parents goodbye before leaving for Union City, it was the first time you had seen them in almost four months. Even now, the only other people aboard the modern boat carrying you to your new home at Air Temple Island are members of the White Lotus, only fueling your gnawing concerns around meeting your spiritual mentor-to-be, Aang’s son and the only Airbending master, Tenzin. >[2] The Peregrin Prince. The United Federation was your first stop after leaving the Fire Nation by your mother’s side. Unlike your grandfather, your mother’s sojourn was neither formal nor a banishment, though both her and your aunt, the new Fire Lord, were adamant in their desire to be apart for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately for you, your mother’s attention has never been equally divided between yourself and your older brother, who she still believes is a viable alternative to either of your cousins as an heir to the throne; so after years of expert (but sparse) instruction in Firebending, you’ve made the choice to come to Union City. As much as you’d like to return to the Fire Nation, the cosmopolitan Fifth Nation is an alternative which avoids being seen as an insult by your mother, as well as having a widespread Firebending scene. >(4/5)
>[3] The Listless Scion. The United Federation of Peoples was where your family’s patriarch made his name on the world stage, for the second time. Now it’s your turn to take a crack at the socio-political morass that is Union City. Well, not really, you are still a little young for that and that’s not your reason for leaving Kyoshi Island at all. It wasn’t just a compulsion to see all that your family built either, though that was a part of it; the root of the desire (besides getting away from what felt like an increasingly crowded island), was a sort of ill-defined wanderlust. That and the need to find an Earthbending teacher who didn’t have to bend the rod out of their butt whenever they had to sit down, which was seemingly all your parents could hire from the wider Earth Kingdom. You’d thought of going to Zaofu as well, but it’s probably better to master Earthbending before moving onto Metalbending; that and the awkwardness your presence in that city might bring. >[4] The Unexpected Inheritor. The entire world believes that, since the Air Nomad Genocide a hundred and seventy-five years ago, only four Airbenders have been born. Recently, and much to your (single) mother’s chagrin, you made the revelation that there was, in fact, a fifth Airbender, you. Now, despite your only present parent’s protestations, you’re taking the run-down old ferry from the small city of Hei Bai in the southern United Federation, where you’ve lived since moving out of Union City ten years ago when you were six, back to the Fifth Nation’s sprawling capital. Vexingly, the only ships that sail to Air Temple Island depart from Union City itself, and the only ones that the average person can get on are part of paid tours. And there’s no way you’re going to be able to get onto the island through official channels. Though, if you did sneak on, it wouldn’t be your first time getting onto restricted United Federation property, even if this time you actually want to get caught.>(5/5, start voting)
>>5994621>[2] The Peregrin Prince. The United Federation was your first stop after leaving the Fire Nation by your mother’s side. Unlike your grandfather, your mother’s sojourn was neither formal nor a banishment, though both her and your aunt, the new Fire Lord, were adamant in their desire to be apart for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately for you, your mother’s attention has never been equally divided between yourself and your older brother, who she still believes is a viable alternative to either of your cousins as an heir to the throne; so after years of expert (but sparse) instruction in Firebending, you’ve made the choice to come to Union City. As much as you’d like to return to the Fire Nation, the cosmopolitan Fifth Nation is an alternative which avoids being seen as an insult by your mother, as well as having a widespread Firebending scene.I am very intrigued
>>5994619>[2] The Peregrin Prince. The United Federation was your first stop after leaving the Fire Nation by your mother’s side. Unlike your grandfather, your mother’s sojourn was neither formal nor a banishment, though both her and your aunt, the new Fire Lord, were adamant in their desire to be apart for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately for you, your mother’s attention has never been equally divided between yourself and your older brother, who she still believes is a viable alternative to either of your cousins as an heir to the throne; so after years of expert (but sparse) instruction in Firebending, you’ve made the choice to come to Union City. As much as you’d like to return to the Fire Nation, the cosmopolitan Fifth Nation is an alternative which avoids being seen as an insult by your mother, as well as having a widespread Firebending scene.I vote fire.
>>5994621>>[4] The Unexpected Inheritor. The entire world believes that, since the Air Nomad Genocide a hundred and seventy-five years ago, only four Airbenders have been born. Recently, and much to your (single) mother’s chagrin, you made the revelation that there was, in fact, a fifth Airbender, you. Now, despite your only present parent’s protestations, you’re taking the run-down old ferry from the small city of Hei Bai in the southern United Federation, where you’ve lived since moving out of Union City ten years ago when you were six, back to the Fifth Nation’s sprawling capital. Vexingly, the only ships that sail to Air Temple Island depart from Union City itself, and the only ones that the average person can get on are part of paid tours. And there’s no way you’re going to be able to get onto the island through official channels. Though, if you did sneak on, it wouldn’t be your first time getting onto restricted United Federation property, even if this time you actually want to get caught.Cumbending it is
>>5994621>[2] The Peregrin Prince. The United Federation was your first stop after leaving the Fire Nation by your mother’s side. Unlike your grandfather, your mother’s sojourn was neither formal nor a banishment, though both her and your aunt, the new Fire Lord, were adamant in their desire to be apart for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately for you, your mother’s attention has never been equally divided between yourself and your older brother, who she still believes is a viable alternative to either of your cousins as an heir to the throne; so after years of expert (but sparse) instruction in Firebending, you’ve made the choice to come to Union City. As much as you’d like to return to the Fire Nation, the cosmopolitan Fifth Nation is an alternative which avoids being seen as an insult by your mother, as well as having a widespread Firebending scene.
>>5994619>>[1] The Exploited Avatar. Tradition dictated that the Avatar be informed of their status on their sixteenth birthday, though this had been bucked in recent cycles; Aang was told early, facing the threat of war, and Kyoshi was told late, on account of an earlier misidentification. You were told of your status when you were seven, uprooting your entire life and placing you into the watchful care of the White Lotus. It was a measure that was allegedly put into place by your predecessor, Avatar Aang, but you doubt he wanted his successor to be watched like a hawk and not allowed to wander out of sight of the walls of a fortified compound. When you hugged your parents goodbye before leaving for Union City, it was the first time you had seen them in almost four months. Even now, the only other people aboard the modern boat carrying you to your new home at Air Temple Island are members of the White Lotus, only fueling your gnawing concerns around meeting your spiritual mentor-to-be, Aang’s son and the only Airbending master, Tenzin.
>>5994621>[1] The Exploited Avatar. Tradition dictated that the Avatar be informed of their status on their sixteenth birthday, though this had been bucked in recent cycles; Aang was told early, facing the threat of war, and Kyoshi was told late, on account of an earlier misidentification. You were told of your status when you were seven, uprooting your entire life and placing you into the watchful care of the White Lotus. It was a measure that was allegedly put into place by your predecessor, Avatar Aang, but you doubt he wanted his successor to be watched like a hawk and not allowed to wander out of sight of the walls of a fortified compound. When you hugged your parents goodbye before leaving for Union City, it was the first time you had seen them in almost four months. Even now, the only other people aboard the modern boat carrying you to your new home at Air Temple Island are members of the White Lotus, only fueling your gnawing concerns around meeting your spiritual mentor-to-be, Aang’s son and the only Airbending master, Tenzin.
>>5994621>>[4] The Unexpected Inheritor. The entire world believes that, since the Air Nomad Genocide a hundred and seventy-five years ago, only four Airbenders have been born. Recently, and much to your (single) mother’s chagrin, you made the revelation that there was, in fact, a fifth Airbender, you. Now, despite your only present parent’s protestations, you’re taking the run-down old ferry from the small city of Hei Bai in the southern United Federation, where you’ve lived since moving out of Union City ten years ago when you were six, back to the Fifth Nation’s sprawling capital. Vexingly, the only ships that sail to Air Temple Island depart from Union City itself, and the only ones that the average person can get on are part of paid tours. And there’s no way you’re going to be able to get onto the island through official channels. Though, if you did sneak on, it wouldn’t be your first time getting onto restricted United Federation property, even if this time you actually want to get caught.
>>5994619>[1] The Exploited Avatar. Tradition dictated that the Avatar be informed of their status on their sixteenth birthday, though this had been bucked in recent cycles; Aang was told early, facing the threat of war, and Kyoshi was told late, on account of an earlier misidentification. You were told of your status when you were seven, uprooting your entire life and placing you into the watchful care of the White Lotus. It was a measure that was allegedly put into place by your predecessor, Avatar Aang, but you doubt he wanted his successor to be watched like a hawk and not allowed to wander out of sight of the walls of a fortified compound. When you hugged your parents goodbye before leaving for Union City, it was the first time you had seen them in almost four months. Even now, the only other people aboard the modern boat carrying you to your new home at Air Temple Island are members of the White Lotus, only fueling your gnawing concerns around meeting your spiritual mentor-to-be, Aang’s son and the only Airbending master, Tenzin.
>>5994621>[3] The Listless Scion. The United Federation of Peoples was where your family’s patriarch made his name on the world stage, for the second time. Now it’s your turn to take a crack at the socio-political morass that is Union City. Well, not really, you are still a little young for that and that’s not your reason for leaving Kyoshi Island at all. It wasn’t just a compulsion to see all that your family built either, though that was a part of it; the root of the desire (besides getting away from what felt like an increasingly crowded island), was a sort of ill-defined wanderlust. That and the need to find an Earthbending teacher who didn’t have to bend the rod out of their butt whenever they had to sit down, which was seemingly all your parents could hire from the wider Earth Kingdom. You’d thought of going to Zaofu as well, but it’s probably better to master Earthbending before moving onto Metalbending; that and the awkwardness your presence in that city might bring.
>>5994621>[3] The Listless Scion. The United Federation of Peoples was where your family’s patriarch made his name on the world stage, for the second time. Now it’s your turn to take a crack at the socio-political morass that is Union City. Well, not really, you are still a little young for that and that’s not your reason for leaving Kyoshi Island at all. It wasn’t just a compulsion to see all that your family built either, though that was a part of it; the root of the desire (besides getting away from what felt like an increasingly crowded island), was a sort of ill-defined wanderlust. That and the need to find an Earthbending teacher who didn’t have to bend the rod out of their butt whenever they had to sit down, which was seemingly all your parents could hire from the wider Earth Kingdom. You’d thought of going to Zaofu as well, but it’s probably better to master Earthbending before moving onto Metalbending; that and the awkwardness your presence in that city might bring.New ATLA quest, neat. Hopefully it'll last a few threads longer than the last ones.
>>5994619>[4] The Unexpected Inheritor. The entire world believes that, since the Air Nomad Genocide a hundred and seventy-five years ago, only four Airbenders have been born. Recently, and much to your (single) mother’s chagrin, you made the revelation that there was, in fact, a fifth Airbender, you. Now, despite your only present parent’s protestations, you’re taking the run-down old ferry from the small city of Hei Bai in the southern United Federation, where you’ve lived since moving out of Union City ten years ago when you were six, back to the Fifth Nation’s sprawling capital. Vexingly, the only ships that sail to Air Temple Island depart from Union City itself, and the only ones that the average person can get on are part of paid tours. And there’s no way you’re going to be able to get onto the island through official channels. Though, if you did sneak on, it wouldn’t be your first time getting onto restricted United Federation property, even if this time you actually want to get caught.So I'm guessing any of the characters we don't choose are still going to be part of the story, just not the POV character?
>>5994770>So I'm guessing any of the characters we don't choose are still going to be part of the story, just not the POV character?Yeah, if not in a Team Avatar still in the story. Either going to leave the vote overnight or give it another hour, probably overnight.
>>5994621>[3] The Listless Scion. The United Federation of Peoples was where your family’s patriarch made his name on the world stage, for the second time. Now it’s your turn to take a crack at the socio-political morass that is Union City. Well, not really, you are still a little young for that and that’s not your reason for leaving Kyoshi Island at all. It wasn’t just a compulsion to see all that your family built either, though that was a part of it; the root of the desire (besides getting away from what felt like an increasingly crowded island), was a sort of ill-defined wanderlust. That and the need to find an Earthbending teacher who didn’t have to bend the rod out of their butt whenever they had to sit down, which was seemingly all your parents could hire from the wider Earth Kingdom. You’d thought of going to Zaofu as well, but it’s probably better to master Earthbending before moving onto Metalbending; that and the awkwardness your presence in that city might bring.I want earth
>>5994621>>[3] The Listless Scion. The United Federation of Peoples was where your family’s patriarch made his name on the world stage, for the second time. Now it’s your turn to take a crack at the socio-political morass that is Union City. Well, not really, you are still a little young for that and that’s not your reason for leaving Kyoshi Island at all. It wasn’t just a compulsion to see all that your family built either, though that was a part of it; the root of the desire (besides getting away from what felt like an increasingly crowded island), was a sort of ill-defined wanderlust. That and the need to find an Earthbending teacher who didn’t have to bend the rod out of their butt whenever they had to sit down, which was seemingly all your parents could hire from the wider Earth Kingdom. You’d thought of going to Zaofu as well, but it’s probably better to master Earthbending before moving onto Metalbending; that and the awkwardness your presence in that city might bring.
>>5994621>[4] The Unexpected Inheritor. The entire world believes that, since the Air Nomad Genocide a hundred and seventy-five years ago, only four Airbenders have been born. Recently, and much to your (single) mother’s chagrin, you made the revelation that there was, in fact, a fifth Airbender, you. Now, despite your only present parent’s protestations, you’re taking the run-down old ferry from the small city of Hei Bai in the southern United Federation, where you’ve lived since moving out of Union City ten years ago when you were six, back to the Fifth Nation’s sprawling capital. Vexingly, the only ships that sail to Air Temple Island depart from Union City itself, and the only ones that the average person can get on are part of paid tours. And there’s no way you’re going to be able to get onto the island through official channels. Though, if you did sneak on, it wouldn’t be your first time getting onto restricted United Federation property, even if this time you actually want to get caught.Enter the void motherfucker
>>5994630>>5994632>>5994689>>5994867Fire. >>5994647>>5994720>>5994770>>5994854Air. >>5994693>>5994700>>5994738Water. >>5994757>>5994765>>5994772>>5994783>>5994850>>5994895Earth. Our winner!You voted in the Avatar Cycle, interesting. I'm surprised the Avatar was the least popular option and that's the Fire Prince was the most popular. I would've thought from the latest Avatar quests that people would be burned out on firebending, no pun intended. Voting is now closed, I'll get working on the update in the morning.
>>5994924Waterbenders aren't popular here for some reason. I voted for the Avatar but I guess anons also wanted more freedom.
>>5994924The most recent one I can remember participating in had a Sandbender born Avatar as the protagonist. It was interesting, but unfortunately it didn't get very far.
>>5994924Would have voted for air, if i had caught the quest sooner.
A couple of changes of clothes, your journals, a good snack, and a pair of… traditional weapons you brought all the way from home, just in case are what you take in the backpack that comes with you off the boat. You don’t think you’ll need the ‘traditional implements’ (you’re an earthbender anyway) but it’s no secret that Union City has garnered a bit of an unsavory reputation in the years since Avatar Aang stepped back from public life (then died), but that only holds true for some parts of the city. You also heard some of the other passengers talking about some new political movement (yuck) holding impromptu rallies all over the city, who aren’t particularly fond of benders. So you’ll try to steer clear of that, at least as best as you can, you really do want to explore Union City. Even Gaoling and Omashu don’t compare to the city, based on the view you got from the ocean liner as it crossed Yue Bay, and it really makes it clear that, even with all the recent development, Kyoshi Island is a backwater. Not that that fact will get you down, there was a reason you left to explore the big wide world, and what’s a better place to get started than the one place where all four Nations (and that includes the Air Acolytes!) come together. You hand the porters that come to collect the rest of your things a roll of coins (probably too many, but you don’t want to be throwing money around while you’re here) before heading out onto the ocean liner’s deck. A crowd of people, mostly in the colors of the Earth Kingdom, flows towards the gangways leading off of the ship. You get a few glances, mostly from younger children, thanks to the lighter blue-green of your outfit and your light gray eyes making you stand out from the herd. When it’s time to actually get off the ship, you’re disappointed to see what looks like a police escort waiting at the bottom of the gangway. A group of five men and one woman in slate gray jackets, pants, and peaked caps, adorned with gold buttons and carrying nightsticks at their sides. Reaching the bottom of the gangway, you hold up your hands and sigh, “I don’t know who asked you to do this, if it was my dad or my grandfather but—” you cut yourself off when the group of police shoulder past you and move onto the second-class gangway, gathering up around a sweaty teenager dressed in Fire Nation blacks and reds. You fight down an embarrassed blush when you look around and see that seemingly nobody witnessed your faux pas. >(1/2)
Pushing your inauspicious first action in the city down is easy, now that you’re actually standing on its streets! Even at the piers, multi-story warehouses creep right up to the waterfront and highrises loom above them, just standing here you can see the opportunities stretching out ahead of you.>[1] Explore the city! You don’t have a particular destination in mind, but you’ve got a pocket full of Earth Kingdom coins and an interminable hunger for discovery. Or that’s what some kind of writer would say, not you. (???)>[2] You came here for instruction in Earthbending, might as well scope out the local Earthbending scene. The apartment you managed to wrangle is close to the university district, so maybe that’s the first place you should look?>[3] You’ve seen a lot of things, even in your few short years, but you’ve never met an Airbender! Well, your parents tell you you did, but you were a baby, and he was the Avatar, so there’s no way that can count, you can’t even remember it. So why not take the ferry to Air Temple Island? It might seem weird for an earthbender, but you have always liked boats.>[4] You went to the South Pole once, and, climate aside, you thought it was pretty cool. You always wanted to go back there someday, but there isn’t really an established population of earthbenders there, or much earth. So the next best thing to do is to visit the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center at the heart of Union City, that way you can both get familiar with the city and get in touch with your roots!>(2/2)
>>5995315>[3] You’ve seen a lot of things, even in your few short years, but you’ve never met an Airbender! Well, your parents tell you you did, but you were a baby, and he was the Avatar, so there’s no way that can count, you can’t even remember it. So why not take the ferry to Air Temple Island? It might seem weird for an earthbender, but you have always liked boats.
>>5995315>[3] You’ve seen a lot of things, even in your few short years, but you’ve never met an Airbender! Well, your parents tell you you did, but you were a baby, and he was the Avatar, so there’s no way that can count, you can’t even remember it. So why not take the ferry to Air Temple Island? It might seem weird for an earthbender, but you have always liked boats.Let's satisfy our curiosity here. Maybe we can try to distinguish ourself through novel approaches to training and unusual techniques?
>>5995315>[3] You’ve seen a lot of things, even in your few short years, but you’ve never met an Airbender! Well, your parents tell you you did, but you were a baby, and he was the Avatar, so there’s no way that can count, you can’t even remember it. So why not take the ferry to Air Temple Island? It might seem weird for an earthbender, but you have always liked boats.>>5995357>Let's satisfy our curiosity here. Maybe we can try to distinguish ourself through novel approaches to training and unusual techniques?Oh, that'd be interesting, since Earth and Air are sort of philosophically opposed. Maybe learning to integrate Airbender like techniques or philosophy into Earthbending.
>>5995315>>[1] Explore the city! You don’t have a particular destination in mind, but you’ve got a pocket full of Earth Kingdom coins and an interminable hunger for discovery. Or that’s what some kind of writer would say, not you. (???)
>>5995378>>5995357Might be a path to mud or sand bending, or maybe even bending dirt that's been ground into a powder/ dust completely, to create a jank ass Air/ Earth hybrid stylethat'd be pretty rad
>>5995357>>5995378>>5995385I just want to clarify that this is more of a plothook than anything else at this moment. Tenzin is an extremely busy man (being a father of three (or four, I'm honestly not entirely sure just how adjusted the timeline is. For instance, Harmonic Convergence hasn't happened yet, but that doesn't mean his youngest son won't be born. Rohan and Meelo also have different names since their original ones didn't fit the Airbender theming), on the UFP council, and being the Avatar's spiritual/airbending tutor) and trying to get him to train you just because you have some novel ideas and your dad just so happens to be the governor of Kyoshi Island isn't going to convince him to do it. And unlike canon, Jinora doesn't have her arrows yet. And Air is definitely the toughest element to apply to the others, especially Earth, don't take any of that as a reason to change your votes though.
>>5995378Right, I like the idea of taking Earthbending from “throw big boulder” to something more high-concept. It’s been years since I watched the original show, but my recollection is that the Earth Kingdoms are sort of meant to be Chinese agricultural peasants. It would be fun to upend that expectation and make some big brain Earthbending innovations
>>5995416No worries, QM - our guy has to start somewhere, I’m not expecting this detour to take us anywhere in particular
>>5995419*girl
>>5995315>>[3] You’ve seen a lot of things, even in your few short years, but you’ve never met an Airbender! Well, your parents tell you you did, but you were a baby, and he was the Avatar, so there’s no way that can count, you can’t even remember it. So why not take the ferry to Air Temple Island? It might seem weird for an earthbender, but you have always liked boats.Get on it lad
>>5995320>>5995357>>5995378>>5995418>>5995419>>5995493Air Temple Island, what could they be keeping there?>>5995382Mystery box, what could it be? Maybe you'll find out later.Surprisingly a runaway, vote's closed, writing.
>>5995416I like a challenge
It’s just your luck that the ferry for Air Temple Island is both close to the pier your ship offloaded at and is departing in a little over an hour. You trust that the porters will bring what luggage you did bring from Kyoshi Island to the little apartment rented for your stay in the city, so you’re in no particular rush to get to your new home. Surprisingly, the (rather small) queue waiting for the guided tour of the United Federation’s resident Air Temple seem to be tourists from the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation, and the ones wearing the mixed and muted colors of the fifth nation are mostly carrying boxy, handheld cameras, telling you that they’re tourists as well, likely not from Union City itself. You’re the last one to get there and remain the last one in line when the ferry arrives, and you pay for a ticket at what you think is a markup, based on the raised eyebrow the ferry conductor guy gives you when you get on. The ferry is flat and slow, meaning the breeze launches sea spray in your face from your chosen spot near the railing. You don’t really mind though, it lets you watch as the central spire of Air Temple Island grows on the horizon. You also pass by the giant statue of Avatar Aang atop its museum plinth. You can’t help but think it’s gaudy, and rather unfitting, based on the stories you’ve heard of Avatar Aang, but you also know that it was dedicated and constructed at the insistence of the United Federation’s inaugural government.“Hey!” You’re shaken out of your contemplation of this more intimate view of Yue Bay by a kid from one of the groups of tourists running up to you. “Yeah?” You’re used to dealing with younger kids, you have three younger siblings and a bunch of younger cousins, so you know just the right about of snark to answer with as you snap your head in his direction. The boy is younger, dressed in a loose green tunic and pants with a tan cap on top of his head and covering his ears, is probably around seven. Your reaction to him froze his gap-toothed grin on his face, but he quickly recovers. “Are you from the Water Tribes? You really like blue!” Looking down at your outfit, you notice just how much your long, light blue tunic stands out amidst the seas of greens and reds you’ve seen around Union City’s docks and on board the ships you’ve taken. Maybe there were dockworkers from the Water Tribes that you just didn’t see. The blue of your top doesn’t make your pants any less tan though. “Nope, I’m from the Earth Kingdom,” you assert, “just like you.” At that, the kid sticks his tongue out at you, “Wrong, idiot!” He says with a chortle. >(1/4)
You don’t alert him to his mother approaching from the other side of the ferry to cuff him about the ears. “Tong!” His mother looks and is dressed like he is, though she wears a dress in a traditional Earth Kingdom style and dark gray sandals; she’s probably around thirty. “Apologize to this young lady right now,” at a glance you can see that the rest of their group is looking over at the scene, while the other groups of tourists are paying attention to anything else they can. The woman pauses for a second and gives you a quick once-over, as if to make sure she was right in her initial assumption. You roll your eyes and pull your somewhat-formless top down to clarify your figure. “I’m sure she wants to rest before the tour, I think she’s had a longer journey than we have.” “You got that right,” you let her know, cracking your back against the short, hard ferry seat. “Just came in from Kyoshi Island, and boy are my arms tired.” “You swam?” The kid asks, his nose scrunching up. Before you can inform him that it was a joke, a glare from his mother makes him straighten up. “I’m sorry,” he says with a quick bow, darting back off to the rest of his group. “Sorry about him,” his mother apologizes again, but you wave it off.“I get it, I’ve been the designated babysitter more times than I can count, don’t even worry about it.” “Still, Kyoshi Island,” she sounds impressed, and you have to suppress a groan. “Does that mean you’re a—”“Nope,” you anticipate the question, you don’t even want to hear it. You would swim the rest of the way to Air Temple Island if the rest of the passengers started pestering you about that. “I’m sorry, I just—”“I get it,” you nod, “but no.” The awkward silence hangs in the air between you before the mother scurries off as well. You figure they’re from one of the smaller cities in the United Federation, probably inland, based on how shaky they were while standing on the ferry. The dock at Air Temple Island sits at the base of an imposing cliff, making it seem like the tower at the island’s apex is even higher, as it casts a looming shadow deep into the bay. A cadre of bald men and several women in layered crimson and yellow robes, duller than the rich saffrons and oranges you’ve seen in pictures of actual Air Nomads greet your group, and guide you up the switchback path and steep staircase toward the temple proper. The whole way up, you notice guards in lavender and white uniforms with flower motifs following your group the whole way up, along with several posted along the path and at the quay. >(2/4)
You’re surprised when the tour, after passing around a training ground for Airbending (which is just an octagonal ring with the bagua on the floor), goes inside the Temple itself. The rooms are open and airy, which you suppose makes sense, with hardwood floors, paper windows between the halls and rooms, and plastered walls with high trim. The colors are mostly warm but muted, with some variation in motifs along the trim and the occasional bright blue pillar that stretches from the floor to the high ceiling. Occasionally, another Air Acolyte passes the tour, some giving waves or nods, but others clearly undertaking some sort of chore, carrying brushes or brooms or baskets full of vegetables. “Are we gonna see any Airbenders?” The kid from before asks rather loudly as you pass into the greenhouse. “Master Tenzin is busy,” the acolyte leading the tour informs him patiently. “And his children are preparing for an upcoming occasion along with their mother,” he nods sagely, “I’m sorry, but the tours rarely see any of our resident Airbenders, though Miss Pema typically greets tour groups.” The kid crosses his arms and huffs, which makes you chuckle. After the tour of the, admittedly impressive, greenhouse, the acolyte begins looping you around the back of the island’s dormitories and in front of the main spire of the temple, and explains that the tour is ending. That also means he’s taking a lot more questions. You don’t think you have any, you’re more disappointed that you weren’t able to see any of the Airbenders, and you’re starting to regret not sneaking off of the tour earlier. You’re pretty sure you would have been caught, but if you timed it right, you might have been caught by an Acolyte you could have gotten away from! That would cause enough of a problem to get Tenzin’s attention. >(3/4)>>5995555Holy digits!
This time, you’re jolted out of your introspection by a small, clammy hand wrapping around yours. The group has already reached the front of the temple, so you’re sure you won’t be able to get inside unsupervised now. Glancing down at the sudden contact, you see a younger, slighter girl doing her best to wrap her fingers around yours and staring up at your face. She’s wearing a woven, sleeveless, hooded blue jacket with split sides that goes down to her knees, blue pants bunched around a pair of what look like leather boots, and a high-collared tunic fastened at the neck. She’s tan with delicate features and her big, light blue eyes are doing their best to peer into your soul. “I-if anyone asks,” she says, under her breath, her voice high and frantic, “you’re my big sister, go- you got that?” You can tell she’s not used to acting tough, or being particularly assertive. “Look kid, I know my little sisters, and you’re neither of them,” you tell her in a quieter whisper. “Please,” she says, before remembering that she’s trying to coerce you. “I mean, look- I just need to get off the island, then I’ll be out of your hands. Just get me into- get me to the city, okay?”>[1] Alright. She seems pretty desperate to get out of here, and you can sympathize with a young girl who’s desperate to get off of an island. Just make sure she plays it cool, no more talking. >[2] Nope, no way. This seems like a bad idea, you don’t want the second impression you make on Union City to be kidnapping some Water Tribe girl from Air Temple Island. >[3] Fine, but she’ll owe you! That’s how things work in the big city after all, you’re sure of that. You have no idea what some Water Tribe girl can give you, but maybe you can work something out. >[4] How about no, but if she can get you into the temple, you’ll see how you can help her. Her sneaking off on her own probably looks bad, but she should get in less trouble if you go with her to explain things, that’s usually how it worked back home. >(4/4)
>>5995715>[3] Fine, but she’ll owe you! That’s how things work in the big city after all, you’re sure of that. You have no idea what some Water Tribe girl can give you, but maybe you can work something out.
>>5995715>>[3] Fine, but she’ll owe you! That’s how things work in the big city after all, you’re sure of that. You have no idea what some Water Tribe girl can give you, but maybe you can work something out.
>>5995715>[4] How about no, but if she can get you into the temple, you’ll see how you can help her. Her sneaking off on her own probably looks bad, but she should get in less trouble if you go with her to explain things, that’s usually how it worked back home.
>>5995715>>[3] Fine, but she’ll owe you! That’s how things work in the big city after all, you’re sure of that. You have no idea what some Water Tribe girl can give you, but maybe you can work something out.How should we exploit a kidnapping?
>>5995715>>[4] How about no, but if she can get you into the temple, you’ll see how you can help her. Her sneaking off on her own probably looks bad, but she should get in less trouble if you go with her to explain things, that’s usually how it worked back home.
>>5995715>>[2] Nope, no way. This seems like a bad idea, you don’t want the second impression you make on Union City to be kidnapping some Water Tribe girl from Air Temple Island.
>>5995717>>5995728>>5995818>>5995908Kidnapping isn't wrong if there's quid pro quo involved! Wait... (our winner)>>5995761>>5996000Why stay and try to work out her problems? That's probably healthy, you think. Maybe not, you have no idea why she's so desperate to get out of here.>>5996010Kidnapping is, fun fact, illegal.Vote closed, this one may also be out later tonight.
“Fine,” you say through gritted teeth, “but we stick together when we get into the city, alright?” Her eyes light up at that before narrowing, before lighting up again, “Thank you, thank you so much!” She struggles to keep her gratitude quiet. “Don’t thank me yet,” you tell her, turning your attention back to the tour and doing your best to act natural. You’ve had to hold kids’ hands through stuff like this before, so the sensation isn’t weird, but the girl’s hand is weirdly cold. “You’ll owe me when we’re off the island.” The Water Tribe girl stumbles at that, but you pull her hand so she keeps pace with you. “W-what do you want?” You just shrug, and that’s where the first conversation with your willing kidnappee ends. To your surprise, you make it all the way down the steep staircases and winding switchback before anyone on the island realizes that something’s wrong with the tour. It’s there that you’re stopped and… they open your bag before quickly handing it back to you, neither of the lavender-clad guardsmen standing at either side of the ferry even glance at your ‘sister’, probably because she’s not holding anything. Halfway through the slow journey back across Yue Bay, the Water Tribe girl lets out a shaky breath that she must’ve been holding in since before she met you before dropping her hood and leaning back in the uncomfortable ferry seat. Her black hair is bifurcated in the front and the back, wrapped at her temples and the back of her head, allowing it to hang in two loops that fall to just above the small of her back. Still, a few stands hang over her forehead, as if pulled free during her haste to get off Air Temple Island. “Thank you again,” she says quietly, staring up at the ceiling of the ferry, “I-I just couldn’t do it.” You cock your head, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. ‘Do what?’ you wonder, but you don’t voice that. “Right, no problem,” you feel like you’ll regret that choice of words, but you’ve always liked the sound of it more than ‘you’re welcome’, it just sounds cooler, more laid back. Not that you’d ever say it to your elders. “I’m Ainu by the way, just sailed in from—” you purse your lips, not wanting to field a million questions about Kyoshi Island, “—Qinchao,” you pick out a place in the southern Earth Kingdom, near where you came from. >(1/2)
“Itiqqa,” she says, quickly looking down at her feet. “I mean, that’s me, that’s my name,” she restates, fidgeting and looking out at the bay, though her eyes shoot back to her feet when she sees that you’re passing the statue of Avatar Aang. “I’m th— I mean, I’m very grateful, Ainu, I do owe you, like you said.” ‘Something’s not sitting right,’ you think, glancing between Itiqqa staring at her feet and the statue of Avatar Aang gazing triumphantly over Union City. The acolyte leading your tour group said something about an ‘upcoming occasion’ too, and Itiqqa doesn’t look like she’s been there long. Unconsciously, your hand goes to your chin, and you barely stop yourself from biting your thumb. There’s something to puzzle out here. >Roll three 1d100s, DC to beat is 60. This may change later, but for now, you'll have to meet the DC twice for a success, a single roll over the DC is a mitigated failure.
Rolled 12 (1d100)>>5996393
Rolled 27 (1d100)>>5996393Watch me ace it
>>5994611What's a "rug?" Also, why not just make a straight-up post-ATLA setting instead of using the Korra ones? Doesn't seem very salvageable to me.
can someone mitigate this failure...
Rolled 11 (1d100)>>5996393
>>5996511Evidently not. >>5996408>>5996454>>5996515Writing, don't worry about failing this one. >>5996467>What's a "rug?"Raava and Vaatu.>Also, why not just make a straight-up post-ATLA setting instead of using the Korra ones? Doesn't seem very salvageable to me.The idea of the United Republic and Republic City are neat, even if everything about the execution (up to and including their names) was bungled. I also like the idea of the White Lotus completely misinterpreting Aang's instructions to them and some of the villains, at least on paper (not you Unalaq lol), have promise. A lot of the side characters are pretty good and Aang's kids and his legacy deserve a second look. But like I said, most of the Korra lore isn't here, it's just the bare bones of the future setting. There's a fifth nation, technology has advanced (but not as far as in canon), and most of the legacy cast (barring Sokka and Suki. Did you know she doesn't get mentioned once in Korra? Mai gets indirectly mentioned and Zuko didn't even stay with her. Ty Lee actually also doesn't get a single indirect mention) are in similar places. Union City is probably more like late Meiji/early Taisho era Osaka or Kyoto than Roaring Twenties New York, and the technology, aside from the stuff that was already ahead of that in ATLA, is more like the Gilded Age. Electricity is more widespread, photography is (recently) available to the common person, but movies aren't even a concept yet and the radio is still a ways off. The electric telegraph exists, but telephones don't quite yet, microphones are a new concept.
>>5996608Interesting. I wonder if we are a child of one of those unmentioned characters.
‘No no,’ you think to yourself, ‘I’m overthinking things, I always overthink things.’ If Itiqqa has something to say, she’ll tell you later. Or not, you don’t really know her that well. Quickly looking around to make sure that nobody’s in earshot, you ask Itiqqa, “So what were you doing on Air Temple Island anyway? If you missed the last tour boat you could’ve just told the monks.”The tan girl blushes furiously and frantically shakes her head, “N-no, I can’t imagine how embarrassing that would be.” She jams her thumbs together hard enough to make them bend backwards, you move to push her hands apart, but she drops them into her lap before you can. “Besides, I wasn’t there on the— on a tour,” she shrugs, briefly looking back into the bay before her eyes snap back to her feet. “I-I had an um, appointment, yeah, an appointment, but I’m not read-” she starts to raise her voice, then cuts herself off, “I’m not ready. Not yet, I, I need a few days…” The girl trails off, running her bottom lip under her front teeth. “Right,” you look around again, making sure her abortive outburst didn’t draw any eyes to you. You catch that kid from before, Tong, you think it was, staring at you, but as soon as your eyes meet his, he ducks back into his seat, hiding against his mother. “An appointment with who exactly?” “Ma- It- Um, Tenz- Um, Master Tenzin,” she shifts awkwardly, blushing even deeper, “but I’m not ready yet, I- you can tell, right?” “Tell wha—” You don’t even get to finish before the Water Tribe girl answers her own question, “Spiritually, I’m such a—” she claps her hands over her mouth, aware of her rising volume, “such a mess, you know?” She certainly is neurotic. “But why would Tenzin be seeing you?” You want to meet Tenzin, but you’re certainly not jealous of her. Maybe he’s just really intense. “Wait,” this time it’s your turn to cut off Itiqqa before she can answer, “you’re his niece, right?” From what you can remember, Avatar Aang had three kids, one of them is probably a waterbender, so it tracks! “Of course all of Avatar Aang’s grandkids would get spiritual tutelage,” you nod to yourself, satisfied. >(1/3)
“Um, sure,” she shrugs, “yeah, I needed ssss- I needed spiritual tutelage, r-right. Because of— yeah.” She nods so hard that one of her hair loops flip over her shoulder, and she flicks it back. After that, she clams right up, spending the rest of the ferry ride alternating between gazing out at the bay and staring at her feet. When the quay comes into view, Itiqqa sucks in a deep breath and quickly throws up her hood. “Hey, um, you can swim,” she glances between your blue outfit and your gray eyes, “right?” “Yeah,” you see what she’s looking at on the shore, it’s a bunch of those soldier-looking guys in lavender and white. “Why do I need to be able to swim?” You can’t stop the apprehension from creeping into your voice. “O-oh good, your bag is tiger seal, that means it’s pretty much water proof,” she says with an unconvincing smile, attempting to alleviate the tension. “J-just jump in and grab onto me o-okay?” She nods again, as if trying to convince herself more than you, despite yourself, you’re already shrugging your bag on. “I’m a waterbender, so I, I mean we, we can get somewhere else in the city after we jump, alright?” You stop yourself from nodding to ask, “but why?”“O-oh, sorry, um, look, I can owe your more, but if we get ca- erm, if those guys see us together off the island they’ll be really mad,” she presses her thumbs together again, “sorry, you- you’d probably get in a bunch of trouble.” You just drop your head down, trying to bore a hole through the hull of the ferry between your boots. This is a really bad first impression to make on Union City. “Fine, fine, whatever,” you finally say, doing your best to not sound huffy, “but you’re a good enough waterbender to dry me off right away, right?” Itiqqa nods excitedly, before standing up, trying to look like she’s stretching nonchalantly and failing miserably. You just roll your eyes, make sure your bag is sealed as well as it can be, and vault the railing. Immediately, you hear shouts from the other passengers as well as the few crew of the ferry, along with your willing kidnappee’s indignant protesting. After that, she quickly splashes into the brisk water next to you, it’s not that cold, you probably would’ve been shocked by it if you hadn’t taken a dip in the icy waters of Unagi’s Bay before leaving home. “I was supposed to go first!” She protests, speaking above a hushed tone for the first time since you met. It seems she’s taking the cold water even better than you are, so instead of responding to her, you just wrap your arms around her skinny waist. As an older sister, it’s a bit concerning to feel that there’s practically zero fat on the girl. Once she’s sure that you’re firmly grasping her, Itiqqa shoots her hands forward, takes a deep breath, and dives just under the surface like a dolphin.
The speed at which the girl takes off forces you to bury your face in the back of your hood, lest the water stinging your eyes blinds you and your nose fills completely. It must have taken less than two minutes, but as you lay gasping under a noisy boardwalk, it feels like you were underwater for an hour. At least Itiqqa is true to her word, as the younger girl quickly pulls the moisture from your clothes and hair before doing the same for herself. After doing so, she pulls her hood back up as quickly as she can, and you check your backpack to make sure that nothing inside got soaked. Luckily, nothing did, so you pull out a bag of salt koi. It’s been a while since you ate, which you’re only now realizing. After scarfing down a couple of pieces, you offer one to Itiqqa. “O-oh, thanks!” She seems cheery as she takes it, as if she expected you to berate her for having you run off with her again, but her face quickly sours after she sniffs it. “This isn’t bean curd, is it?”You shake your head, “It’s elephant koi, salted,” you take the piece back when she practically thrusts it into your hands. “It’s my hometown’s speciality,” you add. “I’m sorry, I should’ve said I-” the younger girl freezes, “I don’t really like salt fish, sorry.” “I don’t mean to assume but,” you can’t help but cock your eyebrows again, “I thought everyone from the Water Tribe ate salt fish. Because of the,” you roll your hand, “you know.” Itiqqa shakes her head, “Sorry, sorry, I’m sorry,” she puts her head in her hands before taking a shaky breath and looking up at you, then walking a few paces away. “I don’t eat- I mean I can’t- I mean, look, sorry, I’m a vegetarian, I should have just said that, sorry.” “Yeah,” you say, more weirded out than ever. You’d like to find out who this girl really is, but now feels like a bad time to pry. “Anyway, let’s get out of here, I’m sure those guys will be poking around all over the shoreline.” Your nervous companion gasps, “I hadn’t thought of that! Oh… you’re right, you really are, they will!” She pulls the drawstring of her hood tight, as if trying to hide and think at the same time. >(3/4)
>[1] Well, maybe you should go to your apartment. Nobody in the city except the building manager you rented it from and some kind of nebulous visa board knows that you’re renting it, it will be the perfect place to lie low! Plus all of this weird drama has tired you out. >[2] Itiqqa is from the Southern Water Tribe, presumably. At least you think so based on her hairstyle and the more geometric pattern on her clothes, along with her supposed relation to Avatar Aang. Maybe she would be the most comfortable at the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center, you should go there.>[3] The sun is going down, so the parks and other places where families go would be deserted. You can wait out the night there, figure out more of why Itiqqa’s acting the way she is, and maybe catch some of the city’s sights on the way. You really don’t mind roughing it for one night, especially if the other option is being interrogated by the UC police force.>[4] A crowded boardwalk is a pretty good place to get lost, try to alleviate some of your shared stress by playing some games or going on a ride or something, you still have a bunch of Earth Kingdom cash on you after all. Then later, after those soldier-looking guys have moved on, you can go right back home and crash into slumber, push off the actual problems to tomorrow morning. >(4/4)>>5996788Well you're only a little older than Jinora, so probably not one of their kids, no.
>>5996850>>[3] The sun is going down, so the parks and other places where families go would be deserted. You can wait out the night there, figure out more of why Itiqqa’s acting the way she is, and maybe catch some of the city’s sights on the way. You really don’t mind roughing it for one night, especially if the other option is being interrogated by the UC police force.
>>5996850>[1] Well, maybe you should go to your apartment. Nobody in the city except the building manager you rented it from and some kind of nebulous visa board knows that you’re renting it, it will be the perfect place to lie low! Plus all of this weird drama has tired you out.
>>5996850>>[1] Well, maybe you should go to your apartment. Nobody in the city except the building manager you rented it from and some kind of nebulous visa board knows that you’re renting it, it will be the perfect place to lie low! Plus all of this weird drama has tired you out.
>>5996850>[1] Well, maybe you should go to your apartment. Nobody in the city except the building manager you rented it from and some kind of nebulous visa board knows that you’re renting it, it will be the perfect place to lie low! Plus all of this weird drama has tired you out.Damn, is the White Lotus trying to make every Avatar after Aang a vegetarian in the air nomad style too?
>>5996850>[4] A crowded boardwalk is a pretty good place to get lost, try to alleviate some of your shared stress by playing some games or going on a ride or something, you still have a bunch of Earth Kingdom cash on you after all. Then later, after those soldier-looking guys have moved on, you can go right back home and crash into slumber, push off the actual problems to tomorrow morning.
>>5996864You'll never say no to a night of good camping. The city has a good amount of parkland, or so you've heard.>>5996876>>5996911>>5996942>>5997141Go home, you're tired, she's probably tired. It's a good place to lay low, at least for the night. This one wins.>>5997184The best place to hide is in a crowd.
>>5997461Excited to see how our apartment burns down! (The Red Lotus sounds more and more appealing [assuming they are real in this setting.])
“Look,” you pop the piece of fish offered to Itiqqa in your mouth and start working on it, the sound of you clumsily unfolding a map masks the chewing pretty well anyway. “This,” you swallow harshly, now painfully aware of just how thirsty packing only salty snacks is making you, “is where my apartment is, we can go there and figure out what we’re going to do and maybe get some rest.” You poke at the dot you made on the map, adding offhand, “I think we’ve both had a pretty long day.” “How did you—” Itiqqa looks up from the map when you say that, “I mean, y-yeah, I did.” Itiqqa specifically requested you not take any of the city’s trolleys to get to Union City’s university district on the other side of the lively and modern downtown. It just makes getting across town tedious, especially because you convinced her to skirt the government district, where, among other things, the police headquarters are. Going that way would’ve meant traveling in basically a straight line to get to where you were going, and the trolley would’ve been even faster, as your destination is just past the city’s central station. There isn’t much conversation on your hours-long trek through the city, as Itiqqa’s doing her best to be inconspicuous, even keeping her hood up, and you’re still really thirsty. Even keeping up a good pace, you arrive at your apartment just after midnight. A moment of panic passes over you when you don’t feel the key in your pockets before you remember that it never left your bag. It takes some pawing around between your journals and everything else you brought with you before you finally feel the keyring with a pair of identical keys to the apartment. “Got it,” you say under your breath. Itiqqa barely reacts, the slighter girl is leaning against the wall in the hallway, head slumped. She’s basically asleep on her feet. The sound of the tumblers moving jolts her into alertness, and she ducks into the front room even before you do. You shut and lock the door behind you when you enter behind her, and finally get a look at where you’re going to be living for at least the next six months. If you don’t get arrested for being a part of whatever’s going on with Itiqqa, that is. >(1/3)
All of your luggage is piled against the counter that separates the kitchenette from the sitting room. The kitchenette is off to your right, with chairs pulled up to the wooden counter and an empty icebox and cabinets behind it, along with a stove on the opposite end of the cabinets. To your right are a set of windows on the exterior wall, luckily with the curtains already pulled, the sitting room is minimally furnished, but there is a comfy-looking sofa in the middle of the carpeted floor, and a chair with an end table on the wall next to the windows. The doors to the bedroom and bathroom, both across from the front door, are open. The shower has curtains up, which is nice, but the bed is undressed. Which wasn’t unexpected, but you also didn’t think you’d be getting here this late. “Take a shower,” you tell Itiqqa, unclasping the fastener on one of your bags that has clothes in it. You toss her a set of pajamas which are definitely too large for her, but have a drawstring in the pants, so they won’t be falling off at least. “I’ll make the bed then I’ll hop in, we can figure out sleeping arrangements afterwards,” you tell Itiqqa, who catches the outfit with a bewildered look. “O-oh, alright, thanks,” the Water Tribe girl nods rapidly before hustling to the shower even faster than she ducked into the apartment. Hearing the water running, you find some more clothes and lay them out on top of the dresser that you find in the bedroom, then get to making the bed. The sheets were a gift from your dad, so they’re fancier than you might’ve gone for on your own, and they’re in decidedly Earth Kingdom colors, rich green and gaudy gold. Though instead of the classic Earth Kingdom coin or the earthbending trapezoid, the shape embroidered in the middle of the blanket is an unfurled fan with a spiral in the middle of it. You don’t like broadcasting where you’re from, but seeing that does bring a smile to your face. Finding a set of pajamas for yourself, you put them aside on the couch and get yourself a glass of tap water, using a glass you find in one of the cabinets. Seeing some tableware was a relief, since it was just you, you wouldn’t have to buy anymore. You weren’t really intending to entertain anyone, barring maybe your current company. And you know she’s not going to be here long. The Water Tribe girl isn’t in the shower for long, and when she gets out she shuffles out of the bedroom, all of her energy is gone. She offers you another quick thanks before you switch places with her. >(2/3)
The warm water running over you works out most of the day’s stress, and you spend more time under the showerhead than you might have otherwise, letting your mind go blank for the first time since you met Itiqqa. Stressing out won’t help you now, and overthinking things is a bad habit you’ve had your whole life, so you close your eyes, shut off the showerhead, and resolve to think things through with a clearer head tomorrow. Drying your hair off with a towel (you realize you forgot to give Itiqqa one, but based on the state of your luggage, she found the bag with your towels), you step out into the living room after shrugging on another set of pajamas with a stretch. Your guest isn’t on the couch like you expected, but the front door is still locked, so you’re not surprised when you find her laying in your bed. Your mysterious guest is sprawled out on the bed, looking relaxed for the first time all day, and clearly already deep asleep. Her hair is longer than you thought, now that she’s let it down from her loops, and spread out across the pillows like a halo. You shut the bedroom door for her sake.Cutting your losses, you find another blanket among your things, finish drying out your hair, and lay down on the couch. There isn’t a lot of room to spread out, but at least it’s long enough for you to lay down, and it’s pretty comfortable. It doesn’t take long before you drift into a deep, dreamless sleep.Pounding on your door wakes you up, and you’re panicked before you’re even lucid. “H-hold on a second, I’ll be right there!” You say loud enough for your voice to carry through the door. Hurriedly, you throw on a pair of slippers, quickly brush your bedhead down into a comfortable bob, then stick your ear to the bedroom door. You can’t hear anything, but you hope that just means she’s still asleep. Mentally kicking yourself for saying that you’d be right there, you rush up to the door, doing your best to not make noise, and let out a shaky exhale. Another round of harsh knocking on the door jolts you into standing stock straight, completely still. They already know you’re here, so there’s no use in pretending to be gone or still asleep. “Who is it?” Your nerves have banished any sleepiness that would normally be in your voice just after getting up. Frantically looking around the room for signs that you’re not alone (there aren’t any) you notice that there’s no clock and quickly realize you have no idea what time it is. “Union City Police,” an older woman’s voice, clear but impatient, informs you through the door. “You are Ainu, correct?”Okay, that’s what you assumed, and they know who you are, so maybe now it’s time to panic. >(3/3)
>[1] Go out into the hall, you have nothing to hide, they have no reason to enter your apartment. You know that local authorities need warrants on Kyoshi Island, even if they don’t in the rest of the Earth Kingdom, so maybe they do in Union City too, it’s a pretty progressive place. >[2] Let them in, you have nothing to hide! They have no reason to go into the bedroom, everything in there belongs to you, there’s no evidence that there’s another person inside. Besides, you learned to bluff from the best! >[3] Nope, that’s not your name, you’re um, someone else. You’re Li! There are a million Li’s. You’re moving out of this apartment next week, they should come back then. Not so much as a buff, but a bald-faced lie. Just try to buy yourself some time. >[4] You’re not decent, you need another minute, some other excuse! Get Itiqqa up, bug out the back window. The apartment building is a relatively new construct, so it’s brick and concrete. That means you’ll be able to earthbend both of you safely to the street. You can figure things out from there. >[5] Something else? (Write-in).>(4/3)
>>5997894>The Red Lotus sounds more and more appealing [assuming they are real in this setting.]You know they were terrorists who wanted to groom the Avatar into being a human weapon who eventually lets themselves be killed in the Avatar State, right?>>5997141>Damn, is the White Lotus trying to make every Avatar after Aang a vegetarian in the air nomad style too?What do you mean? You haven't met the Avatar, Itiqqa is just of some nebulous relation to Aang. Why do you think she's the Avatar?
>>5998417uh oh>[4] You’re not decent, you need another minute, some other excuse! Get Itiqqa up, bug out the back window. The apartment building is a relatively new construct, so it’s brick and concrete. That means you’ll be able to earthbend both of you safely to the street. You can figure things out from there.
>>5998420Haha yeah I don't know why I said that, I guess I was just confused>>5998417>[1] Go out into the hall, you have nothing to hide, they have no reason to enter your apartment. You know that local authorities need warrants on Kyoshi Island, even if they don’t in the rest of the Earth Kingdom, so maybe they do in Union City too, it’s a pretty progressive place. No copper will be busting into my home without a warrant, not on my watch, and you'll need a plausible reason for that warrant too!
>>5998417>>[1] Go out into the hall, you have nothing to hide, they have no reason to enter your apartment. You know that local authorities need warrants on Kyoshi Island, even if they don’t in the rest of the Earth Kingdom, so maybe they do in Union City too, it’s a pretty progressive place.No warrant bubs
>>5998417>>[4] You’re not decent, you need another minute, some other excuse! Get Itiqqa up, bug out the back window. The apartment building is a relatively new construct, so it’s brick and concrete. That means you’ll be able to earthbend both of you safely to the street. You can figure things out from there.
>>5998417>>[1] Go out into the hall, you have nothing to hide, they have no reason to enter your apartment. You know that local authorities need warrants on Kyoshi Island, even if they don’t in the rest of the Earth Kingdom, so maybe they do in Union City too, it’s a pretty progressive place
>>5998417>[1] Go out into the hall, you have nothing to hide, they have no reason to enter your apartment. You know that local authorities need warrants on Kyoshi Island, even if they don’t in the rest of the Earth Kingdom, so maybe they do in Union City too, it’s a pretty progressive place.You need a warrant to enter offisah
>>5998434>>5998787Bug out, the jig is up!>>5998464>>5998783>>5998821>>5999039There's no reason for the cops to go inside the apartment, meet them in the hallway. Bluffing (not aggressively) wins, writing.
There’s no time to buy time, so you take a deep breath, center yourself, and slap your cheeks a couple of times to make sure you’re focused. Shooting a look back at your bedroom door to make it’s still shut, you smooth out your top, let out that deep breath, take in another, deeper breath, and slip out the door like a cat owl squeezing into a picken coop. You shut the door, firmly grasping the handle, and give the cop on the other side your biggest grin. Well, not your biggest grin, but one that seems sincere and innocent. It seems sincere at least. You hope. “Yes?” You say, taking in the visitor. You almost flutter your eyebrows, but dial it back when you see the decidedly unimpressed expression on the police officer’s face. Said officer is a middle-aged woman with jaw-length gray hair swept behind her ears, a pair of long scars running from her right cheekbone to the underside of her chin, and piercingly green eyes. She’s dressed in what looks like the armor of the elite Metalbending Police, though instead of being dark silver accented in steel, it’s black accented in gold, with the police force’s badge embossed on the left side of the breast in gold. Her uniform underneath appears to be the standard slate one. When her neutral-bordering-on-judgemental expression turns into a full-on sneer, you keep talking. “Um, yeah, I’m Ainu,” you tap lightly on the door, your smile faltering, “what seems to be the—” you wisely stop yourself before saying ‘problem’. “What brings you here, officer…” “Chief,” the older woman corrects, and you feel your mouth dry up. “Chief Beifong,” Lin Beifong, you know. The first police chief (and first metalbender)’s daughter, she’s somewhat famous, both by virtue of that, by being the head of Union City’s entire police force, as well as one of the world’s preeminent metalbenders, and being deeply connected to the United Federation’s military. “I would have sent someone else regarding this, but,” she exhales sharply through her nose, “honestly, I wanted to see you for myself.” “You? You wanted to see… me?” You might be even more confused than when Itiqqa first wrapped her hand around yours yesterday, “why?”“That’s not important,” Chief Beifong’s nonanswer comes in a much harsher tone than her already almost-hostile initial interaction with you. “Here,” she draws an envelope, manila chased with gold, from under her cuirass, “you were wired a substantial amount from Kyoshi Island yesterday. You never picked it up at the District Bank.” >(1/2)
You let out a sigh of relief, then blush, then facepalm. In the excitement of the day yesterday, you completely forgot to get the check that had most of your savings in it. Gingerly, you take the envelope from Chief Beifong, realize that you have no pockets in your pajamas, and awkwardly hold it. “The bank could’ve sent a courier,” you say, face still pink. “If you weren’t here it would have turned into a police matter anyway,” the police chief tells you. “This isn’t a simple delivery either,” that makes you wish you could take that sigh back in, but if she knew about Itiqqa you would be bound in cables and your front door would be kicked in by now. “Like I said, I wanted to see you,” she folds her arms behind her back, taking a step back but looking you over with an even more discerning eye. You almost feel like a police cadet, “it’s been a long time since someone moved from Kyoshi Island to my city,” that gets you to raise an eyebrow. “I know how things work there, and I know who you are,” her frown deepens at that, “don’t expect anymore special treatment after this, don’t even consider this special, it was my own damn curiosity. Got it?” >[1] Got it! Great, thanks, you’re on the same page then! You don’t know what crawled into her craw and died, but you don’t want problems from someone that high up in Union City and the United Federation as a whole. Thank her for bringing you your money though, you really did need that.>[2] You never asked for special treatment! It doesn’t matter if your dad is the Governor of Kyoshi Island who your grandfather was to the United Federation or who your mother’s whatever-times great-grandmother was. You’re just here to get away from everything and maybe, if you’re lucky, become a great earthbender. >[3] Having some idea of what her problem is, you know that it isn’t with you. Point that out, you’re stressed too! You can lash out too! Hell, it would be more appropriate, considering you’re a teenager. Don’t say anything that’ll get you in trouble, but you still want to vent. >[4] She’s clearly mad, not at you, but at something relating to you. Do your best to shmooze her up and agree with her, she’s one of the most famous earthbenders, and a metalbender to boot! If you can get her to agree to teach you, or at least find you a teacher, that way you won’t need to find another master or go to the universities. (Will have a roll)>[5] Say something else (Write-in, may have a roll.)>(2/2) Going to try out a new dice system the next time we have to roll.
>>6000993I would like to say I knew this was just going to be a bait fake-out, since if they actually suspected us of having Aang's, er, niece, they would've busted in the door, but if I wasn't confident enough to say it before the update for fear of being wrong, I certainly don't deserve any credit nowVenting is dangerous since we could let something important slip, and though I'd like her to know we never wanted special treatment, telling that outright to her face is probably going to piss her off more, so I'll go with a>[1] Got it! Great, thanks, you’re on the same page then! You don’t know what crawled into her craw and died, but you don’t want problems from someone that high up in Union City and the United Federation as a whole. Thank her for bringing you your money though, you really did need that.Too risky to schmooze to try to get her to be our earthbending master right now in my opinion, we got a way better plotline going anyway (also metalbending is semi-lame, I like the traditional full on just earthbending the most)
>>6000993>>[1] Got it! Great, thanks, you’re on the same page then! You don’t know what crawled into her craw and died, but you don’t want problems from someone that high up in Union City and the United Federation as a whole. Thank her for bringing you your money though, you really did need that
>>6000993>[1] Got it! Great, thanks, you’re on the same page then! You don’t know what crawled into her craw and died, but you don’t want problems from someone that high up in Union City and the United Federation as a whole. Thank her for bringing you your money though, you really did need that.
>>6000999>>6001128>>6001402>>6001414Unanimous. Writing.>Aang's, er, nieceUh, any of Aang's siblings (which he probably had, given how relationships (didn't) work among the Air Nomads), would be so long-dead that any of their children would be as old as Pathik was in ATLA. I guess Sokka could have kids that young, if he really wanted to.
Going to try out a new dice system the next time we have to roll.“Got it,” you say, reconsidering a peppy salute early enough that your hand barely twitches at your side. Chief Beifong notices, her eyes narrowing at the motion. “Sounds like we’re on the same page then,” you continue, shifting towards the doorknob. “Really I just want to keep my head down while I’m here, you won’t be seeing any problems from me,” you don’t know why she’s so pissed off, but you’re serious that you don’t want to cause any trouble. “Thanks again, for um, this,” you tap the check against the door, “I do appreciate that.” Chief Beifong just snorts, “just stay out of trouble kid.” With that, she turns on her heels, sends you one last icy glance, and marches down the hall. As soon as she’s gone, you duck back into your apartment, let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding in, and collapse onto the couch, clutching the majority of your money to your chest. Silently, you thank the creaky wooden floors of the building, remembering why someone like Chief Beifong wouldn’t be wearing shoes. After a few moments calming yourself down, you put the envelope on the counter, pick out an outfit from inside your luggage, and lay it out on the couch. Then, after a quick stretch you lightly knock on your bedroom door. “Itiqqa pssst,” you press your cheek to the door, voice barely above a whisper, “it’s fine, they were just here to give me something I forgot yesterday.” You can’t even hear Itiqqa cross the bedroom before she unlatches the door. You almost fall through when she opens it, only pulling yourself back in time thanks to your trained reflexes. The Water Tribe girl, with her hair down and dressed in her clothes from yesterday, sans jacket, looks around the room like a jackalope peeking out of its burrow after a buzzard-wasp passes overhead. Seeing that you aren’t lying (why would you?), the younger girl opens the door fully and buries her face in her hands. You can’t help but notice that the bedroom window behind her is open. “Th-that was it?” She forces a laugh, but it’s unconvincing, “I-I know things aren’t, there are problems in the city.” It seems that she realizes something, because she puts her hands back to her face, “and here I am causing even more problems!” “Hey, hey,” you hoverhand her, knowing that contact, even as light as patting her on the back, would make her jump. “Being one more runaway in the city isn’t causing any big problems, just try to relax.” She silently shakes her head, taking in a few more shaky breaths before she lets looks up at the ceiling. “I can’t,” she sighs, “sorry.” >(1/2)
“That’s nothing to be sorry about,” your mouth flattens into a concerned line. “Why don’t you just stay here and do your best to relax? I have some things I have to get done today.” The younger girl nods. “Is there anything you want me to bring back? Part of my errands is picking up groceries.” “Maybe some eastern peninsula bean curd?” Your guest asks with a bashful smile. “Extra spicy, if you can find it.”“Sure,” she won’t owe you for that one, you don’t want to add anything else to the girl’s plate, it seems full enough as-is. Almost an hour, you’re exiting the nearest branch of the University District Bank, grumbling to yourself. Opening an account was much tougher than you expected, given the teller’s skepticism at you having the amount of money that you did at your age, and with your only form of ID being your visa (which you learned was stamped incorrectly, given Kyoshi Island’s attitude regarding Ba Sing Se). But eventually, through talking to the manager and providing proof that you were who you said you were, as embarrassing as that was, you managed it. Now, standing on the front step of the bank with a pocket full of colorful United Federation bills, you resolve to stuff your fans at the bottom of the chest in your bedroom. Passing through University Square, with its central fountain, you wonder why you didn’t just go to the bank’s main branch, given that you had to go past it to get your groceries. Probably because you didn’t want to admit you’d forgotten an entire wired check there yesterday. Behind the fountain, in front of the main gate of Union City University, the youngest but largest educational institution in the city, there’s a stage set up with a considerable crowd in front of it. The crowd is mostly young people, from around your age to their mid-twenties, with people from seemingly all ethnic backgrounds in attendance. Their attention is pretty rapt on the speaker, a slightly older man with mutton chops in brown and gray, wearing a cream headband with a character on a red circle in the middle of it. You figure that the character, which you can’t make out at this distance, is the same as the one on the same-colored banners that are hung from poles on either side of the stage. Squinting, you can make out that the character stands for ‘equal’ or maybe ‘level’. It definitely doesn’t mean ‘peace’, given how impassioned the speaker seems to be. >[1] Stop and listen. You heard some vague things about the social issues facing the new, fifth nation, but you haven’t experienced them firsthand. >[2] Ask someone in the crowd what’s going on? If it’s something to do with the universities you want to know, and if it isn’t you live in this area, so it’s probably best if you do know. >[3] Continue about your day, if it turns into an actual problem it won’t be yours. >[4] Something else (Write-in)>(2/2)
>>6002628>>[1] Stop and listen. You heard some vague things about the social issues facing the new, fifth nation, but you haven’t experienced them firsthand.
>>6002628>>[1] Stop and listen. You heard some vague things about the social issues facing the new, fifth nation, but you haven’t experienced them firsthand.If possible, move to the front as well
>>6002628>1
>>6002628>[1] Stop and listen. You heard some vague things about the social issues facing the new, fifth nation, but you haven’t experienced them firsthand.
>>6002628>>[2] Ask someone in the crowd what’s going on? If it’s something to do with the universities you want to know, and if it isn’t you live in this area, so it’s probably best if you do know.
>>6002628>>[3] Continue about your day, if it turns into an actual problem it won’t be yours.
>>6002628>[2] Ask someone in the crowd what’s going on? If it’s something to do with the universities you want to know, and if it isn’t you live in this area, so it’s probably best if you do know.I'm always scared of cults, since they can turn rational human beings into insane people in seemingly no time at all, merely through the use of clever language
>>6002850>>6002895>>6003016>>6003186>>6003239A schizophrenic racist is talking, listen and learn.>>6003505>>6003575What's going on? You need to know if this is going to be a problem for you.>>6003552>pours oil down sinkNot my problem!Voting is closed, expect the update tonight.
>>6003575I love cults, since they can turn rational human beings into insane people in seemingly no time at all, merely through the use of clever language
>>6003630I hope we can join the insane anti-bender cult!
>>6004025Yeah I'll try not to do heel-turns as bad as Hiroshi Sato or Amon or Tarrlok in the quest though. Wow there were a lot of bad twists in Book 1 of Korra. I'm not watching it, but watching someone else watch it the first half of Book 2 of Korra isn't terrible, aside from starting to rape the lore of spirit world and how directionless most of the characters are (Korra being retarded is in-character for her so it's fine). Someone really dropped the bag on the second half of that season, Unalaq doesn't have as much wasted potential as Amon but he has more than Kuvira or Tarrlok.>>6004070Anon... you're a bender.
>>6004078We don't have to be filthy benders for much longer :)
Curious, you stop and shuffle into the crowd so you can hear what the speaker is saying. “—the tyranny of benders!” Stops you in your tracks, somewhere in the middle of the crowd, and you stand and listen. The crowd isn’t too dense, so you’re not shoulder to shoulder with people and you’re relatively comfortable. A pair of what look like university students, likely a couple, based on their body language, are whispering to each other about the rhetoric. The girl seems taken in by it, while the guy seems skeptical. “Benders have caused all of the wars in living memory! Even the Air Nomads, characterized as wise and noble, are not blameless!” There are a few murmurs from the crowd at that, listeners who remember their early schooling on the Air Nomads and the Hundred Year War, nevertheless, nobody speaks up. “Even a nation of benders, so in-touch with the spirits, ignored decades, decades! Of military buildup from the Fire Nation!” That one gets mixed confusion and, surprisingly, agreement. “Because they saw themselves as above the other three nations, just as benders see themselves above the rest of us, the non-bending masses! The United Federation Council, all of them benders, do nothing about the problems facing this city!” More of the crowd reacts to that, both shouting dissent and loudly agreeing with the speaker. “For nine months, a killer has stalked these streets, committing cold-blooded murder like clockwork, and the Council has done nothing but turn over non-bender homes and businesses!” He drops the megaphone from his face to inhale, before raising it again, “instead they investigate us Equalists! They stake out our rallies, they harass us in the streets!” He drops the microphone again, though this time it’s to spit exaggeratedly onto the stage next to him, “as if there was any connection! We are merely a distraction, a justification for the politicians, married to the countryside elites and beholden to foreign nobles, to destroy the lives of those in the way of their agendas!” That doesn’t sound… right, it just sounds like rhetoric. “This city’s own businesses are frozen out and spurned for contracts from the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom! The jobs and lives of the people, not only of this city, but of this country, are being stolen and ruined by greedy politicians who sell out to an isolationist island nation which thumbs their nose at the world and a despotic police-state held up by benders!” >(1/2)
That seems to play well to the crowd, and the couple next to you is engaged in a full-blown argument, loud whispering audible when the speaker isn’t talking. You just feel increasingly uncomfortable, you don’t know a ton about the situation in the wider Earth Kingdom, except that it is pretty bad. “And complicit in this, the government’s moralist shield. Answer me this, people; can a man, objectively, govern two nations and have the best interest of both at heart?” Various answers, mostly “no” or “who cares” rise from the crowd, which is still mixed in feeling, though much more fired up than when you wandered into it. Undeterred, the speaker continues. “Can you believe it?” A young male voice says, in a tone where you almost think he’s speaking to himself. Turning to your right, you see a teenager, maybe two years older than you, has made his way to your side. He’s looking at the stage impassively with his hands in his pockets. He’s a bit taller than you, though not by too much, you’re on the tall side for a girl, with lighter brown hair (a few strands of which are dusted onto his chin), more common in the northern Earth Kingdom than anywhere else, naturally angled eyebrows that are somewhat bushy at the ends, and the lightest gray eyes you’ve ever seen. His bone structure is pretty sharp too. He’s wearing a two-tone gray tunic with dull orange pants, and there’s a canvas bag slung over his right shoulder. “I mean,” his expression darkens, “throwing all of that blame on the Air Nomads, and making villains out of benders. It’s just a circumstance of their birth.” He shakes his head, “two nonbenders have bender kids all the time.” “Yeah,” you’re finding it easier to listen to him than the increasingly-frenzied speaker right now, “neither of my parents were benders.” You have to go back at least five generations to find a bender you’re actually descended from. “Mine either,” the boy says, “I’m Noyon,” he shoots you a casual smile. It’s nice to meet someone reasonable, so you give him a nod and return a genial smile of your own, “I’m Ainu.” “I don’t know about you Ainu,” Noyon scratches his chin, “but I think I’ve heard enough.” His tone for the last bit is surprisingly harsh. You shrug, “why ask what I was thinking though?” “You look like you’re new in town too.” ‘I do?’ You think to yourself. It’s true that you are new to town, but you don’t want to be broadcasting that, even in the nicer parts of town. >(2/2)
>[1] You’ve heard enough too, about these ‘Equalists’ at least, but you may like to hear more about someone who’s also new to Union City.>[2] You’ve heard enough too, and you’d better get back to going about your day. You’re sure Itiqqa is fine, or as fine as she can be, but you’d rather not leave her alone in your apartment for any longer than necessary. >[3] Yeah, you’ve heard enough of this, but ask Noyon if he wants to stick with you, at least for a while. If you stick out enough to be picked out of a crowd you don’t want to become someone’s easy mark.>[4] It’s all crazy, but you kind of want to hear where he’s going with this. Or at least see what happens when the police show up. >[5] Something else (write-in)>(3/2)
>>6005465>>[3] Yeah, you’ve heard enough of this, but ask Noyon if he wants to stick with you, at least for a while. If you stick out enough to be picked out of a crowd you don’t want to become someone’s easy mark.
>>6005465>[3] Yeah, you’ve heard enough of this, but ask Noyon if he wants to stick with you, at least for a while. If you stick out enough to be picked out of a crowd you don’t want to become someone’s easy mark
>>6005465>[1] You’ve heard enough too, about these ‘Equalists’ at least, but you may like to hear more about someone who’s also new to Union City.
>>6005465>[2] You’ve heard enough too, and you’d better get back to going about your day. You’re sure Itiqqa is fine, or as fine as she can be, but you’d rather not leave her alone in your apartment for any longer than necessary.
>>6005489>>6005805Blow this popsicle stand. Not literally though, that would prove the speaker right. >>6005928Stay in the square but move away from the rally.>>6006102Get back to what you were doing, from what you know, there's a nonzero chance your guest is having a panic attack.
>>6005465>>[4] It’s all crazy, but you kind of want to hear where he’s going with this. Or at least see what happens when the police show up.
>>6005465>>[1] You’ve heard enough too, about these ‘Equalists’ at least, but you may like to hear more about someone who’s also new to Union City.
>>6006263>>6006586Voting was closed, sorry.
“I appreciate the help,” you tell Noyon as you leave the store, more than half an hour after leaving the rally. You didn’t learn much about him on the excursion, but he hasn’t robbed or pickpocketed you yet, and he bought his own stuff, which tells you that he’s nice enough. “Do I really stand out that much?” “Nah,” he takes a bite of the moon peach he bought, dabbing at the juices with his sleeve. “I just caught onto you because I grew up here and it’s been kind of a long time since I came back,” he chuckles, “sort of a combination of getting a similar vibe to myself and recognizing what me and my hoodlum friends would’ve seen as a mark back in the day.” “Hoodlums huh? You didn’t grow up in the University District then, I take it?” You always had the highest expectations at home. The governor’s eldest daughter, a Kyoshi Warrior-in-training, the direct descendant of… yeah, there were a lot of standards to live up to. Even if nobody was really pressuring you, it sometimes felt hard to be yourself. The older boy (only a year older than you, you learned) scoffs, “No way, we were all from way at the edge of the city, out by the military base.”“So, are you a bender?” You ask as you shift the bags hanging from your arms, you remember what he said about his parents while you were in the crowd. Noyon stumbles, nearly choking on the next bite of his peach, “Yeah that’s right, I am. You too, right?” “Yeah,” you take his shock in stride, maybe him being a bender had something to do with moving out of the city, or maybe it was because his family was in the military, you don’t really want to pry. “I’m an earthbender, the first one from my family in a really long time. Since Av- since at least the time of Avatar Kyoshi.” He whistles at that, “One of my grandfathers was a bender, he died when I was really young though.” “Sorry to hear that,” you still have three left. “So what kind of bender are you?” “Fire,” Noyon says too quickly. “So, where in the Earth Kingdom are you from?” You still feel kind of bad about lying to innocent (well, you’re not sure how innocent, she is withholding a lot from you, but that seems to be out of nerves) Itiqqa, and you’re not bringing Noyon all the way home, so you don’t see the point in lying to him. “Kyoshi Island,” you say, trying not to sound dejected. “Oh cool,” he says passively. After almost a block of walking in silence, broken only by your companion taking bites out of his fruit, you turn to him. “That’s it? ‘Oh cool?’ Usually people have more to say. They want to pepper me with questions or see my fans,” you really can’t believe he just brushed it off. It’s not that you’re indignant, you’re just surprised. Noyon shrugs, “Yeah, it doesn’t seem like you want to talk about it.” >(1/6 (this one got away from me (in the good way)))
“I don’t not,” you can’t help but blush, “it’s just,” you have to think for a second, “I don’t know what to say, really. Besides all the lines for tourists,” a tinge of disgust slips into your voice, “or bureaucrats from the mainland.” “Using canned lines? Yeah, I’ve had my share of that too,” he finishes his peach, pocketing the pit. You offered to get him a second one, but he turned you down, they were kind of expensive. “Had to prove to the new school and neighbors I was a good kid, you know?” That gets you to laugh at least, “Yeah, that makes sense. Have you reconnected with any of your old friends since you’ve been back?” “Nope, it’s not really what I’m here for,” Noyon sounds somewhat uncomfortable, similar to you a minute ago talking about where you came from. “My mom, she’s trying to get me to do better for myself,” he looks at you, as if for your assurance. It makes sense, so you nod, “and one of my uncles, he works for the White Lotus, over on Air Temple Island.” “Wait really? That’s what those guys are?” You’ve heard of the White Lotus, but you can’t really remember ever seeing them, though you have a foggy memory of men in lavender robes meeting your grandfather when you were really, really young. They weren’t like the soldiers on Air Temple Island though. Noyon nods, “she wants me to see him, to try and get onto the,” he rolls his hand around, “whatever.” “Oh, to be one of the guards?” You ask, and he nods. “I thought it was really hard to get into the White Lotus, but those guys seemed kind of like normal soldiers.” “You’ve been to Air Temple Island?” You nod, “yesterday, I kind of wanted to see the city but not the city city, it’s kind of overwhelming compared to back home.” It’s only half true, and you play it off with a laugh, but you don’t want to go into detail about everything that happened yesterday. “Oh man, lucky you,” Noyon groans, “they shut the island down entirely, tour groups aren’t even allowed on. The only boat that even came across the harbor from that direction was the Air Acolyte junk.” “Wait, they shut it down entirely?” That can’t be good, maybe Itiqqa is the daughter of one of the Water Tribes’ chiefs. You didn’t want to cause an international incident!The boy nods again, “and I really have to get to the island.”“Why not just find your uncle when he comes into the city? I’m sure those guys go into the city sometimes, it can't be much for them to do on the island, it seems like the Acolytes have everything handled.” “It’s just easier to meet him on the island, alright?” He doesn’t snap, but his tone makes it clear that he’s done with the subject. >(2/6)
By now, you’ve reached the block your apartment is on. You say your goodbyes to Noyon, who’s staying almost all the way across the city, on the other side of the massive Silk Road Bridge, then head up to your apartment. Before you can even set your groceries down on the kitchen counter, you have to practically drop them at your feet and slam the door with your foot when you see the state Itiqqa is in. The younger girl is kneeling in front of the couch, head down in the cushions, and taking short, shallow breaths. Naturally, you rush over to her side and put a hand on her back. You didn’t come to this city to be a big sister, but it just comes naturally to you. “Hey, hey,” you put on your best calming voice, starting to rub in circles, “deep breaths, deep breaths.” You know not to tell her to calm down or ask her what’s wrong. Itiqqa’s breath hitches, and she picks her head up from the couch. “I’m- I’m sorry,” she manages to say around a hiccup, “I didn’t know what- what to do, so I tr-” she sucks in a breath, staring down at the tear-stained cushion. There aren’t any more tears at least. “I tried meditating, I know I shouldn’t have.” The younger girl wipes her eyes off with the heels of her palms, and manages to stand up, though she’s somewhat shaky on her feet. “That’s why I’m here, not, um, not here here, in Union City. For sp- for training to be- to fix my spirituality, it-” her lip quivers. “It’s fine, just sit,” you put a hand on her shoulder, and she complies, sitting on the couch with her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands. “It’s really not,” Itiqqa sounds absolutely miserable, “but for now, yeah, I guess. I’m just,” she sighs, looking down at her feet, “I’m not ready.” “Maybe the fact that you can recognize that you aren’t ready means you are,” you try to reassure the younger girl as you put away your groceries. “Oh yeah, I found that tofu you wanted. We can have that for dinner, if you want?”Itiqqa just offers you a weak nod. The sound of rain lashing against the windows of your living room is starting to lull you to sleep later at night. You aren’t happy about sleeping on the couch for the second night in a row, but you felt even worse about making Itiqqa sleep out here, especially after how down she was when you came home today. You’d also like to minimize the chances of someone seeing her when you open the door. Something clatters on the street next to your building, drawing you away from the gateway to slumber, and what sounds like shouting jolts you fully awake. It’s a ways past midnight, you realize as you sit up, and with the rain, not many people would be out or even up at this hour. So, despite your instincts telling you to stay away from the window, you pad across the floor and peek through the window. >(3/6)
The streets are dark, the sparse gas lights illuminating the streets having been shut off several hours ago, both to conserve energy and to avoid accidents, and arc lighting has yet to make its way to the residential parts of the district. Still, you can make out a figure in the rain, slowly making its way down the street. Something else, you can’t tell if it’s another person or a bag of something, is propped up against several trash cans on the edge of the sidewalk. The figure walking down the street stops, and you flinch so hard you almost fall on your butt, but after a beat, they continue on their way, disappearing into the night. Even with the downpour’s gentle noise, you barely get any sleep for the rest of the night. For the second morning in a row, knocking on the front door wakes you up, though this time it’s a lot gentler than Chief Beifong’s insistent pounding. That doesn’t make the headache you wake up with any better. “Oh good, you’re awake,” Itiqqa whispers, already dressed for the day, it looks like she was just about to shake you awake. “They’ve been knocking for a minute now, it—” she bites her lower lip, “it’s awful, the whole street is on lockdown.” You groan, sitting up, “just go into the bedroom, everything’s gonna be just fine.”Once the bedroom door is shut and locked, you flatten down your hair and open the front door. Like clockwork, it’s another cop. This is a normal one though, a younger man in the typical slate uniform and peaked cap of the normal police force, with a light complexion and dark amber eyes. There’s a truncheon at his side, and it looks like he’s trying to keep a serious expression, but his nerves are showing through. “Sorry to bother you,” his voice is even younger than his face, “but we lost several officers in this district last night, so we’re going door-to-door to see if anyone heard or saw anything.” “Actually yeah,” you’re quiet, quieter than you’d normally be, but something about the way the figure last night shook you. Once the cop takes out his notepad, you begin recounting what you saw last night. It isn’t a long story, but you want to give him as much detail as possible without any embellishment. When you’re done, the officer tucks his pencil and notepad back into his pocket, and thanks you. You’re about to shut the door when something falls, loudly, in the bedroom. >(4/6)
“What was that?” The officer holds the door open as you try to shut it. “Nothing,” you try to play it off, “something probably just fell off the dresser when I rushed to get the door. I didn’t sleep too well last night cause of what I saw, you know how it goes.” “Alri—” the officer lets your door go, you hear something (someone, you know) moving in the bedroom. You silently kick yourself. “Look, I’m sorry, but if there’s anyone else in here, I have to question them too,” he says, shouldering into the room. “Wait wait wait,” you desperately try to come up with an excuse, but your brain is fast becoming overwhelmed. The officer gives you a reassuring smile, which comes off as forced with the pall in the atmosphere. With a glance outside, you can see that the rain has tapered off, though the clouds remain overhead. There are also a lot more officers in the street, and what looks like a body bag next to the cans you saw last night. “You don’t have to be embarrassed about a student hookup, it happens all the time around here,” now the officer’s hand is on the doorknob to your bedroom. You can’t even say anything, what he just said to you completely shut down your brain, your face is completely cherry red. “You wouldn’t believe how many reports we get around here about jilted lov—” He stops when he sees Itiqqa on the other side of the door, her eyes wide like a fox antelope on train tracks. Her hands are on the underside of the bedroom window, having just opened it completely. “Wait,” you repeat for what feels like the hundredth time, grabbing the officer’s forearm. With his other hand, he’s pulled a photo out of the same pocket his notepad went into, and you see that it’s of a slightly younger Itiqqa in a heavier jacket, though her hair and expression are the same as the girl in front of you. “Hold on,” he says to the girl in a reassuring tone, “you aren’t in trouble, we just want to get you back—” The Water Tribe native isn’t having any of it, and she springs out the window. From the angle you’re at, you see her form the water on the building’s slick facade into ice, sliding down the surface with one hand and both feet on the wall. >(5/6)
“Itiqqa!” You shout, jockeying to the side of the stunned officer. Recognizing that she’s gone, you take a half step back. Itiqqa may not be in trouble, but you maybe, possibly, probably, almost definitely are. “Hold on,” the officer turns on you. You wonder if he would’ve pursued your guest if he was a waterbender or an earthbender, so you figure he’s a firebender, the bending discipline least represented in the Union City Police force.>[1] Book it! There’s no way you can explain everything without Itiqqa to back you up. Especially after she ran so quickly and with tensions so high. She is so going to owe you after this, even if you still don’t know what she has to give…>[2] Wait wait wait (you’ve been saying that a lot this morning) you can explain! Yeah, definitely, you’ve got an explanation for this that makes perfect sense, and Itiqqa will back you up when they find her, totally. They just have to let you know when they do. (Bluff roll)>[3] Cooperate, that will make them go easy on you, you hope. The fact that a cop got killed right at your doorstep probably won’t help, and you DID promise Chief Beifong you wouldn’t make any trouble. Maybe volunteering to go means that it isn’t making trouble. >[4] Take off in the opposite direction of Itiqqa. There are a lot of cops around, but they’re focused on the murder investigation and you’d bet that finding Itiqqa is going to be a higher priority than chasing after you. She’ll probably vouch for you when (if) they find her, as long as she isn’t too nervous to function. >[5] Write-in (make a plan of it, may have a roll).>Again, going to be changing up rolls the next time we have to roll.>(6/6)
>>6007072>>[1] Book it! There’s no way you can explain everything without Itiqqa to back you up. Especially after she ran so quickly and with tensions so high. She is so going to owe you after this, even if you still don’t know what she has to give…Poor gal's too nervous to function, went with a total stranger to get away from whatever it was going up over there... fishy. Don't like it, we need to get her out of here.Also the idea of ruining the White Lotus' plans by just hanging out with the avatar and being a "bad influence" fills me with IMMENSE schadenfreude.
>>6007072>>[1] Book it! There’s no way you can explain everything without Itiqqa to back you up. Especially after she ran so quickly and with tensions so high. She is so going to owe you after this, even if you still don’t know what she has to give…
>>6007072>[2] Wait wait wait (you’ve been saying that a lot this morning) you can explain! Yeah, definitely, you’ve got an explanation for this that makes perfect sense, and Itiqqa will back you up when they find her, totally. They just have to let you know when they do. (Bluff roll)
>>6007072>[1] Book it! There’s no way you can explain everything without Itiqqa to back you up. Especially after she ran so quickly and with tensions so high. She is so going to owe you after this, even if you still don’t know what she has to give…
