Fandom Avatar: The Exiled Chronicles

[Flutterby]

Yara's head snapped to look at the regent so sharply that her braid hit her shoulder with a near-audible thump.
Back to the Sand Kingdom? Where Queen Rasha was probably preparing her favorite silver platters to hold their heads?
I'm not even an Earth Kingdom citizen. There isn't a single thing, not one tiny reason, to keep the regent from leaving me in the Sand Kingdom with no help. And forget the ol' 'the Avatar will save us, the Avatar will do what's right,' we all know this one would throw us off the airship if it suited her.
And what am I to Queen Rasha? An outside agitator. A Water Tribe invader who helped level her city.. or at least didn't stop it.
If I go back to the Sand Kingdom, I may never see another day of freedom.
What am I supposed to do? Say I had nothing to do with it? Hope that the Avatar is going to smooth this over?

Any hope of that was dashed to pieces as soon as Xiurong started to speak. If they couldn't get past the apology, apparently just the first step in many, well... They were, truly (and royally), screwed.
Yara's eyes moved to the others, flickering between the prince and their resident Dai Li. There was fear in the wideness of her eyes, the paleness of her face, but something resolute in the way her brows tented and lips pressed together.
Yara's flinch away from the fire coming from the Avatar was visible. Her breathing had quickened, alongside her heart beat. She wondered, just for a second, what fainting felt like. And then her hand slowly came to rest on her water skin, and she realized fainting wasn't what her mind was preparing for.
Mentions: // Interaction: . D O V E AI10100 Colorless Spectrum Fletchawk

 

[tamarapasek]

Li who has paid no attention to the man with the stringed instrument felt confused, and somewhat disturbed.

“Sorry” she mumbled before contributing to the foul stench in the air once more. “Thank you for your advice, but I’ll be fine. Please just go back to your music or whatever you were doing before I came.”

She didn’t really mean to sound rude. It was just horribly embarrassing to be comforted by a stranger after you threw up in front of them. She took his advice of staring at the horizon.

 

[AI10100]

B E I F O N G , X U
Interacting with: Flutterby . D O V E Colorless Spectrum Fletchawk
Location: Xu's Airship | En route to the Earth Kingdom​

It made sense, for them to publicly apologize. Even if it was Queen Rasha who had taken their father, the citizens had nothing to do with it. And unfortunately, many were caught up in the destruction of the Avatar when they were trying to escape. There were many ways they could help, fixing the buildings would be a simple matter since they were all earthbenders - or at least they were, Xu supposed he could help in some other areas. Innocent lives were shaken because of their actions. Had it only been Queen Rasha and her troops, Xu would have been less inclined to feel guilty.

Xiurong, however, had different feelings. Vehemently refusing to apologize for her actions, fire flickering in tandem with her emotions, and then soldiering on to call them useless. For a moment, he looked over to Jia to gauge her reaction before returning to the matter at hand. He can handle that one later. He clenched his jaw, tempering the need to snap back at her with a remark that would ultimately go nowhere. It was as if evidence was not collected before she arrived. His sister's arrogance in the matter was blinding. Of course he understood why she was furious. Between pride and their father's kidnapper still unknown, Xiurong wouldn't back down. Unfortunately.

"You cannot possibly blame an entire nation for the action of a few. Queen Rasha may not deserve an apology, but innocent people had been caught up in this entire mess. If anything, they're the ones you- or we, are going to be apologizing to." He pointed out, readjusting his sleeves once again but unbothered by the rising aggressiveness in Xiurong's voice. It was just another normal day. "However, there is still a chance that she holds out father." He turned to Bao. "If she continues disagreeing to an investigation, then we are well within our rights to regard her with suspicion. If she has nothing to hide, then she should allow a harmless investigation."

Xu's eyes wandered over to their other companions - Jia still looked as stiff as a rock to the side and it looked like Yara was having a panic attack and was on the verge of passing out. He knew that look all too well. If this was not such an important meeting, he'd walk over to her and help her through it. Alas, both Bao and Xiurong were there. He locked eyes with her and made a small hand signal but the intention was clear - he'd take care of it. Yara shouldn't have been involved with them in the first place, so he'll make sure she doesn't suffer the consequences of their actions.

 

[Fletchawk]

Bao Rongye
Xu's Airship - Near the Earth Empire Border
Sixteenth Day of the Seventh Month​

The mood of the airship had become unstable from Avatar Xiurong's little tantrum. Considering the reason why Bao was there in the first place, it wasn't surprising to see the waterbender girl flinch away from the Avatar's flames. Bao was accustomed to the presumptuous attitudes of nobles, being himself one, but rarely were they this blindly brazen. Especially to him.

"Not at fault?" Bao scoffed.

He'd intended to point out exactly how it was her fault, but her ludicrous self-righteous assertion instead caused his scoff to uncontrollably build up to wholehearted guffaw, despite his attempts to reign it in. It didn't last more than several seconds, but even when Bao was able restrain his laughter, a humorous smirk remained. To Bao's relief, the Prince had a much clearer understanding of what the circumstances were.

"I don't know what delusional reason you concocted in your head that clears you of any fault of nearly leveling a city, but I'm sure it's just as entertaining as the impudent views you've shared so far." Bao took a deep nasal inhale to clear his expression before returning some of his focus to the prince, "I never dismissed the possibility, but without evidence, there's no way to know for sure. Thanks to the Avatar's ineptitude, it no longer matters if the Queen is guilty or not, as she now has every reason to spite us. Doubly so, since the Avatar refuses to even apologize."

As his gaze turned back fully upon the impudent one, Bao began to close the distance until he was within arm's reach before addressing her in a stern and formal manner, "I had thought the idea was a bit extreme when it was originally suggested, but you've shown me that your arrogance is to such a degree that it can only be considered a liability. Not only to the well-being of those around you, but to the well-being of the Empire as well. If you won't act in the best interests of our nation, then you will no longer be considered a part of it. Xiurong Beifong, you are hereby stripped of your Imperial titles and affiliations, and are to be banished from Earth Empire borders."

Despite his intense stare, Bao let his body relax. He knew at this distance, if she were intent on lashing out, he'd be unable to properly dodge the first strike, but he could at least mitigate some of the blow. Bao was confident he could take it though, and he wanted a reason to physically discipline her for her insolent commentary.

. D O V E | Flutterby | Colorless Spectrum | AI10100

 

[Colorless Spectrum]

Jia Xiaodan

Flames. Jia visibly tensed at the sight of flames, her unmoving composure cracked. Her hands shook at the back, she could feel her mouth go dry as her breathing became heavy. The fire was quick to dissipate but it didn't help in calming down her erratically beating heart and the tightening of her chest.

Her left hand held on to her right shoulder tightly. The sight of the old wound is a reminder of the day when things slowly spiraled down into the gutter. She let out a breath, eyes going to Yara. Watching as her hand reached for the waterskin. She doesn't know the water bender well but Yara will be watched carefully. The woman might do something that would hurt the Prince, she isn't family, she also isn't from Earth Nation after all.

"Xiurong Beifong, you are hereby stripped of your Imperial titles and affiliations, and are to be banished from Earth Empire borders."

The young earth bender has never whipped her head so fast. She looked at Xiurong, a confused look in Jia's eyes, a hint of sadness but she stood still. There was a small frown on her face then bowed her head slightly to hide her eyes with her fringes. There isn't anything she can do, her duty is to the Prince. She doubts that Emperor Beifong would want this but Bao Rongye is the Regent.

She looked over to Xu, trying to figure out what's in his mind. Is he going to defend his sister? Will he let her be banished for the sake of the Kingdom? There were consequences for both actions, and things have been brought between the twins ever since. Jia inched closer to the Prince, like a meat shield in the case of a fight ensuing between Bao and Xiurong.

mention: n/a || interaction: Xiurong BeiFong . D O V E Xu BeiFong AI10100 Yara Flutterby Bao Rongye Fletchawk

 

[Flutterby]

Xu found her eyes. He tried to steady her from across the room with a small gesture and a confident look. She wanted to believe his intention, that everything was going to work out, that this situation would be resolved and they would all be just fine... But she wasn't that kind of person, not even close. Sure, she had been keeping an upbeat attitude on the airship, but that was just because everyone was so freaking stressed and angry all the time and she didn't want to add to that environment... Even though her pessimism was almost always proven correct. Like right now.
Whatever Bao was about to say, to do, the Avatar wasn't going to like. He was too cool and confident. He knew he was going to leave this airship with the outcome he wanted, and it didn't bode well for the Avatar, and therefore her.

At the same moment that Yara quietly opened the waterskin, her jaw nearly followed her stomach through the floor.
Can he even do that?
He certainly seemed to think so. And it definitely wasn't going to be decided with calm, rational, inside-the-airship voices.

As Jia moved toward the prince, water flowed out of the waterskin and just touched Yara's fingertips. What she was going to do with that water.. well, she hadn't decided yet.
In her head, it would be nice to stop the Avatar from attacking the Lord Regent, but she wouldn't be fast enough. She might be fast enough to keep Bao from retaliating against the Avatar, but that didn't strike her as a great idea.
I do not want to be a fugitive of two kingdoms. How much worse can this day get?
Mentions: // Interaction: . D O V E AI10100 Colorless Spectrum Fletchawk

 

[. D O V E]

XIURONG BEIFONG
07 / 16 / 264AG​

Xiurong was merely nine when her father told her the greatest dishonor one could ever receive. He told her that anyone would rather cut their own limbs off than receive such punishment. It was so severe, so disgraceful, that he told her it should never happen to her regardless of anything.

Exiled?

A cold sweat trickled down the Avatar's temple once Bao finished his declaration. A large part of her couldn't believe what just transpired, chalking it up as some sort of a sick joke, because the mere notion of banishing her, Xiurong Beifong, was beyond absurd! Who did Bao think he was!? He was merely the regent! His fancy title paled in comparison to hers! She wasn't just the Avatar, defender of two realms; she was the eldest child of the Emperor, the rightful heiress of the Earth Empire!

Flames of fury raged behind her brown orbs as her face took on a dark expression. It was as though the mink snake with them grew into a dragon, a thousandfold more dangerous. "H-How dare you?" She began, her voice trembling with anger. "Have you forgotten who you're speaking to? I am the Avatar and the princess of this empire! You have no right to banish me!"

Amidst her outburst, she found herself looking at her brother. She didn't really know why. Xiurong has always hated it whenever Xu would open his mouth, but right this moment, as she stared at him with hopeful eyes tipping to desperation, she wished he'd say something- anything!

But alas, Xu never failed to disappoint her.

In the same manner, the Avatar turned to her childhood friend. But just like her master, Jia stayed silent. Xiurong would be lying if she claimed it didn't chip something off her heart. She clenched her fists when the Dai Li averted her gaze and inched closer to Xu. To Xu, as if he needed her protection right now.

USELESS! ALL OF THEM WERE USELESS!

Her eyes began flickering into pools of white as her Avatar State threatened to come out, but Xiurong managed to contain herself this time. She instead let out a bitter laugh as she flung her attention back to Bao. "You know what? Fine! I don't need any of you." That was right. She didn't need any of them. They needed her. She was the Avatar. In due time, they would be crying for her help. They'd be crying! CRYING!

But not her. No. Xiurong never cried. Because unlike them, she wasn't weak.

With that, Xiurong brushed past Bao, firmly bumping the regent with her shoulders, before stopping in front of Yara. Without any word, she picked the healer and carried her over her shoulder, like a sack of potato, before sharing a look with Nightwing. In a flash, the Avatar made a run for the exit and jumped into the open air. The griffin instantly followed, circling the sky once before swooping in to catch them with its back.

Xiurong adjusted herself on Nightwing's back, setting Yara down in front of her a moment later. "I know you're scared of heights, but I don't really care. Just close your damn eyes and don't say a thing." She barked, for she didn't want anyone to see her breaking.

Flutterby Fletchawk AI10100 Colorless Spectrum

 

[Flutterby]

Yara would have liked to claim that the next few moments happened in slow motion, that she saw each and every detail in neat, chronological order due to her honed perception and resilience in times of peril. Instead, she was reminded that she didn't have those combat-sharpened skills, and only noticed two things before Xiurong swept her up.

She saw, or maybe sensed, the moisture on Xiurong's temple. The sweat beading on her skin. It clung there until the Avatar's anger shook it loose, and it slid downward toward her cheek.
The amount of emotion in Xiurong's voice was so great that Yara was compelled to avert her eyes. Whether it was because she found it frightening or because she didn't want to watch someone go through one of the worst moments of their life.. well, it didn't matter anyway.

The next thing she saw was a soft white flash, coming from Xiurong. The Avatar state was rising again, and in the moment before it was under control, Yara drew more water out, enough to cover her hand. There was less in the skin than she remembered, and it was her glance down to check it that was her undoing.

In the heartbeat that she looked down, Xiurong had pushed past Bao, stopped in front of Yara, and scooped her up.
"Hey!" She yelped, "What do-"
Her protests dissolved into shrieking gibberish as her worst nightmare came into reality. They were flying off the airship, leaving the very bare minimum of safety behind, plummeting to the ground, about to be dashed to pieces in the middle of nowhere, in the driest, most horrid place-
They had stopped, rather suddenly, and the sounds coming out of Yara did too. Xiurong arranged her on the back of Nightwing, demanded the healer keep her fears to herself.
As Yara clutched onto Nightwing and squeezed her eyes shut, she only groaned out, "You're going to kill me."
Mentions: // Interaction: . D O V E AI10100 Colorless Spectrum Fletchawk

 

[AI10100]

B E I F O N G , X U
Interacting with: Flutterby . D O V E Colorless Spectrum Fletchawk
Location: Xu's Airship | En route to the Earth Kingdom​

"Xiurong Beifong, you are hereby stripped of your Imperial titles and affiliations, and are to be banished from Earth Empire borders."

"What-?"

Xu stared at Bao, for the first time in the entire exchange, his passive look faltered and only left pure shock. This... wasn't supposed to happen. It shouldn't even be allowed. Bao was a regent. He only had temporary power. To banish not only the Avatar but his sister, his older sister, the daughter of the ruling monarch. And yet the man dared to call it for the best interests of the kingdom. He did such a thing without Xu's approval.

No. No. He couldn't allow this to happen. Bao cannot banish Xiurong. He wouldn't allow it. There were other ways they can deal with this. They didn't need to exile Xiurong. He was the crown prince - he had every right and power to weigh in. He just needed to talk. He needed to smooth things over and they can all think of a way to-

"You know what? Fine! I don't need any of you."

"Xiurong wait-" He called out, moving towards her but she scooped Yara up and ran for the exit. "Xiu!" Xu called out, completely throwing out all formalities he had been using, as he rushed towards the door only to see Nightwing already taking flight to the other direction. He slammed his fist against the doorframe. "Fuck..." This was not in any of his contingency plans. He could have predicted this scenario but he didn't prepare for it and the thought infuriated him.

Nightwing was a fast steed and he watched as they grew smaller over the horizon. His hand slowly opened, drumming against the metal. He closed his eyes and for a moment, he was in his lab. Peaceful. Everything was under his control. Calm.

"Lord regent." He regarded Bao with cold calmness as he turned around to look at him. "You claim to be in the position with the best interest of Empire, correct?" The question was completely rhetorical as he continued on, walking towards the wheel of his airship. "Your service and loyalty to the Empire is admirable. But you seem to be mistaking your temporary position as something more than it is." For a moment, he paused. Had Xu been a year older, this would not be happening. Funny, how things work out.

"There are better methods than making an enemy out of the Avatar. The title may be more of a formality and tradition at this point, but maintaining good relationships with the Avatar is also in the best interest of the Empire. Finding our father is also in our best interests." He looked at his bow that had been beside his wheel. He entertained the idea of it but it wasn't like he would win in close combat with someone with more experience than him. No doubt, Bao would win in combat. "The Avatar is very hardheaded. Prideful, no doubt. Insufferable to live with in the rare moments that she's home." The delivery seemed annoyed yet it doesn't seem to reflect in his eyes.

"However, this is the kind of decision you do not get to make without consultation, especially in my presence. Perhaps you forget, lord regent, but I am still crown prince of the Earth Empire."

 

[Fletchawk]

Bao Rongye
Xu's Airship - Near the Earth Empire Border
Sixteenth Day of the Seventh Month​

Part of Bao was a little disappointed at the Avatar's reaction. He wanted test himself against the famed strength of the Avatar, but his proclamation seemed to take the fight out of her. Bao would've preferred it that she argued, that she fought back in a way that showed more back bone, anything other than spitting petty words and ultimately accepting her fate. Xiurong's actions only served to confirm that his course of action was correct.

Bao shifted out of her way when she attempted to should check him, as he'd lost interest in fighting her. He'd already won, and had no intention of being targeted with such pettiness. Taking a step forward, he almost intervened when the Avatar shouldered the waterbender, Yara, but he reminded himself of her dossier that he read on the way to intercept the group. She was assigned to the Avatar, to ensure her health. While surprised, she didn't fight back, or call for help.

As expected, the Crown Prince was disturbed by what had occurred, and Bao knew that the Prince's frustration didn't just simply disappear when he collected himself, as it tainted the tone of his objections. Bao remained stoic until he was was sure that Xu was done berating him.

"No, Your Highness," Bao said, his voice and body relaxing now that it was just him, the Prince, and his attendant, "I have not forgotten how temporary my position is. In fact, I'm very aware that the punishment that I issued will mostly likely be reversed when either you ascend or His Majesty returns to the throne. Don't be mistaken in thinking that I did this to make an enemy of your sister, as the only other remaining course of action would've been to face a tribunal of nations called by the Queen Rasha. While, yes, she is banished from the Empire's borders, she is still able look for his Majesty instead of being detained somewhere. She better learn from this and correct that sense of entitlement as well."

The Regent scanned the area again, more in depth this time, as he was no longer worried about potential attacks. Not that he didn't considered the two individuals to be threatening, as he most certainly did, but the Prince was the cooler head of the Beifong twins. And his attendant would follow his lead. Deciding to sit down, Bao stretched out a bit and made himself comfortable.

"As for why you weren't consulted on your sister's punishment is simple. You were there, and personally involved. By your own words, your negotiations failed, and you all took it upon yourselves to investigate against the wishes of the Sand Queen. Now, unfortunately, this mess is going to being a considerable drain on the Empire's resources, and our relations with other world leaders is now mixed at best. Which makes it more difficult to look for His Majesty outside our borders."

The inside of the airship was expensive, not gaudy like the one he'd just left, but there was top of the line tech scattered throughout the cabin. The boy certainly liked his toys, Bao noted. He mused that it wouldn't be surprising if it was from the Prince being unable to bend while his twin was the master of all four elements.

Turning his attention onto the other soul on the airship, Bao thought back to the largely blacked out dossier on Jia, and to her father, the man he'd been working closely with over the past several months, "Your father wanted to come, but it was decided that he'd stay behind to keep on top of the search for His Majesty, among other things. He's an annoying opponent to spar with."

Interaction: Colorless Spectrum | AI10100
Mention: . D O V E | Flutterby

 

[Entity.Eclypse]

Taka
Mentions/Interactions: tamarapasek ​

After hearing her speak, Taka made sure to move a small distance away to ensure that she wouldn't feel overcrowded. "You do not need to apologize to me. If anything, I should apologize for invading your space." He took a moment to give a respectful bow. "Sorry for that, I'll keep from troubling you further. Hope you get to feeling better." His voice was kept quieter, as not to draw more attention than necessary. As if on queue, he turned on his heel and began to walk off into the crowd of passengers. There had been no doubt in his mind, he had made that far more awkward than it needed to be, and for that, he would mentally berate himself. But that would have to wait until he found a more appropriate place, one that felt more right for such a thing. Occasionally he would meet the glance of other seafarers as he passed by, he could tell that each of them was glancing upon him with repulsion, perhaps they even thought he was a bother. Regardless he smiled to them, giving a courteous nod, and pressed onwards until he made his way to the aft of the ship.

It was surprisingly spacious back here, so much so that he wasn't sure if anyone else was back here. Not that he could blame them, the front of the ship did have the best view while they were in port, though it was worrisome to bring small children near the railing. Compared to the cacophony of noise that made up the front of the ship, back here he was... alone, an all too familiar sensation. A solemn smile came to his face at the thought of it, but he couldn't allow any further than that. Taka took caution in bringing the ruan around and maneuvering it into a more natural position in his arms, that of a resting position, as his eyes closed. Slowly he released a heavy sigh and leaned his back up against the railing of the ship, he'd woken up not four hours ago and it seemed that he was already causing difficulty for others.

Had a wall been behind him, he may have hit himself against it. But as he went to so, he found himself slowly tipping back over the railing and down towards the small waves, and rocks, that came to the port. The change caused his eyes to snap open as he lurched forward and steadied himself on foot, his body making haste to clear some distance between itself and the railing. He came to a stop soon after the initial jolt, but it was still enough for him to realize that he was making a fool of himself... again. "Maybe I should wait in the car until this trip is over..." He muttered to himself, slowly brushing his fingers along the strings of his instrument. This time when he went to lean against something, he was met with a wall rather than the railing. He pressed himself into it, allowing himself to slack against its support. Once again he began to just strum something on the instrument, something to accompany the sounds of waves crashing against the shore. Given the nature of the sound, he decided to finish the verse that he'd stopped at prior, "The sea it seems, so large to me. But to the waves, I'll go." After finishing the line his voice fell silent, leaving only the sounds of the ruan playing in accompaniment to the untamed sea.

 

[. D O V E]

XIURONG BEIFONG
07 / 16 / 264AG​

"I'm not going to kill anyone!" Xiurong quickly snapped which elicited a loud squawk from Nightwing. She couldn't fathom the fact that everyone seemed to only look at her as a menace. She was the Avatar- damn it! She was supposed to be the symbol of peace and balance, so why did everyone have to look at her as if she was some sort of world threat instead? "I told you to just shut up, didn't I?" She followed with knitted brows, hands balled into tight fists.

She should've fought that idiot Bao. She could've dueled him for her rights, and she knew for a fact that he wouldn't stand against her. He might be a high-ranking officer before he became regent, but she was the Avatar. She has been saving people ever since she was whisked away by the White Lotus. So, why? Why didn't she fight for herself? Why did she suppress her power?

Xiurong recalled Xu and Jia's faces. She knew if she continued with Avatar State then she would've lost control again. She would've ripped that airship into pieces. She didn't know who would've been able to survive. Truth to be told, Xiurong didn't want to hurt anyone.

With a deep breathe, she pulled her knees to her chest and averted her gaze from the healer. She stared at the fat clouds on the azure skies, the morning rays hitting her copper skin as she wondered what was in store for her. She didn't want to accept it, but she was an exile now. Her father would surely be disappointed if he heard about this- if not, angry. Xiurong liked to think those feelings wouldn't be directed at her. Instead, they would be directed at the joke of a regent named Bao and her useless twin, Xu. The two of them were probably laughing right now, patting each other's backs for a job well done. Maybe even Xu's slipper, Jia, was cracking a triumphant smile right now.

"Hey you, Yara, I'm giving you permission to speak now." Xiurong said as she crossed her arms and huffed. "You're not really the best gauge out there, but rate my Avatar performance from one to ten."

No, she wasn't desperately seeking out validation or a fix-it to her damaged ego. Besides, they have plenty of time to waste until they reach Republic City's borders.

Flutterby

 

[Colorless Spectrum]

Jia Xiaodan

"You know what? Fine! I don't need any of you." Those words made her feel numb. Jia watched the Avatar snatch Yara like some sack, leaving her in shock. Felt like it all happened too fast. She could feel a bead of sweat roll down her neck. And then they went out of the ship, she stepped forward with a hand reaching out as Xu passed by her to follow them.

She didn't think that Xiurong would just run away. The distancing figure of her former friend, once again and just like that time from before, she didn't do anything to fix their friendship. It unnerved her. There wasn't and there was nothing that she could do.

She watched Xu regard the Regent harshly, going back into position. Straight posture, chin up, hands at the back and feet together with a neutral look on her face. She hadn't noticed that she'd calmed down by then, barely. Her hands were still shaking slightly.

Much like the Crowned Prince, Jia doesn't approve of Bao's decision. It seemed disrespectful to Xu, and she didn't like that. The Prince was good with his words, politics. She'd been by his side for a long time and she knows what he is capable of, even if he has his tendencies to self-destruct. It was the one thing she hated about the other twin, his tendency to harm himself.

Bao turned his attention to her. She could feel his gaze but didn't respond until he spoke with her directly. Her muscles tensed at the mention of her father wanting to come. She was glad that he couldn't. "He is one of the greatest earth benders of this generation, Lord-Regent."

She spoke the truth and at that same time, she wondered where her father was at the time the Emperor was abducted. "He trained rigorously me since I was a young child. Aspiring for me to be the best and become the next head of the Dai Li." Her voice has little to no sign of emotion, looking at Bao with guarded eyes.

mention: Xiurong BeiFong . D O V E Xu BeiFong AI10100 Yara Flutterby || interaction: Bao Rongye Fletchawk

 

[AI10100]

B E I F O N G , X U
Interacting with: Colorless Spectrum Fletchawk
Location: Xu's Airship ​

It truly was a pain - when your emotions and your logic are working against each other. So much so that your opinions clash violently with each other, leaving only a mess in his mind. He still thought it was completely unnecessary to exile Xiurong and he could handle Queen Rasha's wrath. The worst that could happen was he would spend years in jail, as if it was any different from his everyday life. But, once more, Bao had his fair reasoning. Now that she was exiled, the Sand Queen was less likely to just thrown her in jail.

"I highly doubt she won't be followed by the queen's troops." Xu sighed, bringing up his hand and massaging the bridge of his nose. Not to mention, with Xiurong alone while looking for their father, she was likely to just barrel through everything. He hoped that diplomacy was part of her Avatar training but she may not have excelled in that part as she did in just bending the elements. Frankly speaking, he was worried. Without backing of the Empire, she was practically alone. At least Yara was with her but the poor waterbender looked like she was about to undergo three panic attacks at the same time earlier. Maybe they'll find more companions to aid them in their quest.

"With the Avatar's current reputation, I fear for her success in this search. I want to believe that my sister is smart enough to not cause trouble, but it seems to follow her around." Xu pointed out. He glanced at Bao, who had taken a very homely seat on a bench as if he didn't just make one of the most controversial political moves he's ever seen in his life. Bao's cold hard logic doesn't seem to affect his conscience or empathy at all. Xu might have been convinced that the man didn't have it at all. It wouldn't be surprising. Many military generals seem to be like that - hell, even Jia's father was like that. He idly wondered if it was a requirement. It sure seemed like it with how it was testing him for the past few years.

When Bao shifted the conversation to Jia, about her father, Xu instinctively tensed up. No matter how distant they've become to each other, Xu wasn't blind. Still, he willed himself to relax. The man wasn't here, at least. It wouldn't be a problem for Jia. He looked out of the glass window of the airship. Yep, looks like Xiurong wasn't coming back to fight for her case.

"What's your next move, lord regent?"

 

[Flutterby]

Yara flinched when Xuirong yelled back at her. She was far too close and upset for Yara to stifle the reaction. She was all too happy to follow directions after that.
She needed to focus on keeping herself under control. Nightwing's flight wasn't like the airship- there were wings flapping, wind whipping around them, empty air on her fingertips if she stuck out her hand. Being up there was what was going to kill her, not Xiurong.

It was the silence, apart from the wind, is what eventually made her turn to look at the Avatar. She had expected to spend the rest of their flight listening to an enraged rant about the injustice she had just suffered. But instead, it was quiet, and Xiurong seemed to be collapsing into herself. When she did speak again, she asked what might have been the very last thing Yara had ever expected.

Yara stared. If she said the wrong thing, she might end up in free-fall. But.. it didn't feel like a trap. It felt sincere. She wanted to reward that sincerity with kindness, to make this a moment of praise. She could only hope honesty would be the next best thing.

"One." She said, rather flatly. It felt good to not pull the punch for once. In the next instant, her face softened.
"You're not the Avatar yet. Sure you can bend all the elements, but you don't have any of the other skills that make the Avatar more than just a fancy bender. Empathy, cultural understanding.. basic relationship building and courtesy. Even fierce Avatars.. ya know, like Kyoshi or whoever.. they still dealt with others with fairness and respect. You just.. don't. And I don't think you can truly be the Avatar until you do."
She had to stop then, closing her eyes again briefly. Nightwing had dipped, for whatever reason, and it made her stomach lurch.
Mentions: // Interaction: . D O V E

 

[. D O V E]

XIURONG BEIFONG
07 / 16 / 264AG​

Xiurong wasn't expecting much.

She wasn't dumb. She knew nobody could be perfect. Each individual was bound to have at least one flaw. Suffice to say, Xiurong was proud to say she has long recognized her own. Her flaw was rather simple, yet destructive. She was overly trustful. She kept on giving the wrong people the chance to prove themselves, over and over again, only to get disappointed at the end of the day.

Take Yara for example. Xiurong actually thought she'd be smarter, yet here she was; babbling about how she was no Avatar and other trivial things obviously born out of jealousy. Really, Xiurong wasn't expecting much- just a solid nine!

"I get it, Yara." She spoke, voice low while her features softened as though the healer's words led her to a realization. Gently, she took Yara's hands with her own and raised her eyes to the clear sky, a deep sigh escaping her parted lips. With her left foot, she gave Nightwing a tap, a split second after she said: "You're clearly a poor judge of character."

Lo and behold as the griffin swooped upwards into a crescent motion. The movement was too sharp and sudden that its two passengers briskly fell out of its back and onto the open air. The wind felt sharp against the Avatar's skin as she and the waterbender continued plummeting downwards, going faster and faster as every second ticked past. She peered down the vast and golden dominion closing thousands of meter beneath them, feeling adrenaline pump in her system as she kept her hold onto Yara tightly.

Then, halfway through, Xiurong let go.

The Avatar shifted midair and stretched her limbs so that she'd fall slower, bursting into laughter as she watched the healer face her fear headfirst. It was only after a couple of moments when she used her airbending to propel herself past Yara, face her, and catch her with her toned arms. The two of them then continued falling for a few seconds more until Nightwing finally dove behind them.

With a thud, Xiurong landed on the griffin's somewhat soft saddle with Yara on top of her. "You can stop screaming now." She said with a satisfied smile that seemed to be a cross between a crooked grin and an irksome smirk.

Flutterby

 

[Flutterby]

Yara raised an eyebrow, and then two.
She understood? She took her seriously? And now she's... Why is she touching me like this? What is she up-

The waterbender didn't even get to finish her thought before they were airborne. Her mind was filled with terrified gibberish that would not stop coming out of her mouth. There was definitely a great many words her father would find inappropriate, and a lot of "no, no, no."
She fell silent when Xiurong let go of her. She was going to die, and she might as well attempt to have some dignity. Or at least, that's what she would say she was thinking. She actually might've fainted for a few moments. Either way, her eyes and mouth were pressed shut as she waited for the fall to end.

It did, in Xuirong's arms, as they fell back onto Nightwing. Not exactly what she was expecting- but better than death.
As the Avatar addressed her fear smugly, Yara launched herself up and as close to the edge of Nightwing's body as possible. Holding onto the saddle with a quaking arm, she lost every bit of her stomach contents into the empty air. When she was finally done dry heaving, Yara used a bit of her water to rinse her mouth and face. She didn't even look at Xiurong when she said, "Like I said, total lack of empathy and courtesy."

With that, she sat back down, as far away from Xiurong as she could without being near the edge, and waited for her body to stop shaking. Now her stomach hurt, her throat and nose burned, and her head pounded, on top of being stuck on a flying animal with the world's worst Avatar.
I am never working for the White Lotus ever again.
Mentions: // Interaction: . D O V E

 

[. D O V E]

XIURONG BEIFONG
07 / 16 / 264AG​

Xiurong merely laughed at Yara as she came down from the high. There was neither shame nor guilt in the noise; only clear amusement as her eyes shimmered with delight. It has been awhile since she had fun like this. The feeling of adrenaline coursing throughout her body was gratifying, far from the ones she experienced during the Sand Kingdom onslaught and the earlier happenings with the regent.

"Aren't you glad we're in the desert? I'd feel bad if there's anyone walking below." She casually commented as she watched Yara puke her guts out. The healer looked so terrible; Xiurong found it hilarious. It was only after the waterbender was done with her business and muttered something out loud did the Avatar finally realized she was the only one enjoying this.

A frown quickly made its way to her features, her eyebrows knitting together as she watched Yara settle herself as far away from her as possible. Xiurong couldn't understand why, but it wasn't an unfamiliar sight. "Oh grow up, Yara." She repeated what she said an hour ago, when she wasn't an exiled princess and the other a traumatized individual. "It was just a harmless joke. I caught you, didn't I? Now stop overreacting." With a roll of her eyes, she reached out for her hair tie and loosened it, freeing the long strands of dark locks which has been messed up by their little expedition earlier.

She allowed herself to feel the air for a moment, shutting her eyes closed before leaning backwards and completely lying onto the saddle. She tucked her arms behind her head and looked at the passing clouds once again. "Republic City is only a few hours away. We can stay there for a little while until that foolish regent finally realize his mistake and beg for me to come back." Grand Lotus Akil was in Ba Sing Se. Surely, that old man would rebuke Bao for his foolhardy decision. Although it wasn't like the White Lotus really had any say in politics, much less in the Empire.

Xiurong sighed, feeling somewhat stuck. She didn't want to stay an exile forever, but she actually had no idea how to fix any of these mess.

Flutterby

 

[Flutterby]

Yara drew in a deep breath through her nose.
"Oh, I didn't realize being annoyed and wanting space was an overreaction when someone has treated me like a servant since we met.. made me a fugitive from two nations.. physically stolen me from my current home and all my belongings.. and knowingly makes fun of and forces me to experience a very deep fear to the point of making me physically ill. That's a very new perspective to me." She could feel, somewhere deep, anger stirring. But she was so tired, and her stomach wasn't entirely settled. Even if she did muster up some kind of attitude- Xiurong wasn't equipped to understand her point, and no amount of sarcasm would help.

The remainder of her deep inhale came out as a sigh, and the depth of her resignation to her fate was clear in her tone, as she added, "I apologize that my reaction has been an inconvenience and I will take that in consideration as I plan my future reactions to your cruelty."

Yara leaned against the front edge of the saddle, propping her elbow up and resting her brow against her hand.
"I humbly suggest we land near the docks, and that you have a contingency plan for if you remain exiled longer than a few days."
Once they landed, whether near the docks or not, that's where she would be headed. There was always a boat headed south, and she probably looked just pitiful enough to beg her way onto one.
Mentions: // Interaction: . D O V E

 

[. D O V E]

XIURONG BEIFONG
07 / 16 / 264AG​

"You talk too much. I prefer the Yara screaming inappropriate, gibberish nonsense as she bravely faces her fear." Xiurong huffed as she raised one hand to the sky, curling and uncurling her fingers as though she was trying to grasp the morning rays.

Xiurong knew Yara was overreacting. She should know. She went through the exact same thing when she was younger. "You won't believe this, Yara, but even I used to be a wimp like you. Of course not as bad as you, but you get it." She huffed as she allowed her hand to fall back to her side and closed her eyes, basking in what darkness the morning sky could ever offer. "I used to be afraid of the dark. I couldn't sleep without at least a lamp on." It has always been that way ever since she was a child. She could still remember the period of her life when she and her twin used to share a bed, and she'd always beg their mom to leave the lights on. Even when Xiurong finally got her own room and her mother stopped visiting, she would still keep a candle or a lamp on her nightstand. She was that much of a wuss.

"Of course I'm the Avatar so I fixed it. I slept in the darkest room at the White Lotus' camp for countless nights." She proudly added, "Fears are so stupid and irrelevant. You should get yours removed." None of what the Avatar said was a lie, but it wasn't the entire truth either. She failed- or rather, chose not to mention the fact that she was spouting the same pleas as Yara the first few nights the Grand Lotus made her sleep in the basement. She remembered mistaking the Grand Lotus' efforts as cruelty- just as Yara was doing right now- when in truth he only wanted her to get better. Most of all, she remembered calling for Xu, thinking that he'd magically come and help her. It wasn't the proudest moment of her life.

Alas, what was done is done, and Xiurong couldn't really bend time so she might as well move on. "Anyways, I have a contact in Republic City. I'm sure he'll gladly house us. He's stupidly kind like that. His house is not that much of a looker, but he lives near the docks."

Flutterby

 

[Flutterby]

Yara turned her face and looked at Xiurong, no longer surprised or disappointed to find she was being serious, and didn't seem aware of how she sounded right then.
What Yara couldn't puzzle out, and no longer cared to consider for the moment, was if Xiurong was this way because she didn't know what cruelty was or if she knew all too well.

Closing her eyes again, the waterbender simply took another long and calming breath and used the same resigned, tired tone to say, "I will take your advice under consideration. However, I do request you hold off on providing this noble service until we are no longer fugitives, so I remain physically able to assist you, if necessary. I would hate to further disappoint you."

I can't believe she doesn't realize that her arrogance sometimes makes her sound.. unaware of reality, stupid, even. I really hope she isn't actually this clueless. I could use at least one night of sleep before leaving the city.
Please let this contact hold up.
Although.. if he secretly hates her, maybe he'll be willing to house me anyway.
It was only a matter of time, in Yara's mind, until someone presented Xiurong with an uncomfortable idea- that without her royal title, people might be less willing to assist her, Avatar or not. She almost wanted to be around to see it, even though she knew that thought was cruel and vindictive.

"Is the regent supposed to realize his mistake on his own, or are you planning to force his hand?"
How quickly do I need to ditch you to avoid even more trouble?
"It would be helpful to know if you plan to do something violent, so that I can prepare to be useful. Supplies may be necessary."
Are you going to ruin things and make me a fugitive in Republic City, as well?
Was today the worst day of her life? Yes, yes it was. Could Xiurong quickly make tomorrow even worse? Yes, yes she could.
There was something to be said for being emotionally prepared for that.

Interaction: . D O V E

 

[The Prophet]

Maizen Tosuda
Location: Cargo hold of boat
Interactions: N/A​

Snap.

As the large passenger ship rolled over the waves, lurching and dipping at the mercy of the ocean it travelled over, a young man sat in the cargo bay with all the vehicles. Leaning against what seemed to be a motorcycle draped over with a black tarp, the white haired man snapped his fingers slowly and methodically in the relative silence.

Snap.

The youth was a little out of place in the drab and quiet hold, being dressed quite well and having a head of pure white hair. Most people on this ship had muted colors such as brown or black, but this man's hair was a far cry from mute. He looked as if he belonged on a movie set or photoshoot, but in the stale air of a cargo bay. He had attempted to find solace on the deck, but his imagination ran wild, and for someone incapable of something as simple as even staying afloat in the water he was not excited to be stuck at the mercy of the ocean. At least down here he could keep it out of mind and focus on himself.

Snap.

Snapping one last time, Maizen let out a relaxed sigh and opened his eyes slowly. From staring at the back of his eyelids for a time his pale eyes were accustomed to the darkness of the cargo bay, and as he looked around at the various cargo people brought along. There were very few vehicles; besides his own he only saw a car in the corner of the bay room, closer to the doors than he. "How lucky. I should have seen about getting my bike over towards the door, so I could leave sooner." He idky mused to himself more than anyone, and looked about from his spot some more. Mostly present were crates and luggage, but from the stickers in the boxes he was able to get a hint as to its contents. He had to learn more about the land and its people, after all.

Soon the boat would be in Republic City, and he would be free to do as he pleased as long as he learned of the populace and their culture. It was sure to be a mundane task, but with this being his first time without chi blockers to watch his every move he was admittedly excited. If he did this right he could possibly do without them entirely, and could finally regain some more of the normality he previously had in life.

"Wasn't the next avatar from Earth Kingdom? It would be interesting if I could meet them, but I doubt it. I imagine they're filled with some unreasonable sense of virtue and righteousness, travelling the land looking for people that don't subscribe to their version of justice. I'd probably get bored." Maizen fixed his collar and stood up, pushing off from his covered bike. Should he go up now? No, they couldn't be long now. If he was early he could probably wheel his bike out first in-between the other cargo. The ideal plan was to check into his hotel as soon as possible, and to that end it was probably best to make sure he had everything and was ready to show his identification and go off in his own way. His time here was likely to be uneventful, but at least he'd be free to do as he wished.

 

[Fletchawk]

Bao Rongye
Xu's Airship - Near the Earth Empire Border
Sixteenth Day of the Seventh Month​

Even though he had intended to gauge a reaction from the attendant, it was the Prince's reaction to the mention of her father that grab his notice. When Bao's gaze flickered to the Prince, he nearly missed Jia's own restrained twitch. Her words sounded hollow and prepared, as if those were the only words she was allowed to say on the matter. Bao said nothing, as the young woman made no attempt to conversate further, but he made no attempt to hide his raised eyebrow as his focus bounced between them, taking in their reaction. For whatever reason, just mentioning Liu Xiaodan caused this much of a reaction, but the issue would be something to follow up on later. As there was a more pressing issue.

"The plan, your Highness, is to go back to the Sand Kingdom and discuss a great many things with Queen Rasha, such as reparations, before you make a public apology," Bao stated matter-of-factly, "I'll need your presence for the next few days, and after that, I'll manage the rest. So that you may continue in your search for his majesty," He paused and his eyes washed over the airship, scanning for anything out of place, "As you'll need to find replacements for your missing retinue, and it would be rather annoying if you disappeared as well, I'll be escorting you, whether it be on this vessel or the Imperial airship."

Getting to his feet, Bao stretched to relieve the feeling of being stuck in a flying metal box. Airships were not his favorite mode of transportation, as the pack of earth slivers against his back reminded him, since he had carry his weapons on himself. He also wasn't looking forward to dealing with the Sand Queen, but for the Empire, it was necessary.


Colorless Spectrum | AI10100

 

[. D O V E]

XIURONG BEIFONG
07 / 16 / 264AG
​

The waterbender's unnatural shift in demeanor didn't go unnoticed by the Avatar. Nevertheless, Xiurong simply rolled her eyes before closing them again. She couldn't understand why Yara was this upset. It wasn't like Xiurong tried to kill her or something. It was a calculated expedition, and she caught her in the end. None of them was harmed. Sure, she was quivering like the weakling that she was, but it was just a phase. It would vanish soon, and Yara would be grateful for the experience if she found herself in a similar situation with worse circumstance- such as not being with the Avatar.

When prompted with the question, Xiurong raised a quizzical brow. "Good question," she pursed her lips as she contemplated, "I wouldn't be surprised if the regent takes a century or something to realize his mistake. And my dear brother," there was that condescending tone in her voice again, "Spirits know how much he waited for this moment. He's probably celebrating my misery as we speak." Just imagining him smiling from ear to ear was enough to send her blood boiling. She knew he has always been jealous of her, and has been long waiting for her downfall so he could finally get a taste of the limelight. Pathetic!

"But no, I'm not planning on resorting to violence. What do you take me for? A barbarian?" Xiurong huffed, offended. She knew she had her outbursts, but they only happened because she was triggered by stupid people who thought they could threaten her. At the end of the day she was still the Avatar; she was aware of her duties and wished to uphold it. She would show the world just how great she was. "I'm sure they'll come begging for me once a threat emerges in the empire. They've always been nothing but whiny, useless crybabies so I'm sure that won't be too long." She stated in a as-a-matter-of-fact way.

"You know what? You should just close your eyes and mouth then get some sleep. Republic city's still countless miles away, and I'm sure Nightwing would need to make a stop soon. There's a forest by the border where we can pick some berries for him and ourselves." She said before closing her eyes, allowing the cool wind and the griffin's smooth movement to lull her to sleep.

Flutterby

 

[Flutterby]

Yara could only look at Xiurong and hum softly at the appropriate moments, the breaks in her little speech. It occurred to her how little time she had spent actually listening to the Avatar while on the airship. Or rather, how often she had dismissed her behavior as an act put on in front of Jia, or a wall put up between her and her brother.
But sitting there now, she realized that Xiurong really did mean everything she said. She did believe that the regent was a idiot (not a political opponent to be taken seriously), her brother a conniving enemy (not a sibling struggling with their situation), and the entire world weak and envious (not reasonably upset with being treated like dirt).

Yara pointedly did not respond to Xiurong's apparent offense at the suggestion she might force her way back into the Earth Kingdom. Why she found that offensive, given the events of the last two days, she didn't know. She had resorted to force to get into the Sand Kingdom, to get out of the Sand Kingdom, and to have a travel companion in her exile.
What makes taking back the throne any different?

She was all too glad to settle a little lower to the saddle and rest her eyes. Rest her ears, really, but she wasn't going to announce that either. She just needed to get to the city, that was all.
Interaction: . D O V E