Post by Aubrey Pedersen on Aug 4, 2006 1:18:13 GMT -5
Opinions please ;D.
To say that Sokka was confused as he wandered the Fire Nation palace that morning would have been a severe understatement. It was certainly not the same palace he’d gone to sleep in. The many columns had been transformed; they were now wrapped with vines of some kind of flowering plant. Large vases with bamboo, plum blossoms, and pine sprigs had been set up in every corner, and everywhere he looked there were glass jars or dishes containing oranges, tangerines, and several different kinds of candy.
He picked up one of the strange shaped things from one of the dishes and put it in his mouth. He chewed on it slowly, thinking of what it could be.
“It’s candied melon,” said a voice behind him. Sokka turned, a guilty grin on his face, to see Azula standing there with her hands on her hips. As he surveyed the new red silk robe she had on, he really hoped he hadn’t been doing something he wasn’t supposed to. Azula crossed her arms over her chest, and offered him a wicked smile. “Interesting choice, as it means growth and good health.”
“What is all this?” Sokka asked, gesturing to the decorations around, and then to her hair.
Azula reached up, tucking a stray strand back up into the more elaborate-than-usual topknot on her head. “It’s New Year’s Eve.”
Sokka looked over from where he’d been inspecting one of the paper lamps strung about the hallway. “New Year’s Eve? What’s that?”
She raised a delicate eyebrow in surprise. “Surely even people as low on the food chain as the Southern Water tribe measure time in years!”
“Of course we do,” Sokka shot back sulkily. “Ours is much later in the year, though, when the Sun returns from its journey north. We call it Toonik Tyme, and it’s the first day of spring. It’s certainly nothing like this.”
“Apparently,” Azula said, shaking her head at his wonderment. “Didn’t Zuko warn you and Katara about any of this?”
“The Fire Lord was a bit busy for his brother-in-law,” Sokka said, walking over to Azula and leaning on one of the columns. “I bet he did tell Katara, though. After all, the Fire Lady cannot be ignorant of the country’s customs.”
“Of course not,” Azula said, lifting her head proudly. “And neither can you. Go, get dressed.”
“What?”
“Get dressed. The robe is on the bed.”
Confused, Sokka wandered back into his room with Azula in tow. Sure enough, lying on the end of his bed was a robe made of red silk, trimmed with gold and covered in patterns of swirls and dragons. He made a face at it. “This looks Fire Nation.”
“Where do you think you’re living?”
“I’m not a Fire Nation member. I’m visiting my sister.”
“You’re here for our holiday,” Azula said, her gold eyes narrowing, “and you will celebrate it our way.”
One glance toward the Fire Nation Princess, and Sokka could tell she was serious. With an only-slightly-over-dramatic sigh, Sokka snatched up the robe and walked behind a screen. Once assured that Azula couldn’t peek, he began to strip off his shirt.
“Okay, so educate me.”
“Well, today is New Year’s Eve.”
“You said that.”
“I know. Let me continue.”
“Sorry.”
“On New Year’s Eve, the servants will spend the day cleaning.”
To say that Sokka was confused as he wandered the Fire Nation palace that morning would have been a severe understatement. It was certainly not the same palace he’d gone to sleep in. The many columns had been transformed; they were now wrapped with vines of some kind of flowering plant. Large vases with bamboo, plum blossoms, and pine sprigs had been set up in every corner, and everywhere he looked there were glass jars or dishes containing oranges, tangerines, and several different kinds of candy.
He picked up one of the strange shaped things from one of the dishes and put it in his mouth. He chewed on it slowly, thinking of what it could be.
“It’s candied melon,” said a voice behind him. Sokka turned, a guilty grin on his face, to see Azula standing there with her hands on her hips. As he surveyed the new red silk robe she had on, he really hoped he hadn’t been doing something he wasn’t supposed to. Azula crossed her arms over her chest, and offered him a wicked smile. “Interesting choice, as it means growth and good health.”
“What is all this?” Sokka asked, gesturing to the decorations around, and then to her hair.
Azula reached up, tucking a stray strand back up into the more elaborate-than-usual topknot on her head. “It’s New Year’s Eve.”
Sokka looked over from where he’d been inspecting one of the paper lamps strung about the hallway. “New Year’s Eve? What’s that?”
She raised a delicate eyebrow in surprise. “Surely even people as low on the food chain as the Southern Water tribe measure time in years!”
“Of course we do,” Sokka shot back sulkily. “Ours is much later in the year, though, when the Sun returns from its journey north. We call it Toonik Tyme, and it’s the first day of spring. It’s certainly nothing like this.”
“Apparently,” Azula said, shaking her head at his wonderment. “Didn’t Zuko warn you and Katara about any of this?”
“The Fire Lord was a bit busy for his brother-in-law,” Sokka said, walking over to Azula and leaning on one of the columns. “I bet he did tell Katara, though. After all, the Fire Lady cannot be ignorant of the country’s customs.”
“Of course not,” Azula said, lifting her head proudly. “And neither can you. Go, get dressed.”
“What?”
“Get dressed. The robe is on the bed.”
Confused, Sokka wandered back into his room with Azula in tow. Sure enough, lying on the end of his bed was a robe made of red silk, trimmed with gold and covered in patterns of swirls and dragons. He made a face at it. “This looks Fire Nation.”
“Where do you think you’re living?”
“I’m not a Fire Nation member. I’m visiting my sister.”
“You’re here for our holiday,” Azula said, her gold eyes narrowing, “and you will celebrate it our way.”
One glance toward the Fire Nation Princess, and Sokka could tell she was serious. With an only-slightly-over-dramatic sigh, Sokka snatched up the robe and walked behind a screen. Once assured that Azula couldn’t peek, he began to strip off his shirt.
“Okay, so educate me.”
“Well, today is New Year’s Eve.”
“You said that.”
“I know. Let me continue.”
“Sorry.”
“On New Year’s Eve, the servants will spend the day cleaning.”
