[Open] A Relaxing Day

[Tahlae Zou]

The very thought of being unable to learn how to bend was... Painful. Her parents had kept much from her, but they had taken pains to make sure their little princess knew just what she was. Perhaps she wasn't the only unlucky one around.

"They always made sure I knew how to bend. Maybe they were afraid of me hurting myself if I did not or maybe they legitimately wanted me to be able to. I'll probably never know. It is the only thing save for letting me keep Sharae they have done that I am thankful for." It sounded ungrateful, yet it was true. They had never let her play with friends, go out without close supervision, or just be a kid. "I was taught to dance with a partner. They felt that it was important, since they originally intended to display me at parties and gatherings among their friends or higher-ups. Even after they decided I would be married off in order to move the family up in importance I still continued learning the things they had originally intended for me to use as party tricks so they could be complimented on what a perfect daughter they had, even if their daughter looked like a freak."

Her hands shook faintly with a tangled mix of emotions and she paused from her stroking of the dravine's head. She could feel her body temperature rising with the emotions, and she forced herself to breath slowly to try and regain control. She never had to go back. She never had to live that life again, not so long as she chose to be free. That was the important thing. Not the past, and not letting herself get caught up in memories. With the peace she forced through her mind, she cooled and resumed petting Sharae. "I am sorry for that outburst. It was out of place, and I need not burden you with tales of what has been and will never be again." Her head turned fully away from him now, and she stared off into the distance, wondering why, even though she had induced peace, she felt a little like crying. Perhaps the memory of how little her parents had cared about her as a human had done it, or maybe the fact she was sitting on a bench in the park and telling a total stranger hos miserable her life had been. She wasn't sure, and either way she didn't like it at all. Perhaps she should leave now before she said or did anything else to make a piteous fool of herself.

[Lao Shen]

Lao blinked and watched her mood dive further into a bit of anger. He could tell as she recalled more of her past, her irritation grew. For a second, Lao thought that Tahlae was going to set fire to the park. He knew it would be bad if she did since he wasn't sure on the law for bending in the park. The fire bender stretched his arm and draped it over her shoulders, squeezing her shoulder a bit, looking over to her. His face sent the message "calm," but he didn't utter the word until she finished her rant.

"It's alright. Everyone needs to get their irritation off of their chest every now and then. Our companions here are usually on the other side of the monologue, but sometimes... sometimes its better to say these things to another human being. I tends to have a relieving quality to it." Lao smiled and removed his arm, putting his arm back to its position on the bench between the two. His face softened a bit before he looked back ahead, eyeing his dragon moose that was still asleep on the ground. He cleared his throat for a second and let out a rather loud whistle, causing Blaze's head to jerk up and look in Lao's direction.

"That's the only thing he can't sleep through. Well... that and someone touching him." Lao paused for a second and just watched as Blaze rose to his feet and made his way to the other three. Once he was in front of Lao, Tahlae, and Sharae, Blaze lowered himself again at Lao's feet. The fire bender chuckled a bit and shook his head and sighed. "Nothing I can do huh? Tahlae... You came here to forget all that right?" Lao turned his head slightly so that he could show he was waiting on her answer.

[Tahlae Zou]

Her gaze crept back over as an arm was draped over her shoulders in such a familiar manner she nearly freaked out. There was something about the situation which was leaving her a bit calmer than normal. Her entire life, no one acted so familiar with her. It was all respectful, formal, and stiff. She had imagined many a time that the people she met were in grave danger of being snapped in two by a strong wind, and there were times where she wished that it would happen.

Obviously it never would, but still... It had been an entertaining thought once upon a time.

She did not catch the softening of his expression before he looked away, the small, delicate female was busy trying to figure out just why she was alright with being touched in such a friendly manner. Perhaps because it was just that. Friendly. There was nothing forced about Lao Shen, and she liked that quality.

Sharae lifted her head at the whistle and looked at Lao as if debating eating him for a moment, until Blaze came over and settled down. Curious about this, the dravine gave a shrill sound which was similar, but still a long ways off, from a whistle. It was more of a trill pitched high, and it made Tahlae wince and try to cover the dravine's mouth hastily.

"I... I came to this city for many reasons. To forget seems more hopeful than I dare allow myself. I doubt I will ever forget, but perhaps a distraction would be a more apt term." Forgetting really would be ideal. She could possibly be happy, if only she could close her eyes and not imagine a life in the carefully constructed cage of her parents, displayed like a pet for all to see.

[Lao Shen]

Lao caught the look from Sharae out of the corner of his eyes. He didn't pay it much mind, not sure on what to feel by the gaze. As the dravine let out the shrill sound, Lao winced a bit. Blaze lifted his head in response, looking towards the dravine. The dragon moose didn't seem to have any other type of response other than a semi-blank gaze.

Lao watched the woman quietly. She seemed so cold to him. Other than her memories, he had yet to see her give a reaction. At least, a positive one. Was she really that scarred? Lao blinked a bit and looked ahead. A distraction huh.. He thought as he crossed his arms, starting to give into his thoughts. It was a bad habit he had every once and a while. He had done good, not being so over taken by his thoughts. He bit his bottom lip and narrowed his eyes, staring at the ground. "A distraction... Hey! How much of the city have you gone to see?" The fire bender looked to her, the intensity of thought seeming to vanish from his expression completely.

[Tahlae Zou]

Had Tahlae any idea how cold she seemed, not only to Lao but to almost anyone she had met in her entire life, she would be both astounded, and hurt. She wasn't cold, not exactly. She just... She did not understand much of what people did, how they treated each other and how they played and spoke. She just... She just need the walls that had been built high around her shattered, so she could learn what the world really had to offer her.

She arched a curious brow as he asked after how much of the city she had seen. She thought for a moment, before carefully answering. "I have seen the park, and... And the alley that the house I found is located on. Other than that, I have not explored much. We mostly stay out of sight. It... Well it is still hard for the both of us to be in the city. I am afraid of being seen, and Sharae hates being so confined and crowded." She felt bad that her companion had spent any time in a place she disliked. It bothered Tahlae deeply, but she didn't have a choice in the matter just yet.

Something that bothered her more was the 'house' she had found to live in. An abandoned little hovel that reeked and leaked, and had nothing to keep her warm at night. It was a sacrifice she had been willing to make though, to draw no attention to them and to stay safe. It was amusing though... The creature who had been raised as nothing more than property, though of high value, had left her life of luxury which surely many would envy and now spent her nights curled up with Sharae on a cold floor, hoping it wouldn't rain so she could be dry while she slept.

"Did you have something in mind? I wouldn't mind seeing a little more of the place I will have to call home for the time being."

[Lao Shen]

Lao listened to her and rubbed his chin. The park and the alley her house was located in. Why did that sound a little off to him? He chewed the inside of his cheek, thinking over the layout of the city and what where would be the best place for them to tour. They both were fairly knew to the city, but it seemed that Lao had a bit of a head start on her. She didn't seem like the type to get out much. He looked to Sharae and Blaze for a moment, thinking about what they would do with the two while they were roaming the city. He knew for a fact that Blaze was too big to take throughout the city, but he wasn't sure about Sharae.

The fire bender scratched his cheek and nodded slowly. "That's a good way to look at it! Explore your new 'home!' Alright, well I do have an idea, but there's a problem. Blaze can't go through the city freely, we got in a bit of trouble and I don't have a stable to keep him in." Lao's hand went to the dragon moose's head and started to pet the beast affectionately. "So, I have to take him back to my farm in the fire nation. After I get back, We should meet up at the Central Station and take our own mini-tour." Lao smiled after his suggestion, hoping that she would agree. He was glad that she acknowledged the fact that she would want to explore the city some, since it would help his cause.

He looked ahead as the wind started to blow a little. He sighed, enjoying the breeze and watched the sun starting to sink a little. "Wow.. I didn't think it was getting this late.." He spoke as though he was just thinking aloud to himself.