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Post by Aria on May 13, 2012 15:47:13 GMT -5
The weather was beautiful. The air was dry, the grass was green, and there was the slightest breeze flitting through the trees. All in all, it was a nice day.
Except,... I miss the cold. "Never thought I'd think that in my life."
Kana snorted quietly to herself, sitting against one of the short monuments that were scattered throughout the park. She couldn't help but to grin as the small, white rodent squeaked and skittered about the grass, undoubtedly chasing a bug or something. "What about you, Milah? Do you miss the cold?"
The white hamster paused once in it's pouncing, looking over at Kana with a slight tilt of her head, her tail flicking, before she simply returned to her fun. Again Kana let out a soft snort, shaking her head before leaning back against the monument. "Ah well. At least the place isn't overrun with Water Benders."
After a moment, the Fire Bender from the Water Tribes let out a slight sigh. She wouldn't admit it, but she really, truly did miss the cold. And the people. Her friends, her family. You would think that after months of being away from 'Home' and living here, in Republic City, she wouldn't be quite as homesick as she was in the beginning.
Fact of the matter was, she was gradually becoming more homesick by the day. There was nothing holding her to the City. No friends, aside from the little White Hamster, who honestly didn't count. No job to speak of, no fancy home. Just a little apartment in one of the smaller districts, that she only had because she did some work for the land owner.
So why was she still here, if there was nothing to stay for?
Oh right. The gangs, back home. Right. Don't exactly want to go right back into their hands. Doubt they liked me leaving very much. Granted, my mom probably isn't to fond of me just up and disappearing either.
A frown pulled at her lips, brow furrowing slightly as she fell into thought, her expression gradually darkening, before the sound of something splashing into the water, followed by seemingly endless, pleading squeals met her ears.
She looked over to see the small rodent-cat flailing in the water, having apparently not noticed the sudden change in landscape before pouncing.
Kana laughed as she stood, stepping slowly over to the waters edge, bending down to scoop the rodent out of the water, holding it in her hands.
"You really should pay more attention to where you step, Milah. One of these days, you're going to walk right off a cliff." She smirked at the small creature, who shook and shivered in her hands, trying to shake the water from her drenched fur, to no avail. |
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Post by Riko Oshiro on May 13, 2012 19:26:54 GMT -5
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Riko was performing her daily routine religiously, the unfamiliarity and unpredicability of a city rattling her to the bone. Sure, there were lots of people in the water tribes, but she had grown up seeing their faces every day. She may not have talked to any of them, but up north, every person had a method. Even when they didn't do the exact same thing every day, they were predictable. They did what they were supposed to do. Here in Republic City, the little Water Tribe girl ran into a different person every time she went to the same place at her scheduled time. It was downright scary, and she was lately tense and jumpy.
Eating a to-go box of noodles from the local Water Tribe seaweedery, Riko was leading her gorgeous steed Yukiko with the reins wrapped around her wrist. She was taking her daily stroll through the Republic City Park, where at least the homeless men were a constant. Over the past few weeks, they had gotten to know her face well, and had even managed to stop hitting on her. She expected that eventually they would become friendly, which wouldn't be a bad thing. Friends were a constant anchor, and they were normally a reliable one, too. The only thing that would throw off Riko's stability was if one of the vagabonds gained it.
She had started to rent a moderately priced apartment on the corner of the street by the Pro-Bending Arena. She admired some of the boys that lived there from afar, but she would never dare approach them. The muscular girls she saw that lived there, with their athletic arms, were also something to admire. It reminded her of her hefty legs. That was something she missed terribly - racing her buffalo-yak, the bite of the icy wind in her face, the exhilaration and release when she was the first to break through that ribbon, defeat the line.
One of these days, you're going to walk right off a cliff. Startled by the familiar accent and voice tones, Riko stopped dead, Yukiko vaguely stumbling to a halt beside her. On the ground, leaning against one of the statues, was a familiar face for once. She had been a dark one, always seen in shadows or under a hood. One that Riko never mingled with, and she may in fact have made an effort to avoid her. She couldn't recall her name, but she was a part of that gang, the ones that thought they were the top dogs but were really a pack of teenagers and young adults. ”I-I'm sorry, but you look familiar,” Riko stammered, knowing that she was as easy to see through as glass. ”Have we met before?”
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[/color] Jenni <3 WORD COUNT ! 477 CREDIT ! hand stock from marchetooo @deviantart, water brushes from Project-GimpBC @deviantart[/font][/size] [/blockquote][/td][/tr][tr][td][/table] [/center] |
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Post by Kana Saitou on May 13, 2012 20:45:54 GMT -5
Kana didn't know anybody in Republic City. Not anyone personally, anyway. Though, that wasn't saying much. After all, it wouldn't make much sense for an ex-gang member to make themselves overly known in a city, even if the gang was hundreds of miles away in the Water Tribe.
Still, Kana was always wary whenever someone would speak to her,... apparently even when that someone was a shorter, younger, stammering girl.
Her gaze went as hot and harsh as the flame she bends, as she looked at the other, standing tall as her pet scurried up on her shoulder, ducking under the long black waves that cascaded over the woman's shoulders.
For a moment, she regarded the girl with only a steady gaze, the glare gradually fading to an extent, her jaw however staying ridged, cheeks tight. The hand that held the rodent moments before fell to her hip, as finally a brow quirked, a sudden curiosity gracing her features.
The girl was garbed in the blue skins and furs of your average Water Tribe girl--specifically, Northern water tribe. Kana's throat rumbled softly in a low hum as she considered for a moment. This girl could be anything, from just another traveler from the Tribes, to a spy from the small gang back home. The latter was just as likely as anything else.
"Doubt it. At least, if we have met, I don't recognize you." |
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Post by Riko Oshiro on May 13, 2012 23:15:09 GMT -5
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When the other girl saw Riko, she was instantly suspicious. The small girl didn't even think of the possibilities of why the other young woman might be wary, and instead she tensed up. She met her glare with equal force, thinking, there is no way she will ruin my tranquility by trying to fight me. While Riko was no trained waterbender, her steed was a powerhouse, and she would fight for Riko's safety. However, Yukiko, feeling the increasing tension in the air, nuzzled her shoulder gently, trying to calm her master down. The other water tribe girl's face relaxed a little bit, and she became curious, though her guard was still clearly up. Doubt it. At least, if we have met, I don't recognize you.
”Uhh...” murmured the water bender, raising one hand away from her noodle bowl and placing it on the sturdy neck of her buffalo-yak for support. How could she make conversation without making it seem like she was a blundering idiot? ”Perhaps you've seen me in my buffalo-yak races. I'm Riko Oshiro. You are from the northern Water Tribe, right?” Surely she wouldn't have recognized this girl if she hadn't seen her face several times. However, the more she thought about it, the more the possibility of simply having seen her in passing began to come into focus. Was she that good at memorizing faces?
A white hampster darted between the locks of the opposite girl's hair, which seemed bizarre to Riko. How could such a hard, suspicious person have such a cuddly, trusting creature as a companion? Yukiko seemed to take notice of the rodent too, for she took a few thunderous steps forward and stuck her muzzle right down into the hair of the other girl, snuffling at the hampster. ”Yukiko!” she scolded, dropping her noodles onto the ground and pulling harshly at her steed's reins. The buffalo-yak nickered and pranced backwards, trampling her meal almost deliberately. Crushed by the loss of her lunch and scared for the other girl's reaction, she stammered a quick apology. ”I'm so sorry!”
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Post by Kana Saitou on May 14, 2012 5:02:37 GMT -5
She followed the other girl's suggestion with little but a raised brow in response at first. Buffalo-yak... races? "Can't say I've ever had the... pleasure of watching a Buffalo-yak race, though I am from the Northern tribe. Haven't been there in some time, now."
The feline-like rodent poked its head out of her hair once more, before squeaking, and proceeding to hiss at the buffalo-yak as it reared its large head in her direction. Kana didn't even move an inch, simply blinked, left brow slightly quirked as she felt Milah scurry about the thick mess of her hair, eventually climbing her way onto the top of the Fire Bender's head, still hissing at the considerably larger creature.
Kana's brow only raised further as the other girl, this... Riko responded with haste to her steed's actions. Still, she hardly moved, until finally the buffalo-yak was--literally--out of her hair. Only then did she reach her hand over, gently petting the snout of the large mammal.
Milah squeaked once on Kana's head, her hissing subsided, before she dropped down onto the bender's shoulder, stepping carefully down and across Kana's fully gloved arm, standing just on the back of her hand so she was face-to-face with the hybrid, sniffing at it curiously now.
"It's fine. 'Didn't do anything wrong. At least, not to me. Sorry about your noodles. Anyway, I'm Kana. Kana Saitou." She paused then, considering as she glanced the girl over once more. The girl didn't seem to be a spy or anyone worth fearing--When was the last time you heard about a spy tromping around with a buffalo-yak and walking right up to you? Though as far as Kana was concerned, out in the open was the best place to hide. But that was besides the point. This girl just simply didn't seem that clever.
"But, if you did know me, it wouldn't be as Kana. Back home a lot more people knew me as Aria; member, and, at one point, second in command of the Black Moons, which you may or may not have heard of."
ooc; Black Moons? Jennifer can't you be more original? dsfgdfg oh well I needed a water tribe gang name and IT JUST FIT SO yay. |
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Post by Riko Oshiro on May 14, 2012 21:04:19 GMT -5
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Can't say I've ever had the... pleasure of watching a Buffalo-yak race, though I am from the Northern tribe. Haven't been there in some time, now. Riko was slightly crestfallen. Buffalo-yak races were one of the most popular sports in the northern tribes, second only to competitive bending. However, it was a high-end sport that had quite a bit to do with gambling (which was the source of all of Riko's profits), and only a little to do with actually watching the sport. However, the competitors still had that wonderful rush when winning, and they all had unique bonds with each other and their steeds. There was no tension between the racers, and they would often practice and walk their buffalo-yaks together. It was surprising to her, though, that this girl, who was clearly familiar with buffalo-yaks (shown in her slight affection towards Yukiko), had never even heard of one of the most famous people in the northern tribe. Perhaps the gang life had, in a way, sheltered her.
”You should have, before you left,” she suggested, having calmed down ever so slightly due to the increasingly comfortable attitude of the girl. Anyway, I'm Kana. Kana Saitou. Riko nodded, glad to finally have a name to put to the face. She wondered briefly if Kana came here often, if perhaps she lived in the park. It wouldn't be too bad to have a human companion in the city, one she could talk to. But, if you did know me, it wouldn't be as Kana. Back home a lot more people knew me as Aria; member, and, at one point, second in command of the Black Moons, which you may or may not have heard of. Her eyes widened, and the clash of new information and familiarity made her uncomfortable.
Back home, the Black Moons were not just any teenager gang - they were the most illegal. If you threatened to betray them, your corpse would never be found. If you helped them, you would be allowed top access in the city through illegal methods. Nobody knew really what had made the gang so powerful, perhaps connections with an adult gang - some said they had descended from a former general's son, and eventually went from law-defenders to a nasty gang.
Aria was one of the most well-known members of the gang, and it was commonly heard that Aria was not someone you wanted to fuck with. One wrong move, one slipped word, and you could never be heard from again. She was a tribe-born firebender, rumoured to have been a descendant of Fire Nation royalty. Running into someone like her was something that Riko had definitely never wanted to do, and the fact of it became nervous. ”Oh,” she said nervously, ”Yes, I recognize your name. I can't believe you never saw one of my races, it seems like you would have had the money to, at least.” She instantly winced, sensing that this was the wrong thing to say. She crouched down, feeling that there was a possibility that she might have to run very soon, and began to pick up her bowl of noodles.
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[/color] Jenni <3 WORD COUNT ! 526 CREDIT ! hand stock from marchetooo @deviantart, water brushes from Project-GimpBC @deviantart[/font][/size][/blockquote] [/td][/tr][tr][td][/table] [/center] |
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Post by Kana Saitou on May 14, 2012 21:27:46 GMT -5
"You're right, I should have. I'd seen the buffalo-yaks themselves, here and there, but I never thought much about watching a race between them." Gently, she continued to pet the bridge of the creature's nose, before finally pulling away entirely, leaning back on the monument behind her as Milah skittered back up to Kana's shoulder, ducking into the shade and settling down, making a soft squeaking noise as she nestled quite comfortably on the bender's shoulder.
Kana fell silent afterwards, watching the emotions play over the younger girl's face as the bits of information seemed to sink in. There was a sudden tension in the air, so thick she could probably set it on fire if she tried hard enough.
Riko seemed genuinely surprised--and slightly frightened--by Kana's alias, for reasons she supposed she could understand. Back home, at least in specific parts of the North, Aria was well known. She'd snuck into places and set them on fire from the inside out, killed people--though never innocents. Granted, no one else ever knew the people she'd hurt weren't innocent, but hey. If they did, she might be considered a vigilante, instead of a villain. Well, a vigilante that stole and murdered and generally acted like a total ass at times. Can't be perfect, I suppose.
At the other's words, the firebender smirked, before letting out a low chuckle of sorts, tilting her head to the side, her long waves and braids sliding over her shoulder, blanketing the now snoozing rodent there.
"I barely had any money, to be honest. Even if I did, I was a little... busy most of the time. Too busy, if you ask me." The smirk was gone as fast as it came, replaced with a slight scowl. When you're in a gang, being... busy isn't always a good thing.
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Post by Riko Oshiro on May 15, 2012 23:58:16 GMT -5
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Kana seemed to relish Riko's actions and words, laughing softly at her nervousness. I barely had any money, to be honest. Even if I did, I was a little... busy most of the time. Too busy, if you ask me. Busy. It didn't sound good, but relief flew through her body when she realized that Kana wasn't mad. As Riko straightened up from picking up her soiled lunch, she met the other tribe girl's eyes. They were the golden-amber color of a firebender's. Riko's breath caught for a second. Of course, she knew that Aria bended fire, but seeing the evidence made it only more real. A stray hand traveled up to softly touch the skin beneath her eye, and then she straightened out. She refused to be caught off-guard, she refused to be thrown off of her daily schedule.
”You seem bored,” she suggested, casually offering up the palm of her hand in a gesture of welcome. ”Maybe you'd like to walk with Yukiko and I?” It was a long shot, and she knew that Kana would likely decline. Having a casual chat and stroll with a complete stranger? As if Riko didn't have reason enough reason to seem moderately creepy. She chuckled and let her hand fall back down to her side, the other still clutching the trampled take-out box. ”I mean, you don't have to, if you don't want,” she politely stated. Part of her halfway wished that Kana would refuse instead of go against her predictions. After all, if the norm was to take a walk in the park with just her and her buffalo-yak, and the occasional vagabond, it should stay that way. That is, if Kana didn't actually count as a homeless person.
”Do you live somewhere around here?” she asked, trying to cover up the fact that she had initially thought that Kana was the newest addition to the pack of the park, and was starting to have polite second thoughts. She wouldn't dare offer room and board in her own apartment, but perhaps to pay for one until her new acquaintance got settled.
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Post by Kana Saitou on May 16, 2012 4:56:40 GMT -5
She caught the girl's gaze and paused, unblinking for a moment.
When she was young, those eyes almost felt like a curse. The parents of her friends would stare at her and mutter about how she was different. One particularly spiteful old man with burns on his face and down his arms--courtesy of a firebender during the 100 year war--glared at her, growled and said she didn't belong in the Water Tribes. "Fire Benders should be in the Fire Nation, or the damned Capitol! Not here! Every time there's fire benders here there's only trouble!"
Needless to say, when the Moons pulled out a hit on the old man, Aria was more than happy to fulfill it.
The other girl's words broke her from her memories, and she finally glanced to the side for a short moment, blinking slowly, before turning the gaze right back. As the suggestions rolled from the girl's mouth, Kana's left brow slowly quirked slightly, and she gave a half, lazy grin.
"Only a bit. The park is calming, but I usually prefer it when there are people walking around arguing. That is amusing. Swore I saw two of the council members arguing the other day. Not sure what about." She gave a slight shrug, turning to reach down, grabbing her shoulder bag from the side of the monument, throwing it over her shoulder.
"I suppose I've got nothing better to do." Despite her words, the grin remained, and she reached a hand into the thick fur of the buffalo-yak, petting the creature once more.
"Lead the way."
She felt Milah scurry across her shoulders again, having apparently woken up from her short snooze already. The feline-looking-hamster bounced off Kana's arm, only to jump onto the head of the hybrid, settling there between it's horns. Kana simply shook her head at the creature, giving a slight grin once more.
Her arms crossed just below her chest as she fell into stride alongside the two.
Do you live somewhere around here? Kana gave the girl a questioning look for a moment, before just shrugging. "Yeah. I've got this apartment in one of the small districts. I do this guys laundry and fuel his fireplace, occasionally heat his tub, and I get the place for next to nothing." |
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Post by Riko Oshiro on May 16, 2012 21:39:05 GMT -5
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Riko was surprised when her new acquaintance agreed to go on a walk with her. However, she knew from a personal standpoint that an animal companion was often not enough to keep one company. Unlike Riko though, Kana could take her white hamster everywhere. The water bender was hardly able to find an acceptably close stable for Yukiko. I suppose I've got nothing better to do, said the firebender as she proceeded to once more gingerly touch the pelt of her steed. Riko agreed, even if she was a little biased, that it was hard to resist the fur of a buffalo yak. It was hollow for insulation, like the fur of a polar bear dog, but it was soft like a rabbit's. It was the perfect combination of fluffy and warm, and almost every water tribe member used the fur to trim and line their clothing. However, after the clothing was used and washed and reused so many times, the fur became matted and rough to the point where you couldn't remember what it had felt like in the first place.
Having been raised on a buffalo-yak farm, Yukiko was Riko's pride and joy. She remembered helping the mother give birth to the calf, and watching the newborn stand on her wobbly legs for the very first time mere minutes later. As she hobbled around the stables, Riko's father had told her that she was going to be a strong, athletic steed and she shouldn't be wasted on using her only for fur. Riko then took charge of raising the calf entirely, and they bonded easily as close friends. They could read each other's body language, and it seemed as if Yukiko actually understood what her caretaker was saying. They soon became inseparable, more and more so as Riko became increasingly involved in buffalo-yak races.
She looked blankly at the white hamster sitting on top of Yukiko's head, and Kana's words snapped her out of her reverie. Yeah. I've got this apartment in one of the small districts. I do this guy's laundry and fuel his fireplace, occasionally heat his tub, and I get the place for next to nothing. Riko smiled a little bit, and she found it interesting that this landlord of hers charged very little for the service of bending. She understood that there was an increasingly popular anti-bending group snatching up members with little effort. This was a prime example of how non-benders used those with powers for their own benefit, rather than the other way around. She voiced her thoughts aloud. ”It's funny, with this anti-bending thing going around,” she said nonchalantly, ”and yet here we are, doing work for non-benders half the time!” She knew that she would likely get a job around here in the stables of some run-down inn, and her main job would be to water the animals. After all, transporting water was what water-benders were good for.
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[/color] Jenni <3 WORD COUNT ! 496 CREDIT ! hand stock from marchetooo @deviantart, water brushes from Project-GimpBC @deviantart[/font][/size][/blockquote] [/td][/tr][tr][td][/table] [/center] |
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