"Hurry, hurry, the match is starting!"

After a moment's muse of how exactly she got dragged into this, Xia sighed in defeat, though she was technically already defeated as she was dragged through the seats. She was used to staying at home and listening to the pro-bending matches on the radio, so getting to see one in person was a real treat--especially the all exclusive back-stage passes she had gotten, courtesy of pulling a few strings and doing a few favors. Thing is, those things usually come in pairs, and against her better judgment, she decided to bring someone instead of just giving it away like she had planned.

If only she had thought twice before bringing her mother.

"Xia! Stop dragging your feet!" Li Mei barked, yanking the girl into her seat. "Look how close we are! You can practically smell the tension!"

Xia's mother, Li Mei, was also a fan of the sport. Thing is, she's one of those crazy fans that screams and hollers at the players like they'd actually listen to what she said. While Xia appreciated her mother's enthusiasm, it was quite tiring. Shifting in her seat to get comfortable, she did notice that her mother was right; they were front seats to the show, any closer and they'd probably get caught in the action. She got somewhat excited once the announcements began, bouncing in her seat as she watched the players come in.

"Such handsome young benders, oh if only I was younger." Li Mei sighed dreamily, taking out her fan and waving it around. "Honestly, Xia, you need to get yourself one of these handsome young men, that way we can have seats like these all the time."

Xia shook her head, but she couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, sure, I will marry someone just for some pro-bending tickets, not out of love or anything, right, Mother?" She raised an eyebrow. "Surely Granmama and Granpapa would approve."

"With seats like these, I'm sure they would." Li Mei nodded seriously, her brow creasing a bit. "You know, I'm sure I recognize some of the players. Surely I can find out their martial status and parentage. Hmm, maybe I can ask Old Man Tao..."

At that moment, the playful banter turned into one of horror. She wasn't [i]serious[/i], was she? Xia gave her mother an alarmed look, and Li Mei nodded in her direction. "M-Mother...you are joking...right?" She half-asked, half-pleaded, searching even for the slightest bit of a sentiment of joking in her mother's much too serious face.

Li Mei looked at Xia, and for a split second she felt the color drain out of her face. She then rolled her eyes, waving her fan at Xia. "Relax, my child, I was only half-serious." She chuckled, lazily eyeing the arena. "Although I am pretty sure I recognize them. If Ren Lau is related to who I think he is--I believe someone who guarded the King--I'm sure I can figure out there rest of them."

Defeated once more, Xia sighed and leaned back in her seat. Her mother always took things too far, and while she claimed she was kidding, she was more then certain once they got home she'd go straight to Old Man Tao and start finding things out. At best, she'd find every piece of information on them (which, considering their reputation wasn't that surprising), at worst Xia would find herself walking down the aisle with a complete stranger waiting for her at the other end. She groaned, covering her face, though threw her a mother a look that said "If you even think about it I will never speak you you again" and made sure she noticed.

Li Mei laughed once again, this time pinching her daughter's cheek. "Now, now, my dearest and only child, rest easy, I was only teasing." She cooed, earning her another glare. "No man in this kingdom is good enough for my baby Xia-Wia anyway~"

"Mother...please...stop..."