[IC] A Bender's Story: The One Where It Began (Aerandir and Tsubasa)

[tsubasa]

Nyima looked at him when he said he wasn't going to accept any money that she offered to him. She shook her head, "You will."

She looked down at the clothes when he mentioned them. She nodded her head, "They are quite comfortable in comparison... And I don't know how I would have been if I didn't have anything to change into..."

She spun around on the stool when Rayn mentioned seeing the city. She grinned and nodded, "I'd like that."

She hopped off her stool and looked at the man behind the counter. She smiled and gave him a small bow, "Thank you for allowing me to stay. Even if Rayn was paying you."

She then smiled at Rayn and nodded her head, "I'm ready to leave when you are."

[Aerandir]

She looked down at the clothes when he mentioned them. She nodded her head, "They are quite comfortable in comparison... And I don't know how I would have been if I didn't have anything to change into..."
He nodded. Probably still a wreck he thought to himself

He watched as she spun on the stool when Rayn mentioned seeing the city, grinning as she nodded, "I'd like that."She then hopped her stool, looked at chan and smiled and gave him a small bow, "Thank you for allowing me to stay. Even if Rayn was paying you."She then smiled at Rayn and nodded her head, "I'm ready to leave when you are."

He smiled and turned around and walked towards the door he held the door open and waited for her to get out before he followed her. He took a deep breath and looked around the street. Where to start? He honestly didn't know. Perhaps the Market?

When she would look at him he would jerk his head to the right. " Lets go this way..." He placed his hands in his pockets as he walked slowly at first for her to get in step with him before speeding up. " so right now we are technically in the dock district. He pointed Down the road to their left as they reached an intersection. "Bout three blocks that way is my apartment. Just so you know." He said with a smile before crossing the street when the vehicles cleared. "But for now I'd figure I would take you to the market. "

He looked at her and asked, "what do YOU want to see after that? " wondering if she had any dreams to see while here.

As they walked he switched his hands from his pockets and place them behind him. Holding onto each other as he watched her

[tsubasa]

Nyima walked the door as he held it open and took in the city around her. When he started to walk, she quickly followed behind him. She looked in the direction he pointed when he brought up his own apartment. She laughed a little, "Well, what is the point of knowing the general direction?"

She smiled at him, as she crossed the street. She turned and started to walk backward as she looked at a passing car. Turning to face forward again she grinned. The city wasn't as scary in the light of day. She hopped a little up onto the curb and looked at him when she asked him where she wanted to go. She looked around as they walked, eyes wide with wonder, "I haven't a clue..."

She moved slightly as a woman walked by talking into something pressed against her ear. Nyima could hardly begin to imagine what it was that she was talking into. She clasped her hands in front of her as she tried to drink in everything as they walked. She looked up at Rayn, "What is your favorite place in the whole city? Could you take me there after?" she smiled up at him, "You have your work cut out for you," she blushed slightly, "I don't really know much of anything about Republic City..."

[Aerandir]

when he pointed in the direction of his home, She laughed a little, "Well, what is the point of knowing the general direction?" He smiled and then said, "well nothing. Just so you know wherein I am."

He watched her as She turned and started to walk backward as she looked at a passing car. Turning to face forward again she grinned and hopped a little up onto the curb and looked at him when he asked her where she wanted to go. She looked around as they walked, eyes wide with wonder, "I haven't a clue..."

She moved slightly as a woman walked by talking into something pressed against her ear. Nyima could hardly begin to imagine what it was that she was talking into. She clasped her hands in font of her as she looked up at Rayn, "What is your favorite place in the whole city? Could you take me there after?" she smiled up at him, "You have your work cut out for you," she blushed slightly, "I don't really know much of anything about Republic City..."

He smiled and said "I kinda figured" as he chuckled and continued towards the market. Soon they came around a corner and saw a huge open air market in the middle of a town square. With actual stores surrounding the square. He then said, so here is the market, you can get pretty much anything here you want. " he looked at her and asked. "Anything you need? " with a smile. As tey would walk through the stalls he would stop to let her look at things. Answering questions as they popped up. Some of them so childish it was cute. It was understandable of course, the northern kingdom was stuck in the past. Which was interesting to Rayn. He wouldn't have minded living simple like that.

[tsubasa]

Nyima's eyes widened when the market came into view. It was huge and nothing like anything she had seen in the north. Sure, they had stores but all of them were inside and most of them sold things people needed, this seemed to sell more things that people wanted. She shook her head when Rayn asked if there was anything she need, "No, I'm fine with what I have until I can pay for what I need," she looked at him and smiled, "I owe you enough already, I don't need to owe you anymore."

They walked slowly through the market and Nyima explored. Every once in awhile, she'd turn to him and ask a question about this or that. He might chuckle at her obliviousness to the world that was progressing outside of the North Water Tribe. She didn't mind though. It wasn't rude laughter. He'd tell her what each thing did to best of his ability in detail. Nyima grinned as he did, completely baffled by what the North was missing out on. She looked around and found a booth with familiar objects. She ran over to it and smiled, "You are from the Northern Water Tribe!"

The old woman behind the table laughed a little at her enthusiasm. She nodded, "I am... Although, I haven't heard anyone get that excited about it in sometime."

Nyima ran her fingers over the objects at the booth, "I used to live there," she picked up a hair comb with a flower, that looked to be frozen, on the top, meant to be worn in the hair on special occasions, "I used to have one of these..." She smiled softly at the item, "My mother gave it to me for my sixteenth birthday."

She placed it back down and bowed at the woman, "You have beautiful wares. They remind me much of home."

She stepped away from the booth and took a deep breath. She missed home already but she didn't want to go back. She looked over her shoulder at Rayn, "This is a lot to take in... The world is far different here...."

[Aerandir]

He watched her as she noticed the water tribe shop. She ran over to it and smiled, "You are from the Northern Water Tribe!"The old woman behind the table laughed a little at her enthusiasm. She nodded, "I am... Although, I haven't heard anyone get that excited about it in sometime."
He moved over and folded his arms and watched her as she ran her fingers over the objects at the booth, "I used to live there," she said as she picked up a hair comb with a flower, that looked to be frozen, on the top, meant to be worn in the hair on special occasions, "I used to have one of these..." She smiled softly at the item, "My mother gave it to me for my sixteenth birthday."
His eyes looked upon it he comb she was holding. He thought... "She must regret not having some of her things..." He watched as she placed it back down and bowed at the woman, "You have beautiful wares. They remind me much of home."

As she stepped away from the booth he met eyes with the woman and gave her a smile and a look as if to say. "Can you hold it?" The woman only smiled and winked as she was already pulling it off her table. He would come back for it. Everyone needed something to remind them of home. So they can let it go out of their minds.
He nodded in thanks and turned to her as she looked over her shoulder at Rayn, "This is a lot to take in... The world is far different here...."
He moved towards her "it is, but you don't have to be alone. I will help you as long as you wish." He cocked his head slightly at the thought... Why was he being so kind. Yes he would have done what he has done this far but perhaps his old self would let her to by now. But she had nowhere to go, and he felt drawn to her like he needed to befriend her. He had no true friends and She reminded him of himself when he was younger...

" it'll take time but you will get a hang of it."

[tsubasa]

Nyima looked forward again when he spoke. It'll take time but you will get a hang of it. She nodded her head and smiled, "Well, it isn't worth it if it doesn't take a bit of work."

She kept looking around the shops. She looked at cellphones and laptops, strange electronic appliances that could do everyday tasks that wouldn't have taken the person much time in the first place. As she looked at them, she wondered if people here were lazier than those in the North. It seemed like machines need most of the work while the humans sat about. Most of these objects, she hadn't even seen their predecessors and couldn't even begin to imagine them. They came to a stall called decorative weapons. There were swords and boomerangs and the people were apparently just hanging them on walls. Nyima snickered, "We still use that weaponry in the North..."

They continued to roam for sometime before she had seen most of what the market had to offer her. She smiled and came to a stop. She looked up at Rayn and nodded, "Are you going to show me your favourite place now?"

[Aerandir]

She nodded her head and smiled, "Well, it isn't worth it if it doesn't take a bit of work."
He only nodded as she said that.

After a while of walking around some of the things until they got to the weapons booth. We still use that weaponry in the North..." She snickered as she saw the weapons. He nodded and said its rare for people to use them here. Save for Benders and the few who enjoy the art.

They continued to roam for sometime before she had seen most of what the market had to offer her. She smiled and came to a stop. She looked up at Rayn and nodded, "Are you going to show me your favourite place now?"

He smiled crookedly he then lifts his hand and motioned her to follow him with two fingers. He then made his way away from the square. After walking a few blocks they came to a massive Zen Garden. He walked around it till they came To a spot near the pond. He took in a deep breath and sighed. Listening to the water flow he then looked to her and said " THIS is my favorite place. I can come here and relax at any time."

[tsubasa]

Nyima grinned when he beckoned her. She followed a step behind him as he guided her away from the market. When they arrived, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. They didn't have anything like this in the North, save the Spirit Oasis but even that was as beautiful as this place. There was lines drawn in the sand and lush green pants surrounding them. She continued to follow him as she looked about in amazement. She stopped when they reached the pool and looked up at Rayn before she returned to taking in their surroundings, "It's breathtaking...."

She knelt down in front of the water and stuck her hand into it. She felt a chill of the warm envelope her hand. It was warm in comparison to the ocean and the water they dealt with at home but it was lovely. With a small flick of her wrist, she splashed Rayn. She looked up at him and giggled a little before she sat back on her heels, "This... is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been."

She ran her fingers along the top of the blades of grass around her. She smiled, grass was not something they had at home. She liked how it felt on her fingers. She sighed and closed her eyes, listening to the water and the trees playing in the wind. The music of the garden. She took a deep breath and spoke quietly, "I can see why you like it here so much."

[Aerandir]

She knelt down in front of the water and stuck her hand into it. When he looked away for a moment he was suddenly splashed with some of the water at which he shook his head. He looks at her as she giggled a little before she sat back on her heels, "This... is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been."

As she was running her hands through the grass he sat down on the edge of the water. He then heard her take a deep breath and spoke quietly, "I can see why you like it here so much."

He then looked at her and said "It reminds me of my home I the country. " he looked back at the pond as he thought of his old home. He never been back since he was 8.

[tsubasa]

Nyima opened her eyes and looked at him, "You grew up in the country?" She shifted slightly to sit with her leg tuck to the side of her. She placed her hand back in the water. She thought about the country a little, "I can imagine that change was just about as drastic it was to come from the North... No big buildings... Not as many lights I'm sure."

She smiled as she swished the water around causing ripples, "The lights I saw from the docks were the most beautiful things I had seen, until this garden... at least... They were. The men kind of ruined the sight."

She shivered slightly at the thought of the night before. She trembled slightly as she recalled the memory. After a moment, she pushed it aside, not wanting that to be something she remembered. She kept her hand in the water, pushing it around, "You know... how you said you would help me.... Do you think... That maybe..... you could teach me to fight? Like you did last night? So I can protect myself.... I was useless last night and I was surrounded by water," she rose her hand out of the water as a thread of it follow it. She sighed, "What kind of water bender loses a fight right by the ocean...."

She dropped the water and looked at him, "Do you think you could? Then you wouldn't have to worry about me and I could get out of your hair... I'm sure you are already getting sick of me anyways...."

[Aerandir]

Nyima opened her eyes and looked at him, "You grew up in the country?" She shifted slightly to sit with her leg tuck to the side of her. She placed her hand back in the water "I can imagine that change was just about as drastic it was to come from the North... No big buildings... Not as many lights I'm sure."

He nodded in agreement as he looked back to the water, seeing the roles caused by her hand, "The lights I saw from the docks were the most beautiful things I had seen, until this garden... at least... They were. The men kind of ruined the sight."
She shivered slightly as he was sure she was remembering the night , "You know... how you said you would help me.... Do you think... That maybe..... you could teach me to fight? Like you did last night? So I can protect myself.... I was useless last night and I was surrounded by water," she rose her hand out of the water as a thread of it follow it. She sighed, "What kind of water bender loses a fight right by the ocean...." He looked at her as she dropped the water and looked at him, "Do you think you could? Then you wouldn't have to worry about me and I could get out of your hair... I'm sure you are already getting sick of me anyways...."

He shook his head and said, "I'm not getting sick of you. Don't even think that. As for teaching you how to fight, I can but it may conflict with water style. I'm sure I can find a few water benders that could help you.
He looked at her and said , "don't worry about that? last night How many years have you fought to really protect yourself? I've been fighting since I was eight."

"I'll do it, but not to get you out of my hair." He said with a smile. He then looked over to her. " I do have an extra room in my home if you wish to use it for now. It may be easier for you to be close for training."

[tsubasa]

When Rayn asked her how many years she had been fighting to protect herself, "Well... honestly... none... I was kind of always protected. By my dad, then my brother, then the two of them, and then my fiancé and the two of them... The three of them were driving me mental. They'd have summoned the whole army if I whispered of trouble."

She smiled when he agreed to do it and hugged him, "Thank you."

She pulled away and sat back, creating the space between them both, "I have never been allowed to protect myself... Is it weird that I am excited?"

She nodded her head when he offered her the room in his home, "That sounds great... It'll help me pay you back as well... I can help out around the house a little. Even help you if you get hurt. I know a lot about healing... More than I do about fighting..."

She shifted again, sitting cross-legged. She placed her hands in her lap and closed her eyes. She sat there for a little bit, listening and meditating. Her grandfather had been adamant that when she grew older that she remember to meditate and keep ties with the spirits. She half wondered if it was just to make her shut up and sit down for a bit when she was being rambunctious. But since he had passed on, she did just that. She took the time to sit and meditate.

[Aerandir]

He listened as she answered. "Well... honestly... none... I was kind of always protected. By my dad, then my brother, then the two of them, and then my fiancé and the two of them... The three of them were driving me mental. They'd have summoned the whole army if I whispered of trouble."
He nodded and said, "don't worry about what happened then. "

She smiled when he agreed to do it and hugged him, "Thank you." He was surprised as She hugged him. He didn't expect that for just helping her train.
She pulled away and sat back, creating the space between them both, "I have never been allowed to protect myself... Is it weird that I am excited?" He shrugged " a little . " he said with a smile she then continued "That sounds great... It'll help me pay you back as well... I can help out around the house a little. Even help you if you get hurt. I know a lot about healing... More than I do about fighting..."He then said " don't get too carried away... Let's just figure your life out first before anything else."

When she stared to meditate he did so as well.

---

Few hours later they were back in his home, an appartment with a small dojo in it, which he had bought two appartments and converted. He stood on the mat with more comfortable clothes. Ready to start her first lesson.

[tsubasa]

They had walked back the apartment, sometime later, once she had seen a bit of the city. They swung by the room she had stayed in the previous night and she gathered the clothes she left there. When she had come back down, Chan and Rayn seemed to be deep in conversation, which was quickly dropped when they spotted her. That wasn't the first time it had happened, in fact, it had happened just that morning. The two of them had made it to the apartment in good time when Rayn announced that he wanted to start her training then. He showed her to her room and she quickly changed into more comfortable clothing.

Nyima stretched as she stood in front of Rayn. She was basically in the clothing she had worn to sleep. It was comfortable and she could move in it and she assumed those would necessary parts of this equation. She stopped stretching and smiled at Rayn as she patted her legs lightly. She nodded her head, "Okay, I think I'm ready."

She wasn't sure what to expect. He knew he wouldn't start her off on anything too crazy, with this being the first time she had done anything of the sort. All the same, she was curious what minor things they were going to look into before she could actually protect herself.

[Aerandir]

Rayn. Nodded as she said "okay, I think I'm ready " he then said " You can't think about this. You have to be fully committed in this or not. In this city, and as a beautiful woman like you, your gunna attract the low life's who think you can't defend yourself. You can use that to you advantage."

He placed his hands behind his back and said, "before anything I need to see how much you know. So to ahead and attack me. " he didn't move as he waited with his hands behind his back.

[tsubasa]

Nyima nodded her head when Rayn corrected him, however, she blushed slightly when he called her beautiful. She rubbed her hands together, "Well... I don't know much... Like I said... um..."

She took a deep breath and thought about her knowledge in both fighting, little, and water bending, a little more. She looked at Rayn and then nodded again. Water bending often made attacks out of defense. She sighed and began. It wasn't particularly good, she had explained to him her lack of knowledge in the field but he seemed instant. Waterbending included fluid movements and high kicks. However, when she did kick she kept them low, knowing if an attacker managed to grab her foot, she'd be in trouble. Swiftly, she moved around him before placing a foot on the back of his knee. She didn't do anything nor was she sure that she could but she felt that if she put enough pressure on his knee, he might topple over. After a moment, she scurried back in front of him. She looked up at him, shyly, "I... said I don't know much...."

[Aerandir]

He stood there for a moment as she moved swiftly and placed a foot on the back on his knee. He didn't move because as soon as she moved he could tell she was not going full out. His hunch was confermed when she placed a foot on the back of his leg. Then scurried over in front of him shyly "I said I don't know much."

He nodded and said. "Ok. You told me but i need to see it. I want you to hit me I'm not a piece of glass. Don't be timid. Be confident. " He then motioned her to come at him again.

Nyima came at him, she used flowing motions as she punched multiple times. They were slightly clumsy and rusty and slow as she was thinking of the moves as she goes. Each punch and kick, Rayn ducked shifted spun with out moving his hands from his back. He would lift his legs once in a while to block random moves here and there. After a bit he lifted his hand to stop her by catching her last punch. He watched her as she breath was heavier now.

He then nodded and said, " Better... Waterbenders use Tai Chi, an internal style that focuses on the control of energy. It is a very soft, gentle and flowing, but devastating when mastered. You must learn to use little strength to defend yourself. Which is perfect for you because of your lack of strength... No offense. " he said with a slight smile. "With Tai Chi, you create circles to pass by attacking energy and issues their own energy outward. In short you take their energy and reverse it back onto them. While being used for combat, Tai Chi also serves as therapy for the purpose of health and longevity. "Tai Chi" literally translates into "Incredible Energy," and it earns its title. Even you, when you become a master of it can defeat the strongest attack of an earth bender with his own strength."

He then continued " I've studied Tai Chi a little to help with my personal style. So I can teach you the basics but I've will find a water bender later."

[tsubasa]

Nyima looked at him as he held her hand after stopping her punch. Speed was not something that healing taught you, healing was a slow methodical process. She couldn't deny how nice it felt to attack, no matter how horrid she was at it. She listened to Rayn as he spoke, her eyes wide at the amount of information on the form he had in his head. She knew some of the facts but others it was the first time hearing. She nodded her head and thought about it, "So... kind of like if someone were to run at me... Rather than pushing them away... Pulling them passed would be wiser since I wouldn't have fight their weight and their momentum would work against them."

She scratched the back of her head, "Right?"

She held up her hands when he said he was going to find her a water bender to teach her. She shook her head, "I can do that... You've already done so much... I was thinking of speaking with the woman at the market... Selling Northern Water Tribe wares, she's ought to know plenty of waterbenders.... I figured I'd ask her if she could point me in the right direction of a good teacher," she smiled at him, "You really don't have to do everything for me..."

[Aerandir]

"So... kind of like if someone were to run at me... Rather than pushing them away... Pulling them passed would be wiser since I wouldn't have fight their weight and their momentum would work against them."She scratched the back of her head, "Right?"
Rayn smiled as she caught on. Of course she already had training in this . "Exactly which what makes Tai Chi super dangerous when mastered, you are making an opponent fight his greatest enemy... Himself. That's one if the reasons Water benders are able to keep to their traditions. They can defend it well."

She held up her hands when he said he was going to find her a water bender to teach her. She shook her head, "I can do that... You've already done so much... I was thinking of speaking with the woman at the market... Selling Northern Water Tribe wares, she's ought to know plenty of waterbenders.... I figured I'd ask her if she could point me in the right direction of a good teacher," she smiled at him, "You really don't have to do everything for me..."

He bowed slightly." Forgive me... I just want to make sure you have a great start here. But you are right, the first step to being self sufficient is to be independent... But here are some rules I would ask you live by... Only to protect you. At least till you can take care of yourself.
1. Let me know in advance where you are going, I'll point you in a safe direction away from known gang locations.
2. Don't be out after dark. Lame I know but that's when the gangs thrive and easy to snag someone. If you are I would like to be with you.
Don't think I'm making these to control you. But as a guide of what not and to do here.