tsubasa

The Making of a New Queen

Anastasia nodded to her mother and stepped away from her, exploring the room slightly. Melor followed a step behind her, calm and seeming slightly uncomfortable with the change in scenery. She looked down at the tables and the silverware and plates with golden trimming. It was amazing what people spent their money on. She walked over to the band and smiled at them as they played. She curtsied to them before she walked away. She glanced down at Melor who still followed her, "You aren't going to be allowed to stay you know..."

The dog looked up at her at the sound of her voice. She smiled softly, "It is a fancy dinner, you can't run around under the tables like you do at home."

The dog looked ahead again as she went. She looked toward the table at the very front of the room. It appeared to be where they would be sitting. The chairs were slightly larger, making it all appear a little more regal. She walked over to it and looked at Melor, "Sit," she said when he stood below the chair that she assumed she would be sitting in. The dog sat down and she smiled, "Down.."

Melor lowered himself to the ground and curled up beside her chair, "Stay."

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

Nyima laughed a little, "Well, I can't say that I agree," she looked him up and down, "You look healthy to me."

She turned back to her dumplings, "They are really nice. Whether they speak too highly of you or not. They were telling me some stories too," there was a teasing glint in her eye as she reached across him and stole a piece of pepper. She giggled a little, "I think I'll definitely go back, embellished or not, they are quite amusing."

She moved away from him and quickly made a simple broth for the dumplings to sit in. She grabbed the noodles that sat in the sink and poured them into the pan that the meat was being cooked it. She stirred in slightly, "Add the vegetables as you please."

She walked over to the cupboard and grabbed the oil. She walked back and looked at him, "Here's the part I'm having troubles with. How can a guy, who is apparently so shy that he can hardly talk to women and every date he's been on has been set up for him, deal with living under the same roof as a young lady," she smirked at him and laughed, "Okay, I'm almost positive that they embellished that tale."

She dropped the dumplings into the broth and leaned against the counter, "My first non-Water Tribe meal is almost done."

Avatar: Return of the Air Benders

Zenji looked at the girl when she asked about Kuei. She glanced at the Armadillo Bear moments before it was pointed out her. She smiled at the Zhou character, although she still stood by her first comment about him being 'jolly'. She snickered a little when he suggested they walk. She covered up her mouth quickly and gave him a small bow, "Excuse my laughter but... I don't think we can walk around the world having him learn bending... It would take far more time... And some air temples aren't places you wish to walk to... The hideout and places you can't really walk to..."

She smiled at him then Masuto, "I... I can go to the island," she cleared her throat of the bubble growing in it, "See if there is an Air Bison.... My own was there.... She tends to go off at times I'm not there..... She... might have avoided the attack," she took a deep breath, calming herself, "I should find out for sure before I leave anyways...."
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Nyima looked at him and shrugged, "The Water Tribe likes to think the world is still strictly, Water, Fire, Earth... and I guess, Air. They don't prepare to fight too many waterbenders. And my brother can't help but have an admiration for waterbenders, I'm sure."

She moved off the wall and followed him. She clapped their hands together as they walked, "One thing about Matsen.... He may or may not have been hitting on me again.... And I may or may not have accidently said that you and I may or may not be more than just friends.... It's been three years and I was getting really sick of it and he is... well... To put it bluntly, afraid of you," she scratched the back of her head, "It worked... if that means anything..." she looked up at him and gave him a shy smile, "Oops?"

She sighed and dropped her hand, "Would mind keeping up the act?... I'm sure you are getting... a little sick of it. With earlier and the day before but it would really help me keep him off my back," she pleaded to him with her eyes, holding her hands together tightly, "Please?"

She watched him a moment before adding, "And if you 'break up' with me in front of him to screw with me... I will cook you and eat you as a stew."

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

Nyima focused on the cooking meat and boiling noodles while Rayn cut. Normally, she would cut the vegetables in the time it took the other things to be ready, meaning she had little time to wait. When she allowed Rayn to help, that changed things. Luckily, with the new recipes, it wasn't just noodles, meat, and vegetables. Quickly pouring ingredients together, she started to make the dough for the dumplings. She shook her head, "No, Mala is strictly Northern Water tribe... Matsen says their home is like you never left," She shrugged, "I don't understand the point of leaving."

She smiled as she beg to roll the dumplings, "I went back to the inn that you took me to on my first night in town. The owner, Chan, seemed to be a friend of yours, so I figured that he wouldn't mind saving your palette," she looked at him, "They've been giving me recipes and have helped me with more... challenging dishes," she held out the dumpling and smiled before placing it on a place to deal with later, "They both speak highly of you. You seem to have made quite the impression on them."

She took the pot and strained the al dente noodles. She left them in the strainer while Rayn continued cutting. She bit her lip lightly, keeping her head down while she worked on the dumplings, "Training. I just finished up some when you got home," she shrugged, "Just a bit of endurance work."

The Making of a New Queen

Anastasia smiled at her mother as she complimented her. This was easily the finest dress she had ever worn and she felt as though she shouldn't be in it. Surely, she should be going out and milking the cows or helping Mama prepare dinner. Not attending a dinner in a beautiful dress, surrounded by Lords and Ladies. She noticed something was missing and looked around, "Where is Melor?"

A moment later, the dog came bounding around the corner with the three maids who had dressed her chasing behind him. She covered her mouth, hiding her smile as she watched dog run over to her. Around his neck was a poor tied bow that matched her dress. She laughed a little, it seemed he was not as compliant as they thought his would be. No, not her Melor. She looked at him and he sat, panting away. Reaching behind him, she fixed his bow and gave him a kiss on his head, "Perfect."

She stood again and looked at her mother, "I... suppose it is time."

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

Nyima looked at him for a little bit as he denied her help with his being sore then shook her head, "You are being difficult."

She turned back around and began to cook some meat as she cut up vegetables. She looked at him when she heard the water running. She smiled lightly at him, "I was thinking we'd have some dumplings tonight. Maybe some pan fried noodles as well..." she shrugged, "I've been learning a few recipes and I'm sure you are getting sick of Water Tribe foods. So I figured some Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom would be a nice change."

Grabbing some egg noodles, she tossed them into the boiling water and looked at him. She moved slightly, allowing him to get to the vegetables that she had started to cut, "You can do the vegetables... Cut up whatever you want in the noodles."

The Making of a New Queen

Anastasia looked at Gerald and smiled. He placed his hands on her shoulders, fixing her posture, "I know your mother said you are allowed to act as you wish tonight... But I would hate if any of the Lords and Ladies didn't believe in you because of what they saw tonight," he walked around to the front of her, "Chin high, neck long, shoulders back."

Ana tried to do as he said but it was a lot to take in and it was just walking. She sighed, this was going to be a lot of work. Gerald smiled at her, "Don't think about it too much. Just be confident and don't fidget."

Ana nodded her head, "Confident, don't fidget."

Gerald walked with Anastasia back to her mother and the guard slowly. He watched her as she tried to heed his rules, repeating them over and over in her head. When her mother came into view again, she smiled, "Gerald told me to pick a corset dress... So that we could pull it tighter if needed.... Does... Does it look good?"

The Making of a New Queen

Gerald bowed to the Queen before placing a hand on Anastasia's back. He guided the girl away from the two and took her to the fitting room. Anastasia's eyes widened when she saw the amount of dresses her mother had. It was startling, in fact. She ran her fingers over them as she looked at each of them. Gerald stood with his hands behind his back, "I would choose one with a corset, Princess. That way if they are too large they corset can be pulled tighter. I believe her Highness keeps those gowns at the back."

Ana nodded and moved to the back as instructed and found a light blue dress with gold designs. She pulled it out and looked at it, "This pretty."

Gerald looked at it and nodded, "It will do. I will grab a few maids to help you."

Anastasia waited and soon three women walked into the room. She looked at them and they curtsied. The three of them quickly set to work without even introducing themselves. Once she was in the dress, they sat her down. They smiled at her, "We are going to do your hair, if you wouldn't mind, Princess."

Ana shook her head, "Not at all."

It wasn't long before she stood in front of the mirror, her hair up in a neat bun with flowers peeking out of it. She hadn't even seen them grab the flowers, how had they managed that. She grabbed her skirts and curtsied to them, "Thank you."

The three girls smiled and curtsied deeply back, "No, Princess, thank you."

Anastasia left the fitting room and met Gerald just outside. He looked at her, "Now, you look like a Princess."

The Making of a New Queen

Anastasia stopped narrowly bumping into her mother. She took a step back to give the woman space as she called to Samsul to go over to her. She took a few more steps backwards to give them space as they spoke in hushed tones. As she moved back she bumped into Gerald, stepping on his foot. She gasped and turned around, "I'm so sorry... Are you okay?"

Gerald laughed and nodded his head, "I am fine, Princess. Now, calm down, it is unbefitting to act in such a way."

Ana looked at him, "I was just apologizing."

He smiled and patted her arm, "You were but in a very... sporadic manner," he glanced at the Queen, "But I suppose for tonight you can be as sporadic as you please until we begin our lessons."

Anastasia nodded her head and smiled, "I suppose so."

She looked back to her mother, who seemed to be done conversing with Samsul. She stepped forward and toward her, "How much time do we have before the feast?"

Avatar: Return of the Air Benders

Nyima took a step back as he looked around the corner, peering around it herself. She pursed her lips when saw Mizuki and her brother walk to the house. She looked at him and crossed her arms as he mentioned that they would not be able to follow. She sighed, knowing full well that they couldn't. She made a face at the mention of wearing masks, "I hate those things... No better way of saying hey, look I'm suspicious, if you ask me."

She leaned back against the wall and looked at the house, "Matsen... He isn't the best. But he is good. Zhou knows how to deal with benders. Him being a water bender might through him off... And if we send in a non-bender... well they'd be toast."

She looked back at Rayn, "I'd trust him to keep up with them and bring back decent enough information on what you are doing... Then we could follow behind and wait for our chance to deal with her and the Avatar."
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Zenji looked over to the door as the two people on the other side introduced themselves. She walked over to the door and stood behind Masuto's shoulder, "Not friends, I assume..."

She looked up at them as it seemed the two of them were willing to and would be joining them on their adventure to make Masuto the Avatar. She smiled, "Well, aren't you two... jolly. I'm Zenji. I'm going to teach Masuto Airbending... to the best of my ability."

She looked at Masuto and smiled at him, "It seems to me that the people are flocking to help you. She looked at Kuei, "He might have a bit more of a load to carry now."