* tread lightly

nukka | n. water tribe | 21

[bolxnukka]

❅ boiling

[bolxmeihua]

Republic City was always fascinating. No matter what time of day Mei Hua would step into the city, there was always something worth finding and experiencing. Unlike most days, Mei Hua opted to walk through the streets of Republic City by herself without her bison to accompany her. There were so many things she could do at the moment, but the question was what she could do.

As she brushed a hair strand out of her face, she looked straight ahead and saw a café nearby. “Perfect.” Mei Hua thought to herself as she entered inside thinking about what to get. Mei Hua was rather indecisive when it came to choices. If she had enough money, she would try all of them but that wasn’t the case. She sighed softly before feeling a touch on her shoulder. Turning towards the direction of the touch, she noticed a woman with a drink at hand. Mei Hua glanced at the drink for a brief moment before looking up.

“A fan?” Mei Hua repeated the words out loud. She knew the answer to the question, but in all honesty, Mei Hua wasn’t sure where in particular the fan was. She remembered seeing it a few times while passing through the vendors, but other than that she wasn’t of much help. “I remembered seeing one from the market vendors nearby.” She confessed as that was the only detail she could recall. 

[bolxnukka]

nukka doesn't miss the downward glance--years of quiet observation have left her sharpened to the sight of the smallest detail--plump lips curving as idea flickers behind sea flecked eyes. "well, would you mind directing me to the market?"

ice clinks as she adjusts the hold of the drink her hand, pointing it upward--an offerance for a sip, perhaps, if the woman was interested, or a display of what could be hers. "i'd love to treat you, for your trouble," she continues, drawing the straw back to herself for a cool sip. "that is, if you'd be ever so kind."

she hopes that the woman before her, eyes seemingly kind, will be quick about her acceptance or rejection of her question, shifting slightly. motion made the heat much easier to deal with, as if it struggled to touch her when she pushed her feet ahead, and so she wanted to get moving on again oncemore.

[bolxsura]

Large eyes suddenly glanced up at her, only to lower and look down. “I’m sorry.” He apologized quietly, exhaling slowly as he tried to calm down, biting his lip. “You two make me nervous. I react badly because of it. That’s all.”  "I’m not used to living with anyone, I’ve almost always been by myself, so … it’s hard for me." He frowned and looked away, his hands fidgeting. Of course, he could say that he felt dread every time he entered his apartment because he always irritated them even when it was unintentional, but… he didn’t want to get in trouble. Since that’s where he was headed, too. Nevertheless, even if it backfired onto him, he wanted to explain himself; as best he could, anyway. His head bowed a little shamefully. “I’m not used to women touching me … so … I react badly to that too. So I’m sorry.” 

[bolxnukka]

"it's fine, sura," she replies, sounds bounding on the tail of a fox's smile, hands still persistently rubbing wrists. "i simply forgot i was in the presence of one so... sensitive... fragile, like spring ice-- so i'm sorry."

her gaze drops as the male continues, uninterested eyes examining the details of her hands and fingers, smooth and unfazed by the years that had gone by.  it's a bit irritating, how they simply can't move forward; especially considering how she's already said her part.  why did he insist on babbling?

when the peace of silence finally remains unbroken, diplomacy's mask slips off--just the slightest--of nukka's fine features, making way as she quips, words cool and minced, "does that mean you'll stop?"

[bolxsura]

He didn’t mean to be stiff and uptight. He didn’t want to be like that, but after years and years of him being enforced to, it was a little hard to get rid of as soon as he left it. He blinked down as the kitten swiped at him, about to coo the kitten to stop when it was getting taken away. He gave a small frown, though said nothing and turned back, turning the tap on as he waterbended the flow easily into the pan at the stove in front of him, filling it up. He was making ramen for himself, and his stomach seemed happy at the thought. 

[bolxnukka]

with a gentle caress, the woman moves the kitten to rest on her shoulder, watching the dull, small backside of sura in silence. a moment of thought passes between the sound of small breaths, hovering by her ear and the growing sensation of worthlessness; that this moment is one not worth continuing. and so she turns, feet slapping on the ground with an amount of carelessness the waterbender has been growing more comfortable with showing, walking to her room. perhaps she'd go out, perhaps she'd enjoy the chill of the four walls, which she had gone to such care constructing--anything's better than standing in unwanted silence.

[swagatherie]

[bolxnukka]

❅ boiling

the first thing that strikes her about republic city is the heat.  

it's not of the oppressive, soul-crushing kind--the kind she's been told to look forward to when they reach the fire nation--but the kind that seeps; into hair, into her cheeks, into every single pore of her being with an infuriating slowness.  she unbinds her hair, runs a hand through dark locks, reminding herself not to forget her mission:

a fan.  she wants to purchase a fan.  

tying it back up again, the girl treks on--trying to ignore the feeling that sinks in along with the warmth--the sentiment of getting lost.  it's not like there's anywhere to be right now, the bender persists, so in technicality, she's following her plans.  going in the general direction of no where.  finding a fan.  she's following them brilliantly, doing just fine--

the sun dances in the middle of the sky when she decides she's done bullshitting herself, popping into a cafe to purchase a container of iced oolong tea before tapping the shoulder of an apparent stranger.  she smiles over her drink, face and tones nothing short of polite.  

"excuse me, but do you have any idea where one could buy a fan?  the mechanical variety, i mean."

[bolxsura]

Sura rolled his eyes into the roof at Nukka’s comment, only to stare down at the cat arching it’s back into his leg. With a sharp intake of breath, his nose crinkled at it in distaste. He wasn’t going to lie, he supposed it was… quite cute, but, cuter than him? Why was everyone so against him? He huffed, picking the cat up and cradled it in his arms, wondering if it was hungry as a pale finger massaged it’s ear. “… Maybe it’s hungry …” He mumbled. “I don’t appreciate you just bringing stray animals home, but I like this one. It doesn’t insult me.”

[bolxnukka]

the waterbender's lips press in the expression of a slight pout--the boy before her bore only nineteen years on her shoulders, yet insisted on acting with the stiffness of their tribe elders; it's dreadfully boring, almost aggravating to be by.  she's drawn out of the harrowing observation by the sound of a small yowl, hand raising to her mouth to barely conceal the laugh that bounds out of it.  it's only when the kitten in sura's arms--which had started struggling the moment the male had snuck a finger under the fold of the creature's ears--begins to swipe with hollow claws that she shifts to take the animal from the boy.  "i hope your opinion of this darling hasn't changed," she teases, pressing a small kiss on the kitten's temple.  

[bolxnilak]

< ` spares a laugh at her words, wholly unaffected as he lifts a hand to rub at the back of his neck absently, eyes rolling in response > ah, i remember the good ol’ days when you’d cry whenever i step out for too long. < ` snorts softly as he reaches out, ruffling his younger sister’s hair roughly > a few blocks away from here — it’s so easy to lure in these things with some bread crumbs. < ` shakes his head > gullible little things. are you going to keep it? < ` furrows his brows slightly > actually are pets even allowed on that ship?

[bolxnukka]

( ` corners of her lips, eyes narrowing to leave the impression of an unamused flounder--a stupid reaction to something she still shyly liked.  reaches out to take nilak's hand when she notices a streaks of pink against dusky tones, pulling it closer to scrutinise )  well since you worked hard, i have to keep it. ( ` thumb passes over the marks, shallow but endearing ) i'll figure something out later--for now, let's get you both washed up. ( ` releases her twin's hand to scoop up the kitten, pressing it to her chest and sniffing--not bad--lips curve into a small smile ) since your methods failed you a little.

[bolxsura]

Sura’s eyes widened when her face was cupped, only for his nostrils to flare with the snide insults. He huffed, his hands curling around her wrists to pull them away, his shoulders raising at being touched by a girl. “I-I’m fine, more than fine. I wasn’t insinuating anything, I was… re-iterating.” His eyes stared away only to flicker back to her, grumbling through pink lips. “There’s no words to describe Nilak anyway, at least no words that wouldn’t get me in trouble.” 

[bolxnukka]

brows raise, wide open setting of her eyes closing slightly.  to be treated like something dirty, when simply teasing--a door slams shut behind the surface and it's evident in her face politeness is something she wears when annoyed.  or hurt.  it's hard to read on her and hard for her to read.  "yeah?  okay."  fingers reach to rub at her own wrists as she huffs, cool tone verging on the edge of annoyed, "i don't get why you're still babbling on about my brother like that, as if you want to get in trouble.  because that's where you're headed." 

[bolxsura]

"YOU’RE EVEN WORSE." He scowls, eyelashes slanting down at the cat, a small huff escaping plump lips. "But can it do this—" 

"… Nevermind. Forget I ever did that."

[bolxnukka]

( ` snickers, too pleased with boy's reaction ) ... ( ` turns around, wrist flicking upwards when her eyes rest on the nearest source of water--a half full glass--tugging it to wrap around her hand ) nilak, close your eyes so i can heal them of that horrible sight!! ( ` trololol ) 

[bolxsura]

Sura cringed a little, shaking his head and looking away. “I’m not the type to go oogling at girls like some kind of-” He pauses midway, before he gets in trouble. “… I’m a decent human being. Look, I’m talking to you right now, and you’re a girl. I’m perfectly… perfectly fine.”

[bolxnukka]

like some kind of what? ( ` tilts her head only to snort ) ei-- you're learning to quit while you're ahead.  i'm proud of you-- only took nineteen years for that lesson to stick.  ( ` places her hands on the boy's cheeks, squishing them with slight fondness )   hmm, are you fine though?  are you really?  repetition insinuates the need to reassure me of something you find false. 

[bolxnilak]

< ` smirks at the obvious shift of interest in his sister — nilak knew her better than anyone, after all > you’ll see. < ` opens the door to their apartment a bit bigger before pressing his lips together to whistle lightly, moving his foot behind the feline that had followed him the last few blocks > probably would be more fluffy if you gave it a bath though.

[bolxnukka]

( ` lips crack into a grin ) and just when republic city couldn't get any better-- ( ` draws herself from the couch she'd been laying upon, tossing the magazine she had been perusing to wander over to the feline ) -- you manage to surprise me.  not so lacking, nilak. ( ` offers it her hand to sniff before tentatively reaching to scratch under its chin, biting her tongue to withhold the coo that bubbles in her mouth the moment she hears it begin to purr ) where'd you find this little snowdrop? 

[bolxnukka]

nukka…guess what i found on the street.

( ` looks her twin up and down, interest piquing and brows raising as she detects the air of something worth interest ) is it cute?  no wait, is it fluffy? ( ` cute is too open to an assortment of things ) 

[bolxsura]

sura talking to girls like

[bolxnukka]

( ` snorts, slightest of smirks dancing on her lips ) hasn't sticking to nilak the way you do taught you nothing, su? 

[bolxnukka]

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER WHEN YOU ARE IN A BAD MOOD?

depends—why am i in a bad mood?  without that information, i can’t really tell you anything… ( ` words wander off as she stares at the small presence before her )  what are you?  a spirit? ( ` reaches to clasp metal arms, stretching and turning the limbs about )  can i keep you as a pet?  or, no— ( ` eyes curve, mischief dancing in their glimmer ) — do you have any experience catching polar bear dogs?