Sweet Seals For You, Always
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Activity Check!
If you still plan to be an active member of Tributes for the Avatar, reblog Appa to count as your activity check!
Reblog this by February 1, or speak with me, or I’ll assume you are bowing out and your character will be assumed dead or detained (that can change if you wish to come back later).
Guide « Lee and Ronin
Ronin smiled, bowing his head in return. “I might just take you up on that.” He nodded a little, heading for the door. As he opened it, he startled slightly at the guards standing there, noting how they tensed at realizing he’d been alone in the room with Lee. Taking a glance back at Lee, he drew in a deep breath, standing at his full height and meeting the guard’s eyes.
"I appreciate your dedication, gentlemen," Ronin said evenly, using the kind of voice his father had tutored him in. Authoritative. "I can keep an eye on Mr. Takeda and escort him back to his rooms when I’m finished speaking with him."
The guards frowned, one of them speaking up. “We’ve been ordered not to leave him unprotected.”
Ronin cocked a brow, crossing his arms over his chest. “I do carry a gun,” He pointed out, patting his hip where it rested. “And the only person more capable in martial arts in the city is my father. Are you suggesting I’m incapable of ensuring Mr. Takeda stays safe?”
The guard cleared his throat. “We have our orders, sir.”
Ronin sized the man up, looking unimpressed. “I’ll be sure to let my father know about this, then. You can bring up with him why you don’t seem to trust his son.” That got a reaction out of the men, the two guards looking at eachother with a heavy sense of nervousness.
”..That’s not necessary, sir.” They bowed their heads in a quick jerk, nearly in unison, before heading off down the hall. When they were out of earshot, Ronin exhaled sharply, feeling giddy and a little excited. He met Lee’s eyes, whispering.
"They…they listened to me." He breathed, leaning against the wall. He couldn’t help but grin. He’d never abused his position like that before.
Lee watched as Ronin spoke to the guards, and new sense of confidence lingering in the young man's voice as he spoke. His stance and demeanour were likewise brimming with a confidence and authority that Lee studied with only mild disapproval. Commanding others to do as one said with no true need to do so could prove negative in the future, and Lee was not comfortable not following orders around this place. It seemed as if every step he took could be the wrong one, and so as Ronin spoke, he merely impassively stood still.
He looked quite unconcerned on the whole, but as Ronin leaned back against the wall in almost bliss at the fact that the guards had harkened to his words, he merely stated, "That have have been unwise, Ronin. I was under guard not only for protection, but for supervision. I am not sure that your father would approve of our association, and I have no wish to put either of us in danger. I know that was not your intention, but perhaps you must learn that some things simply must be until the opportune moment."
"But come, I do not wish to scold you, it is a beautiful day, shall we walk?"
Guide « Lee and Ronin
Ronin couldn’t help but smile, appreciating the man’s words, unable to help but flush under the praise. He was unaccustomed to such blatant compliments — it was something he hadn’t realized he’d been missing. “Thank you, Lee.” Calling him by his first name felt improper, but he obliged.
"I’ve had….a rough time, lately." Ronin could only abbreviate what he meant, grimacing at the thought. "And I’m a poor excuse of an Avatar. But…I don’t …want to be like that. Not anymore.”
"If you are lost, it would be my honour to aid you in finding your way," Lee offered with a small respectful dip of his head, but he was glad that his words had put the Avatar in good cheer. The young man needed confidence in himself, and since he was born in the Fire Nation, Lee almost assumed that he would already have confidence--much like his brother, Tybalt.
Guide « Lee and Ronin
The younger Takeda brother frowned just slightly as Ronin mentioned Koh, but his expression softened as he murmured, “Well, you still have your face, so you must have remained calm… I’m proud of you for that, Avatar Ronin, not many would be up to that challenge.”
"We should get you some water, perhaps some food as well. How long were you in the Spirit realm?"
"Not calm," Ronin managed a laugh. "Just…kept my expression in check. I was terrified…"He trailed off, feeling a warm little flutter in his stomach at the praise. At the mention of food, he grimaced, standing up, his legs stiff with protest. He glanced at the window, trying to judge the time of day. "Since morning," he said after a moment. It was late afternoon now, the sun dipping past it’s highest point.
"You don’t have to…call me ‘Avatar, Mr. Takeda… I’m just…Ronin." He smiled weakly, rubbing his face and leaning on the nearest wall. His stomach clenched at the thought of food, but he knew he needed it. "I went in thinking he was going to steal my face." Ronin mumbled, barely audible. It made him feel ashamed now, throwing himself into something he was sure he’d fail. He had just wanted it to be over, to make some small last-ditch effort, even if he knew he couldn’t survive.
"One can only be brave when scared, you should be proud of yourself," Lee offered with a small smile, standing along with the Avatar, though he noted that he was slightly shorter than the Avatar. The Takeda men were not known for their height, that was certain. Still, it was good to see that the young man was growing both physically and spiritually. Lee had never before met the Avatar, during his own games Ronin was just a baby, and had not yet been found by Tobias and his ilk.
"I will call you Ronin if you call me Lee," the fire bender suggested as he patted Ronin on the shoulder in a comforting gesture. "You held yourself together even though you thought you would fail... that does take courage, though it was reckless. I should hope you put more faith in yourself after this test. You can do more than you thought you were able, Ronin; that has to count for something."
Guide « Lee and Ronin
Ronin eventually let go, flushing a little when he realized he was practically hanging off of Lee. He sat back a little, rubbing his eyes, wetting his lips, long gone dry from thirst. How long had he been sitting here?
"Exhausted." Ronin admitted, running his fingers through his hair, meeting Lee’s eyes. "But…better. I…" he trailed off, wondering briefly if he could trust Lee. But the man…he was Tybalt’s brother, and he had helped Ronin. That had to count for something. "I visited Koh the Face Stealer."
The younger Takeda brother frowned just slightly as Ronin mentioned Koh, but his expression softened as he murmured, "Well, you still have your face, so you must have remained calm... I'm proud of you for that, Avatar Ronin, not many would be up to that challenge."
"We should get you some water, perhaps some food as well. How long were you in the Spirit realm?"
{ｆｉｒｅ ｂｅｎｄｅｒｓ}
Lee Takeda, Guide (x)
Tybalt Takeda, Rendezvous (x)
Aglaea Murata, Not Quite An Apology (x)
Daxus Murata, Festival Lights (x)
Guide « Lee and Ronin
Ronin jerked at the sudden feeling of reconnecting strongly with Lee. He took off at a run, feeling for him — relief washing over him as he recognized signs of the place he had come in. He sat back in the place he had been initially, closing his eyes and breathing deep. “I hope this works." He had to struggle to focus as spirits circled him, reaching towards him with open paws and hands.
In the real world, he seemed to jolt awake, his eyes fluttering open and shut before the light faded away. He sagged against Lee, as if he couldn’t hold his own weight, his breath coming in fast, shaky. He gripped tight to Lee’s hands, the solid contact comforting. “I …am I here?” Ronin asked, trying to orient himself.
"You are here, Avatar," Lee replied with a small smile as the young man leaned against him, still holding his hands. It was strange to think of Ronin as the Avatar because he was so young, but Lee and his order had sworn to serve and protect the Avatar in times long past, and he would do what he could to aid him, regardless of his young age.
"How do you feel?"
Guide « Lee and Ronin
“Thank you, Mr. Takeda.” Ronin bowed his head respectfully. He could sort of sense the man coming out of his meditative state, though he fought to maintain a connection. He could still feel him. When he opened his eyes, he could almost still see the man.
In the real world, Ronin’s body was unmoving. His eyes were open, his legs crossed. His eyes glowed blue-white, his expression stony, not reflecting the distress he felt as he tried to fend off the spirits clamoring for his attention in the spirit world.
Lee moved to his feet, but still maintained his meditative state of mind. When he left his own room, his guards followed him, one at each side for supervision purposes. Lee was still a powerful bender, and because of his strong resentment of his own bending (at least publicly), he was allowed to remain off Tethalene with a heavy guard. He was more heavyset than Tybalt and presumably without practice in bending since the games, so he was thought much more compliant than his hot-headed brother.
He checked in most of the unlocked guest room before he managed to catch a glimpse of Ronin. He left the guards outside as he moved in, not letting them see Ronin in this vulnerable state. He took up a meditative position in front of Ronin, matching how he sat, and took Ronin's hands gingerly in his own as he continued his meditation. "You are here, Avatar Ronin."
Guide « Lee and Ronin
Ronin raised his hands to wave off the man’s respectful posture. The name was familiar, though. “Tybalt’s brother? It’s nice to…meet you." Ronin thought for a moment. "Through meditation, yes. But the spirit world looks like a thick forest. In the waking world, I’m in one of the empty guest rooms…I’m not sure if you’re familiar with that wing of the building.”
Ronin could hear the clamor of spirits returning.
"Tybalt's brother, yes," Lee replied, though with a small roll of his eyes. It seemed that even when conversing with the Avatar through a vision he could not escape his brother's shadow. It was perhaps better that way, he knew, but to be seen for his own person rather than an extension of his brother was something only his wife and children seemed to be able to grasp.
"I am in one of the guest rooms, currently, so you may be closer than you think. If you wish, however, I will attempt to find my way to your body so that you may not linger in the spirit world too long," Lee said with another small bow before he started to lull himself out of his meditative state. Most people would think a vision was simply a vision, but Lee--regardless of how silly he might look--would not simply turn away a vision concerning the avatar.
Guide « Lee and Ronin
Ronin’s relief washed over him like a breath of air. "I’m not sure how to explain it." His image flickered and began to pace. "And I don’t know if you can help. But I’m…lost. I’m…the spirit world is unfamiliar to me. I can’t find where I came in.” The man’s calm helped, helped him maintain some semblance of calm of his own.
"I don’t know who you are but you must be…close, physically. Can you help me?"
The voice of the young man was similarly familiar, and finally the realization that this man must be the avatar hit him harder than he anticipated. His own self within this vision almost immediately made the sign of respect and bowed to Ronin before he answered him.
"I am Lee Takeda, Avatar Ronin, forgive me for not recognizing you sooner..." he replied, straightening up before he continued, "You entered the spirit world through your body, yes? Through meditation? Then your body will be the place you need to return to. Do you know where you were meditating?"
Guide « Lee and Ronin
Lost in the spirit world, Ronin found himself increasingly trailed by spirits who were eager to seek his audience or simply touch him. He couldn’t bend here, finding it difficult to travel. He knew he needed to find a connection, something to guide him back to the physical world.
He found it in a ghost-like form of a man he didn’t recognize. It took him a moment to realize the man was not physically there. Is he meditating? Ronin wondered. Using as much focus as he could, he pushed the spirits back and knelt by the man, reaching out to his ghostly figure to try and make a connection.
Where Lee meditated, an image appeared behind his closed eyelids. Ronin stood in the blackness, hovering as if he had no space to stand. His body was aglow, his eyes white. “Please,” He said, his voice sounding far away. ”I need help.”
It may have been said that Lee's mind was awash with calm tranquility, but the sensation was more of a warm glow than the steady ebb and flow or waves. Small flickers like a flame being kept warm by one accustomed to handling fire lay centered in his mind before the image came to him of a boy. He was sure he had never met him previously, but Lee felt that he knew him.
"I will aid you as I can," Lee replied through his mind, still maintaining him tranquil thoughts as a sharp contrast to the chaotic tendencies of the spirit world. "What do you need help with?"
Avatar Fighting Style #327
Shoulder Chi Grip
Collection Time || Lee
Finch waited patiently; he knew that Lee would be on time. If therre was one thing he knew about the younger Takeda brother was that he was dependable. He was strong too; and dangerous. But much more manageable than Tybalt.
But, of course, Finch was counting on Tybalt’s unreined tendencies to cause the firebender to end up in his lab. He had such plans for Tybalt.
"Mr. Takeda, please make yourself comfortable." Finch took his own seat for the flight, looking over some papers involving the Games.
Lee took his seat, stowing his things below him. He settled back and closed his eyes, intent on meditating for the duration of the flight. He had never been good with "aeroplanes", and much preferred travel by boat or land, but seeing as the trip would take too long by boat, he understood the necessity to travel by air.
The only other times he had travelled by air was on his way to and from his own games, and those were not particularly fond memories.
His meditative state helped him connect to the world around him, as well as to his own innermost self, and helped to settle him in a way that Tybalt had never fully been able to. Lee knew that it was because Tybalt could not forgive himself for what he had done, while Lee had been able to make his peace with it over the years. They may have been brothers, but they were very different people.
Collection Time || Lee
"Yes." Finch nodded, just glad that the man was coming quietly enough. "You will be staying for at least the duration of the Games. And you know how those tend to run long, sometimes.” He kept his gaze on Lee, but his expression was nothing but polite. “Your stay shouldn’t last much longer than that.”
"Good," Lee replied, though not unkindly, seeming happy in the least that he had a good chance of getting home at a reasonable time if all went well. "I’ll go make the arrangements to travel, sir, if you’ll excuse me…" the bender continued before he arranged for a short bow of respect before he started to walk off to prepare for the trip.
Finch gave Lee a polite nod, watching the man walk away before he himslef left the school. He didn’t have anything to do until they left; but he did have a public image to maintain. If saying goodbye to his wife and kids made Lee happy, then chances were the firebender would be more compliant in the long run.
Especially since he might not come home for a while, depending on Tybalt’s behaviour.
Finch headed to the plane to wait then, knowing Lee would be on time.
Once he had packed and said good bye to his children, and kissed his wife's cheek despite her insistent protests, Lee arrived at the airfield, hefting a small duffle bag over his shoulder, not needing more than a change of clothing and a few baubles he wanted to keep with him.
"Mr. Finch," was all he said to greet the man who had come to retrieve him before he boarded the plane.
