frost_jewel | 18. [voice/action]

18. [voice/action]

[There's a chill in the air and a smile on Mia's face as she gets herself ready for the day. For once, she isn't headed straight to work at the crack of wintry dawn; instead, she bundles up and puts a set of skates into her shoulder bag. Before she ducks out the door, she flips her journal open to leave the world a message.]

As Captain Sparrow has so generously provided a skating area in the village to use, I will be there this afternoon if anyone would like to learn how to skate. The weather is perfect for it today. [There's a break in the clouds - for a while - and a peek at the sun they haven't seen in days.] It's only a little tricky to learn, but I'm sure anyone can get the hang of it with a little practice.

[And off she goes! The morning is for Caius and Seto - one after the other - since she did promise them individually and neither is quite the type to learn while others are watching.]

[[ooc: This is set on the 18th, before the truly heavy snow sets in for the event!]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He grins back at her.]

Is this fine? I'm not using the word "bending" for too many things, right?

I don't think it matters what you choose to call tying your shoes. [Silly Aang.] Do you have skating in your world?

Not that I know of! How fun is it?

Well I think it's fun. That will have to be enough for you. Now be careful with those skates, they're thin and sharp and if you kick me I have no qualms about freezing you in place.

[Just for a moment or two. Finally beskated, Mia gets herself onto the ice and goes across and back once, smiling at Aang upon her return.]

Come on.

[He gives a meek grin and an assuring nods before he goes to follow her.]

Okay! [He looks down at the ice nervously.] I just... step on? How do the blades not cut the ice?

Well, they do cut it, just the tiniest bit. [She holds out her hands for his.] For now, I'm here to stop you from falling over or doing a split on your first step.

[He nods, then quietly reaches out for her hands.]

That's very nice of you. Thanks, Mia.

Ice is hard. [Skating lessons are no fun at all when your first brave step nets you a bloody nose.] Just step forward and find your balance before you bring your other foot away from the ground and onto the ice.

Balance. I should be able to handle that! [He smiles and with Mia's support, he starts to step forward, then gets his footing down with just a little shakiness, before preparing to step his other foot.]

[For someone who rides the air, he's endearingly timid about the ice. Mia stands steady until he has both feet out there together.]

Now just walk forward. You'll feel like you're slipping but I won't let you fall without me.

[Ice is a beast he hasn't had much opportunity ride yet okay? Plus he was still a little unsure about the blades.]

Okay!

[And yep, a few steps forward with increasing confidence.]

[She doesn't let go yet. It's no trouble at all to go backwards. Aang's hands don't feel like they really need to hold on for balance.]

Now instead of just walking, push off a little with your back foot when you take a step.

Alright... Here I go!

[He does follows her instruction and pushes himself forward a little, already being impressed.]

[She has to admit, he has smooth balance and isn't even wobbling. That's pretty excellent.]

I'm going to let go, then, but I won't go far. [And she releases his hands, backing away to the side slightly.]

Okay. [With a quick nod, he lets her hands release and does another push. Trying to get a feel for it... luckily balance and grace are fairly natural for him.]

Am I doing it right?

The only wrong way to do it is the one where you're on your face in the middle of the pond.

[He laughs.] Or if I'm on my butt! But I'll be careful!

[With some more confidence, he goes a little faster.]

It's easier to learn as a young child, unfortunately. The taller you are, the more likely it is that you will end up...falling over.

[She smoothed the ice with Psynergy though, so there's no risk of rough patches or too-thin spots.]

Oh, really? I knew I shouldn't've grown older! [He turns over to grin at her; it's weird sometimes to realize that he's taller then people. But this gives him a bit of a wobble that takes him a moment to correct, followed by a meek laugh.]

Nonsense. What would you do if you couldn't grow older?

[She has no idea that is soon to be her fate, when she returns home.]

Actually, there's a place in Weyard where that very thing sort of happens.

Just have fun all the time and worry less? ...Wait, what do you mean?

[And watch your friends and relatives grow up without you and move on?]

Unfortunately, being young does not erase one's place in the world, or her growing awareness of it. [Based on some things Aang has said, he knows this already.] There is an island where the spring water causes everyone to age much more slowly, so that a man of well over a century would still look to be...oh, about seventeen.

That's what I've heard, at least.

[He's just not putting that much thought into it!]

I know. It's just nice to imagine.

Wait, there is? Is that like being stuck in an iceberg?

[What.]

Well, I...I don't know. I think being in an iceberg would kill you. [One would freeze or suffocate.]

It would? [Pause, as he slides himself to a stop to ponder this.] Does that make me lucky?

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