#storytime: the air nomad

[kyoshi-lesbians]

The Air Nation and Airbending After the 100 Years War

This amazing art by @kiaraazulu  and @textsfromyourtesis headcanons have me thinking about not just Air Nation Ty Lee but like… how airbending becomes practiced again 

So according to Avatar Wiki the air nomads had such a high proportion of benders because bending is directly tied to their spirituality 

Since it’s been so dangerous for air nomads to practice & pass down their ways, air bending is very very rare among the diaspora of air nomads (and their descendants who might not know anything about their heritage)

(the hidden air nomad communities around the globe still have many airbenders) 

After the war it finally becomes safer for air nomads to practice their culture openly (not completely safe, and not right away, because 100 of oppression isn’t gonna go away overnight) 

but the fully realized Avatar is a proud Air Nomad and the fire nation is decolonizing, the soldiers are leaving, its safer for them than it has been in 4 generations

Ty lee spends a lot of time after the war with her grandmother & mom, who tell her and her sisters all of their history and teaches them things that she felt were too dangerous to pass on before

Once Aang learns about ty lee’s family, he visits them and ends up staying with them for like a month

(He counts meeting ty lee’s grandma as one of the happiest moments in his life)

(Ty lee’s grandma counts meeting him as one of the happiest moments in her life) 

That month is spent swapping stories and recipes and dances and bending techniques… and processing their individual and collective trauma from the genocide of their people 

But they’re together now −  Aang isn’t the last of the air nomads. There’s so much healing and joy and celebration

It turns out that one of the women who raised Nanna was from the Southern Air Temple and Aang knew her when they were kids and this knowledge sorta. Cracks them open, ya know? 

Ty lee’s grandma is an airbender, and her bending style is super interesting due to all the natural fire bending influence

(oh also ty lee’s mom is a firebender with a lot of influence from airbending techniques? Have i mentioned this before? Okay that’s for later) 

Aang learns about the air nomad communities across the globe & that there are more families who have kept their heritage 

And this is when the mission to reconnect/ rebuild the air nation rly starts! 

(i am chucking lok canon out the window if you can’t tell lol)

Aang, ty lee, and ty lee’s grandma first travel to the remote air bending communities (Nanna is an airbender so she’s still very mobile at her old age) sorta catch them up to speed on where the world is at with the whole −  peace −  thing (some of these places are really isolated from the rest of the world, by necessity) and the communities begin establishing stronger communication with each other and the rest of the world

They also go town to town looking for air nation families who want to learn more about their culture. There’s already been an uptick in the amount of people reconnecting to their Air Nation heritage, and they create resources for doing that, sharing history, helping build community temples, and facilitating travel to the remote air nomad communities 

With so many people reconnecting to air nation spirituality, some people discover they have airbending abilities!

(harmonic convergence WHO that isn’t needed here) 

Many of these new airbenders choose to spend time studying airbending in one of the diaspora communities. Travel between these communities becomes frequent, much like the Air Nomads used to visit the various air temples

It takes years, but some of the original air temples get fixed up and become homes again. the Eastern Air temple is the first one

(the same temple is where ty lee’s great grandma is from :’)  ) 

The Air Nation isn’t the same as before Sozin’s comet. They’re a diaspora and the communities developed specific cultural differences. But change happens. They’re here, and they’re who they’re supposed to be 

[thinkingisadangerouspastime]

love

Written for Day 7 of @aangweek! Read here on AO3.

~*~

7. love - don’t got nowhere to go / so we’ll go with the flow / yeah, we’re living the life / sippin’ on sunshine

“I can help clean,” Aang offered as Iroh began clearing their group’s cups and plates from the circular wooden table.

Iroh chuckled, shaking his head. “There’s no need -”

“I insist,” Aang interrupted, standing and collecting his own dishes. “It’s the least I can do to thank you for closing the shop early so we could be together without politicians and paparazzi peering over our shoulders.”

“There’s no use arguing with him,” Toph commented before Iroh could protest further. “Once Twinkle Toes decides to help someone, nothing will change his mind. Accept your fate, Iroh.”

Katara laughed along with the rest of their friends, and Aang gave them a guilty grin.

“Hey, I learned from my wife-to-be,” he teased, pressing a kiss to Katara’s forehead. “Never turn my back on people who need me!”

Katara rolled her eyes at his comment, but she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Aang and Iroh gathered the last of the group’s dishes before disappearing into the kitchen.

Zuko hummed in contentment, draping an arm around Mai’s shoulders. “I wish we could meet up like this more often. Be together without all the chaos.”

Today had involved an annual meeting of important representatives from all four nations, this year hosted by the Earth King. In other words, Katara knew, it was a very rare opportunity for their friend group to reunite in full. Only after the day’s politics had ended, of course.

Sokka snorted. “I agree, but you’ve gotta admit it’s pretty much impossible for this to be a regular event.”

“Ember Island is always open for an impromptu vacation,” Mai reminded them, earning more laughter from the group.

“I might take you up on that soon,” Suki mused, pulling her hair out of its ponytail and shaking her head. “A vacation is sounding more and more attractive with every second.”

Katara allowed herself a breathy sigh. “Spirits, if I could get Aang to take a vacation…” She snorted. “That would be the day.” Her fiancé was notoriously stubborn about working until he dropped. In fact, there was only one other person whose work ethic could compare.

Mai chuckled. “Zuko is exactly the same. Always working himself into the ground.”

Ah, yes. There it was.

Toph snickered. “Sounds like a match made in the Spirit World. Are you guys sure Zuko and Aang shouldn’t be the ones getting married next month?”

Zuko flushed a shade of scarlet as bright as his fire. “I’m sitting right here, you know.”

Katara bit her tongue to hold back a snicker as Toph grinned at him. “Yes, I’m very aware.” Her grin narrowed into a sly smirk. “You’re sitting right here, and yet you deny nothing.”

Sokka burst out laughing, lightly elbowing Zuko in the ribs. “She’s got you there, hotman.”

Mai snorted at the nickname before giving Katara a play-sympathetic look. “Master Katara, how do you cope with the fact that my husband and yours-to-be are in love with each other?”

Katara sighed, leaning back in her chair and pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. “Oh, it was incredibly difficult for me to come to terms with.” She wiped an imaginary tear from her eye. “After I learned they’d kissed, I thought I’d never -”

“Oh, Agni,” Zuko groaned, burying his face in his hands at the same time Toph exclaimed, “Sparky and Twinkle Toes have kissed?!”

Katara couldn’t feign her melodrama any longer, letting herself succumb to a fit of intense laughter that made her entire upper body shake.

“Yes, they have,” Mai confirmed with a smirk. “It was hilarious, and I will never let Zuko hear the end of it.”

Zuko stared dead into the distance, his empty expression screaming that he’d rather be anywhere but there. “You’re going to tell them the story, aren’t you.”

The melancholic certainty with which he spoke was enough to make Katara snicker once more as she gave Mai a knowing glance, but before the Fire Lady could respond, Sokka spoke.

“Of course they’re going to tell us the story,” he scoffed. “The Avatar and the Fire Lord kissing? That’s the kind of thing you pass on forever to future generations!”

Suki laughed. “You sound way too invested for someone who has also kissed the Avatar,” she teased, smirking at her boyfriend.

Katara raised an eyebrow in amusement. Now that was news to her. “You did what, Sokka?”

Blood rushed to her brother’s face. “Not on the lips!” he squawked, crossing his arms over his chest. “I am just very comfortable in my feminine side around Aang.” He tapped his cheek. “So yes, we have technically kissed, but not like that.”

“To be fair, I’m pretty sure we’ve all been on the receiving end of Aang’s affection in some way or another,” Suki conceded. “That’s just his way of expressing love.”

A smile flitted onto Katara’s lips at her friend’s words. She knew most of all, perhaps, how Aang inclined towards physical affection. He was especially fond of kissing the tip of her nose.

“Really?” Sokka said, bewildered. “What, does he have a ‘thing’ with each one of us?”

Suki shrugged. “I mean, I guess so?” She smirked at their group. “Aang and I have a special, top-secret handshake. That’s our thing.”

Katara laughed. “I remember when Aang was just beginning to figure out the motions he wanted to include in your handshake.” She held her own hands up in joking surrender. “I was never privy to the final product, of course. Only experimental aspects.”

Sokka pouted. “First of all, I am hurt that I was never told this handshake existed. And second” - wounded, he placed a hand over his heart - “how come I don’t have a handshake with him?”

Suki rolled her eyes. “Babe, you said yourself that your thing with Aang is cheek kisses.”

Sokka appeared unconvinced. “Yeah, but I’m not the only one who gets cheek kisses from him.” He jutted his thumb towards his sister. “Katara gets them all the time!”

“Katara is also going to marry him, Snoozles,” Toph said with a snort. “I don’t think it’s totally off-base to consider she might have a few additional privileges compared to the rest of us.”

“Katara might be the one who snagged the Avatar,” Mai drawled, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, “but I think it’s safe to assume that everyone in here had a crush on Aang at some point in their life.”

Katara burst out laughing both at Mai’s declaration and the different forms of denial that followed. She’d long since accepted the reality that Aang’s charm meant many people would fall for him. And if anything, it made her feel even luckier that she was the one preparing for a wedding.

Mai appeared to thrive on the chaos she’d incited. The Fire Lady had clearly been spending more - maybe too much - time with Aang. “I don’t know why you’re all so up in arms about this,” she commented, studying her nails. “When I saw him dressed up for Zuko and I’s wedding, I wondered if I was marrying the right man after all.”

Zuko choked at her words, and Mai laughed as she patted him on the back. “Kidding. But I did think Aang was the best-looking man at the reception.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Zuko, who sighed, shoulders slumping. “No, I agree with her.” He flushed, his eyes dropping to the table. “Aang was definitely the most attractive person there.”

Katara remembered that outfit of her fiancé’s fondly. Saffron robes that danced the line between classy and casual, as fitting for an Air Nomad Avatar. And perhaps she recalled the attire begrudgingly, too, as it had attracted both wanted and unwanted attention towards her then-boyfriend at the reception.

“I’ll admit my heart fluttered the first time Aang returned to Kyoshi Island after the war,” Suki mused. “I hadn’t expected him to get so tall.”

Sokka gave his girlfriend an affronted look. “Wait a minute. Wasn’t I there -”

Suki silenced him with a finger over his lips. “Sokka. We both spent that weekend discussing how hot Aang had gotten. Don’t deny it.”

Katara raised an eyebrow at her brother. “You were planning to make some moves on Aang?”

Sokka’s face reddened. “You know what?” he finally said. “Maybe in another life. I’ll leave it at that.”

“You’ve been awfully quiet, Toph,” Mai commented, giving the earthbender a small smirk. “When did you realize you had a crush on ‘Twinkle Toes’?”

Toph crossed her arms over her chest, which Katara noted with amusement did nothing to hide the rosy blush coloring her friend’s cheeks. “Never. Because unlike all of you, I’m blind and therefore cannot be affected by Aang’s so-called ‘good looks.’”

“Aw, but Aang is so much more than his looks,” Katara teased, unable to remain out of the chaos Mai had incited any longer. “What got you, Toph? His voice? His jokes? His incessant kindness towards anyone and anything?”

Toph opened her mouth before slamming it shut. “Fine,” she grumbled. “I’ll tell you. On one condition.” She pointed at Zuko. “I still want to know how Sparky and Aang locked lips.”

Mai snickered at her husband’s misfortune, and Katara herself couldn’t help but laugh as Zuko muttered a variety of curses under his breath.

“An easy deal,” Katara agreed. “Now tell us - what got you?”

Toph exhaled a resigned sigh. “His voice,” she grumbled, and the table burst into another round of laughter and cheers. Really, they were lucky that Iroh or even Aang himself hadn’t returned to investigate all the noise.

“Honestly, no one can blame you there,” Sokka remarked, shaking his head. “Who could have predicted Aang would grow up the way he did?”

Katara raised an eyebrow at her brother, though she doubted the expression was as intimidating as she intended it to be. “Really?”

“Okay, well, except for you -”

“Enough chatter!” Toph interrupted, slamming a fist on the table. A smirk pulled at her lips. “Sparky? Storytime?”

Zuko groaned. “Remember how I said I wished we could all meet up more often?” He shook his head. “I take it back.”

Suki laughed. “Stop whining and get on with the story, Zuko.”

“Or else I’ll tell it for you,” Mai added, slipping her hand into her husband’s. Katara couldn’t deny the story would be funnier if Mai told it, as she’d already heard it a dozen times from her friend.

Zuko sighed. “It’s not even an exciting story.” He rolled his eyes. “I was going over some paperwork with Aang and Mai. At one point, Aang was called away for - for Avatar business, or something.” He huffed. “Aang went to give me a ‘goodbye kiss’” - Zuko pointed to his forehead - “because that’s his ‘thing’ with me, I guess. But I didn’t realize what he was doing, so I looked up to ask him a question, and we -”

“- and you accidentally kissed?” Sokka finished flatly. “Aw, man! That is boring.” He shook his head in disappointment. “Such a letdown.”

“What Zuko conveniently forgets to mention every time he tells this story,” Mai said, amused, “is that he leaned into the kiss.”

Toph burst out laughing as Zuko adamantly protested that no, he had not, no matter what his wife said. “So,” the earthbender said amidst her snickers, “what I’m hearing is that Zuko never really got over his crush on Aang?”

“No, he did not,” Mai mused. “But it’s not like I can hold that against him. Having a crush on Aang is perfectly understandable.”

“If it’s any consolation, Zuko,” Katara said, resting her elbows on the table and placing her chin atop her hands as she gave the firebender a devilish grin, “Aang thinks you’re a pretty good kisser.”

Her comment set their group off for the umpteenth time, and Katara snickered at the rollercoaster of emotions roaring over Zuko’s face. There was nothing better than sparking a little chaos every now and then, was there?

Huh. Aang had rubbed off on her, too. She supposed being engaged to him would do that.

“Uh… I feel like I missed something here?”

Katara bit the inside of her cheek to contain her laughter as Aang dropped into his seat beside her. “Oh, no. You didn’t miss anything.”

Aang stared with a mixture of amusement and bewilderment at their friends, who were yet to collect themselves. “Are you sure? What did you guys talk about without me?”

Katara hummed noncommittally, shrugging. “Nothing special.” She pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. “Just how much we love you.”

~*~

more of aang being adored by his friends in fanworks 2k21, please and thank you. i hope you enjoyed my collection of ficlets for the week, and as always - thank you for reading!

[bebepac]

Ghost Girl

This is the 10th chapter of The Life of Riley.  To catch up on what’s been gong on, please click 

HERE

Riley Brooks and the Royal Family (via newscast) belong to Pixelberry.  Jason, Ren, and Jaiden Brooks are my own characters, along with Mrs. Raven, Tucker Adams and Mr. and Mrs Adams.  

We’re doing another age jump.  Riley starts this chapter as 7, but ends the chapter age 13.  Hence why this is a longer chapter,  most happens as she’s younger.  

Ok this one hits a little close to home for me, because there is a heavy bullying theme in this chapter. I was bullied a lot growing up.  I moved from the North (Long Island, NY)  to the South,  (North Carolina) so I was picked on for my accent being different from the southerners.  I wasn’t skinny so that was a picking point, and I was a nerdy, and  made really good grades, and on top of that I developed early and got my bra strap popped by a boy so hard one time, it broke. I even used a line that one of my bullies said to me here.  This was in grade school  and i won’t say my age, but I still remember it clear as day.  I asked him.  “Why do you hate me?”   His response was “Because you exist.”   This one was a tough one you guys.  

Word Count: 3325

Summary: Riley has show and tell at school, Riley is bullied by one of her classmates.  

Warnings:  Profanity, bullying, blood, broken nose, funeral of a character.  Oh and if you’re weirded out about the supernatural aspect of Jaiden being around I guess that’s worth a mention.  

Tagging: @queenjilian @dcbbw @loveellamae @bbrandy2002 @nomadics-stuff

@kimmiedoo5 @kingliam2019 @cordonianroyalty @lodberg @aestheticartwriting @glaimtruelovealways @custaroonie @janezillow  @annekebbphotography @queencordonia @cordonia-gothqueen @atha68 @lovemychoices @my0123456789universe @indiacater @losingbraincellseveryday @yukinagato2012 @furiousherringoperatortoad @marietrinmimi @sevenfuckslefttogive @queen-arabella-of-cordonia @flutistbyday2020 @mrsdrakewalkerblog @xpandabeardontcarex @acanthisorbis @axwalker @texaskitten30​

“RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYY!!!!” The woman’s voice screamed.

Then Riley heard her own voice in a way that she’d never heard it before.  Her voice was heavy, incredibly full of panic and pain.  Her heart raced in her chest.  

“Poor kid…her life will never be the same, if she ever wakes up..” She heard him say.  She felt a pin prick to her arm, and all the voices faded away.

Riley always knew she was different from her parents.  From an early age, she had always noticed some insensitive looks when she called her Mom “Mommy or her Dad, Daddy,” out in public.  It shouldn’t have been that way… but it was.  

Riley had light brown skin when her parents well…. didn’t.  Riley’s sweet smile would brighten the darkest night.  Ren had braided her hair tight round the crown of her head, and had adorable  ringlet curls falling  down her back.  Even though Ren didn’t know much about Riley’s hair type at first, her mom made sure she was an expert on it, as Riley aged.  

Riley hopped off the bus, and leaped into the arms of her mother.

“My Jumping Jelly Bean!” Ren exclaimed, pulling Riley close, kissing her on both cheeks blowing raspberries. Riley’s high pitched giggle was so infectious her mother found herself chuckling too. She put her back down and took her hand.  Riley walked with her mom swinging their arms.  

Riley was at the breakfast nook working on homework when her dad walked in wearing his police officer  uniform.  Ren  busied herself chopping vegetables next to her.

“Is that for me?!?!?!?!” Riley exclaimed happily as she saw her dad standing in the doorway, with a bouquet of flowers in one hand, and a plush teddy bear in the other.  She jumped up and down finding it hard to contain her excitement.  

“It sure is!!!!”  He instead held out the bouquet of flowers to Riley.  “Here you go Jelly Bean.”

Ren giggled.  “For the most beautiful princess in the whole wide world.”

Disappointment filled in Riley’s eyes, as she glanced at the teddy bear in her dad’s right hand.

“Jelly Bean,” he had a huge smile on his face, as he put the plush toy on the counter, “One day when you think you are all grown up, you will start liking boys.”

Riley made an ugly face, and said “Ewwwwwwwwww!” Sticking out her tongue.  Her father doubled over in laughter.   “Please stay exactly like this forever.  But if a boy you like one day does not bring you flowers for no reason, he doesn't deserve your heart.  You are my beautiful princess Riley, but the one who captures your heart, he should be a King, to make you his Queen.  You deserve nothing less than that, my darling beautiful girl.”

Her father handed her the stuffed animal that she quickly took and hugged it tightly to her chest.  Before he gave the flowers to Ren though, he gently pulled out one of the roses from the bouquet and handed it to her.

Every time from that day on, if Riley’s dad brought her mom flowers, Riley got flowers as well.   Ren decided to get her a vase to keep all the perfectly dried flowers in.  

Riley’s mom helped her put on her pajamas and climb into bed.  

“Time to dream,” she said softly tucking her in and giving her eskimo kisses.  Riley giggled.

“We love you to the moon and back again, Jelly Bean.”  Jason gently stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.  

Riley snuggled down into the covers feeling loved and fell quickly asleep.

Riley had trouble making friends.  Jason never understood why.  Riley was so sweet and kind and playful.  He would find out though that next day.  

The next morning Jason had to get Riley ready for school.  He waited at the bus stop holding Riley’s hand until the bus came.  Jason noticed when Riley got on the bus, instead of sitting with someone she grabbed a seat by herself.  

Riley opened her back pack and quickly got her book  out to read, so no one would bother her, keeping to herself.

“Riley!”  

“What?”  She remarked looking at him.  She wasn’t even on the bus a minute when he started bothering her.  Tucker Adams liked to bother her every day.  “Who was that you were with?”

“My Dad.”  Riley commented not looking up from her book.

“He is  not.”  

“He is so.”

“Then the lady you’re usually with isn’t your Mom.”

“She is too!!”  Riley exclaimed slamming her book down.  

“Riley you’re Black.”

“So what?”  

You can’t be you and have White parents..  Riley’s ADOPTED!”

“I AM NOT!!!”  She didn’t know what it meant, but he made it sound like it was a bad thing. As everyone was now laughing at her.

“You’re so stupid Riley.  You don’t even know what it means.  Being adopted means your real parents didn’t want you, and the people you were living with couldn’t have their own kids, so they were nice enough to keep you instead.”

“It doesn’t matter, my parents love me.” She screamed at them, turning towards the window.  She wouldn’t let them see her cry.  She quickly wiped her tears away.

Every day was like this on the bus.  Every day Jaiden had to watch Riley cry, and get bullied by those idiots.  

Jaiden scooted a little closer to her.  Too close because Riley jumped.  Riley felt an ice cold wave hit her shoulder, and the only time she had ever felt that… she gasped.  

She looked right at him but couldn’t see him.  “Is that you Jaiden?” she whispered.

“Who are you talking to? There’s no one sitting with you Riley.  You’re so weird.”  

“Maybe she’s talking to an imaginary friend.”

“She doesn’t have any friends.  Even her imaginary ones won’t talk to her.”

"Why do you hate me?" Riley asked wondering what she did wrong to have to put up with this every day.

"Because you exist." Tucker laughed and all the others laughed with him.

“Just leave me alone.” Riley’s voice broke as she said it, her eyes filling with tears.  

As soon as the bus pulled to a stop at school,  Riley was the first one off the bus, running to her class.  

He would be there too. But at least she could be alone for a few minutes before he got there.  

Riley liked Miss Raven’s class.   Especially on Tuesdays they had Show and Tell.  Riley pulled out the framed sonogram pictures of Jaiden.

When Miss Raven asked for volunteers on who wanted to go first, Riley’s hand shot up into the air.  

“Riley you can go first.”  

Riley held up the picture so everyone could see.

“This is my brother Jaiden.  He doesn’t look like this anymore.  That’s how he looked when he was a baby.  He’s older than me."

“I didn’t know you had an older brother Riley. What grade is he in?”

She shook her head.  "This date is the date he went back to Heaven.  But then he came back!  We used to talk all the time.  He was my friend.  Then he had to go away again.  But I think he’s back!"

“Riley’s brother is a ghost!”

“Tucker! Don’t be mean!”  Miss Raven pointed to Tucker.

“Riley storytime is on Fridays.”  

“But it’s not a story, it's true Miss Raven it is.”

“You can take your seat now Riley.”  

Riley walked back to her desk, as she passed by Tucker, he said “GHOST GIRL!!!”

The whole class laughed at her.  

Her next two classes she sat there and didn’t say a word.  

Recess was one of her favorite things.  She could play on most of the equipment by herself and keep herself busy.  Riley’s favorite thing was the monkey bars.  Since she worked out with her Dad a lot Riley was strong and could pull herself up easy, and liked doing pullups on  the monkey bars.  She was next in line, and just when she was about to grab the equipment, she was pushed out of the way.

Riley fell to the ground. 

“Hey!  It was my turn.”  Riley got up off the ground and dusted off her clothes.

“Sorry I didn’t see you Ghost Girl.”   Tucker laughed at her.

“That’s not funny.”  

“What are you going to do about it, Ghost Girl?”

Riley balled up her fists.  Tears filled her eyes.  Her breathing quickened.

“Are you going to cry Ghost Girl?”  

Other people started saying it too.    They were laughing at her yet again.

As he started stepping close to her, it looked like he was tripped, and he fell flat in front of her.  She took a few steps back so he wouldn’t fall on her.  

Riley smiled. It had to be Jaiden. It had to be.

He jumped up looking around.  “What was that?”  Did your stupid big Ghost Brother just trip me, Ghost Girl?”  

"Hell yeah I did!"  Jaiden exclaimed. He was surprised it happened. But how did I do it? He wondered.  

“Don't push me down again, and he's not stupid!!!!!”  Riley screamed, taking her boxing stance her Dad had taught her and punched Tucker smack in his face, in the nose and he hit the ground, blood gushing everywhere.

"Ow!!! Riley you freak!”

The kids on the playground looked shocked at Riley.

Jaiden looked at Riley impressed.  “That’s it, defend yourself little sister.”

Riley wound up in the principal’s office.  

Jason showed up a little bit later along with Tucker’s Mother and Father.    Before he met with the parents he wanted to speak to Riley alone first.  

When she walked in the room, he knew something was wrong with her.  

“What’s wrong Jelly Bean?”  

Riley burst into tears.  “He picks on me every day. He calls me names.  Stupid and Adopted,  and Ghost Girl.  And he pushed me, So I hit him."  

The only words that stuck out in Riley’s rant was that he pushed her, adopted could wait until they were home.  They never told her,  but they were going to eventually talk about it.  

“Wait, he put his hands on you?”  

Riley nodded.  “He pushed me down.  I fell on the ground.”

“Riley how did he touch you?”  

She demonstrated how he pushed her down.

Jason was almost seized in anger.  

He was ready to meet with POS parents now.

"Sorry my wife could not be here."

“We’re going to send you his medical bills.”  

“Nope, not going to pay them.  Self defense for your piece of crap son pushing my daughter to the ground.”

“Piece of crap son?”  Mrs Adams remarked.

“Yes, piece of crap son.  What kind of example are you setting for your son Mr. Adams, that he thinks it’s perfectly okay to put his hands on a girl?”

“Are you accusing me of something Brooks?”

“If the shoe fits.  I’m glad she knocked the shit out of him.  You people here have been sitting idly by and letting her get bullied by him for months.  Finally my child has the courage to stand up for herself, and you come down on the person getting terrorized?"

"Mr. Brooks!"

"You're lucky we don't press charges on your son. I think it's ridiculous, Riley is getting suspended for 5 days for defending herself, which i taught her to do, and he gets a slap on the wrist."

"Three days suspension is not a slap on the wrist Mr. Brooks. Riley drew blood."

"You think the only pain is physical pain?  My child burst into tears the moment I saw her.  I'm done here."

He walked out of the office. Slamming the door behind him. He looked at Tucker Adams sitting on one side of the waiting room chairs, Riley was on the opposite side.   He walks up to him. "You put your hands on my daughter or bother her again, I will lock you up under the jail, and I'm a police officer, so I can do it."

Tucker’s eyes widened,  "Yes sir!"

Jason had never been happier to be wearing his police uniform. He glanced at Riley winking. Riley had a huge smile on her face. He held out his hand.

"Let's go Jelly Bean."

Riley took her dad's hand walking away with him.

Jason was driving his police cruiser.  He didn't want to put her in back so he put her in the passenger seat. "I thought I would be heading back to work. Now we have to go back to switch cars. It's okay though."

"Are you mad at me Daddy?"

He looked at Riley, and her lower lip was trembling.

"No Jelly Bean, I'm not.  I will never be mad at you for defending yourself when someone puts their hands on you.   No one should ever touch you without you telling them it is okay to. But you should have told us he was bothering you when it started."

"I thought he would just leave me alone."

"Next time come to us."

Riley nodded.

"After we drop by the station,  how about we stop for ice cream on the way home. Get some mint chocolate chip? Your favorite?"

"Before eating lunch?" Riley was flabbergasted.  

"Don't tell mommy."

Jason drew a zipper across his lips, locked it, and threw away the key.  He started mumbling at Riley.

She giggled at him. He pointed to her lips. Riley did the same motions he had, and they spent the next 10 minutes mumbling at each other.

That afternoon Ren and Jason sat down with her and explained about her adoption. They showed her the hospital wrist band.  

"Why doesn't it say my name?"

"Because when your real  mom and dad brought you in they hadn't named you yet.  When they don't know the names of babies in the hospital they name them  Baby Girl Doe, or Baby Boy Doe."

"But mine says Baby Girl Doe 2?"

"That means there was another baby girl that didn't have a name either I guess. We never thought about it."

"Even though you didn't grow in Mommy's tummy, you grew in our hearts. We are still your parents."

"I know you love me." Ren and Jason hugged Riley tightly.

**************************************************************************************

"That is just so sad,"  Ren commented watching the screen.  Riley walked over to the television as well.

"What is it mama?"

"The funeral for the Queen of Cordonia is today."

Riley sat next to her mom listening to the newscast.   "Cordonian flags fly at half-staff today as a country mourns the death of their beloved Queen Eleanor. We go earlier taped footage of the funeral procession."

Her casket was covered with brilliant beautiful flowers. Trailing behind the casket a man and two boys.  It was King Constantine to his right Crown Prince Leo, and Prince Liam.  Following them looked like a security detail. As the procession stopped for a second the camera panned to their faces. The last face they rested on was Prince Liam's. He was trying his hardest to look stoic during this sad event, but his eyes told the story of his hurt.

Tears pooled in his sky blue eyes. Riley burst into tears looking at him. "He looks so sad mama." Ren hugged her but Riley couldn't pull herself away from staring at Prince Liam's face.  He closed his eyes and tears fell in rivers down his face, causing Riley to cry harder.  “It’s like i can feel his sad and it hurts.” 

"Calm down Jelly Bean... I'm sure he is sad. He lost his mom. She wiped Riley's eyes. But he'll be fine. He has his Daddy, and his big brother to be there for him."

“Jason…. Maybe we should take Riley to see a professional.  She still believes that Jaiden is here.  She doesn’t have any friends, and she just burst into tears watching a little boy halfway across the world on television that she doesn’t even know, because he looked sad to her.”

“Riley is fine,  she doesn’t need a counselor.  There’s nothing wrong with being a loner.  Let me tuck her in tonight, I’ll talk to her. She’s had a very emotional day.   But no counselors Ren, she doesn’t need one.”

That night Jason tucked Riley in, he wanted to because he had also received a call from Miss Raven about show and tell.

"Miss Raven told me about Show and Tell Riley, about Jaiden."

"Daddy he's back. I know he is!"

"Can you see him?"

"No, but I can feel him, and he tripped Tucker after he pushed me. It had to be him."

Jason smiled.  "He's protecting you. Maybe he's your guardian angel Riley."

"That would be cool!"

"Riley, Mrs. Raven told me something else. She says you don't have any friends."

"I don't because I don't need them. Everyone thinks I'm weird anyway. And when I tell them about Jaiden, they leave. A real friend believes.  You're my only friend Daddy."

Jason's eyes teared up. "I believe you Jelly Bean."

"I know."

Riley liked activities that she could do alone. So over the years  that's what Jason got her involved in. She still liked to work out with him, and he had introduced her to some new fighting styles. She seemed to really pick up the bo staff which he liked too.  They practiced in the lawn in their back yard a lot. 

They tried horseback riding but he could tell Riley didn't really enjoy it. Riley didn't seem to mind track as long as they were individual activities.  Riley liked to compete with herself .  And then there was music. Riley had this innate ability to sing and play music. So much so that Jason took her to a Music and arts store for her to pick out an instrument, that he would get her lessons.

Riley tinkered along the aisles touching the instruments.  She stopped in front of a guitar.  She put the band over her shoulder.  The clerk ran over to her. "You're not going to be able to play that one."

"Why not?"

"You're a southpaw right?"

Riley nodded.

"Well that makes you’re special like me, and there are left handed and right handed guitars.  Here's how you tell which guitars you can play. Hold the guitar up facing you like this. Now you try."

Riley imitated how he held the guitar.

"Now look at your strings. The thickest string will be on the right or the left.  If it is on the left, that guitar is made for a right handed person. If it is on the right it's for a left handed person. Which kind is this….uh…"

"Riley, her name is Riley."

"Riley, she's already got a Rockstar name. Okay Rockin’ Riley, which kind of guitar is this?"

"It's a right handed guitar.”

"Give me some skin, half pint!" Riley looked at him confused.

“High five?”  Riley jumped to high five the clerk.

"We have a couple of leftys over here but they're more expensive.  Most people are right handed."

"Go pick one Riley," Jason nudged her.  

"Pick it up, try it out, you don't pick the guitar,  it picks you."

Riley's eyes were drawn to a pink fender acoustic guitar.

"Ahhhh, so the pink lady has caught your eye. Try her out."

He placed Riley’s  hands on the strings.

"Watch my hands Riley and move them just like mine.”

He picked up another guitar and strummed the chord.

Riley mimicked his hand motion and produced a nearly flawless chord.

Jason flipped the price tag and winced.

The clerk noticed, and called out, "It's a custom job that was never picked up."

"But is there really a high demand for left handed hot pink acoustic guitars right now? She's also gonna need a teacher. We could pay for that steady revenue stream."

"Half price and lessons for 6 months?"

"Yeah I could swing it."

"Solid!!”

Are we in a timewarp?  Jason thought to himself.  It didn’t matter.  Riley was beaming, and happy and that’s all that ever mattered to Jason.  He was dad of the year and Riley’s smile proved it.  

By the time Riley was 13 she was playing guitar on her own, composing her own songs she had written in a small notebook. She was still running track, individual events only, and working out with Jason daily, and Riley was super strong.

Jason knew it was only a matter of time before boys invaded the mix, and finally one did. Donovan Jacobs.

[drosswraith]

Battle report storytime

So for the infinity event strike zone: Wotan.  The players are encouraged to write up narritive battle reports for their games.  I’m actually pretty happy with mine so i’m reposting it here.  Combined Army Vs. Nomads.

"The door is ready open and security is disabled commander" said Ulnkal, Nexus agent of the Onyx-4z contact unit. With a chill the reached into his core the commander of their unit, Samaritan Skandrias, moved up close. "The word is given. Breach" with the command relayed, their force entered the nest of tunnels that made up this area of the Panoceanan gun platform.

Almost as soon a they entered the corridors, the returns of his drones lit up with movement. "Sir both of the drones are reading life signs." "Good." said Tetranik the veteran Suryat that always acted as close fire support for their unit. He rolled his shoulders and unslung his modified shotgun. "We always end up fighting anyways on these crap stealth missions. It's go to start off on the right foot." With that he quickly loped up to the nearest bulkhead, ready to pulp anything that approached. "You stay to your objectives." said Skandrias, as he glided up the hall with barely contained excitement at the prospect of inflicting his terrible abilities of some unsuspecting humans.

As Ulnkal moved deeper into the complex he felt the stir of air that meant that the units second hacker was moving about, but as usual the Noctifer stayed out of sight. He passed a trail of cast off nano slime that meant that one of the Slave drones attached to their med-tech was already on his way to do his masters work. Dubbed "entrails" by Tetranik for their trails of slime and disgusting appearance, they were always disturbing to watch at work, but you can't fault their utility. Almost as soon as he noticed the trail Ulnkal heard the telltale thud of demolitions activating. Meaning, that the Entrail had reached its target. He slid quickly up to the Energy console and activiated it, while through his link to his remotes he watched Tetranik and their pod of Unidrons each move to cover a corridor that showed signs of activity.

After that things went wrong rather quickly.

Ulnkal watched in shock as the bulkhead doors covered by Tetranik opened, not to reveal the expected Panoceanian defense troops, but a pair of Nomad power suits! Tetranik fell to their opening salvo. His vulcan shotgun unable to pierce their armor. but as the venerable Suryat slipped into unconsciousness, it was with a smile on his face, as the shot had torn through the support troops behind the larger mechs. Skandrias quickly moved up and eviscerated one of the mechs with a underhanded toss of his monofliment star. but as he closed on the second beginning to siphon the life from it, he was knocked back by a shot ringing out from further down the hallway.

With a hiss, the door before the Unidrons opened to a rolling cloud of smoke. The pod trilled with confusion for a moment before a storm of metal shards blasted through the doorway, shredding 3 of the constructs. They reported that they may have identified the mercenary designated as "Senor Massacre" before the smoke enveloped them all once again. Ulnkal sent a quick command to his drones to advance to try to hold back the remaining combat suit. Hoping that the Nocifer was somewhere nearby the mech to disable it. But, at the rate the Unidrons were being chewed through, he knew he was needed to support them. He ran desperately through the corridors, just it time to snap a shot into some nomad soldiers that were still trying to advance through the door.

Ulnkal stumbled backwards, just as more smoke grenades struck the ground around this secondary energy console. As he and the Unidrons held their positions, they heard the sound of feet pounding on the floorplates at a dead sprint. And with a forlorn *Beep* the console activated.

The nomads shouted something in their gutteral tongue as Ulnkal heard the sound of bodies being drug away. The nomads were pushed back for now.

-Thanks for reading!

[madsfoxwritings]

Letter 100

Source

Table 1 1. Air. 2. Earth. 3. Fire. 4. Water. 5. Spirit. 6. Alone. 7. Babble.

8. Blood. 9. Candles. 10. Cat. 11. Claim. 12. Content. 13. Dance. 14. Daydreaming. 15. Devious. 16. First Date. 17. Ecstatic. 18. Enemies. 19. Family. 20. Friends. 21. Lovers. 22. Strangers. 23. First. 24. Last. 25. Forgive. 26. Gloomy. 27. Hairbrush. 28. Incense. 29. Hours. 30. Interest. 31. Kinky. 32. Legend. 33. Eternal. 34. Making Dinner. 35. Moon. 36. Sun. 37. Mortality. 38. Sin. 39. Virtue. 40. Phoenix. 41. Pounce. 42. Road Trip. 43. Shooting Star. 44. Sick. 45. Time. 46. Silence. 47. Sleeping In. 48. Surprised. 49. Temper. 50. Woods. 51. Autumn. 52. Spring. 53. Summer. 54. Winter. 55. Amused. 56. Balance. 57. Betrayal. 58. Bunnies. 59. Cemetery. 60. Chocolate. 61. Cranky. 62. Curious. 63. Decisions. 64. Destiny. 65. First Glance. 66. Love. 67. Lust. 68. Energetic. 69. Famous. 70. Fight. 71. Flame. 72. Found. 73. Lost. 74. Frustrated. 75. Giggly. 76. Gun. 77. Knife. 78. Heartache. 79. Justice. 80. Leather. 81. Education. 82. Lessons. 83. School. 84. Teacher. 85. Encounter. 86. Naughty. 87. Monsters. 88. Movie Night. 89. Need. 90. Otherworld. 91. Peaceful. 92. Promise. 93. Ritual. 94. Silk Sheets. 95. Sinful. 96. Skating. 97. Years. 98. Space. 99. Toys. 100. Watching the Clock.

Table 2 1. Birth. 2. Death. 3. Angry. 4. Awake. 5. Ball. 6. Books. 7. Bound. 8. Butterfly. 9. Champagne. 10. Choice. 11. Confused. 12. Curse. 13. Dawn. 14. Dusk. 15. Midnight. 16. Universe. 17. First Kiss. 18. Embarrassed. 19. Exhausted. 20. Fireflies. 21. Flirty. 22. Ghost. 23. Gold. 24. Silver. 25. Intimidated. 26. Happy. 27. Hero. 28. Villain. 29. Lonely. 30. Love Letters. 31. Messenger. 32. Mischievous. 33. Moment. 34. Months. 35. Music. 36. Nature. 37. Nostalgic. 38. Poison. 39. Predatory. 40. Restless. 41. Sphinx. 42. Sunrise. 43. Sunset. 44. Runaway. 45. Shadow. 46. Sleep. 47. Spanking. 48. Thankful. 49. Treasure. 50. Vulnerable. 51. Blind. 52. Deaf. 53. Mute. 54. Aroused. 55. Beach. 56. Bored. 57. Cage. 58. Carriage. 59. Chance. 60. Coffee. 61. Crazy. 62. Cynical. 63. Danger. 64. Day. 65. Night. 66. Divine. 67. First Time. 68. Emergency Room. 69. Envious. 70. Excited. 71. Fantasy. 72. Stolen moments. 73. Freak. 74. Freedom. 75. Grumpy. 76. Future. 77. Present. 78. Past. 79. Impressed. 80. Joker. 81. King. 82. Queen. 83. Moonlight. 84. Starlight. 85. Sunshine. 86. Map. 87. Playful. 88. Moody. 89. Morality. 90. Mouse. 91. Mutiny. 92. Picnic. 93. Restraints. 94. Sacrifice. 95. Sky. 96. Soul. 97. Submissive. 98. Treachery. 99. Weird. 100. Whipped Cream.

Table 3 1. Birthday. 2. Christmas. 3. New Year. 4. Solstice. 5. Thanksgiving. 6. Belief. 7. Bouncy. 8. Campfire. 9. City. 10. Country. 11. Cold. 12. Hot. 13. Warm. 14. Costumes. 15. Creative. 16. Determined. 17. Dog. 18. Dream. 19. Nightmare. 20. First Love. 21. Forever. 22. Flying. 23. Healing. 24. Innocence. 25. Guilt. 26. Feel. 27. Sight. 28. Sound. 29. Taste. 30. Touch. 31. Sixth Sense. 32. Hopeful. 33. Jealous. 34. Magic. 35. Massage Oil. 36. Meeting the family. 37. Animal. 38. Rain. 39. Rainbow. 40. Snow. 41. Storm. 42. Wind. 43. Enthralled. 44. Anonymous. 45. Romantic. 46. Scared. 47. Life. 48. Weeks. 49. Tattoo. 50. Vengeance. 51. Sunset 52. Dawn 53. Candlelight 54. Moonlight 55. Firelight 56. New Year 57. Kiss 58. First Sight 59. First Date 60. Picnic 61. Wedding 62. Wooing 63. Dancing 64. Honeymoon 65. Love Letter 66. Blind Date 67. Content. 68. Daydreaming 69. Snuggle 70. Lie In 71. Surprise 72. Gift 73. Forgiveness 74. Snowed In 75. Beach 76. Sick 77. Movie 78. Dinner 79. Promise 80. Forever 81. Heartache 82. Flirtation 83. Secret 84. Stolen Moments 85. Betrayal 86. Poetry. 87. Chocolate. 88. Champagne. 89. Secret Admirer. 90. Cigarettes. 91. Paris. 92. Rome. 93. Art. 94. Celebration. 95. Jewellery. 96. Second Chance. 97. Reunited . 98. Rose 99. Soul Mate. 100. Destiny.

Table 4 1. Arabia. 2. Greece 3. Japan. 4. Rome. 5. Russia. 6. Alchemist. 7. Bodyguard. 8. Caveman. 9. Concubine. 10. Criminal. 11. Explorer. 12. Hunter. 13. Merchant. 14. Native. 15. Nomad. 16. Pirate. 17. Priest. 18. Royalty. 19. Scholar. 20. Sheik. 21. Sheriff. 22. Warrior. 23. Castle. 24. City. 25. Desert. 26. Jungle. 27. Market Place. 28. Museum. 29. Palace. 30. Sea. 31. Slave Auction. 32. Snow. 33. Colonial. 34. Depression. 35. Gold Rush. 36. Industrial Age. 37. Jazz Age. 38. Wartime. 39. Clan. 40. Conquest. 41. Gun. 42. Hawk. 43. Music. 44. Oracle. 45. Plague. 46. Sacrifice. 47. Stage. 48. Sword. 49. Tribe. 50. Wealth. 51. Moon. 52. Sun. 53. Stars. 54. Fire. 55. Earth. 56. Water. 57. Air. 58. Spirit. 59. Magic. 60. Ritual. 61. Dragon. 62. Fairies. 63. Storm. 64. Royalty. 65. Curse. 66. Quest. 67. Otherworld. 68. Mirror. 69. Time. 70. Witch/Wizard. 71. Priest. 72. Angel. 73. Afterlife. 74. Exotic. 75. Destiny. 76. Riddle. 77. Dungeon. 78. Alchemy. 79. Gold. 80. Rainbow. 81. Underwater. 82. Flight. 83. Changeling. 84. Shapeshifter. 85. Map. 86. Secret. 87. Treasure. 88. God/dess. 89. Scroll. 90. Legend. 91. Elf. 92. Dwarf. 93. Demon. 94. Genie. 95. Wish. 96. Miracle. 97. Magic Carpet. 98. Eternity. 99. Wicked Stepmother. 100. Hero.

Table 5 1. Space. 2. Ship. 3. Blaster. 4. Frontier World. 5. Alien. 6. Space Station. 7. Travel . 8. Laser. 9. Creature . 10. Oxygen. 11. First Contact. 12. Chart. 13. Computer . 14. Hologram. 15. A.I. 16. War. 17. Peace. 18. Mutant. 19. Evolution. 20. Telepathy. 21. Telekinesis. 22. Superpowers. 23. Android. 24. Three Laws of Robotics. 25. Smugglers. 26. Galactic Council. 27. Genius. 28. Science. 29. Xenobiology. 30. Fighter Pilot. 31. Alternate Dimension. 32. Mad Scientist. 33. Steampunk. 34. Rocket. 35. Time Travel . 36. Colonist. 37. Suspended Animation 38. Cyberpunk. 39. Genetics. 40. Lost. 41. Exploration. 42. Last Human. 43. Invasion. 44. Mothership. 45. Robot. 46. Superhuman. 47. Virtual Reality. 48. Hacker. 49. Future 50. Hybrid. 51. Kinky. 52. Toys. 53. Leather. 54. Silk. 55. Drag 56. Orgy. 57. Whipped Cream. 58. Dark Alley. 59. Virgin. 60. Slut. 61. Whips and Chains. 62. Bondage. 63. Master. 64. Slave . 65. Touch. 66. Taste. 67. Smell. 68. Sight. 69. Hearing. 70. Stripper. 71. Role Play. 72. Champagne. 73. Masturbate. 74. Candles . 75. Blindfold. 76. Lust. 77. Love. 78. Voyeur. 79. Exhibitionist. 80. Open Air. 81. Seduction. 82. Oil. 83. Costumes. 84. Paying for Sex. 85. One Night Stand. 86. Tattoo. 87. Piercing. 88. Porn . 89. Body Paint. 90. Dance. 91. Las Vegas. 92. Amsterdam. 93. Art. 94. Ecstasy. 95. Handcuffs. 96. Erection. 97. Nipple. 98. Ring. 99. Ice Cube. 100. Gag.

Table 6 1. Oil Lamp. 2. Royalty. 3. Knight. 4. Sheik. 5. Pirates. 6. Emperor. 7. Pyramids. 8. Barbarians. 9. Furs. 10. Nobility. 11. Peasant. 12. Slavery. 13. Feudal. 14. Castle. 15. Battle . 16. Monk. 17. Carriage. 18. Swords. 19. Priest. 20. Sacrifice. 21. Treason. 22. Dungeon. 23. Quest . 24. Assassin. 25. President. 26. Rebellion. 27. Revolution . 28. Savage. 29. Native. 30. Law. 31. Court . 32. Caveman. 33. Dodo. 34. Smugglers. 35. Exploration. 36. Nomad. 37. Trade. 38. Depression. 39. Gangster. 40. Bard. 41. Arranged Marriage. 42. Army. 43. Navy. 44. Air Force. 45. Lord/Lady. 46. Chieftain. 47. Kidnap. 48. Mead. 49. Samurai. 50. Colonist. 51. Cowboy. 52. Horse . 53. Blacksmith. 54. Indian. 55. Desert. 56. Ranch. 57. Hat. 58. Boots. 59. Sheriff. 60. Posse. 61. Saloon. 62. Poker. 63. Dancing Girls. 64. Brothel. 65. Campfire. 66. Six shooter. 67. Duel. 68. Railroad. 69. Tracker. 70. Quack. 71. Preacher. 72. Snake Oil. 73. School Teacher. 74. Banker. 75. Outlaw. 76. Hold Up. 77. Civil War. 78. Reservation. 79. Beans. 80. Cattle. 81. Dust. 82. Wagon Train. 83. Frontier. 84. Jail. 85. Whisky. 86. Gambler. 87. Wolf. 88. Hawk. 89. Arrow. 90. Gold Mine. 91. Roam. 92. Corral. 93. Buffalo. 94. Gold Rush. 95. Rattle Snake. 96. Cactus. 97. Stagecoach. 98. Lynching. 99. Pony Express . 100. Telegraph.

Table 7 1. Private Eye. 2. Diamond. 3. Shadows. 4. Handcuffs. 5. Blackmail. 6. Prison. 7. Escape. 8. Arrest. 9. Gun. 10. Badge. 11. Magnifying Glass. 12. Clue. 13. Suspect. 14. Disappearance. 15. Discovery. 16. Victim. 17. Fingerprints. 18. Gloves. 19. Rope. 20. Consulting Detective. 21. Elementary. 22. Noir. 23. Poison. 24. Crime. 25. Punishment. 26. Hidden. 27. Deception. 28. Law. 29. Safe. 30. Code. 31. Spy. 32. Security. 33. Bribe. 34. Interrogation. 35. Accent. 36. Flee. 37. Scandal. 38. Femme Fatale. 39. Stiletto. 40. Swordcane. 41. Bloodhound. 42. Frame. 43. Adultery. 44. Client. 45. Body. 46. Defence. 47. Lawyer. 48. Money. 49. Conspiracy. 50. Forensics. 51. Werewolf. 52. Death. 53. Blood. 54. Slash. 55. Terror. 56. Escape. 57. Bind. 58. Victim. 59. Knife. 60. Rope. 61. Burn. 62. Scream. 63. Vendetta. 64. Revenge. 65. No Way Out. 66. Deception. 67. Greed. 68. Slow. 69. Gun. 70. Drown. 71. Murder. 72. Broken. 73. Bleeding. 74. Judge . 75. Jury. 76. Mummy. 77. Slayer. 78. Bury. 79. Secrets. 80. Pact. 81. Chemical. 82. Zombie. 83. Vampire. 84. Killer. 85. Monster. 86. Sinners. 87. Accident. 88. Cover-Up. 89. Psychological. 90. Dream. 91. Nightmare . 92. Cult. 93. Evil. 94. Beginning. 95. End. 96. Haunting. 97. Grudge. 98. Hell. 99. Dark. 100. Psycho.

Table 8 1. Teddy Bear. 2. Fairy Tale. 3. Imagination. 4. Once Upon a Time. 5. Kitten. 6. Puppy. 7. Family. 8. School. 9. Adventure. 10. Magic. 11. Tooth Fairy. 12. Toys. 13. Doll. 14. Birthday. 15. Balloons. 16. Playful. 17. Cookie. 18. Happily Ever After . 19. Prince/Princess. 20. Innocent. 21. Daydream . 22. Comics. 23. Superhero. 24. Dragon. 25. Let's Pretend . 26. Treehouse. 27. Candy. 28. Magic Carpet. 29. Santa. 30. Woods. 31. Dare. 32. Hide and Seek. 33. Cooties. 34. Pillow Fight. 35. Sleepover. 36. Fort. 37. Junk Food. 38. Cupcake. 39. Dressing Up. 40. Grown Up. 41. Clown. 42. Carousel. 43. Hopscotch. 44. Ball. 45. Jump Rope. 46. Fingerpaint. 47. Blocks. 48. Book . 49. Valentine. 50. Storytime. 51. Hours. 52. Days. 53. Weeks. 54. Months. 55. Years. 56. Friends . 57. Lovers. 58. Enemies. 59. Family. 60. Strangers. 61. Heart. 62. Diamond. 63. Club. 64. Spade. 65. Winter. 66. Spring. 67. Summer. 68. Autumn. 69. Rain . 70. Sun . 71. Storm. 72. Snow. 73. Wind. 74. Life. 75. Death. 76. Gold. 77. Silver . 78. Blind . 79. Deaf. 80. Mute. 81. Coffee. 82. Music. 83. Woods. 84. Beach. 85. Mountains. 86. Innocence 87. Guilt. 88. Freedom. 89. Travel . 90. School. 91. Past. 92. Present. 93. Future. 94. Work. 95. Home. 96. Football. 97. Car. 98. Motorbike . 99. Pet. 100. Gift.

[kyoshi-lesbians]

Prologue

(or, the beginning of What If Ty Lee's Great Grandmother Was An Air Nomad - verse)

When Ty Lee was a little girl, her Nanna used to tell her and her sisters the stories that her mother had told her. She whispered to them tales about people who could fly and built cities in the clouds. They could dance beautifully and they didn't believe in hurting people or animals and they liked to have fun. 

Whenever the sisters helped Nanna pick weeds in the garden, or cut the onion basil for dinner, Nanna would bend her head close and weave stories about these flying people with strange names −  they were friends and elders and mentors. “These stories are just for us,” she reminded them, each and every time. “You must promise me that you won’t repeat them. Not to your father, not to your friends, not to anyone except each other.” 

And Ty Lee would puff up her chest with pride and say, “I promise,” as her six sisters chorused the same. You couldn’t break a promise because it wasn’t honorable or kind, and Ty Lee didn’t want to be dishonorable or unkind. 

“Good girls. Now, where were we? Ah yes. Young master Tenzin had just gotten his tattoos −” 

It felt good to have stories just for them. Even though the stories were shared with her sisters just like everything else, Ty Lee felt a bit more like herself when she remembered them. 

Father wasnt around much to tell the stories to anyway; and all the sisters agreed here wouldn't like them. Ty Lee’s mother knew all the stories, but she didn't look happy whenever she found Nanna telling them. Her sisters even said she tried to stop Nanna.

“Are you sure?” Ty Lee asked.

“We heard them arguing last night in the garden,” said Ty Lat.  

“Mom said it’s not safe to do in this house,” said Ty Lum.

“No,” said Ty Lin, “Mom said we’re too young.” 

“She must think Nanna is telling us naughty stories,” said Ty Woo. 

“Ugh, I wish she was,” Ty Lao complained. 

"I'd be more interesting," Ty Lui agreed.

But Ty Lee liked the stories and Nanna kept telling them. As they got older, she started teaching them other things too. Nanna taught them intricate dances and strange songs; she taught them herbal medicine and how chi flows in the body. Ty Lee liked the dances best of all. When the sisters collectively decided to pick one hobby each, Ty Lee claimed acrobatics. The movements reminded her of Nanna’s flowing dances, and somersaulting through the air felt like flying −  felt like maybe she could live in the clouds too.

But best of all, Ty Lee liked when Nanna told the tales about the two girls who lived in the cloud city. They were best of friends and had crazy adventures as they grew up together. It sounded nice to have friends like that -- friends that would stick with you no matter what.  

"What did they do as grown ups?" Ty Lee asked once. Nanna never mentioned their grown-up lives; maybe she forgot to, and needed Ty Lee to remind her. "Did Nyima keep making experiments that blew things up? Did Dorje become a mentor to the flying kids? Did they ever get their tattoos?"

Nanna got real quiet. For a long time she didnt say anything. So long, that Ty Lee wondered if she'd heard her at all. "Nanna I asked if-"

“I heard you Lele,” she said softly. “Dorje had a family. Nyima learned many things while traveling.... They never got their tattoos."

Ty Lee frowned. "Why not?"

Nanna reached over and brushed the hair out of Ty Lee’s eyes. She cupped Ty Lee’s chin with her hand. "The course of life isn’t a clear path Lele.” She said this very sadly and seriously, so Ty Lee tried to put her Serious Face on to show she was listening. “Sometimes the universe has plans for us that we never expect.”

Dorje and Nyima didn’t expect their destinies, Ty Lee guessed.

"I am sure, however, that they earned their tattoos, even if they did not get to have them. Their teachers would have been proud."

Ty Lee didnt understand why the teachers weren't around to give them the tattoos. Where did they go? 

Oh well - from the look in Nanna’s eyes, she was pretty sure that she would tell her the full story one day. Ty Lee could wait.

She just hopped that the two girls got a happy ending.

[kyoshi-lesbians]

Ty Lee and the air nation

there seems to be misunderstandings about the relationship with race to culture to bending

i see a lot of decent analysis of characters that blend these concepts together in weird ways, especially since the ability to bend gets viewed as a biological trait.

like, no hate on the theory that Ty Lee could be descended from air benders. from what we know about the atla world, that seems plausible. she looks a lot closer to aang than she does any fire nation folks.

but other aspects that go into this theory relies on cultural transference, not biology. people point to her non violence, to her fluid airy movements, and up-beat attitude as similarities to air nation people. if she is part air nation, then she comes from a family of people who are actively passing this culture down to her. it wouldnt be her biology just *making her* this way. that's not a race or ethnicity works y'all know this

and that begs the question

what is the story of her ancestors? what is her family like? Ty Lee's family is so high up in the fire nation social structure that she went to school with the fire nation princess. if Ty Lee is part air nation, if her family has secretly kept their tradition and culture, then they are living in the mouth of the monster that tried to wipe them out but still couldn't.

[kyoshi-lesbians]

About Dorje & Nyima

(re: this post/ the story of Ty Lee’s air nomad great grandmother)

First things first: i love them so much like i cannot explain how much i love these two girls 

A few things about Dorje:

She was a strangely serious child, especially by air nation standards. 

She just didn’t seem to relax as much? 

She’s very perceptive and critical with what she perceives 

Her humor is so deadpan that no one really understands it because who expects that from a 6 year old? 7 year old? Absolutely no one

She’s also a huge prankster but since she doesn’t have close friends before Nyima… no one knows this. She doesn’t have anyone she wants to tell so she just… doesn’t

She is literally the Unknown Prankster of The Eastern Air Temple. At SEVEN YEARS OLD

*drops pies onto a few older monks heads from a hidden aclove* *snorts to herself* *carries on with her day*

So Dorje is perceptive and sharp and always down to clown, even though no one realize that last one

Nyima lived at the southern air temple until she was 8 

Like all air nomad children she traveled and saw the world and made friends across all the nations 

And that made it easier to recognize that she didn’t really feel the same as the boys and older monks at the temple 

It went something like  

Nyima, to her elder mentor: I think I’m a girl 

Mentor: okay, let’s go visit the eastern air temple! 

*visits an air temple for women and girls*  Nyima: yeah i’m definitely a girl 

Mentor: okay we’ll miss you have fun visit us whenever! 

(The air nomads are very chill about gender)

Nyima is a ball of sunshine. And a chatterbox. And the most curious person Dorje has ever met 

(the most curious person anyone has met)

Think mad genius but in the form of an 8 year old. That’s Nyima. 

When she was back at the southern air temple she already started her crazy experiments 

She was 7 when she first blew something up

She felt a little bad about that because this kid three years younger than her helped her out with it and he could’ve gotten hurt (but he didn’t, don’t worry)

(His name was Aang. Cute kid. Wonder what happened to him?)

Only, when an 8 year old chatterbox is placed next to a dozen other chatterboxes (like what 8 year old has chill? Very few. Dorje is an exception) what they say kind of gets lost in the noise 

So people don’t really often listen to Nyima’s ramblings 

Until Dorje

Nyima recognizes her intelligence and respects her curiosity right away 

And it’s impossible not to like Nyima. She is cheerful, she’s friendly, she’s fun 

And Nyima made it her personal mission to befriend Dorje because she seemed kinda lonely? She shouldn’t be lonely! They should be friends! 

(Nyima rivals Aang with the will-aggressively-befriend-you trait)

Although Nyima doesn’t have to try as hard as she does, because again, besides being a ball of sunshine, Dorje really appreciates her commentary

Nyima is shocked to learn Dorje listens and cares about what she says

She also gets Dorje’s deadpan humor right away 

And Nyima kinda pulls the fun part out of Dorje for everyone else to see

Dorje’s steady presence  keeps Nyima from bouncing off the walls

Once Dorje lets her in on the pranks, it’s game over for everyone else

They are such a dangerous combination

Nyima is endlessly curious and Dorje is actually very adventurous

…. Do not put a curious scientifically-minded child together with a child who will do anything just for the sake of doing it

(It’s great.)

This is the groundwork for their friendship!