[ action ] .067

[markofthebrave]

[July 5th. Katara's 18th birthday.

This wasn't as much of a big deal as it could be; for the Water Tribes, the age of maturity is sixteen. So it was a birthday, but she had already come into her adulthood two years ago... and it was her first birthday that Sokka had missed.

He was still on his mission. He'd stayed gone as if she didn't matter at all.

Or maybe he would come back today - maybe he would, and then what? His leaving right after they had spoken was enough of an answer. She didn't feel much like celebrating at all.

But she was still here, she was still alive, and there were people whose memories she needed to honor today, whose lives were worth celebrating. Life was worth celebrating. She had to believe that, she had to, or Sokka was right, and it was better not to feel, not to hurt, and not to care.

She rose early, which was unusual, and decided not to go back to bed. She slipped out of bed and for the first time that summer used the teleporter to go to the ocean. She found a private spot, away from the dwellings that had been raised there and stepped into the ocean just as the sun's light hit the waves. She parted the water on either side of her and walked along the ocean floor until the water reached her shoulders on either side, then she dropped her hands and dived in to the water.

The push and pull of the tide felt like home, and she wept. She wept for Sokka, for her father and Gran-Gran, she wept for her knowledge of the future, and for Aang and for Ikki, she wept for the children she'd have whose names she already knew, she wept for her mother, and for Ginko, she wept for Nami and Sanji and Luffy and Brooke and Chouji and Shikamaru and Masaomi and Chopper and Roku and Michael, she wept for Alexis and Katie and San and Bepo and Sigmund and Capell and Usopp and Zoro, and she wept for Zuko, for all the memories they had built together and lost, and for Suki for much the same reason.

And when she was done crying, Katara dove into the waves. She dove and dove again until all her tears were washed away and she was flushed with effort. Then she rose up with a stream of water propelling her and dropped in a crouch on the ground. She performed a basic peace form on the wet part of the sand, leaving the water dripping off her. Then in one fluid movement she bent it all way, turned to go home and face the day.

Today was a day to celebrate life.

After breakfast and kissing Ikki, Katara would take whoever wanted to come with her up to Nami's orchards. It had been Nami's birthday two days ago, and she wanted to check on the mikans. She left a small pinwheel at the foot of one of the trees.

It wasn't too warm today and she felt something different, so she actually stopped in the clothing shop to change out of her sari into a knee-length dress very similar to a style Nami had helped pick out for her shortly after she had arrived in Luceti. She still wore her belt around it, more to keep the knife that Sokka had made for her close and to have something to string her waterskin around than because she was actually expecting trouble.

She hasn't really been into the Seventh Heaven since Sanji left, though she had been a regular presence before, stopping in at least once a day to say hi. Today, she came in with a vase full of beautiful blue hydrangeas. She may even be persuaded to take lunch there.

Afterwards, depending on how much time she had left before whatever Aang and Ikki had planned, Katara could be found helping out for a little while in the Welcome Center, and then stopping in on Luceti's newest stores, the coffee shop and the convenience shop Shikamaru had set up.]

Comments

[wise_maiden]

[Despite the business of her day, Raine hasn't forgotten that it is Katara's birthday, having been to her parties for the past few years. It was more surprising that something didn't seem to be going on for her this time, but she was getting older.

Or Aang and Ikki hadn't finished whatever plans they might have had. Either way, she notices the young woman approaching the small cluster of shops during one of her errand runs between the flower and item shop, wheelbarrow full of summer items still in tow.]

-- Well, I didn't expect to bump into you out here. Happy birthday, Katara.

[markofthebrave]

[Katara turns to Raine with a smile.]

Thank you, Raine! But - what's all this? What are you up to?

[wise_maiden]

Oh, I'm just restocking the flower shop. This is just the easiest way to bring everything over when there are bulky items.

[markofthebrave]

Oh, I see. That looks like a lot of work. Do you have any help?

[wise_maiden]

It's just Grune and I most of the time now, so it's up to me to usually take care of things like this. It's not really a big deal - last month and the month before were fairly busy, so I didn't have the chance to make as many trips.

[She just doesn't want anyone to feel inconvenienced.]

[niceguypose]

[Well Katara, get ready to see the new help. Rock Lee is quick to dash over to her side and give a small salute.]

Good day! How may I serve you today? Katara-saaaaaaaa... [He freezes and trails off as he goes through her name, remembering her prior objections. Maybe if he keeps staring, a solution to this name problem will present itself.]

[markofthebrave]

[...oh man.]

Hi, Lee. Do you have a place where I could put these flowers?

[niceguypose]

Ah! Well... I have not been told if there is a designated place for such flowers! But if you hand me the vase, I will hold onto it until I know for sure. Are they for a particular purpose?

[markofthebrave]

Ah, then I think we can probably just set them on a table somewhere... [She hands the flowers over.] I just thought it would be nice.

[niceguypose]

In that case, it's very kind of you! And... yes, I am sure that no one will complain about these flowers if I just put them on a table. [He holds the vase and looks the flowers over with a smile.] They are very charming!

[action]

[frost_jewel]

[Someone else comes in to Seventh Heaven around lunch time, looking worn and bedraggled and, above all else, hungry. Or she wouldn't be here in the place with all the food.

It's the hydrangeas that stop her. Well, that and their presence in Katara's hands. She pauses mid-step and turns to look at them.]

What beautiful flowers. Oh, and you're all dressed up, too, am I interrupting something?

[She is really quite sorry for any thoughts of the jungle she brings to mind.]

[action]

[markofthebrave]

Mia! [Katara sets the flowers down and rushes over to her friend.] When did you get back? How did everything go?

[Unobtrusive looking over for injuries: check.]

[action]

[frost_jewel]

Just now, and...well, it could have gone better. [Because her coworkers and friends all think she went off for first-aid training, don't they? She doesn't even pull away from Katara's looking-over, it's a deserved one.] I'm starving, please tell me you haven't eaten already.

[action]

[markofthebrave]

No, not yet. Would you like to join me? I bet they could make something fast...

[Not as fast as when Sanji was here, but Katara was trying to embrace that pain, see the missing of the ones she loved as good, and to a certain extent it was working.]

[action]

[frost_jewel]

I would love to join you, but I can be patient. Especially if you were here for another reason and I walked right into it.

[This table, right here beside her, looks inviting. Rather, the chair does.]

I think I'll sit down, though. If you don't mind.

[Action] 1/2

[endgames]

[Ah right, convenience store. Well the experience will no doubt be boring. Shikamaru is the store owner, which means running a tight ship like a professional. He can be found on this fine day stocking the shelves of his store.]

Crackers! Twelve!

[--if by stock you mean "chuck bags of crackers rapidfire at your co-worker". He's crouched down alongside the counter and an open box of Cheez-It pouches, throwing each bag hard across the room like he was throwing footballs. Professionally.]

[Action] 2/2

[generalflirt]

Roger! [Masaomi and Linda both confirm in unison, on the opposite end of the store. The both of them spring into action, catching the bags in rapid succession. Masaomi gets all the ones which aim more left, and Linda gets all the ones which land more right. Or well, that's the theory. Masaomi ends up getting nine and Linda gets three, the both of them rapidly putting them onto the racks as they get them.

Oh and he's in a tank top with a jacket over it but you'll see him jacketless tonight, so]

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara enters as Once Again, the Day is Saved by Linda and Masaomi catching most of those pouches.]

...having fun?

[Action]

[endgames]

Chi--! [Shikamaru was already slicing open a box of Doritos for the next volley when he hears Katara. He looks over his shoulder and drops what he's doing, head lowered with a sigh.] Craaaap. We lose.

[Action]

[generalflirt]

[SIGH. A defeated sigh, even hanging his head. Linda doesn't hang her head though because she did awesome]

Alas, it had to come to this.

[herotypical]

...Likely, there would be a party. And while a party would be entirely welcome, Buffy also relished the chance to see Katara on her own. Outside the festivities. So -- with a tightly wrapped package lodged firmly under one arm, she headed for the Welcome Centre. It seemed an obvious place to look for the young woman, given how dedicated she always seemed to be. Buffy would not put it past her to be volunteering on her birthday.

Upon her arrival, she gave the interior wall a light knock to announce her presence. The Welcome Centre wasn't a place she every really...visited. She looked just a little awkward to be standing there.

"Special delivery for the birthday girl?" She called out -- unperturbed by any New Feathers she might be startling.

[markofthebrave]

Buffy was the best guesser. Also, it was a quiet time of day. Katara looked up at the announcement and smiled, "Buffy! Hi!"

She rose and came over to her. "What kind of special delivery?"

If there are starfish involved, she may disown you.

[herotypical]

She held out the package. It was wrapped in cream paper and tied up with a purple ribbon. Instead, nestled gently on tissue paper, is a pair of simple mugs -- done in a deep blue and with an ever so slightly inconsistent pattern of colour -- darker in some places, lighter in others. And nudged between them was a tin of hot chocolate -- a dark bitter drinking chocolate with chillis and cinnamon. The flavour profile was one introduced to her by the navy boys and, now, she remembered it when she also remembered Katara's preference for drinks that weren't too sweet.

Even before Katara opened it -- even if she didn't open it yet at all -- Buffy began to prattle: "It's more of a wintery thing, I guess. But maybe it's not so bad to have something you have to wait to enjoy?"

[markofthebrave]

"I like winter things," Katara said, smiling as she opened it up. She didn't want to think about still being here in the winter. "My birthday back home is actually in January, so it's perfect-- oh, these mugs are beautiful!"

[herotypical]

"...Who knows? They might even be handthrown. I couldn't find a made in China sticker on them." A smile. "Happy Birthday, Katara."