"I do believe we are being ignored," Haki stated, laughing lightly when Rika kicked him. The question had been directed at her after all, but he did find it a bit amusing. Regardless, he turned to face the waterbender and sipped his tea casually. "So, Kiara, tell me, why did you leave the Northern Water Tribe? Are they still a tight bunch?" he asked. He knew about the Northern Water Tribe's culture and their traditions. His mother had been a waterbender, after all, from the Southern Water Tribe, however; she was born and raised a majority of her life in the North. She had passed on the knowledge of how things were different there than they were in the south.
"If it is personal, do feel free to indulge me," he added, a faint smirk tilting up the corners of his lips.
Kiara thought about it a bit, idly bending her tea in and out of her cup in intricate patterns using nothing more than the dexterous movements of her fingers. She wasnât sure how much she should say, but at the same time, she didnât really see any reason to keep it from him. Returning the tea to the cup, she sipped at it gently, crossing one leg over the other and smiling slightly. âDefinitely,â she said, sighing lightly. âDon't get me wrong, I love my family, but⊠there are things I can take from them and things I canât.â Her brows furrowed a bit, and she frowned slightly.
âI guess itâs actually kind of a clichĂ© story,â she said, shaking her head. âThe so-called important families in the north still arrange marriages, you see.â She pulled a face, scrunching her nose with distaste. âMine was set in place before I was even born. I just⊠there was nothing wrong with Kohaku, and he would have made a good husband, I guess⊠but I would have been a pretty awful Water Tribe wife.â She rolled her eyes, mostly at herself. âI was⊠kind of a monster, as a child, and really pretty bad at doing what I was told.â
She paused for a moment, then regarded him thoughtfully. âWhat about you? Whatâs your family like? Iâve never heard of a firebender with blue eyes before.â
Haki listened as Kiara spoke, nodding here and there. So, the Northern Tribes were still as quaint as ever. Their marriages were always something he found quite, unnecessary. A marriage arranged by two individuals was one thing, however; to have your fate determined before you are even born? That was something he had personally never understood. His parents had been perfectly content with each other, and their marriage was one formed by true affection. He sighed, placing his cup down and folded his hands in front of him.
"I don't think you would have made a terrible wife. You just have a problem with authority. I'm the same way," he stated with a casual shrug. "Then you, my dear, have not met many firebenders. Actually, my mother was a waterbender. I was lucky enough to inherit her eyes," he spoke fondly. He had loved his mother dearly and even though she was still around, he hadn't seen her in awhile. Perhaps he should go visit her? "My father was a General in the Fire Nation army, and, as hard as it may be to believe, I am an only child," he added.
It was true, he was an only child. His parents never sought to have more after he was born, or they couldn't. He couldn't recall and he didn't really mind. With a slow shrug of his shoulders, he returned to drinking his tea, frowning when there was no more. "It's not often that a child born to two different benders inherits both qualities," he spoke, referring to his eyes once more. There was a time when people did mistake him for a waterbender, however; he was too light complected, and some even thought he a descendant of an airbender. Airbenders had light blue to gray eyes so it wouldn't have been unbelievable.
She actually didnât have any trouble believing that he was an only child at all. He just had that sort of confidence about him, like he was used to people paying attention to him when he spoke. Not that it was a bad thing, but one thing that having siblings taught a person was how to be unnoticed sometimes. She should knowâher brother was the only reason she got away with half the things she did. If her parents had spent that much time with her, sheâd probably never have been able to nurture her rebellious side.
It was interesting, to hear about the way things worked elsewhere in the world. In the north, it still would have been considered very strange to mix with a citizen from another nation, especially the Fire Nation. But of course, Republic City was another matter entirely, and she found that she liked that about it. âIâm sure itâs perfectly normal to people here, but to me, your parents seem like awfully brave people. Tradition is not taken lightly, where Iâm from.â She actually wasnât sure what her family would even think of someone like Haki. Her brother wouldnât careâhe was like that. Her father definitely wouldnât say anything, though she honestly wasnât sure what heâd think. Her mother, though⊠her mother would probably disapprove. Then again, her mother seemed to disapprove of everything, including Kiara. She frowned momentarily, then sighed at the thought.
âShame that theyâre rare,â she said matter-of-factly, sipping her tea. âYour eyes are very beautifulâitâs what my grandmother would call a harmonious balance.â There wasnât even a hint of flirtation in the statement; she was simply stating the facts as she saw them. There was something very aesthetically appealing about the coloration of his eyes, which retained the narrower shape characteristic of the Fire Nation facial structure, and the darkness of his hair.
Haki snorted softly at Kiara's response. Perhaps now it was perfectly normal, especially here in Republic City, but when his parents were first together, it wasn't. His mother had wanted nothing to do with his father at first, and it took a while before she actually fell in love with him. He smiled fondly at that. They were still in love, even to this day with all of their arguments and fights. He twirled his cup a bit, stirring the tea within as he took the final sip, setting it down and folding his hands on his lap. Leaning back in his chair a bit, he allowed a smirk to cross his features.
"Thank you, but they are not mine. They are my mother's. I was lucky enough to have inherited them from her," he stated fondly. He truly did love his mother, his father, though, was another story. "And it is a shame. Mixing of the nations is a progress step that we must make not with haste, but with subtle tenderness. After all, everyone is still recovering from the Fire Nation and the wrongs they have done. We cannot be forgiven so easily," he replied. Which was true. His nation, or part of it anyways, should still be kept at arms' length.
Though the previous Avatar and Fire Lord managed to create peace, it was only a matter of time before something else appeared. The Fire Nation was an ambitious place, and it wouldn't take much for the power to regain its hold in their heads. He should know, he felt that power from time to time. If it wasn't for his mother's influence, the influence of waterbenders, he would have fallen to it a long time ago. He sighed softly, swinging his left leg over his right in a careless manner, mindful of the table though, and closed his eyes.
"Your eyes are beautiful as well. They remind me of a deep sapphire, burning with such intensity that it's almost hard not to be lost in them," he stated, quirking one eye open in the process, a hint of mischief playing behind it.
She supposed he had a point, in a way. But at the same time, one couldnât spend too long deciding whether or not to forgive. Nobody could move on that way. Watching the swirl of his tea in its cup, Kiara smiled playfully, and twirled one of her index fingers in the opposite direction, causing the liquid to rotate the wrong way and create a small vortex in the cup. âNot even a waterbender can fight the tide forever,â she said simply. âIf people do not forgive and accept, they will be left behind, and the war will still be in their hearts. Thatâs no way to live.â
His next words caused her to blink, the connotations of his prosaic phrasings passing right over her oblivious head. She wasnât exactly sure what kinds of sapphires burned, as they were stones and stones were not usually flammable, but she chose to take it as a compliment of the kind sheâd given him, if perhaps a bit more confusing. âUh⊠thank you, I think,â she replied with a smile and a shrug. âMine are my fatherâs. Momâs are a bit more grey, and Soshi shares them. My brother,â she clarified.
Haki chuckled beneath his breath at Kiara's confusion. Shaking his head, he waved his hand in front of his face to dismiss the thought. She truly did not get his implication, and he wasn't going to push any further, for the time being. Instead he took in the information she spoke, absorbing it as much as he could. Perhaps she was right, though the tide usually gives way to the waterbender, fighting against a memory may be a little cynical of most people. But then again, it's not exactly easy to forget either. What the Fire Nation did, it was something that would still take years for people to truly forgive them for.
"Sometimes, war is all one really knows. It's hard to find peace in a time of it and they allow the war to rage deeply inside. We were fortunate enough to not have been born during that time, otherwise I don't think I would have been born at all," he mused in a humorous tone. Though he was fairly serious about it. "Accepting something such as that is still pretty hard to do. Would you forgive me so easily if I destroyed something precious to you?" he stated, but pulled back a bit. Now he was starting to delve too deeply into that matter, and they were not here to talk of such things.
"My mouth runs away with me I'm afraid." he spoke as he leaned further back into his chair.
Kiara was still confused, but this time for a different reason. She wasnât really sure where this line of thinking was coming from, but she tilted her head to the side and tried to answer it all the same. âBut the Fire Nation isnât just one person,â she replied, her perplexity written over her face. âThat would be like⊠hating all benders because Ozai was one, or something.â Beside her, Fang shifted slightly in his seat, but continued his conversation with Rika, and Kiara didnât notice. âAnd⊠yes, really. Iâd try. It might not be easy, but hate is poison, and it hurts the one who keeps it more than the one who is hated. If forgiveness was easy, everyone would do it.â She shrugged, then shook her head.
âYou donât have to worry about saying something you think or want to know. I could have chosen not to answer if I was really uncomfortable.â It wasnât something she minded overmuch. Talking to people was always interesting, precisely because not everyone said the same kinds of things in the same way. She wasnât going to be offended at a question, however strange she found it.
Haki was mildly amused at her response. She would forgive him if he destroyed something precious to her? That, was an entertaining idea. Perhaps he should do so, but not yet. He had to play his cards right, otherwise it would no be so wise of him to show his hand a head of time. He sighed softly as he glanced towards Rika, a smirk tugging at his lips as he spotted the way her eyes lit up. Shaking his head softly, he turned back to Kiara.
"Perhaps, one day the world will be able to learn to forgive easier. Until then, all we can do is let wounds heal at their own pace," he replied. "And my dear, everything I say should make you uncomfortable," he replied with a slight tilt of his lips. He was partially joking, but the glint in his eyes might have said otherwise. There was a reason he chose to say the things he did, however; he was never one to pass up an opportunity either.
"So, do you think we are ready for this tournament?
âYouâre really weird,â Kiara told him by way of response. He was supposed to be making her uncomfortable? That was strange, because she hadnât really managed to feel uncomfortable yet, and she wasnât sure why he would want her to. Maybe something was going on that she didnât understand, but if so, he was doing kind of a bad job of explaining it to her.
She gave the question about the match a little more thought, because it was a question she properly understood, then nodded slowly. âWeâve worked hard,â she said. âIf we win, thatâll be great. If not⊠we just work harder and win next time. I watched a couple other matches last week. The people I saw were good, but the firebender overreached himself and the earthbender was reckless. The waterbender was too conservative⊠I know thereâs a difference between noticing that and being able to do it, but that I noticed at all is a sign that you guys must be doing something right, in teaching me this stuff. I promise Iâll do my best not to hold you back.â
"If it is personal, do feel free to indulge me," he added, a faint smirk tilting up the corners of his lips.
Kiara thought about it a bit, idly bending her tea in and out of her cup in intricate patterns using nothing more than the dexterous movements of her fingers. She wasnât sure how much she should say, but at the same time, she didnât really see any reason to keep it from him. Returning the tea to the cup, she sipped at it gently, crossing one leg over the other and smiling slightly. âDefinitely,â she said, sighing lightly. âDon't get me wrong, I love my family, but⊠there are things I can take from them and things I canât.â Her brows furrowed a bit, and she frowned slightly.
âI guess itâs actually kind of a clichĂ© story,â she said, shaking her head. âThe so-called important families in the north still arrange marriages, you see.â She pulled a face, scrunching her nose with distaste. âMine was set in place before I was even born. I just⊠there was nothing wrong with Kohaku, and he would have made a good husband, I guess⊠but I would have been a pretty awful Water Tribe wife.â She rolled her eyes, mostly at herself. âI was⊠kind of a monster, as a child, and really pretty bad at doing what I was told.â
She paused for a moment, then regarded him thoughtfully. âWhat about you? Whatâs your family like? Iâve never heard of a firebender with blue eyes before.â
Haki listened as Kiara spoke, nodding here and there. So, the Northern Tribes were still as quaint as ever. Their marriages were always something he found quite, unnecessary. A marriage arranged by two individuals was one thing, however; to have your fate determined before you are even born? That was something he had personally never understood. His parents had been perfectly content with each other, and their marriage was one formed by true affection. He sighed, placing his cup down and folded his hands in front of him.
"I don't think you would have made a terrible wife. You just have a problem with authority. I'm the same way," he stated with a casual shrug. "Then you, my dear, have not met many firebenders. Actually, my mother was a waterbender. I was lucky enough to inherit her eyes," he spoke fondly. He had loved his mother dearly and even though she was still around, he hadn't seen her in awhile. Perhaps he should go visit her? "My father was a General in the Fire Nation army, and, as hard as it may be to believe, I am an only child," he added.
It was true, he was an only child. His parents never sought to have more after he was born, or they couldn't. He couldn't recall and he didn't really mind. With a slow shrug of his shoulders, he returned to drinking his tea, frowning when there was no more. "It's not often that a child born to two different benders inherits both qualities," he spoke, referring to his eyes once more. There was a time when people did mistake him for a waterbender, however; he was too light complected, and some even thought he a descendant of an airbender. Airbenders had light blue to gray eyes so it wouldn't have been unbelievable.
She actually didnât have any trouble believing that he was an only child at all. He just had that sort of confidence about him, like he was used to people paying attention to him when he spoke. Not that it was a bad thing, but one thing that having siblings taught a person was how to be unnoticed sometimes. She should knowâher brother was the only reason she got away with half the things she did. If her parents had spent that much time with her, sheâd probably never have been able to nurture her rebellious side.
It was interesting, to hear about the way things worked elsewhere in the world. In the north, it still would have been considered very strange to mix with a citizen from another nation, especially the Fire Nation. But of course, Republic City was another matter entirely, and she found that she liked that about it. âIâm sure itâs perfectly normal to people here, but to me, your parents seem like awfully brave people. Tradition is not taken lightly, where Iâm from.â She actually wasnât sure what her family would even think of someone like Haki. Her brother wouldnât careâhe was like that. Her father definitely wouldnât say anything, though she honestly wasnât sure what heâd think. Her mother, though⊠her mother would probably disapprove. Then again, her mother seemed to disapprove of everything, including Kiara. She frowned momentarily, then sighed at the thought.
âShame that theyâre rare,â she said matter-of-factly, sipping her tea. âYour eyes are very beautifulâitâs what my grandmother would call a harmonious balance.â There wasnât even a hint of flirtation in the statement; she was simply stating the facts as she saw them. There was something very aesthetically appealing about the coloration of his eyes, which retained the narrower shape characteristic of the Fire Nation facial structure, and the darkness of his hair.
Haki snorted softly at Kiara's response. Perhaps now it was perfectly normal, especially here in Republic City, but when his parents were first together, it wasn't. His mother had wanted nothing to do with his father at first, and it took a while before she actually fell in love with him. He smiled fondly at that. They were still in love, even to this day with all of their arguments and fights. He twirled his cup a bit, stirring the tea within as he took the final sip, setting it down and folding his hands on his lap. Leaning back in his chair a bit, he allowed a smirk to cross his features.
"Thank you, but they are not mine. They are my mother's. I was lucky enough to have inherited them from her," he stated fondly. He truly did love his mother, his father, though, was another story. "And it is a shame. Mixing of the nations is a progress step that we must make not with haste, but with subtle tenderness. After all, everyone is still recovering from the Fire Nation and the wrongs they have done. We cannot be forgiven so easily," he replied. Which was true. His nation, or part of it anyways, should still be kept at arms' length.
Though the previous Avatar and Fire Lord managed to create peace, it was only a matter of time before something else appeared. The Fire Nation was an ambitious place, and it wouldn't take much for the power to regain its hold in their heads. He should know, he felt that power from time to time. If it wasn't for his mother's influence, the influence of waterbenders, he would have fallen to it a long time ago. He sighed softly, swinging his left leg over his right in a careless manner, mindful of the table though, and closed his eyes.
"Your eyes are beautiful as well. They remind me of a deep sapphire, burning with such intensity that it's almost hard not to be lost in them," he stated, quirking one eye open in the process, a hint of mischief playing behind it.
She supposed he had a point, in a way. But at the same time, one couldnât spend too long deciding whether or not to forgive. Nobody could move on that way. Watching the swirl of his tea in its cup, Kiara smiled playfully, and twirled one of her index fingers in the opposite direction, causing the liquid to rotate the wrong way and create a small vortex in the cup. âNot even a waterbender can fight the tide forever,â she said simply. âIf people do not forgive and accept, they will be left behind, and the war will still be in their hearts. Thatâs no way to live.â
His next words caused her to blink, the connotations of his prosaic phrasings passing right over her oblivious head. She wasnât exactly sure what kinds of sapphires burned, as they were stones and stones were not usually flammable, but she chose to take it as a compliment of the kind sheâd given him, if perhaps a bit more confusing. âUh⊠thank you, I think,â she replied with a smile and a shrug. âMine are my fatherâs. Momâs are a bit more grey, and Soshi shares them. My brother,â she clarified.
Haki chuckled beneath his breath at Kiara's confusion. Shaking his head, he waved his hand in front of his face to dismiss the thought. She truly did not get his implication, and he wasn't going to push any further, for the time being. Instead he took in the information she spoke, absorbing it as much as he could. Perhaps she was right, though the tide usually gives way to the waterbender, fighting against a memory may be a little cynical of most people. But then again, it's not exactly easy to forget either. What the Fire Nation did, it was something that would still take years for people to truly forgive them for.
"Sometimes, war is all one really knows. It's hard to find peace in a time of it and they allow the war to rage deeply inside. We were fortunate enough to not have been born during that time, otherwise I don't think I would have been born at all," he mused in a humorous tone. Though he was fairly serious about it. "Accepting something such as that is still pretty hard to do. Would you forgive me so easily if I destroyed something precious to you?" he stated, but pulled back a bit. Now he was starting to delve too deeply into that matter, and they were not here to talk of such things.
"My mouth runs away with me I'm afraid." he spoke as he leaned further back into his chair.
Kiara was still confused, but this time for a different reason. She wasnât really sure where this line of thinking was coming from, but she tilted her head to the side and tried to answer it all the same. âBut the Fire Nation isnât just one person,â she replied, her perplexity written over her face. âThat would be like⊠hating all benders because Ozai was one, or something.â Beside her, Fang shifted slightly in his seat, but continued his conversation with Rika, and Kiara didnât notice. âAnd⊠yes, really. Iâd try. It might not be easy, but hate is poison, and it hurts the one who keeps it more than the one who is hated. If forgiveness was easy, everyone would do it.â She shrugged, then shook her head.
âYou donât have to worry about saying something you think or want to know. I could have chosen not to answer if I was really uncomfortable.â It wasnât something she minded overmuch. Talking to people was always interesting, precisely because not everyone said the same kinds of things in the same way. She wasnât going to be offended at a question, however strange she found it.
Haki was mildly amused at her response. She would forgive him if he destroyed something precious to her? That, was an entertaining idea. Perhaps he should do so, but not yet. He had to play his cards right, otherwise it would no be so wise of him to show his hand a head of time. He sighed softly as he glanced towards Rika, a smirk tugging at his lips as he spotted the way her eyes lit up. Shaking his head softly, he turned back to Kiara.
"Perhaps, one day the world will be able to learn to forgive easier. Until then, all we can do is let wounds heal at their own pace," he replied. "And my dear, everything I say should make you uncomfortable," he replied with a slight tilt of his lips. He was partially joking, but the glint in his eyes might have said otherwise. There was a reason he chose to say the things he did, however; he was never one to pass up an opportunity either.
"So, do you think we are ready for this tournament?
âYouâre really weird,â Kiara told him by way of response. He was supposed to be making her uncomfortable? That was strange, because she hadnât really managed to feel uncomfortable yet, and she wasnât sure why he would want her to. Maybe something was going on that she didnât understand, but if so, he was doing kind of a bad job of explaining it to her.
She gave the question about the match a little more thought, because it was a question she properly understood, then nodded slowly. âWeâve worked hard,â she said. âIf we win, thatâll be great. If not⊠we just work harder and win next time. I watched a couple other matches last week. The people I saw were good, but the firebender overreached himself and the earthbender was reckless. The waterbender was too conservative⊠I know thereâs a difference between noticing that and being able to do it, but that I noticed at all is a sign that you guys must be doing something right, in teaching me this stuff. I promise Iâll do my best not to hold you back.â