pierce.

--- ABOUT. HISTORY. INTRO. RISE. CONNECTIONS. HOUSE YUE HEADCANONS.

(...) “i find it difficult to wield a polearm now, you see.” he blames it on his newfound exhaustion upon returning from the spirit world. he needed something lighter, in case his bending were to be… inaccessible, yet again. “i trust you would understand why.” he waited expectantly. often, for requests such as this, jian need only address a letter to lord and lady yue and it will be done with haste. but he often found little excuse to shirk from his duties, and it has been quite a while since he saw the younger lady. jian couldn’t quite admit it to himself, but he was happy to see her.

Early? No.

Lord Jian was kind for setting up the meeting at this hour, so Wanning could be spared of pretending to sleep when none would come to her.

Inside, the restlessness was growing. She did not know how to make it stop and thought perhaps it wouldn't, and this was simply how she must live from now on.

"Of course, my lord." Wanning nodded, noting down Jian's description. Her handwriting was still solid and her voice was steady. If nothing else, Wanning had ensured her full functionality as the eldest child of head of house Yue. "We can have this made for you. Material-wise, we will find something of lighter weight but just as sharp and durable. Perhaps we could-" She noticed the dark circles under Jian's eyes too.

"My lord..." She sighed, drawing away from the papers. "I've been meaning to apologize." The truth was, she intended to come forward with this sooner, but there were other pressing matters to take care of. If the household could become busy after a month and a half of her disappearance then surely it would be worse for Jian. With that thought in mind, Wanning waited. Now another moon has passed and she felt like she had prolonged this conversation long enough.

(...) "are there other flowers that only grow in stonehelm?" the friendliness never wavered, nor was did the genuine curiosity that came with it. would it be foolish of her to talk about flowers, when the purpose of her visit is anything but? to anyone unaware of her fondness of them, it is undeniably suspicious. in fact, might even instigate something beyond her official business. yuri closes her eyes, and takes in a whiff, the sweet, earthy scent makes her heave a sigh. "swords endure, especially in capable hands, like that of your house's, flowers, however, do not. no matter the effort, they wither away." she was not fond of idle chatter, but the words flow like a river, wild currents taking her over. "it would be a shame, if i missed out to see them blooming, all for a weapon, don't you think?"

For a moment, Wanning was thrown.

Still, she answered the princess's question with full honesty. "The most beautiful flowers grow on that mountain." She pointed, just as the Yue staff returned from informing the household of the fact her grace had arrived at their back gate.

A quick look was exchanged between Wanning and the staff. The staff was nervous about the princess's request and it was absolutely fair. After all, should anything happen to the fire lord's daughter, house Yue would likely have to answer with their lives.

However.

"We can follow this path, princess." She gave the staff's hand a squeeze of reassurance before picking up her bow and quiver of three arrows from the ground where she'd left them in preparation for her dance practice.

The truth was, Wanning knew these woods like the back of her hand. She could probably find her way up this mountain with a blindfold on from all the times she practiced archery during the day and the night. There were no dangers along the quiet, scenic trail she intended for them to take for all the beasts in the area had been taught to fear the best hunters of the nation. And even if something unexpected was to happen, Wanning knew a dozen escape routes at least.

Perhaps the princess was weary from her journey and wished for a moment of simple relaxation before engaging in heavy conversations about weaponry. Who was Wanning to deny her?

Not long for this world, Yunxia said so casually, in the same tone one would use when talking about the fragrance of tea. "A-Xia, please," Wanning sighed. "You must not speak this way about yourself. Have you been taking the herbal brew? Is it helping?" The brews she spoke about came from a recipe in old books. After seeing the benefit it had on her own health, Wanning asked for a bowl to be sent to Yunxia every night.

Wanning picked up her bow again. She chose the target that was the furthest away and absently loaded an arrow. "This conversation is an uncomfortable one, I understand. Don't see it as a push, only a suggestion to start thinking about what you like." The arrow shot out, guided by the wind, and hit the target straight in the center.

Wanning's eyes, however, remained on Yunxia.

"Mother and father love you. If there is someone you like or a type of person you prefer, they should be told so the necessary arrangements can be made. Ultimately, they wish to see you happy." Just as I do. "If you don't trust mother with your thoughts, father's always been kind."

(...) “i heard you returned with my brother - i hope he treated you well.” because she’d mentioned it, he unconsciously reached up to touch his ear. the skin was, as it had been for a while now, unyielding and cool. “no, it doesn’t hurt. as long as i’m not sleeping on my side - it makes for an uncomfortable pillow.” his expression relaxed into a smile, an attempt at humour that he felt she might appreciate.

Wanning smiled back in appreciation of his effort. It was good to see that he was still capable of jest after the ordeal that he had undoubtedly endured.

"Yes, we also encountered lady Yura of House Choi on our journey through the spirit world." In a way, Wanning considered herself very fortunate to have discovered companions. The conversations they had and the stories they shared made the travel more bearable. "We were lucky to have all made it unscathed...physically, at least." Her gaze traveled across the courtyard as she recalled. "I am sure lord Jian had already spoken to you about what happened, but the effects still linger despite the fact half a month has passed since we woke up." This morning, she brought a flower to her nose and could not catch its scent. She drank her favorite tea and tasted none of its richness.

"Speaking of lord Jian, I am hoping for an audience with him eventually. Not an urgent meeting, but I should apologize." She wanted to wait because after the attack at the banquet, many Houses were left in a state of chaos. House Zhao, having lost its head of house for a month and a half, likely had work piled up. Wanning wanted to give Jian time to recover from the spirit world and settle his house affairs before she burdened him with her guilt. "I was greatly distressed when I saw him in the spirit world and may have raised my voice." Actually, she might have done some other things, too. Wanning definitely was not her best, most respectful self in the spirit world.

But first things first.

(...) still, wanning’s pleas did not fall on deaf ears. his resolve weakened as tears blurred his vision. “i am sorry about your friend. but unlike him, i have no parents to weep for me.” jian closes his eyes, the wind burning his cheeks, his voice softening in turn. “leave me be.”

Lord and Lady Yue were good people. Traditional. Loyal. Wanning was taught as a child when to demonstrate her strength by facing her challenges head-on and when it would benefit her more to simply bow her head. As the victor of his battle, Jian was the new head of House Zhao. Technically, she should do as she was told.

But there was pain in his voice.

Wanning had a heart that was soft towards those who were hurt, and her worries had rendered her feet stubbornly still. She was not leaving - no way.

"My lord has siblings. Young ones who would be lost without you." She imagined little Keran alone could cry enough for six people despite how tough she thought herself to be. "My lord also has friends. Those who care about you and would wish to walk alongside you for years to come."

The wind grew stronger - Wanning could tell by the movement of the trees in the distance. She really would like Jian to step away from the cliff's edge now but dared not push him too hard. Oh, how Wanning wished she had her father's silver tongue. Others always said she was like him, but when it came to effortlessly persuading people, Lord Yue was gifted in a way that nobody else was in their family.

(...) "i'm always happy to see you," she says, and it's true. they have enough similarities that nara is always comfortable around wanning. "but i'm guessing this isn't a social visit, right?"

"Thank you," Wanning said, gladly accepting the tea she was offered. She had already figured out how she would approach this conversation before coming and that was to be direct. "I will be honest, my lady," she started. "I came to ask you a question. Or rather, for a gift...of knowledge." Their friendship deserved to be honored, not marred by untruths and manipulation.

"I wish to learn lavabending."

There, she spoke the words that had sat heavily on her heart for months out loud. What she was asking for was forbidden knowledge, though, in her mind, it should not be. In the end, they all served the same nation, and the greater their collective strength, the more revered they would be by the rest of the world. This was why Wanning would not turn away anyone interested in archery, and taught everyone who came to her with an eagerness to learn regardless of if they had talent or not.

The sky was a peaceful cloudless blue and the sun was casting down absolutely radiant golden rays. On such days, Wanning usually found herself in a good mood. Today was an exception, however, and she was...internally sweating.

See, the Yue children were at ages when marriage would become a topic of discussion. When asked about her interests, Wanning presented her parents with an unhelpful blank stare. Growing up, she had been kept busy with school, archery, and firebending, then with court etiquette and weapon crafting. Romance had always been the last thing on her mind, and though beautiful people could make her blush with a sprig of wildflowers, her affection for them had never exceeded that of friendship. Probably.

Anyway, when the topic of marriage was approached once again last night, it was not about hers. Lord and Lady Yue were considering suitors for their youngest daughter, the lovely Yue Yunxia. Wanning and her father played Pai Sho to decide who would have to approach Yunxia regarding the situation. Wanning won the first game but lost the next two when her father insisted on best two out of three. Argh.

Thus, she arranged for an archery practice session with her sister in the woods. Targets of different sizes were hung upon tree branches of varying heights. Wanning made casual small talk, but was at a loss as to how she should bring up the topic of marriage.

"My heron..." She pushed herself to begin during break time. Wanning would have started talking about the plants in these woods, and how there were wildflowers and bushes. Trees and vines. Compare them to people and eventually indirectly ask Yunxia for her preference. However, knowing Yunxia, a more direct method may be appreciated.

(...) and perhaps zirui has grown overly exhausted of being sharp like he usually always is──to be unable to clearly differentiate between the living and the dead. yet splinters of hope lace themselves with tone of voice despite it all once more. “... are you real, or am i having the same dream again?”

Nobody enjoyed the sight of a beloved family member in distress. Others may see Zirui as a man of intelligence and talent, a capable young commander of the Fire Nation Navy. To Wanning, however, he'll always just be a boy, round-eyed and quiet in his defiance against their spirited mother.

With a hushed sigh, she closed the gap between them.

"I am real, my tiger." On another day, she would have perhaps teased him, but today, Wanning wanted only to comfort and reassure. "I'm home." She cupped his cheeks lovingly, the way she often did when they were younger. Granted, he'd grown enough so now she had to reach up, not down, but the effect of the gesture was hopefully still the same.

"I missed you," she said with a smile. "Mother and father too. Also Yunxia. Everyone." It has been a turbulent month-and-a-half. A part of Wanning wanted to tell her tale, but the other part did not even know where to start. She was a realist, always focusing on the matters at hand. The spirit world seemed so far away from her - a distant concept that her mind paid little attention to - until she became part of it.

(...) with enough make-up and powder she was able to hide the lack of sleep well enough. she arrived to the yue household slightly early, presenting herself as confidently as she could with an arm still in the sling. the guards she brought with her announced her arrival, cueing that sweet, pleasant little fake smile of hers to form on her lips as she waited to be received.

"Brew white tea," she told the serving girl, rifling through her collection for a painted jar. "This." A tea that was greatly appreciated in this region and her personal favorite. From what she could recall from social gatherings, it also pleased the nation's sweetheart. "And ask the cook to prepare a light meal." Something easy on the stomach, suitable for those who have been traveling. Princess Yeongja might not want any food, but Wanning must be prepared, just in case she did.

Many in House Yue pondered the reason behind this royal visit. Wanning did as well. The princess mentioned replenishment and upgrades for the city watch, which was a reason that checked out well. But for her to personally visit, especially after the injuries she was rumored to have sustained from the banquet...

Wanning's brows furrowed as she added a cushion to the chair she intended to offer to her grace, but not too long later, she relaxed. Chances were, she thought, the princess wanted something made for her. Perhaps something more discreet in its deadliness. Such a weapon would be more useful if the rest of the world did not know about it and thus a personal visit would be warranted.

"Your grace," Wanning greeted later at the gate, meeting the princess's smile with one of her own. "It is an honor to receive you." She bowed. "Please forgive my mother for not being here herself. She is ill, and has been for the past two days." Wanning bowed again, this time to apologize. She spoke the truth - Lady Yue's fever left her unconscious for better parts of the day. Even if she was awake, she would likely be in no proper condition to converse with the princess. "My father has gone on a trip to gather materials a week ago and will not return for another." And thus, lady Yue Wanning, the eldest child of her house, was placed temporarily in charge.

Just one.

All she wanted, all she needed.

Lady Yue Wanning was not the type to break the rules. She was also not the type to allow herself to have fun when tasks were to be done. However, after what happened at the banquet and the difficult time in the spirit world, she gained a new perspective. Life was short, she decided, and she should live with no regrets. Therefore, she took Meilin up on her offer and together, they sneaked away to a town dressed as commoners.

Wanning kept the hood of her cloak over her head but observed everything with wide eyes of curiosity. In a way, being out here did put her heart at ease. At least life was good for the common people still - what happened at the banquet with the nobles and the royal family did not change them.

"Yuexin," she called out softly once they settled down in an establishment that was much too rowdy to be a restaurant but did indeed serve food. A few ladies spoke loudly to one another and did not care to cover their mouths when they laughed, and some men were playing a game at the corner, betting away their copper coins. Wanning and Meilin each came up with an alias for this trip, with Meilin's being Yuexin and Wanning's being Miao Miao. Listen, she chose Miao Miao because it was a common name and meant seedling. It was a great name for a commoner's daughter, which was what she was internally projecting.

@insouciont and @stvrkfire

the story continues.

Everywhere she looked, the great sand sea stretched on. It was hot, the sun was heavy, and Wanning grew restless. She'd become quiet as the journey progressed, her thoughts scattered and sparse. Something ate away at her precious faith. Ah, that's right, it was despair.

She recalled the time when she was alone, walking for days in the desert. She must have collapsed at some point and woke up to Jian's voice. The sight of his familiar face sent Wanning's world spinning. Her eyes widened, lips trembled. When she reached out and grabbed a handful of his shirt, Wanning did so with panic. "What are you doing here?" Wanning demanded, fist tightening around the fabric in her grip. "What are you doing here?" She shook him. For the first time, Wanning allowed anger into her voice before Lord Zhao. She had always been gentle and soft-voiced around him, but this situation was unacceptable. The entire time she walked, she told herself that everything would be alright. Even if she didn't make it back, Lord Zhao Jian, who had convinced himself that he owed her a life, would surely take care of House Yue.

And now...

They continued their walk and not too long after, found another to join them. When Wanning saw Yura, her heart first lifted with joy, then sank with horror. Yura was running towards her, a little spring in her steps as she excitedly shouted her name. Wanning wrapped her arms around her dear girl but could not force herself to return Yura's smile because now there was another person she cared for trapped with her.

(...) then crackling sounds like that of broken bones follow suit, loud enough to disturb the placid groves. the forest bellows at its injury, the wind howls as the distant sound of birds beckoned her to hide. but she doesn't. yuri keeps her ground, calm and unafraid, flowers at hand. "a dance like that deserves applause, why allow only the trees to see?" her intrusion, perhaps, warrants more than a response or a conversation so she anticipates the worst by putting out the fire. the princess pulls off her hood back and flashes a well-crafted smile, her demeanor changes to one that is sublime and worn by the fire lord's comely daughter. "apologies for my... intrusion, i assumed house yue had their hands full with my request, i didn't need the unnecessary gathering to greet me out front."

Curious eyes greeted the princess, dark with unspoken questions. It was the first time Wanning saw a member of the royal family this close and her grace was not quite what she expected. For starters, the princess was not...intimidating. Her smile was kind and her features were soft. She reminded Wanning of a blaze lily, with orange-red petals that resembled tongues of fire and a golden center. A flower, but one that was bold and vibrant, unlike the delicate ones she carried.

Yet...Wanning also recalled the weapon they had crafted for Princess Yuri. She thought of the sharp blade and cold chain, remembering how it wrapped around a small tree and sliced it into pieces when they tested it.

The sword that was also a whip. A sprig of wildflowers. Which one was the more accurate representation of the princess? Which was more suitable for her lovely hands?

Wanning bowed.

Perhaps it was not her place to find out.

At the mention of the dance, a hint of scarlet found its way to Wanning's cheeks. "Your grace is too kind," she whispered. "The dance..." Wanning looked down, contemplating her next words. "It is...special. My mother was taught by her mother and she had performed it only once...for her beloved, my father." Wanning's father was handsome and grew up surrounded by looks of admiration. He was a kind man of few words and Wanning took after his gentleness. Her mother was also beautiful, just not like her father. She spent much time crafting weapons and had thick callouses on her hands.

One day, after acquiring a significant amount of liquid courage, lady Yue said blast it, I am just going to do it. I am going to make him mine! And off she went like a hawk descending upon her prey rabbit. She found the object of her affection and dragged him deep into the woods. It was the first time she wore a dress before him, and with her hair loose and cheeks rosy from spirits, she danced. You know the outcome. Lord Yue appeared to be dragged, but it would not be difficult to flee from a drunk woman's grasp. He actually followed quite willingly, with an amused gleam in his eyes.