#rs.thbw

base. 𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐂 — what intention, drive or secret underlies the way your character presents themselves to the public?

yuri feels she is a thousand faces held together by what she can only fathom as good intentions. as an army general, she leads by example, embodying strength, discipline, and control. to the ruthless general, nothing is what it seems, and it is in accepting it that sets one apart. she believes that strength can be terrible, that there is freedom in discipline, and that there is beauty in control. although her methods to demonstrate them are not entirely amicable, some even think them retribution than a lesson, she stands by it without any doubt.

as a princess, the harshness becomes all but hearsay, possessing a bewitching face worth going to war for. every look, every smile, and every gentle word is for family. while she capitalizes on might as a warrior, yuri plays to her femininity in court. she understands that power takes many forms, that not every war is fought with weapons on the battlefield, and that one misunderstood gesture can topple down what has been built and strengthen for years.

eye holes. 𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐓 — if your character were to manipulate someone to their will, what methods would they employ?

yuri is very particular about how she convinces someone. she thinks human are complex, layers upon layers of nuances, honed by the multiple factors. as much as she can, she does not put herself in the middle of the deception. she peels the layers, the milieu, the context, and the very world the person lives in. she ties red strings around the wrist of those around them, paints over the canvasses that is their environment to the hues and shades she prefers, and takes control of the pace and the timeline as she sees fit. while the target believes they are still making their own decision, when the curtains are drawn, they'd come to realize that they are exactly where the princess wants them to be.

nose piece. 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍 — what is your character’s most used coping mechanism?

there are significant events in yuri's childhood adolescent years that have were subjected to repression. believed by most to be mature and wise, yuri held great control over her emotions growing up. not a tantrum, or complain was heard from the princess ever. she did what is expected of her without so much as the fire lord and the fire lady needing to give her knowing looks. there was no an instance when she needed to be taught a lesson, because the princess demonstrated wisdom way beyond her years, taking it upon herself to do only what is right. the princess has not committed any mistakes. but in the rare instances that she has, they were severe. her involvement always dealt with, the mess cleaned up. to this very day, not a soul alive, not even the princess, admits knows of any problem she had caused. there is no secret to be uncovered if the slip-ups simply did not exist.

mouth opening. 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐔𝐌 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄 — describe your character’s typical manner of speech — their accent, pace, cadence, loudness, etc.

yuri speaks in the language of the fire nation with a hari bulkan accent. her tone is often assertive, some say imposing and all-knowing, especially when she delivers her words in her calm, low-pitch voice. in court and amongst the ranks, she speaks formally, straight-to-the-point and impersonal. her tone low and dominating, not a stutter or filler whenever she speaks. with people she is comfortable with, she has the tendency to speak more casually, tone more amiable. it's rare for the princess to raise her voice, not even when she is delivery a good scolding, or when arguing her case.

embellishments. 𝐆𝐄𝐌𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒 — which items of jewelry is your character fond of? | 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 — does your character have a signature piece or accessory that they frequently wear? if so, what significance does this piece have? if not, why so?

yuri is fond of wearing floral hair ornaments. she can be seen sporting them when she's not in uniform, in gatherings, and special ocassions. she has them in varying styles, kinds, and colors. they are intricately made by hand based on the princess' instruction, inspired by the fire nation's flora, especially rare ones not typically seen in the cities. she wears two notable pieces, one with gold five-petaled flowers adorned with pearls and entwined with green flowerlets, and lilac-dyed glass shards blooms and leaf-shaped beads perched on vines. the two hair ornaments were inspired by the first flowers she read on books and sought all by herself to see in person.

fastenings. 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃 — what is your character’s worst fear, insecurity or vulnerability?

BASE ; wood — in a social setting, is your character more stoic and reserved or are they more boisterous and expressive? why so?

Stoic and reserved. It is simple something in his nature. Developed from a young age, the concept of stoicism was instilled in him by his father. The man took a special interest in the boy and he inevitably began to mirror the attitude of his father. Remaining as a stone pillar in a world of wildfires is important. It has helped him in his refinement of his lavabending and offered him a better discipline when it comes to his position as a royal guard.

EYE HOLES ; almond-shaped — if your character were to successfully manipulate someone to their will, would they harbor any guilt or remorse for their actions?

When it comes to manipulation, Geonwoo is someone who is none the wiser about why he would ever need to do so. He is a man who is very sincere with his intentions, simple-minded and unflinchingly honest, and has never taken any interest in the machinations of the other nobles. In fact, he finds it a bit abhorrent. It is nothing he would do in the first place, beyond this hypothetical. But he would find himself incredibly guilty if he ever did so.

Self-destruction. Leaning into rage. This is how he manages to cope with any pain he goes through. He retreats into himself, most of all.

NOSE PIECE ; plain — what is your character’s most used coping mechanism?

Geonwoo carries with him a special charm that was made by his twin sister, Aera. It is similar to a bokjumeoni or omamori pouch. It is one of the first ones she ever made and he has kept it with him ever since. ( He used to have a second one made more recently but it seems to have somehow found its way into the hands of someone else. ) The initial purpose is for good luck. Otherwise, Geonwoo dresses very plainly.

MOUTH OPENING ; none; a half-mask — what is your character’s most recognizable habit or mannerism?

A man of habit, he is recognizable by the way he stands. He is ever the picture of a member of the royal guard, standing with his hands behind his back and his shoulders straight, chin forward. He is also known to simple grunt or hum in response to certain things. His mannerisms are very military noble. Stiff and proper.

EMBELLISHMENTS  ; metallic accents — does your character have a signature piece or accessory that they frequently wear? if so, what significance does this piece have? if not, why so?

FASTENINGS ; leather cord — what is your character’s worst fear, insecurity or vulnerability?

the third night she dreams of her father's funeral, of sitting in shock next to her siblings. it was expected, in a way, but still, the weight of it all falls on her: the new head of house choi. the truth is that she doesn't remember much of the funeral, but in the dream it's recreated in painful detail, from the creased fabrics of her clothes where she clutched to them to geonwoo, silently standing by her side. maybe she reached to him in real life, maybe she tried to find any words of comfort, but in the dream she stays quiet, unable to say a word.

no, in this dream all she does is listen.

to her siblings crying, to other lords and ladies telling them empty words, gossiping behind their backs. she is not ready, they say, she will be eaten alive. if they truly said that in reality she doesn't know, but in dream the words echo through her mind, making her curl into herself, gripping her skirts.

you will fail, the voice of dreamweaver whispers close to her ear, you will let them down, you know that, it continues, you're weak, you're nothing compared to the other noble houses of hari bulkan.

"maybe so," nara says, forcing herself up. "but i will never know if i don't try, will i?"

she pushes herself up, doesn't look at anyone, lest her siblings' faces will make her stay again, and runs.

—

on the sixth day she wakes in a large chamber, so luxurious she has no doubt of where she is. a servant pushes the door open, gasping when she sees nara wake.

"your grace, i'm sorry i'm late!" she bows deeply and nara stares at her, heart already racing.

a dream it is then.

nara gets up from her bed, noticing how her robes are made of finer silk, the embroidery in it showing dragons, not an armadillo bear. oh, what a dream this one is already.

her chambers do not have the modest table and cosmetics that she has in feastfires. no, here she has countless combs, hairpins, the finest jewelry. she sits in front of a mirror, looking at herself. something is different – nara doesn't recognize the coldness in her own eyes, the glassy way they look at all her belongings.

the servant stands behind her, already brushing her hair. "you always look so beautiful even after waking up, your grace." she carefully disentangles the knots in nara's hair, hands delicate. nara's mother used to do it for her, and later nara did it for both aera and yura.

"my siblings," she says and even her voice sounds different. "where are they?"

the servant continues brushing her hair. "at their positions in court, of course, your grace," she says. "after all, their sister is the future fire lady."

of course, nara thinks, never moving so the servant can style her hair. she married the prince, now she remembers. this is her life now, attended all the time, living in a palace, rulling over the fire nation.

the servant starts talking about her commitments for the day and nara nods along, smiling. all she has to do is host tea parties, talk to other ladies and be presentable when her husband is back from his own duties. no more firebending lessons, or worrying about her lands of firefists, or making sure they have enough money and her siblings are doing fine. the servants hands in her hair are making her feel sleepy. her eyes start to flutter close again and the servant chuckles.

"what a nice life, isn't it, your grace?" she asks.

nara open her eyes, something in her voice doesn't sound right. the servant's smile turns into a grin and she grips nara's hair tighter.

"sleep again, your grace," she says. "you still have time."

nara almost does so – suddenly she feels so, so tired – but instead she reaches for a hairpin, stabbing her own hand. the pain makes her aware of her surroundings, the blood dripping down her palm pulls her back to the reality that this is nothing but a dream.

she gets up, blood dripping on the pristine floor, and smiles at the servant. "you'll have to do better than just nice to keep me here," she says before running to the doors.

—

on the seventh day, her mother waits for her in their garden.

"nara!" her smile is blinding. "come play pai sho with your mother."

this is perhaps the cruelest of the dreams. nara controls her own expression, smiling at her mother. "of course." she sits down, looking at the pieces. "your first move is always so bad."

her mother chuckles, waiting for nara to make her move even though they both know she always start with the earth piece – for no other reason than it being her favorite when she was a child. when playing with others nara puts more effort, but it has never been about winning or losing with her mother.

they play in silence, stealing glances at each other. this is how nara learned how to control her expressions, making sure her mother never knew her next move.

nara destroys her mother's lotus piece, smiling at her. "i won again."

her mother chuckles. "you were always good at this." then, her smile turns warm. "you're good at taking care of your siblings too," she says, serious. "you're doing a good job."

nara allows the tears to fall, just this once. "i know," she says and gets up. "it was nice seeing you again, mother."

she walks out of the gardens and doesn't look back.

—

when she wakes up again, her room is covered in lotus flowers. nara smiles just as a servant enters the room, gasping and dropping her tray at the sight of the flowers.

nara gets up of bed, stretching. "i'll take my breakfast in the dining room today," she says. "i feel much better."

eye holes: almond-shaped

if your character were to successfully manipulate someone to their will, would they harbor any guilt or remorse for their actions?

she would feel guilt, but no remorse. if she manipulated someone to her will, then it's something she felt like she had to do to advance her goal/the ambition of her people. if the other person is innocent, sweet, or a friend, she would feel horrible but should the situation be presented to her again, she'd do the same.

nose piece: plain

what is your character’s most used coping mechanism?

she would go on a hunting trip or practice her archery. tend to the flowers in the garden or make a hearty stew and find some random people to feed.

mouth opening: half mask

what is your character’s most recognizable habit or mannerism?

she walks soundlessly like a cat. if she's interested in someone, she subconsciously touches/plays with her hair. she cleans up after herself a little bit. for example, at a gathering, she would subconsciously fold her napkin and arrange her utensils in an easy way for servants to take away. wanning also says thank you a lot when she's provided assistance, including to inanimate objects. if a tree is shielding her from the sun and she is appreciative, she would tell the tree thanks...

embellishment: gemstones and lace

which items of jewelry is your character fond of? what colors and shades does your character normally dress in? what length of clothing do they prefer?

wanning is secretly fond of jewelry. she tries to hide it, but people can please her greatly with a particularly fine piece. she's fond of hairpins and necklaces the most. prefers dainty and elegant. all colors are beautiful to her so she wears whatever is in fashion. she prefers flowy long dresses during social gatherings and dresses simply on regular days.

fastenings: hand-held stick

how strictly does your character abide by a moral compass, if at all?

yuri brings herself to move, surrendering to the unfortunate thought that she will not find repose. she makes an effort to take her time, easing into the shift in her position. the zest coursing through her body was starting to frustrate her. there are a great deal of things going through her mind as it is. slowly, she tells herself. the last thing she needs is to be driven mad by her own... anxiousness. was it really that? with deep breaths, she tries to focus. the ground against her soles, firm and stable, the air calming and quenching the fury inside her. it takes longer just to convince herself that this is home. that the room will not set itself ablaze and shatter into an infinite number of pieces before her eyes. she looks at her hands, lifting them high enough to be examined closely. she stares long and hard, wills for her lightning to come only to be met by a disappointing burst of blue flame.

her lightning is gone.

the thought alone was enough to send yuri to embrace the burning she feels inside her, indulge its urges to turn her back from stillness. in no time, she was out of bed, slipping through guarded hallways, and plunging into the darkness to go see her dragon. she could see black fire's silhouette stir from the dim-lit distance. his vicious features growing clearer as she came close, faintly illuminated by her blue flames. the majestic creature lowers its head to meet her hands, and closes its eyes along with her as she presses her forehead against the edge of his muzzle. a habit of sorts that brings her, and perhaps even black fire himself, comfort. the discontent draws on her features, eyes still shut tight. it took my lightning, she thinks to herself. black fire lets out a low rumble, moving its head back and nudges forward lightly, making yuri lose her footing and fall back to the ground with a thud.

"naughty ball of soot !" yuri calls out with a light laugh, her worries had fallen away along with her. she feigns annoyance, brows knitting as she hissed -- an attempt to scold black fire. but even that pretense goes away quickly as she grabs the enormity that is her dragon's muzzle. she presses her forehead against it once more before she whispers, "you owe me..." she climbs up his limb to the saddle, and disappears into the darkness of the night. the princess recounts what she supposed was a short encounter that turned out to be three weeks. she remembers the castle at the edge of the cliff, black fire's disobedience... then soaring into the sky until the rest of the world swallowed by the fire. then that voice, that smiling visage in the blinding sky.

when black fire starts to pick up speed, yuri holds on tightly, and he plummets as he did then. this time, however, the princess kept her eyes open, with her an untattered sense of determination. she wanted answers, she needed more in exchange for her lightning. she hurries out of the saddle, sliding down black fire's forelimb with an arm stretched out, pressed against a portion of his wings, to guide herself to the ground. her boots dug into the sand as she starts walk towards the nearby forest to collect logs and woods.

she returns with a handful that she drops in front of her curled up dragon, probably being lulled to sleep by the sound of crashing waves. it turns its head to watch every time she returned, then back to rest his head on its claw. when she had stopped to catch her breath, black fire lifts his head and opens his mouth. out came a low rumbling mixed with she can only call a shriek, then fire, red with swirls of black, hits the collection of logs and woods, making a bonfire bigger than she's ever seen. the vicious tongues of red, orange, and yellow swayed with the wind, but hoist itself back up as though withstanding its might. it burned menacingly bright and towered so high, yuri swore it plunged into the night sky.

the princess looks back at black fire, his head now perked and watching her closely. i wonder, she thought, turning to face the colossal being capable of devouring her, and leave no trace behind. she remembers the bath water in turmoil, the surface shuffling wildly but also makes her skin tingle, and so much steam that it filled the room like a hazy dream. that kind of temperature should have incurred her serious damage. she should have been writhing in pain, and her skin scathed all over. inch by inch, it should have flayed the skin away. but it didn't, so she refused to deny her curiosity any further. each step drawing her to the fire is held together by certainty and undeniable thrill. she could be mistaken, and things could go awfully awry. but one thing is for sure, this time, she will not beg or scream.

yuri does not close her eyes as she stands there, watching the flame creep and crawl from the glowing logs to her clothes. it eats away at the hem, nipping and scratching until there's not a surface, or thread left.

for a second, she wonders if it was a simple delay, elevated threshold of pain, that when provoked will diminish her to nothing but ash as fire does with whatever, and whoever, was in its path. just like a flower... they don't burn as quick, but they do, then they perish. any moment now. she holds her hand out, hoping to see broken, blacked skin but what she sees are the flames licking, whipping, and skidding over her body. she steps out of the fire not a minute later, feeling the breeze skittering against her skin. she inspects every part her vision allows, running her hand over her body, anticipating a sharp sting, or any form of ache. instead, her palm is only met by soft, silken skin... untouched, unharmed, unburnt.

ooc notes:

tldr yuri meets agni ( god of life, fire, sun and energy ), and because of this encounter she now has complete immunity to fire she's the unburnt couldn't resist had to include unfortunately, she can no longer bend lightning ; n ;

she returns from the spirit world after three weeks, straight to the royal palace at hari bulkan and was not allowed to leave. but lbh she sneaks out a few more times to check if she's really impervious to fire or if its a temporary state from her visit to the spirit world

spoke to no one about her new and lost ability just yet. probably talked to her servant, convince the poor, scared thing she was seeing things, it has been a worrisome few weeks is all. yuri made sure to keep whispers and any kind of rumor from spreading.