breezing | eleventh whirlwind. VIDEO/ACTION. BACKDATED TO THE 3RD.

[ Welcome to a clearing a little ways away from House 56. This is the Airbending Gates clearing, and they're sort of visible in the background. There's a few trees, too, and the one nearest Ikki has Soren in it. Ikki's sitting crosslegged, a box on the ground in front of her. Her journal's propped up against something - a rock? It's just not clear - to leave her hands free.

After she's sure the thing is on, she grins. ]

Hey! This is Ikki! I'd say you know that already but you might not because I don't know everyone and anyway it's New Feather season so there are probably lots of people I don't know. I guess those people don't have to listen to this because I dunno if they'd care although I'll answer questions if they want? Oh, not that ANYONE has to listen to this but I mean I know I listen to things that look most interesting to me and this might not look like that to some people. [ As always, this is all in one breath. Her mile-a-minute chatter has yet to change. ]

Anyway! Guess what?? Tomorrow? Is the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL ...Not that I mind school, Sifu Raine, Sifu Layton! But that means every day I'll be free! Well except in mornings with grandpa and then sometimes with Rapunzel and Lee and the art club and you know everything else I do but it's still pretty great! I think I'm allowed to be excited about it because that's what you DO when school gets out, right? I mean I never went to a proper one at home because I learned from Daddy at the Island but I talked to some of the kids from the City and I think that's what you do. Oh, and the day after tomorrow is Katara's birthday, which is also pretty exciting! Everyone should say hello to her then, okay?

[ Another pause for breath. Surprisingly, she does actually have to breathe. ...Today is a year since arrival, and apparently that means... ] Today I'm going to share something special with you all. [ That's said as though she's telling a secret, although this isn't at all filtered. ] The secret is inside this box! This box was something Katara and I got, last year. A long time ago! Inside it are very, very special things! Normally I don't show ANYONE it, because that's how you keep secrets, but I'll show you all today. These are my treasures!

...That is, I'll show you if you ask! And then, if you ask, I'll tell you about one of my treasures that you get to see. You have to pick one! And if you pick the RIGHT one, I'll give you a present. [ Because apparently this is a game? Yes, that seems to be the case. ] If you don't get it right, then you don't get a prize!

Oh, and if you're new and listened to all that, you should drop by the school on the fourteenth, 'cause that's the next Art Club meeting and we're always recruiting!

[ Ikki can be contacted about her treasures either in person near the gates or via video. GOOD LUCK, anyone who wants to play guessing games with seven year old children. ]

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Well, maybe next time.

[ ...Chien came back! It could happen.

She's briefly quiet before poking his shoulder. ]

Hey, want to try one more time? Or do you want to go through the air gates?

How 'bout you go through the air gates, while I supervise.

Well, sure!

[ SHE NEEDS LITERALLY NO PROMPTING FOR THAT, ANYWAY. Ikki hops up, although she pauses to point at her box. ] And watch that, too, okay?

[ ...That direction given, she'll skip over to the gates. It only takes a step and shoving her palms out to send a blast of air at the gates. They start spinning instantly. With a single glance back to make sure Shikamaru is actually watching, Ikki grins and steps into the spinning gates, her expression going serious as she focuses on following the path of the air. ]

[He makes sure her special treasures are safe, from both invisible thieves and any stray breezes kicked up by the gates. Which is the more likely culprit if we're being honest, for most of these.

That handled, before Ikki steps he gives her a thumbs-up she might not see and turns his attention fully over to her. He's seen waterbending a countless number of times by now, and even a little earthbending from Aang and Toph, when she was around. Surprisingly, he hasn't seen a great deal of airbending, so this should be interesting to watch.]

[ Airbending is different from water and earthbending - though if it were more like either, it would be more similar in nature to waterbending. Unlike earthbending, Ikki doesn't have a strong, grounded stance. Air requires movement, and the circle-walking keeps her footwork light and quick, although as she follows the breeze through the gates she doesn't seem to be dodging so much as anticipating where to go: finding the path through the air gates without actively trying to dodge the gates themselves. ]

[Like reflex. He can't see a lot from here; the gates spin, and it's like watching film through a shutter. Enough glimpses to tell what she's doing, but not close enough to hammer out the technique itself.]

Looking good there! [He can shout out encouragement, nonetheless.]

[ There's acknowledging laughter from inside. After another second or two, Ikki's out the other side. She spins and runs back around the outside of the gates, before ducking into a bow. ]

Thanks! I've been doing them ever since I was little.

Yeah? How long, exactly, have you known you could airbend?

For as long as I can remember. I mean...I was really small when they figured it out. I think because Jinora airbent first. And then, when we were kids, she used to play with me a lot...I mean, she still does. Did. But back then, she bent breezes at me, I think 'cause it made me laugh, and one day I bent it back at her.

Also, airbenders sneeze really obvious.

[He snickers at that, both because it's funny and because he doesn't know what to say. Between this and her treasures, he reckons Ikki must be homesick. Or peoplesick. Family, and friends. He decides he'll think on it a little longer still.]

Guess we should be glad you and Aang aren't allergic to anything.

[ Her father and sister she'd at least seen a little while, months ago, but the rest... ]

Not that we know of!! I haven't caught a cold in forever, too. But when we were little and caught them mommy used to get headaches.

Do you miss her?

I miss all of them.

...But I remember Mommy and Daddy and Jinora and Meelo really well. I've known all of them forever. Except Meelo. I've known him two years less.

Sometimes I think I'm going to forget important things about Rohan though.

...You should tell me about him. Maybe you can draw a picture of him while you do.

Okay!!

[ This requires her to pull out drawing tools, of course. ]

Rohan was born a while ago. ...It was kinda hectic then, 'cause that was when the Equalists were attacking, but he was so, so cute and tiny and Mommy was hoping he wouldn't airbend 'cause she said that would be easier to handle - what'd she mean by that, anyway? - but we don't know if he is or isn't an airbender yet. GranGran said he probably would be, though.

He's got a name like all of us. I mean, it's an air nomad name. Daddy picked all of them out for us, just like his.

[That's right, her mother can't airbend. He remembers her saying something, to that effect once.]

Hey, that's a good name. [He tries to keep it focused to the brother for now though.] What's he look like?

He's really small, but he smiled at us. He has black hair, that's all curly...all of us have dark hair. Except Meelo mostly 'cause he has no hair 'cause he shaves it normally. And he has gray eyes. Mommy says those are airbender eyes.

[~~I THOUGHT THEY WERE GREEN~~]

Like yours, huh?

[ ~~I STARED AT SCREEN CAPS FOR LIKE FIVE MINUTES AND COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT PI 8C~~ ]

Yeah! Well, I think so!

eleventh whirlwind. VIDEO/ACTION. BACKDATED TO THE 3RD.

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