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[ Jinora's taken to learning the various magics that the teachers of Castle Thorne have to offer. She has concentration and patience in spades that she doesn't mind how long it takes to master one. Today's lessons being that modest wind spell is a rather amusing one given the fact she doesn't need it. Nor that, having been born with it, airbending itself feels as much a part of her as any limb. ]

[ Perhaps, for this reason and her own diligence, it's easy enough to grasp the spell after a handful of tries. It just feels all wrong. This style of magic with the air feels... unnatural. ]

[ The normally peacefully mild-mannered girl comes to the decision she can't learn anything more today and leaves the room as another door slams down the hall. She flinches before giving a smooth motion with a hand, pulling the wind away so no such slams will happen as she departs with a sigh. ]

They don't understand much about air at all.

[ It's her first experience with this world's magic jarring against her own concepts - it's uncomfortable. Is this what it might feel like for others? Gently tugging an open window shut as she passes she continues, talking to herself:]

They don't seem interested in learning about other ways either... but I guess none of them could become benders.

[ So it makes sense, but she can't help but thinking that the understanding the fundamental principles of the element would help. You can't have the best control over something if you don't know it well, do you? ]

Edited 2024-05-23 22:34 (UTC)

[ After everything they've gone through it should come as no surprise that his inclination to learn magic is once again on the backburner. Now that he can distinguish the pull of the Singularity it's been easy to try and ignore it. But the times that he doesn't spend popping briefly into his domain to check on Bee is still spent within the walls of castle and Nott meaning that he can't escape or ignore magic despite his best attempts.

Even if he did want to learn magic and invest time in it, he's come to the conclusion that Thorne's preferred way of learning isn't for him, which explains his absence from most of the magic lessons. But why he runs into Jinora that day isn't because he's had a change of heart about magic, but because he's on his way back from a courier job.

He recognizes her of course - difficult not to when there are so few young Summoned amongst them. But more than that, there's also a familiarity that he knows shouldn't exist because he really doesn't know Jinora at all. ]

Benders?

[ Jinora doesn't yelp or squeak, but she does start a touch at the sound of a voice. Turning quickly in that soft wooosh of wind that tugs on clothes a little too eagerly, like it's own anxiety induced it. ]

[ She smiles softly, hesitantly - more awkward than not. He's familiar, but she decides not to comment. ]

That's right.

[ She shifts to place a hand to her chest in indication. ] People like me. Where I'm from, anyone who can control an element are called benders.

[ For as emotionally stunted as Cassian can be, he can still recognize hesitation and awkwardness when he sees it. He feels it too, to some degree. But the only way to get past that is to acknowledge those feelings and push through it anyway.

He tugs his gloves off unceremoniously stuffing them in his coat pocket. ]
I thought it was just a god thing.

[ There's a lilt to his voice, as if trying to make light of what they'd gone through in some way. ]

The other elements then – [ He tries to recall the book he'd picked up in passing. ] they're fire, earth and water?

[ Jinora watches the movement - curious - but doesn't ask as she tucks her hands behind her back, clasping them together. ]

No that's not it, air bending has always been a part of me.

[ She doesn't sound offended at the assumption it was part of it - but from the tone the idea there might be a her that wasn't in tune with the air is unthinkable. ]

That's right. Though there's subsects of bending, too, like metal bending or lightning bending.

[ After everything so intangible that they had experienced the last thing he wanted to do was assume anything of anyone. But it appeared that Jinora was still as serious as ever for a child of her age.

Except he knew better. He still vividly being teased about being made of dust during their time as gods. ]

If it's always been a part of you does that mean it's not something that can be learned?

Well, that's the case usually, yes.

[ She offers thoughtfully, matching it with a slight shake of her head. ]

But recently a whole bunch of people got air bending, but the circumstances were special.

[ Maybe he's imagining things. In fact, he's told himself time and time again that he's better off forgetting all the interactions he's had with the Summoned and starting over with a blank slate.

But he has his instincts and he thinks that he might have accidentally stumbled upon something he hadn't intended. ]

Is it something you want to talk about?

[ He motions towards the direction of the kitchens. ]

Apparently I don't make an awful cup of tea.

[ It's not really stumbling over something if - in her own world - the information is something that every person in the world knows. It's a fact of her life since birth, but she's never had to explain it before arriving in Thorne. It's strange. ]

I won't turn down tea, if you're offering.

[ She answers lightly, the smile sincere, even if she gives the slightest shake of her head. Her fingers pressing together as she thinks about it, ]

But the new airbenders weren't a bad thing, if that's what you mean, because it was the world's way of righting itself. My family were the last ones, so I'm really happy there's more of us now.

Tea then. Just don't judge it too hard.

[ He begins to lead the way towards the kitchen knowing full well that they should have some privacy. The cooks were still on their break and likely wouldn't begin prep for a little while. ]

The last ones?

[ It feels incredibly obtuse and rude of him to ask the follow-up question that comes to mind. 'The last' could denote anything - but of course, being who he is, it goes to the worst possible place. ]

I wouldn't judge something you're nice enough to offer me.

[ Honest! Even if it's gross - which it hopefully won't be. Her fingers fall to her sides as they walk, gaze turning towards the windows as she nods. ]

That's right. The Fire Nation attacked the Air Temples 170 years ago. My grandfather was the only one who managed to escape. He was frozen for a hundred years and when he came back he and his friends had to face the Fire Nation, but that's a whole longer story.

I would rather you be honest with me if it is.

[ And that's something that he's being honest about! Besides, if it helps him make a better cup of tea in the process, it's probably for the best. Not that he doesn't know how to make a cup of tea, it's more like he doesn't know how to make a magical cup of tea.

The recounting of her grandfather makes his lips thin some. So it is a story that he's all too familiar with, at least when it comes to themes of a nation trying to stamp out another. If he had to guess the reasons were probably similar: more power, more land. Greed and a sense of superiority. ]

...I'm sorry to hear that he had to go through that. But at least he isn't the only one anymore.

Now you're just making it sound like you think I'll lie. [ She teases with a pout that's wiped away almost as soon as it appears. ] I wouldn't, but I can still appreciate it.

[ Even if it is bad. She won't say that it goes against polite manners to say anything bad about food freely given though. ]

[ Her hands tuck behind her back and at the very least, she doesn't necessarily look troubled. Probably because it's just a fact - it's the only history he ever knew. ]

You don't have to apologize. [ She shakes her head. ] It is true, Grandpa Aang spent his entire life trying to rebuild the Air Temples. When he died our dad was the only other airbender... I'm sure he was troubled until the end and he never got to see the temples filled with airbenders again.

But that's why we have to do what we can to make him proud.

[ Easily said even if that particular delivery does earn a crease in her brows - the fact that in some iteration of this world they'd stay her for eight hundred years isn't lost on her. What will that mean for them, if she can't get back? ]

No, I just get the impression that you can be overly polite. And you don’t have to be with me.

[ After experiencing countless years of teasing due to being made up of dust and dirt, he’s grown somewhat immune to it. Or rather, he was used to it depending on who it came from.

The little crease between her brows doesn’t escape his attention. ]

I don’t know anything about your grandfather but from what I’ve seen so far, you’re doing that. [ They turn the corner, heading down the stairs towards the kitchens. As he pushes open the door for her to go in first he motions for her to go through first. ] Do you have siblings?

I wasn't taught to be rude. [ She teases while scrunching up her nose. Then smiles with a shake of her head. ] I'm being myself, I'm sorry if that's too overly polite.

[ Definitely teasing now. ]

[ Even if his comment - his compliments - quiets her some. She doesn't want to say she is or think she is, she can only do the things she can. Sometimes it doesn't feel enough, especially here, but maybe... She'll figure it out, she thinks, following him down the steps with those same quiet, near soundless footsteps. Passing by with a nod. ]

There's four of us. Ikki's my younger sister, she's the second oldest. Then there's Meelo and Rohan. Do you? Have siblings I mean.

[ Her teasing gets a short snort of amusement from him. In Ferrix, Cassian didn’t spend much time around younger children - but the few he did know weren’t half as polite as Jinora. That might have to do with the environment though. Kids were respectful, but they were of stone and sky just as much as the rest of them. They were rougher around the edges just because it was the nature of the planet to be unforgiving to those too gentle and soft.

They’re fortunate that there’s an ever burning fire there that simply needed to be stoked a little in order to awaken it. With the way he moves about the kitchen - collection the kettle, bringing the tins of leaves over to her to choose from, grabbing two mugs - it’s clear that he’s been here more than a couple of times.

It also gives him time to contemplate his answer to her question. ]

Yes. A sister.

[ The wound that will never close. A person he has never given up hope of finding. ]

She’s younger than me.

[ Jinora hasn't been to this area of the castle - probably as much for spending more time in the classrooms and library as it is their strange 800 years of time. She watches him before finding a place to sit, hopping into it with the breezy air of someone who uses such movement as naturally as breathing. ]

[ Folding her hands against the table, she nods shortly: ]

Will you tell me about her? You must miss her.

[ Jinora’s question is the only logical question that comes next. But this is vastly different from the magic mirrors that they had been subjected to during Eplum; here he could ignore it if he so wished. But the thought of pretending that his sister didn't exist feels more of a betrayal to her in some way.

Missing feels like an inadequate way to describe the absence of his sister in his life. Guilt from forgetting her during their distant future still lingers too. ]

I haven't seen her in years. The last time I saw her she was six.

[ Placing the tea tins in front of her he moves to set the kettle on to boil. ]

Do you take milk? Sugar?

[ Naturally, having only arrived in Thorne shortly before their experience in the Singularity, Jinora has never been to Nocwich. While she is used to a rather sheltered life on Temple Island, it's not like she enjoys feelings stuck either. Especially not when she'd had so long - alternatively - to explore this world that she decides to take the trip to Nocwich without hesitation. ]

[ She has no concept of werewolves or vampires, though an older teenager had told her that there were a number of werewolf romance novels she'd not want to read (petulantly she said she could and would - but with so many magic books she hasn't gotten around to it. thankfully). She takes an interest in meeting the people and picking up a task here or there for a bit of pocket money.]

[ ... But for as much interest as she takes in exploring and learning about all of them, some of them return it at seeing the blue arrow tattoos that trail her limbs. It's a talking point, especially when a larger one ends on your forehead. ]

[ Flustered when someone else asks about it - specifically if she wanted more detail or just more tattoos in general, she tries to get out: ]

N-no, thank you. They're traditional —

[ She starts and then stops. ] To my people they're given only to masters - I couldn't do more. They're all the tattoos I need.

... Besides, dad would probably get mad if he saw me with more.

[ Despite you know, being the one who gave her these ones. It's different if it's tradition! ]

Edited 2024-05-23 22:35 (UTC)

[ Since her first attempt to entire the Horizon, Jinora has found the space comforting. She didn't need an extra eight-hundred years to do so. It's the closest thing to familiarity she's met in this world where even the animals don't match up to her understanding. Hours have been spent being poured into the mountaintop temple that she admittedly - most days - doesn't want to leave. The colors are vibrant with many of the flora in more florescent shades and there are creatures that seem just as out of place and bright that treat this place as their home. Today, the temple has a sea of clouds in all directions as the sun half casts it with an orange glow. ]

[ Visitors can take the time to explore and perhaps the young girl will find them. Or perhaps they will find her first as she's in one of three places: ]

[ In a larger building is a stable, but instead of finding horses they'll find three baby sky bison. While they are just babies, they're still already big enough for two adults to try to ride if they really wanted to. When she's found, Jinora will be busy grooming them, but is quick to come to attention when she sees another person. Smiling she moves to a basket she's put to where the babies can't quite reach: ]

Do you want to try giving them a snack? [ She grabs an apple from within in offering: ] They don't bite, but they might not stop asking if you give them one.

[ They may also find her at one of the few training areas: where a series of "gates" are on swivels. With a gust of wind these gates begin to move furiously. Caught mid practice through the gates, Jinora doesn't notice someone is there until she's gracefully on the other side. ]

Oh! [ She puts a finger to her mouth thoughtfully as she asks: ] Do you want to try? The point is to avoid being hit by the gates. It's not as easy as it looks.

[ Or maybe it is, if you've been doing it for years and were born with a talent for airbending - but no one starts being able to accomplish it perfectly. ]

[ Or further in, to the area of this horizon, they'll find themselves at a pillar with an interior. The ground "floors" immediately draw the visitor into a library (while not nearly as massive as pictured). Its stairs and bridges lead to a multilevel selection of books and scrolls. While the shape of books fill every shelf, most are still yet empty. All of the books are written in what resembles to be chinese if taken off the shelf. ]

[ There is also a small fox-shaped attendant that if asked will lead you to a book you might want to read! Or maybe it's already got a book in its mouth and pauses when it sees you and runs off again... Where it finds Jinora who seems to be(?) categorizing the books maybe. ]

It's a lot harder to sustain a library if the only thing you can fill it with are books you've read and remember in detail. [ She sighs, ] I've read a lot of books and I remember lots of details, but I can't remember how it's written.

[ The fox attendant approaches Jinora first; gently holding a slightly dog eared, but well-cared for notebook in its mouth to show her. Inside, cramped notes flow across pages as some sort of travelouge, along with sketches of landscapes, animals, and plants. Perhaps most notably, the language it's written in is similar to the script in Jinora's own books and scrolls... though not a one-to-one identical syntax, the meaning is clear after some head scratching and skipping the stranger combinations of characters. Perhaps the fox found a new "donation" in someone else's Domain, and perhaps that someone is the teenager climbing the stairs and approaching in casual pursuit...

Dan Heng approaches Jinora slowly, but his demeanor is curious, not hostile. He's just distracted somewhat by similar looking words on the spines of a few books. ]

Yes... I have been noticing the same thing.

[ The databank in his own domain has a lot of entries on things he's read about, but he loves the original because theres always something new to read in it, instead of reexamining old knowledge.

Anyways. The fox is still here, and Jinora is holding the notebook in hand still... and that's his journal. ]

I believe your friend [ POINTED GLANCE AT THE FOX ] has borrowed something of mine.

Edited 2024-05-24 03:44 (UTC)

[ The fox has the decency to look sheepish, you know as much as a fox can. The girl glancing quizzically between them before taking the journal. Withholding the urge to flip through it she pauses - ]

He's a librarian, maybe he thought it was an overdue book.

[ She tries lightly, but shifts to give the journal back. ]

Or maybe, he thinks that we should be trading stories. If we both want to read original works.

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thorne — magic lessons 🍃open

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sorry cass

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nocwich 🍃 open

horizon 🍃 open

library. (its time to start the teen high priestess gang book club, right?)

yes!! tho just a regular book club since she's a world