Ex-Governer of New Ozai's Wife: It's not how old you are, it's how old you feel.

behaveandkeepquiet:

irewardobedience:

Saito arched an eyebrow. Friend, huh? The way his mother laughed and swatted his hand ever so playfully certainly showed otherwise. Nevertheless he shook the man’s hand, albeit very tersely. This did not sit well with him and he knew that Huan, the other man, noticed it from the way his smarmy smile faltered. 

“Why yes, do join us for dinner…” said Saito gingerly. So that I can properly assess you, he finished silently in his head.

Asuka ushered them into the dining room, motioing for servants to help the elder two sit down. Huan cleared his thoart “Your Estate is quite lovely.” He said. Asuka smiled warmly at him “Why thank you, we just moved here recently.” She said as the servants began bringing out the food.

“Well, you’ve done a lovely job decorating it.” Huan said, obviously charming Asuka. Asuka turned a shade of pink “Oh, that’s so sweet of you but I couldn’t take credit for it. We hired someone to decorate for us.” She admitted. “So, how long have you known eachother?” She asked her mother-in-law and Huan.

The Elder woman flushed while Huan patted her hand “Only a couple days. She had been walking outside of my estate just up the road and so I striked up a conversation with her.” He said, beaming happily.

He couldn’t help but snicker upon hearing that. “Oh, you’re going to play the ‘we-just-happened-to-meet card now, are you?” he said sharply. He could see a flicker of confusion in the older man’s face. “Well, that is true,” said Huan, bringing forth his crooked smile again. “I have been alone for a very long time, and I dare say that when your mother walked into my life, well, it was as if an angel had strayed into my dreams.”

“Angels aren’t old,” said Saito incredulously with a harrumph. “Seriously. You’re either delusional or a frightfully remorseless liar.” He was having a very very hard time believing this man. He knew this sort of person. This was the type who did not have a problem with lying to get whatever he wanted. Saito had dealt with many merchants and traders with this sort of disposition, and had learnt from experience that business with these people would only bring him loss. 

Ex-Governer of New Ozai's Wife: It's not how old you are, it's how old you feel.

behaveandkeepquiet:

irewardobedience:

behaveandkeepquiet:

Asuka waited nervously by the front door of their house. Her mother-in-law had decided to take a walk today now that she had completely recovered, Asuka insisted she should take it easy for a couple of days but the stubborn old woman wouldn’t hear it and left.
Asuka was beginning to grow…

An overly worried Saito rushed to his wife’s side. “What is it, what is it? Have you found mo - OH.” His gaze rested on the two elderly, but happy and, obviously, loving figures strolling towards the front of the house. His jaw dropped. He didn’t know what to think.

His mother saw both him and Asuka standing at the doorstep and quickened her steps, pulling her companion along with her and looking more excited than he had ever seen her look before. Saito was rooted to the spot as he surveyed the other man’s appearance. He was aged, of course, like his mother, but he had a kind of debonair-like look about him. And he had a crooked grin. 

A heartbreaker, Saito thought darkly as the two crossed the threshold of the house.

“Darling,” Saito’s mother spoke as she appoarched “I’d like you to meet my friend, Huan. Haun, meet my son and his wife, Saito and Asuka.”
“Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you both. Ayu has told me so much about you.” He said kissing Asuka’s hand and sticking his hand out to Saito.
Asuka smiled “We were just about to sit down to dinner, what don’t you join us?” She said, inviting him in.

Saito arched an eyebrow. Friend, huh? The way his mother laughed and swatted his hand ever so playfully certainly showed otherwise. Nevertheless he shook the man’s hand, albeit very tersely. This did not sit well with him and he knew that Huan, the other man, noticed it from the way his smarmy smile faltered. 

“Why yes, do join us for dinner…” said Saito gingerly. So that I can properly assess you, he finished silently in his head.

Ex-Governer of New Ozai's Wife: It's not how old you are, it's how old you feel.

behaveandkeepquiet:

Asuka waited nervously by the front door of their house. Her mother-in-law had decided to take a walk today now that she had completely recovered, Asuka insisted she should take it easy for a couple of days but the stubborn old woman wouldn’t hear it and left.
Asuka was beginning to grow…

An overly worried Saito rushed to his wife’s side. “What is it, what is it? Have you found mo - OH.” His gaze rested on the two elderly, but happy and, obviously, loving figures strolling towards the front of the house. His jaw dropped. He didn’t know what to think.

His mother saw both him and Asuka standing at the doorstep and quickened her steps, pulling her companion along with her and looking more excited than he had ever seen her look before. Saito was rooted to the spot as he surveyed the other man’s appearance. He was aged, of course, like his mother, but he had a kind of debonair-like look about him. And he had a crooked grin. 

A heartbreaker, Saito thought darkly as the two crossed the threshold of the house.

behaveandkeepquiet reblogged this from you and added:

Oh boy, I can’t believe he started this early. Now I’m going to worry about him setting his crib on fire.

O.O

You’re right… that /could/ be a problem.

behaveandkeepquiet replied to your post: Discovery

Our son is a firebender!? : D

Yes indeedy, my wife. :D

Discovery

Saito was in a good mood. He’d closed up a particularly sweet business deal earlier that afternoon with some Earth Kingdom merchants who, as it turned out, were also avid players of musical instruments and Pai Sho. The promises of new friendships in the making put a spring in Saito’s step as he stepped into his house. 

“I’m hooome!” He called out, but there was no response. He snuck a peek into his bedchamber and found Asuka napping inside. His mother slept soundly in her own bedchamber, newly recovered from her flu.

The only person awake was Tom Tom and the scullery maid who had been temporarily assigned to look after him. She looked particularly sleepy and was extremely relieved when Saito dismissed her from babysitting duty and took a happily gurgling Tom Tom in his arms and out of the house.

The evening air was cool but the sky was still bright. It would be some time before dinner would be served. Saito sat on the grass by the miniature koi pond in the garden that had been meticulously landscaped by the previous owner. Though the pond was designed for koi fish there were no animals residing in it as of now. He placed Tom Tom on his lap and dipped the toddler’s fingers in the water, causing ripples. Tom Tom was extremely fascinated at first, but rapidly became bored and began whimpering restlessly.

“Now, now, Tom Tom…” cooed Saito, trying to calm him down, but the boy had begun wrestling with his father’s arms in his attempt to crawl away. With one hand grasping Tom Tom firmly, he created a small fireball with the other and separated the fireball into several different balls, making them spin and twirl around each other. “Ooooh, look what Daddy’s got! Isn’t it amazing?” 

Tom Tom quietened down for awhile as he stared at the balls of light, transfixed. Then he laughed, clapped his hands and reached out to touch them. “No, no, no, baby… it’s dangerous! You can’t touch it…” said Saito, moving the fireballs away from him. Tom Tom stared back at Saito, confused, then leaned forward and tried to grasp them again.

“No, Tom Tom, you’ll get hurt,” he said firmly, trying to hold Tom Tom back, but the toddler didn’t seem to listen. “Tom Tom…” he said warningly, but what he saw next surprised him.

With one hand outstretched in a grasping form, Tom Tom managed to make one of the fireballs stand still while the others continued to spin. Saito’s eyes widened as Tom Tom pulled the fireball away from the others, sat back in Saito’s lap, and cupped the fireball in his hands, staring and laughing at it gleefully. When the toddler separated his hands, the fireball disappeared. Tom Tom clapped happily and looked up at his father as if to say, “You see what I did there, Daddy?”

Saito gave a shout of happiness and took Tom Tom in his arms. He tossed the toddler a few times in the air and kissed his forehead. Then he ran into the house, shouting excitedly, “My son is a firebender!”

Ex-Governer of New Ozai's Wife: Just a cough.

behaveandkeepquiet:

irewardobedience:

Saito felt his face flush again. He was still guilty and very much ashamed that he had suspected Asuka of being barren all those years ago. Not that he would have divorced her or anything, but he would have been sorely disappointed. 

“Let’s not talk about things of the past, mother,” he said with a nervous laugh. Regarding Asuka’s overbearing mother, Saito heaved a loud sigh. “I have indeed spoken to her on numerous occasions regarding this matter. I feel like no matter what I say she won’t be able to change her mind.” A lightbulb went off in his head. “Unless I speak to her mother directly.”

She frowned “But the past is very much so, besides good things have come out of thee bad things. In example, you and Asuka’s excitement when you found out she was with child.”

She choked out her water for a second when he suggested speaking to Asuka’s mother “Saito, you two can barely sit in the same room together without going into a homicidal rage towards eachother, and you want to sit down with this woman and carry on a discussion with her….in hopes of accomplishing what?” She asked, becoming concerned about this plan.

“I know it sounds futile, mother,” said Saito, and indeed he thought it a hopeless cause. “But I have to do something! I can’t just sit by and watch my wife continue being emotionally scarred forever. It pains me to see her possess such low self-esteem. She’s beautiful inside and out, and she doesn’t see it because her mother has poisoned her mind so. Made her feel like she has to prove herself all the time.” Saito gritted his teeth. “No, this has to stop. I’m going to make her mother apologise once and for all. Even if it kills me.”

Ex-Governer of New Ozai's Wife: Just a cough.

behaveandkeepquiet:

irewardobedience:

When his mother began coughing, Saito poured a small cup of water and moved to her side, sitting her up and rubbing her back to ease the coughing spasms. When her cough had subsided, he helped her drink the water. 

“I know, mother,” he replied when she had calmed down and stated her opinion his age and Asuka’s desire to have another child. “That’s why we had M- I mean our eldest one early. Tom Tom’s arrival was kind of unplanned… I just want to make sure that our child grows up happy. Who knows if they’ll be teased in school for having a father that looks like a grandfather instead?”

“It’s not just your concern, mother,” he said with a shake of his head. “I thought that she’d forget about all her mother’s lies and brainwashing after getting married, but she’s still hanging onto them. I’ve tried everything I could to make her let go of her past, her upbringing… what have I not done, mother? I hate seeing her so miserable.”

“Thank you, dear.” She said, thanking him for the water and help with her coughing.

“Well, Mai was sort of a surprise also considering you thought that Asuka might be barren around the time she finally got pregnant.” She pointed out and sighed “Saito, don’t be so silly, plenty of people have fathers decades older than their mother. Why, your father was fifteen years older then I.” She wasn’t sure if Saito ever knew how much of an age difference there was between his parents.

“Asuka has been taught by her mother since birth, raised to think and act a certain way. It’s hard to just turn it around because of one event, but she does try, darling.” She took her son’s hand in hers and squeezed it “Prehaps if you expressed your feelings to her?”

Saito felt his face flush again. He was still guilty and very much ashamed that he had suspected Asuka of being barren all those years ago. Not that he would have divorced her or anything, but he would have been sorely disappointed. 

“Let’s not talk about things of the past, mother,” he said with a nervous laugh. Regarding Asuka’s overbearing mother, Saito heaved a loud sigh. “I have indeed spoken to her on numerous occasions regarding this matter. I feel like no matter what I say she won’t be able to change her mind.” A lightbulb went off in his head. “Unless I speak to her mother directly.”

Ex-Governer of New Ozai's Wife: Just a cough.

behaveandkeepquiet:

irewardobedience:

“I was only concerned with your well-being, mother,” he said with a petulant frown. “And I suppose this is payback from all those times when you insisted on checking on me when I said I was doing my homework.” He laughed, remembering hot, sweltering afternoons trapped in his room doing schoolwork and his mother popping into the room every few minutes to make sure he was really doing it.

His cheeks flushed when she brought up the subject of having babies again. “I know, she’s spoken to me about this before. Truth is, I’d like to have another child as well.” He smiled faintly. “But I don’t know, mother. I’m old. There’s already a significant age gap between me and Tom Tom. I just… I already have a fear of not being able to watch Tom Tom reach adulthood. What would happen if we have another one? I might not even survive his adolescence.”

“I know you are, dear, but you have back off some.” She sighed and shook her head “No…but I remember how much you complained but look where my nagging got you?” She joked, laughing which caused her to start coughing.

“Hmmm, I see.” Saito’s thought to herself momentarily “Surely you had thought of this when you married her?” She asked “And old? Wait until you reach my age. I believe you’ll see TomTom reach adulthood, you might hhave no hair and have to use a walking stick, and if you have another baby now, same thing.” She cleared her throat “Besides, why worry about it so much if you and Asuka really want it?”

“My concern though is that she only wants it because of the things her psychotic mother has filled her head with.” She rolled her eyes. “I love your wife but she’s too concerned with pleasing you the way her mother taught her.” She frowned.

When his mother began coughing, Saito poured a small cup of water and moved to her side, sitting her up and rubbing her back to ease the coughing spasms. When her cough had subsided, he helped her drink the water. 

“I know, mother,” he replied when she had calmed down and stated her opinion his age and Asuka’s desire to have another child. “That’s why we had M- I mean our eldest one early. Tom Tom’s arrival was kind of unplanned… I just want to make sure that our child grows up happy. Who knows if they’ll be teased in school for having a father that looks like a grandfather instead?”

“It’s not just your concern, mother,” he said with a shake of his head. “I thought that she’d forget about all her mother’s lies and brainwashing after getting married, but she’s still hanging onto them. I’ve tried everything I could to make her let go of her past, her upbringing… what have I not done, mother? I hate seeing her so miserable.”

Focus

“The finesse of the sword is in the amount of energy that the swordsman pours into his blade, and is channeled from the stomach, which is the seat of chi. Pupil Saito, are you listening?” 

Saito jerked from his reverie and coloured instantly, earning himself snickers from his fellow classmates and a disapproving glare from Master Piandao. Just the day before he had chastised his own student, that young rich girl Asuka, about not paying attention and today it was his turn to be distracted from his lesson. He had sacrificed a lot to come to Shu Jing so that he could learn from the famed swordsman. Though Saito himself was a Firebender, he wanted to learn swordsmanship anyway to give himself an edge should he be accepted to join the military later on. A multi-talented infantryman would rise through the ranks quicker than an ordinary one.

He got to his feet and took a deep bow, his hands doing the Fire Nation symbol for respecting elders. “Forgive me, Master,” he said humbly. “I meant no disrespect.”

Master Piandao looked at him with steely gray eyes. “Fourty laps on the practice compound.”

“Yes, Master,” said Saito. He bowed again and left the classroom.

On his run, Saito found himself thinking about the girl again. He couldn’t help it. He had seen and tutored many pretty, young rich girls. Why was she any different? Probably because she had a spine. She, unlike the others, seemed reluctant to walk the path that was set for her. And it was an unhappy path. She was basically progressing from one cage to another. Saito was part glad that she had sense enough to see that, and part wished that he could be the one to take her hand and guide her away from that path, once and for all.

Stop it! he scolded himself. Look where she’s got you - doing laps when you could be in there learning useful things. You came to Shu Jing to learn, Saito, and your job as tutor is to pay for your schooling with Master Piandao. You’re here to better yourself so that you can become somebody important in the Fire Nation. You’re here to make a better life for yourself.

Saito shook his head to clear it from all thoughts of the rich man’s daughter and focused on finishing his laps so that he could get back to the classroom before the lesson was over. Focus, Saito, focus. Remember what you’re here for.