I must love you people, this one will be a few chapters long, and it is already complete!
Set around 1814 upper London society. Inspired by all the historical romance novels I've read throughout my life.
Characters will be out of character quite a bit.. Or at least I think so… Yeah they are.
Ages are switched around so I'm just going to tell you.
Aang/Zuko/Sokka-about 26
Katara/Mai/Azula/Toph-20
Suki-24
Also, they do not have last names! That fact was very annoying writing this, and their names are about as un-English as they can get but rather than making some up I just rolled with it.
Hope that doesn't bother anyone, it sounds a bit funny but oh well.
Don't expect too much from this its mainly for my own enjoyment. Review though. Even to tell me how terrible it is.
High Society
It was my fourteenth year, and my coming out ball was merely days away. I could barely contain my excitement. We had lived in our small village all of my life, the hustle of London was exhilarating in comparison. Our new townhouse was set in a fashionable neighborhood, my mother was very much anticipating raising her head in society once more, she was raised here in the city and only moved when she married my father. He was a Baron and therefore a Lord and landowner, though compared to most of his peers he actually enjoyed managing his land. My mothers father had been an Earl but I don't think she minded living so far out of town. She had been very popular when she was younger, considered a great beauty, now that she had returned to the glamour of the city I know she is excited to be apart of it all again.
I didn't have many friends my age at our old home, so the chance at meeting girls my age is exciting! Only three more days.
Katara sighed and shut the old worn out journal. She tossed it back into the drawer she had found it in and stood up. She had been so young and naïve back then. The idea of going to parties and making friends filled her head, never thinking that there was a negative side to this city. If only she had known.
Her coming out ball had ended in disaster, she had made the fatal mistake of being herself and was proclaimed a country bumpkin with no manners.
When one of the popular girls, Lady Azula, had saw her dress, she had said it was the ugliest thing ever created. After that her life went downhill.
Society was full of followers with usually only one leader. Leave it to her to get on the bad side of the one leader. Maybe if she had just ignored it all and made the best of it her life would have ended up different, But she'll never know. Because she didn't ignore it, she marched right up to Azula and told her exactly how she felt about her.
Lets just say her life had been full similar nights filled with snide comments and thinly veiled insults, six years later and she still never learned her lesson.
She often wondered how it would of turned out if she wasn't quite so opinionated, but that wasn't her. She was raised in the country, where everything made sense and people said what they thought with words, not with gazes and fans.
Rolling her eyes she made her way downstairs to try and talk her mother out of going to the party there were invited to tonight.
He took a deep breath, inhaling that familiar English air, he didn't realize how much he missed it. Eight years away really was too long. Stepping off the ship he headed out into the busy London streets, hailing a hack he gave the directions to his home.
Watching the buildings pass by he thought back to all the other towns and cities he had known. Gyatso really had been to good to him. He owed that old man everything, Aang took a moment, the reminder of the only father he had ever known making him upset. It had been about a year since he died.
Aang owed Gyatso so much because he had saved him. He found him on the streets one day crying, when he was about five, or so Gyatso had guessed. He was heirless and his wife had recently died. Theirs had been a love match and Gyatso had known he would never wed another. So he took in the small boy he found to be a companion, and later a son. He sometimes wondered about his real parents but then the treachery he felt made him push the thoughts away. Gyatso was all he had needed, all he would ever need.
Aang shook the memories off and looked ahead. He was back home in London and the first thing he needed to do was check up on some old friends.
He looked up at the house he had lived only a short time in, but had always considered it his home. Walking up to the door, it opened before he touched it. His butler Bumi stared back at him, then a large smile cracked his weathered old face.
"Young Lord Aang! Finally you've returned!" He put a hand on his shoulder and brought him in. Bumi never had been a conventional butler, more of a friends than a servant.
"I have, with all my extremities as well even with your warning that I would come back broken." Aang laughed remembering the day they had left, Bumi had said about anything to get them to stay, but Gyatso's wanderlust wouldn't be stopped.
Bumi laughed and called up one of the footmen to grab the bags from the coach outside. Aang stepped away wanting to reintroduce himself to the house that he had missed.
Writing off a quick note he sent a man off to have it delivered.
When Zuko appeared at his door a quarter hour later he wasn't surprised.
"Aang finally! I was starting to think you perished! A few random letters throughout the years was not sufficient." Zuko walked in and gave his friend a quick hug, slapping him on the back as he did so.
"Zuko how've you been?" Aang took in the sight of his friend, the years of absence had been good to Zuko but Aang still saw the same boy who got in constant trouble with him at school.
"Oh surviving. While you were off having adventures I can only imagine, I have been busy dodging marriage minded mothers, one of them being my own. And unfortunately my father is still ungratefully alive leaving me with nothing to do but dance and gamble, much to my disappointment." Zuko and his father had never gotten along ever since Aang had known him. Seems like not all things change.
They walked into his study and sat down, Bumi peeked in letting them know that refreshments would soon arrive.
Aang walked over to the desk looking around for something as Zuko spoke, "Marriage eh?" Aang commented, turning from the desk to the cabinet behind him.
"Yes marriage and you better steel yourself for what's coming your way, even without a title your still considered a good match. Everyone knows that Gyatso left you everything that wasn't entailed. Which if I remember correctly is quite a bit." Aang rolled his eyes not seeing the danger that Zuko was trying to instill in him. How hard can it be to avoid a few old women and their silly daughters? And honestly he wasn't against marriage. It had been just him and Gyatso for so many years, the idea of settling down in one place and starting a family seemed like a refreshing idea to him.
Finally finding the bottle of brandy he knew Gyatso would have hidden he poured two glasses and went to sit across from his friend.
"How is Sokka? Did he have similar success in dodging the marital noose as you have?" Aang asked remembering the third member of their little group. The three of them had run wild after graduating until Aang had left to travel.
Bumi arrived with some sustenance and the two men made short work of what was there.
"Worse. He's infatuated with a girl who wont have him." Zuko said then took a large gulp of his drink.
Aang burst out laughing.
"Poor chap! Cant wait to get revenge on him with that fact." Sokka had notoriously teased Aang growing up about girls, he would enjoy his revenge.
"It's the sorriest thing I've ever seen, cant help but pity him. Though it is a never ending source of amusement." Zuko said laughing.
Zuko pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time, snapping it closed he stood.
"This has been great Aang but I have an appointment to get to, you did call rather suddenly. I will see you tonight at the Smyth affair? You remember them right?" Zuko asked standing up. Aang stood as well to walk him out, "Of course I do, I wouldn't miss it. I do need to reintroduce myself to society sometime." saying their goodbyes Aang called Bumi over, he had a lot to get done if he was to make an appearance this evening.
She should of known not to start her argument with bribery. It never worked.
Katara and her mother were sitting in their family coach on their way to the Smyth's manor. Their once a year party was not to be missed, or at least that is what her mother kept telling her. She didn't even remember last years, but then again, Katara took an extra effort to forget most parties she went to.
"Its rumored that Lord Aang is back in town, you'll do your best to get an introduction? He was your brothers friend at University mayhap he can introduce you." Kya then proceeded to let Katara know how much he was rumored to be worth.
Katara knew she was a great disappointment to her mother.
Kya was beautiful and graceful, always knew exactly what to say and how to handle a situation, while Katara was the exact opposite. Only barely considered comely and completely graceless. And she never knew the right thing to say, although that never stopped her from speaking.
The fact that she was still unmarried bothered her mother to no end. She was twenty and firmly on the shelf, and based off what she had seen this season so far, it would be another marriage less year. Not that marriage was a forefront on her mind. Katara would love to move back to the country and live a quiet life, though she knew the likelihood of that happening was far off.
The coach rocked to a stop and they stepped down with the help of a footman. She looked up at the glowing mansion, the sounds of an orchestra flowing outdoors.
That was the one thing that made these parties worth it; the music and the dancing. Though she never danced much, sadly, most of her time was spent as a wallflower watching the partners spin about.
They stepped in and waited to be introduced, her father often got out of coming, saying he had important business to take care of, Katara would be lying if she said she didn't envy him.
As usual it was a crush. There wasn't much room to get around, especially with her heavy skirts. She did like this gown though, the blue complemented her skin nicely.
Her mother made her way to one of her friends she had spotted and Katara had no choice but to follow. She smiled at familiar faces all the while keeping an eye out for her rival.
Lady Azula was still to this day wreaking havoc on her life.
Avoidance was her method of choice this year.
She listened to her mother gossip about Lord Aang and had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. She looked around wishing she was anywhere but here. It was so hot at these things, Katara would of done anything to step outside for a breeze to cool her off, but she knew that would be impossible.
She searched the crowd for her brother hoping he would come to this event. When she spotted Lady Suki she knew he would come some time tonight. He had been chasing her for a few months now. Katara shook her head as she thought of her wild brother.
When she looked back up it was to see Lord Haru standing before her.
Katara bit back a groan.
"May I have this dance My Lady?" He held out his hand and Katara felt her mother pinching at her elbow.
"Of course My Lord." she placed her hand in his and let him lead her to the floor.
Haru wasn't a bad man, just an irritating one. Did he really think that she was so interested in his lands and animals that she needed to hear about them every time they spoke?
Like clockwork he started talking about his new farming technique and Katara let her mind wander.
They swirled past the balcony door and she let out a longing sigh, she would do anything to step outside, this heat was terrible.
Faces passed by and she tried to focus on just one but couldn't, it was making her to dizzy. Rather than get dizzier she looked up at her dance partner, "But the cows don't seem to like the new grain." she couldn't stop her eyes from rolling this time. She looked away, she would rather be dizzy than listen to more of this.
Aang walked into the party and looked around. A few familiar faces stood out. Some came up to him and asked after him, while some gave their condolences about Gyatso. When the matrons starting coming he knew then what Zuko was talking about.
Spotting his friend right away, he was standing by his mother and some other woman, from the look on his face it was a marriageable daughter.
Aang untangled himself from the crowd surrounding him and headed to his friend. A few people noticed him as he walked; they pointed his way and he tried to hasten his steps. Catching Zuko's eye he watched him make his excuses and step away as well.
"Its about time you're here I need your help." Zuko said smiling at a few people as they passed them by.
"I am not taking the matrons for you Zuko, I've already had my fair share." Aang said laughing. Zuko just shot him a glare.
"Look there is Sokka finally appearing." Zuko said pointing his head in the direction of the door. Aang looked up and saw his other best friend push his way through the crowd trying to get to someone. Judging his destination he looked through the crowds and spotted a lovely brunette surrounded by young men.
"Is that his untouchable?" Aang asked.
Zuko nodded.
"He has no finesse, barreling through the crowd like that, all he's doing is embarrassing her."
Aang looked to his friend, it seemed Zuko knew a lot more about courting young women than he let on.
"Are you sure you don't have someone in mind to marry Zuko?" he asked watching his friends reaction.
A blush spread across his face and he glared at him.
"Your so annoying Aang."
He turned and walked away leaving him there. Aang just smiled.
Zuko always was too easy.
Deciding he had put this off to long Aang made his way to Sokka. He found him sulking in a corner drinking champagne.
Standing right in front of him Aang waited for the recognition to hit.
"Sir will you please move yourself." Sokka grumbled without looking up.
"Sokka you are being blaringly obvious. I remember once when I had a crush on the girl who worked in the pub you ribbed me quite mercilessly, how should I enact my revenge?" Aang said teasingly.
Sokka finally looked up and saw his long lost friend.
"Aang! Its about bloody time, I had all but given up on drinking with you ever again." Sokka said pulling him into a quick embrace.
They talked for a moment about Gyatso, Sokka giving him condolences. "Its alright it was some time ago."
They spoke of town, and Sokka gave him the spill on Zuko.
"He is smitten with Lady Mai, though he will never admit it." Aang raised his eyebrows at him, Lady Mai? That didn't ring any bells.
"Who is she?" he asked.
Sokka quickly scanned the ballroom, "Ahh.. There she is talking with my sister, they are good friends actually." He gestured over to the refreshment table and Aang glanced that way. He saw a black haired beauty talking with someone. He couldn't see the other girls face, just a mess of brown locks. He assumed the hair to be Sokka's sister and the other girl to be Mai.
"She's pretty, does she not fancy our Zuko?" he said bringing his attention back to Sokka.
"You know I'm not at all sure. Been a little preoccupied myself." he answered searching his gaze out once more to catch a glimpse of Suki.
"Well this is unfortunate. I come home to have a rousing good time with my old chums and I find you both in love. How utterly ridiculous." That brought Sokka's attention back to Aang.
"You want to have a good time? Why didn't you say so? Give me an hour and we'll take our leave. The night is young yet!" and with that Sokka left and though Aang had only arrived he had a good feeling he knew where Sokka was headed.
Katara was enjoying herself for once. Lady Mai was usually quiet but tonight she had a lot to say. On the subject of Lord Zuko to be exact.
"He is so irritating. He assumes things and then is angry when it turns out differently! All I said was that I had a prior engagement and he took that completely personal. Not even bothering to ask what I was doing, just storms off in a huff. Ugh, men are such animals, why do we put up with them Katara?"
Katara had been nodding along with Mai's rant and the sudden question caught her off guard. Honestly she didn't have much experience with men, other than her brother, and he surely didn't count… did he?
"Oh I know, so childish." she stammered.
"Yes childish! That hits it right on the head, Katara you are a wonderful listener." Mai squeezed her arm and turned to go, leaving Katara standing there with two glasses of lemonade. She turned to go back to where her mother sat when she suddenly appeared at her arm.
She took the drinks from her hand and hastily set them back on the table.
"Hey I'm thirst-"
"Katara go over to your brother right now and send him to me. If he has one ounce of the manners that I raised him with he will introduce you to his friend, now go." her mother pushed her in the right direction when she wasn't moving fast enough.
Walking hesitantly over to where her brother was leaning against a wall with his friend she considered what she would say.
Deciding to go with the classic, 'mother needs you right now, and it cant wait' she glanced back to see if she was still watching her.
Oh dear, she was.
There was no getting out of this, how did she let her mother throw her into these awkward situations.
She was only a few steps away when Sokka stepped from his perch and headed off in the opposite direction. Katara gulped and looked around for someone, anyone, that she could move to. But sadly none were appearing. Choosing to step away slowly, she stopped mid step when she heard his question.
"You're Sokka's sister are you not?"
She paused, contemplating on playing dumb and pretending not to hear, but decided she might as well get this interaction over with to please her mother.
She brought her questioning gaze to him.
"I only ask because you look just like him."
Her eyes widened. Her look like Sokka?
"I mean, I, that I can see the family resemblance." He stammered out, knowing he was making a complete cake of himself.
Katara turned her head to look at her 'twin' of a brother to see him glaring at a group of gentlemen, one eye twitching slightly.
If she really looked like her brother there was no wonder she only had one suitor, who really wasn't a suitor at all.
Katara brought her gaze back to him at the same time he did. She knew he has seen the same thing she did.
"I didn't mean that either, you look nice. Uh, sorry I haven't been in society for some years." he groaned out as he looked down, putting his head in his hands.
"The polite thing for me to do, would be to say that's complete rubbish and your manner are impeccable. But I cant, that was awfully insulting. I love my brother, but a pretty girl he is not. This actually clears up a few debates I was having with myself though, thank you." She turned to leave, embarrassed enough for the night when he grabbed her arm.
"I'm so sorry, I've been unforgivably rude. Please let me make it up to you."
She looked up into his eyes and was struck by how handsome they were.
The deepest grey with flecks of light making them appear lit up. His hair was a dark brown, though it was shaggy and overlong, giving him a unkempt appearance. Not that it took away from his good looks, and he was muscular, she could tell by the cut of his coat and how it stretched over his shoulders.
Shaking her head from these thoughts she continued the conversation.
"How do you intend to do that?" she couldn't help but ask.
Aang glanced around unsure of what to offer.
"Dance with me?" he asked putting out his hand.
Katara bit her lip, she did love to dance, and he was one of the most eligible bachelors right now. Who would soon have every beautiful young miss at his arm to choose from, and she knew she wasn't among those numbers.
She put her hand in his.
When she bit her lip his eyes went immediately to them.
They were full and slightly red and he wondered how he ever compared her to her brother. She had a lovely face with deep blue eyes, the blue in her dress making them appear lighter than he imagined them being normally.
Suddenly dancing with this girl was high on his list of priorities.
When she grabbed his hand a deep satisfying feeling settled in his gut. It was a country dance and Aang cursed his misfortune, he should of made his dance with her be a waltz.
"So have you made the rounds about town yet?" she asked making conversation.
"I have only just arrived actually." he replied.
"Oh so that explains it." he waited for her to expand on that comment.
"I only mean that explains why everyone is looking at us." he looked about only to discover her correct, it did seem like the bulk of the party was glaring in their direction.
"Why is everyone looking at us?" he asked genuinely confused.
"They are all upset that they have not been introduced to you yet, and that you are dancing with me. If you didn't know already almost everyone in here knows everything about you. You are considered quite a catch."
Aang glanced around with a bit more apprehension, Zuko's earlier warning echoing in his mind once again.
"Why would they care if I was dancing with you ?" he wondered.
"Because I am taking up one of your very valuable dances that one of their daughters could be enjoying." Aang looked at her critically, taking that statement in.
"If I were you I would steer clear of the Abernathy twins, they are very beautiful but their jealousy of each other gets quite violent. Oh, and Lady Carrol, she is will try hard for your attention but she is already engaged; a known flirt. Lady Azula is very popular-." she couldn't hide the sneer in her voice when she said her name.
"But you don't like her?" he asked cutting her off. Enjoying this frank conversation.
"Lady Azula and I have never been friends. I find her rude and garish." finished that statement with turn of her head that made him smile.
"You have been very honest." he said chuckling.
"I know, I am sorry, it is a bad habit of mine. I just cant seem to stop talking when I should."
The dance ended then, and before he could say anything she turned and walked away from him. Not letting her get off that easily he followed behind her.
They came to the edge of the dance floor where all the matrons were gathered and she walked to who he figured must be her mother.
"There mum we are introduced will you leave me alone about him now?" she asked, well within hearing of Aang. Her mother's mouth dropped open as she stared up him.
"Katara what is wrong with you!" she hissed angrily at her.
He watched as she turned to look behind and when her eyes met his he saw the embarrassment flush her cheeks. Giving her a bit of color that only made her more attractive.
He now knew her name, which is what he followed her over to get.
Katara, It suited her.
He grabbed her mothers hand and placed a swift kiss there, "Wonderful to make you acquaintance My Lady your daughter is an expert dance partner."
Dropping her hand he bowed and turned back to Katara. Grasping her hand, he brought it up to his mouth and stared into her eyes before kissing hers as well, though he did linger there a bit longer than necessary.
"I wanted to ask if you could save me a dance for the next time we meet?" he asked not releasing her hand just yet. Unable to say much else, Katara just nodded her head. Bidding them both a goodbye he left to find Zuko.
"What was that Katara? Is there something you should tell me?" Her mother was still staring at her shocked. "I don't know really." she answered honestly.
He was something of a mystery to her. She was sure she had blown that meeting, talking about what ladies to avoid, it was mortifying what came out of her mouth when she was nervous.
Lord Aang was a conundrum. Rich good looking men did not glance her way. She was only passably attractive, or so she considered herself. But what she didn't have in beauty she didn't make up in conversation. Most men were to irritating for her to get to know and she wasn't keen enough to hide her emotions, they always knew how she felt about them, and most of the time it wasn't favorable.
A veritable blue stocking when compared to the rest of the ladies this season, she always came up short. Not that it bothered her too much, she had yet to meet a man she wanted to know more than on the surface, at least until tonight.
Hearing Azula's voice behind her wasn't a surprise, though it had been something that she had wanted to avoid.
"So you were the only one to catch Lord Aang's attention tonight hmm..? Just wait until I get my introduction, he's my brothers best friend you know. I'll have him at my feet in no time, you're lucky he left before I arrived." she laughed, and the crowd of ladies around her laughed. Katara rolled her eyes.
"He is my brothers friend as well Azula." she shot back.
"Ah, so there is the answer to the question that had been on everyone's tongue. Why would he dance with you of all people? Now we know, as a favor for his brother. Very sweet of him to take that chore." Azula sauntered off before Katara could come back with something to say, not that she had anything good to say. There was something about her that always left her tongue tied, ever since that first ball.
A few hours later they finally left for home, Katara had never been happier to leave. Though if she was completely honest with herself, she had never had a more exciting time either.
Let me know your thoughts on this.
And I know that Aang wouldn't be called my lord since he didn't have a title technically, but I don't care. Thus is the power of the author…