Just as Azula had anticipated, reactions to her recent betrothal to Tom-Tom had been decidedly mixed. Ty Lee, at least, had responded positively.

"I'm so glad that you found someone who'll make you happy!" she had exclaimed. Then she'd done a celebratory cartwheel.

Mai, on the other hand, had said, "So, you're marrying my baby brother. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. But congratulations anyway." Zuko had been initially been concerned for Tom-Tom's sake. However, after the two men had had a long private talk, Azula's brother had accepted that Tom-Tom wasn't being coerced, and appeared to be warming up to the idea. He'd even thrown the newly-affianced pair a little party, only for close friends and the handful of half-siblings who happened to be currently living at the palace. Azula had long since informed him of what an epic disaster the banquet for her first betrothal had been.

And now, there was only a month left until the wedding. Since it was a nice day, pretty much everyone in the palace was out in various gardens and courtyards. Azula and Tom-Tom were no exception. It sure beat having to stand completely still for hours on end during wedding outfit fittings so one didn't get accidentally stabbed with pins…

"Ssh! Azula, look!" Tom-Tom abruptly whispered, stopping dead in his tracks next to a pond. Azula did as he said, and she spied some sort of small blue winged creature hovering above a butterfly bush. They watched, crouched in the grass and scarcely even daring to breathe, as the creature stayed in place for almost an entire minute and then flew off, its little wings a blur.

"That was a sapphire-crested dragonfly hummingbird!" Tom-Tom explained in an awed voice. "They're fairly common in the United Republic and eastern islands, but they usually don't come as far west as Capital Island. And it's almost the exact same color as your flames; did you notice that?"

By now, Azula was well-aware of her betrothed's love for bird and insect-watching. Biology had never been her strong suit, but Tom-Tom got so excited whenever he saw some rare specimen. And he was even considerate enough to find a way to include her as well. Even if she had no clue what he was talking about, at least she could be happy for him.

"You should make a record of this momentous occasion when you get back to your rooms," she commented. "That way, all of the other bird-watchers in the Fire Nation will know to fear your superior observation skills and shower you with adulation whenever you meet them. Or insect-watchers? I'm not sure how this creature would be classified."

Tom-Tom was already well-acquainted with her style of speaking, and didn't so much as bat an eyelash.

"It's a bird," he confirmed. "Generally, the second part of the name takes precedence. Unless, of course, you're talking about botany…that has a whole different set of rules."

The two of them had sat down at the pond's edge to take a break while he was speaking. Without thinking, Azula pulled her boots off with the intent to stick her feet in the water. Then she froze, remembering what had happened during her previous betrothal when she'd done this. But all Tom-Tom did was smile.

"Great idea!" he said, as he made to remove his own boots and join her. Azula hadn't realized how much tension had built up in her muscles until she felt it all ebbing away.

"Have you seen any other specimens of interest lately?" she inquired.

He went on for some length. However, Azula paid attention the entire time.