"I think Snapdragon is a fitting name actually." :D Thanks! I saw that a lot of people wanted Mai to actually call her Azula. I was thinking about it because I can see it being a point of future angst. But idk, I just felt like it would be neat to have Mai name her after a flower. "I think it's a bit sad how empty Mai feels but I hope Snapdragon will be able to help her." Yeah, she's got a few demons that Snapdragon doesn't know about. (xD it is weird not to call her Azula). "Will Snapdragon regain her memories?" Yup, that's part of the plan. Back in chapter one the bit in italics is a conversation waiting to happen. Basically these chapters are leading up to that.
She hears Snapdragon before she sees her. That steady and familiar clank-clack of her necklace. Mai could swear that she has added more knick-knacks to it. Her eyes hone in on it for a moment. She wonders if maybe the woman swaps out which trinkets she wears around her neck every now and again, or maybe she simply has several of these necklaces.
"No flowers today?"
"I'm all out?"
"All out?"
"I was only planning on sticking around until the festival was over."
Snapdragon's brows crinkle. "But I thought…" She swallows. "Mohi's gonna be mighty disappointed."
It dawns upon her that she had forgotten to mention that when she had offered the woman a job. "Stop looking at me like that, I've decided to stay."
The woman seems to perk up again. Mai doesn't think that she has ever seen someone's eyes light up so brightly.
"What made you decide to stay?"
"I guess that I needed a little excitement in my life."
"Oh. Where are ya gonna get that?"
Mai quirks a brow. Snapdragon points to herself and Mai nods. "I've never explored an abandoned industrial park before. My parents would kill me."
"Where are you gonna be staying?"
"The palace."
"The palace. How did you manage to get room there?"
"I used to date the Fire Lord."
She blinks.
"It's a long story. It ends...not so well. But he owes me and my family so I'm staying there."
"That's incredible. I've never been in a palace. Unless you count the factory. Sometimes I call that my palace and I made myself this throne, I can show it to you one day." She resembles. Mai folds her arms and gives a slight smile as she continues. "But an actual palace...maybe one day you can take me there!"
"The flowers aren't in yet so we have a few days off. I can take you there now, if you want. We can get you to the royal spa and wash some of this dirt off of your cheeks."
"It's not dirt, it's oil and grease."
"Because that's much better. Come on." Just as she turns around she catches Snapdragon rubbing her cheek. The effort was valiant and well-intended but she has only spread the grime to her nose and the back of her hand.
Mai wonders if the woman will even take well to having a real bath.
.oOo.
Up close the palace is twice as thrilling with its spoked and multi-tiered roof. What a delight it would be to get the chance to shimmy her way up the side of it and leap from tier to tier. To grip those large golden spokes and find footholds in the windows and on the balconies. Of course, she wouldn't trade her factory for it but the offer is pretty.
It is only when she lingers in its shadow that it becomes so terribly daunting. It isn't so much about it's impressive, awestricking size as it is the promise of what waits for her inside. All of those glamorous people and their lavish lifestyles. Their clean faces and pristine manners.
"Come on." Mai gives her a gentle nudge.
She quietly follows her up the stairs. More stairs than she has ever ascended in her life.
"Nervous?"
"Why do you say that?"
"You aren't chattering my ears off."
"This isn't nervous silence, it's a...uh...it's a happy hush."
"A happy hush?" Mai quirks a brow. For once her amusement is quite thinly veiled. "If you say so."
Inside the palace is somehow more elegant than its grand exterior. Portraits and tapestries cover gold trimmed walls. Candles flicker in filigree wall holders fixed to many great pillars. Everything is huge, almost absurdly so. She wanders up to a vase and eyes it. She thinks that she can squirm her way into and stand within with her head only just peeking out of it. She makes off to try when Mai says, "I know what you're thinking. Don't you dare crawl into that pot."
Snapdragon frowns and scrambles to catch up with her.
"You really like exploring, don't you?"
She nods, "you should see the jungles of Hira'a. They were really fun to explore. I was found in a jungle, you know?"
"That explains a lot."
They pass by several guards and servants. Their eyes seem to follow her. The unease works its way back in, pushing out her sense of adventure. She finds that the stares of the servants have nothing on the glances she receives when Mai leads her into the banquet hall. Around the table are what she can imagine are councilmen, esteemed generals, and noble folk.
She had made a small effort to clean herself up today but she feels absolutely filthy amid all of them. They all smell so pleasantly and there isn't a smudge of mud on them at all. Not on their finery and certainly not on their skin.
Her tummy turns with flutters and queasiness.
"It's alright." Mai assures her.
"I don't think I fit in well with this lot."
The murmur as Mai leads her past them and she finds herself sticking close to the woman.
"Hi, Mai." The Fire Lord greets.
"Zuko." Mai returns the greeting.
"Who is this?"
"Just call her Snapdragon. You'll understand if you talk to her more." She pauses. "She wanted to see the palace so I'm giving her the tour and taking her to the spa."
"Please do." Comments a man near the far end of the table. "She smells of industrial waste."
"She smells like an alley dweller."
Snapdragon stuffs her hands into her pockets and tries to focus on something else. Something like the food. She has never seen so much of it in one place. She thinks that they have everything here; teeming blows of various and colorful fruits, plump roast duck, cabbage stew, miso soup, and plenty of noodles. And it all smells so enticing-unlike her, apparently.
"If you want to take her there you can and then you can join us for dinner. She can wear one of Azula's outfits."
At least some jubilance returns to her. She's going to get to taste the delightfully scented food. Not only is she going to eat lavishly but she will get to do it in comfortable robes.
"This way." Mai beckons.
The room she finds herself in next is also amazing. The dragon reliefs jutting from the backmost wall gleam in the sunlight that pours through a wide slit on the ceiling. There are plenty of shiny things in here. Glass bottles in many shapes and sizes, golden combs and brushes, a few small sculptures, and these little polished stones that accent the corners of each table. Snapdragon looks to the left and to the right before swiping one of the empty bottles and a polished stone.
"How are you not in jail?"
"I take worthless stuff, I don't get caught, 'n you don't tattle."
"You can keep the bottle, they won't miss that. But, remember when you told me that sometimes you find stuff that isn't trash and so people chase you?"
She nods.
"The stones aren't trash. They're rare gems and you will get chased." She swipes the gemstone back and puts it at the corner of the table. "By the palace guard."
Snapdragon rubs the back of her head. "I'll just keep the bottle." She sits herself down and leans back. The chair isn't exactly comfortable and the sink is cool on her neck. Though it becomes significantly more pleasant when the servants arrive and begin scrubbing shampoo into her hair. Yet it is still so jarring to find herself being spoiled like this. And she still has a bath waiting for her. They are surprisingly gentle when working the more matted knots out of her hair. A few times they cut the knots out entirely. They finish washing her hair and sit her up. She didn't realize that she'd be getting a haircut.
"There were a lot of knots that we couldn't work with." One of the servants apologizes softly. "We're going to cut your hair and make it even."
She stammers out a word or two of consent and by the time that they are done with her, her head feels so much lighter.
"I'll show you to your bath."
She follows the girl to the bathroom and slips out of her dirty robe. Once she gets herself situated the servant offers smiles, "would you like me to?"
"Like you to what?"
The girl laughs. "Give you a scrub." She gently rubs the soap against Snapdragon's shoulder. "Some nobles enjoy not having to do any of the work. The princess let us soap her back and arms but preferred to do the rest herself."
"Oh…" she replies. "I'll do it myself." It is one thing to lounge in the communal bath and another entirely to let someone get that touchy."
The girl hands her the bar of soap. "When you are done with it you can hand it back." She gestures to another girl. "And when you are ready to get out Yora has your towel ready.
Snapdragon nods. She hadn't realized that bathing was such a complex ritual.
"Try to relax." Yora says. "We're here to make bath time more leisurely for you."
She supposes that it is nice to not have to scamper around for a towel and a change of clothes. She sinks into the tub and scrubs away at her arms until the water is dirtied. They drain it and fill it again until it comes away crystal clear. A floral aroma rises in languid curls of steam and she feels herself drifting off. She ought to savor the comfort because she probably won't get a chance like this again.
"Aren't you hungry?" Mai calls into the room.
The reminder leaves her belly rumbling so she gestures for the towel. She wraps it around her body and Yora pats her hair dry with a second one. The first serving girl hands her the most elegant robes.
.oOo.
She looks rather lovely. Well groomed and without that layer of, Snapdragon is rather pretty. Her eyes are wide and bright. Her freckled and soft. If not for the gaps in her teeth and her gangly limbs, she could very well pass for nobility.
That is until she actually takes her seat and begins eating. She doesn't do it with the poise that the rest of them do. In fact she is a fast eater and she doesn't bother with silverware nor chopsticks. Not even with the soups. She makes her way through the platters eating only bits and pieces, as though she can't decide what to eat. And Mai think that, that is just it. She has so many options that she doesn't know which to choose. Her innocent curiosity is almost endearing. If only she had some table manners.
At last Snapdragon seems to find a favorite and focuses on a helping of roast duck.
"Very good." She says between mouthfuls.
Mai's face flushes for her. The woman is clearly blessed with obliviousness and with her focus entirely on enjoying her meal she is spared the weight of a roomful of judging glowers. The only other person who doesn't openly gawk at her is Zuko, who makes an effort to look away. She guesses that he understands what it is like to be spellbound and captured by the grandeur of the palace and its spoils.
Mai taps her and Snapdragon looks up from her roast duck. "You might want to slow down, you're going to make yourself sick."
And the ignorance is gone. Her face flushes. "They're all staring at me."
Mai grimaces. "Yeah. That too."
She has to admire the woman's resilience. She finishes her roast duck and a bowl of miso soup in spite of the disgusted stares. She helps herself to a small dessert as well-a bite or two of mochi-before setting it down.
.oOo.
Snapdragon leans back in her chair. She doesn't think that she has ever been this full in her life. She certainly didn't realize that being so full could ache like being completely empty. Though it is a much different kind of ache. A more sluggish, heavy ache. She supposes that it beats the painful, yearning kind.
"You feel nauseous, don't you?" Mai rolls her eyes. "I told you to slow down."
"I never get this much at Mohi's place. I wanted to try…"
"A bit of everything." Mai nods. "I can bring you back here again, you know."
She surveys the table. Many of the nobles are pushing in their chairs and shooting her begrudging parting glances. "Do you think that'sa good idea?"
Mai shrugs. "Who cares. Honestly, I think that this place could use someone like you. It wouldn't be so dull and uptight if everyone here wasn't so…"
"If they didn't act like someone shoved a prickly pear up their..."
Mai chuckles before cutting her off. "I was going to say rigid. But, yeah, that too."
Snapdragon folds her arms across her chest.
"You got some sauce on your face." She dabs at the corner of the woman's mouth. "Let's get you to bed."
"I can't stay here. Mohi gets worried. She ain't say it but I know she does."
"Alright, I'll let Zuko know that I'm taking you home."
She shakes her head. "I don't recommend that. Jus' let me go, the streets 'round Mohi's ain't nice at night."
"Then I'll tell Zuko to loan you a pellinquin."
"I can walk by myself, I'm used to it. One time I took down three muggers, I only got one black eye and my nose was really swollen and…"
"I'll also bring a few guards along."
.oOo.
"Are you sure that you want to leave? If you want you can stay in the palace with Mai." Zuko offers.
"I'm sure." Snapdragon nods. "I like being in my nest."
"Your nest?"
"Don't get her started on that, Zuko."
"It isn't any trouble. I think that it would be nice to have you around a little longer."
"Uh...no thanks." Snapdragon murmurs. "I'll come back with Mai some time."
"The nobles were making you uncomfortable, weren't they? They're usually not around."
"I don't think I belong in a palace." Snapdragon says. "It's easier out there, you know what's goin' on in people's heads. Nobles like to be all secretive and slick. That's what Mohi says. In the streets you get punched in the face and then you know who to look out for. You never know who hates you in a place like this." She takes a breath. "I mean I do 'cause I guess that I'm such a freak that they couldn't hide how they felt."
"You're not a freak, Snapdragon." Mai sighs. "All of these people have decades of etiquette training. Do you know how hard they drill this stuff into your head? If you ask me, that's what's freaky."
"Did they drill it into your head?"
Mai sighs, "why do you think I'm so…" she gives Zuko a pointed stare. "Blah."
"You ain't blah."
"Thanks." She mutters. "Can you loan us that pellinquin now, Zuko."
He inhales sharply. "I'll get a few guards to accompany you."
"Do you want to come back here some time?" Mai askes. "Or have you been traumatized."
"I don't really like the folks here but…" She holds a hand to her tummy, "the food is great and," she runs her fingers through her hair, "it's nice to be all clean. Jasmine smells nice."
"How about this, I'll tomorrow I'll meet you at the factory and I can teach you some palace etiquette."
"I still wanna be in my nest."
"We can converse in the palace gardens and in your factory. Don't you want to explore a new place."
Snapdragon nods.
Mai takes just a moment to wonder just what she is getting herself into. But, Agni, the woman had been so delighted when she stepped into the palace. She supposes that Snapdragon will be worth the hassle of...of dealing with Snapdragon. Mai's lips quirk up into a slight smile. "Alright, let's get you back to Mohi's."