"Sixteen candles make a lovely light"

[markofthebrave]

Who: House Avatar and ANYONE ELSE
What: Katara's Birthday
When: July 5th
Where: House 56
Summary: It's Katara's 16th birthday today! ~Marrying age~ Seeing as it's a pretty big deal, even though there won't be all the gathered eligible young men in the village competing to make an impression, Sokka invites anyone who wants to come and celebrate over anyway.
Rating: PG? Iunno. Depends on if she gets that birthday kiss.


Nami had been invited over for just after breakfast - that's when the approximation of 'gathering round the girl's family' to make an outrageous hair style and tease her about this new period of her life will begin.

After that's over, Sokka will make a general announcement on the journals, that if anyone wants to come and wish her a happy birthday to come on by around lunch. There's a spread of store-bought food for them to eat, and Sanji will later come over with dinner. And, hey, if you're in the mood for party games-all-sorts, Toph might be talked into building something fun in the back yard...

Comments

[deathsdoctor]

[He chuckles.] Okay, you all did a lovely job. [Nope. You're the center of attention here. And if they're seriously thinking of hitting on Toph, they need more than an asskicking.]

So, sweet sixteen. How does it feel?

[Awright! Delicious cold drink get. 8D]

[markofthebrave]

Strange. And not entirely real. [Sixteen. Here.]

I never thought I'd be celebrating coming into marrying age so far from home.

[deathsdoctor]

...

M-marrying age...

[But that's eighteen!]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara blinks.]

Well. Yeah. [Thus the hair and the get-up.] It's usually a pretty big celebration at home. Is it a different age in your pole?

[deathsdoctor]

Uh. Yeah.

Marrying age doesn't hit till eighteen. It's pretty big, but a lot of the marriages are arranged, and well... [There are x number of men and women around, and, well, that was how things had always been...] birthdays are also weddings, you see?

[markofthebrave]

[Katara nods, frowning a little but otherwise unfazed by this.]

We don't have arranged marriages in the South Pole. [The North Pole... something different.] But when someone turns sixteen, if they haven't found anyone in their own village, the surrounding villages are usually invited to a big celebration. There are all sorts of games for the guys to compete in and hunting parties...

[She trails off, thinking about it.]

...sometimes people will wait to host all the sixteens in one village at once. But in my village, it's only me.

[So. Yeah. This is weird and maybe not what she'd been looking forward to for a long time, but then, Katara would hardly qualify herself as 'ready to marry' anyway.]

[deathsdoctor]

Aa... I see. [Makes sense.] There was just our village on our island, so if there was no one around for the other person, hopefully a match was made with one of the sailors that came up during the summer season. We never got big, as I've said. Having more seafarers around was always welcome.

[That was encouraged, actually. New blood was routinely needed to expand the gene pool as inbreeding is inbreeding. Bad all around. New blood also could bring wealth and connections and that was good for the village as well. Marriage was not a thing of love. It was a practical contract of conveniences.]

Just you? [Making a movement towards the gift table.] That had to be difficult sometimes.

[Especially if they were like his former village where everyone was expected to marry.]

[markofthebrave]

There were some kids there my age before... [but. the raids. and then moving.] But we were so busy, I just didn't think about it.

[A hand goes up to push in one of the ornaments she feels is coming undone in her hair.] Sixteen always felt like a long way away.

[deathsdoctor]

[A slightly wistful smile] Seems to be always the case. Time does fly.

[Picking up his wrapped gift from the table.] I hope you like this.

[markofthebrave]

[And she's all girl.]

Oh, you got me a present?

[deathsdoctor]

Aa... more like made you one. [ A somewhat sheepish admission. And he offers her the package.] Here.

[markofthebrave]

You did? [That somehow makes it even more special. She reaches out to take it.]

Thank you. Do you want me to open it now?

[deathsdoctor]

Yeah. Go ahead.

[markofthebrave]

[She opens it up and touches it softly.]

It's beautiful. Thank you, Trafalgar.

[Something she can treasure while she's here.]

[deathsdoctor]

[Smile] You're welcome.

[He had started, actually, making the quilt for him, but changed his mind after the Experiment giving him knowledge of her birthday and the Experiment granting him a double bed.

This is much better.]

[markofthebrave]

[She folds it back up and sets it gently back on the table, where it will keep for now. And then she steps forward to give him a brief hug.]

I can't believe you actually made that.

[In her experience? Most men do not sew.]

[deathsdoctor]

No? [Knowing wondering amusement. Most men aren't manly enough to sew. They just can't take the pressure.

That hug is returned. ... he's getting a little better about them.]

[markofthebrave]

[She steps back and smiles.]

Most guys I know [Sokka] couldn't tell you the pointy end of a needle unless they sat on it.

[deathsdoctor]

[So true. So true.]

... now that's a pointed shame. Though I'd be out of a job right quick, if I couldn't navigate my way around a little needlework.

[What with all the stitches he has to do.]

[markofthebrave]

[Pointed? Now that's a terrible pun. She acknowledges it with a slight wince.]

True! But even so... [She turns and strokes a hand down the blanket.] The pattern is beautiful.

[Funny how they completely got off the topic of marriage, huh? Did you plan that, Mr. Law?]

[deathsdoctor]

[It's completely awful and he is going to completely indulge in it.]

Thank you. [The library, he loves it.] The book I found had some lovely designs. This one reminded me of some North Blue work.

[Maybe? Maybe not.]

[markofthebrave]

I don't spend that much time at the library. [Sitting. Reading. Bah.] It might be worth looking into.

[deathsdoctor]

[What's wrong with reading?]

It might. They have books on practically everything. I must admit, it was a godsend when I was learning how to cook.

[markofthebrave]

[She almost laughs at that.

Scratch the almost.]

Maybe I should get Sokka some of those.

[deathsdoctor]

That bad, huh?