Healing Trust

Giving a small laugh at Katara's sense of humor once again, Jurishe brings the brush to her shining brown hair, starting to tug and brush the persistent tangles into submission. She does start at the bottom so that she won't rip any hair out, or cause even more tangles, as she might by brushing the top out first.

"Talk to me?" She asks, suddenly, keeping her gaze on her work, "If you'd rather not talk about yourself... you could tell me a Fire Nation story, or a legend? I've never heard any, before."

While listening avidly to the story, Jurishe had worked through about a foot of hair, parting it into sections as she went, to make it easier. The idea of a group of people living for a culture, yet outside of it, fascinated her, as did the description of their founder and leader. When the pause came, she glanced up from the brush, confused and, truth be told, disappointed that the tale might end there - she hoped that it wouldn't.

"Go on," She coaxed gently, waiting to continue untangling, "Is there more?" It's clear, just from her tone of voice, that she'd like there to be a lot more.

"Your hair is even more beautiful, now," She answers softly, brushing her fingers gently through the already-freed curls, "Silky and gleaming in the light. I wish mine curled, like yours..." Her stilled hand began to move once again, dragging the brush with it, continuing with her task.

As the battle was described, despite the cruel reality of war, Jurishe couldn't help but feel a little excited... Hearing a story told in this way, and in Katara's soothing voice, seemed to mute the horror behind it, making it softer and more gentle by association. Oddly enough, even though she was working, the calm repetition of untangling the several mussed strands of hair actually helped her to concentrate, and even commit the story to memory.

Soon, her brush contacts with Katara's scalp gently with each pull; she's almost finished.

With one final passing of the brush, Katara's hair is completely finished; clean and untangled, hanging down her back in a slowly drying river of curls. Completely silent, for a few moments, it seems as if Jurishe is examining her handiwork, but her eyes are unfocused, emotions clear in their depths. Slowly, she circles around, kneeling in front of her friend, carefully reaching out to take both of her hands in her own.

"...I'm so sorry," She manages to say, her eyes brimming with tears, because of what her friend had revealed, "My parents are still with me... but Death has made itself known in my life, as well." Then, she tried to smile; even as her tears began to fall down her cheeks, even though the attempt would go unseen. "I will always be your friend," she promises solemnly, with an air of finality.

But then, her voice a little lighter, Jurishe adds, "Your mother must have been a gorgeous woman, if you resemble her. I wish that I could have met your family." Maybe that would only make her friend sad, but... it had to be said.

Smiling at Katara's words through her own tears, Jurishe gives her hands a firm yet gentle squeeze before standing, not yet releasing her hold. "You are so strong," she tells her friend, voice shaking slightly; she means those words quite fiercely, despite the gentleness with which they were spoken. Slowly uncurling her fingers, she relinquishes her grip, allowing Katara to reclaim her hands.

Trying to let the mood lighten once again, now, she moves back to stand behind the chair, considering very seriously what to do. "How do you feel about braids?" She asks, quite seriously, her voice steady once again, "Little ones?" Jurishe reaches out to stroke her fingers through Katara's hair once again, testing how it falls when lifted slightly. She must have an imagine in her mind, of how she'd like to style it.

Starting just past her bangs, leaving those to fall loose, Jurishe begins a very small braid, incorporating more hair as she moves on. At one point, however, she pauses, looking down at her fingers and the partially completed braid. Inspired, she leaves that braid unfinished, starting the next one, and then the next, making them into little rows. Once those were finished, she simply gathers up all of Katara's hair, tying it into a high ponytail.

The effect was mostly simple - one might even think that she had lazily ended the braids after intending to do them all completely - but Jurishe loved the way that the curls cascaded freely down. "Let me see..." She trailed off, moving to see the full effect; it was stunning. "Oh wow," She breathed, staring at Katara.

"It fits you -perfectly-!" came the answer, just as excited as the question, "It's even more beautiful that I thought it would be!"

However unintentional in the conception, the braids would allow Katara to feel along and get a sense for what had happened with her hair, while the hanging braids would brush at her shoulders, back and neck, offering even more sensations for her to feel during the day. So not only did she look beautiful, she could feel it and decide for herself, to some extent. Though, Jurishe's reaction should be reassurance enough.

Returning the embrace, Jurishe shared in the simple happiness of her new-found friend. Though they had become this close so quickly, she felt no regrets. "You're welcome," She speaks finally, pulling back to look at Katara's hair once again, "It really is beautiful... It suits you very well."

"It doesn't work that way; we're friends," Jurishe dismissed her friend's claims, gently, "You don't owe me anything, Katara."

Then, with a very slight grin, "Besides; I asked you to show me how to play the drums... That's a fair trade, right? Music for a hairstyle?" The girl actually giggled, at that, when she tried to hold back a full-blown laugh.

"Well, you just mentioned the market, and I had already planned to go," Jurishe began, "There are a few things I'd like to get," She began ticking items off on her fingers, "More gauze, a needle and thread, some dried fruits, another knife..." Trailing off, she tried to think if there was anything else, "Drums." The last item came to her with a small laugh.

While she had been comfortable enough with Katara before, she felt that it was more natural, now; not forced because of necessary contact. It was nice; Jurishe was really enjoying herself.

"Aside from listening to music," She began, slowly moving to sit on the floor, her back against the bed, getting more comfortable, "I like to read, swim... and to hear stories." Jurishe smiles, at that, "I'm sure you guessed that much, though. I'm not too interesting." She finished with a laugh at her own expense.

Bending both her legs, she hugs them to her chest, curling up just slightly, she way she usually did when listening to a story. "I'm enjoying visiting new places, and meeting new people, as well... That will probably be added to the list, soon."

Z. Katara Len

Katara sighed happily, flopping back into a chair, putting her bare feet up on the table because she could. She did miss reading, and she had been showing promising artistic talent before she lost her eyesight. However, such things could not be returned to her, and so she moved on, so to speak. "you're interesting enough to help heal a girl and do her hair." she chuckled, "that's gotta count for something. Bonus points if you put me in a dress or something!" she joked. she paused, hearing the phrase that she added on. "new places and new people... aye. it sounds like we have our adventure planned out then, don't we?"

Mood: Happy Condition: Well

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"So to speak," She laughed as she gave the answer, "Planning to have no plan... I like that. It gives us a lot more room to move, and no deadlines or constraints!" That suits Jurishe just fine; she liked taking her time with things, regardless of what she happened to be doing. So long as Katara was of the same mind - or tolerated it, at the very least - it promised to be a fun, memorable trip.

A moment after her reply, her hand moved up to cover her mouth, stifling a yawn. By no means was she bored, but it was getting late, now.

"I'm not sure if it will tangle," Jurishe admitted, in a contemplative voice, "But it might be uncomfortable anyway. Let's take it out, and I'll fix it in the morning, okay?" Rising from the floor with a slight noise of tired exertion, she went over to the chair once again, starting to unwind her work, very carefully.

As she managed Katara's hair, she answered her first question; "I don't see why we can't share the bed... I don't toss and turn, or anything. Would you mind?" She added, after half a beat, "I do have a sleeping roll; I could take the floor."