Matsu's Amazing Trip to the Tea Shop

Matsu laughed as a woman waved to her, and she cartwheeled away from the entrance of her circus tent. They were going to do a show later in the day, but for now, she could go and see Gaoling. Well....as long as her sister didn't catch her out and about. Her mother didn't like it when she went off on her own. But for goodness' sake, she was twenty-three! It wasn't like she'd get lost! Well...she did often, but...she always managed to find the caravan before they left!

She flew above the streets, singing happily to herself, the people down below looking up as she passed. With a giggle, she could see that she was far enough from the tent that she'd be safe, and she dropped back to the streets. She stood up on her hands and walked about, until finally deciding that she could meet some locals! She flipped over onto her feet, and tried starting a conversation with a young man, but he simply glared at her and kept walking. She then saw a little girl, and pulled out a few extra tickets to her circus show to give to the girl, but her mother dragged her away. Well! She'd never met such an unfriendly bunch!

She got back onto her hands and continued walking along like that, her skirt flipped up over and almost covering her eyes, bright yellow shorts underneath showing. People continued giving her weird stares, but she didn't mind. People did that often enough, what with her being part of the circus. She then came across a group of pretty girls, dressed all fancy-like in expensive green silk dresses, their black hair soft and shiny. She frowned at these, and they looked at her with disdain.

With a shrug, she continued along, cartwheeling and somersaulting through the street, narrowly avoiding a man carrying a basket full of vegetables. Another round of glares, and she looked for a place of refuge. A small tea shop came to her gaze, and she grinned before darting to the door and ducking inside. It was open and very well lit, many large windows filling it with bright light, but she still felt slightly out of place among all of the brown and green clad figures with black hair. Her colorful attire didn't fit in, and she quickly looked about for an empty seat.

Finding one near the window, she ducked into it and hid her face behind a menu, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Matsu looked up, the voice seemed friendly enough. "Uh...just tea, I guess." she said, holding the upside down menu in her fingers. She looked around like a criminal looks for the police, hoping to not see her sister. She then turned back to the waitress, Sakura. "Are people always so mean?" she asked meekly, her gray eyes wide, a small pout forming her lips.

"What kind of tea? Green, Black, White, Oolong, Chamomile..." The woman, Sakura, said. "Oolong.." Matsu mumbled carelessly, not looking at the woman but simply looking out the window sadly.


"But, uh, not everyone's like that. It's just that... you don't..." The woman started, and Matsu knew exactly why. She didn't look like these people; she was just a circus freak. She sniffled and looked up at the waitress as she continued on. "You're not from around here... so..." she trailed off. Matsu nodded.

"We don't get visitors here to often. Most people want to visit the big cities, like Ba Sing Se and Omashu. So, when a new face pop's up, people get curious...Now, is there anything I can get for you?" The waitress asked, obviously wanting to get on with her work. "Um...no. Just...I'll head out then..." she said, looking completely crestfallen. She stood, setting the menu on the table, tried to ignore the stares, and headed for the door, a lump in her throat as she fought tears. She'd never felt so horrible about being different before in her whole life.

Matsu lit up at the suggestion, whirling around automatically and jumping up and down excitedly, successfully ignoring the stares this time. Her first friend in Gaoling! Oh YAY! This girl seemed to be an outsider as well, but Matsu shrugged that off. Outsiders were just regular people to her, since she traveled a lot. An outsider for one place might be an...insider?...in another. "That'd be so wonderful!! I'd love that!" she said with a squeal.

'I have to go right now, though, Mother's expecting me, but perhaps I could meet you at the big fountain near the street market, you know, near that school? In, say...three hours? Four?" Matsu asked with an excited smile.

Matsu nodded, then ran out of the tea shop, heading home to do a show and let her Mother know where'd she be for the remainder of the day...

ooOOoo

Leaning against the fountain, Matsu played with her hair, blowing on it with little sighs. She waved to someone walking past, but yet again, they simply glared at her and kept walking. Gee...maybe she should get some Earth Kingdom clothes and wear them while she was here; maybe then people wouldn't look at her with such...horror? Hatred? Disgust? She was tired of waiting, and therefore did a hand-stand on the edge of the fountain, walking about on her hands, grinning. She would continue to do this until Sakura came.

There she was! YAY! Matsu smiled, flipping back onto her feet to say hello. Then Sakura asked for her name. "Oh! I'm Matsu!" she said with a big smile. "So, you said you went to school here? Is it, like, regular school, or are you an earthbender or something?" she asked happily. Although she was several years older than the girl, and at least six inches taller, she felt very happy to be around her. Blame that on the immaturity then, she guessed.

"Umm...let's see your favorite place in the whole town first!" Matsu said as Sakura asked. She was soooo excited, she began walking on her hands again because of the pent up energy.

Matsu grinned as she was pulled along, hearing all about a garden with a tall tree. It sounded amazing! She ran after the girl as she was let go of, resisting the urge to blow past her with her bending. They passed the tea shop they had first met in, and Matsu gave it a fond look before almost slamming into the girl as she stopped.