avaricious | Nine To Go

[Well, someone is getting married. Here, of all places! Ling thinks it's a bit reckless, but there's no harm in a little fun. So he devises a filter and doesn't even bother disguising his voice.]

[Filtered To Males Only]

Hello! My name is Ling Yao. I'm sure most of you heard about the recent wedding about to happen. I've been thinking about marriage myself. After all, I do have to eventually pick out fifty wives when I return home. But it wouldn't hurt to find someone here as well. I could be here for a very long time and Luceti does happen to have an exceptionally stunning population of women. So, what do you say that some of you suggest your top five most beautiful women for consideration. Feel free to elaborate on what makes them an excellent candidate for marriage.

And please, let's not get into the matters of Xingese politics. It's really just the way things are, so I'd rather not talk about it much.

[It would ruin the fun!]

(ooc: Please, please, please go all out with the thread jacking! I'm not even kidding. I want to see shit hijacked all over the place up in here. Hell, Ling himself might not even reply to some of these threads unless they interest him personally. Go wild, please! It'll be fun, honest.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Life itself is complicated and full of risks. If you're unwilling to risk the pain of achieving what you want, then you don't deserve to have it.

It doesn't sound right to take a risk that could go so wrong just so you could say you "deserve" it. I don't like to take chances unless I know it'll do more good than harm. If I keep doing the right thing, things'll turn out right eventually. And maybe that'll even make me deserve it.

Or you'll miss your opportunity forever.

I... I guess I could. Must be easier when you have fifty chances, huh? But I only got one and there's so many ways to lose it here. Yeah, waiting too long is one of them. I'm just... I'm just gonna think and do what feels right.

Don't mistake what I have as fifty chances. I've already sacrificed the chance to have what you want. I do it for the sake of the lives of my entire country. What do you do it for?

[It's a question that strikes in a way different that Ling must have intended. Because if he did sacrifice any chance of being with Katara... he could master the Avatar State. But that itself was a double-edged sword, since it was caring for Katara that made him want to do that, but if he saw her as any other person...]

Because she's been trapped by knowing everything about our future back home. And if I push too much, it... it can't work. I'll just be part of this thing that's trying to force her into someone she's not.

Would I be right in assuming that the two of you come from different points in time?

[A slight pause before he goes on, wondering if it's okay to divulge.]

You are right. I came to Luceti a few months ago from a time where - when we're already dating. She came to Luceti from a year behind me, when she still thought of us as being just friends. And then she lived here for over two years.

So you're in love with someone who may now never develop feelings for you.

[The wording gives a sting to his heart. He pauses before answering.]

I... yeah, it's... kinda like that.

Well, it seems your solution is pretty simple.

[...]

What do you mean?

She fell in love with you once. You just have to do the same thing you did before.

I... well... wouldn't it be like cheating to just do the same things again?

Consider that one of your sacrifices to get what you want.

[He's still not sure if it feels right, but...]

Then maybe I will try. I... I think I just have to think about it and see if it really... feels right. But... thanks, Ling.

Good luck, whoever you are. I still intend to try my luck as well.

Oh, my name's Aang. [He already knows so much about his love life, no use hiding his name as well.] I don't know if I can say it's nice to meet you, but... in this case, I guess I just have to hope that one of us can make her happy. [...And that it'll be me.]

Very well, Aang. May the best man win.

Yeah, something like that.

[This can only go so very wrong.]

Nine To Go - [Voice]

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