the media will / in the absence of real facts / settle for fake ones

[roc_on]

Beila shows up for her next lesson the following afternoon, having gotten some ocean-wading practice in that morning, and wearing one of her new firebending outfits (white sleeveless shirt, snug blue leggings, hair braided back; she looks more water than fire like this, but that's just cosmetic.)

Comments

[roc_on]

Beila repeats the sequence, five times in a row, before stopping to glance at Jun for note.

[fiery_delights]

"Can you feel at all how - wobbly you are?" he inquires.

[roc_on]

"I can feel how much wind I need - if I pay more attention than usual, which means less attention left for the fire. I'm pretty subconscious with the motion-assisting airbending by now."

[fiery_delights]

"Hmm. Then for now, I think, focus on the fire as much as you can."

[roc_on]

Beila nods, and she does another set of five.

[fiery_delights]

Even though correcting her form is not going to be as useful as he'd hoped, it's still worth doing. So he lets her know where she needs a touch-up, and he demonstrates everything again to show her what it looks like done perfectly.

[roc_on]

Beila does her level best.

When she's taking a break to chug some water, she pauses between gulps and says, "So the nuns found out I'm taking lessons from you instead of having asked them for a teacher recommendation. They don't approve. They don't have actual authority over me, but they might pester you a little."

[fiery_delights]

"I think I can survive being pestered by nuns," laughs Jun. "Did they have particular complaints, or were they just annoyed that you didn't ask them first?"

[roc_on]

"They also think you have a reputation for lewd behavior, apparently."

[fiery_delights]

"Yep," says Jun.

[roc_on]

"There doesn't seem to be a consensus that I'm likely to find that relevant, but they are concerned about the effect on the media. But," she shrugs, "I'm used to the media being stupid. They may also pester you, though. Shifu Riko's strategy involved standing very still, staring into space, whenever questioned by a reporter."

[fiery_delights]

"The media has been known to pester me even when I'm not teaching firebending to the Avatar. I'll live," Jun says serenely.

[roc_on]

"Okay," Beila laughs.

She practices more. She leaves when he sends her away.

[alicornucopia]

After his show, some media hangs around to pester him.

[fiery_delights]

He makes his smiling, friendly way through all the fans who stayed to chat with him, and then turns that same friendly smile on the obvious reporter.

[alicornucopia]

"Hello!" says the obvious reporter, who is both obvious and a reporter. "Rumor has it you've taken on a new student. How is that going?"

[fiery_delights]

"Rumour works fast," he observes.

[alicornucopia]

"It sure does! What can you tell me about your new student?"

[fiery_delights]

"What if I don't want to talk about my new student?" he asks, smiling some more.

[alicornucopia]

"Oh, come now, I'm sure you must have something to say about her. Is she going to be studying with you for the foreseeable future? How is her progress?"

[fiery_delights]

"She's going to be studying with me as long as she wants to be," he says, raising his eyebrows slightly. "Is that all? I'm a busy man."

[alicornucopia]

"I'm sure you have a few minutes. Are you and your new student getting along? She's moved on to her last element very quickly; do you think she's ready for it?"

[fiery_delights]

"But what if there's something else I'd rather do with my few minutes?"

[alicornucopia]

"I won't take much of your time. Isn't there anything you can tell me?"

[fiery_delights]

"That shirt looks terrible on you. You should wear warmer colours."