Is is Beat or beet? (Kouzai)

It's been 707 year since the fall of Firelord Ozai. There has been 707 years of new Firelords and new changes; there will be many more years to come. Through thick and through thin, The royal family has been guarded by men and women that have pledged their allegiance to protect and die for these high monarchs. Mehn, Sergeant Mehn Suzuki, joined the military at the age of 16. For most it was a young age but with the ghost of her past, she progressed quickly. Four is the number of years this women served, reaching the rank Sergeant. Mehn was reserved but could be quiet cheerful when drinking, though she didn't do it often. yet even when drinking, she speaks little of her past and gets angry if insulted about anything doing with her past or family. It is very rare to get mehn to re-open old wounds.

Now of day, She lives in peace: preferring to live in the barracks with the other troops. She never really communicated with them but didn't mean she didn't like them. The guards were the people she lived with, fought with, and even died with; they were more connected than most people and knew alot about each person. Mehn could honestly say she had quite a few of the soldiers come up to her, asking for a date. Of course, Mehn declined.

Unlike what others may think, Mehn was not raise to be a 'lady'. She was a soldier and lived like a soldier, She had never wore a dress but once or twice and never needed "Proper Manners". Not to say she didn't know manners but more saying that she just never really needed them. It was odd, she always thought, Why would a man be attracted to a rough, half blind girl like me.. The thought that she often asked herself and the thought that she often answered it with two simple answers: Their Males and It just cause I can put them on their backs.

Every knew most men were like puppies, Following around women and chasing tail; and All men get their pride crushed for when a women Crushes them in a match. It was ironic because she had been beat up many times in her life time but she had beat up even more poeple than the beatings that she could recive in two life times. Then again Mehn wasn't one to brag about it.

Full mooned nights, Mehn escaped the into a world of blood and shouting. The Arena: The place for fights, dirty or clean, and the place where most soldiers went on their days or nights off. She enjoyed watching these fights and every so often, Mehn Joined in. The result a opponent K.O.ed on the ground and a small sack of money in her hand. This night was no different.

It was a summer night, so the air was warm yet cool. There was a slight sprinkle as the tiny drops barely lept from the clouds. A small drought was about to roll in and the rain was leaving before it could arrive.

Mehn stood at the end of a dirt like field, over looking the field of the arena at a vertical point of view. She looked across the barren terrian at her next opponent of the other side of the field. The people shouted in excitment and watched as some took bets. Many of the audience members were off duty soldiers while others hailed from other part of the nation and even some from other parts of the world.

The man, on the other side of the arena, was her 12 match tonight. It was that night and on this night she had a habitat of spending the whole night fighting and drinking until morning light. She was a bit tipsy at the moment and hadn't lost yet.

The referee waved the flag and before he could back away, Mehn was off. She was sprinting at the man, zig-zagging left to right, and leaning forward for speed. When in range, she took the first shot. Kicking off the ground and flinging fire at the man chest as she turned, landing of the ground. The man was more advanced than the others and was in fact prepared for the attack.

Bending it away, the man swung his arms into different positions in a thrustly action. Fire whipped toward Sergeant Suzuki. She looked at him as she watched as he seemed to clash the fire about like an elemental whip.

Mehn looked at him as she moved her arm in a simuliar style to the man's but with a different technique. A fair sized explodition blasted at the man from her fist. He flinched in time to bend his way to safty yet he made a miscalculation. As the fire pasted him by, Mehn was already on him tossing her shin at his face. Another Block and followed by a parry, the rival's fist came to punch at her blind eye. No, not this time, She blocked and pulled the in motion flames behind him into his spine. The blast knocked him forward and on that note, Mehn was already on him, KOing him from the preasure points on the neck.

inhaling beeply, Sergeant Mehn calmed herself. The crowd cheered and She rose, walking back to her side of the arean where she drank more sake. Waiting for the next match.

((OOC: I feel so inadequate now lol..this is an essay, I don't know if my post will be this long, but it WILL be long lol. Not to this extent though, lol I'll try my best though.))

Erolass pushed his way through the crowds of drunken men, he didn't like this area of town, and rarely travelled here as a result, but now he had to. It was on Naina's request that he had come here, and he was sent here to find someone. Erolass was usually very polite and proper, and this area of town well...it wasn't. That didn't mean Erolass couldn't handle himself though, no he was quite prepared to defend himself and his life if he needed to, he'd just rather it not come to that.

He was sent here by Naina to find Sergent Mehn, not a high ranking soldier in terms of the military size, but definitely one of the most capable and determined soldiers the Vermilion Dragon Empire--or Fire Nation as Erolass still called it, he wasn't quite used to Empire yet--had ever seen. Naina needed her because she wanted Mehn to begin escorting Erolass around for protection. Naina had done the same thing to Owlan, surrounding him with several guards--much more than Owlan preferred on a normal basis.

Naina believed that someone was after Owlan and the rest of the royal family, she wasn't sure who, but someone. Of course when asked more about this, Naina said she had heard this from some fortune teller when she was travelling in the Earth Kingdom. She said the gypsy woman, Niya she said her name was, said that someone would soon target Owlan and his family. Of course the woman never said when, so now everyone was stuck with twice the security until something did happen.

For all he knew the woman could've been talking about something that would happen decades from now. Erolass found it funny, Naina didn't believe in the Creation Spirits--the fabled 12 spirits/gods that govern over the world--but she believed in an unsound, unsure prediction. This was something that Naina wouldn't normally did, but of course, her family was in danger, so she was prone to a few mistakes.

Erolass sighed as he forced himself through the fighting house, and walked towards someone he thought looked like Mehn. A very well figured, strong, and scary looking girl with black robes, tan skin and long balck hair. Oh yes, and an eye patch. "Excuse madame, are you Sergent Mehn?" he asked, and rarely ever doing royal work as he had disowned himself from his own family, was forced to introduce himself, "I'm....Prince--" the word burned his throat like acid "--Erolass, my sister Naina sent me to get you. Could we go talk somewhere quieter? It's a matter of great importance."

Mehn Looked up at the man who approached her. She looked as him with her one eye as he spoke, "Excuse madame, are you Sergent Mehn?" The man asked. Mehn Nodded, "I am, who's asking?" She asked in a statement like way. "I'm....Prince--" He seemed to hesitate "--Erolass, my sister Naina sent me to get you. Could we go talk somewhere quieter? It's a matter of great importance."

Mehn looked at him for a long moment. She noticed his attire and could tell he was not lying. She was off duty and kind of drunk but her mind knew that if a royal requested an audience, no matter what was going on, It was her duty to answer their call - It was her oath. Mehn Gave him a small nod.

Turning away for a moment, Sergeant Mehn flagged down the referee for a tagged break. He complied rather quickly as he signaled the announcer for intermission. On that note, Mehn grabbed her Ale and a towel to pat her face of sweat. Waving for the prince to follow her to a quieter area, She walked on, not even looking back to see if he was still following.

Her feet took her into a kid of pre-fight locker room. Her belonging, locked in a locker was hidden with in the room. Mehn grabbed the key from her belt and unlocked the lock, regaining a few things from her bag. Afterwards she sat down on the chair closest to the table. There, She sat, drinking her ale. "How May I be of assistance your majasty?" Mehn asked, waiting for the young man to reply. She wasn't really formal like most People were to the royal family and infact treated him like a friend with a touch of formality, in her drunkin' tongue (Even though she's not comingly smashed ... yet). Shouts and screams of the crowd could be faintly heard within the rock room; Sound bouncing off of the hard walls. The Sergeant waited for the prince to reply.

"My sister believes that I, along with the rest of the royal family, are in need of protection." he said simply and sceptically, "She fears that we are in danger and need help. She has already increased the number of guards around the palace, the Emperor, herself and Eldunar, but because I do not live in the palace or in Vermilion City I haven't been given my own contingent of guards yet."

Erolass paused and looked around the room, it was quite...run down, and not a place he would normally like to be in, but these were the circumstances and he was fine with it. "My sister said that you were the best, and that you would take this job willingly," he said, "I understand that it can be a bother and if I'm about to inconvenience you I'm sorry, but would you mind watching over me? I did not ask for it, but my sister does."

"You would have command over 50 soldiers, each of them are meant to patrol my 300 acre estate out in the farming fields. My sister requested, however, that while you are in charge of the soldiers, you remain within a close distance to me."

Erolass knew he was rambling, he was nervous, and he didn't like the idea of a guard following him around everywhere he went, regardless of gender. Furthermore, this was not his idea, and he hated being a prince, he just wanted to renounce his titles and everything, but Naina wouldn't let him. "So, will you do it?"

Mehn stopped drinking. '50 soldiers.. They really are locking down tight.' She thought then recalled him saying it would require for her to 'babysit' Him. A finger tapped upon the clay bottle of Ale as she thought for a long moment.

Mehn looked him up and then down, studying his face, body lanuage, and his words. She gave a sighing hic-up. Grasping the bottle cap in her finger tips, Mehn Squeezed the top back onto the bottle of ale. She stood, placing the ale on the chair, and walked over to a barrel of water near her locker she used. "And when did you royal sister decree for this assignment take effect?" She asked not looking at him as she slashed water from the barrel to her face and arms. Her gestures weren't excatly lady like then again she had never had the luxury of living a rich lady-like life that provided such gestures. Mehn walked back past him and grabbed a towel on the back of the same chair. She wipped her face clean of the sweaty water and then her hands before throwing the dirty cloth into the locker.

Being a soldier of the country she knew this wasn't a job to refuse as it was her duty once again and it was her oath. So many factors tied her into servitude, yet she would never leave. For one there was no where else for her to go and two she had a personal oath to her father, to her family. And on This night that oath stood stronger than ever as she could invision that one face that haunted her since the funeral of her father, mother, and siblings.

As she walked over to the locker and gathered her things into a leather bag, Mehn knew that a job like this would probably require her immediate attention. It was almost like she didn't even wait for the princes reply and almost assumed his answer. Either way it didn't matter she wasn't in the mood to kick and more thugs or soldiers back to their mommies. The sergeant turned and looked at the man with her one eye, pullin her half wet, half sweaty hair up into a tail with a scarlet ribbon.

"Not too long ago to be honest," said Erolass, "Just the other day? I don't remember, I keep myself well away from the palace, it's doings and my family. I know that I found out about it a few days ago, and I was sent to find you."

Erolass had a feeling he might have to do some explaining to Mehn once they got more acquainted. Most of the people he met always wanted to know why a prince, second in line for the throne after Eldunar, would want to distance himself so far from the palace and his family to the point of denying his name and royal titles. They always asked why he lived so far away, on his own vineyards, making his living off of his own paintings and sculptors, but now was the not the time to explain.

Now was the time for answers; Erolass was sent here to get Mehn, and put her in charge of defending his estate, and he intended to do so, and then return to his work. He was backlogged on paintings for clients, and he was tired, and he wanted to rest and go back to work. Not to mention, leave the city where he would be easily recognizable. "So is that alright?" asked Erolass, "Or do you need to rethink this?"

Mehn studied the Prince a moment. A sigh slipped from her lips as she gave a small smile in amusement. Did he really ask her if it was was okay? Did she need to think it over? Well, that wasn't something a member of a royal family would ask. She continued to study the prince for a few more moments. Another smirk like smile crossed ehr face as she ex hale sharply - almost like she gave a short laugh.

An order was an order, no matter how it was presented, and especially from a prince. "I can not refuse so there is no need to ask." She said matter factly. "I will start tonight. I will need to bathe first though." The words were then stated as she walked past him. She stopped at the stone opening, looking back. "Would that be alright?" Mehn's words were a bit slurs from all of the ale she had intaked from the previous, several hours before, so they weren't very formal. Yet, never the less, They held the same formality as the one before them.

Some would state Mehn as distance, they were right. She always tried to keep herself cut off from others and in some cases made her come off cold or uncaring. For when the fact of the matter was, she was just simply one to just get things done with out hesitation or distraction. Maybe that was one of the reasons Mehn was picked, out of the many that could have filled the role.

Erolass was taken aback at the loyalty shown by this woman, no wonder Owlan had always regarded her so highly. She was the first one Owlan suggested to Naina for the head of Erolass's protection force. 'I'm surprised Owlan didn't take her for himself,' thought Erolass to himself, 'Or give her to Eldunar. She is the perfect soldier...though I feel bad she is bound to be loyal to me...I would rather have her serve me because she wants to, not because she has to....but I suppose that is how things must be.' Erolass then reacted normally, filing back into his usual calm and collected state and then smiled. "Thank you," said the young artist, "You have put my sister at rest I am sure."

With a deep bow Erolass answered Mehn's question, "And yes," he said, "You may shower. Please take as long as you need, there is no rush. I shall wait in the Artist's Shop across the street, if that is alright? Furthermore if there is anything that you must get from your home or anywhere else, please do not hesitate to take your time and go get what you need. You may bring anything and everything you need to make you feel more at home and comfortable while you are staying at my villa."

And with that, the silent, strong, beauty that was Mehn had left the room to shower. As Erolass left the fighting hall and crossed the street to go gather some new art supplies, he began to think of Mehn. But not in the sense of an admirer, no, far from that. Erolass was not one to admire someone or their beauty, not in the conventional sense at least. He admired their artistic beauty, and looked at everyone as his next work of art. Mehn's rugged exterior, coupled with her natural beauty, well built and curvaceous form and even her ever-so-slightly defined muscle tone made her perfect to be a statue, or a painting.

But what would Erolass's medium be? Statue? Painting? Sketch? If a statue, would it be full sized-full body? Just the head? Miniature bust? If a painting, would it be impressionist? Abstract? Modernist? Post-modernist? Perhaps just a regular portrait? And oh...the joyous love of sketching Erolass had, the rough drawn lines on the paper....and the shading, how they would accentuate her rough exterior. But should he do charcoal sketches? Shading? Basic light outlines? Full on pencil? Perhaps brushwork? Gah! It was too much for Erolass to contemplate at once!

Erolass looked down at his arms, and realized that in his hands he held all of supplies necessary to make all of the forms of paintings, sculptures and sketches which he had been thinking of. Erolass quickly set them all back in their rightful place in the store, as he knew he would not need them yet. "I shall choose when the time is right," he said to himself, "I haven't even asked Mehn if she would pose for me yet, and I am not even sure if she would say yes." Erolass changed his trail of thought to his other works of art which he had been procrastinating on, soon forgetting about Mehn, and painting her.

Mehn gave a short salute just before she turned and escaped into the batheing area. She could feel her muscles begin to almost ache as she took each step farther into the room. The took notice to a few others in the area. Of course they had to be males. There weren't very many female in the military and almost none of them had the gut or the skills to fight in the "UnderGround" Arenas like this. She paid no mind to them, just kept walking to a squared area. She Closed the long heavy curtain, isolating herself from the others. From there she would remover her garments and wash away the sweat, blood, and dirt from her body.

Her mind was a bit hazed at the moment from the drinking but Mehn still had a good grip on what was happening. Within 10 minutes, Mehn was cleaned; wounds that she aquired in that night's fight was treated and wrapped; and She was dressed. There was only one errand she needed to run. She would normally be able to leave immediately for her mission but it seemed that she had left pieces of her armor at the barrick. It would only take a few minute for her to retrieve them and then only a couple more for her to retern, ready to leave.

Mehn set out on foot back to her shared quarters. She knew the Prince told her take her time but it would be important to get her things and leave as soon as possible. Once arrived in the barrick, Mehn completed her Vermilion Dragon Empire Uniform - Minus the helm in which she held under her arm. Her hair was pulled back with the crimson ribbon that normally held it up in place. She only wore her armor - plus weapons - and brought nothing else but a small bag with a few coins and other miscellaneous items. From there, Mehn Headed towards the Art shop in which the man spoke of.

The door Chimmed as she opened it, looking around and for Erolass. She had been gone readying herself for about 20 to 25 minutes until the point she stepped into the shop, "Are you ready for departure, Prince Erolass?" Her words were less slurred as she attempted to control her speech. She stood tall, holding her helmet under her arm, and waited for The man's reponse.

Erolass turned to find Mehn standing there, at the ready and dressed in full armour. "You didn't need to get--well I suppose if that's how you wish to protect me," Erolass smiled, no one had ever put so much into protecting him, and he did not want to insult her--that was by far his last intention, "Forgive me, it is just that I am not used to people going to such lengths to take care of me. Please, do what you feel is necessary."

With that, Erolass and Mehn left the small shop, and walked out onto the cobbled roads of the Empire. Erolass kicked a small stone across the red, patched brick road, and watched it clack across the street and into a nearby alley. Erolass did not go after it, he preferred to stay away from the alleys, and besides it would be considered rude to drag his guest off on a walk for a rock. All through the walk, nothing was said, and the only sound was the sounds of dogs barking in the distance, cats meowing at the moon, and the crickets which sounded from field far away.

Mehn watched for signs of attackers, something that Erolass noticed, she did rather thoroughly. Erolass would need to send a letter of recommendation for Mehn's promotion to Owlan about this, she was very good at what she did, and no doubt Owlan would want to recognize great talent. It was just after the two, Erolass and Mehn, walked over the hill edge of the former volcano's crater--which was now the city--and into the fields that led to Erolass's villa that Erolass remembered he wanted to paint a portrait of Mehn. "Mehn," said Erolass suddenly, as if someone had taken his voice hostage, "Would you, perhaps, mind if it I did a portrait of you? I would much like to start with a sketch...and then move to a large portrait." All of a sudden a wash of cold water washed over Erolass, what did he just do? "Wait--uh," he stammered, "P-please, let me explain. I--uh---I...." Erolass never felt more embarrassed in his life.