my heart beats way too fast to let regret sit in my lap

[cleverness]

Hermione is accustomed to having the early spring season feel brisk. Even though it's already April, she doesn't step out of the house without first slipping into a thick peacoat, just in case the weather turns tumultuous and decides to change at the drop of a hat. In many ways, Darrow reminds her of the New England region of the United States — the structure of the government, the diversity of the population, and even the weather seems to be somewhat warmer than England.

With a couple of small jars of her bluebell flames in either pocket, Hermione goes about her errands, doing the grocery shopping for the household. Now that Ron is in Darrow, Hermione finds herself buying significantly more food, and also more prone to searching for some treats to light up dinners for him. A good meal puts him in an entirely different sort of mood, and Hermione simply enjoys seeing the smile on his face besides.

Even though she doesn't have much time to spare, the beauty of the crashing waves leads Hermione out to the beach. She sets down her bags, and a strong gust of wind brushes past her skin. Shivering, Hermione tugs one of the jars out from her pocket and surreptitiously tugs out her wand, sending a few more flames blooming in the glass.

That's when she spots it. A flash of orange flame off to the side, drawing her gaze immediately. Eyes wide, she forgets that her own blue flames are on display as she stares at a young man in the near vicinity, some sort of performer or illusionist — or perhaps someone with a little more ability than the average person — practicing forms off to the side.

It's beautiful and powerful, each swing of his arm purposeful, and the lick of the flames practically alive.

Comments

[irisewiththesun]

Zuko likes practicing his bending on the beach. There's plenty of wide open space, and now during the colder months it's less crowded with people. He doesn't really mind the cold - it was a lot colder at the Water Tribes - so he comes out here fairly often.

There's a girl, not too far away. Zuko noticed her as soon as she came onto the beach, but he continues what he's doing. He's almost done, anyway, so once he executes a final intricate combination of graceful kicks and flips peppered with bursts of flame he stops, taking a centering breath before turning his head to look at her.

When he does so, he finally sees what he hasn't bothered to pay attention to before - what looks like a jar of blue flame in her hands. It immediately reminds him of his sister, and he frowns. "How are you doing that?" he says, nodding at her. "In the jar."