Family Affairs

[Max]

Ash moved to his seat and servants immediately arrived and began piling food onto a fresh plate in front of him. He turned to converse with Korin.
"No, I'm actually from Shu Jing." Ash replied. "However, my family was often relocated to various locations during the War, as he was a skilled doctor and blacksmith." He explained. He then turned to Misora when she asked him about his arm and leg. Ash shifted slightly, knowing that most people don't take to his unique arm and leg. "Um, yes, well, you did hit me, but I didn't feel anything...my right arm is very unique." He removed his glove on his right hand, revealing the mechanical hand and fingers. "As I told Prince Korin, my family moved a lot when I was younger. We were actually at the siege of Ba Sing Se...when one of the tanks exploded. My right arm and left leg were burned...so...my father built me new ones." Ash explained, hoping that they wouldn't treat him differently, but who was he kidding?

***
Feru listened to Ash's conversation with quiet interest. His interest was peaked when Ash showed them his hand. Feru wondered how much his mechanic could learn from Ash's predicament. He began to wonder if he could construct metal suits that would be indestructible. He glanced back over at his Mother, noting the stare she gave Father. He quickly went back to his plate. No doubt Mother would want to talk to him later.

[Backabuth]

Korin was just as fascinated with Ash's metal limbs as Feru was. He leaned forward in his seat, trying to get a better look. "Can you feel with them? Are they just like having a real arm and leg?" He discontinued his questions when Zuko shot him a look. Korin sat back in his chair slowly, lifting up his fork again to shove a bite of potato into his mouth. Zuko leaned over and patted Misora's leg. "Eat, Miso," he murmured.

[StillettoMai]

Misora stared at Ash's arm for a minute, facinated by the fact that it was metal. Then she grinned at him.
"That's cool!" she exclaimed, reaching out to touch it. She made a face when Daddy told her to eat.
"I don't wanna eat," she complained. "I wanna talk to Ash!"
"You can talk between bites," Mai informed her. "Just don't talk with your mouth full."

[Max]

Ash produced a sheepish smile, surprised that the Prince and Princess seemed really interested in his metal limbs. Usually, whenever people found out, they grew incredibly distant at an incredibly fast rate. "Um, no. I can't feel with them, unless its near the area where they are attached, that way I can move the fingers and toes. My father needed to surgically connect the nerves and tissues in my arm and leg. It took him years to research and years to prepare for the operation, that way I could have a somewhat arm and a leg. Of course, I need to get refitted every year because I grow out of them." He answered Korin's questions, not bothered by them, but glad. No one really asked him about his limbs before. He smiled when Misora's attitude didn't change negatively towards him. "You don't think its weird?" Ash asked, surprised by their interest.

***
Feru continued to eat and listen quietly to the conversations, plotting at the same time.