❝𝗠𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗡

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*･

(𝘊𝘏𝘈𝘗. 1)

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐖. Humming in content you chopsticks to balance a grain of rice on top of its mountain.

"Quiet and demure ... graceful, polite, delicate, refined, poised ..." Shoving a chopstick full of the rice into your mouth.

Narrowing your eyes you pick up a paintbrush and make a mark on your arm. "... punctual!"

Outside a rooster crows making you gasp. "Ai-yah!" Jumping out of bed, accidentally getting your sheets in the ink.

Running around you called out, blowing on your arm. "𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗔! Appa! Ap–" Making it outside you glances down at your sleeping dog on the floor.

"Ah! There you are!" Hearing your voice the dog jolts awake. "Who's the smartest doggy in the world?" Turning him around as he faced the opposite direction.

"C'mon, smart boy! Can you help me with my chores today?" Tossing a sack of chicken feed behind him you tie it to his back, complete with a pole and a bone attached.

Noticing the treat he growls and immediately chases after the bone, running promptly into a wall and then out the door, scattering grain everywhere.

In the temple outside your house your father – 𝗟𝗔𝗢 sat, praying to your ancestors.

"Honorable Ancestors ... please help [y/n] impress the Matchmaker today." Appa, followed by a herd of chickens, bursts into the family temple. "Please, please help her."

After getting dressed you make your way to the temple, helping Appa get the bone he desperately tried to reach.

"Father, I brought you some ... Whoop!" Running into your father, knocking the tray out of your hands.

The cup and tray clatter the ground while he catches the tea pot on his cane.

"[y/n]..."

"I brought a spare!" Pulling another teacup out of your back pocket.

"[y/n]..."

"Remember, the doctor said three cups of tea in the morning..." You said pouring tea from the pot that remained on his cane.

"[y/n]." He said more sternly. "...and three at night." Handing him the cup. "[y/n]. You should already be in town. We're counting on you to..." He began.

"Uphold the family honor. Don't worry, Father. I won't let you down." You finished for him, hiding your arm and tugging your sleeve down.

Running off, picking up your skirt so you don't trip.. "Wish me luck!"

"Hurry!" Looking down at Appa the dog hummed, looking up at the man, bone stuffed in his mouth. "I'm going to ... pray some more."

—

In down 𝗣𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗬 – your mother watched the crowded streets nervously for you while her mother bought something from a stand.

"Poppy, where is your daughter? The Matchmaker is not a patient woman." One of the spa women said before entering the shop.

"Of all the days to be late! I should have prayed to the ancestors for

Luck." Poppy sighed.

Granny 𝗪𝗨 went to her daughter in law's side. "How lucky can they be? They're dead. Besides, I've got all the luck we'll need." Holding up a wicker cage with a cricket inside.

"This is your chance to prove yourself." She covers her eyes and steps off the sidewalk into the busy street.

"Grandma! No!" Poppy shouted in fear.

Granny Wu walks across the street; vehicles crash, but she emerges

Unharmed on the other side.

Looking at the cricket she grinned. "Yup! This cricket's a lucky one!" Holding up the cage.

Poppy sighed, shaking her head.

The sound of a horse's neigh rings out as you come riding up on 𝗕𝗢𝗦𝗖𝗢, and hop off.

"I'm here!" A wide smile on your face as you held your arms out. Looking at your mom your expression fell seeing her annoyed face. "What? But, Mama, I had to–"

"None of your excuses. Now, let's get you cleaned up." Pushing you inside.

The lady inside examines your hair, taking notice of the straw and hay scattered in it.

"This is what you give me to work with? Well, honey, I've seen worse."

Pushing you behind a changing screen and stripping you of your clothes

"We're going to turn this sow's ear Into a silk purse." Shoving you into a bath, water and bubbles flying everywhere as she pushes the screen away.

Reamerging your teeth chatter as you cover your arms. "It's freezing!"

"It would've been warm, if you were here on time." Oppy said, wagging her finger at you.

Coming up behind you, water is poured all over your head.

"We'll have you, washed and dried. Primped and polished till you glow with pride. Just my recipe for instant bride. You'll bring honor to us all."

Scrubbing your scalp and pouring different hair products over your head.

Your mother grabs your arm to start cleaning your skin with a spunge but narrows her eyes and frowns seeing black ink dripping on your arm.

"[y/n], what's this?" A knowing tone in her voice. Tensing you pull away. "Uh ... notes ... in case I forget something."

Granny Wu walks over, handing the cricket to Poppy. "Hold this. We're going to need more luck than I thought."

Once out and dry two hairdressers comb, pull, tug, and play with your hair.

"Wait and see, when we're through."

"Boys will gladly go to war for you."

"With good fortune." Folding the [h/c] strands and tying them into a bun.

"And a great hairdo" Admiring you and herself in a golden mirror.

"You'll bring honor to us all."

Guiding you outside and towards the seamstress you pass by many girls and their mothers getting prepared to meet the matchmaker.

"A girl can bring her family great honor in one way."

Stopping by two men playing checkers you look over the board as one of the men crosses his arms cockily at his last place.

Smile you move a piece, helping the other man win.

"By striking a good match, and this might be the day."

Coming back Poppy drags you away.

"Men want girls with good taste."

Wrapping cloth around your waist as another lady measures your neck.

"Calm"

"Obedient"

"Who work fast-paced"

Rolling around on a stool, tying a red meshy cloth around your waist, bringing your final outfit together.

A narrow crimson and pale pink Chinese skirt matching with a pink jacket with long, flowing sleeves, an aqua and plum collar, a blue wrap with a red ribbon to fasten it and a light purple scarf.

"With good breeding"

"And a tiny waist"

The tightening of the ribbon squeezing the breath out of you.

"You'll bring honor to us all."

Leaving the seamstresses you make way down the street watching boys and girls play.

"We all must serve our Emperor who guards us from the Huns. A man by bearing arms, a girl by bearing sons."

Two boys sword fighting snatch a little girls doll making you glare.

As the boy laughs running past you snatch it from his hands and hand it back to the girl who hugs it close.

Sitting on your knees pure white makeup is packed onto your face, accompanied by black eyeliner, red lips, purple eyeshadow, and pink cheeks.

"When we're through, you can't fail. Like a lotus blossom, soft and pale."

Looking at yourself in the mirror you cringe your nose.

"How could any fellow say, "No sale"?"

Licking your finger you curl a piece of hair from your bun and let it hang, accenting your face.

"You'll bring honor to us all!"

Taking a white flower comb hairpiece your mother places it in your hair. "There, you're ready."

"Not yet!" Granny Wu said, hobbling in with an apple and green necklace.

"An apple for serenity. A pendant for balance." Shoving the apple into your mouth and hiding a yin and yang pendant in your blue wrap.

Taking a bite of the apple you smile at her.

"Beads of jade for beauty. You must proudly show it." Gently placing the necklace around your neck and making you hold your head high.

"Now, add a cricket, just for luck." Taking the cricket from Poppy and attaching it to your waist. "And even you can't blow it!"

Keeping the smile on your face as you left it quickly fell once you made it outside, hands placing together.

"Ancestors, hear my plea, please don't let me make a fool of me. And to not uproot my family tree keep my father standing tall."

Glancing back at your mother and grandmother.

"Scarier than the Undertaker, we are meeting our matchmaker!"

Running up behind you your mother hands you your forgotten blue parasol.

Tripping out yourself you pick up your skirt making it to the back of the line.

"Destiny, guard our girls, help our future as it fast unfurls please look kindly on these cultured pearls. Each a perfect porcelain doll..."

Trying to match then you place your parasol over your shoulder before glancing to the side seeing how they're stanced.

Pointing it down you hold your head up.

"Please bring honor to us."

"Please bring honor to us."

"Please bring honor to us."

"Please bring honor to us."

"Please bring honor to us all!"

Dispersing into a line in front of the matchmakers home you all hide yourselves behind your parasols as the Matchmaker slammed her doors open, looking at her clipboard.

"Fa [y/n]?"

Jumping up you raise your hand. "Present!"

Glaring she marks something on her board. "Speaking without permission..." Covering your forehead you frown. "Oops..."

"Who spit in her bean curd?" Granny Wu questioned.

—

You stood nervously inside as the Matchmaker observed you. "Too skinny ... not good for bearing sons."

The cricket – 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗢 hops out of his cage, landing on the Matchmakers shoulder.

Your jaw drops as you frantically try to put him back in his cage but he continues to try and escape your hands, hopping all over your body.

Seeing the woman coming back you think quickly and show him into your mouth.

"Recite the Final Admonition."

Nodding and humming you pull out a paper fan and spit Momo out of your mouth.

"Well?"

"Fulfill your duties, calmly and..." Discreetly glancing down at the crib notes written on your arm, which are smeared slightly. "respectively. Um, reflect before you ... snack."

Pausing you recover quickly. "Act! This shall bring you honor and glory." Fanning yourself as you sigh in relief, the matchmaker grabs the fan and searches it for cheat notes.

Finding none, she grabs you by the arm and pulls you toward a table. "This way."

Letting go the writing comes off in her hand, staining it.

Picking up a teapot she places it onto the table. "Now, pour the tea." You space out, unconsciously sitting down while staring at her hand.

"To please your future in-laws, you must demonstrate a sense of dignity-" Rubbing her hand over her mouth, the ink smearing off with a squeak around her upper lip. "and refinement. You must also be poised."

Continuing to stare at the Matchmaker, you pour the tea missing the cup and spilling it all over the table.

Regaining your composure you quickly fill the teacup.

Gazing down you notice Momo relaxing happily in the tea. The Matchmaker takes the teacup making your eyes widen.

"Um, pardon me..." You meekly call out, slightly reaching for the cup.

The Matchmakers eyes snaps open. "And silent!" Contently she sniffs the tea, Momo's antenne being sucked up and pointed. "Ah..." She sighs.

Crawling over the table you grab the teacup. "Could I just take that back? One moment..."

The two fight for the teacup, and fall back, the tea spilling all over the Matchmaker, Momo hoping down her dress.

"Why, you clumsy!..." Stomping towards you, sharp manicured nails clawing towards you.

Pausing she began to squirm around. "Oh! Ah! Woo!" Tripping back she knocks over the fire-pot that heated the tea, spilling the coals and then sitting on them, the bottom of her dress smoking and lighting on fire.

Flailing around she screamed, bottom sizzling.

Looking for something you grab your fan, desperately fanning the burned spot, the air making it bursts into flames.

The matchmaker runs around screaming.

Outside Granny Wu smiles at Poppy. "I think it's going well, don't you?"

The matchmaker runs outside, screaming. "Put it out! Put it out! PUT IT OUT!" Rushing out you throw tea over her, putting out the fire.

The women make up drips, hair ruined. Embarrassed, you hand the teapot to the Matchmaker and quickly bow before walking toward your mother and grandmother, hiding your face from the harsh woman.

Chittering Momo fearfully got back into his cage.

Your mother holds you close as the Matchmaker stomped over, waving the pot at you furiously.

"You are a DISGRACE!" The pot shattering on the ground.

"You may look like a bride, but you will NEVER bring your family honor!" Lip quivering, she went back inside.

Head hanging low you silently listen to the peoples empathetic whispers as they begin to disperse.

KEY

Appa - Little brother (dog)

Lao (Toph's dad) - Fa Zhou

Poppy (Toph's mom) -Fa Li

Wu (Fortuneteller) - Granny Fa

Bosco (Kuei's bear) - Khan (horse)

Momo - Crickee