Treasures of the Study

[blue_lacquer]

Title: Treasures of the Study
Rating: G
Characters: Poppy Bei Fong, Toph
Word Count: ~900, complete
Summary: Poppy teaches Toph about the Four Treasures of the Study.
Notes: Written for Writing Bingo (Round 3) at atlaland, for the prompt 'inkstone.'

Comments

[unjapanologist]

This is beautiful! I love the image of tiny Toph playing with heavy stone like it weighs nothing.

[blue_lacquer]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I think that if Toph's parents had been paying attention (and not convinced she was helpless because of her disability), they would have noticed little signs of her being a powerful earth bender. It's hard to hide talent like that completely.

[loopy777]

Bittersweet little moment with mother & daughter. I like how Toph sniffs everything. Her mother should be glad that Toph didn't try licking everything, too. :D

I liked the little world-building that the Bei Fongs encouraged literacy in Gaoling with a privately-funded school. You'd think the idea of poor people not reading would come up in a world like this, but apparently the Southern Water Tribe saw the benefit in preserving those teachings, despite everything. (Hm, I wonder if Haru can read.)

[blue_lacquer]

I imagine that Toph tried licking things when she was very small, but some bad experiences quickly taught her not to do that. ;)

I admit I was a little surprised that Katara and Sokka are as well educated as they are, but then they are the Chief's kids. Even if no one else in their village learned to read and write, they would.