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Sokka discovered ecstatic trance
The Summer Solstice in the Wolf Cove was a time of celebration, ritual and of course lots of food. Team Avatar was lucky to have this time to come to this festival as it was just revived now that the war is over. Zuko also had time away from the palace to actually do some cultural education, Suki was also there mostly because Sokka asked, but also she was also curious about some the traditions of the Southern Watertribe
Sokka was excited to come home and actually spend time with his family. As the Southern Watertribe was urbanizing it was nice to see some old traditions remaining.
“Oh man, once dusk hits, it's gonna be nuts, I am so stoked.” Sokka said, grabbing a plate of food from Bato. The house was busy with guests, Bato and Hakoda lived comfortably together, but mostly alone. Malina wasn't as frequent in their lives as she used to be, often back at the Northern Watertribe working on improving relationships between the sister tribes, it was her atonement really. Still the men found comfort in each other, as they always had.
“What happens at dusk?” Aang said with a small yawn. He’s been up all day, due to the fact that the sun doesn’t set until at least past midnight.
“Oh it’s a huge bonfire and dance circle, we have one for the winter solstice but the summer one in my option is way better-Oooh! Pickled kelp!”
“Wow that does sound like fun Sokka, save some of that kelp, by the way.” Aang said, getting his own helping of kelp. Team Avatar were in their early twenties, their teenhood sheading into their newly acquired adulthood. Busy with restoring villages and cities broken from war this was at least a break from brokering peace and progress.
“The dance is a lot of fun, but I haven’t decided if I want to dance or drum, I think I might just hang back this year.” Katara took a bite of shellfish stewed with sea prunes.
“What? You should totally dance with us, Katara.” Sokka said, sitting down. Zuko and Suki got their own plates. Toph’s excuse was simple. Sounds too boring, I need to train more metal benders at my academy. Zuko took a bite of caribou meat adding his own comments.
“I am not sure if I should join you in dancing or maybe I can try my hand at drumming, but I can’t keep a rhythm to save my life.” Zuko admitted, Suki nudged him with a wink.
“Don’t worry I’ll teach you.” Zuko tried to hide his blush, Katara took the moment to steal a look at Bato leaning on Hadoka’s shoulder, probably exhausted as he took this private time to rest and being open about his affection. Katara smiled softly.
The Southern Watertribe have been slowly restoring old traditions and cultural histories. Myths, lore and ancient customs were being put back together. Piece by piece. While progress boomed in Wolf Cove, and Hakoda as Head Chief, was pushing progress and modernization. He was still balancing the old ways with the new ones. And an old fashion drum circle was a good way to do it. He took his own frame drum as did Bato. Aang looked disappointed,
“Man I wish I had a big drum, I would love to join the circle.” He said wistfully following the men down the many streets of a more modern city, however Aang saw more and more tribesfolk carrying lanterns and drums with them as Hakoda seemed to lead them to a huge mound of wood in a stone circle
“You think they need a hand lighting it?” asked Zuko as they walked down a slanted path to the beach.
“No this fire is a sacred one, foreigners aren’t really allowed to light it. Especially since this is Southern Watertribe tradition and we’re dealing with a lot of outer influence these days.” Katara said as the fire tenders put more driftwood and what looked like animal bones. It wasn’t quite dusk yet, it was so late that Aang was getting sleepy but he sat on an animal skin as the folks piled in. There was a sizable crowd building, Aang took note of the light dress and someone was dragging a wagon filled with ice and bottled beverages as well as a huge container of fresh water. Fire tenders had orange dyed sashes around their waist as they worked building the mound to set light. Once folks were all gathered, Hakoda got up holding the frame drum, and a fire keeper handed him a massive torch.
“Brothers and sisters of my heart and tribe, today the sun hangs high, as it's the solstice. We’re in the between times, where the spirits of this place awaken. Let us dance, celebrate and invite them to our fire. Drink deeply of the water and libations, come drum and dance and celebrate the longest day!” His speech got cheers from the crowd, with a signal Bato got the drummers going, in a steady heartbeat rhythm. Hakoda, head chief, held the torch high. Folks were on bated breath, including Aang, Zuko and Suki who never experienced anything like this. Hakoda spun in a circle throwing the torch into the mound, a burst of flames bloomed overtaking the wood pile, the rich scent of fire and woodsmoke bathed the crowd. It was dusk now, and the sun was starting to dip into the sea, the red light making the fire more intense in hue as Hakoda started the dance. He was rocking in time to the rhythm, the mother beat changing as he started playing. Team Avatar watched as other dancers joined in the drums picked up place and time seemed to shift, reality bending a little bit as Hakoda led his people in not just revelry but in spiritual communion with the land around them. Katara had to admit, she was proud to see her culture like this, and while her father was a man of progress and change, she loved this side of him.
The group were drinking the beer brought in that night as the dancing and celebration was going on, conversation flowed among Team Avatar. Zuko was surprised to see folks were more into the party than him, which he was grateful for. Aang was just a little drunk, Katara on the other hand became the designated grown-up for the evening watching her friends have fun and join in the celebration. Suki tilted her head to Bato and Hakoda drumming together, if they think folks aren’t looking Bato would steal a kiss, and expertly go back to drumming in sync with the other drummers.
“So. How long has that been a thing?” She thumbed at the men being romantic behind them.
“Oh? Years actually. Bato has always been a fixture in our family since before I was born.” Said Katara, Sokka just came back with more beer and fermented soda drink for Katara.
“What’s going on?” Sokka said plopping on a skin passing out beers to everyone, even Aang who indulged with some level of control, after Kuruk shared a memory of his worse hangover.
“Suki wanted to know how long Bato and dad had been together.” Katara clarified, Sokka popped open his beer and passed the opener to everyone, the tops in a little pile.
“Oh they have been fucking since forever. Spirits, I am sure they shared mom at one point.” Zuko choked on his beer.
“Wait what?” His cheeks were a bit red. Aang hummed appreciatively and took a sip of his.
“Oh this is made with cloudberries! It's so good who brewed this? Also I didn’t know the Watertribe practiced polyamory? I thought only Air Nomads did that.” Sokka did an ‘eeeehh’ motion with his hand, Suki also took a sip of her beer.
“Oh yeah it is good, really bright and sweet.”
“Oh yeah it’s Sivva's, she made this last year and had been saving it for today, anyway, it's complicated. It's not an open thing, and it seems to be strictly among the Southern Tribe, the north doesn’t do this as far as I know.” There were some ‘hmmms’ among the heroes. Zuko took a pull from his beer.
“Monogamy is the norm among the Fire Nation, but folks having multiple committed partners wasn’t rare per se, just deeply underground. I just started peeling back the anti-homosexuality laws that my great grandfather had in place.” Aang gave him a thumbs up, there was a bit of cheek but still genuine.
“Does Malina know?” Asked Suki with her follow up question. Katara sighed and put her soda down. Sokka was getting something from a satchel he had cackling softly.
“Not really, like I think she is in denial and she is from the North so she comes from a more conservative culture, but she seems to ignore them when they share moments of intimacy and pleasure when she seemingly isn’t around.”
“You mean when they fuck?”
“I was being polite Sokka.” Katara said with the roll of her eyes. She saw the bottle and the small soapstone cups.
“How did you sneak in Omashuan whiskey?” Sokka started pouring shots.
“I didn’t sneak it in, I just didn’t tell dad I had booze.” He said
“That’s sneaking it in Sokka.” Aang looked doubtful at his shot.
“Look, I’ll have a beer. Maybe two, but I got a past life that used to drink this like water and I dunno.” Sokka was going to take his shot but Aang stopped him.
“Just one?”
“Just one, I mean, if you want more you can ask but we’re doing one for the Solstice.” Sokka said he raised his shot in a toast,
“To the Southern Watertribe and all night parties!” Suki gave a ‘Hell yeah’ before they all shot the whiskey. Suki smacked her lips surprised.
“Wow, that was smooth, but yeah that’s enough for me I am getting some water.” Aang coughed a little and followed Suki, he didn’t want to relieve Kuruk’s hangovers.
The dark cloaked the tipsy heroes as they rocked to the music drums, flutes and other percussive. Katara was sitting in Aang’s lap as they snuggled, his head resting on her shoulders. Sokka was swaying to the beat, his eyes closed feeling the shared consciousness of his people around him. Suki and Zuko were talking about something. He couldn’t help himself, two beers and a shot in, he grabbed Bato’s drum that was put aside, the older man watched him take it as Sokka started peeling off clothing. Team Avatar already noticed that a bunch of dancers were naked. At first, Aang was surprised, but he got used to it understanding that the fire was really, really hot. The rest of the gang came to that conclusion. Katara on the other hand looked at her brother undressing, putting the clothing on the skins that they were on.
“Sokka, what in Twi’s name are you-spirits Sokka!” She shielded her eyes, Suki and Zuko on the other hand tried to get a good look.
“I gotta get in on this!” He took another quick shot of whiskey before running with the drum to the dance. Tipsy and inspired, he spun in rhythm to the thundering beat. Eyes closed as he found the source of the beat and followed it. His hands glided over the seal skin drum. It was a stronger drink than the whiskey, his breath deep and long as he followed the dancers around the raging fire. He could feel his mind falling apart, not unlike drinking cactus juice. The drumming, now more of an impulse as he let the trance take him. Meanwhile the others watched Sokka take spinning leaps, sweat dripping down his taut muscles, making his brown skin shine in firelight.
“Go! Sokka! Go!” Shouted Aang, smiling wide while Katara rolled her eyes. Suki and Zuko couldn’t help but just…gawk. What was just funny, with Sokka getting naked and running giggling to the circle, became something primordial and sacred. They were watching a warrior’s dance, powerful and wild and oh boy they were feeling things.
“Fuck…” breathed Zuko, taking a slow sip of his beer. Suki gave her agreement,
“Yeah fuck, he’s so hot.” She whispered, Zuko gave a slow nod as Sokka danced, the shadows almost anointing his muscled body in a way that was seductive and alluring. Aang noticed the two, just staring and gave a kiss to Katara’s temple signaling that he wanted up.
“My turn!” Katara got off his lap as Aang got up and started shucking off his robes and clothing a grin on his face as he took off his undergarments.
“Aang!” Katara shouted but as soon as Aang took one more shot of whiskey for courage he ran to the dancers, blue arrows eerily lit by the fire. A few folks muttered in surprise that the Avatar was joining the dance, even Hakoda raised an eyebrow. Aang used a bit of airbending to spin in the air, joining in the shared delirium of the dancers. Fire keepers added more fuel, and Aang added a well timed gust of wind to make the fire leap. The crowd cheered as Aang spun and danced, grey eyes bright with joy as he joined Sokka in the dance sharing the drum. Laughter punctuating the drum beat. Zuko and Suki were still looking at Sokka with hungry eyes and watching Aang dancing with him, but they were definitely focused on the way Sokka bent and moved dancing along with Aang’s carefree joy. Suki got up too, taking off her own clothing.
“Oh not you too Suki,” Katara sighed, but the Kyoshi Warrior grinned, hopping out of her panties throwing them at Zuko with a wink.
“C’mon Zu, dance with us!” She took a heroic shot and laughed as she ran towards the fire, Zuko took one look at Katara and got up himself.
“Can let those idiots have all the fun.” It was then Katara discovered that Lord Zuko was circumcised and she wished she never gained that knowledge. With a sigh Katara got up not to go to dance but rather she joined her father(s), and took Hakoda’s drum. She knew how to drum, every Watertribe kid is taught to hear the mother rhythm and follow it's voice. She closed her eyes and found the beat and followed it, she was getting into it now, her eyes open watching her tribe celebrate as one.
Sokka felt his mind go sloppy, a dancer’s high that was taking over. He was sweaty and deep in a trance, drumming that he didn’t even register Zuko’s nude body against him nor Suki’s.
”Show me how to dance,” His voice rich, dancing alongside Sokka, Suki took his hand from the drum and drummed with him. Sandwiched between them, he had a dopey grin, his eyes turned to the wild dancing Avatar also lost in the sauce, drunk from whiskey and high on life.
“I mean I don’t know how to explain ‘how to dance’, it’s second nature to a Watertribe kid.” Sokka closed his eyes, rocking now instead of dancing. It was a lot for him, the dizzying nature of being deep in a trance state and then having to explain how to get there when he himself didn’t know how he got there himself. “Zuko, have you had any ecstatic dance, uh, like traditions in the Fire Nation?”
“I mean, if we did that knowledge is lost to-wait-the Dancing Dragon can be like that.” Zuko said, thinking about it. Suki rocked with Sokka, seeing him quiet again, she handed him the drum. With practiced ease, Sokka got back into the rhythm.
“It's like your heart is dancing, not your body. Let your soul guide your movements and feel the other people around you. So yeah, I guess the Dancing Dragon is a good base to work from.” A small smile before Sokka picked up the dance again. Suki and Zuko closed their eyes, feeling the beat within and without. For Zuko he focused on his breath, the fire around them flickering in his mind as he slowly fell into that trance state. Suki just let her body go, feeling it rock and stretch like if she was practicing katas or forms. As they moved in a circle, breath, movement and rhythm guiding them, they fell into the same step, a kind of one mind.
Aang rushed back, laughing and grabbed some water to chug down. He did a quick scan and saw Katara next to her father drumming and the smile got wider. Atta girl, get into it! Thought Aang as he took a moment to rest plopping down on the skin, watching Sokka, Suki, Zuko find their gods. Hakoda offered him more water.
“You made quite an impression joining in.”
“It looked so much fun! Reminded me of the dances back in the Air Temples. Not as intense as this, but there would be drummers and dancers from the Eastern Air Temple spinning and whirling, it was so much fun to watch! There was this one drummer, Yomi, oh he can cook up a hell of a beat, he and his girlfriend Nami would spin and twirl and…” Aang stopped and let that memory hang. Hakoda said nothing and looked at his daughter who was at this point also lost in trance.
“Dance for them Avatar. Take their memory, and dance with it.” Hakoda said, putting a hand on his shoulder. Aang was quiet for a second then got up and took a healthy swig of water. He got up again and taking that advice he once again joined the dance. He closed his eyes and thought of their faces, Nami and Yomi, he thought of his old friends from the Southern Air Temple. He thought of Gyatso. This was a long healed scar for him. The Genocide. Like the star-shaped scar on his back, shiny from firelight, it was one he traced his fingers over. He found the rhythm and started adding some dance moves he remembered as a child. He used a bit of airbending to spin in a clockwise circle, he had his right hand up as he spun. Drums in his ears he felt the tug of his past lives. Roku first danced with him, sweeping movements blended with Kyoshi’s rocking stomps. Kuruk danced with him next, more traditional Watertribe steps now, from the North than the South. Yangchen came next, her beautiful graceful steps over took him. Wild and free she was the wind and the vast endless void. It was then Aang’s arrows flashed blue, a few dancers gave the Avatar a wide berth, but it was Hakoda who crossed the threshold to grab Aang in case he went into the Avatar State. Instead the airbender fell onto his knees and sobbed. Hakoda gently picked him up and took him back to the skins and rugs the others were on. Katara took notice and saw that Aang was sobbing.
“Sweetie what happened!?” She gave Hakoda the drum as she rubbed Aang's shoulders and grabbed some water.
“I..I danced for them. I danced for my people, and I guess I picked at scab.” Hakoda felt a small prick of guilt, but saw the smile on Aang’s face through the tears. “It felt good though, for a while when I felt my other lifetimes, I felt them with me. It was nice.” He snuggled into Katara as they rocked together her voice against his neck.
“I felt mom when I drummed, I get it. Sometimes our loved ones speak through us when we dance or drum, it gets intense you know?”
“Yeah, I don’t regret it at all, this is incredible.” Hakoda took his leave letting his daughter take care of his future-son-in-law.
“Hey, where are three idiots?” She said looking around the sea of naked bodies.
The three were making out by a sand dune a distance from the party. They snagged some skins from the circle, water and a lamp light. Suki crushed her lips with Sokka first hands over his sweat slick body. Then Zuko, pulling on his wolf tail, his tongue playing with Sokka’s while Suki rubbed her hands all over his body. The men’s erections were full and hard as Suki marveled at the boys making out under the ripe moon, the party making music in the distance.
“Spirits, this is so hot. I wanted you to fuck me the moment you started getting into the dance.” Suki said, now playing with her folds. Zuko chimed in stroking his cock.
“Same, you’re so fucking sexy when you’re dancing, being part of the circle. It’s amazing.”
“Guys, guys, I can only get so erect,” he teased, he let out a breathy moan when he felt Suki get between them and started stroking him off. “Okay, how-ah-do we want to do this?” He asked, Zuko now nipping at his neck, his fingernails going down his chest, lust thick among them.
“Let me ride your lap Sokka, and Zuko I can blow you.” The boys nodded in agreement, adjusting themselves to allow Suki,covered in moonlight, to settle on Sokka. He hitched his breath, feeling her wetness over the head of his cock, Zuko standing up pumping himself, his spirit still tied to the ecstacy of the dance a distance away. Suki lowered herself down, making eye contact with Sokka, her lips teasing him. Every time she adjusts or moves down a little more, Sokka gives little shivers and moans against her neck.
“Fuck, Sokka you’re so good.” She said, slowly bouncing on his cock, Sokka could only groan in response. Before Suki took Zuko in her mouth, Sokka stole her chance and started to blow him first. Zuko let out a moan, taking a slow breath, his fingers deep in his hair. A slow rhythm was being built up, Sokka rubbing at Suki’s hard clit getting her to clench and tighten up followed with his own bobs on Zuko’s cock. The look of love and adoration from Sokka, in his eyes, was driving Zuko to the edge. Suki found this extremely hot, her orgasm was coming at a break neck pace. She was eagerly bouncing at this point, Sokka could feel his own approaching. Zuko came first, knotting his fist in Sokka’s hair before pouring his load in Sokka’s mouth, Suki came next, her moans loud and needy. Sokka’s heart was racing when his own orgasm came last, he held onto Suki spilling words of love against her neck, it was suddenly intense and heavy, making tears spill from his in overwhelm. Suki dismounted, cupping Sokka’s face, kissing him before Zuko took his turn. Kisses and adoration were shared as they fell onto the skins, lulled by the rush of waves and the sound of waves. Hakoda would eventually find them, wrapped in each other’s arms, he draped a woolen blanket over their bodies, he didn’t linger, but left the three alone. Everyone dances in their own way, this was theirs.
END