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[abitofawildman]

The weather is beautiful today. The sun is shining, the clouds are bright puffy white, and the waters of Yue Bay are nearly still. A beautiful day.

A great day for flying, his father would say.
Then, as if on cue, his mother would retort, You think everyday is a great day for flying.
Everyday IS a great day for flying, ... but especially today.

"Especially today," Bumi murmurs to himself as the memory of his father's laughter replays in his mind. The sound of the ceremonial horns bring him back to the here and now. Back to the assembled crowd that's come to bear witness and pay respect on this the fourth anniversary of the Avatar's passing. Back to watching his little brother hold court over the culture their father left in his care.

Comments

[spiralmovements]

They play the game for several more hours, and the only person that moves around the room is Jin, keeping the drinks going (and some dumplings and tea at some point for Tenzin).

One of the men from earlier walks past Bumi and Tenzin's table even though it is nowhere near the exit and leaves his lotus tile on the edge.

"Have a good rest o' your evenin', sirs."

[abitofawildman]

Bumi looks at the tile, and is instantly reminded of his outbursts from earlier in the day. His head lowers like that of a child realizing he's done wrong.

"Thank you, to you as well."

[spiralmovements]

Tenzin just looks up and smiles at the man briefly.

Before winning the game.

"Hmmph." Mildly smug.

[abitofawildman]

Again. He's won...again. Bumi is shaking his head in disbelief as he cranes his neck to try and see the table from Tenzin's point of view. As if somehow their respective positions at the table have given his younger brother some sort of advantage.

"Maybe you should have gone into the military," he mutters. "I didn't even see that coming."

[spiralmovements]

Tenzin is already shaking his head at that idea.

"I'd never be able to do what one must in the military."

[abitofawildman]

"Here's to hoping we never have to find out either way," he picks up his glass again and drinks to his brother's pacifism.

Because if it ever came to that, it'd mean that Bumi had failed to protect Tenzin as he always promised he would.

[spiralmovements]

It is when Jin starts to set out tealights that Tenzin comes back to himself.

"It's getting late."

And there are Duties.

[abitofawildman]

"It is at that," he says with a sigh. Bumi slaps his hands down on the table as he rises to his feet. "And if I don't get you back home by nightfall, Koh will come and take you away."

Bumi reaches into his change purse again and peels off a couple more bills, which he throws down on the table.

[spiralmovements]

Tenzin puts his hat back on and starts making his way out towards the main room, Jin, and the exit to the street.

"You comin' back?" Jin asks.

"...Probably." It's the best Tenzin knows how to offer, and it's a lot more than what he would have started with a few hours earlier.

Out in the street, Tenzin knocks awkwardly into Bumi's shoulder. Thank you, he thinks.

[abitofawildman]

Bumi takes a step forward to compensate, but grins like mad when he sees his brother's face. He reaches up as if to touch his brother's face, but instead flicks him in the forehead, much the same way he used to when they were both smaller.

No, thank you.

"Come on, I've got one last job for you before get you home."

[spiralmovements]

"A last job?"

There was a first one?

But at least he's far less nervous than he was about the potential for ladies.

[abitofawildman]

Of course there was a first one! This whole day has been one job after another, and Tenzin has done wonderfully at every task set before him.

The way back to the boat is quick, as Bumi is moving with purpose...and it's far easier to remember where the water is, than some watering hole you haven't been to in years in a city you no longer live in.

Bumi hands the dock boy a Yuan in thanks for keeping an eye on his craft, and then jumps down from the dock into the boat.

[spiralmovements]

Tenzin bends himself into the boat; if anyone notices him, they're leaving shore anyway.

"Will you leave me in suspense?"

[abitofawildman]

"For as long as possible," he says with a grin, though...it's far less animated than his usual fare.

The motor sputters to life, the boy on the dock tosses the line, and they're off. The sun is creeping towards the horizon, and so there's no time for the usual meander. Bumi is all business.

"You should change. I don't want the acolytes tossing turnips at me when I return you without your robes."

[spiralmovements]

"...Alright."

His robes are quite comfortable, and Tenzin settles back into them like a second skin.

"I thought you had something for me to do before returning to the island."

[abitofawildman]

"I do," he says never taking his eyes off the horizon.

"There's another box in the locker where your tarts were. Take it with you."

[spiralmovements]

Tenzin, while he may not really enjoy being a political figure? At the very least can read body language.

So he doesn't question.

"Will instruction be inside the box as well?"

[abitofawildman]

His shoulders move with the effort of a single laugh, but the sound of that laugh never escapes his lips.

"I'm pretty sure you'll figure it out. It's right in your gearhouse."

[spiralmovements]

Tenzin's gearhouse is -- airbending. Religion.

Religion.

"...Okay."

[abitofawildman]

He slows them down a bit, enough to make moving in the small boat less problematic.

"Take the helm for me? I'd like to get changed."

[spiralmovements]

Wait! Tenzin can do this one!

"It's going to take more than a short boat ride for that."

Burn.

[abitofawildman]

Bumi, who was preparing to stand and swap spots with his brother...stops and very slowly looks up at him. Almost confused at first, but then realization dawns.

He's just been burned by the holy man of Republic City.

And burned badly.

"You're proud of yourself, aren't you."

[spiralmovements]

"You have no idea."

But he's just sitting here, navigating home.

Serenely.

[abitofawildman]

"Well good. That...that was well done," he says with his smile returning. "Well done."

When he pulls his shirt over his head his undershirt lifts as well, revealing his own tattoo: A combination of Water Tribe and Air Nomad symbolism that covers his entire back.

"But be forewarned, my retribution will be swift and unrelenting," he says as he begins to laugh.

[spiralmovements]

"I would expect nothing less."

Pulling up to the western docks of Air Temple Island is a quiet affair. The acolyte that is welcoming visitors for the evening asks no questions at the unannounced arrival (by boat no less!) of the Airbending master and his unique brother.

Tenzin keeps the second box from Bumi under one arm. "Is Chief Bei Fong here yet?" The acolyte shakes his head 'no'.