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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]

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'.

[abitofawildman]

Commander Bumi is just clasping the last buttons of his overcoat when they pull up to the dock, so that when he stands he is surprisingly...regimental. Well, save for his hair, which just barely toes the regulation.

"Oh well that's a shame, guess that means no hug for me tonight. Unless..." and that's about the time Bumi cranes his neck in the direction of the Women's Dormitory with a rather shameless grin upon his face.

[spiralmovements]

The acolyte just looks back to Master Tenzin for translation, which Tenzin ignores.

"We can visit." To the young man in front of them: "Thank you for your help; that will be all." They both bow, and the acolyte returns to his post.

Tenzin leads Bumi away from the dock, but not explicitly away from the dormitories yet. "Should I put this away before we traipse all over the island?"

[abitofawildman]

It's Bumi's turn to follow in his brother's wake, and he does so as if marching in a procession. This is a biproduct of being in his dress uniform more than anything else.

He'd almost forgotten about the box, and is momentarily confused when Tenzin mentions it.

Bumi stops and turns toward the sun, watching it dip further into the horizon.

"Sooner rather than later, would be best. Though...you're the expert."

[spiralmovements]

"No, we can...now is good."

Even though Air Temple Island does not lack for modern buildings and the like, there is always an effort to maintain the natural foundations of the land. As such, the outcroppings of rock that face the shoreline have been converted into minimalistic shrines, with only the addition of tokens left by the worshipers there.

Tenzin is more distracted than usual, apparently - he doesn't notice that the female acolyte already kneeling at the alcove is Pema until she looks up at Tenzin and Bumi in surprise.

[abitofawildman]

It's quite possibly that Bumi is alone in this, but he actually relaxes at the sight of the familiar face.

There is silence, which Bumi has no problem breaking.

"Sister Pema, it is a joy to see you. It's been far too long."

He lets the silence dip again...until surely no one is comfortable, and forces Pema to speak.

"Yes, yes it has surely been too long," she says coming out of her shock, she then bows respectfully to Tenzin.

[spiralmovements]

Training overrides confusion, and Tenzin bows back.

"We apologize for disturbing you, Pema."

"Don't worry about it, T-Master Tenzin!" Pema offers back. "I can leave -- "

"No, no, that's not necessary."

Uh.

Tenzin looks at Bumi. Is it?

[abitofawildman]

Bumi's doing it again. Searching his brother's face much the same way he did the Pai Sho board, looking for weaknesses in Tenzin's defense.

There is something there. And he will get it out of Tenzin at some point, but...now is hardly the time.

"Completely unnecessary. This old sinner can use all the help he can get, and you're just the cavalry I didn't know I needed."

[spiralmovements]

Pema looks to Tenzin in confusion; Tenzin just shakes his head and goes to sit and finally look in the box.

"...You collected all this."

There's another tart there, maybe from the same batch that Tenzin's gift came from earlier in the afternoon. But alongside - a glass vial of clear water, another of dark ash, clay-dirt wrapped in cheesecloth, and several sticks of incense.

"Bumi."

[abitofawildman]

"I get around," he says simply as he brushes non-existent wrinkles from his uniform.

It's been said that bending is the result of a strong connection to the Spirit World, and that this is why the Avatar is the most powerful of benders. For his link to the Spirit World is the strongest, the most direct.

Non-benders have little to no link to this other world, and this is why Bumi turns to his little brother for help. To send a message of love to his father who now resides in a world he can't contact, and won't see until the end of his days.

[spiralmovements]

And there is nothing more to say at that point, is there?

Tenzin sets himself in front of the altar, setting the elements out in front of him.

Whispering, "Pema, we are...you don't have to stay. But you can."

[abitofawildman]

Pema looks from Tenzin to Bumi.

The older man, having made the appropriate adjustments to his uniform, is now standing at attention with his eyes focused on the middle-ground.

She says nothing, but bows to the altar and settles into what would be her proper place during such a ritual.

[spiralmovements]

Prayer does not have to take a long time. Prayer does not have to be complicated.

Especially for something like this.

Tenzin falls into a focused meditative pose, maintaining a light smile on his face. (That's important here.)





The offerings start to tremble of their own accord and Tenzin holds out a palm that pieces of each offering bend into a cloud above his fingers.

When they start to turn, it looks very much like Avatar Aang's very favorite marble trick.

[abitofawildman]

When it's clear to Bumi that no one will be looking in his direction, he let's his view shift from nowhere, to Tenzin's hands.

Of course.

There isn't a whole lot of family resemblance between the sons of Aang and Katara, but if someone were to take a picture of the two of them at this moment, that same light smile would be found on both.

[spiralmovements]

Pema is not a bender, but she is an Air Acolyte - one of the most talented on the island. Tenzin uses the rhythm she sets with her breathing.

The gentlest of metronomes.

The circle above Tenzin's palm slows eventually to floating. Tenzin's eyes open.

And then the offerings (except for the tart) fly up into the air when Tenzin bends them. Bringing his hands back down, Tenzin touches his forehead to the ground in front of the altar.

Hi Dad.

[abitofawildman]

Bumi's posture straightens, his shoulder's go back, and he salutes just as the sun completely disappears from view.

[spiralmovements]

Tenzin stands, turning to help Pema stand from her position.

"Thank you."

Pema looks up to Tenzin. Even not understanding all of the context, "Certainly. I am glad I could help."

[abitofawildman]

Interesting. Very interesting.

"So," Bumi says shattering the moment. He's already unbuttoning his jacket and loosening his scarf. "What time to you all eat dinner again? And what are the chances of there being actual food this time?"

And not say, what food eats.

With filial obligations fulfilled, Bumi's shamelessness appears to have returned...in full force.

[spiralmovements]

"I am sure we could get you something more preferable to you on such an important day, Commander," Pema smiles at him. "If -- If you and Master Tenzin do not have plans?"