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[abitofawildman]

It doesn't matter that the leave is much deserved, or far too long in coming, he still feels horrid for taking it. His place was with his men, and so he was less than pleased to be ordered to take R&R after returning from his funerary tour.

Who could kick back and relax after that?
Who would want to?

A United Forces meant that there was a whole lot more travel involved when it came to visiting the grieving. He'd stopped in to see Kya during the Norther Tribe leg of his journey, and his mother as they passed the Southern Tribe. Bumi was ever careful to steer as clear of the White Lotus Compound as possible. His Uncle Zuko suggested Ember Island as a place to spend his leave, but Bumi knew there was only one place he could go.

He arrived in Republic City with absolutely no fanfare, and remained at the bar for the entirety of the ferry trip across Yue Bay. The last thing he needed was to see that statue right now.

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[abitofawildman]

While it doesn't take forever there is the distinct feeling that he's dragging his feet in his preparations for the day. Eventually though, he emerges from his room as presentable as possible while still wearing civilian attire.

He even combed his hair, though one would be hard pressed to see any difference give the sheer number of cowlicks Bumi has.

"Shall we take a turn about the room?"

[spiralmovements]

"We are heading to the gardens."

There are work gloves tucked into the waistband of Tenzin's pants.

[abitofawildman]

"Are the plants even awake yet?"

Because SERIOUSLY, Tenzin. It's early.

[spiralmovements]

"I thought you'd appreciate exerting some effort for your breakfast."

Your nice, vegetarian breakfast.

"A workout with a productive outcome. You should be thrilled."

[abitofawildman]

"I fail to see how hitting people who deserve to be hit is somehow lacking in productivity," he counters.

[spiralmovements]

"Your hands don't hurt after gardening?" Tenzin hazards weakly before straightening. "Come on."

The walk towards the southern gardens is quiet with a few acolytes bowing as they passed.

Trying to sound cheerful so his brother doesn't attack him, "We're pulling potatoes this morning."

[abitofawildman]

"Of course we are," he says with a sigh. "You know, for something that isn't supposed to leave our hands hurting, I can't help but notice that you have gloves."

This doesn't mean that Bumi isn't already planning his attack on a particular quadrant of the garden...because he totally is.

[spiralmovements]

"There are spares in the shed. Take these that I have; the crates for what you pull are on the other side of the gate."

Tenzin walks off then to get the spare gloves and a couple of hand trowels in case they need them. (He can't imagine they will, but maybe someone else will stop by later.)

[abitofawildman]

When Tenzin returns from the shed he'll find all of the crates placed strategically about the garden, and Bumi hard at work removing the potatoes from the ground.

"I'm sorry. I know it's early. I assure you that this was not my idea," he says presumably to the potatoes.

[spiralmovements]

"I'll have you know they are in complete agreement that an early rise in the day is a high virtue."

Tenzin starts immediately to work, in the dirt and plants and caring very little for grime on his robes. It's quiet here and his brother's to his right.

He works for about forty-five minutes before bending a potato to float in the air near Bumi's head for no reason.

[abitofawildman]

"That's probably because they're resigned to their fate at the hands of your cooks," he mutters. Bumi's lack of respect for the AirTemple's kitchen staff is legendary.

One of the advantages of having quite so much facial hair is that it makes one sensitive to which way the wind is blowing. An important thing when one has an Airbender for a little brother.

As luck would have it, Bumi just happens to find a lizard-worm in his section of garden. He holds the creature carefully...and waits.

[spiralmovements]

The potato doesn't get launched at Bumi's head. Launched implies more velocity than it has.

It may get dropped onto his shoulderblade though. Just a little.

[abitofawildman]

A little is all Bumi needs for the justification of a swift retaliation. He grabs a clump of newly picked plants that still heavy with soil, and throws them at his Brother's head.

It's a distraction though, because when the plants are halfway through their arc, he's moving. There's a lizard-worm that is destined to go down Tenzin's robe...

[spiralmovements]

The plants are easy enough to bend to a halt, dropping to the ground with heavy thumping noises.

The problem here is that airbending forms tend to require standing in one position for just long enough for your brother to disappear behind you, and that always is cause to make Tenzin nervous. He breaks form and spins, not seeing the lizard-worm in Bumi's hands until he feels the neck of his robe yanked forward to make an opening -

Tenzin jabs a hand upward to knock Bumi's arm to one side while trying to move backwards at the same time to put some distance in between the lizard-worm and himself.

[abitofawildman]

Bumi may not be a bender, but that doesn't mean he didn't spend time learning the forms of one. Both water and air. That move backwards is going to be difficult with Bumi's leg in the way.

Oh and the added shoulder check.

[spiralmovements]

"Bumi -- " Tenzin rolls backward once he connects with his brother at leg and shoulder, bending himself back to upright with a laugh. "Cheat."

[abitofawildman]

"More? Okay, but remember you asked for it."

[spiralmovements]

"Asked for what?" a woman asks behind them both, smile in her voice.

"...Pema! We have been beset by pirates," Tenzin explains, pointing at Bumi.

[abitofawildman]

Bumi bends to pick up a clod of dirt, while stealthily pocketing the worm.

"Pirates who cheat," he says...after he throws the plant at his brother's head. Hey, you can't look a gift distraction in the mouth.

"He started it."

[spiralmovements]

Pema just laughs at the both of them, grown men covered in earth and making a mess of everything.

"It's good to see you, Bumi," she offers instead, walking into the garden to hug Tenzin's brother despite getting the dirt on her robes as well. "Have you come to stay awhile."

[abitofawildman]

"Until my administrative leave ends, or until I'm exiled from the paradise that is Airtemple Island. Which ever comes first," he says with a rather shameless grin. Bumi returns Pema's hug, going so far as to lift her up midway through.

"Has Master Stuffy-britches over there been treating you well?"

[spiralmovements]

"Oh don't worry about him. His britches are not nearly as stuffy as you make them out to be."

"Pema!"

[abitofawildman]

Bumi laughs, and then plants a rather large kiss in Pema's cheek.

"I knew I liked you for a reason," he says as he lowers her back to her feet.

[spiralmovements]

"I give up."

"Oh, no you don't. Not when we have a wedding to plan."

Uh.

Tenzin looks very quickly between Pema and Bumi and back again.

[abitofawildman]

A wedding? Did she just say...a wedding?

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that, my dear? Because for a second there it sounded almost like you said a wedding, and...well...there's no way my baby brother of all people, stickler for tradition and all things proper, would omit sharing that news with his family. Right, brother dear."

Bumi grins his most manic grin.