[ If he were to be honest he would admit that he wasn't exactly unused to waking up without much idea of how he had gotten somewhere. A life with little sleep, much meditation and children trotting around had made remembering his own name a little difficult first thing in the morning, at least until he was properly awake and forced himself to be prepared for the day. Having spirits around, even if they called themselves fae, wasn't going to do anything to help the situation; it was one where all Tenzin could do was try to embrace his 'vacation self' and be a little less responsible.
Hah.
He moves through the small forest he'd awoken in, using his airbending to nudge tree branches and leaves from his way, following the light, tinkling laughter of the creatures that walk in front of him. It reminds him a lot of the Spirit World, which is become a comfort and a little distracting; after so many years of wandering, meditating, learning and practising, he can still only find his way in his sleep? He'd be bitter if he weren't more... Well, peaceful. And mature.
Definitely mature.
They lead him out to silence and he looks around with wide, wondersome eyes before he moves through, his cloak fluttering behind him in the breeze and his expression softening. The sky is warm and bright above him, nothing like what he's used to, and soon the little creatures stop and tug on his robes, pulling him forward. He scoffs, throws them a dirty look, before he smooths the orange fabric down and keep going. he knew spirits could be rude sometimes but even this was, frankly, ridiculous --
and then his thoughts are derailed when he sees a bison. A flying bison that he recognises, but not because it's his own best friend. He walks forward, eyes wide, and decides that this has to be a dream. There's no way it would make sense otherwise as he reaches out with a shaky hand. ]
Appa?
[ And, before he can even say the word, he's attacked by a flying bison.
Great. ]
Edited (dadzin can't html he can only airtml) 2014-10-08 21:27 (UTC)
[ something about today told korra to be out, go explore, take appa and just see what happens. she hasn't been this struck by a feeling of destiny since she ran her way to republic city after tenzin left the compound. yet, something in the world was calling her forward — so, leaving a note for mako and bolin when they woke up, korra answered.
even losing her sky bison wasn't enough to deter her from trying to find what was calling out to her. it was a distraction more than anything else, but from behind appa's giant frame comes korra, pushing aside her own leaves and bushes as she makes her way through the barely-trodden path in the woods. roots stick out everywhere threatening to trip her up but even if she loses her balance she can use her airbending to pick herself back up, right her frame, keep from hitting the ground and making an idiot of herself. gentle breezes rustle the canopy above her and for the first time since arriving to this place she feels an utter sense of peace wash over her. it's alien and it's new and it's nothing like korra's really felt before but out of nowhere her heart rate calms and she feels herself smile in spite of the situation. ]
Appa! [ her voice calls out into the woods and branches as she gracefully makes her way through. ] C'mon boy, I can't get back to the castle without you! I've got some juicy apples for you if—
[ and her steps come to a halt when she spots a familiar set of orange and yellow robes, and that sense of overwhelming peace bolts right out of her like a fleeing deer to be replaced by adrenaline, hope, and surprise. ]
[ It takes him a moment to break himself out of the reverie of being mauled by his father's bison; it's been a long time since he was smothered by Appa rather than Oogi and he's laughing, reaching around to pat at his old friend's jaw with a tender hand. He knows that this has to be the spirit world now, nothing else makes sense, because Appa went with his father when Aang had died. It brings up a swelling emotion that clogs his throat. He knows he'll never see his father again, not with the connections broken, but seeing Appa warms him from the inside out.
The voice breaks him out of his catchup and he moves, shifting out as much as he can from under the weight of his old friend's searching tongue. Of course the voice is familiar and he pats at the bison's head before he slides out and struggles free, chuckling even as he goes and moving to stand, brushing the stray fur from his robes and adjusting his collar a little. It's far too easy to turn back to Korra and even if it's a shock to see her here the knowledge that he's not alone uplifts him. ]
And why, exactly, have you been at a castle, Korra?
[ He can't help the stern expression, eyebrow quirking as his arms cross over his chest. ]
[ there's a kick in her gut that screams this is impossible even though korra knows that anything in the drabwurld that can happen often does happen, and that leaves her rooted to the spot as her heart starts to race. from her hips down she can't stop shaking, like her knees are about to give out, and despite the fact that she can't relax her fists her entire body feels like jelly.
tenzin is the last person she ever expected to see here and korra had convinced herself that he was the last person she ever wanted to deal with here but she knew, deep down, that it was only because she knew she'd be nothing but a disappointment to sifu tenzin. he's not the only one getting choked up because immediately upon hearing that question everything about the past several months wells up inside of her, weighing heavy on her chest like an elephant-rhino, threatening to suffocate her under the realization and knowledge that she can finally talk to the one person she could always trust with the things that frightened her, her previous spiritual advisor who has seen the worst of people and knows the world better than his daughter should at her young age. something hot bites at the back of korra's eyes: regret, fear, disappointment in herself knowing she should have done better, the deep scar that lost honor can leave in a person. korra's always been a person in conversation with her emotions and now is absolutely no different. there's only the slightest bit of hesitation, long enough for tenzin to remark and brush off his robes, before korra stumbles forward to him, letting her tears mark her face like a scar. ]
I thought I'd never see you again! [ it all comes out in a rush, words pushing up through her throat, words she never considered or even felt until right now and it hurts and she hates being so weak but she knows tenzin won't judge her for anything of this nature and she has to be absolved of this. she has to have someone tell her it's okay to forgive herself so she can learn from her mistakes and move on instead of constantly fighting it off in the middle of the night, throwing punches at phantom creatures so she can finally get a good night's rest.
korra slams into tenzin and is only half aware of the way her feet leave the ground for a second; her strong fingers twist and grab at tenzin's robes as her body sinks down onto the duff beneath her. ] I've been so lost without you, I don't know what to do...!
[ jinora, as always, was a beacon of much-needed light in korra's life, but there are things korra's done in this world that she doesn't want jinora to yet find out. it would break korra's heart if jinora gave up on her like she fears everyone else will. ]
[After all that Tenzin's done to help her, Korra feels...excited knowing that maybe she can actually repay him for all of it with this one idea. After barely sitting still during breakfast with the others, Korra seizes Tenzin once everyone else starts wandering off and pulls him toward a more secluded area of the air ship.]
So...I had this idea...
[Just because she's excited doesn't mean she isn't nervous about proposing it, of course. Especially when she doesn't know if it'll work, and she might just disappoint Tenzin all over again. But it's worth a shot, in her opinion.]
You know how Jinora helped guide me into the Spirit World? I've been practicing a lot and...I think I can do that for you now. M-maybe. If you want to try...? I know that you've always wanted to be able to get there through meditation, not just by entering the portals.
[Korra's voice gets more and more uncertain as she rambles on, looking at him hopefully.]
[ Tenzin isn't an idiot; he knows when Korra is bursting with energy and a secret and he's just waiting for the time bomb to go off. She's practically rocking on her heels and he bites back his sighs as he walks through and follows her to a quieter part of the ship. ]
Should I be worried?
[ He raises an eyebrow, but lets her speak. When she goes he feels something in his throat tighten and he has to swallow back the whirlpool of his emotions; mostly because he has no idea how to handle the idea of finally being able to breach that part of himself that he had never been able to access before. The last part of the connection that'll link him to his father. ]
I... Korra... [ He hesitates before he reaches out and places a hand on her shoulder. ] You don't have to do this.
What you said to me during Harmonic Convergence...it helped. A...a lot. You're always helping me somehow, when I'm not feeling confident about myself. And I remembered how disappointed you were when Jinora helped me instead.
[She smiles, waiting for him to decide.] Let me do this for you.
[ He ducks his head, a little pinked by her attention and the understanding she has. True, he had always dreamed of being the person to guide the new Avatar through to the Spirit World - he had been training for it his entire life. He had studied and read every text, heard all the stories - everything. And it had come to nothing.
He looks over at Korra and smiles, softly, before he nods. ]
I would like that. If you think you have a way to do it then, please, let's try it.
[Though Jinora's always liked some peace and quiet for her meditation, it's unusual for her to be this quiet and withdrawn when she's surrounded by her family and friends.
It isn't until later, when she and Tenzin are alone in the library, that Jinora finally speaks up.]
Dad...? Do I really look that much like grandpa?
[She hadn't noticed the stares and comments at first, but they'd gotten hard to miss the more she went out into the city after the ceremony.]
[ Pride doesn't mean that Tenzin is blind to the fact that Jinora has been far quieter than usual; even though Ikki and Meelo are often more boisterous than her at times he hadn't quite expected her to be so soft-spoken on a day that was all for her.
Turning, he frowns and puts his book back, going to her side and kneeling down. ]
A little. But that makes sense, you're his family.
This open area in the Southern Air Temple has an almost unearthly golden glow surrounding it. And it hasn't seemed this lively in years, not since the time of the original airbenders. Right now, there's a group of child air nomads, zipping around on air scooters and having a blast.
There's one twelve-year old monk who sticks out. One with arrows. In fact, he notices the dreamer, even if it isn't clear if he recognizes him. And his air scooter slowly hovers towards the older monk, with a carefree smile on his face.]
[ As an airbender Tenzin is, at least more than others, used to strange dreams. Ever since Korra broke the separation of the spirits and the humans it's become something of a collatoral norm for him; he delves into vivid dreams that feel like all kinds of realities. He enjoys it, for the most part, except when he has dreams that shake him to the core. Dreams a little like this, actually.
The Temple is alive with the sound of airbenders and the whoosh of bending and it takes him a moment to simply bask in it. It feels incredible, like coming home, and he wonders if this is what his dad had always meant when he said he dreamed of the rebirth of the Air Nomads - this kind of buzzing, electric feeling of coming home. When he lets his eyes flicker over the children, reminding him so much of his own, his voice catches - because he recognises one, more than he can voice. Dad. ]
Da --- aang. Dang. [ He coughs, fist in front of his mouth to catch it before he tugs on his beard awkwardly. He's trying to hold in his shock but -- well. He's not doing a very good job. ] Dang, I'd love to but I'm afraid I don't know the rules.
[The sounds of wind chime softly echo throughout the area, despite none being hung nearby. The monk remains perched on his swirling ball of air as if it's his natural position.
Aang looks on expectantly as Tenzin speaks, and then he responds with a childish laugh.]
That's no problem, silly! I'll teach you. Do you know how to make an air scooter?
[ He moves and twists his arms, making the ball of air under him - just like his dad had taught him. Normally his personal 'scooter' is a little more... Surrounding than this, but he can manage for now. It's a dream right now, after all. ]
Now in this game, one person gets to be 'it' and has to try tag someone else, then whoever gets tagged becomes it next! And we all use our air scooters to move around. Do you get that?
[ This game is something that his father had passed on to him, in a way, seeing as they were the only two that could ever play it, and that he had passed down to his three children. He knew the rules but played the dumb uncle instead, nodding and balancing himself on his air. ]
[ -- And he shouldn't have expected anything else. Tenzin bites back his chuckle, shaking his head, before he leaps himself up to settle properly on his air scooter. He smiles, bowing his head with a soft expression, before he chases after Aang. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
Hah.
He moves through the small forest he'd awoken in, using his airbending to nudge tree branches and leaves from his way, following the light, tinkling laughter of the creatures that walk in front of him. It reminds him a lot of the Spirit World, which is become a comfort and a little distracting; after so many years of wandering, meditating, learning and practising, he can still only find his way in his sleep? He'd be bitter if he weren't more... Well, peaceful. And mature.
Definitely mature.
They lead him out to silence and he looks around with wide, wondersome eyes before he moves through, his cloak fluttering behind him in the breeze and his expression softening. The sky is warm and bright above him, nothing like what he's used to, and soon the little creatures stop and tug on his robes, pulling him forward. He scoffs, throws them a dirty look, before he smooths the orange fabric down and keep going. he knew spirits could be rude sometimes but even this was, frankly, ridiculous --
and then his thoughts are derailed when he sees a bison. A flying bison that he recognises, but not because it's his own best friend. He walks forward, eyes wide, and decides that this has to be a dream. There's no way it would make sense otherwise as he reaches out with a shaky hand. ]
Appa?
[ And, before he can even say the word, he's attacked by a flying bison.
Great. ]
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even losing her sky bison wasn't enough to deter her from trying to find what was calling out to her. it was a distraction more than anything else, but from behind appa's giant frame comes korra, pushing aside her own leaves and bushes as she makes her way through the barely-trodden path in the woods. roots stick out everywhere threatening to trip her up but even if she loses her balance she can use her airbending to pick herself back up, right her frame, keep from hitting the ground and making an idiot of herself. gentle breezes rustle the canopy above her and for the first time since arriving to this place she feels an utter sense of peace wash over her. it's alien and it's new and it's nothing like korra's really felt before but out of nowhere her heart rate calms and she feels herself smile in spite of the situation. ]
Appa! [ her voice calls out into the woods and branches as she gracefully makes her way through. ] C'mon boy, I can't get back to the castle without you! I've got some juicy apples for you if—
[ and her steps come to a halt when she spots a familiar set of orange and yellow robes, and that sense of overwhelming peace bolts right out of her like a fleeing deer to be replaced by adrenaline, hope, and surprise. ]
...Tenzin...?
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The voice breaks him out of his catchup and he moves, shifting out as much as he can from under the weight of his old friend's searching tongue. Of course the voice is familiar and he pats at the bison's head before he slides out and struggles free, chuckling even as he goes and moving to stand, brushing the stray fur from his robes and adjusting his collar a little. It's far too easy to turn back to Korra and even if it's a shock to see her here the knowledge that he's not alone uplifts him. ]
And why, exactly, have you been at a castle, Korra?
[ He can't help the stern expression, eyebrow quirking as his arms cross over his chest. ]
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tenzin is the last person she ever expected to see here and korra had convinced herself that he was the last person she ever wanted to deal with here but she knew, deep down, that it was only because she knew she'd be nothing but a disappointment to sifu tenzin. he's not the only one getting choked up because immediately upon hearing that question everything about the past several months wells up inside of her, weighing heavy on her chest like an elephant-rhino, threatening to suffocate her under the realization and knowledge that she can finally talk to the one person she could always trust with the things that frightened her, her previous spiritual advisor who has seen the worst of people and knows the world better than his daughter should at her young age. something hot bites at the back of korra's eyes: regret, fear, disappointment in herself knowing she should have done better, the deep scar that lost honor can leave in a person. korra's always been a person in conversation with her emotions and now is absolutely no different. there's only the slightest bit of hesitation, long enough for tenzin to remark and brush off his robes, before korra stumbles forward to him, letting her tears mark her face like a scar. ]
I thought I'd never see you again! [ it all comes out in a rush, words pushing up through her throat, words she never considered or even felt until right now and it hurts and she hates being so weak but she knows tenzin won't judge her for anything of this nature and she has to be absolved of this. she has to have someone tell her it's okay to forgive herself so she can learn from her mistakes and move on instead of constantly fighting it off in the middle of the night, throwing punches at phantom creatures so she can finally get a good night's rest.
korra slams into tenzin and is only half aware of the way her feet leave the ground for a second; her strong fingers twist and grab at tenzin's robes as her body sinks down onto the duff beneath her. ] I've been so lost without you, I don't know what to do...!
[ jinora, as always, was a beacon of much-needed light in korra's life, but there are things korra's done in this world that she doesn't want jinora to yet find out. it would break korra's heart if jinora gave up on her like she fears everyone else will. ]
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Sometime in book 3
[After all that Tenzin's done to help her, Korra feels...excited knowing that maybe she can actually repay him for all of it with this one idea. After barely sitting still during breakfast with the others, Korra seizes Tenzin once everyone else starts wandering off and pulls him toward a more secluded area of the air ship.]
So...I had this idea...
[Just because she's excited doesn't mean she isn't nervous about proposing it, of course. Especially when she doesn't know if it'll work, and she might just disappoint Tenzin all over again. But it's worth a shot, in her opinion.]
You know how Jinora helped guide me into the Spirit World? I've been practicing a lot and...I think I can do that for you now. M-maybe. If you want to try...? I know that you've always wanted to be able to get there through meditation, not just by entering the portals.
[Korra's voice gets more and more uncertain as she rambles on, looking at him hopefully.]
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Should I be worried?
[ He raises an eyebrow, but lets her speak. When she goes he feels something in his throat tighten and he has to swallow back the whirlpool of his emotions; mostly because he has no idea how to handle the idea of finally being able to breach that part of himself that he had never been able to access before. The last part of the connection that'll link him to his father. ]
I... Korra... [ He hesitates before he reaches out and places a hand on her shoulder. ] You don't have to do this.
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What you said to me during Harmonic Convergence...it helped. A...a lot. You're always helping me somehow, when I'm not feeling confident about myself. And I remembered how disappointed you were when Jinora helped me instead.
[She smiles, waiting for him to decide.] Let me do this for you.
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He looks over at Korra and smiles, softly, before he nods. ]
I would like that. If you think you have a way to do it then, please, let's try it.
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Great! Let’s get started. You won’t regret this, Tenzin.
[When she lets him go, she’s practically bouncing on the balls of her feet out of excitement.]
I know this isn’t exactly prime spiritual energy center like the Air Temples are, but…we can probably find a place that will work. What do you think?
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[Though Jinora's always liked some peace and quiet for her meditation, it's unusual for her to be this quiet and withdrawn when she's surrounded by her family and friends.
It isn't until later, when she and Tenzin are alone in the library, that Jinora finally speaks up.]
Dad...? Do I really look that much like grandpa?
[She hadn't noticed the stares and comments at first, but they'd gotten hard to miss the more she went out into the city after the ceremony.]
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Turning, he frowns and puts his book back, going to her side and kneeling down. ]
A little. But that makes sense, you're his family.
[ He pauses, then, head tilting. ]
Does it bother you?
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Mmmm. I was just wondering. You and Aunt Kya and Uncle Bumi didn’t say anything when my tattoos were done.
[She wonders if they’d just kept quiet to spare her feelings or because they’d been surprised themselves.]
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I don't think any of us wanted to. It's still something we're learning to talk about. We all miss Dad, quite a lot.
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You mean you didn’t talk about grandpa before?
[She knows that her aunt and uncle only recently started living with them, but…surely they’ve talked about Aang when they were younger?]
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This open area in the Southern Air Temple has an almost unearthly golden glow surrounding it. And it hasn't seemed this lively in years, not since the time of the original airbenders. Right now, there's a group of child air nomads, zipping around on air scooters and having a blast.
There's one twelve-year old monk who sticks out. One with arrows. In fact, he notices the dreamer, even if it isn't clear if he recognizes him. And his air scooter slowly hovers towards the older monk, with a carefree smile on his face.]
Hi! Wanna play with us?
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The Temple is alive with the sound of airbenders and the whoosh of bending and it takes him a moment to simply bask in it. It feels incredible, like coming home, and he wonders if this is what his dad had always meant when he said he dreamed of the rebirth of the Air Nomads - this kind of buzzing, electric feeling of coming home. When he lets his eyes flicker over the children, reminding him so much of his own, his voice catches - because he recognises one, more than he can voice. Dad. ]
Da --- aang. Dang. [ He coughs, fist in front of his mouth to catch it before he tugs on his beard awkwardly. He's trying to hold in his shock but -- well. He's not doing a very good job. ] Dang, I'd love to but I'm afraid I don't know the rules.
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Aang looks on expectantly as Tenzin speaks, and then he responds with a childish laugh.]
That's no problem, silly! I'll teach you. Do you know how to make an air scooter?
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[ He moves and twists his arms, making the ball of air under him - just like his dad had taught him. Normally his personal 'scooter' is a little more... Surrounding than this, but he can manage for now. It's a dream right now, after all. ]
Will this do?
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Now in this game, one person gets to be 'it' and has to try tag someone else, then whoever gets tagged becomes it next! And we all use our air scooters to move around. Do you get that?
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And who is 'it' right now, might I ask?
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Right now... it's me! [He says as he reaches to slap one hand on Tenzin's arm.]
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I will warn you, I am very good at this.
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Oh yeah? Well I invented this! Try and keep up!