playinginsand | (no subject)

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rabbithole

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Ai-Ling was as good as her word regarding her conspiracy with her mother-in-law. Shortly after she moved to the South Pole, she began to experiment with leather dyes, and in the following year the villagers had to get used to this crazy Earth Kingdom girl who liked to wear their traditional coats in a rainbow of colours. She's particularly proud of the coat that Steph assures her is definitely eggplant.

If pressed, she'd admit the dyes are her attempt to see how far she can push the tradition of her adopted tribe, but the quirks that are just naturally her cause as many strange looks from the villagers. Thanks to Steph, they're used to a woman who can fight and who hunts,but it's still an oddity. And then of course, there's the broadsword a certain Fire Nation colonel gave to her as a wedding gift. She takes it as a compliment to her natural charm that she gets away with it.

Miki's out hunting with a small group of younger boys at the moment, and Ai-Ling takes the opportunity to prove she can also be a good wife, which is why she's all ready to prepare whatever food he brings home, and is now working on repairs on the igloo they share with his entire family.

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"It's not my fault if they get scared."

The igloo's empty. This is why Ai-Ling wastes no time in tugging on Miki's coat again.

The igloo is never empty for long.

Just for long enough.

Or maybe that's Steph's tendency towards indulgence. She gives them a very decent amount of time before accidentally making noise just outside the door before stooping to wriggle her way inside.

Fortunately for situations like this, the cold means that there's no need to scramble for clothes that they're already partly wearing for warmth. It's easy enough for Ai-Ling to roll off Miki and be fully dressed by the time her Steph actually comes in.

Of course, her sunburnt face is covered in sweat and her hair is loos and messy, but there's nothing she can do about that.

"Hey, Steph," she says, scurrying forward to help her mother in law get inside.

In a tiny village full where all the igloos are one-room-only, there's little that's worth mentioning, really, about finding two teenage newlyweds disheveled and giggly.

"Morning, sweetheart." Steph smiles at her daughter-in-law and at Miki, who's looking just as flushed and rumpled and happy. "Good hunt, Mik? How'd the igloo go, Ai Ling?"

She has news. But it can wait, while the kids are still settling down.

Ai-Ling settles back against Miki as his mother sits down, wrapping his arms around her and brushing out her hair.

"All done," she says proudly, her eyes sweeping the walls around them with a smug air.

From the inside you can't see where she and Sokka had a fight and forgot about it.

"We're going again tomorrow," Miki says, kissing Ai-Ling's hair because it's right there. "Teach the boys a bit more."

"Actually," Steph says, thoughtfully, "you might not be."

Ai-Ling lowers the comb and stares at Steph, lower lip sticking out a little.

"Why not?" she protests.

"There's been word from the borders of the Earth Kingdom -- where the colonies are. Fighting's broken out again."

Steph's wrinkled face is sad.

"Some of our warriors are going to leave tomorrow morning. I wanted to ask you two if you'd help me cook. I know--" holding up a hand; "-- but you two can at least salt meat without burning yourselves, and they're going to need enough provisions for a good few weeks..."

Ai-Ling retreats further into Miki's arms, feeling like an idiot for being so petty.

"What are our warriors going to do?"

"Is it -- gonna be war again, Mom?"

Miki's arms enclose Ai-Ling tightly, comforting and being comforted in equal measure.

"That's, uhm. Spirits, I don't even know what to do."

"They're going to try and keep peace," Steph says, shifting on her knees, eyes sad. "There'll be a few camps along the borders, and patrols. I don't think they've all figured it out yet. Avatar Aang will be there, though."

Ai-Ling shakes her head when Miki mentions the war. She can't remember it, of course, but she grew up with the devastation of the city, the hatred towards the Fire Nation, the widows and the orphans - of which she was one of the luckiest.

"I want to help," she says, and she's not addressing Steph but the ground in front of them. "We can help, right?"

Miki rubs her shoulders gently, and looks up at his mum, blue eyes serious.

"... we could, you know," he says, when she doesn't say anything. "They need everyone they can get, don't they? Especially from our tribe. People needa know we exist."

"And y'know, that we can all get along?"

Ai-Ling's hand covers Miki's. "If we went together, it'd be a great way to show that people of all Nations can be together. I mean, I'm never going to look like I'm from the Water Tribe."

"And it's not as if we're no good at fighting. Or at making people stop fighting."

They've been training the tribe's boys for a long time, in hunting and in getting-along-with-each-other.

Steph takes a breath, and then folds her arms around her knees and looks away from them.

"... both of you?" she asks.

Ai-Ling pulls Miki's arms around her so far she's practically inside his coat.

"Someone's got to keep an eye on him."

Steph's smile is low, a little wavery, but grateful to Ai-Ling for lightening the tone.

"He is a big dumb oaf, isn't he?" she sighs, looking solemnly at the two of them. "Just like his dad.

"... Make sure you take summer clothes. It gets hot over there."

Summer is yay! Ai-Ling beams.

"Pity. Miki looks like a dork in summer clothes."

"Fortunately," Miki says placidly, kissing Ai-Ling's ear, "she looks even dorkier."

He grins over at his mum.

"I'll try not to lose her, though. Even though I kinda wanna."

"He couldn't lose me if he tried," Ai-Ling says pleasantly.

"We'll be OK, Steph. Avatar Aang'll be there and I know lots of the Earth Kingodm officers so we can work together and stuff."

Steph nods, smiling back at them firmly.

"I know you'll be all right. I do."

She worries, a little bit. But ... look at them. They're adults, really, they've been teaching the younger warriors for years. They're smart and capable and competent, and they've both just volunteered to risk their lives for the same peace Steph and Sokka have always fought for.

... she hates the idea, and at the same time she's never been prouder.

"Because if you weren't, you know how hard I'd take my cane to you." Beam.

Ai-Ling bites softly at Miki's fingers.

She's worried too, but really excited to get out and do stuff.

"We'll be back before you starve on Payn's hunting."

Miki beeps her nose.

"Promise, Mom," he adds happily. "... uh, do you wanna break it to Dad, though?"

Steph smirks. "I think not, little one. You're a big boy now. You can deal with that all on your own."

"Like he won't be pleased to see you go?" Ai-Ling adds.

The tent flap ruffles when it's opened and Miki's tall, aged father makes his way inside, smirking a little for his family all huddled together in the center. "Go?" Sokka repeats, brows lifted curiously as he comes to kneel beside Steph, an arm around her waist. "Off hunting molebears again? I wish you two wouldn't do that, death-defying is only fun for so long."