(no subject)

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

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.

Comments

[not-purple.livejournal.com]

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."

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

Summer is yay! Ai-Ling beams.

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

[littlemiki.livejournal.com]

"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."

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

"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."

[not-purple.livejournal.com]

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.

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

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."

[littlemiki.livejournal.com]

Miki beeps her nose.

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

[not-purple.livejournal.com]

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

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

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

[not-goingback.livejournal.com]

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."

[littlemiki.livejournal.com]

"Sort of like hunting molebears," Miki says, grinning hopefully at his father over Ai-Ling's head. "Um... if by 'molebears' you include 'people who aren't happy with the land settlements and are picking fights.' That's it, right, Mom?"

"Basically, yeah." Steph snuggles into Sokka's side. "That messenger who just came, Chief Sokka, who you missed because you were busy getting snow out of your jacket?" She smirks up at him, even if it's not a very happy smirk. "...important."

[not-goingback.livejournal.com]

"I know that," Sokka informs her, frowning even as he wraps his arm a little more securely around his wife, turning worried eyes to the younger two. "Why do you think I was avoiding him?

"You're going to go to the borders?"

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

Ai-Ling is the one to nod. "Yeah."

[littlemiki.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Miki echoes, holding his wife close and very serious for a second.

Then he grins. Because -- eeee stuff to do! IMPORTANT stuff! It's all very well hunting and running around, but they have to live up to Dad and Mom's stories somehow, don't they?

"I'd ask permission, Dad, but I'm not gonna. Plus, technically Mom already gave it."

[not-purple.livejournal.com]

"I did not," Steph says firmly.

Then, at the look on Miki's face, she relents and leans into Sokka again. "... I didn't, because I don't really think permission or otherwise has much to do with it, Mik. You guys are adults now."

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

Ai-Ling would point out that she, at least, needs permission from neither Sokka nor Steph to do what the heck she likes, but from the looks on their faces she's not sure it will go down all that well.

"We just want to do what we can," she says. "It's our turn to look after the world, now."

They're her mother's words, spoken with her father's charm.

[not-goingback.livejournal.com]

The worried look on Sokka's face isn't going anywhere fast, and at Ai-Ling's response - Lu's words, Jet's charm - his arm tightens unconsciously around Steph's waist.

"...be very careful." It's an order that comes out as a request, or a plea, and as soon as he's realized it, Sokka turns to Steph to smile. "And you know your mother's permission doesn't carry any weight."

[not-purple.livejournal.com]

"Hey, bite me, old man," Steph grumbles, leaning into him and kissing his wrinkled cheek.

Miki grins enormously at Ai-Ling, ducking to kiss her, too, with quite a bit more enthusiasm. They're going! They're going to go do important stuff!