Okay, I don’t quite like how this turned out. But, since I lost the momentum of Korrasami Week, I forced myself to write this one and post it. So, here it is. Enjoy :)
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Prompt: future
Dear Asami,
I am flattered you wrote to me about this. What it feels like, loving an Avatar. How to be true to someone who will always put the world first. I shall do my best in aiding you.
The first thing I wish to write is this: you are entitled to ignore everything I say in this letter.
Life taught me that all lovers are inventors when they build a relationship, made of words, sighs, memories, touches. Every person is different, inherently so. It cannot be true that my love for Aang will be the same as yours for Korra.
Despite this, I can understand your concerns. I promise I will do my best to meet them.
I believe it was fundamental to me to learn to love both Aang and the Avatar as the same person. This probably sounds confusing, so let me try to explain.
When I met Aang for the first time, frozen in that iceberg, I saw the Avatar. Not Aang, but the Avatar. It was a difficult truth to admit, one I recognized only many years later. The girl in me was fascinated by him, possibly starstruck. I was thrilled of being the one who had found him after a hundred years. I was sure he would save us all from the Fire Nation.
But he was just a child.
I was a child.
I had to grow a lot before even entertaining the idea of a relationship with him. We both had to. That first journey to master the different bendings had been a starting point for us, for our relationship. A start.
After those first days, the Avatar became Aang. And I started seeing Aang first, then the Avatar.
You might believe that to be the correct way to love an Avatar. It is not. Seeing first Aang - or Korra - and then the Avatar means denying an important aspect of their being, of their essence. You might see this in the simplest things, like spending an anniversary together or going on vacation. Other times it's rather unpleasant, like being separated for months and years to build a new city while you have to raise your children alone.
Asami, Korra is everybody's person. She has to be, because the world will always need her. They keep asking and digging for resources and answers and demands. I saw this with my Aang and now I see the same reflected in Korra.
But, my dear Asami, if Korra is everybody's person, who's gonna be hers? Everybody needs a person.
And, if I still know Korra, she'll argue about her being enough for herself. Don't listen to her and instead, make her listen to you. She's strong and stubborn, our girl, and even though she grew so much in these past few years, she will need someone to stand beside her.
You have to be Korra's rock, so she can be everybody else's rock.
There's a reason why both Aang and Korra surrounded themselves with loyal friends, team Avatar.
But I am sure you are already aware of all of that, or else you wouldn't have kept writing all those letters even without reply. Or offered to come and visit the South Pole during Korra's recovery.
Or stand back when she asked to do all of this alone.
Don't be surprised if I know of these events, Asami. This old waterbender still has a couple of tricks up her sleeves to keep track of her family.
Now, I won't lie and say things were always perfect between me and Aang.
We had our fair share of arguments, believe me. Communication is key, as it should be in all relationships, but I believe this is mostly true in our special case. I still cherish the memories of me and Aang talking at the end of the day, about everything and nothing, surrounded only by stars.
That is the reason, Asami, why I believe you are deeply wrong when you write that you feel you have to withheld your problems and thoughts from Korra for fear of burdening her. I know it might sound tempting to bottle everything up, shielding behind the weak reasoning of 'She is the Avatar. She has so many other things going on with the rest of the world, how could my issues compare to hers? Be of any importance?'
You're not the first to think along those lines.
Only because you have to be Korra's rock so she can be the best Avatar, it doesn't mean your feelings matter less. Despite having many people asking for her attention, you'll be the first one Korra wishes to spend time with, the one she confides into. Equally, you have to trust her with your feelings.
This is what means loving Korra as both Korra and the Avatar.
By not confiding your thoughts, you are creating a disequilibrium in your relationship. Simply because you aren't treating her as equal to you. Even though your intentions might come from good, Korra is your partner and you have to trust she'll be with you for every step of your journey. She can and wants to deal with your problems, as petty as they seem.
I learned this after a particular harsh fight with Aang, not too long after Kya's birth.
I was tired of feeling alone, especially in Aang's disappointment. He wished to have a child who could airbend like him, but Kya revealed to be a strong bright eyed waterbender from a young age. And while Aang didn't love her or Bumi any less, his desire for a new Air Nation was almost too strong, sometimes. There was a part of him that couldn't help but feel disappointed. Not because of me, nor for the children, but mostly himself.
It all comes down to legacy, in a sense.
Aang wished to rebuild the Air Nation. Korra lost her connection to all her previous lives and the next Avatar will have only her to rely to.
They are two different events, but connected nonetheless. Being the only bearer of a whole world feels overwhelming.
Both cannot be obtained by living alone, though. I believe I have some merits in restoring the Air Nation: I helped Aang with all of myself, after all. (Do not think of me as vain when I write this, Asami, because I have reached an age where I can say everything I believe, without caring about social norms. I may have picked up a couple of things from Toph in all these years.)
Similarly, Korra will need help. Sadly, my old bones do not quite agree with modern technology, but I am sure a brilliant mind loke yours can find a way to maintain Korra's memories and feelings alive, beside the spiritual plane. After all, and I know Korra herself is worried, nobody really knows what happened with Raava and if Korra will be able to talk with her future lives.
You are the future, Asami. Alongside with Korra and the rest of your friends.
And I am sure the world couldn't be in better hands.
With love, and say hi to Korra for me,
Katara
This idea spiraled into a direction I hadn’t predicted. Hope you’ll enjoy. Cheers :)
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Prompt: physical touch
Korra is six and likes to run her arms over Naga's fur, especially when they are huddled up in front of the fireplace and there's a storm howling outside.
Naga's white wool feels fuzzy on her bare skin, a ticklish sensation that leaves patches of shedding fur during the summer. She doesn't like it. Naga's thin hairs stick to her fingers, making it difficult for her to brush them away.
She prefers to be wrapped in a warm hug by her mother instead, and let Senna slowly run her fingers over her arms. They travel on the inside of her forearms before rising upwards, until they tickle her elbows and the nape of her shoulders.
Korra is eight and she's holding onto her father, standing outside the perimeter of the White Lotus Compound. She doesn't know what's waiting for her behind those metal doors, but she knows her father's touch intimately. Tonraq's huge hands envelop hers completely, leaving his thumb free to brush over her wrist.
She wonders if one day her hands will become like his, callous and hard and impossibly warm even in the snow. She recalls her mother's touch always feels cooler and dry on her skin. She wonders if that's the reason her parents often hold hands, to share warmth and coolness between each other.
The training white tape itches the first time she wraps it around her hands, but she's grateful she has taken the time to tighten it when she punches a wooden pole.
Korra is eleven and stubborn and angry. Master Katara had told her how Aang and her used to go penguin sledding together but the elders won't let her out of the compound in search for an otter penguin. So she decides to sneak out on her own to look for one.
The wind bites at her ears so she wraps one arm around her middle to keep warm. She conjures a small ball of fire on the palm of her hand, focusing on the burst that flows insides her. Her arms tingle in its wake and Korra relishes in the feeling.
Korra is twelve and Ikki's hands feel soft and wet as she grabs her wrist. The child is small and rosy cheeked, bundled up in a pile of furs. Her mother and Master Katara smile and coo at the two of them, while Korra grimaces a smile, wishing she could go back to practice waterbending instead of holding a baby's chubby fingers.
A year later, Korra feels a painful snap as something gives in her arm. She breaks an earthbending stance to curl on the ground, wailing in pain. Master Katara's face is bathed in light as she expertly bends a basin of warm water into a little disk, barely bigger than her wiry hand. The water coats Korra's arm and washes away the tears and the splitting pain, leaving behind a deep coolness in her bones that warms quickly.
Korra is fourteen when she dreams of rough hands that bind her legs together and force a piece of cloth inside her mouth, leaving painful bruises on her arms. A tight hold hauls her out of the bedroom window in her home and pushes her inside a cramped box that reeks of sweat and tears.
It feels like a nightmare on her waking skin, but it shakes her insides like a memory.
Korra is seventeen and her arms burn deliciously under the strain of Naga's pulling reins as the two of them escape the compound in the silent night.
The traditional Air Nomads robes itch her skin, but not as much as the Fire Ferret's uniform does. She always struggles with the protections. The ones with the Future Industries logo are softer, but made of a sturdier material. She feels the urge of scratching nonetheless, if only to chase away the annoyance with the dazzling smile and the emerald eyes.
The eerie mask of Amon glints under the shadow of Avatar Aang's statue. Her arms feel leaden, legs like wood as the chi blockers easily block her attacks. And when Amon takes her bending away, a coil of energy springs forward in her loose limbs, followed by a powerful surge of airbending that leaves her body singing.
Aang's touch is frigid like a ghost's, but warm like a cup of noodles.
Korra is seventeen and the cold of the sea bites at her fingers as they travel towards the South Pole, but Mako's pockets are warm. His hands run almost as hot as hers.
In the dull nights passed on the ship, Korra paces the tight hallways and feels like a caged animal. Asami's light is often lit in her cabin, the girl pouring over documents and numbers until late in the night. Korra watches her rubbing her hands together before offering to make some tea. When their hands brush over traded words and tea cups, Korra notices how cool Asami's feel.
Korra laughs and spills a bowl of popcorn over her shirt as Bolin nudges her from his seat during a thrilling scene of his last mover. The four of them are sitting in the last row of a darkened room with a huge image of Bolin staring down from the screen. The popcorn feels sticky on her bare skin and while trying to clean herself, she ends up making a mess all over Asami's silk shirt. The heiress laughs delightfully as she splutters an apology.
The energy of the spirit portal rumbles under her fingertips and for a moment she fears she won't be able to grasp it, let alone bend it.
Korra is eighteen when she loses the connection to her past lives. Her body shakes emptily, a low drumming that spreads to her core. Each touch is a numb print on her skin and for the first time her hands feel cold.
As she prepares to board the airship with a renewed skip in her steps, she chases down the excitement she feels at the dawn of a new adventure. She lets it collect in her belly and blames it when she can't fall asleep during the first night. Her shoulder is brushing Asami's under the covers, the two of them sharing a bed because of the cramped numbers of bedroom on the airship. Asami's feet are cold as her hands.
Korra is in Zaofu when she dreams about the same sets of rough hands, and the same bruising hold from her childhood nightmares.
The dream shakes her insides like the present.
Hazy and mellow, ready to slip into unconsciousness after the failed kidnapping attempt, Korra imagines Asami's shaking hand hovering over the top of her head. The image evokes a similar memory, one that involves her meditating into the spirit world under Asami's watchful eye.
The sand bites her cheeks as she watches Asami dabs at her sweaty forehead. Her hands are nimble and skilled even with a rusty welding torch, hanging precariously from a swing she had rigged up from scraps.
The same hands pry her fingers loose from the white knuckled grip she has on the phone after her surrender to Zaheer.
Korra is eighteen when poison travels up her limbs. It seeps into her arms and legs, spreading from the frozen circles of her shackles. It burns and burns and aches and burns, leaving a trail of boiling under her skin.
But Korra roars and rises over the pain.
She buckles and trembles and collapses in her wheelchair, armrest padded with a woolen lining. And when she tosses and turns in her bed, she swears she can still feel the poison burning her veins, despite having seen Su removing it from her body.
Asami touches her hands, following the lines of her palms. Korra can't tell if they feel cool to the touch.
Her arms stop hurting after two weeks, but they feel nothing compared to the aching numbness in her legs. Her thoughts are splintered, riddled with pain that freeze and fracture.
She welcomes the biting cold of the South Pole on her twitching fingers with a tired sigh.
Korra is twenty-one when she discovers the poison hadn't completely left her body. She cuts her hair and trudges forward, feeling the mud dampen her socks through the holes in her shoes. She covers her arms with white training tape.
The air of Republic City hangs ominously over her head, but Asami welcomes her back with a warm hug, hands coming to a rest over her shoulders. She's glad she's left her shoulders bare.
She tumbles and bruises in the Air Temple yard, and it feels good to train properly again. After each session of training, Asami's hand brushes hers while she hands her a tea cup.
Korra keeps her arms covered, not feeling brave enough to bare them.
Korra is twenty-one and Asami's body feels small as she curls beneath Korra's chin. The golden light of the new spirit portal hums and glows. In the darkness, Asami holds onto Korra's hands, clutching at her like a lifeline. They are still holding hands when they step into the spirit world.
I wanted to try something a little different with this one. Hopefully it’s okay. Also, I fell behind with the schedule, busy day. Don’t know if I’ll get next up in time, but I’ll do my best. As usual, enjoy :)
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Prompt: longing
"Hello?"
"You have reached Air Temple Island, this is Master Meelo speaking. How shall I assist you today?"
"... that sounded vaguely threatening."
"I'm merely being professional, ma'am."
"Yeah. I bet you could land any job at a front desk. I could put a good word for you if you want. Uh, is Korra there?"
"Please, state your business with the Avatar."
"Business? Meelo, it's me, Asami."
"Pretty lady!"
"Uh, that's me. Could I speak with my girlfriend, please? Is she busy?"
"I dunno. Why would you want to speak to her when there's a real bender right here? Don't you prefer the company of a powerful airbender?"
"You know she's the Avatar, right? She's as powerful as-"
"Pf, I fought and won against a giant mecha of metal once. I saved Republic City from an invasion."
"... that you did. But I'm sure of my decision Meelo. Thank you for the offer, though."
"Your wish shall be my command, then, wonderful lady... Korraaaaa! Your pretty lady is on the phoooooone... We shall meet again soon, beautiful woman, and in the meanwhile do think of me fondly if you can..."
"I'll... I'll do my best, I guess."
"Give me that phone, Meelo, thank you... Hello? Asami?"
"I'll let you know Meelo has more game than you, oh mighty Avatar."
"Ugh, he's just a nuisance."
"A nuisance way smoother than you. I remember our first dates when you struggled with forming barely coherent sentences. Nevermind a whole conversation."
"I was nervous because I wanted to impress a beautiful girl."
"Your nervous rambling was so cute."
"And you're an absolutely awful person."
"Aw, I love you too, Korra."
"You say you love me, but next thing I know you're running after a dashing airbender, much younger than both of us. Mh, I didn't peg you to be like one of those ladies, who only have eyes for younger flesh."
"Ah Korra, you know me so well."
"He's definitely a keeper, though. But wait until you hear about his most famous airbending technique. A brave and challenging pose, one that requires an impressive display of skill and a, let's say, a complete bodily effort. He puts every inch of himself behind this technique."
"Mmm."
"Really impressive."
"..."
"..."
"You should stop making fun of poor Meelo, Korra."
"As soon as he stops making advances at you..."
"Don't worry, dear. He knows I'm happily taken. And I have no intentions of letting go."
"Sounds right. You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice, 'Sami."
"I think I might have a slight idea."
"Is everything okay?"
"Surprisingly enough, we only had just minor problems. Guess I got used to the urgency of your Avatar related problems. But even if they're small, when you pile them all together-"
"Even the smallest inevitably becomes an annoying inconvenience. Yeah, I get that feeling. Tell me more, if you want?"
"Ranting isn't sexy, Korra."
"Everything about you is sexy, Asami. Even when you complain about misogynistic ancient business men. I love watching them flail as you tear them apart with your words and your looks."
"Looks like somebody took a page from Meelo's guide for flirting."
"Please, I'm not that desperate. And it's not my fault my girlfriend is so hot I can't help my mouth. Oh, don't get me started on that adorable snort of yours-"
"Korra!"
"But I digress. Tell me more about your day?"
"Nothing unusual. Roadblocks between construction projects, whiny workers, complaints... I didn't imagine Zaofu to be so conservative, being a place born from refugees. Oh, we discovered some kind of building? Buried underground? They're not exactly sure what it could be, but it's slowing things down at the construction site. We can't risk damaging what could be an artistic treasure."
"Could it be spiritual-related?"
"Unlikely. It looked like a storage building more than anything else. Maybe a library of some kind... But you're just trying to make it spiritual-related, right?"
"The Avatar is the bridge between spirits and humans, after all. And I'm always happy to give a hand."
"Mh, and since you'd be here we could make that trip to Omashu?"
"You know I've always wanted to go with you there."
"I'm sorry, dear. No matter how much I wish you could come here, I'm afraid it will end up being a boring warehouse, instead of a mysterious temple. But I'm flattered you would make that up for me."
"Hey, if I can't even take advantage of the Avatar status every once in a while to see my girlfriend, what kind of girlfriend would I be?"
"The best kind."
"Mmm. And who's taking a page from Meelo's book, now?"
"Oh, shut up. How are things otherwise in Republic City?"
"Thankfully busy."
"Thankfully?"
"This way I don't have the time to miss you any more than I already do. It would drive me crazy."
"I thought I was supposed to be the workaholic one in this relationship. Promise me you won't pick up my bad habits, dear."
"I promise only if you promise to actually work on those bad habits. You're cute when you're sleeping, but hunched on your desk? Not so much."
"I promise I'll do my best, dear. Now, what about Republic City?"
"Oh, yes. Everything has been quiet lately. I'm mostly running errands with Tenzin, helping here and there. I even went to a couple of press conferences with Zhu Li, too. She definitely has a better handshake than Raiko. Less sweaty, for starters."
"Did you end up going to that gala held in your honor?"
"Yeah. Bolin and Opal came with me, so we ended up having fun. And the food was nice, too. Even if everyone wanted to meet me only to tell me what an honor it is to be meeting me."
"They only want to thank the greatest Avatar ever. You can't complain if people love you and keep throwing parties for you."
"Says the lady who built a giant version of me in the middle of the city."
"You deserved it, Korra! A statue is the less we could do. Especially after everything you had done for the city. First Amon, then Unalaq and Zaheer. And Kuvira... You are amazing, Korra, both as a person and as the Avatar, so it's only fair people recognize it."
"Should I expect to see a new statue next time I visit the Beifong's?"
"... it depends if the people prefer Huan's art to my project, I guess."
"You're incorrigible."
"Yeah, well. And I miss you."
"I miss you too, Asami."
"It's only a few days. As soon as things start to run smoothly I'll take the first airship back to Republic City. I'll even pilot one myself, if I need to."
"I have no doubt. But take as much time as you need, Asami. I'll be here, waiting for you and being proud."
"Isn't it a little weird, uh?"
"Being proud of you?"
"No, I mean. Me being the one who's away and you staying at home in Republic City. It's usually the opposite with us."
"I can't fault people for wanting to exploit my girlfriend's genius. You're the best at what you do."
"Still, I can't help but miss you."
"Hey, how about when you come back we have dinner together? Down by the bay? At that water tribe restaurant you like?"
"Only if you promise we can go for a ride on a turtle-duck boat after."
"Then it's a date."
This xkcd comic from 2009 changed my life. It feels timeless.
but so elphaba
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Oh, we’re almost finished! I’m happy to post this one too. Also, let us all believe that erasers don’t exist in the Avatar universe, simply because everybody uses ink or writes in the dirt. As usual, enjoy this, because we all know that Varrick and Asami are the kind of people who love until the point of invention :)
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Prompt: double date
"Is this really necessary?"
Asami sips calmly at her drink. She's not usually one to indulge herself in alcohol, especially during a lunch in the middle of her workday. Given their company, though, she might find this necessary.
"Zhu Li insisted."
"Yes," Korra grouses and the childish drawl makes her sound young, "But Varrick!"
If Asami shares her girlfriend's feelings, well she's not going to tell.
"Zhu Li promised he'd be on his best behaviour."
Korra groans and drops her head on the table.
Truthfully, meeting for lunch with Zhu Li and Varrick doesn't sound too awful to Asami's ears. They have to discuss a new plan for the city infrastructure and since it involves the area around the new spirit portal, Korra's presence had been required. After a few tribulations of shifting plans and matching schedules, the four of them had settled for a lunch meeting in a plain but cozy restaurant.
Asami raises her free hand to the nape of Korra's neck, scratching a mellow pattern between her locks.
Criminal tendencies put aside, they had foolishly hoped married life would cut a new man out of the eccentric industrialist. Sadly, all hopes were crushed in a matter of time. Fallen from the helm of progress, Varrick had channeled all of his quirks towards his wife and her career. Grand gestures, full support for her presidential campaign, movers centered on her person... he appeared to be completely invested in Zhu Li. He even vouched for bestowing her name to a street under construction after her victory at the elections.
It was oddly charming.
Korra's unintelligible grumble in the folded napkin interrupts Asami's trail of thoughts.
"What was that, dear?" Asami asks, fingers teasing at Korra's scalp. The Avatar moves, turning her head and Asami's hand moves accordingly. Korra watches her through lethargic eyes, "If you keep doing that, I might fall asleep before they get here."
Asami smiles and withdraws her touch and Korra's nose wrinkles in response. The heiress is tempted to lean in and kiss it.
"I didn't say you had to stop..." Korra sighs, but straightens in her seat. Her plain water remains untouched in the glass.
Before Asami's tone can swirl into a gentle tease, a bell chimes and the restaurant door opens. Varrick marches inside, an exuberant flair to his gait.
Korra's mouth concedes a happy smirk, "Took you long enough."
"Nonsense! One is never too late to do the thing!" Varrick's loud voice carries through the room, "But now that you mention this, I'm actually thinking of making punctuality into a fashion. People could arrive late to appointments and still look amazing. I'll call it stylishly late!"
From beside him, Zhu Li smiles at the pair, "Korra, Asami. Thank you for joining us today. Have you been waiting for long?"
"Not at all, we-"
"I got it!" Varrick interrupts to lay an enthusiastic arm around Korra's shoulders, "We'll call it fashionably late! Eh! This way you'll never be late, only fashionably late! What do you guys think? Eh?"
Zhu Li doesn't bother with a sigh, "We'll work on the branding later, dear. I apologize for our tardiness, but Varrick insisted on driving and since he couldn't manage a parallel parking, we had to find another spot further down the street."
"We can't have the president herself driving a car, like some commoner. And it's those parking spaces' fault! They are ridiculous!" Varrick protests, as he pulls out a chair for Zhu Li, "Who decided to make them so narrow and compact?"
"That would be my girlfriend," Korra replies evenly, "You know, the CEO of Future Industries who rebuilt the city after the spirit vines?"
Varrick crosses his arms obnoxiously, "Well Asami," he says, "I'm sorry but I need to say this. Your parking spots are simply unacceptable. Barely passable. What kind of planning is that?"
"Now, hold on a minute-" Korra begins, but Zhu Li precedes her, "Don't anger the Avatar, dear," she puts the menu between his hands, "Why don't you decide what to order?"
Asami places her hand on the small of Korra's back, and guides her back down in her seat.
"Thank you for agreeing to this meeting," Asami says, "I know it wasn't easy to coordinate all our schedules."
Zhu Li smiles congenially, "If one of Republic City's most brilliant minds proposes a plan for the evolving infrastructure of the city, the least I can do is listen. And with the Avatar input and approval it's already one step closer to fruition."
"But first, let us eat!" Varrick exclaims from his seat, nose buried between the pages of the menu, "I'll have this one!"
Zhu Li examines his choice with a critical stare, "You don't like spicy food, so you'll end up complaining about the weird taste of the seal. Plus, you're lactose intolerant, so you can't order meat simmered in milk. I'll order the noodles for you, I've been told they're quite good here and I know you'll like them. Isn't that right, Korra?"
Korra stumbles through her reply, thrown off by the couple's fast dynamic, "Uh, yes they're good. Me and Bolin used to eat here after probending practice." She turns back to Asami for help, but her girlfriend is busy schooling her feature in an even expression, moments away from cracking in mirth.
Their waiter takes orders with a professional bow, writing concise words on a small notebook with a velvety black cover. As soon as he leaves, Zhu Li folds her hands on the table.
"Shall we take a look at your designs, Asami?"
Nodding, Asami turns back to retrieve her blueprints, but Korra precedes her, hands already buried inside her bag. She rifles quickly through the small pile of belongings, before landing on a red binder overflowing with papers. Asami accepts the folder with a grateful nod.
They balance each piece of cutlery in a carefully arranged scheme on the table, so they're able to both eat and discuss schematics at the same time.
"And that should do the thing, right?" Varrick questions, hand folded to his chin in contemplation.
Korra takes the last sip of her drink, "Yes. I'll need to communicate with the spirits first about these changes. But I have no doubts they'll agree," she trails off, noticing something left untouched on Asami's plate.
"Have you spoken to Tenzin yet? I'm sure the Air Nation will want to be involved in the process," Zhu Li points out.
"Not yet," Asami shakes her head, "We wanted to wait for your approval."
She watches as Korra scoops a spoonful of her serving of cabbages, the side to her main course of fish. Half turned in her seat, the Avatar proceeds to eat the entire of her portion in few large bites and Asami's smile tilts in grateful fondness. She never quite liked cabbage, be it a food on her plate or the shoddy work of her rivals.
She nudges her foot on the back of Korra's calf, leaving the touch there. There's nothing sensual in her gesture, just a grounding pressure that feels familiar and comfortable.
"Is that all?" Korra says around a bite of food. She speaks with her mouth full, so when the words come out they sound more like "Ish de a?"
Zhu Li lowers her fork and produces a pencil out of her pocket, "Except for minor alterations. But mostly, yes, this looks like a solid plan for the new district," she says and proceeds to cross out a section from an equation. She ponders for a second before she scratches the paper with the wrong end of her pencil. Asami quirks an eyebrow at the motion, puzzled by Zhu Li's actions.
"What are you doing?"
Zhu Li halts her motion, "Oh, this? It's an eraser."
Asami looks closer, noticing for the first time the pink end of the pencil. It's not made of graphite, nor wood, and it feels softer to the touch.
"You like my new invention?" Varrick snatches the pencil out of her hands, "It's a special kind of rubber, one that can cancel pencil's strokes. It doesn't work with ink, but I'm working on finding a solution."
To demonstrate, Zhu Li doodles a small star in one corner. Using the eraser, she carefully traces over her drawing, until each line disappears and the page turns white again.
"I first thought to produce little squares of this rubber, like portable erasing tools. But then, genius struck!" Varrick continues, wiggling his eyebrows, "What if we put the eraser on the back of the pencil? Then you both have the pencil and the eraser on the same tool!"
Asami touches the rubber again, the pink now stained by a gray smudge, "That's really smart, actually. How did you get the idea?"
Varrick sits back and crosses his arms, expression sombering somewhat, "My dear Zhu Li kept running out of paper in her office quite fast, so I had to find a way to let her save space. With my eraser, she won't have to stop and look for more paper ever again!"
Asami glances down at Zhu Li's notes, letters shaped in a small flowing cursive, neat and elegant even in small corners. She catches Zhu Li's knowing grin, both of them aware that making typos and mistakes falls outside the realm of possibility for the president. She did have a past as an assistant, after all.
"Yes and I thank you, dear. Never be said that the president doesn't have enough paper in her office."
Varrick visibly perks up at the words, that sound so much like something he would say, and his smirk turns satisfied. Beside Asami, Korra leans over her plate in his direction, impressed.
"Woah, Varrick. Think you can let me have one of those? Asami's notebooks are always filled with crossed sections and torn pages. It will be useful for her, too."
A familiar feeling warms Asami's chest and the heiress mirrors Zhu Li's smile, green eyes crinkling.
After another volley of proposals and questions and counterarguments, the waiter approaches their table again to take away the empty dishes.
"May I interest you in a dessert? Our kitchen offers the finest selection of chocolate from the Earth Kingdom."
Never one to turn down more delicious food, Korra accepts two servings, for both her and Asami, but Zhu Li hesitates, eyes flickering downward.
"I shouldn't," she says, smoothing the nonexistent wrinkles of her shirt, "The meeting between heads of states is next week and my public relations consultant said-"
"Nonsense!" Varrick springs up from his seat. Despite the thundering, he addresses the waiter in an even tone, "We'll have two as well, kind sir."
The waiter blinks and nods, adding another line to his pad. Zhu Li waits for him to leave their table before hissing at her husband.
"You know why I shouldn't eat that dessert, Varrick, Jin said-"
"You shouldn't listen to that consultant of yours. Jin is just a bloated head, as sensible as a hippo cow with an hernia," Korra's eyes bulge at the image, suppressing a sudden snicker, "There's nothing wrong with your figure, dear."
Varrick brings one hand to his chest and kneels down on the ground. The end of his blue jacket brushes the polished floor.
"You're beautiful, my dear. Even more beautiful now than when I first laid my eyes on you," his moustache twitches with his theatrics, "You are the strongest woman I know and I won't tolerate you refusing your favourite dessert only because of empty words."
An expression of surprise crosses Zhu Li's eyes, "Oh, hush. You say that because you are my husband, so you have to."
The denial spurs Varrick in a series of cheesy compliments that have Korra rolling her eyes at Asami. Opposite of them, Zhu Li doesn't bother to hide the pleased redness that spreads on her cheeks at her husband's words. When their food arrive, she ends up scrapping every morsel of dessert with a pleased hum.
After a fumbled argument about settling the bill, the four of them make their way outside the restaurant in idle chatter. They part ways with smiles and promises of another meeting soon.
Korra waves a lazy hand at Varrick and Zhu Li's retreating backs, "Well, I'm surprised that turned out well."
"Yes," Asami says, entwining their fingers together as they start walking in the opposite direction, "I knew you would end up enjoying yourself. They are a... surprising pair, but pleasant nonetheless."
They fall in a comfortable silence for a moment, before Asami speaks again, "Do you want to do something else? I have a couple of hours before my next meeting and-"
She trails off and stumbles on the curb, caught unprepared by the pull of Korra's hand on her palm, like a dead weight, "Korra?"
The Avatar is frozen mid motion, mouth open in a perfect circle.
"Holy Raava, Asami," Korra states, free hand moving into vague figures and voice warped by shock, "I just realized we sort of- kind of went on a double date with Varrick and Zhu Li! Oh, Raava..."
Astonished, Asami stifles a laugh into her hand, prompting Korra to give her a confused stare. It only takes a second before Asami's hearty laughter steals the entirety of Korra's annoyance and makes her join in.
Marbles and random things I enjoy
75 posts