STILL (feel) ALIVE!

the twin chief is presently on the highest floor of their ship, on the deck of the twins' suite, receiving formal welcome from their avatar cousin, who seems to be attempting to handle this encounter more as a state affair instead of a family gathering. the formal flourishes are mildly amusing and a welcome distraction from this geographical location's pesky humidity, earning the faintest upturn of a smile from the twin chief. he may not know korra personally -- hardly anyone is permitted to know him personally -- but they've shared enough family dinners for him to tolerate an entirely trivial conversation with her.

" hello, cousin. I acknowledge your attempt at formalities, but it is unnecessary. " cousin korra has been many things over the years, from enemy to ally, but she has always been family. father's death has lent the young chief a new appreciation of those -- hinted within his less than usually frigid tone. however, merely seeing her would hardly merit leaving the icy bliss of their homeland and sailing all this way to republic city.

❝Oh—❞ She runs out of steam prematurely, an occurrence only as common as her sharing a room with the Northern Water Tribe chiefs these days. As much as they've all come to inhabit their adult mantles, a part of her that's four and endlessly perplexed by her cousin twins will always remain, it seems.

But determination keeps Korra standing like it has countless times before. She will decipher Desna and Eska if it takes her whole lifetime.

Aand... she's sure that the faint twitch of expression had been friendly in nature. Pretty sure.

Even if it leaves her with nothing of his stance on the newest Spirit Portal.

❝...In my defence, it was kind of an accident.❞ One hand on her hip and the other upturned, almost a shrug. She catches herself before her tone turns sheepish.

There are certainly more pertinent matters to turn to —the purpose of their meeting, even— but Korra can't resist the moment's pull: She crosses her arms from habit alone, a shift that puts the sleevelessness on full display; a focal point as her sideways grin spreads.

She tilts her head back.

❝i trust you're acclimatising to the United Republic well?❞

Korra's made-up agenda definitely soared way above Bolin's head because, honestly, it wasn't like he witnessed much stranger happenings as they traveled the world together. Since Spirits have been living amongst the physical world for the past three years, it made everything all topsy-turvy. He had to check his shoes more often in the morning to make sure he wasn't squashing any tiny Spirits that decided to make a new home there while he was asleep.

"Now?" he asked incredulously as the feeling of not having to wait more than a week to hang out for more than five minutes didn't quite sink in yet. "Are you kidding? OF COURSE THAT'S MORE THAN OKAY."

Bolin did a quick pat down on his person to make sure he had his wallet and keys. With a cheerful expression on his face signifying that everything was in place after a bit, he pointed in some general direction enthusiastically. "Lead the way!"

The eagerness is more warming than any measure of comfort food. She can't help the hearty laughter as Bolin scrambles to the ready, always closer to the surface in her best friend's presence.

And she can't wait to park her obligations in the foyer of the building, just for a while.

But she doesn't mind recapping for the purposes of this conversation. With a one-sided shrug, ❝It's becoming a bit of a problem. Spirits don't really "get" pets, and, well, families aren't too happy when they lure the animals out of their homes.❞ Trivial, except to one tasked to negotiate spirit-human relations. All in a day's work.

The walk isn't long, and the landmark's soon in view. Korra keeps an even pace despite a growing hunger.

"They're not who I meant, either," she adds after a beat, brows raising as she nods towards the other rooms the rest of their company currently occupies. The sheer severance of loss Korra faces now, Keiko can only imagine... yet, it isn't Aang or Kyoshi making this journey with her.

It has never been only past lives standing by the Avatar's side. Far from it, in fact.

Still, Keiko doesn't resist when the conversation turns back on her instead. "I didn't really picture it at all," she admits, easier than she would have expected to not so very long ago - but vulnerability begets more of itself in kind, so it seems.

It's odd, to think of this as a homecoming in any way. Even when she knows half the reason she'd been brought on at all is that she knows this kingdom better than near everyone else in the Avatar's party, but... these places aren't exactly home, are they?

"I didn't plan to come back. Not any time soon, at least." Keiko's gaze finally diverts, then, out one of the airship's windows and towards the green expanses below. "And so much of this is still relatively new to me, too. Kyoshi Island has always been more of... its own microcosm. So is Ba Sing Se, in a way," she says, words punctuated by a soft chuckle and a glance back over to Korra.

The eyes that linger at the center of the room are soft as they tend to be when pondering the meaning these people hold; pensive, laden with thoughts she will spend many more nights turning over.

But what Korra does know for certain is that she has so much left to learn— from anyone, if this conversation is anything to go by.

❝Huh.❞ There's something she can easily relate to. ❝That kind of sounds like me, actually. On paper, I was raised in the Southern Water Tribes, but the White Lotus compound was more of its own thing.❞ It had to be, with guards and bending masters from places as widespread as had been deemed necessary. The little she remembers of growing up amongst kin relegated to hazy recollections at best.

Another thread pulled. She hesitates on the verge of a probing question— better to leave Keiko in control of the conversation's depth. Homecomings can be complicated, after all.

❝For what it's worth, I'm glad you're here.❞

❝I can only imagine how much more of a disaster this would be if we didn't have your guidance.❞ Said with a wry smile, but it doesn't eclipse the truth in it. How much more presumptuous this young Avatar would seem, entering with no regard for the land's customs, only demands.

Her attention is pulled to the unfamiliar expanses of green, her heart to unprompted comparison against the tightly-packed spires she's come to belong to. ❝Do you miss it?❞ Republic City - already?

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, aka Orange Shirt Day, in Canada. It’s a holiday dedicated to raising awareness of the atrocities committed to indigenous children by the Canadian Residential School system.

lesbian: i literally would date you

the sheer warmth that enveloped her, the smell of her skin, the way the avatar's voice vibrated straight through her from where she was pressed in — her body instinctually warmed it felt like being doused. she tasted something acrid sliding up her throat & she passed off her resulting expression as part of the aftereffects of what they thought she'd been through. a moment of reprieve was sought with locks of dark hair dangling between them; she could barely take the force of what she'd glimpsed in the avatar's eyes.

she piped up as her eyes squeezed shut, sighing words out in reply, " — right, it's all a little- murky right now... but I'm sure it'll start coming back to me, " hope & exhaustion clung to her speech as her hands gripped the edge of the bed on either side of her, her body rejecting the velvety soft way she spoke to her, the suffocating heat of her right there. she was the avatar — a danger to the world, never bound by any rules, the embodiment unchecked power that allowed innocent people to get hurt every day. & right now she was trying to bend her the same way she did every other stone in her path. she softened her mouth into a smile, peering her way to finally relent as she pulled herself together, " sure, i think i could use the quiet time before we get back out there... my head definitely feels like it's been hit by thousands of electromagnetic pulses. " her head was pounding, each beat telling her this was all wrong she shouldn't be here, she was playing a dangerous game giving into the avatar like this. they were both playing parts right now, trying to tug the other astray & onto a path of their choosing. she might not have been able to beat her earlier, but she knew could outsmart her, outmaneuver her, she had no doubt; she had learnt from the best. she would walk out of here free & with the avatar in tow as she had been tasked with. she just had to get this right.

her anchoring hold on the bed loosened, her hand gliding over the back of hers as she shifted backward. green eyes never left hers as her back sunk down onto the mattress, inviting her to follow. she chose to lighten the mood with a spark in her gaze & a humorous sway to her voice, " just to forewarn you, i might be lousy company right now, but... I'm really glad it was you here when i came to my senses. i'm- sorry you had to see me like that... i- have no idea what Guan even had me do... "

Even now, her cheeks threaten to redden. Korra simply can't help the way her eyes follow the motion, appreciative of the grace with which she lays herself down. Powerless when she's already this warmed by the ease Asami brings her, and this afflicted by her relief. She breathes a ❝Me too❞ and it might as well have been a declaration of love.

Until Korra realises she's not so much as blinked in one too many seconds. She averts her eyes quickly,

hates that the impulse has already taken root.

❝I-I don't mind. It's... been a long day— for all of us.❞ The Avatar hesitates despite her own encouraging smile, on the brink of recollections she's not ready for. ❝—It's- it's alright.❞ Cold green eyes of a stranger, forcing her own shut for a moment. ❝Nothing happened.❞ A touch firmer than she intends, a hint of a frown on the forecast. It's imperative she convinces. Who, is a little more unclear.

❝No one got hurt.❞ A truth by technical terms. Her chest still aches.

But she's wasting precious time caught up in her thoughts— and being terribly rude, withdrawn and distant in the face of her waiting girlfriend. So she shuts it out in favour of lifting her gaze and searching for the softness in green eyes. The only truth she needs. Lifeline.

—And there can be no doubt with the way sentiment suffuses her voice and expression as Korra's come to know. Expect, even. Take for granted. Never again.

Her heart settles, as simple as that. If the brief ordeal wasn't demonstration enough in the sway she has over Korra. Uncertainty defeated, she lowers herself over Asami, bodies not yet touching. One arm comes to rest by her fanned out hair —not quite cradling. The other runs a thumb lightly over her temple. Affection extended while minding boundaries she's not sure of just yet.

❝I-I can help— with your head.❞ Eyes on Asami, but she sees the basin of water in the corner of the room just fine.