Part 1: A Symbol
For my Earth, Lin,
These meditation beads, traditionally made of wood, is worn by only the Grand Masters of any given Air Temple. Though you may not be an Airbending Master, you might as well be considering you have practically mastered every airbending form and have certainly mastered me.
Love,
Tenzin
"Awww! How about this piece, Lin?" Izumi offered replacing the note in the secret center compartment of the velveteen platform on which the string of jade beads sat in the drawer of Lin's massive jewelry chest that Tenzin commissioned for her.
"It's flattering, but so impractical!" Lin said glancing at the open drawer as she ironed uniform waves into her long, thick, untamed mass of black hair in preparation for the annual gala commemorating the end of the hundred year war.
"But it is a symbol can't you see? You guys will be married soon and though not a grand master of the original air temples, you WILL be a grand master of Air Temple Island!" Kya said excitedly.
Lin smiled looking down at the dressing table. "I suppose I will," she sighed looking up at the mirror again, brushing her bangs to the side. "Alright, I'll wear it! But just for one night. Zumzu, could you help me with the dress that Tenzin chose for me?" Lin asked walking away from the dressing table and jewelry box over to a wardrobe.
"Tenzin chose your dress?" Izumi gasped.
"He always does. Left to my own devices he knows I would just wear my uniform. Every year he has some sort of goal or statement as Councilman and he uses me to help him convey it," Lin replied opening the doors of the wardrobe, sifting through the tags on the garment bags for the most recent addition to her collection.
"Awwwww!" Kya and Izumi cooed. "That's so cute! You get to be reduced to an arm decoration for an evening!"
Lin shrugged. "It's the least I can do. Besides, I actually kind of enjoy it. When I'm with him, I don't have to be the one talking to people. He makes these insufferable engagements bearable by answering all of the politicians' petty questions for me," Lin replied unzipping the garment bag and hanging the dress up on the hook inside the door of the open wardrobe.
"That is absolutely stunning!" Izumi exclaimed admiring the embroidery and intricate beading and color scheme of every layer.
Lin pulled off layer after layer from the hanger, draping them each over the covers of hers and Tenzin's bed. It was a little daunting to see all of the material she had to put on that summer evening. She paused, looking down at it all while still wearing just her cream-colored silk robe.
"Knock knock," a voice called.
"Tenzin!" Lin turned with a smile.
"You're still not ready?" he asked.
"No!" she replied accusingly. "Unlike some one I know, I don't get to just throw on a cape over my regular daywear and call it formal. I get to deal with all this!" she exclaimed feigning annoyance, opening her arms out to the bed.
"I never realized there was that much to it! I just send in drawings to Vera Wang in Ba Sing Se or Daiki Suzuki in the Fire Nation Capital and they make something amazing," Tenzin replied.
"Damn! Wang? Suzuki? How many yuans does Tenzin spend on your wardrobe for these celebrations?" Kya asked.
Lin brushed it off. "I stopped keeping track after the first year he became Councilman. I told my accountant to only notify me if he breaks twenty million in a month." Lin informed them casually as she slipped off the beige robe to stand in nothing but her bindings and underwear.
Kya gagged and Izumi has gasped at the sheer amount of liquid assets the Beifong could let her husband squander on clothing.
Tenzin held his breath more captivated by her nearly naked figure than anything.
"Thanks for going through all this for me, year after year," Tenzin said watching as Lin place a rather stiff and torturous-looking piece of fabric around her muscular torso.
"Heh, yeah. You're lucky I love you," Lin grumbled as Izumi wrapped a cable around it, cinching it tight, forcefully molding police chief's abdomen into a delicate hour glass shape with an impossibly small waist.
"Relax Lin, I can tell you're holding your breath!" Izumi chided.
Lin harrumphed and exhaled allowing Izumi to yank the cord around the stiff layer even tighter, tying it off securely before reaching for the first of many silken layers to the intricate gown. Tenzin watched, captivated by the transformation of his fiancée from esteemed Chief Of Police to simply his fiancée. Finally they pinned back her hair back with a leafy silver and jade headband with small sparkling emeralds in it, letting her long, dark, wavy locks cascade down her back. Finally, Tenzin pulled out the drawer with the Grand Master's necklace that Tenzin had made for her. She lifted it over her head with her bending and placed it onto her shoulders. Tenzin lifted her hair out from under the heavy beads and then smiled, admiring his own handiwork in the jewelry as he lifted the heavy medallion off of her chest momentarily.
"Are we ready now?" he asked.
"Yes," she said slipping her small hand into his much larger one. He gave her hand a small squeeze then let go, moving it to wrap around her tiny waist so she could be free to pick up the front of her long skirts and walk more easily.
"You're not wearing shoes!" Tenzin exclaimed.
"I never do on these nights! You haven't noticed? If I am going to sacrifice mobility for appearances, then I most certainly won't give up my seismic sight. This way, I can warn you if someone is coming and you can fight," Lin explained.
"That is— among the smartest thing I have ever heard," Tenzin said holding her tighter as they walked down the hall of the main house. "You don't know how many times a day I thank the spirits for your existence Lin," Tenzin said kissing her cheek. She leaned away from the display of affection.
"Yeah yeah... I would say the same, but I don't believe in what I can't see so instead, I'll thank Sugarqueen and Avatar Airhead for making you so horrendously gushy." Lin replied gruffly. Tenzin facepalmed and Lin laughed. "And perfect for me," she added jumping up to give him a quick, rare peck on the cheek just before they reached the dining room of the main house on Air Temple island where his parents were waiting for them to leave.
"Oh don't you look absolutely lovely, Little Linny?!" Katara exclaimed taking Lin's hands in hers and kissing the young Police Chief on both cheeks.
"Thank you Aunt Katara!" Lin replied politely, beaming with pride.
"I love the necklace, son! I think it will make a good statement. The world is changing. You two are proof that the people of all four nation's can live not just among each other, but in the same household, happily. Though opposites in so many ways, you compliment each other like puzzle pieces in a game." Aang said patting his son on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Dad," Tenzin replied.
A/N I can't decide if I want to make this a bunch of one-shots of general Young Linzin shit or make it solely about the histories of the various pieces of luxury jewelry I think Lin has locked away somewhere in her super secret estate.
Also this was just because I wanted to picture Lin in a beautiful gown being no more than an arm decoration for an evening a year and liking it because she doesn't have to talk to people. And because she is so ordinarily kickass, fierce, and independent, I wanted to see her let somebody else take her reins for once.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! Should I continue this series of oneshots? If so, keep it about jewelry or just any and all Young Linzin happenings?