Day Seven - Cosplaying

This one is for my friend Alex, who gives me awesome prompts for Linumi. Happy 'Linzin Day (LOL JKS it's Linumi Day)' Day xx.

Lin groaned inwardly when she read the invitation to the Republic City Spirit Festival Ball that Raiko had unofficially ordered her to attend.

Dear Lady Beifong - Lady Beifong! Whoever wrote this letter obviously did not know a thing about her or her family, who all hated identifying with, or participating in the higher class unless they were mercilessly revealing all its faults and paying out its rigid structure. She knew she would not like what followed just by reading how they had addressed her.

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to this year's Spirit Festival Ball, reserved for only Republic City's finest. It will take place at City Hall on the Winter Solstice commencing at 8pm and concluding at midnight. This year, the dress code is formal costume play of your favourite spirit or spiritual leader. Please have this invitation ready to present to the doormen upon your arrival, as you will not be admitted without it.

Sincerely,

President Raiko and First Lady Buttercup.

Lin rolled her eyes at the extravagant signatures of the couple at the bottom of the page, and placed the expensive, creamy paper on the bedside table. Raiko had invited her and that meant that she would have to go, but cosplay? As if she would embarrass herself in front of all of Republic City and the press, surely Raiko would make an exception, the last time she had put on a costume was when she went to school dressed in a miniature version of her mom's armour when she was five for "Dress as your parent day." The only person who didn't dress up was Tenzin, because he was already dressed in traditional airbending clothes. Bumi had dressed as Katara and walked around all day bossing everyone about and scolding Tenzin and Kya. She still chuckled at the memory.

"Ahh! I see you got one too!" The very man she was thinking about strode in through the door, waving the same creamy parchment. Bumi walked over and placed a kiss on her forehead, "I have my costume planned already. Who are you going as?"

"Myself."

"Aww come on, Linny! Live a little! It'll be fun!"

"Where have I heard that before?" She drawled.

"Fine, don't be fun, see if I care."

"Fine by me."

Bumi's consistent pouting all through dinner, and the polar bear-puppy dog eyes he gave her before they turned the lights out finally got to her.

"Does my wearing a costume really mean that much to you?" She asked with a sigh.

"Yes. I happen to think you'd make an excellent Painted Lady, or maybe Princess Yue?"

"Fine, if it means that much to you, I guess I could go as the Painted Lady." Bumi grinned and opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off, "However, I will not wear a costume if you bring this up again before the night."

"Deal." Bumi said with his trademark grin, and leaned over to kiss her, happy that he got his way.

It was just as well that Bumi convinced Lin to dress up, as Raiko approached her the next day and told her he wouldn't let her in if she came in her armour.

A few days before the ball, Lin walked into the bedroom, trying to find something that resembled the Painted Lady's outfit, as well as make up for the paint, when she couldn't find anything, she turned and went to leave to go shopping, (contrary to popular belief, she actually enjoyed shopping and found it quite relaxing) but stopped when she saw the big box in the middle of the bed. Upon further inspection, she saw it had her name on it, opening the lid, she found a little card, written in Bumi's handwriting:

Ok so I know I'm not supposed to bring this up, but you've been super busy so I thought I would help you out and get this for you. Love you so much,

B.

Lin smiled at the sweet thought from her boyfriend and pulled the content out of the box, it was a proper Painted Lady costume, in her size and everything, there was also the perfect coloured make up for the red markings. Sometimes he really surprised her.

Eight o'clock on the day of the winter solstice finally arrived and as anticipated, the press lined the red carpet (imported from the Fire Nation, of course) ready to snap front-page material for a big scoop. There were so many costumes that were way over the top, like huge Haibai costumes, and Koh the face stealer (and as neither of these spirits had been seen by any of the guests, they were not very accurate.

The press went crazy when Korra arrived in her usual garb, although she went into the Avatar state down the red carpet, earning a grumble from Raiko,

"What?" She asked when her eyes stopped glowing, "I'm part spirit, so I came as myself."

Bumi had turned up early, to sidestep most cameras and interviews, Lin had tried to do the same, but she was caught up in work, so when she turned up, she was right on time, and no one recognised her as she glided to the entrance, she looked around for Bumi and, despite her best efforts, burst out laughing when she saw him.

He wore Tenzin's cloak over his usual Airbending outfit, along with a skin coloured cap with a blue arrow on his head, his make up was done to emphasise a scowl and he had some sort of plastic wedge behind his ears to make them stick out. He saw Lin and waved her over,

"You were supposed to come as a spirit." She said, still trying to stifle a laugh as she addressed him.

"I'll have you know that the invitation said spirit or spiritual leader, and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to raid my baby brother's closet and show him what a stuck up tight-ass I think he is."

"How'd you get that, actually?"

"Meelo gave it to me, he thought it was hilarious."

"He's right, is he here?"

"No, Tenzin didn't want any of his kids in the spotlight and all that crap."

"Fair enough."

"Wanna dance?"

"Sure."

They had danced through ten songs and were standing at a long table at the back of the hall, getting something to eat, when Raiko, dressed as some random spirit he'd obviously seen in the wylds approached them.

"Sorry to interrupt. Bumi, have you seen Chief Beifong? I can't find her anywhere."

"I'm right here." The face Raiko made was worth dressing up, he stammered something before leaving them alone to laugh hysterically at the face he pulled until midnight when he farewelled his guests.

"That was surprisingly fun." Lin said to Bumi as they walked in the door, "And thanks for the costume, I had no time to get one for myself."

"No problem, I knew you would make a beautiful Painted Lady, you looked amazing."

"I can't say the same for you, but it was quite an accurate portrayal of Tenzin."

"Well if it's not the looks, what did you fall for back in the day?" Bumi asked cheekily as he placed his hands on her waist, drawing her closer to him.

"I honestly can't remember." She replied, leaning up to kiss him.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, I like his brother better." She said before claiming another kiss.

Author's Note: Day Seven finished! That was hard at first, but got easier as it went.

Today, my friends, is a very important day. It is a day I have waited for over many months with my dear friend, Alex, whose homework diary I commandeer every so often to write little notes in. Scheduled for every day this month is Linumi day, except for today. Under today's date, I wrote, "Linzin Day. (LOL JKS, it's Linumi Day)". This absolutely cracked her up and it has been an inside joke ever since. Just thought you might want to know. So to all of you, Happy "Linzin Day (LOL JKS, it's Linumi Day)" Day. If you are looking at this from the future it is the 14th of December.

avatarfanlin: Thank you, I always thought Su would be the one to make bets, and if it's against Bumi, he'd jump at the challenge.

Darkis0777: Thank you! I am of the opinion that Lin is a huge softie under the tough exterior.

Till next time,

SilverMidnightPrincess xx