Well, inevitably, I couldn't let my fic of a Dai Li agent in love stay a one-shot forever. This is something of a look at their new relationship from the other side of the lake, as it were, examining what Rajata herself and her family think about the whole "Dai Li" date thing-not to mention introducing/fleshing out their characters.
"Now you tell me that you've fallen in love/
Well I never, ever thought that would be, ay/
This time, you gotta take it easy/
Throwing far too much emotions at me/"
Spice Girls, Say You'll Be There.
Sweet Parvati, what've I gone and done? Rajata asked herself as the lovely thrill, the warm sensation of disbelief that a Dai Li agent had deigned not only to share tea with and freely speak to her, but invite her to dinner began to evaporate.
Now though, as she took her seat on a traincar destined for the general area of the Middle Ring spice market where she spent each day helping to earn her keep-as she'd been doing ever since she'd moved back in with her family after that disaster end to her first marriage-she was beginning to feel a mixture of both excitement and unease.
The Dai Li were the courageous guardians of both this great city and its ancient culture, working in tandem with the immense walls to keep its citizens as safe from danger as the crows swooping overhead were in the air. It was thanks to them that even in The Lower Ring, crime was kept to a minimum, and a woman like her could walk the night streets in relative safety.
On a more personal level, she could not help viewed Hong and his brothers-in-arms as brave, bold, clever, elegant, alluringly brooding-and holy hog-monkeys, were they ever fetching! Especially in those uniforms! The poise, the authority, even the aura of potential menace they had, there was something about it all that came across as alluring, sexy even.
Last but not least, being fortunate enough to have a Dai Li agent get sweet on her-and maybe take the relationship to a more advanced level-would catapult Rajata to a higher rung on the social ladder, no question-to say nothing of benefiting her family too. It'd be like heaven, after a life of desperate poverty in the Lower Ring.
Not that she would ever allow her potential new rank to go to her head of course.
She'd either read or heard too many tales or real-life instances in which a similar stroke of great fortune had transformed a woman into an arrogant, spoiled hussy, who now came to regard even her former neighbors and good friends as beneath her. Rajata resolved that she would never dream of behaving that way, always staying true and respectful to her roots.
Yes, having a Dai Li agent asking her on a date was something very wonderful indeed, like something out of a fairy tale-not to mention, maybe becoming his woman.
Or even wife...
But at the same time…
Rajata lightly held her lower lip in her teeth as the train turned a curve. She'd been raised with a healthy, awed sort of fear towards the city's secret police. She'd heard the chilling, whispered rumors about these grim, remote figures in spruce green, gazes hidden by the brims of their conical hats and hands sheathed in cold stone.
She had no idea if there actually was, or had been a hidden war with the Fire Nation going on beyond the looming, gigantic barrier of the Outer Wall. Frankly, Rajata usually chose not to think about the subject if she could help it-and whenever she did, confidently told herself that such a thing could never be.
One thing she did know was that no matter where you were in the city, you could never be sure if a Dai Li agent was watching every move, listening to every conversation you had-and they had no tolerance for people who tried to spread conspiracy theories about the war's existence, or just actively defied them in general.
Rajata suppressed a shudder as she watched the distant wall grow closer. In order to keep the populace safe, of course the police had to do unpleasant things at times. Criminals had to be taught their place, and sometimes even killed to protect others, yes.
But some of the things that the Dai Li were whispered to do, what the scrawled graffiti on alley walls and backs of houses spoke of…went too far, to put it mildly. The secret "mindbending" facilities. The wanton arrests. The spooky living dolls, drained of self-determination, known as Joo Dees.
Understandably, Rajata couldn't help but be guarded and uneasy the more she thought about getting close to Hong.
All the same, she had a cheery, optimistic outlook about the date.
Why, she didn't know for certain.
Well, she'd done nothing to cause trouble, for one thing. But that was only part of it.
As the train passed through the gap in the Middle Wall, darkness washing over the passengers for about a minute, the rest of the answer suddenly came to her as she smiled. Mushi was why.
She'd come to know the wise, friendly old waiter surprisingly well over the past week. He always had a kind word and good recommendations from the menu for her.
In spite of his imposing appearance and reputation, Hong was good at his core, trustworthy, because Mushi had displayed trust and rapport with him-and Mushi didn't strike her as the sort of man who could be played for a fool.
Soon enough, the depot was at her right. It was time to disembark. As she stood and joined the other passengers in striding towards the nearest exit, Rajata was building palaces in her head.
The day had been hard and busy, but now Rajata and the rest of her family could relax for the evening in the ramshackle house they shared, now that work was over.
Her mother, Madhuri, was cooking a dinner of fish curry, butter-brushed naan, and of course, jeera rice with help from Rajata's younger sisters, Tuhina and Maalai. Her father, Ashwin Puri, was already sitting at the table with her uncle, Pranjal, come to visit for the evening, both brothers enjoying a cup of lemon juice with palm sugar. Her teenage brother, Pankaja, was laughing at one of his uncle's jokes as he sipped at a ceramic cup of mango juice.
Once dinner was ready, the family was just starting to enjoy their portions of food from the shared bowls on the pinewood table when there was a light knock at the door.
Expectancy swelled within Rajata as Pankaja sighed, eyes rolling in his brown face as he said "I'll get it. Seriously," he grumbled to himself as his older sister turned in her chair to watch him as he stomped his way to the door, "when are people going to learn that it's not cool to go and interrupt din-"
He broke off before grabbing the handle and opening the door halfway. Then Pankaja tensed in confusion. Standing before them was a courier, a boy in his early teens dressed in Upper Ring garb.
"What-what are you doing here?" Pankaja asked.
"I have a package, a gift for a Rajata Puri from the esteemed Hong Yan," the courier replied, holding out an object covered in stiff, saffron yellow paper and secured with red thread.
Sets of green eyes turned to stare at her in puzzlement, trying to process as she rose from her seat and made her way to the door too, replying "That's me."
As her brother stepped aside, she reached out and took the package from the young teen, feeling a shapeless, soft mass under the crackling paper, causing anticipation to build as she told him, "Thank you. Tell him I appreciate it."
The courier bowed as she backed away. "I shall do so. Won an," he said before leaving.
After closing the door, Rajata turned to see the rest of her family regarding her with amazed amusement.
"Well, well, do you have a special somebody we should know about?" her father enquired in dawning, thinly contained excitement.
"Whaa-You met a new guy, didn't you!" Tuhina exclaimed as Rajata began to sit back down with her package, her eyes twinkling with delight as Madhuri laughed happily. "Good Shiva, when?"
"Is he hot?" Maalai asked, slyly grinning.
"I met him yesterday morning," Rajata demurely replied as she looked down at her package, cheeks getting heated. "And yep, he's very good-looking."
"You must've hit it off pretty quick for him to already be sending you a fancy gift!" her mother said in delighted wonder.
Her uncle laughed. "My niece captures hearts like a lightning flash!"
"One thing led to another very quickly," Rajata proudly admitted. "He sent this for me to wear on our first date tomorrow!"
"Whoa, you're already going to be dating this guy?" Pankaja said as he blinked. "I guess love at first sight actually does exist!"
"No way," Maalai breathed out. "You met him wherever, and he falls that hard for you?"
"He did, and I am," Rajata giddily replied. "I still can't believe it myself. But can I take a moment to open my gift?"
"Yes, totally!" Tuhina cried. "Open, open it!"
"Let's see it!" Maalai squealed as she lightly clapped.
"Huh, there's a card here," Rajata commented as she noticed the white square partly covered by one of the flaps of yellow paper.
"He wrote you a card too? What's it say?" Maalai asked eagerly while Rajata slipped it out and began to scan the contents.
"That's a private matter, Maalai," Madhuri chided between bites of curry.
"It's fine," Rajata assured her mother. "I want everyone to share in this joy, now that you know!"
She smiled as she began to read out loud to the attentive group.
To Rajata,
I am brave, experienced, and have learned many things both at Ba Sing Se University and in the course of my career. One subject I know very little about though, is women's attire, although I have a general idea of what composes high-class fashion and looks lovely on a lady.
Still, finding an appropriate outfit for you required an expertise that I just don't have.
Therefore, on awakening last afternoon, before I needed to be "on the job," I visited the home of my sister Lanying in the Middle Ring, where I requested if she could help with finding fitting clothing for you on our dinner date.
She was pleased to do so, and brought me along with her to an Upper Ring shop called Women's Celestial Wardrobe, where we discussed and examined the options until we settled upon, and I purchased this particular robe. Looking forward to seeing you in it!
Also, my sister has added her own comments below.
Hong Yan.
To Rajata.
First of all, greetings! So, you are the young woman who has stolen my older brother's heart across a cup of tea! You hit the jackpot there-but he told me you're quite a stunner yourself, ha ha.
I like your name as well. It's beautiful and exotic. We don't get many people from Tenjiku here in Ba Sing Se.
At any rate, when my brother told me that he needed my help finding a nice outfit for you to be seen wearing among high society types, I was glad to oblige.
I know that compared to what you normally wear, this dress may feel strange, or too flashy. But I firmly think that it's perfect for you, will only make your beauty further bloom.
We both hope you take delight in wearing it. I'm sure your first date together will be a blast!
A thousand days of good fortune,
Mrs. Lanying Yu Pang.
Rajata ignored the touched, amazed comments by the rest of her intently watching family as she opened the paper. The smell of fresh silk greeted her nostrils, and shining green cloth met her eyes.
She stood up as she extracted and unfolded an ankle-length qujupao, the basil green silk of the cross-collared robe trimmed with turquoise blue at its cuffs and wide hems. Brown half-circles scalloped the fabric just above these borders. There was a pair of loose, white linen pants too, to be worn underneath. A pineapple yellow sash was included, to keep the spiraling garment in place when worn.
"Silk," Rajata breathed out in wonder as she held the qujupao out in front of her before drawing it to her body and stroking the green fabric with the fingers of one hand, relishing the slick, fluid sensation. "Sweet Vishnu, I never thought I'd be able to so much as touch a garment made of it, far less get to wear one of my own," she choked.
Her heart was pounding in disbelief as she displayed it to the longing, astounded eyes of her sisters, the delighted and awed ones of her other kin. She was suddenly aware of how, despite Madhuri's best efforts, the floor of their home was rather grubby-although that could be just a sudden spell of paranoia-and she defensively raised it higher up.
"What do you guys think of it?"
"It's enchanting," her mother enthused. "Gorgeous!"
"Like something a princess would wear," Pankaja marveled.
"Wish I had a sweetheart wealthy enough to just give me a qujupao that lovely," Tuhina sighed wistfully.
"Should I put it on, see what all of you think?"
Rajata's mother shook her head. "Enjoy dinner with your family first. There will be time enough for us to marvel at it later."
"I'd also really suggest folding it away in the wardrobe until trying it on," Pranjal added. "You wouldn't want it to get stained or soiled before your big evening with him, after all!"
Rajata agreed, and did just that, resolving to wait and try the stately robe on until after she'd bathed as she returned to the table.
"So," Tuhina urged her older sister as they ate, "I'm totally dying to know more about this Hong Yan dude! He must be loaded and very important if he can just go into the Upper Ring and buy you a robe like that, and you already said he's pretty hot, but is there anything else you can tell us about him?"
"Enquiring minds want to know," her father wryly added.
"I just hope he's not some useless bureaucrat who only sits on his butt and pushes scrolls all day without ever lifting a finger to help people like us," Pankaja grunted. "No offense to the guy," he added.
"None taken," Rajata smiled after swallowing a bite of buttered naan. "And he's anything but lazy. In fact, he's one of our city's valiant guardians, the Dai Li!"
Her father spat out his mouthful of rice as the rest of the family went deathly silent, their pupils dilating while Madhuri's hand dashed to her mouth.
Maalai was the first to speak. "Okay, I've got as much of a sense of humor as anybody else here," she said shakily, "but last time I checked Raj, the point of a joke isn't to, you know, scare folks."
"Did you just say," Ashwin asked after he regained his composure, "that you are going on a date with a Dai Li agent?"
She nodded. Another few seconds of eerie silence.
"What." her brother flatly replied at last.
"Are-are you sure that's a wise thing to be doing?" Madhuri asked uneasily.
"I am," replied Rajata simply. "I trust him, and I've done nothing to offend him or break our city's laws."
"That may be so," her uncle said gloomily-and already reflexively turning his head, perhaps carefully listening for the presence of one of the dreaded secret police before speaking- "but don't tell me that you've somehow forgotten the Dai Li's…reputation."
"I've heard that they can become invisible," Pankaja shuddered. "Invincible even!"
Meanwhile, her mother was despairingly placing her face in her hands.
"Oh, girlie," her father said dejectedly, "I was eager to think you just might end up wearing the ghoonghat for a man a second time-and one so fabulously wealthy too! But not one like this. Not a member of a force which…re-educates people."
"And even worse, if it comes to that," Tuhina grimly added, lips set as she stared down at her plate. "Never seen again, if you really get on their bad side."
"Well, I'm not even remotely on his, or any other agent's bad side," Rajata replied in annoyance, "so stop worrying everyone. Besides," she added, "I'm an earthbender too, so if he or other members did try something with me, I can take care of myself. Anyway, it's just a simple date."
"You might be a decent earthbender," Madhuri countered, "but daughter, the Dai Li are elite earthbenders. That means they are first-class, are able to do things with their abilities that you've likely never even thought of. Please reconsider!"
"I feel all right about him," Rajata said firmly. "Surely, a man who goes and buys such a stunning robe just for me, so that I don't look ridiculous and cheap in a simple cotton getup, whose relationship with his sister is good enough that he'll tolerate shopping for clothes with her, can't be all terrible? Besides," she added, "if it turns out that our relationship isn't ideal, I can just break it off."
"I wish I could believe that," her father sighed. "But it would be very foolish to refuse this engagement, now that you've already agreed to it. Oh Rajata," he said helplessly.
"If he shows any sign that he's going to capture, or even harm you," Madhuri entreated, "you fight back against him with everything you have, do you hear me?"
Rajata nodded. "I promise."
"Good," her uncle replied in a tone that wasn't exactly fully relieved. "Other than that-well, I just hope you take great care, and your dinner with a Dai Li proves to be an enjoyable time."
A/N. Tenjiku is the Japanese name for India. In the Avatar world, I have it in my head as simply being the name of a large province in a tropical area of the Earth Kingdom where the people have developed a similar appearance and culture to people from Southern India in our own. Both of Rajata's parents and her uncle are refugees from this province.
Yes, Miss Puri is an earthbender.
While not much may have happened here, in spite of her family's dread and misgivings, Rajata's date is coming next chapter!
I very much value any kind of useful feedback on this fanfic. How's my writing style? Did you like it? Did it suck? I appreciate a good review, my readers.