INT. OMASHU PALACE- DAY

Xing distractedly moved a Pai-Sho tile.

"You have set yourself up to fail again," King Enze noted, beginning to gather up the tiles. "You should pay more attention. Being kept waiting in elegant hallways is the lot of men like us."

"I'm sorry I'm not better company."

"Nonsense." The king moved to a window to watch the activity in the city outside. "I've enjoyed having you here, Avatar. Even though you play a marvelously bad game of Pai-Sho. I'll miss you when the Earth King sends for you."

"Do you think he will?"

"Oh yes." Enze spread some seeds out on the window sill for the birds. "He has to. But he wants you to get nervous, first."

"I'm sure it's more than I deserve," Xing stoked a dove. "You have been unduly kind to me, your Highness. I am grateful."

…

"Hi, Korra." Bolin waved.

"Hi," she jogged across the street.

"Wow, you look nice," he said.

"I just had lunch with Zuko," she explained. "Actually, I can't wait to change."

"Wow," Bolin said, jealously.

"He wanted to talk about his uncle and the Spirit World before he went back to the Fire Nation. We had a really good time, actually."

"I bet."

"So, what are you up to?"

"Nothing much. We're done filming, and they don't need any more photos for the posters, and we can't go promote the mover in the Earth Confederacy until it opens here."

"I almost forgot you had that trip coming up. Will you get to see Opal?"

Bolin brightened. "Yes! Zhu-Li said I could bring her with me when we attend the premiere in Oma-Shu. Apparently that's where most of the fanfare is happening. It stayed pretty stable during… you know… and there's that whole Cave of Two Lovers thing."

"Sounds like you'll have a great time."

"I hope so. There's controversy over there. About Varrick and me. But since we both left Kuvira's army, it's not as bad as it could be."

Korra nodded. "Well, I hope it's a big success. And maybe I'll see you. I should probably visit the Earth Confederacy again."

INT. BA SING SE PALACE- NIGHT

His Majesty, Sen the Earth King, sat on his throne, bored and tired.

"I've heard the Avatar has just arrived."

The head of the Dai-Li, Lu Bu, bowed, smiling. "Yes, your Majesty."

"Very well," the king straightened his crown. "Have someone send him in. I must see him, so we must get this over with."

"I don't like that Avatar Xing, your Majesty. He has suddenly decided to become sincere, a practice most disconcerting."

"It's most likely only a strategy." Sen sat up straighter, ready for his last petitioner.

The Dai Li continued. "The trouble is, if your opponent starts being sincere at the same time you do, then the game becomes horribly confusing."

"Lu Bu, if you try to outwit yourself now, we'll be here all night. Bring him in— let's us get this over with."

Frowning, he signaled for two of his subordinates to open the huge door. Xing quickly entered the throne room, looking uncomfortable. As he approached the throne, he bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty," he said. "I only wish to resume my former life as a nomad."

"Your position and change of heart have been made clear," Sen answered. "But it is not possible. We have just come out of a costly war with the Fire Nation, and we cannot antagonize our western neighbor. However, you may retire to the Abbey."

Xing bowed again. "Thank you."

"Then we have nothing more to say to each other," Sen waved Xing off, who walked normally from the room, rather than backing away.

"He still has some nerve, that one," Lu Bu said, sounding vaguely impressed, as the doors closed. "Do you think he'll last more than a week?"
"If he can stand the smell of perfume," Sen replied, clapping for a lesser servant.