"I know! What, didn't you hear about it, Jin? Not one o' them sailors left with clean underclothes."
"HA. Now that's my kind of woman, strong, with an attitude. Serves them right. One can't walk down the street peacefully when they're in town."
A snort escapes me, followed closely by a satisfied grin as I overhear the gossip the next morning, and my stride seems very light as I walk through town.
Coins jingle in my now full money pouch as I ask around for anyone heading towards Republic City. Turns out, the first merchant I went to yesterday, the man who sells cloth, travels from town to town and wouldn't mind an extra hand in moving his goods.
I blink at him for a moment after he proposes this, "Uuhhhh…" being my articulate response.
I was expecting to just travel with him… but I guess it's reasonable to want help. And he is old; maybe he is full of cool stories and wisdom like Katara.
"Ok," I say nodding, "That sounds fair, I'll come with you to the next town."
"Good, you can finish loading the cart," He says, stooping down and picking up a crate filled with bright green fabric and setting it in my arms. It's not very heavy so I balance a few more on my right arm before shifting the earth up underneath me so I can set them in the raised car t. He eyes me, considering, as I jump back down for more crates, making an earthen staircase out of what's already up and loading the rest. "Earthbender, ehh? Thought you were watertriber…" I suppose my origin is obvious since I bought my green clothing from him in my watertribe clothes.
"I'm half and half." I tell him, "My mother was originally from the Earth Kingdom." Not wanting the White Lotus to here about me yet. Besides, being sneaky is fun.
He grunts and mumbles something like, "Huh… mixings…" then louder, he gestures to all the crates, "Alright finish with the cart then we'll head out."
Turns out Re is not full of cool adventure stories like Katara, there's no wisdom, there's no twinkle in the eye after a sly joke, there's just his dumb complaining face and constant voicing of unwanted opinions.
Apparently, Re's mother used to lull him to sleep with stories of Watertribe savages. Who ate raw meat and danced naked in the snow. Whose women would kill any child that couldn't hunt and the men could all swim a thousand miles.
Astonished that ridiculous stories like these even existed, my fists tighten, who would repeat such nonsense? Jaw clenched, struggling not to punch his precious few teeth out, and though my childhood was less than typical, I attempt at giving an accurate description of life in the Southern Watertribe.
While I talk, Re nods and listens, grunting occasionally. Then he says, "Aye, but if the Walrus-Leopard's don't sire at least a few o you're folk, how can y'all swim?"
"Aggghhh! What is wrong with you?! I'm FROM there, don't you think I would know?"
But it didn't matter.
He just shook his head and on believed in nonsense, rather than what I was telling him was real!
I fumed in silence. How can he just… refuse to believe the truth?
This was my first encounter with a person whom I couldn't sway, couldn't help, and just truly couldn't communicate with. It was one of the most frustrating experiences of my young life… and one I would have to go through many more times before the end.
It takes a few weeks of travel to reach Republic City. I never stayed long in any one town but I did help merchants move their products for dinner and a bed. And I talked to a lot of people. Overall, it seems like things are going pretty well for people in the earth kingdom, other than the occasional raid or bandit strike. I ask about Republic City, and most people talk about it the same way I imagine it—a shining city full of opportunity, diversity and color. The first thing I want to do is see a probending match!
But some people talk about dangerous slums, poverty, and gangs. To hear some tell it, Triads are dangerous, influential groups of benders ruling the city. Other's say it's just the increasing number of homeless stirring up trouble.
Whatever is waiting for me there, I'm ready to face it.
Jinora
"Master, the councilman has arrived."
Late, "Send him in, please."
In lotus position, facing the windows, I keep my eyes closed until the door behind me is shut and the man who has kept me waiting has a moment to realize his insult.
"Ehmmm, I apologize for my tardiness Master, I was detained at the Hall," He's not chastised at all. There's false sincerity in his arrogant voice, nothing more.
Sighing inwardly, I open my eyes and rise smoothly from my cushion, turning to face him with a slight smile. Dealing with this man is part of my duties, and I am determined to carry them out with poise and genial proficiency.
"It's not an issue Councilmen, but… as you are the one who requested this audience I was rather expecting you to be on time," I say with a wary smile, in an attempt to make the comment humorous and light.
Smiling slyly, he ignores the partial reprimand and says, "Yes I wanted to ask you about something rather important actually, can we sit?" Gesturing toward the small seating area I have set up, cushions littering the floor, he ushers me forward as though the office is his.
"Of course. What would you like to talk about?" I say, tiredly ignoring the typical chauvinist behavior and obligingly sit.
"Well it's a complicated matter you see, I—" He looks out the low window into the last rays of light reflecting off dark blue bay, seemingly at a loss for words.
A carefully constructed act—I wonder what he wants this time.
Ever since I was appointed the official representative of the Air Nation, dealing with his incessant presence has lead to many extra calming meditations for me. Next he's going to launch into a theatrical yet disingenuous monologue about how he has new ideas and wants to make the city better, but the respected Councilmen Tenzin wont let him and couldn't I talk to my father and make him see reason, for the good of the city!
And he does go on a similar tangent for a while, but then, I'm startled into alertness when Tarrlok takes my hand.
"—I want us to be friends, Jinora," This is a new angle. He says my name with alarming familiarity for someone who was calling me master not five minutes ago… and there's something unsettling in his eyes. Normally, I can discern the real emotions underlying the act. But right now, I don't know what he's thinking. Pulling my hand away, I say carefully, "I've always considered us to be… professional allies"
He's grinning knowingly before I even finish, "I know our relationship hasn't always been the warmest, but I come to you out of the great respect I have for you and you're father." Lies come easier off his tongue than water from a faucet. "I think we could be a more effective force for good in this city if we were more closely allied." His eyes are simultaneously calculating and urging—I'm simultaneously irritated and exhausted after a long day. Why can't he ever be direct?
"What exactly are you suggesting?"
"Marrage," He says shrugging his shoulders with the falsely casual demeanor of someone who is very invested. "It makes sense, we—"
"Absolutely not" I say without hesitation, not allowing him to segue into what I'm sure would have been a well thought out political speech. "I'm only sixteen, far too young. I won't be considering marriage for many years to come. I'm sorry" Folding my hands in my lap, I finish with decisive finality.
His face is carefully blank in a way only those trained from birth to hide their true feelings can accomplish, "I see" Also folding his hands, Tarrlok sits forward leaning toward me, disconcertingly close. "So you would not consider marriage to anyone for quite some time, is that right?" There's something in his eyes again, something that is screaming at me to run. Perspiration materializes on my skin.
"Whatever I choose will be between me, my family and my future husband." Taking courage from the brief look of defeat on his face, I break through the paralysis that seemed to control me for a moment and stand up.
I force a smile, feeling as though I need to prove he hasn't intimidated me.
"Councilmen, as much as I appreciate your offer, you'll have to honor another woman with it because I cannot accept." I say, holding out my hand formally gesturing him out. Different emotions flash so quickly through his countenance I can't discern them, but I'm certain anger and frustration were present. Then his face settles into a patronizing smile as he steps in too close again, incline his head as though in respect. "Oh course. Thank you for your time… Jinora."
Author's Note: For this story, I aged up Tenzin's children in order to explore their characters a little more.