#I keep forgetting that Bolin was canonically a cop too

[ourimpavidheroine]

Mako and Bolin set off towards Penquan Island in the Fire Nation to find answers to a case—and maybe a little bit of their past along the way.

When a strange missing persons case falls into his lap, Mako is forced to choose between his job and doing what he feels is right! An upturned room and an unhelpful witness aren’t promising starts to the investigation, but when his brother Bolin comes across a surprising clue that ties their own mother to the case, the pair embark on a journey to the small, rustic island of Penquan. The island’s inhabitants seem to have things to hide, and the brothers are determined to get to the bottom of it—even if it means uncovering uncomfortable parts of their family’s past.

[loopy777]

Republic city ended up being one of the blandest settlements in avatar, a town withouth a personality, and with a people withouth a culture. If you were rewriting season 1 of korra, what sort of culture would you have given its people, and what changes would you have made to make the city itself feel alive(compared to how ba sing sei, or the northern water captital very much feel like they have their own personalites).

I like what was implied by Republic City in its earliest promotional material, so I’d go with something like a mix of 1930′s Shanghai and Chicago and New York.

As opposed to the fairly clean, modern look of the thing, I’d like a wild, disorganized mix of cultures and buildings and materials in play. It shouldn’t look like a planned city; it should be something that sprang up haphazardly and only over the last decade or two has even really started to really think of itself as a unified city. Roads vary wildly in width and construction material, and aren’t laid out in a grid. A brand new skyscraper is right next to a 50-year-old graffiti-covered Water Tribe pub. The people have been there for enough generations to intermarry and forget their old cultures, but they’re also just arrived after fleeing jailtime back in the old country and need to find a job right now.

There’s also kinds of “Little” neighborhoods that not only evoke the various three nations, but individual areas within them (Little Omashu, Little Whatever That Island Where Aang Had The Dance Party, etc). There should also be a ‘downtown’ section where everybody mixes. That’s where the Probending arena should be. There should be casinos and dance clubs and underground boxing arenas and streets where kids race cars while the cops try to stop them and gilded opera houses and lots of other stuff.

See, the main thing that I think should define Republic City is that it’s the city of the world- it has a little bit of everything in it. I don’t want it to be the shining utopia that Aang and Zuko built; I want it to be the experiment that wound up mutating and growing beyond their wildest hopes and it was all they could do to keep it from collapsing in on itself. It should be More. More decadent, more corrupt, more crime-ridden, more colorful, more compassionate, more enthusiastic, more fun, more dangerous. You think you’re tough because you survived in Ba Sing Se’s lower ring? Ha! They just have poverty and dark alleyways where you’ll be robbed at knifepoint; the Dai Li keep things quiet, there. In Republic City, you could be beaten to death for walking into the wrong neighborhood and the poor people eat the candle nubs they steal from their millionaire employers. But in Republic City, you could be begging in the street one morning and an eccentric wealthy banker will buy you a house because he remembers begging when he was a kid and worked his way up so that he can help people.

LoK went with the idea that RC had lost some of its spirituality, but dropped that subplot pretty quickly, and I don’t think it’s really worth trying to recover if we get to do what we want with the city. (It’s more relevant to Book Spirit, anyway, and that really only exists because canon Republic City is boring.) Republic City should need Korra because even its elected officials can’t keep control of it, and Korra’s unexpected strength should be that she’s more than willing to jump into whatever culture or trouble is in front of her- while her challenge is that she needs to balance those instincts against her duty as the Avatar and the need to keep things from getting too out of control. In that way, the city is a mirror for her; fully pacifying it would ruin what’s great about it, but complete chaos is just going to lead to pain and suffering.

Individual adventures should focus on individual aspects of the city. The organized crime stuff should have gotten a focus, perhaps with Korra cleaning it out of the Probending industry. I like the idea of using street racing to involve Asami and give her a chance to work with Korra. Korra trying to operate in the gilded upper class of the city should have been a recurring subplot with ups and downs. The council should have been shown to be blatantly corrupt, to Tenzin and Korra’s combined frustration, and they need Chief Lin Beifong’s help to strongarm a judge into doing something about it. I also like seeing riots growing in the city over the Equalist movement, with some neighborhoods coming out to meet Equalist protesters with sticks and violence. Ooh, and maybe Korra can get caught up in union drama, with the lightningbenders wanting to unionize and the electric company hiring Fantasy-Asian-Pinkertons to rough the ‘zappers’ up!

In this way, Republic City can be a bit of a metaphor for the increasingly connected world as technology advances, and a kind of proving ground for Korra. If she can step in and help when Little South Pole and Little Caldera are having a race war, she can bring her Avatar Wisdom (TM) to diplomatic negotiations between the Water Tribes and the Fire Nation.

Obviously, though, I’m not describing something that would quietly sit in the background while Korra deals with the Equalists. Frankly, I think too much time was spent on that plot for the anti-climactic way it resolved, so the Book Air I’m envisioning is lots of little Republic City adventures, with the Equalists as a running subplot, before it explodes into citywide riots (rather than the Equalists bombing the city and a majority of the citizens howling for the genocide of the Air Nomads, yeesh) that Korra needs to bring balance to using her knowledge of the people. I don’t care about Amon’s backstory, but I care about how the Bricklayers’ Union is reacting to the Equalist movement.

Oh, and Mako and Bolin are our window into all of this. They know every single street, building, neighborhood, and major figure by heart. They’re friends with criminals and cops. They’re Probenders and bet their winnings on illegal boxing matches. Bolin has an ex-gilfriend on every block of the city. Mako has been banned from every dance hall in the city.

They’re full-blooded Republic City boys.

[sxypigeon]

The Wedding (chapter 14)

Book 5 Absolution

A/N:  A reappearance of the plot after an adorable chapter of fluff!  Mako gets a new assignment, a new character makes an a debut, someone gets assassinated, and the girls begin their vacation.  Get your canon korrasami while it’s hot!

Chapter 1,  13

Tahno’s trombone bellowed enthusiastically as the dance floor began to attract a new wave of party-goers with a lively tune.  Shouts of excitement were lost in the music as the rest of the band joined in.  Across the room, Korra could be seen practically dragging her laughing girlfriend into the mass of happy people.

“How are you holding up?”

Mako tore his eyes from his exes playfully fighting for the lead on the dance floor to his boss.  “Better everyday,” he said before sipping his drink - Asami seemed to have won the fight as she twirled the younger woman before pulling her back into her arms.

“Good enough to get back on the beat?”

Hell, yes.  “As long as you don’t expect me to take out another twenty-five story mech singlehandedly.  Why?”

Lin snagged another drink from one of the passing twins.  “I’ve gotten word there’s trouble brewing in the refugee camps.  The various gangs are trying to make inroads with the displaced citizens, particularly the youth.”

Opportunistic bastards.  “Sounds like we need to remind them why the police are around.”  

“More than that,” she said, eyes scouring the scene for anything out of the ordinary - aside from Meelo’s and Wu’s impromptu dance-off.  “We need to beat them at their own game.  If we can give them an alternative to the Triads and the Agni Kais, we might be able to stop the next generation of gang bangers and thugs.”

“And you need me for that?” Mako asked in confusion.

“You and your brother.”

“Bolin?  He’s not a cop,” he laughed, momentarily wondering if his boss had had too much to drink already.

“I’ve been at this for a lot longer than you,” she said with a glare.  “I’ve watched this cycle happen more than a few times.  Future Industries’ outreach programs have helped, but if we want to keep up with this problem we need to be among the people and continue to build bridges in the community.”

“Okay, but what do you need me - and Bolin apparently - to do?”

Lin took a long drink.  “I need you two to spend as much time in the camps as possible and get a feel for what their problems and concerns are and let them know that we’re listening and trying to meet their needs.”

“And Bolin?”

“People love Bolin.  I don’t know why - he was a pain in my ass the whole time Opal brought him with to rescue my sister and her family.  If he can’t win over the people, no one can.  I need you to be the level-headed voice of reason.  I expect you to the voice of the department since I’ll be stuck here for the foreseeable future protecting the president.”

A bubble of pride began to swell in Mako’s chest.  Lin obviously loathed delegating a task so important, but she did and to him.  I won’t screw this up.  You can count on me.  “When do we head out?”

She was about to reply when she jumped forward in alarm.

“Talking about work at a wedding?  Why am I not surprised?” Kya said with an arched eyebrow as she stepped from behind the chief.  “Don’t you ever take a break, Lin?”

“Not when the people I’m tasked to protect are in danger,” she stated tightly.

“That’s a shame,” the waterbender cooed as she sauntered away toward the drink table.  

Lin frowned after her for a moment before she remembered what she was saying.  “The day after tomorrow.  I was going to brief Bolin tonight, but he’s disappeared with my niece and I don’t care to know where they are at the moment.  I trust you’ll inform him if you see him?”

“Of course.”  

“Good.”  She continued to watch Kya from across the courtyard.  “I also trust that you’ll forget what you may or may not have just seen.”

“I have no idea what you’re talk about,” he said somewhat honestly.  Wait, was Kya flirting with-

“Enjoy the rest of your evening, detective,” Lin said before slamming back the rest of her drink and following Kya’s path to the drink table.

“You too, chief,” he muttered in surprise before spotting Wu strutting up to him.  Go get her.

“Are you sure you have enough supplies packed?” Tenzin asked the girls as Korra explained what they wanted to do.

“Yes, I had Asami double check,” she said with an eyeroll.

“Be careful,” he said as he hugged her.  “And have a good time.”

As long as it goes smoother than my first trip into the spirit world, Korra thought as she pulled away.  “I’m always careful.  It’s the rest of the world that isn’t.”

“Of course,” he said with a smile as they watched Pema and Asami embrace.  “I’ll send Jinora if anything of importance happens while you’re gone - though if you’ll only be gone a week-”

“With all that’s happened this week, I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw her before the night was over,” Korra laughed tiredly.

“We’ll do our best to handle things on our own until you return,” Tenzin promised with a smile.  He and his wife watched them depart hand-in-hand as Tonraq and Senna joined them.

“Off on another adventure,” Pema mused happily.

“I suppose we’ll have to stay a bit longer if we want to see them when they get back,” Senna said somewhat sadly.  

“You’re both welcome to stay as long as you want,” Tenzin said.  “If anyone needs a break, it’s those two.  I just hope it will be enough.”

“If how they look at each other is any indication, I’m sure they’ll have a very good time,” Tonraq chuckled.

Senna smacked his arm.  “Behave.”

“I’m just saying they seem like they’re good for each other . . . and very obviously want to have some time alone,” he said with a grin.  “Korra has never been good at hiding her feelings.”

“Something she gets from you, no doubt,” Pema laughed.

“At least someone is having a good time,” a young woman muttered to herself as she spied fireworks erupting over Yue Bay.  She sighed tiredly as she hosted a large container of water onto her shoulder.  “Probably UR soldiers celebrating the end of the war.  I don’t suppose they could send any of that good cheer our way.”

The walk back to her tent was mostly uneventful with the exception of a few kids darting into her path and an elderly man attempting to flirt with her.  Life in the refugee camp wasn’t perfect, but it beat being blown up by a pinkish-purple super weapon, she supposed.  They say there isn’t much left since the battle - I wonder if the shop is still standing.

“I’m back,” she called tiredly as she entered the small living space.  

“Jeong, did you have any trouble?” her mother asked as she set aside the pair of trousers she was repairing by lantern light.

She set down her load and rolled her neck tiredly.  “No, the Triple Threats weren’t out, but Old man Hoon did say I looked particularly radiant tonight.”

“Of course he did,” the older woman muttered with a relieved smile.  “Are you hungry?”

“Depends on what there is,” she said as she collapsed onto her cot.  Around her, her younger brother and sister slept while her father hemmed a coat, trying to maintain the family business even without having the shop.  

“Hotteok?”

Jeong perked up immediately.  “That’s not what they were offering at the ration station.”

“Of course not.  Jin and I decided to pool our rations together and make a treat to keep the neighborhood in good spirits.  It’s cold, but you could heat it up over the lantern,” her mother said as she presented her daughter with a small bundle of the honey and nut-filled pancakes.

“I missed your cooking so much,” she admitted as she hurried across the tent to sit next to the lantern and her father.  “Flameo Noodles seven days straight is six days too many.”

“I think you mean seven,” her father chuckled.

“How did your meeting with the kids go today?” her mother asked anxiously as she joined them.

“About as well as I could have hoped.”  She took a bite and sighed happily.  “Some of the younger ones seemed to be open to forming a neighborhood watch, but a lot of the older ones have already been talking to the Triad.  I’m not sure how much good any of this will do,” she finished quietly.

“Trying is better than doing nothing,” he said softly.  “And who knows how long we’ll be stuck here.  Better to be over prepared than under.”

“I guess.  I just wish they’d leave us alone.  It’s hard to convince them to voluntarily do anything when the Triad is flashing wads of cash around.”  She finished her treat and wrapped up the remaining for her younger siblings.  “I’m going to do one more walk around before bed.”

“Be careful, you’ve had a long day already,” the older woman said.

“I always am.”  The fall night air was just a bit too warm to be considered crisp, but was still refreshing.  Jeong followed her usual path along the rows of tents, watching for any sign of trouble.  Not that I could do a thing about it if I found any,  she thought as her hand settled on the short dagger she kept hidden under the clothes - a dagger she didn’t know how to use.  

A flash of pink caught the corner of her eye as she stared out toward the bay.  What the hell was that?

Former Grand Secretariat Gun exhaled heavily as he stared out across the vast ocean.  Varrik’s wedding had been a pleasant enough affair, but it did nothing to quell the anxiety in his chest.  Two attacks on Republic City in seven days was terribly troubling and did not bode well for peace or Wu’s possible ascension to the throne (especially since the prince seemed to be completely uninterested in the prospect).  

Who will lead the the Earth Kingdom if not the prince?  He is the last blood relative of King Kuei.  Surely he doesn’t honestly think the states can rule themselves?  He leaned heavily on the railing of the ship and tried to clear his mind.  Now was not the time to worry of such things - tonight was to be a celebration, a break from the non-stop diplomacy.  Perhaps I didn’t have enough wine, he thought tiredly.

The death of the Earth Queen had been a sort of blessing in disguise for the aged politician.  Though he was barred from returning to the capital, life had become exponentially easier without the unyielding woman’s constant demands.  Long forgotten things like pride and self worth began to slowly re-emerge from the depths of his soul.  He was a person, he realized after a month of exile, and he wasn’t about let the next king trample over him like the queen had - or that’s what he told himself at least.  

Another glass of wine and sleep seem to be in order.  He turned slowly and caught sight of a strange pink light in the sky.  What is-

Former Grand Secretariat Gun’s body jerked backwards over the railing and fell into the calm sea.

“Are you absolutely sure you want to go straight to the spirit world?” Korra asked as Asami navigated through the mess of vines toward the portal.

The engineer sent her a smirk before focusing on the road again.  “Yes,” she said simply.  She brought the car to stop as the road ahead became unpassable.  “Why?”

The avatar shrugged and fiddled with a clasp on her bag.  “It’s just that we finally have time to ourselves and . . . um, I guess I sort of thought maybe . . .”

Asami felt her grin grow as Korra trailed off in embarrassment.  “You thought what?” she muttered as she moved to straddle her waist.  

“That - that . . . spirits,” she muttered quietly.  “That you’d want to go back to your apartment.”

“Oh, I do,” she whispered against her lips before tasting them.  They enjoyed several minutes wrapped in each other’s arms before Asami pulled away.  “There’s a problem with going back to my apartment though.”

“What?” Korra asked dreamily.

“I’m not sure I’d be able to let you leave my bed long enough to make it to the portal, let alone actually do any exploring.”

A moment passed as the younger woman processed what was said before she began to laugh quietly.  “Really?”

“Really.”  Asami smirked as she moved back to her side of the car and let out a long breath.  “I do really want to see the spirit world.”

“And I really do want to show it to you,” Korra said with a sappy smile.  “So we spend a few days exploring and then we head to your apartment?”

“Something like that.”  After a moment to let their hearts slow, they exited the car and shouldered their packs, walking silently toward the yellow glow ahead.

A/N:  I apologize profusely for the delay and place most of the blame on OW Year of the Rooster - that’s not entirely fair, but it seems like a good excuse.  Still brainstorming Overwatch crap, but no actual progress sadly (Who’s this Genji fool allegedly buying the doctor sub par chocolates?).

Super excited about the LoK comic - the preview gave me the kick in the pants I needed to finally finish this chapter and reminded me that I set a deadline to finish this fic by the comic’s release date.  I’m not sure if I’m going to, but that’s the plan for now.

Thanks for reading, reviewing, following, and liking!

Chapter 15 Protect and Serve