cyclicality | [OPEN] Let the races begin

January 10th is a big day for anyone interested in the races. Or rather, interested in a little bit of gambling. Located in the Southern Water Tribe, the penguin sledding races are the place to make it big or lose everything! Races will be held from dawn until midnight with stalls selling food and souvenirs are set up around the event area. Everyone is free to take place in as many races as they want on one condition — they have to catch their own otter penguin, which might be a bigger challenge than actually sledding through the race track. They take this rule very seriously! Those who hire others to catch their otter penguins for them will be disqualified if they're caught. Just remember that this is the South Pole. The event area isn't around any residential areas, so bring warm gear when you hike to it in the cold.

There's fun in Republic City, too. It's snowing, at least, so a few otter penguins have been shipped in for racing around a smaller track. There's stalls set up in the city, too, selling knickknacks and Water Tribe cuisine. People are free to place their bets here as well, but any penguin sledder who's anybody is probably already in the Southern Water Tribe where the big fish are.

So there are options. People who have free time and money to travel can take a ship to the Southern Water Tribe to see what there is to offer. People who are short on time or money can stop by the penguin sledding arena for a few minutes to see what's up.

[ OOC: Feel free to include a variety of scenarios in your tag. It's an all-day event, so if you want to include scenarios for travel, otter penguin catching, sledding or just spectating. Whatever floats your boat! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ashes...?

[Wan's eyes widened and his head snapped from the Stupa to Bumi and back again, his heart suddenly racing. This was a burial site. This was a burial site. For Aang.

And he'd been drawn to it. Like he belonged there.

His face paled and backed up to press himself against the rail.]

I didn't know. Sorry.

[Bumi smiled a soft smile, and quietly chuckled once.]

It's okay, son...[He stops as soon as the word comes out of his mouth. It's an a habit of his, a vocal tic. One that he remembers displeased Wan greatly, and so he corrects himself...a bit too late, but still.] Wan.

Most people would be wondering why I'd be even here at all, so you're up one on them from the get go.

[Most people forget that Aang and Katara had three children, and not just Tenzin.]

[Wan had been wondering why Bumi was there when he first arrived. But he'd also not known that, by technicality, he, himself, was buried there. And probably in a few dozen places across the world. (How many lived had he lived in ten thousand years?) It was fairly weird.]

Should I leave?

[Well that question seems to Bumi to come out of left field.]

I don't see why.

[Beat.]

Would you like me to leave? Seeing as, you know...

[Here be ineffectual hand gestures.]

Oh no! No!

[Wan was very quick to answer, waving his hands in front of him.]

This is... it's for your father. I... I just... I didn't know what it was. I was curious.

[Bumi chuckles, much more loudly than before...and with far more genuine joviality.]

It's not surprising, given the obvious, and the fact that most people would rather not visit a place like this. They prefer to think of Aang as the child savior, rather than the old man who had to go so Korra could be born.

[That was a surprising outlook on the situation.]

...do people resent Korra for being born? Aang did have to die for her to be the Avatar, but that's just how it works. Eventually she'll die and another Avatar will be born. I mean, I'll die, too. Or... have... died...

There's not a shrine like this to me out there, is there?

Not anymore.

[He says quietly, answering Wan's first question.
Aang's death was hard on his family. Sure he'd lived to one hundred and sixty-six, but it still seemed like he'd been cheated somehow. That they'd been cheated somehow.]

Shrine? No, no but there is a statue of you in the Statue Room of the Southern Air Temple Shrine.

...was that where my ashes were buried?

[Bumi's not quite sure what to say to that at first, which might explain why his mouth opens and closes a few times before anything actually comes out.]

I don't rightly know, to be honest. Maybe? Yes...let's go with that.

[Suddenly, Wan felt slightly queazy and had to turn around to lean on the railing.]

Then I'm really glad I've never been.

[Bumi watches him carefully for a second, before turning to standing next to him by the railing.]

So...meeting and seeing evidence of who you're going to become after you're gone isn't as troubling as the thought of this body being left behind?

It's different. They're alive. I can feel a connection to them. I know I'm... dead... in this era... but I'm also not. How would you feel if you found a grave marker that belonged to you?

[Bumi can't help it, he smiles. Granted it's a rather rueful smile.]

I'm actually kind surprised I haven't already.

You wouldn't be weirded out?

[He pulls a what're-you-gonna-do face.]

I was a Military Man for longer than you've been alive. And there were some days? I was more than a little bit convinced that my very own marker was waiting for me just over the next ridge, or on the next beach.

I didn't think there were any wars since the end of the 100 year war.

[Wan answered genuinely surprised at the answer.]

I thought it was a time of peace.

The sad truth of it is, people will violently disagree with each other, even in times of peace.

And the Avatar can't be everywhere at once.

...I know.

[Wan's eyes shut and he took a deep breath.]

The darkness that surrounds humanity is not easily broken. It will take all of my lifetime and the lifetimes to come and still it will be a struggle. But even slow progress is progress.

So long as we keep moving, we'll find ourselves in a better place.

[Bumi adds in agreement.]

Do you...well, so long as it wouldn't be too weird, but...would you...

Would I what?

[Bumi reaches into one of the interior pockets of his long red UF coat and retrieves several sticks of incense.]

Admittedly, it's weird for me now too, given that I flew here on Appa and make sure Aang eats his three square a day.

[Wan stared down at the incense sticks for a long moment. He understood what was being asked of him and it did feel a little weird. But it also seemed important to Bumi and Bumi was family in a roundabout way...

He reached up slowly to take the sticks.]

Is there a certain way I need to do this?

[OPEN] Let the races begin

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