Chapter 23

To many, Councilman Tarrlok’s gala in honor of Avatar Korra might have been held a little too late considering that it’s been a month since she laid foot on Republic City and settled in Air Temple Island. Sure, the inertia of administration meant that even the most impulsive decisions might take a while to execute, but taking a full month to celebrate the Avatar’s presence was perhaps a little too slow.

But for some, especially those who were invited to the event, they only saw just another scheme of the ambitious councilman. Among the business barons and organization leaders, Tarrlok had a reputation for politicking far more intensely compared to the other councilors. It made him the likeliest point of contact if one wanted a flexibly-minded councilman who would lobby for your position…for the right incentives.

The give-and-take that occurred with him did not make him too wealthy when compared to his peers, but it did enable policies favoring the Northern Water Tribe to suffer far less obstruction than it should.

Various fishing cooperatives agreed to absorb the additional cost of freezing their catches and increase their exports to the North Pole, because Tarrlok had fought hard for the increase of the United Republic’s fishing rights and eventually against his Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom representatives.

Similarly, Wooly Otter Textiles solely used furs imported from the North Pole despite the higher price - especially when compared to South Pole furs - as an exchange for the councilman wading in and weighing in on their little conflict with Sam Ni Industries.

He was not the only councilor who threw their weight around to benefit their home country, but he was by far the most active in it. As such, Tarrlok was either the most famous or infamous member of the United Republic Council, depending on where one stood on the agendas he backed.

Thankfully, the Northern Water Tribe councilor has yet to be involved in the realm of innovation and technology, mostly because every magnate of that arena was already a powerful figure in their own right, and they didn’t want to escalate their rivalry into a greater moneysink than it already was. And besides, so far the industry of electricity and automobiles and advanced machinery has been developing nicely without outside intervention; there was no point adding a destabilizing factor that could see unwanted policies and regulations introduced.

For Asami, personally, she was glad to not have to deal with Tarrlok at all.

She still remembered the encounter with him during her mother’s funeral. Asami might not remember the exact words he had tried to console her with, but she remembered the tone in which it was said. It was barely sincere, especially when compared to the other councilors who managed to offer some genuine compassion.

Even the Triple Threat Triad’s opportunistic offer to take vengeance for Yasuko Sato’s death sounded more sympathetic. The goons had shown up with heads bowed and solemn faces as they paid their respects, and they remained so even as she eavesdropped on them making their offer to her father.

Asami still remembered catching Tarrlok’s sad mask so easily slipping into something…slimier as he spoke with her father.

Ever since then, she held a deep distrust of the Northern Water Tribe’s councilman. But distrust or not, Asami had her obligations to fulfill as heiress of Future Industries, though it also helped that Tarrlok was often too busy smiling and laughing with the bigwigs like her father to offer her any more attention than a modicum of courtesy.

So attending a gala like this was considered tolerable enough as long as she didn’t wrack her head trying to figure out Tarrlok’s motives for hosting it in the first place. It’s a responsibility for her father and men and women like him to deal with.

Asami had an ordeal of her own to deal with, having to entertain and smile at unaccomplished halfwits who thought they were eligible enough to be seriously considered her suitor.

Or it would be an ordeal, if not for Xing’s fortunately timed promotion.

Thankfully, her father had kept his disapproval to a minimum when Asami decided on her plus one. And for his part, Xing didn’t mind at all having to meet her and her father by the steps of City Hall to escort her in. Knowing him, the aide-turned-director probably felt like it was expected for someone of his ‘low’ standing, instead of a petty snub or a test from Hiroshi.

Asami didn’t know which line of thought felt stupider.

But she did quite enjoy the looks of disbelief she got when she entered the building arm in arm with Xing. His black and red ensemble went rather well with her own red dress, she thought happily as she ignored the stares from her rejected suitors.

“Looks like I was right,” she said softly through a lazy smile, “we made quite an entrance with your dashing looks.”

“I still say we could have achieved the same result on a smaller budget,” Xing quietly complained, and Asami gripped his arm a little tighter.

“Oh, hush. I can’t let my date not look the part. You have a house to buy, so it’s only natural that I chip in.”

“You needn’t have…invested that much in me.”

“Why not? It’s a good suit. You can use it for other events, director.”

Asami threw a cheeky glance at the man she clung to. “Besides, I can’t trust you to be even a little frivolous with your money.”

Really, it’s Xing’s own fault for being so sensible with his spending. He prioritized purchasing a new home and new clothes for his three charges, as well as investing in the big safety promotion. According to Kai and Ren, everything else would either be for day-to-day expenses, or be saved for the future.

He’s just like her father, Asami noted: trying to prove to the world that he could achieve feats with his own two hands whenever he could, accepting opportunities but refusing to be a charity case. The amusing thought was dulled when she then realized it was probably due to his upbringing in the White Lotus. Being raised in that organization as the Avatar’s peer, tutor, and then minder must have made quite a mark on Xing. The heiress couldn’t begin to imagine what sort of trouble Xing was dragged into for him to hone his mind to what it was now. To have a talent for consideration and presentation suggested that he at least dealt with a lot of Avatar Korra’s…consequences.

Banishing that sobering thought aside, Asami kept up a polite smile as she guided Xing to a particular cluster of well dressed men and women.

“Hah, there’s the bright lad!” Dao boomed, almost spilling his drink as he raised both hands to feign a great hug. “And with a most esteemed lady by his side, to boot!”

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“Xing, you’ve met Director Dao,” the heiress smoothly introduced, inured to the boisterous welcome.

“Director Dao,” Xing greeted with a nod and the proferring of his hand.

Ah, she forgot to warn him about it.

Dao of course swooped in and almost yanked the whole arm off its socket as he shook the hand enthusiastically. Asami was not the only one regarding Xing with some admiration as he managed to remain on his feet without visible signs of struggle.

“Hahah! No need for formalities here, my good lad! You’re among peers now, Director Xing! Come, come, let me introduce you to everyone. Now, this smug looking hag here…”

Asami didn’t hide her smirk as she left her date to Dao’s loud mercies, and she shrugged her shoulders helplessly when Xing gave her a half-pleading look. Tarrlok or not, this gala was a good chance for Xing to network with the other directors and chairpeople within Future Industries. Better that they barrage him with questions now than waste time in more important meetings.

They’ll get their alone time later, when the initial excitement of socializing has died down and things transitioned to quieter deal-making and conspiracies. Less chance to be disturbed then, anyway. Now was the phase of the gathering where she showed off Future Industries’ new talent. Asami noted how Dao’s loudness attracted the curious looks from the competition. The investors and heads of Cabbage Corp, Keum Enterprises, and more, threw unsubtle glances at Xing’s way, and those at the far end of the room shifted a little closer to pick up the details of Xing’s supposed exploits.

Not because they couldn’t hear Dao, but because apparently he was so loud that his echoes interfered and overlaid with his words.

Ignoring the kerfuffle being raised, Asami turned to find her father smiling approvingly at her well executed ploy. She smiled back, and then watched as he went off to talk business with a Fire Nation invitee.

She was about to check back on Xing when the doors opened and the next batch of guests entered. Asami found herself raising a curious eyebrow as Korra appeared beyond the crowd, with the Fire Ferret brothers on either side of her. Korra’s traditional Water Tribe dress contrasted nicely with the brother’s more modern suits, though Asami made a note to talk to Hanh about getting their pro-bending team a more coordinated set of attire for future events.

Unless they could make wearing pro-bending uniforms acceptable for formal gatherings?

Behind the Fire Ferrets, the calm faces of Councilman Tenzin and his wife came into view, and the bright laughter that suddenly rang out told Asami that he had brought his children along.

Tarrlok’s uncomfortably smooth voice broke through the din to herald the Avatar’s arrival, and being too far behind the crowd, Asami didn’t bother trying to greet them just yet.

“Isn’t he supposed to be in the White Lotus?” a hard voice suddenly asked, and Asami turned to find the metal-clad form of Chief Lin Beifong looking at her with some almost suspicious puzzlement. Seeing that she had her attention, the metalbender gave a nod to Xing’s way, who had managed to break free from Dao’s hold and was addressing several subsidiary directors with his standard professionalism.

“Chief Beifong. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The older woman gave a curt nod in response, not being one for pointless niceties. Already used to such exchanges, Asami continued. “I didn’t know you were acquainted with Xing.”

“Met him when I arrested the Avatar,” the police chief bluntly stated, which in turn fully caught the attention of Asami and a few people within earshot. More surprisingly, Lin Beifong actually formed a rare smile as she regarded Xing. “The boy had the decency to cooperate with us. Pity he couldn’t get her to do the same…”

That sounded like quite the tale… Well, it’s one more interesting topic to bring up later. Maybe in front of Kai and Ren, so they could enjoy it as well.

Presently, Asami tried to restrain the smug triumph from her voice and expression. “I see. Well, I found Xing had…quit from the White Lotus. As our-”

Ah, right. Better not bring up the crash with the chief of police.

“-previous meeting left me with a good impression of him, and seeing that he had few options at that moment, I offered him a job.”

There was a moment of unreadable silence before Lin finally replied. “Huh. Good for him. Looks like he’s doing well for himself.”

It was hard not to brag about her date. “Xing has proven to be quite the talent. So much so that he’s just been promoted to head of one of our subsidiaries - Future Media.”

The police chief gave a somewhat interested hum at that, before nodding. “It’s a shame for the Avatar to lose someone with his head screwed on right, but… Eh, glad he’s moved on to something better.”

Approval and compliments from Lin Beifong? A rare thing indeed.

Asami then almost chuckled at wondering how Xing would downplay himself if she told him about this.

The metalbending chief of police already moved on before she could get any further details, so Asami started to head back to join Xing. She barely took several steps before she heard a voice calling her by her recently adopted nickname.

“Hey, pretty lady!”

The heiress turned to find the two airbending girls dashing up to her. The younger sister, Ikki, was beaming a huge grin as she immediately launched a barrage of questions. “Why aren’t you with Xing? Why is he with those adults there? Where did he get his suit? Did you buy it for him? Does Korra-”

The older sister, Jinora, finally coughed to interrupt the verbal stream, flashing an apologetic look before adopting a more polite smile and bow. “It’s good to see you again, Miss Asami. You look very pretty tonight.”

“Please, you can just call me Asami,” Asami gracefully replied. “And thank you. You two look just as lovely and lively as before.”

”Why aren’t you with your boyfriend though?” Ikki butted in, and this time Asami wasn’t flustered by the term.

Remembering her interactions with Ren and Kai, the girlfriend of the young director consciously kept her reply from being too condescending. “Well, Xing needs to get to know more people, and it’d be better if I wasn’t around to affect how people see him.”

Jinora was the first to nod in understanding, though her sister was the one to voice it. “Oh, you don’t want people to think he’s being babied by you!”

The sibling shot the younger one a glare before nodding again. “We understand… It’s a bit like how people try to get our father to like them by talking to us?”

Asami gave the sisters a sympathetic look. “Quite so. Except that some people might also think Xing might not be as smart as he is because I’m around to help him.”

“That’s…not good,” Jinora agreed, and then offered a surprisingly grateful smile. “Thank you for helping Xing. I’m sorry that he had to…leave us.”

There was clearly more the girl wanted to say but couldn’t, considering the very public surroundings, so Asami shifted the conversation to less weighty topics to keep the girls engaged and giggling. They ran off shortly after to pester their mother about finger food, so once more Asami made to rejoin Xing.

And once more she was intercepted, this time by a far less enthusiastic figure.

“Quite a bright party,” Avatar Korra remarked, the brothers no longer by her side. A quick scan with her eyes found Mako fending off a gaggle of excited socialites, while Bolin was happily entertaining Hiroshi and some investors with lively pro-bending gestures - probably giving an old play-by-play.

Accepting the unasked aid to get the hangers on off her back, Asami gave a nod and gestured for Korra to follow her to a quieter place. “It’d reflect poorly on Councilman Tarrlok if he welcomed the Avatar with anything less than lavish fare.”

The Avatar glanced over her shoulder to give the ‘I’m busy’ glare to several people, who then wisely backed off, and then returned to the conversation. “Yeah, well I appreciate the gesture, but honestly, it’s weird to have a party, like, right now.”

Unsure of whether to introduce Korra to the inner workings of Republic City politics, Asami only shrugged. “Things can take a while to get done, especially for powerful people with a lot of things on their plate.”

“Yeah, I’m sure it is…” There was a flicker of something on Korra’s face, and after some hard staring she slouched a little to whisper her next words.

“Tenzin told me that I shouldn’t trust Tarrlok, and that there’s another reason to host this gala…”

It was impossible for Asami to not feel some pity at seeing the suspicion peeking out of Korra, and the fact that she was quite clearly out of her element.

A spiteful voice in the corner of the heiress’ mind wondered if the Avatar would be missing having her socially adept minder around right now.

“Tarrlok is…wily,” Asami admitted. “But I’m afraid that I can’t tell what other motive he might have for hosting this gala… Where is the councilman anyway? He should be giving a toast in your honor by now.”

Korra gave a quick shrug. “Dunno. Said something about checking on other guests…”

Ah, that made sense. Can’t toast without all the right VIPs around.

“Anyway, I always meant to ask…” Asami blinked as she heard how the Avatar’s voice hardened so suddenly. “I’m surprised Xing’s still sticking with you. Or you’re still keeping him.”

Those weren’t exactly questions, but the tone of the words was most definitely confrontational.