Either use the word prompt, the sentence prompt or combine both to contribute.
[As the question came up: All prompts can be used in a 'Modern AU' and similar scenarios, too.]
Text version of the prompts are below.
August 28 - Earthquake
"I've had enough of this place. Let's travel the world together."
August 29 - Lazy
"Lin finally had a reason to wear the dress she had bought. But Tenzin always said that her uniform suited her best."
August 30 - Stargazing
"Aang and Tenzin had found other airbenders. They weren't the last."
August 31 - Gaoling / Nobility
"She really had forgotten to take off the necklace. So much for keeping it a secret."
September 1 - Satomobiles
"All he wanted to do was to pull her under his cape to keep her safe."
September 2 - Soulmate / Earthly Tether
"You are my past, my present, my future."
September 3 - Heartbeat
"We are never sad, cause we are not allowed to be."
September 4 - Campfire
"Lin never realized it, when men flirted with her, or chose to completely ignore it. But Tenzin really wanted to drop the pacifism whenever he had to witness such a scene."
September 5 - Free Day / Wildcard
Linzin Kids
AO3 Collection for contributions
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
After this account was started back in February (the plan was to start out with a Valentine's day event... look out for it instead in 2022) this years Linzin Week can finally be announced:
Linzin Week 2021 will be held from August 28 - September 05.
Each day will be assigned to two prompts: One theme and one 'plotbunny'.
The prompts for Day 1 - Day 8 will be announced this weekend.
The prompt for Day 9, September 05 will be: Free day | Linzin kids.
While we offer prompts and hope they will be used and shared on the specific day, we appreciate any new Linzin content and hope that everybody will just enjoy this event, without feeling pressured by restrictions. So on the last day we can share everything that didn't fit to the offered themes.
Late contributions will still be shared afterwards. The tags will likely be checked like twice a week until early October, but tagging this account in your post or other ways of contacting this account are also valid options.
@beifongweeks offered to host the Linzin week on their Twitter, so the twitter announcement will follow shortly and also soon be linked in here as well.
Tag your contributions on tumblr or twitter with either #Linzin2021 or #Linzin2021R18, so they can be found and shared accordingly.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
It didn’t take long for what started as a peaceful dinner to turn into the most tumultuous evening they had seen in a long time. An Earthquake- of a magnitude high enough to have the skyscrapers of Republic City fall like dominoes one after the other.
The earth below Yue Bay was relentless too, creating a tsunami that flooded the docks of Republic City and the of knees of Avatar’s Aangs statue. All in all, Republic City wouldn’t suffer anything more than a few reparations and a minor flood, but Air Temple Island was going to go under if not for the efforts of the power team of two.
On Korra’s beckoning, everyone- the Krew, the airbenders, acolytes, Tenzin, Lin, Bumi, Kya along with all the children had gathered for a simple feast to celebrate absolutely nothing. It had just been a long time since everyone was in the same room together. And as any luck could have predicted, there always is trouble of some sort when this group got together. This time, it was a natural calamity.
Efforts of evacuation were led by their very own Chief of Police. Since the sky bisons had sensed the earthquake, they’d all flown away to safety- a sign that even if one person had made note of, they’d be better prepared. So, it was up to the airbenders to fly everyone to safety in Republic City. It just was so unfortunate that the sheer number of people present there made an efficient evacuation so difficult.
All of its consequences would fall into the hands of Lin Beifong if they made it out of this one alive.
The Island had cracked from its very centre and Korra, Bolin and Lin were the only earthbenders there. Utter stupidity had resulted in Bolin landing up being one of the first persons to be evacuated, with Opal flying him away. Kya and Korra were doing their best to prevent the violent waves of the Bay from engulfing the entire Island. Therefore, the task of holding the Island from crumbling under them had fallen onto Lin alone.
That woman had tremendous strength. Despite that, as luck would have it, she was yet to be tested. While the gaps of the cracks in the ground were under Lin’s control as they spread through the diameters of the island, something that nothing could’ve prepared her for had occurred. One large crack, that could fit the entire dormitory ran vertically downwards, into the water.
Lin groaned as her muscles ached from holding everything together. Everyone had finally been evacuated but then she spotted him. Why was he still on the Island? He should be with his kids.
“Tenzin! Leave!” She yelled; the strain patently audible in her voice.
“Lin, it’s over. There’s nothing we can do.” Tenzin floated on his airscooter beside his former lover.
“Get the Avatar and Kya-“
“I gave Korra my glider to take Kya. They were the last ones to leave and they’re going to control the waters from the city’s shore until we leave.”
"Think about your family, Tenzin. I need you to leave while I'm still holding this together for you!" Her voice was hoarse from fatigue.
"I'm not leaving without you. You're my family too. Either you come with me or I wait until you're ready to leave."
He could be just as stubborn as her, and she hated that.
Well, now that she was literally trapped on a catastrophe ridden island with her ex-boyfriend, she decided to make the most of it.
“Tenzin, can you still make the air bubble? Big enough for the both of us?” She asked him as she gestured downwards at the newest crack she couldn’t quite do much about.
“Lin it’s over. We need to leave.” Tenzin moaned.
“Make the bubble and take me under, I’ll need to breathe below the water and the hold the Island from there until this Earthquake passes.” Lin instructs, ignoring his pleas.
Tenzin sighed in defeat and did as she asked. He led them under the water, Lin’s eyes shut still making contact with the trunk of the Island from in between it. And as she pulled, the gap got narrow- narrow enough to hold just the two of them. They’d have to keep this going until the Earth stopped shaking and then they could climb up from under and work on fixing the damages.
They floated there in silence with Lin focused as ever. Tenzin’s task wasn’t nearly as straining as hers, so he observed the way in which she concentrated her total prowess. It wasn’t until Lin realized that he was now staring at her did she scowl at him angrily.
“What?” Tenzin finally broke the silence.
She rolled her eyes at him instead of responding.
“Are you mad at me? You know I didn’t cause an Earthquake, right? That’s more your area of expertise.” He tried easing the tension.
“I am mad at you because you were about to give up back there.”
“Lin, what are you holding on for? It’s called a natural disaster for a reason.” He shrugged.
“This your home, where you grew up, where you lived- all your things, your legacy, it’s Air Temple Island.” She looked at him as if he was stupid for not knowing this in the first place.
“None of that matters anymore.” He spoke gravely.
Lin scoffed a laugh, “That’s rich coming from you.”
“The buildings are ruined, my study my things, dad’s things- they’re all destroyed up there. I thought it all mattered- like there was some profound rationale to these things, but there isn’t. All it took was one Earthquake.”
Lin didn’t respond at first. Obviously, if he was feeling numb from the loss, it all did matter. Then she decided to humor him,
“What matters then, Tenzin?”
“You.” He looked up at her, eyes grim and focused.
“Cut the garbage, Tenzin.“ She shook her head.
“Really. You were all that ever mattered. We let circumstances, our legacy and everything outside our little bubble break us.” He looked around in their actual airbubble and offered her a sad smile. He continued, “And for what? So that I could have airbenders? They showed up anyway, didn’t they? We could’ve been together, married, not married, kids, no kids, benders or not. We could live in the city or here, we could’ve travelled the world if it weren’t for the fucking legacy. It wasn’t even our legacy; it was our parents’. Our only responsibility was to carry this legacy forward, not become their legacies.”
He paused when he noticed Lin’s face turn paler. She was tired. She had been holding this massive piece of land they call an island together for almost an hour now. Not only that, but she was also mentally holding it together while was having his little meltdown. He sighed internally. He always did this to her. No wonder she felt like she didn’t need an outlet.
“Lin, you don’t look so good-“ He moved closer to her.
“Thanks Tenzin but I figured that out when you left me for someone fifteen years younger.” She snapped.
Ouch. But warranted, he decided.
Ignoring that, he continued, “Lin you can’t keep holding on. We don’t know when the tremors will stop. You're in pain.”
“Tenzin!” She seethed, “I’m not sure you understand, but if I let go now, the entire Island goes under, broken into thousands of fragments. You’re right, it is done for but if I keep holding on, you’ll at least be able to salvage something compared to nothing. If I let go, we won't make it. I'm sorry I brought you in here but you should've left when I asked you to. I don't have it in me to fight you right now. So please, let me keep you alive.”
“Let go, Lin.” Still carefully supporting the bubble he moved even closer to where Lin was standing and softly kissed her forehead.
“Get away-“ She jerked under him, scared she might accidentally lose control of the Earth.
He didn’t oblige, though. He gathered his thoughts within a slow blink and then opened his newly determined eyes. Once again, he moved close to her, this time though, he kissed her mouth.
“Let go, Lin.” He whispered against her lips, not just referring to her bending the earth.
“I can’t.” She responded painfully as Tenzin once again pressed his lips on hers.
“Why not? Don't you trust me?” He briefly opened his eyes to glance at Lin’s closed eyelids.
“No.” She opened her eyes to smirk against his lips.
However, Lin’s body was weakening and so was her resolve to hold the Island, especially with Tenzin’s blessing to let go. Her arm let go, exceedingly slightly, making the crack they were currently inside a little wider.
“You don’t have a choice here, Chief Beifong. You’re a powerful bender, but you’re human and you’re tired. You’re not going to be able to hold off much longer.” Again, hinting at the earthquake that made their hearts thump louder. Tenzin captured her lips again when he felt the area around them widen further.
“Tenzin, stop!” Lin panted against him. “If I let go, it’s over. The land breaks into tiny pieces, the buildings, the trees, your home, everything falls. Air Temple Island will cease to exist. And so might we.”
“I’m counting on it.” Tenzin bends a little to kiss her neck leading up to her ear.
“All you hold dear with collapse.” She warns once again, now convinced to let go since the tremors looked like they were nowhere close to stopping. She choked back a few tears. Her job was to keep Tenzin safe, and here she was sending him to his death with her.
“I will carry you if you collapse, Lin. I really want to hold you. You’re all I hold dear.” He smiled against her lips. His hands were now trembling from not being able to hold her after having kissed her for the first time in over a decade. He wouldn't have welcomed his end in any other way if not with Lin in his arms.
“Tenzin.” Lin shivered.
“You need to trust me, Lin. I will spend the rest of my life making this right. If you let go of this, I promise I will never let go of you.” He pressed his forehead against hers. She wanted to believe him. They probably wouldn’t even make out of this alive and he spoke as if they would. He felt her chuckle softly. Worth the gamble, she thought.
She let go.
In the distance, from a tall building in Republic City everybody was eagerly watching the Island being held together. Korra had explained to everyone what was going on before she left. They so badly wanted to reach Lin and Tenzin to help them, but they couldn’t.
After a long time, the Island finally fell. Everything they once called theirs being devoured by voracious waters. Nothing could’ve survived it. It was a grand demolition.
“Tenzin..” Pema choked out.
“We need to find them!” Bumi called out from the back, choking back his tears.
Korra watched the Island intently, a tear rolling down her cheek.
“I’m sorry.” She turned around to look at the now broken family.
All the way to the bottom of the back of Avatar Aang’s statue a little bubble floated by. They supported themselves on the stone and helped each other up. Of course, the tremors finally only stopped once she let go, just their luck.
Lin hugged herself, the cold water had penetrated her armor and she was shivering. Her limbs were like jelly, and she was all around exhausted.
“So, when do we start rebuilding?” Lin asked the wet airbender beside her.
“We don’t.”
She eyed him suspiciously.
“It wasn’t just the adrenaline from the death trap we were just in that was talking. I meant every word I said. You’re all that has ever mattered to me, Lin.” He turned around in his seat to face her.
“Tenzin! You have a wife- and kids, Rohan- he’s only-" She was silenced with yet another kiss. This time, they could use their hands. Tenzin placed his hand at the back of her neck to hold her firmly against him while Lin placed an awkward hand on his arm.
“I’ve had enough of this place. Let’s travel the world together.” He quickly says when he lets go.
“But your family! We’re both responsible for a lot of people.” Lin was shocked.
“We didn’t ask for these responsibilities, Lin. Everything was decided for us. And for once, I want to make my own decisions. I want to be with you, Lin. Far away from all this.” He looks deep into her eyes.
Lin seemed to consider his words. She studied him.
“Besides, we couldn’t have been expected to make out of that alive. Life has given us a second chance. Let’s take it and get out of here while we can.” He continued.
“So, we fake our own deaths and live a peaceful life in the middle of nowhere? You know they’re going to come looking for us if they don’t find a body.” Lin almost laughed.
“Is the RCPD still looking for Amon and Tarrlok?” Tenzin raised an eyebrow.
“Touche.”
“Besides, Yue Bay has a way of making things vanish. It's like she's looking out for us. You know, right over there,” He points at the now placid water in the distance, “there used to be an Island where I lived my whole life. Now, there’s nothing.” He smiled at her.
“Are you ever going to come back to visit your kids, then? Let them know you’re alive and that you abandoned them?” With the way he carelessly joked about it, he seemed a little precarious and guilt could do the trick.
“Maybe.”
Guilt failed. She had never seen him so detached. Either he didn’t detect the sarcasm in her voice, or he chose to ignore it- but his decision was made. He stood his ground like he never had. Impressed, she offered him half a smile.
“Well, with no responsibilities, you’ll have enough time to meditate over it.”
“So you and me then? New and improved. Us against the world?” Tenzin grabbed her hand.
“Sure. Let’s leave before I change my mind. I might start missing my paperwork if you keep talking.” She rolled her eyes playfully.
And so, they sought out, flying to any shore other than Republic City’s on the airscooter over the serene bay, getting disguises and then seeking their new life out together.
Nothing was planned after all.
Just two vagabonds.
“You’re the Earthquake in my heart.” Tenzin squeezed her hand as they walked the empty street somewhere on the Earth Kingdom.
“You’re going to give me an Earthquake in my head if you don’t stop hitting on me. Besides, it’s too soon.” Lin rolled her eyes but didn’t withdraw her hand from his.
Maybe it was too soon to joke about earthquakes. Or too soon to expect her to fall back in love even though he never fell out of it begin with. But he’d wait. All he had was time now.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
And here’s my series finale for Linzin week. I probably sound like a broken record when I say this, but I am so glad and grateful that I participated. You guys have been wonderfully encouraging in some ways and I want to thank you all for reading, drawing, writing and however else you’ve participated. Until next time!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Help! Linzin week is coming to an end!!! I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's participated and made this week as wonderful as it has been.
I'm sorry for not having responded to any comments or messages in the last week or two. I've been extremely busy and I just wanted to focus on posting a decently good story everyday. But I will be getting back to all of you. Dw about it.
