w e l p

[tribender]

Premature, shmemature - I'm ready now.


( ooc; warnings for spoilers in the comments, maybe??? )

Comments

[deformed]

... Good enough for you?

[fireferret]

[During the demonstration - undoubtedly driven by sheer power and experience, the magnitude of which even Mako can't ignore - he's backed himself up a few steps. Not many, not allowing himself to outwardly show the distance he'd like to put between all of that lethal firebending.

It's different, that's for sure. Shaped by the generations that separate them, but something else, too. Mako has always been concerned with probending and the art of staying light on his toes, knocking his opponents off a ringed plateau into the water beneath - unconcerned with injuring them, scarring them, or worse.

Mako's brow draws together in tight-knit admiration. Maybe a little jealousy. He reminds himself of their differences; they live worlds apart, decades apart. Mako still has a long way to go yet, as much as he refuses to accept it.]

... All right, so maybe you're the Fire Lord for a reason. That was - pretty amazing.

[So much for being a rude asshole. He drags a hand through the short spikes of his hair.]

But it's not like I've had training with a Firebending Master before. That's usually an Avatar thing. I'm just some kid from the city. We don't get the luxury.

[deformed]

[ Ego? Stroked. But that doesn't really matter (as much as he appreciates the compliment) because although Zuko does respond well to respect, he gives out a lot in return. ]

You're a really good firebender, I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it.

[ He can tell Mako's feathers are ruffled from the demonstration, immediately feeling guilty if he's alarmed him in any way. Fear isn't something Zuko's ever wanted to inspire, especially by accident. ]

If we ever met somewhere around here for certain, I'd teach you.

[ There's no way he wouldn't enjoy it, too. Helping Aang was one thing, but to hone an actual firebender would be ... time-consuming. Worth it for a whole other host of reasons. ]

[fireferret]

[He hasn't been a student before. It sits oddly with Mako. But, if the chance arose to improve his skills, he'd take it. Definitely.]

Yeah.

[Mako has some grudging respect for this tiny Fire Lord. And now for what's been lurking in his mind -- ]

Do you know anything about what's going on in Republic City?

[deformed]

Where?

[ Quizzical look is go. ]

All I heard is some people don't like benders. It doesn't make any sense.

[fireferret]

A place you founded with the last Avatar. [Shakes his head.] It's a mess.

[deformed]

What! Why?

[ FUQ DAT who's messing up all his hard work? ]

[fireferret]

You're both dead. Nobody's trying to keep the peace anymore.

[To put it bluntly.]

[deformed]

That's ridiculous! It's not like we'd die without leaving instructions, what's going on? Doesn't anyone know how much work we're putting into fixing the Harmony Restoration Movement?

Augh.

[ Why does he bother sometimes. ]

Who wouldn't want peace?

[fireferret]

Non-benders, maybe. They say they're being oppressed.

[deformed]

That's such a stupid thing to say!

[fireferret]

You're telling me.

[deformed]

How could they possibly be getting oppressed? I'd like to see them in my time, dealing with everything my father put the world through!

[ Fuck, he's failing isn't he? You can give everything you are, again and again, but if you're not around then it falls to pieces. ]

I can't believe this.

[fireferret]

... Guess it doesn't matter to them. They weren't alive then.

[Whoa, bro. Don't get emo on him. It'll be okay.]

Korra's planning to help. She made a public announcement about it.

[wat is reassuring]

[deformed]

[ Just gotta keep on truckin'. Or trying. Three-quarters of his life is made up of the latter. ]

If Korra's around that means Aang's still there, somehow. I know he'll keep people safe and do the right thing.

[fireferret]

[He can probably relate. A little.

Silent pause. Then,] What was he like?

[Isn't everyone curious?]

[deformed]

[ Everyone is, but you get used to it after knowing a celebrity like that. ]

Like I told Korra, he could be frustrating to train at times because he liked to mess about a lot, but he was a really good friend and knew when to focus.

He forgave me for a lot of stuff I regretted doing. Not many people would.

[fireferret]

Huh.

[Yeah, that's all you get.]

[deformed]

You know how Korra can be excitable? Imagine that on a ball of whirling air zooming all over the room.

[ BT; ]

[fireferret]

That just sounds annoying.

[And nothing like the wise old statue overlooking Republic City.]

[deformed]

[ Shrugs. ]

Pretty easy to firebend him out of the air.

[fireferret]

[Okay, he forfeits a soft huff of laughter at that.]

[deformed]

[ Might be a twitch of his lips, too. ]

Could you show me some of your Probending moves?

[fireferret]

It won't look like much without a moving opponent. But I can show you what it's like to train.

[Mako is cooly confident - though he's braced for critique, since this is a Master, not an avid fan - and backs up to gain more working space.]

[deformed]

Even that much would be great.

[ Backing up, he folds his arms and studies him intently. ]