Air Buds

[savedtheworld]

Who: Aang, Jinora, Korra, Opal, Kai.
What: Airbending practice!
When: Early on September 26th
Where: Out in front of House 56 and by the airbending gates
Summary: It's time for Aang to tutor Luceti's airbenders.
Rating: Y7

[With all these airbenders around, it's time to hold a group airbending practice. The group's been told to get up bright and early, by 7, and then it's time for training on the lawn and at the airbending gates. Some food is laid out on a picnic blanket nearby - mostly some rice-y snacks to hold them over until breakfast.]

Comments

[airyopalescent]

[One would think seven was far too early but here she is, bright and ready for the days training! And likely in a disgustingly cheerful mood for this hour.]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang smiles as he greets her.]

Good morning, Opal! I'm glad you're up in time. You look like you're full of the airbending spirit today!

[airyopalescent]

I hope so! I've been looking forward to this after all.

[savedtheworld]

Me, too. [Training with new airbenders is a dream he wasn't sure would happen. And a sweet-hearted granddaughter of Toph, to boot. He clasps his hands and gives a polite bow.]

So, Opal. How much have you learned before you came here?

[airyopalescent]

[Opal follows suit. It seems appropriate anyhow.]

Not a lot actually. I practiced a little with Korra and some before I left home but I haven't had a chance to learn much at all. Would you like me to show you what I do know?

[savedtheworld]

[Aang gives an eager nod.]

Sure! I'll be glad to see. [He steps back to give her some room, looking on excitedly!]

[airyopalescent]

[Opal flushes a bit at his evident excitement. In her opinion it's nothing special but Aang's excitement makes her feel proud of it somehow. It's still surreal enough to airbend for the previous Avatar of all people.

So after a breath, she naturally flows through the movements she had practiced before at home. Punches that generate gusts of air, a downward movement with swept out hands that makes a brief cushion of air across the ground.

In the end she shows what she and Korra had worked on together, the air tunnel, save simply on her own. And when that air is dispelled, she gives Aang a slight shy smile.]

That's it really, just the basics.

[savedtheworld]

[She's so precious! Aang watches on proudly as she shows off her stuff, as basic as it is. It's still such a fascinating, fresh sight to see other people airbending.

Once she's done, he lightly claps his hands and smiles fondly.]

They were really good basics! You learned them well, so that should make advancing a little easier. Good job!

[airyopalescent]

[That's the appropriate way to make her flush, yes. She claps her own hands together.]

Oh good! Korra showed me a few things and really helped me out before I left.

[raavatars]

[ Korra slides over to Opal, trying her hardest not to rub her eyes. It was so early. Sure, she'd gotten better at this waking up early thing and she was really excited to get to practice airbending with everyone but there was only so much she could do. ]

Do you ever sleep? [ She jokes as she nears Opal, half impressed and half jealous of her cheerful disposition. ]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang laughs chipperly as he waves to her.]

That's really funny, Korra! I got a real full night of sleep last night. [He's probably in bed by like 9.] And I hope you did too!

[airyopalescent]

So did I. I was probably in bed around nine or ten though. I'm not much of a night owl honestly.

[raavatars]

Ha. Ha. Yeah. Super full. [ She is so, so sincere. Really. Okay, maybe she wasn't in bed quite as early as these airbenders here. ] Nine, ten, three, whatever. [And she gives a noncomittal shrug. ]

Anyway, I am so ready for some airbending practice. [ It's true; through the drowsiness characteristic of said night owls early in the morning she does look very excited to get to practice with all of them. ]

[savedtheworld]

[He gives an uncertain chuckle at her list of hours of sleep, but then he quickly transitions into an eager smile.]

Great! So now that you're here, why don't we try an exercise for multiple people? Let's each get an air scooter ready!

[airyopalescent]

An air scooter?

[raavatars]

Oh, that's right. We didn't really get into that yet, Opal. But I'm sure you can do it. Here- [ Sorry, Opal. Basics first! But of course, this was the perfect opportunity to graduate onto the next level. So, slow as she can so Opal can watch, Korra puts her fists together and gives a light jump so that she's seated in mid-air upon a swirling sphere of wind. ]

Air scooter ready!

Air Gates

[savedtheworld]

[Open for anyone trying out the air gates! Constructed by the long-gone Hiccup Haddock, they're located in a forest clearing near House 56.]

[raavatars]

[ Korra can be found admiring the Air Gates. She knew they were there, having seen them before with Jinora, but this was her first real close-up look. She can't help but smile. ]

They look like the ones back home. [ She wishes they were all training back on Air Temple Island instead, but thoughts like that weren't going to help anything. So instead she continues on with a sheepish laugh. ]

...Even after I burned them.

[savedtheworld]

[He gives a few confused blinks.]

...You what?

[raavatars]

[ WHOOPS. Continuing to look appropriately ashamed, Korra gives Aang an apologetic look. ]

See, the thing is... I didn't always used to be good at any kind of airbending stuff. And sometimes I got a little frustrated. [ "Got," she says, when she knows full well what she means is "get." ]

[savedtheworld]

A... little frustrated? S-so what exactly did that make you do? [He knows about her struggles with airbending, but that it put her that far...]

[raavatars]

I... burned them. Accidentally. On purpose. [ She hangs her head. ] It was dumb and horrible, but I was so angry and they were the closest things I could take that out on.

[savedtheworld]

Accidentally... on purpose. [He lets that sink in for a moment, looking conflicted, but then he quietly shakes his head.]

It's okay, Korra. Mistakes happen, especially with fire. And, it sounds like you learned your lesson.

[raavatars]

I definitely don't plan on burning anymore Air Nomad relics. [ She agrees eagerly, a little surprised at the lack of horrible disappointment she'd almost been expecting. Hastily, she remembers to add: ] And the acolytes fixed them up and everything after, they look good as new.

[ But she can't help but give the gates a once over, remembering. ]I must have gone through them a hundred times after burning them before I even airbended at all.

[spiritwalking]

[It's important to train the new airbenders but she doesn't know if they've tackled the air gates yet, so Jinora faces the others.]

The point is to get through the spinning gates and come out on the other side without touching the gates. I'll demonstrate.

[She turns and sends a strong gust of wind towards the gates which causes them to start spin rapidly. Then with her arms up by her chest, Jinora steps right into the middle of two gates. Her progress through the obstacle is a smooth and quick one - constantly changing directions with spiral movements to avoid getting hit by those large pieces of wood.

When she comes the other end, Jinora looks around the gates.] Like that. Flow with the wind changes and keep light on your feet.