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.

[savedtheworld]

[He keeps on looking proud, but also surprised, as he goes on.]

She did, huh? Wow, Korra must be taking to airbending really well if she's able to teach a little! [It's a far cry from the first times he met Korra, when she wasn't even able to airbend.] I'm proud of her, and of you.

You had an even better handle on it than I thought. How about while we wait for the others, we'll do some breathing warm-ups.

[airyopalescent]

That sounds like a great idea to me.

[savedtheworld]

Great! And now first, we'll make some calm, relaxed thoughts... [Now he'll just guide her through these boring exercises then the Korra thread happens?! Or more things happen here? What is anything.]

[airyopalescent]

[Oh so boring meditation exercises commencing! More excitement below. o7]

[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!

[savedtheworld]

An air scooter! [He's excited to teach her. It's the move he invented, after all!] Watch carefully, Opal! You can also do it like this!

[He then moves his arms around to form the ball of air first and hops up as he places it beneath him and then balances himself on it, his fists pressed together.]

[spiritwalking]

[Jinora is there, standing off to the side while Korra and grandpa teach the new airbender how to make an air scooter. She doesn't intervene because it seems like the other two have a handle on it but she will be there if Opal needs further help.]

[airyopalescent]

[Ooooh! She watches as instructed to both Korra and Aang, then sets about doing the same herself. She's a much better hand at copying movements after all and a touch of fumbling lasts only a moment before she manages the ball of air.

Balancing on the thing actually isn't all that difficult. It helps that Opal's always been light on her feet though. She hops up, pressing her fists together and then glances down a bit at the scooter itself. Not too much of course or she'll tip over.]

This is pretty neat!

[raavatars]

[ Korra smiles at Opal's air scooter victory. She really was quick at picking this stuff up. ]

It's pretty great for racing. [ She glances over at Aang. ] Is that what you had in mind when you invented it?

[savedtheworld]

[Aang lightly claps his hands as Opal succeeds.]

That was good, Opal! You're a real natural. [And then he beams at Korra.] How'd you guess, Korra? It's like we're thinking with the same spirit!