[ Fritter, who is not above pettiness (being that she is only a baby, and also a raccoon) hisses in a sort of good riddance way as the bird disappears.
Mako is watching this whole exchange with absolute bafflement. He is way too tired to even start to comprehend what's happening here, especially when Fritter locks eyes with Vyng, nods, and then scampers up the side of the house (clumsily, almost falling a few times) to go nudge the bag off the edge. She doesn't warn Vyng or anything, just sniffs around it a bit, nods, and pushes it off with her little paws before leaping after it. ]
Fritter!
[ Mako practically slams himself forward to catch her, alarm shooting through him. ]
What do you think you're— you can't fly!
[ Probably! What does he know about raccoons? Not a lot, it turns out.
Believe me, if you'd spent your childhood trying to keep your brother from falling off of stuff, you'd be fast, too.
[ Fritter immediately wriggles her way out of his arms once the treats are presented, and Mako has to catch at her again, shooting her a quelling look as he reaches out for the jar. ]
Calm down. If you're gone when Wu comes back he'll kill me.
[ And then he looks at the bag and remembers: Vyng. Static. Large bird. Gift? ]
I... meant the delivery and the yelling and the bird but now that we're on the subject, you want to explain the raccoon thing?
[ Okay Mako's actually really glad Vyng mentioned it because he was starting to think he'd made up the chittering and growling and stuff, or that maybe his ears weren't working from lack of sleep. ]
[ This is his most deadpan yet, Vyng. Fritter reaches quietly for another grape while Mako tries to imagine what talking to a lake (he does, at least, get that's what Vyng means) could possibly entail. After a moment of coming up entirely blank, he shakes his head and refocuses. ]
[ Vyng every time Mako talks to you he is left with more questions than answers. Does lake water need to mature? Like soju? Can you age it? What do lakes have to say, in general?
Spirits.
Shoving aside his confusion for the moment, Mako follows the instruction and closes his eyes. There's a slight crease of a frown pulling his brows together. ]
I didn't... ask you for anything, did I?
[ It's been kind of a blurry few days. He might have. ]
[Spirits, indeed! Probably best to focus on the matter at hand, instead of getting off-track by another wacky story from his misadventures back home.]
You did not. That's why I asked you to close your eyes. It's a surprise!
[A cool weight is suddenly pressed into the palm of Mako's hand. "Okay, now look," he quietly instructs. And when Mako opens his eyes, he'll find a pendant made from a raw piece of amethyst. ]
Tada! [A beat.] ...Well, actually, there's a second component to it. But that's something you've gotta see with your eyes open.
[ It's such an unexpected weight—heavier and sharper-edged than Mako, who is terrible with surprises in general would have thought—that he almost opens his eyes early.
But he manages to keep them shut until Vyng tells him to look, and then blinks down at the gem, his lips parting silently. ]
This is... beautiful.
[ A beat, during which Mako just stares at the purple stone, the kind of expensive-looking thing he would've never been able to afford or thought to buy back home. A moment later, he looks up at Vyng, his cheeks a bit, oddly, pink. ]
[Mako's pausing to admire the crystal draws a quiet, warm smile from Vyng.]
Thanks. It came from the heart.
[Literally. Vyng taps his chest, over the place that houses the amethyst geode. It's hidden behind his clothing — as it normally is — but it's impossible to conceal when taking a changed shape.]
Second part is...it can aid you when calling upon the elements. Choose which element you'd like to pack an extra punch, and imbue it with a little of your power.
[ Mako remembers its sharp edges from Vyng's funeral, cloaked in misery and regret as they both were. No wonder the color looked familiar. He looks up at Vyng, his face soft and full of something like wonder. ]
Well. I can only control the one element. Unless lightning's different where you come from.
[Aw, buddy. Vyng didn't expect Mako to be so touched by the gesture — if anything, he thought there was a chance it would weird him out. But their chat beneath the Spirit World's dream-like sky comes to mind...and he's struck by yet another reminder of how extraordinary even a small gift might feel to somebody who spent their childhood struggling to survive. (Now that Vyng thinks about it, Tuck takes surprisingly good care of his presents too.). Material items aren't Vyng's go-to when expressing friendship. But maybe he should think about it more often.]
[At this new piece of information, though, Vyng gives a delighted gasp.]
Your fire-bendy stuff lets you use lightning too? Can you show me?
[ Conjuring up lightning isn't the easiest thing in the world to do, but now that Mako visits the stones regularly—and has his stabilizing gem around his neck, always, tucked into the hollow of his throat—he has much better control of it here.
And there will always be a little peacock-rooster part of himself that likes showing off, so after a beat Mako grins. ]
Sure. Not the whole thing—lightningbending isn't exactly easy—but I can show you something.
[Vyng's eyes are bright, an enthusiastic smile stretching across his face. One hand pumping into a fist, he eggs his friend on with a chant that gets progressively louder:]
[ It's kind of silly, but an appreciative audience has always done wonders for Mako: he's good under pressure, sharper, more honed, and it's been a while since he had anyone chanting his name, even if it's just one person, and a friend.
He grins wider, pleased, a little flushed with it, and shifts back into a familiar bending stance.
Clear everything else away, Zolt had said, his voice like stone. Use your head, Mako. He sucks in a breath, closing his eyes, his feet wide and grounded like an earthbender. One hand, with the stone clutched in it, is tight by his side, and the other is pointed out with two fingers extended.
Slowly, slowly, he moves, pulling electricity from nothing in great arcing loops. It looks like a dance, or waterbending, or it would except for the purple electricity crackling between his fingertips, building up in charge. The air around them is charged, too, enough to stand hair on end. ]
[That build-up in the air is familiar and comforting, in its own way — it reminds Vyng of summoning the thunderbird from inside the burning library in Crystal Bay, assured in the knowledge that he had an incredible ally and friend who would help him protect his family.
Eyes wide and lips parted in an awestruck trance, he watches Mako drawing upon the electricity with the grace and skill of a true artist. It's...beautiful. Pure. Mako effortlessly connects with the environment, making the electricity practically an extension of himself. A deep longing pulls at his heart, prickling at the corners of Vyng's eyes.
But he still smiles through it all. It's an incredible sight. Something he's privileged to witness.]
[ The stone is a warm weight in Mako's other hand, helpfully grounding when otherwise, with Deerington pressing in on him, it would be easy to let all this discharge too soon or slam into the ground where he doesn't want it.
As it is, Mako opens his eyes, slows, and stretches his arm into the sky, letting all the electricity go in a small bolt of lightning that cracks through the air and into thunder. It's a little display, nothing too difficult, not for this, but Mako grins at the end all the same as he straightens up. ]
Lightningbending. It's... not a combination, exactly, but the man who invented it used waterbending forms.
[With all the wonder of a twelve-year-old, Vyng breathlessly watches the electricity ascend into the sky. The thunder punctuating Mako's performance — perfect in its dramatic finality — makes him smile.
His gaze snaps back to his friend at the extra explanation, eyes lighting up with a mixture of curiosity and excitement.]
Waterbending forms? Like that dancing you did just now? [He's practically vibrating where he stands.] ...Mako, that was uh-mazing! Holy shit.
[ Wow, it really does feel good to be appreciated. Mako's back is a little straighter, his shoulders a bit more set. He is, maybe, preening a little. ]
Bending, not dancing, but yeah. Waterbending's a lot slower than firebending usually is. All about push and pull, and you have to find that balance if you're going to bend lightning.
[Vyng raises both hands in front of himself, trying to mimic the movements still seared into his mind's eye. His form is a pretty close approximation to Mako's, but that's as far as the imitation goes. He doesn't dare call on any elements.]
There's a lot of physicality to bending. [To emphasize his point, Vyng crouches down and stretches one hand out in a deliberate, graceful motion.] Compared to what I do, I mean.
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Mako is watching this whole exchange with absolute bafflement. He is way too tired to even start to comprehend what's happening here, especially when Fritter locks eyes with Vyng, nods, and then scampers up the side of the house (clumsily, almost falling a few times) to go nudge the bag off the edge. She doesn't warn Vyng or anything, just sniffs around it a bit, nods, and pushes it off with her little paws before leaping after it. ]
Fritter!
[ Mako practically slams himself forward to catch her, alarm shooting through him. ]
What do you think you're— you can't fly!
[ Probably! What does he know about raccoons? Not a lot, it turns out.
At least the bag is down. ]
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Nice catch there, bud. [...He then says to Mako, admiration in his voice.] Man, you sure think quick on your feet!
[After rifling through his stuff for a moment, Vyng presents an open mason jar full of purple grapes to his furry helper. ]
A gift! For your little friend's trouble. She seems sweet...when she's ruling the roost, hahah.
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[ Fritter immediately wriggles her way out of his arms once the treats are presented, and Mako has to catch at her again, shooting her a quelling look as he reaches out for the jar. ]
Calm down. If you're gone when Wu comes back he'll kill me.
[ And then he looks at the bag and remembers: Vyng. Static. Large bird. Gift? ]
What was that all about, exactly?
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[He's still got the bag open when Mako asks him that question. Vyng grins in response.]
The talking-to-raccoons thing? Or do you mean the special delivery?
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[ Okay Mako's actually really glad Vyng mentioned it because he was starting to think he'd made up the chittering and growling and stuff, or that maybe his ears weren't working from lack of sleep. ]
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[Is that helpful? That's probably not very helpful, is it.]
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Mako stares for a long, quiet moment as Fritter reaches tiny paws into the jar to grab a grape. ]
You, uh.
Tongue them.
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[Mako's stare would make most people clarify, but Vyng seems oblivious.]
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[ This is his most deadpan yet, Vyng. Fritter reaches quietly for another grape while Mako tries to imagine what talking to a lake (he does, at least, get that's what Vyng means) could possibly entail. After a moment of coming up entirely blank, he shakes his head and refocuses. ]
So what's with the bag?
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[Is he talking about the lake's emotional state? Or the quality of the lake water? Hard to say.]
Oh, the bag? It's got your special delivery, hold on--
[He plunges his hand into it, tip of his tongue sticking out in concentration as he fishes for...well, something.]
--close your eyes, bud. I didn't wrap it.
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Spirits.
Shoving aside his confusion for the moment, Mako follows the instruction and closes his eyes. There's a slight crease of a frown pulling his brows together. ]
I didn't... ask you for anything, did I?
[ It's been kind of a blurry few days. He might have. ]
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You did not. That's why I asked you to close your eyes. It's a surprise!
[A cool weight is suddenly pressed into the palm of Mako's hand. "Okay, now look," he quietly instructs. And when Mako opens his eyes, he'll find a pendant made from a raw piece of amethyst. ]
Tada! [A beat.] ...Well, actually, there's a second component to it. But that's something you've gotta see with your eyes open.
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But he manages to keep them shut until Vyng tells him to look, and then blinks down at the gem, his lips parting silently. ]
This is... beautiful.
[ A beat, during which Mako just stares at the purple stone, the kind of expensive-looking thing he would've never been able to afford or thought to buy back home. A moment later, he looks up at Vyng, his cheeks a bit, oddly, pink. ]
What's the second part?
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Thanks. It came from the heart.
[Literally. Vyng taps his chest, over the place that houses the amethyst geode. It's hidden behind his clothing — as it normally is — but it's impossible to conceal when taking a changed shape.]
Second part is...it can aid you when calling upon the elements. Choose which element you'd like to pack an extra punch, and imbue it with a little of your power.
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Well. I can only control the one element. Unless lightning's different where you come from.
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[At this new piece of information, though, Vyng gives a delighted gasp.]
Your fire-bendy stuff lets you use lightning too? Can you show me?
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And there will always be a little peacock-rooster part of himself that likes showing off, so after a beat Mako grins. ]
Sure. Not the whole thing—lightningbending isn't exactly easy—but I can show you something.
Uh. Should I do it with the stone?
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[Vyng's eyes are bright, an enthusiastic smile stretching across his face. One hand pumping into a fist, he eggs his friend on with a chant that gets progressively louder:]
Ma-ko. Ma-ko! Ma-ko! MA-KO!
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He grins wider, pleased, a little flushed with it, and shifts back into a familiar bending stance.
Clear everything else away, Zolt had said, his voice like stone. Use your head, Mako. He sucks in a breath, closing his eyes, his feet wide and grounded like an earthbender. One hand, with the stone clutched in it, is tight by his side, and the other is pointed out with two fingers extended.
Slowly, slowly, he moves, pulling electricity from nothing in great arcing loops. It looks like a dance, or waterbending, or it would except for the purple electricity crackling between his fingertips, building up in charge. The air around them is charged, too, enough to stand hair on end. ]
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Eyes wide and lips parted in an awestruck trance, he watches Mako drawing upon the electricity with the grace and skill of a true artist. It's...beautiful. Pure. Mako effortlessly connects with the environment, making the electricity practically an extension of himself. A deep longing pulls at his heart, prickling at the corners of Vyng's eyes.
But he still smiles through it all. It's an incredible sight. Something he's privileged to witness.]
Wow...
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As it is, Mako opens his eyes, slows, and stretches his arm into the sky, letting all the electricity go in a small bolt of lightning that cracks through the air and into thunder. It's a little display, nothing too difficult, not for this, but Mako grins at the end all the same as he straightens up. ]
Lightningbending. It's... not a combination, exactly, but the man who invented it used waterbending forms.
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[With all the wonder of a twelve-year-old, Vyng breathlessly watches the electricity ascend into the sky. The thunder punctuating Mako's performance — perfect in its dramatic finality — makes him smile.
His gaze snaps back to his friend at the extra explanation, eyes lighting up with a mixture of curiosity and excitement.]
Waterbending forms? Like that dancing you did just now? [He's practically vibrating where he stands.] ...Mako, that was uh-mazing! Holy shit.
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Bending, not dancing, but yeah. Waterbending's a lot slower than firebending usually is. All about push and pull, and you have to find that balance if you're going to bend lightning.
Thanks.
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[Vyng raises both hands in front of himself, trying to mimic the movements still seared into his mind's eye. His form is a pretty close approximation to Mako's, but that's as far as the imitation goes. He doesn't dare call on any elements.]
There's a lot of physicality to bending. [To emphasize his point, Vyng crouches down and stretches one hand out in a deliberate, graceful motion.] Compared to what I do, I mean.
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[ Even combustion, he guesses, even though that seems to happen mostly in the mind. ]
It's... a combination. A balance, I guess, because you can't do it without your spirit, but if you can't move, you probably can't bend.
[ Except for the one time Mako pulled it off but listen: that was very desperate circumstances. He cracks a smile at Vyng's demonstration. ]
Your form's pretty good. I bet you could bend.
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