[ 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.
[A balance. Vyng hums in thought, bringing his hand back, and then joining it with the other.]
Really? You really think so?
[His face lights up at the compliment. Coming from Mako, it genuinely means a lot.
At the same time, there's a far away look in his eyes, as he thinks about the possibilities. What would bending even be like, for a druid like him? Could he really become an elementalist like somebody as amazing as Korra? But then Vyng's more pragmatic side reigns in any flights of fancy. He lets out a sigh, bringing both hands out in front of him in a motion that evokes pushing energy away.]
...I dunno. Me and the elements, man. We've got kind of a complicated relationship.
[Vyng drops the stance and gives a respectful bow, before straightening to his full height. Admiration still shines in his eyes when he regards Mako with a lopsided grin.]
Oh, sure. I mean, we're kinda seeing other people, when you think about it.
[Some silliness, to soften what he says next.]
Besides, Sleepers don't care if I shapeshift. My elemental mastery, though? Ehh... [He shakes his hand in a so-so gesture.] Let's just say I've gotten yelled at by some people for it.
Hey, man. You're a pro who didn't know about the weird stuff. It's understandable.
[Hard to imagine somebody as graceful as Mako fucking up that badly. But it looks like he's gotten things under control. Maybe there's a tiny stab of envy in Vyng's chest, but he's still happy for his friend.]
But yeah, you're not wrong. They had good reasons. [He's not going to argue against that.] Even in a best-case scenario, I either lose control or pay nature's price anytime I do elemental work. It's not even a Deerington thing. It's a druid thing.
[Vyng rocks back on his heels, thoughtful. It's a good question! One that should get easier to answer every time someone asks. But it often makes Vyng rethink his own choices — and how his brand of druidism has diverged far from what's considered "normal" back home.
In the end, though, he just goes back to the fundamentals.]
Because raw nature doesn't like being told what to do. It simply does what it does.
With shapeshifting, you give spirits a direct connection to the material plane. But elemental work requires some sacrifice on my part. It's, uh...a balance thing, you could say.
I don't know. Sounds like nature is the thing coming out on top in that bargain. You shouldn't have to pay a price for something like that.
[ Spoken like a true bender, Mako realizes, and anyway, he can't talk to lakes. Maybe lakes really don't like being bent.
It niggles at some sense of justice still in him, the idea that he can use fire like it's nothing and that Vyng has to scrape for it, sacrifice to make it work. That doesn't seem right. ]
Guess that makes me a real bargain-bin bender. A bargain bin-der! Hah.
[Sounds about right. There's no self-pity in Vyng's tone, though. He's been an outcast most of his life. Self-depreciation fits him like a second skin.]
Anyway, it's not about what's "fair". Anytime I do elemental work, I'm really just calling in a favor. Unless you're good friends with somebody...they usually expect something in return for their trouble, you know?
[That, at least, is a concept he fully expects Mako to understand.]
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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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Really? You really think so?
[His face lights up at the compliment. Coming from Mako, it genuinely means a lot.
At the same time, there's a far away look in his eyes, as he thinks about the possibilities. What would bending even be like, for a druid like him? Could he really become an elementalist like somebody as amazing as Korra? But then Vyng's more pragmatic side reigns in any flights of fancy. He lets out a sigh, bringing both hands out in front of him in a motion that evokes pushing energy away.]
...I dunno. Me and the elements, man. We've got kind of a complicated relationship.
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[ Mako just casually won't mention that he was about five years old when that process kicked off. It doesn't matter. ]
As complicated as you and those animal spirits?
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[Vyng drops the stance and gives a respectful bow, before straightening to his full height. Admiration still shines in his eyes when he regards Mako with a lopsided grin.]
Oh, sure. I mean, we're kinda seeing other people, when you think about it.
[Some silliness, to soften what he says next.]
Besides, Sleepers don't care if I shapeshift. My elemental mastery, though? Ehh... [He shakes his hand in a so-so gesture.] Let's just say I've gotten yelled at by some people for it.
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They had to have had a good reason to yell at you. No one's yelled at me about my bending.
Except the guy whose lawn I blew up when I first got here but my bending's, uh, more... stable. Now.
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[Hard to imagine somebody as graceful as Mako fucking up that badly. But it looks like he's gotten things under control. Maybe there's a tiny stab of envy in Vyng's chest, but he's still happy for his friend.]
But yeah, you're not wrong. They had good reasons. [He's not going to argue against that.] Even in a best-case scenario, I either lose control or pay nature's price anytime I do elemental work. It's not even a Deerington thing. It's a druid thing.
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That doesn't... sound good. ]
Pay nature's price? Why does nature care whether you bend or not?
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[Vyng rocks back on his heels, thoughtful. It's a good question! One that should get easier to answer every time someone asks. But it often makes Vyng rethink his own choices — and how his brand of druidism has diverged far from what's considered "normal" back home.
In the end, though, he just goes back to the fundamentals.]
Because raw nature doesn't like being told what to do. It simply does what it does.
With shapeshifting, you give spirits a direct connection to the material plane. But elemental work requires some sacrifice on my part. It's, uh...a balance thing, you could say.
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[ Spoken like a true bender, Mako realizes, and anyway, he can't talk to lakes. Maybe lakes really don't like being bent.
It niggles at some sense of justice still in him, the idea that he can use fire like it's nothing and that Vyng has to scrape for it, sacrifice to make it work. That doesn't seem right. ]
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[Sounds about right. There's no self-pity in Vyng's tone, though. He's been an outcast most of his life. Self-depreciation fits him like a second skin.]
Anyway, it's not about what's "fair". Anytime I do elemental work, I'm really just calling in a favor. Unless you're good friends with somebody...they usually expect something in return for their trouble, you know?
[That, at least, is a concept he fully expects Mako to understand.]
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