[The past few years have been exceptionally rough for Tenzin, ever since his father passed. He'd taken it upon himself to manage a majority of his leftover tasks while saving the grieving for his private time. ...If it hadn't been for Pema, he wasn't sure if he would have been able to hold onto his sanity.
And now the news has finally reached him through the White Lotus. The new Avatar has been found, filling Tenzin with a full spectrum of emotions. Confusion and hurt - part of him thought that Avatar Aang would just get back up and start living again, after all he was said to have come back from the dead once yeas ago - mingled with a bittersweet fondness. A faint sensation of hope.
It wasn't long before Tenzin traveled to the South Pole, where Tonraq and Senna welcomed him outside their home. They were accommodating - and willing to let Tenzin meet their daughter one-on-one. His nerves were nearly overwhelming - he just wanted to get it over with now. And seeing her by himself, well, the less people who saw him get as emotional as he thinks he might, the better.
And soon, a tall, bald man climbs through the portal into the home, peering for his father's next life, looking as hesitant as can be.]
[Well, let it not be said that he's entirely without stuffiness.
Regardless, he hears the tiny feet pattering and looks up as the tiny girl enters the room. Could this be her? Yes, it had to be her...
It takes a moment, but he smiles warmly and gets down on his knee to talk to her. If he's going to be a father someday, he has to get used to talking to little kids.]
Hello there. There's nothing to worry about. I've already found your parents, and they will be returning shortly. They just sent me to meet with you first.
[It really is her. His father's next life is standing right before him, and he doesn't know how to handle it at all. He reaches for a moment to straighten his collar while keeping his smile sustained.]
Yes. Or rather... One day, I may be. ...If you'll accept me, that is. [He stammers just a little bit, not wanting to be presumptuous towards her.] My name is Tenzin, and I am the world's only airbending master.
[The connection isn't made just yet--the White Lotus have already discovered Korra's legendary dislike for anything that involves sitting down and reading, and have decided to leave the history lessons to Katara--but Korra does know what air bending is.
She stares up at Tenzin in awe.]
You're an airbending master! [Korra pokes her index fingers together, looking down with a pout.] Air bending is hard....
[It's the only element she hasn't been able to get yet, but the stuffy men have told her she'll get it eventually.]
[He had heard that she had shown only every other bending style aside from bending. It seemed understandable for Tenzin - after all, it was remarkable enough that she used two other bending styles at such a young age. She probably just needed proper instruction.
Now there's sympathy in Tenzin's smile.]
Airbending can be very hard. [His own struggles can attest to that. Still, it's hard to imagine his father's next life having difficulty.] But you look like you have a strong spirit, Korra. I'm sure that in time, and with my guidance, you may come to find airbending to be easier than you think.
You really think so? [Though the White Lotus had reassured she’d get it eventually, it seemed like they were watching and waiting for it to happen. It makes Korra a little worried that she might not get it.]
I learned the other elements really, really fast. [Now that Korra’s all curious, she gets right into his space, tiny hands curling in his robes.] How come I can’t do that with air?
[What if it ended with Dad? What if I already am the last Airbender? Then I've already failed...
He keeps his smile on his face through force]
You did learn the other elements remarkably fast. [He places an assuring hand on her shoulder.] You are the Avatar. But not even the Avatar can learn everything fast. Did you know that Avatar Aang only knew one element until he was twelve?
He only had his airbending teachers when he was that small. No one expects an Avatar to learn so many elements when they're so small. [His smile gets warmer.] Why, I think it's safe to say that you're already setting a new record...
[He pauses as he watches her - there's a shimmering in his eyes. It's a term that's all too familiar to him, especially from some stories he heard when he was a boy. Then he nods warmly.]
You said it with absolute perfection. To train the Avatar... [He claps his hands together and bows right back.] The honor will be all mine.
[Welp the formalities are over, so that means it's playtime after. Now that she's shown him the proper respect and everything, Korra takes his hand in her tiny one and tugs him further into the house.]
Can you show me some air bending? I've never seen it before!
[Korra, always captivated by anything that has to do with bending, especially the element she hasn't had experience with, watches him with a look of concentration.
And then reaches out, holding her hand near his to feel the air move.]
Do you think it will take me my whole life to learn it, too?
[He gently moves the air closer, so she can feel it swish at her fingertips.]
I doubt that, Korra. The Avatar often has a knack for picking up elements more quickly. One day, we'll be able to get you started on airbending. From there, the rest will be easy. Of course, the reason I said that it took me my whole life isn't because it took me that long to learn how to airbend. It's because even though I became an airbending master years and years ago... I find that there's always something new to learn.
[While Korra’s eyes are on her hands, and her attention on the feel of the wind literally at her fingertips, she listens to Tenzin’s words. When she looks up again, she’s frowning.]
One day? You aren’t gonna stay and teach me soon?
[She likes him so far. He’s kinder than the stuffy old men who were here before.]
Er... [He gets a little sheepish at that, and his move falters a bit, but he keeps it going.]
I'm afraid that the time may not come yet. I have some matters to attend to back where I live. Your father, the White Lotus and I also have yet to fully plan out your education. But it may be wisest for you to first learn how to use the three elements you can bend. With patience... Your time will come soon enough, Korra.
The grown-ups still have to talk about it... but most likely that will be the case. [He keeps the wind spinning... and just to keep her invested, he has it suddenly reverse direction.]
I have a very busy life at my home. But I'll do my best to come see you again soon, Korra. Is that alright?
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And now the news has finally reached him through the White Lotus. The new Avatar has been found, filling Tenzin with a full spectrum of emotions. Confusion and hurt - part of him thought that Avatar Aang would just get back up and start living again, after all he was said to have come back from the dead once yeas ago - mingled with a bittersweet fondness. A faint sensation of hope.
It wasn't long before Tenzin traveled to the South Pole, where Tonraq and Senna welcomed him outside their home. They were accommodating - and willing to let Tenzin meet their daughter one-on-one. His nerves were nearly overwhelming - he just wanted to get it over with now. And seeing her by himself, well, the less people who saw him get as emotional as he thinks he might, the better.
And soon, a tall, bald man climbs through the portal into the home, peering for his father's next life, looking as hesitant as can be.]
Hello...?
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Daddy, you're home!
[Korra stops when she gets a look at him, curiosity filling her eyes. Whoa bright colors! It's not often she sees those around the Water Tribe.]
Are you looking for my parents?
[He doesn't look like one of those stuffy adults who came around not too long ago.]
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Regardless, he hears the tiny feet pattering and looks up as the tiny girl enters the room. Could this be her? Yes, it had to be her...
It takes a moment, but he smiles warmly and gets down on his knee to talk to her. If he's going to be a father someday, he has to get used to talking to little kids.]
Hello there. There's nothing to worry about. I've already found your parents, and they will be returning shortly. They just sent me to meet with you first.
[There's a brief hesitation before he adds.]
You're... Korra, aren't you?
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Are you going to be one of my teachers?
[Daddy did say her first teachers would be arriving pretty soon. Maybe this man will be teaching her bending.]
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Yes. Or rather... One day, I may be. ...If you'll accept me, that is. [He stammers just a little bit, not wanting to be presumptuous towards her.] My name is Tenzin, and I am the world's only airbending master.
[The world's only airbender.]
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She stares up at Tenzin in awe.]
You're an airbending master! [Korra pokes her index fingers together, looking down with a pout.] Air bending is hard....
[It's the only element she hasn't been able to get yet, but the stuffy men have told her she'll get it eventually.]
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Now there's sympathy in Tenzin's smile.]
Airbending can be very hard. [His own struggles can attest to that. Still, it's hard to imagine his father's next life having difficulty.] But you look like you have a strong spirit, Korra. I'm sure that in time, and with my guidance, you may come to find airbending to be easier than you think.
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I learned the other elements really, really fast. [Now that Korra’s all curious, she gets right into his space, tiny hands curling in his robes.] How come I can’t do that with air?
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He keeps his smile on his face through force]
You did learn the other elements remarkably fast. [He places an assuring hand on her shoulder.] You are the Avatar. But not even the Avatar can learn everything fast. Did you know that Avatar Aang only knew one element until he was twelve?
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He didn’t have teachers when he was really, really small like me?
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[He hesitates just a moment before he says it.]
Avatar Korra.
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She backs up a step, presses her tiny hands together, and bows a little.]
Sifu Tenzin. Daddy says I should call my teachers Sifu, and you're going to be my air bending teacher! Did I say it right?
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You said it with absolute perfection. To train the Avatar... [He claps his hands together and bows right back.] The honor will be all mine.
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Can you show me some air bending? I've never seen it before!
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Hm... Yes. I suppose that a demonstration could be helpful. [With his free hand, he tugs at his beard in thought.] A very basic move should suffice.
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How long did you practice air bending?
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For almost my entire life. My father spend years teaching it to me, and not all of it came easily to me. [Especially the spiritual part.
But as he takes, he spreads his hands apart and makes a tiny gust of wind spin between them.]
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And then reaches out, holding her hand near his to feel the air move.]
Do you think it will take me my whole life to learn it, too?
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I doubt that, Korra. The Avatar often has a knack for picking up elements more quickly. One day, we'll be able to get you started on airbending. From there, the rest will be easy. Of course, the reason I said that it took me my whole life isn't because it took me that long to learn how to airbend. It's because even though I became an airbending master years and years ago... I find that there's always something new to learn.
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One day? You aren’t gonna stay and teach me soon?
[She likes him so far. He’s kinder than the stuffy old men who were here before.]
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I'm afraid that the time may not come yet. I have some matters to attend to back where I live. Your father, the White Lotus and I also have yet to fully plan out your education. But it may be wisest for you to first learn how to use the three elements you can bend. With patience... Your time will come soon enough, Korra.
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So I have to practice the other three elements before I can learn air bending?
[That sounded like a long time away, but Tenzin had said he needs time to take care of things anyway. Maybe it all works out that way?]
Am I going to see you again soon?
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I have a very busy life at my home. But I'll do my best to come see you again soon, Korra. Is that alright?