( korra should probably hear about this. should probably see this. she'll be over the moon, really, even if it reminds her of what she's lost. another waterbender, even though it's more like the airbenders after the harmonic convergence than it is anything born of her culture or tribe. it's still.

waterbending. mako's smile is crooked, but its warmth is unmistakable. )

It's something from my world. You're right, it's a form of elemental manipulation. We direct energy along chi pathways in the body and focus them with a martial art. It lets us move or sometimes summon whatever our element happens to be. I was a firebender in my world. Here, I'm an earthbender.

( he makes it Very Clear to lance that he's about to demonstrate, and once he seems like he won't be startled or upset by it — he heel-strikes the ground. nearby, a promontory of rock juts out of the earth, and he gestures with his good hand. it lifts up, unwavering. a tightly controlled motion. for all that this skill is 'new' to him, he's had a lifetime of coaching bolin, watching him. earth is probably the next easiest element for him to have jumped to. )