( definitely a bit heavy for a first conversation. he almost doesn't answer her, but. give him a few moments to get up and get himself a new drink. then, )

It's complicated. I guess the easiest way to describe it... there was one person that lived there that posed a threat to the Fire Nation — it was under the rulership of a genocidal dictator at the time — and so the Fire Nation attacked and... had them all killed. Except the one person they wanted most to kill got away. Now they're in the process of rebuilding, but it's... it's going to take some time.

( he doesn't like thinking about the atrocities committed by a people he is obviously a part of. bolin can get away with only claiming earth nation blood, but mako never could. and honestly, he doesn't want to. even though they did terrible things, lord zuko changed everything for the better. the fire nation has learned from its mistakes, and its children can hold their heads high. but he's not going to sugarcoat what was done, or condone it in any way. fire lord sozin got better than he deserved, as far as mako's concerned. )