( she doesn't say it like she's bitter, but he can still hear an undercurrent of... something there, a whisper at the edge of her cheerful tone. he tips his head to one side and, idly, earthbends a rock into a flat disc that he then proceeds to skip (carefully, minding the mermaids) across the water. )

Well, yeah. But you take a smart city guy out of a city, and there's not much he can do in the middle of a jungle.

( he's smart and resourceful, and he read a lot of books, so he's often managed in situations where other people with his upbringing may have stumbled, but. he also knows he's the exception rather than the rule. he shrugs. )

Sure. I'd love to learn. We can ask on the network if it becomes an issue, I'm sure other people would be willing to help.