002 - [Video OTA]

[12goingon113]

[Aang takes a slow measured breath before speaking.]

Hi. I'm Aang. I don't know if we've met yet, but...I'm hoping we do.

[He manages a small, hopeful smile that lasts for a fraction of a second. If you blink, you might miss it.]

Chances are good though, that you know some of my friends. General Iroh, Sokka, and Katara. They know a lot more people than I do, and so I want to make sure that all of them know that they went home.

[This is a lie. Aang doesn't know that they actually went home, but he's choosing to believe in the reality that they did. Because the thought of any of them being stuck in the void for who knows how long is...no. They're home. They're just home.]

Anyway, I know I'm not much of a substitute, seeing as I'm no where near as wise as Iroh, or mechanically inclined like Sokka, and I can't heal like Katara, but...I'm still an Avatar and I'd like to help.

So if there's anything that they were doing that you'd still need help with? Or that just needs doing? I'd love to try.

Comments

[Video ... ongoing]

[12goingon113]

[It would probably not be helpful for Aang to mention he's 114 years old...]

It is. General Iroh is a good friend, and gives the best advice.

[Aang doesn't mention how he also makes the best tea, because that really goes without saying.]

Did you know that Iroh is a firebender?

tmw i can't remember if that ever came up

[pushtheboundaries]

I don't recall him mentioning it, but- from what I do know, I take it that's a sort of pyrokinesis?

Welcome aboard the S.S. Make Sh*t Up!

[12goingon113]

[That's not exactly a word that Aang knows, mostly because...why use that when there's already firebender? And so rather than ask, he shows.]

[Aang holds up one hand, snaps his fingers, and a small flame forms on the end of one thumb.]

In my world some are born with the ability to control one of the four elements. Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. One person in a generation can control all four, and that's the Avatar.

HELL YES

[pushtheboundaries]

[...that just raises a few more questions. he's impressed, yes, but-]

What about things that don't fall in to those categories? Are those just uncontrollable?

[12goingon113]

[Aang's head tilts to one side.]

Like....what kinds of things?

[pushtheboundaries]

Plastic?

[12goingon113]

[It's kind of clear from his expression that Aang was not expecting that.]

[It probably doesn't help that he has no idea what plastic is, so that bewildered stare continues for at least a good five count.]

...I don't really know what plastic is? I've seen it and felt it, but...I don't know what it's made of.

[pushtheboundaries]

Depends on the type...but I have some, if you'd like to try and experiment. But I can think of a few others - does, say, steel fall under any of those categories?

[12goingon113]

Steel?

[Huzzah! Familiar territory!]

That's earth. It used to be impossible to bend metal, until my friend Toph invented metalbending.

[He's only a lot proud of her.]

[pushtheboundaries]

So...by that logic, plastic might either be water or earth, seeing as a lot of it comes from oil...

Or both, if that's possible?

[12goingon113]

[Aang blinks in confusion.]

How...how do you figure that?

[pushtheboundaries]

Well, you know what oil is, right?

[12goingon113]

Well...yeah. It's the stuff you press from things like peanuts, or olives, or sunflowers. Unless you're talking about the kind you'd get from hunting elephantkoi or komodowhales...

[pushtheboundaries]

....elephantwhat?

[12goingon113]

Koi. ElephantKoi. They're really big fish that live in the waters off the cost of the Earth Kingdom.

[pushtheboundaries]

[...but 'whale' is so much easier you know what no lets move on.]

All right...well...no, not that kind of oil. Crude oil - the kind I'm talking about - is formed with animals...but also a lot of heat, pressure, and time.

Generally, those animals are somehow buried under the ground for millions of years, and in the process of their decomposition, become an oil that can be refined and used for fuel. That's why I'm wondering if earth would have a factor in it, since it's a liquid...but wouldn't be one, or even be, without the pressure of all that earth on top of it. Am I making sense?

[12goingon113]

[Easier...and also really weird. Just a whale? That's weird.]

...oil from rotting buried animals...

[Ugh. This just...ugh. Turns his stomach. Ugh. The very idea of...]
[Aang swallows hard.]

Yeah, I think so.

[pushtheboundaries]

Oh, the rotting was done fairly early in the process. The real work comes as it's all being broken down further, and further, and further...

It's not my specialty, but it's a pretty interesting science nonetheless.

[12goingon113]

I think I'll just stick with being a Monk for a little while longer, and leave the Science to Sokka.

But...I'm glad you like it!

[pushtheboundaries]

Hmh. Maybe I should have asked Sokka, then...but I think I've missed my chance. Ah well.

[guess who isn't super sad about this.]

Tell you what; if I ever manage to find some, I'll find you and you can see if you can manipulate it?

[12goingon113]

I'll try?
Though, who I really think you should talk to is Toph. If it's got any earth in it at all, Toph will find it.

[pushtheboundaries]

I thought you said you could manipulate all the elements?

[12goingon113]

I can, I just...I'm better at some than others...

[pushtheboundaries]

Maybe you should practice?

[12goingon113]

[Aang's eyes narrow slightly, and he smirks.]

Maybe you already have talked to Toph...