[Open] A Rainy Day

[Tahrro Gao Zhai]

Tahrro sat down, his fingers woven into the dry grass by the calm river. It was a pleasant day that promised rain with every thickening cloud. The wind rustled through the trees like sad poetry and the waterbender gazed into the lake, with eyes unseeing but mind trained on nostalgia. It was rare for him to be so detached from his surroundings, on another day he would scold himself for it. However, not today. The harsh truths of the past were mirrored to him in the surface of the still water. Melancholy had caught him by surprise and had taken hold, reminding him of faces he would never again see, and after all this time, all he could feel was empty.

A deep hollowness rang within him with every drop that touched his skin. Rain had started sooner than anticipated and it was a welcome comfort. Somewhere to his left something shuffled through the bushes and caught his gaze. A young turtle-duck sprang forth and leaped onto the river, uttering some faded calls that would be heard by no one else, for there was only him to listen. “Don’t bother,” he found himself talking to the creature. “Just find your own way. In this world we are all alone.” The turtle-duck glanced his way as if considering his counsel then padded off, its calls persistent.

Tahrro looked away as rain wet his face and soothed his nerves. He jerked his fingers straight and froze a portion of the incoming drops in midair, then weaved them into a sphere with fluid movements of his digits, new drops adding to it and making it grow slowly. Concentrate on the shape. Like a sculptor guide the material, define it. Like a juggler maintain the motion, never become distracted even when you are distracted by all the shouts of the world. The words of his master drifted about his consciousness. Separating his fingers into two pairs, he split the ball of water into two and continued carrying them both in an impromptu juggling motion that required all his concentration not to mess up. There was something about being so singularly precise with one hand that was immensely difficult to him.

The turtle-duck never stopped spreading its calls across the river.

[Kim Sung Woo]

Sunshine, it wasn't present on this day. Clouds were heavily drifting across the ever graying skies. Just another one of those days where it seemed perfect to sit and contemplate over certain thoughts. A time of reflection and self evaluation, that it was. A gentle breeze slowly picked up into a moderate gust. The leaves rustled in unison as Sung Woo made his way across Republic City Park. This weather was very metaphorically similar to his ideologies and beliefs, the whole 'look at the world in shades of gray' mentality. Taking a gander towards the heavy clouds, it was almost certain that rain was imminent.

Slowly but surely, drops of rain came pouring down. A light sprinkle at first, which gradually became a light shower. It was these few little simple moments in life that Sung Woo found so enjoyable and relaxing. The feeling of every drop that made contact with him all felt so surreal, so personal. Maybe it was just him being crazy, but it felt good, real good. Sung Woo knew that it would rain today, but he didn't dress for the occasion at all. His gray scarf was cozily wrapped around his neck, keeping him nice and toasty, but doing nothing to shield to rain.

A couple steps in the right direction along the river was quite tranquil, especially when accompanied by the sound of the raindrops hitting the stream of water. Much to Sung Woo's surprise, and man, perhaps a couple years his elder, had been spotted alone just a couple paces ahead. It seemed as if that man wanted to be left alone, and Sung Woo was happy to respect those wishes. He continued to pace forward, slowly inching closer towards the stranger, when all of a sudden a turtle-duck had randomly appeared from seemingly nowhere.

'Don’t bother. Just find your own way. In this world we are all alone.'

Sung Woo overheard the stranger talk to the animal. Was it weird? Perhaps it was, but when people are alone, they tend to subconsciously do things without even noticing. It also seemed like this stranger was a waterbender, as he took notice of the man manipulating the raindrops almost effortlessly. For some reason, Sung Woo just felt the need to butt in and say something, without even giving a thought about it.

"We aren't all alone in this world," Sung Woo paused, as he observed the turtle-duck continue downstream, never ceasing spreading its calls. "In fact, alone may be the last thing we are in this world," Sung Woo paused again, still watching the turtle-duck calling for his fellow comrades. "There's connections being made everywhere, whether or not you're aware of it or not. We're all just a small part of something that is collectively grand. Every single action you take will play a part in deciding the outcome for someone or something else, and with that, you have established a connection, albeit indirectly."

Sung Woo never took his eyes off the turtle-duck. After a few moments, another turtle-duck had appeared also seemingly from nowhere to join his fellow mate. The calls had finally been heard. Sung Woo unknowingly flashed a slight grin. "I guess that turtle-duck wasn't alone after all," Sung Woo paused once again. He sure did like to pause and sort of contemplate what to say next. "Call it fate or destiny or whatnot, as ludicrous as it all sounds, I believe that we've made our connection here today. I'll now continue along my way, sorry for my strange ramblings buddy." Sung Woo did a quick nod and was about to continue along his way as if nothing had ever happened. Well, ain't that strange.

[Tahrro Gao Zhai]

Perfectly focused on his manipulation of the two balls of liquid, Tahrro didn’t take notice of the other presence until a voice broke through the noise of nature. The suddenness of the intrusion caused him to drop the water and glance over his shoulder at the youth who was apparently commenting on his previous utterings. Tahrro regarded him with a placid expression, his eyes ice fissured by unmistakable humanity. Even though his heart was as rough as an earthbender’s attack rock today and his soul felt dry as desert air, the younger man’s words affected him.

They reminded him of someone he used to know. Someone who had, on countless occasions, lectured him about the illusion of separation and tried to open his mind to the flow of energy in the world. He had been receptive to it all and really thought it was so, until his pilgrimage through the world taught him otherwise. Deep down he was tempted to return to the belief. In some forgotten corner of his entity, he clung to the thought of companionship throughout, even when proximity was not available. Tahrro’s eyes glazed over with thoughts and he tore his gaze away from his random company to stare at the now two turtle-ducks.

“There is such a thing as connection, but it never lasts,” he cut the other off from leaving. “Even though we’re all links in the chain of existence, the sense of belonging you get from the concept is just that, a self-deception to soothe a lonely night by the fire.” Tahrro’s gaze returned to the other, his eyes sharp with the cynicism of his words. “Where’s the connection when a fight between gangs dampens the ground with a child’s blood? What great bond can a starving man feel when men in rich clothes walk by him, stuffing their sizeable faces as they remark upon how he’s stinking up their street? Can you say that to a mother who’s forced to see her child slowly perish of illness because the town she lives in is too poor to get medicine?”

Tahrro grew quiet and rand a hand through his damp hair. The rain was coming down in full and washing away some of the sourness from his flashbacks. “When we die, there’ll be no one to follow us into the grave and share the terror of that last breath. We come into this world alone and that’s how we leave it.” He had no idea why he was sharing his thoughts so openly. He had no idea why he was being so dark about it either. It had been a long time since Tahrro thought to create a bond with someone else. People he had cherished and trusted in his life had left, hurt and betrayed him right and left. Even if he wanted to believe in true connections that withstood the test of time and space, there was only one truth experience had taught him. “The only person you can rely on is yourself and if anyone says otherwise, they’re either drunk or trying to sell you something.”

Going quiet again, Tahrro turned away from the younger man and contemplated his own words. Soon enough he sighed, rose from the dampening ground before mud could cake his trousers, thrust his hands in his pockets and stood to face the other. “So what’s your name?” He tilted his head to the side to consider the brown eyed youth. “If you insist on making a connection I’d rather know what to call you when I remember you randomly.” His tone grew lighter for the first time since he started talking and there was something bordering on friendly in his eyes.

[Kim Sung Woo]

“There is such a thing as connection, but it never lasts.”

After laying ears upon these words with his back turned, Sung Woo's world had suddenly paused. This statement, although short, had such a deep meaning to it. For some reason, it reminded him of his late parents and the unsolved mystery of their deaths. This paradox would always remain in his subconscious, at least until it had been solved. This 'connection', it did technically come to an end right as Sung Woo's mother and father's heart stopped beating. However, this connection itself lives on, through cherished memories and the never dying wish to solve that cold case. Perhaps Sung Woo did falter for a split second, but for that one second his resolve to believe that these 'connections' do last strengthened further. With a breath of the fresh air given as a gift by the light showers, his world resumed.

"Even though we’re all links in the chain of existence, the sense of belonging you get from the concept is just that, a self-deception to soothe a lonely night by the fire. Where’s the connection when a fight between gangs dampens the ground with a child’s blood? What great bond can a starving man feel when men in rich clothes walk by him, stuffing their sizeable faces as they remark upon how he’s stinking up their street? Can you say that to a mother who’s forced to see her child slowly perish of illness because the town she lives in is too poor to get medicine?”

Sung Woo turned around and their gazes met. There was a bit of cynicism in his words, evidence that this stranger has been through many struggles. What started off as just random ramblings from a goofy awkward seventeen year old soon became something far more interesting. The waterbender seemed to have more on his mind and he was ready to let Sung Woo know just what it was.

“When we die, there’ll be no one to follow us into the grave and share the terror of that last breath. We come into this world alone and that’s how we leave it. The only person you can rely on is yourself and if anyone says otherwise, they’re either drunk or trying to sell you something.”

What this stranger had to say was very thought provoking. This man spoke of no lies, but of the ideals in which he himself believed in. It was respectable, at least to Sung Woo's eyes. There weren't much people nowadays that bothered to speak their mind on topics such as these. It does take some sort of courage to speak what's on ones mind. After listening to what the waterbender had to say, Sung Woo decided it was time to open his mouth and now return a couple thoughts of his own.

"Connections do come to an end, I agree with you to that. There's the old saying that 'All things must come to and end', perhaps it relevant to connections also," Sung Woo paused for a moment as he wrung his gray scarf of the water it had retained from the light showers. "They may not last physically, but they do last mentally." Sung Woo pointed his left index finger towards his temple. "I believe that even though that connection may have come and gone, it still remains in the sanctuary of your thoughts. Everyone perceives it differently, which is of course, very understandable. You may see me as some lonely boy needing an excuse to feel a 'belonging' in this world. Which, I do admit, is the same way I would've viewed it a couple months prior in what may have been the darkest times of my life to this date." Sung Woo paused again momentarily as thoughts of his parents reoccurred throughout his thoughts.

"I'm no fan of gangs myself. Where I grew up, the Triple Threat Triad and the Agni Kai ran rampant. Perhaps I do feel resentment towards them every now and then. I try to look at the situation objectively, through black and white, there's always a shade of gray. I know many innocent lives have been terrorized and even lost through these wars between these notorious gangs. Connections between those that hold power and those who hold none, connections between the rich and the poor, connections through fate and destiny. It always goes hand in hand. Perhaps I sound like an out of tune radio station, but connections can be made all depending on how you perceive it all.

The two seemed to have gotten engaged in an impromptu conversation over the most trivial of things. 'Connections', although these two may have very contrasting beliefs, they somehow find a common ground to speak to one another. Opposites do attract, as farfetched as that may sound. Sung Woo wasn't expecting to speak so much, but he does like to open his mouth and blabber on and preach about his own beliefs and ideologies, which can be a bit long winded, as seen with his last few statements. The stranger turned his back away for a quick moment before taking his hands out of his pockets and extended it towards Sung Woo.

Sung Woo shook the strangers hand with a firm grip and a slight grin. "Kim Sung Woo. A pleasure to meet such an interesting fellow. A connection we have made today," Sung Woo said enthusiastically. "I'm not drunk, nor am I trying to sell you anything. There'll be people that will come up into your life perhaps presently if not, in the future that'll have your back, without you even knowing. Who knows, maybe it'll be me," Sung Woo said, in a more casual tone this time around, as he shrugged his shoulders. He started to show more of his teenage side now, since after all, he was still just a seventeen year old boy.

[Tahrro Gao Zhai]

“Perspective.” It was the word that Tahrro could agree with and he was about to say just how. “You describe memories. Some people are more attached to the bonds that flourished during a time of togetherness and companionship, while others choose to forget it when the contact became lost to them.” Something tightened in his eyes, the only sign of the primal hurt he had buried within at being forgotten by the one person he had cherished most after his parents. “So tell me then, how can there be a connection when one end has been severed. That sounds more like the unknowing, one-sided idealism of someone unaware of said loss.” He glanced towards the river. “What kind of spiritual creatures can we claim to be when we hold onto a rope the other had long abandoned but never even notice the slack from the other end until we come to see it.”

This had to be the most spontaneous conversation that touched upon sensitive matters so instantly to him that he could recall. Tahrro was becoming distinctly aware of the mass of rage the notions were poking with a stick. That deep rage that had helped him move on with his life after the people he had come to rely on had dropped his hand so carelessly, so coldly. Sure they had been all smiles and promises at first, and they had even meant it, but with the passing of time so too those feelings passed. “A connection is only there as long as both can still feel it.” His tone was dry, contemplative and the blue of his eyes stoic. “The one who is prone to let go last walks a path of sorrow and fools himself with meanings that were never in the way of things, but were true in his head.” He would cringe at how intimately he was talking about his old self to a practical stranger, even though it was done under the veil of opinions purely.

When he thought of connections between the powerful and the weak, the rich and the poor, connections supposedly facilitated by fateful encounters, machinations of destiny, the corner Tahrro’s lips curved up mirthlessly for but a moment. “The powerful will always control the weak and wealth is a form of power, some may even call it righteousness and feel a sense of entitlement to the role of hero. The fact still remains that the weak can’t steer their own lives, but must constantly rely on the powerful to do it for them. If you call that connection ignorant oppression, then I see what you mean.” He could see how benders could be accused of it, as they were, by nature’s choosing, the ones born with an advantage over their fellows. Whether they wanted to or not, the ones with more power would always have more impact on others’ lives and said others would come to sense their lack of freedom and option and resent the thought of helplessness, but since there was little some could do to gain more power and resenting themselves endlessly would only drop them in a pit of despair, they started envying their saviors and harboring an underlying aggression towards the impact the powerful could have on their lives, even if they never became conscious of it. Some perhaps continued to wallow in their self-deprecation, but this was an entire other topic.

Tahrro felt he needed to add a thought to the concept of destiny also. “One day you meet a person who ends up having a great impact on your life. As a naturally spiritual soul, with a tendency towards romanticizing life, you will attribute the chance encounter to destiny. It was meant to be that way, right? But had you gone left instead of right, you would have chanced upon a different person, one you may never come to see now, one whom would have been similarly important to you, had you gone left. You’re going to say destiny had dictated you go right, and I wouldn’t be able to argue with you since destiny is the name we use to justify the experience of great emotion, be it good or bad.” Tahrro stared after the turtle-ducks. “I don’t believe in fate, I think we make our own destiny and there are an infinite numbers of “destinies” available to each person. We just don’t know how things would have gone differently, since we can’t undo going right to see where left would have ended. What led us right was nothing but chance.”

The waterbender’s observant eyes stayed on his company after the shaking of hands. There was something about the other’s unsolicited enthusiasm that infected him into offering a slight smile in return, although Tahrro’s entire bearing was far more reserved. He crossed his arms and quirked an incredulous eyebrow at Kim’s prophetic predictions and unwavering belief. There was so much of the person he had used to be in the younger man before him that it made him incapable of smearing black over that light. Maybe he even wanted to remember. All in all it was funny. “Be careful what you say, destiny may hold you to that,” he commented seriously but there was a touch of amusement in his eyes. The rain had soaked them both by now and it was just adding to Tahrro’s mood improvement. “The name’s Tahrro,” he returned the favor of identity, but left his last name out of it. As far as he was concerned, he had no last name and everything that had ever pertained to said name was long gone.

[Kim Sung Woo]

“So tell me then, how can there be a connection when one end has been severed. That sounds more like the unknowing, one-sided idealism of someone unaware of said loss. What kind of spiritual creatures can we claim to be when we hold onto a rope the other had long abandoned but never even notice the slack from the other end until we come to see it.”

It seems a very random, yet philosophical conversation would continue to brew. The more this stranger continued to speak, the more Sung Woo started to grasp a little bit more of this stranger's life. The somewhat dark and pessimistic view this man shared was quite interesting. Then again, it wasn't all too surprising, seeming that every time this stranger would continue to speak, it further reinforced how much this man had been through and had to experience in order to see the world in that type of manner. The world wasn't necessarily all rainbows and butterflies. There was violence all over by gangs of benders and non benders alike. There was corruption in Republic City politics. There were filthy rich men and women whom flaunt off their wealth without giving it a second thought. There were sick, poor, miserable people everywhere. For a flash second, the world just seemed to be a cold, dark, ruthless, merciless place. Sung Woo could understand why this stranger thought the way he did, at least viewing this whole matter through his perspective.

"I can't say that what I believe is all backed up science and all. Lets just say it's a hunch. I feel that connection personally, and I feel all those connections with others, even if they are not on this world anymore. They connect to me in many ways, through dreams, through memories, through beliefs, through their knowledge. Perhaps I'm sounding a bit crazy here, and it's all sounding a bit ridiculous. All the good and bad connections, the memories, everything that I have made throughout my seventeen years of life, they're all still tucked inside my mind." Sung Woo returned staring at the turtle-duck for a quick moment.

Sung Woo had a slight feeling, just the slightest one, that this stranger could at least somewhat relate to his beliefs. Maybe in one point in time, this stranger was in Sung Woo's shoes, looking at the world in a more objective, a bit more optimistic way. In this present day, non of it was apparent. Maybe this man was betrayed at one point. Perhaps one big moment in his life had changed him around in a complete three sixty. The more the two spoke, the more Sung Woo grew more intrigued. This man was by far one of the most interesting fellows that he had ever had the opportunity to share a conversation with. Around Republic City, there wasn't much places where people would speak to one another, or have any reason to. Then again, it was the same scenario for these two, yet here they are, speaking complete spontaneous stories to one another. It was usually better to keep to yourself. You just never knew who you were going to upset, or what you were going to get to if you opened your mouth.

“The powerful will always control the weak and wealth is a form of power, some may even call it righteousness and feel a sense of entitlement to the role of hero. The fact still remains that the weak can’t steer their own lives, but must constantly rely on the powerful to do it for them. If you call that connection ignorant oppression, then I see what you mean.”

What this man said was the truth in most regards. There was no better example than Republic City itself. Just take a stroll along the streets of the city and you'll see the poor citizens being treated as second class citizens, while the rich and powerful were treated as royalty. However, Sung Woo tend to see it a bit differently, as expected. "That's true. Those with power will almost always use it to control the weak. That is one thing that really gets my blood boiling. The bullying, the abuse of power," Sung Woo paused, as he momentarily clenched his fist and started to sound a bit more serious. "I always believed that we're all human beings. We're all equal, no matter what anyone else tells me," Sung Woo continued to preach. "I know what you're going to say. What about benders? They were born with the advantage over nonbenders. Maybe you're right, they may be born with an extra ability, but by no means does that make them any better than any non bender. Sure, they may be able to manipulate certain elements and all, but at the end of the day we all came into the world the same way, and we all will eventually leave it the same way." Sung Woo released his clenched fist and let out a slight sigh.

"Power is what you make of it. People choose to be oppressed. If power and wealth is in the minority, all it takes is a little push in the right direction for the majority to overcome their oppression," Sung Woo said. He now sounded like an extreme revolutionary, something that he himself despised. How hypocritical. "One weak man or women may be weak by him or herself, but five, ten, fifty, a hundred, a thousand. Then they wont be weak anymore. We, ourselves, can make that change. I, for one, don't feel oppressed, nor will I ever allow myself to ever feel that way. No gang, no politician, no rich folk will ever have that power over me. They may believe that they've controlled me, and it may seem that way, but they'll realize one day how wrong they were." Something about that statement sounded sinister. Sung Woo didn't mean to sound that way, but it just somehow came out of his mouth that way. It was just what he believed in, and he was ready to voice his own opinion out there.

Then came around the subject of fate and destiny once again. "Sometimes fate and destiny, it's all a matter of... well, luck," Sung Woo nodded his head, agreeing that sometimes it was all a matter of chance.

After the two had shook hands, it was refreshing to watch the stranger loosen up a bit. In fact, he even let out a tiny smile, which might've gone unnoticed if Sung Woo decided to look away. "You know me, I just say what I want to say," Sung Woo shrugged his shoulders once again, continuing to speak casually. "Tahrro." Sung Woo said to himself, implanting the man's name in his brain. "A connection has been made."

[Tahrro Gao Zhai]

Tahrro was starting to grasp more of what Sung Woo meant by connection. It was a pretty thought and it seemed to give the other a glow of unity with others and the universe that Tahrro almost envied. There had been a time when his thoughts too had been so sugared, or bright, but right now he felt quite isolated in his world. “There’s no point in debating it further. It’s as you said, a matter of perception.” The waterbender did not disagree with what the other was saying, he simply didn’t feel things that way. In his mind, everyone had their own path. It was rare to find another walking down yours for long, sooner or later ways would diverge and no memory, or dreams or knowledge attained would warm him from the coldness left behind by separation, especially when you didn’t even want to remember the person for all the grief they caused you.

He had said too much. There was a spark in Sung Woo’s eyes, something that told Tahrro his words had been too honest. It wasn’t often that someone made him talk quite so much about things immediately related to himself. The need to correct this flow of information arrived immediately, along with a slight narrow of his eyes that didn’t linger more than a moment. There was something about Kim that inspired trust and lack of judgement, but Tahrro had been fooled before. The ones who had made a mockery of him had been far older and covered in scars and far less doe eyed in their expression. Tahrro was forced to admit, against the dull gong of his paranoia, that the younger male before him was probably harmless in his love of debate and preaching. The waterbender decided that whatever Kim Sung Woo would learn of him today would probably not be used against him. Regardless, he became cautious.

In an instant of conversation, Sung Woo’s fists were clenched, his tone thick with the power of his outrage. Tahrro regarded him with lack of expression but clear consideration. He wanted to believe everyone was equal and Tahrro was torn between letting him have his daydream or arguing against it. In the end, he took his gaze, worn by time, to the ground. “It’s not about benders,” he chimed in, his tone lacking emotion, “but chances. Not everyone gets to have an education, not everyone benefits from perfect health, not everyone can get the chance to be the best of what they can be.” It was a sad truth in Tahrro’s eyes. People were not equal because there was never an equality of opportunity. “But no one is better or worse than anyone else. Better at doing what? Worse from whose perspective? To a child born in a hut, his blind, jobless, poor but present mother is definitely the best person in the world.” And they were back to perspective. “Everyone has value to someone,” he said instinctively and something in his bright pupils quivered and then hardened. “Almost everyone.” It was no time for grandiose generalizations.

When Sung Woo became filled with the spirit of revolution, Tahrro couldn’t help but be amused. He touched a hand to his chin, long fingers obscuring his lower lip as he controlled the urge to smile. There was something so purely idealistic in the other that you couldn’t help admire it, and at the same time, dread the day something would happen to maim and dull it away. “I hope no one will ever have that power over you,” Tahrro told him sincerely while thinking of a million scenarios on how someone could. It was enough to have the life of someone dear in the balance, or experience breaking pain to smother all bravado and pride and crumble someone to a cooperating noodle. The waterbender decided to touch upon the previous point. “You’re so convinced oppression can be overcome, but what if the oppressing force is actually the majority?” Especially in the case of benders and non-benders. There were more benders in positions of power than normal folk, and not all non-benders would turn against benders. If such a collision would happen, the power of numbers would be in benders’ favor, simply because not all non-benders could or would fight.

“You know me” Sung Woo had said, and Tahrro found that figure of speech singularly amusing. “No, actually, I don’t. I just met you,” he responded with some latency. “But I’m starting to,” he added with a slight lift of a brow and the faintest half-smile. It was queer how easily Kim was indeed bullying Tahrro into admitting to this so called connection, but the waterbender didn’t mind much. Sung Woo seemed like a decent sort, and Tahrro had no conflict with random. “The way you speak reminds me of airbenders,” he shared, but knew Sung Woo couldn’t be one. Everyone in Republic City and probably in the world, was aware of who the few airbenders were, or maybe Tahrro was just keen on being informed by nature. His master had taught him about the other benders and their culture, to better understand the world as a whole. The waterbender’s smile dropped. He didn’t want to think about his master.

As sudden as it had come, the rain stopped and left behind air smelling of freshness and moisture. Tahrro took a look at himself, his blue and black attire all soggy and pressed against his skin, and brusquely sucked the moisture out of his clothes with a series of gestures. “Want to be dry?” He asked Sung Woo and approached. For all he knew the other could surprise him with waterbending of his own. “Have you always lived in Republic City?”

[Kim Sung Woo]

“There’s no point in debating it further. It’s as you said, a matter of perception.”

Sung Woo nodded his head in compliance. "Agreed." There really had been no point to continue on with that topic. It would be like beating a dead horse. The two had come to terms with each others views and beliefs on 'connections'. The one word that launched a philosophical throwdown between two very insightful, different thinkers. The waterbender spoke nothing but truths in most regards. Everything that man had to say made a lot of sense. Perspective, what a simple yet provocative word. If only everyone would've been open minded like these two folks here. If only everyone would've been able to see things from different perspectives instead of their own, and also understand that perspective, then maybe the world just wouldn't be that bad. Then again, the world isn't really that bad. One things for sure, it could be a lot worse right?

“It’s not about benders, but chances. Not everyone gets to have an education, not everyone benefits from perfect health, not everyone can get the chance to be the best of what they can be. But no one is better or worse than anyone else. Better at doing what? Worse from whose perspective? To a child born in a hut, his blind, jobless, poor but present mother is definitely the best person in the world.”

Just when Sung Woo thought that this stranger couldn't have said another thought provoking thing, he was left impressed once again by his views. He noticed the lack of emotion from the stranger whilst his preaching, which was totally opposite of Sung Woo himself, who got a bit emotional and serious when he spoke of his side on the issue. This stranger again, spoke factually. "Chances huh?" Sung Woo took a moment to ponder that statement. "Given whatever hand a person is dealt, there's always a way to change and adapt to equalize the playing field. I know I might sound naive, but hard work, and motivation can take you long ways.." Sung Woo paused for a moment before picking up along where he left off. ".. and I guess science and technology. We've come a long way in the past few decades," Sung Woo said this time gradually in a lighter more casual tone. To be honest, he knew nothing about science and barely anything about technology. He just sees what's been developing over the years and it just blows his mind, that's about it. He only knows what he's seen, which are only the recent developments by these random corporations.

“I hope no one will ever have that power over you. You’re so convinced oppression can be overcome, but what if the oppressing force is actually the majority?”

Sung Woo found a bit of sincerity in that statement, which caught him a bit off guard. It did feel good however, to have someone to encourage him. "If the oppressing force was actually the majority? The world wouldn't be as bad wouldn't it? That would mean that majority of the people are living happily, while the minority suffers. As dark and twisted as this may sound, the world can never be perfect, as much as I wish and preach for it to be. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made in order to achieve the greater good," Sung Woo thought deeply. The oppressing force being the majority? Was that in fact true? Perhaps it may have been, but he stood firm on his stance. "While it may suck for the minority, they're still masters of their own destiny. If I was in the minority and my personal freedom and happiness were threatened, I'd fight with my life on the line, even if that battle is a losing one. Maybe it's the youthful passion that's driving me, or me sounding immature, not grasping real 'adult' problems. I would rather die standing than live on my knees."

“No, actually, I don’t. I just met you, but I’m starting to. The way you speak reminds me of airbenders."

For some reason, Sung Woo subconsciously let out a slight chuckle. He found this to be quite amusing. Him reminding the stranger of an airbender? Well that's knew. On another occasion, Sung Woo caught the stranger, this time with a half smile, only for it to disappear a couple moments later. "An airbender eh? I do have nothing but the utmost respect for them. What Avatar Aang did was nothing but amazing.." Sung Woo paused for a moment, reminiscing the many stories he's heard of the Avatar Aang and his gang's exploits back in the days. ".. but for me to be an airbender? No thanks, I love meat too much," Sung Woo joked.

Without noticing, the rain finally stopped. The air was clean and crisp, as expected after a nice rainfall. The two were dripping wet, which wasn't all too surprising. When asked by Tahrro whether or not he wanted to be dried, he nodded his head. "Sure why not." He was curious to see what the waterbender had in store for him. After all, being a nonbender, he didn't have the luxury of just drying himself off instantly like how a waterbender could. The waterbender followed up with another question, and Sung Woo was quick to answer. "Yep, been here my whole life. And you?" Sung Woo asked, curious as to how Tahrro would respond. He wasn't trying to fish any deep dark secrets into the man's past, but he did want a little insight to it, even though he probably wasn't going to get any.

[Tahrro Gao Zhai]

Tahrro wondered if he had truly ever been quite so optimistic. He resolved to believe so, although it seemed like such a long time ago, when in fact, it wasn’t. Just a short few years in the past he had been as full of life and ready to believe that work and motivation it was all it took to succeed against all odds as Sung Woo was now. There was a familiarity about it that drew him in and almost made him bury his point just to let it win, but he couldn’t. The person that he was today had something else to say. “How do you suppose a cripple, born in a poor village, with no so much of a glimpse of today’s advanced technology can “equalize the playing field"? The same can be said about anyone born at severe disadvantage. Life isn’t fair at pai sho. It gives some people many tiles while leaving others with a significant lack.” It was nice to think that you could always work through your slights, but sometimes the better thing to do was understand your limits. It kept you sane longer.

“So you do agree that some people will inevitably suffer, despite their best effort?” Tahrro regarded Kim with a risen eyebrow. “When someone wins, someone else loses. Everyone is bound to collect experiences of both, but the disadvantaged people drew the shorter stick, they’ll get more of the latter, unless circumstances favor them otherwise.” The subject they were discussing was so broad Tahrro felt the cringing need to narrow it down to specifics, but the direct means eluded him. “I don’t see what this has to do with the greater good, however. I believe no one needs to suffer so others live comfortably, there’s just a distinct presence of greed in the world. It’s hard not to want to have more for yourself and to achieve this, turn a blind eye to the one who has less. He should work to build his own, right? But the fact is, some just can’t.” Tahrro realized he sounded as if he was blaming someone for something while elevating himself above the common practice. That needed rectifying. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to change the world. I’m just saying it as it is.”

There was one thing Tahrro could agree with and that was die fighting before giving in. “That’s not immature,” he commented immediately. “It’s a character trait. Some people stand up for themselves and others prefer to take some punches and hope it will give them less trouble in the long run. No one really pays attention to those who drift about quietly in the crowd.” He did, but that was beside the point. Tahrro liked to notice everyone, even if they weren’t impactful on the world at large, or impressive through their inner fire. “I’m very attached to my freedom also,” he admitted, narrowing his eyes. “And I would die fighting before kneeling as well, but that’s because no one relies on me to keep living.” There was something thoughtful in his eyes. He considered he would think differently if he were married or had children. He would become… less prideful and individualistic and more interested in doing what was best for them. Bitterness churned in his stomach. His would have been wife had married another and all he had to worry about was what he wanted. Tahrro liked it that way.

Sung Woo chuckled and the sound kicked aside Tahrro’s darker thoughts. This was no time to be thinking about the past. Let it stay buried. The jest amused him enough to smile. “You and me both, then.” Meat was definitely on Tahrro’s list of most enjoyable foods. How anyone could live without it was beyond him. He became all weak and angry if treated with leaves and fruit for too long. He let the talk of airbenders for another time.

Sung Woo gave permission to be dried so Tahrro waved his hands into a series of fluid gestures, pulling the moisture out of the other’s clothes with pointed focus and sending it flying into the river. It was easier to enjoy getting drenched when you could be dry at the end of it with little effort. “There.” So Kim wasn’t a waterbender, so was he in possession of bending or not? Tahrro couldn’t bring himself to ask. These days he was encountering more and more non-benders who treated him negatively because of his waterbending. There seemed to be a veritable animosity between benders and non-benders brewing within the city, so far as he could tell. Perhaps he was just imagining things. Still, when he glanced back to Sung Woo, he couldn’t help but wish the other had bending of his own.

The question was turned on him and he gave a slight shrug. “I’ve been around. This is my first time in Republic City. Been here for about a month.” He gestured to the path that led into a loop around the park. “Walk with me? I feel I’ve been standing still for too long,” he asked and started walking, assuming the other would not be adverse to the idea. “Got any advice you can give me about living here?” He turned to look at his companion. “Or is it just life advice that you have for me?” The half-smile was back and it was in his lazy eyes too. Sung Woo had never actually phrased his opinions as advice, but Tahrro was joking. When he looked back to the road he wondered how on earth he could feel so at ease beside a person he’d just met.

[Kim Sung Woo]

“How do you suppose a cripple, born in a poor village, with no so much of a glimpse of today’s advanced technology can “equalize the playing field"? The same can be said about anyone born at severe disadvantage. Life isn’t fair at pai sho. It gives some people many tiles while leaving others with a significant lack.”

There was a flaw in most if not all arguments. Sung Woo himself knew that his own beliefs and ideas weren't always the most keenest and brightest. In fact, he was just mere youth just beginning to touch the tip of the iceberg known as life. Everything he has said up to this point, there had been a flaw to it, a counter argument. Perhaps Tahrro served as a foil to him, or maybe sometimes life can't be perfect and equal as Sung Woo wants it to be, no matter how ideal the situation may be. In this world, you have to learn to accept the cold hard truth. Time and time again, even seeing it with his own two eyes, there was massive inequalities, with natural born benders and nonbenders being a prime example. Death was also imminent and not preventable. It was the guarantee, the promise, the sacrifice you have agreed upon in order to enjoy the grace of life. Such came at an early end to his parents, but why did he think of his parents so much time and time again during this conversation?

"Fair enough. All I can say is, perspective." That word sounded familiar. Perspective, it seemed to be the answer to end all questions and debates. In the reality of it all, is there ever really a right answer? Maybe there is, but perhaps this right answer isn't exactly the right answer to another. Just where is Sung Woo getting at, he's not even making sense anymore. Perspective, it falls in so well with the shades of gray. Perhaps now it can even become a running gag between these two now connected individuals, as it has now been used as the solution to end all random ramblings and preachings.

"Greed. Everyone's guilty of it at some point in their lives. Honestly, the answer to everything is really perspective. What may be seen as suffering to an oppressor, maybe be seen as liberating to another being oppressed. Defying the odds and fighting back, whilst getting punished for such actions. It can be seen as liberating, as freedom. I don't even know what I'm saying anymore to be honest. Standing in this rain all throughout this time has probably gotten me sick." And so, the use of perspective as an end all answer. Really, no one should have to suffer so others can live freely and happily. It sounds a bit like the world that Sung Woo wanted, but hypocritically, he was okay with some sacrifices being made in order to preserve the greater good. Maybe future life experiences will dictate how he views the world at a later date, but for now, he's still just a naive teenager thinking the world could be a better place if everyone just paused for a moment and gave it a try.

"Finally, something we can agree on. I hope we'll never have to fight for our freedoms, but if we did, I have a feeling we'll be fighting for the same cause," Sung Woo said in a light hearted manner. Oh, how this statement may come back to bite him one day. If one day, a revolution broke out between benders and non benders, just what would happen. In a hypothetical situation, would it not make them enemies? Then again, it depended on what they were fighting for. Maybe they were both fighting with the same ideals, for the same reasons, but only for the interests of their side, or the ones they identified themselves with. From comrades on this occasion, to enemies on the battlefield the next. In this world, anything is possible really. Right when all hope was lost, the Avatar returned to restore faith to mankind. If that happened, I'm sure anything else could too, cause certainly nothing could top that story, in at least the next couple generations.

With his approval to allow Tahrro to dry him off, the waterbender made a couple of fluid gestures and the water was completely separated from his clothes. Sung Woo showed off an impressed look on his face. "Well ain't that something," Sung Woo remarked with approval as he checked out all his clothes and his gray scarf which was now all devoid of rain water. There was no doubt now, Tahrro was a legit bender. Sung Woo never really had bias against benders, but he did go through a whole jealousy phase of not being able to bend. For sure, this waterbender was maybe curious as to whether or not Sung Woo was a bender or not. That'll just be one thing that he had to find out himself. Maybe Tahrro wouldn't judge him for being a nonbender, or maybe moods and everything else would change had he found out. Some things are better off left unsaid, which is quite ridiculous considering how much Sung Woo as already blabbed about.

"I have time for a brisk walk," Sung Woo replied as he still was checking out how neat it was that his clothes was dried with just a few simple gestures. "Well, I think I'm done with enough life advice for today," Sung Woo joked, having a half smile of his own. "About Republic City, my advice. Well, none really. I guess just watch out for the big three gangs. I'm sure you've already heard of them, or maybe even dealt with them already. They don't mess around. It's best to leave them be, as you can usually tell who's repping what. Sometimes it's unavoidable, but it seems like you're more than capable of handling yourself. Other than that, the city's quite beautiful at night, and there's that whole probending thing if you're into that or like to watch it."