Poppy's Pit of Insanity

Earthbending - Lavi

Niva's earthbending teacher is Lavi. She took notes and scrolls from the village's earthbending master and studied the theory for about three years until she could adequately teach her when they went on the road.

You're probably now starting to see exactly what kind of of person we're dealing with here.

Lavi's instruction was extremely slow, patient and gentle. Almost enabling Niva's fatalism at times. It was Lavi's idea that since Niva struggles so hard with traditional earthbending that she start with sandbending. While this greatly improved her confidence it also delayed her learning the basics.

Firebending - Madame

Niva's firebending teacher was an old woman living in a beach house on Ember Island. Niva found her after flaking out on four other teachers. The woman refused to give her name, so Niva called her "Madame."

Madame was a cranky old woman at a whopping 173 years old. She initially refused to train Niva but Niva's persistence eventually wore her down. She was a harsh, unforgiving teacher but she was also the first person to tell Niva everything she needed to hear. Madame often reinforced that the Avatar answers to nobody, and that Niva's moaning that her life wasn't her own anymore was the idiotic ramblings of a stupid little girl.

Madame was not a gentle or loving soul. She is the exact opposite of Lavi in every possible way, which is actually what Niva really needed. She spent much of her off time drinking tea and complaining about her back.

Madame's teaching was so uncompromising that Niva had no choice but to really buckle down. As a result she can produce blue flames and lightning.

Despite her aggressive and derogatory personality, Niva actually quite liked Madame. She influenced Niva's philosophy on being the Avatar quite severely, and as a result Niva grew up to be an extremely individualistic and solitary Avatar, often resisting commands from others and refusing to simply "come when she's called."

Airbending - Ren

Niva's airbending teacher was Ren, a young girl about Niva's age from the Eastern Air Temple. Ren was quite playful, and contrasted both Lavi and Madame by both being friendly and not treating Niva like she was made of glass. Niva actually became very good friends with Ren, which was the first time in her life she'd ever had a friend outside of Lavi.

Ren's teaching was very standard, but Niva found the evasive and avoidant nature of airbending came naturally to her so she learned it far quicker than any other element.

Waterbending - Hana

In a stark deviation, Niva's waterbending teacher was Hana, a 12 year old girl from the Southern Water Tribe. Niva had tried traditional masters before deciding none of them were a fit, happening upon Hana by sheer accident.

Hana was delighted at getting to teach an adult something and so when Niva asked her to show her some tricks she happily obliged.

Hana was extremely silly, and like Niva she didn't have a lot of friends. Her best friend was a penguin she regularly went sledding and swimming with. Hana also has an older sister, Kannah, but she finds Hana annoying and bullies her.

Hana's training was little more than simply hanging out with Niva and waterbending for fun. But it proved to be extremely effective, and gave Niva a lifelong respect for children.

She doesn't. Niva operates alone, with only Lavi as company. She rebuffs the White Lotus multiple times, believing they'd only get in her way.

the Child and the Father

Them but irl:

a mutual of mine reblogged someting from you and that was how i found out