redrobin-detective:

Do you ever think how much of an impact having the major leaders of the post-war era be intimately close friends would affect politics in ATLA. The Gaang traveled together for months, living in close quarters, seeing each other at their bravest and their most vulnerable; it affects how you see and act around each other.

They touch each other so casually, so easily it unnerves most nobles. Master Bei Fong throws her feet into Counselor Sokka’s lap at any given opportunity. Fire Lord Zuko absentmindedly straightens out Avatar Aang’s sacred robes that are entangled from some airbending move. Master Katara throws an arm around the shoulder or waist of her compatriots, keeping them safe and within her reach and none of the others so much as blink. 

Members snap at each other, vicious little barbs said with crooked smiles. The master waterbender taunts the lord of the Fire Nation about his honor. In the past such a person would have been burned to a crisp for such a slight but this Fire Lord merely rolls his eyes and retorts about some waterbending scroll. Lady Bei Fong pops out of nowhere and launches the most powerful bender into a wall and the spirit of the world just laughs and then throws some rocks back at her. 

It scares the hell out of politicians how they communicate so easily with little to no words. Avatar Aang and Counselor Sokka can hold entire, detailed conversations with just their eyebrows and mouth expressions. Master Katara can walk into a room and sense with uncanny accuracy, before anything that happened, that her fellows are up to no good. The group, full of various world leaders and master benders will babble on for minutes, the Fire Lord listening attentively before turning to his stunned and confused audience and translating without a hint of shame. It simply is how it is when the young men and women shaping the world grew up alongside each other in the darkest of days and now can stand together, as one family of four nations, in the light.

World leaders: *step out of the room for 2 seconds*

The avatar gang:

Originally posted by lifeisnotlemons