inbox;

[resistivity]

You've reached Mako. Leave a message. ( it seems like that's going to be all, but then there's a rather awkward pause and he continues, ) If it's an urgent matter, direct your call to local authorities and/or emergency services. You can access these resources by — ( beep. he ran out of recording space. good job, mako. best cop. )

△ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ △ ᴛᴇxᴛ △ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇᴍᴀɪʟ △

Comments

[resistivity]

( stop adopting people, bo. )

Anyway. Rest up. Katara and Lord Zuko — don't call him that to his face — agreed to come over, so I'm going to get this food prep done, and you're still sick.

[resistivity]

What? No. What gave you that idea?

( he has that. slightly strangled tone to his voice that mako gets when he's saying something that. isn't entirely true. )

[lavabend]

You know how your other senses heighten when you can't see? Well, I think that's happening to me.

[ A huge part of him is hoping he'll develop seismic sense but so far, this new and improved Bolin can only sense complicated young adult feelings. ]

And let me just say, I'm feeling the vibes, Mako. The Vibes.

[resistivity]

( a vaguely aggravated noise. )

Korra is my best friend. We aren't and won't be dating. Ever again. Okay?

( you know, he tried to kiss her, but that. ended badly. and he's still mad at her for it. )

[lavabend]

I'm not that sick! I could think up some games we can play.

[resistivity]

Like what, exactly?

[lavabend]

Okay. [ Not sure if he's convinced. ]

Well, it's gonna be kinda weird for me to sleep in the same room with you guys if you did start dating again, so it'd be nice to get a heads up.

[ He would have to deal with his brother smooching the girl he liked at some point. Too many levels of weird. He would also have to deal with the random, possibly violent fighting. It's all a disaster!!! ]

[resistivity]

Bolin! Enough! Nothing is going on between me and Korra!

( there's real irritation in his tone now, and he's definitely not above yelling at his still-blinded brother, whoops. )

[lavabend]

Right! Of course! And I believe you! [ Hmmmm. ] Just putting that out there.

[ He only came here to say that, so he doesn't have anything else he wants to bring up. That makes the silence even more uncomfortable. ]

I guess I'll go back to ... figuring out how to see with my feet. [ He's no longer an Earthbender but it beats doing nothing when you're blind. ]

[resistivity]

( just. give him a minute. he's rubbing his temples. )

What are rooms filled with, Bolin?

( air. rooms are filled with air. )

[lavabend]

[ What. ]

Is that a riddle?

[resistivity]

No. Think about it. Even if a room is completely empty, no people, no other objects, what's it still full of?

( okay maybe it's a riddle, even if mako would never think of it that way. he just knows it's better to lead bolin to an answer than giving it to him outright. making his baby brother think for himself. )

[array]

( their fingers fold together. it's an innocent, sad thing, but despite hurt feelings a bruised hearts, she's still lucky to have him. she's grateful he hasn't given up on her, and grateful it seems like he never will. her free hand reaches out to brush some vines and tree stuff as she leads them through, turning out at a small freshwater pond with a few tell signs of korra having been here the past two days - mostly it's just an indented spot of grass where korra has been sitting and meditating.

she brings them to the edge of the water. turning gently to him, her gaze slips down to his arm, squinting a bit. )

Someone healed your arm?

1/2

[lavabend]

Ai...r....? But what does that have to do with --

[lavabend]

Oh! Oh! [ HE JUST CAUGHT YOUR DRIFT, MAKO!!!!! SEEING WITH AIRBENDING!! Somehow. ]

[resistivity]

( there you go. )

If you airbend in front of you, you'll know where the walls and everything are. It shouldn't be too hard, just be careful about it. And keep Pabu with you.

[resistivity]

( it's. peaceful here. he takes what feels like the first real breath in days, and feels the tension ebb from his shoulders as he takes it all in.

his fingers twitch a little as korra brings the attention to his arm, and he shrugs a bit, looking down at it. )

Princess Allura. It's not a hundred percent, but it's better than it was.

[array]

( she hums an understanding. princess allura. probably in a week she'll say, she's pretty, huh? but for right now it's still a little too fresh of a wound. her thumb rubs across mako's knuckles, nodding to the pond. )

No promises, but. Wanna give it a try?

[resistivity]

( he sinks down onto the moss gathered at the edge of the pool. he is a city boy, born and bred. he has no love for ancient forests and wilderness, but he can appreciate them all the same. he reaches out and skims a palm past the water.

korra wants to heal him as penance. he knows how she wears it. he isn't cruel enough to turn her away, though the thought is there. he holds his hand out to her, knowing she will take it and pour over the palm. )

She restored flow of chi. I can bend with it again.

[array]

( it's here and gone. a brief moment of - jealousy, she's ashamed to admit. she wanted to be the one to heal mako, has felt guilty about not being able to do it since they've arrived. but once the jealousy subsides, self loathing takes its place. she probably shouldn't want these soft little nothings with him anyway. she should probably stop while she's toeing just barely ahead. it's hard, though, like asking the sun not to shine.

anyway, now she feels a little silly about offering. it probably won't do much good. but mako is allowing her to apologize however she can, so she'll swallow down what an idiot she feels like, and set to the task at hand. )

She must be a good healer.

( it isn't catty, it just is. she bends water up and out, laving a handful over mako's palm. with a deep breath, it lights up, and the soothing purr of healing water calms his palm, cleaning out his already cleared chi. it isn't doing much, but at least it doesn't feel bad. )

... Is there anything else you want to get off your chest?

( just kind of. silently prodding him. he had a little outburst - one that didn't exactly correlate to the issue at hand - and korra wouldn't be shocked to hear him bottling up some other irritations. )

[lavabend]

[ Mako he is going to knock so many people down. ]

That's a great idea! If I keep the air moving, it's like I can see all around me. I'll be the Toph of Airbenders!

[ When a large man aspires to be a small blind girl. Bolin would rather be the Toph of Earthbenders but he'll take what he can get. ]

[resistivity]

( wait, he's envisioning some absolutely terrible things. mako inhales sharply. )

Gently, Bolin. Light breeze. No gusts. Other people live here too.

[lavabend]

[ Sorry, there's just the sound things crashing and furniture toppling over. ]

[resistivity]

Her healing is different than yours. It felt...

( he's silent for a moment, trying to work out how to articulate what he wants to say. it felt like allura reached inside him and pulled him apart at the seams until she'd found the damage and then she rewove the fibers of his muscles. it's been so long now since he's lived without the pain that he's surprised at how light he feels. the body can adjust to anything given enough time. mako watches as korra works, the glow of water across his skin. allura's healing felt alien, but korra's just. feels like home. )

I don't know. It was deeper.

( to that next question, the fingers of his left hand curl loosely against his palm. half a twitch. he gives her a dark look. )

What exactly do you want me to say, Korra?

> action bc... sigh

[resistivity]

( yes, mako goes to find him. he's a dutiful brother like that. and wherever bolin is, he just sort of gets... not quite tackled, but mako definitely grabs him over his arms and forces them down to his side. )

Will you stop? I didn't mean like that!