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

[lavabend]

Okay. But you kinda ... tend to say that even when you're un-fine.

[ Just a tentative observation!! ] Where did you even sleep?

[resistivity]

( he throws his hand into the air. he'd have thrown both if his left arm wasn't incapacitated. )

What's with the interrogation, Bo? Last time I checked, I was the cop.

( it's a weird role reversal, and he doesn't like it. no sir. he hasn't really had time to... adjust to who bolin is now. in the last few years they've really only spent a handful of days together every few months, and mako has certain... expectations of bolin's character that aren't really being met. he's surprised. maybe in a good way, though it's too new and early to tell. his little brother's growing up. )

Anyway. Look, I caught something for dinner. I'm going to make soup — have you eaten since breakfast?

[lavabend]

Who knows? I might join the force one day. We'll go home, and you'll suddenly see me rolling up in a police satomobile beside you. [ Only, that's said very half-heartedly, because he has no actual interest in police work. What he is interested in, though, is being Mako's partner and making cop jokes at him while they're on duty. That sounds like a lot of fun. ]

Ooh, I haven't, what did you catch?

[resistivity]

I don't know, Bo. You'd hate it. You spend more time doing paperwork than chasing down criminals.

( which isn't untrue, but god almighty mako wants bo to do something safe with his life for once. something that isn't pledging his allegiance to a tyrant-in-waiting, or putting himself on the line against crime. maybe mako can convince him to run an animal shelter or something.

honestly, he'd probably be pretty good at that. )

Uh. I'm not entirely sure. I think it's something like a rabaroo? But smaller and a little less... jumpy.

[lavabend]

[ Yeah he isn't sure about the paperwork but he still is ticked by the idea of playing 'good cop bad cop' with Mako. Because police work is just a fun game, right ]

It's too bad none of us are firebenders anymore. Otherwise, roasting that thing would be a cinch.

[ Oops, sorry for the solemn reminder. As always, Bolin rarely thinks before he speaks. ] Bring it back so we can share with Korra!

[resistivity]

( he sighs. )

Katara is. I'll ask if she wants to come.

( he is maybe a little invested in looking after her. he knows she's more than capable of doing it on her own, but. she means so much to korra. the last thing he wants to do is exclude her. )

[lavabend]

Mako! That's a great idea! It'll be our chance to get to know her better too!

[ mako you GENIUS ]

[resistivity]

( an exasperated grumble of noise. )

Just don't be — weird at her again. Or Lord Zuko. They're just kids, Bo.

[lavabend]

I know, I know. Don't worry, I've already made a 'no-spoilers' vow to myself. [ He winces a little when he thinks about how awkward he had made things for Katara before, but is quick to perk up. ]

But since we've got a few years on them, aren't we basically their big brothers? We could take them in, Mako! Like we took in Kai!

[ Like he basically proclaimed Kai to be his little brother within a few minutes of meeting him. ]

[resistivity]

( bolin has always been so eager to have a family. there's a part of him that wonders if it's because he wasn't. good enough at it. and another more rational part that's well aware bo just has a lot more love to give than he does. mako's always been closed-off in that way. )

We are definitely not doing that. They have their own lives, Bo. Don't you think it's a little presumptuous to assume they'd even want that?

[lavabend]

[ Wow Mako, he loves you?? More than anyone else?? He just has a big heart with space for many. ]

I guess ... You have a point. [ He got too excited about AVATAR FAMILY that he forgot to consider how other people may feel about it. Standard Bolin. He looks a little like a kid who just had a toy taken away. ]

[resistivity]

( he sighs. what follows is probably an image ingrained in his mind — mako pinching the bridge of his nose. )

Look, Bo. You're a good guy. Anyone would be lucky to know you. Just let things go naturally from there, okay?

[lavabend]

Aww. Thanks, Mako.

[ Encouraging Mako has been tried and tested to be the best Mako, in his opinion. ]

This timeline mish-mash stuff is still so weird but it's such an honour that we have this chance to meet both Lord Zuko and Katara while they were young! If only Toph were here too.

[ Then Mako would probably have to physically muzzle him. ]

[resistivity]

I don't think we should be wishing this place on anyone else.

( he would have to preemptively apologize to toph if she did show up at the same age as all the rest. she was... the same age as katara, roughly? still so young. )

You didn't... say anything to Lord Zuko, did you?

[lavabend]

Not ... to my knowledge? [ the thread hasn't gone there but probably not .... ]

And let me just say, keeping a secret's been really hard. You know I'm bad at that! [ Keeping secrets and reading people. One day he'll learn the mystical art of it all. ]

[resistivity]

I know, I know.

( he huffs a sigh. )

But I know you can do it. Think of it like... ( how can he appeal to bolin's nature, here. ) We're on a secret mission. To... definitely not reveal what we know about the future.

( mr 'i'm a cop, i don't have a backstory' is not the best at storytelling. but bless his heart, he's trying... )

[lavabend]

[ No, this definitely appeals to Bolin's nature. He loves it when Mako actually joins in on his nonsensical musing. ]

Ohh! That's a good way to start things off! Officer Ting-Ting and [ mako you didn't name your character the last time so he's just going to. ] Wu Long return in a sensational new feature. After a comet hit their town, they were thrown 70 years back in time, and it's now their job to protect the past in order to save the future that they came from.

But can they keep this secret forever?

[resistivity]

( there is a very, very deep sigh. )

'Ting-Ting'?

( exasperation, thy name is mako. )

[lavabend]

Just a bit of continuity from last time. [ When Bolin had them both wear disguises and think up backstories. His character was Ting-Ting, but Mako was too cool for a backstory. ]

Varrick says continuity is outdated, but I kinda think it's still important.

[resistivity]

Bo, I'm not answering to that. Ever.

( ever!! )

But the rest is... fine. Why an asteroid, though? Couldn't our hero earthbender ( bolin, obviously. mako wouldn't admit to watching all the nuktuk films but he definitely watched all the nuktuk films. he knows all about mover tropes. ) just knock it away?

[lavabend]

Wow. You're right. That would probably happen. You've been watching movers, haven't you?

[ Imagine how big Bolin's ego would be if he knew Mako watched all his films. ]

It'd have to be something two amazing benders couldn't just put a stop too. Maybe! It was the spirits who sent them back in time, so they could go on a journey to find themselves!

[resistivity]

When would I even have the time to watch movers? Get real.

( every single one. opening night. he was always there. that's his little brother, and whatever he does mako will always support him. as long as he's not being an idiot about it. or serving a tyrannical mastermind. )

... But the spirit thing would actually... work. Maybe.

[lavabend]

Just to go off topic for a second: Even if I can't tell Lord Zuko or Katara that I'm adopting them as my younger siblings, can I still do it in my heart?

[ He still wants his AVATAR FAMILY. Don't crush his dreams. ]

[resistivity]

( sigh. )

Sure, Bolin. Sure you can.

[lavabend]

Awesome. It's like we're all one big, happy Avatar Family!