( mako actually laughs. well. sort of. it's a bit of an amused huff, an exhalation of his breath in the slightly-above-freezing air, that wisps and curls with the heat of his body. even with the sun down — which he feels, in that distant way where it feels like warmth is being dragged out of him along all the lines of his nerves and veins, he still runs hot. it's just. harder to concentrate on.

but it's a nice thought. bolin always has the best ideas about what life could be like, even if mako doesn't ever think it'll happen. maybe this once he can close his eyes and pretend right alongside him. )

I don't know, I think maybe a waterbender girl would be more your speed.

( he says bender specifically instead of just... water tribe, because it's sort of against mako's nature to envision a future alongside anyone like their parents, who were so helpless and died for it. it's not that non-benders can't learn how to fight, but. bending is a sort of... natural defense above and beyond just throwing punches, and water is a gentle element. he thinks that'd work for bo a lot better than a fire nation girl. who, in mako's experience, can be kind of prissy and stuck-up.

not that he's really trying to. plan out his whole life or anything. ultimately, if bolin can find a good girl and settle down, he'd be nothing but happy for him no matter where she's from. he's not possessive in that way. and he doesn't think that he's ever done a really good job of providing everything bolin needs to be happy, though god knows he's tried. a girl would be good for him, as long as it was the right girl. and you can bet he'd vet her top to bottom first. )

She can be there on vacation too. Maybe you see her while she's out surfing with the giant koifish. Then you can build your sandcastle.