[ Mako sighs quietly, staring at the large dark facade of the house. Kristoff and Anna's house—he hasn't started thinking of it as his, yet—is all lit up, casting golden light out over the snowy yard. Wu's, by contrast—Mako can't believe he didn't notice the Satomobile, the familiar straight lines from home—is a dark, hulking thing. ]
The worst should be over in a few days, apparently, and then I'll be fine.
[ He hesitates. He really does feel like crap, and if Wu's going to be here—right next door, instead of all the way in Ba Sing Se—he should probably meet everybody, even though they're probably out.
Later. Mako isn't quite ready for that yet. ]
Let's go light that fire. Your house doesn't have real heating, right?
Uh huh. [ Wu doesn't quite believe him, but he knows Mako well enough to know not to argue. He nudges Naga toward his dark, lonely house. ] I don't think so. There are fireplaces and stuff. I couldn't really figure it out. [ He grimaces ] I think there's a lot of stuff I need to learn, if I'm gonna live alone.
Oh! But there is a sauna! Which... I also don't know how to turn on. [ He sighs heavily ]
[ If it were his house, Mako would just say, stay. It is a massive house, and he's not sure Wu has ever been on his own. While he probably doesn't need a bodyguard here—the threats are for everyone, not just royalty—Mako doesn't like the idea of him in that giant house all alone, with everything that can happen here.
But it's Kristoff and Anna's house, and he doesn't think he's allowed to just invite strangers to live with them. He can't impose on them any more than he and Bolin already are.
So he bites down on the urge to offer and says instead, a little teasing: ] I hear the first time you live alone without butlers and cooks is tough. You'll figure it out.
[ As soon as Naga slows, Mako releases Wu and slides down, a little clumsy, onto the ground. He braces himself against Naga and holds a hand up for Wu. ]
It is tough. [ Wu agrees. He takes Mako's hand and slips down Naga's side. Maybe he sways a little too close, but it feels nice, like he's drawn to Mako.
He gives Mako a smile. ] Thanks. For coming to get me. When I heard you were here-- that made it a little less scary.
[ Mako offers him a small, hazy sort of smile back, something warm curling through him. The contact, maybe. It keeps happening: he touches someone like this, and doesn't want to stop.
That's probably why he doesn't let go of Wu's hand as he tugs him toward the massive front door. ] I'm not glad you're stuck here, but. It helps. To have people you know.
Yeah, it does. [ Wu says softly, trailing after him. He turns back to Naga and gives her a wave before trying to find his keys. They're somewhere in his pocket.
He manages to find them and pulls them out with a little "ha!" He nudges open the door into a dark, cold foyer ] Home sweet home. I guess. It's no Palace, but it's something.
Guess it was the next-closest thing to a palace. That's probably why Kristoff and Anna ended up here.
[ Mako has to search for a moment to flick on the lights—there's a whole pad of switches, just like in the other house.
Wow. There's an actual chandelier in here. That's... something. Mako blinks up at the lights, swaying a bit as Naga pokes her head into the door behind them. ] You weren't kidding. This is ridiculous.
A little bit. [ Wu laughs, unbuttoning his coat and shaking the snow off his hair. ] It's a lot. The Palace is pretty bad right now. A lot of it was destroyed or looted. At least I have a nice room there.
You can come in, Naga.
[ She makes a low noise and steps into the foyer before shaking out her fur, hitting them both with cold wet doggy water. ] Naga!
[ Mako makes a truly embarrassing little yelp as the water hits him and... promptly steams up off of him into nothing.
Mako blinks, and covertly reaches up to touch his own forehead.
He's burning up. No wonder he's having so much trouble focusing on anything. Every time he moves, his skin hurts. This is awful.
But he pushes it down, makes himself stand up a little straighter. It doesn't quite work, and Mako ends up leaning half on the wall, staring at the staircase in front of them.
Right. Wu said something. He needs to talk. Mako shakes his head, refocuses on Wu. ] She has bad manners. Bo keeps having to bend mud out of the house. Let's, uh. Get your fireplace lit.
I told you, I'm fine— [ It's an entirely pointless protest and Mako knows it, which is the only reason he lets himself be herded out the door. He doesn't feel like arguing with Wu right now.
It is nice having both him and Naga to lean on. ] Can't wait until this is over. I hate being sick. Can't do anything.
[ And he's tired of talking about it, tired of being sick and everyone looking at him like he's useless, like they did after the mech. There's only so much lying around in bed Mako can take.
The door closing, and the shock of the cold, make him shiver. He leans very slightly into Wu's side. ] Have you eaten yet?
You came and got me. That's something! [ That Mako probably shouldn't have done, but Wu is grateful anyways. It's very likely he would have gotten lost in his way here.
He puts an arm around Mako, letting Mako lean his weight on him. It's strange, this reversal of their usual roles, but it's also nice to be able to help Mako for once. ] I ate earlier. I got what they call "cereal"? It was really tasty! And sweet. Really sweet. I got turned away at one of the restaurants because I don't have any money.
[ He sighs, shaking his head ] How am I supposed to get money!
[ That will obviously not do. Mako's already thinking about what's in the kitchen—Eda's right, people really do bring you a lot of soup when you're sick—as their boots crunch in the iced-over snow. Wu's front walk hasn't been shoveled like Kristoff's. Would've been nothing for Korra, but.
Their combined breath, and Naga's, mists up into the air in front of Mako. It's deceptively easy to get between the houses: both their front yards are needlessly large. ]
If you want any food you don't have to cook yourself, you're going to need a job.
Uh... I got a sandwich too. [ Wu grimaces. It really wasn't a lot of food, but he's not used to having to make his own food. It's a lot harder than he thought it would be. ] A job. What could I even do for a job? Do you have a job? Aren't all the police, um, cats?
[ That's one of the weirder things in Deerington, but he did see a lot of cats around town, and assumed they must be the Authority. ] I'll eat with you! That sounds much better.
I have a job. [ Mako says that sort of distantly, stepping off the driveway into the snow-covered grass between the houses. He sways a bit, wincing at yet another wave of dizziness. ] I bartend. At Hair of the Dog, most nights.
[ He pauses, glancing down at Wu with something like a smile forming. ] You'll have to go through all your skills, see what you're qualified for. Nobody's gonna pay you to be a king. But I'm not going to let you starve, don't worry.
Oh. Bartending? That's, are you qualified for that? [ It sort of fits, but as far as he knows Mako has only had two jobs: the police and pro-bending. ]
Thanks. Yeah, I... don't know what I can do. I can sing? And I guess I an govern, but I don't know if anybody's gonna elect me to do that here. [ He leads Mako up the drive to the other house. ] Do you have keys?
[ So much rudeness, Wu. Mako shoots him a flat look, although if Wu looks closely enough, he'll see Mako barely fighting a smile. It's kind of funny. ] I got the job, didn't I?
You're definitely not going to get elected. There's already a mayor, and nobody likes him.
[ In answer to the keys question he just pulls out a small ring of them from his pocket, leading Wu onto the pavement of the other house and up to the front door. ]
Hey! It's not my fault I don't know things about you. [ Wu shoots him a glare with no heat to it. ] Maybe I'll have to sample your services... once I have money.
That's all the more reason that I could! If they don't like him, I'm a shoo in!
[ Wu lets him go a little bit to open the door, but keeps a hand close. It's much colder when they're not touching. ]
[ Now that he actually, kind of, knows how to make them, anyway. He snorts a bit as he pushes the key in. ] And it is kind of your fault you don't know anything about me. You don't ask.
You want to be held responsible for all the messed-up things happening around here?
Oh! That's what friends are for, right? [ Wu laughs, his hand landing on Mako's shoulder. ] Okay, okay, fine. But you don't volunteer anything either! So, Mako, how did you learn to bartend?
...that's a fair point. But perhaps as mayor I could stop them from happening?
[ Again the quiet warmth, that sense of rightness, washes through Mako, and not just because he pushed the front door open. Behind them, Naga makes a small, excited sound. She's been sleeping in the room with Mako, which is actually kind of nice: he's not used to sleeping on his own, without Bolin nearby, even now. ]
You barely wanted to be king in the first place. I mean, you're doing a good job. You actually enjoying it, now?
[ A pause, as he steps aside for Wu to enter the house. ] ...I learned on the job.
You have great points, buddy. [ Wu follows him inside, petting Naga's damp fur. ] We gotta get you dried off, Naga!
I... no. I wouldn't say I enjoy it. I don't hate it, but would I choose to do this? Probably not. I'm not cut out to be in meetings all day!
[ Wu laughs at that ] Uh huh. So you think I couldn't do that? Wait, don't answer that. I don't think I want to know what you'd say. [ Mako doesn't make it a mystery what he thinks about Wu's competence ]
Mako really has some stuff to work on. He lets out a little huff, shoving his hand into his already-messy hair. ] I think you could learn on the job. You're kind of doing that already, even if you didn't choose it.
[ He glances back at Wu (and Naga, who helpfully noses the door shut with her snout, shakes again, and bounds off into the house, probably to go find Sven.) and sighs. ] Let's get you something real to eat.
I suppose I am! Well, I'll take a looksee, see what's out there. [ Wu smiles a little at him, wavering at his side.
It's strange, to be in a new place with Mako. He's really only known Mako in one context, and Mako was mostly working for him then. Now, it's different. Now, Mako doesn't have to help him, and yet here he is: helping Wu again. ] Thanks. Do you cook? I didn't know that.
There's a lot you don't know about me, I guess. [ Mako shrugs, a little uncomfortable under the sudden scrutiny. It's like Wu is looking through him.
Or maybe his skin just hurts. He waves for Wu to follow him, heading toward the massive kitchen. Hopefully Kristoff and Anna won't mind that he's just... invited someone into their house. They'll like Wu, anyway—he hasn't said anything obnoxious yet and he's actually being kind of.
Pleasant?
Mako shakes the thought off. ] But, yeah. I like cooking. 'S something I can do for Kristoff, since he's letting me stay here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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The worst should be over in a few days, apparently, and then I'll be fine.
[ He hesitates. He really does feel like crap, and if Wu's going to be here—right next door, instead of all the way in Ba Sing Se—he should probably meet everybody, even though they're probably out.
Later. Mako isn't quite ready for that yet. ]
Let's go light that fire. Your house doesn't have real heating, right?
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Oh! But there is a sauna! Which... I also don't know how to turn on. [ He sighs heavily ]
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But it's Kristoff and Anna's house, and he doesn't think he's allowed to just invite strangers to live with them. He can't impose on them any more than he and Bolin already are.
So he bites down on the urge to offer and says instead, a little teasing: ] I hear the first time you live alone without butlers and cooks is tough. You'll figure it out.
[ As soon as Naga slows, Mako releases Wu and slides down, a little clumsy, onto the ground. He braces himself against Naga and holds a hand up for Wu. ]
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He gives Mako a smile. ] Thanks. For coming to get me. When I heard you were here-- that made it a little less scary.
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That's probably why he doesn't let go of Wu's hand as he tugs him toward the massive front door. ] I'm not glad you're stuck here, but. It helps. To have people you know.
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He manages to find them and pulls them out with a little "ha!" He nudges open the door into a dark, cold foyer ] Home sweet home. I guess. It's no Palace, but it's something.
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[ Mako has to search for a moment to flick on the lights—there's a whole pad of switches, just like in the other house.
Wow. There's an actual chandelier in here. That's... something. Mako blinks up at the lights, swaying a bit as Naga pokes her head into the door behind them. ] You weren't kidding. This is ridiculous.
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You can come in, Naga.
[ She makes a low noise and steps into the foyer before shaking out her fur, hitting them both with cold wet doggy water. ] Naga!
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Mako blinks, and covertly reaches up to touch his own forehead.
He's burning up. No wonder he's having so much trouble focusing on anything. Every time he moves, his skin hurts. This is awful.
But he pushes it down, makes himself stand up a little straighter. It doesn't quite work, and Mako ends up leaning half on the wall, staring at the staircase in front of them.
Right. Wu said something. He needs to talk. Mako shakes his head, refocuses on Wu. ] She has bad manners. Bo keeps having to bend mud out of the house. Let's, uh. Get your fireplace lit.
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[ Wu grasps Mako's wrists, pulling him off the wall. ] Naga, help me get him to the other house.
[ She grumbles her assent, padding back toward the door. ]
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It is nice having both him and Naga to lean on. ] Can't wait until this is over. I hate being sick. Can't do anything.
[ And he's tired of talking about it, tired of being sick and everyone looking at him like he's useless, like they did after the mech. There's only so much lying around in bed Mako can take.
The door closing, and the shock of the cold, make him shiver. He leans very slightly into Wu's side. ] Have you eaten yet?
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He puts an arm around Mako, letting Mako lean his weight on him. It's strange, this reversal of their usual roles, but it's also nice to be able to help Mako for once. ] I ate earlier. I got what they call "cereal"? It was really tasty! And sweet. Really sweet. I got turned away at one of the restaurants because I don't have any money.
[ He sighs, shaking his head ] How am I supposed to get money!
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[ That will obviously not do. Mako's already thinking about what's in the kitchen—Eda's right, people really do bring you a lot of soup when you're sick—as their boots crunch in the iced-over snow. Wu's front walk hasn't been shoveled like Kristoff's. Would've been nothing for Korra, but.
Their combined breath, and Naga's, mists up into the air in front of Mako. It's deceptively easy to get between the houses: both their front yards are needlessly large. ]
If you want any food you don't have to cook yourself, you're going to need a job.
Or you can eat with us. We have a lot.
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[ That's one of the weirder things in Deerington, but he did see a lot of cats around town, and assumed they must be the Authority. ] I'll eat with you! That sounds much better.
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[ He pauses, glancing down at Wu with something like a smile forming. ] You'll have to go through all your skills, see what you're qualified for. Nobody's gonna pay you to be a king. But I'm not going to let you starve, don't worry.
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Thanks. Yeah, I... don't know what I can do. I can sing? And I guess I an govern, but I don't know if anybody's gonna elect me to do that here. [ He leads Mako up the drive to the other house. ] Do you have keys?
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You're definitely not going to get elected. There's already a mayor, and nobody likes him.
[ In answer to the keys question he just pulls out a small ring of them from his pocket, leading Wu onto the pavement of the other house and up to the front door. ]
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That's all the more reason that I could! If they don't like him, I'm a shoo in!
[ Wu lets him go a little bit to open the door, but keeps a hand close. It's much colder when they're not touching. ]
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[ Now that he actually, kind of, knows how to make them, anyway. He snorts a bit as he pushes the key in. ] And it is kind of your fault you don't know anything about me. You don't ask.
You want to be held responsible for all the messed-up things happening around here?
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...that's a fair point. But perhaps as mayor I could stop them from happening?
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[ Again the quiet warmth, that sense of rightness, washes through Mako, and not just because he pushed the front door open. Behind them, Naga makes a small, excited sound. She's been sleeping in the room with Mako, which is actually kind of nice: he's not used to sleeping on his own, without Bolin nearby, even now. ]
You barely wanted to be king in the first place. I mean, you're doing a good job. You actually enjoying it, now?
[ A pause, as he steps aside for Wu to enter the house. ] ...I learned on the job.
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I... no. I wouldn't say I enjoy it. I don't hate it, but would I choose to do this? Probably not. I'm not cut out to be in meetings all day!
[ Wu laughs at that ] Uh huh. So you think I couldn't do that? Wait, don't answer that. I don't think I want to know what you'd say. [ Mako doesn't make it a mystery what he thinks about Wu's competence ]
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Mako really has some stuff to work on. He lets out a little huff, shoving his hand into his already-messy hair. ] I think you could learn on the job. You're kind of doing that already, even if you didn't choose it.
[ He glances back at Wu (and Naga, who helpfully noses the door shut with her snout, shakes again, and bounds off into the house, probably to go find Sven.) and sighs. ] Let's get you something real to eat.
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It's strange, to be in a new place with Mako. He's really only known Mako in one context, and Mako was mostly working for him then. Now, it's different. Now, Mako doesn't have to help him, and yet here he is: helping Wu again. ] Thanks. Do you cook? I didn't know that.
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Or maybe his skin just hurts. He waves for Wu to follow him, heading toward the massive kitchen. Hopefully Kristoff and Anna won't mind that he's just... invited someone into their house. They'll like Wu, anyway—he hasn't said anything obnoxious yet and he's actually being kind of.
Pleasant?
Mako shakes the thought off. ] But, yeah. I like cooking. 'S something I can do for Kristoff, since he's letting me stay here.
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