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.
Meaning, you really like eating. [ Mako fills in with a snort. ] I've been wanting to make... anything that isn't soup. Noodles, maybe. You okay with spice?
What's wrong with soup? [ Wu smiles up at him. This feels familiar, like those two years they spent together. Wu clings to that. ] Yes, of course I can handle spicy food. Who do you take me for, Mako?!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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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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You should show me your favorite thing to cook! I've never cooked before, but I have a great appreciation for the art.
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[ Mako says this entirely blandly, but there's a sparkle of humor in his eyes. ]
We'll see how much you can take.
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He's going to regret this, isn't he? ]
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