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[arclightning]

MAKO'S INBOX

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[shiro2hero]

[A short while after this text conversation...]

Hey, Mako, sorry to bug you.

Quick question, when you have a second.

[arclightning]

[ This is more ominous than Mako would prefer. His hackles are already up. ]

Not bugging me. What's going on?

[shiro2hero]

I was trying to bring your brother some of the tea I’ve




Been coerced


To use for sleep. He said the club’s closed, so I thought you could drop it by his place?

1 / ???

[arclightning]

Sure, yeah.

[arclightning]

[ ...wait. ]

[arclightning]

[ Where is...

Where is Bolin actually living? ]

[arclightning]

[ He moved out a little while ago citing the need to get his own place, or something, and when Mako had asked if he needed help moving he'd said he was fine.

And he's been over for dinner a lot but he hasn't actually said how it is except "like home" and "you know" and now that Mako thinks about it— ]

[arclightning]

[ ...does he not know where Bolin is living?

Does he not know where Bo's place actually is? ]

DONE

[arclightning]

Wait one second

IM SORRY MAKO

[shiro2hero]

[That is… an unusually long silence from Mako.]

[He has some concerns.]

Sure?

Is everything okay?

THIS IS AMAZING

[arclightning]

[ He can't tell Shiro he doesn't know where his own brother is living. He can't let Shiro know how neglectful he's been, that he doesn't even know that: Shiro, who is so desperately missing his own people, Shiro, who would never lose track of them like that. Guilt stings like acid in his belly. ]

Checking on that right now. He's fine. Don't worry. You can just drop it at the Raccoon Room.

[shiro2hero]

Are you sure? If there's anything I can do...

[You are doing him a hecking concern here, Mako.]

I believe you that he's fine, but I'm concerned about you.

[arclightning]

Don't be. I'm fine, I just need to make sure Bo's not living in some run-down back alley shack.

[shiro2hero]

Would he do that?

[arclightning]

Wish I could tell you no, but if he was living in some swanky apartment, believe me, I'd've seen it.

[shiro2hero]

Do you know where he hangs out, aside from the Racoon Room?

I can check around, if that would help.

[arclightning]

No. That's the problem. I don't know. He's my brother, Shiro. I should know this.

[shiro2hero]

It's hard to know things people keep from us.

I

I should have known a lot of things about my teammates, the people closest to me. But they kept it from me. There was no way TO know.

[arclightning]

So how did you find out? Only after the fact? How do you keep track of people if they aren't going to keep you updated?

[shiro2hero]

Only after the fact, yeah. I caught Keith sneaking out once, and that's how it came out.

You just keep trying. Checking in with them. I know it's not a great consolation, believe me. I wish it were different.

[arclightning]

No, I get it. Stuff like this doesn't have an easy answer.

I guess I just didn't expect it from Bolin again. Kind of thought he'd learned his lesson.

[shiro2hero]

Again?

What happened before?

[arclightning]

It's a long story. He and I went down some pretty different paths. That time, it was partially my fault.

[shiro2hero]

So it's hard not to blame yourself again, isn't it?

[arclightning]

Especially when it's probably partially my fault this time, too.