Deer Country IC Inbox

[pabugotmoves]

Huh? Oh-- You've reached Bolin!
Yeah, I'm a pretty busy guy but leave me a message and I'll beep you back

Comments

[pabugotmoves]

No.. I know. And I think it's something I would be...open to? If I met the right person?

You kept striking out and then you met your person and it all made sense... right?

[Because that's what Shiro said happened to him and Bolin sure doesn't remember Mako giving any indication of liking men back home. Maybe that was something he started getting into once Bolin was away with the army. There's a worry there, but not worth dissecting. He doesn't ever want to be the reason Mako holds himself back.]

And he loves you, Mako. Wu is so perfect for you, I literally couldn't pick someone better and I know a lot of people.

[arclightning]

[ Well that's. That's good, considering what Mako actually brought Bolin over to tell him. That's probably a perfect segue, if Bolin is looking for an out, if Mako wants to let him take it.

Does he?

Because Bolin doesn't just keep things like this to himself unless they're really bothering him. Maybe that's not strictly true anymore: they're adults, Bolin is his own person, Mako isn't going to always know every detail of his life, and it isn't like he told Bolin about his own secret thoughts shoved firmly into the back of his head.

Huh.

Mako swallows and pulls the lid off a pot at the back of the stove full of bubbling rice porridge. Might as well dish up brunch while he talks about this still-very-hard stuff. ]

Kind... of. If I'm really honest with myself, the... being into guys stuff isn't really new. I just didn't, you know. I figured... I had other stuff to worry about, so I didn't think about it, and it wasn't like you could just do that so I ignored it whenever it came up but, uh.

[ Spirits this is still so hard to talk about, maybe he needs to talk about this more? Or... less? Never? Ugh. Mako clears his throat. ]

Let's just say. I met Wu, and I didn't know even then, and then when I admitted I was into him a lot of things about myself that didn't make sense suddenly did, but it wasn't like I didn't know before. I just didn't let myself know. If that... makes any sense at all.

[pabugotmoves]

It makes sense. We had a lot going on.

[More. They should definitely talk about this a lot more. How is it they'd gone so long avoiding conversations like this-- oh. Wait. Their era.

That's pretty self explanatory, actually. At least Mako had the sense not to fool around with bad people back home. That could have ended terribly.

Bolin pushes that thought away as hard as he can, taking in Mako's words and really thinking about them. For Mako.. and for Shiro.. it was about the person. That tracks.]

Maybe I'll find my Wu here, huh?

Man, we should have talked about this a long time ago.

[arclightning]

We can start now.

[ Mako offers: an olivenut branch, or something like it. He offers, at the same time, a bowl full of congee topped with some chili oil and some pickles he made back in the fall. The plate of pancakes goes into the center of the bar, followed by a plate and chopsticks for both of them. To top it all off, Mako piles a few leftover mochi into a bowl and then, finally, rounds the island to sit by Bolin.

Zuko is already sliding down off Bolin's shoulders to try and steal a mochi. ]

Right now. I didn't actually invite you over to make you tell me about, you know. Kissing people.

[pabugotmoves]

[His mouth is already open. The chopsticks are already in his hand. He's already got a piece of mochi on lock and his other hand up to defend against the most opportunistic (only) dragon he has ever met.]

Aaaa? Oh- No. I guess you didn't.

What did you want to talk about?

[arclightning]

[ Zuko, entirely put-out by Bolin's successful dragon-shooing, tries to slink around the palm of his hand while he's distracted and while Mako is distracting himself piling things onto his own bowl of congee. He already has plenty of toppings but obviously it also needs sesame seeds and no that is not just because he's suddenly extremely and obviously nervous. ]

It's... actually about Wu. And... me.

[pabugotmoves]

[Bolin's brows pin high into his hairline. He slooowly puts the mochi closer to his mouth but Zuko is a dastardly little bandit and snatches it quick as lightening - gone in a flash!

Bolin does not notice.

About him and Wu? Is everything okay? If it wasn't, surely Mako would be doing a lot more than compulsive cooking. So it can't be that bad.. it definitely isn't burn the building down, bad.

So maybe good? Good feels better. He hopes for good.]

Yeees?

[arclightning]

[ Here we go. Mako doesn't even register Zuko absolutely decimating a mochi. He's just stirring his congee, watching red oil mix with the rice, with his heart in his throat. ]

You, uh. Heard anything about the weird rituals around bonding in this city?

[pabugotmoves]

Um..

[Processing.. processing..]

No? Not really. I've been kinda.. you know. Focused on other stuff.

What are you bonding?

[arclightning]

...myself.

[ Super smooth, Mako. He picks up a spoonful of steaming congee and does absolutely nothing with it. Even Zuko stops munching her mochi to look between the two of them, her ears up and alert. ]

Uh. To Wu.

1/3

[pabugotmoves]

[There is a long, pregnant pause as Bolin works through that one.

You know Mako, for someone so centered on specifics, you suck at giving them.]

...

In the... glue yourself together kind of way or the marriage way?

2/3

[pabugotmoves]

[Why would Mako and Wu glue themselves together, don't be stupid, Bo.

GASP

All the food! Mako being so super weird but not angry!

HE GETS IT NOW]

3/3

[pabugotmoves]

[Bolin SLAPS his hands down on the table top (ow) and stands bolt upright, eyes enormous, mouth open.]

YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED??

[arclightning]

[ Mako doesn't wince exaclty, but he pulls back a little, laughing self-consciously as realization slams into his brother. Zuko, on the other hand, lets out a startled trill, scoots backwards, and falls entirely off the counter, making Mako lunge to catch her. She squeaks in something like protest, digging claws into his arm for balance, and Mako is laughing for some reason, grinning stupidly at them both. ]

Uh-yeah. We are.

1/?

[pabugotmoves]

[eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

2/

[pabugotmoves]

[EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]

3/

[pabugotmoves]

[His squeal, and it is a squeal, needs a long breath to power up before Bo just fucking explodes with a loud crow of victory.]

4/

[pabugotmoves]

MAKO!

[Pointing Disney style with both hands and all his fingers.]

YES!!

[He doesn't know what to do with his body. He wants to bowl his brother right out of his seat with an excited happiness so enormous that it could turn into destructive hooliganism at any second. The compromise is that Bolin swings himself around in a circle one way and then back before pointing again.

YES!!!

5/ ok ok I'm done. Probably.

[pabugotmoves]

MAKO!

Oh man, oh man, Oh Man!! I am so happy for you two!

[Back to his original stance, braced against the counter with both hands (one of which is in the pancakes oops) before he decides not even that is enough and he makes contact - one big arm slinging around his brother's shoulders to wrench him close.]

When did it happen, did you propose? Was it him? Was it romantic?? Tell me everything!

[arclightning]

Woah, woah—

[ Like Mako is anything less than thrilled, like he's not laughing openly with all his body at that explosion of excitement. It would be embarrassing except it's just him and Bolin and Pabu and Zuko and they're in his own house and honestly it is exciting because he never once thought they would get this far. He never thought planning a wedding was anywhere in his future and now Bolin's wrapped around him, squashing Mako against his side with the force of his excitement, because it's happening. ]

Bolin, calm—

[ He slings an arm around Bolin's back anyway, grins stupidly into the side of his head. ]

Cool it with the questions, we're not at a sleepover. Wu... kind of made a joke about it, and I told him we should look into it, and now it's happening.

[pabugotmoves]

[GOOD!!! HUG HIM!!!!]

How am I supposed to be calm, Mako, my only brother is getting married to the love of his life!? That is such a you proposal, I can't believe it.

[Not letting go!!!! In fact, he hugs tighter.]

Ugh, he and I had such a good talk about this stuff a while back. I'm so glad-- a wedding! I love weddings! I love that it's YOUR wedding!

[arclightning]

Bolin, [ Mako says again, a little more wheezily you are kind of crushing the life out of him here, bro. ] hard to marry my boyfriend if I can't breathe.

[pabugotmoves]

I love it when you say boyfriend. It's so nice.

[But okay, fine. He relents. He relents and takes a breath and lets it out. Then another.

Bolin shakes his hands out, still jittery with excitement before finally sitting back down and engaging with brunch. The congee has gone cold. He sighs and holds it out for Mako to warm with unspoken thanks in anticipation.]

[arclightning]

[ Because Mako is Mako, he doesn't hesitate in accepting the bowl, pulls it close to himself and pushes heat into it like it's second nature. It... kind of is. ]

Well, get used to... fiancé, I guess. Or... husband. Wow.

[pabugotmoves]

[Thank you, brother. Bolin watches with a smile, elbow on the table, his cheek resting in his hand. He's so proud he could burst.

Somewhere, he wonders if his talk with Wu way back when is what prompted the idea. But that's arrogant, isn't it.]

Husband. Look at you, Mako. You're all grown up. A successful business owner, getting married. Mom and dad would be so proud of you.