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[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

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[pabugotmoves]

Well, we're a stage couple now.

[And a good boyfriend shows he cares!

Bo cleans his ear with his pinkie as he speaks and opens the door for them with Pabu chasing up behind with a small coil purse in his mouth.]

Plus I said I would.

[royalfling]

I guess you are!

[ It doesn't stop him from watching Bolin for a long moment. He needs to ask Ryan about this later. ]

Well, I can help! Maybe I should get some for Mako...

[ Seeing as, he's starting to smoke and burn up at stuff.

Except, maybe bringing up Mako isn't the best idea. He glances back at Bolin just to check that he isn't going to freeze up again. ]

[pabugotmoves]

[Wu isn't wrong because it does make Bolin pause.

It feels awful when the mention of his brother's name is enough to make his feet go cold. It feels awful that this whole thing is happening. Wu is incredibly diplomatic and can be really clever.. maybe this was a rouse.]

Maybe um. You know, maybe I should stay here after all. I have a lot of sequins to sew..

[royalfling]

[ Wu pauses where he is, standing stalk still, his eyes on Bolin. ]

I'm not going to make you see Mako. Unless you want to! He's just-- [ Not having a good time, either. But Bolin probably doesn't need to know that, right now. That would be guilting him. ]

Come on, Bolin! You can't just stay in here.

[pabugotmoves]

[Poor Wu in the middle of all this. What an impossible situation.

And Bolin can recognize that. Which is.. growth?

He takes a moment, and a breath, forcing himself to just.. push through. You're a big boy, Bolin. Act like one. This isn't easy for any of them but here Wu is trying anyway.]

Yeah, no.. pphhh.. you're right. You're right, let's go. Maybe some retail therapy will help.

[royalfling]

Retail therapy always helps.

[ Good. Good! He can get Bolin some fresh air at least. Even if this isn't for Mako, he can at least tell Mako that Bolin got outside. That's a good thing.

He turns toward the "door" and realizes very quickly that he can't open it. ]

Ah... I need a hand here, buddy.

[pabugotmoves]

Oh- Sorry. [He nearly laughs and opens the door, rubbing the back of his head. He's been so lost in his own thoughts lately it was easy to forget the was in control of things as small and vital as whether the door could open.

Then again.. maybe it was nice to have control over something in his life right now. Another reason for the hole, really.

And despite the cold, the fresh air and friend by his side would do him an incredible amount of good. He had money, or what passed for it, and now had a reason worth leaving. It would never cease to surprise Bolin how expensive simple things could be in this new city, but it was just one more reminder of how different it was from home. A flower from Fu Lu Market cost one yuan. A nice bouquet cost fifty. But here, even without a currency system he could translate, they were astronomical. With nothing growing naturally that could be picked for free, he hoped the gesture wouldn't be lost on Ryan.

Bolin opened his little purse by it's delicate strings and rifled through the gems he had inside, pulling out a large paleblood stone which he thought would be enough and and turned it between his fingers. The opal, for lack of better words, was already carved into a perfectly circular cabochon as if it had been removed from a setting. Which was correct, because it had. ]

Last time I bought a flower it wasn't so cold out. I hope there are any..

[Not really the conversation they should be having but a gentle way to ease into it. He would have to work himself back around to the subject of his brother. It isn't as though he doesn't care, he cares a lot, it just hurts.]

[royalfling]

Well, if there aren't any, maybe Fern can grow some for you.

[ Wu waits for him, shivering in the cold, watching Bolin contemplate the gem. He wants to talk about it, too, but he doesn't want to force it. Not quite yet, even if he desperately wants to. He wants to have done with this, so Mako will stop sulking around the loft, so Bolin won't look so pensive. It's so wrong, to see him like this instead of his usual bubbly, loud self. ]

And it's for Ryan, right? I don't know if he really has, ah, an eye for flowers. I didn't know you were supposed to get your stage partner anything...

[pabugotmoves]

[Oh, Fern! Of course! That's such a good idea. If this doesn't work out then he will do that, Bolin makes a mental note but shrugs a little in reply.]

Well, no, I know. But I've never had a stage boyfriend before and I want to put my best foot forward. And all my relationships have been a mess so I want to do this right.

[royalfling]

What, ah, what does a stage boyfriend do?

[ Because, he's starting to get a little sus of this, Bolin. But at least Bolin isn't trying to hide anymore, and the dark cloud when he mentioned Mako is mostly gone. ]

[pabugotmoves]

[Busy hands serves to clear away the shadows. He hasn't had much of a purpose lately besides the musical and that's on hold while Dean is.. away. So this is good. It helps.]

Um.

[That's a good question.]

I dunno. The same thing a regular boyfriend does but on stage? Ryan and I are partners now so he deserves the same level of respect.

[royalfling]

Okay, but-- yes, of course he deserves respect, but, [ what is he even trying to say? He doesn't know. This is confusing, but if Bolin wants to do this, fine ]

I think that's what they call method acting.

[pabugotmoves]

Oh, there's a name for it? Cool.

[WAY TO FURTHER JUSTIFY THIS HAPPENING WU WHAT A GOOD HELPER]

I guess it's that, then.

[It's nothing to get to the nearest lamp and port to Willful Machine. the days might be dark and bitterly cold but that doesn't stop commerce from churning away.]

Okay.. I want something nice that says... hello. And I appreciate you. And I'm not going to enslave you or steal your van. We've got the budget so whatever it takes.

[royalfling]

Yeah, something nice. But not too nice, you know? [ Because they're not off-stage boyfriends. Because it's just for the show. It ll totally makes sense to Wu, 100%, totally normal. It's for the art, after all!

He walks alongside Bolin, glad to be out of the hole in the ground, even if it is frigid out here. The bustle of the market puts him at ease. ]

His exe did steal his van, so definitely don't give off that whole, um, vibe.

[pabugotmoves]

I'm not sure how I would with flowers.. Do they have vans here? I guess I could get him a carriage instead but then he'd need a horse and Opal didn't come with me.

[royalfling]

Bolin, [ Wu turns to him, incredulously ] why are you trying to impress him so much? It's Ryan! [ Not that Ryan isn't someone to impress, but he's Ryan! Wu's friend, Ryan! It just seems weird that Ryan wants to impress him so much.

He glances over at Bolin with a grin ]

I mean, he is pretty cool. A swell guy. But he's also just a guy! You can relax, Bo, it's fine. I'm sure he'll like whatever you get him.

[pabugotmoves]

[Somewhere unrelated to this conversation, Bolin is quietly pleased that they’re close enough for nicknames now. That feels good.

But back to the present and he just looks confused before doubling down on his conviction.]

Because! I’ve never had a.. look, I just want to- okay!?

[He’s not blushing, you’re blushing, shut up]

It’s method acting!!

[royalfling]

Okay, okay! But, really. He isn't hard to impress. He's a simple guy, trust me.

[ Wu holds up his hands, wondering a little at that blush, but it hasn't even crossed his mind that Bolin might have a crush o Ryan. He likes girls! ]

Then what do you think Columbia would like?

[pabugotmoves]

[MAYBE ITS JUST COLD WHY ARE YOU SO NOSY GOSH!!

But that is a very good question and excellent pivot point so he takes it and runs.]

Ooh, you’re good at this. Something sparkly? What flowers sparkle?

[He’s looking for anything remotely flower shaped as they navigate the sprawling market but so far it’s just been paper flowers and evergreen wreaths and that isn’t going to cut the mustard.]

And maybe rainbow? So if we can find something like that it would be perfect.

[royalfling]

Oh, he would love that! And Columbia would love that.

[ METHOD ACTING! It's about Columbia! Bolin doesn't have a crush on Ryan at all!

Wu excitedly looks over the stalls, but there aren't any flowers, none at all. They're nearly at the other end of the market, his spirits dampened, when he spots something colorful. He grabs Bolin's arm (god, he has good arms), and pulls him toward the stall ]

There!

[pabugotmoves]

[Bo follows and gasps loudly, eyes wide. It's there. Right there. Right at the end, the stall draped in furs and thick wool to keep the flowers that little bit more protected.

And right there in the middle with pride of place is magnificent bouquet in a protective hat box on a pedestal.

Well, magnificent is subjective... but it fills the brief.]

Carriage be damned, I'm getting that!

[Bolin grabs Wu back, surging with glee and excitement before bolting towards the tent, hand firmly around Wu's wrist.]

Wu look, it's perfect, isn't it perfect? Ryan is going to love it, don't you think? It's like this was put here just for me.

[royalfling]

[ Honestly? To Wu, they look tacky. Like, really tacky. But Bolin is so excited about them that he smiles a strained smile, giving him two thumbs up. Who puts glitter on flowers?! Flowers are pretty enough on their own. ]

Those are-- great, buddy! I'm sure he'll love it. They're sparkly, like Columbia's outfit!

[ Because this is about Columbia and not Ryan, obviously ]

[pabugotmoves]

[Oh they're disgusting but they fit what he said Columbia would like so THEY'RE PERFECT. Bo whips around to the seller and holds up the paleblood stone.]

I'll take them!!

[She was going to dismiss them but her eyes lock on to the stone and without saying a word she takes it and gestures to the flowers. They're yours, sir. Bolin squeals with delight and gathers them up into his arms. He has severely overpaid for these but he is not aware and he does not care. Mission accomplished, he can relax.]

Alright! One stop for tea because I am freezing and then these are going to Ryan.

[royalfling]

Great! You'll have to tell me if he likes them.

[ But Ryan's also the type to say he does when he doesn't, so maybe Wu will have to get the dirt later.

His eyes flick around to see if there's anything Mako will like, but the only flowers this time of year are those tacky ones covered in glitter and, well, no thanks. He doesn't want to bring Mako up again, anyways. ]