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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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[royalfling]

[ The wave of feeling crashes through him and Wu shudders, swallowing hard. He can deal with this. This is the point. Clear the air. Bolin's feelings are important, and they're wrapped up in everything with Kuvira and how awful it was for both of them. He takes a deep breath, letting the feelings wash out of him, which he has to do. He can't internalize them, it hurts too much to do that.

It's rough to hear what Bolin thought about him, but... well. He's not wrong. He's not wrong at all. ]

At the beginning, I didn't like you either. But it wasn't about you, not ever.

[ He laughs a little, shaking his head. ]

That was me at my worst. I, I wasn't in a great place. It's not an excuse! But...

[ It's an understatement, but the idea of taking the throne, of having his simple life of hanging out with Mako in Republic City interrupted by having to take the throne... it was a lot.

He reaches out to grip Bolin's wrist with a little smile ]

I think we both are. Kuvira did a number on us. And I was never cut out to be a king! I much prefer this.

[ He waves a hand at the Raccoon Room at large ]

Good. Good! I'm glad. I was just thinking that we never really, never put that to bed. And then you showed up in Deerington and I had just died and was dating your brother. I just, yeah. Want to make sure we're good?

[pabugotmoves]

[Oh good, that's a huge relief. Bolin takes a breath and lets it all out, finally returning Wu's grasp, visibly lighter.]

Aww, c'mon. We can do better than good, c'mere, buddy.

[It's huggin time, c'mere. He's gonna tug Wu right in for a big one. Which is maybe a little awkward given how they're both cross legged on the floor but who cares, not Bolin. Is he awkwardly tugging Wu onto his lap? Kinda. Spill the beads he made all over? Yep. Does it look worse than it is? Absolutely. But no one is around to get the wrong idea and if they were they would know it isn't anything more, anyway.]

You're a good friend, Wu. And you make my brother happy. As far as I'm concerned that means we're family and that's the most important thing in the whole world.

[royalfling]

[ Oh, good. Hugs. Wu loves hugs, and now, in Trench, his hugs have a bit of magic in them, so as soon as he wraps his arms around Bolin, calm washes down over him, a peaceful calm that settles in your gut.

He's glad. Really glad! Things weren't as bad as he was making them in his head. It's just always a worry for him, that maybe Bolin won't accept him, that he's still upset or angry that Wu. But no, they did get past this before, it's just time and this place messing with his head that brought it up again. He sinks into the awkward hug with a sigh ]

Yeah. Yeah! We are family. We are. Boy, sorry to spring that on you! I was just thinking about it and, well. I spiral. Sometimes. I know I do! Thank you, for talking to me.

1/??

[pabugotmoves]

[Nnnnngh man that is a nice hug. He simmers in it for a long moment before reluctantly letting Wu go. Such nice hugs!! Actually, he's never had such a nice hug from someone. Not even a lady friend. Makes a guy wonder.]

No, no no I.. whooboy, I am glad you said something. I wouldn't want this to fester.

[pabugotmoves]

Um..

[pabugotmoves]

[pabugotmoves]

Actually, there was something that I've been wondering about.

ok

[pabugotmoves]

I mean I thought we were getting close in Deerington but do you show all your friends the sex movers or was that just you being nervous and trying to win me over or..

WAIT SORRY ONE MORE

[pabugotmoves]

Not- not that I. I um. I'm not judging what you and Mako do during bedroom time or- or anything I just uhhh

[royalfling]

[ Wu just sort of... freezes. His arms go stiff and he grimaces. Ah. So he does remember that. ​]

It wasn't a sex mover! And that's not, that's not--

[ Oh boy, he's blushing bright red now. He doesn't want Bolin to be thinking about his and Mako's sex life at all. Nope. No. o thanks. He pulls back, grabbing his Omni from his pocket. Big band music be damned, it's Lil Nas X time. ]

It's a music video! I swear to you, it's not, not pornography!

[ Wow he can barely even say the word, but he can pull up all of Lil Nas X's music on his phone. Just. Not the videos. Well, maybe one video. He pulls up Old Town Road. It's safe. It's a banger. Bolin will like it, and there are no boys making out or giving the devil a lap dance or dancing naked in the showers. Nope. Just Lil Nas X in a cool outfit on a horse, and some guy named Billy. ]

It's a music video, Bolin! It's, it's a thing that artists do in the future, on Earth. They make movers to go with their music, and that was for Lil Nas X's song Call Me By Your Name. I just really connect with his music, and maybe it's a little raunchy, but it's because he's pushing back on the social stigma of Earth about being a guy who likes guys! That, that video I showed you was literally him reclaiming the idea that gay people are going to hell, which is the place where some people believe that bad people go when they die. So he was using his sexuality to reclaim that narrative.

[ He takes a deep breath and shoves the Omni into Bolin's hands. ]

Here! Watch this one. No sex in it at all. But this is the kind of stuff he does and I really, really like him. It was a lot like that in the Earth Kingdom too! Without the hell stuff, but you know what I mean.

[ Does he? Maybe? Well, now Old Town Road is playing, so they can pay attention to that instead. ]

[pabugotmoves]

[Watching Wu's mental gymnastics sure is a show and a half, but Bolin's attention is drawn into the video and he listens, both to the music and to what Wu is saying because he would way, way rather that be the explanation and not a sex thing. Which is like.. if it was a sex thing that would have been fine he guessess?? But it would be a different conversation. He's done plenty of weird stuff trying to befriend someone when he was nervous, so it would make sense.

But this is better and he relaxes even more.]

Ooooooooohhh, I see.

Yep, yep, no that makes sense. I thought you were just showing me.. I mean, I guess that's why I've been a little weird with you, I wasn't sure what you were doing involving me and you and Mako.

[He laughs. No wonder he's been a little awkward, huh?]

I understand now, no wonder you like him so much. Hey, this is the same outfit you were wearing.

[royalfling]

You were-- you thought--

[ Oh Spirits, he's burying his face in his hands now, completely mortified. Yes, maybe he and Mako have a good sex life but that doesn't mean he wants Bolin to know that, and he particularly doesn't want Bolin to be a part of that! That's too far, much, much, much too far for him, even just being with Mako is a lot, adding another person in, particularly his brother.

He groans and shakes his head. ]

No, no, no definitely not! Not even a little bit! I just. Really like his music.

[pabugotmoves]

Ahhhh right.

..

Well that makes a whole lot more sense!

[He laughs. He has to. It's way too awkward otherwise. And now the truth is out and he understands it's pretty funny in hindsight. For him, at least. Bolin (gently) slaps Wu's back and laughs harder, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.]

Oh man, that is grade A. You couldn't make this stuff up.

[royalfling]

[ Wu wavers under that touch, but, well. At least he's laughing. Okay. That's good. That's good! Even if it means that he must have spent the last few months thinking that Wu wanted him to join him and Mako in bed? Wow. That's a lot. That's really a lot and not something Wu has ever even thought about and nope, nope, no thank you. ]

I, I guess not! Wow. Okay. Okay! That is not the case, Bolin. No, really not. I just, it's just Lil Nas X's videos. They're, um. Good. But some of them are even more raunchy than the one I showed you first so maybe don't watch them.

[ He laughs too, shakily, looking up at Bolin. ]

[pabugotmoves]

[Well maybe not join but be..aware of? Or just bond over porn? Who knows, not Bolin. His cheeks hurt from laughing, though. Water under the bridge, now.]

I didn't realize that music was so raunchy in the future. I haven't had much of a chance to check all this stuff out.

I like this one, though. He's a good singer.

[royalfling]

He is amazing!

[ Okay this is better ground, easier territory. Wu can deal with this. ]

Oh, boy, Bolin, you haven't heard anything yet! Have you heard Beyonce? Taylor Swift? BTS? Wow, we have so much to catch you up on!

[pabugotmoves]

I have no idea what any of those things are but I want to!

Are you busy now? Can you show me?

[royalfling]

Yeah, yeah definitely!

[ Oh, good, he's excited. Wu pulls up BTS on his Omni because those boys are beautiful, and their songs are such bangers, and he thinks Bolin will appreciate them.

These two can probably while away hours watching music videos. ]