done with having dreams

[resistivity]

Who: the avatar cast! (+ custom starters for folks)
Where: all over!
When: catch-all october log
Rating shouldn't be much!
What: the atlas and loks have a nice dinner together, and a few custom starters. if you want to toss a starter my way please do! or if you'd like me to write one for you just drop me a PM! c: we don't need pre-existing cr, just happy to oblige! also if anyone wants super awkward dates...

Comments

𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐌

[resistivity]

( he honestly has no idea if it's a good plan or not. but. katara and zuko need someone looking out for them, and although he's sure they're both competent kids, that's. the thing. they're kids.

and now that the secret's out, and they know about korra and, by extension he and bolin, well. there's not really any reason to tread quite so carefully. he preps dinner — his firebending's back in intermittent gaps, so he can cook somewhere other than the kitchen just as well — and extends the invitation to katara with the assumption that she'll grab zuko on her way. then it's just. keeping bolin and korra under control until then. bo's still a bit on the blind side, but he's better than he was. they'll make it work. )

[cuedoves]

[ honestly zuko still can't wrap his head around it. what the heckie is time travel. there's a lot to process, too, from the new avatar to the current state of the fire nation (including the fact that he actually becomes fire lord and manages to improve the fire nation --- despite his fervent determination to help aang bring down ozai and bring balance to the world, he hasn't give much thought to what he would do if they even succeeded. ) and more. still, it's... good news? that things have improved? that he actually did it right? that the war ended and balance was restored? so he can't complain too much about it, even if trying to think it through gives him a headache. ]

[ and hey: other benders, including a firebender. during a period of time where zuko can actually firebend -- albeit on and off. that's always nice. so yeah, he'll come, even if things between him and katara are still.... awkward. speaking of which: ]

Hey.

[ zuko, here!!!! ] So.... food?

[seaclipsed]

[ she just... makes a face at zuko before turning towards mako and giving him a small wave. on the bright side, she keeps whatever rude thought she had towards the mini fire lord to herself because she truly does not want to drag the others into their issues. ]

You can ask him how he's doing first.

[ okay maybe she's not entirely polite. ]

[resistivity]

It's fine.

( look, he and zuko are awkward kindred firebender souls, who needs pleasantries when there is food to be had?? no one, that's who. but mako does spare a smile for katara. he points to a few earthenware pots that he has definitely fired himself as a form of earthbending practice. the lid is off one of them, and something vaguely aromatic emanates from it. )

Korra had some ideas about Southern Water Tribe cuisine, so hopefully it turned out all right. And, uh, Zuko, there's — a dry pot in the back.

( it's spicy. because firebenders. mako really doesn't expect anyone else to eat it, though bolin might at least sample it while korra makes faces at them. )

Korra and Bolin just ducked out to get drinks, they should be back any minute.

𝐑𝐎𝐘 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐆

[resistivity]

( he'd made contact with roy a while ago, over their shared affinity for fire. you can thank hughes for that heads up, and ultimately they'd agreed to meet and demonstrate their abilities in turn. pinning down a moment of time when his firebending seems mostly stable is tricky, but eventually he sends the general a message to meet him at the training arena. mostly so that if anything goes awry (which he doubts) they'll have space for containment. since he and roy can both manipulate fire after its creation, he isn't exactly worried. even if one of them loses their ability, the odds of it happening to the other as well at the same time are minimal.

he'll be sitting on a rock, logbook in hand, pen tapping against his chin whenever roy arrives. detective stuff! )

[insubordination]

[ he had insisted on going by himself. it was a long, dry, boring, pointless argument with riza that morning, in which he insisted that he could get to where he wanted to go without a guide dog, and riza had pointed out that he had nearly run into a doorframe that morning, and roy retorted that that was because he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. ultimately, he had won the argument, but it was slow going. careful of where he was going, a slightly blurry landscape ahead of him. he was nearly healed. healed enough to demonstrate what he can do, anyway.

the air is getting a little chilly, and roy has his coat pulled around him as he moves into mako's line of sight, holding up a gloved hand in greeting with half a smile. ]

Afternoon.

[ in greeting, warmly enough. and, when he notices the notebook, roy arches his eyebrows slightly. ]

Do you always take notes?

[ he had heard the scratching of a pen, in their conversation. ]

[resistivity]

( he tucks the pen into the book and snaps it closed, tucking it away as he stands. roy gets a respectful nod. )

General. It's good to meet you in person.

( he'll default to that unless corrected. )

And... yeah. I guess it's an old habit.

( 'old' by the standards of a twenty-two year old who's been a cop for four years, but. his point still stands. mako is absolutely meticulous about his paperwork, because the last thing he needed was one more reason for people to pick apart his policework on account of his past. )

If I'm not careful, I'll run out of paper here, though.

( he says it a bit wryly. his book, even with the smallest shorthand he can do, is nearly half-full. )

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐋 𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐄

[resistivity]

( he caught the tail end of one of sheryl's concerts and rather than approach her immediately (she seems busy) he just kind of minds his own business for a while as she recovers. he always hated it when people approached him after his pro-bending matches, and that was just... bending. it's not vulnerable the way putting on a show is.

he's a fair few hundred yards up the beach, throwing a stick for naga out into the water well away from the mermaids and letting her collect it and return it to him. once the sun's starting to set and he can feel the way it sinks down on the horizon, he calls her to him and ships her off to korra. then he'll head to sheryl and give her an awkward little smile of greeting.

he's mostly cringing a little inside at that whole... dating thing that bolin and korra did, but. he's also not... going to mention it... maybe it'll go away if he ignores it. it's not that he's upset they did it, honestly, because he knows they had good intentions. it's just a little like having your dirty laundry aired, and he's heartily embarrassed. enough so that he has to clear his throat before it'll cooperate with him to form words, )

Hey, Sheryl. Want me to walk you back to the Temple?

[fairysong]

[Her vision is significantly better by now. It's still a little blurry, but she can make out peoples' faces and find her way much better than she could before. And after learning that the mermaids had enjoyed her concert... of course she'd put on another one. Why just do one?

She's again sitting by the water, towel-- pilfered from the bathhouse-- draped around her neck as she soaks her toes in the cool lapping waves, watching the sun set. She's wearing a very short cropped top and a breezy-looking skirt that goes down to about her knees, perfect for the still-warm late summer weather. She looks up when she hears people approach, and gives Mako a smile.

She's still thinking about that silly advertisement post from the other day.] Mako~

[She greets him warmly, then smiles.] You don't think I can find my way back alone?

[resistivity]

( why is she like this. he doesn't blush, exactly, but he does sort of... awkwardly fumble for something to do with his hands. now that he's out of the sling (thanks, allura) he really has nothing he could... hide behind, per se. )

No. I mean, ( spirits. no one in republic city dresses like sheryl. they're still in full body bathing suits, or near enough as to make no difference! ) yes, I'm sure you can. But it's getting dark, and I thought you might like the company.

𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

[resistivity]

( it's complicated. mako knows he's upset by the sudden loss of his waterbending, and although lance had asked him for it, he really isn't sure if demonstrating his newly returned firebending is really the way to go.

so instead, he just. asks lance to meet him in the kitchens. mako's whipped up another batch of his ginger custard and it turned out pretty good. better than the last batch, probably. which definitely has something to do with the fact that he can actually use his firebending to regulate the heat as it cooks instead of relying on an oven. really, how does anyone cook if they aren't a firebender?

whenever lance arrives, mako's already set out a couple of custard dishes at the table and he'll gesture for lance to take a seat while he fishes the last batch out of the over bare-handed. as one does, when heat isn't a concern. it's not that firebenders can't be burnt, it's more that their tolerance is ridiculously high. )

It was either this or spice cake, and Korra's told me more than once that my idea of 'spice' could melt someone's face off, so...

[cargoed]

[ that would make sense, in a lot of ways, for just about anyone else. and yeah, okay - lance is still upset about being just lance again, and he probably will be for a while. he doesn't know if they'll ever get their powers back, but he should probably just be excited he got to have them at all, right? right. definitely.

( and he's not at all letting himself think about it because he'll get really sad and probably won't want to do anything at all. he's better than that! )

so mako mentions trying custard and lance immediately jumps at the idea to get out of his room and as distracted as he can possibly be. has he ever had ginger custard before? no. does he think he'll like it? he's not sure. but considering some of the...more experimental things that hunk has tried, he's pretty sure he's up to try just about anything. plus- he does want to see mako lightning bend. like. a lot. ]

Heeeyyyy Mako, what's- [ lance pops his head in just in time to see mako motioning for him to take a seat. and he probably would have said more, except that he's very much distracted by the fact mako just took something out of the oven bare handed and lance is very concerned.

if he trips over himself a little to take a seat, well. mako just be a bro. ]

Okay, okay, whoa- if you're talking about spicy, I'm pretty sure I can handle anything. [ okay but he's being totally honest with this bit, looking way too pleased with himself. ] If it's not melting my face off it's got to right to be called 'spicy' so.

[resistivity]

( he will be a bro. acknowledgement of lance's clumsiness will never see the light of day. mako doesn't even look at him, although he cocks his head, listening intently to make sure he doesn't need to be scraped up off the floor. no? good.

to the rest: be still his l'il fire nation heart. mako is grinning at him broadly as he sets the pan down on the stove. they can cool for now, and then he just dusts his hands on his thighs and comes to sit down opposite lance. he picks up the spoon he'd set out and nods for lance to do the same. )

Right? Nobody else gets it. Sometimes I wonder how Bolin and I are even related.

( he laughs, and sort of wiggles his spoon at the custard. )

I have a confession, though. This isn't spicy. Just the heat from the ginger. But if you ever want to swing by for a hot pot, I'd be happy to whip something up.

( cooking is kind of... the only way he's been able to feel useful, lately. he's not an amazing chef by anyone's imagination, but his food is decent and rich and functional, and he's befriended a centaur lady that can magic up ingredients at the drop of a hat, so. )

𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐎

[resistivity]

( mako finds him en route to the lake with an armful of. straws? what? normally, he'd just give the kid a companionable nod and carry on, but. straws? they seem to be all stuck together in what is quite possibly the weirdest art project mako's ever seen, and he sort of pivots on his heel with an armload of edible seaweed that he was definitely going to go dry as a little taste of home for korra. )

Minato? What are you doing?

( do you... need help... or an adult...? )

[p_mortem]

[ He needs... something... and that's evident in the way he straightens up a little when he sees Mako, looking as if he's doing absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. ]

Project. You seem busy... Might've asked for help, otherwise. Koromaru might puncture the straws, so I let him play somewhere else instead of helping.

[resistivity]

( he understood... some. of that. it's a good thing their first conversation was lengthy enough to equip him with a minato-to-mako dictionary, because he just sort of raises an eyebrow. koromaru... is a... child? a pet? )

No, I'm not — it's just seaweed, I was going to dry it on a rack in my room.

( it's sort of like kale chips, ha ha... anyway.

he tips his head. )

Here, just... give me ten minutes to drop it off and then I'll come help you with... whatever you're planning. Okay?

𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐍

[resistivity]

( now that bolin's back on his metaphorical feet just in time for them to have their respective elements back, it's time for some training. mako shakes his brother out of bed probably earlier than he'd like, shoves a cup of tea in his hands and drags him out to the training arena.

they're at it for a few hours, until they're both sweat-drenched and exhausted. they're sprawled on the stone of the arena floor, looking up at the sky. mako has a hand over his stomach, eyes closed, just taking a moment's quiet joy in the sensation of the sun on his skin, calling all those parts of him that are uniquely firebender to life. )

You need to do more cardio, bro. I ran circles around you out there.

( not strictly true, but mako's nothing if not a Brother. )

[lavabend]

[ Bolin's a naturally energetic guy, sure, but that doesn't mean he's up for sudden high-intensity training at the break of dawn. He likes his beauty sleep. He's never been shy about sleeping in when he could or taking a nap when he felt like it. So much for all that!!

But the adrenaline and subsequent endorphins, along with the great feeling of actually being good at something, is more than enough to lift his spirits. It doesn't take long for him to be as into it as Mako is, throwing those rocks around, dodging the kicks he can. It's really just like old times. ]

For the record, Mako, strength has always been my forte, not cardio. [ He's an Earthbender. More agile than your average Earthbender, sure, but Earthbenders tend to be slower than their counterparts. A lot of his training involved lifting heavy rocks. ]

And you kinda woke up me at 6am.

[resistivity]

( mako reaches out to swat at him lazily. where... is he... mako sort of takes a few blind swipes until he actually connects with no actual force behind it. )

What record? I've been training with you since we were kids. I think I'm aware of where your forte is.

( bolin can pick him up and throw him, sure, but mako's always first up a flight of stairs. it's not as big a deal as mako is so obviously pretending, either. they've always been complements. )

And what does the time have to do with anything? I'm pretty sure it doesn't have any impact on whether or not you can run a mile without dying.

𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐔𝐑𝐀

[resistivity]

( he is studiously pretending that korra and bolin's dating service never happened. when korra suggests that he try to replicate the dish allura had mentioned he's actually intrigued enough to try it. korra... implies that there's going to be several people, so it scans as not a date to him.

right up until allura actually arrives and korra excuses herself with an excuse that's flimsier than the air she can currently bend, and mako is just glaring at her as she retreats with a smile.

he turns his attention to allura, instantly apologetic. he is definitely fighting down a creeping veil of red blushing its way up his skin. korra why. you had to leave him alone with her!! betrayal! )

Princess Allura, I'm so sorry. It's not what it seems like. I mean, it's not a date. I'm not looking for a girlfriend.

( is that offensive. would she be offended? crap. crap, crap. uh. )

N-not that you aren't, uh, beautiful and smart and wonderful and all of those things. I'm just. You know. I'm not on the market. Korra's just... has some weird ideas about what I should be doing with my free time. She means well.

[juniberries]

[Allura had taken the dinner offer entirely at face value. Though, considering the context of the network posting in question, and the...odd way Korra came across when talking to her, she really should have known better.

But, unfortunately, there are times when Allura can be a bit too trusting when it comes to people she does genuinely like, so she thinks nothing of this dinner night with friends.

That is, until Korra deserts her and Mako. And that Bolin is nowhere to be seen. And then it slowly sinks in that this is a part of that date. And while the term dating is a bit of an unknown to her initially, she's spent enough time around humans and can understand context.

So as Korra leaves, awkwardness sets in, and for a tick she'd just hope to ignore it, carry on as though this is just a simple meeting between friends, and then Mako makes it...all the more abundantly clear.

She can feel the blush settle warm on her cheeks, creeping up to her ears, made worse as Mako speaks. Her hands bunch a bit in the fabric of the dress from Struxta she's chosen to wear. All the more aware of how her choice in outfit may come across, as though she were anticipating this. So she's quick to deny.]

That is perfectly all right! [it comes out in all but a squeak, and she brings her hands up in an earnest gesture of yes everything is fine!!] I am also not...looking for any sort of relationship, either. Besides being friends, of course! Which is why I came here to dine!

[Quiznak. She's usually much more articulate.]

It's very...er, sweet that Korra is trying to help, though I've no doubt you could find someone in your own time. Were you to look, of course. Which...you...just said you are not. [just. a sigh.] I apologize. It seems we were both tricked.

[resistivity]

( wow she's so cute when she's flustered. oddly, her being caught off guard is what lets mako find his equilibrium. he was prepared to just... sink into the floor and die a slow, torturous death, but. he's gotten better about setting aside his own emotions when someone else's distress is worse. he takes a deep breath, and his shoulders settle back down to where they'd been before they tried to crawl up around his ears in embarrassment. )

It's fine. Here, sit down. ( he gestures for the nearby table, small as it may be. ) There's no reason we can't have something to eat anyway.

( sharing food isn't exclusive to dating, so. it's fine, right? right. )

My, uh, my arm's been doing really well. No complaints. You do good work.

[cuedoves]

[ as promised, zuko shows up at the fighting ring a few minutes before promised. he's already firebending at the dummy when mako shows up, relieved that it finally works. he's just doing basic fire blasts and breaths but he's relishing every single one --- he's even got a little smile on his face as he practices, now that's rare. when he notices mako, he'll nod to him. ]

Ready to start?

[ when will zuko learn how to make smalltalk? never, probably. ]

[resistivity]

Born ready.

( he obviously jogged here, though he's not the least bit out of breath. he's just got that healthy vaguely sweaty boy glow that people get via physical exertion, and he's stripped down to just his tanktop. his arm's out of the sling, though the scars persist they're... a little more faded, perhaps, than the last time they spoke. thanks, allura. either way, it no longer seems to hinder him.

he squares off from zuko a moderate distance away and gives him a respectful bow, one hand pressed in a closed fist against the opposite open palm before slipping into a loose and easy stance. his form is... not lazier than zuko's, but definitely different. a little looser, more fluid.

then, because they are team 'why talk when you can spar', he just waits for zuko to acknowledge the bow and then he'll start the bout off with a high sweeping kick, an arc of flame fanning the air. )

[cuedoves]

[ zuko, on the other hand, doesn't bother taking his shirt off. he sweeps back his hair -- it's getting a little long, and squares off against mako. frankly, he could be captain of team of 'why talk when you can spar. ' he bows respectfully as mako does, then straightens out again and gives him a little nod to begin. ]

[ the kick is easy enough to dodge -- and he matches the flame with one of his own, blocking it. then he thrusts out a fist and firebends in mako's direction, relishing the heat and the feeling of the fire -- it's been so long. too long. ]