acatalepsy_logs | done with having dreams

( 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...

[ 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.

( 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. )

[ mako grins, and sits, and picks up his spoon and lance does the same, immediately shaking his head as mako starts in on his spicy food problems. ]

Listen- I've been in space for like. A year? Years? And their spices are all wrong. Hunk does what he can but I can only suffer so much. You- [ decisive pointing. ] Are now obligated to make me something actually spicy. For the love of food.

[ there's no need to get into the depths of that. of missing home and his family and huge family dinners. he's been doing this for too long to really let every mention get to him. so instead, lance just grins back at mako - excited at the prospect of spicy food - before mako confesses and lance just sort of laughs. ]

Thanks for the warning- but hot pot? Yes. Double yes. Count me in.

[ and then lance is just going to dive headfirst into it, taking a huge spoonful and holding it up - inspecting it for a second before shrugging one shoulder and sliding the spoon into his mouth. ]

Yeah, I'd be happy to. But did you say you lived in... space?

( he's not an idiot. he knows what space is. science fiction is just starting to take off in republic city, and humans of any age and era have an utter fascination with the stars. but he hasn't yet spoken with anyone here who has actually talked about space travel, so he's intrigued all the same. he takes a thoughtful bite of the custard, and then leans back in his chair. )

[ he's got the entire bite to get through, so mako will have to deal with a big of shrugging for a moment or two as lance finishes the bite, swallowing it with a smile. ]

Dude, this is really good by the way. [ and then he's going in for more. ] And I wouldn't call it living? Or- it's complicated, but me and a few of my friends and- [ uh. words? ] People I knew from school kind of got chosen to save the universe? So we've been working to bring peace, and have technically been living in space, so you're not completely wrong.

[ he's taking that next bite, though, so it's going to be a few more seconds before he can continue. ]

But I've been in space for a while now.

Thanks. I'm glad you like it.

( and then... mako blinks.

on paper, it doesn't sound any weirder than 'i'm friends with a girl who can control elements, who'll be reborn countless times to bring peace and balance to the world'. mako's sense of disbelief has always been fairly easy to suspend. so he just... accepts that at face value. )

That sounds rough. ( 'buddy'. #justfirebenderthings. mako is zuko's awkward spiritual brother. ) It's an incredible responsibility.

Yeah! But it's no hot pot. [ he'll use the spoon and point it at mako. ] Next time. [ before going back in for more. is there more of this after he's done? he didn't realize he was this hungry.

and honestly- props to mako. if lance had heard as much from someone else, he'd probably have a harder time with it. but being here, with astoria and all the insane things that have happened to him since, rolling with the punches will help. a lot.

then lance shrugs. ] I guess. We didn't really have a choice. See- there are these half magic half science giant robot lions? That were altean tech, sort of. And they got to chose who would pilot them, and they chose...a bunch of people from earth, which I don't really understand but it happened. And then they shot us galaxies away, so it wasn't like we could go home. Plus with the Galra trying to take over the whole universe and destroyed people and planets and everything in between along the way? We had to stop them.

( yes, lance, there is plenty extra. and honestly if you ask nicely he'd make real food, too!!

mako tips his head as he listens. he's still eating custard, but it's done thoughtfully, careful not to clink the spoon on the side of the dish. he understands... some of those words, even if putting them together in a context that he can understand is the first thing he's done since arriving here that feels like actual detective work. allura is altean, so... alchemic mech lions, but not lion-turtles,... he can't really imagine what that must look like.

something like a spirit mech. semi-sentient. choses pilots. people from... earth? as in underground, or a place called The Earth? like a kingdom, or continent, or... planet? why would you call a planet earth, that's like calling it 'dirt'. the humans on lance's world are ridiculous, thanks.

galra are the bad guys. obviously. okay. he's got this. )

Are they here with you? The... magic science robot lions?

[ yes but does he want real food or does he just want to eat too much custard, feel sick, and then complain a lot about how it was totally worth it but he's also dying? options.

lance doesn't even consider the separation between someone from mako's world and the explanation he's giving, what words would make sense and what ones would go entirely over his head. he probably should, but there's also a level of lance not really understanding it either? that would make it more difficult to explain in other terms.

so instead, he just sort of. word vomits. and mako looks like he's following along, so lance will take it and keep going. ]

No. Or- none of the ones we were piloting. Shiro's ability- he was kind of the leader of our group? For part of it. That's a long story. Anyway- Astoria's ability that she gave Shiro was that he can kind of...turn into his lion. So if you see one flying around that's kind of what the lions look like, but they're all in different colors.

And then! [ which, you know, the important part. ] All of the lions combine! And make the greatest defender of the galaxy- Voltron!

( this is where mako's big brother expertise comes in handy, because if lance tries to eat more than two custards in a row mako will absolutely swat his hand and tell him to have a vegetable. )

I... see.

( a beat. then, )

Which color is yours?

[ yes but you have to catch his hand first if you want to swat it.

lance opens his mouth to respond, more out of habit than anything. ]

Bl- [ he stops himself, shaking his head. ] Sorry, I started off in Blue. But some stuff happened and we ended up moving around a bit with the lions, so now Red and I are a team.

( color theory in his world is basically just. hello! firebenders are red! waterbenders are blue! earthbenders are green! on repeat until you die.

but. blue would suit him. the same way waterbending does. there's a fluidity to lance, some unhoned grace that's entirely elemental. mako has a hard time associating him with the colors he traditionally ties to fire, but. that's the thing about water. it adapts. shifts, changes, the rise of tides to a torrent. maybe it would suit better than he thought. )

Are they elemental?

Kind of.

[ lance thinks for a moment, trying to find the best way to explain this. ]

There are aspects of each of the lions that kind of compare to elements? Like the green one prefers plants, and has some powers that have to do with plants. Blue has an ice beam, and moves really well through water. Red is really really fast, kind of has this personality that is closer to fire? Quick to react, passionate, that kind of thing. Black is the leader of the lions, so whoever is leading or has leadership potential pilots her. And yellow is kind of our defense- bulky, can take a lot of hits, has a shield and also a laser canon?

[ that....isn't as cut and dry as mako is probably used to, or anyone is used to, but lance sort of shrugs. ]

Keith used to be Red's pilot, Blue found me and the others first and I was the first one she kind of...let pilot her. But some stuff happened and Keith ended up piloting the Black lion, and Blue let Allura pilot her, and then Red let me in too so it worked out. [ there's......definitely no need to get into the background issues of that period of time, nope. ]

( you know, it probably says a lot about his time with bolin that he can kind of just follow along with this otherwise nonsensical ramble. he nods, tucking those explanations away in the back of his mind. )

So in a weird way, it makes sense that you'd be a waterbender here.

( he doesn't think the loss is permanent. after speaking with astoria, more than anything he'd assume that there's just something going haywire behind the scenes. not that he trusts her fully, but. it's more information than he had when he arrived. )

[ gold star for mako, because most people (even in lance's family) can't keep up with him when he gets into the height of his rambling. ]

I- [ lance pauses, blinking once. ] I guess so, yeah. [ he turns his eyes down to the custard, scraping the spoon along the sides of the dish for a moment. ]

Honestly I figured it's just because I like water? [ he shrugs, still not quite looking at mako. ] Like- the ocean, rain, that kind of thing. I'm from Cuba, so- [ a beat, and then he realizes mako will probably have no idea?? what cuba is??? ] Which is an island, so I grew up on the water most of my life.

I mean, that might be part of it, but. Waterbenders are —

( he hesitates, and then stands. goes to retrieve two glasses and a pitcher of water, which he brings back to the table. he sets a glass down in front of lance and pours it out, demonstrative. with a gesture to the way the water fills the cup, )

— adaptable. It sounds like you've had to adjust to a lot of changing circumstances over the last couple years. I don't think this power outage ( ha, ha ) is permanent. Otherwise, I wouldn't have firebending back at all.

[ his brows arch a bit when mako gets up, not quite following what he's talking about? but then he gets the water jug, and there's a pang of oh god okay get ready to use your power before mako continues and lance...just sort of exhales, relaxing. ]

Oh. [ he blinks, and then slowly breaks into a smile. ] Actually, yeah, that makes sense. [ because while he doesn't necessarily want to think about all the things he's had to go through over the last however many months, he likes the word adaptable. could get behind it.

he nods - once - more to himself than anything. ] You're probably right, which means you definitely should show me what you can do before it disappears again. But. After. [ he's going to look down at his now empty dish and back to mako, his smile turning into more of a grin. ] You have...more of this, right?

( lance gets a sort of pointed Look. child, you are not getting multiple helpings of dessert, thanks. somebody here clearly has to be the responsible one. )

I'd be happy to show you my firebending. And yeah, there's more custard, but you should probably have something a little more substantial first.

( actually, he has a few leftover pork buns in his rucksack, doesn't he? courtesy konoha's magical ingredient summoning. mako gets up to where he'd hung it on a hook he'd... more-or-less earthbent into the wall and tosses one of them at lance in an underhand. )

There. Chew on that, and we can head to the arena.

( it's korra's turn to do the dishes, anyway. )

[ hey don't look at him like that!!!! hunk's been busy trying to figure out what the eff is even going on and lance was here for two months before he showed up. scavenging for food has become a hobby, and he's not going to turn down good food if he can help it. ]

I didn't actually mean to show up and just have you shove food at me, but if you're offering....

[ and then there will be something thrown at him, and lance will only bobble it once before catching it, giving a quick glance to mako before shrugging and taking a bite as he moves to stand from his chair and follow after mako. ]

You didn't make these too, did you? [ munch munch munch. ]

( he only stops to tidy up the dishes and then the area where he'd worked. korra gets a quick text, your turn to do dishes, grab bo. food done. thnx. satisfied the lure of food will be enough to captivate her attention and that she'll gather up his brother, he grabs his bag and gestures lance out the door in front of him. he tugs it on over his head so it can sit crosswise on his chest. )

Yeah. The meat's not what I'm used to, but they didn't turn out terrible.

( pigs?? what even are those?? sounds fake. )

You mean pork?

[ because lance can taste it. and it tastes good. but he's also trying to wrap his head around someone not knowing how to cook pork and it's.....a little difficult.

he'll stop when he's out the door, waiting for mako to follow after grabbing his things. ]

Okay besides the fact this is delicious even if you're not used to it- you don't have pork in your world?

Uh...

( he sort of... lets that sound trail off, and then shakes his head, falling in close to the wall so he and lance can walk abreast down the hallway rather than one leading the other. )

Most people here think our animals are a little unusual. ( understatement, clearly. it's also probably obvious he's the slightest bit disconcerted by that. some things are constants — everyone knows tea, for instance, but animals? ) We have... you know, boarhawks, turtleducks, polar bear dogs, and sky bison and dragons. Well. Not many dragons, but. A few.

[ lance looks over at mako, brows raised, as he continues to eat away at the roll. it's only when mako gets into the specifics that he chokes - not seriously, but more as a sound of surprise, taking a second to swallow the bite. ]

I'm sorry- boarhawks? Polar Bear dogs? [ wait, no, actually that makes a lot more sense than when what he had been trying to call naga. ] Are they actually like- the two animals in one?

[ a beat. ]

Dragons. Definitely.

I... guess? Except they aren't two different animals to us. Most of the time. Although we do have just bears. And cats, as well as swancats.

( welcome to avatar, where the animals are made up and the contradictions don't matter. )

But that's just kind of how it's always been. Dragons were hunted almost to extinction, though.

𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

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