video; un: wulala

[royalfling]

Hello, hello Trench! If you don't know me, I'm Wu, and I run the Raccoon Room, Trench's exclusive Sleeper performance venue.

[ Wu grins at the camera, talking a bit fast, clearly excited about something. The excitement palpable even through the Omni with his paleblood power projecting his emotions. Fritter the raccoon is perched on his shoulder, holding on to some of his hair as he talks ]

I come to you today with an announcement. A very important announcement! I know a lot of us have baggage we're carrying around from back home, and after a while, you might be like, hey, this isn't super important anymore! And then something happens, and it's suddenly really, really important again.

[ Wu puffs himself up a bit, sitting up straighter, putting his free hand solemnly to his chest. Fritter mimics him, doing the same action with her little paw to her heart ]

So, today, on this, February second, of the Egg Moon in Trench, Deer Country, I, Wu, King of the Earth Kingdom back on my world that doesn't have it's own specific name, I hereby formally abdicate my claim to the Earth Kingdom throne and title.

[ As soon as he's done, the formality breaks and he lets out a bright laugh. Fritter chitters excitedly, crawling up into Wu's hair. ]

Whew! That felt good, really good. [ But then his eyes go wide and he adds, conspiratorially: ] Oh, but if you're from home and you somehow go back home and there's another Wu there, he didn't do that, not yet at least! He still has some work to do.

[ We're back to casualness, and a bright, wide grin. ]

I'm glad that's done with. Oh, boy. You know, that super important thing? Mako and I are getting married! And he doesn't want any pesky titles following him around like mine was. So, we're just going to be two regular guys. Just two guys, getting married. [ He sighs happily, clearly deeply, disgustingly in love. Fritter rolls out of his hair and he casually catches her in his arms.

Then he gasps again, sitting up: ] Oh, and you're all invited! February 20th, at the Raccoon Room. I'll see you there!

((ooc: originally posted on Deerington's network, oops. If you already tagged, I've move them all over here))

Comments

[arclightning]

[ You are speaking his language, Sasuke. ]

Not a lot of them, maybe, but... enough to keep everybody else on their toes. My brother's the same way. No angles at all.

[retsuden]

[ Hah...hahaha... Brothers. What would it be like to have a brother without a hidden agenda? Itachi's nothing but angles.

Was nothing but angles.

Ugh. ]

It must be nice to have someone like that with you for so long.

[arclightning]

Nice.

[ A beat. Mako can't leave it at that, so far from the truth. ]

Exhausting.

[ Another beat. Mako looks away, his mouth twisting. ]

He really... trusts everybody he comes across. It's been hard to get him to understand that the world isn't always going to have his back, even if I wanted him to be able to believe that. It's just not true.

[retsuden]

Maybe those are just his own ​mistakes to make.

[ Okay, even he realizes the second that that leaves his mouth that maybe it sounds a little harsh or even heartless to say about someone trying to protect their brother. Back up. ]

I mean, there are simply some world views that can only be changed through experience, and no one can really force us to see it another way. My friend, the idiot I mentioned before— he spent years trying to make me see his views as true, to save me and protect me from my own choices. But ultimately the only thing that ever worked was to let me figure it out for myself.

[arclightning]

[ The thing is: Sasuke is right. He's a hundred percent right. He doesn't know anything about Bolin and not much about Mako and still hit it right on the head. ]

Yeah.

[ Mako says quietly, his eyes flicking away into the space around him for a long moment. Wu is happily chatting with everyone else about his plans. ]

I've, uh. Had to really work to... let that be true. It's been just him and me since he was six years old. I guess after all that it's hard to let him make choices that I know are going to hurt him, but I have to trust him.

Did you? Figure it out?

Chaos Interception. Enjoy the forced three way video

[pabugotmoves]

[Bolin has been watching this because he is so full of stars and hearts with his brother and Wu breaking the news that every thread is warm and fills him ever fuller with pride for his family. This, though. This he has to say something about.

The screen splits three ways and lo and behold, as if summoned.]

You know, not to step on anyone's toes here and Mako has a valid question and I was definitely not eavesdropping... but I just have to say- your friend sounds like he had a point about you, dark haired stranger. If he hadn't reminded you so often that there was good in you then it would have taken way longer for you to realize.

sasuke deserves this

[retsuden]

[ Oh. Shit. Right. That privacy feature is something he really has to learn for times like these. Sasuke closes his eyes for a second, letting out a sigh. ]

I take it you're the brother.

[ He'd really planned on just getting to say "Yeah, I figured it out" and leave it at that, bUT NOW WHAT IS HE SUPPOSED TO DO? ]

I did figure it out, eventually, yes, and you're right; if he hadn't insisted, I may have never realized it at all. I cherish Naruto and the stubborn nature he had in reminding me that he would always be my friend.

But it wasn't until he admitted I needed to be stopped that I was able to let those messages sink in. He had to see that I wasn't going to be swayed hearing about his ideals. I could only be swayed by seeing my own failure.

It's because of that that I believe it's more important to let people know you'll catch them when they fall than it is to try to prevent them from falling in the first place.

he does

[pabugotmoves]

[Bolin nods several times. He's listening.]

Well. Good. I think.

You should buy your friend a nice gift to say thank you.

[He was not listening]

[retsuden]

[ ......................................................................................................................... ]

I am not going to do that.

[pabugotmoves]

Why? Nothing says like.. hey buddy, best friend in the world, thanks for the redemption arc. I got you flowers.

My best friend has done a ton of messed up stuff.

[retsuden]

[ ... Why does he always end up talking to These Types, is he some kind of MAGNET FOR THEM ]

I've no interest in saying that or buying anyone something as useless as flowers.

[pabugotmoves]

[Look at your life, Sasuke. Look at your choices.]

Uhhuh.. yeah see that’s where you’re wrong. Everybody loves getting flowers and if you think they don’t then you have never experienced the joy of getting them.

You know what? I’m gonna hook you up, no worries. I want you to understand.

[retsuden]

You pick plants that could have otherwise thrived on their own only for them to die within a matter of days in a vase on your table. There's nothing joyful about it, particularly not in a place like this where plants already seem rare enough. Do not "hook me up."

[pabugotmoves]

[y i k e s]

Okay.. okay.. sorry.

[arclightning]

You're fine, bro, just... don't offer to buy strangers flowers.

[pabugotmoves]

[Bolin just. Sniffs and gives a curt nod before turning off his feed. This did not go how he was expecting. He is bailing. Enjoy your mean friend.]

[retsuden]

[ Aw crap he made your brother cry. He's quiet for a second before sort of cautiously deciding maybe he should ask. ]

... Was that too harsh?

[ HE'S GUESSING YES. ]

[arclightning]

That's... just Bolin. He's sensitive.

[ A small beat. ]

I'll talk to him.

[retsuden]

Don't worry. It... was my mistake. I can fix it.