video; un:mako

[arclightning]

Uh, hey. Mako here.

[ Nailing it so far, right? Mako's standing in front of a half-blue, half-green wall, dotted with small lunar sconces. Everything looks kind of dusty and half-finished, and the watery afternoon light illuminates yet more dust drifting around him.

Notably, a small dragon, red-scaled and content, is draped over his shoulders like a scarf, watching the Omni with bright eyes.

Mako glances momentarily off the screen, mouths something, and then looks back, clearing his throat. ]

It's come to my attention that a lot of you have been setting things on fire left and right since we washed up here. Obviously, this is dangerous to you and the people around you. If that's you, you need to make an effort to control it immediately before something worse than singeing your clothes happens.

For those of you who just washed up, I'm a firebender. That means I can do—

[ He holds up his left hand (scarred with strange marks) in front of himself and splays his fingers, making a small puff of fire appear and hold over his palm. It flickers there like a candle flame, dancing between Mako's fingers, before he drags it in a small arc and lets it go out. ]

—that, and—

[ Another flick of his fingers, this time producing little purple-bright sparks that zap between the tips and then dissipate. ]

—that. And a lot more.

So. If you need help learning to control your powers, and you do, come to the Raccoon Room in Cellar Door on Wednesdays. You'll see the sign. I've been doing this since I was a kid. Anyone else who wants to help, feel free to drop by too.

[ Finally, he looks up, his serious expression dropping just slightly. ]

Trust me. If a bunch of snotty six-year-olds back home can learn how to do it, you can.

[ The little dragon huffs in agreement, fire puffing out of its nose, and Mako reaches forward to cut the feed. ]

Comments

action; ota

[arclightning]

[ Mako isn't actually inside the theater.

He's set up a little training area outside the place, on the cobblestone street, and there he's waiting for people. It's stopped raining for just a little, and the street is still slick with it, but Mako's out there in a tank-top and loose pants, doing a much more complex bending routine than he showed in the video. It's not exactly flashy—his movements are economical—but it's certainly showcasing a lot more power and a lot of what he can do, all martial arts with fire arcing and spinning away from him in controlled bursts. His little dragon is flying through some of the whirls of fire.

He spins to a stop when you approach, all nervous energy, panting lightly. ]

Hey. You here to learn?

[royalfling]

[ Wu gives him applause after he cuts off the recording, grinning brightly at him ]

Good job, baby! But, um. Did we talk about teaching people to bend fire, um, here? You know this whole building is wood... right?

[ You're the responsible one, Mako, he shouldn't have to tell you this! ]

[arclightning]

[ Mako just barely resists the urge to roll his eyes as he rounds the little table Wu let him set up the recording on. Doing that whole thing made him kind of nervous. More than before, which is saying something, and now he's itchy with the need to keep going, to do something.

Zuko, meanwhile, uncurls herself from Mako's shoulders and takes flight just to go coil around Wu instead. ]

I'm not that dense. I was thinking right outside. On the stone. The unburnable stone.

[ ...his tone was just a little too terse. Mako frowns and shoves a hand into his hair, messing it up from its barely-held coif. ]

You think it was good? Not going to cause a panic?

[royalfling]

[ Wu reaches up to pet Zuko, which helps a little with the hurt that rockets through him at Mako's tone. He's just having a bad month, Wu reminds himself. A bad month that manifests in being snappish and sleepless, which compound each other.

But Zuko is nice, she's warm and surprisingly soft under his fingers. ]

Oh, good! Yeah, that's better, and then I can keep working in here.

[ It's really coming together inside, looking more and more like the vision in Wu's head. Fritter helps, too. She's developed quite the eye for this kind of thing. ]

No, no panics! At least, unless anyone's scared of fire, but you're trying to stop being from using their fire irresponsibly, so I think you're okay there!

[ He reaches out, waving at Mako to come closer so he can fix his hair ]

[arclightning]

[ Mako was already on his way over. Touching Wu seems to calm the awful knots in his belly, seems to make everything more bearable, and he isn't above using that to his advantage.

Also, Wu likes it.

And he likes it.

So he steps over the pile of dust left from sweeping and reaches out, curling an arm around Wu's shoulders underneath the bulk of Zuko's little body, sighing at the immediate unwind of tension. What is it about Wu, exactly? Is it his blood? Is it just because he can watch Mako be awkward on camera and apparently still wants to kiss him?

It's a mystery, but Mako's glad for him. ]

You gonna take a break at some point? You need to relax or you're gonna wear yourself out.

[royalfling]

[ Wu leans against him, reaching up to put his hair back in order. He looks cute with it messy, but not quite that messy. An artful messy. ]

But it's fun! It doesn't feel like work at all.

[ Mako is probably right, but Wu's never enjoyed working before, and putting the theater together feels like the most fun project he's ever done ]

But I guess I can take a break. We could go explore more of the city? Maybe do that before you have to start teaching. My smart, strong teacher!

[ Okay maybe it's kind of hot to think about Mako teaching others how to do something Mako's so good at. Really, it's just hot watching Mako be really good at something, so sue him ]

[arclightning]

[ Mako snorts, even as he just kind of... tamely lets Wu do his thing. Listen, he knows his strengths and he likes to think he knows some of Wu's, and Wu's definitely lie in hairstyling. His hair always looks about ten times better when he lets Wu mess with it before they go anywhere.

And Mako is, not so secretly, kind of vain. He likes to look good, and Wu can get him there.

Also, the fingers in his hair feel nice. Zuko noses quietly against Wu's cheek, radiating warmth, as Mako stands there. ]

Yeah, yeah. You think I'm a terrible teacher, remember? What happened to that?

[ After a moment, he leans a little more strongly against Wu, letting some of the tension unwind even more. He's so tired, and there's a hundred things he needs to do before actually teaching anyone—set up an arena and boundaries, figure out how to connect with people who've maybe never even heard of bending, remember what he first learned, stop freezing everything—but it's easier not to think about all of that, to ignore his own increasingly-frantic mental checklists, when he's close to Wu.

Mako's pretty lucky, all things considered. ]

I did hear someone say something about a hot spring. No idea where.

[royalfling]

[ Wu loves this little dragon already, and teased Mako endlessly for what he named her. But either way, well. Zuko is a legend, and little Zuko is adorable, so he can't really complain.

He finishes Mako's hair with a grin ]

There, perfect.

[ His fingers slip down Mako's cheek and he pulls Mako in for a short kiss ]

Well, yeah, with me. I bet you'll be a great teacher with other people! Just... be nicer.

[ His eyes flick over Mako's face, and it's almost like he can hear those thoughts. Not exactly, but he can feel that Mako is stressed, he can feel that he needs this too, so Wu grins brighter, pushing himself up and wrapping his arms around Mako's shoulders. Zuko makes a little grumbling noise when she's jostled, but stays put. ]

A hot spring! That sounds amazing! Oh, boy, I haven't been to one in... I have no idea how long.

[arclightning]

I was plenty nice to you.

[ This is a mild protest, both because Wu is hugging him and also because he knows full well that he was not. He was frustrated and angry at himself for being enough of a selfish idiot to let Wu get kidnapped, and worrying about Korra and Asami and Kuvira and everything else, and he let that take precedence over actually trying to show Wu anything useful.

He isn't feeling much better now, but Wu's right: he has to be more approachable, or nobody's going to want to this and then the city will burn down. ]

You haven't been to one since the one in the mountains the winter before Kuvira attacked. Let's check it out.

[ And then he can ask Wu on the way, away from all of the work they're doing, what he'd want in a firebending teacher if he could suddenly bend. ]

[vibing]

[ Yuri didn't bother to respond to Mako's post about using fire and ice, but he is here on Wednesday because he's getting antsy, he's getting antsy and while he isn't setting anything on fire, he sure is freezing stuff left and right, and it isn't a good look.

Maybe it's the same principle. Maybe he'll stop freezing himself to the handle of his sword or the spoon he's using to cook with. It's irritating. He'd almost rather be setting stuff on fire because at least then it would go away. ]

Nice moves. Hey, glad you made it outta the water.

[ Last time Yuri saw him, he was being carried away by the waves. How many people did Yuri lose that day? At least they all seem fine, even if memories of the waves just make the tightness in his chest worse. ]

[arclightning]

[ It's alright, Yuri, Mako's doing the exact same thing. He froze his own tea that morning, lifted the cup to his lips, and promptly dropped an entire frozen tea-sicle on his own face.

It was a whole thing. At least it made Wu laugh.

He's glad that he can at least still bend like he's supposed to, that he can feel the push and pull and crackle of the flames like always. It's a tiny comfort in a world that feels strange and alien and oppressive all at once.

It's also very good to see Yuri, who he last saw being swept away by dark waves. Mako flashes him a little smile, straightening up properly. ]

Yeah, you too. Got attacked by some crabs, but I made it.

[ He waves a hand for Yuri to come closer, into the little ring he set up. It looks like a pro-bending arena sketched out on the ground. ]

You done any experimenting since the ship?

[vibing]

[ Yuri looks around the ring, and the little bird on his shoulder lets out a cry and takes off. Yuri winces when Smokey's talons dig into his skin. He's going to need to talk to the bird about that. So rude.

He heads over, a hand on his hip, his sword dangling from his other hand. Seems weird to learn without it, since he doesn't plan on just doing cool kicks like Mako was. ]

Hey, me too. Those crabs tasted pretty good, though.

[ He cooked some of the crab he and Fern brought back. Maybe it was a dumb idea, but it did taste good. It's just crab, but bigger ]

Yeah, tried to. Seems like I'm better at the ice than the fire.

[ Maybe because you're cold hearted, Judy's voice echoes in his head. Maybe he is. He shakes his head. ]

But I thought it can't hurt to learn how to use it all, right?

[arclightning]

[ So many more animals here than there were in Deerington. Mako watches the bird for a moment, wondering if it came from Yuri like Zuko's part of him. They seem to be making friends in the air, anyway, and that's... kind of cute.

Not the important thing, though. The important thing is that Yuri is here for training, or something like it, and that means Mako has to focus. He gathers himself and his thoughts up in a neat bundle, drawing everything in with a breath, and meets Yuri's eyes. ]

Yeah. Like I said: fire's dangerous when it's out of control. I'm still learning the ropes of the ice stuff, but if you're worse at the fire, you need to learn how to use it. At the very least how to put it out. What d'you know, so far? How do you use it? Any patterns?

[vibing]

[ That's pretty cute. Smokey and a dragon, not a bad combo. Yuri smiles just a little before turning his attention back to Mako ]

Right. I was testing it out and I can do all sorts of fire artes I never could before. And I can punch with fire, but the ice is a lot easier.

[ He tosses a punch, but instead of fire, his fist forms a hard shell of ice and since he's just punching the air it soft of just stays, his hand encased in ice hanging at the end of the punch. He shakes his hand out, trying to rid it of the ice, but that doesn't work either.

With a growl, he goes over to the wall of the town houses and slams his hand into it, and the ice finally breaks. ]

Yeah. That's what's happening.

[arclightning]

[ Mako watches this very familiar display with a strange sense of kinship, because yeah: he's been doing almost the same thing, icing things over without meaning to. The ice shatters from around Yuri's fist, and Mako offers him something like a sympathetic grin. ]

Froze my tea this morning, and yesterday when I was trying to fix the lights the ladder froze underneath me. I can't find a pattern to it either, it just... happens.

[ He gets you, Yuri. It is weirdly helpful that he's not the only one struggling with this. ]

Maybe the punching's not your thing. What's an arte? That your world's version of magic?

[vibing]

Yeah. It's damn annoying.

[ Yuri sighs, turning back to Mako with his arms crossed, sword dangling from his hand ]

I'm pretty good hand-to-hand, but it's the damn ice! Yeah, artes are like magic. I use magic, mana, to do them, now.

[ He sizes up the ring Mako's sketched out, then waves Mako back. He tosses his sword up in the air, catches the hilt and the throws the sheath away. Poor sheath, it didn't deserve this.

Once Mako's clears off, Yuri bounces a little on his toes, gathering up the mana he can feel coursing through him, and leaps up in the air, shouting out "Destruction field!" as he slams his sword down into the ground, a ring of hot fire rippling around him. ]

[arclightning]

[ That, Mako figures as he backs up just a little more away from the radiating heat, must be an arte.

It's got to be the same principle: flames and energy from nowhere, but channeled through Yuri's sword instead of his hands and feet, focused into a very specific kind of—he doesn't know what he's talking about. Lysithea would probably know what was happening here. ]

Impressive. That looked pretty controlled.

[ The fire fades, leaving only scorched ground in a neat circle, and Mako steps a little closer again. ]

Thing is, your power is probably pretty different from bending. No idea how I'm going to teach anyone to control this if it's different for every person. Can you feel the fire at all when you do that?

[siriusly]

Um--

[is he? he wasn't aware. Manabu's come up just upon hearing Wu's gotten things almost fully operational...or at least decorated. which, honestly? is impressive.

double honestly? Mako looks more like he's out here ready to do heavy lifting.

Manabu's looking rather squirrely, and before anything can be spoken about it--

YAPYAPYAPYAPYAPYAP!]

D'ah-!!

[the little dog that's been tailing him darts between his legs mid-step and rushes over to Mako, ceaselessly barking and jumping and pawing at him. it's all the eagerness to and desperation to be paid attention to in dog-form. the perfect form.]

[arclightning]

Woah—

[ For once Mako is the one stumbling back, a little off-guard, as the little dog leaps at him with the energy of a much larger creature. Why is it always the small ones? They contain so much in their tiny bodies. Mako barely manages to stretch out his hands, catch at those tiny paws like he does with Pabu, grinning despite himself. ]

—hi, you come with Manabu? [ He looks up at his friend after a second, his smile widening. ] He has a lot to say.

[siriusly]

I'm sorry-- [YAPYAPYAPYAPYAP--] He--I don't know, he just keeps following me around everywhere, no matter what!

[though maybe he's suddenly pawned him off on Mako? jeez. look how happy the little guy is for the attention, all whining and licking at his hands and nosing at them for pets, as if he'd never gotten a drop of love in his little life!

couldn't be Manabu.]

I mean, at this rate, I'm gonna have to get a leash and collar...

[that gets a very derisive snort from the dog.]

[arclightning]

Did he show up in a puff of smoke? Zuko did. So did Fritter.

[ He is giving the dog the requisite pets, because he is not a monster and also because he is used to the kind of demanding affection that Naga and Pabu and Fritter ask of him. Mako is an a-plus scratch-giver after all these years of training.

Also, the dog is cute. Wu would probably like it.

From where she was doing loops in the air, Zuko comes flying down to settle on tiny delicate claws right on Manabu's shoulder. ]

[siriusly]

Eh? Fritter? [Wu's...dog-thing? it's not a dog, but he sure as hell can't remember what it is.]

I mean, I guess if other familiar things show up, that part makes sense, but I have no idea whose dog is--eh?!

[he startles, only just noticing the little dragon landing on his blind side. he almost swats at it out of impulse, catching himself and just clenching his fist and withdrawing it, tensing up. do not bite me whatever you are.

in very Manabu fashion, the dog does not seem to have any concern for Manabu's wellbeing over there, instead just happy to be doted on. this could be u, Manabu, but u playin.]

[arclightning]

[ Zuko does not bite him, but Zuko does make an affronted little noise as she settles onto Manabu's shoulders like a particularly warm, scaled scarf. Her fur tufts are at least very soft.

Meanwhile, Mako looks up from the very intense scritches he's giving the little dog (it's so cute. How is it so cute?) ]

You sure this guy isn't yours? If he's following you around, seems pretty clear to me.

[siriusly]

Uhhhh...

[that's a very good point, Mako, but Manabu can't really say he's listening while a wild animal is coiling around his throat. he goes statue-still in the awkward, startled pose he discovered the dragon in, starting to sweat.]

M...Mako? Um-- [does this thing get startled by loud noises? sudden movements? the scent of unease?]

[arclightning]

What?

[ Mako looks up and immediately has to bite down on a smile. Concern radiates off Zuko, hard enough Mako can feel it too. Pushing himself to his feet, he dodges around the little dog and holds out an arm for her. ]

Come on, stop bullying him. Sorry. She keeps doing this to Wu, too.

[ Mako is holding out an arm but Zuko clearly has no intention of moving. ]