comatoseroses | COME AT ME BRO.....PEN RP POST

It really, really was.

[his yacht was so, so nice.]

Looking back the whole kidnapping thing was probably a bad idea. I was so sure it was going to work, everything else always has for me!

Trying to kidnap the President to make more money out of a terrible situation was a bad idea? You don't say. [ He threw so much less shade about this stuff 3 years ago. How the times have changed. ]

I know! Who would have thought! And now I can't stop thinking about it and all the other terrible things I've done! It's horrible, how do people live like this? It's no wonder Zhu Li left me.

[Peering up at you, Bolin, you'll never leave him right.]

You're the only true friend I've ever had, Bolin. Really!

What- why would she leave because you started caring about this stuff? [ Not that she seems very good-friendy, and he's not sure if he knows anyone else who friends it up with Varrick...? Hm.

Nah. ]

She's just been carrying your luggage and doing whatever you want for like a million years, and would rather stay with Kuvira than go to a reeducation camp. Or lose her hands in an explosion.

We've just always stuck together, though! Ever since were were kids! She was supposed to be loyal!

[Although... well you have a point, Bolin.]

Maybe you're right, I could have been treating her better. I just get excited about things and then forget about everyone else!

[ At least he admits it. ]

I know, I know. It doesn't just happen to you, buddy. [ Pat pat. ] So you guys knew each other as kids, huh?

Yeah. I guess I was about sixteen or so.

[now that he's thinking back though, how old was Zhu Li? Does she have birthdays? does she age normally? it's all really unclear. Also leaning on you again and stealing heat kthnx]

I was working on these ships, carrying fish from the South Pole to the Earth Kingdom and everything. She noticed my impressive work ethic and superior intellect over everyone else.

So you mean she picked up a really heavy crate for you or something, right? Or maybe tripped over you while you were napping... [ Such love very friend wow. ]

yeah very funny, kid! I picked up my own crates back then, thank you.

[Not... well. But he attempted.]

We had a connection, you know?

[ He's trying to imagine you picking up heavy crates, he really is. ]

Yeah, I can understand that. [ Sort of. He thinks. ] It definitely stretched for a pretty long time for you.

Yeah, it did.

[Eugh, why does he keep TALKING about this. He used to be so good at ignoring everything that remotely upset him. It was such a good system! But it really hasn't been working as well as it used to.]

What time is it? Is it dinner time? I'm not sure if I should be hungry or not.

[ He shrugs his non-Varrick'd shoulder. ]

I think it's like four? I don't exactly have a watch, though. And you could try figuring out if you're hungry on your own. [ Like a regular human, like the bottomless pit you lean against, or something. ] Because- funny story- when you say it like that, it almost sounds like you're just looking for something to complain about.

Why would I do a thing like that?

[Except... always. Complaining passes the time, okay?]

So you're not hungry?

Because- because you just would, and of course I am! I mean, I am- I'm really used to eating! It's great. I'd eat an ostrich-horse right now. [ YOU'RE SO RUDE ALL THE TIME FOREVER, WORDLESS GROANING, ETC. ] Being hungry is so much easier when you don't think about it. Learn to whittle or something instead.

Not big on whittling. If I were back in my lab, it'd be much easier to ignore! I used to forget to eat all the time if I was working on stuff.

[pat pat, I'm sorry we're trapped out here without an ostrich-horse for you to enjoy, bro. Maybe they'll get lucky.]

We'll try the rope thing in the morning.

Yeah, sure. [ Legend of Varrick, Book 1: Whittling. ] At least we have a morning, right? Hopefully very camp-and-deadly-weapon-free.

Anything's gonna be better than waking up in that damn cage again.

[Fun fact: Varrick really isn't a big fan of being held prisoner. Who knew.]

You know what else probably would have been smart to grab before we jumped off that train? Some blankets. Who the hell woods got this cold, there are leaves everywhere! Shouldn't that be like giant coat or something.

If we ever have to fake our deaths by almost not faking our deaths by blowing up a train car again, I'll remember it. [ Alas poor Varrick. I knew him, Mako. A man of infinite cold. ] But once we've been out in the sun for a while tomorrow, we'll really wish we were back in a dark cold tent anyway.

You're seriously working on staying optimistic about this, kid.

[It's pretty impressive actually.]

Yeah, you know, it takes a little effort! [ Leaning just a little more firmly Varrick's way, thanks. ] Sometimes a lot. Mostly a lot lately. I think it feels so much better than brooding, though. Or maybe it's just easier. I don't know. I'm still working on that balance.

You know sometimes I think you're way too good to still be hanging out with me, kid.

[Not that he actually wants you to leave, nope. That would be ridiculous. He's going to make that clear by winding an arm around Bolin's shoulder and keeping him close. Because body heat obviously.]

Nahhh. I mean, you almost lost me with the train thing. I kinda like knowing I'm supposed to save our lives or something. [ There would be no friendship by sheer virtue of death. He has his limits. ] You've come a pretty long way from lying to everyone and stealing and trying to kidnap presidents and putting Mako in jail, though. So as far as good goes, there's not really any ground for getting rid of me. Or getting rid of you. But I might hold onto the right to earthlock you in the future.

[ If he needs to slap you and all. ]

Probably best if you do.

[He's starting to realise how much that little voice in his head telling him right from wrong actually sounds a little like Bolin when he's telling him off and isn't that a terrifying thought..]

Sometimes I miss it, y'know? Everything was so much easier before I gave a crap about other people. But then I think about turning out like Kuvira or something and just hell to the no on that one. Stuck in the middle of no where with you, kid, it still beats blowing up the world cause some crazy lady with over compensation issues almost drops me on a railway track.

Beats leaving towns behind to get turned into prison camps, too. [ Oh. Saying it out loud sure doesn't help at all.

It's not great. He joined up with Kuvira because he wanted to help, and he thought he was. Even though they never did seem to go back to check, even though Opal and the rest of her family were so against it, even though Kuvira pretty much declared herself an almighty emperor and overruled everything. He argued with people about her. Slow to the catch. And then he couldn't even manage to help Zaofu before getting arrested once he finally got there.

What is with his track record in life decisions? ]

I like you better when you care about other people, though. For what it's worth. It suits you more than you think. [ Sure, maybe it's a lot less sparkly and simple a liking than it was back in the day. None of the shiny pedestals and glamour of having someone around who wanted to keep him around and take him to fancy parties all the time. It kind of turns out Varrick can be a really frustrating jerk who's set in his ways and almost blows you up.

But Bolin still likes him. It's good to see good coming out in him instead of just having a good time with him and assuming the best. Because a world where Varrick actively cares and doesn't want to hurt people, no matter how reluctantly he accepts those feelings, is a world that absolutely can't be out of hope yet. ]

Who know, turns out a conscience bring out my eyes.

[Yep, sorry, still uncomfortable with real feelings. Still deflecting. But he knows that tone in your voice, Bolin, it's the 'spirits I let myself get duped again' tone of voice and c'mon kid. Don't beat yourself up. She had a lot of us fooled, too.

Just not your girlfriend and her entire family. It happens.

Varrick uses the arm wrapped around Bolin's shoulder to give him a little affectionate pat on the chest. Good talk, kid, glad both our feelings still exist or something. That was the point, right? Good good.]

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