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

[ 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.]

[ Yeah totally. If that's what an affectionate eye-rolling adds up to. ]

Yeah, sure. Really does wonders for your complexion.

Maybe that's all this country air. Isn't that supposed to be good for you or something.

[Boop, poking yr nose, can't stop him.]

You are looking all ruddy-healthy-glow, too. Or maybe you just leaned in too close to your lava pit.

I don't know anything about the country air! Or ruddy-healthy-glowing! [ That's not an angry yell, btw. It's just like. A factual yell. No one has ever told him he looked all ruddy-healthy-glow before. What does a guy even do with that. ]

So... it could be the lava pit.

[Well now he's got Bolin all work up good use of an evening. Bolin getting in a tizzy about something is always a great distracting from all that impending doom he's trying to fight off.

But fine Varrick will let go of you for now, kid, and flops back dramatically onto the ground.]

We should probably get some sleep.

[ Varrick you're such a toucher. Even more touchy than him, and he thinks that's really impressive. But maybe that's because he's been exposed to it for like 3 years or something. ]

That's the best idea I've heard all day. Who knew super long journeys through the woods were so exhausting? [ Better move over, he's joining this defeated flopping party. ]

[Well what's the point is being friends with a ridiculously buff twenty year old if you don't get to cop a feel now and then. It would just be a waste. But fine, Varrick scooches to the side to give Bolin enough room to lie down, too.]

You can take the side closer to the fire first if you want but we are totally switching half way through the night.

Whatever works for you. You've got a little less meat on your bones, so I'm not sure what setup will keep you the least, uh... frozen to death. [ A "little" less meat on your bones. The true depths of his love for you. ]

[Wow Bolin being made entirely of pipe-cleaners is a sensitive subject.]

We can't all be hunks like you, unfortunately.

[he sort of blindly swats one hand to pat Bolin on the arm.]

As long as we're sharing body heat in here it shouldn't be too bad.

[ He didn't know, he thought it was like a point of pride. Or just a state of existence. ]

Earth tent wins again! [ Triumphant, but not too loud. Since they're kind of supposed to be working on sleeping and all. ] And so does body heat. Annnd the fact that it's not snowing.

I'll try to remember to bring an Earth-bender with me if I ever get stuck in the woods again.

[Even laying side by side like this, Varrick's still got half a head over Bolin and he uses the difference to bump his chin against the top of his head.]

You should. We make pretty trusty travel buddies. Won't steal your wallet or feed you to a platypus-bear or anything. [ Unless... they will. But it's really up in the air. ] A technological genius isn't too bad when you need to get off a train to re-education camp, either. At least you've always got one of those!

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