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( there's a bit of a low, soft chuckle. 'just sneezed on me'. well, at least mikuni seems to have taken it well. mako likes him well enough that he'd be mortified if bolin had done something especially embarrassing.

that chuckle dies off in a huff of breath. )

He's been really sick with this plague from Struxta. I'm sorry, um, on his behalf. He doesn't... usually sneeze on people.

( he says that like he's honestly unsure. as if bolin has taken up serial sneezing behind his back or something.

in the meantime, though, literally no one in the history of anything, ever, has thought there was any chance mako was the younger of the two. even if their height difference wasn't so damning, mikuni's still right — mako's demeanor really doesn't lend itself to being a younger sibling. or, honestly, anyone under about 45. mako spiritually identifies as an old man. )

Do you have any? Siblings, I mean.

[It's . . . really funny. Mako's so clearly used to cleaning up Bolin's messes. Mikuni makes a sound suspiciously like a snort.]

You really don't need to apologize for a sneeze. It's not even your sneeze.

[Dork. But:] No, I didn't. I had--I'm not sure what to call them. There were a lot of children younger than me that I took care of for a while, back when I was a child. I've lost touch with most of them, with the passage of time and--events--but I think that's the closest I ever got.

. . . I wish they were here, honestly.

Well.

( there's a slightly awkward flounder. he knows what war orphans look like, and he doesn't think it's an unfair assumption to assume that's what mikuni's referencing here. what he's pieced together of jinba history is messy and unkind. )

Maybe they will one day. You never know with this place. In the meantime, you're more than welcome to share Bolin if you want.

( that is in fact a joke? he's funny? please laugh. )

[For once, he's not trying to make someone uncomfortable. He was actually trying to do the opposite . . . Being honest is hard. He's never met a human anything but callous or empathetically frank about the whole situation. Awkward is a new one. So he eyes the device quizzically for a few moments, trying to figure out what the right thing is to say.]

[In the end, the stupid joke is more than enough. He huffs out a laugh--slightly more dignified than the snort, all right--and hums in agreement.]

I'd like that. I can take responsibility for his sneezes, and you can take responsibility for . . . him running into people? He seems like the sort of person to run without looking where he's going.

You have no idea.

( it's said with all the fond exasperation of a man who loves his brother more than life. apparently, what mikuni said was the right thing, because that trace amount of awkwardness is gone. )

He's been a handful since we were kids.

I'm sure he has. I'm sure he's why you turned out so responsible.

[His tone is teasing, more than anything to smooth out the fact that he one hundred percent believes what he's saying. Having to care for someone wholly dependent on you can make or break a person. Or jinba.]

( ahahaha... haha... ah... )

Well. I... I mean, I try. I don't always succeed.

( anyway this is awkward, being complimented by mikuni is awkward, this whole thing!! awkward!! so mako clears his throat. )

Are you in the temple? I can bring the food over.

[It's fine. This is fine. Just accept the good-natured trolling, okay.]

[Mikuni laughs under his breath and ducks his head in a nod that he only belatedly realizes Mako can't see. He's still getting the hang of this phone thing.]

Mm-hmm. Come feed me, I'm curious about custard now.

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