[ and mako's mind immediately goes to the maps he's studied, trying to dredge up what he remembers about daonna, court territories. his own progress is pushed to the side momentarily, by concern. ]
That's Seelie territory — you sure that's smart? [ being Unseelie and all... ]
[There's a pause, and then she can't hold in the tears anymore. Merida clamps a hand over her mouth to stifle the noises, but it's pretty clear from them what's going on.]
[ bewildered, mako wants to ask "sorry for what" because, why? this had nothing to do with merida, didn't it? but its best to gather more information first. his tone is cautious, under the confusion. ]
She...she told me about what happened at th' audience...
[Well not really told, more like yelled. Merida sounds a little more composed now at least, since she's already cried about this after Korra hung up on her.]
I'm sorry. If...if I hadn't told her that Seelie lie she mightn't have questioned th' Queen...
[ unbeknownst to merida, mako frowns, curling his fingers around rizhao's little hands as she sleeps in his lap. ]
Merida... [ he sighs, clearly exhausted, but his voice is gentle. ] What happened wasn't your fault. Lies always catch up with people, even people as powerful as the Queen. She chose the audience to actually be honest on purpose, when it'd hurt Korra the most.
[ another brief pause. ]
I'm the one who decided to step between them. You don't have to apologize for anything.
[If Mako pays attention, he'll notice Merida is stopping and listening to him, even as she starts hiccuping a little. A far cry from the girl he met back during Samhain. There's the sound of ruffling material as her fingers clench in her dress as her hiccups quieten.]
I still...I still feel responsible. I should have worded what I said better, even if it wasn't my fault. I'm still learnin' how to say things so that they don't hurt people. [Her voice is soft, a small sigh to it.] I messed up badly back home because I didn't specify to a witch what I wanted. I thought th' same thing happened to you that happened to my mum.
[ the locket switches to video, and it's mako with one of those cigarettes, looking tired but alert. he lifts his right hand so merida can see the back of it, where a a gold numeral I is branded into his skin. it looks like liquid metal on his skin. ]
[When her half of the locket switches to video, it shows Merida looking about as tired as Mako probably feels, but her gloved hands are cupped around a small flame. Nothing else in her hands to suggest that the flame is clinging to anything other than the air between her fingers. Her eyebrows raise in surprise at the gold mark on his skin, knees drawing up to her chest.]
That's...that's good. Great even. I was so worried when she told me.
[ merida, your mother would be proud of the way he barely even reacts to the fire in her palms, no wistful stare or tired sigh, just the faintest flitting of his gaze down to her hands before it returns to his face. ]
[Merida has the decency to look a little sheepish and extremely guilty as she realizes she still has the flame in her hands, closing them together in order to snuff it out before resting her chin on top of her knees.]
Aye, she did. I know th' curse I put my mother under had a time limit but I didn't know whether or not you'd get your firebendin' back.
[Among other things, but that's the first thing that comes to mind.]
I... wasn't either, when I said I'd take it for Korra. [ a small confession, meant to reassure merida that he knew what he was getting into when he did it. ]
But she lost her bending once, at home, and — well, I didn't wanna see it happen to her again, you know? [ a brief pause. ] Is your mom alright?
I know. I know I'd do anythin' for any of you too.
[Well, it's reassuring at least. She gives a small smile before frowning and shaking her head.]
I asked a witch for a spell to change her mind about my marriage, but it turned her into a bear instead. We found out, before I arrived, that it had happened before an' there was only one sunrise left to change her back. Elsa said I do, but...I haven't yet. She's still a bear back home.
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There's a new fortress, just south of th' Daonna ring. I'm stayin' there while this war is going on.
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That's Seelie territory — you sure that's smart? [ being Unseelie and all... ]
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I know. I'll be alright, I'm with a Seelie.
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... Merida? Are you alright? What's wrong?
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I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I...I spoke to Korra yesterday...
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[ bewildered, mako wants to ask "sorry for what" because, why? this had nothing to do with merida, didn't it? but its best to gather more information first. his tone is cautious, under the confusion. ]
... What did she say to you?
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[Well not really told, more like yelled. Merida sounds a little more composed now at least, since she's already cried about this after Korra hung up on her.]
I'm sorry. If...if I hadn't told her that Seelie lie she mightn't have questioned th' Queen...
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Merida... [ he sighs, clearly exhausted, but his voice is gentle. ] What happened wasn't your fault. Lies always catch up with people, even people as powerful as the Queen. She chose the audience to actually be honest on purpose, when it'd hurt Korra the most.
[ another brief pause. ]
I'm the one who decided to step between them. You don't have to apologize for anything.
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I still...I still feel responsible. I should have worded what I said better, even if it wasn't my fault. I'm still learnin' how to say things so that they don't hurt people. [Her voice is soft, a small sigh to it.] I messed up badly back home because I didn't specify to a witch what I wanted. I thought th' same thing happened to you that happened to my mum.
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A-alright. If you say so.
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video;
She has to do two more tasks, and I'll be fine.
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That's...that's good. Great even. I was so worried when she told me.
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She made it sound permanent, huh?
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Aye, she did. I know th' curse I put my mother under had a time limit but I didn't know whether or not you'd get your firebendin' back.
[Among other things, but that's the first thing that comes to mind.]
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But she lost her bending once, at home, and — well, I didn't wanna see it happen to her again, you know? [ a brief pause. ] Is your mom alright?
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[Well, it's reassuring at least. She gives a small smile before frowning and shaking her head.]
I asked a witch for a spell to change her mind about my marriage, but it turned her into a bear instead. We found out, before I arrived, that it had happened before an' there was only one sunrise left to change her back. Elsa said I do, but...I haven't yet. She's still a bear back home.