[ Wu hadn't exactly expected an apology like that. Raleigh had already said he was sorry in the voicemail, but hearing him say it, in real time, is different.
Slowly: ]
I accept your apology. If you're right, if it was the rat, then it's not your fault. It's Deerington that made you do those things.
But I won't lie and say that it wasn't... scary. I trust you and Chuck more than almost anyone else here, you're my friends. Everything that happened in the last few days was terrifying, and I don't want to lose you because of that.
[ Wu is quiet for a moment. If he's honest, he probably would have asked Chuck and Raleigh for help. He should have, sooner than when Raleigh messaged him. But that Mako only got scary at about the same time that Raleigh did, leaving Wu with no one to turn to, not really.
He nods slowly. ]
No, that's not who you are. I, when you first texted me, that's what I thought. I thought that this isn't who you are. I hoped I wasn't wrong.
[He nods, slowly, shoulders heavy with regret. There's something that suggests he's unsure about that last part. Rat bite or not he doesn't have a flower or whatever so clearly this ugliness came from him and he really, really doesn't like that.]
No.. no, that isn't who I am. I sent that same message to just about everyone who's ever spoken to Chuck.
[As if that somehow makes it better. It does not.]
[ Wu bites his lip, then shakes his head. He doesn't want space. He doesn't like space. Wu heals by talking, by being with people. He knows he'll feel better if he sees Raleigh in person. ]
No. I, I need to see the babies, anyway. I can't let them grow too big without me.
[You're letting him off way too easy but he's grateful. So very grateful.]
Funny you should say that. I was thinking about coming by your place when you called..
[Raleigh holds his fluid back a little and angles down like a MySpace selfie, opening his jacket a little. He's been holding it kinda weird like he's upset or insecure. And while that's true he now reveals he has also been holding one of the babies against his chest.
Yeah, this.. this whole time he's had a raccoon in his coat.]
We were gonna go on a little fieldtrip to see you.
[ Wu isn't totally sure if Raleigh is talking about That Mako, or about the week before, when he was afraid that his Mako would never talk to him again.
[ Accepting an apology isn't the same as things going back to normal. He might have shared that with Raleigh a week ago, but now, he's not so cute. And he's not sure where he and Mako stand, anyway. They haven't talked about what they are, and haven't talked about it since this Mako has been back.
Wu is quiet for a long moment before shaking his head. ]
Maybe later? I, things got better, then they got worse.
[Or you know, maybe he'll just throw himself into the gutter where he belongs, Jesus you're such an asshole, Raleigh.
He hangs up and takes a long, slow breath as he walks. He needs to just. Stop talking. Like forever.
And yet he will still head to Mako's. Things are strained and awful but he promised baby cuddling so the least he can do is deliver and head back off..]
[ Wu's sorted out his feelings a little more by the time Raleigh gets there. He is excited to see the baby, and glad for the opportunity to reconcile with Raleigh. He really is too important to let something the town did to him get in the way of their relationship.
When Raleigh knocks, Wu lets him in with a little smile ]
[A little skiddish as he comes in. Which is ridiculous considering how big he is, something like a large dog with his tail between his legs.
He offers a thin smile and takes Wu in as the door closes. The kid looks like hell to him. And of course he's got every reason. This month hasn't been kind.]
I, um. I don't have to stay or anything I just wanted to bring you the baby.
[shuffling. He's got his free hand in his pocket which gives a muffled crinkling noise from the candy wrapper he's fiddling between his fingers. A nervous habit. His pockets are always full of them. But he'll stop to bring his hand out and unzip his jacket to deliver the package which has been sleeping against he warmth of his chest the whole way.]
[Careful, gentle, the little thing transfers into Wu's hands and streeeetches before wriggling onto its back and going back to sleep spread eagle, flopped out like an accordion with its little fingers and toes in every direction.]
They need their mom for a little longer but after that.. Would you.. be interested in a pet? Eddie told me they can't go back to the wild because I've been feeding them.
I saw how much you liked this one the other day and now it feels like it's always looking for you.. and I can't take care of five raccoons..
[ Wu gasps, cuddling the little creature close. She is the most adorable, tiny, sweet creature. He pets two fingers down her tummy before looking back up at Raleigh, lips parted. ]
Me? A pet?
[ He's never had a pet before. Never been allowed. His great-aunt hated animals, and the Four Elements didn't allow them. ]
I... [ He looks down at the baby again, who squirms and curls into his arms ] She's really been looking for me?
Yeah, ever since you came over. Look how comfortable she is with you.
[They all sleep on Raleigh but he's their caretaker.
Could be in his head but he made a point to put a little ribbon on this one to tell them apart so he could remember which one liked Wu. She's got a particularly thick mask which reminds Raleigh of Wu's eyebrows. So it feels kinda meant to him.]
There's no pressure, though. You can think about it.
[ Wu looks down at the kit, and he feels like he might cry again (it's been a very long day). She's so small and cute and wiggly, pressing her long nose into his chest, her little hands clinging to his jacket. ]
I will. Think about it.
[ There won't be too much to think about. He loves her.
[ Wu smiles a little, still petting the baby gently. He's not sure where he got that strength from, two days ago. He staved off Raleigh and that Mako, stood his ground. Told Chuck to do something about it.
He doesn't feel that strong right now. ]
I, good. I'm glad. It was pretty scary, what you said. I, I'm glad that he got you out of it.
[ He pauses for a moment, biting his lip ]
It's even scarier that Deerington can do that to us. Can make us do that to each other.
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Slowly: ]
I accept your apology. If you're right, if it was the rat, then it's not your fault. It's Deerington that made you do those things.
But I won't lie and say that it wasn't... scary. I trust you and Chuck more than almost anyone else here, you're my friends. Everything that happened in the last few days was terrifying, and I don't want to lose you because of that.
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No.. I don't want to lose you, either. The last thing I ever wanna be is a danger and I hate that I put you in a position that made you feel unsafe..
[He could see that Wu was in trouble with Mako and chose to focus on driving him away.
He clocked that Mako was acting out of character and didn't do anything about it. Worse, he used it to his advantage to fulfill his own mission.
It's a dark, ugly, slimy thing that happened and the more Raleigh thinks about it the more sick he feels.]
That I didn't help you. That's not who I am.
[He thought, anyway. Apparently it is. ]
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He nods slowly. ]
No, that's not who you are. I, when you first texted me, that's what I thought. I thought that this isn't who you are. I hoped I wasn't wrong.
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No.. no, that isn't who I am. I sent that same message to just about everyone who's ever spoken to Chuck.
[As if that somehow makes it better. It does not.]
If you need your space I understand.
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No. I, I need to see the babies, anyway. I can't let them grow too big without me.
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Funny you should say that. I was thinking about coming by your place when you called..
[Raleigh holds his fluid back a little and angles down like a MySpace selfie, opening his jacket a little. He's been holding it kinda weird like he's upset or insecure. And while that's true he now reveals he has also been holding one of the babies against his chest.
Yeah, this.. this whole time he's had a raccoon in his coat.]
We were gonna go on a little fieldtrip to see you.
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Oh, he's so cute! Raleigh!
[ He still wants you to come over! With that adorable baby! He wants to scritchy it ]
I, ah, you still could. You know, I had a very hard week.
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Yeah, Chuck said a while ago he thought you were going through something.
[In fact he knows you are but Chuck keeps other people's business private so he didn't say anything more than that. Not even to Raleigh.]
Did you work it out?
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[ Wu isn't totally sure if Raleigh is talking about That Mako, or about the week before, when he was afraid that his Mako would never talk to him again.
Boy, February has been rough. ]
What did Chuck tell you?
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[He's happy to chat while he walks]
Do you wanna talk about it?
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[ Accepting an apology isn't the same as things going back to normal. He might have shared that with Raleigh a week ago, but now, he's not so cute. And he's not sure where he and Mako stand, anyway. They haven't talked about what they are, and haven't talked about it since this Mako has been back.
Wu is quiet for a long moment before shaking his head. ]
Maybe later? I, things got better, then they got worse.
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[Yeah, fair enough.]
You're really going through the wringer this month, huh.
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Well, I suppose I've had it easy. No, ah, death. No maiming. Just emotional turmoil.
[ It's a joke. Is it funny? Probably not. ]
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[Not to point out ALL the bad things that have happened to Wu recently but..
God, shut up Raleigh.]
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[ At least that injury was healed pretty quickly.
Wu, who is rarely lost for words, stares at the Fluid for a long moment. He gives Raleigh a little smile. ]
I'll see you when you're here? I'm at Mako's house, next door to mine.
-> Action?
[Or you know, maybe he'll just throw himself into the gutter where he belongs, Jesus you're such an asshole, Raleigh.
He hangs up and takes a long, slow breath as he walks. He needs to just. Stop talking. Like forever.
And yet he will still head to Mako's. Things are strained and awful but he promised baby cuddling so the least he can do is deliver and head back off..]
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When Raleigh knocks, Wu lets him in with a little smile ]
Hi, Raleigh.
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[A little skiddish as he comes in. Which is ridiculous considering how big he is, something like a large dog with his tail between his legs.
He offers a thin smile and takes Wu in as the door closes. The kid looks like hell to him. And of course he's got every reason. This month hasn't been kind.]
I, um. I don't have to stay or anything I just wanted to bring you the baby.
[shuffling. He's got his free hand in his pocket which gives a muffled crinkling noise from the candy wrapper he's fiddling between his fingers. A nervous habit. His pockets are always full of them. But he'll stop to bring his hand out and unzip his jacket to deliver the package which has been sleeping against he warmth of his chest the whole way.]
Baby raccoons are called kits, I looked it up.
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Bring me the... you're leaving her here?
[ Because that's sure what it sounds like. ]
Weren't they just born? Doesn't she need her mother? Raleigh, that's, I can't take care of a baby!
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[Careful, gentle, the little thing transfers into Wu's hands and streeeetches before wriggling onto its back and going back to sleep spread eagle, flopped out like an accordion with its little fingers and toes in every direction.]
They need their mom for a little longer but after that.. Would you.. be interested in a pet? Eddie told me they can't go back to the wild because I've been feeding them.
I saw how much you liked this one the other day and now it feels like it's always looking for you.. and I can't take care of five raccoons..
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Me? A pet?
[ He's never had a pet before. Never been allowed. His great-aunt hated animals, and the Four Elements didn't allow them. ]
I... [ He looks down at the baby again, who squirms and curls into his arms ] She's really been looking for me?
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[They all sleep on Raleigh but he's their caretaker.
Could be in his head but he made a point to put a little ribbon on this one to tell them apart so he could remember which one liked Wu. She's got a particularly thick mask which reminds Raleigh of Wu's eyebrows. So it feels kinda meant to him.]
There's no pressure, though. You can think about it.
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I will. Think about it.
[ There won't be too much to think about. He loves her.
After a moment, he looks back up at Raleigh. ]
Are you and Chuck doing okay?
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[Despite the measure of uncertainty. Over all The Conversation went pretty well. Eeeeeh..]
He's pretty pissed off with me.
..
Thank you for messaging him. Your quick thinking got him to pull me back from.. man, whatever that was.
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He doesn't feel that strong right now. ]
I, good. I'm glad. It was pretty scary, what you said. I, I'm glad that he got you out of it.
[ He pauses for a moment, biting his lip ]
It's even scarier that Deerington can do that to us. Can make us do that to each other.
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WHOOPS
lol i was like "who that"