[ This, Mako thinks savagely and somewhat helplessly to herself, is why words are imperfect things, why she always manages to get herself into these situations. Because she thinks so hard about the right thing to say, crafts her words and nudges them into order and then spits them out and still manages to be misunderstood, to get it wrong, to lash out in a moment of uncontrolled anger.

Maybe a year ago, maybe if corruption were simmering higher in her blood, she would have snapped back that he was being stupid, that obviously that wasn't what she meant, not to take this so seriously, but now—with a year's growth under her belt and Wu's anger still loud in her head—she snaps her mouth shut with an audible click of teeth, and the flame in her hand wavers.

She saw those emotions. She sees those ears, pressed back, defensive and upset. This is bothering him. Has been bothering him?

Her nostrils flare with the flame as she lets out a slow breath. ]

It was... stupid.

[ Cautious, careful. Almost defensive, but not quite. Mako's gut twists and tightens. ]

Sounds like I'm full of applesauce to say it was corruption, but that's what it was. I could barely think, and I said stupid stuff. Even ticked Wu off.