(closed)

[azurestar]

Who: Lance (azurestar) and various
What: Catchall for September.
When: During September's event and possibly the TDM.
Where: The Gate, Cellar Door, Willful Machine, River of Regrets

Content Warnings: Probably talk of ptsd, general violence, will add as needed

[This post is for closed starters with anyone who wants a thread with Lance but doesn't have a top level or open post themselves. If you'd like a thread with Lance for September's event or perhaps using some of October's TDM prompts somehow just contact me any of the following ways: spypigeon, charley#8222 on discord or PM this journal. Thanks!]

Comments

[azurestar]

[Lance takes a moment to contemplate that very difficult question. It's not that the answer isn't clear, it's just the how to answer it. And the many layers to it.]

…You've got a good heart, Bolin. And there's a lot of people in the world who see that as a weakness they can use, but it's not. And you don't have to be a guy who stops wanting to believe in the best of people to protect yourself from the ones who'd do that to you. You just gotta… stop blaming just yourself and start blaming the people who used you. Once you stop focusing completely on all the things you did wrong, maybe next time you can see the signs of what they're doing wrong before they do it.

[pabugotmoves]

[He listens and nods a little bit. It's all good advice. And it isn't even particularly new advice- but foresight isn't his strong suit and it never will be.]

Yeah.. I need to work on that. I know the world is just like.. well don't be such a good heart and you won't get into trouble, toughen up Bolin, people are terrible! But I can't help that. I can't change who I am. I know the world is a horrible place full of horrible people, I've known them my whole life. I-

[He sighs, frustrated, feeling like he's going around in circles. Full of memories of childhood. Of Mako telling him to toughen up. Of drunk men teasing them with stupid games and food and gangs using them to run messages and bets down backstreet alleys under threat of being abandoned again. People with power taking him in and him falling for it every single time. What is he even trying to say anymore?? He crosses his arms over his chest, tightly, longing to be anywhere else.]

It's fine. It doesn't matter. I'm sick of this stupid river, already.

[azurestar]

[Lance looks a bit deflated by that, bothered to hear Bolin talk like who he is is wrong just because bad people use him for it. After a short silence, he lets out a breath.]

I don't want you to toughen up, man. I like who you are. The world… especially places like this, breaks good people all the time, and the last thing I want is to see you stop being you just because of what other people might do. Maybe it's on everyone else to stop being crappy.

[A pause and then he offers an idea:]

Maybe your mistake wasn't that you didn't see what was wrong with Kuvira and the others, it's that you didn't listen to the people who did. Try trusting the people who love you a bit more to see those things for you.

[pabugotmoves]

[Wow Lance, right in the jugular, huh.

Because he's right. He's absolutely right. Mako had warned him back then and they fought about it. He didn't understand how someone like Kuvira was any different than someone like Korra. Two women who just wanted to, and felt the duty to, help the world. That fight feels so stupid in hindsight.]

Yeah.. yeah I think you're probably right.

[He wets his lips and glances up at the sky like okay. Never Mind, are you appeased now? Is this enough for you, yet?

Bolin looks back to Lance. What he's said is kind and gentle and nice. Lance is such a solid dude.]

You're a good friend, Lance.

[azurestar]

[Lance smiles slightly and looks around as the river shifts. It appears that Never Mind is indeed appeased.]

So are you, man. Looks like we're getting out of here.

[pabugotmoves]

Oh! Oh man. [A huge sigh of relief]

Let's never speak of this again