Her hair's insured for 10,000 yuans.

[paishodown]

[It has (probably) been said that Asami Sato is incapable of anything less than perfect dignity and poise. She lives up to this, as she settles at the gazebo on Air Temple Island, followed by a small army of turtleducks. She's not so great with kids, but this, she can manage. She's on her way home from the office, and there are some items of potential interest laid off to the side where she's seated. Namely, preliminary blueprints for the reconstruction of the city roads. They have to work around the spirits somehow.]

a) [If you stop by, you could find her gently patting their heads and feeding them breadcrumbs.]

b) [There are moments, however, when she is, indeed, not a beautiful, prissy, elegant rich girl.]

AAAaaAAHH-

[Dangling from her hair, in that spot she just can't reach, (you know the one, Varrick) is a turtleduck who got a little too excited about feeding time. And she could really use some help with it, right about now. Or, you could sit back and enjoy the resulting dance as she tries NOT to panic.

Spoilers, she's kind of panicking.]

Comments

B, because.

[streetferret]

[Another report of turtle ducks, this time on Air Temple Island. When will citizens realize that the police department is not animal contr-

He knows that yell...]

Asami! [That's a lot less threatening than he's expecting, but still he knows what to do.]

Don't panic. [So helpful.

But he does try to gets his hands on the turtle duck without hurting either it or her.]

of course

[paishodown]

Very helpful, Mako!

[She's just going to voice that because SERIOUSLY... You're supposed to be good in a crisis, you're a cop. AND THIS IS A CRISIS.]

Just- get your hands on it!

[Which is tough to do, with her twisting and trying to remove it herself. She's not usually this dumb, she swears.]

[streetferret]

[He actually pauses for a full picosecond at the sass.]

Give me a second! It keeps- wiggling and

[Yes, his fingers get locked in hers and some hair for a second. He's wearing his gloves along with his uniform, but he lets go to unloop some of her hair that's around the animal's neck.]

Let me handle it!

[They've been here for all of eight seconds and "The Turtle Duck Crisis" at the end of the year is going into full swing.]

[paishodown]

[Mako your gloves are going to give her even more frizz what are you DOING...]

Okay! Well... handle it better!

[Asami what are you even... At least she's struggling less now.]

[streetferret]

[Still struggling though.

Asami, why...?]

I will when you let me. [But it's not even angry, just exasperated. Instead he focuses on the turtle duck and disentangling it from her hair.]

Hang on, little guy. Almost there. [Then louder.] Try putting your hair up, he's trying to climb down and making it worse.

[And it'll keep her hands away from him and the small animal.]

[paishodown]

All right, all right-!

[Asami haphazardly pulls her hair away with her hands to give Mako a better view of whatever is going on in that tangle.]

Does it... look okay?

[Is she talking about her hair? Or the turtleduck? The world may never know.]

[streetferret]

[The muffled quacking becomes clear as he gets hair out of it's mouth.]

Situation's almost under control. [Because he's in his uniform. Has to sound professional.

The webbed feet on her neck leave and Mako successfully gets it loose, though a hair or two is tugged in the process.]

Looks a lot better. [Her hair being up or the "situation"?

He's holding the feisty shelled duck in his hands.]

[paishodown]

[Asami lets her hair fall back, trying to smooth it out gently with her fingers while fully aware that the attempt is in vain.]

Thank you.

[She chews on her lip, still frowning intently as she assesses the damage to her hair. The gazebo around them has become turtleduck Armageddon as they squabble over the remaining breadcrumbs.]

[streetferret]

Yeah, it was nothing.

[Bullshark, but he's not going to make a big deal out of it.]

Glad you're okay. I don't suppose you know why there's turtle ducks here too? [The turtle duck scampers out of his hands to get at what's left of the food.]

[paishodown]

I don't know... Though I can't even pretend that I understand much of anything strange that happens around here, anymore.

[She steps gingerly away from the mess of feeding turtleducks to pick up her blueprints.]

[streetferret]

You're telling me, and I'm in the police department.

[And the important question that's supposed to come next get pushed to the side for the moment.]

What are you working on? [Those are definitely blueprints.]

[paishodown]

Oh- Well, I'm working on a pitch for the reconstruction of the roads in all of the areas that have been destroyed. Future Industries has the contract, it's just... a complicated matter of working around the spirits.

[And it's going to take a while. Quite a while.]

[streetferret]

I'm sure you'll do fine. I bet Korra can help you with the spirits.

[Background support.]

Speaking of which, have you seen her? I was thinking she might be able to ask the spirits what's with the turtle ducks showing up.

...and all the other crazy stuff that's coming across my desk.

[paishodown]

I was hoping she'd turn up, but... [She vaguely indicates the turtleducks. Particularly ONE TURTLEDUCK.] I got distracted. I wish keeping in touch were easier.

[She raises an eyebrow.]

And I'm with you, on the crazy stuff. Who do you think has to rebuild all of this?

[streetferret]

[Distracted...

Asami, pls.]

That contract was most likely going to either you or Varrick. [Mako gives a minor sour look when saying the guy's name. Yeha, he's still not completely over being framed.] I'm glad you got it.

[Even if it means a turtle duck in her hair.]

...any chance of my apartment getting bumped up on the rebuild list? [He's actually joking. For once.]

[paishodown]

[Tell her about it, Mako, she almost lost her whole livelihood to that guy.]

...Wait, did your apartment get grown in with vines? Or was it the looters from the other week?

[Shit, Mako, TELL HER THIS STUFF, she has like... THIRTY EXTRA HOUSES for you to shack up in. Okay not quite thirty but]

[streetferret]

Well,

[ C.) All the above. ]

my first apartment got the vine treatment. When the portals to the Fire Nation appeared the triads bombed multiple buildings; mine was one of the them...

[Trailing off because he doesn't want to say where he's been staying since it was so popular last time.]

[paishodown]

Well, where are you sleeping now?

[You're not getting out of telling her, chief. She knows how you operate.]

[streetferret]

[Can this feel any more humiliating? No, wait. He takes that question back.

He did get himself into this after all.]

...where I was sleeping before.

[Starts with office and ends with desk.]

[paishodown]

Mako, you need a real place to sleep. That isn't your office desk.

[streetferret]

I know.

[Not exactly an answer.]

I just, need time to actually look for a palce. With the city like this I've been working a lot of overtime.

[paishodown]

Well then grab your stuff and take one of my guest bedrooms for a while until you can find someplace. It's not like there isn't any room.

[They have reached the point in their relationship where she feels she doesn't have to be all formal and friendly. Just don't sleep under your damn desk, Mako.]

[streetferret]

[He's getting there. just give him three more years.]

I- [Dammit, he can't think of a way to not impose. SEND HELP.]

Thanks. [It's sincere and his expressions softens, almost as if he's hurt but the wan smile keeps it from being such.] When I'm not working around the clock, I'll see about getting by bag packed.

[Bag. One. Uno.

Fires suck, and that's according to a firebender.]

[paishodown]

Sooner rather than later. I think Beifong can deal with you taking enough time off to find someplace to stay.

[Besides, Mako, you're probably making the office smell like young man and angst.]

[streetferret]

[He'll have you know he's a fully grown adult now. one day he'll realize he's 19 and not 35

The angst tho...]

If she ever shows up. I'm trying to keep the departments together until that happens.