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changing things to human shape. particularly dragons.

and can you teach me

... Did something happen to Rizhao?

yes

Okay. Shall I come and help?

please

Your room?

yeah

[ And a few moments later there's a pop and a knock. ]

Mako?

[ the door opens and there's a very harried mako standing there with a toddler dressed in little more than korra's short blue parka propped on his his hip, her luminous eyes barely focused as she struggles to stay awake in his arms. the front of his shirt is soaked, and the toddler's hair is damp, tiny horns poking up from between the dark strands. he managed to comb it, at least... but...

yeah. mako is a single parent even more than usual right now. ]

Oh thank Yue.

[ Her eyes widen and she moves forward quickly, almost brushing Mako out the way as she kneels down to look at the little girl. If this was what had happened to Rizhao... Well, no wonder Mako was so shocked. She smiles, tugging her bag around and puling out a brush, a shirt and sets them to one side, moving to use her wand to adjust the size. ]

Well, aren't you beautiful.

[ rizhao blinks up at her, her mind brushing against hermione's in recognition, though she continues to cling to mako's shirt with one tiny fist — the other reaches out for her momentarily, suspended in the air for a moment before she withdraws it, propping her cheek on mako's shoulder.

over her head, mako mouths "help me" to hermione ]

[ She laughs, reaching out and touching her hand against the little girl's for a moment before she offers a soft smile. ]

You can come here, if you like, and I can braid your hair for you, keep it out of your face?

[ rizhao sticks a few fingers in her mouth and turns her head to look up at mako for a moment of reassurance; no words are exchanged, but such is the nature of their bond. when she finally looks back, she smiles toothily around her hand at hermione, then reaches out so she can be taken from mako's arms. ]

[ There we go. Hermione reaches out and draws her close, a little awkwardly at first, before her smile relaxes. She's not incredible with children, not really, but Rizhao is a little more familiar than some random child Mako might have picked up. She glances around before she smiles, deciding to simply sit on the floor and pull the girl onto her lap. ]

I can do one braid or two, then we can put you in some nice clothes.

[ Her eyes flick to Mako quickly, brows rising; 'are you okay?' ]

[ she nods, sticking a few fingers back in her mouth as she looks up at hermione — even if she didn't know rizhao was a dragon before, it'd be hard to mistake her for human. the irises of her eyes are bright, and overlarge, and the faint patterns of scales on her cheekbones are unmistakable.

mako's face is that of a guy with too many things to worry about on his plate. he raises his shoulders in a noncommital shrug, even as he pinches at the bridge of his nose, pushing down the headache. ]

Can you — I need to run to the kitchens and get some stuff, do you mind?

[ please watch his child, hermione. please. see how much he trusts you. as he talks, the hand that ISN'T in rizhao's mouth clings to the front of hermione's shirt, her seat slightly wobbly without the support of mako holding her upright. she's not used to these combinations of muscles yet. ]

[ Hermione's hands are gentle and careful as she draws the girl onto her lap, moving to reach for the brush and start to comb her hair. Each stroke is softly done; Hermione has far too much experience with bushy hair and the pains of attempting to brush it quickly to be anything but.

Her focus doesn't stop her eyes from flickering over to Mako, worried even as she keeps Rizhao in her arms with a tenderness that betrays her; she thinks she's terrible with children but Hermione was the one the first years went to with tutoring needs. It wasn't just because she was the brightest one among them, after all; for all her stern nature there was a kindness about her that she wasn't quite sure how to express without being a little teacherish sometimes. ]

Of course I don't. Go on, we'll be alright here.

[ Hermione smiles, her hand moving to rest over Rizhao's gently, stroking her fingers. ]

I've got her.

[ mako sighs in relief, and starts to tug the soaked shirt off his head, veering off to the room that used to be the study, but just serves as the giant comunal closet for all of them, now that they all stay in korra's giant bed. he disappears into it for a second — when he comes back, he's presentable and one of the baskets from the kitchens is tucked under his arm. as soon as he's out of rizhao's line of sight, she fusses quietly, fidgeting in hermione's lap until he reappears, and sits quietly. ]

I can grab you something too, if you like.

[ She lets him go, instead focussing on braiding the little girl's hair. It's not something she's used to doing - she's used to just shoving her hair into a messy plait or bun to keep it out of her face - but she manages, her nose wrinkling a little as she combs through the strands as gently as she can. When Mako comes back Hermione glances up, her hand stroking along Rizhao's arm to help calm her down. ]

No, I'm alright. Don't worry.

[ rizhao watches mako with wide eyes, her attention never wavering from him. he nods, a little distracted, but takes the time to crouch down in front of them and let rizhao grab his fingers as he speaks softly to her in four nations, reassuring her that he'll be back soon, and that aunt hermione will take care of her until then. he finishes it off with a kiss on the forehead, an action that would seem uncharacteristically tender of him, if hermione didn't already know how much he cares about rizhao — about all of his friends. ]

Be right back.

[ and then he's up and leaving, rizhao forgetting his words and beginning to fuss as soon as the door is closed behind him. it'll only be about ten minutes, but with a fussy toddler, that can seem like forever. ]

[ The language is completely incomprehensible to Hermione and the only thing she can do is hold Rizhao as Mako speaks to her; she hears her name, her lips turning up, but she assumes that whatever he's telling the little girl is supposed to reassure her. The tenderness captures her and she smiles, her arms sliding around the toddler to draw her close and squeeze her gently. Mako stands and the baby fusses. ]

Hey. It's okay, I'm here.

[ She smiles, leaning in to stroke her hand over Rizhao's hair gently, her other hand lifting to touch her cheek. ]

Mako will be back soon and until then you're going to have to put up with me smothering you a little bit.

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