[Catching up to the present in the show. I'm inevitably going to have to divert from Canon. Until then I'll try to stick to it as close as I can. You've got at least four chapters headed your way, guys. Also, I really really like reviews that go into detail about the sorts of things that you like to see.]

"Bolin!" Dr. Qin shut his book, "Good to see you again."

"Heyyy, Doc, howya doin!" Bolin widened his arms for a hug, and went in for it, despite Dr. Qin taking a half step back. The embrace was a crushing one, and Dr. Qin looked to his wife and colleague, who hastily hid into her office, but not before shooting him a smug grin, which Dr. Qin replied to with a scowl. He barely managed to pat Bolin's bicep in acknowledgement.

"Good. My spine could be better," Dr. Qin wheezed.

Bolin released Dr. Qin, "Really? I'm so sorry to hear that, I can refer you to my chiropractor! She's a doll, she really helped me get my Chi all lined up. My bending's better than before! Bolin's back, baby!"

Dr. Qin let out a gasp, "I'm glad to hear that you're healthy. As for my spine, that's a," he arched his back, letting out a 'crack,' "recent development. This news sounds good for the Fire Ferrets next year, then, huh?"

"That? Yeah, I guess. It's not really at the top of my mind right now."

"Well, let's step into my office, and we'll talk about it," Dr. Qin led him in. Bolin produced a mirror and comb and checked up on his hair, putting it all into place. Dr. Qin scribbled down a note.

"Whatcha writin'?" Bolin asked.

"Just some thoughts for this session. You seem…Very energetic today, Bolin. I'm glad to see that, especially after last week."

"Last week? Oh, yeah. That. Yeah, no biggie, you know, just had to deal with some old baggage, am I right? All water under the bridge, as it were. As it should be."

"Agreed. Not every day that I have to do couple's therapy between my patient and his ex-girlfriend. I wish I could have done more to help her."

"Ah, she'll be fine. Besides, you gotta help me, doc! I'm your patient, and I'm torn up! I'm inconsolable! I'm a wre-he-heheck!"

"I thought…You were all good. Your Chi was all lined up. What's the matter?"

"Oh, man, Doc, it's this new job I've got, working with Varrick. I'm in the Movers!"

"The…What?" Dr. Qin blinked.

"Movers! The moving pictures! You know! Nuktuk, Hero of the South?" Bolin stood and struck a pose, "Nuktuk, Hero of the South!"

Dr. Qin scratched his nose, "I…Can't say that I have. I'm sorry. It sounds like you're eager to be part of this…Mover…Picture…Thing…What seems to be the problem?"

"Oh, man, Doc, I like being a star and all but it is stressful! I mean, sometimes my assistant gets busy or I gotta stand around while the cameras get reset and the director is always yelling at me or changing stuff around and I don't know what to do!"

"It, uh…Sounds…Tough?"

"Oh, Doc! You have no idea! Sometimes, I gotta pee real bad in the middle of a scene, but we can't stop the film, so I gotta hold it for what seems to be ever."

"Oh, you're in a play."

"Well, kind of. It's like a play, only we get recorded on the Mover, and then it gets shown to the audience all over the city, right? So it's not an in-life performance, see? It's all recordings, like soundaphone records, only for pictures that move."

Dr. Qin stared at Bolin blankly.

"Varrick had it invented."

"Right!" Dr. Qin nodded, "Gotcha, it's a Varrick Global Industries thingy with plays. So you're in this Mover Play. What's got you so stressed, Bolin

"Hey, I like that term, I'll tell it to Varrick! Anyway. Stress. On-set, yeah. So, there's this lady, right, on-set, her name's Ginger. You might have seen her posters for Varrick's products." Bolin struck a pose imitating Ginger. Dr. Qin nodded, and Bolin continued, "So she's supposed to be, like, my girlfriend, but then she's not my girlfriend, and she's mean to me, and then we're on set and then she is my girlfriend and she's nice to me. I'm totally confused, Doc."

"So she's…Wait…I'm gonna have to think about this one, Bolin."

"I know, right? Why do all of my romances end up like this, I'm hopeless!"

Dr. Qin stroked the small but pointy beard on the end of his chin, "When did you say she's nice to you and is supposed to be your girlfriend?"

"When we're recording, she's all nice and kissy with me, hanging on my chest and clinging."

"But when you're not, uh, recording, she's not nice."

"Right."

"I don't get it."

"Neither do I!"

"All right, Bolin, let's dissect this fishfrog and try to figure out what you think and what you want. This Ginger, how well do you know her?"

"Well, we've been working together for about a week now. We've got great chemistry, Doc, it's awesome! But then we stop recording and she gets all mad at me when I try to follow up with what we were just doing, and leaves me just plain confused. It's really getting to me."

"Well, it's only been a week, Bolin, since you met her, and a week since our session with Eska. Are you sure you're ready for a relationship so soon, or do you think you're prepared?"

"Of course I'm ready! I was born ready! I'm totally ready!"

"You're sure? Last week was pretty intense, and we haven't taken the time to talk about it. If this Ginger makes you happy, go for it, but if she's only nice to you sometimes, then maybe you're jumping from one abusive relationship into another. You jumped into one with Eska without learning who she really was first. But if having one is important to you, and you really think Ginger's right for you, then you're the sort of guy who could make it function."

Bolin hesitated, and he chewed on his lip for a moment, "I…Guess…I mean…Maybe I was just, you know, caught up in the heat of things."

"Don't get me wrong, Bolin, it's not that I'm telling you to drop anything you might have with Ginger, but Bolin: Are you thinking this through? Or are you thinking with your…You know."

"My what?"

"You know. Your, um, 'heart.' You're a romantic, Bolin, through and through. You wear it on your shoulder, from what I've been able to tell. You handled yourself very well last week, and then this."

"I am, aren't I?" Bolin grinned, "I guess I'm not all that ready to dive in. It just seemed like a sure thing, something…I dunno…"

"Secure?"

"Yeah!"

"You have secured relationships, Bolin. But each one comes with their own challenges and baggage. So while some people are there to pick up yours, you've got to carry theirs once in a while, too. Romantic relationships in particular are like that. So if that's what you're looking for, lean on the friends you have instead of trying to overinvest in someone new."

"Yeah, like Mako, or Shady Shin!" Bolin's eyes lit up, "They're always there for me. But not Asami, right now, she's going through a lot. Well, so is Mako, actually, with the investigation, that leaves-Well, you, I guess."

"Well, that's what I'm here for."

"Good ole Doctor Qin! There for me when...My brother…" Bolin's grin disappeared and turned into a wince, "Doc, I think I really messed up."

"What'd you do, Bolin?"

"Mako…Came in, asking for my help, and…Wow, I totally snubbed him. I used this…Time…When he didn't help me when I asked him. I don't even know what it was right now, I was just like, 'Pff no.' I mean, I wanted to hang out with him, but…"

"You did something brothers do, Bolin. They pick and sting at each other just to pick and sting at each other. Did you hear him out, at least?"

Bolin breathed through his teeth, "Well…No…"

"Yeowch. Well, perks of being a brother is things bounce back quickly. Especially when you apologize in earnest. How have you gotten over fights with your brother before?"

"Usually through strange happenstance coincidences that lead us both to admitting our faults and the silliness of getting into those fights in the first place. We smile, admit we're grateful for each other, and make it all up, then beat each other senseless in practice to work out any extra steam."

"Right, so, skip the whole happenstance and coincidence and get to the apology."

"I dunno, Doc, do you think that'd work?"

"I dunno, Bolin, do you? He's your brother. When I have fights with my wife, admitting I want to get over whatever problem I've had with her is an important first step. It might also help if you offer to help Mako out with whatever it is he's trying to deal with. Take a little extra to let him know you're thinking about him," Dr. Qin bit his lip, thinking, "Do you have any ideas for something I could do with my wife and kids? You're pretty well connected in the entertainment industry, I'd say."

"Oh, yeah, they've got showings of Nuktuk all over the city! They're great! I'd offer you balcony tickets, but, uh…"

"No, that's fine, thank you, Bolin. I'll do that. Sorry. It's poor etiquette to suddenly make it about me like that, that was rude. Anyway, we are sadly out of time, but I'd like to talk about this some more, Bolin. Do you have time in two days for an appointment, and we'll try and sort all this out?"

"Two days, hmmm, can we make it the day after, I've got a shoot."

"A wh-Nevermind. Yeah, we can do the day after. What are you going to do in the meantime?"

"I think I'll talk to Mako, and apologize. Work things out. And tell Ginger that I like her and all, but I just need some space for Bolin."

"But be careful, Bolin. Think about what you're going to say before you say it."

"Right. Gotcha. See you in three days, Doc."

Dr. Qin saw Bolin out, and walked to his wife's office, "Yang. You want to go out with the kids tonight? There's supposed to be this picture play thing called 'Nuktuk, Hero of the South.'"