三十三

[anatural]

[ action - morning through afternoon ]
[Naga knows before Korra does: Mako's gone. While Korra's at work at the Welcome Center, the polar bear dog sniffs around town, just to confirm it. But all his scents are old over a day old, and she doesn't need to see the Hall of the Missing to know that he's nowhere in the City.


[ voice - filtered to Chekov - supremely hackable ]
[For once, Korra remembers how to do a filter, even when upset. It helps that, by this point, the pain is familiar enough to practically be normal. With Mako gone, she's once again alone in the City.

Except the weirdest part is, she's not actually alone. At this point, she's been in the City longer than she had been in Republic City; she's known Chekov and Hei longer than she had known Mako and Bolin. She doesn't feel as stranded as she had the first time all her friends had left.

That doesn't stop her from feeling lonely in the large Beach House, even with three dogs, eight cats, and five sheep to keep her busy. Which is why she dials Chekov.]

Can you come over tonight? Bring some of that vodka stuff.

[Sadness. Happiness. Sadness again. Her emotions are cycling around so quickly, she can hardly see straight. She's not a drinker by any stretch of the imagination, but right now she'd give just about anything for the world to just stop for a minute and let her catch up.]



[ooc: Open action with Naga during the day! Come run into a lonely polar bear dog.]

Comments

Naga, PLZ!

[lefthandedgenius]

[On her lunch hour sometimes Lydia likes to sit outside, stopping at one of the cafes for some food and then taking it with her to perch on a park bench and daydream a little bit. Subjects of said daydream may vary; anything from math equations or brainstorms on current projects to the exact definition of instert-a-guy's-name-here abs.

Salad with a lovely blackened salmon is lunch for the day, and while it's not overtly fragrant, it may have enough scent to attract a polar bear dog...]

[anatural]

[There's one good thing about the City and the times that Korra makes Naga go into it, and that's the food. Naga loves the smell of all the different foods: the fried meats, the grilled fish. She may prefer her meals freshly killed and bloody in her maws, but that doesn't mean she can't appreciate finely cooked human food.

Like, say, that tasty blackened salmon being eaten by a pretty girl. Naga trots over and, without Korra around to remind her of her manners, starts sniffing Lydia over.]

[lefthandedgenius]

[Stating the obvious: There is a giant polar bear dog creature sniffing at Lydia, who in turn smells like strawberries, but more pervasive undoubtedly is the smell of her salmon. Let's get back to the important part: Giant. Polar bear. Dog.]

Hey!

[Depending on how close Naga gets, Lydia will gently shove the polar bear dog's nose a little away from her in a chiding motion - Prada in comparison is way, way more tiny, but even if Naga's enormous that's no reason to treat her harshly.]

Rude much? [This city, man. A month ago Lydia would have probably screamed. Now she's just like, polar bear dog? Okay.]

I'll share, but you need to behave. I remember you romping around at Chekov's party. You want to sit? Sit. [Lydia points to the ground next to her bench.] Sit, and then you get the treat.

[anatural]

[Naga vaguely remembers Lydia from the party too -- at least enough to register that she is the friend of a friend. She takes the push in good humor, and obeys the command to sit.

Now she gives Lydia big, sad eyes. She's been a very good polar bear dog -- please can haz treat?]

awwww dem eyes

[lefthandedgenius]

[Yes, Lydia is a sucker for those eyes. She daintily saws the fish filet in half, and then upon thinking about it, adds a third quarter, leaving just a little strip for herself, plucking up the rest of it with two fingers and holding it up.]

Good sit! [She remembers from having to go through Prada's training classes, you're supposed to tell the dog what they're getting the treat for. That should work for err, polar bear dogs, right?

She tosses the filet pieces up toward Naga's mouth.]

they're lady killers

[anatural]

[Naga opens her maw and catches the fish with surprising delicacy, considering just how big her mouth is. Some passersby are giving Lydia strange looks -- Why are you with that animal? SHE COULD FIT YOUR HEAD IN HER MOUTH!!!! -- but Naga pays them no mind. She just wags her tail happily.]

[lefthandedgenius]

[Lydia doesn't care if people stare at her. Back home she used to make people stare at her by sheer force of awesomeness...at least until she started flaking out and going into fugues in the middle of class.

And besides, Naga's basically adorable regardless of size.

She holds her hands out palms down the way she might with a single one for a smaller dog to sniff.]

You gonna let me pet you, huh, pretty girl?

[No, she hasn't actually checked to confirm. It's just the guess from her gut.]

[anatural]

[Well, since you offer so nicely... Naga sniffs the proffered hands. Something about the young woman smells different than your average human, but there are so many strange humans here... Naga sneezes, a canine shrug, and licks Lydia's palms as a sign of approval.]

[lefthandedgenius]

[An animal's affection is much less complicated than that of a person. Even when they're as big as cottage. Lydia suddenly misses Prada's presence, but she subverts it into the attention she gives to Naga. There's petting, and scritching under the ears, and if Naga hunkers down low enough, behind the ears, too.] I wish I knew your name. And who you belong to!

[anatural]

[Naga does indeed hunker down, her tail wagging mightily as she enjoys the attention to her ears. It's so enthusiastic, she almost whacks a passerby with it.]

Oi, Naga, watch it! [Yeah, Naga is kind of infamous in this area. She huffs at the man and then butts her head against Lydia's shoulder, because Lydia is much more fun than grumpy strangers.]

[lefthandedgenius]

[Lydia is promptly knocked back into her seat, which only makes her laugh.] Naga's your name, huh? Do you belong to anyone? Or more likely given your size, who belongs to you? Do we need to find them?

[Her lunch abandoned, she gets off her feet again, walking around Naga and petting her to get a good look at how big she is and see if there's any indication of who owns her - she's big enough to ride!]

[anatural]

[Big enough to ride indeed; she even has a saddle! But nothing that directly ties her to Korra, unless you're familiar with Southern Water Tribe culture.

Naga spins a little as she tries to follow Lydia while the girl circles her. Ears, woman! She wants it behind the ears!]

[lefthandedgenius]

[Lydia doesn't have the first clue about the Southern Water Tribe (though she'd likely approve of their Winter fabulous fashion choices).]

A saddle, huh? Definitely means you go along with someone. [Laughing, as Naga follows her in a circle.] Okay, okay! I got it, Naga!

[She commits both hands to lavishing the large beast with scritches; Lydia is now starting to realize just how much she's missed having this kind of companionable affection from an animal.]

[anatural]

[Naga wiggles happily as Lydia hits just the spot. This is clearly a woman who has had animal companions.]

[lefthandedgenius]

Don't suppose there are tinier versions of you running around out there, hmm? [Lydia continues to scritch Naga in the spot.] I clearly need a dog. How do we find who you belong to, Naga? I should get you home. Wherever home is.

[anatural]

[Naga doesn't understand a word of what Lydia is saying, but coincidentally enough, this is about the time she needs to go pick up Korra from the Welcome Center. (She can hear Korra's whistle in the distance.) She nudges Lydia's shoulder in silent thank you and then trots off in the direction of the Welcome Center. Not too fast for Lydia to follow if she chooses, but not waiting for the young woman either.]

[lefthandedgenius]

[Lydia should go back to work, but she's too curious, and besides, Chekov will forgive her. Dashing off a quick text, she follows Naga, curious to see where the large creature will wind up.]

[anatural]

[Naga leads the way to the Welcome Center, where Korra waits outside.]

Hey Naga. Who's your new friend?

[lefthandedgenius]

Oh, hi!

[Lydia beams. She's pretty curious.]

Are you Naga's person? I'm Lydia.

[anatural]

Korra. It's nice to meet you. [Korra smiles at the other girl while she scratches behind Naga's ears.] I hope Naga wasn't giving you any trouble.

[lefthandedgenius]

Not at all! [Lydia beams, briefly giving Naga a pat.] She's lovely, actually. I wish there were mini versions of her, I'd want one just like her. I actually just got an apartment with a friend of mine and we're hoping to get a puppy. I'm dying to ask, if you don't mind...are all the animals where you come from hybridized? Like...Naga is a polar bear dog, not a polar bear, or a dog. She'd be one or the other where I come from.

[anatural]

Hybridized? [Korra blinks, confused.] Uh.....maybe? I've...never heard of a polar bear.