action, January 30th/31st

[candothat]

[Okay, but has everyone forgotten that there's snow outside and Anonymous is setting up all kinds of amazing things? Dogsled races! Dips in the ridiculously cold ocean among the icebergs! Free hot chocolate! Chekov, being his own boss, gives himself both days off on account of all of the misery accumulated throughout the rest of January. There's nothing like some bracing winter excitement to lift the spirits.

Shut up, he's Russian.

He makes the most of both days. Dogsled racing on the thirtieth? Yep, he's there, hanging on for dear life and trying to remember which words the dogs respond to. (He doesn't win, but he makes it across the finish line with no injuries that require hospitalization, so he considers himself victorious.) Polar bear swim on the thirty-first? Why not! Chekov is practically obligated to participate! His plan to outlast everyone else braving the icy ocean waters fails when an inability to feel his limbs complicates doggy-paddling, but it was fun while it lasted.

Chekov barely sets foot indoors. He can be found almost anywhere in the City, running or starting snowball fights or watching moonlight sparkle on the snow after the sun sets. It's two days of enjoying the City without worrying about disappointing anyone or dwelling on those who have left. Chekov thinks that he has earned it.]


[ooc: Open action for either day!]

Comments

[mortemscintilla]

Got it in one.

[ He was insinuating both, for the record. ]

[ There's a beat, before he reaches out. Both hands starfished: an unvoiced offer to help them up. From his standpoint, snow-dusted and rumpled and childish, the differences between Korra and Pavel are much less significant than their similarities right now. (They make him bitterly envious sometimes. Watching them, it's a reminder that he can no longer comprehend simple happiness; its shape and texture, once so familiar, now possesses jagged edges and thorns, impossible to grasp.) ]

[anatural]

[Korra rolls her eyes and gets to her feet on her own, kthnx, and then unless Chekov gets up first, she'll yank him up by his collar.]

[candothat]

[Chekov was going to accept a hand up from Hei, but Korra hauls him unceremoniously to his feet first. She's so gentle and kind with her friends.]

Hei, are you enjoying the festivities?

[He thinks not.]

[mortemscintilla]

[ Hey. Hey. She's a delicate rose, he'll have you know. Absolutely genteel and eager to please. (God, he's like some sort of shrew magnet.) ]

[ At Chekov's question, there's a beat. Hei considers it a mark of personal growth that his reactions have changed from Seriously? to Whatever to Process and move on. Aloud: ]

Not exactly feeling festive.

[ But when is he ever, the buzzkill. ]

[anatural]

Do you ever? [eyeroll]

[candothat]

Never mind. I will have enough fun to compensate.

[As he stealthily slides a handful of snow down the back of Korra's jacket.]

[mortemscintilla]

[ Jesus fuck. You are both collectively six years old. ]

[ Of course, the fact that he hangs around them says unflattering volumes about him, too. As does the fact that he makes no move to stop Chekov from doing what he's doing. (It's hard to spot, but there might be the slightest twitch of a smile on his lips). ]

[anatural]

[Korra reaches a hand behind her back and, with a flick of her wrist, uses her airbending to send the snow back up at Chekov.]

[candothat]

[He yelps as the snow comes right back at him.]

Korra! Why do you always cheat? [to Hei] She is incorrigible.

[mortemscintilla]

[ If Hei smiles, it's only because it's so ridiculous. (And maybe there's something mildly satisfying, too, about seeing something genuine from another pair of human beings, even if it is -- this.) He settles a gloved palm against the adjacent lamppost. Snow-covered icicles poke across its arc like broken ribs, descending from every angle. His look is level, brow crooked when he says, ]

This is why you should never play fair.

[ A zzt of electricity, and the icicles explode into a fine shimmering mist, cold flakes alighting on Korra's hair and face. ]

[anatural]

It's not cheating to use the skills you were born wi-HEY! [Korra scowls and quickly redirects her airbending to blow away the snow.]

[candothat]

[Neat trick, Hei. Chekov grins even as he shakes his head.]

Maybe not playing fair around the both of you is advisable, but there are only so many ways I can cheat at snow-fighting when I have no powers.

[mortemscintilla]

Don't be so sure.

[ It's said with a mild look, his gloved hands tucked innocently into his pockets. After all, he's fought people with superpowers back when he was human, too. Their natural ally is their ability. To counter it, a human has to use speed, surprise, and violence of action. A superpowered being's usual strategy is attrition. In those days, Hei's was blitzkrieg. In a drawn-out confrontation, an enemy could press their advantages and negate his. The trick was not to allow that. If you have to err, you should know which side to err on. ]

[ Of course, that was battlefield strategy. Not a snowball fight. But hey. The concept's the same. ]