♦ ♦ 5th Contract

[mortemscintilla]

 [ It's routine for him to patrol the neighborhood. Hidden on rooftops under the dark sky. Skulking unseen in alleyways. On guard for strange activity. It's the only time he feels like himself anymore. The daylight hours, his mundane obligations, leave too much time to speculate where his life is going. What his life here is. ]

[ No Syndicate. No Gate. No Contractors. No teammates. ]

[ At least this keeps him focused. Allows him to sharpen skills, burn energies, that can be exerted no other way. At quarter to two a.m., a round completed, he slips into civilian clothes. As Li, he walks the empty streets. Stops off at a store for a quart of milk on his way towards a hot bath and bed. The clerk, a pretty redhead, smiles and rings up his order. Hei smiles back. ]

It's a really nice night out, isn't it? I can see all the stars.

[ Patrols are perfunctory. But tonight he's filled with (inexplicable) jubilation. So much that he leans across the counter, tipping the girl's chin up for a kiss. Which. Goes on. And on. And ... Okay, kids. Enough. After a moment Hei jerks back, red-faced and stammering. ]

Ah! S-Sorry about that! I think -- I-I-I think it's a curse.

[ The girl blushes and mumbles likewise. Flustered, Hei grabs his purchase and hurries off. She watches him go, a guilty little smile on her lips. Someone doesn't seem to have minded. ]

[ OOC: Hit with Victory Kisses. Feel free to run into him and get smooched, or vice versa. Just a warning: he may freeze up/eyetwitch/smack/injure your character. Or just blush and sob hideously! Whichever reaction you want is upto you! ]

Comments

action;

[mortemscintilla]

Well -- you like lychees, right?

I know tons of recipes for them. Iced Lychees. Baked Lychees. Lychee custard tart. Lychee ice cream.

[ ...lycheeslycheeslycheeeeeeeeeeees... ]

action;

[anatural]

You sure know how to cook a lot.

[You might have some redeeming value after all.]

action;

[mortemscintilla]

[ Blushing. ]

It's a hobby of mine.

[ A way to keep his mind centered. A practical skill. Whether in a warzone or a death-camp, people need to eat. ]

Re: action;

[anatural]

[Congratulations, Li. You appear sufficiently harmless and are sufficiently distracting that Korra...now feels sleepy again. She fights back a yawn.]

I should probably let you get home. You've got a cake to bake tomorrow.

action;

[mortemscintilla]

[ Success! ] Right. [ He smiles and nods. ] Have a good night, Korra.

[ He turns to go. But the curse is like a hook to the vitals. Without warning, he steps up to her. Both hands framing her face. Leaning in, he presses a soft kiss to her lips. ]

action; 1/;lakjsdfakl;sdjf

[anatural]

[WHAT.]

action; 2/i will let you know

[anatural]

[WHAT.]

Re: action;

[anatural]

[WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!?!??!?!??!]

action; oh right done

[anatural]

[She breaks the kiss by punching him in the face.]


WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!?!

/applauds x3 1/2

[mortemscintilla]

[ He knows it's the curse. Knows he can't control it -- or stop Korra's reaction. He sees her punch coming. Despite the proximity, he can dodge it easily. ]

[ And blow his cover. ]

[mortemscintilla]

[ Instead he lets it land. Staggering with a convincing Ah. ]

[ Fumbling, beet-red, he rubs his sore jaw. ]

...S-Sorry! It's this curse in the air.

[anatural]

[She's too busy wiping her lips with the back of her hand to notice and being angry to care.]

Ugh!

[She'd like nothing more than to beat the snot out of him right now, but a small part of her knows that would be an over-reaction -- and a larger part is worried he might try to kiss her again. So she does the only sensible thing.]

Stay away from me!

[She runs.]

[mortemscintilla]

[ He watches her go. Eyes wide, mouth ajar, hands dangling at sides. The epitome of bewildered innocence. ]

[ After a beat, he calls after her. ]

I'm really sorry!

[ Idiotic curse. He needs to get indoors. ASAP. ]