audio;

[candothat]

[Chekov has been maintaining radio silence since the fifteenth. The rampant alcohol-induced misery in the City, however, prompts a network post.]

Celebrations yesterday, vomiting in the streets today. It feels like the first of January.

My father has told me many ways to cure a hangover--some of the ways are ridiculous--so I will share his better suggestions. Drink pickle brine; the potassium, magnesium, and electrolytes will help. Mineral water is good, too, as is kvass, but I don't know there to find that in the City. If these don't help, jump into a very cold body of water. The cold should be enough of a distraction to make you forget your other miseries.

[There's an uncertain pause.]

Also, I have a question.

I realize that, normally, actions taken during curses are to be forgiven. What if a cursed action is encouraged or preceded by uncursed actions? Say--and this is only an example--two friends have an argument, and that becomes a fight. Maybe the fight is somewhat violent, but not so bad until the curse takes hold and one of the participants does something extreme. When uncursed and cursed are close like that, how do you know where one turns into the other? Is there a time when a cursed action is not forgivable?

[He clears his throat. It's a troubling topic, which is why he feels a need to end on an entirely different note.]

Pickle brine for hangovers. Remember that. You heard it from a Russian, and a Russian never lies about these things.

Comments

Audio

[recognize_an_opportunity]

The pickle brine isn't a bad idea. And if there's one thing Russians know, it's drinking.

[A pause.]

I'd say there're times a cursed action isn't forgivable, yeah.

Audio

[candothat]

[Since it goes without saying that Russians are experts in the field of drinking, he skips to the latter part of that response.]

When?

Re: Audio

[recognize_an_opportunity]

By "something extreme" do you mean that someone died?

Audio

[candothat]

Yes, that.

Re: Audio

[recognize_an_opportunity]

What would you say the statistical likelihood is that someone would have died if there hadn't been a curse?

Private

[mightbeconcussed]

Are you home? And don't say you're okay because I've died before. That's impossible and even if you are, I'm not okay.

Can I bring over food? Or do you want to come here and let me feed you until I feel better.

Private

[candothat]

Yes, and I'm very much alive. [He didn't say he's okay!]

May I visit you? I wouldn't want to stand in the way of you feeling better.

Private

[mightbeconcussed]

Good. I like you that way.

Yes please and bring a toothbrush. I might not let you leave for a little while.

Private

[candothat]

As do I.

I'll be there very soon. With a toothbrush.

[defies_reason]

I sincerely doubt there's an easy rule for that.

[candothat]

I'm not asking for easy, only opinions.

[defies_reason]

I wouldn't call it a matter of opinion, either. The question is whether it is in one's nature to forgive.

[Or to take vengeance.]

[candothat]

That's part of my difficulty. I try to always forgive, but I'm learning that there may be times when that is stupid.

[thermonuclear_birdbrain]

No matter what's going on, if someone did something wrong, either beat them up and get revenge or don't stay mad at them. Fluffing up your feathers every time the person who screwed up comes around, is just going to keep everyone mad at everyone.

[candothat]

Revenge is not an option.

[And, because idioms baffle him even when he understands them in context:]

Fluffing up feathers?

[thermonuclear_birdbrain]

Yeah. You know, when you get mad at someone and.......

You're human, aren't you?

There are so many humans here. Well, I'm a hell raven, and when we get mad, we fluff up our feathers and it scares the other ravens away.

But really, if you stay mad at someone else too much, the flock breaks up, and then something comes and eats you. You have to stick together.

[candothat]

I'm human, yes, but I have some experience with other humanoid lifeforms. I have never met a hell raven before.

Your advice is very sound. I will keep it in mind.

action; before Chekov goes to see Lucy

[universaltranslator]

[Uhura sits in the kitchen, nursing a cup of cranberry juice. The idea of getting a drink is tempting, but she doesn't want to fall into the habit of drinking every time something terrible happens.

She looks up when she hears Chekov moving.]

Where are you going?

action;

[candothat]

[He looks up from his shoelaces (half-tied) and smiles. Smiling is good. Chekov has been doing a lot of smiling to ensure everyone that he is, indeed, okay. He knows Uhura's worried, but he worries about her, too.]

To Lucy's apartment. I need to make her feel better by eating her food.

action;

[universaltranslator]

[She smiles back, but she doesn't buy his smile for one minute.]

Be careful, okay?

[Left unsaid is Don't stop to see Korra.]

action;

[candothat]

[He sighs dismissively, but the drama seems forced.]

I can walk to Lucy's apartment without getting in trouble. See, I'm even wearing my shoes for you so my feet are safe.

[Old habits die hard. Besides, Lucy doesn't mind if he doesn't wear shoes.]

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

Maybe we should make kvass and sell it.

As for the curse scenario, I don't have an answer.

video;

[candothat]

Or drink it.

No matter. The more answers I get, the less I feel I truly want one.

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

Do both.


And it's certainly a difficult situation to work through.

video;

[candothat]

What would you do?

[Not about the kvass.]