It's Christmas!

[alderwood]

Characters: Baby turtles and you!
Date: December 25/26/27!
Location: All over Keeliai!
Situation: The baby turtles are hatching, and Christmas spirit comes with them!
Warnings/Rating: Please include warnings in comment subject lines, otherwise have at!

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[imaginate]

Headbutts hurt.

[He doesn't seem bothered by that, though, and upon stating her destination, he gets up, follows. The turtle's been keeping him happy and for one of the few times in his life, he actually wants to stay that way for as long as he can.]

C'mon, I'll walk with you.

[alphatar]

All right, we’re almost there. She just wandered off at the last second.

[Being around the baby turtle has been nothing but good for Korra and she manages to keep it from wandering to off their path. Korra takes only a few moments to take the young turtle into Temeraire’s suite in the Fire Sector.]

So how many turtles have you had to stop from destroying everything they walk on? [Mostly a quip, Korra didn’t mind them. They were too important.]

[imaginate]

Troublemaker.

[He sends a wave of affection towards the hatchling, and it chirps happily. He hasn't worn his ring all day and thus, there's been no need for restraint, and he didn't consider that he'd need to defend himself against them.]

[Well, maybe from the headbutting.]

Hm? Not that many. I mostly had to stop them from doing- [another wave of cheer which almost bowls him over] that.

[alphatar]

Troublemaker, huh. Kind of fitting. [Teasing, of course she wouldn’t name her big baby turtle that. As the turtle leaves them, its presence goes too and Korra starts to feel that edge she tends put herself on whenever Kyle’s close by.]

…where’s your ring?

[imaginate]

Kids tend to be.

[Once the turtle's out of range Kyle exhales, quietly, the edge that surrounds him resurfaces. Yet, he stubbornly holds it off, intending to enjoy the happiness afforded by the hatchling for as long as he can.]

It's around [Cryptic, but he's never been unarmed since the day he got it. Not about to start now.] Not much use for it today.

[alphatar]

[Somehow she's not surprised, but it's the first time Korra's seen him not wearing it.]

Not even for flying, huh?

[imaginate]

[He chuckles.]

Don't think I could. I've had enough turtle sled rides to last me a lifetime.

[alphatar]

Don't get too attached. We're all on one, even them.

[Korra can't beat around the bush for long, not unless she's teasing someone.]

So what's up? [They usually don't stick around each other this long. That edge seems to creep up between them.]

[imaginate]

[Kyle tilts his head, studies her.]

What, it's weird to you that I smile?

[Under normal circumstances he'd sound hurt - incredibly so. He never wanted to be remembered as a warrior. The laughter - it had always looked and felt natural on his face. He just... had less of it these days.]

[alphatar]

Nah, I know you do sometimes. Zatanna told me. [Snarkiest smirk ever.]

[imaginate]

That's cheating.

[He smirks back. Two can play at this game, Korra.]

Bet you can't get me to smile. Or hey - let's up the stakes a little. You can't get me to laugh.

[alphatar]

[She's only seen this side of Kyle, and it was after she practically broke down.]

You're on.

[A second while she thinks of something, then:] True or False: Naga threw up on my dad when he was trying to bathe her.

[Mention of her name causes the polar bear dog to nose into the air between them.]

[imaginate]

[Kyle scritches Naga behind her ear affectionately, and ponders.]

... False? Do polar bear dogs even throw up?

[Glances at Naga.]

I can't afford dry-clean for anything other than the uniform, okay?

[alphatar]

[Ear scritches net Kyle a face full of polar bear dog tongue.]

Yeah, they do throw up. And it's a mess. But you're right. She, didn't.

[Beat.]

She threw up on me when I was bathing her.

[imaginate]

[He indulges Naga. He's fond of her.]

[He smiles brightly at the admission, too amused by the mental image.]

6 out of 10. Good try. Go again?

[alphatar]

Sure: While my mouth was open.

[She has to say it through the line that is her mouth.]

[imaginate]

[Kyle, actually unexpectedly laughs at that.]

Oh God. I'm sorry, I shouldn't be laughing. It must have been awful trying to get that out of your hair.

[alphatar]

It was. Didn't matter though, I just ended up throwing up on her afterwards.

We both needed a bath.

[Slightly put off by the memory, Korra wrangles Naga by the neck and hugs her.]

But I still wash her by hand, just waterbending doesn't feel right.

[imaginate]

[He nods. He's never been that good with relating to Korra, but she did just go out on a limb for him, and he was in a good mood from the turtle.]

You win fair and square. Pick anything you want for lunch, I'm paying.

[alphatar]

[Oh no. Food. Her weakness. Not even hesitating:]

Well, we're in the Fire Sector- there's a restaurant that's open all day and night and serve beakfast, lunch and dinner any time.

[Jim took her there once and she almost ruined it by walking out on him.]

You know it? [Denny's]

DENNY'S IT IS

[imaginate]

[A+, Rayner.]

Yeah, one of James' favourites. It's [he stands on his tiptoes and looks around] that way?

[alphatar]

[It’s not often Korra hears Jim being called by his actual name, even she rarely does that. Nodding, Korra heads over there with Kyle. Korra gives a quick, playful rub down of Naga’s head once they at the door and sends her back home now that she doesn’t need to track the baby turtle any more.]

Hope you brought some juulan. [Said with a smirk, but it’s a fair warning since Korra usually out-eats Jim. Usually.

Taking a booth just near the window, Korra’s already ordering two dishes she’s been wanting to try before they even get comfortable.]

[imaginate]

[Kyle's only ever heard Pike call him James as well. He's not quite sure why he himself does, only that it fits so much better than "Jim".]

[He pats Naga's head as well before entering, and goes to wash his hands first, his movements filled with an ease and lazy sort of comfort, and sits down opposite just as she's ordering. He's turned himself as much towards the door as possible, keeping an eye on the rest of the room.]

Pushing your luck?

[Eyes bright, he smiles at her pleasantly before looking over the menu, and orders the same thing Korra is, since he hasn't previously tried it.]

[alphatar]

This? No. It's just running after a giant baby turtle for the day really takes a lot of energy.

[Even for her, especially earthbending to fix what she could.

She places her chin on her fist and casual as anything:] So is it Jim or Zatanna?

[From her experiences with Kyle, they tend to avoid each other because somehow, someway, they always end up rubbing each other the wrong way. So either she did something wrong that she didn't know about yet, or either of the two suggested this to Kyle.]

[imaginate]

Psht. Running. Let me tell you. Flying's what the cool people do.

[His drink arrives first, plain, fresh water, and he sips it idly, looking at her over the rim of the glass. It hits him then just how young she is - the same age he was - and how little of the world she's experienced. He himself hadn't had that much before meeting Connor anyway, but it was still... worrisome. One's instincts had to be honed.]

[Somebody with that much power needed good instincts.]

Neither. I'm actually capable of coming up with brilliant ideas all by myself.

[His tone is dry, self-deprecating. He's well aware what she thinks of him and sees no need to embellish himself in her eyes.]