[ closed/semi-open ] coldest winter for me

[overgrowth]

Who: Kanda (overgrowth) & Vietnam (hoasen), and YOU (see toplevel in comments!)
When: IC 2/09 OOC 7/26
Where: Thistle Do Nicely and elsewhere in the city, and some bar.
What: kanda gets lost and is a menace to society.
Rating/Warning: alcohol consumption but otherwise none!

---

[ his own belongings currently stashed in the apartment he'd been given, seeing as none of it was particularly valuable to anyone but himself—except for mugen, which is at his hip, and his clothes, which he's wearing for lack of anything else—kanda has been stalking around the colony. there's no sign of an exit, which he should have expected based on what others told him. equally discomforting is the change in setting. the technology is something like the science department would dream up, and he feels lost.

he's still walking around like he's going somewhere to commit a well-planned murder, though. his pace only drops when he glances through a window and seems something odd.

lotus flowers. he glances around and sees more, of course, but they're a different color than the ones in this shop. but maybe his hallucinations have progressed and he's now dreaming up a setting for the flowers, as well—a shop full of other flowers and a huge bowl of water for the thick-petaled lotus blooms.

so that's where vietnam will find him: glaring at her poor lotuses like he's about to pull out his sword and cut them to pieces. he's probably scaring off customers. ]

Comments

closed to korra, 2/09.

[overgrowth]

[ exploring has taken him around many areas of the colony, but he hasn't found much of use. shopping and "luxury" are of no interest to him, and all he's been thinking about is trying to remember roads.

(there might be a map on the cerevice, but he doesn't trust that shit.)

finally, however, he sees a place that seems familiar despite its trappings of modernity and technology—a gym. not quite the kind he's used to, but there's space that he can use and people in training. one, in particular, draws his attention.

he hasn't had a chance to practice since going out on his last mission. curious, now, he draws closer and basically just stands there leaning against the wall watching, waiting for her to finish. ]

[braavado]

[Though Korra still doesn't trust CERES and their gadgets, especially after the horror stories she's heard, she has to admit the device's suggestion wasn't a bad one. The gym is familiar to her, even with all the newer, strange machines, and she quickly finds herself easing back into training mode once she finds a spot to warm up.

Not too much time has passed when a prickling sensation at her neck breaks through Korra's concentration and puts her on guard. It's a feeling she recognizes: she's being watched. Korra drops her hands to her side and turns, eyes scanning the area until they meet Kanda's.]

Did you need something?

[overgrowth]

No. [ but after a pause, he continues. ] I don't recognize that form.

[braavado]

[If she needed any more proof that the worlds here are different, the complete unfamiliarity people have toward the bending styles would probably be it. Korra shakes her head, her posture relaxing slightly.]

We're all supposed to be from different worlds here, so I guess that makes sense. I was just going through some airbending forms right now to warm up.

[This time, she studies him more closely, returning his earlier curiosity.] What styles do you know?

[overgrowth]

[ "airbending" sounds like something made up, to kanda, but he's also seen some weird enough things that he doesn't question it for now. ]

Jigen-ryū and battōjutsu, mostly. [ or, whatever the anime equivalent is. ] And some open-handed.

[braavado]

[She shakes her head again slightly, letting him know the names sound unfamiliar to her. Not that she's surprised.]

It'd be kind of interesting to see fighting styles from other worlds. [Korra gives him a small smile as she gestures at the space around her.] Maybe we could demonstrate a little or spar? It beats going through the motions alone anyway.

[overgrowth]

Practice spar. If you're any good.

[ kanda's expression stays the same despite the (fairly rude) challenge, but he's already stretching and limbering up. ]

[braavado]

Is that a challenge? [She grins at him, seemingly not at all bothered by the rudeness.] I guess you'll find out.

[Though she's already somewhat warmed up, Korra starts on a few more stretches just in case.]

Should we do just hand to hand?

[overgrowth]

[ kanda grunts in response, stretching his arms out in front of him and flexing his fingers briefly before he's ready. ]

It's most convenient. [ he verbally marks out a quick perimeter on the mats, fixing his hair briefly before he goes to one side of the square. ] Call a yield and it's over. First to three points.

[braavado]

Alright. [Mentally, Korra reminds herself that bending isn't allowed. Despite the restriction, she's eager for the spar--it has been a while since she's only relied on her hand-to-hand skills.

When she feels warmed up enough, Korra shifts into a loose stance.]

Ready whenever you are!

[overgrowth]

[ he's been doing kata with mugen, but hand-to-hand practice is just as important to him, especially since he finds that innocence isn't as effective here. and, really, punching a bag all the time isn't as good practice as actually facing someone, especially someone who's good.

the latter is yet to be determined, but kanda's ready. he shifts his weight from foot to foot, stretching his arms one more time before settling into a steady stance as well.

he doesn't say anything, but he shifts his weight and moves forward, starting with a quick jab and cross. ]

[braavado]

[When he strikes, she's ready for it, swiftly stepping to the side and aiming a jab at his side. This goes on for a while, the both of them testing the other's strength and skill. Occasionally they'll land a hit here and there, but they're fairly evenly matched for the most part.

He's fast, Korra thinks. Much faster than she'd even expected. As she begins to fall into a sort of meditative state--dodge, strike back, rinse, repeat--she finally spots an opening and takes it without a second thought. Heat begins to gather in her hand as it forms a fist--until Korra catches herself suddenly. No bending, she remembers with a jolt. That realization costs her; she hesitates, giving Kanda an opportunity to end the spar.]

[overgrowth]

[ it feels like it's been a long time since he's sparred like this, but it's only been a few days since he left the battlefield. even a few days off a training schedule, though, feels weird.

the spar makes him feel better. he doesn't see the heat, just sees her fist and the lapse in concentration. kanda takes advantage of it twist her arm back and grab her into a lock. he pauses halfway into pushing her to the floor. ]

[braavado]

[At first, Korra's fighting instincts kick in and she resists the hold he has on her. Then, she goes still with a sigh.]

That's three, I think. Looks like you won this one.

[Even if a part of her's disappointed, she knows she lost fair and square. Besides, she's found someone she wouldn't mind sparring with again.]

[overgrowth]

[ once she gives, kanda drops the hold unceremoniously and stands up to stretch and cool down. ]

Do you come here often?

[ the gym, he means, and is genuinely oblivious enough to not realize that it sounds like a pick up line. his tone makes it sound like it pains him to say it, too. ]

[braavado]

[He earns a dirty look for that, even if she manages to catch herself from toppling over. One hand stays on her hip as she turns to look at him. Thankfully, the other potential meaning flies right over her head as she picks up what he means.]

First time here, actually. But the tech thing they gave me said I should try to find a job here.

[Korra shrugs.] Guess I should look into that. What about you?

[overgrowth]

I looked at others, but this gym has the best equipment.

[ and fewer people at these times of day, so that's a bonus for kanda. ]

You just got here, right?

[braavado]

Really? That makes things easier. [With this particular gym being so close to where she lives, it'll be much more convenient for her. Korra grins at him.]

Thanks for the heads up. And yeah, I just got here about a day ago.

[overgrowth]

[ kanda grunts, because god forbid he actually be helpful to anyone and be nice about it. ]

Then you were in the hospital. Did you get to the files?

[braavado]

The files? [Korra pauses, looking up with a frown.]

I get the feeling you're not talking about those bogus medical charts.

[overgrowth]

[ at the mention of those charts, kanda shakes his head with an impatient noise. ]

There was a maze I went into. But if you didn't see it— [ he shrugs. ] Doesn't matter. Just another reason to not trust this place.

[braavado]

Wait, there was a maze in that place?

[Where the heck where they even hiding it, that's what Korra wants to know. Then again, she's starting to see that "normal" doesn't really apply to things in the game.

She cups her chin in one hand thoughtfully.]

Guess I was too busy chasing the guy that was supposed to be the suspect to go looking for the maze.

[overgrowth]

Might've been another area. That place was too big to see all of in that much time.

[ aaaand he was a little distracted. ]

The maze was part of it. [ ... ] I think. Fuck—[ he shakes his head. ]—this whole place is messed up. There's something wrong with it.

[braavado]

Yeah? [Korra shifts, leaning forward slightly with interest. She's not going to ignore a reaction like this, especially when she remembers the bits and pieces she heard while in the hospital.]

I talked to some people while we were stuck in the hospital. Sounds like you're not the only one who thinks there's something wrong.

[overgrowth]

How can there be anything normal when you wake up in a place like this? Everything's wrong.

[ life is fucked up, it sucks, etc. kanda scowls heavily. ]

And people are still living here like it's fine to play house when there's something shady going on.