dance dance, we're falling apart to half time

[anatural]

When; Friday, January 18th, evening
Rating; PG
Characters; Korra and her friends and anyone who happens to be in the club. Come one, come all!
Summary; Korra decides to celebrate 6 months in the City by dancing.
Log;She'd been woken up that morning by a incessant beeping noise; it took her a full three minutes to figure out it was her device and how to turn it off (she almost breaks it in her frustration, but she doubts she'd get any sympathy from Chekov if she broke yet another piece of electronic equipment).

What was so important that her device felt compelled to disturb her slumber?

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SIX MONTH ANNIVERSARY!

Who sent it? How did they know? Korra doesn't bother wondering. Six months… At first the thought horrifies her…but it hasn't been all bad. She fingers the necklace that Chekov had given her.

She can either spend the day distracted and wallowing, or she can remind herself of the good things she has here.

She decides to go dancing.


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It's clear no one ever taught her how to get dressed for clubbing; she's just wearing her "I Mustache You A Question" t-shirt and Chekov's necklace, a strange combination of casual and fancy. Somehow she makes it work. And it's a bit early in the night for the club to really be rocking, but that doesn't slow Korra down any. She's in the middle of the dance floor, being taught some new moves by the club's regulars and just in general having a grand old time.

Come join her?

Comments

[justamessenger]

I'm glad I got your message in time. I'm never one for turning down dancing.

[anatural]

Korra grins and squeezes Tohru's hand back. "I'm parched," she says. "You wanna get some water?"

[spiderkid]

He's a little discouraged, but Korra's demeanor is cheering him up. Suddenly, he's thirsty. "Do you think they'd let me get a coke here? Or do they only have alcoholic stuff?"

[riceballfruit]

"Oh, yes," Tohru immediately agrees with a nod. "We should stay hydrated. It would be bad to not think of that. Even if this is fun." She's already headed to the bar, still holding onto Korra's hand.

[mortemscintilla]

[ There's a pause, before he perches on the stool beside her. Back curved, shoulders drawn in -- 'Li's body-language, even if the music's loud enough to disguise the difference in tone. Her reply is greeted with an eyebrow that could range from anything to dry surprise to drier amusement to That simple, huh? At the back of his mind, there's a flare of disquiet. Her being comfortable enough to invite him would be fine if she were a mark. A sign of growing complacency. A step closer to a goal. ]

[ Instead he's bothered. Three laconic and ill-considered flings don't make them friends. He's attacked her before. She's a liability to his identity. Yet here she is, all lit-up and smiling at him. He's not sure what to make of it (Yes, he is. But the implications that she considers him important make him equal parts angry -- with her and with himself. Idiot. You've let this get out of hand.) ]

[ Changing tacks, he says, mildly, ]

I didn't realize you'd be celebrating something.

[anatural]

[When you're young and hot, it's easy to forgive a lot of things. (Korra's hormones still make a lot of decisions for her.) But that's only a small piece of it. Korra can let go of a grudge as easily as she can hold onto it. After all, Tarrlok had beaten the crap out of her, locked her in a steel cage and all but left her to die in a frozen cabin outside Republic City, but after hearing the story of his childhood, all was forgiven. People have their reasons for doing what they do. She doesn't know what Li's are, but he has them. That's good enough for her.]

Not really celebrating. [Being trapped here doesn't seem like the kind of thing you'd want to celebrate.] I just thought it'd be nice to have some fun.

[anatural]

Yeah, I figured. Do you want something to drink?

[anatural]

"Coke, that's one of those fizzy drinks, right?" Korra scratches the back of her head. "Yeah, I think they have those. They've got all kinds of drinks here. Let's go see."

She punches his shoulder lightly and heads towards the bar.

[mortemscintilla]

[ That sort of convoluted understanding -- that rationalization -- isn't something Hei would comprehend. It's hard for him to forgive. Harder for him to forget. In his line of work, you don't turn your back on enemies -- regardless of tragic histories. You kill them. Rationale doesn't matter. Your own survival does. If he could read her mind, he'd tell her there's such a thing as being too accepting. ]

[ Forgiveness without a flipside, to him, shows a disconnect between impulse and cautiousness. It's dangerous -- to yourself and those around you. ]

[ But he can't say any of that. The bottled water is cold and moist in his palm. It cuts through his bleak tangent; he lifts it to nudge the icy edge against her cheek. ] Fair enough. [ Amusement shows more in the set of his eyes than his mouth. ] Should I buy you a drink?

[anatural]

Korra laughs and follows along. "Two waters, please!" she says to the bartender. She settles down on a stool and lets out a sigh that's half happiness, half weary resignation.

[riceballfruit]

Tohru seats herself as well. When the waters arrives, she raises her glass and says, "To Korra's six months! And to having a wonderful family, and a comfortable place to call home in a strange City!"

[anatural]

[Forget? Goodness no. Korra doesn't forget. She still gets nervous in certain situations, when circumstances get too similar to times he's hurt her before. She just doesn't let it stop her. So far it's worked in her favor. The grudges she's held have been more dangerous than the ones she let go.

She makes a face as he brushes the frigid bottle against her cheek.] I've already got one, thanks.

[She means the water, but at that moment, the bartender comes over with her drink. And the price. Gerk. She pulls out the money in her pocket and counts it out. She really needs to be more careful about this. The move next week is going to cost a fortune. (It's so weird, having to think about money.)

She takes a sip of the drink.] Bleurch!

[Of course the bartender would decide to make a girly drink. A very super sweet girly drink.]

[mortemscintilla]

[ He won't deny that past cruelty leaves an impact. But it's discombobulating that she doesn't retaliate. Maybe it comes down to the degree of cruelty committed. Or maybe it just owes to different natures. Hei would nurse a grudge for years, let it concentrate into a cold hard axis of revenge. But he suspects it works differently for Korra, whose outlook is so unique from his. There's an intelligent intuition lurking beneath the girl's brashness that flashes, when he glimpses it, true as steel. ]

[ Lips twitching, he watches her sputter. What did the bartender give her -- a Cherry Coke? A Singapore Sling? ] Too sweet? [ His gaze lifts to peruse the beverage selection. This is the kind of club teenyboppers congregate to. The choices are typically pretentious. Screaming Orgasm. Knock Me Down & Fuck Me. Buttery Nipple. He signals to the bartender, ] Get her a -- [ what won't get a rise out of her? ] a Shirley Temple.

[anatural]

[Korra pushes the "good drink" away and chugs the rest of her water.]

It tastes like pure sugar. [Blech. How do people drink that? She looks a little balefully at her empty glass of water, then sighs and rests her chin on her hand. When he orders another drink, she tilts her head to look at him quizzically.]

Isn't that a person's name?

[mortemscintilla]

Better than the alternative. [ He doubts she'd enjoy a double-whiskey sour any better. While they wait for her drink, he drums his fingers against the bartop in idle metronome -- matching the bass-line. He's not even aware of doing it. The beat is almost inviting, but the lyrics remind him of hip-hop tuga that enemies played in South America. Lyrics about shootouts and gang warfare and slapping bitches around. It's a rhythm that puts you on edge, ready to do the same. In battle, it disorients the opponent, screws with his sense of balance. ]

[ Predictable, how reminders of his past life creep in everywhere. ]

It's named after a silver screen actress. It's non-alcoholic. [ He doesn't add, Because it's meant for kids. At length, the drink slides their way -- a pink fishbowl of floating cherries and strawberries. Enjoy, Korra. Or don't -- he has no idea if it'll suit you better. ]

[anatural]

[She eyes this new drink uncertainly.]

Can I get another water, please?

[She might as well have one drink that she knows is drinkable. She takes a sip of this new concoction.

Bleh. Not as bad, but it still has that same sugary fake fruit flavor.]

Don't you people drink anything real here?

[At least it has real fruit. She picks out a strawberry and pops it into her mouth. She notices his fingers tapping on the table and grins.]

If you wanna dance, just say so.

[spiderkid]

"A soda, right. Do they not have those where you're from?" He follows her to the bar, pulling the weird City money he remembered to bring with him out of his pocket. "I hope I have enough. I never know how much stuff is gonna be."

[mortemscintilla]

If you want real drinks, go to Jamba Juice. Not here. [ He watches her pop the strawberry in her mouth with interest. Disconnects his gaze, briefly, as a woman in a tight black dress, glitter all over her skin, goes by. Her hair falls down her back in a long green wave. But it's unabashedly artificial. She notices his stare and gives him a once-over. Concludes in less than a second she'll never sleep with 'Li'. He's failed the litmus test of doable and undoable. The girl falls into the latter category herself. Too much make-up. Not enough meat on the bones. ]

[ It's just her hair. He shrugs it off, lets old memory slip away in favor of what is right in front of him. Dance? ] I don't -- [ He notices his tapping fingers. Stops at once. ] I'm sure you have other takers. [ He doesn't want to dance. He shouldn't even be here. He feels ridiculous, one cold little killer in a teenybopper club, all the noise and wildness spinning around him to no effect. ]

[ Too caught up by the noise and wildness in his own head. ]

[lawbender]

You know, when Lin was a kid, you earthbended for fun. None of this going out and ridiculously loud music and incomprehensible t-shirts. You built yourself a castle or something.

Okay, maybe that was just her.

She is not going to dance, but she's at the club anyway. To be honest, it's not really that much worse than many of the parties she has been 'encouraged' to attend over the years. At least no one is trying to smooze her because of her mother.

Lin leans against a wall and people-watches.

[bookbending]

Hey, this kid would rather be reading than at a club (who thought it was a good idea to let a ten year-old into a club, anyway?), but someone has to keep an eye on Korra. As her father's stand-in, Jinora is doing just that.

She's also going to lean on the wall next to Lin and attempt to look just as unimpressed as the earthbender.

[anatural]

[She notices his eyes break away to follow the other woman. There's a brief frown, a little petulant and hurt, and she shoves the cherries in her mouth to distract herself. When he looks back, he'll find her cheeks puffed like a chipmunk's.

She swallows and feels much better when he speaks. I'm sure you have other takers. The remark is answered with a grin.]

So? Who said you had to dance with me?

[She'd like it better if you did. Her energy's back and she's ready to hit the floor again. If it's with him, all the better.]

Come on. You know you want to.

[Is she seriously giving him the puppy dog eyes? Yes, she's seriously giving him puppy dog eyes, even though she's quite aware how ridiculous it is. He's not the kind of person she should make puppy-eyed pleas to. It's not wise -- but she's doing it anyway.]

[bookbending]

Miles is half the reason Korra persuaded Jinora (who would be more comfortable in a library, thank you) to join her at her party. Well... seventy percent of the reason, maybe. Eighty.

The point is that Jinora likes having a friend, even if he likes weird things like dancing. She's not about to join him, but she'll wave from off to the side.

[candothat]

Chekov arrives later than most and without Lucy. She was bitten late into the curse and, while she's recovering well, she's not up to partying (regardless of what she might claim).

Then again, Pavel doesn't seem to be in much of a partying mood himself. It's Korra's party, however, and he can pretend.

[anatural]

Guys. GUYS. You can't just stand over there. Korra can feel your silent, disapproving gazes, but it's not the club her subconscious thinks you disapprove of. You guys need to dance so she can convince herself you don't hate her for what she did.

She jogs over, panting and smiling. "Come on, you two! Lighten up! Have some fun!"

[mortemscintilla]

[ He nearly misses that little frown. Nearly. The chipmunk cheeks get a half-smile, though. He isn't sure which is worse, that he's grown used to her moods and manners, or that he's so wrapped up in his own shit he can't give her anything more than a few table-scraps of attention. It's awkward and terrible, being in this pas de deux she's putting so much energy in, and he not quite enough. ]

[ They've danced before. They've had their dance. It's finished now. ]

[ He watches her make eyes at him. Watches her smile that too-bright smile. There's a jolt of irritation. He's not a trained bear to lead on a string. He showed up. He chitchatted. Now he's ready to go. But that pout, irrepressibly, makes him think of Pai. Her Killing Pout. She's so -- not beautiful yet; he knows what makes a woman beautiful, and at her age, there's too much prickliness and sulking, not enough polish -- but she is so damn pretty. Glowing and alive and enjoying everything Pai never could. ]

[ Suddenly, something in him, that's been cold and hard up until now, lets go. His voice descends into a tired sigh. ] Fine. [ One dance. Just one. Then he has to go. ]