#avatarwithin

Goro is early in the empty training hall, whipping out moves while....................................... belting out some questionable vocals

He stood there a while, shoulder leaning against the doorframe as Goro's lone audience member — unbeknownst to him... that was until Junsei cleared his throat.

"You sure the 'Gull' in your nickname isn't from your lovely singing voice?" he joked.

@avatarwithin sent: "Tell me what I can do to make you stay." 一 Asami to Mako

" Hey, uh. I'm sorry I missed today's practice. I promise you, I tried everything I could to make it, but I just couldn't. " 一 Goro to Junsei

Junsei waved his hand dismissively, but he didn't carry an air of annoyance while doing so. With a huff, he crossed his arms across his chest. "Look, Go. I don't know where your head's been at lately — like, I know you're carrying a lot, but at least leave a note or something."

He didn't need to go on to tell him how much every practice mattered if their team was finally going to make it into the Pro-bending League Championships; they had been working their asses off to get this far together.

"What happened?" Any lingering frustrations he had in his tone was replaced with concern.

" Don't think that just because we're both Southern I'll go easy on you. " ― Korra to Junsei ( book 1 or 2 methinks!? )

The taller of the two took a moment to look the other up and down; if his hunch was right, he knew exactly who this was. He knew of her, but never met her formally, given how young the both of them were when she got whisked away to the compound just on the outskirts of Wolf Cove for however long that was.

"Is that supposed to be a reason to go easy on me? That wouldn't seem fair to either of us."

" You must know how things work around here. Heh, I... actually used to date a probender. But even that doesn't make me an expert. " ー Asami to Sumiko ( book you decide heheh )

It took a moment for Sumiko to register who was talking with her as she heard her voice before on the radio, but hadn't formally seen what the heiress of Future Industries looked like — until right now.

"Oh! Miss Sato!" she flustered. "Spirits, you're so pretty in person-" Sumiko gasped before clutching her hand over her own mouth, clearly unable to undo the stream of words that spilled from her lips even though it was more under her breath, but still very much audible."Sorry! I mean! Hello! Yes! Um. I'm Sumiko Masamune," she started to bow in greeting as her hand quickly dropped to her side, which also doubled as a way to hide the rapid reddening of her cheeks. "I help coordinate events here at the Pro-bending Arena."

She had to straighten her posture sooner or later. As she did, she tucked a stray lock that had fallen in front of her face from her bow, but her gaze shifted away to not look at Asami directly, the blush still clear on her face. "Before working here I was mostly just a fan, so I remember Future Industries sponsored the Fire Ferrets a couple of years ago, so I'm assuming one of them? Notthati'mtryingtopryoranything it'sjustsomethingIremembered," The last bit came out at rapid speed as she wished she could just shush herself already.

"But, um, what brings you to the Arena today?" Totally a casual thing to ask to try to salvage this first impression.

It broke her heart to leave so soon after getting her sister back, and though she knows this separation isn't permanent and she'll be able to hold her again very soon she feels a pang in her chest and tears sting begin to sting her eyes and draw the slightest whimper to fall from her lips. Snowflakes fall from the air above her, her arms cross protectively over her torso.

She heard the padding of footsteps against the marble but didn't move until she felt Zuko behind her. His warmth has become as familiar to her as the soft cadence of his voice. As she turns to face him, her fingers reach to caress his cheek. “I didn’t mean to wake you," her voice is soft, nightgown hanging precariously loose off of her shoulder. "I couldn't sleep."

Desna comes to a halt beside her, but merely sideways, and doesn't look her way as he speaks. " I won't tell anyone that you smoke, " he comments, with his usual tact -- which is to say, out of the blue -- and in a further miracle of chance, because he hardly ever willingly converses with others than his immediate family. " It is crassly unfitting for a student of your caliber, but -- I find merit to the rebellious undertone of your habit. " At this, his grey gaze flickers her way, briefly, with the hint of a smile. " In fact, I have grown curious of it. "

一 Desna to Shoko in LoK verse, from @avatarwithin

She's not quite sure how he finds her, but in reality - should one use their nose, she's not exactly the hardest to find. When he tracks her down, Shoko's posed with said crass item out the back of the healers quarters taking a much needed dissociation break. But as Desna breaks the seal of their conversation first, Shoko raises the eyebrow closest to the side he's standing on to show he's peaked her interest.

Well, if there was one thing Desna certainly knew how to do, it was get her attention.

Shoko licks her lips and laughs softly. "Why does something tell me that won't come without some sort of price...?" She jests, her voice having taken on a teasing tone despite it being a real chance. "But as someone who can heal practically anything, it's nice to dance with death every so often." She tacks on easily, not ashamed of her more dangerous and uncouth methods of feeling something.

Whilst Desna continues on, Shoko glances sidelong at the raven and smirks around her cigarette as she takes a slow, deliberate pull from it. "Is that so?" she meets his fleeting gaze, amusement sparkling in her eyes. Only then does Shoko finally turn herself to face him, arms crossed but making sure she's holding her cigarette at an angle and distance where it won't bother him. "And why might that be, hm? Feeling like being a little rebellious yourself~?"

It's a great relief when Bolin joins in on the evasion. The Avatar is quick to nod and chime in with all manner of yeahs and totallys. Who came up with this stuff, right? Still, her cheeks and ears continue their searing burn, with no promise of relenting for as long as the two of them lingered on the topic, and under this darned plant she hadn't been able to ignore. " Yeah. Silly, " she echoes, chuckling a little, amused with Bolin's ramblings and the jokes woven in so effortlessly. Silly. Is it? Her ears catch the words kiss you from Bolin's next word jumble, and suddenly her entire being flushes as hot as a glowing coal, stiff and stuck staring at him. She can't stop imagining it now, of looking at Bolin in this light beneath the mistletoe. Curiosity grows on her unbridled, wondering what it would be like to kiss him, to be cradled by his larger form like all the ladies in sappy romance stories. She can't deny she's wanted to experience that -- and it doesn't seem too strange for that to happen with Bolin, now that she considers it. It doesn't have to ruin their friendship, or mean anything either, does it? A part of her however, the wiser part now lost beneath excitement, knows that something will change irrevocably as a result. But that can no longer deter the young Avatar, too enchanted by the novelty and thrill to be had here. For better or worse, she has to get this impulse satisfied now. " Uh, that ... doomed to bad luck does sound pretty bad, I think? " she starts, wishing she could facepalm at how stiff she sounds, even to herself. Better not linger on it. " If you believe that a ... hanging plant ... can cause such a thing. But it-- it doesn't hurt to be safe, right? " Merely looking at Bolin burns now, and so her gaze darts around, searching for anywhere else to settle. The tips of her boots, idly or nervously shuffling at the thin layer of snow on the street, seem good enough for the moment. " Unless it's uh, totally stupid and you're not interested-- I mean, believing in that kind of bad luck stuff. " It's her turn huff out an unconvincing laughter. " Because I kind of wouldn't exactly -- mind? It's not like it has to be a big deal or mean anything, it's -- just for avoiding the plant curse ... thing. " When she dares look up at him then, it's with a vulnerability that she can't conceal, a question playing in the glint of her gaze.

Did... did he hear her correctly? Forgetting that Korra had stumbled over her own words like he did, Bolin's mind kicked into overdrive as he processed everything between the stutters. Was she implying that they should fend off some strange superstition about bad luck being granted on those who don't kiss under a plant by... actually kissing? An image of just that flashed through his mind — not that he hadn't already tried imagining that before this whole mistletoe business.

He was suddenly so aware of his body. How near they were standing to each other. How close they were in height. The sound of rushing blood in his ears as his face continued to get hotter. The way the cool winter air felt in contrast to the heat of his cheeks and ears. The heavy thumping in his chest that started to race then echo in his ears like an accompanying meteronome to the rushing sound. The way he pursed his lips as he gulped. Oh Spirits, were his lips too dry? Was it because of the cold? Was it the nerves? Was it the way Korra was looking up at him so expectantly?

"You don't? I mean — you want to? Like- For the plant, right. Well- I just-" Words. Words just tumbled out of his mouth like an avalanche the moment he found his voice again. His brows furrowed immediately, disappointed at his inability to articulate, before shaking his head furiously as if shaking it off physically would help.

He then took a deep inhale as he took a moment to actually gather his thoughts before restarting.