markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .029

[For no very specific reason at all, Katara is happy this late afternoon. The air is getting colder, and the very fact that it's nipping at her face is enough to make her smile. Add to that the glorious storm of yesterday, that it is still drizzling...

It's started drizzling as she runs her errands in town, and she puts a hand up to bend an 'umbrella' above her head as she walks along. She forgets herself, though, as she comes to some large puddles in the road, and dropping her hand, stares at them for half a beat.

Well, she's already wet.

So she jumps in. Not bending at all, simply splashing about in the puddles along her way.

Feel free to catch her in this rare display of immaturity and glee - or even join her! Hopefully she won't catch a cold.

Much later, as she prepares dinner for her house, she makes a voice post.]

Anyone else looking forward to the change in the weather?

[OOC: I know notifs are so so down. Please ping me on AIM if it's been a while and I haven't tagged!]

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[Richard is on his way back from the store with some supplies when he catches sight of Katara splashing in the puddles. He'll just stop to watch, marveling at how much fun she seems to be having by doing something so simple. Jumping in puddles is... well, it's something he's never really had a chance to try for himself.]

[Splash, splash, splash, Katara continues on her way up the road, practically making some sort of messy dance. She is momentarily oblivious to his presence.]

[Richard can't help but laugh a little at her impromptu sort of dance.]

Enjoying yourself, Miss Katara?

[Who, huh, what?]

[Gah! Busted.]

[...

...Miss?

And who was that? He looked familiar but they hadn't spoken in a long time...]

Yes, I am! [Or... was. Standing in puddles are definitely not as fun as splashing in them. But she stands there anyway, smiling.]

Richard, right?

That's right. I haven't seen you in a while... how have you been?

[And wow, have a lot of things happened since that slushie stand. Some of them good, some of them bad, but that isn't something he needs to dwell on right now.]

Oh, you know... [...yeah, stepping out of the puddle now.] Busy.

I was just on my way to the store to pick up groceries. [The puddles were totally a necessary sidetrip >>]

[He smiles, lifting the bag in his own arms just a bit to indicate that's where he'd been as well.]

It looks like the grocery store is a popular destination today. I suppose everyone is stocking up just in case this rain decides to continue for a while.

[Katara grins, sweeping her hair to the side and wring it out a little as the rest of her just drips there.] I don't really mind the rain.

You didn't look like you did.

[Richard's got an umbrella himself, but seeing her having so much fun is making him start to consider folding it up.]

[She sees that look of interest - and grins] Wanna try? I can always bend you dry when you're done.

[There's a brief moment of hesitation while he considers this. It's not very proper for a king to be jumping in puddles, but there's no one here to care, so... why not?]

... I think I'd like that.

[She laughs and kicks some water at him - though it falls short of actually hitting him.] It's not hard. But you're not going to be able to from all the way over there.

[He's folding up his umbrella now and setting it down on a stump to retrieve later.]

Then in that case...

[He takes a step back and charges, leaping right into one of the biggest puddles.]

[This laugh? Is the evidence of pure delight.]

Good job!

[And she starts to splash around again herself.]

[And now Richard is laughing too, not caring how wet or dirty he gets, just enjoying himself and doing something he never got the chance to as a child.]

I wonder what Asbel would say if he saw me now.

[He looks like she's having fun too - and she's glad. It makes the whole thing so much less embarrassing, and puddle splashing is more fun when it's shared.]

Who's Asbel?

[Splash, splash, not a care in this peasant's world.]

A friend of mine from my world. This is the sort of thing I can imagine him doing, but I doubt he'd be expecting it out of me.

[Richard's really getting into it, jumping hard to see just how big a splash he can make. It feels good to just be so relaxed like this.]

Well, I don't think you should let people's expectations decide what you can or can't do.

[And she jumps higher and splashes bigger to emphasize her point.]

[There's a momentary flash of seriousness in his eyes.]

Sometimes I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice.

[And her eyes flicker with a matching seriousness.]

There's always a choice. It's not always an easy one... but at least you can know that your actions are your own.

And if that choice would mean bringing harm to others?

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[Action] ... bite me too, LJ