[ Action, Voice ] .055

[markofthebrave]

[These decorations have been up for a few days now, and while at first Katara thought they were pretty they have now succeeded in making her grumpy. Yes. Very grumpy. Grumpy enough to make a post about it, in fact.]

How do they expect us to sleep with all these lights in our window? I've put a double curtain over it, and the light is still keeping me awake. Does anyone have any ideas?

[You might catch some muttering about: "Moving to sleep down in the basement" or "It's not too cold to camp out in the forest" before the journal shuts. She'll get back to it in a little bit, she just needs to finish making the grocery list.

Once she finishes with any replies that she may receive, Katara heads into town. The lights really are pretty. And so are the wreaths and the snowmen and the... unfamiliar sprigs of green over the doorway to the grocery store really kind of... isn't. Why is that even there? Katara pauses underneath it to examine it more closely...]

Comments

[markofthebrave]

[She turns to face him fully, hands on her hips.]

How do you know?

[...uh. She blinks a few times, her indignation dissipating as a really weird feeling starts to surface.]

[markofthewise]

Because little leaves aren't going to- [blink] ... do anything.

[... what is this stirring.]

[markofthebrave]

[Almost unknowingly, Katara sways forward...eeeewwww.

She takes a rapid step backwards.]

[markofthewise]

[Sokka found him doing much the same. Given he was kind of used to this all the time, it takes him a bit longer for the warning bells to go off in his head. Fortunately he's just leaning into open air.

When he opens his eyes, he suddenly scrambles backwards, for the moment just gaping.]

[markofthebrave]

[Fortunately, stepping out under the influence of the EVIL PLANT clears Katara's head immediately. She looks from him, to the plant, and back to him.]

...you don't think...

[That PLANT nearly made us...]

[markofthewise]

{He has much the same experience. He immediately decides that this NEVER HAPPENED. Sokka is grabbing that plant and yanking it free, so he can toss it aside on the ground.]

I think we should pass on having salad for dinner.

[markofthebrave]

Who would think of something like that? And then hang it in doorways!

[WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE MALNOSSO?]

[markofthewise]

It's an Earth thing. You know they're all weird there!

[... STAMPING IT WITH HIS FOOT.]

[markofthebrave]

[...]

I think it's dead, Sokka.

[No seriously. Move so she can ice the thing.]

[markofthewise]

I just don't want someone else putting it back up there.

[One last grinding it in the ground before he leaves it.]

[markofthebrave]

[...definitely dead. She's almost disappointed that there's nothing left for her to destroy. EVIL PLANT.

But then she glances back up over the doorway.]

Oh, no way.

[Look! The Malnosso spawned another one. That was fast.]

[markofthewise]

[Sokka looks up and- dammit, he's right under it. He quickly moves back outside it again.]

That's just wrong.

[markofthebrave]

These people are sick

[And it's a quick flash of a waterwhip and now the mistletoe is down and in pieces.]

I don't know what this has to do with the holiday, but it's just wrong!

[markofthewise]

[Sokka is just going to move back from the water whip. Not that it's in danger of hitting him, but hey, he can't be too careful. This time he'll keep his eyes on it to watch it grow back.]

... well, it wouldn't be so bad if it was someone... not related to you.

[markofthebrave]

[UGH it grew back.]

You wouldn't think it was "not so bad" if it happened to someone who happened to be engaged to someone else.

[Like say. Suki. And any random guy.]

[markofthewise]

I was thinking it would be 'not so bad' if it was with someone I happened to be engaged with!

[He's not going to try getting kisses from other girls! Well. Not again.]

1/2

[markofthebrave]

[Facepalm.] Like you really need an excuse to kiss Suki.

2/3

[markofthebrave]

I was just saying that it could happen to her with some other random guy - then it wouldn't be any fun.

[markofthebrave]

I hate it when they do things that take our choice away from us!

[markofthewise]

[... which they do pretty much once every two months. But it goes unsaid!]

Hey. At least it wasn't more powerful than the force of having the oogies.

[markofthebrave]

Having what?

[markofthewise]

The oogies. Come on, you had to have had them just now too. [Shudder. It was bad enough he had to see her macking on Hiccup.]

[markofthebrave]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Not only because that's a silly word, but 'cause that. never. happened.]

[markofthewise]

Yeah, yeah. Fine. [He's not going to argue it because. He does not want to talk about it.] But I think I'll take one of these home anyway. Just in case. [Casually reaching up to pluck the newest one down to pocket.]

[markofthebrave]

Sokka!