inaudibly | Haven: IC Inbox

[Now that Korra's finished the more urgent work on the stairs and Conner's gym, she sets some time aside to check on a few people. She sets her phone down on the table in front of her, signing when the call connects.]

Doing okay, Nicolas?

[The bruise on his face has faded by now, but there's a wrapped bandage visible on his forearm as he signs, where it came from is anyone's guess.]

Better now that I can fucking see. You?
[He's trusting that Hiruma has already taught you to swear.]

[He hasn't yet, but Korra puzzles through the word eventually.]

Not too bad. What happened to your arm?

[He glances down at it as if he'd forgotten it was there until she'd pointed it out. It's a moment before he looks up.]

Fell off a roof.
[Signed with a blank expression as if it's no big deal.]

Fell off a--

[Korra's too surprised to remember she should be signing until she gets a few words even. When she does remember, her signing's a little harried, matching the worried expression on her face.]

Fell off a roof? Are you hurt badly?

[Nic waves her concern away in an entirely too casual manner.]

It's fine. I'm built sturdier than normal people.

[It's true, he does look sturdy, judging just by what she sees on the screen. But the way he's phrased it implies there's more to it.]

Do you have powers?

[There's a bit of a wry smirk on his face.]

Nah. I'm just some kind of monster.

[Korra frowns. That's not a term that most people would use to describe themselves.]

Why do you call yourself that?

[To be fair Nic is not like most people.]

It's the simplest explanation.
[SHRUG]

[Nope, still not getting it.]

What does that mean?

[That's because you haven't met someone with as unhealthy a mindset as Nic before, probably.

He takes a moment to weigh his options. And then sighs.]

It means my abilities are from a drug dependency. The normals mark us with tags because we're dangerous.
[He pulls the chain around his neck up until his dog tags are visible on screen. It's easier to explain this now that he's gotten used to the fact that most people outside of his home world are more understanding.]

[She stares at the tags with surprise, then hesitantly signs back.]

You don't seem dangerous.

[It's true she hasn't seen him in person yet, but...]

[There's a soft clink as Nic drops the tags to let them hang back around his neck.]

If I seemed dangerous they wouldn't need to tag me, would they?
[A weird, crooked smile. It's a mentality he doesn't particularly enjoy employing, but it's a safe one. He can't have people feeling sorry for him, so he'll play the bad guy.]

[She shakes her head.]

They shouldn't tag you anyway.

[Sorry, Nic, she's gonna be stubborn about this, but there's also something she wanted to bring up, so she lets it drop for now.]

We should test just how sturdy you really are. I promised you a spar, right?

[He'll let it go, for now. He's more interested in the subject change.]

You did. Meet you down by the lake in 10?
[Can't have anyone accidentally falling off the newly created ledges of the housing spiral, now can we?]

Better idea. Meet at the gym?

[That area's at least been built to handle people sparring. The lake--not so much.]

[You kids and your fancy gyms for fighting and other things. When I was your age I had to train my skills on the STREET. Like an ANIMAL!!!

But no for real, he nods.]

Sure. I'll see you there.

[Okay, grandpa. Whatever you say.

She gives him one last signed "okay" before turning off the phone and heading to the gym, where she waits for him outside.]

[SHAKES CANE AT

Nic shows up pretty quickly, and you know what, this is probably the first time they've met in person in proper lighting conditions. Korra is, in fact, taller than him.]

Yo.

Hello!

[She signs back a little more formally, not 100% up to speed on the shortcut and slang. Korra takes the opportunity to study him up close as well, smiling.]

Ready to get your butt kicked?

[Don't mind her teasing him just a little.]

[He's pretty time-worn, mid 30s. His hands are also incongruously big compared to his short stature, a fact that is much more obvious in person. Well, all the better to sign with, after all. But now he just grins at her.]

Ready to see you try.
[He shrugs into a fighting stance, but it looks like he's waiting for Korra to make the first move.]

[With that challenge, Korra doesn't bother to reply, opting to shift into a loose fighting stance as well.

Then, suddenly, she darts at him from the right, aiming a kick at his side.]

[That suits Nic just fine, he's more of an actions over words person anyway.

He's in a ready stance in a split second, and is going to narrowly dodge that kick. He's also going to try to catch her foot if she doesn't pull away fast enough.]

[As soon as she realizes he's trying to grab her foot, Korra twists out of the way, then backs out of his range once her feet are back on the ground.

She waits a second longer, watching, before she throws a punch toward his midsection.]

Haven: IC Inbox

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I'M SORRY THIS IS SO LATE

it's okay!

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video; --> action

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