Triads, Try-Outs, & Tours

"Okay," Astarte said, looking at Gabe. "I will bring your orders to your table."

"Ah, business... Perhaps you are a saleswoman of some sort?" Hector ventured, lifting a glass of water from the counter and sipping from it.

Dalia left the building without comment before beginning a walk to her home.

*Eve just sits there startled*
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*Tirea heads over to the table*

Tirea:<So, what's the plan for today?>
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*Monu walks to the boy*

Monu:<Wow, Great job! You've really got this.>

Noct shook her head, "Fast? How long did it take before they searched your house exactly, because this is Republic City. There are judges that work at night. It is no harder than making a phone call, and getting it signed. Should take about an hour or two, tops." Noct explained, "And that is only if the investigating officer wants to go down to city hall and pick up the warrant. Often times it being signed is good enough. Once they have confirmation they can just go in. The game is rigged in the cop's favor, that is why criminals have to be smarter..." Noct leaned back in her seat, "I'm not saying you weren't set up initially, but you seem particularly fucked. What do you want me to do? I could prove that the warrant was obtained on illegal grounds, but it wouldn't invalidate what they found with it, and even if it did they could just get another now that they know, or go into your house immediately without it if they suspect you might destroy any evidence. They're easily going to charge you with drug possession with the intent to sell, 5-20 years. As I said before, I could get you on the lower side of that, but a felony charge mandates at least a year, a crime like this at least 5."

--

"Are you sure," Mortal asked, "You look good in that dress. I don't want you to mess it up with soap stains or something."

--

"Thanks, Astarte," Gabe said with a smile, before going over and taking a seat as well. She then looked at Tiera, "Well, there is the run, and practice at night, but between that I don't have any set plans. I usually just nap, sporadically, maybe read the paper, or listen to the radio."

"I won't get anything on it. But thank you. While we're on the subject, how's my hair? I've been thinking of maybe changing the style."
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Gangster<Once again, I only know how to sell this stuff, and not get caught selling this stuff. I think I'm supposed to leave the legal loopholes to you.>

Guard<If it was really a plant, Senthose might agree to have you broken out of jail. You should try giving him a call.>

Gangster<Yes, let me use my one phone call from jail to contact the crime boss I've never even met, let alone know well enough to have his private number.>

Guard<You're being really prissy about this "going to jail" thing, you know that?>
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*Seeing the lightning, a Metalbending Cop runs up. When the woman points to the man who is struggling to get up, he fires out a cable to wrap around his wrists. He then turns & salutes her.*

Cop<Thank you for your aid, Miss Aurora!>

Ms. Aurora<Think nothing of it. I was just passing through, when I saw this young lady being attacked.>

*A man with a camera squeezes on to the scene. Keter quickly steps to one side & flashes her pearly whites just as the flash bulb goes off.*

Ms. Aurora<Feel free to quote anything I say, by the way.>
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<I am more akin to upper management, but occasionally, a girl has to get her hands dirty.>
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<Thanks, I've been practicing. But all of the amateur Pro-Bending teams say they have no openings. You know any other job that requires Earthbending?>
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*The Lao Mansion has become a bit run-down in recent years, with the family's dwindling fortune & difficulty competing with Sato Industries. To make the problem worse, Eminent Domain has been heavily practiced in the area, depriving many people, mostly of Fire Nation descent, of their homes, & halving the Lao Estate.*

Tirea:<We could wander around downtown after we run. See if there's anything interesting to do.>
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*Eve stumbles to her feet*

Eve:<Thank..Thank you Ma'am! I am in your debt.>
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Monu:<That out right require earth bending? Would that be legal or illegal?>

*Monu laughs to let the boy know he was joking.>

Astarte began to prepare the coffee, considering that she might be preparing beverages for future Pro-Bending champions.

"I see," Hector said after spending a moment considering his reaction. He placed his glass of water down on the counter. "I hope it is not too forward to ask which business in Dragon Flats you are involved with?"

Dalia looked up and the old Mansion and sighed before entering through the main gates and making her way to the front door. She often wondered how she was supposed to help her family to stay alive, and sometimes came to the distasteful conclusion that she would have to marry somebody of wealth. She left herself in and made her way to the main living room.

Marcus: "Not on my to-do list. Just wondering is all."


*Syn sits down.*

Syn: "Plenty to do downtown. I'm sure we could find something."

<Water treatment. We have to make sure it stays treated as it moves through the city. So I'm checking up on a report.>
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Leader<That's what I thought. How about you go ask some useful questions? You ever hear of Aamon? He's been in the news recently for his treatments for whackos & nutjobs. He's also supposed to be developing new anti-bending weapons for me. Go see what's taking him so long.>
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<The kind that makes a lot of yuans?>

*The instructor pulls him aside.*

Instructor<There something I should know about?>
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*As the cop walks the prisoner off, the woman walks up to Eve.*

<I'm always glad to help a citizen in need.>

*She holds out her hand.*

<Keter Aurora, Fire Nation delegate & Airship Captain in the Fire Nation's Royal Army. Smile for the camera.>

*She turns her head just slightly to intercept another camera flash with a mysterious side-smile.*

Marcus: "Where can I find him?"

Ivan<He's in a Healing Clinic on the north end of the Dragon Flats.>

*Eve shakes her hand*

Eve:<Eve, Astronomer and University student. It's an honor to meet a delegate like your self.>
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Monu:<Ya. I was hoping to tell you before anyone got here, but I woke up late.>

*Monu tells him about the man from the night before*
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Tirea:<Totally. It'll be fun!>

"Ah, I see," Hector said. "Well, I won't keep you for any longer. Please enjoy your day, Miss...?"

Dalia entered the living room and took a brief look around. Her father- a distinguished-looking man with a shock of black hair which was beginning to grey at the temples- sat on the far side behind a newspaper. Dalia chose to sit in a chair by the side of a moderately-sized radio, which she turned on without consideration of her father's disdain for it.

"Listen, the best I can do for you is to have one of my associates take care of your case, and try to get you a light sentencing. There are things going on right now, and I can't take on such a cut and dry case. It'd look bad," She then looked at her guard, "Please show him to Eric's office, so he can take care of this."

--

"Its beautiful," Mortal said, "I love it. It..." She caught herself before she started to wax poetic, "It is nice."

--

OOC: Gabe is already a Pro-Bending Champion twice over.

Gabe nodded, "I guess so, yeah." Gabe smiled, finding herself enjoying her new teammates.

<Selena. And thank you. This has been very productive.>
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"Hmm...all right. I won't make any major changes to it."
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*He looks too irritable to form words as the guard grabs him by the arm & leads him away.*
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<Well, son, I'm afraid you're about to be out of a job.>
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<I am happy that I inspire the bright young minds that will become Republic City's future. And, of course, to take a strong stance against violent criminals like the Purists.>

Mortal smiled, "Good. Though I'm sure I'd like almost anything you decided to do with your hair." With that, Mortal disappeared into her room to take care of her morning routine.

--

Noct let out a long sigh, a tad annoyed at what had just transpired. Once he was out of the room she reached into her coat pocket to inspect the notification a bit more closely. She didn't really expect to learn anything new about it, she just wanted to read it over herself.

*Euryale obviously waits for her to re-emerge.*
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*The certificate is mostly just a fancy sheet of paper that informs her of her nomination & has a watermark of City Hall.*

Since the cafe was currently far from busy, Astarte soon had the coffee prepared and took three full mugs on a tray to the table occupied by Gabe and her team.
"Here you go," Astarte said as she placed each mug before its consumer. "That will be 3 Yuans in total."

"Thank you, I don't often have such lovely customers around here," Hector grinned. "Please do come again if you have need, Miss Selena."

Dalia continued to sit in silence, listening to the radio. It was not long before her mother- a tall, slim woman who had obviously been very beautiful once- entered the room grasping a handful of Yuans.
"Dalia, you aren't busy," Her mother said, extending her hand. "Head down to the market and buy some bread and drinks. Don't bring home Spark Water."
Dalia wordlessly took the money and left the room, heading out of the front door and walking towards the closest food stores.

Gabe reached into her pocket and pulled out three yuans to pay the bill, "Thanks, Astarte." With that she took a long sip of her drink.

--

Noct put the certificate in her desk. She didn't really have anything more to do, so she figured it would be nice to go out and get a cup of coffee, since she was already out and about.

--

Mortal does, wearing a red, long sleeved, cotton shirt, with the sleeves pushed up to her elbows, untucked so that the hem rests just under her waistline. The shirt is loose fitting, but Mortal's bosom forces it to hug her body slightly, and drape in others. She is also wearing a pair of charcoal colored slacks, and black shoes. Her hair is down at her shoulders, and she is running a hand through it. It is still slightly damp from the shower, though not enough to leave a wet mark on her clothing, "Ready to go?"

Tirea:<Wait, we should split the bill.>
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Eve:<And think you for helping out citizens in need.>
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Monu:<Wait, what?>

*Syn quietly sips her coffee, not one to look a gift-horse in the mouth.*


Marcus: "I'm ready to go, let's pay him a visit."

*The reporter leaves for the time being.*

Keter<Have you ever appeared in the news before?>
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<I moved out here to avoid the Triads, but I guess they won't stop until I either give in to their demands, or they drive the school completely out of town.>
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*Selena steps back from the counter.*

<Oh, you're too kind. I will be sure to be back soon. Too-da-loo.>

*She gives a little wave.*
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*Soon after they arrive at the clinic, Ivan tells the receptionist to tell Aamon that "his girl" has a message for him. Not long after, a pale man with dry, white hair wearing a white medical coat emerges, looking mutinous.*

Aamon<I suppose that leader of yours wants more miracles of science, then?>

Ivan<Your "hard plastic" weapons have been short in supply.>

Aamon<Well, what do you expect? They aren't cheap to produce, & it took me months to get a factory to agree to test produce them. Plus the difficulty of skimming some off of the top with no one noticing.>
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*Since they aren't far from the downtown area, they can just walk there.*

"I see you already got the groceries & probably the jump rope. Are you going to buy dresses, as well?"
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*There is a grocery store a few blocks away. Such is the price of living on an estate.*

*Marcus listens, trying to evaluate Aamon and get an understanding of what's been going on between these Purists and him.*

Marcus: "We need whatever you can get."

Aamon<I have a couple of things in the works. Even people like you should be able to appreciate at least one of them. Step into my office.>

*Aamon waits until they are in his office before pulling down a chart that depicts the brain.*

Aamon<I'm going to assume that you are all familiar with my revolutionary lobotomy procedure. It has the capability to erase all mental disorders.>

Ivan<Yes, but I don't see what this has to do with fighting Benders.>

Aamon<ALL mental disorders, ye of feeble mind.>

*Seeing that Ivan is not following, he points to a section of the brain.*

Aamon<In badgermole cubs, cutting this area removes the animal's Earthbending. In subsequent studies, the animal is never able to "re-learn" its powers. I know this because badgermoles slowly, yet inevitably, perish if they cannot earthbend. They require the "seismic sense" to find food & traditional earthbending to dig their burrows.>

*Marcus eyes go wide as it hits him. He quickly recovers back to his normal self.*

Marcus: "So what, we drag every Bender in here and you give them a tap in the head?"

Aamon<Of course not. For starters, that is not how the procedure works. I have to drill through the skull & use a special instrument to carve the internal brain. I also do not know yet if this procedure must be modified for other Benders, because so few surviving animals use Bending. Secondly, that is illegal, & I don't want the cops finding out what I've been doing. If you want to remove a captive's Bending, I'll teach one of you the procedure, & you can do it yourselves.>

Ivan<But we'd still have to catch them. This does nothing to help us fight them.>

*Aamon walks over to a drawer & pulls out a vial of black powder.*

Aamon<To that end, I have been working on refining gunpowder so that it burns more evenly. It should make for more efficient bombs, which release projectiles with greater force.>