Game-Changers & Grudge Matches

"So, do you think you'll get a hang of earth bending?" Noct asked driving down the road.

--

"Wow, you look great," Mortal said. Before she could give Euryale a real chance to reply, Mortal hopped into the shower herself. When she got out she was dolled up in a silver dress that hugged her hips and bust without fitting too tightly. It had an off the shoulder neckline, and an asymmetrical hem that started at her left knee, and ended at just above the midway point of the right shin. While silver, the threading of the dress is a bright red, to match Mortal's modest heels, and clutch purse. Her hair is worn down, and combed straight, and she even has on a bit of lipstick, a softer shade of red than her shoes and purse. She didn't have any perfume, but the soap was some lavender shit, which she still smells of, faintly. "I look silly, don't I?" She asked, running a hand through her hair.

*Tirea waves to Gabe, Astarte, and Roatha before setting back towards her house*
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*Eve starts heading for the Harmony Tower*
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*Monu shrugs and heads back inside*

R"...What was that about? Does she have a hearing problem, Gabe?"

*He turns to Astarte.*

R"Hm? I dunno...are you hungry yet?"
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*Venezuela stares into her hands, folded in her lap.*

V"I hope so."
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E"N-no, not at all! You look fantastic, really. Are...are you sure I'm dressed for the occasion? I don't want to wind up embarrassing you."
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<I suppose.>
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*Eve arrives before all of the pedestrian traffic.*
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*Later, a woman with a blue dress, cloche hat, & purse enters the cafe. She has a black bob, & applies blue lipstick on her way up to the counter.*

*Eve hurries up to the observation deck*
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*Monu smiles*

<How may I help you?>
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*Tirea walks out of sight before starting to cry*

"Not that I know of," Gabe said with a shrug.

--

"So do I," Noct said, "You're trying to help your family. People who support their family should be rewarded."

--

Mortal puts a hand out, "No, you could never. I kind of thought I was embarrassing you. I feel... showy, or something. I don't usually dress up, you know." Only just then did it register to Mortal that she was complimented, which caused her to grin stupidly, "You really think I look fantastic?"

"Not particularly, but I could eat," Astarte offered a little shrug.

"I shall arrive at 1:00, then."

E"Of course! I didn't even think to do a lot of the things you did. I'm sort of worried that I might not know what I'm doing."
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V"Right now, I'm more concerned about paying all of you back for your hospitality."
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R"I guess that's what we're doing, then."

*Meanwhile, a river fog washes over them.*
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*Tirea suddenly becomes surrounded by a wave of fog. It's now that early evening shade of blue out, so it's hard to see, but she thinks a tall man is approaching her through the fog.*
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*She leans on the counter.*

<I'd like a green tea, with a little honey. Think you can do that for little old me?>
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*As she arrives on the observation deck, she can see that the north star has popped out.*

*Monu nods*

<Of course! That'll be one yuan.>
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*Eve goes over to her station, places the bag on the ground beside her, and gets out her observation materials*
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*Tirea stops and stares at the figure*

<Who's there?>

"You don't have to pay me back anything," Noct said, "I'm well off, so giving out when there is someone in need isn't a big deal to me. Hardly worth payback."

--

"This is weird," Gabe said, trying to see through the fog.

--

"You know something, believe me," Mortal said, nearly giddy from praise, "You look great. I'm so happy we're doing this. Its like a dream come tr-- I don't want to come off as pushy, or something. Needless to say, you're making me very happy, Euryale." Mortal smiled a bit, and put a hand behind her neck.

Astarte extended her arms to her sides and made broad circular motions to shift the fog away from them.

E"Don't be worried. I like this side of you. Speaking of, I can't take all of the credit. You helped me pick out this dress, remember? It's just a shame the effect is kind of dulled by this."

*She lifts her still-slung arm slightly. She might be oblivious to the fact that it's pushing her bust up.*
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R"A little bit, I guess, but it's just fog. Astarte can probably Bend it all away, if it really bothers you."

*This is when Astarte discovers that the fog does not respond to Waterbending.*
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*She pulls a Yuan from her purse & hands it to him, their fingers brushing.*

<It won't be a problem if I drink that here at the counter, will it?>
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*The figure doesn't answer, but stops approaching, still several yards away from her. Tirea feels a small hand tugging at her sleeve.*
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"It is always important to benefit those who have benefited you. Goodness should always be rewarded. We are not unfamiliar with charity, but we prefer not to accept it, unless in dire need. The spirits do not look kindly on those who take from others without giving back. They say that the surest way to disappear in the dunes is to use a sand-sailer you obtained without bartering for it."
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*By the time she finishes, it is now dim evening, with only a thin sliver of sun at the horizon. If she looks to the park, she'll see it reflecting off of a thick coat of fog. Other than that, not much of note.*

<If you really want to, why not! Let me go make that for you.>

*Monu heads into the kitchen, makes the tea, then returns and presents it to the woman*

<There you go!>
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*Tirea jumps and looks down*
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*Eve stares curiously at the fog*

"No, this is weird," Astarte said, sounding distressed and repeating the motions. "It isn't natural. It won't respond."

"There are very few things I want, or have need for," Noct said, "You might have a hard time paying me back."

--

"It works as a pretty good push-up bra," Mortal said with a chuckle, "So I wouldn't say it is all bad."

--

Gabe sees Astarte fail at bending and frowns, "Could someone be bending the fog to stay in place?"

*Euryale is taken aback at how forward Mortal is.*

"So, uh, should we get going now?"
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*Roatha pulls a hand back, tensing it & generating a ball of flame that he holds like a glowing fist. He looks around.*

R"You think Red Monsoons?"
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*The fog just sits there. Being fog. The sun goes down, making it not even colorful anymore.*
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<Thank you, Sweetie.>

*She blows on the tea.*

<So, are you the only one working here?>
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*Ven stays silent, because Noctis utterly crushed her right there.*

"Yes," Mortal replied, tucking some hair behind an ear.

--

"Sorry, that must have sounded harsh," Noct said, "Really though, your gratitude is enough for me. I don't require anything more than that."

--

"Maybe," Gabe said, "If so, we should get away from the river, and out of here."

*Tirea's eyes grow wide, and she steps back*

<Who's there? This is really not a good time to mess with me.>
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*Eve gets to work*
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*Monu shakes his head*

<Mr. Sidon's daughter works here too.>

*Presumably, at this point; Roatha, Gabe, & Astarte stumble upon Tirea. The man in the fog had vanished before they got there.*

R"Who are you yelling at?"
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*Before they get to the restaurant, Euryale swings by the hospital to give the gown back, because she said, "As soon as possible." Soon after entering the door, they find Aroma, whom Euryale gives the gown to after explaining that they just stopped by quickly to give it back. As Aroma thanks them & cradles it in her arms, she looks up at them. Her mouth hangs slightly open.*

<Wow...you both look great...I mean, really.>
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V"But...."

*They arrive at Noctis's house.*
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<Oh, she does, does she? Hmm...does he have any sons?>
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*Double-checking, she can confirm that eclipse for next month.*

Awesome, I'll want to try out my new lens to make sure it works.

*Eve' s proud that she stopped thinking out loud*
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*Tirea stares away from them*

<At the creepy guy over...>

*She points at where the guy was*

<There...>
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<He hasn't mentioned any other children, so I don't think so.>

Gabe kind of frowns, "I don't see anyone there. Did they leave?"

--

Mortal flushes red slightly, "Thank you."

--

"Your gratitude can be verbal," Noct said, "You don't have to get me anything, is what I'm trying to say." Noct parks and begins to head inside.

*Tirea rubs her eyes, trying to rub away the tears*

<I think I'm seeing things...again.>

Astarte was obviously highly agitated. Her eyes couldn't settle and she kept shifting around on her feet.

At this point Sidon stepped out of the kitchen and walked over to the counter. As Selena was just another customer, he ignored her and grabbed his reading glasses before turning to walk off.

Stefan sat by the telephone in his sparsely furnished- though still somehow cramped- apartment and called Hector on the number Zolt had been given and presumably passed on.
"Hello, this is Hector speaking."
"Yo, it's Stefan. The boss said I should give you a call."
"Oh, hey, we've done a job or two before, right?"
"Right."
"Did he tell you why you were calling?"
"Not in much detail, what's the story?"
"Come on down to the Cyprus Cafe at Yue Bay and we can talk about it. Unless you've got plans?"
"No, I can make it."
"Okay. Wait outside the cafe, and I'll meet you there."
"Sure."
"See you, then."
Hector hung up first and Stefan did the same, smiling and heading to his room to dress for the outing.

<Well, that's odd, I've been hearing about some guys who were hanging around here. They both dress really tackily, one with a grey suit, the other like he drives a limo.>
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R"What do you mean by 'again'?"

*He looks over at Astarte.*

R"Relax, we'll be fine. If someone tries to attack us with Waterbending, you'll know, right?"
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"Aww, you're sweet."

*Euryale gives Aroma a little hug for being so sweet. When she lets go, Aroma has to reach back & grab the receptionist table to stay on her feet. Euryale turns to Mortal.*

"Well, let's go, they won't hold our table all night."
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*Ven wordlessly follows along, staring at the floor.*

"Yeah, I guess," Astarte nodded, but didn't seem to calm down. Her butterfly fell off of her shoulder and shattered on the ground. She stared sadly at its remains.

Hector sneezed.

Sidon walked back into the kitchen, suppressing an enraged cry for Hector's blood.

Dalia changed into a white satin nightgown and some matching white slippers, then sat down with a cup of tea to listen to the radio.

Stefan left his apartment with a pocket full of coins to pay for a taxi. He tried to hail one.

"Well, g'night, Ven," Noct said, heading to her room.

--

Mortal waved to Aroma, and walked out behind Euryale.

--

"Why don't we have this conversation elsewhere," Gabe suggested, "If waterbenders can't control this fog, then I don't really want to remain in it."