Fandom Avatar - Shattered Spirit: Book One - Absence

[TYPE]

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Shattered Spirit
⌘ Book One - Absence ⌘
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ThatGuyWithSouvlaki FireMaiden Braddington Moka-chan AnimeGenork GrieveWriter​

Welcome to Neo-Republic City
293 a.g.

The city was busy. An empty observation. As pointless as saying that ice was cold, or fire hot. The rain season had just set in, and all the chrome and the glass gleamed even more, as streets reflected its neon veins, pumping life giving light through the never sleeping beast that was - Neo-Republic City. Quiet had long since become a luxury for the rich, as every corner of every street seemed to whir with sound, or beep with a notification - or... most likely, vibrate with the passing maglevs.
The city stayed dark now for longer. In some sort of ironic twist, the city that gleamed not a hundred years ago, seemed to revel in the dark clouds that stayed past noon, casting shadows and sheets of water down into the streets, forming liquid mirrors disturbed only by the errant car or bike. What people could be seen were quick to move from doorway to doorway, collars high or dark umbrellas open. Or... they were walking around in the rain, skin glistening as they took in the showers, some bending water jets at each other before rushing away, into ally ways as the NRCPD chased them out of the middle of the roads.
Inside, behind the walls that kept out the cold and the wet - things were an entirely different matter all together. Dance clubs dishing out drugs and booze like candy - parties that kept on going for days. Up in the tall towers business men and women waging war over iron ore prices. In overfull internet cafes people gathered to stream the latest pro-bending matches, while a few blocks away the betting houses took final calls. These made up only a small part of the people though, as most stayed home for the most part, hidden behind screens, living lives devoid of anything but work, and the entertainment of others.
YOU ALL ARE EITHER ON YOUR WAY HERE, OR YOU LIVE HERE ALREADY. You know this place. You know of it. You know of the many cultures that gather here, only one language matters. Money. You know tribe, and class and skills don't matter - unless you are the best. Unless you can be branded and sold to the highest bidder. Connections matter. Politics matter. Trade matters. Whatever reason you are here, or you are coming here... you know that you are looking. Searching. A few days ago you got an invitation. In about a week you are to meet an Anonymous man in one of the Jasmine Dragons - the one overlooking the Golden Pavilion, across the bay. He said he wanted to talk. He said he had something to share. About the Avatar. THE Avatar. Li, who had killed himself almost precisely 20 years ago.
Until then... well... you need to live. You have a job. You have a role. You have duties. And so you will continue on. As you always had. You will continue on for just a week more, before, finally... hopefully, you can find the answers. The answers you have been looking for your entire life. And maybe, just maybe - start setting things right.

 

[TYPE]

Detective Inspector Lengan
Location: The Intercity Maglev between Ba Sing Se and Neo-Republic City
Date: 239 a.g.
Time: 03:25 a.m.

He had been on this train for over nine hours now. It was quiet, almost empty, and the seats were uncomfortable as all hell. Lengan moved his shoulders against the backrest, his neck complaining as he did so. The creak of his leather coat was loud, cutting through the monotonous hum from the train itself. The cabin, now dimly lit for the evening, cast long shadows across the windows, the floor, the seats and the few other people. His eyes ran towards them, every now and then. They seemed to be quiet enough. Unassuming enough. But he knew. The kind that took midnight trains to the cesspools of the world... they were more often than not the kind of scum to thrive there. There was a gruff snort from him, the irony not lost. He turned the few glances towards him back with a glare of his own, before shuffling further into his chair, further into his collar, further away from the world.
What was he even doing? Hoping for? On his way to that shitshow of a city to meet up with who? Who would even bother coming? What he had was not even that much to go on. His hand moved over towards the note in his breast pocket, feeling the paper crinkling beneath his fingers. What would they say? What does it mean? There was something terribly wrong here and he needed to know what it was. But... the few whom had tried had died off. Hundreds of cold lines of inquiry. People 'giving up'. People disillusioned. People who he knew to be entirely devoted to the Avatar, who suddenly gave up on him, on finding out what happened. Is that why people stopped looking? Were they afraid of something? Was something turning them away? Another deep sigh as he frowned, his head starting to hurt.
He needed allies. He needed contacts. When even the greatest spy network in the world had no answers, one knew that there was something afoot. Something simmering in the heart of this apathy. In the heart of all this greed. What was it? What made itself so omnipresent and so insidious, so as to turn an entire world of people into little more than cogs in a machine. Tools for the use of the powerful and the ambitious. Undermined the disgust in people. The revolt in people. When proud people were rendered mute. And passionate people distracted. And joyful people morose. And emotional people cold. Something was coming. It was building to something horrible. And at this point, there was none to stop it. None to tame it. None to dissuade it. Just a series of people getting richer and a series of people getting poorer - while all that once was went to shit, and all that will be turned bleaker and less inspiring by the day.
"Hey you, will you stop that! Fucking irritating." One of the passengers near the front had turned, the man's gruff voice cutting through the silence, his eyes on Lengan. It took him a moment to realize that he had been gnashing his teeth together, loud enough to piss off a guy a few seats in front of him. His jaws felt dead, as he consciously un-clamped them, throwing the man a somewhat apologetic look. "Sorry." The soft whisper escaped Lengan, as the man in front seemed to lose interest, sitting back, looking forward again, his actions still rough, and forceful. "yeah well, ain't we all..." He spoke, his irritation seemingly assuaged. Lengan peered at him for a few more moments, before leaning towards the window again. Peering out at the dark expanse, just as rain started to meet the window. "Yeah... I guess we are."

 

[ThatGuyWithSouvlaki]

Pemala
Location: Future Industries Tower, Neo Republican City
Time: 1:35am
Date: 238 a.g

Future Industries Tower once stood in the tallest skyscrapers in the Republic City, the pavilion design made it the jewel of the city's skyline back in the days of Avatar Korra. However now it was shadowed by the dozen of skyscrapers build taller and of metal, glass and neon lights that had sprang up over the years. It was now at least from the outside, a sad old fashioned tower of a bygone age. Still it had its uses, though the company's headquarters had moved in one of the skyscrapers, it contained the companies main RnD laboratories. These laboratories were a stark contrast to the old fashioned exterior. The technology within was still the envy of other companies as it was back in the day of Avatar Korra.

It was these laboratories that Pamela practivaly lived in, where she though her purpose on this earth would lie. She would sit in her desk for hours, surrounded by half done blueprint, reports and other writings her overactive mind would produced. Never able to finish an idea as her mind would quickly go to another idea or thought. It was left to others in her team to pick up and develop as best they could. Devices for air purification, better mobile batteries and new metal alloys for the new generation of satomobiles were a handful of things that were developed here. It was the handful of things were able to decipher from her.

In recent months though Pemala was not working with the same enthusiasm, or at least not at anything for Future Industries. Project and assignment were left undone by her or paced on to others as one concern was on her mind. She would sit for hours on her computer rifling through records and the Net about the Avatar, spirits and strange events in recent history, muttering to herself. Today was no different. Sleep was difficult for her due to her overactive mind, only occuring through exhaustion. "Avatar. Bridge between two words... No bridge no more. Yet no spirits. Avatar dead... No, weight loss pill? Impossible, loss of weight requires control of food and exercise..." She muttered her mind distracted by a pop up advert. "Actually may be possible mix... Maybe stop by Tang Ten for breakfast maybe has those nodules again... Ten o'clock coffee with dad... That is going to fun..." She frowned and banged the sude of her head with her palm. "Focus, Pema...Focus... Avatar! Spirits!" She chastised herself but she couldn't. Her mind went to a video game she saw advertised with focus in the game and than wondered how much the latest Future Industries game console sold. Only a chime in her social media feed brought her back to really. Her eyes widened at the message she read.

 

[Moka-chan]

Kya​

Location: On train going from Fire Nation to NRC

​

Kya gave a final deep bow to the cheering adiunce and waved to them along with the rest of the actors, when the curtain went down she let out a breath and swiped away the sweat that had accumulated on her forehead. "Good Job everyone!" Instantly everyone echoed and patted each others back until someone suggested going in back to properly celebrate, which was answered by very enthusiastic agreements. Kya agreed as well and promised to meet them back there, but first she needed some fresh air, with a final promise she exited the theater and took a deep breath fresh air. Cracking her back she rested her arms on the barrier and peered out past the lights to the inky darkness. It had been a midnight showing of 'The boy in the iceberg' and Kya had naturally played the part of Katara. This used to fill her with pride and purpose, yet the more often she repeated what her role model had said so many years ago the more uneasy she felt saying them. The majority of her wanted to smoke away at Myuni and let everything drift away, but even that had begun to feel dull and not in the good way. She had checked the forums on a whim and at the ominous message knew what she must do.

That had been a week ago and now Kya was on the train leading to New Republic City, she felt little trepidation at throwing herself on what very well could be a troll post. She took it as a sign, just when she was wondering what to do with her life a sign appeared. She tossed around the idea of going to the research center and seeing Yaichi for a bit, she internally shrugged and figured that if she had time to kill she would. She felt an ache for the comfort of Myuni but knew that it would be rude at best to light one up, she might even get kicked out for it. Though when she looked out of the window and saw only water below she wondered to herself if they would kick someone out of a moving train. Unless that person was a waterbender or airbender it might kill them, she spared a look around the train at the sleeping passengers. A part of her itched to go into her bag but when she spotted a security camera she let out a defeated huff, leaning into the window she let her eyes fall shut and the steady motion of the train sooth her.

It had been awhile since she went on a train ride that was longer than an hour and she felt herself become soothed by the motion, knowing she still had time before the destination was to occur she let her mind go blank and fell into a drift less slumber.

 

[FireMaiden]

Zephyra Daichi
Location: Tandoori, Neo-Republic City
Interaction: Open
Mentioned: N/A
Sitting across from each other, Zephyra and her twin brother were locked in a staring contest. Tension hung heavy in the air as they both glared daggers at each other. "Don't you dare," her brother warned, his brows furrowing even further. Zephyra did nothing, waiting for a few more seconds that felt like minutes, before shoving the last price of pork belly into her mouth. "Zephyra why!" Her brother exclaimed, before slumping back into his seat to pout. Zephyra laughed silently, be for sitting her chopsticks down.

"Sorry Tovar," She signed, cracking her knuckles before picking up her chopsticks again to shovel some ramen into her mouth. It was late, but she ans her brother neber seemed to sleep, so when rbey could the two of them would meet up in Tandoori. It was a small resturant which served a large menu of both traditional and more modern foods. They both would have long days, and decide to meed up there so unwind and spend some time together. They weren't extremely close with those two, but that was okay. They had each other.

"Has mom called you lately?" Tovar asked, sitting back up to continue eating. Zephyra shook her head, glancing up from her food. "Doctor's don't think dad's gonna get the feeling back in his arm. He's like you though, doesn't want any cybernetics to fix it," Tovar kinda sighed, but chuckled after a few seconds, "Guess your stubbornness rubbed off on him. But if you get the chance, sign some sense into him, will ya?" Zephyra's shoulders shook slightly as she chuckled, before she gave her brother a thumbs up.

As the night went on, Zephyra and Tovar just sat and talked. About what they has been doing recently, Pro-Bending, etcetera etcetera. They were just catching up like they normally did, until the owner, a stocky little man from Ba Sing Se like the twins, told them it was time for them to go. They paid their own bills, and Tovar offered to walk her home, but she shrugged.

"Don't worry about it," She signed, playfully punching him in the arm, "I'm a big girl." They both shared a light chuckle, before he gave in, and they said their goodbyes, and Zephyra began her 15 minute walk home. She had a lot of hink about, most of which had actually slipped her mind until Tovar had mentioned something about the White Lotus. She had gotten an invitation to meet someone, someone who had news about Avatar Li. She was interested, of course, why wouldn't she? It's what she was trying to uncover, the mystery behind his death, it was something that she had been looking into ever since she got back. Shaking her head to pull herself out of her thoughts, Zepyrah shoved her hands in her jacket pockets, and continued her walk.

 

[AnimeGenork]

Taichi Mori

If You Can't Give Me a Good Reason to Care, I Won't

Mood: Meh | Scenario: Feeding Time | Mentions: N/A | Tags: N/A | Location: Neo-Republic City Park
​

Taichi Mori prided himself on aptly caring for his precious rabbit, Usa. And today was no exception. Having told the Empty Hand he was bored and was going to explore somewhere else for a while, Tai found himself in the park of Neo-Republic City, desperately trying to think of a plan. His care for Usa had not wavered, however, as his strange spherical rabbit was munching on some plants nearby. It seemed that even when he didn’t mean to take excellent care of his pet, he did. Good thing, too, because Usa had a tendency to act bratty when he wanted food…

So. He’d left the Empty Hand. Now what? Naturally, he hadn’t told Bo or anyone there his real reasons for leaving: he felt uneasy. His uneasiness was unexplainable at best, a terminal illness coming to get him at worst. Tai knew for a fact it wasn’t normal to suddenly feel uneasy about everything he’d grown up with, everything he was used to knowing. But he couldn’t help it. There was some messed up disconnect in this world, and he just knew it had something to do with the Avatar’s death twenty years ago.

Not that he particularly cared about the Avatar.

Tai slipped his phone out of his pocket and stared at the screen. Maybe he’d been dreaming that strange message. But that didn’t make sense either—since when did he daydream things that weren’t remotely in his subconscious? And yet, he found himself drawn to this message. Normally, he wouldn't care, but something about the mystery, about the strangeness of all this, was pulling him in. He sighed and shoved the phone back into his pocket. He was wasting too much brainpower on this when he should be thinking about where the hell he and Usa were going to sleep tonight.

Something flew past Tai's head. He blinked, but, of course, he was partially blind in one eye, so that didn't really help him get his bearings. He glared down at Usa, whose back legs were grass-stained, as if he'd rubbed his snow white feet against the grass too hard. Typical. Usa really loved to interrupt his perfectly good thought processes.

"All right, Usa, you win. Let's go find someplace to spend the night. Probably under the Zuko statue again. Wouldn't that make Mom proud..." He snorted to himself and scooped Usa into his arms, though this action was pointless, considering Usa just clambered up his shoulder and into his hood anyway. What a brat. Taichi pushed his goggles onto his head and set off in the direction of the main part of the city, hoping he was going to be able to find somewhere at relatively comfortable.
​

Coding by AnimeGenork ​

 

[GrieveWriter]

Keiki Kushala​

It only took three chugs to drive away that nagging sensation... she was getting better. Keiki wouldn't need the rest of the liquor, if she overdid it then she'd probably screw up her next session. She wasn't like the boss, didn't need to kill her brain just needed it to mellow out a bit. However, to the bystanders who watched her bob and weave her way out of the back alley shop's door, she probably looked just as chill and amused as usual. If they knew the great DJ Queen herself was actually feeling worried about something, her street cred would probably get knocked a few pegs.

Luckily for her, the nearest group of loiterers looked caught up in a heated conversation. So naturally, she just had to tag in as she practically danced her way by.

"Yo yo! My boys lookin' all kinds o' upset," she pointed at them with both hands as she spun to a stop "I know ya'll ain't arguing 'them PB stats again like a bunch 'o fangirls!"

"Come off it, girl." one of them shrugged before casting a smirk to his friend whilst raising an arm which had a screen mounted on it "This ain't even an argument, just cuz' the Storm's outta the game don't make yo picks any less trash."

"Just you wait," the friend folded his arms before snickering "Just give it a couple games and-"

"Fangirls! Fangirls!" Keiki called out in an exaggerated manner "Yo somebody wanna help these two argue about somethin' more kick-ass?"

"Talk all you want, Spins, you just mad yo ragged self ain't ever getting boosted by them big comps. Hey, ain't the Deli open soon? How you planning on not getting ya self fired?"

"Psh, don't hate my system, boy." Keiki lowered her glasses enough to wink at them before resuming her dance-walk to the street.

A good number of random citizens shot her smirks or waves or the occasional Yo which she was more than willing to reciprocate, but once Keiki spotted a specific truck passing by her movement altered as she swayed behind it right after it passed. Slyly taking hold of one of the truck's rear rungs, Keiki panted herself on the back as the city passed by even faster.

Even from her new position she still managed to cast some Greetings to a number of folk on the side streets as the truck passed by. She took several more swigs as she got comfortable, but as the truck went over a bump or something, she could already feel the beats shifting, twirling, begging for some fine tunes to go along with their unending pounds. What kind of DJ would she be if she didn't seek to accommodate?

So lowering the bottle a bit, Keiki leaned up before letting several beats flow from betwixt her lips in conjunction with the vehicle's every move.

"Hanging on the back and enjoying a drink,
spewing dulcet tones just to help me not think,
about the times and the rhymes and the cash that I sink
into keeping far away from highlighting the brink."

She paused before giving a small putter, seems ever her tunes weren't safe from that little nagging feeling. Whatever, she wasn't exactly known for her singing, so she could still pound a club without any kinds of distractions.

"What that-?" a voice came from up front "Damn it, Keiki! I told you, you aren't supposed to be hopping on the back of my truck! My boss already gave me an earful about those smudges."

"My shoes all clean though." she called back before glancing to the side "Besides, if Mar Qi over here can do it, why can't I?"

"What!?" the truck driver exclaimed before quickly adjusting the rear mounted camera to find that, indeed, someone else was also holding on to the rear of the vehicle "Did anybody listen to me last time this happened?!?"

"I understand your worries," Mar Qi finally spoke up whilst stroking his greying beard with his free hand "but I am not gifted with many means of travel, and woefully request your gracious generosity once more."

As the Driver's attention was divided between the unwanted passenger and the steering of the vehicle, he missed when Keiki had gotten off. They'd already driven by a seemingly normal part of the city underbelly that only those who frequent regularly would be able to spot amongst the rest of the buildings. People like Keiki, who sauntered towards the front door as a number of those waiting outside began to give enthusiastic cheers at the sight of her.

Inside, she affixed headphones against both of her ears as she weaved through the small yet growing crowd. Almost the instant she activated the little device, a voice sighed in her ears.

"You're late again Kush." her Boss's voice grumbled

"Listen Kwanz, I show up when the party's starting." she said with a snicker as she passed even more expectant clubbers "That's when the real vibes need a kick into second gear."

"Bullcrap," Kwan wasted no time in calling her out "you'd spend hours before we'd open fauning over those damned turntables. Don't think you can just start bringing excuses here... you're slipping."

"Say whatever you want, Boss." she chittered before crouching and leaping from the dance floor to her raised booth "But might want to keep those suspicions on the down low, wouldn't want the crowd catching too many negative vibes when the need to grind overwhelms the mind."

With that she laid her hands upon her set up, and the entire club truly began to bounce.

Like an infection of rhythm, swaying partiers began swinging and bobbing and dancing as the pre-recorded tunes of the prior few minutes were drowned out by the touch of their one and only Dispin Dearie. Keiki herself wasn't immune to her tunes, as she swayed and bounced vividly within her booth. Her partner, the turntables, always kept her from literally throwing herself into the crowd and molding to the spreading beats in whirlwind of movement, instead reeling back to their needy controls to spin some more.

But as she brought the entire building to life, the voice on the other end of her headphones didn't seem placated.

"They won't need me to point out that something's wrong, we both know this is too out of character for anyone to overlook."

"Maybe I just need a different brand of the good stuff, next time." she cooed whilst raising a hand and pumping it in the air to the sound of her beats.

"Maybe you should actually look into this Avatar problem."

"Come on Boss, I told you I was just messin' around."

"No, I know how you are when you mess around, and you don't just bring up old legends like that without cause." Kwan sighed in her ear "There's a message I found that I recommend you look into. Figure your stuff out, then come back when I don't have to worry whether you'll show up on time or not."

"Aw come on," Keiki giggled before leaning down to pet her turntables "who's gonna take care of my baby if I'm not here? I'm your best girl, dude, what exactly do you plan on doing without me?"

"I believe in long term investments, consider getting you back to your A-game one of them." Keiki could here the sound of Kwan Yeshe taking a swig of something "So until this little Avatar business of yours is settled, I'll be putting you on something of an enforced vacation."

"Kicking me out because I brought up something random." she shook her head with a laugh "Boss, I always knew your stickler attitude would be the death of me one day, but I didn't think you'd do me like this. And removing the bliss of my techno kiss from the ears of all your customers expecting some o' this! Damn, even when getting fired I still got it!"

"Let's not talk fired until after you've actually tried figuring this out." her boss sighed "Enjoy the next few days, Kush. Once they're over I expect you to follow this lead until you can actually come back and perform at one-hundred percent again."

 

[Braddington]

Jin Guoshu

Location: Neo-Republic City Business Quarter
Date: 239 a.g.
Time: 6:30 am
Interaction: N/A

Executives in suits with no compassion, understanding or decency. That's all Probending was these days, at least at the top level. Any passion, sportsmanship or associated "ideals" were long gone from the big leagues. As Jin had experienced once more, leaving a skyscraper office building after being berated by cheap suits with overpowering cologne for his decision to quit the sport entirely. In his mind, their attitude had justified his decision entirely. They didn't care about him, they just cared about his name, his face, his ability to sell, inspire, intimidate. All of it and more. He was just another asset, and they were not used to assets talking back to them. Oh no. That was dangerous. And it was dumb. But what did he have to lose? He had the money, he didn't need it. Sure he would make enemies, but when would that matter? In comparison, he had everything to gain. Humanity, for one. A thing he had been lacking for a long while. He needed to do it, even with all the shouts and the protests and threats to sue. He just had to. Freedom would be a nice change of pace. The final straw had been broken with the arrest of his father and the intense media scrutiny. A blessing in disguise, one might say.

As he came to the entrance, he looked to his agent, or he supposed, former agent, Feng. The look on her face one of encouragement, rather than the face one makes when effectively being fired. "You did good, Jin. You're better than they are. They may have spouted all their threats, but they don't mean anything, they can't touch you. And if they try, we can very much touch them....metaphorically speaking." She gave that smile he loved, the one that was almost sisterly. The one that made him feel...vindicated. No matter the situation. "I don't want to touch them." He replied, trying to form a smile, not very good at it, "Washing off all that slime would be a hassle." She let out a bit of a giggle, fake but well intended. "Uck, I can imagine. Imagine all the hair gel as well. Disgusting." She let out a relived sigh, a buzz in her phone accompanying it as she pulled it out, her eyes not leaving his face, "Seriously though. Well done. I am proud. You have no idea how much I have been wanting this, every time we went to one of those meetings it was effort not to put a heel in their face. But this. This feels good. Now, I have to shoot, clients and all. I will see you for dinner whenever, now go enjoy yourself! You're rich and free! The world is your oyster!" With that she kissed him on the cheeks and began walking along the street, the phone coming to her ear.

He began his walk, aimless, but also with a sense of purpose. It was the first of many meetings, he hadn't even gotten round to the advertising companies. His face was still plastered around the city, case and point being the image on the side of the bus that drove past at worryingly fast speed. But it was a good first step, and the relief could be felt immediately. Like chains around his neck getting released one by one and the ability to breathe returning once more. Speaking of which, the invitation. A random source of confusion that somehow inspired the last bit of effort needed for him to do this in the first place. He had no idea why he was so obsessed with it, why he was even going to go, but something drew him to it and he couldn't reject it, no matter how obvious it was to do so. He...just had to go. And go he would. But first, the underground and then home. He had earn't himself some relaxation. The world could wait another few hours. It's not like he had any obligations. ​

 

[TYPE]

Seven days Later, Fifteen hours before the meeting at The Jasmine Dragon
Location: Neo-Republic City
Date: 239 a.g.
Time: 04:00 a.m.
Weather: Intense Rain, which seems to have persisted for the last few days

 

[TYPE]

Detective Inspector Lengan
Location: Neo-Republic City, sitting in a cafe across from the still closed Jasmine Dragon
Date: 239 a.g.
Time: 04:00 a.m.

He had been sitting in this diner for almost four hours now, having had to switch to decaf after this first few cups of coffee. Across from his booth, through the large diner windows he could see the still closed Jasmine Dragon. He had arrived in the city about a week prior, and had been staking out the place since, having rented an small shithole of an apartment only a few blocks away. As it is, the coffee helped immensely, as he had slept maybe four or five hours max over the last few nights. The constant hum of power-lines, motors and neons that seemed to pierce to the bone made him feel on edge. He could not sleep. It felt like eyes were on on him 24/7, and the perverse amount of cameras, seemingly everywhere had him moving around with his collar high, and his head down.
The rain helped. It actually helped a great deal. It undermined the smells steam and smoke that seemed to cling to the streets, It hid the faces of passers by, and made people less inclined to stop, and ask questions. It made people even less inclined to dawdle. It also made people grumpy... and so made his own dour nature seem less out of place.
Lengan looked up from his cup, his sight having blurred as he mulled over his current situation. The week had been a shit one. And he imagined it was gonna get worse. Before it was going to get even worse... or maybe better. Was there hope? He was not entirely sure. It felt unwise to hope. At least not yet. A deep sigh escaped him, as he looked over the diner. It was also very retro, with older styles of neon, running in more gradual patterns, moving from green, red, white and blue. All the cutlery and the seats where chromatic and the tables glistened in a glass-like finish. The only waiter on duty this early was wearing a skirt too short or 'puffy' to be entirely appropriate for public service. He was sure her flirting was also against all kinds of code.
Between the two of them the place seemed empty, the only other person given away by his soft snores coming from the kitchen window. His eyes moved away from the kitchen, catching his waitress Essra's eyes, cringing for a moment as she took that to mean he wanted her to come over and refill his cup. As she walked over, his eyes had already gone back to the window. From the corner of his eye he could see her arrive, bending over for no good reason as she filled the cup. "Anything else... Darling?" His toes curled in with her 'twang' which he could not really place. "No. Thank you." His reply was curt. She clucked her tongue, before sauntering away. "Just call..." She returned to her spot at the register, before flipping through he magazine. Lengan, took a deep breath, before picking up the coffee.
God he was Lonely. He peered at her from the corner of his eyes. He was not desperate... though. Not yet. As he sipped his drink, he made himself ready for another 15 hours.

 

[ThatGuyWithSouvlaki]

Pemala
Location: Street near the Jasmine Dragon, Neo Republic City
Time: 4:05am
Date: 239 a.g

Pema was walking among a crowd of people walking the nearby streets towards the Jasmine Dragon. She had spent another long evening at home and her manager was having no more of that. For her own sake and the inability of pay so much overtime, her manager had told her to clear of the day and rest. When she objected, she was even threatened to fire her. An empty threat but Pema didn't want to cause trouble so put on her hoodless coat and walked into the rain. She didnt an umbrella, she simply raised her hand and bend the wind to push aside the rain from falling on her though it did spray the people nearest to her.

She decided to make her way towards the Jasmine Dragon, curious about the place and why it would be the centre of something so important. She had left at around 2:30 in the morning from the Tower and only had to travel 20 minutes on foot. However easily distracted as she was she found herself detouring constantly: interested in the many advertisements dotted around the city, grabbing a meal from a food stall and questioning the owner or a random passersby. Somehow she still neared closer to the cafe but she also drew unwanted attention particularly due to her casual air bending.

She was window shopping when two red lights in a nearby alley caught her eye. It drew her eyes as the red lights seemed to be focus on her. Her mind focused as a feeling of danger came through her. Red light are sometimes indicators of prosthetic eyes. Few people require and have both their eyes augmented, fewer still would be interested in her. There were those who took cybernetics too far to far to the point of obsession and firmin gangs which tended to dislike benders and the unaugmented. She began to walk on not wanting trouble but soon she could sense more eyes on her. She keep within the areas of the largest crowds to hide in but her persuers seemed relentless. At one point she had passed by the cafe opposite the green dragon. It soon became clear she might need to make them stop following her so walked into a deserted hall nearby.

 

[GrieveWriter]

Keiki Kushala​

Hope was a funny concept for Keiki, as expectation never really seemed to apply to her. So perhaps that was why she spent the last few days doing her usual thing and just not considering the possibility that ol' Kwanz would actually make good on his claim. So when she showed up for work yesterday only to find her ID declined, she actually had to take a moment to remind herself why that was. It would seem even though her mind was able to suppress the encroaching worry, reality wasn't.

So she followed through. If all the boss wanted was for her to check out that place then she could show up, find out it was nothing big, and go back to tell him. There's no way he'd be able to keep the beats going fine without her for too long, so after that it would just be the waiting game. And if Kwan knew one thing, it was that Keiki was a master of the waiting game.

And so she showed up, hitching yet another ride on the back of a cargo truck whilst downing some spirits getting ready for some false claims. The message called for a gathering at a place called the Jasmine Dragon. What did they sell? Who cared? Was it possibly a trap by some young gang ready to mug some starry-eyed adventurers? Keiki could only hope.

Her ride was making a turn that would take her farther from thee place, so she hopped with a casual stumble before straightening up and resuming her route with her beat-based bounce. Even though this was farther from her usual turf, Keiki knew how the under dwellers worked. Every potentially sour look she received was met with a fist bump and some casual jabs.

She was actually debating whether she should actually enter the Jasmine Dragon or just hit up some loiterers and get into some trouble. But before she could really decide, she noticed a group of semi-augmented people passing by with a purpose.

Aware that no matter what their intentions were, a group like that heading somewhere in that manner would probably be even more fun than finding some random hoodlums. Smirking, Keiki redirected her course to follow lazily behind them, and it was only after she did that that she realized they were actually following someone: a chick with some pretty indicative tats.

Keiki cooed too herself as she watched their target duck into an alley only for all of them to follow. She wasted no time in positioning herself at the entrance to the alley leaning in, eager to see how things kicked off before jumping in.

ThatGuyWithSouvlaki

 

[Braddington]

Jin Guoshu

Location: Neo-Republic City, near the Jasmine Dragon
Date: 239 a.g.
Time: 4:30 am
Interaction: TYPE
​

He was early, he knew he was, but he couldn't sit wide awake in his apartment for an hour more, waiting for the same thing as his mind refused to sleep. His arm buzzed with advertisements, some new soft drink that had been deemed "unsafe" but still sold by the truckload, a noted car company, even a small local business that had somehow managed to afford it. A puzzle to be sure. Not that he cared as he walked through the cold, dark and somewhat dangerous streets in his hoody, covered up head to toe, all of it hidden just in case someone were to recognize his face. It was not a part of the city he was used to going to anymore, that was for sure, but he could remember it from his youth. The dock wasn't too far away, he used to come to these very streets to make up some game with his long gone friends who no doubt considered him a corporate sellout. Which, he was, even if not exactly by choice. Didn't remove the fact he was a tool, a puppet, someone who lacked basic human dignity. He hoped this was the start of some change, however. Not that he really understood hope all too well, it had been so long since he had any. To be free....was foreign. To have a drive...was unknown. It was scary, but still somehow exhilarating. A determination in his step and a feeling in his chest that pushed him onward.

As the rain dripped down, his clothing became a soggy mess which clinged to his cybernetics underneath, not very helpful in concealing his form but too dark for it to be noticeable regardless. He advanced onto the street with the Jasmine Dragon he knew of, wary of any and all people in the area. He knew the kinds of things that happened to people who got lost on dark streets in this city. He was not going to become one of them if he had anything to say about it. Coming into it's view, he looked around for a place to hole up until the meeting was meant to take place. Anywhere would do, just not the dangerous, cold and wet street. Across from it was a little cafe, not very well lit, but good enough.

The door to the cafe opened with a ringing bell, he was quick to make sure his face was hidden as he shook off some of the excess water onto the ground. Aiding its removal with his waterbending. Before he could seat himself, he looked around, seeing a man who was somewhat of a paradox. Young, yet looking like someone beyond his years. Weary. Something drew him towards the man, but he didn't look long as a waitress came strolling out of the kitchen. A fake smile on her face, speaking with a drained enthusiasm. "Welcome! Eggs, bacon, toast and coffee... Only this cafe can offer all the elements of a balanced breakfast." Jin didn't react to the comment, too preoccupied to be paying attention that well. He simply nodded, acknowledging the other as she curled her finger, beckoning him to follow which he did, being placed in corner seat, away from anyone who might enter.

"Coffee, please. Just coffee." He gently stated to her, trying to hide his accent and looking away. She gave a simple "Uh huh" and walked away. He tapped his fingers on the table, absentmindedly, nervously, his arm buzzing through it all with a quiet hum. He couldn't fucking wait till those contracts ended. His eyes explored the cafe once more, finding the same man, drawn to him constantly. Still, he tried to keep focus, lapping up his coffee quickly when it arrived. Now he waited.