Night On The Town (EVENT: Open to all)

[Zuka]

October 20th

The Blue Dragon had undergone a slight makeover for the nights festivities; the blue clad tables were decorated with professionally made center pieces of exotic flowers from the earth and fire nations, the usual dim lighting have been turned up slightly to a more comfortable level to allow for better seeing while playing. The walls of the club were draped in purple in a artistic and pleasing manner and back lighted with faint golden light to show support for the cause they were raising money for. The stage area of the club was decorated in purple as well and the smaller tables had been placed in storage for the night to make room for the casino tables.

In the center of the casino floor was a very large and heavily guarded glass bowl that was to hold the money raised tonight. The waiters each had trays filled with specialty drinks and Hors d'oeuvre made for tonight and the live entertainment was a famous singer from Ba Sing Sei that had headlined many famous venues. Over all Zuka was happy with the final product, the party planning company she had hired and gone above and beyond to make the night a memorable one. The casino part had been a nice touch on her part, a little nod to her side business. Maybe it was cocky but it was amusing.


Zuka liked to throw parties like this every now and then, it allowed her to solidify her ‘friendships’ with the elite of this town all the while helping to secure her philanthropist image she tried to put off to the rest of the city. Most people thought she was generous with her money, giving to the Probending Arena, helping the shops in her district, throwing fundraisers like the event tonight. It fooled some people but most knew what she really did and why she did it. Zuka did want to help the city but it was second to her real reason for doing such things and mostly just a side benefit. Holding events and giving money helped when it came to favors.


Republic City; despite all of her advancements was still hurting from the attacks by the Equalist, the Dark Avatar and the spirit vines, many people were still without homes and the government could only do so much . Zuka knew she wasn’t the only one that did this, some of the other Triad bosses threw their hat into the ring with it came matters like these for the same reasons she did: to gain favors, to protect themselves and to buy off officials. It was nothing new, have you seen The Earth Kingdom? No one got far there unless they paid homage to the Queen, at least that had been the case when she was still alive.


The party was just starting to get into full swing; most of the people here were here by invitation. Probending athletes, mover stars and various politicians and people of authority had received invites (Zuka had even sent one to President Raiko but he ‘respectfully declined’) the rest of the guest had purchased tickets for the event and it had sold out.


The hostess of tonight’s event was busy mingling, Zuka was in a group of some probenders, laughing and drinking with them as they told stories of some of their more funnier moments in the ring. It was a enjoyable and entertaining time and she was content to stick with it for now. She had given instructions on the people at the door alerting her if and when a few select people entered the room but for now she was going to remain with her new friends.










Zuka’s dress and hairstyle but blue and with a more toned down and silver pattern in the bodice

[Kenji]

The invitation had been waiting for him at his offices one day.Not outside his door, but inside. As he felt the thick paper and the upraised lettering the only thing that crossed his mind was that he needed to get new locks. Then time passed and the invitation gathered dust on his desk, until finally the day that was marked on the invitation came, and he finally ran out of time to procrastinate. He was indeed half tempted to toss the damn thing. However despite that fact, he in the end grumbled a little bit and locked up early. If he was going to this thing then he would need to get into character.

So he ended up beating feet to what seemed to be an abandoned and unused building in a street filled with run down property. He entered in through the door and went up the ramshackle stairs, until he came to a door, that looked equally beat up. However the trained eye might notice that despite the dirty appearance of the lock underneath it had the shine of high quality lock and to door although worn was sturdy. Looking around for a minute or two he then pulled out a coin and pressed it toward the lock and waited as he bent it to configure to the shape of the lock. Once it had been done he turned the lock and entered into a surprisingly well furnished apartment.

This was one of the few safe houses he had kept under his purchased aliases, and one of the few that survived when he had liquidated most of his capital to go underground when the Equalists had occupied Republic City. He strolled inside and locked the door behind him tossing his fedora on a nearby hook. Taking it in for a minute he then went to nearby radio and clicked it on switching around the dials until a jazzy tune filled the room and then he got to work.

After washing up, he then went to the closet and pulled out one of the few suits that were in it. This one was white, with a black dress shirt underneath, it was elegantly tailored, and expensive. A memento from his days of robbing the rich and powerful. He slid it on and slowly began falling back into place. To him putting on the roll of the high class persona he had cultivated was a lot like putting on the suit, it felt off for a minute or two but eventually he relaxed into it. By the time he cinched the white silk tie he was back in the swing. His posture had changed and straightened and he moved with the confidence that only came from those that had grown up under the shady tree that was money and power. He paused a minute to grab a little walking around money and then exited the apartment changed. Now he just had one last souvenir from the old days to pick up.

With that he went down to the first floor heading to what seemed like an empty wall, when held up his hands a moved them sideways, as the wall moved away revealing a hidden room and something under a tarp. With a flourish he removed the tarp and underneath was a slick black Saitomobile. Another one of the souvenirs of less than legal lifestyle that he refused to part with, but she had not been outside in sometime, as he had heat to avoid. However the heat was off him, and tonight seemed enough of an occasion. He climbed in and reached for the keys hidden under the dash as he then moved his hands in a circular motion as the wall behind him resealed and the wall in front of the car opened to the street as he slid the keys into the car and with a roar the engine sang to life.

He had missed that,with a moment or two to reminisce he put the petal to the metal and took off down the street. He took the scenic route enjoying the feel of the wheel until finally he pulled up to the front of the club, tossing the keys at the valet, with casual ease and making his way up to the club occasionally pausing to give a smile at the camera men that stood outside to snap a picture of the various well to do that had turned up. he could already see the papers tomorrow: Who’s Who Of Republic City Attend Spirit Vine Fundraiser. Then again he  supposed it was better than Rich People Amuse Themselves, even it was the more true headline.He then strode up to the door and with a slight haughty look he extended out his invitation as the doorman held it open for him,as he didn’t even break stride.

His eyes scanned around at the crowds that had gathered inside and the casino tables that had been placed in the center as small smirk tugged at his face for a moment before he took breath and then waded his way into the crowd.

Time to circulate for a bit...

[Zuka]

”You should have seen his face!” the firebender of the Ember Island Eel Hounds laughed.

”Yeah, you could see the exact moment when he realized that he had made a mistake” The earthbender said through a roar of laughter ”he thought he could take all three of us on his own. Such a rookie mistake.”

Zuka laughed with the three men, as they told their story of when the new captain of the Fire Ferrets tried to take on all three of the Eel Hounds alone. Bolin was his name if she recalled one of the Avatars friends. Coming off the high of being in the championship the season prior had put a little too much confidence in the young earthbender and his new team during that new season was lackluster so the Capitan was routinely left standing alone in the ring against three opponents.

’Almost made you feel sorry for the kid.” the waterbender spoke up after taking a drink from his glass.

”Yeah, almost” the earthbender said again while nudging his teammate that was standing next to him in their circle.

The Eel Hounds were Zuka’s personal favorite pro-bending team…they were from home so it was a little bias on her part but she always found herself rooting for them when the match was legitimate. The Hounds also understood how things worked and were willing to take a dive or fake a injury or two for the right price and if it helped get them into the semi finals then it was a win win in their book.

Zuka laughed along with the three athletes and was busy listening to their next story when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She glanced at who it was to see one of her valets leaning in to whisper something to her.

”You’re guest are here ma’am “

Zuka nodded and dismissed the man back to the front of the club before returning her attention back to the group she was standing with. She supposed she should go find them, or, at least her sister. Honestly Zuka was surprised that Zula had decided to show after how their reunion had taken a predictable turn for the worst. She knew she should go find her but..what was the rush?

The other person of interest tonight was sure to find his way to her eventually considering how she had delivered his invitation. He really needed to update his locking system.

Remaining where she was for a few minutes longer to hear the end of the new story they had started Zuka excused herself from the group once they had finished. ”Excuse me gentleman but I have to go check on something.” She said her goodbyes to them admist their protest and broke away finally to look around the club. The dragon was rather crowded, people were grouped all over the place: at the tables, at the bar, the dance floor and the booths. It was hard to find someone in here on a normal night but on something like tonight it would prove to be a bit of a challenge.

Well, since she was not in the biggest hurry to have another family fight with her sister Zuka grabbed a drink from a passing waiters tray and slowly started her way through the crowd. She would find Zula sooner or later.

[Deleted]

Another quiet morning in the Sen manor as Haruto awoke to a dark room, He stood up and opened the windows and curtains while the sun shot into the room violently causing his eyes to narrow instantly of their own will. He dawned a simple black gown as he began walking around upstairs "Breakfast is Ready! Young mr Sen" the house aide shouted out aware that Haruto had woken up due to the loud walking upstairs. I'll be right down Aunt. And please don't call me mr Sen you know I don't like that. she gigled alone at his response as he peaked into his mother's room and as usual no one was there, with an annoyed sigh he walked down the stairs as always his mother woke up far before him and left without a word.

Once he had reached the large table breakfast had already been set up along with a stack of letters his mother didn't read or even touch by the looks of it. He took it upon himself to have a look at them while eating to pass on any important message to his mother if there was such in this stack. Halfway through the stack he found an invitation to a party, a party he knew he was far too young to go to but he wanted to know exactly why adults loved this sort of thing as much as they did, not to mention the odd fact that he was sixteen and hadn't been to a single party. He spent the day as usual but when the time for the party was near he went home to change quickly If anyone asks, I'll be out for quite some time One of mother's drivers agreed to drive me around so I'll be safe he spoke with his usual calm tone as he left the house not waiting for the helper to reply. Once in the car he began planning everything out and before he knew it, he was parked right outside. He was wearing a dark crimson suit and a black shirt beneath It but folded up the sleeves all the way to his elbows, what sent him on high alert were the camera men standing outside and the security. If he was recognized they would instantly know he was too young to be there so he walked over to a group that was already walking in and payed one of the males to walk in along with him, that way he could blend in and pretend to conversate so that the camera men couldn't get a clear shot before giving the guard his invitation quickly and walked in with haste to avoid drawing attention.

Once inside he looked around at the internal design of the club, he hadn't been inside one before and stood still for a second or two. Obviously the youngest person in the club he had to act mature, young nobility found sneaking into a club wasn't good and would spread extremely fast so he grabbed a glass of something he didn't quite recognise and sat down watching the adults do what they usually did, he still didn't quite get why they liked doing this but he kept his head low and kept drinking whatever he had in his hand while a sublte tingle feeling began to surge through him. He didn't pay much attention to it though and began planning out what he would do here, the gambling machines seemed a bit interesting but first he looked around that area to make sure no one would recognise him there and that no other city council member would see him, once he had reached the bottom of his glass he stood up as the tingle was amplified slightly and he began walking towards the machines .