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A - Keeping In Shape

[Keeping in shape and being prepared was never really a habit that Blake had fallen out of, it had been drilled into her mind every day since her training had begun as a child. Training to fight benders, opponents who possessed abilities she couldn't match, the power to pull their weapons from the very world around them. To counter that, she had to make herself into a weapon and a weapon needed to be kept sharp and ready if it was to be any use. Plus it was nice to let her mind wander for a little while and not focus on troubles ranging from paying bills to whatever the spirits were doing to cause trouble now.

So, right now she can be found in one of Republic City's gyms dealing out a pretty heavy beating to one of the punching bags with rapid-fire punches and kicks. Of course, she's more used to training with an actual sparring partner but this would have to do for now....]

B - Paying the Bills With Bonus Yang Xiao Long

[Okay, so waitressing isn't exactly a particularly glamorous career path by any stretch of the imagination, but it could be worse. The pay was alright, the staff was agreeable, the hours were flexible. But there was always something... and in this case, it's the fact that the boss couldn't seem to pick a theme and settle on it and each month brought a brand new surprise. This time when she'd come in, she'd been presented with the most recent result of a late night "inspiration": maid cafe.

... Fantastic. You can be sure she'll be approaching this new setup with all the enthusiasm she's known for, or maybe a few customers will luck out and get the waitress who's actually on board with this nonsense.]

C - Cleaning Up the Streets

[Republic City wasn't the safest place in the world at the best, most stable of times, and the times the people are living in now are far from that. The typical dangers of the Triads and Equalist remnants were joined by angry citizens determined to get the so-called "foreigners" out of town. The police couldn't possibly be everywhere at once and somebody else had to step in where they couldn't be.

That somebody is currently moving through the city in the dead of night. Masked, hooded and sticking to the shadows. Few even knew she was out there and fewer still had seen her in action but one thing is certain tonight. Should trouble rear its head in Republic City's streets, the White Fang wouldn't be far behind.]

D - Choose Your Own Adventure

[Got something else in mind? Fire away. Aside from any of the above, Blake can be found roaming the streets doing everything from carrying groceries, keeping to herself and reading a book, or any of the above. Feel free to drop in on her anywhere you like.]

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[As focused as she is on her training, she doesn't even notice she has an audience. She lets her mind go blank except for the imagined counters and attacks of an invisible opponent and just focuses on weaving out of the path of phantom blows and dishing out as much punishment as she can.

This goes on for a few moments before she digs in and delivers a few sharp, punishing shots to the bag before shifting her stance and hitting it with a straight side kick with an audible impact. Satisfied, she relaxes, reaches over for a water bottle set nearby and only then notices she's being gawked at. Wonderful.

Turning her head slightly, she shoots a sharp glare Jackie's way, usually enough to make most onlookers think twice.]

Can I help you?

[Wait... there's something familiar about this guy.]

[The fact that she's now suddenly talking to him is enough to draw Jackie out of his stunned state as he points directly at her.]

It's you! That girl from the alley!

[From the alley...? What-- oh. Oh! Recognition finally kicks in. This guy is the fake earthbender from that night! And he recognized her?! But... how?]

What?

[There's a brief flash of panic in her expression and her eyes dart around the room, as if expecting ninjas or cops or both to come descending on her at any moment.]

I-I don't know what you're talking about!

No, it's definitely you! You have the exact same movements!

[He does a rather sloppy, but passable version of the move she'd been using on the punching bag.]

I'm so glad you're here! You ran away before I could ask your name or say thank you.

[Her moves? He recognized her moves? In the middle of a fight like that, he'd memorized enough of her techniques to recall them weeks later like this? Well... the Idiot or Genius meter ticks one step closer to 'genius' in her mind.

Only one though, because the whole concept of somebody wearing a mask seems slightly lost on him.]

I don't think you understand. You've clearly mistaken me for somebody else.

[Now to see if he can take a hint.]

[Jackie looks a touch confused for a moment before a light comes on and he grins. Too bad it's the wrong light.]

Ooooh, I understand now! It's alright, you don't have to be so modest. You should feel proud of helping people when they need it the most!

[Completely unaware of any of her other activities, Jackie only knows that she helped to protect him. Certainly not an offense worth being ashamed of or hiding.]

[He didn't take the hint. Blake sighs and manages to resist the urge to facepalm.]

No, it's not--

[Ugh. She can't talk about her vigilante activities in the middle of a crowded gym.]

If we have to discuss this, can we at least do it somewhere else?

Um, I suppose so. If you like.

[That's odd. Why would she want to discuss something like this someplace else? Was she embarrassed to be speaking to him in a setting like this? Admittedly, the gym wasn't the best place for conversation.

So she wanted to go someplace where they could talk more easily. Wait a moment. Could it be? Was she wanting....

a date?!]

[If only Blake could somehow know what was going through Jackie's head.

Unfortunately, she doesn't, so she just sighs and says.]

I need to get changed. If you're not going to change your mind, meet me outside.

[Fortunately, no one else is subjected to Jackie's thoughts but him. He gives a quick nod to her statement, definitely not intending to change his mind now.]

R-right. I'll meet you outside.

[Nonetheless, she is holding out hope that he does just that as she goes to change into her street clothes again. Briefly, she considers ducking out another exit but... no, that wouldn't be smart. Who knows how many people somebody like that might blab too. Even if there's no proof, she doesn't need that kind of trouble. She'll need to at least make sure he knows to keep quiet.

After a little while, she steps outside again, sighing faintly when Jackie is indeed still waiting there before walking ahead.]

Follow me.

R-right!

[If nothing else, Jackie seemed pretty easy to boss around. He only seemed to assume the best of intentions with her so the thought of possible coercion never even crossed his mind.

Instead, he was trying to remember what sort of rules were involved in courtships and whether they were different in the city or not.]

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