001. Open!

[windfire_donuts]

A. Streets of Republic City

[While one could potentially live a fairly comfortable life in the abandoned Spirit Wilds dwellings, one still needed a few basic necessities. Namely, food. Fighing for money could only go so far, and occasionally such a life could leave one a bit short of the necessary funds to feed oneself.]

Stop that kid!

[And sometimes those who are hungry and without money resort to dining and ditching. Today's poor victim? That nice noodle place in the Little Water Tribe district. Nezha, the thief in question, bolts down the street and through the alleyways with agility more befitting an airbender than a Fire Nation native. A shame he doesn't seem to pay much attention to where he's going in his haste to flee the scene...]

------

B. Spirit Wilds

[Those who wander through the Spirit Wilds today may happen upon a young firebender up on one of the higher vines, sparring with some unseen opponent. In truth, this is how he spends most days when he's not in town, scrapping for food money or causing trouble for the police. Should you find him here, he'd be perfectly happy to take time out of his 'busy' schedule for a chat.]

------

C. Catchall

[If you have any other ideas, go for it! He's been squatting in an abandoned Spirit Wilds apartment all this time, so if for any reason someone's actually looking for him, that's where you could find him. If he's not there, you might also be able to find him in some of the seedier districts of Republic City, brawling for money.]

Comments

B!

[mercuryadept]

[Mia is habitually in the Spirit Wilds, and she finds this place extremely familiar and soothing. She's been learning so much about the spirits since coming to Republic City, and sometimes she doesn't even want to leave Republic City, though there are other reasons for that as well. Nonetheless, for now the girl is just here on a simple walk through the wilds, listening to the sounds and looking out for the spirits that might be tucked away hiding.

[The priestess carries a staff in one hand with the symbol of an ankh on it that's functioning as a walking stick at the moment. She's dressed for the cold and otherwise minding her own business. Though as she sees so many of the homeless stranded out here in the cold, she can't help but have a sympathetic frown.]

[windfire_donuts]

[Meanwhile, the young man from the Fire Nation continues his sparring match with his imaginary partner, swinging that spear of his like an extension of his own body. During a pause in one of his forms, something blue happens to catch his peripheral from below, and he stops altogether once he gets a better look.

She's too well-dressed to be one of the homeless who live here, and her clothes are too clean--an observation which brings his mind disdainfully to the state of his own attire. So what is she doing here, then? Sightseeing?]

Are you lost? [It was a possibility?]

[mercuryadept]

[Mia is surprised a little bit when someone approaches her, and very quickly she makes as if to shake her head. She holds up an outstretched hand to double the effect.]

No no, not lost. Just... enjoying the Spirit Wilds. It really is an amazing place.

[windfire_donuts]

[Nezha has never put much thought into the place he now called home. Perhaps he'd found it interesting upon first arrival, but now it's just where he falls asleep at the end of each day.]

Suit yourself. [With a shrug in response to her answer, he picks his spear back up to return to his forms. If nothing else, continuously moving helps to fend off the cold. Doubly so when those movements involve firebending.]

[mercuryadept]

[The waterbender feels no real need to push out the cold. This is in fact largely warmer than the climate most of the year in the North Pole, so even though she's merely just walking through the Wilds, she's not nearly as cold as the firebender would be at this moment.

[She is about to pass by the boy before she stops and turns around, somewhat perplexed.]

You come out to the Wilds to practise? I would suppose there were warmer places to do that if you wanted.

[windfire_donuts]

[The boy suddenly swung the spear around his body, the steel head bursting into flame midway through the motion. When it stopped, the metal remained engulfed long enough for Nezha to look back at Mia.]

The police don't like me to train in town. [A simple enough explanation. The force tended to be more lenient in this place, so it was perfect for unorthodox practice.]

[mercuryadept]

[Mia's eyes go wide a little bit at seeing the sword burst into flame. That's certainly a trick she hasn't seen done before personally.]

Yeah, I... think I... can see why they'd prefer that.

[She takes a step back for a moment as she contemplates things. If he'd wanted to threaten her, he's already had ample opportunity. If he were one of the Triad members, he would be training indoors almost certainly.

[So she takes a risk and sticks around a little longer.]

My name's Mia.

[When in doubt, introduce yourself. She hopes she's not bothering too much.]

A!

[lavamylife]

[And who should Nezha run into but one rather large pro-bender who is wandering down the street, incidentally heading for that one little noodlery that Nezha just came scrambling out of. Bolin didn't see the escapade; in fact, he barely saw Nezha coming at him headlong until about a second ago, and that was far too late to get out of the w—]

Oof! Hey hey, slow it d—

[And only then does he really figure out who it was.]

[windfire_donuts]

[Sorry, Bolin, can't slow down. Okay, so colliding facefirst into the chest of an earthbender as solid as his element will do it. He'd just had to looks back as he was rounding the corner, hadn't he?

The young firebender ends up landing on his backside as a result, and it's only after falling that he realizes who he'd bumped into.

Oh. Well, it could have been worse.]

You're not the police. [There might be relief in his voice, but it's hard to tell. He's slightly more leisurely getting back to his feet, brushing his clothes off as he rises.] I need to go this way, please move.

wow, rude

[lavamylife]

[Bolin doesn't quite realise who it was until right after he'd been bumped into. And that's not going to stop him from at least trying to be immediately friendly.]

Nezha? Oh man, it's you! I haven't seen you since... well, since the Fire Ferret tryouts...

[Okay, that's a bad intro, let's try aga—wait, what?]

What's... the rush? Something wrong? [Bolin turns around and starts heading the other way with Nezha.]

I don't think anyone's ever accused him of being polite. In his entire life.

[windfire_donuts]

[He still thinks he should have gotten that spot. Shame about that whole 'restraint' thing he's completely and totally lacking. But right now, he's got other problems, problems he peeks backwards to make sure aren't following him.

Nope, just Bolin.]

Mm. It'd be good to put some distance between that shop and me. [He explains.] I was hungry.

And now we know why Nezha has restraint problems.

[lavamylife]

[Well, there were other reasons too. Though Bolin won't come out and just say that.]

Okay... I mean, did you insult the cook's food or something? Was the food that ba—

[Oh. OH.]

You stole food from the restaurant?!

[Bolin, you should probably be saying that using your quiet voice!]

He's a dumb teenager with no discipline.

[windfire_donuts]

[No worries, Bolin. Yang is a total cutie.

Nodding once, Nezha spun around to face Bolin, continuing to walk backwards in his original direction.]

Fighting is fun, but there's not a lot of money in it.

Don't do drugs. Stay in school.

[lavamylife]

Yeah... yeah, I know the one the hard way.

[Even with the Fire Ferrets, he and his brother never seem to have oodles of money at his disposal.]

But I mean, if you need food, I can help you out, y'know.

B

[raavashing]

[Wan was well aware of the kid who practiced his firebending in the upper vines on a regular basis. Wan was aware of most of the people who lived in the Spirit Wilds - mainly because the spirits liked to share stories about all of them over tea. He hadn't met this kid yet, but with winter settling in he wanted to check on everyone he could to make sure they had enough.

When he found him, he folded his arms and leaned against the base of one of the trees below Nezha. Then he called out:]

Being careful up there?

[windfire_donuts]

[Nezha, being far less spiritual, was not aware or well acquainted with pretty much anyone else who lived in the Wilds; mostly he kept his distance. It was a difficult habit to break after having lived his entire life up until a few months ago as a noble. He might be homeless, but he doesn't feel like he belongs to the same class as the other homeless people in the Wilds.

It's true that the weather had taken a turn for the chilly, and while Nezha has an advantage in being a firebender, this is the first time he's had to deal with this kind of weather before, and he's not at all dressed for it. Sparring helps fend off the cold, at least.

'Being careful up there?'

The words snap him out of the form he's practicing midway through, and he peers over the edge of the vine to get a look at whoever's addressing him.]

I do this all the time. [He assures him, dropping into a cross-legged sit for a short break.]

[raavashing]

I know.

[He grinned his crooked grin before he started climbing up so he could join the kid, continuing to talk as he did so.]

The spirits like watching you and they've told me about how much you practice out here. I wouldn't worry normally, but I figure if you live out here, you're probably in need of some extra food or clothes for the winter.

[Something he confirmed as he got to the same vine Nezha was sitting on.]

And considering the way you're dressed, I'm guessing I'm right.

[windfire_donuts]

[He wasn't really sure how he felt about spirits gossiping about him like that, but at the same time, he kind of liked having a level of notoriety. Everyone knew who he was back home, but no one knew his name nor face in Republic City, and he found he missed it a little.]

I was living in Borough Three until two months ago. [When the money he'd brought from home ran out.] Why does what happens to me matter to you? [Sure, it was cold, and stopping his exercises made the sweat on his skin chill, but Nezha resisted the urge to shiver. This stranger had to have some motive for helping people he didn't even know, right? What did he get out of it?]

[raavashing]

[Wan shrugged and sat down where he was, then leaned himself back against the 'trunk' of the vine-tree.]

The well-being of all people matters to me. That, and you're living in the Spirit Wilds. I've kind of taken up protecting them and everyone that lives within them, animals, spirits, and humans alike. I guess you could say I feel responsible for you.

[windfire_donuts]

[The pink-eyed boy's brows scrunched as he listened.]

There's too many people in the world to worry about all of them. [Nezha barely worries about anyone but himself.] You don't need to look out for me; I'm strong, so I won't die so easily.

[raavashing]

I disagree. About there being too many people in the world. As for the rest, well, you know yourself better than I do, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop looking out for you.

[He gestured at Nezha in a vague sort of way.]

For one, you could use better clothes for the rest of the winter. I'm also betting you need a few extra blankets and just based on how your clothes are hanging off you, more food than you're willing to admit to any strangers. Am I close?

A

[paybent]

[And he happens to bump into a patrolling Earthbender detective. Gumshoe grunts as he steps back and rubs at his head.]

Whoa! Careful where you're going there, pal. [With a good-natured smile, he extends a hand to help him.] I hear there's a thief on the loose!

[windfire_donuts]

[Why all you earthbenders gotta be so big and solid?

Nezha caught himself with his hands before he could hit the ground too hard, pink eyes staring back up at the detective he'd run into. So he didn't know it was him? That was a relief.

Accepting the offered hand, the teenager pulled himself back to his feet.] A thief? I guess you could say that. Do you know what they look like?

[paybent]

[It's the hearty diet.

He carefully shakes his head and scratches at his hair with his free hand.]

To tell you the truth, I didn't get much to go on. Just a general description of the perp. ...Really general! Hey, even you could pass for the guy, pal! So you better be careful.

[windfire_donuts]

[Despite the news, the young teenager didn't seem terribly concerned by the prospect of a thief running around. Heck, he even cracked a friendly smile, though he did cross his arms across his chest.]

I'll be fine. Thank you for telling me. [And with that, Nezha spun on his heel and began in the opposite direction, perhaps walking a bit quicker than anyone innocent would have in the same situation... At least until he broke into a full run.]