âThey look like very good friends, donât they?â
The betting lines were long at the probending arena, perhaps because the Pygmy Pumas had a match tonight. Admittedly, Kiara didnât know a lot about probending, but what she did know suggested that that particular team was the best one in the business at the moment. Her landlord was betting on them, of course, but also on several smaller, lesser-billed matches, in some of which heâd gone for the dark horse team. He seemed to know a lot about the sportâother than betting and renting out his space cheaply to tenants whoâd keep it clean and quiet, he didn't seem to have an occupation anymore. Perhaps it was how he supported himself in his retirement.
Cautiously, she laid some of her own money down on the Pumas as well, though not much. Even if she won, sheâd only make a few more than sheâd spent, but a few more was better than nothing, she supposed, and she had to start somewhere. It wouldnât be nearly enough to support her though, and looking around at all the intent faces and frantic scribbling of those crunching numbers, she didnât think she could ever turn this into a career. She wouldnât really want to, anyway. She was too active, and liked to feel more useful than that. More than anything, she was hoping for an occupation that would let her move around a lot, and hopefully meet people along the way.
For now, it was still a work in progress. Making her way back through the arena, however, she became quite lost, presumably having taken a wrong turn somewhere, and emerged into a large, open courtyard. There were two booths open, one occupied by a lot of people, and the other by only two. Those two seemed to be having a very lively discussion about something, and while she was loath to interrupt, she did need to know where she was and how to get back out of the building. Why was it so big, anyway?
Sighing and resigning herself to looking a bit like the fool, Kiara put a smile on her face and approached the booth in question. She was almost within polite speaking distance when she heard a great crash from behind her. Whirling around, she was confronted by a tide of soapy waterâa janitor had been moving a vat of cleaning supplies for waterbenders to wash out the arena itself in preparation for the Pumasâ match that evening. Of course, all Kiara knew was that there was a lot of water on its way over towards the booths, and it was at the very least going to soak her up to the knees on the way. She wouldnât have minded, exactly, but something told her the people in the booths wouldnât want wet paperwork.
Falling into a familiar stance as if by instinct alone, she leaned forward slightly, rising up onto the balls of her feet from the natural half-crouch of waterbending rest and moved her extended arm in a graceful sweep. The water stopped its forward progress toward the booths, rising up at first like a wave but then freezing to the spot, unmoving and glimmering. The janitor was struggling to right the barrel that had spilled all the water, and she moved to help him. The container was almost as tall as she was, and four times as wide. It was hard to tell how heâd been moving it, until she noted the cart that it was resting on. He looked a bit apprehensive, but she only smiled and bent the water back into its container. Apparently late, the man hastily thanked her and rushed off with his cart before she could get her directions.
Without much more choice, she trekked her way back over to the booths, stopping at the one the two friendsâwell, they seemed like friends, though she supposed there was no way to knowâoccupied. âSorry to bother you,â she said sheepishly, one hand going to the back of her neck to rest there with a bit of embarrassment. âBut I seem to be somewhat lost. Could you tell me how to find the exit, please?â Her eyes flickered back and forth between the girl (pretty, friendly-looking, but with a certain kind of stubborn determination in her eyes that Kiara instinctively liked) and the male (tall, Fire Nation in everything but the eyes, which what looked to be mischief. He was also very handsome, she thought, but that was neither here nor there, perhaps). She presumed at least one of them had to know where it was.
Cautiously, she laid some of her own money down on the Pumas as well, though not much. Even if she won, sheâd only make a few more than sheâd spent, but a few more was better than nothing, she supposed, and she had to start somewhere. It wouldnât be nearly enough to support her though, and looking around at all the intent faces and frantic scribbling of those crunching numbers, she didnât think she could ever turn this into a career. She wouldnât really want to, anyway. She was too active, and liked to feel more useful than that. More than anything, she was hoping for an occupation that would let her move around a lot, and hopefully meet people along the way.
For now, it was still a work in progress. Making her way back through the arena, however, she became quite lost, presumably having taken a wrong turn somewhere, and emerged into a large, open courtyard. There were two booths open, one occupied by a lot of people, and the other by only two. Those two seemed to be having a very lively discussion about something, and while she was loath to interrupt, she did need to know where she was and how to get back out of the building. Why was it so big, anyway?
Sighing and resigning herself to looking a bit like the fool, Kiara put a smile on her face and approached the booth in question. She was almost within polite speaking distance when she heard a great crash from behind her. Whirling around, she was confronted by a tide of soapy waterâa janitor had been moving a vat of cleaning supplies for waterbenders to wash out the arena itself in preparation for the Pumasâ match that evening. Of course, all Kiara knew was that there was a lot of water on its way over towards the booths, and it was at the very least going to soak her up to the knees on the way. She wouldnât have minded, exactly, but something told her the people in the booths wouldnât want wet paperwork.
Falling into a familiar stance as if by instinct alone, she leaned forward slightly, rising up onto the balls of her feet from the natural half-crouch of waterbending rest and moved her extended arm in a graceful sweep. The water stopped its forward progress toward the booths, rising up at first like a wave but then freezing to the spot, unmoving and glimmering. The janitor was struggling to right the barrel that had spilled all the water, and she moved to help him. The container was almost as tall as she was, and four times as wide. It was hard to tell how heâd been moving it, until she noted the cart that it was resting on. He looked a bit apprehensive, but she only smiled and bent the water back into its container. Apparently late, the man hastily thanked her and rushed off with his cart before she could get her directions.
Without much more choice, she trekked her way back over to the booths, stopping at the one the two friendsâwell, they seemed like friends, though she supposed there was no way to knowâoccupied. âSorry to bother you,â she said sheepishly, one hand going to the back of her neck to rest there with a bit of embarrassment. âBut I seem to be somewhat lost. Could you tell me how to find the exit, please?â Her eyes flickered back and forth between the girl (pretty, friendly-looking, but with a certain kind of stubborn determination in her eyes that Kiara instinctively liked) and the male (tall, Fire Nation in everything but the eyes, which what looked to be mischief. He was also very handsome, she thought, but that was neither here nor there, perhaps). She presumed at least one of them had to know where it was.