"Perhaps we can be of some assistance with that."

Mara had to resist the urge to roll her eyes as Dan switched into his "professional" voice.  It sounded stupid to her - mainly because she knew him for [i]him[/i] - but even she had to admit that he could be surprisingly smooth when the situation called for it.  Dan, meanwhile, stepped toward the two benders.  He and Mara had been near enough to overhear the last bit of their exchange, and Dan was always one to swoop in on a presented opportunity.  "Allow me to introduce myself.  I go by Dan, and this is my sister Mara."

[color=green]"Nice to meetcha!"[/color] she greeted them, her smile wide and cheerful.

"I couldn't help but overhear.  Looks like you two are in need of a new Earthbending teammate.  Well, have I got good news for you!"  He motioned to Mara, who proceeded to remove three small pebbles from her pocket.  She held her palm out flat, and the pebbles began spinning around each other rather rapidly.  It was a pretty simple trick, true, but it was one of Mara's favorites.

[color=green]"I just so happen to be one!"[/color]

[center]*****Earlier That Day*****[/center]

"Pro Bending?" he asked, glancing up from his newspaper.  "You're still on about that?"

Mara pouted.  [color=green]"Oh c'mon, Dan!  You know it's always been my dream to be a real Pro Bender!"[/color]  They were currently at their little apartment somewhere in the poorer part of Republic City.  It wasn't much - one bedroom, one bathroom, and a sad excuse for a kitchen - but it was affordable and it met their needs.  Mostly.  [color=green]"And besides, they're holding the preliminaries now!  Anybody can join as long as they're a registered team!"[/color]

"Right," he sighed, shaking his head.  "And the fact that you've been rejected [i]twice[/i] now at different try-outs doesn't-"

[color=green]"Those were rigged and you know it!"[/color] Mara interrupted, stomping her foot down.  Dan had to stop himself from instinctively rolling out of the way; usually, when Mara stomped, a large rock would fly at him.  Fortunately, the girl knew how to keep her temper in check.  ...At least, she did when they were indoors.  [color=green]"Maybe Toph Beifong could have moved that rock with one hand, but no [i]normal[/i] bender could!"[/color]

"Well then, [i]you[/i] should have no problem, weirdo."  This time, he [i]did[/i] have to duck as a small pillow went sailing toward his face, slapping the wall behind him with a light "whump".  Chuckling, he tossed his newspaper aside and stood up.  "Alright, alright.  I know you're set on this.  We'll go this afternoon and see what we can do.  But!"  He held up a hand, forestalling her excited stream of thank you's that was about to pour out.  "This is [i]really[/i] the last time.  I can't afford another try-out; if you don't find a team today, you're not joining one this year.  Understand?"  Dan worked as a mercenary to make ends meet, which wasn't always a well-paying career.  Whenever he [i]did[/i] manage a big pay, he usually spent most of it on his own hospital bills immediately afterward - big pay carried big risk.

Mara nodded, still smiling from ear to ear.  [color=green]"I gotcha!"[/color] she assured him.  [color=green]"Don't worry though, I'll be [i]sure[/i] to find a team this time!  You'll see!"[/color]  Excitement plain on her every feature, she rushed to her dresser to get changed.  Dan smirked and went for his sword (he never left home without it).  It wasn't that he doubted Mara's skills - the two of them sparred with each other often - but chucking rocks and Pro Bending were two very different things.  Mara would definitely stick like glue to whatever team took her in (if any), but the trick would be getting her [i]on[/i] the team to begin with.