The crew of the merchant ship Ryo Rae had been stranded on the port of Li Simei for two days now, trading and swindling anybody they could. They weren't in the Fire Nation for nothing, they had to make as much money as possible as they were still there. The captain of the crew, Siv, a Southern Water tribesman was always trying to turn a profit in his escapades.

"Tai!" The captain shouted from the deck of the boat, "I need yah to head to town for a few supplies, we're headin' out tomorrow so we need to get ready!" The dark skinned, blue-eyed waterman patted the back of each of his passing crew members, gifting them with a charming smile, hoping to warm up their hearts. "Doin' good? Good."

Tai was the captain's apprentice, his mother was a long time friend to the merchant. With Siv knowing Tai since as long as he could remember. He was grateful that the man allowed him to journey and adventure with him on his boat, Tai owed him a lot of gratitude and love for that. He respected the water tribesman, not just because he believed he was a good man, but because he was also one hell of a fighter and bender.

"Fine! Write down what you need." A voice barely recognizable chimed in from the lower galley. In a matter of mere seconds, a tall, muscular, brunette youth appeared from the galley with two barrels underneath his arms. "What's Paek doing, doesn't he have time to do this? I was counting the supplies that we already have."

"Takin' inventory is great, but I need you to do this for me. It's important." The captain said with his signature smile. "Please?" He batted his icy-blue eyes at his young apprentice, knowing full well that his charm never phased the boy.

"What do you need?" Tai sighed, dropping the barrels and relaxing his shoulders.

------

"The directions he gave make no sense at all." The lost traveler sighed. Even though they were there for a few days, Tai hadn't really left the harbor unless it was to the pub or restaurant for a bite to eat. He took note that there were a few inns and hotels around, but the specific inn he was looking for was nowhere in sight. "The Phoenix," he muttered, looking up at all the building signs he passed.

The laid out brick road that the port town used had now ended, with a new road made of just dirt, rocks, and gravel. The buildings changed from stone and cement to cheap, weary wood, something that made Tai feel uneasy. "Well it looks like I'm in the right direction now." Siv always got Tai into some less than fun situations, but it was because the captain knew the young man could handle and carry himself well.

Tai silently made his way through the [i]nice[/i] streets of Li Simei, still reading the signs he passed from time to time. It wasn't until he noticed a gigantic sign that read what he was looking for, The Phoenix. Opening the two wide, wooden doors to the building he was greeted with mobs of stares and snickers. The atmosphere from the silent and jaded slums were now exchanged for prejudice and anger, along with a hint of alcohol and urine. "Great," Tai's mind shouted, him biting his lips. "Thanks again, Siv." The Phoenix wasn't an inn or a hotel, it was a bar, filled with angry drunks and scantily clad women who wanted only one thing, money.

He made his way to the bar and popped a seat between two bald men who were each trying their best to land a barmaid. "Hi," the young merchant said, tapping on the bar. What he was there to request for Siv made absolutely no sense. He was there to pick up some flowers, specifically Flare Moria flowers. The only thing he knew about Flare Moria flowers were that they were his mother's favorite and they only grew in the Fire Nation. "I'm here to pick up some Flare Moria's," the young man shouted, hoping his voice would over-power the commotion of the pub.

The bartender gave him a confused look and nodded his head, knowing nothing of what Tai was requesting. "Sonny, this is a bar. It ain't no florist!" The bartender laughed fully and returned the boy with a wink, turning him away.

"Are you sure you don't know what I'm talking about?" Tai sighed, "Flare Moria flowers."

The man nodded again, returning to his patrons that were actually buying and drinking his alcohol. "Sorry I can't help yah, sonny."

Tai turned around and scanned the room, why the hell did Siv send him to a bar asking for his mother's favorite flowers.