[@vancexentan]

[color=gray]Maika watched the man from the shadows. She had been watching him the whole day. She never lost sight of him owing to that distinct haircut. He was almost like one of those air nomads. But she had never seen him bend. Reluctant, or unable?

Her entire mission ought to hinge on whether he was a bender or not. But Maika realized she didn't care. The Equalist high command was still adamant about not allowing benders among the ranks. But there was a growing voice of dissent. How can we claim to be Equalists if we can't have benders, some were beginning to ask. And Maika was one of them. Yes, she hated the bending community for the imbalance of power and influence in society. But she also recognized the hundreds of benders who genuinely repented the imbalance.

And this possible air-nomad seemed to be one such compassionate repentant soul.

Maika's mission was to recruit potential Equalists. Naturally, a mission that required a lot of finesse. Equalists have long since been branded as terrorists in Republic City, and even a tiniest whisper in the wrong ears can bring the entire police force down on you. But times were desperate. Equalist numbers were dwindling, many seeing it as a lost cause. High Command wanted young blood. Fresh perspectives.

Maika still believed in the Equalists. Their motivation was noble. Their intentions, nothing short of equality. The movement itself may have been formed by an impostor for his own selfish ends, but it had gained popularity because there was a genuine need for equality. And there continued to be.

Maika was a young woman of 25, with bronzed skin and black hair. She was an expert chi-warrior and hand-to-hand combat specialist. And years of rigorous training had given her a striking body that turned heads. She was ideally suited for recruiting young men because of that very reason. But she somehow felt that her feminine charms may not work on this well-meaning social worker.

She wrapped a cloak tighter around her and left her hiding place. She preferred the direct approach anyway. She approached the man as he stood by the noodles stall. The bright neon lights threw his face in relief. He seemed a determined sort. She stood next to him and faced the noodle stall owner as if she was about to buy something. But she inclined her head towards him and met his eyes.

"It's not often I get to see someone look out for the poor folk in this city. You must be new," she said to him.[/color]