[center][h1][b][u]Ken Shimazu, Zhang Taiwu[/u][/b][/h1]
[i]The Lucky Noodle, Little Asia[/i][/center]

[indent][color=yellow]“A fair question,”[/color] Shimazu couldn’t hide that he was taken off balance by the young man’s question. By now, the Lucky Noodle’s reputation had grown enough that the question was seldom asked even out on the streets. True to form, however, he reaffirmed his footing. [color=yellow]“My staff and I certainly do our best. In the end, you’ll have to defer to your own judgement.”[/color] Shimazu began to turn away from the young man when his name was spoken. His one-eighty became a three-sixty that pulled him face-to-face with none other than Xiao Feng, and another familiar face. 

[color=yellow]“Xiao Feng,”[/color] Shimazu offered a respectful bow of his head, but extended no air of pleasantry. His jovial disposition melted into a formal expression. He assumed a stance as if anticipating a confrontation, his hands held readily at his side. [color=yellow]“Taiwu,”[/color] he made no gesture to the man at Xiao Feng’s side, besides a staccato nod of acknowledgement; his gaze upon Taiwu was, if anything, colder than that which he set upon Xiao Feng. 

[color=6ecff6]“It’s been a while, Shimazu.”[/color] Taiwu snarled, returning the cold disposition twofold, punctuating it with the faintest of flames that seemed to come from his jaw line. 

[color=yellow]“And upon what occasion do you and your boss [i]honor[/i] my establishment with your presence?”[/color]

[color=6ecff6]“We stand on matters of business. No more. No less.”[/color]

[color=yellow]“Then by all means,”[/color] Shimazu gestured for Xiao Feng to join him at an empty table nearest the kitchen. He stood himself on the side of the table facing the entrance. [color=yellow]“No need to make a show of it. Have a seat.”[/color] Shimazu, ever the gracious host, remained standing, ushering for Xiao Feng to be seated first. He gave a quick look around the shop, noticing the tension among the customers. He caught Hoshi’s eye as she passed by; with a gesture of his hand, he eased her concerns. With a knowing nod around the dining room, he urged her to assure the patrons that there was no need for worry; she returned his nod, and carried on business as normal. 

[color=yellow]“Can I interest you in anything?”[/color] He directed his attention back to Xiao Feng. [color=yellow]“My kitchen can make us a pot of tea to discuss matters over.”[/color]

Meanwhile, Taiwu gave a cursory glance around the restaurant. He locked eyes with a small huddle of Blue Dragons sitting near the entrance. [color=6ecff6]“I’ll watch the door,”[/color] he assured Xiao Feng. He leaned against the counter separating the dining room from the kitchen, and continued to survey the room. The young man Shimazu had been speaking with, and a woman enjoying a dish of Dan Dan Noodles, had a particular draw on his focus. He passed stares between the two as if to say [i]“give me a reason.”[/i][/indent]

[hr]

[center][h2][b]Theresa Torres[/b][/h2]
[i]Bank, Financial District[/i][/center]

[indent]“Pfff! A smartass, huh?” Theresa scoffed at the snide retort from the whatever it was. “Don’t care much for smartasses.” She took her stance, poised to respond to whatever the machine did. But her focus was thrown off when a trio of her cohorts ran in from the hallway. “The f*ck? I TOLD YOU TO--” 

She didn’t finish her sentence, as the sound of metal feet bounding towards her brought her back to the problem at hand. Theresa braced for a strike from the metal hand, but instead felt the grasp of its fingers. She pressed her strength against the machine’s force, but it was too late to keep herself from being lobbed towards the wall behind her. She broke the impact as best she could, splaying her arms behind her. In the process she knocked over the 70s that had come in. “The f*ck is with all the throwing lately?” she spat out.

Stepping out from the shallow imprint was left within the wall, Theresa brushed the dust from her shoulders. “Grab Mendes and get out of her,” she ordered her ‘brothers.’ They were slow to move, but did as they were told, grabbing the downed member of their crew and dragging him towards the hall and away from the scene. “Your fight is with me now,” she said bluntly. She cracked her knuckles, walking, at first, casually closer to the mecha. With her last few steps, the strength she mustered pushed through her legs, sprinting her forward at speed over the short distance. 

In the final bounding step, she reached for the suit's arm. Her hands made to grip with clamping force. Her intent to return the favor with a spin and a throw into the opposite wall.[/indent]

[hr]

[center][h2][b]Katherine Tran[/b][/h2]
[i]Veridian Technologies, Executive Suite[/i][/center]

[indent]KT wasn’t kept waiting for very long. Five or ten minutes after she arrived on the Executive level, she heard a familiar voice. KT was on her feet instantly. She exchanged the brief embrace with her best friend and followed her through to her office. "If it's not too much to ask," she said to the offer of food; if it was anything like the 'old' days, the Veridian Tech cafe was as good as, if not better than, any restaurant in the city. "Just something light." 

She looked once around the office and nodded and grinned. "You've really made it for yourself here," she said. "How has your mother been?"[/indent]