Shachi stuck to the crowds, her head lowered and eyes concealed by a brown floppy felt hat. She was just another average person among a crowd of average people, her frayed brown coat with popped collar drawing little attention to herself and most of the people going about their nights around her didn't even seem to spare a glance. That was how busy cities worked, every person hustling and bustling on the crowded streets and dodging sato mobiles were all their own self contained thoughts which saw the other people about them as nothing more than obstacles between them and their destination. But despite this all Shachi felt naked, incredibly vulnerable as she walked the path she'd committed to memory the weeks before. She forced herself to not look around every five minutes or so, fearing that would tip her off to the ten thousand undercover police that watched her every move and would seize her the second she made the meeting. Sure, it wasn't true and she knew it, but she always had the bad habit of psyching herself up needlessly.

Shachi passed the bar, walking on the opposite side of the street and tilting her head to the left to eye the bar, there weren't cops and that was for sure, so she continued to walk down towards the end of the street so she could cross without being nailed by a Sato mobile. She willed herself to fight back the fear as she crossed the street with a crowd of people, her fists clenched under her coat and breathing a bit ragged. Her anxiety seemed to stem from multiple sources, most pressing was the fact there was now a task force formed to hunt down the Equalists, which spoke volumes regarding the Council's stance towards a peaceful resolution. But the fact she was one of the 'rookies' in the group weighed quite heavily on her, she always became quite self conscious in these circles and the walk seemed to fill her with even more dread, but she steeled herself as she placed her hand on the door knob. Just don't screw up Shachi, keep quiet, and do what you're told. She told herself in her mind as she shouldered the door open and stepped inside, sub consciously taking her hat off as she stepped into the building.

She stood awkwardly for a moment, her eyes darting across the patrons of the place, the girl hunched her shoulders and strided over to the bar, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end as she tried to mentally work over what to do next, as she rested her elbows upon the top of the bar and ordered a drink, cringing at her words as they seemed so loud and crude compared to the silence which defined the bar. The young woman clashing a bit with the usual customers that spent their nights here, which got her quite a few looks as she turned around and appraised the sitting area with drink in hand and a brave face. Hopefully a little bit of liquid courage would help her settle the nerves, she might need it.

It wasn't intentional but the cobweb in her hair was a nice touch when she noticed it in the ladies room mirror. Combined with a slightly torn red coat taken off a Red Monsoon and her naturally stiff and wirey hair Tsubaki assumed she looked like a down-on-her-luck musician.
The trumpet case she carried with her helped as well. So did the large drawstring bag slung over her shoulder. It was the look of the kind of person most went to lengths to ignore.

So as to not arouse suspicion Tsubaki went to a few different people offering a song or two in exchange for a drink before making her way to Katsutoshi's table.
With a grin she held up her trumpet case and crinkled her yellow eyes with a smile.
"You like jazz, mister? I'm no Blind Lemur but I'd say one of my songs is worth a drink."
Naturally, she sat down before an answer could be given.
"Of course you like jazz. Everyone does. We're all equal that way."

Tsubaki tried to know at least one thing about her fellow Equalists. It didn't have to be important. She knew some birthdays and previous occupations and other seemingly innocuous personal details of her comrades but the man she joined at his table had slipped through the cracks. All that she was that he was an Equalists and for the moment that was enough.

"So....crazy days, huh?"

[ooc to Kami: please let me know if Katsutoshi knows "too much" about the other Equalists. I assumed that, though he didn't coordinate the meeting, he was given information on those invited, in order to make sure no strangers/police encroached on them.]

It was strange how the babble of the bar could be so quiet and at the same time extremely loud. It was like someone had set a beehive under all the tables: you could hear the buzzing murmurs, but easily be heard yourself. It was a nice feeling, this sense of subtlety and discretion. But the minutes were slow, so Katsutoshi had to mind himself alone for a bit.

He noted a young girl walking in, noticeably nervous and out of place in the bar. She was dressed in a way that wasn't supposed to draw any attention, but in truth sort of made her look like a shady dealer of goods. (Ironic, since Katsutoshi was the one who dealt, and he happened to be dressed as a normal working-class citizen.) No, but her face was familiar - she was one of the several who was invited tonight. She was known as Shachi, and Katsutoshi didn't know much about her other than the fact that she was a rookie.

He let her be for now. No one else had arrived and he didn't want to encroach on the woman's personal space quiet yet. It could wait. Just as he was about to summon the waiter and ask why the sake was taking so long, another woman entered, carrying an instrument case. Another familiar face, right off of the roster. Whoever drew those caricatures deserves a raise, he thought, nodding almost imperceptibly with approval. Tsubaki was her name, and there was a note that she was proficient with fighting. Good. They needed another arms-master to teach recruits.

Tsubaki took the musician persona upon her shoulder and seemed to be chatting up fellow patrons. Not something Katsutoshi would do personally, but whatever fit her agenda and made her feel more at ease was none of the man's business. So he sat calmly and waited. The sake finally arrived, two beautiful lacquered bottles and matching wooden cups, stacked in two columns of five. He nodded with a false smile at the waiter and tipped him 10 yuans on the spot. That would leave him deaf and dumb for the night. And if not, well... there was always Greed that could inspire him further.

Tsubaki eventually meandered to the table and set herself down without an introduction. She was too casual for his taste, but he nodded at her as she spoke. "Everyone does. We're all equal that way." And with that, Katsutoshi himself lifted two of the pretty little cups from their stack and set them upright, and then poured himself and Tsubaki each generous helpings. "Indeed we are," he agreed coolly.

And thus it began.

The musician made small talk, which Katsutoshi disliked but reciprocated. "Yes, especially with that broadcast the other night. Changes are coming." Yet even as he spoke, he lifted his eyes away from his companion and towards the door, where an older woman had just entered. He knew from the instant he saw her - and without even thinking back to his roster - that it was Rohana. He'd seen her training recruits, and he simply knew of her from the whispers of his fellows. Rohana, one of the oldest of their kind, raised to be an Equalist since - as far as Katsutoshi knew - before most of them were born. According to the grapevine, her parents had been part of an underground secret society (also with anti-bender agendas) that dated hundreds of years before the Equalists.

It was an incredibly impressive reputation, and Katsutoshi was pleased to see her. He didn't mind that people didn't recognize him. After all, he'd only been in direct employment of the Equalists for a couple of years, and even then his line of work dealt strictly with secrecy and discretion. Still, it was good to be rewarded with the company of such an esteemed woman. Before she even drew near to the table, the man poured a third cup of sake, watching the last breaths of steam vanish into the air.

"So lovely to see you again," she said elegantly as she sat. Katsutoshi gave a small, genuine smile and stretched his long limbs to set the sake within arm's reach of her. Drawing back, he clasped his own cup, spindly fingers so cold despite the warm air. Rohana (who, he supposed, wished to be known as "Ro" for the night) introduced herself to Tsubaki, and the glimpse he had of her muscles told him that the stories were true.

"I hope you're both doing well this evening. We should be expecting more people to arrive shortly, so please, make yourselves comfortable." With a hospitable, entirely professional nod, he gestured towards their sake. "I apologize if this location was too far out of the way, but this was the only location available at short notice."

He kept his tone polite, but in truth he didn't really care if they walked 10 blocks or 10 miles to get there. A true Equalist would go to any lengths for the cause. He glanced with keen, emerald eyes at the woman at the bar, Shachi, knowing she'd come over soon enough.

Shachi turned at the touch, her mouth half open and the appology already forming in her mind as she caught the glance, it took only a moment for the gears to turn before she turned back to the bar and looked at her drink. "Alright Shachi, it's fine." She whispered quietly to herself before taking a deep breath and downing her drink on the spot. An action which she near immediately regretted as she turned back around, cringing from the sudden kick in the throat the drink drove home. She took another deep breath and choked back a hard cough as she gingerly made her way for the large table with the three others. She felt horribly embarrassed and could do nothing more than hope that they weren't staring as she fixes her posture and tries to get her air back about her.

To be quite honest, she didn't know any of the three at the table. But the way she'd exchanged glances with that older woman just seemed to connect, it really all made sense! Not to mention the odd menagerie seated around the table, that one older woman who just tipped her off, the man who out of the tree looked like the only one who belonged... And a musician? Wasn't that the oddest thing. At least they didn't look the part of Equalists, imposing foot soldiers with steely faces. Well, alright, maybe the older woman fit the part. "Mind if I take a seat?" She asked, her voice sounding abnormally loud to herself once again and causing her to wince. She couldn't seem to focus on anything save for the burning of her cheeks and the tips of her ears. She was scared of them, not because they might be police or some random group of friends enjoying a drink, but because these might be the group she's supposed to meet. And she might have just screwed up royally by sauntering up as if they were some old chums. Only time could tell, and every passing second felt like an excruciating hour.

The fluorescent bulb’s constant buzz was only drowned out by the faucets loud churn. Tired, but still awake, the young Equalist placed her pale, soapy hands beneath the white rushing water and helped the water by evenly scrubbing and rotating her hands. It took only a couple of seconds for her to note that the water flowing into the white sink’s gray and shiny hole was missing the bubbly suds.

A sigh escaped her thin lips as she shook her hands, and then turned the faucet off. Looking up, and into the smudgy bar’s mirror, Bao Yu took great notice of her appearance. He hair was a little disheveled, and her green Cabbage Corp badge was a little of kilter. Pft…who cared, that stupid company was a waste of time, sure it was only part time, but still the amount of work required for it was definitely not required. Not to mention those useless, stupid coworkers she had. Arg! They were all so useless!

Those dark brown eyes of hers soon came into focus. Yup, only anger could wake her up like that. Still, they looked a little baggy, which may play into her favor right now. After all, if what Tsubaki said was the case, then it would work to her favor that she look like a tired worker just out having a few drink after another dull and lifeless day at work. Her eyes narrowed as a smile reeled itself on her face, a small chuckle escaped her lips and she could help but laugh at the fact that that was indeed what was going on.

Still laughing, she unbound her straight black hair, pulled a comb out from her small brown purse and gave her mane a few brush strokes, just enough to keep it from looking like crap. When she was satisfied with her work, she placed her comb back into her purse, zipped it closed, and then tied her hair together in a bun that rested just a little off from the center of the back of her head. She patted it two times; just to make sure that it wouldn’t budge, and then when she was satisfied, she battled the thought of readjusted the rest of her attire. Then, with her mind made up, she picked up her slim, brown purse and walked away from the mirror and out into the crowded, somewhat dingy bar.

Looking a little lost, Bao Yu surveyed her surrounds. Just the usual really. A girl at the bar, a couple of fun loving men, someone on the verge of getting drunk, and…That’s them. Her faced remained the same, but inside, Bao Yu was smiling at the sight of Tsubaki and her very conspicuous attire seated at a round table with people who moved like nonbenders. Obviously, that was the place. As such, the athletic, young Cabbage Corp employee made her way over to table just as the oldest and best dressed of them finished asking a question about somebody.

“I’m terribly sorry,” she began, as she looked at Tsubaki first and then around the table. What made it worse was that she just got in the way of the older woman’s question, and yikes that woman looked like she’d cut a girl. Kind of like her grandpa. “I was attending to some business,” she explained as she sat down on the last available seat, and hoped that someone would pour her some of the drink. She really needed it, along with some plans on how to deal with this new Task Force that was just built. It was about time they made headway and did as their namesake claimed.

Still not wanting to upset the calm, Bao Yu kept her dark, nearly black eyes on the bottle of sake. Oh, how she longed for a sip, just a sip; enough to drown out those troubles of hers that were…well troubling. Then her eye caught sight of motion, and a rough, ceramic and sake-filled cup slid her way. Someone, thank the spirits that there was someone in the group looking out for her. Obviously, it wasn’t Tsubaki that girl would have made a scene out of it. Quickly, the young Equalist reached for the cup, grabbed it and nodded at the woman across from her, in thanks.

While she took a quick sip, she sort of imagined the scene had Tsubaki been the one to offer her up a drink. There would have indeed been a loud chorus of sorts, whether or not it was purposeful didn’t matter. That friend of hers always managed to make some sort of ruckus. Still, she was a good friend, loyal, trustworthy and all of that fun stuff. Bao Yu was lucky to have her.

With that, the conversation seemed to start up yet again. Yes, what indeed was the news of the world? Were the benders going to start rallying them up, no that was too upfront. If they wanted to control them, they’d have to be just a bit more subtle about it. The way the Fire Nation was when it dealt with her people. If the benders in this city made any sort of big move, they’d risk further alienating the nonbenders…If they went far enough, then those benders close to nonbenders would have their convictions swayed as well. Damn, that would actually help not hinder the Equalists, in the long run.

That thought lifted the young Galgori’s dark eyes up and back to the throngs of bar-goers. Indeed, even here, there were benders mixed in with nonbenders. Maybe, the others in the group couldn’t note it, but she could. All of her kind could. Here, they were all happy and merry proof that the two could indeed coexist, but outside…Not even outside. Just look at their table, the fact that they existed was proof that as soon as one was given power it would be exploited to the extreme. If society was indeed equal, as the bending elite claimed, then there wouldn’t be a need for a group of people to fight for their denied rights. If that was the case, then they wouldn’t have to fight for the privilege they lacked because they weren’t born a certain way or to a certain group. The benders always had the privilege to look away and to deny what was happening, but they couldn’t. They were the victims. If they blinded themselves to their reality, then they’d end up even further down the social ladder than they currently were. And yet, so many of their kind were blind to it.

Thankfully, there was a man like Amon. A man to inspire people to realize what was already griping their throats. He, alone, united all of the disenfranchised to rally together, united, behind him. He could take a person’s bending away, and actually equalize the world. With him, as their leader, they would take back this city and finally end their oppression. No, it wouldn’t be all roses and candy afterward. But, it would be better than it currently is. With everyone equal, then only merit would warrant discrimination. Still, that day was still in the making. They had a ways to go.

A sigh followed her fifth sip of sake. As the somewhat burning, alcoholic drink trickled down her throat her eyes caught sight of the older woman who gave her the privilege of even enjoying it. Once again, she reminded her of her grandfather. But now she knew why, it was the way she carried herself. There was confidence in her gaze. She wasn’t a frail old woman; like her grandfather, she had this sort of weathered look about her. Not in a bad way, she just looked like she’d pushed her body further and harder than most people do in their lifetimes.

And then it came. A smile? Why?

Taken aback, Bao Yu pulled her head backwards a little, but then the shock settled a little and she gave the woman a smile back, and nodded. What this was all about, she didn’t know. But once this was all done, then maybe, she’d find out.

"Warm and clear...winter's here'," her father would say before his traditional pre-winter bottle of sake. The warmth and smell of her sake reminded her of lifting a cup with her father when the first snows came a short time ago.
She'd barely seen him since the crackdown on Equalists. She dared not go home. While she played up certain aspects of her character Tsubaki didn't need to pose as a street musician looking for a place to stay and a yuan here and there.

Tsubaki slid the complimentary bowl of assorted lychee nuts and fire flakes toward herself and began eating. Stale and salty, but it was food.
Assorted mediocre snack fodds exited Tsubaki's mouth when she tried to name off everyone at the table. It was a fairly messy roll call that was cut short, forcing Tsubaki to swallow.
"This business-related, suit guy, or were you just hoping to be on the bottom of a girl pile? Like that one book with the cop on the cover under a pile of men and women...uh, Fleshbender."
While her reading skills only ranged to a few words Tsubaki appreciated the unpretentiously salacious covers of pulp novels and magazines.

She wiped the remnants of her snacks on her coat and extended her hand to each of the ladies at the table with her."Tsubaki Ito. Tsubaki Ito. Tsubaki Ito."
Briefly she wondered if she should have used a pseudonym. One of those flowery and long-winded nicknames some of her fellow Equalists used like Tiger Lifts the Mountain or Rapidly Descending Eel.

With Ro asking the important questions Tsubaki decided to wait and keep her color commentary to herself...at least for the time being.

Shachi shifted in place, that pit still in her stomach as she took off her hat and smoothed the hair atop her head. She tried to remain cool, and she slowly settled into her place, letting the others talk and remaining silent herself. She didn't have much to add, and quite honestly, she was almost afraid they'd snap at her for talking out of turn. She was the new kid as far as she was concerned and she'd just been offered a seat at the cool kid's table, she just needed to keep her head down and not screw it up. Even if the older woman next to her drove fear into her heart, there was just something about her air, she was on her side no doubt, but she seemed exceedingly lethal.

The young woman shot some more glances at the others about her as she gently sat her hat on her lap and took a sip of the sake, only to cringe at the tingling burning as she forced it down. Women, they were all women, which would probably end up looking quite suspicious to the other bar patrons. Shachi would guess they'd be more likely to curse the man with the suit case's luck than call the police though, they looked odd, but compared to what Shachi assumed was the mental image of the Equalists in Republic City, they didn't fit the bill all that well. No giant men with broad soldiers and bulging muscles or the intimidating sage peacoats and mask with glowing bug eyes. Just a group of seemingly unrelated women, it's not like this 'Task Force' the councilman had set up was anything more than a paper tiger conjured up by the benders and the Avatar to thump their chests and proclaim their strength.

"Shachi Omura." The rookie replied back to Tsubaki, struggling to suppress a giggle as she focused on giving a nice firm shake of the hand. The older woman might seem like the no nonsense sort who would kick her as soon as congratulate her, this musician though? That might be someone she could get comfortable with, or at least not be deathly afraid of messing up around.

Xiulan wrapped her dark grey jacket tighter around her work clothes she’d yet to change out of as she nearly sprinted down the dark street. Thankfully, the bar the meeting was at wasn’t too far from the bakery; where she’d been for the past 14 hours (albeit with quite a few breaks). As she turned the corner onto the street the bar was at she slowed her pace to a leisurely one, not wanting to draw attention. The sidewalks were pretty much deserted, but it was better safe than sorry with the looming possibility of Tarrlok’s taskforce mulling about. She stopped in front of the bar’s wide windows to check over her appearance before slowly opening the door and entering.

It took some considerable effort on Xiulan’s part not to actually shake from nervousness as she stepped in and peered around, trying to find this meeting place. Groups of various sizes were scattered around at different tables, none really standing out (though really, that was the point). Her mind flitted from scenario to scenario, Xiulan now standing a few steps away from the door rather awkwardly. Could they be in the cellar or basement of the bar? Was she too late and they’d left to another location? Were they even here?

She started walking further into the seating area, now very clearly drawing some unwanted attention from the employees- Xiulan being not only an Equalist, but also 16 and underage. Her vantage point changed as she worked to avoid the bartender’s gaze and she saw a familiar streak of white hair sitting at one of the more packed tables. With closer observation she spotted quite a few more familiar faces from training, mostly rookies like herself. She was relieved to have finally found the meeting, and made her way towards the table swiftly.

As she neared the group of seemingly innocuous patrons she knew to be quite the opposite, a tremor of excitement ran up her spine. An Equalist meeting; an opportunity she’d been waiting for all her life. She could finally make a change in Republic City, actually do something. She got a little amped up every time she thought about said opportunity, her stomach a pit of excited and somewhat worrisome nerves and she had a feeling her face was doing a rather poor job of concealing that. She found an empty seat next to Shachi and slid into it, eying everyone’s expressions to try and see if she was welcome, not waiting to be offered a seat in fear of drawing excess attention to their little group. “Room for one more?” She queried softly, unsure whether these were the friendly banter types.

Rohana's refusal to take her hand caused a moment of confusion in Tsubaki.
"....Ah. Snack hands. Gotcha." She made sure to spit clean her hands before offering then to anyone else.
"How do you do?"
"How do I do what?"
Tsubaki's barely supressed laughter came out in snorts.

When another young woman sat down to join then another round of snorting laughter erupted from Tsubaki.
"It IS a harem, isn't it? Are things so bad for us that you think we need to repopulate?"

Finally remembering her fairly dirty hands Tsubaki put her palm and fist together to greet yet another to the meeting. Her harem joke suddenly started to seem less like a joke.

Looking around the table Tsubaki felt like the odd woman out. Walking around the city she looked like a struggling homeless woman and blended in but sitting at a table with five other people she stood out.
"I'll just be a few minutes, don't start the sexy stuff without me."

While looking into the bathroom mirror Tsubaki imagined that if Katsutoshi were planning on fulfilling a male fantasy that she'd be the last one picked. Sleeping rough didn't do wonders for her looks but after washing her face and picking the cobweb out of her hair Tsubaki felt at least partially harem-worthy.
Even with her partially torn red overcoat Tsubaki felt prettier exiting the bathroom than when she came in.
"Nobody ran off. That's a good sign."