Note: This scene takes place prior to Razu's disappearance.
Though the sky was slightly overcast, the Hiyama marketplace was buzzing with activity as usual. Vendor stalls lined the street and each one competed for attention from the crowd passing by. Some shouted creative jingles, while others employed dazzling firebending tricks. Some, however, simply relied on the quality of their goods to draw customers in.
"Hiyama's Finest Jewelry," a sign above the stall proclaimed. While the claim might not have been entirely true, the selection was undeniably exquisite. As with most Fire Nation jewelry, it relied heavily on the use of metal - specifically gold. Not exactly jewelry one bought on a whim. At least, not if you were a typical resident of Hiyama.
And thus the stall saw a steady stream of young women pass through, eyeing the goods with desire and occasionally getting up the nerve to ask to try something on, but in the end inevitably moving along without anything to show for it.
This day was no different and an attractive teenaged girl stood in front of the display of hair ornaments, eyeing them wistfully. In particular, she kept picking up an ornament with flowers and intricate curliecues. Eventually she got up the nerve to ask the price, flushing with embarassment when the vendor informed her, and set the ornament back onto the display.
As she did so, a hand slid over her own to stop her. "How much," the stranger inquired. The vendor repeated the price and soon there were coins being dropped on the table.
The girl began to protest, but her words were brushed off easily with a smile. "I wanted to," the stranger said, "Please don't rob me of the pleasure of treating a beautiful girl."
Li Ren was definitely not a typical resident of Hiyama.
As she pinned the ornament into the girl's hair, the girl continued to look flustered. "Th-thank you," she managed to stutter out, stealing brief glances at Li Ren's face.
"Think nothing of it," Li Ren replied, looking pleased. A moment later and she was finished, "Beautiful."
The girl flushed harder, if at all possible. "I-i-i should go. My mother is expecting me at home." With that she turned abruptly and took a few steps away, hesitating, and then whirling back around, "What's your name?"
"Li Ren," she replied casually. The girl smiled shyly in response and quickly disappeared. Li Ren watched her leave, looking very self-satisfied.
"You are keeping me in business," the vendor commented once the girl had left.
Li Ren leaned against the stall familiarly, "You say that every week."
Though the sky was slightly overcast, the Hiyama marketplace was buzzing with activity as usual. Vendor stalls lined the street and each one competed for attention from the crowd passing by. Some shouted creative jingles, while others employed dazzling firebending tricks. Some, however, simply relied on the quality of their goods to draw customers in.
"Hiyama's Finest Jewelry," a sign above the stall proclaimed. While the claim might not have been entirely true, the selection was undeniably exquisite. As with most Fire Nation jewelry, it relied heavily on the use of metal - specifically gold. Not exactly jewelry one bought on a whim. At least, not if you were a typical resident of Hiyama.
And thus the stall saw a steady stream of young women pass through, eyeing the goods with desire and occasionally getting up the nerve to ask to try something on, but in the end inevitably moving along without anything to show for it.
This day was no different and an attractive teenaged girl stood in front of the display of hair ornaments, eyeing them wistfully. In particular, she kept picking up an ornament with flowers and intricate curliecues. Eventually she got up the nerve to ask the price, flushing with embarassment when the vendor informed her, and set the ornament back onto the display.
As she did so, a hand slid over her own to stop her. "How much," the stranger inquired. The vendor repeated the price and soon there were coins being dropped on the table.
The girl began to protest, but her words were brushed off easily with a smile. "I wanted to," the stranger said, "Please don't rob me of the pleasure of treating a beautiful girl."
Li Ren was definitely not a typical resident of Hiyama.
As she pinned the ornament into the girl's hair, the girl continued to look flustered. "Th-thank you," she managed to stutter out, stealing brief glances at Li Ren's face.
"Think nothing of it," Li Ren replied, looking pleased. A moment later and she was finished, "Beautiful."
The girl flushed harder, if at all possible. "I-i-i should go. My mother is expecting me at home." With that she turned abruptly and took a few steps away, hesitating, and then whirling back around, "What's your name?"
"Li Ren," she replied casually. The girl smiled shyly in response and quickly disappeared. Li Ren watched her leave, looking very self-satisfied.
"You are keeping me in business," the vendor commented once the girl had left.
Li Ren leaned against the stall familiarly, "You say that every week."
