"I want to be the one to engage the Dai Li," Gorou says.
Unexpected. Interesting. "Alright. We'll discuss the parameters for that in a bit."
...
"I want to live quietly," Mai announces. "I want time to myself and a safe environment for To- for Peter."
Circus Girl only nods.
"We can agree to keep the dangerous parts of our activities away from the place we'll live in," I say. "This would be part of our living arrangements."
"I want to learn to read," Haruto says, "And to fight."
I nod slowly. "We will find a place to train and keep in shape."
Dionu clears his throat. "I've got a place in mind."
"Alright. What about what you want to do in the city?"
"I'll honour our agreement. Beyond that, I want to have my own space and do as I like."
I nod easily. Well, it's to be expected. Then I look at Fon and Ebisu. "What about you two?"
Fon shrugs. "I don't mind helping out. Don't have any plans."
"I'll do what I want. I got a cousin in the lower ring. Might stay with him for a bit," Ebisu says. He looks at Gorou as he does, waiting for his reaction.
Gorou looks at him and gives a nod of permission like he doesn't care either way. Maybe he really doesn't. I don't know how close he was with the crew before I happened to them.
"Okay. Peter? Anything to add?"
He shakes his head.
"Now, as for who wants to be there? We have one last chance to drop anyone off somewhere on the shore. Other than that, leaving the city should be easy once we've all gotten inside."
No one says anything to that.
"Alright. My motivation is to hopefully end this war. This is why I need allies who I will be informing as many people as possible of the comet that is due to arrive in less than a year and will give firebenders a huge advantage that I don't want them to make use of to, for example, exterminate all waterbenders. Secondarily, I want to see what can be done for the millions of refugees and who profits from current conditions for cheap labour and near-slavery. Then I want to spread that knowledge. Not to mention the human trafficking. I kind of want to stop that, too, if I can."
Gorou is grinning, bloodthirsty. Ironic, for a former slave trader. Even Fon smiles. Dionu stares. Mai and Circus Girl frown. Haruto stares in wonder, even though he knows all this – and it seems like I'll have to talk to the boy about hero worship and to stop putting me on a pedestal. Peter looks smug for some reason.
Then there's silence again. Ah, no one likes to share around here. "Okay, I'll make this easy. Who is here because they see no other path right now?"
Mai, Circus Girl, Fon, Ebisu, Dionu. As expected.
"Who is here because they want to be?"
That's Gorou, Peter, Haruto and me.
"Right, so. Because I'm probably the one who'll do my own legwork, I'll be encountering Dai Li agents, citizens of all rings and professions, as well as nobles, and one or two unknowns. I'd prefer it if none of you were involved in any of that if you don't want to be on your own. So. Don't follow me when I go out because I can't guarantee anyone's safety," I pause, then: "As to the Dai Li. Leave them to Gorou and I. Try to obey any curfews if they implement them, and keep your mouths shut about the war unless you're sure the person you're speaking to isn't an informant and can keep a secret."
We'll be in a hostile suspicious environment. We'll be spied on. Informed on. I don't doubt the Dai Li will be watching us.
I let all of that settle.
Stand. "We can divide chores when we're actually in the place we'll be staying at."
Then I drift into the dim light on deck.
...
It is dusk, the tide brings us into the harbour neatly, smoothly. I don't bend. There is no need to announce what I can do to a city where secrets are currency of the highest order.
Few lanterns mark the harbour walls. Better for the city guard's eyes to know the darkness than to be blind to the shadows. Fortunately, we are not what they are looking for.
It's easy, practised, when Dionu makes the exchange with the harbour master. Simple, when our cargo is unloaded.
One of Dionu's trading associates guides us through immigrations. No questions about our intentions for our stay. They'll just be watching us to find out.
...
Ba Sing Se is not a city easily navigated. The inner and outer ring sure, they're distinguishable, separated by a small circular canal, but that doesn't account for the sheer scale of the outer ring. No matter what the Dai Li may want, in truth, the outer ring is divided into gang territories. They're just far subtler about the markings than they ever were in my first life.
It's people who represent the marks.
That's the only thing that keeps the Dai Li from cutting them down brutally. Well, that and the trade the gangs bring in. All of them have strong ties to the merchants who deliver any goods to the city, if they're not already running the entire operation. It's the nobles who desire these goods, and try as the Dai Li might, there would be severe consequences to denying them their comforts. Because the nobles are still in charge of politics and the law. They have their own retainers, connections upon connections to one another and their guards tied to their service by loyalty and honour.
In the Impenetrable City, every noble worth their silks has a few benders as guards.
While in truth, the Dai Li might be the most physically powerful might within the city, it does still matter where the money is. Where the blood shows. No matter how disgusting that is, it makes things easier for me.
So, the city is hard to navigate when you know nothing of its workings, and it's even harder to go unnoticed while you get the hang of it. This is why it was such a good idea to try finding contacts who already know all of this, and would tell us.
Thankfully, there usually isn't a need for me to go unnoticed these days, which makes the transition smoother. We're just selling a few things. Trying to make a living, you know?
When I think about it, we're all not that different. We do what we can in our situations. We live and die by necessities that force us to consider things in a different light, every now and again.
But to the experienced eye, we're not here for the simplicity of a merchant's life. We're here to cause trouble for someone. And it pays to know for whom.
...
Oh, how I don't envy the countless refugees this. And I do mean countless. Some might call them a swarm, but that is not what they are. They are not a coordinated threat. They are not a wave. They are, quite simply, desperate in an all-too-human way.
Flat hunting in an over-populated city whose social hierarchy is far too explicit to even have a vague hope of finding a flat that's without holes in the roof, or vermin-infested, or near one of the ever-broken sewage pipes… it makes you realise just how those in power view those with less.
Well. It's a good thing that we have Dionu with us who has contacts and has managed to find us an acceptable place. I wouldn't even mind staying on the ship permanently, but there aren't enough proper cabins for all of us. It's rare to find such an apartment with four bedrooms. One for the women, one for Gorou and Fon, one for Haruto and I, one for Dionu. Peter will go where he wants. All I could complain about is the leaky roof, but that is repair work that we can manage to do in a day. Separate flats might have made some sense, but none of us have suggested it. And until the others decide they want to leave, this is easiest.
Besides, I don't know how Mai feels about it, but I'm sure neither Peter nor I would be glad to live separately. It's been such a relief, speaking to someone in my first language.
Gorou won't leave because he's interested in what I'm doing here. Gathering resources, allies and perhaps even recruiting people to move against the Fire Nation before the comet arrives.
Fon… does what either Gorou or Dionu tells him. Dionu won't suggest separation because he has orders to keep track of all of us.
Haruto won't because he doesn't want whatever familiarity he has with us to be lost. He's young and scared and angry. Especially the latter, which is why I'm almost hesitant to teach him how to fight before he's found some way to release his anger in a way that isn't violent. There's always two participants in a fistfight and the one who throws the punch… well, it can be quite detrimental to the emotional and psychological state.
I'm fairly certain that while neither Circus Girl, nor Mai know where to go from here, they'd prefer not to have to deal with the added danger of living alone. Unfortunately, being a woman does come with its own dangers.
All things considered, we're very lucky.
...
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