Scene #6055: The Equalist Rally

Owner	Pose
Amon	Republic City Factory District REPUBLIC CITY is a passingly familiar place, to those who come from approximately modern worlds. It is a little dated, but not so much that it isn't generally recognizable. Primitive automobiles -- locally called Satomobiles -- litter the streets, and buildings have a slightly dated but familiar feel to them. Modest glass-fronted storefronts line the streets, accompanied by the occasional block-dominating restaurant, cafe, or grocer. Personal communications devices aren't common, but radios are ubiquitous if simple. Modern skyscrapers and buildings are given a distinct touch by their distinct East Asian hip-and-gable roof, and elevated platforms with train tracks run throughout the city. Though no planes are yet evident, zeppelin-style aircraft can be seen here and there, primarily in use by the city police. Battleships without proper turrets are spread throughout the harbor, alongside vast luxury ships and massive shipping vessels. The city itself is vast. Buildings stretch on into the horizon, surrounded by mountains to one side and oceans to the other. Sprawling parks sit within it, surrounded on all sides by the city. Great arched bridges crisscross the harbor, and two tiny islands sit within its mouth: Air Temple Island, where the last of the Airbenders live and train, and a statue of Avatar Aang that all who sail into Republic City see in passing. At night -- and it IS presently night -- electric lamps dot the street corners and drown out the stars above. But however much the lighting of the city casts back the curtain of night, Republic City has the same ominous mien at night that every other city does. The half-gloom's illusion of safety is disrupted by a persistent haze, from which the spectral silhouettes of other buildings are only distantly visible. The Factory District is a familiar site, the hallmark of recent industrialization. Vast blocky buildings with tall smokestacks emerging from the roof cast long shadows upon the landscape. The whirr and clang of machinery is never very far, here. The site of the Equalist Rally is a factory buried in the middle of the district. A light stream of interested people -- families and individuals alike -- have been filtering in for some time. They are still filtering in now, bearing flyers distributed by activists through the city as their invitations. A burly man stands at the only obvious and open entrance, checking 'invitations' and greeting people genially when they appear to actually belong. The interior of the factory floor has largely been cleared. Machinery lines the walls, and side-corridors are visible here and there. A stage has been erected at the head of the room, with a lighting platform surrounding it and illuminating it brightly. An image of the masked man calling himself Amon stretching a hand forth is displayed in the center, with Equalist banners flanking it on either side. The factory is packed. People are standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the factory floor, dressed in warm winter clothes. The event at hand is already in progress... Amon and a number of masked cohorts stand on stage, with several individuals lined up just outside of the range of the light. He is gesturing towards them with an open hand, "... Now, for a demonstration. Please welcome Fluttering Orichalcum Maiden, enforcer to the Triple Threat Triads." A dark-skinned woman with bleached blonde hair is shuffled into the light, bound by ropes and attended closely by a pair of masked guards. She's tall -- equal in height to Amon -- and rather more broad and muscular. There's no evidence that she's been harmed, though she does look a little pale.
Amon	"These individuals from the world outside are just as arrogant and oppressive as the benders with whom they have allied themselves. Some of you have already met this one, as she tore through a wall bare-handed, or spoke words that bent you to her will without ever remembering that you spoke to her. Rest assured that the Spirits did not grant me power to correct the imbalance from within only to see it restored by the influence of outsiders." "In the interests of fairness," Amon replaces the microphone on its stand, "I will give Fluttering Orichalcum Maiden the chance to fight to keep her gifts." Fluttering Orichalcum Maiden is no sooner unbound than she springs forward with a roar. A blade of focused sunlight springs into existence in her hands as she charges, a sunburst shining brightly on her forehead as a phantasmal pack of aurochs stampedes alongside her. The difference between them is obvious from the start. Amon moves in with smooth, fluid movements that waste no energy. He comes in around a swing of the sword and jabs her in the elbow. The arm goes partially limp, and she comes in with a desperate swing of her empty fist. The masked man catches her arm and pushes it aside, pressing a light strike to her chest. The conjured blade vanishes along with the aurochs, the symbol on her forehead flickering violently. Amon catches her good arm in a lock, twists around behind her back and forces her to her knees. With a press of his thumb to her forehead -- directly over the sunburst -- the last of the light gutters out. Amon releases the woman and returns to the microphone, even as she rises to try to throw something at him. Whatever it is, doesn't come. "What did you DO to me?!" Fluttering Orichalcum Maiden demands. Amon was waiting for this. Anyone with a shred of showmanship in them can tell. He replies, "I have taken your power away. Permanently. And now that our guest from the world without has been attended to, we must turn our attention to more... local talent. Please welcome Lightning Bolt Zolt..." A great man with salt-and-pepper hair is brought up into the light as Fluttering Orichalcum Maiden is lead off-stage. Visible in queue right behind him is a dark-haired, green-eyed young man who looks terrified and is very obviously next up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEFAULT OBJECTIVES * Rescue the terrified young man before he's de-powered. * (OPTIONAL) Rescue Lightning Bolt Zolt before he's de-powered. (00:00:10 remaining) * (OPTIONAL) Rescue Fluttering Orichalcum Maiden DEFAULT HOOKS * Assisting Korra * "Heard about it from the radio shows."
Gilgamesh	The King of Heroes finds the entire thing laughable. It is a sign of his contempt that he does not bother to hide his presence, or his glory, or his power. As he walks through the front door the King of Heroes makes himself known. He shines like the sun. He walks as gracefully as the moon. Even being in Gilgamesh's presence one can tell that he is not...human, that he is something so much more, something so much more glorious. His beautiful red eyes look across the field contemptuously as he walks, unafraid, into a rally full of people who would want nothing more than to tear out his divine blood and bring him down to normal. And he's only here because he thought it might be fun to see what this talk show was all about. Now, however, his hand goes to his face. He starts laughing, that laughter rippling outwards, echoing through the room. The King of Heroes is arrogance itself, the poster child for everything Amon said. He is powerful, in a way that one has to be born with and cannot earn. He is majestic, in a way that no one can touch or match. Glory rolls off him like a rich man's robe, and people crawl to grasp the hem and beg for scraps, and his mere existence is an addiction to something the sort of people who gather at the Equalist Rally want more than anything else. Being around Gilgamesh, tasting his glory, is addiction to being important. The King of Heroes' laughter continues for a few moments before he drops his hands. "No, no. My apologies." He slides his hand into the pocket of his long black coat, the other still on his face. "Please, don't let me interrupt. You were just lying so blatantly that I could not help but enjoy it. I mistook you for a jester. It was an excellent show. I especially like the part about it being your divine right to restore balance. As if balance is something that can even exist in the world." Gilgamesh's other hand falls to his side. "Then again, I suppose any mongrel who calls themselves an Equalist is already lying." Gilgamesh strolls forward. "It is the stupidity of modernity that humans can be born /equal/, that all men are created /equal/. What a pointless idiocy." He snaps his fingers. "Two men in this room are no more equal than you are to those poor fools you've captured. One man may be an excellent smith. The other an excellent artist. What is the solution when they grow jealous of the other's talents? They are not equal. They were never equal." Gilgamesh chuckles. "But in your delusional fantasy you would simply cut both their arms off and let them sing instead." "Talent. Power." Gilgamesh brushes his fingers through his hair. "Majesty. Glory. These are things you worthless creatures cannot grasp for yourselves without a decisive will. And yet you are happy to drag others down to your level. To ensure that none are special, because you cannot be special." Gilgamesh laughs again. "To be honest..." "You all revolt me to the core." "But I am the King. I am a fair King. I will allow you to speak in your defense. Go on. Convince me of the rightness of your cause." Gilgamesh makes a sweeping motion with his hand. "Every criminal deserves a chance to speak in his defense. Isn't that the 'due process' you worthless clay dolls always cling to so tightly?" Gilgamesh smiles. It's a cruel smile, as golden rings appear in the air, rippling outwards around him. "Go on, mongrels. Speak in your defense. The King is waiting."
Android 17	A half a day ago... Android 17 had been attracted to this world by the sounds of some INTERESTING animals. He wanted to get to know them, because you never know when you might have need of this kind of knowledge! Of course, this brought him to Republic city...and boy did he stand out. Of course, some people were helpful, some were less so. After all, with eyes like his, nevermind the clothes, you stand out. Of course, thanks to Radio shows, watching Equallist rallies, and other things that have been left out due to expedience. This leads him to the Rally, to which he has decided to watch...but this time after aquiring some ACTUAL local clothing. He observes what is going on, watches the 'fight' between whatever the first person was, and this Amon. Android 17, however...well...he doesn't like this. He walks forward, slowly pushing through the audiance, as he watches and observes...Amon's skilled, that's no lie...but he doesn't quite think it was a fair contest either. His gut didn't like it, not at all. As Lightning Bolt Zolt is brought out, Seventeen jumps onto the stage as easily as one might have walked, landing on one side of Amon, and would interpose between Zolt and the Equalist. "What did you do to her, hmm? No, I don't mean the powers...but that wasn't an equal contest." He says, accusing Amon, rather it was true or not, and taking a stance. "How about you try that again, but this time with someone who is actually fresh, hm?" Android 17 checks his surroundings...he'd have to play this carefully, but he didn't have to beat Amon, necissarily, just snatch away his victims...calmly, he takes a breath, and focuses himself. "Or are you too afraid to fight someone on equal footing?"
Korra	Korra had been all over the city with a broad-shouldered and spikey haired young man on her polarbeardog (polar beardog? polarbear dog?), searching high and low for his brother - who had gone missing when he went on a 'gig' working for the Triads, and then abducted by the Equalists for their rally. It had been abuzz in the city, that the people who 'didn't belong' were going to be 'taught a lesson'. Korra had only been in the city for a short while herself, but the cosmopolitan environment of the roaring age of Republic City drew all sorts. Korra and her male friend ('a teammate') had found a pile of the fliers from basically-not-actually mugging a dude in the park and taking them, and had approached tonight with anyone she could find with some extra clothes for disguises and a grip of fliers after seeing things going down. Once inside, though, the pair got conspiratorial for a few moments, before noticing the stocky young man next up on the chopping block. "That's Lightning Bolt Zolt, one of the biggest gangsters in town. And -- Bolin! That's my brother!" Mako (the scarfed guy) hisses under his breath. Korra gets ready to leap up into action before Mako stops her. "We can't, we need a distraction - there's too--" Both stop, and turn to stare at Gilgamesh as he radiates Power and Glory and make his grand proclamation, and Android 17 joins him in just shouting a challenge to Amon himself, on stage, in front of everyone. Incredulous, Mako stares gobsmacked at Korra, and Korra's eyes glimmer. "That's a good distraction, isn't it?" Mako rubs his face with a hand. "I was thinking more like filling the hallway with steam from the factory pipes. But... Yeah. Heck of a distraction." Under cover of Shouting Superpowered Men Radiating Power, Mako and Korra start pushing forward into the crowd while there's still any surprise to be had.
Crys Gattz	Crys Gattz was often about the money given her spending habits she always needed work, when if she'd thought for the future a bit more? She could have been living on a beach somewhere, sipping on cold drinks having a grand old time. So here the Newman is on a job to pull people out of this. Does she like them? No she doesn't. Still, the cash is cash and well kidnapping ain't right either. This world certainly poked at the back of her mind there were just certain design trends that reminded her of another world unrelated to it. IOn an odd way it was comforting. She had snuck in, it was easy enough to hide her ears, and generally get some local clothing which she could use to hide her gauntlet where she stored her gear with. Her intention was not a bloodbath but to sneak in and get out. She could get people without powers being pissed off at those who did when they abuse it. Memories of the Emperor come to mind for a moment, before the Newman pushes it away. She watched Amon act and for a moment she just stares, holy shit did he take her power away. Still, it's less brutal than just outright killing them, she doesn't intend to put any of the Equalists in the ground tonight if she can help it. Then someone big bad and oh so very pretty enters and talks in such a way? Crys does not like this man just from how he speaks how he depersonalizes the people here? He makes her think of the Emperor once more. She's got a job to do though as Android 17 leaps on the stage she figures it's go time to. With him making a fuss she can get to the hostages and hopefully help get them the hell out of here, even as she performs a superhuman leap the Numan's ears poke out of her hair, she lands son stage with a staff taking form in hand, the black king bar would be enough for her if she needed to fight, right now she'll focus on trying to get the people out of there. She also dearly owes 17 thanks later, and as much as she's loathed to admit it? Gil as well for being one hell of a diversion. "I'm here to get you sorry sods out of here." She'll attempt to get them to lose as the chaos starts, though she could very well be attacked.
Varrick	Among the crowd is a man with an insanely excessive beard, one that runs to the floor and around his own shoulders. He's hunched, trembling over a cane, and using the fact that he's generally fragile-looking to earn himself a little extra space, which he uses tactically to give space to a woman next to him. The prim and proper-looking secretarial sort is operating what looks like an early camera, one matching the local levels of technology quite well. "Zhu Li, you getting a good look at all this?" "Yes sir." "Good. We gotta figure this angle out." "It's a puzzle, sir." "Darn right it is. Reminds me of the stories about..." "Sir?" "What was his name? The guy who could do the thing?" "Avatar Aang sir." "That's the one. You think this guy's bald too? Hey, there's more!" "I'm counting three so far, sir." "Keep that pointed on 'em, Zhu Li!" "Of course, sir." "Who's that guy on the far end?" "I don't know. He looks familiar, sir." "Where've I seen... Ahhh, who knows. Maybe in a paper or something." "It's possible." "Zhu Li, note to future Varrick, invent face-recognizer camera." "Yes sir." "Bet the Council would pay through the mouth for it." "Through the nose, sir." "Why the heck would I want money that's been in their /nose/, Zhu Li?!" "I don't know, sir." "Shut the hush and let's mush, Zhu Li, I'm not gonna get a good look at what he was doing there if I don't get a little closer, and I can't /sell/ whatever it is without a good look. That one guy's a human lightbulb to keep the stage lit, what a pal. Let's get a little closer and see if we can pick up what's going on on the camera." They fold things up fast, keeping the camera rolling as they move through the crowd and approaching. They're likely to wind up somewhere on a track that's similar to Korra, in trying to get a good angle without a lot of exposure. It's also a situation where they might be a little more easily spotted, even though what Varrick's doing isn't illegal so much as just being done in an incredibly suspicious way.
Finna	Finna has made her way here, having heard a few rumors and oddities, and she's currently clinging to the factory girders as a bat who was minding her own business until there was a mention of 'Orichalcum.' And a name that was very much a sobriquet. The bat chitter-squeaks to itself at that, and her attention - currently a little unfocused from how silly this all seemed by the premise she heard - is sharpened to a razor focus. What is clearly the power of the sun is... SUPPRESSED?! But, shut down permanently? Is that possible? Could this be putting on some kind of SHOW? Things aren't always what they seem... A hundred thoughts are skittering through the Lunar's mind at what's going on down there. Among them: that she should never, ever let that man touch her. This... this could be big. It could be very big. And so, for the first time in a while, Finna exercises her sharp senses and goddess-given talents, scanning the crowd to commit faces and outfits to memory and take stock of the apparent wealth and status (or lack thereof) of most of the comers... And that, of course, brings her attention PROFOUNDLY towards Gilgamesh as he strolls in. The bat's eyes go rather wide and its ears swivel like radar dishes to listen to every word. Welp. ... This is gonna be good. For now, she will wait and observe. Gilgamesh - whose voice is instantly recognizable from the radio - and the black-haired young man also protesting might give her an opportunity to act with impunity. But to do what is the question? Then some choice words reach her hyper-sensitive, Essence-augmented ears. 'Thats my brother!' On hearing that, the bat swings around then takes flight, quietly swooping into a better position towards the presentation stage where she can make a move to investigate this Bolin matter!
Mei Hatsume	Finding the place and getting in wasn't nearly as hard as Mei had expected. Whispers and radio chatter led to some digging, and digging led to trailing people, and trailing people led to finding out about the rally. It wasn't hard to see the appeal of the rally: The downtrodden, the poor, the less-powered resenting those who had the cooler and more useful gifts simply due to their birth? That certainly wasn't unheard of for the goggle-bearing inventor. She couldn't afford to make her presence known just yet without a plan, though, especially with the leader of the whole show dispatching someone so effortlessly. It was easy enough to watch the show, but just doing that wasn't going to save anyone. A frontal assault would be suicide, too, but... Well, it seems as though there's a few people already starting shows of their own. With Gilgamesh and 17 making flashy entrances of their own, Mei opts to make one of her own! Sort of. Instead of swooping in with a big one-liner, she instead turns to the rafters and launches some wire arrows upwards. She uses those to zip right up, and then... ... Nothing? Nothing. She's not doing anything particularly crazy yet beyond looking like some random crowd-goer just moving to the ceiling for.. Some reason. Anyone that is paying attention to her, however, would notice that she's holding what looks like arm or leg braces. It'll be easier to go for a rescue proper once everyone's occupied up front, after all.
Amon	Amon is reaching for Zolt's head when someone interrupts. He draws back and moves away, folding his hands behind his back as he observes Gilgamesh. That he is one of the extraversal meddlers is self-evident, from the way he speaks to the things that he has to say. But the masked man does not interrupt, nor does he accelerate his program. A moustached man to his right gives him a glance, to which he simply waves a hand to dismiss whatever silent communication just occurred. "There is one thing that you are right about, outsider-- there has never been Balance in this world." His hands clasp behind his back again, "There has never been Balance in this world because it has been littered from the start with men who breathe fire and women who raise the earth. Because a being not unlike yourself has walked it and enforced the whims of their will upon and to the benefit of the region of their birth without regard for what that would mean when they were gone." "I will not hold this world up on my shoulders," he continues, "but give the people the opportunity to bear that burden themselves. The world does not require an Avatar-- and in the end, when my task is done, I too will merely be an ordinary man, with the power to take something that no longer exists." "Talent is another matter. Talent can be learned. Talent can be cultivated. We respect talent. You say that I seek to cut off their arms, but that is not so." He unfolds his hands and focuses on Gilgamesh intensely. "I seek to cut off their wings." His attention turns to Android 17. The moustached man at Amon's side moves forward, hands rising towards a pair of sword-like objects mounted on his back. But he doesn't rise to the challenge. "You don't want to fight," he says, "you are stalling, and you should reconsider. That man is the leader of the Triple Threat Triad. He extorts the non-benders around him, and has ruined more lives than I could begin to recount. Say what you will about my philosophy... there isn't anyone here who would be unhappy to see him defanged." "But by all means, Outsiders." Amon spreads his hands out, "Enforce your will, and see what comes of it. I'm willing to wait." The prisoners are guarded by two men each, and bound with plain ropes. It's not hard to get the ropes off, and the guards will back away without resistance. They're spaced out enough that they'll need dedicated attention, though-- Crys catches up with Flutting Orichalcum Maiden and gets her loose. Despite what just happened, she seems healthy and mutters thanks before looking around for a weapon of her own. Korra and Mako are able to sneak forward without interruption-- circling the stage to get at Bolin shouldn't be too hard. The young man is in fact STARING VERY INTENTLY to try to attract somebody's attention to HIM PERSONALLY, but he's also trying not to draw attention from the Equalists around him.
Android 17	"That's some charges...and normally I wouldn't bother to defend scum like this...but.." Seventeen says, looking back down at the man for a moment. Turning his head towards Amon as he considers him...trying to think about what game he is going to play. "But the other guy," He thumbs at Gilgamesh, "Seems to have some of the right of it. See...if you were using your abilities to punish and stop threats to non-benders by going after benders who were abusing their powers...we wouldn't have a problem." The android says, "The problem here is that you paint all benders...all people with powers with the same brush, because you do not. Because they do not." He says, calmly, "I did not originally earn my powers, they were forced on me. I, however, made them my own, I honed them. I worked hard, and have done more than just become the sum of my powers." He says, calmly, and holds a hand out towards Amon. "You use this man, and paint all People with powers as the same." He looks towards the man with swords. "I would put those away, before you get yourself hurt." he says calmly, that calm, even tone does not rise or fall. "However, you proved me right...and proved me right infront of your people. You set up the first person, stacked the deck, and depowered them with an unfair advantage, making them think it would be easy to rise against Benders, while also trying to paint all people with powers as evil." "Your move."
Gilgamesh	"Bear the /burden/?!" Gilgamesh actively laughs again. "You want these fools to bear a burden? You want these worthless beasts to rise up and tear down those who can fly because they are too pathetic to grow wings of their own?" Gilgamesh spreads his arms. "Is that how you advance? Is that how you grow better as a species? You rip down the great because you are too afraid to climb on your own?" Gilgamesh's lips split in a wry smile as his hands go into his pockets. "There are none like me. There have never been any like me. I am Gilgamesh, King of Heroes. My rule has been marked by the knowledge that all men are equal in but one respect: the law. All men were never created equal. But all men are one beneath the law." Gilgamesh runs his fingers through golden hair. "You are not equal. You are not even capable of being equal. If you tear off their wings today, you will find them walking, and be jealous of the distance they walk. Then you will kneecap them, and be jealous of the distance they crawl. Then you will pin them to the ground with your blades, and be jealous how they struggle. Do you know why?" Gilgamesh's beautiful red eyes flick around the room. "Because not one of you has the will to make a change in your own lives." "And you would rather blame others for your weakness than rise and accept your strength." "Modernity!" Gilgamesh spreads his arms wide. "Every life is equal, except when it is not! Every person is equal, except when they are more talented than you! Every human should follow the law, except that an exception should be made for you, because you are special, even if you do nothing but whine about your betters." "Power is not what separates you." Gilgamesh takes a step forward. "What separates you is that you are too pathetic to decide to better yourselves. Any man can have power if he hones his talent. Any man can have strength if he dedicates himself to it. But why advance the race when you could simply pull it down?" Gilgamesh's face takes on a truly spiteful look as he glances around at the Equalists. "Why bother improving your own lives when you could simply sit and stew in your hate and jealousy? Why bother with will when a convenient solution that requires nothing but cheering and jeering presents itself? Why make a decision for yourself? After all..." "No one is tearing your wings off." Gilgamesh's hands are still in his pockets. The Gate of Babylon still shines around him. "Do any of the rest of you cowards have a thing to speak in your defense?" "Have you a single word to say that does not echo your master, worthless barking dogs?" "Or should I begin dispensing your just and right punishment? For indeed," Gilgamesh waves his hand, "I am the King. And you are all maggots writhing on the surface of my property. And I have so much hatred built up that I am not sure I will be able to stop if I start." "Speak quickly." Blades are already emerging from the Gate of Babylon, dozens of jeweled, beautiful, magical swords. Even a layman can tell they're magical, can tell they're powerful, can tell they're beautiful and polished to a shine. "The King grows impatient. Ah, I know." Gilgamesh snaps his fingers. A piece of gold falls into his hand. He tosses it into the air. "If even one of you," Gilgamesh says in a bored tone, "Has the willpower to step forward and make an argument that was not made by your leader, I will give you enough coin to let you live out the rest of your days in comfort and peace, and perhaps I will even leave." "And if none of you do," Gilgamesh says, "Then I will probably slaughter all of you where you stand."
Finna	Attentiveness does help. Seeing the composition of the crowd, Finna reaches her conclusion: there's probably /some/ merit to this guy's standpoint. Either that, or the local high-class folks are content to masquerade among the crowd in the same typical clothes instead of walking around flaunting wealth! Based on what she knows of rich people, that's unlikely. Highly unlikely. Which means... the poor are either highly oppressed, stupid, or both. Hard to say at a glance! The tiny bat has spotted Bolin, and swoops down to ground level, shifting swiftly into the form of a tiny and fast-moving dark-colored snake slithering at lightning speed for Bolin's guards. Because this snake then moves to find any bared skin on them... and BITE, one after the other, with piercing - but tiny - fangs. Thankfully, so small that there's not much of a wound involved! Just a moment of stinging pain... Naturally, this bite is poisoned. The little snake's fangs are dosed with paralyzing neurotoxin for ruining muscle control. In huge doses, potentially lethal. But at the dose she's delivering... well, it's unlikely to stop any hearts in a person who's properly fit. But they're not going to be getting up any time soon once it sets in. Naturally, her aim is simple. Give Bolin's rescuers an easy time of it!
Korra	Korra and Mako push through the crowd more and more aggressively, the way is made 'more easy' with people's Passive, Active, and 'Am Gilgamesh' speeds of interaction with the crowd. Mako is dogged, pushing through the crowd with elbow and shoulder, vaulting over people, and making a beeline for his brother. Korra, on the other hand, is drawn and split with her attention and trying not to hurt people as Gilgamesh causes some raw panic. His weapons are tangibly powerful, and his words are... Well, KORRA doesn't disagree with them, the idea that a freak like Amon who shouldn't even have that kind of power would take away people's bending - as the Avatar, she had to do something. But it was Bolin on stage that was the target. Wasn't leaping on stage and challenging Amon the wrong thing to do? Wasn't it playing into his hands? Did Korra care? Mako made one strong jump up to the stage, practically charging down the two (unresisting) dudes to get at his brother, and get him untied and off stage. "Bro, I was so worried about you..." He mutters, immediately moving to get Bolin clear. Which leaves Korra in the crowd near the front, staring down Lightning Bolt Zolt on stage, and the Solar who had been de-powered, defiant but not having directly revealed herself. A hand moves up to the DISGUISE HAT she had been using, pulling it off and revealing her lightly braided hair (and uncovered face) to the crowd, and Amon. "When I showed up in Republic City, I was amazed at the people, the inventions, everything. But my first day here, I met scum like Zolt. Someone who uses bending for the wrong reasons. But working everyone up into a riot over different people, that's... that's awful! You're no better than Zolt, Amon!" Mako issues a hushed 'c'mon!' to Crys, on stage, indicating the exit if they're gonna stick around to release more people.
Varrick	Varrick swears softly in Water Tribe and taps a finger on a fake-bearded chin. He steadies the camera as Amon keeps talking, and keeps talking, and keeps talking. It's almost like he's more interested in the /message/ than in doing what he's doing. Hmmmm... "Hey, Zhu Li. This is one of our /sound/ cameras right?" "Yes sir." "Good. Keep it rolling." He keeps creeping with Zhu Li, until something comes up. GIlgamesh's challenge. Ooof, slaughtering? Varrick doesn't want to be slaughtered! There's no way Gilgamesh has the connections to move meat as high a quality as Varrick meat! "Zhu Li! Quick, he's giving out money, this could be a great return on investment. Put that voice to work!" "Sir, you give better speeches." "Come on, Zhu Li! You want Varrick slaughtered?" She sighs. "Alright sir." "Tremendous. Now, say something like..." She hands off the camera as fast as she can, takes Varrick's disguise -- his beard becomes her old-lady hair -- and steps forward through the crowd. "Sir!" Zhu Li calls out, straightening things out so she seems ever-less-conspicuous, and speaking with a false agedness in her voice. "Strength that can't defend itself is weakness. If the wings of men should be respected, then when those men fail to hold onto them, isn't it their fault? If you rise up and fall back down again, you didn't have wings worth much to begin with! Isn't this just consequences of action? You can't demand people not be /at risk/ in the world, can you?" Something about her voice sounds /assistant-y/, as if it's designed at its root to specifically appeal to the rich and powerful, but she's speaking the local language, and at least has a note of strength in her voice, even if she lets plenty of fear creep into it too while she speaks. "Varrick saves the day again. Too bad I can't tell anyone I was here." He mutters, seeming to already be assuming his Genius Varrick Plan is going to be a success. He pushes on, trying to move fast enough that nobody will notice that The Famous Varrick is here, even though he's not really that /famous/ per se. You know who is famous? Korra. Mako jumps right into his camera's view like he'd meant to set that up, and the moment he recognizes /The Avatar/, his brain is ticking into place, locking the camera's view on her and getting all her input more. HMMMMMM. This is a profit situation. He's going to keep close to her; his eyes are all around already mapping the potential exits she might take, and which /he/ could take to ~coincidentally~ join her and position himself to influence what's coming up greedily, I mean help people.
Mei Hatsume	As Mei listens to the points pushed by Amon, 17, and Gilgamesh, she keeps her eyes focused on the prisoners from that high point in the rafters effortlessly. With the rescue targets clearly ID'd, it shouldn't be too hard to just swoop down and slap those braces on them. The slightly harder question is figuring out how to go for first. With Zolt and Bolin accounted for via Crys and Korra, however, that leaves... Zolt? Except with what Amon and Korra have already said about him, he could be a flight risk for legitimate victims here. Perfect opportunity to show off her stuff. Belting out a laugh as she dives from the rafters, Mei stops just short of hitting the ground with some carefully timed air bursts and a roll to stop right next to the gangster. "Even if you make some good points, you're no hero! Being a vigilante just puts regular people in danger and gives real heroes like..." ... Crap. Who here could qualify as a hero, anyway? Mei squints at Gilgamesh briefly from behind her goggles and shakes her head, then gives Android 17 a noncommittal waggle of her hand. "... Edgy heros a bad name. Now, what's the chances we can calm this all down and clear this up before anyone else gets hurt?" As she speaks, she tries to slap those braces on Zolt's legs. If she's not stopped, they'd go on rather snugly and (should he use said legs for movement) bolster his ability to move and run around considerably!
Crys Gattz	Crys Gattz gets Fluttering Flutting Orichalcum Maiden free. "We need to get you out of here." She looks to the young man as well he's on the list and Android 17 is handling with Bolt right now for one way or another, she keeps her staff ready. She sees Bolin's look. She'll move to try and get him to lose, she sees the snake go to work, wait? A snake? Then Korra and Mako get to work here with Balin, she's got the off-worlder lose. She's not sure she can make it to Zolt, and Android 17 is there. Also, Korra is there too, she has to make a move soon. Gil's words make her bristle she can get Amon even if she does not like his methods or his cutting people down. Gil? Oh Gil triggers so many bad memories of several incidents just as he keeps talking she bristles there's no time for him and she'll follow Mako's cue, she'll also look to the one she freed. "Time to go." She sighs she's going to make a go for Zolt, but then Mei acts? Well, now it's time to go. Also, they need to open the way for others if the blonde man gets going? She suspects the carnage on a certain old Confed Clown would adore would follow in those blades wake. She'll note to Mako. "Name's Crys and if we get out of this I got questions, so many questions."
Amon	Amon regards Android 17 indifferently. He turns slightly to gesture towards Fluttering Orichalcum Maiden searching animatedly for an improvised weapon, "I am afraid that your argument's lack of merit speaks for itself. I gave her freedom of movement, of her power, and a blank field of battle devoid of advantages. Perhaps she was frightened, or troubled by the fact that she had been subdued. But that is not stacking the desk. It is merely the price of doing business." "Each of my prisoners is guilty of misuse of their powers. I have already explained Zolt's crimes," He continues, "and the young man there was among his entourage at the time of his apprehension. If you were to go below stage, you would find that I have several members of the Triads in my care. I don't know your circumstances, Outsider." "But because you possess power," he gestures at 17, "whatever the source, you have the confidence to come and interfere in a misguided attempt to do a good thing. I believe that you have a good heart, but right now you are helping the people you claim to stand against because... you think that I tricked my followers?" He shakes his head, and focuses on Gilgamesh. But he doesn't say anything. Amon is not the one being called upon, and he isn't even really the one being threatened. This challenge is not a challenge to which he can rise. It is the man next to him that steps forward. The Lieutenant moves to the front of the stage and unsheathes the blades at his back-- but they're not blades, exactly. They're some kind of electro-rod device, crackling with power. He points one of them at Gilgamesh by way of challenge. "We didn't get here today by blindly agreeing with one man. Benders don't listen to us. The world doesn't listen to us! A man with a sword in his hand is more convincing than a man bare-handed, and benders are born holding a blade. Why shouldn't we disarm them if we can? And what makes you think that we're not trying to improve /ourselves/ along the way?" The Lieutenant draws his weapon up so that it's visible, running a current through it, "With tools and ingenuity we can /make/ ourselves equal. And when we've cut off their wings, when a quarter of mankind isn't born holding a blade, we can MAKE our own wings!" The crowd rises to cheer at this, and another man dressed in green and wearing a distinct green-and-yellow-trim hat calls, "Just the other day the Avatar threatened to shut me up with her bending! That's not the kind of world that we want!" There is a jerk from the side as the two guards at Bolin's sides are paralyzed. They topple to the floor with a clatter, the lenses on their masks gleaming an eerie green from just off the corner of the stage. Shortly after Mako makes his way on-stage and relieves him of his bindings. Bolin scrambles off-stage, rambling half-incoherently to Mako. Part of it is brotherly gratitude, the rest is blubbering about what a crazy person Amon is. "We're not doing this because anybody told us to! They don't take care of us, so we have to take care of ourselves!" Comes a cry in the crowd towards Gilgamesh. A buzz of like statements begins to rise in the surroundings. It gets louder when the /Avatar/ herself reveals her presence and says her piece. Amon walks to the edge of the stage. The crowd at the front parts around Korra. "I did not make these people." He reaches the edge of the stage and steps down. "I did not make them afraid." Another step. "I did not make them angry." He comes to a halt directly in front of Korra. "Republic City has had every opportunity to stop this. The /world/ has had every opportunity to stop this. None of these people ever asked for much. /I/ never asked for much. To be left alone, not to be extorted under threat of fire, just being listened to would have been enough. Do you think that I am the head of this beast, Avatar? I'm not." "I am its beating heart."
Amon	The masked man turns, gesturing at the crowd. They part around Gilgamesh -- which they were already doing besides, what with the magical weapons hovering in the air -- and Amon moves from facing the Avatar to facing the God-King. He comes to a halt a few yards away. His body tenses. "I will not permit you to harm these people." Amon states, plainly. He holds no weapons, offers no grand sorceries. As far as he has /said/, he has none to work with. His hands alone. The Lieutenant looks apprehensive, uncertain whether he should join in or not. More masked Equalists begin to emerge from under the stage, but none of them secure Zolt. Android 17 is free to take him -- in fact, none of the prisoners are being guarded anymore. Thanks to Mei's subsequent actions, getting him out of here won't even be substantially difficult. The Lieutenant is the one that Mei has the opportunity to speak to. He whirls as she enters the scene, spitting out a reply: "You don't look like the /police/ to me, lady!"
Gilgamesh	And so enters Korra. Gilgamesh watches her with some degree of interest. He's been paying attention to Android 17 for a while, but Korra is something new, something local, making a statement. People making statements are always worth his attention. He smirks. It's not a nice smirk. It's the smirk of a man being proven right. Zhu Li steps forward. She speaks in flattering terms. Gilgamesh considers for a bit, listening to her argument. The Lieutenant steps forward, and speaks passionately. Then, he chuckles. His eyes sink shut. "So cut their throats," Gilgamesh says simply at the question, his eyes the color of blood as they open. "Cut their throats and let them die. If you think that clipping wings is how you defend yourself, then you are a fool. Clipping wings is a statement. It demands respect from the powerful. It is fearmongering." Gilgamesh spreads his arms. "If they break the law, you punish them. There is no room for argument. But to argue that those with power should have their power stripped rather than their lives is simple stupidity. You may as well scream that it is unfair that the sun is allowed in the sky. You are not going to stop at punishing lawbreakers, are you? You will punish whomsoever you see fit. Whomsoever you imagine to have wronged you by having more than you." Gilgamesh reaches out with his hand, making a fist. "Do not think I do not know how modernity has tainted everything. You would claw me down if you thought you could because I have said words you do not like. Because my philosophy is not your philosophy. Whereas you are terrorists." Gilgamesh straightens. He makes a motion. Gold just falls into Zhu Li's hands, coins pouring out of a ripple in the air. He wasn't lying. It's enough for somebody to live on comfortably for the rest of their days. Coin falls into the hands of the Lieutenant as well, rich and heavy. "But I'll applaud you for standing up for yourselves. That makes three of you Equalists I can respect." Gilgamesh snaps his fingers. The Gate of Babylon vanishes. "The rest of you cowards who can speak only when someone else speaks for you owe your lives to them. Don't forget it." He looks Amon in the eye. "I despise you and all that you stand for. But the word of the King of Heroes is his word. And you are a man with the will to change the world." "That, in and of itself, is respectable, regardless of how much I may loathe your philosophy."
Android 17	"You're missing my point. My point is that you choose to attack them, because they're not you," Seventeen says, turning towards those tied up. He moves, untying each one, assuming he's not beaten to them first, and keeps an eye on Amon and his guard, taking his time of it. Gilgamesh provides gold and a show, but he does not focus on the King of Heros, because right now they're obsensively allies...and asshole has a point. "You want someone to defend you against people like this?" He says, looking to Korra, "Looks like you already have someone.." though to the guy who claimed a threat, he looks at her, "Were you being a jerk? Because you seem like kind of a jerk," Seventeen says, with a wry, but small, smile. "Punishing them for missuse? I can get behind this. Defending yourself is fine...the problem I have is with the other part of your statements. That all people with powers are the cause of your suffering." He says, after finishing the last one, and steps back up, walking towards Amon, but no violence in his eyes, his arms out peacefully. "Might makes right is the cry heard around the world...so if you want to change the world, instead of just making the new boss, same as the old boss, then I suggest rethinking the source of your anger.." he looks towards the Yakuza. "And not.." he looks towards Korra. "Anyway, I'm done here. This has gotten to be too big for me, and people are far too heated." he says, walking towards the exit. "But I'll be watching. This has my interest."
Finna	Hooray, Bolin is free! This leaves the tinysnake free to FLING ITSELF 'offstage' and over the crowd, up and onto a catwalk or girder or whatever happens to be upraised. It is a factory, overall. There's gotta be something high to perch on! And perch she does. In fact, she seats herself on whatever it is that she's landed on... shifting back to human form. She would appear to be seated calmly, white-furred tail visible to the crowd and currently curled around to rest in her lap, while her ears are high on alert. She's chosen a silver-and-blue qipao for her attire, yet with little luster. It's sharp, but hardly a sparkling jewel of an outfit. She's otherwise barefoot and unadorned. If that was all then perhaps there'd be nothing to say or draw attention to her up there, but... But it would seem that Gilgamesh isn't the only one here who can turn heads. A second spotlight casts shadows and draws the eye in this place. One that Finna generates herself. Her slim and athletic body simply exudes a silvery-white-blue flame that shows deeper colors in streaks from time to time - dark blue, purple, even the deep dark of the shrouded moon. A glittering crescent moon is showing on her head, and her words are somehow reaching everyone below despite not being raised to an actual shout. "Have any of you put a thought into why someone would go to the effort of standing up against people he's outright claimed are supernaturally gifted? Do you think it's easy to take on these Benders or one of the Chosen with only those things the ungifted can do? Look at who's in this crowd. I see nobody of wealth, nobody of obvious influence. They do not care for this meeting. They don't even care that the leader of a troublesome gang has been captured and awaits punishment. Now whyyyyyyyyyy is that? Why is a man like THIS taking action instead of local authorities? Could it be that this man's words have SOME truth to them?"
Mei Hatsume	"Mei Hatsume, provisional Hero, student in UA's Support Department, inventor, Paladin!" Mei introduces herself finally as the Lieutenant addresses her, turning towards him with a practiced flourish and brief bow at the waist for added flair. Her eyes are on his electrified weapon, however, an impressed grin forming on her face as she steps closer. "I can't fault any of you for using some ingenuity to get around a lack of power. People like us have to compete with all this somehow!" She gestures at herself and the harness on her back before gesturing around vaguely towards the other non-locals in the area. "... But what's-his-face is right." She jerks a thumb back towards 17. " Defending yourself is one thing, but swinging your gear around at anyone and everyone with better powers doesn't make you any better than them. A true innovator would take inspiration from their powers to invent something better themselves!" She laughs freely now, patting her harness once before turning back to Lieutenant. "Did you make that weapon? Because with gear like that, I bet even someone with no powers and plenty of training could join the police and get some real work done. Not with all the mob mentality, but with..." A pause, and then she glances back towards Zolt. Mei can't forget her potential business opportunity after all this! "... Hey! What's-your-name. Are you really a gangster? If so, I'll need you to come with me."
Crys Gattz	Thing is getting more and more intense people are clearing out now and she's keen to beat feet herself. There may be more to drag out of here later, but? For now, she's got to haul tail and hopefully, she can get some more answers from some of the locals on the rescue side of things. Even as she's clearing out Androids 17's and even Gil's words hit her she does hear them there are things to think on and maybe she's getting old? That worries her but she keeps moving she does not mean to get spotlight nay it's time for her to clear out. Yet she feels she should stop, she halts a bit near the way out. To her dismay she can not find any words worth saying that has not been said better. This may be something to reflect upon for herself but for now, she'll aim to get out and keep tabs on Bolin and his comrades. Hopefully, she can get those answers, right?
Korra	Mako gives a thumbs-up and an "I'm Mako!" at Crys Gatts offhandedly and mouths as they seperate (because he can't be heard over the din and doesn't wanna draw attention to himself by actually shouting over people) a 'later' to her. Bolin blubbers an 'I'm Bo-ho-ho-liiiiin!' but he's being a useless baby and not an ace battler at the moment becuase he almost got spiritually killed and didn't. Also because Mako being seperated from Korra is as God Intended. The pair buzz off in the confusion. Korra is not the only one raising their voice, and as Amon stalks up to her, Korra's eyes unfocus as she listens to Gilgamesh, the King, and Seventeen's words. Her eyes refocus on Lightning Bolt Zolt as he too is aided and runs off, and the strange outsider with the golden sun powers who had been helping the Triple Threats rummages for a weapon. "Cutting people's throats isn't the answer. Avatar Aang fought for everyone, to save the world from war and conflict and... All of this." Korra levels her eyes at the man in the mask he bears down on her, and she wavers in words if not in action. "But men like him - men like this exist because... it's because..." Gilgamesh's words are intense, his thoughts striking, and more - repulsive. Killing people... But was Amon any different? Taking away their bending was like killing someone too, carving off a limb. "It's because the Avatar failed them. I failed them. I spent all the time cooped up in the South, not doing anything, just... training, and wasting time not getting out there. But taking away people's bending is madness! Born with a sword in their hand? Amon, you have a power too! You're not equal, even to your followers! Just because it doesn't affect people without powers, doesn't mean it's not a power. That's..." Korra raises her hand, placing it across her chest, splayed-fingered. "But when I came to Republic City, I saw how wonderful it was! And how it needed help, too. That's my /job/. It's not yours, Amon. The spirits chose me to bring balance, to help people, to be the Avatar. Not you. Stop this, before more people get hurt!" Her impassioned speech rings with conviction and confidence, but of course, has the fatal flaw of also Being Entirely About Her. "Attacking people - anyone, bender or not - will make them scared, it'll make them lash out. Is that what you want? A war?!"
Amon	Amon thought he would have to fight, and he wasn't certain he had the power to defeat this individual without using his own Bending overtly. It's a subtle change, but the tension disappears from his body language when Gilgamesh snaps his fingers and the weapons vanish from their patches of distorted sky. He folds his arms behind his back again and surveys Gilgamesh thoughtfully. After a moment's silence he answers, "It is because of such carelessness that our world has never been in true Balance. That is why it is necessary to remove such powers from the stage of the world-- and it is why my obsolescence is inevitable. Amon is not necessary in an equalized world." "No individual has lifted the world in rightness, not even the Avatar. In the end the Avatar dies and is reborn, and in that time cannot enforce its own legacy. Its works crumble and become a tool in the hands of another. Even Avatar Aang." "I did not expect you to stay your hand," he says, "and so I must say that the sentiment is mutual. Our worlds are not compatible." With that situation resolved bloodlessly, Amon looks back towards 17. His vision slides between the young man and Korra, and there his gaze seems to bore into her. He says, "The world without is a different place, and perhaps nuanced in ways that this one is not. But the Benders you rescued did not deserve your beneficence any more than the extraversal did. They are parasites, and without their power they could be parasites no longer." "As for the Avatar..." He stalks back towards where Korra stands, even as she begins to speak to him. The mask betrays no emotions. The eyes that stare out from it are dull and intense, not precisely lifeless but neatly conveying the depths of an individual who has utterly committed to their vision. There is no doubt, no thought that he could conceivably be wrong. "The Avatar is a failure. Avatar Kyoshi left behind the secret police of Ba Sing Se, and Avatar Roku left behind the engineer of the hundred year war. Avatar Aang disappeared from the world, and when finally he reappeared he founded a /nation/ with land that was not his... paving the road for here, and now." "Avatar Korra is also a failure, but it is not because she was hidden away from the world. That was outside of her control." "Avatar Korra is a failure because at any time she could have stood up for these people," he spreads his arms out, "could have stood up for US-- and she did not. Challenging me was more important to the Avatar than showing the barest amount of care for the lives of the people here. Bending is more precious a thing to the Avatar than every ordinary citizen in this factory." Amon returns to the stage, moving to the center of the platform. The Lieutenant and a good dozen masked equalists join him, dragging paralyzed guards over towards them. The lights begin to go out. His head turns subtly towards Finna, to whom he offers a curt nod. Having somebody speaking for him is good-- but he doesn't feel favorably towards the /kind/ of being it evidently is. A mechanical grinding sound echoes through the factory and the center platform descends below stage. The Lieutenant makes an impatient, huffy noise in Mei's direction. Finally, the lights finish going out.
Amon	Lightning Bolt Zolt eyes Mei suspiciously as he moves for the exit, "Nope. Not a gangster at all. You want to talk to me, you'll have to do it here. I'm not following no extraversal to spirits-knows-where. You can find me at..." He describes an address downtown, near some docks. "And you--" He stops to point at 17, "I owe you bigtime. I won't forget it. You need a favor, you come see me and we'll talk." Zolt scratches his head and nods at Mei, "You too. Pretty much /all/ of you crazy extraversals. Just don't be askin' me to wander off to some weird place I've never been before." Meanwhile, Fluttering Orichalcum Maiden is following Crys Gattz-- she has no idea how else to get out of this place, and her usual tools to do so are indisposed.
Gilgamesh	Gilgamesh laughs at Amon. "There has never been balance, so long as humans are greedy. The gods have always needed someone else to do their work. You are not that someone. I can see it in your eyes and hear it on your tongue." With that, Gilgamesh walks past him. He just walks right on by, waving his hand over his shoulder. "I am the King. I am not human. I have lifted the world in rightness before. Perhaps I will do it again. Everyone seems to be urging me to do so in their own ways." He steps up on stage. He lets Amon talk. He doesn't care to interrupt or get in the way. He just watches the masked man talk to her. The lights go out, and Amon goes down, and Gilgamesh lights the room with what appears to be an ancient stone flashlight, which is all kinds of nonsense but apparently what he's holding. He looks Korra in the eyes. "Tell me, Avatar." "How will you stop him without cutting his throat?" "Consider my interest..." The King of Heroes puts on a self-assured smirk. "Piqued."
Mei Hatsume	The grinding noise has Mei straightening up with a mildly excited grin on her face. She's seen elevators and moving platforms before, sure, but it's never not exciting seeing how different worlds develop their own! After taking a moment to watch the platform descend (with or without the mechanical parts actually being visible), the inventor turns her attention backtowards Zolt. Something about him/the people that had spoken about him has her doubting the truthfulness of his words, but she doesn't press him further. "Sure thing. Yeah, there's some interesting stuff around here. It wouldn't hurt to have a local perspective on it all that isn't crazy by your standards." Laughing once more, she eventually turns back to Amon and Korra. More specifically, she's going to be listening more closely to their conversation with Finna and Gilgamesh.
Crys Gattz	Crys Gattz smiles faintly at Mako. She keeps moving and she gets later, there will be a time to talk, time to learn? Later once they are out of here, she seems to have fallen into something worth digging into more. Also with Bolin? She makes note of that and she'll keep moving to get out into the city and she gestures for Fluttering Orichalcum Maiden to keep with them. There's a lot to talk about later.
Android 17	Seventeen doesn't say anything to the Gangster as he gets his 'thanks'. He looks back towards Aman as he gets ready to leave, "Maybe. But I have a brother who watches on, and I couldn't rightly face him in a situation I didn't find very fair," A beat, "And it was my decision." When everything goes out, and eventually goes back on with people standing around. He starts walking away again. "Well, that was fun. See you around." He says towards the others.
Korra	Korra stands there, and her fear bolsters her fight response. She wants to fight. She loves fighting. She's GOOD at fighting. Her power is not just her mantle, her burden, but her guilty pleasure. It is pleasing to be powerful. And she holds those wavering thoughts next to her heart, with her resolve. She is good at lying to herself, as any priveleged child is. Rationalizing. "I came here to help someone. I came to this city to stop hiding in the shadows. If the Avatar is a failure, then I'll change what it means. If I-" Amon presses her buttons and grandstands, and Amon is a far, far better speaker than Korra is, even if it was also true the deck was all but wholly stacked in his favor. These were his sympathizers. "You're lying!" She snaps back. "That's..-!" She raises a hand, a finger outstretched, her whole body language shifting forward, and then she catches it. The looks. Everything. Her hand falls, with a steadying breath. "That's twisting everything to be convenient for you. But the reason I'm /not/ bending, why I'm speaking, is because a fight here... it'd be bad. People would get hurt. Aang made Republic City with the Firelord Zuko, because it was the right thing to do. Not tear apart families. HE did that for all of you! You can't just..." Korra's voice catches in her throat as Amon turns and fucks off, her social defeat complete, even with all the smart words she could summon filling the air. Her foot stamps, hard, and a tremor ripples through the building shaking loose a bit of dust from the ground but nothing more. "I don't know yet. But I know doing it surrounded by innocent people, with hostages, isn't the right thing for me to do. This whole thing..." Korra looks at the stage, and the Equalists filing out, and then bends over to pick up her knit cap from the floor, holding it in her hands. "If it's words, I'll think of better ones. If it's a fight, I'll win it. I won't end this with..." "With..." Korra tugs her knit cap on angrily, turning to leave. "With a knife in the dark. I'm the Avatar, I'm not going to give him what he wants. If I do that, he'll win anyway."
Finna	Finna's anima dies down swiftly - as, since she flared it herself, she has much more control of it than if she'd been letting her powers run wild. In no time at all she's simply... well... not exactly normal, but not glowing either. The mark of the moon fades to a duller silvery sheen, but remains prominently on her forehead as she pipcks herself up and takes a flying LEAP across the stage. She doesn't seem to care about Amon leaving... ... but she does take the opportunity to land about eight feet away from Korra, landing as if she weighed nothing on impact. "You already gave him what he wanted. You gave him an opportunity to make Benders look bad. An important one, from the sound of it. Avatar? What's an Avatar?" Finna makes an aloof but 'I am listening' gesture of fidgeting with one of her ears while her tail loosely wags back and forth. "You confronted the beast in its den, alone and unprepared. A man like that will spin your own words against you so that people take his side, and everyone here was already curious. And you didn't know what he was capable of. You didn't even know if he was simply putting on a show and has no power, did you?" She sighs in clear agitation, and shrugs irritably. "I think the handsome lord over there spoke the most sense here... if with all the grace of a thornbush to the face."
Varrick	Zhu Li grabs the cash with an acted desperation and a graceful practice of someone who has spent too long trying to catch random shit Varrick throws around. She hardly seems annoyed at the indignity of the situation. Varrick is still steadied and running that camera. Eyes wide, teeth clenched, brow quirked. He's got a look on that is focused and finely tuned to opportunity. Before he was just interested in whatever this guy was doing or using to accomplish those goals, and getting some test footage. Now, though, he's far more interested in what sort of opportunities this guy presents for moving and making money. If this gets the crowd into a tear like this... Zhu Li rejoins his side. "Zhu Li, note to future Varrick." "Yes sir?" "Invent putting parts of movers near other parts." "Sir, people might get the wrong idea if they watch." "No, they'll get /their right idea/. Now gimmie my beard back." "Yes sir." After inventing ruthless video spinning, he hands the camera off and pulls back a little, re-bearding and regarding the dangers of the situation. It looks like things are tense, but calming. The fight he was worried about isn't breaking out. It's mostly threats and angry words, perfect for film. Savvy eyes recognize potent material. He's got his plan for now. Keeping the film, he's gotta sell it to the council first. Before he spins it... He's gotta use this. Another man might look at this and see an opportunity for distributing news, but with the lights going off, Varrick is seeing a second opportunity. He pulls back for now. Korra and the others are likely to see him later, on an entirely different topic. "Zhu Li. Note to future Varrick. Invent a camera for security. Talk to Beifong and get in contact with the Council." Oh yes, that's the inspiration tonight. Varrick's properly having to deal with a guerilla urban resistance, so what he comes up with is... the /surveilance state/. No doubt he'll be selling that later.