Iroh didn't have a limo like his mother, but the general's car was ostentatious enough in its own right. One of his men was behind the wheel and the rest were in another car behind them leaving Korra seated in the back with Iroh. There had been a third car when they left the restaurant but Iroh's men had pushed Machi into it and the vehicle had made a left turn and disappeared from the convoy while the other two vehicles had gone straight through an intersection. "There's something I don't get here. That guy tries to kill me and you show up a couple of minutes later. How did you even know where I was?"

The general glanced out his side window for a moment looking over his shoulder to check on the car behind him before returning his attention to Korra. "Your taxi driver told us you were there. His orders were to drop you off at a restaurant and my men were supposed to have been on site with you. But you ended up going down to the Harbor, something none of us expected to happen. We thought you would've stayed in the Caldera but you caught us all by surprise. He dropped you off and made his way to the nearest phone to inform us of where you were but you had already dealt with Machi by the time we arrived."

Korra frowned at him and folded her arms across her chest. "You were following me? Why?"

Iroh grimaced as he started to explain, already knowing she wasn't going to like what he had to say. "We were shadowing you yes. Try not to take this the wrong way but it was for your protection."

The frown on Korra's face deepened as she started to glare at him. "My protection? I don't need your help to protect myself. I'm the Avatar."

Most people would have wilted or cringed underneath the look Korra was directing at Iroh but he was seemingly unperturbed by it. "You don't need to tell me that. I've fought beside you before and I'm well aware of how skilled you are, you've even saved my life before if you'll recall. You can handle yourself in a fight but the Fire Nation is... more dangerous than you realize."

That made her snort, somewhat amused and somewhat disdainful. "The Fire Nation is dangerous? Because of one man who was foolish enough to attack me with something made of metal?."

Iroh drummed his fingers against his knee as he muttered to himself. "How to explain this... let me ask you something Korra. Have you ever heard of the term 'face' before?" She shook her head no and he continued. "It's not something the other nations have a real analogue for but it's extremely important in the Fire Nation. The easiest way to put it is that face is how a person or house is perceived but that's an oversimplification. It governs the way we interact with each other in public and can dictate our actions at time. But only in public, what happens behind closed doors or when no one is watching is another matter entirely."

Behind closed doors or when no one is watching... a piece of the puzzle clicked into place for Korra. "Before Machi attacked me, everyone there left and it was just me and his group."

"Exactly. When those people saw Machi enter with his thugs, they knew why he was there and what was going to happen. They could have stayed and helped you but that would have been the greater sin in the Fire Nation. No one actually saw him try to kill you so it never happened. And since there never was an assassination attempt no one's face was damaged. Not his, not yours, not the Fire Nation's. And you should consider yourself lucky he chose to attack you directly. It would have been far easier for him to poison your food or drink than to try and fight you outright."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing out of Iroh. "Never happened!? What do you mean it didn't happen? You know exactly what he tried to do to me!"

He looked at her with an inscrutable expression. "I have a very good idea of what happened but to say 'I know' isn't accurate. I didn't see it so I technically don't know. The only other people there besides you and Machi were his thugs. I suspect all three are alcoholics with no face and thus no credibility so their word counts for nothing."

"So he tries to kill me and just gets away with it? Where's the justice in that?"

Iroh simply shook his head "Oh, who says he's just going to get away with it? Machi will be dealt with I assure you. But in our own way, best not to trouble yourself with the details. Besides which, we're here." He gestured at the outside towards the building they had parked in front of. Korra had lost track of where they were during the conversation but judging from her surroundings she realized that she was back in the caldera on top of the volcano. The driver opened her door as Iroh continued to speak "I'd love to stay but I have some matters to attend to. One of my men will stay here until your dress is finished. Just tell the tailor you need a dress for the Forgotten Dragon tonight and she'll take care of the rest."

One of the men from the car following her and Iroh had gotten out as well but just the one. The two cars disappeared down the road and Korra had the distinct impression that Iroh's advice had been right, she didn't want to know what they were doing. She turned to look at the brick building but there wasn't much to see, just a pair of golden shears set above a solid wooden door. Iroh's man opened the door to let Korra enter but he remained outside, shutting the door behind her.

The first room Korra found herself in was a small foyer holding a desk with a teenage girl sitting at a counter with a log sheet sitting on top of it. The girl didn't look up as a small bell rang from Korra's entrance. "Leave your name and address and we'll contact you when those ahead of you have been served."

Korra picked the log up, more out of curiosity than anything else and began to read. The first page was full and so was the second and half of the third. Some of the names on the top sheet had been crossed out but there was roughly a good two months of waiting time judging by the dates that had been left by previous visitors. It was pointless but signing her name was more amusing than it should have been. "Well, I signed my name but I don't exactly have an address I can leave for you."

The attendant raised her eyes from whatever it was she was doing, a look of irritation on her face until she saw just who was standing there. Her mouth worked wordlessly before she turned and hurried up a flight of stairs at the back of the room as quickly as she could while still maintaining some shred of dignity. A few moments later and she was back, another woman in tow. This other woman was significantly older and had more gray then black atop her head though her face was unlined. Her eyes were sharp and clear as they made their way to Korra. "So the Avatar really is here. Return to your mother Tora and think on what you did wrong today."

Tora scurried away and her boss, presumably, bowed to Korra. "Please forgive my fool of a granddaughter. She is normally properly behaved but I fear she let her shock at seeing you get the better of her. I am Elim and this is my shop. How may I be of service Avatar Korra?"

It had only been a few minutes since he had told her but it took Korra a couple of seconds to recall the name of the restaurant Iroh had said they were going to. "I need a dress for the... the... Forgotten Dragon tonight."

Elim took a step back and she gave Korra's outfit an appraising look. "You'll certainly need a dress for that place and a pair of shoes to go with it as well. I can provide these for you but there is the question of payment and may I ask who referred you to us?"

Korra dug her hand into one pocket as she pulled out the golden disc that Omasu had given her earlier and held it up for Elim to see. "Will this do? I don't really know what it is but I was told it'd pay for anything I need. And General Iroh sent me."

The owner of the shop leaned forward as she peered at the disc in Korra's hand before nodding in satisfaction. "General Iroh? Ah you mean the Prince." She turned and gestured to a door at the side of the room "Come with me Avatar Korra, let us see what catches your eye."

A small party of almost faceless plastic mannequins stood at attention in the next room over. Dresses of a dozen different colors and even more styles hung on them and one wall was covered in shelves holding various kinds of shoes. Elim clasped her hands in front of her as she watched Korra slowly make her way through the room inspecting the outfits one at a time. Korra had gone clothes shopping before but the sheer variety of the styles she could see was enough to make her head ache. It wasn't until now that she regretted not bringing her ceremonial dress that she had always used at events in Republic City. If nothing else that would have saved her from this conundrum, a problem only exacerbated by the fact that she really knew almost nothing about fashion whatsoever. Korra turned towards Elim. "Okay, I admit it, I'm lost. A little help?"

Elim didn't smirk or laugh at Korra's fashion induced plight, she didn't even blink for that matter. Instead she pointed at a few of the dresses. "These ones are currently popular in the Fire Nation but I wouldn't recommend those for you. Your clothes are a little baggy but I can tell that these dresses wouldn't compliment your figure very well. What I would recommend is this one here." Her upraised palm was pointed at a black dress that Korra hadn't really noticed before.

Korra's face reddened a bit just from looking at it. The dress didn't have any shoulders or straps to hold it up and there was just enough cleavage shown to hint at what lay beneath. It looked fairly tight around the chest and waist which must how it stayed up and there was a slit down one side that would show off one of her legs. All in all, a dress she would never have picked out on her own. "Why this one?"

"It's one of the current trends in Republic City which I believe is where you live. Once you leave the Fire Nation, this dress will still be fashionable enough for you to wear over there unlike say the domestic trends here. The second reason is that if you'll excuse my impertinence, this dress is well suited for someone with your particular body shape and I believe you'll wear it quite well. Would you care to try it on or shall we look at other options?"

The Avatar eyed it for a long moment before coming to a decision. "No, I'll trust your judgment. Do I just take this dress here or what?"

Elim shook her head. "No, this one here is merely for display. I'll have to get your measurements so the dress can be properly fitted to you. If you'll come with me, there's a private room where this can be done." The tailor or seamstress or whatever she was turned and headed back into the foyer and up the stairs towards where Tora had retrieved her from. The staircase ended in a hallway with multiple doors to each side and Elim opened one for Korra and gestured for her to enter. "Please wait here for me to gather my things, Avatar Korra."

This room wasn't very big but it had everything it needed to suit its intended purpose. A pair of full length mirrors on the wall, a dressing partition with fire lilies painted on it, hooks on the wall for holding clothes and a small raised platform in the middle of the room. Elim didn't take very long to return, pencil, paper and a roll of measuring tape in hand. "Now then, I apologize in advance for any offense I might give at this time. How do you wish to proceed with fitting this dress to you?"

Korra frowned, a bit lost at what Elim was asking. "What do you mean? You said you had to get my measurements. How would that offend me?"

The older woman almost looked like she wanted to chuckle but was suppressing it for the sake of professionalism. "Excuse me for not being clear but women who are being measured for dresses here do so in the nude. It ensures that our numbers are as accurate as they can be and helps us to avoid any mistakes when adjusting clothing. I wasn't sure if that would be an issue for you or not so I wanted to clarify the matter."

Korra shook her head vehemently at the thought of stripping naked. "I'm not doing that, can't you just measure me with my clothes on?"

Elim hesitated as she considered the request. "I can understand your hesitation but this dress is made for wearing without a bra. Getting your measurements with one on would make our work seem sloppy and I hate to be seen as amateurish. If you insist then I can measure you in your underwear and try to estimate the difference but I can't promise it'll work and with this particular dress that could be even more embarrassing since the dress might not stay on properly. We could also select a different dress if that's what you desire."

She hesitated for a long moment but the woman had been exceptionally polite and professional since Korra had come in. "All right fine. But. This. Never. Happened." Taking off her shoes, shirt and trousers wasn't too bad but Korra's face reddened as she undid the clasp on her bra and pulled it off leaving her nude minus the thin piece of fabric covering her groin and buttocks. Elim gestured to the dais in the middle of the room and Korra stepped up onto it.

But by some miracle Elim somehow didn't seem to notice the Avatar's embarrassment as she crouched down and began measuring Korra's legs with the tape in her hands. The tailor moved upwards and wrapped the soft measuring tool around the widest part of Korra's hips. Afterwords she stepped away and wrote a pair of numbers down on her work order sheet. "Please bend to one side Avatar Korra so I can find your waist's crease." A moment later and Elim writing down another number below the other two. "Very good Avatar Korra. One more to go, please let me know me you are ready and I will measure your bust."

Korra took a deep breath to steady her nerves and held up her arms up for the tailor. "Go ahead." Elim took a step closer, her face level with Korra's chest as she pressed one end of the tape against one breast and held it in place with her fingertips. The other end was guided around Korra's back until the tape began to overlap on itself. Elim held the tape in place against the Avatar's breasts just long enough for her to check the number before letting it drop.

"Thank you for your patience Avatar. You may dress yourself now if you wish." Elim wrote down the final number on her worksheet. "Is there anything you need while I have your dress adjusted?"

A number of questions came to mind as she thankfully pulled her bra back on. "I haven't had anything to eat, can you get me a snack or something to drink?" Elim bowed in acquiescence and Korra asked the other question on her mind. "This didn't seem to bother you, seeing me without a bra. Why is that?"

For once, the professional demeanor cracked and the older woman chuckled dryly "My dear, I've been a tailor for a very long time. It was embarrassing for me at first but the novelty of seeing seeing another woman naked quickly wears off when it happens regularly." She looked around furtively and leaned forward as if sharing a secret. "Now if I happened to have a man come in here, then I assure you I would be blushing brighter than you just did but fortunately this is an exclusive establishment."

And then the moment passed and Elim was back to her professional self as she bowed once again. "Thank you for honoring me with your patronage Avatar Korra. Your dress will be ready in an hour or two. Until then I'll have refreshments brought here."

Korra blinked in surprise. "Only a couple of hours? Isn't that rushing it?"

Elim gave a small smile in response. "For another tailor perhaps but let me assure you that we are exceptionally skilled here." She bowed once more and exited the room leaving Korra to wait for this dress and more importantly, the refreshments she had been promised.