Note: Are we excited for the masquerade? It's not this chapter (sorry), but shiz is going to be going down at the masquerade. I promise. As always, thanks for the reviews, follows, etc. You peeps are too kind.

Noatak spent the day by himself. He spent most of his days on the boat or with Korra. Korra probably wanted to be by Noatak right now, but she needed to be at the palace for fittings and other planning meetings regarding the ball for her birthday that took place at the end of the week. This was good for Noatak though because he either seemed to be around Korra non-stop or on the boat- never having time to work on Korra's birthday gift. Today happened to be a day off for Noatak. So he walked out to the markets in hopes to find what he was looking for.

Today seemed busy as usual for the market. Lots of people trying to strike deals with more desperation as the day ended. Noatak ignored them. He was a man with a very simple goal. He stopped by a few of the tents but found himself largely disappointed in the selections.

"Noatak! What's going on?" Nanuq said.

Noatak briefly looked up from the spread he was looking at before being greeted with a strong embrace from Nanuq. Nigaq stood out with her hands on her hips.

"Nanuq. Can't you contain yourself?" Nigaq said.

If Nanuq was a bear of a man, Nigaq was his equal despite her limited height. She stood her ground though. Nigaq looked just as non-traditional as her husband was. She wore her black hair short, wore no betrothal necklace, and wore fitted clothing closer to Republic City fashions. Noatak only met her once when she invited him over for dinner with Nanuq's family. She spoke brashly and made the best tiger seal roast. Nigaq disliked people who were weak willed and disrespectful. Once you crossed Nigaq, you lost her trust and respect completely. Noatak respected her but probably because one can only respect someone that you also simultaneously fear.

"Noatak, what are you doing by yourself? Nanuq told me a while ago that you have a pretty wife. Why isn't she around?" Nigaq asked.

"I never said she was his wife. I said she was his lady friend," Nanuq said.

"That sounded a lot like a wife to me," Nigaq said.

"She's not my wife. We're… in a relationship," Noatak said.

Nigaq eyed Noatak at his words. She looked practically right through him. Her lips pursed, and her eyes narrowed. Noatak didn't know what Nigaq wanted. He just knew that he was embarrassed to say the word "lovers" in public. He was also embarrassed about saying that word in private to Korra. He hadn't said that word seriously since he was Korra's age. The word seemed ridiculous to Noatak now. He didn't think it carried the kind of appropriate description of his relationship with Korra.

"It must be quite serious if you're getting one of those. No one carves betrothal pendants anymore," Nigaq said.

Nigaq pointed to the uncut stones in front of Noatak.

"I guess. Your husband was actually the one who suggested it," Noatak said.

Nanuq blushed fiercely. Nigaq smiled. She got up on her tiptoes and gave Nanuq a peck.

"Nanuq, you're such a romantic," Nigaq said.

"I just thought he might as well get married to her. You should see them look at each other every time he goes to work. You look like a love sick polar bear puppy," Nanuq said.

Noatak rolled his eyes.

"I don't. Besides, you do the same," Noatak said.

"You don't have to listen to him Noatak. I don't," Nigaq said.

"Nigaq!" Nanuq said.

"I'm just saying… Anyway, which of these stones are you going to pick? I'd tell you what to pick, but I don't even know what she looks like," Nigaq said.

"She's very beautiful," Noatak said.

"You don't have to tell me. Sirmiq told me she was very beautiful and rather young. Though… those weren't the words he used to describe her. I heard something to the effect of how she is rather… curvaceous," Nigaq said.

"That's a way to put it. She has teal eyes and similar skin tone to you. Brown hair," Noatak said.

"Teal eyes? That sounds special. Well, you should pick that stone then," Nigaq said.

Nigaq pointed to a bright blue stone. Noatak looked at the stone and touched it like he could already feel how the stone would look in its finished form. He shook his head.

"I don't think this will work. It certainly would work for you though," Noatak said.

He took the stone and placed it next to Nigaq's own blue eyes before placing the stone back down. He didn't mind Nigaq's suggestion, but he felt like the stone wasn't precious enough.

"I do think this stone will work though," Noatak said.

Noatak pointed to piece of stone rough and stormy gray blue stone. Noatak picked the stone up and examined it. The price tag tied to the stone read some rather large sum of Yuans. Noatak didn't even flinch at the price. Nanuq grabbed the stone and looked at the price tag. He made an unseemly squeal at the sight.

"5,000 YUANS? You have to be kidding me. You could probably get one of those premade necklaces for that price," Nanuq said.

Noatak grabbed the stone back from Nanuq and motioned for the shopkeeper to come over to them.

"This is imported from the Earth Kingdom. Correct?" Noatak said.

The shopkeeper nodded and took the stone from Noatak. He grabbed his little magnifying glass hanging from his neck and took the glass to his eyes. He examined the stone and nodded to himself.

"Yes… I bought it from a trader not too long ago. You have some exquisite taste," the shopkeeper said.

"Thank you. Then I hope we can agree to an appropriate price then," Noatak said.

"Five thousand Yuans is the price," the shopkeeper said.

"You heard the gentleman over here. For 5,000 Yuans, I could go to a proper jeweler in the city and purchase a very beautifully crafted pendant and set it for the same price. I'm sure you understand why I'm a little leery over this price," Noatak said.

"There's no jeweler in this city that has a stone like this!"

"Right you are. They actually carve and polish theirs."

"I paid an incredible sum to get that gem before the jewelers did."

"I don't doubt that, but 900 Yuans isn't that incredible when you consider what you are charging. So… I say 2,000 Yuans. That's quite a profit for you."

"You can't expect me to let this stone go for free! I have to make money on this. I have a family!"

"2,500 perhaps?"

"4,500!"

"Hm… I still say 2,500."

"4,000! I can't go any lower."

"I say 3,000. Take it or leave it. I can go to a jeweler if you say no."

The shopkeeper held the stone in his hand and looked at Noatak.

"Let's see the money," he said.

Noatak pulled out the wallet he kept inside his jacket. He opened the wallet and counted out the bills in front of man.

"…I guess I could part with this for that price."

Noatak smiled.

"I'm glad we can agree then."

The shopkeeper placed the stone in a small cloth bag and handed it in exchange for Noatak's money. Noatak placed the stone inside his jacket pocket and turned to Nigaq and Nanuq.

"And this is where I'm afraid we'll have to part. I have to go to a jeweler to get the setting for this," Noatak said.

"That's fine. I can't wait to see what the necklace will look like," Nigaq said.

"I'm sure someday you will," Noatak said.

"Please come over sometime with her. I want to see what woman could ever capture your attention," Nigaq said.

Noatak nodded and waved goodbye to Nigaq and Nanuq. He was fairly happy to know that they would not be with him in the next part of his journey for Korra's gift. He didn't want to explain where he had the money to afford the setting of his betrothal pendant and the stone. Admittedly, Noatak spent very little of his money he made on the fishing boats. He practically horded all his money. Not that he would be considered cheap. He just had little to spend his money on outside of his rent and food. Noatak rarely indulged in purchasing items not considered necessities. Korra's birthday gift would be the first time he would have spent his money on something so lavish.

Noatak took a rail car to the upper district near the palace. He knew of a jeweler from his younger days that resided there. The particular jeweler was an artisan in the truest sense. The pieces he created were not merely jewelry for rich patrons to wear but works of craftsmanship and artistry. He was known for his finicky attitude towards customers and perfectionism. The man could have been famous all throughout the world with the richest clientele if he wanted to, but his personality and dedication to his art and craft made for less than great business. The jeweler was lucky to have a son with this sort of business sense. This son ran the store while his younger brother apprenticed with his father in jewelry making.

The bell rung as Noatak opened the door of the small jewelry store tucked away in the upper district. He looked around at the deep green walls and rich wood furniture. The place looked like it did when Noatak came there as a young man. He looked at the displayed jewelry in some of the cases before a man dressed in a blue suit and shiny black shoes walked toward the counter Noatak stood at.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" the man said.

"Yes, does Kanosak still do the work here?" Noatak said.

"Very little of it. My brother does most of the work that you see here. The work my father does is… of a priceless nature," the man said.

"I'm very aware of the pricing here, but I only asked you a simple question which you answered for me. I thank you," Noatak said.

The man shifted and looked up and down at Noatak. Noatak's simple attire didn't match his air or speaking which confused the man.

"Is there anything else?" the man said.

"Well, if Kanosak is here, I'd like to speak to him," Noatak said.

"I can see…"

The man exited behind the red velvet curtains that led to where Kanosak did his work. Kanosak then emerged from the back wearing his regular uniform of a white shirt, black pants, and blue apron. He smiled when he saw Noatak standing in front of him.

"You look like a man now," Kanosak said.

"I was a man back then too," Noatak said.

"No. You were just a boy. What is it that I can do for you?" Kanosak said.

"I'm trying to get a setting for a betrothal pendant," Noatak said.

"Well, I guess that old pendant would need a new setting. You bought a silk ribbon with some pearls. Not exactly a work I was particularly proud about, but it was the least I could do for someone who appreciates my art."

"That necklace is long gone. As is the intended recipient."

"That's quite unfortunate. Then what's the deal with this setting?"

"New necklace and new recipient. I need a setting fitting for a pendant for the end of the week."

Noatak pulled out the stone he was going to carve and showed it to Kanosak. Kanosak pulled out the magnifying glass in his pocket and inspected the stone.

"Star sapphire. Should polish well. I have something I'm working on that will go well with this," Kanosak said.

Kanosak disappeared into his workshop before retrieving the work he spoke of. The setting was a sparkling platinum collar necklace that dipped into a v-shape where a pendant would hang from. Diamonds and metal braided elegantly.

"I probably can't afford this. It's a shame because this is probably what Korra deserves," Noatak said.

"Korra? That's a pretty name. I'm sure she's as equally as pretty as her name."

"She is."

"Well… I would say 6,000 Yuans is a good price for this piece."

"6,000? You mean to say that this is 10,000 Yuans. You probably have a customer willing to pay that price and more."

"I will have this setting finished before the end of the week. You can pick it up then. 6,000 Yuans."

Noatak took out his wallet and handed over the 6,000 Yuans.

"You're too kind Kanosak."

"I am just glad to see that the rather unhappy boy that came here years ago became a happy man. She must be very special to you."

Noatak nodded and bid the old man farewell. When he got home, Noatak began start carving the stone. He thought of Korra and the words that Kanosak said. He could already envision the betrothal necklace and how it would look on Korra. Somehow, the end of the week could not come sooner.