"The Sentries." Jean spoke with some conviction now. After all that he went through growing up in the Trost district, and what he had gone through in the last year in particular, he had his eyes set on earning a more luxurious lifestyle with the White Lotus as a private Sentry. "There ain't no way I'm gonna continue to live the way I've been living so far. I hear the guard role amongst the Sentries pays good money and benefits for a relatively peaceful job, so that's what I'm aiming for." It was true, the Sentries had a reputation for having low risk high reward job roles. Yes, technically bodyguards would have to put themselves in harm's way should problems arise, but according to the stats, problems very rarely present themselves nowadays. And Jean was sick of living through problem after problem. Jean turned his eyes toward Marco. "But Mister Goody-Two-Shoes here on the other hand…"
Now given the signal to speak, Marco finished the sentence "Is gonna join the Survey Corps, as a Scout." Sasha and Connie were taken slightly aback by the pride in his voice. Jean sighed. "It'll be the perfect opportunity to do some good and to give back, y'know?" Marco continued with a smile, but then that smile quickly turned to a slight frown. "Especially with the current situations going on, like economic crisis, corruption, food shortages…I've even heard of an upsurge of dark spirit attacks."
Truth be told, both Sasha and Connie contemplated this very same ambition, but the idea of putting themselves in a position where they may be tasked to actually fight a dark spirit terrified them, just as it did Jean. "Wait, so you're aware of the whole spirit situation, and you still wanna join knowing you'd probably have to fight one?" Connie questioned in a worried tone. "You know there's been reports of giant man-eating ones roaming around...they call them Titans." He made sure to whisper that last part. Titan sightings were being kept on the down-low by the media and governments as to avoid public panic, but at this point sightings and encounters were becoming more and more commonplace to the point that word of them simply could not be suppressed anymore. The coverups were doable at first given how the Titans would disappear as quickly as they would appear, leaving no trace apart from the destruction and death they caused. But we are now past that stage of secrecy and denial. A veil of dread and darkness loomed over the Earth Kingdom…the world even. One that Avatar Aang has not yet resolved unfortunately.
Ever since the notorious terrorist group known as the Red Lotus somehow re-opened the portals to the spirit world, reports began to surface of spirits roaming the human world. Some were peaceful and appeared indifferent to humans, but some were hostile. Among the hostile ones were giant humanoid creatures, almost living caricatures of man and woman, which lived to do nothing but find and devour humans alive. These were classified as 'Titans' by the world governments, and the fear they instilled upon the populus was legendary. The Survey Corps were a new militaristic branch of the White Lotus secret society, and it was their duty to study such spirits, to help keep them at bay...and Marco wanted to join them, much to Jean's dismay. And one of the main routes into the Survey Corps was through the Academy - a militaristic high school which burdened its students with relentless training.
Due to this crisis, many non-benders emigrated to the Earth Kingdom to seek shelter behind her great walls, given to their own inability to defend themselves in a Titan encounter. Which incidentally happens to be why Jean was born into the borderline slum that is the Trost district.
"Which is exactly why I'm headed for the Sentries. I don't know what this guy is even thinking. We've argued about this like ten times over now." Jean leaned back and sank into his seat out of frustration. He really didn't want his best friend to put his life on the line for some pointless righteous ambition to 'do good' for the world. Especially when it's the same world that has wronged him so much.
Marco could see the pout on Jean's face, but he simply wore a small smirk in response. "You know Jean, I've a feeling you're gonna eat those words by the time we graduate."
"Ha, yeah right." Jean crossed his arms, perhaps to signify his closed mindedness to the idea.
Marco looked toward Sasha and then to Connie with that same smirk again. "Trust me, he's gonna have a change of heart. Just you wait."
Jean dismissed this once more, "Like I said. Peaceful job, peaceful life, and financial stability. That's all I'm getting out of this. Nice and simple. I'll leave the whole 'fighting Titans' and 'serving humanity' and 'saving people' and whatever other idealistic dribble to the crazy idealistic types like yourself. But you'd be smart to join me, Marco."
"Hmph." Now somewhat sick of their squabble, Marco redirected the conversation toward the other boy and girl. "What about you two though? Are you guys 'crazy' like me, as Jean likes to put it, or are you pursuing a chilled out life in the Sentries, or are you the academic ty-"
"Not academic type. I'm not an academic." Sasha cut him off to emphasize her point. "Universities aren't for me. But food...oh, food, is." Her eyes widened, pupils dilated, and stared into nothingness as her brain recreated the sensory information that is the aroma and beautiful visuals of a juicy, medium-rare fillet steak cooked in butter with a dash of garlic paste and thyme. All three boys gawked at her in strange curiosity. "Hence why I want to become a chef. Whichever regiment offers me a decent chef role, I'll be going with." Jean noticed the way she spoke was as if she was trying to cover up an accent with some sort of poshness or politeness, but he didn't think much of it.
"So why didn't you just go to any other normal high school?" Connie questioned her. Her reasoning behind going to the Academy made no sense at all. "What's the point of going through the hell of the Cadets if all you wanna do is cook?"
"Because I'm not an academic. Weren't you listening?" Sasha furrowed her eyebrows.
Connie eased back into his seat and held his hands up in defense, "Oh I was listening alright. It's just, you do realise we'll have to go through academia in the Cadets too, right? It ain't just physical training."
"Yeah but the academic stuff we're expected to know isn't as broad or advanced as conventional high schools. Plus, we're not expected to pick any elective subjects like normal schools - I like having stuff decided for me you know?."
Connie raised an eyebrow in response to her explanation. 'This girl is...interesting? I don't even know the word.' he thought. "Riiight." He turned his attention back to Jean and Marco.
"Instead of prying so much on me, what about you Connie? What are you planning on doing, hmmm?" Sasha responded.
Connie hesitated for a moment, "Well uhh…I'm not sure yet to be honest" he admitted and shrugged his shoulders.
"Hmph. Exactly. At least I know where I'm going, Mister Judgy Pants."
Connie tugged at his collar in response to the fair, albeit childish, criticism. He then returned attention to Jean. "So uh, future guard eh? What's your bending type?"
Jean knew this question would eventually come from someone, but expecting it didn't make it any less difficult to answer. "I...I can't bend an element. I'm a non-bender." He looked to his side, away from his three peers, not even wanting to acknowledge their reaction to what he'd just said. A mixture of feelings of inadequacy, embarrassment, but most of all frustration would haunt him every time he was reminded that he was at a major disadvantage in this career chase.
"Oh. Erm…" Connie wasn't sure how to proceed. He could see that it was a touchy topic, judging by how Jean reacted.
"Jean's an absolute master at archery." Marco interrupted. "Dude could probably hit a fly at far range. Which makes him the perfect Sentry if you ask me." He continued proudly with an arm over Jean's shoulder. "No one would get within a hundred yards reach of the Avatar's home in Air Temple Island if they had Mister Eagle Eye over here guarding it."
Once again, Jean found himself uplifted by his best friend. On one hand, he felt almost frustrated at Marco always needing to fight his battles. But on the other hand, he couldn't help but feel that repetitive gratitude whenever he's around Marco. "Alright, they get it, Mister Hype Man."
"Ugh can we stop with the Mister names already." Connie interjected.
Jean laughed. "Ha, sure. Anyway, Marco's an earth bender."
"And aspiring metal bender!" Marco said proudly with his chest puffed out. Jean rolled his eyes in response, though was glad the attention was redirected off himself onto Marco, which Marco then directed at the duo sat opposite. "What about you two?"
"I'm a firebender." Connie replied, as he created a small flame with the snap of his fingers.
"So am I. Which I'm super grateful for. Cus' it comes in super handy for heating up food. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without it, he he." Sasha stated proudly. She then grabbed a pot of noodles she had stashed in her backpack, and then planted her palm underneath it through which she generated heat. She salivated as she eagerly stared at the noodles beginning to steam up.
Connie puffed his cheeks followed by sigh. 'This girl really is something else…' He thought to himself as he stared at her.
Marco, now interested in the odd pair, continued in his questioning. "And how did you two meet?"
"Oh Sasha and I go way back, I met her at a potato eating contest and she wiped the floor with every contestant. They call her the Potato Girl. The people's champ!" Connie cheekily grinned.
"Ha ha, very funny baldie. Chrome Dome Comedian and I just met. He got on three stops ago and decided to sit next to me," Sasha explained, as she then made an exaggerated glance across the rest of the train carriage, "out of aaaall the available seats here, for whatever reason." She then squinted at him suspiciously.
"Wow, are you always this displeased when someone is interested in your company?" Connie retorts.
"Huh? No…but, uhm" Sasha's mind fumbled as she attempted to come up with a sassy comeback. It's always difficult when the other person ruins the flow of your back-and-forth with a compliment.
"Yeesh, get a room you two. You say you've just met but you're practically an old married couple already." Jean teased.
The accused couple both blushed and scooted away from each other slightly to make some distance between them, and tell Jean to shut it. Jean and Marco smirk at each other in amusement.
Connie broke the awkward silence, "Enough about us smartass, how did you and Marco meet then?"
Surprisingly to Jean, this question actually took him aback a little bit. Yes, Marco is his best friend, but it's been so long since he's ever reminisced about how he and Marco met. "Well, uhm…" He's not gone down this memory lane in a while, so it takes him a moment to gather his thoughts. "So we met at-" But before he could continue, the train arrived at the destination.
The intercom went off, "We have now arrived at Ba Sing Se. Please remember to take all of your belongings, and we thank you for riding with the Earth Railway Service."
Jean stood up, "Well guys, that's our exit."