<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>:: I suck at prettying up posts. But my posts are pretty good at least. Haha. ::<br/><br/></strong></span><div class="floatleft">(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/Beo_Wulf/00cf1e4e-acef-464e-a4c8-709559f3eae8.jpg)</div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>Viole Geng<br/>Location: City Square<br/></strong></span><hr/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>The journey from a camp located on the outskirts of Republic City into the city itself was almost a half day. So for most peddlers and traders that came and went, traveling by night was key in order to make it for the First Week's End Market. The blonde haired, brown eyed young man who wore clothing looking fit to be Earth nation royalty had entered the cities gates before the rising sun could bless the streets and fields with it's rays of heat. In the early morning sun he had begun setting up his stall. Viole Geng was a nomadic peddler of fine jewels. Much like his father, and his grand father, Viole was an Earth bender. And just like his predecessors he had found a unique talent, a knack for locating and removing gemstone from the Earth. This of course was how he made his money, and paid for all the necessary things in order to survive. His grandfather used to simply sell the gems or embed them inside of handmade lockets and rings. Viole and his father had a different approach, one that made them more appealing to customers. Bending Earth was easy, even on larger scale dimensions, one could lift boulders and hurl them across the street. However bending gemstone was a delicate, and very precise skill. Too much and the gem could crack, too little and the shape itself would be off causing the gem to lose it's clarity and value. The higher grade of gem, the harder it would be to bend properly as well. It was a difficult job, but a rewarding one.<br/><br/>After having set up his stall, Viole stretched his hands over his head and leaned backwards having an appearance closely resembling a feline. At his side, in a classic green pouch, was the gemstones he had collected. The market which was only open the first weekend of every month, was located in Republic Cities central square, next to the largest park in town. Viole's stand was simple, wood construction designed to be taken down and put up every month. He located himself where he usually did, in front of a large fountain. Loosing the bindings on the pouch of gemstones, Viole looked around, and made certain no one was watching him. With the tap of his foot one of the stone blocks that made up the pathway popped up off the ground. Kneeling down Viole placed his palm against the cold dirt that was under the block, lifting his hand with a swirling motion and closing his fist the loose dirt rolled up from the ground and into a ball hovering inches from his palm. Setting the pouch into the hole he had just made, Viole packed the dirt back on top of his gems and placed the stone back over as if nothing had changed. Rising back to his feet, Viole slid both feet sideways until they were shoulder width apart. His right leg shot forward suddenly as both of his arms moved forward and upward. The stone beneath his stall shot up raising it off the ground a foot. As well a stone seat was formed for him to rest on while he worked.<br/><br/>Returning to a regular stance, Viole dusted his hands off against one another and nodded his head in approval. There was still an hour or so left until people would start coming to the marketplace in order to browse the vendors and see what they had to offer. Viole's attire was clearly that of an Earth bender and this was part of his advertisement. Giving his stall one more look over, Viole decided he would head out in search of a tea house. He had walked a long way and his body, mind and spirit could use relaxation. He was often in search of new types of teas to enjoy and was also a person who meditated regularly. His father had taught him that through meditation one could more easily bend. More so, through meditation one could understand that which they were bending better. Whether it be understanding the frighteningly powerful Electricity that a Fire bender could produce. Or memorizing the feelings of the water as it erodes sheer cliffs. Or in Viole's case, feeling out the alignment of the structure of the more carbon based rare jewels. Meditation was the key to becoming a master bender, it wasn't just practice or pure skill. It was becoming one with the elemental affinity inside of yourself. Even the likes of the Avatar had troubles mastering elements until they understood the importance of meditating on said element.<br/><br/>Currently, Viole carried on himself the most rare jewels he had found. A selection of very high quality jade, amethyst, and topaz. He also carried on him, separate from the rest of the gems, a rather large diamond. It wasn't something he had found, but rather something that had been handed down to him. Even his grand father had received the gem from his father, who said it came directly from his father too. The stone was half the size of Viole's palm, and as displeasing as it was, he was still unable to shape the gemstone. However, he had become rather skilled at manipulating it, the high density gem made for a great etching tool as he could make it spin using his bending. Viole walked aimlessly, waiting until he either found something interesting, or something interesting found him. Being that of a nomadic person, he often followed his nose. Or gut.</strong></span>