The waning afternoon sent wave after increasing wave of customers into the cozy restaurant that Kieran called home for now with his father. He was the low man on the totem pole, though he was a step above a bus boy, he got the privilege of doing the grunt work of the kitchen. Orders continued to flood the kitchen, and the knife in the young earthbender's hand had to work overtime to prep all of the veggies and garnishes for the accompanying dishes to be pushed out the service window. 

[color=82ca9d]"Try to keep up, son. Dinner rush can make or break you as a chef."[/color] Kieran's father called out to him from underneath a chef's hat that identified him as the head chef of the kitchen. For him, this was more than just a job for Kieran. Kuruk wanted his son to stay in the kitchen and take over when the time came, but Kieran had already decided to follow his mother's path and join the RCPD. As soon as he got enough money he could be out of this kitchen and in the academy, working his way towards that shiny metal uniform. 

[color=00a651]"Don't worry, dad. I'm right behind ya,"[/color] Kieran reassured his father. 

The next hours were filled with the clanking of pots and pans and the smells of harmonious ingredients being melded. Finally, the last order was sent out of the kitchen and Kieran let out a breath of relief. He smiled warmly when his father placed a plate of hot food in front of him, relieved to have a meal cooked by his dad after such a busy evening. Kieran ate the meal while his father cleaned up and then said his goodbyes, leaving the young man to clean up his station. He used a little metalbending trick he learned from his mother to sharpen his knives, and then put them away. 

Kieran was the last person at the restaurant, removing his apron and hanging it on the rack with the others and grabbing his coat. He reached into his coat pocket to grab his keys to lock the restaurant up, but felt something thick and heavy in between his hand and the metal of his key chain. Cautiously, he removed the object to reveal an envelope. How did this get here? And who put it there? But the best question, what is it? 

Curiosity got the best of him, and he broke the seal to read the contents of the envelope. 

[i]'We are contacting you in regards to a matter of the utmost urgency.  We have witnessed your unique talents and are reaching out to you specifically in the hopes that you will respond to us in our most dire hour of need.  Should you choose to aid us, we will pay you any price you ask to the greatest extent of our abilities, be it your weight in gold, a specific favor, or the knowledge that our organization is forever in your debt.  If you have chosen to accept our request for help, come to the address listed below by midnight tonight.  A representative from our organization will be in the basement of the building.'[/i]

That symbol at the bottom... it looked familiar. Kieran had seen it before, somewhere. He just couldn't put his thumb on it. Kieran looked around the kitchen, and then poked his head into the dining room, and finally out the back door into the alley. He was alone, and no sight of whoever left this letter. His eyebrow raised as he exited the restaurant and locked the door, the letter still in his hand. Should he risk it? It could all be a hoax. Then again, if it turned out to be legit, he wouldn't want to miss out on it. 

Maybe the best idea would be to run it by his parents, particularly his mother. Maybe they knew what this symbol was on the letter. The more he thought about it, the more he thought he should go. Even if his mom advised against it, he made up his mind that he would go to at least check it out. If anything should go down, he could take care of himself. 

Kieran zipped up his jacket and shoved his hands in his pockets, walking down the street towards his apartment. Midnight would come soon enough, and he would know what new adventure this letter would set him on.