vatheon | First Cup of Tea

Who: Uncle Iroh and You!
Where: In the Plaza
When: Early Afternoon
Style: Action
Status: Open
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[Uncle Iroh was nothing if not the most generous man you would ever meet. Arrive in a new place, soaking wet with no idea how you got there? See other people in a similar situation? While a normal person might freak out and demand what was going on, all Iroh saw was equally confused people who desperately needed some nice, soothing tea. And as luck would have it, he had some tea leaves right there in his pocket! And also some tiny cups. Because he was always prepared that way.

They might have been a little damp with sea water and it wasn't his best cup of tea, but he had set to work (with a little bit of sneaky firebending of course, shhhh) and had some tea brewing very soon, passing out cups to random people with a large smile on his face. He was also still soaking wet, because he'd declined the towel. More, less fortunate people than him needed it!]

Please, do return your cups to me after you finish, so that others may have some tea as well!

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[Zuko has to do a double take as he walks by. It could be any day in Ba Sing Se, his uncle sitting around dispensing tea like he didn't have a single thing to be worried about in his whole life. Which Zuko knew for a fact was patently untrue. And here he was, doing it in Vatheon just when he'd gotten used to the idea that he had to make his own way while he was here.

But the relief at seeing Iroh was so immense, so overwhelming, that it completely pushed aside any irritation. Even before he'd come here, he'd still been adjusting to the idea that Iroh was staying with his tea shop, and Zuko was staying in the Fire Nation capital, at a time when he needed advice more than ever. And now, after he's been here for weeks... it's like they're reuniting all over again.]

U-Uncle! [He immediately runs over and dodges the cup of tea that he's holding to go in for a hug. His uncle might be the only person alive that Zuko would willingly hug as a greeting, and right now he doesn't care about seeming aloof. He's not alone here anymore.]

[To say Iroh is surprised is an understatement. From his perspective, it hasn't been terribly long since he's seen his nephew, so the fact he's being hugged like this by Zuko is quite a huge surprise. But even more than that, he's just surprised to find Zuko here, of all places. He doesn't even know where here is, admittedly. He hasn't even stopped to ask- just made tea and talked briefly with random strangers.

But if Zuko wants hugs, well by gosh Iroh was not going to turn him down, so he wraps his arms around his nephew, accidentally spilling sloshing tea on the ground behind him, because he sort of forgets that he's holding a cup of it, he's that surprised. Only Zuko hugging him could ever make him forget holding a cup of tea.

After a few seconds, he pulls away.]

Well that was a pleasant surprise!

[Of course, once they release each other, Zuko is back to his usual grumpy, overly loud self.]

When did you get here? Have you been standing around handing out tea the whole time?! [If it'd been anything longer than an hour or so, there was about to be a lot of yelling.]

[Oh but of course, Iroh was silly to think it would actually last. He sighs in mock exasperation.]

I have only been here a little while. And yes, I have been serving tea ever since I arrived; there are just so many people that looked like they needed it. I always carry tea leaves in my pockets for occasions such as this!

[Well. Not for this specifically, but definitely for strangers in need.]

[It really says something that Zuko just folds his arms and sighs in exasperation, but more or less lets it go. Not a year ago he'd have gone right on shouting indignantly.]

Of course. I guess I can't expect anything else... Anyway, uh, I'm relieved that you're here, even if you should really be at home. It's just you and me, no one else from the Four Nations. Everyone else is from different worlds. [And he still says that with some amount of incredulity.]

[Perhaps under normal circumstances, Iroh wouldn't have really believed the fact there were people from different worlds. But given the circumstances, and the people he'd seen so far, it was hard to be skeptical.]

The people here are certainly very fascinating, indeed. [He pauses for a moment.] How long have you been here? It sounds like you have been here for a while, but it hasn't been that long since I last saw you.

Maybe a month and a half. Everything is bizarre here, Uncle, not even time works the same! It gives me a headache just to think about it.

Some people have been stuck here for over a year, can you believe that? [It's obviously an outrageous thought to him, mostly because Zuko might explode if he has to wait that long to go back to being the Fire Lord. Patient he isn't.]

First Cup of Tea

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