songerein | We built this city on Rock-

Who: Toph Beifong, Najaran, Iroh, and You!
Which: Log | Open prompts
Where: Exploring, Visiting Iroh and Najaran
What: Meeting Najaran's 'friends', or friends. And Hanging out with Iroh to talk about the world they're in. Exploring the world and meeting strangers!
Warnings: None yet

For everyone - The Open Prompt!

[ It doesn't really matter what brings you here, but something does, either way. Be it a trip between regions, the urge to explore, caught off guard by a wild spider monkey and chased down. Either way, along your travel you spot a peculiar sight. What appears to be... a tent? And several perfectly shaped circle slab seats around. Even more peculiar, there seems to be a young girl just... laying back against a stone arch like it's a hammock, sipping from a thin metal cup. Her eyes are closed, and her head doesn't turn as you approach. (Or perhaps you don't approach, either way, she calls out) ]

Hey! Are you lost?

[ So helpful. ]

For Najaran

[ Huh, another person way out here? It's not what she's expecting. A familiar figure is close by, and by the feel of it, not doing too hot. Toph's comfortable in her campsite, but she reaches out and slams an arm down, shooting small stone markers up to help guide Najaran towards her from a (surprising) distance. Slightly smug smile on her lips. ]

For Iroh

[ The noise comes expected, perhaps. There's a short shadow by the door and a quiet. Knock, knock, knock.]

Wildcard

[ You know the drill! Poke me on hantale or Hantale on discord, or DM here if you want to plan something. Otherwise, this is the catch-all for silly scenarios, memes, or whatever else you might want to throw at her.

For the sake of planning, assume she's travelling around a lot and sorting out her own food, often camping somewhere or relaxing in a calm area. Maybe helping locals repair structures. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ And that quiet knock, knock, knock is answered this time, not by Iroh, but by Zuko. He's barefoot, having technically been lounging at home, dressed comfortably for meditating, but meditating is serious business for Zuko. Candles and all, it's somehow still not relaxing — that's not what he's in it for. But being interrupted is always a bit jarring, though; his nerves aren't in the best shape here in Songerein for numerous reasons, and with the intense emotional nature of this world, meditating for Zuko is how he remains remotely socially tolerable or sane right now. He's diligent in his practice, though, so he tries to defuse (or at least disguise) his annoyance as he answers the door. Only to find... ]

Toph!

[ It'd be a stretch to say Zuko's face "lights up," but by his standards; the irritation over being interrupted isn't necessarily washed away, but definitely made worthwhile. He opens the door fully and steps aside, welcoming her in, even with a polite bow. ]

Come in. Thank you for coming.

[ You bet Iroh's really working on keeping those princely manners polished, now that they're living together again with Zuko's new lease on life... It's absolutely unnecessary with Toph of all people. But it's stiff and formal and deliberately friendly in that goofy endearing Zuko-way that Zuko's entirely unconscious of. If he gets punched, it probably wouldn't be unwarranted. ]

[ Toph isn't really surprised by who answers. Spoiler, the door was never an obstical to tell who was coming anyway. But she does smile when it opens, even tilting her head back to beam at Zuko. ]

Zuko! I was starting to think you had run away from town.

[ She hadn't caught him the last few times she was over, after all. Still, Toph steps through with a simple nod. ]

What have you been doing?

[ Zuko awkwardly averts his eyes at the question, stalling to find a simple answer. He's not even told Toph about everything that went down with him and Azula (and "their father") during the Story Eater's attack... "What have you been doing?" is so much more of a loaded question as to why Zuko has been self-isolating... ~~Toph didn't know Zuko well in Season 2...~~

He closes the door and fumbles to find a satisfying answer, so begins heading toward the kitchen for a distraction. Tea. ]

...I've been busy studying. Training. It's been— a rough month for me here...

[ And without any grace at all in his segue: ]

I'll make us tea.

[ And sets about producing teapots and cups and jars of tea leaves with a quietly frenetic, obviously avoidant energy. Catching her up will be a lot easier with something to do while they talk — even if it's just drinking tea. ~~Thankfully, he's gotten better at making tea since Season 2, too.~~ ]

[ As if looking away changes how Toph can feel his movements. He's always been a terrible liar. She can sense some of that awkward unease, but she isn't going to push it, yet at least. She always has to remember that she's from a liiiitle bit later than he is. ]

Tea sounds nice.

[ She'll give him that out, at least. ]

What have you been studying though?

(( For simplicity, wanna set this before Azula's Noctaere? ))

(( yeah, def, good call! can we backdate it to like the beginning of the month or smth? so it's a little closer to Toph's arrival? if you don't mind, for narrative's sake! ))

Lots of things. Dreamotion, mostly. This place, its history. Dream interpretation. Herbal remedies.

[ He putzes around preparing the tea as they talk, his tone still almost too even. The list he rattles off surely isn't surprising. In other words, Zuko's been throwing his all into trying to understand this world and as such is neglecting to live in it. Got it. ...Plus herbal remedies, apparently. A deep dive Iroh is probably thrilled about. ]

(( Easy! ))

Right. What fun. [ Only slightly sarcastic. ] Found out anything interesting?

[ She kindof figured he'd be stuck with something like that. Off on his own inner quest or whatever. At least it's not chasing down some constantly escaping target this time. ]

Yeah. Watch this.

[ He manages to use his dreamotion to conjure water from thin air, filling the teapot. He's put a lot of effort into mimicking waterbending specifically to start practicing dreamotion since he first came here. ...But while he's not a one-trick pony, he doesn't really have as much to show for his studies as he'd like. With everything he has learned about dreamotion, it's no surprise to him at all that, like firebending when he was a kid, it is not a talent that comes to him naturally. Zuko's not known for having great emotional control and restful sleep. But like with anything he puts his mind to, he's doggedly putting in the effort to compensate. Maybe even over-compensate... ]

[ Watch this. ]

...

Whatever you're doing, I'm sure it's impressive.

[ Oh the sarcasm. She's surprised this hasn't happened sooner. ]

[ Zuko hitches, grimacing slightly, realizing his flub. ]

I, uh— filled the pot with water.

[ Bravo, your highness. He's quick to tag on, though, hasty and defensive: ]

But I made the water! With my mind!

[ He goes about setting the flame to heat the water, continuing his explanation in a more tempered, almost sheepish tone... ]

I've been using dreamotion to try and mimic waterbending...

[ To varying degrees of success, from the sounds of it. ]

[ Toph's persistent smile says it all, really. She's enjoying the flustered recovery. ]

I was wondering where that came from. So it is kindof neat I guess!

[ Her hands settle on her hips, giving a casual shrug. ]

I gotta play around with that stuff more. But honestly I've been pretty happy with just earthbending.

What have you figured out about it so far?

We built this city on Rock-

wildcard sh-sh-shaaaa!

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