Tea For Who? - OPEN

[uncle_iroh]

Who: Iroh and whomsoever wants to find him
Which: Open Log
Where: Not far from the fountain
What: Iroh enjoying sharing tea with strangers.
Warnings: Possible angst, themes of loss, possible war/death/betrayal mentions.




Iroh had found that he had been able to help people during the crisis in a number of ways. But one of them had been tea and talking. Just being there for people with a calming drink and an open ear. So he was trying that again now, once again by the base of the fountain.

Between conversations he was sipping his own tea and considering what it might take to open a tea shop here. For however long he was going to be here, that was...

For anyone who wanted to find him, he is near the fountain with a small comforting camp fire over which the tea pot is heating and a pair of large picnic style baskets, one of snacks and one of teas and tea fixings. So that he can have enough for every taste and stay a while for whoever showed up without over steeping the tea.

Comments

[uncle_iroh]

"Then why did you bother?" With the implied since you always find me difficult hanging in the air unsaid.

[itstillhurt]

"It-"

...why was she bothering with all this?

It had been a frustrated rhetorical question when she asked herself before, but now it's a nagging doubt. Why would she ever subject herself to this ridiculousness? She'd seen them and bought them for him without even asking herself why.

But the Boiling Rock would freeze over before she'd admit that, so-

"Is it really important?"

[uncle_iroh]

"From how you are reacting, I now suspect that it is. To you, even if not to me."

[itstillhurt]

"And you suddenly care deeply about what's important to me."

The sarcastic barb comes out immediately, instinctively, but it doesn't make her feel any better. If anything, it only frustrates her more. With a sigh, she adds-

"I don't know why I did it. Is that what you wanted to hear, uncle?"

[uncle_iroh]

"If it is the truth, then yes. Now that you are having to think about it, what ideas suggest themselves?"

[itstillhurt]

"Why do you even care about-"

She cuts off her own frustrated question with another huff, then glances at the ground.

"It..."

As soon as she realizes what she's about to say, she trails off, and when she speaks again it's much quieter.

"It seemed like what Zu-zu would do."

[uncle_iroh]

"And that made you want to do it?" he asked, brows raising in surprise. Real? Feigned? Who can say.

[itstillhurt]

Part of her wishes the ground would open up and swallow her. Another part of her wants to just attack him to stop his infuriatingly thorough interrogation.

She resists both impulses.

"He's not here. It-"

She scowls.

"I decided to do it in his stead."

[uncle_iroh]

"Why?" Sometimes the simplest questions could cut the deepest.

[itstillhurt]

She wants to snap at him again, how is she supposed to even answer that?

But she has an answer. It's stupid, it's irrational, but-

"...I owed him that much.

[uncle_iroh]

"You bought me a treat... because you felt you owed something to Zuko?"

[itstillhurt]

"Do you want the stupid things or not?"

She sounds bitter when she says it, far too bitter for her liking.

[uncle_iroh]

He studied her for a long moment before he reached for his cup and refilled it. He dragged the moment out more by taking a long sip. Finally he set down the cup, all the while having never looked away from her eyes for a moment.

"What good is a treat to have with tea... without someone to share it with?"

How strongly did she feel that debt? Strongly enough to play his game?

[itstillhurt]

... What?

Was that a joke? If he didn't want them, he could have just said so. She'd just take them and do something else. Maybe Shealtiel would-

...He could not be serious. He couldn't possibly.

"I'm sure you can find company you'd find more pleasant than me, Uncle."

[uncle_iroh]

"I'm sure I could. But could you find company more pleasant than me? Now that's the question," he said as if he was completely serious.

[itstillhurt]

"You're the one who adores sharing tea with people, Uncle. I prefer to take mine alone."

Yes, let's just pretend that's what this is about. It almost feels normal, almost enables her to ignore the nagging frustration and humiliation of the admission she just gave him.

[uncle_iroh]

"Ah yes, I suppose I forgot you had that particular fear," he said, casually, waving a hand dismissively. He half turned, refilling his tea cup., watching her from the corners of his eye. "Sharing tea with someone is one of life's true delights, but perhaps that is because I am not scared of what others might learn about me over the course of a simple conversation."

AAAAAAND probably another /wrap

[itstillhurt]

"It's not-"

For a moment, the rage flares back to the surface, but after a moment it simply settles and she narrows her eyes.

"Enjoy the stupid rice cakes."

With that, she turns on her heel and stalks off again. Part of her felt like she was only proving his point. She opted to ignore it.

TY for the thread

[uncle_iroh]

He watched her go, sipping her tea.

Interesting. Very interesting...