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

[all_the_aangles]

The smell of the fire draws him. There's something very comforting, in the smell of a camp fire. Then again, maybe he's just spent so many years on the run that it's what he knows now.

He doesn't see Iroh, not at first - just the fire, and so: "Hello?"

[uncle_iroh]

"Hello again," he said kindly. "Would you care to join me for some tea?"

[all_the_aangles]

He inclines his head in acceptance, moving to sit cross-legged by the fire.

"Of course! It's always an honour, Master Iroh."

[uncle_iroh]

He poured the tea and passed it across. "The honor here is the one that you do me, I assure you."

[all_the_aangles]

He, in turn, cradled the cup in his hand, enjoying the feeling of heat - the familiar sort of anticipation, that hint of scent before bringing it to his lips with a soft smile.

[uncle_iroh]

"Do you like this blend? I have been experimenting since arriving here."

[all_the_aangles]

"It's certainly very rich..." he replies, taking a long moment to consider it. "There are...layers to the flavour, though I can't name all of them."

[uncle_iroh]

A warm smile. "I will take that as a compliment," he informed Aang.

[all_the_aangles]

He took another sip, sighing happily.

"How have you been?" he asks, finally. It's an important first point to raise.

[uncle_iroh]

"I am considering opening a tea shop, if I can figure out how one does that here," he said. Which was not exactly an answer.

[all_the_aangles]

Well, had he really expected any different? Magicians, not revealing their tricks - so on and so on.

"I would think just opening them - people don't seem too fussed about property and contracts here," he said, based only on observation.

[uncle_iroh]

"I still do not wish to take a place that others consider their own. And there are more concerns as well. Still, I do think I will be able to make it happen, in time. And with effort."

[all_the_aangles]

"If you need help building it, I'll bet I can make mud bricks like nobody's business!"

It's an eager statement, matched to an eager face.

[uncle_iroh]

He chuckled lightly. "Now that I might take you up on," he said with a warm smile.

[all_the_aangles]

He nodded, sure that he would. It was a pretty quick process when you can do the mixing 'by hand' - at least in the Avatar style.

"Other than make tea - may I ask - what do you do while you're here? I'm wondering what I should be...well, doing with my time. It's a lot less active here than home."

[uncle_iroh]

"It is at that. Mostly... I have been enjoying the peace. And trying to make things easier for my nephew. And teaching people to play Pai Sho, though my board is... not the best," he said with a chuckle.

[all_the_aangles]

"I haven't gotten to speak to him much...glad to hear he's ok."

He smiles at the last.

"I could do with a game, you know."

[uncle_iroh]

A warm smile. "My board may not be of the best quality, but I would quite enjoy that. Do you wish to wait and I will bring it here?"

[all_the_aangles]

He shakes his head.

"I've got no pressing engagements," he says. "How about you?"

[uncle_iroh]

"Nothing more urgent than reconnecting with a friend from home," he said with a smile. He slowly pushed to his feet as though he were as old and weak as he seemed outwardly. "Is there anything else you wish me to bring?"

[all_the_aangles]

It was strange, seeing the act now. Knowing that the Master of the White Lotus had deceived...well, pretty much everyone. And hidden in plain sight.

"I'll be fine," he said, folding his hands in his lap.

[uncle_iroh]

Can you see the link between him and Bumi now, Aang? He gave a warm smile and a nod. "Then I shall be back shortly," he said. "Please, help yourself to tea." And if not stopped, he walked off to leave.

[all_the_aangles]

Well he's not going to leave the tea, not while it's hot, certainly. One of the subtler rules his life has acquired is "never turn down Iroh's tea."

I love that post!

[uncle_iroh]

Iroh came back with another basket of goodies and...

Look, the man has many skills, but it would seem creating his own Pai Sho table was not one of them. It was made of broad leaves folded up and lashed together. Something had been nibbling at it in a few places. The lines were drawn on with a shaky hand. He set it down on the ground. It was... very low. Back at what passed for home here he kept it perched on a flat top rock. From the basket he pulled small stones, roughly similar in shape and size. The same shaky hand that had made the lines on the uneven limbs had done its best to paint the symbols on the tiles.

He set everything up without letting Aang see if he was proud of what he had made or bashful about it.

[all_the_aangles]

Oh. Oh dear. He hadn't been kidding, had he? Well that was definitely a definition of roughing it - but he can't immediately think of how he'd have done better, either, so.

He merely starts to divide up the tiles with a silent nod.