He remained sitting, his anger and frustration kept on a tight rein.
"Money does manner when it comes to putting food on people's tables. When it comes to keeping roads maintained and schools open and farmers growing their crops, it does matter! The cost of keeping this war going was extracted from it's citizens who are paying over double in taxes than what their grandparents did! And you want to know what else that cost has come in? Fewer businesses opened, fewer marriages, fewer children being born! Worse over all health, less wealth, less pay! We were almost at the level of the Southern Water Tribes before the war ended!"
... And then almost immediately she turns away from Iroh and the guards, curling up backwards in her chair and talking as quietly as possible because she doesn't want anyone to overhear. "Oh. Hi.
Iroh signals the guards to stand down, watching carefully. Azula, curling around that device like it was a baby? His brows furrowed in concern. For now, he allows her the conversation. He had an idea of who it was just by the tone of her voice.
Sticking out one leg, she scooted her chair back away from the table, still sitting backwards and pressing the phone to her ear hard to try to block the sound of the loud, frantic-sounding voice on the other end from reaching the others. She kept talking back, but still quiet enough that only a few words here and there could be heard.
He waits for a while, letting her continue to talk. It seems to calm her a little bit. At the very least, he wants to keep her from trying to firebend her way out of the heavy leaden shackles on her arms and legs. She'd cover her whole hand and foot in molten lead before there would be enough to wrench herself free.
Meanwhile, Iroh pulled his own book from his items and began to write a message to the network. To a specific person and probably the only one who could help see a reasonably peaceful end to this issue.
Lemme ask Lilith-mun! I'd like to play this out. dragonsteaOctober 3 2010, 17:53:33 UTC
With nothing else really left to do about the subject until Lilith answered him, Iroh laced his fingers together and folded them into his lap. Azula's other possessions were still in the sack beside him on the table, but kept well out of her reach. He didn't know what the feather was, but he had a suspicion Lilith may have an idea.
The sun sets lower and lower in the sky until a single fire in the hearth must be lit to keep them from being left in the darkness.
As time went on, Azula's phone conversation slowed, though she kept the line of communication open. Every once in a while she would say something, or respond to something that was said to her. Her posture had relaxed a bit, though she didn't change her overall curled up position and she never once acknowledged the others in the room.
Eventually, time dictates that there should be some food. A quiet inquiry with one of the guards and Iroh is pulling out the means for making a meal for all of them, guards and Azula included. A simple pot hangs from a long-necked hook over the fire for tea and a flame is put into a little stove in the other room. The sack is still on the table, but Iroh can see it clearly from the doorway as he breathes the dark coals into life.
It takes some time, but dinner is tea with rice and some fried vegetables. Simple fare, but it fills the stomach. A plate and cup is set before Azula, if she chooses to eat it.
"Money does manner when it comes to putting food on people's tables. When it comes to keeping roads maintained and schools open and farmers growing their crops, it does matter! The cost of keeping this war going was extracted from it's citizens who are paying over double in taxes than what their grandparents did! And you want to know what else that cost has come in? Fewer businesses opened, fewer marriages, fewer children being born! Worse over all health, less wealth, less pay! We were almost at the level of the Southern Water Tribes before the war ended!"
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She dove for that instead.
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"What the...?"
But the guards are too slow, Azula will reach it first.
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... And then almost immediately she turns away from Iroh and the guards, curling up backwards in her chair and talking as quietly as possible because she doesn't want anyone to overhear. "Oh. Hi.
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Meanwhile, Iroh pulled his own book from his items and began to write a message to the network. To a specific person and probably the only one who could help see a reasonably peaceful end to this issue.
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"Azula, I've put out a message for Lilith. I'm asking her to come and get you."
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The sun sets lower and lower in the sky until a single fire in the hearth must be lit to keep them from being left in the darkness.
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It takes some time, but dinner is tea with rice and some fried vegetables. Simple fare, but it fills the stomach. A plate and cup is set before Azula, if she chooses to eat it.
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