[Katara will just be waiting in the kitchen for anyone who might be home. She's already beaten Iroh and Break both to the punch; there's a kettle of watery tea sitting on the stove. Perched at the table, she has her hands curled around a cup of the stuff.]
[Iroh comes down the stairs, freshly cleaned. All that remains of his journey to the Wastelands is the weariness in his steps and a sadness he can't quite chase out of his eyes.
He smiles at the sight of kettle; it's wan but genuine.]
Ah, I have missed this.
[He pours himself a cup, takes a sip, and just barely keeps himself from spitting it out. It was little better than hot leaf juice. (That's what all tea is! Zuko had yelled at him.)
He sits down across from Katara, cradling the cup in his hands. The flavor might be offensive, but the warmth of the cup is still soothing.]
[A part of Iroh doesn't want to talk, resenting the intrusion of a stranger into his grief. But she seems like she's new to the city, and he remembers how that feels.]
[Suki waits outside, at the door. There were so many thoughts running through her mind, and she couldn't figure out what to act on first. This place was just pulling at all her emotions and it was getting hard on her. She wanted to help, she did, but she couldn't think of what to do. So she stood at the door, completely frozen.
Then, she turned around to sit by the wall next to the front door, trying to get an idea of what to do.]
[Hearing a sound outside, Iroh pokes his head out the door. He knows it can't be, but he still feels a stab of disappointment to find it is Suki, not Zuko, sitting outside. He tries not to let it show.]
[The hugs have finally stopped taking Iroh by surprise. His family had never been keen on them, except for a much younger Lu Ten. He didn't realize how much he had missed them.]
[Offline] Is later, okay? After Iroh's told Sokka and Sokka's been to the festival and back? <33angle_on_itAugust 2 2011, 02:37:51 UTC
[Sokka returns from the carnival no happier than he left. He hadn't gone for entertainment, but to take another step in what he feels everyone must jokingly refer to as his "investigation." True to description or not, Sokka himself still hasn't uncovered enough for an answer about Aang's murder, but he would keep trying.]
[Hearing about Zuko from Iroh had been hard enough, but seeing the older man in the aftermath was a much harder reminder of his friend's absence. Sokka almost feels bruised at the idea that Zuko's gone -- hurt in a way that defies explanation, just the same as Katara's disappearance and Aang's death. For now, though, there are other concerns. Like making sure Iroh is holding up.]
[Sokka's brought with him several sweet treats, wrapped together, which he sets down on the table.]
Not as bright and cheery as advertised. [Not that it was advertised at all, and really, that was just how it appeared when filtered through, Sad-o-Vision.]
[Sokka takes up a towel to help dry the dishes.] But some people seemed to be enjoying it.
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He smiles at the sight of kettle; it's wan but genuine.]
Ah, I have missed this.
[He pours himself a cup, takes a sip, and just barely keeps himself from spitting it out. It was little better than hot leaf juice. (That's what all tea is! Zuko had yelled at him.)
He sits down across from Katara, cradling the cup in his hands. The flavor might be offensive, but the warmth of the cup is still soothing.]
Is there any more news about Aang?
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She shakes her head, drumming her fingers a little absently on the table.]
I want him back. Both of them.
[Her voice is a little hollow.]
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As do I.
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[A part of Iroh doesn't want to talk, resenting the intrusion of a stranger into his grief. But she seems like she's new to the city, and he remembers how that feels.]
Did you just arrive here yourself?
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[She pauses.]
Er...sorry about your nephew.
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Thank you.
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Then, she turned around to sit by the wall next to the front door, trying to get an idea of what to do.]
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Suki. What are you doing sitting outside?
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Sorry I was just... [Then she just hugs him instead.] I'm sorry Iroh.
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It's all right. I'm sure he's fine.
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[Hearing about Zuko from Iroh had been hard enough, but seeing the older man in the aftermath was a much harder reminder of his friend's absence. Sokka almost feels bruised at the idea that Zuko's gone -- hurt in a way that defies explanation, just the same as Katara's disappearance and Aang's death. For now, though, there are other concerns. Like making sure Iroh is holding up.]
[Sokka's brought with him several sweet treats, wrapped together, which he sets down on the table.]
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How was the carnival?
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[Sokka takes up a towel to help dry the dishes.] But some people seemed to be enjoying it.
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[Under normal circumstances, Iroh would have no trouble making conversation. But these are not normal circumstances.
His mind drifts back to happier days, to carnivals he had gone to, when Zuko was a little boy.
A soft chuckle escapes from him.]
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