Tea Break 3.5 (4th Wall) [Action]

[tea_lover64]

[You can find Iroh working in the tea shop for a portion of the afternoon, brewing and serving tea to customers. In the morning, he can be found in the forest, working out strangely enough for a portion of it, before having a bit of a packed meal and some quiet meditation. Later on after his tea shift, he will be having a quiet stroll around the village]

Comments

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh just shakes his head, the look he gives Ozai is not one of anger or resentment or pity.]

I retook Ba Sing Se, by the way. You really should have put a different man in charge, his defenses were far too standard.

[He casually sips a cup of tea after dropping that news]

[thefatherlord]

Don't be a fool. If you had retaken Ba Sing Se, my subordinates would have come crawling for forgiveness within a day.

[Evidently, no one's explained different timelines to Ozai just yet.]

[tea_lover64]

Or some of them may have joined with me to avoid that. What is the last thing you remember?

[thefatherlord]

Don't act as if my mind is the one that's failing. I assure you, I'm as sharp as I've ever been.

[tea_lover64]

Indulge me a little, Ozai. Had you countered the invasion during the eclipse, or were you about to launch the air fleet attack on the Earth Kingdom utilizing Sozin's comet?

[He will at least be civil]

[thefatherlord]

[Ozai doesn't consider this civil in the least. To speak of his grand plans as if they're just insignificant matters....! His eyes narrow with cold malice.]

Who was it that told you of my fleet?

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh calmly walks over to a table]

I will answer your questions if you come and take a seat for a moment. I am sure you are wondering what brought you here, and how I might know about your plans.

[thefatherlord]

... If this is some poor attempt to lead me astray- to lure me into a trap... I assure you, I will turn this pathetic little shop to ash.

[Even so, he strides over to the table and, after casting a blank gaze into the chair (ugh, a green cushion), he straightens his robes and sits down.]

[tea_lover64]

[He had assumed Ozai still had his firebending, that was even more confirmation of it]

Dually noted.

[He takes a seat himself, and pours two cups of green tea, this wasn't a conversation for sweet tea and places one in front of Ozai and the other in front of his seat. He takes the first sip as he sits down and takes a breath.]

You are in a place called Luceti. If you notice, I have a little addition to my normal appearance.

[He extends his wings out while he takes another sip of tea]

Most longer term residents have these.

[thefatherlord]

[Ozai treats the tea as if it were invisible, instead keeping his gaze on Iroh and Iroh alone. He's not sure what to make of the wings, but after the initial surprise has ebbed away, he decides he doesn't really care.]

Charming. [Despite Ozai's robes, it may become evident fairly quickly that unlike longer term residents, he himself has no wings.]

[tea_lover64]

[Of course he didn't care, other than gaining more power and control, there was little his younger brother cared about]

They are connected to us closely as a sort of anchor to this world. Consider this place alongside the spirit realm of things, though you aren't particularly well versed with that side of things. The individuals who brought you here are known as the Malnosso, and they are winged individuals as well.

[thefatherlord]

[With how very little response Ozai's showing, it may seem like he's not even listening, but he's taking in every word, along with the way Iroh says it. It doesn't seem like his brother's lying, but this whole thing just sounds absurd.]

They would dare rip the Fire Lord from his throne without his permission?

[tea_lover64]

[Of course he would immediately go to the royalty side of things]

Yes, they don't seem to be overly concerned with social ranking. There are various nobles and royalty mixed in with everyone.

[Which Iroh was of course perfectly fine with]

They draw people in not only from different places, and not only our world, but many others, but also from different times. There are people here from over seventy years in the future.

[thefatherlord]

[Ozai's already made a reluctant note of the differences in social rankings and cultures. It became obvious to him the moment he cast one glance along these decrepit streets. No one was donning appropriate Fire Nation attire and no one seemed to realize the Fire Lord himself was passing by them. Such ignorance. Such insolence.]

The future, you say? [Now there's a notion that intrigues him. It has merit and he must admit, he's curious towards the future in general.]

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh has another sip of his tea]

Yes. The future. It is why I asked what the last thing you remember was.

[He has no problem telling you that you were defeated]

[thefatherlord]

[If others being from the future is truly a thing, then Iroh reconquering Ba Sing Se... Well, it's likely still nothing more than a bluff. If he couldn't take it from the Earth King while he was leading the Fire Nation's finest men, he would never be able to take it from Fire Nation control.

He decides to humor Iroh. To see where these tales will lead. To see how many more outrageous claims of victory he will hear.]

Then, enlighten me. What is the last thing that you remember? Leave out no detail.

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh nods]

After re-taking Ba Sing Se, and freeing those who were formally in power, I returned it to the rightful owners of the city. Before I was taken here, I was living a quiet life in Ba Sing Se.

[He takes a sip of tea]

Azula was defeated and captured by Zuko and Katara, one of the avatar's allies. The fleet was infiltrated and sabotaged when your attack began.

Your attack in particular was stopped by the Avatar, and the two of you dueled during Sozin's comet. You had the upper hand, until the Avatar entered the Avatar state, and was about to end your life when he did something I never knew was possible.

[He pauses for a moment]

He removed your ability to bend.

[thefatherlord]

[Ozai's lips curl into a twisted smirk as he listens. The story gets more ludicrous by the second. Azula defeated his failure of a son and some ragtag civilian? His strongest fleet infiltrated? Being defeated by some air nomad child even as Sozin's Comet fueled him with strength? And removing his ability to bend, that one in particular amuses him. His laughter will no doubt sound hollow, but then again, genuine laughter is rare in Ozai's case.]

Bravo, Iroh. Bravo. If your claims weren't so farfetched, I might actually have believed them.

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh shakes his head]

You can choose not to believe me, if you wish. Since you are a man of ambition, tell me. What possible benefit do I gain from telling you this?

[The fact that history would play out regardless is the only reason he gave the information out anyway]

[thefatherlord]

[Ozai laces his fingers together as he thinks. What would Iroh have to gain from it?]

A false sense of trust, perhaps. Planting the notion in my head that we are equals and obligated to help one another out. ...If it's my protection or mercy you want, you'll have none.

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh just gave him a look at that. Their father really should haven't pushed Ozai so hard]

I assure you, I do not expect any sort of compassion from you. The closest we've been for a long time is simply acknowledging the others abilities.

[It was sad, but true for the most part. There was a slim part on Iroh's side that hoped that one day things could be different, but he doubted it. ]

[thefatherlord]

[Closeness? What use would he have for that? This isn't about them being brothers. Iroh turned his back on the family when he decided to turn rogue along with Zuko. No, perhaps Iroh had even turned against the family before that.

This isn't between Ozai and Iroh, it's between the Fire Lord and a man who should've dedicated the rest of his life to serving him.]

If that's the case, you will stay out of my way. [He moves his chair back from the table as he pushes himself into a standing position.] Starting a fight would be foolish on both our ends, so I trust you'll do nothing that might test my patience.

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh sips his tea calmly]

One bit of information you might want to consider while you are here. There are beings and individuals here who are stronger than a fully realized avatar.

[Iroh didn't have an intention of starting a fight with Ozai. Their abilities and strengths were very close, and it wouldn't serve much of a purpose]

[thefatherlord]

[He's just about getting ready to leave, still treating that second cup of tea as if it were air, but those words cause him to halt again.]

Impossible.

[tea_lover64]

[Iroh will just sip his tea calmly. If Ozai wanted to get more information he'd have to sit]