![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[He had been left in the outskirts of the village after they had finished with him. It had been a particularly difficult couple of weeks while they were there. They had tested his physical limits, pain endurance, capability of his powers, and seemingly just what it would take to make him cry out in pain. Exhausted was an understatement, he felt thoroughly drained and doubted their claims that it would somehow help. They had enjoyed the process it seemed to him.
Laying on the ground there he contemplated just taking a nap right here. It would be delightful to just rest now, but people would be worried, and the comparative safety and comfort of the house would be welcome. Thankfully it seemed at least he would be able to communicate, the journal was right beside him. Lifting a stiff arm he flips it on.
He starts to try and say something for a moment before coughing for a few seconds, and takes an audible breath in. He winced as he took it in, seemed like that would take a little bit of time to heal]
H-hello, I hope I haven't worried anyone too much..
[He clears his throat and puts a little more volume in it]
This is Iroh, I'm in the forest, I can't tell exactly whereabouts. Normally I would find my own way back, but I am feeling a bit under the weather. I would appreciate any assistance, and if it is not too much to ask, a good cup of tea.
[A fortnight without tea was quite barbaric as well]
Laying on the ground there he contemplated just taking a nap right here. It would be delightful to just rest now, but people would be worried, and the comparative safety and comfort of the house would be welcome. Thankfully it seemed at least he would be able to communicate, the journal was right beside him. Lifting a stiff arm he flips it on.
He starts to try and say something for a moment before coughing for a few seconds, and takes an audible breath in. He winced as he took it in, seemed like that would take a little bit of time to heal]
H-hello, I hope I haven't worried anyone too much..
[He clears his throat and puts a little more volume in it]
This is Iroh, I'm in the forest, I can't tell exactly whereabouts. Normally I would find my own way back, but I am feeling a bit under the weather. I would appreciate any assistance, and if it is not too much to ask, a good cup of tea.
[A fortnight without tea was quite barbaric as well]
Tags:
From:
Action
[Just imagining it was quite enough]
From my world? What was that like?
From:
Re: Action
But this rage is stronger in its own way, more pure. Perhaps because it is not just for him, but for a daily that never existed. For murdered children he never had. It's confusing, but undeniable.
And something else is undeniable: Iroh is from the Fire Nation. Perhaps someone he might have cooperated with once Aang and Katara had forced him to abandon the path of bloody vengeance, but...hah. To ask that question.
And that too, is confusing. Everything thus makes him feel is confusing, from such a simple question.
The anger does not show in his face, not the confusion, but there is a certain sense of distance that comes to his expression as he considers these things, idly turning his tea cup in his hands.
Finally, he says:]
I was a water bender of the Southern Water Tribe. What do you think it was like?
From:
Action
Ah. I'm sorry to hear that.
From:
Action
[His lips pull for a moment in a crooked smile.]
In this false life.
[He considers again. It's disturbing to feel such different things simultaneously.]
It didn't make me want to skin you any less at the time. But there really aren't any words to cure that sort of ill.
And I think we might have eventually gotten on.
From:
Action
The Southern Raider strategy I disagreed with even when I believed some of the philosophy behind Fire Nation policy. On a purely practical level, it took away economic potential, not to mention military considerations if there could be a successful assimilation like in some of the early earth kingdom colonies.
[He breaths in deeply]
There is much that should have been done differently by my family. The past will always remain with us, no matter what we do. You can either let that define you, or move forward, and add some good to that history.
From:
Re: Action
I once said to a dear friend that every choice we make is a stone that hangs upon our neck.
[It feels so long ago, that conversation with Jane when he hadn't been himself.]
But I have never been particularly good at letting anything go. I am too greedy for that.
From:
Action-By complete accident Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley is playing
It is best to avoid grudges where one can, but burdens we make can be carried by those we surround ourselves with. The right company can make even the heaviest burden seem but a trifle.
From:
Re: Action-By complete accident Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley is playing
He smiles crookedly.]
I'm still grappling with the idea of being around people who don't want to kill me.
From:
no subject
[Lots of people want to kill Iroh, he just stops them from doing so, bids them a nice day, and has tea with them]
From:
no subject
Humans are very strange, you know.
Even stranger, I'm starting to really like some of you.
From:
no subject
Yes, we are a strange bunch.
[Iroh laughs at that]
Law of averages I would say.
From:
no subject
Ha, I think you might be right with that. The ones I like are the exception, rather than the rule.
[He falls silent for a moment.]
The strangest thing that strikes me, from thinking on that false life as a water bender... [His lips twist. He's not even certain what this means.]
It reminded me what it is like, to be ceaselessly angry. In every waking moment. And...I don't feel that way any more. I don't know when that happened.