(Untitled)

[snap_time]

Larry's thinking he might be coming down with a cold or something. At the very least, he's a bit more sniffly than usual.
Pity the museum director's still too stingy to hire another night guard - a night off couldn't hurt. But he'll get through it, and as long as the inn insists on presenting itself, there can be free tea! That certainly doesn't

Comments

[general_ginseng]

Free tea is NEVER a bad thing. Unless the person making the free tea is bad at it and then it's more of a disgrace than an actual Bad Thing.

Iroh, however, is very much not bad at making tea, as the fragrance from the large pot he has just finished making will attest. The old man beams at the newcomer from his low table, where he's sitting on his heels and enjoying his own cup of free tea.

Oh, and look! Extra cups!

[snap_time]

Even with somewhat backed-up sinuses, Larry can tell this guy's tea is on to something.
"That smells good. Better than what I thought up, anyway."
Then again, his experience with tea mostly involves the bagged variety. That is not always the way to go.

[general_ginseng]

Iroh knows nothing of bagged tea, but he would be horrified if he did. He beams and fills another cup.

"You look tired." And ill. "Come and have a seat. A nice cup of tea will do you good."

Tea cures all ills. Seriously.

[snap_time]

...Well, he doesn't have any reason to argue with that logic, so he does have a seat.
"Thanks."
The night really hasn't been that bad so far, but being sick doesn't help.

[general_ginseng]

The tea is a robust oolong with a slight smokiness and a hint of nutty warmth. If Larry's only had bagged tea, then there's a pretty darn good chance this is the best tea he's ever tasted.

"Young men these days are so very driven," he says, passing the cup over to Larry. "Working as hard as they do. Tell me, what is it that you do that has you looking so tired?"

He fusses happily with the tea, checking the status of the candle keeping the water warm and imagining up a lovely white tea to follow the oolong.

[snap_time]

"I work night security at a museum. It's more complicated than it sounds. And I think I'm coming down with a cold or something, but I'm the only night guard, so taking a night off isn't exactly an option." He could, technically, have the guys he replaced pitch in, but then they'd be there unsupervised, and... no.
"...This is some good tea."

[general_ginseng]

"Thank you. Good tea is something of a passion of mine."

Iroh refills his own cup.

"Guard for a museum," he muses, enjoying the aroma of the oolong. "What a fascinating profession. What sort of museum do you guard?"

[snap_time]

"Natural history. Keeps life interesting, I can say that much." But that would be the complication.
"Oh, I'm Larry."

[general_ginseng]

"I am pleased to meet you, Larry. My name is Iroh. Refill?"

He holds up the teapot.

"A natural history museum! I suppose you learn a lot on the job."

[snap_time]

Refills are good! Especially when one's throat is slightly scratchy.
"...You could say that, yeah. Helps that one of the artifacts brings most of the exhibits to life at night. Had to do a little outside research to survive the first couple nights on the job, but I managed."

[general_ginseng]

"That is interesting." He refills Larry's cup. "Not a common occurance in your world?"

Hey, you never know.

[snap_time]

"Decidedly not. And the guys I replaced didn't think I'd believe them if they told me, so my introduction was a dinosaur skeleton chasing me around and trying to get me to play fetch."
He didn't have any more trouble staying awake that night.

[general_ginseng]

"That sounds . . ." Iroh decides on "thrilling. What's a dinosaur?"

[snap_time]

"...Basically a giant lizard? They died off way before humans were around, so nobody's entirely sure whether the one the museum's got was a carnivore or a scavenger or more closely related to birds or what. But it was still pretty alarming."
'Thrilling' is also a good word.

[general_ginseng]

Giant lizards? Recognition!

"Ah, dragons! Yes, I know of them. I am sorry yours are deceased." Iroh shakes his head solemnly. "The dragons of my world are not as plentiful as they once were, but they are truly magnificent beasts. The world would be a lesser place if they were to die out."

[snap_time]

"...Well, not exactly dragons, but probably close, at least in spirit."
After all, if you dig up a giant bone and don't know from zoology... but Larry's well aware that mainly applies to his own world.