(Untitled)

[general_ginseng]

The change from grubby convict to tidy Earth Kingdom gentleman is instantaneous, now that Iroh knows to expect it. He takes a seat halfway between the piano and the fireplace before imagining up a tea set and a bowl of rice. Just rice. Which really isn't odd, as far as anyone here knows

Comments

[nightwatchwolf]

Don't mind the golden wolf watching him from halfway across the room, her ears pricked forward in interest as his hand ignites. She actually could be mistaken for a large dog rather than a wolf - she must be a dog, because really, when do you ever find wolves in inns?

She looks somewhere between interested and concerned by the fire. Wizards. Just what they need more of around the Inn.

[general_ginseng]

Except that this is a man whose lives in a world where fox spirits are librarians, and who has rather personal knowlege of the world of spirits himself.

Thus the polite nod to the golden wolf, and the addition of a shallow bowl to the tea set.

"I do not know if wolves here drink tea, but if you do, then please feel welcome to join me," he says as he sets the heated teapot on the stand, and sets the candle underneath on fire with a flick of his finger.

[nightwatchwolf]

Angua is rather surprised at the courtesy. It's not something she often get - she's more likely to get people making sure they carry around a piece of silver on their person, just in case.

The wolf in her would rather have a raw steak than a bowl of tea. The human in her decides she's going to act like a civilized person and have the tea, damn it. She'd shift back to her human shape to do it - she's away from the windows, not in direct moonlight - but that would leave her naked, not something she's particularly keen on down here with people who aren't Carrot around.

She rises to her feet and pads over to sit down at a spot on the floor near him but not so near as to make him nervous, she hopes - even people who don't think she's going to rip their throat out seem to get edgy around werewolves. They imagine there's something vicious about wolves, when really, it's the human you've got to worry about.

[general_ginseng]

He doesn't seem nervous.

And for the record, he would not object at all to the nudity. At all.

"I see you have been touched by the moon spirit," he says, conversationally, as he prepares the tea.

It's almost a glow, fainter than the one that the girl at the North Pole had, but still there.

[nightwatchwolf]

Angua tilts her head to one side, ears swinging forward with an air of questioning. Touched by the moon spirit? She can guess what he means, but she's never heard it put that way. She makes a soft chuffing sound that's as close to a laugh as she can get in this shape.

[general_ginseng]

Iroh chuckles back as he pours the tea, first into his guests's bowl, and then into his own cup.

"Perhaps that is only as I see it. Your perception must be different. Can you speak in the way that humans do?"

You never know. It might only NOT be speaking because he hasn't asked. After all, this IS something of a spirit-world in Iroh's perception.

[nightwatchwolf]

Not unless you speak dog, Angua responds, a little amused. Or you catch me at the right time of the month...

She shakes her head helpfully, assuming he hadn't understood that. Not even Carrot manages, and he seems to be able to understand almost any language. Tea is an interesting experience in wolf shape. The pale green smell twines through the air in tendrils, painting the room in Angua's perception.

[general_ginseng]

There's jasmine in there, too, which is also probably even more interesting when smelled with a wolf's nose.

"Ah, unfortunate. I love a good conversation. Still, there are few greater pleasures in life than sharing tea with a fascinating stranger."

Sentient wolves are VERY fascinating strangers. Iroh smiles at Angua over his cup before drinking the tea.

[nightwatchwolf]

To some people, when Angua smiles in wolf form, it looks like a threat. Lots of teeth, jaws that could crush your windpipe... There is a very distinct difference between a wolf's smile and any sort of threatening look, though, and Angua trusts this man to be intelligent enough to tell the difference. She might have to make a point of tracking him down later, so that they can actually have a conversation. It shouldn't be hard - he has a very distinct scent.

[general_ginseng]

Tea and the fragrant smoke of incense. Yup, that's pretty distinctive.

My, that IS a lot of teeth. It would be a lie to say that the many sharp teeth are not intimidating, but they are also not aimed for his jugular at present, and there isn't any indication that they will be. Iroh grins back, showing his own rather less pointy set.

"I have never made tea for a wolf before. I hope it is to your liking."

[nightwatchwolf]

Angua lowers her nose to sniff at the bowl of tea, and then laps at it curiously. It's not like she's never tasted tea before, but not in wolf form. The enhanced sense of smell makes it taste so much... more. The wolf, personally, would prefer more blood and meat - and that part of it is getting louder, the more she stays in this shape - but she is going to ignore it as long as she can.

[general_ginseng]

Drinking tea usually indicates that it's good, or just that the drinker is polite. Iroh has enough confidence in his skills to assume the former.

And either way, there are worse ways to meet a wolf than to share tea with one.