A Nationwide Event (OPEN)

[Iroh]

Unlike his father, Iroh enjoyed parties. And today was the perfect day for one. The entire capital city had been out and about for the celebration Iroh threw for the overthrowing of Amon in his father's prided Republic City. Now, under the setting sun, many of the party goers had gone in to different tea houses and restaurants to enjoy the festivities through the night.

As for Iroh, he'd completely decked out the tea house errected in his granduncle's honor. The Jasmine Dragon was aglow with lights and music that bounced off of the jade dragon sculptures, seeped through the rice screen walls, and shimmered on the rippling waters of the pond and stream in the garden. His mother probably wouldn't have approved of the merriness of it all.

Iroh shook hands and clapped the backs of many men as he walked through the halls of the tea house as he was lead by a young airihana. None of the rooms were private tonight; the entire tea house was open to the public. Iroh arrived in the largest of the rooms and was met with the sounds of song and laughter, of glasses clinking together, and of good times. He smiled at this as he took a seat and waited for a serving tray - tea, sake, it didn't matter. He'd had his share of both already that day, but what was a little more?

So many people were having a good time and, while they acknowledged the general, they didn't revere him with the same respect they would his older brother, and that was fine by him. The stuffiness of a ruler's life wasn't anything he had ever dreamed of. Perhaps he got that from his granduncle, too.

"Excuse me, miss!' He said, waving to a nearby airihana. "Would you be so kind as to bring me a cup of whatever it is you think best?" He smiled at her, looking over her exquisite kimono. Her hair ornaments were delicate flowers and pearls. She seemed like a high level airihana, though no matter what her hourly rate was, he could afford it. "And bring a second glass for yourself, while you're at it."

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

Between the current Capital party, and the Return party she was booked to entertain at only a week later, Raisa was busier than she could remember being since making her debut. At the moment, she was on her way with a tray of plum wine to the other room, where a group of Fire Bending acrobats had requested her presence to play the shamisen while they performed. As she made her way towards the door, and man called her from behind. Without even turning, she knew she was being addressed.

As she whirled around to apologize to the customer and explain she was already engaged, her eyes fell upon the voice's owner. It was General Iroh. Raisa froze in her tracks. Sure, everyone knew that the General liked to keep a low profile, but she hadn't even known he'd entered the tea house. And when someone of his importance summoned her... well, she couldn't very well say no.

Her eyes momentarily lingered on the doorway she was supposed to be exiting through before she put on a smile and attended to the seated General. "Good evening, General! How kind of you to stop by." She joked, knowing that his money had fronted the extravagant ordeal. "It is such an honor to entertain the illustrious General Iroh." Raisa gently held her sleeve while pouring two cups of wine. She left hers untouched, as it was not proper to drink before the guest. "I hope you are having a good time this evening."

[Iroh]

Iroh took the cup and sipped it. "Considering the amount of money spent on this little city-wide get together, I had better be having a good time!" He joked. "But I must say that despite enjoying my own party, my mood has lifted since you came into view." Flirting wasn't uncommon with airihana. It wouldn't ever lead anywhere, as he knew airihana were not allowed to be alone with a man without supervision, but who could blame him? Such lovely women all over the city...

Looking at her kimono, Iroh formed the impression that this particular airihana was not from around the area. Her kimono had the big city feel of his father's providence. Her hair ornaments looked exquisite as well. A woman in her position certainly wouldn't be able to afford such luxuries... gifts. then, from customers. He peered over the rim of his cup at her, not bothering with the formality of averting his eyes from looking directly at her out of politeness. "Forgive me for staring, but I can't help but notice what beautiful eyes you have. What is your name? I'm sure you can't live near here... I'd remember passing by someone with your grace. Is this your first time in the Capital?"

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

Raisa smiled and lowered her gaze. Such flattery was not uncommon among her customers. Some of them viewed it as a normal part of an interaction with airihana. Raisa wasn't so sure she thought it should be expected, but if it earned her a bigger tip, then, well, who was she to argue? Anything to lessen the choke hold of her head mistress back in Republic. "You do seem to throw quite the party, General. This is my first time to the Fire Nation Capitol, and so far it is making quite the impression! And whether it was by your hand or that of a party planner I thank you for the opportunity of coming here."

She tipped her own cup of wine, though was careful to do little more than wet her lips. Her customers may have all the drink they want, but as the entertainer, she must always remain in control of her faculties. Especially when men began to flirt as this one had. "My apologies for not introducing myself sooner, General. It was quite rude of me. My name is Raisa. It is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of such an honorable man as yourself."

[Iroh]

Iroh shrugged. "I'm no more honorable than any other person who would try to help another man out." He put down his cup and watched the girl. She seemed young, probably not even in her twenties. And her smile! How many hours had she practiced such a charming smile to bring it out on command like that? Iroh would have liked to think her smile was sincere and that he brought it about, though common sense told him otherwise.

Suddenly he stopped listening to the sound of her voice and heard what she was saying. "Raisa is your name? How fitting for a flower such as yourself. No doubt named for Queen Raisa of the Earth Kingdom, correct?" He mused over stories his father had told him as a boy... always, of course, when his mother wasn't around. "You know, my father and Queen Raisa were something of an item for a time, though no one really knew that. Most people think that their marriage was all political, and only for the benefit of the public, and that they never interacted outside of that. Behind closed doors was another matter entirely, however..." He glanced at her, wondering how she would react to such a private affair. "Of course, that was before he and my mother were married, back in the time of the New War. And I have only ever seen pictures of Queen Raisa, though I'd imagine she couldn't have been half as lovely as you. If she had been and my father passed her up, well, I'd be very disappointed in his judgement!"

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

Raisa laughed lightly and looked away, covering her mouth with the sleeve of her kimono in embarrassment. "The General flatters me, but I am quite sure that you say that to all the airihana!" She peered at him coyly over her sleeve for the briefest instant before lowering her gaze again. "And besides, you speak as if my name and your heritage give us some sort of connection. Raisa isn't an uncommon name, you know. But no matter what the case may be, to tell a stranger such personal stories of your father, the greatest Fire Lord in our history! General!" Raisa brushed her fingers along the nape of her neck as if to hide a blush, though of course there was none. Many men had told her more private stories than that before. "How do you know that I will not repeat everything you have just told me to the next man I entertain tonight? And the next after him? Soon your family's closet will be strewn across the city as quickly as a diary's pages turned into paper planes and tossed about in the wind!"

[Iroh]

Iroh watched Raisa's movements; swift, and graceful. Like a rose petal in a gentle breeze. He sipped the wine again, never taking his eyes off of the airihana. "I know you will not speak a word, Raisa, for three reasons." He replied with a smirk. "One, because you airihana love to gossip, but only among each other. Any stories that would list you as a loud mouth would discourage clients and lessen your pay. You wouldn't say anything about the General of the United Forces or his family, or risk your reputation. Two, I do believe we have a connection based on your name and my family. My granduncle believed in such connections bringing people together throughout the weaves of our lives, and so do I. What I tell you tonight you will keep to yourself for that reason alone. And three, even if you were inclined to take a risk and spread rumors of what I tell you now, there will be no client after me, not tonight or tomorrow or several nights a week in the future, because I intend you call on your company every chance I can."

He watched carefully for what her reaction would be, as it would tell a lot about her. But he expected a dramatic embarrassment again, as she seemed to be highly proficient in her art. And yet a small part of him was determined to make this young girl break her character for just a fraction of a second to see what truly lay underneath. "So that being said, shall I tell you more of my family's secret side?" He began, leaning across the table towards her in an intimate way. "People say that Queen Raisa had unusual eyes, like you. Their color may be different, but the characteristic is striking nonetheless. I've also been told that I bear a remarkable resemblance to my father at this age, though supposedly I'm a bit more easy going, and in my opinion, more handsome. Raisa and my father met almost by chance at a meeting, something like you and I have now. But Raisa and Zuko didn't get along well at all. They fought bitterly, and only went through with the marriage for the sake of their people. Though the story goes that something changed during their first kiss as man and wife, and the palace attendants said that any dislike they'd harbored was certainly forgotten on their wedding night..."

[Iroh]

((Hey so I feel like an idiot. Just realized Iroh is Zuko's grandson. Let's just go with that from here on out, as opposed to modifying all of our posts...))

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

((Hahahaha I wasn't going to say anything for this thread, but I'd thought he was the grandson too! Okay we'll just pretend like that never happened.))

Of course Raisa had heard rumors of the Earth Queen and Fire Lord - but so had everyone. Since Zuko had taken Mei as his wife, the whole world hoped that there had been some romance between the Fire Lord and the fabled "platinum princess" that the kingdom so adored. But to hear something to suggestive, and straight from the Fire Lord's lineage? It was unheard of! Raisa truly did wish to shift in discomfort, though knew well enough to hold still. Her eyes did widen slightly at the direction his story hinted at, made all the more intimate and personal feeling by the way Iroh had formed a pseudo connection between himself and her. "My, General, that certainly is an interesting story, and one I haven't yet heard! But I have to wonder why your grandfather would tell you such things. You couldn't have been more than a boy when you knew him!"

"But may I turn our conversation to another matter the General has mentioned?" She said, balancing her cup gently between her fingertips. "I am honored you wish to sit with me again. I am not yet engaged for tomorrow evening, though you may speak to the tea house mistress if you like. But I am afraid your wish to see me further in the future than that may pose a problem. I do not live here, the mistress of the Jasmine Dragon only requested I come for your party. I will return to Republic City the day after next. I am sorry."

[Iroh]

Iroh's brows knit together at hearing this. He had assumed she lived in an airihana house nearby, and if not nearby then at least in the nation. But clear across the continent! And to have a set date so soon after the party ended to return by... Iroh guessed at what that mean. She probably lived in Tominaga-Cho, under the watch of a head mistress. While it pained him slightly that he'd found someone to meet with that would prove a good entertainment companion only to have her taken away, there was a slightly brighter side to the event. She had to return, which meant she was directed by a head mistress. Which in turn meant she lived in Tominaga-Cho. Which also meant she was patronless. The silver lining in the clouds his granduncle always taught him to look for.

"If you are to leave so soon, then I'd better make the best of the time you have left, wouldn't you agree?" He lifted the lacquered pot and refilled her cup of wine. She seemed so young, probably barely past her debut. He could have easily been a decade older than her, which would prove to his advantage later on. "And when it comes time for you to leave, I will make sure to see you off in our finest ship. But until then let's not talk of your departure. Tell me what you have seen of my father's city! And more importantly, what you haven't seen. There are so many wonderful places to visit here, it would certainly take more than a handful of days to see them all. You should really reconsider staying longer just for that purpose."

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

Raisa blushed. "The General is too kind. I don't know how I could accept such a lavish method of transport, I would have no way of repaying you!" Many men had promised such niceties before. Though General Iroh, she thought, would be one to hold to his word. Raisa's mind quickly calculated the advantages of having him as a regular customer. This was not an opportunity to pass up. As he put the bottle of wine down, Raisa reached for her cup - brushing her fingers against his as she did. She pulled her hand back quickly, her eyes fluttering down as if embarrassed by the accident. When his hand was out of the way, she picked up her cup again.

"The city... yes." She began, as if her thoughts were jumbled and confused. "I have not seen terribly much, I'll admit. I arrived here by train, so I did see the remarkable countryside as I came in. It is quite different from Republic! So much open space, it's very lovely. The streets of Republic City seem suffocating by comparison. And as I've said, I haven't seem much of the city, but what I have is built with magnificent architecture. It is like stepping into a picture from a history book."

[Iroh]

Raisa's touch startled Iroh, though the only outward sign he showed of it was a slight pause in movement and a change in his stare. He knew quite well that is was somewhat of an airihana sales tactic - a way to get a customer to feel closer to the airihana and spend more time with her, and ultimately, more money. Though he had to admit, it was working. He had trouble focusing on her first few sentences after that brief contact. A moment later his other senses returned and he caught the end of what she was saying. "That is hardly sight seeing at all! If you are free tomorrow, then here is where you must go: the beaches are beautiful this time of year, especially during sunrise. The Fire Temple has remarkable architecture, the finest in the city! Go there after breakfast at the Dragon's Den restaurant. The Palace is also exquisite. They don't normally give tours, but I'm sure someone would show you around if you'd like. And since I happen to be staying there myself for the time being, I would be more than happy to do so. I could even give you a tour of the private chambers."

As he spoke, Iroh reached towards the gentle had that had brushed him and took it in his. With the other hand, he picked up the hem of the kimono draped across her wrist and examined it. Burnt ocre silk, with gold trim. Beautiful craftsmanship. "There is also a fine kimono maker in the city. I happen to know him personally - perhaps a bit of my granduncle's spirit influencing my love of art. Let me take you to him, and you can take any kimono you choose. My gift to you, if you promise to return here some day wearing it."

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

Genuine surprise crossed Raisa's features then. It wasn't as if she wasn't used to lavish gifts, or the hint of a man escorting her around the city and then some. Those were all very normal parts of her job - not that she ever accepted the "and then some"s from her customers, of course. But the fact that this man was so casually offering to buy her kimono, escort her around the city, send her back to Republic City in formal ships, and find ways to draw her back again? All in their first meeting? And actually having the funds to back up his words? It was unheard of.

"I..." Raisa struggled for the correct response in this situation. She hadn't been prepared for this. Quickly, though, she replaced the surprise with her charming smile. "I would be every so happy to see the places you've described, they sound wonderful! Though the General hardly knows me... how would I ever be able to repay the kindness of a kimono? I could never accept such an offer, or tie up your whole day tomorrow, simply for some sight seeing!"

[Iroh]

Iroh shrugged idly and downed his glass of wine. "It's a reflection on you more than it is of myself, Raisa. I am not easily moved by strangers, though you are a rare flower indeed." He felt pleased with himself for eliciting such surprise out of her and breaking her mask of an appearance, if even only for a moment. "So then I can expect your company tomorrow? It's my day off, so I promise that you're not keeping me from anything important. Just giving me a reason not to laze around the house all day. And strut around with a pretty girl all over town."

Iroh wondered to himself if the fates had conspired to bring himself and this girl together. Perhaps it was a chance to right the wrongs between his grandfather and the famous Earth Queen? The circumstances were quite different, granted. He was only the general of the United Forces, not the Fire Lord. And this girl was only an airihana, not even a member of the Earth Kingdom. But still, who could predict why the tides tossed some sea shells to shore and left over on the sandy ocean beds? Time would reveal the answers to all secrets. "Now Raisa, I will wire your head mistress tomorrow about fees for your company tomorrow, as is necessary. But please tell me, is there anywhere in particular you would like to go? I don't want to impose on all of your time tomorrow, either."

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

Raisa sipped her wine as a gesture of her nervousness, her gaze faltering. Part of it was an act, of course, though she was surprised to find that part of it was also true. Many airihana in the tea house were feigning shyness or talking coyly with their customers - it was part of what they were expected to do. Raisa had been trained from a young age to behave this way, to perform for the customer. Very few times did her true emotions match what she was portraying. Now was one of those times.

Thankfully, the General switched topics. "Oh, please, General. Don't be ridiculous! Of course you are not imposing on my time. Isn't that what I am here for, anyway? And by your party's employment? To entertain the people of this city?" She set her cup down. "But some place in particular... Hm... Well, I will admit that I haven't seen a sunrise in several years. My position generally keeps me out of Tominaga-Cho long into the night, and I sleep in through the morning. I have not seen a sunset either in just as long, as I am usually getting ready to go out for the evening. I would love to witness such a beautiful event."