The Earth Empire (Avatar Roleplay)

Katara smiled lightly, "Yes, sir. We do serve Jasmine tea. If you would give me a moment, I'll go prepare it." and with a light bow, she moved back towards the kitchen, taking other orders as she went. Something seemed...odd, about the cloaked man, but she wasn't sure what it was.

?

He nodded in response to what Katara said, and calmly waited for her to prepare and serve the tea. This wasn't the best establishment for tea he'd seen, the man had to admit, but he hoped the tea that was served here would more than make up for it. If what he had heard about this shop was true, though.

Katara had spoken with her Gran-Gran about some of the teas she had to make when she first got the job. Jasmine had been one of them, and speaking with her about the preparation that she had been shown, Gran-Gran was prompt in correcting a few things, as well as the other teas. They were corrections Katara had taken to heart, as well as adding her own little spice for flavor.

Katara was never really a tea enthusiast, but she shared a slight interest in science with her brother, and found it fascinating to experiment with flavors, which had yet to disappoint her customers...the ones that appreciated it, that is. But it was one thing her Gran-Gran had told her that she relied on now: Real tea takes heart, not fancy show or flavors....or something like that...Sokka was starting to rub off on her.

Without using anything extra, she bent the Jasmine tea into a cup, as well as a few other orders, and stepped out of the kitchen. "Your Jasmine tea." she said, walking over to the cloaked man with the tea extended.

?

"Thank you, dear girl." he said, and took the tea from her. The mysterious man took a sip from the cup and nodded approvingly at her.

"Excellent tea, I must say. Tell me, did you make this? Or did you just serve it to me?"

Katara tried her best to keep an indignant look off of her face, and wasn't sure how well she was doing. Keeping herself from answering with a biting comment, she smiled and replied, "Sir, I made and served this tea myself. I'm glad that it meets your approval." giving the cloaked man a slight bow, holding the tea tray steady.

?

"I see. Very well, then. Well, that makes everything easier, then. I believe I have an offer you cannot refuse, my dear." the cloaked man said. He then pulled back his hood to reveal the visage of the Emperor Long Feng.

"I have an important meeting today with several ambassadors from the Fire Nation. I would like to serve them tea, but my best tea maker is sick today, and cannot come to work. And your tea tastes quite excellent, Miss. Tell me, would you like to temporarily fulfill that position and make tea for my guests? It'd only be for the day, but I would pay you handsomely for it."

Katara was instantly filled with dread. She knew something wasn't right about him, but either was way, she couldn't have lied to him, and now...she couldn't back out. She had heard rumors of what happened to those who denied the Emperor Long Feng, and she wasn't about to find out if they were true...not with Sokka and Gran-Gran at risk.

Visibly shaking, Katara gave the Emperor a much lower bow, the cups on the tray quaking, "My Lord, it would be too much of an honor for a humble tea server such as myself," she said, barely able to keep the terror out of her voice, "But I could not be so rude as to deny the Emperor such a request."

Long Feng

"Excellent. You have one hour to prepare yourself. I'm sure you can work something out with your superior. When you are ready to come to the palace, a Dai Li agent will be near your home to escort you. I'm sure you'll be able to recognize him." Long Feng said. He finished his tea and stood up. He gave the girl and her boss (who was standing toward the back of the shop, with his mouth wide open) a respectful bow and proceeded to leave the shop.

Katara looked back at her boss, with his mouth still wide open as he motioned for her to go ahead. She looked around the small tea shop as everyone was dead quiet, eying her like it was the last time they would ever see her. The rumors were quite well spread, apparently.

Hanging up her apron, she said quick goodbyes as she made her way out of the shop and down the street. On her way, she passed a very noticeable Dai Li agent standing outside the doorway of her home. Giving him a curt nod of acknowledgment, she opened the door, only to be pulled in by a firm hand.

"Katara! There is a Dai Li agent outside!" she exclaimed, closing the door behind her, "I know Gran-Gran. He's here to escort me to the palace. I'm to serve tea at the Emperor's meeting in an hour, and I need to be ready quickly." Gran-Gran's eyes were wide with shock, clasping a hand over her mouth.

"Here, follow me," she said, grabbing Katara by the wrist and leading her to her room. "It may not be much," she said, pulling out an elegant Earth Kingdom outfit, covered in swirls and waves of alternating light-green and dark-green. "Gran-Gran," Katara muttered, speechless, "I was saving it for when you found the right person, but given the circumstances..." she handed the outfit to Katara and brought her into an embrace, "Please, be safe."

"I will Gran-Gran." Katara said, returning the embrace, before breaking away to get dressed, the last thing she needed was to be late, so quickly getting dressed, she made her way outside to the awaiting Dai Li agent.

Toph sighed in relief as her tutor left the room. She checked to make sure no one else was around and headed to her balcony. Using earhtbending she managed to sneak off the balcony onto the ground. Once down there she took off. Hopefully she wouldn't be found for quite some time.

She managed to make it into the upper ring before she stopped running. Her she blended in the best.

She spotted a girl with dark brown hair step out of her home and she smiled.

"Hello Miss," she said, smiling in her direction. Jin looked at the young girl and smiled back nervously.

"Um hello."

Iroh examined the Earth Emperor's palace as he stepped out of the carriage. Thankfully, it appeared unchanged from its time as the Earth King's seat of power. Still, he suspected that it held a few surprises in store for him and his niece and nephew.

Azula frowned, analyzing the Palace Guard that stood at attention for them. Any moment, she knew, they could attack. She was confident in her abilities, but if they turned hostile, they could overwhelm her and her brother and uncle and their Royal Guard with sheer numbers.

The Dai Li agent had swiftly led her to the palace, his pace indicating that they may already be behind schedule. As they entered the palace gates, Katara noted the carriage that had pulled up to the palace, and from it, stepped three people. From her distance, she couldn't tell much more than the fact that one was an elderly man, and the other two were male and female...possibly siblings.

Were these the Fire Nation Ambassadors she was serving tea to? They must have been very important if the Emperor was meeting with them. "This way," said the Dai Li agent curtly as he led her to the servant's entrance, "You'll find everything you need inside."

Katara simply nodded as she stepped through the door, her gasp echoing off the walls of the massive kitchen. "Where am I supposed to find the tea?" her voice came out barely above a whisper.

Long Feng

"Welcome, welcome!" Long Feng greeted with open arms as he approached Iroh and his companions. "It is an honor to have the famed Prince Iroh here as a guest. And Prince Zuko and Princess Azula as well. I am your humble, host, Long Feng. Welcome to the Imperial Palace. If you three are ready, I can guide you to the Grand Library within the palace, where we will commence our discussions."

Long Feng gave them all a bright smile, but it didn't seem to entirely reach his eyes.

?

"Tea's in there." an older man within the grand kitchen said, pointing to a pantry near Katara.

Iroh smiled warmly at the Earth Emperor and gave him a slight bow, one that was meant for equals in the Fire Nation, "We are honored to be welcomed in this great city. I believe we all look forward to our discussion."

Azula merely plastered on a smile that might have looked like a snarl if she had less control over herself. The sooner they were out of this city, the better.

Toph and Jin had entered the tea shop. It had taken some time for Toph to convince the girl to come here. Jin wasn't really suppose to be out anyways and she paled at the thought of her punishment. But she was a little curious too. About the shop and her new companion.

"Hey can we get some service," Toph yelled.

Katara followed the man's pointing hand and quickly found the Jasmine tea, "Thank you very much," she said promptly, moving about the large kitchen, gathering the things she needed. While the water was heating up, she turned to the man, "So, I take it you know this place pretty well?"

Man

"Yes. I used to be a simple cabbage merchant, though I never had much business. It seems our glorious Emperor, however, had a taste for the best vegetable ever made, so now I work here, making all sorts of cabbage based meals for our leader." the former cabbage merchant proudly said.

"Oh, forgive me. My name is Lao. What's yours?"

Long Feng

"As do I, Prince Iroh. Please, follow me. I will show you to the library." Long Feng said.

Iroh nodded, following after Long Feng. Azula was marginally grateful that he was at least analyzing their surroundings. Her uncle may have been fuddy-duddy and old-fashioned, but at least she could trust him not to get killed should things turn sour. She herself had already noted 15 flaws in the security that she could exploit.

Toph frowned. She was being ignored. She was never ignored. And she wouldn't stand for it now.

"Either I get some service or I'm tearing this place apart."

Jin looked at her companion afraid but she remained silent. A woman came and they sat down and order. As soon as she was gone, Toph turned to Jin.

"So your name is Jin, right?"

"Yes. And I don't think I caught yours."

Toph waved her hand dismissively and ignored the comment. Jin wondered why she was avoiding giving her name, but she did not ask. She did ask another question though.

"So why did you bring me here?"

"Oh, well, my name is Katara. I know it's an odd name for the Earth Kingdom, but my family was originally from the Water Tribes. Up until today, I worked in a small tea shop in the lower ring, trying to help out my brother and Gran-Gran."

As the water finished heating up, she bent the tea into some cups, setting them on a tray. "Um, I'm supposed to be serving the Emperor an some Ambassadors...do you know where that's supposed to be?" Katara turned back to Lao, a worried look on her face.

Lao

"In the Grand Library of the Palace, dear." Lao said cheerfully. "I can escort you there if you want, once you're done. I have to deliver their lunch myself soon enough."

((Is Sean going to post with Zuko soon?))

Katara smiled at Lao and bowed, "Thank you very much." She picked up her tea tray and straightened out her clothes, "I really appreciate your help. I better hurry before this gets cold."

((Sean has still yet to post with Zuko, or log on at all lately. I would not be surprised if he disappeared with no reason yet again. Until such time he returns--if he returns--I suggest someone else take over the role of Zuko.))

(True. Who volunteers?)

(Right, well, for the sake of continuing this, I guess I'll take control for the time being.)

Zuko

Zuko glanced around the palace, noting the number of guards. He didn't expect anything to happen, but he was none-the-less vigilent. He trusted the Earth Empire Emporer about as far as he could throw him, and with Dai Li agents around every corner, he doubted he could even get the chance to try and throw him. If he learned anything from his uncle, it was that patience was often the best weapon; though it was slow, it gave you an advantage...or something like that. Uncle said it much better, but the point was clear.

As Emporer Long Feng led them into the Library, he, Iroh and Azula were greeted by a young girl holding a tea tray.

Katara


Lao had led her to the library where the meeting was to take place, gasping in awe at it's magnitude. She didn't get much time to take everything in as the Emporer stepped though the doorway, followed by the three people she had seen just outside the palace, "Good day, may I offer you some Jasmine tea?" she said simply, offering the hot beverage to the Emporer and his company.