[Wrong time, wrong place, but since it's an AU I thought I could just AU him in. Hope this is okay!]
What was a generally law-abiding tea shop proprietor to do when he overheard some of his patrons plotting something that did not sound at all law-abiding?
As a suspected firebender, Iroh had a small record with the police, not enough to interfere with his business so far -- it was so nice when those with power saw the reason of his situation, helped along by a few free cups of tea and pastries -- but enough that he knew it wasn't wise to draw attention to himself. Therefore, he'd decided not to bring the matter to the authorities. Since he couldn't simply stand by, he would just have to handle it himself.
First step, check the archives at the newspaper. He thought he remembered seeing a picture of one of his suspects in the paper...a year ago? Two? Long enough that the memory was dim, and by the time he emerged into the atrium of the newspaper building his eyes were smarting from peering at so many pictures and smudged print, but he was clutching a sheaf of notes that he thought would help him.
It was careless of him not to notice that the floor of the lobby was wet, hurrying forward in his eagerness to get back to his tea shop and mull over what he'd found over a nice cup of tea... But he slipped, tripped, fell forward, windmilling into save on one knee at the last moment, instead of flopping like a beached whaleturtle. "Oooff," Iroh said.
And, "My notes!" The papers had scattered and one particularly unruly piece had skimmed across the room all the way to the door.
Iroh - the tea shop proprietor with a problem
What was a generally law-abiding tea shop proprietor to do when he overheard some of his patrons plotting something that did not sound at all law-abiding?
As a suspected firebender, Iroh had a small record with the police, not enough to interfere with his business so far -- it was so nice when those with power saw the reason of his situation, helped along by a few free cups of tea and pastries -- but enough that he knew it wasn't wise to draw attention to himself. Therefore, he'd decided not to bring the matter to the authorities. Since he couldn't simply stand by, he would just have to handle it himself.
First step, check the archives at the newspaper. He thought he remembered seeing a picture of one of his suspects in the paper...a year ago? Two? Long enough that the memory was dim, and by the time he emerged into the atrium of the newspaper building his eyes were smarting from peering at so many pictures and smudged print, but he was clutching a sheaf of notes that he thought would help him.
It was careless of him not to notice that the floor of the lobby was wet, hurrying forward in his eagerness to get back to his tea shop and mull over what he'd found over a nice cup of tea... But he slipped, tripped, fell forward, windmilling into save on one knee at the last moment, instead of flopping like a beached whaleturtle. "Oooff," Iroh said.
And, "My notes!" The papers had scattered and one particularly unruly piece had skimmed across the room all the way to the door.