paixaorpg | Stranger in a Strange Land [Active, Open]

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Stranger in a Strange Land [Active, Open]

Character(s): Iroh, OPEN OPEN OPEN
Content: An old guy with too much time on his hands arrives in Paixao.
Setting: Muspelheim Gate
Time: Week 18, Morning
Warnings: N/A

Iroh woke up on soft ground that felt more like sleeping on sand than cloth. He sat up, his gut protruding forward in his robes as he rubbed at his lower back with an open hand. “Ohh,” he groaned loudly, “The sleeping quarters in the army were never this rough!” As he recognized his back from sleeping on sand, he looked up to discover the rest of the island staring back at him but not with the same degree of disbelief that he had in seeing it.

“This is different,” he said both cautiously and optimistically, admiring the beauty of the lands before him. He brushed off his robe and noticed the large imprint he left in the sand of where he slept. He patted his gut gently and looked down with some disappointment. “I really have to lose some weight. But I’m in retirement, so I guess it’s okay.” He trotted up through the sand and his sandals clapped against the bottom of his heel. He enjoyed feeling the warmth of the sun on his bald head as he ran his hand back through his hair. “This place is even more beautiful than Ember Island. I wonder if I can find a card to send to Aang. Or a rock to send to Toph.”

He approached the mainland, noticing the change of environment and looked quite puzzled as he reached the gate. There were a few others in line to get in, and there was a strange blond-haired, blue-eyed man reading out instructions and questions to everyone who passed. When he came to the podium where the man immediately handed over a strange looking device to him with a smile, Iroh patiently asked, “Is there any way you can tell me where I am? I seem to have dozed off, and maybe had one too many glasses of sake last night.”

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"This...isn't my stop." Beast turned around as the train pulled out of the station, leaving him stranded until it returned. His shoulders fell with a sigh. "I...don't even know this place."

He pulled out his journal to look at a map, and saw he was near one of the gates. How had he gone so far without realizing it? There wasn't a market nearby either, which was why he'd left. "Muspelheim," he said out loud, gaze following a street marked on the map that led right up to the gate. It was nice, like the rest of the city.

Since he couldn't go back the way he needed to for some time, he decided to take a walk. None of the citizens of Paixao really noticed him anymore, even ones in places he didn't often (or ever) visit, so he had very little to fear now when he left his apartment. The entire place was still a far cry from the castle, but little by little it was becoming home. Though the rose...was unforgiving as ever. Its petals had never stopped their tragic falling, and this city did nothing to impede them. It stayed in his room, in its glass reliquary, ever untouched, ever wilting.

So lost in thought he was that he was standing right next to the gate before he knew it, towering well above the citizens, and standing out rather starkly in his white shirt, blue cape, and dark pants.

Iroh, though used to fire, was relieved to be passing through the golden flames of the Muspelheim gate. He became aware of where he was, though he wasn't sure exactly why or how he got there. Still, he couldn't help but be totally entranced by the beauty of the domes and the buildings within the city. The creatures cast in statue reminded him of encounters back home in the Fire Nation when he explored the wilderness with his nephew.

He also took note of the locals. While their uniform appearance troubled him, he was reminded of how he looked like every other old man and sympathized with them. Besides, they had been fairly friendly to him, despite giving minimal information on Paixao.

He stopped walking at once and took a deep breath outside of a buildling labelled "Cafe Ersesat." His face turned to disgust. "Ech, coffee. Who thought making a drink from beans was a good idea?" he asked of no one in particular.

It wasn't until he finished his pondering that he noticed an extremely tall figure next to him.

Riku never was one for staying put when given the chance to do otherwise. Not exploring in his free time made him feel like he was missing something, and almost made him feel claustrophobic. It drove him to investigate Muspelheim for the first time. Maybe seeing people arrive might give me a hint on what's going on.

A woman. A child. An older man. One after another slowly shuffled in, bewildered as anyone could be.

Not from the gate but from somewhere else nearby Riku spotted an unmistakable form. Eyes widened he stepped out of sight to watch a moment. He was somewhat amazed by the utter lack of response Beast received from those around him. The teen watched as the creature stopped next to a stout old man.

Sora wasn't the only one Riku had hurt.

Riku clenched a fist and stepped back out into the light, making sure he was in plain view of the Beast. He was ready for whatever would come next.

Brought out of his reverie as an old man near him mentioned coffee, Beast started to look toward the cafe. The man was short and portly, and Beast noticed he spoke with a foreign accent--even for this city. Beast tried to think of something to say, of how he could ask this man where he was from without intimidating him. But...how do could that work? Beast was twice this man's size, and hideous! He couldn't...he couldn't ask that without scaring the old man away.

And then a boy with silver hair stepped out in front of him. Beast had no idea who this boy was, but he seemed tense and nervous. It wasn't unlike Beast himself.

But still, Beast said nothing. Even after so long in Paixao, he still didn't trust either of these men. The only person he trusted...was Belle.

Iroh could instantly feel the tension rise between the tall figure next to him and the silver-haired boy who had come into his vision. He chose not to look at the tall figure and only look toward the aggressor of the situation. He was not one to usually get between people's conflicts, but being in a different place and feeling out of nature, Iroh stepped toward the young man.

"I apologize if you enjoy coffee. I will be happy to have a cup," he said while smiling, hoping ot diffuse the taut feeling in the air. "You remind me of my nephew Zuko. Your hair is a little better than his, though. It reminds me of the silver lining on clouds." He chuckled as he placed a hand on Riku's shoulder and turned to the cafe. "Come, let's all have..."

He then finally took a good look at Beast and was fairly surprised by what he saw. His expression didn't show fright or extreme distaste, but rather an unexpected curiosity. "Ah, hello," he said to Beast.

Riku paused, eyes narrowed as he looked at the Beast. Yet the creature didn't seem to recognize him. Could he be from before Hollow Bastion? The teen, though still guarded, put his left thumb away in his pocket and looked to the man next to him. I don't think they're from the same world.

He raised his brows at the old man's words. "Who?" Riku looked at the hand on his shoulder a moment, wondering what he'd just gotten wrapped up in. Looking back to the Beast, his expression was much less severe and perhaps a little more on the curious side, if not just as serious as ever.

Beast tried to say something, but now he was confused. He didn't know either of these two, but they both seemed to want to know something about him. Vulnerable as he was already, it was hard for him to dismiss the notion that they were going to do something to hurt him.

"...What?" His voice was short as he answered the short old man, gruff and biting, though not strongly aggressive. He tried to control it, to make it less of a growl, but he wasn't completely able to.

The tension between the three figures outside of the cafe was lost on everyone else surrounding them. However, it was still powerful enough to cause Iroh to take stock of the situation and realize that Beast and Riku had some unspoken pressure residing before them. He let go of Riku's shoulder slowly and said, "My name is Former General Iroh of the Fire Nation, and I proposed that we could go to this place and enjoy some drinks." His eyes darted to and fro the two people beside him, hoping to read a possible strategy if words turned to something more.

After a moment, Riku's shoulders relaxed. This obviously wasn't the confrontation he expected. Knowing the Beast's temper, he wouldn't be waiting for him to let his guard down to attack.

Riku turned his attention to the older man when introducing both his name and title. And does that mean you're ordering us around? Though he looked somewhat unamused by the introduction, the youth replied without being disrespectful. "Fair enough. I've eaten at one of these before. They're pretty good." Pausing only briefly, he looked to both man and beast. "Name's Riku."

It took a few long, deep breaths for Beast to calm himself. It was something he had learned from Belle, to keep from losing his temper. He wished she was here, to help him, but he was going to try as hard as he could...for her sake. If she saw him improving, maybe she would want to spend more time with him.

It took a moment before he spoke, and the few words were sought for carefully. They came out very stilted and slowly, more to his chest than to the other two standing nearby. "Nice...t-to...meet you." And now the hard part. His...name. "I'm...Beast."

"A pleasure to meet you, Riku," Iroh said calmly as though he were still trying to talk down an aggressor. "I am glad you're fairly experienced with this city. I could use all the help I could get, especially since I last remember going into the city for a few drinks and then ended up here."

Beast? At least it's more literal than Smellerbee, Iroh thought to himself. Yet, he could not hold back his etiquette that he had for everyone, even creatures unfamiliar to him. "And you as well, B-Beast." He could hardly restrain his intimidation at the hands of Beast and his name.

Riku blinked a moment at Beast's obvious attempt to be civil. It was appreciated. First Roxas not remembering, now him. ...I can't be getting a second chance, nothing's that easy.

Since when did I say I was going to help you? He couldn't help but raise his brows a bit, but he shrugged it off, somewhat literally. He actually shrugged in response to the comment on his experience. "Only a bit to the city part of it. I'll just say right now this place isn't what it looks like."

After a brief pause, he sighed. "Might as well show you the ropes, Iroh." No way I'm using that clunker of a title. Riku sauntered over to a tree and pulled loose two large handfuls of ornate artificial leaves, stuffing both them and his hands in his pockets. "You guys comin'?" he asked as he began to walk to the cafe doors.

Beast couldn't help but to recoil and give a low, slight growl when Iroh spoke his name. He hated that response. He was a monster, he knew...but to be reminded of his appearance, to frighten someone without meaning to...

So he followed Riku inside silently, holding his head down. His tail was kept low, and his shoulders slouched forward. He just wished that for once...he could look like a Prince again.

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Stranger in a Strange Land [Active, Open]

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(He needs to learn this isn't the Beast he knows, too. Plus Iroh? WIN)

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