THE GOLDEN TURTLE GRAND OPENING! [Active/Open]

[whitelotustea.livejournal.com]

Character(s): Iroh and ANY ONE WHO WANTS CR OR TEA OR BOTH
Content: The new tea shop in town opens, and he likely promised
Setting: The Golden Turtle [L5-6]
Time: Late Afternoon, Early Evening (Early Week 26)
Warnings: YOU MIGHT HAVE TOO MUCH FUN!

If you read about it in a tourist magazine, it would likely carry the advertisement:
A tea shop owned by Iroh. It features a wide variety of teas unfamiliar to the city, a warm atmosphere, plenty of tables for games of all ages!

"Come one, come all! Come in and have a cup of tea!" Iroh shouted at the passersby on the bustling streets of Paixao. It seemed like it was all too familiar, having opened a tea shop in Bao Sing Se not so long ago. Still, it didn't mean he wasn't excited about meeting new people and sharing his craft with others.

He was hoping to see so many come through his doors, especially since he practically offered free tea to every single visitor he knew. He had a hard time gathering what he would do about natives, but he supposed that if some were to be regulars, they would be entitled to a free cup after a while. And the dress code would be very very loosely observed. VERY loosely.

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[whitelotustea.livejournal.com]

Doo doo doo, doop de boop doo doo...

The approaching sing-songy voice was coming from just around the corner of where Mrs. Potts stood in waiting. Little did the fated teapot realize, it belonged to the proprietor of the brand new tea shop located only feet away from where she was that very moment.

[stoutteapot.livejournal.com]

Mrs. Potts had just been leaning out a little more to see when she heard the whistling. Freezing immediately where she stood, she couldn't help feeling nervous at the fact that she was now sticking out prominently on the table. Anyone could see her quite easily. It wouldn't be such a problem for a normal teapot, but an enchanted one might be. Still, she hoped no one would notice her. It would be such a shame if something happened.

[whitelotustea.livejournal.com]

Finally turning the corner, Iroh tipped a bow to everyone who passed by his new establishment. He was in an especially good mood since he had been able to come through on his promise of free tea to so many of the citizens and visitors of Paixao. He felt no way or the other about enforcing the dress code imposed by the mayor, as he felt that individuality was a big part of his store's philosophy (as well as his own).

When he had given his last greeting, he stopped midwave and noticed a stray teapot sitting by the roadside. It was ornate with gold trim and lavender color around the base and the top. He didn't recognize it at all. "I wonder if this was from Urd? It is purple and gold, just like her! I suppose she wanted to give a personal gift. How kind of her. She will need an extra cup for her generosity."

He grabbed the pot carefully, rubbed it gently with the sleeve of his robe, watched it shine, and smiled as he brought inside the shop.

[stoutteapot.livejournal.com]

Uh-oh. Mrs. Potts had really been hoping things would go easy on her, but apparently not. She couldn't struggle as she was picked up, for fear of showing her secret to the entire world. Maybe later she could explain it, but for now, she remained silent and waited to find out where he was going to take her.

The shining nearly made her sneeze... Actually, it did make her sneeze, belatedly once they were inside the shop, and her spout blew a burst of steam out and straight at the man who was carrying her.

...Oops...

[whitelotustea.livejournal.com]

Iroh blinked a few times at the strange occurrence. He was looking straight ahead when it had happened.

The random bit of steam had left a wet spot on his robe. It stuck to his gut a bit before finally releasing. He raised it with his free hand and took a close look at it. He blinked for a second longer, and then it clicked in his mind. "Maybe I left it out there for too long and it had some water left in it," he explained to himself. He furrowed his brow as though he had too hard a time convincing himself.

"Much too lovely a pot to leave out in the streets," he smiled.

[stoutteapot.livejournal.com]

This situation didn't seem to be lending itself to a good resolution any time soon. Mrs. Potts sighed internally. She was beginning to think she'd have to wait a long time for him to leave the room so she could use her journal or -

No, wait... she'd probably left the thing back at the apartment. She hadn't exactly been expecting to leave for an extended period of time.

Eventually, she gave in trying to keep silent and secret. He'd complimented her and she wasn't the type to let that go without a proper response. Plus, she was sure by this point that she wouldn't be getting home unless she explained things to him. Maybe over a nice hot cup of tea.

"Why thank you, sir," she murmured to him, fully expecting him to look surprised when he finally figured out who, or what, had spoken to him.

[whitelotustea.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome, m-" he replied before suddenly realizing something very, very important.

Iroh had gone through the motions on many things in his life. Some of the things and scenarios would typically require the utmost attention of many people. In his life, he has managed to make his way through everything from diplomatic meetings to twenty seven pots of simultaneous tea brewing to quelling admirers in his younger days to his exiled nephew's pining for his sullen girlfriend. All of them required little more than a small piece of his attention, and it was usually met with a great deal of success.

It was today when he had first realized that the moment a tea pot speaks to him, there may have been something wrong with how and what he had brewed for himself that morning.

With wide eyes, he placed the possible hallucination into a cabinet, closed the doors to it slowly and quietly, and walked away stroking his beard as though treading his fingers through his whiskers would pacify the tricks his mind had surely been playing on him.

[stoutteapot.livejournal.com]

Well, of all the things Mrs. Potts had expected, getting locked up in a cupboard was, unfortunately, not one of them. She couldn't quite get out a protest in time, so she just sighed and hopped to the front of it to press against the doors. Hopefully there wasn't a latch on it or she'd be well and stuck in there!

"Pardon me, sir," she spoke up after a minute or two. "I know it must be a bit of a shock, but perhaps we could sit down to a cup of tea and a chat. I believe there's been a mistake."

A mistake or some kind of mixup. And goodness, she needed to get back to the Master's apartment! Who knew what he would do without her!

[whitelotustea.livejournal.com]

Iroh waited for a few minutes before approaching the cabinet again, hoping the voice he heard coming from it was a continuation of some strange hallucination. After serving another customer or two, he put up a sign at the front of the shop. ON BREAK. WILL RETURN IN 5 MINUTES.

He rushed back to the cabinet and saw the distressed look on Mrs. Potts' face while his his heart and mind were breaking within. "I must offer my apologies," he said in a soft voice, hoping no one else would be able to see or hear him speaking with a teapot of all things. "Are you-how to put this- real?"

[stoutteapot.livejournal.com]

Mrs. Potts offered a gentle smile once the man opened the cabinet again. At least he'd been kind enough to answer her instead of ignore her all day. That alone spoke of the man's kindness.

"I am, indeed, real, but don't worry about it, sir," she assured him. "Not many people are accustomed to seeing an enchanted teapot, even where I'm from."

The sight of several people in the room with them made her realize he must have been busy.

"Ah, excuse me, sir. Perhaps we could talk later, when you aren't so busy?"

[whitelotustea.livejournal.com]

Iroh looked above the counter, and though he had put up the sign that indicated that he was taking a break, there were still plenty of customers still seated inside. He waved to them and watched as they awkwardly waved back. "Oh, yes, I suppose that would be the best course of action at this point," he said nervously.

After awaiting the last customer to finish their cup, he closed and locked the front door and returned to Mrs. Potts with bated breath. "Enchanted teapot?"

[stoutteapot.livejournal.com]

Mrs. Potts waited until everyone had left the store before she hopped out of the cabinet and onto a table, lid clanking as she moved.

"It's not a story that needs telling, if you don't mind, sir," she answered. "I used to be human, that's all. But I've gotten used to being a teapot. Do you happen to have tea I could warm up for you, sir? I think a talk like this needs a spot of tea."

[whitelotustea.livejournal.com]

"Oh yes, a cup of tea would be wonderful! I have plenty of different pots for you if you like, ceramics, sculpted metals, chi-na..."

He paused to realize that Mrs. Potts had indeed referred to herself. He blushed in his paused stance, pointing to his variety of tea pots. "Oh. Well, I have more types of tea than pots anyway!"

He tried to avoid a line of questioning that would stir up any bad thoughts from her former life as a human. He didn't like delving into his usual counsel social role if he isn't invited. "Your voice sounds unique. Where are you from? I might have borrowed a few regional teas from Urd that might appeal to you. Then again, I don't think I can account for all the variety in Paixao."

[stoutteapot.livejournal.com]

"Don't you worry about me, sir," Mrs. Potts assured him, hopping a few steps before turning to look at him. "You'll just have to show me where to warm up. I could choose a nice soothing drink for you, unless you have something in mind. Chi-"

She stopped suddenly at that and looked down. "Forgive me, sir. I've grown used to my son being nearby." It took her barely a moment to push away thoughts of Chip. Soon enough, she was smiling sadly at the mention of her home and the tea pots he had with him. "We're from a castle in France. I appreciate your kindness, but I haven't been able to drink anything for myself in quite some time. It just doesn't work the same for an enchanted object."

She didn't seem too bothered by it. In fact, once she was finished talking, she quickly hopped a few more feet in the direction she thought the kitchen should be. "I'm sure I don't look the type to be near a fire, but I assure you I haven't broken yet. Now, where do you keep everything?"