badfic_manor | Cup 004: Iroh [In person]

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Cup 004: Iroh [In person]

[Anyone in the cafeteria that night may happen upon Iroh, sitting by himself at the edge of a table. Tonight's dinner is "Japanese" food. He has chopsticks in his hands, the cheap, wooden kind one would get at an Asian restaurant.

He unenthusiastically pokes his meal with them.]

I suppose this is supposed to be rice...and sushi...and fish. But I've never seen anything less like them in my life!

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[Gene enters the cafeteria and looks around to see the spread in front of him and starts picking out the ones he knows and a few that he doesn't know just to try it.]

This looks safe enough. At least it's not beef.

[Iroh looks up at the newcomer.]

No, it's not beef. But it's not much of anything else either.

[He picks up what may be meat and cautiously eats it.] Baaaah. Tasteless.

Oh. Where are my manners? I am Iroh. A pleasure to meet you. [He bows his head from where he is sitting.]

[Gene was somewhat familiar with Oriental customs from his work and bows his head.]

My apologies for speaking out of turn and not introducing myself. I am Gene Watson and I am honored to meet you.

[Gene watched with a slightly disinterested expression when Iroh talked about the food.]

At least it's not as bland as the fishsticks they had last week.

[Gene takes a packet of soy sauce and tries to cover up the flavor.]

I miss having wasabi. At least it cleared my sinuses.

[Iroh smiles.] The honor is mine, Gene.

Oh, what I wouldn't give for wasabi now. Or proper dumplings. [He moves what could be a dumpling around on his plate, but it more resembles a sticky grey ball.]

[Gene uses his chop sticks and pulls up with a disgusted expression something that's supposed to look like shishimi. Instead of the nice pink flesh, it looks nearly rubbery and a washed out orange. He sniffs it, raises his brow and drops it.]

I'm eating the rice.

A sound idea. That at least appears safe.

The soup's like salty water with spinach. It's not even close to miso.

[Shrugs and starts eating the rice.]

[Iroh makes a face.]

I didn't even bother with the miso. It smelled wrong.

Ah, but I do not wish to bore you with an old man's complaints about food. Please, tell me, how have you been in this place?

[Gene takes a sip of his tea to wash out the bad taste and nods in agreement to the smell.]

Well, considering that I've encountered a really creepy girl in biology, not too bad, I suppose. It's been pretty quiet around here for me. How about you?

Creepy girl, huh? [He honestly can't think of who that would be. There are some strange people here, but no one truly creepy. Not yet.]

All has been well for me. I have been doing my best with the prescribed exams. I am not sure why I bother, other than to avoid the punishments I have seen others endure.

[He mutters something about the principal being crazy into his teacup.]

That's exactly what I've been doing. I was stubborn once to fight it but there didn't seem to be any way out of the scenario so I just ran with it. Besides, the worst part about school for me is the prom anyway.

Aaah, the prom. I have heard the younger ones here talking endlessly about it. All I have gathered is that it is some type of dance.

I fear that there is no one here to attend the dance with me, but if there is music, and food, I will gladly go.

[Of course, he has no notion of the kind of music that will be played.]

Oh sure, if you like pigs in a blanket and Swedish meatballs.

It's generally stuff that's popular to the kids and the stuff that parents hate. If I hear Stayin' Alive by the Beegee's I'll hang myself. I hated that song then and I still hate it now.

[And Gene has no idea what's going to be playing so he's thinking the worst.]

[Iroh frowns. Of course, he's never heard of those songs or those foods.]

Well, perhaps we will be able to suggest some songs. I just so happen to still have my Tsungi horn with me.

I have my guitar back in my room. And...forgive my asking but what in the heck is a Tsungi horn?

Ah. Of course, you would not be familiar with it. My fault.

It, ah, is an instrument that requires the breath. It has a reed, and its pitch is controlled entirely by breath and hands. [He indicates its general shape with hand motions.] I will show it to you. At the prom. Bring your guitar too.

(and this is what is sounds like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjObRm9e81Y )

Sounds like a plan to me.

[Gene smiles then realizes that the other may not be familiar with the foods that he mentioned and kicks himself mentally.]

You know, I just realized something and I shouldn't have said what I did earlier. I...uh...made an ass out of myself and I shouldn't have assumed anything.

[Iroh waves a dismissive hand.]

Think nothing of it. We are all having difficulty adapting to the cultures of each others worlds.

At least let me make it up to you somehow. I was rude and obnoxious.

[Then an idea struck him.]

How about before the Prom, we exchange cultural music over drinks?

A splendid idea. If you have no objections, I will bring tea for us both. Where would you like to meet?

The Parlor seems nice and comfortable. And tea sounds great.

[He inclines his head in a shallow bow.]

Before the prom, then. I look forward to it.

[Gene didn't know a lot of people here and making a friend with a common interest was certainly a way to go.]

[enthusiastically] Great!

[Yukito sits across from him, a tray in his own hand as he smiles gently at Iroh.]

Ah.. it's not really authentic, is it? But it could be worse.

[Iroh sighs.]

I suppose so. There have been far worse things served here. [Like those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.]

Though you would think the rice would at least be done right. [He picks up a clump and watches as it crumbles apart in his chopsticks.] There's tea, anyway. [Which is at least passable.]

Mmm.. good rice is hard to cook sometimes.

[Yukito doesn't seem to be having too many problems with it - but then again, he's Yukito.]

Do you drink a lot of tea?

Oh, it can be, but it is something most people I've met know how to do.

[Iroh chuckles at Yukito's question.] Do hog-monkeys hate being ridden? [The answer, of course, is yes.] Some have called me a connoisseur of tea. I like to think of myself as one who appreciates its fine qualities.

Hog-monkeys?

[Those.. are definitely foreign to him, but he doesn't question things as much as he used to since arriving here!]

I really like tea, too. I've only had a few different kinds, though.

Yes, hog-monkeys. Rambunctious critters, live in the jungles.
nevermind.

Well, if you would ever like to sample more, just ask me. I have some with me, and I am always happy to show others more about tea.

[Soubi has not been seen much in the cafeteria; he is a rather picky eater and nothing on the menu at the Academy has appealed to his tastes thus-far. But tonight, he has found that he is in fact too hungry to go without eating for another night. He had hoped that maybe, since the food was supposed to be "Japanese", at least it would be familiar cuisine. No such luck; this is worse than American "Japanese" food. It's SCHOOL "Japanese" food.

Oh well, at least there's rice. You can't possibly mess up white rice, can you? Soubi has a bowl of the plain, sticky stuff and is poking at it with the chopsticks. When Iroh speaks, he looks up and almost gives a smile.]

[Iroh inclines his head when he sees Soubi.]

Mr. Agatsuma. I am pleased to see you back on your feet. I hope you have found the food here more enjoyable than I have.

[Poke poke poke, go the chopsticks.]

Mm. I haven't. This isn't real Japanese food.

[Mello is eating chocolate ice cream with a dusting of chocolate sprinkles.]

Cafeteria food at its finest.

[not that he knows, being a Wammy Kid and all]

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Cup 004: Iroh [In person]

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