For Jemma

[hot_water]

[OOC: From here.]

Tahno's door leads back to his apartment, which is as large and lushly decorated as his rooms in the bar. He has a thing for plants, apparently, as there's a touch of greenery in each room, as well as sources of water. Miniature fountains burble in the common rooms and at the end of the hall.

"Well, here we are," Tahno drawls, gesturing around the rooms. "But we should really head to Narook's Noodlery. That's where the party starts."

Comments

[protect_and_survey]

"Oh goodness." She's on another world, guys. She's done this before, yes, with Elrond, but... no, it's not ever going to be less cool. "Language thing working alright?"

[hot_water]

"Yup, I hear ya loud and clear," Tahno drawls, patting her hand. He leads her to the front door, and opens it for her. The city air beyond is cool. "It's a good thing Bar had those thingers for ya. Now, the Noodlery is within walking distance, so we should be able to get there no problem. Ya ready?"

[protect_and_survey]

"Lead on - I'll try not to gawp too openly." Jemma grins challengingly.

[hot_water]

Tahno smirks. "Awrighty," he drawls, leading her through a neighborhood of apartments festooned with water tribe symbols. A mother sticks her head out the door and calls her sons in. "This neighborhood is Little Water Tribe, occupied by the obvious people. Naroook's is the most popular place here, given that they've got 'authentic water tribe cuisine'."

[protect_and_survey]

"The obvious people? I assume you mean water benders?" Jemma asks in return, because obvious... isn't so obvious if you don't know a world's history that well.

[hot_water]

"Yeah, waterbenders and people from the Water Tribe," Tahno drawls, pointing out a particular high-rise building labeled Cabbage Corp. "Republic City is a real melting pot; we're part of the United Republic of Nations, built next to Yue Bay over an old Fire Nation colony of the Earth Kingdom. So we've got people from all four nations here. Waterbenders, Firebenders, Earthbenders, Airbenders--but only a few of those, since they were all wiped out a couple hundred years ago--and non-benders as well."

[protect_and_survey]

"Oh, so I'm not a total anomaly here? That's good to know." She was a little worried that she'd have to fake some water-bending moves, and then fake a reason for why they didn't work.

Considering her ability to lie, this was all not going well at all.

"There's a few places on Earth that are like this - not with benders, of course, but with people from across the globe."

[hot_water]

"Nah, ya ain't gonna stick out. Everywhere there's benders, there're non-benders, too," Tahno drawls, squeezing her shoulder. He points to Yue Bay, with its giant statue of Avatar Aang and the many suspension bridges around the city. "Oh, yeah? Earth has huge cities, too? That doesn't surprise me."

[protect_and_survey]

"Oh wow, that is some seriously intricate carving work." Jemma blinks wide-eyed at the massive monolith. "I assume he was somebody important?"

It's a slightly silly assumption, she realizes quickly - after all, Lady Liberty wasn't anyone in particular.

[hot_water]

"Yup, that's Uh-vatar Aang, the previous Uh-vatar to Korra, and the founder of Republic City along with Fire Lord Zuko," Tahno recites, as if he's read the words somewhere and made them his own. "Together with their group of friends, they ended the Hundred Year War with the Fire Nation, and restored balance or whatever."

[protect_and_survey]

Jemma gives him such a look for the 'or whatever', honestly, A+ storytelling there buddy. Of course, she isn't exactly taking home firsts in world history either, so.

No commentary.

"How long have you lived here? Do you explore the areas that aren't Water Tribe, or is there a taboo on things like that?"

[hot_water]

"I've lived here mosta my life," Tahno drawls, steering her into a dark alleyway with a building labeled Narook's Noodlery at the end of it. "And I can go anywhere I like in the city. It's not meant to be taboo, though downtown has a ton of crime, and a ton of cops."

Tahno slides the green, intricately carved door aside, leading her into the noodle place proper. "You've gotta try the seaweed noodles here, and maybe the stewed sea prunes."

"Tahno! Hey," Ming says, waving at him from the end of the restaurant, sitting at one of the long, wooden tables along with a group of fangirls and Shaozu. "Who's this?"

"Hey, Ming, Shaozu," Tahno drawls, gesturing to the lady on his arm. "This is Jemma. Jemma, this is Ming, the Wolfbats' earthbender, and Shaozu, the firebender."

[protect_and_survey]

Jemma 100% does not squeak with excitement.

...

And if you believe that, I have this bridge to sell you.

"Oh hi, I'm definitely your number one fan." Because this definitely covers for the giddy gleefulness of 'THESE PEOPLE CAN BEND OTHER THINGS THIS IS COOL'.

And this is definitely the first time they've heard this from a young female hanging off Tahno's arm, yep.

[hot_water]

Shaozu and Ming share smirks with Tahno. "Well," Ming says, "that's good to hear. Always nice to meet a fan."

"Come on, sit down with us," Shaozu says, pulling up a couple more chairs from another table. "We've already ordered."

Tahno pulls out Jemma's chair. The interior of the restaurant features Water Tribe regalia, including the pelt of some furry animal with a Water Tribe symbol printed on its back. Yellow swirls on blue backgrounds pop up on the walls and flags.

"So are you a non-bender, Jemma?" Ming asks.

[protect_and_survey]

Jemma pulls out of her distracted staring at the decor to orient on the conversation with a sort of ease that speaks to having done that before.

A lot, actually.

"Oh dear, is it really that obvious? I mean, I can't even bend a twig, so, yeah, but..."

[hot_water]

"Nah, it ain't obvious," Tahno drawls, signaling for a waiter to take their order. "Ya can't tell that sort of thing just by lookin' at someone."

The waiter arrives, and Tahno orders seaweed noodles for them both.

Shaozu smiles. "Are you planning on catching the semi-quarter finals?"

[protect_and_survey]

"Oh yes, well, I mean, I don't usually get to go in person, which is definitely a tragedy and..."

Tahno might want to educate his fellow Wolfbats in the fine art of interrupting Jemma Simmons. If only so she can take a breath.

[hot_water]

Tahno does no such thing. He leans back in his chair, folding his arms and watching Jemma with an air of proud amusement. His team members listen politely to the rabble until their food arrives.

Tahno passes Jemma a bowl of seaweed noodles and a pair of chopsticks. "So did you grow up in Republic City?" Shaozu asks, when there's a pause in Jemma's speaking.

[protect_and_survey]

So.

Cover story.

That... that would have been a thing to do.

"Oh... no. Little town, probably never heard of it, no benders." OH LOOK, NOODLES. Jemma applies herself diligently (an not at all because it's rude to talk with you mouth full, no).

[hot_water]

"No benders?" Shaozu says, exchanging a wide-eyed look with Ming. "I've never heard of a town like that."

Tahno raises his brows. "Ya mean no benders in yer family, right, Jemma?"

[protect_and_survey]

"Oh, yes, of course, and it's a very large family, lots of... cousins, and things, makes up a lot of the town, so." In self defense she stuffs another mouthful of noodles into her mouth, and works on not glaring daggers at Tahno. She didn't know there were no towns with no benders!

[hot_water]

Tahno appears oblivious to her dagger eyes. He eats his noodles, but mostly watches Jemma eat hers.

Ming and Shaozu and their fangirls all concentrate on demolishing their plates, until Ming pipes up again, ordering a bottle of firewhiskey for the table.

[protect_and_survey]

The noodles are really good, and distract the stressed scientist. However, she hasn't exactly forgotten that there's a firebender and an earthbender here.

"So, I mean, this is probably terribly nosy and you can tell me to mind my own business though I really hope you wouldn't because it is so very interesting..."

Maybe sometime this year she'll ask the question. Maybe.

[hot_water]

Ming glances to her with a rasied brow, but it's Shaozu that asks the question. "Yes?"

[protect_and_survey]

"Well, I did wonder if there was any... well, if anyone's noted the similarities and differences between bending techniques." She already knows the scientists of this world are kinda slackers, but...

Surely someone has been paying attention.