A/N: I want to set out to write Iroh outside the romance and develop him, as a fully fledged character with a life. I want to introduce Tarrick and Setsuko as characters, after being mentioned in previous chapters. This chapter will be angsty, before the main pairing will meet again soon.
Chapter Nine - One Night In The City (1):
The Ruby Rook was an evening club, like no other. It was popular with United Forces soldiers and the offspring of business industrialists and government officials, coming here to escape their hectic lives. Zhu Iroh frequented clubs like this, due to the privacy and getting away from the monotony of work. Slowed versions of traditional music pieces played in this evening club, due to the owners being of Earth Kingdom descent and wanting to preserve a piece of their culture. Iroh enjoyed traditional music, as well as the new age music played in evening clubs around the city. He was more a citizen of the United Republic, than a member of the Fire Nation royal family, which was something Zhu Iroh lived with for years. Iroh served the United Forces, since he was eighteen and had the thought of retiring, the way Commander Bumi and Lieutenant Tarrick did, because they were living their lives, without worrying their families, on whether they would come back alive or in a coffin.
The man exhaled out, finishing a cup of jade wine and ordering another jar. Sitting in his usual private booth, was all in a night's service for The Ruby Rook, as a dancing room was downstairs and the prince never enjoyed dancing, unless it was with someone he knew. The last time Zhu Iroh danced was back in the Fire Nation, at the celebration Mizuki threw for him, when the elections in the United Republic ended, which meant there was no need for the United Forces, to operate in a peacekeeping capacity anymore. Zhu Iroh couldn't enjoy his own party, as he had a lot to drink to the point of returning to his bedchambers, not alone because he was never the type to go to bed alone. He refused offers, from the sons and daughters of nobility, royal ministers or the military class wanting to come into his bed.
A smile appeared on Iroh's face, when his thoughts were on Tan Meijing, the son of the headmaster of the Royal Fire Academy for Boys. Tan Meijing was beautiful, like a summer's blaze, in comparison to the cold spring of Jen Lian. The prince enjoyed Tan Meijing's company, when he was alone and needed someone to vent to. Tan Meijing was a good companion, to the point Madam Tan approved of their relationship, because it puts the Tan family in favour with the royal family. Every time, Zhu Iroh had sex with Xiao Jing, he felt guilty for using a good person to fulfil his repressed feelings over Jen Lian. He loved Tan Meijing, in a way that was different to Jen Lian, because Iroh and Xiao Jing ran in the same circles in the Fire Nation. Xiao Jing's father was the headmaster of the premiere academy for noble and military boys. Xiao Jing was a good friend to Iroh in their schooling days, and it was how they knew each other, apart from getting comfortable in each other's bedchambers.
General Iroh was the type to drink alone, by the fact he sat in the same booth, drinking the same wine and cried five years ago. His late father Yuson always told Iroh and his sisters that it was okay to cry and express feelings, no matter positive or negative. On the other hand, crying and emotions other than anger and hatred were viewed, as a weakness seventy two years ago. Things changed when Grandfather Zuko took the throne, but it didn't change the general consensus of how firebenders were supposed to be strong, even though the world was changing. The Fire Nation itself had to unlearn things, that were pushed on them for a hundred years, and learn how to be citizens of the world.
Crying five years ago was shameful, luckily only Auntie Kya, knew the reason why he was so upset, after achieving a great feat, by breaking the Xieye Sect and saving the hostages. There was a price to pay, when it came to infiltrating the cult and trying to stay alive. Su Yong died, his love was broken and guilt crippled Iroh for five years. The flashes of raining blood were seared in his mind and the sacrifice in making the choice to save Jen Lian or Su Yong. It was not what Jen Lian would have wanted, he would put the lives of others before himself. Zhu Iroh was nothing like Jen LuXian or his grandfather, he was selfish and will do anything for the ones he loves, even if it means condemning someone else to their death.
He made the selfish choice and paid for it.
The music in the club was still traditional music and Iroh's heart ached, when sound of the flute radiated the room. It made Zhu Iroh flashback eight years ago in the Cave of Two Lovers, Jen Lian playing the flute to an agitated badgermole cub, as it turned out badgermole cubs liked music, avoiding one cub chewing on the robes of Ning Renshu, the pampered young master from Omashu. Jen LuXian was the one, who should be called a prince, because of how noble and kind he was. He wasn't pampered or spoiled, because Jen LuXian travelled all over the Earth Kingdom and the islands to teach his unique style of earthbending, just like Toph Beifong did in her teenage years. Jen Lian never liked staying in one place too long, before he moved onto the next town, village or city on his nomadic journey through his nation.
"Jen Lian has never been home in a year. Deciding to stay with his pariah uncle in Omashu. Staying in inns and working for board and lodgings, wherever he went and helped locals with menial labour on farms or service jobs. Jen Lian stayed away from noble households, due to being an outcast in high society in the Earth Kingdom. I never would have thought, a noble young master like Jen Lian would become a nomad, more nomadic than Uncle Tenzin. The Qian household servants were just like their master and madam, but they had a right to be offended, as many Taku born people made up the Qian household staff, because of Madam Qian bringing her people into her husband's home."
Zhu Iroh has only been back in the city, for three months since his celebration in the Fire Nation. Another cup of jade wine was drunken, not too much or else he would be drunk, before Tarrick and Setsuko arrive to meet him. They will shame Iroh for getting drunk without them, or for not dancing with a pretty girl, to forget about the last five years tormenting him. Zhu Iroh hated blood, hated coffins and anything to do with death, because of his experience with the Crimson Matron. Seeing the matron's face for the first time with horrifying, especially when the old matron always wore red to signify the blood she spilled, to create perfect disciples. The Xieye Sect was formerly a sect and it turned into a cult, to feed the matron's fetish for bloodbending, for her own sick pleasures and killing her enemies in the Earth Kingdom.
A silhouette was outside the man's private booth, opening the door for Tarrick to enter, dressed in sea blue clothes and tied his long, untamed dark brown hair into a ponytail. The southern tribesman was brown skinned with glacial blue eyes and unruly eyebrows, with a slit on the left one. Tarrick was unashamedly handsome, coming from a family of good looking people. His nose was crooked, after a lone Equalist broke it, during their war for the city. His chiselled jaw was the main vocal point of many people's attraction to the former Lieutenant. Zhu Iroh's best friend was tall and built, like many men his age in the Southern Water Tribe, which made him intimidating to most people in Republic City. Anyone who saw beneath Tarrick's physical apperance and status as the grandson of two war heroes, they would want to be his friend, by the courtesy of him being a great person and competent warrior.
"Are you drunk for Yue's sake." Tarrick demanded, his voice was rich and husky. It was the reason why women and girls, all over the world wanted to marry him. Iroh has had a far share of girls stolen from him, because Tarrick was that damned charming and appealed to the female population of the world.
Zhu Iroh's drinking cup was empty, knowing that he was on his second cup and he desired to drink, another three or four cups of jade wine. "No...I will be after a few more cups. The jade wine is the best and heaven's greatest gift." The prince said in glee, putting down his empty cup and smiling at his best friend.
"Didn't Uncle Bumi say the jade wine was a product of that mountain region in the Earth Kingdom. What is it called?"
The prince enunciating every word, wanting to spill out the name of his beloved's homeland. "Bao...Yun..."
The former Lieutenant Tarrick sat in the plush dark brown seats, sitting away from Zhu Iroh and took an extra cup that was on the table. "I can't believe you are drinking right now. You never do, unless it's some boring formal party, we have to attend. How was the homecoming party?" The other man said, stretching his legs out and slouching back. Tarrick never cared about decorum or the set of rules Zhu Iroh was raised with. Tarrick did as he liked, just like Auntie Kya and Uncle Bumi.
"Terribly boring."
"What happened."
"Getting praised for almost dying again."
"You are too hard on yourself general, why don't you join Uncle Bumi and I in the sweet life of retirement."
"...So much work needs to be done, and I don't know who will take over from me."
"Listen sparky, my little cousins Jinora and Ikki told me, they saw you and your lover holding hands." Tarrick chortled in a smirk.
Zhu Iroh laid his head on the table, never wanting Tarrick to see the pink flushed upon his face. He was better off home in his bedchambers, maybe facilitating Tan Meijing to stay with him in the royal townhouse, as an opportunity for Xiao Jing to show young Fire Nation descendents the dances from their culture. A-Jing will be pleased to see Iroh and maybe impart some of that teacher's empathy and care towards him. A broken down general, whose life was spiralling out of control on the inside. Things haven't been the same, since crossing the border into the United Republic, after the mission with the Crimson Matron and Xieye Sect was done.
"I will not stay here long."
"Going home already."
"Maybe...or leave the city for a few weeks."
"You are cowering, just because he's here. Look...what happened with that guy, the one who died is not your fault."
"I still see him in my mind, his eyes crying blood before he died."
Tarrick let out a light cough, knowing such details disgusted him. The other man was fortunate to retire from the United Forces, two months after President Raiko got onto office. Tarrick was tired of fighting, as he had a family and a lover to live for. He was the son of the Southern Water Tribe Chief and his life mattered, more than a secondborn of a reforming royal family. Sharing a jar of jade wine with Tarrick was what Zhu Iroh usually did, but the other man was a beer kind of man, because it was a popular drink in Republic City. Zhu Iroh lifted his head, sat up properly, even though he was coherent to not be drunk, because cups of jade wine were in small servings because of its alcoholic content. In a way, Zhu Iroh envied the freedom Tarrick had, since leaving the United Forces and could do whatever he wanted, like travel and he got to be with his family, whether on Air Temple Island, Kyoshi Island or in the Southern Water Tribe.
Dealing with the Crimson Matron left a scar on United Forces soldiers, who were there. It was more so for the victims, who survived her torment. For the last five years, Zhu Iroh strived to become a better leader, a stronger firebender and a selfless man. It was his goal, to make himself invisible enough that no one could hurt him, the way the Equalists and Hiroshi Sato have. His fire crystallised from an orange-yellow into an azure shade. No firebender, since Iroh's Great Aunt Azula could cultivate their firebending, to the point where the colour of the flame changed. No one, a part Setsuko Kimura, a fellow firebender knew that, because she was good at keeping secrets and was a loyal friend to him.
Zhu Iroh had begun meditation therapy, when Raiko got into office to heal from his failures and mental distress; from what happened to Iroh's ships on the shores of Yue Bay and seeing the greyish rot from the corpses of United Forces soldiers and civilians, who were killed by the Crimson Matron's disciples. Jen Lian was the centre of Iroh's healing, as it was that man he wronged and caused great pain and suffering to five years ago.
"I'm leaving the city, Iroh. Why don't you come with me?" Tarrick said, in a boisterous tone.
"I have work to do, Tarrick. I'm not retired like you and Bumi." General Iroh replied.
"I'll take Yukan to Luzao Island with me, at least he's a real friend."
"I have a duty to the city, we are not the youths we once were."
"Suit yourself."
Zhu Iroh retorted, in a harsher tone. "Go away, Tarrick."
"The girls saw you touching him, isn't that not allowed in the Earth Kingdom."
"I will never touch Young Master Jen that way."
"It doesn't change the fact that you want him." Tarrick said, in a lewd chuckle.
General Iroh hated it, when Tarrick said lewd things, due to the fact he lived his life without shame. Iroh was familiar with kyoshi warriors, seeing the Fire Lord's personal guards filled with women trained by the kyoshi warriors in the Imperial Capital's Kyoshi Dojo, and having Great Aunt Suki and Auntie Kirima in his life growing up. The bodyguard Kumi unnerved Iroh to the point of backing off, as girls trained in the dojos were more violent than their island counterparts, maybe it was why Master Jen hired her. The girl was a deterrent against people, who shamelessly lusted after Jen Lian; she was friendly to the undeceiving eye, but to anyone who knew better, she was cut from the same cloth, as her fellow kyoshi bodyguards. Zhu Iroh's status as a royal family member and a high ranking officer saved him, from the warrior maid's knives, when others were not so fortunate. In the general's mind, those people deserved to court death for having the gull to approach a noble young master, like Jen Lian and try to advantage of him.
As a gentleman, Zhu Iroh would never think of doing improper things to Jen Lian, but his inner subconscious disagreed. That's what he had Tan Meijing for, because Iroh generally enjoyed the other man's company and he resembled Jen Lian, but with amber hued eyes and high cheekbones. Drinking his third cup of jade wine, the prince seemed calmer and less agitated mentally, because of the trouble Tarrick keeps putting on him, maybe he should leave the city and leave Iroh alone. The small servings kept the prince from getting fully drunk, because Iroh needed to be coherent for the rest of the night, no matter where he was going and who he was going to meet. Iroh was popular, due to his royal status and being the hero, who saved the city from the Equalists, but he didn't want the attention because war and death wasn't to be glorified. Iroh wanted some peace in his life, before he was called to another battle, a battle where he didn't have Bumi and Tarrick anymore.
The club was usually for the military and the new elite of Republic City, but it was the general's hangout spot, where he met up with Tarrick and Setsuko to discuss the state of their lives. Zhu Iroh's eye caught on a bottle of beer on the table, because Tarrick ordered it and will stay for a while. He appreciated the other man staying, because Zhu Iroh drove his childhood friends in the Fire Nation away from him, due his duties to the United Forces, which they didn't understand. The United Forces used to be a peacekeeping force for the new nation, but after the democratic government came into power, the United Forces was considered the military of the republic, a foreign fighting force, that made the most patriotic of Zhu Iroh's friends keep their distance from him.
"Is Setsuko coming?" General Iroh asked.
"She will be, because she hates drinking alone and I will order more." Tarrick replied.
"Didn't you have a crush on her, when she first joined the United Forces?"
"I did, but when I found out, she was a lala, I was cool with it."
"You have Katsumi."
"She has been good to me, better than what I deserve. She should have broken up with me, when I left her to save the city."
"Will she last?"
"Katsumi lasted longer than the others, but she understands the duties and responsibilities I had."
The general's tone turned bitter, despite Tarrick being his childhood best friend and being happy for him. "I'm glad for you."
"Don't be bitter, sparky. You will be happy one day, when you stop being boring and working all the time."
"I'm not boring."
"You used to be fun Iroh. Until we went to the Omashu royal wedding, you came out more forlorn than Auntie Kya, when she broke up with that woman from Ember Island."
"Do you have anything better to do than annoy me?"
"No...as your long serving best friend, I worry about you. Thankfully the meditation therapy is working, but you have to talk to your little master. Clear the air and tell him the truth about how that guy died."
"It doesn't matter, he hates me. His coldness towards me is enough. I got the man he loved killed and he will never forgive me."
"It's not your fault, you hear me. The Crimson Matron tricked you and she is the one, who killed that guy."
Zhu Iroh ignored Tarrick, even though they were in a private booth in the club. He carried the guilt of the deaths of his soldiers on his back, even though Hiroshi Sato was the reason why they were dead, but Iroh was the one, who sailed into a trap and risked the lives of his division. His soldiers forgave him, but Jen Lian was a different story. The death of Su Yong broke Jen Lian, it reduced a noble and beautiful man into an empty shell. A-Lian was better now, the colour on his face returned, from the ashen white, when he was in the mist of his grief. Just because Jen Lian healed, it didn't mean the other man forgave Zhu Iroh. When it came to what happened in the clash, between Su Yong and the Crimson Matron, her last stand before she was defeated because she had no disciples to defend her.
The private booth opened again, for Setsuko Kimura to stroll in. She was an athletically built woman in maroon red clothing. Her upper tunic had hues of light orange on the hemline, despite being a soldier and not a flashy pro-bender with the tunic ending above her knees. The woman's black hair was short, a part of her hair was tied off, to look like a topknot and the amber hues in her eyes intimidated Tarrick, who poured the woman a drink. Setsuko drunk the entire cup in two swallows, knowing she was very much an enthusiastic drinker, as soldiers from the United Forces had a rest break and she decided to take full advantage of it.
"Hey, Lady Kimura. What took you so long?" Tarrick said, in a snarky tone.
Iroh caught Setsuko's mouth upturned by mere fact of being called a lady, when she didn't like it. "Don't call me a lady, idiot?" Setsuko gritted between her teeth, but it didn't faze Tarrick at all, as it was his way of making fun of her for being a noble woman in an aggressive career. The general consensus was, noble girls and women in the Fire Nation served in their nation's military or any part of law enforcement in the Fire Nation's many cities and towns, not a foreign fighting force like the United Forces.
"Tarrick..don't do that to her."
"Why...because her grandfather treats her like shit."
"Not everyone is lucky to have grandfathers like ours."
"Doesn't matter, the old man is a bitter shit and will always be for the rest of his life." Setsuko interjected, in an unhappy sigh, "My sister Miyuki is getting married, one of my grandfather's schemes to get our family to better standing, in the royal court again, because of what my aunt Naoki did to shame the family."
General Iroh cleared his throat, not wanting to say the wrong thing that will piss Setsuko off. She was sensitive, because of her troubled relationship with her grandfather. "We will be closer after all, because of your sister marrying into the Ty family." The prince said, in an optimistic tone and bringing some positivity to Setsuko's negative mood.
"I'm already your friend, general. Your most loyal soldier and will do anything for you."
Zhu Iroh was glad, seeing Setsuko smile once after drinking some of the jade wine. She was four years younger than Iroh, but he adopted her into a little sister figure, before Iroh's own little sister Rina grew up. He knew the complex situation of the Kimura family, which was why he respected Setsuko's refusal of being called a lady and only by her military title. Setsuko joined the United Forces to rebel against her grandfather Lord Kento, who was a former minister in the royal palace and she wanted to forge her own path. A path away from Setsuko's own family name and the conditions of traditional noble society constraining her, to the point of abandoning the family members she loved.
"Can I come to the wedding?" Tarrick said, with a sly smile on his face.
"Only because you want to fuck the young ladies, who are not married." Setsuko replied.
"Katsumi and I have an open relationship."
"I lived on my own for years and get paid to serve this nation. On the bright side, Miyuki's wedding is making my grandfather less irritable and friendlier to everyone else."
The prince stretched out his legs under the table, knowing he couldn't stay very long. "Are you seeing anyone, since the elections ended." Zhu Iroh asked, knowing he was out of sorts with the inner lives of his friends because of his excessive workload. The thought of training new recruits, to replenish the numbers the United Forces lost, in the battle against the Equalists and the retirements of several commanding officers, which meant Iroh had a lot of work to do, to restore the forces to its prime level, before the next head general stepped into Iroh's place.
"I'm still messing with Lau Niran, the Cabbage Corp owner's daughter."
Tarrick rolled his eyes, due to the fact of Setsuko having a peculiar taste in women, just like his Auntie Kya and Uncle Bumi, when it came to their choice of women. "Aren't all Earth Kingdom girls and boys...a bit uptight and rigid, like Iroh's little master."
"Oh...that little master, what happened."
"He just arrived in the city, staying with the old Qian family. Iroh doesn't want to get too drunk, afraid of shaming himself in front of his qin ai de." Tarrick retorted, in an impassioned exclaim, causing Setsuko to laugh after finishing the cup of beer poured for her.
The firebender man's cheeks were flustered, rouge pink appeared on his face and he couldn't hide it from his friends. Tarrick and Setsuko were not wrong. They were Zhu Iroh's closest friends, who joined the United Forces long ago to bring peace and balance to the world, until the new Avatar was ready to assume her duties. Three friends, who would have died for each other, when they were locked into battle with the Crimson Matron's fleeing disciples of bloodbenders. The battle on the outskirts of Bone Village could have been lost, until the United Forces got assistance from a local mountain tribe, whom were angry with the Crimson Matron's disciples, kidnapping their women and decided to fight, with the United Forces against them, when they were split up and on the run.
Zhu Iroh sunk within himself, the opposite of what a confident firebender should be. His friends were shameless, because they lived their lives, their own way and didn't let anyone tell them what to do. The general was a prince of a reformed royal family and had duties and responsibilities, his friends couldn't comprehend. He gave away the rest of the jade wine to Setsuko and Tarrick, who needed it more than Iroh did, considering the state of their lives. Out of all the alcoholic drinks in the world, jade wine was Iroh's favourite, since jars of it were sold all over the world; it originated from Jen Lian's homeland and it was a staple in the Earth Kingdom. The jade wine became a drink, commonly associated with sworn brotherhood and young men, drinking it during their manhood.
"I could get a job, after retiring, like Colonel Chu did working for Future Industries." Setsuko exclaimed, in a boisterous manner.
"You will only get hired, because of your status." Tarrick replied.
"What about you legacy boy, you could get any job in the world because of who your grandparents are?"
"My family worked for their status, unlike you...spoiled young miss."
A growl was heard from Setsuko, but she wasn't drunk. Zhu Iroh knew why Setsuko got angry, whenever anyone tried to call her a young miss or a lady, because she spent years trying to break away from what she was born as and making her own way in the world. The prince knew no one will forget a who a noble or royal person was in the world, because their news was always published on yearly ranking lists or the exclusive Jade Society, which was a publication that had editions published in the Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom and the United Republic. The Kimura Clan was a clan that fell from grace, especially being a family key, to establishing Fire Lord Zuko's hold on the dragon throne, against a faction of the Hasigawa family, who wanted to assassinate him to prove their loyalty to the ousted Fire Lord Ozai. The assasination attempt failed, because the other half of the Hasigawa family sided with Zuko, and killed members of their own family, for peace in the Fire Nation, the end of clan warfare and the idea of following this young Fire Lord.
For exiled members of a noble or royal family, they can remain unseen in the shadows, after their expulsion from society. Zhu Iroh knew Jen Lian was not publically banished by his family, but it was a silent banishment from his homeland and he roamed the Earth Kingdom and became a nomad. Setsuko joined the United Forces, to rebel against her patriotic grandfather and to live her life as a freewheeling lala, without the threat of an arranged marriage, like her older sister Miyuki. Iroh knew to tread lightly, when it came to Setsuko, because of her issues and how she used them to propel herself, into becoming one of the best firebenders in the United Forces.
"Colonel Kimura, refrain from exacting violence on our friend." General Iroh said, attempting to calm down his irritated friend.
"It's like everything I achieved, in the United Forces was all for nothing. Strip everything away and all I am is my family name." Setsuko replied.
Tarrick's face softened, knowing he had upset his and Iroh's mutual friend. He didn't mean it, when he said those things, because they were facts. "It doesn't matter, you are still our friend, even if you are a young miss from a fancy Fire Nation clan." The other man said, in an encouraging tone.
"Thanks, crab-face."
"Don't forget it, you owe me a bottle of beer in the future?"
"Enjoy the drinks, while you can."
"Why...Iroh...going to meet Miss Miyagi again." Setsuko said, in a haughty tone in her voice.
"No...I ended things with her, long before we saved the city from the Equalists."
"Pretty girl, she was too good for you."
The general gulped, swallowing the shame he had in heart. Pushing the table away from his legs, shuffling past the side Tarrick was sitting on. Zhu Iroh paid for his drinks and Tarrick was responsible for the remaining drinks on the table, but the other man had enough money from his trips around the world. Zhu Iroh opened the door of the private booth, to leave his friends to whatever they were talking about. He never wanted to stay in The Ruby Rook too long, because it made him look pathetic, who was alone with no lover in his life. Bitterness subsided in his chest, whenever Tarrick or Setsuko talked about their love lives and were happy. Zhu Iroh was used to being alone, shifting from one lover after another, as it did nothing to subside his feelings of loneliness and alienation from the world, but it was okay because he had his family and he had Tan Meijing in his life.
Away from the private booth he sat in. General Iroh paced towards the exit of the evening club, with more patrons in shining clothes coming in. The laughter from Setsuko was heard from a distance, even though the clear spring night had chances for anything to happen. Zhu Iroh never wished unhappiness on the people he loved, even though Iroh was bitter about the state his life had become, drinking his sorrows away and sleeping with people, whom resembled a certain earthbender. Where Iroh was in his life, anything could happen by chance and a surprise could come. His position as Head General of the United Forces had become a cage, full of the politics he escaped the royal court for. Zhu Iroh dealt with the conflicting personalities on the United Republic Council, and then a sour president, who had become the civilian leadership of the United Republic of Nations.
Iroh sighed heavily, especially when Tarrick and Bumi were happier, when they retired and had their families. He wanted to move beyond his title as head general and be at peace with himself. True happiness, where Zhu Iroh had some bliss that belonged to him, a chance to be selfish for once and not get anyone killed for it. A chill came from outside the evening club, it was a light chill that was expected on spring nights, but not as cold as winter nights. Zhu Iroh had seen a cold spring night in Omashu, when he was younger and was allowed to have his youth, before he was bogged down with responsibilities and duties. Duties and responsiblities Tarrick never dealt with, because the chiefdom was an elected position in the Southern Water Tribe. A breath of fire expelled from his lips, as the general paced the streets of the lonely city, at peace because of his hard work and sacrifices, wondered amongst the ordinary folk, as if Iroh was one of them and wanted to disappear into the night.
Just like everyone else, on this one night in the city.
PS: The Xieye Sect is the official name of the cult of the Crimson Matron. It's called the Crimson Cult elsewhere in the world, but in the Earth Kingdom it's known as a the Xieye Sect in the Earth Kingdom, because bending sects exist as a frame for found families and martial friendships.
- Jen Lian and Jen LuXian are the same person, but Iroh refers to him by his given name because of their years of history.
- The original characters from the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom, whom have Chinese names have their surnames written before their first name. It's like how Toph Beifong's passport is written as Beifong Toph in Mandarin Chinese and it's the convention. (Eg. Tan Meijing, Lau Niran and Jen Lian)
- Setsuko Kimura was originally just a name, but she was written into the story because of the lack of named female firebenders in the ATLA/LOK universe, who were not villains. Setsuko was always written to be a lesbian, because of her attitude and her desire to rebel. She is the example of the generational conflict between the current generation and the older generation in the Fire Nation, when it comes to how they live their lives and respecting tradition.
拉拉 (lala) is the casual Chinese term for lesbian or woman loving woman. It's what Tarrick and Iroh refer Setsuko as because she is a lesbian.
亲爱的 (qin ai de) is the Chinese meaning of beloved, dear or darling. A term of endearment said in a romantic context. Tarrick is bilingual and was taught the common language in this universe, which is Mandarin Chinese and it's written everywhere in ATLA/LOK canon text. The phrase will be used more, as Jen LuXian is Iroh's beloved person, to the point of yearning a decade for him.