Niuan hated his job. But his Nation needed him. And he was loyal to his duties. But the least the prince could have done was make the post more exciting. He was old and didn't have much longer in this world, he could do with a bit more cloak and dagger and a bit less of playing the stubborn old man stuck in his ways.

"Fine night for a drink," the nobly dressed patron at the pub said.

"Depends if you're buying," he said.

"You know, I'm rather fond of some Si Wong cactus wine."

"Then to a crazy night it is," he said.

This was the compromise he got.

Niuan turned to face his contact—and found Ukano's clueless mug. And right behind him was Fai Lan with eyes wide open and a very large frown. The young man rolled his eyes before jabbing his chin at the fool with a very pointed look. He too was dressed in better fare than his usual rags, they both looked the part of some serendipity between the old and young since they were meeting in the inner caldera.

"Sage Niuan!" said the oaf with a too toothy smile.

Niuan took a long steady breath and cursed deep in his heart.

"I didn't know you were fond of the fine brew yourself!" Ukano gave him a very unwelcome back rub and laughed so loud that everyone in the bar must have heard his name already. The man had less than half a cup with him of the distinctly cyan liquor, and he couldn't tell whether that was his first cup or not. Distilled into wine, the effects of the borderline poison were reduced but it was also not the drink of anyone with more than half a head on their shoulders. One cup was a horrible idea, and any more than that and it was a miracle how any man could walk and talk at all after.

"It's a guilty pleasure, yes," he said. He needed a way to get out of this. That demon water might kill him at his age, and if the drink itself didn't do him in then the morning after promised consequences beyond belief. "But I wouldn't want to impose."

"Nonsense! I'd be insulted if you didn't!"

The fool called the bartender for another glass and the bald man sighed before taking out a footstool. The bartender set the implement against the shelves and used it to reach for the highest one where a lone dark bottle of almost black glass sat. Si Wong cactus wine was expensive and rarely enjoyed in the company of others. Much less by old men who had no business drinking the infamous consequence of the young.

"This one's on me, great sage," Ukano said.

And now he was never going to live this down. A week of court gossip was the lightest of the consequences he would face. The bartender set the fragrant cup in front of him without a word. Fai Lan was staring at him and slowly shaking his head back and forth.

"I owe you too much for helping my find some really good friends."

And now everyone would think a sage—and a very old one at that—might have introduced a noble of the court to some less than reputable establishments. He briefly wondered how likely his fire bender friend could somehow turn out to be the Avatar and somehow bury him under the earth despite never having trained in the element before.

Fai Lan mouthed 'No.'

Ukano's eyes said yes. And so did his body. And so did his teeth.

"It is indeed a good life to make many friends, yes." Niuan wasn't sure if the man was genuine with offering the cup of ruin. The prince asked him to play the upset old man angry at the filthy water and earth benders, and this man was just the first—and most vocal—of a bit too many that caught onto the sentiment. Betrayals were only that when people were friends in the first place.

He was just doing his job.

And that was a phrase he was really hoping he could tell Yagoda instead, but they rarely had any chances at working together on anything. Or at least some hotblooded youth that was currently trying his best to ignore the disaster unfolding right beside him.

Ukano raised his cup and looked him square in the eyes. The man's own pupils didn't shake or move. Perhaps this bottle wasn't as good the usual? Maybe it was an impotent brew? Then he remembered who he was dealing with.

"Together then."

"Of course." Niuan bit the knife and drank from his cup, his unwitting companion joining him for a long long draught.

That was the last he remembered from that night.

Niuan woke up with his wits about him and a very distinct lack of headache. He cursed under his breath and cracked one eye open. He saw the unmistakable blue glow of healing water. Yagoda's cold and bony hand slapped him on the shoulder.

"I can tell you're awake."

He sighed and committed to the shame of his slip up. "In my defense, Ukano got to me."

His voice was barely a croak and his throat ground like iron against sand.

"Has it occurred to you that Fai Lan had to carry you here himself?"

He sat up and saw the prince sat on a chair, his face an unreadable mask. Yagoda was by his head, healing his should be throbbing head. He found himself dressed in sleeping clothes and still in bed. His legs and hips were very sore.

"That is very likely, yes."

Yagoda clicked her tongue.

"Also, you already know each other's faces so this could have just been a dead drop."

But the romance of their skulking was lost with such a mundane and arguably reliable method. "Humor an old man?"

Yagoda slapped him again.

Niuan winced. "That bad?"

The prince took a deep breath. "No one died, if that's what you're asking."

"Really. Cactus wine. At your age."

He didn't need to see to know she was shaking her head.

"I also find myself in the very unfortunate position of owing the Ty family a pair of mongoose lizards."

Did that explain why his body hurt all over? "I don't remember anything."

"Wow, well. Where do I start."

That was a rhetorical question. He already knew he would hate the next couple of minutes of his life.

"Let's just say a little hawk told me how you were kicking the inner caldera's entrance arch for a good hour or so while screaming obscenities. After that you and Ukano danced hand in hand to the Ty family estate singing baudy songs unfit for children, broke into their stables, got yourselves a pair of said lizards, and finally rode the creatures to the beach and released them in a tearful ceremony that involved a lot of hugging and crying.

"From there you both had a heartfelt talk about how much you both hated your jobs, but for different reasons. Then talked about how unreasonable the royal family is, again for different reasons. That the price of good herbs was going too high, again for different reasons that I refuse to acknowledge. And lastly you both agreed somehow that Admiral Chan didn't know what he was doing with the rebellion and that maybe Ukano should be the lead."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Oh."

"Did he do anything… rash?"

"Yeah… he started screaming about challenging uncle to an Agni Kai."

He sucked air through his teeth.

"And you were goading him on."

Yagoda slapped him again.

"And then you both passed out."

Niuan wasn't sure what he could say after that. That didn't explain his clothes though. "So… Fai Lan dressed me?"

"Don't worry, Ukano is fine and tied up in a closet somewhere."

"And Fai Lan?"

Yagoda slapped him a few more times, and he turned back to see the old woman with one hand covering her mouth and cheek. "It wasn't Fai Lan," she said.

"If it makes you feel better, you at least didn't throw up. But she did need to destroy the alcohol in your body so she… had to throw you into a pool. Well, she made Fai Lan throw you into a pool then he woke me up and now here we are, all awake too early."

Niuan vowed to never drink cactus wine ever again.