"Really Uncle, if you would only commit as much effort to important matters as you do to tea and Pai Sho you could be an unstoppable force." The comment was accompanied by the Princess nudging a black dragon tile in front of an already impressive cluster flanking the black king tile.
"One day you will learn, my dear niece, that true enjoyment of life is generally obtained through acts that others will find foolish and misguided. A primary truth of life is that happiness is gained through following one's own path, not the path set down by another." During his sage advice the retired general had moved a white joker piece away from his side avoiding its immediate capture but creating a large hole in his defences.
"And where does my path lead uncle?" Azula's face shifted in to a devious grin as she moved a black piece to break through the front lines of the white army- her head tilting slightly to the side, anticipation had gotten the better of her.
Iroh moved his white joker piece right in to the centre of a large cluster of black tiles. "Defeat." Iroh's hands retreated back under his over-garments, his face wearing a grin free from taunting or guile that most effectively taunted and beguiled Azula. The princess furrowed her eyebrows in a momentary lapse of control, and in an uncharacteristic sign of humility gave a snorting laugh, rose with her uncle, and offered a small bow to greet his own.
"Sometimes I feel like the world has turned insane. I am surrounded by people who hate and love me, I have access to more power now than I had before my failure, and I am happy when I feel like I should be dead." The statement came very much out of the blue, and was delivered with such a detached dreamy tone that most would be too scattered to find an appropriate answer. Iroh simply smiled and promptly offered his reply.
"Sometimes it takes death, even one's own, to realise that the world can be different than what it appears." The answer was acceptable to the Princess, but she remained still and continued to stare at her Uncle, Iroh remained equally composed and silent.
"Why did Zuko leave? I never... he had his stupid honour back, it doesn't make sense." Emotion flowed in to the Princess's words, her tone full of annoyance and pain.
"He was walking the path set by another Azula, his destiny lay away from here." The break in the Princess' demeanour was met with concern by Iroh, his face sagged- losing its giddy cheerfulness and instead showing the many years of sorrow and guilt so often hidden from view.
"You may think he was a monster, but he loved me and I will not just pretend he didn't exist." Azula's sight sunk to the floor, silently considering the words.
"Azula..." Iroh reached out to touch his niece's shoulder.
"Don't..." Azula flinched away from his touch, her eyes were piercing daggers. After a moment she quickly slid back in to a neutral mask, her body righting itself once again. "Thank you for the game Uncle- until next time."
With a bow the Princess floated away, disappearing down the palace hallways. Iroh held a worried look on his face.