Raven is right in front of you (illbeanyone) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2012-07-23 11:33:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, iroh, raven darkholme (mystique) |
"I'll be okay. I'll keep Anna in the dark about this."
Who: Raven and Iroh
What: Old friends discuss information over Tea
When: Sunday
Where: Jasmine Dragon Teahouse
Status: Complete
Rating/Warnings: Pg-13 for discussing human trafficking and also flirting with old men.
A private room in the Jasmine Dragon had been set up with a table of high quality tea, along with a set of cakes to go with it. The implements were old - this was the kind of meeting where you got out the 'good china', so to speak - and Iroh had taken care to wipe them all carefully with a cloth while laying them out.
He sat across from a gorgeous woman with red hair, whose eyes were harder than diamonds but whose smile made it seem like you could soften her, if you tried. It was a mask, but he didn't mind. He'd dealt with her before.
He poured out a cup of tea for her, and set it on her side of the table, "I am glad you could come here on such short notice, Raven."
Like all the best masks, there were elements of truth to it. Raven had worn a green floral print dress. It brought out her hair and served to further soften her eyes. Just a few short weeks ago her hair had been dark, when she'd treated Mai. But she prefered red.
Not that she could ever say exactly why. She studied him as he moved, then picked up her tea and took a sip, before replying, "For you, Iroh, and no one else."
"I was not even sure that you were in town! You treated Mai, I kept meaning to send you some tea as a thank you," Iroh smiled at her. He was obviously somewhat familiar with the woman, and at least a few of her mysteries.
No one could ever claim to be familiar with Raven and all of her mysteries.
He poured himself a cup, and sipped at it thoughtfully, "There has been a situation, and I would like your help."
"You know how I feel about helping the syndicate," Raven cautioned. She knew how to hold the teacup, and her back was ramrod straight, though she gave Iroh a dazzling smile. Sometimes the old man deserved a little bit of a speedup to his heart.
"But if it's personal, well I might be willing to make an exception."
All of that knowledge about the appropriate way to hold the teacup and sit at the table were the sort of things that made Iroh wish he was just a little younger, and a little more spry. Raven was an interesting woman, if a bit guarded and a bit of an enigma. He felt like her and Mai would have something in common, there.
He smiled a bit while thinking such things, and took another sip of his tea. When he was done sipping, however, his face was quite serious. He set the teacup down on the table, and looked at her, "This is not for the syndicate. It is for me, and my nephew."
Carefully, Raven set the teacup down, "Zuko already owes me one favor, but for you it's on the house."
It had been nearly twelve years ago. One of Iroh's last duties with the Syndicate before he cut himself off completely had been investigating thefts from one of their London warehouses. He'd found Raven there. Not even eighteen, the girl could have been killed on sight, or worse. Instead he'd spared her, and found a way for her to not have to live always on the run.
It hadn't been much of a choice - but it had been a choice and she'd felt she'd owed him ever since. He was an enigma on his own. If she hadn't seen him fight, it would be very easy to believe him weak, and soft.
"I would rather pay you for this, though I will understand if you do not take it. You are still an information broker, yes? I am in need of information."
The memory of how he'd found Raven had happened so long ago for him, that he'd put it - and any debt he might have felt she owed him - long out of his mind. It was only good to see her healthy and whole. It had disturbed him greatly how much the Nation had taken advantage of her at first, in fact.
Those were unpleasant thoughts best left in the past. It was the present, and right now, his potential daughter/neice-in-law was in trouble, "... You know Mai. She has been abducted."
They could negotiate a payment later. Raven realized that in light of their new situation she might have to ignore her usual impulse when it came to Iroh. He'd probably feel better giving her payment, anyway, "That girl has had some real bad luck lately. Do you have any idea where I need to start digging?"
"I know that Zuko has been learning some disturbing facts about some of the Nation's business practices," Iroh's voice was low, and he picked up his teacup again. He took another long sip, trying to think through what he wanted to say. This had to be handled carefully, but a lack of information on his part could be bad for all of them.
"This is not information I want on the market. It is very dangerous that I even tell you, but I trust you," He looked her in the eye, "He found a sector that was involved in trafficking. I believe this abduction may be in response to the way in which he dealt with it."
Raven's lips pursed a bit as she listened to Iroh speak. She hadn't quite escaped that fate as well as she would ever admit, when she was younger. It was one of the things that had motivated her to so stubbornly go after Anna Marie. A mad, protective desire that she still didn't understand. It was like she'd known her in another life, and failed her there. But she wouldn't fail her here, if she could help it.
"I won't breathe a word, you know how I feel about that sort of exploitation."
Iroh nodded, "It is not officially sanctioned, even for us. I would have several words with my brother, but my nephew is handling this. I think, he needs to handle it."
He sounded proud about that, though he was obviously worried for everyone involved, "Getting you involved in this is probably dangerous."
"His balls finally drop?" Raven flashed a grin to take the sting from her words. Mostly. Zuko had earned her respect, just a little bit, "I've been involved in worse, and more dangerous. And I know where to knock and where to leave well enough alone. I'll try to find something by tonight."
She leaned forward, putting her hand over Iroh's, "I'll be okay. I'll keep Anna in the dark about this. The less she knows, the better it will be for her."
It was probably the first time a woman had touched his hand like that in 12 years. It made his smile warm up a bit, even if he was too old for such things.
"You had better be okay, because I do not want to have to rescue you. I do not move like I used to. But yes, keep your girl out of it, if you can. I would rather any of yours were safe."
He had nothing to say in response to the comment about Zuko. It was the kind of remark that was true enough not to argue with and just snide enough that any remark of his would do nothing to save face.
It was designed to be just such a remark. Like so many things that came from Raven's mouth it was meant to dig in. Raven let go of his hand, and then finished her tea. It was rude to leave without doing at least that much, and while Raven could be very rude when she wanted to be, she could also be very polite. Today was for politeness with only a little bit of snark.
She put the cup down and stood, "I'll contact you tonight. And I wouldn't say you don't move like you used to. You've got plenty of moves left in those old bones." Then she was gone, like a mystery unsolved.
Iroh nodded at her, then got up and bowed. She had been polite and traditional, and he decided to say goodbye to her in the traditional way.
Several of her comments were designed to dig in, and her last ones definitely did. He watched her go, with no small amount of appreciation in his eyes as he did. He was old, certainly, and that life was behind him now, but he still knew an appealing woman when he saw one. It would have been interesting trying to solve that mystery. But he felt like that would be the work of some other, much younger man.
He cleaned up the remains of the tea, and headed back into the tea house proper. He would tell his nephew that he had an informant of his working on it. He didn't need to tell Zuko who.