"The siege of Ba Sing Se goes well for the Fire Nation," Iroh mused, studying maps more intricate and detailed than any made by mortal cartographers. "They'll penetrate the Impenetrable City soon."
The Greater Lords of War mutter agreement. Clawed hands, tentacles, pincers, hoof-hardened fingers, all touch the maps to turn them this way and that.
"The war will end if Ba Sing Se falls," Greater Lord Two pronounced. "Not immediately, but the end will be in sight. The Earth Kingdoms will lose hope, and the Water Tribes are easily vanquished."
"Bad for us," Lu Ten, Greater Lord Seven, noted. "Ba Sing Se must not fall."
"We have clients involved," Greater Lord Four reminded him.
"No one of particular importance in the Fire Nation, though," Greater Lord Three said.
Greater Lord Six added, "We have clients on both sides; to favor the Fire Nation will lose us credibility in the Earth Kingdom."
"None of the Earth generals involved, however, are clients," Greater Lord Five murmured.
"Neither is Colonel-Prince Kazuro," Greater Lord One said out of both sides of her mouth.
***
"Her family was supposed to be protected," Ozai gritted out, wings flared to their full-span. The effect of the threat display was diminished by the scent commanding desire and fulfillment that wafted from him.
It was, Iroh sadly noted, an unfortunate side-effect of being a lust-demon instead of simply an employee of the Ministry of Lust. Ozai reacted to threats by seducing them rather than making them afraid.
"Whatever agreements you may have with your princess, little brother," he said, "do not bind me."
"You agreed-!"
"I agreed not to touch her or her children. The nephew, however, was not covered by any agreements between the two of us."
"You helped me save the niece." Barbs sprang out along the joints of Ozai's wings. "Will you kill her when it's convenient?"
"It was not convenience," Iroh rebuked. "The death of Colonel-Prince Kazuro broke the Siege of Ba Sing Se. The Impenetrable City did not fall, and the war will go on indefinitely. You know how much good the war has done for Hell."
Ozai hissed, "I know how much good the war has done for the Ministry of War!"
Iroh and Ozai, when demonic politics and demonic family issues start interfering with each other
The Greater Lords of War mutter agreement. Clawed hands, tentacles, pincers, hoof-hardened fingers, all touch the maps to turn them this way and that.
"The war will end if Ba Sing Se falls," Greater Lord Two pronounced. "Not immediately, but the end will be in sight. The Earth Kingdoms will lose hope, and the Water Tribes are easily vanquished."
"Bad for us," Lu Ten, Greater Lord Seven, noted. "Ba Sing Se must not fall."
"We have clients involved," Greater Lord Four reminded him.
"No one of particular importance in the Fire Nation, though," Greater Lord Three said.
Greater Lord Six added, "We have clients on both sides; to favor the Fire Nation will lose us credibility in the Earth Kingdom."
"None of the Earth generals involved, however, are clients," Greater Lord Five murmured.
"Neither is Colonel-Prince Kazuro," Greater Lord One said out of both sides of her mouth.
***
"Her family was supposed to be protected," Ozai gritted out, wings flared to their full-span. The effect of the threat display was diminished by the scent commanding desire and fulfillment that wafted from him.
It was, Iroh sadly noted, an unfortunate side-effect of being a lust-demon instead of simply an employee of the Ministry of Lust. Ozai reacted to threats by seducing them rather than making them afraid.
"Whatever agreements you may have with your princess, little brother," he said, "do not bind me."
"You agreed-!"
"I agreed not to touch her or her children. The nephew, however, was not covered by any agreements between the two of us."
"You helped me save the niece." Barbs sprang out along the joints of Ozai's wings. "Will you kill her when it's convenient?"
"It was not convenience," Iroh rebuked. "The death of Colonel-Prince Kazuro broke the Siege of Ba Sing Se. The Impenetrable City did not fall, and the war will go on indefinitely. You know how much good the war has done for Hell."
Ozai hissed, "I know how much good the war has done for the Ministry of War!"