Another stifled yawn. Oriel - internally, of course, because libraries were supposed to be quiet - chided himself for his disinterest. Not that he had ever found books to be wildly entertaining, of course, but he had never been opposed to reading as long as a story actually managed to capture his attention. Currently, it seemed that none were, a various selection of novels and art encyclopedias sprawled out on the floor in front of him. He chalked this up to distraction, which was all the more disappointing considering he'd visited the library in hopes of a distraction. Pouring himself into something even remotely creative had always been a source of comfort to him. It reminded him of home, of his time in Eunomia, but not even its usual reassurance could keep his thoughts at bay.
Things had been rough for the past week. Though it wasn't a truth he liked to fixate on, not even he was blind enough to argue with that. The Crystal's newfound crack, Faye and Briela's relations, the Tala's leader... all could be mended, somehow. However, people had died, and Oriel was still grappling with the fact that those lost would never be coming back.
Of course, these losses didn't mean it was the end. The Tala were meeting today, and with their combined efforts, Oriel was sure they could think of some solution that would turn their current circumstances around, or at least make use of them. Given the dire times, Oriel was quite aware of just how much was riding on today's council going well. Which was probably why he was in the library in the first place, seeking distraction, but instead thinking way too much...
He sunk into his chair, grabbing the nearest book and burying his face into its pages. He went to let out a groan, but remembering where he was, settled for a small, deflated noise that hardly covered all he had wanted to express. A sigh came next, as he tried to change his train of thought. Which he did. In fact, he almost entirely forgot about his frustration when he realized that book draped across him was a cookbook open to the most lovely looking tiramisu and he needed to know how to make it immediately.
He sat up, pulling his legs into the chair and criss-crossing them as his eyes skimmed through the recipe, unconsciously mouthing the words as he read. Lost in doing so, he became oblivious to his surroundings and would have completely missed the presence of another Tala had she not spoken first. It was just as he began looking up that he was pulled into an embrace from behind.
He glanced up at Ruan, his lips spreading into a wide grin. "Heh, guess I can't hide from you," he joked, closing his book and giving it a gentle toss toward the ones strewn about on the floor. "Ohh, right! I didn't realize it was now. Damn, what time is it?" He gazed down at Ruan's wristwatch, as he didn't wear one of his own, taken aback but how much time had flown by since entering the library. Oriel laughed, looking back up at her. "Tempting, but because I don't have a death wish, timeliness might be best."
He wriggled his way from her grasp, snatching up all the books at his feet and setting them in a pile, making a mental note to return later and put them away. Oriel's legs felt like jelly as he stood, having sat in awkward positions for much too long, and he leant forward to touch his toes. Through his legs, he noticed a figure standing off a ways behind them, just barely in sight. He quickly shot up, turning to face whoever was there and immediately recognized them as the new Leo - whom he wasn't as acquainted with. He grinned, shooting a glance back at Ruan. If there was any tension there, Oriel was oblivious, turning back and waving enthusiastically.
"Zuko! Ah, good timing! We were just about to head down to the meeting, wanna tag along?"