At that, Aral merely splits the bread, offering half the loaf to the young man in front of him. The man from the earth kingdom was bearlike in build, as many earthbenders tended towards. Large, rough, square hands, calloused with work and bending nearly engulfed the half loaf held out. His face was stern, but grey eyes hard, calculating, but not unkind in set. They regarded Zuko in turn.

Aral had no illusions about who the other man was... though somehow, the boy was younger than he pictured, even having had the drawings and the reports.

It left the question of whether Aral himself wasn't recognized, as he suspected, or he was prone to looking down on those outside of noble origins, something that seemed close to true on the intel on the royal family of the Fire Nation.

Either way, this proved a rare opportunity to observe Fire Lord Zuko outside of the guards, the prep and counsel, and carefully stage managed affair that was about to begin. "You still have the night before the circus begins. I would suggest enjoying it."