The Karsite royal family's concept of below-par in anything is above-average anywhere else, so while Zuko thinks of himself as pitifully unskilled in languages, including Valdemaran, it's more than enough to make himself understood in the actual country. That's one of those concepts he hasn't even thought to scrutinize in the light of the day and found faulty yet. The deeper embedded concepts, the personal realities, will be the last and most painful to go.

Zuko's eyes dart immediately to the stained glass window, and he pauses briefly before standing awkwardly, and tensely, some feet away, facing his instructor. He's surprised they let Alberich have such a flagrant display of religion, and then Alberich goes even further.

"There's Sunpriests in the city?" he repeats dumbly, his sensibilities still firmly set in the perspective of outlawing foreign influences. "Uh... sure." Zuko does not actually want tea, but he accepts automatically, used to his uncle forcing it on him. It's usually easier to accept and not drink it than make a fuss. And he desperately wants to make a good impression, while simultaneously being miserably sure that's not possible.

:You should really give people more of a chance to not hate you before getting all wet cat on them,: Sokka cuts in cheerfully.

:Like that's going to happen. I'm lucky they didn't kill me on sight.: