After spending 30 seconds (an unusually short amount of time) in the throes of worrying, and an undisclosed amount of time giving a Lame Excuse to Iroh that he accepts with a knowing smile, Katara follows Zuko and Hakoda to eavesdrop on them.
Hakoda congratulates Zuko for being Firelord, but also asks, against his better judgment, whether Zuko's too young to be leading a whole nation. The question hits a sore spot, and Zuko says that he's only Fire Lord because Ozai and Azula are "out of their gourds" and the Earth Kingdom won't make peace with Iroh. Hakoda should know how dynastic rule works, and I can only imagine how things would have gone if he'd had to deal with Prince Wu (who goes from a Royal Brat who's all too eager to rule the Earth Kingdom despite the fact that he's out of his depth to a more mature young man who knows he's out of his depth and steps down).
Hakoda gives Zuko a skeptical look, resulting in Zuko babbling and trying to reassure him. Zuko's babbling is something that Hakoda has no experience in dealing with, and isn't even what he came to talk about, so he decides to talk about that later. For the moment, Hakoda asks Zuko if he's nervous about being Fire Lord, and when Zuko says yes, Hakoda tells him to act like he isn't. Hakoda that he was nervous when he became chief, but with everyone counting on him, he had to pretend to know what he was doing at first. Zuko asks if he means "fake it until you make it," and Hakoda clarifies that since people follow authority, authority figures must lead with conviction, before admitting that he didn't know what he was doing at first, and pretended he was a good leader until he became one. All this is a bit of a cynical take on it, but Hakoda has a point- leaders must project an image of confidence in addition to being competent.
Hakoda says that this mindset is important when dealing with Earth Kingdom leaders, who need to see Zuko as a man, not a boy. Zuko thanks "Sir Hakoda" for it, resulting in Hakoda joking that he hasn't been knighted by the Earth King, and insists that Hakoda is fine. Hakoda finally gets through to Zuko this time (possibly because he no longer is trying to seem like "a cool dad"), and Zuko says "Thanks Hakoda."
After an awkward pause, Zuko is about to get up and leave, but Hakoda says that they're not done yet. Zuko's a bit confused about what Hakoda really wants to talk about (since they discussed something appropriately serious and relevant), but sits back down and asks Hakoda what he wants to talk to him about, resulting in another awkward pause.
Hakoda, evidently having come up with a tentative idea to broach the subject he has in mind, proposes that he has a "friend", and, after a few moments of thought, decides to call him Iroh. Zuko asks what Iroh has done now, and whether he's exposed himself inappropriately again, offering to have a talk with him. Hakoda clarifies that he was trying to make up a name, but couldn't think of any other good Fire Nation names, and Zuko suggests "Lee" would work well as a fake name.
If you've read a lot of TV Tropes, you've probably heard about Alice and Bob, as well as others for tropes that involve more than two people (Charlie, for example, gets involved in Love Triangle related tropes). The names are quite generic, since they serve as placeholders to keep track of who's involved in what, and don't involve that much thought. Hakoda probably should have considered that Zuko would have thought of the real Iroh.
Hakoda starts on his "friend" Lee, but breaks off, and concludes that the analogy is getting him nowhere. Katara wonders if Hakoda is possibly distracted by thoughts of what Iroh has been up to. Zuko, meanwhile, is at a loss for how to proceed, surprised at no longer being the most awkward one in the room.
In an abrupt change of pace, Hakoda asks about dinner, and Zuko starts answering completely literally, such as saying that it's in his top three meals of the day (essentially an Overly Narrow Almost Superlative) before Hakoda mentions that he's talking about tomorrow night's dinner, in a tone that indicates that he sees Zuko as an idiot. Zuko seemed unusually thick here, but it's understandable that he'd be confused, with tomorrow's dinner, tonight's dinner and possibly the coronation dinner; perhaps this is Hakoda's just desserts for beating around the bush so much.
Of course, Hakoda doesn't get to the point just yet. Zuko says that it's nice of Iroh to invite the other people, because Ming will likely be intimidated. Hakoda says "I should hope so," which implies that he views being intimidated as a desirable, rather than merely natural, reaction (It also sounds a bit like the "Scared? You should be," a line often delivered by villains while in the process of intimidating heroes).
Hakoda then asks Zuko what he thinks about Ming and Bato as a couple. I'm personally not fond of using questions to "test" people, since it makes them worry about whether their answer will be seen as the "correct" one, and when questioners are suspected of doing this, it makes it harder for them to ask actual questions for the sake of their own information. Zuko, evidently feeling put on the spot, indicates that he's only heard good things about Bato and Ming from Sokka and Iroh, respectively, and says they sound like nice people, phrasing it as a question.
Hakoda lets off a sigh and leans next to Zuko, who wonders if he has the wrong answer, but Hakoda says it's true that they are nice people, which is why he doesn't know how to say what he needs to without sounding like "an arsehole." That something is that Bato and Ming should break up, because he sees only misery in store for them, since neither can adjust to the other's cultures. As Bato likely won't listen to Hakoda, Hakoda intends to talk to Ming when he gets the chance. He asks if Zuko understands why he's saying this, and Zuko does, prompting him to say he does, and Hakoda says that he's glad they had that talk.
So after initial pleasantries and advice (which, as I pointed out, could be legitimately mistaken for an entire conversation in and of itself), one failed I Have This Friend involving Iroh, another aborted attempt with "Lee", and two questions tangentially related to the matter at hand, Hakoda finally says, in a roundabout way, that Zuko and Katara should not be together.
Katara rushes back to where she was before, and when Zuko gets there, she notices Zuko avoiding her gaze and trying to keep a neutral expression, causing Katara to realize that there's no point in talking to him when he's like this, as much as she wants to tell him what she thinks about Hakoda's "little speech." So she settles for Hakoda himself, catching him as he tries to leave under the excuse of wanting to be at the Water Tribe house, and offering to help him plan dinner so that she can give him a good scolding. Not knowing Katara's intentions, Hakoda says yes.
Katara waits until they're in the gardens to begin, asking him why he said what he did about Zuko. Hakoda gets annoyed at her for eavesdropping, and Katara shrugs it off because he himself is a gossipy eavesdropper, and he knows that it applies to himself and everyone he knows, so she won't listen to that now.
With his first stratagem having failed, Hakoda tries to play innocent, and assume that Katara only heard the first part of the speech. Katara appreciates his helping to build Zuko's confidence, but is angry about the part with Bato and Ming. Hakoda, now on evasive tactic #3, asks if Katara always knew about Bato and Ming, resulting in Katara playing dumb. Hakoda, in a moment of good insight and memory, remembers that Katara discouraged him from following Bato, and asks whether she knew what he'd find. Katara denies this, and Hakoda laments that they never used to keep secrets from each other, but now, everyone has a secret. I have to agree; for all Katara dislikes her father's playing dumb, she's also somewhat evasive when confronted.
Granted, Katara does have a reason for keeping this secret; she was afraid that Hakoda would react badly. Hakoda says this didn't happen; when he found out about Bato and Ming, he simply left, and waited for an opportunity to talk with Bato about it properly. While this may be true on the surface, Katara points out that Hakoda is also going behind people's backs to insist that it won't work out, and Hakoda's only defense is, in almost as few words, "it's true."
After Katara essentially says "you don't know that," Hakoda, rather than saying "Yes, I do," says the world doesn't work that way. Ming wouldn't fit in with the tribe even if she could cope with the cold of the South Pole, and Katara has to admit that no one would react well to Bato bringing a firebender home. As for the other side of the coin, Ming has a new job, with many responsibilities, that she can't easily leave, but Bato can't adjust to the Fire Nation, which was an enemy until recently, and with a culture that's too different.
Katara doesn't have an answer (in my opinion, admitting what she doesn't know shows she understands things better than her father does on one regard), but believes that Hakoda should stay out of it. Hakoda insists that he's looking out for Bato, who's like family, and ensuring that he doesn't make a mistake. Katara says Hakoda should ask what Bato really wants, prompting Hakoda to ask her whether she knows. Katara wonders if they're still talkng about Bato and Hakoda (and I suspect that the two of them are subconsciously addressing Zutara, and the author's note will say as much) but believes he should make his own decisions, before storming off.
Hakoda has made the unfortunate choice of taking on a position that not only is difficult to portray sympathetically (opposing interracial relationships), but also puts him in opposition to the heroes (since he clearly feels the same way about the main couple), and exacerbates that by taking on some questionable approaches in spite of his good intentions (going behind people's backs, planning on getting Ming to break up with Bato, and trying to discourage Zuko from getting together with Katara). Even considering that the fic is somewhat more cynical than canon, it's not hard to see why Katara is angry with him, and not hard to find fault with Hakoda's approach, if not his goal. That said, the author seems to be somewhat more sympathetic to his view than she is to Aang's, and Hakoda's the bigger threat to Zutara.
Of course, this is one of those family arguments in which both sides say things they regret, so I suspect that sooner or later, both Hakoda and Katara will end up apologizing. All in all, it's a somewhat more mature look at race relations than many works, although I can practically hear the author's implicit, "Look at how much more realistic and sensible this is than canon."
For the moment, Katara returns to Zuko's house, and a scene with an entirely different tone. Iroh went to see Piandao and JJ about something (possibly White Lotus business). Sokka's awake, but seems distracted, Suki's checking on the warriors, and Aang and Zuko are arguing about music, of all things.
Aang wants Chong and his friends to perform, for the sake of variety and promoting tolerance by broadening people's horizons. Sokka, however, believes that Chong and his friends are bad enough to drive those hearing them to violence, even if they're pacifists. Aang insists that since he's a pacifist, and he likes them, Sokka's being a party pooper.
Katara, feeling in a "cheeky" mood and wanting to annoy Sokka, hums "don't let the cave in get you down," remembering how he found it the most annoying tune in the whole world, and had sung her a few bars to prove it. Sokka, annoyed with Katara, asks Zuko to stop the madness, only to find that he's resigned himself to it, albeit in part because he wasn't fully paying attention.
Sokka then explains that Chong and Lily and their troupe are "nomadic singing idiots," but Aang wants them at Zuko's coronation. Aang says they have a nice beat and are good to dance to, and Sokka says only those with no shame could do so. Zuko, in perhaps an inversion of Stating the Simple Solution, asks if Aang knows how to find and contact them, and when Aang says no, Zuko says it's impractical, saying that the coronation's in a few days and transportation is difficult.
The conversation shifts to transportation, and Sokka hears about Kuei being found, as well as the airship idea. Sokka's intrigued by the idea, and starts drawing diagrams for how airships might work and getting into technical details that Katara finds hard to follow.
Iroh comes in, interrupting Sokka talking about weight ratios, and is impressed with Sokka's ingenuity after hearing "the long science-y explanation". He decides to get a team on the task of retrofitting the airships as soon as possible. Sokka points out the plans aren't ready yet, and is tasked with making a inal plan ASAP. Iroh's confident he can do it soon, as Zuko told him he's a genius, and Zuko confirms this in an "adorably disgruntled" tone.
As Sokka goes to work on some plans in the office, and Toph and Aang give suggestions to Iroh, Katara considers having a private conversation with Zuko until they're interrupted by Ty Lee, who's here for Aang. After greeting everyone, she says Suki excused her from training for the afternoon, and now that she has some spare time, she intends to fulfill a promise to show Aang around the city, showing him her favorite parts.
Katara wonders whether this is a date or merely friendly, because Ty Lee doesn't seem nervous at all, despite asking out a boy in front of all his friends, possibly assuming that Aang will say yes. Aang asks for permission to go, a request that Katara notices is unusual, but grants even before he does his Puppy-Dog Eyes.
Toph finds it hard to believe that Katara just let Aang go, saying that while Katara thinks it's sweet, Toph sees Ty Lee as irresponsible(Katara's amused that Toph would call someone else irresponsible), and tries to intervene lest Ty Lee lead him into a den of big breasted acrobats, but Zuko stops her and tells her to have a cup of tea, something that's clearly what Iroh would do in this situation.
Iroh recognizes the significance of Zuko proposing that someone have tea instead of doing something impulsive, and calls it the proudest moment of his life, hoping that Zuko will see tea's value. Zuko affectionately calls Iroh a "daft old besom" before pouring Toph's cup.
Toph's still disgruntled, and when Suki asks where Aang is, says that he's on a tour of the city with the ditzy girl, and flicks a pebble at Sokka when he dares express approval. Sokka offers to give Toph a tour of "something cool," and Toph cheers up a bit, but points out that she hasn't gotten to see the city, apart from when looking for Zuko. Iroh admits that he's been remiss as a host, and "reminds" Zuko of a plan to go see reunification square. Toph sees through it, but eagerly accepts it.
Iroh extends an invitation to the others present, but Sokka can't go because of his cast, and wants to talk with Katara about something anyway. Katara had wanted to go, but because he gave her "a look," and because she doesn't want to leave him on his own (he usually has Suki or Toph around, as she points out), she stays behind. Sokka hands Iroh his rough draft of his plan before Zuko, Iroh and Toph leave for their tour, which Katara believes is mainly to cheer Toph up.
Sokka and Katara have a talk, and Sokka asks Katara how things are coming along with talking to their father about gender equality. Katara confesses that she hasn't had the chance to talk to Hakoda about this, since something always comes up- this time, it's the argument about Bato and Ming, which Katara has to fill Sokka in about, since he was too busy making out with Suki.
Sokka asks Katara if she agrees with Hakoda, but while she says no, he admits their father has a point. Sokka says that some people may love each other, but their cultural differences may make it unworkable. He admits that this is a concern he and Suki share, as well.
Sokka mentions that he and Suki are having their first serious discussions about where they might live, and she said she assumed they would settle down on Kyoshi Island, since she can't live in the Water Tribe with their attitude toward women. She's willing to try almost anything because she believes their relationship is "worth it," but she won't go that far.
As such, they're both hoping that Katara will say something soon (and Suki hopes that Katara will do it, since otherwise it would seem like Sokka's speaking for her), and when Katara admits to being at a loss for what to say without seeming as though she's criticizing her father, Sokka is quite surprised, noting that she rants at him without difficulty. Katara says it's easier for Sokka, and when Sokka says he's on her side, she says that she knows that he listens, but can't say the same for the warriors.
Suki comes over and greets Sokka with a kiss on the cheek, as though she's been doing so for a long time, a small gesture that convinces Katara that love between people of two different cultures can last..
What I liked
- More mature look at race relations than some works.
- Hakoda has some good advice about leadership, albeit with a somewhat cynical tone
- Zuko taking a page from Iroh's playbook.
What I didn't like
- Katara seemed somewhat hypocritical taking umbrage at Hakoda's evasiveness.
- Hakoda himself seemed fairly close-minded and quick to make decisions for others.
