After dinner, the attendees drink some more, and there are some more shenanigans (which Katara notes is business as usual with the men. Zuko wants to talk with Ming, and he and Katara find her talking with Suki about the Boiling Rock in "hushed tones," (which vaguely implies that it's something sensitive, or less than pleasant). Zuko asks Ming about Azula, and Suki takes her cue to bow out.
Ming, oddly enough, asks about Azula's favorite food. In response, Zuko says it's cream puffs, and that in spite of the fact that she claimed not to like them, she would eat large quantities when she thought no one was watching her. Zoro's question is more serious in nature, and one that we can expect- he wants to know when Azula can see visitors. Ming says Azula has good and bad days, still doesn't think she can firebend, and has always been somewhat eccentric, to put it mildly. Ming doesn't have much good news about Azula's recovery, but while Ming doesn't know when Zuko can go see her, she says she's becoming "calmer." After Bato whispers something in her ear, Ming leaves.
The evening ends with the "hedgehog song," sung by Iroh and the rest of the men. Zuko retrieves Aang, Toph and Momo, in spite of the fact that Sorrak is unwilling to part with the latter, and also his uncle (who's probably quite drunk). Sokka and Katara leave with the rest of the Gaang, since they're sleeping at that house, but Hakoda promises to spend some more family time for them, and Sokka and Katara note that this is not the first time.
Of course, Hakoda doesn't show up, and neither does Iroh. Katara guesses that they're both hung over, since they were both singing the hedgehog song. Aang has to go with JJ for firebending training, while Toph stays in bed and Katara and Zuko argue about whether seaprunes or fireflakes are harder to get used to. For all the fic paints Aang as lazy, he seems to spend more time training than his companions do.
Sokka tries to sneak over to see the new airship, telling Katara to stall Hakoda, but he can't sneak anywhere with his cast, and Hakoda isn't there, rendering it an entirely moot point. As such, Sokka sits down in a comfy chair. After ordering breakfast from Lenka many times, Sokka tells Zuko about Hakoda's efforts to be a "cool dad." Sokka doesn't want to hurt Hakoda's feelings, but knows that there will be all the time in the world for family time back at the south pole, so he wants to see Suki and "play with" the metalworkers and their inventions while he can.
Zuko's surprised to hear about this, and appaently, it's also news to Katara. Sokka said that he and his father talked briefly the previous day, and Hakoda expressed the desire to go back after the peace conference ended. Zuko's quite concerned, and Katara tries to reassure him by saying that nothing's been decided yet, but inwardly, she's quite worried herself. Although she momentarily feels the desire to go back, as she has always wanted to do after the war, she can barely remember home. Sokka admits that he isn't entirely keen on going back- especially since he wants to see the world, invent things and stay with Suki- but he didn't tell Hakoda this. He asks how they could not go back with their father, and Katara can't answer that question.
Toph wakes up and joins the others in eating pastries. Suki finds Sokka, and after whispering something in his ear, goes to have a "walk" with him. Since Katara knows Sokka still can't walk very well, it's obvious that they're going to talk privately. One consequence of this fic covering everything in much more depth, including non-critical periods of time is that we see just how long some things take, such as mending broken bones.
Toph insists that Zuko "ask" Suki something, resulting in Katara being temporarily confused as to what he wants. Zuko reluctantly goes along with what Toph wants, and after some beating around the bush, asks for the Kyoshi Warriors' services as bodyguards, in response to something that happened yesterday, which resulted in all the imperial firebendes (i.e. Zuko's bodyguards included) being imprisoned. Suki says she'd like to say yes, but will have to consult hr warriors, which is certainly far more willing than Zuko had evidently anticipated, and Zuko's fine with that, but wants an answer today so that Toph and Iroh don't worry.
After Suki leaves, Katara asks what happened. Zuko tries to explain, but Toph insists that he not even try to say that she's overreacting, and bluntly says that someone tried to kill Zuko- namely, some of the imperial firebenders, which strongly suggests that the others shared that goal, as well. Toph adds that imprisoning all of the firebenders is not an overreaction, but also doesn't believe that Zukos in the clear, either. Katara shares Toph's sentiments and is shocked that Zuko is "so casual" about a group of highly trained killers wanting to assassinate him, ending up going off on a rant against him, much to Toph's pleasure.
As Toph goes off to wake Iroh, Katara's gut twists over someone trying to kill Zuko without her knowledge. She wonders what would have happened if they'd succeeded, and is angry that he didn't tell her. She threatens to smack him if he makes light of his personal safety again, and amends that to "being cross " with him.
Zuko promises to tell the entire story in exchange for Katara promising to not get mad, but only gets a tentative promise out of her. Zuko says that he locked up the firebenders who were loyal to his father, having been hand picked by Ozai. Somehow, Ozai got in touch with his followers and ordered them to kill Zuko. Katara's disturbed by Zuko talking so casually about his father wanting him dead, when the idea of anyone wanting to kill him is highly disturbing to her.
Zuko said that thanks to Toph, the assassins never stood a chance, since they understimated a blind girl, resulting in Toph bragging. Zuko sees some good to it all, which Katara finds hard to believe. Zuko elaborates, saying that they now know they need more security on Ozai, but they also know who's in Ozai's "Squad."
According to Zuko, speaking from what he learned from Iroh's interrogations, while the imperial firebenders all carried out killings, the "Squad" made people disappear without a trace. Zuko suspects that might have happened to his mother, but she's far from the only one, as 200 other generals and nobles disappeared, and their families need closure, if nothing else.
Katara reiterates how disturbing she finds this all, and says that if she had her way, she wouldn't leave Zuko's side (It's not like she has an ulterior motive). Zuko says she's as much of a "fusspot" as Iroh and Toph are, and Katara agrees, noting that they mean well. Zuko's well aware of the gravity of his situation, but realizes that thinking about that is quite disturbing, as well as a distraction from everything else he has to get done. Zuko also doesn't like to be treated like a delicate flower (a comparison that's usually done with girls, reflective of a Double Standard that females must be protected).
For this reason, Zuko's glad that Aang's out of the loop- a fact that surprises Katara- but it's also because of his stance on Ozai, which would result in a Freak Out, and temple wisdom after Aang calms down with fruit pies. Zuko says that if he hears about two-headed vipers, his brain will implode and he'll die of frustration thereby allowing the Squad to succeed in their mission after a fashion. Katara disagrees with his idea that he could die of that, but agrees to keep this secret.
Since the author likes expanding upon small plot points and tibits of information(which isn't necessarily a bad thing), it's not at all surprising that she would milk this plot point for all its worth. Unfortunately, it also means we'll likely have to sit through several chapters' worth of belaboring the point that Aang not killing Ozai was a mistake, without any serious consideration of the issue from his perspective, save for his desire to be true to his Air Nomad beliefs.
Incidentally, as far as I know, the New Oziai Society has no official contact with Ozai in Smoke and Shadow, even if Azula is apparently involved in the plots. It's thus possible that, with or without Ozai, a lot of people would want to return to the days when the Fire Nation was conquering the world, and it's unfair to blame Aang for contributing to this.
Toph and Iroh rejoin Zuko and Katara. Iroh mentions that he's trying to sort the government ministers into those they can trust, those they can't, and the "mysterious" ones. Toph will help him, and they've established a system of coded gestures to communicate with each other, but the ones in question prove annoying to Zuko.
Katara has lunch with the others, and discusses Fire Nation political issues. Essentially, Iroh's goal is to get an administration in place before Zuko leaves for Ba Sing Se, and to do that, he needs to figure out where everyone stood under Ozai. Zuko says that most of the women will be "on his side" (except perhaps one "Lady Rika") or failing that, "for peace." Katara's surprised that there are women in the Fire Nation govenment, and Iroh notes the joys of conversing with women, even if Zuko knows that he doesn't merely plan to converse with them. Katara, not wanting to hear about it, gets the conversation back on track, and hears about the women's lib movement in the Fire Nation 50 years ago. After the advent of conscription for women, women protested against unequal pay , which led to them fighting for equality in other regards, a long story that Iroh hopes to tell another time. Perhaps in this case, the author has some idea of how many things must be skimmed over in doing wordlbuilding for a setting like ATLA.
After lunch, Iroh leaves to find out where the last few people stand, taking Toph with him but leaving Zuko behind, evidently for his own safety. Zuko writes a coronation speech in themeantime, and Iroh departs with a hug, telling him he'll be back soon.
Almost as soon as Iroh leaves, Zuko is filled with the desire to escape, since he always wants to do things he can't, especially after Iroh's "song and dance." The argument about Zuko being calm about the assassins resumes, although this time, it's also mentioned that Zuko's still recovering, almost 20 chapters after he got hit with Azula's lightning. Zuko insists on putting off the speech and going for a walk, daring Katara to say that he's incapable of that. Katara tries to find an alternate approach, but gives up on using common sense on him, and decides to accompany him so that he stays out of trouble, albeit pleased that they have some time together.
Zuko and Katara sneak past Lenka, recalling that it's like old times. Zuko asks Katara whether she would like to see anywhere in particular, since she actually hasn't seen most of the capital. Katara appreciates the opportunity, since it's something like a date.
While there, they have a talk, and Katara asks about whether a third of the government is female. After Zuko thinks that Katara's asking about whether that third is actually cross-dressing, Katara clarifies that there are no women in charge of the Water Tribes, and comments that Zuko and Iroh don't consider the Fire Nation unusual. By contrast, Hakoda, in Katara's eyes, sees the Fire Nation as bad, while Katara seems more approving.
It's now Zuko's turn to ask about the Water Tribe, and he asks who's in charge of medicine, which is considered a woman's job in the Fire Nation. Katara says healing is a woman's responsibility, but they don't have any authority. The chief is the highest authority, along with his inner circle of fellow warriors and advisors, and the most authority women have is through appealing to his mother, but Gran-Gran usually defers to Hakoda, or Sokka, while Hakoda's away, which annoyed Katara. It's somewhat reminiscent about some ancient Chinese saying I recall about a woman submitting to her father, then her husband then her son.
Stopping in a park, Zuko asks Katara a question, but not the one she hoped he'd ask. He wants to know what her plans are with regards to going back to the South Pole. Katara wants to say no, but she knows that the war was the only thing keeping her apart from her father, and now, the war is over. Katara is forced to admit that she doesn't know what the future has in store for her, but points out that while Hakoda wants to go back with his kids, Sokka won't go back without Suki, and Suki won't go back if the Water Tribe doesn't respect women more. I have to wonder if Katara is, consciously or otherwise, indicating that she doesn't want to go back to the tribe without Zuko.
In any case, Katara's matters about some things have changed, and she no longer tolerates sexism, particularly when she has sensible things to say that the men ignore because she's a woman. In this regard, Katara's better off than Zuko, who tends to passively accept much of the ill treatment he gets, especially from his father.
Katara implies that things seem better in the Fire Nation, but Zuko notes that Ozai oppresses everyone, regardless of their gender, and the female ministers' suggestions were ignored because he's the boss.
Katara asks how things work in the Fire Nation, but also asks him to give it to her in a way that the turtle ducks would understand, for the sake of her attention span, since he gave three-hour explanations of things at the Western Air Temple. Of course, given the kind of fic is, we're likely in for another long expository conversation.
Zuko says that each region has a minister that advocates for their interests, and that it's a little more complex than that, but he doesn't want to bore her. Ozai had held a purge of all the ministers who disagreed with him, replacing them with incompetent sycophants, causing no shortage of problems. Zuko got rid of the cronies, but now has to deal with the holdovers from Azulon's reign, people who are nervous about what it means now that Zuko's enthroned. Zuko's not willing to disappear anyone, but the problem is convincing everyone else of that, just like how Zuko doesn't know whether the remaining ministers followed Ozai out of loyalty or fear.
Katara suggests that Zuko can just fire everyone he's not sure about, but Zuko says that if he did that, his government would be down to five people, Katara included. He also doesn't judge people for keeping their heads down, since he also stayed quiet in the war meeting in which they decided to incinerate the Earth Kingdom, although that did lead up to the vastly more bold decision to join the Avatar. Katara sees the distinction, but Zuko doesn't. Zuko then mentions that rather than rule through fear, he wants to work with people, and on th other side of the coin, he wants people who will be honest with him, so he can hear the "sensible things to say."
Sorry for the lack of updates lately. It's a bit harder to power though it when I'm at the beginning of a story that's almost as long as Not Stalking Zuko, and has longer chapters, than it is when I'm almost finished with Not Stalking Zuko. At this point I'm hoping to chip away at this bit by bit until it's done.
What I liked
- Interesting thoughts by Katara and Sokka about going home.
What I didn't like
- The author returning to the implications of sparing Ozai.
