(Also, I totes assumed Ozai died at the end of the series. But ... he didn't, did he? FAIL, SAMMY. This might neccessitate ... a REWATCH. With cothurnus, because we need a common fandom to fangirl about - aside from Death Note - and ATLA is totes awesomes.)
Okay, so, Ozai gets transported by the Fire Lord, alongside Azula, to a remote unpopulated Island somewhere in the Earth Kingdom as a high-security prison. (There's totally a scene before this where Zuko gets to humiliate Ozai with the ultimate I TOLD YOU SO.) There, Ozai essentially realises that he can no longer bend, his daughter is insane and volatile (but still has her powers! Totes unfair!~) and he's alllllllll alone. However, he still refuses to give up on his quest for world domination. In the rare times when he's let out of solitary to see Azula, he plays along with her insanity and convinces her that she is really the Fire Queen and he is her humble and most dedicated servant and, when they escape, she will rule the world with him at her side.
At least, I'm not sure where to go from there ... I haven't thought much about this fandom in a while! Tbh Ozai never really interested me as a character - he was too black and white stock cartoon villain for me.
Would Zuko throw Azula and Ozai in together? Also, I really want to see Zuko offering Ozai a job.
"So, I've been thinking. I think we could use your touch. I mean, the nation did run more smoothly when you were around, I'll give you that. All my advisers are saying this is crazy, but here's my offer, so help me, maybe? I was thinking we could make you a secretary or something, I mean, when's the last time a secretary ever did any harm? No, wait, that won't do - I don't suppose you've got the requisite diploma..."
"... so, in the end, I think we could reasonably make you a lavatory cleaner in the Palace", Zuko said and paused to think. "Of course, we'd have to shackle you to the wall."
also, I wish I would've learned how to animate, because I want to see A:TLA cast sing Call Me Maybe. I don't know why, I just do.
Oh, true. I was thinking that - no. Then again, it's entirely possible that they both be kept somewhere like that Eartbender prison, correct? The one with all the rocks?
And as for the job - oh, definitely. Even in a non-crack!fic sense, let's face it - none of the kids, even Zuko, has any idea about how to really run a country, particularly one as powerful and corrupt as the Fire Nation. I'd always had it as headcanon that Ozai had been grooming Azula to succeed him as his heir - particularly after Zuko's exile - and that Zuko had, as a consequence, never really been interested in learning about the art of government (I can totally see him as a scholarly/literary type ...). And although he has Iroh, Iroh was in Ba Sing Se after the death of Lu Ten, wasn't he? So, well isolated from the goings-on of Fire Nation politics. (I assume that even though he kept himself well informed of political goings-on, there's still going to be a huge difference between ruling as a Fire Nation prince in Ba Sing Se to in the actual Fire Nation.) And, again, Iroh wasn't Azulon's chosen successor, Ozai was. Sooooooo - Zuko might have to keep Ozai around, out of necessity, even though I can see him being too principled/stubborn/proud to actually do so. Ozai knows all the advisors, all the corruption, how to exact political promises and enforce his will ... because even though Zuko wants to rule fairly and wisely, that doesn't leave the fact that the Fire Nation is one in transition, and there are going to be a lot of pissed off people/nobles who got powerful under the Azulon/Ozai administrations who would not be very welcoming of Zuko.
I mean, think about it - the war went on for a hundred years, right? That's a hundred years of Fire Nation nobility growing powerful at the expense of everybody else. So I can actually see Ozai as being a very popular ruler, and Zuko - particularly after his exile and collaboration with the Avatar - as, well, not. So poor Zuzu is stuck between a rock and a hard place: the other nations would no doubt not trust the Fire Nation, and the Fire Nation itself probably doesn't trust him ... after all, I doubt your average peasant would want a ruler who wants to decentralise the state and make it less powerful for the sake of "elemental/international harmony" or what the fuck ever. And that could actually be a problem if he does have to keep Ozai around - what if Ozai becomes a focal point for disaffected Fire Nation ex-viziers/nobles who want to rebel or overthrow the new government? And how could Zuko imprison him in the palace if Ozai could escape or have help doing so?
In short, why are there no post-series fics about this???
Also, I don't know if I should watch Korra. I was quite excited for it - IT CONFIRMS ZUKO/MAI AS CANON, NYA NYA ZUTARA SHIPPERS - but I've heard Things about it that aren't necessarily Good Things that makes me a bit ... meh about the whole thing, I guess.
Also also, Call Me Maybe should CRASH AND BURN AND DIE A FIREY DEATH. (Haha, fiery, lol.) It's like ... the Twitard song. Idk, her actions just look as stalkerish and little-tween-girly as a Bella/Edward stan's, ykwim?
Still, I think Zuko would keep Azula as far from Ozai as possible. He knows how much of an abusive father Ozai was, after all.
Mai could reasonably be expected to know about Fire Nation politics, though (it's my headcanon that they divided up the duties: Zuko, as a shiny new leader, a reformed exiled prince and so forth, would act as an ambassador and a diplomat, leaning heavily on his reputation as a Gaang-member to get people to trust him, and be the public face of the new Fire Nation, while Mai would handle administrative duties, because that's what she would know about, being the daughter of a governor, and they split up the legislative duties which are also being handled by whatever council thing they had, and they'd probably start a court reform because Zuko would probably want the ruler to be affected by the law to prevent another Hundred Year War, and this reform stuck afterwards) Also, Iroh actually was Azulon's chosen - even after he lost his heir, Azulon still would've kept Iroh's position, and punished Ozai by ordering the death of Zuko, which on the other hand led to Ursa doing her murderin'. I assume they just faked the papers to show Ozai as being the leader, and the grief-stricken Iroh didn't just care enough to contest it.
But I agree, they'd need Ozai, because as shown in the series, there's like a billion secret institutions and locations in the Fire Nation, and only Ozai knows all of them. And only Ozai knows exactly how the Fire Nation is built - after all, it's a totalitarian state, I don't really see Ozai making the government transparent or releasing a state budget for the year (66% War (see: War: What Is It Good For? Absolutely Everything! a motion put forth the Royal Commission to Wage More War), 33% Bribes & Other Corruption (we will pay you not to check the numbers) 1% Ozai's Gold Baths (see: the Fire Lord's magnificent abs. They are honed to perfection by bathing in gold, every day.)
Zuko would probably go well with the average peasant - after all, he wants to reduce military spending (and thus taxes), stop conscription, and end the war. The workers would love him. I think he'd mostly have problems with the nobility, because some part of those taxes was ending up in their pockets, and now it's not. Also, the professional soldiers (but not the conscripts) would probably be dissatisfied with the end of the war - after all, they were respected and well-paid, and now they're facing possible unemployement and the loss of their high status and prestige. (I can see a lot of people from the lowest classes joining up because after all, a sergeant in the Army probably makes more in a year than a farmer in their entire life. And of course, everybody likes a soldier!)
I think the A:TLA comic thing kind of touches on this - it's got tension between the colonies and the mainland Fire Nation, at least, and Zuko does ask Ozai for advice at some point. (though that seemed like a fail!scene to me)
In any case, there's a second comic coming up. and... and... quote from tvtropes: "detailing Aang and Zuko's search for Zuko's Missing Mom while dealing with Azula being discharged from her insane asylum." I am excited. Do not fail me, creative team behind this comic.
Also also, Call Me Maybe should CRASH AND BURN AND DIE A FIREY DEATH. (Haha, fiery, lol.) It's like ... the Twitard song. Idk, her actions just look as stalkerish and little-tween-girly as a Bella/Edward stan's, ykwim?
Oh yeah, the video sucks. And I suppose the song sucks, too. But it's a catchy bubblegum pop song, and... I don't know, the Avatar cast should so dance to it. (or: Zuko likes the song, and listens to it in secret. Mai only listens to grunge and symphonic metal.)
Still, I think Zuko would keep Azula as far from Ozai as possible. He knows how much of an abusive father Ozai was, after all.
I doubt that would be the reason though, ykwim? I think we need to look at this in it's historical/cultural context: the Fire Nation is based on Imperical China, correct? So, Ozai is "IC" in the sense of the Emperor viewing his children more as pawns then human beings. Is he still cruel, sadistic, etc? Duh. But I think Zuko would be more worried that the two of them would conspire against him, than that Ozai might hurt his sister. I don't think Zuko actually loves Azula, or cares about her in a personal sense, especially following her betrayal of him.
And only Ozai knows exactly how the Fire Nation is built - after all, it's a totalitarian state, I don't really see Ozai making the government transparent or releasing a state budget for the year
And I can see there being massive debts, massive, because the whole war machine could only have been funded by a combination of state spending and literally bleeding the colonies dry. I doubt Ozai would have raised the taxes on the Fire Nation peasants, as that would have made both him and the war unpopular, and he needed to be popular in order to continue the war. And so, if Zuko has to raise taxes - and he can't tax the nobility, because he needs their approval more than ever - well, I can't see that ending well.
Mai could reasonably be expected to know about Fire Nation politics, though
Oh, definitely. But I wonder how much political power a woman, even the Empress, would have had?
Zuko, as a shiny new leader, a reformed exiled prince and so forth, would act as an ambassador and a diplomat, leaning heavily on his reputation as a Gaang-member to get people to trust him, and be the public face of the new Fire Nation
That might work outside the Fire Nation, but, again, would the Fire Nation really thank the Avatar? For making their state not the most powerful in the world?
and they'd probably start a court reform because Zuko would probably want the ruler to be affected by the law to prevent another Hundred Year War, and this reform stuck afterwards
That would come later, I think. In a time when he needs to cement his grasp of the throne, absolutism would be a massive help, surely?
Also, Iroh actually was Azulon's chosen - even after he lost his heir, Azulon still would've kept Iroh's position, and punished Ozai by ordering the death of Zuko, which on the other hand led to Ursa doing her murderin'. I assume they just faked the papers to show Ozai as being the leader, and the grief-stricken Iroh didn't just care enough to contest it.
Oh, gotcha. That makes sense. Though, if Azulon had really wanted to punish Ozai, he'd have ordered the death of Azula ;)
Zuko would probably go well with the average peasant - after all, he wants to reduce military spending (and thus taxes), stop conscription, and end the war. The workers would love him. I think he'd mostly have problems with the nobility, because some part of those taxes was ending up in their pockets, and now it's not. Also, the professional soldiers (but not the conscripts) would probably be dissatisfied with the end of the war - after all, they were respected and well-paid, and now they're facing possible unemployement and the loss of their high status and prestige. (I can see a lot of people from the lowest classes joining up because after all, a sergeant in the Army probably makes more in a year than a farmer in their entire life. And of course, everybody likes a soldier!)
YES, ALL THIS.
I think the A:TLA comic thing kind of touches on this - it's got tension between the colonies and the mainland Fire Nation, at least, and Zuko does ask Ozai for advice at some point. (though that seemed like a fail!scene to me)
In any case, there's a second comic coming up. and... and... quote from tvtropes: "detailing Aang and Zuko's search for Zuko's Missing Mom while dealing with Azula being discharged from her insane asylum." I am excited. Do not fail me, creative team behind this comic.
WHAT COMIC IS THIS I HAVE HEARD OF NO COMIC AND NOW I AM EXCITED AAAAH
But the entire point of Zuko's character arc is that he fails time and time again, and there's somebody to forgive and guide him. Zuko believes in second chances - one, they worked for him, and two, Iroh, his surrogate father, taught him to. He probably doesn't like Azula, and it's very possible that he doesn't love her, but if anything, he understands. I mean, he isn't dumb enough to think that the entire "there's two sides in you" only applies to him, and him alone - logically, Azula should have the same conflict.
I doubt Ozai would have raised the taxes on the Fire Nation peasants, as that would have made both him and the war unpopular, and he needed to be popular in order to continue the war.
Well, he really didn't. He only had to pay his elite guard well (after all, a single good firebender probably amounts for a company of untrained, ill-equipped revolters) and keep the people ignorant of what's going around them. Of course, massive propaganda campaigns were probably going on all the time, but Ozai really only had to keep the uprisings quiet and pay the soldiers and nobility well. Considering that the only thing in the world that posed a threat to them was a fully-realised Avatar, I don't think Ozai would've lacked the manpower to keep the pesky peasants in line.
Oh, definitely. But I wonder how much political power a woman, even the Empress, would have had?
The avatarverse doesn't really touch on the position of women enough to say anything significant, but I'll go out on a limb and say: the general populace probably wouldn't protest. After all, women are studying, working in the military, and being the greatest earthbenders in the world (and of course the most powerful being in the entire world reincarnates into a woman (I remember the creators stating that half the Avatars had been women and half men, but I might be wrong)) The nobility might protest, but on reasons of gender or the breaking of the Fire Lord's position, I know not.
Alternately, due to general opposition, Mai instead works behind the scenes, starting up an intelligence agency thing. Ninja! (it'd just be awesome if Mai was a ninja, that's all.)
That might work outside the Fire Nation, but, again, would the Fire Nation really thank the Avatar? For making their state not the most powerful in the world?
Maybe, if it means stopping the war. I mean, Fire Nation tactics seem pretty suicidal; after all, Zuko got fired (couldn't resist.) because he objected to sending a green unit into a situation where they'd get slaughtered.
That would come later, I think. In a time when he needs to cement his grasp of the throne, absolutism would be a massive help, surely?
Well, then again, it would be very in character for Zuko to go "THIS IS MORALLY CORRECT, SCREW EVERYTHING ELSE". Zuko is portrayed as pretty principled - pragmatism isn't exactly in his nature (of course, when compared to the rest of the Gaang...) Of course, Mai might convince him otherwise.
It's a trilogy! The first one is The Promise, where the Gaang tries to rebuild the world and there are tensions between Zuko and Aang, and the colonies and the mainland, and the rest of the world and the Fire Nation. It seems to be fairly popular, but still, it still seems to be kinda... mmh. I don't know; I haven't read it.
The second one is The Search, and I already told about that, and it's going to be released sometime in the near future, and the third will follow sometime - they tie the first series in to Korra.
I mean, he isn't dumb enough to think that the entire "there's two sides in you" only applies to him, and him alone - logically, Azula should have the same conflict.
I guess - but I suppose the whole point of the ending (to me at least) was that, unlike Mai, Zuko and Ty Lee - who leave her and see the error of their ways - she goes insane simply because there aren't two sides to her and she can't perceive any other way of being. But I suppose you're right - it would be poor form to write her off as just a mad, bad megalomaniac with no shades of grey to her character.
AND OMG NINJA!MAI IS OFFICIALLY CANON. I want a fic where ninja!Mai forms an elite organisation of dedicated female ninja warriors for the Fire Nation secret police, and Suki, with her experience of the Kyoshi warriors, helps her and they go be BFFs and save the world with their womanly skills :D :D
But Azula did kind of go through the same arc - think about it. Zuko - gets betrayed and branded a traitor by his family and his nation (several times, even) and only then skips over to the Gaang. Ty Lee and Mai both get screwed over - what with the yanking away from what you love and threats of murder and all that, and they turn to the Kyoshi warriors and Zuko (and thus the Gaang) respectively.
Azula gets betrayal by her brother, best (or, well, closest she has to) friends, and finally her Father (giving her the position of Fire Lord and then essentially making it meaningless with the entire PHOENIX KING!-deal), and by the time she snaps, there isn't really anybody to turn to, so, she just snaps.
Also, they totally have to go recruit an "I'M RETIRED!"-Ty Lee. GOLDEN TRIO.
I thought it was kinda clumsy, but thank you! And... yes. I mean, I flop between not-shipping Azula, and Azula/Ty Lee, because the former makes sense, and the latter makes the most sense out of the options. (but then again, if it existed during/before the series it was an abusive relationship, so I tend to prefer the post-series fics)
But it can be done well, it's just hard to do it well.
HEY GUESS WHAT I HAD AN AWESOME DAY.
So first we went to a chili festival thing and no, I didn't try any of the 10+++ grade chili, I did taste the 4-5 chili though and that was actually pretty hot, so I passed on the rest.
Anyways after that - ZOMBIE WALK. AWESOME. Seriously, it was BRILLIANT.
And there was a concert, too! Von Hertzen Brothers - for free, even. (Something like the Venetian Weeks or I dunno) - they were performing open-air on a roof and there was a light show and fireworks and 'twas awesome.
I'll make an auxiliary journal post that'll have to do till tomorrow, when I make a proper post.
Almost broke my ankle today. Walking with a limp and a brace, but otherwise okay ;D.
As for how - well, you might guess that I was being in places where I probably shouldn't have been. Crossed a bridge... from underneath it. At the end, I kinda had to jump down, and there were rocks, and just as I was about to lower myself I kinda lost my grip, landed wrong and ouch.
It's fine now, barely even hurts. It wasn't even really serious (okay, stairs were hell for a while, but otherwise) Anyways, I did get some awesome pics! (The bridge is located where the Tammperkoski rapids begin - and the Tammerkoski is the reason Tampere was built and the reason for the industrial past of Tampere)
Tomorrow we get to dress the little firsties up (my group's firsties get Batman-masks and trashbag capes - it's an improvement over my pink pajamas) and make them be silly!
Except the penis guy. He... okay, the guy himself wasn't creepy, but the costume, the costume definitely was (the ones whose idea it was caught some flak for it - as it turns out, giant penises don't make school-suitable, family-firendly costumes. who would've guessed?)
Thank you! I'm preparing a post about yesterday now (lol fail) but since I'm on the iPad and my pics are taken with my phone, I might just post and then edit the pics in later. OR should I leave off until I get home to my laptop and then just do one big info dump/pic spam? WHAT WOULD YOU DO???
And as for the prompt - oooooh, you're evil. HIS LIFE IS BASICALLY ONE BIG CULTURE SHOCK. I might be unpredictable, then, and say that for him, one of the biggest culture shocks is probably seeing how the Sith REALLY function during his early days as Vader. I mean, even though he's already pretty much Fallen by ROTS, I would argue that there's a massive ideological/practical/etc difference between a fallen Jedi and a full out Sith Lord. I don't know a lot about EU canon, but I assume that Palpatine would have given him some level of training in actually using the Dark Side, not to mention the suit and having to adjust to life without a body ... ooh, now I might want to fic this. I've never actually seen any early!Vader fic, and there arer so many possibilities - the setting up of the new government, he realisation that the Empire isn't this great ideological force he thought it would be, the Rebel Alliance, the potential for Force!philosophy ... aaas!
'Tis your call, but I think I'd go for the spam option. I'm preparing an OLYMPIAN PICDUMP from the women's pentathlon last Sunday, so we might even sync up. =p Either way, am looking forward to it!
HIS LIFE IS BASICALLY ONE BIG CULTURE SHOCK.
Ahaha, this is too true! I love that you went for the less obvious option - and you're right, there's a shocking dearth of early!Vader fic (esp. outside AU-land). Write iiiit! *enables* I think he'd still be clinging to some remnants of his old idealism at that point - a warped "unite the galaxy under one rule" version of idealism, yes, but it'd be there - so it'd be interesting to see his reaction to Imperial ideologies put into practice. Aah, I need all these stories in my life now.
I am okay-ish! Very very busy, but that should all be over and done with by Wednesday (provided I can sort work out and clear the flat in preparation for moving by then, argh). Anxiety!brain is a bit stressed out over upcoming medical tests, but it should all be routine stuff. After that, OFFICIAL SUMMER FREEDOM AND WRITINGS/ARTS TIME! *dances* I'm glad your own holiday is going so well - it all sounds spectacular. :-D
I think he'd still be clinging to some remnants of his old idealism at that point - a warped "unite the galaxy under one rule" version of idealism, yes, but it'd be there - so it'd be interesting to see his reaction to Imperial ideologies put into practice. Aah, I need all these stories in my life now.
Oh, definitely. And not to mention, well, Padmé died. And he knows that Obi-Wan and Yoda are still alive.
I feel a bit fail for not asking sooner, but how is China treating you? As for memes, that might be difficult, given my current Bleach-session (one fandom we don't share) and my memory being like a seive when it comes to the other anime/shows I've been into in the past.
China is amazingggggggg :D :D No, seriously. I love the vibe of Shanghai - I did the last time I was here, too - and this trip is making me really really fucking determined to land that interview and get that fucking job teaching English, right? So: a goal! Something to work for! At last! I've picked you up a couple of postcards from the two temples I've seen so far, and of course I've been sticking all my tickets/metro cards/reciepts/etc. in my diary, so I can show you those two, alongside all the pictures I've dutifully been taking ... what a pity, I might have to flee like the wind to exotic Doncaster to show you my loot! ;)
Hey, what about Death Note? Vous etes a Death Note fan like moi, n'est-ce-pas?
And how is life treating you, ma cherie? (Oui, je has come all over totes francais ...)
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Date: 2012-08-16 09:08 am (UTC)I have no idea whether any of this is canon or not since I didn't watch <i>Korra</i>, but here we go
Date: 2012-08-17 12:43 am (UTC)Okay, so, Ozai gets transported by the Fire Lord, alongside Azula, to a remote unpopulated Island somewhere in the Earth Kingdom as a high-security prison. (There's totally a scene before this where Zuko gets to humiliate Ozai with the ultimate I TOLD YOU SO.) There, Ozai essentially realises that he can no longer bend, his daughter is insane and volatile (but still has her powers! Totes unfair!~) and he's alllllllll alone. However, he still refuses to give up on his quest for world domination. In the rare times when he's let out of solitary to see Azula, he plays along with her insanity and convinces her that she is really the Fire Queen and he is her humble and most dedicated servant and, when they escape, she will rule the world with him at her side.
At least, I'm not sure where to go from there ... I haven't thought much about this fandom in a while! Tbh Ozai never really interested me as a character - he was too black and white stock cartoon villain for me.
haven't watched any Korra, either :|
Date: 2012-08-18 06:02 pm (UTC)"So, I've been thinking. I think we could use your touch. I mean, the nation did run more smoothly when you were around, I'll give you that. All my advisers are saying this is crazy, but here's my offer, so help me, maybe? I was thinking we could make you a secretary or something, I mean, when's the last time a secretary ever did any harm? No, wait, that won't do - I don't suppose you've got the requisite diploma..."
"... so, in the end, I think we could reasonably make you a lavatory cleaner in the Palace", Zuko said and paused to think. "Of course, we'd have to shackle you to the wall."
also, I wish I would've learned how to animate, because I want to see A:TLA cast sing Call Me Maybe. I don't know why, I just do.
YOU GOT ME OUT ON A WHOLE PLOTBUNNY/META KICK HOW DAR U
Date: 2012-08-19 03:29 am (UTC)Oh, true. I was thinking that - no. Then again, it's entirely possible that they both be kept somewhere like that Eartbender prison, correct? The one with all the rocks?
And as for the job - oh, definitely. Even in a non-crack!fic sense, let's face it - none of the kids, even Zuko, has any idea about how to really run a country, particularly one as powerful and corrupt as the Fire Nation. I'd always had it as headcanon that Ozai had been grooming Azula to succeed him as his heir - particularly after Zuko's exile - and that Zuko had, as a consequence, never really been interested in learning about the art of government (I can totally see him as a scholarly/literary type ...). And although he has Iroh, Iroh was in Ba Sing Se after the death of Lu Ten, wasn't he? So, well isolated from the goings-on of Fire Nation politics. (I assume that even though he kept himself well informed of political goings-on, there's still going to be a huge difference between ruling as a Fire Nation prince in Ba Sing Se to in the actual Fire Nation.) And, again, Iroh wasn't Azulon's chosen successor, Ozai was. Sooooooo - Zuko might have to keep Ozai around, out of necessity, even though I can see him being too principled/stubborn/proud to actually do so. Ozai knows all the advisors, all the corruption, how to exact political promises and enforce his will ... because even though Zuko wants to rule fairly and wisely, that doesn't leave the fact that the Fire Nation is one in transition, and there are going to be a lot of pissed off people/nobles who got powerful under the Azulon/Ozai administrations who would not be very welcoming of Zuko.
I mean, think about it - the war went on for a hundred years, right? That's a hundred years of Fire Nation nobility growing powerful at the expense of everybody else. So I can actually see Ozai as being a very popular ruler, and Zuko - particularly after his exile and collaboration with the Avatar - as, well, not. So poor Zuzu is stuck between a rock and a hard place: the other nations would no doubt not trust the Fire Nation, and the Fire Nation itself probably doesn't trust him ... after all, I doubt your average peasant would want a ruler who wants to decentralise the state and make it less powerful for the sake of "elemental/international harmony" or what the fuck ever. And that could actually be a problem if he does have to keep Ozai around - what if Ozai becomes a focal point for disaffected Fire Nation ex-viziers/nobles who want to rebel or overthrow the new government? And how could Zuko imprison him in the palace if Ozai could escape or have help doing so?
In short, why are there no post-series fics about this???
Also, I don't know if I should watch Korra. I was quite excited for it - IT CONFIRMS ZUKO/MAI AS CANON, NYA NYA ZUTARA SHIPPERS - but I've heard Things about it that aren't necessarily Good Things that makes me a bit ... meh about the whole thing, I guess.
Also also, Call Me Maybe should CRASH AND BURN AND DIE A FIREY DEATH. (Haha, fiery, lol.) It's like ... the Twitard song. Idk, her actions just look as stalkerish and little-tween-girly as a Bella/Edward stan's, ykwim?
MWAHAHAHAHA
Date: 2012-08-19 07:15 am (UTC)Mai could reasonably be expected to know about Fire Nation politics, though (it's my headcanon that they divided up the duties: Zuko, as a shiny new leader, a reformed exiled prince and so forth, would act as an ambassador and a diplomat, leaning heavily on his reputation as a Gaang-member to get people to trust him, and be the public face of the new Fire Nation, while Mai would handle administrative duties, because that's what she would know about, being the daughter of a governor, and they split up the legislative duties which are also being handled by whatever council thing they had, and they'd probably start a court reform because Zuko would probably want the ruler to be affected by the law to prevent another Hundred Year War, and this reform stuck afterwards) Also, Iroh actually was Azulon's chosen - even after he lost his heir, Azulon still would've kept Iroh's position, and punished Ozai by ordering the death of Zuko, which on the other hand led to Ursa doing her murderin'. I assume they just faked the papers to show Ozai as being the leader, and the grief-stricken Iroh didn't just care enough to contest it.
But I agree, they'd need Ozai, because as shown in the series, there's like a billion secret institutions and locations in the Fire Nation, and only Ozai knows all of them. And only Ozai knows exactly how the Fire Nation is built - after all, it's a totalitarian state, I don't really see Ozai making the government transparent or releasing a state budget for the year (66% War (see: War: What Is It Good For? Absolutely Everything! a motion put forth the Royal Commission to Wage More War), 33% Bribes & Other Corruption (we will pay you not to check the numbers) 1% Ozai's Gold Baths (see: the Fire Lord's magnificent abs. They are honed to perfection by bathing in gold, every day.)
Zuko would probably go well with the average peasant - after all, he wants to reduce military spending (and thus taxes), stop conscription, and end the war. The workers would love him. I think he'd mostly have problems with the nobility, because some part of those taxes was ending up in their pockets, and now it's not. Also, the professional soldiers (but not the conscripts) would probably be dissatisfied with the end of the war - after all, they were respected and well-paid, and now they're facing possible unemployement and the loss of their high status and prestige. (I can see a lot of people from the lowest classes joining up because after all, a sergeant in the Army probably makes more in a year than a farmer in their entire life. And of course, everybody likes a soldier!)
I think the A:TLA comic thing kind of touches on this - it's got tension between the colonies and the mainland Fire Nation, at least, and Zuko does ask Ozai for advice at some point. (though that seemed like a fail!scene to me)
In any case, there's a second comic coming up. and... and... quote from tvtropes: "detailing Aang and Zuko's search for Zuko's Missing Mom while dealing with Azula being discharged from her insane asylum." I am excited. Do not fail me, creative team behind this comic.
Also also, Call Me Maybe should CRASH AND BURN AND DIE A FIREY DEATH. (Haha, fiery, lol.) It's like ... the Twitard song. Idk, her actions just look as stalkerish and little-tween-girly as a Bella/Edward stan's, ykwim?
Oh yeah, the video sucks. And I suppose the song sucks, too. But it's a catchy bubblegum pop song, and... I don't know, the Avatar cast should so dance to it. (or: Zuko likes the song, and listens to it in secret. Mai only listens to grunge and symphonic metal.)
Re: MWAHAHAHAHA
Date: 2012-08-20 02:27 am (UTC)I doubt that would be the reason though, ykwim? I think we need to look at this in it's historical/cultural context: the Fire Nation is based on Imperical China, correct? So, Ozai is "IC" in the sense of the Emperor viewing his children more as pawns then human beings. Is he still cruel, sadistic, etc? Duh. But I think Zuko would be more worried that the two of them would conspire against him, than that Ozai might hurt his sister. I don't think Zuko actually loves Azula, or cares about her in a personal sense, especially following her betrayal of him.
And only Ozai knows exactly how the Fire Nation is built - after all, it's a totalitarian state, I don't really see Ozai making the government transparent or releasing a state budget for the year
And I can see there being massive debts, massive, because the whole war machine could only have been funded by a combination of state spending and literally bleeding the colonies dry. I doubt Ozai would have raised the taxes on the Fire Nation peasants, as that would have made both him and the war unpopular, and he needed to be popular in order to continue the war. And so, if Zuko has to raise taxes - and he can't tax the nobility, because he needs their approval more than ever - well, I can't see that ending well.
Mai could reasonably be expected to know about Fire Nation politics, though
Oh, definitely. But I wonder how much political power a woman, even the Empress, would have had?
Zuko, as a shiny new leader, a reformed exiled prince and so forth, would act as an ambassador and a diplomat, leaning heavily on his reputation as a Gaang-member to get people to trust him, and be the public face of the new Fire Nation
That might work outside the Fire Nation, but, again, would the Fire Nation really thank the Avatar? For making their state not the most powerful in the world?
and they'd probably start a court reform because Zuko would probably want the ruler to be affected by the law to prevent another Hundred Year War, and this reform stuck afterwards
That would come later, I think. In a time when he needs to cement his grasp of the throne, absolutism would be a massive help, surely?
Also, Iroh actually was Azulon's chosen - even after he lost his heir, Azulon still would've kept Iroh's position, and punished Ozai by ordering the death of Zuko, which on the other hand led to Ursa doing her murderin'. I assume they just faked the papers to show Ozai as being the leader, and the grief-stricken Iroh didn't just care enough to contest it.
Oh, gotcha. That makes sense. Though, if Azulon had really wanted to punish Ozai, he'd have ordered the death of Azula ;)
Zuko would probably go well with the average peasant - after all, he wants to reduce military spending (and thus taxes), stop conscription, and end the war. The workers would love him. I think he'd mostly have problems with the nobility, because some part of those taxes was ending up in their pockets, and now it's not. Also, the professional soldiers (but not the conscripts) would probably be dissatisfied with the end of the war - after all, they were respected and well-paid, and now they're facing possible unemployement and the loss of their high status and prestige. (I can see a lot of people from the lowest classes joining up because after all, a sergeant in the Army probably makes more in a year than a farmer in their entire life. And of course, everybody likes a soldier!)
YES, ALL THIS.
I think the A:TLA comic thing kind of touches on this - it's got tension between the colonies and the mainland Fire Nation, at least, and Zuko does ask Ozai for advice at some point. (though that seemed like a fail!scene to me)
In any case, there's a second comic coming up. and... and... quote from tvtropes: "detailing Aang and Zuko's search for Zuko's Missing Mom while dealing with Azula being discharged from her insane asylum." I am excited. Do not fail me, creative team behind this comic.
WHAT COMIC IS THIS I HAVE HEARD OF NO COMIC AND NOW I AM EXCITED AAAAH
no subject
Date: 2012-08-20 05:59 pm (UTC)I doubt Ozai would have raised the taxes on the Fire Nation peasants, as that would have made both him and the war unpopular, and he needed to be popular in order to continue the war.
Well, he really didn't. He only had to pay his elite guard well (after all, a single good firebender probably amounts for a company of untrained, ill-equipped revolters) and keep the people ignorant of what's going around them. Of course, massive propaganda campaigns were probably going on all the time, but Ozai really only had to keep the uprisings quiet and pay the soldiers and nobility well. Considering that the only thing in the world that posed a threat to them was a fully-realised Avatar, I don't think Ozai would've lacked the manpower to keep the pesky peasants in line.
Oh, definitely. But I wonder how much political power a woman, even the Empress, would have had?
The avatarverse doesn't really touch on the position of women enough to say anything significant, but I'll go out on a limb and say: the general populace probably wouldn't protest. After all, women are studying, working in the military, and being the greatest earthbenders in the world (and of course the most powerful being in the entire world reincarnates into a woman (I remember the creators stating that half the Avatars had been women and half men, but I might be wrong)) The nobility might protest, but on reasons of gender or the breaking of the Fire Lord's position, I know not.
Alternately, due to general opposition, Mai instead works behind the scenes, starting up an intelligence agency thing. Ninja! (it'd just be awesome if Mai was a ninja, that's all.)
That might work outside the Fire Nation, but, again, would the Fire Nation really thank the Avatar? For making their state not the most powerful in the world?
Maybe, if it means stopping the war. I mean, Fire Nation tactics seem pretty suicidal; after all, Zuko got fired (couldn't resist.) because he objected to sending a green unit into a situation where they'd get slaughtered.
That would come later, I think. In a time when he needs to cement his grasp of the throne, absolutism would be a massive help, surely?
Well, then again, it would be very in character for Zuko to go "THIS IS MORALLY CORRECT, SCREW EVERYTHING ELSE". Zuko is portrayed as pretty principled - pragmatism isn't exactly in his nature (of course, when compared to the rest of the Gaang...) Of course, Mai might convince him otherwise.
It's a trilogy! The first one is The Promise, where the Gaang tries to rebuild the world and there are tensions between Zuko and Aang, and the colonies and the mainland, and the rest of the world and the Fire Nation. It seems to be fairly popular, but still, it still seems to be kinda... mmh. I don't know; I haven't read it.
The second one is The Search, and I already told about that, and it's going to be released sometime in the near future, and the third will follow sometime - they tie the first series in to Korra.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-21 04:01 am (UTC)I guess - but I suppose the whole point of the ending (to me at least) was that, unlike Mai, Zuko and Ty Lee - who leave her and see the error of their ways - she goes insane simply because there aren't two sides to her and she can't perceive any other way of being. But I suppose you're right - it would be poor form to write her off as just a mad, bad megalomaniac with no shades of grey to her character.
AND OMG NINJA!MAI IS OFFICIALLY CANON. I want a fic where ninja!Mai forms an elite organisation of dedicated female ninja warriors for the Fire Nation secret police, and Suki, with her experience of the Kyoshi warriors, helps her and they go be BFFs and save the world with their womanly skills :D :D
no subject
Date: 2012-08-21 09:07 am (UTC)Azula gets betrayal by her brother, best (or, well, closest she has to) friends, and finally her Father (giving her the position of Fire Lord and then essentially making it meaningless with the entire PHOENIX KING!-deal), and by the time she snaps, there isn't really anybody to turn to, so, she just snaps.
Also, they totally have to go recruit an "I'M RETIRED!"-Ty Lee. GOLDEN TRIO.
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Date: 2012-08-22 01:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-22 03:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-23 12:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-23 02:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-24 02:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-25 08:14 pm (UTC)HEY GUESS WHAT I HAD AN AWESOME DAY.
So first we went to a chili festival thing and no, I didn't try any of the 10+++ grade chili, I did taste the 4-5 chili though and that was actually pretty hot, so I passed on the rest.
Anyways after that - ZOMBIE WALK. AWESOME. Seriously, it was BRILLIANT.
And there was a concert, too! Von Hertzen Brothers - for free, even. (Something like the Venetian Weeks or I dunno) - they were performing open-air on a roof and there was a light show and fireworks and 'twas awesome.
I'll make an auxiliary journal post that'll have to do till tomorrow, when I make a proper post.
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Date: 2012-08-26 05:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-26 05:22 pm (UTC)Almost broke my ankle today. Walking with a limp and a brace, but otherwise okay ;D.
As for how - well, you might guess that I was being in places where I probably shouldn't have been. Crossed a bridge... from underneath it. At the end, I kinda had to jump down, and there were rocks, and just as I was about to lower myself I kinda lost my grip, landed wrong and ouch.
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Date: 2012-08-28 12:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-29 08:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-29 03:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-29 04:21 pm (UTC)Tomorrow we get to dress the little firsties up (my group's firsties get Batman-masks and trashbag capes - it's an improvement over my pink pajamas) and make them be silly!
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Date: 2012-08-29 04:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-30 03:51 pm (UTC)But eh, the point of the entire day is kinda lost when we can't take them out to the city :|
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Date: 2012-08-31 09:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-07 10:09 pm (UTC)Except the penis guy. He... okay, the guy himself wasn't creepy, but the costume, the costume definitely was (the ones whose idea it was caught some flak for it - as it turns out, giant penises don't make school-suitable, family-firendly costumes. who would've guessed?)
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Date: 2012-09-08 08:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-09 03:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-09-10 03:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-16 01:03 pm (UTC)As for the meme, I'm going to be predictable and offer you: Anakin Skywalker, culture shock.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-17 11:37 pm (UTC)And as for the prompt - oooooh, you're evil. HIS LIFE IS BASICALLY ONE BIG CULTURE SHOCK. I might be unpredictable, then, and say that for him, one of the biggest culture shocks is probably seeing how the Sith REALLY function during his early days as Vader. I mean, even though he's already pretty much Fallen by ROTS, I would argue that there's a massive ideological/practical/etc difference between a fallen Jedi and a full out Sith Lord. I don't know a lot about EU canon, but I assume that Palpatine would have given him some level of training in actually using the Dark Side, not to mention the suit and having to adjust to life without a body ... ooh, now I might want to fic this. I've never actually seen any early!Vader fic, and there arer so many possibilities - the setting up of the new government, he realisation that the Empire isn't this great ideological force he thought it would be, the Rebel Alliance, the potential for Force!philosophy ... aaas!
How are you? PLOT BUNNY WITH ME, MY SWEET ONE.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-19 03:34 pm (UTC)HIS LIFE IS BASICALLY ONE BIG CULTURE SHOCK.
Ahaha, this is too true! I love that you went for the less obvious option - and you're right, there's a shocking dearth of early!Vader fic (esp. outside AU-land). Write iiiit! *enables* I think he'd still be clinging to some remnants of his old idealism at that point - a warped "unite the galaxy under one rule" version of idealism, yes, but it'd be there - so it'd be interesting to see his reaction to Imperial ideologies put into practice. Aah, I need all these stories in my life now.
I am okay-ish! Very very busy, but that should all be over and done with by Wednesday (provided I can sort work out and clear the flat in preparation for moving by then, argh). Anxiety!brain is a bit stressed out over upcoming medical tests, but it should all be routine stuff. After that, OFFICIAL SUMMER FREEDOM AND WRITINGS/ARTS TIME! *dances* I'm glad your own holiday is going so well - it all sounds spectacular. :-D
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Date: 2012-08-20 02:30 am (UTC)I'm not writing fic - I can't, sadly.
I think he'd still be clinging to some remnants of his old idealism at that point - a warped "unite the galaxy under one rule" version of idealism, yes, but it'd be there - so it'd be interesting to see his reaction to Imperial ideologies put into practice. Aah, I need all these stories in my life now.
Oh, definitely. And not to mention, well, Padmé died. And he knows that Obi-Wan and Yoda are still alive.
How is uni treating you?
no subject
Date: 2012-08-18 02:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-19 03:34 am (UTC)Hey, what about Death Note? Vous etes a Death Note fan like moi, n'est-ce-pas?
And how is life treating you, ma cherie? (Oui, je has come all over totes francais ...)