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Diplomatic immaturity.
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This morning I was planning on having a bit of a lie-in. Everyone was. Much partaking of firewhiskey by delegates at the party last night was an occurrence that had been forseen by our Earth Kingdom hosts. All the meetings weren't scheduled til after lunch today.
Even Yugoda had gotten amongst it last night. She had made the poor life choice of doing the limbo whilst inebriated, bless her cotton socks, and now felt very sorry for herself indeed. Yugoda had proclaimed that we would take a day off from Joo Dee healing – this is ostensibly to give them time to recuperate.
I had an unexpected free day – these never happen for me. I knew just what to do with it. I returned to bed and tried to go back to blessed sleep. This attempt at recapturing sleep failed because I was woken by Zuko.
He was way too cheerful for this hour in the morning. But then again, he had been up for hours, because of that whole rising with the sun thing.
He'd taken advantage of everyone's hangover and had snuck in through the gardens and climbed in my window. He'd bought me a bunch of flowers and had wanted to give them to me before they went all droopy. They were daisies. He'd obviously just pulled them from the gardens because they had clumps of dirt still on them. He held them out to me hopefully.
I had a groggy moment of confusion because I have never previously been awoken by a bunch of flowers in my face and I couldn't help but think why?
Then Zuko had a moment of anxiety and was all oh no, you hate them- don't you. I reassured him that I didn't hate them as I got up to fuss about finding a vase for them. I told him that I was just super surprised because I had never been given flowers at this time in the morning before and I was a bit confused as to why he'd given them to me.
Zuko looked a little embarrassed and shrugged and said that he thought this was what boyfriends were meant to do. Give flowers and shit. His Uncle as always banging on about how he should have gotten Jin flowers when they were going out - but now we were going out. Even if it was a secret relationship he wanted to be a good secret boyfriend. He'd been awake and in the gardens and then he'd seen the flowers and he thought they were pretty and then he'd thought of me and...
At that point, I kind of threw myself at him like a floozy and cut him off with a kiss.
He was just being so sweet and dorky and romantic that it brought out my inner floozy.
We ended up making out on the bed for ages. It was great actually, kissing in the daylight. We don't get to do this as often as I would like. We didn't get many chances to make out when everyone else was ridiculously hungover – so I abandoned my sleep-in plans and adopted taking Zuko's shirt off plans instead.
Mmmmmmm.
Zuko choose this morning to get a little curious about my insistent shirt-removal. He noted that now that we are doing this – I normally try and take his shirt off first thing when we are alone , and back on Ember Island I would demand that he take his shirt off every chance I got. I'll have you know I had a legitimate medical reason for every time I requested shirt removal on Ember Island - I replied primly. Zuko got the cheekiest look on his face and asked Even when I was injured on my hand? Then he chortled to himself.
He thought he was so sly.
I got a bit embarrassed and hid under the blanket and said something along the lines of okay you got me – I am a pervy pervert who liked having a look-see. Zuko joined me in my hiding place and confessed that he also liked having a look-see at me, so I wouldn't feel embarrassed.
Under the blanket there was some more kissing. Also some secret divulging about our collective perving. I confessed my weird fascination with the prison outfit (it really does wonders for his tight behind...and well... the rest of him, obviously). Zuko told me that he thought I looked especially fetching in ninja gear.
Ninja gear, eh?
Something to think on.
Anyway, it was truly lovely start to the morning, what with flowers and kisses and a cheeky secret. And I don't know...there was just something about hiding under the covers together that made it feel more special. Like we could exist in this little blanket bubble and blot out the rest of the world for a few moments.
Well it was probably longer than a few months.
We totally lost track of time.
We were hiding together in the blanket bubble long enough for Sokka and Dad to wake up, so it must have been a fair old while.
They nearly interrupted us and Zuko had to hide for real.
I could hear Dad coming – he was talking loudly and excitedly to Sokka about how he couldn't wait to tell me something. I am thankful he did so, as this gave us a few moments of warning. We both leapt up, a bit startled. I think I practically shoved Zuko into the cupboard, just at the same moment that my dad opened my door.
He didn't knock or wait for me to say come in or anything – but just barged in. Yes, he and Sokka normally do this. It's how they roll. This is perhaps something I should address with them. Maybe I'll mention lady bits and moon-blood as reasons why they don't want to barge in on me. I normally get my own way when I start talking about that.
Anyway my Dad was all excited to tell me that I could officially come to the water-tribe meetings. He knew how much I had been miffed about being excluded and was quite excited for me. He'd been talking to Chief Arnook, who was in a much more reasonable mood this morning. Some of the side effects of this reasonable mood are:
Genuine overtures of friendship towards my Dad.
An admission of being "too harsh earlier".
A request that they start over and try to work more harmoniously together.
I am allowed to attend the meetings.
Dad was not sure what had prompted this change of heart from Arnook – but he was heartily glad of it.
As Dad was explaining all this – I couldn't help but be distracted by the sight of Zuko trying to sneak out the window behind Dad and Sokka.
It was a tricky moment because Dad and Sokka were watching intently for my reaction to their news – but Zuko was still shirtless, and so that was very distracting. His shirt had been lost in the melee of our making out. I had Buckley's idea where it had got to. Neither did Zuko, from the look on his face as he made a quick worried glance around the room.
Anyway I was so distracted by Zuko and the lost shirt that I missed the point where I was meant to react to Dad's news with effusive joy. When I realised this I did an 'over-reaction' in an attempt at making it better. And then I made up some lame lie about how I had only just gotten up and was still feeling a bit sleepy and I had the weirdest dream – that was why I hadn't been originally concentrating on what Dad had said.
Both Dad and Sokka are very into weird dreams – so this was a blatant ploy for their undivided attention. They both fell for it and asked me what my dream was about. I told them it was the 'food eats people dream". Sokka reacted with some alarm, because he hates that dream. It makes him mistrust his breakfast the next day.
I elaborated on my dream and said that the worst thing was – in my dream I knew that food ate people and I knew that I should get out of the market as quickly as possible, because if "the food" found me "in the market" I would definitely get eaten, but instead of making a run for it, I just hung around like an idiot.
Zuko took the hint contained in my made-up dream and beat a hasty retreat. Neither Dad nor Sokka noticed – because my secret boyfriend is such a ninja...and Sokka was too busy blathering about how dreams on Halloween are apparently meant to mean something more than dreams at any other part of the year.
He is worried that my dream is a premonition of how I will persist in a dodgy situation despite knowing the dangers. He is apparently going to consult his copy of Dr Wang's anthology of dreaming meanings and get back to me.
There was more talk about how great it was that I could go to the tribal meetings – which were meant to start really soon. I pleaded that I needed to get ready – as I was still in my pyjamas and this is not appropriate meeting attire. They left. I hastily got dressed and then tried to find Zuko's shirt. I didn't want to leave it for the cleaners to find. That would lead to questions.
I found it rumpled in the bedclothes and then I stuffed it in my medical bag – so I could sneakily return it to Zuko at a convenient moment. I gave myself a final check over in the mirror. I looked quite presentable. Then I went and joined Dad and Sokka for breakfast.
-0-
Everything actually went really well at the start of the meeting. Well there was a sad moment, but everyone got along – which was a monumental achievement for our tribes.
Arnook told us that he had apparently been visited by Yue last night. Arnook's voice normally shakes whenever he mentions his daughter and you can just tell that there is an ocean of grief just lapping below the surface. Arnook requested that we all hold a minute's silence in remembrance of Yue and all the others who had been lost over the years. Dad readily agreed. This was the first harmonious agreement between them in a very long time.
There was a sombre minute, during which I couldn't help but think about my mother.
After the minute had elapsed, Arnook said that our losses and shared grief bind us together as much as much as our affinity for water and our shared culture. We were the people of water. In the eyes of the spirits, we were one people. We were all beloved to the ocean...and the moon spirit. We were ruled by one element. We were ruled by the element of change and adaptation. The element of ingenuity and healing. The element of compassion and community.
Arnook wished to embrace the ethos that made our tribes great and extend his hand to us southerners in brotherhood. His grief had made him act unwisely towards my father – his fellow chief and equal. His visitation from Yue had made him see the error of his ways. He wished to apologise for his earlier behaviour and enter a period of harmonious relationships between our tribes. My father instantly agreed that this was the best course of action for our two tribes. Then he and Arnook bowed to each other with much ceremony.
There was a great deal of applause and much talk about how we were entering a new era, burying the hatchet etc. We are much stronger united than we are divided. We Water Tribes are a little nation compared to the Earth Kingdom and the Firenation – but that does not make us any less great. Go watertribes etc.
There was talk about how the North could better share its resources, knowledge and bending expertise with us Southerners. We were given a status update on how the rebuilding of the Southerner Water Tribe was going under the hands of the northern benders.
It is apparently going well and a series of walls is currently being constructed. Dad expressed gratitude for this – as that was the fitting and polite thing to do, but then expressed that he felt that extensive walls would be unnecessary as the South is fixed to become a much more active trading port and the walls would be a deterrent to commerce.
There was a slight awkward moment.
Arnook relented. He said that he had meant no offence, but he thought that we might prefer walled
defences, given the proven effectiveness of the walls and our previous history of firenation raids. He would instruct the benders in the South to finish the Fourth Great Wall and then leave it at that.
Four huge ice walls – just how big is the Southern Water Tribe now? For a moment I was a bit gobsmacked. I felt I should hardly recognise my own village were I to go back there now. Would it look like a southern version of the Northern Water Tribe? Or an icy version of Ba Sing Se?
Dad and Bato exchanged a look. They had not been consulted on the matter of walls and I could tell that they both disliked our defences being decided by someone else without them having input. But then again, we all knew the stories.
During the Chin Wars, when the North had adopted an isolationist stance on the rest of the world and walled up the city, the South had remained an open and welcoming port. We'd flourished as a port and traded extensively with the southern Firenation Islands and the islands off the Earth Kingdom and the Southern Air Temple. We'd been completely untouched by the Chin Wars. We had lived in peace and prosperity for many moons. The North felt we were indolent to be so ill-prepared. But we had felt, back then, that our good relationships with our neighbours would protect us. Of course, everything changed when the firenation attacked.
I saw Bato and Dad nod at each other in silent communication. They would let the subject of walls drop. It looked like Dad said perhaps, at the end of the day, more walls wasn't a bad thing.
There was talk about how both our nations could contribute to the fledging War Crimes trials to ensure that justice was done. This was followed by discussion about how preposterous the Firelord's idea that all the nations look at pursuing similar action for their own war criminals (such as properly punishing General Fong from the Earth Kingdom). Arnook found this idea rather laughable – because everybody knew that the only war criminals were from the firenation. Sokka voiced some opposition to this stance here.
He's become a more confident speaker actually, because he spoke very eloquently about how he also felt that General Fong needed some punishment. He told the gather tribes about how Fong had drowned me in Earth, just to send Aang into the Avatar state – thus endangering my life and the lives of all his men. In Sokka's mind, Fong deserved some punishment.
Goodness, I have been trying not to remember that for so long that it really affected me to hear Sokka talk about it so plainly. That actually happened to me. Nearly drowning in dirt.
Fong's actions still plainly bothered Sokka on a deep level. I remembered how fussy he'd been over me for a few days afterwards. It hadn't been long after we'd lost Yue and he'd been in this weird, ridiculously protective mood.
Arnook hadn't actually known about this. He had sent us to Fong under the explicit instructions that we be well treated. He was a bit horrified at the revelation that his orders had been completely flouted. Arnook changed his tune quickly and said that if a watertribe person had been unnecessarily harmed by Fong – then it made the situation totally different.
Arnook excused himself by saying that Firelord Zuko had used the fact that Fong was known to torture the few firebending soldiers he had captured during his campaigns as the justification for why he was deserving of war crimes charges. That was the only reason why he had been unsympathetic to the suggestion...because you could hardly blame Fong for that. You wouldn't know a firebender had human blood in their veins unless you tortured it out of them, after all.
It was at this point that I started frowning dramatically. I pursed my lips together and clench my hands into little fists and fought my ingrained urge to stand up and have a rant.
I knew what a big deal being included here today was. I was the girl they made an exception for. I had to conduct myself in a certain manner if they were to consider letting women attend these meetings on a more permanent basis. If I made a spectacle of myself now – not only would everything I said be dismissed, but they would probably decide that they had been right all along about including women. Yes - women really are too emotional to handle politics.
Also, I would never be allowed back into a meeting.
I didn't want to be excluded again. I wanted to know what was going on. I wanted to be involved. I hated being excluded. I have missed out on so much. Almost everything at this meeting was a revelation to me. The others had tried to keep me abreast of the situation, but nothing is quite as informative as being here.
So, to my shame, I stayed silent.
-o-
Discussion moved on to the fact that as a united entity, we could garner a better deal from these peace negotiations. The issue of a disparity between the reparations the Firenation has offered out two tribes was raised. We southerners are apparently getting a great deal more and this is regarded as somewhat inequitable by the North. My Dad explained that this was not his call to make, but offered to have a word to the Firelord and General Iroh. It was a bit jarring for me to hear him talk about Zuko and Iroh so formally. He normally just calls them by their names and not their titles.
Then there was talk about the variations in the trade deals that our tribe had adopted with variations nations and how we could "align our interests." The North noted that we had recently entered into very favourable agreements with both Kyoshi Island and the Firenation. Dad acknowledged that this was true – but these trade agreements had come about through private negotiation with the leaders of those nations. He offered to assist Arnook in creating his own agreements that would better suit the interests of the North and align more with their isolationist policy.
Then everything fell apart as the whole issue of isolationism was argued over. Arnook wanted the South to try and adopt a more isolationist stance – for the good of the tribes as a whole. Interacting with the world had only every brought pain and suffering for our people and we were much better off sticking to our own kind.
The Firenation and the Earth Kingdom looked down on the Water Tribes as uncouth savages – but they didn't realise that the Water Tribes didn't need either of them. Indeed, looking at the hot mess that is the firenation/Earth Kingdom relationship was the best argument enough in favour of isolation. My dad disagreed oh so politely. He said that the isolationist stance was not the best thing for our tribe – even though it suited the North well. Dad felt that interaction with the other nations could only be mutually beneficial for our tribe.
Arnook refuted what Dad said (also oh so politely). What could be mutually beneficial about prolonged interaction with either of the other nations? The Earth Kingdom was so obsessed with tradition, etiquette and the way that things were that they were fast becoming obsolete. Unlike the Water Tribes – the Earth Kingdom had no thinkers and certainly no enterprise and ingenuity. The Earth Kingdom would poach our best and brightest minds and give us little in return. They were so embroiled in their own internal struggles and political feuds that they had nothing to offer us Tribal people.
And don't even get me started on the firenation! Arnook declared, right before he got started on the firenation. He listed all the things that he felt was wrong with the firenation. This was a long list. Arnook concluded that the firenation, and every single person of firenation heritage is obviously lacking in moral fibre! A man who I vaguely recognised as Yugoda's husband interjected here and said they make very nice wine though.
That is hardly an acceptable substitute for moral fibre! Arnook snapped – and the first harshly spoken word of the meeting was uttered.
Dad felt he had to protest here. He was still doing the oh-so-polite thing. He felt that Arnook was being too harsh on the other nations. Arnook reverted back to politeness and said that he merely felt that the other nations had little understanding or appreciation for our unique culture. Their values were so different and so decadent. They both tolerated all sorts of lewd behaviours that were unthinkable in the water-tribes, like promiscuity and homosexuality. Why look at the firenation! The firelord had left a known homosexual Master Piandao as his regent! Surely that was indicative of depraved moral standards.
Sokka sat bolt upright in surprise next to me at those words. He instantly leapt to Piandao's defence. He started protesting against what chief Arnook has said. He claimed that it couldn't possibly be true and he wasn't going to stand for someone slandering Piandao. Arnook assured him that it was true.
Pakku – who was acting as chairman and peace keeper during this meeting started banging his gavel loudly and with alacrity. Once he had got everybody's attention, he said, very crossly,I believe it is better for everyone if we leave Master Piandao's...lifestyle completely out of this discussion.It has no bearing on the subject at hand.
Arnook withdrew his comments and said that he had forgotten that Master Piandao and Pakku were friends. But he felt that his point still stood. The other nations had very delinquent conduct and very poor standards of behaviour. Their lax morals went a long way towards explaining why all the colonies were such half-breed-filled-basket-cases.
At this point, Stupid Han saw fit to chime in with this tidbit: Everyone in the water tribes knew that a mixed race relationship would never work – for the progeny would be tainted and not worth was why the North had adopted new laws to ban inter-relations between Water tribe citizens and members of the other nations.
Han, as heir to the chiefdom, wanted to compel us to adopt similar laws. He said this in a tone that implied that he wasn't really asking – he was demanding. Bato's whole posture had completely stiffened next and his hands were clenched tighter than mine through out this speech.
Chief Arnook spoke over the top of Han, and tried to be more diplomatic about it. He said that he knew that both our tribes would have much more interaction with the other nations from now on, and he felt that it was for the best if their was a memorandum of understanding between our two tribes on the subject of mixed-race marriage.
Han continued that he didn't want to preside over a tribe of tainted half-breeds and he was sure my father wouldn't either. Surely we Southerners could see that it was for the good of the tribe that we keep our lineage pure – We didn't want to muddy or boil "the water" now did we?
Bato stood up and snapped (before my Dad could get a word in edgewise), No – We southerners do not see how banning inter-marriages will be for the "good of the tribe" and we certainly won't take orders about how we should conduct our business from an self-important upstart like yourself! Bato announced his relationship with Ming to all and sundry – much to my Dad's dismay. I found out later that Dad had been trying to keep that little morsel of information secret to spare Bato public ridicule.
Bato said that he loved Ming with all his heart and there was nothing lewd or immoral about their relationship. Love was Love. It was a gift from the spirits and sprung up in the most unlikely of places. Bato was not one to deny the will of the spirits – and they had obviously meant for him to love Ming, for she was his other half. More importantly, she was kind and smart and good. To dismiss her out of hand for being firenation was to do her a great disservice.
I get that you have urges. But you know you don't have to marry her right? They aren't like us. All firebenders are such sluts. You can fuck her and leave her. You don't have to debase yourself by having a relationship with one of those firebitches. This was Han's reply to Bato's impassioned and heartfelt speech. He said it patronisingly, like he thought he was giving Bato very sage advice. He did not seem to realise how strongly Bato felt about this issue (ie strongly enough to inflict violence.) Han was most surprised when Bato vaulted the table to punch him in the face. He was so surprised that he made a noise that sounded like eeergh!
There was a small schmozzle. Calm and sensible Bato tackled Han out of his chair shouting things like You insult my girlfriend and you have disrespected me!This crash-tackle has succeeded in restoring our reputation for being the more unruly tribe. We had all been on our best behaviour for a whole two hours, after all, and some unruliness had been expected from us before this point.
Han called Bato many unkind names that the Northerners have for those who...engage in "relations with the enemy" (eg get off me you dirty traitorous spark-fucker!) Dad and Sokka and Sorrak pulled Bato off Han – while some Northern dudes tried to extricate their future chief from the fray. Bato and Han then continued their bitter argument – while my Dad and Arnook tried to get them both to sit back down and shut up.
Han got started on how he shouldn't have expected any better from our tribe – not with the way that Dad let Sokka fuck a Kyoshi Warrior. Fucking shameful – letting his heir slut it up with a girl from Kyoshi. As a Tribe, we were obviously very tolerant of sluts, but that was not how they did things up North. Sokka abandoned trying to restrain Bato and took a swing at Han himself. And the brawl was back on!
I intervened quickly and used my bending and managed to freeze everybody up to their necks in ice. Pakku instantly hopped on my bandwagon and helped me. We worked in tandem and almost had to empty the fountain just outside to do this – but it worked. The brawl was effectively stopped. Then Pakku effectively took the reigns and made An Annoucement.
Everybody needs to cool off and calm down! Pakku announced in a deep and commanding voice. Pakku then gave a small, irate speech. Pakku did not have time for this shit. Moreover Pakku was tired of this shit! He had been sorting out countless bouts of immaturity and squabbles during the Earth Kingdom negotiations for months now – and he had felt that his own people were above all that pettiness! But now he realised that he was wrong and we were all just as bad as each other.
He separated us and then pointed angrily at the Northern cohort and shoutedNone of you get to cast aspersions on any of them! They are of impeccable character and have immense bravery. My grandchildren have proven themselves to be five times the warriors that we could ever hope to be – they were instrumental in ending this centuries long war. Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets to insult either of them in my presence.
So there Northern Water Tribe!
Us southerners look at each other a little smugly at Pakku's words because we thought he was on our side. But he was not done. He then pointed at us with the same anger and said but you lot cannot act like you are above our laws and customs! We are one people under Tui and La! You cannot act like the ban on inter-marriages is unreasonable – when that is how things have been done for the entirety of our history! No inter-marriage is for the good of our entire tribe. Would you put your personal petty lusts over the good of all!
Pakku then declared that the meeting was over for the day. Pakku was done for the day! Everyone was to go to their corners for theadult version of a time-out and think about what they had done!
Everyone except me.
Pakku wanted to have "a word" with me.
Gulp.
-o-
Much to my relief, Pakku actually just wanted to congratulate me on "my conduct" during the meeting. He was glad that I had not been the one to cause "a scene" and in fact I had been instrumental in diffusing "the scene". He wanted to tell me that he had been proud of me when I used the fountain to sort out the dispute. That was quick thinking. It was a sweet thing for him to say.
As we were talking, I couldn't help but notice how tired he looked. I commented on it and asked if he was okay. He said he was fine, but I was right. He was tired. He was tired of sorting out other people's problems and of grown men acting like children. He really just wanted all this to be over so he could just go home to Gran Gran.
I couldn't help myself – I asked if he had really meant everything he said about inter-marriager? Did he believe that in his heart? Aye, and I believe it in my soul too, Pakku said. He had been sorting out the problems of the colonies for months now – and it had become apparent to him that the biggest problem facing all those colonies was the issue of inter-marriage and mixed race children. These children were neither one or the other. They would be perpetually torn between two worlds and two elements and be rejected by both. There was no place for them in either nation. It seemed a cruelty to Pakku to bring them into the world in the first place.
Pakku thought that all the nations returning to a state of complete separation was for the good of all. It was the only way to restore balance. Four nations and Four elements was how it had always been. It was the way things had to be. There was nothing to be done for those mixed-race colonials now. They were a lost cause. The best we could all hope for was making sure that the mistakes of their parents were never repeated. The water tribes should be thankful that we had thus far been spared from the consequences of such mistakes. Banning inter-marriage was the only way to secure lasting peace for our people, in Pakku's eyes.
But what about love? Are you saying that their love doesn't count just because the two people involved are from different nations? I asked a bit indignantly. Of course it doesn't count! It is merely lust that is allowed to run rampant. Pakku replied. I disagreed My mother had always told me that all you need is love and I still believed that. Sokka loved Suki and surely that was all that mattered.
Pakku pinched the bridge of his nose and looked so old and tired for a second. I am sure your mother was a kind and gentle woman, but I know that she would want better for her son than a foreign Kyoshi girl. She would want him to find a nice water tribe girl – and it is essential for your tribe that he do so. I know you defend his relationship with the Kyoshi girl because he is your brother and she is your friend – but if you look at it pragmatically, you will see that marriage is impossible for them. Pakku said all this so calmly – like he didn't want to hurt my feelings.
I protested at this and said I was sure that Sokka and Suki loved each other enough to make it work. Pakku shrugged and said that he didn't doubt that they loved each other – the real question was is that love enough? Eventually one of them would have to give up their homeland – and it would most likely be the Kyoshi girl. Did I think that the Kyoshi girl would be likely to give up her island and her freedom to be a chieftain's wife? Pakku thought that she seemed too fierce a girl for that life.
I didn't have an answer for that. Pakku seemed to notice my sadness and said that this was exactly why he hated the idea of inter-nation relationships. It always ended in bloodshed, violence or tears. It never ended well.
Pakku tried to cheer me up then and said that at least he could count on me to be sensible. I had good sense in this department and he knew I wouldn't be as foolish as my brother. Maybe I had been right to reject Han (who is obviously and irrefutably a dickface) but Pakku was sure that he could find a nice Water-bending boy for me from the North. He would choose better for me next time.
Uh oh – it sounded like Pakku had other matchmaking plans in the works.
Pakku gave me an enigmatic smile and said that he just wanted to see me settled. I was getting older. I should start thinking about it. Our conversation became completely absorbed in my attempts to dissuade Pakku from all future matchmaking attempts as he walked me back to the southern Water Tribe rooms.
-o-
Pakku and I joined Dad, Bato and Sokka for lunch. Bato and Sokka were having a rather spirited bitching session about the North – which halted upon Pakku's arrival. Pakku started trying to "smooth things over" with Dad. He really wants Dad and Arnook to try and get along again. The first half of the meeting was great and some real progress was made. He knew that Arnook really wanted to have harmonious relations with our tribe. Also Han was young, and an arseface – so we shouldn't mind him.
Sokka interrupted Pakku's "smoothing over" with a pertinent question about Piandao. Was what it really true? What everyone was saying about him? Pakku seemed a bit taken aback by his question and said that yes it was true. Sokka looked a bit pensive over this revelation.
Pakku coughed and cleared his throat and said listen Sokka, It's a crazy old world. It is full of things I don't understand. I don't understand that kind of lifestyle – so I leave it alone and I let it be – even though I may think it is wrong. Piandao has made unusual choices – but he is a great man and you shouldn't let this cloud how you see him.
Pakku said all this rather diffidently. Sokka looked up at him and said that it wouldn't affect how he saw Piandao. He sounding like he was surprised at the implication that it would. Sokka said he was just a little sad for his master. Wouldn't that sort of lifestyle make everything harder for Piandao? It certainly meant that people felt like they could say nasty things about him without even knowing him? Pakku could not refute this. He simply said that Piandao had decided not to let a few unkind comments bother him – and Sokka shouldn't either.
On that note Pakku left – to go and try "smooth things over" on the Northern side. Then Dad took
Bato aside to "have a serious chat". While they were having a serious chat, I tried to instigate one of my own with Sokka.
I wanted to ask him what was going on with him and Suki and what had happened with Yue last night – but he wasn't having it. He shut all conversation down. He didn't want to talk. He wanted to whack at things with his spacesword. He said that whacking things with spacesword cures all ills – and would make him feel better. It's apparently a "boy thing".
We elected to bother Zuko.
-o-
So Zuko has also had a shocker of a day and was quite keen on the sparring idea. He also believes that whacking things with swords has some sort of therapeutic value. When we arrived, he had face-planted on the table and was muttering things like such an idiot, can't believe I did that, how bad is it, etc while Jee tried to "make it better."
Making it better is not Jee's strong point. This was his attempt at making it better:
It's not so bad...So you told the Earth King you thought he was a stupid, pansy-ass, nancy boy who needed to pull his head out of his arse and grow a pair...I mean, yeah it's not the most diplomatic way you could have said that – but maybe he wasn't offended. Zuko asked if Jee really thought that Kuei wasn't offended by that. Jee replied I said maybe he wasn't offended. He probably was though, unless nancy-boy means something different over here.
So Zuko had a meeting with the Dowager and the Earth King today during which Words Were Said.
Bad words that cannot be unsaid. Zuko found dealing with the two of them so frustrating and has now had a small explosion of temper during which he repeatedly and rudely pointed out what a shambles Earth Kingdom is. He has said that their disorganisation is making the peace process very hard and then he suggested that maybe the whole place would have been better off under firenation rule in the first place – because at least the firenation has its shit together. The Dowager and Kuei were displeased to say the least.
Jee also tried to make this better.
So they were like really insulted and both of them looked at you like they were stabbing you in their minds and then they both went on about blatant firenation aggression and whatnot... but you were only being verbally aggressive. It's not like you declared war on their arses. So it could have been worse. Only just though – because they are both like seriously pissed off right now. Zuko lifted his head up from the table and said that Jee wasn't helping as much as he thought he was.
Sokka suggested that sparring might help – Zuko agreed. They proceeded to whack each other with their swords. The boys spared in the courtyard while I chatted to Jee. He was the only other person there because Iroh had faffed off to do "secret Iroh business", Toph's parents had arrived this morning and absolutely insisted she spend the day with them (she is to be retrieved from their clutches tomorrow morning), and June had gone down to the lower rings with Mai to "put her through her paces".
-o-
Rough day for your brother eh? Jee remarked. I said there had just been a rather unpleasant scene in our tribal meeting. Jee nodded and muttered that it was a day for scenes all round. I asked what had really happened with the Earth King and Jee just shrugged and said that it was just the standard Zuko grumpy explosion of temper. Zuko used to have them on the ship. He'd be fine for ages and bottle everything up – but then there would just be one little thing and Boom.
The stupid little thing today had been an offhand comment from the Dowager that torturing firebenders didn't really count as a war crime and then he was all fuck that, and fuck this and fuck everything and especially fuck you. And Iroh had tried to get him to sit down and shut up – but he'd been on a ranting roll. He had decided that today was the day that he was going to tell Kuei and the Dowager exactly what he thought of them.
This ...err...honesty has not been good for Firenation-Earth Kingdom relations, the peace negotiations or balance in the universe. Iroh has now taken it upon himself to "do the talking" and has taken the dowager out to tea to try and "fix it".
-o-
The boys whacked each other with swords until they were both pretty tired. It must have had some therapeutic value because they were both in a better frame of mind when they joined us. This really must be a boy thing.
We were joined by Aang – who had recently heard of the schmozzle between Zuko and Kuei and had come to sort things out. He was concerned and a bit intrigued. He couldn't believe that Zuko had actually called the Dowager a crazy old bat with a salad fork up her arse. Aang didn't know they could say things like that...he thought that they were meant to be trying to be diplomatic.
Zuko groaned and resumed his face-plant postion while Jee explained to Aang that actually, Zuko had fucked up a bit. The words "salad fork up your arse" should never be uttered in a diplomatic meeting.
Aang asked if there was anything he could do to make it better. Zuko mumbled nothing can make this better, mostly to the table. I gave him a consoling pat on the back...because that was what I would normally do and I am trying to act as normal as possible around Zuko. Zuko took a deep breath and then sat back up and thanked Aang for the offer, but there wasn't much he could do to fix this. Zuko already knew what he had to do, and that was apologise to Kuei and the Dowager.
Jee asked if Zuko had thought about doing a written apology. Zuko said that he felt an in-person apology was more sincere and honest. Jee inhaled sharply and then said that honesty hadn't worked out so good for Zuko today and the big problem with an in-person apology would be that Zuko would have to speak and then he might ...say things. Yes, that's normally how speaking works Jee Zuko sassed back sarcastically.
Jee rolled his eyes and said that he was merely saying that Zuko had a tendency to get mad with people from the Earth Kingdom and call them weird names like empty-headed animal food trough wipers. Sometimes the written word was better because you could edit out that sort of thing.
-o-
June and Mai joined us a short time later. I can't even call Mai Gloomy Hairbuns anymore, because she has now abandoned the hairbuns in favour of a more practical pony-tail. She has passed all of June's weird little tests and so there was some celebration in order. But first June wanted to discuss something with Zuko.
She and Mai had run into Jet in the lower ring and he had brought up something interesting. Zuko rolled his eyes dramatically at that to indicate that talking about Jet was the very last thing he wanted to do right now, but he saw this conversation as the crappy cherry on top of an already terrible sundae.
June said that Jet had heard about how they were going to go after the Rough Rhinos. He had been able to prove to them that he had come from one of the villages that were burned down by those dudes. He very much wanted to help with the investigation, as well as the tying up and punishing of the Rough Rhinos. June felt that he could be useful – but she did want to run it by Zuko first. Zuko looked distinctly unamused by this and said no! Absolutely not! Hell no!
Mai huffed dramatically and rolled her eyes and said she knew that Zuko would say that. Because when it came to the choice between having a dumbass emotional response to something or thinking clearly and sensibly about a problem – Zuko always went with the dumbass option.
Zuko got a bit huffy at her and said that not wanting anything to do with that motherfucker was not the dumbass option. It was the most sensible option for him. Jet had repeatedly been a perverted creepy bastard to Zuko and if Zuko never laid eyes on him again it would be too soon.
Mai raised her hands like they were balance scales and said impassively Jet's help and a guaranteed conviction that will be conducted with due legal process as she raised one hand. Then she lowered the other hand and said oh look at this hand – it looks like you've had a dumbass reaction because you personally don't like the witness for the prosecution, and now there's a hot mess and a long, drawn out process with an uncertain outcome. She then moved her hands up and down to mimic a balancing scale.
Zuko snapped back that she could leave him alone. He had a right to personally dislike people who were unrelenting jerks. Mai huffed that he also had a responsibility to make sure these war crimes trials went as smoothly as possible – so it was time for him to spank his inner moppet and build a bridge and get the fuck over it. Zuko huffed, then she huffed. And it was a bit awkward.
Mai sighed in a bored fashion and said look – you've got...like feelings going on right now. (she said "feelings" somewhat disdainfully). So why don't you go play with your ex-girlfriend with the tits and sort those feelings out and then get back to us? Zuko looked confused and asked what are you even talking about?
Mai shrugged and said that they had run into Iroh down in the 27th district, hanging out with what's-her-face-with-the-big-boobs. He was planning on bringing her up to see Zuko – as a surprise.
Well, Zuko was certainly surprised.
I'm beginning to think that Uncle is also part of the reason why Zuko hates surprises.
Zuko asked what was going on (a bit indignantly). Jee made frantic shut-up gestures to Mai and June, while June breezily explained that his Pervy Uncle was bringing what's-her-face up to the teashop, so she could use her big-boobed magic and make Zuko feel less grumpy. This was apparently to remind Zuko that not every single person in the earth kingdom hated his guts and there was at least one dopey girl with big boobs who thought the sun shone out of his arse.
Zuko looked absolutely horrified at this turn of events. June said oh don't look like that. This is a good thing. She's cute and into you. You're both single. If you play your cards right, you could be having sex tonight. This comment did not assuage Zuko's horrified expression. June and Mai decided to make a tactical exit, now that they had ruined a surprise good at proper.
Zuko rounded on Jee and asked if he had known about this. Jee had. He agreed with June – this could be a good thing. According to Jee, Zuko had been bitching about being single ever since he broke up with the chick with the hairbuns, and Uncle and Jee were worried.
It seems that Zuko has taken to decrying his single status to Uncle Iroh and Jee whenever possible, as part of the ruse involved in keeping our relationship a secret. This plan has now back-fired because Iroh has taken it upon himself to try and "fix" Zuko's love life and "single" status.
Zuko started freaking out and saying I can't believe he's done this to me. Jee said Uncle hadn't done anything "to" him – he'd done a nice thing "for" him. Zuko just needed to be reminded that there were plenty more fish in the sea. I don't want another fish right now! Zuko snapped.
Jee told him to chill out, it wasn't even a big deal. A cute girl was going to be joining them for dinner and afterwards Zuko could like..take her out for icecream or whatever crazy kids did now... Besides, it was a done deal, she was already on her way with Uncle. Zuko now had a choice. He could either be a pratface to her and make everyone feel awkward, or he could have a nice night. Zuko made an exceptionally grumpy face at him.
Jee suggested we could put it to a vote. He asked that everybody in favour of Zuko not being a pratface and having a nice night with a pretty girl who likes him should raise their hands. He and Aang and Sokka all raised their hands. Sokka declared that it was three to two and majority rules. Zuko saw this as a big betrayal and said Sokka! quite crossly.
Sokka said that Zuko could go on a nice date with a girl without a whole tribe full of warriors breathing down his neck saying "so are you going to marry her huh? When are you going to marry her? You know it will never work out between you two, but if you want to make it work then you need to marry her like yesterday and convert her to our ways." No, Zuko did not have to deal with any of that shit. He could go a nice date and live the life Sokka could only dream of.
Zuko threw a muffin at him and accused him of being no help whatsoever. He said you're meant to be on my side buddy with some crossness. Sokka shrugged at said that he was. He didn't see what Zuko's problem was. You're single now – so is she. Apparently she's cute and thinks the sun shines out your arse – So stop being an animal food trough wiper and take her out for icecream. Aang piped up in agreement of this sentiment. Zuko said not you too! Aang said that he thought that dates were meant to make people happy. He wanted Zuko to be happy.
I got up and had a small rant about how Zuko was perfectly capabale of running his own love life and didn't need Jee or Uncle to run around behind his back organising it for him. Jee said err you've met Zuko right? with a great deal of ill-advised cheekiness. Zuko snapped that Jee could go set himself on fire and stomped away out to the courtyard.
-o-
I followed him (as usual) after telling Jee, Sokka and Aang to bugger off and scolding them for being jerks. I found him sitting on the roof the teashop looking over the city. I could tell from the way he was sitting that he was pissed off. This was classic sulk pose here.
I sat next to him and put an arm around his shoulder. Zuko launched into a cranky rant about how his Uncle was a meddling nuisance who needed to stop interfering. He couldn't believe his Uncle had done this without even asking Zuko and now Zuko felt like he had to take Jin out.
I withdrew my arm.
Why did we have to take Jin out now?
Who cares what anyone else thought? Zuko could just tell her he wasn't interested when she arrived. Zuko felt that would be a bit rude, because she would have come along way just to see him. He didn't want to be rude to Jin. The only way he could see out of being bullied into taking her out was if he fessed up to his Uncle about our secret relationship. Then his Uncle would drop all this nonsense and "sort it out". I quickly nodded in comprehension.
There was a slight little pause, then Zuko cleared his throat abruptly and asked me if I thought that telling people about us would be such a bad thing – because if I didn't, he would totally be okay with telling people.
I thought about the tribal meeting today. The way everyone had turned on Bato. The way al those northerners had looked at him. The slight not of hysteria when they called him a sparkfucker. That was what they'd call me – even though Zuko and I haven't...done that yet. I shook those bad thoughts off and then said that wouldn't just be a bad thing, it would be a terrible thing.
See, I disagree. I was thinking that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if I told Uncle...and Toph...at least. Zuko said hesitantly, before adding that he also would like to tell Sokka, because he felt really bad about lying to Sokka...and of course if we told Sokka, then maybe we should tell Aang and Suki...and I could decide if I wanted to tell my Dad – but if we told Sokka then my Dad would find out in a heartbeat.
But he felt like maybe our closest friends and family should know...that wouldn't be such a bad thing. He'd felt like he was kind of...being dishonest and dishonourable this morning, when he was hiding from Dad and Sokka. Oh that reminds me – I've got your shirt in my medical bag I interjected, trying to change the subject away from revealing our secret.
I was in such a different place to him. I didn't know how to say it without hurting his feelings. I did not want to tell anyone.
But Zuko persisted. He said that he wasn't ashamed of the two of us being together and he didn't like lying. He was willing to tell people we knew we could trust. And maybe they'd flip out – but maybe they'd be okay with it. He wanted to know what I thought.
I told him in one big blurt thatI felt: no, no way and are you crazy to think about telling people! I told him all about the tribal meeting, and the ban on intermarriages and everyone calling Bato a sparkfucker. I did not want to be called a sparkfucker! And I would be - if our secret got out. Zuko would be fine, he was a guy with a "reputation" (however fictitious, his reputation still exists). This sort of scandal would be like water off a duck's back to him. But it was harder as a tribal woman. Being a girl was harder! I would be ruined and notorious and I would never be completely accepted amongst my own people. My tribe would never understand. It would go so badly for us and maybe Zuko was ready to tell people, but I just wasn't.
He said fine, he understood – but if he didn't tell Uncle about us, then he would have to keep up this "I'm so single" ruse and then he'd have take Jin out. He wanted to know if I was okay with that. I said of course I was okay – why would Zuko think I wasn't okay with that? He would go and date another girl after we had decided to be exclusive and why on earth would I have a problem with that.
I know I was being contrary and unfair – but I couldn't seem to help myself.
Zuko sighed and said I didn't need to be like that. It wouldn't be a "date" date. He was with me. He wasn't going to cheat on me. But he was in a really tricky spot right now. He didn't want to be rude to Jin either. She had been a really good friend to him when he'd lived in Ba Sing Se. I made what was possibly the biggest frowns of my entire life in response.
He took my hand and promised me sincerely that nothing would happen with Jin and I never needed to worry about that sort of thing. He asked you believe me - don't you? very urgently. I looked back at him, and into his eyes and I knew in my heart that I did. I told him that I believed him and I knew he wasn't the sort to break his promises.
Zuko asked if I could promise him something in return. He wanted me to promise him that tonight I wouldn't do that thing I did, where I followed him and eavesdropped on him and shit. Zuko felt like that should stop completely, now that we were going out.
I was a bit taken aback.
I mean... I always knew that he knew about some of the times when I've...done that thing I do.
Note: I won't call it stalking because, in my opinion, it's not really stalking. Stalking was what Jet did. Stalking is bad. But what I do is nice... and it is done from concern.
And Zuko has never really remarked on it before now. He's never let on that it bothered him at all...and I've been doing that thing I do for months now.
I asked what had brought all this on? Zuko shrugged and replied that he'd been thinking about what I said about being in relationships and trusting each other. He had decided I was right. We did need to trust each other more, especially if we were going to keep this a secret. He had always thought that I had done...the thing I do...because I didn't trust him. If I kept doing it while we were a couple, then it was like I still didn't trust him and then what hope did we have? So he was asking me to stop.
It was a reasonable request. He did have a very good point.
But it was such an ingrained habit.
I always want to know what was going on with him.
But I could find that out now just by talking to him.
I didn't need to keep doing the thing I do...not really.
I was sure I could give that up for Zuko.
So I promised him I would stop.
And I meant it, really.
I was determined to keep this promise.
It's the first major thing that Zuko's actually asked of me – and I didn't want to let him down.
And I would have been able to keep this promise completely...if it wasn't for stupid Jet and his stupid big mouth.
-o-o-o-o-
Notes:
Lovely readers, you've reached the end of diplomatic immaturity. Thank you very much for reading and I hope you've enjoyed it. Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews! I read and appreciate each one and getting feedback from you all warms the cockles of my heart. I'd also like to apologise for the delay between chapters. Sorry lovely patient readers! My muse got very distracted by Zutara Month and a few other side stories. My muse is an inconsistent beast at this time of year.
The insult empty-headed animal food trough wiper is a nod to monty python and the french taunter.
I'll have to keep the notes short as I have been afflicted with time poverty. Basically this chapter was exploring a little more of the differences between the two water tribes (and I even managed to sneak in a line from the opening monologue – because I'm just a bit wily). The Water-tribes share many things, but there are still distinct differences in the tribes. They are not by any means interchangeable (eg No betrothal necklaces exchanged in the SWT vs everyone coming out the arse in betrothal necklaces in the NWT). I wanted to look at those differences, but also the things that unify the tribes and bind them together; I wanted to look at their mutual values; such as community and their common abilities like the ability to adapt and their ingenuity.
So this chapter had a lot of water tribe culture how it will effect Katara and Sokka. Especially in regards to inter-racial coupledom and marriage, as they both love people from different races. The Water tribes are fairly insular and I think a disapproving view of inter-racial marriage would be expected given their culture and history. I would say that no inter-racial marriage was probably a deeply held custom previously – but now the NWT has enshrined it in their tribal laws. Inter-racial marriage would have become "an issue" now that the Water Tribes are facing a future in which they will be inter-acting much more with the other two nations.
Note: I know Han is actually meant to be spelled Hahn now – but I started out writing Han, and so I feel I should keep doing that for consistency's sake.
Anti-firenation feeling and anger towards "traitorous sparkfuckers" was touched upon in this chapter, with Bato unwisely revealing his relationship with Ming. The tribes as a whole will be more understanding of Sokka and Suki – because Suki is not "the enemy". However, in their eyes, it either has to be a fun fling, a bit of Sokka "sowing his oats" or if it is serious, they should get married and Suki will have to convert to "water-tribes ways" poste-haste.
Note: I just think a Zutara relationship makes sense on a thematic issue as well. The message in Zutara ties in so much better with the themes of ATLA, because their relationship would exemplify tolerance and love overcoming a century of war and prejudice. There is something beautiful and unifying in that. There is certainly more hope for the future than just a "hero always gets the girl – because reasons" thing that we have going on with Kataang.
Sokka finding out about Piandao and Water-tribe attitudes towards homosexuality were touched upon here too. Sokka has such a big heart, and such respect for Piandao and is such a giving soul, that I couldn't see this overly impacting on how he sees his master. He is very surprised by the news when he first hears it. If anything, Sokka is sad for him, because life would be harder for him and he will more likely run into unkindness.
We also got to see how Pakku feels about the whole thing, because his old-school traditional watertribe values would be at odds in his friendship with Piandao. I think that Pakku would adopt a live and let live attitude towards Piandao (as he sees him as an equal and friend). This might be indicative about how he will eventually feel about other unlikely couples, given enough time to get used to the idea.
Pakku still holds out hope that he can find a nice water-tribe boy for Katara and had taken to matchmaking. Iroh, has also taken to unwise meddling in his nephew's love life.
So Zuko has been talking (bitching) about how "single" he is now, after breaking up with Mai, as part of his ruse to keep his relationship with Katara a secret. Iroh would have been worried and tried to encourage Zuko that he should be more upbeat about his love-life and there's plenty more fish in the sea etc.
Iroh also has zero-idea (but many theories) as to what is going on with Zuko and Katara. In Iroh's opinion, they should have been shagging months ago and he doesn't understand what the hold up has been. He was a shipper on deck (hardcore), but at one point during the maiko schmozzle he would have internally thrown up his hands and said "bugger it – I give up! Those two will never figure it out."
Iroh's just trying to make Zuko happy here. He's been looking for Jin for a while now, because she was lovely, and if he can't have his OTP – then jinko is his second choice. He knows Jin's a sweet girl and she'd cheer his nephew up, and maybe give him a bit of a self esteem boost. His original plan was for Jin joining them for dinner to be a nice surprise for Zuko after a horrible, no-good day. (he was going to do the whole "oh look at who I randomly ran into at the market" thing. He would have thought he was being so wily.)
However, Iroh wont be in the dark about "the secret relationship" for long. Zuko is wily, but he is not that wily. Even if he wanted too, he wouldn't be able to keep this secret for too long around Toph and Iroh. But he does actually want to tell them about what is going on with him and Katara – because he doesn't like lying to them, and also he is super jazzed about it and wants to talk to somebody about it. But Zuko and Katara are in very different places here – when it comes to how ready they are to tell people.
But we will see them talk more about their difference of opinion in this regard next chapter. Also we'll see Jin (from Katara's perspective). Toph's parents are back – and we will see them too. Jet will also make a nuisance of himself. Katara will get a barmy idea. And shenanigans will ensue.
Til then lovely readers.