Baaaaaaaaby Meme!

[beckyh2112]

Because my hormones are flailing at me and demanding procreation. Stupid hormones.

Rules:
- Two slots unless you're one of the people I normally give extra slots to. In that case, you get five.
- Male/female pairings only. Or female/female with suggested sperm donors. I've already done an mpreg meme, kthx

Comments

Mai/Aang, things all children should know how to do

[beckyh2112]

Zuko found his (Aang's) daughter huddled beside her bed, sobbing into a pillow. He settled down on his heels to watch her for a moment, but when she didn't even glance up at him, he shifted forward and wrapped his arms around her

Re: Mai/Aang, things all children should know how to do

[gigabomb]

As much as Zuko can occasionally seem weak and a little pathetic in your future 'verse, I'm always glad to see why those same bits of him that make him not the greatest Fire Lord also make him a pretty great person. His empathy--at its greatest display here, when he can feel so strongly for the daughter that he knows isn't his by blood and must have at least a few mixed feelings about--makes him a person to respect... if not as a ruler, then at least otherwise.

I am also curious as to whether Azula meant to humiliate Mai and Ty Lee here, and I'm actually inclined to think no. If Zuko was so young as to not know the implications of their presence, then Azula was a good two years younger, and I don't think Azula's first thought was to cruelty, at least not for those who followed her. It is Azula, however, and if anyone could become a sadist at age four or whathaveyou, it would be her.

I am always very happy to see your memes. You write such interesting responses to prompts.

Re: Mai/Aang, things all children should know how to do

[beckyh2112]

As much as Zuko can occasionally seem weak and a little pathetic in your future 'verse

... He does? Crap, that's not intentional. Can you think of any specific instances that made you think that? (One of the things I really appreciate about you as a reader is how much thought you put into reading my fiction and responding to it. You're the one who caught that I never do anything with Azula in my future'verse.)

Re: Mai/Aang, things all children should know how to do

[gigabomb]

I'm thinking of him running away with Katara most prominently, but also how Mai seems to make most of the hard decisions for the Fire Nation and does not even tell Zuko she is making them (like she thinks he couldn't handle knowing). It is also in his naivete in comparison with Mai, such as with that recent fic dealing with Azula's future. He just seems woefully under-equipped to be Fire Lord when Mai seems more than prepared, and the contrast is occasionally very striking (I'll let you know if I can think of more concrete examples, but right now it is more of a general impression from reading all of your fic. Ozai being a POV character fairly often probably does not help).

Re: Mai/Aang, things all children should know how to do

[beckyh2112]

I really need to sit down and write about what he and Katara were doing. When does Mai not tell Zuko about some of the decisions she's making?

And I feel obligated to point out that the fic with Mai and Azula takes place only hours after the coronation in the final episode.

Re: Mai/Aang, things all children should know how to do

[gigabomb]

I really do think I just phrased that badly (the weak and pathetic thing, I mean). Mostly it is just Zuko is too kind a person to be Fire Lord, and most of the time I got that impression from reading from Mai's POV (who loves him but is fine with making the hard decisions) and Ozai's POV (which is less than charitable). And yes, I imagine Mai does tell him her decisions afterward (like in the Azula fic), but I do not get the impression that she really tells him before she has already undertaken action. So yeah, I think my opinion on the whole thing could boil down to: if Mai was not around, Zuko would not last very long as Fire Lord.

Well, yes, but it was still striking that Mai still felt the need to be Zuko's pillar of strength and ruthlessness.

'Zuko blinked, looking momentarily taken aback. "I... hadn't really decided yet. I think Katara and Aang could find some way to help her..." He trailed off, staring at her. "Um, Mai?"

"You," she said, not unkindly, "are an idiot."'

He has not yet made a decision here, so she makes it

Re: Mai/Aang, things all children should know how to do

[beckyh2112]

It's just, I don't think I've actually written all that much with Zuko as the Firelord. (I sometimes question throwing out "What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted". I like it for what it is (a response to a Zutara trope), but I am not sure I want to use it for my canon'verse. Yet, I really like little Ursa and the relationship between Mai and Ozai.)

Besides "What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted", I think the only thing is that Mai'n'Azula fic, which takes place four days after the Comet. Zuko's barely had time to solidify his position and convince people to abide by a ceasefire until the succession gets sorted out. Thinking about what to do with his beloved sister has not been high on his priority list.

Mai has spent the last three or four years with her politician/administrator father. Zuko has spent those same years with his general uncle on a naval ship. Mai is the one better-equipped to be the Firelord in the immediate picture.