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0|0|0|||1||A Fire to be Lighted|Mercutio||01:11:58|12/13/2013|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Dec-13-13 AT 01:19 AM (EST)]And we%27re back.%0D%0A%0D%0AFor those who might care%2C the last two weeks have been very eventful for me. I%27ve spent the time embroiled in moving house%2C putting in a lot of hours at seasonal employment %28I don%27t recommend working retail%2C by the way%2C unless you have a handy table behind the sweaters section to nap under%29 and watching %5Bi%5DFrozen%5B%2Fi%5D like%2C four times. %0D%0A%0D%0ASo that%27s why no Merc generally getting up in everyone%27s grill and being all pretentious and stuff.%0D%0A%0D%0AI really should be sticking this over in Mini-Stories%2C I suppose%2C but I read %5Bi%5DFire to be Lighted%5B%2Fi%5D in its putative final form%2C and frankly I find dumping it all in one place to be much easier than trying to cope with the mini-stories formatting tricks and splitting it in three. Ben can always dump this in the appropriate forum if that%27s a bit too much of a liberty on my part.%0D%0A%0D%0A... oh%2C hell. %5Bi%5DGoodbye and Hello%5B%2Fi%5D came out this evening too%2C didn%27t it%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AWell. First things first.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAcademic performance is the -only- criterion for admittance to Piandao%0D%0A%3EAcademy.  Neither national origin nor economic circumstance will ever be%0D%0A%3Epermitted to stand in the way of a youngster who has shown him- or%0D%0A%3Eherself ready%2C willing%2C and able to excel.%0D%0A%0D%0ANeatly eliding the fact that economic circumstance is not a barrier so easily overcome even by the most rigorous search committees and the best of intentions. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%28I%27m not judging. One doesn%27t expect the staff of Piandao Academy to single-handedly address structural economic failures all on their own%2C overnight. That%27s done one student at a time over many years. But social justice is just one of the many annoying tics you get with the full Merc package.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EYours sincerely%2C%0D%0A%3E%28signed%29%0D%0A%3ECHANGDAO%0D%0A%3EHeadmaster%0D%0A%0D%0AIf it were me%2C I might have added another parenthetical at the bottom for atmosphere. Something like%3A%0D%0A%0D%0AYours sincerely%2C%0D%0A%28signed%29%0D%0ACHANGDAO%0D%0AHeadmaster%0D%0A%28His Chop%2C Seal%2C Lineage Block%29%0D%0A%0D%0ADiqiu being what it is%2C I imagine they like to go all crazy with fancy seals and chops and titles and awesome calligraphy and such. I love that stuff. I freely admit that%27s just me%2C though.%0D%0A%0D%0AI freely admit%3B like many other people%2C I was expecting a School Story at this point%2C Harry Potter but with%2C you know%2C eastern magic instead of western magic. It took until the thumb war for me to realize %22OH. Framing device. Okay then.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AI mention this only because I%27m a big believer in at least trying to engage with stories on their own terms%2C rather than what I imagine those terms to be. If something is a farce%2C for example%2C I prefer to approach it as a farce%2C rather than a serious attempt at drama.%0D%0A%0D%0ANot that this is a farce. I was just saying.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EXINQILIU%2C BAYUE 29%2C 279 ASC%0D%0A%3E%28SATURDAY%2C AUGUST 29%2C SY 2398%29%0D%0A%0D%0AThank you very much for providing standard dates when possible. It makes my life as a reader ever so much easier.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22One side%2C peasant%2C%22 the boy growled%2C in lieu of any kind of%0D%0A%3Eapology for nearly knocking her down.  His manservant gave her an%0D%0A%3Eapologetic look with just his eyes%2C while the rest of his face remained%0D%0A%3Estonily expressionless as they passed.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%22That didn%27t take long%2C%22 she mused%2C then shrugged and crossed%0D%0A%3Ethe great hall to the west-wing stairs.%0D%0A%0D%0AShinzen is very lucky he pulled that on Karana and not Azana%2C as whatever her other faults%2C and whatever her intentions are for her daughter and the Prince re%3A a little slap and tickle behind the gym%2C one imagines Azera taught her daughter PRECISELY how to deal%2C by hook or by crook%2C with those who refuse to give her social standing the appropriate respect%2C be they the lowest official in the labyrinthine Fire Nation bureaucracy all the way up to the Fire Lord themself.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EMistrusting foreigners is your mother%27s way%2C she reminded%0D%0A%3Eherself%2C it%27s not your way.%0D%0A%0D%0AAww%2C Azana. Let%27s be fair now.%0D%0A%0D%0AYour mother mistrusts %5Bi%5Deveryone%5B%2Fi%5D. It%27s the Fire Nation way%2C dammit%21 There%27s tradition involved.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22No%2C I mean%2C have you -got- any%2C%22 said Karana.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAzana shook her head.  %22No%2C I%27m an only child.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AI find this passage interesting in light of later revelations. There doesn%27t seem to be bad blood between Azana and Zurin... but she flat-out scrubs him from her family frame of reference when people ask%3F Not even a %22I do%2C but my brother is thirty years older than me%22 explanation%3F Just completely denies the existence of a sibling at all%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AIt seems like there%27s a story there.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Prince Shinzen%2C%22 Azana repeated.  %22The Fire Lord%27s younger%0D%0A%3Ebrother%27s son%2C so not in line for the throne%2C but you wouldn%27t know it%0D%0A%3Eto speak to him.%0D%0A%0D%0AHey%2C Fire Lord Zuko started life as the son of the younger brother of the Crown Prince%2C who had himself already produce an heir. That%27s one step further down than Shinzen is now. You never know your luck in this family.%0D%0A%0D%0AThis would make Shinzen Fire Lord %28now Crown Princess%29 Katara%27s older cousin%2C right%3F He has two%2C three years on her or so%3F I don%27t expect to see her come up behind him in this school%2C one imagines that the Crown Princess will be going to the Royal Fire Academy instead%2C but the frame of reference is worth noting%2C I think.%0D%0A%0D%0AEDIT%3A And of course%2C of course%2C after posting this%2C the first thing I do%2C the very first%2C is go read %5Bi%5DA Bride To Far%5B%2Fi%5D and discover that%2C in fact%2C Katara does show up here.%0D%0A%0D%0ASome nights it just doesn%27t pay to set pixels to screen%2C I am telling you.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Not really.  My father%27s a doctor%2C and%0D%0A%3Ehe has a lucky coin he got on a trip to Ba Sing Se when he was a kid.%0D%0A%3EMy brother Bori asked him one time%2C if he%27s a man of science%2C why does%0D%0A%3Ehe carry that old coin around all the time%3F  %27You can%27t believe in that%0D%0A%3Esuperstitious junk.%27%22  She grinned.  %22And Dad said%2C %27Well%2C son%2C they%0D%0A%3Etell me it works whether you believe in it or not.%27%22%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso worth noting%3A in the context of the UF universe%2C weird superstitious stuff doesn%27t just work%2C it tends to damn near work in verifiable%2C repeatable fashions. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EShinzen scowled at her.  %22Oh yes%2C by all means%2C laugh%2C%22 he said%0D%0A%3Esarcastically.  %22Before you came here%2C how far had -you- ventured from%0D%0A%3Eyour igloo%2C or teepee%2C or whatever it is you people live in%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0AI have to pause here to give some proper to this writing here.%0D%0A%0D%0AAt first I thought %22Oh%2C come on%2C I know he%27s trying to be insulting%2C but Shinzen knows better than that.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AThen I thought about it for a second. Yes. Shinzen does know better than that%2C doesn%27t he%3F Even at eleven%2C he%27s been educated as befits a Prince and gained entry into a very exclusive school without there being very much patronage involved. The teepee dig isn%27t because he%27s so ignorant he doesn%27t know how the Water Tribes live%3B it%27s because he knows %5Bi%5Dexactly%5B%2Fi%5D how the Water Tribes live%2C similar to the seal eyeball crack.%0D%0A%0D%0AThat is a sick burn on Shinzen%27s part %28his Aunt would be proud%29%2C and it%27s also quite the subtle piece of writing%3B he comes off as an ignorant little snot of a noble%2C and the scene works from that perspective%2C but there are layers underneath it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThe royal household seemed somewhat%0D%0A%3Eunprepared for an invasion of 11-year-olds%2C but at least they were all%0D%0A%3Erelatively mature%2C very scholarly 11-year-olds%2C so havoc was kept to a%0D%0A%3Eminimum and a fine time was had by all.%0D%0A%0D%0AOne wonders if the... eight%3F year old Princess Katara was there and what she made of her cousins entourage.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EEveryone in the student body knew what Avatar Korra looked like%2C%0D%0A%3Eof course%3B for all that she never sought celebrity%2C in her position she%0D%0A%3Ecould hardly avoid it%2C and her image was all but inescapable.  Few of%0D%0A%3Ethem had seen her in person%2C though%2C and even fewer had ever seen her in%0D%0A%3Ean academic gown and mortarboard before.%0D%0A%0D%0AHrrm. The gown and mortarboard is a bit... western%2C I guess%3F One would imagine that typically%2C people completing their primary education at a prestigious academy in Diqiu would wear formal scholars robes in the Confucian style or the local equivalent.%0D%0A%0D%0AOn the other hand%2C it isn%27t like the series itself is enormously consistent in this regard.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22So%2C uh%2C don%27t do what I did%21  Go to school%21%22  Then%2C with a frown%2C she%0D%0A%3Emuttered%2C %22%28Except you already did%2C you%27re graduating - %29 tell you what%2C I%27ll%0D%0A%3Ecome in again.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AYou know%2C this didn%27t strike me as very Korra-like... but it %5Bi%5Ddid%5B%2Fi%5D strike me as very Janet Varney like%2C as this is precisely her cadence and intonation and style of humor when she decided to get her funny on. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAs the two girls crossed the courtyard from the chapel to the%0D%0A%3Emain house%2C%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m not sure chapel is... I know you%27re using it in the generic sense%2C but maybe %22shrine%22 instead%3F Or temple%3F Chapel has intensely western connotations in terms of the style and structure and general atmosphere of the building presented. Chapel-cum-assembly hall builds a different mental picture than using temple or shrine in its place.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EKarana%27s letters%2C so fat they threatened to burst the seams of%0D%0A%3Emortal envelopes and had to be fitted with so much postage they could%0D%0A%3Ehave been the starting point for a respectable Southern Water Tribe%0D%0A%3Estamp collection%2C%0D%0A%0D%0AGod help her parents phone bills when they get internet down in Karana%27s neck of the woods. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EGeneral Izuno%27s only fault%2C so far as Karana had ever%0D%0A%3Ebeen able to tell%2C was that he was so devoted to having peace in his%0D%0A%3Ehouse that he rarely made any serious attempt to rein in his abrasive%2C%0D%0A%3Eopinionated%2C and often %28in Karana%27s view%2C anyway%29 wrong-headed young%0D%0A%3Ewife%2C with the result that Azera often ran roughshod over him and their%0D%0A%3Eonly daughter.%0D%0A%0D%0AI would very much like to know the story behind that marriage. I mean%2C I know what Izuno brought to the table for Azera%2C or at least what she thought he was bringing anyway. But Izuno was an older widower who had already produced an heir%3B if he married again%2C it was probably for love. So clearly he saw something worthwhile in her%2C although the heart can be weird.%0D%0A%0D%0AOr maybe Azera was just really good at hiding her real personality until vows had been exchanged. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EDuring these remarks%2C she learned that Colonel Zurin was%0D%0A%3EIzuno%27s son by his first wife%2C and so Azana%27s half-brother%2C albeit a%0D%0A%3Egood thirty years or more her senior.%0D%0A%0D%0AShades of Iroh and Ozai%27s enormous age gap here%2C at least superficially.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EShinzen looked across the gathering at his schoolmates%2C then%0D%0A%3Eshook his head respectfully and replied%2C %22I hardly think that would be%0D%0A%3Eappropriate%2C roshi.  General Izuno%27s daughter is a firebender.  The%0D%0A%3Ehonor%2C and the duty%2C are rightfully hers.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AI suspect this is also a burn on Shinzen%27s part%2C as Azera%2C the widow%2C is also a firebender%2C but he does not invite her to take part alongside Azana. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%28I could be wrong here depending on what the custom is but I like to think this.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22I hope you will excuse us%2C Madame Azera%2C but the General%27s%0D%0A%3Edaughter has had a very trying day.  We must be getting back to the%0D%0A%3EAcademy at once.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AThe General%27s daughter. Emphatically %5Bi%5Dnot%5B%2Fi%5D %22your daughter.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AThis right here is where I fell in love with Shinzen.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Thank -you-%2C Miss Karana%2C%22 Changdao replied%2C and she wondered%0D%0A%3Ewhat for as he took his leave of them and disappeared into his office.%0D%0A%0D%0AChangdao is Pure. Class.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThe funk didn%27t survive long after they arrived%2C though.  At%0D%0A%3EChief Hakoda International Airport in Nanisivik%2C they emerged from the%0D%0A%3Eplane into bright sunlight and the clean scent of cold salt air.%0D%0A%0D%0AI respect the writer%28s%29 for not going with the easy%2C and slightly offensive%2C puns for Water Tribe cities.%0D%0A%0D%0AIf it had been me%3F It would be nothing but names like Summavut. Which is near Allavut%2C north of Nunavut%2C and west of Henhiavut.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22We were hunters and fishers for a long time before we%0D%0A%3Eever took up farming or trading%2C and the impulse to make our stuff%0D%0A%3Eourselves is still really strong in our culture.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A... they farm down there%3F Really%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EIt was among the simplest%0D%0A%3Epieces on display%2C but also the handsomest%2C so elegant in its simplicity%0D%0A%3Ethat the very fact made it outshine some of the more elaborate pieces%0D%0A%3Earound it in Azana%27s eyes.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWithout really thinking about it%2C she went inside and bought it%0D%0A%3Eon the spot.%0D%0A%0D%0ANot to brag%2C but I knew %5Bi%5Dexactly%5B%2Fi%5D what this was without the necklace being explicitly described.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd I approved fully. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EGathering up her brown hair%2C which had lately gotten a bit%0D%0A%3Eshaggy and reached just short of shoulder length%2C Karana held it away%0D%0A%3Efrom her neck and said eagerly%2C %22You have to put it on me.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AAzana is going to be very surprised when they get to the Southern Water Tribe in their World History and Culture courses. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EApart%0D%0A%3Efrom the houses%2C which were sturdy stone-built structures clad in sod%0D%0A%3Eand snow%2C often partly underground%2C%0D%0A%0D%0AI also like to think they have a few of %5Blink%3Ajournals.worldnomads.com%2Fanijensen%2Fphoto%2F17063%2F493041%2FDenmark%2FStorehouse-for-foodstuffs-open-air-museum-Stockholm-Reminded-us-of-Baba-Yag%7Cthese%5D bad boys%2C or the local equivalent.%0D%0A%0D%0ABecause buildings up on legs are awesome.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Sorry.  Ranting%2C%22 she said.  %22It%27s just that... I%27m sure there%0D%0A%3E-are- plenty of nice people up there%3F  Somewhere%3F  But I%27ve literally%0D%0A%3Enever met anybody from the North who wasn%27t a complete tool.  Honestly.%0D%0A%3EThey%27ve all been like your mom.%22  Karana blinked%2C as if just realizing%0D%0A%3Eshe%27d said that last part out loud.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%22Well%2C%22 said Azana dryly%2C %22that certainly doesn%27t recommend%0D%0A%3Ethem%2C%22 and they both laughed.%0D%0A%0D%0AHrm.%0D%0A%0D%0AOkay%2C this is something I feel I need to just get out-and-out critical about.%0D%0A%0D%0AI know %28or at least%2C would be willing to bet money%29 that this bit was written by Ben%2C rather than Phil%2C so I%27m gonna address this to him. And the fact that I %5Bi%5Dcan%5B%2Fi%5D who wrote it is part of the problem. Meet me at camera three.%0D%0A%0D%0ARight. Here%27s the thing. I%27m gonna be charitable and assume you were playing this largely for laughs. And I could see %22Karana is just a little bit racist%22 being an interesting character trait to be explored.%0D%0A%0D%0AOnly%2C the Annotations notwithstanding%2C it doesn%27t come off that way. I didn%27t hear Karana speaking here%2C I heard Ben Hutchins speaking. And I didn%27t get the feeling that the narrative means us to regard Karana%27s opinion on all Northerners being tools neutrally%3B rather%2C I got the feeling it intends for the reader to take Karana%27s opinion as -fact-.%0D%0A%0D%0AI mean%2C if the North has kind of a sick culture that is expressed by a lot of the people there being jerks%2C that%27s one thing. But%2C again%2C that%27s not what I got from this passage. But even disregarding that... like I said%2C I heard the author talking%2C not the character.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlthough I%27m very%2C very glad Karana didn%27t call them %22northies.%22 We avoided the use of outright slurs at least.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28I%27m trying not to be a dick about this%2C but I feel strongly enough about what I perceive as the failures of this passage to be blunt.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EHad they been a little%0D%0A%3Eolder%2C many of their friends would probably have suspected them of%0D%0A%3Ehaving become a couple in the wake of their October trial%2C but not quite%0D%0A%3Eyet - and besides%2C the truth was deeper and more complicated than that.%0D%0A%0D%0AOn a lighter note%2C I do like to imagine that when Shinzen met them again after the holidays%2C he looked at Azana%2C looked at Karana%27s%2C looked at Karana%27s necklack%2C proclaimed %22I always knew%2C%22 and then glided off with as much regal dignity as a twelve-year-old could muster%2C leaving a very confused Azana and a slightly-too-nonchalant Karana behind him.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EShinzen%2C who had developed a curious fascination with the Water%0D%0A%3ETribes since Karana had smashed his dismissive%2C aristocratic hauteur%0D%0A%3Eabout %22the provinces%22%2C went instantly and somewhat embarrassingly%0D%0A%3Enative.  This offended a few of Karana%27s neighbors%2C until they realized%0D%0A%3Ethat he wasn%27t making fun of them%2C just being a spectacularly goofy but%0D%0A%3Eentirely sincere fanboy.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe next year%2C Shinzen would write an excellent essay on cultural appropriation for midterms. He received an A%2B and Master Changdao praised the insight of one so young.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EEventually Karana%27s mother and Korra had to%0D%0A%3Esit him down and give him a little talk%2C after which he ramped it back a%0D%0A%3Ebit%2C but it was still going to take his hair months to grow back on the%0D%0A%3Esides.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btt%5DPRINCESS KATARA%0D%0ACousin%2C why do you have a ponytail now%3F%0D%0A%0D%0APRINCE SHINZEN%0D%0AThis is a warriors wolf-tail%21%0D%0A%0D%0APRINCESS KATARA%0D%0A%28not buying it%29%0D%0AWell%2C it certainly tells the other warriors know that you%27re fun%2C and perky.%5B%2Ftt%5D%0D%0A%0D%0AI regret nothing whatsoever.%0D%0A%0D%0AHmm. The story as a whole was really rather good. I sort of agree with the new guy %28icefox%2C I think%3F%29 that it was a bit overdone in places%2C by which I mean there was an awful%2C awful lot of telling rather than showing.%0D%0A%0D%0AHowever%2C that is 1%29 true of UF%27s %27House Style%27 in general%2C and it is usually a plus %28some of my favorite bits are when a couple thousand words are spilt just describing a part of a setting%29 and 2%29 it doesn%27t seriously detract from the work. I mean%2C yes. If I were seeing this thing as an editor%2C I might advise chopping it down some%2C there%27s a bit of extraneousness in there. But it%27s not really a huge problem.%0D%0A%0D%0AAll in all%2C good times. Man%2C you vanish for a couple weeks and suddenly Ben and Phil get all productive and shit. I figured the onset of finals meant that I would be safe.%0D%0A%0D%0A-Merc%0D%0AKeep Rat
1|1|0|||1||RE%3A A Fire to be Lighted|pjmoyer||01:42:01|12/13/2013|%3E%3EEventually Karana%27s mother and Korra had to%0D%0A%3E%3Esit him down and give him a little talk%2C after which he ramped it back a%0D%0A%3E%3Ebit%2C but it was still going to take his hair months to grow back on the%0D%0A%3E%3Esides.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%5Btt%5DPRINCESS KATARA %0D%0A%3ECousin%2C why do you have a ponytail now%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EPRINCE SHINZEN %0D%0A%3EThis is a warriors wolf-tail%21 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EPRINCESS KATARA %0D%0A%3E%28not buying it%29 %0D%0A%3EWell%2C it certainly tells the other warriors know that you%27re fun%2C and %0D%0A%3Eperky.%5B%2Ftt%5D %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI regret nothing whatsoever. %0D%0A%0D%0AHey%2C with very little effort%2C the Warrior%27s Wolf Tail is easily transmuted into a proper Fire Nation Topknot.  If it worked for Sokka%2C it can work for the other side too.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Heck%2C if they were to do 100-year-war historical reenactments at school%2C Shinzen could shave most of the rest of his hair away%2C get some stage makeup%2C and do a passable Zuko.  Provided Azana doesn%27t get dared to do it first...%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--- Philip%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%223%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D2 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%0D%0A%5Btr%5D%5Btd width%3D%2265%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie.org%2F%7Eaerianne%2Ffoth.img%2Fgaia_ser_philip_saber.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%0D%0A%5Btd%5D%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000dd%22%5DPhilip J. Moyer%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000aa%22 size%3D-2%5DContributing Writer%2C Editor and Artist %28and Moderator%29 -- Eyrie Productions%2C Unlimited%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000aa%22 size%3D-2%5DCEO of MTS%2C High Poobah Of Artwork%2C and High Priest Of the Church Of Aerianne -- Magnetic Terrapin Studios%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230044aa%22 size%3D-1%5D%5Bi%5D%22Insert Pithy Comment Here%22%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd width%3D%2265%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie.org%2F%7Eaerianne%2Ffoth.img%2Fgaia_aeri_coat_sword.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%0D%0A%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%223%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D1 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D
6|2|1|||1||RE%3A A Fire to be Lighted|Gryphon||10:58:51|12/13/2013|%3E%28Heck%2C if they were to do 100-year-war historical reenactments at %0D%0A%3Eschool%2C Shinzen could shave most of the rest of his hair away%2C get %0D%0A%3Esome stage makeup%2C and do a passable Zuko.  Provided Azana doesn%27t get %0D%0A%3Edared to do it first...%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AAzana%27s Prince Zuko is well-remembered at Piandao Academy%2C but it pales beside Shinzen%27s Princess Azula.  That was truly a performance out of legend.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
7|3|6|||1||RE%3A A Fire to be Lighted|Mercutio||03:46:25|12/14/2013|%3EAzana%27s Prince Zuko is well-remembered at Piandao Academy%2C%0D%0A%0D%0A%22How could you say that%3F %5Bi%5DHow could you say that%3F%5B%2Fi%5D Mmm. No. %5Bb%5DHow%5B%2Fb%5D could you say %5Bb%5Dthat%5B%2Fb%5D%3F How could %5Bb%5Dyou%5B%2Fb%5D say that. Bleah.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Azana...%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT%3F How COULD you say that%3F How. How could. How. How how how how how how how how how how. Howwwwwwwww. How how how. Heh. It%27s funny if you say it enough times. How.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Azana%2C it%27s four in the %5Bi%5Dmorning%5B%2Fi%5D...%22%0D%0A%0D%0A-Merc%0D%0AKeep Rat
2|1|0|||||RE%3A A Fire to be Lighted|Bushido||01:43:33|12/13/2013|You might want to go back and read the BPGD entry for Diqiu again.  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2FForum-docs%2FDCForumID25%2F267.html The section on the Water Tribes explains that there is a long standing animosity between the two tribes.  The Northern tribe might not be jerks in general%2C but would be more likely to let that side of their personality out when dealing with someone from the Southern tribe.
3|1|0|||1||RE%3A A Fire to be Lighted|Gryphon||02:10:35|12/13/2013|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Dec-13-13 AT 02:13 AM (EST)]%5Bsmall%5D... so this is what happens when I have to walk past a computer to get to the bathroom.  luckily%2C this morning%27s final lecture in Russian History covers a time I watched happen on TV%2C unlike most of my classmates. %3A%29%5B%2Fsmall%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EIf it were me%2C I might have added another parenthetical at the bottom %0D%0A%3Efor atmosphere. Something like%3A %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EYours sincerely%2C %0D%0A%3E%28signed%29 %0D%0A%3ECHANGDAO %0D%0A%3EHeadmaster %0D%0A%3E%28His Chop%2C Seal%2C Lineage Block%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AI figure that%27s more or less what %28signed%29 %5Bi%5Dmeans%5B%2Fi%5D in this context.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EAzana shook her head.  %22No%2C I%27m an only child.%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI find this passage interesting in light of later revelations. There %0D%0A%3Edoesn%27t seem to be bad blood between Azana and Zurin... but she %0D%0A%3Eflat-out scrubs him from her family frame of reference when people %0D%0A%3Eask%3F Not even a %22I do%2C but my brother is thirty years older than me%22 %0D%0A%3Eexplanation%3F Just completely denies the existence of a sibling at all%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EIt seems like there%27s a story there. %0D%0A%0D%0ANot really%2C unless you consider %22Zurin is 30%2B years older than Azana%2C they%27re virtual strangers to each other%2C and also%2C have never even slightly shared a household%2C which is the context in which Karana was asking%22 a story.  She %5Bi%5Dis%5B%2Fi%5D Izuno and Azera%27s only child%2C probably didn%27t know Zurin was her father%27s son until some time after first meeting him%2C and doesn%27t think of him as her brother in a familial sense.  She doesn%27t dislike him%2C but she doesn%27t particularly like him either%3B she doesn%27t %5Bi%5Dknow%5B%2Fi%5D him in any meaningful sense.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EHrrm. The gown and mortarboard is a bit... western%2C I guess%3F%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EOn the other hand%2C it isn%27t like the series itself is enormously %0D%0A%3Econsistent in this regard. %0D%0A%0D%0A... and you%27ve answered your own objection.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EI would very much like to know the story behind that marriage.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo would a great many of the late General Izuno%27s friends%2C including Colonel Zurin.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EIf it had been me%3F It would be nothing but names like Summavut. Which %0D%0A%3Eis near Allavut%2C north of Nunavut%2C and west of Henhiavut. %0D%0A%0D%0AWhich wouldn%27t even make %5Bi%5Dsense%5B%2Fi%5D%2C since it%27s pronounced %22%5Bi%5Dnoo%5B%2Fi%5Dnavoot%22.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E%22We were hunters and fishers for a long time before we%0D%0A%3E%3Eever took up farming or trading%2C and the impulse to make our stuff%0D%0A%3E%3Eourselves is still really strong in our culture.%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E... they farm down there%3F Really%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AA bit%2C by the coast.  Also aquaculture.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3ERight. Here%27s the thing. I%27m gonna be charitable and assume you were %0D%0A%3Eplaying this largely for laughs.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22largely%22%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAnd I could see %22Karana is just a %0D%0A%3Elittle bit racist%22 being an interesting character trait to be %0D%0A%3Eexplored. %0D%0A%0D%0AAgain with the nonsense.  Northerners aren%27t a different %5Bi%5Drace%5B%2Fi%5D%3B what she%27s actually being is politically biased.%0D%0A%0D%0AThinking about it%2C if this sequence %5Bi%5Dhadn%27t%5B%2Fi%5D been mainly a studio injoke%2C Karana would have plenty of room to stand here.  I mean%2C she%27s talking about the people of a country which has pushed her own around for centuries%2C and that%27s before you even get to the fact that a Northern chief once attempted%2C in what to her would%27ve been the equivalent of about 1890%2C to %5Bi%5Dplunge the entire world into a seething maelstrom of infinite evil%5B%2Fi%5D for his personal aggrandizement.  I mean%2C if Queen Victoria had attempted something like that%2C I would probably not be the Anglophile I am today%2C I%27m just saying. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AAs it is%2C though%2C she%27s a 12-year-old girl speaking overly-broadly in a minor dudgeon.  I%27m not sure I%27d read that much into it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EOnly%2C the Annotations notwithstanding%2C it doesn%27t come off that way. I %0D%0A%3Edidn%27t hear Karana speaking here%2C I heard Ben Hutchins speaking.%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C that%27s as may be%2C although if you did%2C I wasn%27t speaking to you. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAnd I %0D%0A%3Edidn%27t get the feeling that the narrative means us to regard Karana%27s %0D%0A%3Eopinion on all Northerners being tools neutrally%3B rather%2C I got the %0D%0A%3Efeeling it intends for the reader to take Karana%27s opinion as -fact-. %0D%0A%0D%0ACan%27t help you there%2C I guess%2C particularly as she qualified it herself as to the incompleteness of her sample size.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EOn a lighter note%2C I do like to imagine that when Shinzen met them %0D%0A%3Eagain after the holidays%2C he looked at Azana%2C looked at Karana%27s%2C %0D%0A%3Elooked at Karana%27s necklack%2C proclaimed %22I always knew%2C%22 and then %0D%0A%3Eglided off with as much regal dignity as a twelve-year-old could %0D%0A%3Emuster%2C leaving a very confused Azana and a slightly-too-nonchalant %0D%0A%3EKarana behind him. %0D%0A%0D%0AHeh%2C well%2C not quite.  Shinzen did know what Karana%27s necklace was long before Azana found out%2C but he didn%27t know Azana had given it to her until she told him in %5Bi%5DA Bride Too Far%5B%2Fi%5D.  He assumed she was either wearing it for non-matrimonial reasons %28like his cousin Katara%27s historical namesake was known to do%29 or it had something to do with %22back at home%22 business that was none of his%2C though he did think she was awfully young for the latter to be the case and that it was thus more likely to be the former.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAll in all%2C good times. Man%2C you vanish for a couple weeks and %0D%0A%3Esuddenly Ben and Phil get all productive and shit. I figured the onset %0D%0A%3Eof finals meant that I would be safe. %0D%0A%0D%0APartly%2C what you%27re seeing is a process artifact - much of %5Bi%5DGoodbye and Hello%5B%2Fi%5D has existed for months%2C it%27s not like it all suddenly came about this week - and partly it%27s a combination of random inspirations and periods when I couldn%27t have been getting Real Work done anyway.  %5Bi%5DLaura Kinney and the Maiden in the Ice%5B%2Fi%5D%2C %5Bi%5DA Fire to be Lighted%5B%2Fi%5D%2C and %5Bi%5DA Bride Too Far%5B%2Fi%5D%2C for instance%2C all happened during long stints at my campus job%2C where I can%27t get much done on regular coursework for various logistical reasons.%0D%0A%0D%0ASimilarly%2C there are a couple-three pieces queued up to follow G%26H that were finished before it was%2C but had to wait until after it%2C so while you will be seeing new material appear during the time when I%27m studying for and%2For undertaking next week%27s final exams%2C I wasn%27t actually writing it during crunch time.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
4|2|3|||1||RE%3A A Fire to be Lighted|Mercutio||03:24:07|12/13/2013|%3E%5Bsmall%5D... so this is what happens when I have to walk past a computer %0D%0A%3Eto get to the bathroom.  luckily%2C this morning%27s final lecture in %0D%0A%3ERussian History covers a time I watched happen on TV%2C unlike most of %0D%0A%3Emy classmates. %3A%29%5B%2Fsmall%5D %0D%0A%0D%0AI gotta ask%3B fall of the Berlin Wall%2C or Yeltsin on the tank%3F I figure it has to be one of the two.%0D%0A%0D%0A... man%2C you are probably in class with a number of fellow undergrads who literally did not exist when either of those two things happened. That must be so weird.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EI would very much like to know the story behind that marriage.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ESo would a great many of the late General Izuno%27s friends%2C including %0D%0A%3EColonel Zurin. %0D%0A%0D%0AI love it when you tease me%2C Hutchins. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5DLaura Kinney and the Maiden in the Ice%5B%2Fi%5D%2C %5Bi%5DA Fire %0D%0A%3Eto be Lighted%5B%2Fi%5D%2C and %5Bi%5DA Bride Too Far%5B%2Fi%5D%2C for instance%2C all %0D%0A%3Ehappened during long stints at my campus job%2C where I can%27t get much %0D%0A%3Edone on regular coursework for various logistical reasons. %0D%0A%0D%0AI find this supremely ironic because the unspoken reason for much on-campus student employment%2C back in the day%2C was to kick back a few shekels into student pockets while providing them with a %22job%22 that essentially consisted of them spending two hours doing actual work and then six hours studying at their desk during any given eight-hour shift.%0D%0A%0D%0AOf course%2C back in those days our public university system wasn%27t a complete shambles. But now I%27ve gone off on a tangent. I blame the cold.%0D%0A%0D%0A-Merc%0D%0AKeep Rat
10|3|4|||1||RE%3A A Fire to be Lighted|Gryphon||00:38:11|12/17/2013|%3E%3E%5Bsmall%5D... so this is what happens when I have to walk past a computer %0D%0A%3E%3Eto get to the bathroom.  luckily%2C this morning%27s final lecture in %0D%0A%3E%3ERussian History covers a time I watched happen on TV%2C unlike most of %0D%0A%3E%3Emy classmates. %3A%29%5B%2Fsmall%5D %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI gotta ask%3B fall of the Berlin Wall%2C or Yeltsin on the tank%3F I figure %0D%0A%3Eit has to be one of the two. %0D%0A%0D%0AThe latter.  The fall of the Berlin Wall was only touched on briefly in this particular class%2C as part of a general overview of the Soviet Union%27s satellite empire unraveling%2C but the 1991 coup attempt is a pretty big part of the fall of the USSR itself.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe coup attempt happened in August%2C a week or so before my freshman year at WPI was set to start.  My father and I were coincidentally on our way home from the last of our summer road trips when we got caught a few towns east of Worcester on I-90 by Hurricane Bob.  Massport closed the Interstate and we sat out the storm in the Ramada Inn in Westborough%2C watching the Soviet coup on CNN %28amazingly%2C the power and cable stayed on at the Ramada the whole time%29.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe things you end up remembering...%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E... man%2C you are probably in class with a number of fellow undergrads %0D%0A%3Ewho literally did not exist when either of those two things happened. %0D%0A%3EThat must be so weird. %0D%0A%0D%0AIt is a bit.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E%5Bi%5DLaura Kinney and the Maiden in the Ice%5B%2Fi%5D%2C %5Bi%5DA Fire %0D%0A%3E%3Eto be Lighted%5B%2Fi%5D%2C and %5Bi%5DA Bride Too Far%5B%2Fi%5D%2C for instance%2C all %0D%0A%3E%3Ehappened during long stints at my campus job%2C where I can%27t get much %0D%0A%3E%3Edone on regular coursework for various logistical reasons. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI find this supremely ironic because the unspoken reason for much %0D%0A%3Eon-campus student employment%2C back in the day%2C was to kick back a few %0D%0A%3Eshekels into student pockets while providing them with a %22job%22 that %0D%0A%3Eessentially consisted of them spending two hours doing actual work and %0D%0A%3Ethen six hours studying at their desk during any given eight-hour %0D%0A%3Eshift. %0D%0A%0D%0ATo be fair%2C my work study job is in the mechanical engineering technology department%2C where running the tool crib in the Machine Tool Laboratory is considered %28with some justification%29 Work In Field.  It%27s not really reasonable to be down on that job for not providing an environment conducive to doing research papers in history.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
8|2|3|||1||RE%3A A Fire to be Lighted|Pasha||21:09:40|12/14/2013|%0D%0A%3E%3EI would very much like to know the story behind that marriage.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ESo would a great many of the late General Izuno%27s friends%2C including %0D%0A%3EColonel Zurin. %0D%0A%0D%0AWhat%2C Gen Izuno was supposed to be immune to the charms of a lovely young woman%3F  He might have known exactly what he was getting into %28or at least mostly%29 and considered it a fair exchange before Azana came along%2C by which time that it was obvious it was too late.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- %0D%0A-Pasha%0D%0A%22Don%27t change the subject%22%0D%0A%22Too slow%2C already did.%22
9|3|8|||1||RE%3A A Fire to be Lighted|Gryphon||21:33:24|12/14/2013|%3E%3E%3EI would very much like to know the story behind that marriage.%0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3ESo would a great many of the late General Izuno%27s friends%2C including %0D%0A%3E%3EColonel Zurin. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWhat%2C Gen Izuno was supposed to be immune to the charms of a lovely %0D%0A%3Eyoung woman%3F  He might have known exactly what he was getting into%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%221%22%5D... as it were...%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Eand considered it a fair exchange before Azana came %0D%0A%3Ealong%2C by which time that it was obvious it was too late. %0D%0A%0D%0AThat may be so.  However%2C it%27s worth noting that%2C although the general was just as %5Bi%5Dsurprised%5B%2Fi%5D as Azera when that happened%2C he was also quite delighted.%0D%0A%0D%0AStill%2C had he lived another year or two%2C he would probably have given Azera what she wanted%3A a Suitable Residence in Caldera City and his tacit permission to go and do whatever it was she was planning to do there%2C while he remained in Shu Jing and tended his garden.  By that point Azana would have pretty amply demonstrated that she could get along fine without a distant%2C vaguely hostile mother figure%2C and Izuno would%27ve given up his lingering hope that Azera would ever be anything but.  As for the rest%2C eh%2C at his age%2C what of it.%0D%0A%0D%0AUnfortunately%2C he died%2C which in the weird game of Fire Nation high society%2C left Azera considerably more circumscribed than she would%27ve been if he%27d been alive.  As General Izuno%27s wayward second wife%2C she could have cut a deliciously scandalous figure in Capital society.  As his widow%2C she faces a different set of social expectations.  On some level%2C Azana probably sympathizes a little%2C at least in the abstract.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Karana doesn%27t.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
5|1|0|||||RE%3A A Fire to be Lighted|drakensis||03:48:08|12/13/2013|%3E%5Btt%5DPRINCESS KATARA %0D%0A%3ECousin%2C why do you have a ponytail now%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EPRINCE SHINZEN %0D%0A%3EThis is a warriors wolf-tail%21 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EPRINCESS KATARA %0D%0A%3E%28not buying it%29 %0D%0A%3EWell%2C it certainly tells the other warriors know that you%27re fun%2C and %0D%0A%3Eperky.%5B%2Ftt%5D %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI regret nothing whatsoever. %0D%0A%0D%0AYou villain%21 I caught that.