LNYE Fic: Three Conversations, for nextian

[whitelotusmods]

Title: Three Conversations
By: troisroyaumes
Recipient: nextian
Rating: G
Characters: Mai, Mai's mother, Ursa, Azula
Content Notes: None.
Additional Notes: I couldn't find a name for Mai's mother, so I made one up for her; hopefully, it doesn't contradict any canon information.

I. Izu

Mai stifled a yawn as yet another visitor was announced. Her mother said out of the corner of her mouth, "Behave yourself, Mai," and so Mai straightened and assumed her best blank expression.

Now that she was betrothed to Zuko--officially, after an elaborate, pompous ceremony that had gone on for hours--her mother had taken to insisting on her company, complete with sighs about not having many days left for "quality mother-daughter time". What it really meant, of course, was listening to endless lectures on etiquette and deportment, being paraded like a fine hound-mare in front of all her numerous relatives, and worst of all, sitting through what she mentally dubbed the gossip hours.

While their husbands and sons attended tedious debates in council with the Fire Lord--Mai snorted at the thought of Zuko trying to keep order among all the quarreling ministers and generals--the noblewomen of the capital spent those same hours paying one another visits and trading rumors. Like clockwork, they took turns hosting their friends and enemies, according to an unspoken system based on political factions, family connections, and personal feuds. Mai couldn’t figure out the sequence and only knew that her mother had worked her way into the center of it all with an adroit application of flattery and bribery. Now, there was no unsubstantiated gossip, both trivial and scandalous, that managed to make its way through Caldera without first passing through her mother’s ear.

The woman who entered was dressed to the height of fashion, in the fur-trimmed robes that had become increasingly popular after the successful trade negotiations with the Northern Water Tribe resulted in Water Tribe merchants frequenting the capital. Privately, Mai thought that the robes were too stuffy for the subtropical climate of the Fire Nation, but this woman looked cool and serene, without a single drop of sweat to mar her immaculate makeup.

"Lady Tei," her mother said graciously, bowing slightly. Still a social inferior, Mai thought and adjusted her expression appropriately to imply a touch of condescension.

"Lady Izu," the other lady said, bowing ostentatiously, with hands raised in deference. "Forgive me for coming so late to congratulate you on your daughter’s engagement. Please accept this small gift of apology."

Mai blinked as the woman gestured for her servant to enter with bolts of brilliant red silk and present it for her mother’s inspection. "How beautiful," her mother murmured with a small, pleased smile. "Such exquisite embroidery."

"The finest Earth Kingdom silk. It’s the last of what we managed to bring with us when we were...called back."

"Please, have a seat. I will ask the servants to bring us some tea."

Mai tried not to zone out as the two women compared their family trees and talked about a mutual distant cousin who had lately been demoted. Apparently, he had been a captain in the army and a firebender to boot. He had disobeyed orders to pull out his troops peacefully and had used firebending to quell one of the many riots that had accompanied the Fire Nation's retreat from its former colonies.

She frowned. It was very easy to say that the war had ended, but it seemed that there was just as much fighting as there was before. Poor Zuko, she thought with a inward sigh. He wasn't the sort to be patient or diplomatic.

"Lady Mai?"

She was startled to see both women staring at her expectantly. "Yes?"

"If you would be so good to accept this," the woman said, putting an enameled hexagonal box on the table and pushing it towards her. "Just a small token of our gratitude."

Gratitude for what? Mai took the box and opened it. Inside were two gold earrings, peppered with tiny rubies. They seemed too heavy too wear. She looked up sharply. "I couldn't possibly--"

Lady Tei shook her head. "I insist. Since you are so kind to mention to your betrothed," and here she gave a discreet cough, "about our delicate situation."

Mai felt a sharp stab of anger, much to her surprise. She raised an eyebrow. "I'm afraid I don't understand--"

Her mother cut in, closing the box and putting it in her sleeve. "Excuse my daughter's manners, Lady Tei. She must be feeling tired from preparing for the wedding. We shall not forget your generosity."

***

"What was that?" Mai demanded, as soon as Lady Tei had left. "What situation? What am I supposed to mention to Zuko?"

"The matter of her husband, of course. Didn't you hear us discussing it? He's one of your cousins. Why must I spell all these details out for you?" her mother snapped.

Mai blinked. "The captain who was demoted? I thought he was her cousin, not her husband."

"They are distantly related but they are also married. Honestly, Mai, how do you expect to take on the duties of the Fire Lord's wife if you do not know who people are?" Her mother took the box out from her sleeves and studied it critically. "A bit vulgar in her tastes, like all of these colonials, but at least she is doing her best."

"What good will it do to talk to Zuko? The man made a serious mistake; people were killed."

"She expects you to have some influence over the Fire Lord, of course. Why else did she visit us? Your father is Minister of Personnel of course, but he only oversees civilian appointments, not military ones. I imagine she's gone and bribed all the wives of his superior officers as well, but judging by the expense she took, I suppose she's invested most of her hopes in you. And, Mai, really, I hope you don't go around calling the Fire Lord by his given name in public!"

"Then what am I supposed to call my fiancé?" Mai folded her arms. "Mother, I put up with being a pawn for Father's career, but I am not going to do it for everyone else as well."

Her mother gave her a quelling glance and held the earring box out to her. "Mai, don't you understand? This is power. Do you think I've been taking you with me to meet with all the families of consequence in Caldera so that you could enjoy the free pastries?"

Mai blinked. "I thought...I thought you were just...gossiping."

"Do you think your father was promoted to Minister of Personnel merely by the goodwill of the Fire Lord? Or perhaps you think it was done as a favor to you? No, I'm the one who got your father that promotion though all the alliances and debts that I've so carefully cultivated here. Do you think your Zuko would have even thought of it if your father's name hadn't been put forward by the Minister of Commerce, to whose wife I sent so many expensive tonics? Do you think the rest of the council would have supported him if I hadn't made sure that your father was on good terms with every faction?"

Mai clenched her teeth. "I'm sorry, Mother. I didn't realize."

Her mother sighed and embraced her, a little awkwardly. "Mai, my beautiful girl, you are going to be a woman now, and being a woman means that you can no longer ignore the rest of the world and pretend not to care. Especially not if you are going to be the future Fire Lady."

Mai held still until her mother let go. "Mother, please return Lady Tei's present. I am not going to intercede with Zuko on her behalf, and I don't want to make any false promises."

"Are you certain?" her mother said, her eyes narrowed. "You may regret your decision later. Lady Tei and her husband are among the first to return from the colonies but they will not be the last." She held out the earring box again.

Mai turned and left the room.

***

II. Ursa

"A message from the palace, Lady Mai," said the servant, bowing deeply before handing the scroll to her.

Opening it, it read, "From Dowager Ursa to Lady Mai, may I request that she visit me in my quarters at the Palace tomorrow morning, if she has the time."

Mai wordlessly passed the scroll to her mother, whose eyes widened as she scanned the message. "Well, of course you must go! But oh dear, oh dear, I promised the Minister of Commerce that I would bring you along--"

Mai said quietly, "I can't refuse the Dowager, can I?" and breathed a sigh of relief as her mother nodded. The gossip hours, with their not-so-innocuous gossip, burdened her more than ever before, now that she had started paying attention. Promotions and policies both were decided in the tea rooms of Caldera long before they ever found their way to the council room. She wondered how much Zuko knew about it but didn't know how to ask him.

***

The next morning, she put on her best robes at her mother's behest--"I know she's seen you many times before, but it is never too late to make a good impression on your future mother-in-law!"--and rode to the royal palace. Despite being quite familiar with the palace grounds after years of following Azula around, she had never been to the rooms which Zuko's mother now occupied.

She remembered Lady--no, now Dowager--Ursa, of course, back when Azula was just the Fire Lord's niece and not a princess. But Zuko and Azula's mother had been thought dead for over a decade, and Mai's memories of her were fuzzy at best. A kind face with an indulgent smile for Zuko and a worried frown whenever Azula made trouble.

Mai had been there, next to Zuko, when he had gone to find his mother and escort her back home after so many long years of exile. Dowager Ursa had seemed very thin and small; Mai had been surprised to realize that she was now taller than his mother. Mai had quickly left them alone to have their reunion in private; it was only much later, after they had returned to the capital, that Zuko presented her to his mother and asked formally for permission to marry.

Dowager Ursa had smiled but Mai thought that the smile looked more tired than joyful.

One of the palace servants announced Mai's arrival outside the Dowager's door. "Come in," called a voice from inside.

Mai entered the room and immediately kneeled, bowing her head deeply. "You asked to see me, Dowager."

"Yes, I thought I should get to know my daughter a little better." Zuko's mother smiled and motioned her to take a seat.

On the table between them was an empty pai sho board.

"Do you know how to play?"

Mai nodded.

"Then perhaps you'll indulge me in a game. I am quite fond of pai sho but have only Lord Iroh as an opponent these days. Zuko, I'm afraid, doesn't appreciate the game very much."

Mai took the sack of tiles, its weight pleasantly heavy in her hands. "I like the game too," she admitted and examined the pieces. They were made of porcelain and painted by a master. She took out a tile with an eight-spoked wheel--her favorite opening move--and placed it on the board.

Zuko's mother answered her almost immediately by placing a white lotus tile at the center of the board.

Mai frowned. That was not a standard response to her opening move. Still, she was good at handling the unexpected.

An hour later, Mai's formations had been expertly dispersed, her attacks countered and several of her key tiles captured. Zuko's mother seemed to favor a defensive style, and it was an effective counter to Mai's usual aggressive strategies. She tried to think of a way to regroup.

"I must admit that I didn't expect you to be so assertive."

Mai tried to hide a smile. "Well, I'm Azula's friend after all," she said then paused. "Or rather, I was."

Zuko's mother looked meditative and moved a tile on the board, neatly dodging the trap that Mai had hoped would be too subtle to be missed. "I must admit, I was surprised to hear that you would be marrying Zuko. I remember your infatuation when you were a child, but I didn't expect it to last."

Mai shifted in her seat. "I like Zuko. Very much. More than...more than anything else."

"They say the pai sho board reveals the true personality of the player. If we had sat down to a game earlier, perhaps I would not have been so surprised. You are loyal, Mai, in your own way."

Mai froze. She let the tile in her fingers fall back into the bag. "Pardon me, Dowager, but I think you are mistaken."

"Oh?" Zuko's mother slid a tile across the board and captured Mai's eight-spoke wheel. "I don't think I am."

Mai winced and tried to concentrate on the board.

"Why do you say that I'm mistaken in my judgment?" Zuko's mother asked, her voice very gentle.

Mai stayed silent. They played several more turns. She knew she was losing, and there was no more hope of winning. She should resign rather than watch more of her tiles get captured.

"I have lost," she said finally and bowed her head. They cleared the board and put the tiles back into the bag. After a moment, Mai met the Dowager's eyes and said, her voice calm and expressionless, "I don't think your daughter would call me loyal."

"You made a choice," Zuko's mother said. "Azula may not forgive you for that, but you did not betray her by being loyal to Zuko."

"I was Azula's friend first. At least, as much as anyone could be a friend to her."

"You must make many similar choices in the future, I'm afraid. Deciding between Zuko and everyone else in your life." Zuko's mother gave her a rueful smile. "I had to choose as well, you know."

Mai's hands twisted in her lap. "I'll choose him. Every time."

Dowager Ursa only said, "I hope so. He needs your support more than anyone else right now."

***

The next day, another servant arrived with a scroll from the palace, containing an elegantly worded message of thanks for Mai's company and a confusing postscript that read, "I am enclosing a pamphlet that came into my hands a few weeks ago. You may recognize the author."

With the message was a thin book, printed on cheap paper. Mai took it to her room to peruse in private.

It began, "Fire Lord Zuko does not hear the will of the people! He uproots the colonists who have gone overseas in the name of the Empire, then tells our military to look the other way when our countrymen's homes are ransacked by the Earth Kingdom soldiers. Meanwhile, he makes pacts to give away our wealth to foreigners, while ignoring those who are starving at home, the men and women of the Fire Nation who sacrificed everything they had for the war and are now left with nothing. In the streets of Caldera, the nobles do nothing, and the puppet of the Avatar, our nation's greatest enemy, sits on the throne."

Mai grimaced. Was it a joke? She continued reading.

"What has become of the proud Fire Nation? Surely the heavens have not abandoned us now. Let us look elsewhere for a Fire Lord! They speak of a firebending genius who lives in exile and bears royal blood..."

"Oh no," Mai groaned, dropping the book. "Azula."

III. Azula

Azula came back to the capital, though she did not return to the palace. Instead, she stationed herself in the Harbor City district, where she opened a firebending school. More incendiary pamphlets were published and distributed through underground networks; there were news of riots in the provinces.

"I told you not to let her come back," she muttered to Zuko after leafing through the latest screed against his decision to pay reparations to the people of Ba Sing Se for damages incurred during the war.

"I didn't exactly let her. The whole council united against me. Including your father, I may add."

She sighed. "He's playing it safe. That's what he does."

"It was such a rare change from the constant arguing that I decided just to give in. It's like a battle zone in the council room these days. The ministers and the generals don't agree on anything. Let's not even talk about the provincial representatives or the former colonists." Zuko rubbed his eyes, his shoulders slumped. "It seems like the only thing everyone agrees on is that they hate me and like Azula. Nothing's changed from before, except now there isn't even a way to redeem myself. Not that I can see."

"You're just setting yourself up for an even worse situation if you let Azula return to the capital."

"It's better that she remain where I can keep an eye on her. Besides, she's done a lot of traveling; I heard she even visited the Sun Warriors. Perhaps she's changed."

"Even if Azula changed, you shouldn't underestimate her."

Zuko snorted. "Trust me, I learned that lesson a long time ago."

Mai picked up the pamphlet and leafed through it again. Azula had always shown a talent for demagoguery, but now she had managed to put aside the overweening arrogance that had gotten in the way of winning people over. Now though...her writing, as vitriolic as it was, tapped into people's resentment and anger rather than inspiring fear. Zuko wasn't wrong; Azula had changed, though Mai couldn't tell if it was necessarily for the better.

"Your mother asked me to pay her a visit," she said.

"Is that a good idea?" Zuko asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I don't know," she sighed. "But I need to face her sooner or later."

***

"The princess is in the dojo. If you would please wait outside--"

Mai nodded at the man, who left her standing by the open door. She peered in and immediately caught sight of Azula, who was demonstrating a dance-like form that required her to juggle many small balls of fire in the air as she stretched and contorted her body around them. Before her, a group of students, dressed in loose robes, watched quietly, some with mouths open in awe.

Mai wasn't a firebender but she knew enough to recognize that the form was not only difficult but also was distinct from the style typically used by the Fire Nation military. She watched as Azula extinguished the balls of fire one by one until only one was left, hovering over her hands, which she held in the gesture of deference. The students all broke into applause.

Azula held a hand up for silence, and they subsided. She said, "This form is characteristic of the style practiced on Ember Island. As you can see, it relies on deft control of multiple flames, but also emphasizes adjusting one's body around the natural motion of the fire rather than seeking to move the fire itself. Now, see if you can repeat what I've just demonstrated. Start with two flames and add more as you grow comfortable with the form."

Mai watched as Azula went around and observed each student, critiquing them individually and sometimes cuffing them on the ear for a mistake. Despite her harshness--she did not utter a single word of praise to anyone--the students didn't seem to resent her. Quite a few managed to get through the form without too many mishaps, though a few ended up running for the bucket of water because the edge of their sleeve caught on fire.

Finally, Azula dismissed the class, and the students filtered out the door, pausing to glance curiously at Mai as they passed by. Soon, there was no one left in the dojo, except Azula herself, hands on hips, foot tapping slowly against the floor.

"Well, well. If it isn't my old friend, Mai."

"Azula. I hope I'm not intruding."

"You are. But since you're here anyway--"

Without warning, Azula punched forward a blast of fire towards Mai, who reflexively ducked just in time. It singed a lock of her hair. Mai didn't pause but ran into the dojo, leaping high to avoid Azula's bursts of flame while she reached inside her sleeve for her stilettos.

Which weren't there.

She blinked, wondering how she had ever left the house without her weapons, when Azula came flying towards her with a roundhouse kick. She ducked again and tumbled forward into a roll, turning just in time to block Azula's palm with her arm. She kicked up at her opponent's face to distract her and get some distance, while she reached for the sharp pins that held up her hair. Twirling three of them between her fingers, she swung out of the way of another fireball before she flung them at Azula's face.

"Vicious girl," Azula said, as one nicked her in the ear. "You're out of practice though."

Mai straightened, breathing heavily as she watched Azula walk towards her. "I haven't had reason to fight anyone in a while."

"How disappointing."

Mai jerked backwards as Azula came closer.

"You can relax," Azula said, rolling her eyes. "I'm not going to ambush you."

They stood less than an arm's length apart, eyeing each other warily.

"I'm not going to apologize," Mai said, her voice sullen even to her own ears.

"I don't expect you to. I'm not going to apologize either."

"I know you're the one writing those pamphlets. The ones criticizing Zuko."

Azula shrugged. "I'm only repeating what people already say."

"Your mother thinks you are inciting a rebellion."

At that, Azula paused and then scowled. "Typical. My mother never understood me."

Mai raised an eyebrow. "So you're not writing these pamphlets and distributing them as a way of getting support for usurping Zuko's position?"

"I haven't decided what I want to do yet. It depends on how Zuko responds. I'm just...testing him, for now. If he isn't strong enough to be the Fire Lord, he shouldn't be the Fire Lord."

"I never could figure out how much of your warped logic you really believed," Mai muttered under her breath.

"It may seem warped to you, but plenty of people out there," and Azula made a sweeping gesture, "do. You can't afford to ignore that reality. Fire Nation isn't going to accept Zuko as a leader merely because he wears the Fire Lord's crown and has the Avatar's support."

Mai frowned. "And you think they would prefer you?"

"Let's just say, I'm an alternative." Azula crossed her arms. "Don't expect me to sit back and do nothing. I've won against Zuko all my life. Just because he defeated me this one time doesn't mean that I'm going to back down now and retreat quietly."

"Don't expect me to help you."

"I'm not even going to ask. I heard about the betrothal. Congratulations."

"Thanks."

"Well, if you don't have anything left to say, I need to go and change out of these practice clothes."

Before Azula could walk away, Mai interrupted, "I'm still puzzled about one thing though. Words aren't your usual style, Azula. I half-expected you to raise a private army and invade the capital instead."

Azula flushed and looked away. She muttered, "Well. There's been enough war. Thought I'd try a different way."

Silent in her surprise, Mai watched Azula leave, her once-friend's back as straight and unyielding as ever.

Comments

[hokuton_punch]

Damn, this was quite a fascinating fic to read - most excellent work. ♥

[beccastareyes]

Interesting. And now I really want to know what happens -- can Zuko deal with the politics of the Fire Nation, and can Mai and Ursa help out?

[musesfool]

It's not going to be easy for Zuko and Mai, is it? I enjoyed this look at Mai learning some of the subtler and less pleasant responsibilities of being the Firelord's wife.

[terajk]

Fascinating. I loved how the worldbuilding and Mai's very domestic conversations flowed in and out of each other, and her pai sho game with Ursa.

And Azula writing ideological pamphlets? *shudder*

[nextian]

OMG, thank you, mystery author!! I adore Mai and I adore your take on her, and on all the powerful women in her life -- particularly Ursa, who is just like my mental image of her. I love the complication of life after wartime here, and I can't thank you enough for this fic!

[gigerisgod]

this was a great read. i loved Mai and Ursa's discussion.

[jetamors]

Oh wow, I really loved this. I especially like how you portray all the characters; I feel like it's a bit sideways from the ways fandom usually characterizes them, but in a good way that changes my assumptions about them.

[pleonasm]

You have a lovely Mai. I love seeing her strong and active side. Azula was also interesting and frightening here; I like that she decided to try a different methodology; she's not stupid, she can adapt to change. And Ursa was wonderful too.

[unjapanologist]

This is just fascinating. The way Mai's mother makes her understand that she'll have to grow up just a little more now is incredibly touching for some reason, and I love Azula writing pamphlets instead of coming in fists blazing. Really, seriously love it.

Sequel? :)

[vi]

These conversations are excellent; the politics and grittiness behind the original series are intriguing. Azula's portion works so well - freaks me out to think of her writing pamphlets!

[livrelibre]

Ooh that's good!

[michelel72]

Oh, what a mess — and all too likely. Very effective!

[eruthros]

This is lovely! I really enjoyed it.