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My beta reader wrote on the sheets for this story 'SO MUCH DISHONOR. FIND A SYNONYM.' I found that a wonderful summary for Zuko's character on the whole. I also found several synonyms.
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Theme: Honor
Rating: PG
For three days, there had been no clues. No rumors of astounding feats for him to follow, no trails to track. The exiled prince of Fire Country began to doubt himself.
'What would father do?' was the question he most often posed to himself. Answers varied. To be thorough, he could go back and scour for clues, but that would cost time. To ambush his prey, he would have to think like the Avatar, anticipate his movements, and move before he could. Until now, the latter had seemed like the best course of action.
The Avatar had broadcast his movements, allowing prince Zuko to predict what he would do next. By necessity, the Avatar would have to train in all four elements. The trouble was that initially he'd been predictable. Then, all of a sudden, Aang had learned to go quietly, and cover his trail. Zuko had no choice but to guess where to go.
Now, with no sign of his prey, the prince worried that he had guessed wrong. His only opportunity to redeem his shattered honor was slipping off in another direction, without a trace. Anger overcame him, and with the sole intention of slamming it shut again, Zuko flung open his door.
Outside, his uncle Iroh stood blinking, carrying a tray of food.
"Oh. Prince Zuko." He sounded friendly and relieved. "I was just pondering the conundrum of knocking on your door to tell you dinner was here with both my hands full of food. Your timing, as always, is unrivaled." Carrying his load, he invited himself in, talking all the while to override any protest Zuko might have tried. "Won't you have some? The duck is excellent."
He had settled the tray in the cleared center of the prince's chambers, then seated himself. "I also brought up some excellent white tea. You must have some."
Zuko very nearly exploded. In fact, if his body hadn't seen fit to remind him that it had been a truly long time since he'd eaten, then it would have been a sure thing. His uncle would have -worn- the tea.
"How can you think only of food when my one chance at honor is slipping away," The prince hissed, eyes narrowing.
"Have more faith in your ability, prince." His uncle, with a sad and longing glance toward the food, set aside his chopsticks and the bowl of rice he had started to eat. "Besides, honor is a subjective thing."
"What!" Zuko roared, though he quickly quieted when his uncle held up a hand to demonstrate that he wasn't finished. "Everyone can agree on what's honorable and disgraceful, uncle."
"Consider it in this perspective," Iroh placed his hands in his lap, sitting up straight as if about to tell a story. "A man who steals out of greed is shameful, is he not?"
"Of -course- he is."
"It was more of a rhetorical question, nephew." His uncle continued, eyes closing patiently. "On the other hand a man who steals to eat should also be considered disreputable."
"Stealing is dishonorable, Uncle." Zuko put in, impatiently.
"From a perspective. However, starving to death is also contemptible. The difference is, prince, that a man who starves cannot ever redeem his honor. The man who chooses life makes the honorable choice." Iroh cracked one eye open to gauge response. "Always.
"That's ridiculous!" Zuko raged, turning furiously on his uncle. "I don't need these children's stories, uncle! I need to catch the Avatar. Why can't you be more useful!"
"Certainly, prince." Iroh stood up, grinning to himself, to take his leave. Deciding that he would be -most- useful in helping to decrease the ship's surplus population of food, he trundled in the direction of the kitchen, taking his leisurely time.
Zuko considered the food he had been brought angrily, briefly considering kicking it over to make himself feel better.
In the end, he did the honorable thing.
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Theme: Honor
Rating: PG
For three days, there had been no clues. No rumors of astounding feats for him to follow, no trails to track. The exiled prince of Fire Country began to doubt himself.
'What would father do?' was the question he most often posed to himself. Answers varied. To be thorough, he could go back and scour for clues, but that would cost time. To ambush his prey, he would have to think like the Avatar, anticipate his movements, and move before he could. Until now, the latter had seemed like the best course of action.
The Avatar had broadcast his movements, allowing prince Zuko to predict what he would do next. By necessity, the Avatar would have to train in all four elements. The trouble was that initially he'd been predictable. Then, all of a sudden, Aang had learned to go quietly, and cover his trail. Zuko had no choice but to guess where to go.
Now, with no sign of his prey, the prince worried that he had guessed wrong. His only opportunity to redeem his shattered honor was slipping off in another direction, without a trace. Anger overcame him, and with the sole intention of slamming it shut again, Zuko flung open his door.
Outside, his uncle Iroh stood blinking, carrying a tray of food.
"Oh. Prince Zuko." He sounded friendly and relieved. "I was just pondering the conundrum of knocking on your door to tell you dinner was here with both my hands full of food. Your timing, as always, is unrivaled." Carrying his load, he invited himself in, talking all the while to override any protest Zuko might have tried. "Won't you have some? The duck is excellent."
He had settled the tray in the cleared center of the prince's chambers, then seated himself. "I also brought up some excellent white tea. You must have some."
Zuko very nearly exploded. In fact, if his body hadn't seen fit to remind him that it had been a truly long time since he'd eaten, then it would have been a sure thing. His uncle would have -worn- the tea.
"How can you think only of food when my one chance at honor is slipping away," The prince hissed, eyes narrowing.
"Have more faith in your ability, prince." His uncle, with a sad and longing glance toward the food, set aside his chopsticks and the bowl of rice he had started to eat. "Besides, honor is a subjective thing."
"What!" Zuko roared, though he quickly quieted when his uncle held up a hand to demonstrate that he wasn't finished. "Everyone can agree on what's honorable and disgraceful, uncle."
"Consider it in this perspective," Iroh placed his hands in his lap, sitting up straight as if about to tell a story. "A man who steals out of greed is shameful, is he not?"
"Of -course- he is."
"It was more of a rhetorical question, nephew." His uncle continued, eyes closing patiently. "On the other hand a man who steals to eat should also be considered disreputable."
"Stealing is dishonorable, Uncle." Zuko put in, impatiently.
"From a perspective. However, starving to death is also contemptible. The difference is, prince, that a man who starves cannot ever redeem his honor. The man who chooses life makes the honorable choice." Iroh cracked one eye open to gauge response. "Always.
"That's ridiculous!" Zuko raged, turning furiously on his uncle. "I don't need these children's stories, uncle! I need to catch the Avatar. Why can't you be more useful!"
"Certainly, prince." Iroh stood up, grinning to himself, to take his leave. Deciding that he would be -most- useful in helping to decrease the ship's surplus population of food, he trundled in the direction of the kitchen, taking his leisurely time.
Zuko considered the food he had been brought angrily, briefly considering kicking it over to make himself feel better.
In the end, he did the honorable thing.