I'm stuck. :(

[avocado_love]

So the xmas tree is finally cut down and hauled home. While it's drip-drying in the garage I thought I would tackle some fanfiction. Unfortunately, I've come to a part where I need to get the characters to a certain head-space... but the idea I got from Ellie won't work (I think) and now I'm at a loss.

Anyone care to brainstorm with me?



I need to give Zuko a reason to hide the fact that he is a firebender (at least, temporarily) from the Northern Water Tribe. The problem is, Zuko really wants to learn to bend, he isn't the type to just give up that dream, and I gotta figure it out in a semi-plausible way.


The first idea was to have Sokka suggest Zuko hide his identity after seeing a prison where they keep common criminals (and of course, captured Fire Nation scouts/soldiers). the problem is I can't work a way for them to find out about the prison at all without it seeming cheesy and kinda thrown in there.

So I'm back to square one. *sighs*

Suggestions?

Comments

[dark-puck.livejournal.com]

Actually, it just seems like common sense to me. For one thing, the NWT is a city of ice. Advertising one's firebending is probably not the wisest of decisions to make. And since it would only be temporary...

[avocado-love.livejournal.com]

Haha. Common-sense sometimes isn't all that common.

You're probably right, but I still would like some event or something to tip the scales so it doesn't seem like a paranoid choice to make. I just can't think of what. *beats head upon desk*

[dark-puck.livejournal.com]

Maybe the group just discusses it beforehand? And Zuko Dislikes the idea?

[avocado-love.livejournal.com]

That might work. I have this mental image of Sokka everyone to the side and going, "Emergency family meeting!" lol.

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd think it would be common sense. Sure he's wearing Water Tribe blues, but it'd still attract all kinds of unwanted attention. Especially when there's the unpleasantness about teaching Katara - does he really want to make it even harder for Pakku to accept her?

[avocado-love.livejournal.com]

Hmm... *rubs chin* I do like the idea of him holding back because of Pakku. It's one thing to not accept a girl, but a firebender? hehe.

[cxrdevil.livejournal.com]

Maybe they're attacked right away by NWT waterbenders who think they're Fire Nation, and some sort of awkward crude joke along the lines of "thank goodness you're not firebenders or we'd have to spit you" is said. Gaang decides they don't know just how crazy the NWT is, Zuko knows how much the fire nation's hated and since he's treading on thin ice (LITERALLY :D) with his appearance, maybe they decide not to push it until they've gotten to know how stuff works and whether the tribe's leaders/teachers will be on their side, not having gotten the big picture yet

too bad only sokka is prone to that kind of thinking and it's usually interrupted by humor, but what the hey

[avocado-love.livejournal.com]

too bad only sokka is prone to that kind of thinking and it's usually interrupted by humor, but what the hey

I know, it always falls upon Sokka to think of all of really important tactical stuff, huh? lol.

This does help. I wrote out the NWT greeting them not in the friendlist of terms, but I think maybe if I amp it up a little...

*scribbles*

[terminal-axon.livejournal.com]

Didn't the Northern Water Tribe greet them in a paranoid manner canonically? I seem to remember them ambushing Appa before allowing them into the city proper. It's possible the guards questioned Zuko's obviously non-Water Tribe appearance, especially if he was introduced as Sokka and Katara's brother.

By the way, I love your stories. Seriously, they're fantastic.

[avocado-love.livejournal.com]

That's a good thought. And yes, they did ambush Appa -- and then Katara's all clapping and going "We've found the Northern Water Tribe!" and Aang's all grinning, and meanwhile they've completely frozen poor Appa's leg's over. Haha. But there's no reason the bad vibes can't start from there... hmm... You know, now that I think about it, they don't have to run into the NWT the same way at all. You got me thinking there! Thanks!

Edit: I'm a dork and pressed 'submit too early'.

[roachpatrol.livejournal.com]

Maybe Zuko is idly playing with their fire, and the Waterbenders see it reflect off the snow or something, looking really impressive and scary, and the attack right off the bat, assuming that Zuko was attacking the water tribe kids. They're ready to totally gut Zuko, cuz of the whole yellow-eyes thing, when Aang steps in and says that he's the Avatar and was showing off his skills. All four kids swear up and down that Zuko's not an evil firebender, in fact, not ANY kind of firebender, he was just born that way. Maybe they even lie about Zuko's adopted status, saying that, you know, he's their blood brother, their mom was just raped by a fire nation soldier and Zuko came out that way. And then Zuko feels really shitty, because like, to save his life, Katara and Sokka are lying about their mother's. And they're like, shut up, our mom would have lied for you too.

And then, I don't know, Iroh shows up and the shit hits the fan.

[avocado-love.livejournal.com]

... That is a really fun idea. I'm going to have to play around with that. That may work because if/when the NWT figures out exactly who he is, shit is going to hit the fan. Like, majorly.

It probably would be better if the lie came out as some sort of crisis, and then sort of builds from there.

[yukinoomoni.livejournal.com]

I'd like to think that, despite Zuko's meaning well and the fact that, essentially, he is Water Tribe, he looks pretty much like the poster child for Fire Nation, it's pretty obvious that he's an outsider. General distrust of him from the start would be pretty standard, unless the general fandom is true that the Water Tribe tends to adopt outsiders down on their luck? Keeping it mum, especially with how Zuko looks, and especially with the past that both Tribes share, would be prudent in a delicate situation like that.

Now, as to it coming out in a way that doesn't totally screw Zuko and the rest of the group over, because, like you said, Zuko isn't one to give up on a dream as big as firebending, you could always have it so that when Aang is teaching Katara waterbending, he's teaching Zuko as well. And it comes out, but Pakku notices how like a waterbender Zuko's own firebending is, and he keeps his trap shut, making them think he only caught Katara and Aang?

I dunno. Just throwing stuff?

[avocado-love.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, I totally appreciate you throwing out stuff! Oh, I have my plans for when the NWT find out about Zuko's firebending... whahahahahaha. (And you and I are pretty much on the same page.) It's just figuring out how to hide it which is the problem.

Everyone seems to be on the same page that it's more or less common sense for him to hide his firebending, which makes it easier for me.

[roachpatrol.livejournal.com]

Totally seconding Aang teaching Zuko alongside Katara. Maybe they also practice waterbending in that, obviously, when Zuko messes up his firebending, he melts holes in their buildings? And Aang and Katara have to practice refreezing everything. And Zuko has to practice precision. He's going to end up with a really weird style, the traditional firebenders aren't going to know what hit them!

[dungeonwriter.livejournal.com]

No brainstorming till Friday for me.

[avocado-love.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about it, girl. Focus on your finals, and best of luck! :D You'll do great!

[clockwerkchaos.livejournal.com]

I'm going to throw another vote in for "common sense". However I'm going to diverge from the group and suggest that rather than Sokka, Katara should be the one to point it out. Sokka may be the idea guy but he isn't common sense person, and frankly, it bugs me when people start turning Sokka into the only one with any intelligence.

However, common sense is right up Katara's ally. Furthermore, Katara is the one who noted Aang should probably hide his identity when entering Omashu.

[roachpatrol.livejournal.com]

She'd also be the one most concerned with hurting his feelings. You know that she'd be like "Zuko, because I care about you and don't want to see you hurt, I think you should know that perhaps maybe we shouldn't emphasize your firebending?" and Sokka would be all "YEAH, BECAUSE YOU LOOK PRETTY EVIL ENOUGH AS IT IS. CAN'T HAVE YOU SCARING CHILDREN. NOT COOL."

[engelen.livejournal.com]

I wish I could help but... NOW THAT I'M ON BREAK I GET TO CATCH UP WITH THIS FIC!!! :D YAAAAAAAAAAAY :D

[avocado-love.livejournal.com]

YEA!!! I can't wait to see what you think of it. :D