"So she was right..." He mutters, more to himself than to Iroh, an odd, thoughtful expression on his face, before explaining himself a little more clearly.
"Aurora said she meditates through music — by singing, and dancing. When I told Aurora that we don't dance in the Fire Nation because it's considered inelegant and a waste of time, that as an art it does nothing to glorify the Fire Lord, that even in the theatre it would not make him look stronger, just foolish and flippant, so without that patriotic aspect, people don't see much value to it... She said something that struck me. She said there was much about dancing that a powerful leader should be afraid of. That it is a silent language — the soft touch of a hand or a simple glance can mean something much deeper than can be understood by someone who's not dancing the dance. That a dance can be mournful as much as it can be joyous. And if people can communicate silently through soft touches and certain looks — then that's a threat to a nation leader who wouldn't want his people exchanging words he cannot understand."
A vague melancholy look creeps over his face, still cupped in his hand languidly as he ruminates over this confirmation of thoughts that have been on his mind for a good month or two now.
"...Our people are being deprived of a basic human instinct, aren't we? It's just something else the Fire Nation has stolen and ruined for us, all for the sake of our family's politics, for the Fire Lord's ego! No one can dance because of our fear! It's just more propaganda — isn't it?!"
Who knew Zuko would have this philosophical epiphany about dancing... Iroh, your nephew has come so far in such a short time, in so many unexpected ways.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2021-06-03 10:02 pm (UTC)"Aurora said she meditates through music — by singing, and dancing. When I told Aurora that we don't dance in the Fire Nation because it's considered inelegant and a waste of time, that as an art it does nothing to glorify the Fire Lord, that even in the theatre it would not make him look stronger, just foolish and flippant, so without that patriotic aspect, people don't see much value to it... She said something that struck me. She said there was much about dancing that a powerful leader should be afraid of. That it is a silent language — the soft touch of a hand or a simple glance can mean something much deeper than can be understood by someone who's not dancing the dance. That a dance can be mournful as much as it can be joyous. And if people can communicate silently through soft touches and certain looks — then that's a threat to a nation leader who wouldn't want his people exchanging words he cannot understand."
A vague melancholy look creeps over his face, still cupped in his hand languidly as he ruminates over this confirmation of thoughts that have been on his mind for a good month or two now.
"...Our people are being deprived of a basic human instinct, aren't we? It's just something else the Fire Nation has stolen and ruined for us, all for the sake of our family's politics, for the Fire Lord's ego! No one can dance because of our fear! It's just more propaganda — isn't it?!"
Who knew Zuko would have this philosophical epiphany about dancing... Iroh, your nephew has come so far in such a short time, in so many unexpected ways.