Here is how your father met your mother: he was on campaign with his sister, and your mother was an officer of the general staff.
...
Of course, there is more than that, but separating actual events from the ballad from the street songs from the didactic text from the novels -- it is not easy, because in later years, the story became a romance. A fable. One version had your father falling in love when he saw her firebending. A few have your mother saving your father's life. One has it the other way around. Some are softer, more romantic.
What you know, as a child, is this: when your father is not on campaign, your father comes to dinner two or three times a week. He is a tall man, much taller than your mother, and not only servants, but anyone else in the house gives way to him. Otherwise, when it is just the three of you, it is not terribly formal, though once a while, your mother will get up the whole ceremony and the kneeling and the offering of food when your father needs reminding of his duty towards you. When your father comes for dinner, he usually spends the night, and you expect that during holidays and the days of ritual, he is not there. This is because your parents are not married.
Your mother likes the idea of your father falling in love after seeing her wash her hair. "As if there would be time for that on one of Azula's campaigns," your mother says, laughing.
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Date: 2010-09-22 06:27 pm (UTC)...
Of course, there is more than that, but separating actual events from the ballad from the street songs from the didactic text from the novels -- it is not easy, because in later years, the story became a romance. A fable. One version had your father falling in love when he saw her firebending. A few have your mother saving your father's life. One has it the other way around. Some are softer, more romantic.
What you know, as a child, is this: when your father is not on campaign, your father comes to dinner two or three times a week. He is a tall man, much taller than your mother, and not only servants, but anyone else in the house gives way to him. Otherwise, when it is just the three of you, it is not terribly formal, though once a while, your mother will get up the whole ceremony and the kneeling and the offering of food when your father needs reminding of his duty towards you. When your father comes for dinner, he usually spends the night, and you expect that during holidays and the days of ritual, he is not there. This is because your parents are not married.
Your mother likes the idea of your father falling in love after seeing her wash her hair. "As if there would be time for that on one of Azula's campaigns," your mother says, laughing.
Yes, Azula.