#‘even if you think ozai is evil you can’t deny he’s hot’

[tragedykery]

never looking in the tags on poll posts again. I can’t do this

[lonewolfel]

Azula always “lies”

image from @nothing-more-than-hot-leaf-juice​

As a more recent fan of ATLA I have fallen in love with Zuko’s character. One thing that has interested me spacifically is the mantra “Azula always lies”. Azula is shown to be a manipulative character, but the instances where he says it Azula doesn’t seem like she is lying. 

While I have issues with Azulon ordering Zuko’s death I want to talk about Azula telling Zuko that Ozai was going to kill him. 

Right after she says those lines and she is dragged out of the room by Ursa, Zuko says the famous lines “Azula always lies”. Yet she wasn’t. It is clear from how Ozai treats Zuko to the very reaction of Ursa that it was a very real possibility. 

That is a common thread with Azula and Zuko’s interactions. When Azula is lying Zuko thinks she is telling the truth and when she is telling the truth he think she is lying. This all comes down to a part of characterization in story telling.

The lie your character believes.

All the main characters have one. Aang’s is “that he can run away and deny his responsibilities”, Katara’s is “that the Fire Nation is evil”, Sokka’s is “women can’t fight and that he isn’t special or needed”, Toph’s is “being by herself is better than having people that care about her”, and Zuko’s is “that is father loves him and the Fire Nation is the greatest nation” (these are just their veague beliefs). 

Now I am going to take quotes from Azula and bold the lies and italicize the truths that she says. 

ATLA: Book 2 Water - The Avatar State

Azula:  Hmmm ... must be a family trait. Both of you so quick to get to the point. [Breaks the shell she was holding with her fingertips, leaving Iroh angry.] I've come with a message from home. Father's changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him; treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust. [Pauses briefly.] Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home. [Silence.] Did you hear me? You should be happy. Excited. Grateful. I just gave you great news.

Iroh:  I'm sure your brother simply needs a moment.

Azula:  [Furiously.] Don't interrupt, Uncle! [To Zuko.] I still haven't heard my thank you. [Annoyed.] I'm not a messenger. I didn't have to come all this way.

Zuko:  [Surprised.] Father regrets? He ... wants me back?

ATLA: Book 2 Water - Zuko Alone

Azula:  [Sing-songy.] Dad's going to kill you! [Seriously.] Really, he is.

Zuko:  Ha-ha, Azula. Nice try.

ATLA: Book 2 Water - Crossroads of Destiny

Azula:  Why don't you let him decide, Uncle? [To Zuko.] I need you, Zuko. I've plotted every move of this day, [Makes a fist.] this glorious day in Fire Nation history, and the only way we win is together. At the end of this day, you will have your honor back. You will have Father's love. You will have everything you want.

ATLA: Book 3 Fire - The Awakening

Azula:  [Getting out of bed.] Call it a generous gesture. I wanted to thank you for your help and I was happy to share the glory.

Zuko: You're lying.

(I’m unable to tell if it is a lie or not. I think it is a mixture of both.)

ATLA: Book 3 Fire - The Beach

Azula: [Frontal view.] Well, yes, I guess you're right. I don't have sob stories like all of you. I could sit here and complain how our mom liked Zuko more than me, but I don't really care. [Gazes into the fire. Close-up view of the fire pit.] My own mother [Close-up.] thought I was a monster. [Close-up of Zuko and Mai. Close-up of Ty Lee. Side-view of campsite. After a momentary pause.] She was right, of course, but it still hurt.

ATLA: Book 3 Fire - Nightmares and Daydreams 

Azula:  What do you mean? Of course you're welcome there!

Zuko: Oh, yeah?! I guess that's why no one bothered to tell me about it!

All the moments that he call her out for lying she seems to be telling the truth. In those moments she is contradicting his world view. She tells him that Ozai doesn’t love him. That he is welcomed to a war meeting even after what happened last time. 

When Azula tells the truth she forces Zuko to see the truth. The truth that he has spent so long denying. It is why he is so easily manipulated by her and Ozai. They know that if they tell Zuko what he wants to hear that he will follow them no matter what. That he won’t question the lies that fit the world view, but will the truths that he denies. 

It is the reason that Iroh had such a hard time getting through to Zuko. Iroh had tried to get Zuko to question his world view.