The Fire Lord may make the rules, but there's still the basic fact that any monarchy require the ruler to have a designated successor or else risk civil war with their death. The Fire Nation has enough enemies that the latter scenario invites assassination if Azula lacks an heir. If the heir isn't a close family relative, it better darn well be someone she can trust not to arrange a short reign for her. Azula doesn't seem the type to leave something like that to chance, so producing her own blood heir is the go-to choice.
Iroh has the luxury of two blood relatives that are young enough that he can, to be blunt, mold as he sees fit. (Even if he only bothers with Zuko.) Plus he's fairly old and, as referenced repeatedly, let himself slip into a doughy semi-retirement up until Azula's supposed death. It doesn't seem like Iroh planned on ruling/living for a long time, but instead acted more like a caretaker who could stabilized things and then hand off the FN to his favored adopted child.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-22 10:34 pm (UTC)The Fire Lord may make the rules, but there's still the basic fact that any monarchy require the ruler to have a designated successor or else risk civil war with their death. The Fire Nation has enough enemies that the latter scenario invites assassination if Azula lacks an heir. If the heir isn't a close family relative, it better darn well be someone she can trust not to arrange a short reign for her. Azula doesn't seem the type to leave something like that to chance, so producing her own blood heir is the go-to choice.
Iroh has the luxury of two blood relatives that are young enough that he can, to be blunt, mold as he sees fit. (Even if he only bothers with Zuko.) Plus he's fairly old and, as referenced repeatedly, let himself slip into a doughy semi-retirement up until Azula's supposed death. It doesn't seem like Iroh planned on ruling/living for a long time, but instead acted more like a caretaker who could stabilized things and then hand off the FN to his favored adopted child.