This is wonderful. You’ve said so much with so few words.

I love the characterization of Ming as someone who wants “to serve with honor,” and that is what allows her to recognize the honour in Iroh.

This is a wonderful little picture of a character we hardly got to know.

This is interesting. I really like how you pack so much meaning and action into so few words. I get a feeling of what the POV character is like from the first sentence. She seems loyal and hardworking and your repetition of the word "honor" reinforces this. Then you continue to show more depth to her character with how she treats the prisoners courteously. She seems strict, but kind. I also like the twist you add at the end, with her taking the advice of a prisoner to stay away at the time that he is planning to cause trouble. I think your line /in order to serve with honor, you must also know honor when you meet it./ since it suggests that the two characters are similar, and have realized how similar they are, despite being on opposite sides.

This was a really gorgeous piece. I loved the way that you were able to write this so concisely! Everything had its place, and it all came together incredibly well to create a very strong flow. The theme of honor worked really well for you, and you handled it with expert ease. I was extremely impressed by this one. Iroh seems like quite the character, and she's very strong here. Really well done!

Cheers, dearie!

At first I was unimpressed when I saw the length of this fic (sorry) but as soon as I read it I loved it! It was really interesting to see Ming reflect on honor really is. Judging from her rambunctious personality I would have never guessed her to be so humble.

This just proved to me to never judge a book by its cover ;) Great work keep it up!

Warning: Fandom-blind :)

This was an interesting drabble :)

I like your musings on the idea of honour here, and the way you show that you don't need to do big, well known deeds to be honourable - small, day to day activities, and doing your job well can be honourable too. It's a very interesting topic for you to explore, and I think you've looked at the idea beautifully :)

I also really liked the way you ended this, with the way you've shown that even the "greatest traitors" have their own way of being honourable, even if most people do not see it. And the fact that Ming sees it, and acts on it, is a nice concept :)

Well done! :)

A very interesting beginning; the idea of serving with honour sounds like something that she has defined for herself, but isn't necessarily well defined in an of itself. I love how you demonstrate the difference between what she's been told and what she sees/hears...and the idea of incorporating it into the physical senses is a very clever one.

[no one found wanting in small matters is worthy of great] - I found that phrase rather odd to read, and I wonder if it's structured correctly. The bit that follows however is quite clear, and strong despite the length; stating it so plainly shows how her dream does not align with her reality.

The way you bring in her acts of kindness is very clever as well: little things, but that are very important to someone denied all that. And the last line is a very interesting one as well, implying that she knows the prisoner (whose name I think I knew at one point but have forgotten) is not the "Fire Nation's greatest traitor", in your own words. :)

A cute little fic.

. Fandom-blind! . . Reviews Lounge, Too Archive Staffer Review .

I love how you describe so much about her personality in one line. From 'she has always wanted to serve with honor' alone, it makes me feel like she is brave, heroic and will sacrifice anything for a certain greater good. Great work. You've limited yourself with words yet kept so much information. I like how the part about what she's been told since childhood shows, since it makes it seem like she's been conditioned to be loyal to this group since she was young, and given that it's easier to influence younger people, I think it's very effective. I also loved the contrast between the Fire Nation's traitor, and then to honor. A great story, but I'm afraid I have no critique for it. Keep up the good work. :)

Hi :) I'm not familiar with the fandom you write in, but I'm really impressed with this little drabblet (which, if it wasn't a word, is now a word...!)

There are two things that really strike me about this piece: one is that you've made brevity and simplicity work for you. No word seems extraneous; I wasn't left wondering what the point of x y or z was, or tempted to mentally edit words out for clarity (that's one of my weaknesses... yeah...).

The other thing that really comes through here is the strength of your musings about the word "honour." That you correctly identify it and show it in action just makes me squee- honour doesn't necessarily have to be big and showy. It can be menial. I love that you magnify that.

"There is no advantage to be taken of her"- this confused me a little, but being fandom-blind, I can only assume it's something that a fandom person would know.

Fantastic last line, with the strength of the first. Very well done.

Oh I loved this little bit of fleshing out you did of such a minor character. Nice touch making it not what she hoped for to serve as a prison guard - thus the fact that she did so without resentment speaks greater of her character. And of the course, the shining line is the last. It's a perfect justification for what she did and what a great way to articulate it coming back around on the theme of honor. Nicely done.

Ooh, so that's why she did it! This is really nice, being able to see the story a very minor character. And even in the time she's seen Iroh, you can just tell how much he's learned about her and how much respect she holds for him (especially with that ending line, a really nice note to leave off at). You can tell how much more she wants though of her life too; in a few words you could already bring out that side of her. A lovely ficlet, thanks for the read! Cheers!

Tune

Wow! I absolutely love people who can write such short pieces about minor characters that say soooo much about them...and this is one of them. I absolutely loved this particular episode, and I love that you gave us more insight into Ming's world, giving us reasons for her motives int hat episode. I always loved the Iroh knew more about her...probably more than anyone else. I'm sure your friend adored this too. Part of me wishes this was a little longer, since I'd love to know more about her backstory...not that this wasn't good in itself. I just think this is so wonderful and I wish there were more of it. But all in all, a lovely piece. I adored the last line. Really well done. :)

Okay, I’m really sad this is so sort because it’s really beautiful. I love how you focus on honor (because that’s a huge theme in the Fire Nation, great job!) and how it has been important since childhood. It thought you captured the ideals of the Fire Nation really well with that. I like the fact you put that Ming did not hope to be a prison guard. It showed her character quite well that despite what she faced she’s still going to do it. The way you ended with “know honor when you meet it” was really awesome!

This was a very cute piece, but I had a little trouble following it. "Once the prisoners learn there is no advantage to be taken of her, she even finds room for kindness: a smile, a friendly word, a proper cup of tea." This line in particular was confusing.

But I really thought it was nice. There are no glaring grammar mistakes, and the length is very user-friendly.

The line, "But she takes his advice, because in order to serve with honor, you must also know honor when you meet it." was very nice. Even though Iroh was the Fire Nation's second most wanted criminal, even though he betrayed his country and lest everything, he still has more honor than any other person in the show.

I really liked this story.

I remember this girl! I always wondered what happened to her...

"You must also know honor when you meet it." - I really liked that line, especially given the situation/scenario Ming is in. Very nice look at a minor character.