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#by which I mean katara would be in shock
yourhighness6 · 4 months
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Saw a shitpost about how the steambabies would be airbenders because of the elements mixing and all I could think was that it was the ultimate ex's revenge
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hazashiovo · 1 month
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Omg that kuvira sub req was lit! Could you do one for Zuko please? Maybe after he’s become fire lord?
I decided that instead of writing nsfw, to just make it angst to fluff. Sorry that it's not what you asked for ,but this is what I got.
Genre:Friends with benefits to enemies to lovers ,angst to fluff,
Tw: mentions of trauma, burning and leaving a scar.
Zuko x Fem reader
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Ever since you ran away from Zuko to help the avatar restore peace to the world,you kept thinking that he would let go of you.
But no, you can't catch a damn break, since you ran away he's been chasing you. He swore to find you.
How? You have no clue. But you never doubted his devotion for this cause,you knew that Zuko had that burning will in him.
I mean,you were his soldier,and things between you two were...complicated.
Sometimes you would have heart to heart conversations. Maybe about your life,or what you would be in the future, and other times it was just making out after a stressful day. But you never did more than that,he wanted you ,and you wanted him but there was always something holding you back.
Now this is something that fuels Zuko, his need for revenge is powered by those moments between you two. And not only that,but if he finds you he also finds the Avatar. Which is the perfect reason for him.
You get to be punished for treason,and at the same time he would finally have his honor restored. That's what he says to himself at night. It's not like he wants more.
So for months, almost a year he searched for The avatar,and for you,each time you managed to slip right trough his fingers.
The last time he saw you was at the northern water tribe,when he tried capturing Aang you fought Zuko while Katara protected the younger boy. Zuko knew he could do so much damage to you,but he simply couldn't.
You unfortunately lost,after all Zuko was stronger than you. You both knew it,but it never stopped you before.
You tried talking to him,you always thought that if you got a chance you would be able to at least get him to think of another way,a better way. Maybe this way things wouldn't be so complicated between you two.
But no matter how much you tried,he was just too stubborn.
You tried putting a fight again,he was so angry that he didn't even realize with what force he sent that fire at you,not even throwing you a second glance.
Too blinded by anger,now that you weren't in his way anymore he went for Aang.
If you wouldn't have blacked out you would've saw the way Katara fought the prince,after all he harmed you, and wanted to take Aang away.
You woke up on Appa,Katara was tending to your burn mark, trying to completely heal it.
"I'm sorry (Name),but it's going to leave a pretty big scar here." Her hand would lay on your shoulder comforting.
It was rough looking in the mirror,but you started getting used to it. The bad part was when you started having nightmares of your fight with the prince,the burning feeling awaking you in cold sweat.
You healed with time, fortunately for you,the prince and you didn't meet again after that. You split from the team,it was necessary for you to find a way to heal the scar that Zuko left in your mind.
Imagine the shock on your face when you finally got reunited with your friends.To see Zuko there was something you never expected. Deep inside you knew he could change but never actually thought he would.
He would be so awkward, and yeah he would talk to himself, trying to find the right way to apologize to you for hunting you down and kicking your ass. It was also this little thing, he never realized how much you affected him when you were around until you left,and it drove him mad. Never quite understanding why.
He kept his distance from you, mostly because he didn't really know how to approach you. It's not that he's as mad as he was before when you betrayed him, but it's still awkward.
So you two just stayed away from each other. The group could see something was up with you two,I mean they knew about your scar and journey ,but Zuko didn't.
Nobody told him about the scar he left on you back then, and you never confronted him about it.
One night when you wanted to take your mind away from all that's happening ,you found yourself in the lake near your camp.
A swim would do you good.
Unfortunately for you ,that's what the young prince also had in mind.
He was left speechless once he saw your naked form in the water. A certain part of you got his attention,your back.
There was this big part of your shoulder all the way to your waist that was just burned.
And then it clicked, when he fought you in the north water tribe,he did this.
"Stop staring." You speak,loud enough for him to hear you, getting deeper into the water so your back would no longer be visible to his longing stare.
"I wasn't staring." He turns his head away embarrassed,his face hot just thinking that you caught him staring at your form. He acted like a pervert. How could he be so stupid?
Zuko quickly took off, not allowing you to say anything else.
He spent the night thinking,about you ,your scar your body. It annoyed him so much that all he could think was you.
So he left the next day with Sokka, on a mission to free Sokka and katara's dad from a high security prison. Totally no big deal.
Each day he spent there he hoped he could get you off his mind,but no matter how hard he tried you were just stuck on him.
Let's just say that he had some pretty unusual taughts while he was locked away.
After he saw Sokka with Suki he got this weird feeling, it was some inside him pushing him to be this way,with you.
So there he was,back at the camp with a complete mission, trying to find a way to speak to you. And he couldn't really bring up the last time he saw you, 'Yeah I saw you naked and I stared at you, wanna date?' no way in hell, unless he wants to be seen as the biggest creep ever.
"Mind if I sit?" Zuko's eyes dart up at you,he didn't even hear you coming her.
"No one's stoping you." You sit down next to him, noticing how he quickly looks away.
"It's been a while huh?" Your eyes look up at the dark starry sky, hoping he's willing to talk to you.
Zuko furrows his brows, searching for the right words to say. He never had to think so hard while talking to you,why is it so hard now?
"I won't bite if you say something." You nudge him with your elbow, sending his thoughts away for now.
"Listen,I'm really sorry for what I did to you back in the north,I was just so blinded by my desire for honor that I was willing to cut trough-" your lips stop Zuko from saying another word, already hearing what you wanted.
He's sorry for hurting you,and he admitted that he was blindly chasing something useless,and that's all you wanted to hear from him.
He whidens his eyes for a second,finally realizing what's happening he cups your cheek with one hand and closes his eyes, kissing you back.
You break the kiss, looking at his face for any sign of reluctance. But all you can see in his eyes is this soft look,it's really cute.
"You have no idea how much I wanted to hear that from you." You whisper, afraid that if you would speak any louder you would break this comfortable feeling around you.
He smiles, closing his eyes. All this time he thought so much , wondering how your next interaction would go,or what would you say to him.
He missed the kisses,soft ones were his favorite,but the making out had a tool on him too.
"I missed this." He speaks,hand trailing down your lip, carefully touching it.
"I never thought you'd forgive me." Zuko allows his head to meet with yours gently stroking your cheek.
"Thank you for becoming a better version of yourself."you smile, placing your hands on his wrist in a gentle manner.
"Okay what's going on here?" Sokka looks at the two of you like he witnessed a war crime. Did he drink cactus juice without realizing??
I couldn't do it.
I couldn't write Zuko smut yet ,I'm sorry 😭
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beifongssight · 2 months
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Sokka x f!Reader | "Family"
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so tbh i've always been a Toph girlie and throughout my teenage-hood was a huge Zuko girlie.. so why did some of my Sokka x readers eat when I was sixteen??? sum; After proposing to his long term girlfriend after the war, Sokka and [YourName] wed and soon welcome their first child before greeting their second. tw; fem!reader, everyone does age in this fic, pregnancy, not so steamy makeout leading to implications, birth !!!, wc; 3.1k
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It was right after taking out the fleet of fire nation airships did Sokka propose to [YourName]. It was so out of character and unexpected. She originally thought he was joking but the desperate look for an answer in Sokka’s eyes made [YourName]’s laughter die down, “You’re… being serious?” she asked, making Sokka nod. [YourName]’s laughter turned into tears of joy, sure they were only freshly sixteen- but it was normal to get engaged so young, it did not mean they had to marry young. It finally processed in [YourName]’s brain that her boyfriend was proposing to her to marry her, she cried and accepted the proposal. 
When returning to Aang and the others, Sokka couldn’t keep his big mouth shut and announced the engagement after celebrating Aang’s win. Katara, Aang, and Zuko all were shocked into silence while [YourName] simply smiled and nodded while Suki and Toph laughed. After things calmed down, Sokka found the betrothal necklace he had made weeks prior. While [YourName] was talking to her future sister-in-law, Sokka clipped the necklace around his future wife’s neck and the sight made Katara’s heart melt. She had never seen Sokka so happy before, and the smile on [YourName]’s face matched his happiness. 
After getting properly looked at and after Zuko is crowned the Fire Lord, everyone meets up in Ba Sing Se in Iroh’s tea house. At the Jasmine Dragon, [YourName] leaned against Sokka as he drew, things seemed so calm and [YourName] hoped they would remain that way. It was for a bit, Zuko almost went off his rocker, they found his mother and little half sister, and then some more adventures happened all up until Sokka and [YourName] were both twenty-one. Realizing there was no more adventure needed from the Gaang around the world, Sokka and [YourName] settled in the Southern Water Tribe. Sokka took a job in the council before the wedding was put into action. The wedding for Sokka and [YourName] was small, just Aang, Katara, Zuko, Toph, Suki, [YourName]’s parents, Hakoda, and Malina. Medium sized but had everyone important to [YourName] and Sokka. After the wedding, Sokka was approved to leave and the two spent almost two weeks in the Fire Nation just relaxing. 
Shortly after returning from the honeymoon and adjusting into a routine, there was no shock when [YourName] announced her first pregnancy a few years later. Everyone was excited, asking questions about which gender they hoped to have or what they wanted to name their child. After questions died down, everyone decided to head out and enjoy a meal. After returning to the Southern Water Tribe from Republic City, [YourName] watched her husband mature through the days as weeks passed. Between his job and the upcoming child, she knew Sokka was going to mature but it was beautiful seeing it happen. 
Around [YourName]’s due date, Aang, Katara, and little Bumi were all visiting. Sokka decided to step out to get something for dinner and [YourName] was showing Katara around the new home Sokka and [YourName] recently moved in with the upcoming arrival of their child. [YourName] was mid showing the kitchen when she felt a pain and wetness grace her lower half. Katara gasped and went right into action, she had given birth and assisted in plenty of births to know what she had to do. Trying to calm [YourName] down while yelling for Aang to go take Bumi and find Sokka was the hardest part. Mostly because Bumi didn’t want to leave the house and [YourName] was refusing to do anything until Aang left. Eventually Aang just scooped his son and left, leaving Katara to try and calm her friend down. Of course nothing was going calmly until Sokka had busted into the bedroom where Katara led [YourName] to lay down. Katara was on full delivery duty, which meant Bumi and Aang couldn’t interfere with whatever she was doing. Sokka only left the room less than a handful of times to retrieve water or whatever Katara requested his wife needed. Eventually, [YourName] would have to start pushing, and while she was doing that Sokka made sure to let [YourName] know how well she was doing, moving some of her hair out the way, and when her hair fell out of her very loose style, Sokka had no problem trying his best to put it back up. Eventually, there was a loud cry piercing through the room and so much relief was felt between Sokka and [YourName]. “It’s a girl!” Katara said with a proud smile on her face as she set the newborn on [YourName]’s chest so she could finish up what needed to be done. [YourName] had fresh tears running down her face as she admired her daughter, “Oh she’s so perfect..” [YourName] whispered, causing Sokka to agree quietly. After getting their daughter cleaned up and checked on, Katara left Sokka and [YourName] to bond with their daughter. 
It had been after a feeding that Sokka finally had the courage to hold his daughter and do skin-to-skin. [YourName] watched her husband bond with their first born child, a soft warm smile on her tired face. Despite being so tired and drained, [YourName] wanted to give her daughter a name. “How about..” [YourName] began before thinking “Shui, for a name.” the tired new mother offered. Sokka was already smiling and if he could, it would have widened, “I think it’s perfect.” he hummed before coming close to his wife. “Now, rest,” Sokka whispered, pressing a kiss to his wife’s temple. [YourName] and Sokka would raise Shui into a spunky little girl. She was a huge daddy’s girl and her personality practically matched her father’s. Between the sass and how things come naturally to her, she was most definitely Sokka’s daughter. Sure, Shui shared some features of her mother, but that was Sokka’s through and through. Shui was now six-years-old and was starting to grow her own personality of her own and [YourName] and Sokka both encouraged Shui to do so. 
Shortly after Shui’s sixth birthday, Sokka was requested to an emergency meeting which meant [YourName] was in charge of putting Shui to bed by herself. [YourName] had done this plenty of times to know the tricks, but she didn’t need to pull any of them out. Sokka kissed his daughter’s head before heading out after dinner, and soon after [YourName] got her daughter into the bath and changed into her nightgown. [YourName] scooped her happy daughter into her arms, making both of them go into a fit of laughter. “Good night, Princess..” [YourName] whispered, booping her daughter’s nose before kissing Shui’s forehead. [YourName] shut her daughter’s door before heading back toward the kitchen and put leftovers away, started to clean the areas that were used, and headed to get ready for bed. [YourName] had no idea how long her husband was going to be at this meeting, but she hoped he’d be home soon to keep his side of the bed warm. [YourName] had just finished changing, letting her hair down, when she heard her husband return. With excitement in her light steps, she rushed over to the man she happily married years ago. “How was the meeting?” [YourName] asked, reaching up to caress her husband’s face. “Great, they requested me join the council in Republic City.” Sokka hummed, leaning down to press a kiss to his wife’s lips. [YourName] gave him a surprised look before pushing Sokka away from her face, “You’re just going to drop this great news and casually try to kiss me? Sokka! This is great news!” [YourName] said in an excited tone. Sokka rolled his eyes playfully before laughing “It’s exactly why I’m trying to kiss you.” he joked before bringing his wife into a kiss. [YourName] laughed into the kiss, allowing her husband to slip his tongue into her mouth. The sudden action caused [YourName] to gasp, but she happily took the bait Sokka was obviously setting out. Sokka’s hands fell from [YourName]’s face down to her waist, which would eventually fall down to her bum. With little needing to be said, [YourName] pulled away for a moment to hop up and Sokka happily caught her. His hands held her thighs as he walked back toward their bedroom. 
Once in the bedroom, Sokka and [YourName] fell onto the bed. Their laughter muffled between their kisses, Sokka gently squeezed [YourName]’s thighs earning a slight whimper from the woman. They truly were testing waters they haven’t tested in weeks, but tonight was worth celebrating. Sokka and [YourName] were as quiet as possible and luckily hadn’t awoken their daughter in the process. 
It shouldn’t have been a shock, but when [YourName] found out through the healer she had once more fallen pregnant she was shocked. Of course the one night she and Sokka decided to have time to themselves, to explore each other like the needy teenagers they never got to be, she falls pregnant again. [YourName] wasn’t upset at the news, just a little shocked. After being dismissed, [YourName] headed straight home. 
It took [YourName] to confess to her husband what is up with her health, finally confessing she was nearly four months pregnant with their second child. Sokka was brought to silence in shock, but laughed before scooping his wife up and twirling her around as if they were younger than they actually were. [YourName] laughed before she was put down, “Spirits, makes me wonder how Shui will react..” the woman says softly.
Their daughter had been an only child for the last six years, and sharing and being nice to the kids around her came naturally, but still worried the parents as they hadn’t even planned to have a second one. Sokka and [YourName] were more than content to have Shui as an only child but obviously the spirits had other plans, plans [YourName] didn’t have the courage to change. “She’ll be fine..” Sokka comforted, pressing a kiss on the crown her head.
Two whole weeks passed and still nothing came out of Sokka or [YourName] in telling Shui she was going to be a big sister. By now, Katara and Aang found out, and the others were next in line, but [YourName] felt she owed it to her daughter to tell her before absolutely anyone else found out. As much as Sokka wanted to be there to see his daughter’s reaction to being a big sister, he allowed [YourName] to take Shui out on a girls day out. 
Shui was eating up her time with her mother, finally settling in a cafe for a little treat. After receiving the small sweet treat and a drink for herself, [YourName] and Shui sat at a table near the corner of the cafe, away from most people since Sokka wasn’t ready to share the news too publicly. [YourName] watched her daughter devour her treat before finally getting to the nitty gritty of why they chose a secluded place to sit. 
“Shui, have you ever wanted a sibling?” [YourName] asks her daughter, the little one looked up from her treat before thinking and nodding. “I want to have always sleepovers.” Shui states her main reason for wanting a sibling, [YourName] smiled at her soft and innocent reasoning before she spoke up, “Well, Shui, I think you’re going to get your wish.” she explained. It confused the little girl at first before [YourName] laughed and further explained, “You’re going to be a big sister, I’m going to have your little sister or brother.” the mother said. 
Processing took a moment, and Shui gasped and squealed. Shui brought her mother in for a tight hug, [YourName] returning the hug. After playing 101 questions with Shui, [YourName] and Shui returned home, Shui rushing in and announcing that her mother was going to have a baby to Sokka who acted shocked at the news. Sokka picked Shui up, “I had no idea!” Sokka claimed, making [YourName] smile and admire her husband and daughter.
Months passed and Republic City was calling Sokka’s name for a meeting. Just, he couldn’t just leave his wife and daughter right now. [YourName] was due in about three weeks and he was worried the meeting would drag into days and between the traveling time and such, he decided Shui and [YourName] tag along. The whole ride there, [YourName] was fighting for her life with sea sickness and Shui was excitedly telling all the soldiers on board she was going to be a big sister, as if they hadn’t heard it the first million times. But because she was Sokka’s daughter, they let her talk about it. 
Landing in Republic City, Sokka immediately took [YourName] and Shui to Air Temple Island. Aang and Katara happily greeted Sokka, [YourName], and Shui. Shui looked around before she heard yelling and after getting the ‘okay’ she went ahead to find her cousins to join in their playing. Once Aang escorted [YourName] away to show her where she could rest until dinner, Katara talked to her brother. “Why would you bring her here when she’s so close to her due date…?” Katara asked in an almost scolding tone. Sokka sighed, knowing this was coming from his sister. “I didn’t want to miss her giving birth and I thought this was probably the best option.” Sokka explained, Katara cocked an eyebrow but rolled her eyes, “Whatever, just know traveling takes a toll on the body, plus being pregnant, you owe her some sort of massage.” she huffed before taking her leave to find her children and niece. 
As his sister advised, Sokka sought out his wife to give her a nice massage before dinner. “The meeting is fairly early in the morning,” Aang explains over dinner to Sokka, [YourName] and Katara were too busy teaming up together to make sure the children were eating. Sokka nods, listening to Aang speak about the importance of this meeting. 
Eventually dinner was over and everyone was retiring to bed, Shui found her parents before they excused themselves to bed and asked if she could sleep with them instead of in Kya’s bed. Sokka was ready to question his daughter on the sudden switch in plans, but [YourName] interrupted and agreed. “She won’t be an only child for much longer and I want her to know how much I love her..” [YourName] said to Sokka before turning to her daughter and making her way to the bedroom. 
The following morning, before the sun even thought about rising, Sokka woke up. He got ready for the meeting before kissing Shui’s head and placing a quick, lazy kiss on his wife’s lips. [YourName] had woken up temporarily to wish her husband a good day, but soon fell back to sleep until Shui woke her up for breakfast. 
The day started off perfectly fine. [YourName] got her daughter dressed before herself and headed to breakfast where Bumi and Kya waited for their mother to place the food on the table. [YourName] tried to assist Katara in getting breakfast finished, but the woman simply refused and forced [YourName] to sit down and monitor the three children as they talked. Eventually, breakfast was served and everyone began to eat. 
It was then that [YourName] should have noticed something was off. She tried to play it off as simple false labor pains but throughout the day it kept throbbing and getting worse. Finally, while she was walking with the kids to where they were guiding her. As they walked, she felt a slight pop before liquid ran down her legs making her halt her walking. Shui was the first to notice her mother stopping, so she stopped Bumi and Kya, and all three came to investigate. “Go find Katara-” [YourName] asked the children, and before she had to repeat herself Bumi took hold of his sister’s and cousin’s hand and went to find his mother. When Katara came rushing into the hallway, children nowhere in sight, [YourName] was straining not to absolutely collapse. With assistance from Katara, [YourName] was put into a room and preparation for the birth had begun. [YourName] was panicking and it was not helping the situation, “I’m not due for another week- Katara- please, I can wait.” she said, trying to convince herself along with Katara. “[YourName], I warned Sokka traveling strains the body and he shouldn’t have brought you- you can’t wait, this baby is coming.” The waterbender said, trying to erase whatever thoughts were going through [YourName]’s mind. “What about Sokka?” [YourName] said, nearly sobbing.
Shit.
“I can’t do this without him, Katara.” [YourName] said, fear and nervousness leaking from her words. Katara wanted to comfort her as a sister-in-law but she knew as a friend she had to help [YourName] face the music. “Sokka won’t make it back in time. If you try and hold this baby in, not just the baby will be in trouble, but you too.” Katara said, prepping her water. [YourName]’s head fell back as she sobbed, knowing she was going to have to do this with just herself and Katara. 
It was shorter than Shui’s birth, but still a handful of hours passed and a healthy baby. Right as that cry was heard, the door busted open to reveal Sokka. [YourName]’s tense body relaxed at the sight. “It’s a boy!” Katara announced as she placed the little one on [YourName]’s chest as Sokka made his way over. Sokka kneeled down and profusely apologized to his wife for missing the birth of their son. Between sweat, tears, and helping her son latch on to her breast, [YourName] managed to whisper a soft ‘it’s alright.’. All that mattered now was that Sokka was here now and he got to hold his son. After the little boy ate and was washed and checked on, Katara left to allow Sokka and [YourName] to bond with their son. “No.. No more, okay?” [YourName] said as she gently handed their son over to Sokka, “Children? Yeah, I think my cap is two anyways..” Sokka hummed as he took the little one. This simply made [YourName] softly chuckle. 
Things were settling down, Sokka had done skin to skin and then brought in dinner, which left naming their son. The baby went a whole night without a name, unlike his sister who [YourName] carefully planned her to be a girl. “How about Hakoda? After my father.” Sokka suggested making [YourName]’s heart melt. Hakoda, Sokka’s father, had passed the chief title to Sokka shortly before passing and it was a super emotional few weeks of [YourName]’s pregnancy. 
When morning came and graced Republic City, Shui was welcomed into the now cleaned room. Sokka brought his daughter into his lap to show her baby Hakoda. Shui was at a loss for words before Sokka assisted Shui in holding her baby brother. It was moments like this that [YourName]’s heart strings were tugged. Watching Shui be so gentle and polite made [YourName]’s worries all drift away.
She couldn’t wait to see what was next.
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😑😑😑
"Aang is a bad main character because the world has to adapt to his world view. Meanwhile I love Zuko for his brilliant arc that concludes with him making his nation to adapt to his world view now that he is in charge" fuck these people. "Younger generation fixes the problems the old ones created" is only bad as a theme when they don't like the kid in question.
"He has to save Katara, the weak damsel in distress" So we're really just gonna ignore all the times she saved his ass, and how she literally BROUGHT HIM BACK FROM THE DEAD just to pretend the show is sexist?
"He has to pretend the world isn't in agony" Are you high? Aang is constantly pushing himself to do things he doesn't wanna do (go with Zuko willingly, confront Hei Bai, go to the Fire Nation on the solstice, intentionally trigger the Avatar State, cross the serpent's pass despite having permission to go through a safer path, let go of Katara and risk losing her in the battle for Ba Sing Se, and even accepting he'll have to kill Ozai in the finale) just to innocent people won't suffer. For fuck's sake, he has plenty of compassion for the guy that SENT AN ASSASSIN AFTER HIM. Just because he's still holding onto whatever childhood innocence he can, doesn't mean he's blind to the issues around him.
"Zuko's arc is independent from Zuko's" They have a fuck ton of parallels, and entire EPISODES dedicated to said parallels. Zuko himself said chasing Aang fueld his fire - and he said that when he learned a higher form of firebending ALONGSIDE AANG, who had just saved his ass from being burned alive by the dragons by figuring out they were supposed to dance together.
Zuko was so obsessed with Aang he tried to engage in a conversation AFTER AANG'S SOUL LEFT HIS BODY, and he had a weird fever dream where he literally BECAME Aang. We get confirmation in book 3 that Zuko never forgot how Aang mentioned the possibility of them being friends if things were different, and the show ends with them as best friends in an obvious parallel to Roku and Sozin.
You know who had fuck all to do with Zuko's arc though? KATARA, yet these people keep insisting she's totally important to it.
"Episodes centered on Katara and Sokka are good because they ignore Aang" No they don't, he's just not front and center, same for Toph, or Zuko, because that's how FOCUS works.
Also, for all the shit "The Headband" gets for supposedly being "filler", it's shocking to me how people act like "Sokka's Master" was briliant and not at all rushed. It's honestly as irrelevant as "The Great Divide" for me.
"Aang had lots of Deus Ex Machinas" He had one, the lion turtle. The Avatar state is introduced right away, and explained in depth a whole season before the finale, AND it was not that easy to use.
Katara bringing him back from the dead is even less random. In the first episode of season two, we are introduced to the concept of "Aang can still be killed in the Avatar State and that is REALLY bad", to the the character that will kill him and how she'll do it (Azula with her lightining), and to the water of the spirit oasis - which the show goes out of it's way to remind us of before Aang is even dead. That's a fuck ton of foreshadowing and proper narrative set up.
"Deus Ex Machina" does not mean "Protagonist survives major battle" or "Hero defeats a super powerful villain", it means "Day is saved by a thing that had never been mentioned in the story before so the audience could have never guessed what would happen." These people want to talk shit, but only show they have no fucking clue how some REALLY basic storytelling stuff works.
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mysticwolfshadows · 14 days
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Taken - Zutara
Pt 1 (Here), Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5, Pt 6
So, as far as I know, we don't know much (if anything) about Azulon's wife. And I have a soft spot for fics that set up her as the origin for much of Iroh's (eventual) kind nature. Knowing a bit about world building and government structure (thanks DND), Azulon being a very militaristic leader means that the Fire Nation, to survive, would need a second in command (Fire Lady) that kept things stable on the home front. I love fics that include this, too. And we do see hints of that in ATLA. The polluted river? What smart leader puts a factory shooting chemicals into a river right housing a floating town???
Anyway, the fic that I was working on had Azulon's wife (who I called Ilah) as a main character. Basically, Fire Lady Ilah has fallen ill, and out of desperation to keep the balance of their power, Azulon managing the war front while Ilah kept the mother land alive, Azulon searches for something that can be done to save her. The only thing that was suggested that could work was a water bending healer. Of course, the Fire Nation had no access to any water benders. They executed all of the prisoners after Hama's escape, and an assault on the North would take to long to be effective. Thankfully, word had just come that there was a new waterbender spotted in the South.
Some worry its the blood demon (Hama) returned to rally dark spirits. Others hope it is a potential healer for their ailing leader. Either way, an investigation must be made. They must find the waterbender in the South.
When the ships arrive, led by Iroh (maybe Lu Ten, or with Lu Ten aboard), the tribe is helpless. Hama is not there, and hasn't been in decades. No warrior, no matter how many there are, could stand to the well equiped soldiers of three high class cruisers. So when the leader steps out, wanting to see the waterbender, the village can only cower. Hakoda tightens his grip on a spear that will be useless against so many. It's when an officer mentions a rumor that waterbenders instinctively save themselves from drowning, and suggests holding each tribesman under water until the bender is found that Katara, only 8, screams out that its her, so the Fire Nation won't hurt her family.
She's taken, her family screaming, onto the ship. There, she's kept by Iroh and/or Lu Ten, who sits with her and gives her tea. Iroh or Lu Ten explain why they came, how his mother/grandmother is ailing, and needs a healer. He tells her that, while she may be young, she's their only hope of a healer. Katara has no choice but to promise to do her best, knowing her village would take the punishment for her failure.
They dress her in Fire Nation clothes, which she hates, and as they sail back to the Fire Nation, Iroh and/or Lu Ten do their best to trian her. They have her practice on soldiers that are injured either from training or work accidents. She becomes surprisingly competent in a short time, all because she had a master (even though a firebending one) to guide her.
When she finally reaches the Fire Nation, she's taken by how bright and colorful everything is. She's amazed by how load and plentiful the people are. And when she's taken into the Fire Palace, she's shocked by how big everything is.
When she's brought before Azulon, the Fire Lord rages. A peasant child? This is the hope of the Fire Nation?! Iroh asks his father to trust, and they take Katara to the Fire Lady.
And, by some mix of sheer force of will and some miracles, Katara succeeds.
Ilah is able to recover, at least partially, and Katara is placed as her 'ward', always at the Fire Lady's side, lest the sickness return. But Ilah is a gentle soul. She won't have a child acting as a nurse full time. Whenever there is a moment, she makes sure to be where Katara can be around others her age will be. In the Fire Palace, that is anywhere Zuko and Azula will be.
Katara spends a lot of those first weeks stiff and cautious, hesitant to go near the Fire Nation royals. But Azula constantly pokes at her with Mai and Ty Lee. She bites back, snaps when Azula sneers. It is only because Ilah is there that Azula doesn't try to burn her. Later, Zuko starts to come by. He's awkward and kind of rude, but it's not meant in a mean way. Ursa encourages Zuko to be kind, to make friends with her, so Zuko does his best.
After a couple months, Katara isn't skittish or cautious. She surrenders to the fact that she's never going home. Ilah doesn't need her as much, so she is mostly locked in her room, a small room attached to the Fire Lady's personal chambers. With little to do, Katara begins to despair. It's Zuko, still trying because his mother asked and he would never disappoint her, that becomes her ally.
He brings her snacks, books, even trying toys and things, to get her to brighten. Eventually, she opens up, relying on Zuko as her only friend. It brings out more of Azula's spite, and Zuko becomes worried about safety. He asks if Katara would maybe like to come with him to practice instead of sitting around in her little room, hoping to keep her closer in case Azula tried anything.
It's at these firebending practices that Katara starts to learn combat bending. She mimics and mines certain moves when she thinks no one is watching, slowly learning what does and doesn't move the water. She learned, if she loosened her stance, made her body just a bit more fluid as it moved instead of sharp like firebenders, she could waterbend. Slowly, she adapts, teaching herself to fight by changing firebending moves to fit her needs.
It's about a year after Katara arrives in the Fire Nation that it happens. The sickness returns with a vengeance, and Fire Lady Ilah needs full time care again. Katara, attached to this woman whose life she holds in her hands and has been at the side of for over a year, weeps when she realizes she's not enough to save her. At 9, Katara must tell Fire Lord Azulon that she is weak and can not do the one thing that they kept her around for. She cowered as the Fire Lord raged, knowing that it could be the last thing she ever sees.
"It is only by Fire Lady Ilah's will that you live," Azulon tells her after the funeral. "It is her memory that stays my hand. Do not sully it, lest I forget why you are here."
Katara is put into Ursa's care, and is placed in lessons. She attends private classes, learning Fire Nation history, math, and literature. Her life becomes so busy, she barely has time for anything but her studies. Zuko is her only reprieve, and they share their wants and desires. Zuko wants to become someone that his mother and father can be proud of. Katara just wants to go home. Zuko promises that, some day, some how, he'll make that happen for her. Katara thanks him, but she knows that it's impossible.
Next
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broadwaybalogna · 11 days
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MORE ZUTARA INCORRECT QUOTES
Katara : If I'm extra sarcastic with you it probably means I'm flirting with you or you really annoy me and I can't handle your crap... have fun figuring out which one.
Zuko: …
-
Zuko: *banging a pen on the table out of frustration*
Katara : Stop that. How would YOU feel if I banged you on the table?
Zuko: I—
Zuko: I don’t know the correct answer to that question.
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Zuko : Katara, I screwed up, big time.
Katara: Zuko , given your daily life experiences, you’re gonna have to be more specific.
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Zuko: Well, Katara and I finally did it!
The rest of the gaang: *gasps, shocked expressions, etc.*
Zuko: That's right... We kissed!
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Zuko: When you said 'Magic in Bed', I wasn't expecting this...
Katara : *pulls out card from deck* Now, was this your card?
Zuko: Holy moly-
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bunthebreadboy · 2 days
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OMG!!! A FELLOW AZUTARA SHIPPER!!
Please please please!!! What are your headcanons for this ship??? Like, how do you think they would meet and feel about each other? What would they feel when they realize they have a crush on the other??? And how do they get together???
And how do they navigate their relationship once they get to confess, considering they are both stubborn and that they would butt heads xD
AAAAAAAA, I wanna know all about it!!!
ok ok azutara headcanons GO:
these are not canon compliant cause we know how they meet and feel about each other and all that in canon lol
- azula isn’t evil by any means! yeah she’s a little bit of an asshole (or maybe a lot), but she was also a kid raised in an abusive household. katara on the other hand is a proud, self-proclaimed lovable asshole.
- they’ve been in the same social circle since they’re both kids of world leaders, but they weren’t fond of each other as kids.
- they forget about each other and meet again years later! when they’re adults, because you will never catch me writing an au where they’re 14. in canon, whatever. but i’m more comfortable writing characters closer to my age! you will also never catch me writing smut btw, it also makes me uncomfy.
- also azula has been in therapy since she became a legal adult and she has a good relationship with zuko because of it.
- so let’s say they meet again when they’re in their undergrad. neither of them recognize each other, both of em think of the other as “the smartass girl from my gen psych class”
- katara’s in bio pre-med but is 100% that girl that has three minors and a certificate in something. probably things like sociology, anthropology, women’s studies, etc.
- azula’s a business major. not by choice. i could definitely see her in something like forensic science or chemistry instead.
- anyways, they have a shared gen ed class and both of em are really into it because they both have mommy issues! which is why when they’re forced to work together on a project they decide they hate each other again.
- they realize that they knew each other in childhood when zuko and sokka walk into the water siblings’ shared apartment while katara and azula are fighting over making a powerpoint.
- katara makes an offhand comment about ozai being an asshole and azula just. loses it. bursts out crying. and katara’s there panicking like “oh my god what do i DO”
- katara ends up comforting azula and opens up about her mom to try and make azula feel less alone in the family trauma department. azula thinks she’s a dumbass but in a tsundere way where she secretly respects katara but won’t admit it.
- after that the two of em start hanging out out of class more often and (shocking, i know) enjoying each other’s presence
- katara realizes she has a crush first. it happens when they go to present their project and katara freezes up out of nowhere (which is so out of character for her) and azula immediately picks up her sentence and helps katara get through her part of the presentation
- so disaster bi katara ends up pining for at least a year because azula’s a dumbass who is subzero in flirting skills and completely oblivious
- azula’s also completely unaware that she’s gay as hell
- so azula realizes that she likes women…no not women…katara…at some sort of banquet where azula’s receiving a scholarship or smth and katara starts cheering for her from the audience (azula was tense, katara lightened the mood)
- so azula’s on stage having her gay awakening like “oh my god i’m in love with this dumbass who’s making a scene at this formal event and oh my god…” and as soon as she gets off stage she grabs katara’s hand and pulls her outside
- katara’s panicking and thinking azula’s pissed and goes to apologize but azula just. kisses her.
- katara’s immediate reaction is “fckin took you long enough”
- azula immediately goes red and is like “kat i realized i was gay less than five minutes ago please let me live”
- and therefore is subject to teasing for the rest of her life. the end.
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avatarwindboy · 2 months
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Finally finished natla. And like, my point still stands: I'll be really surprised if we get a second or 3rd season. In fact, I'll put money down on thr MOST well get is a crummy next season that is the combination of 2 and 3 because everyone knows the show is already dead in the water.
They clearly didn't know what to do with thr main characters: Katara is dry, Aang might as not be here, Sokka got any and everyone's good character beats, didn't allow for any relationship building because heaven forbid that add to the ship wars, can't have any anger or sexism or letting our characters be wrong for growth like??
Honestly, someone on YouTube said the show as it is can't be adapted and I agree. They also said just give us new stories then, and suggested a prequel all about Iroh and Honestly, love that idea. Or about the war! Or maybe Roku or Kyoshi.
I say, if you were gonna mess up the source material this much, why stop, just keep going until its interesting. Like, you already stripped Aang of character, just get rid of the character. Make it they find him in the ice, he's out cold, they're super excited that maybe he's the Avatar because he was frozen in the south tribes version of spirit water so maybe still breathing. Katara and Zuko fight over him, but at the end of the episode, he actually dies. We're all shocked. Turns out, he was just a kid escaping the genocide, and the real avatar got away for a bit then killed (gives us a mystery to solve) and Sokka is the Avatar this whole time, because CLEARLY the writer/director is most infatuated with Sokka. Now he had to grapple with being a bender at all, and being someone he doesn't believe in, katara convinces him to leave to get masters together, you can even have your zutara netflix is baiting us with and have it make sense instead of that pitiful, weird scarf smelling moment (I'd be insulted if I were a zutara fan, truly. Crumbs, absolute crumbs). And now it's a show about sibling love.
I mean. People would RIOT. But at least itd be something! This show was just... so boring. And that's the worst thing a source of entertainment can be
(Also, again, if netflix is really wanting Zutara, surely she should have stolen and read the diary? And read about Ursa, and that makes her think of Kya, and she starts to feel for him? Understand him? Maybe learns about him and how to defeat him. He realizes this and starts to study her more, get images of him sketching her, taking her as serious as he does the Avatar. Lile hello? I don't even ship this and I can tell ya the material was there if you wanted it.
Which makes me say: it's just bait. No zutara was ever really planned because netflix doesn't want to get in trouble or be complex. Honestly, I think they were aiming for "it's more feminist if she DOESN'T have a love interests" because love is... a tool of the patriarchy apparently?? It's so boring, guys.)
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sokkastyles · 2 months
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ATLA LA Ep 6 Thoughts:
I feel like Iroh is more defensive of Zuko than he should be. In the original, Iroh does explain Zuko's side to Jee, but I don't like the implication that Zuko understands sacrifice MORE. OG Iroh never felt like he was justifying Zuko's actions.
I do like the parallel with Zuko disrespecting a superior officer, which is got him banished in the first place, and Zuko disrespecting Zhao, while Zhao uses his past as a earning, and Zuko bullying his crew in the same way he was/is bullied. All because he thought war would be honorable.
Liked the fire sages and Roku but Aang going there to ask Roku for help in saving Katara and Sokka feels strange when he's supposed to be talking to Roku about the actual plot.
Aang: you can't always have been like this. *cue flashback*
BLUE SPIRIT BLUE SPIRIT
I can totally believe Zuko keeps exhaustive notes on everything Avatar related, but of course he never wrote about what happened to him.
The problem with Aang and Zuko having a prolonged conversation here is that it saps the tension out of their relationship.
"Compassion is a sign of weakness" / "I didn't mean to hurt you." The ways we hurt people when we've been hurt.
People talk too much in this show about what they're doing / going to do.
I get the feeling they were trying to make Iroh seem more proactive here, but it kinda has the opposite effect because instead of being paralyzed by shock/horror/guilt, he just like, makes one protest and then steps aside on cue.
"He's your son." "We'll see." It's a test.
It's a test but it's still not one Zuko can pass. Ozai accuses Zuko of holding back but the literal moment Zuko matches his ruthlessness, Ozai gets his excuse to hurt him.
And listen, I've seen some discourse about Zuko fighting back. But one, Zuko is not a skinny little kid here. I do wish they had cast a child actor but at the same time, Liu is so good that I can forgive that. So we have to accept a Zuko who is a little older and does not look as visibly like a child. Two, it doesn't matter whether Zuko fought back, nothing Ozai does to him is justified, but Ozai was absolutely looking for an excuse. The only thing that changes here is the excuse itself. The end result is the same, that Ozai deliberately hurt his son.
Azula's look of fascination is pretty perfect.
Aang's actor is good here. This is the scene between Aang and Zuko in the OG. Not sure why it was necessary for Zuko and Aang to have that talk before if they were also going to keep this scene. Again, this show has a problem with the pacing because characters keep stopping to give unnecessary exposition. I know we all want more Aang and Zuko but it doesn't quite work.
I still don't think Ozai's justification works.
The idea of Zuko's crew being the 41st is compelling. The idea that Ozai punished Zuko for having compassion by making him responsible for the people he refused to dehumanize, perhaps in the hope that he would eventually come to hate them. And it seemed like it was on its way to working. What I hate is the way the show frames things here by making it seem like it's the crew's responsibility to understand Zuko, and then suddenly they all worship him. The original showed us that Zuko still had compassion, and that was what earned the crew's respect, more than Iroh's story. It's also weird to have this happen after Zhao commandeers the crew, because Jee was right, that he, especially, knows the penalty for not following orders, and knowing Zuko's story only emphasizes how little autonomy the 41st actually have when up against someone like Zhao.
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darklinaforever · 11 months
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Ok... I need to talk about this. There are really people disturbed by the age difference between the actress of Katara and the actor of Zuko !? I mean... She's 17 ! (If the series works, she will surely be 18 by season 2, her filming, etc.) And him 21 ?! Only 4 years ago ?! She's almost of age?! People with this type of age gap and in a relationship are very common in real life ?! (I literally have friends in a relationship with the same age difference ? My mom met my dad when she was 17 and and got together with him when she was 19, while he was 35 when he was 1 era ?) Even physically, there is no huge visual shock between the two actors ? The Zuko actor, once properly dressed, like the actress, would have absolutely no problem with visual associations ? Unlike the actor with Aang, who will always make him a child in comparison to these two ?! Mostly, that, whether you would approve or not, but Netflix has done romances before with that same age difference between the actors. It literally doesn't stop them at all. So why do people keep making this age difference argument... ? To even see talking about "star child grooming" ?! We are talking about actors, who play comedy, who do their job ! (Yes, shit can happen in this job, but for everyone, not just minors) If everything is properly supervised, is there no problem ? Even Disney wasn't stopped by age differences ! Soy Luna ? Luna & Matteo, anyone ? Actress 16 years old, actor 21 years old. What prevented the couple ? Kisses on the screen ? The answer is no. If Disney doesn't care, I doubt Netflix, which has already done that too, will...
Maybe I offend some, but that's what I personally think. I really don't see what's shocking about that. This type of controversy really baffles me. And again, Aang's actor looks like a kid anyway, and the difference is far too noticeable for people to feel uncomfortable about a romance between them. (in case someone comes to me that I should support Kataang with my arguments on age...) Unlike the actors of Zuko and Katara who will not disconcert the majority of people physically.
Anyway, I'm pretty sure that even if the actress were 18, there would still be controversy about age. People love to do that. They even do it for Ben Barnes and Jessie Mei Li when the girl is still an adult... Saying that the age difference makes them uncomfortable... All that honestly makes me laugh a lot.
Anyway, those were my personal thoughts.
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Percy Jackson Thoughts
Spoilers under the cut!!
i LOVE that Sally does not "silently endure" Gabe's abuse (mostly verbal, and honestly kind of comedic, which i appreciate bc the show is for kids and it opens up the idea of abuse without having to show women and children be hurt)
like. No?? She yells right back at him and kinda lays down the law??? but they also do a good job in the scene where he's picking on Percy of reminding you that this dude is not sympathetic.
Also, Sally lowk slipped a New York accent in while she was yelling at him and im about that.
"Like Jesus?" I WAS CACKLING.
Episode Two I was sick and obsessed. I really like that the show feels in line with the pacing of the books, because it always felt like everything was moving very fast plot-wise.
I'm obsessed with Clarisse. Please, PLEASE let young pretty girls of color be mean. It is my only wish in life. The YA television scene owes us for how you people treated Katara having even a single emotion (no I haven't let that go).
Clarisse really inspires fear in the show without ever feeling unnatural, and even in the first two episodes we can see her turmoil and how that will manifest throughout the series.
Annabeth with the one-word "yes. no. yes." is so adorable and I get the feeling that's going to be a reoccurring thing as we watch her grow up.
On the same note, her calling Percy sunshine, adjusting his armor, and openly admitting to stalking him. Ooh girl we're in for the long haul.
Grover is precious. Enough said.
I really, REALLY liked Charlie's portrayal of Luke. It really sold why Percy (and the readers) had COMPLETE faith in him in the book, and why we were shocked at the betrayal.
I also loved seeing Chris Rodriguez, which I was not expecting??? For me, Chris felt like he just appeared in Titans Curse so seeing him speak and feel alive was really enjoyable. I was always very anti Chris and Clarisse because it felt like they were shunting her off to a corner with a random name we'd never heard of, so giving Chris a more interesting role while still keeping him as a minor character (he has lines!!) was really fun to me. If they do decide to go the chris and clarisse route in the show (they might not, of course) i would probably be more onboard.
I'm SO glad they state, early on, as soon as possible, that Annabeth is Luke's SISTER. Trust me, I was in the discourse trenches with Lukabeth shippers, and I fought that last "i love you" tooth and nail. Honestly, based on what we've seen, the sibling thing seems reciprocal. Thank god. War is over.
My last thing is that if you guys are talking about the show, please stop calling Annabeth Leah or Leahbeth. I understand making the distinction for art or fanfic but the more yall separate her from the character in all its forms, the less it feels like you respect her. I only say this because I haven't seen it happening with Aryan or Walker really and it's kind of weirding me out.
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teaandcrowns · 9 months
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I have so many thoughts on Sokka during TSR, because why did katara talk to aang at the end but not Sokka? I understand why her and Aang spoke, but it made no sense for Sokka not to be more involved. This is Kataras episode, and for that reason I would've thought there would be more Sokka because he is one of the biggest parts of her life. What she said to Sokka about their mother, I understand it and don't blame her, but it was cruel and you can't tell me that Katara didn't feel horribly guilty after, that she wouldn't apologise. Throughout the series they don't have really a positive conversation regarding Kyas death once (not that the topic is positive, but by that I mean it is always either brought up in an argument or katara isn't talking to sokka about it) and the way Katara is shocked when she overhears Sokka talking to Toph kind of implies she and Sokka haven't spoke about it, which does make sense. Sokka tends to shut his deep feelings away, and wouldn't want to 'burden' Katara with them bc of his whole protective thing, which is a reason I agree Sokka probably would've argued further to stop Katara going more than Aang, because in regards to his character, he sees Katara when he thinks of Kya because she sacrificed herself for her. Katara feels the need to honour this sacrifice, whilst Sokka feels the need to keep Katara safe, and Hakodas words encouraged those thoughts. From a plot standpoint I get why he didn't fight it, but I would've thought he would've. He has always been vocal against Katara putting herself in danger, so the time when she is about to put herself in the MOST danger, he's just.. weirdly quiet about it. This episode missed a big opportunity to focus less on Aang and Katara in the background, and more on Sokka and Katara. Having a conversation regarding their mother's death; regarding Kataras survivors guilt and her need to feel worthy of that sacrifice, Sokkas repression of her memory despite remembering the raid clearly and feeling a need to keep Katara safe, would've helped them both, and given a lot more insight on their characters, esp Sokka who has never really been a focus in the series. In my dreams, they talked to each other after the episode ended. I think all of the faults of this episode lie within the writing tbh (Zuko bluntly asking Sokka about his mother's death which was.. insensitive, Aang saying about Appa instead of the death of his people) but yeah.. this has gotten way too long 😭 I just have lots of thoughts about Sokka & Katara
Yeah, I think it would have been a lot better if Katara and Sokka had an actual conversation about this, because I think you're right. I don't think they ever talked to one another about it. Katara was too busy trying to fill their mother's shoes (at eight!) and my guess is that Sokka was too busy trying to emulate their father so he could fast track becoming a warrior to help protect the remainder of the tribe. I honestly think that if the episode had put Sokka and Katara as the secondary focus instead of Aang and Katara, it would have made it so much better. I feel like Sokka would have tried to stop her at first, but then they would have argued and Katara would lash out and then Sokka would realize just how much this means to her, to be able to do this, and how no matter how much he wants to, he can't protect her forever (and hasn't been in a lot of senses, for a while), and it would have just been such a good growth point for both of them. I imagine he'd have this revelation and instead of the scene starting with Aang saying, "I forgive you. Does that give you any ideas?" we have Sokka saying, "I'm coming with you." Katara could tell him no, this was something she had to do herself, to keep the primary relationship reconciliation between her and Zuko, and Sokka would feel bad, but understand and not push the point.
Everything else doesn't have to change—I even understand Zuko bluntly asking Sokka because he doesn't know the extent of what happened, just that Katara said the Fire Nation took her mother away from her, and nobody else in camp would know the answer. Forefronting Sokka and Katara as a secondary relationship that grows and is repaired would have made so much more sense than Katara and Aang's fracturing with no on screen resolution after.
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sharlmbracta · 7 months
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i can't help but think that the two firelords in aang's fever dream would've been ozai's previous, early-staged designs, from the concept of the "firelord" to the concept of "ozai"
1.
this guy literally has fire shaped eyebrows and a fire nation insignia (or what it used to be?) stuck on his forehead. his blatant (stereotypical?) theme from his appearance is powerhungry(small eyes, bulky form), greedy-arrogant(eating grapes as a symbol?), brute-forced(war-themed clothing). I think this could be the very first design of him when creating the first idea of the "ultimate hero" and the "ultimate villain". The marks of the "first" can also be seen from the clothing design (the scarf? napkin? thingy around his chest) and simple color choices (simple red with simple yellow).
also you can see that he was agreed to have a very long and thin beard from the beginning which would feed on the "wisdom" "intelligence" and "strength" propaganda
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2.
again, simple red and simple yellow.
clothing looks rather flashy, which means this look of him was also made at early stages of development and the atla fashion in general hasn't yet been stabilized. (: the flair in his wrists and the thing that goes across his shoulders to his chest. makes no sense. the top half looks like a flashy sleeping robe while the bottom half looks like... an outdoor activity metal skirt?)
he looks older than the previous one. does he? he looks more manipulative though. i think this is where his "slick tongue" personality was established bc a narrow eyes, narrow eyebrows character design kinda points to a stereotypical "rat person". i think. again long beard. that points to his high status or whatever.
this design looks like it was given to an earthbending trainer who haggled on money rather than actual teaching, who was assigned by toph's parents to be her earthbending teacher
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3.
this is the very first time his face is actually shown. in seasons 1 and 2, his face was intentionally hidden, probably a tactic to bubble up the audience as "what could a monster like him look like 😱".
but ironically, he's a very normal looking guy. in fact, the most normal looking guy the designers could ever make intentionally. No part of him that could make anyone go "yep this is the face of the villain." this design of him is meant to convey that looks are often the most deceiving to your judgement. this ALSO shows when the gaang finds his baby picture in his beach house on ember island and mistake him for baby zuko.
it represents that everyone can go crazy with propaganda and an insane amount of power. like aang said, how everyone is capable of "great evil" and "great good".
taking katara's quote on the baby picture, "but he looks so sweet and innocent": his "innocent" look acts like a mask he puts on, as well as the mask of neutral expression, on top of the mask of his slick tongue.
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the only thing that changes from here on is the frame of his face for anatomy i guess
below is also an impacting scene in my viewpoint:
how his face contorts from this
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to this
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in less than a second at azula's proposition of "burning it all to the ground". shows him that he's able to mask everything as he want it to, especially about stuff like neutral-face and power-face as that is NOT his ego-high power-tripping face:
THIS is his ego-high power-tripping face
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and this is him putting back on his slick face right after a moment of being unable to mask his shock-rage and consequently rage-stripping himself
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"now the universe delivers you to me like an 💅act 💅 of 💅 providence 💅" yep the providence that single-handedly blew your fucking ship up
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also i forgot that the scene right after defeating ozai existed, i forgot how much of a drama queen he is:
"i'm STILL ALIVE"
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and "i AM the phOEnix KING"
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ok girlie fellow girlie
one more thing: he sounds genuinely proud of zuko when he commends him for "slaying" the avatar. and he reprimands aang for being "weak even with all the power in the world". looks like he really does think everything around power and ONLY power. hmm, i wonder who taught him that, hmm? tragic.
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Do you think Zuko and Katara would work as a couple?
The last time I spoke about Zutara in relation to fandoms at large.
It'd have to be AU.
It's not impossible, I've seen great fics, and the characters do have traits they admire in one another and a lot of screentime alone in canon.
However, given canon, I'm not shocked it didn't work out for a number of reasons.
Canon
In season 1, Zuko's very clearly an antagonist and Katara meets him when he terrorizes her defenseless village in search of the Avatar who is in fact a child himself. He then hounds them across the globe, representing the Evil Empire, trying to snuff out the one last hope for the world for reasons Katara simply cannot understand. Add onto this that he kidnaps her one time, fights her in the North Pole where he kidnaps Aang when he's helpless and takes him into the tundra (where Aang may uh die), and they're not getting off on a good foot.
Katara may have been into Jet, resident bad boy, but she liked him when he was a bad boy for her cause and giving the Fire Nation what for. She was horrified when it turned out he was a tad bit unhinged and planning to massacre civilians.
On Zuko's end, Katara and Sokka are the annoying water tribe peasants who hang around the Avatar. They're useful in that the Avatar clearly cares about them and they're weaker benders/non-benders (making them easier to kidnap and things) but he has his Avatar blinders on so doesn't really care much beyond that.
Season 2, the Gaang is confused when it seems they have a new and more terrifying hunter (Azula) and Zuko and his uncle seem to uh not be on her side maybe. However, Zuko's still fighting Aang at this point which means a big old no from Katara. We then get to Ba Sing Se, when both are kidnapped, and here we have our shining moment. Katara offers to heal Zuko's scar, they talk about their past and Zuko about how he's given up and is redeemed and a fugitive of the Fire Nation, and Katara wants to believe in him.
However, he immediately stabs her in the back, helping his sister to nearly kill Aang, betraying his uncle in front of them, all for the chance to go home and be redeemed.
After that, Katara canonically is very clearly done with this man. She vaguely tolerates him when Aang takes him on as a teacher but very clearly doesn't trust him and only slightly thaws after their murder adventure together.
Zuko, for his own part, seems to feel awkward around Katara and then terrified after the murder adventure as uh... he knows he did bad and there isn't an easy way to make them believe he's super good for real this time. Last time didn't count, guys. He's mostly trying to get in her good books and not in a way that will lead to a realtionship.
(And add onto that that Zuko has his thing with Mai, Mai ends up imprisoned because of him, and that Katara has her thing with Aang and it gets very messy).
But it Could Happen
If you diverge early, or have a very AU world, then it might work out. Granted, part of Zuko's character is focusing on restoring his honor, which is mutually exclusive to all of Katara's ideals. It would feel--weird and cheap if Zuko defected early and I think it was a key part of his character that he did get a chance to get his honor restored and realized that it wasn't what he wanted and his family is terrible.
Similarly, if Katara's more understanding of Zuko's position... Well, that's not who she is as a character and from her perspective what's there to be understanding of. Zuko is literally trying to murder the Avatar or else imprison him for life and doom the world: where is the good in that?
So, I can't tell you where, when, and how would be a good point of divergence. However, I don't think as personalities they're unshippable, I think there is a lot there, it's just not inclined to happen given who they are and where they come from.
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The Problem With The Southern Raiders
Brynn_Sasha191 asked: And what do you have to say about TSR episode as a whole? And how ZK shippers constantly refer and think of it as 'the Zutara episode'.
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The episode itself is alright. Katara and Zuko looked cool as hell in their ninja outfits, sneaking around and being menaces. The scene of Katara choosing to bloodbend (and her horror after) were shocking. The moral of the episode ("Unnecessary violence is never the answer, BUT that doesn't mean people who wronged you are entitled to your forgiveness") is pretty good. Zuko looked like he gained some genuine understanding for Katara's situation, as well as respect for her mom, when he was told about how Kya's death happened. Plus the Sukka bit, and Zuko's reaction to it, was one of the funniest moments in the show.
The only thing that REALLY bothers me about it how it is the ONE time the show tried to sweep Zuko's mistakes under the rug. Katara was not mad at him because she was wrongfully "projecting" her grief over her mom, and her anger at the killer, on poor, innocent Zuzu.
She was mad because this entitled prince that had threatened the people of her village, tried to use her mom's necklace to blackmail her and then threatened to burn it, had been chasing her group all around the world, endangering them several times, to kidnap her best friend managed to convince her for five minutes that maybe there was some humanity to him - and then immediately helped his sister essentially win the war for the Fire Nation, and killing Aang. Then after Katara saved him, the same goddamn prince sent an assassin after them.
It doesn't matter that he was never fully evil, that he had understandable reasons to do what he did, that truly changed sides, and that he doesn't intend to ever do something like that again. Katara does NOT have to forgive him, and she sure as hell does not owe him her friendship, and it's not cool how the episode keeps allowing Zuko to act all entitled, without ever calling him out for it - and worse, activelly saying KATARA is the one in the wrong.
Plus, it's kinda fucked up that it's never acknowledged how Zuko, the guy who was disfigured and banished for wanting the soldiers of the Fire Nation to be treated fairly and with any humanity, and saw harming them for daring to OBEY ORDERS as an absolute betrayal, was willing to kill one of these guys for the crime of... following the Fire Lord's orders - which Zuko had also been doing mere WEEKS before.
Don't get me wrong, I can understand Katara being out for blood and not giving a shit about "well, if he didn't obey, he'd be traitor" when what he did traumatized her for life and made her grow up without her mom, but Zuko just seemed a bit hypocritical, and like he was betraying his beliefs there. It just doesn't make sense in my head that he wouldn't be thinking "What that guy did was fucked up, but I nearly got all of my current allies killed just a month ago because they were still enemies and it'd make sure my dad would not disfigure/banish me again or even kill me, it'd not be right of me to act like I can judge this guy"
But this one doesn't bother me as much since the whole point of that episode was for Zuko to unlearn all the awful "lessons" his father taught him by fully normalizing violence to him - and considering the finale showed us he was feeling sorry for Azula (hell, he was already giving off Concerned Big Brother vibes on the opening scene of TSR)  and was willing to spare even Ozai, I think it's safe to say he will never make that kind of mistake again (the comics are not canon, I don't care what anyone says).
So yeah, it's a deeply flawed, but entertaining episode that MOSTLY works - but it's NOT the "zutara" episode, not just because there's no romance there, but also because, if anything, 99% of it just shows how these two have the potential to bring out the absolute worst in each other, and that, at least until he genuinely started bonding with her during their mission) Zuko had no problem with playing the victim whenever Katara dared to be mad at him for doing horrible things that hurt her, the people she cared about, and innocents in general.
Thank God they grew as people AND have other friends that can pull them out of destructive spirals.
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the-genius-az · 3 days
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Here's the link: https://www.tumblr.com/stupidlyqueer/743141672280555520/attempts-at-atla-fanfics?source=share
I go with Azula being closer to Ty Lee, it doesn't mean she doesn't love them both equally, she's just more drawn to the that gives her more attention and such. Baby girl is touch starved, she naturally gets closer to the omega that gives her more hugs and cuddles and such. Azula can't really measure which one she loves more, just which one she leans towards more often.
(Like, if she has to choose, Azula will go with whoever gives her the physical comfort she has been craving her whole life.)
Could make it Maizulee + Katara (and Katara's an alpha because I think it'd be funny to make her and Azula low-key compete who's hornier). Or make it Azutara because bond breaks can't be fixed, so if they (Zuko & Katara) can't stop the betrayal from happening without losing the war, Katara just spent so long trying to save Azula that she just... creates her own bond without noticing. Azula is very confused but, y'know, she's starved enough to not even care, she just needs the comfort.
I like writing healthy A/B/O, but questionable stuff comes along sometimes.
- Ash 🔥🍌
Thanks for this, Ash!
Here's the link
I can not enter :(
Baby girl is touch starved, she naturally gets closer to the omega that gives her more hugs and cuddles and such.
I know, our baby only wants love and affection, and life only gives her tragedies!
And Katara's an alpha because I think it'd be funny to make her and Azula low-key compete who's hornier.
I love it even more! Azula deserves three girlfriends.
Katara just spent so long trying to save Azula that she just... creates her own bond without noticing.
It would be a great show! Imagine Mai and Ty Lee in shock because the girl who was going to get Azula back for them steals her!
Azula is very confused but, y'know, she's starved enough to not even care, she just needs the comfort.
Azula: I don't care who you are, just give me love, cuddles and affection! 😭
I like writing healthy A/B/O, but questionable stuff comes along sometimes.
Don't worry! Send me anything questionable, I'm a no-questions-asking guy!
(Well... obviously I'll ask questions, but I won't judge you!)
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