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#Toph wasn't perfect
eagleidiot · 1 year
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I loved this, a screencap of something I was discussing on Discord about how poor Toph was handled in Lok.
seriously Toph always had nothing but unconditional love for her family and her friends, she also understood that loving people up and having basic ground rules aren’t the same as the neglect she got as a child 
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icearts · 2 months
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My favorite thing about the Live Action Atla is that people are finally realizing Katara was a well-written character. For years, she was constantly memed for being "too emotional" and "talks about her mom too much" and yeah there's a scene or two she says something completely uncalled for (you all know which line) but sometimes people lash out and say things they regret. Katara wasn't supposed to be perfect in the original show, Sokka wasn't supposed to be perfect, Zuko wasn't supposed to be perfect, and Aang wasn't supposed to be perfect. Now that the live action stripped most of the characters of necessary flaws needed to develop, you all see how hollow they are. Katara's fault wasn't that she was too emotional and that is evidenced by the charm of her character being nonexistent without those strong feelings. Similarly with Sokka's sexism he needed to get over (which happened quickly as a mercy for the audience and thank god). Similarly with Toph realizing it isn't weak to rely on others every now and again. Similarly with Zuko realizing true strength is having a strong moral compass and following it no matter the consequences.
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punkeropercyjackson · 1 month
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Trans girl Zuko moments
Her liking pretty things(such as that seashell)because 'girls like that stuff'
Growing out her hair after a buzzcut as visual character development
'The son my father wanted.But i wasn't me'
Being heartbreakingly jealous of her ideallic sister and wishing she could be perfect like her while hating her for it at the same time
And Ozai perfering Azula for living up to standards while Ursa loved and nurtured both of them equally but payed extra attention to Zuko because of all the degradation she faced
Comparing herself to Ty Lee by saying she's not as optimistic or pretty
Misandrist queen(Her instant reaction to a guy getting near Mai was rage at him potentially being a sleaze,her insults to Iroh,her arc culmenating in coming for her abusive dad's entire life including jumping his ass,etc)
Dragon-coded
All her friends pre-Gaang were girls
Her and Aang=Tween dorky boyprotagonist and late teens mean goth older sister who learn to love eachother trope
She's really maternal to him but also in general
Sokka is the Team Dad to her Team Mom and their dynamic is 'Mean hotheaded girl and chill goofy guy start off thinking the other is annoying asf and picking on eachother until they go on an adventure together and now they're sickeingly lovey dovey best friends totally not lovers'
Chose the Kyoshi Warriors as her bodyguards
This panel in general
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But also these that make her look like the second girl mc in a Nickelodeon girl power sitcom
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Jet talks to and treats her the same way he does Katara and he's got Smellerbee on his team so He Knows What She Is(and is being an annoying cocky bisexual about it)
Had TWO secret identities-First one was pretending to be an ordinary boy to hide her royalty status and her first instinct on picking a name was after her childhood best friend who's a girlypop and the second one was a hero persona that included baggy ass clothes that hid her entire figure
Baby butch(Toph)immediately adopted her as her older sister
Got 1 taste of living as a daddy's boy prince praised by everybody for manliness after months of living on the run and interacting with the Gaang and went 'I need to get my ass outta here,i can't fucking live like this,I WAS WRONG BEING A REAL MAN FUCKING SUCKS,AANG WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!!!!'
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You're saying that zutara wasn't supported by the writers and shouldn't have been an endgame. That's a lie! and you can verify this, for example, by reading this post. Zutara has a huge support of writers and actors, she was supposed to become a canon! We were just robbed.
https://www.tumblr.com/crienselt/744143410729041920?source=share
I can show you lots of videos of Grey Delisle saying Azula and Zuko are totally fucking (including one she recorded for my birthday), and there's an infamous clip of Bryke proposing Azula and "The Blue Spirit" as a potential ship in a pannel. Somehow I don't think you'll take that as meaning my OTP is canon and was just robbed of it's endgame at the last second - but apparently tumblr posts are solid proof, therefore my argument is perfect and all you Zutara fans are now gonna have to accept that you ship Katara with a guy that canonically (by the standards YOU GUYS are trying to set at least) loves incest even more than Jaime and Cersei Lannister did. And oh, would you look at that! During one of the times Grey mentioned Zucest, Dante said "The Fire Nation are a bit like the Lannisters." See the links if you don't believe me. WHERE'S YOUR GOD NOW?
The creators/showrunners, writers, and lead writer have all said a billion times "Kataang was always the heart of the show and by the time the first episode aired we were set on it being endgame. Some people in the crew liked BOTH Kataang and Zutara, but Zutara was NEVER seriously considered as a real possibility for endgame or even temporary romance. The only love triangle ever considered was Aang, Katara and MALE Toph."
It doesn't matter how many interviews yall fake, how many clips you take out of context, how many deleted scenes you claim existed without a shred of proof to back it up, how many times you go "but this actor whose job is ACTING not WRITTING says he likes Zutara" or "This writer that wrote tons of Kataang episodes said the word Zutara once when writting a scene between Zuko and Katara" - your ship is still fanon. That's not a dig at you or saying it's bad, it's just a fucking fact.
Write some fanfic if you like it so much, but don't turn the production of the series itself into your fanfic just so you can lie to yourself about how there was ever any chance of you getting what you wanted in the actual canon.
And for real, you're gonna try to use the LIVE ACTION as proof? The thing the creators disowned? Netflix's over-glorified cosplay session that everyone keeps saying "It's mid at best" is THE argument you go for? Have some goddamn standards, I'm begging you.
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freeusemuses · 2 months
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Toph rested at the bar, looking bored at the club. The beat was hot, but none of the men here had ever truly satisfied her. Could never last long. She had been called goddess and worshiped, but that is not what she needed. She needed a man who could dominate her, put her in her place and make her beg for him to cum inside her. But tonight probably wasn't that night.
Silver was finally able to get a night to himself. Between the missions he was putting together for the Fang, and the assignments the teachers at Beacon were handing out like crazy, the wolf Faunus was quickly approaching a burnout.
So suffice it to say, he seriously needed this night. And was willing deal with the hangover he would inevitably suffer tomorrow.
And that was when Silver saw the gorgeous woman in the glittering red dress. What was a perfect 10 like her doing in an establishment like this?
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thecrazyone1990 · 5 months
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Open Domination RP (Male, Female, or Futa only)
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Toph has been bethrow to your muse. She wasn't happy about it and was looking forward to kicking your muse's ass. But then after she heard how your muse fucked other women silly, she decided to give it a try. If the sex is good, then perfect, the thicc-earthbender will have a good fuck buddy. If not, she'll kill them.
The ceremony finished as did the reception, so that just left the two to consummate the marriage. Toph got a little excited, especially how she felt some of the people going near her spouse. Obviously former sluts of theirs. So, she got excited.
"All right. Time for us to consummate the marriage, loser. Think you've got what it takes to make me yours?"
((have fun dominating her))
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rifari2037 · 1 month
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6. Do you consider the comics/LoK canon?
I prefer to pretend that comics and TLOK aren't canon.
ATLA is enough for me, even though the love story isn't good written. It's weird and rushed except for Sokka and Suki. I'm a Zutara shipper, but I wouldn't expect them to end up together either if the better story is ended with friendship.
Why I don't consider comics as canon?
I probably can't give to much criticism because I don't read the comics yet and I'm not interested to do so because I've read many criticisms about it before, this is one of them that I found recently.
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There are other criticisms about it, most of them about the plot and how is Katara's role reduce, from Katara we all know to not more than Avatar's girlfriend. Those makes me less interested, though.
Plus, I probably can't stand reading Aang and Katara calling each other 'Sweetie' all the time. It wasn't romantic but cheesy to me.
Why I don't consider TLOK as canon?
Don't get me wrong, I quite enjoyed TLOK since Bolin exist, but I don't think it's as well written as ATLA. The conflicts, the arcs, the complexity. I have a lot of thoughts on some aspects that make TLOK no more special than ATLA, but I will only explain the most disappointing for me - and a lot of fans - here, which is how Katara is written.
Bryke always tells fans that Kat/Ang are perfect pairing. Since they became canon in ATLA, Bryke has many chances in TLOK to convince fans (especially Zutara stand) of what Bryke said.
But what we get are – Katara's role simply as the wife and mother of the Avatar's children. Like, having 3 kids doesn't make them perfect couple. And if Katara's role replaced by another character, would the main story change? No, not at all.
Zuko still the one who knew Aang more than anyone else, not Katara.
It doesn't matter if Katara only end up being a healer in her old age even though she wanted to fight when she was young. I mean, Toph also lives in the swamp and Zuko chooses to retire as Fire Lord.
But where was she when she was young? Where was she when Sokka was a leader, Toph was a police chief, Zuko was a Fire Lord, and Aang was the avatar? Where is her statue, while even cabbage man has it?
Not only that, Bryke also thought it's a brilliant idea to make Aang as a bad father. Unbelievable!
Bryke ignores all the opportunities of Zutara. But seeing how Bryke's favourite pairing is written, it's better that Zutara don't end up together. I'm afraid Bryke would destroy Zutara more than Kat/Ang.
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Just a little thing
Zuko was laying in bed, well he thought he was anyway. He rolled over and could only really make out a door a couple feet away. “Why don't you go to him?”
Zuko could hear a voice….it sounded like his sisters or maybe even his mothers but it was monotone too perfect. None of the softness that came from his mothers or the sharpness that was his sisters.
“Why do you sit there?” Why did he indeed, Zuko was not quite sure his mind was muddled like it was swimming through mud.
“I can't.”
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“Zuko love please wake up,” Sokka shook the other man's body frantically. “Please breathe love!”
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“Can't what?”
“I just can't.”  “Can't go with him?” “I can't follow him through that door”
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“Zu please open your eyes for me,” Sokka’s mind was frantic. This couldn't be happening, he couldn't lose him not now not ever.
“I need you to just do something anything love.”
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“Why can't you follow him through the door?” Zuko tried to look to see who or what was talking but his body was frozen, unable to move, only able to watch the door. “Is the door the thing that scares you? “Who said I was scared?” “Are you saying you aren't?” “No.” “Then what are you afraid of?”
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Sokka ran his hands through his hair, his skin was becoming too pale and his breaths were becoming shorter and less frequent. “No no no love you promised! You promised you would never leave me!” Tears had long since started sliding down his cheeks but they were full on streaming now. “Babe please I need you!” --------------
“I am not afraid of the door” “Are you afraid of him?” “NO!” “Are you afraid-” “No! I’m not afraid of any of that’ “Then what do you fear?” Zuko continued to stare at the door as it seemed to move farther away. It wasn't the distance he feared nor what laid on the other side as long as he had him he did not fear anything. Well except for one thing  
“I fear who I will be on the other side.” --------------
“Zuko? Zuko!” 
His body had gone cold as if someone had smothered the fire that lived in him.
Sokka shook him once more why did it have to be now, when it was just him. No Katara to heal him, no Toph to feel his heartbeat, no Aang to pull some spirit miracle to bring him back. Just Sokka. Sokka who loved him but what good would that do now? “Oh love….please….come back to me.” --------------
“Why?” “Because I don't want to turn into something he fears! I don't want him to regret choosing me.” “Do you regret choosing him?” “Never” “So why do you think he would?” “I-,” Zuko's words stopped as heard ... .a voice. Another one from the other side of the door, different from the one he had been speaking to. Baby..baby please “Well? Will you follow him through the door?” --------------
Zuko's last breath had been several minutes ago but Sokka refused to let him go. To let himself believe that he was gone. “Zuko… Zuko darling” Sokka held his lover and cradled him to his chest. His mind blank he had no plans, no ideas, nothing that could-
Then he felt movement in his arms. “Hnrgh.” “Z-Zuko?” Sokka pulled back and looked down to see two perfect golden eyes blink slowly up at him. “Sokka?”
Tears started once again as he watched Zuko start to breath once more bringing color back to his skin and heat to his body
Sokka kissed him on the forehead, cheeks, nose, lips, and scar. 
“Oh love, don't ever don't do that to me ever again. I love you so much baby you don't know how much you mean to me.”
He buried his face on the other man's neck and just breathed. He was alive, alive, alive he hadn't lost him. He was okay. He was still with him Sokka felt arms wrap around him and a face nudge into his cheek.
“I know love, I know how much I mean to you.”
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lilbagdermole · 11 months
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Hello! It's always great to meet another Taang shipper!
What do you love most about Taang?
I hope you have a great day!!!
Hey!!
Oh, it's so nice to see that Taang is still loved by so many people (and it's always really nice to see active blogs about them ^^)
What do I love most about Taang?
I love their dynamics. They bounce off each other almost harmoniously, because they are opposites in so many aspects of their lives: beliefs and morals, elements, backgrounds and childhoods. They clash and struggle and are far from perfect, yet, no matter how big the storm, how complex the disagreement - they always reconcile, they always listen to one another, they always learn and grow and strive to become better people. They respect one another so much to work around their oppositions and thus balance and understand one another in ways that no other member of the ATLA cast can replicate (with Aang and Toph).
And though they are natural opposites, they still have so much in common if you delve deeper. Aang and Toph are the youngest in the Gaang - and share the same love for teasing and joking; they share a very deep connection with the the original benders of their respective elements (Toph with the Badgermoles and Aang with Appa); they both runaway from their homes at a young age because of paramount expectations; both are masters of their bending - even inventing a new form/bending style at 12 years-old (air scooter and metalbending).
Aang represented all Toph needed in her life - freedom, loyalty, companionship and a friend. He saw her beyond her perceived weakness and never underestimated her capabilities as an earthbender and his potential master. He taught her to trust and confide, understood her when no other person did and soften the hard edges that she'd constructed to protect herself from her suffocating reality. In a sense, Aang was a breath of fresh air in her life.
Toph, on the other hand, represented all Aang needed - stability, confidence, strength. Aang, being the Avatar, had been coddled and protected by almost everyone - Katara, Sokka, admirers, etc. He wasn't Aang, he was a symbol - a symbol of hope and peace. But Toph didn't care about his divine-like power, didn't care that everyone around him praised the very ground he stepped on - in Toph's perspective, Aang was Aang. A kid just like her and she treated him as equals; never afraid of pushing him to further his growth; she taught him to stand his ground, face his enemies head on, become a stronger, confident bender. She was the ground that anchored him to the mortal world and made him feel normal.
It's also poetic, in the finale - Toph is in the air whilst Aang is mostly on Earth. And, may I add, that at the end, whilst Zuko and Katara ultimately did teach him plenty so he could face the Firelord, Aang's preferred bending style, that was not his own, was Earthbending. The element that had once stumped him, frustrated him; the hardest element to master, his opposite... and now, he used it to protect himself, to shield and fight. He used every technique Toph taught him - rock armor, crushing earth, even seismic sense... Toph ultimately saved Aang during the Finale.
I can go on and on about them, but I'm in the midst of writing a dissertation on Toph and Aang's development and potential in ATLA - so I'll save most of my thoughts for that whenever I get to completing it.
And... let's be honest. Aang and Toph together just look so beautiful. They would be the IT COUPLE in ATLA - their canonical height difference should be reason enough to stan Taang. Avatar and The World's Greatest Earthbender... come on now! And it would just fit right - Aang as an adult would have to travel the world and Toph would gladly travel alongside him since she doesn't have a "home" (Aang is her home); and, as adults they could built Republic City from the ground up whilst also balancing raising a family... UGH! IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO GOOD!!!
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What made you start shipping Taang?
i ran across this post on the taang/kummi theory on the day i finished atla, when i was trawling the depths of zutara tumblr in my "the-fuck-do-you-mean-zutara-wasn't-canon" rage, and that kind of opened my eyes to the existence of taang as ship. i didn't full on ship it then, but i did find the idea interesting and the theory fairly plausible.
then when i rewatched atla a few months later, i began to realize how many of my favourite aang moments involved toph: bitter work and the blind bandit are two of the best episodes for aang's character growth, and both heavily revolve around toph, their cute exchange where she asks if friendships can last more than one lifetime and he goes "i don't see why not" and takes her hand, the fact that he sees her in the swamp where you see people you loved and lost...
when i paid closer attention to their dynamic on rewatch, i also realized just how much the two are able to actually meet each other on an equal footing. aang respects and sees her for who she wants to be right from the very beginning, while toph is able to look past "the avatar" to the boy beneath - flaws and all. they challenge each other in a way that is necessary and beneficial to both of them, with aang encouraging toph to go after the freedom she so badly wants and toph pushing aang out of his comfort zone to try new approaches and adopt new perspectives in his bending, which is so crucial for the avatar in particular to learn. she doesn't coddle him; he doesn't view her through rose-tinted glasses. much like zutara, what i love about taang is that it's a friendship where both parties know and love each other exactly for who they are, and that's the perfect foundation for a beautiful romance to develop.
add to all that a sprinkling of elemental symbolism and reincarnation trope and well... what else could i do but ship them?
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lydias--stiles · 11 months
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now the sun burns my heart and the sand hurts my feelings
zutara | outsider pov (aang) | post-southern raiders | one shot |
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Aang didn't know when it all changed. Which, frankly, wasn't entirely his fault. As the Avatar, his attention was and should be centered towards mastering his bending and, consequently, defeating the Fire Lord. The latter with quiet dismay, but nonetheless: he didn't have time for distractions… even when he loved them so.
But he hadn't seen Katara and Zuko coming. Not one bit.
He intrinsically knew Katara hated him up until their mission to avenge her mother — something he still felt sick to his stomach thinking about — and saw her forgiving him on the docks. It all happened right under his nose! And yet!
One moment he performed hot squats and built elaborate sand castles with Toph, the next he turned around the corner of the Fire Lord's Beach house and found the two sitting cross-legged opposite of another. Zuko held a plant between his fingers as he spoke. Katara inspected it critically, her eyes flicking between the herb and the boy with tender patience.
It knocked Aang off balance.
On the one hand, his altruistic side, he was happy the two benders finally got along. They were a team — Team Avatar, as Sokka would proclaim — and they needed to be a strong unit if they wanted to have a chance at ending the war. Aang knew that.
But on the other hand… since when did Katara voluntarily spend time with Zuko. Wouldn't she want to spend time with him? Aang deserved some of her allotted time, right?
Tentatively stepping closer, the two looked up from their conversation and Katara smiled first. “Zukoʼs been teaching me about herbs native to the Fire Nation.” She plucked the herb from Zukoʼs fingers. “This is saffron, you should smell it!”
“I'm good,” Aang weakly countered. “Uh… I'm gonna find Sokka. D'you know where he is?”
“The city,” Zuko responded. He looked totally unbothered by it all, a stark contrast to Aang's current frenzied spirit. “He and Suki are trying to find the perfect mango, or something.”
“Suki and him,” Katara corrected. A gleam in her eye pushed her to rib— “What, don't tell me the education system of the Fire Nation is lacking as well?”
A tick of a smile appeared on his lips. “Yeah, maybe. Too busy with shoving propaganda down our throats, I think.”
Katara laughed. Aang frowned. Zuko was many things, but a comedian wasn't one of them; it wasn't even a joke to begin with. Pushing the bitterness down his throat as though sucking on a frozen frog, he left the two behind and jogged down to the beach to sit with Toph. He'd wait for Sokka there.
The next instances took a few subtle cues for him to catch it. During dinner, they sat next to each other. While he sparred with Toph beneath the burning afternoon sun, they sought solace under the cool awning washing dishes or scrubbing clothes clean. Whenever Zuko dared anyone to a game of Pai Cho, Katara offered herself almost immediately despite her terrible track record. When an argument angered Katara to the point of storming away, Sokka's eyes organically slid to Zuko, waiting for him to make a move.
He'd never done that to Aang, that look, and it made him feel so incredibly, awfully juvenile.
What skills did Zuko possess that Aang didn't? He knew Katara way longer than he did, understood her better, and had seen her in more situations than he could count. Zuko just got here. Though Aang was fond of him, it left an ire sting travelling up and down his spine. Spirits! What was going on?!
Then the play threw all his worst fears on stage: Zuko and Katara, personified by the Ember Island Players, holding hands and proclaiming their love and totally disregarding the fact that Aang and Katara had history and chemistry and that he loved her! Their mocking of the term "Avatar's girl" made his stomach churn, so much so that he didn't notice the real (and mortified) Zuko and Katara shifting inches away from each other.
Had he seen, maybe he wouldn't have tried to kiss her during intermission. Maybe he wouldn't have felt the desperate need to prove himself to the girl; that he was right here and actively loving her and why was she so confused about it?
Had he seen, maybe he wouldn't have pushed the two towards each other later that even. While he sulked in the corner of the living room, sprawled across a recliner as he listened to Toph gloat about her character, Zuko and Katara had slipped away. Unbeknownst to him, though his heart quickened and clenched (something akin heartache) when he did realise.
Jumping upright, he ignored Toph's shout that he should sit and listen, and turned into the dark corridor that held their bedrooms.
Knocking on Katara's, no sound came. His head popped around the corner of the sliding door and saw the room was empty. Her bed tidy, her clothes folded on a chair, no litter on the floor — a complete 180 to Aang's room.
Oh, no. His eyes widened in horror. Behind his eyelids, the vision of the Players struck closer to reality than he thought. Taking a steadying breath, he trailed to the end of the hallway and, against better judgment, pressed his ear to the door.
And there it was: the soft chime of Zuko's laugh, the murmur of Katara's voice.
His hand raised to knock, but before he could or flee, it smoothly slid open.
Katara looked down at him, worried. “Everything okay, Aang? I felt you standing there.”
A seed of hope bloomed in his chest. “You felt me?”
A wry smile ticked up her lips as a finger curled around a dark lock of hair. “Yeah, it's the full moon, so it's kind of hard to miss. So?”
“Y-yeah, I'm okay. I was just, uh, looking for you. To, uh…”
What was he doing here? Just a couple hours ago, Katara had rejected him and this didn't help! Zuko had the decency to look bashful, however, the boy seated on the rug with a cup of tea unable to quite look him in the eye. At least the firebender seemed aware that Katara, despite the debauchery of the Ember Island Players, was his girl, not Zuko's.
But if he was aware, that didn't explain why they sat in private. What could they possibly talk about that the group wouldn't understand?
Aside from the tea, a handful of books covered the floor. A lit candle stood on his night stand. Too romantic for his taste.
And so he blurted— “Why're you in Zuko's room?”
Her expression soured. “To talk. Do you have a problem with that?”
The boys finally locked eyes. Golden irises blinked at him, earnest and merciful, though Aang knew he had no ground right now. If he went insane over them drinking tea, then she wouldn't speak to him until the Comet.
“No,” he puffed. “No. It— when can I talk to you?”
“Tomorrow,” she replied, curt.
��Okay.”
“Goodnight, Aang.”
He nodded. “Goodnight Katara. Goodnight Zuko.”
As the door of opportunities slimmed, the last split second showed the resurgence of Zuko's smile, a kind he hadn't seen before, and only reserved for Katara. His Katara.
A part of him died on that threshold that night. It smelled like naivité and tasted bitter.
The next day, he apologised to Katara for kissing her and she accepted, though kept her distance.
The group didn't feel off because of it. Everything ran smoothly, as usual; Toph erupted cities out of sand and roughhoused Sokka in the mud, Suki practiced hand to hand combat in the atrium and scoured the regal bedrooms for fashion, Katara did her duties and lounged around the ocean, as did Zuko, though he preferred the courtyard for his bending. Aang was the only one feeling unmoored. At least he had Momo to commiserate with.
Despite the Comet's looming arrival, the days were long and the teenagers needed time off as well. One couldn't train from sunrise to sundown. He learned that the hard way.
Rare moments like these reminded them of their youth, so really, it wasn't weird that Katara tapped Zuko with a water whip as she cackled out her magical laugh, but it did surprise Aang. He thought that when he apologised, she'd act playful towards him again, but… she didn't.
Sokka and Toph gawked in surprise at the action, but what took the cake was Zukoʼs smile as he launched himself from the courtyard onto the beach — feet thudding hard into the sand — and began sparring with Katara on the shore.
Scratch that: he couldn't call it sparring. It was playfighting. It was what Sokka and Suki often did.
Zuko liked Katara. The realisation thundered as an earthquake through his lithe body. It was so obvious now! Why else did the firebender behave so differently towards her? But how in the monkey feathers could Katara like him back? Zuko redeemed himself, sure, and he was now part of the group, but…
Aang faltered. He couldn't come up with a reason. Zuko was a child of war just as much as they all were. Maybe even more than Aang. He technically stood at 112, as opposed to Katara's fifteen and Zuko's seventeen. That made him pause.
Was that it? Did he lack a sense of humanity that Zuko possessed? Although, the Avatar defined humanity and led by example, so shouldn't he be the perfect person?
Maybe it was a phase, Aang supposed. Just like her lapse into anger when she travelled to the Southern Raiders, this too would pass and she'd see Aang belonged with her.
But what could he do about Zuko? From experience, Aang knew it was tough to not like Katara.
Oh! But if that angry knife-throwing girl got out of prison, then Zuko would turn to her again! Genius! Another incentive to win this war.
“How cute!” Suki cooed. He hadn't noticed her coming.
Aang scowled, “They're fighting.”
“They're having fun,” Suki countered, waving at a buried-in-the-sand Sokka. Toph smacked his cheek. Then Suki smiled down at him. “You should do something relaxing, too, Aang. Savour it while you can!”
The nail in the coffin happened three weeks later when the doom of Sozin's Comet lurked around the corner. In less than five days, the Fire Lord and him had to fight to the death; a death he didn't wish upon anyone. His group was furious with him for his stance, but Aang refused to budge his entire belief system for the definite solution of killing someone.
Katara had fallen quiet then. Hope bleeding out her eyes and left to seep into the soil, no longer in her heart and chi. He knew he hurt her with this. And still. There had to be another way to defeat the Fire Lord.
Right before he went to sleep, restless and keyed up, he stopped by Katara's door. Soundless, he slid it open just a crack, only to feel his stomach gutted out his body.
Zuko and Katara: hugging.
Not the quick embrace she'd previously given him, a real hug. One where Zuko's arm wrapped around her with no space left, one where Katara clung to him as though spirit water laced his veins. Her head tucked beneath his chin, their eyes closed yet content, his hand rubbing smooth circles on her lower back.
"Monkey feathers," he exhaled.
The two didn't jump apart like he expected, nor did Zuko flush red or dodge any repercussions by fleeing out the room. Their eyes cracked open and they stayed.
“Have you changed your mind about killing my father?” Zuko rasped.
Aang shook his head, blood pounding in his ears making it difficult to hear or breathe or think. Katara liked him too… more than she liked me.
“Katara?” he whispered.
Her eyes welled with unshed, shimmering tears. Remorse thickened her voice. “I'm sorry, Aang. I can't support you on this one. I just can't.”
Before he could save any semblance of a relationship, she burrowed herself back into Zuko's tight embrace. It looked unnatural, inhumane, it should be him.
And then he vanished.
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comradekatara · 2 days
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I know ppl are yapping at you abt Dungeon Meshi so sorry but I’m joining in. Who in the Gaang (or Gaang-adjacent) do you think would enjoy the dungeon most and least? Sokka would be having a grand time, eating cool food and rescuing sisters and learning about biology and doing puzzles. I can imagine Aang on the other hand having a very bad time; even the plants are animalistic so he would feel weird about eating them. He would appreciate Senshi’s care for the ecosystem though.
idk why ppl keep saying that sokka would be laios.... like laios does say that he wishes he could take falin's place and clearly means it, but he also has the mental fortitude to step back and look at the situation more rationally when he needs to. he clearly loves falin a lot, but he's also able to pace himself and acknowledges not to push himself beyond his own limits, so that he can make grand sacrifices when the time calls for it (and even then, he pretty much knew that losing his leg wasn't gonna be permanent). like, my point is, if katara got fucking eaten by a dragon, sokka would not even bother going back up to the surface to the regroup. he would not be able to approach the situation rationally whatsoever. laios wants to take falin's place because he doesn't want to see her in pain (and also because i'm sure there's a part of him that just wishes that he could be a really cool monster too, lol), but sokka would want to take her place because he fundamentally believes that his role in life is to sacrifice himself for her?? and he would feel like he had failed in some grand, existential way if she sacrificed herself for him (but also, falin is not katara, and so katara wouldn't make those same sacrifices either). if sokka was in laios's shoes, he would be acting far more like toshiro, and we know this because "the boiling rock" exists. sokka is someone who is easily motivated by guilt, and feels guilty about basically everything. there's no way he would be enjoying his time in the dungeon if he felt that he had failed the one person he valued most in the world. he barely enjoys doing anything as it is.
that said, if he was simply in the dungeon for work and katara was there with him or safely on the surface or otherwise healthy and intact, yeah he'd probably like the hunting and puzzle solving and the learning about ecosystems. and since magic is something that can be taught, i'm sure he'd also be fascinated by the science behind it and learn as much magic as he can. aang would be fine food-wise because he'd simply pack enough food in advance, which is what most people do anyway. katara would love it because she loves going on any sort of quest-like adventure, and she loves getting to be the hero. she and aang are the resident healers, naturally. toph enjoys it because she likes hanging out with her friends and getting into weird little situations. suki is slashing up monsters with her katana but mainly she's just vibing. zuko is having a bad time unless he has a fixed goal, just like, in general, so he's only going in the dungeon (or anywhere) if he has a very specific reason. people see azula, mai, and ty lee in the dungeon and they're like "that party is way too small they won't last a day" and then they work as such a perfect and efficient team that everyone is just like "okay. i stand corrected." but anyway. if anyone is falin, it's yue.
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The narrative foils between kataang and azulaang
It's clear that Katara and Azula uncannily contrast each other, almost more so than either do with Zuko or Sokka.
Another thing that can foil each other is their dynamic with Aang.
Kataang is solely based on a kid having his first cute little crush. The romantic coding is primarily from Aang's perspective and we're supposed to root for him. That all changed when the chakra session came. The heart chakra deals with love and it shows Katara's face upon opening it, but later, it's revealed that his romantic love is what blocks his last chakra.
Why must this be? Well, there is more about love than just the romantic variation. He's not asked to trade happiness and love for perfection and power, having both is optional.
By the end of season 3, Aang and Katara conveniently become more distant. Aang unintentionally acts almost self-righteous to Katara, causing her to reject the philosophy of forgiveness and second chances. Aang acts more desperate and entitled to Katara's love. He acts unreasonably jealous over exaggerated dialogue from the ember island play, which is strange because he didn't act this way with Jet. The last conversation they have for the rest of the series is about them fighting.
When they addressed their differences by the time they make out is never revealed. By the end of Aang's saga, his light chakra and cosmic chakra stayed closed.
...
Now, Aang and Azula never had a chance to have any romantic moments but if they were to, it'd be very different from Kataang.
They were the most hostile enemies to the point Azula had no problem killing him but it wasn't personal by any means.
For a while, I came up with a thing where, by the time Aang had completely opened all chakras, Azula and Aang became spiritually linked/connected/bonded due to Azula being a descendant of Aang's past life, Roku, and/or because Ozai's true identity is Vaatu himself in the case of my dark avatar Ozai AU.
Why this bond didn't happen when he opened his last chakra the first time could be because his fire and light chakras weren't fully opened by then.
In any case, this bond allows each other to intuitively know each other's experiences, draw each other closer, and even have only a piece of each other's personality. Aang will know when Azula lies better than Toph can and vice versa.
You know the close dynamic the show tries to frame Aang and Zuko into having? It's the same with Aang and Azula but even more intimate. Any romantic feelings Aang can potentially develop for Azula and vice versa are much more mature, nuanced, and spicier.
They show each other truths that were denied before: Azula helps Aang figure that he and the monks have taken FN lives. Aang eventually talks Azula into opening and mastering her chakras and she bestows herself the title; The nomadic Phoenix Queen.
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artist-issues · 15 days
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hello; you like Avatar: the Last Airbender, right? does anything about it seem anti God to you? And also, do you think the canon romances fit the themes and arcs of the story?
Hello! I love that you cut right down to the bone with both questions 😂
I don't think the show was trying to promote Eastern religion, but I think it drew so much inspiration from those religions that the lines got way too blurry. Truthfully, the moment I think of most was when Aang insists that it's harder to forgive than it is to hold on. That's a very Christian principal. C. S. Lewis was a big believer in God's spiritual influence being felt all of the world, and seeds of it left in even the most incorrect religions or ideologies
Anyway. I'd have to think more on it. The worst thing is that there is no God. No one King of the Spirits character, no Creator and Lord, no perfect spirit that the humans can have a relationship with. Nothing even alluding to that. Instead, the "Spirit World" is treated sacred whenever it needs to be sacred in the story (the Moon and Sun spirits) but then treated like "an alternate planet" whenever it needs to be that in the story, too. So sometimes the Spirits are sacred and the heroes need help from them, and sometimes they're just aliens and only Aang can communicate with them to keep the peace
So the most anti-God thing about the world of Avatar is that He's not in it. But they really don't comment on Him one way or another. The story is more about responsibility and what you do with the power you have, and how that affects others, than it really is about anything directly spiritual in the real world.
But Zuko should certainly have gotten together with Katara, if anyone, and Aang probably should've gotten together with Toph.
Zuko and Katara make sense. I don't even need to talk about why. Everybody knows it. I see less chatter about Aang and Toph. But truthfully, Aang and Toph's strengths and weaknesses compliment each other better. Toph is all about doing what she's gotta do, by the time she meets Aang. Aang, on the other hand, constantly has to fight running from responsibilities. Toph isn't careful with how people feel, and she holds grudges. Aang is compassionate, and he understands forgiveness and mercy. But, they both love fun. They both love a good prank. They're both passionate about justice. Plus there's that symbolism of them being masters of opposite elements, but good friends and understanding of one another anyway. Also, Toph's family failed her and didn't understand her, so she ran from them. But Aang's from a type of community where everybody's family, and he knows what it's like to run away. So all they needed was a little more maturity and they could've easily completed each other.
In no way did Katara and Aang ever make more sense than Top and Aang, or Katara and Zuko. They just chose to like each other. Which is fine, it's lovely. But no, it had nothing to do with their character arcs, unless you count Aang needing someone or something to struggle with letting go of. But that could've been anybody, really. I think it was just what made the most sense to the writers because she was the compassionate one who woke him up and believed in him, and they had the most time together as characters.
It's not a show-breaking thing though. Cuz they're all kids, and romance really wasn't the focus. If it had had one more season for some reason, I could see it!
Thanks for the ask!
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drpoisonoaky · 4 months
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Whoa she has fallen deep
They realize how deep Katara has fallen for Azula. Because they simp for each other a lot.
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Suki.
Suki needs to vent with someone. She loves her job, truly but sometimes…So when she saw Katara sitting there she knew she could help her. Katara is a great listener.
Even though it was weird she wasn’t looking at her at all. “I feel the new girls didn’t have discipline.”
“Aha” 
“Okay that sounds like she is answering in automatic and what she is looking at” As she followed Katara’s gaze she saw Azula and Ty lee talking. “Maybe it’s a coincidence”
Seeing Ty Lee there only reminded her why she was mad with the girls. “They only want to learn chi-blocking. And yes being able to chi-block is helpful but you have to train every day.”
“Absolutely” 
“She’s definitely answering in automatic but let’s check just in case”
“Where are they going to learn to fight mongoose dragons with their bare hands?”
“Right” Suki was astonished, Katara was really that disconnected. “Or how to fly.”
“Yep” Suki didn’t even know what else said to her. “Whoa she has fallen deep” 
“Absolutely” replied Katara without any question by Suki. 
“I had enough,” Suki thought. “TY LEE, AZULA COME HERE.” as she yelled that Katara broke her trance. 
“At your service boss” said Ty Lee as soon as she and Azula came close, while she made a military salute. 
“What do you want?” Azula replied slightly annoyed. 
“I want to have a conversation with Katara but she can’t. She only looks at you and answers in an auto pilot.”
As she heard Suki Katara blushed “Hey, that's not true. I-”
“Oh now she can say non affirmation sentences.” At least she wasn't mad with her girls anymore.
“Don’t blame her, I'm gorgeous.” declared Azula smirking.
“Kyoshi have mercy.”
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Sokka.
Azula and Zuko were training for a while, well Azula was playing with Zuko because she already trained today and Zuko got along with it. 
Sokka knows nothing about firebending, but he knows he needs her sister’s help. The same sister who only looks at those without even noticing him. 
“Katara'' No reponse. “Maybe she didn’t hear me”
“Katara?” Nothing. 
“Earth calling Katara” Nope. 
Sokka looked at her closer. “Let’s taste the water’s” 
“I think I’m going to kill a bunch of kids just for fun.” And still, no response. Sokka was starting to worry but then, as Zuko hit the floor loudly, he realized she was focused on what Azula was doing “Whoa she has fallen deep” 
So he knew he had to bring the big guns.
“AUCH WHAT WAS THAT FOR??” 
“My old buddy never fails,” said Sokka after kissing his boomerang. “Stop looking at her, clean your droll and help me to move these boxes.”
“I wasn’t looking-… I was trying-…I WAS DROOLING.” Katara said, completely blushed.
“Your girlfriend lies way better.”
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Toph.
Toph sensed Azula as soon as she entered the room, but what she sensed the most was the backflip Katara’s heart did.
“Sugar Queen, I think you’re having a heart attack.” 
“What? No. I’m cool, totally chill.” 
“Why are you talking like your brother?” questioned Toph. 
“I do not sound like Sokka”  
On the opposite side of the room Sokka was chatting with Zuko and Azula. 
“But I said to him “No bro, I’m cool, totally chill” and he believed it.” Call it perfect timing.
“I am blind not deaf.” As soon as she said that, Katara started to defend herself, as if Toph said anything to attack her. She was only worried.
“Well your “abilities” must be failing because I’m perfect.” 
“What is wrong with her”
Toph didn’t sense Azula approaching.
“Of course you are perfect” 
“Oh Hey- Hi- What’s up?” replied Katara blushing and like she had forgotten how to speak.  
“Is she really that bad? She was fine 5 seconds before Azula…” As she realized this Toph started to smile mischievously. 
“Are you plotting something against me?” Ask Azula joking.
“WHAT NO” Katara said quickly and loudly.
So Toph decided to play a little bit once she knew her friend wasn't going to die “Her sweetness here was doubting my “abilities”.”
Azula tilted her head while looking at Katara “And you said I am the weird one.” 
“Anyways I was talking to Zuzu and Sokka and they are making me go to the theater today so you are coming with me.” 
“It’s not optional, and we have to wear something nice.” added Azula quickly. After that she got close to Katara and kissed her cheek quickly. Toph senses how Katara’s heart gives a full gymnastic performance “Whoa she has fallen deep”  thought Toph.
“I don’t get a kiss?” Toph asks Azula knowing fully well that won’t happen.
“You should be even asking for one without taking a bath first.” 
“I girl have to try.”
After that Azula was out of the picture. Leaving a speechless Katara.
“Well at least I know why you are suffering a heart attack.” 
“I am no-” 
“Don’t even try.”
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Zuko
Zuko was having a cup of tea with Azula and Katara in the gardens. Because it was a great day and Zuko needed advice. 
“And I know I am more approachable than the other Fire Lords, but I like to walk without being stopped all of the time. Mai doesn’t want to walk with me anywhere.” he stopped his rambling and looked at her sister “Are you even listening to me?” 
Azula was with her eyes closed enjoying the sun while Zuko spoke. She actually was paying attention but the sun felt great.
“Of course I am.” said Azula without opening her eyes or moving.
“So?” 
“Don’t stop with anyone anymore. Challenge some of them to Agni Kai.” 
Zuko looks annoyed at her not knowing if she really believes that or she simply wants to make fun of him.
So instead of picking a fight he decided to get a second opinion. 
“Katara?” 
Katara has been looking mesmerized at Azula enjoying the sun like she was the only thing that matters. But as Zuko asks her directly she knows she has to answer something.
“I am Katara.” Even after talking as if her brain didn’t work anymore at all she didn’t look away 
Zuko stared at her blankly. “Whoa she has fallen deep”.
“Great, your pity party broke my girlfriend.” complained Azula while she stopped to enjoy the sun and look at Zuko.
But in that moment, before Zuko could reply, they heard a loud “NO” from Katara when she saw Azula move from her previous position.
Knowing that he wouldn’t get the help he needed and being a little bit angry at these two, Zuko woke up to leave.
“Geez, I get it. I ask Aang. I don’t know why I even ask you two. One is mean and one is drooling over the mean one.”  He looked at them narrowing his eyes and left.
“Were you drooling?” said Azula smirking.
“I’m breaking up with you.” replied Katara, staring at her and pouting.
“Sure but first let’s keep enjoying the sun for a while”
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Aang
When Aang asked Azula to teach him lightbending he knew it would be weird. But at the moment she saw Katara sitting near watching them, he confirmed it.
“You know when I asked you to teach me lightbending I didn’t visualize the audience.” 
Azula was finishing her arm wraps, almost ready to train and without looking at him said “It’s just Katara. She asked me to be here. Maybe she didn’t trust us with lightning. The last time we gave her a lot of work.” 
“Only Azula could describe like that killing me with lightning” 
“She also was my waterbender teacher, now I have double pressure” 
Azula was already done when he look at him “It’s just Katara”
“Yeah I know. But-”
“Is it because I’m dating her?” Ask Azula, raising an eyebrow.
“I mean yeah but more in- no- just- Agh.” 
“So for you it is weird that your ex-girlfriend, who still is your friend and now my girlfriend, is watching us training together when I killed you and she brought you back to life?” said Azula looking at Katara. As a response Katara gave them a thumbs up clearly not hearing what they were talking.
“It isn’t for you?” 
Azula looked at Aang for a second and shrugged 
“I have to deal with hallucinations of both of my parents. This is a walk in the park compared to that.” Aang stared at her, surprised that she talked about that with him. 
“Plus if you have lived in an Iceberg for a century you can deal with a bit of awkwardness. “ she added after that. Then she started to walk to the center of the training facility.
“I guess you’re right.” 
“I usually am. Let’s start.”
Azula turned out to be a good teacher and after a while he could create a little lightning.
“LOOK SIFU AZULA IS A LITTLE SPARK.” It was little and weak he made it. 
Azula looked at him with a little smile. Aang was happy and his happiness was contagious.
“If I was Ozai I would make you increase that until it wasn’t embarrassing to look at, even though it probably breaks you today. But I am not. So we shall continue tomorrow?” 
Aang looked at her slightly worried, “I can’t fathom what that man did to her…Wait, has she asked him to continue tomorrow?” 
“It  would be my honor sifu Azula”
As soon as Aang was done with her bow Katara appeared as she was in a hurry.  “Maybe she’s going to scold me”
“Hey Kata-” but when Aang looked at her he realized she never intended to talk to him. “Is she angry?” 
The good thing is Azula looked just as confused as him. But before he can ask her what’s wrong she starts to speak looking at Aang.
“So are you done? You are done. Good. Nice flame Aang.” 
“Did she just say nice flame? We don’t…what was she looking at?!” Aang was more confused at every moment.
Then Katara looked at Azula and the rambling started.
“Azula, you were great.. The best. Who would have thought you trying to help makes you look so h- makes you a great individual…makes you-”
Azula looked confused at first but then she was smirking. 
“Whoa she has fallen deep” Aang thought, looking at Katara when she stopped “speaking” and only stared at Azula .
“Azula, let's go now.” 
“Of course as a great individual it is my duty to help. See you tomorrow, Avatar.” Then they disappear from the Avatar line of sight. 
“Well at least I know how to produce a little lightning.”
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Ty lee 
Ty Lee was walking around the palace going to see Suki. When she stopped and saw Azula was training. She was an ass sometimes but her fire was something beautiful. If it wasn’t against you obviously.
“Oh hey are you looking for Suki?” Katara was leaning against a pillar. “She probably was watching Azula,” concluded Ty Lee.
“Yes, well I know where she is, so I was going to” Ty Lee stopped herself when she saw a big blue flame surrounding Azula creating a circle.
“Even after all these years, watching her training is astonishing” said Ty Lee watching Azula, then she turned to Katara “It is crazy because I have seen her millions of times. For some time it was like a routine”.
Katara looked at her with a weird look. So Ty Lee thought “Shit I make it weird” 
“Not that I want to watch her like that anymore. It is just a memory. I mean her bending is still beautif-” As Ty Lee kept talking and Katara’s face was even weirder. “Okay maybe I should just shut up. Is it awkward? Of course it is I mean we dated and we have so good memorie- Nope I’m not talking anymore ”
“Agni please help me”
“Oh no Ty Lee is fine, it’s not awkward, quite the opposite. You know Azula, I love to hear more stories about her from an external source plus you two are friends, well you are my friend too. I mean not that clos-”
“Well at least she also is rambling. Is that part of Azula’s type?”
As if she was invoked by Ty Lee’s thoughts, Azula appears next to her. 
“So now I am a show? Maybe I should join the circus” she had a playful smile on her face.
“So I would get the chance to burn your safety net?” Honestly that was water under the bridge but teasing Azula is funny. Well, when she isn’t in a killer mood.
“I would never put one there at the first place, that’s for cowards”
As they started to bicker Katara only was staring at Azula with that expression. Ty Lee still hasn’t figured out what that gaze means until.
“She was looking at her as she was the best thing in the world, so that’s why she gave me that look she wasn’t jealous she was proud” So when Azula turned back to Katara, Ty Lee paid attention to Katara's gaze and only could think “Whoa she has fallen deep”.
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i think the reason why people don’t like mai for zuko is because zuko is already a very grumpy, angry, pessimistic person and so is mai soo they reasoning is that he needs somebody with a more opposite and optimistic, personality like jin and katara who are more nice and caring than mai idk cause zuko does cheer up a little at the end aand katara is more supporting at the end at least oor that’s what people say idk what do you think? why does zuko chooses mai and not jin or katara? and what do you think of the people who “knows whats best for z ??
Anon, I'm gonna be honest here: the people that genuinely dislike Mai with any kind of bias affecting their judgement are very rare. Anyone who tells you the overwhelming hate she gets, both as Zuko's girlfriend and as her own character, are not 99% the result of zutarians being bitter that she "stole Katara's man" are either lying to you or were lied to.
Mai, alongside Ty Lee, is one of the most chill antagonists of the show. Zuko was far grumpier and MUCH more furious than she ever was. Hell, her main deal is that she is always too chill because she was taught to repress her emotions and not voice her opinions.
THIS is why she is Zuko's true opposite, the yin to his yang. When he is letting his emotions cloud his judgement, she's the voice of reason. And in turn, when she's getting too distant, he makes get out of her shell and connect. They've had their issues, sure, but by the end of the show they were all pretty much fixed.
Also, I would NOT call Zuko a pessimistic character. He has low points and moments of panic, but that boy kept himself mostly sane during three years of exile by holding onto to hope that, maybe, just maybe, this supposedly dead enemy of his nation that had been seen in 100 years was not actually dead, thus his mission wasn't pointless, and he'd have a way home. Just look at how over-confident Zuko is battle and at how many life threatening situations he got himself into because he acted without a plan, assuming that everything would turn out alright somehow. That boy is an optimist. A grumpy, moody, reckless optimist, but still.
Again, that's the kind of situation where he and Mai would ballance each other out. She likes the thrill of these adventures as much he does, but she will NOT act without thinking. Hell, she won't even put up with stuff that is not dangerous but that she considers beaneath her (see her refusing to follow orders in "The Drill").
This is thing that really bothers me about shipping, not just in this fandom: people forget that no one wants to date their clone, but no one wants to date their COMPLETE opposite either. You need common ground.
Katara and Zuko have the same temperament - proud, strong-willed, stubborn, wearing their hearts in their sleeves, and willing to get VERY mean when pissed off (never forget the "The stars look beautiful tonight. Too bad you can't see them, Toph!"). Then being a couple would just BEGGING for them to have some very ugly fights. As for their differences? Like I've said a million times before, their goals in life are so different they wouldn't even live in the same country. How could a romance between EVER work?
Ty Lee's temperament would be a good ballance for Zuko's, but the most common ground they have is they hang out with the same two girls and maaaaybe Zuko believes in auras too since he basically demanded Mai to defend herself when Ty Lee insulted her aura (this is totally not me letting my headcanon of Zuko taking that stuff 100% serious and writting down everything Ty Lee says on the topic cloud my judgement). Other than that, we see that Zuko clearly wants to be Fire Lord, and while Ty Lee just wanted to go back to the circus or travel around with her new friends. We barely get any interaction between them, so acting like there's evidence for her to be his perfect match is quite the stretch.
Same for Jin. They got along well enough on their date, but that was just for short bit of an episode, not even the entire episode itself. That's too little to claim she could be "the one" for him.
With Mai meanwhile, we had a ton of episodes, in which we got to see their relationship's ups and downs, and see that they managed to bounce back from some pretty serious conflicts and still clearly adore each other after it all.
As for Zuko choosing her over any other girl, it's simple. He likes her. He likes her dry/sarcastic humor, how badass she is, how much she enjoys physical affection, how she doesn't put with any bullshit fro anyone (including himself), how she was bold enough to basically tell him, Azula and Ty Lee to fuck off, how pretty she is when she hates the world (unbelievably iconic line) etc.
Mai is Zuko's type of girl, she likes him back, and they are compatible, and thus they ended up together. It's not rocket science.
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