too many zukka wips not enough willpower

Overall NATLA Thoughts

Okay, now that I've watched the series, I can give my thoughts.

Overall, I thought it was good!!! I had fun watching it! I'd rate it a solid 6.5/10. It's nowhere as good as the original, but it was definitely enjoyable and made some nice changes here and there that I liked. There were also some things I was also Not a fan of too.

I said in another post that it's best to treat this like an AU of the original. There will things that are great and things that are bad. That's the nature of adapting something.

Having said that, I need to get my initial thoughts off my chest... here we go.

Things I thought were good:

Sokka's characterisation - I really enjoyed him! I thought Ian did a good job! He played the funny moments well and retained the underlying seriousness/cautiousness. It wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed the changes a lot and think it was overall a solid performance.

Zuko's characterisation - Like Sokka, I do think I was most satisfied with their performances. A lot of Zuko's moments from the cartoon are sometimes... well, cartoonish and definitely wouldn't translate to live action, but I think Dallas did a nice job at balancing Zuko's desperate anger and that occasional sassiness well.

Zuko and Iroh moments were great. Had me on the floor crying. As it should have.

The bending looks a trillion times better than the movie - I understand it would not have been easy for the actors but, overall, I was very happy about it.

The scenery was stunning. It just looked so beautiful. I loved it so much.

Absolutely ADORE that they made Zuko a good calligrapher and artist. I read a fic about a million years ago where Zuko is a fantastic calligrapher and I thought it was perfect and made so much sense, and now I can say it's canon. This is perfect for me.

S U K I

The Freedom Fighters were ✨ perfect

They were so real for making Oma and Shu lesbians

Koh, Wan Shi Tong and Hei Bai looked fantastic, but I have more to say about all of them below, unfortunately.

I actually like the change they made that Katara is Aang's sole waterbending teacher.

Aang is not perfect, and needed more goofy scenes HOWEVER, I did like how they've had Aang's guilt more prominent in the story. The original didn't do a very good job with that, imo.

Zuko entering is breaking and entering era by breaking into an impenetrable Earth Kingdom prison is just perfect.

In Masks, I like how Aang and Zuko got a longer conversation - that was pretty cute.

I liked how they changed Yue a bit and got her out of the arranged marriage... how Yue saw Sokka in the Spirit World before meeting him in the real world.

Things I didn't like:

Far too much info-dumping/exposition. So much spelling things out. It was not as egregious as the movie, and I get there's a lot of information that needs to be conveyed well and quickly... but sometimes it really took me out of the show.

Why are Mai and Ty Lee here.... I was hoping the live action would give them a bit more depth (and they might as it goes forward!), but why put them in season 1 at all if they're just going to stand around???

Some odd changes - putting this as one point, but there are some bizarre changes that didn't make sense to me, as they did not benefit the story or deepen the characters. I have two main examples: a) making it so Aang didn't run away from home, and b) making it so Zuko actually fights Ozai in the Agni Kai.

Characterisation of Katara was Not Great. I don't think I got many hints of the reckless, compassionate, badass Katara until the end when she fights Pakku and rallies all the women together to fight (which happens off-screen). She was sweet and kind, but she just lacked the fire that OG Katara has.

Azula's characterisation - Azula is desperate to impress Ozai and so her character is just…. brewing with anger, frustration, desperation. I was SO excited to see the Azula we are introduced too… perpetually and irritatingly calm, calculating and ruthless. She's perfect, she's terrifying! She's literally the character of all time. But this Azula had more Zuko vibes? I don't think there's anything wrong with giving Azula more concrete motivation by wanting to impress Ozai and establishing that Ozai is abusive to both his kids, but I do think trying to do that right off the bat is a mistake.

WHY is Wan Shi Tong here. I love Wan Shi Tong, but like I said: Why Is He Here? Why could we not have his iconic, ominous as fuck introduction from The Library, and instead he's introduced in a random season 1 episode giving Aang Information(tm) about the Spirit World.

When Aang gave Koh the statue, and then he just takes it and immediately lets all the villages go, and neither of them even say anything, I actually laughed out loud. Like, I am so sorry, but what in the jesus fuck was that.

Speaking of Koh - I think Koh is better the less we know about him. Roku saying ~all Koh wants is a family like the rest of us~ just pissed me off?? I like my Koh the Face Stealer Terrifying and Unknowable, thank you.

NOTHING EVER REALLY HAPPENS WITH HEI BAI!!?? where's my precious spirit bear?? Like Aang never really does anything with him and the replacement Koh story is boring and it sucks.

Bumi.... sorry I just didn't vibe with him at all.

Things I can't decide on:

Fancy spirit knife to kill the moon spirit annoyed me a bit, but I guess they wanted to Kuruk something to work with and a little bit more interaction with Aang which I get but idk. I really flip/flop on this one.

I've been very on the fence about having Azula (and Ozai) being in the show in season 1 in general. I'm not sure if it benefited either of their characters.

Azula & Ozai's dynamic - Okay, so, I think they're trying to give Azula more depth, right? They're trying to establish what it was like for Azula to live with Ozai and that she's also (like Zuko) trying to desperately prove herself to him, but Ozai using Zuko's... achievements to do that just felt so weird. I get he's doing it to manipulate her, but that just felt so wrong when in canon it's very obvious that Ozai just didn't give a single fuck about Zuko. Ozai pits Azula against Zuko by saying he's a failure, he's a bad bender etc. Azula is born lucky, Zuko is lucky to be born - like, Ozai says that to Zuko's face. I don't know if I am communicating this point very well, but it just didn't seem right to me??

Zuko vs Zhao in the Siege of the North... I genuinely do not know how to feel about it! I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. I don't know how to feel about Zhao telling Zuko that his mission is a sham and that Azula is the prized one... It feels like it's saying the quiet part out loud? In the OG we all know that Ozai sending Zuko on that mission was an excuse to get rid of him, but we can work that out, no one actually says it. And then Iroh just fucking killing him/mortally wounding him instead of the Iconic scene where Zuko reaches out to save him despite everything Zhao has done to him, but Zhao's own pride gets in the way from letting him accept help from Zuko.

Zuko’s crew being the 41st is not necessarily a bad thing at all!!! But I do just want to say that in the original, the attack goes ahead, and presumably, those soldiers die. It’s horrible. Zuko’s sacrifice is in vain, and it was always going to be in vain because the Fire Nation as it stands would not allow Zuko's compassion to win. Ozai would not allow it. While not necessarily a bad choice (all the soldiers bowing to Zuko on the boat was so sweet I loved it!) but I think it does take away some of the horror of Zuko’s story (same as it does with making Zuko fight back in my opinion) because the whole point is that Zuko did the right thing - and he was punished for it, and those soldiers died anyway.

anyway...

Okay!! got that off my chest. I know I just had a big whine here, but I still had a lot of fun watching this show. I think some of the backlash is a bit over the top and unwarranted. It was never going to stand up to the original - and that's okay.

Enjoy it for what it is!

Jetko fic rec list

Feel free to add your own recs, and if you do read any of these and like them, comment something nice on it! If I find anyone hassling authors for updates I will drop ferrets down your chimney!

Modern AU

the things we leave behind - Mai and Ty Lee start a ghost hunting channel; their roommate, Zuko, cannot stand their new cameraman, Jet. Meanwhile, Zuko's sister just moved into their shared house, and forms a reluctant bond with Zuko's friend, Katara. Multiship, rated M, 200k, complete, HIGHLY recommend (also check out the rest of the author's works! She's amazing!)

never believed in meant to be - Zuko gets in-school suspension and meets Jet, who's cool enough they spend the day together. It's their first and last meeting. Rated T, 5k, complete. (Check out the rest of this author's stuff too!)

you're built to fall (beautiful) - in between the struggles of figuring out life as sixteen-year-old caretaker of kids, Jet finds himself falling in love with a handsome merman. rated T, 8k, complete. Amazingly written <3

paint it red, they'll cover it up anyway - Jet and Zuko are both kindergarten teachers, and both dealing with a lot of complications in their life. and in love. Rated T, 34k, in-progress

Ba Sing Se

up in the city (until the stars lost the war) - canon divergent AU where Jet doesn't see Iroh heat the tea, and Zuko's a little more receptive to city life. Absolutely gorgeous series. Rated T, 50k, in-progress

(Dont) Lose yourself into me - another canon divergent AU! Featuring rebel shenanigans, betrayal and angst all laid out beautifully. Check out the author's other works too, there's some really good ones! Rated T, 80k, in-progress

clay kids - after a misunderstanding about Zuko's - or rather, Lee's - parentage, he and Jet form a relationship built on lies of omission. Rated T, 35k, in-progress

a lesson in new beginnings - the author's summary probably says it best: 'zuko has bad coping skills, jet has a hella crush, and war is hell. welcome to ba sing se.' Very sweet with plenty of angst, drama, and misunderstanding. Rated T, 6k, in-progress

Post-canon

Like The Fire In Your Heart - Zuko's carriage is ambushed by thieves, and he finds that his old friend Jet isn't as dead as certain playwrights would have him believe. Rated M, 9k, in-progress

Miscellaneous

learning how to use a weapon (& other such tragedies) - flood-based apocalypse au! Beautifully written, possibly one of the first jetko fics I read when I was first starting to like Jet as a character. Rated G, 11k, complete

heat and sand - by the same author as above, au where a race of winged beings live among humans, and wouldn't you know it, they're not exactly welcomed by the likes of Ozai. Zuko finds himself taken in by Jet and his freedom fighters. Rated G, 16k, two completed fics. Honestly check out the rest of the author's catalogue it's all A+

Hearthfire- Jet is taken prisoner by the Fire Nation after his village burns. Rather than be put to work or executed, he becomes the young Prince Zuko's ward and they form an unlikely relationship. rated T, in-progress, 41k, covers canon books 1-3.

Perpetual - Jet, not quite mid-redemption arc, kills a firebender. Zuko can't actually die. Jet decides to make this his own problem. Rated M, 180k, in-progress <3

Sthe song in the secret room - haha second lesbeanlatte work on here 😈 a modern/time travel au based off of the Disney channel show Secrets of Sulphur Springs, if it were PG-13 and involved gator-related manslaughter. Hilarious and heart-wrenching 💚 Rated M, 280k, complete

Some further additions found in this reblog

This list will probably get updated if I remember any more or read anything new. And not to shamelessly self-promote but I have a variety of jetko works of my own, linked here if you're interested at all. :)

ask about your arranged marriage au you say >:) :evil_hand_rub:

So. to begin with. Why and How is this what happened? is it a postwar diplomatic treaty thing, and Zuko is already too married to Mai to be the one wed? How much Hell did Azula and Katara put whoever suggested it through, and how did it end up happening anyways? What were each of the girls up to prior to the engagement? how do they feel about it? What does the world look like at the time of this AU, both in terms of the big worldwide stuff and the roles and relationships between the Gaang, whatever side characters are around, and their political positions? Be warned: highly likely that I will continue to enquire

you have unleashed the most self indulgent lore dump. thank you so much for asking. my long winded rambles under the cut

the setting of this au has two major changes; aang is never discovered (im so sorry my baby boy) and iroh is a much more active player within the fire nation. essentially, iroh begins consolidating the white lotus almost immediately after azulon's murder. as such, the fire siblings become terribly co-dependant in both ursa and iroh's absence as he's constantly away scheming against ozai. zuko doesnt get burned at 14. he gets burned at 19! and azula kills ozai for it, setting off a domino effect that lands an underprepared iroh on the throne trying to end the 100 years war as per his agreement with the white lotus members (before azula jumped the gun)

the azutara marriage occurs for like 2000 reasons but the main one is that iroh is forced to make several concessions in order to end the war as his ministers are terribly pro-ozai, thanks to ozai's scheming before azula prematurely offed him, and that the northern water tribe refuses to sign and end the war with the FN, unlike the other nations. azula, having been the princess-general ravaging the earth kingdoms in a five-year long campaign, therefore didnt get to show her face in the water tribes, gets chosen as the one to marry into the southern water tribe. as both a savvy diplomatic move to solidify the peace and to work with said wife towards peace with their sister tribe. iroh has no choice but to agree, and azula as a loyal princess with duty to the throne, also has to agree. (she is terribly, extremely unhappy with this due to ursa-parallel related reasons. and its azula.)

katara is chosen both for her position as the daughter of the chief, and for her prowess as a master bender (to match azula's known reputation). katara herself has been working as a sort of renegade freedom fighter away from the south pole, mostly working against the admiral-prince zuko and his three year campaign against the water tribes. sokka and herself work with an elite team, the black tail wolf pack (extremely indulgent name please forgive me) as guerilla fighters against the fire nation essentially. katara is EXTREMELY unhappy about the marriage alliance that her father has signed her off to, but like azula, her duty to her people and to peace overrides her extreme dislike of the situation.

zuko is the admiral-prince, heir to the throne, burned and shamed by the late firelord ozai, and... marrying toph bei fong. NOW PLEASE hear me out on this. stay with me. as part of the peace agreed by iroh, and the fire nation's precarious position now that expansion and pillaging cant fund their economy, an agreement is made with the earth kingdoms to marry into the wealthiest family in the world. its purely an economic marriage, but since the bei fongs are essentially the only homogenous earth territory ''royals'' that aren't strictly attatched to one kingdom but all of them, and have a daughter to spare, well. their relationship is the funniest to me, they're very much a platonic-married-besties situation. zuko himself is conducting a dreadfully obvious affair with mai, and his siege-weapon of a wife does not care in the slighest. in fact she actively encourages it, as being wife to the heir to the fire nation throne gives her freedom away from her family to be herself. there will be rising tensions between the bei fongs and the fire royals, naturally, as well as toph's own character clashing with the 'no fun allowed' fire nation.

azutara's relationship is an EXTREME slow burn, enemies to enemy-wives to friends to lovers. they're both 20 at the time they're married, but both have been child soldiers for years. azula spends a week acting like an arrogant prat and treating her wife like a peasant through politicking power plays before katara just kicks her ass three times over and azula realises theres actually no power imbalance to play off of. she promptly begins acting like mr darcy. katara has to grapple with the very alien culture of the fire nation and stumbles through all the subtlties of both court and royal life, as well as having to deal with her enemy turned wife and the absolute paradox of a woman that azula is. AND negotiating with her hostile sister tribe into trying to broker peace after a generation of war. i think marrying azula is harder than the whole 'world peace' affair really. they're both miserable and angry and cant understand each other but still see each other

sokka will be an intermitten character, as he becomes a diplomat for the southern water tribe as well as a member of the three nations peace council set up in the wake of the war. im trying to add in suki but im unsure on how, perhaps as another representative or something. ursa will have a plotline and azula will NOT be happy about it at all. iroh is frankly wracked with guilt that in order for peace he has to make the last of his family utterly miserable. all their relationships are complicated and messy and everyone's a little awful

i think a really fun aspect of this au is my odd ideas about azula and gender. azula is, in the eyes of the fire nation, both male AND female. female as a princess, a woman who's royal duties involve marriage and so on. but her status as a master fire bender legally classifies her as male. honestly the fire nation cannot afford to disregard azula on gender lines, since she's the most powerful fire bender on the planet at this point. she's a general in the military too, a traditionally male held role, and so azula herself becomes a grey area in terms of legal gender. as such, azula is technically kataras HUSBAND, not wife. and with that comes all the expectations of a husband over a wife in a royal imperial court. very very indulgent of me i fear

i hope this lore dump/word vomit makes some sort of sense. please feel free to ask more abt this au!!!! i have many many worldbuilding hcs for the fire nation and this au <3333

It's interesting that in ATLA we don't meet any mixed characters until the comics when one tries to assassinate Firelord Zuko. With the war going on, I'm sure nationalism was at an all time high. The only ones who seemed to venture out were soldiers, mainly men. (Fire Nation men. I'm sure the SWT navy wasn't that big) Also, the only people we've seen not wear national colors were those outside society like the river pirates, hippies, and Freedom Fighters.

Halfblood AU makes me wonder how an orphan girl with Water Tribe features would have been treated in a small EK village canon wise.

I know, right? The potential for storytelling is huge.

War Children are a reality, and they have always been. It would have been so interesting to explore what being a half-blooded child would mean in a world like ATLA's, where nationality is so important, especially in the middle of a war. I absolutely adore fics where Zuko is mistaken as a War Child while he's travelling through the Earth Kingdom, and he's forced to deal with the reality that such things happen the way they do.

I tend to use this idea in most of my AUs. War Children (Fire half-children especially) is such a complex social dynamic to explore. How would their treatment change depending on whether they were born in the colonies or in the rest of the struggling Earth Kingdom? What about the Southern Water Tribe, after the raids? How much worse would being an ashmaker make things?

This is a world in war, and it's easy to forget someone is a child when they have the same face as your enemy.

Maybe my fics speak better than I ever could.

Song had met enough War Children during her travels to be able to recognize them easily. They all shared the same amber eyes, black hair and pale skin. Sometimes, if they were unfortunate enough, they were even born ashmakers.

She had heard stories of the pale demons—proud sons and daughters of Agni within the colonies, but worth less than dust in the rest of the Kingdom. Murdered by their own unwilling mothers, treated as pests because, to most people, that's exactly what they were.

But Song had seen toddlers with amber eyes and sunken cheeks perish from dehydration and famine. She knew better.

[Katara] heard the screams of her Tribe’s women during the raids, the high pitch of the newborns’ throats as they were drowned in freezing water, for there was no place for ashmakers in the South Pole, no place at all.

And it makes you think, what about the other nations? What about Water half-children?

It's easier to blend in with the crowd when you pretend there's nothing different about you in the first place. And though they may not have it as rough as the Fire children, they're still less than second class citizens. Neither Earth nor Water. Never enough, no matter where they go.

There are so many different, complex dynamics to explore with this concept. What do you think about it?

rate the dancing abilities of the Last Airbender cast. be as thorough as you want.

aang: canonically excellent at dancing

katara: canonically good as long as she is following aang

sokka: like with everything else he does, sokka would be bad at first because he's never actually danced before (canonically the type of guy to stand in the corner of the room during parties and make bitchy comments about everyone else), but i do think that if he actually had any sort of meaningful motivation to learn how to dance he'd get good at it fast

toph: whenever i picture toph dancing it's like a peanuts character. or like how louise belcher dances where she just waves her arms up and down but looks really happy doing it. she's just doing her own thing, having a good time, being adorable and free

zuko: i mean he's very graceful when he's doing his firebending moves so i think he has the potential to be a good dancer, but his psychology would get in the way and he'd stiffen up if actually expected to dance. unless he's drunk. then he's a beast

suki: if suki and aang had a dance-off and aang used airbending to cheat, suki would still win.

mai: she has talent, but none of the motivation. sometimes ty lee lifts her up and twirls her around and that's as much as she willing to participate in any sort of dancing activity.

ty lee: best dancer hands down. in an AU where she and azula are both ballerinas, ty lee's star talent is the single greatest cause of stress in azula's whole life, and that's saying something.

azula: she was always taught that dancing was stupid and gay, so she has no idea how to actually dance. cue ty lee trying to show azula how to dance, only for azula to realize that dancing does, indeed, make people stupid and gay.

jet: one time the freedom fighters had a party and jet was a little tipsy so he danced his heart out, thinking he was killing it, like even showing off a little, but it was actually so cringe. smellerbee couldn't look him in the eye for a week.

iroh: fuck fire nation propaganda, that is a man who knows how to dance. zuko could tell you this firsthand, but he wishes he could wipe it from his memory.

I'm so happy I found your blog. I had no idea Azutara was a legitimate ship in the ATLA fandom until today! I love the aesthetic of bloodbending Katara with Azula's blue fire - a kind of inverse of the blue/water character + red/fire character trope. I have an assassin!Katara AU I've been thinking about where both she and Azula are rather morally gray, and they meet during the full moon during an attempted assassination of someone in the Fire Nation royal family (I'm not sure who). I like the idea of Azula, who's used to being in control and in command during conflicts with an enemy, being rendered completely helpless for the first time in her life by Katara's bloodbending. I imagine that it would be terrifying for her, the complete loss of control, and that the moment would stick with her long after Katara is either captured or escapes. Both Azula and Katara are pretty overpowered in this for self-indulgent purposes, and I like the idea of Katara only being captured because Azula stalled her long enough for the sun to rise. They'd definitely want to interrogate her to determine if she's working alone and whether she poses a significant threat. Maybe she's part of a powerful rebel group (the freedom fighters, perhaps? who knows) and the Fire Lord decides to let her live only on the condition that she helps them track down the rest of the resistance. And, of course, Azula gets assigned lead on the mission. So that leaves one month until the next full moon. One month of Katara and Azula begrudgingly working together (Katara, of course, trying her best to steer them down the wrong trail and fuck with their plans) and unwillingly growing closer. The budding friendship(? ish?) encourages some character development on Azula's part, to the point where she gets conflicted about the Fire Nation's part in the war. (Maybe Katara tells her about her mother. Maybe Azula relates to the righteous, indignant anger of desperately wanting something that's rightfully yours and never getting it.) I don't know if Zuko is there or not. I like the idea of him still being on the hunt for Aang and then encountering the Azula/Katara duo somehow. But I for sure want Katara to escape on the next full moon, when the month is up, and for Azula to stay behind despite wanting to run away with her. So when they meet later on the battle field it's the classic, tragic, sapphic-enemies-with-complex-feelings-about-each-other situation. Sorry this got so long! I've been wanting to talk about this and I saw your post asking for asks! Sorry if I overstepped! I love your Azutara content!

OH THIS IS GOOD. definitely beyond my writing capabilities as i am an impatient person and i know something like this would be at least 50k words. if not more. and im also too busy to commit to something i intend on making long.

however if you end up writing this i will 100% read it. provide suggestions. whatever u need. because i am (somewhat unfortunately) a toxic yuri lover. but only when the toxic yuri has a happy ending lmao

@candleslitsnow asked for an AU in which Jet and his freedom fighters ran into Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee, disguised as Kyoshi warriors, rather than Zuko and Iroh.

Sometimes I get a prompt that makes me go, "Ah yes, you share the same kind of malicious sense of humor that I have."

1. So the thing about Avatar the Last Airbender is that I can't say that x-character is y-character's foil. I can, but I have to clarify that they are also z, a, b, c, and d's foil, because Avatar: the Last Airbender is an absolute master class in parallel character arcs and thematic cohesiveness. So you can in fact pull out any of those parallel character arcs and compare them to each other, and all of the characters can function as foils to each other, and you can compare and contrast them and it is great writing. But of course some characters are more obviously narrative foils. Jet serves as a foil primarily to Katara and Sokka when he is first introduced, and then in Book Two, he serves as a foil to Zuko. But there is a character that is a whole lot alike in some fundemental ways that he never meets. And Zuko's reaction to him in canon is colored by this fact. Because that character is Azula.

2. But actually the show does go out of its way to draw a strong narrative parallel between Jet and Azula, wherein Jet's approach to Zuko, and attempt to get to go to join him functions as a microcosm of Azula's attempt to do the same thing in the first and last episodes of Book Two, and later when Zuko ultimately comes to reject each of them, they react in very similar ways. There is a solid literary essay to be written on this by somebody who isn't me. All of this is a lot of words to say that Jet and Azula share similar tactics, and are manipulative in very similar ways. And people like that are good at recognizing each other for what they are, and seeing each other as threats.

3. All this means that I can't imagine Jet would approach Azula. He's going to make his manipulative little approach to Mai and/or Ty Lee, before he knows about Azula. He would probably like Ty Lee better, because of how wide eyed and innocent she seems, but really it depends on who he meets first. But Mai and Ty Lee both have a lot of experience with Azula, and they would have no problem recognizing Jet's brand of manipulation, and uh, leadership. And they also would have no trouble figuring out that Azula has him completely outclassed, so they would bring him home for her to eat alive.

4. As I mentioned, Jet is going to cotton onto the fact that Azula is a threat real fast, and the last time he looked at a group of people and picked out one of them as a threat, he tried to separate that one from the group and have him killed. That was Sokka, and it did not work out well for him. It would probably be pretty funny to watch him try and fail to do that with Azula. She might even let him try for a while before closing the trap in around him. But either way she's going to find him very entertaining, and she is going to have him arrested and hauled off to the Fire Nation to cool his heels in a cell at the Boiling Rock, along with Suki. If Longshot and Smellerbee were with him during this whole thing, they're going to the separate prison that the Kyoshi Warriors went to. If not, they're going to have no idea where he disappeared to. Either way, he's going alone.

5. He's going to meet Suki, they're going to hate each other, flash forward a few months, and Zuko and Sokka are going to show up. Zuko will of course have never met Jet before, but Sokka has, and he is not going to be happy to see this particular jerkface again Escaping from the Boiling Rock is going to be fun.

Avatar: the Last Airbender - Vigilante AU

Do you ever think about that one time Katara became a vigilante eco-terrorist called the Painted Lady? I feel like that’s not talked about enough.

Here, Katara and Zuko become Best Friends/Vigilante Buddies without knowing each other’s identity

Platonic Identity Porn. If that wasn’t a thing before, it is now.

Sokka & Aang never discovered Katara’s identity as the Painted Lady but Toph knows all.

This could also be a modern AU, in which case all the Gaang are Vigilantes.

- Katara’s the Painted Lady; her mom, dad, and papa (Kya/Hakoda/Bato) were/are part of a secret group investigating and gathering proof of Ozai’s many violations of Native land rights treaties. Kya got badly injured or killed while investigating and Katara isn’t about to let that slide, even if her parents don’t want her involved. She becomes an ecoterrorist targeting Ozai Incorporated.

- Toph’s the Blind Bandit; she ran away from home and is homeless, surviving by being the champion of an illegal fighting ring. She helps out other homeless people whenever she can but doesn’t go out of her way to patrol or anything.

- Zuko’s the Blue Spirit; after being burned, Iroh discovered the abuse and took custody (which wasn’t hard since Ozai didn’t fight for him). Despite this, Zuko feels it’s his responsibility as a son to stop his father’s economic imperialism.

- Sokka’s a Kyoshi Warrior; part of a vigilante team led by Suki. By day, this team is just a Scout Troop that teaches self-defense.

- Jet runs a gang that doubles as anti-hero vigilantes called the Freedom Fighters. He takes in any homeless or abused kid he can and will do anything to keep them fed, happy, and avenged.

- Azula, Mai, & Ty-Lee are a bounty hunter trio hired by Ozai (a corrupt CEO). Azula’s still his daughter, but being in modern times didn’t stop him from molding her into a child soldier to assassinate his enemies.

- Aang’s a new vigilante trying to avenge the monasteries destroyed by Ozai’s corporation. He’s an exchange student living with Katara, Sokka, Hakoda, Bato, and/or Kya.

- Teo (the Mechanic’s son from the Northern Air Temple) kits out all the vigilantes’ gear, tech, and outfits with help from Sokka.

Credit to @symphony_sonata on Instagram for their modern civilian lives. Link: https://instagram.com/symphony_sonata?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==)

I also got a lot of inspiration from searching “the blue spirit avatar” on pinterest if you want concept art.

(A second ask for the 3 sentence ask game, since I forgot it was Jetko week with my first one!) So: Pairing -> Jetko AU Setting -> Jet lives AU, with Jet being reluctantly impressed/turned on by Zuko's fire sword skills, in spite of his best efforts not to be

This was a fun one! I am loving all the Jetko prompts. And I decided we can have an extra sentence or two as a treat, for the effect.

Jet is telling himself that it’s okay, that he at least tried, that every Freedom Fighter has to go eventually, that if his time is now—and between the Dai Li and the blood loss and being down to only one sword with no idea where the other went…—at least he got Longshot and Smellerbee out to safety beforehand, when a whirling dervish of swords and fire and kicks suddenly explodes into the side of the Dai Li, and—

“Lee?!” Jet croaks, incredulous, jerking away—ow—when Lee tries to scoop him up and nearly falling, Lee grunting out, “It’s Zuko, actually,” before shoving a shoulder under Jet's arm and hustling him along, swords—swords on fucking fire, because he’s firebending—still in both hands as he glances with urgency back over their shoulder, gold eyes—fuck, how did Jet not immediately know—scanning for pursuit.

Usually fire detracts from everything except cooking, in Jet’s experience, but with his thoughts fuzzy from the Dai Li’s brain fog, unable to do much beyond try to stay conscious and upright and watch every time Lee—no, it's Zuko, Zuko, why is that name familiar?—sets him against a wall to unleash himself on a new set of guards… Well. It’s unfortunate that Jet has always found competence so attractive.

For the three-sentence fic ask game!

Dragon of the Yuyan Series

Fandom: Avatar the Last Airbender

Author: theawkwardpenguin @awkwardpenguinproductions

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Violence, Character Death, Child Abuse, Strong Language, Major Injury, Suicidal Thoughts, Racism, Colonialism, Alcohol

Word Count: 137, 313

Characters: Zuko,  Commander Toshiaki (OC), Kai, (OC), unnamed OCs, Ozai, Iroh, Azula, Commander Atsuko (OC), Yuyan Archers, Chihese Squad (OCs), Captain Hiroki (OC), Sergeant Mika (OC), Private Jiyoti (OC), Master Ryoichi (OC), Various tertiary OCs, Jet, Sokka, Katara, Aang, The Gaang,  Freedom Fighters, Smellerbee, Pipsqueak, Toph Beifong, Joo Dee, Haili Squad (OCs), OCs out the wazoo, Zhao, Appa, Momo, Bato, Pakku, Arnook, Yue, General Fong, Mai, Ty Lee, Bumi, Toph Beifong's Parents, The Dangerous Ladies, Wan Shi Tong, Professor Zei, Suki, Gansu, Sela, Lee, Than, Ying, Than's Sister, Piandao, Jin, Lao Beifong, Long Feng, Dai Li, The Blue Spirit,  Hakoda, Aang, Jee, Zuko's Crew, The Duke, Huu, Foggy Swamp Waterbenders, The Mechanist, Teo, Tyro, Haru, The Boulder, The Hippo, The Painted Lady, Order Of The White Lotus, Fat, Hama

Tags: POV Zuko, Yuyan Raise Zuko, Semi-Feral Child, Ozai is an Asshole, Flashbacks, some instances of suicidal thoughts, Zuko is a hurtin' puppy, Pre-Series, One F-Bomb, that might become a thing, because it amuses me, Inspired by MuffinLance's Tumblr, Alternate Universe-Canon Divergence, Discussion of child abuse and abandonment, Ozai Being a Terrible Parent, Zuko is an Awkward Turtleduck, OC-centric, Past Abuse, baby steps to badassery, OC is an asshole, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, bad days suck, but your Yuyan Archer squad always has your back, Zuko Angst, Panic Attacks, Hijinks & Shenanigans, this part is almost entirely "teenagers doing stupid shit", what did you expect when you put a bunch of highly skilled teenagers in a military base?, plot is minimal but existent, handwaving Fire Nation war tech because I can't find satisfying answers, Zuko-centric, Zuko meets Jet, and is completely turned off, S1Ep10 "Jet", slightly out of continuity, both in terms of canon and this series, but someone asked on tumblr, and this came out, Zuko's just joined the Gaang and is still figuring things outs, 2e14 City of Walls and Secrets, Ba Sing Se is SUPER CREEPY, and Zuko HATES IT, inspired by @muffinlance's lovely AU concepts, just a little peek into a new AU I'm working on, dear G-d what have I done, just in case, TW: military action, TW: Vomiting, TW: hunting animals for food, none of this is hugely graphic,  but just in case, if I miss anything please please please let me know, Zuko being a curious bean, is it treason?, or is it "reasonable response"?, based on a throwaway line in THAT episode, WARNING: this one's gonna hurt, sorry, No happy ending here, Beware ye who enter here, Hurt No Comfort, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, TW: mistreatment of prisoners of war, TW: forced suicide, trauma aftermath, disillusioned former prince plots treason, Toshiaki unleashes his inner Commander Dad, Nightmares, Kai is a good bro, Midnight Rooftop Discussions, oblique references to canon events, based on MuffinLance's YuyanAdoptZuko Tumblr post, IT BEGINS, Episode: s01e13 The Blue Spirit, Zhao is a jerk, lots of f-bombs in this one, because Zuko is a soldier, and he's also really really done with Zhao's bull, shit, tried really hard not to just rewrite the whole episode, hope it worked, Zuko is actually really competent, Aang is a child, LITERALLLY, he's TWELVE, And tinybased on MuffinLance's Tumblr series #Yuyan Raise Zuko, in case I haven't said it before: THIS SERIES WILL NOT CONTAIN ROMANTIC SHIPS, I'm a little gen sailboat and like it that way, (apologies to maychorian for stealing her blog title), but it is EXTREMELY relevant, anyway, introductions, Sokka needs more sleep, dammit Aang stop picking up strays, Sokka is a nerd, Katara is conflicted, THIS IS THE ONE YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, Zuko meets the Gaang, do I need to keep using that tag? it's pretty obvious at this point, Zuko loves animals, POV Bato, Episode: s01e15 Bato of the Water Tribe, another one I wasn't planning on writing but did anyway, Bato needs therapy, Zuko needs THERAPY, Everyone Needs Therapy, Guys. Sokka is actually an authority figure. He's the SON OF THE CHIEF, everyone can have a tiny bit of world building. as a treat, Post-Episode: s01e16 The Deserter, Zuko has ISSUES with Jeong-Jeong, and firebending as it is currently taught, LOTS of ASL grammar, Aang is still learning sign, he's not quite code-switching yet, Zuko talks to himself in sign, Sokka has no fear, short and sweet, nearly drove myself crazy with this bullshit, my beta reader is a goddess and she saved my ass, all the fish ever for all time to her, Firebending & Firebenders, Episode: s01e18 The Waterbending Master, it's been a whopping five minutes and Zuko already hates the North Pole, it's freaking cold, the people are not nearly as friendly as they first appear, Katara challenges the patriarchy and Zuko suffers, Katara and Zuko like to giggle at Sokka being a dork, Episode: s01e19-20 The Siege of the North, Zhao's here to fuck shit up, Zuko does not have a good time, nobody has a good time, get y'all some tissues, remember how I've been saying that I'm not changing major canon events?, Yeah I'm sorry, Pyrrhic Victory, all hail Koizilla, Episode: s02e01 The Avatar State, this is basically just a chance for Zuko to meet the disaster human that is Fong, not really much to tag here, honestly if I keep going the tags list might end up being longer than the fic itself, just let me know if you want me to tag anything here, Short & Sweet, ummm.... this might be really sad?, an interlude, very short, Episode: s02ep03 "Return to Omashu", in which Zuko's past comes back to kill him, enter the Dangerous Ladies, Aang is a dumbass sometimes, the Gaang has one braincell between them, most of the time Zuko's the one who holds it, he really would rather not thanks, Omashu is basically a ninja's playground, who WOULDN'T want to go parkouring through that place???, Episode: s02e04 The Swamp, Shor, tshort and weird, Zuko can't get over how creepy this place is, not much else to add, special guest star, TOPH SMASH!!!, Toph Being Awesome, Badass Toph Beifong, Episode: s02e06 The Blind Bandit, HERE SHE IS Y'ALL, i hope i did her justice!, Toph is done with everyone's bullshit, I tried really hard not to use visual descriptions guys let me know if it worked,   how does one communicate when one can't talk and the other can't see?, LET'S FIND OUT, Let Toph Say Fuck 2020, Episode: s02e08 The Chase, SHIT HITS THE FAN Y'ALL, Azula is her own warning, Major Character Injury, Sokka is sleep deprived, the babies are fighting, Zuko is done with everyone's shit, Episode: s02e09 Bitter Work, lots of talking, and Toph kicking butt, Zuko is the worst patient, commiserating about shitty families, finding yourself through getting your ass kicked by a twelve year old, Toph Beifong and Zuko are Siblings, i don't make the rules, Hurt Zuko, Zuko is a firebending master, and Toph is an earthbending master, Zuko Has PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, (need to think of an in-universe name for it), Episode: s02e10 The Library, I know it's been a while, but everyone should remember that Zuko is in fact a prince, with all of the training in diplomacy that implies, Wan Shi Tong isn't unreasonable, he just wants to be left alone with his books, Sokka's a moron but we love him anyway, yes y'all can have a little canon-divergance, as a treat, Rating for Language, (Zuko's a former soldier after all), Episode: s02e12 The Serpent's Pass, guest starring the family from Zuko Alone, enter: Suki!, hey hey the Gaang's all here!, honestly this is more exposition and backstory than real plot, but hopefully now things are a little more clear, TW: Profound Grief, tw: perceived character death, TW: suicidal thoughts, Iroh does not have a good time, at least for the first part, POV Iroh, Iroh is a Good Uncle, Iroh Loves Tea, Let me know if I missed any tags, Episode: s02e14 City of Walls and Secrets, or rather elements thereof, Iroh meets the Gaang, Iroh adopts the Gaang, honestly this one's pretty chill, not much going on past Zuko and Iroh catching up and Zuko dragging Iroh home to meet his friends, ONCE AGAIN: FAKE DATING AU, Fake/Pretend Relationship, I swear the Zutara is only like 30 seconds and neither characters are happy about it, Fake dating for infiltration purposes, someone want to come up with an ATLA version of James Bond?, cause this is it, Episode: s02e15 Tales of Ba Sing Se, fluff and nonsense, and a tiny bit of plot, wait, how did PLOT get into my FLUFF???, that's frustrating, Iroh's living out his teashop au, Aang and Zuko stop in to help, and get some wisdom, and some tea, everybody loves iroh, including the gaang, some dialogue taken from Episode: s02e09 Bitter Work, I'm sure you can guess what dialogue, Episode: s02e17 Lake Laogai, the Blue Spirit strikes again!, co-starring: the Little Badgermole!, Mission: IMPOSSIBLE (ATLA edition), Zuko finally puts his training to use, are you telling me Toph can SEE UNDERGROUND, and canon DIDN'T PUT THIS INFORMATION TO USE????, in an UNDERGROUND FORTRESS????, Toph gets her life-changing field trip with Zuko, Episode: s02e20 The Crossroads of Destiny, Canon Temporary Character Death, if you've seen the episode you know what happens, Protective Sokka,  Big Brother Sokka,  basically just Sokka processing the events of Sacrifice, which means run on sentences and a lot of cursing, honestly not super thrilled with this one but it's done and it needed to be written, Episode: s03e01 The Awakening, Episode Tag, remember how in The Awakening, Katara had said that Aang had been asleep for "a few weeks"?, I'm taking that literally, ie potentially murdering prisoners, Hakoda's a nice guy but he IS the leader of an army/nation, please let me know what else I should tag, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, also language, pretty much every character in this fic is some kind of combatant, and therefore there is swearing, a lot of swearing, Racism, Colonialism, Alcohol, Episode: s03e02 The Headband, what was the gaang doing while Aang was at school?, Fire Nation Cuisine, my inner foodie comes out in this, Mostly Fluff, there's a brief instance of Zuko/Katara but they're undercover and it's NOT REAL, Episode: s03e03 The Painted Lady, Pollution,  Effects of Pollution, Starvation, Ozai Being an Asshole,  Ozai is a BAD leader, this has effects on his nation, Protective Zuko, Zuko will be a GOOD leader, Zuko cares about his people A LOT, Environmental Terrorism, ecoterrorism, Episode: s03e04 Sokka's Master, that feeling when your friend walks up to a random castle, and knocks on the door, and the answering butler addresses him by the name that has a warrant out for his arrest, just a fun little thing, I love this episode, Let The Gaang Stay at Piandao's 2k21, Episode: s03e06 The Avatar and the Fire Lord, you cannot tell me that everyone just sat around while Aang was chatting with Roku, volcanic beach vacay, pure fluff, no redeeming nutritional value whatsoever, Episode: s01e17 The Northern Air Temple, zuko is conflicted, but only for a little bit, sokka and the mechanist are science bros, zuko gets to be a big brother, fist bumps are a fire nation thing???, one of those instances where I didn't expect the characters to react the way that they did, Episode: s03e08 The Puppet, mastertried to keep it creepy, dunno how well I succeeded, also this was really hard to write and if it's crap I apologize, like don't be mean about it but seriously tell me what I screwed up and how so I can fix it, this fic is not Hama friendly, it is not SUPPOSED to be Hama friendly, if you're here just to yell at me for not being Hama friendly then you can just scoot on out, Bloodbending,  Hama Is Her Own Warning, why is that not a tag?, Episode s03e09: Nightmares and Daydreams, Episode: s03e10 The Day of Black Sun Part 1: The Invasion, Aang is sleep deprived and aangsty, Zuko is a Good Brother, Toshiaki returns!, Episode: s03e11 The Day of Black Sun Part 2: The Eclipse, War, Canon-Typical Violence, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Badass Zuko

Inspired by MuffinLance's #Yuyan Raise/Adopt Zuko on Tumblr.

In which Zuko is fostered/adopted/raised/recruited by the Yuyan Archers of Pouhai Stronghold, and destiny hiccups.

Updates Saturdays, unless it doesn't

Now posted: Part 39- Rendezvous

Notes:

ALL CREDIT FOR THIS CONCEPT GOES TO MUFFINLANCE AND HER TUMBLR AND EVERYONE WHO ADDED TO THE TAG.

ALL NAMED OCS IN THIS SERIES BELONG TO ME (00AwkwardPenguin00 and @awkwardpenguinproductions)

Part 1: Anchor Point

Zuko is so freaking hungry, and the Pouhai Stronghold is the only sign of civilization he's seen in six months. Sneaking inside is hilariously simple, until it's not. At least he's not a pincushion (yet), but it'd be really nice if he could understand what the bow-toting security guards were saying.

In which Zuko is adopted by a troop of silent ninja-archers.

Inspired by MuffinLance's #Yuyan Raise Zuko.

Part 2: Conflict of Interest

Toshiaki, Troop Commander of the Yuyan Archers, has been a soldier for fifteen years. He has served his Fire Lord and his Nation loyally and faithfully. But when Commander Atsuko, CMO of Pouhai Stronghold, brings to light a shocking revelation, it opens the floodgates to questions Toshiaki isn't sure he knows how to answer.

Inspired by MuffinLance's #Yuyan Raise Zuko on Tumblr

Part 3: Melee

Zuko may not have had much going for him during those six months in the wilderness, but he had a knife. And now that he's eating better and more regularly, he's got fire. He's ready to start training with the Yuyan, but are the Yuyan ready for him?

Part 4: Camaraderie

Zuko's life seems to be turning around--things are really looking up, and life at the Stronghold is settling into a predictable routine. And then he looks at the mess hall calendar.

Part 5: Stealth

The first time is because of a prank.

The second time is because of a dare.

The third time is because of an injustice.

or

Three times Zuko wears the Blue Spirit mask.

Part 6: Mission

Zuko is finally going on a mission with Chihese Squad! Yeah, it's a simple (boring) escort mission, but it's his very first military action, and not even Kai's oversleeping is going to ruin it for him!

It doesn't, but something else does.

Part 7: Debrief

It's been two weeks since the events at Huzhen, and Zuko can't stop thinking. Commander Toshiaki helps, and plans are made.

Part 8: Rebellion

The prisoner is tiny, and Zuko is filled with rage at the sight. The time he's been waiting for has arrived.

Time to break out of the Stronghold, instead of breaking in.

Part 9: Alliance

Sokka and Katara are confronted with the idea that not everyone in the Fire Nation wants to destroy the world. Tui and La, Aang, stop picking up strays!

Part 10: Nemesis

Something about Jet is just off. Yeah, he's got skills, and a flair for the dramatic that Zuko can appreciate, but seriously, the guy is weird. Can they go now?

Zuko meets Jet, and is not impressed.

Part 11: Perspective

Bato is nearly healed from the skirmish with a Fire Nation patrol, and is just hanging around the Abbey until he hears from his Chief. Then his Chief's kids show up out of nowhere with the Avatar, and a mysterious scarred teenager armed to the teeth.

Part 12: Education

Aang asks a question. Zuko wants to strangle a man. A discussion on the nature of firebending ensues.

Part 13: Ascent

Teo and his people are pretty cool, even if they did completely screw up an ancient Air Temple. But opening doors reveals secrets, and presents Zuko with a conflict he hadn't quite anticipated when he'd left Pohuai.

Part 14: Confrontation

The North Pole is freaking cold, and Zuko is not enthused. Add in the fact that even the culture is as opposite to everything Zuko knows as anything could ever be, and he's in for a rough time.

It doesn't help that Katara's challenge to the patriarchy brings back some bad memories.

Part 15: Seige

In which the Northern Water Tribe is under attack.

Part 16: FUBAR

The fortress may be a joke, but Zuko's not laughing when the general in charge of it proposes a Bad Plan.

Part 17: Anniversary

Three years later.

Part 18: Occupation

Omashu has been conquered.

King Bumi is missing.

And of course now is the perfect time for Zuko's past to come roaring back.

Part 19: Mirage

The swamp is dark, and gross, and creepy as all get out. Zuko would really like to leave please.

Part 20: Miscommunication

Toph can't see.

Her new friend can't talk.

This may be a problem.

Part 21: Pursuit

There's a scary-looking tank train chasing them.

The kids are constantly fighting.

Sokka just wants to sleep, for spirits' sake.

Part 22: Exposure

In the aftermath of Azula, Zuko learns some stuff.

Part 23: Justification

Zuko would like to make it clear for the record that this entire thing is Sokka's fault.

Part 24: Escort

Zuko gets an up close and personal look at the effect the Fire Nation is having on the Earth Kingdom.

It's not pretty.

Part 25: Reconnaissance

Zuko hates Ba Sing Se. And the creepy lady that's following them everywhere is being disturbingly obstructionist. The sooner they do what they came here to do, the sooner they can freaking leave. Time to break out some of his special skills.

Inspired by MuffinLance's glorious #Yuyan Raises Zuko on Tumblr.

Part 26: Reconstruction

Three years ago.

Part 27: Contact

They've been in this dump for a week, and still no sign of Appa. Then Zuko stumbles upon a very familiar tea maker.

Part 28: Manipulation

A party. For a bear.

Zuko knows that the Yuyan are experts of infiltration and espionage, but this was NOT what he'd had in mind.

Part 29: R and R 

Where do you go when you need a break from the secret dystopian drama that is your life? Your uncle's tea shop of course.

Part 30: Extraction

They've spent way longer in this spirits-cursed city than they really should have, and Zuko's had enough. When Ba Sing Se's ridiculous bureaucracy shuts down their attempts to find Appa, he decides it's time to take matters into his own hands.

Part 31: Sacrifice

Their family is scattered, and somehow Azula has entered Ba Sing Se. Katara doesn't know how things can get much worse.

And then they do.

Part 32: Shock

Sokka is trying to wrap his brain around what just happened. He's not entirely sure he's successful.

Part 33: Recruitment

Gathering allies for a certain-to-be-suicidal attack on the capital of the Fire Nation is not a straightforward task.

Part 34: Infiltration

Katara didn't really know what to expect when they snuck into the Fire Nation, but somehow delicious food and a dance party were not it.

Part 35: Homefront

Zuko has known for years that Ozai does not have their nation's best interests at heart... so he's not sure why he's surprised to find a village in his own nation barely clinging to life.

Part 36: Materiel

Sokka wants to become a master sword fighter. Zuko knows exactly where to go.

Part 37: Message  

Avatar Roku has summoned Aang to join him for the Summer Solstice. The Gaang takes an opportunity for a break.

Part 38: Terrorism

In the forest on Kong Xin Island, no one can hear you scream.

Part 39: Rendezvous

Reassurances are given.

Preparations are made.

The Invasion is about to begin.

Part 40: Invasion

It is the Day of Black Sun, and the fate of the world comes down to a choice.

I posted 9,455 times in 2022

That's 8,402 more posts than 2021!

581 posts created (6%)

8,874 posts reblogged (94%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@lightdancer1

@akiizayoi4869

@zuko-always-lies

@likeadragonfruit

@themadmanandhisbox

I tagged 3,120 of my posts in 2022

#queued art - 931 posts

#asks - 264 posts

#azula - 204 posts

#death-fires danced verse - 137 posts

#balsa says - 105 posts

#sea of thieves - 93 posts

#atla fanfic - 68 posts

#space station 13 - 38 posts

#robust verse - 28 posts

#zuko - 27 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#just really really wants to be left alone but the damn order of souls and people looking for the damn shroudbreaker keep coming after her

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Something that the ATLA fandom sometimes overlooks is the fact that all of the Gaang, most of the major antagonists (Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee, as well as Zuko) and a large number of the side characters (all of the Freedom Fighters) are all child soldiers. Child soldiers who have in many cases committed morally reprehensible acts or fought for morally reprehensible causes.

And the impact of that - and the inherent darkness of anything that involves it - is extremely important to acknowledge.

127 notes - Posted January 28, 2022

#4

If you make a post saying that "Zuko was a good person from the start," then that invalidates whatever argument you intend to base on that idea. Because it's just wrong.

144 notes - Posted October 17, 2022

#3

I just had a very strange realization this morning about the Fire Nation capital - namely, it's built in a caldera. A huge caldera, of a size that suggests at least a VEI 5 eruption, and quite possibly bigger. (For reference, Krakatoa was a VEI 5.) We don't know how long ago this eruption occurred, but it has to have been long enough ago for a sizeable city to be built there - personally, I think it was probably in the pre-Avatar era.

Also, we see literal lava under the Fire Nation Royal Palace, so there's that. Like, lakes of it.

Which raises the question of... well, what the fuck? Someone had to have realized that building one's capital city on top of a highly active volcanic zone was a bad idea, right? Or is the Fire Nation just that foolhardy?

151 notes - Posted October 18, 2022

#2

Since there’s some “Azula gets exiled” AUs floating around here’s something tangential

Well... Azula doesn’t actually get exiled. She escapes before anything in particular can be done to her (other than imprisonment and general bad treatment) - and while she’s certainly angry about it, she also doesn’t really have the energy to care. Her main priority is escaping whatever fate the people who won the Hundred Year war were trying to create for her, and as such she lays low for a while, and quite frankly mellows out a bit. Eventually, after a year or two, she finds a home somewhere (not sure about the circumstances, perhaps with the Sun Warriors?) and settles down, still trying to work through what happened earlier in her life.

Meanwhile, the Gaang are constantly on edge - well, so are all the world’s politicians, and this causes problems. The fact that Azula ran off only makes everyone more harsh towards her, because they have no idea what she’s doing, and as such the common consensus among the White Lotus and the Gaang is that if she is found, she needs to be brought in immediately. And this turns into an echo chamber situation which no one has the nerve to step in and stop (after all, most of the reasonable people probably think she’s dead) and so things go on like this. Until a few of the Gaang run into her while on a trip to the Sun Warriors’ city for some reason or another, and immediately jump Azula and drag her back to the Fire Nation to be tried-

Which, as predicted, goes terribly. The Sun Warriors break into the diplomatic meetings, absolutely enraged at what they see as interfering in Azula’s healing (and the mention of “taking her bending” only increases the heat) and, facing a split with the original precursor civilization of the Fire Nation, Zuko puts everything on hold. This is long enough for various other things to happen, including Aang’s past lives giving him all the advice he should have gotten when he thinks to ask about Azula, and the Gaang quickly decide that they don’t have a choice to reconsider.

By this time, probably unsurprisingly, the Sun Warriors have taken things into their own hands and break Azula out themselves. And then she runs away from them in turn - leaving Zuko and the Gaang with a nasty diplomatic issue, and none of them with any idea what happened. At this point, having been hit in the face with a metaphorical nailbat, they all realize where things went wrong, and are more than willing to try to fix it.

This time, though, Azula has less than zero intention of allowing that. As far as she’s concerned, this whole situation has taught her one thing - as long as any of the people who won the war and made the decision to come after her are in power, she will never be safe. And she doesn’t return to the Sun Warriors, or anywhere else she thinks she can be found. 

And a little while later, the world starts to feel the effects.

(I’m not sure where it goes from here, or even what this idea is. But yeah.)

164 notes - Posted February 27, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Periodic reminder that taking an ATLA character's bending does not allow them to start over, and does not aid in their development as a person. As LoK shows, it is merely extremely traumatizing.

Suffering and erasure of the self does not equal redemption.

173 notes - Posted November 13, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

a kiss and i will surrender

A gift for @asajjvxntress and a late submission for @jetkoweek for Day 1 (Sharing Clothes) Day 4 (Modern AU) and Day 5 (Praise Kink)

Pairing: Jetko

Rating: E

Chapters: 1/1

Summary: Zuko wants something in his mouth, and it's not dinner.

NSFW under the cut

Jet paused at the entrance to the kitchen, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and a smirk pulling at his lips. Zuko, unaware of Jet’s presence, was singing along to the Freedom Fighters track playing on his Bluetooth speaker. It was hard to imagine a post-alternative rock sound being the type of music to dance to, but it was quite amusing watching Zuko offer small shakes of his hips on the alternating beats.

The fact he had a nice ass might have been helping, too.

“Well, this is perfect to come home to,” Jet drawled.

Zuko jumped, spinning quickly, spatula in hand and his cheeks now adorably red. “Shit!” he swore as he dripped hot oil onto his hand. “You scared the shit out of me, jerk.”

“I'm sorry about that, babe. I was just enjoying the view.” Jet strolled over to him and took the spatula out of his hand before he kissed at the pinkish spots the oil had burned into his skin.

“You’re lucky. I almost put pants on.”

Jet purposely let his thigh rub against the front of Zuko’s boxers. “Mm, I’m glad you didn’t.” He tipped his head down and let his lips pass over Zuko’s, tasting something herbal, like tea. “What’s for dinner?”

“Your favorite.”

“Fried dumplings and rice?”

“Yep.”

Jet kissed him again, more deeply. “Did you know that you’re the best?”

Wolf Sokka au works like this. Sokka gets blessed/cursed by a wolf spirit to take form of a huge black wolf. Wolf Sokka is literally just a big ass wolf with all the instincts of a wild animal so he can't stay in the village. Everyone treats this as a death which is unacceptable to Katara.

This leads to her leaving with him to find a cure. Most of Katara's time is spent trying to figure out how approach and corral this dangerous animal and on their general survival. She eventually becomes a great Sokka behaviorist and handler but it's a tense and scary process.

They come across different villages and spiritual sites. Their adventures last years until they come across a set of twins in the same situation (the chi blocks from the north & south comic who don't have names). The experience ends up being bleak but resolves her to leave the south pole all together.

Which means they can't be the ones to find Aang, the job falls to Zuko and Iroh. Zuko may have kidnapped him... In a way but it's ok bc Aang tricks him into teaching him Firebending and engineers a situation where they can't go back woops!

Anyway the siblings journey lands them in kyoshi Island, the swamp, and Gaolong meeting Suki & Toph and learning foggy swamp water bending in process. I have so many thoughts about the freedom fighters, Hakoda's fleet, Sokka's criss of identity once he learns how to stay human, Katara's coming of age journey. Oh I need to get back into this one

In the middle of like, three aus right now... Jet and Zuko and freedom fighters road trip (modern au), zuko joins the freedom fighters because he On Sight adopts longshot, and a "women can't inherit" in the fire nation au which is basically a fatebent azula au, except I do also have a proper fate bend au with like everyone and not just azula's circumstances. Idk hopefully I get somewhere soon with any of them so I can post more than doodles haha

Atla AU:

Aang gets kidnapped by Zhao but the Blue Spirit doesn't come to rescue him until 5 years later. During this time Aang has been kept imprisoned and just barely kept alive like Zhao wanted. Ba Sin Se has also been conquered by the Fire Nation and Aang is being paraded around the fire nation. Aang has spent the last 5 years in captivity, from ages 12-17, eventually he is freed by the Blue Spirit (zuko) at this point aang is severely malnourished and really weak and thin - Aang ( the escaped convict).

Zuko never restored his honour and moves to Ba Sin Se with his uncle Iroh. He dates Jin and they end up getting married. By the timeline of the fic Jin is pregnant with their first child. Zuko ( soon to be dad) + Iroh has the Jasmine Dragon tea shop.

Toph never meets the gaang and never leaves her parents, when the gaang finally meet her 5 years later it's to crash her wedding. Toph decides to join them and her betrothed sends out Earthbenders to get back his fiancé "the avatar has kidnapped my bride" - Toph ( the runaway bride).

Katara - She refuses to give up hope and believes that one day the world will have peace. Everytime Sokka starts to doubt and lose faith, she is there to lift him back up. She and sokka both develop a very deep hatred of the fire nation, so much more than what we saw in Canon. Her grandmother and father try to convince them to give up fighting and settle down and find happiness in the lives they have. She refuses to. She vows to never stop fighting until she can free Aang and destroy the fire nation. She may or may not have started up a relationship with Jet again now that she actively wants to burn the fire nation to ground too - Katara ( freedom fighter)

Sokka - Is working with Katara and other rebels they can find to try and free Aang and break down the Fire Nation. However, after the failed invasion during the Black Sun all hope seems lost. The Fire Nation has taken over the earth Kingdom leaving the water tribes no other choice but to surrender. Sokka like in Canon eventually meets and falls in love with Yue, here however since Zhao captured Aang there is no Northern Water Tribe invasion and Yue never dies. Sokka is constantly fighting with the other world leaders including his father who have given up but Sokka and Katara keep fighting. They have started to build a secret underground rebellion, also Sokka is an innovator and is creating machines and weapons to fight against the fire nation when the time is right - Sokka ( revolution leader)

Should I try write this AU or has this already been done?