"I don't love you. I'm not supposed to love you. Please don't give me more reasons to beg you to stay,"

Random writing prompt I want to read:

Fire hazard siblings Zuko and Azula getting along and Zuko has One Brain Cell and Azula has Two but they have to work together to overthrow their father because neither of them wants the other one to die.

KEY POINT: Neither of them have talked about it and neither is willing to admit either of them wants to overthrow their father so they just keep strategically "messing up" and being weirdly cool with the other one also fucking up constantly. Outsider POVs don't know what to think lmfao

I just finished rewatching ATLA and I have to say…

Absolutely insane to me that people were insisting that Azula not getting a redemption was “misogynistic” and some kind of writing mistake. The girl told her dad to commit mass genocide.

On the Unredeemed

Unredeemed villains are important in fiction. I feel like that needs to be said. There is a trend in recent years (probably since Wicked became a hit) of people wanting to see monsters redeemed. I'm not against that (per-se... glowers in Maleficent), but also, I feel like we do lose something when we lean into the idea that the monster gets to make good.

Fiction can be really useful for teaching us about life. I remember seeing a quote some time ago on Pinterest or something that said something along the lines of "fairytales are important not because they tell us dragons are real, but because they tell us that dragons can be slayed". That has been on my mind a lot recently when I see discussions about characters like Azula and (more recently) Ozai. They are fictional characters with super magic fire powers, but they represent something real- they represent the cycle of abuse in families, and while I understand the impulse to absolve someone as young as Azula, I think it's also important to tell the story where she isn't redeemed.

One reason that most Azula redemption stories bother me is because of the responsibility they tend to place on Zuko as her older brother, despite the fact that she victimized him probably more than anyone in her life (that we get to see. I don't think her soldiers believed her death threat for no reason). There are plenty of stories about the victims of abuse needing to be the bigger person to keep their families together and being villainized when they don't (I think by now we all understand that Terri was not the villain of Soul Food). We need stories about knowing when it's okay to walk away, and that illustrate the idea that "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb".

In a time when more people are talking openly about going low contact or completely cutting off family members- close family members- I personally think that seeing stories about coming out of the other side of it, of building a new family, healing from the past, and dealing with the residual guilt that comes with "turning your back on family" even when it's the right call, is helpful in the same way that those fairytales about slayable dragons are.

I'm not saying any of this to discourage Azula redemption stories. In fact I would love to see more. Stories that have Azula confronting what she did to the people she should have loved most, and have her considering what to do with the knowledge going forward, instead of just using her past abuse and mental health to gloss over the real harm she did. I want to see her grappling to accept the fact that no one- not her brother, not Iroh, not her friends- owes her forgiveness, and then dealing with all the complex emotions that come with just one of them actually forgiving her. But also, I want to see stories where Zuko gets to let go of his father and sister and go on to be supported in that decision. Because to him, they were dragons, and they were slain.

A commission I did over the weekend of redemption!Azula and Suki! It was fun imagining what a redeemed Azula would be like!

listen, as much as i love azutara where azula is the taller one, the pure comedy of short azula makes me giggle. i present two scenarios:

—

1. katara is significantly taller than azula

azula, too lazy to search for a stool, jumping and trying to grab the book she wants in the library: whoever decided to build these shelves so high will face my wrath.

katara, materializing out of the blue: would you like some help?

azula: i am perfectly capable of retrieving my own book, thank you very much.

katara: i know you are, but it would be easier if you just let me-

azula: NO.

(she eventually gives in and lets katara get the book down for her.)

2. katara is BARELY taller than azula (and also a menace)

katara, healing azula after a fight: maybe if you weren’t so short you would have gotten a swollen lip instead of a broken nose…

azula: i am not short!

katara: you really are though.

azula: you are less than an inch taller than me.

katara: i still bet you wish you had that extra height when that guy punched you.

azula, leaning close: you’re insufferable.

katara: insulting me doesn’t change that you’re vertically challenged.

azula: would you shut up?

katara: make me ;)

(and she does)

—

anyways in both these scenarios they’re rivals to friends(?) to actually friends (but won’t admit it) to lovers and no i will not be taking criticism.

I said it once and I’ll say it again. Iroh is a boymom.

Training routine

Azula is... a person made by routine. She starts training every day at 5am.

But one day she said said “None of you, menaces to society, can do it too” so they try to prove her wrong.

Azula: Oh you made it. Sokka: Of course. Azula: But you look like shit.

Sokka: Well, I didn't sleep, so I can be awake right now. Azula: You didn’t sleep? How do you pretend to follow my training session? Sokka: To be honest, I didn’t think I’d made it this far and I’m too tired to even care anymore.

Suki: Ok smart-ass let 's begin. Azula: You look awake. Suki: I am. You’re not the only one who usually does this.  Azula: I know it’s not a Kyoshi warrior thing because I know Ty Lee.  Suki: It’s my thing. Believe or not I’m more than a “fan girl”. Azula: And she has humor too. Suki: So? Azula: Honestly, you were the only one in that group that I knew was capable of doing my training. So if you want to go and do your thing, it wouldn't change my mind or what I'm going to say to them. Suki: I’m here for your training. We will do that. Azula: Hmn. Suki: What are you waiting for? Azula: Fine pretty girl. Let’s start meditating.

Toph: I know you’re nuts but this is madness. Why do you have to start to do this so early?! Azula: Good morning to you too. When do you want me to do it? Toph: I don’t know, in the afternoon or after breakfast. Azula: After breakfast, I have to read the scrolls for the meetings that will take place that day. I have two hours to do this, and if I don't need all that time, I do paperwork. Azula: Then the meetings start. Usually everything for the day is set before lunch. Toph: Have lunch later and train there. Azula: After lunch I have to appear in several places in Caldera. You know, publicly blah, blah, blah. Toph: When you finish, you can train there and you can use it to relax. Azula: After that I have to have dinner. Toph: I’m pretty sure you can have dinner later. Azula: Dinner is with Katara. We hardly see each other during the day. Toph: So train after dinner. Azula: No. Toph: Why? Azula: Because that time is usually reserved for Katara and is non-negotiable. Toph: Her words or yours? Azula: Your poi- Don’t you dare to do a whip sound. Toph: Sure, domesticated prissy princess. Azula: Enough of this small talk. We have lost so much time already. Toph: And we don’t want to reduce your Katara time. Azula: Horse stance NOW.

Ty lee: Good Morning. Azula: At least open your eyes first. Ty lee: I train like this. Azula: You train in your pyjamas? Ty lee:  Azula: Go to sleep. Ty lee:  Azula: You tried and you are not a menace. Well, you never were, because you weren't included in that statement. Why are you here? Ty Lee: I'm too tired to shout at you, but in 3-4 hours, be prepared.

(Mai didn’t try it or even talk about it)

Aang: Good morning Azula! Azula: Oh, you look fresh? Aang: Is that a surprise? Azula: Yes. Let’s train. Aang: Sure, but it wouldn't kill you to say good morning too.

…

Azula: We'll see how Zuzu does, but by far you and Suki deserve a bit more respect from me. Aang: Thank you! That's nice, I guess. So if Zuko does well, you would give him more credit? Azula: Of course not.

Zuko: Of all of the things you have done to me, this is the most evil. Azula: Aren’t you a morning person? Zuko: Yes but when it’s morning. THE SUN IS NOT EVEN THERE. Azula: Don't worry, Zuzu, the sun will be there when we're done.

…

Azula: Zuzu, can you please stop throwing up, I want to have a bath and then breakfast. Zuko: I hate you. Azula: Don’t worry, you aren’t the only menace, you should have seen Sokka. Zuko: Aang? Azula: Nah, he did it well. Zuko: Suki? Azula: Don’t do this to yourself Zuko.

Katara, still half asleep in bed: Who’s turn is today? Azual, already up and ready: Yours. Katara: Oh okay let me just…*takes all the bed for herself* Katara: Have a good time. Azula: Don’t you want to prove that you are not a menace to society? Katara, almost asleep: I’m dating you.  Azula: See you point. *kisses her forehead* Sleep well, see you for breakfast. Katara: *snorts*

it's hilarious when people say stuff like “you're worse than us because you like shadow weaver” girlie i like shadow weaver precisely because she didn't get a shitty redemption arc. no one excused her actions, no one forgave her because of pretty privilege, she did not get a happy ending at the cost of her victims' happiness. i like shadow weaver as a character, not as a person.

you like villains who automatically get a redemption arc and forgiveness as soon as they reveal that they're just a traumatized baby. i like villains who are unapologetically terrible and whose actions are not condoned by any of the other characters, regardless of what their motivations are. we are not the same.

AU where Katara & Toph both set up premier waterbending & earthbending academies in Republic City; the two schools are dedicated to teaching holistic, unified forms of their respective elements, bringing together previously disparate styles. Katara's school teaches Southern style, Northern style, & Foggy Swamp style waterbending, without any gender-based segregation between self-defense or healing classes (no, bloodbending wouldn't be taught because Katara don't like that shit). Toph's school teaches her personal seismic style of earthbending, metalbending, & more classical forms of earthbending. Katara's academy is on the coast of Yue Bay, in sight of both Aang's memorial statue & Air Temple Island; Toph's academy is far inland, to the east.

Rather than Toph, Suki is the one who establishes a police/security force. Suki's police academy could have a special program with Toph's, so you'd still get those cool metalbending officers. But the school prioritizes non-bending combat first & foremost. Ty Lee's chi-blocking technique is taught there as a required course.

"I'm Sorry," (END)

[PREV]

This is a short comic! Just wanted to draw Azula apologizing instead of having Ty Lee automatically give her a chance. Yes she has been living with Azula for almost 9 months and knows she's changing but an apology was something she never knew she needed from her. She appreciates the apology and the fact that Azula is sorry about what she did and how she treated her.

Sokka: This is getting out of hand, now there are two of them

Kiyi is the only addition from the comics that I'm willing to acknowledge, however, I will happily ignore everything else abt her story. Instead she is Ozai's daughter and protecting her was what kept Ursa in hiding, at least until a year after the war when Zuko and Katara show up for The Southern Raiders pt 2: Electric Boogaloo.

You know how Azula is only like 14.

I desperately want a dc x avatar crossover where Jason Todd is like, guess I'm a dad now.

for more then a couple reasons

First of all the character growth. Jason learns not all people who hallucinate are like the joker. Azula learns that how her father treated her is not normal

Azula deserves someone who understands the mommy issues

Girl dad jason

Tell me Jason wouldn't take one look at this girl whose been praised for her talent for destruction and then demonized for it and be like been there done that.

For the sake of teaching Azula to channel the aggression in a semi constructive way.

Also Azula who was dismissed by her mother for being too aggressive and Jason who was dismissed by Bruce for the exact same reason

I firmly believe Azula is redeemable, it's just that no one bothered with the hard work and she was left in the hands of a monster.

Azula: You and Katara are engaged now?

Zuko: We are! I’ve never been happier!

Azula: So she met you and she was like… “more”?

Me, lying face down on the carpet: I don't know how many times I have to explain that people love characters like Steve Harrington and Zuko, is that they have done things that are bad. They have said things that are bad. Possibly reprehensible. Possibly violent.

But then. And this is THE fundamental aspect of them that you must understand, they realized they were wrong. They realized that what they did and who they were were not things they were proud of. Were not things they liked doing or wanted to continue doing. Were things that hurt people. They realized that they didn't want to be that person anymore.

And then they changed. They went and tried to apologize to those they wronged. They worked to fix what they had done or helped do. They made strides to be different from what they once were.

Zuko stood up to his father, he apologized to the Gang, admitted to them he and his people were wrong, and taught Aang Fire bending. He changed and he helped and he apologized.

Steve helped clean up graffiti, he went to Jonathan's house to apologize for the terrible things he said and their fight(and got dragged into monster fighting and saved Jonathan and Nancy's lives), he replaced the camera he broke.

They owned up to their mistakes and apologized and did their best to remedy them. The apology and the changed behaviour make these characters likeable. They have flaws that have glared but they have accepted those things, tried to do better than them.

I need you to understand that there are characters out there that do the same things but never apologize. When you question why someone likes character a but not character b, when character a has also done bad things, I need you to think about whether or not that character has apologized and since changed that behaviour and thus been sincere in their apology. That is why. No excuse or justification. Did the character apologize and change? Did the other not? There you go.

Me, sitting up with the imprint of the carpet on my face: Woah haha where'd that come from?

people who think azula shouldn't have a redemption arc because that would be "boring" and "why can't villains be evil" need to remember that she's literally a 14 year old girl.

her genocidal father took a liking to her when she was a child because she was a firebending prodigy which meant he instilled his own ideals and morals and behaviours (i.e. fire nation supremacy, aggression, brutality, fear as a tactic to control others etc) into her quite young.

this in turn meant that her mother, despite still loving her, preferred to spend time with zuko who had a gentler nature and took after her more. she's not evil. she's a 14 year old girl who didn't have anyone in her corner and thought her mother hated her and didn't know how to form relationships with anyone because her father didn't let her be a child and raised her to be a soldier/successor to his dictatorship. her humanity and the crux of her characterisation is most evident in the 4 part series finale where we see her unravel, years of abuse and being taught that trust and compassion is weak catch up to her, and she hallucinates her mother telling her that she loves her and cries. zuko had iroh to love him and nurture his compassion. azula had ozai to abuse her and nurture her brutality.

toph says in season 3 that "considering his messed-up family and how he was raised, he could have turned out a lot worse" and azula is the worst case scenario for how he could have turned out, but that's not her fault. zuko was eventually able to redeem himself, and azula would have been able to as well if she was given the chance.

tldr: it's absolutely ridiculous to think that azula was an irredeemable villain that should be "allowed to be evil" when she was just a traumatised 14 year old girl doing what she was raised to do and think was right.