#& then what would Zuko do?

[ash-and-starlight]

The world needs more Yue and Zuko friendship, I squeal just thinking abt the parallels. They deserve a life changing field trip together and if u have abt ideas I’m all ears 👀

Hiii anon this ask fermented in my inbox and in my brain for so long,, so take this??? Post canon yue lives/no war au arts?? Anyway aside from the Parallels and their political position & their duty before hoes grindset I think they could learn a lot from each other. With zuko learning the gift of patience & diplomacy from yue & Yue learning that allowing yourself to feel anger and speaking up can actually be Good.

anyway hypothetical life changing trip outcome: zuko takes an intro gender studies class and yue says fuck

(oh and also must not forget the crush on sokka)

[mozart-the-meerkitten]

*rolls up 15 years late with Avatar the Last Airbender thoughts*

So I've been rewatching clips from the show lately to refresh my memory while I'm writing my Zuko Alone fanfic. And last night I rewatched the clip where Iroh teaches Zuko how to redirect lightning and I have had thoughts about this scene for years so I might as well finally throw them into the void of tumblr.

So, this scene is insane to me, because at the end of learning how he could-hypothetically- redirect lightning, Zuko looks at Iroh and, completely seriously says "okay I'm ready to try it with the real thing now". Like, Zuko, the boy with a massive scar on his face from where his father burned him just looks at his uncle and says, "shoot me with lightning".

And yes, he's 16 and not thinking but that's part of the point because the amount of blind, complete trust Zuko has in Iroh to look at him and say "shoot lightning at me" after the insane trauma he had at the hands of his own father- that is WILD to me. Zuko literally trusts Iroh so much that he just assumes, without even having to think about it, that no matter how volatile and unpredictable the lightning is, Iroh won't hurt him because Zuko cannot fathom his uncle hurting him.

And of course, Iroh's appalled because Zuko's standing there with a massive scar on his face from when his father misused firebending against him and likewise, Iroh cannot fathom hurting Zuko. And since IROH knows how volatile and unpredictable lightning is and how it could literally kill his son nephew he is absolutely NOT going to use it just to let Zuko practice redirecting lightning, but he's so flabbergasted that Zuko would even ask him that that he just kind of splutters angrily that he will ABSOLUTELY NOT shoot lightning at Zuko. (it's also just another layer of how messed up Ozai is because he shot lightning at Zuko without a second thought later)

But I hope Iroh thought about it later and realized the amount of pure, unthinking trust Zuko has in him because ;-; the child didn't even THINK about it. "Okay uncle shoot lightning at me now. I know I'll be safe because it's you." I love them so much 😭😭

[muffinlance]

Me: Don't write a 20k chapter don't write a 20k chapter don't write a

Also Me: ...but what if

[late-draft]

On first glance, this is a funny scene about Iroh making funny faces and dancing. But it was exactly this that left an impact on me because of how hard the humour contrasts with the reality of the situation.

It stayed with me just how much this event probably disturbed Zuko: it wasn't just the stress from being in danger. He was probably appalled that Iroh would lower himself so much, that he would ever allow this; going from the position of once being the crown prince to now, submissively performing for a sneering aggressor on a filthy street in enemy territory, allowing himself to be in danger and not fighting back. (quote unquote)

Zuko certainly felt immense shame, insult and shock. Even second-hand, observing his uncle. Iroh implicitly involved him in this social ladder descent as well with his behaviour. I imagine it would continue to bother Zuko for quite some time, like a heavy bundle of stress he wouldn't know how to get rid of.

(Look at these frames. The framing and pacing tells you everything. The camera moves closer and lingers on him, he doesn't have to say anything.)

Of course, Zuko doesn't understand Iroh's position in this. It's so different from what Zuko has been through that it's normal and logical he wouldn't understand. Iroh has long since let go of pride and arrogance and of looking down on other peoples. He understands the gravity of their situation and he doesn't have arrogance preventing him from doing what he believes is necessary to help him and his nephew survive. Even if it means being a beggar and, I would assume, even taking a beating. In a way, this was also a bit of ad hoc demonstration from him to Zuko on how it's possible to not be overburdened by royal pride. It wasn't specifically a lesson on it, but the event had traces of it.

On a meta level, this scene deals with violence against the homeless. It just shows it existing and doesn't comment on it. It's also a very strong scene that continues the demonstration of both Iroh's and Zuko's characterization.

It then leads with Zuko using force to steal, contrasted to Iroh begging and being thankful for what they receive. He's very forgiving - he doesn't chastise Zuko for theft too much. It wasn't the "defeat" at Ba Sing Se that humbled Iroh (Iroh was never defeated, he withdrew). It was losing Lu Ten and thus learning the actual value of human life, the illusion of separation and kindness. But hand-in-hand with this is that Iroh also always was and stays a very resilient and steadfast person, where he doesn't give in (for the most part) to people who are truly evil and selfish. It's why the "I looked away" stays as one of the things he will always regret. He didn't bend to the bully on the street because he was weak by this point or lost his sense of orientation in the social ladder. No; he sang and performed for a gold coin with full understanding.

[zukosdualdao]

i'm literally insane about the last agni kai and the lightning scene(s). i swear i've rewatched it 10+ times since my last rewatch of the show (which was my first watch in years) and like. azula sees katara come into view from behind. zuko doesn't. he follows azula's gaze and sees katara and is immediately horrified. he doesn't even think or hesitate because he doesn't have time and for once he doesn't have to look back at azula to figure out what she's doing because he knows what she's doing and he won't let it happen. time dwindling into slow motion as a haunting score plays? and zuko literally yelling out "no!" because that lightning absolutely cannot hit katara. as soon as he sees it there's no chance of that ever happening. and then katara watching in horror as the lightning flashes against features in what is probably one of the most hauntingly beautiful animated moments of the show? zuko hitting the ground still convulsing with lightning and katara crying out "zuko!" and immediately trying to run to him before azula attacks again? and the next scene we cut back to with them, zuko is groaning weakly and trying to lift himself up, and we see katara literally gasp in surprise as she realizes he's still alive (i'm sobbing because i do quite literally think she thought he was dead) and immediately tries to run to him again, nevermind that she knows azula is still there, and the hand katara uses for healing is already doused in water as she reaches for him. but then azula starts attacking again. and zuko, despite literally being in so much pain that he can't stand and can barely even move at all without whimpering, still tries to reach for the spot where he can see azula attacking katara. katara is forced to hide from azula's attacks. and as azula is mocking "zuzu, you don't look so good" down to zuko, the perspective shot is such that you can SEE that katara is also looking at where he lies prone in the distance, surrounded by flame (probably wondering how much time they have before it really is too late) before looking back up at azula and realizing she needs to defeat her as quickly and handily as possible so katara can get to zuko. obviously katara would have done this anyway (the whole reason they were THERE was to halt the continued cycle of the imperialist regime of the fire nation), but the scene is specifically framed as katara trying to figure out how to stop azula so the obstacle to her getting to zuko is no longer in the way. katara's defeat of azula was epic and deserves its own post. but then after making sure azula is securely chained, she runs to zuko, looks at him with such immense sadness and horror and fear as she hears him in so much pain, tenderly turns him over so she can get a good look at the wound. and she cups his head? briefly but so gently? so that he won't hit it as she turns him over? and when she tries to heal him you can tell she is so genuinely unsure if it will even work, and so relieved that she starts crying tears of joy when she sees it has (at least enough to keep him alive and somewhat lessen his pain.) they thank each other (and you can tell it's still really hard for zuko to talk and his eyes are barely open but he thanks her anyways i'm.) and she thanks him back and!!! when he starts to try to sit up she makes a little surprised face and then immediately helps him to do so (and puts a tender hand to his chest while she does!!!) and obviously that last shot of them standing together is also one of emotional support, but katara's hand on his back is also partly because i still think (and certainly katara still thinks) trying to walk/stand on his own would be a bad idea, so it's definitely not happening.

[multifandombullshitbabes]

have we ever thought abt the fact that zuko is literally azula's older brother. like she's his little sister. that's his little sister. throughout a big, big part of atla plot, he was actively running away, scared of his little sister killing him because he KNEW she would/could. can you imagine that? your little sibling, wanting more your father's approval than your companionship to the point of death? every time they fought, zuko was fighting his baby sister. azula was fighting her big brother. this is making me so sick. they were 16 and 14 years old.

[sokkabaddiebender2021]

zutara this, kataang that, zukka queerbait maybe, WELL WHAT IF JETKO IS CANON IN THE LIVE ACTION?? THOSE TWO HAD THE MOST CHEMISTRY IN THE ORIGINAL SHOW I WANT TO SEE THEM IN LIVE ACTION NOWWW (the actors are also my pookies i’m biased)

[valkyrie1435atla]

Me cutting off Zukos ponytail in my comic for ✨character development✨

No more cvnty ponytail to draw (I fucking loved the ponytail)

Now I actually have to s l o w l y grow his hair back cause I can’t think of a way to magically poof his long hair back into existence which means I actually have to plan things instead of completely winging it

I hate buzzcut Zuko

[casualdadnomad]

sokka wouldnt mind being in love with a boy if it didn't mean being in love with zuko

zuko wouldnt mind being in love with sokka if it didnt mean being in love with a boy

[glimzo]

Zuko’s pokémon team!!!

Blaziken, Raboot, Vulpix, Litten, Dodrio, and Torkoal

ko-fi // insta

[comradekarin]

ik atla fandom likes to undermine this a lot, but i still think it’s a little crazy zuko took lightning for katara during the final agni kai,,,,, katara healing zuko and him bouncing back that quick has tricked y’all into thinking what he did was normal behavior I fear,,,,,,,,,, having that moment of bonding over their mothers despite being enemies is one thing,,,, katara offering to heal zuko’s scar is a second thing, zuko being the only visibly supportive figure during katara’s journey dealing with yon rha is another thing, but lightning ,,, thats insane hello !!! atla fandom likes to bully hag zk fans for perceiving it in a romantic light but !! he literally took a lightning strike for her !!!!! in the heart !!! unflinchingly !! there is a permanent mark of disfigurement on his chest because of it !! and they are presumably the only ones that know too !! tired of the forced platonicization of that scene,,,,, GIVE ME BRYKE’S NECK !!!

[kataraslove]

zutara shippers: katara and mai deeply dislike each other. mai is literally seething with jealousy over the fact that zuko took lightening for katara, while he abandoned mai and left her to rot in prison until her uncle bailed her out.

katara and mai: *develops a canon friendship by the end of the series*

also zutara shippers: katara would adore on ji and consider her as a best friend!

katara and on ji: *do not share any scenes together. katara has only shown to harbour jealousy towards on ji dancing with aang*

it’s so funny to me how the self-proclaimed pro-katara and pro-feminist fandom will attempt to orchestrate a nonexistent rivalry between two girls who hold no animosity towards each other anymore in canon, while at the same time insisting that katara would become good friends with the minor character that she has only ever expressed jealousy towards.

[muffinlance]

Can Sokka’s science tell him which of Katara’s 7 spools of blue thread 🧵 is the right one to darn that hole in his shirt with?

It could if she didn't keep changing her answer

Katara: I AM NOT CHANGING MY ANSWER

Sokka: YES YOU ARE THESE ARE IDENTICAL

Katara: NO THEY'RE NOT

Sokka: I DEMAND A DOUBLE-BLIND STUDY

Katara: I DEMAND YOU GET YOUR OWN SEWING KIT

[sir-adamus]

this isn't directed at anyone specifically, as this is a sentiment i've seen a lot, but i think some people were expecting some kind of catharsis in regards to Neo being punished or just straight up dying in the volume 9 finale because they don't personally like and are therefore dismissive of the character; and then making claims that it was bad writing that she didn't get the shit kicked out of her and was then killed, but instead getting to bow out gracefully and taking the first step to improve on herself and find herself again (which, i have to say, is not a redemption, the claims of 'bad writing' always paint it as such which is weird to me - it's like, the start, at best)

and i've been seeing this sentiment for months and, from the perspective of someone who never really had an issue with the character and liked the way she was handled, every time i've always had the same question of like, is it bad? or do you just not like it? cos let's be real that's been a major, major problem in this fandom for years, and even the people who complain about it coming from the loud vocal minority are often guilty of similar behaviour, just in more 'acceptable' ways

there was this really good post i reblogged the other day, which i'll link here, which basically covers my general feelings on this in regards to media in general, but in specific regard to the show;

a) the main characters' priorities have never been on personal payback, and neither has the show's (which it makes a point with several times, with Yang and Blake giving Adam multiple opportunities to stop and just leave as just an example, which he doesn't take), so there's no reason for them to go after Neo when she's no longer a threat

b) by the time WBY would've had the opportunity to 'punish' Neo for everything she did, Neo was possessed, and in the aftermath of that, was no longer hostile to them because of the events leading up to her getting possessed in the first place

RWB/Y is a show with lots of thematic resonance, we see parallels and layers and one of the major themes in the show is grief, and how you handle it; in the Ever After, Neo serves as a microcosm of Salem - she lost the one positive (though ultimately co-dependent and not particularly healthy) relationship she had after a horrible childhood of isolation and instead of coming to terms with her grief, she dedicates herself to revenge (which was her characterisation click moment when she returned in volume 6, as that return actually gave her motivations and a goal, versus how she was in volumes 2 and 3, where she was just kinda there and didn't have all that much to her) and it consumes her, so when she actually does get that revenge she wanted, instead of there being any kind of catharsis, she's just left hollow and empty because she has nothing left, which leaves her open to getting possessed by the Cat

but after being freed from possession, Neo has no reason to keep fighting because of that prior realisation, and comes to the conclusion that she needs to move on, with the best opportunity to do so being letting the Tree help her. and this is what loops back to the post i linked; Neo is given the option to stop and change and she takes it

does it come too late? sure - but by the same note, better late than never. besides, the Ever After is a fairytale world where the normal rules don't apply, so 'late' isn't as damning as it would've been

[discordiansamba]

kyoshi twins au fact that is very important, critical in fact, is that while Zuko and Suki both learn about Zuko actually being a secret Fire Nation prince while they're on Ember Island, they tell no one else in the Gaang about this. not for any particular dramatic reason- it would just be way funnier if they all find out about it later.

[waterfire1848]

An AU where Azula and Katara switch bodies and shenanigans ensue? Or one where Aang and Azula switch?

Hello, @wingchunwaterbender !!! Shout out to @emluckyowl and @akiizayoi4869 for their assistance!

1. The Gaang encounter Team Azula in a trickster spirit’s forest. While Katara and Azula are fighting, the spirit swaps their bodies. Both are awake and know what’s going on so they’re able to see the body swap clear as day. Needless to say, they freak out and their teams are alerted to the problem. (Aang: Katara! What’s wrong? Are you okay? Azula: Get away from me, Avatar! Sokka: Katara? Azula: I will fry you both! Get away from me! Aang: Did you hit your head or…?) However, as quickly as it happens the two swap back. Azula and Katara swear that they swapped bodies but at the same time are desperate for it to have been fake so they assume that they just imagined it. Later that night, Katara lights their campfire and Azula takes a sip of water and they’ve switched again. (Katara, in Azula’s body: Aang, whats going on? Aang: Can I start by saying that it is kinda terrifying to see Azula acting kind? Katara: Aang. Aang: Right! I talked with the spirit and…there’s good news and bad news. Azula, in Katara’s body: Spill it, Avatar. Aang: The good news is it isn’t permanent! You’ll stop swapping bodies eventually! Katara: Thank the spirits. I do not want to be stuck in this body forever. Azula: You think I want to be in your body any longer than I have to? Aang: But! From now until the end of the year, whenever you’re around each other’s elements, you’ll swap bodies and stay that way for 24 hours. Azula & Katara: WHAT?!?!)

2. Azula has no choice really but to travel with the Gaang and, of course, Mai and Ty Lee come along for the ride. For a while, Azula and Katara are constantly in each other’s bodies because Azula needs water and Katara is constantly fighting firebenders. One day, Azula and Katara manage to make it the 24 hours and return to their own bodies. (Azula: How I’ve missed bending a proper element! Katara: I’d waterbend at you but I want to be in my body for a few minutes. Azula: If I were you I’d be clawing to get out of that body and into this one. Katara: If that’s what you want… Azula: No!) That night, the two get to talking and Katara realizes that Azula actually doesn’t know how to do hair which is why Katara’s hair was never done. Katara shows Azula how to do it, making sure to not use her bending, and tells Azula that when they swap, Azula can try practicing on her own head. Later that night, Azula notices Katara shivering because she’s away from the fire and sleeps next to her (Katara: Warm. Azula: Don’t get used to it. I’m only doing this to make sure you don’t freeze to death and- Katara: Shhhhhhh. Warm blanket. Azula: Yeah. I’m the warm blanket.)

3. While the two do grow slightly more civil, there’s still a lot of fighting and when that fighting happens the two get creative with how to handle it. Katara decided to give Azula’s body a Water Tribe tattoo on her back. Azula decided to cut off Katara’s hair loopies. Katara times it perfectly when they’ll switch back and gets Azula a date with a local guy in the village. Azula throws herself into the mud (not fun for her but watching Katara try and drag her out and yell about getting mud on her hair makes it all worth it). When they meet Zuko, Katara starts saying Zuko is the better firebender, the one deserving of the throne, the better sibling, etc and Ty Lee and Mai have to hold Azula back. (Azula: I’ll kill you! Katara: You’d be killing your own body. Azula: I don’t care! You would be dead! Katara: Very harsh words considering you were so nice to your brother two seconds ago. What did you call him? The superior bender? Maybe we should talk the spirit into letting you two swap bodies next. I- Azula: I’M GONNA KILL YOU! *Mai and Ty Lee hold her back*) As revenge against that, Azula decides to flirt with literally every guy in town in the most obvious and embarrassing way possible (Azula decides not to tell anyone that one or two of the lines she used she thought were good pick up lines).

4. Over the next few months, Katara and Azula actually get good at swapping when they need to and staying in their own bodies when need be. That’s not to say there isn’t the occasional…prank (Toph pouring water on Azula, Mai lighting a torch next to Katara and Aang accidentally launching Azula into the ocean) but all in all they start to get a handle on things. The problem comes in when they’re in Ba Sing Se. Azula gets kidnapped by Long Feng and Katara switches their bodies on purpose. (Aang: Katara! Stop! What are you doing? Katara: If I switch with Azula then you guys can find her because she’ll know where her body is. Sokka: Yeah, but you’ll be down there….with Long Feng. Katara: I know, but Azula needs our help). Safe to say that after that, Katara and Azula’s relationship turns from something of a friendship to the two of them having massive crushes on the other. This is very weird when you’re swapping bodies with your crush and technically have a crush on yourself. (Mai once saw Azula practicing pick up lines in front of a mirror while in Katara’s body and Aang saw Katara admiring Azula’s arms while in Azula’s body) (Mai: This madness has to stop. Aang: Agreed).

5. The journey in the Fire Nation is still weird because Azula and Katara are still dancing around their feelings for one another. At the beach and in some villages, Katara gets hit on a lot in Azula’s body. It’s a weird split between being kind of flattered but also pissed because Katara doesn’t want some random guys hitting on Azula. During the party, the two manage to get their own bodies for the night. (Katara: Ready for a night of fun in our own bodies. Azula: I can’t go near any liquid here but other than that, it’ll be a blast. Katara: Sorry. I didn’t choose to be a waterbender. Azula: It’s okay. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something and it’s probably best to do it in my own body. Katara: Hmmm? Azula: I…I want us to, well- Chan: Azula! Over here! Katara: Ah, your boyfriend is calling. Talk later, Zula. Azula: Yeah. Later.) Less than an hour later, Chan gets Azula a drink and the two swap bodies. Katara, now in Azula’s body, has to finish Azula’s date for her which is very weird to Chan because he started the date with Azula talking about world domination and how sharp his outfit was and ended the date with Katara being pretty calm and easy to talk to. (Katara: Guess we’re stuck like this for another 24 hours. I’m sorry your date got messed up. I wish- Azula: I LIKE YOU! *Katara looking at the party which stopped to look at them for a second* Katara, grabbing Azula’s hand and walking away: Maybe we do this talk in private. Azula: I wanted to wait until we were in our own bodies but I can’t and I know it’s weird because in a way I’m saying this to myself but I like you. Katara: Azula- Azula: I know I’m Fire Nation and we’re not even if the right bodies but I- Katara: Azula! I like you too! Azula: Oh. Katara: Oh?? Azula: I can’t help it! My own body and voice just told me it likes me. This is why I wanted to wait until we were in our own bodies!) Maybe it’s not that surprising to the Gaang that Azutara officially stops swapping bodies when the two kiss for the first time (which, once again, feels very weird not only to be kissing themselves but to then open their eyes and be kissing the other person)