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overlooked aspect of demon king rin from the flash forward to the (bad/possible) future in the blue exorcist manga is just. underneath the cool jacket he's in his fucking pajamas again. he's barefoot and everything. terrifying demon king but he just rolled out of bed.

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ooooh really interesting to think about #regular volleyball is an earth kingdom sport!! do you think earth bending would be incorporated into the rules at all? or would it be a no-bending-allowed-while-playing situation? maybe bending only being allowed for certain positions? …now I’m imagining a version of regular volleyball in a modern AU with different benders in different positions kinda like a mix between pro-bending and volleyball, other sports+pro-bending definitely could be fun lol

I know we see a version of soccer that involves earthbending, so there's definitely sports that actively involve bending. I love the idea of sports in the ATLA world developing both bending and nonbending versions (and the eternal bickering about which came first, lmao).

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the thing they don't tell you about writing while autistic is that it will be a constant uphill battle against your urge to overexplain. sometimes you have to give into it while you're doing your first draft but you gotta cut that shit down when you're doing revisions. fight the urge to keep it, 9 times out of 10 it's making your writing worse.

but sometimes you overcorrect and you end up underexplaining. hell world.

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i love when characters lie to themselves in the complete privacy of their own minds

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slaps every time

best trope and you can fight me over it (i abuse this so hard with my ocs)

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sometimes a theme recurs in your work without your permission. and sometimes it reaches a threshold where you're like. well now i think this is saying something about me against my will. don't know what though

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Consider: blue spirit zuko au but he's possessed by the blue spirit...

Zuko: i need to capture the avatar 😡

Blue spirit chillin in his head: be gay do crimes 🥰

he doesn't find the mask, the mask finds him.

at first blush, zuko seems like an odd choice for its vessel. but the blue spirit senses what the prince could be, if he would just open his eyes to it. lucky for it, it can quite literally force prince zuko to see through its eyes! as far as its concerned, their relationship is a symbiotic one. as far as zuko's concerned, he's become the unwilling host to a spirit that works against fire nation interests.

as far as iroh's concerned. well. he's just concerned. in general. his nephew has been possessed by a spirit and iroh cannot entirely tell what it is that it wants from him- and it seems to think nothing of putting zuko in harm's way. at first he believes that it can only control his nephew when he is wearing the blue spirit mask, and attempts to quietly dispose of it...

...which doesn't work, of course. it finds its way back.

and it turns out the spirit doesn't need the mask to possess his nephew. it's just its preference. he buys zuko wards and charms that should protect him, but the blue spirit simply removes them the first chance it gets and tosses them overboard.

(it never minds iroh's interference. it's an amusing game he's playing with his vessel's uncle, as far as its concerned.)

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Silly drawing bc i finished watching atla again 🕺🕺

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I’m sick of seeing people complain about the many-eyed spider of the hills. “wah it’s a giant spider that’s so scary” grow up! nature does not exist to be appealing to you personally! she’s an essential part of the ecosystem AND an extremely endangered species. “oh she eats unwary travelers” I hate to break it to you but all wild places eat unwary travelers, often more literally than we really like to think about. the price we pay for HAVING wild places is wariness. she never leaves the hills, she’s fully nocturnal, and if you go into HER HOME then the least you can do is read the safety guidelines on the parks & rec website before you go camping there.

in conclusion the many-eyed spider of the hills is cooler than you, hotter than you, and better at minding her own business than you. leave her alone!!

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the phrase "moon's haunted" rewired my brain the moment it entered my vocabulary never in my life have i encountered a phrase more infectious or fun to use

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there is no escape for lieutenant Jee

he's home (again).

it's different this time. this time it's not in the midst of an invasion- his father and sister have fallen. the war is over. his uncle's coronation is this afternoon. it's hasty and rushed, but the sooner he can get on the throne, the sooner the end to the war can be a formal one. he's not stupid enough to believe everyone in the fire nation will fall in line, but...

...it's a step in the right direction.

"nephew."

kou glances over his shoulder at his uncle. azula had banished all the palace tailors, so they'd had to find some from the caldera and fast, but they seem to have done a pretty good job at resizing the fire lord's robes to fit his uncle. the old man smiles at him and asks if he can sit next to him. he's not going to turn him down.

"still fond of the turtleduck pond, i see."

"yeah," kou admits, "-i missed the little guys."

he had- and it's not just the turtleducks, or even the garden he spent so much time with his mom in. despite all of the bad memories, part of him had always missed this place. it hadn't been all bad- he'd had his mom. his uncle and lu ten... and then it had just been his uncle.

he idly ribbons water around his fingers. he keeps expecting someone will emerge from the woodwork and stop him, but no one does. he's not even sure if the few servants and courtiers that lasted through azula's purge even recognize him as prince zuko. he certainly doesn't feel like him anymore.

...that's probably also why he's been avoiding said servants since this morning. he knows uncle wants him to attend the coronation in the formal wear of a prince, to formally announce that prince zuko is alive to the fire nation- and the rest of the world. he knows uncle wants him to be his heir. he just... doesn't know if he wants that.

he just wants to let prince zuko rest.

"you know," his uncle says, "-it would be nice to have you by my side, nephew."

kou hums. he doesn't look at him.

his uncle sighs and pats his head. he tells him that would be nice... but he can understand it if that is not what he wants. you have set yourself on your own path in life, nephew. though it is not one i always agree with, it is very much your own. it is not his place to dissuade you. but if i may make a suggestion...

...he does not think many in the fire navy will lay down their arms so easily. some may decide to become pirates themselves. it would be quite useful if he had someone he could trust leading the charge against them. someone who was already quite familiar with the trade of a pirate.

kou looks up with a sly grin. uncle. you want to make me into a privateer?

iroh's smile is an equally sly one.

alright. you've talked him into it. he already thinks he knows a few good people who might be interested in serving on his crew...

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accidentally read it as “he’s particularly good at taking a *cow*-shape” and immediately envisioned cow!form Keith and Kaltenecker just. chilling, eating grass. hanging out. doing cow stuff.

hi hope you are doing well

i know you're doing atla rn/if someone has already asked pls feel free to ignore this

i was rereading your demon keith au and i saw you've mentioned that he can "change his shape" but not look like other people, so can he just shapeshift into other animals?

you can always ask me stuff about other AUs, even if i'm not currently talking about them!

to answer your question: yes! he can shapeshift into other animals, though they have to be forms he's pretty familiar with, or it won't work. he's particularly good at taking a crow-shape, but he can take on cat and dog forms too.

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the inherent humor of being your own grandparent. the inherent humor of being your friends’ grandparent. the inherent humor of being an acquaintance of yours’ grandparent. it never ends. it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

thinking about. the earth avatar before zuko. the avatar that never was the avatar. his name is kazuki. he was born in ba sing se. he doesn't really remember his parents. he grew up in an shitty orphanage in the lower ring. no one ever realized that he was the avatar, because people had long since stopped looking for the avatar.

he was a scrappy kid who was a thorn in the side of the local guardsmen who grew up into a scrappy teen who was a thorn in the side of the local guardsmen. he learned he was an earthbender early on, and used it to his advantage. there was never enough food on the table, so he stole what he needed- for both him and his little sister.

(she's not his real little sister, not by blood. he found her in a trash bin somewhere. it happens sometimes in ba sing se. the walls should give them safety, but they just end up making everyone feel trapped.

he names her sora, for the open sky.)

he gets kicked out of the orphanage at fourteen. he takes sora with him. he makes a place for them to stay in the attic of an abandoned house, and steals what they need. he continues to be a thorn in the sides of the local guards. the dai li really don't care about one scrappy little earthbending orphan.

here's where kazuki fucks up.

he's sixteen. he actually fuck up before this, because he gets cornered and handcuffed by the guards. they know him well at this point. they're just going to toss him in a cell overnight and let him go the next morning. kazuki knows this too. he doesn't want to leave sora alone overnight. she's only seven.

kazuki does not know he's the avatar.

kazuki breathes fire anyways.

the guards know kazuki. they know he's an earthbender. there's literally only one reason the kid would be able to firebend. someone makes the terrible mistake of telling the dai li. kazuki is taken by one of their agents in the night, and dragged to lake laogai. the war is raging outside the walls, and long feng's predecessor has just been handed the avatar.

kazuki's heard the rumors about the dai li. he knows what they're going to do to him. he tries to escape, but here's where he fucks up again. long feng's predecessor has done his research. he mentions sora's name. promises him with a smile that if he's a good boy, they'll take good care of his dear sister.

the writing is on the wall.

sora's the only thing he has going for him. he won't let them hurt her. he won't let them use her. but they're only interested in sora because of him. and they'll be interested in him for the rest of his life, because he's the fucking avatar apparently. lot of good if does him. the avatar state doesn't seem to be interested in coming to rescue him.

kazuki escapes. one more time. he doesn't get far. he just wanted to get his hands free. long feng's predecessor realizes what he's about to do, and tells him to reconsider. the next avatar will be fire nation. don't you know what that means?

kazuki looks the man in the eyes, tells him tough shit, and goes out in a way of his own choosing.

(sora will be taken in by a guardsman, but she'll never forget her brother. she'll always remember him. she knows the dai li took him. she knows the dai li have taken so many others. she gets older. she rebels.

the dai li takes care of her in the same way they take care of all rebellious young women.)

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just got chills from how awful the dai li are! thanks!

thinking about. the earth avatar before zuko. the avatar that never was the avatar. his name is kazuki. he was born in ba sing se. he doesn't really remember his parents. he grew up in an shitty orphanage in the lower ring. no one ever realized that he was the avatar, because people had long since stopped looking for the avatar.

he was a scrappy kid who was a thorn in the side of the local guardsmen who grew up into a scrappy teen who was a thorn in the side of the local guardsmen. he learned he was an earthbender early on, and used it to his advantage. there was never enough food on the table, so he stole what he needed- for both him and his little sister.

(she's not his real little sister, not by blood. he found her in a trash bin somewhere. it happens sometimes in ba sing se. the walls should give them safety, but they just end up making everyone feel trapped.

he names her sora, for the open sky.)

he gets kicked out of the orphanage at fourteen. he takes sora with him. he makes a place for them to stay in the attic of an abandoned house, and steals what they need. he continues to be a thorn in the sides of the local guards. the dai li really don't care about one scrappy little earthbending orphan.

here's where kazuki fucks up.

he's sixteen. he actually fuck up before this, because he gets cornered and handcuffed by the guards. they know him well at this point. they're just going to toss him in a cell overnight and let him go the next morning. kazuki knows this too. he doesn't want to leave sora alone overnight. she's only seven.

kazuki does not know he's the avatar.

kazuki breathes fire anyways.

the guards know kazuki. they know he's an earthbender. there's literally only one reason the kid would be able to firebend. someone makes the terrible mistake of telling the dai li. kazuki is taken by one of their agents in the night, and dragged to lake laogai. the war is raging outside the walls, and long feng's predecessor has just been handed the avatar.

kazuki's heard the rumors about the dai li. he knows what they're going to do to him. he tries to escape, but here's where he fucks up again. long feng's predecessor has done his research. he mentions sora's name. promises him with a smile that if he's a good boy, they'll take good care of his dear sister.

the writing is on the wall.

sora's the only thing he has going for him. he won't let them hurt her. he won't let them use her. but they're only interested in sora because of him. and they'll be interested in him for the rest of his life, because he's the fucking avatar apparently. lot of good if does him. the avatar state doesn't seem to be interested in coming to rescue him.

kazuki escapes. one more time. he doesn't get far. he just wanted to get his hands free. long feng's predecessor realizes what he's about to do, and tells him to reconsider. the next avatar will be fire nation. don't you know what that means?

kazuki looks the man in the eyes, tells him tough shit, and goes out in a way of his own choosing.

(sora will be taken in by a guardsman, but she'll never forget her brother. she'll always remember him. she knows the dai li took him. she knows the dai li have taken so many others. she gets older. she rebels.

the dai li takes care of her in the same way they take care of all rebellious young women.)

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can't add it now, but consider: lan-wei was so good at brainwashing zuko because this is actually his second time brainwashing a fire nation prince. or: lee has a favorite regular. it's a guardsman named min-su who always comes in during his break. he's a refugee who moved here a little after the dragon of the west's failed siege.

it's funny. they get along like they've known each other all their lives.

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lives rent-free in my head. I am Obsessed with this take on werewolf!Zuko. it simply feels like the Most Correct interpretation to me. and it’s fucking hilarious. 10000000/10

thinking about zuko's first transformation in the traditional werewolf au because like. okay. it's this big dramatic moment. iroh has been dreading its approach for days, knowing what he knows about the exact curse that his nephew has found himself with. he's genuinely afraid that he will lose him, so the least he can do is minimize the damage zuko can do.

he has the helmsman take their ship out to deep waters, and has the crew board their steamship and put considerable distance between them. zuko enters the brig, the sturdiest place on the ship and is locked in. iroh watches as the full moon rises over the horizon and braces himself for the worst. he hears the howl of a wolf tear through the air-

-and then... it's quiet?

iroh frowns. he presses his ear against the brig door. he can sort of hear zuko moving around in there. he peeks through the hole in the door, and can just barely make out his nephew, his body twisted into wolf-shape. he's just... investigating the brig? his ears twitch and he looks up in iroh's direction.

...is he wagging his tail?

cautiously, iroh opens the door and finds that zuko... seems fine, actually. maybe a little cranky. iroh is very confused. the legends speak of a violent anger that comes upon the werewolf in their first transformation, driving them to madness. but all zuko is doing is investigating the ship with his new senses.

the night passes, and his nephew becomes human again. he's tired and hungry, with a bit of a headache. but he seems... completely fine. iroh asks him about it and zuko frowns. yeah. he guesses he felt a little angrier than usual, but...

iroh pinches the bridge of his nose. of course. his nephew is always angry. he has been angry since the agni kai. anger is his new constant. iroh has been troubled by this very turn in his nephew, but of all things, for that anger to wind up protecting him?

...well. he's just glad zuko is alright.

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honestly. can’t think of anything more fitting than Zuko just. straight up forgetting Zhao. there is nothing Zhao would hate worse. this is a beautiful case of poetic justice. *chef’s kiss*

iroh was across the threshold of the room in a flash, dragging him into a tight embrace. in any other situation, zuko probably would have complained about the lack of air, but instead he just buried his head into the crook of his uncle's neck.

"uncle," he says, "-i'm so sorry."

"i am the one who should apologize, zuko," iroh says, "-for not being able to protect you."

for a long time, they don't say anything. zuko is keenly aware that they're being watched by the avatar and his friends. seeing uncle again feels a lot like coming home, even though zuko's... unsure where home is now. he'd gotten so used to living in ba sing se.

he can't stay here, though.

everyone in this city knows his face- and knows that face belongs to lee. but zuko isn't lee anymore. he can't pretend to be him. he'd made this choice as lee, knowing that he'd have to give up the life he'd built for himself here. now that he was zuko again, he didn't think he could stomach putting on earth kingdom green and living a life of serving tea.

uncle finally pulls away from him, patting his shoulders. he tells him that he is going to make the tea this time, and that's final. zuko laughs, and lets him. it's weird. he kind of thought he would hate tea after... everything, but it's become a comfort to him. maybe it's just a trace of lee that he's never going to get rid of.

aang and his friends wisely choose to excuse themselves, to give them a bit of privacy. iroh watches them go, and tells zuko that he's proud of him for putting that past of his behind him. zuko just huffs. he congratulates his uncle on becoming fire lord.

they sit and drink tea together. iroh catches zuko up to speed on what has happened in the fire nation in his absence. zuko... hesitantly tells him a few things about his life as lee, since it's all he really has to talk about. uncle leans over the table with a leering grin when he makes the terrible mistake of bringing up jin, asking what his plans are.

"...i have no idea," zuko admits, "-i think i might actually need to see her again first. i don't know if i even still like her. i don't know if she'll even still like me."

uncle tells him that he can take as much time as he likes. he must still have lingering attachments to this city. there is no judgment in his tone. and... he's right. zuko doesn't think he'll ever be able to bring himself to put on earth kingdom green again, but he's grown fond of ba sing se. it's weird. he feels like he should hate it.

it had been his prison.

he just hadn't known it.

the next day, zuko decides to bite the bullet and go see ba sing se with his own eyes. he'd seen it before- but his time as lee had changed him. he stays in fire nation red, but he ties a wound cover around his scar to hide what it actually looks like. he can't see lee in the mirror anymore, but he knows other people likely will.

besides. it's not like he can see out of the damn eye anyways.

walking the familiar streets of the middle ring as himself is a strange experience. he knows so many of these people. for some of them he can even rattle off their usual order. some of them were even his friends. they give him an odd look as he passes, but zuko pointedly does not look at them. if he pretends he doesn't know them, it'll probably be fine.

"lee?"

two years of responding to that name has zuko turning his head before he can stop himself. thankfully, the person who called out to him is just jin.

...oh. it's jin.

...well. fuck. guess he's making this decision now.