#SOKKA WITH STUFFIES

[demaparbat-hp]

Hiya!! 👋🏼😄 How's it going? Your fashion taste for Zuko in a Modern AU seems to be artsy, or maybe "formal" is the word. That shirt he wore when he gave Sokka romantic song advice looked Versace🧐. Anyway, I was wondering how you came up with it, he always struck me more as the type that didn´t care much about fashion, so I'm curious about other´s opinions and heacanons about it. And do you have any other fashion headcanons for the rest of the GAang? Also, their music tastes. How did you come up with them? Especially Katara's! 😍

Hello! As it happens, I have a lot of Thoughts and Feelings™ about this, so I'm leaving these over here, and the rest of my ramblings down below the cut!

Let us begin with the Gaang, shall we?

SUKI always struck me as that Pretty Girl from the Gym. She is so incredibly fit it isn't even funny. She could kick anyone's ass, and we'd all thank her. She has this casual gym style that somehow always looks glorious on her, as it should! Comfy yet fashionable clothes for a nice workout or a day in town.

Her music tastes are basically any and all power songs from the eighties and nineties. (Eye of the Tiger, anyone?) She also enjoys metal via Toph, and bands like BSB, NSYNC, or Boyz II Men with Katara. My girl has a very eclectic Playlist and we all love her for it.

SOKKA is That Guy™. Loose T-shirts and shorts everywhere he goes, no matter the weather. He's stupidly into fashion but it doesn't show! At all! And everyone teases him about it. His closet is about 90% Cactus Juice merchandise, hence the "it's the quenchiest!" shirt.

His fashion and music tastes are pretty much the same. He loves poetry but isn't really into lyrics. He'll misinterpret just about anything you place in front of him. His Playlist is mostly vibes and tiktok songs he kind of enjoys. He isn't really into music...at least not as much as his sister.

AANG owns exactly one hoodie, one pair of shorts, and one beanie (THE beanie). Oh, and the crocs—don't forget the crocs. Somehow, he's always wearing the exact same outfit. Every. Single. Day. Ancient Gaang lore suggests that the day Aang goes out without his beanie, it's the end of the world.

His Playlist is the poppiest, most bizarre thing ever. Every single song is Happy by Pharrell Williams levels of happy. Yet sometimes, among the bouncy dance-to songs, you'll find the strangest of things... (He does know what Good Day by Twenty One Pilots is about. That's the reason he likes it so much, actually. And it's so weird.)

KATARA is all about sundresses and loose pants. The epitome of comfortable loveliness. Light fabrics in blue shades, careful embroidery, delicate shoes, and little to no accessories—hers is a simple, yet quite adorable, style. She just needs to add more colors to her usual palette...

She is, first and foremost, a Florence + The Machine girl. It's the Dark Goddess of the Sea vibes, to be honest. Florence Welch is her idol and yes, she will fight you about lyrics interpretation, and win. It may not seem like it, but her music tastes are also very varied.

She draws a little from each member of the Gaang, so you'll hear her humming along to Gorillaz (where did you even find out about them, Aang?), The Weeknd (I...don't think this song means what you think it means, Sokka...), and Hozier (Zuko why did you dedicate Talk to me, Zuko WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT).

TOPH...ah, lovely girl. I'll summarise everything about Toph’s fashion sense in two words: comfort and rebellion. Stuffy dresses forced on her by billionaire parents? No thank you! Give her tank tops with loose shirts and short pants. Bandaids shared with Aang, bracelets from Katara, and even piercings she got in tandem with Sokka. Shoes? What even is that?

Something I love about this fandom is our collective agreement that Toph is into the dirtiest, heaviest, most ear-splitting and soul-crushing death metal of all times. Her Playlist is full of the most obscure names to ever exist, and she can and will blast through your walls with the sheer volume of her speaker.

Zuko. ZUKO.

Even in a modern AU my boy must suffer. That being said, I envision Tales from the Couch as—well, exactly what it is: an ATLA modern AU. While there is not a war to fight, and a lot of plot lines are discarded or expanded upon, much about the core story remains the same.

This is my way of saying that Zuko still goes trough his redemption arc, and it reflects on his fashion choices.

The way you described it works perfectly because of one single reason: in this AU, Zuko is an artist. He had to suppress his love for writing and drawing because of his background and the expectations Ozai had for him (taking over the family company), and a very large part of his redemption arc directly affects his relationship with art.

In the Couch equivalent of S1, Zuko has fallen out of Ozai's graces, and is desperate to protect his place in the company and the Kasai household. He's pretending to be someone he isn't and trying to live up to his Father's image of a perfect heir while still being somewhat cut-off financially, and it shows.

He's all about imposing long coats and a semi-formal style, imitating what he knows Azula and Father would respect. He's striking and sharp and dark. But no matter how he dresses or carries himself (that air of cold superiority and arrogance)—it won't help him when he needs it the most.

In S2, Zuko has hit his lowest point. He's officially disinherited and tossed away by his father, and would be out in the streets if it wasn't for Uncle Iroh. He goes from sharp, high-tailored outfits to old second-hand clothes that hang loosely on his frame. He starts smoking and cuts his hair off, forgoing the undercut for the first time in years.

But then...Father accepts him back. When Zuko returns home, it's with respect to his name and a very high position in his father's company. He's finally the perfect Kasai heir, dressed in overly expensive suits and finery, even at home... But Father forbids him from wearing Lu Ten's earring, and Zuko can no longer recognize himself without the familiar glint of gold dancing on his peripheral vision.

When Zuko leaves the Kasai name behind him and goes back to living with Uncle Iroh...he's finally at peace with who he is, and what he wants in this life. The sharp edges aren't gone (they'll always be a part of him, after all), but now they're dulled by looser clothes and softer hairstyles.

He's an artist, and for once in his life, he is determined to pursue his own ambitions. Zuko's outfits may not be designer-made anymore, but he takes what he has and makes himself look like he wants to look, like the person he wants to be.

He doesn't read fashion magazines or keeps up to the latest trends like Azula does. He's just...Zuko. And his newfound confidence makes everything he wears look like it belongs on him.

As for music...well, Ursa raised a literature boy.

He loves lyric-heavy music and natural voices, be they soothing or powerful. Dissecting song meanings and possible interpretations with Katara is one of his favorite parts of the day. They're both very passionate and strong-minded individuals, so it stands to reason that their debates can get quite...heated.

Zuko's Playlist is both incredibly eclectic and somehow very...him. There's a common thread that binds together every song and artist he likes, and he's hilariously unaware of this. To take a look into his Playlist is a higher honor reserved only for those closest to him.

In the wide spectrum of things, it is no wonder that Zuko is, first and foremost, a Hozier man. But though Andrew is his God in all aspects of this life, there's someone else that has had a huge impact on him...

Two someones, actually.

Zuko refuses to tell anyone how he got into Twenty One Pilots, but it's kind of a moot point when the beginning of his obsession is nothing compared to everything that came after. They have just about the right amount of everything that makes Zuko...well, Zuko. The poetic lyrics, the soothing or raging music, the heavy, intensely resonant themes...

Up there, in the second artwork, I placed an album cover behind each period of Zuko's life. The election of these records is intentional, as I feel like their general themes work incredibly well with Zuko's arc and growth.

Blurryface in S1. For the demons within us. For giving a name to our fears and shame.

Trench in S2. For escaping the confined walls of a depression city, and fighting to understand the depths of the map of your mind.

Scaled and Icy in the first half of S3. For returning to places you had left behind. For convincing yourself and everyone around you that you're fine, that you're perfect, even though everything is crumbling inside...

Clancy in S3. For recognizing that you can backslide, that you can have fears and shame and pain—but you're shaping yourself with each step you take. For knowing that seeking help from others is okay. Nobody learns to walk on their own.

(And, in the end, you'll always be better than the person you were yesterday. If only because you're still here. You're still alive. You're still yourself.)

.

Overall, I rambled a bit too much, don't you think?

If you made it all the way down here—thank you so much for reaching out and being interested in this crazy AU! I hope you enjoy these ideas and tell me some of your own ❤️

[maeve-on-mustafar]

I need a Zukka arranged marriage AU where Sokka is grumpy about his impending arranged marriage and even more annoyed when the Fire Nation sends over a whole bunch of scrolls on proper courting practices and etiquette, because fuck if he’s reading all of that.

But then Zuko arrives and Sokka has an, “Oh, no, he’s hot,” moment. And even though he tries to remain aloof and act like he’s totally not into Zuko, he’s kind of intrigued by Zuko and also feels kind of protective of Zuko when Zuko doesn’t know basic information that even the youngest kid in the Water Tribe is aware is essential for survival. And like, Zuko seeks him out at meals to sit by him but also tries to give him space, and even if he is a bit stuffy and addicted to rules and etiquette. But he’s polite to Gran-Gran and to Sokka’s dad, and even tries to be nice to Katara, who’s even more skeptical of this arranged marriage than Sokka himself.

And like, one thing that’s really weird is that Zuko keeps giving Sokka gifts? Like, he gives Sokka spices from the Fire Nation, he gives Sokka a sword when he learns Sokka is interested in learning how to fight with one, etc. And he thinks this is nice and all, but he never really knows of anything to give Zuko in return. But hey, maybe the constant gifts are a weird Fire Nation way of showing affection?

But soon Zuko starts acting weird and distant, and Sokka can tell he’s stressed and he looks super tired and upset, and Sokka can’t get him to talk to him no matter what he tries. And Sokka is suddenly very worried for this other boy who he wouldn’t have cared about a few weeks ago but who seems so sad now.

So finally—FINALLY—Lt. Jee, who’s been watching this all go down with an unimpressed scowl on his face, basically tells Sokka that all those gifts from Zuko? Yeah, those are courting gifts, and by accepting them, Sokka showed that he’s considering Zuko as a suitor. But since he never reciprocated and gave Zuko anything return, the marriage can’t go through. And if Sokka doesn’t accept, Zuko will have to return to the Fire Nation in disgrace and Ozai would consider him a complete failure. And BTW, if Sokka had just READ THE SCROLLS that the Fire Nation sent over, Sokka would know this. (Lt. Jee is so done with this dude who thinks he can play games with his beloved Fire Prince’s heart. Not while Jee’s around.)

So IDK how this ends, but Sokka should be at least optimistic about his future with Zuko, and Zuko should be shyly pleased that his intended appreciated his efforts all along, yay. And also, Hakoda should find out about what a scummy dad Ozai is and adopt Zuko. Jee is happy his boy gets to be happy. Please reblog if you have other ideas/anything to add!

[calderacitylovers]

Zutara SlowBurn FanFiction: Personal Favs, part II

·        DESTINY IS A FUNNY THING by Megara Pike | Published: 2020-08-21 | 198K Words | 45 Chapters

ATLA Season 3 rewrite, fills in a lot of blanks between canon scenes. From the Southern Raiders to Sozin's Comet through coronation and aftermath. Growing friendships, bonding, being there for each other, a carnival & a cave, epic spirits' appearance on the Ember island, sparring, nightmares, assassination attempts, political ruses, and covert operations. Lovely, sweet. Exciting plot.

 ·        ATLA Book 4: Ashes by elayne_cypher | Published: 2018-10-27 | 306K words | 34 Chapters

This action-packed story picks up right after Ember Island Players and continues well after the war. Zuko is facing many challenges as a new Fire Lord. Romance, tough decisions, rebels, traitors, out-of-body experiences, secret headquarters, angst, teamwork, fire jets. The story has a bunch of OCs.

 ·        Refraction by caroes3725  | Published: 2020-09-09 | 215K Words | 37 Chapters

After breaking up with Aang, Katara needs to figure out her place and role in the patriarchal world. As determined Katara stubbornly bulldozes her way through Fire Nation political scene, her feelings for Zuko grow. Diplomatic visits, Gaang reunion, bonding with Kanna, insights into the life of Caldera city, stuffy politicians, cute correspondence, tropical storm, women supporting women, assassination attempts, personal boundaries. A sweet well-written coming-of-age story with a healthy measure of slow-burn and mutual pining. Katara and Zuko are both POVs, but the story mostly follows Katara. Bonus: Mai is NOT a clingy resentful idiot, but a smart person and a good friend. Some explicit language here and there, a bit of mild smut.

 ·        I Asked You First by halfhoursonearth | Published: 2020-10-03 | 142K words | 22/? Chapters

Ongoing, incomplete. Post Southern Raiders ATLAS3 rewrite. Mostly canon-compliant with blanks filled in between familiar scenes. Zuko and Katara develop a close friendship built on trust and sharing each other’s fears and hopes. Includes mentions of implied child abuse, Lu Ten’s diaries, exploring Avatar Roku’s legacy, sharing a balcony, heart-to-hearts, a hot spring under the stars, an actual date, and artbending. It’s incomplete, but what we have is bliss. Slowburn, mutual pining. Zutara-centric, but also explores the personalities of Team Avatar and their relationships.

 ·        Katara Alone by cablesscutie | Published: 2020-05-31 | 21K words

Katara is not an “unnecessary accessory to a more powerful man”. After the war, she is willing to forge her own path as she turns to people who need her the most on her journey of self-discovery. Features character exploration, correspondence, exploring outback villages of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom, sweet reunions, and new firebending skills.

 ·        THE PHOENIX AND THE DRAGON - THE COMPLETE SERIES by JasmineTeaLatte | Published: 2021-06-11 | 100K words | 31 Chapters

This story picks up after The Ember Island Players. Zuko and Katara get to know each other during a late-night conversation by the campfire. In this story, you will find healthy boundaries, protective Sokka, a dash of Taang, sparring, funny banter & lots of flirting.

·        HESITATE by tiffaniesblews | Published: 2020-07-11 | 22K Words | 12 Chapters

This story picks up right after Zuko's coronation and spans two years afterwards. Zuko & Katara talk, share a few beautiful moments, write to each other, and reunite for the 2nd anniversary of the war ending. Very sweet, fluffy story about two sweethearts figuring out their feelings for each other.

·        LIKE WE'RE MADE OF STARLIGHT by Naladot | Published: 2021-11-28 | 5K Words

Katara leaves her post as the ambassador to the Fire Nation to take up a new one as the ambassador to the Northern Water Tribe. Her absence makes Zuko realize that he's got an unfortunate crush, which he is determined to keep secret. Unfortunately for him, subtly has never been one of his strengths—especially when he arrives in the Northern Water Tribe and she keeps taking him on what seem to be dates.

·        FIGURE IT OUT by clearascountryair | Published: 2021-12-20 | 35K words | 13 Chapters

After choosing not to kill Yon Rha, Katara rethinks her sense of self and others' perceptions of her. Or,    In which Katara learns that there’s a really big difference between being kissed when you don’t want to be and being kissed when you do. Aged-up 3B/Ember Island AU.

-  I FOUND YOU by that_turtleduck | Published: 2020-11-01 Completed: 2024-02-24 Words: 157,541 Chapters: 28/28

After divorcing Aang, Katara uproots her family and travels to Caldera. There she finds comfort, kindness and support from an old friend. Katara tries to find her footing as an independent political figure. Great story & relationship dynamic of Momtara & Dadko in their early 30s (Ember island, diplomatic meeting, dancing, turtleduck pond, letters). Delicious slow burn with rewarding spicy resolution in the end (explicit open door). Titters on the side of Anti-Aang.

Here’s a link to Part I of my personal favorites.

Here’s a link to Wholesome Zutara Short Stories.

[earth-and-fire-just-make-lava]

A loud crash can be heard from the kitchen as a young woman and a polar bear dog appeared out of nowhere and crashed into the wall, knocking pots and pans to the floor.

@ask-avatar-korra

Zuko doesn't let the guards in before him. His stuffy fire lord robes won't stop him from protecting his people from possible threats regardless of old rules. "Who are you? How did you get in here?" He asks, noticing her southern water tribe clothes. "Katara and Sokka didn't tell me anyone from their tribe was coming to the fire nation, and even if they had, that wouldn't excuse you getting in my kitchen without anyone noticing sooner"

[nobodyfamousposts]

>Littlebug: (Eyes glowing)

Littlebug's gone into the Stuffy-tar state

Ooo...Stuffy-tar or Plushie-tar?

Regardless...

Littlebug: (Glowing and floating)

Aang: No wait!

Littlebug: (Flies off and crashes into the Firelord's Palace)

(Screams can be hears inside the palace.)

Aang: Oh no! We need to stop her and calm her down!

Sokka: ….do we? Do we really?

(The Firelord crown falls a few feet away from them)

Sokka: Welp, that's one way to end the war.

[goldenavenger02]

you'll be alright (no one can hurt you now)

For @badthingshappenbingo Prompt: Hiding An Injury

Hakoda wasn't going to bring it up to any of the teens, but he had a sinking feeling that the week would not be as fun-filled as Aang was hoping.

If Hakoda was being honest with himself, he wasn't completely sure when he started seeing the former prince, now Fire Lord, not as an adversary but as one of the kids.

It would make sense if it had started after he accompanied his own son to save him, as well as Suki, from the Boiling Rock; Hakoda, who had to fight the urge to reprimand the then sixteen year old for putting himself in danger after finding out about the cooler.

But to him, he was more confident that it had been around the time of the coronation; when he saw just how broken Sokka's leg was and heard the tale of how the young Fire Lord had nearly died in order to save Katara's life.

Hakoda knew that he could not stay in the Fire Nation forever, nor did he want to when he finally had the chance to be with his children after the long, miserable years without them.

But he would have been lying if he had said that the reason he had postponed his return to the South Pole wasn't so he could be confident that the teenager wouldn't reinjure himself within a few days of that crown being nestled into his hair.

He should have known that he would be promoted to Head Chieftain upon his return to Wolf Cove, which ended up taking away more time from Katara and Sokka then he would have liked; it didn't make him feel any less guilty that they were simultaneously being pulled across the nations and into more danger then he ever wanted them in again despite the war being over, all with Aang by their side.

Hakoda liked Aang, it was hard not to get along with someone so happy, kind and understanding as the Avatar himself who also made time to play with the other kids in between all of the stuffy meetings that the teenager was subjected to, but he just wished that he would stay put.

And so, maybe that was why he bit the bullet and sent the letter to the new Fire Lord, extending his invitation to the South Pole; while the rest of the higher ups would want to extensively question the teenager about his priorities, he knew he was being mildly selfish in hoping that the response he received about the visit being confirmed and scheduled would be enough to get his children to stay put for more than a few days.

"Do you think Zuko has ever been penguin sledding?" Aang asked one night at the dinner table while sneaking some of the pieces of his bread to Momo, who had refused to be kicked out and curled up next to Aang's ankles at every meal.

"Do I think Zuko, former prince of the Fire Nation who had a stick so far up his as-" a nudge to Sokka's ribs from Katara, seemingly keeping him from swearing. Sokka skipped over the profanity as if it had never left his mouth, "who spent three years of his life hunting you down and is now so busy as the Fire Lord that I'm lucky if he talks to me for more than five minutes whenever I'm there, has been penguin sledding? Yeah, that's gonna be a hard pass, buddy."

"Gonna put it on the list, then."

"Aang, he's coming for work. Like Sokka said, he's been really busy."

"I know," Aang muttered, seeming more like the thirteen year old that he really was rather than the all-powerful Avatar whose very name made grown men tremble in fear, "but he's going to be here for an entire week. He has to have some free time, right?"

Hakoda could tell by Katara's nod, followed by a quick peck on Aang's cheek, that it was more of a hope than genuine confirmation.

They wouldn't end up waiting a long time for Zuko's arrival, however, when the single airship arrived in the South Pole just a few days later and out walked the Fire Lord along with two guards following behind.

"Fire Lord Zuko, welcome to the South Pole."

"Chief Hakoda," the teenager greeted with perfect posture and a professional smile, "thank you for the invitatio-ooff."

It had been going well until the Avatar himself wrapped the Fire Lord into a bone-crushing hug, followed closely behind by Katara while Sokka went around behind him and dumped the fresh snow down the back of his shirt.

To Hakoda's surprise, however, the guards didn't move despite the onslaught of "Fire Lord Hotman" from Aang, belly laughs from Katara and the snowball fight that broke out between Sokka and Zuko.

"I'm not going to tell you two how to do your job," he started, gaining the older guard's attention before pointing at the group of teenagers, "that being said…"

"I'm just glad it's snow and not leaves this time, Chief Hakoda."

"The autumn equinox in Ba Sing Se was a nightmare for the royal stylist." The younger guard added, still firmly in his post.

He had been a parent for sixteen years, and he knew that sometimes, it was not worth asking for more context.

After a few more minutes, however, the group of four seemingly remembered just why Zuko had arrived and helped him off the ground while he brushed off the excess snow from his clothes.

"My apologies, Chief Hakoda." Zuko bowed in his direction with a bright flush on his cheeks; whether it was from impromptu snowball fight or embarrassment, he couldn't tell.

"Well, that is the most I have seen my daughter laugh in a long time, so consider yourself forgiven." Hakoda was smiling as he wrapped his arm around a still giggling Katara while the Fire Lord stood up, but he could feel it morph into a frown as he noticed just how pale he seemed to be, "anyway, why don't we get some lunch?"

"Yes, I'm starving! You are going to love seal jerky, Zuko!" His son insisted as he wrapped his arm around his friend's shoulder, nearly knocking his knees out from under him due to the lack of tread on the Fire Lord's boots.

Hakoda made a mental note to review how the ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe was supposed to behave in the presence of royalty with Sokka later.

"You don't have to eat it if you don't want to," Katara added which resulted in a disgruntled sound from her brother, "where's Toph?"

"Oh, she wanted to be here, but then she found out about the climate and I told her that we needed her to keep all of her body parts, and she said, um…" He trailed off, but Hakoda had only needed to speak to the earthbender one time to have a guess what her direct quote was, "well, let's just say she made some very creative threats towards me if I dared to make her wear shoes."

Yeah, Hakoda definitely had an idea about the profanities that had escaped Toph's mouth in response to needing shoes.

"So, I know you have work to do while you're here. But, I've been working on some firebending techniques that I want to get your feedback on, and I've been making a list of activities to do in our free time!"

"Sounds like a plan." Despite the nod and Aang's whoop of excitement, Hakoda winced at just how exhausted Zuko sounded as he spoke.

He had always been more moody and reserved than the others, but now his voice had none of its usual bite now that the adrenaline from the snowball fight had ebbed away. Hakoda wasn't going to bring it up to any of the teens, but he had a sinking feeling that the week would not be as fun-filled as Aang was hoping.

…

Hakoda didn't want to be right.

The meetings had gone better than expected, with Zuko promising that he was doing his best to return all of his military personnel to the Fire Nation as soon as he could without draining the already dwindling economy, as well as helping build up the beginnings of the new trade routes.

In fact, aside from the brief moments of him rubbing at his eyes, Hakoda thought he looked as though he had been able to get some sleep the night before, which ended up being the reason why he allowed Sokka and Katara to postpone their meeting with him and the rest of the council about their specific duties to the tribe.

It wasn't like all of them had been given enough of a chance to relish in their teenage years just like he had done with Bato and Kya at their age. If they wanted to take Zuko penguin sledding that badly, then Hakoda was going to let them.

It even gave him a chance to get to know the guards of the Fire Lord better as they gave him advice about how to better security while he tried, and failed, to pry into any misadventures that his kids had pulled Zuko into.

All in all, as the sun was starting to set over the peaks, Hakoda was about to pat himself on the back for handling this head chieftain promotion pretty damn well, at least until he heard the chatter approaching the house.

"For the last time, let go of me."

"You're still bleeding, Fire Lord Hotman."

"And would you quit it with that? I'm fine, it's just a scratch."

"We don't even need Toph here to know you're lying," Katara's grumble was the loudest as the door to Hakoda's hut swung open to reveal the disastrous consequences of penguin sledding, "hey, dad? A little help?"

Katara, Sokka and Aang had snow on their shoulders and boots and flushed cheeks, but what was more concerning was the Fire Lord sandwiched in between the three of them, with snow caked on his clothes and the red-tinted snow that covered his forehead.

The guards were up before he was, the older one pushing Zuko's snow-covered hair out of the way to get a closer look at the gash on the right side of his head and the younger one asking him various questions to rule out a concussion.

"Qiang, Tao, I'm fine! Seriously, I've gotten worse than this from the turtle ducks."

Hakoda held back a snicker at the whine that interspersed itself with the Fire Lord's voice while he tried to fight off the attention of his guards.

He busied himself with grabbing a clean rag and running it under the warm water from the sink, listening in as the group of three wrangled their friend to sit down in one of the dining chairs.

"The turtle ducks made you smack your head into a tree limb?"

"Sokka, for the last time, it was a branch and all it did was take some of the skin."

"That's still a lot of blood, Zuko."

"It's a head wound, they bleed a lot more. Hold still."

"Katara, don't pull at it!"

"Okay," Hakoda finally spoke up while turning around, getting all six sets of eyes on him despite the fact that his daughter was still trying to get Zuko's hair out of the bloody gash where it had stuck, "unless you are currently in charge of part of one of the four nations, step outside," Hakoda commanded, cutting off his son's question before his hand was even fully in the air, "no, ambassador does not count."

"Damn." Sokka muttered under his breath as he, along with Aang and Katara walked out.

He really needed to review the behavior expected of someone with Sokka's position sooner rather than later.

"Your majesty?" The older guard, Tao, asked, "would you like us to stand guard outside?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Zuko agreed, waiting until his guards were out of the building to practically slump onto the dining room table in exhaustion.

"Are you alright, Fire Lord?" Hakoda asked as he finished wringing out the rag before bringing it and the first aid kit to the dining room table.

"Please just call me Zuko."

"Alright then, but the same goes for you. I wasn't exactly pleased to find out I had been promoted without my knowledge," Hakoda explained before using one hand to tilt his chin upwards and using the other to gently press the cloth against the sticky hair, "sorry if that stings, I just want to get any hair out before it's disinfected."

"It's fine."

"I take it that the penguin sledding didn't go as intended?" Hakoda asked after a few moments.

"What gave it away?"

Hakoda couldn't help but smile at the sarcasm as he deposited the dirty rag onto the table, "well, between the blood and my children along with the Avatar himself holding onto your arms as they brought you in here, just a hunch."

As he spoke, he soaked one of the gauze pads with the disinfectant and pressed it to the gash, unsurprised to see the teenager's knuckles turning white from the strength that he was clenching his fist, "you doing alright?"

He nodded, and stayed silent as Hakoda pulled the gauze away to replace it with a fresh, dry pad that he taped in place; he'd mention something to Katara later, but for now, he knew that he just needed to get Zuko dry now that the snow was melting off of him.

"I'll be right back," he insisted, shutting the first aid kit and picking up the dirty rag, "just gonna get you some dry clothes."

"Thank you, for all of this. If there's anything I can do to repay-"

"None of that," Hakoda insisted, cutting him off with a raised hand, "you are in my territory and you are a friend of Katara and Sokka's. More importantly, their shenanigans put you in this position in the first place. If anything, this is an apology for their actions. No need to repay me."

He quickly went into Sokka's room and grabbed a spare set of clothes before bringing them back to the dining room table only to see Zuko resting his head on his arms.

"Zuko," he called out, setting the folded outfit on the table, "I've got dry clothes for you."

No response.

This had happened with Aang too, the first night he came to the South Pole after the war had ended, only Zuko hadn't fallen asleep face first into a bowl of seaweed stew. Hakoda tried again, his voice a little louder.

"Zuko, you really need to change before you fall asleep for the night. Also, it might be best for your neck not to sleep at the table."

No response again. Hakoda sighed and laid a gentle hand on his left shoulder, "Zuko-"

He didn't expect him to sit up quickly and pull his hand away in sheer determination with golden eyes glowering right at him and fire shining bright in his right palm.

But Hakoda was unable to speak before his wrist was let go and the flames dissipated, the anger turning into deep regret as he stood up and backed away with his hands raised in surrender.

"I am so sorry-"

"Zuko-"

"I've been unprofessional. You have been nothing but welcoming and kind and I nearly-"

"Zuko, it's okay-"

"I nearly killed you."

And Hakoda wasn't going to deny that yes, he could have hurt him, but the seventeen year old had tears in his eyes as he backed himself into the corner over being woken up unexpectedly.

"Zuko, take a deep breath," Hakoda instructed, managing to lock eyes with the teenager while taking a step forward, "It's okay. No one got hurt."

"I almost-"

"Almost, not did. I'm fine, you are fine and everyone else was sent out. We're all okay," he wasn't surprised by Zuko slumping to his knees on the floor with a nod while he extended his hand towards the teenager, "you need to change and get some real sleep. Can you manage that on your own?"

He nodded again and wrapped his left hand around Hakoda's right, giving him the chance to pull him to his feet only to frown yet again when he saw the sharp wince that crossed Zuko's face.

"What happened to your shoulder?"

"I just need to get some rest."

And Hakoda so badly wanted to push further, the parental side of him desperately wanting to pull the teenager into a tight hug.

But Zuko wasn't one of his kids and, with what he had heard about Ozai over the years, he had a sinking feeling that touch would only result in the young Fire Lord spiraling further.

So he used his best judgment and let go of Zuko's hand before passing him the clothes, "there is an empty bedroom on the right. I'll let your guards know where you are and I suggest having Katara look at your head tomorrow."

"Thank you, Chief Hakoda."

Having been a parent for sixteen years, Hakoda had also learned when to hold his tongue, especially around someone who was easily startled and just nodded in response while saying, "Sleep well, Zuko."

He went outside as soon as he heard the door shut behind the young Fire Lord to be met with three sets of frantic eyes and two sets of raised eyebrows.

"The Fire Lord is getting some sleep," he started, his eyes locked on the two guards, "he's in the third room on the right." He waited until the two guards walked in, a nod given by Tao, before he turned to the three teenagers, "his injuries aren't severe, I don't even think he's going to bruise."

Aang's sigh of relief wasn't lost on Hakoda, but he continued to press on.

"Sokka, you and I will be having a very long discussion in the morning about how the ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe should act around royalty, even if they are one of your friend's. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," Sokka nodded, the tone being known by his son that it was time for him to turn in before he had a chance to do something else that would be frowned upon, "come on, Aang. It's late."

The young Avatar followed with Momo settled firmly on his shoulder, leaving Hakoda with just his daughter in the snowy wind.

"You said injuries."

And in that snowy wind, when Katara looked into his eyes, he could only see Kya for a few moments as she seemingly looked right into his soul.

"I advised Zuko to come to you in the morning, so you could heal his head wound which is why I'm also going to ask you a question," Hakoda stopped to take in a deep breath, because even if he wasn't one of his, the fact that someone may do this to a child who hadn't even reached eighteen yet…"has he mentioned anything about assassination attempts?"

"For Tui's sake," his daughter cursed as she pinched his nose before a shout tinged with sadness escaped her lips, "he promised to tell me if it happened again! That no-good, jerkbending-"

"Katara," Hakoda scolded, his hands on her shoulders, "regardless of what he said, it would be best not to insult him while he is in our territory."

"He's lucky I don't go in there and ask him what-"

"Katara, that is enough. He had his reasoning, no matter what it was. More importantly, he needs to rest," he stopped to push a strand of hair out of her face, not surprised that it was wet with tears, "and so do you, my child. It has been a very long day, for all of us."

"Y-you're right," she said, wiping her arm on her sleeve before pulling him into a tight hug which Hakoda instantly returned, "goodnight, dad."

"Gp get some sleep."

She let go and made her way to the campsite she had made with Sokka and Aang when they had arrived in Wolf Cove which left Hakoda standing outside of the chieftain building in the snow and his swirling thoughts about how to speak to the Fire Lord in the morning.

…

"So, what do you think, Sifu Hotman?"

"I think your posture needs more work than your use of outdated Fire Nation slang. Straighten out your back and extend your arms, you'll get more force in it."

Hakoda couldn't help but observe the three of them from where he had exited his meeting with Sokka. It had gone well, but he couldn't help but think it would be the first of many.

Aang was eager to continue firebending, showing off the different ways he could bend the flames, waiting for Zuko's advice as he sat next to the fire pit while Katara healed the gash on his forehead.

He was confident that she had already taken care of his shoulder and probably yelled at him a great deal as well while he had been talking to his son.

It didn't take long for Sokka to join the group with Momo on his heels as he carried their breakfast to them on one of the trays and soon enough the entire group was laughing about something that Appa had done the day before.

Hakoda wasn't sure when his parental instincts had spread from just Katara and Sokka to now involving Aang and Zuko as well, but what he did know was that the biggest thing they needed right now was to be kids.

And he was going to do his best to make sure that it happened.

(Want to read the Gaang penguin sledding? Part 2 below)

[faefetti]

Zuko Regressor Headcannons!❤️‍🔥

🐦‍🔥 Absolutely regresses out of trauma, both voluntarily and involuntarily. He does his best to hide it away from everyone.

🐦‍🔥 Katara definitely finds out first. She’s very gentle about it and convinces him after a lot of back and forth to let her help him sometimes. 🐦‍🔥 Sometimes stims/calms himself by rubbing his thumb against the side of his pointer finger.

🐦‍🔥 Tends to get really anxious and read into things which usually makes him scramble to hide.

🐦‍🔥 Doesn’t want to admit he thinks he doesn’t deserve nice and soft things.

🐦‍🔥 Katara made him a small blanket for holding and he uses it every night.

🐦‍🔥 Gets pouty when Katara tells him to take better care of himself but he always appreciates it.

🐦‍🔥 Aang eventually finds out from accidentally seeing Katara and Zuko having a soft day and he is absolutely thrilled.

🐦‍🔥 Has started really enjoying playing innocent pranks on Sokka with Aang! But he’ll still try and hide his smiles. 🐦‍🔥 Toph pretends like she doesn’t know about Zuko’s little time but she does. She asks Katara about it in private.

🐦‍🔥 Iroh absolutely knows and has cared for him when he regressed involuntarily from the nightmares but Zuko doesn’t remember that at all.

🐦‍🔥 Sokka has no clue what’s going on but he never gets too mad about the pranks.

🐦‍🔥 Aang and Katara always make sure to hold him when he cries, even if Zuko says he doesn’t need anybody’s help.

🐦‍🔥 The more he regresses voluntarily, the better he feels when he’s back to taking care of his very big responsibilities. He appreciates having a safe headspace to be vulnerable sometimes.

🐦‍🔥 Aang got him a tiny dragon stuffie for his birthday and Zuko uses it to tell himself he’s brave when he’s scared.

🐦‍🔥 Is a little turtle duck!!! (•⌓•)

[kaifish-pond]

Zuko: *Whining and fidgeting in his seat, clutching his Turtleduck stuffy, face screwed up*

Sokka: Uh-oh! Does someone need a nap?

Zuko: *Glaring* I'm FINE!

Sokka: *Standing up* I think you need a nap!

[bisexuallsokka]

Hi jo! Fluff dialogue prompt: “I feel safe with you.” and “where's my goodnight kiss?” With zukka, please :)

It’s written all over Zuko’s face. Maybe not to someone who doesn’t have as much history with him, but to Sokka it’s clear as day. The bags under his eyes slightly more pronounced than usual, the worried crease in his forehead, the tightness in his smiles and posture...

If he had known, he wouldn't have spent the first two hours of the party avoiding Zuko. As soon as they make eye contact, though, Sokka's feet take him to Zuko without hesitation.

“Zuko,” Sokka frowns, and his resolve almost crumbles at the way Zuko wilts just slightly. They're in a large room in the palace that they only use for gatherings like this, and Zuko looks around quickly before grabbing Sokka by the elbow and leading him closer to the wall to give them a little bit of privacy.

“I didn’t want to worry you,” Zuko says quietly.

Sokka shakes off his hand. “Fuck that. When was it?”

Zuko sighs, looking around again. “Two weeks ago.”

"Zuko—" Sokka starts again.

“I would rather tell you in person. Besides, it’s safer that way.”

Sokka knows he’s right, and he’s glad he’s here now, but he’s not happy with it. He doesn't get to dwell on that now, though. With Zuko’s back to the rest of the room, he’s letting down the mask of a perfectly happy and healthy Fire Lord, and Sokka has a feeling this assassination attempt was really bad.

“It was close, Sokka. Too close,” Zuko says, reading his mind, and he looks scared like Sokka hasn’t seen him in a long time. Fear freezes his chest, but he pushes it down, the familiar urge to always be the strong one rising up instead.

“Can we get out of here?” Sokka asks, suddenly anxious that they are in such a crowded place. He glances around and finally notices the extra security, most of them disguised, but it doesn’t help his nerves much.

Zuko nods, looking grateful, and Sokka doesn’t leave his side as he goes to talk to a guard, who nods. It’s not the smartest idea, the two of them leaving such a crowded party side by side. It’s sure to rekindle a rumor or twelve, but Zuko doesn't seem bothered by it for once, so Sokka allows himself this considering it's taking everything in him to resist giving into the urge to hold Zuko’s hand.

They’re met by more security in the hallway, following them all the way to Zuko’s rooms. Sokka doesn’t recognize them, but Zuko must trust them to see them together and to stand guard outside his rooms once they make it there. There’s not a question about it, Sokka follows him inside and closes the door behind them.

Zuko’s hands are shaking, and when he turns to Sokka in the privacy of his room, he immediately rushes into his arms. Sokka holds him tightly, reassuring himself that Zuko is okay, that he’s alive.

"I almost—"

“You didn’t,” Sokka says firmly. “You’re okay. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not right now. I just want you to stay,” Zuko says softly. “I feel safe with you.”

Sokka nods immediately. “Of course.”

When they pull back, Sokka realizes how exhausted Zuko looks. He can barely keep his eyes open as he pulls out his head piece, and Sokka wonders how much sleep he's gotten in the last two weeks. Wordlessly, they agree that Zuko just needs to rest, and Sokka sits down on the bed and pointedly turns away as Zuko changes out of his stuffy Fire Lord robes, fingers twitching with the desire to help him. He doesn't, and when Zuko is done he sits down next to Sokka, keeping some distance between them.

"Thank you for being here," Zuko says softly.

"Of course," Sokka says, giving him a tight smile. "I'm always here for you. Zuko, I-"

Sokka nearly jumps out of his skin when the tension is broken by a nearby thud, but Zuko just grabs his hand. "It's just Druk," he reassures him.

It's just my ten foot dragon isn't as comforting as Zuko thinks it is, but Sokka doesn't say anything, just moves out of the way as the dragon crawls out from where he had apparently curled up under the giant bed.

"He's been sleeping in here since the attempt," Zuko explains, looking slightly sheepish. "I'll just..."

He stands, leading Druk to another door in the room, because knowing Zuko, Druk has his own personal suite for occasions like this when there are guests in the palace. Before closing the door, though, Zuko pets the top of the dragon's head and leans down to kiss the top of it, saying, "Goodnight, Druk."

When he turns back to Sokka, the two of them actually alone this time, Sokka blames the fondness in his chest for the words that slip out of his mouth. “Where’s my goodnight kiss?”

At the weighted look that Zuko gives him, he processes what he just said. He doesn’t take it back, though. He doesn’t say anything, just watches as Zuko walks up to him, stepping between Sokka’s legs and forcing Sokka to tilt his head up to maintain the intense eye contact. He moves slowly, giving Sokka every opportunity to stop him.

Sokka doesn’t, his eyes falling shut as Zuko's lips finally meet his.

[sarnai4]

School

This isn't a trailer because I don't have the ideas figured out yet, but here is what I'm thinking. I want to write a fic where the ATLA crew is in the modern world and in school together. So, it's one of those K-12 types of schools. The bending still exists in this au. Here's how I'm imagining the characters.

Aang: He's well-liked and easily the most popular kid his age. He will sometimes pull good-natured pranks on the stuffy teachers. He hates tests and it doesn't help that he doesn't study much for them either, but Katara helps him come up with strategies so that he doesn't just flunk out. He lives with some adopted siblings who are also airbenders.

Katara: She's an honor roll student who is even more 100% than her grades sorta a teacher's pet. No one picks on her for this, though, because they still know that it's not wise. She's the student other students go to when they have a problem since she's always trying to help. She's a tutor for most courses. She and Sokka live with Gran Gran.

Sokka: He's the class clown, but he's also an amazing student. No one sees it coming, but he's probably got the best grades out of everyone. He just also messes around a lot and goofs off with Aang. So, the teachers don't know whether to love or hate him. He's got a part-time job to help out so that he can be the man of the house. He still starts off a bit controlled by what he thinks typical roles for men are, but Suki will get that out of him.

Toph: She's an alright student. The teachers like her since she seems nice enough. Her parents also gave a big donation which helps but she's got a totally different persona outside the school. Only her friends are this side. She and some other rebellious people regularly make things difficult for the shady police chief.

Zuko: He's a good student who's often grouped together with the popular/tough students. He isn't actually mean, but it's difficult for him to really bond with the others at first since he's awkward around nice people. So, he is normally around his sister which makes students assume he's going to be mean too. His home life is rough, but things get better for him after he finally befriends the Gaang.

Suki: She's a pretty good student, but she does better with tests and presentations than papers. She is the captain of most sports teams. She is not letting anyone get picked on around her and couldn't care less if she doesn't have bending. She also runs a self-defense/martial arts club.

Azula: She's a great student and the classic mean girl. She knows she can get away with anything and makes the most of that. She has completely dominated the principal and her dad's the mayor, so she believes she's above just about every law in town.

Ty Lee: She's not a great student, but she's popular. She's one of the cheerleaders and has probably dated almost every guy her age and older in the classes. She doesn't want to be in the mean group, but she's known Azula since she was little and is too scared to really stop her from hurting people.

Mai: She's a good student who the teachers like. Other students aren't sure if she's in the mean group or not. She's normally around Azula, but it's mostly because that's where Zuko and Ty Lee are. She can be a bit harsh with some students if she feels like they deserve it.

Jet: He's an alright student and the bad boy. He started his group to stop bullies, but they've sorta become the problem now. He hangs around Zuko some and views him as a friend (however reluctant).

Haru: He's a decent student and a quiet person in school. This makes him an easy target for some bullies, but he also secretly stands up for weaker kids.

Teo: He's a pretty good student who does a lot with robotics. He's got heart and doesn't let fear of people (Azula) get the better of him.

Bumi: He's the PE teacher who almost kills the kids every single day makes it a bit of a challenge. Some students (Aang) love him and others (probably Sokka) hate his class.

Iroh: He's the owner of a cafe (that only offers tea because there is no coffee allowed in his shop). This is where all the kids gather to get some snacks and advice. He's the group uncle for them all even before Zuko's their friend.

Long Feng: He's the principal who enjoys exercising his power (except this doesn't exist over Azula).

Ozai: He's mayor of the town and an awful person just like his regular counterpart. He feels entitled, has as much love as his stone heart can muster for Azula, and hates both his son and brother with a passion that burns worse than his fire.

Hakoda: He is a skipper in the navy. After the murder of Kya, he leaves to try to make the world a safer place.

Zhao: He's a corrupt police chief who cracks down on minor infractions and will get paid off for the serious crimes. In other words, he likes abusing his power.

Gyatso: He's the ethics teacher and Aang's adopted dad.

Gran Gran: She takes care of Katara and Sokka and becomes the group grandma. She has a shop where she sells various items for clothing and other trinkets, but the sales have been going down.

Mechanist: He teaches robotics.

Pakku: He's the (chauvinist) history teacher.

Earth King (Kuei): He's the highly incompetent guidance counselor.

Joo Dee: She's the nurse who is under Long Feng's thumb.

Jeong Jeong: He's the disgruntled philosophy teacher who might just discourage more people than he inspires.

I don't know who teaches math or English classes. I suppose any of the Fire sages could.

[thepublishingpress]

hullo there, human! i am named basil ^-^ basil dela cruz!

enjoy as you watch me spiral into madness in the author's notes of all my fanfics and (sometimes, but rarely) when i make art :3

________________________________

fun facts abt me!:

I have two doggos- one of them shares my online name, basil! the other is the grumpy peanut, my pfp!

i enjoy trials of mana (ive only played the remake, sadly! i want the og, but i wont buy it-)

i have almost all the pjo books

I have a habit of joining fandoms without watching/reading the book/show/movie....

i have a stuffy (plushie) named bitbit :3

________________________________

my gender? how kind!:

i'm a female <3

________________________________

nationality~:

fully filipino!

________________________________

favorite characters (bc i have taste):

game = green

movie/show = blue

book = red

Sokka ;3 (from Avatar: the Last Airbender by Nickelodeon)

Leo Valdez (from Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Mikleo (from Tales of Zestiria by Bandai Namco)

Zuko (From Avatar: the Last Airbender)

Percy Jackson (from Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan)

Sorey (From Tales of Zestiria)

Ariadne (From Ariadne by Jennifer Saint)

Telegonus (from circe by madeline miller)

Telemachus (from circe)

Circe (from circe)

________________________________

fandoms/communities i'm in:

Percy Jackson

Avatar: the Last Airbender

Tales of Zestiria

Narnia

Greek Mythology in general ig???

does art count-

________________________________

ships~:

percabeth

sormik

kataang

zukka

i dont rly ship anyone from narnia sadly (except maybe casmund)

________________________________

fic guide!:

PJO fics- (And Greek-myths in general)

dream of me (a fic focused on tv show!poseidon)

you're holding the heart of mine (focused on book!poseidon)

The Oracular Goddess (Agathe lies to be the Oracle, and faces consequences)

Ariadne's Revival (A fic on Ariadne and Dionysus. Short and sweet. Also my first post!)

A:TLA fics-

In The Midnight (fluffy zukka fic)

A Smile I Will Never See (kyoshi warrior!sokka)

A Civil Conversation (a pre-zukka fic)

A Second Chance (Pakku-centric, also includes Kanna!)

In Remembrance of You (kataang angst, takes place during tlok)

Discoveries (That I Panic About) (zukka, ft. confused hakoda (he... takes it well dw :3))

the fire burns so bright (until i cannot hide) part 1 (zukka au ft. actual spirit zuko and firebender sokka)

Dysfunctional Fam(tm)

(I thought it required its own section)-

Chapter 1 - The Start

Chapter 2 - Godly Troubles Galore!

Chapter 3 - Suspicions....

Chapter 3 - The Return of the Star

________________________________

!WARNINGS!

I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY HATE ON THIS BLOG.

________________________________

Note:

may make changes to this post ty <3

p.s. i forgot to credit @thatcheeseycandle

[erisenyo]

❤️ BB-Verse ❤️

I just want some nice Sokka+Azula Spite compilations ❤️

In "Every Door" Azula motivated and kinda inspired him and I thought Sokka and Zuko would have to be married for Sokka to properly work for the FN Government. Or would that work as long as he is officially Zukos Fiancé?

Please tell me we'll be getting some Toph|Azula or Sokka|Azula snippets. ESPECIALLY those cactus juice ones. That shit sounds hilarious

The Sokka-Azula post-figuring-their-shit-out dynamic is everything to me lol. They live to get one over each other. They gang up on Zuko at the drop of a hat. They exchange bitchy opinions on stuffy ministers in a glance. Their prank wars cause property damage. They have that buddy cop dynamic down. Zuko despairs of it and not so secretly loves it.

As for Sokka working in the FN Government -- it would probably depend on just how official that fiance thing is. There are a few steps/stages (in my head), going from the initial proposal and as marriage approaches, which increasingly formalizes the relationship. At some point that would open up the option to actually be a part of things.

The big factor of course being if Sokka wanted that kind of work, as he figures thingss out. He and Zuko would both be very conscious of not putting Sokka in a position where he was going to run into a conflict of interests, and Sokka post-To Open Every Door is definitely taking some him-time to feel out the work stuff and reflect on what he actually wants that to look like.

As for Azula shenanigan snippets, especially cactus juice based...no promises but honestly sounds perfect for the next time I'm doing prompts on tumblr. It certainly cracks me up lol

[kiki-strike]

i remember a fic i read when im sad and it involves zuko has a turtleduck stuffie. and it’s making me think more things now abt zuko’s stuffie. like-

in the beach with mai he’s practically hanging off her in every scene that boy is so clearly touch starved but also terrified of receiving affection from anyone he doesn’t trust or have known for a long time. he only hugs iroh back in the finale bc he finally actually feels comfortable to be himself around him? like he’s lived with iroh for at least 3 years and it took treason to get zuko to trust him enough to hug back.

(there’s my thoughts on iroh’s parenting methods and how to a clearly autistic child that would be sooo detrimental even though zuko Was a little shit but really. all kids are. they’re just not supposed to be in charge of ships. but that’s for another post-)

my point is zuko is so affection starved and will not in a million years initiate touch. he’s perceived as standoffish when he’s really just bad at social stuff. and SHY. but like the kind of shy that comes out as angry and not scared.

i think that maybe when he’s first banished iroh buys him a stuffie or smth like that bc he doesn’t really know how kids work yet and zuko like. sets it on fire or smth. bc that’s EMBARRASSING uncle im not a CHILD. but at night he hugs his pillow and wishes it were something else, someONE else, but he could never ask someone for that. he can’t trust anyone like that.

i like to think jin and zuko go on a few more dates bc i LIKE THEM THEY’RE CUTE even if they’re not meant to be together long term. maybe jin gets him a turtleduck stuffie as a present. well he can’t throw it away, it’s a gift from jin! it’s dumb and childish but he’ll keep it anyway because he doesn’t want to hurt her feelings. that’s it. it stays on the bookshelf in his room.

maybe one day uncle cleans his room when he’s out (bc. he’s a teenager and even with like two belongings they can still be gross) and when he comes back the stuffie is on his bed. neither of them talk about it. when zuko goes to bed the turtleduck stares at him. he keeps it there on the mattress. he doesn’t touch it.

well, maybe he’ll pet it a little bit. just once. after a nightmare. maybe it’s okay to hold it just for a little bit. no one will know. it’s a gift from jin. that’s the only reason he has it. he doesn’t even like it. he does NOT rub his face on it when his skin feels too tight or talk to it when he’s frustrated and angry. it does NOT have a name because it’s an inanimate object. with no emotional attachment.

absolutely none of these arguments hold water when sokka wakes him up from a nightmare and he’s got a death grip on ducky.

[nerdkiller]

Natla is kind of unwatchable for me honestly bc even though Dallas is doing really great I will say their portrayal of Iroh is so stuffy like Dallas is really putting more of the work in. From the writing standpoint it is the same. And KATARA... it's not even just her actress because i think Kiawentiio could do a lot but the relationship she had with Aang is just gone for the most part. This is very Kataang but they were each other's saviors from day 1 but you don't feel that at all from the show... they were the heart of the original show. Too much time spent on Sokka whose best moments happen later in S2 and S3 and for a good reason.

[bitchydragondoodle]

Headcanons for the new Avatar series:

1. Earth Avatar is born in a world where bending no longer exists. In the conflicts rising between benders and non-benders in LoK, a war has arisen and wiped out all benders with advanced weapons. The new Avatar, who I guess we can call Rocky, must restore balance by returning bending to the world and reconnecting with the ancient lion-turtle spirits to help the world find spirituality. I don’t want this one to happen personally, as it’s too similar to the new Dreamworks Dragons series with Toothless and them all being long dead. If the writers still have their spark, they’ll make it good!

2. Bending exists, but is being oppressed. It would be interesting to see an Avatar embroiled in what would essentially be a race conflict, considering the shit we’ve been through with all of the BLM riots and trials. However, I also think the writers may want to err on the side of caution to avoid being too woke. (*spits on Velma*) This may not happen either.

3. Bending exists. Non-bending exists. The problem? Apathy. Nobody cares about the old benders from Korra’s time, sitting in nursing homes with tales to tell. They’re all too busy ensnared in tech, with Cabbagegram and Rumblr and Tweeter. Thus, Rocky must reconnect the people with their past and teach them the ways of spiritual growth and the importance of learning your roots. In line with Tenzin and Aang’s own experiences, this could be really interesting if Team Earth Avatar has a disillusioned airbender who couldn’t care less about their stuffy Air Nomad forefathers and only uses their bending to make their life cushy, like bending a bag of chips over to the couch. like this idea! Big Mitchells vs. Machines vibes, and I know Tumblr liked that movie.

4. Bending is being used for war and war only. This isn’t likely to me, as A:TLA touched on this topic the most. All opposing elements were stashed away by the Fire Nation, either culled like the Southern waterbenders and airbenders or forced to assist in the war effort like Haru and his dad. Still, with the bender and non bender conflict in LOK, it could tie in with the first theory rather well. A possibility, but not one I like.

5.Rocky wakes up with visions of a weird old lady. He has somehow acquired the power to control earth, and must hide it from people while being compelled to follow his visions of Korra. (Korra’s cycle reset, so sadly, no Aang or Roku or Kyoshi I think.) He is drawn to the ruins of an island, where he encounters a journal written by Tenzin and discovers he is the Avatar. Nobody seems to care or even know what an Avatar is, or what bending is. Ties in with theory one where bending is a lost art, because that would make it more relatable to the audience of plain old people. A couple of people believe him, he gets his team Avatar of complete non benders, and sets out to tell the world the story of the Avatar cycle and why bending exists. At every turn, he is thwarted by government officials who want to use him as a weapon for his strange and untapped abilities. Along the way, the spirit portals which once lay dormant in Republic City reactivate with the Avatar’s return, sending out bending to the world just as airbending was restored in LoK. I like the idea of nonbenders winning and being more powerful like Suki and Sokka, but with modern takes on weapons. A team Avatar member with a Glock or Beretta or Mauser would be fuckin funny but not possible for the kids show. Who knows? This is a hot idea for me, even though it seems kinda cliche with other shows likely having done the same trope of modern kid receiving ancient powers. Still, an oldie can still be a goodie.

I trust the writers to introduce Rocky or whoever his name is well. I trust their judgement in the upcoming films. But most of all, I’m excited to see what references we’ll get to our beloved shows of the past when we sat on beanbags and ate Cheetos after school watching Agni Kais and bending battles. (The ship discourse was a downside though, I didn’t like being bullied for being okay with how each series turned out canonically.) I’m not the only young adult who will be in that theater in 2025, crying over the adult Gaang and Iroh and how this franchise has affected me, and I hope the rest of our fandom is equally hopeful about how well each story will be crafted.

TIMELINE FOR THE FUTURE EVERYBODY

[gaybd1]

#meanwhile it's Sokka's sworn duty to drag zuko AWAY from work#he needs to relax or there won't BE a fire lord for much longer (@lizardlicks)

ABSOLUTELY

By the time Sokka figures it out?

One guy who won a war with his Genius versus a bunch of stuffy old men?

The Game is Afoot.

Sokka starts to hide in different places around the palace so he can ambush Zuko and co., and the advisors start to get WAY too secretive and paranoid about their plans for the day.

And Zuko has no idea

Zuko’s advisors and Sokka just being Mortal Enemies

Like any time they see Sokka come in the room they know Zuko’s not gonna get any work done the rest of the day

So it turns into this obnoxious game of Keep Zuko Away From Sokka

“Okay, Fire Lord Zuko, we just need you to sign here and- LET’S GO SEE THE GARDENS RIGHT NOW, YOUR MAJESTY!”

Like somebody is always on Sokka Watch

And Sokka has no idea