#and to project onto zuko

[leafsfromthevine]

zuko & sokka ; the boiling rock (pt. 1)

[late-draft]

I'd contribute a tiny bit to the pro-Zutara side when it comes to the idea of Katara in the role of a co-ruler of the Fire Nation.

I understand where the negative arguments are coming from, how it's especially "shocking" if she enters the royal family (one which led the oppressive regime which waged war for 100 years and caused so much devastation);

however, firstly it is really no longer that family. Zuko committed high treason, almost died TRICE for that and still kept steady on that course, rejected his family, the family's terrible ideas about the world and both Ozai and Azula were imprisoned. Nobody supporting the old ways is still there. I don't understand negative arguments which treat Zuko's early background, lineage, political role (which may be incredibly undefined as the entire nation is being restructured, it's fantasy) as a more important factor than him as a person. He treats others with respect after undergoing redemption, he's demonstrably empathetic, he's working on undoing as much damage the Fire Nation has caused as possible, he was ready to die for these things. Secondly, why should a job or a title in a fantasy setting be a more relevant argument than love? If love was real and strong: if there's mutual respect between two people, understanding, cooperation, splitting of tasks, mutual care, communication on how to tackle problems, this is much more important and holds more weight than whether or not a role granting political power is from this or that side.

From what I've seen, the dominant headcanon for Zutara is that it wouldn't be oppressive to her but instead allow her to affect the world. It makes sense, most people want their favourite characters to be happy - AND there's no canonical evidence to suggest that being a co-ruler of the new Fire Nation would be a terrible, oppressive, restrictive position. Sure, there can also be headcanons where duty to other parts of the world might be too heavy and they split Zuko and Katara up, but this is a Tragedy trope and it only exists when there's incredibly strong love between them underneath this. So even this argument ends up supporting zutara.

I think that any arguments that use outside reasons why their relationship would be terrible are in the end much weaker in philosophy, compared to arguments about whether or not there are strong feelings between them. This is fantasy, love is an incredibly powerful force. And audience wants to believe in the power of love.

Now, if you ask me, I'd say I believe two characters absolutely do not need to have an on-screen kiss or anything completely explicit in order to convey that yes, they have deep feelings for each other. Shipping comes down to preferences, many people certainly simply Do Not Vibe with Zuko as a personality or whatever. However, this is a separate thing from what the characters are written as doing, how they are behaving in each other's company and how they treat each other.

So I'd say, if Katara loves Zuko (and vice-versa), then that's fullstop. Anything else is just an obstacle in their way which they'd tackle together.

[muffinlance]

Sokka is captured aboard Zuko's ship. At some point during Tea & Interrogation with Iroh and Zuko, he lets slip that he's the son of Chief Hakoda.

“Chief Hakoda?” the Prince of the Kill It With Fire Nation repeats, like his brain is as stupid as his face. Or like he just realized he’s taken a high-value hostage, redeemable for one (1) ransom against an enemy leader.

“Did I say Chief Hakoda?” Sokka laughs, nervously. “I meant, ah—”

“Shut up, peasant,” the prince shouts. And then sort of… chokes on his own words, getting redder and redder.

---

“Perhaps a break, Prince Zuko?” says Uncle, like this is… like this is the tea-time social he’s set the table for. 

Zuko is in the hallway with the door slammed behind him before he can think. Thinking. Thinking is a thing he needs to do, and Uncle’s proverbs only ever leave his thoughts feeling twisted around, and—

And that is not a peasant that sacrificed himself, to give the Avatar a chance to flee. That’s a fellow prince, or whatever the Water Tribe would call him.

---

“So,” Sokka says, spinning the teacup between his cuffed hands contemplatively. “How much poison would you say is in here? And what kind?”

The old man is sputtering indignantly, but Sokka is very seriously considering taking his first sip. If it’s laced with something to loosen his tongue, well, can’t get much worse there. It’s not like he knows where his dad is. Or anything useful. Certainly not more useful than handing the Fire Nation the son of their fleet’s leader. And if it’s something deadly, well...

He doesn’t know what his dad would do or give to get him back. But it wouldn’t be good, for the war or the world or their tribe.

He figured he’d die, when he’d shouted at Katara to go, take him and go. He hadn’t realized how much worse this could get. Was getting. Because the son and heir of Fire Lord Burn Them All was out in the hallway, thinking. 

---

Zuko thinks. About what his own father would do, if he were to receive a ransom letter. The disappointment. The… repercussions. 

---

“You’re what?” Sokka asks. 

“I am releasing you,” His Shoutiness repeats, through clenched and grinding teeth.

“Huh,” Sokka says, and takes another sip from his cup, because oh, this is hallucinogenic tea. Good stuff. “Care to explain that?”

---

No, Zuko wants to shout. But this is the fellow son of a world leader. Zuko hasn’t had many friends, and he’s not looking to add the Water Prince to that atrophied number, but. 

But he could understand.

“You stood and fought when you could not win, for a cause you believed in,” Zuko says, and he doesn’t know why Uncle suddenly looks so pained. “I will not demand trinkets from your father for your return. If he hears of this, it will not be from me. You will be released at the nearest neutral port.”

---

Like an undersized fish, Sokka does not say. 

“That is… very honorable of you,” Sokka says, and doesn’t know why the prince looks like he’s been gutted.

[hypnoticsphere]

sokka who laughs so free and so strong, bellying over with loud, hysterical chuckles and Zuko, who is so ashamed, who struggles to smile, who stares at himself in the mirror, prodding at his face, willing himself to not look so scary, who learns to laugh and to smile. Sokka, who thinks Zuko is the most beautiful thing blessed to this world, who could listen to him laugh and watch him smile all day.

[luzho]

zukka go earrings shopping!

yesterday i saw @bleekay’s post about sokka being an earrings guy… and i HAD to let these guys go on a shopping date!! based on earrings i do own:) and the poses on this photo by chiron duoung

[ID: This is a digital drawing of Sokka and Zuko, drawn from the shoulders up, in warm colors and against a blank background. In the center, Sokka looks flustered and exhilarated while trying new twinkling lavender earrings, wearing his classic collar with a blue tank top. Very close and looking lovingly right at him, Zuko shows him one shiny and golden snake earring while sporting short hair, a green t-shirt, a septum piercing, snake bite piercings and fire-themed earrings.  End ID]

[fromtheseventhhell]

Zutaras are really the original self-insert, "we understand the story soooooo much better than everybody else" girlies and they just never moved on

[strawberry-lullabies]

my random atla headcanon for the day:

ozai was a really terrible influence to zuko (obviously,) which led to zuko having really bad coping mechanisms, so he became addicted to alcohol when he was around 12 ~ 13-ish? his addiction might last for a couple of months, maybe a year or two before uncle iroh found out he was binge drinking,,,, it got super bad to the point where zuko thought about nothing but alcohol for a while, and his withdrawals got super bad

(shhhhh im projecting just a tiny bit let me be)

[ihavea-natural-curiosity]

the best zuko and sokka dynamic tbh

[zukosdualdao]

one day i will write my post about why zuko means so much to me as someone with ocd who struggles a lot with moral scrupulosity and THEN. then you all will see

[rabiosass]

plot bunny racing around in my brain like the energizer mascot.....

Lu Ten x Azula x Zuko love triangle but it's zuko jealous and seething because azula is betrothed to their cousin lu ten and Not!!! Him!!! Why would mother betroth azula to lu ten when she has a perfectly good brother right in front of her!?!? Azula was literally made for him, to be his sisterwife!! This is ridiculous!!

Azula, on the other hand, is down bad for her future husband and doesn't even notice Zuko's obsession with her (yet).

Haven't decided how this ends....probably some form of noncon...Zuko deciding to take matters into his own hands and do some somnorape. Azula is discovered weeks later to be pregnant and it's a huge scandal!! Who will marry her now?! This is a disgrace to their family and her betrothed.

Enter Zuko, now the self-designated Hero, who steps up and offers to marry her to Save His Sister's Reputation Of Course, not at all because he planned this himself!!!

[toph-bi-fong]

Zeeks: “KATAANG IS JUST A SELF INSERT SHIP FOR MIKE!!!”

Why? Because adult Aang looks like Mike? So wouldn’t that make Z/tar/a a self insert ship for Bryan then? Because it’s been said in interviews he compares himself to Z.uko.

[worldend]

katara is like arguably the best character in the last air bender but everytime you go look shit up about her all ppl do is talk about zutara. girl i dont give a fuck about zuko

[apotelesmaa]

Eternal curse of liking characters who are genuinely so bastardized by the fanbase that you’re left wondering if you’re talking about the same character.

[selfproclaimedunicorn]

Much discussion has happened, many thoughts being thunk. I think I can organize my outline for chapter 9 now!

[hypnoticsphere]

does anyone here fw non-binary zuko

[hella1975]

i write the darndest things