#oc - tonraq

[cornalinaemerald]

Aprovecho para subir también los dibujos de Nyree, que serán los que aparezcan en el fanfic cuando lo vuelva a leer y lo corrija 🥰🥰 #animedraw #draw #anime #oc #avatarthelastairbender #avatarthelegendofkorra #legendofkorra #avataroc #tonraq https://www.instagram.com/p/CpGTz94qMS-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dragologist]

Ship your followers with a fictional character! We want to see your otps d=(^o^)=b

Hmm I'd say I'd ship zeno_zero with Roku (or Sozin 😈😭) (Atla)

Megamhafan with either Yasu or Gyatso (Atla)

Ozaitheestallion with Ozai or Tonraq (Atla/Tlok)

ItzHellen with Lubu (Ror)

Riseofamoonycake with Bishamonten or Benzaiten (Ror)

Hanakiki with Loki (Ror)

Amphitriteswife with Amphitrite (Ror oc) or Ryusei Shidou from Blue Lock

Thorsleftbootycheek & Shkrimter with Thor (Ror)

And nunezs-stuff with anyone from Diabolik Lovers or her OCs.

[bolinity]

Your stuff keeps popping up in my following feed and I keep drowning in how good it is. Send help. The pacing, the dialogue, the characterization, the world-building. All the OTHER phenomenal writers in your space??? GAH. <333

You’re making me want to embrace another ATLA/TLOK kick and bring my two lady characters for the fandom back.

Also, hi! How you been? Vaguely remember messaging you, like…once, then never again? Gotta get better at that, sorry. I was very new to Tumblr when I did, too. ;^^

(waaaaaaahhhh you're so sweet!! thank you so much! i saw this in my inbox right before i left for work like probably an hour after you sent it and i kept thinking about it all day gkdnfgksdfg esp since i was feeling a little rusty after not writing for a while due to busyness for a trip + work so again thank you so much 😭✨💚

i mean you're definitely welcome aboard — the more the merrier!

also big shoutout to these blogs that have a good chunk of [currently active and mainly focused on] lok characters that i've been able to chat and meme with:

@eleutheriya - currenly has varrick [she has also written mako and korra] on her multimuse blog

@bendingmuses - has a whole slew of lok and atla characters like zuko, iroh ii, mako, firelord izumi, ghazan, pema, a bunch of the beifong boys, and a good handful of OCs on her atla/lok-focused multimuse

@feiiizhu - the lovely opal i currently write with

@inkorrnate & @ninetaels - korra, mako, and asami between these blogs of theirs, the latter is a multimuse blog

@untoldwithin - just started writing with their korra! they also have asami, lin, zaheer, p'li, and tonraq on their multimuse blog

@airteacher - she's currently on hiatus but they've written tenzin since book 1

@didymousrising - they're low activity but have both eska and desna

also stupid bonus self promo of my @kingwu because i have fun writing that doofus prince/king wu but i can't rp with myself lmao

also possibly? i currently don't get too much interaction from non-roleplay blogs as i used to back in the hay-day of the fandom back when this account was run more like a bolin ask blog + rp blog in 2012. plus i took a biiiiig hiatus after book 4 ended then came back in 2020 and haven't left since [besides a few breaks here and there because life] but you're definitely welcome to interact with bo or myself! ✨)

[redrikki]

Avatar-Fic Masterpost

Gather Up Every Wayward Lock - The girls do their hair, now with 100% more character development. (Katara, Azula, Toph)

Seven Stories of Uncles and Nephews - Zuko couldn’t ask for a better father than his uncle and Iroh loves the boy like a second son.  7 very short stories written for Irko Week 2009. (Zuko, Iroh)

The Last Cheese Bender - It was amazing just how much of Air Nomad cuisine had survived, but none of the other nations ate cheese. Aang was going to change that. (Aang, the Gaang)

Playing With Fire (The Dubiously Consensual Remix) - People didn’t tell Azula no. (Azula/Ty Lee)

The Thing With Wings -  Aang had a son.  He would teach him airbending and never be alone again. (Aang, Bumi II)

Chips and Blocks - Lin called Toph ‘Chif’ for years before some well-meaning busybody taught her to say 'Mom’ instead.  Toph isn’t sure what kind of mom she is, but she knows which kind she doesn’t want to be. (Toph, Lin)

Half a Phoenix (The Out of the Past and Into the Future Remix) - Everyone has a lesson to teach.  Ozai and his granddaughter learn a lot from each other. (Ozai, Zuko, Zuko’s daughter)

Conversations on the Road to Splitsville - Tenzin and Lin were never going to work, it just took him a long time to realize that. (Lin/Tenzin, Pema/Tenzin)

Sweep, Stir, Sew - When your daughter is the Avatar, motherhood is an exercise in letting go. (Senna/Tonraq, Korra)

Ten-Thousand Words (Which Wont See The Light of Day) - A series of short stories about the ladies of the Legend of Korra. (Asami, Pema, Ikki, Lin, Ginger, Senna, Katara)

People Skills - Bolin’s not too smart but he’s good with people and he’s okay with that. (Bolin)

Element of Freedom - Opal knows what she wants, she just needs to be convinced to go for it. (Opal, Korra)

Girl, Gotten (The Heroine After Remix) - As long as Asami’s the hero, Korra’s okay being the love interest. (Korra/Asami)

Leaves on the Wind - What comes next? Two short stories about the next Avatar. (Korra, Asami, OCs)

Crossovers

Tales of Albuquerque - A car bombing in San Francisco lands Marshall Mary Shannon in a whole lot of hot tea or Zuko and Iroh hide out from the Flame Triad in witness protection. AtLA/In Plain Sight (Zuko, Iroh, Mary Shannon)

The Start of a Long Summer - Azula steps through a wardrobe to find a kidnapping faun and a wintry kingdom ripe for regime change. AtLA/Chronicles of Narnia (Azula, Tumnus)

[linnorabeifong]

Korra’s Christmas

This is just an idea but if enough of you are interested I will do it and make a collection on Ao3.

Thirty one days of holiday  Fan Art and Fanfic 

All Thirty One Days of December are different ships and a prompt. I’ll write some and I’ll make polls and posts for suggestions. If you’d like to suggest rules, prompts or ships, message me.  Send in prompts ! Tag your friends. I’ll try to post polls once I get enough. I’ll post all prompts before the end of the month.

If you like a ship that isn’t included then I can add it, as a bonus or replace a disliked ship with it. if you dislike a ship I can remove it just message me. If you dislike a tentative prompt I can swap it.

post your ideas and submissions with #Korra’sChristmas. I will reblog them.

if you have any question my asks are open. I tried to include every ship I could think of. I don’t want anyone to feel excluded or leave out their favorite ship.

Rules (so far, will add more if they are suggested or people are hateful) : No incestous or illegal ships will be permitted. No NSFW content with underage characters. NSFW content  is welcomed, but must be tagged as such and rated appropriately please and thank you. Submissions can be no ship or platonic as long as they incorporate the prompt. If you’d like your prompt to be for a particular day/ship let me know. Feel free to send in prompts related to other winter Holidays or just the winter season. If you want a ship to be a particular day let me know.

Tentative Prompts: 

Meet Cute

Meet the In laws

Tree Decorating

Movie Night

Naughty and Nice  List

Spiked Eggnog

Christmas Proposal 

Hot Chocolate 

Wrapping Gifts

Christmas Cookies

Non-traditional Christmas 

Christmas Vacation

Snowed-In

Working on Christmas 

Modern Day AU

Submitted Prompts:

Secret Santa Gift Exchange 🎅🏽

Build a Snowman ⛄️

Snowball fight ❄️ 

Tentative Ships:

Amon/Lin (I’m joking this is a crack ship but if any of y’all actually like this one let me know and I’ll keep it otherwise it’s getting axed)

Asami/Bolin 

Asami/Iroh 

Asami/Korra 

Asami/Kuvira 

Asami/ Mako 

Asami/OC or any character

Baatar Sr/Suyin 

Baatar Jr/Kuvira 

Bolin/ Korra 

Bolin/Opal 

Bolin/ Wei 

Bolin/ OC or any character

Bumi/Lin 

Bumi/ OC or any character 

Izumi/Lin 

Izumi/ OC or any character 

Mako/Asami 

Mako/ Korra 

Mako/Lin 

Wuko

Opal/Kuvira  ( Winter Solstice)

Korra/Kuvira

Korra/ Tahno  (Christmas Eve)

Kya/Lin (Christmas Day)

Lin/ Tarlokk or Linzin

Pema and Tenzin 

Senna and Tonraq 

Kai and Jinnora  

Mr and Mrs Moon 

Zolt/Lin

Update: So far we have 18 prompts ! We need thirteen more ! Please send some in !!!

[bendingmuses]

♬ for multiple characters, whoever you'd like.

♬ : Does your muse sing well? Regardless of whether they sing well or not, do they enjoy singing?

I'm gonna go through all my muses cause I can. At least my canon muses anyway. Since all my OCs are deaf. Singing just doesn't interest any of them.

Zuko:

He absolutely cannot and does not sing. Don't ask. Your ears will bleed lol. He can play some instruments if pushed, but refuses to sing.

Izumi:

She loved singing lullabies to her kids when they were little. She's not the best singer, but her voice did the job at soothing them when it was needed.

Iroh II:

Iroh isn't much of a singer, but he does have the voice of one. He enjoys singing quietly, but he won't if asked. He's got much better talents and skills than singing.

Yua:

Absolutely loves singing. Maybe not in front of people or crowds, but with smaller groups of people and along with a band. Anything with music, Yua is all for. Especially dancing and singing.

Mako:

No. Don't even ask. He'll look at you like you've grown a second head if you try to get him to sing.

Tonraq:

He has one of those voices you would expect to hear when listening to tribal music. Deep and melodic. On that carries his culture and history with ease.

Ghazan:

He doesn't do it often, if at all, but his singing voice is hypnotic. In a sense. You just can't help but to stop and listen intently on the rare chance that Ghazan decides to sing something.

Pema:

She has a sweet, soft singing voice. A voice designed for the songs and culture of the Air Nomads. The singing voice you would expect a mother to have.

Piandao:

He cannot sing. He's more of an instrument player. Much preferring to let the tools speak for him instead of his voice. He's not a good singer even if he was asked.

[blade-liger-4ever]

.....Is now a bad time to mention that I headcanon Tonraq being paternally descended from Kuruk via an OC brother of Kuruk's, or....??

I would pay to see this duo interact

[writers-pond]

Hmmmm…a few Bumi ii aus/other Cloudkid aus

AU in which Bumi meets a newly banished Tonraq (via Katara and Kya) and things begin to happen wink wink. Some fluff and familial-related angst here.

Similar AU to the previous one only Bumi falls for Tonraq later on (maybe somewhere during or post-canon) and he, Senna, and Tonraq just form a polycule.

AU in which Kya (Katara and Sokka’s mom) meets her grandchildren. How so depends. Probably the ways of the spirit-world or sudden resurrection.

Bumi x OC AU. In which Bumi and Solrus (my oc) first start off on the rough side of things but eventually become closer and bonded over time

Genderqueer/trans Bumi au. In which at an old age, Bumi ii starts to make a few realizations about himself

[rainbowgato]

Desna: Hewwo.

Sofi: Hihiiiiii!

Eska: Greetings, Humans.

Tonraq : Three kinds of people.

Unalaq: ...

Senna: Four kinds of people.

Korra: WHAT’S UP FUCKERS?

Tonraq : Five kinds of people.

[amaarok]

multimuse is a slippery slope b/c here I am with 12 drafts, 1 missing bio, and dreams of 2 new muses.

[thevictorianghost]

I know @stargirl-judooz ! It's so hard to choose!

Of course, there's a lot of reasons why I would want to cast Zuko as Tristan and Katara as Yvaine. The whole "you rise with the moon, I rise with the sun" thing fits so well. And Zuko has a similar character growth as Tristan, dealing with his elitist love interest, starting out as pathetic only to grow into his own, etc.

But I've come to the same conclusion as you: I think I'm going to go with Katara as Tristan! I think her journey across the world fits very well, as would her familial relationship, though Zuko will still be the one getting a makeover!

If I were to go with Zuko as Tristan, I really like the idea of Mai being Victoria, too, but I think that would put her in the same role as my Mai as Caledon Hockley from Titanic in my Never Let Me Go fic. The snooty suitor who looks down upon others. Same vibe, different font. It would feel a bit redundant.

Plus, I like my role reversal AUs. I find them much more interesting that way :)

As for the others, I've toyed with the main cast a bit and I've found my princes! And I didn't even have to make OCs! The Northern Water Tribe (being more conservative than the Southern Water Tribe) has a lot of older men with tragic or villainous traits, so I've picked and chose those from the ATLA Wiki. Most are from LOK, which I still haven't watched, but I don't care lol.

Amon/Noatak as Prince Primus

Tarrlok as Prince Secundus

Yakone as Prince Tertius

Pakku as the ghost of Prince Quartus

Kuruk as the ghost of Prince Quintus

Tonraq as the ghost of Prince Sextus

Unalaq as Prince Septimus

(Also, if anyone thinks I should switch which prince is which, please tell me!)

Now, I just need to find a good explanation for why Zuko is a star and Uncle Iroh and Azula are not (it'll probably be related to Zuko's scar) and we're in business!

Okay Zutara Fandom, I need your help

So it’s been a while since I’ve written Zutara fic, and since I’ve watched Stardust (2007) this weekend, I want to make a Zutara AU for this amazing movie!!

If you’ve never seen it (go watch it!), it’s about a young man named Tristan who decides that, to win the heart of the prettiest lady in his village, he must go and find a shooting star that fell on the other side of a magical wall, only to find out that the star is, in fact, a young woman named Yvaine, who is being hunted by both evil witches and murderous princes.

Now, my question for the Zutara fandom is: who should be Tristan and and who should be Yvaine? Because I know it would seem like a no-brainer that Zuko is Tristan and Katara is Yvaine, but I am also torn with the idea to make Katara Tristan and Zuko Yvaine (like my Zutara Titanic AU, where Zuko was Rose and Katara was Jack).

If I were to have Zuko be Tristan, the characters would be like this:

Tristan: Zuko

Dunstan: Uncle Iroh (or Noren, from the comics?)

Old Man at the Wall: Bumi

Yvaine: Katara

Victoria: Mai

Victoria’s friends: Azula and Ty Lee

Humphrey: Chan (The Beach episode guy) or maybe Jet?

The witches: Hama, Lo and Li

The princes: 7 OCs

The King: Ozai (or Azulon?)

Sal: Joo Dee

Una: Ursa

Captain Shakespeare: Aang (or Uncle Iroh? Depends on who I pick for Dunstan)

Pirate crew: Sokka, Suki, Toph, Appa, Momo

Star who talks to Tristan: Yue

But if it were to be Katara as Tristan, then the cast of characters would be like this:

Tristan: Katara

Dunstan: Hakoda

Old Man at the Wall: Bumi

Yvaine: Zuko

Victoria: Jet

Victoria’s friends: Smellerbee, Longshot, Pipsqueak

Humphrey: Jin? Or Song??

The witches: Azula, Mai, Ty Lee

The princes: 7 OCs

The King: Chief Arnook

Sal: Hama

Una: Kya

Captain Shakespeare: Uncle Iroh

Pirate crew: Zuko’s crew + the Gaang

Star who talks to Tristan: Yue

I can’t decide which one to choose!! Can anyone help me, please? Thank you!!

(I’ll also tag a few people who could help, and if I forgot to tag you, I’m very sorry!!)

@cynical-mystic @sunnylune @juldooz @burst-of-iridescent @darkcrowprincess

Also, as you can see, I’m mostly brainstorming here, lol. But it sounds like a cute idea!!

[kyoshis-gf]

Sample 01 - Welcome to Republic City

Disclaimer: This is NOT a “fix-it” series, much less a “rewrite”. I do not enjoy those, and I very much love Legend of Korra perfectly as it is. This is merely testing my own writing skills by trying to portray small scenes I’d loved to see throughout the show!

This scene takes place after the dinner with Tenzin, but before Korra sneaks out to RC. 

EXT. Southern Water Tribe, MARKET - Night

Tenzin, Korra, Jinora, Tonraq and Senna walk around the market. Korra’s parents are more to the back, talking amongst themselves, while Korra, Tenzin and Jinora take the front. 

KORRA

C’mon, Tenzin! Can’t you think about it just a liiiitle bit more?

Tenzin carefully shakes the snow off his cape, a weary look to his eyes. 

TENZIN

I’ve thought about it plenty, Korra, and I believe we’ve discussed it at length. Your staying here in the South Pole with your family is the best decision in the long run.

Korra runs ahead of him, spreading her arms to point around them, to the people. 

KORRA

Best for WHO? Certainly not me! And I can’t believe the rest of the world is super happy about their avatar being locked up--

TENZIN

(Sighing)

You’re not locked up, Korra. You’re… Training. In a safe environment, away from distractions, and--

KORRA

And people, and other cultures, and masters of all forms of sub-bending I probably haven’t even heard of! 

TENZIN

You truly believe the world is much more exciting than it actually is.

Korra kicks the snow from under her feet. 

KORRA

How would I know? You guys never let me leave and see it for myself. I’m the first avatar who hasn’t gotten to travel to the world.

Tenzin puts a calming hand to her shoulder. 

TENZIN

You’re sixteen, Korra, not a hundred and six. There will be plenty of time for you to see the world and live all there is to be lived.

KORRA

(Under her breath)

Yeah, right. As soon as you manage to free up your schedule a little bit, right?

TONRAQ

C’mon now, Korra, don’t be brash. I’m sure Tenzin is doing the best he can. He is just a very busy man. 

TENZIN

Believe me, there’s nothing I want more than to preserve my father’s legacy, and that includes passing down his teachings to you. But he left more to this world than his reincarnation, and taking care of Republic City is as dear to me as any other endeavor. 

Korra opens her mouth to reply, but, at that very moment, a kid runs past her, bending the snow and making it fall on both Tenzin and Jinora. 

KID

Outta the way, lady! 

Jinora sneezes. Korra quickly bends the snow off Tenzin’s and Jinora’s robes and then drops to one knee in order to hold a flame near Jinora to warm her up. 

KID’S MOTHER (O.S)

Be careful! That’s the Avatar! 

KID (O.S)

(Suspiciously)

And what’s that supposed to be? 

Korra and Jinora exchange a glance. 

KORRA

Yeah, I’m sure the new generation is feeling suuuuuper in tune with their Avatar right about now. 

Tenzin stammers. Moves his hands about, not really sure of what to do with them. Then gives up. Senna steps in to mediate the situation. 

SENNA

We should go get snacks! Master Tenzin rarely ever comes to the South Pole, and he wouldn’t want to miss our algae-cake, right?

TENZIN

Uh….

SENNA

Great!

Senna pulls Tenzin by the elbow. Tonraq walks up so he can talk more directly with Korra.

TONRAQ

Don’t be so harsh on him. 

KORRA

I’m not being harsh. I’m just tired of waiting. 

TONRAQ

The world will be a better place with a well-trained Avatar… And…. It kind of sounds like you can’t wait to get rid of your parents.

He nudges her jokingly. Korra blows a raspberry. 

KORRA

(Whispering to Jinora)

Whad'ya say? Wanna ditch those booooring old people and go penguin sledding with me and your siblings?

Jinora beams, but she is not entirely sold on the idea yet. 

JINORA

Mom says we shouldn’t stray from the course. The market is pretty big… 

KORRA

You tell me! You think I’ve seen half of this place? But a little birdie told me Katara used to go on penguin sledding, and…--

JINORA

-- If gran-gran did it…--

KORRA

--So can we!

Korra looks up, expectantly, at her dad. Tonraq seems a little bit doubtful, but yields.

TONRAQ

All right, just don’t go far. And yell if anything happens!

KORRA

Yes!

Korra whistles. Naga finds her, sniffing the air around them until Korra scratches her behind the ears. Korra carefully puts Jinora on Naga’s back. 

When she turns back, Tonraq is gone, probably off to find his wife and Tenzin. Korra readies herself to jump on Naga’s back as well, but, before she can do so, she is called:

WOMAN’S VOICE (O.S)

Look over here!

KORRA

Huh?

Korra turns towards the voice. From one of the fish stands, approaches a woman, in her 40s. She looks like one of the market vendors’. 

WOMAN

You’re the Avatar, right?

KORRA

Sure am. You need help? Is there something bothering--

WOMAN

No, not at all! I just wanted to see you up close! 

KORRA

See me…?

WOMAN

Well, it is quite embarrassing to say this, but… Oh, Korra. You spend so much time locked up in that compound, many of us have forgotten what you actually look like…

At the other side of the Market, Tenzin, Senna and Tonraq eat away at their meal, when one of the vendors catches their attention:

VENDOR

Isn’t the Avatar Girl with you?

At the other side of the Market, Tenzin, Senna and Tonraq eat away at their meal, when one of the vendors catches their attention:

VENDOR

Isn’t the Avatar Girl with you?

Tonraq very slowly puts his bowl down. 

TONRAQ

She has a name. 

VENDOR

Has she now? With the way the lot of you keep her away from us, you’d think you were trying to make us forget her. 

SENNA

That’s not--

VENDOR

But what do I know? Legends and stories and all that rubbish. Maybe our Avatar is a different kind, huh? One that doesn’t like to meddle with people

Back to Korra. 

WOMAN

But you’re such a pretty girl! I remember you, when you were just a baby, running behind Senna when she came to pick up the fish! So cute! But you’re all grown up now. It’s a shame you never actually got to know the Tribe.  And you’ll be leaving us for that “Big City” soon…

KORRA

(Mumbling)

Maybe not so soon. 

WOMAN

What was that?

KORRA

Nothing. I, uh, just talking to myself, I guess. 

TONRAQ

Korra is receiving the training she’ll need to protect the world. 

VENDOR

Sure. But what about us? 

SENNA

… You?

VENDOR

The world isn’t just buildings and your big people's games, y’know? How is she supposed to love the world if she doesn’t even know the people she’s supposed to be protecting?

KORRA

Thank you. For, uh, for talking to me. I really needed that. But now I may have promised a little airbender I’d show her our tribe’s famous penguin sledding…

The woman chuckles.

WOMAN

Of course! Wouldn’t want to stand in the way. But, before you leave:

The woman moves her hands towards Korra, lifting some water up from the snow. She then bends the water into a… weird-looking and definitely asymmetrical but yet still endearing ice-flower, and puts it on Korra’s hair. 

WOMAN

Come back to the tribe someday. And we’ll be sure to teach you how to do this and everything else you didn’t get to do.

Korra gets choked up, so she simply nods. She gets on Naga’s back and adjusts herself around Jinora. 

TENZIN

I’m sure you have the Avatar’s best interests at heart, sir, but please refrain from insinuating such things. Korra is far from alienated from her people. Her training is simply more important, and her family understands that.

Tonraq and Senna share a look of doubt, quickly hiding it behind tight smiles when Tenzin looks back at them for approval. The vendor scoffs. 

JINORA

You all right, Korra?

KORRA

Yeah. Yeah, sure. Just got a lot on my mind.

She keeps Naga walking, but her eyes are off the road. She looks determined, her mind elsewhere. 

It’s at this moment she decides she’ll have to go to Republic City, one way or another.  And it’s at this moment Senna and Tonraq both agree with her. 

The characters found in this story and/or universe do not belong to me, but are the intellectual property of their respective authors. Non-profit story created by and for fans without compromising the original work.

[d-istyx]

"In 2020 I should enjoy drawing for myself and my friends more" I whispered as I drew Cato and Acciaio doing their thing.

Full on my Twitter. It's ruruthless_ there!

[sakiye]

Did anyone ask for study group au hcs? No. 

Will I give them anyway? Yes!

Ok. So the people in the study group are Senna, Tonraq, Iroh II, Sakura (Iroh’s older sister), and Malina (an OC)

So, Senna, Iroh, and Sakura are best of friends when they enter college.

Senna is planning to go into medicine.

Iroh is planning to be a history major.

Sakura is planning to major in psych. 

Malina is Senna’s roommate and Tonraq is Iroh’s roommate

The roommates become friends pretty quickly, and they quickly join the study group. 

Malina studies Political Science, and Tonraq studies ecology. 

They like to study in the library near a big window showing some trees. 

They send sticky notes to each other, whether they keep it on the other’s textbooks or assignments, they just do. 

More HCs are coming!

[josy1986]

Slavery: New Chapter

As the title suggests, there’s a new chapter out!  Its been over 4 years since updating this story, truthfully, I’m sorry for the wait, I just hope it was worth it in the end. Consider this my Christmas present to all of those who have been with me since day 1 and ofcourse all my new readers. I love each and every one of you :)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11147468/31/Slavery

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3902050/chapters/69376134

[ragdollrory]

The Jasmine Snapdragon

The sky was still a pastel mix of orange and pink when Azula’s name was called by the barista, and she picked her latte up at the counter. The shuffle in her phone switched to a calm tune, and she walked the two blocks that separated the coffee shop from her uncle’s shop, a hand searching through her bag for the heap of keys the man had given her the previous night.

A couple of minutes and several light switches later, soft music filling the room, she was comfortably sitting behind the counter. Paper cup in a hand, and a book on flowers and their meanings in the other. 

It was only a couple of weeks until Iroh returned from his trip, but Azula figured if she’d been tasked with taking care of the place, then she might as well do her research. Plus, Zuko had assured her time and time again he could do with some weeks of her being absent at the company, and promptly taken her workload from her hands. So it was not like she had a lot more to do, as she waited for clients to show up. Once she tackled this, she’d start a novel, or another econ book, whichever caught her fancy first.

The place was nice enough to be in, once you got past the array of colors and aromas. Neat and varied, with some really exotic numbers as well. Or bright, happy, and completely adorable, in the words of Ty Lee, who often visited to have tea with her uncle. That was a friendship Azula could understand, but would rather stay the hell away from, lest she got her aura read, and cleaned with the weird blends the chubby man and hyperactive friend were so fond of.

Once the coffee was done, nose still in the book, Azula went onto checking the water in the vases, removing the withered flowers, and finally flipping the sign on the door over to Open. It was just a couple of weeks, she could do it, she’d lived through worse after all. The vultures at the company’s legal department, university, the institution, her family… This would be a piece of cake.

And really, as days trickled by, running the shop turned out to be effortless. Between her good memory, and knack for reading people, Azula found bouquet making to be an easy enough activity. She’d spotted several types- or stereotypes even- of customers so far.

First on her list, and last in her esteem, were cheaters. Those she could smell the second they walked through the door. Anxious as they looked through the store's varied options, toying with their wedding band when they were married, and checking the mobile an excessive amount of times while at it. They were easy to spot, and easy to sell to, and since Azula couldn't really skin them, at least she made sure her uncle's shop made a profit out of their disgusting habit.

"You don't really want to pick those." Came her usual opening line, with a discreet roll of her eyes, as they automatically went for the red roses. "Those are nice, sure, but it's a bit obvious, don't you think?”

She made her way around the counter, to point out some other options, not trying too hard to hide the disenchantment in her voice. “I’d say some chrysanthemum could be nice. Red means love, of course. White is for loyalty, and devoted love.” She let a second tick by before continuing. “Then yellow is sorrow, neglected love… perhaps an array of them would be good.

“Unless it’s not for the wife, but the lover. In that case I’d go with the red roses after all.”

It was most amusing how they just itched to buy and get it all done with, no matter what she decided was best to sell them. Always paying in cash, and oftentimes buying for both the spouse and lover. Sometimes Azula wondered if whoever received them understood the message behind the pretty arrangements. If they stayed together afterwards as well. Sometimes the client would return, and she’d known they’d not read between the lines of the flowers. Sad, really.

Probably one of her favourite type of client was the opposite of the first one, the long-run partners. They usually went in with a clearer idea in their mind, having gifted flowers throughout their marriage, or having read certain species was best for the current anniversary they were on. And their smile as they talked about their loved one was contagious.

Those, Azula helped with genuine interest, taking her time to put together a bouquet that would bring out the same joy in the receiving end as it did to the buyer.

“Perhaps it’s not the most common flower to gift, but Honeysuckles carry meanings of devoted love, and lasting bonds.” She explained to a man in his mid-sixties, who was looking for a gift for his wife of over forty years.

They’d gone over several options already, before he asked for the trumpet-shaped flower, and Azula couldn’t help but to monologue a little about the things she’d read on the plant. She even went as far as to mention the properties attributed to it when using it in a tea blend. The whole flower shop vibe was clearly getting to her, although she’d rather believe it was the man’s willingness to listen to her.

“If you plant this,” Making a quick trip to the back, where her uncle had the greenhouse, Azula plucked a little sprout of the plant in vivid coral color, to hand to the man alongside the bouquet, “then hummingbirds and butterflies are bound to come to your garden.”

He’d returned twice since then, once with his wife, who had brought her homemade cookies, and showed her pictures of the little plant in its new pot. It had been a nice day.

Other clients in her list were teenagers, and those were most amusing to tend to. Never sure of what they were looking for, blushing every couple of seconds, or everytime Azula asked them a question about the person receiving the flowers.

They usually came with limited money also, wrinkled in their pockets where they nervously pushed their hands, or in their backpacks under a pile of trash they often had to take out over the counter to be able to find the bills.

“Okay, listen to me, take lilies.” Azula’s patience was running thin with this one, but she’ll try her best not to throttle the girl, because it reminded her a little of Mai. And well, because it would not look good on the store. “They stand for refined beauty, and orange ones are passion. She won’t just like it, she’ll love it.

“Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.” Whatever it was that made the girl believe her, she was thankful for it, and she left with a stuttered thank you, and a nice arrangement of four lilies, while Azula was left methodically straightening the rumpled bills against the counter’s edge.

No, tending to the store was easy, fun even. And somehow- and Azula wasn’t pointing at people, but it had been Ty Lee- her uncle found out just how well she’d been doing her job, and decided to extend his trip a couple more weeks. It wasn’t the most awful thing to happen, but she’d been itching to go back to the company already. Still, Iroh hardly ever left the city, and two more weeks could harm no-one.

Azula had just sold a large basket of pink tulips for a baby welcoming gift, and was at the back fixing the vase, when the door chimes announced a new buyer. She called she’d be there in a minute through the parted door, getting a ‘take your time’ in return.

“Oh, you really don’t want to pick those.” Came her already trademark phrase, as she walked back into the shop, and caught the look of the newest customer.

Tall, big- so freaking big, probably a gym fanatic by the looks of it. He was tanned, with messy waves of ombré hair to his shoulders, and black ink tattoos spiralling down his arms from under his t-shirt sleeves. So, a surfer maybe? He had the aura of it, and Azula was positive the tattoos were Hawaiian.

“I’m sorry?” He turned to her from his inspection of some peonies, curiosity very vivid in his expression, a raised eyebrow towards her. Half his face was hidden by a heavy beard, but Azula had to blink a couple of times under the deep blue of his eyes. A smile tugged at his lips, and she shook her head to clear it.

“Peonies, you probably won’t want to pick those.” She took the tulips back to their fridge, taking a moment too long under the cool air, before turning back to the man. “They are linked to romance, and marriage, often times used to propose.”

“Okay.” He agreed without fuss, and Azula thought she was closer to her goal of guessing correctly. “Should I worry that you’re a mind reader, or-” His smile widened with a breathy chuckle, and she found herself smiling back at him.

“Not at all. I wouldn’t be in a flower shop if I were.” Rolling her eyes playfully, Azula moved onto what she figured were the flowers he was looking for. “So maybe roses, those are always popular, or irises-”

“Where would you be?” He cut through her speech.

“What?” She really wasn’t used to getting questions that were not flower related, not by first time buyers at least.

“I think this is a nice place to be, a happy one. But if you weren't here, where would you be?” The man commented, hands pushed into the back pockets of his worn-out jeans. She tried to ignore how he towered over her, giving a perfect view of the shirt hugging his chest as he did so.

"I, um. I'm a lawyer actually. I work at my family's company." Azula wasn't sure why she was hesitating over that, almost as if she regretted her position there. Or the fact that her name was on the very building she worked at. "I'm just covering for my uncle here. The shop is his."

"Hmm" The man gave her an appraising look, as if he were trying to picture her in a suit, maybe. Or maybe she was thinking too much into it. "Well, you seem to know quite a bit of flowers for being covering for him, then."

"Yes, well- I read a lot." Her answer was probably a bit off, but this whole conversation was. He was here to buy flowers for someone, some Barbie girl he met at the beach probably, and she had a book to go back to. Azula moved back to the flowers. "So, lilacs are good too, a magenta one is passion, so you could combine it with a-"

"Passion? No, no." He interrupted again, and this time she huffed, and turned to him with a hand on her hip. "I think you got the mind reading wrong here, who do you think I'm buying for?"

"I don't know." It was her turn to give him a once over now, and what a mistake it was. His smile was full of mischief, and her stomach had the gall to flip dangerously. "A Tinder date?"

His laugh filled the shop, loud and lively, and his eyes tightened with it, happy lines forming at the sides. Azula frowned, arms crossing at her chest.

“No, God no. Tinder dates, yeah- those aren’t my thing, really.” His voice was breathy when he spoke, shaking his head with a smile. He ran fingers through his hair. When his eyes found hers, there was softness in them. “I need something for my daughter. She has a ballet recital today.”

“Oh.” Oh, indeed. Azula’s arms dropped to her sides, shoulders losing the tension she’d gathered in about ten seconds. A daughter. “Okay, that’s- that’s nice. And easier, I guess.”

She was ashamed to say she was ashamed, and was too proud to apologise for the mistake. And there was also the fact that he seemed completely unfazed by the whole thing, and followed her around the shop in silence for the next couple of minutes as Azula pointed out options for him to pick. She could feel his eyes on her, making warmth climb up her neck, and making her breath catch whenever she turned and caught them on hers.

“I think daisies and sunflowers will do.” He said after some time, and she nodded, picking up one of the vases to take to the counter. He took the other one.

The music around them was the only thing filling the silence as Azula trimmed the stems and prepared the arrangement on a bright colorful paper. Her eyes trailed to the tattoos on his arm every so often, where he leaned on the counter.

“So what about me made you believe I was on a date?” The question definitely made her blush now, and she just focused harder on the flowers, thinking on an appropriate answer. There was none.

“Your looks.” She shrugged, not really wanting to say more, but the rise of his eyebrows encouraged for more. There was a line through his left one, Azula noted, a scar. It made him look better somehow. “I don’t know, okay. I just-”

Her hands motioned over to him, as if that made any sense, as if she made sense anymore.

“You just look like a man who would pick someone up easily, and- have many dates probably. Just, forget about it, okay?” She did not plead, she never pleaded. Azula tied the ribbon on the bouquet, and handed it over. “Here, these are on the house.”

He stood there for a moment, considering her words perhaps, about to laugh at her again maybe. And then his hand brushed over hers as he took the flowers. A shiver ran up her arm. God, please make him go now, before she made more of a fool of herself. 

“I insist.” Her voice was just a tad strained, and he stopped in his pulling out of the wallet.

“Okay, then.” Azula dared to look up, and he was sporting a really soft smile that made her chest ache. Damn it, why wasn’t he going away already? “Tikaani will be very happy with them, thank you.”

A sigh she didn’t know she was holding left her lips as he finally reached the door, but he turned once again, and she had to hurry to school her face to something that didn’t say ‘I was checking you out’.

“I didn’t catch your name, if you don’t mind me asking.” There weren’t many times in her life where she’d felt like this, spellbound by a total stranger, but this right here- as he stood by the door with a corner of his lips pulling up on a charming smile- this was one.

“Azula.” And then it was a full grin, and who had given him the right to just look so happy?

“A beautiful name. I’m Tonraq.” Azula thought she managed a nod before he left, but wasn’t even sure about that, and then she dropped herself very unceremoniously on the chair.

She had only managed to take a couple of steadying breaths, when the door chimed again, and she tried to clear her head to take on this new customer.

“Hi, can I- Oh.” Tonraq was there again, plucking two flowers from the vases, amaryllis, and daffodil. She tried very hard not to bring forward the meanings. It didn’t work; joy, new beginnings, and worth beyond beauty. She didn’t dare breathe.

“So I was wondering, since you wouldn’t let me pay for the arrangement, that I could pay for dinner? Friday night? It’s not Tinder, but I did bring flowers.” He smirked, and she had the sudden urge to push a finger to his chest and tell him a few truths, and- and kiss him as well. How unfair that he could do that.

“You think you’re so funny, don’t you?” Azula couldn’t help the smile from reaching her lips, no matter how hard she tried. She plucked the flowers from his hand. “Fine. Only- because you picked them wisely.”

Grabbing a pen and a store card, she wrote down her number, and handed it over. His fingers lingered on hers a little longer this time, her heart hurried behind her ribs.

“I’ll pick you up at six, Princess.” He winked, and turned on his heels.

“I’m not- don’t-” She tried calling back on him, but it was too late, he was hopping into a Jeep already. And she was smiling at the nickname anyways. Azula smelled the flowers as if she wasn’t surrounded by them, her cheeks burning with the promise of the date. 

If he thought she were a Princess, he should’ve picked a purple iris.