#realizing how many parenthesis i use. sorry i like being clear 😔

[kiki-strike]

not to be so not normal about everything but azula and zuko’s relationship and thinking about how it would be after the show is SO INTERESTING. like when they were growing up azula was the “one in charge” and not zuko even though zuko was two years older? (idk what to call that, ppl w siblings ykwim) (see: azula calls him “little zuzu”, azula bullies HIM in a flashback to them at like 5 or 6, etc). i can’t even fathom my (3 not 2) years younger sister being the one in charge, she feels like a baby (loving) to me and always has.

so like. i feel like that sort of speaks to azula’s maturity? which sounds stupid but like. at 14 she was (for at least a few minutes each) the leader of 2/3 of the world (probably much more bc the earth kingdom is huge). while zuko was out there trying to not fail at customer service job. (hard)

and then she breaks down. now i’ve had psychotic episodes before and one of them i was azula’s age but my sister and I’s way of dealing with it was to just. ignore it. not say anything. and then occasionally effy-tony them (idk how else to describe that lol). however. azula tried to Kill Him and then he usurped her throne. that feels hard to ignore.

which really means 1 of 3 things.

1. azula and zuko work their shit out

2. azula continues to be an ass like in the comics (though with what happened to her i. don’t blame her)

3. (my favorite) THEY IGNORE IT.

azula and zuko were clearly raised in a don’t-air-your-dirty-laundry house. they both have the emotional intelligence of rocks and don’t know how to talk to other people like a human being. neither of them would know how to start the “i just went a little nuts”/“i just watched you go a little nuts” conversation. so i think they just don’t say anything.

eventually azula stops trying to kill him (which i don’t think would really take that long; what triggered her episode was being emotionally alone and i think if her friends came back and zuko stayed with her she’d snap back pretty quickly). very gradually their conversations go from “i see you got pretty far this escape attempt. don’t do that again.” to “can i hide in here the councilmen won’t leave me alone and my head hurts” to “and there were CANDLES and ROSE PETALS and i just asked him about how his MOM DIED im so stupid how did i not realize until now”.

i really like the idea of azula staying on house arrest in the palace, at first in her chambers and then on the grounds with a guard, and at first it’s because she’s dangerous but after a while she starts to like it. she doesn’t have all those responsibilities anymore. she doesn’t have to be perfect. nothing bad will happen to her if she isn’t because she already did what she thought of as the worst possible thing to do (losing her fire lord title). and she survived. and she’s not under ozai’s thumb anymore. and it feels better.

basically i like the idea of azula becoming the kid she never got to be. an actual little sister. zuko knows she sneaks out to go to parties in caldera. he doesn’t tell anyone. azula makes a habit of threatening councilmen when zuko needs a break because if HE did it would send a bad message but if SHE does. well that’s just the fire lord’s crazy sister.

idk i just like the idea of them finally being able to be actual siblings to each other. getting into shenanigans. causing trouble. learning how to unlearn things together. changing the world. having fun.