#ursa mention

[kalevalakryze]

The Forge Jitters

“Chugging caffeine to try and fight the inevitable crash.”

The duties of an Armorer were vast and all consuming. She knew this since the day she picked the particular path, watching as Mandalorian armorers worked in tandem at the great forge, all those years ago. The armor she made helped keep her convert alive as long as they had been, and while many had gone their own ways, they went with the protection of her armor, and the promise of a home to return to , so long as they still walked the way.

When they retook Mandalore, it only added to her workload: the beskar alloy from the imperials needed melted and reforged for the people in belonged to, building materials would need assembled, and armor would need repaired. All on top of establishing safe zones, clearing Alamites, staying clear of the Mand’alor’s strange choice in pet (that sewer lizard kept trying to nip at their people’s heels, though Bo insisted he was harmless each time), and working on getting her people to follow Lady Kryze as they followed her. She was not made to be a leader, but an Armorer, and the retaking of their home meant she could just be what she was meant to again.

The Children of The Watch still came to her, much more often than not, to ensure the orders passed down were correct, to question the niteowls or the history of the planet. The Armorer turned those who were more stubborn at the change in leadership as her apprentices, teaching them the way of the forge, while sharing wisdom about following one’s Mand’alor.

When others would step away for the night, The Armorer often found herself pulled in another direction, clearing materials and checking welds, helping the Mand’alor, often by just being a steady presence to bounce thoughts off of. So, in order to stay awake and alert, she’d turned to Caff and other energy supplements.

It was no secret that these methods often led to feeling worse, heightened paranoia, muscle spasms, the likes of which could make one a liability, but when Bo Katan stepped into the forge that night, greeting her with silence, and the weight of a forehead against the center of her back, The Armorer knew it was worth it, to provide the same strength to the woman who gave her their home back.

“Bo Katan,” The Armorer greeted, setting down the beskar tongs that seemed to rattle and vibrate in her hands, placed somewhat too roughly against a stone table. “You have returned. What came of your travels?” The golden helmeted warrior only stepped away as the Mand’alor walked to the table to set her helmet down. The small machine had been brought down by the niteowls when their took a break at the forge, soon, the sound of the device heating and pouring water into the dusted grounds echoed off the walls, refilling a cup that had been filled on and off the entire day.

“Din Djarin and I went to the New Republic together, they’ve offered to put out bulletins for the other clans of Mandalorian’s, to let them know they can come home. Clan Wren has also started to link us into the safest trade route Sabine could find. Boba Fett declared that he does not wish to return to Mandalore permanently, though he does have plans to visit and help us reestablish ourselves-“ the redheads voice trailed. They could both use more sleep than either were willing to let on, especially with the Mand’alor out in the galaxy, continuing to reunite tribes and clans without the darksaber by her side, but a planet to call home.

“You have done well, Lady Kryze,” the woman complimented, keeping her back turned from Bo as her helmet was lifted, just enough to swallow a mouthful of too hot caff. The burn helped jar her system back to where it was meant to be. As her helmet was replaced, and she’d turned herself back in time, she’d caught the sight of her Mand’alor’s head ducked bashfully, and the way her cheeks reddened with blush. Worth it indeed, if keeping herself awake ensured she would still be the one garnering that type of reaction.

“What about you? How have things been since I’ve been gone?” Bo questioned, taking those few steps closer and reaching to grab her free hand. These small moments of affection were becoming more and more common lately, on both of their ends. So the Armorer let her hand wrap around Bo’s as she thought of the best way to respond.

“The trinitite seems to be taking well to the durasteel and other materials recovered from the imperial facility, the apprentices have done well molding them together so we can rebuild. However we will need to discuss if we will be redoming the cities in the future.” The crystal on the surface would be a perfect and abundant material for them to use, if they could work it properly to still allow sunlight and not superheat the civilization.

As she spoke, she’d turned to refill another cup of caff, the burn wearing off once more and allowing the feeling of the crash to start. Beneath her helmet, brown eyes screwed shut, the sound of the cup missing the spout of the device on several occasions echoing.

“Hey-“ she’d heard, a soft tone from bo katan that seemed specially reserved for her. A hand on her shoulder, sliding down to the un-armored portion of her bicep and rubbing against the material soothingly. “You’ve been busy,” the redhead pointed out, offering a smile at the blank stare she’d received. “Just, come back to the tents with me for a while. We can talk there if you want, or do something else…” her voice trailed off in a suggestive tone, though the Armorer knew it was a trap. One meant to lull her out of the forge with a false sense that they would take a new step, only to be lured away from her work to waste time sleeping (a sentient The Armorer did not normally hold, as she’d encouraged many that sleep was a necessity. She never was good at following her own advice).

Despite her wish to deny, to turn herself back to her work, she couldn’t find it in herself to say no to Bo Katan. Her mug was set down on the stone ledge that served as a shelf, fingers steadying it so her jittery hand would not knock it to the ground, and she soon took her rightful place at the other’s side.

Bo Katan walked with a perfect speed, like she’d been ready for The Armorer’s hurried strides. With how often she’d seen the Mand’alor in a similar predicament of caff fueled energy, it made sense how she’d guessed the exact strides the golden helmeted woman would take.

All too soon, they were both cramped inside of Bo Katan’s tent. A tactical decision on the niteowls part, there was nothing to distract oneself with, as the Mand’alor kept her tent rather empty. Still though, small trinkets from foundlings were displayed proudly along a stack of crates, the only area that seemed cared for in the tent. She’d noticed the small trinket she’d helped one of her foundling apprentices create, beskar scraps melted together to form an inch sized bust of Bo-Katan’s own helmet, front and center from all the little pieces.

In the corner of the tent, Bo’s sewer lizard made a snapping sound, reaching out like he was going to nip at the trim of her heavy skirt. “Akaan, down.” The woman commanded, hands resting on her hips as she stared down the small creature. A brief showdown occurred between the two, before ‘Akaan’ lowered himself back into the small bed of furs.

“He’s harmless, really,” Bo promised as she set her helmet on an empty section of the crates, armor soon following in a near stack beside them. “Now come on, you look like you’re about to drop.” And then the Mand’alor was settling into the cot. It wasn’t large enough for two people, but this was a dance they’d repeated just often enough to understand how to fit, even if Bo switched their positions.

The armorer sighed, a heavy sound that only seemed to expel all the energy she’d tried to pour into her system over the last few days. At least she wouldn’t be crashing in the middle of a project. The Armorer removed only the beskar chest plate, furs and heavy skirt, before she settled into the bed, more on Bo Katan than the actual cot itself.

Despite the awkward angle, and the unfortunate situation of The Armorer needing her helmet, the pair eventually got comfortable. Bo’s right arm wrapped firmly around her middle as her helm lay against the woman’s shoulder, both arms wrapped around her mand’alor. Her arm would be numb in the morning, stuck between Bo and the thin mattress, but like her temporary sleep strike, it was also deemed worth the consequences.

Even with the crash of sleep, and allowing her body to still, her mind still ran rampant with projects and designs, though her body offered no motivation to do anything about these half formed thoughts.

Seeming to sense the disruption in The Armorer’s relaxation, Bo’s hand traveled the length of her hip to her shoulder, then back down again. “The forge is quiet, the hammers have stilled. It is time to rest, mesh’la.” Bo’s voice was heavy with sleep, her eyes stayed shut as deft fingers gently prodded and massaged out knots along the other woman’s back. The flight suit separating their skin prevented her from providing as much relief as she’d wanted in the moment, but it was relaxing enough that soon, The Armorer could not procrastinate the call of sleep’s embrace, body relaxing against Bo Katan’s, as the two finally drifted off to a well deserved rest.

[nonranghaes]

thank u to the lovely @thepixelelf for the idea haha her tags inspired this!! <3

"HANSOL VERNON CHWE."

vernon nearly fumbles with the mic in his hands, cord slipping from his grasp as he hears your voice ring out across the room. he can see how everyone else is staring at him now, the heat traveling up his neck. seungcheol stands across from you, headset pulled half-way off his ears as he stares at vernon, brows furrowed.

the room is silent. he looks around. "... yeah?"

"if you drop that mic... you're paying for it." your gaze bears heavily into his own, and you narrow your eyes for a moment before turning back to seungcheol.

he looks down to where he's holding it properly now (no longer swinging it by the chord, trying to look cool... admittedly for no one but himself), and he hears mingyu snort, and when vernon looks over, he can see seungkwan suppressing a smile, too.

seungkwan speaks low enough that the conversation stays between them, "not even their own boyfriend is immune..."

"aw, c'mon, i was mishandling it," vernon says. "it's not a big deal."

"he's whipped," mingyu snorts again, looking over to seungkwan. "they brought out the full name and everything."

vernon rolls his eyes, moving back to put the mic into its stand. barely seconds after he's made sure its secure, you're over by him, gaze meeting his own.

"hi?"

"thank you," you say quietly. with a quick glance around, you lean in, lips brushing against his cheek for barely a second. "are we... still going out tonight?"

he smiles. "yeah, of course," he toys with the chord still, adjusting the mic. when you don't move away immediately, he goes to speak... only to see the way you turn your cheek to him, tapping it despite your flustered look.

vernon doesn't hesitate. he leans in, lips lingering on your cheek longer than yours did. he knows someone is looking, but you don't shy away, and he's glad to show off his affection for you. you walk away, and he sees your tiny smile as you go to ask joshua about doing a mic check before rehearsal.

and behind him, seungkwan lets out a sigh, shaking his head. "he's gone."

[damianbugs]

this could mean nothing but upon my reread of Superman: Last Son of Krypton i noticed how important physical contact, specifically hand holding, is to chris' character. one of the first major bonding moments between clark and chris is when clark tucks him into bed, and chris asks him not to leave.

there are key moments in the story when people make the realisation that this 'mysterious kryptonian' is also just a little boy, and i think this is it for clark. lois has a similar moment after the bus falls on chris and she sees him cry.

the next time they hold hands is when jor-el tells clark he has no recollection of the boy, meaning there's a good chance he can't have been from krypton — which should make him more suspicious. clark doesn't seem worried about it, if anything, he seems really sad that the boy, just like him, has landed on earth with no family.

then after lois and clark accept chris as their own and start to integrate chris kent into their lives, all three of them hold hands when entering the daily planet.

now before this i just thought it was a really lovely and sweet way to show how affectionate the kents are, until this cover showed ursa and zod.

it might look like they're holding hands, but it's important to remember they never taught chris how to fly (most likely because they didn't care to, or they didn't want to give him the agency to then try and leave/disobey them). so they're just holding him up in the air. in the later story we see that they literally just drag him around by the hand since they don't expect him to fly with them (also to make sure he doesn't escape).

a great deal different to how clark and lois hold him.

then in the final moments we see clark save chris by grabbing hold of his hand.

i just think it says a lot about how we're supposed to see superman in this situation, especially after the previous moments with zod and chris. obviously in this situation clark would have grabbed whatever part or chris he could to stop him from being sucked up by the portal, but something about it being the boy's hand seems important. especially since it gives way to the very last time they hold hands.

the first time chris held clarks hand, he reached out first and held on, not wanting the other to leave him. the last time, clark is the one desperately trying to hold onto chris as the boy leaves.

again, this could mean nothing. chris is their kid so of course clark and lois hold his hand as all parents do, but it just seems a little more deliberate in this case. to really highlight the life chris had, the one he could of have had, and the one he gave up for others.

[demaparbat-hp]

Hi Dema!! Your art is fantastic and even the lineart is awesome! Solid and confident in where it's thick and where thin. I really like how your style has characters look more realistic and they have specific consistent features. Your blog has a pleasant atmosphere, and you're skilled in weaving AUs! There's a lot of details and structure, and I'd like to ask if any of them have a full story arc? Could you do a list of all of the AUs? Is there a motif that you especially like that repeats in any of the AUs? And whenever you add comments to my stuff in the tags I literally smile, it makes me want to keep at my plan to create everything I have in mind. So I'd like to spread this joy! I hope you have a nice day! (from late-draft ^^)

Hello, Late-Draft! I wasn't expecting this ask at all but I'm so glad to have received it!

First of all—I'll try to hold myself back from giggling like a schoolgirl. I'm having a sempai noticed me moment over here and that's just embarrassing. So give me a second to compose myself, if that's alright?

Okay, I'm back.

Now, on to business.

Character design, especially when it comes to facial features and how they're unique to each person, has always been a passion of mine. I always try to have a solid design for each character. I choose which features feel like the character in question, which face feels natural to draw, and go along with it. I love drawing Katara as much as I love drawing Zuko. Meanwhile, I seem to be on a never-ending battle against Sokka's features. Woes of an artist, I suppose.

Character design is actually one of the reasons I love your work so much, in case you hadn't noticed. I'm currently experimenting a bit with a different style... Hopefully it won't be long before the artwork is done and I can share it over here. I'm so excited for everyone to see it!

Now it's time for the reason we're all here.

I have said it before and shall say it once more: AUs are my lifeblood.

I love them so much! Building them, daydreaming the scenes, thinking of the characters and how they differ from their canon versions. The arcs and the themes and the worldbuilding. Building AUs is my passion, and I have so many of them!

There are a lot of motifs and themes that tend to repeat themselves in several of my AUs, I believe.

You'll notice that most of my stories are Zuko-centric, with a heavy emphasis on grief and humanity. There's the question of what makes us human and how to move forward when the whole world seems to push you back. I put a lot of stock in metaphors and symbolism within the narrative itself. I'm especially interested in the nuance of war and how it affects people emotionally, physically, and psychologically

I also tend to reutilize some elements of the lore and/or worldbuilding! Such as the Painted Lady's backstory, or the existence of War Children within the ATLA universe.

Now, the list!

I think I'll start with my current project, if that's okay :)

For the Spirits (New Gods AU)

Zuko was a child when he met Agni. Then, the spirits started coming to him. Eyes hidden in the hallways, voices pleading for help, for recognition, for remembrance.

Zuko could see Agni. He could see the broken remains of a Great Spirit and the empty smiles of amnesiac ghosts.

And they could see him in return.

I've been working on this AU for a long time, but only now did I get the chance to start writing the fic (linked up there!). I'm extremely excited about FTS and where the story will lead us in the future, but I'll try not to spoil too much.

It's a Zuko-centric story, with a heavy emphasis on Spirits and humanity. I'd like to add a warning for depression/mental health issues.

To Hesitate (Lee & Kya AU)

As she watches Lee and Kya avoid each other's eyes from across the room, the phrase comes back to her, swift and silent:

"To hesitate is to lose."

.

As Song treats the victim of an unfortunate interaction with a rare poisonous flower, her day takes an unexpected turn when it becomes apparent that the old man's nephew and her assistant have history.

A vivid history.

The Lee & Kya AU is a vibe, a feeling. It's probably one of my oldest AUs out there as well as one of my dearest.

A classical Lee and Kya From The Tea Shop AU, full with wholesome fandom tropes such as: fake (but not really) dating, fake identities, Ba Sing Se shenanigans, vigilante stuff, White Lotus missions, Iroh is a great Uncle, Zuko is an awkward turtleduck, and, of course, the fluffiest fluff you'll ever see.

Other than that, Lee & Kya is probably one of the less plot-focused AUs I have. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't scenes I can't wait to write or a canon divergence or two where Zuko is concerned.

(I have another fic posted but I'll leave that one to the end. You asked for a full story arc and, oh boy, does Soundless deliver.)

Kintsugi AU

Closer to being canon-adjacent than canon-divergent, Kintsugi is yet another Zuko-centric AU (and are we not noticing a pattern over here?).

I'd love to explain it in depth, but I believe the caption of the artwork linked above does a better job at explaining than I ever will.

Kintsugi is the art of decorating your scars with pieces of Agni.

In the Fire Nation, the amount of golden marks are a sign of status. Only the Royal Family can afford to seal every single wound with Kintsugi. Such is the weight of this tradition that, among the ones with Agni's blood, it is the highest mark of dishonor to have a natural scar, for it proves you aren't worthy of the privilege.

After the Agni Kai, Ozai forbid Zuko's scar to be sealed with Kintsugi. The boy wasn't worth his title, his traditions or his pride. Zuko would be broken, but he wouldn't be beautiful. Not anymore.

(And sometimes it's easier to pretend he never was)

Kyoshi Warriors AU

One of my absolute favorites!

In this AU, Ursa took Zuko and Azula with her when she was banished, so they could start anew. With help from Iroh and the White Lotus, she managed to relocate her freshly burned eight-year-old child and her crying daughter to Kyoshi Island.

Years later, when Avatar Aang and his companions first arrive at Kyoshi Island, they're met by the Kyoshi Warriors and their leader, Noriko of pale skin and warm brown eyes.

The Gaang leave Kyoshi Island many weeks later with a new companion. And if Jian Li, with his war paint and his scar and his dual dao, gives the island that he has called home for so long one final, longing glance as they fly away on Appa, they pretend not to notice.

Hunters AU

We're starting to dwelve deep into dangerous waters!

This is a Katara Joins Zuko In His Quest To Find The Avatar AU, with a twist!

This AU was born as a writing experiment. What if we take Katara's character, and change one of her core characteristics? Katara, who looked up to the Avatar as a saviour figure, now blames him for leaving and allowing the Fire Nation to wage war on the world.

Then comes Zuko, a banished Prince with a crew full of traitors and his own agenda. Zuko wishes for nothing more than to dethrone his father and end the war. He is a White Lotus member, an honorable, driven young man, and he has a plan.

The catch? He needs to take the Avatar to his father if he wishes to regain his title and be able to rightfully take the throne. Oh, and he will deliver the Avatar to the Fire Lord—but nobody said it had to be in chains.

Halfblood AU

I watched Blue Eye Samurai a few months ago and it destroyed me. The idea of a half-blooded child dead set on getting revenge for their very existence stuck with me, and this AU was born.

Kanna made a life for herself in the Earth Kingdom after leaving the North. Katara was raised by her grandmother in a small village, being taught to hide her bending if she wanted to live peacefully in a place she was only half of. Her mother had died in childbirth. Her father, a nameless warrior from the Southern Water Tribe who had loved Kya and left her behind, didn't know of Katara's existence.

Katara took over Kanna's clinic after she passed away. Always taking care of others. Always suppressing her need to bend. Always wishing for more.

One day, he arrived. A half-child, just like her. But while she was of Water, he was a son of Agni. He was searching for the man who brought him to this world. The man who scarred him. The man whose face he couldn't recall, whose name he did not know. The man whose specter had chased his mother to her grave. The man who would die at his hand.

The answers were hidden in a small teashop deep within Ba Sing Se. Lee offered her a way out, and Katara took it.

Soundless (Uiscefhuaraithe)

Katara of the Southern Water Tribe has hands scarred by fire and great talent, though no teacher.

Zuko is a mute War Child, a herbalist and healer, and the Blue Spirit. He bears the mark of fire, and the scar of the blade that took away his voice.

The first time they met, the Blue Spirit had just saved her, tough not before her hands got burned. The second time they met, his name was Lee, and he was healing her.

They live in war and they will fight, if not for the world, then for themselves.

You asked for a full storyline, and I shall deliver!

Soundless is probably the only AU I have fully planned. Three-books, Azula redemption arc, role-reversals and all.

This AU has everything. From travelling through the Earth Kingdom together, to odd character team-ups that somehow manage to work, and a major goal/conflict to resolve.

Zuko and Katara must find their way to Omashu in an Earth Kingdom ravaged by war as they also grow to understand each other, themselves, and the world around them. They meet with new and old alliances, keep their ears open for rumors of the Avatar (They say he is an airbender, Lee. Do you truly belive that?), and do their best to always be two steps ahead of their pasts.

Meanwhile, both the Northern and Southern Water Tribes are searching for the runaway heiress, Aang must find his way alone on this new, hostile world, and Azula must face the revelation that, despite what her father has stated for the last two years (liar, he lied at her! Her! He lied he liedliedliedlied), her brother might just be alive.

I'm sorry for making this such a long answer! I just get very excited about these subjects and don't know when to stop. If you made it all the way down here: thank you again.

I hope you have a good day ❤️

[five-flavor-soup]

I personally think that basing your interpretation of how Ursa treated Azula on Zuko’s memories shown in ‘Zuko Alone’ is kind… incorrect. You can obviously — they’re the only real images of their childhood we get in the cartoon, other than the tiniest of snapshots in sepia — and that’s fine, but for me personally I just don’t think they’re complete enough.

These memories are from Zuko’s perspective. Not Ursa’s, not Azula’s, not Ozai’s or Iroh’s—Zuko’s perspective, his memories. And they’re all about him and Ursa together: every one of these memories have Ursa at their centre. We see her protect him and be kind to him, see her be physically affectionate and gentle, see her encourage him to be kind to himself and to Azula.

They essentially tell us that Zuko is Ursa’s son first, Ozai’s son second. Ozai remains a hovering, intimidating shadow on the sidelines (we still don’t see his face, we don’t see him genuinely interact with his children, and we see him irritating his father while being a very hands-off kinda dad himself) but Ursa is fully present. And ‘Zuko Alone’ is about Zuko trying to figure out who he is: the memories show that he views being his mother’s son as an exceptionally important part of his identity, which means they are about Zuko and his relationship with Ursa alone.

They are not supposed to tell us that Ursa neglected or abused Azula emotionally—that she only focused on protecting Zuko, while leaving Azula to suffer in Ozai’s incapable hands. Sure, we see Ursa scold Zuko for acting like Azula and cuddle him right after, and we see her scold Azula for acting mean and not cuddle her right after, but the key differences here are that Zuko shows guilt after frightening the turtleducks and Azula doubles down on trying to scare Zuko. The behaviour is different and will be, by any halfway decent parent, treated differently. 

I’m absolutely not saying that Azula wasn’t abused, because she 100% was. She was absolutely abused by Ozai, and I’m not ruling out that Ursa didn’t have a hand in how Azula ultimately turned out. But my point here is: these memories are far too limited and narrow for the viewer to properly determine whether Azula was treated incorrectly by Ursa. 

Zuko isn’t going to remember an intimate, lovely moment between Ursa and Azula when all that’s on his mind is his identity, and how it’s entangled with his mother and what she may have sacrificed for him. Additionally, he’s not particularly fond of Azula at this moment in the show (she did kind of kickstart his being a refugee, disregarding how the audience sees this sequence of events having begun), so he’s not going to remember her fondly either. Why would Zuko try to remember Ursa’s relationship with Azula at that point, instead of his own?

(Small tidbit: we also... don't know if Ursa's last words to Azula were 'what is wrong with that child', disregarding the comics which completely ruin azula anyway. Again, the memories are from Zuko's perspective and therefore won't show any private moments between Ursa and Azula. We're not even certain whether Azulon actually ordered Ozai to kill Zuko, or if that is simply what Azula interpreted it as/thought would be funny to say--causing the sequence of events that ultimately put Ozai on the throne. But whatever)

[shipping-all-ships]

Azulon never clocked that Lu Ten was gay but Ozai and Iroh knew the day Ikem showed up (again) to try and get Ursa back and Lu Ten, in all his blunt child glory, asked Ursa why she chose Uncle Ozai over THAT

[zutaranation]

Ursa acting as a bad mother does not at all imply that she is responsible for stopping the abuse by Ozai from happening. To say that Ursa is incapable of being a bad mom because her husband was abusive is infantilizing her character and making abuse victims one-dimensional. It feels like a moral purism take to not see how someone can be a victim of abuse and still be responsible for her own actions towards and about her children.

As a mother, Ursa was obligated to try and protect her children the best she could and she did not attempt to do this to her fullest potential.

By choosing to forget her children entirely, she is giving up on them entirely. In doing so, she is not protecting her children the best she can. She is selfishly choosing to let them go for her own peace of mind, even if it hurts her to choose this. She still does it. She decides that not remembering her trauma is a worthy trade off to forget her children's faces, smiles, laughs, first words, first steps, embraces, and to ever learn of their fates.

She surrenders her children for her own peace in this decision. That is not being a good parent. Yes, Ozai banished her and put her in the predicament, but forgetting her children was an autonomous decision that Ozai couldn't even conceive possible. She could have simply chosen to change her face to hide from Ozai, but she wanted to forget her past, including her kids.

This doesn't imply that she's responsible for what Ozai did to Zuko or Azula. This doesn't imply that she's to blame for "not being strong enough" to get out from Ozai's thumb. It is saying that Ursa's independent choice to throw her children to the wind, never wait for them to maybe be old enough and come looking for her (as Zuko did and would've been easier if she hadn't wiped her mind), that Iroh might come looking for her, that she could see them again one day… she decides that erasing that pain is a better choice. She doesn't want to close her eyes and see Zuko's smile or Azula laughing ever again. That's something worthy of criticism.

Just because Ozai put her in that situation, doesn't mean her own choices aren't her responsibility.

Ozai put Zuko in the situation of hunting the Avatar. Zuko choosing to hunt and capture Aang is still his bad decision, his responsibility. We empathize and understand abuse led him there, but he still is critiqued and has to atone for this. It's still wrong.

Azula was abused and groomed by Ozai to be his protege. Azula's cruelty towards Mai and Ty Lee is still her choice. That's her responsibility, even though we can understand how such abuse led her to behave this way. It's still wrong.

It's the same with Ursa. Ozai's abuse led her to be exiled and in deep pain and wanting to escape her thoughts. She still chose to go to a spirit on her own and have it erase her children from her brain forever. That's her responsibility and bad decision, even though we can understand what would lead an abuse victim to make that choice. It's still wrong.

I don't see what's so baffling or inflammatory about this take. No one is "blaming" abuse victims by pointing this out. They're nuanced characters who do bad things and are capable of change.

Zuko is my favorite character. I can get behind forgiveness and a redemption arc for complicated, but good people who stray from the path amid abuse. Ursa definitely can be forgiven and go on to have a good relationship with her son, and even daughter, with work. But, it's ridiculous to act as though Ursa should just be absolved of her wrongdoings because she has a bad past. It makes me wonder if those arguing for this have even seen the themes of Avatar because that's kinda Zuko's whole story.

[peony-pearl]

June was the only woman older than Katara and Suki to show up and help the Gaang in the finale and I think that’s ridiculous. We could have seen Yagoda and the Herbalist in the White Lotus (and Miyuki!! She has a cute miniature lotus collar). Perhaps even Haru’s mom showing up somewhere??  IDK the lack of older ladies as respected guides and teachers is irksome and until further notice I’m headcanoning out of spite that they were there we just didn’t see their scenes but they were there dammit

[asocial-inkblot]

Some Little Reminders About Ursa and Parenting/Mothering

• You can be a good mom to one child and not another. 

• You can be a loving (if not smothering) and lenient mom toward one child and a demanding and strict one toward another. 

• A mother can care deeply for all her children but show it differently and less than adequately for one or more of them.

• A mother can love and want the best for all her children, but possibly not know how best to show it to each of them due to assuming that they’re very different, with different needs.

• Making or allowing your child to feel void of your affection is child abuse/neglect.

• We don’t actually have much reason to assume that Ursa wouldn’t have also risked everything for Azula’s safety.

• Saying “what is wrong with that child” can be taken at face value. It doesn’t mean a parent thinks their own child is evil or a monster (even if the innocent child is led to believe so from it).

• Abuse and abusive families are often very complicated and have a lot going on in them, especially behind the scenes. Don’t ever assume you know exactly what’s going on with someone and his/her life, even if you do know that he/she or family of his/hers is being abused.

• She may have genuinely loved Ozai, even if for only a short time, and agreed with his worldview.

• She very likely agreed with Fire Nation politics, as well.

[blorboazula]

someone kinda suggested, on discord, that Ursa doesn't try to find Azula in the dragon AU because she's thinks the kid is dead. so:

Zuko 🤝 Ursa: absolutely sure Azula is dead.

Azula: *just chilling in the south pole, living in an abandoned ship and eating fish, ice, and fish*

[the-genius-az]

Mom's daughter?

Azula never felt Ursa's love, did her mother really love her? If he did, why was he never there? Why isn't she there when you need her?

She still remembers those times when she cried in her room and no one came, or when she wanted the same things as Zuko and her mother only gave them to her brother, regardless of whether she asked for them first.

The times she looked at her mother and only saw rejection and sadness in her eyes when she looked at her. Why doesn't her mother love her? Is she really not worth enough to Ursa? Is it her fault that she felt so sad when she was born?

[direwolfrules]

I have one Rebels AU idea where it's basically just Heroes of Mandalore goes differently and Ezra winds up riding the Mythosaur. Because I saw that scene in Mando and immediately remembered that Ezra's good at connecting to animals.

I don't know, maybe a combination of Sabine deleted all the data on the Duchess in this universe + Thrawn seeing Mandalore as a perfect way to trap some Rebels.

Alrich got moved like two weeks before the prison raid, he's being held in Sundari for a big spectacle of an execution. Tiber's got a whole parade planned, maybe a festival if the damn bangcorn vendor gets over their beef with the uj cake salesman.

Anyway, the main conflict of this alternate arc is they have to sneak into Sundari to free Alrich before he gets executed. The team gets led through a series of caves by Bo-Katan's weird nephew and his weird friends, who apparently use these tunnels to smuggle Force-sensitive children to safety.

They camp at the cavern with the Living Waters to plan their next moves, and that's when some Imperial Supercommandos show up. Thrawn had figured out the rebels would be using the mines by intensive study of Lady Bo-Katan's previous assaults on Sundari and local geography.

It's a fearsome battle, and just when the rebels think they might get the upper hand several squads of stormtroopers show up. They're losing ground and being forced to the shore of the Lake of the Living Waters. It honestly seems like they're about to die there, especially since the troopers won't stop coming. It's utterly hopeless.

Until Ezra senses a presence.

It's old and powerful in a way he's never really felt before. It's not as old as the Bendu, and a thousand times more...feral. It's huge and hungry and even though it isn't sentient Ezra can almost feel it reach back through the Force and scrutinize him.

Ursa and Bo-Katan are both about to yell at the jetii boy to stop standing around and get back to killing Imps when the ground starts to shake. In the center of the lake water rushes as something emerges from the depths. Something large.

The mythosaur roars as it lunges with deceptive speed, and an entire squad of stormtroopers disappears down its gullet. This repeats until all the Imperials are dead. With its hunger sated the mythosaur descends back down into the depths, though not before giving Ezra an affectionate lick.

Everyone is just sort of in a state of shock for the rest of the mission except for Ezra, who has no idea what a mythosaur is or that he just became the hero of prophecy for like three Mandalorian religions. No, he's more flustered about how he utterly embarrassed himself in front of Sabine's father.

They almost get cornered again by Imperial troops while leaving. That's when Ezra summons the mythosaur again and winds up riding it to victory, which is. A lot. Apparently, the mythosaur likes killing for the Jedi boy.

It isn't until later, when they're all having a victory feast that someone explains it to him. Ezra doesn't want to be a Mandalorian and he certainly doesn't want to be a Mandalorian prophecy boy, thank you very much. Kanan's trying to figure out how to tell Hera the latest news without sounding insane. Sabine's trying not drown herself in the cask of ne'tra gal after her mother took her aside and told her to "marry that boy", which lends itself to the hilarious realization that apparently Ursa just thought Sabine and Ezra were dating this whole time.

[snowe-zolynn-rogers]

I feel like Ursa is pretty protective of eclipse because she watched her parent suffered to try and protect her.

🪭

(on another note, we are all gonna need so much of Elara to cleanse our pallet after this)

Ursa is *chefs kiss*. She loves her Mom. She respects her mother for putting up with so much just to keep Ursa and her siblings safe. That doesn’t means she isn’t protective. She punches Moon in the mouth and knocks him out first time she sees him after Eclipse and Moon meet up again.

[hyacinths-in-a-storm]

Favorite au you’ve made?

Damn this was hard to answer because I love all my AUs, but I would have to say Cannibal Ursa AU, I had a lot of fun making it up and talking about it with my friends. But a close second would definitely be either Twin Azula and Zuko AU and ATLA in LOK Setting (it’s a long story) AU, because in both of those AUs Azula and Zuko have a more complex relationship which I always find fun to write (or at least think of writing). Thanks for the ask anon!

[mugentakeda]

runaway fire fam au oc list because they somehow just keep happening on their own??? madame yu die and anchali arent there yet but they will be soon. jiro will probably show up later as well