#urzai crumbs

[stardust948]

My Urzai heart

[the-badger-mole]

I was looking through your blog and noticed your ship posts and one caught my eye, it was about Urzai and you said there was a connection between Ozai and Aang as fathers, could you expand on that? Like their similarities with their wives and kids. Because i think your on to something.

I'm assuming you're talking about this post? I feel like I mostly said what I wanted to say about the comparisons between Aang and Ozai as fathers. They are both incredibly selfish in what they look for in their children and favor the child that most resembles them (in Aang's case, in looks as well as bending ability), leaving their children who didn't make the cut scrambling for whatever crumbs of paternal acceptance were left. It's interesting that Bumi decided to join the FN army (navy? Whatever, it was some branch of FN armed services), because he seems to have a similar relationship to Aang/Aang's memory as Zuko had- i.e. his decades long desire to be the son Aang wanted, culminating in Bumi "finally belonging to the Air Nomads" because he became what Aang had always wanted- an air bender. Obviously, it's not exactly like the relationship Zuko had with Ozai, after all, Zuko was allowed to find his own path and his arc didn't end with him finally being the son Ozai wanted. But that's why I said there are parallels, and not that they're carbon copies.

As husbands, the parallels are even more disconcerting because of how the meta-narrative handled the women in those relationships. Both Ursa and Katara go through some form of transformation between the series proper and the comics. It's subtler with Katara because what changed wasn't some glaring thing- she didn't suddenly have a completely different' backstory; she just had key aspects of her personality changed, or ripped away completely so she was less likely to push back against Aang, the way she might have had she been kept consistent to who she was in the show. Ursa, on the other hand, had not only her personality changed, but her entire backstory rewritten (in the show material, she was said to have been the daughter of a nobleman who always knew she'd end up married into the royal family; in the comics, she...was a hot mess. A hot mess who wasn't born noble and didn't know she'd end up with Ozai and somehow had even less agency in her marriage than she did in the show). I don't think any of the parallels I'm talking about were intentional, but this one is is just particularly interesting because it shows how much Bryke only sees the women in this series as props. Their stories don't matter outside of the men in their lives.

But I'm talking about the parallels between Aang and Ozai. The short answer is that neither of them cares for their significant other in a selfless way. With Ozai, it's blatant that he's terrible. The man was a monster to everyone close to him. It's harder to pinpoint when his blatant horribleness began, because again, Ursa in the show and Ursa in the comics had completely different back stories, but in either case, it's not a stretch to say that for Ozai, Ursa was not a whole person. She was valuable because of what she could offer him (a pretty, submissive wife; a womb to produce strong benders ahemahem!; someone who'd do a she was told without raising much of a fuss), and when she could no longer serve him, he was fine throwing her away. All of Ozai's treatment of Ursa is presented in a way that we can recognize easily as wrong, even without us having to see him physically hurt her. And yet, presented in a brightly colored, cheerful package, that same behavior flies under the radar because 'he's such a Nice Guy ™©®!'

Aang is consistent in how he treats Katara across all the different media- like a prize to be won rather than as a friend and a person with her own autonomy. He physically violates Katara three times (the two kisses and the lava fissure, and those are just the ones I know about). Ozai doesn't even do that to Ursa- even if we can safely assume that he was physically abusive, we never actually see him cause (or attempt to cause) her bodily harm (as far as I know. I honestly have given up on the comics. If there is a scene where he goes full Ike Turner on Ursa, don't tell me. It doesn't matter).

And that is the thing. As awful as we know Ozai to be, we see Aang treat Katara poorly, and he gets a pass. He doesn't even have to apologize to Katara, and we, the audience are supposed to forgive him, but not Ozai. Why? Because he's so cheerful and bubbly that it can be hard to recognize the similarities in how he treats Katara and how Ozai treats Ursa. Both of these men 'love' these women because of what these women can give them. Their wives' internal lives don't matter much as long as it doesn't affect them directly. It's particularly sad in Katara's case because we see in ALTA that she's got such drive and ambition and compassion, but once she gets together with Aang, she stops having any interests or ideas that contradict with Aang. Ursa goes through the same thing in the comics, but Katara's story will always be sadder to me because it's presented as a happy ending for her.

I don't think any of these parallels are intentional- in fact I know they aren't. Still, it's a great example of how the media Bad Boy and the media Nice Guy are essentially the same person, just packaged differently. The biggest difference between Aang and Ozai is how their behavior is framed, and it's clear that the only criteria Bryke have for if a man is a good husband or not whether his color scheme is dark or bright.

[all-fire-and-brimstone]

Can we perhaps get some Urzai crumbs for Urzai Week? 👉👈

👉👈um uhh👉👈👉👈

[depression-in-the-fire-nation]

Ooh! Ooh! Not to bug you or anything but maybe for the short fic thing you could write Urzai as 2. childhood friends au?

Are you still there, Anon? If so, have some cuteness! (“Urzai” and “cuteness” are not words I ever expected to use in the same sentence, ahahaha.)

Childhood Friends AU

He hearsher before he sees her: a splashing sound from behind the bushes, and ahigh-pitched, girlish giggle. The gardens are usually dead silent, the servantstrained not to make sounds, and Father is always telling him to keep quiet. He’s a prince. He has to behave.

Whoever itis has missed the lesson, apparently.

Ozai finds hisway between the bushes, branches catching on his robe and hair. He picks a leaffrom his sleeve and focuses on his breathing, like the Masters have taught him.The leaf burns to ash.

There’s agirl by a pond, smaller than Ozai is (he is tall for his age; he has been toldmany times. He will grow up tall and strong and make Father proud). She’skneeling on the damp grass, a piece of bread in her lap that she crumbles into pieces.Then, with outstretched hands and a wide smile, she offers the bread to the turtleducks.

The biggestof them swims closer, head tilted to a side. The girl holds still while theturtle duck approaches, brows pinched in concentration, and then bursts into a delightedgiggle when the animal nips at the bread that’s still in her hands.

“Who areyou?” Ozai demands.

The girlstartles and drops the bread. The turtle ducks, spooked by the sudden motion,flee away from the pond edge.

“No, don’tgo!” she says.

“Who areyou?” Ozai repeats.

Theservants never ignore him like this. This girl should be punished. Except sheis too young to be a servant; she is dressed up like a noble, even if her skirtis smudged with dirt and a red fire lily has been stuck behind her ear.

She isstill watching the turtle ducks, leaning forward with the bread until she is dangerouslylow over the water edge. Ozai marches forward and grabs her hand.

“Hey!”

“I askedyou a question,” he says.

Her eyesare huge and shiny, like ambers in Mother’s jewellery. She yanks her hand, but Ozaihas a strong grip.

“Let me go,”she says.

“Tell me whoyou are,” Ozai says. Then adds: “You can’t be here.”

That stopsher. She blinks at him, huge eyes suddenly worried.

“I can’t?”she asks, and bites her lower lip. “I, uh—I was having tea with mum and dad andtheir friends, but they started talking about politics, and I got bored, so…”She looks up at him. “I went exploring. Mum says I shouldn’t have, but thisplace is so pretty!” Scrambling to her feet, she stands just shy of Ozai’s chin,her small hands clutching his sleeve. “You won’t tell her, will you?”

She looksso scared that Ozai, caught off guard, says “No, I won’t. Calm down!”

“Oh! Thankyou,” she beams at him. “My name’s Ursa. What are you doing here?”

“I livehere,” Ozai says, uncertain.

Her eyeswiden even further.

“Really?Here? That’s incredible!”

Is it? Irohsometimes talks about places outside of the Palace, right outside its tall wallsand even further away, in the barbarian lands. Sometimes Ozai is almost convincedhis brother is making them all up, the same way he tells stories of dragons andphoenixes and spirits. But he once climbed a watch tower, dodging his handlersand guardsmen alike, to take a look: and saw a city full of buildings andpeople. So maybe Iroh isn’t lying.

The girl,Ursa, is still looking at him. Children are very rarely permitted inside thePalace, so Ozai doesn’t quite know what to make of her gaze. But he is aprince; princes are always calm. Princes know what to do and what to say… andif he doesn’t, if he isn’t, then whatwill happen to him?

“Yes,” hesays. “I suppose so—”

“Can you showme around?” she asks.

“Where?”

“Everywhere!”

“We can’t justgo anywhere,” Ozai says. What a stupid little girl! There are the gardens, andOzai’s room, and the baths, and the yard where he trains with his firebendingmasters. Father punishes him whenever he wanders outside these places. Obedience is a virtue, Prince Ozai,Father says. Respect and discipline are whatsets us apart from the other nations. You will learn—

He shiversat the memory of Father’s stern voice.

Ursa gripshis hand, warm and soft. “Just the gardens, then,” she says. “Can we walk aroundthe gardens?”

“Yes,” Ozaianswers. “So long as we keep to the paths and don’t touch anything—”

He crawledthrough the bushes to come here, and Ursa got breadcrumbs on his robes, and hisshoes are damp. His tutors come in after midday, he must have time to set himselfright before that. If he is caught, he is sure to be punished.

“I won’ttell anyone we wandered off the path, so long as you don’t tell my mum,” Ursasays, solemnly. “I promise!”

WouldFather punish Ursa, too? Or would her mother do that? The girl looks small andsoft and squishy, lacking the discipline of a true firebender.

He startsto answer, but she startles him again, climbing to her toes and pushing herhand against his lips.

“Hey—mmpf—”

“Ssh!”

The turtleducks return. Ursa is back on her knees, movements slow so as not to startlethem. She has the bread again, crumbled into bite-sized portions, and smiles indelight when the animals swim closer to eat it off her hands.

“They areso cute,” she says as they nib at her fingers, hopeful for more bread.

“They arejust animals,” Ozai says.

“Cuteanimals!” she giggles. “There aren’t any turtle ducks where I come from.”

Once theflock loses interest and swims away, Ozai watches Ursa climb to her feet. Shebrushes the crumbs from her skirt and looks vaguely guilty when it lands on thegrass.

“We shouldgo, probably,” she says.

“Yes. Weshould.”

There’s along day ahead of him, tutors coming in to drill him on maths and history, andthen he has to practice firebending. Father will want him to demonstrate whathe has learned, and Ozai cannot disappoint him again, not like the last time.

But maybehe can spare an hour or two.

“Come on,”he says, and treads his fingers through Ursa’s own. “Let’s go. I will show youthe gardens.”

[stardust948]

Frenemies AU

Platinum Music Awards part 3

Poppy, over a video call: Hi!

Hakoda: Hey Poppy.

Kya: Where are you?

Poppy, looks at the stage behind her: Oh uh... my bathroom...

Hakoda: Poppy it's okay if you're helping Ozai get ready. You don't have to hide it from me.

Poppy: Ok. Because Ozai said you guys can come watch him rehearse.

Hakoda: Oh... no thanks...

Bato and Kya: *looks at each other*

Hakoda: You guys can go if you want.

Bato and Kya: YES! *both kiss Hakoda on the cheeks then run out*

Hakoda: *sighs then flops onto the floor*

Ursa, walking in: Why are Kya and Bato screaming and running down the street?

Hakoda: Mmmm.

Ursa: Get up. *helps him up*

Hakoda: Don't you want to watch Ozai rehearse? All the big time signing contact people are there.

Ursa: No I feel guilty. I should have kept my mouth shut.

Ozai: Poppy you left your laptop. *Notices the video call is still on*

Hakoda: No, you were right. If I'm going to be successful, I want it to be because of my talent, not because of throwing tantrums and wearing meat hats.

Ursa: Well can't you be successful for your talent and wearing meat hats?

Hakoda: The thought of having meat whenever I want is tempting.

Ursa: See. You won't even have to get up. Just pluck it right out of your hat.

Hakoda, laughing: Right out of my hat?

Ursa: So... *leans closer to kiss him*

Ozai: !!!

Hakoda, nudges her away: Oh you...

Ozai:

Ursa: I'm sorry.

Hakoda: No I'm sorry.

Ursa: I didn't mean to-

Hakoda: No you didn't. You...

Ursa: Then why can't we kiss?

Hakoda: Cause of Ozai.

Ozai: ???

Ursa: Ozai and I broke up.

Hakoda: Yeah but kissing your friend's ex-girlfriend-

Ursa: Wait since when are you and Ozai friends? Last week he rubbed your hamburger on the seat.

Hakoda: Aww I ate seat meat?

Ursa: And he took your spot in the Platinum Music awards.

Hakoda: Look, Ozai and I aren't really the best of friends. We're kind of friends, I think. More like frenemies really. But still, kissing his ex-girlfriend...I can't do that to a friend.

Ozai: *closes laptop*

___

Ozai: *putting on finishing touches for costume*

Hakoda: Wow. Incredible outfit.

Ozai: Didn't expect to see you here.

Hakoda: Well, everyone else was coming to cheer you on. Figured I would too. And you look way better in that costume than I would have!

Ozai:

Ozai: This isn't right...

Hakoda: It is a little tight around your-

Ozai: Not the stupid costume! This. Me.

Hakoda: I don't...

Ozai: This was supposed to be your night. This is your big chance so for me to go out there and...

Hakoda: And?

Ozai: I can't do that to a friend.

Hakoda: *smiles*

Ozai: Or even to you.

Hakoda: *laughs* Now what?

Ozai: Just go get ready and leave the rest to me.

___

Assistant: Live in 60 seconds! Ready Bao?

Announcer: Just waiting for my cue.

Ozai: Hey Bao, did you get the script change?

Announcer: What script change?

Ozai: Ugh those guys. Give me that! *Snatches pen and scribbles on the paper* Have a good show!

Announcer: Uh, you too?

Assistant: We're live in five!

Announcer: Welcome to the 34th Platinum Music Awards! For his first world wide live performance, please welcome Hakoda Kuruk!

Hakoda: *walks on stage as the crowd cheers*

Head Producer: What the flameo?! What's he's doing out there?! *yells at producer*

Poppy: Is that Hakoda?!

Kya: Yay Koda!

Bato: That's my cousin!!!

Ozai: *sits beside Ursa*

Ursa: *smiles at him and he smiles back*

[Hakoda performs original song as the crowd goes wild. The gang runs onto stage after, and he hugs each of them including Ozai]

[stardust948]

Your royal family au is so cute and wholesome and so fluffy I could die

Please could I get some headcanons or little scenes with the family (maybe some angst somewhere in there too????)

You have put this wonderful thing out into the world and I need more

Aww thank you ❤❤❤

I'm assuming you're talking about my Between the Raindrops series so that's were I'm going to pull the headcanons from.

Kiyi was a complete surprise and her parents spoil her senseless. Ironically Kiyi's favorite is Azula and she follows her big sister like a shadow much to Azula's annoyance. Ozai and Ursa may or may not be jealous.

Ursa lowkey chaotic. Much more so when she was younger and it was what drew Ozai to her in the first place.

Ozai complains about Iroh's proverbs and wisdom but whenever his kids need advice, Iroh's the first person he draws from. That said, Ozai absolutely butchers the proverbs. Azula saw right through it but it took Zuko years to realize that. (And I mean YEARS.)

Lu Ten is what I like to call the gremlin cousin. You know, the one who suppose to be responsible but actually causes the most problems. Absolute himbo.

Azula is the go to person if you're ever in trouble. Sometimes she inserts herself in before anyone ever asks.

Ozai and Zuko are too awkward for their own good and can't explain emotions to save their lives. That said, they share a weird silent communication that drives Ursa crazy especially whenever she tries to get them to talk things out.

*After a long moment of staring*

Zuko: So yeah...

Ozai: Hmm. That checks out.

Ursa: ಠ_ಠ

Iroh's not allowed in the jungle behind the Ember Island beach house because once he made tea from plants he found there that got everyone sick.

So. Much. Banter.

And spa trips. This family likes bathing way too much.

Azula and Iroh have regular gossip sessions over Pai Sho.

Game nights are a free for all. When their are teams Ozai, Azula, and Zuko always team up. They usually win the physical games but always lose the board games because they're too busy fighting over who gets to be the leader.

Now for the Angsty HCs

Azulon is neglectful of Ozai because Ilah died giving birth to him. Since there is no war in this au and Iroh didn't have to go overseas, he pretty much raised Ozai.

Ursa is from a large noble family. Her story is similar to Ty Lee's where she has many siblings she doesn't want to get lump together with. Since no one in her family really noticed her, she went off to do her own thing most of the time which was acting and the occasional party crashing.

I haven't decided what to do with Iroh's wife yet but she's most likely dead too.

I will post more stories of this AU like Urzai's first date and when Katara comes over for dinner and everyone unanimously decides to embarrass Zuko. It'll be out eventually I promise 😅

Thanks for the ask!