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xaibaugrove · 3 years

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Everyone in the Krew is Problematic

I was inspired to go on this rant by someone who recently brought up a question in a server I’m in, asking why so many people in the fandom seem to hate Mako and Makorra and why. This wouldn’t be the first time I defend Mako and it most likely won’t be the last, but it might be the first time I tear him and everyone else in the Krew down in the process, only to bring them back up. Hear me out though.

I think I’ve totally accepted that a lot of people in this fandom will always hate Mako and that I will have to perpetually defend him, I understand that this is the relationship I’ve chosen with this world. But what I still will never understand are the reasons why people hate/dislike him because compared to how much they love other characters in the Krew who honestly aren’t that much better than him (in some cases, even worse!), it doesn’t make any sense.

Let me also preface this by saying, I love these characters with all my heart and soul, probably more than I should love fictional characters, but this is the life I live and with that being said, I am going to tear them apart just to prove a point. Okay, here we go.

MAKO

Most of his detractors list the usual criticisms, which are valid when isolated. He cheated on Asami, he lied to Korra, he was a terrible boyfriend and essentially he treated the women he claimed to love or care about horribly. Gee, it’s almost like the man was a teenager with no experience in having long-lasting, healthy relationships and was raised in the streets by gangmembers while doing anything to survive and provide for his younger sibling after seeing his parents killed right in front of him and suddenly being orphaned…

I think Mako has been torn down enough, so I won’t get too deep into the tearing down part for him. It really does baffle me how someone can claim to be woke and not comprehend how someone coming from poverty could possibly be a product of their environment. Like, does everyone think that poor people automatically have hearts of gold and turn out like Little Orphan Annie? Why are people surprised that when someone has a shitty life, they might do shitty things?

Also, sooo many people love Zuko, who actively tried to cause harm to Aang, Katara and Sokka numerous times, and sympathize with his troubled past. But like, sure Zuko had an abusive father and his mother peaced out of his life for whatever reasons but at least he had his uncle. Mako had his parents for maybe 8 years before they were murdered in front of him and then had...no one for the next 10 years? Except for Bolin, sure, but no other parental figure in his life. Dude literally had to become him and his brother’s own parent and joined a gang to survive, and after all that, the worst he does is acts as a bad boyfriend toward Korra and Asami and he is instantly thrown to the wolves. Something doesn’t add up. It’s just...I don’t get it.

Yes, the way he treated people was bad, but people can grow? That’s a thing humans can do. And he was a teenager, my god. No, we cannot allow our past to be an excuse for how we treat others, but we have to be aware that there is a growth process to being human. And being human in and of itself, isn’t pretty. You think Mako is problematic? Don’t get me started on your fave.

KORRA

Ok, I love this woman to death but she is ridiculously problematic. She pursued someone in a relationship and essentially forced Mako to cheat on Asami by kissing him against his will, that’s already pretty awful and shows a lack of empathy on her part, also kissing people without their consent is no bueno. But also I just have to say it for the people who might not know this. One of the fundamental reasons why Makorra didn’t work was because KORRA WAS ABUSIVE. Okay? It wasn’t just that Mako was inadequate at relationships and didn’t know how to people, it wasn’t that she was secretly confused and wanting Asami the entire time (biphobia at it’s best) one of the main problems in the pairing was that Korra was crazy abusive towards Mako. Seriously, why don’t I see this more often in those discussions??

If we need examples, I have dozens. Honestly, it’s really easy to see how terrible Korra was to Mako, I’d actually argue that she treated him worse than he treated her. I mean, they were both terrible to one another, but in Korra’s case she went through the motions of being completely infatuated with your first teenage crush, getting with said crush, then crashing and burning once you realize that you have no idea how to treat a romantic partner so after the butterflies wear off you subject them to all the wonderful aspects of your anger issues. Not only did she scream at Mako during every argument they had, she also threatened him with bodily harm if she got really angry. Remember how their relationship crashed and burned in Book 2? Here are the things that Korra did during that time. Let me reiterate, this was not okay.

Mako is visibly shaken by this!

This woman burst into her boyfriend’s place of work and violently kicked his desk out from in front of him with all his coworkers present. That is not normal behavior. That is a red flag. And after she came back, had amnesia or whatever and forgot they broke up after that scene, let’s not forget that Mako was legitimately Afraid to break up with her again. Korra made her partner frightened that they might suffer bodily harm if they upset her. Again, and I can’t stress this enough, this is not okay!

The little scene in Book 3 when Korra is lifting Mako like 100 feet off the ground with airbending while he’s screaming in fear just to make Asami laugh is cute, right? I’ll admit, I loved that little moment too, it’s one of the only instances of Korrasami development that we got, but also, there were sooo many things wrong with that scene lol. Not only does Korra terrify Mako for literally no reason, it’s also sort of just her continuing to exercise some degree of power over him for her own amusement. Almost like a subtle reminder to him saying, “I am stronger than you in every way and I can break your femur like a twig if I wanted to… but I won’t, so look how much fun we’re having!”

Now of course, there are reasons why Korra acts like this. She was isolated for almost her entire life and never learned how to treat people and be around people. The Avatar is human because they must live amongst the people they protect and that helps them develop empathy and cherish life. The White Lotus deprived her of that fundamental aspect of her duty as the Avatar and it showed throughout the beginning of the series. Clearly, she was young, didn’t see how her actions could negatively affect others and hurt the feelings of not just her partner but also friends and family (she was really awful towards a lot of people in her life!). But as the series went on, we see her having less outbursts and learning to control her temper more.

One can only assume that she does not have the same behavior with Asami because for one, I don’t think Asami would play that shit, she seems like she would electrocute a bitch in a heartbeat and not hesitate if needed, but also Korra is not the same shitty partner she used to be as a teenager. Again, kids do stupid things. Adults do stupid things. And we learn and we grow. Korra will probably make some more mistakes in her relationship with Asami. I don't think anyone can have one bad relationship and suddenly learn all the lessons they can from it and have a perfect one the next go around. I can totally picture Korra losing her temper and raising her voice at Asami if she gets frustrated and forgets who she’s dealing with. Managing anger issues is hard, I know this from experience, and it doesn’t magically get easier. Of course, if Korra does pop off, Asami would definitely put her in her place because she’s a bad bitch who doesn’t take anyone’s shit, next character.

ASAMI

You know her, you love her, you fantasize about her and you probably have her on your list of fictional characters you would totally bang if you had the chance (I know I do), yes, even your best girl is problematic. It’s interesting to me that a lot of people sympathize with Asami and very few openly criticize her (so few that I’ve never seen anyone say a bad thing about her). What’s there to criticize though? The poor girl was cheated on by Mako, had her feelings disregarded by Korra, who claimed to be her friend but pursued her then-boyfriend behind her back and then made up for it by simping for her for the rest of her life? Also her mom was murdered when she was just 6 years old, her father threatened to kill her once and physically abused her, then died right after they started repairing their relationship, essentially making her an orphan at the ripe age of 22. Suffice it to say, Asami has been through it.

So, how could she be problematic, you ask? Why, of course, through the classic Bryke technique of romance progression in storylines called Kissing People Without Their Consent

To be honest, I did gloss over this with Korra, simply because there were sooo many other issues with that woman and I just couldn’t go through every single one in as much detail but that doesn’t negate how serious this whole sneak attack kissing thing is. Sure, Asami is very emotional and lonely and sort of desperate too, (it's a little sad, really) but Mako is clearly uncomfortable and completely caught off guard by the kiss. This is also the second time this happens to him in the series! There are a couple factors that might contribute to why Asami does this and acts this way, maybe Korra’s general awfulness rubbed off on her (don’t make a dirty joke) but this is still wrong.

AND that’s...pretty much it. Kissing people without their permission is a big no no, though. Not wanting to gloss over that, but Asami really is a good person who just did a not-so-great thing. Getting burned by Mako twice probably made her a little less inclined to be as forward with anyone though, and it looks like she now takes her time and is patient in her relationship with Korra. It even seems like Asami is the only person Korra is afraid to upset, as Korra does seem more gentle and calm when around her. And who knows? Maybe Asami living a life where a majority of the time she got whatever she wanted when she wanted it might have also influenced her to be more assertive or even imposing within her relationships.

If anything, those three fools getting into relationships with each other just showed how not ready they were to be in relationships in the first place and also how not okay they were.

BOLIN

Originally I titled this as “Everyone in the Krew is problematic (except Bolin)” but then I remembered that Bolin totally kissed a woman without her consent so I deleted the shit out of that!

This asshole looks genuinely pleased with himself after essentially assaulting Ginger. Not a good look.

Sure, Bolin is baby. He will always be baby to me. But that does not erase the fact that he also actively supported a fascist dictator. Not only was the kissing without consent thing bad, but there’s also that. No matter how many times people around him warned him about the fact that he was on the wrong side of things, that he was helping someone who was putting people into concentration camps...Bolin wanted to believe the best of Kuvira. He ignored obvious signs that the woman was a dictator committing human rights violations like crazy and you know, there’s gotta be a reason for that too.

Maybe Bolin wanted to feel like he was doing something good for once. When you think about it, with his role as the comic relief in the Krew, and sort of constantly being infantilized by his older brother, I wouldn’t be surprised if the man developed some insecurity in his ability to do anything good or useful for anyone without screwing it up in some way. In Kuvira’s army, it seemed like he was actually taken seriously, he felt like he was doing something that mattered. Korra had being the Avatar, Asami had her business and mindblowing philanthropy (honestly, her ability to be as charitable as she is profitable is insane) and Mako had his police work (ACAB, tho). Bolin had...the role of being a joke. A superficial actor. A former pro-bending meathead.

Bolin lived his entire life following after his brother that once they were adults and Mako finally decided to live his own life for once, it left Bolin completely lost. And lost young men are perfect recruits for fascists.

So, in conclusion, my whole reasoning behind destroying the integrity of my favorite characters is to prove a huge point. All of these characters are problematic. They have flaws, some bigger than others (looking at you, Korra. Just...wow), but ultimately, even if your fave is problematic... that’s okay. A lot of people, mostly younger people it seems, are really obsessed with being right about everything that they do and stan. And that’s a wonderful thing, so much change has come about by the younger generations calling out people who do fucked up shit, don’t want or try to improve, and get away with it. But it’s also caused a lot of people to be unforgiving and completely unwilling to acknowledge when people do improve and try to be better.

Personally, I love my problematic Krew because having issues that you’re constantly working on internally is human. It’s human to make mistakes, it’s human to grow from those mistakes. And it’s inspiring to me, who is wholly imperfect, to see myself reflected in fictional characters who aren’t perpetuating unrealistic ideals of human nature, characters who are messy, crazy and ultimately human.

As one of my favorite manga artists and queen of impeccable character creation Rumiko Takahashi once said:

“I think that perfect people are not very interesting.”

And I will always wholeheartedly agree.

#long post #rant #tlok #the legend of korra #korra #asami sato #mako #bolin #avatar: the legend of korra #back on my random bullshit i guess

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randomfandomimagine · 4 years

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The Truth (Zuko x Reader)

Characters: Zuko, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph

Fandom: Avatar The Last Airbender

Tags: Reader Insert, Gender Neutral Reader

Warnings: Spoilers about Book 3 and Zuko’s backstory

Word Count: 2,1k words

Summary: Suspicious about Zuko’s intentions, the group comes up with a plan in which Y/N finds out the truth about his reasons. They just didn’t know it would also means to learn the truth about his scar.

Zuko x Gender Neutral Reader

“I’m not so sure about this...” You muttered once again, staring at Zuko calmly sitting by the fire. Alone. In silence. Distant from you.

“We need to know if he has an evil plan against us” Sokka replied, but upon noticing your frown, he insisted. “Do you want Aang dead, Y/N?! Is that it, do you want Zuko to kill him?”

“No!” You replied to defend yourself. “But Toph said he wasn’t lying, maybe he was being genuine”

“Appa seemed to like him...” Aang sided with you, shrugging a little in an attempt to talk him out of his plan. “And he hasn’t tried anything yet”

“I’m with Twinkle Toes” Toph agreed, crossing her arms over her chest. “He doesn’t seem to mean us any harm”

“Well, I’m not so sure about that” Katara was with her brother, however. She averted her gaze, wary about the situation. “He did try to trick us before”

“I don’t know, guys...” You vehemently shook your head.

“There’s no harm in trying” Sokka pushed you a little. “Go talk to him!”

You struggled against his attempts, trying to remain hidden by the big pillar you were all gathered behind.

“Agh...” Sokka groaned from the effort, not giving up. “Come on, Y/N!”

“Why me?” You complained, sinking your heels in the ground not to be shoved any further. “Why couldn’t anyone else do it?”

“Because out of all of us, he seems to like you more” Katara replied, tapping her chin in a thoughtful gesture. “I don’t know why”

Sokka desisted from his efforts. You threw him a glare before glancing at Katara to respond to her.

“Maybe because I’m the only one that hasn’t openly said I hate him?”

“Toph hasn’t either, she defended him...”

“And he burned her feet!”

“I sneaked up on him, it was an accident!”

“What if it wasn’t?”

“Fine!” You exclaimed to break up the argument, then lowering your tone and hoping Zuko didn’t hear you. “I’ll do it”

Sokka smirked in satisfaction, gesturing for you to get moving. Katara frowned in determination as well, only Toph and Aang seemed to feel a bit guilty about the whole plan just like yourself. You didn’t like lying and deceiving.

But you did have to find out the truth. Why had he changed his mind all of a sudden? What happened to make him want to stop trying to capture the Avatar? Especially since he had been tirelessly chasing him for years. You had to admit it didn’t make any sense. It was a little suspicious.

Those thoughts and questions floated in your head as you approached Zuko.

The distance that separated you was quite large to ensure your previous conversation with the group was confidential. While you slowly walked over to him, your footsteps gave your presence away.

“Hey” He looked up at you. “Have you seen everyone else?”

“N-No” You stuttered, resisting the urge to look at them over your shoulder. “I don’t know where they are”

“That’s strange...” Zuko’s ambers eyes followed you as you completely closed the distance that separated you. “They all dissapeared at the same time”

“They probably all went to do different things” You shrugged to try and appear nonchalant. “You know, Aang with his glider, Sokka to fish or something...”

“I suppose” He shrugged himself, lowering his gaze to the fire burning before him. “It’s just getting late”

You stared at him, smiling a little. He seemed to notice, but looked up to the dark starry sky instead of into your eyes.

“Are you worried about them, Zuko?”

“I didn’t say that”

Still smiling, you went to sit down across from him. Zuko cautiously looked up at you now. He seemed to sense you were meaning to say something.

“Hey, uh... Now that the others are gone...” You took a deep breath, preparing for what was to come. “I wanted to ask you something”

“What is it?” His tone was soft and gentle, welcoming almost.

You gulped, feeling a pang of guilt in your chest, knowing that you weren’t alone as he thought. From a safe distance, the whole group was listening to your conversation. Damn Sokka and his plans...

“Why are you here all of a sudden?” You made a great effort to hold his gaze. “Why do you want to help the Avatar now?”

Zuko grew quiet for a moment. Given his silence, you thought that the plan had failed already. He wouldn’t talk, he was going to refuse to, he...

“Why are you asking me this?” To your surprise, when he spoke his tone remained gentle. It didn’t hold any anger or resentment.

“Because...” Unable to hold his gaze any longer, you looked away. “I want to trust you”

“You’re the only one that seems so open...” Now he sounded almost sad, but not resentful. “Everyone else...”

“That’s why I wanted to talk to you now” You insisted, locking gazes once more.

He paused. After several seconds in which you felt your heart racing in anticipation, so much so that Toph could probably sense it, Zuko spoke up.

“It’s because of my father”

“Your father?”

“Yes. He wanted me to capture the Avatar, that way he would restore my honor”

“I don’t get it, why did your honor need restoring?”

“Because my father banished me, I was only trying to do what he wanted”

“You were banished from the Fire Nation? Then why would you join us now, if you wanted to please your father?”

“I realized it was useless. I’ve been looking for the Avatar for five years... for nothing”

“But Sokka and Katara found Aang only three years ago... Was your father so sure that he would come back?”

Zuko showed you a bitter grin. His eyes were full of sorrow as he looked at you. Suddenly you were even more against the plan. Toph would confirm it, but you were almost convinced that he was pouring his heart out to you.

“He probably didn’t think I would ever find him” Zuko shook his head, causing his long dark bangs to fall against his eyes. You thought that he seemed to be talking more to himself than to you at the moment. “He never meant to take me back after he banished me”

“I’m sorry, but...” You politely interrupted him. “I’m completely lost”

“Then I should explain to you how I got my scar” He replied with determination, reaching out to press his fingers against his burned cheek.

Your heart skipped a beat at his words. He was pouring his heart out, he was telling you all this in confidence and you were betraying his trust.

“Z-Zuko... You don’t have to do that” Shaking your hands in front of you, you quickly tried to silence him. It wasn’t fair for him...

“You said you wanted to trust me” He nodded in determination. “I want to tell you”

“And... have you told the others?”

“No, but... If it helps them trust me... I suppose you can tell them”

“Okay...”

You could barely speak, feeling a tight knot forming in your throat. Zuko didn’t seem to notice, although he did stare at you for a moment. His expression, however, was absent even after directing his gaze towards the fire.

“Do you know what an Agni Kai is?” He began after several more seconds of silence.

“N-No...” You admitted, fearing what he was about to confess to you.

“It’s a firebending duel” Zuko’s hands were shaking a little as he mindlessly held a small flame in the palm of his hand. “He challenged me to one when I was thirteen”

“Thirteen?!” You couldn’t help but to exclaim. “Why would he do that?”

“For talking out of turn” He clenched his jaw, harshly extinguishing the flame. “For saying it was wrong to use his new recruits as bait and let them die. Those people had a life of their own, they had families... but he didn’t care”

“Is that... Is that how you got your scar?” You dared to ask, almost fearing his answer. “Was it an accident during the duel?”

“Not exactly... I refused to fight my father, but he wanted me to learn my lesson” His brow furrowed, his face holding many expressions at once. None positive. “He said suffering would be my teacher and... he...”

You gasped, shaking your head and hoping he understood the gesture. Even if you had been rendered speechless, you had heard enough. Luckily, Zuko respected it and stopped talking. You could imagine the rest. Shivers crawled up your spine just imagining how harrowing it must have been for him. For a thirteen year old boy to be deliberately burned by his own father. It was cruel and wrong. You stared at him in shock. Tears gathered in your eyes seeing the pain in his.

“I knew Firelord Ozai was ruthless but...” You could barely form words, and you stuttered until you managed to finish your sentence. “But do to that to his own son... especially for being kind...”

Zuko shook his head, agreeing with you. What you didn’t know was that Ozai didn’t think of that moment as kindness. For him, it was weakness. For him, it was like his son was only another subject trying to antagonize him. Daring to defy him.

Instead of replying to that, he continued speaking like you never did. It was easier that way, it was easier trying to ignore what you said.

“I realized I would never regain my honor that way. Even if I was back, he would never accept me for who I was”

“So... it was never you... you never wanted to harm Aang” Your voice broke when a sob shook in your throat. “You were only doing it because of your father”

Zuko nodded, confirming your words. Confirming that all the sorrow you were feeling now after hearing his story, he had felt before. Times ten.

“That’s why I wanted to join you” Even though his eyes were shining under the firelight, there were no tears in them. “I wanted to make it up to all of you and teach the Avatar firebending”

Zuko’s voice shook, and he refused to look up at you again.

“I’m so sorry...” You said in response to his story. To his past, to that tragic moment that literally scarred him for life.

Still, you didn’t realize you were also sorry for something else until a voice broke the heavy silence that established.

“He’s telling the truth” Toph came out from behind the pillar, reminding you of everything. You had completely forgotten about them and about the plan.

The other three joined her, anouncing their presence as they went to stand beside her. They all had similar regretful expressions in their faces.

“What?” Zuko recovered from his apathetic state, his voice now leaving that low tone behind. “You were here the whole time?”

“I said your plan was stupid, Sokka!” You exclaimed with tears still in your eyes.

“It wasn’t stupid, it worked!” He contradicted you, then sheepishly rubbing his nape. “But... I will admit, it was a dirty trick”

“I didn’t mean...” You mumbled, too ashamed to meet Zuko’s amber eyes. “I didn’t know you would...”

“It’s okay” He slowly stood up, facing the four people who had listened to his every word. “Now you know...”

“I knew that guy was a jerk” Sokka said, trying to fix it by talking against Ozai.

“We had no idea, Zuko...” Katara told him as well, apparently forgiving all his sins. She had told the group about her encounter with him in the crystal cave. All that had been true as well.

“Does that mean...” The aforesaid timidly asked. “That you trust me now?”

Aang took a step forward, closer to Zuko. He held his hand out for him to take, complimenting it with a friendly smile. Zuko squeezed Aang’s hand, and at that moment you felt all the tension that floated in the air dissapear.

“Welcome aboard” Aang smiled as they shook hands.

Moved by an urge after the not so intimate moment you and Zuko shared, you stepped up as soon as they let go of their peacemaking gesture. You threw your arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

Zuko gasped in surprise, but after a brief moment of awkwardness he chuckled a bit. His arms sweetly wrapped around you, accepting your affection.

“Thanks for trusting me” You whispered in his ear, still holding on to him.

“You too...” Was his response, letting you linger as long as you wanted.

When you finally broke away, you exchanged a quick smile with him. Then Toph butted in, wanting to have a little exchange with him as well.

“See?” Toph ran to him, clinging on to his arm, much to Zuko’s embarrassment. “I knew I liked him!”

Everyone laughed at how tightly she was hugging him, especially so when he blushed a little by all this attention and fondness. You sighed in content as Zuko clumsily tried to say something. You knew from now on, things would be different. For the best.

Tag list: @call-me-harley-quinn / @lotsoffandomrecs / @lotsoffandomstoimagine / @undercanonthots / @bubblebars / @coldlilheart / @inkai-ghost / @xionroxas / @emmacata// If you want to be added or taken off the tag list for these fandoms or characters, let me know!! // Reblogs and comments are appreciated!

#rfi writings #zuko x reader #atla #avatar the last airbender #ficlet #atla ficlet #avatar the last airbender ficlet #zuko #reader insert #not requested #faves

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zktop10 · 3 years

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Author Feature: lettersfromnowhere

You might remember this next author from such list as Top 10 New in July 2020 and Zutara Week 2020: lettersfromnowhere ! (aka @thereisnocabbageinbasingse )

Go check out her other TWENTY-EIGHT Zutara fics and stay for her multi-fandom stories!

Title: The Waiting Game Rated: T Summary: Newly-crowned Fire Lord Zuko and Katara of the Southern Water Tribe can't deny that there's something between them, but the timing is all wrong. Zuko's got Fire Lord things to do and a missing mother to find, after all, and Katara's needed at home and wondering if she even knows what 'home' means anymore. There's nothing to be done: they're going to have to choose duty over love.

But that doesn't mean that spark has faded over the years, and when their paths cross again several years later, Zuko and Katara must decide if the feelings they've buried for so many years are worth fighting for.

Series Part 1 of The Waiting Game Score: 8.8 / 10 Rated T Complete: 6.8 / 10 Tags: Series, Alternate Universe, Canon Divergence, Post War, Slow Burn, Aged Up

Title: Tethered Rated: G Summary: Katara thinks about soulmates often. Her Gran-Gran told her the story, once: how soulmates are tethered (she likes that word, tethered – stronger than connected, softer than chained), how young some of them are when they hear the first evidence of that Tether. How soulmates hear each others’ thoughts sometimes, even before they know they’re soulmates, even before they meet. She loves the idea that a little part of her is in someone else’s mind even now.

Katara and Zuko through the years, sharing thoughts and finding each other. Score: 8.6 / 10 Rated G One Shots: 9.9 / 10 Tags: One Shot, Zutara Week, Soulmates

Title: go to the ends of the earth for you (to make you feel my love) Rated: G Summary: In which Katara is the last person who should ever be put on bed rest, and Zuko is the last person who's ever going to stop trying to assuage her bed rest-induced misery.

(Or: Zuko attempts to make Katara's last month of pregnancy a little more bearable.)

Series Part 1 of grow as we go Score: 8.2 / 10 Rated G One Shots: 9.8 / 10 Tags: Series, One Shot, Pregnancy, Fluff

Title: the most beautiful thing (that I have never seen) Rated: G Summary: This should be no sweat. After all, Katara's had the entire duration of Zuko's trip to the Earth Kingdom to work herself up to task of giving him news that'll rock his world.

That doesn't make said news any easier to get out, though. Score: 8.1 / 10 Rated G Complete: 9.8 / 10 Tags: Zutara Week, One Shot, Pregnancy, Fluff

Title: Introductions Rated: G Summary: It's never too early to start networking when one's going to inherit the Fire Nation throne one day.

(Or: the Gaang meets Zuko and Katara's first child.)

Series Part 2 of grow as we go Score: 7.7 / 10 Rated G One Shots: 9.7 / 10 Tags: Series, One Shot, Fluff, Steambab(y/ies)

Title: Tongue-Tied Rated: G Summary: Unfortunately, words aren't exactly Fire Lord Zuko's greatest strength; that makes things a touch more difficult than necessary when he realizes that he's got something to say to the girl who saved his life.

(Awkward, repeatedly-thwarted love confession fic for Zutara Week Day 5: Hesitancy.) Score: 7.0 / 10 Rated G One Shots: 9.5 / 10 Tags: One Shot, Zutara Week, Confessions

Title: Lean On Rated: G Summary: Katara isn't about to let Zuko neglect his well-being. Zuko isn't about to accept help. This is fine...right? Score: 6.9 / 10 Rated G One Shots: 9.4 / 10 Tags: One Shot, Angst with a Happy Ending

Title: four days and three nights Rated: T Summary: Zuko discovers firsthand that nothing is more fleeting than happiness, or more enduring than memory. Score: 6.8 / 10 Rated T One Shot: 6.8 / 10 Tags: One Shot, Alternate Universe, Canon Divergence, Angst, Character Death

Title: Tales of Caldera Rated: G Summary: Five years after the Hundred Year War comes to a close, the gang is reunited at a swanky diplomatic affair in the Fire Nation capital, and only one thing is certain: this is going to be a night for the books. The memorable night unfolds in six vignettes:

Sokka's attempts to ask for Suki's hand are hilariously thwarted over and over. Katara, still feeling out a new relationship, must face the reality of her position in the Fire Nation when she runs across a group of her opponents. A conversation with an emissary forces Aang to face the daunting task before him. A bored Toph challenges Aang to a rousing game of truth-or-dare. Zuko seeks Uncle Iroh's advice. And Suki does her best to balance her own hopes and expectations with her desire to be there for a friend in need.

Some humorous, some bittersweet, and some romantic, these are the Tales of Caldera.

(Or: it's Tales of Ba Sing Se episode but futurefic and it's at a party.) Score: 6.7 / 10 Rated G One Shot: 9.3 / 10 Tags: One Shot, Vignettes, Future Fic

Title: before you go Rated: G Summary: The Summer before college is supposed to be the time of their lives: the time to try things, have adventures, go out with a bang. So, armed with an epic pre-college bucket list, six friends set out to make that happen.

But this was also supposed to be the Summer that Zuko and Katara finally got it together and admitted they've wanted nothing more than each other for all of two years, but that doesn't look likely - not after what happened at Mai's graduation party. So, with the clock ticking, they have three months to work things out or lose their last chance.

All they know for sure? Before the Summer is out, nothing will be the same. Score: 6.7 / 10 Rated T One Shot: 9.3 / 10 Tags: Alternate Universe, Modern Setting, One Shot

DISQUALIFIED: Stay Frosty, Royal Milk Tea Rated: G Summary: *CO-AUTHORED WITH @sofileall*

With Gran-Gran getting too old to work full-time and college looming, Katara needs a job. Enter Jasmine Dragon Tea & Treats.

Zuko has enough on his plate just trying to keep his uncle’s struggling boba shop from going under, to say nothing of his sociopath kid sister or disastrous love life. So training a new employee - an annoyingly perky, irritatingly competent, infuriatingly beautiful new employee who thinks nothing of getting in his sister’s face - is the last thing he needs to be worrying about right now.

But as the pair of them - and Katara's ever-present friends - grow closer, they run into trouble when they learn that the shop is struggling, and if they want to keep the home they've built for themselves, they're going to have to work for it. And so a plot is hatched: save Jasmine Dragon Tea & Treats or die trying.

Fueled by milk tea and matcha macarons, this year - featuring every type and variety of sibling rivalry, many botched promposals, first love, shop-saving schemes, unfortunate timing, Sokka as a dancing pineapple mascot, and one ill-fated open mic night - is one the Jasmine Dragon family is never going to forget. Score: 9.1 / 10 Rated G WIP: 9.6 / 10 Tags: Alternate Universe, Modern Setting, High School Setting, WIP

Would have been number 1 but it’s co-authored so I couldn’t solely attribute to lettersfromnowhere!

#zutara #fanfiction #rec list #top 10 #lettersfromnowhere #author feature

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allaganexarch · 7 years

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heya!! for the ask thing: 1,2,6,7,17,19,21,22,24,36,39,44,45

WHOOOOOOOOP THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME FRIENDDDD!!!!!

1. What was the first fandom you got involved in?

Hmmmmmm well. I wrote my first proper fanfic for Will and Grace, I was kind of marginally involved in the Big Bang Theory fandom back before the show was a giant trainwreck, and I’d say the first fandom that really took over my life was OUAT!

2. What is your latest fandom?

God what is time what year is it. Nothing super-recent has really captured my attention--so the last new thing I got into would have been either Steven Universe or Mass Effect? And the last subset of a thing I got into was definitely Dragon Age II hahaha

6. List your OTP from each fandom you’ve been involved in.

Okay this took me awhile but I think I kinda listed the fandoms I’ve been involved in

OUAT: OMG I made a 2 am shitpost to this effect but like while I love the idea of Swan Queen, Dragon Queen will always be my personal OTP.

WH13: BERING AND WELLS obvi

Steven Universe: I’ll go with Lapidot since it’s like the only non-canon one hahaha i knOW HOW TO PICK THEM

Dragon Age: Origins: Morrigan/female Warden -- II: Hawke/Meredith bc I am Garbage(TM) -- Inquisition: Cassandra/female Inquisitor (((or Solavellan bc i love to suffer)))

Mass Effect: Shepard/Aria T’Loak and Renegade Shepard/Samara bc again, as we’ve established, I LOVE TO SUFFER

Supergirl: SUPERCAT 5EVER but I also love SuperCorp from afar since I no longer watch.

Disney: MALORA 5EVER but also Cinderella/Tremaine because I am The Worst.

Harry Potter: There’s one I won’t admit to bc that’s how trashy it is and I’ll admit to Bellamione and HermionexMcGonagall so you see where my baseline is.

ATLA/LOK: Toph/Suki, Korra/Kuvira, Korra/Lin, Lin/Kya, and don’t get me wrong I love Korrasami I just like to torture myself with non-canon trash

7. List your NoTPs from each fandom you’ve been in.

OUAT: The obvious ones but the latest is Golden Queen hahahha like I don’t even watch anymore but what a disaster.

WH13: Myka/Pete like what an utter disservice to the entire show tbh never over it.

Steven Universe: Not really into Jasper/Lapis, which I realize is a bit out of character for me, but I do still like a lot of the art for them.

Dragon Age: Don’t think I’ve seen any for Origins. For II: Meredith/Orsino hahahaha I have it blacklisted and it still finds its way to my eye sockets. Fenders also isn’t my game. Inquisition: Cassandra/any man bc I headcanon her as a closeted lesbian sorry not sorry, and uhmmm there are some characters I just really dislike so them with anyone is unpleasant to me hahaha.

Mass Effect: EDI/Joker hahaha sorry not sorry he’s super gross about her like I’d be whatever about it if not for how unnecessarily misogynistic his dialogue suddenly becomes.

Supergirl: The obvious one. Which sounds like a confectionery treat.

Disney: Can’t think of anything egregious really? Oh, well, Maleficent/any man, surpriiiiise.

Harry Potter: Miss me with Ron/Hermione 2kforever

ATLA/LOK: Same with Aang/Katara tbh like obviously later in life they worked fine together but in the context of the show it always felt weird and forced. Same with Makorra--I always forget about it when I rewatch the first seasons until theeeere he is at the end of every episode hahaha.

17. Who was your first OTP and are they still your favourite?

The first time I remember like Shipping Something it was Katherine and Robyn from Desperate Housewives hahaha. Like I just remember being so shocked and thrilled to see the Sexual Tension playing out before my eyes on a show I was allowed to watch bc my mom liked it, that I would watch RAPTLY and try to pretend not to care hahaha.

First like earth-shattering OTP though was probably Malora, like I just started writing it as a thought experiment and then suddenly it took over my life, and that’s how you know!

19. Is there a ship which you wished you could get behind, but you just don’t feel them?

TBH if anything is canon or too popular I’m unlikely to care that much about it, even if I like it in theory hahaha bc that’s just the kinda pretentious snob I am.

21. What was the first fanfic you ever wrote?

Technically the first fanfic I ever wrote was a character exercise for a show I was in, like a way of writing an ensemble character for myself so I had a through line in the show and whatnot. There were a couple of other self-inserts that mercifully never saw the light of day so those are burdens I can bear alone. The first for-real fanfic that ever saw the light of day was a GracexKaren fic that was also kind of a disaster.

22. Is there anything you regret writing?

I don’t regret writing anything, since it’s all practice. There are a couple of things I regret posting, though hahaha, and it may soon be time for another small purge of a couple of things I’m not proud of.

24. What fic do you desperately need to rewrite or edit?

Before I touch literally anything else I need to finish my rewrite of Early to Bed hahaha. Other than that, aside from Prisoner eventually, I don’t have any immediate plans to do major rewrites of anything.

36. What’s your favourite genre to write?

A N G S T

I think I do a good job with the situations where people are longing to connect but terrified to reveal too much of themselves, or that murky time in new relationships of any variety where people are testing the waters with one another, which lends itself to angst and a lot of buildup hahaha.

39. What is you greatest strength as a writer?

I think I get away with a lot of shit bc I can turn an eloquent phrase, and I think I write good dialogue because I put a lot of effort into capturing how characters speak and think before I write them.

44. What ship do you feel needs more attention?

For non-DA....always here for more 1959 Maleficent/Aurora, Effie/Katniss, my new babies Mirana/Alice, annnnnd Korra/Kuvira hahaha!

45. What is your all time favourite fanfic?

hjbgfcdxvghjn all time???!?!

These 5 I recced awhile back are definitely my go-to’s.

#YAYYYYY THAT WAS FUN #also it invariably takes me 95 years to locate that fic rec post #even though it's like one of the most useful things i've ever typed hahahaha #personal #exciting tag for writing things #possibly unpopular opinions bew a r e #delilahmidnight #exciting tag for answered asks

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wonderwonderhowido · 7 years

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Character meme: Katsuki Yuuri, Zuko

Katsuki Yuuri:

best quality: his awareness of aspects of himself that are different and that some would consider as weaknesses, and being not just unafraid of those aspects, but seeing them as strengths. Such as when he decided he was going to win the Eros/Agape competition by embracing his femininity, and his inner monologue during his free skate about how crying before a competition has made him better in (I think?) episode 7. (That inner monologue and free skate is still maybe my favorite single moment of the show.)worst quality: I have done a shit job of picking a ‘worst quality’ for any of these characters because people have only asked me about characters I love, but this feels particularly hard for Yuuri. I guess he is too hard on himself? But I love everything about him, so. ship them with: Viktor!! The canon ship is so good here, aaahh. But also Phichit/Yuuri is gr8. brotp them with ship them platonically with: I have so many feelings about Yuuri and Yuri P ;;;;needs to stay away from: his own insecurities!!!!misc. thoughts: Yuuri is one of those characters that I’ve never been particularly motivated to write fic for, partly because the canon is so satisfying for him that I don’t have much else to say, and partly because I really, really ID with him in ways that are a bit harder to write about (harder to get enough distance from) than my usual identification with the angry sad fuckboys I write about more often. But I love him!!!

Zuko:

best quality: his willingness to look at hard truths, admit when he has been wrong, and grow as a person ;___________;worst quality: he has a bunch of them, but I guess general hotheaded-ness/jerkitude. ship them with: SOKKA!!!! knocking on doors to share the good word of zukka till i die. Zuko/Aang is also very dear to my heart. also azulabrotp them with ship them platonically with: Zuko is one of those rare (for me) characters where I headcanon him as pretty much gay even though he’s had a canon relationship with a girl. I tend to view his relationship with Mai as one where they were drawn to each other because they were both isolated and uncertain about the Fire Nation, and needed each other. Them being there for each other is super important to me, but I don’t view it as a sexual love. Also, I really love his friendship with Katara and how they have shaped each other, and I love their scenes together, particularly when they fought together in the series finale.needs to stay away from: sry fandom but I am not the biggest fan of Jet or Jet/Zuko. misc. thoughts: It’s been like a million years but I still think about writing my zukka modern surfer AU all the time.

#pearlo #meme answers #zuko #yuuri katsuki #avatar #yuri on ice

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