#zhaozai palooza 2021

[zhaozaipalooza]

Dearest Pawinners, the time is almost upon us! I want to thank everyone who has expressed interest, followed the page, submitted ideas, contributed to posts, said we were crazy and it couldn't be done... Because this Sunday August 21, things kick off with the first of our prompts: Hurt/Comfort & Decadence!

It is always an honour and a privilege to share your works on this page, and I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us. Of course, those of you wishing to submit to the official AO3 Collection are able to do so, too.

#zhaozai palooza 2021

[sukka-week]

Alright, let's kick this baby off right!

Prompt submissions are now open! The submission form will be open until 11:00pm EDT on August 19th.

And! A little something different this year...

Inspired by Zhaozai Palooza (one of my ultimate role models for a spectacularly fun fandom event 😉), prompts from previous years are fair game for Sukka Week 2023 — meaning, if you want to submit a work during this year's Sukka Week that matches one of the prompts from 2021 or 2022, please feel free to do so!

That said, you can still submit prompts for this year's event that are similar to prompts from previous years. But know that you don't have to in order to use one of the previous ones.

And to refresh your memory, here are the previous prompts!

2021 Prompts

Bisexuality / Bi4Bi

Blending Cultures

Parenthood / First Born

Ember Island

Modern Road Trip AU 

Moonlight

jock!Suki, nerd!Sokka

College AU

Bodyguard

Warrior Makeup

The Boiling Rock

PTSD

Soulmates

2022 Prompts

Eloping

Parody of the infamous “sUkI DiEd YoUng” myth

The Arts

Family Portrait

Shipwrecked Sailor Sokka

Arranged Marriage

villain!Sokka and/or villain!Suki

Confession(s) of Love

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach

Road Trip

Fashion / New Clothes

The Notorious Tent

Fall

Domestic / The Simple Life

I'm super excited to see what you all come up with this year!

#sukka #sukkaweek #sukka week #sukkaweek2023 #sukka week 2023 #sokka x suki #suki x sokka #atla events #atla ship weeks #ship weeks #fandom events

[maripolifan]

Two types of parents

~~~~~

I can't be the only one who saw that meme of RDJ and Chris Hemsworth and be immediately reminded of the Fire Nation Royal Family, right?

Bonus:

@zhaozaipalooza My humble submission for Day 7: Family

#maripolifan #my art #ursa #ozai #firelord ozai #zuko #azula #fire nation royal family #ozai is having fun but azula? #(she is too) #ursa just didn't see it from afar #unfortunate for ozai #atla #zhaozai palooza 2021 #urzai #if you will #in this house we stan girlboss ursa #idk how many times i've drawn ozai and i still don't know those beard physics #i've been sitting on this little thing for a while now #then art block hit and every single line i draw looks wrong and horrible #still does jfc #i still have another wip that unfortunately likely won't make it into crooked's stats anymore :/

[ohmygodtheywereparabatai]

Day 7 | Sun/Moon

*naruto running to catch up to the @zhaozaipalooza bus* wAIT UP!!! I have Day 7 right here!!

People were curious about either A) Zhao becoming the Moon Spirit via a Reverse Uno mishap or B) Zhao eating the fish, so… I have combined bOTH! A sad little man who plays songs on his erhu from the moon.

P.S. your additions to the om nom post inspired me to do this even though I crossed it off 😂 thank you sm

#moon spirit!zhao #WOW AN ACTUALLY DECENT LOOKING THING #jk i can’t do expressions with a finger to save anybody’s life #this one goes out to everyone who enjoyed my silly little au #(which is starting to become a whole thing in my head oh agni) #zhaozai palooza 2021 #atla art #zhao #admiral zhao #toph #sokka #your local clown draws!

[moonsugar-and-spice]

For @zhaozaipalooza week | Day 5: Overwhelming Desire to Kiss

The ice has an opalescent glow, as if born to reflect the sunrise, the arctic white bringing Zhao's soul alive in ways that he never could have imagined, in ways that are so entirely foreign. And in this hostile land of perpetual winter, in this frozen water world, these stolen moments with her seem to freeze along with it so they can savor them all the more.

Yue laughs, bright and pure as a chime on the air, and pulls him into the narrow mouth of an ice cave. Their staccato breaths form delicate white puffs in the space between them as the world falls away to a crystal dream, nothing but the princess’s bewitching smile and shimmering eyes that capture his, pulling like the tide.

The gaze lingers too long to mistake it for something else.

A kiss can be shared a hundred times before it ever touches the lips – in the exchange of a look, in the bridge formed between two souls…

In the dizzying moments just before, eyes kiss first.

(Inspired by @flameo-trashman’s amazing and well-loved captive!Zhao AU.)

#admiral zhao #princess yue #zhayu #fried fish #atla #captive!zhao au #zhaozai palooza 2021 #digital art #i have no idea how to draw flameo worstman's sideburns from this angle but i tried #my art

[fire-lady-ilah]

“Crown Prince Lu Ten is unavailable to see you.”

Zuko felt frustration boil inside of him. It was bad that he was stuck in this world — even if the world itself seemed fine, after all, Uncle was Fire Lord here. It was even worse that, since nobody knew who he was here, he couldn’t just demand an audience with Uncle. And now they were saying he couldn’t even speak with Lu Ten?

“Fortunately, Prince Consort Wei is available and more than willing to pass on any messages to his husband.”

Wei?

Zuko found himself being led into a sunny office where a man was waiting. He barely noticed as the man bowed his head, making the flame with his hands.

It couldn’t be.

“Zhao?”

— an excerpt from the dimension travel story I’ll (probably) never write, in which Zuko, instead of learning the true meaning of fire from the dragons, finds himself transported to a world where Iroh never laid siege to Ba Sing Se, Lu Ten never died, and the war is already over.

Oh, and Zhao is married to Lu Ten, apparently.

My submission for day 3, prompt: Royal Consort AU, for the Zhaozai Palooza — both an art piece and a hint of writing.

@zhaozaipalooza

#zhaozai palooza 2021 #zhao #admiral zhao #luzhao #sideburns are a war crime #zuko #lu ten #(mentioned) #atla #avatar the last airbender #my writing #my art i guess #angie’s writing #angie's art #fanart

[atla-sinful-shit]

Hair

A little drabble I whipped up for day two of the Zhaozai Palooza! Might crosspost this to AO3 as well, still undecided. Hakozai, no warnings needed.

He gripped his silken black hair in his hand, a knife glinting in the other, light from the candle shining off it.

“You want some help?” Hakoda was sitting across from him, elbows on his knees, his armor battered and worn.

“Hair... Means a lot to us.” Ozai looked up at him.

“I know.”

“I won’t look like a prince.”

“That’s the point, isn’t it?”

He took a deep breath. This felt wrong. But it was necessary to hide who he was, hide his involvement in the rebellion.

“It grows back.”

“I know.”

One clean cut, and it was burned.

#hakozai #ozai #hakoda #drabble #my writing #zhaozai palooza 2021

[orangepanic]

New Fic: Yao Li's Blade

And now for something completely different.

Honestly, the content for @zhaozaipalooza has been SO GOOD that I decided to throw my hat in the ring even though it's not my usual jam. Ergo, I present my first ever ATLA fic:

Relationships: Ozai & Original Character (no shipping) Rating: G Summary: Firelord Ozai had many secrets. The royal hairdresser, Yao Li, heard them all. Or, five times Ozai confided in someone, and one time the tables were turned.

Each chapter - and they're short - will follow the day's prompt.

Enjoy!

#zhaozai palooza 2021 #ozai #avatar last airbender #away we gooooo

[snoffyy]

@zhaozaipalooza

Heyyyyy wow why am I not surprised my first post on tumblr already contains problematic content ANYWAY I’ve tried to write something beautiful and eloquent and flowy but this is all my brain has spat out oof -

Filling the modern au prompt with TA!Zhao in an introductory maths course. Started out as Zuko/Zhao, turned into Yue/Zhao (I believe the ship has been coined fried fish??) and then for some reason settled on Hakoda/Zhao (at least, the setup for it). It’s a little hastily put together (could it be??? My word counts somewhat under control???) and I have no idea what I’m doing so I’m keeping it on tumblr. I’m so sorry for being horrendously late, but a huge thank you to the mods for all their time and effort!!

.

Despite the many grievances that came with being a TA, Zhao did find the job rather fulfilling in some respects. Tearing through assignments, breathing down people’s necks while invigilating exams, getting paid to answer algebraic questions he could do in his sleep…

And then, out of the blue, he would be reminded that there were a few but significant downsides.

Such as now.

Sometimes, students thought they could waltz into his office and expect him to bend rules to their whim.

“Sokka…” Zhao said carefully, sliding his pen down the enrolment list. “I thought this would be the first time I received everyone’s assignments on time, but it looks like I’m still waiting for that day to come. So, what’s your excuse?”

“It’s done!” Sokka yelped, waving his hands about in a flurry of panic. “I swear it is, I’ve got it in my bag right now. Just, uh, could you possibly, pretty please with cherries on top, let the late penalty slide? Please?”

Zhao arched an eyebrow. “And pray tell, why should I do that? The guidelines clearly state that a penalty will be applied for late submission, increased in increments of five percent for each day that it is late until it reaches a total deduction of forty percent, in which case you will receive a zero instead. You’re six hours past the deadline. If it were six minutes, I may have been more inclined to let it slide.”

“Please,” Sokka begged, clasping his hands together. “I’ve been doing so well in this course! But today was super busy and I tried, I really tried to get it in on time.”

“Look,” Zhao sighed, scrubbing at his face. “If I let this one go, there’ll inevitably be a next time. Not for you maybe, but someone else. That’s just how these things work and –”

“I swear I won’t let anyone know,” Sokka promised. “And… and…” his eyes sidled to the empty coffee cup on his desk. “I’ll get you a coffee! As a token of my appreciation.”

“That sounds more like bribery than appreciation.” Zhao scoffed, flinging the paper cup into the bin. “Just give me your assignment so we can call it a day.”

“And a cookie.” Sokka tacked on, evidently refusing to go down without a fight.

“… A cookie.” Zhao repeated flatly. “You’re trying to bribe me with a coffee and a cookie.”

“Is it working?”

“No.”

“But…” Sokka said, a crafty look in his eye. Zhao would be more impressed if he hadn’t seen that exact expression for most of his upbringing. “I know for a fact that you’re a crazy fast marker. You always get our results back to us within a week. No one can do that without binging coffee and sugar… aren’t you in need of a fix?”

He was a fast marker because there were only two teaching assistants in this course, and Jee was woefully slow-paced, so obviously someone needed to pick up the slack. What usually happened was that Zhao would tackle the stack of assignments nearly solo and leave grading input and moderation to Jee, before happily returning to other pressing matters.

“Actually,” Zhao said, picking up a second, smaller stack of papers on the other side of the desk, holding it up for Sokka to see. “I’ve already graded these, and I’m doing just fine.”

The horror on Sokka’s face nearly made Zhao smile. Nearly.

“But…” Sokka protested feebly. “How… how are you nearly halfway done?”

“Trade secret. Now, assignment. Gimme.” Zhao held out a waiting hand.

“Large coffee.” Sokka pleaded once more with newfound desperation. “Anything you want. And a cookie. One of those massive ones.”

“Not that interested.” Zhao said. “Come on, come on. I’m planning on getting these done by tomorrow.”

“And,” Sokka pitched forward. “In the next tutorial, I’ll answer all your questions if no one else puts their hand up.”

Oh. Now they were talking.

“Next three tutorials.” Zhao leaned forward, a sharklike smile spreading across his face. “And I want that coffee and cookie.”

“Done.”

“Very good,” Zhao grinned, “you can give me your assignment now. No penalty will be applied. I’ll mark it now while you get the goods, and once you’ve come back, I’ll input your grade into the system.”

The relief was palpable in Sokka’s face. “Yeah, yes. I’ll do that. What kind of coffee and cookie do you want?”

Zhao hummed, taking the assignment out of Sokka’s hands. He got started on marking immediately, red pen working furiously as he tore through the questions. The answers have practically been imprinted behind his eyelids at this point and thankfully, Sokka almost always got full marks, which meant he didn’t need to spend time picking through the working. “The coffee? Surprise me. I want an oatmeal raisin cookie, though.”

Zhao decidedly ignored the muttered incredulity under Sokka’s breath about his taste in cookies, and pointedly flipped the next page to spur him into fetching his bribe.

By the time Sokka scurried back into his office, Zhao had already made another dent in the pile of marking. He lifted his head at the sound of the door opening, and the sight of Sokka’s triumphant face tempted him into changing his mind about accepting the bribe, if only to pour cold water over his excitement.

But, as Jee had pointed out earlier this morning, he’d already reached his maximum quota for assholery today.

“Here,” Sokka presented the cup and a small, brown bag that smelled heavily of baked goods.

“What did you end up ordering?” Zhao asked, taking both items from his hands.

“I asked my dad to make something for my grumpy TA,” Sokka grinned cheekily.

“Need I remind you that your grade’s fate is currently held in the hands of said grumpy TA?”

“Right, yes. Sorry, sir.”

Something else about the statement had caught his attention, though. Zhao examined the logo on the cup, tilting his head as he asked, “Your dad made this?”

“Oh, right, yeah.” Sokka scratched his head sheepishly. “My dad co-owns a café with his best friend. Anyway, uh, he says he’d like to apologize on my behalf for annoying you and that he hopes you’ll enjoy the coffee and cookie. He said it’ll knock your socks off.” Sokka puffed his chest up with pride.

“I’m hard to impress.” Zhao drawled, a bit derisively, but he reckoned he was entitled to a little haughtiness.

“That’s what I said, but Dad’s confident you’ll like it.” Sokka shrugged. “Said you’re welcome to stop by the café anytime. He’ll hook you up with a treat.”

Zhao rolled his eyes and shifted his attention back to his end of the deal. He turned his desktop around so the screen was facing Sokka and pointed out his name. “There. Ninety-seven percent. Congrats.”

And before the fool could do something intolerably annoying like celebrate in his office, Zhao growled out a dismissal, pointedly picking up his cup as Sokka waltzed out the doors.

Alone again, Zhao popped off the lid, peering down with slight confusion when he caught sight of latte art. A classic heart, which he barely managed to rein in another scoff at. At least it tasted… decent. Surprisingly strong notes of espresso, none of that flavoured syrup shit he couldn’t stand.

The cookie wasn’t bad, either.

Well. Colour him slightly impressed. Slightly.

Making a note to stop by the café sometime, Zhao turned back to his marking, mood lighter for some strange, inconceivable reason.

#zhaozai palooza 2021 #hakoda/zhao #what is their ship name #my writing #zhao only has 2 moods #caffeinated and uncaffeinated

[clown-cult]

@zhaozaipalooza day 3 is Royal Consort AU and Pride/Humility.

AU where Zhao says fuck the army and becomes Ozai’s consort. They’re definitely talking shit about Ursa. I swear my version of Ozai gets more and more Dio-like by the day.

#my content #my art #fan art #atla #avatar the last airbender #firelord ozai #admiral zhao #zhaozai #zhaozai palooza 2021

[number1villainstan]

@zhaozaipalooza My collection for this fantastic ship! Sunday’s up now, a modern au focused on Zhao and Ozai as teenagers.

#zhaozai #zhaozai palooza 2021 #Admiral Zhao #zhao #atla zhao #ozai #atla ozai #fire lord ozai

[ohmygodtheywereparabatai]

Day 8 | Afterglow…

A scrapped Zhao WIP and a special sketch that I couldn’t cram in Days 1-7 for you:

(I GAVE UP HERE soRRY but this was the initial Pride/Humility tarot… a man who covets his own image over, er, everything.)

(Annnnd a Jeezhao sketch! … maybe too fluff, too OOC. Angie I formally apologize if I couldn’t nail your boys 😖)

—

Ahh, Crooked of @zhaozaipalooza, a phoenix-king’s-ego-sized thank you to you for being the best mod partner this private eye of the seedy Rarepair District could ever ask for.

What a week! I’ve learned so much!! From @clown-cult’s *chef’s kiss* emphasis on anatomy to @orangepanic’s subtle ways of twisting the Pain Knife in my gut (I wish Yao Li the very best), @maiqueen’s fantastic range to @fire-lady-ilah’s skill with every heart-warming trope known for two soldier boys.

Artists swung in day for day or later on with works that took my breath away (you know who you are), and writers poured their all into fics we’ll treasure oh so carefully (you better know who you are) - far more than the cabbage man does his produce. While not the type of savvy to crunch numbers, from where I’m standing, I see nothing but a sea of talented individuals and a great show of sport. Our very own Hotmen Olympics!

To watch this come to life before school reopens made this summer a special one, and even though I’ll shrink into the background now and hone in on studies, I’m pretty optimistic about the tag #zhaozai palooza 2022.

#zhaozai palooza 2021 #your local clown draws! #and reflects

[middleofnowhere92]

Trigger Warnings: Mai’s shitty parents, implied/reference psychological abuse, body dysmorphia disorder

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Mai/Zhao (Avatar) Additional Tags: Aged-Up Character(s), Arranged Marriage, Alternate Universe - Arranged Marriage, Alternate Universe - The Fire Nation Won, Emotional/Psychological Abuse

Summary: "It all begins and ends in your mind. What you give power to, has power over you, if you allow it." - Leon Brown

Mai's life has never been truly hers. She has been brought up to please her parents and by proxy please the Royal Court. She cannot escape these pressures, even on her wedding night.

Yes, I’m showing up a week late to @zhaozaipalooza This is for day 4- Haunted & Avarice/Charity

#zhaozai palooza 2021

[fire-lady-ilah]

I posted a lot of luzhao (and by a lot of, I mean nothing but) for the Palooza, which meant very little Ozai. I was actually going to line this and finish it up digitally but digital art takes me a lot of time that I did not have 😂. This would’ve been my submission for day 7: family. Instead, it’s my submission for Afterglow Sunday. Be thankful it’s this and not the unfinished jeezhao smut 😌.

You can imagine this to be canon, given there’s some evidence they might’ve been happy once, but when drawing it I had it occurring in my good dad! Ozai AU, in which he’s still an asshole but he loves his family and that changes a lot.

Might finish it up one day.

@zhaozaipalooza

#fanart #zuko #azula #ozai #ursa #good dad!ozai #au #atla #avatar the last airbender #zhaozai palooza 2021 #urzai #Angie draws #badly

[atla-sinful-shit]

Role Reversal

Another drabble, this time most definitely on the angst side, for day 5! It's still the 29th here, so technically I'm not late XD

He had been the guardian of the Spirit Oasis his entire life. Now, a girl threatened it, her hands held up in a clear threat.

“I will be Yue the conqueror, Yue, the Moonslayer.” Her eyes blazed, and Zhao just offered her a smile.

“You’ll have to go through me first.”

It was not a fight that lasted long. She was a fighter, he was a healer. A burning hand was pressed to his throat.

“Any last words?”

Zhao just remembered the koi, swimming their endless circle.

“Your nation will suffer too.”

Her rage was the last thing he saw.

#zhayu #zhao #yue #role swap au #is he dead? you decide #also #you decide which spirit chose him #zhaozai palooza 2021

[orangepanic]

Aaaaand, done! Way to squeak in at the deadline. *pats back* Combining the Day 6 and Day 7 prompts for a final chapter of Post-war/Family. In which an unrepentant Ozai is given many things to think about.

HUGE kudos to the mods of @zhaozaipalooza, as well as all of the amazing contributors. The bar has truly been raised.

#zhaozai palooza 2021 #ozai #oc #this was a really fun fic to write #redemption arc what redemption arc? #villains be villains #and yet there's always someone who likes them #avatar the last airbender