#zk fanwork week

[jaxsteamblog]

You never forget your first

This is in honor of not only my first OTP, but the first piece of Zutara fanart I reblogged on this site back on April 21, 2016. That’s right, I’ve only been active for four years baby.

A proper submission for @zkfanworkweek

I’m writing for this piece by @evartandadam posted for Valentine’s Day.

“So it went like this...

“A former colony in the Yue Province was having some trouble. People didn’t like that there were still Firebenders there, and the Firebenders didn’t want to leave the only home they ever knew. So Uncle Aang-”

“Did they have to leave their homes?”

“You have to listen to the story sweetheart.”

“But what happened to the Firebenders?”

“They were fine, sweetie, your father did a good job. Now do you want to hear this or not?”

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes please, mama.”

“Okay. So. Uncle Aang managed to gather everyone up and we all went to the colony. At first, Uncle Aang and your father had a big fight. Your uncle thought the homes should be given back to the people who had to leave, and your father thought that it wasn’t fair to treat people the same way they were saying was bad.”

“And papa was right.”

“Well, they were both right. See, it’s difficult to leave your home, which your father and I knew. But it’s also difficult to see people living in what should be your home, which your uncle knew very well.

“So your father and your uncle got together and wrote a very long treaty on a very long scroll.”

“How long?”

“Really, really, REALLY long.”

“Longer than me?” 

“Longer than EVERYONE.”

“.......longer than Paw-Paw?”

“Bigger.”

“woah.”

“And the really long treaty said that this was a new land, and now people had to work together. So if a Firebender was okay with moving, down the street or back to the Fire Nation, then the city would pay them to move. But if they didn’t want to move, then the Fire Nation would pay the Earthbenders the price of their land, or to move somewhere else in the same city. That’s called a compromise.”

“Like sharing.”

“Precisely. Just like sharing. But, like sharing, some people weren’t happy with it. They thought your father was being nicer to the Firebenders than to the Earthbenders. So some very bad men came and captured your father. They said that if Uncle Aang didn’t change the whole scroll, then they would hurt your father.”

“No!”

“Yes! And that made everyone really, really mad. So we all went out to find your father.”

“And you found him.”

“I did. I found him and I was so happy to see him.”

“So you kissed him!”

“I did! Is that silly? Why are you laughing? Is it silly when I kiss daddy?”

“Did you beat up the bad men mama?”

“I did. And then Uncle Aang yelled at them, and then Uncle Sokka yelled at them, and then Aunt Suki yelled at them, and then Aunt Toph yelled at them.”

“Auntie Toph doesn’t yell.”

“She did this time. She yelled the LOUDEST.”

“And then they went to jail?”

“And then they went to jail. And you’re father and I fell in love and we got married and we had you.”

“Papa tells the story different.”

“Oh? What does your father say?”

“He said that you floated down from the moon and saved him from the bad men but he was hurt, so you kissed him and it made him all better. So he loved you forever and ever.”

“Well your father does like fairy tales.”

#zutara #fanfiction #dialogue only #jax writes #zk fanwork week

[rideboldlyride]

Rec List for M - E for @zkfanworkweek

Caveat at the start: mind the tags/rating. I will not be accountable if you choose to ignore them and read on.

M - E One Shots

Fire on the Ice - by @/dyce (don’t know if they’re on tumblr. Will update if someone can point them me their direction, please!)

Sweeter Than Honey, Stronger Than Whiskey - by @jasmine-tea-latte

M - E WIPs

These Scars of Ours - by @neurologicaldamage

Come Over - by @cablesscutie

Countdown - by @thetasteoflies / @hugs4zuko (hmm... it’s like this author can’t put out anything bad or something)

Forged in Flames - by @ifyouwereamelodymeg

M - E Complete

Rumor Has It (and the sequel is still a WIP) - by @fictionissocialinquiry (go read ALL of her stuff. She should be a classic and I will die before I let her go quietly into the night on this zkfaw)

A Sea of Troubles - by @ekphrastic

Purr - by @/sparrowkeet1

I wasn’t magnificent - by @likeadove (this has been completed but the sequel has not been touched in years— however, the story is too damn good to not read, despite the pain.)

Unrated

* A Map with No Water - by @thetempestcup (this is the sequel to Tempest in a Teacup and iT JUST UPDATED)

* 31 Minutes (Fuse) - by @ifyouwereamelodymeg (oh look, there she is again. Guess that means you should go read her stuff. I don’t make the rules.)

G - T / M - E / Artists

#zutara #atla #zuko #katara #Zutara fic rec #zk fanwork week #zkfanworkweek #zkfaw2020 #zkfaw #zfaw2020 #zfaw

[stardust948]

(via Custom Image) 

Have I ever mentioned how much I love this community? 

#girl eating pancakes meme #zutara #zutara month #zutara fanwork appreciation week #zk drabble december 2020 #zk drabble februrary #zutara bollywood week #zutara big bang

[soopersara]

Taking advantage of this new Self Love Saturday addition to @zkfanworkweek, I thought I would take a second to talk about the fic that I’m by far the most proud of and excited about out of all of my work: 

A Tale of Ice and Smoke

Rating: T

After eighty-six years of war, a new Avatar is born into the Southern Water Tribe. Fourteen year later, Katara realizes the full extent of her powers when she finds a child with strangely familiar abilities frozen in an iceberg and a prince comes searching for her. Along with Sokka and Aang, she flees for the North Pole, and Zuko is never far behind.

I started writing and posting this fic before I joined the fandom for real (and by that, I mean reading other fics, talking to other fans, etc). I didn’t know that AUs where a different character was the Avatar were A Thing in the fandom, but I adored the concept of Katara being the Avatar, and I didn’t have it in me to kill off Aang, so A Tale of Ice and Smoke was born with two Avatars, but mostly with Katara as the central focus because I love her. And lots of Zuko because he’s a brilliant character. And Zutara, of course, but the slowest of all slow burns because I crave the slow progression from enemies to friends to lovers. And found family. And sibling rivalry. And humor. And Emotions™. And character development. And—

And yes, I did make my own fanart for the series (hey, if you want something done...). And yes, my icon is a reference to the fic. And yes, I included that one here because I like symmetry and I haven’t painted the fourth Avatara picture yet, shhhh. I’m doing that next month, I swear. 

Anyway. Some of my favorite parts of the first book are drafted now, and I’m so far beyond excited to share them. I understand that some people are wary of WIPs, but the end of the first book is creeping up on me much sooner than I expected, and I would love it if anyone was willing to give a chance to this story in particular. I love all of my fics, but the others are mostly like... my nieces and nephews while this one is my baby.  I even have a posting schedule now, how crazy is that? 

I’m just incredibly proud of how far I’ve come with it and how much amazing stuff there is on the horizon (Chapter 34 and 35, guys. Those are some of the big ones for Book 1... or the big ones before the finale, at least).

And! And! As soon as I have the final chapter of Book 1 drafted (probably a few months yet, but it’s coming, people. And I have like... a ten chapter buffer at this point, so that posting schedule is going to hold up for a while), I’m going to start releasing this baby as a podfic! (It’ll be weekly updates so I can keep up with the editing). With the brand-new fancy-schpancy microphone that I just bought as a gift to myself. So that will be a perfect time to hop onto this crazy-long slowburn ride with me if you prefer an audio format. 

#zutara #zutara fanfiction #zuko #katara #avatar katara #atla fanart #zk fanwork appreciation week #Self Love Saturday #shameless self promo #A Tale of Ice and Smoke #I'll probably do a rec list later too #but I REALLY REALLY love this fic #it's been occupying the majority of my brain for 3 years now #and now that I'm finally at a place in my life where I can write consistently #it's taking shape much faster than it was before #and I'm absolutely ecstatic about where it's going

[southslates]

just in case u didn't know yes this week is zutara week part two because it's 2020 and it do be like that

#zk fanworks appreciation week #zutara

[beanaroony]

Blargh

Hello yes I’m alive and aware that ZK fanwork appreciation week happened but I literally have to not sleep to make time for art these days. And I’ve been trying to squeeze stuff in but...

It keeps turning into something like this: 

Either I have a one-track mind or my creativity has imploded (or I’m just really tired haha~) but thanks for being patient with me either way. I’m going to try my absolute darndest to participate in ZK Bollywood Week because how could I not??

#updates #bean rambles #doodles #zutara #not gonna lie #things are so bad out there that I could easily get covid #if I do I'd be forced to have time off at least haahaha #*hasn't had a day off since August*

[invnciblesummer]

in your opinion is zutara canon

I don’t really think it’s a matter of opinion. Zutara, by definition, is not canon. For it to have been canon, Zutara would have had to have happened by the end of ATLA, or LOK, or any of the comics/other source material.

Honestly though, I don’t really mind that Zutara isn’t canon. Seeing how the endgame ships were badly written and ruined, I’m glad that Zutara wasn’t tarnished by the post-ATLA material’s bad writing and characterizations. After all, Zutara being fanon lead to such a large and influential (I mean, the zk fandom did create the first fan/ship week ever after all) sub fandom with so many amazing fanworks! It’s to the point where it doesn’t need canon anymore— especially badly written canon— because the ship has been able to sustain itself with so many talented fanworks 15 years later. It has more fanworks than even its rival canon ships. I would rather ship a fanon ship that ended up getting a large sub fandom and so many amazing fanworks to the point where it doesn’t rely on badly written post-canon material for content, than ship a canon ship that ended up getting butchered in post-canon material, has way less fanworks, and relies quite heavily on said badly written post-canon material for content.

#ana’s asks #zutara #atla #anti atla comics #anti lok #fandom salt

[jdteahour]

Episode 4: Zutara Fanwork Appreciation

💧 Anchor.fm 🔥 Spotify  💨 Instagram  ⛰️ Twitter 🌿   Tumblr  🗡️  

Do you hear that?

It’s the sound of a tinkling door bell, eager hands, and tea being poured. Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon for another evening of tea, conversation, and fandom. This week, the tea shop ladies cover Zutara Fanwork Appreciation Week (@zkfanworkweek) and sit down for a conversation with fandom fav @hayleynfoster.

This week’s flavor include:

>News: Fandom Week Madness!

T-minus 8 days until ZK Bollywood Week explodes onto our dashboards @zutarabollywoodweek.

An ongoing Zutara extravaganza known as @zkdrabbledecember.

>Fic Pic: ZKFAW Day 3: Fanart Tuesday by @favlie and ZKFAW Day 5: Screw Canon, We Die Like Men by @pineapple-frenzy.Fic Pics 📖 -

>Pic Pics: In The Stars by @luaburachid & I Didn’t Want to Impose by hawktasha.

>Rotation: An interview with @hayleynfoster, an artist and excellent fansperson.

About the Hostess & Servers

Bulletproofteacup 🌊 Tumblr 🌊 Ao3 🌊   Master of Pen Doodleladi 🌊 Tumblr 🌊 Instagram 🌊 Twitter 🌊 Master of Art Rideboldlyride   🔥 Tumblr 🔥 Ao3 🔥 Instagram 🔥 Twitter 🔥   Master of Sound

#Jdteahour #jdteahour podcast #the jasmine dragon teahour #the jasmine dragon tea hour podcast #avatar the last airbender #zutara #atla #pdocast #fandom

[pseudonova]

zutara fam, i am so fuckin proud of us.

i know these past couple months have been an absolutely wild time for a:tla fans and zutara fans specifically, and there’s been so much negativity happening, but this has also really reignited my love for the show and the characters more than anything else. there has been such a lovely explosion of fanworks and creativity and it’s been AMAZING to see. we’ve got the first ever official zutara zine coming out - an incredible collaboration of 30+ artists, writers, and more!! zutara shippers have gone on to become new york times bestselling authors (tomi adeyemi, kacen callender, roshani chokshi - seriously like the faces of new diverse YA, it’s mind blowing!) we have the THIRTEENTH ANNUAL ZUTARA WEEK happening this month - THIRTEENTH!!!! an event that zutara INVENTED and is now ubiquitous across fandoms!! the amount of passion and love and creativity this community has after so many years continues to blow my mind.

all this is to say is that i know it’s tough to take the high road, but just think of how much more we could do if we stop wasting time arguing with bad faith shippers and toxic twitter stans and pour that into things like zutara week. i’ve been making a conscious effort to do that and seriously, i’ve felt so rejuvenated and excited about all my zk week works. i’m not going to stop calling out the overt racism and misogyny in the fandom (homophobe katara memes, katara & azula hate, suki erasure, the overwhelming disrespect woc zutara fans have been facing recently) but the frivolous stuff meant to cause drama - the mistagged posts and whatever - i promise if you ignore it your fandom experience gets SO much better. i have so much love for y’all, zutara fam - this is by far the most supportive and loving fandom i’ve ever been in - and i can’t wait for 15 more years of love 💙❤️

#zutara #zuko #katara #zutara week #a:tla

[firelxdykatara]

it’s kind of amazing and fortuitous that it’s zk fanwork appreciation week this week, because it’s thanksgiving and i’m so fucking thankful for this entire fandom and everyone in it.

yall have gotten me through some bad times, especially lately, and i love each and every one of you and your contributions to this fandom as a whole. im sorry i couldn’t contribute more myself, but i’ve been fed so so so well and hopefully i can get some things actually written sooner rather than later.

#zutara #atla #zuko #katara #i love this fandom so much yall are so great #just excuse me while i gush for a while

[soufflegirl]

ZK FANWORK APPRECIATION WEEK

Day 7: Rec lists

@zkfanworkweek

The first time that I came here talking about Zutara was in July, when I first watched the show and I had no idea of the very existence of this amazing community. I remember that I asked for some fic recs because I didn't know where to start and I was actually surprised to receive so many suggestions.

Anyway, here I am suggesting some of the works that I have read during this six intense months. And to all of you who write stories out there: you have saved this months, so thank you.

everything I am by @wewere-angels

RATED E

My most recent obsession. It's an ongoing fic, set post canon and surprisingly original. I've read so many post canon stories because they're my favourite ones and yet I get excited whenever this story gets updated.

The way the author expresses the emotions, the almost poetic style, the short excerpts at the beginning of every chapter and especially the characterization. I'm a sucker for IC characters and this story is the best as regards this aspect.

(Also: the way she writes the gaang!! Amazing!!)

Lilacs and Lily Pads by @sadladybug

After getting your heart crushed with Clothe me in seasons, this lovely story will heal your damaged soul. It's about Zuko and Katara's wedding preparations and I swear, it's so, so sweet and funny. Definitely one of the best fics I have ever read. If you want romance and comedy and court drama, this might be the perfect story.

(my poor heart still hopes in the wedding chapter!)

(I also suggest Bones, which is the one-shot sequel, RATED E, about their wedding night. So sweet!)

and love, the shoreline, where you and i meet by andromeda3116

This is the one-shot sequel to the well known "such a selfish preyers" and I'm suggesting this because I'm a sucker for Zuko visiting the Southern Water Tribe. It has an interesting perspective about how the Tribe would react to Katara marrying the Fire Lord.

make sense of all my broken parts by @markedmage

RATED M

This is a dark one, canon divergent in some aspects, post canon and a really good hurt/comfort.

(if my wishes came true) it would have been you by @the--descension

Modern AU. Text Fic. My most recent discovery. The format is pure genius. I swear, you will get invested in this story more than you think, it's like gossiping on fictional characters!! (it's an ongoing fic)

Our Fortunes Together by NomDeGuerre

RATED M

Arranged marriage, Aang was never frozen, slow-burn with and interesting ending. Loved it.

#zutara #zuko x katara #zutara fic rec #zutara fanfiction #zutara fanwork appreciation week #zfaw #zfaw2020 #zutara rec #zutara rec list

[jaxsteamblog]

In one line, I love you. Part 4

Welcome back to another episode of me appreciating fanfiction writers by taking one line I love from a fic I love and building off it like a weirdo. This time, we have a line that gives me chills every time I read it. So I give you a spoiler free headcanon as to what comes after.

“If this is how the Fire Nation treats its own children, then it doesn't deserve to have them back." 

- Brightest in the Dark by SooperSara ( @soopersara )

It took Zuko a long time to notice. Probably too long.

It was when Kya dropped a teapot and Katara slid in front of their daughter, keeping her shoulders back and her hands in fists down her sides. 

“I sorry mommy.” Kya said quietly.

“Katara?” Zuko held out a hand toward her while waving away the servant. The man bowed quickly and darted out of the room. Only then did Katara relax.

“I sorry.” Kya repeated, grabbing onto Katara’s pants and sniffling.

Zuko glanced at Katara before dipping in to pick up Kya.

He noticed that his wife was shaking.

“It’s okay princess.” Zuko murmured, holding Kya on his hip while moving back to look at Katara.

Having snapped out of whatever phase she was in, Katara shuddered and pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead. 

“Are you okay?” Zuko asked, leaning closer.

“Mommy hurt?” Kya asked. Then, reaching out her pudgy toddler hand, she patted Katara’s hair in stiff arcs. 

“It’s okay mommy.” She said and Katara nodded, holding onto Kya’s cheeks.

Katara stepped in, rubbing her nose against Kya’s nose, making her giggle. 

“It’s nothing mommy can’t fix.” Katara said and kissed Kya’s forehead.

“Katara.” Zuko started, but Katara turned and started picking up the pieces of the teapot. 

“Do you think Iroh’s going to mind?” She asked offhandedly. 

“No. In fact, I think you gave him an excuse to buy more.” Zuko said lightly.

He watched as Katara walked past him, silent. 

How had he not noticed?

It wasn’t something he could bring up easily. Of course, as it often went with him, life decided to be so difficult it swung back around to easy.

Katara woke up screaming in the middle of the night.

Leaping up, Zuko burned both the floor and their dresser. Still hearing his wife’s screams, he turned back and jumped into the bed. Katara thrashed against Zuko, taking him for an assailant, and he wrestled with her, assuming much the same. 

They both finally woke up, entangled in each other.

“What happened?” He asked.

“Nothing.” Katara replied sharply. 

Zuko gingerly plucked himself free and released her, watching cautiously as Katara slid back to her side of the bed. 

“It was just a bad dream.” She added, much kinder now. 

“Of Kya being burned.” Zuko said.

Katara took in a sharp breath and Zuko sank. 

“Do you feel safe here?” He asked.

“Of course.” Katara said in a rush, putting her hand on his arm.

“It’s not. Katara, I’m not going to take it personally. We went through a lot during the war. I mean, you remember my nightmares right?” Zuko said.

Katara looked away but kept her hand on him. Zuko placed his on her cheek and traced his thumb over the swell. 

“No one is going to hurt her.” He said.

“I know that.” Katara sniffled and rubbed her face into her pillow to keep hold of him.

Zuko moved his hand to her shoulder and watched her. She let out a breath, still half-smothering herself in the pillow.

“But if they could let it happen to the crown prince, what’s to stop them from doing the same to a half-breed princess?” She asked, her voice cracking under the strain.

Zuko grabbed her, pulling her into his arms.

“My father made that choice. To take an already barbaric practice and use it to maim his child. Katara,” Zuko looked down and waited till Katara tilted her head back to look at him.

“I would never do that to Kya.” He said.

Tears welled in Katara’s eyes and she pressed her fingers into his bare chest as she cried.

“I’m sorry. I know. I know you wouldn’t. After everything. I know.” She sobbed, nearly incomprehensible as her voice choked on the hiccups. 

“Let’s go see your father. We’ll go stay with him for awhile. Hey.” Zuko jostled her and Katara sniffled before looking back at him.

“I’ll raise her the Watertribe way.” He said. Smiling, Katara rested her head on his chest.

Holding her tightly, Zuko made sure to take even breaths. He could warm himself, and sure enough, Katara melted back into sleep.

It was just another hard journey. And they had made plenty of those.

@zkfanworkweek *insert the ANOTHER thor meme here*

#zutara #fanfiction #jax writes #zk fanwork week #soopersara

[rideboldlyride]

Hello all!!

I'm coming in hot here with my fluff friday fic for @zkfanworkweek!!

It's based off of the beautiful art by @te-al-latte from this year's Zutara Week-- this one has been stuck in my head literally everyday since. I just melt over this art, and when it was time to write fluff, this is exactly where my brain needed to go. The fic takes some time to get there, but when have I ever been known to get to the point??

Here it is: A Red Sky at Night

A small snippet to whet your appetite:

Monsoon season sits like a leaden weight over the Fire Nation capital. The usual chitter and bustle of the markets and streets near the harbor is muted, the children herded inside (much to the chagrin of meticulous mothers), the markets forced into overhangs, their wares significantly reduced or waterlogged (much to the chagrin of the fathers now unable to escape their penned children and fractious wife). It is one of the few things that equalizes the Royal with the Commoner, the Noble with the Merchant. It is ironic, Katara can’t help but contemplate -- it is her element that humbles all who encounter it to their base aspect: humanity.

However, even the waterbender is feeling the past two weeks of solid rain. When Zuko had left for the burgeoning project in the Earth Kingdom at the summer solstice, she had yet to experience the long sock in of rain that pelted the capital every year. After all, at that point they had only been married six months.

But duty had called, and now just as long as she had been married, she had been separated from him.

#zutara #atla #zuko #katara #rideboldlyride #te al latte #zk fanwork week #zkfaw2020 #zkfanworkweek #zkfaw #zfaw2020 #zfaw #katara x zuko

[stardust948]

The thing I love about the Zutara community is there is an event literally every month. We just came off ZK Fanwork Appreciation week and now ZK December Drabbles is coming up! This is the reason why the fanbase is still going strong 15 years later  ❤❤❤  

#avatar the last airbender #zutara #zutara community #i love this fandom so much

[soopersara]

ZKFAW Fic Recs

I didn't contribute much to @zkfanworkweek so far, so I'm going to squeeze in at the last minute and rec some lesser-known fics! Some of these are works by popular authors that sadly get overlooked, others are by lesser-known authors, and they're all great!

So, in no particular order (and definitely forgetting a bunch of beautiful things I’ve read):

The Road Not Taken by @emletish-fish

There's just 2 chapters of this one, but it's so sweet and this time travel/AU concept is really intriguing. Definitely worth reading even if it never goes any farther than this.

Changing Tides Under Ba Sing Se by @fictionissocialinquiry

I like CoD canon divergence, but it's tough to make it satisfying when Zuko changes sides, but this one definitely pulls it off. It's a great oneshot!

Of Warlords and Silk Slippers by @botherkupo

This one is a very loose Cinderella-ish AU, and it's a lot of fun! One of the oneshots that I go back to when I need a mood boost.

The Labyrinth of Illusions by @botherkupo

Spirit world shenanigans and Zuko and Katara having to work together to get back to the real world! It's kind of cracky and absolutely brilliant!

graveyard shift by MirrorImage003

I'm not huge on modern AUs, but this one is short and sweet and so fluffy! I love it so much!

Turtle-Duck Rituals by @royaltealovingkookiness

This one is a collection of oneshots compiled into a single fic, and I really like a lot of the stories in here. Special shoutout to Charades and Found which are two of my favorites.

Not like everyone else by @thevictorianghost

Ace Zutara and they're very much in love. Need I say more?

Avatar: The Final Conflict by @the-badger-mole

I don't always read a lot of post-canon Zutara, but I loved this one. It was one of the earlier fics I read, and I think I'm due for a reread.

The Speech by RosieClark

Another modern AU! I found this one by accident scrolling through Tumblr and it's beautiful!

i'll cover you in moonlight by @firelxdykatara

I'm a sucker for soft, emotional hurt-comfort stories, and this delivered bigtime! It's really sweet and yes, it was written for me during a fic exchange, what about it? I love it and y'all should read it.

A lot of these are older, short-ish, or all of the above, but they all deserve more love than they've gotten!

#zutara #zutara fanfiction #zutara fic recs #zk fanwork appreciation week

[southslates]

THE ZKFAW CONTENT IS ALREADY FEEDING US SO GOOD

#zk fanworks appreciation week