My Randomness

and better

After almost a decade on this site, I found another Tumblr user in the wild. I stopped to tie my shoe with rainbow laces this morning outside the silversmith at Colonial Williamsburg, and I heard it.

“I like your shoelaces.”

Oh. Oh no.

I responded the only way I could. “Thanks.” And then I reluctantly added, “I stole them from the president…and if that makes sense to you, I’m very sorry.”

The poor man, in full Colonial dress, stared at me for a long moment. And then burst into laughter. And said, “I haven’t thought about that in YEARS and this has never happened to me before.”

Yeah. Me neither. Not until today.

Their personalities compliment each other in such a way they never have with anyone else.

Once you drop the armor and the titles, they are just a boy and a girl with fire and water abilities trying to live in a world decided for them the day they were born.

They effortlessly open up to one another whether they mean to or not.

Katara can start venting and ranting about something because she's scared or anxious and Zuko calmly talks her through it.

That's how they are.

Katara has tells Zuko can see when she is trying to suppress how she feels and he'll annoy her until she finally lets it out.

It's push and pull at it's best description.

So when antis use the "They are just close friends" thing, that's not the clap back they think it is.

Friendship has levels and Zuko and Katara reached the highest levels within MONTHS of knowing each other as TEENAGERS.

By the time Zuko and Katara would have developed feelings for each other, especially in the Live Action, they were already allies. They bonded DEEPLY in that cave. That’s why the betrayal hit so hard.

I love how the live action adds that it was physically difficult to separate them during that first encounter in the catacombs. Beautiful foreshadowing of them becoming inseparable after southern raiders, arguably more than they were with their partners. Actually, no, canonically…

The first two of ten new AUs I have to share. Keep your eyes open for the rest!

Bloodbound AU:

The vampire isn't like others of his kind. He's strangely gentle, has the self-esteem of a squashed bug, and took care of her injury without succumbing to the temptation of her blood. But in spite of all his virtues, the Prince is still a vampire, and he still needs to feast.

Luckily for Zuko, Katara knows of a criminal or two whose blood begs to be bent (and consumed).

.

Republic AU:

Katara Tinik doesn't give up without a fight. Which is about as admirable as it is annoying, given that her latest endeavor is to ensure Zuko has no dignity left to uphold. As the Fire Nation Ambassador in Republic City, dignity is quite important, thank you very much.

Zuko: No matter how much you might hate this face, Katara, I hate it...

Katara: [surprised] Wait? You know my name?

Zuko: [panicking] What?! No! Uh, um...Katara is...um...Fire Nation for "my enemy!" Yes, you're my Katara!

Katara: [blushing] I'm your Katara?

as for the way it affected my view of grace, it honestly made me like him more. when i assumed he volunteered himself, he read more as someone who stepped up in impossible circumstances and then got (understandably) scared/maybe regretted it when faced with the reality. in retrospect, realizing he was *always* scared and was never actually prepared to die (“i didn’t mean any of that. it’s just something you say”) it makes every risk he took after meeting rocky feel so much more meaningful. especially the last one, when he turns around and actually chooses another life over his own with his eyes wide open.

YESSS you get me. and here’s the thing right. if he had said yes, is that really a choice? is ‘get in this ship and die or the world ends’ actually that much *less* coercive than knocking him unconscious and putting him in there anyway?