Mai Week 2022

Rating: K+ Warnings: Underaged Betrothal Characters: Mai, Azula, Ursa, Lu Ten Prompt: Mai Week 2022 - “Training” Notes: No, this isn’t the third prompt. Since I’m late with the rest of this fic, I’m doing whatever prompt fits my plot. We’ll all be happier with that in the long run.

Summary: Mai learns what it means to be a princess.

Rating: K+ Warnings: Underaged Betrothal Characters: Mai, Azula, Ursa, Lu Ten Prompt: Mai Week 2022, Day 2 - “Jealousy” @maiweek

Summary: Everyone has opinions about Mai marrying Lu Ten. Some are most opinionated than others.

All my posts for this Mai week collected in one document on AO3:

Mai week playlist:

fascinations - written for day three: vampire au

“If you want him, just go get him.” Ty Lee sits back, as if it’s just that simple. It is, to her. It always is. Mai’s eyes drift slightly, to the guy they’ve all been talking about. Dark hair, gold eyes. A scent she can just about catch, if she concentrates. Mai sighs. Agni, she hates it when Ty Lee’s right. Or: the vampire au I never thought I’d write

hazards of faith - written for day four: boiling rock

When Mai heads to the Boiling Rock to help Sokka free his father, the last thing she expects is to run into her former boyfriend Prince Zuko, but well, that’s just the sort of luck that plagues you when you join Team Avatar.

Or: a Boiling Rock Reverse Roles au

juncture - written for day five: training 

Mai has one job tonight: kill the Fire Lord. Shame that someone’s trying to kill her back.

Or: an assassin au

Possible future expressions.

For those who accept comics. And for those who don’t mind some extra Mai.

@maiweek

Notes from the diary.

On having various feelings towards various things.

It is quite unbearable to be in touch with one’s feelings. There is a certain freedom in not expressing any feelings, a certain illusion of power over oneself, but I am wise enough, at least here, in my diary, to recognize it as it is – illusion. So, here I am, still have no idea what to do with myself and all my feelings. Having feelings is too painful, not having them is impossible, and faking not having it does not bring any joy, either.

I am fooling everyone including myself with that having no emotions thing. I know I look cool. But I am really not that cool inside. I want to fall down and start a good screaming tantrum like Tom Tom. It is quite educational to live with a toddler at home. I do not wish to behave like him at all times, but I imagine being able to express oneself at all times could be quite freeing. Throwing knives doesn’t always cut it (hee-hee). On the other hand, can Tom Tom truly be free? He barely talks and depends on us for everything. And while I feel like throwing a tantrum, I just can’t imagine myself doing it. It is unseemly.

The world has gotten more and more confusing. I was glad of re-thinking the Fire Nation, because something felt “off” for quite some time, and the obvious answer was to change. But it changed, and I am not quite sure, it is all right now. It is supposed to be in balance now, but it doesn’t feel that balanced. I wonder how did it really look before, when it was in the balance? Of was it ever? And what do we supposed to do with the world now? And what should I do with myself?

And what should I do about still being in love with Zuko?

Meh. Why is life so hard?

Day 1: Arranged Marriage

rebel, rebel - Mai/Toph, Rated T, 2.2k words

In an effort to bolster their family’s status, Mai’s parents try to find a wealthy, powerful person for her to marry.

They find Toph.

Day 2: Jealousy

Mai/Zuko and Katara/Aang are married, but they're cheating with each other's spouses (So Zuko with Katara and Mai with Aang)

Day 3: Vampire AU + Bonus Prompt Tattoos

Vampire Tattoo Artist Mai

born lost - Mai/Zuko, Rated M, 6k words

It’s a classic love story. Girl gets trapped in time loop. Boy also gets trapped in time loop. Boy and girl fall in love, and also die a lot.

A Maiko Palm Springs (2020) AU.

Day 4: Forbidden

ladies first, baby, I insist - Mai/Azula, Rated T, 1.2k words

Mai loves Zuko. Unfortunately, she’s always loved Azula more.

Day 5: Training

"you're so colorful, it's making me nauseous."

stay. - Mai/Suki, Rated T, 1.5k words

And the story continues

@maiweek

free expressions.

Notes from the diary.

On passing time in prisons

Was I prepared all my life for it? People suffer in prisons from extreme boredom, and here I am, having suffered from the boredom all my life feel rather fine. Of course, I also knew everything there was to know about prisons in Fire Nation because my Uncle is in love with his job.

To be perfectly honest (and even taking a chance that this diary will be read by guards/warden/whoever) I wasn’t that fine at the beginning. Because… reasons. But now, several days later – I think maybe a week, the time is harder to count here – I am all better. After endless hours of staring at the walls, I asked for paper and ink, and was given them to use at my discretion. I think the nice guard is not really that nice, but trying not to antagonize me as the warden’s niece (even though Ty Lee and I are transferred to the jail near the capital, and the warden here is not related to me.) Ty Lee says the guard is just that nice. What is she doing as the prison guard then? That’s Ty Lee for you. She got transferred with me, and the next day she found and befriended the warrior girls we defeated earlier. In previous life, feels like. She even convinced them not to hate me, since I saved life of their leader. I protested that I didn’t mean to, but fine. It’s not that I want to be hated, either. I don’t know that I would have saved anyone’s lives if there was no Zuko with them. On the other hand, we wouldn’t be there at all, and their escape might have worked fine if Azula were not there. I am glad all those people alive, I don’t fancy anyone falling into boiling water. Euugh. I keep re-thinking that day. What if Zuko wasn’t at the Boiling Rock? Or didn’t get caught? Or Uncle didn’t tell anyone? But everything before Boling Rock was so dreadful, I can’t imagine keep living like that. I am glad to have had that chance to talk to Zuko and get an honest answer from him. I wish it happened earlier. I am glad to have that perfect moment of clarity when everything was bright and right and obvious. I am glad I told Azula… I am glad I didn’t die. I am glad Ty Lee is here with me. Even though we are in prison. Even though she tried to get me to meditate by talking about auras. Between fighting with Azula and listening to Ty Lee talking about auras I would choose fighting Azula any time. But that wasn’t an option, so I indeed started meditating.

Sozin’s comet is coming soon, and something is going to happen. I am sure Zuko and his new friends will win. How could they not, with Zuko being that stubborn idiot who determined to do things right. We don’t get any news here, but maybe my connections would help at least to know what happens. If after all that he dares not to win, I’ll break out of this prison and kick his ass.

Thank you everyone for participating in Mai Week 2022! The mods here are so grateful and honored by the amazing, creative work that you guys made to celebrate our favorite goth girl! This is our first year running the event, and it was a roaring success because of your participation!

What's next?

Keep making and supporting Mai content! This blog sticks around, even if we aren’t super active on it when we aren’t leading up to the event. We accept submissions for the event pretty much forever. If you make any Mai content, please tag this blog in it so we can see it and reblog it here!

If you have any thoughts on next year’s event, please share them with us! How we could improve, some things you’d like to see, or even what you liked most from the event this year.

Her gaze is as sharp as a blade.

It ain't over yet

@maiweek

No expressions.

Notes from the diary.

On life

Feelings are overrated. One is better off without having any.

I refuse [the following text is illegible, paper showing some unidentified liquid damage and tearing from being stabbed with sharp objects]

[ID: Screenshot from avatar the Last airbender, episode The Boiling Rock, Part Two, with Mai giving the last glance at Zuko as she is fighting prison guards to let him escape on a gondola. Text I added: “Go on, run, save your world. Just live, please.”]

Today's mood can be found in Me and Bobby McGee // Janis Joplin

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose…

“Again.”

Mai moved in a blur, her muscles twitching with exhaustion. Sweat dripped down her brow and threatened to blind her. She stubbornly refused to slow down or take a second to wipe her face. Her body danced through the well-practiced forms under the hawk-like gaze of the leader of the Kyoshi warriors. After what felt like an hour but was actually less than a minute, she finished the form. Her eyes flickered up towards her teacher.

Suki appraised her critically, the silence stretching painfully outwards. The only sound in the studio was Mai’s short, shallow panting. 

“Well done,” Suki spoke. The clipped tone she instructed her students in was saturated with warmth. “Take a break.”

“I don’t need one.”

“Too bad. It wasn’t a request.”

(continue reading on AO3)

CHAPTERS: 1/1 FANDOM: Avatar: The Last Airbender RATING: General Audiences AUDIENCE WARNINGS: No Archive Warnings Apply RELATIONSHIPS: Mai/Zuko (Avatar) CHARACTERS: Mai (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Toph Beifong ADDITIONAL TAGS: it’s sort of pre-relationship maiko, but the vibes are there, Assassins, Post-Canon, Alternate Universe, in which Mai doesn’t grow up with Zuko, and is instead trained as an assassin from a young age, Mai Week 2022 (Avatar), Day Four Prompt: Training SUMMARY:

Mai has one job tonight: kill the Fire Lord. Shame that someone’s trying to kill her back. .

.

“You’re so colorful, it’s making me nauseous.”

For Mai Week! No prompts or days, just general Mai vibes.

fire lily 💮

@maiweek

Various expressions.

Notes from the diary.

On whether it is possible to have too many different feelings at the same time

Occasionally I express myself.

Zuko seems delighted to see it, but I feel like a fraud. It is not that I express something I don’t feel. It is I can only express so much, and whatever I can show outside. It doesn’t reflect all my feelings. I don’t know how it is possible to feel so many things at once, different, often quite contradictory. I can’t even name them, not even to myself. I do not know the names. I do not know the definitions. I only know that they are feelings and that they are tearing me apart. I doubt Zuko can name his feelings, either, he just projects them all at once for everyone to see and decipher at will. I can’t do it. People say Ty Lee is open, but she is hiding as much as I do. It’s just she can choose to project her cheer and optimism outward, so people don’t look deeper in the abyss of anger she hides. I try to think of Azula, and I really don’t know what she is thinking and feeling these days. Things changed the way she wanted them to change. Have they made any of us happier? Out of all mess of the feelings I don’t think I can find one of happiness right now.

Oof, that was too much feeling talk for me. Done with that.

After the delirious joy of our victory at Ba Sing Se, being home is so strange. I do enjoy staying alone in our mansion, being the mistress of the house and of myself. There is a bit of oppressive air over Caldera at the moment. I doubt people know about the invasion, only select few, responsible for the response (imagine me giggling here) are in the know. But people are worried about the eclipse and losing powers. Evacuation is not not ordered, but quietly encouraged. Azula asked me to go visit something outside the capital, as my mansion is just across the palace, and she would feel better if I am not here. On one hand, I should be resentful at being sent away, as I am not affected by the eclipse. On the other, I am not sure I want to fight this time. On the third hand, does Azula actually care about our (Ty Lee and me) well-being, or she has a plan and believes we can ruin it? On the fourth hand (let’s go crazy here), Zuko…

After the war meeting I shall go and check on Aunt Mura. Maybe she needs my help.