Hello 🤗 I love talking about "To All the Girls AU" ❤️ I'm still in the process of writing it (recently have posted a new chapter btw!!) and currently thinking about this fic all the time 😃

🔎 What detail(s) in the story are you particularly captivated with? Is there any behind the scenes info or backstory?

There are too many details in this story that I genuinely like!! I don't want to brag lol, but I do love how I set up everything and included everyone (Lu Ten, the gaang, Ozai's Angels, Freedom Fighters, Kyoshi Warriors, etc.) in this work. And all of these characters this way or another are connected to Zuko and his life, and his personal drama. I received many comments where people appreciated it and said it feels natural/really fits, etc.

I also love little details here and there that might not be crucial for the plot, but still add the vibe (Zuko's "Blue Spirit" blog, Jet and Zuko's rivalry, Kyoshi Girls talking to Zuko (hello, comics!), the Earth Rumble tournament, Kei Lo being a "ninja guy" (hello, comics again!!), Sokka texting Zuko about that new game where they should enter the prison etc.).

And one of my favorite subplots is Zuko's friendship with FireLily and how they support each other ❤️

🙏 Was there anything your character(s) really really really wanted to do? Did you let them?

Welp, since it's Zuko-centric fic, I write mostly about his emotions and wishes. Sadly, I don't cover other characters. Zuko really wanted to do some things (avoid explanations to all the girls, hide and not show up lol, not interact with some characters) and I didn't let him. Poor Zuko deserves a hug for everything I put him through 😅

He might want more things in the future, as the story evolves. Right now, he is curios about whole relationship/dating thing. And he is still thinking about Mai's words (kissing with tongues lol. I actually borrowed it from the original show btw, maiko did kiss with tongues in season 3 👀).

🏴‍☠️ Were there any points in which your characters tried (or succeeded) to commit mutiny against your planned plot? Where did they most want to rebel?

It was really weird to write about Zuko's affection to Katara, tbh. I tried to focus on things that they have in common/can bond over, but it still was very unusual to me. I'm cheating a bit and each time very persistently point out that, from all the girls, Zuko feels more physical attraction to Mai 🙈 If you're reading carefully and slowly, you can notice that in Katara's case, Zuko is confusing close friendship with romantic feelings. And even though it wasn't easy, he let go thoughts about Katara out of respect to Katara and Aang. In this fic, he acknowledges that Katara is beautiful and very kind, but that's it. We don't see anything more than this 😆. Whereas with Mai, he is literally attracted to her and her teasing/her words/her presence does something to him. He doesn't even realize that Mai has this effect on him 😆

So yeah, I know and you know, and Zuko knows he's a yearner for Mai. So writing about him crushing on someone else was weeeeird.

🍆 What scene do you think was the hottest? What scene do you think your readers thought was the hottest? Are they the same?

This is a story about teenagers in highschool so I'm trying to keep the rating T and the story light. I might hint on things here and there just for fun and for more realism (Zuko is a 16 y.o. boy in highschool and he got into his first relationship. Of course he would be messy haha) but I don't want to cross the line. I don't know about the readers (btw drop the "hottest" scenes/your favorite scenes/your thoughts about the fic in comments or to my inbox. I'm curious!!), but I personally find it hilarious and a bit adorable each time when Zuko's mind starts to wander and think about Mai, and then he gets very clear physical reaction 🙈 Or like when she kisses him/touches him and he's getting all bothered. He doesn't even realize it.

So far, the "hottest" scene imo (if we could call it like this) would be Zuko recalling seeing Mai's exposed skin and then thinking about making out with this Mai in his bedroom. It was so fun to write 🤣

Also, I like writing about their bickering/teasing each other. Maybe it's not hot-hot, but it's hilarious to witness how they're basically flirting with each other. They're so obvious and oblivious at the same time 😁

and now i'm just like: "lol, whatever".

maiko antis and haters come to my comments on tiktok and want to ragebait me with "the worst atla ship", and "but they broke up", and "they never got together again".

and i'm like: "okay, and..?". like i genuinely don't care.

if people can imagine zuko being married to toph or sokka, or some self-insert ooc (i saw a fic recently and i nearly vomited lmao), then i can ship him with mai and imagine these two all married and happy, and domestic together. if people can see zuko raising izumi with sokka or someone else, then i can see him being married to mai and having kids with mai.

Hello! Thank you so much!! <3 My Victorian Maiko AU has a special place in my heart, it was my first developed AU idea and first maiko fic in English <3

🥇 What scene were you most excited to write? Did it end up being the one you enjoyed writing the most?

The final scene was pretty interesting to write. However, I love the scene before it, in the royal gardens, where Zuko summoned Mai to talk about everyone pressuring him. How she admired him from afar and how she came to the realization that he had learned to read her, too. Also, his soft "I've missed you" throughout the whole fic <3 And Zuko kissing the back of her hand, it was just so intimate and romantic, yet he expressed it so openly for everyone to see!!! He was so into her! </3

📋 What was your main goal for the story and/or writing experience? Do you think that you achieved it?

I don't quite remember now but I guess I just really wanted to write a Maiko period drama piece because I'm a huge fan of period drama shows! Sadly, it didn't get that much attention back then :( But I guess AU stories are not as popular in this fandom. I still wish someone wrote a Bridgerton Maiko AU, though.

📖 Could the story have been a different length? What would you have included/removed?

Believe it or not, I had planned only two chapters for that fic. It somehow ended up being a bit longer. If I were writing it now, I would've written more gentle maiko moments, the beginning of their story, how Zuko was gradually falling for Mai, etc.

🔎 What detail(s) in the story are you particularly captivated with? Is there any behind the scenes info or backstory?

I like the vocabulary that I've used, the way they were speaking to each other. The whole aesthetic of it. How I incorporated atla details into this work, lines from both shows. Also, all the lingering moments between Mai and Zuko, the tension awwww.

Spoilers below ⬇️

Hello! Yay, let's talk about my "Observations" fic again :D

🎤 Do you think the story was written in your typical voice? Why or why not?

I think, like all my modern fics and headcanons, this one was written in my typical voice for modern setting works. I don't use overly complicated or overly flowery vocabulary in modern fics. I'm trying to keep them simple and balanced. Also, I added many little details, connected to Fire Nation/Zuko's status/the Jasmine Dragon/the show in general, which is a very me-thing haha :3

🏴‍☠️ Were there any points in which your characters tried (or succeeded) to commit mutiny against your planned plot? Where did they most want to rebel?

Not so much as mutiny, but I'm sure Zuko would be so pissed with me for making him be attentive to Jin and her flirting, knowing that it partially ruined his prospects with Mai. Also, let's be real, Mai probably wouldn't waste so much time on talking with Ruon-Jian, and she would make a move on Zuko instead lol.

🔍 What detail(s) in the story are you particularly captivated with? Is there any behind the scenes info or backstory?

Honestly, I like all the details about the educational process in the Academy (like Mai writing lesson plans, grading essays, having observation classes, continuing education webinars) because it shows her work-life, I don't see much of it in the fics. Also, I'm glad I came up with authentic, Fire Nation-connected things that she's been teaching her students (discussions about the dragons in literature, poems and metaphors about fire, Fire Nation love ballads etc). I guess you could see that I really loved Literature classes at school haha.

I also like how I made the tables turn in this one with Mai ogling Zuko, for once. In the majority of fics, it's the other way round, and we read beautiful descriptions of Mai. But in my fic, she feels this attraction to Zuko, and we have beautiful (physical) descriptions of a handsome man. I think it shows normal, healthy attraction that women can feel if they're interested in someone. Mai is not robotic, she has her feelings and desires.

📋 What was your main goal for the story and/or writing experience? Do you think that you achieved it?

The main goal was to write Mai as a teacher, who is also a young person and is trying to combine her professional and personal lives. She battles with loneliness that is so common nowadays, chooses her own path (her career choices), opens up and finds people who care about her. I specifically wanted Mai to work with teenagers (they can be difficult to work with) and nail it each time. In the process of reading, my readers could also see that Mai had learned that the first and even the second impression can be misleading, and that people have many layers to them. Also, Zuko seeing Mai's worth as a teacher and telling her that she's really good at her work is a parallel to comics. I'm sure he's amazed by her in every universe and every setting <3

Hello-hello! :D

💭If you could wish into creation a transformative piece for your story, made by a real human who isn’t you, what would it be? Art, video, sequel, podfic, etc.

Well, I wrote a sequel by myself in the bonus chapter, so I think it would be nice to have an art or a video for "Observations". I think I'd prefer it to be art because I really love them. I always wish I could draw >-<

If anyone gets inspired by this story and wants to write something (a possible sequel or just a fic in this setting), I don't mind as long as you mention me :)

P.S. Sukka fans, that's your chance to write a modern sukka wedding hehe, I'll help with maiko parts ;)

Hello! Ohh, I was so young and naive while writing a marriage of (in)convenience haha. It was one of my very first fics about maiko. I remember I just wanted to write some tooth-rotting fluff about them so much. I made it in such a short period of time, I think one afternoon or something.

🧭 What was the key choice or decision you had to make for this story? If you had chosen differently, what would the story have turned into?

Well, considering that I wanted some silly fluffy escapade, I'm afraid I made them (Mai and Zuko) a bit (or a lot) OOC. Now I have a slightly different view of maiko. For me, Zuko, our favorite yearner™, would never agree to a marriage with someone else, and Mai wouldn't have forgiven him so easily. Maybe Mai would not forgive him at all? It could turn into angst pretty quickly.

I also think Mai was a bit too emotional in this one, I usually portray her more reserved.

But as a silly fluffy fic, I think it's a simple, normal work. That's why I never deleted it lol.

🔎 What detail(s) in the story are you particularly captivated with? Is there any behind the scenes info or backstory?

Oh, I still like how I reused lines from the original show <33 Back then I thought it's so smart, now I think it's just cute.

Also, some little details that I added:

• Zuko saying, “Dragons are pretty cool.” And Mai replying, “Yes, they were.” Because only Zuko and the gaang knew about the dragons' survival.

• Mai drawing using master Piandao’s technique (it's one of my favorite hcs like ever)

• Crack lines like this one: "She didn’t know what exactly she was expecting. Heralds who will shout about his engagement? Articles in papers? Messenger-hawks? Avatar’s flying bison packed with invitations?"

Hello! I'm super excited to talk about "Observations", I've just finished it and I'm still feeling the thrill of finishing a fic haha. Let's see what we've got here:

🥇 What scene were you most excited to write? Did it end up being the one you enjoyed writing the most?

I think there were three scenes that I literally couldn't wait to write:

Mai telling Zuko he's being nosy (I just had it in my mind since the beginning).

Zuko telling Mai she was brilliant (it's just aww and makes me giggle!!).

The bonus chapter where they're so sweet and fluffy, I like showing their pure love, and from what some readers told me, I'm good at portraying them all domestic and married <3

I'm happy with all of these scenes and how they turned out, especially the bonus chapter <33

📖 Could the story have been a different length? What would you have included/removed?

Oh, totally! Believe it or not, this fic was planned as a one-shot for last year's maiko week. Then, when I returned to it last fall, the story evolved and I needed more chapters to show more scenes (especially scenes with Jin, Suki, the whole observation part, Mai ogling Zuko (starting from chapter 3, I got heavily inspired by adult Zuko design *o*), Mai having usual workdays, mentions of Ty Lee/the gaang, etc.)

I don't see it being any way shorter, but it probably could be quite a long fic, if I added more scenes that readers requested: Sokka and Suki's wedding, maiko's first date, Zuko telling the principal about his decision, etc.)

Spoilers below! ⬇

🔮 Have you imagined what happens to [character(s)] in the future? Or does the story only exist to you as a moment in time?

Hello-hello! Thanks for the ask, I love talking about this AU hehe. Let's see what we have here:

🥇 What scene were you most excited to write? Did it end up being the one you enjoyed writing the most?

Oh, since the beginning I had a few scenes in mind that I was really excited to write. Some of them I've already written, some of them are still in my drafts.

I don't quite remember how I was feeling years ago when I was writing the first chapters but from what I recall, the confrontation scene (where Mai approaches Zuko because of the letter) was quite fun to write, I was trying to mimic Lara Jean and Peter from the movie. The chapter with Katara approaching Zuko was also great fun (I did make fun of the Fire/Water, Sun/Moon parallels before that because I was quite fed up with zk fandom back then. I don't feel the same anymore, so don't come for me). And of course, the kissing scene because before that, Zuko goes: "Yep, it's Mai. My Mai. Agni, I love her!" His words just make me squeal and kick my feet, yk. I'm such a hardcore maiko fan <3

From the latest chapters, I think all the maiko interactions turned out quite well (Mai kissing him in front of the gaang or them arguing about kissing). The most exciting scene to write, though, was the contract scene. I've had it in my mind for years, since writing the very first chapter. And even before that, the moment I had come up with the whole idea for this AU when I'd gotten inspired by the original scenes from the movie adaptation. In my head, it fitted in perfectly: Zuko is a drama nerd and wants Mai to watch "Love amongst the Dragons", and she's like, "You have references of an 80 y.o. man". I'm so glad I've already written it and this scene is out there.

Spoiler: I will add some other scenes straight from the movie/book hehehe, stay tuned!

🧭 What was the key choice or decision you had to make for this story? If you had chosen differently, what would the story have turned into?

I think one of the key decisions was me making Lu Ten alive and well, and taking away Ursa and Kiyi. That made Zuko super angsty but gave me an opportunity to write him bonding with Katara over their loss. And it somehow shifted Zuko and Uncle Iroh's dynamic as well, even though Iroh is still caring and supportive towards his nephew. I just really needed one more character to be the eldest kid in that family, well-organized and practical like Margot from the book/movie.

Without Lu Ten and with Ursa there, who knows how it could've turned out. If anyone ever writes another maiko/Zuko "To all the Boys..." AU like this, they can keep Ursa and we shall see haha.

Another hard decision was me hesitating about how much Katara is or is not interested in Zuko, and how she might have reacted. I'm trying to be subtle and not portray her like some emotional cheater (she is dating Aang and it's not like she doesn't love her boyfriend) but she is still a teenage girl, and she's very confused (Zuko is confusing af haha). So yeah, it was not easy because I genuinely love Katara as a character and kataang as the ship :)

I finally finished my Teacher Mai/maiko modern AU fic🖤

In the beginning, I just wanted to expand more the topic of Mai as a teacher (to teenagers). Zuko was a big part of this story, too, but still, it was going to be a Mai-centric fic, where she manages combining her personal and professional lives 🖤 Then, the fic itself turned out to be cute and having rom-com vibes. I cannot say I'm not pleased with it 💚

I'm pinning here two moodboards for it, as well. The horizontal one was made by me, I used the pictures from Pinterest 🖤👩🏻‍🏫

The vertical one is a changed version of the first moodboard, made by @literallyalovelychicken @a-chicken-who-likes-to-write and is suitable for a Kindle cover in case you want to save the fic 💚 (Just look at that Jasmine Dragon seal with Iroh, sooo adorable🍃🐉)

Thank you for being there with me during this journey and stay tuned, because I'm still working on my other works.