Your Iroh post had me thinking. One thing that annoys me in this fandom is people, esp Azula fans, INSIST Iroh is a war criminal. But a siege is NOT a war crime. It is a recognized war tactic. And if you bring this up, they go, "Uh, well, its still war, so a crime probably happened, anyway!" When in canon, this is never once hinted at, so this is speculation, not canon. Hell for fun, I even did some research. Some TACTICS sieges use can be war crimes, but given the nature of this series, its unlikely Iroh ever did any of them. But honestly? It doesnt matter bc the show itself mentions no details of what happened. It didnt matter to the show's narrative. And its just missing the point of his character. Yes Iroh did bad things in the past but he changed. So he had the wisdom to guide Zuko as well.
Azula stans act like Iroh's past is a mark against his redemption, when actually, it's there to show us his redemption and highlight the good man he is now. Like, nobody forgot that Iroh did bad things, because that is the fucking point. It's why his redemption is so celebrated and why he is so loved as the kind, patient, compassionate man he is in the series, because he knows what happens when those qualities are absent.
And anyway the reason they keep saying this stuff is because they know their special little girl was never sorry for anything she did and would do it again. This is also why Jet stans tend to be Azula stans, and usually they are Azula stans first and only support Jet in so much as they can try to portray the heroes of the story as villains. I once had someone with a Jet username tell me that we shouldn't be so hard on Azula. Like, what, do you think they would be friends with each other? Jet and Azula's politics don't mesh at all, but what they have in common is that they're both manipulative and unable to change their harmful behaviors, and they both target Iroh, so this is what these people are actually caping for. Interestingly, Iroh canonically thought both Jet and Azula could change for the better, but nonetheless would not support them doing harm, and this is why these kinds of stans hate him so much.
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I have one more ficlet prompt (if youâre still accepting them). Can you write something set after Zuko takes lightning to the chest for Katara, and during that scene where heâs been bandaged up and Mai comes to see him? Except, instead of Mai, itâs Katara who comes to see him and help him bandage his wound and everything. They share some sweet loving moments together, and then maybe Mai sees them together and is annoyed. Katara decides to give them a moment to talk but Zuko stops her from leaving.
âNot so fast,â she says from the doorway, as heâs trying to figure out how to maneuver himself into the crimson robe thatâs a lot heavier than it looks. âWe need to change the bandages first. I donât want you bleeding through while youâre being crowned.â
Heâs used to her popping in whenever she wants, now, and it doesn't matter that heâs not fully dressed because sheâs already seen him in much worse a state. The guards donât even question her anymore. Katara moves about the palace as freely as the water she bends, freer than he ever did when he grew up here under his fatherâs shadow.Â
He hates feeling this helpless, but Kataraâs intrusion is not unwelcome. He just wishes her visits could be for a better reason.
And despite his desire to hold onto what was left of his dignity and modesty, heâs glad for the interruption.
âAt least I'll already be wearing red,â he tries.
âNot funny,â she says, at his side and gingerly beginning to unwrap the bandages around his chest. âYou might collapse before we even know thereâs something wrong."
âBetter than wearing white,â he grimaces, only half from the pain.
He can tell she doesn't get the joke. âWhite is for funerals,â he says, and she swallows, wide-eyed, then goes back to her work, this time yanking a strip of bandage a little too hard.
It wasn't that good of a joke.
âSit down,â she instructs, indicating the bed, and he does, while she carefully peels back the wrappings around the wound. âNot much bleeding. Thatâs good.â
The wound stings when itâs exposed to the open air, and he lets out a gasp. She puts a water-wreathed hand to his chest and the pain begins to fade, her other hand on his back. âDoes that feel better?â
âA lot better,â he says as tension he didn't know he was holding seems to melt away. Itâs not just the pain that feels better. Her touch makes him feel grounded, calming his fluttering nerves.
âI wish we could postpone the coronation,â she says, frowning.
âNo,â he says, lifting up an arm so she can wrap the fresh bandages. âIt canât wait any longer. The war needs to officially end. Today. Iâm alright, Katara.â
And to prove his point, he stands after sheâs done with the new bandages, picking up the robe that heâd discarded earlier. She gets up, too, and helps him into it. He doesnât protest. She adjusts the collar, her fingers brushing his skin.
There are way too many parts to his outfit, and Katara is not familiar with Fire Nation regalia. He talks her through how to undo the clasps of the enormous shoulder piece, then guides her through helping him tie the complicated topknot. It feels good to have her fingers running through his hair, deft, and impossibly gentle. With fingers still weak and shaky, he takes her hands, small and soft and warm in his, and shows her the motions.
According to custom, she shouldnât be touching his hair. But the life debt he owes her should be more than enough to buck tradition. Besides, today would be the beginning of a new era, a better one.
Thereâs the sound of footsteps and voices in the antechamber, and Katara quickly finishes tying the knot, her hands falling to her sides. Zuko looks up.
âYou stupid, donât you know Iâm his girlfriend - !â
âMai!â
Zuko stands up abruptly. Katara does at the same time, and makes a move to go, but Zuko grabs her hand behind his back, and she stops.
Mai looks him up and down, taking in his half-dressed state, the bandages on his chest. Then her eyes land on Katara. âOh,â she says. âSo this is what the new firelord is doing while Iâm rotting in prison.â
Her eyes fall back on Zuko, as if expecting him to say something, and he knows he needs to say something, but whatever heâd said has always been the wrong thing, with Mai.
Why had it always been like that, with the people he loved? It shouldn't be this hard, should it?
Heâd forgotten how hard it was, these past few days. Uncle had made it seem easy, loving him. And his new friends, for whom it seemed to come naturally. Katara, who loved so easily that it didn't matter that he was like this.
âWell?â She demands. To Katara she says âyou can go now,â and waves her hand dismissively.
But Kataraâs hand doesn't let go, squeezes his, as if itâs a question. The touch makes him realize how tense he is, and her hand feels like an anchor, preventing him from floating away. His fingers curl around hers unconsciously, and he realizes he doesn't want to let go. She squeezes back in response. Itâs okay, Iâve got you.
âI need to spend some more time checking his wound before the coronation,â she says.
Mai turns to her, lifting her chin so that she can look down on Katara, appraisingly. âThe firelord needs to spend some time with his girlfriend. Alone.â
âI want her to stay,â Zuko says, and they both turn to him.
Mai narrows her eyes. âThen Iâm gone, Zuko.â
The old Zuko might have immediately run after her, tried to take back the words, but Kataraâs hand is still keeping him anchored, and he feels like he really will be alright.
Here I am trying to get some new ZK Meta or fan art to reblog but allas I found another person who INSIST on coming into our main tag and scolding us đ.
This person is claiming that it's weird of us to use pictures of Dallas and Kiawentiio in interviews for our fan art because "they hate Zutara."
But before I could even type a snarky comment, someone got to it first.
This ZK corrected them and said that the actors don't actually hate Zutara.
This person didn't address the fact that they were wrong and spreading misinformation and doubled down that we are still weird to them.
I decided to step in and reply with this.
Their response is that this is just "their opinion" and we don't have to listen. They're right that we don't HAVE to listen to this random.
What my issue is is that they're back tracking and trying to claim this as an "opinion." It's not. It's quite literally a demand. You're demanding we stop our "weird behavior". That's not how that works bud.
The person called them out for spreading misinformation again.
I called them out for trying to frame their obvious demand as just an opinion.
This person responded by saying "oh shit really?" I'm sorry, did the ZK not initially tell you that the actors don't hate Zutara???
But this is the real kicker!
Bro I wouldn't have found that stupid post if you didn't decide to put it IN THE MAIN TAG!
They soon realized they weren't "winning" and just deleted it. Good thing I knew this would happen and took screenshots beforehand!
When people talk about parasocial behavior, it's usually blaming fans for doing fan things, but I think we need to talk about this bizarre need to "protect" adult actors from innocent drawings that they will most likely never see.
Getting offended on behalf of a public figure whose job it is to create interest in fan interaction. That's why they publicize these photos to begin with. No photo you see online of these actors is just them "hanging out." Even if it's just something the actors posted on their Instagram reel, it's all there for fan consumption. As long as nobody is being hurt, what is the deal?
That's the case with most antis who claim that they didn't realize they were being rude and that what they say is "just their opinion." They knew they were being an ass, but what they expected was for a bunch of people to agree with them.
Here I am trying to get some new ZK Meta or fan art to reblog but allas I found another person who INSIST on coming into our main tag and scolding us đ.
This person is claiming that it's weird of us to use pictures of Dallas and Kiawentiio in interviews for our fan art because "they hate Zutara."
But before I could even type a snarky comment, someone got to it first.
This ZK corrected them and said that the actors don't actually hate Zutara.
This person didn't address the fact that they were wrong and spreading misinformation and doubled down that we are still weird to them.
I decided to step in and reply with this.
Their response is that this is just "their opinion" and we don't have to listen. They're right that we don't HAVE to listen to this random.
What my issue is is that they're back tracking and trying to claim this as an "opinion." It's not. It's quite literally a demand. You're demanding we stop our "weird behavior". That's not how that works bud.
The person called them out for spreading misinformation again.
I called them out for trying to frame their obvious demand as just an opinion.
This person responded by saying "oh shit really?" I'm sorry, did the ZK not initially tell you that the actors don't hate Zutara???
But this is the real kicker!
Bro I wouldn't have found that stupid post if you didn't decide to put it IN THE MAIN TAG!
They soon realized they weren't "winning" and just deleted it. Good thing I knew this would happen and took screenshots beforehand!
When people talk about parasocial behavior, it's usually blaming fans for doing fan things, but I think we need to talk about this bizarre need to "protect" adult actors from innocent drawings that they will most likely never see.
Getting offended on behalf of a public figure whose job it is to create interest in fan interaction. That's why they publicize these photos to begin with. No photo you see online of these actors is just them "hanging out." Even if it's just something the actors posted on their Instagram reel, it's all there for fan consumption. As long as nobody is being hurt, what is the deal?
And Katara was the one who calmed him down both times. Like, she was there, Aang, you don't have to lecture her about it. Especially since she was the one doing most of the emotional labor to make sure he didn't go on a murderous rampage.
He's allowed to freak out because she is there. Maybe inconsciously he knows she is the one who moderates him and think she can't moderate herself if she's the one freaking out. So yeah... he really doesn't trust her nor know her.
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Here I am trying to get some new ZK Meta or fan art to reblog but allas I found another person who INSIST on coming into our main tag and scolding us đ.
This person is claiming that it's weird of us to use pictures of Dallas and Kiawentiio in interviews for our fan art because "they hate Zutara."
But before I could even type a snarky comment, someone got to it first.
This ZK corrected them and said that the actors don't actually hate Zutara.
This person didn't address the fact that they were wrong and spreading misinformation and doubled down that we are still weird to them.
I decided to step in and reply with this.
Their response is that this is just "their opinion" and we don't have to listen. They're right that we don't HAVE to listen to this random.
What my issue is is that they're back tracking and trying to claim this as an "opinion." It's not. It's quite literally a demand. You're demanding we stop our "weird behavior". That's not how that works bud.
The person called them out for spreading misinformation again.
I called them out for trying to frame their obvious demand as just an opinion.
This person responded by saying "oh shit really?" I'm sorry, did the ZK not initially tell you that the actors don't hate Zutara???
But this is the real kicker!
Bro I wouldn't have found that stupid post if you didn't decide to put it IN THE MAIN TAG!
They soon realized they weren't "winning" and just deleted it. Good thing I knew this would happen and took screenshots beforehand!
When people talk about parasocial behavior, it's usually blaming fans for doing fan things, but I think we need to talk about this bizarre need to "protect" adult actors from innocent drawings that they will most likely never see.
as much as I love and live for (and believe me, I DO) zuko confronting a.ang over his treatment of katara, may I humbly offer: katara finding out how m.ai canonically treats zuko and absolutely losing. her. shit. world's most valid, necessary, and deserved crashout
I once read a zutaraang fic where Zuko had just broken up with Mai and spent most of the night crying, and I don't THINK the "escaping an abusive relationship" vibe was intentional, but that was absolutely how it came across.
Aang tries to pry an answer out of Katara about their kiss before the invasion. She avoids the topic, as she has done so before. Aangâs frustration produces a dangerous lava blast. Katara has to hide behind a pillar to avoid getting singed. Its dangerous. Its reckless. But Katara immediately redirects sympathy toward his fear of him being the one harmed.
Once again, it's Katara - despite nearly getting walloped - that reassures him. That she's 'fine'; even praising him. Her fright and the recklessness of what he did are barely acknowledged.
Now it's worth noting Aang doesn't deliberately try and hurt Katara, but its absolutely a point-blank showcase of Aang losing control and endangering Katara because he cannot consider her romantic boundaries.
Does he apologise? Yes. But in the end his actions are still framed as 'valid.'
That to me, is a little bit toxic. And what's more is that we see glimpses of this in the Atla movie - this is something that Aang has never grown from. Concerning.
This comic makes Aang saying he's so angry about the play in EIP that he might go into the avatar State right before he blames katara for her portrayal onstage and demands that she be his girlfriend even more terrifying.
Like, I can imagine the writers being like "Aang and Katara need to have a discussion about their relationship" and coming up with something that makes it even worse.
And Katara was the one who calmed him down both times. Like, she was there, Aang, you don't have to lecture her about it. Especially since she was the one doing most of the emotional labor to make sure he didn't go on a murderous rampage.
Do yall remember during the episode âSokkaâs Master,â Katara cracks 2 jokes (one about Momo shedding like Appa and another about Toph marrying Sokka), and Aang doesnât respond positively at all to either of them?? He even says to the first joke that âjokes donât run in the family.â
This is a smaller transgression in the mess that is Kataang, but itâs so baffling to me. Like, wouldnât you want to find your (future) significant other funny? And his response is quite rude and unnecessary. I made a comment on a post the other day about how Aang doesnât seem to like Katara, and this is just one of several examples of him not seeing her as a normal human being, one who makes silly jokes so that her friends donât miss her brother as much. He doesnât even bother to pretend to be amused.
Thereâs been an uptick in discussion regarding Aang seeing nothing wrong with how Katara is portrayed in the Ember Island Players, and it goes to show how Aang justâŚdoesnât seem to enjoy Kataraâs essence and personality. Heâs so worked up about being played by a girl that he doesnât give a damn about Katara being shown as an over emotional woman who lusts over the âenemy.â No matter that Kataraâs passion, optimism, and hope is what fuels the plot and enables other characters to overcome their obstacles. In fact, he agrees with this slut shaming portrayal of her, and blows up at her during their conversation on the balcony.
Aang is such a terrible partner to Katara. He doesnât stand up for her, thinks sheâll jump straight to murder when it comes to Yon Rah, doesnât find her funny, abandons her when things get tough, and overall rarely provides her with the support that she lends him. Apart from thinking sheâs pretty and can be his mommy-wife, he rarely thinks of her highly.
Side note: You know who would find Kataraâs corny/silly jokes funny though? Probably the guy who makes jokes about tea and forgets the punch line.
Something about Aang hating being played by a girl in Ember Island Players and seeing nothing wrong with the misogynistic stereotype about Katara because men think that the worst thing you can be is a woman.
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And then they'll be like "he's a flawed characterrrrrr" but you're not allowed to acknowledge that those flaws might be a deal breaker in a relationship.
And then they'll be like "he's a flawed characterrrrrr" but you're not allowed to acknowledge that those flaws might be a deal breaker in a relationship.
It's especially meta because Katara herself gets gaslit about it when she complains about being seen that way.
And the antis want to tell us we made it up.
I feel like a lot of zutara shippers relate to Katara because she embodies the common female experience of being told you have to be a certain way, and then when you complain about that role being forced on you, you're told that you're crazy and imagining it. But also a bitch for doing exactly what they expect of you.
I watched two atla edits & now I'm bombarded with videos of white kat@angers telling zutara shippers of color that they support colonizer x colonized ships. It doesn't surprise me that most of the videos they are stitching are of Black women gushing about how much they love Zutara.
This is why you don't have your siblings for roommates. They steal your stuff and invite their friends that you totally dont have a crush on over at the worst possible time.
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That person who made that post claiming that Iroh groomed Zuko is someone whose username I recognize because they're constantly posting about how shipping zutara is racist, and now I feel even more justified that they have no fucking clue what they're talking about and are just throwing words around.
I do think it's interesting though that I saw the post on a Jet blog, considering the average Jet stan thinks Jet is like, a cuddly father of orphans and will actively deny it when you point out he stole Smellerbee's knife so he could lie to Katara and frame himself as righteous.
That person who made that post claiming that Iroh groomed Zuko is someone whose username I recognize because they're constantly posting about how shipping zutara is racist, and now I feel even more justified that they have no fucking clue what they're talking about and are just throwing words around.
