"please Feed The Author Don't Poke The Author"

Zuko

he's very good at masking about 90% of the time

struggles with social cues sometimes?

he walks a very odd line between missing social cues because autism and being hyperaware of social cues because abuse victim

positive attention is a little foreign to him - people flirt with him all the time and he just barrels right on through

he scripts things out everything. practices random conversations with turtleducks. has entire scrolls of "what to say if..." laying around his room.

unrelated but his customer service voice is ever-present in Official Political Meetings

a fascinating special interest in tea

can and will infodump at the drop of a hat

lots of finger stims (they're small and easy to hide)

facial expressions mean nothing folks

super smooth fabrics bother him

he doesn't really like how fire feels - his own is pretty nice, and aang's is usually okay, but everyone else's is sketchy

hates hates hates the texture of his scar

listen zuko just infodumps a lot

For Hearth and Home by @sword-and-stars has been giving me brainrot for the better part of a month

everyone is like “zuko is the dad of the gaang” and “Katara is the mom!” But consider- you are wrong. Open your eyes, folks. Katara is the dad and ZUKO is the mom.

I mean, overprotective? Tries to Relate to the kids and be the Fun Parent but ends up worrying and nagging anyway, terrible sense of humor but tries so hard anyway? “Let’s have a beach party, you’re working them all too hard? gentle encouragement, you’re doing great buddy!” All Katara.

Stressed, trying to get everyone to take things Seriously™️, constantly sleep deprived, first one awake (rises with the sun) and also the last one to sleep? Excellent glare, great scolding skills, good at finding stuff? Zuko is the mom and y’all need to transcend gender and really see the possibilities.

yes, zuko may be a theater gay, but have we considered writer gay? 

all writers (that i’ve known) seem really quiet at first, but the more you get to know them, the more dramatic they become. they get loud, they act out different scenes, we secretly (or not secretly) love screaming out musical numbers. 

and zuko having killer outfits? writers are always stutin’ with their styles! 

also, being super shy? how he practices how he’s going to introduce himself to the gaang? peak writer gay energy. 

so please consider: writer zuko.

thanks for coming to my (short) ted talk

Au where the Gaang were looking for a firebending teacher, just found Zuko on the side of the road and picked him up by the scruff of his neck and was like "you". No one figures out he's the Prince of the Fire Nation until Sozins Comet.

Aang comes back, having defeated firelord Ozai, and then finds out that his wet rat of a firebending teacher is actually royalty and is being crowned Firelord tomorrow. He is so confused.

Family breakfasts with Tommy have become somewhat of a routine.

He comes over on the days Maria leaves for her work early (which is more often than not), eats her granola and drinks Joel's coffee, and they talk about whatever they feel like, though Ellie loves asking him about his recent patrols. She kicks her feet up into Joel's lap and draws it out as long as she can before sprinting all the way to school, but it's worth it if it means just one more story.

Today, though, she's late. Really fucking late. It's not her fault she got a bit distracted by the new book Tommy had brought her last afternoon (it's about SPACE Joel, that trumps school and sleep by a mile), but now she had about five minutes to get out of the house and into the classroom. Ellie barrels down the stairs, bag slung over her shoulder, and has to catch herself on the banister to not slip on the floor once she jumps over the last few steps

"Careful, baby," Joel calls over, worriedly watching her put on her shoes while standing on one leg, jumping to keep her balance. Tommy, on the other hand, looks majorly amused, and she can hear him chuckle.

"Yeah, yeah, old man, I can keep my balance just fine."

She ties her laces so she doesn't trip once she starts running and is about to leave when Joel whistles to call her back.

"Breakfast, Ellie."

Fucking Joel and his stupid rules, but Ellie spins on the spot and uses the kitchen door frame to propel herself toward the counter and pick up two apples for later, stuffing them into her bag with a happy? thrown over her shoulder.

"Mh, have a nice day at school, kiddo," he tries to sound all parental, but she can hear the softness bleeding through and just knows he's holding back a grin. Ellie crosses the distance between them with two big steps and slings her arms around his neck, allowing herself the luxury of melting against him for a few precious seconds when he gently rubs his thumbs over her wrists and lifts her clasped hands to press a kiss to her knuckles.

With a heavy sigh and a silent fuck you to whoever invented math, she pulls back, but not without pressing a kiss to Joel's cheek, basking in the smile he gives her; it's so easy to make him happy, and she does it as much as she can.

Ellie can feel Tommy's eyes on them, he always watches them with a gleeful mixture of amusement and affection, and over the last year, he has settled into the warm parts of her heart, too. He is right between her and the door, sipping on his coffee, so, really, it's not even a conscious choice, more of a reflex.

Her hand comes down on the table when she steps toward the front door and away from Joel, balancing herself so she can lean around the back of his chair and press a quick kiss to his cheek, too. Ellie bites back the small laugh bubbling up when she sees the expression on his face, mouth slightly open, eyes seeking help from Joel, who simply shrugs and picks up his cup again.

Another minute ticks by on the kitchen clock, and she is finally on her way out, the goodbye she yells at them cut off when the front door slams close behind her.

-

("What the hell was that?"

"She is laying her claim on you."

"Whatever that means, Joel, she's your kid, not mine."

"Better get ready to give up your personal space and half your closet."

"My clothes, really?"

"You never know what she might do next, prepare for the worst."

"Are you sure she's not yours? 'Cause this sounds oddly familiar."

"Oh, she is, she just found me all on her own."

"Glad she did, haven't seen you smile like that in twenty years."

"Give it a week and I'll tell you the same thing.")

THIS CONCEPT >>>>>

Cyber im begging you please release the unfinished monodeku sketches

apparently I did more Monoma than I thought

Sokka: I told my sister you have a crush on her.

Fire Lord Zuko: Guards!!

like teacher, like student

a lil appreciation post for music teachers, including my own :”) featuring cellist zuko and teacher piandao