@residentmiddlechild / residentmiddlechild.tumblr.com
"Shoulder" by big thief is such a zuko coded song,
"And the blood of the man who killed my mother with his hands, Is in me"
I know that zukos mum is not canonically dead as per the comics but as much as I love him I can't let zuko have a happy life,
And also because i have a fic idea of a few years after the war ends and ursas body is found buried in the courtyard,
I really like Maiko, I only love this couple in alta. This is what I have chosen, and I will literally cry for their stories. I will suffer from seeing people who don't understand and divide them, so I don't want to see any outliers who misunderstand them, and I don't care about you guys.
omg Mai is on the cover of the next official graphic novel!!!!
since a lot of you guys liked my aang sketches from a couple weeks ago, here are some sketches of our favorite sifu hotman 🔥🔥🔥
ashes of the academy maiko redraw 'cause i really love the poses
I made a post about this here, but I NEED to talk about Zuko defecting more, so here's a deeper dive into Zuko's desertion post-the Day of Black Sun and the crazy impact it could have had on the narrative if only we'd had more time:
In the series before the day of black sun, Zuko had been labeled a traitor, even if he'd not fully committed to the cause yet, but the reason that this is so different and should have had far reaching consequences is because of two things:
With all of that, the Gaang must navigate the Fire Nation: the place that hates Zuko the most right now... which says a lot, considering he's the son of the man trying to destroy the world.
Building on what I said in point 1; the smear campaign against would have been dialled up to a thousand. The literal Crown Prince of the Fire Nation defected. You cannot get a more high-profile defector than that. Jeong Jeong's leaving was a big deal, now lets take that and make it so much worse. Ozai would understand that such an event is undoubtably going to stir conversation and thought; and he wants that conversation to be directed in a very particular way. He and his council/generals would know they need to squash any potential rebellion before it can breathe and use Zuko's actions as a reason to become even more patriotic. They'd be doing everything they can to stir up anger, to make them out as the victim - Zuko was corrupted by the Earth Kingdom people since he spent time living among them, eating their roof, wearing their clothes, sleeping in their beds. He can no longer be seen as Fire. Truth would become redundant. Zuko has committed the ultimate betrayal. (I think to Zuko and Mai's interaction at the Boiling Rock prison;
MAI: The warden's my uncle, you idiot. [Zuko facepalms and sighs; Mai shows him a letter.] The truth is, I guess I don't know you. All I get is a letter? You could have at least looked me in the eye when you ripped out my heart. ZUKO: I didn't mean to - MAI: You didn't mean to? [Reading the letter.] "Dear Mai, I'm sorry that you have to find out this way, but I'm leaving." ZUKO: Stop! This isn't about you. This is about the Fire Nation! MAI: [Sarcastically.] Thanks Zuko, that makes me feel all better. [Throws the letter at him.] ZUKO: [Stands up.] Mai, I never wanted to hurt you. But I have to do this to save my country. MAI: Save it? You're betraying your country! ZUKO: That's not how I see it.
Mai's complicated and misguided feelings are all tied up in Zuko, because she's right. She doesn't know him. She thinks he's betraying them all; Zuko is trying to save them all. She fundamentally does not know who he is. When they last knew each other, they were just little children. They're older now, and there's an abyss of experience between them; one of them staying in comfortable familiarity of the Fire Nation, the other falling further and further out of that sphere until eventually he realises the truth. Mai doesn't really love Zuko - she can't, because she doesn't know he is (and vice versa).
Rant aside, I think this energy can be placed to many civilians in the Fire Nation. Although only gone for three years, he was so young when he left, it's unlikely anyone had much of a conceptualisation of him. Now, all people know is this: Zuko was banished for disrespect, he's lack of honour. He 'killed' the Avatar and returned home, only to disappear soon after the Avatar appeared, leading an invasion. That's not much to base an opinion on, and when your surrounded by propaganda, it might be impossible to see through the lies.
We can also some healthy inferencing here to how the Fire Nation would feel about Zuko's action as well by remembering what Iroh and Zuko's first wanted poster read: “Permission is granted to kill them on sight" and that was in Book 1, when Zuko's in-denial treason was pretty tame compared to this. I'd wager the bounty on Zuko's head would be... large. Whether he'd be worth more alive or dead is up to you. I can see the lines falling either way (he's committed an egregious act against his nation: there's either np other option but to kill him, or they want him alive as a big power-play).
Regardless, a bounty on his head makes him a target and not just any target, he's the target. What is he wanted for? Treason of the highest order, that is consistent. The details? Well that depends who you talk to and what poster you read. The point is that each detail creates fear and loathing until only two things are certain, capturing/killing the traitor prince will reward you with a lot of money; helping the traitor will cost you your life.
Lastly; Zuko was the crown prince. Now, he's the traitorous ex-prince allying with the Avatar to overthrow his own country. He's dangerous in a whole new way. Even though Ozai would remove him from the line of succession, it would be clear what the Avatar's ploy here is. Zuko is not just his Firebending teacher, but who he intends to sit on the thrown after he disposes of Ozai
All of this to say, navigating the Fire Nation should have been harder and navigating it with a newly traitorous Zuko should have been terrifying.
You know what is fucking hilarious i realized this morning
Zuko, crown prince of the firenation, sTILL ascending to the throne after the avatar fucking took out his dad is HYSTERICAL when you consider for like half a second what that looks like from the outside perspective
Like imagine you’re some earth kingdom peasant and the town crier comes through like “AVATAR DEFEATED THE FIRELORD. REPEAT AVATAR NERFED OZAI. WAR OVER. WAR OVER”
and you’re like “holy fucking shit 100 years of war over the madlad did it”
and then you’re like “what happens to the Firenation now?? did the avatar take over as ruler while sanctions are being put in place?
crier: “nope” you: “are they under earth kingdom colonial rule now?” crier: “nope” you: “oh okay, so is it like. an earth-kingdom appointed panel of delegates who will oversee the firenation now?” crier: “nooooope” you: “…earth kingdom appointed leader?” crier: “no : )” you: “democratically elected leader?” crier: “no :^ )” you: “communism?????” crier: “lmao still a monarchy!” you: “okay, okay, guess earth kingdom is too, okay, please just tell me they crowned someone from the rebel faction who–” crier: “Fire Lord’s Son : ^). First Son. First born.” you: “??????????? the Crown Prince?” crier: “Heir to the Throne :^^)” you: “His SON?” crier: “First and only :^^)” you: “then what was the fuCKING POINT OF TAKING DOWN THE FIRE LORD?!!” crier: “Avatar won :^^^)” you: “WHAT’S EVEN DIFFERENT NOW"
crier: “Zuko’s good :^ D” you: “wait isnt he???? wasn’t he part of the coup that laid siege to Ba Sing Se? Claimed the Earth Kingdom capital after 100 years of resistance?? Dethroned the Earth King??? Was welcomed home as a War Hero???? Almost killed the Avatar?!? THAT Zuko??!?” crier: “yeah but he’s grown since then.” you: “that was last month”
MAI MAI MAI MAI MAI
Better picture!
This is my line sketch of the middle-aged maiko couple, and I am still coloring (please forgive me that my coloring ability has yet to improve). I am based on the adult Zuko image given in the 2025 film as a reference, and the costume is based on the Tang Dynasty's round neck gown design. Mai gave me a little more freedom to play - and I was happy to use my imagination, and Mai's hairstyle was a reference to the updos of some ladies between the Han and Tang dynasties, which spanned two relatively large dynasties. I ended up keeping some of Mai's original bangs so as not to lose her identity. If you would like, I would be happy to share some drafts in the creative process, I am sure it will be interesting, and I am looking forward to your interactive comments!
Gee I wonder who Izumi’s mom is
Mai’s illustration on the left is by Johane Matte, one of the lead artists for ATLA and LOK who drew this comic for fun.
yo…. when jet breaks in the tea shop and accuses zuko and iroh of beinh firebenders….
do you think any of the patrons looked at zukos scarred face - obviously done by a firebender - and immediately think jet was an asshole? like
jet: hes a firebender!!!!
patrons, thinking about the backstory they concocted for zuko and iroh where their home was invaded by firebenders and they barely survived with their lifes so they could come and have a peaceful life selling tea in a city the war doesnt touch:
Jet: He’s a firebender!
The Patrons to the Tea Shop internally: You fucking stupid, sir? I think you might be stupid.
THE TAGS
He didn’t even use his own swords. He took them from a guard and the guards let him
