fire is life.

[banishmark]

BANISHMARK : THE TALE OF THE BANISHED PRINCE. as seen on nickelodeon's 𝙰𝚅𝙰𝚃𝙰𝚁 : 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙻𝙰𝚂𝚃 𝙰𝙸𝚁𝙱𝙴𝙽𝙳𝙴𝚁 and reintroduced in netflix's live action adaptation. portrayal is mixed media and headcanon / worldbuilding heavy. unbanished by melanie, she/her, thirty3, latina. originally established in 2024.

guidelines.   prompts = starters.   threadtracker soon.

alts:  @afterdecay @kingmaketh @dr4gontales

pinterest. portrayal notes. verses.  headcanons.  

the gaang: – 

[banishmark]

[videog4mes]

TOMODACHI LIFE: SHENANIGANS EDITION. a collection of action based concepts inspired by the silly things those silly miis do. change verbiage and pronouns as needed. (send + reverse if desired.)

follow. sender is following receiver for some reason.

breakdance. receiver walks in on sender breakdancing and joins them.

ballet. receiver is trying to learn ballet with sender.

stare. receiver is watching sender closely.

hearteyes. while sender is excitedly talking about something, receiver suddenly has hearteyes for sender.

ready to risk it all. sender officially confesses how they feel about receiver.

street light. receiver discovers sender switching the street light on and off for some reason.

ants go marching. mid-chatting, receiver gets distracted by a trail of ants passing by them and sender.

unrequited. receiver responds to their feelings not being reciprocated by sender.

foam sword. receiver pulls a toy sword out on sender only to be met with the same response.

water sprinkler. sender and receiver spend time together splashing and running around under the water sprinkler.

show off. sender and receiver are preparing to show off their prized possessions and debate who has the best item.

gloomy days. someone put sender in a rather foul mood and receiver attempts to make things better.

shake it, shake. sender and receiver draw in a crowd playing maracas and putting on a show.

chase. receiver chases sender around the gardens.

date. sender and receiver are on a special date.

shooting star. sender and receiver are lying in a bed of grass watching the stars together.

renovate. receiver asks sender to help them decorating and/or renovating around their home.

jump scare. receiver reacts to sender's attempt to spook them.

blushing mess. sender and receiver clearly have a thing for one another but are being bashful.

new style. receiver models their new hairstyle/clothing style for sender.

roomies. receiver asks sender to move in with them.

[banishmark]

the s2 trailer 🥹🥹🥹🥹

[banishmarked]

you know how some people can feel certain weather events about to happen after sustaining and healing from an injury? zuko can feel when a thunderstorm is about to happen.

[katara]

[banishmark]

STARTER CALL! canon content limited to the og animation and s1 of the live action. (comics knowledge soon.) i have not seen the leaked film -- therefore i'm making up older zuko as i go.

i also have shell concepts for: asoiaf (all eras welcome), arcane & league of legends, general modern, marvel/dc pyrokinetic vibes, and more. it's all dependent on writing partner and i'll eventually build up official verses.

[banishmark]

she said something that provoked him, he set her homework on fire. and now they both find themselves in detention after a long day of classes. by the end of detention, he's sure their professor will have them apologize to one another, but for now zuko sits with his face towards the window to his left. it allows him some idea of space not having to look at her.

he's not sure where his annoyance with katara began. maybe when he realized he'd been paired up with a waterbender in one of their classes. his history with waterbenders usually ended with him being doused in water and his flames snuffed out – leaving him angrier than usual. they always act like they're the superior ones in their classes and … katara seemed no different. they've been neck to neck vying for the top spot in class and that only fueled his hatred for her.

by the time detention's over and he murmurs a weak apology and a promise to help her redo her ruined assignment, zuko's on edge again. he waits until they're headed down the hall where they'll eventually separate to head to their dorms when he stops and turns to her. ❝ this is all your fault. ❞

@healbent

[banishmark]

he hoped the wait would be seen as worth it. (it sure as hell felt like it by the look on her face – despite the pain in his wrist.) truth be told, he used to hate the moon. when it cascades over him is when he feels at his weakest. but it also means katara is at her strongest.

❝ yeah, ❞ gaze lowers and he grins to himself sheepishly. his good hand clasps the back of his neck awkwardly, rubbing the spot before dropping back down to his side. ❝ you already know that water is a healing element. just imagine how much stronger you are during the full moon. ❞ he glances back up at the light above their heads, for once admiring the thing he once hated. ❝ i imagine it'd be the same feeling i hold onto when the sun first rises. something awakens in me and i feel … alive. ❞ his eyes divert from the moon and back to katara – his injured wrist extending towards. ❝ you think you're still up for it? ❞ he wouldn't blame her if she changed her mind. (it's not like he's always been the nicest to her or anything.) seeing that look on her face is more than enough for him. 

@healbent continued.

[banishmark]

❝ ──── i used to think this scar marked me. the mark of the banished prince, cursed to chase the avatar forever. but lately... i've realized that i'm free to determine my own destiny, even if i'll never be free of my mark. ❞

an independent 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙯𝙪𝙠𝙤 from the 𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙧 : 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 franchise. portrayal is 𝙢𝙞𝙭𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖 & 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙, primarily mixed media and headcanon / worldbuilding heavy. twenty+ and mutuals only.

[banishmark]

[banishmark]

the flame within her palm dies as quickly as it appeared, and the lightweaver sighs heavily, but doesn't give up, trying to ignite yet another spark she creates with a snap of her fingers.

just as soon as a flame had ignited, it had snuffed out. he's been watching as lux struggled to produce lasting fire – couldn't help but to chuckle to himself. he recalls going through the same frustrations in his youth. the many years he'd spent trying to be the best fire bender, how he yearned for acknowledgement from his father. one can push themselves to the ends of the earth trying to figure out how to weave an element from nothing, and they'll still be met with just that: nothing.

❝ you're thinking too hard, ❞ zuko breaks the silence, leaving his resting spot to join her. he crouches and moves into a sitting position – motions with his head for her to join his side.

❝ you shouldn't have to think at all – fire is life. you breathe it, you feel it. you focus on that feeling deep within and … ❞ holding his palm out before him, he takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. a subtle circle of his hand waves before him before returning his palm face up with a small ball of flame. his eyes reopen – unmarred golden eye casting a glimpse from the corner towards her. ❝ it's something you will into existing. just like the breath of life.❞ 

@swiatelko

[banishmark]

ew

he'd made a comment about her ‘fighting like a girl’ and found his ass handed to him multiple times. it's been days since he'd made such an unsavory remark – and had embarrassed himself not for only what he said, but his actions that followed. there was no honor in his words or the way he fought.

since then, zuko has spent his mornings meditating with aang. he's steered clear from suki since then, but he approaches now with a request. she shot him down quickly with that ‘ew’ response – he doesn't blame her for it. if the roles wer reversed, he'd likely look down on her in return.

❝ i can't take back what i said, ❞ zuko starts off, slowly falling to his knees and bowing his head – a sign of respect and a wordless ask of forgiveness. ❝ i was wrong for it. you don't just fight like a girl. you fight like a warrior. ❞

@kyoshilead

[banishmark]

oh hey fire daddy

[banishmark]

STARTER CALL! canon content limited to the og animation and s1 of the live action. (comics knowledge soon.) i have not seen the leaked film -- therefore i'm making up older zuko as i go.

i also have shell concepts for: asoiaf (all eras welcome), arcane & league of legends, general modern, marvel/dc pyrokinetic vibes, and more. it's all dependent on writing partner and i'll eventually build up official verses.

[tragicwrit]

AVATAR : THE LAST AIRBENDER - S1EP1 AANG * change verbiage and pronouns as needed.

They’re going to start a war!

We’ll be prepared for your attack.

My sights are set higher.

Which is why we have to kill them all.

His first step is to eliminate the one person who could stand in his way.

What? I was just enjoying the view.

You skipped training again!

It’s all the same drills. You know I already know all this stuff.

You may be more advanced than the others, but there’s much you have to learn.

We don’t have the luxury of waiting for the right time.

Are comet festivals always this much work?

Well, the last one was a hundred years ago, and believe it or not.

Remember the last time I brought you here?

Their actions threaten to throw the world out of balance.

The world needs you, [insert name].

You’re strong and kind and generous.

Always remember who you are because I can’t imagine a better person to have been given this power.

Can’t I just keep pretending that I’m your friend?

Monks don’t even trust me to feed the baby bison, and I’m supposed to save the world?

I don’t want the responsibility.

I’m scared of my power.

I just need to go up where things always make more sense.

Remember, no survivors.

That’s it. Stay quiet. You’ll be safe in there.

You may have prevailed on another night.

Just proves if you want something done right, gotta do it yourself.

They don’t appreciate your incredible leadership skills.

Not everything is about preparing to fight.

Keeping ourselves alive is our duty.

Sulk later, paddle now.

Oh! Nice. Nice. We’re not gonna die.

I don’t like this, but why listen to me?

For three years, I’ve chased down every hint, every rumor, every whisper of [insert name/thing], and I’ll keep doing it for another three years if I have to.

All I’m saying is, it’s hard to see you get your hopes up every time you see a… a sign.

Perhaps it’s time to consider that the throne isn’t everything.

What are you thinking? Have you forgotten your training?

What’d I say about keeping your guard up? He could be the enemy.

I’m not the enemy.

Repeating it doesn’t help.

But when the world needed him most, he vanished.

How come his omens never take us somewhere with hot springs, huh?

We will prove ourselves worthy, and we will see our homes and families again… or we will die trying.

Believe me, I know how hard it is to lose the people you love.

They destroyed everything in their path.

We’re never really ready until we have to be.

I need to be at my best when I face the world’s ultimate warrior.

Now, how about a nice cup of jasmine tea?

I’m a warrior. I should be able to do more for our people.

We merely seek someone who does not belong here.

Turn him over now, or I’ll burn this place to the ground.

I know how hard this responsibility has been for you, but there’s more to being a leader than just catching fish.

You have to give people something to live for.

If this is the path you’ve chosen, then so be it.

Let’s settle this between us! Leader to leader. You really need an army?

Well, where’s the glory in that?

Enough games. Burn the whole place to the ground.

I’ll go with you. Just leave them alone.

No one has ever fought for me before.

I think you’re the bravest person I’ve ever met.

I saw real sloppiness out there today.

There are many who never imagined this day would ever come, myself included.

Some people say it is within our nature to expand and consume like fire itself.

But peace comes from respecting life, not killing and destroying.

It only matters how it can end.

It’s time we showed those flameheads they can’t step on us.

It would put everyone in danger.

They made the ultimate sacrifice for me. I need to make sure their deaths weren’t in vain. I need to follow through on what they wanted me to do.

This was my home, and now it’s gone.

It’s only after we’ve lost something that we realize how much it means to us… and how we’d do anything to get it back.

[banishmark]

portrayal notes.

at this point in time, my portrayal of zuko is going to be mixed media and heavily headcanon based. the original animation + the live action + the comics. (currently reading them.)

> live action takeaway: zuko's artistic side, the 41st  being spared due to his sacrifice/their loyalty to him, the official agni kai between him and ozai being extended as opposed to zuko not wanting to fight his father. zuko's softer nature at 13: he was timid, and unlike his father and sister, he felt that weight of a loss rather than thinking of it as an honor to die. his harder nature came when he was banished and he had to learn survival so young. he is half-blind and hard of hearing on the left side where he was burned.

> animation takeaway: basically... mostly staying on that course. tweaks to be made between adaptations depending on who i'm writing with.

i think the most important thing to remember is that zuko was 13 when he was humiliated and assaulted by his father in front of a crowd. younger zuko had his mother's personality. he was an honorable teenager who had morals, unlike his father and sister. his burn mark and shaved head are reminders of the shame he brought himself. ("shame" according to his father.) he was thrown to the wild and if not for iroh and the 41st, he could have been far off worse than he was. (!!!not excusing his tantrums, verbal abuse, and harrassing behaviors - merely providing insight.) iroh is the one who showed zuko love and care, and the 41st eventually grew to respect the banished prince. zuko's journey to restoring his honor wasn't for himself. he wanted to be accepted back home and was seeking validation from his father. he was young and didn't realize it at the time just how wrong his father was and could arguably believe that he deserved his punishment.

zuko is not a killer. he may attack and talk big game, he's skilled in firebending and martial arts. but no where on screen or even off has he been seen or hinted at as being a killer during his journey to finding the avatar. emphasis on harrassment. he might bully people and throw flames around while being loud about it, but any chance he'd had to kill someone, he pulls back before he can do anything severe.

zuko learns along the way that the honor he was fighting to restore and the fire nation were wrong. he spent most of his time just trying to find the avatar that he didn't see the harmful and corrupt ways of the fire nation. mind you, he was a child who grew up in a bad setting. he was blind to what the fire nation was doing until he saw it firsthand or encountered those who were victims of the fire nation. dropping his search of the avatar is his means taking the steps of restoring his honor.

zuko doesn't know how to be a teen. he's awkward, unloved by his family aside from iroh, and was never given the chance to process emotions or act like a child. he learns with the gaang, but even then, he's a work in progress.

most importantly: he started off as a villain, ended up as a hero. he didn't see himself as a villain to start. as far as he knew, fire nation was always right and it took venturing out into the world and experiencing hardships to see the truth.