HazelBee

[zutaradirectory]

Hi, can you recommend fics set in Modern AU?Please

Hi! I don’t read many modern AU fics so I only have a few. Luckily, our contributor @owl-freek-123 loves modern AUs and has quite a few personal recs! The star indicates an all time favorite ⭐

show me things i cannot see (shine a little light on my soul) - explicit, oneshot - When they were kids, Zuko and Katara didn’t get along that well; now Katara’s back from college, and both of them have a vested and petty interest in showing off the person they’ve managed to become. So when Sokka throws a wild party one night, Zuko and Katara decide to get reacquainted—and this time they get along swimmingly. ~ Katara’s rehearsed this, and she never flubs a performance; so she stands her ground, remaining stock still even as adrenaline courses through her veins and throbs deep in her core. The weed is making everything seem vivid and fascinating, so she can’t stop herself from taking in all the details: the perfectly tailored fit of his jeans, the strategically faded Airborne Toxic Event t-shirt that’s been French tucked oh-so-casually into his waistband, the whimsically striped socks, and the fashionably shaggy hair that falls into his eyes just so, softening the sharper angles of his face. Their gazes meet, and she swallows; his eyes are still as intense as ever, but somehow even more unnerving. A burst of furious envy erupts inside her. How dare you get this hot, Katara thinks. How utterly fucking dare you.

Twist Me to the Left - T Rating, 29 chapters - So here Zuko is, with no family, no band, and no more record contract. Just another punker with a guitar who thinks he's got what it takes. Then he meets Avatar, the band breaking all the rules. They've got everything going for them, the rising star, and they're everything Zuko isn't. But maybe, just maybe, they want a new guitarist. As long as the pretty keyboardist with the blue eyes doesn't murder Zuko first.

Office Affair - M Rating, 34 chapters - Zuko Azulon, a 23 year old bachelor of a million dollar company finds himself in a difficult position. His number one rule, 'Dont date employees'. Will that mean anything to him when he interviews Katara South for his secretary. A 21 year old college student whose family runs the well known three star restaurant Shining South. What problems will the two face when they meet?

To Shatter in Seconds - T Rating, 22 chapters - It's not about who gets there first, it's about who gets there last." She was a fifteen almost sixteen year old going to be in a sea of seventeen almost eighteen year olds. It was a scary place. Modern AU. Zutara. Image is not mine.

⭐The Island that Cleanses - M Rating, 7 chapters - After being dumped on her birthday, Katara tags along on her brother's job to Ember Island. Things start off badly when Sokka's boss, the abdicated Fire Lord Iroh's over-worked nephew thinks he isn't good enough for the job, causing Katara to defend Sokka, leading into an argument in the middle of their very first meeting on that special, little island.

College Daze - T Rating, 15 chapters - Katara and Zuko both attend Ba Sing Se University and are forced to be partners on a class project, working together for the grade. But what happens when they get to know each other? [Blutara, Zutara, Jetara]

Modern Love - T Rating, WIP - High school should be the best time of Katara's life -- her brother certainly feels that way -- but after being ostracized by her popular friends, things aren't looking so good for her junior year. On the other hand, Zuko already hates high school and is just counting down the days until he can get out. In order to make this anything other than the worst year on record, they'll have to contend with malicious siblings, overenthusiastic jocks, the worst friends imaginable, and, most insurmountably ... each other.

And here are my measly 2 recs lol. Modern AUs with a hint of murder and soulmates.

Face in the Crowd - T Rating, 11 chapters - A serial killer obsessed with folklore has resurfaced in Republic City, after 15 years. He has chosen his latest victim. Detective Zuko Kaji is assigned to the case. Can he catch the killer before another life is lost?

We Could Be Forever - T Rating, one shot - That’s her soulmate. She takes a deep breath and smiles because she remembers how he’d look at her in the morning when they’d wake up. She walks up to them and is about to say something when a new memory hits her. He won’t remember her. Last time he had to convince her that they were meant for each other and he did a terrible job. Soulmates AU

[beehazel]

That's exactly what I need rn

Thank you so much for these ❤️

[beehazel]

Face your death with honour...

And I officially lost it!

[beehazel]

Halden coming to Basgiath waiting for Violet to come running and singing:

You could break my heart in two

But when it heals, it beats for you

I know it's forward, but it's true

I wanna hold you when I'm not supposed to

When I'm lying close to someone else

You're stuck in my head and I can't get you out of it

If I could do it all again

I know I'd go back to you

Right until the reality check is served by our one and only shadow wilder... and Vi herself of course

[beehazel]

Found a beautiful British series A woman of substance, and omg how she tears that man's heart. Can't you see he's in love with you with all he has, woman! It literally breaks my heart…

I don't say she should love him just because he does, but spear that man of your current endeavours, please. Omg, hug this man. Like right now, please…

[beehazel]

Also, maybe this comes up later in the book, but doesn't a dragon egg hatching make the land magic? Like, when the first one hatched in Aretia there was something, a magical wave of some sort, that everyone felt... So what if the reason for Isles to want the egg is the magic?

What if…

[beehazel]

I'm finally on Onyx storm and after getting all the spoilers and twists and turns of the story I'm able to read and analyse it a little. So, I know that Xaden disappears at the end, and so do several eggs, right? And the Isles want dragons. On Unnbriel the queen actually asks for the eggs, so what if Xaden went there to strike a deal? What kind of is another question and I don't think it's for hiding him or something that's not in his character, but there are still many things he could do, I think.

Idk, just thought about it and needed to vent out. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to sleep properly…

[lucidsora]

ROTBTFD: Superheroes Comic (Intro)

I imagined that this would be the intro of a superhero feature film. An introduction to all the characters in the midst of an intense battle.

[ X ]

[msmarshmallowmadness]

By far one of the most interesting and and original comic crossover I’ve ever seen! I am so in love! XD <3

[beehazel]

Oh, that's awesome!

[beehazel]

Hear me out... BTS's Tear seems so fitting for Vi and Xaden. Like, really fitting

"Goodbye that ended up coming to me is what I deserve at the end of my playacting full of lies"

"We used to walk towards the same place, but here becomes our last"

"I thought we dreamt the same dream, but now the dream truly became just a dream. My heart breaks. Please rather burn it so that the pain and my lingering love don't remain at all anymore"

And all that... I know that this song is more about the boys, but gods it feels fitting after the Onyx storm...

[beehazel]

The world is purple and so is my heart. The most anticipated moment of this spring is finally here and my brain is looped by arirang already. I have found a new pulse and beat for my inspiration and motivation and can breathe a little bit easier.

Thank you so much for this astonishing gift wrapped in care, love and notes. This album feels to me like a promise fulfilled and a chapter fresh written in supportive ink and love. I could never understand how people can come up with such meaningful arts and put hundreds over thousands of thoughts and meanings into words and images, but I will forever be amazed and thankful that you do and that you share this sincerity with the world trusting is to keep it close and keep it alive.

My mind's a mess and my emotions are running wild but I wanted to put it written here so to never forget, even though I'm positive it's impossible, that I indeed was maybe a little but still a part of such an amazing journey

[da-man-si]

If one day, your parents wanted to harm you, what would you do?

[beehazel]

I've watched the first episode and loved it! Hope to binge watch it once I get enough time...

[rosiethorns88]

Dropping a very special Sketch-a-wish, voted on by my lovely Patreon members for August! The winning request was to illustrate an off-page scene from The Folk of the Air series, when Cardan was writing his letters to Jude. I countered that Cardan went through the five stages of grief writing those letters, and each deserved it's own illustration. (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance) You'll also notice some familiar outfits throughout! Have a great weekend. :)

[beehazel]

That is absolutely brilliant! The lighting, his pose, the crown... and the drinks. Pure delight!

P.S. How I wish Jude to read those letters 😫

[beehazel]

It took me almost 5 years I think to read the first half of the cruel prince... and like 2 days to finish that and read the wicked king and the queen of nothing... Idk what kind of curse was I under bit I'm "a little" obsessed with Jude and Cardam now. And I finally understand all those posts and quotes!

[beehazel]

I've completely forgotten why I've wanted to watch Étoile so badly… ep.1, 33:29, that little sound and memories come back.

Nothing suits ballet better than Jimin's Lie

P.S. Cheyenne is already my favourite 😂

[beehazel]

OMG... ep.2, 13:30. Eva, I feel you! We were all worried about the guys adjusting to military life.

P.S. Cheyene is still the best!

[beehazel]

That was a journey for sure. Some might find it exaggerated and dramatised, others would say there's nothing about the real ballet in there. But I liked every second of that simple and weird, crazy and beautiful, sad and funny story about people with passion and desire.

[beehazel]

I've completely forgotten why I've wanted to watch Étoile so badly… ep.1, 33:29, that little sound and memories come back.

Nothing suits ballet better than Jimin's Lie

P.S. Cheyenne is already my favourite 😂

[beehazel]

OMG... ep.2, 13:30. Eva, I feel you! We were all worried about the guys adjusting to military life.

P.S. Cheyene is still the best!

[beehazel]

Outside, snow falls softly, layering the earth in white. On the TV, the chimes of midnight ring out. On the calendar, the 5 gives way to 6.

By tradition, it’s time to take stock — to learn the lessons of the year that’s leaving, to draft a list of goals, resolutions, wishes for the one ahead. Perhaps even add screenshots from every social network that’s already auto-generated your “Year in Review”. I glanced at mine — something felt off. Clearly, the algorithm forgot to count a few things.

But that’s not the point. 2025 was… an interesting year. Full of surprises, oddities, joys, and singularities. Was it perfect? Gods, no. And yet — that’s precisely its greatest gift. Had everything gone to plan, life would have been far duller — and we’d all be haunted by the suspicion that reality was just… code. As it is? There’s always that spark — that unexpected twist — that makes it real. Thank you, 2025, for that.

And of the year ahead — 2026 — I ask for only one thing: Let me keep living. To delight in absurdities and grieve over small things. To laugh in the rain and cry beneath the clouds. To dream of the impossible — and reach for what’s within grasp.

Happy New Year! Яңа ел белән! Bonne année ! Mutlu yıllar! あけましておめでとうございます。 새해 복 많이 받으세요 ! ¡Feliz año nuevo!

[beehazel]

New Year

Kamilla truly loved their kitchen. After the events that led to her partial transformation into a water spirit, it was cooking that helped her steady herself — and piece back together the shards of her life, which she’d once believed were broken beyond repair.

Sandjar and Lika surrendered full command of the kitchen without protest, and dutifully brought home whatever ingredients were needed for the next culinary feat — “Let the child find joy where she will,” as the saying went. Lika, for her part, carried a quiet guilt toward her younger colleague — for failing to save her before the transformation — and so readily deferred to Kamilla’s lead. Sandjar, meanwhile, had welcomed her as a second sister — this time, the younger one — and often lent his hands eagerly to kitchen adventures.

And so now — Sandjar had been sent off to the nearest supermarket for last-minute supplies. Neran tagged along, claiming curiosity about the world — though, in truth, he simply didn’t want to let go of the one who’d first brought him here. Makoto was dispatched to the mangal, with strict orders: Don’t burn it all down. Just prepare perfect coals for grilling meat and vegetables.

Snegurochka was attending to her direct duties — and wouldn’t be expected back before January 1st. But Zima chose to stay — and decided to take an active part in preparing the festive table. She promised a truly unusual dessert — a recipe so obscure, likely no one alive had ever tasted it. Kamilla was thrilled, already anticipating wonder.

Kamilla, pulling Lika into her rhythm, took charge of salads and appetizers — the baliş was already in the oven. Lika, in turn, was entrusted with the solemn duty of slicing bread for sandwiches — while Kamilla chopped vegetables, humming softly at her side.

The table was set on the glassed-in terrace. A fir tree in the garden was decorated; lights twinkled in the frost-rimed windows. Magic, of course, made preparation far easier.

From the speakers flowed New Year songs of all eras and nations; the air hummed with the mingled scents of simmering dishes and meat sizzling over open flame.

The company gathered around the table was gloriously, joyfully eclectic: spirits and elementals, dragons and demigods — laughing, teasing, swapping life stories, telling jokes. And in that beautiful, lively chaos — there it was, the real magic: in shared confessions, in easy smiles, in the soft, unspoken trust that swirled among them like steam from a samovar.

They didn’t notice the fiery portal bloom in the corner. Didn’t see the young man step through — though he bore a faint resemblance to Neran, his vivid, ever-shifting expression made it impossible to pin down the likeness. But not to hear him? That would’ve been impossible.

“Is there… perhaps… one more chair?”

[beehazel]

Promises

When the amulet — her father’s gift — began to cool, Lika was seized by terror. It had happened only once before, and then, she’d nearly lost the only kin she had left. Centuries had passed since, yet the same primal fear flooded her anew. She darted about like a caged bird — no one could catch her. She slipped from Zima’s grasp, wriggled free of Kamilla’s hold.

“He’s… again… What’s happening to him? Where is my brother?!”

At the commotion, Makoto rushed in — still piecing together the world he’d missed across centuries of absence. At last, he managed to hold the frantic Lika.

“Breathe. Look — clouds are gathering, and the air’s turning electric!” “I can’t! Sandjar— the amulet’s already ice-cold!” “You’re jumping to conclusions again. Remember our promise? If it’s frozen — what happens if we warm it?” “I don’t know…” — Lika sagged in his arms, trembling, tears on the verge of spilling — “We’re Water-born. I’ve never tried.” “Then let’s try. But if I lose control — you’ll have to keep your promise too. Are you ready?”

When the water-portal swirled open in the centre of the kitchen, all present exhaled as one. Lika, tears streaming, threw herself at her brother — not noticing the young man who’d appeared beside him.

“I was promised a warm welcome… yet no one seems eager to embrace me.”