A side blog for my favorite rarepair Azula/Cupholder Girl who I have named Seicho because she has no canon name. Why is this a thing you may ask. Well you see, it was supposed to be a one off crackfic but then my brain and here we are. Blog icon and header are drawn by https://www.tumblr.com/vertigenn
I would be delighted for a screencap redraw of Azula with cupholder girl or ship art of them! I offer, in return, a one shot fic with a pair of your choosing! If you're interested, of course! Thanks for considering!
Hello!! Sorry you had to wait a little bit for this but it's finally done! Also for the one shog feel free to write anything of tyzula and tag me 💗
[ /Description: a watercolour style illustration of Azula wearing a long sleeved red crop top, blue jeans, and green sneakers, her hair pulled into a half pony-tail with the bangs left loose at the sides, sitting next to a red backpack on the tile floor of a school entrance, back leaning against a set of beige lockers. Her hands are draped at her sides palm up, and her expression suggests that she's at the end of her rope, utterly hopeless. Opposite her, the cup holder girl from the ATLA season 3 episode "Ember Island" stands wearing blue jeans, red all star style sneakers, a chunky brown cardigan, and an orange tee shirt with a green backpack over her shoulders. Her hair is pulled into a low pony tail secured with a red hair tie, and her expression is cheerful as she reaches out a hand to Azula in offer of assistance.
The illustration is overlaid with a watermark which says "do not repost" and includes the usernames associated with the illustration which are: tehraincoat, tehraincoatdraws, and thebxghag. The same names are repeated at the bottom of the illustration, as well as a signature stamp reading "MD 2023" grouped together in a square. /end description]
Posting day!
I hopped onto the ATLA Rarepair Big Bang ( @atlararepairbigbang ) a little late but I had SO MUCH FUN. I really want to do more in this style of illustration!
My piece is for "The Pocky Game", a story about losing everything and finding love instead.
tw for suicidal ideation, drug use, possible homelessness, loss of everything, depression, bullying. I may have missed some but these are the big ones off the top of my head.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Their nights are balmy and dark and, perhaps, a touch spooky. Although they aren’t so eerie when she has company to share her tent with. She has spent many nights in this jungle alone and untrackable as she worked to regain her footing in life.
This island has become a home to her with all of its plant, wild, and spirit life and she has grown used to their different calls and croons. And they make all sorts of those. This place hangs in some sort of in between; a delicate but perfect blend of physical and spirit. Some of the fungus glows in shades of teal and magenta. The spirits take well to these, bouncing from one to the next.
Azula has grown used to the shrill wail of that spirit that looks like a hog-monkey with manta ray wings. It glides through the skies hopping from one tree to the next the way that a stingray would float between corals. It seems to kick up stars as a stingray would stir up grains of sand.
Seicho can’t see them but she believes Azula. Which is far more than most people can say.
She wishes that the other woman could see them. They are dazzling creatures, these spirits. The sky manta ray is her favorite. Sometimes it seems as though the creature is following her, it afterall has a whole sky to traverse and yet it appears wherever she is.
But there are others.
Others like the tiny critters that like to hitch rides on blown dandelion seeds. And the leafy headed creatures that she, mistaking them for every other leaf obstructing her path, accidentally shoves aside.
Some of them like to flick and flit about and toy with her hair and tug at her sleeves. Mostly the spirits are playful and colorful. They make their own sort of music. It has been quite some time since she has come by a more malevolent spirit.
She hopes to keep it that way.
As long as she is happy…or at the very least, as long as she is not unhappy the dark spirits tend to stay away. She has come to realize that her own aura has a draw, something that seems to compel the spirits to her. Spirits that exactly match her moods to the point where she has begun using them to gauge what sort of place she is in.
The manta ray is out tonight, flapping and drifting about. The twinkling spirits are here too, wrapping themselves around trees and an oblivious Seicho like strands of white fireflies. They land upon Azula’s own hand when she cups it against Seicho’s cheek.
“It’s a beautiful night.” Seicho remarks.
Azula nods.
Sometimes she thinks of never returning home. She doesn’t think that it would be so terrible to keep to this quiet island. The waterholes are bottomless and crystalline. There is an abundance of food as long as she takes the time to harvest it.
Storms aren’t a problem now that she knows where the caves are. They could make themselves houses of their own. Perhaps they could go to the mainland and bring back supplies. But Azula fears that they will not be able to find this place again if they go. And maybe that is why she can’t bring herself to leave yet.
She would certainly miss the manta ray. It doesn’t speak to her but, now and then, and drifts overhead as she is falling asleep, tickling her face as it floats on by.
“If only you could see them.” She finds herself musing aloud.
Seicho shrugs. “That’s your special thing.”
“Do you think that it means anything?” Azula asks. “That I can see them? As far as I know only the Avatar can see this many spirits.”
Seicho hums. “Well it has to mean something. Everything means something. Right?”
She used to think so but lately…
Lately she has begun to think that some things just are as they are senselessly and without reason. Lately she doesn’t think that, that is a bad thing. Now that the spirits she sees aren’t so menacing anyhow.
Really, it is no different than her fire. It is blue. And for what reason?
She furrows her brows. “Do you think that I can see them for the same reason that my fire is blue?”
“And what reason is that?” Seicho asks.
“I don’t know.” Azula frowns. She lays back onto the blanket she had spread out. “Maybe there is no reason.” Maybe she is just an oddity. Maybe she is okay with that. For once she thinks that she is.
Seicho lays down beside her and toys with a blade of grass. “Do you like being able to see spirits?”
“Most of the time.” She replies. “They’re beautiful, Seicho. They make other things beautiful.” Like the stringy spirits that fill in the cracks in rocks and the grooves of tree bark. They make life pretty when she can’t find the glamor in it for herself. To some degree she owes that manta ray her life. She owes it in the same way that she owes it to Seicho.
One day she is going to have to go home.
Home and back to real life and all its complexities.
Home to face the things that she has been running from.
But tonight she takes Seicho’s hand and watches the spirits dance.
And the Valentine’s day one shot that y’all voted for! Gonna try to work on the Ruby/Regina one.
Summary: Seicho takes Azula to the beach to do some chocolate tasting. Azula tries to shake away doubts that Ozai and Fire Nation high class society have instilled within her.
The sun is still high. It casts vivid rays through the windows of Seicho’s bedroom. It is a small dwelling, but it is very cozy. As fate would have it, she owns the same seashell bedspread that Lo and Li do.
She also owns a lot of clutter. Ships in bottles and bottled sand are scattered throughout the room amid piles of seashells and dried starfish. The ceiling is home to many replica sea animals that hang on strings. Seicho had mentioned that she is terribly uncomfortable with people drying out real sea critters for decoration and Azula supposes that she can see how the other woman would find the practice unsettling. Her floor is covered in mis-matching and colorful rugs that would make Mai hurl. And her wall is covered in paintings and wooden masks that just don’t go together.
Admittedly, the first time that she’d set foot in this room it had made her head ache trying put the disjointed pieces together.
She has long since given that up. Seicho seems to acquire new treasures at a rate much faster than she could ever hope to organize things.
As much as she hates to admit it, she has grown used to the clutter. Frankly, she thinks that she would be more uncomfortable if she stepped into this room to find it suddenly spotless. Not that she isn’t uncomfortable right now.
“You know that it’s not like it was a few years ago. Honestly, Ember Island was never really shy about this kind of thing. And you shouldn’t be either.”
“I’m not shy. I just…I know what’s expected of me.” She pauses. “And what isn’t.” She takes another glance in the mirror. Her hair falls over her shoulders in waves. She had let Seicho fix small seashells into the stands. Really, the swimsuit isn’t all that showy. More so than the one she had worn on her last trip to Ember Island but nothing as brave as what Ty-Lee had worn.
But then, father hadn’t approved of her first swimsuit either.
“What are you trying to do?” He had asked. “Do you want people to think that we’re a nation full of harlots?”
“Mai and TyLee…”
She remembers the look on his face as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
“TyLee, that girl was always floozy, her parents should have raised her better. She’s going to end up pregnant and disgrace her family like Chan’s sister. Is that what you want to do?”
“We were on the beach…”
It was a logical enough thing to say but father had made it seem senseless and stupid. Like she was a lost cause for doing what? Chancing a quick swim? But spirits it was effective because she feels so very exposed.
“You look great.” Seicho promises.
And that’s exactly the problem. She will draw looks, the kind that father has always warned her about. The kind that he would get angry with her for even if she had done everything she could to avoid getting those looks. The ones that make her feel queasy.
“I’d like to put my armor back on.”
Seicho quirks a brow. “You want to wear armor to a chocolate tasting?” She pauses. “On the beach?”
Azula bites the inside of her lip.
“I thought that you were a fan of being practical.”
“I am.”
“Well then, let’s be practical. Beach, sunny. Sun, hot. Armor? Sweltering. I don’t want to have to carry you home because you passed out. I especially don’t want to have to carry you if you’re wearing like fifty pounds of armor.”
“It’s not that heavy.” She mumbles.
“My point is, no one wears armor to the beach and you know it.”
Azula shrugs.
“This is perfect.” She insists. “You do like it don’t you?”
Azula nods. The fabric feels very comfortable. The skirt is quite long but so is the v slit. Long enough to show off her whole leg. She likes the gold belt that sits on her hips with its seashell charms and its gold coins. The top suits her nicely, it is sleeveless–held up by a zipper in the back and a chain to match the one at her hips. Embroidered along the bottom of the bikini top are golden flames and one small dragon. There is another chain fixed to the bottom of that bikini top is one more chain. One that dangles down to her belly with a collection of rubies and sunstones.
It is flashy.
Eye catching.
She doesn’t want eyes to be caught.
She adores how it looks but she doesn’t love the idea of wearing it in public. She is perfectly content having captured only one pair of eyes.
“You’re dad was wrong, you know that don’t you?” She pauses.
“He’s not the only one who thinks like that.”
“He’s not the only person with wrong opinions. The Fire Nation always talks about being so brave and amazing. And yet they’re all so scared of a little skin.”
“They’re afraid of change.” Azula mumbles. “Which is strange. I’ve read about Fire Nation fashion as part of cultural and historical research, of course.”
“Of course.” Seicho rolls her eyes.
Azula opts to ignore the doubt in her voice. “Fire Nation culture has roots in Sun Warrior culture and their clothing style much more closely resembles modern Ember Island fashion trends.” She pauses. “The shift happened during the war.”
“Yeah, because they want to stifle creativity…or something. Come on.” Seicho hooks Azula by the elbow and begins leading her to the door. “You’re putting so much thought into this, all we’re going to do is go down to the beach and have some chocolate. And a good time, we are going to have a good time.”
Azula certainly hopes so.
She is, afterall, the princess. Now that father isn’t here to demean her she supposes that there isn’t much anyone can do to stop her from having a nice time, from feeling comfortable.
She can stop herself though.
She is very good at that.
.oOo.
“Well, which do you prefer?”
Azula hums, “I’m not sure, they both taste good enough.”
Seicho pops another piece of chocolate into her mouth and then a second sample of chocolate type four.
Both truly are amazing. Type three is a touch bitter, it is rich in the same way that dark silks and woodsy colognes are. Type three is rich like warm blankets, cream, and the glow of a beach bonfire.
“The caramel one.” Azula decides.
“Yeah, I think that I prefer that one too.” Seicho agrees. “It kind of just melts on your tongue.”
Seicho links their hands and leads her along to the next stall. The beach is so lively and crowded. For once, Azula is comforted by the massive gathering. Everyone just breezes by her, each person–individual or couple–is invested in their own doings. Their own romances or personal delights.
Whether that thing is the chocolate sampling breaking away from the crowd to watch the twinkle of lantern lights reflecting in the water. The fireworks will begin soon.
“Oh! Try this one!” Seicho offers her another chocolate. This one of the white variety. It has been carefully molded and dyed to bare likeness to a firelily. It certainly looks appetizing.
She plucks it from Seicho’s hand. “It’s got a touch of…peach?”
“I think that it might be mango, or orange?”
“Those are two completely different flavors!” She exclaims. “And they’re both incorrect guesses. It is definitely a hint of peach.”
“No way, taste it again!” She insists.
“Seicho, I don’t know how much more chocolate I can handle.” Regardless she lets Seicho give her another piece. “Last one and then I’d like to walk by the water.”
Seicho exhales through her nose. “Fine, I guess. But I would like to taste Mikahara’s chocolate first. I heard that she’s got some kind of coconut-pineapple chocolate that sounds tasty.”
“Alright, Mikahara’s chocolate and then some quiet time.” Away from people, away from the occasional glances. The ones that linger too long for her comfort.
She lets Seicho lead her along. They weave through a lively crowd. Everyone looks so comfortable and at ease with hibiscus in their hair and drinks in their hands. No one seems troubled in the slightest. Azula inhales and drinks in the smell of chocolate and fruity drinks.
“Hey, it’s alright.” Sheicho squeezes her hand. “You’re doing great. We can pass on the Mikahara’s…”
She shakes her head. “No! We can go get it.” She has to get herself comfortable. Has to take back what father and years of ridiculous expectations have taken from her. “I’m fine, I always finish things that I start.”
“Technically I started it.”
“I want to enjoy tonight, all of tonight.” Every list scent, taste, and sight. Every emotion that she had, in the past, tried to keep herself from. She wants to be alive. Truly alive.
And tonight is the perfect night to do that.
To reclaim parts of herself.
To make new parts of herself.
Parts that she can cherish the way Seicho cherishes her. The way she cherishes Seicho.
“Hello!” Greets a woman with shaved hair and a pearl in one ear.
“You must be Mikahara.” Azula guesses.
“I am.” She confirms.
“From the sound of it, you’ve made quite an impression tonight.”
Mikahara smiles. “See for yourself, princess.” She hands Azula a box of chocolates. “I heard that you might be here so I saved a little something special for the both of you.”
Seicho’s eyes twinkle. “Oh this is a treasure trove of chocolate!” The woman’s mouth is practically watering.
“Thank you.” Azula replies.
“Of course, princess. I wouldn’t have had this opportunity if not for tonight’s festivities. And we would be having them if not for you.”
Azula nods and slips her a gold coin or two. “We can share this by the water.”
“That sounds great, Azula.” Seicho smiles.
.oOo.
It is quiet here at the shoreline. She has led Seicho a good distance from the jubilant energy of the chocolate tasting stalls and the couples straggling on the sand that is still relatively close to the festivities.
This portion of the beach is, until the sunrises, desolate. Charmingly so. The music and chatter are close enough to be heard but distant enough to be little more than pleasant white noise.
“Tell me the truth, how was it?”
“It was…it was really wonderful, Seicho.” It was nerve-wracking but sublime in its own right. There is a certain charm, a sense of exhilaration and freedom in stepping out of her comfort zone and into something new. Something that is probably better.
Something liberating.
All in all, father had been completely off.
Most people hadn’t even noticed her at all.
And if they had, they opted to give her, her space.
She certainly doesn’t feel like a harlot. Neither does she feel like she has had herself a scandalous evening. She had simply had an evening. Had put on an outfit sewn, very lovingly, by her girlfriend’s mother, and went to a party.
“It is going to be nice to go back to the palace and not get a lecture about carelessness and wasting time.”
“Would he really tell you that today?”
Azula nods. “He would.” She looks out at the open ocean, at those rolling, twinkling waves and clears her throat. “Can we talk about something else or eat some of that chocolate.”
Seicho quirks a brow. “I thought that you said you were full.”
“Mikahara did make that special for me though, it would be a shame to not try it.”
Seicho chuckles.
“It would also make father really unhappy if I were to go visit him in prison and tell him that I spent a whole night eating chocolate and wearing sleeveless outfits…”
“Chocolates and no sleeves? On the beach!? Oh we’re getting really wild and daring now!”
Azula gives a humored sniff and holds a piece of chocolate out to Seicho.
“Very good.” The woman gives a thumbs up. “Try it for yourself.”
Azula cups the woman’s face and brings their lips together. She can indeed taste the lingering chocolate on them. And indeed there is a hint of coconut and pineapple. She holds her face a few inches from Seicho’s, their lips still nearly touch.
“Oh this is an adventurous night.”
“It ought to be.” Azula replies quietly. She needs that so badly. She has needed it for a long time. And she promises herself that this will be only the beginning. That her life is going to be hers from now on. Starting with the way she views herself and her body.
Ending with discovering and following her own hopes and dreams.
I finally finished it! And I’m super proud of how it turned out. I was trying to experiment with lighting; this is my first time ever trying to go for a glow effect. And my first time doing any type of shading. I have the earlier stages of the art below the cut.
Because Nobody Asked; Some TeZula & Azucho Headcanons!
TeZula
Teo was the one who urged Azula to get an emotional support animal.
He was mildly distraught when she came home with a huge komodo-rhino instead of a dog or a turtleduck.
She met him after getting severely injured at a facility that specializes in physical therapy. Teo was kind of her guide as he has experience in working around and with a disability.
Azula recognizes Teo’s strengths and is very adamant that he is a formidable opponent and that he shouldn’t be underestimated.
Azula, very small, is still nearly as short as Teo sitting down in his wheelchair. At best she is slightly taller.
Azula very much likes sitting in his lap. Occasionally she will lift him out of his chair and let him sit on her lap.
Teo is very bad at spelling, Azula has to proof read any letters he intends to send.
Teo is very fast. Sometimes he races Azula to the dinner table. She is not aware that this is a competition. She just assumes that Teo is very hungry.
Azucho
Azula continues to occasionally place her cups on Seicho’s head.
Azula and Seicho are both very short, perfect kissing height for one another.
One time Seicho decided to flip the script by putting a drink on Azula’s head. It haunted her for the rest of the day–possibly the rest of the week.
Where Azula is socially awkward Seicho is a social butterfly. Azula (doing her very best to hide it) clings to her at parties.
Azula only goes to said parties because Seicho likes them.
Their favorite date activities are looking for shells and sitting on the dock late at night watching the waves crash on the sand.
Seicho is one of the few people who can translate and make sense of some of Azula’s more awkward compliments.
There was a snapping turtle incident once. Neither of them will talk about it. No one knows exactly what that means or what happened.
Seicho got Azula (begrudgingly) into hiking.
Azula hates seafood very much but somehow Seicho cooks it in a way that Azula thinks tastes good.
If you are still doing requests; I am on a mission to spread my rare pair Azula/the girl from the beach who she used as a cup holder. Meme art, serious art I'd be down for whatever. If you do this request, thanks so much for helping me make this ship a thing! If not have fun with the rest of your art, I've been enjoying all of what you've posted so far!
Now this might be a long shot, but I love your art and was wondering; can I get uhhhhhh... Azula/Cupholder girl or Azula/Teo? If you don't have time that's totally cool I'll just sit here and stare at Azula with baby Izumi more because that's a very important picture.
of course!
i put the cup holder girl in the background cause i'm
✨l a z y✨
confession: i forgot who teo is before i got this ask
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