#ask evergreen

[forever--rain]

Hi ever! Any tips on making friends in the zk community? I think everyone is so sweet but I'm really shy + I don't write or draw so I mostly reblog other artists but I really want to befriend some people in the fandom :(

Hi, sweet anon!

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I wanted to have a coherent answer for you, so I took a while to think about it.

You're right! This is a fandom full of really wonderful people. As a shy person, I know how hard it is to reach out and make friends. There was a decent amount of time when I first started this blog where I only reached out to people on anon because I was nervous about how I would be welcomed into the fandom. (Honestly, I still carry that anxiety with me and frequently consider bowing out of the fandom altogether. I've never done well socially and stepping away silently whether in person or online is how I cope.) Sometimes I still reach out on anon when I'm interacting with someone new. It's a good way to get comfortable with people if you're shy. (Also, I firmly believe the way people act on anon or talk to their anons says a lot about them. So this gives me a good way to read vibes.)

I don't think you need to be a creator in order to form valuable connections within the fandom. There are a lot of Zutarians who just enjoy asking others about headcanons or talking about the show itself! Fandom isn't all about creating material, it's about appreciating what you love with people who also love that thing. It's 100% cool to just hang around and gush about what you love. That's why we're all here!

I think some good ways to start making friends in the fandom include, but aren't limited to, the following:

1. Participate in ask games! We all like to get to know one another here, and it's easy to pop in on or off anon to ask a question of someone you'd like to talk to. Ask games can be great conversation starters.

2. Post in the comments when you reblog someone's work. This is something that I would like to do more of myself. I know that a lot of us comment in the tags when we reblog, but sometimes posting my love in the tags in hard because they're not easy to edit. If you like something someone drew or wrote, don't be afraid to hit the comment button after you hit reblog! It's like a little, personalized message to the creator and I guarantee it will make them smile! You'll probably even get a reply out of it!

3. Don't be afraid to come off anon. It's totally okay to use it. Especially if it makes you comfortable. Like I said, I still use it from time to time. But test out coming off anon with someone you're feeling comfortable with! Chances are, you might get some new followers out of it and you'll also probably make a new friend. I for one love when I see new names pop up in my ask box. And when they start to show up over and over, that's when I get really excited!

4. Don't underestimate the power of what reblogging does. I follow a lot of blogs who only hit reblog on stuff, but it fuels a lot of my dash! I treasure those users! I get a lot of new content on my dash because of them. It helps things feel fresh. So even if you're just hitting reblog, you're still contributing to someone's blog somewhere.

5. Try out DMing a user you'd like to get to know better! Ask them a question about their art or their writing or what they like about X character or Y episode. You can test this out with me if you'd like to. Or, if you're nervous about initiating that, you can drop your @ in my ask box (I won't share it with anyone) and I'll hop over to your DMs to chat! (If that still makes you feel nervous, we can just chat through anon asks until you feel better about it.)

6. Don't be upset if someone doesn't respond right away--or at all. I, for one, log out of Tumblr and AO3 on the weekend in order to spend time with my loved ones and live my life (this also helps me maintain a healthy balance of fandom in my life). So chances are you won't see a response from me at that time. There are people I've tried interacting with both on and off anon who just never responded. And while that's rough for someone who's shy, I have to remind myself that sometimes peoples' vibes just don't mesh (or maybe those blogs are dormant and I just wasn't aware) and that's okay. Try again with someone new when you feel ready!

I know a lot of these suggestions can feel intimidating. It's like I said, though, if you can find a Zutarian you feel comfortable with, then give it a shot. I'm always here if you'd like to start with me! I can also point you towards some more wonderful, welcoming people (provided they're cool with that--I'd check with them before sharing their usernames).

Also! One last tip:

6. Don't feel like you need to interact with a lot of people in order to have a good fandom experience. I have a little bubble of people that I'm comfortable with and that makes my experience better because I know what I'm welcoming into my space. It's like making friends in real life. You don't need to have a ton in order to have a good time. Be picky. Find people who give off the right vibes for you. You'll have a lot more fun that way!

Just remember: We're all here to nerd out about the same stuff. 😉

[forever--rain]

ATLA?

You got it, anon!

my favorite female character: Katara. I love how she came into her own as a bender. I love how she stood up for the every day person. I love how fiercely she loved her friends. I love how she wasn't afraid to speak up in the face of misogyny. I love that she wasn't afraid to be vulnerable and real and emotional. If it weren't for Katara, the war wouldn't have ended on a happy note and the world wouldn't have been saved. I still maintain that she's the true hero of the story.

my favorite male character: Zuko. Like... This isn't a secret haha. I've said on multiple occasions that his story arc is my favorite of all time. That true redemption, that absolute 180... He was never a villain. He was an antagonist, but never a villain. The reason I return to ATLA again and again is mainly for how well-crafted and -written his journey was.

my favorite book/season/etc: I know it has its problems, but I really love book 3 for the potential it had. Also... In a way? It felt like a breath of fresh air. Book 1 felt so slow and book 2 felt like a big build up to...very little climax. So while 3 was kind of all over the place and felt a little rushed, it also felt like... "FINALLY." (And then it ended the way it did and I'll die mad about it. And not even because of what I ship or don't ship.)

my favorite episode (if its a tv show): Also no big secret here... "The Southern Raiders." Katara deserved closure over her mother's death (and so did Sokka, to be honest, but we won't get into that now). I'm glad she (kind of) found it and it was impressive to see her trust her nemesis-turned-reluctant-ally with that journey despite the animosity between them. And there were so many layers to it. Her grief, her laying blame at Zuko's feet for a murder he didn't commit because she didn't know who was really to blame, her acceptance of his friendship and belief in his sincerity... I feel like it's one of the only times in the show where Katara truly gets to process her emotions. I feel like it's one of the few times in the show where someone actually hears her when she's upset and actively works to understand her emotional trauma and turmoil. She deserved more of that.

my favorite cast member: Dante and Mae. They're shameless. I love it. 😜

my favorite ship: Zutara. If you didn't know that, you are very out of the loop regarding this blog. (Incredibly Close Second: Sukka. They deserve more love. This fandom doesn't appreciate them enough.)

a character I’d die defending: Katara. Or Zuko. Or both.

a character I just can’t sympathize with: I struggle to sympathize with Mai. I really do. (Do not mistake this for me hating her. I do NOT. I am very excited to explore her in a fic I'm working on! I just think the narrative didn't do much to make her sympathetic. So I'm curious and excited to dig into that.)

a character I grew to love: Ty Lee!!!! Oh, my sweet, precious angel! I adore her. I love her to pieces. And this fandom has only served to make me love her MORE.

my anti otp: Kat*ang and Ma*ko. Again, if you didn't know that, you are very out of the loop regarding this blog.

Ask me about a thing I'm into!

[forever--rain]

zuko: *would literally die for katara*

also zuko: katara, meet my most trusted advisor, Cinnamon the Turtleduck the Fourth :D

Facts.

[forever--rain]

A popular trope in the fandom is what it would be like if zk’s firstborn was a waterbender. I love that idea as much as the next person; but I’ve also wondered, what would it be like if their firstborn was a nonbender? How easily would the FN accept that? Would Zuko teach their child sword-fighting as a way to replace bending? Would Katara enlist Hakoda and Sokka’s help to teach her child about SWT nonbending combat styles too; would she be sure to emphasize anything about hers and Zuko’s cultures that isn’t specific to only bending, to make sure their child always feels included?

I guess nonbending steambabies have a special place in my heart and I really wanted to share it, since I don’t have a blog to put my thoughts on. I dunno if this subject interests you as much as it does me, but I’d love to hear your takes if you have any. 💜

It’s definitely an interesting subject, anon!

There’s a lot of Zutarians who like the idea of a waterbending Fire Lord--which is a great and novel idea! I personally headcanon, however, that Zuko and Katara would approach the subject of succession to the throne rather practically, implementing a law that says the oldest firebending or nonbending child would inherit the throne. I think they’d recognize that a waterbending Fire Lord would cause a lot of strife within the Fire Nation. They would also recognize that such a law would open up the possibility for their children to be able to marry outside of the Fire Nation if they so wish, which could create stronger ties around the world and further Zuko’s agenda of peace. I also think that the Fire Nation would be a lot more willing to accept a nonbender child as the heir to the throne than a waterbender.

Zuko and Katara would 100% be supportive of any nonbending children they had. After all, Zuko grew up struggling to master firebending with a little sister who was a prodigy and outshone him every step of the way, and Katara grew up as the only bender in a family of nonbenders (though we don’t know about her grandparents other than Kanna because Kanna is the only one alive in ATLA--which incidentally makes me wonder if that’s because the others were waterbenders who were killed in the raids... 🤔). They’d be like those super annoying parents at soccer games or science fairs who just think their lil nonbending baby(ies) is (are) the absolute best and go absolutely nuts cheering them on. I think that Zuko, Hakoda, and Sokka would absolutely teach any nonbending steambabies how to wield swords and use that famous Water Tribe ingenuity (and I think that Katara would join in on these lessons to show the kids that bending abilities aren’t any more important than nonbending--everyone should learn how to defend themselves regardless). Aunt Suki would also come in with some Kyoshi Warrior training, of course.

Both Fire Nation and Southern Water Tribe culture would be super important to Zuko and Katara. They’d raise their children accordingly, celebrating winter solstices down south one year and summer solstices in the Fire Nation the other (since both happen at the same time--provided seasons in the world of ATLA work the same as they do in ours). Katara would teach all of their children how to cook. There would be many disastrous attempts at making stewed sea prunes. And Zuko would take all of them to the theater and teach them what his mother taught him about botany (or have her do it if she’s around). When the kids got older, Sokka and Hakoda would take them ice dodging and on hunts. Katara and Zuko would also teach them the myths and legends from both sides of the family. I think that both Katara and Zuko would want to send their kids to the Southern Water Tribe at a certain age to learn the way of life there for a few years. And I fully headcanon at least one of the steambabies moving there permanently after that.

The kids would grow up learning a lot about balance and love--not only for other people but for themselves regardless of their bending abilities. They’d learn that compromise is healthy and that accepting yourself for who you are is critical to being happy. They would also grow up with parents who love all of them equally and without fail. Nobody would ever be left out. They’d all receive unflinching encouragement and constant support. And while there might be some natural sibling rivalry, they’d be the kind of siblings who are super protective of one another.

I just think that, as a whole, the steamfamily would teach the world a lot about balance, acceptance, and love. Which is what that world needs.

[forever--rain]

OOOH! I'll have the Number 10 Zutara, please and thank you!

Number 10 Zutara coming right up, sweet anon! (Some domestic, modern AU, married Zutara--with kids!) 🥰💜

10. A hello/good-bye kiss that is given without thinking - where neither person thinks twice about it.

The house is always pandemonium in the morning. Katara can almost hear the chaos as she pulls into the driveway, exhaustion living heavy in her bones after a long shift at the hospital. In the weak light of the winter sunrise, she can see the light of the kids’ bathroom flicking on and off repeatedly from the window. No doubt that’s Lu Ten antagonizing his older sister. Kya is probably hollering and flinging whatever she can reach at him as he sprints back and forth down the hallway instead of gathering his homework and getting ready for school.

With a tired sigh, the brunette slides out of her car and locks it behind her as she makes her way up the front walk. Through the front window, she can see Zuko waiting impatiently at the bottom of the stairs, little Izumi next to him, sleepy-eyed and looking like she might topple over at any moment. Lu Ten comes barreling down the stairs, his hair pulled into a wolftail, his bag unzipped and dangling off his shoulder, threatening to spill notebooks and binders everywhere.

“Kya!” Zuko calls as Katara shoulders her way though the front door. “We’re leaving in thirty seconds!”

They’ve been married fifteen years now and parents for almost just as long, but her husband is just as handsome as he was when she first met him back in undergrad. Streaks of gray tease at the sleek, dark hair around his temples. Katara fully believes he’ll need to get glasses soon if the way he reads his books at night is any indication.

“Hi, Mommy!” Izumi chirps, lighting up when her eyes land on her mother. She rushes forward for a hug, winding her arms around Katara’s waist and resting her head on her hip.

“Kya!”

“I’m almost ready,” comes the tortured response. “Lu Ten kept unplugging my flat iron!”

Katara levels a Look at her son who shrugs and pulls his phone out of his pocket, immediately preoccupying himself with texting.

“Kya, baby,” Zuko says, “you’re already so pretty. Why are you bothering with the--”

Lu Ten snorts. “Cuz she wants to look good for her girlfriend,” he jeers in a way that only annoying brothers do.

An affronted shriek sounds from the upper level and Katara knows that she needs to do some emergency damage control before her eldest physically harms the second. She presses a kiss to Izumi’s hair and then shakes free of the little one. Zuko turns around, grabbing Lu Ten’s backpack and hauling him towards the door.

“You have to start being nice to your sister,” he lectures. Pausing long enough to press a passing kiss to his wife’s lips he adds, “Good morning, star blossom.”

“See you at dinner,” Katara replies. “I’ll get Kya. Gimme two minutes.”

“Spirits bless you,” he mutters. “C’mon, kids.”

Zuko herds Lu Ten and Izumi out the front door and Katara pauses to watch them fondly for just a moment before heading up the stairs to placate Kya.

(I see Kya being about 14 here, Lu Ten around 12, and Izumi 6. Kya would very much take after her mother in terms of personality while Lu Ten is definitely a Sokka.)

Send me a kiss prompt and a ship!

[forever--rain]

I just want someone to talk about GBBO with, even though idk if you can answer all the questions for it (are there ship wars in GBBO?😂) -hope you’re having a nice night! 😊

B, we can ALWAYS discuss GBBO. I am 100% here for that. And I have thoughts.

my favorite female character contestant: Nadiya from series 6. She is my queen. I love how she was such an underdog at the beginning and overcame it to win. She's the only contestant I've ever rooted for who's actually won. And now she has her own cooking and baking shows! 😭💜 (And you best believe I've tried her recipes and loved them.) ALSO, I really loved Briony from series 9. She was my early favorite to win and I was legitimately furious when she didn't make it to the final.

my favorite male character contestant: *looks at Richard from series 5, Tamal from series 6, and Selasi from series 7* I literally can't choose between them. Richard should have won his series. He was the obvious favorite going into the final, but the pressure obviously got to him. I was so upset when he messed up the signature and the technical because I knew there was no coming back from that. Tamal's personality was so endearing. And he was so good at what he did! If Nadiya couldn't win, I would've wanted him to win. That final showstopper?!?!?! WOW. And Selasi was just so calm and his friendship with Benjamina was one of the most wholesome, heartwarming things I'd ever seen on the show. He was so steady. I would've loved to see him in the final.

my favorite book/season/etc: Series 6. Hands down. There were a lot of good bakers in that season and I still consider it the strongest final they've ever had. (Plus, Mary, Mel, and Sue were still around.)

my favorite episode: It's so hard to pick one episode out of all of them, so I'm going to pick a theme instead. And I've gotta go with cake weeks. I love seeing that baseline get established. For something so basic, people really do get onto the show and mess it up because of nerves. (Also, I love seeing all the cakes that are...informal. They make me laugh. But don't get me started on how Dorret managed to make it through cake week in series 6 when she literally made something the judges described as rubber and which didn't taste good. AND THEN SHE MADE IT THROUGH BISCUIT WEEK?! I don't get it.)

my favorite cast member: Noel Fielding. He's added such a chaotic element to the show and even though I miss Mel and Sue, I really just love him so much.

my favorite ship: everyone x all the innuendos

a character contestant I’d die defending: Kimberley from series 4. I wanted her to win so bad. And, look, I know everything she did in the final was flawed, but she was doing well up until then. I'm really salty that they get to the final and just disregard everything contestants have done up until that point. Because they'll literally go from week to week and say, "Yes. There's a trend. This person has been doing terribly. It's time for them to go." Then they get to the final and just throw that out the window! Which leads me to the next thing...

a character many contestants I just can’t sympathize with: Frances from series 4. How many times did they have to remind Frances that she was choosing style over substance? HOW MANY TIMES? She should have never made it to the final let alone won it! I also found Nancy from series 5 absolutely insufferable because she could never admit when she'd messed up. Ian from series 6 really bugged me. There's just something about him and I can't put my finger on it. Candice from series 7 irritated me and I'm still mad that she won because I think Jane and Andrew were much stronger bakers.

a character contestant I grew to love: Alice from series 10. I want to be her best friend.

my anti otp: Paul Hollywood x handshakes. I'm over it. And I hate how everyone always wants to impress him when Mary (or Prue) is always standing right there with him. Everything is about Paul. Shut up, Paul.

And those are my trash opinions on GBBO. I hope we can still be friends, B. 💜

Ask me about a thing I'm into!

[forever--rain]

29 or 33 for zutara for the kiss ask?

29. Staring at each other’s lips for a moment before moving closer, as if drawn together by some unseen force.

33. An unexpected kiss that shocks the one receiving it.

I couldn’t NOT do both of these! Thanks for the prompt, dearest! 🥰💜

The Fire Lord’s birthday party is in full swing. Drinks are flowing, partiers are reveling, and the band’s music drifts around the room and up through the rafters. Conversation is loud, glasses clink together in toasts to the guest of honor. Somewhere in the throngs of people, the Avatar is wowing people with lighthearted tricks that make Toph Beifong laugh. Were anyone to ask them, the Avatar would deny that he was showing off specifically for Toph’s benefit, just as she would deny that she found it charming. The Fire Lord’s best friend, Sokka, is hidden away in an alcove, wrapped around his Kyoshi Warrior and making plans with her to sneak away.

Fire Lord Zuko himself is nowhere to be found in the ballroom. Nobody has yet noticed his absence or that of Master Katara.

She is storming down one of the halls of the palace, a good distance from the ballroom, in a dress the color of the sky just before night sets in. Her shoes dangle from her hand. Her face is screwed up with rage and, perhaps, tears.

The Fire Lord, now twenty and hardly less foolish than he was four years ago, skids around the corner, lagging a good many paces behind the waterbender and calling her name. His voice is frantically pitched, remorse is clear on his face.

“Katara, please!”

“I don’t want to talk to you right now, Zuko!”

“I didn’t mean-”

Katara comes to an abrupt halt, spinning to face him, chest heaving with wrath. The skirt swirls around her legs like a whirlpool as she turns. “You didn't mean what, Zuko?” she hisses.

He comes to a stop, too, throws his hands open in a plea. “You caught me off guard,” he says quietly.

“How did that catch you off guard?” she shrieks, gesturing wildly in the direction of the ballroom. “After the past four years, how could that possibly have-”

The firebender lunges forward, his hands reaching out to cradle her face, his lips crashing into hers. Katara freezes, her eyes wide, and her shoes drop to the floor. It takes a few stunned heartbeats before she steps closer and her eyes fall shut, her hand coming up to grasp the front of his robes.

All too soon, Zuko pulls away, his thumbs brushing over her cheeks. His bright eyes glitter in the torchlight.

“I love you, too,” he whispers.

Katara swallows hard, a smile creeping slowly across her face. “You do?” she says, her voice just as soft.

Zuko breathes a laugh. “I’ve been in love with you for so long, Katara. But I didn’t think...”

“What are your advisors going to say?”

“I don’t care. If this is what you want, the rest of it doesn’t matter.”

Buoyantly happy, Katara leans up to nudge her nose against his, her eyes drifting from his down to his mouth and back again. The pull is irresistible and she brings a hand to the nape of his neck, working her body closer to his.

“I love you,” she murmurs.

This time, the build up is slow, gazes flicking to lips with hunger, the moment before they meet in the middle drawn out into a delicious eternity. A noise of delight escapes Katara’s throat when their lips meet. Elsewhere in the palace, the party roars on, but they are all too happy to to forget it, pulled into a world that revolves around them and narrows down to the insistence push and pull of a long-awaited kiss.

Send me a kiss prompt and a ship!

[forever--rain]

ooh ooh how about playlist name: dark zutara

yk,, the vibes for them going feral :D

^^^ actual footage of me crafting this playlist ^^^

Alright, Blue, you majestic, beautiful person, you. 💙💙 This one was ENTIRELY TOO MUCH FUN. I am so glad you sent me this specific playlist ask! First of all, I LOVE the idea of Zutara being allowed to go feral. Feral Zutara rights! LET THEM LOSE THEIR SHIT IT WILL BE FINE. I especially love the idea of feral Katara so much that I already had some songs in store. HOWEVER, this ask allowed me to find my new favorite Katara Song ™️: "Water Witch" by The Secret Sisters. That's the song this playlist opens with.

NOW. I KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK. Musically, it doesn't sound too feral, BUT CHECK OUT THOSE LYRICS. MAN ALIVE.

Also, I debated alternating Katara songs and Zuko songs, but it was just TOO FUN to let her half build and bleed into his half.

Here's the playlist I came up with (hopefully it gives you some ideas 💙):

Water Witch by The Secret Sisters feat. Brandi Carlile

Wolf Blood by D'Arcy Spiller

I Follow Rivers by Lykke Li

Captivate You by Marmozets

Barracuda by Heart

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by AC/DC

Life in the Fast Lane by Eagles

Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Paint It, Black - Mono by The Rolling Stones

We Will Rock You by Queen

Send me a playlist title and I’ll give you 5-10 songs I think would go on it!