Question... Are we allowed multiple requests? If like, nobody else is asking? Cos if so, I'm kinda hoping for something on the angstier end of things... Maybe some good ole' Azula action? Like to do with Zuko's letters? Or maybe something from their days as children... but basically something to do with Lu Ten's Butterbee and Firefly <33
BUT since you've already done my request please prioritise any other requests first :)))
As always, love you and your work!!
Countdown to LTF's return: 10 days!
Multiple requests absolutely allowed heheh. This had my heart in a clutch ty ty
“Hey, Firefly,” Lu Ten said, knocking on Azula’s door as he opened it.
“Get out!”
He couldn’t see her immediately in her room, but Lu Ten didn’t leave the doorway. “Are you sure? I wanted to ask how you’re doing.”
“Funny way to say you want to yell at me too for being too ‘mean’ or whatever,” Azula grumbled. Her voice came from her bed, but it was hard to tell in the low lighting if she was under her covers or huddled on the floor.
Lu Ten hummed as he leaned against the door frame. “Well, I certainly wouldn’t praise you for being nice, that’s not why I’m here. How are you, Azula?”
Azula’s little head popped up from the other side of her bed. She scrunched her nose at him. “What are you talking about? What do you mean, how am I? I’m great! I mastered the fifth intermediate form today! That’s faster than even you! I’m amazing! Stupid Zuzu is just jealous that he hasn’t even started the intermediates. I don’t see why I have to be scolded for his jealousy!”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“Wait, what?”
Lu Ten bit back a laugh at Azula’s shocked expression. She wouldn’t appreciate it right now, but spirits she was so cute when she was being genuine. “May I come in?”
She waved him in, and clambered onto her bed to sit crossed legged on it. With wide eyes, she stared at him expectantly. “You really agree with me? You didn’t just lie so I’d let you in?”
“Yeah, I do agree. I’m not saying your mom was wrong to scold you for what you said, but I get why you said it.” Lu Ten sat next to her and smiled wryly. “I know the feeling when you’ve worked really hard at something and want to be acknowledged for it, but then it seems like no one cares.”
Azula’s lip trembled. “Father just told me to master the sixth form. And then Mom immediately took Zuzu’s side when he started whining and I told him to shut up!”
“That’s not all you said, let’s not pretend otherwise.”
“Fine!” Azula scowled and crossed her arms tight against her chest. She turned her nose up, away from Lu Ten. “I told him he’d be lucky to learn the fifth form by the time he’s Uncle’s age! But only because he said it didn’t look that hard! It is hard! And I’m not wrong, he sucks at firebending! He will be lucky to get where I’m at!”
“Hm, I heard.” Lu Ten pulled Azula into a side hug, interrupting her accusation of him being a liar. “And I know you know that was wrong. Just like I know Zuko knows he was in the wrong too. I’m not going to say anything more about it.”
Azula glared up at him, her cheek pressed against his chest completely ruining the sternness of the look. “So, what? You just came to tell me what I already know, huh?”
“Of course not, Firefly.” Lu Ten grinned and trapped her head to ruffle her hair. She shrieked and tried to escape his grasp. It had been a while since Lu Ten pulled this trick on her. He forgot how fast these dang kids were growing. She elbowed him hard. He had to swallow a pained groan as she pulled away and started brushing her hair down with her fingers.
Pushing through the pain in his side, Lu Ten smiled broadly at his gremlin of a little sister. “I’m proud of you, Azula. You’ve worked really hard and done something amazing.”
“Well, I’m glad someone recognizes that!” Azula said haughtily to cover up how her eyes were starting to well up.
Lu Ten shook his head and held his arms out. “Can I have a hug?”
“Are you going to mess up my hair again?” she asked warily.
“Of course not!”
He was lying that time.
‘The problem is, Yangchen writes about the gentle flame as something you need precise control over. I’m not very good with that, but that is your expertise, isn’t it? I dunno, but I thought it might be something you’d enjoy trying. If only to rub it in my face that you could do it when I couldn’t.’
Azula watched the flames dancing in her hand with a wry grin.
“You told me to learn this, Zuzu. You better not throw a jealous fit about it.”
OH MY GOD UR SO FREAKY/very pos??? im lowkenuinely in love with ur writing <3 I found you because I was stalking the Hollanov tag filtered under Social Media and I came across quick! which I adore!!!!! but singing the song of the arenas has captured my heart, it's so unsettling and beautiful and there's so much food for thought I just genuinely fell in love!!! I cannot wait to see what happens.... I'm literally on the edge of my bed... All ur writing is a phenom to me tho!!!! Ur soulmate au?? Chefs kiss, the boys are so dumb how tf did they not notice or get caught for so many years??? The other soulmate au is also brilliant, especially because I'm such a fucking sucker for a good hollandry friendship fic!!! And genuinely ur world building plus all of the issues u touch on in ur AUs is so fascinating to think about!?? u r such a gem of a writer!!!!!
Thank you! This comment made me smile so much I had to share it with my friends. And then I had to figure out how to respond. I didn't figure out how to respond, but I feel like I should, so just gonna do my best!
Love "lowkenuinely", it really paints a picture. I love being called freaky (affectionate) as well! I am so crazy pleased you like my world building and my weird playing around ideas. Thank you so very much for your very kind words! I really do appreciate it! Hopefully you'll enjoy whatever rolls out of the pear shaker next as well! (Might be next magical realism, might be something else, no one knooooows)!!!
Can we get some more kavi and Zuko?? I adore them ❤️
Countdown to LTF's return: 1 day! It's tomorrow! :D And today is the 5th anniversaryyyy!!!
And what a fun conclusion to the countdown and last prompt for the anniversary: a final peaceful moment with our boys <3
Wind whipped around them as the Air Lantern cut across the waves. It had been way too long since Zuko and Kavi got to hang out like this. Sure, there never went a day when Zuko didn’t have at least a little bit of time with Kavi. Either sparring, or sharing a meal, or discussing Wings plans, or listening to stories about Lu Ten. But it was always on the Sazanami or in port in a group.
From the way Kavi was peacefully smiling as he leaned against the side of the Air Lantern and let the ocean spray hit his face, he’d been missing time away from the crew too. Honestly, it’d been months since they last did this! In fact, Zuko couldn’t even remember the last time they went sailing. It was around the time he met the Southern Water Tribe fleet… Wait. Had that been the last time?
“Hey, Kavi,” Zuko said, thoughts swirling.
Eyes still closed and as relaxed as could be, he asked, “Yeah, Butterbee?”
“Uh, I just realized, we haven’t done this in a while, huh?”
Was it just a coincidence they hadn’t left the Sazanami together since meeting the Southern Water Tribe? He’d been busy with paperwork when Zuko went to Makapu Village. Taku and the Great Divide weren’t easy terrain for Kavi to traverse. All of Zuko’s recent adventures, there had always been a logical explanation as to why Kavi wasn’t accompanying him. But, then why hadn’t they gone out like this in so long?
“Yeah, we’ve been busy, huh?” Kavi said, turning around to lean against the railing. “Sure, we’re off to investigate those spirits now, but it’s still nice to have a moment like this again.”
“You know you don’t need to wait for a reason to come out sailing with me, right?” Zuko burst out, instantly blushing as soon as the words left his mouth. “Not saying you felt that way. But. Um, it just seems that way to me that, maybe, because I never thought to ask if you wanted to, you never suggested it either, but, uh-”
Kavi’s carefree laughter cut through Zuko’s embarrassment. The deck of the Air Lantern was so small, he only had to lean over to reach out and ruffle Zuko’s hair. “Aw, Butterbee, you’re so sweet.”
“Shut up!” Zuko snapped, ducking away from his hand. “I’m not sweet! I’m just saying, we don’t need a mission to go sailing next time!”
“Yeah, because you’re swee-”
“I take it back!” Zuko shouted, shoving his hands over his ears, balancing the tiller against his hip.
Even with his ears covered, Zuko could still perfectly hear Kavi’s laughter. Ugh, big brothers could be the worst.
Can we get some kavi and zuko bonding? Or if not then some zuko and first crew bonding, just some really fluffy stuff...
Also I can't believe it's the 5th anniversary??? That's insane... I only started the series this year but it's so cool that you've stuck with it for so long, you're so cool honestly HAHA
Countdown to LTF's return: 15 days!
Heheh ty <33 and now! We getting BOTH crews bonding >D part 1 today. Part 2 will be tomorrow :'3
The journey back to the Sazanami from Gaoling was uneventful, but long. Zuko was still physically exhausted from his solo-journey from the desert and mentally exhausted from Uncle’s lectures. As soon as he exchanged brief greetings with his friends and the crew, Zuko collapsed face-first on his bed.
A knock on his door pulled Zuko out of his slumber. The sun cast a golden hue and long shadows in his room. He groggily sat up as Bun Ma’s voice called through the door, “Princey, come have dinner with us!”
Seriously? Even after spending months living as Huizhong with the Xitao Tribe, Bun Ma’s complete disregard for decorum still shocked him. Ah, whatever, it wasn’t like he actually cared at this point.
“Fine,” he called back. “Let me get changed.”
“Ugh, so needy. Ouch!”
“No rush, Zuko!” Ju Long’s voice was a bit breathless, and the sounds of a tussle in the hall soon followed.
Zuko rolled his eyes and rushed anyway, if only to make Bun Ma stop bullying Ju Long. He flung the door open to Ju Long in a headlock, desperately trying to escape Bun Ma’s knuckles digging into the top of his head.
“For Agni’s sake, Bun Ma, let him go.”
She released him, only to turn to Zuko with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Oh no, absolutely not. Zuko didn’t give her a chance to pounce. He ran down the hall and leaped down the stairs three at a time. Bun Ma’s cackling protests echoed behind him.
The route down to the mess passed the main exit to the deck. As Zuko entered the hall to the deck, he skidded to a stop at the sight of Seaman Shen, who jumped and yelped at Zuko bursting down of the staircase.
“Where’s Bun Ma and Ju Long?” Seaman Shen asked with wide eyes, suspiciously moving to block the door to the deck.
Zuko narrowed his eyes. “Right behind me. Why?”
“Ummmm.”
“What are you hiding, Seaman Shen?” Zuko asked, taking a step toward him.
“Nothing!” he yelped, spreading his arms out to outright block the door.
Yeah, Zuko wasn’t buying it. He crossed his arms and glared Seaman Shen down. It wasn’t until Bun Ma and Ju Long came up behind Zuko that he caved and stepped aside. Bun Ma gave him a thumbs up.
“Okay, what’s going on?” Zuko demanded.
Bun Ma grinned. “Well, why don’t you go find out for yourself?”
If it weren’t for Ju Long poorly concealing his excitement, Zuko absolutely would not have opened the door. He did not trust Bun Ma on a good day, let alone Bun Ma and Seaman Shen scheming together. But if Ju Long wasn’t trying to intervene, they probably weren’t playing a prank on him.
With an annoyed sigh, Zuko opened the door to the deck. “This better not be a waste of my-”
“Surprise!”
Zuko froze, one hand still on the door handle. The entire crew was gathered on deck. Even Uncle was here. Lanterns were set up along the railings and makeshift tables were erected, covered in food and drink. There was an obvious attempt of decoration with a dragon motif.
“What?” Zuko said blankly.
Bun Ma snorted and led him out onto deck, slinging an arm over his shoulders. “It’s a surprise party, Princey.”
“I can see that. What for?”
Ju Long laughed quietly at his other side. “To welcome you back. And a belated birthday party as well. Happy 14th birthday, Zuko.”
“Oh.”
He… never expected they would do something like this. His chest felt tight and his eyes suddenly felt misty.
“Aww, are you so touched that you’re going to cr-”
Zuko elbowed Bun Ma hard enough to make her wheeze and double over. He was not about to cry! He plastered on a smile and addressed the crew, “Thank you everyone. You really didn’t have to.”
Major Hifumi snorted at Bun Ma’s dramatics, since she collapsed to the floor and was groaning as if he’d grievously injured her, then shook her head. “We didn’t have to, but we wanted to. Welcome back, and happy birthday, Prince Zuko. Come get some food; you haven’t eaten anything all day.”
Stepping over Bun Ma, Ju Long led Zuko to the food table. Frighteningly, his smile held a hint of mischief as he whispered, “There’s one more surprise. But you’ll get that after dinner.”
Another surprise?! Zuko tried to wheedle out of him what it was, but for once Ju Long was unwavering and deftly avoided Zuko’s questions. Soon others were crowding Zuko, trying to talk with him, so there was no chance to follow up on the other surprise.
He didn’t realize it, but Zuko’s smile didn’t leave his face for the rest of the night.
OKOKOK I didn't mean the last ask I promise and I feel really bad now. But this is genuinely so cool to me, because it's always fucking irked me how Lt. Jee and the crew apparently had 3 fucking years with our boy and not a a single one of them asked or wondered or found out about anything to do with Zuko's past or scar till Zuko saved that guy in the storm episode. Like genuinely, I believe that Zuko could not have been seen as the horrible person and prince as they made him out to be, especially if the canon crew knew him form the start and had to witness his recovery period. It has always pissed me off because it didn't make nay goddamn sense! Like his true nature would have had to shine through at least a couple times over the YEARS of their journey with him????? This explains that so well an I'm pretty sure I'm in love with your writing and the LTF universe. AHHHHH IK SO EXCITED FOR PART 19 HEHE <33
Haha no worries I know you meant it in fit of passion 😜😜
And thanks!! Ngl it's exactly that reasoning that inspired the crew changes. Bc it is really strange for a group of people who've been with Zuko for THREE WHOLE YEARS to not once get an idea of what really happened or warm up to him even a little bit? Misunderstandings can only go for so long
My other headcanon to explain the crew dynamic in canon is that Zuko didn't have his ship until somewhat recently before Aang wakes up and he was traveling at the mercy of an assortment of naval captains allowing him to hitch a ride
I'M SO SCARED RN??? I IM THE MIDDLE OF RIPPLES MAKE WAVES AN DIVE ONLY READ THE FIRST 5 CHAPTERS?? AND I WAS SCROLLING YOUR BLOG AND SOMEONE SAID SOEMHTING ABOUT A THIRD CREW.. WTF ARE THEY TLAKIG ABOUT???? I am legitimately about to cry. I'm going to go inge the rest. I mena it does make sense considering w behave yet to meet Lt. Jee.. but like. doesn't mean I have to like it...
my rapidly approaching cry sesh aside, I absolutely adore LTF. One of the things that I've alwsy apreicated about this series is your approach to the crew and their knowledge of the airbenders' Situation™. It's always been a thing that I wonder about. Like I get that a lot of fics with zuko being a good boi early have the trope of his crew onyk being traitors or people who are already decently radicalised cos it saves a lot of time spent in correcting their beliefs, but I really live how you've done it. it's not as commonly seen. especially with vhwo you've put so much effort into not one but two (or maybe three, fuck this shit for thta btw) and also what happens once the crew left or why there was a switch or even the effort spent into construction the how and why of each and EVRY single crew member being placed on the sazanami. It's such good worldbuilding. And don't even get me started on th worldbuilding outside eof the crew. Yangchen and Akari and all of them are chefs kiss man. your writing is genuinely captivating. Now excuse but I'm going to go finish binging Ripples make Waves bef I inevitably cry over the possible nd extremely plausible spoilers that I came across on your blog. BAIBAI! <3
🤐🤐🤐 no spoilers from me until you finish
But thank youuuu!!! I've had so much fun writing the crews and their different journeys and it makes me so happy it's an aspect of the series you like so much!!
Oh gosh your prompt answer was exactly what I was hoping for!!! And of course our favourite prodigy has already mastered Akari's Gentle Flame... I'm so excited!!
