Have at you! Welcome to Happyfest 2010!

[jadesfire]

HAPPYFEST IV

Yup, this is it, folks, the complete list of prompts for this year's Happyfest. The main difference this year is that we're open for art works as well as fic. Otherwise, the rules remain the same, the first of which is:

READ THE RULES BEFORE WRITING!

(there are notes about spoilers that I NEED you to read)

Comments

Avatar: The Last Airbender; Bright Side; Zuko/Gaang (gen); G (prompt: Truth)

[sholio]

There are a thousand ways to lie to yourself, and a million reasons. Zuko knows them all. But he's helpless in the face of these facts: Aang's honest affection, freely offered, though he knows he hasn't earned it. Katara's forgiveness. Toph's acceptance. Sokka's cheerful camaraderie.

For all the lies and self-delusion that it took to get him to the Western Air Temple in the first place, the truth Zuko knows, deep at heart, is this: no apology, no matter how heartfelt, makes up for all those times he tried to harm and capture and kill them. He can't fix it, can't make up for it. He can only move forward, and try not to do more damage than he already has.

But this, too, is truth: they understand that he's trying, and accept it. Accept him. Kind of maybe actually like him a little. And for that, he's willing to give up all the self-deluding, self-protecting lies, and face the naked ugliness of his own soul, the bitter realities of his past. He's done terrible things, with his eyes wide open, in full awareness of the facts. He's threatened, damaged, destroyed. It's a hard truth to face, but he knows that in the end, it's better to see reality for what it is than to be swept away by a happy, ultimately delusional lie --

"You're brooding again, Sifu Hotman," Aang says cheerfully, bouncing into his nice quiet room (he's meditating in solitude, not brooding in the dark) to airbend a dust devil up his shirt.

"Stop calling me that! I'm your teacher; you're supposed to respect me."

"That is respectful," Aang says, all wide-eyed innocence, and flees with a giggle from Zuko's half-assed attempt at firebending some respect into him.

"I'm your teacher, so it's not if I say it isn't!" Zuko yells after him. "And I'm not brooding! I'm meditating! Leave me alone!"

But the truth is this: he doesn't actually mind at all.

Re: Avatar: The Last Airbender; Bright Side; Zuko/Gaang (gen); G (prompt: Truth)

[uh_oh_shuffle]

"You're brooding again, Sifu Hotmam,"

I really liked this.

Re: Avatar: The Last Airbender; Bright Side; Zuko/Gaang (gen); G (prompt: Truth)

[sholio]

Thank you! Zuko can brood like nobody else. *g*

Re: Avatar: The Last Airbender; Bright Side; Zuko/Gaang (gen); G (prompt: Truth)

[spunspider]

:D happies successfully achieved. zuko is such an embodiment of the Woobie, and aang's cheerful bounciness and how it makes zuko feel is spot on.

Re: Avatar: The Last Airbender; Bright Side; Zuko/Gaang (gen); G (prompt: Truth)

[sholio]

Yay, happies! I'm glad you liked it; staying emo in the face of Aang's cheerfulness is haaaard.

Re: Avatar: The Last Airbender; Bright Side; Zuko/Gaang (gen); G (prompt: Truth)

[michelel72]

Oh, Zuko, trying to find the dark cloud to every silver lining! Good on Aang for seeing through him - and Zuko for knowing when to give in, whether he'll admit it or not, hee.

Re: Avatar: The Last Airbender; Bright Side; Zuko/Gaang (gen); G (prompt: Truth)

[sholio]

Yeah, in Zuko's mind, the glass is not only half empty, but also has a hole in the bottom. *g* But it's hard to stay properly emo with Aang around!

Re: Avatar: The Last Airbender; Bright Side; Zuko/Gaang (gen); G (prompt: Truth)

[hematitebadger]

I love the phrase "half-assed attempt at firebending some respect into him." And the entire thing, really. Short and sweet, with Zuko being adorably broody and just a bit of a dork, which may be his two most fun character traits.

Re: Avatar: The Last Airbender; Bright Side; Zuko/Gaang (gen); G (prompt: Truth)

[sholio]

...with Zuko being adorably broody and just a bit of a dork, which may be his two most fun character traits.

*laughs* It's why I love him! Thanks; I'm glad you liked it!

Re: Avatar: The Last Airbender; Bright Side; Zuko/Gaang (gen); G (prompt: Truth)

[frith_in_thorns]

Of course, brooding in the dark would be completely out of character for Zuko! Really lovely little piece! :)

Re: Avatar: The Last Airbender; Bright Side; Zuko/Gaang (gen); G (prompt: Truth)

[sholio]

Thank you! Of course he would never do anything like that. XD

You do have the most awesome Zuko icons. *gazes*