I drabbled my way through my first view-through of the series, a couple of months ago; I fell for it just as fast, and for many of the same reasons. =) Iroh and Toph are by far my favorites, and Zuko grew the most during the series, which punches a lot of my buttons.
I've been kind of leery of poking through fandom, though, because while I do agree Zuko/Katara has possibilities, I can't stand reading fic where that comes at the expense of Aang and or Mai's characterizations.
Here's a random selection of the interesting ones I've found so far, though, and I'll definitely be mining your comments for more. =)
Over My Dignity - post-series, 20K or so, focusing on Zuko & Sokka's friendship but dealing with all the characters and political realities
Intimate Enemies - pre-series, 7K: Mai, Azula, and Ty Lee getting to know each other
First - post-series, flashfic, explicit, Iroh and Toph
Yesterday's Hero - pre-series, flashfic, Iroh after Zuko's Agni Kai
Disclosure - post-series, 4K, Mai and Zuko and awkwardness about sex
Let The Buyer Beware - post-series, flashfic, Iroh and Toph friendship and teashop and shenanigans
All Roads Lead to Ba Sing Se - post-series, flashfic set, with "six places, seven romances, and a kaleidoscope of familiar faces" (some very unusual, but well worth reading).
Iroh and Toph are by far my favorites, and Zuko grew the most during the series, which punches a lot of my buttons.
Yay! I approve of your favorites! :D I think the main reason I've fallen so hard for Zuko is that I am a total, absolute sucker for a good redemption story.
I agree with you about being leery of the shipping in fandom. I'm not a total Zutara fan (I can see many ships), but the fics I want to read there definitely don't involve character-bashing Aang or Mai.
I've been kind of leery of poking through fandom, though, because while I do agree Zuko/Katara has possibilities, I can't stand reading fic where that comes at the expense of Aang and or Mai's characterizations.
Here's a random selection of the interesting ones I've found so far, though, and I'll definitely be mining your comments for more. =)
Over My Dignity - post-series, 20K or so, focusing on Zuko & Sokka's friendship but dealing with all the characters and political realities
Intimate Enemies - pre-series, 7K: Mai, Azula, and Ty Lee getting to know each other
Meanings tied up in dots and lines - post-series, 3K, Toph-centric, inventing Braille
Cold-Blooded Fire - pre-series, flashfic, Ozai and Iroh
The Art of Tea and Conversation - post-series, 3K, Katara at Iroh's teashop
First - post-series, flashfic, explicit, Iroh and Toph
Yesterday's Hero - pre-series, flashfic, Iroh after Zuko's Agni Kai
Disclosure - post-series, 4K, Mai and Zuko and awkwardness about sex
Let The Buyer Beware - post-series, flashfic, Iroh and Toph friendship and teashop and shenanigans
All Roads Lead to Ba Sing Se - post-series, flashfic set, with "six places, seven romances, and a kaleidoscope of familiar faces" (some very unusual, but well worth reading).
Escapades of the Blind Bandit and Meathead - post-series, several ficlets full of shenanigans with Toph/Sokka as drinking-buddies-with-benefits
Reach Across the Vastness - post-series, 20K or so, Toph rescues Iroh from disgruntled Earth Kingdom Radicals (Toph/Iroh-ish)
Reply
Yay! I approve of your favorites! :D I think the main reason I've fallen so hard for Zuko is that I am a total, absolute sucker for a good redemption story.
I agree with you about being leery of the shipping in fandom. I'm not a total Zutara fan (I can see many ships), but the fics I want to read there definitely don't involve character-bashing Aang or Mai.
Thanks for the recs!
Reply
Leave a comment