crapshak50: If I said that it was going to get even deeper would you believe me lol?
"I think you pretty much highlighted one of her biggest fears in that she is abandoned i.e. alone. While she expressed this over her mother leaving, here it's more or less the lack of the presence of her friends and her own brother. Not only that but it's pretty ironic as I assume Azula was one of the most popular kids in school (It's Azula she's always at the top) and now she finds herself with noone, even the father that took pride in her discards her." Exactly, this is going to be a pretty heavy theme with Azula. She's someone who (just like in the show) had it all and then lost it all and it really hurts her a lot. "While I say this, it seems that the two fire nation siblings are slowly starting to actually care for each other more in their own subtle way which is pretty heartwarming." They do their best or as best as they can for having a dysfunctional relationship."When you said everyone was in the firing line, I didn't even imagine that a minor character such as Teo would get shitted on." Teo is actually going to be a very major character in this fic; in fact this is his chapter! He's a character that doesn't seem to get much fic love so I wanted to give him some time to shine. "What's most surprising however is the vast amount of interactions in the chapter between the various characters which leaves so much speculation." Thank you! This is one of the things I'm really trying to experiment with. I mentioned in another response that I'm trying to practice interactions with a larger quantity of characters so that I can do it in an original story I'm making. So feedback on how I'm doing there is always prevaricated. "An example of this being Jet and Chan who may suffer from some sort or superiority complex so they feel the need to put so much effort into bullying Teo." The pair definitely has their own demons that will be addressed in due time. "I literally see Usha and her group as Azulas pride and arrogance personified and continuously biting her in the ass." Good ;) This is very good lol. "so I have more experience with the people than classroom experience if you get what I mean." That makes sense. The only reason I know anything about drugs is because I've been researching it for the fic. "A bit of speculation here but I feel like when you say that the stories intertwine, all of these guys are either gonna hit some sort of low or will have some sort of significant even push them towards each other and help each other out?" It's kind of hard to explain but the stories have already intertwined. A few key events that happened prior to the story kind of hold everything together-one of which will be mentioned in this chapter. As the fic unfolds the pieces will start to come together. But the stories will also intertwine once more because of 'a sort of low or significant event' as you put it.
May or may not have mentioned Suki again...
gemsofformenos: Thanks, I had a lot of fun with that chapter. Ozai is one of those characters who wasn't sympathetic in the show and isn't gonna be sympathetic in the fic, he's simply going to be a new brand of awful. Bulimia is the disorder I'm planning on working with, mostly because I see anorexia used a lot in fics and never bulimia. I also think that bulimia suits Azula's character more because I feel as though there's a bigger sense of (perhaps false) control with bulimia. That and (according to what research I've put in) bulimia is less obvious and harder to spot than anorexia which is something else that I think parallels Azula's canon character more. It's going to be interesting to say the least because I have never worked with a bulimic character (or any eating disorder for that matter). But yes, as you said, it's all about regaining and maintaining control and control is a crucial theme when working with Azula. Thanks! Unfortunately the pace will be slowing down again, the only reason I've been able to update so quick lately is because of Thanksgiving holiday. But now I'm gonna be back to work again. Definitely not as fun as fics.
Lara: That's alright, I didn't interpret it that way. Yeah, Azula isn't the kindest friend to have. The Fire Nation kids in general seem very socially awkward. Well TyLee is actually pretty alright in that regard. All of them kind of need to learn to love themselves before they can healthily love anyone else. Agreed, I kind of just want to hug all of these characters. But fuck Ozai, he's an ass. It is quite satisfying to see bullies get what's coming to them-granted that's kinda what's happening to Azula. Whoops. Tbh I think that's why I hated high school so much-frankly people still act like that well after graduation; once an idiot always an idiot. But like you said, there's hope for some people and in the case of this fic Azula's one of those people. "Bulimia? Anorexia Nervosa?" Bulimia is the one I'm going with. I've read a novel or two on both, those are kind of what will be helping me throughout this fic. As you said, they are both awful things to go through. Granted I've never expirenced either myself, but it has to be rough. Those are horrid disorders. Sorry to hear that you had to go through that. Hopefully you've come out stronger and more confident for it because everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their skin. "I sent it without intending to do so... I couldn't even proof read my review. I want to cry." That's alright, I do that kind of stuff all the time. Tbh I don't actually even proofread these fics because I don't have the attention span lmao. Like I do every now and again but that's why there are so many typos. The first draft is the published draft. "Anyway, I wasn't looking for pity. I was just... describing how nasty it was to feel like Azula does." That was actually some pretty good insight. If you have any advice on how to write an accurate recount of an eating disorder feel free to share it. Or if you have any 'what not to do's' because I don't want to write a borderline offensive stereotype of the disorder. "but I had a pretty solid support system. People who tried to help me even when I didn't want their help." That's wonderful to hear though. I feel like (for some people) tough times like that can help show you just how loved you are. And everyone needs that. I'm very happy to hear that you made it through a rocky point! And don't worry about it, I like this kind of spam, it's nice, friendly spam. ^_^
There were a lot of things that Teo missed about his old life. More than anything he missed his old school. His old school had his old friends. His old school had his old peers; the ones that liked or at least respected him despite him being bound to a wheelchair. He hadn't even considered that paraparesis was a bully-able offense until he entered Wan high's halls.
"Why did we have to move?" He asked his father once again. The man was probably growing tired of the question. And the answer never changed.
"The house wasn't the same without your mother around." His father's eyes looked so heavy in that moment. "Wasn't it hard for you to pass through the same front door your mother used to greet you at? Wasn't it hard to pass by her old office room every day…"
He didn't mean to but he zoned his father out. Because no. No it wasn't hard, in fact lingering in the room made him miss her less, made him feel closer to her. What was hard, was wheeling into school every morning knowing what Chan had in store. What was hard was wheeling back up to this new house and not having his mother to greet him. Even after two almost three years he hadn't gotten used to it.
It was a double hit, each emotional punch they threw. Because each one reminded him that his mother wasn't around to remind him to keep his chin up.
"Can I at least go back to my old school?"
"Teo, that's too far for me to drive you and they won't provide busses to a different school district."
"Then I'll take myself!" He argued.
"In the snow? The rain? What about a storm?" His father refuted. "Out of the question."
"It isn't that far." Teo folded his arms over his chest.
"It is when I have a job to do."
And there was the second reason for the move, why going back was no longer possible. His father had very recently opened up a car repair shop and it was doing rather well. Teo knew that it would be asking too much to just throw that away. But the constant harassment was getting the better of him so he did it anyhow.
"Close the shop? I just opened it!" He knew that his dad didn't mean to shout but owning that shop was the man's dream profession.
"You care more about your shop then me?" He asked. He couldn't explain why he was acting like that. Maybe it simply felt good to sling unkind words and accusations for a change rather than take them.
"Teo." He started.
"No. You chose your shop over me and my well-being." He hadn't told his father about the harassment yet. Somehow, he felt that it would be demeaning to do so. Maybe if he had his father's answer would be a bit different. Yet, despite it all, he really didn't want to ruin his father's dream for him before it even had a chance to truly take off.
Without another word Teo wheeled to the elevator—one of many reasons his father had chosen this house specifically—and to his room. He parked his wheelchair, grabbed his transfer board, and tucked himself in.
.oOo.
Ms. Kyoshi was in a particularly sour mood that morning. She had to have been otherwise he wouldn't have gotten a tardy and a, "you've been getting to class just fine for the past few years, you don't get special treatment because of your wheelchair."
He would like to argue that he got very special treatment and in the worst way.
He wheeled his way to his seat, ignoring the sneer Kori wore. He could swear that she was thinking of something awful to do, but he couldn't see her acting on it unless Usha or Chan were there too, so he ignores the expression to the best of his ability.
Ms. Kyoshi passed out a small packet and waited for the announcements to come over the PA system. He turned the sheet over, 'Autobiography Assignment'. Oh boy, he grumbled inwardly. Just what he wanted a chance to reflect on the failures and hardships of his life. An pristine opportunity to creatively word how much of a loser he was, maybe this could help him figure out just when he became the ultra-nerd of the century.
"And remember to join us in the auditorium to help us pay respects to Ruon-Jian this Friday." The announcement caught his attention, it had been a while since he heard mention of Ruon. He was surprised that it wasn't one of the main points of gossip. "That's Friday the 23rd." Principal Roku repeated.
He phrased it as though Teo had the choice. If it were up to him, he would pass. Ruon-Jian showed him very little respect, why would he do any different? That morning was just bad news on top of bad news.
"This assignment will span over the entire year." Kyoshi cut through his thoughts. "You will be documenting everything that happens at this school through your eyes. This is an assignment I've handed out to everyone in your grade, who has classes with me. Do work hard on it because there will be a competition and an award."
Teo raised his hand and waited to be called on. "What is the award?"
"Do let me finish, Teo. Thank you."
She really was in a sour mood. Even his peers knew better than to snicker at his scolding.
"At the end of the year I will collect everyone's assignment. Myself and some other staff will read them all over the summer and select a winner. What this means for you in the meantime is that you will be graded on participation. You will each send me what you have completed at the end of each month…"
He began to zone out, it was all in the packet anyhow. He did have to admit though, that the project had a certain appeal. If only it had been assigned last year, the stories that would have come out of that one—Chan's homecoming party really through the school into an uproar.
.oOo.
Teo loitered before the cafeteria doors, overwhelmed with dread. After the day prior he was anything but hungry. He wondered if he could talk principal Roku into letting him eat lunch with him or something. That would be nice. Or maybe with social worker YengChen he had her for art last year and she seemed lovely. Of course, that would mean getting through vice principal Bumi—Teo shuddered.
For the time he heaved the door open for himself. He made his way towards his usual table, a path that took him directly in front of Azula. He cringed, wishing that she hadn't changed seats. He really didn't want to have to enter from the opposite end of the cafeteria. She looked up catching his eye, but remained quiet. He didn't let his gaze linger for too long, he was lucky to have avoided trouble thus far. It only struck him as odd that she was sitting rather far from everyone else when he found his own friends.
Long-Shot is as quiet as ever so it was Haru who broke some more bad news. "Haru and I are going to be missing every other lunch."
"What!?" He sputtered. "What do you mean?"
"We might actually be missing every lunch. Well we're not going to miss it, miss it. But we won't be eating in the cafeteria anymore."
Teo slammed his fists on the table. "Why not?"
"We've decided to take computer sciences with Mr. Bato." Haru looked over at Long-Shot. "It's not a class that's usually taught so we have to take it during lunch."
"Why did you invite me?!"
"It's a lot of coding and numbers. We know how much you hate math."
"Believe it or not, I think that I hate lunch more." Teo flinched, yikes he really was in deep of math sounded like the lesser of two evils. "Who am I going to sit with?"
The joke isn't even out of his mouth and he was already laughing, "You can sit with Azula."
"That was a pretty good one, dork-ass." Chu-Leng noted in passing.
Long-Shot chuckled too. But this time Teo wasn't sharing their sense of humor. Haru stopped laughing. "Sorry, I thought that…"
"Whatever, man." Teo crossed his arms. He was pushing his dad out and now he was pushing his two closest friends away. Or had they pushed him away, he found it hard to tell. Teo could swear that Haru had been acting different ever since growing that ridiculous mustache. "Maybe you can go sit with Chu-Leng."
"Ew, no way, dude!" Haru exclaimed.
Teo rolled his eyes. He scanned the cafeteria. Katara's table might be a good option, but he didn't really know her that well and he didn't know if she wanted someone else third wheeling her conversation with Suki.
Poor Suki.
It kind of made him feel better to know that someone had it worse, or at least, just as bad as he did.