mushyposts

[mushyposts]

I already put this on ao3 in a comment but you made me cry so you have to see it twice now. I know this entire story is Zuko-centric but I literally can't stop thinking about what this au means for Sokka.

Ok I just have to say I felt so heartbroken for Sokka here. All I could think about was how all of a sudden there's a boy in the place he's supposed to be. HE should be travelling with the men, HE should've been with them for the last three years, HE should be trusted enough with all this important stuff he should know if he is the next chief/acting chief.

He is being told this new kid has seen and done things the most skilled of warriors couldn't have done, like he is this almost untouchable standard Sokka can't reach. Then to be told he's taken Sokka's place in the tribe as Hakoda's and Batos' adopted child, teaching him how to be a man over the three years Sokka didn't even know his father, never a letter, never knowing when they would come home. Then being told by that same kid that he was only playing war. not to mention the piercings and jewellery he's adorned with.

Sokka has been the leader of the remnants of the Southern Water Tribe for three years, and due to the strict gender divides, had no one to teach him how to lead in the way a chief would. He has been the one hunting, defending, in charge of the future of their civilisation, the education of the children, which is really important in their culture. the memories of his father would be so twisted to the memories Hadoka has of Sokka. Sokka, in the months before he left, lost his mother, protecting his little sister. he then saw his father fall deep into depression, becoming very detached, and from what is described, angry and violent, not towards him, but that his still scary behaviour to witness. Then, his father left, and he was told he couldn't come, and that he was in charge of the village. Even though it was probably to boost his ego at the time more than anything, the impact on Sokka in that moment, combined into quite literally what his job becoming.

Just imagine when he finds out the secrets Zuko's hiding and how his father and Bato knew and didn't tell him. Sokka has struggled with feeling like he isn't important, as a non-bender and his relations with his sister, her being a prodigy + a bender, and his father, always feeling like he wasn't enough for his dad, not good enough, not smart enough, not needed, but the Zuko's good enough, Hakoda loves him.

Zuko, who has had an incredibly traumatic and difficult childhood, the last three years of his life is where he has found and made a spot for himself in a positive community that loves him and supports him, Sokka has become increasingly more and more isolated, and his sense of self has changed even more dramatically in the last few weeks.

Sorry for the long rant, but I could just feel Sokka's fears and insecurities screaming at me throughout the chapter. Love this work though, just cried for Sokka <3

HIII OH YOU SO GET IT!! OH YOU SOOOO GET IT!! The fic is for SURE Zuko-centric, but I have been intentionally layering on the potential for his arc to align with Sokka's in completely the opposing way. Zuko has everything Sokka wants, he has a space with the crew, the warriors. he spent the last three years with his father and Bato, bonding, developing his identity as a person alongside the tribe, welcomed in, he has gotten to be everything that Sokka has always wanted. Meanwhile, Sokka has everything that Zuko wants. Sokka was home, somewhere safe with people who cared for him and looked up to him, with his sister, away from his parents and in a position where he was in charge of his own life. Its such a twisted, complex situation where the two crave, desperately, what the other has without thinking about the context. Without thinking of what got the other to the point of having what they wanted, both in turn. IM SOOO happy to see someone talking about Sokka ohhhughhh im so fucking happy. I think a lot of people have focused on Sokka's initial attitude towards Zuko, without thinking about every single thing you've brought up in this beautifully constructed comment, of which I am really excited to eventually flesh out when I am back from hiatus. Sokka, more than anything, wants to be a warrior alongside his father. For Zuko, he doesn't think Sokka fully understands the gravity of what that would look like, especially after having experienced such a heavy loss as he had recently. (RIP king im sorry) but for Sokka, he see's a replacement. he doesnt know the nuances, not for lack of intelligence but he just literally hasnt been told and although he is owed explanation he isn't owed Zuko's story in its full, of what led Hakoda and Bato to the decision of keeping him on board. I firmly believe if Zuko had have been older, or had have been a child from any other nation, Hakoda and Bato would have not kept him. I actually go over this a lot in the early chapters where they're deciding wtf to do. It genuinely ended up being a problem of "well. No matter where we put him he's gonna get killed. How fucked up is that, safest place for this kid is LITERALLY on a warship of the enemy. great." I also think acknowledging the fact that Zuko HAS had a lot of support and comfort in the last three years whereas Sokka has not is a super important point to be made! Despite the current circumstances, and the ones that led Zuko to being in the position he is/was, Zuko did have support which Sokka lacked. TBH, if I hadve had more wiggle room and decided to fuck with canon more then I already had, I would have left a good amount of the warriors in the SWT, unlike in canon. Or had Hakoda go back to leave soldiers there when he realised they were going to be gone for longer then what I am assuming was initially planned. However I was more then aware that would SIGNIFICANTLY change the circumstances of Sokka's experiences and how it aligns with Zuko's, in canon and in the fic, so i chose against it. This is such a sporadic messy reply I am just so happy to get a comment picking up on all the stone I've been laying for a big discussion on the details of Sokka's own trauma and how its going to clash with Zuko's.

All this to say, Sokka will absolutely be getting his turn to hash out everything you've said here and I can promise you no stone will be left unturned when it comes to his trauma and life experiences!! I think a big thing I am most excited for is having the two hash it out and realise where their lives overlap, where their feelings and experiences align and managing to acknowledge that each others traumas dont cancel each other out. Zuko's experiences do not cancel out Sokka's, and Sokka's do not cancel out Zuko's.

[mushyposts]

THIS IS GENUINELY INSANE. WHAT!!!!!!!!

[mushyposts]

Never in my life have I wanted to throw hands with socka or how ever you spell his name that's my baby right but rn.

I WILL FIGHT YOU Boomerang BOY DON'T MESS WITH ME

SOKKA/???!?!?!! WHAT DID HE DO OMG.

[mushyposts]

HBAHAHA IM GLAD BC MAN DO I HAVE THINGS TO SAY!! Especially when it comes to the topic of creativity and creating things....

This is the first time i've posted art in like. Two years, maybe more, and its only like. The second/third time I have EVER posted art to tumblr... Hi my names Vee im actually studying visual arts NOT writing HAHHGD This is Zuko, designed specifically for the AU im writing over on ao3 called No thing defines a man like love WHICH HAS A NEW CHAPTER OUT WOWIE WHAT!?>!??!! (I just went to link it and then I realised that the chapter isnt out yet bc I need to post this so I can put it in the chapter oh god I swear I'll update this with the links hjdhjfjhds) ( I just realised i should just put the normnal link for the fic in not. The most recent chapter. Um. here https://archiveofourown.org/works/55992616/chapters/142200913 ) So!! yes! Zuko! Um. I put a lot of thought into this design, but now im actually here I have. No clue what to say! The blue spirit mask is slightly altered, little additions such as a second set of protruding canines on the bottom and water tribe style carvings along the horns + teeth! This is a nod to Zukos mum, I like the idea of her performing and then local performances of shows having different interpretations of the Blue Spirit! hers had the teeth, I also have in the fic a few other details I imagine were more unique to Zukos design. The carving is done by a crew member, Kovak, as a way of tying Zuko in more with the Water Tribe. Theres also some dangly leather bc I think its cute and its my Zuko design. So. The details of his canon timeline design will become fully explained within the next few chapters!! U will get to see the changes develop : D Um. Oh god I had so much more to say about it but now im blanking i get so nervous posting my art... if u have any questions i suppose pls ask... I am very proud of this. Uh. YEAH! Also pls dont repost this work anywhere I'll be very upset if u do....

[mushyposts]

DHHFHGHGFHBAHDHAHA UMMM!!!! DETERMINATION?? I've been in writing spaces since like... 2012?? And I've been an artist for MOST of my life but only rlly started to care in 2016, and now I'm actually getting a degree in visual arts! Not with any emphasis on digital mediums, I'm actually a traditional printmaker, but I use a lot of digital art in my practice! : ] Honestly just LOTS of determination, practice (I KNOW I KNOW) but also consuming a lot of media that I enjoy!! Be this art or writing. I find shows/genres I enjoy and then analyse the writing and the themes to dissect what I like so much about them and then work form there. EG: I really love working with complex religious/spiritual themes that interact with cultural life aspects, and I like bringing that into how characters respond to the world around them. So, to make sure I get to use that theme because its something I enjoy, so I work with a lot, I make sure to write from the perspective of characters who have complex relationships with religion or spirituality. Hence how I've written Zuko in this fic! I also love "unconventional" coming of age, found family (or forged family depending on how much they gotta work through LMAO) and relationships that transcend normal labels, or that go deeper then just romantic/platonic. I feel like these are all themes I try to bring up A LOT in this fic especially. U probably werent expecting a rambly post in response but I really feel so strongly about creativity, and creating in general. I firmly believe that everyone has the potential to create, I think that everyone can pick up a pencil and make art, or write a story, or whatever they want. If you are creating something with YOUR hands, with YOUR mind and YOUR abilities, then you've done it!! I just love creativity..... And rambling abt my writing and themes and also this fic LMAO...

This is the first time i've posted art in like. Two years, maybe more, and its only like. The second/third time I have EVER posted art to tumblr... Hi my names Vee im actually studying visual arts NOT writing HAHHGD This is Zuko, designed specifically for the AU im writing over on ao3 called No thing defines a man like love WHICH HAS A NEW CHAPTER OUT WOWIE WHAT!?>!??!! (I just went to link it and then I realised that the chapter isnt out yet bc I need to post this so I can put it in the chapter oh god I swear I'll update this with the links hjdhjfjhds) ( I just realised i should just put the normnal link for the fic in not. The most recent chapter. Um. here https://archiveofourown.org/works/55992616/chapters/142200913 ) So!! yes! Zuko! Um. I put a lot of thought into this design, but now im actually here I have. No clue what to say! The blue spirit mask is slightly altered, little additions such as a second set of protruding canines on the bottom and water tribe style carvings along the horns + teeth! This is a nod to Zukos mum, I like the idea of her performing and then local performances of shows having different interpretations of the Blue Spirit! hers had the teeth, I also have in the fic a few other details I imagine were more unique to Zukos design. The carving is done by a crew member, Kovak, as a way of tying Zuko in more with the Water Tribe. Theres also some dangly leather bc I think its cute and its my Zuko design. So. The details of his canon timeline design will become fully explained within the next few chapters!! U will get to see the changes develop : D Um. Oh god I had so much more to say about it but now im blanking i get so nervous posting my art... if u have any questions i suppose pls ask... I am very proud of this. Uh. YEAH! Also pls dont repost this work anywhere I'll be very upset if u do....

[mushyposts]

Things r still kinda fucky BUT it will be okay!!! : ] Just gotta get thru uni.

once again next chapter will be late bc I am going thru it atm i am very sorry! : [

[mushyposts]

Your a little bastard and I hope you know I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU Killed HIM!!

Bro I'm over here sobbing he was scared of the water he was scared of drowning and you put him in the water I can't believe you did that dog!!

Stop being a good writer ahhhhhhhhg you're over here killing me!.

Anyway bye have a good day

IN MY DEFENCE I ABSOLUTELY DID FALTER. LIKE MULTIPLE TIMES I NEARLY DIDNT DO IT. I promise u Tui and La are making sure he gets back home safely, to be settled with his brother and all those he loved who were lost in the raids!! He isnt scared of the water anymore, because he has nothing to fear. he cant drown, only be held by the spirits he knows in his soul!! HFJHGFDSHJ IF I STOP WRITING THOUGH I CANT CONTINUE THE FIC.... PEOPLE ARE HOPING I FINISH IT COME ON PLS!

[mushyposts]

Knocks down your door looking like a aged scholar carrying mini scrolls some falling on the floor hair mess I look at that you as I heavily breathing.

"I am back"

HELLO???!!! OMG??? I do feel that tho... Life is INSANE ATM idk whats in the water but oh my god. HII WELCOME BAAACK!!!!

[mushyposts]

He truly did.

[mushyposts]

GOD im having so much fun writing this JJK au and Im loving translating the themes from the manga/anime to like a no-curses au and I know its decently OOC but whatever this is MY fanfic I can do what i want but its incredibly funny bc im like. Writing out the tags for each of the instalments and Suguru's instalment has the most insanely depressing fucked up tags ever. Im so sorry king.

[mushyposts]

Yeah its. Look I odnt. I dont LIKE this chapter but. Its out. And if u dont like it ill cry.

[mushyposts]

HELLO ITS 11K WORDS LONG? WHAT THE FUCK

on the last stretch of this chapter........... I fear its not good but I just need it out in the world ATP its holding me back from continuing the rest of it and making me lose steam for the fic as a whole AUUGHHHHH

[mushyposts]

on the last stretch of this chapter........... I fear its not good but I just need it out in the world ATP its holding me back from continuing the rest of it and making me lose steam for the fic as a whole AUUGHHHHH

[mushyposts]

he is my good friend Bato and Hakoda have u heard of Bato and Hakoda i feel so deeply abt Bato and Hakoda.

everyone keeps talking about old man yaoi. who is he

[mushyposts]

perhaps.,d... i shot myself in the foot by writing this chapter from bato's POV. But im in too deep to stop... Fuckgjnvm,vl,df

[mushyposts]

WRITERS BLOCK GO AWAAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!! oh my god I'm so close to finishing this chapter im losing my MIND oh my god

[mushyposts]

writing from Megumi POV heal me.... Megumi POV heal me, heal me Megumi POV.........