#Vaatu Headcanons

[harleyification]

Can I talk about Avatar for a second?? Lemme talk about ATLA/ALoK for a second.

Like, so, I have many, many...many....grievances and hangups about A:LoK. I have tried to watch it twice, and while the first season is okay, the second season made me so mad that I dropped it. Twice. I have not watched the third season or got to see Gays In Action in 4k, because I was that disappointed.

I remember a hell of a lot about ATLA...but I can barely remember anything about Korra. That’s mostly due to my disappointment, but the fact remains that I barely remember the show, after watching it twice, and it’s the latest installment. That being said, I remember one thing that stuck out to me most....

Vaatu.

I am so, SO disappointed that they really just!! Made up this AMAZING concept of an Avatar counter-spirit, and they were just like!! “Oh yeah, his concepts are chaos and darkness, he’s EVIL, dudes.”

The one thing in the world that could possibly rival one as strong as the Avatar, would have been Another Avatar. They could’ve done something amazing with that!! They could finally have a balancing act!! A great leadup to this bigger enemy, with a twist at the end - like how ATLA did it with Ozai, with Aang refusing to kill him and instead taking away his bending!! The outcome wasn’t expected, but it still led to the same ending, with a better meaning behind it because it didn’t force Aang outside of his boundaries!! But...LoK didn’t have that. It was “Here’s this sketchy guy, we all Know he’s sketchy, but LOOK, THE TWIST IS THAT HE’S SKETCHY!! BUT ON A MORE EXTREME LEVEL!! Haha!!”

The only thing that LoK managed to twist was the lore of the world, by expanding on the Avatar, how it came to be, and by introducing a spirit of EQUAL POWER to the Avatar. I love Wan’s and Raava’s story, that isn’t my problem with this twist. My problem lies in the fact that Vaatu was merely made to be the Evil Avatar Spirit, in a world where balance and equality mean everything. I think Vaatu being the spirit of Chaos and Darkness would’ve been so cool to explore, if the creators had time to explore him - because Chaos and Darkness aren’t evil, they’re nature. What is morality anyway to a spirit?? Why make an Evil Spirit?? Why not explore WHY Vaatu is the way he is rather than say he just is??

Does that mean that Tui and La are merely good and evil, then?? They’re supposed to represent Yin and Yang, quite literally. Is Tui, the moon, evil simply because they can only thrive in the darkness?? Is La evil, because the sea is unrestrained and takes innocent lives, being a chaotic force?? Shouldn’t Tui and La be CLOSE, or at least GRATEFUL to Vaatu for giving them the darkness they need to remain balanced?? I don’t know too much else about the spirit gods in Avatar, so idk if there’s a Spirit of the Night, but my point still stands - the moon can’t prosper without darkness, and the ocean needs the moon. How can that be constrained to an idea as simple as “evil”??

Was La in the wrong or the in the right for destroying those fire nation ships, for taking control of Aang, for taking Zuko’s crew away from him after their other half died??

I just think that the world of ATLA/ALoK would have been so much better if Vaatu wasn’t just...Evil Bad Guy Spirit. The balancing act would’ve been restored if there are two Avatars (and Raava should be seen as something that can become Too Much - too much light, too much serenity/complacency, too much order means that there’s no room for self-identity, chance, risk, and the ability to look inward. If Raava can go too far, but be held back by their Avatar, then why can’t the same be held for Vaatu??). For a world that says that balance and equality is the true guide to peace, it seems really, really desperate to keep only one Avatar.

Vaatu would have been an excellent twist, if he just wasn’t so one-sided, and if it was anyone else but goddamn Unalaq.

That being said, I think Tui, La, and Vaatu (and maybe Wan Shi Tong, that giant Owl bitch) would’ve been/should be Ride or Die.

[zeno-zero]

TLOK RE-WRITE : RAAVA AND VAATU ☯️

My take on Raava and Vaatu ^-^ !!

Raava and Vaatu are Yin and Yang. They were each other's complementary forces, until they eventually opposed each other. They were divine, and enternal beings who was there when Earth started out its life as a disc of dust and gas orbiting the young sun. They were there for Earth when it used to be called "Terra". They were both morally ambiguous/grey until the two decided to spilt and roam across the world.

Raava is a blinding light towards the mankind, their eyes sore from too much exposure from such a terrifying warmth from Raava.

Vaatu is a dim that humanity feared to live in a world of darkness; darkness that prevents them to do anything but to cower and pray for light to come in.

But the discovery they found? They both have different perspectives on it.

Raava never thought that mankind can be a "feeling" she never thought she could feel. It allows Raava to achieve empathy, closure and a sense of longing - as if her place as a divine being, is to be with these people. ; what it means to live? what it means to find a purpose? what does it mean to dream?

Vaatu could not understand his other half, as he faced cruelty, destruction, and devastion coming from the same mankind that he and Raava are meeting. He feel from what the people feel are hatred, disgust, and perturbation.

The two were each other's adversary. Raava begs, and fight for what she thinks it's right. Vaatu screamed, and attack for what he thinks it's wrong. They circle each other, they dance with one and another. They trap each other in an endless struggle because of their consciences.

Wan's punishment for seperating them both is to suffer in a cycle of agony and tears. A cycle that Wan broke and created a new one out of it - this causes Raava to finally understood her brother, her other half ; that humanity can be barbaric, and wicked as she saw through the eyes of many avatars after Wan.

Season 4 should be about Raava and Vaatu coming in terms to be become one instead of detachments. Peace can still be found while Passion remains. Raava is about giving up the fight, and to settle - Vaatu drives for improvement, aiming for ideals, and meeting up to his expectations.

But then again, this is all for fun. My brain can be quite a tipsy. Judging by the fact that both of these gods are not even on pure evil and good really says it a lot - Vaatu's nature can be the fact he only learned "evilness" from humanity and vice versa for Raava as well except replace "evilness" with "goodness".

[impossiblycolorfulpanda]

Atla - Doubt

Iroh: Doubt is a poison Zuko.

Zuko: No uncle.

Iroh: Do not succumb to doubt. You are still on the right path.

Zuko: I said stop! I don't want to hear it right now! Not from you! All I want are answers!

Iroh: What would you like to know?

Zuko: The real reason why you refuse to confront my father. You knew who he really is. What he really is. Didn't you?

Iroh: I originally intended to fight your father, but Lord Bumi and the spirits advised against it, believing I'd fail, and that he can only be defeated by the avatar. When I asked why all they told me was that it was because they could sense a dark and powerful presence around your father. There was something about him that wasn't human. I did not know that you're father was Vaatu this whole time. I had no idea that the demon who orchestrated the 100-year war and our family curse was living among us all along. I swear.

Zuko: That doesn't change the fact that you lied to me! You set me up! You said that the Fire Nation would hate you for possibly killing off the fire lord and taking his place but you conveniently thought that they'd be ok with me being the one to do the usurpation for you. Has it never occurred to you that I might've had to kill my own sister for power? If I hadn't picked up on Azula not acting like herself, that might've exactly happened!

Iroh: I'm sorry Zuko...

Zuko: I trusted you. I confided in you. I believed in you. I constantly panicked that you'd hate me for choosing Azula over you. Even now I'm fighting your battles, cleaning up your messes. I'm not doing it anymore. Vaatu, the throne, I'm done.

Iroh: You're in pain. Is there anything I can do to help you?

Zuko: Yes. Get out!

This left Iroh shocked and hurt but he perfectly understands. Iroh complied and left.

[anxiousphantom0]

Okay, credit to this video for the idea, but like, the Avatar as both Raava and Vaatu. The Avatar as both order and chaos. Not good and evil - the spirits in ATLA aren't ever really good or evil until LOK Book 2 - but just a being. A bridge between the spirits and humanity, neutral, fluid, if you will.

But then, like, the Avatar has these two voices in their mind, and one of them is like chaos chaos chaos and the other is order order order so, like, while Vaatu is like, free everyone, kill the Fire Lord and also the Earth King, leaders for no one, Raava is like, get these people a leader, establish society, get them order and structure. Like, they have memories and shit the Avatar can access but it's mostly just Vaatu and Raava talking about order vs chaos.

[shadelorde]

Vaatu from Legend of Korra vs the Shade Lord from Hollow Knight what do we think chat

no options for "they wouldn't fight" or "they would kiss", they are fighting and that is FINAL

[shadelorde]

cough and hacks. on that note.

he/she vaatu :)

@rokurookajima I’m blowing up your notifs today

[whatifitookalilnap]

Headcanon that every single Avatar is so thankful they did not deal with each other’s issues:

Korra during the weekly trauma dumping sesh with her past lives: okay, wait, I’m sorry, you were casually fist fighting FUCKING SPIRITS FIFTY TIMES YOUR SIZE?!?!

Kuruk, cheerfully: yup! Lead to a super short and painful life too!

Korra, groaning with her head in her hands: man, I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Aang was fighting an entire war at twelve. Like, how did he not die?!?!

Aang, laughing: oh, they tried! A lot! They tried a lot!

Korra: and didn’t Kyoshi see her father figure get killed before her very eyes?!?!

Kyoshi, nodding: yup! Gnarly shit.

Korra, absolutely horrified: that is so fucked up. I would hate to be literally anyone of you, even though I technically am

Aang, nodding: yeah, we all feel the same way about each other. If it makes you feel any better, if I was the one that had to face Vaatu, I’d probably have gone into a coma

Kyoshi, snorting: oh hell, and trying to fight a guy that could take people’s bending away at seventeen??? I’d have hired an assassin or some shit there’s no way

Kuruk: ugh, my least favorite Korra villain was the red lotus jackasses. How much of a hater do you have to be to kill a girl AND all her past lives AND stop her from being reincarnated??? And I thought father glow worm was a jerk

Korra: being the Avatar is so overrated

Aang, Kyoshi, and Kuruk: agreed

[gorey-gorella]

I headcanon Caillou is an exception from most Air Nomads beliefs.

Air Nomads hate him more than any other nation.

Ozai of all people would be telling Aang to chill the fuck out and to not harm the darn boy.

To others, Caillou is an annoying brat who needs a spanking. To Air Nomads, however, Caillou is a fusion of Vaatu and Satan and all things bad, they can forgive Sozin, but they can't forgive Caillou.

Even the mention of his name would send one in a fit.

It's rumoured if you say 'Caillou' three times in a row in an Air Temple, without anything other words in between, an Air Avatar would go in the Avatar state.

[rifari2037]

Heading back to the made-up Zutara headcanon of Zuko's father being Zuko and Katara's personal common enemy, I imagine that he was the personal enemy of virtually all members of Team Avatar in 2 different ways. Both of which involve a Book 4: Air.

Which one would you prefer and why?

1: Iroh is Ursa's brother and a warmongering tyrannical fire lord/father of Zuko and Azula was written to basically be a combination of all 3 canon fire lords in terms of characterizations, atrocities, lifespans, experiences, attributes, and bending. This fire lord could have Ozai's name, voice, and appearance or Sozin's if it's easier to picture. Season 3 ends with only the final agni kai and the Ba Sing Se liberation while everything else, including the comet's arrival, appears in the finale of Book 4: Air.

Or

2: Vaatu orchestrates the 100-year war through Sozin, the tree of time, the swamp tree, and the summer solstice. He also manipulates Iroh's spiritually attuned mother, Ilah, into getting free, by him fusing with Ilah's astral form and warping back into her body. This resulted in Vaatu's power depleting and being reborn in a human form that's given the name Ozai. Kinda like how Tui and La were reborn as mortal coy fish and how Tienhai took the form of a human after falling in love with a young prince. Aang's year is the 10,000th year and Harmonic Convergence arrives at the finale of ATLA Book 4: Air. Ozaatu battles the Lion Turtle instead of Aang during Sozin's Comet and Ozaatu wins by consuming the Lion Turtle's soul, gaining its abilities.

Either way, if Zutara were to be canon and executed perfectly, it'd need a season 4.

I prefer the second one! There is no specific reason, I just found it more interesting Ozaatu battle with Lion Turtle!

And I agree with you! Even if Zutara canon in Season 3, it would be rushed though not as forced as canon. They need Season 4 to develop their romantic relationship.

[thatoneguy56fanfic]

Some angsty headcanons I’ve come up with about Korra’s PTSD:

Korra still has nightmares. They’re mostly about her fight with Zaheer, but occasionally Unalaq/Vaatu and Amon make appearances too. The sound of chains rattling gives her flashbacks to the day she fought Zaheer, and reminds her of the spectral version of herself that used to haunt her. Being choked/suffocated also sends her right back to that day as well.

[apple-death]

Hey can you please do yandere Korra's reaction to her darling commiting suicide due to depression from being held captive by her?

I wrote the story then I realized, ‘maybe..they’re asking for the immediate reaction?’

Either way you get both headcanons and story you lucky son’ve a bitch

Immediate reaction

Very distressed.

She only wanted the best for you and now you’re dead.

Her safe space is dead

She’s in shock for a while. Just, lost. She doesn’t know what to do as you’re taken away and her friends friends try to comfort her.

She disappears for a bit and people worry that she’ll be gone for years again, but after a week she returns. Seemingly calm.

What she was doing was letting out her anger, grief, sorrow, and regrets into the empty and deserted sand dunes of the desert. You might find large patches of glass if you go out there.

Afterwards she’s the same. Acts the same, talks the same. 

But if you look closely and if you know her well, everything she says is a lie. She doesn’t care about the crisis, she doesn’t care about training, she doesn’t care that she got the wrong order, she doesn’t care that the kids made a mess.

She cares that her love is gone, and now there’s no one but her and her thoughts to keep her company.

Story time

What's Wrong?

Why...why did it have to end like this. She tried for so long. She tried for everyone but it wasn't enough for them. It never will be.

"Why can't the Avatar just do this"

"The Avatar can't do whatever she wants"

"Just do your job Avatar"

"You don't have the authority to do that Avatar"

"She can't keep a level head"

"Korra you need to fix your attitude"

"Korra you need to find him"

"Korra you need to help"

"Korra you need to go"

"Korra you need to fight"

"Korra you can't fight them"

"Korra"

"Korra"

"Korra"

"Korra"

“Korra you need to let me go.”

She’s been asked for so much. You were supposed to be her reprieve from the world, her safe place, her happy place, hers. But in the end she guessed she was asking for too much from you.

“I’m sorry to hear about what happened to Y/n...I know you...loved them.” Mako told to Korra as they watched the grave being filled in. 

She did love them, but it still wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough to keep you with her. It wasn’t enough to keep you alive. If only she had listened once more. If only she was there. If only she wasn’t demanded of so much. If only she wasn’t the Avatar, then maybe, maybe she could’ve been with you right now. No Amon, no red lotus, no Vaatu, no paranoia, no kidnapping, no depression, no worries, and most importantly, no funeral.

The worst is her is that they’re still asking. Still demanding. As if she didn’t lose the love of her life. The world is still turning, but hers is gone. It goes as if nothing was wrong.

@samarill

Reblog but don’t repost or steal! :D

[eponastory]

Here are two alternate takes of mine about the fire lord before Zuko. Which would you pick?

1: Iroh is Ursa's brother, that way either Sozin, Azulon, or Ozai personally betrays Roku and instigates the 100-year war but reigns all the way until the end of the war's final year, he is Zuko and Azula's father, and is still in peak physical prime condition despite his ancient age. This Fire Lord can do all the bad things Sozin, Azulon, and Ozai respectively do throughout the whole war and have their respective levels of firebending, attributes, and experiences.

2: Vaatu orchestrates the 100-year war through the use of Sozin. With the help of Iroh's mother, Ilah, Vaatu gets free and is reborn as a human named Ozai. Since he's already considered the greatest/strongest Firebending master there is, imagine him also being the greatest/strongest Airbending, Waterbending, Earthbending, and Energybending master there is, and he achieves this level the opposite way to how all the avatars have done it.

Hmmm...

This one is tough because they both sound interesting as headcanons. Both would work well as separate stories all on their own.

So, essentially, there are some immortality tropes going on here. While I'm a fan of immortal tropes, I'm not sure about having that in this universe. To me, it doesn't mesh well because of the influences. Reincarnation is definitely one thing, but immortality feels off.

I'm not a fan of LoK... so the Vaatu thing would be out for me. I couldn't watch the last two seasons because it just went downhill.

This is just my personal opinion, so don't take it as ride or die.

I'd have to go with option 1.

[harleyification]

that swamp tribe korra au idea sounds g e n i u s

JSAIDOJSAJIODAS THANK YOU ANON!! YOU JUST MADE MY NIGHT!! here, have some more of my thoughts since I've been thinking of this AU non-stop and have been researching a LOT:

Korra's animal guide is still Naga, but I'm changing her species to fit Korra and the Swamp Tribe more! Here's a sketch I made a few days ago of Naga, the Wolverine-Deer!!

+ Some other sketches of animal guide ideas!

Naga's deer side is more inspired by the Sika Deer, since their adults tend to keep their spots! I chose the wolverine rather than the badger because wolverines are typically loner animals that can take down both predators and prey DOUBLE the size of them, which I think fits Korra's character more!

I've also been doodling around with Korra's design a little bit, since I don't think it would be a 1-to-1 copy of her canon design. Still, I haven't been able to settle down on anything just yet - especially since I've been trying to give the Foggy Swamp Tribe more of a culture rather than just being the Water Tribe's hillbilly cousins. I'm trying to combine both Native American tribes that lived in Florida and other wetlands with the obvious Vietnamese inspiration their tribe has! It's...taking me a bit, though, since I am researching multiple things at once while also being A Responsible Adult, skldjaldaja

So far, I'm settling down on these facts for my fic (cause I WILL BE WRITING THIS - SOMEDAY!!):

Senna is from the Foggy Swamp Tribe. Tonraq is still from the NWT. After his banishment, his ship veered off course and ran into the Swamp Tribe's delta, where he met Senna and decided to stay! He's not the chief, however, as I'm thinking that the most enlightened elders of the tribe are the elected leaders (maybe one has to meditate at the Banyan-Grove tree first before leading the FST?), and it is someone else at this current moment in time.

Sokka isn't dead! I headcanon that he died due to injuries in the Red Lotus attack, and..well...I don't think that goes exactly as planned in this AU, sjadkajdlade. Due to this, and thanks to him figuring out first that the water avatar was most likely Swamp Tribe, he has a bit of influence in Korra's life!

(Zukka will be in this btw, since I Love Them, but they won't take priority.)

Korra wasn't taken by the White Lotus when they discovered who she is. The Foggy Swamp Tribe is very protective of their own and who they see as family, loyal down to the bone, and when the White Lotus says that Korra has to go to their Southern Water Tribe facilities to be taught bending, they REFUSED it. I like to think that the family unit and community is INSANELY important to the Foggy Swamp Tribe, and just because Korra is the avatar doesn't mean that she needs to be taken away from her home.

So, basically, Korra grew up with her community and has childhood friends rather than being isolated like in canon! This changes a bit in how she approaches Mako, Bolin, and Asami when she meets up with them eventually. (AKA, fuck the romance triangle, I ain't doing that)

The entire plot of Korra has changed - due to Sokka being alive, Korra's stance on non-benders is different. Due to growing up in the Foggy Swamp Tribe, who teaches the ideals of everything and everyone is connected and that connection is important, Korra also goes about defeating Vaatu differently. Due to Tonraq never making it to the SWT, almost everyone thinks he's dead (mail can't exactly get through tall trees or extremely vicious animals), so Korra never even met Unalaq either...

That's all that I have thought of for now! Thank you for the ask, Im so SO HAPPY that you like my silly lil FST Korra AU!!!!

[impossiblycolorfulpanda]

Azulaang head-canon

By the time Aang masters all bending and their sub-techniques to their fullest extent, masters his chakras which allows him to master the avatar state (the avatar spirit is now a singular entity called Raavaatu who has powers and motives of both Raava and Vaatu) and takes on an appearance that matches this level of status, Azula will not be able to help but be attracted to Aang.

[albinotanuki]

this is my old Gravity Falls OC, Lir Daemon. He may look and act intimidating, but other demons make fun of him for trying to act tough. Really, he's the Robbie of the demon world. I headcanon him to be voiced by Jonathan Adams (voice of Vaatu from "The Legend of Korra").

[i-am-extremely-mad]

https://www.tumblr.com/thatoneguy56fanfic/722786036703477760/choose-violence-asks-3-6-16-19-and-23

“yellowsalt3 asked:

Choose violence asks: 3, 6, 16, 19, and 23

 Thanks for the ask!

 3. Screenshot or description of the worst take you’re seen on Tumblr.

 Easily the anti-Mako discussion I was part of a few weeks ago. I can’t find the thread because I blocked the OP, but they were basically calling Mako a horrible character because he wasn’t as trusting of Korra as Asami was. Which completely undermines his entire character.

 6. Which ship fans are the most annoying?

 I’m probably gonna get shit for this, but for the sake of honesty: Korrasami. I’ve gotten more shit from Korrasami stans than any other ship in the LOK fandom.

 16. You can’t understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon etc)

 Probably the trope that villains are always totally evil and completely incapable of redemption. Sure, some characters definitely are irredeemably evil: Vaatu for example. But not all of them are.

 19. You’re mad/ashamed/horrified you actually kind of like…

 The only thing I’m mildly ashamed of liking is probably Omegaverse, lol. I don’t even know why I like it so much, but I do.

 23. Ship you’ve unwillingly come around to

 Amon/Korra and Tarrlok/Korra. I really didn’t want to like either of those ships when I first started exploring LOK fanfiction. But I’ve been slowly coming around to liking them over time, and have even been thinking of writing something for them both.

 #legend of korra#ask me stuff”

My indirect response to some of your answers:

“3. Screenshot or description of the worst take you’re seen on Tumblr.

Easily the anti-Mako discussion I was part of a few weeks ago. I can’t find the thread because I blocked the OP, but they were basically calling Mako a horrible character because he wasn’t as trusting of Korra as Asami was. Which completely undermines his entire character.”

Huh, it seems that I really made an impression when you still refer to this discussion with me @thatoneguy56fanfic:

https://www.tumblr.com/i-am-extremely-mad/718231423892455424/i-am-extremely-mad-thatoneguy56fanfic

I mostly defended Korra, who is still constantly demonized in fandom and hatedom. There's still the fact that you had no problem demonizing Korra to make Mako the good guy here.

“6. Which ship fans are the most annoying?

I’m probably gonna get shit for this, but for the sake of honesty: Korrasami. I’ve gotten more shit from Korrasami stans than any other ship in the LOK fandom.”

Maybe we like to defend an important canon wlw ship that literally opened the door for other more openly portrayed queer relationships on screens in other TV shows for younger audiences? But people like you like to treat this as just an annoying shipping war, and not how important some ships are to queer/LGBTQ representation.

“23. Ship you’ve unwillingly come around to

Amon/Korra and Tarrlok/Korra. I really didn’t want to like either of those ships when I first started exploring LOK fanfiction. But I’ve been slowly coming around to liking them over time, and have even been thinking of writing something for them both.”

“Amon/Korra and Tarrlok/Korra.” Here are my honest reactions when I remember that these ships exist: