#atla reflections

[fanfic-lover-girl]

Are the Air Nomads really the most spiritual?

So the Air Nomads are known as the most spiritual group as evidenced by the high percentage of airbenders.

But I was thinking about the show again recently while scrolling through Zutara parallels meta and I am beginning to question this. I wonder if the Water Tribes and Fire Nation are the most spiritual. Considering this:

These two groups are the only groups with implicitly or explicitly mentioned spiritual patrons. Agni for the fire nation and Tui & La for the water tribes. The earth kingdom and air nomads don't have a named spirit that influences their bending or culture.

Water and fire bending are impacted by celestial events and/or spirits. Celestial events are usually tied to the spiritual domain. Firebenders are powered by the sun and are weakened and strengthened by events like the eclipse and comet respectively. Waterbenders are powered by the moon and are more boosted the fuller the moon is. Honestly, it would have been cool if Katara was featured more during the invasion episode and if her abilities were boosted by the solar eclipse (which happens when the moon blocks the sun by the way).

I am sure there was a third point but this captures my main thoughts.

I guess it boils down to the definition of what it means to be "spiritual". Given how terrible the world-building is for the Air Nomads, it's a bit hard to say they are necessarily the most spiritual. I doubt every child grew up in the temples and Aang's friends in his flashbacks didn't seem especially "spiritual" to me. It seems to me like the water tribes and fire nation societies have more connection to spirits than the earth kingdom and air nomads.

[demaparbat-hp]

Want to know what I believe? It's right here

Dig a little deeper and it's crystal clear

.

(WIP)

[harbingersecho]

"zuzu, you didn't tell your friends about me? i'm hurt."

[my-cabbages-gorl]

“Before you helped him save the world, he helped save you, my dear prince” - Iroh to Prince Zuko, Legacy of the Fire Nation

[longing-for-rain]

Loosely based on my whump fic, been slowly piecing together visuals for it but so far this is my favorite forlorn looking Zuko

[fusionfanatic]

Research for an au fic I’m working on: how would Azula act and behave in a modern setting? And I don’t mean re-imagine her character within a modern context and stories. This isn’t Azula, but she’s an overachieving American high schooler with strict and overbearing parents, or Azula, but she’s the soon-to-be CEO of her father’s multinational conglomerate based in Japan or something. No, I mean how would Azula as she is in canon, Fire nation princess and all, act and behave if you simply just took her from her world and plopped her into [insert current year you’re reading this]?

[icangiveitback]

i did not draw what i wanted to with this but oh well

some fate!bend

[freakurodani]

The parallel between Sokka and Tenzin as their fathers' sons.

Sokka, left at 13 as his father and all the other men head off to war. Hakoda tells him "being a man is knowing where he's needed the most" and he needs to protect his sister, his home.

Tenzin is the second airbender. He is also half water tribe, he's a man. When Aang dies, he will be the last airbender. He understands what he needs to do.

Untold amount of pressure and responsibility have been thrust upon them by their fathers. Though, I believe it is not all intentional, but the unfortunate circumstance of being the fathers of sons who take responsibility incredibly seriously.

In Sokka's case, "protect your sister" is a vague instruction. It was meant to give him purpose, to help him feel okay about being left behind, He is too young for war, his father does not want to bring his child to slaughter. But Sokka will die with purpose. He will train the children of his tribe so they will be protected, he will face a fire nation ship until his last breath. He cannot go to war, but Hakoda did not see that war was all around them. In trying to give Sokka purpose, Hakoda put their world on his shoulders.

We do not get to see Aang be a father (in the TV shows), but we know he had hopes for the future. All his children were air nomads, and the air acolytes brought his culture back, but Tenzin could bend. This part of their culture is one ONLY they share. I do not think Aang would hide this, he is joyous that he gets to share his culture. When he feels respected, he always is, he taught the air acolytes after all. Off handedly, he could say, "I'm hopeful for a future where there are lots more air benders," and that, which feels mostly innocuous to him, is the nail in the coffin of Tenzin's fate. He is Avatar Aang's son, and the future of the air benders. It would not matter that Aang meant a future in generations. Tenzin sees the responsibility and it's his. He is his father's only air bending child, he knows what he needs to do.

Being a parent is not understanding the way the things you say harm your children. Even those things that feel innocuous in the moment can be life altering. Especially the more the child respects the parent. Purpose and Hope for those with a broader perspective, can be death sentences to a life that could have been when expressed to those who idolize the former.

[perenlop]

looks from side to side........... are pregnancy jokes ok yet

[survivalove]

one day we’ll talk about how extremely xenophobic the atla fandom is in how they justify the original cast’s horrible writing in the (more western 😃) sequel series by demeaning and degrading the cultures that they’re based on

starting with: aang being a bad dad makes sense because he grew up with monks and didn’t have a biological father

how utterly disgusting and weird. but honestly i just feel bad that so many of you have been brainwashed so effectively

meanwhile zuko is, according to the fandom, a good father and that makes sense despite his biological father being abusive for his entire childhood

but watch they will bring up iroh as if aang didn’t have gyatso

watch how they will complain about toph being a cop despite her last canon appearance being a 12 year old just like aang

watch how they will criticize katara and sokka’s (lack of) character development while claim that aang was written perfectly.

[herebecritters]

How bout some spicy D&D drama today?

Geshtu and Hopp’s edgy dnd characters: Ilawela and Atlas

Atlas belongs to @ickyguts

[aidoodle]

you rise with the moon, i rise with the sun

[hinamie]

no shot ive only been drawing fr this au for 3 days thts 7 CHAR SHEETS IN 3 DAYS AM I INSANE ??????????

[the-genius-az]

You should definitely share more of your Azuki ideas! :D

Oki :3

When Azula and Suki met after the war, they ignored each other.

Azula was training calmly and Suki joined her, neither of them saying anything.

Suki is the first one who spoke to Azuka without being hostile.

Suki was the first to receive a soft smile from Azula.

Suki became Azula's protector, no one can speak ill of the princess, nor can her friends.

Azula chases Suki everywhere, she didn't want to be separated from the only person who is kind to her.

Suki taught Azula how to put on makeup, and how to do her hair.

They kissed for the first time out of jealousy, Suki couldn't stand the way they looked at HER princess.

Azula blushes no matter how many times she has seen Suki train shirtless.

Suki fell in love first but Azula fell in love harder.

[synthshenanigans]

Jashtober Day 29- Wicked

It technically makes sense aight work with me

These are cowboy designs by @socialc1imb!!!

Alt & Separate versions below v

[throngsss]

i also write on top of draw sometimes, so if you liked the dynamics i draw between young iroh and ozai, you should check out this thing that i wrote about a snippet of their lives at home :--)