#he's my special boy

[wilcze-kudly]

The more I think about it, the more I think Bolin could easily embody that "human treated as a weapon/tool, who also believes that of themselves" tropes.

Like, it is not a stretch to say that Bolin has been "used" at least three times by antagonists of the show. By Kuvira, for his unique bending abilities and his good reputation, by Varrick for his looks, charisma and popularitu and by Eska for physical labour and her... um... you know I think I'll need to make another long post about Eska's weirdly intense attachment to Bolin.

In these relationships there is an onbious pattern, Bolin letting a more assertive/experienced person take the lead and order him around. Even when he's hurt or humiliated or frightened, he keeps his head down and does what is required of him until some big event (usually only vagely related to his current predicament ) allows him to "break free".

But without a decisive push, Bolin often appears unable or extremely unwilling to disobey the people he views as currently 'in control of him'. Often he's manipulated or pushed into something he's uncomfortable with, or explicity doesn't want to do, even hurting those he cares about.

Sometimes I wonder if even Bolin subconsciously sees himself as just a tool for others to wield and command. That it's easier to let others take charge than to think for himself, than to deal with the responsibility of governing himself. A responsibility he was never taught to handle.

This, as most analysis of Bolin ties back to his traumatic childhood and his codependent relationship with Mako.

Bolin grew up following Mako's lead. He never got to peel off from Mako, never got to slowly build up his independence, as children in more stable environments do. Because seperation from his brother would usually mean danger.

Hell, Mako often acts like a strict parent, since he had to step up to the role. However, often Mako tends to disregard Bolin's own agency and preferences in favour of Bolin's physical safety. Which isn't a bad thing, and Mako was doing as best he could, however this does obviously lead to Bolin being a little stunted in the decisionmaking department.

Bolin lacks agency, as a person. He relies on others leading him. One of the reasons him and Korra get along so well. She's headstrong and decisive and can easily direct him. This is probably why he also gravitated to Kuvira after Korra became incapacitated. He even explained to Mako that "Kuvira is basically just like Korra".

Bolin likes to be given a purpose and that purpose is given to hin by other people. You can see how lost he is when left to his own devices. I mean, Mako left him alone for like 2 days in B2 and Bolin immediately glued himself to Varrick like an abandoned baby koala. And the only times he was able to stand up to Mako, someone who often guides him, is when Bolin is, let's say, "wielded" by someone else (Varrick or Kuvira respectively). It's also fucking painful that whenever Bolin does branch off from Mako, he's always slapped back down, because the person who lead him "astray" turned out to be a villain.

Especially between seasons, and post B4 when team Avatar isn't together, isn't actively driven to do something, Bolin gets lost.

He's aimless in times of peace. He bounces from career to career, unable to focus on anything, because he's so used to tob being directed to fight, to literally survive. It's also important to note that he started training under Toza when he was like 13, no wonder all he can do is combat.

This, coupled with his lavabending being one of Bolin's most prominent skills (also note that lavabending is the only discipline of earthbending we've seen that can't easily be translated into building or art. Lavabending is pure destruction, at least in the form we're shown.).

Korra has her Avatar status, wisdom gained through adversity and her determination. Asami has her company, her ingenuity and drive. Mako has his detective work, and deductive skills. Bolin's just a good fighter and occasionally lifting the mood.

How is he meant to exist in times of peace?

Even though he is clearly uncomfortable with conflict.

Does Bolin have any interests? Things he likes to do other than eat? Other than perform and contort himself for other people to like him?

I thought the mind control plot from Rote could've started an arc of Bolin realising he can be more than a pawn or a tool, but alas, the comic was dissapointing on many fronts, including this one.

I know Bolin is supposed to be the imamture comic relief character, but he's very compelling and multifaceted to me. He has a lot of potential to be a groundbreaking character, however it doesn't seem like the creators are going that way. So um. That sucks.

Also this whole thought process came to me from listening to She was a bird, I was an arrow and thinking of weilin so that's the context of this analysis lol.

I'm gonna need to clear these thoughts up after a while, but hey, enjoy the silly Bolin rambles

[the-armed-detective-gaygency]

No one:

Chuuya winning the idgaf war:

[stuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu]

Nothing is more beautiful in life then getting together with my online moots and screaming crying throwing up about Stuart Skinner, god bless

[masquerain-with-a-mask]

I have only one argument to convince you to vote for 03 raph in the @teenagemutantninjaturtleshowdown and this is it :

hope this conviced you

[landlocked-girlblogger]

☆ now playing: good kid

percy jackson core <3

[kona-luu]

happy birthday to my favorite creature izuna i will never forget the crimes they did to him (the hands look like that because my reference was looking at myself in the mirror once and i didn't bother looking again)

[manicpixie-edits]

Free to use colour adjusted GIFs of Deidara from Naruto

[thepossumcore]

*Drops spidersona and runs away*

Plus some close ups

[apollogeeee]

please tell us more about Baron! anything you want to really!!

omg yes, absolutely.

Baron is The Worst (™️). He prides himself on being insufferable, antagonistic, and a hedonist. He's thrives off giving Too Much Information when you didn't ask and being frustratingly cryptic when you want answers.

He was born on March 24th 1940, raised in an average Proud-To-Be-American family in the midwest. He had a mother who was always disappointed, a father who wanted a soldier for a son, and two perfect older sisters who wanted nothing to do with him. He spent much of his youth getting into trouble and getting kicked out every week and groveling to come back the next.

He was drafted into the military, supposed to be shipped off to Vietnam, but died on March 24th 1969 while out on a bender. He let his family down one last time as they put him into the ground. He woke up a week later, clawed himself out of his own grave, and never looked back. Unlife has been freeing to him, allowing him to become the worst and best version of himself.

A high-functioning addict, Baron does Every Drug (and multiple at a time) just because he can't die. His drug of choice is cocaine. His predator type is Extortionist. He has a ghoul named Anthony who drives him around and does all of his googling because he absolutely refuses to learn any sort of technology. He is a drag queen, with a love of 70's and 60's fashion he was never allowed to wear before. He has a stamp collection. He is Freakishly Strong, but will still try to weasel out of a fight by saying he's "just a little guy." or that it's his birthday. You can't hit him on his birthday.

He visits his aging sister in a nursing home just to scare her because no one will believe an old lady is being haunted by her dead brother.

Baron is a name he chose for himself in his unlife. He's naturally a redhead. He's from Ohio.

[resident-sean-expert]

I'm going to continue to make Sean fuckable okay, no matter what it costs

[wilcze-kudly]

I adore Bolin because he's just such a fascinatingly complex character who often gets reduced to a surface level interpretation. Somehow he can come off as both incredibly genuine and yet feel like he's preforming the whole time. He's cheerful and happy, yet his life is decidedly tragic. He's an incredibly talented bender, but he's struggling to find his place in the world.

He's like a little beetle I wana flip on its back and watch it flail.

[you-can-reclaim-your-crown]

[lizardperson]

me, still slogging through mass effect 1: is it javik time soon x_x

[mystery-amalgamate]

Hitting off on a different note; my boy Inktrap. "Stage name" was Venus Inktrap (will explain briefly) but it got shortened to Inktrap because who tf is gonna call him That.

Story behind Inktrap is from an old RP actually- kinda nonsensical malarky. I had a Bendy RP character at the time and him n' my friend's Flowey (yes, Undertale) got in a tussle against big bad Error Sans (also Undertale) because he was beating up a dinosaur. tl;dr some shit happened, Bendy and Flowey fused (more like Flowey got drowned in ink) and BOOM

Inktrap was born. He ended up becoming his own character because I liked him so much and now he's one of my favorites. He originally looked a lot different but I think the slimmer look fits him. Like a big ol' inky plant-lizard-guy. Doesn't speak (he can only gurgle) and is often kinda clueless about stuff. Still a dangerous boi, but doesn't actually wanna hurt anyone.

He also has a little cat-dino friend named Snowfanger! Snowy for short. Inktrap will protect her with his life and in her defense is one of the few times he's an active threat.

[nipuni]

Gallifrey

A speedpaint video of this will be available at my Patreon on march 1st! 😊

[gabitzart]

Copia