#like yeah zuko is the oldest

[shiftinghoesblog]

yapping about my drs ❕❕

okay so this was a request from one of my moots to do this so yeah!!

i have no clue where to start, but i’ll talk about some of my desired realities that i shift to, but probably mainly non group shift ones, so personal ones 🫦

INFLUENCER

- this is one of my most recent drs i’ve been scripting and not gonna lie the main reason i’m shifting here is because of my man 🤭 he cosplays gojo... so you probably know as to why but besides the point, i was raised a nepo baby and younger sister to meghan thee stallion. i am a content creator, influencer (duh), fashion designer and i live with my s/o in the upper east side of new york🗽. i scripted that my first shift will be during christmas eve because who wouldn't wanna experience the city that never sleeps during the festive season and with your partner 😩 it’s gonna be the dream. i have a mad crazy friend group but i love them all because we’re so hot, cool and sexy. i did script that megan’s parents are still alive in my dr so let’s not worry about that. 💀 i dreamt about this dr a couple of times actually and about my s/o 😍, a couple of my friends. really looking forward to this dr.

OUTER BANKS

- i think i shifted here like twice or a couple of times but didn't realise it because i did mention to y’all about chilling with kiara and sarah, another time i did find myself surfing like literally just living the life through the waves and my ass thought it was a dream. looking back i doubt it was, in many instances to be honest. in this dr i am the sister to kiara and my s/o is pope 😌 i grew up a kook but i transitioned to a pogue when i joined the others. i’m the reason behind kiara and sarah making up and i’m close with rafe since kiara and sarah were best friends and probably would have sleepovers together. i scripted that cleo’s lesbian lmao 😭 you know why. i wiped the plot out a little and also made everyone graduate already so that school is out of the way when hunting for the gold.

AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER

yep, i have an atla dr yay! in this dr i’m the oldest sister to kiara and sokka. i’m a waterbending master and my s/o’s zuko??? enemies to lovers kinda vibe. definitely part of the gaang and i’m shifting here because atla is part of my childhood. i have the ability to also create ice and other powerful combat skills so i can't wait to experience this universe.

LEGENDS OF KORRA

i also have a lok dr because why not, i’m the little sister to korra the avatar but i’m gonna prove to everyone that i’m also capable to make a difference and i scripted that i can blood bend.. so ain't no one gonna touch me as well still being able to water bend. my s/o is bolin because he’s so underrated for real.

THE ORIGINALS

in this dr, i’m a hybrid so vampire and werewolf and an adopted mikealson. i live in new orleans and my parents are rebekah and marcel even though their not my bio parental figures because they are already dead 💀. also hopefully i can survive when dahlia comes in because i scripted that my first shift will be during season 2 😓 well shit wish me luck y’all. at least i’ll get to see baby hope aw.

FAME

i have a fame dr because i love attention 🥰 my main profession is being an actor and i’m known for my role in the vampire diaries. i also play robin in the one piece live action and act in many more projects, a nepo baby in this dr too because almost all my family members are well-known. my s/o is caleb mclaughlin? he plays lucas in stranger things and our characters in the show dated so that’s how our relationship sparked.

TWILIGHT

i love talking about drs so yeah i have a twilight dr where when i first shift, i’ll be human but i get turned by a villain in order to send the cullens (my friends) a warning like it’s “game on” so i’m gonna have to mentally prepare myself because i’m gonna basically die 😭 lmao. my s/o is jacob because i’m team jacob simple and it’s a slow burn 😀 woop woop.

ROYAL

I guess this blog will be updated regularly because I have a new and quite recent dr I just finished scripting like the other day. this reality is basically me being a soon-to-be queen princess and thinking about if the one piece live action × royalty had a mashup?? yeah, it's that. I'm shifting back to the 1600s-1800s which is where this dr is set, so I'm really excited about this one.

NEPO BABY

In this reality that I plan on shifting to, I was inspired by a wholesome dream I once had, I am the youngest daughter to Micheal B. Jordan and Jourdan Dunn, my siblings are Tyla and Damson Idris. I am a nepo baby in this reality, and I am part of the ATLA Live Action cast. I wanna live the ravish job-free life.

SOME OTHER DRS

waiting room - i plan on permashifting here, chill, script, feel free, play with my cat, breath fresh air.

better cr - a better version of my cr and my s/o is jiung from p1harmony, i live with jenna ortega, i attend a boarding school in london, i also model.

wednesday - i’m the sister to bianca and my s/o is kent, i’m a siren and psychic medium.

fate: the winx saga - it’s so underrated i see no one shift here but it’s like the winx live action adaption on netflix, the only dr where i didn't script an s/o.

ateez - my s/o is san and i’m the only female and 9th member, main rapper, performer and maknae.

streamer - i go by lemonpie and my s/o is cory kenshin 😚.

victorious - grew up watching it and i’m andre’s sister.

soloist - i’m a k-pop soloist in this dr and my s/o is blackpink jisoo (yes I’m wlw) she’s so 😍😍😍.

singles inferno - this is a dating reality tv show but at the end of it i end up with wonho (ex. monsta x) i’m besties with song jia.

GROUP SHIFTS

not gonna lie they piss me off if they don’t put the damn effort

one piece (anime) - so far my most enjoyable one is the one piece (anime) shared dr because we talk almost everyday. anywho my s/o is sanji ahhh my vinsmoke baby! i’m the little sister to the asl brothers and my devil fruit is similar to aokoiji so ice ect. i am part of the straw hats and joined them during the alabasta arc.

kard - the k-pop co-ed group basically, me and the person barely talk so you see why i prefer my personals drs.. yeah. my s/o is enhypen’s jay 😍 and my positions are sub-rapper, sub-vocalist, producer and maknae. i’m always a maknae in k-pop group drs for some reason 😭.

the legacies - person dipped on me and didn't even fill any of their sections so! i’m poly with hope and josie, i’m a werewolf and witch.

harry potter - i’m the head girl of slytherin and my s/o’s draco, i scripted fred’s death out. also shifting to the half-blood prince era.

teen wolf - i’m a tribrid in this dr so i’m gonna be unstoppable!

the vampire diaries - a bennett witch, cousin to bonnie.

one piece (live action) - i’m a phoenix hybrid in this dr and also part of the straw hats, grew up around shanks.

romance - umm this dr ticks me off low-key because the person that i’m group shifting with ghosts me 😝 i didn't script an s/o for a reason i’m just gonna ditch them for jonathan daviss 💀💀💀 like imagine fumbling manon (I'm shifting as manon from katseye in this dr) i don’t want that person as my s/o anymore and like we’re “friends” here, miss me with that shit.

my hero academia - the group shift is dead bro no one is fucking talking in the group chat, one of them quit shifting, the other i was pfp matching with changed their damn pfp without telling me. script ain't finished too, they all called it a day. and y'all wonder why i don't wanna join no group shift no more.

this was lengthy but y’all asked to yap about my drs other than jujutsu kaisen which you already know about that dr and spill some tea so i did exactly that, i hope you enjoyed and this better not flop, i spent hours typing this 🥳.

@angelic-daiquiri

[discordiansamba]

that said the idea of Zuko being the spirits go to guy for problem solving is so funny to me. something something AU in which Zuko was born a hundred years ago and when Aang vanishes the spirits are just like. gee. we need a temporary bridge between worlds until he gets back so they just make a beeline for zuko. yeah you'll do. we're going to slap you with immortality. go forth and problem solve for us.

zuko: do I have the option to unsubscribe.

spirits: no.

local immortal firebender doomed to wander the earth doing whatever the spirits want of him. they promise they'll release him if the Avatar ever returns. Zuko is increasingly suspicious that won't happen. he doesn't have any cool spirit powers- he just doesn't die. or grow. he would have appreciated not being perpetually sixteen actually.

he can't prevent the war from happening. that's not what the spirits want from him. but he watches it all unfold- and he tries to help whenever he gets the chance. he somehow still manages to forge vague connections to the rest of the world. it's not why he's there, but he helps a young woman from the northern water tribe escape her unwanted marriage by fleeing to the south. he hates going to omashu because that bumi kid won't leave him alone- what do you mean he's king now.

he watches the war get worse. he watches the dai li grow increasingly corrupt. there's so much he wants to do, but the spirits usually won't let him intervene in mortal affairs. he belongs to them. just when he starts to believe that he'll never be free, the spirits tell him he has only one last task left. go to the south pole. escort the three children there to the north pole.

it's a weird request, but zuko literally cannot refuse, so he goes. kanna greets him. she's gotten older again since the last time he saw her. her son is off to war. her oldest grandchild is almost his physical age. they went out fishing and haven't returned. when they do, they arrive on a sky bison- and there's an airbender with them.

it's the fucking avatar.

after a hundred years, the avatar has returned... and instead of instantly releasing him from his contract, the spirits want him to be his babysitter. what did he do to deserve this.

(well. his father being fire lord sozin probably didn't help.)

[narrativelysignificantturtleduck]

something that makes sokka extremely adhd relatable is that he's constantly looking for his Thing, the one Thing he's good at or useful for that makes up for any failings or flaws or ways he just can't measure up to others. at the beginning of the show he defines himself by being the oldest boy in the village & best warrior, but then he gets his ass kicked by zuko and suki and sees aang's raw power and he can't exactly think fighting is his special skill anymore. but he still thinks he has to be defined by fighting ('man of the house' daddy issues) so he calls himself the guy with the boomerang bc that's turned out to be his most useful and versatile and unique weapon, the one that other people can't outclass him at (after all, it's his most successful attack in his fight with zuko). when he loses it in "avatar day" he explicitly says it's like losing a key part of his identity and the moment katara goes "hey you're good at solving mysteries" he's like "yeah! i'm a detective! that's my new thing! and gets a new set of objects to signify it ("i believe in the power of stuff"). but detective sokka doesn't last bc throughout the entire episode he and katara are pretty equally matched in detective skills and he gets his boomerang back anyway. failed experiment.

and throughout all of this, he's figured out that people find his insistance on getting them fed & his grumpy comments funny and so he begins defining himself as the meat and sarcasm guy, and when he's a tough spot in "bitter work", bargaining with the universe to get him help, he offers that up as all he's got to give. it's obviously a Joke that he immediately asks for meat after telling the universe he'll give it up but it's also pretty indicative of how much he clings to these identities. it's all he's got (he thinks), of COURSE he can't actually give it up. they stuck that boy in a hole for 22 minutes and it revealed so much about how he sees himself.

at some point (likely around "the library" when he takes initiative to come up with a fire nation invasion plan) he also becomes the plan guy, the idea guy, and the gaang find themselves looking to him for leadership. this is perhaps the closest to fully encompassing sokka that any of his "[blank] guy" labels get, since coming up with plans involves planning when and how to fight (boomerang guy) & how to get everyone fed (meat), and people not following his plans is a major source of frustration (sarcasm).

this all culminates in "sokka's master", where the show finally names the underlying insecurity driving this quest - that he's a nonbender. katara being the last waterbender meant she was in danger and that keeping her safe was top priority, and even though hakoda and kya wouldn't have played favorites sokka probably felt a little like the unfavorite child for not being special like her. he lacks an ability, and believes his life has less value bc of it. almost like somebody with a disability and internalized ableism

(interesting, one of the people who most consistently mocks sokka for being a nonbender is toph, early on. toph has a lot of internalized ableism herself, a fear of vulnerability bc she doesn't want to perceived as weak like her parents thought she was. her bending is her disability aid, the thing that allows her to be stronger than people think, so she dismisses a nonbender until she learns better.)

piandao's response to sokka's lack of self-worth is not to train him to be great at one thing, but to introduce him to a variety of different arts, show him that his value lies not in having any one skill but in his capacity to learn and grow. there's no single thing that makes him worthy. it isn't even the combination of all of them that makes him worthy. he simply is worthy.

and i don't know if this is a unique narrative in fiction or anything but it really means a lot to me that sokka doesn't have One Thing that "makes up" for him not being a bender. he's of course extremely skilled and prodigious at many things he does in the show but there's no one savant talent that "justifies" him being in the group and i feel like so many disability narratives - especially for kids - go that route and i really appreciate that atla doesn't and simply says people are valuable because they are valuable, not because of their special abilities

[fanboyzuko]

Prompt: Sokka channels Hui the Scholar (after traveling with Zuko, he's memorized every...single...story) to frustrate the Dai Lee after they 'take him aside'.

Countdown to LTF's return: 13 days!

Heheh was very amused by this one

The Avatar’s group was up to something, and somehow they were evading the Dai Li. None of Long Feng’s men had even an inkling of an idea as to what the children were plotting. It was entirely beneath Long Feng to interrogate children, but he wouldn’t fall prey to the mistake many others had by  underestimating the utter chaos said children could create.

“Thank you for coming, Sokka,” Long Feng said graciously as the oldest of the Avatar’s group entered his office.

According to reports, Sokka was the most logical and cautious of the children. He was the plotter, so any schemes surely would have come from him. However, he was also quite insecure and overcompensated with his proud ego. It was going to be laughably easy to get a child like this to slip up and expose their plans.

“Yeah, no problem,” Sokka said, casually dropping into the chair across from Long Feng’s desk. “Anything to speed up the process to see the Earth King. Because there’s, you know, the end of the world coming.”

Long Feng winced and nodded, “Yes, yes, the deadline is quite dire. I was perhaps a bit quick to dismiss your concerns. I would like to hear more about your plans in regards to the war.”

Sokka narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Really?”

“But, of course. If I fully understand the situation, I can better prepare the Earth Kingdom for your future audience.”

“Hm, alright.” Sokka shrugged and leaned back in his chair. “But, to understand our plans, you really gotta understand our journey here.”

Long Feng nodded seriously and folded his hands on his desk attentively while internally he smirked. Ah, children, always thought they were smarter than they really were.

Several hours later, Sokka left, proclaiming he needed to get back for dinner. Long Feng spent another hour going over his notes. Sokka had spoken of so much, and peppered in several anecdotes from Yangchen’s memoirs. Then, Long Feng spent another hour contemplating retirement.

Either the children weren’t actually planning anything, or Sokka just played the head of the Dai Li.

[purple-astronaut]

Ask from @primeslayer23 : The war never happened and sokka and zula are kids who met on a political negotiation between hakoda and iroh since ozai never became firelord but now has to deal with bureacrecy Zuko and Katara are in Charger but zula and sokka being them escape and go to play and fell in love

Love this idea, they would be so cute as kidsssss, I didn't go over this <3

He and his sister bowed to the Fire Nation kids in front of him, and they did so back at their mother's request, "You 4 go play together the grown-ups have work to do..." he heard his father say, the father of the Fire Nation children agreed, "And play nice azula and zuko." He heard the oldest fire prince say glaring towards his children who replied "Yes, father" and told him and his sister to follow them.

"Zuko and Azula are so well behaved!" His mother said.

He saw the elder princess's strained smile out of the corner of his eye, "You have no idea..." she said.

He held Katara's hand as the kids in front of them led them past a dragon fountain towards a hallway where the two girls were waiting, one jumping up and down waving, and the other who was looking soulfully at the prince in front of him, "Ty Lee! Mai! This is katara and sokka! They're from the Southern water tribe!" Zuko said as he pointed at each of them as he talked, "Nice to meet you..." Mai said as she shook both Sokka and Katara's hands, all Sokka could think about was how proper these kids were acting, "Hiiiiii, I'm Ty Lee! You'll love me! And you are a cutie!~ I'm 9! How old are you two?!" Ty Lee said, "I'm 10 and she's 9..." Sokka said.

"Welllll, Zuko is 12! He's an old man! Azula, Mai, and I are the same age! My favorite color is red! Mai and Zuko's favorite color is black! THEY ARE MADE FOR EACH OTHER SO DON'T BREAK THEM UP! Oh- and Azula's favorite color is blue!"

Azula gasped that was one of her darkest secrets

"Ty Lee!!!!–"

"My favorite color is blue too...!" Sokka said looking at Azula who looked at him and they both blushed at bit at the eye contact before quickly looking away, "Aw..." Katara, Ty Lee, and Mai whispered.

"Why is he looking at my sister like that?"

"You two stay here and play together, come on guys this way Katara!" Ty Lee said grabbing Katara's hand and running Mai followed.

"Why is your favorite color blue?" Sokka asked

"'Cause it's the best!" Azula responded

"Same!" Sokka said, they smiled at each other, then blushed a bit

"Why is he smiling at my sister?"

Ty Lee ran up and dragged Zuko away around the corner where they were spying, Azula and Sokka stood in awkward silence, "They are gonna follow us everywhere..." Azula said as she and Sokka started walking down the hall and they could hear their friends following them, "I'm supposed to stay with Katara–" Sokka explained, Azula shook her head, "She'll be fine with them!! Come, let's do something fun! This way!" She said grabbing his hand and running away from the others.

"Aww, they want to be alone!" Ty Lee shouted, Katara giggled, and Mai smiled, Zuko pointed at his sister and the water tribe boy she was running with hand in hand, "Why is he holding my sister's hand?"

Azula giggled as she led him to the tower on the other side of the palace, "Isn't this on the fire lord's side? I don't think we're allowed to be here...." Sokka said as she closed the door to the tower they were in, "Yeah! That's what makes it fun!!!" Azula said as she tried to push the window open which looked like it had been boarded up for this exact reason, he now understood the distressed look on Azula's mother's face, Azula got in a firebending stance and kicked towards the window and fire flew from her foot and broke the wood that boarded the widow up, sokka fell because he had been standing to close to the window. Azula giggled and walked over to help him up then she took him outside on to the roof.

"This is my favorite spot in the palace! We can see and hear anyone who walks by!"

Sokka nodded

"So?"

"So....?"

"I think you're pretty cool even if you're a good too shoes!"

"I'm not a good too shoes!"

"Do you think I'm cool?" She inched closer to him

What was happening? Why was she looking at him like that?

"U-uh–Uh yeah... you're cool..."

She inched closer again, ty lee had given her instructions on how to approach a crush and she was gonna follow them, of course, ty lee never told her to flat out ask the boy like this but whatever

"Do you think im cute?"

Sokka blinked at her

"U–Uh‐uh....huh?"

She giggled and inched closer

"Do you think I'm pretty?" It was more of a demand

"Uh yes..."

She was right beside him now and he leaned back so they weren't in each other's faces

"Beautiful? My dad says a guy should think I'm beautiful if I date him. Am I beautiful, Sokka?"

There was a fire in her eyes that told him he should wholeheartedly agree

"Y-y-you're be-autiful .......d‐date him? Date w-who—?"

"You, silly! You're my boyfriend now!" She took a deep breath, "You should meet my parents as my boyfriend!"

She kissed his cheek and started to drag him back inside

"Wh—at?"

[waterfire1848]

Au where Zuko also is a prodigy + has white flames

Hello, anon!!

When Zuko is born, he's born as a powerful bender. Ozai is very happy to see a strong flame in his son and it keeps Zuko from being in danger of being killed. Zuko is allowed to be a normal kid for a few years (because Ozai knows an infant isn't going to firebend) and Ursa tries to raise him as best she can but Ozai is also pretty much there from the start which keeps Zuko from fully learning from his mom like he did in the show. Instead, Ozai raises Zuko and Azula to be mini versions of himself and since Zuko is also a prodigy now, Ozai has two weapons who want to earn his favor. Ursa, again, tries to do what she can for her children but there isn't much that can be done once Ozai gets his hooks in them. (Azula: Zuzu! Look what I learned! *Does a kata* Zuko: Yawn. I learned that move five weeks ago, Lala. And I got it down in one session. Azula: That's impossible! No one can master it that fast. Zuko: Well, I am father's oldest prodigy. The one who will be taking over for him one day. I think you are....Oh, how did that general put it? The spare. The forgotten child. Azula, angry: Yeah, well-have you learn the Flying Dragon move yet? Zuko:.....I'm going to very soon. Azula: I've already started. Zuko: I'll have it mastered by the end of the week. Azula: A move so complex even uncle struggled with it? I'm sure.)

When Lu Ten is killed and Ozai asks for the throne, Azulon orders him to kill Azula because Zuko is the older child, male, and a prodigy as well (Azula is powerful, yes, but Ursa and Ozai can always have another kid as far as Azulon is concerned since they already had two prodigies. The new child will just be a bit younger than their older brother. Nothing that would seriously hurt the family in the long run). Azula panics and flees to her mother, begging her for any kind of help. Ursa makes the same deal she does in canon but this time, since she did it for Azula and Ozai agreed to kill her, Azula starts to wonder if her father really is as amazing as she once believed him to be. She spends the next few years starting to doubt her father more and more but keeping quiet because she's not an idiot. There is no Agni Kai scene since Zuko never speaks out. Ozai raised him here. If anything, he would be congratulating the general on his plan. Rather, Ozai keeps both him and Azula around to train until they are 14 and 16 which is when Azula gets her blue fire and Zuko gets his white flames. (Zuko: White flames are better. Azula: Huh? That's interesting. I could have sworn blue fire burned hotter than white. Zuko: Just means you're going to burn out before me.)

Aang is still broken out of the ice by Katara and Azula is sent after them (because...again spare heir). Azula eventually catches up to them and pretty much partakes in Zuko's role in canon except she had the authority to throw Zhao off a boat. But, since Aang is constantly slipping through her fingers, Ozai takes her off of the mission and puts Zhao in charge. Azula, not wanting to fail in her first mission outside the Fire Nation, ignores her father's order to return home and follows the Avatar to the North Pole. Zhao still murders the moon (Azula: How did this man become an admiral?) and is then killed by the ocean spirit. Azula fails in getting the Avatar again but refuses to stop in her mission, making it clear to the team that she is still after them. Meanwhile, Ozai realizes Azula is not returning and sends Zuko after the Avatar and her. (Ozai: Azula is a failure. I have a task for you, my son. Capture the Avatar and your sister and bring them here. Do you understand? Zuko: I do, father.)

Zuko and Azula quickly start competing with one another to try and capture Aang. Zuko had more resources behind him since Ozai isn’t currently mad at him, but Azula has more experience fighting Aang (basically Zuko gets taken out by airbending and waterbending more than Azula does). Now, because both siblings trained under Ozai they’re both incredibly smart as well as powerful. Zuko knows Azula is going to get Mai and Ty Lee and decides to recruit Mai before Azula can get to her, so it becomes Azula and Ty Lee vs Mai and Zuko for who can capture Aang first. When Ba Sing Se comes around, both siblings have the idea to sneak in but while Azula and Ty Lee sneak in with the Kyoshi Warrior disguises, Zuko and Mai sneak in as refugees. In the upper ring with the Gaang, Azula believes she had the advantage and decides to act and capture Katara. Her plan is to use Katara as bait and then attack and capture Aang when he comes to free her. Meanwhile, Zuko and Mai are in the lower ring and make their way up to the upper ring while chatting which is when Mai realizes that the Zuko she knew is kinda gone. Zuko at 10 and Zuko at 16 are two very different people after 6 years under Ozai. She tries not to let it bother her but it’s very clear. Eventually, the final fight breaks out and ends with Azula aiming the lightning at Aang but Zuko, who refuses to let Azula win, takes the lightning blast and sends it back at her. The blast is strong enough to disorient everyone and knock Aang out, who is quickly captured by Zuko. He and Mai flee the city before they can be stopped leaving the Gaang without an Avatar (thankfully in a still standing Ba Sing Se) but with a captured Royal and acrobat.

Ozai isn’t happy. Zuko’s job was to bring Azula back but instead he just did half of his job. Zuko tries to argue that Azula is taken care of since she’s in enemy hands. (Zuko: I give her a week before they kill her for not giving up information. Ozai: I didn’t ask for the Earth Kingdom to kill her. I asked you to bring her back! Zuko: Father, please, I….I thought it would be a good idea for the war. Ozai: Explain. Zuko: Sozin’s Comet is coming soon but we haven’t been seeing a spike in morale- Ozai: You’re too concerned with regular soldiers, Zuko. Zuko: I know, but hear me out. How would citizens feel when they find out the enemy murdered the princess? The princess who was trying to save her nation from Ba Sing Se’s tyranny gave her life to defend the Fire Nation. Ozai:….Hmmmm. I will consider this. It’s not a horrible idea. You’re dismissed. Zuko: Thank you, father.) Meanwhile, Azula is very much alive and pissed at Zuko for abandoning her in the city. The Gaang knows they have to get Aang back if they want any shot at ending the war and, to do that, they have to get into the Fire Nation. Thankfully, they just so happen to know a familiar princess who knows the nation like the back of her hand. The Gaang make a deal with Azula and Ty Lee: they help them get into the Fire Nation in exchange for saving them from Earth Kingdom execution. Azula initially refuses, saying she doesn’t want to betray her father or her nation. However, it becomes clear to her that this might actually be a blessing, a way to return to the Fire Nation with the Avatar’s team, capture them all and stop the eclipse invasion: three birds with one stone. After talking to Ty Lee, Azula agrees and the five head off towards the Fire Nation.

[natlacentral]

Discipline is Key

DALLAS LIU, CONTRARY TO WHAT HIS NAME SUGGESTS, IS A LA-BORN AND RAISED ACTOR WHO PLAYS THE MOODY FIRE PRINCE ZUKO IN NETFLIX’S LIVE-ACTION AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER SERIES. HE GREW UP DOING MARTIAL ARTS FROM THE AGES OF 5 TO 13 AND WAS DISCOVERED ON YOUTUBE BY HIS MANAGER. WHEN HE ISN’T OUT DOING CRAZY STUNTS WHILE SHOOTING THE SHOW IN VANCOUVER, HE SPENDS TIME WITH HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WHO HE DISCERNS HIS HUMILITY TO, AND IS GRATEFUL TO HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM AS LOYAL AS THEM. AS THE SHOW WAS  RENEWED FOR A SECOND AND THIRD SEASON, WE REFLECTED WITH DALLAS LIU ON THE FIRST SEASON THAT CAME OUT IN APRIL, AND HOW HE WANTS TO WORK ON HIS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENTS.

You grew up doing martial arts. What have they taught you in life?

Martial arts gave me a lot of discipline in the things that I take on. Whether it's in school or doing acting, martial arts taught me how to remain calm, to really think out my process and to have the discipline to focus and practice. I always felt like it helped me develop my own way of doing things. 

 

How did you get into martial arts? Do you have any idols whose careers you admire?

I wish it was that serious, but it was the Power Rangers, Avatar: The Last Airbender and a few different animes. There was one sports athlete who went by the name of Sugar Shane Moseley, my friend’s dad who was a boxer, and when we saw him on TV, I got really invested in combat sports.

How did you juggle being a kid with having to be professionally present at competitions and on film production sets?

Martial arts is just like any other sport: you go to tournaments, you go to practices and then you go do your homework after school. And I think with acting, because I live far from Los Angeles, I'm like an hour’s drive out, and you would be surprised by how much it changes just by driving an hour out of the city. The world where I live is nothing like the online portrayal of what Los Angeles is. The people here, my friends and family, they kept me grounded so I don't think there's a real change in my lifestyle. I did treat it like something that I loved, so it didn't feel like work. I was still going to school, I was still hanging out with my friends on the weekends, it wasn't something that I moved across the world for. This was something that I cared for and that my parents were willing to support me in. But I wasn't working either, I was auditioning, don’t get me wrong, but I wasn’t like, “Yeah, man, just booked 5 seasons of a show and my parents are signing contracts for me.” It was nothing like that. I was very much a newbie actor. I think it wasn’t until PEN15 that I felt like I matured.

Speaking of PEN15, did you get what the show was about when you booked the role?

When I auditioned I had no idea that it was gonna be that funny, because with a concept like that, you really don’t know how it’s gonna turn out until the day of the shoot. But Maya and Anna are such comedic geniuses that they already knew, “Oh yeah, this is what we're doing,” and so seeing their confidence every day on set gave me a lot of comfort. When I was on set, I knew what was going on but it was weird because I was also the oldest of the actual teenagers, so they were making fun of me too. I was so confused, I was like, “Why do I feel old here too?”

Your role in PEN15 is quite different to the other roles in your acting career, what would you say that role taught you?

I would say comedic improvisation. There were some times when Anna and Maya would just let a take keep on going and I was in the scene. I would think, “Oh my gosh, we're still going? Okay then, you kind of just have to figure out how to roll along with it.”  But it was really watching them do their thing that helped me develop my own particular way of going about comedy. I became comfortable with the unexpected.

You were inspired to start martial arts because of Avatar: The Last Airbender and now fast-forward a few years you play Prince Zuko in the Netflix live-action remake. Were you excited to portray Zuko?

When I got the job, it really was just worlds colliding because I think Zuko is one of the best fictional and animated characters of all time, and I think that his character arc is up there with some of the best character arcs in TV history. So when I found out that it was this role, I was stoked. Also knowing that I would be able to use my martial arts background in the series, that's why it felt like I was able to combine my present and my past, just because I spent so much time doing martial arts. I’d done it from the ages of 5 to 13, and now I'm 22, so it felt like a long time for me, and I'm glad that I was able to you know use both of my skills for something that I love. They tried to hide the identity of the characters in the script. They gave us fake character names. So for example, Zuko’s fake name was Juno. But with the way the script was written, it was very clearly his character –  nobody else has daddy issues as bad as Zuko, in my opinion. But I think because I knew that it was Zuko, it definitely helped that I understood Zuko already so strongly because I favoured him so much as a child.

This is a long-awaited remake of a beloved animated series. How did you feel at the time it came out?

I was definitely more nervous than I had ever been in my entire life. This is certainly the biggest project I’ve ever done and also my first time being a series regular. I was terrified just because you carry a huge part of how people view the show and I am not sure I was ready for that. Leading up to that point, my character was always there for the other characters, to support the other characters, whereas then,  people were really going to be watching me. I was scared of being under a microscope for a very long time. It also didn’t help that the executives of our show didn't give us a sneak peek until like 2 weeks out. So we had no idea what our show was gonna look like for three years. We hadn't seen any playback footage. I was terrified, but knowing everyone else was also terrified, you know, me and the cast members really bonded and spent a lot of time with each other, finding comfort in those relationships that we had and also looking back at our hard work and effort. I started shooting the show when I was 19 and at the time of the release, I was 22. So not only did I feel like I had developed as an actor but I had just grown into a different person. I think I was scared but that pressure was a privilege in itself. I also knew that not many people would have the opportunity to feel responsible for the next generation of Avatar: The Last Airbender viewers that's why I felt also really excited for people to see my take on Zuko.

 

People often criticize remakes, specifically live-action ones. But as you said, when you’re doing a remake, you’re reintroducing characters to a newer generation, and that’s important to consider because kids nowadays maybe weren’t as affected and influenced by Avatar: The Last Airbender because it wasn’t an integral part of their childhood.

I was really excited for the new viewers. And with the original voice actor being so supportive of my take on the character, we just had a talk like a human being to human being and he told me…The words that he used were, “It’s your turn,” and it was sort of permission to make Zuko the way I see fit. Because some of the relationships might not be the same therefore that might change the character – he definitely has a little more attitude in our show, he’s a spoiled teenager. But that was also one thing that I had no idea how it was going to turn out. I was like, “Are we sure we like this version of Zuko?”

Zuko is quite a complex and hard-to-embrace character. Where did you draw inspiration from to portray the role?

To prepare, I obviously rewatched the show a bunch of times, but I only stuck to the first season because that’s what we were shooting. And then a lot of research online. There are so many character analysis videos and essays that you can find on the internet about Zuko, about his past and about the way he thinks. I just lived with that every day, there was always something new I was learning about him. For example, which side of his head he likes to sleep on. Because his scar is on the left side of his eye, he would sleep on his scar so he could hear better out of the other ear when he was with people he wasn’t comfortable around. But when it was people he was comfortable with, he didn’t mind sleeping on his other side and having his scar out. That was something super unique to Zuko. A performance I drew from was probably Adam Driver’s Ky Loren. 

 

Wait, the way he chooses to sleep, was that in the script or the original screenplay?

It’s a fan theory, it’s never explicitly stated but it’s something the viewers paid attention to when he’d go to bed. When you truly love a series, you pay attention to so many of those small scenes and that's what it was for me growing up. From Zuko’s facial expressions to his mannerisms, those were all things that I thought about with a lot of intention, especially when I was working with some of my co-stars.

What do you want people to take away from watching the series?

As cliché as this might be, I hope that this gives them a lot of hope in the adventure that they take on in life, the adventure that is life. And I think enjoying the adventure is all about the friendships and bonds that you create along the way, whether they are there forever or not. Our show has many different elements, you've got the heroes and you've got the questionable villains, and there are so many characters that you can relate to.

 

You’ve played in dramedies, crime series, Marvel movies and Netflix remakes. In what direction do you hope to go next?

I’m drawn to anime remakes. Have you heard of Death Note?

 

Of course! Who would you play though?

I love Death Note, I would be ok with Light or L, they’re both great characters. I think another genre I’d be interested in would be a dark thriller. I really love the film Oldboy.

[balanceoflightanddark]

hi, I just want to say that before I read your ATLA/Godzilla crossover works, I've never even touched the Gozilla/kaiju franchise. Not that I thought that they were bad, but more like it wasn't my area of interest? I was always more of an ATLA and a magical girl animes kind of person. But now I'm devouring that shit like no tomorrow, I'm drinking it up like water's going out of fashion. I'm watching the official films, scouring for fan theories, looking for more of this deliciousness. Like, reading the way you described Godzilla as this otherworldly and oddly sympathetic character just imploded my mind. I never saw the parallels between him and Azula until you wrote it out in that gorgeous fanfic. Literally life changing.

Hey! Thanks for the message and I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. I'm hoping to finish the next chapter this week, but I've got college to work on. Hopefully, it won't be as bad as last semester, but you get the idea.

Anyways, Godzilla/ATLA. Technically I'm not the first one to do this neither am I the only one who's working on an idea. Plus I think I'm aware of a couple Legend of Korra crossovers with Godzilla, but I wanted to give my own spin on the idea. I grew up on Godzilla and other various kaiju movies so I figured I could do the idea some justice. It's been an idea that's floated in the back of my head for years, but I haven't really gotten around to writing fanfics until a couple years ago.

So you can totally blame Shadow Lugia for this fic existing.

Now the thing about growing up around kaiju films is that you start to notice some of the most common themes and ideas. It's here I really started to put the connections between Godzilla and Azula. Granted he's not the ONLY character that Azula has a lot of similarities with (Adora, Stitch, Toothless, Mewtwo, Cassandra Cain), but he's the one I've grown attached to just as much as I grew attached to Azula. But, yeah. The similarities are all there. Being framed as a monster. Essentially being a product of a brutal, imperialistic society. Metaphors for being a weapon. You get to know both long enough, you start to connect the dots. Helps that Godzilla does have several human characters that are right up Azula's alley.

looks at Akane from Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla

And no, I am not sorry for the obsession with kaiju films. In fact, I am going to go ahead and FEED said obsession with a few of my recommendations:

-Heisei Gamera Trilogy: Basically three of the best non-Godzilla films out there, really pushing what kaiju films are capable of. They start out good with Guardian of the Universe, before defying the trilogy decay rule and peaking with Revenge of Irys. Which is what one of Godzilla's oldest rivals deserves.

-Daimajin: This one's unique in that it's actually a samurai film for the most of the movie before the giant statue gets up, starts walking, and proceeds to massacre the main villain. Then it turns into the kaiju equivalent of a slasher film. I haven't seen the other two films in the Daimajin trilogy yet, but apparently they're just as good.

-War of the Garguantas: A Toho film with kaiju not starring the Big G. The two monsters Sanda and Gaira are developed to the point they feel less like forces of nature and more like characters in their own right. Helps they sort of have a Zuko and Azula sibling rivalry dynamic going on. And yes, it's just as tragic.

-King Kong 1933: The great granddaddy of kaiju films along with The Lost World. It's kind of questionable in a few areas, but it helped establish the overall themes of the genre while delivering a lot of iconic scenes. I'd also recommend the 2005 remake, Mighty Joe Young (basically a successor to King Kong with some of the same story beats but an overall different tone and characters) along its 1998 remake from Disney if you want more giant ape shenanigans.

-Cloverfield: A found footage film where the perspective is from a bunch of civilians just trying to survive a kaiju attack. It's really terrifying with a focus on what people would do in the middle of a giant monster raid.

-Pacific Rim: A film where alien kaiju invade Earth and humanity build giant robots to fight them. Directed by Guillermo del Toro who used classical paintings of giants for inspiration. And where the fight scenes can best be described as works of art.

-Monster Island Buddies: This is an adult online series featuring Godzilla and his friends. It's stupid but features a LOT of kaiju cast from basically the entire genre and can actually be surprisingly meta and cleverly written.

Anyways, thank you again so much for reading. I hope to get back to it soon when I get the chance. Feel free to message me if you've got any more questions or just want to chat. And glad I could introduce you to Godzilla.

[zukkaart]

I’m about to lose it over Sokka

So I bought “The Lost Adventures” yesterday and Sokka's Poem almost made me cry the person who wrote it is a genius because it’s so PAINFULLY in character

If you haven’t read it ->

“Oh I know Sokka and his dumb jokes Sokka who lost his girlfriend to the moon. Sokka who can’t even bend paper except with his mitts. But at the risk of blowing my own horn, who rescued Suki from the prison at Boiling rock? Who defeated the wolf spirit? Well sort of. Lots of battles to fight, lots of strategy to craft, It’s a busy life But then night comes. The air is still the waters placid the fire banked the earth dense and unyielding. No one is combining with a spirit. No one is reincarnating. No one is kidnapped. Everything sleeps. Everyone vulnerable, barefoot, and drowsy. This is me at my best, when people I love or revere or both need me whether they know it or not. I almost never sleep. There’s too much to do and only I can do it!”

I would like to gently remind you all that this is canon before I continue.

I know Sokka is the main comic relief character and everyone focuses mainly on Katara and Zuko's trauma because it's the most visible but I think there is really something to be said about how Sokka copes by being a Type A personality.

I've said this before but I'll say it again. Sokka is the one who has arguably the most reason to be paranoid. There has not been a single person in his life that he has cared about who hasn't been killed, kidnapped, or tortured. It's often overlooked because the gaang is all friends with the same people but it's deeper than that.

Yeah Katara and Aang liked Yue but not like Sokka loved her, and the same goes for Sukki. Sokka is such an intense lover and always dives in head first for every one he meets even if he denies it (see: the nomads from the tunnel) and that's a depth that I think is sometimes lost on us as well as the other characters.

On top of that he is self aware. He knows how much he loves and cares for the people around him and he knows that they're constantly in danger. I also find it hard to believe that he wouldn't realize the effect that his trauma has on him especially in terms of paranoia.

He is the one who makes the plans and hides the bodies and protects them while they sleep because he's the oldest. So he spares them all he can so that they might retain even the smallest bit of a childhood that he was never allowed to have.

In the comic when he speaks the last few lines it is also over a frame of Zuko which is so special to me as well because even though he isn't younger- Sokka truly doesn't mind being the protector of the people he loves. He never complains, never mentions it, and never falters.

I could go on about him for days because the poem in this book really intensely highlighted my favorite aspect of his character and the one I relate to the most. A lot of media focuses on sibling rivalry and it means so much to me that the A:tLA writers chose to focus on the need/want to protect your siblings from anything that could harm them.

Even if you know they are stronger or can take care of themselves that isn't the point, and Sokka's character is the perfect embodiment of this.

[sidecharactersdomatter]

Thoughts I had during TGCF Season 2 Ep 1

I’ve finished my quarter and I am spending my spring break reacting to Season 2! Let’s make this reaction series count!

-Welcome back to Puqi Village people, at morning and known for their chestnuts!  (The best nuts I’ve had outta the packet!)

-We are back at Puqi Shrine people!

-And the Altar is packed!

-Instrumental Hong Jue!!!

-Did he oversleep?

-Aww he’s so lonely! :’(

-Dang.  That is a clear stream

-Eeeeyep, he is thirsty!

-And a water droplet fell past his freaking throat!  They just had to animate that!

-It’s the same ring from last Ep!

-You mean, ‘Gege’ Yeah, I’ve already typed this, “I watch the English Dub religiously” Don’t judge me!

-It is the same ring people!!!

-Oooh he hid it!

-Yep like two years for us in 2023

-Oh her eye bags got deeper and darker

-Welp it just got serious

-Looks like we’re back in heaven

-They added 3D palace shots and camera panning

-Woah that was a really good transition with the bell toll

-I wonder what kept the emperor all season…

-Feng Xin!

-Mu Qing!

-It’s that female Blue robed NPC from Ep 4 on his far left!

-*Looks at how the camera pans up to the Heavenly Capital* My Oc Qing Tao is like: The Oldest Enemy I know, stairs…

-New opening people woo!!!

-New opening animation had me sold!!!  They really improved 2 years later

-I love how the music switches from a majestic powerful orchestra tune to a comical xylophone like leitmotif upon introducing Xie Lian.  To say, “And then there’s that guy.  Then there’s that guy.”

-Social Distancing, Ancient Chinese Pantheon Style

-Man tough crowd today!

-And after every official flees the Trash god, one of my Junior Official OCs, Long He goes, “Huh, who is that dude?”  And then his dad, a Civil God will say, “That dude is the Crown Prince of Xianle.  His highness crown prince Xie Lian!” And then that Civil god begrudgingly brings his palm to his face.

-*Hears Mengyou calling his highness*: Ladies, Gentlemen and Enby friends, Him!

-This has the energy of giving someone a lanyard pass to visit a certain building

-“It’s not that hard!”  “You ascended hundreds of years ago you know better!” “Now keep it with you!”  Only like 4 minutes into the first Ep and that NPC is already getting the best lines.  (More of Lang Qianqiu’s trusty assistant later this season folks!)

-He sounds just like the English actor for Elam, Justin Briner, from the Heroic Legend of Arslan (another awesome historical manga!)  Coincidentally, Elam is also one of Arslan’s most trusted Allies.

-I can’t wait to write more of my ATLA x TGCF crossover, The Scrap Immortal and the Avatar, just imagine the Gaang’s reaction to learning that there’s more than one crown prince worshipped!

-Man, it’s like I always say, “The rumor mill’s always a’runnin!”  Or water wheel since it’s ancient China

-Hi Ling Wen, man what kind of product did she use to hide those eye bags???

-I’ve started reading the Manhua series so, Huh? No cursed shackle?

-It’s been days and you still haven’t found the Moldy faced boy from Episode 3???

-I also can’t wait to write Aangs reaction inside that huge throne room, (“It’s bigger than the one in Ba Sing Se!”)

-Now we’re actually seeing the emperor, the first time was in the Episode 1 flashback near the end

-Now we get the first appearance of Pei Ming, who appeared in the Flashback of Ep 3

-Well that sounded patronizing coming from Pei Ming

-Now Pei Xiu has to reap what he sowed.

-Yep that’s a kill count

-I love how this next scene is basically,

Pei Ming: Your Highness, please tell everyone who accompanied you?  Then Xie Lian starts to compose an alibi:  Ah yes!  I will do that.  It was incredible!  What did we get swept in a sandstorm or something?  Oh yes! It was just a youth in red robes who was knowledgeable about the Ban Yue kingdom.  <- This incorrect quote is inspired by Zuko and Iroh lying to Commander Zhao about the state of their ship in episode 3, The Southern Air Temple.  (Does anyone else think that Xie Lian, is what would happen if you combined both Iroh and Zuko?)

-The face Xie Lian made when he’s trying to keep fibbing and brought his index finger to his cheek that was good body language

-Hi Windmaster.

-Oooh Feng Xin and Mu Qing

-Welp you tried keeping him innocent Xie Lian

-Not as complicated as your love life, maybe I should do a Pei Ming roast count?

-Hey Xie Lian is smarter than you look

-Pei Xiu still wants to protect Ban Yue even facing his impending banishment.

-Ok that line and Pei Ming’s attempt to kick Pei Xiu does seem like an abusive action in my perspective.

-Woah, and that was Jun Wu’s own gavel.

-Well that was a short trial

-Him calling Xie Lian to stay, has the exact energy of a teacher calling one student to stay after class to talk.

-Ling Wen is now talking with Jun Wu

- Now that was a really brief meet up between the Xianle trio.

-Thank you Wind Master, and they are a savage!

-Well he’s still mad

-*Sees Qianqiu still asleep standing up*: XDXDXDXDXD

-Aw he woke him up!

-Don’t worry honey, you didn’t miss much anyway

-How in the heck was he able to doze off through all that shouting. I almost fell asleep in a lecture and that’s nothing compared to TaiHua’s feat

-*Hears Jun Wu speak like*: Oh gods! Why did they have to make him sound so seductive! He’s like an East Asian Belos! (And I’m still busy working on Murder They Cast’s first phase)

-Oh Xie Lian’s expression when Jun Wu talks to him, it’s concerning!

-That soft “forgive me”

-I mean we learned about his huge failure in Season 1

-“How Disappointing!” STOP!!!

-Oooh I didn’t notice this during the rewatch but they played a stringed instrumental version of Bu San.

-Srsly HOW BIG IS HIS FREAKING PALACE?!?!?!

-A mural of heaven

-You gotta love Xie Lian’s modesty

-“Such a low opinion” yep his voice is like liquid gold and it is pure torture!

-“How’d you seduce trouble this time!” That tease in his voice why!!!!

-Aw good for you Xie Lian

-Just you wait till the second half of this season

-It’s their version of shooting a flare gun

-Oooh from left to right is Feng Xin, an unknown person behind him, next there’s Ling Wen(with what happens later in the series), Lang Qianqiu in the middle, Mu Qing is next, then there’s Pei Ming in front of him, and the last guy might be Quan’s Yizhen since he also appears in the 2nd half of the series. I hope I found every martial god

-Also the Thunder Master (my OC Leishi) tends to work part time

-There are retired officials???

-In tsiata (my TGCF x ATLA crossover, The Scrap immortal and the Avatar) Ghost City is more modernized than the Spirit World, since it’s mostly untamed wilderness

-Oh he had balls defending San Lang people

-“Your majesty makes me sound like a little princess” yeah that’s what you are honey

-That pose! I was watching this ep with my older sister and she said, “Man is draping himself!”

-He’s gonna touch the scimitar, isn’t he? (I’ve watched clips of Season 2 before doing my reaction posts)

-And Xie Lian still has the best preferences good on him!

-Xianle trio mention

- And I still think clearing the debt should’ve taken longer, but that’s just my small nitpick

-Yeah nobody round here can keep a secret

- *Sees Jun Wu walk up to Xie Lian reminding him to be careful and puts his hand on his shoulder*: That’s too much pressure!!!

- “I had it erected for you.” James Cheek totally had fun writing Season 2’s script

-I can see why he prefers his own shrine over how massive and opulent his new palace is.

-Hi Windmaster

-Ooh a pond reflection

-Yep that’s your traveling parter

-Then he just fans himself and he instantly slays

-Jacob Eiseman had fun with his performance and ate up every crumb

-Windmaster is Genderfluid Bisexual culture people!

- “Thoroughly~” Yep that just slayed me I’m down

-Yeah Qingxuan’s cultivation backstory is gonna age like curdled milk in Book 4

-Man I just love all of Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan’s interactions with each other!

-Xie Lian, honey, you are way too good to be a tumor, trust me

-I love how Qingxuan also defended Ban Yue from Pei Ming

-“You were my kind of crazy” I love how Shi Qingxuan and Xie Lian instantly became besties

-Dude, Qingxuan puts the “fun” in function in both forms!

-This is exactly the reason I made my Thunder master OC Leishi female too.

-Now I gotta draw Xie Lian’s female form

-Yeah I react the same when letting a small amount of alcohol in my system

-The witching hour

-To quote a well known assassin Yor Forger, “No way I’m doing this sober”

-That one wrinkled ghost did not age gracefully

-Yeah their burial grounds are in Taiwan, awesome island I definitely need to visit

- Why did they have to design every Heavenly Official to be so Attractive???

-It’s the Spirit World from Spirited Away

-Ghost City would seem like a more modern area than the Spirit World in the Last Airbender

-The heck’s this confetti

-Ooh I like the green dressed spirit with the dark bamboo hat

-Hi Jian Lan

Literally any of my young adults would react to a promiscuous person with just one word in annoyance, “Prostitutes…”

-Honey Xie Lian is already outta your league, try finding someone else that’s your type

-Yeah you didn’t have to tell everyone about your medical condition, heck I don’t even want to picture the Gaang’s reaction after hearing it

-Ghost City is the Las Vegas of Ancient China

-Bouncers

-I love the female NPC that greeted Xie Lian she has a great voice and design

-Oh I know who that is

-He clutched his heart!

-“No thanks~” *Instantly fans myself*

-The camera pan to this throne!!! He is gay and he means business!!!

-James Cheek has ate it up!!!

-The soft “San Lang”

That was an awesome start to the Second Season. Sorry if I haven’t been posting I’m four weeks into my quarter and I also got back into writing fanfic, like the first chap of The scrap immortal and the Avatar. I’ll still do every reaction to Season 2 on weekends!

[gryffsposts]

Percy Jackson x Avatar, The last airbender

Since I didn't see much of these, I am gonna be putting the main atla heroes sorted based on what their godly parent could be. These are just my opinions, I don't put any claim that this would be canon or that you shouldn't think differently.

So...since Aang is the main character...yeah Idc, I am starting with my favourite Toph

Gaia - primordial Goddess of Earth or Hades - God of the Dead and Riches, king of the Underworld.

Well I couldn't find any picture of her kids and she doesn't have a cabin, so...well you know what erthbending looks like either way. Gaia or Gaea can control eveyrhting earthy, even bones and animals, her kids would be able to do most of the same things. They would be more powerful than any demigod from the camp, since Gaia is a primordial Goddess and Zeus is lesser in power to them, since they are the oldest. Toph is without a doubt the strongest earthbender. I read the children of Gaea avoided being away from earth, especially in the air, which is very Toph. It is also said they use the earth as an extension of themselves, which I do not kidd you, it really was there, is so Toph to a point. They are also described as stubborn and determined, but loyal. Do I need to say anything else? Toph would 100% be Gaea's child. But....if you don't like her being a child of a primordial Goddess...I guess Hades, God of the Dead and Riches and king of the Underworld. Hear me out....bone bending. If you haven't heard about it..basically there is a theory bone bending can be done by an earthbender...which in a way...could raise dead from the ground. Besides, Hades is said to have some control over stones and minerals. Since it's said his children can be surrounded or have affinity for money, Toph is also from rich roots and she often doesn't have problems attracting money, read cunningly getting some. This gives Hermes energy as well, but oh well. So yeah, Toph in my opinion is a Gaea's child....or Hades's, altho I am tilted more towards the green option. Oh, and for those asking why not Demeter or Persephone, they control the fauna mainly, not earth. We don't see Toph even once bend flowers in Atla.

Katara

Poseidon - God of the sea, storms, earthquakes, droughts, floods and horses.

With this one I had no trouble. I mean, not only by bending, but by characteristics. She can be calm and sweet as still waters and then raging and determined like a sea storm. Her personality matches the description in Rick Riordan's site. She is also fiercely loyal to Aang and loyalty is said to be the fatal fault of Poseidon's children. They can also heal by entering water. Really, there is nothing more worth mentioning. At least to me, Katara is an obvious child of Poseidon.

Sokka

Athena - Goddess of wisdom, civilization, mathematics, strategy, defensive warfare, crafts, the arts, skills, intelligence and brilliance.

Okay, so, disregarding the logic that Katara and Sokka are siblings, Sokka as Athena's child makes the biggest sense to me. Yeah, he goofes around a lot, but you can not say he is dumb. He plans everything, the group is lost without his abilities to read maps, to make schedules and generally without his tactic mind. Sure, he gives off Poseidon vibes as well, since he is also very loyal and protective of his closed ones, but Athena really fits him more, at least in my opinion. Just to warn, I do not only watch the bending abilities, or in his case, lack of such, and you will see that when I do Zuko. So, yeah, I got off the main point, Sokka is very strategic, thoughtful and has great interest in war duties. He is also incredibly smart, maybe the smartest one in the Gaang. So yeah, for me, he is 100% Athena's child.

Aang

Hebe - Goddess of Youth and cupbearer to Zeus or Zeus himself - God of the sky, thunder, lightning, kingship, honor and justice.

Oof, is Aang hard to sort or what??? Okay, I think he could be Hebe's child, because, they are said to preserve their youthful look (Iceberg *couph couph*) and because they are described as caring, sociable, friendly, liking to make others happy and generally concerned with others's happiness, take pride in community services, enjoy parties and feasts and tend to heal fast from injuries. I think that sounds a lot like Aang. Honestly at some point I was thinking of putting Hermes in, because of Aang's cheeky and travel-loving nature, but then just dropped the idea. Also, when I searched for Wind Gods in PJO universe, the resultats weren't something that reminded me of Aang at all, so I left them out as well. In genral, Aang is very lively and childish in a good way and he likes to make others happy. Because he wanted to live out his childhood, at the beginning of the series, he was too irresponsible towards his duties as the Avatar, which I think would happen if you put a Hebe's child in his place. But why then do I think of Zeus as well? Well, because the children of Zeus are more or less born with responsibility and while they usually take on it with pride, who said that would be the case for everyone? Besides Zeus children can control the weather to some extend, which is said to be an ability for the airbenders. Plus, Zeus and the sky. Yeah, air nomads. While Aang isn't the one to love leadership roles like Zeus's kids usually do, he is good at it when the cause is to his liking. In comics of Atla, he is shown to start leading an air nomadic group and seems to be doing good and to be happy. He also loves his traditions, which I think would fit Zeus. Zeus's kids are also mentioned to be brave and strong, which Aang is. It is stated that Zeus kids can control air. I think it fits. Altho by duty I think Aang fits more Zeus, in personality he is much more like Hebe, and that's why I can't really decide. For Toph, I am heavy on Gaea even tho Hades fits as well, but for Aang I really can't decide whether he would be Hebe's child or Zeus's.

Zuko

Ares - God of war or Hades - God of the Dead and Riches, king of the Underworld or Zeus - God of the sky, thunder, lightning, kingship, honor and justice.

Oh boy.....I was saying how Aang was hard to sort....Let's just dive into it. For me personally, Zuko would be most likely Ares's son. Just to mention, ignore all the daddy issues going on in the series, altho with a father like Ares who needs Ozai? Anyways, obviously, Zuko is very agressive, especially at the start of the series, war is surely on his mind, no doubt about it and generally....kids of Ares are described as war streategic minds, with courage and determination. Okay...while Zuko was in a way forced in this position by his father, he was indeed brash and very agressive at the beginning. I know he settled down in the third season...but still. Hey, no one says you need to only be a bloodlusting screaming angry issues head to be a kid of Ares. They are smart, despite what your initial impression of them might be. Determination is what drives Zuko and fuels his firebending. Whether that would be the goal of catching Aang or later the goal of helping him stop his father, there is no denying Zuko needs an ending point or something he is passionate about to keep him going. I think that fits Ares great. But....Hades wouldn't be a bad option as well. Okay, yeah, Zeus, Ares, Hades, the great awful father trio....but I mean at least Zuko is used to it (Poor Zuko, he really needs more hugs from the Gaang). So, back on track, Hades. Why Zuko would make a good child of Hades? Well, Hades's children are said to hold grudges and to want to finish their business with someone. Doesn't that sound like our fire prince? Also, he really gives off this shadowy emo vibes that Hades usually has. His sass would also be very much appreaciated. Also, Hades's children can have some sort of control over fire and minerals. As I mentioned, I don't only watch the bending abilities when sorting. If I did, Zuko would either have to be Hephaestus son with Leo's rarer fire ability or Hestia's son...which as at least I can tell, does not fit him. So yeah, back to the main topic, while Zuko doesn't really give the vibe of necromancy stuff, his personality does fit well with that of the children of Hades. And now, Zeus. Look, I just added him, because of three main things. First, Zeus's children as mentioned in Aang's sorting are born with a heavy burden. Second, his kids are usually serious and goal orientated. And third, they are said to have good leadership skills and at the beginning of the series, while cold and distant, Zuko does a good job with commanding his soldiers. Not to mention he ends up as the next Fire Lord. Oh yeah, and he can also bend electricity, which is something Zeus and his kids are definetly known for. So...in conclusion of Zuko...he is either a son of Ares, Hades or Zeus.

Suki

Arthemis - Goddess of the hunt, archery, wilderness, animals, forests, the Moon, radiance, maidenhood, and childbirth.

Okay. I mean, this one is very obvious. Suki is part of warrior girl group that is super badass and doesn't rely on bending abilities. How more Arthemis coded can it be??? Do I need to explain more??? Since Arthemis is a sworn virgin Goddess, Suki wouldn't be her daugher but part of her huntresses. They have more physical prowess than other demigods. Now...if you have to ask me as which God's kid she would be....I don't really know. I don't even know if I want to speculate tbh. If you want, go ahead, but I am leaving it at that. She is definetly one of Arthemis's huntresses. This would however make things between her and Sokka technically impossible tho....but oh well. I honestly am too tired to think it anymore lol, but I am definetly sure that if Suki was to be in the PJO universe, she would be a huntress of Arthemis.

[m--rtyr]

Okay, I have a Fandom ick that many don't agree with me on but I have to say it.

People need to learn how to grow out of crushes/acknowledge that it is no longer appropriate to have a crush on them. Like, I am talking about the people in their 30's who STILL have crushes on Zuko or Katara or characters that are children. It is 100% fine and normal to say "I had a crush on them" or "Yeah, Def shaped the type I am into today" but not STILL having a crush on them.

This applies to so many things too, live action and animation. It is absolutely fine to find an adult actor attractive, fine to find them attractive in the roles they play, but it is weird to me to be attracted to them while playing a teenager. Not a twilight esc teenager, or one where yes they are technically teenagers but it is very obvious all the actors are ADULTS but shows or characters where they look and act YOUNG!

Cool, that Disney channel actor is an adult playing a teen, but why are you attracted to the teenager? Why are you attracted to this specific role? The actor is cute, but they are a child in this. It's an all gender problem too. Like, this may just be a personal ick thing after seeing too many Percy Jackson edits done by women old enough to be the actors mom but still..... Ick

Ik this is only like. Vaguely related. But the way people were acting about Five in TUA is kind of the opposite of this in the worst way.

“It’s okay to thirst over him!! He’s 58!!” HIS ACTOR IS 13!

The oldest his actor was playing the character was 18!!

YOURE THIRSTING OVER SOMEONE WHO IS PHYSICALLY A CHILD!! I DONT CARE IF HE COHLD CONSENT HIS ACTOR FUCKING COHLDNT

but yeahh I do find it weird. Like Tom Welling in Smallville is the kind of circumstance where you okay ‘okay I get that tho’ because he was a fully 6’3 25 year old man that they slapped a backpack on and called 14. I don’t have a crush on 14 year old Superman, but I do appreciate 25 year old Tom welling.

But like. As you said. When the actor can convincingly play their character’s age, which is a minor, I don’t really like people simping over them. It’s just uncomfortable. Because like they’re simping over the looks-and-acts-14 version of the actor instead of like, the fully grown adult they are outside of the project.

And like I can look back on animated characters I had a crush on when I was a kid and get why I came to that conclusion. But tbh my type has almost always been adult characters. Ive been a big man truther since day one, I was propagandised by Li Shang’s Broad shoulders. But even the few child characters I had a thing for… NEVER WOULD I EVER LOOK BACK AT THEM AND THINK THEYRE FINE

Let alone do a Gracie Abrams and look at a child when I’m nearly a full adult and want a piece of that.

People online are weird because like you can accept your childhood crush, even think you had good taste. But if your taste now is still kids I am just as entitled to have an opinion about that as you are entitled to have that opinion.

[the-genius-az]

Nope, Katara dies pretty old but nowhere close to Azula's age. (She could try if she was an earthbender lol). They don't have children, but Sokka does and Azula mildly claims his family line as hers too (not that weird because Sokka is also basically claimed as her brother).

Yeah, I guess? Because it's Azutara, Maizulee ends up a platonic thing.

The re-encounter I have in mind involve Azula undercover in Fire Nation armor (inspired by NATLA!Azula in soldier's armor). They don't recognize her at first, even without the face plate, because this Azula is taller and adult-sized, and they're "shik shak shok" when one of Gaang babies call her and she answers. Like "she came back from the dead and oh god she's ALIVE".

Azula, the prodigy. It's all Ursa's fault, she does come from the second oldest dragon family lines.

When they heal and reconcile, Azula gives Zuko rides. She also gives Izumi rides and Zuko is silently jealous of not being a dragon to fly alongside her. He doesn't even care about being stronger or a better firebender, he watches Azula flying with other dragons and wants to be there with her.

It's angst first (because, well, Zuko has tried to decapitate her multiple times and once he managed to slash her with his sword – it's how Katara, then the rest of the Gaang, discover that their giant lizard friend also has a human form). Later on it gets funny. Katara can understand dragon Azula pretty well, Sokka is a close second. Meanwhile Zuko just stares like "what the fuck?" Made worse because at some point, the Gaang constitutes of the canon Gaang, three dragons and Zuko is just like "HOW DO Y'ALL COMMUNICATE?" (At least Appa seems as annoyed as him for the excess of lizards.)

But Zuko eventually is allowed in the same cuddle pile that Azula is in, so it'll be fine.

- Ash 🔥🍌

I read your stories at night! I'm actually getting to that point of understanding where you want to go.

They don't have children, but Sokka does and Azula mildly claims his family line as hers too (not that weird because Sokka is also basically claimed as her brother).

Azula: They're ours too.

Sokka: What? No-

Azula: Ours!

Sokka:....Okay.

Azula, the prodigy. It's all Ursa's fault, she does come from the second oldest dragon family lines.

Ursa, yes... she's always the one to blame!

he watches Azula flying with other dragons and wants to be there with her.

My babies...🥹

I bet neither of them (after solving all their problems) wants to separate again.

But Zuko eventually is allowed in the same cuddle pile that Azula is in, so it'll be fine.

Happy ending!

[mozart-the-meerkitten]

Okay I have more crossover thoughts, except this time the crossover involves my original story, "The SOS Chronicles".

Not exactly sure what triggered it but I've been thinking about Avatar the Last Airbender a lot again recently, specifically my boy Zuko. And as I was mulling things over it occurred to me how funny it would be if the Avatar Gaang met my OC's, Oliver, Silas, Silvie and Cassie.

Part of what would make this so funny is because, y'know, everyone in the Avatar world is pretty prejudiced against firebenders after their nation tried to take over the world. But the SOS kiddos would love firebenders because in their minds that's one of the most useful abilities to have like, ever. Because they're coming at it from the perspective of being slaves/alone at a very young age. So the ability to just, manifest fire whenever you want? SUPER useful. You can use fire to purify water, cook food, and stay warm. Not to mention as a defense against hostile people/animals. (In case you're curious, their pyramid of element usefulness goes: firebending because of the above, waterbending because having fresh/clean water for drinking, cooking, washing is very useful. Then earthbending because you can use it to make shelters and chuck rocks at people. And then airbending, which they have a hard time coming up with practical uses for, but they acknowledge that it's still very important because they immediately understand that it represents freedom. They can't see much of a use for lightning bending tho (except Cassie, their little inventor/engineer who loves that idea), the idea of bloodbending terrifies them (tho Silvie says it'd be very useful for subduing enemies), but METALBENDING, now dang the three kids who used to work in a mine extracting spaceship fuel? Oh yeah, they can see the uses of that immediately. Silvie brings up how useful it would be for escaping from the Enforcers since their prisons are mostly metal. Oliver- when he has Almitak's power- can basically already energybend so that'd be a fun conversation for him and Aang to have. But I digress.)

So anyway, I'm just imagining the kids meet the Gaang and within ten minutes they're just hovering nonstop around Zuko, which freaks him out a little bit, and when he asks what they're doing their only response is, "You're warm." and now he has to deal with them following him around... or climbing him, in Silvie's case. Baby Aguithans just climb the tallest nice person they can find by default. (Silvie is NOT put off by his temper. She yells right back at him. He's not hurting her and baby has been treated so much worse by so many people it doesn't even phase her. The other three kids will drift away until they're done yelling.)

The best way to get at least Oliver to leave Zuko alone, they find out, is by Aang showing how he flies with airbending. Because as soon as he soars into the air, Oliver starts bouncing with excitement and squeaks, "I can do that too!" and shoots into the sky but. with no glider or visible airbending. Almitak is just sighing in resignation but also a deep fondness. Aang is very surprised but delighted to have a flying buddy.

Cassie would LOVE to talk about inventions and things with Sokka. The little bean would take one look at an airship and demand to know exactly how it works. She'd also love Toph just in general, she's got a similar sort of personality, but she's more go-with-the-flow after having been a slave for most of her life. She'd have Toph throwing rocks at her and be trying to hit them with a wrench like a very dangerous game of baseball until Silas yelled at them to stop.

Silas would like either Katara or Sokka most depending on who was being the parent of the group at that moment. Because Silas, as the oldest of his group, is the de-facto parent. He'd be THRILLED to talk about navigating by the stars with them tho (Sokka at least would have to know this since Water Tribe).

Almitak is glad the kiddos are having fun but not really enjoying himself until somebody in the Gaang brings up spirits/dragons and then suddenly he's manifesting his ghostly self like "did somebody say dragon spirit?" and half the Gaang is panicking, Aang is just excited, Toph is the most unnerved she's ever been because there is no way to sense this creature. Almitak feels bad about that and apologizes and is also forced to explain his existence.

At some point Aang and Oliver talk about how they both have No Killing rules and don't really want to hurt anyone and lament the positions they've been put into and it's really good for both of them to be able to admit that to someone in a similar situation who agrees with them. They're besties after like ten minutes.

At the end of the day all the SOS kiddos creep over to snuggle with Zuko because warm. He grumbles about it, but secretly he's kind of pleased and amused that these kids like him so much. The Gaang is extremely amused and Almitak is trying not to laugh and directing them to the futuristic equivalent to a camera in one of the kid's pockets so they can take a picture and savor this memory forever. Zuko is unaware of this until later. The SOS kiddos are DELIGHTED.

Anyway, those are just some fun thoughts I've been ruminating on recently. I have some more I might type up later but this is already long so. Hope it was a fun read!

[fellow-nerd]

Time to go crazy about the characterisation changes in the new atla cuz oh boy do I have thoughts

The main thing I noticed for all of them is that this show is focused about telling a story about a war torn world and how that affected everyone first and a coming of age hero story second, which is a choice considering the source material which balanced them both extremely well.it never had to be so heavy handed for the audience to get it but that also could be because it's a kids show at the end of the day 😅

Aang: where is my adventure loving kid. He just wants to ride the Elephant koi and show his new friends cool things. Yes, his past weighs heavy on him and expectations press down, but he's still just 12. It takes him time to work through his grief and his reluctance to save the world and that is literally his big arc. Learning to grow up and save the world (becoming THE avatar ya know). This Aang gets with the program quick and is only concerned with helping people and stepping up, like little dude ur telling me u don't want to go penguin sledding. I dunno it just feels so off. Love the stuff with gyatso too.

Katara: she's actually the most true to her og character I think. I just wish there was more focus on her like there was in the og. She was my first favorite charcter, put some respect on her name. It was criminal to give the opening to kyoshi, like girl u have ur own novels to be in! ALSO WHY DIDNT SHE BREAK THE ICEBERG!!! UGH SO MAD AT THAT.

Sokka: look I get it It's the year of lord 2024 misogyny has no place. So why don't we tell the story of how a guy learns that those views are wrong and how to change ur views rather than pretending that it never existing, like erasing it. As much as it can be critiqued Sokkas misogyny was the catalyst for Katara to hit the iceberg and free Aang. Narratively this gets them both invested in Aang and just shows Sokkas growth on every rewatch. They could've toned it down but it's a big part of his character growth and what are the gonna fill that with, if anything at all.

Suki: now her in live action I can get behind. She ate and left no crumbs. She put Sokka in his place and stole the episode for me. Also I loved the addition of her mom, honestly goals. Can't wait to see how they utilize her throughout she's the best. No comment.

Jet/freedom fighters: pretty much the same, I didn't love the condensing plot lines all into omashu tho

Teo/Sai: same as above but I loved the Way the two interacted it had so much depth.

Iroh: not sure how to feel. It feels wierd hearing iroh not voiced by Mako ya know. Like his dailougue was fine but it lacked that inflection Mako had which really Gave iroh all his character. It's big shoes to fill and it comes so close. I did die for the line where he says he's the one who owes Zuko. Like. Ugh. The implications of that. How Zuko made him wake up and gave him a reason to keep going. Its enough to make a girl cry.

Zuko: oh zuko, zuko, zuko, zuko. Again tough shoes to fill. I think that the characterisation is all there the challenge comes later on when we get his redemption arc. I do love the seeds they are planting especially in his relationship to Iroh.

Azula: now I called it as soon as I saw that girl, knew it was her who else could I have been. Just as evil, just as lustful for power, definitely in character for her to be doing what's she's doing this early on. Will definitely keep tabs on this one.

Bumi: now he about WRECKED ME ok. It was rough. I loved this recharacterisation. If ur gonna give us a war torn world, give me the war torn ruler, whose been carrying all that trauma and burden on his back for 100 years. Of course he's gonna be mad at Aang of course HES gonna BE MAD himself. So yeah it was rough to watch but because it was so hard hitting to see how war destroyed Bumis mindset, and then so wonderful to see Aang give his oldest friend a piece of himself back

In conclusion I care about Avatar way too much and will be ranting about this even more as I continue watching

[tmnt-obsessed-ace]

Its 10:45pm time to yap about ANOTHER au (because I cannot be stopped)

So remember that untitled atla x tmnt 2012 au I came up with thats inspired by A Tale Of Spirits?

Well...it has a title now :)

"Before The Summer's End." (Look A Tale Of Spirits is already a really good title but I can't USE it because its already claimed and I've been wanting to yap about this au for so long and couldn't come up with an idea so SUE ME)

So basic premise, the turtles (including my own tmnt 2012 versions of Venus and Jennika because they are my beloveds and its my au I can do whatever I want, plus those two are not in fics often) all get transported to the alta world and separated from each other. (Again like A Tale Of Spirits but that fic has rooted itself into my brain and this au isnt gonna be a carbon copy so its cool)

So key differences from A Tale Of Spirits

Its tmnt 2012 (my beloveds) post season 4 (the turtles are all 20)

It includes Venus and Jennika

It begins at the end of season 1 episode 3 "The Southern Air Temple" unlike A Tale Of Spirits which starts at the beginning of season 2

So already pretty different

And for once Leo ISNT gonna be the main victim of my angst hammer. Its gonna be DONNIE (I have plans for him >:3)

So who exactly ends up with who?

Venus will be the first turtle introduced, landing in the Southern Air Temple and will meet Aang, Katara and Sokka straight away (Venus and Jennika will definitely get the most screentime since I am basically inserting characters that were never in tmnt 2012 and making them fit in with my favorite turtles because the two girlies definitely SHOULD'VE been there Im just saying)

Jennika will land on Kyoshi Island and will join the Gaang soon after they meet. (Girlie gonna have a field day)

Leo meanwhile will land in the ocean close to Prince Zuko's ship, close enough to warrant investigation. (Ok I know that Raph, Jennika, maybe even Mikey would've been better fits for Zuko but I didnt want to take the obvious route plus Zuko becomes "The Blue Spirit" wielding twin swords and later on calls himself "Lee" the joke was right there and I had to take it)

Raph lands in an Earth Kingdom town, very close to the estate of the Beifong family. (Yeah I loved the Raph Toph dynamic in A Tale Of Spirits, bite me)

Donnie ends up in the Northern Air Temple (he aint gonna STAY there because...I have plans for him. He's gonna learn the lesson Leo has already learned. Being the author's favorite is NOT a good thing :3. Donnie's gonna go through it that's all I'll say)

And Mikey is gonna land right in front of Princess Azula, in the heart of Fire Nation territory. (Purely because I am very tired of Mikey being treated as a "fragile weak innocent baby" by fanon. NO MIKEY CAN BE JUST AS DANGEROUS AS AZULA. Especially if he gets angry)

Its gonna be very fun, especially on multiple occasions that the kids need adult the turtles will realize that THEY are the adults

Hehehehe

("We need an adult...I am the adult")

Almost forgot to post the age order of the turtles oh my god I am tired

Ok so the age order from oldest to youngest is

Leo, Raph, Venus, Donnie, Jennika, Mikey