#to be part of korras group

[lyriumsings]

i always forget how much i love korra she lights up my soul the only bisexual woc icon to exist for me in my teens in like a super popular media like atla like the space she has in my heart is so!!! she’s so perfect to me!! i just wish her story and supporting cast had been as good as aangs her villains and like tenzin and lin were mwah chefs kiss but ooooo if i could do it all over again i have so many opinions

[whatifitookalilnap]

Korra, in an Equalist Asami universe: okay, someone else is going to need to interrogate the Asami girl

Mako: why? She uncooperative?

Korra, blushing: actually, she's a little too cooperative

Bolin: how is that even possible?

Korra: she keeps trying to ask me out on a date okay?! She's somehow super into me!

Mako: don't you think you're exaggerating a little?

Asami, getting guided out the interrogation room by cops: hey pretty girl, does this Saturday work for you?

Korra, blushing: I mean I don't have any plans

Mako: KORRA SHE IS PART OF A TERRORIST GROUP TRYING TO ERADICATE BENDERS

Korra, defensively: LOOK SHE WAS VERY COOPERATIVE AND SHE'S RICH IT'S NOT LIKE SHE WAS GONNA STAY IN THAT JAIL CELL ANYWAYS

Bolin: you know what I'm rooting for you two

Mako: AM I THE ONLY SANE PERSON HERE-

[heartilywrites]

hi hi!! can i req a kuvira x fem!waterbender reader where the reader is on team avatar and they met in s3 and we’re all flirty, what would kuvira do to r in s4?? ty!!

،، Everlasting love ; Kuvira

resume: where Kuvira and you started something you didn’t know how it could end.

content warning: fem!waterbender reader x Kuvira ; description of eye color ; you're part of team avatar ! ; time skip ; kinda long os ; no use of y/n ; open ending

wc: 3k

a/n: I'm sorry I took too long to write this one, but I was trying to get everything I wanted to explore in just one post and apparently I can't do that in under 2k words🧍🏽‍♀️ HOPE YOU ENJOY :D

“ Once upon a time, I was falling in love, but now I’m only falling apart.

Blue eyes wandered around the landscape with such fascination, you were so immersed in your own thoughts about the city that didn't realize when the group stopped by a big salon, your body bumped with Mako.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Shit, sorry...! Where are we?” you asked to the bender, clearly you didn't pay attention to anything said before.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Meeting the mother of the airbender.” he said making you face the other way were some metalbenders were doing a choreography.

Now you stood still watching the dance unfold right infront of you. You were so amazed at the way they used the metal to catch people and how easy it looked to bend.

At the final stand, your sight got caught by one of the girls at the very top, even from afar you could spot a little dot below her left eye.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Let's take a break, everyone!” you heard the matriarch say and giggle a little bit at how fast everyone scatter.

Your eyes followed the girl and Kuvira could feel your gaze in her, so when she turned around to get a glance of who was looking at her your hand waved timidly.

Korra called your name when she saw you distracted, her head made a movement about going out of there and you were quick to follow.

It was safe to say that now the metalbender was all you could think of, you went with the team to the city in a mission to meet the new airbender and take her to the north with the rest of the nomads, but that was all. You couldn't do much as a waterbender in a city made of metal, so you went wandering around the place, still mesmerized with the architecture.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Hey!” you smiled at the captain when both paths bumped each other. “You're the one in the dance group, aren't you?”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Kuvira.” the soldier presented herself, you said your name back. “You're the one that came with the avatar.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I am, she's with Su's daughter right now.” you explained, tilting your head to the left. “And I wanted to explore a little bit...” both your hands went to your back, you didn't lose anything trying to shoot your shot, right? “Do you know any good guide that could show me around?”

Kuvira looked confused for a good second, she couldn't seriously don't catch that. “I thought Aiwei showed you around.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I mean... Not really, he showed us like two places at best.” you said, shrugging. “Just if you can, maybe you can show me around?”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Oh...” you saw the girl's cheeks change to the most subtle tone of pink, her head moved trying to hide it. “Well, right now I'm on duty, but..”

She stood in silence, thinking for a bit while your bottom lip was trapped between your teeth for what felt almost an eternity.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “How about at dawn we meet at the door of your dorm?” she finally said, you nodded way too fast for your liking.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Would love to!” your smile grew being met with one smile of hers, a little bit smaller. “See you at dawn, then.”

She made a little bow which you reciprocated and both continue each respective way. 

The rest of the day you were humming a melody while walking around, sitting down or even just existing. Your friends were quick to catch up your change of acting. The first one to point it out was the avatar.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Spill it, what got you so happy?” she asked once your group was alone, Asami giggled.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Not what, who got her happy? Is the real question.” the inventor corrected the girl, Korra opened her mouth surprised looking back at you after looking at Asami.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “No one!” you started, trying to hide a smile, a couple seconds where needed for you to get closer to the girls. “Okay, there's this girl in the guard team...” your friends assemble with you, Bolin taking place beside the non bender, interested too in what was said about your new crush.

Mako rolled his eyes funnily before getting pulled in by his brother.

Now that your friends knew, you totally regretted it when the time came and you were waiting for Kuvira... with the rest of the team at your back. At the very sight of the metalbender, you were so quick to get water out of the container you always carry on you and threw it at them gaining a small scream from the earthbender and some grunts from the fire nation pair. A mufled 'bitch!' was said by the avatar in a friendly way, everyone went inside to hide giggling when they heard the captain greet you. Clearly peaking out the window, fighting each other in whispers and dropping to the floor when Kuvira almost got them in the act.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I'm sorry if I made you wait too long, there were some matters I needed to take care of.” she excused herself, you were quick to shake your head.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Don't worry!” you almost shouted, blinking a couple times before clearing your throat. “I mean, uhh, it's okay, let's go.”

Almost in a desperate manner, you took Kuviras wrist and made her walk with hurry away from your friends, you already knew they would make fun of you.

The first ten minutes were a bit uncomfortable for both parties, Kuvira would point a spot and tell you the history behind it and you would nod while looking at her instead of where she pointed, but you making questions about them was what made the metalbender relax in your presence and once you felt that from her, you relaxed too.

At one point of the night, Kuvira led both of you to a viewpoint in the city, the moon was starting to rise in-between the mountains surrounding the valley and the captain stopped right at the handrail.

She stopped your talking about how the night started to feel cool and pointed for you to look: they were closing the domes, your mouth opened amazed at the view of big pieces of metal rise on your surrounding and close on top like a cocoon would. While looking up you walked backwards and bumped into the dark haired making her laugh in low voice, her arms got you so you wouldn't fall.

Once the show was over you turned to the body next to you and took a step back from her almost embarrassed, Kuvira stopped her hands from looking for you again. “Sorry, heh, I don’t have good balance while looking up.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “It's okay...” she murmured smiling a little bit, her hands rubbed against each other before putting them behind her back. “I think that's all the history and places of Zaofu that I can teach you so far.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “It was great,” you confessed, your body looked to sit on the handrail, moving your feet in the air. “You should be a tour guide, it suits you.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I'm okay being a captain.” she said after laughing at your idea, you smiled big. “Want me to walk you back?”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Let's stay a little bit more, yeah?” you requested leaning on your hands. Kuvira nodded before starting a new conversation.

The next couple of days were mere chaos for everyone since the infiltration of the Red Lotus, so you and Kuvira saw each other less and less, but everytime both were in the same area she would wink at you and you would smile back or vice-versa. Before leaving the metal clan to follow Aiwei on his plan you left a note for Kuvira on her hand on your way out and waved her goodbye without saying a word.

“I had fun with you this days, call me when all of this is over. ;)” followed by your land-line number and your name as signature.

If you were honest, the following days were a big blur in your memory. Fighting some crazy powerful benders and seeing your best friend so close to dying got the best of you, but you were so glad to have all of your friends alive and well.

A couple of weeks passed and after Jinora's ceremony and Korra's departure to the south, you received Kuvira's call.

You were so happy when you heard her voice again, the feeling was the same from her side. The first call would be filled with silence and some other typical question from the other, but both of you dragged it as much as you could to not hang up so quickly.

The next calls were more interactive, she would tell you about her day and you would tell her about yours, the thoughts on your mind, her descriptions about training or dance practice, both promising to visit the other as soon as possible.

But it didn’t last long.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “You... You want to unify the Earth Kingdom?” you asked stopping your pace in your apartment, on one hand you had the phone's base and the other the phone close to your ear.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Someone has to.” she said, on her end you could hear noises of people walking and talking about loading stuff. “Bataar and I are going to take the role on that since Suyin is too self-centered to do so.”

Your body had moved to the closest sofa and you sat down in there while bitting your nail. “Are you sure about this? It could... I don’t know, be a bad idea? There are way too many bandits in every state. They will eventually choose a monarch, no? They can handle it.”

A deafing silence filled the line, Kuvira sighed.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I knew you wouldn't understand it, your nation is not the one on the verge of falling apart.” her voice hardened, you blinked surprised. You tried to call for her by name. “I have to go, there are things I need to do.”

And she hung up leaving you with a frown while looking at the phone.

That was the last you knew about her, you tried to call her back but only got through Bataar and when asking about the metalbender he would just say she wasn't there and hang up.

Weeks passed, everyone started on their own things and you could only get more worried about the girl. You knew Bolin got into her team and you thought that if maybe he was there it meant that the situation couldn't be that bad, right?

Wrong, as the time passed by you only heard bad to worse things about Kuvira. They called her the great uniter and with that name you heard about the way she would make the states surrender to her. After three years you had totally gave up on having contact with her, but you continue to have contact with Bolin, after all he was one of your best friends and you wanted to know about him.

He would tell you about the train, the destinations and how Kuvira was doing in a "discreet" way since he knew about how you liked her, Bolin was lucky to not be near you when you read those parts.

On the day of the coronation, you were in the north water tribe with your family; you've been living there after the second year with the excuse that your parents needed help at home and it would also give you time to breath familiar air with the whole team dispersed, but your peace wouldn't last much as you heard on the radio news about how Kuvira named herself the leader of the new Earth Empire.

It took a call from Mako saying how they needed all hands on deck to stop Kuvira to get you back in Republic City. Bolin was in charge to update you with everything after you greeted everyone with a hug.

You couldn’t believe how the ex–captain got so power-hungry to the point of initiating a dictatorship, you felt as she was a completely different person to the one you met at Zaofu.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “You need to talk to her.” you heard the detective say, snapping you out of your thoughts.

After blinking for a moment and digest Mako's words, you frowned. “Why me? Korra should try to talk to her again.” you pointed to the shorthaired one.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Because she's crazy about you.” Asami said in a almost funny tone. “Bolin told us how she would ask him all the time how you were doing.”

Your eyes shot to the earthbender, clearly he hid that from you, the boy tried to shrink himself in his place.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “She used to say she wanted to talk to you and try to make you part of the army somehow, I used to tell her that it was a crazy idea because you are a waterbender and the army was all earthbenders... and Varrick, but he was the engineer and she would say that you could be her right hand at everything and–” his word vomit got interrupted by the avatar.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “See?” the other waterbender took your hands into hers. “Try it, for us... For the city, we don't have too many options and I know you still care about her.”

Korra said that last part with such caution, trying to not get a bad reaction from your side, expectant to your gestures and face. You were static in your place, how could you do that? It was true, you didn’t disagree with the avatar, you still cared for Kuvira. After all, the time shared with her was one that you always thought about when you felt nostalgic, she made you feel good, you had discovered feelings you didn’t thought you ever had with anyone ever and it did hurt seeing how the earthbender changed for worst.

Your hands squeezed the ones holding them and a faint smile appeared on your face.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Okay, I'll try it..” a cheer burst in the room by your friends.

You were amazed at how fast they got Kuvira on the line ready to talk to you, with everyone at your back you took the radio on your hand and cleared your throat. She talked first, calling you by your name.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Hey, you.” you said, nervously and bitting your inner cheek. You would never know, but she softened at the sound of your voice, thankfully she was alone. “It's been so long, huh?”

A small giggled left her mouth and you got goosebumps at the sound. “It has... I'm sorry at how I ended things.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “You don't have to apologize, Kuvira, I'm just glad you're okay..” you said in a whisper, there was silence then, you were thinking and she was waiting for you. Korra poked your side making you wiggle a bit, saying non-verbally that you needed to start. “But you are in time to stop your plan.”

She sighed exhausted, shaking her head a little bit. “I knew this was about the unification.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Kuvira, you need to stop.” the avatar tried to jump in, your arm stopped her from taking the radio off your hand.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “...Can we talk privately? Just the two of us.” she talked to you, saying your name at the end. You turned to your friends who were looking over your shoulder expectant.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I got this,” you assured the group with a smile. “Please leave us alone, it will be fine.”

Everyone was hesitant about leaving, but finally let you by your own with only the radio.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Kuvira, please, think this through.” you started once they left the room.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Join me.” she spat suddenly, taking the words out of you. “Be my right hand in the unification.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Kuvira... I don’t—”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Rule the Earth Empire with me.” she interrupted. “There was not a day I didn’t imagine us together ruling the empire, of us being together.”

Your mind turned blank at what was said, she didn’t stop thinking of you. Just like you didn’t stop thinking of her...

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I would give my army if that means you will be with me in this new era for my nation.” Your eyes were dancing everywhere, looking for something that could give you answers. “Please, primrose, be my consort. Rule with me.”

The nickname and title said threw you out of yourself.

You were ashamed to say there was a part of you considering the offering, but how could you do that to your friends? to Republic City? Your feelings for Kuvira were strong, but were they that intense to betray everyone else? To betray the friends who lend you their hand when you needed them? Those who you have gone through hell and heaven with, the ones on the other side of the door waiting for you to have an answer for them, the group of people that wanted to save a whole city and called you in because they knew it would work out with you there as well.

After giving her your answer you stopped the communication and went to open the door, making the four fall at your feet as they were over the door trying to listen. “Oh, hey, how are ya?” Bolin asked like nothing.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “And? How it went?” Korra asked once she got back on her own feet, one look at your expression and she knew something was wrong with you. “What happened? Are you okay?”

You nodded and breath in deep before breaking the news. “We need to get ready to defend the city.”

Even though your feelings for the girl were strong, they didn’t blind you to follow her in the dark. With the hurt of your heart, you had to stopped her, even if that meant that what you two had would disappear.

[alpaca-clouds]

Let me talk Anarchism

Okay, let me quickly talk about it, because I am so annoyed with this. For once in the way how it relates to Solarpunk, but also in relation to media. And yeah, choosing good old Hobie here, because while it was kinda played for humor with him a lot, he was one of the few characters in media I have seen, that are actually kinda a positive representation of anarchism.

You know, media in general misrepresents anarchism all the time. Sometimes for propaganda purposes, and sometimes because the creator does not know any better and has grown up with said propaganda themselves and just believe it. Most of the time, media hence represents Anarchism as "Society without rules!", which is most certainly not what anarchism is.

The word Anarchism comes from the Greek An Arkhos, which translates into "Without Rulers". That is exactly what Anarchism means. Anarchism is a political philosophy that aims to get rid of all unjustified, involuntary hierarchies.

This is, by the way, why Anarcho Capitalism might use the word, but can never be anarchist, because capitalism aims to build unjustifiable hierarchies. It is exactly the goal of the system. So Anarcho Capitalism is a contradiction in itself.

An anarchist society will still have rules. We know that, because there have actually been societies in history, that today we would call anarchist. It is just that instead of a sort of some group of people ruling over everyone else deciding on those rules, everyone would get to have their say in it. That is, why those historical examples of anarchism for the most part have sprung up in smaller, close-nit societies, because before the age of the internet it would've been rather hard to make everyone's voice heard.

If you are wondering: "But isn't democracy already doing that?" The answer is no. Because democracy is not working, due to the politicians having all the power and the populus not being able to force them to stick to whatever they promised during the election. We cannot recall politicians, who have lied to us. So for the most part, it is the people with big money, who influence the politics. People, who were not even elected, but who the politicians will try to please more than the average joe, who has voted for them. 

It is another reason, why a lot of anarchists are against the police. Not only do they use police violence, but they are in a position, where they are allowed to use it against people, often without much reprecussions. And all of that, without the people having any say in who does and does not get to be a police(wo)man. It is another unjustified hierarchy.

And, yes, it is also why anarchists tend to be against the concept of nation states. Because internationally some states rule over others. Colonialism might've ended on paper, but it has not ended in practice. The reason some nations are poor, while others are rich, is that the poor nations get exploited by rich nations. An unjustified hierarchy. And that is without starting on the fact how many borders have been drawn by people, who had no right to do so.

On the small scale, though, anarchism first and foremost is about helping people. Mutual aid is one of the core principles of the anarchist movement. Helping people, who got left behind by the unjustified state and the people who are in power. It is also about empowering people and allowing them to find their own voice.

See, here is the fact: One of the core believes in anarchy is, that people are actually not terrible. If the state stopped existing tomorrow, people would not run around, murder and pillage. They would still help one another. We have seen this time and time again when through war or natural catastrophies systems of power have failed. People help each other. Because we are actually a pretty social species.

This is also why I absolutely loathe the depiction we see in a lot of media. Most of all in Legend of Korra. Where not only the Red Lotus, as an anarchist group, does not do jack shit in terms of mutual aid and things like that... We also see basically the Earth Kingdom go to ruins and violence within minutes of the Earth Queen having been killed. Like, no, that is not how people would react in that situation. There would not be instant riots or some shit. Jesus. What made them think that?

And yes, sure. Some anarchists might riot on the streets, because they riot AGAINST the unjust system. But always remember: Usually, when there is police violence for example against a protest, it is your friendly neighborhood anarchist, who will be willing to put themselves between you and the police.

[reneesghostinthelivingroom]

Gifted with Impurity // part 2

|| Avatar Korra x fem!reader!

|| Warnings: reader uses blood bending, fight with equalist members, angst then comfort-ish

|| Summary: You and Korra are attacked by Equalist chi blockers after your date. She defends you, you save her with blood bending.

Read part one here

Requests open!

~~~

You and Korra had just finished watching a mover together, the two of you laughing and discussing what you had just watched. Overall just really enjoying each other's company on your date.

The two of you turned a corner, hand in hand as you walked around the city for a bit. It was late but neither of you were worried about anything bad happening. After all, if something did happen you had the Avatar there to protect you. You were sure you couldn't be any safer.

You would quickly regret those words.

Before you even realized what was happening, a fight broke out. Korra reacting faster than you as she fought off against Equalist chi blockers. You tensed at the sight of the masks, memories immediately flooding to the front of your mind.

Korra blasted fire at them, defending attacks left and right. Keeping you guarded and protected. She would do anything to make sure you were safe, even if you weren't the main target.

You watched as they got in some good hits on Korra, effortlessly dodging her fire bending attacks. As she punched the air with a blast of fire. The Equalist moved out of the way; swiftly headed for her side, hitting all the correct points and blocking the chi flow. Korra grunted and swayed. Throwing an attack of fire with her opposite side and kicking the chi blocker away from her. A second quickly swooped in and dodged a blast of fire, hitting up Korra's side and blocking the chi. Making it impossible for her to fight with either arm. Korra staggered back. A finale equalist coming up behind her; moments away from electrocuting the Avatar with those damn gloves. They've learnt it's easier to overwhelm the Avatar as a group if they hope to have any chances of defeating her.

Your eyes widened and your body reacted before your mind could catch up and question what you were doing. Hands raised as if controlling puppets. The three Equalists movements stopped. Body's twitching, limbs moving against their will as you blood bended them away from Korra. Taking a step forwards. Adrenaline flowed through your body. The rush overwhelming you but in a way you... enjoyed? You'd never felt this in the past when you used blood bending. The thought of doing it always terrified you. This time? You thrived in the adrenaline. Maybe because it was done on your own choice, rather than your Father's force. A smirk formed on your lips as you forced the chi blockers off the ground, raising your hands. You were moments away from flicking them into the nearest wall...

Faintly you could hear someone shouting your name. Pulling you from your thoughts as you looked to see Korra, who was staring at you with wide fearful eyes.

"Y/N!" She yelled, the fear in her voice and eyes making you pause. The Equalists dropping to the ground, the force of the impact knocking them out cold as you stood there. Hands still held out in front of you in a puppeteer like gesture.

Korra seemed to almost hesitate before she took one step, then another before full on sprinting towards you. Her hands clasp against your own and pull them down, hands linked and held between the two of you.

"We talked about this. You... you can't use blood bending." Korra's voice was low, you looked away from her.

"My body reacted before my mind." You explain, your voice even quieter than Korra's. She frowned and hesitated before moving her hand to your cheek. She didn't mean to be fearful of you, but after seeing that? Who wouldn't be at least a little scared?

"But you enjoyed it. Didn't you?"

You stayed quiet. Which confirmed everything Korra needed to know. She bit her bottom lip, debating where to go with this now. The Avatar felt torn between her morals and her heart.

"I couldn't let them hurt you." You tell her, though you knew there was no taking back what you'd done. You messed up. Korra had warned you weeks ago that you only got one chance. Would she really give you a second?

Time seemed to stand still. Dragging on as you waited for her to say something. Anything. Korra had tried to respond many times, but couldn't seem to find her words. Ultimately she decided to let go of you and you feared the worst.

You held your breath and looked away, though she made you look back at her with a soft touch to your cheek.

"I know when you had first asked for my help, I told you you had one chance. I never expected to come to care about you in the ways that I do so... I'm willing to give you another. Just- promise me you won't use blood bending again." Korra pleaded with you, you sighed out the breath you had held. You'd prepared to hear her break up with you before you even got the chance to go on a second date. You weren't prepared to be given a second chance. At first, you didn't know how to react. But your body reacted for you.

You pulled the Avatar into a tight hug and she hugged you back, gripping at the clothing that covers your shoulder blade as she holds you tight. Head buried into the crook of your neck. The two of you stayed like that for a long while before the sound of movement caught your ears. You looked down and noticed one of the Equalists were starting to wake up. Sharing a panicked look with Korra, she gripped your hand and the two of you ran for it before they could fully gain consciousness.

[kataraslove]

how do you feel about people saying Katara post the show was just a “house wife” and a “baby maker”? I personally think it’s super stupid and fucked up…while I do understand the criticisms for the comics ESPECIALLY the promise. TLOK criticisms for her character are pretty damn dumb to me…honestly the only thing I can get is the critical for her not being at Jinoras ceremony.

something that the original show does really well is present the dichotomy of katara; she's hot-headed, stubborn, determined, argumentative, protective, a fighter and a warrior. at the same time, however, she's presented as compassionate, kind, caring, nurturing, a healer. atla does an incredible job to avoid caging katara into one facet, unlike other media that tend to restrict their female characters who present feminine personalities into the group's resident healer/mother teresa figure. fighting and healing are core tenets of her identity. she uses both of these aspects of her identity to win the war, to save the lives of her friends and family, and most importantly, connect to and honour her decimated culture.

i don't think tlok makes an attempt to capture the fighter aspect of her identify, hence where the argument that "she was reduced to a healer" comes from. yes, she's incredibly old. yes, she deserves to rest after a lifetime of fighting. however, you could make the argument that toph and zuko are still in active combat mode during their old years. it's an all or nothing scenario; either everyone in the remaining gaang deserves a fight scene or no one gets one. so i can see where that criticism stems from. however, much of the criticism also stems from the fandom's refusal to correlate power with healing; to see how being a healer is an honour in it's own right, especially in the atla world where it's the equivalent to being a doctor (and katara would be the most renowned doctor there is).

katara does not deserve a shoe-horned fight scene where she's going to be tossed down in the snow five seconds later (like zuko) or where she's going to complain about her back problems (like toph). i can go on and on about how toph’s depiction in tlok is another form of sexist writing, but i think this post highlights it perfectly well and captures everything that i wanted to say.

if it were up to me to write tlok katara, i would:

have spent more time exploring her role in the white lotus. how much input did she have on korra’s training during the south, because i doubt caging her up until she’s 17 and delaying her spiritual journey is something that katara necessarily would have agreed with. i imagine that she would have (should have, at least) a lot of sway in the decisions surrounding korra as a world leader and legendary hero [per avatar legends]. if not that, even as korra’s waterbending master, the companion and spouse of the previous avatar, and the mother of the only airbending master in the world, would be enough to earn her decision-making title.

actually have her take part in the council of elders, especially during the civil war in book 2. no bryan konientzko, a tumblr post explaining that you can see her on the council of elders while your show is airing isn’t enough. we should have gotten katara’s perspective on the independence war currently happening with her tribe. particularly, it would have been an excellent opportunity showcasing her leadership abilities that we saw in imprisoned and the painted lady, encouraging her tribe to fight for their justice and independence.

expand upon her relationships with her children and grandchildren. yes, the legend of korra isn’t about katara or any of the former gaang members. but jinora, tenzin, kya, and bumi are all important characters that should be defined by their respective relationships with katara, much like how they’re defined by their relationships with aang. bryan and mike shy away from featuring former members of the gaang to avoid nostalgia bait, but there comes a point when deliberately avoiding the presence that your original characters play on their successors ends up hindering the success of your show. i think katara should be a critical character in the subplot between her and aang’s children, providing her perspectives on her husband’s parenting and relationships with their children.

have her actually leave the southern water tribe. if toph can leave the swamp to stop kuvira, and zuko can leave the fire nation to stop the red lotus, then why was katara constantly portrayed in the southern water tribe? there was an excellent opportunity to have her attend her granddaughter’s air mastering ceremony. i actually disagree with claims that the writers were avoiding having katara and zuko in the same scene specifically because of zutara; i think they didn’t want any of the former gaang in the same place. hence why we don’t ever have zuko and toph meet, or katara and toph (i know toph mentions katara by name, but i truly believe that that was a throwaway line serving as a substitute to appease the audience’s thirst for old gaang interaction. kind of like a, “here you go!! toph mentions her. now shut the fuck up.”)

give her a statue representing her bravery, courage, and determination. this one’s self-explanatory.

she didn’t need to be present at the bloodbending trial if the focus was for the avatar to take away yakone’s bending (and her being a bloodbender, i mean.. there’s NO WAY for anyone else to suspend yakone if she’s there). but i do believe the show should have mentioned something about katara not being able to there last-minute, due to tensions in the south or whatever, and how they cannot delay yakone’s trial even by one week.

i disagree with criticisms that katara became a “baby-making machine” for the air nomads. there’s no substantial support that katara and aang had children solely to repopulate the air nomads. there’s contrary evidence, in fact:

tenzin was the only airbender. if katara’s purpose was to serve simply as a baby maker, aang would have tried to have more children. from a writing standpoint, i think the narrative would have gone out of its way to portray kataang’s family as only having airbenders, or having more airbenders than non-benders or waterbenders.

we would have seen a lot more children in a relatively short time period. bumi, kya, and tenzin have sporadic age gaps, indicating that their conception wasn’t really at an urgent pace, but something that katara and aang took their time with, due to life events and circumstances.

as for whether the show turned katara into a “baby-maker,” by highlighting her family relations over her career prospects, i disagree. i don’t think we’re shown anything about katara in the legend of korra; i think we’re presented with limited information about her on all aspects. from a family perspective, all we know is that she had three children with aang. the narrative goes one step further to even separate her from the family conflict, such that the cloudbabies do not pull her into their grievances with their father and childhoods. kya and bumi’s overall arcs are about embracing their father’s legacy, while tenzin’s arc is about moving away from his shadow. from a career perspective, we know that katara at some point banned bloodbending, became one of the best waterbenders and the greatest healer in the world, then trained korra. in fact, katara’s relationship that is given the most narrative weight is her relationship with korra. i can understand if people’s criticisms are her being reduced to korra’s mentor and a healer, but i will not be able to understand the baby-maker or housewife claims simply because there is no proof.

if we’re examining tlok katara, i think there are many criticisms to be held, many missed opportunities and abandoned threads, but i do not agree with fandom extremes that she was ever presented as a “baby-making housewife turned healer.” i disagree with claims that tlok emphasized katara’s legacy as only having children (particularly her one airbender child). especially because tlok goes out of its way to separate her role in her children’s life, instead emphasizing her role in korra’s life. narratively, we get more exploration of toph’s storyline with her children than we get with katara.

as for the shitty gene yang comics that mischaracterizes just about every member, even momo and appa, i’ve got much to say on that. i think the only comic worth exploring is north and south, and katara’s portrayal in that. rather, there’s a particular criticism of katara’s portrayal in north and south that i want to rebut.

[sophieinwonderland]

The Plurality of... Avatar: The Last Airbender

Major Spoilers For Avatar: The Last Airbender ahead! And minor spoilers of related properties.

Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements could stop them. But when the world needed him most, he vanished.

Welcome to the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender. A world where some people are born with the gift of bending, an ancient art that allows them to control one of the four elements. But only one. Even if they came from parents who were different types of benders, each bender only gets a single element.

But there exists a single exception to this rule. The Avatar. The one person in the world who can master all four elements.

But we're not here to talk about the Avatar's cool bending powers. We're here today to talk about…

The Plurality of The Avatar

Plurality: A state of multiple self-conscious agents, or "headmates," sharing a single body.

The Avatar isn't merely a jack of all trades bender. Simply knowing how to use the four elements is only a small part of their toolbelt. And perhaps one of the least important. Despite the series placing a strong focus on the need to master all four elements, perhaps the actual most important thing about the Avatar is that they reincarnate and are connected with their past selves.

This allows each Avatar to speak to and learn from the experiences of past avatars. This is most prominent in what's called the Avatar State, a sort of super form where their eyes (and downvotes) glow as they channel the skills and abilities of all the past avatars through them.

(Art by @joeyscomics)

Aang's avatar state is a sort of blending of the avatars without a distinct identity of its own.

Additionally, there were also a couple instances through the show where Aang, the current avatar, switches into other avatars.

During the season 1 mid-season finale, The Winter Solstice, Aang first contacts Avatar Roku, his firebending predecessor. Trapped in a temple with no way out, a group stands outside the door prepared to strike as soon as the avatar steps through. They expect to see a small child walk through the doors. But what they see instead is Avatar Roku.

Once the enemies have been defeated and fled, Roku turns back into an exhausted Aang, who drops to his knees.

In season 2, this happens again with Aang switching into avatar Kyoshi. Again, sure to spirit magic, Aang physically transforms into Kyoshi.

(Obviously, real plurals don't physically transform, as cool as that would be. But spirits in the avatar universe do have shape-changing capabilities, being able to alter both their own forms and the forms of others. There are many examples in Legend of Korra and the comics, but one big one we see in A:TLA is Koh The Face Stealer, who as you can guess, steals people's faces, physically transforming their bodies. Simply put, we can accept the Avatar Spirit as having the ability to naturally shapeshift.)

So there's the basics of the Avatar's plurality. We have multiple people sharing a body. We have system-like internal communication. We have switching. And we even have a state that could be best described as blendy.

In the plural community, a system that's formed from past lives is sometimes called Fenigenic or Phoenigenic, drawing its name from the phoenix; The mythical bird that dies and is reborn from its ashes.

From Pluralpedia:

Fenigenic is a system origin that describes systems who formed from past lives in some way. They may believe they left their past life and were reborn again as a system, came into the system from a past life into the body (causing plurality), were a system in a past life and were reborn again with the same one, and/or various other scenarios. This is an intentionally broad label that can describe many different experiences.

With these established facts, without a doubt, the avatar would qualify as a Pheonigenic system.

But I want to delve even deeper. Because at its core, Avatar: The Last Airbender isn't just a story about a kid who happens to be plural. It's a story about plurality. It's a story about dissociation. About connecting with and building connections with parts of yourself. And about taking responsibility for those parts, even when you aren't actually them. And all of this is what make the series so fascinating from a plural perspective!

The Avatar State as a "Self-Defense Mechanism"

At the beginning of season 2, Aang enters the avatar state while scared of losing his friends, and talks to Roku again. Roku explains to Aang what the avatar state is.

The Avatar State is a defense mechanism, designed to empower you with the skill and knowledge of all the past Avatars. The glow is the combination of all your past lives focusing their energy through your body. In the Avatar State, you're at your most powerful... but you are also at your most vulnerable.

At this point, Aang learns that if he dies in the Avatar State, the cycle breaks and the avatar will never reincarnate again.

Let's take another look at that wording though. "The Avatar State is a defense mechanism." It's a word choice that you wouldn't expect to find in a fantasy cartoon. "Defense mechanisms" are more a psychological term, having their origins in psychoanalysis.

Why does this matter?

Because the avatar state, at its core, is a dissociative state. And dissociation has often been described as a defense mechanism itself. From Wikipedia:

In mild cases, dissociation can be regarded as a coping mechanism or defense mechanism in seeking to master, minimize or tolerate stress – including boredom or conflict.

And later when talking about traumamatic dissociation, it goes on to explain:

Symptoms of dissociation resulting from trauma may include depersonalization, psychological numbing, disengagement, or amnesia regarding the events of the abuse. It has been hypothesized that dissociation may provide a temporarily effective defense mechanism in cases of severe trauma; however, in the long term, dissociation is associated with decreased psychological functioning and adjustment.

What's interesting about the avatar state is that, while there are some times Aang goes into the Avatar State to protect himself, often he enters it as a response to stress in general.

The first couple times we see Aang go into the Avatar State, it's to physically protect himself. Once to freeze himself. Then again to fight Zuko. But the next time he enters the Avatar State, there's no danger. There's no need to use it.

This is when he's at the Southern Air Temple, and sees his old friend Monk Gyatsu. It's when he really learns and has to process that he's the last airbender and everyone he ever knew is dead.

Aang doesn't use the avatar state as a physical defense mechanism here. Rather, he enters the avatar state as a psychological defense mechanism.

It takes over because he's disengaging. He just learned something traumatic and he can't come to terms with it. He shuts down, and his friends have to reach him through the pain.

This becomes a pretty common theme throughout the series from then on. Sometimes, it's the physical danger that causes him to transform. But other times, he's triggered into this state by his friends being in danger, or from losing Appa.

Time and time again, we see the Avatar State as being triggered by extreme mental stress more often than by any sort of physical stress.

A big part of Aang's journey though the series then becomes learning to master the Avatar State and the dissociation that comes with it. To take control of it instead of letting it control him.

Avatar's Take on System Responsibility

"System responsibility" is the concept in the plural community that if one headmate does something, then the entire system of headmates is responsible for it. Some feel this is unfair, but for practicality, it makes sense. If someone steals something, then obviously you can't send only one headmate to prison. So a big part of being plural ends up having to accept that if someone else you share a body with does something wrong, even if you don't agree with it or don't even remember it, you're responsible for it.

And Avatar has its own form of this, where all Avatars have a single spirit that is reincarnated, and are therefore responsible for the actions of their past lives.

This is most exemplified in the episode Avatar Day.

In this episode, the Gaang wander into a town that's celebrating the titular Avatar Day. They see a parade with massive wooden floats of the past three Avatars. Aang, Roku and Kyoshi.

What appears to be a nice festival that the Gaang is enjoying is quickly turned on its head when a villager sets fires to the figures and the crowd begins chanting "down with the Avatar" while the figures burn.

It turns out, this town believed Avatar Kyoshi murdered their leader, Chin The Great.

In order to prove he wasn't a murderer, Aang volunteers to stand trial. Even though Aang and Kyoshi are separate people in a way... in another, they aren't. And Kyoshi being a murderer is something that would continue to follow Aang around.

So he agrees to go on trial, and refuses encouragement from his friends to escape. And he could escape if wanted to.

When viewed through the lens of a plural system, what we see here is a demonstration of system responsibility, where Aang is showing himself willing to take responsibility for the actions of past Avatars.

Later in the episode, Katara decides that they need to call Kyoshi herself to prove their innocence, and dresses Aang in Kyoshi's clothes to "see if it might trigger something."

And it actually does! This stunt causes Kyoshi to take front! (With a full body transformation because spirit stuff.)

In the end, Kyoshi confesses to killing Chin, who she calls Chin the Conqueror, and Aang is willing to accept the outcome of the trial.

It's not just this one episode though. It's a running theme of the series.

The franchise even.

In season 3, Roku reveals that the whole reason the world was in danger was because of his connection to and weakness in stopping Fire Lord Sozin, who went on to wipe out the Air Nomads. Aang is left with the responsibility of making up for Roku's mistakes.

In the books, it's revealed that Avatar Kyoshi's earliest trials were a direct result of the failings of Kuruk, the avatar before her. And his were a result of Yangchen's mistakes. And in the sequel series, avatar Korra is left to make up for the mistakes of not just Aang, but also Avatar Wan who started the cycle.

The Avatars are people who share a single soul. Each new avatar can be viewed as a new host in the same system. And each one therefore is responsible for making up for the mistakes of those that came before.

This is what the avatar franchise, at its core, is about. A single system making mistakes through life after life, and having to fix those mistakes in the next, hopefully making the world a better place and keeping balance along the way.

A Story of Connection and Balance

With all of this in mind, Aang begins his journey is a system cut off from his headmates.

A central theme of the story is restoring that connection. This story really begins with Aang entering the avatar state in the Southern Air Temple. This is the first time he loses control and nearly hurts the people he cares about.

The avatar state here is something powerful, yes, but also something to be feared, making him a danger to his friends. He doesn't understand at the time what that state is exactly. It's something that leaves him confused and scared.

Through the series, he gradually learns more about the avatar state and his past lives. He begins to learn from avatar Roku. Then from Kyoshi. He learns about their lives, and has to reconcile their past mistakes. He also has to learn to accept himself as the avatar. Something which he struggled with throughout the series, and led to him fleeing his people.

At the end of season 2, Aang nearly dies in the avatar state. In a canon webgame called Escape from the Sprit World, while unconscious, Aang enters the spirit world and goes on a journey where he has to reconnect with the past avatars in order to prevent the avatar cycle from being broken, going back all the way to meet Avatar Yangchen, the airbender before him.

After meeting and learning from all these avatars, he's able to awaken with a new connection to them. (Albeit with no memory of this side quest.) Although he's told he won't be able to enter the Avatar State for the time being.

After this, on the Summer Solstice, he was able to meet with Roku once again to learn about Roku's own past, and his history with Fire Lord Sozin.

All of these events laid the groundwork for a final realization in the series finale. That the past avatars were always with him. He's able to meditate and reach out, and commune with each of them.

Finally, Aang has become a fully-realized avatar, tearing down barriers that kept him separate from the rest of his system!

And in the final battle, Aang is able to access the avatar state with full control over it for the first time.

Some would say that this was because of a conveniently-placed rock. Which, yes, that might have been the literal trigger that unblocked his chi. But narratively, I would argue that it was the connection with the past avatars that truly allowed him to access the avatar state again. That finally connecting with them all was how he truly earned this ability!

Conclusion

So there we have it! The story of Avatar: The Last Airbender is not just an incredible story, but an incredible story of plurality and connection between headmate.

This was really fun to write about, and I enjoyed talking about the plurality of the Avatar.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read!

I think with that, I've covered everythi...

Oh... right...

I guess I didn't cover everything about the plurality of the Avatar, did I?

Guess I need to plan for a Plurality of The Legend of Korra in the future! 😁

(And if you're interested in more of my ramblings about plural representations, you can check out my post about the Plurality of Batman. Or you can read about The Plurality of The Hybrid Chronicles: What's Left of Me, where I analyze a novel about a world where everyone is born with two souls.)

[crowentity233]

Don't Tell Part 1

Mako x Reader (touchstarved and secret relationship)

Part 2 Masterlist

Summary:Mako x Earthbender reader

You being touch starved for years suddenly have an intense crush on mako after he put himself in danger for you and the safety he provides following the attack. You both keep your relationship under wrap from the krew. You both don't want to deal with everything that follows them finding out.

You sat at the table with Opal, Bolin, Korra, Asami, and Mako. You had been friends with the group since the downfall of Kuvira.

You had been an escaped supporter like Bolin. You had escaped shortly after Bolin.

The table was full of chatter from the group and what they had been up to. Korra and asami had been dating for a while. They were perfectly matched. Opal and Bolin were happily dating. You and Mako both just endured the public display of affection from the couples.

"I actually have a date tonight." You spoke happily to the group.

Asami immediately smiled brightly. "Is it the guy from the Pro-Bender tournament?"

You nodded. "It is. His name is Nabi and we are going to the café on airbend Lane. The one with the good pastries."

Bolin gasped excitedly. "We love that café. They have the cutest little paw pastries with a fireferret charm."

Opal pulled out the charm that Bolin had given her. "They do! It's a very nice place for a first date."

You stood leaning against the brick wall. Your nerves were pressing. This date was something you kinda forced yourself into to try. You hadn't been on a date since leaving Kuvira's army. That was well over a year ago.

You stood in your own world, trying to press down the fear. Your heart fluttered at the thought of seeing Nabi again. You lifted your eyes seeing Nabi walking up.

"Hey!" You hugged him casually. You both stood outside the café. "How was the match?" You asked, knowing he had gone to watch the probending match today.

"It was good the team I bet for won." He smirked happily.

You smiled politely when the corner of your eye caught movement. A group of men were lerking closer. "Aww, isn't this sweet. Sorry to break up your date. I'm gonna need your cash."

Nabi immediately started digging through his pockets.

You stomped your foot into the ground, bending the earth as a warning shot. "I suggest you get out of here."

"You and what army?" The gang members chuckled as Nabi was nowhere to be found he had deserted you seeing his chance when you distracted them by bending

You rolled your eyes, taking a fighting stance. "I don't need one." The double meaning in your own mind, boyfriend nor an army. You bended quickly, creating distance between you and the group. You weren't dumb three on one wasn't a risk you wanted to take. You were a great bender, but no toph. You ran off jumping on your motorcycle. You sped off, but the men quickly caught up to you. Sirens blared behind the men as the cops caught up, too. The waterbender shot water your way. You blocked a little late. You got a scratch on your arm. You bended earth trying to get them off your trail. The waterbender then froze over your back tire, causing you to come to a screeching halt. You tried to keep as balanced as you could. The balance finally toppled over, but you were at a safe speed. Your bike turned over, and you hopped onto a rock that you had bending into something to slide into safety with. You watched as a bike caught up to the men. Fire caught on the bike, causing them to all jump off the bike before it exploded in the middle of the bare street. The men were surrounded by the cops and sirens immediately. You leaned against the wall of a closed store. Mako had been the one to apprehend the men and packed them into the cars of his coworkers. Your hand fell to your arm that was sore from the cut.

Mako walked from the car to you. You lifted your eyes to his. He stood much taller tonight. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" He lifted your hand from your arm seeing the cut underneath.

"Come on." He placed his arm over your shoulder. You hesitated from walking with him. Your knees were weak from the adrenaline. You took a step with him. Your legs were learning trust in the ground beneath you as you slowly walked with Mako. He held you stable. "Can you ride with me?" He asked as you both approached his motorcycle.

You nodded hesitantly. "Can I ride in the front? I'll feel safer. "

He hopped on the bike and opened his arm for you to get on the front. You sat down in front of him. You placed your hands on the handlebars, and he placed his hands over yours.

"We're going to my apartment." His voice sounded through the helmets.

"You don't have to do that. I'm sure I'll be safe." The bike took off you held onto the bars as mako took control.

"No chance. I know how these guys operate. I'm not risking it. You can stay over. Bolin and Opal will be there in the morning. You can just stay tonight, and we will hang out tomorrow like we planned."

"Okay. Thank you, Mako." Your back relaxed into his chest. He made a few turns and passed some buildings. Each turn calmed you further. Safety was right where you were. The feeling overwhelmed your senses.

The cool air blowing past you. The warmth of makos chest against your back. Your legs pressed against his. The vibrations of the road. You rested in his arms. He parked his bike and, for a moment, time stood still. You remembered this feeling of having a man so close to you was mako. The touch that you had starved for, just the comfort of a man. It was Mako.

The Mako that you know from Bolin. The same Mako that was with you this afternoon. The one that you always sat next to with the group. They had alway sat next to their significant others. you always sat next to mako laughing as you both poked fun at the lovers swooning over each other. This safety was him. It was always there. Tonight was just amplified by the situation.

Mako broke the comfortable silence. "I'm glad you're safe."

His hands fell from yours, and he stood up dismounting the bike. The unwelcome cool air hitting your skin. Even through the layers of clothes, you could feel the cold air of being painfully single and without the warmth of another. "Yeah, I am too." You stood up still a little shook up from the fight, or maybe it was the butterflies. Mako wrapped his arm around you to help stabilize you to the ground.

"Come on. Let's go inside. I'll get a bath for you. You can borrow some of my clothes to sleep in." He helped you step into the building and walked up to his door. He released you again to unlock the door. You could feel the cold again.

You made your way to the couch. As many times as you've been around mako, you've never seen his apartment. He no longer shared a place with Bolin. After Kuvira Bolin followed opal with her airbending, he left mako to figure out his own life path.

Mako was a fish out of water caring for himself, but with you here. He was in his element. Taking care of someone else was comfortable to him. It was second nature.

He walked to the bath and filled it with water, warming it with his bending. He grabbed a towel and picked out clothes for you. Leaving them on the countertop.

"Are you sure you're not hurt?" He called out as he entered the room again.

"No, just sore and a little shaken." You answered.

"The bath will help then. It's ready for you."

"You're the best, mako." You stood up and walked towards the bathroom. You stopped next to him. Your intrusive thoughts win. You wrapped your arms around him, pulling him into a hug. At first, he was taken back, but then he held you, remedying his own touch starvation.

"If you need anything, let me know. I'll be in the living room."

You let go and walked into the room shutting the door. You shed the clothes and a horrible day away. You stepped into the warm water, and it engulfed you in relaxation. Your mind stood still. The warmth of the bath was soothing. His bending was laced with the water it felt as if you were with him. This crush hit you like a ton of bricks.

All at once, the craving sat beside you, taking over every thought. The way his hands held yours on the bike. The way he was so gentle with you. The way he stepped into danger protecting you from the gang. The way he threw the men against the car in an effort for them to feel pain they wanted to cause to you. He was everything you had been wanting. He was right in front of you the entire time. He would fight with you and for you. You had known him for over a year, and every caring thing he did for you that seemed like a kind gesture suddenly made you question if he could feel this shift too. If he maybe felt more for you.

The water was cooling down. You stood up, drying yourself off. You wrapped the towel over your hair. The clothes were baggy but were comfortable. The shirt smelled faintly like spices, cinnamon, and distinct firebender smoke like a relaxing incense. It was both sweet and spicy.

The tub drained, and you walked out. Mako looked up from his book. "Feel better?"

"I do. What are you reading?" You sit on the couch next to him. His arm was thrown over the couch and almost over your shoulder.

"Just some fire nation history." He put down the book on the coffee table.

"I never knew you were a history guy."

"Not normally. I just want to learn more about my culture." He spoke honestly.

"Anything interesting? I don't know much about the firenation." You both sat comfortably on the couch. Your mind wondered back to his touch and how you felt with him. You could feel the electricity in the space between you.

"Just rulers with anger issues and a lot of festivals. There are a few good leaders, though. I just got to where Lord Zuko took leadership. He was so young."

"Maybe he can teach you some about the culture one day. I do know the firelily festival is coming up. You deserve some time off. Chief would probably let you off to go." Your heart was leaping. Your thoughts turned to what it would be like to travel with Mako with this newfound crush. He looked so different in this light. The way his jawline stood out. His bone structure screaming firenation with the hard edges. His slim figure left you wondering what was under the clothes that shielded your view.

"I don't think that's a great idea. I don't think I should go alone to the firenation. I would look the part, but there are so many traditions I would look like a fool for not following them." He was aware of his resemblance to the firenation. Enough to leave you an opening. It was more than enough of an opening for you to take. You battled the thought in your head.

"I could go with you." Your mouth moved too quick for your head to stop it. "I know a little from my parents. They had some friends from the firenation. We celebrated the firelily festival with them a few times."

"If you want to go. I'll ask the chief next time I see her. When is it?" He seemed to want it more for you than himself. Maybe just an excuse to get away with you, just you.

"It's in a few weeks. It will be fun. My parent's friends told us stories about the firelilies and how they were decorated for the festival, and we can try some authentic firenation food." You were excited reading between the lines, hoping you were reading correctly.

"Bolin is going to be jealous." Mako chuckled.

"Let's tell him after we go. This can be a trip for you." You baited.

"For us. You deserve a break, too. Especially after today. What happened? You were supposed to be on that date, right?" He bit down on the hook that you laid out. Us was a simple word, but the heavy meaning was feeding you, leaving you a pure glutton for more.

"Yeah, he had just shown up, and then the gang showed up telling us to give up our money, and he ran."

"He left you alone with them?" He tensed unknowingly, setting it up so perfectly for you.

"I'm not going back out with a man like that. I prefer a man who will fight by my side." You grabbed his hand from behind you and pulled his arm down across your shoulder. You let go of his hand and shifted closer to mako. His fingertips traced your arm where you had just placed his hand. His body released the tension from his anger of you being left in danger. The new sensation of you showing interest was taking over. Your arm tingled from his touch again.

"I wish I would've been there." He spoke softly he sat up from his relaxed position.

"I wish you were there, and the gang didn't show up." You admitted feeling him pull you closer. You wanted desperately to be on a date with him instead of the coward. The way he made you laugh when you were with the krew. The way he was so kind-hearted with that hard external shell. You had cracked his shell before tonight but really tasting his gentle side now. You wanted more. It was intoxicating.

"A trip to the firenation is big first date. Are you sure you want to go with me?" He was leaning in so slowly.

"We have time to plan one before. Then we can take our secret trip together." He smirked, placing a hand on your waist, pulling you all the way into his grasp. Our was another word that wasn't just tossed around. It was something that linked you both as one. His lips met yours. You were free to explore this new beginning alone with him. That's how you wanted to keep it. His soft lips were electric to yours. It was as if lightning was striking the earth. Your lips were tingling with each move. His hand gripped at your waist.

You ran your fingers through his hair. Ethereal feelings rushed around you. Your hands searched for something stable, finding his chest to be suited. Your world was crashing into his. It left you in a daze.

Mako pulled away slowly. His hand released your hip, sliding down your leg comfortably, and his gaze met yours before running down the length of your hair that was unbundled from the towel.

"I don't want to tell the others anything yet. I don't want to deal with the questions and them poking fun at our expense. I want us to figure everything out first." You spoke through the euphoria glazed on your lips.

He nodded in agreement, trailing his fingers on your back. "When they find out we are in for it."

"If they find out..." You trailed leaning back in to kiss him, needing that euphoria back.

[drunknillawafer]

right down the line: zuko x firebender!reader (part 9)

You grew up close to the Royal Family due to your father's position as a General, but you ran away from home after the agni kai against your best friend, Zuko. Now, you've joined the Gaang and plan on doing your part in ending the 100-year war.

Part 8 Part 10

hiiii omg yall know ill never leave yall hanging!!! i love this fic like i want to finish it to the very end and even had some older zuko & reader stuff... maybe even some korra time period stuff... like!! reminder: characters are not mine I do not own them... word count approx 2500... let me know how u like it! don't forget to reblog like comment if u do like it hehe >.<

⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙

It wasn’t the throbbing headache pulsing in my right temple from my lack of sleep. It wasn’t the danger looming over our shoulders in the form of a Fire Nation metal machine. It wasn’t the shouts and trembles of earth from Katara and Toph’s adjustment to a fifth member on the team. It wasn’t the fact that Appa had crash-landed and some tree branches from the speed of dropping cut my bicep. No, it was not any of those things that finally drove me over the edge.

It was what Aang said when he was inevitably driven to madness because of our current situation.

It’s one of those rare moments that Sokka is standing outside of a group outburst.

“You’re not carrying your own weight, Appa is,” the young-air bender begins, “We didn’t have trouble flying when it was just the three of us!” My sigh punctuates his confession.

Without another moment passing us by, Toph grabs her cross-body bag and heads toward any direction that would take her the furthest from here.

Sokka steps in her way as a last effort for resolution. Oh, how it must feel to stand outside of the tension, holding the ability to remain neutral. “Wait!” He tries. She moves him in one swift kick and the dirt from under him grazes him to the side.

I’m right behind her.

“Where are you going?” The boy in blue questions me. His begging blue eyes glaring into mine.

I shrug it off. “With Toph! The three of you will be fine.”

Did they all think this about us—Aang, Katara, and Sokka about Toph and I: newcomers to the group of children burdened with saving the world? I push it aside with the rest of the questions I don’t want the answer to. It didn’t matter anyways. I’d never leave them for good.

The dirt crunches under my boots. A forged path in the spring forest leading us further and further away from the commotion. It’s just me and the earth-bender walking side-by-side with no plan in place.

It had only been a week since her official admission to the group but we both quickly registered that we’d prefer the walk to be silent. After the last two days, peace and quiet were preferred. Mandatory. A requirement.

You could feel the breeze as we begin the warmer time of the year. Flowers blooming, baby birds learning the tunes of their being, and Appa shedding. I can’t help but breathe in and out as I let the changing of the seasons cleanse me.

Toph speaks first. “Were they like that when you joined?” 

I briefly think about what I’d been up to since I met them. Aang shared how he learned he was the Avatar before going in the ice. I told them where I’m really from and what I can do, something I’d never done with anyone outside of Zuko. I ran into Zuko at the Northern Water Tribe, and he kicked me in the ribs and caused a rift between Sokka and I. Over it. Unfortunately, Aang met Azula. And now I’m here. Walking away from it all with a child I met over a week ago.

I’m also just a stranger she met a week ago, so at least it goes both ways.

“I’m not sure.” Which was true. Was it Aang’s crankiness from the sleep deprivation or did the harsh words have some truth behind them? He could’ve been defending Appa. Still. I couldn’t help but let it burn.

As we continue our walk in silence agreement with each other, she stops her movements. Her pause halts my footsteps as I watch her use her senses. She confirms any suspicion and stomps her foot down in the direction of a boulder that’s clearly hiding something behind it. A line forms as rock bends toward the culprit like a lop-eared rabbit digging underground. Suddenly, I hear a thud and a groan.

Both of us quickly make our way to investigate and we’re confronted with an old man lying on his stomach, rubbing his lower back from Toph’s damage.

“That really hurt my bottom.” The familiar voice hits my ears—It can only be one person.

Iroh.

He grunts as he stands up on his two feet to face us. The old General’s not wearing any of the classic royal clothing he wore the last time I saw him. The moss-colored robe contrasts the memories of crimson I have. But most of all, he has cut off his ponytail.

The rumors are true, then. Azula was in fact not lying to me. Zuko abandoned his post, and she’s most likely tasked with catching him. Somewhere along the lines our paths crossed and the big metal machine that’s been chasing us no longer remains a mystery.

The dots connecting cause a smile to escape me. It always comes back to him, doesn’t it? In some way, in some form, his presence in my life is inescapable. Almost as if the universe is pushing us together, but I don’t know why. Am I stuck with having to figure that part out too?

“Y/N.” Iroh greets me. “Who is your friend?”

“Who are you?” She asks, he’s the intruder—not the other way around.

Everything in me would like to run in the other direction, but I remember Iroh protecting the moon spirit over the Fire Nation. He can be trusted, I believe. “It’s okay, Toph. Iroh is an old friend.”

He feigns offense that’s only obvious to Toph. “I’m not that old.” 

“No!” I’m immediately wary of my next words. Even after all these years, I wouldn’t disrespect a General. It was instilled in me from the moment my father found out I could speak. “I meant like. I know him.” Nervously, I laugh and at my expense, the young earth-bender can trust this old man we bumped into in the forest.

☆

“Here is your tea.” The three of us are sitting around a small fire warming up a tea pot. Three handle-less cups are placed and ready to be filled.  Iroh grabs the kettle, and I watch as he gracefully pours us our share of tea. “You’ve separated from your group?” Politely, he breaks the quiet.  

Toph remains silent and the responsibility of answering the question falls on me. “We… got into a disagreement. To say the least.” I take a sip from the wooden cup, and it tastes as good as springtime feels.

He couldn’t help but question the lack of supervision in attendance. “Aren’t you a little too young to be traveling alone?”

“Aren’t you a little too old?” This wins Toph a laugh from the former General.

“Perhaps I am.” His humble reply softens the cloud looming on top of us. It seemed to calm us down: the tea and the view of the endless landscape. Tall trees with mountains in the distance. The sun beginning to rise over the east casting the skies with lilac and blush pink.

The young earth-bender goes on. “I know—I look like I can’t handle being by myself.”

This prompts a shared glance between Iroh and I, a secret conversation to affirm if this was what the fight was about. I tilt my head a bit to the left to say yes. He understands.

“I wasn’t thinking that.” Solemnly, he replies.

All day, Toph had spent defending herself against Katara so much that it had cast a lens over the conversation. Immediately, she’s defensive. A true earth-bender, mighty and as stubborn as they come. She needed to be if she was to survive this world. “You wouldn’t even let me pour my own cup of tea.” She argues.

Iroh’s earnest intentions paint his face. “I did it because I wanted to, nothing else.” One hand holding his warm tea and the other over his chest.

“People always assume I can’t take care of myself. But I do it and I do it by myself.” She states, confident as ever.

“You sound like my nephew.” The mention of him causes my heart to drop. I can’t tell if it’s racing or resting at the pit of my stomach. “He thinks you need to always do things on your own without anyone’s support.” I keep my eyes glued to the ground praying Iroh isn’t looking at me.

I’ve managed to keep him away from my thoughts when the sun shines. Training, hunting, gathering, and constantly moving place to place keeps me distracted. Sokka helps too. But when the light goes away and the moon comes up, he comes and visits me in my dreams.

When I’m dreaming, my heart can’t feel the difference between reality and fiction. The yearning fights to come out of my body in my sleep. I wake up feeling the ache of missing him in my bones.

And the dream itself is always the same. I find myself with our current selves, gone rogue from the Fire Nation, but we’re not fighting. We are walking side-by-side in some earth town, neither of us wearing our home colors. He’s smiling and we’re laughing. The conversation I can never make out, but it gives me what I need: a false replica of what we used to be and how I used to feel. At this point I can feel tears wanting to escape my eyes, both in my dream and in real life.

I wake up with the sun softly kissing the sky purple and the cycle begins again.

It wasn’t realistic, but I had been hoping the Northern Water Tribe would be it. I’d never see him again.

Iroh continues. “There is nothing wrong with letting people help you, you know.” Toph’s shoulders drop as she begins to calm down from a two-day fight. The mention of Zuko doing nothing to her, she would have no way of knowing who he is.

The question I never thought I’d ask rests at my tongue. I struggle to say it out loud in proximity to other people where someone might hear me. “Where is… Zuko?”

In honor of the shared truths, Iroh confides in us. “I’ve been tracking him.”

“Is he lost?” Toph asks.

“Sort of.” I put the cup down, wanting to stick to every word. “His life has recently changed and he’s going through very difficult things. He doesn’t know who he is, and he went away to figure it out. By himself.”

It’s almost hard to buy: Zuko all alone out there. He’s never needed to feed himself one day in his entire life, he’s always had people who would remember and do it for him. What would he do? Wander around without speaking to anyone? No, he’ll meet someone and maybe they can teach him something.

From what his uncle is telling me, he’s going to need it.

Zuko.

Changing from empathetic to merciless to empathetic again?

“Now, you’re following him.” Toph’s speaks for both of us.

Iroh sighs. “He doesn’t want to be around anyone right now. But if he needs me, I’ll be there.”

The last three years at sea must have shown Iroh something about Zuko that’s worth protecting. He’s looking past the space his nephew has put between himself and everyone else.

“He’s very lucky.” The young earth-bender comforts the old man with her words. “Even if he doesn’t know it.”

By now, the argument with Katara seemed so little. Aang’s words were fading in the distance. The metal doom machine chasing it remained large and now that I knew it was Azula, I had to get back to tell them.

Toph stands and I take this as the ending cue to our impromptu tea stop. “Thank you.” She tells him.

“My pleasure. Sharing tea and bottled-up emotions are one of life’s gifts.”

“I meant for what you said. It helped with my… disagreement from before.” Toph hooks her bag over her shoulder and motions for me to follow her. I’m on my feet with nothing but my swords with me.

Iroh has always been as wise as a winged lemur. He knows what to say and when to say it. Hopefully, one of these days it can get through to his nephew.

“Thanks, Iroh.” I don’t tell him for what specifically, but I think he knows. The small update on my old friend to let me know he’s safe. What’s going through Zuko’s head would have to be something I ask him personally about.

Before we begin our journey back, Toph leaves Iroh with some wisdom of her own. “Maybe you should tell your nephew that you need him, too.”

☆

The old town is desolate, dry, and arid. It’s a single strip with abandoned buildings scattered all around. There seems to be no civilians around. It’s perfect for Azula.

The three of us, Toph, Iroh, and I found our way to this empty shell of a village. Toph sensed multiple people with different directions depending on who you want to find. We’ve decided she’ll go look for Sokka and Katara and I’ll go with Iroh to find the royal siblings. “You’ll be fine by yourself?” I double-check with her before going.  

“Do you even have to ask?” She gloats. “There!” Toph points us in the general area we need to go toward, and we go our separate ways, better adjusted than before to fight this fight.

As the old man and I step closer and closer to one of the empty wooden homes, we find Zuko passed out on the ground. We slightly jog to him, reaching him before Azula distracts us.

His ponytail is gone too and he’s already grown some hair back. I’ve never seen him like this, I can’t take my eyes away. Zuko looks as if he is sleeping and if I squint, I can see my friend and not just his rage.

Iroh stands over his nephew as he wakes up. I wonder what he’ll first see, me or his uncle.

“Y/N?” He grunts. Whoever knocked him out must’ve did it good.

“Get up.” Iroh sternly tells him, almost like an order. He’s not going to let him go down now.

The old General holds his hand out for Zuko to grab onto and the prince gets up on his feet.

Without a second thought, my body reacts first to being in close proximity with him once again. I get into my fight stance, unsure of his next moves. Our eyes meet and I make sure there is no sign of nostalgia in my glare. I’m angry. “Don’t wanna fight?” I tell him.

He doesn’t get in a defense position. Zuko just stands there, processing the consequences of his actions. “No.”

“You did the last time I saw you.” I make sure to add every drop of bitterness in my words.

“That was—” He clears his throat and holds his hands up, “Look, remember what we said when we were younger?”

Where is he going with this? “I’m not following.”

Clear as day, he states. “Fine isn’t fine.”

“Azula always lies.” I finish for him. When we were younger, we made up a quick phrase to help us with his younger sister’s alarming behavior. Well, to help him with her. Zuko wants to believe his family, he wants to give them a chance no matter how much they lie to him or hurt him. In the Fire Nation, a trait like this can only be used against you.

It seemed like a childhood rhyme you forget about, but I guess he didn’t. And now, it’s come in handy. A quick way to explain our current battle.

“We can’t let her get him.” He pleads.

“So, you can?”

“I don’t know.” It was the first indication of a glitch in his unwavering loyalty toward his father. Not a yes, not a no.

He’s finding himself. Iroh’s words run through my mind. He’s choosing patience when it comes to Zuko and for now, just now, I have no reason to doubt it. We must stop Azula. Even if he tried something, I don’t think Iroh would let him. And that’s enough to calm me down.

I lower my hands in surrender and nod. “Fine.”

Zuko’s eyes are digging into mine, desperately trying to find me but I’m not letting him.

I practice this all the time—in my dreams. Zuko and I are on the same side once again, but the sun is glaring at me and I know I where I am. I know our past means nothing here.

This is reality, where me and him aren’t friends anymore.

tag list: @camilleverreault @staygoldsquatchling02 @yunloyal @lily-ann-b <3333

[liquidorcard]

Okay, part two. Let's go girls, gays and theys, Papa Polarity ain't saved yet.

[Part 1] [Part3]

Lily Commits Elder Gay Mutant Abuse, feat. "Eldritch Lily" (Part 2)

Everything gets worse . . .

4:13: Lily mischaracterizes Charles Xavier, throws up a Martin Luthor King quote she either doesn't understand or didn't read carefully enough, going full whyte. (Never go full whyte.)

How much do I need to dignify this by explaining why this is fucking asinine? Charles is a pacifist for the most part. A recognized and respected form of activism and protest. Like, the least charitable interpretation of what Lily's trying to say here is that figures like Gahndi, Abbie Hoffman, and dear old MLK himself are posers complicit in the oppression two of them lost their fucking life to.

That quote is referring to white people passively complicit in racism that just want black people to shut the fuck up Lily-- not passive forms of activism.

You know, it's one thing to be profoundly fucking wrong about cartoons, it's an entirely different beast when you're profoundly wrong about shit like this. Absolutely fucking ghoulish.

It feels weird pivoting back to the costumed vigilantes with funky genes, but we gotta keep going. Ironically for how much Lily is focusing on the movies here-- one of my issues with the way Charles is portrayed is he keeps casually threatening people/doing shady shit and getting away with it. Makes you question why it's framed as okay when he does it and not when it's Erik. Charles isn't a saint, he shouldn't be portrayed as one, and there's a lot of thematic dissonance when the films feel the need to lampshade the shit he gets up to less he lose the moral high ground.

4:50: OH HERE WE GO.

5:00: Lily goes on a long rant about the "activists who GO TOO FAR" trope in media.

I technically agree with her, but I can tell by the examples she's giving that she's parroting things Hbomberguy said in his RWBY video, just in a less charitable tone. So, really I agree with Hbomberguy.

She's not wrong that the BoM and Magneto sometimes wanders into this territory (I mean, they were originally 'The Brotherhood of Evil Mutant' and all that) unfortunately, but she hasn't supported that position at all. I have to assume she's heard this brought up somewhere else, this isn't exactly a unique take by any means. I doubt she's actually familiar enough with the content to create an original cohesive argument.

Lily doesn't like moral ambiguity in her media. That would be fine if she wasn't this butthurt that other people feel very differently.

6:05: "And yes, you knew we were getting to it! [ . . .] Almost all of Legend of Korras main villians start at a good through line. But then some twist comes up that makes everything they said before completely pointless."

THESE TWO, "START AT A GOOD THROUGH LINE!?"

LILLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

6:15: "Season one's Amon is a socialist activist who cares about the oppression of non-benders by benders-- until it turns out that he doesn't."

I know this is a popular interpretation of the equalitists, especially given that their name is 'the equalists,' but actually the show never gives us enough information about the sociopolitical dynamics of benders and non-benders to say for sure. I'm not going to get into it here, if you want my full breakdown and analysis on the social politics of Avatar, let me know. In summary, it's tempting to assume benders would be the dominant class as they have literal powers, but that's not really how systemic power works. There's conflicting inference on what the dynamics are, and it may be different depending on the nation. The equalists are schrodinger's activists. They could be the Black Panthers, they could be the Proud Boys. That is not me making a false equivalency between those two groups, it's just never established if their perceived systemic persecution is real or imagined.

This isn't really a criticism of Lily. That it is so ambiguous is a flaw in the show. The interpretation Amon is supposed to be a socialist is as valid as any. Well. . . It's an extremely reductive interpretation of a socialist, and I know Lily doesn't know what a socialist actually is, but I'm trying to be charitable when possible here.

I do LIKE Korra myself, to be clear. But, yeah. There's problems.

6:31: "Season four's Kuvira wants to stitch the Earth Kingdom back together but doesn't want to restore an oppressive monarchy like everyone else does. And then declares that she is the dictator of the Earth Kingdom."

Yeah, that is just a thing that has happened in history, Lily. When there's a power vacuum left by a sudden or violent upheaval of a tyrant, unfortunately often another tyrant at least attempts to take their place. This is one of the reasons why former colonies struggle to cultivate stability-- societies and communities can get fucked in the ass by this kind of shit. This isn't a pro-monarchy message Lily-- consider maybe trying to learn things now and again.

This is why people call you a fake leftist Lily. Doing (relatively) minor gestures of good will like handing out food for a short period then pulling the rug out from under the people once they're complicit is right out of the facist playbook. You are virtually doing the exact thing you accused Rebecca Sugar of, but for real.

You're being outfoxed by a kid's show again.

6:44: "Season two's Unalaq [you get the idea.]"

Lily is pro gentrification until you involve demon kites I guess. I'm confused why she thinks he ever had any good intentions, it's telegraphed immediately he's a bad dude. He's also by far the worst villain-- as in, the worst written.

7:10: "All of them go 'the status quo is bad therefore commence genocide' like they got their political theory from fucking Vaush."

By your line of thinking so did Firelord Sozin:

"I had my own vision for a brighter future . . ."

I don't like Vaush either, but-- this isn't even the pot calling the kettle black. This is the blackened grime on the pot calling the kettle black.

GOD THIS VIDEO IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT MAGNETO. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT KORRA FOR ALMOST THIS WHOLE POST.

7:19: "The entire show you're watching Korra become a stooge for the status quo every single time. 'The problem isn't that the system is bad, it's that the wrong people are in charge.' And then they inevitably change the status like bringing democracy to the Earth Kingdom and you're left wondering-- wait, why wasn't the other person doing this!?"

I did not edit those two statements together. That is, in fact, Lily pointing out why her own arguments are stupid in the very next breath. Thanks for saving me the effort, I guess.

7:45: "Why weren't the characters you set up to do these things . . . Doing the things?!"

Because they weren't set up to do these things Lily. They're the antagonists. They ideologically were designed to be foils for Korra to overcome.

Korra's political messages aren't even that deep, and yet you're this incapable from telling even obvious totalitarian right-wing ideology and mild liberalism apart.

8:10: "It's so nakedly obvious how protective of the status quo these stories are."

This is, in a very abstract way, a valid criticism of Korra. This is a common problem in a lot of media, and Korra is far from the worst offender. I think it does breach past this to some extent, just not as much as I would have personally liked with all its seasons.

But make no mistake this is Lily again, taking something Lily has seen someone else say and putting that opinion through a blender.

Let's not beat around the bush here, Lily just wanted to bitch about Korra again. It's almost like she thinks if she repeats her idiotic media analysis enough, maybe THIS time people will realize how brilliant she is.

8:27: "A victim of abuse, torture or r@pe trying to kill her [only 'her,' huh?] abuser in vengeance is right to do so."

Okay, that's enough of this for now. Part 3 coming soon.

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

Sometimes I feel like peoples thinly veiled racism towards Air Nomads is just them projecting western ideals. Like I've seen those "The Unsavory Parts of Air Nomad Culture" posts, and its just them mad that they don't have the traditional nuclear family and that the air temples are gender segregated (which if they really sat and thought about it and did a little research, they'd see that the temples were probably just a home base because they're literally NOMADS, and that they most likely intermingled with each other in their travels).

Sorry for the mini rant. I'm a historian, and it annoys me when people see a culture that's different from their own and they think it's Big Bad™.

Yup, I noticed that too, they are VERY bitter that these fictional people that were clearly inspired by tibetan culture have different beliefs/societal structures.

I'd say that's also part of why they cannot understand that Katara doesn't want to live in the Fire Nation, and why so many people in the fandom cannot grasp that the show constantly goes "Yes, the Fire Nation is the most industrialized nation, and in the context of the show that's bad actually."

It resembles modern societies more, therefore people see it as "advanced" and "good", so OBVIOUSLY everyone wants to live like that. No way Katara wasn't super impressed by the Fire Nation and didn't feel a big connection to it. No way she wants to go back to her tribe - even though that's the heart of her culture and where her family is.

It's the same principle of Sozin and all the Fire Lords after him wanting to "help" the other nations? Help them with what exactly? Some famine? Inequalities like the North forbidding women from fighting? Some unjust, corrupt government like the one in Ba Sing Se?

Nope. Just invading their territories, conquering them, banning their styles of bending, forcing them into slave labor, KILLING AN ENTIRE PEOPLE GROUP, ya know, that kind of "help." The kind that says "Be like me or else"

Honestly, that's part of why I'll forever be mad that Korra is far too americanized for a world that was supposed to be medieval Asia. It just feels like a deep betrayal of not just the setting, but of the theme the original show had of "Not everyone has to live the same way as you, my guy"

[orangepanic]

Why do you think that Asami has no friends at the beginning? With Korra it’s because she grew up in isolation and with Mako and Bolin it’s because they were homeless- but why doesn’t Asami have any friends? A girl like her should’ve had a million friends

First of all, bless you, anon. I'd literally opened up a window to talk to some friends about how alone in fandom I feel these days because so many people have moved on or stopped creating and interacting. Then I saw this message! Don't underestimate how motivating it is to get asks about characters and headcanons, or even just to know someone else is interested in your thoughts and wants to talk about mutual interests. You really brightened my day. I hope I can do the same.

As for Asami, I have three theories. The most likely and most boring of these is that it's simply convenience on the part of the writers. In book 1 we didn't see much of her personal life outside of interacting with the Krew so there was no need to waste precious screen time on Asami's other friends. After the show got renewed the writers had to scramble for reasons Asami would still be around - because let's face it, who winds up hanging out with your ex and the girl he left you for as your main friend group? IMO there's zero reason for Asami to be in the show after the first season if she has other friends and sources of support.

A more interesting proposition and the one I mostly go with in my own fics is that Asami did have other friends initially, but that they all abandoned her after her father's arrest. She'd have gone to a fancy private school full of other rich kids with other rich and important parents who'd know that a connection to the daughter of a convicted felon was now social suicide. Suddenly nobody returns her calls, everyone is busy, that invite to Su Li Lim's party happens to go astray, etc. With so many social doors now shut to her, hanging out with the former Fire Ferrets makes more sense. She might even do it initially out of spite in a "well FINE, I'm gonna go be important to the Avatar and go fight crime and be awesome" kind of way.

My last theory is that Hiroshi Sato didn't really let Asami have friends. Acquaintances, sure, but he wouldn't want her growing too close to any dangerous benders and there wasn't an easy way to do this without it being obvious that's what he's doing so he didn't let her grow close to anyone. I think of this as the Victorian novel scenario where Asami is disincentivized from doing kid stuff to "take care of father" and from an early age assumes some of the duties her mom had taken on in terms of household management. She's somehow always too busy for friends. When the class field trip comes around her dad needs her for something important. This might also explain how an 18-year-old thought they were qualified to be CEO of a huge company. She's already managing half the staff at the estate as well as the vendor contracts. How hard could it be?

But what do you think?

[whatifitookalilnap]

Random ideas I think would be cool for the next Earth avatar because it looks like we’re getting a new series eventually:

The newbie looks just like Asami

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD LET KORRA DIE OF OLD AGE THERE IS NO REASON TO CUT HER LIFE SHORT!!!

Seeing Asami and Korra’s future children because adoption exists and plus there’s gotta be some spirit that could magically give them a kid

Also just general confirmation that Korrasami had a happy married life despite the Avatar nonsense

New Earth Avatar getting discovered late! Like maybe they’re chilling in university at 18 and no one has a damn clue they’re the Avatar

Dealing with evil spirits! Spirit bending would have to be a more commonly taught skill with the portals open. I do think leaving the portals open was the best decision but it will definitely have repercussions

Honestly part of me doesn’t want to see Asami still alive because I genuinely don’t see her living very long without Korra but it would be cool to see her!

This is probably the most unrealistic part but man reconnect with the past lives! I understand the idea of one cycle ending and the start of another but this decision never made much sense to me I genuinely do not think it should have been possible to sever the connection

I really hope they don’t make the new setting too modern like is the Earth Avatar gonna hop on a group zoom meeting to figure stuff out????? I hope not lol

Thats all for now but I am so excited the ATLA/LOK fandom is getting FED for the next couple years!

[heartilywrites]

enemies to lovers with korra and a blue firebender reader🌚

،، 𝓢tanding Next to You ; Korra

request guide | masterlist

resume: where you, a Triple Threat Triad member, meet the avatar on her first day at the city... and she tries to take you down.

content warning: comfort ; fluff ; a little bit of angst ; Korra x blue firebender!reader ; I THINK I didn’t add any pronouns, but I did this with a fem!reader on mind ; triple threat triad!reader ; taking place in s1 ; reader takes Mako's spot in a lot of things !! ; description of eye color ; no use of y/n

wc: 4.2k

a/n: this has to be my longest fic by far and I feel that to cover good this dynamic I should do a series, but I'll think about it 😋 i loved writing this one ENJOY !!!!

“ One touch and I brand newed it for ya.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Whose fucking boots are these!?” your voice resounded in the Triple Threats' base, at not receiving any quick answer you were fast to burn them. “Ugh, they smell like shit, it's disgusting.”

You made your way to the group's reunion salon, being met with four sets of eyes. An ironic smile appeared in your lips before doing a small bow.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “To what I owe the honor of being called by our leader?” you asked, both your hands behind your back.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I need you to go and collect our money for us.” Zolt talked. “Viper and his men will go with you.” you frowned.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Why? I can do it alone, they will only hold me back.” you were quick to defend.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Because I say so, idiot. Now go before I change my mind.” a nod was received from your way, holding yourself to not roll your eyes at him and leaving after the three men.

You knew it was going to be a long journey. You've been part of the Triple Threat Triad since you had memory, just as your former friends: you arrived to the group as an orphan. Unlike the Fire and Earth brothers, you stayed in the group feeling that it was the only place were you could be safe, surrounded by criminals. It was all you knew: breaking the law and being a criminal.

It wasn’t like the Triple Threats cared for you because they basically raised you, on the contrary, you were the only known firebender to create blue flames in the modern age, your predecessor being princess Azula back in avatar Aang's time. So it was clear to them, blue flames: stronger fire: an unstoppable firebender and only a bunch of idiots would let a prodigy firebender go, no?

You were behind them all after getting told they would handle the money, looking around if anything caught your eye. Distracted by a necklace stand, the sound of Mushi hitting the ground got your attention back at the same time he screamed your name.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “T–The Avatar!” he exclaimed with somewhat fear in his voice, your eyes were fast to locate the girl when she effortlessly threw Ping to a close-by store.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Now that's a woman.” you whisper to yourself before running to help, taking advantage of her distraction you threw fire at her, she became alert once more.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “You can make blue fire!?” she gasped after defending herself, you smiled big at her the second you both stood still. “How did you do that!?”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Family secret, want me to tell you?” your hand made the expression asking her to come closer.

But the girl wasn't going to fall that easy to you it seemed.

A very heated –pun intended– fight happened between the two of you, Korra wasn't going to cease at any moment and you weren't about to give her the satisfaction to win so easily.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I gotta say, Avatar,” your voice sounded shaky at the movement, but you were able to make her trip on her own feet and get on top of her with one leg on each of her sides. Both your hands grabbed her wrists in an attempt to not give her the chance to bend. “I thought you were going to give a better fight.”

The avatar growled, there was no way you were winning, she would not let you win without giving a good fight, using her strength she was able to change positions to now being the one on top. Your eyes widened for a second before a flirty smile appeared on your lips, your teeth caught your bottom lip.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Yeah, well, we can test that if you like.” even if the girl was threatening you, your gold eyes sparkled with emotion.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Oh, I would love to–” a man's voice screaming your name followed by a 'WE'RE LEAVING!' made you sigh. “But I believe we need to reschedule our date, how about next week?”

The southerner opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by a head bump provided by you, hard enough to make her loosen up her grip. You pushed her to the side so you could stand up and run, instead of jumping in the vehicle you used your fire to propel yourself a couple of meters ahead and take a different route so the avatar had to figure out who to follow and to your bad luck she targeted the three men.

Once back in the base you presented yourself to the leader to tell him everything that went down while getting the money and after a couple minutes of not hearing news from the men you two concluded that they got captured.

Days passed after that and you had almost forgot about your failed mission with the trio, but the girl was impossible for you to forget. You found yourself thinking about her while walking late at night in the city's streets, how was she? Where did her Avatar duties took her? Your questions were about to stay as unsolved until one of day you saw a flyer about a probending match and on the picture you were able to recognize the girl along with your two ex co–workers.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “The destiny smiles at me once more.” you spoke to yourself before making your way to the stadium.

You sneaked into the gym with such caution of not getting caught, before entering the practice room you were able to hear something about some money for some competition, you didn't know, you were there to make a call on the girl. Once the older man left the room you walked in, seeing how Mako was leaving a little smile appeared on your mouth.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Hey, fellas, is this the meet and greet for the fire ferrets?” you asked walking with your hands behind your back. Both remaining benders turned to you and you were met with an excited Bolin and an annoyed Korra. “Well damn, calm down, no running.” you joked, Bolin was quick to walk over to you.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I can't believe it! You're here!!” the earthbender hugged you with a little bit of strength, making you complain about the limited air in your lungs. “Sorry, I'm just excited. I thought I'd never see you again!”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Now you have me here!” when your feet touched the ground again you smiled with warmth his way before looking back to Korra. “Miss Avatar, good seeing you again.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Wish I could say the same.” she spat with discontent, her feet moved her to look for her stuff. “I'm leaving, Bolin, I need to take care of some things. Catch you later!”

Your eyes followed the southerner with curiosity, she didn’t say goodbye to you, but you sure yelled goodbye to her. Not a single word back, she rolled her eyes even if you didn't see it.

You turned back to Bolin and smiled again.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “So, Bo, I heard you're in need of some money.” you said tilting your head to the side. “I have a security project and we need an earthbender as skilled as you.”

The young man shuffled uncomfortable for a bit. “Yeah, uhm, Mako said I shouldn't get near you guys...”

Your eyes rolled at that statement. “Well, if you need the money in a short time-frame let me tell you that no honest work will get it.” you said, from your jacket you handed him a wad of money, his eyes widened and mouth opened with surprise. “It's yours, think about it and if you want to take the job you know where to find me.”

After that you said goodbye with a tiny hug and walked back to the base. At night a couple of minutes before leaving, Bolin presented himself in the place and you couldn’t be more happy. You'd be lying if you said you didn't miss the brothers by your side, after all you three grew together, so it did hurt a little bit when they left.

You used the opportunity to catch up with the earthbender and to ask about the Avatar without appearing invasive, you had to hide your interest for her as you weren't alone with the boy.

Everything was going well until the group got jumped by the equalists, everyone gave a good fight but the chi blockers were faster and got the group. They made sure to have you neutralize well after seeing your blue fire and got hit to unconsciousness when tried to fight even tied up.

Your body hurt since the very first second you got back into consciousness, trying to move you were able to distinguish how your wrists and ankles were tied up. Scared you woke up completely to see how you were in a stage, Bolin to your left, a large group of people in front of you and Zolt fighting at your right.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “What's going on?” you asked the earthbender, he was shaking with fear. “Bolin...”

The sound of lighting got your eyes back to your leader and what you saw shock you in an indescribable way. You saw on first hand how his bending was taken away and when he tried to defend himself again but was met with nothing, your heart stopped.

Your eyes started to tear up with fear and cold sweat rolled down your face, this couldn't be happening, not to you.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “The so called fire prodigy.” Amon said while looking at you, an electric feeling shook you. “Just as your shitty colleagues, I'll let you fight for your bending right. Prove you are deserving of the name, prodigy.”

One of the chi blockers forced you to stand up, took the ropes from you and pushed you to the center.

The masked man stood still in his place while you prepared yourself. You needed a miracle, something to help you get out of there alive and with your bending. The first attacks his way were insecure, Amon laughed at you and that got you the anger necessary to give him a good fight. The leader was backing up and that had you smiling for a second, you were sure you were about to win until he caught your ankle in one of his hands and your eyes widened.

Amon threw you against the floor with such strength that you let out a hurt moan. You tried to get him off by throwing fire at him and a couple of lightnings, but at the end he was quick to grab you by your shirt collar. And just by seconds, an explosion coming from machines startle everyone and fog began to fill the room. That was your chance, you took Amon's hand that was almost touching your forehead and threw him to the stage floor, using the steam you lost yourself in it so he couldn’t followed you.

While looking for a way out somehow you ended up leaving through an alley, bumping into the Avatar and the brothers fighting with one chi blocker who carried shocking sticks. On a quick move you planted yourself between then making a fire column in just a second.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Leave now, Avatar, before they emerge like cockroaches!” you screamed at her, the southerner was already on her polar dog. You shot lightnings near him to scare the man and buy them some time.

Korra hesitated before coming closer to you and order for you to jump behind her, without a second thought you did what she told you and after you Mako jump on.

The dog was quick to leave danger and both firbenders were looking back every now and then to make sure no one was following you, once the dog stopped everyone got down.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Thank you for saving me.” you called for the girl's attention with your voice. “I know I'm not your favorite person, but I'm really grateful you didn’t leave me behind.”

The southerner looked at you serious for a moment before sighing. “I did what I had to, anyone would've done the same.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I don’t really think anyone would've saved someone from the Triple Threats.” you shrugged. “Alright, pretty girl, I need to find a new home now that my old one will be drowned in chaos. See ya!”

Korra watched you walk a couple of steps away before calling you. She knew your name, you smiled big. “If you want, you can stay in Air Temple Island...”

You turned quickly over your heels to her. “Does this means you like me?”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “It means you need to hop on or I'll leave you in the streets.” obedient to what she said, you got back in Naga's back.

Convincing the master airbender was hard, he knew about you and how you were part of the Triple Threats so it was pretty normal for him to distrust you. It took a bunch of pleading from you and Korra telling him how everything in the equalists rally went and how you helped them for him to accept you on the island.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “But make one wrong move and I will not hesitate to have the authorities involved.” he finished, you nodded with a little smile.

The man left to his own chambers, telling the avatar how he will talk with the council first thing in the morning. Now it was only the two of you.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Soooo...” you talked taking a deep breath. “Are you planning on taking down Amon? Because I want in.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I got this, I don’t need your help.” Korra started to make her way to her bedroom, you follow since yours would be close.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I mean, I'm a pretty good firebender if you ask me and I think it would be best if you have all the help.” you tried to convince her. “Listen, Korra, I know we didn’t start with the right foot–”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “That's an understatement, you got me arrested.” she interrupted, you hold back a little laugh.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “No, that was you alone,” you saw her brow frown. “but I think I could be of great help.” you saw Korra's head shake before she started to walk faster. “I can help you improve in firebending.”

Now she stopped on her own feet, a couple seconds after she turned to you.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Who knows, maybe you can be the first avatar to produce fully blue fire.” her eyes sparkled with curiosity and there you saw a little bit of hope. Korra wasn't going to lie, she was intrigued about your peculiar color of bending. “I know you have Mako already in your team, but he's only good with lightnings. I can help you be the best at firebending.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Fine.” she said after moments of silence. “But I still don't trust you.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Understandable, pretty girl.” you winked at her and the avatar only turned back around to keep walking, hoping that by the low amount of light in the place you weren't able to see her face blush.

The next events went by quick, Korra had put her guard down around you enough to trust you after a couple of training sessions. You taught her everything you knew about firebending, alongside she taught you different moves from other nations adapted to function for firebenders. The time spent with each other didn’t go to waste, Korra finally saw in you what Mako and Bolin did: a good person doing what was needed to survive.

And when Korra was taken away, the most restless out of the group was you. The brothers knew you well and they could confirm that they had never seen you that way with anyone before, when the girl was found you never left her side in the next days.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Hey, stranger.” her voice called for your attention, you turned your head her way while putting your plate of... whatever was given to you down. “You're busy?”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Not really.” you answered with a little smile. “You needed something, pretty girl?”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Come with me to fight Amon.” she was direct, taking a seat beside you. “I don't really want to go alone...”

You blinked surprised at her, before straightening your back. “The guys didn't want to go?”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Didn't ask them, I want you to go with me.” for a second, the avatar's tone was shy, but she got the courage to look you in the eyes and not divert her gaze elsewhere. “I believe I need a fire prodigy with me to defeat a crazy asshole.”

Your face started to feel hot, so you look away for a second to control yourself and got back to her. “Alright, let's do this.”

A tiny farewell happened, everyone wishing you two good luck. The plan was to infiltrate and reveal Amon's real history to everyone in the arena, once dressed you follow every step made by the avatar mostly staying by her side as reinforcement when needed.

Everything was going well, she had freed the airbending family when both of you jumped into stage to fight for them and got to distract Amon, but he wasn't going to give up so easily. Using his bloodbending he got the two of you out of the hiding spots you were, it was the worst feeling you've had to the moment.

He managed to pin you down and control the avatar at the same time. “Wait, no! Korra!” you exclaimed with difficulty, there wasn't much you could do other than watch.

Your heart stopped when you realize how he was able to take away the avatar's bending of the elements, the same fear you felt when Zolt got stripped away from his firebending if not more prominent.

A second male voice got everyone's attention, Amon's right hand was there. You took advantage of his distraction to focus, a deep breath in and a breath out by your mouth, a grunt vibrated on your throat when he made you get up. Looking up at him you were sure he was about to talk, but your plan interrupted him. A blue fire breath from you made him take a couple steps back annoyed and then you attacked him with lightning, he was grunting and took him a minute to let you go, but when he did weakly you stood up and shot him with a new lightning to send him all the way back before creating a fire circle arouns him to hopefully keep him occupied while you ran to take Korra in your arms and leave.

Your mouth was mumbling random stuff at the same time your feet made the desperate sound against the floor of you looking for a way out. Again that horrible feeling stopped you so abruptly that the girl fell from your grip, your body hit the roof and then the floor a couple of times leaving you numb for some time, not letting you think of a defense plan. Your eyes forced themselves to focus on the silhouette of the southerner on the floor, you whispered her name and got interrupted with a growl at the feeling of your head being forced to throw itself back.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I'm impressed.” hoarsely he spoke to you. “It's almost a shame to take away the bending of someone so talented, don't you think, prodigy?”

Panic began to run in your veins seeing again his hand looking to touch your forehead. Korra's voice resounded and both the masked man and you flew because of an air blast, he rolled way farther than you did. Your eyes widened and looked at the avatar who was just as surprised, but also was quick to attack him again with her new discovered airbending.

You let her take care of the man while trying to compose yourself and standing up with a little of slowness since your body began to hurt for all the bloodbending against its will. You were getting ready to attack the northener again when your eyes caught how Korra was being bloodbended again, but she got the power to resist and kick him out of the building.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Such a woman.” you said again to yourself, walking slowly her way and being able to see the whole spectacle of the city finding out how 'Amon' was really a waterbender. When he submerged himself back into the water, you shot blue fire blasts his way wanting to hit him with no luck whatsoever.

Heavy breathing was heard both from you and the avatar and before you could say anything more, her arms hugged you by the shoulders. You both were about the same height, so your hands slipped to her waist and your head turned to face her, she was smiling differently this time.

The whole group had accompanied the girl to the South Water Tribe in looks of getting Korra's bending of the other elements back, but were met with a dead end when Katara said how she wasn't able to regaing the avatar's connection to the other elements.

Leaving everyone inside you follow the southerner when she went outside, winning Mako's spot as he made the movement to follow her. “Hey, Korra!” you called for her making her feet stop.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Not now, I need to be alone...” she said resting one of her hands on Naga's seat. “I'm not the avatar anymore, there's no need for you to continue here.”

One of your eyebrows raised with curiosity. “Why would that be? I'm not here because you're the avatar, I'm here because I care about you.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Stop pretending! We all know everyone is here because of me being the avatar, well that's no more, you can go and make your life in the city without me.” she sounded frustrated, you took the remaining steps to be near her.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I don’t want a life without you,” you began to say in such calm tone. “I got so use to you that when you were taken away I nearly went crazy...”

Her blue eyes looked back at you with compassion, one of your hands looked to rest in her face, feeling how the cold in her skin was fast to be replaced by the warmth you emanated.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “We may had our difficult start, but...” you stopped for a second, gathering strength again. “But I love you, Korra. I want to be with you, avatar or not, I love you by you.”

The southerner was taken back by the sudden confession, she excused herself and jumped on the seat to get away from there. You hid your face between your hands. “We need to be patient with her.” Tenzin spoke to your side making you jump a little bit. “It will take time for her to accept what has happened.”

You looked back at him and smiled with warmth, he reciprocated the action your way. “Thank you for letting me stay on the island, Tenzin.” you said taking advantage of the situation. “I will always be grateful with you for that.”

He shook his head. “It's what we do.” a small and soft pat was given to your shoulder, he never stopped smiling.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I'll go to make sure she's okay.” the bender nodded and made his way back to the tent.

You took your time walking to the southerner, mainly because the cold air hit you way more if you walked faster and you hated that, but also because you wanted to give the girl her time alone before you arrived to call her back to the group.

When you arrived to her, your fire breath stopped suddenly at the sight of the girl in the avatar state bending the elements. Your eyes were bright with excitement and pride for her, when her feet touched the ground again she looked back and her eyes caught your presence, just like her, you smiled big.

Korra ran your way, not letting you talk by pressing her lips with yours on a sweet kiss. “I love you too, I want to be with you.”

More than happy your answer was giving the girl another kiss while hugging her by the waist to get her as close as anatomy would allow you both to be, she hugged your shoulders delighted with the closeness, happy to be in the moment and grateful to the destiny for making both your ways find each other.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Your nose is cold, pretty girl, how can you live like this?” you asked between kisses with a fun tone, making her laugh and stop the actions.

[agentoffangirling]

I don't understand how so many people are against Katara becoming a healer/becoming more of a motherly figure in LoK

Like okay, everyone can have their own interpretations, and that's totally valid! I just don't really think I ever got it?

For starters, Katara is much older now. It's physically more difficult for her to fight. This isn't me saying that she's an incapable fighter bc she's old, she's still the greatest waterbender of all time, but it is important to understand that she's not the warrior she once was, and she recognizes that she can't take on roles as easily as she did before. When you come to that realization, it becomes kinda normal to sink into a more motherly-type role

And we see in the ATLA comics that she never stopped fighting. It's not like when the show was over she immediately settled down, no, she went out and did things with Aang and the rest of the group. She still fought for others, went around doing stuff we would expect her to do. If Katara was at her peak in LoK like she was in ATLA, she ofc would be going out and helping Korra. That's just how she is

Katara also was never against the idea of being a healer. She was just pissed off that the Northern Water Tribe didn't allow their female waterbenders to be anything but healers. Once that got solved up, she was okay to play the part of one as long as she got to fight as well, which we do see happen in the series

So yeah, people are free to have their interpretations, I fully invite them, actually, but I just never really understood this one bit of criticism on Katara's character

[prying-pandora666]

On the Disconnect Between ATLA and LOK: Or Why Reactionary Centrism Ruins Everything

I’ve made it no secret that I’m no fan of LOK’s writing for a number of reasons. But today I want to focus on only one issue: its politics.

I am baffled as to why LOK is seen as being the more “woke” story. Just because the protagonist is a buff brown woman with a female love interest (only implied until the comics, really)? This is such an incredibly shallow reading focusing only on aesthetics and ignores the actual content and philosophies LOK espouses.

But let’s not get into religion, iconography, the effects of colonialism and westernization etc, or we’ll be here forever.

Instead let’s just focus on the politics.

The Forge

Part of the disconnect between ATLA and LOK are the cultural conditions in the USA when both were made. The forge from whence they came was quite different.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

ATLA criticized imperialism.

If this show had been made during the height of Manifest Destiny, or during our super fun times illegally annexing territories (like Hawaii), it would’ve likely struggled to tell its story as well as it did. It would’ve been far more controversial and likely would’ve needed to take a more “centrist” approach, making it seem like imperialism isn’t “all that bad”.

It might have even come out and said that it isn’t imperialism itself that is the problem, but that Sozin to Ozai were big mean dictators that did it the wrong way!

But because ATLA came out in the 2000s—during a time in which the world had widely come around to thinking imperialism is kinda some super villain schtick—it was easy for the story to focus on the perspective of the victims of such campaigns and tell it from this point of view.

We don’t get long segments of feeling sorry for Ozai, now do we? The closest we get is Azula, who herself serves as a victim of this war that has consumed her childhood and deprived her of a safe, loving environment in which to grow and develop, instead having been groomed into a living weapon for her father and nation’s war machine.

So now let’s compare this to LOK.

The Legend of Korra

What does the first season of LOK cover? Collectivism, social activism, civil disobedience escalating to acts of violent defiance against the state.

What was going on in the USA in 2012 when LOK came out?

Occupy Wallstreet.

Socialism vs capitalism, the 99% versus the 1%, civil rights and equality; these are all issues we are still grappling with today. They’re highly politicized and divisive. There is no universal agreement about them.

And so LOK had no “safe” villain or “evil” ideology to combat. Instead it had a complicated and widely divisive topic to tackle that was contentious then and continues to be today.

As a result? Too much time is wasted equivocating.

Both Sides Are The Same! (But Not Really)

We get some soft worldbuilding early on in Book 1 of LOK showing how the infrastructure of this city is built to benefit benders and box out non-benders, but this is never given real focus. We SEE how the trains and police are dominated by earth/metal benders, we SEE how factory jobs employ lightning benders, while non-benders live in the slums which subject them to violence. But none of this is ever the focus or the point.

Almost as if the show is afraid to make a real critique from the perspective of the working class or an oppressed minority group.

Instead the story quickly falls off a cliffside as every tired old pejorative thrown at communists is recycled for Amon.

His sympathetic backstory is a complete fabrication meant to hide that he is actually part of the oppressor class.

They pretend to be the powerless oppressed group, and yet have the funding of the richest industrialist in the city?

The rich industrialist is a member of this supposedly oppressed class but really he’s just a secret villain looking to change the world for his own personal reasons and not to protect his fellow nonbenders (these same accusations are thrown at Jewish people re: Marxism).

There are no sincere attempts to communicate their grievances sympathetically or build a coalition or garner public support. Instead The Equalists only use violence, fear, and other oppressive silencing tactics.

The desire to make everyone equal by “stealing” people’s individuality. (The old “make everyone equal heights by cutting tall people’s legs down” chestnut).

And more!

This is kinda bonkers propaganda if you’re looking at it from a left-wing perspective, right?

And it seems weirdly incoherent if you’re trying to look at it from a right-wing perspective, especially with Tarrlok standing in as the villain “on the other side”.

But it makes PERFECT sense as an enlightened centrist horseshoe-theory piece that can’t commit to either side and has to warp and undermine its own story to fit a “both sides are wrong” message. Heck, it’s so heavy handed it even made Amon and Tarrlok brothers!

This is the problem that plagues all of LOK.

Look at the other villains too!

Amon: Civil Rights Activist or Bad Faith Opportunist?

Amon

Pretends to be: A civil rights activist for an oppressed minority group.

Is actually: A bad faith actor whipping up a small or non-issue into a much bigger one and convincing people to turn on each other for his own personal gain/revenge. Once defeated, the problem disappears.

Electing a non-bender somehow makes everyone happy and the problem is never addressed again. Just like electing Obama ended racism! Oh wait…

Unalaq: Spiritual Environmentalist or Environmental Satanist?

Unalaq

Pretends to be: A spiritualist concerned about the environment and the spirits. Basically Al Gore meets Tenzin Gyatso but willing to start a civil war over it.

Is actually: An occultist weirdo who wants to fuse with LITERALLY SATAN and usher in 10,000 years of darkness or something, and willing to start a war over it.

In an attempt to make a spiritual foil for Korra, who struggled with the spiritual parts of being the Avatar, the story took a weird turn and made a choice widely regarded as “fanfiction on crack” by having Unalaq aspire to become “The Dark Avatar”.

But it’s okay, you see, because while Unalaq’s criticisms of waning spirituality and lack of protection of holy sites could be seen as a knock against environmentalism, by the end Korra recognizes that Unalaq had a point and that the spirit portals should be left open.

So why exactly did Unalaq want to be the Dark Avatar and usher in an era of darkness? How was that supposed to resolve the problem he presented and Korra ended up agreeing with?

It doesn’t, and once again we are left with a contradictory centrist message of “protecting the environment is good but you should be suspicious of anyone that actually advocates for it”.

Also thanks for demystifying the origin of the Avatar and ruining the original lore for where bending came from with your Prometheus/Christian allegory. Ugh.

Zaheer: Spiritual Guru Fighting Against Modernity or A Charismatic Dummy Who Learned Everything About Anarchy From a Prager U Coloring Book

Zaheer

Pretends to be: An anarchist seeking to bring down oppressive regimes, therefor resetting the world to a more egalitarian time

Is actually: An idiot who doesn’t even know the difference between an ancom and an ancap and has no coherent ideology. He just wants chaos, I guess, which isn’t whah anarchy or anything is about.

Perhaps realizing they messed up so badly with Unalaq that even the creators were unhappy with the results, they attempted the spiritual foil idea again with Zaheer.

This time they actually had a writing staff which makes this season the agreed upon best of LOK.

But the tip-toeing around making any actual criticisms and falling back on the “both sides are bad” cop-out are only exacerbated by how uninformed and nonsensical Zaheer’s actions are. Not unlike Amon, he takes none of the steps an actual activist would take. He never even speaks to the people of Ba Sing Se to find out what they need or want. He just kills their leader, announces it, refuses to elaborate, then bounces and lets the city tear itself apart in the power vacuum.

It’s an entertaining spectacle! Just like his later torture of Korra is visceral. But none of it has any real substance to support it and so the horrific acts he commits feel like senseless edgelord tantrums.

Even Bolin knows it. Once Zaheer is defeated, Bolin shoves a sock in his mouth, therefor cementing Bolin as my favorite of the Krew for all time.

Kuvira: Literal Nazi or Literal Nazi but she didn’t mean it!

Kuvira

Pretends to be: A fascist, putting people in labor camps and uses the equivalent of an atom bomb to crush her enemies under heel in the name of unifying the continent under her control.

Is actually: All of those things but she had good intentions! She just went too far! Give her a slap on the wrists because her and Korra aren’t so different, you see!

Perhaps the most bizarre writing choice was to make the fascist the only truly sympathetic villain of this series. The reasons become quite clear, however, when we recognize one thing.

Yes, she’s styled after the Nazis.

Yes, her actions in modern day are more reminiscent of Russia.

But who is the only nation to have ever used a weapon of mass destruction on the level of the atom bomb? The USA.

And here is where the unwillingness to make a bold criticism or take a hard controversial stance is the most apparent.

Kuvira acts like a fascist and has a lot of Nazi-vibes, but she is also a grim reminder of the USA’s own imperial history. Of our flippant use of a horrifying technology that still continues to have consequences for the descendants of the victims even today. It is one of the worst violations of human rights and decency in history. And the USA is the only nation to have ever actually used one.

So if you ever feel it’s weird that Kuvira was arguably the worst of the villains but got off with only house arrest and a happy ending with hugs from her family? You’re not alone. Kuvira has to be “not that bad” or else you’re critiquing the USA itself. And that is a level of controversy this franchise doesn’t seem interested in dipping it’s toes into.

It’s the reason they equivocate and justify by having the Earth Prince step down and choose democracy. This isn’t an East Asian ideal. This wouldn’t have been a popular or virtuous choice in that time period. Many would’ve regarded it as tyranny of the majority, or a disorganized chaos without a consistent central authority.

It’s only seen as the perfect solution in the Democratic West. So you see, it’s not so bad, because at least we have democracy! We aren’t as bad as Kuvira who really isn’t all that bad either! Or so the narrative tries to apologize for itself.

And this is even more apparent with everyone’s problematic fav!

Varrick: How Elon Musk Wants Us To View Him vs What Elon Musk Wishes He Was

Varrick!

Is presented as: A quirky, funny, Tony Stark-esque genius who made a mistake and deserves a redemption!

Is actually: A war-profiteer willing to escalate tensions and shed the blood of his own people with no remorse to make money. Also he builds the equivalent of the atom bomb for Kuvira and her allegorical Nazis. But he gets a happy ending with a weirdly westernized wedding anyway!

Isn’t it telling that the villain who is written to be the most loveable and sympathetic is, in fact, the capitalist industrialist?

And not like that yucky evil industrialist Hiroshi Sato funding the Equalists and their civil rights movement.

No, no! Varrick is the good kind of industrialist! The kind that is non-political and mostly cares about money and inventions! After all, he only built a weapon of mass destruction for the Nazis, not the civil rights protestors!

Which brings us to…

Our Civilized Poverty vs their Savage Poverty!

And hey, that’s fair because look at the differences between Republic City and Ba Sing Se!

Sure, both had destitute populations starving and without proper shelter due to the disconnected elite leaders who didn’t care about their plight.

But the homeless people of Republic City are presented as jolly and helpful and never state a single grievance even as they live in a tent city underground! Everyone knows that democratic poverty is better! Therefor Sato was totally unjustified in funding an equality movement!

The poor people of BSS, on the other hand, are victims of that mean old non-democratic Earth Queen and later of the power vacuum left by her assassination, therefor their plight is ACTUALLY horrific. Kuvira may have been bad but she and Varrick are justified because of the unAmerican conditions!

Looking at it this way, so many of LOK’s problems fall into place. It perhaps serves as lesson in not tackling complex problems with the intention of a clean solution unless you’re willing to take a controversial stance and stick to your convictions.

I don’t think the creators intended to make a libertarian criticism of every social movement and apologia for capitalism and fascism. It’s just a sad reflection of what is and isn’t controversial in our current society. Divorced from actual morality or perspective.

What a waste.

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All that said, if you want a well-written and more adult take on the ATLA universe, check out the Kyoshi and Yangchen novels! F. C. Yee doesn’t pull any punches and perfectly balanced the darker, more visceral elements an adult story can have, with expert worldbuilding and humanized characters that feel believable even when they’re in fantastical situations.

Or if you want more ATLA instead, kindly check out @book4air: A project creating a pseudo Book 4 using both the official comics and original materials, fully dubbed, orchestrated, and partially animated by industry pros who happen to be fans!

Some comics are getting rewrites too, so whether you love the comics and want a fresh take, or hate the comics and want a change, we are doing our best to make this accessible for everyone including people with disabilities who may not be able to enjoy the originals.

Check out our first episode here!

If you can afford to, consider supporting us on Patreon! Every episode is expensive to produce and we are a bunch of broke artists. Some which don’t even have consistent or reliable housing. Any little bit helps.

If you can’t, no worries! You can still help by spreading the word so our videos can overcome the YouTube algorithm.

With all my love for this franchise and its fandom, I hope you all continue to enjoy your favs regardless of my criticisms.