#writerkatsblog

[godtierwallpaper]

Master Omi!

Older Omi designed by @writerkatsblog! See him in action here!

[grasshopperdoingdogpaddle]

Can you elaborate on that thing you said about the elemental Wu being training wheels for the monks? It sounds interesting.

I think they get a feel for the movement of the chi and how their Wu channels the energy, and gradually, subconscious pick up how to mimic it on their own. I think that's a big reason why they're recommended certain Wu to start practicing with as their signature weapons once they reach apprentice level and beyond. (Credit to @writerkatsblog for the groundwork here!)

There's this very gradual but noticeable progression of the kids' abilities as the seasons go on.

Back in Dreamscape, Omi used the Orb of Tornami to create a wave to get the logs moving. Or we see lots of time where Omi is shooting the water out of the Orb like a hose.

By Chucky Choo, Omi can hold up the flow of an entire waterfall on his own. Or we see in The New Order that Omi's very capable of just shooting pressurized water out of his own hands without the orb.

The first time Kimiko used the Star Hanabi to shoot and aim a proper fireball, she was absolutely floored by it.

By Hannibal's Revenge, she's whipping up enough firepower from the palms of her hands to level a whole forest on her own at will.

Clay used to need the Third Arm Sash to construct a fist out of stone.

By Bird of Paradise, he's making them himself, and they're way stronger than the ones he could make with the Sash.

Raimundo used to use the Sword of the Storms to whip up gales and winds or to fly.

By Bird of Paradise, Raimundo's making them from the palms of his hands, and the ones Raimundo makes himself are both stronger and can be more deliberately controlled and aimed. And he's flying solo with a lot more control, too.

Tangentially, I think observing and mimicking the qi and energy to master their powers probably explains some of Chase's abilities too, and why he says he views Shen Gong Wu as "crutches".

A lot of his abilities (standing on vertical ground, telekinesis, flight), are identical to things some of the Wu do, after all. If not learning from using the Wu back in his days as a monk, then learning from observing and fighting the monsters that were sealed into those Wu. Sort of like humans learning bending in atla from the animals with the abilities.

[gravity-what]

I was allowed the honor of coloring this piece by @godtierwallpaper !

I absolutely love this older Omi designed by @writerkatsblog . his design is so good and his whole characterization was perfection (which you can read here )! He was such a good mentor 😭 I love him so much!

[grasshopperdoingdogpaddle]

I don’t think there’s any Freudian reasons behind why Chase defected to the Heylin side. We have a pretty good idea of what motivated him, from his fatalism, his pride, his rivalry with Guan, his paranoia... 

If it was up to family, the found family he had with Dashi and Guan would have been enough to more than make up for any warmth and connection he lacked from his biological family. That just wasn’t enough to stop him from “willingly giving up everything he believed in” for Hannibal.

That said, I mostly agree with @writerkatsblog​’s ideas about the family itself.

Chase Young’s family was working class, and since monsters and Heylin forces were a much larger and more well-known threat back then than it is in the modern era, the temple really needed all the chosen dragons they could get. For a higher class family or a military family (like Guan’s), it’d be a prestigious opportunity to make a name for oneself against Wuya and the other forces of evil, but for Chase’s working class family, the draw was that the temple offered a nice compensation. 

Chase hadn’t been particular close with his family. His water powers awakened pretty early, and his social skills weren’t the best, so he was something of a loner even to them. He doesn’t have any particular anmity and they weren’t especially cruel, but they were distant and he felt a lingering resentment over how easily they gave him up and forgot about him.

They’re long dead by now. Chase probably destroyed his home village himself sometime after going Heylin. He doesn’t really think much about them though, they were ultimately a smaller part of his life than Dashi’s trio was.

Xiaolin fandom, I wanna know what you think:

How do you imagine Chase Young’s life before joining the Xiaolin temple?

Was his family poor? Middle class? Or high society? Did he have any siblings or was an only child?

What was his mom like? Was his dad an asshole?

Did they die or still stuck around?

Do you think Chase Young’s childhood was a huge factor in his decision to become evil?

[scipunk63]

Coloured in @godtierwallflower 's sketch of Kimiko and Jermaine's spar from @writerkatsblog 's fic You're Okay!

Thanks for letting me colour this! I tried to mimic the look of the show in the background too!

[friedwritinggamingghost]

So I blame @grasshopperdoingdogpaddle and @standinghereirealized for the travesty I am about to unleash on the Xiaolin Showdown fandom.

@grasshopperdoingdogpaddle has amazing stories on ao3 and excellent commentary here on tumblr.

@standinghereirealized also has equally good commentary and excellent art here on tumblr.

And it's been falling down the rabbit hole of the quality you two regularly produce that gave me this idea.

Yes, I plan on writing a series of drabbles due to @writerkatsblog , whitepetal123 and as_pure_as_melody on ao3. But those will be largely canon.

This horrendously fun au is a crossover between Coraline and Xiaolin Showdown. I won't say more at this time, but I firmly blame @grasshopperdoingdogpaddle and @standinghereirealized . And I thank you, because it's been a while since writing a story has made me smile so much.

[fullofsunsetwhispers]

I've never had a pet so I know nothing about cats but you and writerkatsblog mentioning that cats... squint affectionately? Made me curious so I had to google it.

"If you catch your cat staring into your eyes, squinting and slowly blinking, you can be sure your cat feels affection for you. The slow eye blink is a way that non-aggressive cats signal that their intentions are not hostile. It is a demonstration of eye contact without staring, and we interpret this behavior as a sign of relaxation and trust."

That's really interesting! And people have told me that cats aren't affectionate!

So according to that, does that mean the slow blink might have been a silent way to signal again to Omi that even though they were fighting against each other in a showdown, he meant him no harm and they could trust each other [at the moment]?

(And also to say 'I love you, little one' in cat language of course.)

Dear anon, then these people were kinda wrong! I myself had never had a cat in my life, but one time I came across a similar article about cats showing love to their humans! Additionally my friends- cat owners also confirmed everything I've read. Usually, there is such a misconception because cats are specific animals, loners, I would say. BUT! They are emotional little fellas that show love, too! Only it is way subtler than the way dogs or other pets show affection.

As you mentioned, slow blinking is the first sign a cat feels comfortable in your presence. I also heard the more a cat closes its eyes when it's near you, the more that cat trusts you! What I find extremely adorable in cats' behavior are those head bumps! As this site reports headbutting is a way for cats to mark you with pheromones and bond with you. (side note some dogs do that too! When my friend's dog did that to me (she headbutted my back but an animal can choose where it can touch you so it's not relevant whether it's your head, arm, leg, or something else) I felt as if I was granted the highest of compliments ever!)

However, let's come back to Xiaolin showdown 😅

Oh, anon. I wish so much that the thing you've just described was real! I think the show's creators didn't dig so deep and gave Chase such an expression only to give him that smug-ass look that screams: 'I'm confident but your silly words amuse me, little one. Show me your best moves and make it worth my while'

This facial expression is strangely endearing, is it not?

Whatever animators wanted or did not want to convey, we know the truth. It was 'slowly blinking' I love you. I and anon know what's up. Thank you for pointing it out!

The last issue I want to discuss is that line of dialogue.

It takes place when Chase is out of the Sphere of Yun and he makes the following remark:

'You really should be more careful who you trust.'

And later on, Chase contradicts himself. Once the monks show up, he comes up with that little play and encourages Omi to play along, hence the showdown. As if he was trying to say: 'Remember when I said you shouldn't trust me? Well, I've changed my mind you can trust me. Let me help you get out of this awkward situation'. The showdown was only to hide Omi's motifs and Chase had to repay the little monk for rescuing him!

So, is Chase really that untrustworthy? He's a bad guy, sure. Although he has his warrior honor. Mix that with the fondness he has for Omi and voila! This dragonlord changed into a cat, which eyes are fixated on the little monk lovingly and mockingly at the same time. What a shame Omi didn't catch that 'I love you in cat'

'Chase the hell u doing I'm here to win this showdown I swear for mocking me you shall trip on ice just wait'

Also, Omi was to some extent upset Chase almost made him fall with the use of a shroud of shadows. So, he had to focus on the fight rather than Chase's mysterious signals lol

[grasshopperdoingdogpaddle]

I'll piggyback off here and second the recommendation of @writerkatsblog's You're Okay series, including its interquel! Infinite Value is another great oneshot too, very cute good Chase stuff!

There's also some minific one-shots from ask prompts on that blog that are really fun, quick reads! A couple of my personal favorites are this one set back when Chase was still working under Hannibal, this one where the jungle cats are establishing their hierarchy after Omi joins, this one of Dashi's trio drinking together, and this one with Heylin Omi trying to sneak attack Chase.

Kat's a phenomenal writer, her voice is distinct and her ideas are creative and well-researched, and both her ongoing works and her oneshots are inspiring! The expanding world that her You're Okay series is building up has me really excited, it's definitely a story to watch out for and follow as it develops! Both the original characters and the canon ones are compelling!

And piggybacking off the @aspureasamelody rec, my favorite of their oneshots is After all These Years and bird’s eye view! But ~100 word drabbles are their bread and butter, and out of those, leg godt (Jack, Wuya, and Megan) and What's Your Emergency? (Keiko and Kimiko) are some of my favorites outside of their Chase & Omi ones!

And I'd be loathe not to mention @gravity-what's works themselves! There's Awakening, Rewritten, Bringing Down the Summit, and Gathering the Dragons, not to mention their ongoing Xiaolin Showdown season 4, and their Biker Chase Young AU and their Heylin-Xiaolin roleswap AU!

They have an incredible flare for historical fantasy and emotional through lines through their works, and the way the characters all stay very true to form no matter what different scenarios and worlds gravity explores them in is absolutely amazing! Every character is done justice in Gravity's capable hands, and the world feels so alive!

Outside of those absolute favorite writers of mine, here are some assorted recs:

Cheap Tricks, a completed multi-chapter canon-compliant fic set after season 3 where, via some shenanigans, Omi decides to flip things on their head and take on Chase Young as his apprentice. It has some really gut-wrenching twists and turns to it, and so much heart.

Metallic Figment, this fic is still in its early stages and it's hard to say where the mystery intends to go yet, but you expressed an interest in Xiaolin showdown OCs, and this fic will definitely have some of its own!

Spicer Squad, an action/adventure filled Spicer-centric gen fic

Kite Fights, a short one-shot of Chase and Omi doing some kite-fighting together

Bonding, where Chase and Omi get trapped in a Wu together, and from the same author, Reverse, where everyone meets a roleswapped version of Chase Young and Omi

Anyone got any good Xiaolin fic recs? 🥺

Id prefer gen but tbh I'll read anything!

[blue-rose-soul]

I see you like Xiaolin 👉👈

You got any opinions on it 🥺

Hoo boy, this is a broad question and I am both flattered by and at a complete loss as to how to answer it xD

Xiaolin Showdown was one of my early hyperfixations. I even had an rp blog once upon a when, and every now and then I get hit by the nostalgia bug and dip back into the fandom. I love seeing some of the new things that crop up every time I come back as well as rereading some of the old stuff (although I can't help but cringe a little bit when I come across some of my old fanfics - some of the first fanfics I'd written for anything).

Right now I'm following a fic on AO3 called You're Okay by @writerkatsblog and I cannot recommend it enough. It's a heartwarming Chase and Omi fic that explores Omi's past as well as exploring Chase's character and his affection for Omi.

[godtierwallpaper]

A drawing of the mysterious masked cultist for @writerkatsblog's sequel fic!

[grasshopperdoingdogpaddle]

Honest opinion how likely is a team up of the Xiaolin monks and Chase in finding a missing Omi

*sweating* Like missing from the universe kind of missing

Chase: You LOST Omi! How could you simpletons lose Omi!

Dojo:-sniffling into a soaked hanky- You forget to cherish him

I really like @writerkatsblog's theory that this is essentially what happened after Omi vanished in Time After Time!

That after Chase and the monks both confronted the other and confirmed that neither side knew what had happened with the disappearance, they reluctantly decide to work together to try to get to the bottom of it and get Omi back, with Kimiko spearheading the alliance as the leader.

(And that both the good guys and the bad guy that gets in other bad guys' way being focused on their desperate quest to find Omi was what gave Jack the chance to amass power like he did.)

So yeah, I could definitely see Chase and the monks forming some kind of alliance to save Omi if he's lost from their whole universe, similar to the way that they had that temporary truce to stop the spiders.

Chase: You LOST Omi! How could you simpletons lose Omi! Dojo:-sniffling into a soaked hanky- You forget to cherish him

That dialogue even sounds exactly how it'd go, right before Chase shoots a glare at Dojo and Dojo hides in Clay's hat.

[fullofsunsetwhispers]

lol Dashi's reaction reminds me of something

Also, may I suggest...

Dashi: Now, how to deal with the bandits that have been causing trouble in the nearby villages.

Chase: *raises hand*

Dashi: No, we are not going to cause an avalanche that will smother them all in snow.

Chase: *lowers hand* ... *raises hand again*

Dashi: We're not going to drown them in the river either!!!

Chase: *lowers hand again*

Guan: *starts to raise hand-

Dashi: One more word about rockslides out of you and I am turning this dragon around!!!!!

[gravity-what]

“We think we must have got him mixed in with the produce and sold him off as a grapefruit”

I’ve been spending all week thinking about @writerkatsblog ‘s headcanon about Chase coming from a farming family and being sold to the Xiaolin Temple and the implications that has for ‘Omi Town’.

Do you think Hannibal knew about Chase’s past? Do you think he built Omi Town and Omi’s fake backstory around Chase’s own history? Do you think he was mocking Chase here too?

Anyway. I made myself sad this week with thoughts of baby Chase.

[grasshopperdoingdogpaddle]

A spin-off of @writerkatsblog's You're Okay!

Omi finally gets around to making a recipe from Shambhala using the lotus roots they grew from there.

[gravity-what]

@godtierwallpaper gave me permission to color this amazing piece which was inspired by @writerkatsblog Fragile Things (which, if you haven’t read, it’s amazing)

I’ve been wanting an opportunity to practice Wuya’s magic and this art was perfect for that~ I love how badass Wuya looks in green 💚

[roseangel19]

@writerkatsblog

I think you’re on to something, that does sound like a very in character thing Jack would do. Another blogger interpreted the finger crossing as Jack hoping that Chase would say yes to the team up.

Speaking of Chase, isn’t it weird how an episode ago he was nice to Jack but then suddenly gave him the cold shoulder and started insulting him?

In “The Evil Within”, there’s a moment where Jack has his fingers crossed behind his back when speaking to Chase about possibly teaming up. As we all know, when someone has their fingers crossed that signifies a potential betrayal in the future. Which begs the question, why? Why would Jack want to team up with, in his own words, “All time hero” only to later backstab him? What would he gain from doing that? It would only result in a disadvantageous domino effect for him.