#yangchen: wait what the fuck emotion is this????

[sillyfudgemonkeys]

Wan: So what do you think is a defining feature of an Avatar? Roku: Unwavering duty towards leading humanity into the light? Yangchen, thinking of Gun: Nah. Korra: Our smile? Aang: I think that is a good one. Kuruk: No, I think it's that we're all a bit.....no, extremely petty at times. Kyoshi: True that. Korra: Ok I can't disagree. Yangchen: Yup. Haha, I remember the time I was still so upset with Kavik while on the job. I blew hot hair into his ear to mess with him. His ears were so red! Wan/Roku/Korra/Aang/Kuruk: ??????!!!! Kyoshi: That's not being petty, that's just flirting. I mean it is a bit petty, but wow the flirting. Yangchen: I wasn't flirting. Kyoshi: Take it from someone who would get that regularly from Rangi during my horse stance make-out sessions. That's some romantic/sexually charged shit right there girl. Yangchen, supreme scholar but also local idiot:

[kyoshi-lesbians]

I once very briefly mentioned that I think Kyoshi’s conversation w/ Lao Ge in RoK about the method for longevity is important to understanding Kyoshi later in life.

At the time I wasn’t even considering what SoK shows about that subject, and thank goodness it changes things completely because if the novels ended at RoK the implied reasoning would be so fucking sad and my heart can’t take that.

Here’s what I mean:

In RoK Kyoshi has no desire to live past a normal life span. She thinks that, “Desperately grasping for more power and control over life was what people like Jianzhu did” (p. 334 RoK). She view extra time like hoarding wealth, and imagines it is what her worst enemy would do. She doesn’t want this. 

But once she’s learned Lao Ge’s method for longevity, she thinks, “Kelsang’s absence had put her in stasis. If Lao Ge wanted her to be stagnant and forever trapped, she’d already mastered that lesson” (p. 335 RoK).

Now, Kyoshi’s grief for Kelsang is still fresh. It’s easy to forget sometimes but the timeline of this novel takes place in little over a month. It’s understandable that she cannot imagine a world where she heals from losing her adopted parent in such a horrific way.

I do not have experience in loss like this, but I’ve heard it expressed that the trauma and sadness from losing them can become a part of your relationship to them after death. That these painful emotions can become a reminder of them and keeping the reminders can be preferable to the memory of that person fading away. 

Kyoshi may have felt her grief to be the last connection she had to Kelsang.* It’s possible that she would have chosen to keep that grief fresh within her so that she could continue feeling close to her adopted father. 

If this was the end of the series, going off RoK alone, the likeliest contextual explanation for Kyoshi living to be 230 is that she was unable or unwilling to move past her grief for Kelsang for those 230 years.

(*It’s worth noting that Kyoshi has no keepsakes to remember Kelsang with. The clay turtle was destroyed the night of his death, when she practiced her earthbending on it. Her earthbending, which she practiced, because she found out she was the Avatar. After losing her father, who died, because she found out she was the Avatar.) 

Yeah.

… 

(this is why i was in pain)  

But wait!!! There’s a whole other novel!!! It’s okay!!! 

Because by the end of SoK, Kyoshi isn’t keeping grief at her core. A key moment of Kyoshi moving on occurs when burying / saying goodbye to Yun. She grieves, but she lets him go, and I imagine that this process helps her do the same for Kelsang. In fact throughout the novel, we see that her love for Rangi is now what centers her. (someone wrote a great post on that, if i can find it again i will link it!) Similarly, where before her Avatar identity was tied to tragedy, she comes “to accept the mantle of Avatarhood proudly” (p. 334 SoK). 

From her conversation with Yangchen, we can infer that it’s her duty as the Avatar that drives her to live to 230. When talking Yangchen, Kyoshi thinks about justice and wishes that, “In the future, perhaps, she’d become finalized like carved stone. It would be easier to deal with the world then. She could only hope” (p. 335 SoK). 

Although she doesn’t think in such words, her conception of justice becoming finalized is part of what Lao Ge meant for organizing the mind to never change. This marks her first interest in fixing herself into a moment of time, and the interest is so she can better handle being the Avatar. 

It’s not a hard jump to assume that she makes the decision to commit herself to Lao Ge’s method as her sense of justice solidifies. Kyoshi already feels it is her duty to provide stability to the world for as long as she can to make up for Kuruk’s short life, for her own delay at Avatarhood, and to bring peace back to the fractured earth kingdom. 

The final scene of the SoK directly alludes to Kyoshi’s long life. When Lao Ge delivers Kyoshi’s threat to Fire Lord Zoryu, he yells, “She can’t watch over me forever!” (p. 341 SoK). The last line of the entire series is Lao Ge’s response to this: “The old man tilted his head back and laughed to rival the thunder” (p. 341 SoK).

Lao Ge laughs because yes, Kyoshi can do just that, and it seems that he believes she will choose to do so. And she does. Kyoshi would’ve outlived Zoryu’s grandchildren’s grandchildren. There’s no evidence that Kyoshi would have wanted a long life for herself, yet she did what she saw to be her duty as the Avatar and put the needs of the world before her own desires.

The Kyoshi novels bring it full circle: Before anyone even knew Kyoshi was the Avatar, Kelsang told her that one of her “Avatar-worthy merits” was “selfless humility”(p. 53, RoK). And he couldn’t have been more right about his daughter. 

(And you know he would be so proud of her.)

[avatarrea]

Didn’t really plan any post today, so here are some ✨ incorrect quotes ✨ from Team Avatar (Rea, Rui Lee, Mayumi, Sun-hi, and Tarkik!)

(also guest-starring Mirai and Kayda, the Fire Nation princesses)

-

Sun-hi: Go big or go home!

Rea: Please, for once in your life just go home. I'm begging you. Go. Home.

Sun-hi: I'm going big!

-

Mayumi: You’re from Ba Sing Se, right?

Sun-hi: Okay, first of all, my family lives in Ba Sing Se.

Sun-hi: I live in the moment.

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Rea: Last night I found out Mayumi is a sleep talker.

Tarkik: Oh, really?

Rea: "The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell." Right. In. My. Ear. At 3am.

-

Sun-hi: Why does Rea always do the laundry so loudly?

Tarkik: So everyone knows that no one helps her out in the house.

Rea, in the distance: *slams the washing machine shut*

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Mayumi: I woke up and chose VIOLENCE. I WILL COMMIT ARSON AND BURN EVERYTHING TO THE GROUND!!! I AM ANGRY-

Rui Lee: Awwww, you’re so adorable! Give me a hug~

Mayumi: Wh-What? nO, yOURE SUPPOSED TO BE SCARED OF ME! TREMBLE BEFORE MY WRATH-

Tarkik, recording: This is so cute.

-

Rui Lee, to Tarkik: You know, Mayumi can be really aggressive, so it's important to take all the necessary precautions when approaching.

Rui Lee: *blows airhorn at Mayumi* GET FUCKED!

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Rea: If you get in trouble, I'm gonna be like... a lawyer to you. Ok?

Sun-hi: Okay.

*later*

Mayumi: Sun-hi! Sit down on the chair, you're in trouble.

Rea, whispering: Deny everything.

Sun-hi, loudly: That isn't a chair.

-

Kayda, Entering Rea's room: Mirai did it again.

Rea: Peace disturbance?

Kayda: What no-

Rea: Arson..?

Kayda: NO, I SWEAR TO YANGCHEN, HOW MANY-

Rea: uh....Attempted murder?

Kayda: NO, SHE ATE ALL THE FOOD IN THE FRIDGE, BUT WHAT THE FU-

-

*Rea rushes by with an armful of water bottles*

Mayumi: What's going on?

Tarkik: Rea was dehydrated.

Mayumi: ...And?

Tarkik: And I asked her how fast she could chug an entire water bottle.

Rea, loudly: 16 OUNCES IN TEN SECONDS, BITCHES!

-

Rea, to the White Lotus: I’m telling you, my team is competent.

Sun-hi, rushing in: Rea! Rui Lee tried to make pasta in the coffee pot and now it's broken!

-

Rea: *double checking supplies in the boat* Compass. CB radio. Sunscreen.

Rui Lee: Hot dog costumes!

Rea: I’m sorry, what?

Rui Lee: You know, in case we get lost at sea, and one of us, probably Sun-hi, goes mad with hunger, we’ll put these on. Sun-hi‘s vegan, so she probably won’t eat us.

Rea: Are you saying that Sun-hi would rather eat us than hot dogs?

Sun-hi: I do hate hot dogs.

-

Tarkik: Rea, gather the others. We need to have another Rui Lee-is-doing-something-stupid-again-and-we-have-to-stop-him-before-he-hurts-someone -probably-himself-convention.

-

Mayumi: Poison is a magic transmutation potion that turns people into corpses.

Rui Lee: This knife is actually a magic wand.

Sun-hi: Meet me in the Jasmine Dragon parking lot for a wizard duel, then.

Rea: *cocks gun* Magic missile.

Tarkik: What the fuck is wrong with you people.?!

-

Sun-hi: How do you connect with a fictional character?

Rui Lee: What?

Tarkik: What?

Mayumi: What?

Reai: *pulls up a 500 slide presentation* I'm glad you asked.

-

Rui Lee: Good morning.

Tarkik: Good morning.

Rea: Good morning.

Sun-hi: You all sound like robots, try spicing it up a bit.

Mayumi: MORNING MOTHERFUCKERS!

-

Rui Lee: Why isn’t the statue smirking at me?

Tarkik: It isn’t smirking at anyone, they’re all just imagining it.

Rea: Three of us saw it, Tarkik. How do you explain that?

Tarkik: *points at Mayumi* Sleep deprivation. *points at Rea* Paranoia. *points at Sun-hi* Delusional personality disorder.

-

Mayumi: Rui Lee-

Rui Lee: *sighs* Our parents used to call me Rui Lee...

Mayumi: ...Because it's your fucking name.

-

Rui Lee: Hold on! I’m having one of those things... a headache with pictures.

Rea: What the fuck?

Mayumi: He’s having an idea.

-

Rea: If I die, my funeral will be the biggest party ever and you're all invited.

Rea: "If"…

Rui Lee: Great, the only party I'm ever invited to and she might not even die.

-

Mayumi: You can track Rui?

Tarkik: Of course I can. If the Dai Li can do it, so can I.

-

Rea: We’re about to do the taser challenge. You want in?

Mayumi: What's the taser challenge?

Rui Lee: We tase eachother, then drink.

Mayumi: How do you win?

Rea: What are you, a lawyer? You want in or not?

-

Rea: I told Sun-hi that her ears turn red when she lies.

Rui Lee: Do they?

Rea: No.

Rui Lee: Then why did you tell her that?

Rea: Because I can do this.

Rea: Hey Sun-hi! Do you love us?

Sun-hi, with her hands over her ears: No.

-

Rui Lee: When I was a kid, my friend told me that the paper strip that’s in the chocolate kisses were edible and I ate them with the chocolate for a year.

Mayumi: They are!

Rui Lee: FOR REAL?

Mayumi: No! Why did you fall for it again?

-

Tarkik: So, Sun-hi is no longer allowed to take the trash out at night.

Rea: Why?

Tarkik: Because I've caught her trying to train raccoons to fight five times in a row.

Sun-hi, arms crossed and pouting: You'll be thanking me when the third raccoon battalion saves your ass.

-

Rea: Guys, I didn’t memorize my lines!

Sun-hi: Just use your lack of common sense! Everyone knows the characters in plays are dumb as fuck!

*During the play*

Rui Lee: Hey! You finally made it! Did you get the donuts?

Rea: W-what’re donuts?

-

Tarkik: Why would you do that?

Rea: Because I felt guilty.

Sun-hi: Guilt is a trick emotion. It’s put there by your parents to stop you from doing things that feel good.

-

Rui Lee: I’m this close to falling in love with [REDACTED].

Rea: Your fingertips are touching.

Rui Lee: Exactly.

-

Rui Lee: Guys, I have a question.

Mayumi: kys <3

Rui Lee: I love you too.

Sun-hi: Ah, yes. Siblings.

-

Rea: ARE YOU-

Rui Lee: Fucking.

Rea: KIDDING ME?! YOU-

Rui Lee Fucking.

Rea: IDIOT!

Tarkik: …What was that?

Rui Lee: Mayumi banned Rea from swearing, so I’m helping her out.

-

Republic City Police: You’re under arrest for trying to carry four people on a single motorcycle.

Mayumi, with Tarkik, Rea, and Rui Lee behind them: Wait, what do you mean FOUR?!

Police: Yes…three.

Mayumi: Oh, my God— What the fuck!?

Police: Wha-

Mayumi: Sun-hi FUCKING FELL OFF!

-

Rui Lee: Are you laughing at that video of Sun-hi and Rea fighting?

Tarkik: No.

Tarkik: I'm laughing at the comments.

-

Mayumi: I am darkness. I am an power. I am your worst nightmare. I could kill a man in more ways than you can imagine. I am the night. I am fury, I am a weapon, I am-

Sun-hi: A doll.

Tarkik: A cinnamon roll.

Rea: A sweetheart.

Mayumi:

Mayumi, blushing : ...stop it.

-

Rea: How did none of you hear what I just said?!

Rui Lee: I've been zoned out for the past two and a half hours.

Sun-hi: I got distracted halfway through.

Mayumi: Ignoring you was a conscious decision.

-

Rea: If I punch myself and it hurts, am I weak or strong?

Rui Lee: Strong.

Sun-hi: Weak.

Mayumi: An idiot, is what you are.

(I’ll post something different tomorrow, stay tuned!)

[sillyfudgemonkeys]

Love Talk 5: Homewreckers

Follow up from

Wan: Holy shit, Kyoshi. You eviscerated Kuruk. Not even Father Glowworm could do that! Kyoshi: Skill issue. Aang: Why? Why would you do that to them? Kyoshi: It's not like I'm trying, Aang. I just have a knack for causing emotional damage on Yangchen and Kuruk. It's like it's second nature. Korra: I spiritbended him, he should be fine like Yangchen- Kyoshi: Korra, do you hate me? Is that why you keep breaking what I fix? Aang: I think you have that backwards Kyoshi. Wait, does that mean that was actually on purpo- Kyoshi: What's backwards is why is Wan here? You don't have anyone. Wan: ..........I just wanted to hang with the group. Korra: I mean, you had...have(?) Raava. Does she count? Kyoshi: If Raava counts, I'm adding Wan to the messy Avatar list. Wan: Wait, WHY?! Kyoshi: You broke up married couple, toxic married couple but still. And then fell for a kite. A giant spirit kite. And then merge with her. I'm a bit concerned for your mental well being tbh. Wan: Wait hold on- Roku: Kyoshi showing concerned about another's mental healt? Well, if that isn't the biggest red flag that I have ever seen........ Kyoshi: Roku, you let Sozin do whatever, I know for a fact you can't spot red flags to save your life. Roku: Kyoshi, I grew up in the Fire Nation. I was surrounded by red flags. You get desensitized. Kyoshi, remembering the nightmare that was the Szeto festival: Ok fair. Roku: Plus, the fact I can see this is a red flag, it def means something. Kyoshi: Alright alright. Aang: Did Roku just win an argument against Kyoshi? Korra: Shhhh don't say that too loud, someone might get murdered. Kyoshi, pretending not to hear them: So I guess that means we have two homewrecking Avatars?" Korra: Two? There was another? Kyoshi: Sweetie, I think we established your tendency of breaking up couples. Korra: I was 17! Kyoshi: A couple's a couple. Korra: I'm not a homewrecker! Kyoshi: Girl, you introduced yourself by literally wrecking a hole in your house and then fucking up your living room. Just own it. Korra: I think she's mad about my comment I made about her girl and her mother-in-law and Kuruk..... Aang: You think?