sokkastyles - Tumblr blog

[sokkastyles]

Just saw a comment praising Toph for being "mature" for blaming herself for Appa getting taken in the desert and internalizing Aang's anger at her, by someone who is notorious for trying to stir up shit in "defense" of Aang.

And like, first of all, yes, Toph is incredibly emotionally mature, but it's actually really sad how she blames herself here. And it's not that Toph should not be sad, it's not that no one understands how close Aang is to Appa, it's that Aang's reaction is really unfair, not because he doesn't have a right to be upset, but because he directly blames Toph for what happened and literally accuses her of wanting Appa to get taken.

And it's never actually something Aang ever apologizes for, while Toph constantly beats herself up about the fact that she couldn't save Appa and the gaang at the same time.

And part of the reason this bothers me isn't just related to how Aang is never really forced to grow by the narrative, but I also see this trend of people assuming that Toph's feelings don't actually matter here. Yeah, I know she's presented as the rough and tumble tomboy, but as a disabled person, it bothers me that Aang takes Toph's discomfort with Appa, that she has because of being uncomfortable when she can't have her feet on the ground, and uses it to blame her and accuse her of secretly wanting him gone. And honestly, this is an overlooked plot point that pretty realistically shows the prejudice and suspicion towards the disabled, the idea that they might actually be faking their disability and could have actually done more if they tried, and because they didn't overcome their disability, they must not really care. Plus as I said, there's a very real assumption that Toph's feelings can't be hurt because she's blunt and unfeminine. Toph is emotionally mature and empathetic, more than people give her credit for, but she's also a child, and she should not have to deal with that burden alone, while Aang takes advantage of her caring and her friendship here.

"The Desert" is not one of Aang's shining moments, and it could have been a good opportunity to show how people can act their worst when they are under stress, and have Aang realize that his grief over Appa should not allow him to take it out on his friends, who are just trying to help him.

[sokkastyles]

i’m in LOVE

its been ages since i’ve spent most of my time drawing, i literally finished my Zuko’s drawings yesterday and i just started and finished the digital one TODAY

anyways

here’s the speed paint

its took 6 hours 9 minutes and 28 seconds 🧍

(i also changed my signature :D! i made it like a stamp, i really like it)

[sokkastyles]

Keep making posts about how you don't like zutara and tagging them as zutara. I promise it won't make tumblr show you the evil zutara posts, honest 😇

help me my entire feed is filled with zutara and i don’t know how i got here 😔

[sokkastyles]

Many people have already discussed the way Zuko and Katara are linked by the loss of their mothers. I and others have also meta'd about the differences in how they interact with their fathers, a comparison the show highlights in "The Awakening," where Zuko faces his father for the first time in years and is forced to repress his emotions, vs Katara being allowed to express her hurt towards her father and being treated with kindness and compassion by Hakoda. But another comparison between Ozai and Hakoda that I have not seen anyone bring up before is this one:

Both Zuko and Katara running to their dads for help upon discovering that something has happened to their mothers. Hakoda immediately stops what he's doing to let Katara take him to Kya, while Ozai does not even acknowledge Zuko. Zuko's angry "where is she?" to Ozai also implies that he knows his father is the cause of her disappearance. There's also an emphasis on the fact that Hakoda is defending the village when Katara comes to him whereas Zuko finds Ozai tending to his own wounds and refusing to acknowledge what his children might be feeling.

The father as protector of the family vs the father who divides the family.

[sokkastyles]

take the zutara NOW🥰

[sokkastyles]

Hello, I am here to recommend an amazing and incredibly underrated Zutara fic called “Moral of the Story” by gemgirl28 for when you’re in an angsty mood. It’s under 3,000 words and it just broke me. The writer is amazing.

Finally got around to reading this, thanks for the rec.

When you said angst, you meant it! This was so sad but very nicely written!

It's on fanfic.net for anyone who wants to also check it out!

[sokkastyles]

And as far as hiring the assassin goes, he only wanted to do that because Azula had lied about Aang being dead, and hiring an assassin also shows that he doesn't have the stomach to do it himself. His motivation is about maintaining a lie he was forced to maintain by his abusers. It's still bad, but it doesn't put him at Azula's level by any means.

So apparently Ozai’s abuse of Zuko excuses trying to murder the Gaang

But Ozai’s abuse of Azula doesn’t excuse her trying to capture the Gaang?

Nothing excuses either Zuko or Azula's actions, but the difference is that Zuko redeemed himself, and worked hard to make it up to the people he hurt. While Azula only doubled down and lost everything as a result.

And I love how you play up what Zuko did as trying to murder the Gaang, while also downplaying what Azula did as merely trying to capture them. It's actually the other way around, buddy, because Zuko was only ever trying to capture Aang for most of the series, while Azula took the first chance she had to choose to murder Aang. Hell, her first episode had her trying to murder her own brother. Get outta here with that bs lol.

[sokkastyles]

So apparently Ozai’s abuse of Zuko excuses trying to murder the Gaang

But Ozai’s abuse of Azula doesn’t excuse her trying to capture the Gaang?

Nothing excuses either Zuko or Azula's actions, but the difference is that Zuko redeemed himself, and worked hard to make it up to the people he hurt. While Azula only doubled down and lost everything as a result.

And I love how you play up what Zuko did as trying to murder the Gaang, while also downplaying what Azula did as merely trying to capture them. It's actually the other way around, buddy, because Zuko was only ever trying to capture Aang for most of the series, while Azula took the first chance she had to choose to murder Aang. Hell, her first episode had her trying to murder her own brother. Get outta here with that bs lol.

[sokkastyles]

Yeah not like Zuko hiring a hitman was a plot point specifically put in to show his growing realization that he was becoming a person he didn't want to be or anything. Not like it was one of the things Zuko had to take responsibility for as a part of his redemption. Not like the creators are telling a story here, things just happen willy nilly with no meaning and we should interpret events out of order. Whee, I know how to analyze media!

Zuko literally tried to murder the Gaang by hiring a hit man

Yeah I know. I meant it was a last resort situation for him and that he didn't set out with the goal of trying to kill him. Zuko only turned to murder in desperation when he was at his lowest point, and that doesn't make it right, ofc. But Azula was all down for murder from moment one, even if it wasn't Aang specifically. I don't know if this is the same person, but if you're going to accuse Zuko of trying to murder the Gaang, don't downplay Azula's own desire to do the same by saying she was just trying to capture them, especially since she was way more gleeful about it than he ever was.

[sokkastyles]

Book 2 au: sparring sessions and short hair katara

They like to have sparring sessions in order to keep their bending skills sharp. They allow themselves to go all out and not hold back at all cause they know if anyone got hurt, Katara could just heal them

But anyways, wouldn't it be kinda funny if Zuko accidentally burned Katara's hair tho? Aofkqldkkajfjd

The "I think we can save the hairloops" line is from @linnoya-writes thank you for that!! :>>

[sokkastyles]

Yeah, it ain't minimizing Ozai's abuse because Ozai's abuse is what allows Azula to also abuse Zuko. He created the dynamic and encouraged and enabled Azula to take advantage of that dynamic by hurting Zuko.

Also, that last sentence about Zuko being scarred and abandoned being "enough" is honestly bizarre. Especially since it doesn't even cover and is actually minimizing the full scope of Ozai's abuse of Zuko. Ozai's emotional manipulation of Zuko and systemic breaking down of Zuko's self perception is what allowed him to get away with scarring and banishing him. The abuse neither began nor ended there. Ozai roping Azula into also abusing Zuko is also another way Ozai abused Zuko.

But even if we ignored all the psychological manipulation, guess who also scarred Zuko? That's right, it was Azula. Isn't that enough?

calling Azula “Zuko’s abuser’s” is actually very gross because its

Blantantly Not True and

It minimizes Ozai’s abuse of Zuko

isn’t Zuko getting scarred and abandoned by Ozai enough?

For one, Azula is very blatantly abusive to Zuko. She constantly takes advantage of his emotional weaknesses and his insecurities, she constantly puts him in dangerous situations to control him and give herself a higher ground over him, she manipulates and gaslights him, she makes him feel inferior and worthless and tries to put him down and destroy his self-worth all the time, she terrorizes him for her own amusement, she tries to kill him several times. She smiles when Ozai burns him. If you consider the comics, she is even comfortable with burning Zuko for telling on her.

And as for your second point, that's a strange way to view the situation. Admitting that Azula is also abusive and is very obviously responsible for a lot of Zuko's trauma and insecurities is not dismissing or downplaying the very real damage that Ozai did. That's the whole tragedy of Zuko and Azula. Two siblings who should have loved each other and been close were torn apart by their father, who taught one child to be like him and turned her into someone who would abuse her brother the way Ozai himself does. You're the one who's downplaying abuse by insisting that Azula is not abusive.

[sokkastyles]

I would say "possibly" worships toxic masculinity is the understatement of the century.

People: wails about how sexist Zuko is, wails how mean and horrible he is for not bending over to azula and not taking her BS anymore, claims zuko is weak and azula is feminist

Meanwhile, azula: gets mad at ty Lee because guys hit on her and she flirted with them and slutshames her, making her cry, hates her mother and also looks down on zuko and iroh as weak, possibly/most likely worships toxic masculinity

Almost like Azula stans don't want to hold their fave accountable for anything while they demonize characters who actually did change... do they feel threatened, perhaps?

Thank you for your ask!

[sokkastyles]

I think the reason they keep harping on it is because they know it's impossible and would put Iroh in an unfair position where he or Zuko is likely to be hurt. That's what they want, really.

I think it's pretty obvious Iroh never reached out to azula, not just because she's not his responsibility but azulas always seen him as weak and hated him. That and the moment he took responsibility for Zuko and decided to come with him on his banishment, he probably realized Azula is a genuinely cruel and dangerous person who has no qualms killing and abusing her family. Of course he's not going to make azula take her along, how do her apologists think Ozai is going to respond to that? Forcing someone away from their abusers, no matter how well intentioned will most likely do more harm than good anyways

And can you imagine if Iroh took azula along? That's totally going to help Zuko's mental health, having his abuser always mock him and try to kill him. /s

Azula also lost the right to ask anything from Iroh and Zuko the moment she started looking down oj them and tried to kill them multiple times. If iroh wasn't there, zuko would've bene killed by her a long time ago or forced back to an abusive environment where hardly anyone respects him and mocks him.

I think people just expect miracles from Iroh at this point. Azula is very obviously not fond of him, she wants him to die, she only has disdain and disgust for him. What makes her stans think that Azula would even listen to a word Iroh said to her, let alone let him take her away from Ozai? What makes them think Ozai would let that happen? But nooo, even if it's completely impossible through no fault of Iroh's, he's still the one in the wrong. Where is the outcry about how Azula could have maybe not wished for her uncle's death and personally tried to kill him? Iroh honestly does not owe her anything. Azula is a victim of abuse and needs help and support, but not from the people on whom she wishes death and tries to kill gleefully.

Thank you for your ask!

[sokkastyles]

She also can't resist insulting him while she does it. Calling him dumb while telling him to be careful also reinforces what Zuko has been gaslit into believing his whole life, that he's too stupid to know what's good for him. Like, siblings might call each other names but given the context this is so much deeper than that.

why are people accusing zuko of being ungrateful by using azula taking home and lying to ozai that zuko killed aang, yet they don't use ozai calling zuko his son and welcoming his home against zuko as well? Ozai and azula don't actually want him there and they only tolerate him for their own ends.

I mean, even azula's "be careful dum dum" and lying isn't all that generous either because she's putting unnecessary weight on his shoulders by making him go along with a lie that would get him punished if Ozai found out that's the truth and it makes ozai show zuko recognition conditionally. While azula' fears of losing ozai's attention are valid, that doesn't give her right to lie about zuko to save her own skin.

Zuko didn't use Azula for anything lol. She used him as a scapegoat to protect herself in case Aang wasn't dead. She manipulated him into coming back to the Fire Nation in the first place, and she immediately put him in danger the second they got back to get any potential heat off herself. Her little warnings give the impression of caring, but they are also threats. She doesn't care about him that much, or she wouldn't have put him in danger herself. Her saying "this is for your own good," and stuff like that is classic gaslighting and manipulation. She's still mostly concerned with controlling him even if a small part of her cares deep down.

Thank you for your ask!

[sokkastyles]

exactly, like you said, azula has always been the one about control, always have, always will be unless she makes an effort to change. She herself admitted fear is the only way for her and she thinks trust is for fools. She still displays this abusive, very fucked up way of thinking when she tells Ursa that she should've killed Zuko as if that would make Ursa happy. She's still thinking about herself only and not at all about Ursa or zuko.

This is completely true. And it's sad, because I do think she genuinely loves them and wants to be loved by them, but she just can't let go of the entire foundation of her worldview. She even knows, subconciously, that she is in the wrong, but she just can't stop trying to control everything and make everyone fear her. It's genuinely tragic.

Thank you for your ask!

[sokkastyles]

Azula apologists when azula bodyshames Zuko for beinf disfigured ad Iroh for being fat, yeets a rock a bunch of turtleducks: I sleep

Iroh and zuko: make a minor joke about how scary azula is

Iroh: shuts down Zuko when he says he should make up with azula because he's her brother for and says she's crazy after she almost killed Iroh. Like that's a lot more nicer than what most people would've said about someone who almost killed them.

Azula apologists: REAL SHIT

Azula can be ableist, racist, abusive, violent, and many other things, but if she does anything wrong, it's always someone else's fault. Meanwhile, Zuko and Iroh can never escape their previous mistakes, even if they've made up for them and worked to become better. It's almost like Azula stans are incredibly biased and love to victimize their fave and excuse her of all accountability while portraying her canonical victims as the spawns of the devil all because they don't sit back and take her abuse.

Thank you for your ask!

[sokkastyles]

What Azula says in the finale is pretty damning because she says, "you can't treat me like zuko!" She blames him for ozai making her step aside without letting her join him in his quest to conquer the world and that sentence says a lot how much of an apologist she herself is when it comes to abuse, especially when Ozai's involved and how much she hates zuko and has internalized tbe belief that Zuko deserved the abuse.

Exactly. Azula and Zuko both internalized the idea that Zuko deserved the abuse, which is why Azula also gleefully abused him with her father's enabling. She knows he's treated like shit, but she thinks he deserves it, and she's better than him so she doesn't. This is all Ozai's influence, of course, but she believes it genuinely and acts upon it to hurt her brother as well, and that's something that's integral to understanding her character.

Thank you for your ask!