#please your honor

[sufferingsokkatash]

THAT famous zukka hug in the atla north and south comic : an essay you did not need, by me.

i was thinking about how, in writing, there should be no accidents or coincidences in how and why something is described, or the detail the writer chooses to use. for example, zuko tapping his hand on his desk would be used to show that he is impatient or anxious about something.

so THEN i decided to apply this to the zukka hug, because why not be delulu about these things idk.

first of all, here are the zukka hug pages for context:

disclaimer: i don’t really know how the fandom feels about the comics. personally i like them, so i will proceed with that bias in mind. also please take this with the humour that is intended, it’s more fun that way.

i go down a sabre tooth moose lion hole below the cut.

this whole scene to me is largely what we all love about atla - humour and good characterisation combined with serious subject matter. king kuei and bosco are the comic relief and oblivious party in the face of quite a complicated issue, as zuko himself acknowledges. this humour then extends to kuei offering zuko the chance to join in on his hug with bosco, which zuko politely refuses. obviously, there is the clear issue of zuko being afraid of being eaten by a bear, but we’ll pretend that ernest hemingway is grading our papers here, okay.

it is a very deliberate writing choice and contrast to have zuko refuse hugs from one person/animal and then immediately and happily accept one from sokka. (see also: sokka running excitedly with a big grin on his face at the bottom of page 17 to greet them, naming zuko first, but remembering that he is a good ambassador to the swt and using their proper titles despite his excitement. more silliness mixed with seriousness. see also, also: HE RAAAAAN!) zuko may be touch averse and not a huggy person, but screw that when it’s sokka who’s offering the hug.

remember there are no accidents in good writing. kuei happily says: hello friends! to which, in both that panel and the next, he is clearly ignored. sokka and zuko are so absorbed in hugging each other that sokka neglects his duties in welcoming them both properly. zuko : 2 swt ambassador role: 0. also ignored is the fact that kuei brought his bear, which would normally be subject to some kind of smartass comment from our boomerang boi, even if he knows he’s obsessed with his pet from the ba sing se episodes.

this could be an actual mistake, but sokka ran towards zuko, who was standing in front of kuei. but in the hug panel, sokka is between them. that means kuei walked all the way around them trying to get their attention, and it still didn’t work. sokka, nor zuko, say a further word to kuei. like exactly how much tunnel vision is there in this, my goddddd.

bosco is protecting kuei and sokka is protecting zuko. could be why they mirrored them and their positions in the hug panel, so not a mistake. a swt person says: protecting foreigners, sokka?! but that is exactly what he does by ignoring the protesters and telling zuko not to worry about them. despite wanting to do his duty to everyone sokka puts zuko first, basically, and doesn’t care about what they all think of him. that’s kind of huge for sokka.

yes, hakoda is injured at this time and yes he’s proud of sokka, but surely as chief he would have gone to meet the earth king and firelord? why did the writers go to so much effort making sure that sokka was there to meet zuko and have them hugging take up a third of an entire page when printing and space in the comics is such a consideration? it is clearly important, y’all.

their faces when they see each other. sokka can’t stop grinning and zuko closes his eyes in relief he’s so happy. enough said.

sokka says: thanks so much for coming! like he doesn’t already know zuko would travel the world just to make him happy or help in what’s important to him. have you forgotten boiling rock, sokka? because that dude you’re wrapped around, acting like he’s been starved of you, sure hasn’t.

this comic is all about nations coming together and traditions being upheld and shared. in other words, marry him sokka. it is in your diplomatic interests to do so.

in utterly insane conclusion:

i am always surprised at how much they made the effort in the writing for this one scene. i don’t see the comics as something that tease ships, they aren’t natla. what i do see is two guys who clearly care about each other, almost to the detriment of their roles and responsibilities, and their relationship was worth the effort taken in the writing and artwork to show that. it is super heckin sweet. does this mean i think zukka is canon or could be? no. maybe did i have fun pretending and overanalyzing every detail? yes.

ps in all seriousness, the answer is that this is about my fav boy and how far he has come in his character growth journey - exhibit a from ‘the avatar returns’ episode:

the end, i am getting blocked and going to jail but it’s okay because zukka is my bosco hug.

[joestarbuckss]

Happy Valentine’s Day (๑>◡<๑)♡

[dameronshandholder]

🫠🫠🫠

[planesgobrrrrrrrrr]

Come Back Down (B.r.B)

Bradley ‘rooster’ Bradshaw x fem!medic!reader (medic! breifly mentioned) 

summary: reader just needs one thing after finding out rooster will be flying the mission. 

warnings: mildly suggestive bits?, angst, crying (not just my tears, theirs too) fluff fluff fluff

Part 1 

Part 2 

Part 3 (comin soon)

You knew something was wrong the second you'd gotten in his truck, just like everyday he would swing by the med bay, greeting your coworkers with crooked smiles and  “Evenin’ ma'am” as he made his way over to you. 

But today was different, his posture wasn't as straight, tight-lipped smile rather than crooked, the fingers laced between yours was more grasping than holding. 

It made your stomach twist, you knew

“Bradley” you said quietly, into the static air of the truck cab 

He kept his eyes glued on the road, hand still trapping yours with a grip nearly as tight as the white knuckles that wrapped around the steering wheel. 

“Roo” you said more firmly, twisting in your seat to face him. 

“Roo, look at me”

He faltered, eyes flicking to meet yours before going back to the road. 

“What happen-”

“I got picked” 

The air got sucked from the cab, Bradley's jaw clenched so hard it's like it had been welded shut. 

Your throat tightened, breath stuttering in your chest 

“Okay…” you breathed out, pulling his hand impossibly closer as a few hot tears stained your cheeks. 

“Honey, im sorry” he croaks, tears straining his throat “im so so sorry” he shuddered, throwing the truck in park in your driveway. 

He released your hand, and for a second of blinding sadness you thought he was marching inside to wallow away alone, but then the passenger door was opening and he was there. 

“C’mere” 

Rooster is gentle but hasty as he reaches to unhook your seatbelt, pulling you to the edge of your seat and gathering you into his arms

“Sweetheart, I'm sorry”  You can feel the shudder of his shoulders when you drape your arms around them. He's slotted between your legs, one strong arm loops around your back while the other cradles your head with such gentle touch that you could be a piece of glass. 

You press into him, face in his shoulder as his undershirt became wet with your tears 

“Ive got you honey” he whispers in your ear, tucking and smoothing down your hair. He pulls back, gently holding your chin and pressing his lips to yours.

 “Lets go inside, yeah?” 

------

Now situated in the center of your large bed, roosters too big shirt replacing the clothes that had been long forgotten and hastily strewn across the room. 

You watched as rooster moved anxiously around the room, never would you imagine a grown man, your rooster, stress cleaning.

“Roo” you called gently, his trance broken by your voice, he looked at you and all the thoughts that had been tensely pulling his features, softened.

 “Hold me?”  a fresh set of tears glazed over both of your eyes

He crosses the room in an instant and drops onto the bed, hoisting you over to curl up between his legs “I'm here, you’ve got me” he whispers firmly, sliding a rough hand under the hem of his shirt to run soothingly over your spine. 

You sniffle and drop you head to his shoulder “when do you leave” 

“That's not important honey” 

“Bradley, I can't know anything else, I just want to be awake to say goodbye, please” 

“Before sunrise honey, ships out at 9, and ill wake you up.” he says, squeezing you tighter 

“Promise?” you feel so small, as if a promise could do anything to prevent the potential of what could unfold tomorrow. 

“Always” 

You settle against him, and sit in silence as a nagging question rises in your throat 

“Can you promise to come back to me?” you whisper

“I wish I could baby, I really do” 

Tears begin burning your cheeks again and you nod in acceptance

You push off of him and move to sit criss cross between his legs, reaching forward to cup his face in your hands. “I love you” you hum, thumbs brushing gently against his wet eyelashes. 

His hands drop to your hips, slowly kneading them “I love you more”

You laugh lightly and shake your head “Bradley Bradshaw, that is not possible” 

“Oh it definitely is.” he settles, you beam as he traps you in his arms, peppering kisses from your face down to your shoulder that his too-big shirt had slipped off of.

This is your rooster, pulling smiles and giggles; that wouldn't seem out of place in a coming of age movie, from you in the most somber of moments.

It was sobering, the silence that weighed on every limb of your body yet you savored every moment. The feeling of his chest rising and falling against yours, his nose pressed into your pulsepoint and the light scratch of his mustache just below it. 

Your arms were wound around his shoulders, in the lowlight of your bedroom a glint caught your eye, the silver band on your thumb. 

Your father had given it to you, you think it was his at some point but you never questioned it. 

Nerves fluttered in your stomach as you slipped it from your finger and drew back just enough to look rooster in the eye. 

“Bradley” 

He stared lovingly right back at you, noses brushing. 

“Yes honey?”

“Can you promise me one thing?”

“Honey you know-”

“Please” 

His eyes sparkled as he nodded, holding you tighter. 

“Marry me.”

Tears were already shining in your eyes as you went on, smiling as he stared at you completely dumbfounded 

“I don't want a piece of paper or big fancy church to prove how fucking much I love you”

He smiled and opened his mouth to speak, you shushed him with a quick peck before continuing “but I want you to go up in the air tomorrow and come back down my husband.” you sniffed and he brushed away your tears, and his own, urging you to continue. 

“So…, Bradley Nicholas Bradshaw, will you marry me?” 

 you laughed, and it sounded a bit more like a sob as he nodded, looking down between you to see a silver band already grasped between your fingers. 

“God I love you so much” he rasped 

 Both of you steadied your shaking hands just long enough to slip the ring on before Bradley was locking your lips together, he mumbled something against your skin that sounded a bit like  “Mrs bradshaw” and you knew that you had made the right decision. 

It struck midnight and your clothes had been forgotten once more, you were drifting in and out of sleep, Bradley your husband's heartbeat under your ear was the perfect lullaby. 

With the thick comforter now wrapped around both of you, rooster planted a kiss to your head before finding his way down to your lips 

“I love you, get some sleep honey” 

“I love you more” you mumble, already slipping away once more. 

------

In the stillness of the morning, Bradley was ready to hang up his wings right then and there if it meant not having to wake you to say goodbye, of all things.

You began stirring when he flipped on the lamp and his heart broke even more as tears filled your hooded eyes. 

“I know honey” he lifted you into his arms, the navy could wait 5 goddamn minutes while he held his wife. You pressed kisses against his neck, taking every ounce of will to loosen your grip on him as he set you down on the mattress once more. 

“Come back down to me roo” you breathed out quietly, forehead pressed to his.

The warm metal of his ring against your cheek made everything feel right, even if you should have felt the complete opposite as he kissed you goodbye and slipped out the front door.

----

okay so maybe im already writing the wedding, thats not the point.

i loves comments and thoughts from yall, hope you liked it! -izzy <3

[sinners-if]

I love them your honor (them being a certain morally questionable villain and their found family that I Will cook for. Accept my love you bastards)

real

[hunni-hive]

Basically how I feel every time I talk to you is me getting eaten but it reminded me of that meme

Your art brings a smile to my face when I see it

@kitty-c4t

[hawkzeyes]

😭😭😭 I’m fine it’s fine

[poppy-in-the-woods]

Anyone with Wikipedia privileges can change Tom Sturridge's picture, pretty please?

It's like someone chose the most unflattering photo they could find (it's the same in the English version of the page too).

[smallandangry24]

I needed Obi, Bail, or Cody with a baby sling.

[littlelightfish]

I always wondered why they don't nickname Chilchuck to "Chil". Because Chilchuck is quite a long name, it's way easier calling him just Chil. And then this.

It's all the opposite of how it would normally work. Usually, people call each other by their first (or second sometimes) names, but when they're called by the full thing... it means either nothing good is happening, or they're being called in a formal way.

Isn't imposible to think that the party actually called him Chil, since it's his first name and a nice nickname for him. In fact, they probably did, and Chilchuck told them they shouldn't call him that and explained why. They stopped calling him Chil, and accepted calling him Chilchuck for the rest of their lifes, apparently. Actually, we don't see anybody calling him like that until...

Laios tries to get his attention with something that normally would. Calling him his first name, something that he told them specifically not to do doesn't even makes him flinch. And then he's sure that Chilchuck is out of it and proceeds to intervene.

It's such a subtle detail, I don't remember if they call him "Chil" on other panels, if they do, reblog with evidence so we have all the oficial Chil moments here.

[ingravinoveritas]

David wearing a gorgeously sparkly outfit and black kilt while holding a dog and talking to Michael at the BAFTAs. I cannot...

[frownyalfred]

Batman: I don’t kill. It’s wrong.

Batman three minutes later putting on spiked brass knuckles: anyway did I ever tell you about how Superman is a much better person than me?

[frenchublog]

[starcurtain]

Not Alhaitham being an unreliable narrator and having everyone convinced he received a "very decent house" from the Akademiya, only for Kaveh's story to reveal he was living in a research center converted into a residence, which he then let Kaveh decorate...

Finally turning it into a real home.

[whollyjoly]

look i can explain-

[hunni-hive]

@madame-mongoose gave me Tiffany Valentine brain rot I’m suing rn