#emletish rants

[emletish-fish]

I’ve binge read your completed cobra Kai fics on AO3 and I just want to say you have an amazing gift and I am literally gonna go back and reread them now even tho I only finished yesterday! If you’re gonna write any more Robby-Johnny centered fics especially now that the newest season is out with the addition of a new baby, I would literally be the first reader!

Thank you for making my week better ❤️

Aww thank you so much!

Robby and Johnny really caught my attention. In this dumb karate soap opera, what those two had going on was genuinely riveting for me. I felt properly inspired. I really wanted them to have a better relationship and when the show wouldn't give it to me, I wrote it myself. I'm super fond of Good Boy and No Be There as writing projects.

But daaayyum, the babyplot in season 5 kinda killed my inspiration stone-dead.

I have an idea to re-write the way Robby and Johnny and Miguel work through their issues without the babyplot, simmilar to what I did with No Be There after season 4. I'd take the plot beats of the season 5 but re-work it to be more emotionally satisfying.

(I'd also like to re-introduce the continuity fairy, because the idea that Robby has healthy, well-adjusted grandparents that he normally spends the summer with going fishing and hiking was just thrown out there with no explanation this season, all to service the babyplot???? so, like, I want to be consistent with what has been established as canon prior to that).

So yeah, that's an idea I've been tossing around in my head, and hopefully I'll write it. But it's a bit of a struggle atm because the babyplot did Robby and Johnny so dirty - but in a way that sapped all the narrative tension out of their relationship. Lack of narrative payoff is a bit of an inspiration killer for me.

So I can't make you any promises, but I do have some ideas.

#Cobra Kai #Emletish writes #Fic: Good boy #Fic: No Be There #Johnny and Robby #The thing is I'm not even opposed to Johnny and Carmen having a family further down the line #I just haaate the way it was done to shove all the characters into an instant family without validating any of their emotions #like Johnny doesn't get to heal and move on from his issues. he's just magically better after cleaning his house.... #even though he's actually drinking a shit ton?? #nope it turns out that is meant to be funny? #like in previous seasons Johnny's alcoholism always had the aura of tragedy whenever it was shown on screen #but now ha ha. he drinks on the job so he's the world's worst uber. ha ha. #like the joke is empty and kinda mean #Don't even get me started on how this whole storyline devalues Robby's experiences #Robby doesn't get much outside of those two episodes in mexico to begin to sort through his stuff with his dad #his whole experience and trauma and identity crisis disappear because he's going to be a big brother for real #like Robby would be an adorable big brother but that is not the point #I don't even know what the point is #sorry this turned into a rant in the tags

[paintedladys]

I showed my college bff all of avatar (it only took us 2 years lmao). we finished it last night and I was like. Okay. Now we can talk about things and I don't have to keep my damn mouth shut. We argued and ranted to each other for 2 hours. By the end of the night I told her to read @muffinlance and @emletish-fish because they are perhaps the best avatar authors out there ngl

[emletish-fish]

Different but the Same: Robby, Miguel and Mirror characterisation

So Robby and Miguel -

It’s actually possible to LOVE them both.

Because they are actually thematically super similar.

There has been a lot of fandom discussion about who is The Worst between Robby and Miguel, which I feel misses the point entirely. We shouldn’t be pitting Robby and Miguel against each other because they are mirror characters on parallel journeys. 

Baseline: Both are raised by single mothers and feel the absence of a father/father figure. Both are intelligent, level-headed with occasional bursts of impulsiveness. Both are deeply compassionate and will defend ‘the little guy’ and stick up for kids who are being bullied. Both do not engage in bullying themselves. Both skateboard. Both are great with computers. Both get jealous over their girlfriend/Dad figure. Both are the first students of their first karate dojos.  Both find power in Cobra Kai and peace in Miyagi-Do.   Both advocate for Johnny and Daniel to get along.

The list goes on.

Even some of their mistakes are similar.

Boy A is ‘dating’ Sam. He sees Sam with Boy B and mistakes an innocent scenario for Sam cheating on him. Boy A gets mad and tries to start shit with B boy - Sam intervenes. 

Which one am I referring to? Both! they have both done this!

Sam and Tory are going at it. It is am emotionally fraught situation. Boy A is first on the scene. Boy A seperates the girls, and tries to de-escalate the situation. Boy B is dating Tory and assumes she is being attacked by Boy A. Boy B attacks Boy A and escalates the conflict.

Who am I talking about  - Both! They have both done this!

Their “rivalry” is so dumb because they actually have no problem with each other personally. Their season 1 drama is a huge misunderstanding. In season 2... they do not start shit with each other in season 2. They are awkwardly polite and non-confrontational at the roller rink and at the party. Miguel introduces Robby to Tory. He does this without any animosity at all. Like Robby is a casual aquintance he is on good terms with.  At the Prom, before the girls start fighting, they just blink quietly at each other.

Honestly, if it wasn’t for AVTs or the girls, these two would never confront each other.

Because they are mirrors.

“Mirror characters are used for a similar purpose. They tend to share several qualities and are used to complement and highlight each other's traits. Common mirror characters embark on parallel plots, sometimes to achieve a single goal, which tests them and highlights their traits in different ways.”

From https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/literary-devices/

But lets look at how their stories are reflected differently.

Because whilst they are very similar, they have also made drastically different choices,

Miguel was a total dick to Robby during the first AVT and he cheated. Robby has never cheated.

Robby, in cold blood, violated and dehumanised another person out of a misguided attempt to protect a friend.  Miguel has never calmly and with full clarity deliberately harmed another person.

We can see the difference support + grounding VS complete absence of any support or guidance has on their narrative paths.

Miguel fucked up in AVT - but he received proportional consequences and guidance after this screw up.  His girlfriend not only dumped him, but wouldn;t even speak to him and told him he was turning into a horrible person. His mother made it clear she didn’t like his mean side. His Sensei reamed him out, public punished him and made him go back to a white belt.

But Johnny also took the time to explain why to Miguel. Because he wanted Miguel to know the difference between Mercy and Honour.

Miguel has clearly learned this lesson - and he has interpreted it for himself. He has taken what worked from Johnny’s teachings and what worked from Daniel’s teachings and is trying to find his way in the world without karate violence.

Miguel was in a coma for more than two weeks and nearly died. Miguel was paralysed for months and had to relearn how to walk. Miguel had paid the highest price out of anyone for the karate drama.

What is his take away from this extremely harsh lesson - Karate is for defence only.

After the school fight - Miguel always tries to de-escalate any conflict. This makes so much sense. Miguel paid such a high price last time karate drama spiraled out of control.

When Robby comes to the dojo, Miguel stumbles in shock and stays out of their conversation until Robby starts talking aggressively to Sam. Then Miguel reminds him that Robby’s stint in juvie wasn’t Sam’s fault. (It wasn’t anyone’s fault, but Robby isn’t in the headspace to hear that).  Miguel says he will act to protect Sam, but makes no move towards Robby. It is Sam who intervenes when Robby throws the first punch.

At the house fight, Miguel tries to reason with Tory. He talks to her like she’s a person, and tries to reason with her and remind her that she has choices and she doesn’t have to do this.  Miguel is using a common tactic that is used when diffusing mob violence - calling people by their name and appealing to their inner humanity and making it clear that they are responsible for their actions and cannot hide behind the anonymous mob because they are SEEN as the person they are. Tory attacks anyway - but Miguel making that effort, when others write her off, is telling.

At the drive in, Miguel earnestly tries to diffuse the situation and reminds everyone of the no-figthing rule. Robby stomps all over this potential olive branch by mocking Miguel for the time that he put him in a coma.

(It is so interesting for me that Miguel in season 4 has fully taken on Robby’s season 2 role of peace-maker and I am fascinated to how Robby reacts to this reflection of his former self.)

At the AVT, when it is clear there is no chance of de-escalation and he feels completely disillusioned in Johnny (and feels like Johnny loves Robby more), Miguel does the ultimate Miyagi Move.  No Be There.  He dips out of the final fight completely, and washes his hands of the karate nonsense.  A trophy isn’t worth hurting his friend or damaging his spine. He doesn’t want to fight Robby. Miguel in season 4 doesn’t want to fight at all.

Robby on the other hand,  is full of fight... and in the end it makes him miserable.

Robby received absolutely no support after the school fight.

Robby faced a horrible and disproportional punishment. But his time in juvie certainly didn’t help Robby become a better version of himself. Robby didn’t learn anything that will help him heal and grow in juvie.

With only Kreese’s guidance, Robby learned to strike first, focus on his anger and the unfairness of his situation, and place the blame for all his problems on others.

 Robby after juvie no longer tries to see other people’s points of view, and isn’t interested in finding a compromise, or learning a better way.  The extreme unfairness of his situation causes him immense anger and he lashes out at people who do generally care about him.

He is isolated and vulnerable to a predator like Kreese.

 While Robby considers himself above falling for the brainwashing of CK,  and thinks he’s just using Kreese and Silver to get what he wants (What is that exactly? I have a feeling its the same thing it’s always been; to get back at Johnny and get his attention).  But a 17 year old drop out will never hold the power against a master manipulator and an insane billionaire. We watch Robby react as they wind him up and set him off. (How many times does Kreese play the Miguel card with Robby? It’s a lot, and it always works).

We watch Robby succumb to the worst of Cobra Kai teachings, in a way that mirrors Miguel in season 1.  Because no kid, no matter how good and kind they are in their heart, is completely immune to Cobra Kai; Not Miguel, and Not Robby. 

Because Kids often feel powerless and they want power - and CK promises to give them that.

(It also gives them a buttload of trauma, poor coping mechanisms, reduces their critical thinking skills and and indoctrinates them into a life ruining philosophy, but anyway...)

Robby’s aggression in Season 4 mirrors Miguel’s aggression at the AVT. He is so focused on his anger and jealousy and channelling those feelings. IT may make him a stronger fighter, but it’s hurting him inside.  Robby is emotionally aware enough to recognises its hurting him.

And if Robby is mirroring Miguel’s journey, I can only hope he will get the unconditional love, structure and support that Miguel was given after he screwed up at the AVT in season 5.

#Robby and Miguel #Miguel Diaz #Robby Keene #Let these two boys be friends #They are both the level-headed mom friend of their groups #Like they would actually get along so well if they put aside their jealous over Johnny #I feel like some Robby Stans actually dont want him to get better? #like some of them really don't want him to heal #the super passionate apologists - what are they even apologising for? Robby is one of the most popular characters #Robby is great #people love him #Attacking Miguel doesn't make Robby a better person #Emletish rants #Emletish rambles about Cobra Kai

[emletish-fish]

Rambly notes: The Guru

I’ll ramble about Zuko and Katara’s love languages and why Kataang does such a disservice to poor Aang under the cut.

So there seems to be a misunderstanding in certain sectors of the ATLA fandom who seem to think that Zuko and Katara would be all rah-rah-rah, drama-drama-drama and non-stop fighting then making up. I see it differently. Look at how they both are in interpersonal relationships. They both value harmony in relationships and spend a good deal of their energy trying to please and take care of others. While Katara shows this to most other people, we get to see how Zuko is with girls when he is with Mai and Jin. In both cases, he really tries to make the girls happy (with varying degrees of success).  

 I think they both have acts of service as their pre-dominant love language, which is nice because then they can give to each other and life each other up. We often receive/accept love best when it is in our dominant love language.  (I think Zuko’s secondary love language would be quality time and Katara’s would either be words of affirmation or touch, but I am open to everyone else’s thoughts on this.)

 I also think both of them clearly value domesticity and simple things.  I honestly think simple things like being able to hold hands and have dinner together would be amazing for these two. I couldn’t see them actively seeking out endless drama for themselves. Drama is already thrust upon them enough. I actually see them as both perceiving the relationship as a sort of refuge from their troubles. The other person is their ‘safe space’, so to speak. When left to their own devices, they’d just mostly want to snuggle and be together simply.

But they are still young, and one of them is Zuko, so obviously when they try and become more intimate, it gets awkward. Zuko was suggesting sleep and then rolling over and pretending to sleep as his way of escaping the awkward as well as out of genuine tiredness. 

Ah, Zuko. Maybe one day he’ll be less awkward, eh?

 Katara and Hakoda both push away an opportunity to have an important, but very difficult/awkward conversation in this chapter. Like father, like daughter!

Iroh, however, seizes the opportunity with both hands!

Aang, ah Aang.  He is trying his hardest to work through his chakras. He’s a good boy, who wants to save the world. But he has been through so much. I wanted him to start to come to terms with his grief, rather than slap a katara-band-aid on it. It’s hard and sad, but it will lead him to a healthier place. 

He’s got to grown, so he doesn’t deal with all challenging situations like this: 

At its core, Aang’s unhealthy jealous and entitlement with regard to Katara is because the story frames it as “Katara’s love is enough to replace an entire people – and Aang needs love.”  I agree that Aang needs love, but there is no way one girl can love him enough to make up for the loss of his whole people.  She is his family, his mother figure, not his lover. However, Aang clings to his crush on her because he associates care with love. He doesn’t differentiate between a maternal and a romantic bond – and that tells us everything.  Before he opens the fourth chakra, he has another little jealous moment, because these are all new emotions for him.

I will always have a huge issue with how the show handled Katara and Aang– not only for what was done to Katara’s character but for the damage done to Aang. Why does Aang never get to grieve and heal? Oh, you lost all your people. never mind, here’s this girl to magically make it all better. How is that remotely healthy for either of them? So while the show only had the Air Nomad’s love turning into Katara’s face, I wanted to show that Aang has a much bigger support network than just one girl.  So Zuko and Sokka and Toph appear to him as well as an assortment of others.  

 Azula enters from stage left in part two. Til then lovelies.

#Emletish rants #emletish fic #emletish writes #the worst prisoner #love languages #Zutara #Zuko #Katara #Aang #They all deserved a better story

[emletish-fish]

The worst prisoner rambly notes: under the city

COD is going to go down very differently. One thing that will stay the same is the key-role the familiar dynamics between Zuko/Azula and Iroh affect how the whole thing plays out.

I have some rambly thoughts about the fIre-nation royal family dynamics.

Wow, they are a hot mess of layered drama and dysfunction…like an abusive lasagne. But this messed-up family gives us Zuko and Azula, and they are so fascinating. Nothing is simple between these two. I loved the recent Ehasz tweets about the possibility for Azula's redemption, and I have always had my own ideas about how Zuko and Azula could salvage their relationship. It was nice to get a sense of vindication, because I don't think Azula is a lost cause.

Watching the confrontation between Zuko and Ozai, I was struck by the sheer surprise Zuko expresses when Ozai says his mother is alive. What did he think before? Out of loyalty to his mother, Zuko wouldn't have believed (in his heart) whatever story Ozai concocted*. Zuko knew his mother wouldn't abandon them, and his dad's story didn't make much sense.

*low-key: for real, what did Ozai tell people? The whole situation stinks to high heaven. His father mysteriously changes his will, without consulting or informing anyone, and then just as mysteriously dies suddenly and unexpectedly (longevity being a family trait), and his wife disappears all in the same night. Like, for goodness sake, you don't need a special investigation to see something shifty as all hell happened.

Does Ozai say 'my wife mysteriously ran away, abandoning me and her children and her royal duties, and that's all there is. Nothing to see here folks.' Does he just 'trump' his way through all the naysayers and yell his version of events as loud as possible and hope the power of the throne will prevent people from questioning him further? Like seriously. Does the entire Fire Nation also think he murdered his wife? Low-key, I think they do, but they let wife-murder slide, because he's the fire-lord now and you can't accuse the fire-lord of murder – not unless you are planning a full-scale coup and a very confident you will win.

Ironic eh? It's the one terrible thing Ozai didn't do, and everyone assumes he's guilty.

Anyway, Zuko never bought, not entirely, the whole she-didn't-love-you-and-abandoned-you story his dad was spinning. But I think it would take him a long time to process and come to terms with the most likely outcome. I think he couldn't deny it any longer after he had his epiphany about the Fire Nation and what Ozai was really like, (leading up to his epic "fuck you, dad"). Zuko just had that epiphany earlier in my story than in canon. So Zuko thinks his mother is dead and Ozai killed her. That's why the "yo mama's alive" bombshell floors him so much.

Azula, on the other hand, has a very vested interest in believing her dad.

Azula seems to actively resent Zuko underneath all the contempt. I wondered what might prompt this, considering she so often has the upper hand and is in a position of power over him. I think it was more than just a general feeling that their mother loved Zuko more, (though that certainly is a factor). So I wrote that she believed for a long time that Ursa was alive and Zuko knew where she was. It was easier for Azula to think her mother was alive and feel angry at her brother for withholding, than contemplate the possibility that her actions in assisting her father had led directly to her mother's death.

The biggest difference between my story and canon is that Zuko has experienced much more healthy friendships and relationships at this point. He knows what it is like to feel safe and be loved by people other than Iroh. He reciprocates this feeling in spades. (He's inclined towards loyalty, which is why feeling that he betrayed his Uncle cuts him so deep.) He was torn between his Uncle and the Gaang earlier in the chapter, but it's crossroads/choice time.

He's also seen, first hand, a really healthy brother/sister dynamic. Katara and Sokka have one of the best sibling relationships in tv. Love those two. However, we all consider what we grew up with to be "normal". Zuko is very usedto Azula. He would have normalised a lot of her behaviour and thought 'so this is just what family is like'. You bet every time Sokka and Katara had a squabble and Katara muttered something like "you put your socks in my clean pile one more time and I will kill you," Zuko would have thought ah, it's not just Azula who says shit like that.

This kind of thing is completely normal for Zuko:

However, Katara is here to clear up that little misconception. Katara, coming from a fairly well-adjusted family, is rightly horrified when she hears about the shenanigans that went on in the palace during Zuko's childhood. My two drama llamas aren't going to agree on everything. Azula's gremlin status is one area where they disagree. But at least they can talk openly about their disagreement and hear each other out.

Next chapter with be the battle under Ba Sing Se, til then my lovelies.

#zuko #katara #zutara #emletish rants #emletish writes #emletish fic #the worst prisoner #iroh #azula #zuko and azula

[emletish-fish]

Worst Prisoner: Leaving Ba Sing Se notes.

Rambly notes under the cut

I have some rambly thoughts about this chapter and Azula’s motivations.

Book 1 was all about water and change and how the Gaang and Zuko changed as a result of their much earlier interaction. Book 2’s element was Earth. Earth normally represents stability, however book 2 was the most turbulent and drama filled out of all three seasons IMO. (Book 3 has so many great moments, but so much inconsistency and regrettable writing choices and filler episodes. I think Book 2 was actually one of the most tightly written and intricate plots I’ve seen.)  Stability was never going to come from their situation, but from each other.  The Gaang have created a steadfast support for each other because I love the found family trope so much.

This chapter focused on Azula and her motivations. Azula is a tricky character because she lies so much, even to herself. She has many justifications for wanting Zuko to come back home. In my head-canon, the heart of it was that she missed him – but being Azula, she’s not just about to come out and say that.  

I think Azula genuine cared for Zuko and Ty Lee and Mai. She shows it more towards Zuko and Ty Lee because both she and Mai aren’t affectionate personality-wise. She tries to keep all three of them close to her even though their mission is finished and the other two girls could have gone back to their normal lives. 

But Azula is all about control. Because she never learned how to build healthy relationships she does everything she can to control the three of them. Her rapid descent after all three of them leave her shows how crucial control over them was to her self-identity.

Azula thinks control and fear function the same way as love. Control and fear can be used as a substitute for love.  It’s why she over-reacts when Zuko tiredly talks about committing treason and accepts what he assumes will be his fate. That is not the outcome Azula wanted or expected, so she lashes out violently. But there is a kernel of concern for him at the bottom of it all. Zuko can’t go back to the Fire Nation saying things like that, so Azula will make him do things her way.  She would also feel much more possessive of him, knowing that some other group of kids wanted to take ‘her’ brother away, and so she feels a much stronger impulse to control him.

Thinking about it logically, the reason she stated in canon for wanting Zuko home, to use him as a human shield against their dad, doesn’t have to change that much in this story even despite Zuko’s super-mega-treason habit.  If anything, Zuko’s habit of making a spectacle of himself could easily play into her hands. Azula is a shrewd thinker and sees the bigger picture.  When she’s on top of her game, she always had back-up plans and covered all her angles. She feels confident that she killed Aang, but not confident in declaring so... just in case.

I also think she was genuinely loyal to the Fire Nation cause beyond her own self-glorification. Despite her nature, most of Azula’s plans are actually bloodless, or require very little bloodshed (until her breakdown). She doesn’t waste resources and opportunities and people wily-nily. She wouldn’t see the sense in wasting resources looking for the Avatar if she knows he’s dead, just to cover her own butt.  So she needs a fall-guy, just in case. Zuko is also the perfect lightning rod for their father’s erratic behaviour and intensity.  Azula, even as the favourite, wouldn’t have enjoyed being an only child as much as she thought she would. So bringing Zuko home still serves the same original two functions as it did in canon.  

This is the end of book 2.  I hope you all enjoyed it and thank you all for reading this crazy adventure. Book three will pick up in the same place as canon: the awakening!

#emletish writes #emletish rants #worst prisoner #Azula #Zuko #control issues #Ty Lee #Mai

[emletish-fish]

Worst Prisoner: Ba Sing Se has fallen rambly notes.

The new chapter is here on ff.net and here on Ao3.

The rambly notes are under the cut

So the Crystal Catacombs goes down very differently in this story, and yet everyone still kind of ended up in roughly the same place as in the show.  Worst Prisoner has kind of evolved into becoming canon-parallel. I try to keep the story beats the same, but the emotional journey and the relationships between the characters is what changes.

Zuko and Iroh have built a much stronger relationship in this fic than they had at the same point in canon. I could never picture Zuko turning against his Uncle in this universe. Instead, he got to acknowledge that his Uncle was a much better father to him that Ozai. 

  But sadly for Zuko, I do think many metas about how he needed to go back to the Fire Nation to figure things out for himself had a very valid point. He doesn’t have a very positive view on Ba Sing Se atm. If he goes back and experiences the hypocrisy of the notion that the Fire Nation is better/superior for himself, and he can be like Eleanor, and say to himself:

(Zuko also only slurs his ‘s’ in times of grave illness/distress because Dante Basco had a slight lisp in some scenes.  Areaph wrote a brilliant meta a while ago about how Zuko seems ambidextrous in the show, but it was more likely that he was left-handed but made to use his right hand and gained proficient use of both through hard work. That’s a metaphor for how he wasn’t angry-arsehole bending inclined, but was forced to learn and bend that style anyway, even though it was unnatural for him. In RL, kids who are forced into using their non-dominate hand commonly have childhood/adolescent speech impediments and higher levels of anxiety and…

anyway, this doesn’t have much to do with this chapter but I found it fascinating. I’ve never been able to fit in this HC into this story, so I thought I’d share it here. That’s what these rambly notes are for, after all.) 

So Katara and Zuko said “I love you” in a dramatic fashion, before being dramatically separated. I know Katara inferred it in a previous chapter, but now she was ready to say it directly to him and he was ready to say it back.  I don’t think Zuko’s actually said I love you  outloud to that many people. Maybe his mum, but that would be more than seven years ago now.  He’s less comfortable with putting himself out there, emotionally. He also has not really put that much thought about the long-term future. Thinking ahead was never his strong point, after all. Also he’s had very little idea or control over where his life was heading for most of book 2 and his ideas about the future are much more nebulous.  

Conversely, Katara puts her emotions out there all the time and is very comfortable with expressing them, but she has a lot more pre-conceived ideas of how things should be in a romantic relationship, and their relationship is very unconventional for the ATLA verse (inter-nation/inter-racial). There was a reason why she would always fantasize about the future in water-tribe settings. She was hoping he could fit in to her way of life. But when push comes to pull (see what I did there?), she still loves him even with all the differences between them.  

Boogum’s Undying Fire is a fantastic and engrossing fic, and it was the first place I saw Zuko healing with his firebending. I know he does it in other fic, but Boogum’s is what made me sit up and think this is perfect. It’s so perfect for him. Full credit to her for the inspiration.

I think Zuko would naturally be fascinated by healing. He’s a good boy and was very attentive to his fake grandma, Yugoda, because it sparked his interest so.  Healing suits him both for practical reasons (how many times in Zuko’s life would a bit of splashy-healing water have helped enormously), and aspirational ones (that boy just wants to heal the world and fill it with love and kindness).  Zuko wasn’t as maudlin as Jeong Jeong, but I think he would have also struggled with the idea that firebending can be used for solidly good purposes, like healing.  He wouldn’t have believed in something as pure as the spark of life until he did it himself.  But giving most of your energy to someone else does have consequences, as Zuko will discover. So will Aang. But they’ll figure it out.

He got a big helpful push from Yue, because I really like that girl. Even though she’s the moon, it doesn’t mean she can’t pop up and be useful to her friends from time to time. I like the idea that Yue, as a fairly new and young spirit, would still be more attached to the world and want to intervene where she could. She was a very compassionate and noble girl, in her own way. She’s still figuring out how spirit-stuff works and can only muster the energy when the situation is really dire and urgent.  We may see her again.

The next chapter will be the last one for book 2. Until then my lovelies.

#Emletish rants #emletish writes #emletish fic #worst prisoner #zutara #Zuko #katara #aang #water-healing #yue #Iroh

[emletish-fish]

The Guru: Part 2 - rambly notes.

Rambly thoughts about Zuko’s self-awareness regarding his home situation,  Katara and Jealousy, Ty Lee and Aang under the cut.

So I think Zuko, with a bit of self-awareness, would have very mixed feelings about going home. The home sickness is still there. Really, it is natural he feels that way.  I think he is actually homesick for his idealised memories of beachside holidays with a more complete family (including his mother, Iroh and Lu Ten), not a place that actually exists.  This is why he never feels ‘home’ even when he’s in the palace. The palace wasn’t what he was missing. He’s missing the innocence and relative safety of his childhood. 

I think with homesickness, there would also be a realistic aversion and dread.  He knows what it is like to have healthy relationships and friendships now.  He’s been able to build a life for himself with his Uncle. He’s spent three years without directly experiencing domestic violence and his father’s abuse.  Just some distance from an abusive situation can give a person amazing clarity and Zuko is much more aware of how messed up and abusive his father/home environment was.  

Even in the show, during the first two seasons when we see Ozai from Zuko’s POV, Zuko clearly remembers a scary and imposing shadow - not a father figure.  Ozai is a scary dude, but now Zuko realises that he is rightfully scared of his father, and fear is not the same thing as love.  (Lets face it, Azula gets these two emotions confused a bit - and think this is her father’s influence.)

He’d have two conflicting desires. He wants to go home, but he also dreads it.

See Bryke? We don’t need that silly two-great-grandfathers (this-mathematics-makes-no-sense-did-one-of-them-have-a-baby-in-their-70s-so-gross) storyline to explain Zuko’s inner conflict. Poor boy is conflicted all on his own. Sorry, I really am not keen on the evil-grandfather-good-grandfather, that’s why Zuko’s conflicted explanation. Just look at the hot mess that is his life.  He’s conflicted because his life is a mess, not because he had two great grandfathers.

Ah Zuko and Katara have both had awkward conversations with an older person about sex.  Who’s conversation was more awkward? It’s hard to say.  I will say Iroh was much more enthusiastic about delivering his wisdom than Gran Gran. But I don’t know if this made it better or worse. Uncle’s always been an over-sharer.

Katara feels some jealousy in this chapter. Katara shows jealousy a couple of times in the show, but she’s normally feels terrible about it. I think there would be a cultural factor to this, as jealousy would be strongly discouraged in a communal setting. Gran Gran would have also had strong views on jealous/possessive people. But given Katara’s abandonment issues and her prior experience with how Sokka and Aang behave around a group of girls, I think it would be natural for Katara to feel possessive about her boyfriend. She wouldn’t like a group of girls fawning over him. 

And it just tickles my funny bone thinking she did this. 

(Neither does Zuko TBH. He didn’t seem to care for his fangirls back in the firenation. I always got the vibe that he was uncomfortable with it so he was ignoring them in the hope that they would go away, rather than oblivious to them).  

Anyway, rather than shaming her for jealousy, Zuko would accept it and reassure her he’s only into her.  Mostly because I want Katara to be able to express negative feelings safely and have those feelings acknowledged.  They are each other’s safe space, even when they’re squabbling in a cupboard.  

I think Ty Lee had a functioning moral compass, a complicated fear/friendship with Azula and didn’t want to see people hurt. I think she was a genuinely nice person even when she was a ‘dangerous lady’. Like Aang, she’s a people person who wants to like everyone and for everyone to like her. She wouldn’t be comfortable with Katara clearly hating her.  She’s also very good at reading auras and very astute about people, so she’s surmised a few things about Zuko and Katara’s relationship – but I think she’d keep it to herself.

Aang. Ah, Aang. He choses to leave the guru again, but he clearly made a choice rather than feeling like ‘he had to’. He had options and he picked forever girl over cosmic energy/control of the avatar state. Let’s see how that works out for him.

#emletish fic #emletish writes #Emletish rants #Zuko #Zutara #Katara #The worst prisoner #aang #Ozai #ty lee

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Rambly notes for the new chapter.

Worst Prisoner: The Earth king rambly notes under the cut. 

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So, in this chapter we have Aang sorting out his jealousy. I love the little dude, and I don’t want to seem harsh to him, but Aang was very immature romantically…(*stage whispers* because he was a 12 year-old bryke).  Aang’s just had a huge emotional curve ball thrown at him. His little ‘forever-girl’ fantasy has been poked by the big mean reality stick. So Aang has a lot of feelings – and he needs to take some time to sort through these feelings. But it will be good for his growth I promise.

I think the show at the end of book two was really emphasising that Aang’s attachment to Katara was unhealthy and it actively hinders him. So I really wanted him to work through it and come out better for the experience.  See he stills loves Katara and Zuko separately as individuals, but it is going to take a while for him to come around to the idea of them as a couple.

Also in Aang’s romantic fantasies, Katara’s feelings aren’t taken into account very much. (To be fair to Aang, bryke leave out how she goes from their argument in the first half of sozin’s comet – to a full on smooch with literally no explanation. So I guess Aang’s not the only one who discounts Katara’s feelings.)  Aang doesn’t see her as a person when he thinks about her romantically, but a prize to be won – which is why he thinks he can “flip” for her.

What even was happening with the characterisation in the headband?

-       This is different from Aang-the-friend, who is actually amazing and sweet and really cares about his friends.

 Such a sweet friend! Her small, kind son. 

Katara taking Aang with her to the apothecary and asking no-stop if he was okay, is the closest she can bring herself to broaching the subject of Aang’s big old crush. Katara, Sokka and Toph all kind of know why Aang is being more standoffish with Zuko – but will poor Zuko figure it out? Only time will tell.

I think Zuko, as a royal-who-does-things, wouldn’t have that much time for Kuei, a royal-who-didn’t-even-know-his-own-city-was-under-seige-for-600-days. Zuko has a really strong work ethic, and in comparison, Kuei seems a bit lazy to me.

So Katara staying behind to look after Zuko was a tough choice for me, because I love me some action!Katara. But action!Katara got to slap the whole Dai Li with a lake last chapter, and  I couldn’t actually see her wanting to do anything else but look after Zuko at this point. Realistically, they don’t know where Uncle is and Zuko is in a bad way. Also, when I watched the way the Gaang blast into the palace, Katara doesn’t really get that much of the action. Sure she gets a few good moves, but it really is mostly the Aang and Toph show, until the get to the king’s chambers where it was Sokka’s time to shine.  So our drama llamas got to spend time together, even though one of them was unconscious.

Zuko still had his weird fever dreams, but they would have mixed with his ocean dreams and his usual nightmares (about the Agni Kai and Makapu) in this case. He’s also a sleep mumbler when he’s sick.

Next chapter Iroh and Zuko will reunite, the Gaang will discover some letters and some choices will need to be made. Aslo Zuko will make friends with Appa again. Until then lovely readers.

#Emletish rants #emletish fic #emletish writes #Zutara #Zuko #Katara #Aang #Anti-Kataang #the worst prisoner #worst prisoner #rambly notes

[emletish-fish]

Worst Prisoner:  City of walls and secrets.

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excerpt:

Jet was obsessed. It wasn't healthy. And it was getting worse.

“He's so agile,” Jet muttered to himself. “He's so sneaky. He's up to something. I just know it. Why else would he always be jumping round the rooftops, climbing the walls and breaking into Dai Li buildings?” 

“Jet, you've got to stop following this guy, get your shit together, and get a job,” Smellerbee told him. This had become her standard response to Jet's rantings. 

“He's a good pickpocket. Did I tell you he put his hand in my pocket and I didn't even feel it!”

Smellerbee rolled her eyes. He had already told her, many times.

“I bet he came here to escape getting arrested for being a thief.  What a fucking criminal,” Jet added darkly. 

Smellerbee thought that was a bit rich coming from Jet. They weren't really in a position to judge people on the criminal front. “I thought you thought he was firebender,” she pointed out snidely. 

“Yes. He's that too. People can be two bad things at the same time, Smellerbee! He's a firebender and a thief. A wily, athletic, strong, smug thief who thinks he's so fucking clever.”  Jet actually sighed as he said this. “Just you both wait until I get my hands on him.” He made a clutching gesture, his eyes shining with anticipation as he clearly relished the thought.

Smellerbee exchanged a concerned look with Longshot. Longshot had been right. He nodded at her, his expression saying, Go on, ask him. Smellerbee gulped. She knew Jet probably wasn't going to take it well. Longshot and Smellerbee had both assumed Jet was a little bit bisexual for some time now, especially after the way he fixated on how Sokka had ruined his plans at Gaipan.  Jet's ranting back then had focussed much more on Sokka's physical attributes than his plan-foiling sneakiness. They hadn't talked about it then, and maybe they should have.   

“Jet, are you crushing on this guy?” Smellerbee ventured. 

#emletish rants #emletish writes #emletish fic #the worst prisoner #Zuko #Katara #Zutara #Sokka #Aang #JEt #Smellerbee #Longshot #Uncle Iroh

[emletish-fish]

Worst Prisoner: city of walls and secrets notes.

I don’t focus as much on the Gaang in this chapter because not much has changed for them from their original storyline. They get creepy Joo-dee guides. They’re trying to figure out what is askew in Ba Sing Se.  They are looking for Appa (and now Zuko too), but being mired by bureaucracy. Not much changed for them. More changed for Zuko so he got the focus of this chapter.

Note Zuko does not read the terms and conditions.

Heaps of the Ba Sing Se shenanigans are lifted from my other fic Jet’s troubling obsession. It’s stalking Zuko from Jet’s perspective. Their fights, dialogue and Jet’s date are from that fic.  

Long Su’s name is short for long suffering – as all customer service employees are long suffering. You that meme – some of you have never worked in customer service, and it shows. Well now, no one can say that to poor Zuko. Poor Zuko suffers so much, but I feel like he would rate having to serve Jet as one of the worst things ever.  

I have an irrationally big soft spot for Smellerbee and Long-shot. Just look at them! They’re adorable - all mutually supportive and shit.  I can see  Zuko, while he’s not as practised at “brothering” as Sokka, would very quickly assume the perpetually irritated by your shenanigans but I’ll look out for you anyway older brother role for those two reprobates.  

Smellerbee is another bratty little sister figure for Zuko. But who better than a bratty little sister to tell him that he is actually quite attractive?  I feel like this was something Zuko needed to be explicitly told, (especially before he goes back to the Fire Nation and has his slew of fangirls wanting to ride the grumpy-express – goodness, that is going to confuse the crap out of him). He would have no idea that he is considered handsome (he thinks girls who look at him adoringly are secretly spies etc). 

Someone needed to tell him he was good looking, and point out bluntly that having a burn scar is not uncommon in the ATLA world. Toph is normally my girl for bratty little sister conversations, but for obvious reasons she had to sit this one out.  

Zuko’s face was mutilated when he was a pre-pubescent, wide-eyed thirteen-year-old.  

He would have massive emotional damage about his appearance and very little self-confidence in his looks.  Of course Katara has told him she thinks he’s handsome, but Zuko thinks Katara is one-in-a-million. He would think she was just saying it because she was his girlfriend and she’s one of the only people in the world who isn’t bothered by the scar.

Jet’s obsession with Zuko always seemed strange to me as Zuko didn’t really do anything suspicious. I feel like bisexual crush is the best theory out there (plus it makes those creepy scenes and the scenes where longshot and smellerbee are trying to discourage Jet inadvertently hilarious). However, coming to terms with bisexuality is a real struggle and I would never poke fun at that. It’s not uncommon for kids who are struggling with this to redirect their anger and negative-self image onto the object of their affections.  Add Jet’s trauma and obsessive hatred of the Fire Nation into a mix and there is a volatile cocktail of feelings. And poor Zuko is so socially awkward and not great at this stuff and he is in a permanent state of “What the actual fuck is this?” in response to Jet’s everything. 

I am both laughing and crying when I think about it.  

Our gang will be reunited next chapter.. until then!

#worst prisoner #emletish writes #emletish rants #emletish fic #Zuko #Katara #Zutara #Jet #Smellerbee #Longshot #Sokka #Aang #Toph

[emletish-fish]

Worst Prisoner Swamp notes:

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Notes:

This chapter covers the swamp to the start of the blind bandit.

So the swamp shows you people you love, irrespective of time (ie Aang seeing Toph in the swamp before meeting her. Hands down, I thought they were foreshadowing eventual Taang and I was so pleased. Much older Toph and Aang could actually be so good for each other. Aang needs grounding and Toph needs someone to help smooth those super abrasive and defensive edges and brave enough to climb over her defensive walls.)

Katara and Zuko first bonded about their mothers and I wanted to elaborate on a conversation about that, but I couldn't really find a place for it in book one. I felt like it would be perfect here as a flashback. Mostly because the swamp brings up a lot of issues for Katara, but also because by this point, I missed writing my drama llamas together.  Just look at them, they are beautiful together.

Zuko's mum: So I think Ursa tried. However, I think she would have enjoyed Zuko's company more. Hands down that woman loved both those kids, but one of them was infinitely easier to be around than the other.  She probably concentrated on teaching Zuko more, because he was receptive. Whereas I think Azula got more scoldings from her mother.

The flipside of this, and goodness have I seen it countless times, is that when there are two or more children, and one is very challenging – the “good one” is put under enormous pressure to always be “good”, because the adults don't want to deal with two difficult ones. I think that Ursa would have been quick to correct any behaviour Zuko showed that she didn't like. She would have done this lovingly, but she would have still done it, because she needed one “good” and “manageable” kid.

I am not at all with the Azula apologists who blame Ursa for 'withholding affection' and that's why Azula is the way she is. In the flashback we see Ursa scolding Azula a lot and that is because Azula's behaviour is deserving of a scolding. Ursa is trying to set boundaries. Azula is not an easy kid to raise right, but lordy is that woman trying. Azula is a product of her environment while also being responsible for herself and her choices.

I think Azula loves Zuko and her mother, deep down, in one big, hellish tangled ball of complicated feelings – which I will delve into when we get to it.  Katara sees them as complete opposites, because in her mind Zuko = good, friend and Azula = evil gremlin. She doesn't want to see any similarity between them – but those two have more than a nose in common.

I can see Ursa trying to give them a more rounded knowledge of the world and an appreciation of the things she loved, like music. I chose tacky dramatic plays – because my goodness, both Zuko and Azula are ridiculously dramatic. I hate the comics and pretend they don't exist. I think rather than Ursa being a common actress, she was a noblewoman who was just really into the theatre.  Zuko and Azula both learned that being super dramatic got their mother's attention and brought her amusement.

I also think the Ember Island Players were always that terrible.

Anyway, Zuko can remember a lot more fine detail about his mother, purely by virtue of being older before she vanished. Katara was young when her mother died. She was what? Seven? How much can the average person remember from when they were seven? I think this is why Katara couldn't interact with the vision of her mother more completely and why there was no sound/dialogue between them. She doesn't exactly remember what her mother's voice sounded like.

It's also really clear to me that Katara and Sokka don't really talk about her together. Katara brings her mother up will all and sundry random dudes, but Sokka looks really taken aback whenever she brings up Kya around him. I can't even say it's because it's old grief, as Katara is still hurting. My best guess is that as Katara assumed a more motherly role in Sokka's life, they talked about Kya less. Tragically, I think th thing Katara remembers the most clearly about her mother is how her mother died, because it was traumatically burned on her memory.  Poor girl.

So the shared dream – give me this tacky trope lovely readers. I know, I know. It is tacky. But ATLA had gifted me a magic “everything is connected” tree and I am going to use it. That's why I had Zuko explicitly mention that he was sleeping under an banyan tree last chapter – because the trees are connected and...the trees know they miss each other and give them a dream hook-up, and...spiritual mumbo-jumbo, etc. Just give me this tacky, romantic trope.

So Zuko has given up/lost nearly everything. He's had to completely give up his identity, and his quest and everything he defined himself by. It just makes sense that his bending would be affected. So I have brought his season three storyline forward.  Iroh's wisdom from under lake Lagoai is also brought forward. So Zuko will be on a quest to find what really matters. You go, you soft little bean. I’m sure it will be fun for you.

The thieving vigilante bit:  I think this was an important milestone for Zuko, and while he didn't steal Song's ostrich horse in the last chapter, I still think he needs to get his vigilante on and explore some of his lower impulses. He's low-key ashamed of it (because his mama raised him better than to be a common thief, and that is why he is always lying to Iroh), but he is learning a lot about himself through it.

  So swamps typically symbolise low points in character's  journeys and places where a hard truth is learned, or properly understood. Poor Zuko is getting pretty close to rock bottom at this point. I think it would make sense that he would resist his Uncle's hopeful musings – because he has no hope and he thinks there is no point in being optimistic. There really isn’t much more left for him to lose. Soon we will see Zuko beginning to build himself back up, from scratch, away from his abusive environment and discovering things that really matter to him. He'll regain his sense of identity and purpose away from the terrible influence of his father and sister.

Honest Confession time: I think Yang Chen and Kyoshi were the bomb, and also infinitely better at being the Avatar than Roku and Kuruk.  Both those women were so competent.

Look at her! Look at what she did!

If Aang can commune with his past lives, Kyoshi and Yang Chen would serve him much better as mentors. Because, hands down, Roku could have made life, the universe and everything one thousand times easier for Aang if he had just had the gonads to do his duty. Aang is very different from Kyoshi, but goodness does she have wisdom for him.

I think Kyoshi and Yang Chen had the best wisdom for Aang. I didn't like how he dismissed her in Sozin's comet. I thought it was a bit disrespectful to be honest.  I don’t think Aang means to, but it has cornered himself into favouring letting a tyrant live and thousands of others die, because he doesn’t want to do his duty for personal reasons (just like Roku). 

If Aany only draws wisdom from one source (Roku) it becomes rigid and stale. Aang needs to learn from his other past lives. I wanted Aang and Kyoshi to have a conversation, and get to hash out their differences and come to understand each other better. I wanted Aang to see the human side of Kyoshi, and her to thaw a little towards Aang and give him a break and encourage him.

When Aang confesses he didn't want to be the Avatar, I think Kyoshi would have known exactly how that feels. It's a pretty mixed blessing being the avatar. Anyway, I've always wanted to write a more philosophical conversation between those two, and so I am indulging myself a bit here, but I hope you enjoyed it.

Next Chapter: TOPH!!! (she needs the caps).

#the worst prisoner #Emletish rants #emletish writes #emletish fic #Azula #Zuko #Katara #Zutara #Sokka #Aang #Toph #taang #Iroh #Kyoshi

[emletish-fish]

Worst prisoner: Zuko alone notes

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Notes:

One million squillion thanks to the gorgeous Boogum. She is a gem!

Thanks to everyone who leaves feedback. It warms my heart to read that you are all enjoying this wild ride.

In these notes, I will ramble about:

Zuko's not stupid, but he thinks he is.  

Zuko's character in general.

Toph!

Sela and the Kyoshi warriors.

So I'm not touching the Blind bandit episode. That episode was gold. I love it and I don't think there's anything I could add to it. How the Gaang meet Toph would have still gone down the same, because it was awesome.

Instead this chapter picks up at the end of the blind bandit and covers the start of the chase and Zuko alone. I think these two episodes were happening concurrently, but focussing on different characters. I have given the Gaang a day or two travelling with Toph before the dangerous ladies catch up. Next chapter will cover when Azula gets into the mix – and there will be drama.  

I actually don't think Zuko's that much of a dumbass.  He's reckless and does dumb stuff when he's emotional, but he's not an idiot. His intelligence is something that is frequently mocked by mutliple characters throughout the series. Azula, Ozai, Sokka, Aang, Mai – hell, even Uncle Iroh, all take pot-shots at him about being stupid. Zuko internalises things and I think he has internalised this perception of himself.  He sees himself as a hard-worker, someone who has to struggle and fight to get things, not someone who is naturally clever and 'gifted'.   He always compares to himself to his sister, and  Azula has Machiavellian brilliance. No wonder he feels stupid compared to her.

Zuko blows up at his Uncle in this chapter. It's been a long time coming friends.  Lashing out at his Uncle is Zuko's coping strategy when he feels overwhelmed by the sheer amount of bullshit that is his life. Uncle's lies about the flower friends has been simmering away as a big issue for Zuko because it has very much undermined his trust in his Uncle. This secrecy has negatively impacted their close relationship. Zuko is also feeling very isolated, even before he runs off. He is missing the Gaang instead of his Fire Nation home, but him associated the Gaang with 'home' is still more on a subconscious level for him.  

I also think as Zuko leans more into the blue-spirit identity, and relies on his swords more, he would think more on the teachings of Piandao (My personal favourite original white lotus member). The swords are an integral part of blue spirit, the same as ninjitsu. Both these non-bending skills give Zuko a sense of achievement which firebending denied him. He is proficient at swords and ninjitsu, and I think he gains a certain sense freedom from using these skills. The blue spirit really helps Zuko feel more free from his old identity. It is also helping him work through some stuff with his dad, and how he really feels about bullying and abuse.

I think Zuko would be fuelled by righteous anger at injustice and desire to protect people.  There is still an element of anger, but it is more useful and positive anger, because he hates seeing people treated badly.  He's passionate about justice, honour and protecting people. Goodness, how do people get the idea that Zuko is a “bad boy” when all that boy is about is trying to be honourable?

Zuko's biggest motivation, even when he was little, was to take care of people and protect them. Think of Mai in the pond, or 'you can't sacrifice those soldiers like'.  This was an innate part of him, that he tried to suppress to please his father. It's also why people like Song with her burn scars have a big impact on him.  Zuko regaining his full bending when he uses it for the defence of the innocent felt right.  Hey hey, starwars reference: He's stronger protecting what he loves, than he is fighting what he hates. Even though firebending is more aggressive, I reason that Zuko's would be stronger when he is defending something he cares for.  He might actually be accidentally rediscovering other bending styles, which also relied on other sources rather than hate. Yay!  Now he just has to change decades long traditions in his militaristic homeland. I’m sure it will be fun for him.

So Toph. I love her. Toph to me is a miniature, ass-kicking Gina Linetti (from Brooklyn 99).

Toph doesn't tolerate pussy-footing, but she also isn't gentle or sensitive to other people's feelings. Especially in the beginning. See Toph was brought up both very spoiled, and very isolated.  Her noble status, from what we see of the Earth Kingdom society, meant that she never had to care about other's feelings, even if she did have a friend.  The only people she associated with, outside her privileged bubble, were rude, brash Earth Rumblers. Toph could live life like this iconic Gina Linetti gif.

Toph has never hung out with  kids her own age, before the Gaang. Going from relative isolation, to being surrounded by the Gaang 24/7 would be a big adjustment for her. Now she’s in the huddle.

Zuko never hung around with kids his own age that much and he was awkward. But Toph's response to the Gaang's persistent friendship is rudeness. I think this rudeness is partly fuelled by Toph feeling defensive, because she doesn't know how to react around the Gaang. She is constantly pushing them, especially Katara. No one said she had to set up her rock tent as far away from them as human possible – but this is where Toph chooses to camp.

 I thought that was interesting. She moves closer and softens her rough edges around them as the show progresses, but I still think some of her initial stand-offishness was a result of her finding her feet with people her own age.

The girl's fight is really because they have two very different world views which are clashing. Toph is an isolationist, everyone should be an island and carry their own weight. Toph is trying to prove her worth and that she doesn’t need help from anyone, but she is also struggling with interacting with the group on a friendly level.  Katara comes from a very communal upbringing where everyone needed to pitch in to survive.  She's sees Toph's refusal to help the ‘community’ as an affront to her whole way of life.  Toph and Katara completely misunderstand each other here, but their fight was an important part of them getting to know each other.

I think Toph's feeling of competitiveness towards Zuko would be a fairly natural reaction to being frequently compared to him. I also think it would be normal for the Gaang to compare them – not maliciously, they aren't trying to hurt her feelings. But Zuko is the only other person they've added to their group on a long term basis. He and Toph have some traits in common. It's only natural that they would make comparisons between their two belligerent badasses. I think this initial tendency to compare them would be one effect that Zuko joining the Gaang in season one would have on their relationship with Toph.  However Toph quickly sets them straight and establishes her own identity.

“That's what mums are like,” is such an important line for Zuko and such a character building line for Ursa. (Boo comics, boo. That woman wouldn't have just abandoned those kids to a psychopath so she could shag her high school bf). 

Anyway, I like this line and I wanted to work it in, just in a different context.  Thank you Sela.I'm always a big believer in fleshing out those background lady characters.

Sela was also a former Kyoshi warrior.  I have also always been puzzled about the Kyoshi warriors, because seriously, Suki is 16 and she is wonderful and well-spoken and  great warrior – but she is still a teenager. Why is she in charge? Where are all the old warriors?

I couldn't come up with anything satisfactory, so Sela is cagey about her past. I am assuming it is something bad, maybe something to do with the war, maybe something to do with Ba Sing Se, but nevertheless, Sela had a good reason to desert and choose to go live an anonymous life where nothing and no one would ever sneak up on her

Gosh, when little Lee said that to Zuko in the show, I just though “Thank goodness, that is what that kid needs. No surprises. Nothing sneaking up to pull the rug out from under him. Let him have a bit of warning for once.”

The lesson Zuko learns in the village is a different to the show.  He's grown much more since Makapu.  Instead, Zuko gets to learn from Sela. It was heaps of fun to write their chat, and I think she helped him just as much as Uncle Iroh helps Toph. She helps him start to let go of the bad things, in a way that all of Iroh's proverbs couldn't accomplish. I think because Zuko would feel a kinship with Sela's inability to talk about all the bad things that had happened to her, and her desire to move forward.   She also helps him come round to Iroh and the flower friends.

I had a couple of lines in Zuko and Katara's POV about how much they miss each other. Because I am a sap.  Katara tries not to think about it, and pushes her feelings down.  Zuko's a massive moper.   But they will see each other again.

But next chapter, some members of the Gaang will reunite with Zuko. Azula will be in the mix and there will be drama!

#Emletish rants #emletish writes #emletish fic #the worst prisoner #worst prisoner #zuko #Katara #sokka #Aang #Toph #Kyoshi #Iroh #Zutara

[emletish-fish]

Worst Prisoner: Omahsu notes.

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Notes: In these rambles I will mention

Aang and the mind-fuck passage of time.

Zuko has too many feelings and none of them are good.

My theory about the White Lotus

So I'd like to ramble about Aang and the passage of time.   He woke up from a nap one hundred years later.

The only person alive from Aang's past used to be the same age as him and is now ancient! That is brain wrinkling. I always thought seeing Bumi as such an old guy would have really thrown Aang for a massive loop and I wanted to explore his feelings a little bit.

I'm still sticking to my theory that Zuko is re-incarnated Kuzon. I think it explains a lot, such as  why Aang really gravitated towards Zuko, and his first instinct, even despite everything that had happened was 'lets be friends'. Also the timeline fits better, their names are practically anagrams, we were going to have an episode about Kuzon. But for re-incarnation to happen Kuzon had to die.  Sorry mate.

The line “if life is a race, she beat me to the finish – but if it is a boxing match, I'm the last man standing” - is from Woman in Gold, a movie that I really enjoyed, even if critics didn't like it much. I also thought it would fit what I imagine would have been a very loving, but very belligerent friendship between Kuzon and Bumi after Aang. - Gosh I have so many head canons for what those two got up too after Aang.

I'm going to drop one on you now.  My Theory is: The White Lotus isn't an ancient organisation. It's a fairly new secret society/spy/resistance network that was initially created by Bumi and Kuzon and monk Pasang (one of the survivors from Aang's temple) against Firelord Sozin, to help hide and protect surviving air nomads and be a nuisance to the Fire Nation's military plans.

The White Lotus is all about 'maintaining balance'. There is no greater way of maintaining balance than ensuring the survival of a crucial quarter of the four elements.  I think as teens/young adults Bumi and Kuzon got up to shenanigans trying to smuggle, hide and protect survivors of the genocide - and there would have been survivors – the Air Nomads are nomadic people, who's gut instinct is to run away and avoid conflict, with forewarning that the Fire Nation is planning some nasty stuff.

Totalitarian regimes never jump straight to genocide normally. There is a propaganda period, where smaller injustices become 'acceptable' – such as forbidding hosting Air Benders at home. Sozin would probably trump up some reason for this – health most likely. Say the Air Nomads had a plague and you're endangering everyone if you let it spread to the Fire Nation. The Young Sozin Society is my ATLA version of the Hitler Youth.

So Bumi and Kuzon would make fake identities, help move the air benders, and set up little enclaves of survivors. There would have been the need for utmost secrecy, obviously.  They would have been very sneaky. Maybe this trait from his past life is where Zuko gets his affinity for being a sneaky ninja.

But I think there would have been other sympathetic people out there, and they would have become members and branches would have rapidly grown. They would have communicated through 'Pai Sho' strategies, because it would have been an easy way to relay complex information.  I think Bumi would have been the first 'Grand Lotus'  as it would have been easier for him to liaise with all the cells in the EK, but he would have handed this responsibility over after a period.

Why is Tom Tom so ridiculously the favourite as per Mai's tacked on tragic backstory? I mean there had to be a reason. I feel like the most logical reason for him being doted on more is a combination of being a later in life baby and a bender.  So he is.

It also let me include a scene that was inspired by one of my lovely reviewers. Someone (sorry I can't remember who, but shout out to you for this great observation!) said that the way people treated Zuko in book 1 was really unfair, because he was just a fairly innocent kid and he wasn’t even doing anything bad. They compared it to ganging up on a baby.

I kind of wanted to hammer that point home with Tom Tom.  I wanted to show how deep the prejudice the nations feel for each other is, because those soldiers do hate that baby for being a firebender as a result of all the evil done to them by firebenders – but it also highlights how far Sokka and Katara have come in their attitude towards the Fire Nation. They aren't governed by blind hatred and can clearly recognize it in their 'allies'.

So, I also included a little Aang jealousy here. I think Aang gets maternal and romantic love mixed up (and isn't it a shame that he never gets to learn the difference either). Aang was raised by mostly celibate monks, and never really hung out with girls before the iceberg. Katara has a whole lot of maternal loving for him. He has a crush on her and so he reads her attention as romantic. Seeing her display similar affection to Tom Tom would have made him a little jealous, but he is nowhere near understanding why or labelling it as that. Without being anti-Aang, because I love him, I just wanted to make it clear that the Kataang dynamic is beautiful as a familiar relationship, but unhealthy as all get-out romantically.

Here’s another yikes gif.

Katara calling the baby 'sweetie' is a deliberate dig at the comics, because I have petty moments too, okay.  Also I consider sweetie a maternal term of endearment and use it with children when I momentarily blank their name.  

So Zuko is at a very low point at the moment, even lower than in the show, because he doesn't even have the vague, nebulous goal of 'regaining his honour' and going home to devote his energy and brain-power too. No, he's sitting on his butt all day. He'd be bored out of his mind. Also Zuko was never really idle, I don't think he knows what to do with himself if he doesn't have a goal to work towards. Nope, all he's got at the moment are maudlin thoughts and beating up bullies.  He’s a little sad ball.

I actually think that after all the things he suffered, it would make sense that his season three storyline, of his firebending getting weaker because of a loss of driving motivation, would happen a lot earlier. At least he'll have Iroh to help him through it this time – if he talks to his Uncle and stops sassing him about the flower friends that is.  This would be his face whenever Iroh brings up the flower friends.

Lastly, Mai recognised that knife. She knows who it belongs too. She also thinks Zuko got eaten but the Water Tribes, so Katara is not her favourite person at all.  Azula hasn't told Mai that he is alive and they are also hunting him along with Iroh. Azula has her reasons, trust me. But Mai being so cheerful about hunting Zuko was something I just couldn't get behind, even for them being friends, let alone paired romantically. The 'love interest' is happy that she has to hunt down someone she supposedly cares about – blargh to that! So it doesn't happen in my story. Mai will retain her deadpan awesome, but I don’t want her to be a sociopath.

Next up – The swamp shows us people we love, people we lost. Katara remembers happier times in the north. Aang and Avatar Kyoshi have an enlightening conversation.

Til then.  

#the worst prisoner #worst prisoner #Emletish rants #emletish fic #emletish writes #zutara #Zuko #Katara #Sokka #Aang #Azula #Bumi #Iroh #Uncle Iroh

[emletish-fish]

Worst Prisoner book 2: the illusion of separation.

Hello lovely readers:

The new chapter is here:

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Ao3

#the worst prisoner #illusion of separation #Emletish rants #emletish fic #emletish writes #Zutara #Zuko #Katara #Sokka #Aang #Iroh

[emletish-fish]

Worst Prisoner chapter 16 notes:

A03

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So this is the end of book 1. I was originally planning on splitting the story into three parts – So it didn't look so incredibly long when I looked at the word count. Book two would be called the illusion of separation. I may still do that, or I may keep it all together here. I'm still tossing up about it.  

Updated note:

I will do that. The installment will be Worst Prisoner 2: the re-prison-ing!! nah, just jokes. It will be called the illusion of separation.  And now for notes:

This chapter mostly deals with falling action from the siege, and sets up stuff for book 2.

So I shamelessly used “We thought you were dead!” trope in this chapter, to help Katara recognise a few things. In my first draft Katara didn't find out for another few chapters that Zuko was definitely alive. When I finally came around to planning and writing this story out I just couldn't...it was too mean to her.  She would have been all Leo Decaprio from Baz Lurhman’s 90′s masterpiece for chapters and chapters. So she only thinks he's dead for one day here – but goodness would that had been enough. There would have been so much bitter regret going through the poor girl!  So she was leo - but only for a day.

I just wanted to clarify that Zuko was planning on breaking out of the North Pole with Aang, lifting his banishment, and then returning Aang to the safety of the North Pole, before returning to the ship. I don't think he'd deliberately betray them that way after everything. He wasn't going to hand Aang over to the FN. I don't know if I made this clear enough based of some responses to the last chapter.  I'll see if I can expand the terrible plan paragraph to make it clearer.

It's a pretty terrible plan, but Zuko would have been clutching at straws.  Katara would have been furious at him, but I wouldn't put in on the same anger level as after  Ba Sing  Se.  However, for the day when she thinks the result of her actions was gruesome blob-monster death for her boyfriend, she would have been beyond heartbroken. It helped clarify her feelings. She was angry at him, but she still loved him, faults and all. His faults are very similar to her faults after all – they are both impulsive and tempestuous.  Katara would have recognised panicked desperation for what it was, and bitterly regretted the way she reacted, even if she didn't see any other options at the time. When she was talking about Aang loving Zuko and never getting over it, she would have been projecting hardcore.

let’s have another leo gif:

Also they both got to realise that taking their anger and grief out on proxy people/lashing out does not help their situation. Zuko realised last chapter that hurting Zhao would not bring him anything he wanted. Katara realised that no matter what she did to Pakku, it wouldn't bring her boyfriend back to her.  This is an important lesson for both of them.

Pakku  has been scolded by Yugoda, and he is going to have to make some real changes – but now he is much more motivated to do so, now that he has 'lost' Katara's affection and respect. He is going on his own journey of discovery, because frankly he needs to leave the North and see a bit more of the world to grow. I also don't think it needs to be Katara's job to teach him, because that girl has enough on her plate already.  Helping a guy in his mid-sixties grow up - ain’t nobody got time for that.

Aang also needed a more personal motivation for really looking at what happened at the North. I feel like he never really thought about the fact that he occasioned the death of hundreds, possibly thousands, of people  during the Siege of the North.  

When he hopes on his little soapbox during the Sozin's comet arc, and went on about how he would never do anything to hurt a fly ever, I was confused. Did I imagine the Seige of the North? The Buzzard wasp? The fact that less than 10 episodes ago, Aang was okay with breaking into the palace and killing Ozai? Anyway, I  like Aang, and I would prefer to chalk this one up to either sloppy writing, or a lack of self-awareness and self reflection – as opposed to malicious and deliberately hypocritical obstinacy.  

Aang has never really thought about these things deeply, because they are very unpleasant and he avoids them, like he avoids most things he finds unpleasant.  However, when the parade of lies collapses and he realises that Sokka and Katara both assumed he had murdered Zuko through ocean spirit mojo,  he is going to want to find out for himself and really examine what happened.  He will face the unpleasant head-on. Go Aang - growth for you!

Iroh's secret is out. Zuko now knows about the white lotus well before he did in canon. It is actually a huge secret that Iroh kept from him. It's not going to escape Zuko's notice how a massive, international network of spies and agents could have really helped him during his three years of fruitless searching, but Iroh said nothing.

Zuko loves his uncle, but a lie of omission of that magnitude is going to affect how he sees his Uncle. There is so much love and affection there, but there is also perpetual grumpiness, an the ability to leap to the worst conclusions and a tendency to lash out (Zuko's)  and a literal ocean load of secrets and obscure proverbs (Iroh's).  Their growing conflict over the secrets will help them appreciate and communicate with each other much better, and get them closer to the beautiful relationship they have by the end of the series.

So this is the end of Worst Prisoner, which co-incided with book 1:water.  During writing this, I always went with a water or ice metaphor if I could (Zuko sounds like he’s talk to her from under water, Katara’s gaze is icy etc). Water is the element of change and our core four got some massive changes and grew in really surprising ways. 

Next book will be set in the Earth Kingdom, and Earth is the element of substance. These positive changes and growth are going to become more solid and evident. Bring on the rock metaphors in the illusion of separation.

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#the worst prisoner #worst prisoner #emletish writes #emletish rants #emletish fic #Zuko #Katara #Zutara #Sokka #Aang #Iroh #Yugoda