#i need a master to teach me their ways of swORdBENdING

[comradekatara]

I mean you already know I take issue with the comics, but that “swordbending kai” comic pisses me off so bad whenever I think about it. what reason does sokka have to be competitive with zuko. I know it sort of seems like it takes place before “the boiling rock,” but that honestly makes no sense because why would sokka engage in friendly banter with someone he is not friends with, and in fact, actively despises (yes in “the firebending masters” sokka banters at zuko, but it’s hardly friendly. he calls him a jerkoff, tests zuko’s patience by prodding him with a stick until he breaks, and then tells him to go jump into a volcano. it may seem like friendly roasting, but what he’s saying is literally “lmaooo this guy can’t even do the one thing we kept him around for. kill youself dipshit.” like that is simply not friendly behavior). sokka only starts getting along with zuko at some point during their boiling rock escapade, which means that if they ever did swordfight, it would be after they get back from their field trip. but again, it wouldn’t be in a competitive manner. sokka was initially competitive with suki because a) he saw her as a genuine threat b) that’s how they flirt. but sokka feeling threatened by zuko??? please. what a joke.

the way i see it actually playing out is like this:

zuko fangirls over sokka’s epic sword, and is especially amazed to learn that sokka made it.

sokka is surprised that zuko even knows anything about swords seeing as he’s a bender, but then zuko is like “dude yeah i love swords!”

zuko shows sokka his broadswords, and aang (the only one of them who has actually seen zuko use swords) is like “yeah you wouldn’t expect it but zuko is legit with his dao.”

sokka’s respect for zuko has just shot up a great deal. he asks zuko if he can teach him, considering that he has significantly more experience with swords.

zuko does a fancy little demonstration for sokka and aang, who clap and cheer and hype him up.

zuko asks sokka to show him what he’s got, assuming that he can give him useful pointers for adjusting his stance and refining his technique, etc. since his stance is already perfect, he weakly tells him that he needs to position his back foot exactly 12 degrees to the left. (sokka does so without question, but raises a single eyebrow to show his skepticism.)

aang is like, “when are you guys gonna spar already?” and suki, who showed up a while ago, agrees, like, “yeah we want a SHOW!”

zuko loves showing off with his swords, so this request excites him greatly.

unfortunately, sokka studied zuko very closely during his demonstration, and memorized all his attack patterns. while zuko is busy with all his little flourishes, sokka is actually using his terrain, anticipation of zuko’s next moves, and knowledge of his weaknesses to his advantage. zuko is the better swordsman on a technical level, but sokka’s outside the box thinking gives him the upper hand.

the fight ends with zuko being like, “im not really sure what you think i can teach you tbh....” but sokka earnestly assures him that zuko taught him so much and was really helpful today.

zuko’s just like, “great. so you mastered the weapon i’ve been training with my whole life in a week. that’s fine.” sokka corrects him that it’s actually been more like a month by now. for some reason zuko doesn’t find this correction to be particularly constructive.

sokka thanks zuko for teaching him and then goes to make out with suki in an empty room of the temple.

after sokka leaves, katara pats zuko on the back, as condescending as anything, and says “maybe stick to firebending honey,” her tone dripping with sickly sweet venom.

zuko didn’t actually mind that sokka beat him, because he is well-aware by now of sokka’s talents, and acknowledges that it would be ridiculous to feel jealous of him, but what katara just said? whew. that destroys him.

#that swordbending kai comic sucks so bad #i don’t understand how you can watch ‘sokka’s master’ and then . write THAT #anyway. #sokka #zuko #aang #suki #katara #sokkaxzuko #sokkaxsuki #katara&zuko #aang&zuko

[ryderart]

for @6y9brows dtiys <3

#DTIYSZuko #dtiys #draw this in your style #atla #avatar the last airbender #digital art #i honestly thought the hands braiding zuko’s hair were the ghost of his mother #but then i read 6y9brows’ tags and it was just as cute finding out it was sokka <3 #atla zuko #atla sokka #hands boi #what is lighting #how to art? #i need a master to teach me their ways of swORdBENdING #but honestly this was fun #my art #hope this isn’t too late #i’m pretty sure I read it ending the 15th so fingers crossed