#taang kiss at the end

[ecoterrorist-katara]

Why I feel like Ka/taang is one-sided, despite textual evidence 

ATLA does try to convince us that Katara has romantic feelings for Aang. For example: she seems thoughtful when she realizes that Aang is a powerful bender; she’s offended that he didn’t want to kiss her in the Cave of Two Lovers; she gets jealous when Sokka says On Ji and Aang look good together.

So…what’s wrong with anti-Kataangers? Do we just lack media comprehension? 

To be clear, on their own, these gestures can indicate romantic interest. But at the same time, we have stuff like “Aang is a sweet little guy, like Momo.” We have her ambivalent facial expression after he kisses her before the eclipse, and her hedging during Ember Island Players, and her anger when he kisses her anyway. In the context of these conflicting cues, Katara’s possibly romantic reactions can absolutely be interpreted in a different way, because: 

Acknowledging a friend as a potential romantic interest is not the same as actually being romantically interested in them. (Imo this is something young women struggle with, due to a combination of romance-centrism and heteronormativity that make women feel like they should be in romantic relationships, and that boys and girls who share intimate and deep feelings for one another must be romantically into each other) 

Wanting someone to find you desirable is not the same as desiring that person. (Which is something a lot of women, especially young women, struggle with. Remember all the discourse around Cat Person back in 2017?) 

Being jealous when someone flirts with your friend is not the same as wanting to be with your friend. (Especially when you see your friends as family, or if you’re accustomed to a specific type of devotion from that friend. It is jealousy, and it is possessiveness, but it doesn’t always arise from romantic feelings) 

Growing up in a patriarchal society means that your desires are always filtered through what men want from you, sometimes in an abstract male gaze-y way, and sometimes in a very visceral and interpersonal way when a boy wants you specifically. And Katara’s reactions are just that — reactions. Reactions to what other people — including Aunt Wu, Sokka, Aang himself — have insinuated about her and Aang. She’s not really proactive in her interest in Aang: we don’t really see Aang, romantically, from Katara’s POV. Under the framework of “Katara is reacting to a romantic prospect she’s kind of uncertain about,” it is completely plausible — and indeed likely — that she would sometimes act in ways that indicate romantic interest, in addition to moments where she indicates the opposite. 

Ka/taang shippers often bring up other evidence, like Katara’s despair when Azula hits Aang with lightning, or how protective she is of him when Zuko joins the Gaang. The thing is, these pieces of evidence aren’t necessarily indicative of romantic love. The fact that Katara genuinely loves Aang makes the whole thing more complicated, not less, because — especially at that age, especially when Aang is twelve years old and grew up in a sex-segregated society of monks — it is really difficult to tell the difference between platonic love and romantic love. Their mutual devotion is layered and complex yet straightforward in its sincerity. What was not straightforward, until the last five minutes of the show, is whether this devotion on Katara’s end is romantic. The romantic arc for Katara and Aang is not really an arc, as Sneezy discusses in this classic ZK video. Katara actually becomes more conflicted over time and we never see an event that clarifies her feelings. She seems more interested in him in The Headband than on the Day of the Black Sun, and she has never been more hostile to his romantic overtures than in the penultimate episode. 

And in light of this, it’s pretty easy for fans to fill in the blanks with a different interpretation: maybe Katara’s weird expression after their kiss at the invasion means she didn’t enjoy it; maybe the kiss made her realize that she doesn’t actually feel that way about Aang; maybe against her will and her better judgement, she’s developing feelings for another person, a person who hurt her and whom she fervently tried to hate until he pulled off what is in my opinion the greatest grovel of all time in the form of a life-changing field trip. Maybe. Am I saying that Zutara has more romantic interactions than Ka/taang? Of course not. But ironically, the lack of romantic interactions means that it’s not inherently one-sided, the way Ka/taang became in the latter half of season 3.

I’m not arguing that Katara’s unequivocally not into Aang. Obviously the text declares that she is, because they get married and have kids. But I am saying that there’s a very good reason that so many people, especially women, see Katara’s interest in Aang as ambiguous. It’s not because we can’t pick up “subtle” hints of growing affection. It’s because we know not all affection is romantic, and it’s really easy for someone else’s insistent romantic intentions to muddle what you want.

P.S. I first started thinking about these topics (platonic vs romantic love, desiring someone vs wanting to be desired, etc) in the context of compulsory heterosexuality, a term describing how queer women contort themselves into relationships with men even if they’re not really into men. I saw a post a few days ago joking about why so many queer women seem to be into Zutara. I wonder if part of the reason is because as queer women, we are very sensitive to the ways in which we can talk ourselves into wanting things we don’t actually want, and Katara’s romantic interest in Aang can be easily seen that way. 

#Anti Kataang #Zutara #anti Bryke #Katara deserved better #From Bryke who offered her so little romantic agency #I actually think Aang and Katara’s mutual devotion is really compelling because the wires get crossed when you have such intense love #And navigating romantic vs platonic feelings can be very complicated and interesting #but no we did not get that bc I guess they just had to end with a romance however shoddily developed #my meta

[dalekofchaos]

Context for choices 1, 2 and 9

My little au on if Aang never left

For my Zuko/Azula as prodigies. Basically they are both naturally gifted Firebenders. Zuko faces Ozai in combat, but Zuko faces Ozai. As Ozai is about to finish Zuko, Zuko hits Ozai with white flame and then Ozai declares Zuko the victory and he gains his father's respect. Eventually Zuko and Azula are at a sibling rivalry, trying to outdo each other and even trying to kill each other for their father's approval and to win the throne. Ozai puts their ambitions to the test. Whomever captures Ba Sing Sei, Northern Water Tribes and the Avatar first becomes Ozai's successor.

This video better explains it

Asami as Amon

Asami witnessed the brutal murder of her mother, but it wouldn't be by just any benders. It would be the Red Lotus Society.

Zaheer planned to finish the job, but Toph came to the rescue.

the spirits would take pity on Asami and gift her energy bending and Asami would use her father's wealth to master Chi-Blocking and use their wealth to fund and arm the Equalists.

Amon or in this case Asami wins at the end of Book 1. Tarrlok is still captured by Amon, when Korra sees him and they chat, he tells the whole story of Amon as it happened in the show to her and everything. Like it goes in the show. Korra and friends go to confront Amon at the arena where Tenzin and his family are about to lose their bending. But they don’t because she gets there in time. She accuses Amon of being a bender, as per Tarrlok’s story. Amon doesn’t unmask. And he isn’t a bender. Tarrlok lied to get Korra to confront Amon so that he could capture her and he could hopefully save his own skin for the service at least. They fight. Amon takes Korra’s bending in a big demonstrative way. So all the crowd can see what comes to any benders, especially The Avatar who stand against him. Then the reveal happens. Asami is Amon.

Art by nikoniko_808

In order to get her bending back and learn how to give others their bending back (yeah, Korra wouldn’t get it back at the end of Book 1 because consequences? What’re those?), Korra has to go on a quest to learn her bending(her masters would be Toph, Katara, Izumi and Tenzin) in the Spirit World to understand everything. Korra does not cry about loosing her bending because she realized she’s still The Avatar and has to go to The Spirit World to get her bending back, to help everyone get their bending back and stop Asami

Throughout the series, we would meet Kya, Bumi, Izumi, Eska, Desna(Eska and Desna would be Korra’s siblings in this universe, because fuck Unaloq) Opal and Kai. We have the same romance between Bolin and Opal and Jinora and Kai. We would also meet Varrick and Zhu Li, because they are comedy gold. They would all help in the fight against Amon and the Equalists.

In Korra's venture to the Spirit World,

she would still see Wan’s story(because that’s the only thing I liked about Book 2) and I think in her journey in the spirit world she would see Asami’s story, in which her family were victims of the Red Lotus society and Asami learned to take bending away in the spirit world. Not only that, we would find out that Asami would be bonded with Vaatu. Asami is the darker Avatar.

Before she leaves The Spirit World she connects with all her past lives to ask what she should do about Asami. Korra has her Aang moment where she has too has to decide what to do like he did with the fire lord, only this time there's more to it than just stopping the bad guy. It’s about the person she loved. She can restore everyone’s bending by reversing Amon’s convergence, but she can't do that so long as the avatar spirit is split. And as long as Asami is part avatar, she can go into the avatar state. That's still pretty damn dangerous even with only water and blood bending. Korra realizes the only thing she can do to stop Asami? Love her.

After her journey to relearn her bending and journey in the spirit world, Korra travels the world to gain allies. From the Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom, Water Tribes and Air Nomads. Korra unites the world against Amon and the Equalists.

In the final fight, Korra defeats Amon. She exorcises Vaatu from Asami, thus ending the dark Avatar and stopping Amon’s convergence. She reverses what Asami has done and uses it to restore everyone’s bending. So she has to come to the hard part. Amon makes it clear, no matter what, even without the ability to energy bend or without Vaatu, Amon will never stop, Benders will never be safe. Korra shows Asami what she was denied. Korra loves her and forgives her. Asami gives up and accepts whatever punishment.

During Book 3, Asami would work with Korra in stopping and killing the Red Lotus society. However, when Zaheer is stopped. He is left at the mercy of Asami and for everything he’s done and turned her into. Asami kills him.

Book 4 happens. Asami's redemption is rebuilding Republic City and using Future Industries to repair the damage she's done as Amon. Blah blah blah Korra stops Kubira blah blah. Asami earns her redemption and the love of the krew and more importantly Korra. Ends with Korra and Asami venturing in the Spirit World and ends with a kiss.

#Avatar The Last Airbender #Legend Of Korra #Aang #Zuko #Azula #Lu Ten #Iroh #Jet ATLA #Katara #Zutara #Taang #Korrasami #Korra #Asami Sato #Amon #Suki #Tahno #General Iroh #Youtube

[amirazat]

K*taang and Unconditional Love

I came across this exchange in the notes of a pro-K*taang post, and it helped me really understand clearly one of the things that makes me most uncomfortable about the way K*taang is presented in canon:

R states that the kiss in the Ember Island Players is forgiven because Katara and Aang loved each other unconditionally… but romantic love shouldn’t be unconditional. While romantic love shouldn’t be conditional on things like “are you always in a happy mood” or “are you the real hero”, it should be conditional on things like “do you respect my boundaries”. Otherwise love becomes something that can trap you in a harmful situation.

The kiss in the Ember Island Players was always going to be uncomfortable, but it could have been a teaching moment if the show had gone on to show that it had been a massive and hurtful mistake, and that a romantic relationship could not move forward until Katara felt sure that Aang would respect her boundaries going forward. Instead, by showing no positive interaction between Aang and Katara between this kiss and their final kiss at the end of the show, the show tells us that Katara’s romantic love for Aang is not conditional on his respect for her boundaries, and tacitly endorses such love.

(Ironically, since pretty much the only positive moment we do see between Katara and Aang between these kisses is Katara looking lovingly at Aang while Zuko declares him to be “the real hero”, the show even kind of implies that Katara’s love is conditional, but on Aang’s heroic status, rather than on his treatment of her, which is even worse.)

This isn’t meant to be a condemnation of Aang. He’s twelve and in a very stressful situation. He makes an awful mistake but based on his character I believe he’s capable of learning from it (would have been nice to see it, though). However, the writers/decision makers who decided on how to wrap up the K*taang storyline were not twelve, and they should have known better.

#anti k*taang #anti kataang #katara deserved better

[nalgasde-hao]

Okay so my headcanon on Taang (and a little bit of Zutara on the side)

- So I would much rather prefer if the ending of the show hadn't made any of the ships (except for Sokka and Suki) Canon, but even with the Kataang final kiss I feel like Taang would have been canon

- Because they were both too young and there relationship would've been completely platonic (I've always felt like Katara saw Aang as a little brother that she needed to protect, but even if it wasn't for that, Katara put Aang in a pedestal for being the avatar and created a lot of expectations over him, which I think it can be proved by how later on their marriage on Korra, besides the way Katara did everything for him like a mother), and Katara's desire to go back to help rebuild the south pole while Aang wanted to recreat the air nomads again would made their relationship be very complicated

- And that's how I feel like they would outgrow each other and realize they would work much better as friends

- Without Katara's imagine in his mind Aang would be able to notice other girls - like Toph, who he hadn't seen in a long time due to his traveling

- I feel like Toph already felt something for him, but couldn't quite understand what it was, but she would take the opportunity to travel with him again

- and then, they would have a slow burn, friends to lovers relationship, with a lot of teasing and mutual pining

- as for Katara, I feel like Zuko would be a better match for her - they always had a great chemistry - but not only that, before Zuko joined the Gaang, Katara was the only one who did the chores and made sure that everyone was okay, which was a lot of responsibility for a 14-year-old, and after Zuko showed up and started to help her out, it gave her time to actually enjoy travelling

- I feel like after a time the other nations would pressure the Fire Nation, for something to make them feel safe - since they replaced the Fire Lord, with his FIRST BORN SON, and Katara would volunteer to be the South Pole ambassador

- There relationship would grow up from that, and I feel like there love language would be acts of service, always making sure the other one has rested and is feeling okay (and I can't stop obsessing about how Zuko choose Katara to help him find his mother)

- I also think that Maiko wouldn't work - although I really like the ship - because Mai hated everything that had to do with the aristocracy, because it bored her, and she didn't want to be what her mother wanted her to be, so becoming the Fire Lady wouldn't be very fulfilling for her - I kinda feel like she would have a thing for Ty Lee, but Idk

- Also, I like to think that Aang would always visit Toph between his travels to the point her parents (who didn't like him for making their baby girl run away) question themselves when was he going to propose for Toph's hand (I feel like her mother would make a comment during dinner or something and they would die out of embarrassment)

- And I'm 100% sure that Suki and Sokka had a bet going on who of the two couple would confess first (I have a feeling it's Zutara) and after that they would just try to hold their laughs at Taang mutual pining

BITCH THIS IS THE EXACTLY WAY I THINK THAT TAANG HAPPENED (if it was canon ngh-) and the way you explain the zutara relationship it makes all the sense to me.

Besides, talking about kataang, I always saw as a problem that katara couldn't show her agry with aang bcs he would cry or something like that, and that is not the way it should be when you are with your partner, on the contrary, it should be a safe place where you can express yourself freely, and I thought that with zuko, she can do it.

Also, bitch, toph and aang are soulmates and nothing can change my mind. THEY WORK SO PERFECT TOGETHER WHEN THEY ARE KID, IMAGINE WHEN THEY GROWN UP. Unstopplebe, on fights and love lmao.

#taang #aang #toph beifong #avatar aang #the gaang #zutara #kataang #canon for me #avatar the last airbender

[su-univeralai]

Okay here it is... Kissing prompt #7 for... I think you gotta do Kataang, but you could try it for Taang or any of the ships. I'm already ded.

7. French kisses where they trace every tooth with their tongues as though trying to memorize them.

hehehe ok look out for some nonsense. It starts nice, but goes downhill real quick. For anyone who thinks this is legit Kataang, it is not. So, if you’re a Kataang fan, probably shouldn’t read this ficlet. Oops, made it Taang at the end 😅

Katara joins Aang on the balcony away from all their friends. Now that the war is over, she can finally wrap her brain around her confusing feelings for the young Avatar. 

The pair smile at each other before embracing. They both smile into the hug, grateful to have both made it through the final battle. Katara sheepishly pulls away with a blush on her face and looks towards the sunset building up the courage to kiss him. 

She turns her face towards the airbender with love clearly in her eyes. Aang steps closer to her so their faces are just a few inches from the other. She leans into the kiss, cupping his jaw to hold him close. 

Aang smiles into the kiss, happy that Katara is returning his affections. He feels her slide her tongue over his bottom lip, asking for permission to explore his food hole mouth. This being his first makeout, Aang enjoys the feeling of her lips on his. 

He feels the swipe of her tongue run along his bottom lip again and still doesn’t understand what she wants. He squeaks in surprise as her tongue penetrates his puckered lips to explore the cave that is his mouth.

The airbender moans as her tongue glides across every surface of his mouth that she can reach. His eyes open in shock when her surprisingly long tongue traces his back molars. 

He gazes at Katara’s closed eyes as he feels the strange sensation of her tongue following the arch of his teeth, running along where his teeth and gums met. Is this what kisses are supposed to be like? He shrugged and closed his eyes and tried to enjoy the strange kiss.

Neither noticed or heard the soft snickers from the rest of the gaang watching them through the open door. 

Zuko jokingly puckers his lips toward the group and says in his best Aang voice, “mmm, Yeah, Katara, you lick them teeth up.” Everyone snickers, even Sokka, who tries to hold it in.

“Hey! That’s my baby sister you're talking about...” he pauses before raising his voice an octave higher, “Oh, Aang sweetie, it looks like you’ve got a cavity in there, let me take another lick.”

Iroh releases an uncharacteristic snort from that comment. The old man wipes away his tears before trying to say something about young love, but decides against it when he sees Aang’s eye practically pop out of the sockets from another one of Katara’s moves. 

Suki even attempts a joke, “Come here baby,” she says in an attempted low husky voice, “I need your tongue to floss in the very back... oh yeah right there, I’ve been trying to get that out from my teeth for ages.”

Toph cackles as she rolls around on the floor. She tries to catch her breath before adding her own comment, “Oh Katara, feed me like the baby bird I am!” She opens her mouth like a baby bird would waiting for food to be placed in her mouth. 

Sokka dangles a piece of meat above Toph’s mouth, “Is this what you’re looking for, baby?” he squeaks in his incredibly bad Katara impression.

Everyone stops laughing as Katara marches up to the group with a glare on her face. Obviously, the two lovebirds had heard their friends making fun of them.

“Are you two making fun of us?” Katara asks, hands on her hips and Aang hiding behind her.

“You call that a kiss, Katara? Seriously little sister, I thought you’d have more skills than that being that I’m a kissing god.” Sokka teases, “Right, Suki?” he asks looking for affirmation.

The Kyoshi Warrior blushes at the thought of their most recent steamy kiss. Question answered.

Katara’s cheeks flush in embarrassment and anger. “I’m a good kisser!” She yells. She whips around to the mighty Avatar, “I’m a good kisser! You liked the kiss we just shared, right?”

The airbender averts his eyes to the ground and twiddles his fingers, “I mean.... that was my first real kiss, so I can’t really say that it was good or not...” he ends lamely.

Toph picks herself off the ground and marches up to Aang, “Well I guess there’s only one way to find out.” 

The earthbender grabs the monk’s robes and connects her lips to his. They’re surprisingly soft for someone who is such a rough bender. He instantly relaxes into the kiss and pulls her closer. Quite enjoyable.

The rest of the gaang’s mouths hang open as the youngest members of the group kiss in front of them. Katara doesn’t even protest as she watches them pull each other closer.

Toph pulls away and says, “There. Now you’ve kissed two girls. Hope that helps you figure out what you like.” She steps away with the faintest tint of pink on her cheeks, “Now, let’s eat!” she requests trying to take the focus off the mindblowing kiss.

#thanks for the ask stitch #kissing prompts #lick them teeth up! #food hole #I'm sorry it's really hard to take this prompt seriously #taang kiss at the end #ficlet #did I just rewrite the end scene? #sukka if you squint #not really kataang... #awkward first kiss

[canonspyglass]

Can you link some of the Zutara metas you were reading? Can't quite seem to find any :(

:)

On Canonicity:

post The (Un)importance of canonicity and how Zutara isn’t less valid

post Zutara fan-retellings can be tomorrow’s canon (like Greek myths and Disney movies)

On Writers/Creators:

post Ehasz v. Bryke. Team Ehasz writes Katara’s agency and Aang’s challenges

post on possible Book 4 and Ehasz’s plans

post “Bryke has a history of undoing growth and progress”

On ATLA Relationships:

post Narrative Structure: Zutara, Kataang

post Want vs Need: Zutara, Taang, Kataang

post Consent: Yue/Sokka, Sukka, Kataang

post The Beginning & End of Zuko’s Redemption Arc: Zutara, Maiko

post Paralleling Threat Scenes: Zutara, Maiko

post Katara’s healing highlights Zuko’s responsibility and Aang’s levity

youtube video A humorous and thorough discussion on the writing of Zutara, Kataang, and Maiko

...Z-Z-Zutara:

post even non romatically zutara is meaningful. you can’t take out zutara without compromising the story or character arc.

post Southern Raiders: BRYKE v EHASZ, pro v anti zutara, understanding the discourse

post Zutara’s Tribute: Righteous Anger. Desmond Tutu

post Standing Next to Each Other at the Moment of Catharsis

post The Omashu Lore x Crossroads of Destiny

post Established Connection in COD

vs. post Missed Connection in COD

post On Facing Trauma and Forgiveness (Zuko-Ozai // Katara-YonRah)

post In Defense of “I’ll save you from the pirates”

post Their Healthy Expression of Grievances

post It’s not an issue of trust for Katara

post Debunking Anti Zutara

post The Search comic: Z/K friendship not found

post Anti-Comics: “One of these pics are not like the other”

post Zutara lets Katara accept the ambiguity (TSR + post agni kai)

post Zutara’s hug

post Zuko’s scar // Katara’s necklace

...Criticizing Kataang:

post Katara sees Aang as Messiah

post Kataang is kinda cute--oh, never mind.

post Kataang as male fantasy (Bruce Babs // Kataang)

post “abandoment-issue” Katara x “runaway-issue” Aang

post How Kataang is poor storytelling

post Why Kataang is not a perfect ending for Aang’s arc

post Criticizing Kataang’s EIP kiss

vs. post Justifying Kataang’s EIP kiss

post Aang idealizes Katara into dichotomy

vs. post Aang does not obstruct Katara agency

post “Kataang is boring and cute when not actively aggravating.” How Kataang undermines ATLA thematics and character arcs.

post They’re not bff: Aang can’t connect with Katara’s darker emotions, TSR

my post Debunking Kataang parallels: The Southern Raiders // The Avatar State

post How The Fortuneteller is Anti-Kataang

post North and South comic, and how it proves against Kataang.

post debunking Kataang*rs

…Criticizing Maiko:

post not the Zuko we know

post Zuko is toxic to Mai

post Mai is toxic to Zuko

post Song, Katara, Mai touching Zuko’s scar

vs. post Mai touching Zuko scar = her true love, and his love.

post Maiko dysfunctional relationship and lack of physical intimacy

post The Truth and Irony of the Creator's Pro Maiko Comment. Maiko is A Tumultuous Headache.

On Characters:

…Katara Deserves Better

post Katara “Consumed by Destiny” series: Working Backward on Katara’s entire narrative from LOK, comics, to ATLA

post The destiny framework is Katara’s downfall

post Against LOK Katara: on "misogyny," writing and team writers

post Against LOK Katara: Trophy Wife

vs. post In favor of LOK Katara: she’s still great

post The Runaway: Katara’s emotional isolation

post The Search: Katara insists she’s happy

post What about Katara, the last southern waterbender, and her culture?

post Against post atla Katara: none of Katara’s accomplishments matter in the context of LoK

post Katara is a fighter > a healer. “We know the mindset of waterbending and bloodbending, but never learned the philosophy or mindset behind healing.”

post Anti Atla Comic : Katara has no autonomy, is a damsel in distress, and is Aang’s supportive armcandy 🙄🤮

..Aang Critical

post “yes Aang, tell us more about how you forgave the people who murdered the Air Nomads and the people who stole Appa.”

post who says Aang let go of Katara in COD?

post Aang’s incomplete Avatar arc and his narrative favoritsm

post Aang’s not Peter Pan, he needs to grow up, and that’s valid criticism.

...Mai Critical

post Why is Mai hated

...Anti ATLA Comics:

post atla girls butchered in comics

post The Promise… to murder Zuko

post The Promise… to sit by Aang and murder Zuko

post About the Promise of killing Zuko and Gaang’s OOC

post Why isn’t Katara a founder? “I mean Republic City started with Yu Dao and Katara literally saved everyone there from their own stupidity.”

post North and South: pro Sokka x Katara, anti Kataang

post apparently Aang energybends his kids as punishments

#recs #atla meta #pro zutara #pro ehasz #anti bryke #aang critical #kataang critical #maiko critical #anti maiko #anti kataang #anti atla comics

[infinitebread]

reasons why i love taang because this ship is beautiful and won't leave me in peace:

- their differences: the contrast in the way they were both brought up just fascinates me to no end. like she's basically a billionaire heiress and he's a simple nomad with barely anything to his name. toph is blunt and strong willed. aang is gentle and with his head often in the clouds. this dynamic is so *chef's kiss*.

- their similarities: i will literally never shut up about how both their journeys began with them running away from home or how the aforementioned running was born from a powerful desire to be free from the roles they were born into. they both love to travel. they're both child prodigies who mastered their native elements at outstandingly young ages.

- he was her first friend and the first person she told about her seismic vision using earth bending!!!

- that they both had feelings for a water tribe sibling (i mean who could blame them). i could totally see an alternate universe where they bond over heartbreak and first loves. they then both make a pact to help each get over their crushes and to protect each other from further hurt only to fall for each other instead...

- they challenge each other: nobody gets under aang's skin quite like toph. and like we saw during the dinner scene in the 'blind bandit' he can definitely challenge her right back. he was able to discover an unbendable rocklike aspect of himself thanks to her. he could also help her get in touch with her spirituality through meditation and the like. i just feel like they'd have a lot to teach and learn from each other :')

- i feel like earth and air is such an underrated opposite element pairing. there's something so lovely about this combination especially when you take into consideration that many creation stories (as in the creation of the world) across multiple cultures include an earth mother and sky father. there's just something so epic, so mythic about this combination.

- "best friends to lovers" trope. nuff said.

- "childhood best friends to lovers" trope. like the former but even better. especially in scenarios where aang has to leave for avatar training and they reunite years later and have to reconcile who they remember each other as with who they've become.

- the fact that king bhumi foretold their meeting. bhumi would ship them so hard, dont @ me. and he would affectionately embarrass aang in the process, much to toph's amusement.

- the fact that he saw a vision of her in a mystical swamp where you see visions of people you "loved and lost". and how she turned out to be nothing like the demure, giggly vision he saw in the swamp but was still awestruck by her and her power anyway and was determined to meet her almost like he was inexplicably drawn to her.

- the fact that there is a, very convincing, theory that toph is the reincarnation of avatar kuruk's slain lover, ummi. that that's why toph was born blind because her face was stolen in a past life so not all of her features were reincarnated with her and that their spirits found each other again after nearly 1000 years.

- the beifongs reacting to taang: toph's dad canonically believes that aang kidnapped his daughter. it's hilarious on so many levels. he probably thinks aang is some dangerous, bad boy who's influencing his daughter. which just sends me into space tbh. also lao beifong probably always pictured a wealthy suitor marrying his daughter and contributing to his vast fortune. but the man his daughter loves doesn't have a copper piece to his name. "i mean yes he's the avatar sure but his only possessions are the clothes on his back and a literal stick. a stick, poppy!"

- i think poppy would be cold to aang at first but after seeing how hopelessly in love toph and aang are and how much he genuinely cares about her daughter she'd grow to love and accept him wholeheartedly.

- the thematic and elemental symbolism: i mean technically yes, every ship in atla has this at least to some extent, but i once read a taang fic with the phrase, "she keeps him grounded and he gives her wings" and y'all... i haven't been the same ever since. because like, yes! that's it, that's the ship!

i say all this just to say:

i love them. i love this ship.

thanks for coming to my ted talk.

*******

***NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS POST TO HATE OR CRITICIZE ANY CHARACTER OR SHIP (CANON, FANON OR OTHERWISE) I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF THIS POST COULD REMAIN JUST FUN AND SHIPPY AND DISCOURSE FREE. THANK YOU :)***

#taang #i've been meaning to write meta for them for the longest time but i'm lazy so please accept this semblance of a musing instead #also i'm a multishipper so please don't use this to attack any canon or fanon ship #we love em all in this house #taang is just so special to me #it has everything i want in a ship #i wish there was more content for them #when i find the muse and inspiration i definitely wanna write fic for them #i'm so happy that i came from hiatus to find a thriving taang community and even an upcoming taangst week we. love. to. see. it!!!! #i listened to this chinese song called 'unbreakable love' and all the taang feels just flooded my being #the lyrics were totally made for them so i felt inspired to make this #if you see this post and want to add more reasons to love this ship please feel free to. you're more than welcome :)

[dragynkeep]

I don't have anyone to talk to about my general dislike of Kataang as a ship, so... I thought I'd ramble to you. XD

I actually really like when one part of a ship tends to do a bit more of the caretaking, though never all the caretaking, and I tend to like to balance that with the other partner either being generally more stable and sound or being physically stronger and more of a protector role. But one thing I never can stand in a ship is one part of the ship acting like a full on parent and the other part of the ship acting like their child, especially if it's a mlw with the woman acting in the role of mother (due to the tired 'my wife is a nagging ball and chain / I have three kids and one of them is my husband' stereotypes that I really hate.) And Katara was slotted into the role of Aang's mother figure despite what shipping moments the writers put in that feel awkward as heck. (And on that note, I really feel like laughing when people hold up those shipping moments as proof of the ship's supremacy, because it doesn't prove the ship was ever any good, it just proves that the writers might've had kataang as their baby they wanted to make end game even if it didn't feel natural.)

Kataang is one of those ships that I think makes sense that it happened, but I cannot see them making their relationship work for very long. Aang developing feelings for Katara and Katara developing feelings for him when they're some of the only people they see consistently for a long stretch of time while they go through a lot of trauma makes perfect sense. But then what makes sense at least to me is them starting to argue, struggling in their relationship, spreading it to their friend group some accidentally, and eventually cut things off mutually and decide to just be friends. That's my shit! Katara means a lot to Aang and vice versa, but I don't think that would change at all without a romance element and would actually just make their foundation as friends and as family that much stronger.

okay so this is like 2 weeks old forgive me but yeah; i agree with a lot of this.

a lot of people who have issues with k@taang tend not to have issues with the tropes in the ship, like a caring partner with a childish partner or w/e, but the way it’s applied in ka despite their canon development being portrayed as something romantic is ... weird.

katara is a maternal person, we’ve seen her react motherly & almost smother those around her  —  mainly toph  —  because it’s partly a trauma response & partly the role she was forced to mold into post her mother’s death & her father going off to war. this itself isn’t a bad thing, a lot of katara’s ships have her being maternal & caring towards her partner because that’s who she is!! she’s a caring person. but with a.ang, it’s less a functional choice she’s made in the relationship where she has the option to turn it off when it becomes too much, but more something she has to do because the relationship won’t let her grow out of it.

just look at some examples in the show. a.ang runs off to play with others while katara is concerned about them getting food & surviving. katara is consistently looking out for the group while a.ang is often off doing his own things & a lot of the time, not doing the one thing he’s supposed to do, master the elements. 

hell; a.ang consistently goes into the avatar state & katara is consistently made the emotional band aid to prevent him from going too far & killing people in it, something that is never resolved in the show or even in the comics. in ember island players, he tells katara that he had to actively resist going into the avatar state just because a version of her on stage  —  an actively sexualized, demeaning, offensive version of her btw  —  made out with zuko & he didn’t like that. he doesn’t even care to ask if she was okay when her friends were laughing at her for rightfully being upset about this & then later on, he forces a kiss on her & then acts like a wounded puppy when yet again, katara is rightfully upset.

this also doesn’t change by the time we get to tlok. katara is now the healing housewife who does nothing when her husband actively isolates himself from his two non - airbending children to focus on the sole airbender; which was incredibly harmful & disgusting. this a.ang doesn’t even have the “excuse” that a lot of atla - era a.ang stands give him about his age, him “only being twelve.” well he’s in his 30s by that time so clearly nothing has changed. knowing what we know about katara in atla; how she’s headstrong, how she stands up to her loved ones if they’re doing something wrong, how she’s compassionate & cares & loves with her whole heart  —  does her standing by when a.ang is actively harming two of her children sound like something she would do? no.

but that’s what she was written to do because the writers fundamentally put her character behind the ship they wanted her to be in, a ship that they’ve had incredibly toxic & misogynistic ideals about, including a.ang being the “nice guy” that had to win her from all those “gross dudebros” that dumb girls apparently always fall for.

i really wish that even if they had to become a couple in atla, their marriage or whatever wouldn’t have survived into tlok. not because i ship zutara or i “hate a.ang” but because i love katara, i see a lot of myself in her & she deserved better than a relationship that would consistently treat her as arm candy, something to be won & would fundamentally change her character to someone who just stands by passively as a “caretaker”, rather than acts as a “lover.”

#darkchocolatekitkat #atla #atla critical #tlok #tlok critical #kataang critical #katara #aang critical #owl.txt #answered #q

[invnciblesummer]

Taang Textposts

This set was made (late, I know, I know) for @aangweek Day 7: Love! Taang is my favorite Aang ship, and I love the idea of them together so much!

(Image Description:

Image 1: This is a screenshot from "The Blind Bandit." Aang is lying down in a bush in a garden. He is looking up to see an angry Toph standing before him, dressed up formally. A text box reads, "we’re all really just looking for that other dumb fuck we share our single brain cell with."

Image 2: This is a screenshot from "City of Walls and Secrets." Aang, Toph, and Sokka are at an Earth Kingdom party. Toph is decked out, and is about to grab something from a platter Sokka is holding. She is grinning slyly and saying something to Aang, who is looking in her direction with wide eyes and blushing. A text box reads, "turning up at a party with your cool friend."

Image 3: This is a screenshot from "Bitter Work." Aang is sitting on a rock trying to meditate. He looks slightly annoyed at Toph, who is sitting a ways behind him on a rock, holding a bag out and saying something to Aang. A text box reads, "babygirl you are strange and offputting."

Image 4: This is a screenshot from "Bitter Work." Toph is teaching Aang earthbending in a grounded stance. She is pushing him over, and he is falling to the side with a surprised look on his face. A text box reads, "it's yeet or be yeeten on this goddamn bitch of an earth."

Image 5: This is a screenshot from "The Avatar and the Firelord." Toph and Aang are holding hands. A text box reads, "interests: holding hands,"

Image 6: This is a screenshot from "The Runaway." Toph is saying something to Aang with a sly grin on her face as they both look at a small crowd of people in front of them. Aang is listening to Toph and registering the crowd. A text box reads, "if we turn 40 and we're still single let's get together to plan a heist."

Image 7: This is a screenshot from "The Blind Bandit." Aang and Toph are in a garden at night. Aang is looking around at the ground for something while Toph stands a ways behind him. A text box reads, "cute date idea: we go to a botanical garden u point out a flower and i immediately eat it."

Image 8: This is a screenshot from "The Blind Bandit." It is night time and Toph is running towards Aang and his friends with a smile on her face and a bag with a long strap that is worn across her body. A text box reads, "i would follow you to the ends of the earth with only mild complaining."

Image 9: This is a screenshot from "Bitter Work." Aang is saying something excitedly to Toph who has a neutral expression and hands on her hips. A text box reads, "I crave the most innocent parts of a relationship. Like holding hands and forehead kisses and being able to tell someone how much I absolutely adore them."

Image 10: This is a screenshot from "Bitter Work." Aang pauses expressing his happiness with his hands in the air to frown and look at Toph, whose right hand is touching his chest in a "stop" kind of motion. Toph has an angry frown on her face and her left hand still on her hip. A text box reads, "and absolutely slaughtering them at mario kart."

End Image Description.)

#taang #toph #aang #toph beifong #taang textposts #toph textposts #aang textposts #text post meme #incorrect taang quotes #incorrect toph quotes #incorrect aang quotes #atla incorrect quotes #incorrect avatar quotes #incorrect avatar the last airbender quotes #atla #avatar #avatar the last airbender #my textposts #ana’s creations

[my-bated-breath]

Wants vs Need - A Comparison Between Kataang, Taang, and Zutara

A common source of conflict and theme developments within stories stems from the idea of Want vs Need, which effectively describes the difference in substance between ships like Kata/ang and ships like Zutara and Taang.

As so many meta have analyzed before, Kata/ang, as a relationship, places the emotional burden on Katara. More specifically, it forces her to be responsible for Aang’s happiness and well-being when he barely acknowledges Katara’s inner conflicts or desires. Even more than that, Katara is the embodiment of everything Aang believes he wants (compassion, kindness, peace) when refuses to see the more human parts of Katara (anger, grief, force), all of which I dissect in “On Ideals and Idealization.” Thus, rather than embracing the nuance in the divide between past and present, between war and peace, between justice and revenge, Aang stubbornly clings onto his perception of the Air Nomads’ beliefs - beliefs that he only shallowly understands.

The show itself even sets up a Want vs Need conflict for Aang in “The Guru” when he has to choose to let go of his selfish attachment of Katara to master the Avatar State, which can be interpreted to represent his need to let go of his blinding biases so that he can see the world’s truths and understand his responsibility to it (expanded upon in this ask).

It’s true that in the episodes “The Desert” and “The Serpent’s Pass” Katara and Aang find themselves in a state of conflict, but it is resolved in a way that only shallowly emulates a Want vs Need story. In both, Katara’s compassion serves as an anchor for Aang when his anger and grief threatens to overwhelm him, allowing him to remain hopeful even while Appa, his last living tether to the Air Nomads, is missing. These two episodes encapsulate Aang’s struggle as an Air Nomad as it shows him struggling to come to terms with the Air Nomad’s disappearance (symbolized by Appa’s disappearance) by recognizing the potential for a cultural revival (symbolized by Hope’s birth). However, Aang’s identity as an airbender in a world that has forgotten the Air Nomads is never fully realized, and so the effects of this conflict resolution never manifest in his character - Aang at the end of the series finale is not much wiser than Aang at “The Desert”/”The Serpent’s Pass,” so Katara’s role is reduced from the catalyst in extending Aang’s worldviews to someone who calms him down during a wrathful relapse of his usually sunshine-smiley self.

As for Katara herself? Her relationship with Aang pigeonholes her into one facet of her character - her kind and loving side - which is regressive rather than progressive in her series-wide character arc. In her confrontation against the Northern Water Tribe’s sexist norms, against Hama and the legacy of bloodbending, and against her mother’s killer and the implications of Fire Nation imperialism, Aang’s personal beliefs do not influence Katara’s in any constructive way. The most Aang ever provides to Katara as himself is a vehicle to achieve her goals, as his Avatar status allows her to travel the world with him. And so Katara fosters her agency and autonomy, expands her role in the world, and validates the importance of her feelings - all for what? For the last ten minutes of the finale to turn a light switch on her feelings for Aang and have them kiss without even a conversation beforehand.

Kata/aang is all about want. But Taang and Zutara are all about need.

Character conflict is not always necessary to write a compelling romance, and focusing solely on generating conflict often leads to the badly written melodrama and misunderstandings that often plague the romance genre today. So rather than focus on creating interest based on drama, the most captivating fictional relationships I’ve seen show how characters support each other’s needs over their wants.

The initial conflict between Toph and Aang delves into the essence of their characters and forces them to grow out of a stagnant viewpoint. From Toph’s introduction in “The Blind Bandit,” Aang and Toph clash because Aang wants Toph as an earthbending teacher while Toph doesn’t want to upset the delicate balance of her double life. But in his persistence, Aang has broken both the illusion of the unshakable Earth Rumbler and the fragile noblewoman to uncover the true Toph that exists in the space between her two identities. Unsurprisingly, Toph’s determination in upholding her current life is reflective of the element she bends and the downfalls of an earthbender’s philosophy - determination can become rigid and stagnant. So though she claims she doesn’t want Aang interfering in her life, underneath all her stubbornness lies a need for freedom, and fittingly enough, it is Aang who recognizes this and grants it to her. Aang is much more than a vehicle in this case - he’s the one who changes Toph’s mind.

More obviously, in the episode “Hard Work,” Aang and Toph reach an impasse again as Aang struggles both with learning earthbending and with working with his earthbending master. It’s quite telling that Katara’s suggestion - to be gentle and encouraging with Aang - is regressive to Aang’s progress while portraying Katara’s personality rather one dimensionally. In other words, she gives into Aang’s wants. What he needs, however, is as Toph says: to face his problems head on. So she forces Aang to solve his problems not the way he wants to solve it - with evasion and clever-thinking - but the way he needs to solve it - only then is he able to master earthbending.

While Toph and Aang have a significant impact on each other within the second season, Zuko and Katara’s complementary stories span the entire series. As I’ve said (too many times) before, Zuko and Katara are pivotal to each other’s character arcs while remaining autonomous from one another. Although Iroh’s influence on Zuko’s redemption cannot be emphasized enough, Katara’s offer to heal Zuko in the Crystal Catacombs holds the most symbolic weight in the series, especially because it is an offer extended by a formerly irreconcilable enemy. Beyond his desire to please his father and beyond his former attempts to capture Aang, through common ground Katara is able to recognize the need for Zuko to move on and a chance for him to redeem himself. Katara plants a seed of doubt in his mind, as well as elicits a small spark of hope within him. Then, after changing sides, Zuko wants to belong with the Gaang, but Katara affirms that he first needs to accept the responsibility of his legacy and to prove that he will make amends.

As for Katara, Zuko represents the possibility of peace between the Fire Nation and the Water Tribes, which is first realized in the Crystal Catacombs. Then, in the Southern Raiders, Katara wants to hold onto her resentment against Zuko and the Fire Nation, but what Zuko recognizes is that she needs to find closure over her mother’s death.

What is truly incredible is that their importance to each other does not diminish with their conflict - outside his uncle’s tent the night before Sozin’s Comet, it is Katara who recognizes what Zuko needs to hear (that he has earned his forgiveness) before he can chase after what he wants (to reunite with Iroh). Zuko and Katara clearly have an impact on each other’s character arcs, and by recognizing each other’s needs under a facade of wants, they demonstrate bone-deep compatibility and understanding.

So, once again - Kata/ang’s conflicts are destructive, but Taang and Zutara’s conflicts are constructive. Kata/ang never challenge each other, but Taang and Zutara do. Kata/aang is all about want, but Taang and Zutara are all about need.

#my bated breath's posts #anonymous ask #ask #atla #atla meta #aang #toph #zuko #katara #zutara #zutara meta #taang #taang meta #anti kataang #anti kataang meta #my bated breath analyzes

[authorjoydragon]

For @thesavagedaughter0627 💛😚🥰💖

This just turned into taang fluff rambling so…. Sorry not sorry.

46- "Your skin is so soft." Taang

“Do you think I’d be able to feel your tattoos?”

Aang glanced down at his girlfriend where her head was laying on his lap. “Uh, sure you can feel them? I don’t care.”

She frowned, “No I mean like, would I be able to tell where they start and end? Is your skin raised at all?”

He hummed and traced a finger on the back of his hand. “I don’t think it is? Feel it.”

Toph let her hand run over his hand and forearm, trying to concentrate on where she knew his tattoos were. She pouted, “Your skin is so soft. It’s not raised at all.”

“Are you complaining about my skin being soft? Seriously?” Aang scoffed at her, tugging on a lock of her hair.

“Soft as a baby’s butt, Twinkletoes. What, did you steal Katara’s skin care routine?” Toph teased him.

Aang sighed, “Why are all of your compliments so back-handed…”

“It’s how I show my affection.”

His hands poised over her sides, “Well this is how I show my affection!”

Toph squealed as his fingers dug into her ticklish spots, and then she was laughing too hard to do much of anything else.

When he finally relented, Toph caught her breath, “Gimme a second…. And then I’m gonna… pummel you….”

Aang kissed her cheek. “Awe, my cute little gremlin girlfriend is trying to threaten me again.”

“I’ll do more than threaten.” She muttered, laying her head back into his lap. “You’re being a lousy pillow, you know.”

“And you’re distracting me from meditating, you know.”

Toph simply harrumphed at him and closed her eyes, refusing to move from his lap. He rolled his eyes and tried to concentrate back on his meditation.

“Can we go eat something?”

Aang sighed. So much for meditating.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

#ask joy #ficlet #writing prompt #taang #toph x aang #💚🧡 #just some playful teasing #I love them

[sokkastyles]

if m@iko/k@taang hadn't gotten together in the book 3 finale and we had gotten a book 4 with zutara, (assuming that it was well written and that bryke wouldn't mess it up lmao) how could you have seen their first kiss happening?

Well, there's a lot of "what ifs" here. I honestly can't see a book 4 after the fire lord is defeated and Zuko becomes the new Fire Lord because that is the natural end to the story. There's certainly other things that can be explored but they would need to introduce new villains and conflicts and well, we saw how well that went in the comics.

So there's a number of ways this could go in this hypothetic book 4. The Fire Lord is not defeated and the plot extends and incorporates some of those unfinished plot threads, or the plot continues after the end of season three and we have a new villain and conflicts with Zuko as Fire Lord. I'm going to go with the latter for this hypothetical scenario.

I've said already that I think a good jumping off point for the possibility of romantic zutara to be introduced would be after "The Ember Island Players" because it's a natural place for Zuko and Katara to start talking about things. How ridiculous the portrayal in the play was, but also what did happen in the crystal catacombs and how it was a moment of real connection that was interrupted. I think they would laugh it off and talk about how insulting that portrayal was but then you could have one or both of them start to think about what might have happened. Zuko still feels lingering guilt for his betrayal, and at this point he hasn't resolved things with Iroh so those two things are tied together, so even though Katara forgave him at this point those feelings start coming back. Katara starts reflecting on how her feelings for Zuko have changed.

I also see them becoming closer after the final agni kai. In the words of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", there are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll getting shot at with lightning while taking down a comet-fueled firebender is one of them.

I imagine that afterwards Katara sticks around to heal Zuko, and they spend a lot of time in close proximity, a lot of heightened feelings. Zuko realizes that he's in love with her first but he doesn't do anything about it because I see him as less likely to act on it first. He is an introvert to Katara's extrovert and he tends to be more shy especially in romantic scenarios. Besides, he thinks Katara is just being nice to him. It's just her job to take care of him after the agni kai, and the other stuff is just her being a good friend. That's just how Katara is, she's open with her feelings and affectionate with her friends and Zuko doesn't have a lot of experience with having friends, anyway. He doesn't want to screw this up.

Katara, meanwhile, has realized she has feelings for Zuko. She starts to realize it when Zuko starts getting well again and his attention is pulled in a hundred different directions from councilmen and representatives from the other nations. The Fire Nation leaders are suspicious and disdainful of Zuko, and the ones from the other nations are the same but for different reasons, and Katara starts becoming very overprotective of Zuko because she knows he has good intentions and also he needs to be careful with his health because he's not quite healed yet. There are also rumors of uprisings and assassination attempts, and Katara sees the way certain people look at Zuko. So she sticks around and tells herself she's doing it to make sure he's alright and she especially starts resenting it when nobles start coming around presenting their daughters like hello, the Fire Lord has more important things to think about than marrying some stuffy nobleman's daughter. But soon Katara also has her attention drawn to things in the SWT and their place in the new world that she wants to be involved in helping to rebuild, so she knows she can't stay with Zuko forever.

One night when they both know that the time is coming when they won't be together, they sit beside the turtleduck pond and Katara is telling Zuko the names of the constellations, although they look different in the Fire Nation, like a map of the world with the continents swapped. She thinks about how if she leaves this time she doesn't want it to be with anything unresolved between them. She doesn't want to look back and wish she did things differently. She tells Zuko this, and Zuko says that he's used to that feeling, that he's learned to live with those regrets so it's okay. Katara gently reaches up to place a hand on Zuko's scarred cheek, her thumb brushing his lips ever so slightly. Zuko finds himself closing his eyes and leaning forward as Katara leans to place a kiss on the place where she had touched his lips.

The next morning she is gone, but Zuko still feels her hands and her lips on him, and he thinks it is quite possibly the one memory that he will never regret.

#zuko #katara #zutara #atla meta #headcanons #book 4 speculation

[godofevrerything]

How Zutara Should’ve Happened (my take anyways, if Zuko still joined the Gaang in Season Three)

Alright, so I’m a Zutara shipper. Anyways, here’s my rant of the day.

So, if Zutara were to be cannon, let’s say that we wouldn’t change the cannon, other than that. Also full disclaimer, I don’t really like Kataang. It’s cute, and sweet, buuuut I think that they would be better off single or with other people. I personally ship Taang so much-

When I first watched it, I really wanted Katara to end up single. I thought that would be a fitting ending for her story. But hey, she didn’t, and that’s fine.

This is not an anti Kataang post, seriously. If you ship it, cool, I don’t, but everyone had different opinions. Just please don’t come to my inbox and yell at me.

Aight, under the cut bc it got long.

So, if we weren’t gonna change the cannon, Zuko still joins in season three and all. Katara and him would still have a rocky relationship at first, and for good reason, I mean wtf Zuko what happened at the CoTL?

Rant for another day

Anyways-

What I would think is that Katara couldn’t help but notice how Zuko is trying to gain their, and her trust. I mean, she’s pissed but still, she notices. It doesn’t make her forgive him or anything, and it shouldn’t, but she does see it.

Now, I’m thinking little moments. Like when he shoved her out of the way of the falling rocks? Yeah, she still snaps at him, but maybe after she’s a little less fiery. Just a bit.

And then after TSR, things start to change. Of course, we get the iconic hug, but!! I want another scene, when they’re coming back from the trip.

One thing that always bothers me when I read Zutara stuff is that writers rarely address Zukos betrayal in TCoTL. Like,,, maybe I haven’t read the right fanfics but c’mon guys.

I really think, no, I know that Katara and Zuko should address that. I really want a scene, when they’re coming back, while Katara is sorting out whether to forgive him or not, I want them to talk about it. And sorry if it’s OOC- But Like so:

Katara: Why did you do it?

Zuko: ...do what?

Katara: Why did you fight with Azula? I thought you changed, I thought you would’ve fought with us.

Zuko: I-

[ a moment of quiet]

Zuko: I thought about it, and I almost did-

Katara: [turns around to face him] Then why didn’t you? Why did you choose that?

Zuko: I wanted my honor. I wanted to go home, and I thought- I though that if I fought with her, I could get my honor back.

[Katara doesn’t answer.]

Zuko: But Im sorry. I am.

Katara, quietly: I thought you changed...

Zuko: I have, now, I mean.

Katara: Why was your honor so important to you anyways? And what do you mean by ‘wanted to go home’?

Zuko: I- I was banished. Until I found the Avatar, I couldn’t go back.

[Katara turns, studying him, then turns back around]

Katara: ...You couldn’t go back, ever?

Zuko: No.

[She doesn’t speak after that, and neither does he.]

Okay, so maybe that was too OOC, but they did need to have a conversation something like that. A conversation where Zuko explained, at least a bit about why he fought with Azula.

And then, after that, the hug and forgiveness. But that was a turning point in their relationship, and I don’t like that so little fic writers address that.

And then!! I want little moments. Just small moments, maybe a bit more teasing, a bit more concern on Kataras part.

Also, let’s face it: Zuko would be simping. Katara wouldn’t be lovey dovey, no, she wouldn’t. Zuko would be the simp, Zuko would be the one stuttering slightly at teasing and stuff.

Just little moments, nothing big bc c’mon, they’re kids. They’re teenagers in the belp middle of a war.

Speaking of which! I really want one more scene between them. After Aangs noncon kiss in the Ember Island Players, I want there to be a scene where Zuko finds Katara and she vents to him.

Also I’ve been losing my damn mind trying to find a gif series for that bc someone on Tumblr made it and I can’t find it- fkdndd

Okay, but along with a huge chunk of the fandom, it really makes me mad that they didn’t show more of Kataras reaction, and that Aang didn’t apologize. Like wtf Aang.

I would’ve been fine with anyone coming to Katara, or telling Aang that was wrong but- Didn’t happen. They just glossed over that part smh.

But! Say Zuko were to come and talk with her about it. And then at the end, he might ask her why she was confused, Maybe something like this:

Zuko: If you don’t mind, why are you so confused?

Katara: I don’t know! But it’s in the middle of war. It isn’t over, and now isn’t the time for... for romance.

Zuko: But that doesn’t mean that you can’t be happy. I mean, look at Sokka.

Katara: I’m not Sokka.

[They both go quiet for a minute]

Katara: Sorry, Im just... It’s too much to deal with right now, and we have to focus on ending the war.

Zuko: No, I get that. It’s fine.

Katara: I’m just- I’m confused, and now isn’t the time and-

[She pauses, and the two look at each other for a moment. All is quiet.]

Zuko: I.. can go, if you want. If you need some space.

Katara: Yeah, that would probably help.

[Zuko walks away. As he does, Katara is staring at his back, a thoughtful expression on her face]

Yes, yes, I think that would make sense in the romance line. Mirroring when Zuko was staring at Kataras back.

Alright, so everything would be same, up to Katara healing Zuko after the Agni Kai. But there would be subtle differences. She takes his hand and holds it instead of putting her hand on his back. No big “I love you” or whatever. Just holds his hand, and maybe a line like “We- I could’ve lost you!” Maybe.

And then! One last thing, instead of that long Kataang kiss at the end, a scene between Katara and Zuko, talking about their futures.

I’m a really big fan of Water Tribe Ambassador Katara, and it shows.

Katara: So.. Fire Lord Zuko, huh? Finally regained your honor?

Zuko: [groans] Yes, now stop it.

Katara: [laughs] Nope, never gonna stop.

[Theres a minute of quiet]

Zuko: And what about you? Are you going back to the SWT?

Katara: I am. The Northern and Southern tribes... they need to connect again, not become one, but the connection was frayed with the war, and someone has to take a step to rebuild it.

Zuko: What about the Air Temples?

Katara: That’s up to Aang. I’ll help him of course, we all will, but he’s the last air bender. He’ll take care of them, like I’ll take care of the Water tribes.

Zuko: With Sokka too, I’m guessing.

Katara: I don’t know about that, actually. Sokka may want to travel a bit, scope out the world.

Zuko: And you don’t?

Katara: I do, and I will. Sokka and I, regardless of whatever travel, we’ll work together to take care of the tribes.

Zuko: [chuckles] And I’ll be here. I’m going to try to undo the damage the war did. Open up relations again in the Earth Kingdom, sort out the colonies.

Katara: Don’t overwork yourself.

Zuko: You shouldn’t either.

[She laughs, and stops in front of the pond, looking at the turtle ducks]

Katara: Zuko..

Zuko: What?

Katara: [turns to face him] We... went through a lot. And I have something that I need to tell you.

Zuko, sweating slightly: ..yes?

Katara: Relax, it’s nothing bad!

Katara: I..

[Katara takes his hand and smiles. Zukos eyes widen and he looks down at their hands]

Katara: Well?

[Zuko looks back up and smiles at her.]

Zuko: You’re going to visit sometime, right?

Katara: Course I will.

[He smiles again, and intertwines their fingers. It’s quiet once more, then off in the distance, Sokka yells something]

Katara: [laughs] Now c’mon, your Honor. Let’s go.

[She pulls Zuko down the path towards their friends, and all their laughter can be heard. The End comes up, and the credits roll]

So!!

No big ily confession, no long kiss. Why? Because they’re kids. They’re fourteen and sixteen, there shouldnt be an ily, there shouldn’t be an uncomfortably long kiss.

Later, of course. But now? Let’s them just hold hands and tease each other and relax a bit.

Anyways, that’s my Zutara rant of the day, thanks for listening.

#zutara #Zuko #Katara #ATLA #avatar the last airbender #zuko x katara #Zutara rant

[whattheheehaw]

Once upon a time, I saw someone use this scene as anti-Zutara and pro-K@taang evidence:

Katara: So let me tell you something, right now. You make one step backward, one slip-up, give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang, and you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I'll make sure your destiny ends... right then and there. Permanently.

The person said something along the lines of: “Katara threatened to kill Zuko so that’s why Zutara is toxic. Also, this shows Katara really loves Aang because she’d do anything to protect him.” 

I have to admit that at first, I laughed. Literally every Zutarian and their mother have stated multiple times that Zuko and Katara’s friendship does not end here. Like, I guess we’re just going to ignore everything that happens past this episode. But you know what? If people can’t accept the fact that Zuko’s and Katara’s friendship blossomed into something pure and beautiful by the end of season 3, they’re a lost cause, so why bother interacting?

What I want to focus on is the fact that some people actually think this proves K@taang is a better ship.

Yes, it is true that Katara is protecting Aang in this scene. And yes, protecting someone can be a form of affection. But what kind of affection is Katara showing here? Is it romantic? I don’t think so. If anything, I think this highlights how motherly Katara is toward Aang.

Ursa: That's what moms are like. If you mess with their babies, they're gonna bite you back!

I can’t be the only one who thinks Katara’s dialogue parallels what Ursa said about motherhood. It’s almost like these epiosdes were written by the same person—oh wait.

Huh, Elizabeth Welch really is a legend.

And I get it, people are going to call me crazy because Katara and Aang kissed 2 episodes ago, so the whole “Katara is Aang’s mom” argument should get thrown out of the window by now. However, Katara’s treatment of Aang throughout The Western Air Temple only highlights Katara’s maternal nature. 

Exhibit A:

Teo: [The Western Air Temple is] so different from the Northern Air Temple. I wonder if there are any secret rooms.

Haru: Let’s go check it out!

Katara: You guys go. I think [Sokka, Toph, Aang, and I] need to talk about some things.

Aang: Why can’t I go?

Katara: We need to decide what we're gonna do now, and since you're the Avatar, maybe you should be a part of this.

Aang: Fair enough. So what’s the new plan?

Sokka: Well, if you ask me, the new plan is the old plan! You just need to master all four elements and confront the Fire Lord before the comet comes.

Aang: [Sarcastically.] Oh, yeah. That's great, no problem. I'll just do that.

Katara: Aang, no one said it's going to be easy.

Aang: Well, it's not even gonna be possible! Where am I supposed to get a firebending teacher?

Katara: We could look for Jeong Jeong!

Aang: [Shooting her idea down.] Yeah ... right. Like we'll ever run into Jeong Jeong again.

Exhibit B:

Katara: Aang, can we talk about you learning firebending now?

Aang: What? The wind is too loud in my ears! Check out this loop!

In both instances, it seems like Katara has taken the role of “mom that’s trying to get her kid to do their chores” rather than “concerned girlfriend trying to limit her boyfriend’s distractions”, and this all comes to a head at the ending scene between Zuko and Katara. Katara, who has been treating Aang like her child for the entire episode, is now shown to be protecting Aang from a possible threat in a similar way that Ursa described mothers protecting their children back in season 2. Again, I’m not saying that whenever Katara (or anyone in general) protects someone else she’s acting motherly. However, her actions towards Aang throughout this episode did carry a motherly tone and the way her dialogue mirrors what Ursa, an actual mother, said are indicative of a mother/son bond between Katara and Aang.

The ending scene of The Western Air Temple is not an anti-Zutara scene, nor is it a pro-K@taang scene.

#can you believe elizabeth welch wrote these two amazing episodes? #and also added a little connection between them? #i can #because elizabeth welch is a magnificent writer who knows what she's doing #i believe in elizabeth welch supremacy #elizabeth welch #elizabeth welch ehasz #the western air temple #atla #please excuse me if this doesn't make any sense #i wrote down my rambly thoughts at 1 am like i always do #anti kataang

[tea-and-la]

I see you have met the ATLA fandom's Dear Old Friend. (I'm officially calling him that 😆) I'm surprised you found him worthy of responding to. You know, the funny thing is, I don't hate the concept of KA as friends to lovers, what I hate is the execution, that's exactly why I couldn't care less if they are in a canon romantic relationship or not. (I don't even know what canon has to do with this conversation, but cool, I guess 🤷🏾‍♀️) All characters can be shipped according to each person's choices and tastes. In fact, I have found myself seeing romantic Ka/taang and Zvkka better on my Zutara AUs because (and I know this is pretentious) I like their friendship better in those stories. It's not about forcing anything onto anyone, it's about constructing relationships between the characters and interpreting them as you want

angel! i feel you. i don't vibe completely with the dynamic of ka that we are given (like you said it's about execution), but if certain things were fixed, i'd have less of an ick towards it. i actually like katara and aang's friendship and some of their moments (like when aang encouraged her to bend the ship into the water to get away from the pirates). it's bryke's decision wrt the shift to romantic that made things very murky for me, and the little effort put into developing katara's pov. i think for me, the thing with ka is that i felt i didn't end up with a why towards the question of "why specifically they like(d)/love each other." like for aang, he pretty much is smitten by her as soon as he sees her (practically love at first sight) which can only really be based on appearance since he doesn't really know her. plus ... the absolute lack of addressing things like EIP in a mature way (bryke dropped the ball on this), and i would've respected it a lot more if aang had this realization of "okay, cool. she doesn't want to be together right now and i'm content with that." that would've given me growth and maturity and now that his feelings were out in the air, that could've been developed in the comics. but ... instead we got the finale!kiss. i have a few hcs for how i would actually like kata/ang.

i got side-tracked lol. like you said, i also don't care what's canon or not. some people treat canon as the be-all-end-all as if break-ups don't happen, or AUs can't be explored. it's that sort of rigidity in thinking patterns that makes me think that these people are really .. boring. like you said, shipping is based on what appeals to a person's tastes. and in fandom, we're all individuals, so we shouldn't be expected to just blindly like the same things just because it's canon. we all have different life experiences and that may give us a different lens into how we see a ship vs how another person does. it's why i don't consider myself really an anti of any of the ships, because i'm not going to waste time harassing the shippers about something that makes them happy just because it doesn't appeal to me. you have to be pretty miserable as a person to do something like that imo.

#also i want people to realize it's canon is not the take they think it is #like ... there are plenty of ships in my other fandom shows that became canon that definitely shouldn't have #and it's about HOW romantic relationships become canon #it's the buildup/slow burn of it #especially for friends to lovers #but my friends to lovers standards are HIGH because of spelivia from all american #antikataang but not really #i probably would've multi-shipped zkka but the fanbase made me uncomfy

[neva-borne]

One Shot Prompts

Send me a number and a pairing and I will write a one shot based off that combo. I will keep this open depending on how many I receive as I will try to keep these fairly short.

I mostly write Zutara, but feel free to select a pairing from the list below, or if you have a different pairing you'd like to see, feel free to ask and I'll let you know if I'm willing to write it!

I will write: Zutara, Sukka, Taang, Mailee, Dramione

Don't make me do this

It was always you

If the world was ending, you'd come over, right?

I can't do this

Sunrise

Sunset

Night owl/early bird

Please don't forget me

You promised

Forgiveness

Revenge

Reading

First kiss

Holding hands

Ice cream

Fuck you

Where were you

I need you

Caress

Cuddling

Stay

Why can't you love me

Amnesia

Life without you

You help me not be afraid

Dancing

Unlikely allies

Who was that

Jealousy

Dreams

Not meant to be

Regret

I dare you

Make me

The witching hour

This can't be happening

Moonlight

Sunlight

Storm

Hold me

One last time

Please don't go

You lied to me

Cold

Crash

Potted plants

Save me

Save yourself

I never loved myself. But you? Oh God I loved you so much I forgot what hating myself felt like

Candlelight

#zutara #zuko #katara #fanfic #fanfiction #one shots #prompts #prompt list #otp prompts #angst prompts #fluff prompts #dramione #sukka #taang #mailee #ask #send requests #draco #hermione #suki #sokka #aang #toph #mai #ty lee #writing prompts