of-muppets-and-men

[of-muppets-and-men]

Father of the Bride

Hakoda swallowed hard against a lump in his throat. He had imagined this day so many times since Katara's birth. The details were different, though. She wasn't marrying a proven warrior from among their people. That was fine. She had spent so much time traveling the world, expanding her horizons, creating her own paths. Hakoda didn't think there were one in a thousand men at home who could keep up with the woman his daughter had become, and he had resigned himself to the fact that she might not end up with a Southern Tribe man years ago.

But he hadn't considered that her marriage might take her so permanently from home. A foolish oversight on his part, he admitted. And at least she would have the means to visit her family a few times a year. Still, as he watched the final preparations being made on Katara's wedding gown-a stunning piece of art even to Hakoda's untrained eye. All silks and linens in shades of blue and silver that recalled the bridal outfits of her homeland. Furs and leathers would be too hot for the climate, but Katara wanted to tell everyone up front how she would bring her own culture to merge with her new people. Her groom-to-be not only supported this decision, but had come to Hakoda and Sokka to ask them how he, too, could incorporate the Southern Water Tribe into the wedding on his end. That had been a long night, with strong drinks and stronger emotions, but at the end of it, Hakoda had decided that despite his initial misgivings about the marriage, he couldn't have picked a better son-in-law than Zuko.

Fire Lord Zuko. Fire Lord Zuko was going to be his son-in-law. Sometimes the thought made Hakoda chuckle. Sometimes it sent a chill down his spine. Not that he was worried about Zuko himself, but Katara's proximity to his thrown. The crown. She would be coronated the next night in a ceremony as lavish as the wedding. She would become the Fire Lady. Co-ruler of the country that had spent a hundred years ruining countless lives with a war over something as silly as imperialist pride. Hakoda didn't think they deserved his daughter. If Zuko had earned his trust and respect, the rest of the Fire Nation certainly haven't. Not the nobles, anyway. When he brought them up to Katara, she laughed, though it didn't reach her eyes, which were flint hard and grimly determined. She told him no matter where she went in the world, she would have to fight for any respect she got. At least here she would have Zuko fighting beside her. Hakoda wasn't sure he agreed that was a worthy trade off, but he knew better than to try to talk his daughter out of it.

The Fire Nation had already benefited from her presence. As a foreign advisor, she had fostered trade and exchange agreements between the Fire Nation and all of the Water Tribes, Omashu and Gaoling. As an ambassador, she'd helped negotiate reparation packages that have helped the parts of the world hit hardest by the war recover. As one of Zuko's most trusted counselors, she'd helped him work the Fire Nation's budget so the government could provide for education, health and services for returning soldiers. The same kinds of programs she'd helped Hakoda and Sokka build in the Southern Water Tribe. It suddenly struck Hakoda that she had been acting as Fire Lady for a long time. Before she and Zuko had even realized they were in love, maybe. Today and tomorrow would just make it official. Hakoda still didn't think the Fire Nation deserved a Katara, but any chance he had of talking her out of it had long since slipped by him. And he now he wasn't sure he would talk her out of it, even if he did have the chance.

The final touches were done. The maids stepped back in a flurry of excited chatter. Kanna stepped forward, moving stiffly in her old age, smiling up at her granddaughter through tears. She had had this moment with Kya years ago, and Kya should be standing in her place now. Kanna reached out and ran her fingertips over the necklace she had passed to her daughter, and her daughter had passed on to Katara. Kya was here, Kanna assured herself. And Kya would be here with Katara as she made these next steps, first as a wife, then as a queen, then someday as a mother and grandmother herself.

"She would be so proud," Kanna told Katara. The two women embraced. Then Katara stood up, head high and looking as regal as any queen in any nation ever had, and turned to Hakoda.

"Are you ready, Dad?" she asked. Hakoda shook his head.

"I was never going to be ready for this," he confessed. "But it doesn't matter. You are ready."

#atla #zutara #fire lady katara #hakoda

[of-muppets-and-men]

This is the money Marge. Reblog for good fortune

[of-muppets-and-men]

#zutara #zuko x katara #zuko #prince zuko #katara #avatar #avatar the last airbender #atla fanart #atla #sasha arts

[of-muppets-and-men]

everything, everywhere, all at once

#zutara #atla #zuko #katara #atla fanart

[of-muppets-and-men]

closure.

#zutara #fan art

[of-muppets-and-men]

Just gona leave this here...

#zutara #katara #zuko

[of-muppets-and-men]

Worth waiting for!

Zuko being an awkward turtleduck is always appreciated.

Our Future Part 3 of 3

Part 1 /// Part 2

It's finally done! :D

#zutara #atla #anti aang #antikataang #atla fanart #katara #zuko x katara

[of-muppets-and-men]

Gordon was/is shorter than younger katara's actress. You're lying to yourself if you think this will work out.

People defending k@taang’s relationship in the live-action are fucking wild. Gordon Cormier (Aang’s actor) lost a baby tooth on set. Dude still has baby teeth, and y’all are convinced this child is ready to be in a serious relationship?!?!

#anti k@taang #Zutara #y’all want Katara to make out with someone who could lose a baby tooth mid smooch?

[of-muppets-and-men]

I forgot to post this.

I did a drawing for the Zutara Wedding Zine in like... 2021. There were a few production hiccups along the way, but I'm free to post the art now... So yay!

Thanks for stickin' around :)

#zutara #atla fanart #atla

[of-muppets-and-men]

This didn't come out exactly how I wanted it to, but I'm sharing it anyway! Didn't follow a prompt this time

[of-muppets-and-men]

Zuko's unkillability should be utilized more in post canon. Every fire lord Zuko headcanon is all "poor Zuko, having to deal with so many assassination attempts, this boy is hanging on by a thread." But listen, my guy has already survived being burned, blown up, electrocuted, fought two agni kais, faced the Avatar numerous times. It becomes something of a meme in the FN that no one can kill the firelord so you shouldn't even try, Zuko ends up surviving increasingly elaborate and unlikely assassination attempts. He develops an immunity to poison after having been poisoned so many times. He's just like "huh, you thought THAT would kill me?" at this point.

[of-muppets-and-men]

🚨 URGENT!

Canadian-Palestinian journalist Mansour Shouman’s team has posted that they believe he has been taken by the IDF. He has been missing since 23/1/24.

[official poster made by mansour’s team. please spread this around and do not change anything in it]

If you have any urgent info, email: [email protected]

Please use the QR code to email the PM Trudeau and Minister Joly to take immediate action.

Email template

Sign the petition

Mansour Shouman is a journalist and humanitarian. His team’s most recent humanitarian endeavours include the distribution of 100+ food bags to displaced civilians in Rafah. They have also distributed money to civilians, obtained through Mansour’s GoFundMe.

Here is a statement from Mansour’s mother

UPDATE: Mansour has still not been found. Here are steps you can take to help:

1. Petition needs to get to 1 Million (linked above)

2. Pressurize Govt of Canada. Email them. Call upon them (email template linked above) — Justin Trudeau has said they are working on it and “talking to everyone” but Mansour’s family has not been contacted or asked for infomation, nor has his team been working with the govt officials in a formal manner (link)

3. Speak to your MPs. Visit them. Call them.

4. Mention Mansour at the protests. We need visibility on this.

—last updated: 1/2/24

[of-muppets-and-men]

Rashida Tlaib has set up a petition to send to the White House to recognize and stop the ethnic cleansing and forced displacement happening in Gaza. If you’re a US citizen please sign. I have no illusions that this will change policy, but the public outcry against their actions must continue. We will not be distracted or discouraged from continuing to object to these humans rights violations.

#reblog #rashida tlaib

[of-muppets-and-men]

🤣🇵🇸I will never let the IDF live this down🗓📆

#free palestine #The Khamas name list🤣 #Hamas #palestine #gaza genocide #anti israel

[of-muppets-and-men]

I feel like people see takes calling Aang a Nice Guy ™️©️®️ and erroneously think that means people don't like him because he doesn't have "edge". That's not true. When people call characters like Aang a Nice Guy ™️©️®️ , what we mean is that he's transactionally nice instead of being kind. Personally, I love a character who's kind. For instance, I adore Katara. She is genuinely kind. She's a nice character (I mean, she also has edge, but...). I also love Courtney from As Told by Ginger and Marshall from HIMYM and Lucy from Narnia. I love kind characters. Aang is not that.

Aang is cheerful. He's...pleasant enough? I guess? But not much else. He has a smile for everyone and he likes having fun. None of that makes him truly kind. He isn't very empathetic. He doesn't go out of his way to help if there's nothing in it for him. He'll lie his way out of an inconvenient situation. He's just a Nice Guy ™️©️®️ with big, wide eyes and a cute lil' giggle. I'm not falling for it. Sorry not sorry.

#anti aang #atla #antikataang

[of-muppets-and-men]

I know people have already talked about this topic, but I want to too.

There are a lot of jokes on the Internet about how Katara constantly mentions her mother as if it were the most important event, but...

Isn't that so? I mean, in the life of a little eight-year-old girl, this is truly the most important event in her life and she wants to share it.

Katara took on the role of an adult too early, and she didn't have the opportunity to work through this problem with anyone, because she's already an adult => she cannot afford to rely on someone. But she needs it, and that's what traveling with Aang gives her: the opportunity to find children like her and share with them the burden that she has been carrying all this time. Note that Haru, Jet, and even Zuko are people who not only have experienced loss, but also have some kind of responsibility for others: for their family or even for a group of people. She doesn't tell adults about this because she isn't looking for care, she's looking for understanding of her feelings.

The problem is that it's not enough for her. Her sadness turns to rage because the further the story goes, the less satisfied Katara becomes.

The closer the heroes get to the end of the war, the more angry Katara gets: first at her father, then more specifically at Zuko. And, in the end, she finds the cause of this anger, as well as the opportunity to satisfy the thirst for understanding of her grief - the murderer of her mother. She needed revenge not just because it was fair, but because from the very beginning of the series, Katara was looking for an opportunity to calm those feelings that were rushing out. And her attempts to do this by expressing the problem were not enough. She needed more, and she got it by facing the biggest monster in her life.

In general, the “monster” metaphor obviously speaks not only about Yon Ra, but also about Katara herself. Or rather about her anger. Judge for yourself: she had to restrain a storm of emotions from the age of eight; she began to reveal her grief only in the first season, that is, at the age of 14. She ignored her pain, pushing it deep inside until it became a raging monster rushing out. And what Katara really needed was to face it. So when she flies to find Yon Ra, she also finally meets the version of herself that she has carefully ignored and hidden for the benefit of others.

It's funny that Zuko is the one who helps her. In general, it was his complete understanding of Katara in this matter that amazed me. He, like no one else, knows what it’s like to face your inner demons and knows how useful it is for knowing yourself. And how dangerous it is when you're alone in it. So he accompanies her to keep her safe. So that she has a person on her side who will be there, no matter what choice she makes. He will support anyone. (I'm crying because of how beautiful it is wasgffv💖)

(A small antikataang insert: this is the reason why their relationship doesn't work. Aang only supports the right decisions, even if they require Katara to sacrifice inner harmony, while Zuko will simply support her for whatever choice she makes. It's funny because Aang has to keep balance and as a monk he knows a lot about that. The show focuses heavily on the theme of yin and yang, that is, the balance of good and evil. In order to achieve internal balance, Katara needed to turn to internal evil, because she tilted this scale towards good. She was imbalanced to begin with, and instead of understanding this, Aang insisted on continuing the preponderance of good. It’s as if he doesn’t understand that the preponderance of good is as bad as the preponderance of evil, and this will only harm Katara. I hope my point is clear)

Finally, Katara finds inner peace when she faced everything that was raging inside her, when she did what she needed and poured out everything she ever wanted. Every word about her mother led us to this moment, as did Katara herself.

And do you know what the point is? Why am I telling all this? It's all a character arc that unfolds linearly over three seasons.

Now think back to the arc of Aang, the main character of the show, in relation to his family. Did he bring them up in seasons two and three in a way that was linear? I mean, the one who constantly grieves over his father's death should have been Aang, because he learned the pain of loss so recently, he didn't have a chance to get used to it. But even in the episode SR, Aang compares the loss of mother not to the loss of his mentor and father, but to the loss of Appa and his people. It’s as if he doesn’t care about the individual connection with Gyatso and it’s nominal.

Katara, on the other hand, has emotions that she smoothly carries throughout the show and resolves in it. She has a huge number of Chekhov's guns, which each fire at its own time. Her feelings about her mother, the development of these emotions and their resolution are the most beautiful thing about this show along with Zuko's arc (even though I have problems with him in book 3).

And making derogatory jokes about it like Katara is whining and annoying is blasphemy. After all, she's the only one of the Gaang who has a single development arc throughout all three seasons, this must be respected

[of-muppets-and-men]

Petition for Canada to stop arming Israel

In case you haven’t seen it yet: here’s a petition for Canada to stop arming Israel. https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Sign/e-4745