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#i mean both have these floating buildings due to living on some pretty wet lands and theres harmony in that mix
junotter · 1 month
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sometimes researching for avatar redesigns has you 6 layers deep into the Japan's Meiji era allies wiki
#im trying to mess with some of the stuff that feels weird about the ways the fire nation is depicted idk#like i do not feel optically it is good for like them to be so heavily based on japan's imperialist actions#while dressed in clothes that come from places japan colonized#but i dont want it to just be solely japanese though i did draw zuko and azula in hakama but its largely cause i wanted to draw hakama#and like the only place with strong japanese influence being kiyoshi island and my own frustration with the modern day samurai depiction#i think fundamentally it isnt a choice that had as much thought as i am putting in put into it but it does raise an eyebrow for me#anyway i think keeping the thai influence is fine despite the brief invasion japan had into thailand due to thailand then allying with japa#and further allying with the axis due to allying with japan#ugh and ive been told not to think this much about it because its fiction but its also fiction so so so heavily based on real places#and when you base fiction on real cultures you fall into some unintentional pitfalls#i also fucking hate the royal fire nation robes they look so meh and the most costumey out of everything in the show#they look like heavy blankets despite being a supposedly hot nation#theres ways to have heavy robes (heian era japan) but they look like i make them out of fleece and velvet blankets#back to kiyoshi island i think the really only aesthetically japanese reference in the show being an island of noble warriors is lame#plus over done#it feels like nowadays theres a lot of people who get all whiney about people saying fire nation is based off japan#but like dude the creators in the comics and korra like go even more into the japanese influence and clearly it was the original intentions#also i do think you could do some pretty interesting world building by having say there be an older cultural influence on kiyoshi island#from the fire nation especially if the place is established as a central port area then you tie in some okinawan or even hawaiian reference#and gives an explanation that makes sense to why kiyoshi stands out from the rest of the earth kingdom you have long term cultural trading#and it establishes interesting relationships even pre kiyoshi time thereby drawing back onto some real historic references#cause for awhile ryukyu china and japan used to be this trading triangle which could explain some of these various influences going on#i think you can get a really interesting harmony when you create the fire nation out of a mix of japan and thailand#i mean both have these floating buildings due to living on some pretty wet lands and theres harmony in that mix#god i did see one person go like “fire nation is more based on china because theres a lot of red and red is important in china”#my brother in christ red is also important in japan#red is important in like many many asian cultures#i mean of course a lot of that importance stems from china and cultural exchange with china but idk kinda silly to say with your whole ches#like if you want to bring china in then the dragons are the biggest thing like sure some mythos has dragons in japan#but a lot of those comes from china in some way
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absolutecreed · 6 years
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Heated Blue
(also posted on AO3!)
During one reconnaissance mission, Eli and Thrawn come to a planet that's famous for their hot springs. After spending the day walking around various art galleries, it seems like a good idea to end the day relaxing in the hot water. ...Maybe.
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The planet of Onsenkura was like nothing Eli had ever seen. It had a very traditional feel to it, with hardly any technology in sight. …No, that wasn’t accurate. It was more as if technology and traditional fused together. The buildings were mostly wood and rice paper, and even stiff reeds. Yet, mingled in were power lines, transformer boxes, number pads for security, and a handful of floating banners, displaying sales at nearby supermarkets. Even the people were quite traditional, preferring robes and sandals to shirts and pants. Eli felt a bit overdressed in his Imperial uniform. And if Thrawn felt discomforted at all, he didn’t show it. No, like Eli, he found himself captivated by the scenery.
The mission—if one could call it that—was to scout out Osenkura. It was one of many vacation planets near the Outer Rim. A good place to go to escape for a bit. And what a place to. The planet’s politics had no ties to either the Empire or the Rebel Alliance, making it neutral ground where both sides, and everyone in between could relax and enjoy themselves. From what Eli could gather, this was just a reconnaissance mission, to make sure the people of Osenkura were remaining neutral as agreed. And, from just their first few hours there, Eli could tell that they were on their best behavior. Their Imperial uniforms didn’t make anyone flinch, which Eli wasn’t used to. These people really were at ease, with just about anyone and everyone.
The culture enraptured Thrawn. The moment they landed, and got settled at a nearby inn, Eli practically had to run, in order to catch up with Thrawn. He was looking at everything, from the nature and plants in the city, to their technology and culture. Eli lost track of how many food places they stopped at to try various traditional foods. And, of course, Thrawn just had to find an art gallery. They spent HOURS looking at the gallery. And while Eli didn’t have as much of an interest as Thrawn did with art, he couldn’t deny how gorgeous each and every piece was. Modern and ancient art was displayed, and while there was a similar style, each piece was characteristically different. It was fascinating, really. Thrawn was in his element, observing each and every piece thoroughly.
They hadn’t even made it halfway through the gallery, when it came time for it to close. They were still there for a few more days—Thrawn would be able to see the rest of the pieces, before they headed back. When they made it back to the inn, Eli was surprised to discover that the inn was more than just an inn—it was a bathhouse. In the back, there were naturally occurring hot springs that one could relax in. Whether Thrawn saw Eli’s growing curiosity, or maybe he was curious himself, the Chiss suggested that they give it a try. There was no harm in it, right? And Thrawn made a pretty good point.
'These baths are a part of their culture. I’ve heard quite a lot about them. It would be amiss of us to skip the opportunity.’
And so, minutes later, Eli found himself in the hot spring.
There were three separate baths—one for men, one for women, and one for both sexes. They chose the men’s one, though Thrawn encouraged Eli to go ahead; he wanted to talk to one of the bathhouse employees, no doubt asking for information about the history of the baths. Upon taking his clothes off and showering (one was required to shower before stepping into the springs), Eli looked over the waters, that were warm enough to be steaming slightly. The water was slightly murky, but not in an entirely dirty way. Letting the towel drop from his waist, Eli took a step into the water, almost flinching back. It was hot, that was for sure! But it wasn’t unpleasant… Slowly, Eli walked the rest of the way in, settling down near one of the rock dividers in the spring. The water wasn’t deep, but with Eli sitting down, the water easily covered more than half his chest.
“Never had a bath like this before…” he mumbled, rubbing the warm water on his arms. He could get used to this…
“These springs are truly remarkable, are they not, Ensign?”
Eli jumped a little as he heard Thrawn’s voice, turning around to face him. And what he saw made his face burn, and it had nothing to do with the hot water he was partly submerged in.
Thrawn stood there, in nothing but a towel, hair damp from his pre-spring shower. And while Eli had caught glimpses of Thrawn shirtless, this was the closest he’d been to seeing him completely naked. The legends weren’t lying when they said the Chiss were a very fit race. Lamely, all Eli could think of was how Thrawn’s abs resembled some marble statues they’ve seen in art galleries. Compared Thrawn, Eli was a kriffing stick. Unconsciously he sunk a little further into the water, hiding his puny body.
“They are, sir.” said Eli at last, realizing Thrawn had addressed him, “I’ve had baths before but these waters feel entirely different from normal bath water—”
Eli’s voice died in his throat a bit, as Thrawn dropped his towel to enter the springs. Eli unconsciously closed his legs—even ‘there’ Thrawn ‘outranked’ him.
“That’s because these springs are all natural.” explained the Chiss, as he slowly waded in. He paused for a moment to let his body get used to the hot water, before wading further in and settling down in a spot opposite of Eli. The water looked slightly different in Thrawn’s area, but perhaps the stones under him were different colored.
“The volcano nearby help heat the springs from below the surface.” continued Thrawn, moving his hands a little in the water, “There are volcanic vents, full of super heated magma below the surface of these springs. Thankfully they’re far enough down to where the water here won’t boil anyone alive.”
“That’s a pleasant mental image…” grumbled Eli, sinking a bit further into the water, blowing some bubbles, before sitting up, “So the slight sulfur smell is from the volcano, then. That scent is getting transferred up through the water and steam.”
“Precisely.” said Thrawn, nodding, “And because of the nature of the surrounding rocks, the bathhouse has a natural filtration system. No need for harsh chemicals.”
“The hot water probably helps kill a bunch of bacteria and all that, too.” Eli sighed contently, sinking a bit further into the water, “Plus all this hot water relaxes you. Say goodbye to any sore muscles you might have. You probably don’t even need a massage, if you soak in one of these…”
Thrawn tilted his head, watching Eli looking seemingly amused, “They do offer massages here. They have a Besalisk they handles all the massaging. They told me he’s very highly rated. Especially in what they call ‘happy ending’ massages.”
The Chiss started slightly, as Eli spluttered, face completely red. Thrawn waited until Eli wasn’t inhaling anymore water, before speaking up, “What do they mean by ‘happy ending’? Aren’t all massage sessions supposed to end well?”
“It’s…” started Eli, not sure if he should explain the true meaning of that phrase. There was no need to ‘poison’ his mind with that, “Those massages are often done in private…and paid for under the table.” Judging by Thrawn’s still curious look, he wasn’t getting it. Eli sighed, “…Just…if you go get a massage and they offer a ‘happy ending’, just politely decline. Trust me.”
Thrawn watched Eli for a moment, before slowly nodding, “Understood.”
Eli relaxed, glad that Thrawn was leaving it at that. As a comfortable silence fell between them, Eli shot a shy glance at Thrawn. He was glad that the murky water hid the Chiss’s lower half. He knew he’d give himself away if Thrawn caught him blushing. But from the waist up, Thrawn was…well…wonderful. Since getting settled in the Imperial Navy, Thrawn had a daily workout routine. Eli attempted to join him once, but had gotten his ass kicked within the first few hours. He was incredibly sore for days after, to the point where Thrawn was concerned enough to want him in the medbay.
That aside…
Thrawn didn’t seem to have any issues with his body image. Not that he went around naked or anything, but he was confident in his body. Maybe it was a Chiss thing… Legends did say that Chiss had incredibly fit bodies, due to high metabolism from living in such frigid conditions. Despite Thrawn obviously not being human, it seemed like everything else was very human-like. The way his muscles moved under his blue skin, the way his muscles in his abdomen were shaped, how they tensed and relaxed as he moved…
“Ensign?”
Eli practically screamed, as Thrawn’s voice suddenly cut through his thoughts. Blushing darkly, he glanced up at the Chiss, who regarded him with those red eyes. …Though was it just him, or did Thrawn’s eyes seem a little…dull? Eli didn’t question it, still embarrassed that he was caught staring. At least Thrawn didn’t sound upset…
“S—So sorry, Sir…” he stammered out, averting his eyes finally, “I didn’t…I didn’t mean to stare…That was r—rude of me. I’m—“
“Ensign, it’s quite all right.” said Thrawn calmly—almost too calmly, “There’s no need for apologies. We’re you looking at…for…anything in particular?”
That calm voice of Thrawn’s made it seem like his tone was so…silky smooth. Eli couldn’t help but blush harder, and his wording didn’t help matters at all.
“Your…Your body is similar to us humans in quite a few ways.” started Eli, feeling his accent creeping in a little—something that happened when he got flustered, “The way your body is shaped…it’s similar to a very fit human male. Even…Even the way your muscles move under you wet ski—your skin—is very similar. Your muscle structure is similar, even if you guys are stronger than us. You probably have more muscles, to keep you warm in that native climate of yours. A—And it shows. Your daily workout routines help a lot. You’re really fit Thrawn, a—and you look amazing, and the way your muscles move is just fantastic, and…and…I—“
Eli yelped as there was a sudden splash from over where Thrawn was. Whipping around, Eli saw Thrawn…and stared. There were a few things going through his mind in a matter of seconds.
First—Thrawn was facedown in the water.
Second—his backside was just as toned as the rest of him. Eli had never seen such a muscular ass before. And his broad back…!
Third—…Thrawn wasn’t moving.
That third thought practically screamed at Eli, as he leaped out of the water, rushing towards the motionless Chiss.
“Thrawn!!”
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
"I...have made...a tact...tactical error..."
Eli would've laughed at Thrawn's slurred tone, if he hadn't had the absolute daylights scared out of him.
Apparently Eli calling out Thrawn's name and struggling with pulling him out of the water got the attention of the owners of the bathhouse, who quickly jumped in to help, pulling the Chiss up onto the ground, folding a towel under his head. Thankfully, he hadn't inhaled any water while face down, and he revived fairly easily. As per Eli's request, they had brought a bowl of ice water and a small washcloth, which Eli was using to carefully cool Thrawn back down.
Unbeknownst to either of them, certain areas of the hot springs were hotter than others. The owners explained, then apologized profusely. Eli wasn't upset at them, and he knew Thrawn wouldn't be either, if he wasn't currently acting as though he had a high grade fever. They should've asked before hand. At least Thrawn was alive and out of the hot water, and didn't seem too terribly effected. No harm, no foul. They knew for next time, at least.
"How do you feel, sir?" asked Eli, wetting the cold towel again, and carefully wiping it down Thrawn's still bare (and broad) chest. He knew he couldn't just dump the ice water on him. If his physiology was the same as humans, then introducing a cold element to his still hot body so suddenly, would put him into shock. No, it was best to chill him gradually. Eli's lips almost twitched up into a smile at the phrasing of that.
"I'm..." Thrawn paused a moment, his unfocused gaze just staring up at the ceiling. After a moment, he seemed to realize he was in the middle of speaking, and started up again, "...I'm doing better, I believe...I feel different..."
"That's because you nearly boiled yourself, sir." said Eli with a hint of humor in his tone, as he went to wet the washcloth again, "Apparently, Chiss can't handle really hot hot springs. You probably would've been fine in my area. It wasn't too hot, but it wasn't chilly. Probably just right for you."
"I will keep that in mind..." said Thrawn slowly, still attempting to fight through the hazy heat that had enveloped his body. Eli recalled having acted similar, having succumbed to heat exhaustion once. It wasn't a pleasant experience, and he could only imagine that Thrawn didn't feel too hot (no pun intended) either. Or at least, he wouldn't later one, once his body cooled down. Eli wanted to bring him back to their rooms, but Thrawn was decently bigger than he was. And still naked. He could help the Chiss stagger back to their rooms, but only after he was well enough to move.
"...A question, Eli..." said Thrawn simply, getting Eli out of his thoughts. Even more so, with him using his name instead of his rank.
"Yes?"
It took Thrawn a moment to speak, just staring up at the ceiling some more, before speaking, "...Whist I was changing for the hot spring, there was a patron in there, that had just been coming out of another set of hot springs. They said something that confused me, and I wonder if you could translate..."
Eli nodded, "I'll do my best."
"They looked me up and down, and said, and I quote..." said Thrawn, lifting his hands up off of the ground slightly to do air quotes, which amused Eli greatly, "'You are shredded, my man. I'm jealous.' ...What exactly does shredded mean, in that context?"
"Well, obviously you're still all together, so you're not the actual definition of shredded..." started Eli with a chuckle, feeling his face flush as Thrawn chuckled at that as well. It was rare to see the Chiss smile, let alone laugh or even chuckle. Eli quickly recovered, and started again, "In that sense, they're using it as slang for 'you have a really nice body.'"
"Interesting..." mused Thrawn, letting his hands drop again. He went quiet again, and just as Eli turned around to soak the towel in cold water, he spoke up once more, turning his head towards Eli, "...Do you consider me 'shredded', Eli?"
Eli knew his face turned a deep shred of crimson, as Thrawn tilted his head at him, "...Your temperature has spiked, Eli. Were you in the hot springs for too long, as well?"
Eli just wrung out the towel, and let it fall down on Thrawn's face, earning him a soft noise from him.
"I believe you're still dizzy from the heat and don't know what you're talking about..." muttered Eli, but there was a smile in his voice, despite the blush on his cheeks. He added quietly, as he took the washcloth off of Thrawns' face, "...And yes. I do."
Thrawn's small smile under the washcloth made even Eli's ears burn with a dark blush.
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wrathdevilmun-blog · 7 years
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Background Fic 1
Antonio’s back story and how he died.
((This one is a little rough but I did it this way so that you understand why Antonio is the way he is. If this sort of thing is sensitive for you, please don’t read it. It isn’t graphic but I know for some people it’s still hard to read. Warnings are there for courtesy. I’m not tagging the warnings. The story is under the cut so you won’t see it anyway. I put the warnings at the top for a reason. This is also super long sorry.))
Warnings: child sex slave, mentions of sexual acts, violence, abuse, and rape 
Characters: Spain and Belgium
Summary: Antonio was orphaned young and fought through a painful childhood. As if things couldn’t get worse, the new world proved that it was even worse than Spain was.
           All he remembered about his life was suffering. He was born into poverty in Spain. His parents died early in his childhood. His father died in a fight over food and his mother died of fever. He was orphaned so young. He was picked up in the street and told he would be given a home. He thought he would be happy. He thought he would be fed well, given a loving, living family. Happiness wasn’t real though. Not in Antonio’s life. He was sold into child slavery. His beautiful features landed him as a child sex slave. He was beaten, violated, raped. He didn’t know happiness. He didn’t know peace. He didn’t know comfort. None of it was allowed to him. Everyday a different dirty disgusting despicable man had his way with the child, leaving him a bruised, bleeding, sobbing mess in a bed made from more springs than cotton. He was scared and dirty and alone. He was chained always in golden cuffs and dressed only right before a customer requested him. He was put on display for anyone to pick him. He was dolled up and prettied enough so that the men could pretend he was a pretty girl instead of a scared boy. He was always hungry and tired, never allowed to eat or sleep unless he satisfied properly. They pierced his tongue with a golden ball to make his mouth more stimulating when he was ten. The tattooed a brand to his thigh in case he ever escaped when he was twelve. He would lie in the uncomfortable bed he was chained to at night and stared at the peeling plaster of the ceiling above him. The rope around his throat was his only comfort. It was a thin black leather braid with a dark metal cross hanging on it. It was the last thing he had from his parents. His mother had given it to him after his father died. He imagined it was his father’s though he couldn’t remember him wearing it.
           When he was fifteen, he found himself on a ship. It was a trade ship set to sail to the new world and the new Spanish colonies south of British America. It was a long trip, months and months on a rough ocean. He never saw the sunlight in all that time. Of course, he hadn’t really seen the sky since his captivity, only glimpses out the windows when he was led to the viewing room to be chosen. He lay in his own sick throughout the entire journey, unable to move beyond the length of the extremely short chains. He would have cried as he did the first time they had made him allow a man to have his way with him but after so many years, the tears just didn’t come. They were dried long ago when he had given up on life itself. In the new world, he was sold off to a brothel in the Caribbean where he met a girl who was barely a woman. She was an escort like most of the people locked within the stone building. He shied away from her the first time they met. It was right after they had hosed him down to be sold. She complimented his eyes and his cross the first time they met. In the brothel, they treated neither much different than he had been treated back home in Spain. He always wore golden chains and was rarely allowed to leave his room. The girl brought him his food and usually apologized for his treatment. At least they fed him better here since he performed excellently. He was trained well after all. He was requested often and was treated as a prized possession when it came to customers. They were not allowed to mark his skin or hurt him in any visible way. He was to be kept pristine. However if a customer complained of his performance, his owners didn’t hesitate to beat him. The girl would apologize the next day when he was allowed some form of food or water.
           When he was eighteen, he escaped successfully. He had tried numerous times in the three years he had been in the new world brothel. Thirteen years of being treated as nothing more than a doll to be played with was enough. He was only successful because the girl had helped. She had helped him escape late into the night, unchaining him and dressing him in the clothes of a patron she had drugged and hidden. Of course, the clothes hung off of him like elephant skin but they covered his tattoo. They took off into the night, paying a merchant captain with the money the girl had stolen. They went to the continental colonies just south of the British colonies.
           Her name was Laura. They became close despite Antonio’s unstable personality. Normally he was rude and mean, almost evil. He was cruel and cold hearted and felt no remorse toward anything he did. But sometimes he could be sweet and cheerful and happy when he wanted to be but it was rare in his youth. Laura learned to balance both aspects of his personality and was the only person who could handle him. Until he got a job on a merchant ship.
           He left her side and went to work with a merchant who was traveling up and down the coast of the colonies and even over to Europe if he got the right products. Antonio wanted to see the world after being locked away his whole life. Laura tried to insist that he didn’t go, tried to persuade him otherwise, but he didn’t listen. He never really did. At twenty-three he set sail. Life seemed good but that was always a lie wasn’t it? The crew of the ship he worked for was no better than the people who took him in when he was an orphan and alone. They tied him up with rough ropes and forced themselves on him. He tried to fight but to no avail. Sailors tied good knots. They forced themselves inside him, in his mouth, in other places. They loved the little ball pierced through his tongue the most. He had hoped he would never have to taste cum in his mouth again after his escape but that was too good to be true. His trust in people collapsed as they journeys up to Virginia. When he wouldn’t perform for them due to weakness from hunger and thirst on the way to Massachusetts, they beat him bloody. They tried to drug him but found that they wouldn’t work. His body had grown immune to aphrodisiac drugs when he was younger. When he was no use for them and their boredom, he was dumped off the side of the ship into the Atlantic. He prayed that this meant death. Oh how he wanted to die. He prayed that God would take him in the cold dark depths of the unforgiving ocean. But God wouldn’t give him mercy. Not to a dirty whore like him. Instead, God sent an angel, or perhaps he was a devil. Antonio didn’t really know the difference but he knew somebody was sent to him.
           He looked like a human being. He had long black hair tied back and he had the features of somebody from the Far East, a place Antonio always wished he could see. He had dragons tattooed around his arms and over his bare chest. What Antonio failed to register as the pain in his chest spiked and his vision started turning black was that this person had no legs. Instead, he had the tail of a lionfish. He looked like a dragon. Antonio slipped into the cold depths with only the image of this bizarre being left in his mind.
           He awoke in a cave somewhere. It was cold and wet and he felt like he was floating. He sat up and looked around. He found the man who had come to him in the water sitting on the edge of the rock with his tail in the water. Antonio approached cautiously.
           “¿Que eres?” Antonio asked.
           “My child, I do not speak your language. You are lucky I speak the one of the people in this part of the world,” the man replied.
           “¿Que? No sé…”
           “Aya, you are a hopeless one.”
           The man pulled himself up out of the water and dragged himself closer to Antonio. He grabbed him by the front of his shirt and yanked him to his knees. Antonio cried out in surprise and would have landed on his face if the man didn’t have a firm grip on him. The man shoved something in his mouth and held his jaw shut until he swallowed. He wiggled and squirmed and kicked in protest until he couldn’t stand it any longer and finally swallowed. When he was released, he coughed and choked, falling to his knees.
           “What the hell did you do to me?” Antonio demanded between hacking coughs.
           “I’ve done a lot to you. I’ve saved you, helped you speak and understand any language presented to you, healed your wounds, and made you immortal.”
           “You what? Why didn’t you just let me die?”
           The man frowned. “What kind of Sea Witch would I be if I let a poor, beautiful man drown out there?”
           Antonio stared at him. “Sea Witch? You used magic on me and now I can’t die?”
           “Aya, you listen like a sack of potatoes, young man. Yes and now you may live forever. You should really thank me for my gifts. Now you may seek revenge for the things done to you.”
           Antonio bared his teeth. “You’ve cursed me! I can’t die! How will I escape this awful world now?”
           The Sea Witch raised a brow. “You are a confusing human. Why would you want to die?”
           Tears stung Antonio’s eyes but he bit them back, not wanting to show weakness to a fish person. “You don’t understand the things done to me and now I can’t escape them.”
           “But you can get revenge for them. You can prevent it from happening again to yourself or others. Although it really wouldn’t matter. You’re little more than a lost soul now. Only certain things can harm you now and only I and other souls like you know about it.”
           Antonio stared at the Sea Witch. “Only a lost soul?”
           Only time would tell for Antonio where his life would take him next.
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