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1zutarafan — Our Regrets
#aang #avatar #avatarthelastairbender #kataang #katara #mai #maiko #zuko #zutara #zutaraweek #zutaraweek2016
Published: 2016-06-28 15:06:45 +0000 UTC; Views: 2675; Favourites: 33; Downloads: 0
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Alright, here's Rue. I actually think that this is a pattern with Zutara week prompts. They always have that one that you really can't get around, and just has to be sad/other couple shippy.This portrays how I think the show wound up. Katara went with Aang, and had to give up her culture to support the resurrection of his, and Zuko went with Mai because it was expected. They would probably meet at political functions (especially in stupid Korra where it seems none of the gaang kept in touch), even though they both try to avoid it. Maybe this is the opening of Republic City, or an end of the war anniversary, something that neither Zuko nor Katara, nor their spouses could avoid, and they all run into each other.
Then I had to incorporate rue. Obviously in this, Zuko and Katara had a secret thing going on (or perhaps unspoken mutual love) and rue not speaking up, rue the way things have turned out, not only romantically, but their friendship and connection with the gaang overall. (Sorry, Korra really bugs me in that respect. All respects.)
Notice that both Zuko and Katara are holding bouquets. I'm kinda a huge Harry Potter fan, and you know that quote of Snape's that is supposed to mean "I bitterly regret Lily's death?!?" Well isn't rue to bitterly regret?!? Yes!! So to the Victorian flower language encyclopedia I go!!! (Link at bottom!!!) (The language if the flowers is also a fantastic way to passive-aggressively offend someone, or secretly offend someone. I love the thought of communicating this way!!!)
Katara is holding asphodel, which is a type of lily. In the Victorian flower language it means "my regrets follow you to the grave," and wormwood which means "absence." Put together that could mean something like, "your absence (or my absence) causes my regrets, which follow you to the grave."
Zuko is holding forget-me-nots (which is my favorite flower) and not only are they blue to remind him of Katara's eyes, they mean "true love," and also yellow tulips, which mean "hopeless love." Together they could mean "my true love for you is hopeless" or something equally as heart wrenching, and sappy.
I just love the language of the flowers, and I think that this would be a great way for Zuko and Katara to communicate with each other without Aang and Mai finding out.
Disclaimer:
Avatar: the Last Airbender and its associated characters are trademarks of Nickelodeon, Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, and any other affiliates.
The information regarding the Victorian flower language comes from this site: www.languageofflowers.com/flow…
Which is fabulous and you all should check it out and communicate through flowers!!
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Comments: 3
In an effort to keep peace between shippers, would you consider removing the Kataang and Maiko tags? This was not pleasant to come across in the Kataang tag and I doubt you'd enjoy coming across something similarly negative in the Zutara tag.
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They way I see it is that this isn't really a "pure" zutara piece since it depicts both kataang and maiko pairings. And I've never actually seen a fight over ships (though yes, I've come across maiko/kataang in the zutara tag), does it really bother people that much? It doesn't actually make me angry because it's art, and I can appreciate art regardless of its subject. In fact, I quite enjoy some maiko/kataang works because they make me think, or feel (and occasionally I just love the style). I'm sorry you felt that my art was "unpleasant" to find, and I am sorry that you didn't like, or perhaps understand my explanation for the piece. However, I think I'll keep the tags on this instance, seeing as this does depict maiko and kataang, it just has an element of zutara to it. Would you be similarly displeased over art that showed Katara and Aang having relationship woes, unrelated to zutara? Those pieces exist as well, and could be found under maiko and kataang tags (they also exist for zutara and can be found under that tag as well).
As a side thought, what if it was a "positive" kataang/maiko piece (as I have created before, and have more in the works)? It would still lead you to my page, where you would see "negative" pieces. Overall I think it's impossible to avoid a pairing you disagree with, or a representation of a pairing that is at odds with your personal views.
If you hate my work for the style, or other reasons like that, it's fine. However I think disliking something solely for what it depicts is a tad petty, especially when it comes to a cartoon.
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First I should just say that when I said "not pleasant," I was not referring to the piece or your art style - from a visual standpoint it's very nice. And thank you for replying - I only asked you consider removing the tags, so thank you for your explanation. And I don't hate your art, your style, or you - I'm sure you're a wonderful person - I'm just disappointed in what you chose to depict in this particular piece.
The Kataang fandom, and thus the Kataang tag, is far less active today than it used to be. So any art or stories that pop up are typically few and far between. And I've had to deal with seeing a lot of Zutara whenever I go into the Kataang tag on tumblr or Katara/Aang stories on ffnet or ao3. I go into those tags to find Kataang, as I do here on deviantart, so finding any Zutara art in the rarely updated Kataang tag feels like a bit of a slap in the face. Would I be displeased with art of Katara and Aang having relationship woes, unrelated to Zutara ? No, because it's unrelated to Zutara and anyone who thinks Katara and Aang never had any relationship problems is fooling themselves.
I'd agree with you that this would seem petty if what's being depicted (and what you described) was not in direct contradiction to what was presented in ATLA and LoK. I've seen the "Zuko and Katara had a secret thing going on" so many times in this fandom and I'm just tired of it. I've never understood the appeal of adultery, but you did also suggest it could just be "unspoken mutual love," so I'm not going to argue that point. Nor will I try and argue the Zuko only married Mai "because it was expected" idea.
My biggest problem with this is... Katara. Katara wearing Air Nomad robes to a formal event, which would never happen. Katara is an extremely passionate individual and incredibly proud to be Water Tribe. She's a Master Waterbender and regarded as the greatest healer in the world. And she passed on her knowledge and culture to her children, especially Kya. And by Korra's time, Katara is a knowledgeable and respected elder in her tribe.
Would Katara try on Air Nomad clothes at some point? Perhaps, but probably no more than Aang would try on Water Tribe clothes. Would she lounge around the house in Aang's robes? Potentially. But would she present herself in public, especially at a formal event, as anything other than Water Tribe? Never. Yes, Katara married Aang, but she never "had to give up her culture to support the resurrection of his." If Katara truly had to give up her culture to support the restoration of Aang's, Katara would have become an Air Acolyte and lived out her life on Air Temple Island; Kya and Korra never would have learned Waterbending either.
If you had just drawn Katara in Water Tribe clothing, as she has always been depicted in canon, I would have never commented.
Ultimately, this is your art and what you decide to portray is none of my business. I understand why you're not removing the tags and I'd like to thank you again for taking the time to reply and being so civil, especially considering how impolite I was in my request.
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