My favorite ATLA fic was updated again. So addicted.

[timepiececlock]

fandomme topped herself again with chapter 13 of "Stormbenders".

It takes a really slick fanfic writer to gradually introduce a ton of fic clichés (especially fandom-specific fic clichés) and do it so stealthily that you don't even seem them, or if you do see them you don't care, because the overall effect is distracting you with its morass of AWESOME.

I think fandomme could eat a live baby on youtube and the entire zutara fandom's response would be "You won't get food poisoning and be unable to update The Fic, will you? Make sure you cook it all way through!" With helpful tips on seasoning and an offer to make the leftovers into sandwiches she can eat while writing. :D Pass the syrup?

Comments

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

ah yes. That is my goal for tomorrow: to actually read Stormbenders. BECAUSE I WENT AND SOLD OUT AND WATCHED WESTERN AIR TEMPLE AND FIREBENDING MASTERS *SOBS* But I resisted on the Boiling Rock. ...*resists*

also, LOL. That disturbing mental image is probably 100% true.

Your icon! Ahh, I liked that one a lot. I love that lyric.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

OMG, you watched them?!! Now you totally get the hullaballoo over the WAT end scene, huh. And what spawned such enthusiastic iconning. And now I can link you to This too. There was one I'd love to link to you, but it was removed from youtube. It was the threat scene, but every third word from Katara was bleeped out so that it sounded like she was being censored for language, and the result was hilarious.

I can't believe you've got the DVDs and HAVEN'T watched the others yet! You have STAMINA, woman. I have managed by *not* buying the DVD. I am seriously impressed with you.

Luckily, Stormbenders *is* my season 3 right now. It's updated just often enough that each one feels like a new episode (every two weeks give or take), and it's so good I can get my fix that way. Especially since I haven't been to ff.net's ATLA section in a month... ::sad::

A word of advice on Stormbenders: stretch it out. Don't rush. Enjoy it. Make it at least last three sittings. It's long, too, so it will take time.

It's so perfect! And I keep getting on these Sam's Town kicks where I CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO IT.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

YES I DID! And I do get the hullaballoo. I kinda suspected it from the few fics I've read, but it's always infinitely more satisfying to SEE and HEAR something play out, rather than just read about it. (Another reason I hate spoilers.) I don't actually have the DVDs, but a friend of mine has downloaded them all and keeps dangling them over my head. So, of course, she's making fun of me for being all excited by a death threat ("oh yes! they finally had a conversation!" "hey, everyone knows that all good relationships start out with death threats..."). But they TALKED! Secretly. No one else knows about the conversation. And she told them about the mommy talk--which means she HASN'T told them about it before, that she's been keeping it secret TOO--but they don't know its full impact on her. Only she and Zuko know. They are BONDED in SECRECY. *nodsnodsnods*

/reactions that are like six months late what what?

Oh yay! I will certainly make it last as long as I can. :-D

Re: It's so perfect! And I keep getting on these Sam's Town kicks where I CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO I

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

But they TALKED! Secretly. No one else knows about the conversation. And she told them about the mommy talk--which means she HASN'T told them about it before, that she's been keeping it secret TOO--but they don't know its full impact on her. Only she and Zuko know.

I know! Remember how all of us back in December were like "they have unfinished business!" and then the death threat happens and it's like "OMG WE WERE SO RIGHT!" Plus it fits with Katara's gradual darkening as a character. The Katara before Ba Sing Se would never have threatened someone like this. But that night had a terrible effect on her, and then Hama showed Katara what she is capable of, so Katara's a harder person now. Not obviously, and not so that her inherent compassion and goodness is lessened, but just that the innocence is stripped away and the ruthlessness she's capable of an adult is peaking in through the corners. You don't MESS with KATARA.

I agree that she hadn't told them before. I liked the conversation in the team because it felt like KAtara was confessing something, but it was played straight up. She skipped over all the hm...interesting details and just talked about how she felt compassion for him. I noticed she didn't mention touching his mouth or offering to heal him. I think the healing offer will be something she never tells ANYONE. She doesn't need to, and she still probably feels guilty about offering it when Aang almost died next. Katara and Zuko could be comrades or friends or enemies or lovers or acquaintances for life and I somehow doubt she'll ever go into more detail with someone else about what happened.

It's why I've had to really force myself not to think about spoilers, because I'm tempted to see how they resolve this "unfinished anger business." I'm relishing the wait!

And when you read more of stormbenders, this whole issue is really explored... the secrecy and ramifications of secrets (good, bad, or confusing ones) and the after-effects of the decisions Katara, Zuko, Aang, and everyone made under Ba Sing Se. It, how shall we say, looms.

Re: It's so perfect! And I keep getting on these Sam's Town kicks where I CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO I

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

From just having seen up to 3x13, I really have to say that I love how the show has built and addressed Katara and Zuko's complicated relationship as enemies/rivals and potential friends. Not only does it have PLENTY of tension for potential shipping (secret bonding? secret hate/resentment because of said bonding? secret "I'd rather fight you anyway"/"Likewise" feelings?), but it's just a really nice development of both of their separate character paths, and how they converge. Even stripping away EVERYTHING to do wiht shipping, the themes of forgiveness, rivalry, betrayal, and compassion are compelling and provocative.

Zuko has a special, specific relationship with Aang that's the most important in the gang, because of their criss-crossing paths. But after that the person he's interacted with the most has been Katara, in fighting and in potential friendship. I just love how their scenes in CoD feed into their new relationship when he joins the gang. Yummy! It's why I loved that poem line for my other icon: "You will go faltering after / that bright imperious line". Forgiveness? Acceptance? Friendship or love? Catharsis? And all of that is a beautiful story progression even if it has absolutely nothing to do with romance.

But then the writers gave us just enough UST on top of all that, so it makes shipping them even easier and richer. I feel like as the series has progressed, regardless of what if any pairings become final canon, the show has been seriously generous is giving us material to work with. After all this, after the secret bonding and secret hate and high tension and mouth-touching and death threats and feelings of personal conflict and of compassion, shipping Zutara finally has a grounding in the show itself. It may turn out AU, but the foundation is solid. Season 2 and 3 gave us a foundation, which we didn't really have in season 1. And it's such a YUMMY foundation, too-- fraught with tension!

Fic after Stormbenders

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

So. Once you finish SB (stretch it!) or in between if you want to make it last, here are some others dealing with 3x12 or 3x13:


Katara/Zuko:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4003093/1/A_Warriors_Accord
Drama and pain and trust and camradery. This fic is short (3 parts) but it's hardcore. It's not about romance (only vague foreshadowing), but it's totally about Zuko and Katara and warriors and loyalty and their odd connection that started with the fight in the North Pole then went to the caverns and has changed again at the Western Air Temple.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4116081/1/Warmth
Hilarious and hot. A stand-out concept fic.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4094522/1/Somewhere_Over_The_Rainbow
This one starts out really good, then it kind of wanders and loses realism. But overall I enjoyed it.

The "Chores" series by Fandomme, on ff.net.




Gen/other:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4029070/1/Bitter_Ashes
A great, short, unfinished 2-chapter fic that deals with Zuko and Azula and Zuko's right to inherit and also I *love* Zuko's "surprise" when he stands in front of Azula. I wish this surprise were canon SO VERY BADLY, and there's no reason why it ought not to be.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3974062/1/The_Flying_Hours
A gorgeous one-shot about Suki and Mai, dealing with Maiko and Suki/Sokka and imprisonment and loyalty. No spoilers past WAT. I don't read much Maiko (or much Suki fic) but Rawles is a good read, and this one just burns with angst. And the brief bits of Zuko are rich and feel real. If Maiko is supposed to be real love and not just hooking up, then this would be the version I'd like to see on screen.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3962235/1/Rising_Phoenix
Zuko and the gang, ship neutral, just good.

Re: Fic after Stormbenders

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

And of course, the very porny super amazing smut fic "Absolution" by Misora at zutarotica, which tops just about any season 3 smut I've read.

Re: Fic after Stormbenders

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

You know how in...I dunno, whichever episode--"The Earth King"? Where Katara says, "No, Sokka, you go be with Dad," and Sokka does this adorable little dance and says "You--are the nicest sister--ever!"

Yeah. That's pretty much my reaction. *eyes fic hungrily*

Re: Fic after Stormbenders

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

::huggle:: Enjoy it! And if you find good stuff, send it my way.

I have a couple short drabble fics floating at ffnet in "Life's Not Fair" and "The Moon and the Sun", and a one-shot called "Heartbeat" that it set only hours after 3x12 ends. I also have an ongoing mini porn fic at zutarotica.

misora promises that the sequel to "Absolution" is nearly done (so she tells me) and that it follows 3x13, and the next part would then follow 3x14-15. This is months after I begged, prodded, and pleaded for her to turn her one-shot into a sexcapades series. :D I'm hoping she'll post that soon.

Re: Fic after Stormbenders

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

So the question is--do I send Misora a message about joining zutarotica and make her grumpy by giving her my birthday via a message rather than putting it on my profile, or do I compromise my principles and put my birthday up? Hm, decisions decisions...

Re: Fic after Stormbenders

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Do you need to?

Anyway, she's cool, so just give her an LJ Message thingy. Not worth compromising your principals over, and unnecessary.

Re: Fic after Stormbenders

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I would just apply to join-- she knows you're a mod for katara_zuko so she probably knows you're not a kid.

Then again I think little_Fool was a mod at 16, so maybe that argument doesn't work... And I was modding the Spike/Buffy Crumbling Walls forum at 16 or 17 (where I was definitely reading mature fic)...


Anyway, just apply to join. If she asks for your age you can just share it privately.

Re: Fic after Stormbenders

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

Hahaha. That reminds me of my mental arguments about my little sister's intrawebz surfing:

Oh no! She's discovering fanfic! She's wandering around half-unsupervised, talking to people from other countries! Who knows what she's--

...of course, when you were her age, you had already discovered the darker realms of Harry Potter fanfiction...oh God, what were you thinking back then?

but thanks. I shall go do that.

Re: Fic after Stormbenders

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

...of course, when you were her age, you had already discovered the darker realms of Harry Potter fanfiction...oh God, what were you thinking back then?

::laugh:: I certainly learned a few things from fanfic when I was a teenager, but I got most of what I needed to know from the library.

Seriously, parents and watchgroups worry so much about the corruptive influence of the internet, but I learned all the basics by reading from the general fiction section of my local library. Books are full of sex and violence. CRAZY FULL! All the internet did was expand and enlighten the edges of the map a bit.

[oyster-district.livejournal.com]

<----DOES NOT EAT BABIES.

...But it's very kind of you to think I could get away with it. Thank you.

Also I'm so pleased that you enjoyed this last chapter. I do try to re-mix cliches a little bit wherever possible, and I often have fun doing it.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Are you SURE? Hey... is that a toe you're holding?


I do try to re-mix cliches a little bit wherever possible, and I often have fun doing it.

I love doing that too. It's fun to try to play with these ideas and subvert them. And it's nice to see it done so smoothly.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Also, I have babies on the brain. I just spent about 4 hours in a hospital with my friend who had her first baby this afternoon. So cute! Her name is Zoe Scarlett Rojo. Which I think is both hilarious and amazing, makes the kid sound like she's destined for serious heroine status.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

That is a seriously awesome name, you are correct. *gives your friend the Stamp of Naming Approval*

CHAPTER 13 is a drug

[gotrice15278.livejournal.com]

I swear I've been trying to write a review for the last half hour but all I can come up with was brain numbing "i love you's" (I do love you Fandomme!) that doesn't help any.

I was like "i'll write a review once the euphoria wears off..."

it hasn't... and by the dullness of the warm and fuzzies eminating in waves--it's going to be a while...

I do agree, she totally topped this one! ;p

Re: CHAPTER 13 is a drug

[oyster-district.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[gotrice15278.livejournal.com]

pardon me-- edit:

"I do agree, she totally topped with this one" sorry, brain still in a high.

... *fangirl spazz*

[britt-marie92.livejournal.com]

I tend to do that whenever I hear someone talking about Fandomme.
Who hasn't read Stormbenders yet?!?! That fic is beyond awesome!
Though, I'm also a fan of Culture Clash... but you'll update soon, right? :D

Re: ... *fangirl spazz*

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I'll update eventually. :) That fic will live forever.