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Sato posted:I think Kuvira is likely going to represent an extreme viewpoint that can't be reasoned with; I suspect Korra will try at some point during the season and be rejected. At some point Kuvira is likely going to go too far and be irredeemable. Having Kuvira win an election soon after decimating the Earth Kingdom (which will likely happen) doesn't strike me as particularly realistic--after all, Kuvira seemed a capable, dependable woman who gained the confidence of others and then she spat it back in their faces in the most public manner possible. If the Earth Kingdom gets a vote, I doubt they'd vote for the woman who destroyed the Kingdom shortly before the election because "the Avatar says she's okay now;" if she could fool Raiko and the rest of the world leaders she can fool Korra and I think people would recognize that. I don't think Kuvira is as inflexible as you believe, although I may well be wrong. If Korra is willing to change and think and be introspective about things this season, it makes sense to me that her antagonist would be too, to some extent. Kuvira is also the first opponent Korra has faced who is within her age group, too - and young people are always more flexible. Could be wrong, though! That might be asking for too much subtlety from a kids show.
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# ? Oct 26, 2014 19:39 |
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# ? Jun 5, 2024 03:11 |
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VanSandman posted:I don't think Kuvira is as inflexible as you believe, although I may well be wrong. If Korra is willing to change and think and be introspective about things this season, it makes sense to me that her antagonist would be too, to some extent. Kuvira is also the first opponent Korra has faced who is within her age group, too - and young people are always more flexible. I do think Kuvira can be reasonable and flexible as seen in the clip of next week's episode: compare her approach to Zaofu to her fiance's. Bryke have said that Kuvira and Korra will have an "interesting dynamic," so I suspect there will be some mutual respect and recognition that they are more similar than different. I do think that Kuvira will cross a line because that will show the true difference between the two: while they have similar qualities Korra is willing to be flexible and change her approach while Kuvira will ultimately continue on her path. Kuvira will go down and it'll be poignant and tragic like Azula's defeat. I think Korra will have a similar revelation as in Book 2, where Korra realizes that there is value in Kuvira's beliefs even if the execution is off. But hey, watch me be wrong too. Sometimes I think we expect too much from Bryke.
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# ? Oct 26, 2014 20:31 |
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So if someone can bend small amounts of mercury in their own body, what's stopping someone from bending their own blood iron or the blood iron of others?
TheKingofSprings fucked around with this message at 23:40 on Oct 26, 2014 |
# ? Oct 26, 2014 23:30 |
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For what purpose?
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# ? Oct 26, 2014 23:34 |
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Maybe metalbenders could probably have their own kind of bloodbending, by bending the iron in the human bloodstream? But there's not a whole lot of iron in your blood, only about 2.5 grams. It would probably be a lot harder than waterbending the plasma in someone's blood.
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# ? Oct 26, 2014 23:42 |
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I think iron would count as the metal itself, not the impurities that let metalbending happen.
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 00:00 |
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The Bee posted:I think iron would count as the metal itself, not the impurities that let metalbending happen. Oh yeah, I completely forgot about that element of metalbending.
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 00:31 |
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As opposed to all of the earth in that mercury.
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 00:33 |
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They don't know that there's iron in blood. Nor, for that matter, do they know that there's air in water, or fire in air. The elements are an illusion.
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 08:05 |
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Yeah I mean fire is energy not matter like water air or earth, yet lavabenders can totally create heat energy enough to reduce rock to lava. Everyone is the avatar they just suck.
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 09:22 |
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Stop trying to apply science to magical martial arts from a fantasy show. That's only slightly better than unironically liking Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality.
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 11:28 |
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I seriously hope somebody gets fired over this.
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 12:26 |
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RottenK posted:Stop trying to apply science to magical martial arts from a fantasy show. That's only slightly better than unironically liking Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. Also lavabending is easily explained by just rubbing the earth against itself really fast.
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 12:28 |
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Why didn't they just metalbend the ring into Mordor?
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 13:07 |
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This thread full of disgust-benders.
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 13:49 |
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Mymla posted:Why didn't they just metalbend the ring into Mordor? Because it was made of platinum.
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 14:08 |
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RottenK posted:That's only slightly better than unironically liking Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. Harsh comparison, but true.
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# ? Oct 27, 2014 18:47 |
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How many metalbenders would it take to bend Superman?
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 00:09 |
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I want Toph to bend from the other side of the world to help protect her daughter(s). She said she can see them, that she's connected to everything, I would expect nothing less from the world's greatest earth bender.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 00:57 |
I'm imagining her bending a golem of herself in the battle, and going all "Guess who just learned terrastrial projection?"
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 01:19 |
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Regalingualius posted:I'm imagining her bending a golem of herself in the battle, and going all "Guess who just learned terrastrial projection?" Dammit that would be insanely stupid but I want to see it anyway.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 01:22 |
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VanSandman posted:Dammit that would be insanely stupid but I want to see it anyway.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 04:42 |
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Regalingualius posted:I'm imagining her bending a golem of herself in the battle, and going all "Guess who just learned terrastrial projection?" This is for sure where I thought they were going with the giant Aang statue, in both seasons 1 and 2. Like a giant avatar state controlled mech.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 05:01 |
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Kithkar posted:This is for sure where I thought they were going with the giant Aang statue, in both seasons 1 and 2. Like a giant avatar state controlled mech. Controlled by an NES Advantage?
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 05:08 |
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Kithkar posted:This is for sure where I thought they were going with the giant Aang statue, in both seasons 1 and 2. Like a giant avatar state controlled mech. That statue is only there to be defaced by the villains, sadly. At least if Kuvira and her metalbending army ever decide to go after Republic City it'll be vandalized in a more creative manner than Amon and UnaVaatu thought of. Also, I've decided this thread needs more of noted feminist Prince Wu. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=symLa01UDVA
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 05:11 |
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DoctorWhat posted:Controlled by an NES Advantage?
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 05:38 |
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RottenK posted:Stop trying to apply science to magical martial arts from a fantasy show. That's only slightly better than unironically liking Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. It actually wouldn't bother me so much if the line about focusing on the impurities of the metal was the key to metal bending. The Fire Nation would have good understanding of metallurgy and I'd assume that'd give a greater understanding of what's in metal for metal benders. The problem is that the more you refine that knowledge, the less impurities you have in metal to make structures stronger. So you wouldn't have Zaofu being built out of terrible metal, but very refined. So how would they metal bend that? What do they define as the impurities in the metal that they can bend with? Carbon? Because guess what you can do then? Because with the Fire Nation's knowledge, this would be known. If not, then what? And what's in every other metal then that makes it bendable that isn't in platinum but is in mercury? And if it is in platinum, why didn't you just use some other material to restrain Korra? Sure, she's the avatar, but she doesn't have superhuman strength. I'm okay with earthbenders being able to metal bend just because you find metal in the ground. I'm even okay with "Metalbenders just can't bend platinum". Or maybe Toph is right about her daughters being plebs and Suyin is an idiot who thinks that's how metal bending works. Let's go with that.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 06:08 |
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Kuvira vs. Wolverine. Who would win? Discuss.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 06:08 |
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Wolverine because plot.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 06:11 |
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Sekkira posted:It actually wouldn't bother me so much if the line about focusing on the impurities of the metal was the key to metal bending. The Fire Nation would have good understanding of metallurgy and I'd assume that'd give a greater understanding of what's in metal for metal benders. The problem is that the more you refine that knowledge, the less impurities you have in metal to make structures stronger. So you wouldn't have Zaofu being built out of terrible metal, but very refined. So how would they metal bend that? What do they define as the impurities in the metal that they can bend with? Carbon? Because guess what you can do then? Because with the Fire Nation's knowledge, this would be known. If not, then what? And what's in every other metal then that makes it bendable that isn't in platinum but is in mercury? And if it is in platinum, why didn't you just use some other material to restrain Korra? Sure, she's the avatar, but she doesn't have superhuman strength. I'm honestly fine with the hand waving. We usually get random exceptions for these kinds of powers in most superhero media, anyway. What I found funny was the implication of "Don't try to bend out of these. They're platinum." is that you cannot contort or break the material through bending, but bending is basically elemental-specific kinesis. So, shouldn't Korra have been able to fly around just using force push/pull on her chains. She has enough mobility for the somatic component of ripping up large chunks of cliff side and hurling them with her feet.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 14:08 |
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So does that mean an Earthbender could fly if they just levitated the rocks supporting their feet?
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 14:16 |
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The answer is yes. But only Toph can, because she's not an idiot.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 14:43 |
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Only she wouldn't as that would be just a slightly more earthy form of blimp and Toph has already made her thoughts on blimps pretty clear.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 14:49 |
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Sekkira posted:It actually wouldn't bother me so much if the line about focusing on the impurities of the metal was the key to metal bending. The Fire Nation would have good understanding of metallurgy and I'd assume that'd give a greater understanding of what's in metal for metal benders. The problem is that the more you refine that knowledge, the less impurities you have in metal to make structures stronger. So you wouldn't have Zaofu being built out of terrible metal, but very refined. So how would they metal bend that? What do they define as the impurities in the metal that they can bend with? Carbon? Because guess what you can do then? Because with the Fire Nation's knowledge, this would be known. If not, then what? And what's in every other metal then that makes it bendable that isn't in platinum but is in mercury? And if it is in platinum, why didn't you just use some other material to restrain Korra? Sure, she's the avatar, but she doesn't have superhuman strength. Every inch of wall space is covered by a bookcase. Each bookcase has six shelves, going almost to the ceiling. Some bookshelves are stacked to the brim with hardback books: science, maths, history, and everything else. Other shelves have two layers of paperback science fiction, with the back layer of books propped up on old tissue boxes or lengths of wood, so that you can see the back layer of books above the books in front. And it still isn't enough. Books are overflowing onto the tables and the sofas and making little heaps under the windows. This is the living-room of the house occupied by the eminent Professor Michael Verres-Evans, and his wife, Mrs. Petunia Evans-Verres, and their adopted son, Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres. There is a letter lying on the living-room table, and an unstamped envelope of yellowish parchment, addressed to Mr. H. Potter in emerald-green ink. The Professor and his wife are speaking sharply at each other, but they are not shouting. The Professor considers shouting to be uncivilised. "You're joking," Michael said to Petunia. His tone indicated that he was very much afraid that she was serious. "My sister was a witch," Petunia repeated. She looked frightened, but stood her ground. "Her husband was a wizard." "This is absurd!" Michael said sharply. "They were at our wedding - they visited for Christmas -" "I told them you weren't to know," Petunia whispered. "But it's true. I've seen things -" The Professor rolled his eyes. "Dear, I understand that you're not familiar with the sceptical literature. You may not realise how easy it is for a trained magician to fake the seemingly impossible. Remember how I taught Harry to bend spoons? If it seemed like they could always guess what you were thinking, that's called cold reading -" "It wasn't bending spoons -" "What was it, then?" Petunia bit her lip. "I can't just tell you. You'll think I'm -" She swallowed. "Listen. Michael. I wasn't - always like this -" She gestured at herself, as though to indicate her lithe form. "Lily did this. Because I - because I begged her. For years, I begged her. Lily had always been prettier than me, and I'd... been mean to her, because of that, and then she got magic, can you imagine how I felt? And I begged her to use some of that magic on me so that I could be pretty too, even if I couldn't have her magic, at least I could be pretty." Tears were gathering in Petunia's eyes. "And Lily would tell me no, and make up the most ridiculous excuses, like the world would end if she were nice to her sister, or a centaur told her not to - the most ridiculous things, and I hated her for it. And when I had just graduated from university, I was going out with this boy, Vernon Dursley, he was fat and he was the only boy who would talk to me. And he said he wanted children, and that his first son would be named Dudley. And I thought to myself, what kind of parent names their child Dudley Dursley? It was like I saw my whole future life stretching out in front of me, and I couldn't stand it. And I wrote to my sister and told her that if she didn't help me I'd rather just -" Petunia stopped. "Anyway," Petunia said, her voice small, "she gave in. She told me it was dangerous, and I said I didn't care any more, and I drank this potion and I was sick for weeks, but when I got better my skin cleared up and I finally filled out and... I was beautiful, people were nice to me," her voice broke, "and after that I couldn't hate my sister any more, especially when I learned what her magic brought her in the end -" "Darling," Michael said gently, "you got sick, you gained some weight while resting in bed, and your skin cleared up on its own. Or being sick made you change your diet -" "She was a witch," Petunia repeated. "I saw it." "Petunia," Michael said. The annoyance was creeping into his voice. "You know that can't be true. Do I really have to explain why?" Petunia wrung her hands. She seemed to be on the verge of tears. "My love, I know I can't win arguments with you, but please, you have to trust me on this -" "Dad! Mum! " The two of them stopped and looked at Harry as though they'd forgotten there was a third person in the room. Harry took a deep breath. "Mum, your parents didn't have magic, did they?" "No," Petunia said, looking puzzled. "Then no one in your family knew about magic when Lily got her letter. How did they get convinced?" "Ah..." Petunia said. "They didn't just send a letter. They sent a professor from Hogwarts. He -" Petunia's eyes flicked to Michael. "He showed us some magic." "Then you don't have to fight over this," Harry said firmly. Hoping against hope that this time, just this once, they would listen to him. "If it's true, we can just get a Hogwarts professor here and see the magic for ourselves, and Dad will admit that it's true. And if not, then Mum will admit that it's false. That's what the experimental method is for, so that we don't have to resolve things just by arguing." The Professor turned and looked down at him, dismissive as usual. "Oh, come now, Harry. Really, magic? I thought you'd know better than to take this seriously, son, even if you're only ten. Magic is just about the most unscientific thing there is!" Harry's mouth twisted bitterly. He was treated well, probably better than most genetic fathers treated their own children. Harry had been sent to the best primary schools - and when that didn't work out, he was provided with tutors from the endless pool of starving students. Always Harry had been encouraged to study whatever caught his attention, bought all the books that caught his fancy, sponsored in whatever maths or science competitions he entered. He was given anything reasonable that he wanted, except, maybe, the slightest shred of respect. A Doctor teaching biochemistry at Oxford could hardly be expected to listen to the advice of a little boy. You would listen to Show Interest, of course; that's what a Good Parent would do, and so, if you conceived of yourself as a Good Parent, you would do it. But take a ten-year-old seriously? Hardly. Sometimes Harry wanted to scream at his father. "Mum," Harry said. "If you want to win this argument with Dad, look in chapter two of the first book of the Feynman Lectures on Physics. There's a quote there about how philosophers say a great deal about what science absolutely requires, and it is all wrong, because the only rule in science is that the final arbiter is observation - that you just have to look at the world and report what you see. Um... off the top of my head I can't think of where to find something about how it's an ideal of science to settle things by experiment instead of arguments -" His mother looked down at him and smiled. "Thank you, Harry. But -" her head rose back up to stare at her husband. "I don't want to win an argument with your father. I want my husband to, to listen to his wife who loves him, and trust her just this once -" Harry closed his eyes briefly. Hopeless. Both of his parents were just hopeless. Now his parents were getting into one of those arguments again, one where his mother tried to make his father feel guilty, and his father tried to make his mother feel stupid. "I'm going to go to my room," Harry announced. His voice trembled a little. "Please try not to fight too much about this, Mum, Dad, we'll know soon enough how it comes out, right?" "Of course, Harry," said his father, and his mother gave him a reassuring kiss, and then they went on fighting while Harry climbed the stairs to his bedroom. He shut the door behind him and tried to think. The funny thing was, he should have agreed with Dad. No one had ever seen any evidence of magic, and according to Mum, there was a whole magical world out there. How could anyone keep something like that a secret? More magic? That seemed like a rather suspicious sort of excuse. It should have been a clean case for Mum joking, lying or being insane, in ascending order of awfulness. If Mum had sent the letter herself, that would explain how it arrived at the letterbox without a stamp. A little insanity was far, far less improbable than the universe really working like that. Except that some part of Harry was utterly convinced that magic was real, and had been since the instant he saw the putative letter from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry rubbed his forehead, grimacing. Don't believe everything you think, one of his books had said. But this bizarre certainty... Harry was finding himself just expecting that, yes, a Hogwarts professor would show up and wave a wand and magic would come out. The strange certainty was making no effort to guard itself against falsification - wasn't making excuses in advance for why there wouldn't be a professor, or the professor would only be able to bend spoons. Where do you come from, strange little prediction? Harry directed the thought at his brain. Why do I believe what I believe? Usually Harry was pretty good at answering that question, but in this particular case, he had no clue what his brain was thinking. Harry mentally shrugged. A flat metal plate on a door affords pushing, and a handle on a door affords pulling, and the thing to do with a testable hypothesis is to go and test it. He took a piece of lined paper from his desk, and started writing. Dear Deputy Headmistress Harry paused, reflecting; then discarded the paper for another, tapping another millimetre of graphite from his mechanical pencil. This called for careful calligraphy. Dear Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, Or Whomsoever It May Concern: I recently received your letter of acceptance to Hogwarts, addressed to Mr. H. Potter. You may not be aware that my genetic parents, James Potter and Lily Potter (formerly Lily Evans) are dead. I was adopted by Lily's sister, Petunia Evans-Verres, and her husband, Michael Verres-Evans. I am extremely interested in attending Hogwarts, conditional on such a place actually existing. Only my mother Petunia says she knows about magic, and she can't use it herself. My father is highly sceptical. I myself am uncertain. I also don't know where to obtain any of the books or equipment listed in your acceptance letter. Mother mentioned that you sent a Hogwarts representative to Lily Potter (then Lily Evans) in order to demonstrate to her family that magic was real, and, I presume, help Lily obtain her school materials. If you could do this for my own family it would be extremely helpful. Sincerely, Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres. Harry added their current address, then folded up the letter and put it in an envelope, which he addressed to Hogwarts. Further consideration led him to obtain a candle and drip wax onto the flap of the envelope, into which, using a penknife's tip, he impressed the initials H.J.P.E.V. If he was going to descend into this madness, he was going to do it with style. Then he opened his door and went back downstairs. His father was sitting in the living-room and reading a book of higher maths to show how smart he was; and his mother was in the kitchen preparing one of his father's favourite meals to show how loving she was. It didn't look like they were talking to one another at all. As scary as arguments could be, not arguing was somehow much worse. "Mum," Harry said into the unnerving silence, "I'm going to test the hypothesis. According to your theory, how do I send an owl to Hogwarts?" His mother turned from the kitchen sink to stare at him, looking shocked. "I - I don't know, I think you just have to own a magic owl." That should've sounded highly suspicious, oh, so there's no way to test your theory then, but the peculiar certainty in Harry seemed willing to stick its neck out even further. "Well, the letter got here somehow," Harry said, "so I'll just wave it around outside and call 'letter for Hogwarts!' and see if an owl picks it up. Dad, do you want to come and watch?" His father shook his head minutely and kept on reading. Of course, Harry thought to himself. Magic was a disgraceful thing that only stupid people believed in; if his father went so far as to test the hypothesis, or even watch it being tested, that would feel like associating himself with that... Only as Harry stumped out the back door, into the back garden, did it occur to him that if an owl did come down and snatch the letter, he was going to have some trouble telling Dad about it. But - well - that can't really happen, can it? No matter what my brain seems to believe. If an owl really comes down and grabs this envelope, I'm going to have worries a lot more important than what Dad thinks. Harry took a deep breath, and raised the envelope into the air. He swallowed. Calling out Letter for Hogwarts! while holding an envelope high in the air in the middle of your own back garden was... actually pretty embarrassing, now that he thought about it. No. I'm better than Dad. I will use the scientific method even if it makes me feel stupid. "Letter -" Harry said, but it actually came out as more of a whispered croak. Harry steeled his will, and shouted into the empty sky, "Letter for Hogwarts! Can I get an owl? " "Harry?" asked a bemused woman's voice, one of the neighbours. Harry pulled down his hand like it was on fire and hid the envelope behind his back like it was drug money. His whole face was hot with shame. An old woman's face peered out from above the neighbouring fence, grizzled grey hair escaping from her hairnet. Mrs. Figg, the occasional babysitter. "What are you doing, Harry?" "Nothing," Harry said in a strangled voice. "Just - testing a really silly theory -" "Did you get your acceptance letter from Hogwarts?" Harry froze in place. "Yes," Harry's lips said a little while later. "I got a letter from Hogwarts. They say they want my owl by the 31st of July, but -" "But you don't have an owl. Poor dear! I can't imagine what someone must have been thinking, sending you just the standard letter." A wrinkled arm stretched out over the fence, and opened an expectant hand. Hardly even thinking at this point, Harry gave over his envelope. "Just leave it to me, dear," said Mrs. Figg, "and in a jiffy or two I'll have someone over." And her face disappeared from over the fence. There was a long silence in the garden. Then a boy's voice said, calmly and quietly, "What."
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 15:00 |
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Now's as good a time as any, then: ~Finale~ {Korra is storming the palace to confront Kuvira. And punch her. With bending. The Gaang are in the poorer district of Ba Sing Se to defend the proles.} {Katara and Zuko are fighting mechs; bending furiously. Toph is sitting at a cafe, sipping a mojito.} Zuko: Hey Toph, can I get a hand? {Toph bends a fist of Earth that somehow manages to waddle through the air, smacking into Zuko's hand for a disembodied high-five.} Toph: What? Can't handle a few mechs, Sparky? Zuko: Look, we're still quite a bit older than you, remember? Just help us out! {Toph finishes her drink. Drops out of the chair with a roll. Ejects two mechs from the fight with Earth pillars from below.} Toph: You don't have to Agni Cry about it, Zuzu. Zuko{blushing}: I told you never to call me that! Toph: DON'T WORRY, ZUZU! THE MELON LORD IS THE MOST ELECTRIFYING BENDER IN SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT! Zuko: I'll show you ELECTRIFYING! {Zuko hurls an brand of lightning at Toph. She quickly sidesteps and the lightning arcs to 3 nearby mechs, causing them to explode.} Toph: I didn't know we were playing catch! {Toph metalbends an arm from one of the mechs at Zuko. At the last second, Zuko falls back to avoid it. Katara catches him with a patch of ice.} Katara: I raised 3 kids practically on my own. I don't need 2 more. Toph: Flameo, hotman. {Scene}
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 15:19 |
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Well, now that the thread quality is going droopy-eyed I can say that I wished that Korra's avatar-state nightmare-stalker would've been Raava. Then in the eventual fight with Kuvira she acts as her Stand.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 15:57 |
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Well since we're discussing the remaining members of the Gaang, this seems like an apropos moment to share this: Source: http://fruitsinbreedbasket.tumblr.com/post/101007345969/like-three-musketeers-i-really-wanted-to-draw
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 16:06 |
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Most of the people who draw fanart seem to really want Toph to be a lonely and sad woman.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 16:40 |
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But there's plenty of fanart of adult/old Toph not being lonely and sad.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 17:02 |
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# ? Jun 5, 2024 03:11 |
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Kibayasu posted:Most of the people who draw fanart seem to really want Toph to be a lonely and sad woman. RottenK posted:But there's plenty of fanart of adult/old Toph not being lonely and sad. Yeah I have to say the majority of the older Toph fanart is mostly her kicking rear end and not giving a poo poo from what I've seen. That's part of the reason why the art I just shared stood out to me.
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# ? Oct 28, 2014 17:04 |