Hi! Your blog is a real help for me since I'm working on a bunch of redesigns for ATLA characters. I have a question, do you happen to know if the painted lady's dress is based off anything in particular or is it just rule of cool. I personally can't find anything but I want to be sure. Thank you.
Sadly, the Painted Lady’s outfit isn’t based on any particular culture or time period. When it came to humanoid spirits in ATLA, it was all about the rule of cool. However, the Painted Lady’s veiled hat is inspired by historical fashion:
In Japan, the veiled hat (ichimegasa) is one component of a mushi no tareginu or [noblewoman’s] “traveling attire” outfit. So it might be helpful to try leaning into those design elements:
Toph: I’ve been banned from every major city’s transportation system except Omashu
Toph: I don’t know what their limit is but I will fucking find it
King Boomie, having exactly zero limits:
Unstoppable object meets immovable force
[Toph eventually slips up and is captured by the city guard force. Instead of being imprisoned or exiled, Toph finds herself being given audience with the King of Omashu.]
Bumi: Well, well, well. It seems I have finally met the troublemaker who has been causing such chaos with my rail systems.
Toph:…
Bumi: I must say, I am thoroughly impressed with your earthbending abilities. You remind me of myself when I was a lad.
Toph: Get to the point.
Bumi: I see great potential in you, Toph Beifong. I want you inherit my title once I am no longer fit to rule.
Toph: Wait what the fuck
Why wasn’t this Toph’s future instead of becoming a freaking cop. This would have made so much more sense.
My favorite part of this is “when I am no longer fit to rule” because
1. Implying Bumi was fit to rule at any point
1.1 except maybe in the sense that he was completely shredded
2. That he has no plans to die, (nor would death necessarily make him unfit to rule), but that he apparently intends to like. Tuck his arms and legs into himself and just roll off into the sunset.
3. Given that the Earth Kingdom has an actual ruling family that causes some drama in LoK, Toph continuing to cause monarchy confusion is both 100% in character and fucking hilarious.
Toph takes over as King Bumi the second and everyone is like “no that’s not how inheriting works” and Bumi is like “No no she’s right, I did say “inherit my title!”
When toph is no longer fit to rule, she instills bumi (Aang’s son) as her heir and he is known as bumi 3.
Her first act as ruler is to ban herself from Omashu’s transportation system, thus fulfilling one of her life goals.
But then she ignores her ban and continues to use the transport system forcing her guard to chase her and print wanted posters declaring her a fugitive.
Fortunately the clerks served under King Bumi the First and are well aquatinted with explaining chaos to the confused citizenry of Omashu. Without missing a beat they print the posters in 2 parts.
The first (read this aloud) part is a fairly standard Wanted poster explaining that King Bumi II Toph the Blind Melon Bandit Lord is Banned from the Omashu Transport system for crimes etc….
The second part (do not read this aloud) explains not to be concerned; if you see the King at one of the stations just shout “There she is!” The guards will chase her and you are free to go about your day. The King thanks you for participating in this guard training drill.
The clock rises. The door opens, enter the outdoors. We fall outside ourselves. The clock strikes. Fire. We fall. In love. Headfirst. Arms open, torso open. The stranger enters our body, nervous, opens the avid mouths in the heart, in the belly, the mouths fill up with famine, it burns it bites in the breast, painful signs, nameless, very powerful phenomena… finally all this inconvenient, invincible pain, this aggression, this displeasure that twists its great vital nerve, this martyrdom with malady, this voracity for mean, with hesitation we call it love. The odor of fire, the taste of blood, life enriched by wounds, enhanced by murders — love.
🌹
- Hélène Cixous - “What is it O’Clock? Or the Door (We Never Enter)," from Stigmata: Escaping Texts
My vulnerability is natural and permissible and beautiful to me, and it should remind you of your responsibility to behave like a friend to me and the world. - Jenny Slate
