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@help-i-need-a-cool-username

Art/writing blog: @hinacu-arts
Current Main Fandoms: One Piece, DC
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Fire Lord Portraits Pt. 2: Azulon

Part 2 of my Fire Lord Portraits series! And it only took me 5 years to get around to it.

The two notable details of Azulon's portrait are the flower that he stands on and the turtle beneath the flower. The flower under him resembles a peony. Like the peony flower, the petals in his painting are short, layered and frilled. In Chinese culture, the peony is nicknamed "The King of Flowers" and is associated with prosperity. This is primarily because peonies were a popular motif in art from the Tang Dynasty, widely regarded as a golden age for China. Assuming that Fire Lords choose the symbols in their painting, this would indicate that Azulon likely viewed himself as someone who led his country into a golden age of prosperity. Admittedly, he likely did enrich the Fire Nation by extracting resources from the Earth Kingdom through military occupation and the colonies. Also, the peony is the symbol of the Keohso clan, the bloodline that Azulon hails from, so it can be inferred that he was very proud of his lineage.

According to the Avatar wiki, the commentary track for "The Avatar and the Fire Lord" (S3E6) clarifies that the turtle represents "...an animal that lives both on land and in water, signifying his military successes over both the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes."

Turtles also symbolize longevity and tenacity. This is actually pretty appropriate, as Azulon's entire reign was spent leading a world war for 72 years. Not to mention, he still managed to make it to age 95 and would have lived even longer if he hadn't been murdered. Considering how much leading a warmongering empire ages most people after only 8 years, Azulon managing to command an active military for over 70 years definitely showcased his longevity and tenacity.

Finally, there's also the myth of the World Turtle:

The World Turtle, also called the Cosmic Turtle or the World-Bearing Turtle, is a mytheme of a giant turtle (or tortoise) supporting or containing the world. It occurs in Hinduism, Chinese mythology, and the mythologies of some of the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

Considering the Fire Nation's goals were ultimately to either dominate or destroy the other nations, depicting their leader and representative of their country standing on top of a turtle as if he is the world is pretty good symbolism. And if you're looking for the symbolism behind the scarf and halo, click here.

Also, his turtle has a really long neck and tail. Maybe it's a hybrid snake-turtle?

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Cassie: ykw my new years resolution is for my boyfriend to get a boyfriend
Tim: It's July.
Kon: I- what. I'm not gay??
Bart: I dunno man. If your girlfriend decides it that's pretty much canon.
Cissie: Bart what the actual fuck are you talking about
Cassie: and my second new years resolution is to get a girlfriend
Kon: wh— you're dating me?? You- I'm not gay! Are you gay?! Cassie???
Tim: if it matters I'd probably be a good third.
Cissie: yeah me too, we could be a polycule actually
Kon: what. What the hell.
Bart: polycules are too much work guys, you have to get so many presents on Valentine's Day.
Tim: and when have you been in a polycule?
Bart: yesterday, duh, keep up
Kon: ???

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