1. If someone spoils me in ANY way (Kataang, Zutara, who lives, who dies) without me asking SPECIFICALLY, I will find a way to make that person's DA account life so painful they will have to make a new account. Consider that me asking politely.

2. I'm going to get mad at anyone who trolls other people, too.

3. I'm not anticipating Mai to return before the very end of the show, but I haven't given up on Maiko. And while I'm completely accepting of the fact that Zutara may happen in the show, odds are that I will NEVER support it. Unless it's the most brilliantly written, best-explained-and-exemplified thing this show has ever put up (and even then, I'll have my doubts), I'll still be a Maiko/Kataang shipper. Because none of the four in those groups has done anything to show that they don't deserve the other, or that a relationship between them would fail. Especially in the case of Maiko, each has changed to match the other's expectations and done everything he or she can to help the other. Zutara would be the ULTIMATE in bad luck for Mai (three weeks in prison and her boyfriend picks up some other girl), and would be a huge let-down for Aang. It would also make Zuko a despicable scumbag in my eyes. He's worked to protect Mai, never done anything to show that he doesn't love her, and even forced her (though he tried not to) to sacrifice her freedom in order to save him, even after hurting her more than anyone else ever could. If he has interest--and ACTS on the interest--in the girl his best friend is in love with....it undermines pretty much every principle I stand for in a relationship. If he's going to fall in love with Katara, he's obligated to at least finalize everything with Mai. To let her know that there's someone else. If it was real, I'm sure she would (grudgingly) approve, but he'd deserve every ounce of resentment he carried. The fact that Mai and Aang have both explicitly stated that they love the person they care about most also sets the seal of love on their relationships. Countering love is not one of my desired principles in a story. Also, even if Katara falls in love with Zuko...Mai's already professed her love. Katara would just be playing second fiddle. With Kataang and Maiko, you have two completely unique, incredibly dynamic relationships that play off of the characters' strongest traits. Aang has his tendency to keep working at something even though it's daunting, never giving up, but always needing and accepting help as he goes. Katara's motherly, supercaring nature can be put to its full effect helping to care for, and support, the last member of an all-but-extinct race...as well as raising the next generation. Zuko's persistence and stubborness, along with his loyalty and passion, hold his relationship down firmly and keeps him anchored. And Mai's passionate LOVE for Zuko is rewarded, and her ability to always, always, ALWAYS do what she can for him continues onward. Now, IF Zutara happens, I will accept it as being in-character and part of the story, but I will also view it as a tremendous tragedy and a result of character flaws. Mike and Bryan have said TWICE in the commentaries that they believe that nothing is attained by chance or a magic wand. Hard work gets results. Aang has worked hard to win Katara over, despite his age and his duties, and Mai has given everything to keep Zuko safe and happy, regardless of the costs to her. She still loves him, no matter what he does to her...but she also doesn't just sit back and take his crap quietly. This is why I think she's the perfect match for him; she cares just as intensely as Ursa and Iroh, and has the strength to act on that care and forgive him. If she is not Zuko's ultimate partner, Mike and Bryan fell into a trap of introducing a character who fit too well and then tossing it aside. That's a possibility, and I'll still respect them....but I definitely believe that she and Zuko will be together in the end. And Katara...well, she's been indicated to be into Aang, and while her feelings are probably very uncertain now and she seems to have closed herself off, she really should love Aang. I see no reason why she wouldn't, besides some strange plot device that, once again, undermines an incredibly-written and well-set-up section of the story. Hopefully, Zuko will help her work out her feelings for Aang. But basically, what I REALLY don't want is for the message to be sent that relationships that are hard to work out aren't worth trying for...there's always a dream girl (or guy) out there....blah. Relationships are about WORK. Overcoming hardships.

Sukka, I support because they work at it, too.

4. All the messages about hard work above also explain why Aang needs to beat Ozai. Because he's worked for it.

5. I just had to get this whole standpoint, shipping-wise, off my chest. I don't want to seem like I'm whining afterwards, or gloating, or anything. Whatever happens, THOSE are my views. I'm not going to pretend to be superficially polite or accepting, because at this point...that's where I am. That's how I feel. Consider this a way to prevent buzzkill from me, should the worst happen. I'm going to be blunt. And hopefully, that will all be my last word on the matter of shipping, short of spazzage. I'm not going to bash the canon, not deliberately, anyway. I think I made all my points clear. There's no point to continuing the shipwar, as it's over now with the release of the book, and spoilers can come at any time. There's no point preaching to those who already know if you're right or wrong, really. So...yes. I'm closing the book on shipping, and I'll watch with a level head. I hope.

6. The final battle is going to pwn. I will love it.

7. Azula's insanity is going to make me very, very happy.

8. I'm NOT going to cave and read the book. I'm not.

9. I WILL be on this site. I WON'T be searching art. IF someone sees a non-spoilerific Mai or Maiko piece come up in the next two months (use the sort:time feature to search for recent pics) that seems cute or impressive, please, do send it to me.

10. I WILL continue uploading art and making AMVs, and I WILL be making Noticed Avatar Tidbits VI shortly.



I think that's about it for now.

It's been a great pleasure, and I'm sorry that this post has to be so bad-tempered. Hopefully, all of this pent-up frustration will be fully released now, and I can move on to more spazzage. Like about Mai. And how she totally just looked Azula in the eye and didn't blink. And about how I so want to see some fic where Mai's uncle talks to her about her choice.

Oh. And DO expect some more Mai/Ozai material....the way is wide open.


EDIT: 11. Someone (for the moment, they will remain anonymous, but next time, no such mercy) decided to be joking and tease me with probably false spoilers. I hid their comments and blocked them. Yeah. I have no sense of humor in this situation.


EDIT 2: 12: BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL. There is apparently a troll on LiveJournal, spreading spoilers. I have no doubts that trolls will spread to other sites, like this one and LiveVideo.

DO NOT FEED.

Be VERY, VERY careful when checking notes and PMs, ESPECIALLY if you are a high-profile figure. When you go to check ANY of your inboxes, keep a finger over the area where the title of the note will appear. If you DON'T RECOGNIZE THE NAME, you should probably delete the name immediately. If it's a name of someone you've antagonized in the past, JUST DELETE IT. IF YOU DON'T DELETE IT IMMEDIATELY, USE YOUR FINGER TO READ THE TITLE WORD BY WORD. BE SLOW, BE PATIENT, BE CAREFUL.

It'll be madness for a week or two. I'd recommend complete isolation for the duration of that period.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Note: I have a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for trolls and trolling.Any HINTS of troll activity, and I will BLOCK you. If I block you and you feel yourself wronged, don't take it personally. It's just until I've seen--yes, SEEN--the finale.

And nothing, I repeat, NOTHING that anyone has done to you or the fandom in the past gives you the right to spoil a fellow fan. I don't care if they've been the rudest jerk ever to you, SPOILERS HIT BELOW THE BELT. Even Mai would have been out of line spoiling Zuko in that cell. Maybe even if she'd spoiled Azula.

Basic point: BE CAREFUL.