Korra (ᑯᕐᕋ) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
streamlines) wrote2022-06-04 08:12 am
streamlines) wrote2022-06-04 08:12 am
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[Character Name] Korra
[Canon] Avatar: The Legend of Korra
[Point Taken from Canon]end of episode 8, "When Extremes Meet" updated to episode 12, "Endgame," before the return to the South Pole
[Age] 17
[Gender] female
[Sexual Orientation] bisexual
[Eye Color] blue
[Hair Color] brown
[Height] 5'7"
[Other] --
[Clothing] water tribe getup
[Background] avatar wiki link
[Personality]
The Avatar has, traditionally, had difficulty mastering the element opposite to his or her personality, and Korra cannot bend even the slightest puff of air no matter how hard she tries. Despite being born into the Southern Water Tribe, her personality is closest to that of an earthbender or firebender. She's precisely the opposite of Aang in this. Earth as it's viewed traditionally is unmovable, attacking things head-on: she kicks down a door when Mako warns her to be cautious in an area, she doesn't hesitate to rise when Tahno confronts her to ask if he wants to go "toe to toe," she demands information from a protestor by using force. Korra is an unstoppable force, but she's as passionate as she is headstrong, and she loses her temper easily when frustrated (she blows up the Air Temple gates when she can't get through them without hitting them, she throws water in the face of a probending referee, she yells at her teacher when she can't accomplish something easily on her own). Korra's skills in most areas are prodigious, and when she finds something difficult, her frustration can lead her to try quitting when it doesn't come easily. She likes being good at things, and she likes to impress, and she isn't accustomed to having to work for it—though that is slowly changing.
Occasionally Korra's temper causes her to lose any semblance of respect for other people, as she lashes out at Tenzin, even calling him a terrible teacher, and slams the door on high-ranking White Lotus members. Or maybe she just easily feels comfortable around people. It isn't that she completely lacks respect, because she's capable of correcting herself and apologising, and she clearly had a close relationship with Katara (though that could have something to do with her past life). But Korra just might be too aware of her position as the Avatar rather than a seventeen-year-old girl—she's not afraid to barge into closed city council meetings and pull rank on much older people.
Korra's tendency to be rude and accuse others for her shortcomings isn't just a habit with authority figures, or in learning new skills. It seems to be any time she feels vulnerable in some way, whether in an inability to do something or emotional vulnerability. Korra knows what she wants, and as she had a sheltered childhood tending to always get what she wants and told how great she is, it's a difficult adjustment in a place where things don't come easily and people don't always like her. When she feels vulnerable, she yells, she confronts, whether it's calling Tenzin a terrible teacher or Mako a liar for daring to say he doesn't like her even though she knows he's dating another girl. She doesn't like being out on the line, and she tries to deal with it by taking control of the situation in whatever means she can—usually by saying the bad things are someone else's fault. However, even though Korra reacts defensively and without thinking, even though she can be rude, she's shown a clear willingness to back away, see her mistakes, and apologise.
Likely another reason of her inability to airbend is the pacifist philosophy of airbenders, who use violence only to defend and whose movements rely on evasiveness. Again, Korra focuses entirely on the fighting aspect of bending; as a member of the White Lotus put it, she has always "excelled at the physical side of bending but completely ignored the spiritual." She insists that as the Avatar she needs to learn modern styles of fighting. She challenges Amon to a duel, as though once she defeated him that would end his ideas and influence. Korra loves fighting—listening to probending matches since she was a child, jumping to join a team, awed by a boy who takes out his opponents three on one, confronting a triad in the streets without a second thought—and while she's certainly good at it, she struggles to understand that things can't always be solved with a decisive punch. Her style is "punch before thinking," yet again the opposite of her predecessor.
Korra's biggest weak point, besides her philosophy of action first, planning later, is her pride. Raised in the secluded Southern Water Tribe under the eye and training of the White Lotus, Korra grew up with the best of teachers and nothing but the constantly-enforced idea of how great and special she is. It isn't entirely her fault, but this pride certainly works against her as soon as she finds herself away from that environment in the "real world". It's an obvious trait and one not difficult to learn how to play once it's discovered, as someone actually does. When Korra's pride is put on the line by a large number of reporters demanding to know why she refuses to join a force in fighting the Equalists, she easily explodes once they start asking if she is afraid to do so. Korra can be manipulated by her pride, and it can also lead to problems with overconfidence.
Korra has never, however, had to handle anything that she might find difficult, again a result of her sheltered childhood. Bending always came naturally to her, and she never faced anything that would truly make her afraid. When put into such a situation after first seeing Amon's ability to take away bending, Korra simply has no idea how to deal with the feeling of fear. She internalises it, refuses to speak of it, avoids facing the thing that makes her afraid. She then tries to end it by recklessly challenging Amon to a duel, and eventually she breaks down before Tenzin and admits that she's terrified and simply has no idea how to handle it. Korra learned that admitting her fears might be good for her, but it's still an unfamiliar feeling and likely just as scary as whatever it is causing the fear in the first place. Korra's fear can be crippling and send her into panic, and she needs to learn how to handle it.
Yet another issue that comes from Korra's sheltered upbringing is her lack of understanding in complicated political and social matters like those plaguing Republic City. She sees things as very much black-and-white: chi-blockers versus benders, evil versus good, and it's something on which she's going to have to work to be a good Avatar in the political climate of the city. She fails to understand the severity of Amon's threat on the pro-bending arena and simply sees listening to his request as "backing down" rather than weighing the risks of ignoring him. She knows strength and fighting, not diplomacy, and she's going to have to adjust to her role as a different sort of Avatar than others have seen before her, not simply fighting evil. She found similar trouble in understanding Mako's history with the city triads, assuming he's "some kind of criminal" when he tells her. As Korra herself admits, she's always had someone taking care of her, and the poverty issue that forced Mako into working for triads, not that he was a bad person, was a very new concept to her.
This isn't to say that Korra is a bad or stupid person. She's simply never had to see complex issues before and assumes life works for everyone as it always has for her. When things are explained, however, she's quick to grasp and admit to her mistakes. She apologises for unintended insensitive comments and does her best to understand what she didn't know before. When she breaks Bolin's heart, at first dislikes Asami for dating the boy she likes, and kisses Mako despite his telling her he's confused about his feelings and is dating someone else, she eventually sees her mistakes and is genuinely apologetic. She's willing to admit she's quick to judge, and is beginning to show signs of maturing—of taking her Avatar duties seriously and not letting other things get in the way, of learning not to assume things about others before getting to know them, of easy forgiveness and a sense of perspective. Korra might be immature, but she's quick to learn and at heart wants to do the right thing.
Whether it's an idea that she herself internalised, or one that was impressed upon her, Korra has a very prominent sense of fate. When she runs away from the south pole she speaks of finding her "own path" as the Avatar, implying that she thinks there must be something she's meant to do. She's very individualistic in this sense, as well—making the decision to leave on her own, initially refusing to talk about her feelings with others, declaring that she needs to face Amon alone. She reiterates this sense of fate when she claims that her "destiny" is in Republic City, and even again in the more mundane matter of teenage love: she confesses her feelings by saying she thinks she and Mako were "meant for each other." She has big shoes to fill, however, especially following in the footsteps of Aang, who ended the Hundred Years' War. Korra's very much aware of this, and other people don't let her forget it, either. It's a lot of pressure on a seventeen-year-old girl, and the pressure to be great has been seen to get to her.
As simply herself and not the Avatar, Korra's very confrontational, and, as mentioned, she's not very opposed to violence. She isn't very good with insults or comebacks, though she makes wonderfully facepalm-worthy attempts. Korra's also not above fighting dirty: when her opponents in a pro-bending match blatantly cheat against them, Korra immediately suggests she and her own teammates fight back just as dirty and then pouts that it's "no fun" that they have to fight clean since the referee had been paid off against them. Korra likes to fight, she enjoys every minute of it, and she knows she's good at it. (It's also awesome when she sees someone else's skills—"if he's missing his teeth, she's missing her pants.")
Korra is a hotheaded Avatar with a lot to learn, but she has the potential to be as great as the Avatars before her, and she's beginning to reach it. Korra's personal maturity is becoming obvious. Her goal is to bring balance to Republic City—and to the world—and Korra will slowly learn the things she needs to know and do her best to achieve her goals.
S2 UPDATES: reactions of stress/nervousness when feeling overwhelmed (spirits in the spirit world), learning patience/that she can make the sun shine, trust in herself, saving the world as korra rather than the avatar, all w/o losing who she is underneath
empathetic (esp w kids--"he just needs a little guidance, and who better to help him than us?"), excitement about new things, not backing down, sense of justice, autonomy, teasing ("yes, the avatar thanks you for your service"/"depends who you ask!"/ragging on mako/easy rapport w asami), actually has a bit of a better time w diplomacy than tenzin
[Specialties/Abilities] As the Avatar, Korra has the ability to "bend" all four of the traditional Buddhist elements: water, earth, fire, and air. She's been trained in and has mastered the first three, but despite her prodigious early-developed bending abilities she has never once in seventeen years been able to bend air. She has the capability, but it has been suggested she has a spiritual block that is preventing her from mastering the final element.
As a subset of waterbending, Korra also has the ability to heal, as she was taught by Katara. A waterbender may draw sources from plants nearby (it is unconfirmed whether Korra learned this, though likely, as Katara knew it and was her teacher), as well as bloodbend—control another person's body—though again, it is uncertain whether Korra knows how to do this.
Similarly, firebenders and earthbenders may also learn the arts of lightning and metalbending. It is unlikely Korra knows either, though she can be taught.
Finally, she has the potential to tap into the spirit world and the lives of past Avatars and enter the "Avatar state," which can give the Avatar nearly-unmatched power (though if killed in this state, the cycle of Avatars will end). However, related to her airbending block, Korra has never entered this state or made contact with the spirit world and it has been suggested that she needs to grow more in touch with her spiritual side before this may occur.
[Affection] go for anything, Korra gives hugs and kisses
[Fighting] GOD YES FEEL FREE TO FIGHT WITH HER 8D
[Other Permissions] I'm pretty cool with anything, just double-check with me if you're unsure
[Other Facts] one polar bear dog named Naga added to this equation
[Canon] Avatar: The Legend of Korra
[Point Taken from Canon]
[Age] 17
[Gender] female
[Sexual Orientation] bisexual
[Eye Color] blue
[Hair Color] brown
[Height] 5'7"
[Other] --
[Clothing] water tribe getup
[Background] avatar wiki link
[Personality]
❝I'm the Avatar! You gotta deal with it!❞
From her first words on screen Korra fairly well sums up both the kind of person she is and her feelings about being the Avatar. Like her previous incarnation, Aang, she discovered her role as the Avatar at a very young age; however unlike Aang she fully accepts her title, even (at least for most of her life) to the point of revelling in it. She could bend three of the four elements elements at a startlingly early age, and immediately took pride in that. Korra's is very much a "deal with it" personality, refusing to back off or apologise for who she is, sassy and quick to call others (especially as seen in her dealings with Mako) out on their idiocy—and she likes to impress.❝I'm about as opposite an airbender as you can get.❞
The Avatar has, traditionally, had difficulty mastering the element opposite to his or her personality, and Korra cannot bend even the slightest puff of air no matter how hard she tries. Despite being born into the Southern Water Tribe, her personality is closest to that of an earthbender or firebender. She's precisely the opposite of Aang in this. Earth as it's viewed traditionally is unmovable, attacking things head-on: she kicks down a door when Mako warns her to be cautious in an area, she doesn't hesitate to rise when Tahno confronts her to ask if he wants to go "toe to toe," she demands information from a protestor by using force. Korra is an unstoppable force, but she's as passionate as she is headstrong, and she loses her temper easily when frustrated (she blows up the Air Temple gates when she can't get through them without hitting them, she throws water in the face of a probending referee, she yells at her teacher when she can't accomplish something easily on her own). Korra's skills in most areas are prodigious, and when she finds something difficult, her frustration can lead her to try quitting when it doesn't come easily. She likes being good at things, and she likes to impress, and she isn't accustomed to having to work for it—though that is slowly changing.
Occasionally Korra's temper causes her to lose any semblance of respect for other people, as she lashes out at Tenzin, even calling him a terrible teacher, and slams the door on high-ranking White Lotus members. Or maybe she just easily feels comfortable around people. It isn't that she completely lacks respect, because she's capable of correcting herself and apologising, and she clearly had a close relationship with Katara (though that could have something to do with her past life). But Korra just might be too aware of her position as the Avatar rather than a seventeen-year-old girl—she's not afraid to barge into closed city council meetings and pull rank on much older people.
Korra's tendency to be rude and accuse others for her shortcomings isn't just a habit with authority figures, or in learning new skills. It seems to be any time she feels vulnerable in some way, whether in an inability to do something or emotional vulnerability. Korra knows what she wants, and as she had a sheltered childhood tending to always get what she wants and told how great she is, it's a difficult adjustment in a place where things don't come easily and people don't always like her. When she feels vulnerable, she yells, she confronts, whether it's calling Tenzin a terrible teacher or Mako a liar for daring to say he doesn't like her even though she knows he's dating another girl. She doesn't like being out on the line, and she tries to deal with it by taking control of the situation in whatever means she can—usually by saying the bad things are someone else's fault. However, even though Korra reacts defensively and without thinking, even though she can be rude, she's shown a clear willingness to back away, see her mistakes, and apologise.
Likely another reason of her inability to airbend is the pacifist philosophy of airbenders, who use violence only to defend and whose movements rely on evasiveness. Again, Korra focuses entirely on the fighting aspect of bending; as a member of the White Lotus put it, she has always "excelled at the physical side of bending but completely ignored the spiritual." She insists that as the Avatar she needs to learn modern styles of fighting. She challenges Amon to a duel, as though once she defeated him that would end his ideas and influence. Korra loves fighting—listening to probending matches since she was a child, jumping to join a team, awed by a boy who takes out his opponents three on one, confronting a triad in the streets without a second thought—and while she's certainly good at it, she struggles to understand that things can't always be solved with a decisive punch. Her style is "punch before thinking," yet again the opposite of her predecessor.
❝I'm not afraid of anybody!❞
Korra's biggest weak point, besides her philosophy of action first, planning later, is her pride. Raised in the secluded Southern Water Tribe under the eye and training of the White Lotus, Korra grew up with the best of teachers and nothing but the constantly-enforced idea of how great and special she is. It isn't entirely her fault, but this pride certainly works against her as soon as she finds herself away from that environment in the "real world". It's an obvious trait and one not difficult to learn how to play once it's discovered, as someone actually does. When Korra's pride is put on the line by a large number of reporters demanding to know why she refuses to join a force in fighting the Equalists, she easily explodes once they start asking if she is afraid to do so. Korra can be manipulated by her pride, and it can also lead to problems with overconfidence.
❝I was so scared and I don't know what to do.❞
Korra has never, however, had to handle anything that she might find difficult, again a result of her sheltered childhood. Bending always came naturally to her, and she never faced anything that would truly make her afraid. When put into such a situation after first seeing Amon's ability to take away bending, Korra simply has no idea how to deal with the feeling of fear. She internalises it, refuses to speak of it, avoids facing the thing that makes her afraid. She then tries to end it by recklessly challenging Amon to a duel, and eventually she breaks down before Tenzin and admits that she's terrified and simply has no idea how to handle it. Korra learned that admitting her fears might be good for her, but it's still an unfamiliar feeling and likely just as scary as whatever it is causing the fear in the first place. Korra's fear can be crippling and send her into panic, and she needs to learn how to handle it.
❝You're oppressing yourselves!❞
Yet another issue that comes from Korra's sheltered upbringing is her lack of understanding in complicated political and social matters like those plaguing Republic City. She sees things as very much black-and-white: chi-blockers versus benders, evil versus good, and it's something on which she's going to have to work to be a good Avatar in the political climate of the city. She fails to understand the severity of Amon's threat on the pro-bending arena and simply sees listening to his request as "backing down" rather than weighing the risks of ignoring him. She knows strength and fighting, not diplomacy, and she's going to have to adjust to her role as a different sort of Avatar than others have seen before her, not simply fighting evil. She found similar trouble in understanding Mako's history with the city triads, assuming he's "some kind of criminal" when he tells her. As Korra herself admits, she's always had someone taking care of her, and the poverty issue that forced Mako into working for triads, not that he was a bad person, was a very new concept to her.
This isn't to say that Korra is a bad or stupid person. She's simply never had to see complex issues before and assumes life works for everyone as it always has for her. When things are explained, however, she's quick to grasp and admit to her mistakes. She apologises for unintended insensitive comments and does her best to understand what she didn't know before. When she breaks Bolin's heart, at first dislikes Asami for dating the boy she likes, and kisses Mako despite his telling her he's confused about his feelings and is dating someone else, she eventually sees her mistakes and is genuinely apologetic. She's willing to admit she's quick to judge, and is beginning to show signs of maturing—of taking her Avatar duties seriously and not letting other things get in the way, of learning not to assume things about others before getting to know them, of easy forgiveness and a sense of perspective. Korra might be immature, but she's quick to learn and at heart wants to do the right thing.
❝I have to find my own path as the Avatar.❞
Whether it's an idea that she herself internalised, or one that was impressed upon her, Korra has a very prominent sense of fate. When she runs away from the south pole she speaks of finding her "own path" as the Avatar, implying that she thinks there must be something she's meant to do. She's very individualistic in this sense, as well—making the decision to leave on her own, initially refusing to talk about her feelings with others, declaring that she needs to face Amon alone. She reiterates this sense of fate when she claims that her "destiny" is in Republic City, and even again in the more mundane matter of teenage love: she confesses her feelings by saying she thinks she and Mako were "meant for each other." She has big shoes to fill, however, especially following in the footsteps of Aang, who ended the Hundred Years' War. Korra's very much aware of this, and other people don't let her forget it, either. It's a lot of pressure on a seventeen-year-old girl, and the pressure to be great has been seen to get to her.
❝I'm gonna knock Tahno's stupid hair off his stupid head!❞
As simply herself and not the Avatar, Korra's very confrontational, and, as mentioned, she's not very opposed to violence. She isn't very good with insults or comebacks, though she makes wonderfully facepalm-worthy attempts. Korra's also not above fighting dirty: when her opponents in a pro-bending match blatantly cheat against them, Korra immediately suggests she and her own teammates fight back just as dirty and then pouts that it's "no fun" that they have to fight clean since the referee had been paid off against them. Korra likes to fight, she enjoys every minute of it, and she knows she's good at it. (It's also awesome when she sees someone else's skills—"if he's missing his teeth, she's missing her pants.")
Korra is a hotheaded Avatar with a lot to learn, but she has the potential to be as great as the Avatars before her, and she's beginning to reach it. Korra's personal maturity is becoming obvious. Her goal is to bring balance to Republic City—and to the world—and Korra will slowly learn the things she needs to know and do her best to achieve her goals.
S2 UPDATES: reactions of stress/nervousness when feeling overwhelmed (spirits in the spirit world), learning patience/that she can make the sun shine, trust in herself, saving the world as korra rather than the avatar, all w/o losing who she is underneath
empathetic (esp w kids--"he just needs a little guidance, and who better to help him than us?"), excitement about new things, not backing down, sense of justice, autonomy, teasing ("yes, the avatar thanks you for your service"/"depends who you ask!"/ragging on mako/easy rapport w asami), actually has a bit of a better time w diplomacy than tenzin
[Specialties/Abilities] As the Avatar, Korra has the ability to "bend" all four of the traditional Buddhist elements: water, earth, fire, and air. She's been trained in and has mastered the first three, but despite her prodigious early-developed bending abilities she has never once in seventeen years been able to bend air. She has the capability, but it has been suggested she has a spiritual block that is preventing her from mastering the final element.
As a subset of waterbending, Korra also has the ability to heal, as she was taught by Katara. A waterbender may draw sources from plants nearby (it is unconfirmed whether Korra learned this, though likely, as Katara knew it and was her teacher), as well as bloodbend—control another person's body—though again, it is uncertain whether Korra knows how to do this.
Similarly, firebenders and earthbenders may also learn the arts of lightning and metalbending. It is unlikely Korra knows either, though she can be taught.
Finally, she has the potential to tap into the spirit world and the lives of past Avatars and enter the "Avatar state," which can give the Avatar nearly-unmatched power (though if killed in this state, the cycle of Avatars will end). However, related to her airbending block, Korra has never entered this state or made contact with the spirit world and it has been suggested that she needs to grow more in touch with her spiritual side before this may occur.
[Affection] go for anything, Korra gives hugs and kisses
[Fighting] GOD YES FEEL FREE TO FIGHT WITH HER 8D
[Other Permissions] I'm pretty cool with anything, just double-check with me if you're unsure
[Other Facts] one polar bear dog named Naga added to this equation