[h0jilt]

Where history, myth, and storytelling meet

Stories of old, and what cannot be forgotten

A writer’s archive of history, myth, art, and beautiful worlds

Here I collect the people, places, clothing, architecture, music, and traditions that inspire my stories

Unless otherwise stated, the artwork shared here is not my own

[lemxnerror]

Ba sing se champloo (basically avatar and samurai champloo crossover but I redrew some scenes)

[artsywitchling]

Today I missed Atla, so I drew jet, because he was cool. 

[mattsvideogame]

quick doodle of the zuko and his baby mama

[soncee]

Jinora redesigns!

[h0jilt]

The Quiet Between Us

A Zhao • Yue AU

Author's Note/Disclaimer: This story explores a fictional political marriage between Zhao and Yue within the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender. By modern standards, Yue is underage at the time of the marriage, and the marriage itself is arranged for political purposes.

I want to be clear that I do not condone or romanticize child marriage, forced marriage, or political marriages. Nor is this story intended to romanticize the realities of relationships created through conquest, colonization, or unequal political power. Historically, marriages arranged under these circumstances could—and often did—result in profound loss of autonomy, suffering, and abuse.

This is a character study and a work of fiction. The relationship explored here is intentionally an idealized exception to those historical realities. Zhao and Yue's marriage is political and unwanted, but this story does not portray that coercion itself as romantic. Instead, it explores what two people might make of such a marriage once they are forced to live within it: duty, loneliness, cultural difference, autonomy, and the slow process of learning how to share a life with someone they never chose.

The story also deliberately separates the political circumstances of their marriage from its emotional development. Nothing about their situation should be read as an endorsement of the circumstances that brought them together. Summary:

The war is over, but peace demands sacrifices of its own. To secure the treaty between the Fire Nation and the Northern Water Tribe, Admiral Zhao and Princess Yue have spent the last year bound together in a political marriage neither of them wanted. One year later, they remain strangers beneath the same roof. Treaties are easy to sign. Learning how to share a life with another person is something else entirely.

Read Chapter One on AO3: HERE

[aisatsaa]

beach episode

[blorboslopdotcom]

bro thought he's getting kissed

[h0jilt]

The Things We Were

A Piandao • Mai • Sokka AU

After the war, Mai finds herself caught between the life she was raised to inherit and the uncertain future she chose for herself. Seeking purpose beyond the expectations of House Murasaki, she travels to the remote estate of Master Piandao, hoping to learn from the legendary swordsman.

Read Chapter One on AO3: HERE

[2333wwwlol]

libra codex

[cheseely]

Yuria of Londor

[buriedknight]

Listen for the baneful chants. Weep with them, as one in trance. And weep with us, oh, weep with us...

[artofchinara]

"Sometimes I would walk the Lumenflower fields and gaze upon the quiet sea. Oh, how peaceful the Fishing Hamlet was! Just how could we have poisoned it so?"

[musteilss]

Five hundred cigarettes

[katara]

Aang & Zuko | Requested by @shibuyafrost

[0bscvr1ty]

Hi! I hope you're doing well!

I wanted to ask: Do you have a favorite flower?

Also, what flowers would you assign to your favorite ATLA characters, and why?

It can be based on the meaning of the flower, or simply on their appearance or the vibes they give off—either way is totally fine!

Thanks.

As for my favorite flower... I don't know. I prefer moss and weeds.

Jet:

Yarrow, Marigold and Black-Eyed Susan. Yarrow: Primarily a symbol of healing, protection, and love, with its meanings deeply rooted in its historical use as a battlefield herb. Marigold: The Marigold symbolizes grief, despair, and deep passion, often used in Day of the Dead celebrations to guide spirits with its vibrant, sun-like color. While it can represent creativity and warmth in some contexts, its traditional Victorian meaning leans toward the sorrow of lost love and the fierce intensity of unrequited emotion. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): Usually symbolizes encouragement, motivation, and resilience, reflecting its ability to thrive in harsh conditions. In the Victorian language of flowers, it also represents justice, truth, and fairness, with its dark center metaphorically bringing hidden truths to light.

Sokka:

Larkspur and Cornflower. Larkspur (Blue Delphinium): Symbolizes an open heart, ardent attachment, and the fleeting nature of joy, reflecting its tall, spiky blooms that reach skyward in a display of hopeful ambition. In the Victorian language of flowers, it is often associated with a lightness of heart and the promise of new beginnings, but it also carries a subtle warning of instability and a lack of faith, suggesting that even the most beautiful heights can be precarious. Its vibrant blue hue evokes a sense of calm determination, serving as a reminder that true devotion requires both courage and the willingness to face the unknown. Cornflower: Symbolizes delicacy, hope, and single-minded devotion, reflecting its vibrant blue petals that once grew wild among golden wheat fields, marking the resilience of life amidst the harvest. In the Victorian language of flowers, it is often associated with a bachelor's unrequited love and the promise of returning affection, serving as a humble token of fidelity and the quiet endurance of a heart that waits patiently. Its simple, cheerful appearance belies a deep strength, representing the ability to find beauty and purpose even in the most ordinary or challenging environments.

Azula:

Spider Lily and Black Dahlia. Spider Lily (Lycoris): Symbolizes separation, death, and the afterlife, particularly in Japanese culture where it is known as Higanbana and planted in graveyards. Its appearance around the autumnal equinox marks the boundary between the living and the dead, serving as a guide for souls while also representing the pain of letting go. Black Dahlia: Symbolizes betrayal, loss, and deep sorrow, reflecting its velvety, dark petals that evoke a sense of mourning and fatalism. In the language of flowers, it is often associated with the end of a passionate relationship or the haunting memory of a tragedy, serving as a somber reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath a beautiful surface.

Zuko:

Firewheel Tree Flower and Osiria rose. Firewheel Tree Flower (Hibiscadelphus): Primarily symbolizes magnificence, rarity, and the vibrant energy of life, named for its wheel-like clusters of bright red blooms that resemble a burning wheel. In Hawaiian culture, where it is native, it represents the beauty of the islands and the resilience of nature, often associated with the spirit of the land. (It also reminds me of his spin-kick firebending move.) Osiria Rose: Symbolizes passionate, enduring love and the duality of joy and sorrow, distinguished by its velvety red petals on the outside and silvery-white on the inside. This striking contrast represents the depth of emotion in a relationship, where the passion of red is balanced by the purity and peace of the white interior.

Aang:

Forget-me-not and Yellow Hibiscus. Forget-me-not: It symbolizes true love, remembrance, and faithful loyalty, rooted in legends of knights who plucked the flower for their beloveds before drowning. In Victorian times, it became the ultimate token of memory, asking the recipient to "do not forget me" even in times of separation or hardship. Yellow Hibiscus: Symbolizes friendship, joy, and new beginnings, often associated with the warm, tropical sun and the spirit of hospitality. While red hibiscus represents passion, the yellow variety in the language of flowers suggests a cheerful, carefree love and the celebration of life's simple pleasures.

Katara:

Bluebelle and Skeleton flower. Bluebell: Primarily symbolizes gratitude, humility, and constancy, reflecting its gentle, nodding posture that suggests a quiet thankfulness. In the Victorian language of flowers, it is often associated with enduring love and the promise of returning affection, serving as a humble declaration of devotion. Skeleton Flower (Diphylleia): Symbolizes transience, fragility, and the fleeting nature of beauty, as its white petals turn transparent when wet, revealing the delicate veins beneath. This unique transformation serves as a poignant reminder that true beauty can be found in impermanence and the vulnerability of life itself.

[ladystoneshart]

unironically I think this might be my favourite dragon design in anything ever like this thing looks like it's a part of nature not someone's prize horse/nuclear weapon