So I made a "toon" self-insert! And I kinda made up a story with it? Or an AU?? I don't know. This is all just sketches because this is mostly for my own enjoyment! 💖💖
(I am sorry if there are any spelling mistakes or weird grammar💦)
The reason Lux wants her around is because of her "inner light". Which is basically a person's drive, personality, charm, talent, happiness, anything! Anything that makes a person, a person! Everyone has a light inside of them, but for some it's bigger.
And that's what he wants. He didn't save her because he wanted to. But because of his own selfish reasons. He wants to grab that light for himself to make him more powerful.
But since this has been a traumatic experience for Toon-Velka, the light shrank and almost became nothing. So, Lux has to find a way to make it grow big again. And that means spending time together and getting to know each other, and making her happy again. But that will be a challenge since he has other plans for her. Can he keep to his plan? Or might something else grow between them?
I, a Zutara shipper, would have way more fun self inserting on Mai
So why don’t I?
A short essay on self inserting, what it means, my experience, and why it shouldn’t be a problem.
So the ‘problem’ of me self inserting recently arose again with discourse surrounding a post of mine. I’ll spare you the details, but someone, in an attempt to make me look like a bad person (I assume) said that I was a “self insert”. At first, I was confused because I don’t understand why something like that would be used as an insult. Then I remembered the horrible stigmatization that self inserting has had on the atla fandom.
So I’d like to bring light to what it truly means to self insert.
For this short essay, I’ll be using the term “self insertion” as defined by Wikipedia:
“Self-insertion is a literary device in which the author writes themselves into the story under the guise of, or from the perspective of, a fictional character. The character, overtly or otherwise, behaves like, has the personality of, and may even be described as physically resembling the author of the work.”
First, I would like to go over why I would personally prefer self inserting on Mai, since it’s technically the clickbait for this post.
I had a very large emo/goth phase a few years back. I loved wearing black, chokers, being depressed, etc. while I don’t necessarily identify with that version of myself anymore, I still hold high praise to any and all people who are emo/grunge/goth/fall under that kind of category. Now, I’m not saying that Mai is emo, she’s actually the exact opposite as she doesn’t display much of any emotion, but she is a badass female character who has space buns, a fiery personality, and really cool weapons. I actually like the idea of her a bit more than Katara, and it would certainly be easy to self insert onto her since her character was never really fleshed out.
(Look at her… she’s so cool. I can’t decide if I wanna be her or be with her…) this would probably also be a great time to say that I don’t feel here nor there about Mai in fandom spaces. There are many anti Mai people out there, but I honestly don’t care much for her at this point other than what I’ve already established.
I can relate to a good portion of her problems (being the face of her family, holding their reputation, not having many friends etc.) so self inserting on to her would honestly be no problem for me. So why don’t I do it?
Because my characterization as a shipper doesn’t revolve around myself. If it did, I’d totally okay into that sarcastic brooding gf because I think it’s kinda badass.
I ship Zutara not because I personally wanna be with Zuko, but because I want Katara to be with Zuko. Does that mean that I don’t self insert onto Katara? Hell to the no.
Self inserting helps me understand a character to the best of my ability. In order to figure out how a character might act, react, or approach a situation, I have to put myself into their shoes, that’s just how I work. I don’t think this is a mindset that is personal to just me either, there are plenty of other people who self insert onto Katara and Zuko in order to best convey the realism of their stories.
Now, I’ve self inserted onto BOTH Katara and Zuko, (which probably won’t stop the haters any more than before since I am attracted to both men and women) and in each of those times, I am sure to always stay true to the original characters. I am always considering how the characters were brought up, what they have experienced that has shaped their personality and how they have behaved before.
But I can’t just rely on that to help me tell a story. I have to feel the characters. I have to know what they’re feeling and how it affects them.
This may seem weird, but when writing, I’ll often close my eyes and imagine myself in a scenario much like what the people I’m writing about are experiencing.
This is how I became well known for some of my writing.
I’ve written monologues for characters to say that reflect my own experiences to help give myself and others peace of mind.
I’ve written relationships based on flaws I’ve had with people in my life.
And I’ve written hate. Because I feel hate, and I know that Katara and Zuko do too.
Self inserting shouldn’t be viewed as something that’s horrible for authors to do, it should be embraced. There shouldn’t be a world where people can’t share their experiences through people they relate to.
If you can’t see yourself agreeing with me, I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’ll ever see eye to eye. This is something that I am passionate about, and I will not be thrown off my stance because of a small insult.
In conclusion, I could very easily self insert onto Mai, you could even say it would be lemon squeezy, but self insertion isn’t the only thing that drives me to ship characters, and it never will be. I am a complex person with complex emotions that have led me to look at Katara and Zuko and envy their relationship. Yeah, I want it, and there shouldn’t be anything wrong with that.
Perhaps the reason I don't go in for self-insertion in Arthur, King of Time and Space or The Hero of Three Faces, despite the prevelance of self-insertion in the classic romances and in fanfiction, is that I don't want to give cause to anyone - or at least not the ghosts in my mind of those who disapproved of my joys in my youth - to think I can't tell the difference between fiction and reality.
How about a cool Alternative Universe where I am a Forest Ranger and Alastor disguises as a giant, predatory demonic deer on earth for fun? I'd have my work cut out for me, that's for sure, considering that having to deal with a supernatural cervid was likely not a part of the job description. Pretty sure he's responsible for a couple disappearances though................
