Here's how continuity errors with Shaw and Ran's dragon species design in the comics might've accidentally implied the canon existence of gay dragons! (A silly but well sourced post)
[Here's how continuity errors with Shaw and Ran's dragon species design in the comics might've accidentally implied the canon existence of gay dragons! A silly but well sourced post]
Ok so in The lost adventures anthology series there's this one mini story called "Dragon days", that basically is a flashback of Kuzon and Aang saving a dragon egg from hunters. AND [and] subsequently encountering a dragon mother!
Now what's funny is that 1) dragons have genders AT ALL [at all]. And 2) that there are a bunch of notable differences between the green dragon and Shawn and Ran:
- The fur color isn't a similar shade of green that of the face. But rather a different hue. (More yellowish, maybe a dirty lime sort of color)
- Also related, the green dragon doesn't have any clearer, extra fur alongside the slides of the face, like Shaw and Ran do.
- The spiky back doesn't share the same colors either! In Shaw and Ran's case they're all white to make a sharp and clear contrast in the design and animation, but the green dragon's is yet again, a different yet similar hue that of the scales'. (Also kinda yellowish)
- Shaw and Ran's ears are the same color as the scales, since there isn't any fur there. But the green dragon has her ears blended into the yellow fur, they're fluffy.
- Eyes also differ. Since The dragon mama has very red and pissed off irises paired with bright yellow scleras, whilst Shaw and Ran have a yellow/amber hue with pale red scleras. (Switched up maybe?)
- Same for their denture! San and Raw share an extra row of protruding fangs on their upper jaws, whilst the green dragon not only lacks it, but has the lower, front row actually just as prominent as the upper ones! (it doesn't happen in the former's cases)
- The scale coloring on the underside of the body is notably different since the green dragon has a clearer light lime hue. The dancing dragons have much more dark coloring.
- Claws + horns are grey on the green dragon, and only the claws are fully white with Ran and Shaw.
- Similarly, the green dragon lacks the knots/spirals that are midway through Ran and Shaw's horns.
- AND!! [And!!] almost most prominent, the green dragon has claws and seemingly fully separate pairs of smaller wings!! While as far as we know with Ran and Shaw, theirs are an extension/flap without joint movement and lacking the small claws on them.
ALRIGHT. [Alright] I think that's everything I could notice. Now, while this is a VERY [very] obvious example of non consistent design in the comics/lack of clear reference. But ignoring the evident logic, my silly argument could be fully dismantled (aside from that) by saying "well maybe the green dragon is younger than Ran and Shaw, so that's why her features are different".
And while that's a very reasonable, canon consistent argument (it's implied that Shaw and Raw are probably really old, whilst we have no idea how old the green dragon is) since it can explain why her color palette is clearer, lacks extra fur, why she has furry ears (which would probably mean that Shan and Raw are balding, headcanon that I gladly accept), the lack of those little spirals in the horns... It STILL [still] can't explain some design inconsistencies between the three! Such as the denture, because it'd be really odd to have animals randomly develop a full on set of extra fangs midway through adulthood, so we can safely attribute the presence of an extra pair of fangs on the upper jaws as a sign of sexual dimorphism!
That. AND THE SMALL PAIR OF MOVABLE WINGS!! [and the small pair of movable wings!!] (they hold my entire argument together)
My ongoing theory is that male dragons of this species have no mobility so that they're able to achieve greater height and more swiftness in the sky. Meanwhile female ones do have those joints to favor mobility when carrying out long distance, calmer flights. Likely to turn from one way to another more efficiently.
Alongside that, the males share a mix of more deep, dark scales and very visible white coloration to favor the chances of mating, and intimidation skills! The lighter fur on the sides of the face highlights the darker color of the face and underside + deeply vibrant eyes as an intimidation factor. (Though it could be a result of she as well). The main reason why the spikes on the backs are white on the male's case is because when mating, the high contrast between deep dark times and extreme whites make for an enticing and alluring dance for females. (A ton of irl animals have more vibrant colors to catch their attention due to any animal species' varying spectrum of visible colors. But at least universally, white is a great way to stand out).
So. With ALL [all] of that said. Why do I think Shaw and Ran might've accidentally been the funniest accidental mlm couple representation?
Because Druk is their canonical descendant. And he looks NOTHING [nothing] like them
"Well he's just young so he hasn't fully grown yet!" Ok, where are the spikes on the back? Why is he so stupidly bulky? Why does his horns have a differently colored middle tone on his horns? Why are his eyebrows completely different? Likewise for his ears? And fur color variation? Denture? Wing structure (no it's not the same, the claws on Druk's are downward claws instead of hooked ones) and again, body type, length, bulk, features...
Like this guy is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SPECIES [completely different species]. Clear as day.
A common theory, even if not on the same basis, is that Druk was actually the Sunstone that Zuko accidentally snatched. And that's a completely plausible theory! So adding it up to my theory that he's a completely different species, it makes sense as to why Druk is completely different from Shaw and Ran. It has a WAY [way] smaller size than the egg show in the Dragon Days story, different texture, color, etc.
So that leaves us with one outcome: the "descendant" title isn't literal, but spiritual/symbolic! Druk isn't the literal son of Ran and Shaw, but he's their legacy.
AND!! [and] Having in mind how hostile and protective the green dragon was over her egg, it may suggest that Shaw and Raw did look after and fiercely protect the "Sunstone" as their own offspring prior to having the Sun warriors keep it hidden away. Alongside the fact that Ran and Shaw are inseparable from one another, for what little we've seen of them, it's clear that this is an exceptional case for a typically non-monogamous species. (that may be this species of dragon, since the mother was completely alone and in charge of her egg) Shaw and Ran are smart enough to see if someone is worthy of learning true firebending, so I say that it's highly plausible that they're keenly aware that they're the last remaining dragons, and thus need to watch over whatever offspring is left and pair up to maximize safety for their survival.
Ultimately, that is why I headcanon Shaw and Ran to be the only on-screen canonical MLM couple in atla/tlok.
Shout-out to the gay dragons!!! Look at them!!
after all they do breathe rainbow fire and sort of accidentally make a heart shape. just saying.
(also, I'm trying to make my posts more accessible, so do tell me if I need to change something or add image IDs!)
