Why wouldn't I like love Toph? She broke away from her parents' toxic help! She's (physically) small and throws HUGE FREAKIN' BOULDERS at people! She's a totally scary drill-sargeant! She's a disabled person who kicks ass does awesome things while avoiding/possibly deconstructing the supercrip trope! Her awesome powers don't make her disability negligible; she still lives in a culture without an accessible-to-her writing system, and there are places she can't use her feet to "see" like on sand, ice or water.
Also, the thing about the "supercrip" trope is it allows non-disabled people to forget about the barriers that they put in front of us. (NOT my line: I read it somewhere--in an article in Ragged Edge magazine, I think--and can't find it now. Dammit!) But when people forget Toph is blind, it backfires on them--usually in the form of snarky commentary.
Relatedly, Toph can be an arrogant jerk who puts her conscience in a box now and then. (YES I LOVE HER FOR THIS). Oh, yeah--and when she was played by a huge, burly dude in the play on Ember Island, she LOVED it!
Favorite line
Oh, man. The nicknames! The blind jokes! But the line I keep coming back to is, "Three-on-three, plus Sokka." (WAHAHAHA, Toph, you jerk!)
Favorite outfit
I love her Fire Nation clothes the best.
OTP
Toph is too awesome for just one! I really like watching characters together who trigger each other's insecurities/challenge each other just by existing. (I'm also fond of banter.) Toph/Katara appeals to me A LOT: Katara comes from a culture where interdependence is necessary for survival, while the only "help" Toph knows is her parents' toxic variant. But they're both really powerful benders and really headstrong.
For similar reasons, I ship Toph/Azula, too--and I would totally ship Azula/Katara/Toph, except I can't get it to work. (Losing to Katara was a very traumatic experience for Azula-in-my-head; not just because she lost, but because Zuko picked this stranger over her, and ABANDONMENT.) But having dated Katara influences Toph's relationship with Azula, and Azula certainly knows that they're friends and possibly that they used to date.
A wish
That she continues to do many awesome things in the future and cause trouble and save the day and maybe commit petty crimes now and again. XD
An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen
Please, please, please don't let her be stuck in some rigid gender or social role.
5 words to best describe them arrogant, teacher, vulnerable, independent, badass
My nickname for them
While Toph-in-my-head identifies as female, she likes being called a dude.
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branchandroot
TOPH!!!
Date: 2012-03-19 03:00 am (UTC)Why wouldn't I
likelove Toph? She broke away from her parents' toxic help! She's (physically) small and throws HUGE FREAKIN' BOULDERS at people! She's a totally scary drill-sargeant! She's a disabled person whokicks assdoes awesome things while avoiding/possibly deconstructing the supercrip trope! Her awesome powers don't make her disability negligible; she still lives in a culture without an accessible-to-her writing system, and there are places she can't use her feet to "see" like on sand, ice or water.Also, the thing about the "supercrip" trope is it allows non-disabled people to forget about the barriers that they put in front of us. (NOT my line: I read it somewhere--in an article in Ragged Edge magazine, I think--and can't find it now. Dammit!) But when people forget Toph is blind, it backfires on them--usually in the form of snarky commentary.
Relatedly, Toph can be an arrogant jerk who puts her conscience in a box now and then. (YES I LOVE HER FOR THIS). Oh, yeah--and when she was played by a huge, burly dude in the play on Ember Island, she LOVED it!
Favorite line
Oh, man. The nicknames! The blind jokes! But the line I keep coming back to is, "Three-on-three, plus Sokka." (WAHAHAHA, Toph, you jerk!)
Favorite outfit
I love her Fire Nation clothes the best.
OTP
Toph is too awesome for just one! I really like watching characters together who trigger each other's insecurities/challenge each other just by existing. (I'm also fond of banter.) Toph/Katara appeals to me A LOT: Katara comes from a culture where interdependence is necessary for survival, while the only "help" Toph knows is her parents' toxic variant. But they're both really powerful benders and really headstrong.
For similar reasons, I ship Toph/Azula, too--and I would totally ship Azula/Katara/Toph, except I can't get it to work. (Losing to Katara was a very traumatic experience for Azula-in-my-head; not just because she lost, but because Zuko picked this stranger over her, and ABANDONMENT.) But having dated Katara influences Toph's relationship with Azula, and Azula certainly knows that they're friends and possibly that they used to date.
A wish
That she continues to do many awesome things in the future and cause trouble and save the day and maybe commit petty crimes now and again. XD
An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen
Please, please, please don't let her be stuck in some rigid gender or social role.
5 words to best describe them
arrogant, teacher, vulnerable, independent, badass
My nickname for them
While Toph-in-my-head identifies as female, she likes being called a dude.