( ♒ ) katara ; guys and dolls application

[waterwhips]

PLAYER
[journal] Reserved with breakstheice, Personal is kyriesanctus
[age] 24. 01/26/1987.
[previous characters oerba dia vanille brightsiding
[character journal] waterduel

CHARACTER
[series] Avatar: The Last Airbender
[full name] Katara
[age] 14, aged up to 18.
[gender] Female
[canon point] After the Ember Island Players.
[reference] Here!
[personality]

Katara was born and raised as part of the Southern Water Tribe. It was there that she lived peacefully with her parents, Hakoda and Kya, her grandmother Kanna, and her older brother Sokka, until one fateful day when her village was attacked by the Fire Nation while searching for the last remaining waterbender in the South Pole. In an effort to hide the identity of the true waterbender, Katara's mother offered herself up to the soldiers, and was killed. The Fire Nation left, thinking they had gotten rid of any threat from the Southern Water Tribe, and left a scar on the heart of Katara, the very waterbender her mother died trying to protect. Because of this, Katara has an extreme fear and bias against anyone and anything related to the Fire Nation. Already she'd blamed them for the relative dwindling strength of her tribe, but with the added burden of the death of her mother, Katara was left wounded and angry.

Nevertheless, and probably beacuse of that incident, Katara is an extremely driven young woman. Even without a teacher to show her how to waterbend, she soon learned how to manipulate water, although she wasn't very good at it, and it was usually tied to her emotions. While her control was lacking, her perseverance was not. Even while traveling with Aang to the North Pole in order to find herself a waterbending teacher, Katara never gave up on her practice, even if it was as little as making water rise out of a bowl only to come splashing down when she lost concentration, or trying a move several times only to fail and accidentally soak Sokka instead of her actual target. She will stop at nothing to learn how to waterbend, even going as far as to steal a waterbending scroll from a group of pirates. She managed to teach herself a bit, but in the end, in order to truly learn, Katara knew, she needed a master. Still, never once did she give up. She sees waterbending as a part of her culture, and a part of her, something that she needs and wants to be familiar with, and it is that that makes her keep trying. If there's one thing Katara is not, it's a quitter.

Eventually, when she did manage to make it to the North Pole, it was there she found a master, someone to teach her waterbending. However, the tradition in the Northern Water Tribe was that women would not learn how to waterbend to fight, and instead, would learn to use their waterbending to heal, instead. Not deterred, Katara and Aang devise a plan for Aang to teach her what he had learned about waterbending during the day every night. However, when they are caught by the master in question, he nearly forbids Aang to return to his classes for betraying their customs and his trust. Not deterred at all by this, she eventually ends up challenging him to a fight, despite his status as a master and hers as a mosty untrained waterbender.

Whether it's her determination and natural gifts that sway him into teaching her or the fact that he was once betrothed to her grandmother before she fled to the South Pole, he ends up becoming Katara's master. This is when she ends up taking several levels in badass, and continues to take such levels in badass throughout the entire series. At the end of the season, her master declares her a full-fledged waterbending master, and she takes on the role of training Aang in waterbending. While she still improves throughout the series, it's through her apparent hard work (though it all takes place offscreen) that she masters the art, and is able to pass on it on to others. She is very skilled, and definitely holds her own against Aang, who is the Avatar, and Toph, an Earthbending prodigy.

Needless to say, Katara is very determined, regardless of the situation at hand. If she gets knocked down, she gets right back, and never backs down from a fight. She's very brave— even in the face of great danger, Katara doesn't back down if it's to save someone she cares for. She's also very resourceful— once, while locked in a wooden cage with Toph by an assassin out for Aang's head, she was left without water to use as a weapon. Refusing to sit idly by while her friends were in danger, she ended up getting up and running in place in order to make herself sweat, and used that to waterbend, literally 'making her own water.'

Of the entirety of Team Avatar, Katara is by far the most mature, and is usually very level-headed (this isn't always the case, however). She is very practical, shooting down some of the group's more ridiculous ideas. She doesn't usually take part in any of the group's more goofy antics, but moreso out of obligation than any desire not to; in fact, Katara honestly wishes to be seen as a fun person, but usually ends up being the group's caretaker. The safety and comfort of those around her is, unfortunately, more important than being irresponsible. That said, she's not all serious business, either, and definitely knows how to kick back when she has the time. It gets her honestly upset that she can't be like this all the time, but at the same time, she likes being considered the responsible and mature one. When the group is stranded in the desert, she is the one who worries most about their situation, with Aang being angry over the theft of his sky-bison, Appa, Toph being partially unable to see with her earthbending, and Sokka being... High on cactus juice. In that way, Katara is a bit of a worrywart, and she always does pipe up when she feels she needs to keep the group together even during their most desperate of moments, afraid of things falling apart. In many ways, despite her young age, she is very grown-up.

She's a very maternal girl, likely in part of losing her mother at such a young age; having to grow up and take on the responsibilities of the woman of the house made her into mother figure so much that even when Sokka tries to picture the face of their mother, the one he pictures is Katara. In their village in the Southern Water Tribe, Katara was the one tasked with all of the household chores and domestic duties, being female, and being as helpful as she is, she ended up doing not only her own work, but helped out with the entire village, as well. It's because of this motherly nature that she also ends up being fiercely protective of her friends and the people she cares about, even going so far as to threaten to kill Zuko if he so much as hurt any of them after he'd joined their group in order to teach Aang firebending. She won't stand for people hurting her friends, especially not when she can do something to stop them. She has a soft-spot for children, and also has experience in midwifery.

It is also because of her maternal nature, however, that Katara can be a bit domineering. When people, like Toph, for instance, don't listen to her advice or do what is expected of them, like helping set up camp, she will get angry and yell as if she's their mother and in charge of them, despite the fact that she's the same age. She can be overbearing with her need to have certain things her way, and she looses her temper easily if her opinion isn't at least considered, like when Toph runs a string of scams and ends up a wanted criminal. She isn't above sticking her nose places it doesn't belong, like into other people's personal items, in order to figure out what they're up to, either, despite the fact that she also reprimanded Sokka for doing the same thing. She doesn't mean to, but Katara does sometimes hold a double-standard, because she doesn't consider her snooping nosy because she's trying to protect Toph from getting herself in trouble, meanwhile Sokka was just doing it to be curious. It could be because she feels like her heart is in the right place that she doesn't see doing that as wrong. She's not above scolding them, either. Sometimes, the group feels stifled by her need to take care of them, but by the middle of Book Three, they not only come to accept it, but appreciate it.

Katara is a very caring and compassionate young woman. She is always there to lend a hand to those who ask her for help, and sometimes, even sometimes when they don't ask for it. She's a bit of a bleeding heart, determined to help and usually going out of her way, much to Sokka's chagrin, to aid those in need. She can't stand to see people in trouble, even if they're people she's never met or isn't familiar with. She doesn't think anything of dropping everything and helping strangers with their troubles, even going so far as to impersonate a spirit in order to bring some relief to a suffering village. She's a very friendly person, and quite optimistic, sometimes even more optimistic than Aang. This is a side mostly shown to people she considers friends. It's also this that makes her trust people too easily, like Jet, who she believed was just a wounded young man who had lost his family to the Fire Nation, and later, Zuko, whose scar she ends up offering to heal while they are both being held captive in Ba Sing Se. Her prejudice against the Fire Nation sometimes breaks in the face of people needing her assistance. Despite the fact that she hates the Fire Nation with a passion, she also understand that there are people of that nation who are innocent, for instance, when she cares for Mai's younger brother who was accidentally 'kidnapped' in the middle of helping Omashu residents escape while the city was under Fire Nation occupation.

Despite her willingness to help people, Katara is very stubborn in her beliefs and can be quite self-righteous at times. It is very hard to change her mind about things, and she is extremely set in her ways and her ideals. Most of the time, this isn't a particularly awful thing, but it leads to her temper being set off quite frequently if someone disagrees with her. Speaking of her temper, Katara can fly off the handle very easily at times. Usually, it comes from a place of worry or, again, those motherly instincts, like when the gAang fails to keep a clean camp site or isn't taking anything she says or does seriously. She's prone to fits of shouting. If she's provoked, she has a hard time keeping her cool and backing down. She has a very strong sense of justice, as well.

Because of her mother's untimely fate, Katara is a very emotionally afflicted girl, and harbors a lot of anger and hurt, especially in regards to the Fire Nation. She holds grudges, and has a hard time letting go of them, as evidenced by her reluctance to trust Jet when he reappeared in Ba Sing Se after deceiving her previously, as well as having a hard time forgiving Zuko for making a wrong decision when he rejoined Azula during a their battle at the end of Book Two. She takes betrayal very seriously and has a very hard time forgiving people. Even after Zuko's 'redemption,' it takes him helping her try to get vengeance for her mother's death for her to finally accept that he's changed, and welcome him into the group. However, despite the fact that she holds grudges, she also forgives those she cares about much easier, for instance, after being burned by Aang's first attempt to firebend (he was showboating), she forgives him for it much easier than she would have if it had been anyone else, probably because he was honestly remorseful for what he'd done. There are times, particularly faced with people she hates, where she can go into an all-out rage, for instance when she confronts Yon Rha, the man responsible for her mother's death. However, despite her rage, Katara is also mature enough to realize, with Aang's help and guidance, that one life for another is not equal, and that killing him will not bring her mother back or make her less angry about her loss.

While Katara is by no means afraid of her power as a waterbending master, and is, in fact, not only proud of it but very honest about her capabilities, she also seems to feel that she should use it responsibly. For instance, when Hama, a woman from the Southern Water Tribe who was captured by the Fire Nation, tries to teach her the art of bloodbending, a type of bending she'd perfected on her own while being held captive, Katara refuses, saying she doesn't want to have that amount of control over people. She feels it would be wrong. It's only when Hama begins controlling Aang and Sokka and threatening to have them hurt themselves and one another that she ends up exerting herself, using bloodbending on Hama in order to stop her. Afterward, she breaks down and cries, unhappy that she'd had to use it, but unwilling to let someone harm her friends. However, later, in a state of revenge-stained rage, she ends up using bloodbending again, in order to get answers from a Fire Nation helmsman regarding the whereabouts of the man who killed her mother. This shows that while Katara is normally level-headed and tends to use her skills for the greater good, she is not above using methods she would normally find despicable to find a means to an end.

Above all else, Katara believes in hope. She is very strong in her conviction that the Avatar will return to the world and stop the war, saving them all, and when she and her brother stumble upon the Avatar, frozen in an iceberg, that belief is only strengthened. She truly believes, with all she has, that Aang can save the world. She's prone to giving speeches about hope, as well, so much so that it became her the defining characteristic of her character in the Ember Island Player's 'The Boy in the Iceberg.'

She also seems to have inherited some of her family's token sarcasm. While Sokka seems to have inherited all of the humor, and most of Katara's attempts at being funny are met with a flat reaction, she can deliver particularly sharp barbs.

Overall, Katara is a very emotionally driven girl, whether it is happiness, anger or pain. She's a brave, determined, nurturing caregiver and fiercely loyal and protective of her friends. She's also kind of a badass, and that doesn't hurt, either.

[orientation]

Heterosexual. Katara is the female character with the most potential 'love interests' in the series, and demonstrates a clear preference for males, seemingly having a crush on Jet during their first meeting (before his betrayal). A romantic relationship with Aang is hinted at throughout the series, starting early as Aang clearly has a crush on her, however, she accidentally rejects him by saying that he's like a little brother to her. That is, until later, when the two of them contemplate having to kiss one another while lost in the Cave of Two Lovers. They have an awkward moment before discovering the way out, but Katara does show a bit of eagerness during the scene. Later the two finally share a kiss before the Day of the Black Sun, and Katara doesn't reject his advances then. In fact, the only time she does reject his advances is right before the finale of the series, but she explains that she's afraid to give him her heart in the middle of the war, afraid she might lose him.

It's because of all of these things I think it's safe to say, Katara is heterosexual.

[appearance] Katara will have filled out a little, and will have a more womanly shape, but will still look mostly the same. Something similar to this.
[wish] To see Aang restore balance to the world. Because she can't wish for something pertaining to life and death, and thus cannot wish for her mother back, she just wants to see Aang restore balance to the world— without losing him, or him getting hurt. She wishes for him to be safe while he saves everyone.
[requested house] None of the 'specialized' houses seem to fit, (if she had her bending Komainu would be okay, but without it she doesn't exactly fit) so something like Sazanka?
[misc notes] Katara's tattoo will be on her lower back. Like a tramp stamp, yes.

SAMPLES
[sample 1#]

[ The device clicks on to show a young woman in a fresh yukata sitting on the floor on her knees. The camera is facing her side, giving the audience a profile shot. She seems to be staring very pointedly at a bowl placed a few feet away from her, and her arm is outstretched, sleeve pushed up to her elbow. For a moment, she just sits, still, but then she starts flexing her wrist up and down in slow, practiced movements. She's concentrating entirely on the bowl and whatever is inside it, and it shows on her face. ]

[ This carries on for a few minutes, and it's obvious she's expecting something to happen, but unfortunately, nothing does. ]

[ This clearly does not make her very happy, because when she lowers her hand to her lap, she's frowning, brows furrowed, almost glaring down at the floor. Her hand balls into a fist as she speaks. ]

Nothing... Not even a little bit.

[ She sighs heavily and angrily, turning away from the bowl and crossing her arms. Her expression softens a little, as if the anger is being set aside for something else... Worry is a good way to describe it. ] It's never been this bad... Even before I learned anything, I could still at least...

[ That's when she notices the Fansuwoth, trailing off. Her expression hardens again, and she reaches forward, scooping it up quickly. Without pause, she holds it up to her face. ]

What's going on here? I was told— [ She doesn't really want to repeat it, so she moves on to a subject that isn't so... Touchy. ] My bending is gone. What did you do to me? Everything I had with me is gone— everything... [ She gets choked up a bit and frowns, and a hand reaches up to touch her bare neck for all but a second before the glare is back at full force. ]

I want answers, and I want them now.

[sample 2#]

[ Much like the water she controlled, at the moment Katara's mind is anything but calm. Still reeling from what she had thought was a dream, she sits on the futon she'd been left on, after everyone had left the room. ]

[ She'd awoken to the feeling of something searing against her skin, feeling as if she was being burned by something— every terrible emotion associated with fire had flooded into her mind at once, and her first instinct was to fight it off. Worry gripped her chest, her thoughts turning immediately to everyone else. Sokka! Aang..! Toph... Everyone! Where were they? She had to help them. What if something like this was happening to them, too? ]

[ Try though she may, she couldn't fight it. Still covered in the shroud of a deep sleep, all of her efforts were eventually for not. At length, she was left alone, laying on the floor and trying to collect her thoughts into something that made sense. None of it had seemed real. But now the truth was slowly making itself more and more clear... This was all reality. The dream, the people that had been tugging and pulling this way and that, the explanations... The burning sensation at her back, now neatly bandaged over. ]

[ Bending forward, she places a hand against her forehead, trying to collect her thoughts. She'd made some kind of contract... She remembered the dream almost vividly: wandering through the woods, spotting her mother, dressed entirely in white. She'd been stunned at first, but then he'd started speaking, offering things, promising things there was no way Katara could refuse. Promising to keep Aang— to keep everyone safe... And how she'd believed it with every fiber of her being. ]

[ She couldn't just sit here anymore. Pushing the blankets away from her, she slowly began to stand. First things first, she needed to find some water. If she had that, she could heal her burns, not to mention fight her way out of here if she needed to. And if anyone else was here, she'd find them, too. ]