boy dyke

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The first thing we see in the comic is Kya attempting to reach Korra and help her heal. More than just physically. The way she speaks to her, you can tell Kya has experienced similar things. That she's been hurt and been in a place where she's felt her lowest. A place she didn't know if she might ever come back from.

But she did. We see that Kya held on to her hope and her compassion. That she's strong and resilient. We see that Kya knows herself and what she's capable of. That she knows what she wants is to help people in any way she can. Heal them, guide them, support them. And this comic is such a strong illustration of that.

In my Kya centric fic, 'Moonstone: Mist and Steel', this was the exact sort of thing I wanted to show with Kya. And so seeing this depicted in the comic, actual canon, was so so fulfilling even if undoubtedly heart wrenching.

In TLOK we see Kya primarily as this wise and sweet person. With little else adding depth to her character. While writing 'Moonstone', I wanted to show other sides of her. Flesh her out. Show some of the things she might have dealt with as a full person.

I had decided early on that one of these things was going to be a way in which she was hurt and had struggled. Same as everyone does. But it was important to me that I show how she holds on to her hope and compassion and sense of self no matter what.

There is an interaction in 'Book One: Root — Chapter Five: Fresh Scars, Raw Jade' in which Kya is attempting to help Lin deal with the aftermath of being scarred. She empathizes with her and shares with her an instance where she was hurt as well and so understands the pain her friend is going through.

Kya continued, looking at Lin with a weighty intent. A mirrored woundedness in her deep blue eyes. “Once something like that happens? It slices down to your very spirit. Splits it in two. There’s everything before and everything after and it feels impossible to reconcile the two. Impossible to understand how the two even parted. Let alone what happened to you.” All Lin could do was nod as she listened — as she lowered her hand back to Kya’s. They twined their fingers together amidst the echos of their suffering, soothing one another. “But that summer, getting that time with you in the 'after'...it meant everything to me. Because it helped show me that some parts of my ‘before’ still made it through with me. Parts of myself too.” Kya whispered fervidly, hands shaking around Lin's with purpose now — imbued with meaning. "Everything was different but there were still some things, good things, that would remain the same no matter what. That would adapt and reshape yet still feel familiar and comforting in a way that made me feel more whole." Lin tried to hang her head, break their tethered hold, but Kya wouldn't let her. Needed her to hear her, compelling her to listen.  "That fracture never goes away but there is wholeness beyond it. There is. That's what I realized that summer and the same is true for you with all of this now, Linny." Her brow furrowed, jaw tensing and green gaze wavering. "I know it probably doesn't feel as if that could be true. I can't imagine how it possibly could right now. Everything must still be so fresh for you. So raw. I know you aren't in a place to feel that. To know it yet. But you will be. And I just hope that hearing what I've told you helps you find some small comfort in the knowledge that the 'after' won't always feel this way. You will heal from this. And I will be here for you, always. Whenever you need me."

The parallel in sentiment between the interaction with Lin in this chapter and the interaction Kya has with Korra in 'Kya and the Secret of the Sand'. was so salient for me. And rewarding. Again, even if heart wrenching. Having this aspect of Kya and her journey represented so poignantly in canon with this comic is so meaningful and wonderful. Couldn't have asked for more.

last drawing of 2020!

some domestic kyalin sketches!!

they’re working on it...

(click image for optimal quality!)

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