Could you make publications of Rotxo and Spider please?
Hey! Thanks for the ask - for future reference, please include a prompt for requests! Here's what I got:
When Spider gets his tattoo with the Metkayina, it's because of Rotxo
Rotxo's mother is one of the artists and he spends weeks trying to figure out how to get him a tattoo and let him partake in the iknimaya
Ultimately, it's Tsireya's help that gets it past Ronal and Tonowari (being a POW helps) and Rotxo spends the rest of his time trying to figure out how to safely get Spider his tattoo
He plans the armband himself; very nervously approaching Lo'ak and Jake on how the adoptive Sully can join their traditions
Neytiri fights it initially, but Ronal is the Tsahik and has the final say
He spends weeks with his mother as he plans out what design to use and figuring out how Na'vi and human flesh differ. His mother plans his tattoo and he plans Spider: slowly turning the gesture fully into his first attempt at courting
He uses the tattoo as a chance to show his willingness to learn, his attention, and just hopes it isn't too much. He even makes Kiri approve the design before he presents it to him: terrified of the answer even if it goes in his favor
His relaxed demeanor earned him a very laid-back reputation but anxiety courses through his veins more and more as he gets older. Part of him is terrified of the future: of what a yes means, even if it is good. Part of him is terrified of the no and what he'll do next.
Rotxo almost cancels the whole plan until he finds Spider the morning of, tending gently to an ilu - just as he would have always done had he been born amongst the clan.
Assured this is his place, Rotxo resolves to ask, deciding Spider has earned the privilege as a courting rite or not.
Spider, of course, accepts but Rotxo is too timid to tell him why he did it: resolving to continue the process slowly, ease them both into it as best he can
Then everything changes again
Spider is off with the Wind Traders, supposedly to join 'his' people, and it is all Rotxo can do not to beg Jake to think again
His siblings give him pitying looks and slaps on the back as they say goodbye. Rotxo desperately tries to come up with a plan and finally tucks a note into the packs they load on board. At least this way, when they land, he can keep contact with the little human
Rotxo finds out weeks later that the letter never got read. It was burned before Spider ever opened his bag.
Spider is taken again, different now, and then fighting returns to his peaceful home: Rotxo tries to fight, convinces himself that he can make it safe here again and maybe this time the humans will leave them to their peace
He goes after Lo'ak, fights for Palakun, and sharpens his spears even though kids his age were never meant for real bloodshed. He holds his resolve tight to his chest and does what his ancestors taught him.
He closes his eyes, lurches out of the water with his bond sending rushing adrenaline through him, and opens them again amongst the ancestors.