a lot of people misunderstand the disdain for spider. at least from the people who feel similarly to me.
to preface, i love the avatar movies very much and that's why i feel so strongly about their flaws.
i don't hate spider because he helped quaritch; that's his dad, sure whatever. i don't hate him because i blame him for neteyam's death - i don't. i don't hate him because he's with kiri. i could not care less about that.
i get that spider is integral to the plot of the avatar movies at this point. that's the problem. i don't hate spider as a person, i hate him as a character.
his role in the movies just reinforces the white savior trope they're built on (a white person does not have to explicitly save other characters to fit the trope or to fulfill the same role. that's a shitty refutal).
along with jake, so much of the movies center around spider as this central character. he is a major factor in the movies' two sides, jake and quaritch. the way the movies are written, the non-na'vi (read: white) characters remain at the center and on the right side of every conflict, personal and systemic.
this is not a problem with spider, the boy. this is a problem with the writing of spider, the character. if the movies were written differently, spider could act with the same exact intentions and consequences and there would be less controversy.
calling people "illiterate" or "racist" (the far more stupid of the two accusations) for not liking spider or his role in the movies isn't fair if you don't take the time to understand why.
i forgot that, outside of the way movies treat spider, i hate how the fandom uses him. art imitates life and life imitates art and i see too many people projecting onto spider.
his proximity to the na'vi does not and should not reflect or be reflected in real life white people's interactions with poc. there is no cookout for you to be invited to, you do not get to draw the line between cultural appropriation and appreciation, and poc do not owe white people anything.
some fans see spider's suffering in the movies as some debt that should be repaid by the na'vi even though they had nothing to do with it. and, if they did, that blame just circles back to the humans again.
there is this tendency to view personal issues as equal to or greater than systemic ones. while it is unfortunate what spider has gone through, you cannot equate it to the repeated attempts of colonization of pandora (or fucking racism. neytiri not liking spider or any human is not racism dumbass).
a lot of people misunderstand the disdain for spider. at least from the people who feel similarly to me.
to preface, i love the avatar movies very much and that's why i feel so strongly about their flaws.
i don't hate spider because he helped quaritch; that's his dad, sure whatever. i don't hate him because i blame him for neteyam's death - i don't. i don't hate him because he's with kiri. i could not care less about that.
i get that spider is integral to the plot of the avatar movies at this point. that's the problem. i don't hate spider as a person, i hate him as a character.
his role in the movies just reinforces the white savior trope they're built on (a white person does not have to explicitly save other characters to fit the trope or to fulfill the same role. that's a shitty refutal).
along with jake, so much of the movies center around spider as this central character. he is a major factor in the movies' two sides, jake and quaritch. the way the movies are written, the non-na'vi (read: white) characters remain at the center and on the right side of every conflict, personal and systemic.
this is not a problem with spider, the boy. this is a problem with the writing of spider, the character. if the movies were written differently, spider could act with the same exact intentions and consequences and there would be less controversy.
calling people "illiterate" or "racist" (the far more stupid of the two accusations) for not liking spider or his role in the movies isn't fair if you don't take the time to understand why.
"Ilu are smart, playful, deadly, and fast. They are streamlined, graceful swimmers, capable of impressive hydrobatics and almost dance-like choreography while hunting as a pack...Ilu are intelligent and highly social, like dolphins. // Ilu are easily domesticated, and...do not develop individual imprinted bonds with riders..."
𓆝.°•
Like the Metkayina's partner in crime, ilu!reader is a friend to all. Their playful charm ensures that they're never left alone. It's no wonder they're loved by all, though; they're down for anything. It's hard to find a group or activity ilu!reader hasn't squeezed into.
Their persistent presence is backed up by their skill. Intelligent and dexterous, there's hardly a thing ilu!reader struggles to do. They have a passion for life, finding joy in even the most trivial of tasks. When they do stumble upon difficulty, though, they have a tendency to abandon ship.
Ilu!reader has an unfortunate dependency on their relationships. They become dejected when they don't have others to draw from. This reliance on others leads to many of their relationships being shallow as they might not understand the importance of quality over quantity.
Ilu!reader's core desire is to experience all of the joy in the world. To them, this is best achieved with friends by one's side and they're in a constant endeavor to fulfill this vision.
It is quite easy to break into their heart, but anyone who wants to fill it should take care. It will take considerable effort to keep their attention and make them value yours.
"Tsurak do not always bond for life with an individual Navi rider as ikran do, but they are very picky who rides them. Unless a bond of understanding is formed, the tsurak may not return from its solo feeding forays; it typically hunts in a large territory. Tsurak are high maintenance mounts and require a lot of bond-time to remain loyal and return to the village."
𓂃𓂁𓂃
Like the tsurak, or skimwing, they are not an easy friend. Uniquely independent, it takes more than a first impression to earn their companionship. Do not take this as hostility, though; if they feel someone is not worth their time they will simply not waste it on them.
They are fierce and adaptable, reflective of the tsurak's ability to flourish both above and below the water. They are adventurous and commit to anything they decides to do with full force.
They are not satisfied to remain in the village; they yearn to go beyond the reef, whether to hunt or explore the Eastern Sea.
Even with their assets, the tsurak!reader has their flaws. They are stubborn, avoiding any situation they feel does not suit them. They can be reluctant to cooperate with others even when it would be the more logical choice.
Ultimately, tsurak!reader wants to live a life suited to their whims. Their circle is small, and they would rather keep it that way than allow someone to disturb their peace.
Any Na'vi seeking to court them should be prepared with both determination and tenderness. Lacking in either will only cause their walls to build higher.
i hc that jake is actually really fucking ugly to the na'vi. he has like some uncanny valley shit going on so even before seeing his hands the others think he's unsettling. neytiri has shit taste
a/n: this whole thing is intended to be slow burn, so it’s not lo’ak heavy. can you tell i suck at dialogue? can be read as a continuation of my last thing. reader is socially awkward and can come off as distant. enjoyyyyy, and lmk if you want a scene of reader at ilu lessons!
Your shoulder strains under the weight of the overfull fish net thrown over your shoulder. You fixate your attention on staying balanced with the hefty load as you feel your feet taking turns sinking into the sand. You are bracketed by the hunters, including your mother, who had let you join the hunt that morning.
Your body is tense as you think over the venture. You had been tired, swimming too slow and missing too many shots. Your grip on the net’s clutch tightens as you mentally berate yourself. You feel a few not-yet-dead fish flop around against your back, and try to relax a little. If the heavy mass you're carrying means anything, you did alright today.
“Maite,” your mother calls from your front. Your eyes raise from the footprints in the sand at her voice. When she sees she has your attention, she juts her head to the right, towards the water. “Your friend is calling for you.” Following her line of sight, you turn your own head to see Tsireya. She is accompanied by Aonung, Rotxo, and the forest children. Now that you have noticed her, her cries of your name are more clear.
You raise a hand in greeting to her, having to take a moment to readjust your net as a result. Stuck in your head, you return your gaze to the ground beneath you and continue walking. You are startled back out of your thoughts when the heels in front of you become too close and your head bumps with your mother’s back. She tilts her head and raises a coaxing brow at you.
“Go with them. You’ve done well today.” As her words, you purse your lips in defiance. Knowing your stubbornness, she wrestles the fishing net from you.
“But sa’nu,” you whine, dragging out the word. You loathe to act like this in front of the others, but you did not mentally prepare yourself for a friendly outing. You are already exhausted and, to your socially awkward self, hauling and preparing fish is far less tiring than splashing around with Tsireya and the others. If it was just her, sure, but Eywa help you if you were to be outnumbered by the rest of them. Breaking you out of your lament, your mother shoves you towards the shore.
“Shoo. Have fun. Be nice.” Your mother presses. She simply tsks at you when you look over your shoulder at her as you take reluctant steps out to your friend.
From her spot waist deep in the water, Tsireya watches you amble towards them. After giving you an insistent wave, she turns to face the others. She notices Lo’ak eyeing you as you approach, and smirks to herself. He likely will not get far with you, she thinks pensively, but you will hopefully find some companionship among the Sullys. Kiri is more easygoing than her siblings - but she does seem to like being alone. Tsireya mulls over ways to help you connect before her brother interrupts her train of thought.
“Uh-oh, has the hunter found more prey?” Aonung teases as you step into the water, noting your irate expression. You sweep your tail in his direction, causing water to flick onto him. Tsireya and Rotxo snicker lightly and she grabs your hand to hurry your advance into the water.
Your mood is lifted already just by being with your friends. You have to admit to yourself, allowing yourself to simply be in the water is relaxing. Once you are fully submerged with the rest of them, Tsireya yanks you into her embrace.
“You can do this,” she whispers in your ear. It feels almost conspiratorial, which you don’t understand because it was not at all your plan to be here. Releasing you, Tsireya turns you out by your shoulders to face the forest children, with Aonung and Rotxo on your sides.
“Sullys, this is my friend.” Her hands still on your shoulders, she leans over your left, cheeks almost touching, and smiles. Your own smile manifests as more of a grimace. Tsireya leaves you to introduce the outsiders one by one, sweeping a circle around the inside of your group. Neteyam, Lo’ak, Kiri, and Tuk raise their hands in an awkward greeting when she returns to your side.
“She has been too busy stalking the seas to join us before.” Rotxo contorts his hands to mimic claws as he speaks. Tsireya and Aonung laugh, prompting the Sullys to follow stiffly. You have never had an issue with your friends’ teasing about your distance, but now it makes you feel out of place. Your eyes track across the Sullys’ faces, trying to gauge if their amusement is out of fun or malice. Your sinking heart stops as the smallest one, Tuk, speaks up.
“Did you catch all those fish?” She looks up at you with awe. Neteyam and Lo’ak’s attention turn to you, making you itch. Before you can respond she continues. “I can barely swim fast enough to keep up with them,” she gestures at Tsireya. Aonung and Rotxo seem to have already gotten bored with the conversation, having resorted to trying to drown each other. “I can’t imagine if I was following fish.” You can’t help the smile that blooms on your face at how impressed she is with you.
“It’s not so bad. Haven’t they been teaching you?” You glance at your best friend and back to the Sullys, realizing that Kiri has floated deeper into the water. You can only tell where she is by her tail flicking slightly above the surface.
“They have,” Neteyam defends while his siblings nod beside him. Lo’ak looks like he is going to speak before Tuk cuts in again.
“They’re not very good though.” Neteyam cuts his eyes to his sister while Lo’ak chuckles at her honesty. “They swim off like they forget we’re learning. And they make fun of us.” Tuk huffs. Not missing an opportunity to make fun of Tsireya, you swing your head to face her.
“Oh, yeah. She’s a terrible teacher, never thinks about anyone else,” you say lightly. Tsireya curves her body playfully at the insult.
“A better teacher than one that’s never there,” she slants her head mirthfully. You click your teeth in mock offense. Lo’ak speaks, causing the two of you halt your game with each other.
“You ride the sharp-toothed creature, right? The skimwings?” Not expecting further questioning about yourself, you take a pause before responding.
“Ah, no. Skimwings are reserved for expert hunters, so I'm not allowed yet.” Rather than disappointment, Lo’ak seems to be more enthused by your answer.
“So you ride ilu to hunt, then?” You’re not sure whether it’s in your mind or reality, but it feels as though the boy is closing in on you physically as well as verbally. You nod to answer his question.
“Great! You can teach us. The lessons have not been going well so far,” he shakes his head. Tuk nods with him, but Neteyam seizes his brother’s neck.
“That is hardly the fault of Tsireya. Lo’ak could be the ilu himself and still find a way to fall off of one.” Everyone except Lo’ak snickers at that, and you allow yourself to join them.
“That is a great idea,” Tsireya looks at you pointedly as the laughter dies down. You narrow your eyes at her when she continues. “She would be a more patient teacher than Aonung, and she has more varied experience riding ilu.” Neteyam, Lo’ak, and Tuk pin their gazes on you, watching for your reaction to the suggestion. Cued by Tsireya grabbing your hand under the water, you nod slowly.
“Of course. I’d love to help.” It is a stiff statement, but its authenticity is not questioned by your new forest friends.
They each express it differently, but are all clearly joyful about you joining them. You try not to put too much weight on their enthusiasm or the way your chest swells at Lo’ak’s sharp grin.
°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·｡°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·｡°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·｡
A humongous splash comes from Tsireya’s side and all of you turn to assess it. Rotxo has Aonung by the arms and is pushing his upper body underwater while the latter struggles for his freedom. Kiri, having surfaced to survey the commotion, rolls her eyes and dives back into the deeper water.
i think it’d be cute if jake still called neytiri “baby” in English. over the years, that’s something he’s kept. and children tend to mirror their parents when it comes to relationships, right?
it’d be sweet if the sully kids called reader baby once, whether they’re actually together or not. depending on the reader, it’s met with curiosity or suspicion. it’s a word not natural in na’vi (the b would have to become a px to them) so they’re even more confused. when the sully kids try to explain it’s like, yes it means loved one but it also means infant and yes the sky people call and sometimes treat their loved ones infants.
(a metkayina reader would take to calling their sully by the nickname. r thinks it’s funny how it means infant, attaching it to their newness to the ocean.)
feel free to write (or request!!) a fic or headcanons or anything off of this!
a/n: light on dialogue. this is really just a not-very-good rewrite of the scene of the sully’s arriving to the metkayina clan just so i can get back into writing. enjoy!!
Lo’ak is tired. He is tired of his father’s constant scolding, tired of seeing his mother cry, and, mostly, tired of flying. He must be the most relieved, he thinks, when his father leads their ikran down to a coast sheltered by spanning tree roots.
Lo’ak stretches his neck over that of his mount, taking in the sights and sounds of what seem to be Na’vi as they observe his family’s descent over them. The ikran land, and Lo’ak dismounts and ambles forward, further onto the shore and closer to the others. He tries to take on an awkward balance of unafraid yet non threatening as the other Na’vi, strangely colored, circle him and his family.
He gestures in greeting to two boys who seem about his age, brushing it off when he gets nothing but a taunt in return. Lo’ak’s attention is pulled from the fluorescent crowd around him to the shallow waters. He watches as a girl slides off of a water creature and walks ashore. He is fascinated by her, observing as she is approached by another girl. The second girl’s back is turned to the crowd as she engages with the first. Lo’ak’s curiosity and musing over them is shattered when the second girl turns, pinning him with a sharp glare. He snaps his gaze downward, caught off guard by being noticed.
°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·｡°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·｡°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·｡°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·｡
“Is your father expecting these strange guests?” Your brows are furrowed as you connect with Tsireya, both of you turning to join the group that has formed around the intruders.
She smiles wryly. “Not that he told me of.” At your silence, she bumps your shoulder. “I doubt they are here for trouble. Be kind to them.”
You sigh, your face still twisted with cynicism, as Tsireya leaves your side to spread her message of kindness to Aonung and Rotxo. She chides them for ridiculing the outsiders’ tails but, truthfully, you cannot blame them. As you circle the strange group to stop at your friends’ side, you cannot help but be unsettled by their peculiarities. Your examination of their not quite normal bodies is interrupted when one of them speaks.
“Hey,” the slightly shorter boy states coolly. Flustered by his attention, all Tsireya can do is smile. You exchange a look with Aonung over her head and then turn to her.
“Tsireya…” You do not finish your statement. She knows what you mean. Whatever these Na’vi are doing here can be nothing but trouble. Your friend opens her mouth to retort but is distracted by a group of skimwing approaching.
Her father, Tonowari, accompanied by your mother and a few others, swoop and land by the shore. Tonowari saunters through the crowd to its center to greet the visitors. Your mother appears behind you and rests a firm hand on your shoulder. You glance back at her. For a moment, you watch as she assesses the odd batch. When her gaze wanders down to meet your own, you look at her with a question in your eyes. Her lips curl subtly, making you feel validated in your distrust. She releases your shoulder with a pat and departs to join the other side of the crowd as Ronal emerges from it.
You watch intently as the tsahik revolves around the six strangers, poking and prodding at each of their features.
Slyly, you mumble to Tsireya. “I have never seen your mother so touchy.” The joke is enough to stretch the thin line her mouth has formed into a smirk. The two of you simper among yourselves, the gravity of the situation briefly forgotten.
Your attention again settles on the boy who addressed Tsireya earlier. His tail swishes fiercely behind him as he watches his family being jabbed at. That would be unpleasant, you consider, regardless of one’s status. His eyes flit across the crowd before finally coming to rest on you. He looks you up and down and you are offended by the unfamiliar feeling that sprouts in you at his attention. An understanding for Tsireya’s earlier behavior strikes the back of your mind.
You feel your body relax as his scrutiny leaves you. None of what just happened, even if just in your head, is worth mulling over, you decide. Your eyes trail over to the reason his attention left you. Ronal has taken his thin arm in her hand, but she points out yet another oddity. He is strikingly detached as she raises his hand above their heads.
“They have demon blood!” Ronal’s announcement breaks you out of your concern for them. Your eyes narrow as the others around murmur in distress. You strain your ears to hear the next part of the encounter. The woman of the group, likely the mother, uses a hushed tone as she proclaims the man beside her as Toruk Makto. It does little to gain sympathy from Ronal.
You stare as Toruk Makto begs for his family’s safety, your gaze softening as you listen to the youngest’s whimpers. You make an effort to not let your eyes fall on the younger boy again. Tsireya must sense your skepticism waning, and gives you an insistent look. You purse your lips at her in response. She squeezes your arm to her side as her parents confer.
Tonowari shifts to face the family, welcoming them and urging the Metkayina to do so as well. At this, Tsireya’s entire body relaxes. You try to ignore the fact that yours does too. She pats your arm jovially when her father charges her with receiving their guests. She attempts to take you with her to introduce them to the village, but you wrestle your arm from her grasp.
Still unsure about how to feel about everything that just transpired, you implore Tsireya to take them on her own. You need a moment. Unaffected by your refusal to join her, she skips off with her guests and, knowing her, new friends. Your eyes catch your mother’s form retreating from the crowd to go who knows where. You will your gaze to not hover on the forest boy as he and his family follow your friend deeper into your village.
You turn out to face the ocean and sigh. Aonung appears beside you. His crossed arms and swaying tail make it clear he is just as frustrated as you, though likely for different reasons.
