An homage to sci-fi smut.
Avatar fanfiction & custom alien species project! đ
Main Writing Blog: @pinkspacedustnstuff đ¤
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#Reflections of eywa
#Reflections of eywa art
#Reflections of eywa fanfic
Welcome! I'm Harper. Writer | Artist | Idiot. Not necessarily in that order.
Avatar fanfiction & custom alien species project! đ
Main Writing Blog: @pinkstardustnstuff đ¤
Content Scope: Avatar art, fanfiction, worldbuilding, and development of my original alien species (The Vrix).
â ď¸ Content Notice: This blog contains explicit 18+ content, mature themes, and sci-fi smut. Please review all triggers and squicks tagged on individual fics and posts.
đ FanFiction & Lore
Reflections of Eywa:
A slow-burn OC x OC Avatar AU set during the Frontiers of Pandora / Way of Water era, following the a swamp clan navigating invasion, resistance, and the quiet violence of becoming something new.
Links: [Read on AO3] | [Read here on Tumblr] | [Now on Wattpad]
Main Tags: #Reflections of eywa | #Reflections of eywa fanfic | #Reflections of eywa art
True Colors:
A canon-divergent Teylan x OC Avatar AU set during the events of From the Ashes, following Teylan finding his place among the Aranahe, healing from the wounds of the past, and discovering that being different was never the same as being broken.
Links: [Read on AO3] | [Read here on Tumblr] | [Now on Wattpad]
Main Tags: #True Colors fic | #True Colors art
TAKEN (A Quarang Fic)
A canon-divergent Quaritch x Varang Avatar AU set during Fire and Ash, following a young Tlalim girl who is taken during a Mangkwan raid, given a new name, and raised in a clan that was never meant to become her home.
Links: [Read on AO3] | [Read here on Tumblr]
Main Tags: #TAKEN fic | #TAKEN fic art
Other Fics:
Coming soon...
The Vrix Project
Development, lore drops, and worldbuilding for my custom original alien species.
Main Tag: #Vrix | #Xirik
đ¨ Lore & Visuals
Reference sheets, digital sketches, and visual worldbuilding for Na'vi OCs and the Vrix.
The MokrĂŹte Clan and the Paluvan [Click here for Clan/Na'vi guide]
Sänari [Character Guide]
Wangoa/Silt-Stalker [Click here for Creature Info]
Vrix/Xirik: [Click here for species guide]
Mokrite Burials: [Click here for bog bodies]
đŹ Interactions
Have questions about my characters, creatures, or content? Feel free to hit the Ask me anything button. Dm's are open for collabs and friends.
đŹ Discord
Want to hang out beyond Tumblr?
I have a small 18+ Discord community for fans, artists, writers, and fellow fandom gremlins.
A chill space for:
đ¨ Sharing art & creative projects
đ Fanfiction & writing chats
đŹ Character discussions & theories
đŽ Games, memes, and general chaos
đŤ Making friends with people who get way too attached to fictional characters
No pressure to be constantly activeâit's just a cozy place to chat, share, and vibe.
Interested? [CLICK HERE]
â Q&A & Permissions
Can I request fanfic? Yes! Please use the Ask me anything button to submit requests. Keep in mind that requested fics will likely be one-shots, and I only write for characters I know well and feel I can write well for.
Can I make a MokrĂŹte Na'vi or use your creatures? Yes, with credit! If you use any of my custom lore, I ask that you credit and tag me. Honestly, it's mostly because I want to see that shit and hype you guys up!
(Will update this post as new chapters and lore drop â¨)
Things I can say without being spoilers because I'm excited and want to yap about the new arc and characters.
I already know the Quarang babies gender and name
We are getting a childhood arc instead of just skipping to the teenage years.
I have already decided what the clans opinion of this child is and their role in the clan.
I have already figured out their personality and relationship with Varang and Tskä tho I feel like his relationship with Quaritch will be more complicated. (Because ofc it will be.)
This kid is also going to be part of the LEGACY PROGRAM but probably not the same rank/level as Tskä. They might work together later as adults but as kids that 5 year gap is doing a lot
I haven't figured out if since the RDA is as involved as they are if Varang and Quaritch are going to find out the gender early. I'm also planning quite a bit of fuckery for this arc hehe.
That being said what do you guys think it's going to be? Give me your predictions and what you think is going to happen. đ
How I feel right now looking at the original plotline of TAKEN
ORGINAL PLAN?
Acquire Tskä
Make Tskä conform to Mangkwan ideology
Get Tskä attached to Varang and Quaritch
Start Eroding her memories of the past and sense of self
Replace sense of self and identity with Mangkwan one
RDA and War
SPIDER
Final Battle
Time skip to teen Tskä
Varang and Quaritch looked at all of that and went
NOPE
NOT HAPPENING
WE ARE NOW GOING OFF SCRIPT
I am now sitting here trying to plot out how to write this whole new arc, I now have to write a whole new character into said plot. We are now getting significantly more Quarang and domestic chapters (or at least as domestic as you can get with these two)
I'm the author and I've written these characters well enough now that they've just decided what's happening now. We've gone entirely off script. I have no idea what's happening from chapter to chapter.
Previous Chapter | Chapter Nine | Next chapter - Coming Soon...
Pairing: Varang X Quaritch
Summary:
Between RDA politics, Mangkwan losses, and a child already caught between two worlds, Quaritch and Varang have enough on their plates. Then Varang gives him one more thing to worry about.
Warnings/Tags:
Found Family ⢠Battle Couple ⢠Fluff and Angst ⢠Domestic ⢠Hurt/Comfort ⢠Identity Issues ⢠Loss of Identity ⢠Conditioning ⢠Dead Dove: Do Not Eat ⢠Manipulation ⢠Kidnapping ⢠Fucked Up But Wholesome ⢠Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence ⢠Accidental Child Acquisition ⢠Trauma ⢠Canon-Typical Violence ⢠Character Study
Notes:
Okay, so this chapter and the next are very Quarang-heavy lol. đ
Honestly, figuring out what to do with Quaritch after the battle was SO much harder than I expected. I'm trying to work out where these characters go from here, what their lives actually look like, and how everything starts settling into a new normal after all the chaos. And of course, I couldn't possibly let Varang have one of her biggest anxieties without making it become a reality. LMAO. đ
So I hope you guys enjoy getting a little more domestic character stuff while I figure out where all these moving pieces are going.
[Additional notes: This is my personal interpretation of the character, if you do not like this version or the character please just scroll on.]
Always posted to AO3 first under PinkStarDust, this is intended to be a long-running fic, so go give it some love.
Word Count: 2,678
CHAPTER NINE - Not The Same Kind Of Blue
"Your job is on the line here. I'm damn sick and tired of this. You understand? I don't want any more shilly-shallying, you go in there, and you do what needs to be done, because the whole damn frontier has gone to hell. I say it's high time we bring in the big guns. Total elimination, Major, understood? You take that insurgency out.â Quaritch seethed into the comm, looking at one of the transparent tablets that was pulled up in front of him.
Tskä stood nearby, lingering near Lyle's side, her ear flicking as she watched irritation ripple through her father. She'd learned to read the signs the last few weeks, his ears flattened, his tail lashing, fangs bared at the sky people screens.
He was supposed to be healing, tending to the wounds he had sustained in the battle that both her parents had survived. Her mother had escaped with minor wounds that could be healed with herbs and salves. Quaritch, however, had sustained a deep cut over his brow that dragged back past his hairline, reminiscent of his human scars, but the burnsâŚthose were unique to this body. Several patches of skin along his arms, torso, and neck had been burned badly enough to leave pale scarred patches behind in their wake.
âBoss.â Lyle interrupted.
Quaritchâs attention snapped to Lyle, then to the small blue figure in human clothes next to him.
âLeave her here, I'm done tearing the western frontier a new ass.â He grumbled, waving a hand.
Lyle hesitated but nodded before leaving the med bay. Heâd been responsible for bringing Tskä back and forth between the mangkwan camp and the RDA med bay for the last few weeks. Not that Varang didn't want to be there, but the scents of the med bay seemed to bother her. Tskä, on the other hand, had no issues with spending time in the med bay keeping the Colonel company between his treatments and her own training.
Tskä wandered over to the bed, peeking over the side at the screen Quaritch was focused on.
âFeeling nosey, pipsqueak?â He asked, glancing down at her.
She looked up at him. âWhy do the screens make you mad?â She asked.
He smiled before pulling her up, letting her settle in his lap. âIt's not the screen. It's what's on them.â He explained, letting her look. There were images of Naâvi on ikran, holding weapons, faces scrunched in snarls.
âThey're angry.â Her fingers reached out to touch one of the images, a female dressed in bright colors on the back of an ikran.
âThat is the enemy. Traitors and rebels. People who like to see this place burned to the ground.â He told her.
She looked up at him. âBut they look like mama and me.â
Quaritch let out an amused huff. âThose blues are nothing like you and your mother, pipsqueak.â He told her.
âBut I'm blue! So are you!â She pointed at him as if to prove her point.
His ears flattened. âThat's not the sameâŚâ
Tskäâs brow furrowed. âGrown-ups are confusing.â She grumbled.
Quaritch sighed. âAlright, kid, if you're going to live on base, you're going to have to learn the lingo.â
âWhat's lingo?â She asked.
He paused, thinking of how to explain. âIt's like how your name is Tskä, but I call you pipsqueak. Pipsqueak ain't your name, but everyone on base knows what I'm talking about.â
âThings have nicknames?â She tilted her head.
âYes, and one name we call enemy natives is blues. You are blue, but you're not my enemy, are you?â He teased, poking at her.
âNo!â She laughed.
Quaritch suddenly went still, and Tskä immediately noticed Varang and KxanÏ were standing in the doorway.
âHey, cupcake.â Quaritchâs gaze was locked on her.
âTskä, go with KxanĂŹ,â Varang ordered, her gaze locked on her mate, the room suddenly charged with tension.
Tskä scrambled off the bed before moving to KxanĂŹ. âWhat's going on?â
âShh, we will tell you then,â KxanĂŹ promised before leading Tskä from the room.
Varang walked in, closing the door behind her before moving to the bedside, lingering there, her gaze flicking over her mate. His condition was considerably better than the last time she had seen him, but this area they kept him in with their machines and medicines was foreign and uncomfortable.
She pressed her knuckles to her lips in an attempt to will away the nausea she felt, the off, sterile smell made her stomach churn.
âHow's the clan holding up?â He asked.
âThey are strong. We will recover. I have chosen those I could spare for this problem of yours in the west.â She told him.
âThat's good. I need some strong assholes to help me get things under control out there.â He offered a lopsided smirk.
Varang was no stranger to scars or pain. She should have been proud that Quaritch had survived, that he was strong, that he was still strong and capable despite his wounds, but seeing her mate injured and connected to the sky people's machines had hit her unexpectedly hard.
âI am with child,â Varang announced, the words blunt and unapologetic.
Quaritch stared wide-eyed for a long moment. Varang's ears pinned as one of the machines he was connected to started beeping loudly and annoyingly.
âWell shit.â Quaritch looked stunned.
He was struggling to wrap his head around it. He and the Tsahik hadn't exactly been careful with their activities, but to be blindsided by it, and so casually, had him scrambling to collect his thoughts.
Tskä was an easy enough kid to deal with; Spider wasâŚan entirely different problem, and now this on top of trying to manage what information the resistance got on Tskä and the insurgency in the west.
âI cannot tell if you are pleased and this sky people machine keeps screaming,â Varang eyed the blinking box.
âI'm pleased.â He said a bit too quickly. âI'm justâŚyou're sure? I can have one of the science guys draw bloodââ
âI am Tsahik; I know my body. I do not need the sky people to poke with their tools to know this.â She was annoyed at the insinuation that she might be wrong, her tail flicking in agitation.
âThe RDA is going to want to take a look at you, both of you.â He told her.
âNo.â Her tone was firm.
âVarang, we aren't going to have a lot of options here. I'm basically military property; that kid is going to be of interest to them.â Quaritch tried to explain. âItâs no different than what you allow with Tskä.â
Varang's eyes narrowed. âI do not want them poking and prodding with their machines. Tskä tolerates such things; I will not.â She told him.
âYou want to make sure the kid is strong, right?â He knew exactly what buttons to push.
âIt is our child. It will be strong. Strong enough to bring entire clans to their knees.â She told him.
âWhat if it's not? What if there's something wrong? The RDA can look now, fix shit, make sure it's as strong as possible.â He told her.
Varang's ears flattened as she stared at him. âYou can promise this?â She asked slowly.
âThe science pukes here are good. They can spot shit a mile away and fix it no problem.â He promised.
She seemed to consider his words. âI will not tolerate these sky people talking like I know nothing.â She started setting boundaries.
Quaritch held up his hands. âFair enough.â
âAnd if they stab me with those little biting tubes, I will kill them.â She warned.
âNo blood draws then.â He promised.
âI will tolerate thisâŚsky people observation.â She conceded with an annoyed huff.
âDamn right you will.â He chuckled.
Varang's ears eased from their pinned position. âDo all sky men act thisâŚoddlyâŚwhen they learn they are fathers?â Her gaze flicked over him. âThis is different than when I brought Tskä home. You thought her an annoyance once.â She observed.
âYeah, you're really starting to rack up a count on that whole springing kids on me shit.â He sighed. âI guess most men react like this.â He admitted.
âThat does not answer why you reacted differently.â She told him.
âTskä wasâŚyou just showed up with her. I wasn't prepared for that shit.â He grumbled. âI ain't exactly prepared for this either, but at least I've had practice this time, and Tskä doesn't hate me, so clearly I'm doing something rightâŚâ
Varang's eyes narrowed, her head tilting. âYou are worried?â
âOf course I'm worried. The kidâs going to be part me and part you. Probably twice as feral as Tskä. I'm going to go grey again.â He groaned.
âAgain?â She arched a brow.
âSky people joke.â He waved a hand; Varang didn't question it.
Lost in the forest, Tskä finds something the Mangkwan have long since abandoned.
What begins as simple curiosity soon leaves her with more questions than answers and a growing need to understand why Eywa turned their back on her people.
Warnings/Tags:
Found Family ⢠Battle Couple ⢠Fluff and Angst ⢠Domestic ⢠Hurt/Comfort ⢠Identity Issues ⢠Loss of Identity ⢠Conditioning ⢠Dead Dove: Do Not Eat ⢠Manipulation ⢠Kidnapping ⢠Fucked Up But Wholesome ⢠Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence ⢠Accidental Child Acquisition ⢠Trauma ⢠Canon-Typical Violence ⢠Character Study
Notes:
The amount of distress and symbolism and foundation work I laid into this chapter for this kidâs character arc is actually insane. Tskä is literally just wandering around the forest having a crisis and Iâm in the background like YESSSS THIS WILL BE IMPORTANT LATER.
Anyway hahaha enjoy this seemingly quiet little chapter :))))
[Additional notes: This is my personal interpretation of the character, if you do not like this version or the character please just scroll on.]
Always posted to AO3 first under PinkStarDust, this is intended to be a long-running fic, so go give it some love.
Word Count: 1,217
CHAPTER EIGHT - I Want To Understand
âI want to go back.â Tskä paced the edge of the small camp, agitated and looking more like one of the trapped beasts the hunters brought back from a hunt than a little girl.
âWe stay. We go nowhere until we know it is safe.â KxanĂŹ poked at the small fire, a pile of meat and fruit beside her.
They'd been out in the forest for days. The original plan had been to take Tskä back to the ash plains, but KxanĂŹ did not trust the RDA to stay their hand after whatever had happened at the base and after Sully's woman had invaded their campâŚshe didn't exactly trust the safety of home or her people.
âI don't want to. I want to go find mama.â She whined.
Kxani's ears flattened, her tail giving an annoyed thump against the moss-covered ground.
âI know this. But it is safer to stay here and wait. Once I know it is safe, we will seek her out.â KxanĂŹ promised.
Tskä pouted, sitting down near the fire with a petulant huff.
A few hours later, KxanĂŹ was asleep next to her, an arm draped over Tskäâs tiny form. Tskä woke slowly, something brushing her cheek. She swatted at whatever it was, blinking awake. Her eyes widened as she stared up at the forest canopy. Small white glowing seeds were drifting around them on the wind.
Tskä slowly slipped out from under KxanĂŹâs arm. She snatched one of the seeds from the air, her brows furrowing, an ear flicking as she tilted her head to inspect it.
Small, white, with little delicate tendrils and ends that looked like little feathers.
She looked back at the ones drifting on the wind. They were trailing through the forest. She dropped the one in her hands. The seed hit the ground, its tendrils crumpling as it lost its ability to drift on the wind. Tskä followed the trail of floating seeds, her eyes wide, taking in the bioluminescent forest.
Tskä stayed low, slowly creeping through the underbrush as she followed the trail. Her ear flicked at a distant animal cry.
Pandora was full of sounds and smells, but they were less sharp and overwhelming than the RDA base had been. Now there was something sweet and earthy in the air coming from the same direction the seeds were coming from.
Tskä scrambled over a massive root, tumbling over it and landing on the other side with a small thud. She looked up, coming face to face with a tree, a faint hum accompanying the soft pink glow of it. She stared for a long moment before getting to her feet, wandering closer. The little white seeds were thick here, drifting around the tree.
She got close, a hand reaching out, her fingertips brushing one of the long pink tendrils. There was something about the place that made her feel both calm and uneasy.
Fuzzy memories slowly surfaced of someone connecting her kuru to something like this. The feeling of connection. Belonging.
But the clan saw the kuru as something to take from the enemy. She had seen Varang use hers to make people tell the truth and bow.
Tskä slowly grabbed her braid, the hair around the end falling aside to reveal the neural tendrils. She brought them towards the tree.
âTskä!â KxanĂŹâs voice cut through the clearing.
Tskäâs head whipped in the adult's direction, her ears flattening like she had been caught doing something she shouldn't.
âWhat do you think you're doing? Running off? Coming here?â KxanĂŹ hissed, out of breath and clearly angry as she walked towards her.
âWhat is this place?â Tskä asked.
âThe tree of souls. The other clans use them to speak with Eywa and their ancestorsâŚâ KxanĂŹ told her, observing the pink tendril with disgust.
âWe don't?â Tskä asked.
âWe do not need Eywa, and she turns her back on all mangkwan.â KxanĂŹ sighed, looking down at the child.
âWhy?â Tskä asked.
âWhy does anyone do anything? Either way, it does not matter. We have the Tsahik; she is the one who saved us when Eywa turned her back on us.â The warrior watched her, taking in the child's confusion and, more dangerously, her curiosity. âEywa will not turn an ear to us, not even the smallest of the Mangkwan, not even if she is Tsakrem.â She told her, the words not meant to be unkind.
Tskä stared up at KxanĂŹ before her gaze drifted to the tree of souls, her neural queues little tendrils lashing between her fingers, desperate to connectâŚand then she brought them together anyway.
âTskä!â KxanĂŹ sounded genuinely panicked, as though she expected something horrible.
The tendril flickered slightly. Tskä stared up at it, confused, before looking at KxanÏ.
âNothing happened?â Her ears pinned, her tail lashing behind her as distress bubbled up inside her from a place she couldn't name.
KxanĂŹ looked almost relieved. âI warned you.â
âSomething is supposed to happen.â Tskä insisted, staring at the connection.
âNothing is going to happen, Tskä. I told you, she does not answer us.â KxanĂŹ said gently, breaking the connection.
âNo! It's supposed to do something!â Tskä insisted, sounding distressed.
âFor the other clans, other Naâvi who still depend on Eywa, yes. But not us. We are strong; we do not need a mother who ignores the cries of her children.â KxanĂŹ tried to soothe, crouching in front of her. âYou will understand one day.â
âI want to understand now!â Tskä told her, her small hands balling into fists.
KxanĂŹ sighed, closing her eyes, trying to find patience.
A screech sounded overhead.
Tskä's head snapped skywards, spotting the familiar silhouette of Varang's Nightwraith soaring overhead.
âMama!â Tskä took off towards where it was heading.
âDo not run off!â KxanĂŹ shouted, chasing after her.
Varang landed her Nightwraith, the creature breathing hard. She dismounted only to have Tskäâs tiny form collide with her leg. She blinked before looking down.
âTskä.â She sounded relieved as she sank to her knees, her arms wrapping around the child.
KxanĂŹ stopped a few feet away. âYour back.â
Varang's gaze flicked up to the warrior.
âThe battle ended badly.â She reported, standing slowly with one hand remaining on Tskäâs shoulder.
âThe others?â KxanĂŹ asked.
âMany died. We will need to regroup.â Varang sighed.
âWhere's daddy?â Tskä asked.
Varang's ears flattened. âHe was hurt. The sky people took him back to their base.â
KxanĂŹ frowned. She knew how attached Varang had become to the male, and how he could sway her judgement.
âWe head back to the ash plains then?â KxanĂŹ asked.
Varang shook her head. âNo. We stay, and we fight. I will make the clans kneel.â She growled, her tail lashing behind her, clearly pissed about how badly things had gone.
âWhat about the sky people?â KxanĂŹ prompted. âIf they took QuaritchâŚâ
âThe alliance still stands. They mean to mend them with their sky people tools. I have confirmed this with Lyle.â She reassured the warrior.
Tskä looked between the females, her own ears pinned, looking unsure as her tail wrapped around her leg.
âI wanna see daddy.â Tskä tugged at Varang.
The Tsahik looked down at her. âYou will see him soon. Your father is strong. He will be fine.â She reassured her, resting her hand atop the girl's head.
Started a new save file. Just got my ikran. My playing style and appreciation for the characters has changed.
I really changed the way I play my sarentu, and my taste in ikran has changed too. I normally go with a teal one named telisi. This one is the rose toned skin named amay.
Tbh it feels like I'm playing a completely different character than my first play through.
Because I'm finally introducing you all to the RDA's LEGACY PROGRAM. đ
I have had this rattling around in my brain for DAYS, and I've already planted some little seeds for it in the fic, so I think it's finally time to explain what the hell is going on with that LEGACY hoodie Tskä is wearing in Chapter 6.
Let's gooooo.
SO. WHAT IS THE LEGACY PROGRAM?
Well, we know from the movies that humans are capable of reproduction through Avatar bodies, and presumably the same applies to Recoms.
And humans are humans.
Put them in giant blue alien bodies on another planet and eventually they're still gonna do what humans do. đ
So the RDA has a problem:
What do you do with a growing population of non-native Na'vi children who are born into human culture?
Enter:
THE LEGACY PROGRAM
It's similar to the TAP program from Frontiers of Pandora, but it is not the same thing.
These aren't children who were taken from their clans and raised by the RDA.
These are children who were born into this environment.
They've grown up around humans. They're already familiar with RDA culture. Their parents are already working closely with the RDA. They live on or around the bases. For a lot of these families, Earth isn't really an option anymore.
So the RDA doesn't exactly have to drag these kids into anything.
Instead, they sell the program to the parents as:
A junior RDA development program designed to give the next generation the skills necessary to live and build a future for humanity on Pandora.
And honestly?
I can absolutely see a parent looking at that and going:
âWait. So you're telling me my kid gets an education, training, career opportunities, and a future here on Pandora?â
Because to the parents, this probably doesn't initially look sinister.
It looks like setting their kid up for a life.
BUT WHAT IS THE LEGACY PROGRAM ACTUALLY FOR?
It's essentially the RDA looking at these children and realizing:
âOh. We have a growing population of Na'vi who share human culture, human sentiments, and human interests... and have absolutely no connection to the tribes, Eywa, or traditional Na'vi society.â
And the RDA sees potential.
The children of high-performing Avatars and Recoms are particularly valuable.
They're already adapted to Pandora.
They're already biologically capable of living here.
They understand human technology and culture.
And, most importantly, they aren't being raised with the same cultural and spiritual ties to Pandora that the native clans have.
So the Legacy Program isn't really about helping these kids.
It's about cultivating them.
Training them.
Preparing them to become the next generation of people who can operate on Pandora for humanity.
Basically:
The RDA looked at the concept of âthe next generationâ and said, âOh, we can weaponize that.â
Because of fucking course they did.
BUT WAIT.
TSKĂ ISN'T QUARITCH'S BIOLOGICAL CHILD.
Correct!
Which means she wouldn't technically fit the original criteria.
Except Tskä gets an exemption.
Because she's young.
She's adaptable.
She's a ridiculously fast learner.
She's already becoming comfortable on the base.
And she's attached to Quaritch.
Which means, from the RDA's perspective, she's basically demonstrating exactly the kind of adaptability they're looking for.
And Quaritch pushes HARD for that exemption.
Because he wants Varang and Tskä to be able to stay close to him.
He knows Tskä is attached to him.
He knows she trusts him.
And he knows she's already adapting to human life faster than anyone expected.
So when Dr. Elmore tells him:
âShe could be an asset.â
Quaritch is basically sitting there like:
âYeah. That's what I've been fucking saying.â
There is also a LOT more going on with why Quaritch specifically wants Tskä in Legacy, but...
I am not spoiling that yet. đ
AND THIS IS WHERE THAT LITTLE HOODIE COMES IN.
Remember Tskä's hoodie from Chapter 6?
JUNIOR MARINES.
LEGACY.
Yeah.
That wasn't just a cute little outfit detail. đ
The Legacy Program is something that's going to become increasingly relevant as Tskä gets older and as the RDA starts figuring out exactly what they have in her.
So yeah.
Have fun thinking about that hoodie now. It wasn't just a cute little matching with daddy thing. đ
And yes, there is a reason I keep calling it LEGACY.
Because theses are kids made in the military machine the RDA built, for the military machine that the RDA has built.
They're thinking about who inherits Pandora afterward.
Anyway! Hope you enjoyed this completely normal and not-at-all-concerning piece of RDA worldbuilding.
A nightmare wakes Tskä, sending her searching for Varang in the middle of the night. She finds her mother, but not the safety she was looking for.
When Neytiri breaks into the Mangkwan camp, everything goes to hell.
And now, Spider doesn't quite know what to do with the little sister he never asked for.
Warnings/Tags:
Found Family ⢠Battle Couple ⢠Fluff and Angst ⢠Domestic ⢠Hurt/Comfort ⢠Identity Issues ⢠Loss of Identity ⢠Conditioning ⢠Dead Dove: Do Not Eat ⢠Manipulation ⢠Kidnapping ⢠Fucked Up But Wholesome ⢠Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence ⢠Accidental Child Acquisition ⢠Trauma ⢠Canon-Typical Violence ⢠Character Study
Notes:
-taps announcement mic-
WE ARE OFFICIALLY LEAVING THE CANON PORTION OF THIS STORY. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
LMAO.
All jokes aside, this is probably the last canon on-screen event you'll see in this fic. There'll be some references to Frontiers of Pandora: From the Ashes and ofc we'll still have canon characters here and there, but from this point forward? No more canon plot events.
Everything after this chapter is officially FANFIC CHAOS.
You have been warned. Hahahaha.
[Additional notes: This is my personal interpretation of the character, if you do not like this version or the character please just scroll on.]
Always posted to AO3 first under PinkStarDust, this is intended to be a long-running fic, so go give it some love.
Word Count: 1,483
CHAPTER SEVEN - Shit Hits The Fan
Tskä was used to the nightmares that haunted her now. Faces she could no longer remember, scents and sounds that faded more each night until the only parts she could recognize were fire, smoke, and screams. The falling always jolted her awake, though. This time she was in KxanĂŹâs tent. She had fallen asleep there after Varang had ordered the warrior to watch over her while she spoke to Quaritch.
Now though? The tent was empty save for Tskä. She slipped from the tent. The others were gathered around the fires, talking, drinking. She scurried across the tarmac towards her parents' tent before slipping inside.
âMama?â She called softly.
Varang's ear flicked toward the sound, half-asleep. âYes Tskä?â She mumbled.
âI had the dream againâŚâ Tskä murmured.
The Tsahik sighed before motioning. âCome. Quaritch left. You can take his spot.â
Tskä didn't need to be told twice. She moved across the tent, climbing next to Varang on the furs before curling up next to her.
âNow go back to sleep.â The Tsahik murmured, a hand resting on the girl's back.
Tskä slowly closed her eyes, falling back asleep with Varang's hand resting against her back.
She wasnât sure how much time had passed, but Varang's ear flicked at a faint sound. Likely Quaritch returning or Tskä getting up for something.
And then she caught the scent. The edge of a knife pressed against her throat; her eyes snapped open. Varang was face to face with Sullyâs woman, the female Naâvi looming over her, her face scrunched in a fierce snarl. Neytiri's gaze flicked to where Tskä was still thankfully asleep and unaware.
Varang let out a snarl, teeth bared, a warning not to touch the child. Tskä shifted against the furs, stirring.
âWhere is Jake Sully?â Neytiri hissed. âSpeak, or I cut.â She threatened, holding the knife closer.
Varang's ears pinned. âIn a box. At the center.â She told her.
âYou will take me,â Neytiri demanded.
âMama?â Tskäâs voice broke through the tension like a battering ram.
Both women's attention snapped to the girl, now awake and staring at them with wide eyes, her ears pinned flat.
Varang took advantage of the distraction, slipping from under Neytiri's knife and scrambling across the bed. She shoved Tskä behind her, pinning the child between herself and the tent wall as she reached for her own weapons.
âYou should come join the partyââ Quaritch walked in, a drink in hand, and paused for a second at the sight in front of him.
Sully's woman in the middle of Varang's tent, where he had left her to sleep, his mate now very much awake and angry, with her weapons drawn and Tskä behind her.
Oh, he was pissed.
Neytiri hissed before disappearing out the side opening of the tent. Varang chased after her, already out for blood, while Quaritch opened fire.
Tskä let out a high-pitched sound of distress, her hands covering her ears as she hunkered down in the chaos.
Varang's attention snapped back to the child. âGo find KxanĂŹ! Now!â She told her, her tone absolute in its command, before looking at Quaritch. âI want her heart!â She told him before bolting from the tent.
âGod damn it!â Quaritch growled before looking at Tskä. âDo what your mother said. Go find KxanĂŹ. You tell her shit hit the fan.â
Tskä stared up at him before giving a small nod, and then he was gone too, leaving her alone in the Tsahiks tent while the camp erupted into chaos.
People were yelling, ikran were screeching, alarms blaring.
Tskä walked out of the tent, her gaze flicking around; humans and mangkwan were scrambling, the noise and the lights made her ears and eyes hurt.
âKxanĂŹ!â She looked around, moving between people, trying not to get stepped on or knocked over as raiders rushed past to follow after her mother.
Tskä couldnât see her, couldn't hear over the shouting and alarms, and the smoke and chemical smells that filled the air on base made trying to find a scent trail nearly impossible.
She caught a flash of something bright orange out of the corner of her eye. She turned her gaze, latching on the figure. Pale skin, blonde dreads with Naâvi decorations.
She bolted after him. âSpider!â
He froze before looking down at her. âYou gotta be kidding meâŚâ
âMama and Daddy said to find KxanĂŹ. I can't.â She grabbed his hand, tugging him towards the mangkwan camp.
He shook his hand, slipping from hers. âOf course they'd just leave you out here.â He scoffed, looking annoyed.
An explosion erupted somewhere in the background, and Tskä immediately dropped her hands, covering her ears. Spider was immediately there, his form hunched over hers.
He let out a sound of annoyance. âAlright⌠alright, come on. Iâm getting you somewhere safe, then I gotta go, okay?â He looked down at her.
Tskä nodded before Spider stood, grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet. He moved quickly, trying hard to keep the two of them out of sight as he navigated through the mangkwan camp.
âWhat does this KxanĂŹ look like?â He asked as they moved.
âShe wears war paint like mama, she is really tall, and has a scar over her eyeâŚâ She told him, letting him lead the way.
It was strange. He talked like sky people; he was pale like sky people, but he moved and acted like naâvi, like her. Part of her wondered if he was like their dad, except sky people on the outside and naâvi on the inside.
âOkay, that doesn't seem too hard to findâŚâ Spider said, his gaze flicking from one mangkwan to another, trying to distinguish what seemed like almost impossible subtle differences between war paint and clothes.
He froze, feeling the sharp point of a weapon press against his spine. He turned his head slowly, taking in the large female mangkwan warrior holding him at spear point.
âKxanĂŹ!â Tskä sounded genuinely happy to see the female.
âTskä, away from the pink skin,â KanĂŹ growled.
Tskä looked between the two: Spider, who had a death grip on her arm like he wasn't quite sure if he should let her go, and KxanÏ, who had a weapon pointed at her brother.
âSpear down!â Tskä told her.
KxanĂŹ stared at the child like she had grown another head. âI will do no such thing. You will come, and I will slay this pink skin where he stands.â She growled.
Tskä's ears pinned and she pulled free of Spider's grip before shoving the shaft of KxanĂŹâs spear sideways away from Spider.
âNo! He's my Spider! You can't hurt him!â She hissed at KxanĂŹ, tiny fangs bared, her nose scrunched in an attempt to mimic the snarl she had seen her mother do.
KxanĂŹâs gaze flicked between the two before slowly lowering the spear. âCome. We must go.â She told Tskä, holding out her hand.
KxanÏ didn't have time to negotiate with whatever stubborn nonsense the child had decided on. Taking the life of one sky person was not worth the risk of potentially losing track of Tskä again, or letting the humans take her somewhere she could not reach.
Tskä looked at Spider before grabbing his sleeve, tugging him towards KxanĂŹ. âCome. We can go together.â
Spider moved a step then stopped. âListen.â He told her before swallowing hard, pulling his sleeve from her grip. âI can't go with you. I have to go find someone else who needs my help. Quaritch isââ he caught himself glancing at KxanĂŹ, who had arched a brow at whatever he was trying to do. âIf you're ever in trouble, come find me. Okay? I know I said you weren't my sister, but I think we're the same kind of messed up, soâŚâ he tried to explain, though he felt he was just making things more complicated.
Tskä stared at him, her brows furrowed in confusion.
âWe are wasting time, Tskä. We go now.â KxanĂŹâs tone was firm, clearly setting a boundary that their discussion was over.
Spider turned and ran, making sure to stay covered as he disappeared behind a machine.
âWaitâ!â Tskä moved to chase after him, only to have KxanĂŹ catch her around the middle. âLet go!â Tskä yelled, squinting against the warrior.
âI will not. Your mother said, leave; we leave.â The warrior growled, hauling her towards the ikran.
KxanÏ mounted her ikran, holding Tskä firmly against her as the beast launched into the sky. Its wings flapped, climbing skyward, taking them high above the city. Tskä looked down. She could see explosions, fires, people scattering and swarming like bugs trying to regain control of the situation.
âThereâs mama!â She said, pointing out Varang's Nightwraith before it disappeared under the base.
âShe will meet us later,â KxanĂŹ told her as they flew, clearing the city limits and disappearing into the forests of Pandora.
TAKEN AU Quaritch is (begruggingly) a girl dad lmao!
ALSO YAY ART OF TSKĂ!
Oh but why was Varang the hardest to draw? I made an attempt.
Also top right is their outfits from ch6, her hoodie has the marine logo on it with junior on the globe (my take on a jr marine hoodie) and LEGACY lettering over it because...well you'll see in future chapters. Varang chibi is also a ch6 reference lmao.
Bottom doodle is what I imagine happens when Varang is on a raid and its hair day. KxanĂŹ definitely had a influence on her hair style.
Top left, Tskä absolutely go into trouble with RDA personnel on base and flipped them off while Quaritch wasn't looking.
