What do you think Payakan thinks of Spider? I rewatched the scene of Spider, Kiri, Lo'ak, Aonung, Rotxo and Tsireya all playing with their tulkun + Payakan, and there's a tiny scene where Spider says something complimentary about Payakan and his eye gets all pleased. Like, it's a single eye of an alien whale creature, but you can tell he was happy.
I was just wondering what exactly he thinks of Spider. Technically, he is a human, and Payakan knows this, and knows how much he's suffered, and his people have suffered at the hands of humans, and also... he's Lo'aks brother. They're like brothers-by-proxy or something. He sees how much Lo'ak loves him, how he's one of the only people not to treat Lo'ak differently or like an 'outcast' or something.
I'm not saying he dislikes Spider and would need to be convinced. Still, I'm sure it'd be very confusing to know one thing for certain (sky people are bad) and then meet someone who disproves this (sky people are bad except Spider?).
Also, I think he would have a lot of questions for Lo'ak. They'd talk a lot about Spider, because I think that Paykan would like to learn everything he could about Lo'ak's brother, the same way he knows everything about Neteyam, Kiri and Tuk. I think Lo'ak would love to gush about how cool his brother is to someone who doesn't already know and/or actually wants to listen.
I always imagined somewhere around or adjacent to the "my dad came from a star" he talked about how Jake was once human. how he's demon blooded. and his best friend. his brother was human too.
"not all humans are bad," he might start, "these one's were," he touches one of Payakn's many scars, "but some of them are really cool. like my brother— brother, like you're my brother. his name is Spider." and Payakan does have many thoughts on him being human. it's hard to imagine a human that is not cruel. the only humans Payakan knows are the ones who hunted him and his family. but he trusts Lo'ak. "he is really good?" Lo'ak nods, wiggling his pinky finger, "yeah bro, he really is. he's been my best friend our whole lives. he would never be like the bad guys, the RDA. he's always been one of us. Na'vi through and through, like me. he never came from a star, like my dad. he was born here... maybe that's what made him so different." "I believe you," he croons, "where is he? you sound... sad." Lo'ak nods, "he got taken. by the bad ones. we don't know where he is, but... but he's as strong as a Na'vi. he's tough. so I know he's gonna be ok. he'll escape any day now, and find his way home."
and they trade stories, more and more, about their past. Payakan get's used to the idea that Spider is human. maybe when they make the bond, while Payakan's memories overwhelm it, he sees glimpses of Lo'ak's too. the night he lost Spider.
but Payakan knows that he's a hunter, but he can weave as well, and craft. and also knows a thing or two about healing. and he's hella smart, and knows earth tech and words. and knows all about plants and loves to gush about them. how he's always protected them kids. how he loved adventures. stupid stories about shit they did.
and then Spider is there. Spider fought in the battle just as he did. he crashed the ship. even if it's a secret kept only between the teens, and Spider never took the credit. I feel like Lo'ak and Payakan would know.
and Spider is truly as gentle and kind as Lo'ak has said. he greets Payakan with respect. waits for permission to ever touch him. apologizes for his people's ways. it might take a moment, and a splash in the face, or getting tugged down beneath the surface like Payakan did with Lo'ak, to get him to stop looking so guilty and well mannered.
and Spider is like them. like Payakan.
"yeah bro, he's kinda... outcast too. too human for the rest of the clans and too Na'vi for his own kind. he's just got me and my siblings. a few other humans and dreamwalkers... but he can get kinda lonely."
so Payakan also likely bonds with him over both being outcast. different. not quite fitting in with anyone. but also not being entirely alone.
and maybe Spider tells Payakan secrets. like how the sky people tortured him too. how he had to see terrible things, and he knows how that burns into your mind and never really leaves.
so when Spider praises him, Payakan feels the admiration of something like an equal. a jaded outcast. a survivor. a brother. his brother's borth. his brother.
he likes the unique little human. he likes that he is kind. that he brings Lo'ak joy when he was so sad, before and after Neteyam. he respects him as a warrior.
a real "our brother said your cool, so your my brother too now" type deal. a "we can be outcasts together" type deal.
