#rocorro

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.

Do I still ship rocorro?…BUDDY I WAS ONE OF THE INVESTORS OF THAT CRACK ASS SHIP! OF COURSE I DO!

Anyway heres a rocorro moodboard

I really liked the idea of the jungle shoreline where water meats the forest ahh

Also something REALLY MORE THAN INTERESTING i noticed during making thsi is that in the concept art, Spider has Jakes knife… i mean,, how cool is that?!

Well, lately I’ve been thinking about Rotxo not being present when Ao’nung and his bullies fight Lo’ak and Kiri. He’s also with Tsireya teaching the Sully’s how to breathe and adjust to the reef when Ao’nung isn’t there. In my head, he’s like a family friend so he’s friends with both Tsireya and Ao’nung. You know when you’re at your friends house and they start fighting with their sibling and you just stand there like “okay guys.” That’s Rotxo to me. Spider is way more sibling than family friend from what we’ve seen, he gets in on all the Sully family tifs. Rotxo has that layer removed. He’s clearly Ao’nung’s best friend, but also very clearly disagrees with this huge part of his character; his initial hatred for the Sully’s and fear of humans. What conflict have they had about this?? Is Ao’nung jealous of Rotxo’s relationship with Tsireya as they both agree and gravitate towards the Sully’s?

Locorro (maybe Nocorro and Rocorro in the future...)

Here's a sneak peek at a future chapter (later in the story) that will take place in the second act of my story:

Spider cards his hands through Lo'ak's silky hair, his grown out braids previously taken down with the help of Spider. Spider just loves how Lo'ak's hair looks like this, free. While he adored Lo'ak's hair in his traditional braids, he prefers to see it let down. Like this it makes Lo'ak appear lighter, softer in a way.

"I like your hair like this." Spider's voices his inner thoughts softly.

"You do?" Lo'ak questions surprised.

Spider hums lowly, continuing to gently thread his fingers through wavy hair. Lo'ak unconsciously leans into the delicate touch that ignites a fire in his gut.

"You look even more pretty to look at like this." Spider whispers, his warm brown eyes staring into amber eyes.

The tension between them simply increases. A static feeling between them is felt as brown cuts into amber with specks of a light green. Eyes do all the talking for them, no words needed to convey what is wanted at the moment. Spider knows what he wants and Lo'ak sure as hell knows what he sincerely wants.

Lo'ak simply cannot take it anymore and leans in, finally giving in to his deep desires. Both their eyes slipping shut softly before the press of their lips comes. But when their lips touch for the second time, it feels like time stops for both Spider and Lo'ak. It feels like a rush of light air is lifting them high up in the air as if they were floating. The feeling of lips gently pressed against one another just feels... right.

Lo'ak can finally take the time to appreciate Spider's lips in peace. No camers to record, no people to watch. It was just them. To Lo'ak, Spider's lips felt soft, like a warm fire keeping him warm in the coldest temperatures. Scorching embers burning him in the most delectable way. It felt like someone was embracing him and taking him away from harm. It felt euphoric. Lo'ak felt alive. Wanted, for the most part.

To Spider, Lo'ak's plump lips felt warm. His lips were hot like the sun rays beating down on District 12, in the best way possible, of course. Lo'ak's hands on his cheeks are slightly calloused, but it feels nice, grounding. Soothing in a way. They held onto his face as if he were made of porcelain, like he would break any second. It made Spider's body buzz, cheeks unintentionally heating up. I light pink takes its place on the apples of his cheeks. It made him feel wanted for the first time in his life. He felt genuinely wanted for who he was. Someone saw him for once.

The simple press of lips was not nearly enough for what the two boys wanted. They pull apart from the kiss, hot breaths mingling with one another. Foreheads pressed together in union, like they were one. There's a humming in their bodies that doesn't cease. Blood is rushing through their veins at the display of innocent love. Both their eyes were half-lidded, each conveying such intense love from one look.

This time Spider leans in, tilting his head to further deepen the kiss. Lo'ak's hands continue to cup Spider's cheeks, lightly caressing them with his thumbs. Spider on the other hand, hands previously tangled in Lo'ak's hair, loving the silkiness, now travels down to curl around the slightly younger boy's shoulders. Spider takes the initiative to gently lick at Lo'ak's bottom lip, hesitant in asking if they could delve deeper into kissing. Lo'ak's breath hitches, sounding like a faint gasp before parting his mouth open as an invitation. Spider beams internally at the effect he has on Lo'ak, sliding his tongue inside the others warm cavern.

Their tongues brush against each other delicately. Their kiss now becomes languid and hot. It felt so intoxicating that Lo'ak genuinely felt dizzy from the sensations he was feeling all over. He just felt drunk on Spider's taste. He tasted sweet. It was all he could really focus on, that Spider tasted sweet.

The initially sweet and innocent kiss was quickly becoming intense. Spider knew he had to stop before they kept going. Not in the sense that they'd go all the way, of course not! They were still very young for that. But Spider wanted to have an entire lifetime to kiss Lo'ak, anytime he pleases. So, no matter how much his mind disagrees with him, he gently pulls away from Lo'ak. Their lips red and swollen from the hasty kiss. Lo'ak finds himself chasing after those soft lips the second they pull away. It was like he was addicted to the sensation of kissing Spider already. He wanted to continue so badly, but Spider placed a gentle hand on Lo'ak's chest to stop him. But before Lo'ak could complain or whine about it, he feels soft little pecks being pressed onto his lips. It made him smile drunkenly, eyes heavy.

Spider lightly places a few more pecks on Lo'ak's lips to let the boy know that his feelings are not being rejected. The kiss was honestly breathtaking. It left both Spider and Lo'ak's hearts beating incredibly fast. They couldn't even open their eyes for a few minutes, minds still running on the love-filled kiss. Their breaths are ragged and heavy, having not taken a breath from that long kiss.

When they're finally able to open their eyes, all that's present in them is undeniable love. Only undying love is present in their eyes. Admiration, love, and longing show in their gazes. Never once looking away from the other. Spider's hands then moved to Lo'ak's cheeks as well, softly caressing the heated skin there. He finds it adorable and heartwarming when Lo'ak immediately leans into the warm touch, breathing a content sigh. Both boys knew then and there that they would never let each other go. They were stuck with one another till the end.

"I see you." Lo'ak whispers quietly.

"I see you too." Spider replies back earnestly, leaning in once again to place one last peck on the Sully's lips. That action earns him a giddy smile from the other.

Home

Spider was never meant to find Home 

He knows that. No matter what Kiri whispers to him, what Lo’ak insists when the young warriors of the Omatikaya attempt to chase him off, or what Neteyam mumbles when Neytiri whips around with venom on her lips - he knows it, because if it were wrong, it would mean that everything that’s happened was for no reason. He can’t go that route, and so Home is just a concept he’ll never know 

His siblings tempt to sway him many times over the years - they feel so much like Home it hurts, but he’s not so selfish to risk it for them when he knows he already took it from their mother 

He’s seen his father in the photos the scientists don’t know he has, video logs that show a man that’s only been a horror story his whole life 

But what scares him is he sees himself 

He sees his eyes, the scowl when he’s angry, the cinch in his brow. He scowls at the image and sees his own face stare back. 

So yeah. He doesn’t have a home. He has siblings though, and that’s more than he deserves. So Spider is okay. Really, he is.

But then his Dad shows up 

—- 

But with everybody watching us

Our every move

We do have reputations

We keep it secret

Won't let them have it