✩. AVATAR — carnival | neteyam
✩. neteyam x metkayina!fem!reader
✩. the tulkun have returned! neteyam is amazed by all the happiness and beauty, but most of all, the girl leading the celebration.
✩. musical vibes, teen crush, reader being a rizz god, third person pov, i don’t want anyone being mad reader is written shorter than neteyam boys a na’vi he’s tall asf.
a/n: this is based on all the tik tok edits of rio and avatar. i saw a specific one with the song Real in Rio with the tulkun scene (by adry.avatar go check it out!) and this came to mind.
the sound of a horn interrupted each sully. shouting, laughter, and running was heard from outside the hut. jake looked at his family with furrowed eyebrows.
it wasn’t until after the family ducked out of the hut that the answer was known.
“the tulkuns have returned!”
tuk laughed happily at the sight of everyone. she didn’t even look back to her parents for permission before running with the crowd. jake looked to neytiri, who had a smile of her own, and took it as sign to run off himself. the family followed immediately, all excited to see the tulkun.
it didn’t take more than five minutes before they were diverged into the water. it was full of whale like creatures, metkayina people swimming past.
“this is wonderful! you all are going to love it.” tisreya signed to the family as she swam up. she grabbed motioned for lo’ak to follow her, which he did without hesitation.
neteyam, surprisingly, went off himself. after calling his ilu, he went to observe everything he could. he was full of amazement. he could see his brother with tisreya, his parents and sisters swimming around all over the place. it was beautiful.
a part of him was reminded of his home, the forest — the celebrations they would hold. a part of him wished he could capture this moment in a bottle and take it home so all his people could experience this moment, but he was glad he and his family could.
and, as much as he missed home, it was moments like these where he wished to stay forever.
his gaze was captured by movement on the surface of the ocean. all moving up to it, joining along with them. he saw tuk next to him.
“it is celebration time!” someone shouted. he felt his ears twitch at the sudden sound of drums, echoing all throughout the bay. tuk looked at him with an excited smile.
peoples voices picked up. singing.
the tulkun also emerged to the surface, when all of a sudden, everyone looked to the ree — more specifically, a girl. neteyam was close enough where he could make out her features.
light blue skin, arms opened wide like wings, a huge smile on her face. he instinctively looked around when suddenly people began singing.
“all the birds of a feather,”
the girl started dancing.
“do what they love most of all
we are the best at rhythm and laughter
that’s why we love carnival,”
it was different from the dances back home. she danced all along the reef, hips moving to the best of the drums, hair flying around her. she danced to people and leaded them in to the dance. neteyam saw as the tulkun pushed air from their blow holes, which created a second beat.
neteyam felt tuks hands grab his arm in excitement, but he didn’t move his eyes from the dancing girl. it was quick that everyone had joined it.
the girl jumped from the reef on to the back of a nearby tulkun. it didn’t cry out or duck in to the water, but instead it seemed as though it was dancing with her.
“all so clear we can sing to
dance to the music, passion
neteyam watched as the girl grabbed the hands of numerous people. young, old, men and women. they jumped up onto the tulkun (less than a few to each one so they didn’t hurt them) and watched as they danced.
he almost felt his heart drop when she had gotten closer to him and tuk. he knew how to dance, of course he did, but not how they did. and not with a girl as pretty as her. she grabbed for both he and tuk at the same time, and he was only obligated to allow her to grab him.
he distinctly heard the sounds of people calling his name and cheering, but he forced himself to ignore it.
neteyam stood as you lifted tuk and danced with her, laughing with the girl in your arms. when the girl noticed kiri on the same tulkun, she handed of tuk to her and turned to neteyam.
he felt his skin crawl at the cheeky smile on her face.
“show us the best you can do,”
her hips moved up and down to the beat, before she grabbed the boys hands. right hand in hers, left hand on her waist. she wasn’t significantly smaller than him, not enough to be uncomfortable, but enough he had to look down.
her body didn’t quit moving, it only stayed in place for him. it was as if the music had possessed her body.
“i don’t know this dance!” neteyam exclaimed over the music. the girl chuckled at him.
“just let loose! it’s all about the movement, not how good it is.” was her response. he might have felt relief at this if he wasn’t aware of the judging eyes that followed him and his family everywhere. except, he didn’t feel them as much at that moment. “no one will judge. there is no right or wrong.”
“get up and in join the fun
magic could happen for real,
he gasped when she suddenly took off, dragging him with her. her feet never touched the floor for more than a second— they constantly jumped around. her hips still moved to the song, but now she added more to her arms to force neteyam to join.
he felt awkward as he allowed her body to move him. neteyams face warmed at her laughter.
“you must let go! feel the music.”
you can’t find it anywhere else,”
he heard the very familiar whistle of lo’ak.
what poor lo’ak didn’t realize, was the pair moving closer to where he and tisreya rested in the ocean. and he continued to not notice, until they were right in front of them and reaching out. he was going to back away before tisreya grabbed ahold of his arm and climbed up the tulkun with the help of the girl.
the girls laughed as the sound around with each other— both boys watched. after a few circles, the girl went to lo’ak while tisreya went to neteyam.
lo’aks eyes widened at the girls sudden grip on him.
“you must dance!” and despite the feeling of nervousness, he didn’t have to be told twice. the feeling in the air, the music, two happy girls leading him. she laughed happily.
you can feel it all by yourself.”
the girls released each boy, passing each other with a smile, and going to their own. when she and neteyam we’re back together, she asked, “better?”
she had taken lead once again, moving with him, laughter and enjoyment clear. she could feel him relaxing, especially after having a moment with someone who has already taught him things.
he smiled and nodded, “yes.” her smile grew.
his face dropped when the beat changed, singing ceased. the girl stopped their movements, pulling away from the boy but still holding hands. her hips rotated with the drums. she moved in close to neteyam, then back out. she moved like she was going to go around him, then lifted their hands and twirled.
neteyam was jaw dropped as he could only watch her. he was completely new to this, but seeing her, was breathtaking. she moved so free, such a carefree and happy expression. she impressed him.
a different sound was added in, like a sound similar to rocks being shaken in a can, but much more instrumental. she released one of his hands and started in a run. she hopped from tulkun to tulkun. soon, neteyam realized they were reaching the center of the bay.
they arrived at the very middle tulkun who had numerous people on it. they’re waists we’re covered in leaves, almost like a skirt.
the girl slowed down and placed neteyam at the front of the tulkun. she slowly backed up, squeezing his hand. he took the hint and stayed there.
she found herself in the middle of the group, allowing neteyam to look around for a moment. everyone was now out of the water. everyone had their eyes on the group. he wondered if they ever looked away. he knew he couldn’t.
his eyes snapped right back to her when the singing began once again, her joining in.
“all the birds of a feather
“do what they love most of all,”
her and the groups hands were raised in the air, shaking them.
she ran to one end of the tulkun where neteyam was. she gave him a smile. leaning off the edge of the tulkun, caressing one side of his face as one of her arms and one of her legs were held by the group.
she spun out of the grips of the group, now running to the other end. they attempted to grab her once more, but she ducked underneath their arms and ran back to the other end.
she stood in one place as they ran at her.
“that’s why we love carnival,”
water sprouted out of the tulkun forcefully, causing the girl to go flying up in to the sky. neteyams jaw dropped. na’vi around them cheered and singed, continuing their dancing. the girl spread her arms, looking like she felt free.
she came down quickly, and before any of the group could beat him, neteyam was under her with his arms out wide.
he easily caught her, taking in the sound of her laughter. he felt himself laugh too, despite the slight nervousness.
gently, he lifted her to put her feet on the ground, only letting go of her when he felt she was stable on her feet. she smiled up at him. he felt breathless, panting with her.
“what is your name?” he asked desperately.
a/n pls let me know if you like this and if you want a sequel/more (and if so what would you like to see🙈)! i hope this came out as beautiful as i see it in my head.
