simplystefanie-rae

[simplystefanie-rae]

A Pirate's Fortune is so interesting to play through from the point of view of Kay and ND's relationship.

It feels like their first "big" endeavor post-main game, and it shows in that they each have this sense of uncertainty in where they stand with one another.

ND-5 is adjusting to life as a free droid, but one gets the sense that he's still not sure he has that life. His conflict with Kay feels like he's testing what he perceives to be boundaries: does she really mean that he can choose? Even if he doesn't choose what she wants? Or were her previous claims just pretty words to entice him to work with her?

Kay is adjusting to life with a partner outside of Nix, and one gets the sense that she's not quite settled into it yet. She trusts ND, but deep down, she still has doubts. Will he really stay with her, given the choice to leave? Can she really count on him to have her back, even when she does something admittedly stupid? Is he really a part of her new family, or will he leave her when things don't go well, or when she makes a mistake, or when he gets cross with her?

Ultimately, each of them has their fears put to rest. ND learns that, yes: Kay really means that he can choose to do whatever he wants... even if that means disagreeing with her and going his own way. Kay learns that ND will always be there for her, always support and care for her even if he doesn't support her decisions.

The end is essentially a combination of "yes, you really are free, and you can choose" and "yes, I do choose you because I genuinely want to." And that's really, really satisfying.

Even if I had to endure the obnoxious presence of Hondo Ohnaka to see it.

[simplystefanie-rae]

Spoilers for A Pirate's Fortune:

I love Kay and ND's "break-up" scene even though it breaks my heart to see them go separate ways (temporarily), because it's so multi-layered, filled with so much angst, tension and frustration and feelings hurt, and I think it's such a profound moment about their doubts and fears in hindsight of their talk and confessions at the end of the adventure.

ND is so frustrated, worried and hurt about Kay listening to Hondo over his advice. Beside being worried for Kay's safety, I believe he also fears Kay may start to see him like Jaylen and everyone else had so far - someone to order around and despite calling him partner, not someone to be seen as an equal with a real say in the decicion making of where they go and what jobs they take. The way Kay treats ND, treating him as a person and coming to his rescue against all the odds, is such an anomaly compared to all his other experiences with organics, it seems only natural that a part of him would assume that Kay would start to treat him the same way as everybody else in the end and not respecting his opinion and freedom of choice (because that's just what organics do and how things are for droids in the rest of the galaxy).

On top of this, with ND already starting to doubt their partnership and relationship, Hondo uses what Kay'd told him about their past to drive the wedge deeper. I think that's another big fear of ND unlocked, that a part of Kay blames him for what happened and that she'll never fully forgive him for almost killing her despite those actions having been out of his control. But from working for Jaylen, ND knows very well how long people can hold a grudge in their heart.

Look at the sadness and resignation on both their faces (yes, there's clearly hurt written all over ND's face plating). They both don't want to loose the other but can't keep the gap from cracking wider.

And Kay on the other hand, poor loner Kay always expecting everyone to leave her and trying not to get attached so she won't get hurt, is clearly reading ND's words the wrong way due of her own emotional baggage compromising her judgment and sees her worst fears, generated by life long abandonment issue, confirmed in this very moment, that ND would turn his back on her and abandon her the same way everyone else has so far (with exception of precious Nix, but that's different). She really closes off and her voice gets so flat and emotionless when she tells ND she'll come back because I think a part of her already accepted the pattern was repeating itself and seeing this as most likely their final goodbye, expecting ND to maybe already be gone when she returns from the treasure hunt, because that's what everyone did so far (which is interesting since Kay also abandoned people in the past, like Gedeek).

Other parts that make me so emotional about this scene that deserve to be pointed out:

Kay telling ND that she needs him and ND telling her he would follow her (almost) everywhere! They can't make them say (romantic) stuff like that to each other and make me not get all the feels!

ND staring after Kay and the ship she's leaving on like a lost puppy or the guy in the movie having to watch the love of his life leave on the train! No seriously, they did not have to focus so much on his reaction but they did and bless them for it!

Nix whining because they left ND behind and Kay trying to comfort them both

Funny honorary mention:

Hondo being a little shit the whole time and doing the Thorin awkward slide!

[simplystefanie-rae]

how it started vs how it's going

[simplystefanie-rae]

[simplystefanie-rae]

Happy May The 4th Be With You from my favorite criminal trio

[simplystefanie-rae]

More of Beavis and Butt-Head in Silent Hill

[simplystefanie-rae]

I just don’t get it. How can our society act so goddamned normal about seahorses. How can anybody so casually accept that that’s a fish???

This is one of nature’s most anatomically perverse of all beasts. A FISH, like a carp or a bass or a beta is a fish, but it bent its body straight up only to bend its head permanently back down. It stretched its skull into a pipe. It tapered its tail like a lizard, specifically like a chameleon. It can also move its eyes independently by the way, you know, like a chameleon. Fun fact, it can change color to express its mood, like you know whatever does that. It doesn’t properly swim anymore. It buzzes its few remaining fins like an insect’s wings to float itself around at a snail’s pace. It lives its whole life clinging to coral branches or seaweed, which means it decided to become a “tree dweller” in an environment where gravity didn’t even matter anyway. The males get pregnant. They make noises at each other by rubbing some of their neck bones together. Every day, EVERY DAY a mated pair does a little dance and a little neck bone song so they remember which two seahorses they were. They’re a beautiful precious obscenity. Nothing so adorable ever made such a strong case against a logical creator.

They have as little skin and meat as they could get away with. Their skeleton is almost all they are.

[simplystefanie-rae]

It’s crazy that countries on the edge of the Sahara desert are reversing desertification by just digging half circles

[simplystefanie-rae]

"Sounds like a team-up."

"We're already a team."

[simplystefanie-rae]

Rewatching z nation and 10k and Cassandra had so much potential I hate what they did to her so muuuuuuch 😭

[simplystefanie-rae]

Agree 100%. I always found the conclusion that humans are bad in this series to be a flat one that leaves room for nothing else, and if that’s the case, well the story might as well be over because there’s nothing else to say. I think a lot of the fandom just wants a story about apes and only apes, and I guess, sure, why not, but then it’s just not a planet of the apes story. You can’t take the human element out of it because the whole point of it is for us to examine our actions throughout history, and ultimately challenge us. And it’s not really a challenge if again, humans are bad and that’s it.

Also, if people insist that apes in the movies are just as complex as humans, that comes with the territory of also being capable of destruction. Your conclusion of humans=apes is exactly right, and when we examine it from that lens it opens up all these possibilities in the narrative for both humans and apes that a narrow, black and white story simply doesn’t.

And one of these possibilities SHOULD be an ape/human romance if they were brave/weird enough to go for it. I know it would be weird, we all know it would be weird, but apes suddenly talking and being capable of having a higher cognitive function on the same level as a human being is also weird. But if the narrative/viewers are going to pose this possibility that apes and humans are more alike than different, and are equal in every way, than nothing should technically be stoping the idea of romantic feelings between the two species. If they can be allies, friends, have familial bonds, and even become enemies, all complex relationships in their own right, anything else should be on the table. It would also be a more complex answer to the question KOTPOTA is asking about humans and apes living together than just them simply being allies and nothing else.

The irony is we created you. And nature has been punishing us ever since. This is our last stand. And if we lose... it will be a Planet of Apes.

The IRONY I never see anyone talk about is that humans. are. apes!

We didn’t ‘evolve’ from apes. We are classified under the great ape family, among gorillas, chimps, orangutans, and bonobos. All share a common ancestor. We are apes.

Earth has been dominated by apes since the dawn of civilization. And what I love about POTA is that, like a lot of great speculative fiction, it expands on something that has been true in the past. We once shared the planet with other species of humans. We traded with them, bred with them, and yes; played a large role in their eradication.

This is why I can’t get behind the interpretation of humans=bad apes=good. I see it more as human=ape and the endless questions that come with that. Will there always be a battle for supremacy where there is intelligence? Would we have a right to take back the world we destroyed, if so, how could we be so righteous about it? Could the cycle ever end or is earth doomed until we fight it out and let some decent species take over? What if an ape and a human kissed on the mouth

Maybe that last one is absurd, but I think limiting the questions we ask in speculative fiction is (oxy)moronic. There’s so many ways this franchise can go, I just hope it never dies and that it’s staying power stays true. That is all

[simplystefanie-rae]

A hypothetical romance plot between mae and noa wouldn’t mean an automatic lack of friendship between apes and humans. Anaya and Soona are right there for Mae to befriend, and I’m sure we’ll get other ape/human characters introduced that, if the writing is smart, will be used to create all different types of relationships, good and bad, to enrich the world. Raka and Mae also have what could amount to an eventual familial bond if he’s still alive. Whatever Noa and Mae’s relationship winds up being doesn’t dictate ape/human relations as a whole is basically what I’m saying. Or it shouldn’t. If they wind up being the only ape/human bond in the whole trilogy, no matter what it is, that’s a glaring fault.

[simplystefanie-rae]

The Woodchuck by Sam Pink 

[simplystefanie-rae]

Hold your breath

Faster. Faster. They had to go faster.

Behind, the hoots and hollers of the baboon tribe chased at the backs of Noa and Mae.

Even though Noa was quick on his knuckles, trees or even his horse would be faster through this tall grass.

They both barely skidded to a sudden halt as the edge of a cliff appeared before them.

A large waterfall roared on the other side of the small ravine, leading to a dark blue lagoon below.

"We'll have to jump," Mae said matter-of-factly.

Noe's head whipped to the Echo. "What!?"

"The height won't kill us."

"Mae--!"

But Mae didn't wait for his response as she leapt off the edge. She plummeted to the water below, disappearing under the surface.

Every bone in Noa's body screamed to keep him rooted to the edge.

Where was Mae though?

She hadn't resurfaced!

Did she drown? Could she swim? Had one of the nightmarish creatures from stories he heard as a young chimp gotten her!?

Another scream of the approaching baboon horde knocked Noe out of his petrified fear.

If he got caught, there was no one to save Mae.

Before losing his nerve, Noa clenched his teeth and launched himself off the cliff.

His stomach lurched up as he hit the water, his back stinging slightly from impact.

Noa tried to take in some air, only for water to fill his mouth and go up his nose.

Noa flailed his arms, trying desperately to find anything solid to grab with no success. His uncontrollable panicked screeches rattling his chest.

"Noa!"

Noa's eyes darted around, catching sight of Mae through the turbulent waves. Or was he making those? All Noa could see was being back in the metal Echo cave, seawater all around him.

Mae's pale arms wrapped around him from behind, "Noa!"

His hands clamped onto her forearms. "I-I can't SWIM!"

"Noa. Noa! Listen to me," Mae said firmly into his ear, "Hold your breath and hold onto me."

"But--"

"Trust me, I've got you."

Mae took a deep gulp of air, and Noa quickly followed as they sunk below the slightly murky surface one more.

A moment later, even with his eyes shut tight, Noa could hear muffled voices somewhere above them.

Noa felt some slight panic as his chest began to protest, all his ape instincts wanting to go up.

He felt Mae quickly move to face him and gripped his shoulders tightly, keeping him anchored.

Finding comfort and strength in her presence, Noa squeezed his eyes tighter and moved his head until their foreheads were pressed together.

Mae didn't brush him away, instead she moved to press in further, her hands moving from his shoulders to cup his face.

And in one eternal moment, they were suspended in a timeless space. Just holding one another.

The sun streamed through the water, dappling their skin with golden light like the stars in the night sky.

The muffled yells finally moved on.

The waterfall covered up Mae and Noa's coughs and desperate gasps for air.

"Kick, Noa," Mae ordered as she pulled his arm. "Kick!"

Noa followed her command, and as soon as Noa felt the slick mud of the shore, he clawed at it until he was completely out of the water.

He collapsed onto the ground, not an ounce of strength in his body anymore.

He cracked his eyes to see Mae laying next to him, chest breathing just as hard as him.

"You...are..reckless!" Noa said between breaths.

He then reached out until he grabbed her shoulder. Her head turned towards him and her blue eyes met his.

Noa gave her a quirk of a smile. "Thank you...for not...letting me...go."

Mae returned with the slightest smile as well, reaching up to grasp his hand that was on his shoulder.

And there they laid, enjoying this brief moment of safety untied together.

[simplystefanie-rae]

What sings to you?

Was only a matter of time before I did some hurt/comfort with Mae and Noa, especially with Mae being such a mystery!

tw: mentions of blood and death

**************

All it had taken was one snap of a branch and everything in Mae's life changed.

The chaos of that night, horrific screeching of apes, the blinding brightness of electricity, and blood. So much blood.

Leo had said he would take the first watch so Mae and the others of the party could sleep. Mae had offered to stay awake with him, as they had much to talk about.

For after they retrieved the satellite deciphering key, the second part of their mission was testing recolonization on the surface.

The air was clean and the Earth was fertile. And it was expected that Leo and Mae would have a child together.

She had liked him enough; they had grown up together. He was her comrade, intelligent, and had a cute little dimple when he smiled.

Even if his flippant personality was annoying at times, like when he told her she was worrying too much and to go to sleep. They would have all the time in the world to talk about their future.

And yet that time had never come. Proximus had made sure of that when his soldiers had descended on them like a terrifying horde.

Leo had pushed Mae into the bushes, the brambles giving her a thousand razor sharp scratches.

As Mae righted herself, she expected to find Leo after her. But he wasn't.

He was held in the grip of an ape, and with one slash, Leo's throat was burst open. Dark red blood gushing.

He fell to his knees, both hands hopelessly gripping his throat as his eyes bore into hers.

She had to run.

Mae…

He slumped forward and landed on his front with a sickening thud. She had to run.

Mae.

Why wasn't she running!?

Mae!

She bolted upright, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she wanted to run, to hide, to get away, to survive.

A large hand cupped her cheek and moved her head, meeting concerned spring green eyes.

Seeing Noa forced Mae to come back to her senses and her body. She wasn't at camp; she was in one of the sleeping quarters of the Eagle Clan.

And Proximus was no longer a threat. The hero in that regard was right here, holding onto her as her body trembled and her lungs felt heavy from each shaky breath.

Even though that other apes were mercifully still asleep, Mae needed to get out of here before she revealed more of these pitiful weaknesses. Like vomiting or crying so much snot dripped out of her nose; as she had done in the past.

"I need fresh air," Mae said, breaking from Noa's contact and struggling to get out of the hammock.

"Mhmm," Noa said with a nod, reaching to grab his sling and put it over his shoulder.

Mae jammed her feet into her boots and roughly tied the laces, "I don't want to talk."

Noa grabbed his staff, "I understand."

"So, there's no reason for you to come," Mae said curtly.

That had Noa pause. A long pause.

She only dared a peek at him. Trying to see if he was angry. He looked more confused than anything.

Mae brushed her brown hair back. "Look, if you need to come because you don't trust me, I get that--"

"Why do you think I'm also awake?"

Mae looked at him, eyebrows knit together. She assumed the answer was because in the short amount of time she had been staying with the clan, it was because the ape just rarely slept as is. Even on the road together, she had noticed that.

But the meekness of his body posture and downturn softness of his eyes told a different story.

Mae swallowed thickly and nodded. She grabbed her shawl to drape over her shoulders and fisted the fabric tightly around her like a shield. She headed down the long winding ramp, her ape shadow closely behind her.

Even though she had spoken with such conviction, once Mae got outside and felt the frigid early air on her face, she froze. Not sure where she wanted to go.

Her senses immediately heightened, the dark shadows of the forest making her whole body shudder as she wrapped the shawl tighter around herself. The uncertainty of what threats lied in there seizing her heart.

"Follow me," Noa said, his hands also signing his words.

Though Mae dreaded slightly that they would be heading to the unknown, to the shadows, they only went as far as the outer limit of the village.

There, Noa sat himself down on a large flat rock. He rested his staff close by, just in case, and hunched himself to rest his arms on his knees.

Mae followed suit and sat next to him, close enough to show their familiarity, but not too close for him to feel her current fragility.

The pair sat still and in silence for a good long while, watching as dawn was barely lightening the sky.

Suddenly, Noa picked up a small rock and threw it into the tall grass. Hundreds of fireflies then erupted alight.

Mae couldn't help as she gasped, their natural warm glow unlike any of the harsh white lights of the bunker she had grown up in. It was too magical and too perfect of a scene.

"You've done this before," Mae noted.

"Been doing this since I was small." Noa's eyes cast down, "Been coming here more. Sometimes with Anaya or Soona. Dark dreams."

Mae felt a hot flush of shame wash over her cheeks. She wasn't the only one that had lost so much because of Proximus. And she had been the reason they had come here, even though she had tried to deny it for so long. All justified means.

"Do you hate me?" Mae jolted as she realized she had said that out loud. "Never mind. Forget I just said that--"

"I do not hate you, Mae," Noa interjected with, turning his body towards her. "It is…confusing at times. I do not know what sings to you."

Mae perked up and turned to him as well. "Sings to me?"

Noa pressed a few knuckles to his chest, "What's in here."

"My heart?"

"Yes. But also, something that lives deeper within you."

"Like my soul?"

"Soul," Noa repeated slowly, testing the word. "Is that what humans call it?"

Mae shrugged, "Some."

She casted her eyes down, "Though. I'm not sure I even have one. It never felt right. Too emotional for what needed to be done."

"And yet you feel deeply."

"How can you be so sure?" Mae asked defensively, but still noting the desperate plea that tinged her voice.

"You wouldn't have dark dreams if not." Noa pointed to his eyes, "Shed tears when Proximus taunted you."

Mae felt her bottom lip quiver, fresh tears stinging her eyes. One of her hands wrapped around Raka's pendant that hung from her neck as she never took it off.

"We are all alone," The wise orangutang had said. "But now, we have each other."

Alone. That's what had been gnawing at her. Even with the mission complete, she was still all alone now. A lone survivor.

However, she wasn't technically alone anymore. A single human among apes, sure, but not shrouded in solitude. And now, Mae was sick of the biting cold in her bones, and she was not one to idlily sit by.

Tentatively, Mae moved over until her and Noa were touching, shoulder-to-shoulder, knee-to-knee, side-to-side.

Noa's body tensed in surprised, but only momentarily as his body relaxed against hers. They gave each other small smiles before turning back to the climbing sunrise. A serene light filling the valley.

"You never answered my question," Noa then asked. "What sings to you?"

'Safety,' was the first word that came to mind. But now that Mae was next to someone she trusted, she let herself realize what the true answer was. Why she kept having those recurring nightmares.

Knowing what it would cost her to say out loud, Mae bent her head until it rested on Noa's strong shoulder. His own head instinctively resting on top of hers.

"Home."

[simplystefanie-rae]

"just as I did, in 1983."

you'd never know my favourite parts of the show are the fucked up insane bits when my first instinct is to draw the cheesiest thing imaginable