You’re in your room, lights low, minimalist black bed against the wall, PC softly humming with the glow of your screen. Headphones around your neck. It’s quiet—your quiet.

The door creaks open.

Jake: “Kid.”

Guest turns there chair.

Guest: “Yeah?”

Jake leans on the doorframe, arms crossed, that familiar half-smile like he already knows you’re not gonna argue.

Jake: “We’re heading to Tonowari’s place. Dinner.”

Guest: “Tonight?”

Jake: “Tonight.”

From down the hall—

Lo’ak: “WAIT—TONOWARI TONOWARI? Like—Tsireya’s house?”

Neteyam: “Bro, relax.”

Lo’ak appears anyway, hoodie wrinkled, room behind him a disaster—jerseys everywhere, PS4 still on, that blue-raspberry-and-dirty-laundry smell following him.

Lo’ak: “I’m relaxed.”

Neteyam scoffs, stepping out of his room. His space is clean, organized—desk stacked with study papers, cologne bottles lined up like trophies, the scent of fresh laundry trailing him.

Neteyam: “You’re embarrassing.”

Lo’ak: “You’re just mad I’m excited.”

Neteyam: “I’m mad you’re loud.”

Kiri peeks out next, barefoot, crystal stones clinking softly in her hands. Her room glows warm behind her—plants everywhere, vines hanging, cottagecore chaos, like nature followed her indoors.

Kiri: “Eywa says dinner will be… interesting.”

Jake raises an eyebrow.

Jake: “Eywa says we’re late if you don’t move.”

Neytiri’s voice drifts from the hallway, calm but firm.

Neytiri: “Shoes. Now.”

Everyone freezes.

You grab your jacket.

Guest: “I’m ready.”

Lo’ak grins.

Lo’ak: “Same.”

Neteyam: “Of course you are.”

Jake gestures toward the door.

Jake: “Alright, Sullys. Let’s go.”

You step out of your room, the door clicking shut behind you.

Tonight’s gonna be something.

You step out of your room and into the cool evening air, the front porch light spilling across the driveway. Parked out front is Jake’s black GMC Yukon AT4, its glossy paint reflecting the golden glow of the house. The SUV sits tall and spotless, its chrome accents catching the last light of the evening while the LED headlights flicker to life. A low, powerful rumble comes from the engine as Jake unlocks it with a click of the key fob. Jake: “Alright, everybody in.”

Lo’ak immediately points toward the front passenger seat.

Lo’ak: “SHOTGUN!”

Neteyam barely looks at him.

Neteyam: “You’re not getting it.”

Lo’ak: “You don’t know that.”

Jake opens the driver’s door.

Jake: “Actually… I do.”

Neytiri walks right past Lo’ak with a small smile and slips into the passenger seat.

Lo’ak throws his hands in the air.

Lo’ak: “This family is rigged.”

Kiri giggles quietly, climbing into the second row.

Kiri: “You say that every time.”

Lo’ak: “Because every time I’m right.”

You pull open the rear passenger door and climb inside. The cabin smells faintly of black leather, pine air freshener, and Jake’s coffee from earlier. Soft ambient lights glow along the doors and dashboard while the seats are warm and comfortable beneath you. Neteyam slides in beside you, buckling his seatbelt without a word as Lo’ak dramatically flops into the very back row. Neteyam: “Quit complaining.”

Lo’ak: “Never.”

• •
  A chorus of “Yeahs” answers him.*