#like apes are very intelligent

[darkwood-sleddog]

How is koko the gorilla like those dogs on tiktok at all. I get how there could be clever hansing influencing her behavior but I really don’t see how she could have done that without any understanding of language

Koko the Gorilla has been thought to exhibit Clever Hans Effect since the initial studies on her were published in the late 1970s. This is even present on her Wikipedia page, with other linguists calling Koko's caregiver and trainer's interpretations of her use of sign language as "sentimental nonsence". There has also always been pushback on the Koko experiment from actual primatologists.

One of the reblogs of my original Clever Hans post goes into this briefly and also pulls from THIS youtube video (but tw: ableism & animal abuse if you choose to watch).

What is boils down to is that Koko, and other apes in linguistics studies, were taught sign language the way dogs are taught "talking" buttons, through association. The handler/trainer then sometimes makes the leap to emotional responses much like happens with those with dog buttons. There is an excellent article HERE that describes the Koko situation quite well and touches on an important aspect both with Koko and the button dogs:

"As Koko’s trainer, adopted mum, business manager, and chief caregiver, Patterson wasn’t a neutral observer. If other scientists wanted to verify her claims, they had no access to Koko nor could they scrutinise any data. The only publicly available material is video recordings on YouTube, Facebook and various documentaries. It appears as if a lot of Koko’s signs were open to interpretation."

When scientists brought forward that all of Koko's communication was at the prompting of Patternson she simply refused to engage and was unable to come up with points for her position. You can also read transcripts of Patternson and Koko's communications and WHEW. is there a lot of prompting by Patternson to get the answer SHE wants.

There is a reason that we don't see continued ape to human language studies ever if often anymore. 1.) the ethics of it, Koko and other linguistic studies experiment apes lived in very specific and non ape appropriate environments due to the way the experiment and closeness to human behavior was structured and 2.) it is thought we can learn much more about apes by actually learning their forms of communications (shocker /s).

I cannot even begin to express how this is just the tip of the iceberg with the Koko stuff. But i guess most people would prefer to believe they weren't fooled by the Koko experiment because they feel sentimental/emotional about her, either way the information about this relating to Clever Hans is super easy to find. Literally google it and you'll find pages and pages discussing the shady and interpretive nature of the studies on her.

[sunnibits]

man I wish evolution wasn’t such a slow process over millions of years… like I wish that every 10 years or so every single species on planet earth would just get a huge patch notes update and scientists would publish about it so we could all get caught up on the new stuff. I wanna see the monkeys discover farming in my lifetime.

[centi-pedve]

we have the kind of media literacy that makes us a king among men on booktok but a blubbering idiot on tumblr

[who-let-the-potato-have-a-knife]

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) has almost the exact same plot as The Powerpuff Girls Movie (2002)

Hear me out… a scientist guy (Professor Utonium & Will Rodman) accidentally gives an ape higher intelligence (Mojo JoJo & Ceasar respectively) and then said ape (Mojo JoJo & Ceasar) gives other apes (and monkeys for the PPG movie) higher intelligence to help them which eventually leads to the apes (and monkeys) taking over. The only difference is one has super powered kindergarteners.

[comradecowplant]

If I had shapeshifting powers like Odo I'd turn into an orangutan and teach other great apes sign language (but for real) and ignite Intelligent Super Ape Socialism

[comicaurora]

hi red!! i'm doing an analysis of sun wukong's (and journey to the west in general's) impact on modern culture for my world mythology final, and for some reason i'm having a hard time finding sources. is there anything you can recommend?

The fact that Journey to the West has contributed an enormous number of tropes to modern media is very clear when the media in question is examined, but I don't know of a specific secondary source that's already done that analysis for you. However, this IS a very good excuse for you to plow through a metric buttload of shonen manga, since the lineage is basically Sun Wukong -> Son Goku -> like a solid third of all shonen action heroes written in the last forty years.

Dragon Ball kicks things off:

Started in 1984 and almost unquestionably the most influential manga ever made. Its first arc features the weird super-strong monkey-kid Son Goku - which is just the japanese pronunciation of the characters of Sun Wukong's name - meeting up with a wacky crew of thinly-veiled expys of the Journey to the West crew, with teen inventor Bulma filling the role of Tripitaka, Oolong the pig-man filling Zhu Bajie's role and Yamcha the desert-based bandit as Sha Wujing.

Hijinks ensue, and while the story drifts pretty far from Journey to the West's original plot, it actually stays pretty solidly referential in weirdly unexpected ways. Several the villains of the week are JttW references, and even the later appearance of three more Saiyans lines up with the surprise reveal of three more Wukong-like mystical apes in the original story.

The connection between Dragon Ball and JttW is very unsubtle and a frequent reference in the chapter covers and supplemental art.

Not every subsequent JttW reference is the result of Dragon Ball popularizing it or anything, since it was already enormously popular, but I think it's pretty hard to extricate Dragon Ball's influence on anime and manga from the original influence of Journey to the West itself.

One way that a distinction can be drawn is in the differences in characterization between Goku and Sun Wukong himself. A lot of the next generation of shonen protagonists were kind of Goku-alikes - pure-hearted dumbasses who only care for the three Fs: Food, Fighting and Friendship.

But the original characterization of Sun Wukong is not really all that similar. He's a trickster, sure, but he's far from a young, friendship-motivated goober. He's profoundly intelligent, pretty much the most well-educated entity on the planet, and routinely brings up that he's centuries older than most of his peers. The Goku-alikes from the later decades of shonen anime are tellingly far-removed from that original characterization. So you get characters based on Goku's cheerful idiocy, but it's just a small subset of the broader influence of Journey to the West on the space of literature.

In general, Journey to the West frequently shows up in very small, bite-sized tropes in other stories. It's less "this is wholly based on Journey to the West" and more "oh, I know where they maybe got this idea/aesthetic/power/weapon/villain of the week from." There are way too many to list, but some of the ones that tend to jump out at me are-

Sneaky characters with monkey motifs:

Tricksy, highly mobile characters who fight with a staff:

Characters afflicted with a magical restraint artifact that allows a much weaker character to stop them from misbehaving:

Specific esoteric weapons, eg. magical fans, rakes, gourds, namedropping The Sword of Seven Stars, etc.

Villains with prominent ox or pig design motifs:

Characters whose primary combat strat is just making Shitloads Of Disposable Copies Of Themselves:

Honestly it just keeps going like this. It's kinda everywhere. Finding the JttW in things is my favorite conspiracy theory rabbit hole because it's 100% harmless and more often than not completely correct.

[xplore-the-unknwn]

The Core of the Planet of the Apes Franchise ft. Wes Ball (Director)

"Can Ape and Human live together? and I think what its really saying is Can two people who are different live together?"

Sci Fi’s purpose is always to question, test and challenge what we understand. And Planet of the Apes has always been a satire to the ego of humanity and their hunger for dominance. In a fictional world where Apes became the 'humans'/sentient intelligent species and men are likened to beasts. What kind of world will that look like? What kind of dynamic or relationships can that bring? and the Franchise has always been about asking that question.

Now enter our new main characters. Wes said the focus of the new movies will center around Noa and Mae’s very unique dynamic. A girl and a sentient ape both different but both similar in doing what they can to protect their loved ones.

and there’s nothing wrong if you get curious with how their relationship will develop. Is that something heinous? to root for a dynamic that can greatly influence the fictional world they live in?

tbh thats what the film WANTS- Make you curious. ASK THE QUESTIONS IT WANTS ASKED.

Peak storytelling. All I see is a Director smartly pinning the tension between these two main characters to further hook us to seeing more of the next films they’re making. A masterclass in creative writing too. With that we can ask the questions- If apes were sentient like humans how will we treat them? Who do we root for knowing human nature tends to be destructive? IF we understand each other’s differences can we learn from each other and live side by side? Circling back to the question-

Can Ape and Human live together?

And those questions will be answered through THEM- Noa and Mae.

Theres a-lot of importance in their dynamic and the future that they’ll bring with it. Will it be tragic or hopeful?

See, it intriguesss.

and thats Sci Fi’s purpose. That’s the Planet of The Ape’s message.

Also with the fandom ship or not ship yall just ENJOY this franchise and let its underlying messages speak to you. Thats what the filmmakers and actors behind this film would want too (I feel for them sm and see the passion to get this done and I just want to VOICE out that this beautiful movie and the characters they worked hard on are greatly appreciated)

[factual-fantasy]

Ah yes, the old King Kong himself! I didn’t actually think I was going to add him and Diddy to my AU because I wasn’t sure how they’d fit.. But after brainstorming with a friend, we found a way! XD

I tried to put a lot of thought into DK and Diddy’s designs. Everything was intentional. Diddy and DK’s ENORMOUS size, DKs long fur, the red and blue tones in their fur, DK having long claws while Diddy does not, Diddy’s clothing choice, EVERYTHING! I tried my best to think it all through.

If ya wanna read about their lore and why they look the way the do, I have a ramble below the keep reading just for you! :D

Ahem,

SO

Off the coast of Daisy’s kingdom is this big island that can be seen from the shore. Daisy sent some of her Delfino people to go explore it but they never returned.. so she sent a rescue team after them, but they disappeared too.

Desperate, she turned to Mario and Luigi for help. Now, Mario and Luigi have just proved their strength and heroism by defeating Bowser. And they ALSO have a pet Yoshi. If anyone can go to that seemingly dangerous island and return? Its them.

Daisy approached them with an offer. You go use your magical powers and find out what happened to my missing people, and I’ll give you whatever you want. They agreed and made their way over...

Only to find destroyed campsites, boats torn apart... and bodies. Bodies everywhere. 

Turns out this island is home to these enormous ape like animals. And they attacked the Delfino’s because they were loud, setting fires, chopping down trees, taking their food, etc. When they encountered the King himself, Yoshi was utterly terrified. He knew he was outmatched. There was absolutely no way he could protect the Mario brothers from this thing. So he just slowly pulled Mario and Luigi to the ground and cowered in fear. Trying to make them all look as non confrontational as possible.

Thankfully their petrified faces and absolute silence labeled them as a non-threat. And the situation was defused. Loads of shenanigan's later and they waved goodbye to Donkey, Diddy and all the other monkey creatures and returned to Daisy with the gruesome news..

Their reward? They just wanted enough food to fill Yoshi’s belly. Poor guy probably burnt all the calories he had trying not pass out back there.

Now the design lore! :D

On this island, there are these really powerful fruits and veggies that have super star power in them, just like Yoshi’s island. Only these ones work a little differently..

There are two main super foods on this island. The giant red beet type veggies that grow deep in the ground. And the big blue fruits that grow in the trees.

The big red beets are really bitter and tough like rocks. But anyone who eats them will begin to grow in size. The gorilla like animals on this island will use their claws to dig them up and use their iron jaws to crack them open and eat them. That’s why Donkey Kong is red. 75% of his diet consists of these bitter, giant red super beets that make him grow to be giant.

Meanwhile Diddy, and all the other Monkey like animals.. they cant dig for these beets. And their jaws are not strong enough to crack them open. Plus the beets are really bitter.. SO, they prefer to climb into the trees and eat the sweet blue fruits that grow at the very top.

These sweet fruits are also powerful in nature, but instead of making you stronger, they encourage brain growth. So all the monkeys that eat this super sweet brain fruit, will just get really smart and their fur will turn more blue.

The two species almost had a war between them. But they quickly discovered they’re better off together. The gorillas can protect the monkeys from threats, while the Monkeys use their intelligence to make tools and shelter.

This peace is further solidified by Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong's friendship. Diddy being the smartest monkey and DK being the strongest Gorilla.

All in all this island is rather peaceful at its core. But in the end its still full of wild animals. And is considered more dangerous than Yoshi’s island. To this day no one has ever returned to DK’s island. Although DK and Diddy would happily welcome the Mario Brothers back with open arms if they ever decided to visit.

[shwaesar]

More Caesar x Reader HCs

Still SFW but gets suggestive near the end (I'm working up to it ok I'm nervous)

You give him so many conflicting emotions and he never quite manages to come to peace with them. But he comes to peace with not coming to peace with them, if that makes sense.

He knows what he is and takes unapologetic pride in it. He's an ape. A creature forged by nature and nurture, a wild animal at his core, regardless of intelligence. Nothing can change that about him, and that's fine. He doesn't particularly want to change it.

But to love a human being feels almost like a rejection of all that. An ape can't love a human the way another human can. A human can't love an ape the way another ape can. So in a sense, you're both having to redefine your very selves just to try and make it work. To give each other what you want and need, while also adhering to your own wants and needs.

It takes a lot of time and patience to figure it all out, but you get there eventually. Or at least as close to there as you can get.

That thought still lingers in the back of his mind that he's not human enough for you, but on the rare occasion he lets those thoughts known, you're always quick to reassure him that you don't love a human. You love an ape.

'Love' is admittedly used in a nuanced way between the two of you. Love for humans means one thing, love for apes means another. But for you and Caesar, love means to choose one another, despite your many differences.

Maurice is honestly a life saver to have helping you both, educating you about ape romance and reassuring Caesar that his efforts in human romance are-..... well, it's the thought that counts.

He has no idea what he's doing but every now and then he'll pull something off that really cements his devotion to you. After all, he doesn't love an ape. He loves a human.

Flowers end up being his go-to gift, at least when he can get his hands on some. The forest is full of them if you know where to look, and he'll painstakingly pick the 'best' and bind the stems with twine before delivering them to you.

And you keep them in an old soda can filled with water, and about once every few weeks you'll have new ones to decorate your living space with, and Caesar can tell how happy it makes you so he keeps doing it and its honestly precious.

Gift-giving turns out to be a courtship ritual humans and apes have in common! But here's the thing-for humans, gifts are about sentimentality. For apes, they're about practicality.

Every now and then Caesar will bring you an 'ape' gift between more 'human' ones.

Once you've started eating more with the community and he doesn't have to bring you designated meals anymore, he starts surprising you with full on carcasses when he returns from a hunt. A testament to his ability to provide for you, at least in his mind.

They get progressively bigger too. Starts with a few hares. Then a boar. Then a stag.

He delivers you a fucking bear he found hibernating in the winter months, and you get a brilliant fur pelt out of it. Being able to keep you warm makes him swell with pride like nothing else, even if you can't help but feel a little bad for the bear.

You also receive a stone dagger after it's clear their usual weapons are too big and heavy for you. It's carved a bit clumsily, but the edge is sharp and there's a patch of rabbit skin wrapped around the handle to make gripping more comfortable. He feels a lot more confident in your ability to protect yourself once you have it, and seeing you use it is another thing that's makes his chest puff out proudly, because he has made sure you're safe, even when he's not around.

Of coarse, most of the time he is around.

And oh boy, when danger comes he is ready. Doesn't matter if it's a wild animal, another ape, another human- he will fuck a bitch up if they pose a threat to you.

The first time it happens is honestly a little scary. You run into a boar while foraging and it does not look happy, and neither does Caesar.

Blocks off your body with his own, fur standing on end, snarling and hooting aggressively at the creature to try and scare it off. His mind is racing with primal instinct the entire time- he has to protect his mate, has to be ready to go for the kill if it charges at you, he can't let his human get hurt-

It's also the first time you get a good look at his chompers, his lips pulled back to show them off in warning, and it suddenly strikes you how easily those teeth could be used against your own delicate flesh if he so desired, how effortlessly he could maul you, bite your fingers off one by one, rip out your throat-

Let's face it though, it definitely awakens something in you.

When the encounters over he has a nasty cut on his thigh from its tusks, and you get him home to treat the wound as quickly as possible. He's apologising the whole time for loosing his usual self control, for potentially frightening you. But then you tell him it suits him, and lord have mercy, once he processes it, you've awakened something in him too.

But that's a conversation for another post uwu

FOREHEAD KISSES

EXPECT THEM OFTEN

Even before anything's official, it's a gesture of trust and familiarity between the two of you. But when you're his mate, the romantic side of it is delved into more deeply.

Cupping each other's faces to hold the position of your temples touching, intense eye contact, deep breaths. It's a kind of intimacy that really burrows deep into you. Without words, he's able to tell you; I'm here. I've got you.

Human kisses are a bit trickier. He's familiar with the concept, he's seen humans kiss, but ape mouths are a lot bigger than ours and have a lot of different things to work around in order to really kiss something.

He's content to just receive them initially. Your lips are so soft and warm and feel so wonderful pressing against the corner of his own, or to his cheek, or to his open palm. Getting such a human form of affection from you carries almost a level of sanctity for him. Only you have ever kissed him. Only you will ever kiss him.

He'll take it to his grave, but he practices on the back of his hand sometimes so he can eventually return the favour.

Until then, the closest you get is him pressing his closed muzzle to your skin and just... inhaling your scent,

He tells you humans have a distinct smell, but individual humans have their own, more specific smell. When you ask what yours is like, he admittedly has to take a moment to think about it.

"You smell.... like home."

Sweet, right? WRONG. He just doesn't want to admit that he's been subtly making you smell more like him. Gotta make sure his territory is clearly his, after all.

AND SPEAKING OF MARKING TERRITORY

Biting.

He doesnt dare try it at first, too aware of the risks. Human skin is much too thin and sensitive for him to indulge in such a a way, no, he just can't bring himself to potentially do you serious harm, regardless of how badly he wants to.

You'd have to be the one to initiate a conversation about it. You can tell he's restraining himself here and there, from the low growls that slip out when he's embracing you, and with how his tongue drags across his canines, it's not hard to tell what he's holding back in regards to.

So you ask him to bite you. If it's a request, he won't worry that you're just trying to appease him.

He'd still cautious, mind you.

"Are you... sure?"

He says it while all but salivating, eyes dilated as he subconsciously scans your body for a good place.

"Don't want.... to hurt you. It will hurt. You... know that."

With just a little more insistence, he all but pounces at the opportunity.

Apes bite each other affectionately quite a bit, little nips here and there, harder ones usually reserved between mates. It holds meaning for them, displaying trust in the other person. You trusting him like that? He's never been more in love with you than he is in that moment.

He goes for the space between your neck and shoulder, carefully avoiding any major arteries. You feel his breath there first, as he does his usual snuffing and growling.

Then his teeth sink into you. Slowly, his broad tongue pressing into the flesh between them.

And the sound you make-

He pulls back abruptly, releasing you with a hoot of distress and grasping your upper arms to look over the mark left behind. Panic jolts through every fibre of his being, he thinks he seriously fucked up. Apes don't vocalise like that-it must be in pain, yes-you're in too much pain-he should never have-....

....

Oh.

....

Oh.

[wetsocksinbed]

something I find incredibly funny is that in the current Planet of the Apes movies, the only time apes are villains is when it’s bonobos (Koba, Proximus)

for those who don’t know much about apes in the wild, Bonobos are one of the (if not THE) most docile ape. They are incredibly intelligent and, for a lack of a better word, absolute hippies. they have never been recorded to have ever committed a murder, unlike chimps, who are ironically a very agressive and violent species. They go out of their way to end fights, and make sure to share food. The hierarchy is Female, with families being lead by a matriarch.

Bonobos hate fighting, and become incredibly stressed at the idea of doing so. So instead they fuck. No, seriously. Stress release? Fuck. Want to share some food? Gotta fuck first. Happy? Fucking. Sad? Fucking. If it’s an emotion, it results in getting hot and steamy. Male on male, female on female, male on female, they don’t care. It’s like shaking hands for them.

the writers are accidentally using the Jaws Effect (the jaws effect is where a movie/show/book takes an animal that is rarely, if ever, dangerous, and uses it to be the main antagonist, therefore creating a false narrative that this type of animal is a common aggressor and there’s a high chance humans can be harmed by it. The Jaws movie turned Great Whites into villains, when they’re actually fairly calm creatures, and the movie sparked a massive manhunt for Great Whites. Granted people aren’t out there with guns taking on Bonobos, but I do find it ironic that the one species of ape to be featured in the reboot that was branded “dangerous” is the one that would probably protect humans most in a fight

[death---dealer]

27 and 32 with blue eyes pls 🤲🏻🧿👄🧿

27. hug from behind. 32. neck kisses. who turned up the TEMP

You felt like you couldn’t breathe; the air that was filling your lungs was not satisfying, there was prickling around the edges of the organ and were tickling with acute exhilaration. Eyes were fluttering across the forest, turning at the attention of even a twig crunching weight caused the small hairs on your body to ease into a stand even though you were wearing a jacket.

The tug of your feet against the muddied ground caught your weight as you shuffled around, scanning the trees for any semblance that they had been rested upon. There was nothing there, much to your digression. The darkened nature of his fur made him hard to spot, the voice in the back of your head taunted as you stiffened at the feeling of a set of eyes staring at you from a smaller distance. That was the thing; you turned quickly in the direction you sensed Blue Eyes was waiting, biding his time. Always trust your gut instinct when you feel like someone is watching you, that’s when they’re most likely to attack. 

A dashed smile left your lips as you signed with your hands, clear and concise, knowing he was able to see the motions with vividity. ‘You may as well come out, I know you’re out there.’ Not the objective of the chase, you knew but maybe somewhere inside, your yearning for him, your heightened state of exaltations and smells were enough to get your mate to come from his hiding spot.

A smart tactic, you figured it would have worked but that was not the case. The hackles upon his shoulders rose in tandem with your hands as you were speaking in silence to him, Blue Eyes’ gaze laser focused on what you had offered him. He could come out, give in and let you win, but there was not as much fun in that. Less anticipation than him waiting in the shadows of the foliage, the bushes that coated the ground with tiny leaves and berries, the redwoods that skyrocketed in the heavens. Blue Eyes was stalking his prey and that very prey was now using their only defense tactic against him. 

Shoulders rolled as you turned around, finally scanning the surrounding area once more and Blue Eyes was quick to dart to the left, feeling the crushing of the Earth below his weight but it was remarkable in how light he made himself sound. There was something about this that was innately itching the best part of the Chimps mind. The chase, the eagerness to have himself sinking into you at the end when you would ultimately lose. There was no way that your Human senses would ever be able to beat out the contradictions he got from being an intelligent Ape. Skirting to a stop, Blue Eyes relished in the feeling of his toes in the mud below and looked at your back side, now only two meters in front of you and brought his body down, hunching in on himself to appear smaller.

“You’ve been chasing me for an hour!” You finally bargained with your vocals, the tear shooting down his spine and he was aware of the way that the fur along his spine rose at that. One more move, and it was over. He’d have his prize in his hands, he’d be able to take you and lift you up like a trophy and admit that you were less of a predator and more of the prey. The cold air hit your back first, evident even through the polyester blend of your jacket and in a mimicked behavior to your mate only a few seconds ago, you felt a tingling running down your spine and resting in the uncomfortable home of your tailbone, spreading even between your legs in a delicious lick when you could feel the slipping of a muscular and taut arm around your waist, pulling you back, your body laden with defeat as you let him. Curvatures melded into each other, your vertebrate almost tearing themselves apart at how irrationally good it felt to have Blue Eyes flushing you against the hardened scape of the front of his body. One foul swoop and you were done for, the expectancy of his next actions were driving you inside to the point where your heart felt like it would beat itself right out of your chest and leave nothing but a bloodied hole there. Blue Eyes rose the one hand that had no grasp on you and mimed the words for you. Just as clear and concise as yours were earlier, leaving your eyes ample, your throat running dry and the base of your neck to feel crinkled with the utmost despair of carnal intent, knees drawing themselves together, your breath quickening now to the point where the pain had subsided from running through the woods and was replaced with fire. 

‘You are… too slow…’ The Prince himself was slow to give compliments, much like his Father, your brain flurried in on itself. Never usually like that himself, but there was something deeply fascinating that sat in your tangled bodies that needed to be explored when he graced the side of your neck, right against your beated jugular with a feather graze of his lips. Thinned, but puckered just for you, you reacted swiftly, tilting the bones to the side to give him more room to take what he deserved. He was right, you felt a breathless tug of a moan leaving your lips as he dropped his hand and ghosted it over your side before it joined the other than had been holding you against his taut body in the first place. Without warning, you were embraced and nearly knocked off your feet by the viciousness that was leaking from Blue Eyes. 

“Going to take your prey back to the Colony for dinner?” You whispered and felt a moment's glance where Blue Eyes lifted his mouth from your sweaty neck, lapping up the saltiness right onto his tongue as he rolled himself further against you, arousal clear against the flare of your back, right above your ass which was securely amplified when the Prince pushed on your navel, garnering himself a throaty moan from you at the sensation so close to your own scented heat, pressing even further against Blue Eyes’ girth.

“No,” His voice was dripping with eased and inherent amusement, canines baring themself against your skin causing your jugular to bounce in reaction, eager for more. Bite me, you whispered against him with your grasp as you finally brought enough conscious thought to the conversation to leverage yourself against him. Blue Eyes never used his voice unless necessary. The years of disuse were indicated in the gruff nature, the deepened baritone that seemed to lull you into a state of heightened frenzy. “I will take… my prey…” You were crunched against him as Blue Eyes’ shaft coated itself against the fabric of your jacket and you squirmed, not to get free, but to get a release from the torture it was causing you, the rise and fall of bile-induced incline resting in your pelvic, dancing itself downwards, tossing your head back against the Apes broad shoulder, “Right here.” “A-Are you going to skin me?” That didn't even sound like your voice as the calloused nature of his leathered finger pads finally tore themselves under your jacket and shirt that clung together with moisture from your skin. 

“Piece by piece.”

[mae-is-crazy]

I was wondering if you could do Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes one shot where Mae and Noa are sitting by a fire in a cave, like you know how some movies do like silhouette scenes where the light shines on them but you can only see their silhouettes and they're talking very softly I'm not really sure you can come up with something maybe it's something serious or like something touching or heartwarming. But I always imagine they would be tired and like exhausted or something or emotionally or physically but they're like getting closer to each other I mean they're Bond or something which eventually mae fall asleep on him and he feels all awkward X3

Okay, I'm being so serious right now what I say that I LOVE THIS REQUEST!! So frickin' wholesome and cute. I'm usually one to go into serious and darker content, but I couldn't miss the opportunity to write some fluff. I had a lot of fun writing this. I hope you have just as much fun reading the finished product :) :)

Signs of Constant (Noa/Mae)

Synopsis: A quiet night by the fire leads to sharing the beauties of two different world.

(This story is unedited. Edits will be conducted at a later date).

In the serene warmth of the fire in front of him, Noa observed Mae.

He studied her face like it was the last time he’d see it. And it very well could be; she’d been gone for two springs, off with who he assumed to be a group of intelligent ech- humans- so who knew how long she’d be gone for next time. When Anaya alerted him of her presence, Noa had felt this warm wave in his gut that pushed him to see her without a second thought.  

Through the limited lighting of the dancing flames, Noa took in her every feature.

Noa could see a faint scar on the bottom right side of her chin, one that hadn’t been there the last time she was around. Her hair looked different too. Darker? No, it was just the night. It did look shorter, but only slightly. It was still in that lose braid he last saw her with.

Something that hadn’t changed, however, was her eyes. Even with hues of orange engulfing the small cave the two were huddled in, its raging colors were no match against the cerulean shade in her eyes. Even before the two were formally introduced he’d first noticed the striking color, a color that shood out against the earthy browns and greens of his clan. They somehow seemed to shine brighter on the night.

As if reading his mind, Mae blinked in his direction. She smirked slyly as Noa quickly looked down at his lap. “Gotcha,” she teased lightly.

Noa silently prayed his dark pelt could hide whatever heat was radiating off his face. He turned to look behind him, instead focusing on the massive silhouettes on the rocky backdrop. It was clear enough the height difference between the two, but the fire only made it more obvious- almost monstrous.

An ape and a human. Two different species, two different worlds. Different ways of life and how they think the world should work. And yet they were at peace with one another.  It shouldn’t be possible, and yet here they were, sharing a fire.

Mae follows Noa’s field of sight. She watches the shadows behind them bounce across the rock wall. Noa side eyed her. A smile began creeping upon her face.

“My mom always did this when we had a fire,” Mae explained as eh shuffled herself to turn around, her back facing the fire. “You can tell stories with the fire.”

The put her hands up and together. She stacked her thumbs on top of each other and made a slight cup with her hands. She displayed it in front of the fire, and…

“It’s a bird,” Mae moved her hands in a fluid motion as if the creature was in flight. Noa couldn’t’ hide the amused chortle, only making the girl’s smirk grow into a toothy smile. Noa could feel a quickening sensation in his heart. Her eyes seemed to shine brighter through her smile- brighter than the flames in the pitch black night- because of her smile.

Mae changed her hands to form a new shape. This beast had a snout similar to that of a boar, but without jagged teeth or short, flappy ears- whereas this thing’s ears stood at attention. “It’s a dog.”

Noa gave her a confused glance. Mae put her hands down immediately after.

“The hands… are like sign.”

“I don’t know sign.”

Noa twisted his whole body to fully face Mae and she silently did the same. He put up one hand and took a deep breath before slowly twisting his fingers into different shapes. He’d tuck a finger into his parm or point to the side. He took a moment before moving onto each letter to let Mae absorb what she was seeing.

“Fire,” he whispered. Mae looked at her own hand. She glanced up at Noa’s hand and back down at hers before trying for herself. Noa watched the girl tale her time forming each character. When she’d make a mistake, he repeated the sign until she’d get it right.

Noa released a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He softly smirked. There was so much to learn from one another. So much to teach as well, it seemed.

Mae looked outside past the fire. The only thing visible in the dead of night was the celestial body of stars. It was a constant in this rapidly changing world. Noa found reassurance that, no matter what happened, he could as least look up each night and find that the stars hadn’t left him.

Noa signed without looking away from the girl. “Stars,” he murmured. She followed quickly in suit and mirrored his gestured. “Stars,” she mimicked quietly.

The ape nodded in approval. He raised his hand one more time, this time spelling out each word as he shaped it.

He tucked his thumb between his pinkie and ring finger. “M.”

Made a fist but being sure to keep his thumb exposed. “A.”

Noa’s fingers touched each other tightly and sat atop his thumb.

Mae beat him to finish the word.

“E.”

The two watched one another carefully. The silence that once brought Noa comfort now made him feel awkward, almost uneasy. Whereas Noa would stare at Mae, it seemed that she was doing it to him- thinking to herself, forming possible judgments. What did she see that he couldn’t?

The intensity in her glare suddenly shifted and her she relaxed her shoulders. Mae squeezed her eyes shut and dipped her head. She stretched out her arms and yawned. Before Noa could register what was happening, Mae leaned closer to him, resting her head against his shoulder.

Noa stiffened like a board. He heard his breath and eyed the fragile girl (though she was far from fragile outside of the physical scene). The fire was beginning to die down. Even so, Mae still did not shiver against Noa’s body.

He waited a minute, two, ten before settling on the idea that she’d fallen asleep. He tilted his head to catch a glimpse of her peacefully slumbering form.  The young ape felt truly honored to feel trusted with this precious girl’s life in such a vulnerable state.

Noa was just about to allow himself sleep when he heard a tiny voice against him:

“Tomorrow, I want you to each me your name.”

[inkmonster21]

I have a request for Noa. Where human reader has been with Eagle Clan for a while. And when a male echo comes and stays for a bit, the reader gets close to him, and Noa doesn't like it. But the reader is only doing it because she thinks Noa wouldn't like a human. But Noa confesses to the reader that he does like her.

I hope that wasn't complicated and it makes sense. 😌

🤣This… I enjoyed this a lot 🤍 thank you for your request! I hope I met your expectations!

AN: my dyslexic ass just reread the request and I totally see where I missed HUMAN MALE and not ape male. My bad y’all! 🥲

~

I Can Do Anything Better Than He Can

Noa x human!reader!

~o0o~

You had travelled along side Mae on the journey to find the divice that could help humans speak again. Help us communicate with others around the fallen world ran by the apes. A lifetime of indoctrination had shaped your perception of apes. You had been taught to fear them, to see them as the invaders who had taken over what once belonged to humans. The idea of understanding or even coexisting with them was a foreign and unwelcome concept in your mind.

Or so you thought.

When the dam exploded and the water rushed in, Mae life you to fend for yourself. Your escape from the flooding vault was a harrowing ordeal, the water rushing in and threatening to consume you. In the chaotic moment, you slipped from the hold you had, falling into the churning depths below, seemingly destined to perish. But then, like an unexpected lifeline, a strong hand grasped your own, pulling you upwards and away from the dangerous current. It was Noa, his grip steady and sure, who had saved you from certain drowning. “I have you.” You still remember his words. No doubt about them.

As you sit alone in your hut, the reality of your current situation sinks in. The very concepts of wrong and right have been turned on their head. Everything you were taught, the doctrines of fearing and hating the apes, seem foreign now. You are now living amongst them, coexisting and interacting with them every day. The realization is both liberating and confusing, a swirling mix of emotions that leaves you questioning everything you once believed to be true.

These creatures, the very beings you had been taught to fear and distrust, have shown nothing but care and kindness towards you. The realization leaves you with a sense of unease, a nagging sensation that everything you had been taught was a lie.

Time had passed, and your life within the eagle clan had become a comfortable and familiar routine. The elders treated you with respect, recognizing your intelligence and resourcefulness. Meanwhile, the younger members of the clan were drawn to your human ways, finding joy in the playful games and activities you brought to their lives. You had found a place for yourself among them, your presence accepted with openness and curiosity.

Noa observes from a distance as you interact with the young apes, a soft smile on his face. There's a gentle affection in his gaze as he takes in the sight of you laughing and playing with the children of his kind. He watches the way you engage with them, effortlessly switching between human and ape gestures and mannerisms. It's a sight that fills him with a mixture of warmth and wonder.

In the countless interactions he had with you, Noa discovered that he was beginning to distinguish your individuality from the collective whole of human society. Your openness and willingness to share your knowledge and experiences intrigued him, sparking a deeper fascination. He found himself not just interested in the history and culture of humans, but more specifically, in the intricacies of you as a person. He longed to understand the nuances of your thoughts, feelings, and perspectives in ways that extended beyond the general human experience. This new fascination both excited and puzzled him.

“You are staring… again.” Anaya teases Noa as they sit together, their duties done for the day. Noa snaps out of his thoughts, realizing that he's been caught once again staring at you. He looks away, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes. "I was not staring… I am watching," he mutters, defensively.

Anaya shoots him a knowing smile, a sly glimmer in her eyes. "Oh, just… watching, hm?" she replies, her tone playful. "You do that lot." Noa huffs, “Echo is here to help teach. I watch. I learn.” Anaya laughs, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You tell yourself that, Noa," he teases, clearly not buying his excuse. "We both know… something more than just watching and learning.”

Noa struggles to deny the truth, his efforts to repress his feelings proving futile. No matter how much he tries to push them aside, they keep returning with a constant insistence. Every time he looks at you, every time he hears your laughter, the feelings only grow stronger and more intense.

You make a swift escape from the energetic young apes, seeking shelter behind Noa. You giggle, breathless and flushed, your body pressed lightly against his as you use him as a shield. “Help me.” You beg Noa.

The young apes follow you with quick steps, their playful energy undiminished. They spot you behind Noa, their eyes lighting up with excitement as they close the distance. Noa stands his ground, attempting to block the young ones from reaching you. Noa grins at the young apes, his tone playful yet authoritative. "Go on," he says, coaxing the young ones to leave you be. "You have all played with her all evening…Let her rest." The young apes begrudgingly obey his words, their disappointment at their game being cut short obvious, though they reluctantly disperse, off to find other mischief.

You come to sit beside Noa. Resting your head on his shoulder. “Thanks.” You say with a laugh. “They’ve had me running everywhere!” Noa chuckles softly, your head resting on his shoulder sending a surge of warmth through him. "I saw," he responds with a smirk. "Young ones have a lot of energy. Could hear you running around from here."

As Soona takes her seat next to Noa, you reluctantly remove your head from his shoulder, feeling a pang of disappointment as you do. Over the seasons, your feelings for Noa have grown into a full-blown crush. Every moment with him is both thrilling and agonizing, as you struggle to keep your emotions reigned in. But you were not blind, he had such a beautiful bond with Soona. They were sure to find their way to each other one way or another. You wouldn’t stand in the way of that. You couldn't for Noa would not have a human as a mate, as the clan's mother. It was not right.

The sun starts to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the village. The air is filled with the hustle and bustle of the clan preparing for the evening. With a final glance at Noa, Anaya, and Soona, you rise from your seat. "I should head back to my hut. I'll see you tomorrow."

Noa's gaze follows you as you walk away, disappearing into the small hut he spent countless days constructing to ensure your comfort. He lets out a soft sigh, a mixture of resignation and longing etched across his features. The thought of spending his nights in that very hut, with you, is a tempting fantasy that he can't quite shake off.

“Echo is going hunting… with Khan tomorrow,” Soona says as she watches her friend's eyes stuck on your hut. Both Anaya and Soona could tell Noa felt something for you.

Noa's gaze is still fixed on your hut as Soona's words reach his ears. He turns to face her, a hint of surprise in his expression. "Hunting... with Khan?" he echoes, his mind momentarily distracted from his thoughts. Anaya and Soona share a knowing look, their observant eyes picking up on the subtle indicators of Noa's feelings without him even realizing.

Noa's eyes narrow slightly, a flicker of confusion and perhaps the slightest hint of jealousy in his gaze. "Why would she go hunting with Khan?" he wonders aloud. "She's always hunts with me..." Anaya and Soona exchange a glance, both silently recognizing Noa's unspoken emotions for you. If they could only get him to stop being so stubborn.

It's Anaya who breaks the silence, her voice gentle but pointed. "Perhaps Echo wants a change of pace," he suggests, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Maybe wanted to spend time with other apes… not just Noa.”

Noa lets out an exasperated sigh, rolling his eyes at the suggestion. He retorts, his tone a mix of annoyance and growing suspicion. "She knows all of the clan. There's not an ape who does not enjoy her company…Why would she want to hunt with Khan…of all apes?"

Anaya smirks, “Noa is jealous.” He is quickly smacked by Soona with a disappointed glare. "Jealous?" Noa scoffs, attempting to backtrack, his denial not as convincing as he'd like. "not jealous... I do not understand why Echo… would choose to go hunting with Khan… instead of me." Khan, while a decent hunter, paled in comparison to Noa's own skills. Noa knew, deep down, that he could provide you with everything Khan couldn't. The realization only serves to fuel his growing jealousy.

You step out of your hut, greeting the morning with a weary smile. The dawn light filters through the trees, casting a faint glow on your face. A sense of anticipation mixes with exhaustion in your expression, the upcoming hunting trip adding to your weariness but also sparking a hint of excitement.

You make your way through the village, exchanging warm greetings with the apes you pass along the way. As you approach Dar, you come to a stop, a friendly smile on your face. "Good morning, Dar," you say, your voice still tinged with a hint of sleepiness. Dar, as usual, embarrasses you with the fond gesture, her forehead touching yours in a warm greeting. Despite the early hour and your half-awake state, you can't help but smile at her affection.

As you look around the area, a hint of disappointment crosses your features when you don't spot Noa among the apes. You had hoped to catch a glimpse of him before departing on the hunting trip, but it seems he's nowhere to be found.

You turn your gaze to Dar, curiosity and a hint of disappointment in your voice. "Where is Noa?" Dar cocks her head to the side, her eyes scanning the surroundings. "Noa?" she muses. "He was here earlier… was packing for trip.” Your brows furrow but brush it off just as quickly.

You head towards the horses, your mind still preoccupied with thoughts of where Noa might be. As you approach, you spot Khan, diligently preparing his own horse for the upcoming hunting trip.

“Almost ready?”

Khan looks up from what he's doing, a confident smile on his lips. "Almost ready," he responds, his tone assured. "Just a few… adjustments.” He pats the side of the horse, his hand gently grazing its neck in a soothing gesture.

Khan had always been kind to you, a friendly presence in the clan. He would often bring small collections of berries to you and offer his help with gentle gestures. In many ways, he was a good ape, and you found yourself drawn to his affable demeanor. But deep down, you knew that your heart longed for Noa, and as much as you wanted to move on, it wasn't as easy as flipping a switch.

As you're about to mount Khan's horse and feel his touch on your lower back, a familiar voice cuts through the air, making you pause. You turn around to find Noa, sitting atop his horse and looking at you both with a steady gaze. "Care if I join?" he asks, a determined, almost smug expression on his face.

You smile at him and walk a step close to him. Simply drawn to his form. “Noa!”

Noa smiles back at you, his eyes locking onto your form as you move slightly closer to him. Your voice, saying his name, ignites a flicker of warmth within him.

Khan, his expression neutral, considers Noa's request. "Why do you want to come?" he asks, a hint of suspicion in his tone. The two had never been close, simply acquaintances. Noa's gaze is firm as he locks eyes with Khan, his voice carrying a hint of bitter determination. "As the leader… it's my duty to provide for the clan," he responds, emphasizing his role and responsibility.

Khan, choosing not to test Noa's leadership, simply nods in acknowledgment. He extends his hand towards you, silently offering to help you mount his horse. Noa's hand quickly finds your arm, pulling you towards his horse with a firm but gentle grip. "Ride with me," he states, his voice matter-of-fact. He steadies you as you find your balance on the shared saddle, a silent act of declaration.

Riding together wasn't an unusual sight in the clan, but there was something different about this time. There was a sense of forcefulness in Noa's actions, as if he was intentionally asserting his presence, making it clear that he was there, right behind you. As to where Khan was merely feet away, alone, on his horse.

Khan dismounts from his horse and crouches down to observe the tracks on the ground. He carefully studies the marks left behind, his eyes focused and analytical. You slide off Noa's horse and move closer to Khan, crouching down to observe the tracks that have caught his attention. Pointing forward towards the lush forest, you indicate the direction you believe the prints lead to. "This way," you suggest, your voice certain and sure.

Noa, his leadership instincts in full display, takes the lead without a word, striding ahead with an air of determination. He doesn't need to speak; his body language and actions alone convey his confidence and authority. Khan, watching from behind, cannot help but silently scoff at Noa's behavior. It's clear to him that Noa is attempting to assert his dominance, trying to outshine Khan in every possible way.

Khan, determined not to be overshadowed by Noa, moves to walk alongside him, maintaining a similar stance and speed. He doesn't say anything, but his body language indicates that he refuses to be dominated or intimidated.

You trail slightly behind Noa and Khan, your attention solely focused on the tracks ahead of you. You move with purpose, your eyes fixed on the ground beneath you, following the trail that leads deeper into the lush forest. You follow the trail in silence, Noa and Khan side by side. The forest is alive with the soft rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.

Suddenly, a faint sound, a squeal, reaches your ears. It's soft, distant, but undeniably out of place. Noa's ears twitch, expression furrowing in concentration as he picks up on the noise too.

All three of you freeze, your focus shifting to the bushes that had rustled. Noa's sharp eyes zero in on the movement, and he points, a tense whisper breaking the silence. "There!" Khan and Noa immediately sprint through the trees, their trained hunter instincts kicked into gear. They move with incredible speed, their bodies weaving through the forest with ease. The chase is on.

You reach Noa and Khan, your breath slightly labored, just in time to see the two warriors cornering a wild, enraged bore. Its tusks are blood-stained and its eyes burn with fury. The beast is trapped, but it isn't giving up without a fight.

Khan strikes the first blow, his determination to prove himself driving his actions. However, his effort is met with a swift and brutal response from the hog. It charges at him with a ferocious speed, easily brushing off his spear attack as if it was mere child's play.

As Khan cries out in pain and the wild hog continues its relentless attack, you instinctively move forwards to aiding him. However, Noa swiftly grabs your arm, preventing you from getting closer. Noa bides his time, waiting for the right moment, before springing into action to assist Khan. He cautiously approaches the fight, assessing the situation and finding the perfect opening to join the battle.

Noa waits until the boar raises up on its hind legs, preparing to plunge its tusks into Khan. Then, with a swift and fearless move, he throws his spear, aiming it perfectly into the beast. The spear pierces the boar's flesh, and the two start to fight, a fierce struggle unfolding between Noa and the wild animal.

While Khan had been easily overpowered by the boar, Noa was a different story. His strength and agility were much greater, and he managed to stay on top of the hog, struggling fiercely with the enraged beast. Noa, being the skilled hunter that he was, quickly put an end to the animal's suffering. He used his superior skill and strength to overpower and subdue the boar, bringing the fight to a swift conclusion.

Noa, his pride inflated after his successful defeat of the boar, turns around, expecting to find you watching him with admiration and respect. Instead, he sees you by Khan's side, inspecting his injuries with concern. The sight of you tending to the wounded ape triggers a pang of jealousy in Noa.

Khan sits on the forest floor, his expression a mixture of shock and anger. Had his leader really just allowed him to be mangled on purpose? He meets Noa's gaze with an intensity that borders on hostility. The two males lock eyes, the tension palpable between them.

You glance nervously between the two apes, your eyes darting back and forth as the tension between them builds. The air is thick with animosity, and you can feel the hostile energy radiating from both Noa and Khan.

Khan's words are sharp and accusatory as he looks directly at Noa. "You should have helped." The accusation hangs in the air, and you can feel the tension grow even thicker. Noa bristles at the comment, his expression clouding with irritation. Noa, his pride wounded by Khan's accusation, responds with a biting retort. "You could have more hunting skills," he shoots back, his tone laced with sarcasm. The two apes are locked in a battle of wits and male egos now.

You step forward and raise your hands in a gesture of peace, trying to diffuse the growing tension. "Okay, let's just all calm down," you say, your voice steady and calming. You turn to Noa, confusion evident in your eyes, wondering why he's behaving this way. His actions are so unlike him, and it concerns you deeply.

You assist Khan in getting back onto his horse, your touch gentle and supportive. Meanwhile, Noa remains behind, diligently tying the dead bore to the horse to transport it back to the clan. He's eager for the praises he expects to receive from the clan. Tries to push forward a civil expression. However, his emotions betray him and a deeper feeling - jealousy, fueled by his possessive and ego-driven behavior plants in his chest.

You assist Khan in getting back to his horse, your touch gentle and supportive. Meanwhile, Noa remains behind, diligently tying the dead bore to the horse to transport it back to the clan. He's likely eager for the praises he expects to receive from the clan mates. However, his expression betrays a deeper feeling - jealousy, fueled by his possessive and ego-driven behavior.

You look at Khan with concerned eyes, a worried furrow in your brow. "Are you sure you can make it back on your own?" you ask, clearly concerned for his well-being. Khan looks past you, his gaze lingering on Noa for a moment, likely noticing the displeasure on his face. He nods, responding to your query with a determined tone. "Yes… I will make it… it is not far." Despite his injury, Khan seems confident that he can make it back to the clan on his own.

You turn to face Noa, your eyes meeting his in a silent exchange. Khan, still suffering from his injury, rides off slowly and gingerly holds his wound. The air is filled with an uncomfortable silence. Noa expertly tightens the latch on the bore, ensuring it's secure and won't fall off during the journey back to the clan. His hands work with precision, and he seems focused on the task at hand, avoiding your gaze.

You stand behind Noa, your presence silent but palpable. When he turns to see you there, he huffs in annoyance. "You're still here." Your reply is brief and puzzled. "Yeah?" Noa's shoulders hitch as he speaks, his chest heaving with an undertone of jealousy. "Thought you would go back to the clan... with Khan," he reiterates, a hint of possessiveness in his voice.

You're surprised by Noa's possessive and jealous tone. This isn't the first time you've done things with Khan, but it is the first time Noa has witnessed it. You shake your head softly, your expression a mix of confusion and frustration. You respond with a hint of sarcasm and a raise of your brow. "Am I not allowed to have other friends, Noa?" Your irritation is evident as you scoffs at his behavior, challenging his possessive attitude.

Noa's gaze drops to the ground, and he mutters under his breath, sounding bitter and resentful. "Friends..." He clearly has doubts about the nature of your relationship with Khan.

You're absolutely stunned by Noa's bitter words and the tone he's using. You ask in a bewildered tone, "What are you talking about?" You're completely taken aback by his sudden display of jealousy and possessiveness. Noa's voice is firm as he turns to face you fully, his eyes locked on yours. "You and Khan...are not good for… mates," he asserts, his tone filled with possessiveness. "He can not protect you…He can not provide what you need to survive…" His words hang in the air, each one dripping with jealousy and resentment.

You're puzzled by his words and his intense focus on your relationship with Khan. Why did Noa care about who you chose as your mate? The possessive and jealous behavior was quite unexpected and out of character. It left you wondering what was really going on inside his head.

You decide to test him, playing along with the idea. "Why not?" you say with a hint of confidence. "He seems like a good choice." Your words are meant to provoke a reaction from Noa, to see if he's truly as possessive and jealous as he appears to be.

Noa's eyes burn brighter with intense jealousy, his words spilling out in a venomous tone. "Khan is weak...can not do everything...I can do." His stance is rigid, his pride wounded by the idea of you choosing anyone other than him. You meet his gaze, your expression filled with a mix of confusion and skepticism. "You?" you ask, your tone almost challenging.

Noa's demeanor is defensive, his jealousy and possessiveness bubbling just beneath the surface. He takes a step closer to you, his chest heaving with each breath. Noa, his anger and jealousy reaching a boiling point, yells out confidently, "I can do anything better than he can." He practically spits the words, clearly consumed by his intense feelings of possessiveness and superiority.

You can't help but feel amused as a smile slowly spreads across your face. Seeing Noa all worked up and jealous over the idea of you being with someone else was oddly entertaining. You fix your gaze on him, a hint of amusement in your eyes. "Noa?" you ask with a smirk, "are you jealous?" Your question hangs in the air, and Noa hesitates for a moment before responding, trying to mask his true feelings, but failing miserably. Your laughter breaks the tense silence. "Well looks like Anaya was right," you say, a hint of mockery in your voice. Noa's reaction to your words confirms your suspicions, and you're enjoying every second of it.

Noa's expression quickly changes from anger to surprise as you mention his friend Anaya. "Anaya?" he parrots, his tone laced with surprise and disbelief. You continue, saying that Anaya had warned you about him getting jealous, but you hadn't believed it. Noa's confidence wavers as he processes this new information, his jealousy now exposed.

Noa's shoulders sag, clearly embarrassed that his jealousy is out in the open now. He huffs, his expression a mix of irritation and vulnerability. After a moment, he looks at you, his eyes betraying the truth. "Fine, I'm jealous. Happy now?" Noa's tone is laced with a hint of defeat, his pride taking a hit.

You step closer to Noa, your touch gentle as you grab onto his arm. Your voice is softer, no longer teasing. "You shouldn't be," you say, looking into his eyes with a hint of kindness. Noa's gaze drifts away, avoiding yours as he asks, "Why?" His voice is laced with vulnerability and a hint of self-doubt. He's struggling to come to terms with his own feelings, and your words and actions have stirred something within him.

Noa's eyes meet yours as you gently turn his face back towards you. The words you utter, "Because, I like you, Noa," hang in the air, and you can see a mixture of surprise and relief wash over his features. His jealousy seems to melt away, replaced by a softness and vulnerability that was previously hidden.

Noa's eyes widen in surprise as he asks, "What?" He had been so blinded by his jealousy and possessiveness that he hadn't expected to hear those words from you. It was as if his mind was trying to process the reality of your admission. “Was I not clear enough? Who else do I lean on during dinner? Who else do I spend time with?"

Noa's expression turns from shock to a mixture of realization and mild embarrassment. ou can practically see the pieces coming together in his mind. Yes, he had been blind to your actions, but now they were so obvious. The subtle cues, the time spent together - all signs pointing towards your affection for him.

Noa sees the truth in your eyes, the admission of your feelings. "You like… me..." he says softly, his voice filled with disbelief and a hint of relief. The realization slowly settles in, and a mixture of emotions washes over him. There's a hint of surprise, a hint of relief, and above all, a growing affection. He looks at you, his eyes searching your face for any sign that this was all just a cruel joke. But he finds none. You genuinely like him, and the thought makes his heart race. You shrug, “I thought you’d never find an echo… suitable. I figured Soona would be your mate.”

Noa's eyes widen at your words, the mention of Soona bringing back a rush of memories. "Soona?" he asks, his voice tinged with surprise. He'd had a great bond with Soona but had never considered her as a potential mate. More as a sibling.

As his emotions at the surface, he quickly reached for you. He pulls you into his arms, and your foreheads touch in a gesture of deep connection. It's a moment filled with tenderness and intensity as he holds you close, the weight of his affection and relief pouring out through this intimate embrace.

Noa's resolve solidifies, and his grip on you tightens. The thought of you being his, and the whole clan knowing, gives him a sense of possessive pride.

[guxciestone]

‍🍭 ❛ ASTEROID TALENT (33154) ༉‧₊˚ ☆

(through the signs, houses, and aspects)

♡🌺

ㅤ

- @hughjassoo

hi 🌷 i wanted to focus more on asteroids, not just for the sake of others to understand it, but also myself. i got my inspiration from this post, it really helped with me to elaborate on my description for each placement, so credits to the user who made it :)

ㅤ

ㅤㅤ༉‧₊˚.

ㅤ

Asteroid Talent (33154) is the asteroid of abilities, natural gifts you’ve had ever since you were born. This asteroid can show what you tend to have a knack in, and where you seem to activate it in your life. And because of this knack, talent can also indicate what you appear to attract the most in your life.

ㅤ

ㅤ

♡ through the signs ♡

ㅤ

ㅤ

talent in aries

Individuals with this placement tend to have athletic abilities and perfect health. Perhaps they were naturally good at sports from a young age and were gifted with a strong, muscular, lean and energetic body. Good stamina and physical strength could also be promised. These people could also have potential to acquire natural entrepreneurial and enterprising skills; talent for being a good leader or running a business. If placed smoothly in the chart, these individuals could have significantly good self-confidence and barely struggle to take initiative in their goals and projects. Very independent people who have no problem taking charge, making them great team leaders. In troublesome situations, they tend to have a lot of willpower to fight through, no matter the circumstance. Whatever their talent is, it brings them passion and excitement. There is also a possibility that these individuals might attract opportunities in which they have to instruct or lead group of people and take risky chances.

ㅤ

talent in taurus

These people tend to be extremely talented in money matters. More than likely, they are someone who is money savvy and knows how to properly handle their materials. Therefore, it is more likely that these Individuals are well-off financially or are on a path to becoming stable. The types to know how to preserve food and supplies in their home to the utmost quantity and save money. Anything involving finances or business negotiations could be something they are particularly interested in or good at, not just because of their relationship with money, but also usually because of their calm and reflective personality that allows them to make decisions effectively. Another possibility is that they could be someone who is good at exerting art or comfort into their environment. These type of people could be talented at interior design, taking care of animals or plant owning because they know exactly what type of environment someone or something would feel and be best live in. And that’s why careers involving art, design or nature would be strong areas for them. They could be talented in decoration, music, or cooking food.

ㅤ

talent in gemini

These individuals tend to be intelligent and well-rounded people who are often academically gifted. They might’ve done great in school and took honors, AP, or DE classes. They could be talented in writing. Love to do creative writing prompts or even desire to blog or write a book. Most likely, they are crafty people who have a natural ability of making things from scratch—the types to love making model levees in science class. They are often good communicators and teammates. Charming and friendly personalities who are always fun to be around. These individuals tend to flourish in areas of journaling, reporting, communications, and construction. These people love hands-on activities. They are persuasive people who can easily get people on their side, and they adore debating with others. Their charm is often witty and playful, and they are a good time. Tend to be social and adaptive so it’s easy to also get along with others. These people are likely to attract opportunities in which they can express themselves verbally, speak out and tell their story; or use their knack for craft to create something completely effective and useful. They can also gravitate towards different communities.

ㅤ

talent in cancer

People who tend to be sensitive and in tune with their emotions. They are often talented in homely activities such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of children. They might often attract opportunities in which they have to look after others. They know how to manage emotions and their mental health extremely well, and can often excel in careers such as nursing, therapy, and childcare. There could also be a talent for sewing or knitting; creating something useful from scratch similar to Talent in Gemini. They can do well with using their resources to create their necessities. Others tend to be comfortable with this person and open up to them subconsciously due to their salutary nature. They are often understanding and good listeners, very patient too. They may notice children gravitate towards them and love being around them, they are like angels on their earth. And not to mention, their amazing intuition and always knowing how to read the room.

ㅤ

talent in leo

In conclusion, the Beyoncé’s of this asteroid. They are individuals who are confident with huge energy that can grab the attention of almost anyone when they walk in a room. No matter what they want to be, they hold natural star power, and they are destined for fame and popularity. The types to start a social media that instantly pops off because they are meant for it. The “It Girls/Boys”. These people are often talented in music, dancing, entertainment, sports, social media influencing, anything that gives these individuals a chance to perform. Their charm is impeccable, and they are often good at persuasion and alluring others to pursue their own desires. They can be good social climbers. We cannot forget how undeniably creative these people are, often cultivating outstanding ideas for their passion or goals, easily making them successful people. And they have such a dashing vibration and magnetic personality that they can be a good time to be around, similar to Talent in Gemini, but more in your face. Of course, these individuals love attention in anything they do.

ㅤ

talent in virgo

Very articulate and intelligent individuals who are often credible in a lot of things. First off, they tend to be organized in how they go about their goals, routines, and pursuits. They might take good care of their home, clothes, and materials; and they could have a clean and ordered routine. These types of people could be lifestyle influencers due to their specific practices. They are the types to have a checklist of their New Years’ Resolutions or what they need to do in a day. They are disciplined and more than likely, they’ll get the work done. They might have a incredible health because they take good care of themselves in that sense—they know what foods they should and should not eat, what skincare to use, etc. Because they are so good at taking care of themselves, they are also great at taking care of others. That is why these individuals can thrive in careers involving critical thinking, organization, and hospitality (such as a nurse, dentist, or a food nutritionist) In other cases, cooking is something they are good at because they follow directions accordingly. They can be professional and highly-qualified individuals who tend to be talented in a bunch of things to their desire due to their well-roundedness, similar to Talent in Gemini. They are good at collaboration and can be a good helper as well. Definitely someone you’d want in times of need.

ㅤ

talent in libra

The people with this placement tend to be tactful, charming, and attractive individuals. They are often very understanding towards others and their opinions, which makes them talented in resolving arguments and conflicts. They get along well with others and hold immaculate amounts of charisma; they know how to attract fulfilling relationships with other people. Because of that, they are also very collaborative and often thrive in business partnerships and teamwork-like activities. People like these can do well in careers such as therapy (such as a relationship therapist), mediation (such as a yoga teacher), and law. These individuals prioritize romance, love, and balance; so it is possible that they are also excellent at dating advice and helping others resolve things. Furthermore, they have an eye for beauty—they could be talented in art, makeup, design, and decoration. A career to think of is wedding planning, nursing, and since they prioritize physical appearances and the superficial, becoming a plastic surgeon and dentist is possible. They tend to attract opportunities and situations in which they have to mediate and solve problems with solutions. Not to mention, being blessed with physical attractiveness and facial symmetry is also something they could have acquired.

ㅤ

talent in scorpio

These individuals tend to be alluring, powerful, private, and enchanting. They are genuine and honest people who are often good at keeping secrets. Additionally, they know how to make others trust them and dig up their most darkest and personal parts of their mind and soul. It is important to emphasize that they can have amazing intuition and they might've had a strong gut feeling ever since they were a child. Careers or hobbies such as psychology, metaphysics, the occult, therapy, tarot, and astrology are possible. Moreover, they could have a sexually attractive and seductive personality—which can make them thrive in careers involving sex work, etc. There is also a talent for being intimate with others, they know how to dive deep into one's deepest desires and impulses, which can be scary to some people. These people tend to attract situations and opportunities in which they have to analyze and plunge into someone's psyche, whether that be someone else or even themselves.

ㅤ

talent in sagittarius

These individuals may have noticed that ever since they were born, they had an intelligent and questioning nature at heart. Perhaps they were the ones who genuinely liked going to school and learning different types of subjects and concepts. Their optimism and easygoing personality easily allow them to attract an abundant amount of opportunities and circumstances into their life, which makes them extremely lucky individuals. They are also philosophical who are always wiling to expand their knowledge and learn new things, whether that be around religion, theology, history, art, and more. They might be particular interested in careers involving travel, science, houses of worship (such as church), and mentoring. They are also willing to teach what they have learned, which makes them proficient in careers involving teaching. Specifically, being talented in learning new languages and studying different cultures are possible. These individuals love variety, so it isn't farfetched for these people to have a variety of skills and talents similar to Talent in Gemini. Talent in Sagittarius individuals tend to attract situations in which they are accustoming to new knowledge or diversity—they might meet people from different cultures and countries at some point in life.

ㅤ

talent in capricorn

These people tend to be rather responsible, serious, and mature individuals who strive to be successful in life. They prioritize their career, status, and image; and whatever they desire to do, they'll do whatever it takes to achieve it. From a young age, these individuals could have been great bosses and leaders—independent and was always on top of their obligations. Because of this, that makes these individuals reliable and efficient people to be around. They do not mind being in charge because they find that being in charge works best for the,, which makes sense for them to partake in careers involving leadership (being a CEO or manager) or careers involving heavy workloads. These people also prioritize their materials and finances because it co-exists with their image, so careers involving money, jewelry, and stocks are possible. They are also very professional and know how to have practical manners. People with this placement are often good at social climbing and working things up the social/economical/product ladder, not just for themselves, but for other people. Therefore, careers involving social media marketing, real estate, and brand management would work well for them because they are good at analyzing trends and patterns and easily execute products or people out successfully for sales or an image. Talent in Capricorn individuals tend to attract opportunities in which they have to take control and manipulate something or someone for wealth and/or success.

ㅤ

talent in aquarius

First off, these people are highly intelligent, innovative, and unique individuals who have potential to use their talent to better the world, whatever it is. Ever since they were young, they might have had a knack for something that was considered weird or different from other talents or hobbies. Over time, they've or they will learn to utilize it for the better. Because of their tendency to worry for others and their selfless and thoughtful nature, careers involving humanity, charity, and serving a purpose for the sake of others are possible. These people may have been extremely intelligent when it came to complex and highly articulated topics, which it means careers involving science, computer science, biology, technology, and mechanics are likely. Let's not forget that these people are often collaborate similar to Talent in Libra and get along well with others all due to their electrifying nature and wit. They want to serve and beer the world for others; they want to make others happy and satisfied and they'll do anything for that to be possible. Becoming a social media influencer, zoologist, donor, scientist, or doctor is likely as well. These individuals can attract opportunities and situations in which they have to connect and help others in some way.

ㅤ

talent in pisces

Individuals with this placement tend to have kind, friendly, and compassionate personalities who have a keen sense of intuition. Additionally, they can be wise and hold a lot of unknown spiritual knowledge. They are usually in touch with things beyond the 3D. Due to this, they are often selfless and care a lot about others. They are very instinctive and often knows how to what feels right for themselves and others. This means careers in charity and giving, nursing, therapy, and children are possible. A specific career that is going through is massage therapy. In other cases, unconventional— often shunned on careers such as witchery, astrology, and tarot can be likely as well. This is an underrated opinion, but the beauty these people hold are out-of-this-world (literally) The definition of majesty and dreaminess. There could also be a talent for seeing things differently than other people; and not to mention, these people can be very creative, artistic, and beautiful. Therefore, careers involving modeling, photography, music, fashion, makeup, and painting are what they could prefer doing.

ㅤ

ㅤㅤ

♡ through the houses ♡

ㅤㅤ

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 1st

Their talent may be what they are known for, or it’s something that people find visible about them on the first impression. They could have picked up their talent during early childhood and are naturally proficient at it. Whatever it may be, their talent can easily make them popular and noticeable by others. These individuals shouldn’t be afraid to show what they are capable of and what skills they have. Their talent might have something to do with their appearance, health, vitality, personal image, or body. In other cases, they could notice a huge jump in their confidence when using their skill; it can give them a sense of self and help them get into touch with who they truly are.

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 2nd

Whatever their talent may be, it could give them a sense of self-worth and morals. It could also tie to their values and what they prioritize in their life. Specific additional skills that come in mind are business, modeling, managing, food, makeup, animals/nature, and the arts and decoration. They should expect money and financial abundance and stability to come through when using this particular talent. The talent could also be associated with one’s body or body movements and flow as well, such as dancing (like ballet) This knack can give this individual a sense of comfort and safety too, and it can easily ground them similar to Talent in the 1st.

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 3rd

This talent may a talent that requires a lot of skill and learning; it could be a talent is considered difficult to become proficient in (talents that come in mind are the playing instruments, language learning, and engineering) This individual could’ve picked up this ability in their school years and adolescence. Their knack could also give them something to talk about with their peers, and easily allow them to make new friends. It’s not a surprise that these individuals can be versatile and talented in many things similar to Talent in the 6th. They are critical people, and they are often very intelligent. Other subjects that come in mind are science, writing, researching, and math.

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 4th

Individuals with this placement could have a talent or skill that makes them feel “at home” or safe within themselves. Which gives the notion that the talent could have derived from their childhood or it is a childhood hobby, similar to Talent in the 1st. This particular talent awakens their true inner child. They could have also inherited their ability from the mother or family members, it might’ve been passed down generations. The talent may be common in the family or it is something of family value and pride. In a specific case, there could a family business that might get passed down to this person; or this individual has a family speciality or order to fulfill due to their talent. Whatever their talent may be, these people might need to use it in circumstances in which they need to protect or secure the people around them and their environment. Additionally, these individuals may have a talent for running a family/home and taking care of children.

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 5th

Their talent may be something they genuinely enjoy doing; it could even be their hobby. These individuals find entertainment, fun, and pleasure through their talent. Furthermore, these people might adore children or they tend to get along well with them often. Working at daycares, children’s help centers, and even school might be delightful for them. In other cases, Their future child(ren) may have a special talent that needs to be shown to the world. These individuals are magnetic, confident, and often a good time; they might have a significant allure that pulls others to them and that allow them to manipulate. They could have a skill of being good at flirtation and sexual matters. The need to perform is very strong with this placement too.

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 6th

These individuals are responsible, thoughtful, and organized people. Perhaps they take care of their health very well; they always seem to know what foods to eat, vitamins to take, how much physical activity they should do, or when to clean their homes. They often have immense amounts knowledge in regards to health and nutrition, which sets them out for careers involving food and wellbeing (such as nutritionist, nurse, or house cleaners) Although they take good care of themselves, they take good care of others as well. These individuals may do well taking care of small animals and pets, which can make careers involving similar fit well for them—careers such as veterinarian, biologist, animal shelter workers, and much more. Not to mention, these people are very useful and often have multiple talents and abilities. Whatever their talent may be, it gives them a sense of discipline, usefulness and order.

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 7th

Due to their meditative and cooperative nature, these individuals may often find that they resort to talents or activities that involve interpersonal relationships with others. Whatever their talent may be, it gives them a sense of balance and fulfillment from others. Talents regarding social floating, networking, and charming others are possible. Because of their huge impulse for balance, they might partake in careers involving similar, such as law or the judicial system. Their talent may be something that other profit or benefit from.

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 8th

Their talent allows them to be in touch with themselves and their soul; their talent allows them to express their authentic self. These individuals aren’t afraid to dive into the taboo and scary areas of life. They may notice that they have a strong intuition or gut feeling, as though they have the impulse of knowing what’s right or wrong for them. These people may have a talent in disregarded subjects such as the occult and metaphysics. In a specific case, due to their intuition and their ability to see things what they are actually are, they might be intrigued by ghost hunting or communicating with the dead. Not to mention, they are often very good at connecting with others at a deep and unfathomable level. Their allure and sexual attractiveness is key. In other cases, these individuals may be good in anything involving sexual activity. They could have been outcasted or ridiculed for their talent as well. Inheriting their talent from a loved one is also possible.

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 9th

This individual’s talent may open up their minds, expand their horizons and allow them to learn. These people might’ve done incredibly well in college or other forms of higher education, and it might be something they particularly enjoy. Not to mention, they are highly philosophical who want to learn more about this talent or skill, and there’s a time in which they are “done” learning. Hobbies involving learning languages, studying religion, spirituality, and theology are possible. They may have picked up this talent in their college or young adult years.

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 10th

This individual’s talent may allow them to make a name or reputation for themselves; In other cases, a good following on social media platforms. If not, these people may just like to display their talent to the media or public in some way. That is why careers such as social media influencer would be a good for them. Also, due to their huge awareness of how to make things and people climb the social/demand ladder, careers such as advertising and social media managing is also possible. Whatever their talent may be, it gives them a sense of structure, discipline, maturity, and even fame and popularity in extreme cases.

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 11th

They may use their talent for the betterment of the world and society, and it also gives them a sense of purpose and usefulness to humanity. Additionally, their talent may allow these individuals to connect with their others, which makes it possible for these people to make friends through their talent or attract friends who have this similar talent. Other careers or talents could be social media influencers, socialites, charity officers, and social work. In other cases, this person may have found their talent through friends or social connections.

ㅤㅤ

talent in the 12th

Their talent may be a skill they may not know they have or they may hide it from other people. In other cases, these individuals may have been ridiculed or teased for having their talent. Which could indicate that these people can have an often ostracized hobby such as tarot, spirituality, astrology, flexibility, or impersonation. These individuals may use their talent as a source of spiritual expression; it may them get in touch with their deeper selves, similar to Talent in the 8th.

ㅤㅤ

ㅤㅤ

♡ through the aspects ♡

ㅤㅤ

ㅤㅤ

sun-talent

Their talent could be the source of their identity, pride, and ego. In a developed sense, these individuals use their talent(s) to attract attention and fame from others; it is important for them to use their abilities to find themselves and blossom their personality to its best. In other cases, their talent can be beneficial for their career and monetary gain. In an undeveloped sense, they could surround their entire character around their talent, which can be harmful as it can cause them to struggle with finding their place outside of it. It is also the case that these people can be susceptible to turning arrogant due to their talent as well. Either way it goes, these individuals may be very good at their talent, it is all about controlling their ego and making sure they have a structured, confident, and balanced character around it. On a positive note, these people are often very good at attracting attention from others; their presence is undeniable and this is the “star power” aspect for sure.

ㅤㅤ

moon-talent

Their talent is what they use to emotionally express themselves. Talents involving venting, releasing, and expressing their feelings are often beneficial for these people; such as music, poetry, and writing. These individuals may be extremely well at implementing emotion into their talent. They need to use this particular ability to allow themselves to get through hard times and emotionally rejuvenate and relieve themselves. In undeveloped cases, these individuals could become extremely emotionally dependent on this talent, and it’s important that they don’t try to distract themselves from their turmoil through it. Additionally, these individuals are very sensitive and know how to get in touch with their environment. They are extremely intuitive.

ㅤㅤ

mercury-talent

Their talent could be a way of mentally expressing themselves and communicating with others; it may even be their natural way of thought. These individuals often know how to speak through their abilities, and it makes them better at talking with other people. It may even be a subject they love talking about when making friends or connections. In a dynamic case, some might struggle with communicating through their talent or they don’t know how to convey through it correctly. Perhaps they brush people off the wrong way and get scrutinized/ostracized by others due to this struggle. They are often versatile people too, and can adapt to multiple circumstances and newfound abilities; and not to mention, extremely intelligent.

ㅤㅤ

venus-talent

Their talent is related to beauty, the arts, money, and their interpersonal relationships. They may attract partners who have a similar talent, or they attract suitors through their talent. Expressing their talent may be a way of how they feel attractive, or they find their talent to be a beautiful thing to invest in. Furthermore, these individuals have the ability to lure others in through what they are good at. They could often be talented in venusian-related areas such as money, modeling, decoration, art, and much more. In other cases, these people might struggle to find their talent to be a beautiful thing; perhaps they feel their talent makes them “weird” or less attractive to other people, which is not true. Or the other way around, they struggle to utilize their talent for the sake of beauty and pleasure, which can make the talent less enjoyable in some cases.

ㅤㅤ

mars-talent

Their talent may be a source of passion and drive; perhaps they are often encouraged to improve their skill in what they do. In other cases, their talent may be just a source of motivation for them to do things. These people are naturally hardworking and strong-willed people, and whatever is thrown their away, they fight through it. In a dynamic sense, these individuals may struggle with having the ambition to get better at their talent, or they may not be the best at going after their goals in general. Dancers, performers and athletes may have this aspect.

ㅤㅤ

jupiter-talent

A talent brings these individuals good luck, new perspectives, new opportunities, expansion, and a positive outlook on life. They may be extremely skilled at this talent, and they could even become famous or well-known from it as well. These people are often intelligent and insightful with full of open-mindedness, which can indicate good karma. Not to mention, they are very influential people and their abilities or talents inspire and influence others. In a dynamic case, these individuals may develop a huge ego or believe they can take on everything at once due to their expertise in a specific talent. They may even become lazy and not build off of their ability or bring their talent to good and helpful use. It is important they don’t loose sight of what is important. They need to make to use their talent to teach and bring abundance to their and others lives, and not take it for granted. Additionally, their talent may give them hope, faith, and happiness in some way.

ㅤㅤ

saturn-talent

The talent may be more of a study to these individuals; there is a structured way of how they approach this talent as well. It wouldn’t be surprised if these individuals took this ability very seriously, either because of they feel the need to be perfect at it, or they want to monetize and make a career from it. These people may be great at managing, whether that be from money, resources, information, and much more. They are very responsible, and this is a great aspect for being good at setting and disciplining oneself to goals and aspirations. In other cases, these individuals may need to be careful of developing vast perfectionism dealing with their talent. Due to the fact that some of these people may want to make their talent a career, they will need to make sure they do not develop vast perfectionism.

ㅤㅤ

uranus-talent

These individuals may have a sporadic and individualistic way of expressing their talent; in other cases, perhaps their talent is what makes them unique and stand out from others. They may even have a weird talent! They can be interested in technology, computer science, automobiles, astrology, or many more subjects. They may use their talent to connect with others, make a difference, or make friends. In a harsher case, these individuals may be dubious and unpredictable with their talent, which can make them hasty people who can make easily make mistakes if not careful. They have to make sure not to let their pride get in the way as well as their excessive need to ride their own wave.

ㅤㅤ

neptune-talent

The talent may create an illusion about the native; or there is a illusion surrounding their abilities. Either way, there is confusion surrounding their talents. It is possible that they may be confused about what makes them special, in a sense what they are particularly good at. They may be the types to experiment with skills to see what works for them or where they have the most potential. In other cases, these individuals’ talent may create a certain image of the native. Perhaps people may glamorize them, or they may glamorize themselves to a huge extent for their talent. Additionally, these people are often good at sensing the unseen or unknown; they are extremely intuitive. They may be talented in art, film, acting, singing, writing (such as poetry) and much more. In minor cases, they may great at doing magic. Not to mention, these people are magical and have a fairytale-like quality to themselves. Whatever they do, it takes them out of this world. In dynamic cases, these individuals may use this talent to escape from reality.

ㅤㅤ

pluto-talent

The talent gives this individual a sense of power; their talent may allow them to transform, rebirth, and learn about themselves on a deep, soul level. These people may lean back onto their talent during hard times or times where they feel lost in life—which can be useful to help them get back to calm waters. In a dynamic case, these individuals may need to be careful of depending on their talent for dominance, control, or toxicity (such as using the talent for evil things) In hard times, they may depend on this talent vastly to the point where it could even become an addiction or an escape from their life circumstances) These people are talented in leadership positions and handling difficult situations.

ㅤㅤ

ascendant-talent

The talent may affect how the native is seen by others. In positive cases, the individual may even be popular or well-received for their talent. They may even gain fame. Perhaps their talent may be fashion, makeup, beauty, athletics, anything that involves the physical and how they appear to others. These people value making sure people know what they are capable of, and usually they aren’t afraid of showing what they are good at, which also makes high confidence a trait for them. In harsher cases, these individuals may struggle demonstrating their talent or ability to other people, which can make them feel as though they aren’t expressing themselves to the highest degree (similar to sun square ascendant) or they struggle to fully bring out their abilities due to confidence issues, a blockage in their inner child, or etc.

ㅤㅤ

midheaven-talent

The talent may affect how the native is viewed by others, particularly in their career image. They may make money or acquire fame and popularity from their talent. In positive cases, these individual can be viewed as prodigies at their workplace; people may depend on them to get the work done or they look to them as an expert, which can also indicate being well-respected. In harsher cases, these individuals may want to monetize and make an image off of their talent, but they may struggle to do so for any reason. These people can be business owners, masterminds, and managers.

ㅤㅤ

[utilitycaster]

Do you think part of the D20 journalistic bias comes from D20 being edited? It gives the appearance of much more effortless play and lets them control the pacing in a way unedited play like CR simply can't do. They get to (potentially) hide a lot of stuff people would jump on as flaws while CR has no choice but to let it all play out. I greatly prefer CR's approach, despite it biting them in the ass a bit through no fault of their own.

Answering these both together to group cause and my opinions, and I do want to note this is specifically about journalism/press coverage, not their respective fandoms even though there's obviously some overlap.

I think there's a couple things, but I do want to note this was actually prompted by Daggerheart, not Critical Role. The response from several prominent voices in the Actual Play journalism community, whom I will not name here but whom I do not respect intellectually, really was, within hours of the open beta (which as far as I know they didn't have early access to - more on that later) "um it could be better, I don't like xyz and also it's sooooooo important to have criticism" and again, it is important to have criticism, but also you act like D20 has never had a mediocre moment and that Kollok is brilliant, so.

This...got away from me a bit. I'd say I'm sorry but actually I adore writing thousands of words about actual play and it will happen again but I'm putting the detailed answer below a cut. The short answer is I think a lot of Actual Play journalists actually sort of fell into their jobs through being vaguely involved in nerd spaces and aren't actually equipped to talk intelligently about TTRPGs and actual play as a medium that should, at its best, be a perfect fusion of narrative and mechanics. So instead they're distracted by flashy edits and bright lights and cool noises and some abstract concept of "novelty" and write only about that. Also Critical Role is the 700 lb gorilla in the AP space (though not, actually, the TTRPG space) and doesn't give them early access and that's meaaaaaan. Indeed, for all I think a lot of their coverage of D20 and Worlds Beyond Number is obsessively fawning, I also think it's extremely surface level, frequently factually wrong, and fails to get at what's truly excellent about those shows either.

I think, honestly, the biggest one is that I don't actually think a lot of Actual Play journalists watch series in full. I was looking for Polygon coverage of Fantasy High Junior Year and they have one glowing article but it's more about Fantasy High as setting and institution and D20 "changing the game" (also more on this later) to the point of outright contradicting the pull quotes they used from interviewing Brennan Lee Mulligan (also more on this later). So I started looking through their coverage and actually, quite a number of their write-ups are based on only one episode, or half a season. Clearly, they haven't read the full open beta (nor have I, but I think their complaints about the character build process belie a profound misunderstanding of what TTRPGs are, also more on this later). So editing is certainly part of it because it's really easy to see cool special effects and sound design within one episode and shit out a hacky article about it, whereas actually getting to the substance - character relationships, cohesive narrative, storytelling - requires work that I do not think they're doing. And on the one hand I do kind of get it, because yeah, if journalism is your livelihood then you perhaps do not have the time to watch 4 hours of D&D a week for 2-3 years if you're only going to get one article every six months out of it. But I don't think the answer is "focus intently on Microsoft Powerpoint-esque scene transition tricks while ignoring that nothing occurring at the table is actually fun to watch." For more on this, see this post.

The second, which is very relevant to Daggerheart but also is actually a big gap in D20 and WBN coverage in my opinion, and which I put in the tags, is that I actually don't think a lot of journalists have a solid understanding of TTRPGs nor of most genres. And I think Critical Role has a particularly good understanding of both these things, actually, if one skewed towards collaborative storytelling that is not rules-light. I think one really big example is that one person within the space is mad at the Daggerheart questions for the character archetypes because what if your character doesn't fit these. I think this is dumb as shit. I actually think that a common criticism of D&D - that you can't play ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING - is not valid, or rather, it's a valid opinion to hold but if you want to play a character who doesn't fit into the available archetypes perhaps you need to find another game. We all inherently understand that Blades in the Dark characters will be members of a criminal organization in a relatively low-magic setting, correct? That you can't show up to BitD and play a lawful good wizard prince because that's not the story being told? Or like, how in Honey Heist, you are a bear and you are trying to get honey, and you cannot play a human child investigating the old abandoned house at the edge of town, but there's a cool game called Kids on Bikes that will let you do that? Great! Why is this suddenly so hard to understand in the realm of heroic fantasy, that you will fit into specific archetypes? Why do people's brains, if they have them to begin with, vanish suddenly? I know I just did a big old rant that included this within it but genuinely I think a lot of people are deeply ignorant of heroic fantasy, or don't like it, and either is fine, but then they get mad at the heroic fantasy game for having heroic fantasy archetypes when the answer is "maybe this will never make you happy because it's not for you." (Frankly, I think this is also why they love D20, because it doesn't really do straight-up heroic fantasy, and that's fine, but they do keep acting like doing a Game of Thrones pastiche is equivalent to the invention of the wheel.) Like...I remember in the Midst Q&A that Xen said they tend to not like playing typical D&D classes, but their solution was to, you know, create Midst instead of sitting around going "actually, because D&D doesn't support cyberpunk narrative and the character archetypes within very well it is an utter failure." (I could go on forever about how actually TTRPGs are not a showcase for your already extant OCs to prance around but that's a totally separate post).

Mechanics and story are inherently intertwined, is what I'm trying to get at (sorry I'm really tired and have a lot to do but I'm passionate about this answer, it will be rambly, she says like 3 pages in) and I really don't think most actual play journalists get this. At all. And I do think that CR, and Daggerheart, and the people working for it, and especially Spenser Starke, Rowan Hall, Matt Mercer, and Travis Willingham, get this more than almost anyone else in the field. I also think Brennan Lee Mulligan and Aabria Iyengar get this, and the thing is, for all the praise showered upon them, much of which I think is deserved and most of what I think is undeserved is not because they are lacking but because the person writing about them is an idiot crediting them for things they (Brennan and Aabria) would never claim to have invented, their mechanical prowess is rarely if ever written about well. Fantasy High Junior Year's downtime mechanics actually fill in a famous gap in D&D, namely, downtime, and provide an excellent marriage of story and mechanics in my opinion, and I haven't really seen any discussion, because that would require watching the part of the TTRPG show where they play the TTRPG, and knowing the vague word on the street about D&D criticism that isn't just "*nods sagely* capitalism is the BBEG."

And finally: related a bit to the edit but Critical Role used to not be able to provide any early access to press, because it was literally a live show, and I suspect they never broke the habit, and I think that is for the best. As discussed a lot of D20 coverage actually feels like they watched the press screener and then never returned to the show. And I do not know the politics about them, but given that several of these publications (notably Polygon, but some others) have been shitting on Critical Role for several years, and just generally given the way CR's leadership vs. how D20's leadership respond to fandom pressure, I suspect Critical Role does not give these journalists a ton of early or increased, if any. Honestly, why should you, if you're getting interviewed in Variety? And I think the journalists are mad, because they think they're special and should get treated as such.

I do want to wrap something up, and I want to thank @captainofthetidesbreath for talking a little about this in game design/ttrpgs and giving me the idea, but in story, you should be challenging your audience, expanding their horizons, and being new and interesting. In the actual playing of TTRPGs, especially a new one, it is vital to be inclusive and easy to understand and patient and provide points of reference. I really feel like many Actual Play journalists and some TTRPG ones as well have this equation flipped and are looking for challenging concepts that most people will never be able to get a group to be willing to play, and bells and whistles in production, but leave story as an afterthought. Critical Role designs games to actually be played and to be used specifically to tell good stories, and puts story before production, and I think that undercuts those journalists' whole deal.

[cursedvida]

I understand a knee jerk reaction to nomae, but I also think they are not considering how ADVANCED Noa is. We're repeatedly told and shown how intelligent he is. Starts w/him fixing his mother's fish hut, to fixing the shock weapon, to coming up with the idea of using the water to flood the bunker. He even outsmarts Sylvia into drowning himself. In a world with already evolved and intelligent apes, Noa seems even more, and all this without advanced education.

In fact, what disturbs Mae the most is seeing how intelligent Noa is and his ability to absorb information and put it into practice. In the end, the apes have become very human, which means there must also be apes with above-average intelligence and high intellectual abilities. Noa fits this well because he clearly shows much more cognitive development than his friends. I think if at first it seems like everyone is at the same level, it’s because Noa has never left his village, he hasn’t seen beyond or experienced the world, he hasn’t been able to nurture himself with more than the limited information available in his isolated environment. Let’s say he hasn’t been able to develop his skills. Going out into the world makes it clear that he has a lot of talent and that with very little he can develop a lot, and Mae sees this quite clearly, which poses a threat.

Noa is not just an evolved ape like all those around him, who after 300 years have managed to build their own societies and develop collectively. He also shows an intellectual capacity far superior to the average of his peers. But well, people keep treating him like a defenseless animal with barely any cognitive abilities and infantilizing him just to hate on a ship. That demonstrates the general maturity level of some people, lol.