#surviving kumandra city

[shy-peacock]

Rayamaari pt bobs burgers

(Specifically thinking about my SKC fic, changed a bit to better fit the scene)

Namaari: (waking up after having a nightmare)

Namaari: ah-! I’m sorry Atitaya! 😫

Raya, waking up: WHAT-…wha- what happened?!? 😵‍💫

Namaari: I’m killing Atitaya. 😣

Raya: wha-? You’re gonna kill Ati-?

Raya: well-…alright, the cars gassed up, so that’s good…guess we could homeschool the kids- 🤔

Namaari: -No, Raya, the stress-…the stress is killing her. 😐

Raya: what???? 🤨

Namaari: the STRESS-…I’ve been putting too much responsibilities on her each day..the stress is gonna kill her? 😐

Raya: oh…gotcha. 😐

Namaari: good God, Raya-..you just had all that ready?? 😧

Raya: what- I’m just being supportive? 😑

[shy-peacock]

👏let👏Atitaya’s👏nose👏heal👏20kEVER👏

😂😂😂

A skit in @shy-peacock’s story Surviving Kumandra City. Atitaya has had enough of this bs:

Raya, leaving Spine with the gang: okay we lost Namaari, got the gem, and everyone’s in one piece! Let’s just head out now and we can-

Atitaya, possessed by the Druun: *appears out of nowhere right in front of her*

Raya, sighing: I really should have anticipated this outcome by now

Sisu, checking her out: damn, even when the Druun has control over her she still has control over my heart

Boun: Sisu please she’s about to genuinely kill us-

Raya: everyone just get in the car I’ll distract her until you guys adjust!

Atitaya: *lunges at Raya*

Tong, not paying attention: *accidentally elbows Atitaya in the face*

Atitaya, breaking free of the Druun’s control and screaming: ARE YOU KIDDING ME? MY NOSE JUST HEALED AND THEN YOU GO AND BREAK IT AGAIN?! WHY DOES THIS ENTIRE GROUP LIVE TO TORTURE ME-

Sisu, already stepping towards her: you know I would never treat you in such a way-

Raya, shoving her in the car: shut up and file in people!

Tong, shrugging as he helps Noi and Boun in the car: that was not what I intended but I’m loving the outcome!

Taglist: @faithfulwarrior-og @isitbussinjanelle @tigerlillyruiz @ratld-sideblog @anywhere-but-here-plz

[thedragonnerd]

Rayaari headcanon - let us be sad with some angst and hurt/comfort

(inspired by a lovely anon)

With the rebirth of Kumandra and the return of their lost loved ones, everyone tries to sweep away the last six years, in a desperate attempt to move on with their lives and not waste any more time dwelling on the past.

But the scars, both physical and mental, still remain, and trauma endured cannot simply be washed away. There is a disconnect between people now - especially between those who had to endure the threat of Druuns hanging over their heads for years, and those who have awoken to a new world and changed people.

The most heart-wrenching discovery for Raya is that she doesn't always know what to say to her own Ba. It's been so long since they spent a lot of time together, and she is a very different person now compared to the 12-year-old little girl he threw into the water. Sometimes, she's worried he won't like the person she has become.

She also has more arguments with him than before, especially whenever he treats her more like a small child than the young woman she is today, who has survived hardship he never wanted her to experience. They don't always see eye-to-eye with each other regarding trade, politics and what is best for Heart, with his optimism and her realism clashing. If they don't resolve their disagreement quickly, Namaari will find Raya crying softly in their bedroom; she hates fighting with her Ba.

Raya sometimes sees children from her past, who were turned to stone in the original Druun attack and been frozen in time until now. It feels a lifetime ago that she was the right age to play with them, and when she sees them laughing and playing games, she wonders was I ever really that young?

She carries a weapon on her at all times, unable to shake off the feeling that something might go wrong. She learnt this the hard way when she was thirteen: a market deal in Talon had gone wrong, and she was attacked by two large men when she was only a child and without a weapon or knowledge how to fight back. Her ability to run fast had saved her that day. Since then, she has vowed never to be caught weaponless again.

One morning when Namaari tries to wake her, she accidentally pulls a knife, holding it up to Namaari's neck. Raya is almost sick with the idea that she could have seriously injured Namaari just through instinct, but Namaari just holds her hands until she calms down, rubbing her thumb back and forth. 'I trust you with my life,' she tells Raya.

Raya also still has moments where waves of anger wash over her, striking her unawares and in an uncontrollable manner. One time, Namaari makes an innocuous comment about Benja that sets Raya off, words of anger and blame falling from her lips with malicious intent. She feels awful after having done it - she never meant for Namaari to become the target of her bad emotions that day, and she can see how far it sets back their fledgling relationship. Namaari spirals into several days of guilt before they reconcile again.

For Namaari sees the trauma Raya carries, and can't help but feel responsible. She adds this to the weight of the guilt she has already carried for the past six years, and then bottles it up inside, with the opinion that she doesn't deserve Raya's sympathy, or indeed sympathy from anyone.

She has been raised to place the safety of her people before herself, growing to accept and embrace the risk to her own life every time she had to go out on a mission beyond the Fang borders and into Druun territory. It is something she has always been willing to do if it means keeping the rest of Fang safe, and in this new, safer world it is difficult to shake off these feelings of self-sacrifice being a worthy endeavour.

Indeed, she sometimes thinks that it would have been nobler to have turned to stone herself at some point over the years, but she is also too pragmatic to believe that would absolve her of her sins.

Her way of trying to atone therefore is to help as many people as possible now. Her self-sacrificing thoughts are channeled into working herself to exhaustion, as she tries to juggle fixing Fang's city and palace, expanding her citizen's homes back out into their previously Druun-infested lands, and offering up her services to any of the other lands who need extra support in rebuilding.

All of this responsibility and guilt weighs her down enough that she sometimes gets hit with extreme panic attacks. She manages to get herself to a private location the first few times it happens, but then it strikes in the middle of a sparring session with Raya, and she just sinks to the floor and covers her face with her hands.

She can faintly hear Raya asking 'what's wrong?' and feels a hand being placed on her trembling shoulder. She opens her mouth to tell Raya to go away, but instead chokes out 'Please stay?' It is the first time she has managed to ask for help.

Both of them have scars scattered across their bodies, each with a different story to tell, and some even caused by the other person. Raya is concerned at first that Namaari will find hers ugly, but Namaari soon puts those fears to rest by peppering them with tiny kisses. A couple of Namaari's old injuries give her trouble still, so Raya returns the favour by giving her massages when the pain behind those scars grows too much.

Trauma and loss is not a new concept to either of them, even before the arrival of the Druuns. At night, sometimes Raya sings a song that she can remember her mother using as a lullaby. Namaari doesn't like to discuss her father, but occasionally, safe in the dark, she will mention a story about an adventure they had together.

Over a long period of time, they are both able to release themselves of some of their fears and traumas; others, they learn to live with, or learn how to help the other cope. The most important thing, they find, is being together through it all.

[chaiteahd]

New chapter from @shy-peacock’s fic “Surviving Kumandra City (With Sisu the Supposal Dragon)” got me feeling like

[shy-peacock]

I commissioned the super cool @teabeeart to draw rayamaari with my OC child for them CHAU!!! (From my fic- Surviving Kumandra City)❤️

Look at thee boy 😭 he’s so cute and little!

This was so nice to receive today!! Thank you so much my dear friend!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[shy-peacock]

Rayamaari fam as tiktoks pt:problem

(Setting- Namaari having a one on one discussion with their daughter after Linh misbehaved)

Namaari: So Linh, are you gonna be a part of the problem are a part of the solution…?

Linh, pouting: IM GONNA BE THE WHOLE PROBLEM- 😒

[shy-peacock]

Rayamaari + kiddos pt 876??? (Context- they’re out taking a walk together.)

Chau: (holding both his moms hands when he’s sees a bug zapper)

Chau: Mommy, what is that machine doing?

Raya: Ah- it’s getting rid of the moths, honey..😅

Chau: where they taking them??? 🤔

Linh, walking ahead: Hell. 😐

Namaari: Don’t say that, Linh 😩

Linh: Oh, I’m sorry- not hell…Mexico 🫤

[shy-peacock]

Rayamaari kids/teens as TV Quotes (pt have I done this??)

Linh, whining: MOM- please don’t make us go!? 😩

Chau: PLEASE-?!? 😫

Namaari: No.

Chau and Linh: BUT-?!?

Namaari: No, stop trying to figure a way out of this- the answer is no. I don’t want to hear another word about it!

Namaari: (walks away)

Linh: (begins signing ASL)

Linh: She won’t have to hear another word because we’ve mastered the American Sign Language. 😏

Chau, also signing: Ha ha ha 😆

[shy-peacock]

Random rayamaari HC nobody asked for.

I know we all joke and say Namaari would be super mom while Raya would be a bit of the crazy one. But I have this HC where while they are both good parents, Raya has this like- insane instinct something isn’t right with her kids and goes all like “spidey senses” about it (especially in the SKC AU I wrote). So it goes like-

Raya and Namaari: (chilling/cuddling on the couch, watching tv)

Raya: (suddenly sits up straight) 😐

Namaari: hm? 😟

Raya:…..😐

Namaari:……what’s-😟

Raya, getting up: Chau’s crying 🏃‍♀️

Namaari: wha-???? How do you-??? 😨

Chau, bursting into the door: MOM, I FELL OFF MY SCOOTER AND SCRAPED MY ELBOW!!!! 😭

Raya: awww, come here 🥺

Raya hugs him while Namaari is still on the couch like- ???????

[shy-peacock]

Rayamaari as parents as tiktoks pt: deedle dee

Raya is the blue hoodie - Namaari the one trying to stop her 😂😂😂😂😂 (any universe- but in SKC it’s definitely Chau and he’s laughing the entire time)

[shy-peacock]

Could you right a sequel to that pregnancy scare fic— maybe with namaari meeting link and raya finally and no longer worried like before😭

Sure thing ❤️ rated G and I wrote this awhile ago and forgot to post 😂🥲 Enjoy 👍

It’s hard to believe people can start off so small. Eight pounds, hardly anything, or less in Linh’s case.

Fragile and tiny, just barely here for even a week and she’s already caused her family to have a massive amount of concern for her and her Mom.

Namaari hoped that this meant years and years of peace for them in regards to Linh’s health, never to worry about losing her like they nearly had the other day. Getting over the big “bump” that was her birth, moving now to a simpler, easy times with their child’s health from there on out.

A ridiculous idea- as all children get sick, yet Namaari hoped for it all the same. Her stomach still in knots about the whole ordeal, unable to feel at ease until Raya and Linh were home and life was back to normal.

On doctors orders- that didn’t seem like any time soon.

“She’s doing quite well-“ the Doctor had mentioned, keeping a warm smile on her lips. “It’s all protocol, we just need to make sure she and Raya have regained their strength before they head home.”

“The holidays are approaching…” Namaari’s Mother pointed out then, who was there in the room as they spoke, “will they be home by then?“

Namaari knew the answer before the doctor even spoke, empathy all over her face.

“Soon after- they will more likely be home before New Years at best..”

Namaari put on a brave face for Raya when the news was delivered to her, holding her close when eventually the tears began to fall. Knowing she missed being home, being with Chau, and the comfort of having her own space while she healed- a sort of grounding point for Namaari as she knew that whatever she was feeling, as hard as it was, Raya was going through far worse.

Overall Namaari had the choice to leave- Raya did not.

Nor did Linh, who loved when Namaari came to visit her in the NICU, and was devastated whenever she had to leave. Expressing emotions the best way her tiny mind knew how, crying the moment Namaari’s touch left her. Responsive, curious, and relaxed in her Mother’s arms when she could stay.

Namaari would spend moments with her till the nurses came to tell her it was time to leave, talking with Linh about anything that came to her mind. About Raya, about her brother Chau, and all the family that was waiting for her outside the hospital walls. Encouraging her to keep growing stronger, to keep getting better and healthier so that they could take her home.

When she had her time with Linh, she’d spend the rest with Raya. Keeping her mind busy, playing board games or talking about each other’s day. If the nurses allowed it, Namaari would walk her to see Linh or take her by wheelchair out for some fresh air. Knowing what a little sunshine could do for the soul, Raya’s mood lightened almost immediately the moment they stepped outside and the cool air blew through her hair.

It took this for Namaari to realize how difficult this was to Raya. Yes, she missed her family, but this was also one of the rare times Raya was forced to stay within the boundaries of her hospital room and bed. She had always been a free spirit, always wanting to move and go and do as much as she could. This being the first time in her life that she was not physically capable of doing the average day to day tasks- let alone come and go as she pleased.

So Namaari did what she could. She continued to visit Raya as often as she was allowed, her Mother and Raya’s Father filling in the gaps between the days she couldn’t. She had Chau on voice calls and video chats often, sent pictures of him playing so that she wouldn’t feel like she was missing out on his fun. She spent hours with Linh, days visiting her again and again. Bringing her to Raya, bringing Raya to her. Making sure that they were the happiest they could be in this situation.

Namaari wanted to make her feel better, knowing she would not physically be better for a time. Her reward being her wife’s smile or Linh’s sigh of relief when at last she was in her arms. Perhaps this is why she didn’t notice the way her body held her emotions deep inside herself, pushing it all away to deal with on another day.

However Raya did.

It was late, she was helping Raya move from the wheelchair to her bed. Propping her up on the edge of it, while Raya held her shoulders for balance. Her slipper fell off in the transition and Namaari knelt down on her knee to retrieve it, placing it back for Raya before her wife even noticed it was gone.

In the exchange, Namaari felt Raya’s hand leave her shoulder and come then to her hair. Running her fingers through it, pushing it back and tucking it behind her ear as Namaari looked up at her. Accepting the token of affection as Raya’s hand cupped her cheek and the other continued to play with her hair, rubbing it gently.

“Namaari…” she spoke then, “are you okay?”

Namaari chuckled, softly, confused by this question.

“Yeah-…why?” She questioned, “is everything okay with you-…are you hurting?”

“No-…” Raya laughed, shaking her head, “I am fine, dep la..” she continued reassuringly, “but you- I’m worried about you.”

Namaari smiled, only later realizing she was forcing it through.

“I’m fine, Raya.”

“I can tell you’re not though…” she confirmed, “I can see you’re overwhelmed.”

Namaari felt her body pause at the comment, her brain scanning every inch of her before shaking the thought away. Noting that twist in her gut, the way her skin felt itchy in discomfort, knowing she was upset but trying to push it aside.

“I-…Raya, I’m fine, I just wanna take care of you-“

“And I wanna take care of you.” She insisted, “and right now, I’m okay…so you don’t have to worry about me, let me worry about you.”

Namaari scoffed, playfully, her mouth opening to dismiss this again. Only now she felt her throat was tightening and her eyes burned as tears neared. She pushed it back, tried to force it back down again, but it was too late. It was already rising, her body felt it from deep within her to the very edges of herself. Before she knew it, she was sobbing. Voice cracking as she tried to speak.

“I’m f-ine…I’m fine..” she tried to laugh, her head burying itself into Raya’s lap. Feeling then as her wife bent, wrapping her arms around her. Rubbing her back, leaning her head against Namaari’s as she comforted her. Making her cry even more.

“I’m…not fine..” she cried, “I-“

“It’s okay,” Raya soothed, “I know-…”

“I almost lost you and Linh…” she sobbed, “I was so afraid-“

“I know-..”

“I couldn’t do anything..I couldn’t help you, I just had to wait and hope you made it through!”

“We did, Namaari…we’re safe now and you did everything you could.”

Namaari broke down into her arms, laying herself completely into her lap as she cried and sobbed and spoke every last fear she had into the room. Raya listening to every one, soothing her, letting her sadness empty from her body at last. Namaari had kept it in her for days now, weeks even. Her emotions of that day, her absolute devastation at her worst nightmare coming true. The trauma of sitting in a room while your loved one was dying in the next, unable to do anything but wait. It had made her feel useless, unable to save the people she loved from this terrible pain. Reason why she had pushed herself to continue on, wanting to do as much as she could now to make up for how she had let them down. Namaari explaining this all to her wife while she listened.

“You never let me down-…it was a tragic incident, Namaari.” Raya continued to assure her, “it could have happened to anyone…it could have happened to you during Chau’s birth..! But we survived and we are okay-…all that matters is that you are here now.”

And Namaari knew that. She knew it mattered more that they were all safe, that they all were here now as a family. As the doctor said, Raya and Linh were both going to be just fine. But hearing it from Raya had her relaxing into her embrace, her tears still falling with ease but a peace overcoming her as well. Truly believing it now, truly knowing they would be just fine.

~~~~~~~

For such a little thing, she truly has a big personality. A big mindset. A big world to take on whether the world was ready for her or not.

Her teachers say she’s a genius, her coaches say she’s the best player on their team. She skipped a grade because she was bored with the lessons in second grade and stood her ground against the bullies in third that tried to make her feel bad about her amazing mind.

Namaari knows she’s strong, smart and- even more than that, she’s kind. Maybe not to her brother most times…but kind where it matters. Kind even when it’s easy not to be so.

It’s wild to think she’s still so young, her whole life ahead of her that Namaari can’t wait to see unfold. She often thinks back to her birth, the scariest day of her life, a pride filling her at how much she’s accomplished since then. Physical therapy, several doctor visits to ensure her health was progressing well, and extra time working on her speech when she was unable to speak the words she needed to say. All which she went from struggling to catapulting into a master sort of skill level, outdoing herself and the goals they had provided for her.

Proving to the universe that although her start was on shaky ground, Linh steadied herself and took off with life at a racing speed.

Ready for anything that comes her way.

[shy-peacock]

Rayamaari parents ft: Grandpa Benja. ❤️ (specifically SKC universe) edit- I don’t agree with this line of thinking, I just see Virana thinking that with her old values 😂🤷‍♀️

Linh, whining: it’s not fair- I wanted to spend the day with grandpa!!

Raya, soothingly: Linh, every now and then- we want each of you to get special one on one time with each of your grandparents- today’s Chau’s turn.

Virana: yes, the boy needs to have time around other men as well! To do manly things, like fixing up a car or fishing-!

Linh: I like fishing?!?

Namaari, giving her Mom a look: Linh, that’s not exactly what she means-

Virana: yes it is? He’s surrounded by women! You two are excellent parents, however It’s good for him to have a Fatherly sort of figure in the household for him to look up to.

Namaari, sighing: mom that’s-

Virana: I’m just saying! I’m glad Chau has Benja to hang out with and learn manly-

Chau: (bursts into the front door, Benja walking close behind.)

Chau: ME AND GRANDPA GOT OUR NAILS DONE!!! (Flashes his newly painted nails before him)

Raya and Namaari: Aww 🥰

Virana: 😳🤦‍♀️

[shy-peacock]

Legit was gonna write a prompt where Linh gets asked on a date as a older teen/young adult but all I could think of was this.

Person: hey, Linh- so I was wondering maybe sometime you and I could go on a date? 😊

Linh: ew. 😐

Person: 😰

Chau: LINH- don’t you remember Mom and Mom said you should at least try to be nice, even if it’s rejecting someone?!

Linh: ugh fine 🙄

Linh: ew, no thank you. 😐

[shy-peacock]

Rayamaari during the angsty events of SKC 🥲

[shy-peacock]

HC based off this-

Benja loves getting manicures/pedicures but his daughter hates them and never went with him- but Rayamaari son, Chau, does and loves going with his grandpa to get his nails done. 😭❤️🥹