#I frequently find myself going back to my sw fics

[fulokis]

I think the reason I find it more difficult to write fan fic for things other than Star Wars is that I find them so eloquently written more than my own stuff. And I think the reason I don’t struggle with Star Wars is partially because the man who made it admittedly made some questionable writing and world building choices (cough cough jizz) which makes me feel less confined and more able to introduce some shit stuff

[mrsalwayswrite]

Say You’ll Stay- Chapter 3

Fury/Band of Brother Crossover Fic

I don’t think I’m going to put warnings for each chapter. I have a broad statement of warnings on the masterlist. If there is something specific that I think might be triggering, I’ll put it on that chapter. Just know there will be swearing, mentions of injuries/blood, battle scenarios frequently. 

Tag List: @happyveday​ @god-of-dramatic-death-scenes​ @alwaysindecemberfeels​

Series Masterlist // Next Chapter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don stalked out of the HQ building, cigarette hanging between his lips. They had their orders. Tomorrow they would be heading to the next town to liberate and secure. Captain Evans had put him in charge of the other three tanks and their crews. Two of the other crews he recognized- Davis and Binkowski- having worked with them before. Yet memories of the last team he led and their demise...fuck, he could not think about that. He knew it was not his fault that Tiger got those lucky shots in. 

 His hands still shook slightly at the memory though.  Hearing their screams. He wondered if he would ever be free from the sounds of dying men or if that would haunt him until his own demise. 

 Walking down the snow-laden, muddy streets, his attention switched from the checklist of preparations running through his mind to seeing Boyd crossing the street up ahead. 

 "Boyd!" He shouted, getting his gunner's attention. Boyd stopped and waited for him, thankfully. Fuck if Don was going to jog to catch up. "Where are you off to?"

 Boyd motioned towards the field hospital, with the cigarette in hand. "Promised Anna I'd stop by if we was still here."

 "Alright. Let's go."

 If Boyd wondered why Don was following him, he wisely kept his mouth shut. 

 "Get our orders?" The gunner asked, maneuvering around a seeping pot hole in the ground. 

 "Yeah, heading out tomorrow. Gonna take out a town but start in the reserves. Intel says there are civilians there and they want to minimize damage."

 "We sure these civilians won't shoot us when our backs are turned?"

 "One can only hope."

 They entered the field hospital, both having tossed his spent cigarettes just outside the door. A few men lay on cots but overall, it was surprisingly quiet. A curvy, dark-haired nurse was passing out what looked like bowls of watery soup to the wounded men. A few of the men glanced their way but went back to whatever they had been doing before. From somewhere off to the left, it sounded like someone was constantly hacking up a lung in a different room. 

 Don usually did everything possible to avoid going to field hospitals or aid stations. The air always seemed tainted with blood, death and screaming. Something he had more than enough experience with on his own. There were a few times he should have sought medical care but refused, forcing Boyd to wrap up the bullet graze or the one time he got a small piece of shrapnel in his leg. That one hurt like a sonofabitch. Why he was here now with Boyd, going out of his way to enter a field hospital he had no reason to be in... he could not even justify it to himself. 

 A middle-aged woman in a nurse's uniform walked over to them, coming from a side room. "Y'all injured?" Her shrewd, brown eyes looked over both men with terrifying precision, trying to determine who was the patient. 

 Boyd pulled out his bandaged hand from his jacket pocket. "Came here to see Anna...ah, Nurse Cooper. She wanted to check it yesterday."

 "Mmm… ya that fella that looked out for her last night. Made sure she ate."

 "Yes, ma'am."

 "Thank ya kindly again. That girl gives too much and forgets to take care of herself. I'll get her for ya. Y’all go on now and take a seat towards the back." She gestured towards the few open beds, then turned those shrewd eyes on Don to openly scrutinize him. "Why are ya here?"

 "Moral support. Boyd here is a crybaby and I said I'd hold his hand…" He chuckled as Boyd swatted his arm, muttering something under his breath. 

 She pursed her lips but did not comment. "A'right. Y'all best be on good behavior. Doctor Erickson is in a right mood, I tell ya. I don't want her to get in no trouble because of y’all, ya here?" Without explanation, she turned on her heel and walked away. 

 Don met Boyd's eyes but he only shrugged. He followed his friend to a cot set against the back wall. Don snagged a nearby stool and leaned forward, forearms on his thighs. They sat in silence, neither one feeling the need to fill the air. They had been comrades for three years now and brothers for just as long. Often with a single look they could understand one another. Don was not sure if he believed in God anymore, he had seen too much war and too much death. But if there was a man upstairs, He deserved to be profusely thanked for bringing Boyd into Don's life. 

 "Good morning, Boyd. Good morning, sir." Anna chirped as she came around from a side door, wiping her hands on a cloth. She briefly looked around the floor nearby, hesitated then sat down next to Boyd on the cot. 

 "Mornin', Anna. How are you today?" Boyd asked. 

 "I'm fine. How are you? How does your hand feel?" She asked as she placed his bandaged hand on her leg and began unwrapping it. 

 "Feels a little stiff, don't hurt too much anymore."

 "Good." She poked and ran the lightest touch around the cut on his palm. "Doesn't look like it's infected and it's healing nicely already. I'm going to bandage it back up with some new dressing. Try and keep it clean and dry, change the dressing every day. Do you have your orders?"

 "Yeah, heading out tomorrow."

 "I'll grab some extra dressings for you then. Can one of your crew help you with it?"

 Don cleared his throat. "I'll make sure." 

 She met his eyes for the first time with a small smile before standing back up. "I'll be right back." She disappeared around the corner. 

 "She reminds me a little of my sister." Boyd softly said, gaze having followed her out. 

 Ah, so there it was. Don eyed his gunner but chose not to comment. It made sense now why he was so protective of the young woman. Boyd had always been the most sentimental of their crew. Hopefully that sentimentality would not bite him in the ass later. 

 It did not take long for the red-headed nurse to return, hands holding new wrappings and dressings. Before she could sit down on the cot again, a shout made her jolt, whipping around to face towards the front. 

 "Nurse Cooper!" 

 Don watched a tall, blonde man stride into the room like he owned every inch of the ground he walked on. With his doctor's uniform on, he practically did. The tank commander was unsure what was going on but he had a bad feeling. Unconsciously, he straightened up in his chair, staring hard at the doctor.

 "Come here!" The doctor bellowed, completely ignoring the scene he was causing.

 Anna carefully set the bandage down next to Boyd before slowly walking towards the doctor. He stood in the middle of the room, hands on his hips and a glare to rival the devil's on his stubbled face. When she stood before him, he immediately got in her face. 

 "What the fuck do you think you're doing with my patients! One came in here an hour ago and complained you ignored him! Need I remind you that we are to help everyone with an injury, it does not matter our personal preferences or if you find them attractive. You do your damn job!"

 "Yes, sir. I apologize, I asked Nurse Falk to help him because…"

 A loud smack filled the air. 

 The doctor pulled his hand back from backhanding her to only point a finger at her. "I don't care for your excuses. Do your fucking job or I'll find you some hell hole to work in. Do I make myself clear?"

 Don was up and moving before he realized it. He looped an arm around Anna's waist and pulled her behind him in one fluid motion. He squared off in front of the doctor, meeting him eye to eye. 

 No words were spoken, yet a war waged between them. This doctor wore an air of authority like a badge to wave in other's faces. If he expected the tank commander to back down, he was sorely mistaken. Don had been fighting too long, killed too many men with his own hands to be intimidated by someone who thought when he opened his mouth, everyone around should obey. Don narrowed his eyes, silently begging the man to try something. Give him an excuse to knock the arrogant asshole down a couple notches. 

 Finally, the doctor looked over Don's shoulder, glaring at Anna one more time. "Do your job." He spat out before retreating out of the room and up a set of stairs. 

 Don watched his retreating form for a minute, making sure the man was not going to turn around and continue to publicly berate and abuse Anna. When he could no longer hear the doctor's step, he looked down at the small woman still huddled against him. 

 "You alright, sweetheart?"

 Tilting her head up to meet his eyes, she nodded and licked her lips before answering, voice just above a whisper. "Thank you."

 He could not help it. Oh so carefully, he put his other hand on her chin and turned her head to see the reddened cheek. 

 "I'm fine. It's not that bad." She stepped out of his grasp and looked back towards the front. 

 The middle-aged woman with the shrewd eyes and graying hair watched them, both hands gripping a towel until her knuckles were white. Quietly, she approached and took a look at Anna's cheek. "Finish up with ya patient then get to the kitchen. Make yaself a cup of tea."

 "Yes, ma'am." Anna started back down the rows of cots to Boyd's side, head down, ignoring the looks sent her way by those in the room. 

 Don met the aging nurse's eyes and a silent understanding passed between them. She gave him a brief nod then left. A sigh left his lips before he rejoined Boyd and Anna, returning to his spot on the stool. 

 She worked silently, putting some kind of ointment on Boyd's cut and dressing it. 

 "Anna." Boyd tried to get her attention but she ignored it, working methodically. "Anna, look at me. Come on."

 Finally, she looked up with watery eyes. "He came in this morning."

 "Who did?"

 "That Private from last night…"

 "Shit," Boyd swore, rubbing his other hand over his moustache, "that's who the doctor is yelling at you about?"

 She looked away, gathering up the soiled dressing, then stood. "I need to clean these. I… I wish you both well tomorrow...good luck." 

 Boyd stood, putting a hand on her shoulder. He opened and closed his mouth a couple times as if to say something encouraging but finally settled with, "I'll be praying for you."

 "Thanks. If anything, I'm glad I met you." She looked down at Don, still sitting with his forearms on his knees. "Both of y’all. Thank y’all for everything." With a final small smile, she walked out of view and towards the back room. 

 "Don…"

 The tank commander finally stood, quickly lighting a new cigarette. "I know, Boyd, I know. Come on. Us lingering isn't gonna do her any good."

 They walked out together side by side, clean dressings and bandages in both their pockets. Neither said anything as they walked back to Fury, their separate thoughts on the auburn-haired nurse. 

 When they caught sight of Fury with the others lounging around, Don knew what he had to do. 

 "Fuck it." He muttered then stopped walking. "Bible, start getting Fury ready to leave for tomorrow. Spread the word."

 "Where you going, Don?"

 "There's something I gotta do."

 Before further questions could be asked, he started back the way they had just come. He brusquely pushed past someone standing idly in the doorway of the field hospital. His eyes scanned the large front room and landed on the matronly nurse from before, who was examining a man's shoulder as he gritted his teeth. 

 "Nurse." Don spoke up, stepping closer. When she looked up at him, he continued, "where is she?"

 She seemed to weigh out her answer before jerking her head towards the back. "In the kitchen still. Be quick."

 He brushed past all the cots and the few men filling them, wandering into the back room where a few extra cots were and medical supplies in cabinets. To his right was another door. Without hesitation, he pushed it open and was relieved it was the kitchen. 

 It was a small room and probably had been cozy at one time before the war came and ravaged it. A fire was lit in the hearth, a black kettle hanging just over it. The sound of the water just beginning to boil made the scene feel domestic. A small wooden table was pushed against the wall, three chairs crowding it in. Anna sat on one of the chairs, hair freed from its typical bun and hanging loose down her back. Having heard the door open, she turned and he witnessed her eyes widened as she recognized him. 

 "Sergeant? Is everything alright?" 

 Putting his boot on the chair across the small table from her, he unstrapped the combat knife and sheath strapped to his lower leg, hidden under his trousers. It thudded when he set it on the table, the sound feeling like a gong going off even though it was not nearly that loud. 

 "It's a Mark 3 combat knife. I've had it since North Africa. Hide it somewhere on you that you can reach easily. Don't worry about using it right, just use it however you can to defend yourself. Slash. Stab. Doesn't fucking matter. You wait though until they can't get away. Don't pull it out too soon and someone with skills will knock it out of your hands or just take it from you. Got it?"

 Her sapphire eyes were wide as saucers as she looked at him then the knife, gingerly reaching her hand out to touch it. "Why are you giving me this?"

 "Look, find someone to show you how to use it if you…"

 She reached over and placed a hand on his forearm, effectively silencing him. "I know how to use a knife. My father taught me. I had a knife but Doctor Erickson took it. Said it was not appropriate. This time he won't find it." She looked up, meeting his hardened gaze. "Why did you come back?"

 Don sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know."

 They stared at each other, both seeking answers in the other person's eyes. It was in this moment he truly began to notice things about her; like how there was a ring of gold around the iris in her eyes, how there was a slight dimple in her chin, how her features were soft but underneath it all, was a core as strong as steel. This was how she had survived as long as she did on the front lines of war. His respect for her increased. She looked a dainty, petite little rose but that was only her outward appearance. 

 The door opened behind them and the dark-haired, curvy nurse stuck her head in. "Anna, I'm going to need your assistance."

 "Yes. Yes, I'll be right there."

 The other nurse closed the door, only sparing Don a quick look. With that, whatever intimate moment they conjured shattered into a thousand glass pieces. 

 Don rubbed the back of his neck, unsure what just happened. It did not matter though. In all likelihood he was never going to see her again. "Good luck, Nurse Cooper."

 He turned to head out but she gripped his arm, holding him frozen. In a flash, she stepped closer and rose up on her toes to press a quick kiss to his jawline. Not that she could reach much higher. 

 "Stay safe, Sergeant. " She whispered, before snatching the combat knife off the table and slipping out the door like a dream. 

 His hand drifted on its own accord to rub the spot where her lips touched his skin. 

 He groaned as he realized what he was doing. Silently reprimanding himself, he shoved his hands in his pockets and stormed out, past the cots and fellow soldiers, keeping his eyes forward. He had a job to do. They were in the middle of a war for Christ's sake. He should not be acting like some schoolboy. 

 If the skin that had been graced by her lips felt like a seal on his jawline, no one else needed to know that. 

 *****

 Anna helped Nurse Harris patch up a soldier who had gotten his foot crushed as best as they could. She worried they would have to amputate it but for the moment, it was bandaged as well as possible and he was finally sleeping, the morphine having fully kicked in. 

 She tended to the few other men laying on cots, making sure they all had water, no one was in major pain and they were as comfortable as possible. The last rays of sun peered through the windows, a display of reds, oranges and yellows coating the inside of the field hospital. 

 As she moved about, the strange yet comforting feel of the combat knife strapped to her calf was her companion. And with the feeling of it, her thoughts continuously drifted to the Staff Sergeant who gave it to her. 

 What had she been thinking to kiss him? Even if it was meant innocently and as a thank you. Stupid, so stupid. It was too late now to change it. For all she knew, she would never see him again. He could die in the fight tomorrow and she would never know. 

 The thought of his death sent a sharp stab to her heart.

 Only in her own mind would she easily admit how attractive she found the man to be. When he held her behind him, an arm around her to protect and shield her from Doctor Erickson; his touch had knocked the air out of her lungs more than the slap from the doctor ever could.  

 "Nurse Cooper." 

 Anna looked up as Nurse Falk walked towards her. "Yes, ma'am?"

 "Come with me."

 Nerves came alight with those three words. Whatever this was, it could not be good. Anna set down the clean bandages she had been rolling to store away and followed the matronly nurse towards the back. 

 In the kitchen, Nurse Falk quickly moved to shut the doors, even going so far to draw the curtains over the solitary window. The only light came from the small fire in the fireplace. 

 This could not be good. Was Doctor Erickson sending her away? Oh God, what was she going to do?

 Nurse Falk had never been one for physical touch. So when she came and grabbed Anna's hands, holding them between their bodies, Anna could feel tears gathering in her eyes. 

 This was bad. 

 "Ya know 'bout that mission tomorrow?"

 Anna could only nod. Her throat felt swollen, questions threatening to choke her. 

 "Captain Evans asked for some additional medical support. He's plannin' on settin' up a small aid station there. Says there's civilians and he's worried 'bout extra casualties."

 No.

 "Besides their usual medics, they asked for any spare medics we have…"

 No, please, no. 

 "...but Doctor Erickson gave 'im ya name. Since ya speak both German and French, it would help with them civilians, and ya would be seen as less intimidatin' than a soldier if they be needin' a translator. I'm sorry."

 So, this was Doctor Erickson's final revenge. To this day she still questioned what she had done to cause him to hate her so much. Since the beginning, he treated her like shit on his boot. Now he was offering her up as a sacrificial lamb. 

 "When...when do we leave?"

 "Oh seven hundred. Ya be ridin' in a truck with Medic Hunter...do ya need help packin'?"

 She shook her head, cursing the tears that slipped down her cheeks. 

 "A'right. Go pack and rest while ya can. We'll find ya some new clothes too. I'll come get ya in the mornin'." She squeezed Anna's hands once more before stepping away. 

 In a daze, Anna felt her feet moving but did not remember telling them to. Up the stairs she went to the small bedroom she shared with two other nurses. She sat on her cot, mind numb and lacking the energy to do anything. 

 She was being sent away. To the real front lines. Alone. A single woman alone in a company of soldiers. She knew Medic Hunter; he seemed a good man. She had gotten used to the chaotic, draining life of working in a field hospital. She had been doing it for a year now. At least she was around other women, a few she would even call friends. 

 Tomorrow all that would be gone. 

 Slowly, she curled up on her bed and silently let the tears fall unaided. She was tired. So bone-deep tired of this war. Of seeing young men dead or maimed. Of constantly being dirty with grime and blood. Of remembering what spilled intestines looked like more than her childhood home. 

 She always tried to convince herself that it would get better, tomorrow would be better. It was a habit she had picked up from her mother, trying to always be positive, to see the best in everyone. 

 For the first time, she did not even try to pretend that tomorrow would be better. 

[meta-shadowsong]

Quick response to Mandalorian season finale

Behind a cut because, well.

Okay, yes, I am in this show for Dadalorian and Found Family etc. But I am at least as invested in the plotline this season about various factions of Mandalorians and their, for lack of a better word, sectarian disputes. Which frequently result in barfights. Because Mandalorians.

(AKA that scene where they picked up Bo and her minion was. A Delight.)

(Also, I love my girl Bo-Katan. Even if she’s very much a blunt instrument/not a politician going at this in all the wrong ways and was Very Rude to Boba but tbh I wasn’t 100% sure she was going to show up in this episode and I would’ve been Sad if we hadn’t gotten to see them meet. Either here or next season.)

(Still Sad at the lack of Sabine, though :( )

Leaving aside anything re: Gina Caranno (because that has been discussed by people much smarter and better-informed than myself), I’m kind of thrilled that the strike team was Almost Entirely Ladies.

(On that note. Uh. Does anyone else kinda. That little “Anyone else, we can take” smirk. And I just. Uh. Bo/Fennec, anyone??????)

(I kind of already ship Bo with Ventress tbh but a) multishipping ftw and b) threesome??????)

(Hi I’m shallow sometimes lol)

Anyway moving on.

Also the sound/almost-music when the Cylons Dark Troopers were activating was Excellent I approve.

And that Visual of the one trooper Din set on fire. ...honestly that whole hallway fight sequence was pretty Brilliant.

And the sort of...almost casual layer of the scene in the elevator. Even if these women haven’t worked together before, just that, “sure you don’t need any help with that?” “I got it. Excuse me.”

And that whole thing where Gideon was trying to Manipulate Din and he was like “...dude, I legit just care about the kid. I’ll fight for/with Bo-Katan because she’s pretty badass and I Might As Well plus she gets me what I want but I don’t...actually...Care about her Greater Cause?”

(Side note, I’ve spent a lot of time writing Bo-Katan/figuring out how her head works and literally all she cares about is Mandalore and its survival. It’s why she broke away from her sister in the first place, and has informed every single thing she’s done since. A lot of why she makes the specific choices she does goes back to the Mandalorian Civil War and her experiences there--especially since all the evidence indicates she was not with Satine and Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. The way that separation and their different experiences of that conflict probably contributed to the eventual destruction of what seems likely to have been a Very Close Relationship before that is fascinating to me. And the subject of a fic I’ve been working on off and on for a couple years now, lol.)

(...anyway, where I was going with this was--I mean, yes, Gideon knows everything in terms of facts, but he doesn’t always interpret them correctly. IMO, Bo-Katan’s desire to rule Mandalore is less about power (for herself) than it is about Mandalore. Especially given some of what she says to Sabine in Rebels--if there was someone else she genuinely trusted to take the throne and rule her world, she’d be willing to cede her claim and be one of their generals. Especially since she’s very much not a political animal. She’s an excellent war leader, but not so much in terms of actual Governance.)

(insert long ramble about the Parallels between her and Anakin, which I touched on in one of my fanfics, lol; and will probably do more with in my BB project which involves the two of them and Padme as the main characters)

(And, yeah, she does want to fight Din for the right, but if she thought Din would be a good Duke/King of Mandalore, I think she would seriously considering swearing allegiance to him? Again, witness how she handled things with Sabine. Also she would probs prefer to avoid a third (fourth?) civil war in her lifetime. But, I mean. I love Din but he is. He is not a Leader. Not like her people need.)

(And I think the way things played out with Sabine affects her decisions here, too--she did accept the Darksaber as a gift/tribute then, but proceeded to lose it. Maybe she does need to fight for it the way Maul and Viszla did (presumably; we don’t know how he got the Darksaber; it may be something he inherited/have been held by House Viszla for a while, even if they never used it to dethrone the Kryzes until now).)

(But, then again, I mean, this has been her life for at least a decade, so...well, maybe she wouldn’t quite step aside. Even if an Absolutely Perfect candidate came along. But WRT Din specifically--given who he is and what he’s capable of, while she absolutely wants him in her camp (and on a personal level isn’t super thrilled about having to fight him like this; she seems to genuinely like this kid), my guess is she doesn’t want him ruling. Not without some more actual leadership training/experience. Because, well, he’s been either a follower or a loner in everything we’ve seen him in, and given Bo’s opinion of (possibly experience with?) the Watch/the group who raised him, and the fact that he’s consistently shown himself to have super-narrow priorities and not really caring about much outside of them...yeah, she probs has some Concerns.)

(Plus, he clearly doesn’t want it. And you have to Want It on some level in order to be an effective ruler--that Wanting can be from genuine altruism/wanting to make the world better, like we see with Bail and Padme; it can be from single-minded determination to Make Things Right, like Satine and I would argue Bo-Katan (Leia falls into either the first or second category, depending on the point in her storyline); and it can come from a desire for personal power and advancement (as we see with Pre Viszla and, of course, Skeev Palpatine himself; to be fair, rulers in this third category tend to be bad in other ways lol). But someone who genuinely doesn’t want power generally kind of Sucks when they’re unexpectedly handed it. Which I could cite several IRL historical examples of. And, I mean, obviously, this isn’t the only factor in play for what makes a good ruler/leader (see above re: Palps and Pre Viszla), but it is a factor.)

(Also, to clarify: none of these are bad qualities/traits, necessarily? Like, traits are good or bad depending on whatever context a person/character finds themself in. And in Din’s current context, with his current life and mission--even in situations where he has to coordinate with other groups in the service of a larger goal--these are excellent traits to have. But for someone who’s responsible for an entire nation? Not so much.)

(One could argue that Bo has some Issues there, too, albeit different ones, which is why I think she might be willing to step aside and cede her claim to a Genuinely Good/Better Alternative, if she found one. She’s a war-leader, not a ruler, and the two jobs require overlapping but different skillsets.)

(..........honestly? I don’t think the show would go there, but I think the two of them as a team/partnership ruling Mandalore would actually be really effective? Either on an equal footing or with one as the Official Ruler and the other as a second-in-command/right-hand. She has the leadership expertise and the actual will and drive to pull this off, and he has the diplomatic skill, as we see with the Tusken Raiders, among others.)

(Not a romantic partnership, lol, that would be Weird, but a political and probably eventually platonically affectionate one. Especially with how Mandalore feels about family of choice/adoption, and the fact that they’re both kind of alone now (whatever happened to Korkie, anyway??) even if no formal adoption is likely in their case...)

(Anyway. Uh. Long tangent aside...)

(also if there’s anyone who didn’t see Gideon trying to decapitate Din when his back was turned...IDEK what you were expecting. Like. I am All About guys like Pellaeon in the Imperial ranks, and the fact that there might be a few people who would make that offer/deal and be on the level. To say nothing of my best beloved Alexsandr Kallus. But. Uh. Gideon is. Not one of them.)

(Also, I thought it was a Nice Touch when the spear started turning red--because, no, the Darksaber can’t cut pure beskar. But it does generate heat, as we’ve seen in, say, TPM. And beskar does melt.)

Also, called it on tossing the Cylons Dark Troopers out the airlock Not Working in the long term.

While it’s not Cool or Flashy like a bomb or slicing, the Cylons Dark Troopers pounding the doors down with their goddamn fists was Cool and Terrifying in all the best ways.

Side note--I think even if I hadn’t been spoiled (forgot to mute the spoiler channels on the SW Discords I’m on before going to bed, and checked on autopilot), X-wing + Grogu perking up would’ve probably clued me in and I would’ve been SHRIEKING. I was still vibrating super hard even though I knew who was coming, but it probably would’ve been slightly more XD

(and then a moment of HAHA GIDEON KNOWS WHAT’S COMING)

(and so does my girl Bo)

(and then the green ‘saber and the glove and other costume details and IF YA DIDN’T SCREAM BEFORE YOU SURE ARE NOW!!!!)

(Kind of cool that they waited until the last minute before showing his actual face though)

NO MY GIRL BO-KATAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(IF YOU DIE WHO WILL GET DRUNK AND SWAP WAR STORIES AND MAYBE HAVE VICTORY SEX WITH FENNEC)

(shut up i’m shallow)

(also I love her she’s legit one of my favorite characters in this series I don’t want her to die DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD:)

OH GOOD SHE GOT UP

(yeah that was my actual real-time reaction to her getting shot lol)

“Talent without training is nothing.” ::insert Obvious/Tired joke about Luke having all of three months’ training At Best::

(also, I mentioned this in my last quick reaction, as well as elsewhere, but I’m...still kind of uncomfortable with the continuing implication that the Jedi path is the only option other than Darkness. Not because it’s a bad one, either in the PT-era or with Luke’s reconstruction. But the idea that the only way to achieve the mindset/emotional stability/whatever needed to wield the Force without Falling is through adapting the Jedi philosophy sits wrong with me. especially the implication that you can only do so from an early age/in isolation from other influences or bonds; which is a word I’m using very specifically because there’s a difference between Attachment as defined by the Jedi and interpersonal bonds which they clearly have and I don’t want this to get derailed by that particular Discourse(tm) That doesn’t even super hold up on Earth, with a single species, let alone in a galaxy with trillions of beings of multiple different species. Basically, people and the galaxy--and by extension the Force, which is in part created/influenced by living beings--are way too complicated for there to be only one right answer.)

(Also, it...doesn’t really hold up with the core message of Star Wars, which is about Choice? If the only way you can be a Good Force Adept is by meeting this extremely narrow set of criteria, most of which are outside your possible control......but I should probably save this for a separate post, lol.)

(The point is, I mentioned earlier in the post how much I’m LOVING the throughline in this season about different factions/sects among Mandalorians, and I think it would be Great if we got more of that with Jedi/Light adepts.)

(Anyway. Uh. Back to the episode...)

That FACE MOMENT had me legit crying omg

ARTOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!@@21!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

omg had they MET

I...don’t know what I was expecting from the credits but Welp. I wonder who the body double was...

(And before you ask, I didn’t really get the Uncanny Valley effect from Rogue One, not even Tarkin, so.....yeah, I guess I don’t always pick up on that, or it hits me from weird directions, lol. Because I sometimes get that from the Rebels animation, especially in stills/gifsets, because everyone’s faces are all so Smooth...)

.........Jabba’s palace, okay.

.......Bib Fortuna, Okay.

(those fingernails, however, are Not Okay)

YAY RESCUE THE GIRL.

Good on you, Boba, just shooting him in the face instead of letting him posture!

although why you want to rule Tatooine is...okay then.

LOL at Fennec perching on the arm of the chair, sipping her booze all casual-like.

Right! So that was an Experience! Overall, I liked it. Looking forward to how Din and Bo handle things moving forward, in particular! Because, like I said, I’m in this series for Dadalorian (so IDK how I’ll feel with it no longer being the Core Story since Grogu left with Luke) and in this season for the Mandalorian factions/sects and how they interact.

I’m also not sure how I feel about three interconnected series leading up to a Major Finale Event? Disney’s Star Wars has not had a super great track record with giving all the information needed to follow things in the core product (see: the ST worldbuilding lol, and also some of the cameos/appearances in this season, even), so I’m Skeptical of how well they’ll do explaining what is Necessary in each of the three series, in case someone only watches one or two.

What were your thoughts?

[feckyeswriting]

Ask meme: Z X V U S R L I D (prove it) C

Send me asks about my fics / writing~!

Z - Major character death–do you ever write/read it? Is there a character whose death you can’t tolerate?

Oh man, I feel like people are SO AFRAID of major character death. We’re in this bubble of fic (or maybe it’s just gotten bigger since we’ve escaped FF.net’s awful publishing system and I was never part of Livejournal) where there’s a lack of purely plot-driven fic. Or, not even “purely plot driven” but even just ship-fic that has a plot beyond THEY FALL IN LOVE IN XYZ SCENARIO. So there’s just not a lot that I find where there’s even a chance FOR anyone to die, if that makes sense?

But I would love to write it. I have a plan for one fic where that may happen. It’s tough though. You need the right buildup otherwise it’s just bleh. My only fic so far with that warning is “Catch and Release” and it wasn’t even Kylo or Rey who died, so I don’t consider myself having truly executed a major character death fic that could wreck hearts.

X - A character you enjoy making suffer.

I would like to say all of them because it’s TRUE. I love making everyone suffer, even if it’s just through an awkward encounter at the mall. So far I’ve whumped the most on Rey just because I could? And it kinda fits with her backstory and putting her into situations with the FO. 

V - A secondary (or underrated) character you want to see more of in fic?

*slams fists on keyboard* ��I don’t actually have anyone that I can think of rn where I feel adamant about this?

In Divergent fic there’s a lot of putting the secondary characters into really rigid roles. Will is The Boyfriend to Christina who just treats Tris like a dress-up doll. Tori gives advice and isn’t as badass as VRoth tried to make her (and failed a bit) in Insurgent. Lauren is either a New Bestie for Tris or her romantic rival. 

So I guess just… I want people to break them out of those boxes? Use other characters in those roles (make OCs that aren’t just stand-ins for yourself to romance the character of interest) and give the real secondary characters a purpose that helps the plot in another way.

U - A pairing you might like to write for, but haven’t tried yet.

I need to fill a Reysma prompt for TA hahaha. That should be fun. I also kind of want to go back to The Hollows (an awesome book series which I need to read the last two books and haven’t because dammit I hate the end OTP) and write some Ral because dammit they should have had a chance. 

S - Any fandom tropes you can’t resist?

BEDSHARING. Who can resist? I can’t. It’s universal.

I also can’t resist “retelling the beginning of Divergent” because I just want it to be done for MY SHIPPPPP.

R - Are there any writers (fanfic or otherwise) you consider an influence?

Hmm. I think in my personal writing I’ve been fairly influenced by Kim Harrison and Jim Butcher. I madly respect @tamorapierce for her fantastically built worlds. I’ve kind of lost respect for some of the fanfic authors that I used to talk about so that list is currently empty. There are some like… “classic” fic authors in the A:TLA fandom that I respect and love, but I don’t know their names anymore bc they don’t write. I also had drawn inspiration from the author of “Dark Times” in the SW fandom (treenasthal or something similar) but they update even less frequently than I do so I haven’t re-read anything of theirs in about 2 years now. 

L - What’s the weirdest AU you’ve ever come up with?

That I’ve come up with personally? Oh god. “Sunburn” was hilarious but I had gotten the inspiration from TA. “Sharpest Lives” is my crackiest AU, so that certainly could count. Within my Divergent fics, I guess the whole Colorfest idea is pretty weird and probably the farthest stretch for being a viable event in the canon universe. I tend to not write totally weird AUs.

OH I KNOW ACTUALLY. I haven’t written an actual fic for it, but I had answered an ask from @lucidlucy with a tentacle porn style AU that I turned into “the hunt for the wild space whale” Kylux/reylux concept. I would love to actually write it but ugh. Where is the TIME?

I - Do you have a guilty pleasure in fic (reading or writing)?

There are certain interests that I have when reading lmao. Some are not for polite company so I’ll keep those to myself ;DI do SO adore a well done “good guy is on the bad side” fic. Dark!Rey fics are my fave. Or just any sort of “darkest timeline” sort of feel like how I’m doing Ash and Torment. There’s something about that kind of fic that’s really interesting to me? Probably because we all KNOW what it’s supposed to be like and just want to see how things will ever get closer to that sort of feel.

D - Is there a song or playlist associated with Prove It?

Copied from the other ask

There is! I’m not fancy enough to bother with 8 tracks or actually make the playlist flow, but I have a Google Play playlist with songs that I put on when I’m writing almost anything Eris. Usually shuffled. Here’s the link and I can make a fancy post about the songs for the 98% of the world who doesn’t pay for monthly GPlay service when I’m back home with a mouse :3

C - What character do you identify with most?

I know this is going to sound SO DUMB but I love Eric. My Eric, that is. Taking his aggressive side and toning it down to a realistic character (instead of a caricature of a villain). Because I’m just… I’m that irked? And annoyed? All the time. And if I had earned the role of Leader in a post-apocalyptic era, I too would make my nemesis’ twerp kids fight to blackout like he did with me in our training days. I’m just not a people person unless I KNOW those people and ugh. Yeah. 

I’m not industrious enough to be Rey. I like the concept of people but I don’t know if I could be selfless like canon!Tris to die for a whole city. 

SO MANY QUESTIONS I LOVE IT MOAR MOARRR