#Uingali

[gia-batmm-crickle22]

Thrawn and His Four Husbands Kisses <3

[skywalkerthrawn]

another lil sketch dump 💙

[shards-of-silver]

Yoooooo! Update in the house!

[ahsoka-its-all-of-us]

I love this explanation so much ;-;

Rebels season 4 Ep 10, Jedi Night

I don’t know why, but I felt like talking about this scene.  Hera is being tortured by Arihnda Pryce and Thrawn comes in with Hera’s kalikori and starts talking to her about it.  He brings up her lost little brother and tells her that he’s keeping the family heirloom.  It comes off as cold and snide.

As an autistic person who’s bungled 90% of my attempts at being sincere with people, I’d like to offer another perspective. 

Thrawn is autistic af.  Timothy Zahn has done everything short of showing Thrawn lining up his toys or having trouble with eye contact to drill that point home.  Thrawn also isn’t a snide character.  Even in the show, he always attempts to be respectful and courteous.  So, what’s going on? 

Thrawn lost a sister when he was a toddler, something he’s never gotten over.  I believe this is what he was referring to when he said, ”some losses run too deep to ever heal” to Thrass at a dinner event. We also know that Thrawn takes items like this incredibly seriously.  Uingali gives Thrawn his ring with a chimaera on it so that his people aren't forgotten, Thrawn takes it and uses that symbol for the rest of his life.

He’s trying to make an emotional connection.  He’s trying to let her know that this item will be cherished even though they’re adversaries.   However, this goes horribly wrong.  His raging autism prevents him from things like understanding how close to stand to be comforting and not creepy, and how to smile to show warmth instead of menace.  Also, he can’t read the room.  She’s actively being tortured, now’s not the time, Thrawn.

Ya, IDK, that’s my 2 cents.

[hydr0phius]

Welcome back to more crack summaries and notes. Today it's Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil, and I am absolutely distraught after reading it.

Linked: Chaos Rising and Greater Good

Starting out strong with this one aren't we, Mr. Zahn?

...

Samakro: please let this be a normal fucking side trip-

...

The Springhawk: *appears*

Jixtus: Not this mf again. Give me a damn BREAK-

...

Thrawn, over comms: If there are any Watith here, we have your prisoners.

Generalius Nakirre: I'm going to answer him.

Jixtus: Do NOT

...

Generalius Nakirre: If you're not going to tell me, I'll just ask him.

Jixtus: nO-

...

(word for word)

Generalius Nakirre: The Kilji path will prove superior

Thrawn, flatly: No. It will not.

Generalius Nakirre: Again, you dismiss our wisdom without even hearing it.

Thrawn: In my experience, superior wisdom can stand on its own merits. It does not require a warship to force acceptance.

Generalius Nakirre: You also bring a warship to this place.

Thrawn: But I do not claim to offer superior wisdom. Nor do I intend to impose my wisdom upon others.

(Thrawn, I love you dearly).

...

Jixtus, quietly in the background for the last five minutes of the comm call with Nakirre and Thrawn: Oh my fucking gods, DISENGAGE. DO NOT LET HIM KNOW ANYTHING MORE ABOUT YOU-

...

Nakirre, internally during the comm call and Jixtus' warnings: WHY SHOULDN'T I FUCK HIM UP? HE'S ASKING FOR IT. IT WOULD BE SO EASY.

...

Thrawn: *blank stare on the bridge, facing Thalias*

Thalias: Look at him going into deep thought. *Turns back to Che'ri*

Thrawn, directly behind her now: So have you-

Thalias, jumping about a foot in the air: -STOP SNEAKING UP ON PEOPLE LIKE THAT!!!!

Thrawn: I wasn't????? Anyway, has Che'ri had anymore nightmares?

(He was sneaking but he doesn't know that lmao).

...

Lamiov: *sends Ba'kif a message about Thrawn*

Ba'kif: *Dropping absolutely everything and moving faster than his colleagues would if there was all out war because his Son is up to things*

...

^^^ All that was just in the prologue and I was nearly losing it lmao.

...

Thurfian: *makes a decision*

Thivik: *judgemental vibes*

...

Thrawn: *rattling off info about the paintings in the reception area of the Mitth crib on wherever it is that they were*

Thrass: How the fuck did you know all of that-

...

Lappincyk: Larawn. Has a nice ring to it.

Me thinking of that vine: Larawn James sjsjs

...

Lappincyk: Ok and what is Thrawn to you?

Thrass making a spur of the moment decision: He's my friend.

Thrawn, sitting down: :3

(That felt like a set up. Thooraki and Lamiov going "Thrawn needs someone who knows politics" and then shoving Thrass into his orbit).

...

Jixtus: I have information you'll want

Thistrian: let me consult with the Patriarch.

Thurfian: Tell them to feck off. We don't want anything to do with them.

Thistrian: o h

...

Ba'kif when he found out about the Magys: SORRY YOU WHAT- NO. WHAT POSSESSED YOU

Thrawn: :)

Samakro: I'll see this through. I'm in too deep.

...

Thivik what's on that datacard??? WHAT DID THRASS PUT TOGETHER-

...

All the Thrawn and Thrass interactions give me life.

...

Zistalmu: I got a divorce.

Thurfian: babe, please. :'(

...

Roscu: *blathering on & being all high and mighty while a fucking asteroid missile is lining her up*

Ziinda: Can you shut the fuck up?

Roscu: I- ok.

...

Thrawn: I'll see y'all later. Uingali and I are going on a trip for a bit.

Samakro: k, bye.

later

Samakro: Where are we???

Bridge crew: idk man??

Che'ri: I'm following him. He's in danger and we need to be there.

Samakro after a lot of talking with Thalias: Oh. ok.

...

Thrawn: Can you fire a charric?

Qilori: *nervous wreck* nO

Thrawn dragging him up out of his chair: You're about to learn.

...

Thrass, holding a chair & ready to use it: Yeah, that's right! Drop the knife!

The thief: *slowly puts the knife down, looking behind Thrass the whole time*

Thrawn standing menacingly behind Thrass ready to deck the thief like he did his accomplices: >:)

...

Thrass: Ok, Roscu, but if you did fire on us you'd be killing a Mitth Aristocra and his brother.

Thrawn: :0

Lappincyk: :D

Roscu: Damn, ok.

*after the Odo ceremony*

Thrawn: Are we actually brothers now?

Thrass: Yeah, if you want :3

Thrawn: :') ok

*cue secret sharing*

...

CEDF: *trying to keep the peace in the Ascendancy on Syndicure orders*

CDF and Family Fleets, with the indignant air of a 10 yr old Sephora girl: Oh my GODS, can you LEAVE? You have NO POWER here!!!!

CEDF: Ok, fuck you. *sorts out the fighting anyway then dips off to wherever they get sent to next*

...

Che'ri: I'm fine. I can cook my own food while you're gone, and Mid Captain Samakro can check in on me.

Samakro: *worried Dad being left with the kids for the first time noises*

Thalias: ok.

Che'ri: Niceeee

Samakro: *sweating bullets*

...

Thalias: You Borika?

Borika, fake accent on: You a cop?

Thalias: What-

...

Borika: *nice rancher lady*

Borika 0.5 seconds after Thalias mentions the Seekers program: *pulls a charric on Thalias once they're inside the house and drops the accent*

Thalias: Holy fu- HANg oN-

...

TIMMY!!!! WHY DIDN'T YOU LET BORIKA AND THRAWN MEET!!!!!

...

Fuck the Ascendancy too btw. The systems in place are shit. Those poor sky-walkers.

...

*Two families fighting*

Ar'alani having been sent to deal with it, angry admiral voice engaged: OI, STOP THAT

One gunboat: NO. YOU HAVE NO JURISDICTION HERE CEDF.

Ar'alani, fed up: Flicker all of them, then drag them away from each other

Wutroow: That's going to piss a lot of people off, Admiral.

Ar'alani: idgaf. They're being stupid and putting civilians in danger.

Wutroow: Then might I suggest dragging them back to different orbital levels? if they want at it again, they'll at least have to try.

Ar'alani: Excellent thinking. Let's do that.

...

Ja'fosk 20mins after they flickered everyone and are headed back to UAG: Ar'alani you need to stop hanging around with Thrawn so much.

Ar'alani: Ok but he's right.

Ja'fosk:

Ar'alani: Y'all are just haters.

Ja'fosk: Just get back to UAG.

Ar'alani: Ok.

...

Ar'alani: *Firing on Dy'lothe's ship because he's ignoring her and possibly about to fuck up Thrawn's plan*

Dy'lothe: AR'ALANI, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?

Ar'alani, sick of CDF bs: GETTING YOUR ATTENTION. ANSWER YOUR DAMN COMMS, MAN-

(SHIP, SHIP, SHIP, SHIP)

...

Dy'lothe: Acting on the Syndicure's orders-

Ar'alani: Oh, so illegal orders, then?

Dy'lothe: ...yeah

Ar'alani: ha.

...

Ba'kif: Here's Thrawn's latest plan. I'm giving you and anyone else you can convince permission to go and assist him.

Ar'alani on four hours of sleep: This is completely insane and could ruin our careers.

Ba'kif: So you'll do it, then?

Ar'alani: Of course!

...

Thalias: There's no bus to the spaceport-

Borika: I've got you, girlie. I'll drive you.

...

Samakro: Oh yes, you're Thrawn's big, strong protector.

Thalias: yes.

Samakro: :)

...

Samakro: So, here's Thrawn's plan.

Thalias: Fuckkkkk, that's insane.

Samakro: Yeah... anyway good luck with Thurfian. I'll wait here for you.

(SHIP, SHIP, SHIP!!)

...

Che'ri: *possessed by the Magys*

Samakro, dad mode engaged: IF YOU DON'T LET HER GO, I'LL OBLITERATE YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE

Magys: You jest

Samakro: I do not >:)

Thalias: TAKE ME INSTEAD

Samakro: HELL NO-

...

Thalias: I pulled a charric on the Patriarch.

Samakro: WHAT-

...

Jixtus: And what question would that be?

Thrawn: The most critical one. Are you ready to surrender?

Everyone: oohhHhhoOhohoho, you've got some balls saying that, Senior Captain.

...

QILORI KNOWS ABOUT THE SKY-WALKERS. nOOoooOOOOOOOOO

...

Can we appreciate how well Thrawn's plan went? They tore Jixtus UP.

...

Ja'fosk, pleased: How did Senior Captain Thrawn obtain such accurate information?

Samakro who was fully ready to admit that he fed Thalias false info because he thought she was a spy: o H, uH. Yeah he kinda just pulls things like that out of thin air, you know? I can't explain it.

...

Che'ri has now met both Kivu siblings AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. I think she's going to figure it out if Thalias hasn't told her yet.

...

Everyone going into the chamber thinking Thrawn's going to get a promotion or something and then the Admiralty exiling him and stripping his honour chains sucker punched me in the gut. Thurfian's smugness did not help matters either. I could feel the anger from everyone in that scene.

...

Sorry the way the Aristocra had everyone lined up for serious consequences instead of the commendations etc they got in the end because Thrawn took all of the blame himself to keep them in positions where they'd be able to guide the Ascendancy's forces in his absence got to me oh my gods.

...

Ba'kif: We're telling you so that you don't kick up a fuss about the exile thing

Ar'alani: I would never!

(She would. She was going to)

...

Ba'kif: *explaining the Clone Wars*

Ar'alani: I'm not remembering all that. Happy for them, though. Or Sorry that happened.

...

(Not crack, just pain)

Ar'alani: Don't you dare leave before I say goodbye to you, Thrawn.

Thrawn: Of course not. That's not what friends do.

Timmy: *doesn't write their goodbye scene*

Me: *screaming*

...

Thrawn: It's only for six months. Perhaps a year.

Ar'alani: And then you come home?

Thrawn: Yes. It will be alright.

Me: It was not, in fact, alright. seventeen-ish years and then another nine missing out on Peridea is not 1, mate.

...

Ba'kif: it's a shame I'll never see you in admiral whites.

Thrawn: Nobody here is senseless enough to promote me to admiral lmao

...

Ba'kif: We have time for one final meal together, if you wish

Thrawn: If you don't mind, I'd like to eat alone. There's a bistro where Thrass and I used to meet. I'd like to spend my last evening on Csilla remembering him.

...

I'm not okay. Probably going to have new fics to write now. hhhhhhh. That was sad as hell at the end there.

...

Also these two trilogies just highlight how little Felony understands Thrawn, and I hope all of you understand after reading the books, how badly he massacred our boy in Ahsoka. It shouldn't be, "omg we got him in live action!" anymore. It should be, "who is that blue guy and why are we being given such shit quality shows and expected to like it when the characters that mean so much to us have been reduced to having less dimension than a cardboard cut out, and that a slug could move 1 kilometer at a faster pace than the supposed plot that's scarcely here?" Have some standards that aren't six feet under, please, everyone (this is not aimed at y'all who have seen this from the start <3).

Anyway! Onto the Imperial Era I go :D

[daniellescottart]

So here’s my theory…especially after finishing Thrawn: Ascendancy Trilogy:

The double snake head decals on Thrawn’s star destroyer Chimera is of course symbolising the creature itself & would simply be seen as such by imperials but a fact known to us novel fans is that it is the design on his ring gifted to him by Uingali & the Paccosh. Symbolising him as a Guardian & friend. My bets are on Thrawn having this design added to his flagship as a contingency plan should it ever come into danger within the unknown regions. (cue the Rebels season finale) we know the Paccosh do this to their own claimed enemy ships therefore the Chimera would instantly be identified & assumed by any outsider as being associated with or owned by the Paccosh - meaning they would likely be contacted & would lead to an investigation/ rescue or recovery.

I furthermore guess that eventually this leads to Ezra being introduced to the Magys in hopes of helping the Chiss predict upcoming battles & finish off the Grysks. I mean like - he can access the world between worlds and literally time travel the past so why not the future? Whilst the nyix mines on the “off radar except to those who know” planet Sunrise are used to rebuild Thrawns imperial ships.

[thrawns-backrest]

God, I already suspected Uingali's ring was the basis for Thrawn's chimaera symbol but I never really looked into it. Now that I've confirmed that's canon I'm weirdly emotional about it.

(This is the first time he isn't being asked to come up with battle strategies or something like that. Instead someone entrusts him with a piece of art. A piece of cultural heritage. That one passion people often ridicule him for or dismiss.

And sure he came up with that whole fake story about why he and Thalias were there. But something tells me Unigali is too smart to have fallen for it completely.

The way Thrawn just freezes when he realizes the significance of what he's been given... idk I just think it's a really neat part of his history.)

[marroniere]

fic: Family Lexicon, Thranto

Summary:

After Moff Gideon's cloning project does not go as planned, Thrawn is forced to adopt a month-old baby who happens to be just like him in too many ways.

Excerpt:

Months of patrol missions go by, and Thrawn catches himself enjoying the time he spends with Thrass far more than he used to. He moves Thrass’s cot to his bedroom—for practical purposes, he tells himself at first, as it is much easier to monitor Thrass’s state. But pragmatic as this decision is, there is something else, something that does not follow any logic. Thrawn has grown to enjoy falling asleep to the sound of Thrass’s breathing.

When he starts showing Thrass different objects to study, he chooses his Paccian ring and only then does he notice it.

The ring is the first true piece of art he could call his, something that he owned. The ring was where his collection started. Uingali foar Marocsaa, who gave it to him decades ago, said that it was a family heirloom—and if Thrass is considered Thrawn’s son now, it would make sense for him to inherit it one day.

At this point, however, Thrass does not understand it. Does not have to.

The ring is big and shiny, and Thrass watches it with an excited look in his eyes.

This is the moment when Thrawn allows the thought that maybe they are similar, after all.

“Unbelievable,” Doctor Pershing mutters when Thrawn pays a visit to his ship lab.

Thrawn would have left Thrass in the quarters, but Thrass started fussing, and Eli and Enoch were busy, and Thrawn was in a rush. He had only fifteen minutes to meet with Pershing and Ronan before the start of the bridge shirt. Pacifying Thrass would have required five or ten.

Thrawn’s life is now divided between two schedules: that of a Nightdragon-class ship captain and that of a, well, young father.

“What is so unbeliavable, Doctor?” he asks.

Pershing tenses like he usually does when he hears Thrawn’s voice.

“Um, nothing, sir. I am simply happy to see little Thrass…enjoy life. It is…not a luxury available to most clones.”

Thrass coos from his new hover-pram. The Springhawk-II’s engineers have constructed it, as Eli said, “in an attempt to save your already injured back, Thrawn.” The boy has acquired a very healthy amount of thermogenic fat, and even though it is a positive development, and Thrawn is no weak man, the crew was becoming worried.

“You remind me of someone,” says Doctor Pershing.

Thrass smiles at him but then hides in the hover-pram.

[blazingstar24]

Thranto Pokemon AU

You know I love characters when I start making pokemon teams for them, so here’s Thrawn and Eli’s pokemon teams! The fun part about these guys is I built two teams, one for their time spent in the Ascendancy and one for their time in the Empire:

Thrawn (Ascendancy team):

Glaceon- An ice type is a must for a Chiss and Glaceon’s elegant nature fits Thrawn.

Corviknight- In a Pokemon filled world, I’d say that the Corviknight line is the standard CEDF pokemon. Every cadet gets a Rookidee and must train it up into a Corviknight. (The aesthetic of Corviknight just feels very CEDF like imo)

Armarouge- In a similar vein, Armarouge is the pokemon of the Mitth house. (Solrock was too easy and I think it’s ugly lmao) Charcadets are given to merit-adoptives and they are expected to train them up into Armarouge, the fierce and loyal warriors to represent the family.

Lucario- A pokemon to reflect Thrawn’s martial prowess and also calm and collected nature. Not to mention Lucario are drawn to those with certain auras, so naturally Thrawn would attract a Lucario to him.

Smeargle- I mean I gotta. Also Smeargle’s Sketch move does allow it to learn the moves of it’s enemies. Smeargles canoncially tend to get sold off to people due to the special marks they can make, so I think Thrawn got his Smeargle early on and saved it from some kind of pokemon smuggling ring. It’s not a pokemon one would expect from an Ace Trainer but nevertheless it never leaves his side.

Dragonair- Finding a pokemon to represent the Chimaera symbol and his relationship with Uingali was hard! But I settled on Dragonair, it was more elegant than Hydregion. With the ring he receives at the end of LE, he also gets a Dratini egg. Thrawn raises it during his exile and it’s a Dragonair by the time the Empire finds him.

Eli Vanto: (Imperial Team)

Cyndaquil- A starter pokemon for Eli because oh boy ihas he unknowingly started his pokemon journey. Cyndaquil is a bit of a timid pokemon, but as it grows, it becomes quite a fierce protector into Typhlosion. It was a gift from his parents when he left home.

Eevee- A pokemon that truly represents potential. Also I like to have my ships have paired eeveelutions. Eli catches Eevee the day he meets Thrawn.

Rockruff- Another pokemon with potential, but one that changes based on the trials and tribulations of it and it’s trainer. What form will Eli’s Rockruff take?

Joltik- This one was purely aesthetics. There is no math type pokemon, but Electric types seem to fit him as well. And the image of Joltik sitting on Eli’s head and shoulders while he’s running numbers on the datapad was too cute. Also quick charges his datapad too~

Mudsdale- Cowboy. That’s it. (But actually Mudsdale are sought after due to the mud they create to help with pottery(art) so it pairs nicely with how Eli pairs very well with Thrawn and helps out a lot) This is the one pokemon Eli keeps from his days in Lysatra. Raised it himself from a Mudbray.

Shroomish- It’s face looks like Eli’s ☹️ face. Also it has short king vibes. It’s small but will fuck you up in ways you didn’t see coming.

Thrawn (Imperial Team):

For the most part, Thrawn’s team stays the same. He still has his Glaceon, Dragonair, Lucario, and Smeargle. But upon exile, his Corviknight and Armarouge were taken from him. (Ar’alani takes care of his Corviknight and Thalias took his Armarouge but secretly gave it to Borika to look after on her ranch) His two new pokepartners are:

Salandit- Had to give him his ysalmiri pokemon. I know scraggy would match the color more but Salandit looked more lizard like and easier for having on one’s lap or shoulders. Thrawn’s definitely used Salazzle phremones to lure a bunch of Salandits onto the Chimaera.

Crobat- Crobat was to represent the TIE defenders, but also isn’t Crobat the standard pokemon villain poke? Yes. But to get a Crobat, one needs high friendship. And I think that in the Empire, the standard Imp pokemon is a Honchkrow, big bird that bosses around underling Murkrows to serves itself. But Thrawn commands and teaches through loyalty and respect so he would be the one Imp without a Honchkrow and instead a Crobat (high friendship).

Eli Vanto (Ascendancy Team):

Eli’s team does go through a bit of change, evolution wise and new pokemon. He keeps Mudsdale and his Cyndaquil is now Typhlosion.

Glaceon- Eli’s had plenty of opportunities to evolve his Eevee into anything else, but nothing felt right. He wanted to let Eevee decide what to be. It wasn’t until Thalias, interested in seeing just who Thrawn sent back home was, invited Eli back to the Mitth estate. It was there his Eevee walked up to an icy rock and evolved into a Glaceon. Said Glaceon also popped out of its ball during the GDLV moment causing Thrawn’s Glaceon to pop out of its ball and they properly greeted each other. Giving these two idiots time for a less formal exchange.

Lycanrock (dusk form)- Eli has truly been through the fucking wringer. And Dusk form Lycanrocks are supposed to the hardest to raise. Yet even so, they are said to be seemingly docile yet when it comes time to battle, they are the fiercest protectors. And that matches Eli perfectly, everyone(apart from Thrawn) tends to underestimate him, but he’s actually so fucking deadly.

Corvisquire- Since he’s now in the CEDF, Eli too gets a Rookidee to train. Not yet at Corviknight but working his way up there. (His Corvisquire likes to hang out with the Corviknight that Ar’alani keeps out of its ball, it teaches all the Rookidees and Corvisquires on her ship. Yes, it’s Thrawn’s.)

Togetic- To represent Eli’s work on the sky-walker program. A caretaker pokemon but also one that will appear before kind people. After rescuing a bunch of sky-walkers from Grysk, Togetic appeared before him and it was also how the captured girls trusted Eli and came with him. From then on, Togetic has stayed by his side.

[greenysnarl]

I finished the sixth (and final) book in this exalogy somewhat sneakily. Almost in silence. I say "almost," because there is the small group of friends (readers like me) listening and crying badly with me.

BUT, apart from them THE SILENCE. I finished it months ago. I put it on the bookshelf next to the others and looked at it for a while, like you do with a friend who's leaving and you don't know if you'll see again. The point is that there is so much in there. So many stories left there, and so many emotions that I happen to wander back to it with my mind. I can't let it go and think that it's all over. It is certainly not without its flaws: the absence of character descriptions (alien and otherwise) is one of them. The way Vader was described in Alliaces was another (In my opinion).

Yes sure, Thrawn from this canon comes out a fine character, but in my heart it is others who take up all the space. Some appeared only a few pages, some more. No matter: I miss them so much. 

Whole lines left open, to which my imagination flies by :

- Who was there with his brother? - In what scenario does the 11th Fleet move after Yavin? - Will they have succeeded in protecting the GAU Vaults? - Will they have deciphered the "secret" of Vah'nya? - How is the Uingali's Task progressing? - What happens on Aurora? - Have they been able to give what he deserves (A BEATDOWN) to a certain Patriarch?

A couple of things have answers hinted at in the Legend books, BUT I would like to see the whole thing repurposed to the Canon, its novelties and changes in terms of characters and their characterizations.

I am really hoping FORWARD, for a "doughnut" (who knows, knows). I hope for it very strongly. Meanwhile, I prepare myself for the suffering we'll face in Ahsoka. May warrior's fortune be with us all.

rereading my heart break book yet again

[gia-batmm-crickle22]

I was running out of ideas lol So here they have; cuddling 🥰

[skywalkerthrawn]

my concepts for how uingali foar marocsaa looks

[doctorwenqing]

rereading lesser evil knowing uingali is the guardian is very funny

[greenysnarl]

... I can't explain how sad and disappointed I am.

When I saw Chimaera with her splendid ventral design, after yet another "Pro-Imperial bullsh1t" from Thrawn, I said loud to my partner -"I can clearly hear Uingali crying from this galaxy here"-

I've watched the last episode of Ahsoka...

What can I say ? I'm bitter. Seriously bitter.

Filoni, as usual, has only taken what he wanted from the universe.

He has only kept some aspects of a character to fit his own vision.

But it's such a lack of professionalism.

Disney said everything was canon in the books so everything is canon.

You don't take only what you like.

Long live to the Ascendancy! Let the Empire die!!!!

Let Timothy Zahn cook for you a good screenplay!

[ashen-sky]

I think Ascendancy is a good read for anyone that's watched Rebels, because it adds a whole new angle to Thrawn. And I'm going to preface this by saying what he does is still pretty messed up, and I'm sure many of his friends in the Ascendancy would kick his butt if they knew half of what he'd done, so this is in no way me trying to brush it under the rug. Also, spoilers ahead for Ascendancy, and the end of Rebels.

But reading Ascendancy and learning that he joined the empire with the intent to find help against the Grysks makes him so much more interesting.

Because suddenly he's not just some selfish, imperial tyrant who takes art from worlds he destroys in the name of cultural preservation. He's not taking over these worlds because he enjoys it or because he wants to steal their cultures and art, infact I'd venture to say that if he wasn't the reason their cultures were going extinct it would be a somewhat nobel venture (like when Uingali foar Marocsaa gave him his ring in hopes of preserving a piece of the Paccosh).

Suddenly he's Mitth'raw'nurodo, senior captain of the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet, so devoted to his people he'd continously risk his career for their safety. A man who's name literally ends in "guardian" and who was scouted by the patriarch of a family who's emblem represents one of the greatest (if not greatest) sacrifice in the history of the Ascendancy. A captain that even though he pulled insane stunts, his crew trusted him to come out on top.

The man Thoorkai, Ba'kaif, and Lamiov thought could rival the tragic Patriarch in terms of greatness and ability. The man Thrass saw as his brother and entrusted his greatest secret to. The man Ar'alani, Samakro, Ziiara, Ba'kif, and Lamiov were willing to stand with in the face of an insane plan that even if successful would still have terrible repercussions because without their trust there wouldn't have been any more volunteers.

Thrawn that Ar'alani risked her record on after not even knowing him a day.

Thrawn that Thalias chased after because he showed her she still had purpose.

Thrawn that Samakro, a complete stickler for regulations, was willing to risk his career to follow.

We see him engineer plans that will result in as little backlash for his crew as possible, and encourage people around him on multiple occasions.

His actions in Rebels are just him trying to earn favor with the empire for his people, because he's a loyal soldier and his loyalty will always be to the Ascendancy. Even though they exiled him in an act of petty aggression, used him as a scapegoat for their own short comings, he stuck with it and made the best of it for their sake.

So even of you don't read Thrawn, I recommend you pick up Ascendancy because it is still very much the same character, we even see Grand Admiral Thrawn poke through a few times, but he's also more than what Rebels could show us. He was the villain in Rebels, and an amazing one at that, but Ascendancy makes you feel for him. When he's dragged away at the end, you feel for Ezra because we've followed him throughout the series and we know what he's left behind, but through the lens of Ascendancy I've started to notice that he and Ezra are far more alike than Ezra (and maybe even Thrawn) realizes.

Infact, I would say Thrawn and Kallus are fairly alike too. Both Thrawn and Kallus are just following orders to survive, and Thrawn and Ezra are both fighting for the future of their people. Though Thrawn's methods are sometimes more akin to Saw Gerera's methods, didn't Ezra give into the sith holocron in hopes of saving his people? Is that not similar to Thrawn pledging allegiance to the empire?

On another Thrawn and Ezra note, I feel like their relationship is similar to Negan and Carl from the walking dead.

(Is this even completely coherent? I wrote it over a week while finishing Ascendancy)

[marroniere]

fic: strength of heart (tenderness of the soul), thranto, E, WIP, almost finished

Word count: 201,308 words so far (5000-word chapters are posted twice a week, 39 chapters overall)

Warnings: canon-typical violence, angst with a happy ending, mpreg, Thrawn dealing with his traumatic past

Excerpt:

The return to the Springhawk does not feel real. The only sensation that Eli can find remotely grounding is the pain from the blaster burn; the bolt only grazed his shoulder when he shielded Thrawn, but he can barely move his arm now.

The chip with the data thief program and all the ship records is in Eli’s pocket; he can tell he will have a lot of fun deciphering that.

The warriors carry the tied, unconscious Grysk prisoners to the brig. In the medbay, the medics clean Eli’s wound, and then he gets bacta and painkillers. Thrawn goes to the bridge for a quick conversation with Kharill but promises to return.

As Eli watches the medbay ceiling, his heart is still pounding. Reality comes back to him in small increments. Short, simple thoughts. They have won this battle. They have a chance of locating the Grysk homeworld and bases as well, and it might mean no battles with the Grysk invasions anymore.

Tonight, he, Eli Vanto, is going home with his husband and his crew.

He tries to send messages to everyone on Naporar, but all he gets is a pale grey dot on the screen that means no connection. No matter. He will do it again when the Springhawk is closer to the nearest triad transmitter.

“We’re going home,” Eli mutters when Thrawn comes back. “In the end. Can you believe it?”

Thrawn plants a light kiss on his temple.

“There was a moment, I will admit, when I started to doubt that. Not for long, however.”

He reaches for the painkillers left by the medic on the stand by Eli’s bed.

“Not this again,” Eli hisses. “You can’t have them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, y’know.”

Thrawn’s response is a deadpan stare.

“Your suggestions are most welcome, Eli Vanto.”

Eli glances at his shoulder, a blistering red expanse of skin under the bacta patch. He contemplates his situation, but not for long. The shoulder hurts, all right. But the idea of potentially conceiving a child with Thrawn on the Springhawk…Eli finds it too good an opportunity to miss. This would have been quite the story. It’s not as if he has a lot of people to tell it to, so it’s purely for his own sake, but it’s quite the story nonetheless.

“Ah,” he decides, “fuck that. How much time do we have?”

“Pellaeon and Faro wish to meet us,” Thrawn says. “So does Ar’alani. Uingali and the Garwians, as well. They all need an hour to assess the damage.”

“Your quarters, then.”

“I have a better suggestion,” Thrawn says.

“I’m not—” Eli suspects his face must be all flushed red at this point. “We’re not doing it here. ”

“I was not suggesting to do it here,” Thrawn says, his voice innocent. “I would prefer a modicum of privacy.”

Eli studies his face for a few seconds. Then he realizes.

“If you say ‘supply closet,’ I’ll shoot you. I still have one healthy arm, mind you—”

“The supply closet, like my quarters, can easily be locked from the inside with the captain’s code cylinder,” Thrawn says. “But unlike my quarters, one of the supply closets is situated on this deck, which will leave us more chances to stay unnoticed.”

Before Eli has a chance to answer anything, Thrawn adds, “Besides, it makes for an entertaining story.”

“Supply closet, kark’s sake,” Eli mutters. “Promise you’ll never tell this to our children.”

Instead of an answer, Thrawn gives him one of those enigmatic stares that say all too many things at once—and kisses him again.