#and Yes the jedi had every right to keep this knowledge secret

[whippedcloudsofcream]

Ahsoka S1E2: Toil and Trouble

[crab-instruments]

Dust in the Wind Part 7 (tbb)

Master <Part 6 Part 8>

Pairing: Hunter x Secret Jedi! Reader (GN)

Rating and warning: General audience, feelings

Words: 1.1k

a/n: On this episode of the Baddy Bunch, we get real deep and talk about stuff. It's that one episode the writers snuck in to have something different. Nothing happens, so I wanted to post it now.

The ship was quiet on the way back to Ord Mantell, everyone but you and Tech sleeping in their bunks. Tech sat in the pilot seat, you in the seat next to him. You found yourself here a lot during the journeys you took with the Batch; the expanse of hyperspace gave you solace. Even though you weren’t in trouble, per say, you were left with a feeling of uneasiness after the day’s events. You sensed it course through your body, using your veins and nerves to keep you awake. It was loudest in your brain, your thoughts unrelenting. You felt as if you needed to do something but nothing you could do would actually comfort you, solve the problem you seemed to have. You had your knees to your chest and your chin resting on them, in a tight wad of anxious, humming energy.

It was a relaxed silence in the cockpit, at least, with neither you nor Tech feeling the need to say anything. He focused on the holopad in his hands intently. You almost asked a few times what held his attention so tightly, more just for conversation than in an interest in the subject. Tech’s info dumping was something you found endearing. Having such passion in different subjects, enough to be overfilled with knowledge and then wanting to share it with others, it was obvious to you Tech shared his excitement with those he kept close to show he loved them. You’d never say that to him, though, he either already knew that or he would figure it out one day.

Echo’s voice cut through your thoughts, “Tech, you can go to sleep now, and I’ll take watch.”

Without so much of a movement, Tech replied to his brother. “I will in a few, I want to check all the files in this database first. You can go back to sleep, and I’ll wake you up when I’m done.”

Echo chuckled. “Yeah, sure, so you can fall asleep right there and I get in trouble for not taking my shift. Do you just like sleeping in the pilot seat?” At the accusation, Tech turned in his seat to face his brother, finally removing his eyes from the holopad.

“That has only happened three ti—” “Four.” “Four times yet you refuse to let it go. I’ll be done in a moment, sit down.”

Seeing the boys bicker brought a smile to your face and you loosened your grip on your legs. This really was a family, and you made the right decision in protecting this home, if only they could have moments like this.

“So, Maxis,” Echo switched his attention to you while taking a seat in the chair behind Tech, “you were a part of the GAR at one point?” I was wrong, I made a mistake, I should have run away.

You hummed in response, not wanting to give specific details. You did notice; however, Tech’s hands had stopped fiddling with the holopad, and his eyes seemed to be focused on you.

“What did you do, exactly? The army was big so it’s not likely we would have run into each other but—”

“We couldn’t have,” you shook your head.

“How are you so sure?”

“I… left not long after the Clone Wars started.”

Tech seemed to have decided something and went back to searching. Echo, on the other hand, had gone quiet for a moment to take in what you just said.

“You left? Why, if I may ask?”

Running your hand through your hair, you stared forward back at hyperspace. “I didn’t agree with how the Clone Army was being used, living beings made to be expendable. Disposable lives used to keep those in power safe to make decisions that will never affect them. It went against what the Or—… what the Grand Republic stood for. I did my best to push against the grain, treat each Clone— each soldier as an individual. But… it became too much.”

Your confession hung heavy in the air, the uneasiness settling back in like a thick fog.

“We were trained to fight and were honored to give our lives for the Republic.” Yeah, but that’s how you were raised, your life was taken from you. Didn’t know any different.

“Programmed.” Tech still has his attention on the holopad. “We saw that especially with Order 66.”

Order 66… is that what they called the Purge?

“How did you…”

“Not kill every Jedi on sight? Not join the Empire?” Echo finished for you. “The event that… turned me part droid… damaged the chip they put in us. For the rest of the Batch, they were just too annoying to follow orders.” Echo had such a way in changing the mood.

“Actually,” you didn’t have to look, but Tech held one finger up to make his point, “our mutations made the order ineffective, the same desirable mutations that allow us to disobey orders. Well, except Crosshair for a bit.”

“Yeah, yeah, same thing.”

You looked at Tech. “Wait. Mutations? I knew you were… different… but…”

“Yes, each original member of the Batch has an enhanced skill. I collect and digest knowledge faster than any, Wrecker is incredibly strong and good with explosives, Crosshair is the most accurate sharpshooter and marksmen you’ll ever meet—”

“What about Hunter?” Your enthusiastic curiosity got the better of you, which did not go unnoticed by the two Clones. Echo had a slight knowing smirk cross his face, which you did not appreciate what that could lead to.

“As I was saying, Hunter can track anything using his enhanced senses.” As the knowledge sank in, all the bits and pieces about how Hunter knew things made sense.

Kriffing stars. You couldn’t stop the pout on your face as you realized why it was hard to keep things from Hunter.

“Omega never had a chip, but she is a different type of clone.”

“Putting that all together, the seven of you make a real wacky family traveling the galaxy in a beat-up ship. Could make for a great holoshow,” you said with a slight smile.

Echo stood up. “But don’t forget the mysterious rogue mechanic who hid in the ‘fresher. It’ll make for a great story arc,” the smirk on his face was back, but softer. “Tech, go to bed. Maxis, you can take my bunk since it’s free. You really should sleep on something that isn’t a chair, especially since you exerted yourself today. Otherwise, you’ll really regret it.”

You stood up and gave an exaggerated salute before turning on your heels to the bunks, no point in arguing with mom. He rolled his eyes, understanding the joke you were making but was happy you weren’t putting up a fight like you had previously. Tech followed closely behind.

Part 8

________________________________________________________________

Tag List: @rintheemolion @xxspqcebunsxx

If you want to be added to the tag list, just ask in the most convenient way for you or by faxing me a picture of a crab

[piratesfromspace]

The Mechanic (Anakin/Reader)

Anakin Skywalker/Reader, Obi-Wan is also here

Word count: 1.8k

Warnings: Smut 18+, mechanical arm, Anakin is a little shit, dom/sub undertones, humiliation kink if you squint.

AFAB reader but gender-neutral pronouns MASTERLIST

“A… mechanic??”

“Yes, that’s what I am. A mechanic. The best in town. Isn’t it what you’re looking for?”

Obi-Wan scrunches his nose and turns to the poor clone trooper who had introduced you.

“Are you serious?” he asks in a whisper.

“Do you know how hard it is to find a biomechanics surgeon around here, General? That’s the best I could find.” the trooper seems really tired you notice.

Kenobi brings his hand on his chin, silently thinking for a few seconds.

“I guess they’ll do.”

---

And that’s how you’re recruited for a very special task. When you’re led to their temporary base just outside of town, you thought you were going to be asked to repair a secret-weapon, or some military speeder. Oh Maker were you wrong. 

You’re pushed inside of a medical ship, and instead of a speeder, you find yourself face to face with another jedi. He’s sitting on a table, his jedi robe badly torned, already pushed down and bunched on his hips, leaving his muscular torso entirely bare. You would have noticed his perfectly drawn abs if you weren’t distracted by his right arm. From his elbow down, it is entirely made of gold and black metal, with armored panels mimicking the size of his other regular arm, complete with what look like delicate fingers. A mechno-arm. You’ve never seen one quite like it. It must cost a small fortune, and it is definitely custom. But it’s also definitely wrecked.

“So, you’re the biomechanics expert?”

“Mechanic. Just a mechanic. But I know a thing or two about cybernetics.”

“Great.” He says with a cynical tone before making a pause, eyeing you down shamelessly for a tad too long, as you cross your arms and raise an eyebrow at his poor manners. He smirks at your reaction, and cocks his chin up before continuing. 

“Well, anyway, I’ll guide you, I know what’s going on with my arm, I just need a helping hand.”

He says that with a lot more confidence than what you would expect from someone his young age, almost condescending - but you can’t really be mad at him, considering the guy has the Force and looks like this. You would be insufferable as well. 

Sometimes life is unfair, you think, too bad he chose to become a warrior monk, because you wouldn’t mind tinkering with more than his arm.

You take a deep breath, and just get on with it, starting to work on his prosthetic, following his instructions. Even if he hasn’t all the correct vocabulary, the man actually knows what’s wrong with his arm, and you’re a little bit annoyed at the fact he was right. You would have gladly taught him a lesson, making his cocksure smirk and patronizing tone go away just for a second. Nonetheless, you listen to what he explains, and after a while, you realize you’re just executing his directions without second guessing him, lulled by his warm voice, scrunched over his mechanical arm, your face just inches away from his very human skin. 

After an hour, you’re done, and his fingers are back to life, the mechanism slightly buzzing while he lifts his hand to his face, watching with an honest smile as his movements resume. You’re watching as well, mesmerized by the way his metal fingers move with such great finesse. It’s almost surreal when you know the inhumane strength he could deploy thanks to the alloy ligaments, a deadly threat just lying under golden fingertips. 

Your gaze switches to his face, and you allow yourself to stare a little. He’s young but the toll of war is already showing, the kindness of his eyes hidden behind a steely veil, a scar running way too close from his right eye. His hair is a mess, long light-brownish locks with a few blond strands. His innocence is long gone, replaced by a mix of fierce resolve and cocky attitude. He’s handsome, you won’t lie to yourself. And his toned body matches his pretty face. Even the mechanical arm adds to his charm. You’re sure some would be repulsed by it, but you’re definitely not. You can’t stop wondering what it’s like for him when he touches something, when he touches someone. And you can’t stop wondering what it’s like to be touched by those fingers, to feel the smooth golden steel on your skin. Would it be warm? Or cold? 

You’re pulled out of your daydreaming by a cough. Anakin is now looking at you, and his knowing gaze is making you doubt if he’s reading your mind. There are many rumors about the powers jedi can have, and you suddenly blush at the realization he might actually be.

“Well, thanks, it works fine again.” he says with a falsely natural tone. “But I think I need to run just a few tests, you know, to make sure the sensation is back. Would you like to help me? I warn you, it can be a bit… overwhelming.” He says that as his mechanical hand grazes at your naked forearm, his self-confident grin back on his face, and you can’t miss the sexual undertone of his proposition. The feeling sends chills in your whole body, the metal of his fingertips is definitely cold — at least, for now. You’re a bit taken aback because you weren’t expecting advances from a literal monk, but at the same time you know you’re too curious and too horny already to pass down such an invitation. 

“And how can I help?” you ask not so innocently. 

“Glad you ask.” he answers, as he hops down from the table, an even bigger grin on his face. 

You don’t have the time to realize what’s going on, but he lifts you up and slams you down on the table before climbing back on top of you, resting on his knees, arms caging you. 

He hushes you when you want to protest against his manhandling, but you can’t deny the fact it’s turning you on even more. He watches your face intently as his mechanical hand is caressing your cheek, then shifting lower on your throat. He squeezes gently, just to see how you would react, and he’s pleased to hear you gasp at the tiniest of pressure. It’s making you dizzy, the knowledge he could literally crush you if he wanted to, and you’re being amazed at the control he shows instead. 

His hand doesn’t stay there for long though, and goes even lower, shortly groping your breast before sliding further down until it stops at the waistband of your pants. He waits a second here, scanning you for any form of approval, before resuming when you thrust your hips slightly up against his palm, letting him know you’re looking for more. 

He loses no time, snaking his hand under your pants and in your panties, cupping your cunt. The metal of his fingers is warmer now, thanks to your own body heat, but the feeling is still foreign although not unpleasant. He parts your folds, tracing a finger from your entrance to your clit, spreading your wetness there. The pitiful whine that escapes your lips as he starts circling the bundle of nerves makes him chuckle. He’s visibly enjoying the way you react under his touch. 

The smooth steel of his golden fingertips feels like heaven against your sensitive parts, and you already know you won’t last long. He rises a bit, sitting on his heels so he can use his left arm to pin you down, real fingers made of flesh cruelly biting in your hips to keep you in place for what’s coming next. 

He stops his ministrations and coats two of his metallic fingers in your juices before sinking them slowly inside of you. You stop breathing as you watch his fingers disappear between your legs with awe. You feel every ridges and bumps of the mechanical knuckles as they slide in and out of you, and when his thumb finds your clit again, you’re glad he’s actually pinning you down, because it’s suddenly too much to handle. Your back arches and your head slams down against the unforgivable steel of the medical table. In other circumstances, you would complain, but you just can’t find a good reason to care right now. 

Anakin keeps on moving his fingers, relentlessly bringing you closer to the edge. Your whines are now moans, and he gives you a mean look, mouthing a “shut up”. You almost forgot you were in the middle of a military base, and that anyone could enter the room you were in at any time now. You clamp your hand on your mouth, trying desperately to keep quiet as the bastard is slowing his pace but increasing the pressure of his touch, crooking the fingers inside of you to rub against that perfect spot that makes you see stars. It’s a matter of seconds before you come with a muffled whimper, eyes closed, hips rising up from the table. He doesn’t stop until you push his hand away as the pleasure-pain of overstimulation settles in. 

“It looks all good, thanks for helping.” he says with a cocky little smile, while you try to catch your breath. He wipes his mechanical arm on your pants, like it’s just a random rag, and you’re too shocked by the sheer audacity of the man to think of a retort. 

You barely have the time to get back on your feet, that the door of the room is sliding open, revealing a visibly displeased Obi-Wan. 

“You’ done yet?” 

You open your mouth to answer but Anakin is quicker. 

“Yes, Master. We were just making sure the repair is efficient.” 

He says that with his usual grin and while looking the older jedi dead in the eye. You wonder how he managed to do that when some of his fingers still smell like you. You’re also jealous of the fact his crumpled robe is making a decent job at hiding his hard-on, while the wet patch on your pants where Anakin wiped his fingers is all too visible.

“It seems your hand is working perfectly again, Anakin.” 

The tone of Obi-Wan's voice is half-amused, half-annoyed when he says that, his eyes on you, rather than on his padawan. You wonder if he knows what just happened, causing your face to grow hot under his suspicious gaze. 

“Just ask the trooper outside for your payment” he adds bluntly, before asking Anakin to follow him for a briefing where they’re both needed. 

As they exit the room, the younger jedi turns to you.

“I know I can count on you if I ever need more repairs. I’ll make sure to request you, personally.”

Your face is getting even more red as you mumble a good-bye to the two warriors. 

The paycheck was generous, but honestly? You would be lying to yourself if you would not admit you’d do it all over again for free.

[ironmandeficiency]

pedro boys + 🌨snow🌨 (part two)

inspired by seeing snow for the first time in nearly seven years, enjoy more fluff y’all

boys featured in this part: whiskey, marcus m, ezra, dave, marcus p, & pero

boys featured in part one: din, maxwell, javi p, oberyn, frankie, & max

whiskey: he’s seen snow before in his statesman travels but there was never really time to enjoy the beauty of it. jack’s another southerner who didn’t grow up with snow. unlike javi who would gladly do without, he loves it, there was just never the time or reason to truly enjoy it after joining statesman. but when you stumbled into his arms after slipping on an icy patch of sidewalk, his whole world changed. since you came along, he would purposefully carve out the time, if even a few moments, to feel the snow kiss his face with the same gentleness that you do. when he decides to retire from field work, he makes sure to take advantage of every winter second with you; from riding horses in a snowy pasture to building snow people (there’s a special stetson specifically for slightly colder versions of jack). the nights are spent curled in his arms in front of the fireplace with a meal cooked by your favorite cowboy

marcus m: winter is always a great time to spend time w family, and no one knows this better than marcus. he can always be found building snowfamilies and having snowball fights w missy, and when you join the family it only adds to the joy. you fit right in with the moreno family festivities, joining them in playing in the snow and the homemade hot cocoa recipe that anita passed down to marcus when missy was born (the secret is the nutmeg & and the tiniest pinch of cinnamon). your first snow as a couple is where marcus realizes he loves you; seeing you and missy bond during a time that’s always been near and dear to the morenos makes him realize that you may be ready to become a moreno yourself.

ezra: the first time you experience snow together was completely unexpected, the planet whose name you forgot very early into the trip being on the verge of its wintertime. ezra thought it would be the best time because most would avoid the planet during this time, leaving more spoils for the two of you. it was all fine and dandy until the day before you’re set to leave. the glistening powder drifts from the heavens and slowly starts to coat your work area and more than anything, you wish you could catch them on your tongue. you end up shocked from your thoughts by a solid ball of snow meeting your back and the melodious laughter of your poet from behind you. it turns into the silliest snowball fight in known history and eventually, the two of you just rolling around in the snow like giddy children. it just gave you both the perfect excuse to spend the night and leftover time before the slingback in each other’s arms, watching the snowfall thru the viewport.

dave: he didn’t often get to play with the girls when it snowed before, but when carol left him a “dear john” note and the girls short a parent, he stepped up majorly. snow days were a new form of bonding that they didn’t get before and dave was very hesitant to let anyone encroach on that time with his girls. it took the girls asking for you by name to convince him to budge on his “no non-york allowed on snow days” rule. it wasn’t like he didn’t want you to be a york, he just didn’t want the girls to needlessly lose another parental figure if things went wrong. but to his detriment, his girls are just as, if not more clever, than he is and end up asking you to be a york before he can get around to it. he can’t be mad though when you tackle hug him into a massive pile of snow, kissing him senseless while the girls dogpile on top of you both.

marcus p: this absolute romantic is gonna go the whole nine yards with literally anything he does in the wintertime. there’s the candlelit dinners in front of a fireplace, horse-drawn carriage rides on red brick streets, holding hands during walks in the snow-painted park, and the constant use of validating a little extra affection with keeping you warm. marcus is a walking hallmark card and he will not hesitate to make this known thru the cold winter months. man knows what he wants and goes for it with unshakable confidence, especially when he wants you to feel loved and cherished. if you ever tire of the grandiose displays, he will gladly tone it down and be in servitude to your every whim. he’s a simp through and through.

pero: he will not indulge any love for snow if you don’t have a home to take shelter in once the fun has been had. he has firsthand knowledge of how the chill can be lethal and would rather die than be careless in protecting you. he’s even more protective of you than normal in the cold and will watch you very intently. the slightest shiver or clattering of your teeth will have you scooped into his arms and plopped in front of the nearest fire. do not challenge this man to a snowball fight. yes he loves you and worships you like the gods of old, but he is competitive and will not let you win under any circumstances. when the fight’s over, pero will make it up to you with the warmth he radiates and honey dripping affection

tagging a few friends & my taglist babes: @the-purity-pen @huliabitch @mudhornchronicles @thegildedquill @jangohshit @anakin-danvers @frannyzooey @filthybookworm @miraclemoreno @goldafterglow @blue-space-porgs @likeshootingstarsinthenightsky @obirain @themarcusmoreno @catsnkooks @captainrexstan @battletales @stardustsunrisekisses @darthadeline @roseofalderaan @majorshiraharu @getdookuedon @max--phillips @jedi-mando @bisexual-space-slut @andysficrecs @jedi-mando

[jasontoddiefor]

MTTT AU chapter 8: A Place - Room of a Thousand Fountains

Read on AO3

Anakin Skywalker had always been an energetic and vibrant child. He drew your attention whenever he was in the room, even when he was holding himself back. It was one of the reasons Plo had agreed so readily to send little Ahsoka Tano to him. His opinion didn’t count for much, but he was still her Finder and had spent quite a lot of time with her since she had been brought to the temple. She had the same kind of spirit as her Master, and with Ahsoka around, Anakin wouldn’t be able to let his own fire burn as much, burn out, or risk hurting her.

Plo was sure that Anakin would keep her safe, be a light that would guide her.

Even now, Anakin was almost painfully bright in the Force, but he was also hurting to a degree Plo had encountered not once before. Shadows and doubts were clinging to him, stifling him. Only ashes remained of the bonfire and, beneath that thick dead remnant, new saplings grew only slowly.

The pain they had felt in the temple after Skywalker’s arrival was had been intolerable even in its contained form. It should be no surprise that Anakin was still in such a bad condition, yet Plo was taken aback when he came face to face with him.

“Anakin,” he greeted the young man. Plo was the first Council member to arrive at their chosen meeting place, had he caught Ahsoka just the day before and listened to her worries. He had hurried to catch the young Knight on his own, gain insight into how he acted when he wasn’t questioned by the whole Council.

“Master Plo,” Anakin said and inclined his head towards him.

He moved to stand up, but Plo raised his hands to stop him. The action obviously caused him further pain and Plo was not going to add another weight to the many burdens the boy was already carrying.

“I will join you on the ground, Anakin,” Plo said and sat down right next to Anakin.

He couldn’t remember the last time he had simply taken a few moments to rest in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. He knew it certainly hadn’t been since the war had broken out. Plo decided to follow Anakin’s example and took off his shoes. Feeling the grass beneath his feet was soothing; did it remind him of more peaceful times. In the distance, he could hear some younglings playing, and the water of one of the many rivers and waterfalls in these halls rush downwards.

This was certainly a calmer and a kinder place to meet than the Council chambers. Plo could understand why Anakin had asked to assemble here instead of the Council room.

Not that Anakin had asked.

Obi-Wan had directed the Council to this place, the very heart of their temple and the place the furthest away from the busy world outside.

If the report Anakin was to deliver was really as earth-shattering as Obi-Wan words had alluded to, it was probably for the best.

He still wasn’t ready to believe the bits of information Obi-Wan had let slip. Perhaps Plo was clinging to the fickle hope that Anakin’s revelations would clear them up, reveal that they hadn’t allowed a Sith Lord to gain control of the entire Republic.

Plo knew that Obi-Wan had no reason to lie, but hope always died last.

Glancing towards his left, Plo found Obi-Wan was standing in some distance, typing away on his datapad. Plo wasn’t fooled for even a second. He had raised more than one Padawan and he knew that Obi-Wan’s attention was entirely on his student.

It was as adorable as it was reassuring, even if the price for their closeness was high. Over a decade ago, the Council hadn’t been quite sure what they thought Obi-Wan and Anakin would become. When they had let the young Knight take on the boy, it had been accompanied by many worries over their mental health, but the two of them had surprised everyone positively. They had grown up to bring out the best in each other, so much that Kenobi-and-Skywalker was a set expression in everyone’s mouth.

Even now, when both were hurting so obviously, they were holding onto one another.

“Ahsoka has learned well from you,” Plo said. He thought it would be for the best if he tried to ease Anakin into a conversation. Ahsoka seemed like a safe topic to start with, especially given how devoted she was to her Master. Seldom had Plo seen a Master and Padawan pair become attuned to each other so quickly.

Then again, most of the training bonds weren’t forged during wartime.

“She is strong and capable,” Anakin replied, avoiding Plo’s gaze and keeping his own fixed on something in the distance. “I don’t think I taught her anything she couldn’t have figured out on her own.”

“Little ‘Soka was always a smart one, if a bit of a wild card,” Plo agreed.

It was the reason Plo hadn’t picked her to be his Padawan though he currently didn’t have one. Ahsoka deserved a Master who was more similar to her. With Kenobi keeping oversight of them both, she and Anakin had seemed like a good fit.

“She deserves better.”

Anakin sounded so similar to the Obi-Wan from ten years ago that Plo wished he could let the lost young man from back then meet this one now, show them both how far they could go despite insecurities.

“Every Padawan does. A teacher can never be good enough. This is why we have to try.”

“But I wasn’t good enough,” Anakin stated matter-of-factly. “She-“He shut up immediately, mouth pressed in a thin line, as if only now noticing what secrets were escaping him. The Force around them shifted, cradling Anakin like a child and making it seem like he wasn’t quite there, but more a blurry image.

Plo debated pushing, learning what he wanted to keep quiet about, what had happened to little ‘Soka in that vision of his. He couldn’t imagine, didn’t want to imagine anything happening to the sweet girl who had clung to his robes with wide eyes and excitedly babbled to him in the language of her people.

“Ahsoka is very worried about you,” Plo decided to say instead, take their conversation in a different direction. “Apparently, she is quite vexed that you won’t spar with her anymore.”

If Skywalker had tried to fade into the background before, now he was positively trying to disappear in it entirely. What happened that had made him fear every possible topic Plo could bring up? The silence between them was almost oppressive, heavy on their shoulders. Plo decided to stay silent, give Anakin time to come out of his shell again. He didn’t know who much time passed until the heavy feeling lifted and he began to speak.

“I- I forgot how beautiful it is in here.” Anakin curled his toes and spread his fingers so that the grass could get in between them. “I didn’t visit this place in years. I don’t know if it was still standing.”

“That is quite a shame,” Plo commented. “We could take another look around if you feel capable of walking.”

Anakin looked up from the ground, eyeing Plo with confusion and suspicion.

“The others won’t be here for a while,” Plo elaborated. “It would be unwise to let the time go to waste, wouldn’t it? I was told that one of the youngling clans remodeled one of the gardens. I think we have the time to look at it and pass our congratulations on to them.”

Anakin looked torn between desire and fear. Like a child, he looked back to Obi-Wan, who, indeed as Plo had predicted, had been paying close attention to the conversation and was now staring at them. When Obi-Wan nodded, Anakin hesitantly bit his lip. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I wouldn’t offer it otherwise, Anakin.” Plo rose to his feet and held out his hand.

Tellingly, Anakin took it with his flesh hand. He held onto it perhaps for a moment longer than necessary, but then he let go and buried his hands in the sleeves of his robe, hiding them and their trembling away.

“I believe the youngling garden is a level up. Is there any place you’d like to see on your way there?”

Anakin didn’t reply at first, then he turned to look towards the right. Plo had never been the most knowledgeable about the room, preferring to spend his time with mathematics and not plants, but Anakin knew exactly what laid there.

“The yellow gardens,” he finally replied. “I’d like to see the yellow gardens.”

Plo nodded and then, with Anakin by his side, still barefoot leaving their shoes behind, they walked into the direction of the garden. Plo kept his eyes closely on Anakin the entire time, observing his reaction to the Jedi passing them; they had agreed for a meeting here for a reason after all. There weren’t many people passing them, but they crossed paths with another once in a while, though they never noticed Anakin. Perhaps his idea of wrapping himself up in the Force indeed had merit. Plo wondered whether he had learned that during the war, folding himself so much into his surroundings that he was overlooked unless he wanted to be seen. It was definitely a clever trick.

When they reached the yellow gardens, Anakin ore or less walked past all the bushes and trees without paying them any mind, straight up until he reached the very end where yellow flowers grew in small bushes.

Anakin crouched down in front of them and so very carefully traced over the petals with his fingers.

“Are they your favorite?” Plo asked.

Anakin shook his head. “No, my favorite was- there is a flower I inherited from Qui-Gon. It should bloom in a few months. These flowers are from Naboo. I hate- dislike them.”

Anakin fell silent again, still not looking away from the delicate flowers.

“What do they mean?”

“Grief,” Anakin replied, “for a life lost too early.”

The way Anakin spoke about it, Plo could feel the Force around them start to weep. It wasn’t just grief for a life lost, but Anakin’s grief. It was thick and palpable, so thick in the air, you could almost choke on it. With Anakin’s back turned to him, Plo gently raised a hand to his throat, wondering if there was a malfunction in his mask. Calming himself, he gently reached out himself, running warm fingers over old wounds torn open again.

“I will fix it,” Anakin spoke up suddenly. “I promise you that. I won’t let it happen again. You will all be safe.”

You will all be alive.

Anakin didn’t have to say it, but Plo heard it anyway.

It was, at that moment, all the confirmation that he needed. The broken bits of Obi-Wan’s statement had all been true after all and the future, even if it was one just envisioned, had been darker than all periods of the past.

“We shall do the same,” Plo promised as Anakin stood up again.

As they walked back to the meeting point, Plo quietly tried to think of who was currently on Senate duty, and how quickly he could let them know that the Chancellor was to be considered a threat.

And how much longer they could refuse Palpatine’s inquiries to talking to Anakin.

[ithebookhoarder]

Your sleepy head canons for the SW trio were adorable! Can I pretty please ask what the original star wars babies would be like with a sick reader? I just need some cuteness in my life right now and I'm rewatching the movies so yeah...

A/N: Um, yes you can! One fluffy dose of OG star wars coming up. 

Star Wars (Head-canons): Dealing with a sick reader

Masterlist:

Han:

This man is a marshmallow on the inside, even if years alone in the smuggling game has ensured that it’s deeply hidden away beneath that stoicism and devil-may-care attitude. 

You are one of the only people in the entire galaxy he lets see his softer side, whether it’s his casual affection during the day on the Falcon, or his little thoughtful gestures like fetching you caff when you’re flying or working your ass off on repairs. 

It’s why he’s actually rather sweet to you when you’re sick, ordering Chewie to take over whatever you were meant to be doing so you can get some rest.

“Han. I’m fine. It’s just a sniffle. I’ll live.”

“I know that, princess, but I don’t need you breaking my ship because you’re too busy coughing and sneezing to see what wires you’re tinkering with.”

You laugh, knowing his sass is his way of hiding the worry that’s brewing inside of him at the sight of you coughing and spluttering around the place. So, you surrender your tools to him and allow him to help you back to your quarters. It’s that or letting him drag you there over his shoulder, like some kind of deranged caveman. 

Once you get to your room, you half expect him to leave you there to fend for yourself, but you’re surprised to see him hovering around you, already working out a list of supplies. 

“You should lie down. I’ll grab ya some of that fancy tea you like so damn much.”

“Thanks, hon.”

“Do you need anything else? What about some more blankets? Some pillows? I can grab Chewie’s. He doesn’t need it-“

Who knew Han Solo could be such a secret mother hen?

Turns out, with all his travels, he knows a thing or two about fending off a cold. It’s actually rather cute. 

You’re too busy trying not to laugh to say no as he hurries about the place and effectively builds you a nest in your shared quarters. He’s also glued to your side, leaving his Wookie first mate in charge while he sees to your every need, even if it’s just holding you while you sleep off whatever it is that’s taken you down.  

“I told you you needed a better coat on that planet but nooo your stubborn ass said you didn’t need one.”

“Han. Stop. I didn’t catch this cold there.”

“Where else would you have caught it?”

“Things just happen. It’s ok.”

Han definitely doesn’t think it’s ok, but he doesn’t want to tire you out for arguing over something dumb. You’re just as stubborn as he is and arguments between you two have been known to go on for days sometimes. 

Instead, he agrees to disagree for now. As long as you rest and get better then everything else doesn’t matter. 

However, the next time you plan to leave the ship he just so happens to be waiting by the ramp, a thick, chunky coat in his hand. And a hat. And gloves. 

He grins and presses a kiss to your frowning face as you waddle out, almost suffocating but willing to endure for his sake and as a thank you for all his care the past week.

You also make a mental note to repay the favour next time he gets a little under the weather. You’re sure Chewie would enjoy the sight of his captain haggling with clients, while swaddled in knitwear. 

Luke:

Coming from a desert planet, Luke doesn’t know too much about handling things like colds. He’s more used to handling dehydration, sunburn, malnutrition or even the odd blaster wound or two from Jawas.

However, once joining the Rebellion, he learns pretty quickly after being struck down with surprising regularity. He’s an old friend to  colds and other conditions common on other planets and in space. 

That’s actually how he meets you, always being ordered to stop by the Med Bay by Leia the minute he starts sneezing. 

“I don’t need you spreading the plague, Luke,” she sighs, ushering him over to you and ordering him to let you take care of him. “You may be some mighty Jedi but even Jedis get sick.” 

You actually enjoy getting to spend time with Luke when he’s sick, and sharing your knowledge about cures and ways to avoid catching diseases in the first place. Luke also enjoys listening to you, admiring how clever you are and how kind, and careful, you are when handling patients. 

Thus, when you eventually get sick, he’s only too eager to return the favour. It’s time for him to take care of you, even if he knows you’re perfectly capable of doing it yourself. 

“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should, Y/N. Let me help you. Please?”

You smile, agreeing as he takes up residence at your bedside for the next few days. Turns out, he actually has a tender bedside manner, and is incredibly good at keeping you distracted when you get fed up of being on bedrest. 

He’s also incredibly aware of changes in mood or your condition, sensing them through the force before you even do. Hence why he’s by your side the moment you take a bad turn, despite him being half way across the base for training.

If he’s out of breath then that’s just a coincidence cause nooooo, he didn’t run here. No. He was right outside and just so happened to be coming in when you needed him most. 

“Luke? What the-?”

“Here. I brought soup and some more pain killers from the med bay.” 

You take his offerings, grinning in delight as the smell of food hits your nose. “Hmm, my saviour.”

His smile is the cutest thing you’ve ever seen as is his blushing cheeks. “I’m just taking care of you. Who else is going to nurse me back to health next time I’m the one who’s sick?”

“Anything for my favourite farm-boy.” 

“Your farm-boy.”

His kiss as he settles in bed beside you is almost enough to make you feel better all on its own. 

Leia:

Like mother, like daughter, this woman is a public servant. She may also be a workaholic, but she has her priorities in order and you come before whatever meetings or plans she has for the day.

In fact, the first time you got sick and didn’t tell her, she was hurt. It was C3-PO that had outed you, saying something about you being in your rooms and unable to join in the meeting scheduled that morning when asked where you were. (You knew you shouldn’t have trusted that golden tin can) 

Leia had been on you in seconds, bursting in your room and yelling at you for a whole hour about how stupid it was to suffer in silence. 

“We have medical staff, Y/N, for this exact reason! You’d rather lie here in pain, suffering, when you could have called someone? Or even me? Don’t tell me you’ve been around Han too much, Maker knows I don’t need two stubborn idiots on this base.”

“I love you too, Your Majesty.”

“Shut up or I’ll tell threepio to come and watch you.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” 

She would dare, but you were more than happy to put up with the lecture, however, given that she was busy wiping at your brow and tucking you in whilst yelling. That, and you had enough of a headache without threepio making worse. 

It felt rather surreal to think you had royalty waiting on you hand and foot - even if Leia would have yelled again if you said that to her face. She loved you more than anything and made sure to tell you at least once a day. She wasn’t just a princess, she was your partner and that was all that mattered. 

Needless to say, you’d learnt your lesson; whenever you got sick again, you made sure to let Leia know you weren’t feeling great. 

That way she could make sure to keep an eye on you, or assign someone to do so when she was dragged from your side for some super urgent meeting she couldn’t avoid any longer. 

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Leia. Go. You’re needed. I can survive an hour or so without you, but we all know this base won’t if you don’t get your ass over to mission control.” 

“You have a good point.” 

You chuckle as she steals a kiss before hurrying off to her duties. By the time you wake up from your nap, she’s back again and curled up next to you, watching you out of the corner of her eye whilst she works on the pad in her lap. 

She also sings you little lullabies when you’re sick and can’t sleep. They’re all songs her parents sang to her whenever she got sick as a kid. That alone makes you feel better, sharing something so private with her. 

Long story short, you may hate being sick, but you don’t hate being sick with Leia around to love and care for you. 

[inkformyblood]

Welcome To The Storm

JangObi Week 2021 Prompt #3 Undercover

Obi-Wan fought the urge to tug at the edge of his shirt yet again, feeling as if the fabric was out of alignment somehow. He hadn’t realised how much he would miss the comforting weight of his Jedi robes — the fabric well-worn and soft as it passed through hundreds of hands before his — until it was gone. He still wrapped his fingers around the woven leather bands around his wrists, the action clear now he lacked the security of his heavy sleeves. 

The entire outfit was new to him: a tight dark undershirt similar enough to the blacks he wore when armour was needed that it wasn’t a discomfort, but the loose shirt over the top was a garish neon green lace with beads twisted through the threads and hiding his lightsaber in plain sight between his shoulder blades. That, coupled with the thin shorts — a harsh breeze blowing past his bared skin making him shiver — allowed him to blend into the teeming crowd that spilled out of the smoky bars and clubs that surrounded them. 

Obi-Wan knew he wasn’t meant to be here, and he could sense the lingering distaste from Qui-Gon in their Force bond — shut tight by the other man the moment Obi-Wan stepped foot outside of their rooms. He just couldn’t stand by and wait, not when the Force pulled at him so insistently, the Code running through his head like a heartbeat. 

The rumors had been circling like vultures throughout their investigation, whispers of a trading ring operating beyond the artifact they were sent to retrieve. That thread had led him here, hands trembling from the cold and goosebumps erupting down the length of his spine, to a small bar, light and music spilling from it’s open door. 

Stepping in, Obi-Wan was hit with the scent of smoke that seemed to cling to every surface, the floor sticking to the ridiculous boots he had picked up at a market stall, and eyes passing over him like trailing hands. Drawing in a deep breath, he moved forward carefully, eyes darting side to side as he searched for— There.

Tucked into a corner, sprawled into the simple leather chair as if it was a throne, was a man who felt familiar to Obi-Wan. His presence in the Force sang out to him — a careful sunset in the midst of darkness, buried yet beautiful — drawing him closer, and Obi-Wan was helpless to try and resist.

“I’m not interested,” the man said the moment Obi-Wan drew nearer, barely glancing at him as he continued to stare down at his datapad. His voice only added to the gnawing sense of familiarity that was growing in Obi-Wan’s chest, a memory that kept slipping away from him like ice water through his fingers. 

“You don’t even know what I’m going to say,” Obi-Wan protested, slipping into the opposite seat with a brazen confidence he only partially felt. The man tensed, his eyes — dark and beautiful, like looking at a black hole in the void of space — darted towards Obi-Wan’s face, a frown creasing his brow and highlighting the curved scars the man possessed. 

The bounty hunter sat back in his seat, raising an eyebrow at Obi-Wan, looking every inch like a predator. Good. That was exactly what he needed. 

“I heard rumors of an underground smuggling ring in the area, operating not only in stolen artifacts but in people.” The man’s eyes went cold, lips curling into a barely restrained snarl, and Obi-Wan rushed to finish speaking. “I want to put a stop to it.”

Obi-Wan wrapped his fingers tightly around the leather bands once more, keeping his hands tucked beneath the table so the man couldn’t see them shake. It was a fine line he was walking, trying to keep his identity secret — offering just enough context clues for the man to pick up on as his eyes raked over Obi-Wan’s face — while needing this deal to go through. Everything he had heard was that this man hated slavers, almost as much as he hated Jedi, and yet they never said his name. 

“Why?”

“Because it is the right thing to do.”

Out of everything, Obi-Wan would have expected the man to do: dismiss him; insult him; bargain with him to even consider this hare-brained scheme, laughter was not one of them. Heads turned towards them, a low whisper flowing round the room and Obi-Wan felt himself flush, the colour travelling down his neck to his bared shoulders. 

“You’re a strange man,” the man said finally, shaking his head once his laughter subsided, shoulders still shaking slightly, “but I don’t think you’re lying.”

“Thank you.”

“If this is legitimate, and I don’t trust you,” the man began, his previous relaxed stance shifting into strict professionalism, “I expect half payment up front as insurance and half after the job is complete.”

Obi-Wan nodded carefully, ducking to pluck the credit chip from his belt, noting out of the corner of his eye that the man tensed and leaned slightly forwards to track his movements. “Will this be enough?”

He barely had time to register the brush of blaster calloused fingers over his own — the touch sending a shiver down his spine as he realised just how long it had been since anyone had touched him — and the man plugged the credit chip into his datapad. Obi-Wan had to trust the money he had managed to scrounge from his own personal savings and the small stipend the Temple gave them would be enough. It was a risk trying to hire anyone, but he knew well enough that trying to take on an unknown number of slavers with their prisoners thrown into the mix, was too many unknowns. 

The man’s eyes darted between the datapad and Obi-Wan’s face, some unknown knowledge settling over his shoulders like a shroud. Obi-Wan couldn’t begin to guess at what he thought about him now. He shifted on the seat, fighting the urge to let his shoulders curl to shield himself further, and saw the man track the movement. 

“This will do fine.” His voice was gentle in sharp contrast to the battered green-painted beskar he wore. “Are you able to go now?”

“Yes.”

The man stood, holding out a hand to Obi-Wan to help him out of his seat, his touch gentle and careful, as if he feared breaking Obi-Wan at any harsh gestures. “We’re going to my ship first.”

“Why?”

“Because you need some armour. It won’t be beskar.” He grinned to himself, the gesture all teeth. “But it’ll keep you more protected than that.”

Obi-Wan shivered as another cold wind whipped past him, feeling like ice shards cut into his bare skin, his teeth clenching in an attempt to keep them from rattling. The man paused, and Obi-Wan could almost see the wheels turning behind his eyes. In one quick motion, he took off his own cloak and threw it around Obi-Wan’s shoulders. He was immediately enveloped in warmth and a clinging scent of sandalwood and smoke and he burrowed his numb fingers into the folds of the fabric. The man nodded once, and began to walk down the street once more, a hand placed carefully on the small of Obi-Wan’s back, the gesture professional even as it set Obi-Wan’s now-covered skin on fire.

“What’s your name?” Obi-Wan asked as they drew closer to the docks. “All the rumors I heard to find you didn’t say.”

The man let out a bark of laughter. “At least some people still hold some sense. The name is Jango Fett. And yours?”

Obi-Wan grinned through the fear that froze in his veins. He knew that name. He knew that face, although the last time he had seen Jango Fett, the man had been half-feral and pinning him to the ground, a blade embedded in Obi-Wan’s shoulder and yet, he hadn’t killed him. Obi-Wan’s heart had broken for the man as he lay there, the scent of pine and blood filling his lungs with every careful breath. Jango Fett was a Jedi killer, but he was still Obi-Wan’s best shot at getting people out alive.

“My name is Ben,” Obi-Wan said. He’d just have to stay undercover for a while longer, and hope that Jango didn’t uncover his lie. 

“Ben,” Jango repeated, pausing his stride to carefully take Obi-Wan’s hand from within the folds of the cloak and raise it to his lips, carefully kissing his knuckle like something out of an old holo film, tucking it back with a wink. 

Obi-Wan felt his cheeks flush once more, heat shooting down his back and chest — hidden now beneath Jango’s cloak — and followed the man’s gentle steering without a word. He was in more trouble than he could have ever imagined.

[emotionallyandphysicallydone]

Living In Darkness Chapter 1- Books

**Word count: **1360

**Warnings: **None so fair ;-)

Authors Note:

I really hope that you liked this is the first fanfic i have written since middle school, so, I am sorry if it isn’t good. I am gonna get better as the parts go on.

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

“Ani? Where are you?”

“Y/N, use my voice to find me. What if I am not here to help you?”

…..

beep beep beep

“BD-2 I am awake now thank you.” I say to the small research droid jumping up and down on my bed. Although I can not see what time it is, I am sure that BeeDee woke me up at the correct time, confirming my suspicions. I hear a knock at my door.

“Padawan it is time to arise.” My master, Master Tahl, spoke through my door.

“Thank you master, I think I finally got BeeDee to calibrate correctly, he woke me up just moments before you arrived.” I stated as I called my robe to me and fastened it to my body. I walked over to the door to greet my master.

“That is great Padawan, now that you have him understanding the difference between am and pm, do you want to get him to start waking you up earlier so I don’t have to?” I felt bad at my master's words, I really hate that I am being a nuisance to her. Ever since I was brought to the temple everyone treated me like I was a piece of glass that would break if it got bumped.

It was the worst when I first came here because I didn’t have the temple memorized and in result I ran into everything, and everyone. While I was a youngling I was never alone there was always another person with me. Whether it was an adult, a droid, a Padawan, or another youngling. When the council told me I would be a Padawan under Master Tahl I was overjoyed, because she told me that she would not treat me like a piece of glass like everyone else would. Over the years she taught me how to see with the force. Even with the ever changing temple with people moving in and out. I haven’t ran into anyone, only when I wasn’t focusing on not running into others.

“Ok Padawan, today we need to find a piece of information that the logs say are in one spot but no one can find. Master Windu has requested we look. Let’s try and get this done as soon as possible and then we can start on your saber training.” I could tell from her voice that she was not happy that her plans for today were changed.

“Yes master, what is it about? Maybe someone thought it belonged in the wrong sector?” 

“I believe it is on soul bonds and how they react with kyber crystals. I will look in the archives, you look on the floor.” 

“Yes master.” And with that we split up to look.

Three hours later I had gone through every shelf on the ground floor to no avail, so I decided to go up to the second level and start in the section about soul bonds in the force. At this point there was no one else but my master in the archives that i could sense, so I let my guard down and just focused on finding that stupid book. 

Why would that book mean so much? It's literally about soul bonds and kyber crystals. We have entire sections dedicated to each of them. While in my ranting I was not paying attention and bumped in to someone hard. Keeping my head down and using my hands I felt their face, this wasn’t an unusual act form me. It was something I would always do, it let me see them. As I ran my hands up his chest, I took note of how strong their chest is; it's clearly a man. My hands run up their neck and to his lips, to his cheeks, his nose, and finally to his eyes. I knew from the moment I touched his lips on who it was but the scar over his right eye solidified it.

“Anakin?”

“I have no clue why, but it still amazes me that you can tell it’s me by my face.” he said with a small chuckle. “What are you looking for? Can I help?”

I giggle “I will never tell you my secrets, but I am helping my master find a book for Master Windu. Something about kyber crystals.” While moving my hands away from his face he grabbed my wrist and put them back on his face. “You know if anyone were to see us we would both be in trouble.”

“No we wouldn't, they would just think you were figuring out who I am.” his voice sounds like he is smirking, and his facial features moved to support my assumption. 

“While that may be true I don’t have much more time to find that book.” pulling away from his hands and moving to feel out for the book in question.

“I do think it is a little ridiculous that the council has the two Jedi’s that can’t see, look for a book.” His voice is following me now, “I mean couldn’t they just ask anyone else?”

“They had, Master Tahl and I are the only two who have a chance to find it, wherever it is it’s not in a visible place since neither Master Tahl or I can see we can sense things that are hidden from view. Things that one relying only on sight would overlook, now will you be willing to lift me up? I think i found it.” While explaining why I was looking for the book I felt the presence of something that wasn’t supposed to be there. What most may find surprising is that the hand written texts in the Jedi Archives have a force signature themselves. Something about being in a place that is flowing with the force, such as the temple. My master and I had been to many different ancient temples on expeditions to look for lost texts because the best ones were always hidden. 

“Of course I would never deny touching you.” Anakin said as he was moving to grab a hold on my waist and lift me into the air.

“Thank you, but could you not jerk me around it causes vertigo.” Concentrating on the book I reach out for it. When my hand finally grabs it and I am lowered to the ground I call for BeeDee. “BeeDee could you call the council? I think I have the book and just need to confirm with the council.” The small droid lets out a happy chirp and within moments I hear Master Mace Windu.

“Ah Y/N, we were starting to get worried your master came back about an hour ago with the book in question. It was placed in a section about saber hilts. She said she had been looking for you for a while and gave up looking. She then brought the book to us.”

“Then what book do I have in my hands?” Master Windu’s words confused me, why did I grab this book? If they had the book I was supposed to be looking for why was this one calling out to me to find it.

“The cover says something about the light and the chosen.” Anakin responded clearly sensing my distress. “I will say it was weird when she went to grab it, her hand passed through the book case like there wasn’t anything there.”

“Hidden knowledge, that must be.” I hear Master Yoda speak. “Sense it before or after you ran into Skywalker, did you, hmm?”

“After Master, I had him lift me up to grab it.” What is going on right now?

“Like you two to come to the council's chamber right away I would. Hmmmmmm. Yes.” and with that the static from the holo projector cuts off and BeeDee chirps at me.

“Welp let's get going, BeeDee, up.” as i go to leave BeeDee jumps on my shoulder. “Anakin, are you coming?”

[legobiwan]

The muse came to me. Who was I to say no? 

Dooku at the Opera: A Lineage Tale (A Comedy in 3 Acts)

Featuring: Yan Dooku, Rael Averross, Qui-gon Jinn, and Obi-wan Kenobi

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

“Here, take this.”

A dented, silver flask was thrust into Qui-gon’s inner pocket, the weight of the object throwing his deep brown dress robe off-kilter. 

“Rael!” Qui-gon hissed, trying to fish the object from his voluminous, velvet-trimmed outwear. By the Force, he hated wearing this thing. “I’m not - “ The fabric tangled, wrapping around Qui-gon’s arm - once, twice - somehow pinning his limb immobile against his side. 

Rael Averross tossed his head back and laughed for a good minute, leaving a scowling Qui-gon half-bound, trapped in the finest Jedi robes the Temple had to offer. Chuckling, he stepped forward to help Qui-gon unfurl from his self-made prison. “Just trust me, kid. You’re gonna need it.”

“I'm not sneaking Rodian liquor into the Coruscant Opera with Master Dooku at my side. He’ll flay me alive if catches me!” Qui-gon shuddered, testing out his freed arm.

“I’m not asking you to drink it,” Rael cocked his head with a small sigh. “That stuff would strip the paint off the side of a Grellan nightclub.” 

“Oh, that’s a relief,” Qui-gon snapped, rolling his eyes. He didn’t want to know how Rael had such intimate knowledge of the infamous Grellan nightclubs.

“All I’m saying, kid,” Rael’s voice softened as he wrapped an arm around Qui-gon’s bony shoulders, leading him to the full-length mirror standing in the corner of his and Dooku’s shared quarters. “Is that Master Dooku has probably forgotten about about this particular escape tactic.” Rael put a finger to his chin, glancing to the ceiling in thought. “It was twelve years ago.”

Qui-gon frowned, his own confused expression staring back at him in the polished glass. The boy - man - seemed a stranger, wrapped in a long, velvet-trimmed robe, his tunics a darker shade of his customary beige, pressed, absent the usual dark soil spots and off-green streaks that so infuriated his Master. He looked...well, respectable. 

He was fifteen now, had been Master Dooku’s Padawan for just over three years. He had also had the dubious honor of keeping Rael Averross’s occasional company for almost as long. 

“Rael, it’s the opera, not the Citadel. Why do I need an escape tactic?” Qui-gon gestured with the flask in his hand, liquid sloshing against its container. “And if I’m not to drink this, then what in Nine Corellian Hells am I supposed to do with it?”

“I don’t know, kid, you’re a Jedi. You’ll figure it out,” Rael shrugged, pushing wavy black hair from his face. He cocked a crooked smile in Qui-gon’s direction, ruffling his short, spiky hair. 

“Make your exit after the first intermission, but not too close to the start of the second act. Did that one too many times and Dooku’s cottoned on to it.” Rael began to push Qui-gon towards the door, ignoring the boy’s stammered protests. “Now get outta here before he gets suspicious.”

Qui-gon gaped from the other side of the threshold. “Rael!”

But the door only closed with a final whoosh, leaving a very confused Qui-gon Jinn in an empty Temple corridor, battered container of Rodian gin in hand. 

What in the galaxy was that all about? It was the opera. Not just opera, but a Serennian opera. Truth be told, Qui-gon wasn’t much one for the more prestigious arts, not like his Master was, at least. But he had learned to keep those opinions secret after spending two weeks dusting and reorganizing Master Dooku’s extensive holoart book collection, a consequence of expressing his opinion at an exhibition of Tuerrilian landscapes that all the paintings “looked like the same smashball field with the goalposts removed.”

But this would be different, this wouldn’t be a bunch of boring green lawns perched atop various boring curved, silver architectures. This was a story about Serenno. Yes, with large-bodied, multiple-lipped Trellian singers in strange, pointed hats and all, but it was a way to get to know his Master better, learn something new about him, about his planet. 

Behind Qui-gon, the door to Dooku’s quarters opened halfway. “Oh, and kid?” Rael called down the hall. “Say hi to Brigindia the Breadthful and Hagvor the Hu - “ Rael clicked his tongue, rubbing the back of his neck, cheeks flushing. “Anyway, tell ’em Rael Averross sends his regards if you happen to leave by the stage door exit,” he finished, sly smile spreading across his face.

----

Knock knock knock.

Rael looked up from his holobook, tapping the bookmark button as he glanced at his chrono. 

Not bad, kid, he thought, giving his arms a long stretch before leaving the comfort of Dooku’s plush arm chair. He stopped in the pantry before answering the door, pouring two cups of cold, Nemishian tea.

“So you got out,” Rael said as greeting. “Record time, too.”

Qui-gon pushed past the older Jedi, a flurry of wrinkled fabric and frustration, the faint odor of burnt Ceylla wood drifting from his robes. He made a series of aborted half-circles, like a jittery, indecisive Lothcat before Rael took pity on him and led him to the sofa, pushing a glass of the Nemishian tea into his hand.

The young Jedi sat, unmoving, for a good minute, eyes wide as he seemed to replay every last event of the past three hours in excruciating detail. Rael took his own glass, downing half of it in one go, giving a satisfied smack of his lips. Dooku always did have better provisions than the Jedi commissary, a way of enticing wayward Padawans out of mealtime trouble and sometimes extracting an extra hour’s work out of them.

“It was terrible, Rael,” Qui-gon finally spoke, eyes still wide, voice somewhat haunted.

Rael laughed, slapping his thigh as he sat back in Dooku’s armchair, extending his legs long, his ankles crossed. “C’mon. It couldn’t have been that bad,” Rael teased. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Five of them, actually,” Qui-gon murmured, taking a sip of his tea. The drink seemed to restore some of the color to his pallid face. “Each with a thirty-minute aria.”

“Ah, The Fall of the House of Carellic.” Rael grinned. “A classic.”

Qui-gon’s eyes widened, as he nearly dropped his glass. “You mean he’s seen this one before?”

“It cycles in every seven years or so,” Rael answered. “I imagine at this point Master Dooku has it memorized.”

“But then why,” Qui-gon's voice rose, “did he give me a three-hour running commentary of everything wrong with its portrayal of Serennian culture if he knows it so well?”

“That, my young friend,” Rael drawled, eyes tightening with barely restrained laughter. “Is all part of the experience. Now,” he leaned forward, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. “How’d you escape?”

The corner of Qui-gon’s mouth quirked upwards. “Spilled your paint stripper on the mezzanine-level bar. Was a real shame everyone knows the Senator from Gorrusk likes to smoke indoors, although I think both his outfit and pride will recover from the mishap."

“And being the dutiful Padawan you are,” Rael continued, grinning, “of course you volunteered to accompany the poor Senator to the on-site healer, ensuring your Master would not have his night interrupted.” Rael tutted. “It’s just a damned shame there was so much paperwork to fill out.”

Qui-gon raised his glass in Rael’s direction. “Takes forever, really.”

Rael nodded, raising his own glass in salute. “Not too shabby, kid.”

The two Jedi sat in contented silence for a few moments, the adrenaline rush of Qui-gon’s frantic escape finally waning, the younger man’s head slowly tilting downwards, his eyes closing. A minute later, Rael heard a soft snore emanate from the pile of tunics sprawled on the couch. 

Chuckling, Rael stood, collecting both glasses, pulling Qui-gon’s long legs fully onto the couch, boots and all, covering him with a soft blanket plucked from a nearby closet. Dooku could snipe at Rael later for letting his Padawan desecrate his furniture in such a manner. He wouldn’t be back for at least another five hours anyway.

Qui-gon was going to be one of the good ones, Rael thought. Still needed to loosen up a little bit - Dooku had him scared to rights most of the time, but he’d learn soon enough that his old Master was just as much bark as bite - at least, most of the time. 

Fifteen years and Dooku has never gotten anyone to sit through the entirety of one of those Force-forsaken circuses. Rael had never been sure why he insisted on the charade every year - Dooku had to know full well his Padawans were sneaking off. Hell, even the other Jedi Masters always seemed to find a polite excuse to avoid Dooku’s yearly invitations to the opera, Master Windu going as far as claiming he needed to “shave his head and was busy that night and all the other nights the act was in town.”

Force help all of us the day he finds some kid willing to sit through that schlop. They’d probably end up being more terrifying than Dooku himself.

----

“Master,” Obi-wan Kenobi gave a series of gentle raps on the door to Qui-gon’s room. 

Qui-gon peered his eyes open, squinting at the bright morning sun shining through the small gap in his curtains. Morning already?

“Obi-wan, come in,” Qui-gon groaned, voice still full of sleep. “How was the opera?” he asked, suddenly remembering where his Padawan had been last night, shuttled away in a familiar velvet-trimmed robe by his old Master. 

Qui-gon felt a pang of disappointment. He had hoped his Padawan would come to him after making his escape, would share in his escapades with Qui-gon over a glass of Nemishian tea, that they would laugh like two younglings as he and Rael had every year until Qui-gon’s Knighting.

But like most other parts of their partnership, this, too, Obi-wan seemed to approach with cool, measured detachment. 

Obi-wan brightened at the question, however, pulling out a crisp holoprogram from his robes. “It was delightful, Master! Master Dooku and I had a splendid time. He even treated me to a Drynarian spiced wine during the second intermission.”

Qui-gon gaped at his student, certain he had heard him incorrectly. His eyes flitted to the cover of the holoprogram - The Fall of the House of Carellic - emblazoned in regal Aurebesh and Serennian script. 

“You - you stayed?”

Obi-wan furrowed his brow. “Of course, Master. Granted, the opera as a whole was a bit bloated, the singers past their prime - Brigindia the Breadthful’s range didn’t quite match up to her alias and Hagvor the Hu - “ Obi-wan hissed, his cheeks flushing red. “Well, Master Dooku said that wasn’t really his name, that it was a ‘improper moniker bestowed upon a great artist for base reasons.’ I didn’t ask after it, but he was alright, as tenors go.”

“But Padawan, the letter-opener I gave you - “ Qui-gon stammered. Not that he had expected Obi-wan to stab anybody with it in an attempt to escape the opera, far from it. But he had thought - Qui-gon let out a breath - hell, he didn’t know - maybe rip a curtain or sabotage some official’s clothing? 

“Oh yes, that was quite useful Master, thank you,” Obi-wan beamed. “The packaging on those meiloorun pastries can rather difficult.”

Qui-gon nodded dumbly at his Padawan. 

“Oh, before I forget, Master, this is for you, from Master Dooku.” Obi-wan held out a flimsi, folded in half, Qui-gon’s name printed in familiar, elegant script. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a shower and a short nap before the day begins.”

“Yes, yes, of course, Padawan,” Qui-gon said, distracted, not bothering to close the door as Obi-wan hopped out of the room.

With no small degree of trepidation, Qui-gon opened the note.

“Qui-gon - 

I would like to thank you for allowing me to borrow your charge for the evening. It is rare to encounter a young mind with such intellect, curiosity, and, shall I say, an inherent sense of taste and propriety. I find myself wanting to repeat the experience, if Obi-wan (and you) should be open to it. 

As for your letter-opener, I am disappointed that you would arm your student with such an unimaginative weapon. I would say that next year you should confer with Rael in the matter, but I do believe that will not be necessary, given Obi-wan’s sincere enthusiasm throughout the evening. Senator Rembran of Gorrusk sends his regards to you, as he does every year. Ever since the incident at the bar, he has been convinced of the Jedi’s importance in the Republic, so I must thank you for the unintended repercussion of your clumsy sabotage those years ago.

Brigindia and Hagvor also send their regards to Rael. I do hope you didn’t share the mortifying origins of Hagvor’s colorful moniker with your student. He has yet to encounter Rael Averross in person, and I would prefer he and Obi-wan to meet without any prurient preconceptions, as Rael is a good, if infuriating man. How he remains my former pupil is still one of the great mysteries of the galaxy.

Finally, I would like to extend an invitation for you to join me (and Obi-wan, again, if it is to be allowed) for next year’s production of The Sentinel’s Progress, which has not been staged in over a millenia. I am told it is a most inaccurate depiction of our ancient Serennian culture and I would be glad to share my thoughts with you and your Padawan. Of course, if you feel the need to come armed with a letter-opener, you need but slip the blade through Madame Tursky’s silver gown-train. Rumor has it she is most protective of her honor and can be seen hovering near the mezzanine-level bar like a drunken hawkbat at most intermissions. 

Until then, Padawan. And may the Force be with you.

             ---Best Regards,

                    Yan Dooku”

[highsviolets]

of hyperdrives & hands: engineer!reader x obi-wan

summary: you’re fixing the hyperdrive on the Negotiator when a mysterious being pays you a visit.

word count: I honestly have no idea bc i wrote this whole thing on my notes app in the car lmao. (sorry if the formatting is weird/there are typos!!)

rating: G. but also, this is basically a love letter to Ewan McGregor’s gorgeous hands.

A/N: fulfilling a request for the lovely @aty-cgca7! ily, chasity! I hope it’s everything you were looking for 💖 also I know nothing about engineering or computers or hyperdrives so don’t come for me y’all 😂

of hyperdrives & hands, a fic by corellians-only

Brow furrowed in concentration, you squint in the hazy light. Reaching up to your forehead with your left hand, you slide your fingers across the surface of your skin, batting away renegade wisps of hair that had fallen away from your bun.

Maker, but it was warm down here, in the maw of this behemoth ship. You curse softly to yourself as a bead of sweat hovered perilously close to your eyelash, threatening to obscure your vision as you strain to locate the loose wire that had sent you onto the Negotiator in the first place. Hadn’t your father always warned your that space was cold? When you told him you had joined the Civilian Engineer Corps to help with the war effort, he had even cracked a joke about adding extra layers to your uniform.

You frown. Clearly, accomplished pilot though he was, you father had never been in the hyperdrive control center of a Republic Venator-class Star Destroyer.

Catching your distraction, you shake your head. No. You needed to focus. Now was not the time to question your father’s supposed space travel wisdom. There’s a job to be done. Hyperdrives did not fix themselves.

There she is. Rather than simply becoming disconnected, the wire had split in two, snapping under the pressure from the processing core directly above the unit. This was going to be more complicated than you thought.

For a few hours, the only sounds that filled the room were soft snip of wirecutters and the gentle thrum of the engines. As you start re-routing the stray wire, your mind begins to wander.

You had heard stories about Star Destroyers with entire hangers of processing cores for the shields alone. That their nav computers were the most accurate in the galaxy. That their holo encryption system was unbreakable (it wasn’t. You had written and sliced a viral code into their data key a few standard months back, just to see if you could). This was your first time on such a warship when it was in space, and while it was impressive, at the end of the day, it ran like any other ship.

Tali had been even aboard General Secura’s flagship, the Liberty, for a supply dump once and she swore that their weapons systems were the most flawless thing she had ever seen - barring General Kenobi, of course, she had added with an impish grin tossed your way.

Your not-so-subtle crush on the dashing General was an open secret among your platoon of female engineers. Most of them assumed it was because he was pretty and famous — he was on nearly every holomag cover, after all — but you knew better. You knew he was a good man. His hands told you so.

The first time you had seen General Kenobi, you had been playing in the undercity of Coruscant when a boy a little older than yourself had stopped to ask what you were building with the rubble left behind from an explosion caused by the nascent Black Sun cartel a few days earlier.

“I don’t know,” you had responded belligerently, upset at your endeavors having been interrupted - and by a boy, no less. “Why do you have a braid in your hair?” you continued. “I thought only girls had braids.”

The boy had adjusted his stance to stand up taller. “I’m going to be a Jedi,” he proclaimed. “I’m Obi-Wan,” he offered with a smile. His eyes flashed suddenly, and with a quick thrust, his hand extended into the dusty air. A sheet of durasteel that had been hovering precariously at the tip of the heap was now suspended in midair, mere centimeters from crashing down on your head. Even in the grim half-light of the slums, you could see sapphire eyes earnestly fixed on the hunk of metal. Strong, lithe fingers gestured gracefully. The object fell with a great crash a few meters away.

You could only stare in awe.

The faint sound a male voice calling had caused him to twist his head and listen. “I have to go.” He frowned. “Master Qui-Gon is calling me. I hope I see you again some day.”

He bowed slightly, then turned and trotted back toward his Master.

You had never been quite able to forget the teenager with pretty hands who had saved your life.

Nearly two decades later, you had seen him again. You and Tali had been sipping cups of caf before your shifts in the makeshift mess hall of a personnel loading area when you sensed his presence. Not in a Jedi way - you didn’t have a lick of Force sensitivity, you knew - but in the way you noticed that everyone seemed to speak a little softer and trail their eyes after the passing figure in white armor.

He had strode past the the two of you, hardly sparing a glance at two female civilian engineers and pointedly ignoring the sheer weight of the gazes trained on him. Later, over a pint of lomin ale, Tali has raved about his hair, and how “he had a shoulder to hip ratio that was sharper than a vibroblade, didn’t you notice?”

You had taken a sip of your drink and laughed good-naturedly at Tali’s antics. You had noticed him, to be sure, but you had been transfixed by his hands, not his muscles.

Back in the days before the war, when you were still a little girl, your father Aves had always told you to take note of a being’s hands. In the present moment, you smile as you refit the access panel on the hyper drive’s core reactor as a the memory comes to mind.

Even though he was a good father, Aves had been a man of mystery. Whatever it was he did for a living, it had blessed him with an intimate knowledge of guns, starships, and computers, and he had passed everything he knew on to his “blazing sun,” he used to call you affectionately.

“Blazing sun,” he would instruct you, “you can tell a lot about a being by their hands.” When he was satisfied he had captured your attention, the impression of a smile glowed across his face. He resumed cleaning his carbine rifle as he spoke, his voice low and smooth. “You can tell a lot about a being by their hands,” he intoned again. “Their trade. Their social class. How they hold a weapon. What kind of weapons they use. If they can pilot a ship. If their mind is focused or skittish.” The tall man had shrugged gently, an action that seemed counterintuitive to the grade A contraband blaster now resting comfortably in his expert grip. A new power pack slapped into place with a precise snap. “If you ever want to know someone” — he tucked a stray hair behind your ear tenderly, the other hand still clutching the blaster — “look at their hands.”

You begin tapping out routine codes on the core reactor to test the replacement wire. The various combinations of letters and numbers in basic and binary were muscle memory, and you stared in awe as your own fingers punch in the digits seemingly of their own volition.

Yes, it was General Kenobi’s hands that most enraptured you, you decided. Slender, calloused (you supposed - not that you had ever had the pleasure of testing that theory for yourself), extensions of strong, well muscled arms that indicated a strong degree over his motions. He had held them so softly at his sides that day in the mess hall. They had gestured animatedly as he walked alongside a clone commander, a graceful arc to his movements that made you think he would be a good dancer — or a formidable fighter.

The klaxon of an alarm drives you from your reverie. “Oh, kriff.” The latest code you had entered seemed to have caused the wires to short circuit, tripping an internal safety alarm.

“Kriff, kriff, kriff.” You continue to swear violently as you all but run over to the central computer console and entering a code to kick-start a program to halt the shrieking din. Within the minutes, the alarm bells stop, and you sag against the console in relief.

“Is something the matter?” a rich tenor voice asks from behind you.

Immediately you tense. In a singular, practiced motion, you pivot on your left heel and whip your blaster into your right hand simultaneously, turning to face the voice in a fighting stance.

“Freeze!” you call into the shadows. Your eyes scan the cavernous room methodically before settling on a spot a few meters in from the doorway where the light seems distorted. You take aim with your blaster.

“Justice, freedom, faith,” the disembodied voice replies calmly from the same spot.

Your eyes narrow. Whoever the being was, they had given the correct password. But the upper-class Coruscanti accent didn’t belong to anyone in your platoon, and who else would be prowling around the underbelly of General Kenobi’s flagship? There had been faint rumors of a lightsaber wielding Separatist operative. Maybe they were coming to sabotage the ship? Well, not on your watch.

“Step into the light,” you order, durasteel edging into your voice. “Keep your hands above your head.” The contours of the blaster are cool, comforting in your grip, soothing the blood rushing just beneath the surface.

A tall auburn-haired man steps into the light, arms raised. “Will this suffice?” he asked wryly, amusement playing across his features as you feel shock and embarrassment creep up your neck and onto your cheeks.

Stars above. I almost shot General Kenobi. A thousand thoughts race through your mind faster than light speed - some witty, some pragmatic.

But of course, what slips out is neither of those.

“Fierfek, you startled me,” you manage to spit out instead. It’s only your steel will that prevents you from collapsing from embarrassment on the spot. Feigning nonchalance you decidedly do not feel about almost murdering a war hero and childhood crush, you holster your weapon and turn back to the console.

“I gathered as much,” he returns, amusement still coloring his tone.

The room fell silent for a few moments as you run system diagnostics.

“What is it you’re working on?” This time, he’s so near you can feel the heat of his breath on the back of your neck. Well honed reflexes are faster than your brain, though, and it isn’t until you feel a gentle pressure on your elbow that you realize it’s raised to jab him in the throat.

General Kenobi’s chuckle seems to fill the room. “Are you sure you aren’t trying to kill me?” he murmurs. A shiver runs up your spine despite yourself and you feel your stomach start to coil.

You stare at the data steaming on the console until your eyesight begins to blur. “That depends. Are you trying to kill me, sir?” Maker, but you were mouthy today. What was wrong with you?

Kenobi releases your arm dropping his to his side. Immediately, you feel bereft somehow with the loss of his touch.

Peering over your shoulder, he asks, “hyperdrive problems?”

Kriff, does that man not realize what he is doing to you, muttering in your ear like that? Of course he doesn’t, you dolt, you tell yourself; he’s a Jedi. Not his fault you’ve had a crush on him since you were nearly eight years old.

“A replacement wire short-circuited the system and triggered an emergency code,” you respond as evenly as you can manage. A fresh sweat breaks out across your forehead as another complex code dances across the screen.

“What code is that?” He reaches out as though he could absorb the masses of data contained in the system through osmosis. Maybe he can. You’re not a Jedi.

The movement serves a different purpose for you. Something wet and bright glistens as his hand moves into the blue light of the console.

“You’re bleeding.”

He glances down and grimaces. “It’s nothing. Just a scratch.”

You arch an eyebrow. “Doesn’t look like it to me.” Blood is starting to gather around an incision slashed across his right hand.

He opens his mouth to retort no doubt, but you beat him to it. “Don’t give me that bantha dung about Jedi business.” A grease stained finger jabs in the direction of his chest.

Kenobi’s face remains impassive. When he doesn’t respond, you roll your eyes, and, tugging at his elbow, drag him over to the glow lamp near your workstation.

He continues to scrutinize you, and you look down at yourself, wondering what he’s staring at. Your coverall sleeves are rolled up, there’s sweat gathering at your collarbone, and you feel the grimy mixture of dust and stale perspiration coating your face. You’re a hot mess if there ever was one.

Resolutely, you ignore the flush on your cheeks and the steel of his gaze and rummage for a bandage in the care pack attached to your hip. Several excruciating seconds later you find one and tear it open.

It’s when you’re grasping his hand in one of yours the he finally speaks. “I’ve seen you before.”

His cool composure inspires a sudden flash of irritation. “You seem rather certain sir,” you say as you apply a bacta salve.

“Because I am,” he responds mildly. His hand grips yours tightly when you apply the bandage, and you almost asphyxiate on the spot. You were right — his hands are calloused.

“Well, consider this your repayment from saving a girl from durasteel in the Coruscant under-levels about twenty years ago,” you answer with a quick smile. It’s hard to be angry when Obi-Wan Kenobi is in effect, holding your hand.

Reluctantly you release him from your grasp, letting your hand drift down to your side.

The General inclines his head in thanks, then glances back at the computer. “Is the hyperdrive fixed, then?”

You nod, stuffing supplies back into your pack. “I modified the code and replaced the wire so it should be okay.” You meet his eyes. “I’ll be with the ship until it returns to Coruscant, so if there any problems I’ll be available to assist, sir.”

You turn to leave, but he reaches out and catches your hand. “And who do I have to thank for such diligent caretaking of both my ship and my hand?” he inquires. His touch is like satin against your dirty hands and you grin in spite of it.

You consider for a moment. “A blazing sun,” you tell him.

You smile as you make your back to your quarters. Yes, you could tell a lot about a person by their hands.

[wukindly]

What The Future Holds | Anakin Skywalker

“Anakin x reader where they’re just laying together talking about their futures and maybe he asks her if she can see a future with them, together, and she says yes and they just enjoy the present moment it’s soft and fluffy!” by anon

Pairing(s): Anakin Skywalker/fem!reader Word Count: 1.7k Genre: fluff

(Y/N) opened her eyes slowly, a small smile appearing on her lips when she noticed the blinds were closed - just a small reminder that Anakin had been there the night before. In order not to be seen with her secret lover, she always made sure to lower the blinds when he was around.

In all honest, the girl was very fond of waking up to the morning light of Coruscant on her face, but having the knowledge that Anakin was with her just a few hours before was enough to make her as excited as any sunshine.

The past few months had been a bit complicated for them... Well, their relationship wasn’t easy from the beggining - since they had to hide every time they wanted to do something as simple as hold the other's hand. However, recently, Anakin was being sent to more missions than usual and had less and less time to spend with (Y/N). So, when given the chance, the two of them made the most of each other's presence. 

Just as they did the night before.

Of course that not everything was perfect, as he had announced that he would have places to go the morning after. But they enjoyed the most they could. And seeing those closed blinds just reminded her of what had happened, all the words exchanged, each soft touch, and she couldn't help but sigh happily at that.

"Good morning." a voice came from behind her, making the girl jump slightly.

(Y/N) turned quickly to see Anakin still lying there on her bed, a sleepy and mischiveous grin on his face - probably finding it funny that she got startled by his presence.

The girl shook her head in disapproval, although a small smile still remained on her lips. "You scared me." (Y/N) frowned. "I thought you had somewhere to-"

"I do but..." the boy moved closer to her, leaning on his arm and leaving a kiss on her forehead. "It can wait a bit longer."

She smiled softly at the gesture, taking her hand to his cheek. "I think your Master Obi-Wan-"

"Is someone I can handle later." he moved his head toward her hand, leaving another kiss there.

"I just don't want to get you in trouble."

"You do not need to worry, my love." by his smirk, she could clearly see that something like "when am I not in trouble?" was going through his mind. She couldn’t help but agree.

"You're right. You have hardly been here lately..." she leaned up to give Anakin a quick peck on the lips before lying down again, her eyes looking deeply into his. "I won't be the one to send you away when we're finally together."

"I apologize for that." he sighed as he felt her hand leave his face and go towards his Padawan braid. "I know my missions have been keeping me away from you but I do plan on making it up to you for it."

"There is no need." she gave his hair a gentle stroke before bringing her hand back to her side. "Soon enough you're going to be a Jedi, Anakin. A Jedi. Have you stopped to think about that?"

He chuckled. "That's something I've been thinking about quite often since I was a child, (Y/N)."

It was hard to forget that Anakin had been training for over ten years to get to where he was at that moment. "I'm sorry. It is just so... Surreal. I mean, it's finally here."

He seemed to be sharing the same feeling; after all, if anyone should be feeling excited and anxious, it was him. "Obi-Wan has faith that I will become a bit less reckless once I am a Jedi."

(Y/N) laughed softly, shaking her head. "I disagree. This is part of you." she noticed that he raised one of his eyebrows, as if wondering if that was a good thing or not. "And you're going to be an amazing Jedi nevertheless."

A grin spread across his face. "Do you think so?" (Y/N) nodded without hesitation and the boy leaned over again, this time his lips aiming on hers. (Y/N) let out a hum of satisfaction when Anakin closed the distance between them once more, moving his lips slowly against hers. The girl brought her hands back to his face, enjoying the feeling of her skin on his. Every time they were like this, she tried to memorize what it felt like. It was nice and warm. She loved it. "That means a lot."

The way he was looking at her made chills run down her spine - his eyes looking so deeply into hers that she didn't doubt that he could see everything she was thinking. When they first met, Anakin was a bit of an awkward guy, although he tried his best to flirt with her. It was incredible to see the change. He seemed to be able to express his feelings in a much better way these days.

She lightly stroked one of his cheeks, smiling when he closed his eyes, enjoying the moment. "Oh." she said softly. "And then, you can have your own Padawan."

Anakin opened his eyes at the sound of that, a laugh coming out of his mouth. "Have you ever imagine that? Me, teaching someone?"

"Give yourself more credit, Ani. You would be an astounding teacher."

He shook his head slightly. "I'm afraid you have too much faith in me, my love."

She booped his nose. "It's because I know you too well."

Anakin couldn't help but let a real smile widen on his face at her silly gesture. He took her hand in his, placing a long kiss on the back of it before turning his gaze back to her. "What about you?" she furrowed her brows as she watched him intertwining their hands. "What do you think the future holds for you?"

Oh, that had taken her by surprise. "That is a good question." an awful good question, that was for sure, and something she often thought about. Every time she thought about where she wanted to be in five years, there was always this same image that would come into her mind. "I truly do love Coruscant but I see myself living somewhere else, someplace more..."

"Somewhere calmer? Quieter?"

"Yes." she smiled - he knew her too well. It wasn’t news to him that she wasn’t a fan of a place as crowded and noisy as Coruscant. He expected that answer when he asked that question, but he wanted to know if she had something else planned for herself. "And with a beautiful view to the sea."

Oh, that was new for him. "That's very specific." he chuckled when she shyly shrugged. "Somewhere calm and by the sea."

"Oh, it would be wonderful." she sighed happily, closing her eyes, glad to be able to share that with him. "Can you imagine? Going to sleep and waking up with the sound of the waves?"

When she looked at Anakin again, he had his eyes closed, as if trying to see the same image that she had in her head. And he could see it. (Y/N) and him, a house, the sea. "It does sound great." he murmured blissfully, opening his eyes. However, he frowned at her a second later, seeming to be worried about something. "Is there going to be sand?"

The girl threw her head back while laughing, which was enough to bring a grin back to his face. "I don't know, I hope not."

He certainly hoped not, too. "And..." his gaze went to their hands that were still together, his thumb making small circles on the back of her hand. "Do I play a part in this?" his eyes met hers again, which sent a shiver down their spines. "Are we together in your house by the sea?"

"Of course." the girl once again didn’t hesitate to answer, which brought the boy a confident look. "We're going to be the house from scratch together."

He raised his eyebrows as he scooted closer to her. "Oh, are we?"

"Yeah!" she said cheerfully, laughing as the boy leaned over her, starting to spread kisses all over her face. "And we are going to paint the entire thing and choose our own furniture-"

Anakin looked at her, his gaze moving across her face as if he were trying to memorize how she looked at that moment. "Our house." he whispered before pressing his lips against hers in a brief kiss, soon after resting his forehead against hers.

As she closed her eyes, (Y/N) couldn't help but wonder. Was this what she truly wanted for her future? Surely. Was that what she thought was going to happen? She wasn't so sure about that. Since Anakin and her admitted their feelings for each other and started that relationship, they both knew it would be difficult to deal with. And the prospect of the future showed exactly that there was a good chance that things would not work out for them.

She wanted a quieter place to live, a distant place. Anakin was... a bit of a chaotic person, who had trained ten years of his life to be a Jedi - something he would not be able to be if he were living with her somewhere by the sea. 

They were two different people - in love for sure, but who wanted different things for the future. The only thing they wanted in common was to be together.

"You don't need to worry about this now." Anakin's voice woke her from her thoughts, making her eyes open quickly. His gaze was already on her and she was sure he knew exactly what was going through her head. "Whatever happens, we can handle it together."

Although she noticed that he was trying to be the optimistic one between the two of them, she could see a concern hidden in his eyes. Maybe he was saying that trying to convince himself too. Knowing Anakin, whatever would happen, he wouldn't let go of her without a fight.

(Y/N) nodded, letting a smile appear on her lips before she leaned in, leaving a kiss on his chin. Following her example, Anakin started making a trail of kisses that went from her lips to the her neck. "I love this." he murmured between kisses. "Us. You."

The girl allowed herself to enjoy the moment, completely forgetting about the concerns of the future. Whatever would happen, she wanted to keep that in her mind - Anakin, his words, his soft touches and sweet kisses. Whatever would happen, they would be together.

MASTERLIST

[stardustkenobi]

Razbliuto

Kylo Ren x Reader

Warnings: canonic typical violence, angst, mention of loss 

A/N: Hello everyone! This might be a series, it might not be, but i just wanted to write some Kylo fic okay? Okay. Cool. This takes place somewhere between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker!

Razbliuto [ros-blee-OO-toe] – noun. The feeling a person has for someone he or she once loved but now does not.

“You still call me Ben in your mind.”

His voice was steady, perhaps even uninterested behind that Godforsaken mask as he swept into the prison hold you had been situated in for approximately five days now.

You narrowed your eyes up at the man who was once your best friend, your partner in crime, before standing up. The one that would make goofy faces over Master Skywalker’s shoulder after you had been scolded for, once again, letting yourself center your focus on your anxieties rather than simply letting go.

“I figured my mind was a safe space for me to retreat away from the ridiculous amount of interrogation that you and your watch dogs have put me through over the past few days.” Despite your…predicament, you found yourself to be just as capable of confronting Kylo Ren with a tone as chillingly calm as his own. Dripping with disinterest, trying so desperately to disguise the fact that you were almost trembling.

He stopped in front of you, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “Not when you’re calling his name out like that in your mind.”

The fall of the Temple, albeit years ago now, was not something you were likely to ever forget. The putrid smell of smoke and burning flesh still filled your nose as you woke from nightmares now and again – it was only magnified here, what with the sterile walls and complete and utter silence between grueling interrogation sessions.

“Your name.” You said simply, trying to push him as far as you could. Maybe you’d make him angry enough to let you go, or even end it all for you. Maybe he’d wipe your mind and try to take you on as a student, like he tried to so many years ago. You had no way of knowing if you had been compromised and were almost positive that even though you ranked high in the chain of command with the Resistance, there would be no attempt to rescue you. No attempt to make a prisoner exchange. You weren’t even sure if they would take you back if you somehow managed to escape and you prayed that they would put you on an escape pod with no coordinates and let you float through space. It seemed like the best punishment for letting yourself succumb to the torture you had been subjected to – you’d never see your friends again and you’d have to live with your guilt until you finally met your end.

His hands came up to the mask, unhinging it with a mechanic hiss that felt as cold as his demeanor toward you. He lifted it up, then tucked it under his arm. “Is this what you wanted?” He asked, deep brown eyes so uncharacteristically cold. So unlike they had been the last time you had seen his face, on your knees and begging him not to leave with Snoke and the others he had managed to convince to come with him.

You steeled your jaw as you tried your very best to not let him on to the fact that seeing his face was the worst form of torture he could have inflicted on you. “Yes.” You growled, voice cracking despite your efforts to make the simple word drip with acid.

A knowing smirk traced his lips and it was enough to bring you to your knees for him all over again. “Ben Solo is dead.” He said simply, his posture not changing in the slightest. “He was gone the minute I left the ruins of the temple.”

His voice in all of its unmodulated glory and his eyes on yours brought back memories of running through the fields of Naboo on excursions that your master allowed every once and awhile. Your first kiss in the cockpit of his father’s beloved ship, the one that you had spent hours on after he and his wife came to save you and Luke from the carnage their son had inflicted on what was everything to the two of you.

“It doesn’t have to end the way it did last time.” He continued, taking advantage of your uncharacteristic silence. “You don’t have to walk away. You can stay and be with me and we can build something together, like we used to talk about.”

All you could see was the inside of that very same cockpit – how Han and Chewbacca sat rigidly silent at the helm of the ship. How Leia held you as she cried silently. How Luke had found a blanket for you and wrapped you in it before leaving to sit in the gunner’s seat, despite the fact that there was no imminent threat. He couldn’t bring himself to watch his sister cry, to watch you cry as you stared out into hyperspace with complete and total numbness. To watch the man he considered to be a brother white knuckle the controls of his Falcon, at a loss for words because the ship felt a little lighter with the notable absence of his only son.

“It still kills her, you know.” You growled suddenly, trying your hardest to ignore the part of you that screamed to run into his arms and kiss him with the force of a thousand suns. “I see a part of her die each and every day she wakes up and goes to the bridge, knowing that it’ll be another day that you won’t return to her.”

His jaw tightened at the mention of his mother, the one thing from his old life that could still make him keel over with the force of that pull to the light. It had dulled since Han Solo had died, but the reoccurring dreams of the last time his mother had looked over his face with the knowledge from his former master that there was a conflict in his heart, that look that could convince the most closed off of people that she saw into their hearts and knew and understood everything they felt? That was enough to make him question everything.

It was your turn to take advantage of the silence that ebbed from both his lips and his mind. “It kills her that she has lost everything, everything because you made the worst decision you could have. You are the reason that her husband and brother are dead and she clings to me, the closest thing she’s had to a daughter, like it’s her last chance at breathing in clean air.” She snapped, eyes hard. “She’s probably searching for me right now, has probably sent her best pilot –“

You were silenced when you surged backwards into the bench you had slept on ever since arriving on the First Order controlled ship. He wouldn’t ever hit you, or try to hurt you in any way, shape, or form, you told yourself. Pushing you back was his way of putting you in your place without raising a hand to you. “The best pilot,” He sneered, looking down at you with total disdain. “You’re talking about isn’t all he’s cracked up to be. I snapped him like a toothpick and I know for a fact that General Organa wouldn’t ever dare send her pet back this way. Too great of a risk, even to save you.”

It wasn’t his words about Poe that cut you to the core, or even the insinuation that Leia would rather keep him safe over you. It was the fact that he was now looking at you like he looked at every other Resistance prisoner, as if you were nothing but the dirt beneath his boots that some unlucky bastard had the honor of scrubbing clear before he went to grovel at the feet of his master. You, who had once been the subject of his praises and sweet nothings and promises of his forever after you had both passed the trials? You were now just another piece of rebel scum. Nothing. Not when you turned him away and pushed him further and further toward the anger that made him bend toward the dark in the first place.

The thing was, Kylo Ren almost hoped that you would be the one to push him back the other way. To drive him back into his mother’s embrace because deep down he was so, so sorry for every single misstep he had taken since the moment he was born. For the disgrace he had brought to his family and for the disappointment that he knew lived in Leia’s heart and would continue to for the rest of her life if he never came back.

The desire kept him awake at night and he did his damned best to keep it from Snoke during the most invasive of probs from his master, the puppeteer pulling all of his strings. He was sure as hell scrambling with all of his might to hide it from you now as you sat before him for the first time in years. Same eyes, just broken and hardened with all of the carnage you had seen because of him.

“You know there’s only one way this ends up favorable for you.” He finally said, voice taught. He was teetering again and you were starting to become aware of it as you reached out to him with the Force, trying desperately to grasp for any fraction of the man he once was.

You shook your head. “I would rather die –“

He scoffed, tossing his helmet to the floor with a clang. “You and I both know that I wouldn’t let you die.” He said, leading you to believe that there was definitely a possibility that he was teetering on his allegiances. “You can either stay here or go.”

You opened your mouth to say that you would be more than willing to leave, but were interrupted before the words left your mouth.

“If you leave, you will tell me the location of General Organa’s secret base.” He said simply, flicking an invisible piece of dust off of his tunic. “Then your mind will be wiped and you will be a spy for us. At the end of the war, if you do well, you will return to me and rule by my side.”

You scoffed this time, opening your mouth once more, only to be silenced by his words once more.

“If you stay and don’t submit, you’ll be tried for crimes against the New Republic and we will eventually pull the location of the base from your mind.” He said simply, leaning against the wall as if he was simply telling someone what he wanted for dinner that evening. “If you do…” He trailed off, licking his lips. “If you stay and you give yourself to me, it’ll be just like it used to be.” He was desperate now as he watched you. Definitely teetering. “We can train together, get stronger.”

“You could come back with me.” You breathed, shaking your head. “We don’t have to stay here. You know she’d take you back in the blink of an eye.”

“That part of me is gone.” He snarled, trying to convince himself more than you. “But I still love you, Y/N. That part of me never went anywhere. If you stay, I won’t ask you to give me the coordinates of the base anymore. I won’t ask you to send your friends to their demise. I won’t make you fight them if you so choose and I won’t bring them up. This can be a new start for you.”

The tears in your eyes threatened to betray you and you quickly dwindling resolve as you shook your head once more. “You never use to speak in clichés, Ben.”

His eyes hardened once more at your words. “Never call me that again.”

“No.” You snapped back, sitting up straighter. “If you really still love me, you have to know that I only love the man I knew before he destroyed the temple. I don’t know a damn thing about you except that you have taken everything so, if you really want me to stay and…And submit to you? You’ll have to cope with me calling you by your goddamn name because fuck, Ben, you took everything from me!” The tears you had tried so desperately to hold back were now flowing freely as you stood, marching up to stand right against his chest. You thrust a finger into his face accusingly, eyes hard. “You’re taking everything from me right now – the friends that have come to replace you and your father and uncle? You’re giving me the ultimatum to either lead them to their deaths or still give them a fighting chance, but never see them again. How can you say that you love me, but make me choose between you and them?”

Kylo Ren tightened his jaw once more, studying you over and over again as he remained silent. Part of him was trying not to tremble from your close proximity, part of him was trying not to snap and give you no other option but to stay and submit or to stay and have your mind wiped because all he knew is that he wanted you back. Preferably chosen on your own accord.

“I’ll expect your answer in the morning.” He said after a long silence, taking a step back and picking up his mask. His eyes never left you as you collapsed onto the floor, chest heaving from the exertion of pent up emotions. The minute he stepped over the door frame, the door slid shut, leaving you in darkness once more.

The only difference being that now your nightmares would be plagued by a set of once warm brown eyes, dimples, and beauty marks dappled across a face that you used to kiss over and over again until your face and his were rosy.

[ct7567329]

War Against Us: Captain Rex x Reader: Chapter 3

"Alright, we wouldn't want to be cornered again, so let's split into two's for the night," Anakin requested. We were all standing outside a mountain cliff that was covered in caves.

"Sounds great general! As long as I get the lady," Hardcase slurred.  

"Hardcase!" Rex scolded. Both you and Anakin gave Hardcase a look.

"Were you drinking before battle again?" Jesse laughed. Hardcase rolled his eyes.

Anakin started pairing people for the night, "(Y/N) you're with Rex and Fives, you're with me," Anakin finished.

"We'll meet out here at sunrise tomorrow, if any of you hear or see anything, contact me or General Skywalker immediately," You commanded the clones.

"Sir, yes sir!" They all chanted at once. "At ease," you nodded, letting the clones split off.

"Anakin, I don't get it," you said to your friend.

"What's wrong, fireball," He replied, sitting on a rock outside your cave.

"These clones, they're dropping like flies, it's so sad. Every day these poor men lose dozens of their "brothers" every day, it's not like they-"

"(Y/N)," Anakin cut you off, "Get some rest, this should not be your concern, goodnight." He walked off to his cave. You sighed and walked to yours.

As you walked in, you saw a heat lantern lit and smiled. You were so happy you were going to be warm. You walked in deeper and you saw Rex taking is armor off. He turned around and make eye contact with you. "Oh my gosh! I am so sorry," You turned around embarrassed, your face turning bright red. You felt a warm hand grab your shoulder and turn you around.

"Sir, what is wrong?" Rex asked, obviously confused.

"I walked in on you changing! I am so sorry!" You got redder.

He laughed, "General, it's not a big deal, I'm still wearing my blacks!"

"Alright if you say so," you mumbled, "but hey! what did I tell you? You can call me (Y/N)."

"Sorry, Si-(Y/N), I forgot," He stuttered.

"It's fine, Rex!" You smile and walk to the side of the cave and sit down. Rex finished taking off his armor until he's wearing just his blacks. "So what are those blue marks on your helmet?"

"Jaig eyes, it's Mandolorian."

"Oh cool," You reply, "so I assume you're into Mandalorian culture?"

He sits down next to you, "Yes, I am interested enough that I decided to learn the language!" He seemed very excited about it.

"That's really cool, I am yet to learn Mando'a. Do you speak anything else?" His face got dark, his eyes shut. "What's wrong?" you asked, tilting your head.

"Can you keep a secret?" He looked at you with the most serious eyes ever.

You put your hand on his knee, "Of course, Rex." He smiled the slightest bit, then went back to a poker face. He looked right into your eyes. That's when you noticed how lovely his eye color was, a vivid shade of golden brown, it made you melt a bit. Before he could speak, that odd force feeling came back. You collapsed your head into your knees.

"(Y/N)! What's wrong?!" Rex looked very concerned.

"It's nothing Rex, it's a Jedi thing. The force. It's been giving me weird feelings ever since I was assigned to the 501st, but continue, tell me what you wanted to tell me."

His concerned look didn't fade, but he continued, "Now (Y/N), please keep this a secret." You nodded. "Sith, I know Sith." That hit you. It hit you very hard. "I'm sorry (Y/N), you probably think I'm a seppy joke. I promise you I'm not with them. I thought learning it may help with figuring out their intel and -"

You put your finger to his mouth, "Rex it's okay," You gave him a smile, "I know Sith too. It doesn't make you good or bad, it makes you more knowledgeable."

He smiled back at you, "You know Sith?" The way he said it gave you chills, you found his voice to be, well kind of husky, yet again.  

You thought to yourself, "Am I falling for him? It is against Jedi Code? But I'm falling for him. No I'm not! I can't!", "Yes Rex, I do know Sith," You started playing with your fingers in your lap, "So, uhm, what else can you tell me about yourself?" You asked Rex.

He looked perplexed, "I didn't know Jedi cared about clones."

You shook your head. "Some Jedi may not, but I do. I see you as more as individuals, not clones. You are all so similar, yet so different. Like take your eyes for example, yes every clone has the DNA for those eyes, but yours seem a bit more golden than the other clones' when the sun reflects off them," You looked down at your hands. You could sense him smiling.

"That means a lot, (Y/N), but if we are on the subject eyes, I must admit, I've never seen eyes such a vivid, more perfect shade of (E/C) than yours," he started getting red.

The odd force feeling hit you like a truck. You looked over at a red Rex and thanked him. That was it. An attachment. You realized your attachment to Rex. Suddenly, it felt like everything stopped. That is breaking the Jedi Code. An emotional attachment, especially to a Clone. You snapped back to reality and saw Rex start to stand up, so you grabbed his arm.

"Rex, please stay here and sit down. It's been a while since I had a nice conversation with anyone and I like talking to you," You instantly become red again.

He laughed and sat down, "Well (Y/N), you know about all there is about me, so what about you. Where are you from?".

You froze at his question, "Skip," you say, looking the opposite direction.

"I won't judge (Y/N), and I even told you my deepest secret."

You looked at him and sighed, "Look, I do want to tell you, and I do trust you, but when I tell you, please do not ask more on the topic. I know you'll have questions, but not even Anakin knows that secret. Only the Jedi Council does," You started shaking.

Rex looked at you, very worried, "(Y/NN), you don't have to tell me, it's okay," He grabbed your hand.

You looked right into his eyes like you were searching for his soul, "I'm from Moraban or Korriban, what ever you'd like to call it, Okay next question.". Rex took a moment to process what you just told him then kept asking you more and more questions.

You and him went on until you almost could nothing more about each other without getting too personal, until he asked, "Have you ever had a boyfriend?"

You nearly choked. "Rex, I'm a Jedi, what do you think?"

You laughed and so did he, "Oh yeah! No attachments, I understand. Clones are forbidden from having a relationships," he frowned.

To lift his spirits you commented, "Well when the war ends, you'll have the option worry free, correct?"

He shook his head, "Doubt it'll end in my life time, (Y/NN)," he took his blasters out of his pockets in his already off armor, put them at his side and laid on back next to you.

Still sitting up, you expressed to him why you believed he was wrong, "You never know when everything is going to end, and wait, did you just call me (Y/NN)?" You asked, laughing.

"Yes I did, and I did earlier, I was beginning to realize you wouldn't notice if I did. Do you not like that name?"

"No, it's fine, but that's what only the people really close to me call me." You were looking ahead but you saw him smile from the corner of your eye.

"You're the first person, well who is not a clone, to ever take the time to get to know me, so I consider you close." He smiled bigger towards the end of his sentence, and still laying down on his back, he shut his eyes, "Goodnight (Y/NN), it was nice talking to you, really nice," He continued smiling as he went to sleep.

Looking down at him at your side, the force gave you the feeling of attachment again. Regardless of the rules, you refused to think having feelings towards Rex could ever cause you harm. Before long, he was obviously fast asleep. You kissed your fingers then placed them on his his head. "Goodnight Rex, ziur j'us rytojus." You whispered as you fell asleep, sitting upright, next to him.

[melancholicumsomnia]

The Redeemers (A Mandalorian Fanfic) Chapter 2

All warnings/pairings and other info to follow per chapter. For now, this is safe reading for everyone. Forgot to mention that this fic will most likely not follow established SW canon. I’m actually getting dizzy checking the timeline.

Tagging @pedrocentric. Hope you like this second chapter.

You can read Chapter One HERE.

                                                 * * * * * * * * * *

THE REDEEMERS

By

Rory

Chapter Two: The Broken

“Thank you for agreeing so quickly to meet with us, Dr. Pershing. I know the circumstances of our first meeting were quite…tense.”

“Well, I wouldn’t have agreed to meet with you again, no matter what the circumstances are. But since it’s about the Mandalorian here…”

Ahsoka – who stood quietly in a corner of the freighter’s med center – eyed the Imperial doctor whom Bo-Katan was addressing with suspicion. However, as Dr. Pershing hurried to take out an examination device from his bag, the Jedi saw how the doctor was very much at ease with his present company, belying his earlier statement. There were a couple of moments when he seemed to be on the verge of saying something to Bo, but then shook his head and decided that whatever concerns he had could come later.

When Bo-Katan told her that they would be calling Dr. Pershing to check on Din Djarin’s condition, Ahsoka was swift to offer her misgivings, being aware of the doctor’s reputation for cloning experimentation. But because of what they experienced on Mortis, the Jedi acquiesced on the condition that Din Djarin remain helmeted throughout Dr. Pershing’s examination.

Before the Imperial doctor arrived, they bathed the Mandalorian and trimmed his hair, mustache, and beard. They also dressed him in clean clothes, before laying him on the bed in the med center. Throughout this process, not once did the Mandalorian rouse from his insensate state. His right fist remained tightly clenched and they could not pry his fingers open.

True enough, Dr. Pershing’s eyebrows lifted at the sight of that helmet. To Ahsoka’s surprise though, the doctor just proceeded to perform a thorough examination of his patient.

After checking and crosschecking the findings on his device, Dr. Pershing asked, “May I take a blood sample? Don’t worry though. The results will be between just the three of us. I will delete whatever I find immediately afterwards.”

It was Ahsoka who gave her approval this time, causing Bo to give her a curious gaze. “Yes, you may. I’d like to see if your findings will confirm what I suspect.”

Dr. Pershing’s eyes grew wide at that remark, but opted not to say anything else. Bending down, he extracted the blood he needed from the Mandalorian’s bared arm and ran the diagnostics. As the data filled the small screen, the doctor could barely suppress his gasp. He looked at the two women, his mouth agape like a fish.

“His M-count…” Dr. Pershing blurted out, scratching his head. “How can this be? According to our records…my past encounters with him… He hasn’t demonstrated any Force powers at all!”

“What is his M-count, Doctor?” Ahsoka inquired.

“It’s in the same range as the Child’s. 20,000 plus. But, even if I hadn’t tested him before, I’m sure that he is not Force-sensitive.”

The Jedi let out a long, harsh exhalation. Seeing the questioning expression on Bo’s face, she told the doctor, “Dr. Pershing, if you’ll excuse us, I would like to speak with Bo-Katan in private.”

Hearing this, Dr. Pershing straightened up and stood firm. “If you please, I would like to join in your discussion.” To emphasize his position, he presented his device with the screen facing them. With a press on a button, the screen went black as all the data was erased. Seeing the wariness in their eyes, he reassured, “No, I haven’t transmitted any of the data to the Empire.” The doctor then quietly confessed, “The same way I deleted the facial scan records, the security feed, and blocked the transmission of the video that revealed the Mandalorian’s face from Morak.”  

“And you expect us to just take your word on that?” Bo said, incredulous.

“I don’t presume that you can trust me so readily. I know how much your people have suffered under the Empire.” Dr. Pershing looked at Ahsoka. “And also our constant battles with the Jedi. In my defense, I can only say that if you hadn’t trusted me, even just a little, after I helped you…willingly…in retrieving the Child from Moff Gideon, you wouldn’t have asked me to come here.”

The two women exchanged quick glances, with a small smile forming on Ahsoka’s lips. “Very well, Doctor. Besides, we may need your medical opinion on this matter.” Turning to Bo, she said, “Tell us what happened to the Mandalorian…from the beginning.”

Bo folded her arms over her chest. “Ten years ago, after we rescued the Child, I convinced Din Djarin to join the Nite Owls. In truth, he had no other choice. The Razor Crest was destroyed, so he couldn’t continue his life as a bounty hunter. Boba Fett and Fennec Shand had also wanted him to join them on Tatooine. In the end, Din chose to be with us. I suppose he wanted to learn more about the Mandalorians, having lived for most of his life with the Children of the Watch. I thought it best to give him further training in fight and battle techniques and teach him about the true history and culture of Mandalore.”

“And by ‘true’ Mandalorian culture, you mean the current pacifist views that were espoused by your sister, Satine,” Ahsoka noted. “You were once a member of Death Watch yourself. So you know that you cannot just rewrite the entire martial history of Mandalore.”

“No, just certain aspects of it.” One red eyebrow lifted as Bo glowered at the helmet that Din Djarin was wearing. “In particular, that little matter that he could not remove his helmet to show his face.”

“Why would you do this, Bo? Why would you go so far as to teach him all this?”

“Because this is knowledge that he needs to lead the Mandalorian people.” Bo heaved a heavy sigh. “Din Djarin is the current wielder of the Darksaber, which, as you know, makes him the rightful ruler of Mandalore.”

Seeing the surprised expression on the Jedi and doctor’s faces, Bo-Katan narrated the events that happened on Moff Gideon’s cruiser.

Continuing, Bo said, “In the two years that we were together, I had somehow cracked through some of those stubborn beliefs he held. I had…hoped…that I would bring him to Mandalore so that he could take the throne. Maybe reunite the clans and especially bring the Children of the Watch back into the fold.”

“But right from the start, he never wanted to be Mand’alor, did he? In the brief time that I’ve known him, I know that his sense of honor would not allow him to accept the Darksaber.”

Bo nodded. “True. He kept on insisting that the Darksaber belonged to me. He did not want to rule Mandalore. Unlike with Sabine, I cannot in due conscience accept it every time he offered it to me…not after the way I lost the Darksaber during the Great Purge. As per tradition, I would’ve had to fight him for the right to wield the sword, but it wouldn’t have been proper to do so back then. When he seemed so…lost…after he entrusted the Child to a Jedi.”

“Grogu found a Jedi?”

“Grogu… Is that the Child’s name?” Bo let out a wry laugh. “Yes, I guess that little kid had found a Jedi. It was the Jedi who saved us from the Darktroopers. We never learned his name though. I know Din missed the Child terribly and I told him that we could track that Jedi down, but he refused, always saying that Grogu was in safe hands and…”

“And…” Ahsoka gently prodded.

“He said that he could feel the Child, whatever that meant. That he was reassured that Grogu was alright. That he was safe at last.”

“It’s definitely because of the bond,” Dr. Pershing interjected. “When I first had the Child, I could already see that there was a strong attachment between them.”

“But after two years, something happened, am I right? Din Djarin told you that he wanted to leave, that he cannot be the king that you wanted him to be,” Ahsoka then put in. “He was so desperate to leave, but you refused every time. He still got away from you though. That was your Gauntlet I saw on Mortis. And when he was gone, he left behind the Darksaber.”

“I admit that I was happy at first that Din had forsaken the sword. At that time, the only people who knew that the Darksaber was back in our possession were Koska, Cara Dune, Fennec – who I am sure told Boba Fett about it, but the man could be trusted to keep a secret – and, of course, Moff Gideon. Axe would know about it later. For eight years, I bided my time, continued on our mission to gather weapons for our cause to reclaim Mandalore and…”

At that moment, Bo paused, realizing what she just said. “Eight years…”

It was Ahsoka’s turn to nod. “The way I see it, a very powerful Jedi Mind Trick had been placed on you. I’m pretty sure Din Djarin put it on you, although he was not consciously aware that he did so. The only reason why you started your search for him was because the Darksaber no longer allowed anyone to wield it, including you. The Darksaber brought you back to yourself because it wanted you to find its rightful wielder.”

“Yes. It’s weird. In all those eight years, I never saw the need to use it. I didn’t want it stolen again, so I kept it in deep storage. But then, rumors started to spread in Mandalore that the Darksaber had been found again. I don’t know where those rumors originated, but I suspected that the Empire was behind it. I was going to claim the sword as my own. After all, no one knew about Din Djarin. But…the Darksaber rejected me. I was with Axe at that time, so that’s how he knew. No one could pick it up without getting burned or hurt in the process.”

Dr. Pershing shook his head in confusion. “I don’t understand. I’ve seen Moff Gideon brandishing that sword about. I mean, it’s just a laser sword. How can it choose its wielder?”

“Lightsabers, the Darksaber included, are nothing more than weapons. Anyone can wield a Lightsaber, but it requires training and skill. I must admit that the Jedi’s expertise with the Lightsaber arises from the fact that we are able to complement its use with our Force powers,” Ahsoka explained. “But the way the Darksaber is behaving now, it’s clear to me that the Force is behind it. Unfortunately, the only way that I can see how the Darksaber works in relation to the Force is if and when Din Djarin awakens and chooses to use it.”

“I confess that there is very little that we Jedi know about the Force. I’m sure the same can be said for the Sith and the Empire,” the Jedi revealed ruefully. “That fact could not be more obvious than the situation we have here, right now.” She waved a hand to the Mandalorian lying on the bed. “I can say for certain though that the reason why Din Djarin left the Nite Owls and abandoned the Darksaber was because Grogu severed their bond.”

Bo and Dr. Pershing could not contain their horrified gasps.

Ignoring them, Ahsoka continued, “The severing overwhelmed Din Djarin. Even I felt just how raw the wounds in his mind and heart remained, even up to now. It made him distraught with worry and fear for Grogu, very powerful emotions that drew the Force to him. From this point on, this is all just pure conjecture on my part. I believe that the Force sensed these emotions, his intense need for Grogu that it summoned him to the one place where he could possibly find the Child – a place that is similar but more powerful than Tython, a place that could awaken the Force that lay dormant inside him.

“Mortis was the home of the Force-wielders. Obi-Wan Kenobi told me what the Force spirit of his former Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, revealed to him about Mortis – that it is a ‘conduit through which the entire Force of the universe flows’, that it is a ‘planet that is both an amplifier and a magnet.’ But Mortis is not just those two things.

“You may have heard rumors about the Sith Lord, Darth Vader, he who once was my Master Anakin Skywalker. It was said that Anakin did not have a father, that he was conceived through the Emperor’s manipulation of the midi-chlorians in his mother’s body. But I believe that Ani was created by the Force itself to restore balance in the galaxy. Seeing the…changes…in Din Djarin, I believe that he was…gestated…in the raw power of the Force on Mortis, transformed into a being with immense Force potential so that both the Light and the Dark Sides continue to battle for domination over him.”

Ahsoka could not contain her shudder. “I dread what would happen if the Dark Side wins.”

For a moment, a heavy, fearful silence fell among them, as they mulled over the Jedi’s troubling words. The quiet was shattered, however, by a soft, pained voice coming from the bed, uttering a single name, “Cara…”

Suddenly, the Mandalorian’s body jerked upward, forming a stiff arch. As he plopped back down on the bed, he started twisting and writhing, muffled screams coming from his helmet.

“HOLD HIM DOWN!” Dr. Pershing cried as he hurried to the bedside. Hearing the harsh, rasping breaths, he pulled off the helmet, revealing Din Djarin’s tear-filled, agonized face.

As the two women kept the Mandalorian from thrashing about, the doctor rummaged inside his bag for a syringe and immediately filled it up with fluid from a vial. Before he could plunge the needle into a swollen vein, Din Djarin’s body made one last upward surge and he fell back onto the mattress. His right hand dropped limp to the side, his fingers opening so that a gleaming silver ball fell and rolled on the floor.

Dr. Pershing quickly ran his examination device over the Mandalorian. “HE’S NOT BREATHING!” Without hesitation, he proceeded to apply chest compressions. Bo-Katan went to his aid, tilting Din Djarin’s head back and blowing precious air into his mouth. The passing seconds seemed like an eternity, and they feared that they wouldn’t be able to revive the Mandalorian.

Then, the door to the med center opened and Axe Woves entered, bearing the crystalline case containing the Darksaber. Opening it, he seized the pulsating sword inside. In an instant, a burning smell filled the room. But Woves didn’t let go. Instead, he laid the Darksaber over Din Djarin’s chest. As soon as contact was made, the crackling energy of the blade branched out, spreading all over the Mandalorian’s body so that he seemed to be enveloped in a bright, jagged net. The net pulsed and throbbed for a minute before dissipating. To their astonishment, they saw that Din Djarin was breathing again.

Seeing the questioning expression on Bo-Katan’s face, Woves explained his unexpected entrance, “The Darksaber started pulsing like crazy. I figured something might be wrong, so I decided to bring it along for you to see. I never thought it was reacting that way because of Din. Is he okay?”

Dr. Pershing again examined his patient. At the same time, Ahsoka went toward the still figure and laid her palm over his brow, a deep frown wrinkling her own forehead.

“Yes, he’s fine…for now,” Dr. Pershing confirmed. “But I…”

The doctor was interrupted by Koska, who barged breathless into the med center. “Something terrible’s happened! I intercepted a transmission from the prison ship that was supposed to transport Moff Gideon to Oovo IV. The ship was ambushed by an unknown spacecraft. Before the transmission died, the pilot said that Gideon and a Morgan Elsbeth were retrieved from the prison transport. He also said that…”

It was the Jedi who finished her sentence for her as she drew away from the Mandalorian with deep sorrow. “Marshal Cara Dune has died. The moment that Din Djarin went into seizures, he felt her die.”

Bo-Katan was stunned by this news. In the brief time that she knew Cara Dune, she had been impressed with the Marshal’s bravery and loyalty to Din Djarin.

Dr. Pershing gazed at the Mandalorian before him and made up his mind instantly. “That settles it. I would like to join you…if you’ll have me.”

Everyone in the room stared at him. But the doctor said, “I’ve long been thinking about leaving the Empire, especially after the things that they made me do to the Child and…and…” Dr. Pershing found that he could not continue. The thought of the experiments he had done filled him with shame. Instead, he said, “I always made the excuse that it was for science, but my conscience knew that what I was doing was wrong.” He turned earnest eyes to the people before him. “Please. Allow me to help the Child’s father. Din Djarin has spared my life on two occasions. I owe him and the Child this. Also…I’m afraid that he’s dying. If you know where…Grogu…is, I believe it is only he who can heal the Mandalorian.”

Bo thought for a long while. When she lifted her head, determination was set on her features. Turning her gaze to Ahsoka, she said, “I think we should pay a visit to our old friend on Endor. I’m sure she can help us locate that mysterious Jedi.”

Ahsoka smiled at the memory of the kind, valiant Twi’lek general who was both comrade and friend. “I agree. It’s been a long time since we last saw Hera. A reunion is definitely forthcoming.”

The Jedi bent down and picked up the silver ball which was once the Child’s favorite toy. “And as soon as we find Grogu, I’d like to hear his explanation on why he hurt his father this way.”

 TO BE CONTINUED

[atamascolily]

Lily liveblogs: “The Rise of Skywalker,” part three

I end as I began: hopelessly confused about what the point of all this was. (Except for money. I got that part loud and clear.)

Rey just leaves Finn behind, because... friendship, right? Jannah does not have a good opinion of Rey right now, and tbh, I can't blame her. I realize Rey is under a lot of stress, but... her behavior since arriving on this "moon of Endor" has been wayyyy out of line.

Also, Poe pulls up with the Falcon right then, so I guess they got it repaired in record time, lol. Convenient.

Meanwhile, at the Resistance Jungle Base, everyone is sad because Leia is dead. I wonder who's in charge now???

"Goodbye, dear princess." Oh, so she's a General right up until she dies, and then it's back to princess again? I wish the ST would make up its mind about her title.

Oh, I guess Poe is, since he showed up and actually has a rank??

Chewie LOSES IT at the news Leia is dead--I feel you, bud. I feel you so hard.

Kylo tries to look dignified as he broods on the wreckage, but he looks awful. Like a drowned rat, with a convenient lightsaber-shaped hole in his tunic where Rey stabbed him. (She didn't even take the saber with her or drop it into the sea or anything! WHHYYYYYYYYYYY - gimme a reason, any reason, even a stupid one.)

And then Han shows up. Is he a ghost? Is this a memory? Is Kylo hallucinating? WHAT WHAT WHAT IS HAPPENING??? (This would have so much more resonance if we had SEEN how Han's death impacted Kylo earlier on instead of that one confused flashback at the beginning of the film....)

grizzled Harrison Ford looks great, why the hell did they kill him off in the first movie whyyyyyy

Okay, so they answer the question and this is a memory, which is fine, I usually love this trope, BUT it would be hella more effective if we'd seen Kylo arguing/interacting with memories of Han earlier instead of this happening for the first time NOW...

"Come home." Uhhhhhh, I honestly don't know what exactly Leia did, but she certainly kinda abetted killing him. What home does Kylo have now, anyway??

So Han says that what Leia fought for is still around, which is true, but Kylo is ostensibly the supreme leader here, so he doesn't just have to go AWOL, he can drag the FO leadership with him, and what passes for their government, he could SURRENDER and end the war right now. Does he? Of course not. He fucks off all by his lonesome after Rey and Palpatine because... that's all he knows how to do, apparently.

There's a callback that is supposed to resonate but doesn't work for me, because I just can't make myself feel for Kylo at all. Yes, redemption is hard. Yes, you have to work for it. Stop whining and just do it!!

We're supposed to think that Kylo will stab Han again (I guess?) but he turns and throws his saber into the sea. So that's why Rey didn't take it - so he could make a dramatic fucking gesture with it.

Palps is upset that Leia messed up his plans, but whatever. He orders Pryde, who apparently is now in charge of the FO in Kylo's absence, to come to Exegol. Apparently Pryde is a diehard Imperial (and possibly Sith cultist/Palpatine's secret puppet/agent??) I guess. It's never explained, he's just bad. And his name isn't subtle, either.

Palps just wants to burn everything to the ground for... evulz, I guess? I got nothing.

Pryde's star destroyer pops out a giant gun and blows up a planet.... apparently, Kijimi. Why, I don't know. Because they were just there?? Anyway, BOOM. Kijimi literally explodes.

What the actual fuck. How is that EVEN POSSIBLE?? What was the point of building two Death Stars if a Star Destroyer can do that????

Oh, apparently, that was the new model from the "Sith fleet" with a better upgrade. sounds fake, but okay. Poe is not thrilled by this news. The same Resistance member brings him the bad news, so I guess that's her official job??

Poe is genre-savvy enough to know that every ship in the Sith fleet has planet destroying weapons and they're doomed unless they stop the Final Order... which isn't new? I thought there was a countdown to an attack in 16 hours or something. What did they think they were attacking with? I don't even know, this movie is that incoherent.

Rose pops in with a message broadcasting on every channel about the "Resistance is dead. The Sith flame will burn. All worlds, surrender or die"... but given that it's in a language that isn't Basic, there's this one random dude with a beard who translates for the audience... and even though I assume it's meant to be some more commonly spoken language, given that the Sith have their own language in this movie, It makes it seem like this Random Resistance dude understands Sith and... I have questions.

Poe goes to sit by Leia's shrouded corpse because apparently they haven't buried her yet??? I wish Poe and Leia's relationship was more prominent in the movies, because I love the dynamic they're supposed to have, but never actually manifests in any of these movies.

Lando shows up to console him!

"How did you defeat an Empire with almost nothing?" "We had each other."

DAMN RIGHT YOU DID AND THE NEW GENERATION COULD TOO, IF THE WRITERS WEREN'T INTENT ON SEPARATING THEM CONSTANTLY AND MAKING EVERYBODY SUFFER....

Poe decides to make Finn his co-general. I have a lot of feels about this.

Turns out D-O knows all about Exegol because he used to belong to Ochi... that's actually earned, I'll allow it. Hilarious Rey never asked the droid about it  (or any other details of his past, given that she was pretty sure Ochi killed her parents).

Ahch-To! Rey is wearing her hood and I don't know why. She's throwing driftwood into the flaming wreckage of Kylo's TIE and sobbing and... I don't know what's going on here. There are SO MANY REASONS she could be crying, I don't even know.

And she tosses her lightsaber into the sea... just like Kylo did. Parallels. I get it. And just like Luke did to her... She's giving it up because she doesn't feel worthy of being a Jedi because of her heritage, I guess?? (I'm guessing because this movie doesn't explain shit.)

Speaking of which, there's Luke's ghost, right on schedule! I love his snark but it's SO OUT OF LINE given his behavior in the last movie... and the fact that Yoda told him he had to let go of the past and let the books burn. I mean... the fuck???

Rey has this dark throne vision that's driving her, but ironically that's the one vision we don't see in this whole mess.. we have all these OTHER visions instead, I can' teven keep them all straight.

Oh, she's decided to model Luke and fuck off to Ahch-To forever because she feels she made a mistake. that's absolutely the WRONG LESSON from Luke's life, Rey!!

(also, what happened to saving the world? The sith wayfinder? She just conveniently forgot Palpatine was gonna slaughter everybody because she's having heritage angst?????)

Leia not telling Rey about Rey's heritage makes perfect sense when you realize just how much Leia's life was fucked over by the knowledge that Darth Vader was her father--once in ROTJ and again when she got kicked out of the Senate and ostracized in Bloodline.

Luke has Leia's lightsaber conveniently hidden in his hut... so now Kylo/Ben can have a weapon of his own in the upcoming fight, gag. (Really, Rey should use it to make a double-bladed saber, but she won't, sigh.)

The flashback looks like a video game to me. The CGI is not terrible, but doesn't look nearly as real as the rest of the film to me.

Also, I'm forever mad that Leia gave up her saber thinking it would save her son, that is SO AWFUL, especially since IT DIDN'T WORK, HE STILL TURNED OUT EVIL ANYWAY AND RUINED YOUR LIFE.

"A thousand generations live in you now" would have so much more resonance if Rey was an avatar of the Force or a reincarnation of Anakin instead of the metaphorical. (Yes, I know it will be realized literally later on.)

[Just realized that Kylo's obsession with Rey would make TOTAL SENSE if she were an reincarnation of Anakin given how much he idolizes his grandfather!!!]

Whyyyyy doesn't Luke talk here about the revelation that Palpatine is alive? That he and his father failed to kill the Emperor? That Rey has to finish LUKE'S journey, too??? But no, it's all about Leia here.

Rey somehow didn't notice the wayfinder in Kylo's TIE until Luke says "you have everything you need"... I guess? I don't know how she missed it before!!!

And the X-wing rises out of the water like the deus ex machina that it is... somehow still spaceworthy after six years in the ocean. Okay, then.

Apparently, Force ghost Luke can still manipulate physical objects through the Force??? Okay, I can kinda buy that, but... still....

I love how Artoo doesn't even wait for Threepio to get started with the bullshit, he just imports the uploaded memories right away without asking. Normally, I'd be mad about consent, but a) they're married, and b) he's restoring Threepio's personality, so I'm okay with it.

I love how warped and creepy the space is around Exegol.

Also, D-O looks just like a desk lamp.

Oh, so the Resistance follows Rey through Luke's X-wing computer via Artoo. Convoluted, but it works, I guess.

Okay, so time for some technobabble, but there's a navigation tower (the new shield generator) they have to hit for REASONS with a "ground team" (aka strike team). Sigh.

Love the dismissal of the "Holdo maneuver"--which is essentially kamikaze-style suicide. Not a great battle strategy if you want to survive the fight.

Wait, wasn't Poe angsting earlier about how nobody answered their call from Crait back in the last movie? What makes him think this is going to be any different?????

Okay, so all the FO folks on are on Exegol now?? Who is piloting and crewing those Star Destroyers?? Are they First Order or Final Order people? What happened to the First Order? What is the relationship between the First Order and the Final Order? Are they the same thing with two different names?? (But no, there are two fleets, the Sith destroyers are different.) What happened to the First Order then? Does anyone notice and/or care the alleged "Supreme Leader" of the First Order is missing in action??? I'M SO CONFUSED.

Okay, it makes sense that Poe is in an X-wing given he's a hotshot pilot, but he's also a general, and... I'm so confused about the tactical aspect of that, but fine, whatever. Also, Artoo is in the X-wing with him instead of BB-8, who I thought was Poe's droid (to the point of reaming Rey over injuring him earlier in the film!!!) WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE???

we're baaaaacck in the creepy sith ruins just like the beginning of the film, but so much has happened that my brain has fried and so the parallels are not as compelling as they could be.

WHEN DID THEY PICK UP JANNAH?? Has she been there the entire time and we just didn't see her until now, or did they stop back at Endor's moon along the way??? I'M SO CONFUSED!!!

Finn has " a feeling" where the ship is... it's the Force, why are you teasing us like that. LET HIM BE A JEDI.

Okay, I actually really like the fact that all the FO deserter stormtroopers from Endor are using their mounts so their enemies can use the tech against them. That's poetic justice right there. And also, epic cool. Good thing all the ships are still in the atmosphere... (nobody's wearing masks like Finn did for the Kijimi pickup)

I don't know how there is lightning in a fucking underground pyramid, but 10/10 for aesthetic, I love it.

"Grandma, it's me, Anastasia"--oh, wait, never mind.

The reveal that Rey is in a giant arena is hella creepy, even though it makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. Where do all these people come from? What do they do? Where do they live? What do they EAT?? Are they born Sith? Brainwashed Sith?? Cultists? Clones??? I NEED ANSWERS HERE.

Palpatine dangling in his creepy metal arm-thing is a lot like GLADoS from Portal.

So... Palpatine can possess the person who kills him in anger??? Explains a LOT about how he treated Luke, actually. And why it was so important that Anakin finish him - one, because Anakin's body was failing, and two, because he did it for love.

Love the aesthetic of the flickering lights for added creepiness and nothing is quite real. Even if it makes no sense. My id knows what it wants, okay??

Jannah and Finn teaming up for the battle is great, BB-8 actually gets to do something for once, and I love Jannah's crossbow.

Oh, now Palps is going to monologue about Rey's parents, while telling us no interesting details whatsoever. Sigh.

HOW THE FUCK DID KYLO GET TO EXEGOL AGAIN????????????????? she left him stranded in the middle of a frikkin' OCEAN... and he just knows how to get back to Exegol without the macguffin,.... how....?

(yes, I know he's supposed to be "Ben Solo" again, but so far there has been zero explanation in the film itself, so I'm just gonna keep calling him Kylo.)

Okay, there's a TIE fighter next to the X-wing, but... where did he GET IT?????????

That "ow" is priceless. I watched that sequence twice.

(clearly Kylo has not been exploring ruins much recently.)

Finn explaining to Rose that he's going to sacrifice himself for the cause, exactly like she wouldn't let him do in the last film... and Rose goes with it. Okay, then.

Now Kylo has to fight his own boy band... who were secretly following the Emperor's orders the entire time (?) THE ENTIRE FIRST ORDER WAS LITERALLY A FRONT TO KEEP KYLO REN DISTRACTED AND KYLO TOTALLY BOUGHT IT. I... have questions, but I actually admire the sheer audacity of this.

Kylo fighting said knights would be way more emotionally engaging if we a) knew anything about them, b) had seen any interactions between Kylo and the knights earlier, and c) gave a shit, but none of those happened, so we don't.

Kylo and Rey have some sort of Force bond communication thing that is super vaguely filmed so it's hard to understand wtf is actually happening. Rey tosss her saber back and... Ben pulls it out behind his back.

what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck what the FUCK

I won't say that wasn't forshadowed, because it kinda-sorta was. I will just say that this movie has NEVER EXPLAINED HOW THEY CAN DO THAT or talked about it at ALL, just treats it like a fact, and I... have questions about how reality can be bent that way even if you are a Force dyad or whatnot.

So Kylo's fight with the knights parallels Rey's fight with a bunch of Imperial guards and it's so hard to care. Th timer says there's still a half an hour left, how is that possible???

So... it's okay to stab people as long as you do it with the properly colored lightsaber, I guess???

Kylo shows up, he and Rey exchange Meangingful Looks, they raise their sabers, Palps zaps them and slurps up "the lifeforce of your bond" and uses it to grow younger, whatever the hell that means ughhhhhhhh please let this be over soon.

Did he know they were a dyad before? Is THIS his real plan? I'm so confused and I have no idea wtf is going on.

RIP Snap. I guess I should care more about you, but I don't think you're mentioned in any of the other movies, so... *shrugs*

Poe has a meltdown but.... Lando shows up AGAIN to give him a pep talk, and also a fleet. Like seriously, Lando gets results, if he'd been running the Resistance, the war would be OVER by now.

Is the "Nice flying, Lando!" Older!Wedge?? I think so. I hope so, anyway.

Zorii shows up too, to fight and also insult Poe over the comm... I guess she's upset about Kijimi being destroyed? (Or maybe not given how she was so eager to get off it???)

Palps tosses Kylo into a pit, which... given that Palps survived, maybe not the best plan if you wanted to actually kill him.

Then he shoots force lightning through the hole in the arena into the sky and... zaps all the new fighters.

Well.

Okay then.

Rey wakes up and... reaches out to the spirits of past Jedi for help. (Apparently, Palpatine doesn't care about her killing him now, because he's young and healthy again, so it's okay to kill her? I guess he can always try again with another grandkid, lol.)

Also, it's funny how Rey is a Palpatine and blood is sooooo important and scary and destiny until someone's trying to diss her and then she's just "a scavenger girl". And by funny, I mean terrible. Sigh.

"I am all the Sith." I don't think the Sith, by the nature of their existence, can embody their predecessors the way that the Jedi can. I mean, to be a Sith is to be alone, and there is that whole Rule of Two business if that's still canon now. I mean, unless the Sith literally eat their masters and thus become them? But it seems a little late for THAT detail.  

But it's okay because Rey's embodying all the Jedi this time (and has TWO sabers, lol) and she turns Palpatine's Force lightning back on himself and he turns into a crisp. You'd think the Sith Lords would have worked out a defense against that, since that's how Mace Windu scarred him in the first place, but okay then.

The entire arena crumbles. All the faceless cultists are crushed by falling rock. Pryde goeth before the fall. Lando rescues Finn and Jannah before Poe can. All the star destroyers are stranded because the command ship is gone and start blowing up.

Anyway, Rey collapses in the ruins. Finn senses her fall. but Kylo climbs out of the pit and cradles her in his arms. (ewww ewww ewwwwwww NOOOOOOO) and cradles her to his chest [gross gross grossssssss she's dead and can't consent and I can't decide if that makes it grosser or not, she's never let him do this while she was ALIVE fuckkkkkk]. He finally lets go and then places his hand on her stomach, and ughhhhhh I have so many issues with this I don't care if he's reformed, he's been stalking for three films, this is NOT OKAY and does the Force healing trick, and...

literally he could have just put a hand on her forehead or shoulder, which I would still hate, but would be less creepy than this.

Rey wakes up, puts her hands on his, sits up, startled and... doesn't say anything, doesn't even flinch, and smiles. "Ben."

and she kisses him. I knew this was coming. I still hate it.

he smiles, falls over, and dies. Like, literally, it's like Rey's kiss murdered him. I'm a terrible person, I know, but I really can't mourn him.

Kylo's body vanishes (Leia's stayed intact, damn it!) proving I guess that he was good after all?? I thought only special people learned the vanishing trick??? Leia's body vanishes right at the same time, and... I don't get it, I really don't.

Maz apparently skipped the final battle to watch over Leia's corpse and I.... definitely don't get it.

was Leia possessing her son this whole time? What. Just. Happened??????

Rey flies away in Luke's X-wing under her own power, and... "Red Five is in the air again," says Finn. People are rising up all over the galaxy, though against what, I'm not clear, and the skies are suddenly clear, implying that the Emperor was warping the weather with his darkness.

We see Star Destroyers blowing up behind Cloud City and on the FOREST moon of Endor with the Ewoks and I just... never knew they were there??? Were they connected to the rest of the Fleet somehow (like the Katana fleet in Legends??) Where did this come from?? Wicket and his son are clearly satisfied, though why they think anything's going to change is beyond me. And was the First Order oppressing them? Why didn't we see any of their fleet when our protagonists were IN THAT SYSTEM AND SO WAS THE OSTENSIBLE SUPREME LEADER???

Another Star Destroyer crashes on Jakku, so literally NOTHING HAS CHANGED THERE, LOL.

Back at the Resistance Jungle Base, everyone cries and hugs, Poe and Zorii have a moment that goes nowhere, Poe's arm is somehow in a sling (???) There's a very brief lesbian kiss, but it gets even less screen time than Rose Tico, so again, don't think that counts as representation, but nice try.

Maz gives Chewie Han's medal from Yavin and... where the hell did she get it??? Leia's corpse??? Creepy!!

Jannah comes up to Lando and asks him where he's from, and when Lando asks the same question, she say she doesn't know. "Let's find out." Wow, that's way more interesting than most of this movie!

Rey hugs Finn and Poe and I... just... it's the tearful hug of "wow, we've all been through a lot of trauma since we last saw each other and also I was a jerk and threw you across the sea with the Force to get you out of my way and I abandoned you without saying goodbye to isolate myself on an island in the middle of nowhere until my ghost mentor reminded me I could save the day".

ButWeDon'tHavetimetounpackThatNow.jpg

Rey takes the Falcon to the Lars' moisture farm on Tatooine with BB-8. No one is in sight. This is an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere, not a shrine to the Legend of Luke Skywalker. Rey slides down the sides on a piece of metal and into the courtyard. She wraps up Luke and Leia's sabers and... we cut to her back up on the ridge near the droid garage, using the Force to bury them in the sand.

Then she pulls out her own saber and it's yellow-bladed and looks like a double quarterstaff (although I only saw the top blade ignite). What she should have had this entire movie.

There's a random woman with an eopie there, who... came over to investigate? there is literally NO ONE ELSE FOR MILES. HOW????

The woman asks who she is, and we have callbacks to that earlier conversation on Pasaana. Rey hesitates, sees Luke and Leia's ghost on the horizon, smiling their approval and says "Rey Skywalker". The movie ends with her standing  watching the double sunset... alone except for BB-8.

Wow, she's literally come full circle from being alone in the desert with a droid to being alone in a different desert with the same droid. What the fuck.

Cue triumphant music and credits.

Oh, and I just realized we never found out what was so important for Finn to tell Rey about... so that went nowhere. I assume it's "he can use the Force" but apparently that wasn't important enough to ACTUALLY INCLUDE, sigh.

Did Rey fuck off to Tatooine to be a hermit? Is she going back to her friends? Is she going to train the next generation of Jedi? How will she keep the cycle from repeating? Is it broken? Is Palpatine really dead this time??? How does she feel about Kylo/Ben?? Is HIS ghost still around stalking her, too? Why did she take the Falcon? Doesn't it belong to Chewie now? Why didn't the rest of the gang come with her???? I'm so confused.

This was even worse than I had anticipated, and I came into this with super-low expectations. This wasn’t bad in a “bad B-movie kind of way,” this was bad in the “nothing makes sense, it’s all jumbled blur, I am numb and cannot begin to care” kind of spectacle.  I cannot imagine watching this in a theater. No wonder the critics savaged this. 

[valkyrieofthehighfae]

Chapter 4

Warnings: Language, canon typical violence, eventual smut Word Count: 2.8k Link to the outfit I picture Dani in Join my taglist here Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 Tagging: @blue-space-porgs​, @miss-spixx​

Warmth was the first thing I noticed as I stirred from a deep sleep, something heavy draped over my waist keeping me weighed down. I rolled over, burying myself in the warmth, savoring it really since my room was so cold for some strange reason. I must have left the balcony doors open again by accident. I seemed to do that far too often during the fall, but I couldn’t help it really; the weather was just too nice to keep my doors shut. Besides, whatever this warmth was next to me, it balanced the chill out nicely, making it comfortable and certainly more difficult to actually wake up and get out of bed.

Wait. Bed? I fell asleep on my chaise last night. How did I end up in bed? My eyes flew open and I found myself curled up against a sleeping Wolffe, my face nuzzled into his chest. I nearly yelped out loud and carefully tried to remove myself from this potentially awkward situation, gasping when his arm tightened on my waist as I began to slowly wiggle away from him. Oh this was not good, this was not good at all. How was I going to get myself out of this predicament? I waited a moment for him to settle back down into sleep before moving carefully out from under his grasp, my bare feet lightly hitting the plush carpet and I quietly padded over to my wardrobe, my heart thundering in my ribcage as I tried to focus on just getting ready for the day, glancing back with a very slight grin at the sleeping troopers sprawled out on the mattresses.

“Morning.” A sleepy voice spoke up from the bed, Wolffe stretching out and getting to his feet, carefully stepping around his sleeping brothers to come stand near me to talk. “How’d you sleep, princess?”

“F-fine, thank you. And you?” I reached up to toy with my hair, something I did when I felt nervous.

“Best sleep I’ve had in awhile, actually. You alright? You look flustered.” He was grinning now, leaning on my wardrobe with a raised eyebrow and muscular arms crossed over his chest.

“Yes, I’m fine! Ah… I distinctly remember falling asleep on my chaise last night. Care to tell me how I ended up in bed with you? I-I mean, fuck, that didn’t come out right. I didn’t mean it like that, I just meant…” I stumbled over my words, wanting the ground to open up and swallow me whole over my poor choice of words. “Goddess, I’m just going to stop talking now.” My face burned hot, a dark gold blush creeping up my cheeks and down to my neck and chest.

“You looked uncomfortable, so I moved you. I hadn’t originally planned on staying in bed, but you wouldn’t let go when I set you down.” He teased me, a playful grin on his face. I groaned, covering my face with my hands, cursing under my breath.

“I am so sorry. This is so mortifying.” I most definitely wanted the earth to swallow me whole even more now. “I’m, uh, I’m gonna… um… I’m gonna go before I make an even bigger fool of myself.” I grabbed some clothes and fled to the refresher, locking the door behind me. Today seemed like the best day to just avoid the man so I could try and get my damn head on straight again. This was just plain stupid having such intense feelings for someone I’d only known for a day. I was going to have to make a little trip to the archives to check into something. It couldn’t have been the matebond, it wasn’t supposed to happen with someone who wasn’t a Fae, and yet… something just clicked, as if we’d known each other our whole lives. That couldn’t just be a coincidence… could it?

The archives will hopefully have the answer I need. This is more than just a silly crush or an infatuation. The bond mark hasn’t shown up, though, so maybe this isn’t a soulbond. I was absorbed in my thoughts, frowning heavily as I tried to recall everything I could about how exactly the soulbond worked. It had been so long since I’d heard the stories that none of the information was coming easily to me. Damn it all, why couldn’t I remember?

Twenty minutes later, after dodging Wolffe as best as possible on the way, I was walking into the archives, coughing a little at how dusty it was in here. Rows upon rows of tall bookshelves filled the large room, while lanterns on the walls gave the room a soft, cozy feel to it despite its enormous size. The books I was looking for in particular were towards the back in a locked book cage for rare and old books, and books that contained knowledge of the lineage of every family in Noveria. I could only hope that there would be some nugget of useful information in at least one of the three books that mentioned the matebond. Any information would be better than stumbling about in the dark like I currently was.

“Let’s see… oh, here we go! Just the books I was looking for.” I stood up on tip toes and took the three books I knew would have the information I needed off the shelf, taking them over to one of the tables so I could sit and read them. “Okay… um… sha, my old Sylvarus is so damn rusty. Let’s see here…” I grumbled softly, making a face down at the pages before me. We rarely used this dialect of Sylvarus anymore, so I wasn’t quite as familiar with the wording and phrasing going on here. This phrase either meant that it was almost never heard of for a Fae to soulbond outside of our people or it was some freaky farm… sex… guide… thing. I was really hoping for the former and not the latter, otherwise I’d have to tear my own eyes out of my head because that is not knowledge of any kind that I needed.

I’m just gonna… set that one aside and try a different book. I closed the deep, faded crimson cover and slid the book aside in favor of a large, black leather bound book with these bright gold embellishments decorating the front cover. This one was thankfully easy to read, most of it written in more recent Sylvarus, though a couple of words here and there had me stopping to think about it momentarily. And yet nothing was pointing me in any sort of helpful direction, it was as if there just wasn’t any sort of information on soulbonds outside of other Fae.

“There you are darling, I’ve been looking everywhere for you! What in the name of Odin are you doing here in the dusty old archives?” My mother took a seat across from me, reaching over to take the two books I’d pushed aside and look them over.

“Looking for some information on the soulbond is all. I… was curious about the process.” I murmured, keeping my gaze pinned down to the book in front of me, heart racing in my chest as I read over the short paragraph over marks left behind from the mate touching the other. I hadn’t had any marks show up, so clearly Wolffe and I weren’t mates! That was quite the relief to be quite honest, that meant these feelings I was having were just nonsensical things that would just go away after they departed! I slumped onto the table, letting out a relieved sigh, much to the amusement of my mother.

“I see, you wanted to find out what you could about your potential matebond with Commander Wolffe. That’s sweet, but don’t rely too much on those old tomes, they’re fairly outdated now.” She took the books, putting them in a stack near the edge of the table. “So we have news for you darling one. You and your uncle will be returning with the Jedi and his clones to Coruscant after the Harvest Festival is over. Your Uncle will be joining their Senate to give our people a voice along with a few representatives of the other courts that make up the Celestial Court. You will be accompanying him to learn what you can and report back what you learn. As far as they’re concerned, we’re sending you along to “broaden your horizons” so to speak, they have no idea we’re asking you to spy on them and find out all that you can about the Republic and the Separatists, as well as how they make their clones.” Mother’s golden eyes were hard, dangerously gleaming as she smiled almost too sweetly, her fangs glinting in the soft lights of the lanterns.

“I… see. Of course, I’ll do whatever I can to find out everything they know and haven’t told us about.” I bowed my head respectfully, averting my eyes from hers. She reached over and patted me on the head before departing, leaving me to sit there in my own thoughts that had quickly become troubled by her plan. I didn’t want to do anything that could hurt Wolffe and the others, but I had a duty to my people and keeping us and our secrets safe. If the Republic or Separatists knew that we could create more Fae from other races, they would either try to destroy us or use us, and I wasn’t going to let that happen.

“Son of bitch,” I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a shaky sigh. This wasn’t where I was expecting my day to be going, but at least I had the matebond cleared up, so that was something at the least. Spying though… it felt wrong and I could just feel a pit in my stomach forming the more I thought about it. “Enough of that, just put the books away and go eat, stop thinking about it.” I muttered softly, forcing myself to get up and put the books back where I’d found them so I could get out of here and grab a bite to eat. Now if I could just avoid Wolffe until I had to depart Ellodeem with them, that would certainly make things easier, or that’s what I was telling myself anyway. I had a feeling this would be a far more complicated situation than it was already turning out to be.

~*~*~

A cold wind snapped my golden skirts about my bare legs as I slipped from the palace into the dead of night, an eager grin on my face as I quickly made my way out to the town, ducking down into a side street lit up with deep purple lights that led the way to a warehouse that was tucked far off from all of the others in the Industrial province. I could already see the flashing lights that just barely penetrated the black paint covering the windows and I was eager to get in there. This was my favorite part of the year, the Festival of Ghosts which happened to fall at the same time as the Harvest Festival this year and there was always a huge party in this warehouse after all of the elder Fae went to bed, leaving us younger Fae to party hard. I strolled into the party, grinning eagerly as some of the door girls pulled me over to paint my exposed skin with glowing silver body paint in intricate designs that glowed brightly under the purple lights. This was the time of the year that I wasn’t a princess, I was just a normal twenty year old looking to have a good time.

“Dani! Here, have a drink,” Ashlyn Amaris, the Court of Dreams princess, came bouncing up to me, a grin lighting up her face as she handed me a goblet of some silvery gold liquid. “It’s kopi’rae! One of our specialties.” She looked pleased with herself when I took a sip, startled by how sweet it was, and proceeded to drain the entire goblet.

“This is amazing! I can’t even taste the alcohol! Let’s get another.” I grinned back, looping my arm through hers and walked over to the bar to order another. While we were getting drinks, one of my favorite bands came out onto the stage, the frontman a Blood Fae that had defected from his court to become a musician. I hadn’t expected them to be here tonight, so I was beyond thrilled to see them getting ready to perform.

“Cute outfit by the way, super sexy. Looking to maybe catch a certain singer’s eye?” Ashlyn joked, nudging me with her elbow. “Or is there someone else you’re hoping will be here tonight?” She wiggled her eyebrows playfully and I rolled my eyes, but laughed at her antics.

“I mean, there is someone I’m interested in, but it’s just a silly infatuation. It’s nothing serious.” I shrugged, watching the band and smiling when the vocalist laid his eyes on me, a grin tugging at his full lips. “Come on, let’s dance! I don’t want to think about men tonight, I just want to have fun.” I pounded my drink back and set the goblet on the bar, taking off to the dance floor as they launched into one of my favorite songs.

I lost myself in the music, swaying and dancing to the beat, Ashlyn and I laughing joyously as we danced. This was exactly what I needed tonight; drinks with wonderful friends and great music to help keep my mind off of everything going on. While it was only a temporary distraction, it was welcome nonetheless.

“Hey, who are they?” Ashlyn was looking over my shoulder, eyeing someone with interest, and I turned to look at who she was referring to, swearing when I saw Wolffe, Boost, and Sinker entering the building. “Wait, is one of them the person you were interested in?” She was grinning from ear to ear now when Wolffe headed towards us after Boost spotted Ashlyn and I.

“If the floor could open up and swallow me whole, I’d be grateful.” I mumbled, plastering a smile onto my face when they got closer.

“You didn’t tell me that he was your mate!” Ashlyn hissed, poking at my back a little.

“What? No, he’s not my mate.” I shot back with a scowl.

“Really? This mark back here says otherwise.” Ashlyn snapped with a smirk, poking at my back once more. “It’s absolutely beautiful, too. All the swirls and that pretty silver coloring to it, it looks so intricate.”

“Oh no. Oh fuck. The book did mention marks could develop slower sometimes. Oh no, no, no, this isn’t happening. He isn’t a Fae, he’s a clone, Ash. This is the first time this has ever happened. I didn’t even think it was possible for a Fae to have a soulbond with anyone other than another Fae.” I was gripping her arm tightly, my chest getting tight as I struggled to catch my breath. Panic was setting in at the thought of Wolffe triggering the bond and I knew as soon as I saw him frown in worry the closer he got, that he was feeling my panic. The connection had been made and nothing could break that bond now, not even death.

“I’ve been looking for you all day. You’re tough to find, princess.” He was staring hard at my club outfit, eyes roving over the very revealing gold and turquoise silken bodysuit with wide eyes.

“We need to talk later. Right now I just want to have fun, drink, and dance. This is my one night of not being a royal, just a normal girl. So either dance with me or go back to the palace.” My tongue darted out to wet my lips, the simple action making Wolffe clench his jaw for a moment, his eyes flicking from mine to my lips. When he didn’t respond, I shrugged, making to go back to the dance floor, and he grabbed my wrist gently, following after me as the band launched into the song I loved the most.

I closed my eyes as I danced, whimpering softly as Wolffe ran his hands down my bare ribs, his fingers dragging goosebumps along my exposed skin while he explored my body, pulling me close to him so our bodies pressed together. Heat blazed a trail down my spine, pooling in my stomach at his touch, the soulbond fully awakening, becoming a raging inferno that was threatening to burn me to cinders. Opening my eyes, I looked up to meet his hungry gaze, swallowing hard at the desire that was laid bare before me; now I understood what my mother had meant when she would tell me the story of how she and my father met. I could feel everything she had described, every emotion Wolffe was feeling, I felt it too. It was overwhelming, too much information far too fast, pummeling into my soul with a force that I hadn’t been prepared for.

“Wolffe.” I whispered his name, clinging to him like my life depended on it. He leaned down, one hand moving from my hips to my face, calloused thumb running over the apple of my cheek tenderly, and kissed me, leaving me reeling from the heady taste of him.