#and revan who like... he loves her like a sister they all made this little family amongst the three of them is like what?

[drxgony]

Points and Laughs SMELLY boy cringe ass. Here's my depiction of Alek throughout the years.

I like to imagine he had blonde hair then dyed it black during his bad bitch running from the Jedi council phase (it's not a PHASE Revan...)

exile/meetra lineup. revan lineup.

[askbensolo]

Happy Halloween, my dudes!

Meet Paige and Rose, my mom's usual go-to sitters for Rey.

"'Sitters?'" I laughed. "What are you—a loth-cat?"

"Well, they can't be my babysitters, because I'm not a baby!" Rey huffed.

...Anyway. Paige is my age. Rose is eighteen...and also? Weirdly obsessed with me.

"You're Ben Solo!" Rose said when she first laid eyes on me. "The Ben Solo!"

I get that often enough that I kinda like to milk it, just a little bit. I struck a cocky stance. "Yeah, that's me—son of Alderaan's last princess, nephew of the Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker—"

"—and author of Ask Ben Solo. I've read your entire blog. Four times."

Ooh. Oooooh.

Cringe.

Rose spent the entire night glued to my side, asking me questions about things that had happened in my teenage years that even I don't remember—but, hey! I finally found someone who wanted to listen to all 15,000 words of my KOR OC's tragic backstory!

Also—hi, Rose. Since I know now that you're probably reading this.

"Drop the lost Ask Ben Solo files, Ben! Please!"

"The—the what?"

"Your college memoirs! Your fans deserve to know everything that happened in those mysterious five years of silence!" Rose lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Me. I'm 'your fans.'"

"Uhh...I'll consider it," I chuckled.

...I wonder how many of my anons were literally just Rose Tico.

Paige is much less social than her sister. I tried talking to her a couple of times, and it didn't really go anywhere—you ask Paige something, and she'll answer you with like five words and go silent again. She kinda has the quietness of someone who's been through hell...and, maybe, hasn't quite made it out yet.

Seems nice, though. And like a good big sister. She kept Rey (and Rose) (okay, fine, AND me) from running into traffic like, ten times.

Paige didn't wear a costume. Rose dressed up as Senator Jar-Jar Binks (and now that I'm a Nabooian citizen, I found that sort of...distasteful, but I chose not to comment on it).

I dressed up as my KOR character, Kylo Ren. He has a super-cool scar on his face that is totally not the result of a slippery-bathtub-shaving-accident. Also—he? And the Dark Lady Revan? Are so totally married and in love or whatever.

Not because I’m into that sap, of course. Just because I want Revan and Kylo to have insanely-overpowered evil Sith babies together. (REVLO FOREVER, I will not tolerate anti-Revlo hate on this blog, BYE.)

Rey, as promised, dressed up as Emperor Palpatine, and had a Force-lightning prop she had made out of cellu-board. "Goooood, gooooooood!" she cackled whenever someone filled her bucket with candy. Despite being a wiry little thirteen-year-old girl, the Palpatine character seemed to come really...naturally to her. Weird.

Well, Happy Halloween!! Rey and I are about to have a candy-eating contest—and I have to prove to her that I ain't boring now just because I got old.

[idkijustneedasideblogbro]

to better remember my bh main choices start-class rishi

Putting all this under a read more if i can get that to work so if ppl don't want to read or haven't done bh story yet but want no spoilers

mako = little sister

Character is opposite of me he is bi but not attracted to girls (will flirt with them tho)

Flirt with everyone but leave them before they want fade to black or sometimes even kisses

Currently thinks Gault is more useful alive than dead

Accidentally convinced Torian not to ask out Mako by not being supportive or unsupported

Has unrequited crush on Torian

Ships Treek and Blizz (their chaos combined could either save or destroy the world no telling which)

Hates Skadge and can't wait to be rid of him

Toed the line w/Tormen until he killed him in exchange for a pardon

Did directive 7 and let C5-M3 go free

Did foundry (made ds choice w/ revan? I think)

Let Torian make the decision about the guy who kidnapped him then regretted it and he just punched the guy and called it even (I head canon that bh didn't tell torian about the letter the guy's employer sent him about killing him for failure)

Considers Mako, Blizz, that one alien guy from hoth I forget his name, and the Mandalor as clan. (Sis, bro,bro, alor (thought ooo am I getting a dad at first but no)) maybe treek as well haven't quite interacted enough yet. And Torian hovers somewhere around feels like clan & bh would love for him to BE clan but it (likely) won't happen (headcanon that bh is contemplating trying to get mako & him together after all so he'll atleast be clan that way)

Let illum enemies live

Flirted with Cytharat (accidentally lets just headcanon that oops as flirting out of habit) and killed Hesk? Hask? (Can't read my own writing)

Flirted with Lana but then flirted with Theron to try unnerving him and oops bh kinda liked that

didn't give Thera Markon the clearance & security things she wanted because it sounded like she name dropped me to intimate her rivals(?idk if that the right word) and imply some kind of closer connection than just "my mom was his mentor for the great hunt & they flirted 1 or 2x."

In his fuck the empire phase since the start of The Tormen Incident tm (aka the I never wanted to work under him but I guess I won't pass him off too bad since it'll give a chance at revenge oh he'll no he didn't just choke Torian incident)

[fallenrepublick]

Okay but is there a Halloween equivalent on Mandalore? Like, “if you scare me successfully I have to give you a reward/treat” What if the baby zabraks heard of this old human tradition of dressing up and asking for treats? I feel like Cherry would LOVE the trick part!

AWW WELL THERE IS NOW

I can see all the kiddos having a blast with the different types of traditions, putting themselves into the activities that they like the most.

Cherry absolutely likes the tricks involved with it, wanting to give the family the most scares as she possibly can, coming up with clever tricks specialized to each person. And usually, they're great, and border on the usual pranks. Once, she covered Maul's room in spiderwebs, which, she was surprised to discover, made him scream. On the other hand, she once nearly made Feral faint during the year that Callan suggested pretending that she cut off her finger by dousing a baby carrot in ketchup. Needless to say, she is not allowed to take suggestions from Callan anymore. At least Maul laughed, though...

The twins, meanwhile, are the heads of the decorating department. They both love decorating the palace up and down, running around and deciding what goes where, the theme of each room. Rica is in charge of most of it usually, as both of them agree that making everything scary is exactly what the best option is, yet Arianne can never quite get the vision to where it needs. Although, she provides exceptional help, as she's in charge of the less frightening rooms and halls that Bee and Clem need. These have cute Halloween decor in them, instead. But sometimes, if you go into Rica's scary areas, you'll find a zombie or two with a tiara. She will defend this addition by her sister with her life.

Bee is the one that best likes to plan out themed meals for the occasion. You know how it is, hot dogs wrapped in puffy baked bread, jello in suspicious colors, drinks that probably shouldn't be bubbling. She likes keeping things on theme, wanting the food to not only be perfectly matching the decor, but also tasting great. Even from a young age, she would stand on her toes and do as much as physically possible to cook, sometimes needing a boost and help with the knife from Savage. For her, doing this right is of the utmost importance, and she sees it as not only fun, but her duty to the occasion.

Clementine was blessed with the costume planning, and she loves every second of it. If there's anything this girl has, it's a sense of style, and most of the kids rely on her to help figure out how they'll dress on that day. They all sit around her room, talking the way little kids do when they believe something is extra serious, with crayons scattered all over the floor. Once, she made Arianne a princess and Callan a knight, which did not make his little baby crush on Ari any better. Rica really wanted to be a horse that year, and Cherry didn't care what everyone else was doing and decided she wanted to be Revan.

Pepper is there with the schedule, every year, without fail. She has to make sure everything is planned so that they can fit in every single activity that everyone wants to do. Baking, eating, watch a scary movie, candy time, eat some more. She's got things planned exactly, and there's no room for change! She literally timed how long it took to read specific books, that's how thorough she is. But he schedule is always perfect, and it works, so no one even wants to fight it.

Callan pretends like he doesn't like the holiday, but always ends up putting together a haunted house. He says he likes hearing people screaming in fear, just because he finds it funny, so this sort of thing works out. Brutus is very involved in the process, sharing his son's love for scaring people half to death, so the house ends up much more terrifying than it would have been if normal people were in charge of it. There've been a few people who have been so scared that they made it out by crawling. Brutus decided that that was high-five worthy.

[annantlegacy]

Sparkly, a fic for @theronshanweek-official.

Day 2: Relationships. Words: 919, rated G, on Ao3 also.

Theron squinted at his datapad, the flickering radiance assaulting his oncoming headache as he tried to focus on supply manifests, personnel lists and...whatever that last thing was. Schematics for a tank? Or was his vision just blurring? His implants ached and his eyes felt like they were a size too big for their sockets. Not a great feeling. He set his datapad down, just avoiding a spot on the bar where some violently green drink had been spilled. He hoped it was a drink, anyway--the liquid’s resemblance to the engine coolant Koth always had him hauling around the Gravestone was uncanny.

Raucous laughter erupted behind him. Curses and threats, slurred and jesting--mostly. He could pick out Len’s and Tora’s voices, the “conversation” cut short by Tora’s distinctive cackle. Sitting at the bar on Theron’s right side, Koth craned his neck, looking for someone.

“Senya!” Koth swiped out an arm abruptly, the woman in question (and still in her impossibly white armor) dodging easily out of his sloppy reach. 

“Come back here Senya. Jerk!” Koth called after her, but he was grinning--wow, that guy had a smile--and Senya’s soft and pleasantly husky laugh followed in her wake. Deprived of his first target, Koth turned to Lana and launched into a diatribe about local food, gesticulating wildly enough he almost spilled his own drink which, Theron noticed, looked like a mini supernova suspended in a glass. Nice touch. 

Lana regarded Koth, blinking like a cat, and shoved a lock of hair behind one ear. She seemed less unimpressed than usual by Koth’s antics, a hint of a smile on her face.

What in the stars?  

Everyone was so...sparkly. Effervescent. Or, whatever the shouty-equivalent of that would be for Len and Tora, who were now arm-wrestling and singing. At least, it sounded like it might be, in the broadest sense, music-like sounds. 

Thereon had seen this kind of sparkle before: whistling in the dark, some people called it. But to him, it was a sign that people really were resilient, even in the face of terrible, unfair and world-breaking things. He’d forgotten about hope, after Ziost. Forgotten it when he’d been disavowed before the whole Revan mess. And if he wasn’t careful, he could forget again, now when the world needed that hope the most. Theron sighed, turning back to his datapad for one more token attempt at working.

“Theron, you really should try to relax.” Lana’s voice dragged him out of broody thoughts.

“Yeah. What she said,” Koth added, pointing to his cocktail. “I don’t know what this is, but it’s like an explosion of happiness and, uh, fire. Definitely not bad for your vital organs at all.”

“Thanks but there will be time for relaxing when--” Theron started, his voice fading to nothing as a familiar person stood at the far end of the cantina, pausing in the entryway before picking his way through the crowd.

“Why hello there, ‘Outlander.’” Lana offered her wry greeting, and Theron could hear the air quotes around the title.

“Hello yourself.”

Theron’s stomach dropped down to his boots at the sound of the other man’s voice, a shiver of both heat and cold dancing along his arms and spine. Outlander, they were calling him. The one who had saved the world in Rishi, and who knows how many times before that, and now...well. Most present in Theron’s mind right now, the man he loved so much that it made him a little dizzy. A lot dizzy.

Because “love” of any kind was a thing Theron had always understood on some theoretical level, but didn’t know much about in practice. He’d figured out somewhere along the way that he loved Master Zho as adoptive family, and Teff’ith as the obnoxious, trigger-happy sister he’d never wanted and now would give his life for. He was pretty sure he loved Satele and Jace in that inexplicable way one loves estranged parents. And he’d found friends along the way, often in the strangest places. The little disaster team on Rishi--Jakarro and C2-D4, Lana (friendship had been a slow and wary thing with her, for sure), and now with the crew of the Gravestone. And the Outlander, a thread weaving through his life since Manaan.

Theron swallowed, pushing away the sudden urge to flee to the ‘fresher or hurl himself off a cliff.

“Hey, look who it is,” he managed to say, the words coming out in a rush. “Don’t worry, we didn’t really start without you,” he added, sheepish. He vaguely registered the other man greeting him, Lana and Koth interjecting by turns, the crash of furniture as Len and Tora’s “friendly” little contest went a good bit south of friendly. The cantina music swelled to a crescendo, a soaring voice and dreamy beats filling the air. Theron felt like he’d thrown back ten of Koth’s happy-drinks. The man he’d dreamed of, written (and deleted and written again times a million) letters to, had given his trust and his heart to moved close to Theron’s side, cantina neon glinting in his eyes and a soft smile curving his lips.

In that moment, Theron understood it: the effervescence, the hope. The way that, because of the other man’s smile, he felt like he could fight the Eternal Empire single-handed. The way that in this one moment, surrounded by friends and comrades and yes, love, he was himself pure light--a supernova caught in his heart, his soul so, so very sparkly.

[queen-scribbles]

🖊🖊🖊

You get some of my SWtOR girls; two of them things I’ve been sitting on for a while, and then the new blueberry Jedi, Endrali

So, the first two are semi-related and I’m just gonna sorta do them together. Vica(Jedi Consular) and Khii(Smuggler) both made the opposite choice from what people might expect given their classes and backgrounds when presented the option of Odessen joining the Republic at the end of Onslaught. Vica stayed independent, and Khii joined. (I may have mentioned one or both of those in passing before, but I need to ramble about motivation and that decision as part of their character arcs.)

🖊  That was a really great character moment for Vica. Honestly, the only thing that was on par or bigger was when she started pursuing a relationship with Theron, and I feel like it’s an even bigger deal for her than completing Echoes will be. See, she’s always been the quintessential Perfect Jedi. Humble, kind, self-sacrificing to a literal fault, follows all the rules bc they must be there for a reason.Helpful, sweet, serene, etc etc. She was actually a perfect fit to be my first run through the Consular story, and my “no DS points” toon. The Jedi were her life. She was found to be Force Sensitive at a very young age and whisked away from her parents early enough she doesn’t even truly remember them (doesn’t even know she has a younger sister *cough* Bry *cough* until after founding the Alliance  >.>). So she, of course, happily did the self-sacrificing thing to save all the Masters in Act 1. It was her duty; a Jedi’s life is sacrifice, she’s the only one who can do this, she can Save Everyone, no matter what it cost her(sidenote: I really wish they would do something mechanic-wise for the whole “you getting weaker” thing as you shield people).  Her views start shifting in Act 2, when she gets to Balmorra, for two reasons:

her massive crush on Tai Cordan that has her questioning the whole “no falling in love” thing even as she tries to ignore her feelings into nonexistence, despite the fact he’s idealistic and kind and driven and a whole host of good, attractive things and she can’t. stop. THINKING about him. It doesn’t go anywhere since BioWare won’t let you flir- I mean, since they both have Responsibilities and she’s trying to be a Good Jedi, which means no attachments like that. 

Zenith. The two of them become extremely good friends, even if they seem like polar opposites, and he challenges a lot of the stuff the Jedi spent roughly twenty years drumming into her head, really makes her think about and defend what she believes and why. Some things she’s not budging on; like showing mercy and giving second chances, so they butt heads sometimes still, but they’re unflinchingly loyal to each other and 100% trust each other to watch their backs. (Zenith saying he trusted her felt as much like a victory as completing a romance) He’s the one who really made her start wondering if there was a way to balance her own needs and desires with serving the needs and desires of the Republic and Jedi Council and the Rift Alliance. 

She spent the rest of the base game working things out for herself, which means she missed Iresso’s romance, and honestly still feels conflicted about being  “selfish” all the way up until the Shadow of Revan prelude stuff, where she meets Theron and goes “OhNO” bc if she thought her crush on Tai was bad, the way her heart sticks in her throat and her words get all jumbled up now are so much worse. And she decides to be selfish for once in her life and thus Theron is the first time she lets herself want something(someone) and actually pursue it, instead of burying the feelings until they go away. (There’s a reason the traitor arc hits much, much harder for her than it did Jaaide, and this is a big part of it)

She finds it a.... tricky but worthwhile balancing act--even if she is a terribly inexperienced flirt, sorry, Theron--to show interest in someone and still mostly be a Good Jedi.But it works. And it makes her happy and the galaxy doesn’t come to a screeching halt, so it’s okay, right? 

Over the following years(at least, the ones she’s not frozen in carbonite thanks, Arcann), she also develops her skills at being a leader, not just a diplomat or Jedi, actually a leader. She gets the hang of making decisions not based solely on what the Jedi Code or teachings say, because sometimes they don’t help(sometimes they make things worse), how to run something like the Alliance where everyone is looking to her. And sure, Theron and Lana are a big help and do their share of the work(and then some, on occasion), but she is the Leader. The Commander. And she is proud, in the proud-parent sense, of what they build, and what they endure. And much as being a Jedi still means to her, when given the chance to rejoin the Order and tie Odessen to the Republic she served for so long, she finds she likes the idea of being an independent ally more. She likes being her own person, just with Jedi values as part of her moral code. She likes having that independence and not having to abide by rules and decisions she didn’t help make. (she likes waking up next to her husband every morning, his fingers running over her tattoos, as both of them wonder how they got so kriffing lucky) It was definitely a defining character moment for her that she said no to the Chancellor’s offer. I was honestly sort of proud of her; she was my fourth toon through Onslaught and I thought she’d want to rejoin. But she went “Nah, that’s not me anymore” and it made my day. (nothing against the Jedi or the Republic; I just love it when my characters develop and grow and do unexpected things)

🖊 And Khii. Khii was the opposite; she grew up on Nar Shadda, with no parents after age six. She doesn’t even know if they abandoned her or were killed or what; just that they left one day and never came back. So she got thrown into the life of a street orphan and had to take care of herself. No family, no home, no knowing who she could trust. Not daring to get attached to anyone bc you never knew when a gangster would decide you looked at them funny, or someone would OD or a slaver would come though... there was a long list of ways to lose friends. Better not to have any to start with.  Over the course of the base game, the Republic started to feel like a home. An imperfect one, sure, but better than where she came from. And she got attached. Her crew is her family, Bowdaar is her wing Wookiee, and she’s actually pretty happy with the privateer gig. Girl does what she has to to survive, and a steady paycheck from one of the biggest powers in the galaxy is a pretty solid way to do that. (Darmas and Dodonna’s betrayal really stung for her. She’s my only Smug so far who actually killed Darmas bc she was so darn pissed at him. Also, she never liked him. Wanted to shoot him any time he hit on her.). So, of course, much as the Alliance also feels like a home and a family by this point, she really liked the sense of belonging she had as a Republic Privateer and she likes the idea of funding help, so she was saying “sign me up” almost before Chancellor Rans finished talking. 

🖊 For Endrali, since she’s only just landed on Coruscant, we’re going with pregame backstory. SO. She’s a child of the Sabosen family (Sabosen’dra’listral for her full name), who are responsible for social aspects like justice and education among the Ascendency in Legends canon. Given the Chiss views on the Force, it was something of a problem for her family when two year old Endrali started making her toys float just by wiggling her fingers. Her parents are both highly placed in their fields, and having a Force sensitive child would be damaging to an extent they weren’t sure they could weather. They managed to hide her away with excuses about being a sickly child until she was four. At that point, her powers were strong enough they couldn’t hide her anymore, and whispers and rumors were starting as to what could be wrong with this child that no one had seen her in two years, and they knew they’d have to give a more satisfactory answer soon.

Her father was.... acquainted with a trader who occasionally visited the fringes of Chiss space, but was not Chiss himself. He happened to come through as they were deciding their course of action, and so Endrali’s parents gave her to this trader, told him to find her a home somewhere outside Chiss space, and paid him handsomely for the trouble. They told any who inquired that Endrali had succumbed to her illness and they were devastated by the loss of their child(which they were; they did love her, they just knew if she stayed it would be death or exile for her and shame for them). 

The trader actually kept his word. His first stop was Coruscant, where a Jedi sensed how strong Endrali is with the Force and persuaded the trader to let her take this little Chiss girl for Jedi training. It fulfilled his goal, and Jedi are trustworthy, so the trader agreed rather easily. Endrali’s parents had given him some of her things, which he passed on to the Jedi--including documentation with both her full name and her core name, and a note insisting whoever adopted her never let her come “home”.Those records went in an archive somewhere and were essentially forgotten. She was introduced as Endrali, raised as Endrali, happy as Endrali. The Jedi are her family, and she is content. 

[lyrishadow]

Come back.

Nymai and Theron - freshly written and a little bit raw but you get that with a prompt a day. So have a little bit of an all over the place fic? 

Prompt number: 1 (“no, come back!”)

Fandom: Star Wars the Old Republic

Rating: G

Pairing: Theron Shan/ Nymai (OC) Title: Where you Came From Warning: Discuses a little about slavery.

“No, come back!” His voice was irritated, and they were starting to get looks from people who were passing by the Commander’s quarters on Odessan. Nymai shrugged and kept walking as Theron ran to catch up.

“Ny.. c’mon… I wasn’t …. I didn’t…” Theron stuttered as Nymai turned, to onlookers the Sith looked angry, though it was never a sure thing with a pureblood - they often looked angry regardless. “Not here, Theron.” he shook his head  jutting his chin at the curious onlookers “Outside.”

They made their way to the lift that would take them downstairs.

“I’m sorry,” Theron muttered. “I should have thought before I said that.”

“No… we need to talk about it, just… not inside where everyone can hear us.” Nymai sighed in frustration “Really should see about soundproofing my quarters.”

As they exited and stood in the sunlight near Nymai’s ship, the old fury he flew around the galaxy, and became a sith lord on. Dusty, now he didn’t use it constantly, and yet still home. His ancestor had even appeared on there, of all things, hopefully, that ghost was resting now. “My mother died in those camps, I had a sister who was taken away, and there is… “ Nymai sighed “there is the fact I was a slave. I know what it was like.”

“I didn’t know your mother died in the slave camps.” Theron glanced at his husband with a sad look “I even forget that you were one too.”

“Slaves are not things to be listed as numbers, they are people,” Nymai replied as they rounded the corner of the ship. “Especially by the Alliance that I am the leader of.” “I know. I will fix it. I am sorry.” Theron sighed “It is easy for me to get caught up in the work and forget about the people I am dealing with, doing this for.”

They had found a slave camp; a place where human lives were traded back and forth for pleasure and work. Theron had been trying to do logistics, numbers, instead of people, and he had said as much to Nymai. 

“Was it... I mean how was it?” Theron stuttered a little, it was hard to ask about something so deeply disturbing on every level to the happy Nymai he was used to. They had talked at length about Mast Zhou and some of the different things Theron has done. How he had only barely connected to his father, and that his mother was absent - and had disappeared again. “You know my past, but  we don’t really talk much about yours.”

“It was a while ago, I admit time does ease the pain,” Nymai nodded, gesturing that they should sit down and relax on the ramp that led to the fury. “Even being a sith lord was a while ago.”

“I guess I forget sometimes, you have lived this whole other life.” Theron paused a little to lean back against Nymai on the ramp. “Without me.”

“I wish… “ Nymai started then shook his head “No, I would not wish that on anyone, let alone on you, the Empire is not a kind place to anyone.”

“You really had to fight to get through?”

“Everything in the Empire is a fight - even if you are born in the right places, with the right amount of force, and so on, it is a fight to be noticed, be someone.”

“I never thought of it that way; we always just imagine the Empire as something evil and Imperials as this collective evil machine we need to fight against,” Theron said it lightly but the facts behind the statement were sound. The Republic propaganda machine had been saying the same rhetoric for years. If he had not met Nymai, he would have believed that the rhetoric was true, because of Nymai, he had found out that the Empire, though not a good thing, did indeed have good people in it. “My mother, may she rest in peace, told me to go with the status quo until I could escape to the Republic. She believed the Empire was flawed, and broken, that her people - her own people the Sith - had sent our family to die in the pits because of greed and revenge”

“I never knew that.” Theron pondered “Is that why you gravitated towards me?”

“Initially yes.” Nymai laughed as Theron scrunched his face up, “but once I realized that I was falling for you… “

“When was that?”

“When you were captured - or rather Lana let you be captured, I thought I would tear Rishi apart to look for you.”

“Thanks…. I think you got me when you smiled at me the first time.” Theron grimaced knowing how absolutely crazy that sounded. Love at first sight? WIth a Sith?

“Theron, you are a sucker… and I love you.” Nymai laughed

“Are we ok Ny? I didn’t mean to hurt you with what I said.” 

“We are fine, and arguments are normal. I know you want to ask me things, go on.”Nymai could see Theron had been wondering about things and now he could ask the

“How… if it is okay to ask... How did you end up as a slave?”

“It’s ok like I said before, these things need to be talked about.” Nymai closed his eyes to recall a time away from the sun.

“I am here still, not going anywhere, not even to work.” Theron drew a deep breath because not working was a big deal Nymai had known when Theron followed him outside he had his full attention, and he appreciated it. Theron continued speaking as Nymai took his hand in his. “I want to know more about where you come from, where you came from.” They were now quite comfortably lounging on the ramp for the fury.

“The slave pens, the pits, none of those are a nice place, Theron, they are dark, cold and isolating.” Nymai could not drop the bitterness from his voice “If you do something wrong, like use force abilities, you will be reported by someone trying to be better than you, or trying to get up the ladder”

“Using force abilities is wrong?” 

“Yes, more likely to get you killed than assigned to the Academy. Fortunately for me, when they caught on that I had more than average force ability… “

“That is an understatement.” Theron breathed, he had seen Ny fight more times than he could count now, and seen how he channeled absolute focus to wield the force as a weapon. 

“I was still hiding it… first my mother had kept the secret because she did not wish another child taken away.”

“You have an older sister?”

“Had… I am certain that they took her away to kill her.” Ny shook his head, he had not thought of his sister in years. “Her name was Kai, she was far more curious about the world and took far more risks than I did. She would also use the force for small things, like lighting the fires in the morning.”

“Oh.” Theron kind of knew where this was going.

“She was reported, and we never saw her again.” Ny shrugged, “Such was the slave pens however that you often just thought of yourself rather than of anyone else. Even family.”

“And your mother? What was she like?” Theron wondered what his mother would have been like in a similar position. Though he was not the force-sensitive child they had all expected to come from the lineage. 

“She was nothing like you would expect a matriarch of a SIth family.” Ny paused “ She was opinionated, strong-willed, and stubborn;  but if she loved you if you were family, she was kind, gentle, the absolute best towards you - she would also give a stranger the shirt off her back if she could. In the pens, she became known as everyone’s mother because she cared more for others than herself..”

“I see where you get that from.” Theron murmured.”You would sacrifice yourself for everyone else.”

“Especially for you.” Ny grinned “My mother would have liked you. Not approved exactly, she had visions of a great sith legacy being reclaimed.”

“Ah, I see.” Theron shifted a little in his seat, being reminded of the idea of legacy he recalled the events of Rishi yet again. “My own legacy I am not sure if it is worth continuing..”

“Revan.” Nymai replied “He was already mad when we invaded the Foundry, he was… determined... That all Sith should die, regardless of right or wrong.”

“It took me a while to learn… “ Theron admitted.

“Irrational fear of my race is rather common with the Republic?”

“Irrational fear of any race…” Theron sighed “Especially if you are force sensitive by nature.”

“Even the Massasi are force sensitive.” Nymai pointed out “But I am joking, I know we have a terrible track record.”

“It would be good to… adopt maybe..” Theron broached the subject twiddling his fingers around “I mean, it would make your mother’s wish fulfilled and…”

“And we could have our own children? Save someone along the way?” Ny asked with a smile now “That could make up for many things in my past.”

“It would mean we have to find a better place to live than on base.” Theron’s comments were accurate, they had not even been able to have an argument on site.

“Do you think they hate us?” Ny gestured to the building “Witnessing every little thing we do or say?”

“Not everything.” Theron coughed, turning a shade red.

“Hahaha... Okay, not everything.” Ny laughed, “But still, anywhere you are, is home enough.”

The sun was setting now, the afternoon spent talking had started with a mild argument, and ended as all of their days lately ended, with declarations of love. As long as this lasted, it would be enough. 

[spectraspecs-writes]

Leviathan - Chapter 103

Link to the masterpost. Chapter 102. Chapter 104.

@averruncusho @ceruleanrainblues @chubbsmomma @strangepostmiracle thank you for reading, you get a tag. @skelelexiunderlord thank you for support, you get a tag.

——–

It takes them about a half hour to take all my stuff. Mostly because I made it difficult for them. By the time they’ve got all my stuff off, they are furious. But like a patient kind of furious, you know? Because they think they’ve got some big surprise in store for me. They think I’ve just got a mouth and nothing to back it up. Like I’m all bark and no bite. They’re in for a big surprise when they find out this kath hound has fangs.

They don’t even bother to blindfold me or nothing as they walk me from the detention area, where everyone else is, and the cell block. At least I won’t need a map to know where I’m going. I just have to know all these turns, get some landmarks in my head.

There’s a cell open, just for me. The Sith trooper gets close to me to push me in. If I can get him to get that close one more time, I can get his passcard out of his pocket. “Come on, girlie,” he says, tired of me, “Into the cell. Let's go, I haven't got all day to waste on you. I need to get back to my post.”

“Quit crowding me!” I say, pushing back against him, “Sheesh, I've met Gamorreans who didn't smell as bad as you Sith.”

Nope, that doesn’t get him close. “You think you're pretty funny, don't you?” he says, “But you're only making things worse for yourself.”

“How come every time you open your mouth to talk the scent of rancor dung comes out?”

Nope, that didn’t do it either. “Maybe a little time in solitary confinement will teach you the proper respect for the Sith! Now, get into that cell!” He shoves me in.

“Who designed those Sith uniforms anyway?” I goad, and I hope this one works because I’m running out of ideas, “A blind Rodian with a sick sense of humor?”

Now he gets close. But not quite close enough. “That's funny,” he says sarcastically, “You should tell that one to the torturer when he comes to deal with you.”

Almost got him. Maybe if I act scared he’ll get a little closer, close enough. “What?” I say sweetly and innocently, “You're… you're going to torture me?”

Got him! “No snappy comeback this time? The thought of torture scares you, hmm?” Almost got it… “Well, it should! The Sith have ways to inflict pain you can't even imagine.” Like the pain you’ll get when your superior realizes a 15 year old Twi’lek stole your passcard? “It may be a few hours before your torture begins; we're busy interrogating your friends right now.” So there’s somebody important with Rena right now? Good to know. “Hey, I know!” the trooper says like he’s being clever, “You could use this time to think up witty ways to beg for mercy.” He closes the cell on me and walks away laughing.

“Or,” I whisper to myself, “I could use the keycard I lifted from your pocket to slice into the security panel and get myself out of this cell.” This looks like one of the simplest systems I’ve ever cracked, geez. “Piece of cake!” I say, “I wonder when people will stop underestimating me?”

Now comes the fun part! Like a big game of hide and seek, except dangerous. Griff and me used to break into the Vulkar base, and he taught me how to walk quietly. He had a sound-dampening stealth unit, but he couldn’t afford two, so I had to be quiet and stealthy without one. He taught me that if I set my heel and my toe down at the same time, it would muffle the sound of my footsteps. So I shift over to the opposite wall and peer around the corner. Looking for a guard or something. He’s got his back turned. I quickly cross the hallway over to the footlockers at the end. Riot gear and contraband - awesome. Both are super easy to break open. My stuff now! There’s some armor, a couple blasters, and some medpacks in the first one, and some computer spikes and a stealth field generator in the other. Plus some other stuff, but I don’t want to load myself down with stuff I don’t need right now. If they had a vibroblade I’d totally use that, but they’re just normal swords. Plus I’ve got the advantage from a distance. Even with the armor on, I can’t take too many hits, and I’m not really strong enough to do a lot of damage with a normal sword. Plus, this is just like that program I did with HK earlier! I’ve got this!

“Psst!” Huh? “Psst!” I don’t think that’s a Sith. I’m being whispered at by a Rodian in a cell.

He starts whimpering at me in Rodese, but I have to stop him. I’ve never been good at understanding Rodese. “I’m sorry,” I whisper back, “I don’t understand you.”

He mumbles a bit to himself, then says in broken Huttese, “You not Sith! Help me out of this cell, and me help you!”

I don’t know… I’m only here to help Rena and everyone else. I don’t know this guy. I don’t think the Sith are right at all, but maybe this guy is in prison for a reason. “Who are you?” I ask.

“Evil Sith unjustly capture me and my ship! They think we spies. They torture all the crew, trying to get information.” This Sith really love torture, huh? “But we not have any information to give. But Sith not care. They ‘interrogate’ captain until his mind snap. Then they grab first mate. Then navigator… they all crazy now. Minds gone.” Oh my gosh, that’s terrible!” So sad, but they nothing but animals now. Me lowest rank on ship, but now me only one left. Soon Sith come to interrogate me, too. But me not know anything! Me just… uh… me just trader in ‘rare’ goods.”

Huh? “What do you mean by ‘rare’ goods?”

“Me bring things to people in need,” he says, “People who need things they can't get normally.”

Hang on. No. Way. “You’re a smuggler?” I say, “That’s so cool!”

“Me helps people, and people helps me!” he says, “You helps me, and me helps you, yes?”

“How can you help me?”

He gets close to the force field. “Me have something special. Something you can use on ship. Something very powerful… an ICE breaker.” A what now? “You use it to override Sith security programs.”

“That sounds so cool!” But wait. “How did you get in here?”

He grins. “Sith, uhm, Sith not very thorough in search, hehe.”

But where could he have kept it that they wouldn’t -- “Eww! That’s gross!”

“Think what you will! But me have way into computers, and computers have way into hangar. Me can get off ship eventually, while you still running around corridors, fodder for guards.”

Well, I mean… I was just thinking about how I have no way to get into the computers on my own. I can get past any door, get into any secured space, but I’m not really good with computers. Neither was Griff, there wasn’t really anything he could teach me about them, you know? I don’t really have a choice here. “Get cards from guards to get me out of cell. Me not want to be here when Sith torture me. You get me out, and me give you ICE breaker. It better than a hundred computer spikes!”

I scoff. “I don’t need to get any cards,” I say, and I pop open the security panel. “For a huge planet conquering operation, the Sith really need to bump up their security measures.” This is too easy! The force field goes down, no problem.

The Rodian looks from me to the panel in shock. “Maybe you no need ICE breaker. You talented little girl.”

“Who you callin’ little?”

He smiles and gives me the ICE breaker anyway. “Here, you helped me, now me helps you. Me has tuned the breaker to work on the brig computers, so you use it on brig level. It not work anywhere else.” My fingers feel gross. “Remember, the breaker only good for one use, so you not waste it. You go fight guards, me go and hide now, wait for chance to get to ship.” He rushes off.

I’m not sure how much fighting I’m going to do, either, though. I remember where the detention cells are - I think I’m just going to activate the stealth field and just sneak my way there. Any Sith I could take on, Rena, Carth, and Bastila could do way better and in way less time.

I activate my stealth field and begin the slow careful walk to the detention area. There aren’t a whole lot of Sith around here, which is weird, but I guess most of them are on the command level. You’d think more would be here, though, since Carth and Bastila are both high-level targets. That’s how Rena and Carth ended up on Taris, they said the Sith attacked their ship looking for Bastila. And Carth was a big deal in the Mandalorian Wars, right? Plus he knows Admiral Karath, so that personal connection has to mean something.

I don’t know why they’re so interested in Rena, though. I mean, sure, she’s bad ass, but so is Canderous and they weren’t so interested in him. I can’t figure what their motivation was for that.

We do seem to be the hot topic of conversation among the guards, though. “She completely buckled under the pressure,” I hear one of them say, sort of laughing, “All the Admiral had to do was threaten her boyfriend, she answered every question!”

“Couldn’t stand to see him torture, eh?” another says, “Not at all like the Revan I remember.” But Revan’s dead. And a dude, right? Unless… what if Revan was a woman the whole time? Maybe that’s why the Sith were so interested in Bastila! No way, Bastila’s a Sith Lord? And they tortured Canderous? Bastila’s been helping us the whole time though! Why would she help us if she’s Revan?

“She doesn’t remember it,” the first says, “The Jedi must have wiped her memory.” Oh, so that’s why Bastila’s been helping us! She doesn’t remember. That’s a pretty horrible thing for the Jedi to do, though! I always thought they were the good guys! I mean, I guess I could be mad at Bastila, but it seems to me that if she doesn’t remember being Revan, it doesn’t really matter anymore. When I picture her in my head, I don’t see any Dark Lord, I see my friend, who’s helped us through everything! Someone who’s like a big sister to me. And it’s not like I’m not going to save her. It’s the right thing to do. I don’t think I should tell her, though. She might not believe me.

“I’ll bet Lord Malak will be surprised to see her,” the second one says, “Any word on when he’s arriving?”

“I know he’s on his way,” the first one says, “Admiral Karath called him shortly after we brought them on board. It shouldn’t be too long now.” Then I better get moving! I don’t want Bastila to still be here when Malak gets here. Since she’s Revan… I don’t even know what could happen! And I don’t want to find out.

The detention area is locked up tight, though. It shouldn’t be a problem for me, though, right? Okay… this is taking a little while.

… that didn’t work. Try again?

… geez, this is harder than it looks…

… why is this so hard to break into? Darn it!

Okay. Time for a different approach. This is a really hard security system. Guess that makes up for how simple it was earlier. If I can find a computer, I can use this ICE breaker and open the door. I think it would have to be a brig computer, though, not just the first one I find. The Rodian said he tuned it for this level, but since it’s only got the one use, I don’t want to risk it. So back to the cell block area.

I didn’t see one near the cells themselves, so there must be one in a control office nearby. The first door I come across close to the cells is just before them. It’s not secured so it opens right up.

Two troopers. Okay. They don’t see me yet, I’ve still got the stealth field up. And I can’t get at the computer because one of them is in front of it. And I can’t afford to wait, either, if Malak’s coming. Who knows when he’ll be here? I’ve got to get everyone out before he does. Maybe Bastila won’t even find out she’s Revan if I can get everyone out before Malak gets here. So I’m gonna have to take care of this myself. I let the door close first, so nobody in the hallway will know what’s going down. I slowly pull out the blaster and fire off two quick shots at the one near the computer. He didn’t even see me coming, wasn’t ready at all, and he falls against the console and hits the floor. I turn to the second one and fire before he can even pull out his blaster. Whoo. That went well. Awesome.

I stand at the computer and pull out the ICE breaker, hook it up to the computer. It processes for a little bit. Then, “ENTER COMMAND.” Cool. Open detention area. “DETENTION AREA OPEN.” Log out.

The walk back to the detention area is just as slow as it was the first time. But the door is open. Another computer terminal, but this one isn’t even secured. Guess they were counting on that heavy door to keep anyone out. I unlock the cells and the storage area at the same time.

“Mission!” I hear Zaalbar call. He comes over and hugs me tightly. Canderous smiles at me, trying to hide it but I can tell he’s proud of me. Glad I’m all right. Then Carth, Bastila, and Rena.

“Good job, Mission!” Carth says, “I knew you wouldn't let us down. When we get out of this I'm going to see you get a medal from the Republic for everything you've done!”

“It wasn’t that much,” I say with a shrug, trying to be modest.

“You did good work, kid,” Canderous says.

Really, though, I’m just… glad I could help.

[mrneighbourlove]

The Rising Sun: Ch 5. Power Exchanged

"Oh thank the goddesses we're here."

"I thought we'd never hear the prattle end from your grandfather about his glory days."

"Give him a break, he's old and just wants to give an impression that he can still kick ass."

"Can he still kick ass?"

"I... think so? To a degree? If you're close enough to hit with his cane, perhaps."

"Or his farts, those are lethal."

“Oh, hush the lot of you.” Ganondorf, former King of Hyrule, had grown older with age. Man was just over a century of age. Even kept his build up over all the decades. Up until Zelda passed away. His wife’s death shook him to the core, and over the last few years since her passing, he lost muscle mass. No need to work out, but also a loss of spirit. Still, he held joy for his family: children, grandchildren, friends. And this day was one of the most joyous he’d ever have in a long time.

With all his children and grandchildren finally gathered, with their significant others, they were traveling to Taiyo Town in a large caravan.

"We would have been here sooner if you didn't have to stop to pee ten times."

"Shut it, you were the one that kept complaining about being hungry."

"I was hungry! What's wrong with being hungry?"

"Ganonpa," Luimaya sighed in annoyance, listening to her siblings and cousins’ bicker. "How did you do it with Dad and his siblings?"

“To be honest, it was your grand mother that was the level headed one. I often encouraged some healthy bickering. Was also easy to haul you all by the scruffs when you’ve been misbehaving. Also helped to have Rinku and Leere step in once in a while.” The Mortuus had a nice cloak to protect her skin from the sun. Sunny was letting little Joy play with Skyla. “Well that became difficult when all our younger siblings become rebellious giants.”

"Hmph, when you could catch us by the scruff, old man."

"Remember that time when we pranked him with the stink bomb with Skull Kid?"

"He chased us through the halls for hours before giving up."

"I told you it wasn't a good idea at the time."

"What do you mean, Lui? It was your idea."

"Yes, my idea, just not at that time. He was in a mood that day and we set it off."

"What are we even doing here, anyway? I thought the future queen couldn't leave the castle unless it was for diplomatic reasons."

"It is." Luimaya clarified. "I'm here to meet the leaders of Taiyo Town."

"But you're going to be the queen, and you're Gerudo. So, doesn't that make you their leader?"

Revan cleared his throat, sitting next to Nakeso and Luimaya. There were so many grandkids he’d barely known here now. Not to mention, he was finally about to enter the town his father put so much time and attention into. The whole feeling was daunting, but he did his best to relax. Heck, Kanisa’s kids didn’t even look like Gerudo. “Well, yes and no. All the tribes of Hyrule ha e either sworn fealty to the crown of Hyrule or formed alliances. So technically, my father and anyone else who’s in charge here could lead without outright obeying Covarog and later Luimaya.”

Luimaya and Ganondorf both shot Revan a glare at his words. Like grandfather, like granddaughter, it seemed. She definitely inherited his scowl. Evidently, the two of them agreed on the premise that the Gerudo of Taiyo Town should still hold some respect for the original King, his son, and granddaughter. "We don't want a repeat of the past, Revan. We're going to ensure it stays peaceful, but there has to be some grounds of respect." Luimaya told her bodyguard. "Your father or another leader, it matters not."

“I never suggested that.” Revan drew closer to Nakeso, freezing when his thigh touched hers. “And I’m sure my dad isn’t a fool. Just stubborn. Something I’ve heard and know you two can have in common.”

The cart laughed as Ganondorf merely smiled lightly in agreement. It wasn’t something he could deny.

"That's right, you're the fool and he's just stubborn." Luimaya teased, earning another round of snickers from everyone in the caravan. "You've nearly gotten yourself killed numerous times, not counting the times you were trying to watch my back."

"I don't know who is the worst, Revan or you."

"Revan." The grandkids all responded in unisons.

"He has more tallies." Nakeso held up a notebook. "Revan has nearly gotten killed 158 times while Luimaya is only at 37."

"What? Really? I thought she'd have more."

"She's reckless, but she's not stupid enough to put herself in situations to die."

"True."

"Hey! Your future queen is hearing all this!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know it's true."

Revan was bright red in the face. “It hasn’t even been a year since- Wait, how long have you kept that book around for?”

"Since you were five and almost stuck your head into a forge to prove you were fireproof like your sister." Nakeso remarked, earning a snort from Donoma. "I still can't believe you did that."

"He was just jealous that I could walk in fire without getting burned." Donoma giggled. "And pouted when I held fire in my hands like a ball. Insisted he could do it too. I don't think I've ever seen Mama scold him like that for an hour."

Revan was growing uncomfortable. Pretty much every grandchild was not only older than him, Ralnor’s children themselves being in their mid thirties to cap the height of age, but they were all together on his misery. Even Donoma seemed to be more suited with them. “Yeah. Sure.” When he saw Skyla looking at him, he sighed, secretly signing to her. “ Least I’m not afraid of spiders.”

"You in trouble. A lot." Skyla signed in return with a small smile. She was still shy, like she was when a tiny girl, but had opened up to her cousins and was flourishing in her studies to be a veterinarian. "But good fighter. Luimaya lucky to have you. Don't worry. Everyone loves you. Just tease you cause love you."

“Could fool me.”

“Hey ya’ll!” Rinku shouted from the front of the horse cart. “We’re here. You all behaving back there? Hate to turn this ride around~”

"Hey, if we're not behaving, it's only because we learned it from you." Covarog snickered.

Orana jested with him. "Yeah, you tell her."

“Well, you got me there.” They could hear the putter patter of her feet walking on the sand to the doors. Opening them, sunlight poured inside. “To those unaccustomed by desert heat, please apply sunscreen that’s been provided. This mostly applies to my gothic sister pale as a vampire and Kanisa’s one eyed, blue skinned, always a pleasurable attitude husband and my adorable nephew and niece from Uskar. My sister in law Sunny has provided sun hats for those who prefer them.”

"Is your sister always this cheery?" Vidar grumbled in Uskarian to Kanisa. He absolutely loathed the desert and the heat. The poor man looked miserable. "I don't see how it's possible with all this sand and sun."

"Just deal with it a little while longer please, love." Kanisa assured her husband. "We'll be back in Uskar soon enough."

"If I don't melt first."

Leere addressed Skyla and Joy together with Tebanem. “Since you’re both the youngest, I’d like you both to stay together at all times. Stay within eyeshot of an adult.”

"Hey! I'm not a kid." Tebanam huffed. "I'm an adult!"

"She means Skyla and Joy, Teb." Faris clarified, amused, to his husband. "She doesn't want them wandering off."

"Oh."

The shit eating grin on Leere’s face filled up until she couldn’t help but keel over in laughter. “If you need the advice of the oldest siblings, talk to me or Luimaya, Tebby. I’m sure Kanny will love to be your pair buddy~”

"Oh shut it, I knew what you meant, I was just joking." Tebanam refused to look her in the eye, crossing his arms.

Once all the others had stepped outside, Ganondorf made his way out of the cart. It had been too long since he breathed desert air and tasted life upon the winds. With light robes he turned to the massive walls of the town. Was like a fortress. “Impressive.” The gates opened as Revan and Donoma handed out passes to the men that their father had given them in advance. What awaited inside amazed the old king. Gerudo of all shapes and sizes interacting as a community. Everyone of them shouted out one big greeting when they saw the family gathering. “VASAAQ!!! SAV’AAQ!!!”

Revan himself blinked, surprised by how many red headed women there were. He looked at his sister surprised. “You’ve been coming here?”

"Yeah, what of it?" Donoma was taken aback by her brother's surprise. "I've learned a lot about our history. Mama taught me all I needed to know of what we had of Lorleidian history. Dad taught us what he knew of Gerudo history, but there's only so much he can teach. The rest of it needs to be experienced. Besides," She waved at a few of her friends. "I've made a lot of progress in my studies and I have friends here. It's nice to have a second home."

“Must be nice.” Revan couldn’t help but let his bitterness out. Was he not Gerudo enough to belong here? The man of the hour appeared. Malik opted for stylized, yet comfortable robes. Beside him, Gali was wearing a nice Vai dress. The Lord of Taiyo Town smiled to Zarazu before addressing the group as a whole. “My extended family, and royal family of Hyrule. I am honoured that you can finally see the hard work all of our generations have worked towards. The Gerudo people prosperous once again. I welcome you to Taiyo town.”

Each family member extended their greeting politely before the King spoke. "I am impressed by the amount of work here, and absolutely delighted that we finally are able to see the restoration of our people." Covarog then noted Gali. "Please let me to express my thanks in allowing Lord Malik to help you oversee the construction of Taiyo Town. May I present my wife, Queen Zarazu of the Lorleidians," He gestured to his lover. "And my children. Marena and Syrena are the youngest twins, then Zahirog, then Turagor and Luimaya are my eldest. My Luimaya is next in line to rule our kingdom."

Gali bowed her head politely to Luimaya. “It is a privilege to learn the next high Queen will be a Gerudo Woman on the throne. Strong, and fiery from what Donoma has told me in her studies. You will make a remarkable queen, I’m sure. We encourage you to explore Taiyo Town on your own. We want to be an organic experience for all of you.”

"It is a privilege to be here in your town, to learn more of my history and to walk with the fierce warriors that I have read so much about in books. I feel like this is something out of a fairy tale, even though I know it's simply history." Luimaya returned a respectful nod of her head to Gali. "I ask that you teach me, my siblings, and cousins all that you know and anything you wish for us to learn; whether it be ways of combat or simple knowledge." Then the future queen gestured to Skyla. "I ask you have patience with my family, but especially my cousin, Skyla. She is deaf and reads lips. I don't suppose any of you know sign? She can write in Gerudo, but that takes a time." "Hi!" Skyla signed to Gali with a bright smile. "I do read lips, but accents make lips move odd. Please talk slowly for me." Luimaya then translated, "She is greeting you and asking for you and the other members of the town to speak slower for her, to give her time to read your lips."

Gali nodded, addressing the town in Gerudo to look out for the little one. Turning to Skyla, she got on a knee to kneel down to her and speak in Sign. “Hello Skyla. I am Gali. I think I’ve met you and your father’s people on my travels before. Hard to forget a tribe as pretty as you.”

"You tall lady." Skyla motioned to the women surrounding Gali. "All tall. Garai women like me, not so tall. Sister tribe, you come visit sometime." She then stomped the sand with her foot and made a sailing wave with her arm. "Ride Sand Rays! Learn of Gerudo now. You learn of Garai too. Too much time pass without sister tribe. Sand here. Stone there. Much to know." "Skyla, don't sign so fast, she might not get it all." Tebanam hopped down from his camel, Loogie, and signed to his daughter. "They go slow for you, you go slow for them. Not too fast." Skyla blushed and sheepishly signed, "Sorry. Excited!"

"That's more than fine Skyla. We'll get to learning about each others culture very quickly." Gali patted Skyla on the shoulder as she stood up. "We have tour guides in green patched shoulders who'd love to take you around our markets, bars, training grounds, schools, saunas, spas, and the rest of the joyous spots in Taiyo Town. If you'd like to explore on your own that's fine too. I hope you all enjoy the joys Taiyo Town can bring!"

Ganondorf was lost in thought as he looked around the town. While Gali was addressing the crowd, he watched small Gerudo children kick a ball back and forth. A woman was beating an old styled blanket he used to wrap himself in previous lives from her balcony. And there was a Hylian in the background laughing with a Gerudo. A union he had been working hard since with his wife to normalized. A view he knew his cousin had struggled to come to grips with. Yet here they were.

~

Donoma was struggling to pull her brother through the throng of women. This was a headache. She kept politely asking for the ladies to step aside, but they were more interested in talking to Revan. "Girls... girls, for fuck's sake!!!" Donoma shouted over the crowd. "You can feel his pecs later, we're going to see my mom now."

“Come on Donoma! This is the virgin brother you have! Can’t we just, you know, kiss him. For homework purposes?” Her roommate asked in a little sexy voice for her brother.

Revan wasn’t expecting so many of the girls around Donoma’s age to be so horny. This wasn’t the type of attention he wanted. “I have someone else...”

"No. At least, not now. Later." Donoma yanked Revan into the tent that her mother and father shared. Finally, maybe the crowd would go away. "Damn vultures, I swear..."

"Revan!" Asakonigei was on bed rest, currently trying her hand at knitting and failing miserably. Although, her face lit up when she saw her son and daughter. "Donoma! I'm so happy you're both here!"

“Mom!” Revan ran forward, hugging her close. “Are you ok? I can’t believe Dad got you pregnant again.”

"I'm fine, Revan, just a little uncomfortable with all this extra weight." Asakonigei hugged her son tightly. "We were not exactly planning this, but nonetheless, it happened. I've been very well cared for while I've been here."

"Do you know what the baby is now?" Donoma asked her mother. "I've been wanting to know for so long!"

"Yes, actually, I do know the baby is going to be." Asakonigei smiled widely. "You're both going to have a little brother."

"Queen Zarazu birthed three Gerudo boys and now, I suppose I'm lucky to have a second one." Asakonigei then added. "Though your father and I have been at odds about a name."

“You have?” Revan sat beside her, wanting to not leave her side. Been months since he saw his mother.

"Get a load of this," Donoma plopped onto the bed, opposite to Revan, their mother in the middle. "Dad says he wants another Gerudo name, but Mom is insisting on a combination between Gerudo and Lorleidian since my name is Lorleidian and yours is Gerudo."

"It's only fair." Asakonigei defended her point. "I doubt I'm having another baby, so half it, right?"

“Well knowing father, he most likely doesn’t want a Frankenstein name put together.”

"It's not that bad, I don't think." Donoma shrugged her shoulders. "Mufratir is all right, isn't it?" Asakonigei asked her son.

Revan couldn’t hide his displeasure at the name as his face contorted at the corners. “Keep it simple?”

"Or she could go all out like Zarazu and Covarog did with Zahirog and name the kid Malikonigei." Donoma snorted.

"Oh, hush you!" Asakonigei gently shoved at Donoma's shoulder.

“Could call him Dad’s first name?” Revan pondered on the possibilities.

"One Malik in the world is enough, the world has enough stubbornness." Asakonigei laughed.

"The world didn't need even more with Revan, what have you done, Mom?"

"Your brother is not that bad."

"He went into a match without magic."

"That's just his ego."

“Excuse me?!” The comment of the world not needing him stung Revan to his core. “I’m sorry I tried to prove that I had value in the skills I crafted for myself. I’m sorry I’m not daddies favourite child!”

"Oh, stop being a brat." Donoma snapped at Revan. "You know that's not what I meant. I implied the world doesn't need more of your 'I'm-undefeatable' attitude." She then scoffed and said, "Favorite? Dad doesn't choose favorites, but if you really believe that's true, it's only because I actually listen and behave."

"Hush, you two, stop fighting." Asakonigei scolded both of her children. "I shall not have you two fighting in front of me or your father. He has enough to worry about as it is."

“Oh you know what, fuck dad too. Too important with all of this to give a damn about me.” Revan gestured all around the village with wide arms. “Skipping dinners, celebrations, and ceremonies to be here. Except while I’m stuck out busting my ass, he chooses you to live here with him. You’re probably aware he’s never once invited me here.”

"He didn't choose me to live with him here, you dumbass! I'm a woman, for starters, and at least I look Gerudo!!!" Donoma spat back at Revan. "He's trying his best to rebuild some semblance of what our ancestors lost! If you're so upset about not receiving a personal invitation, it's not Dad's fault! The Gerudo women here don't trust men! The only reason they trust Dad is because he is Gerudo!"

"ENOUGH!!!" Asakonigei shouted so loud that Revan's ears and Donoma's rang something fierce. "If the both of you are going to squabble like children, then you can do so elsewhere! I do not need the stress of seeing you two fight and neither does your little sibling! Out! Right now!"

"But Mom---"

"I said, OUT!!!"

“You hit the nail exactly on the head. In his eyes I’m not Gerudo. And if I am, I’ll only carry the worst aspects. So how about you go crawl back to your sisterhood like the good little girl you are.” Revan looked to his mom, daring to glare at her something fierce. “A baby will kill you. Why would you risk putting us through something like that?”

"At least I don't follow around a girl who doesn't love me!" Donoma shot back. "Luimaya will never like you in that aspect and you think being her bodyguard will make her view you as some romantic hero? You're an ass." With that, Donoma tromped out of the tent.

Asakonigei gave Revan a hard stare. "I had complications with you, I lost too much blood with Donoma, and yet, both of you are still here and alive." Asakonigei said very sternly. "Your father and I didn't plan this. I did not even think I could get pregnant again with the trauma my body suffered. Yet, this baby is growing within me and will need you and your sister. I would gladly die for you and Donoma, and this baby. It's part of me and part of your father, and will be your sibling. Don't you dare patronize me, son."

“Is this because you want to give father his large family. You really think it’ll be fair to the baby to grow up in a world without a mother?” Revan sat down next to her, disbelief wrapped around his face. “You think that’s fair to me and Donoma to lose you for another one of father’s grand dreams? Honestly, are you even thinking properly here?”

"No, I don't think it's fair. Not for me, not for you, not for your sister or father, and certainly not the baby." Asakonigei stated as her son sat beside of her. "As I said previously, your father nor I planned this. It simply happened. And I am thinking very clearly. I am a mother. You will not be able to understand until you have children of your own, Revan. I want this baby to be born surrounded by love regardless of what happens to me. I may or may not survive... but at least this time, I will have more help."

“How? What makes you believe that? Your body will kill you. Dr. Bovier made that perfectly clear.”

"Yes, Doctor Boveir did. Yet, these women believe differently. So now, the only thing I have left is faith."

“Faith? Are you out of your mind?” Revan sneered at the very thought. “We should just get on our hands and knees and pray? Or perhaps we should get some shaman to throw flowers on top of you.”

"Don't. Patronize. Me." Asakonigei yanked her son forward by the collar of his armor. She was pregnant, but still strong enough to get Revan's attention. "I prayed to Kovina for you. You are here. If you are going to be like this, then you can leave. I will not have your attitude around myself or your new sibling-to-be when the time comes. Either you can support me, or go. What is it going to be?"

“I’ll leave when her royal highness deems it ready to go.” He held her hand, his fingers gentle, yet firm on her. His eyes were angry, but his lips trembled small hesitation. “I don’t want Klinge’s ego to take you away from me.”

"... you know I'll fight the Goddess of Death to stay here with you." Asakonigei held the side of his face with a small sigh. "If you don't have faith in the deities, at least have faith in me. Your mother is a tough old woman."

Revan’s eyes were heavy as he slowly nodded in agreement. “Alright...” Careful to not hurt her, he hugged his mother closely. “I don’t trust Father to look after you. So you have to be strong enough to look after yourself.”

As Revan hugged her, Asakonigei slowly stroked the back of his hair, trying her best to soothe him. "I have a lot of women here ready to help me. I'll have help, Revan. And if you decide to stay for a little while, then you can help me too."

Revan choose to ignore that last part. “I hope they can help you...”

~

The first day of the royal family visit was going smoothly. Malik was incredibly proud of his people. Seeing Luimaya, he waved the girl and her siblings over. “Young princess. Princes and princess’. How are you this afternoon?”

Luimaya had been exploring the town with her siblings and cousins. All of them were currently enjoying a recipe of the Gerudo heritage. Poor Turagor was coughing from the spiciness, the younger twins barely batted an eye, and Zahirog merely nibbled on his, trying to save face. "This is... a different experience for sure. It's not exactly what I've read in books." Zahirog admitted to Malik.

"I guess history left out a few parts." Turagor said in-between sputters from the spicy chicken leg.

"I really enjoyed seeing such beautiful custom clothes!" Marena smiled.

"And hearing the music!" Syrena added.

Luimaya stayed silent for a while, thinking. "Though... Ganonpa won't stay here to lead them." She then asked. "So I suppose Gail is going to?"

“Ganondorf is too old to lead. The man has lived long enough for this lifetime to be a ruler. Gali certainly makes a qualified Chieftain in my absence.”

The siblings exchanged glances.

"... you?" Zahirog appeared to be confused. "You're a man. I thought the Gerudo wanted a female leader like Nabooru in the old days?"

“There have been Kings and Queens in our past too.”

"Yeah, though Zahi and Turagor needed a pass just to come in here." Marena noted. "So... it's safe to assume they're not too trusting of men." Syrena pointed out to her uncle.

"I know Mom and Dad will probably want to talk to them about keeping good ties with Hyrule." Luimaya told Malik. "I know Dad is King and a descendant of Ganondorf, so surely there will be peace from here on out."

“That’s something we are working out. I just don’t want these people to be taken advantage of.” Malik smiled softly, speaking gently to them all. “Just how I didn’t want your father, uncles, aunts and all of you taken advantage. History can sometimes be tricky and like to repeat itself.”

"Do you think they'll allow Lorleidians here too? Maybe some Hylian civilians?" Luimaya inquired. "For trading purposes?"

“Yes. It’s what I want. It’s what we are already trying to integrate. Look closely, and you’ll be able to spot one or two amongst the town even now.”

"As long as there is prosperity and peace, that's what matters the most." Luimaya stated.

"Though, I really wish you wouldn't stay here."

"Yeah, the castle would fall apart without you." Turagor remarked as he chugged down some water, trying to wash away some of the spiciness of the chicken. "I mean, you did keep our aunts and uncles from arguing all the time. Sort of."

"I think what he's trying to say is you're a peacemaker and we don't want anymore food fight incidents between Uncle Corsaire and his crew against the Hylian guards." Zahirog blanched. "I was pulling noodles out of my hair for weeks."

“Children...” Malik tried to sound soft to counteract how tired he was of this particular conversation. “I’ve been a peacemaker before your parents were even born. If you still need to rely on my guidance, I fear for the stability of Hyrule.”

"What they're trying to say is, they're going to miss you if you stay here." Marena clarified.

"Yeah. It would suck, cause we wouldn't get to see you as often." Syrena added to her twin's statement.

“Your Aunt Kanisa lives a whole ocean away. I’m still less then a days travel away. Besides, distance makes the heart grow fonder.” He gently patted Syrena on the shoulder.

"Yeah, but at least she has a dragon to bring her here to see us." Syrena sulked slightly. "If you move away, you might not come back cause Uncle Ralnor annoys you."

"We all know that Uncle Ralnor can annoy anyone with his 'proper-ness'." Marena snickered. "I hold my pinky finger out when I sip tea, look at me, I'm so proper." The siblings did exchange giggles at that mentioning.

“What? You can’t travel here to see me?”

"We can but who knows when we'll be able to." Luimaya admitted with a heavy sigh. "Come on, Uncle Malik. Even Mom and Dad don't get out of the palace that much. You know that."

"And when Lui becomes queen, it will be harder for to do so." Turagor frowned slightly. "Maybe for us if we have to stay at home too."

"At least we have each other." Zahirog noted. "That's what counts."

"But on a lighter note, Mama told us that Aunt Asa is pregnant again." Marena smiled. "What are you going to name the baby?"

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Syrena asked.

“I don’t know yet.” Malik didn’t want to know, least, not quite yet. Sighing, he figured out how to approach their worries. “The same way home will keep you busy in central Hyrule, my home here will keep me busy. This is simply part of life though children.”

"We know." Zahirog shrugged, holding his siblings together with his arms around their shoulders. "Though you better find the time to visit if we do."

“I-“ Malik saw Ganondorf from afar. The man held an expression of light urgency, waving the Lord with the wrist of a hand. “If you will excuse me children.”

Reaching Ganondorf’s side, Malik still felt slightly humbled in his presence. “Is something the matter?”

“No. Not at all. However, there is something of great importance I wish to discuss with you.”

“I understand.”

“I think privately will be best.”

Privately? This intrigued Malik. “Very well. Inside the eyes of the goddess statue then?” Ganondorf looked to the edge of the town where a giant woman of stone observed the town.

“You can go inside?”

“Yes. I made it a place of pray and to chronicle our people.”

“How spiritual of you. Let’s not waste time. Still a night of celebration to share.” The two Gerudo men reminisced on their shared past as they made their way to the temple. Inside, Ganondorf and Malik took their seat in front of a mural of great Gerudo’s past. “Cousin, don’t think me rude, but I invited two others.”

"I swear, if Malik wanted me to drag my ass in here for another stupid test of his, I'mma choke him. Getting too old for that."

"Now, now, Rinku, I'm sure he just wants to talk without a ton of eyes upon us."

"I'm serious, I'm so over these tests of his, Zarazu! At least he learned his lesson with you."

"How so?"

"... you took the man's arm; he should be grateful you didn't take his dick." Rinku and Zarazu had no idea that the words in the temple could... echo.

Ganondorf turned to daughter as she made herself visible with Zarazu. “Colourful vocabulary.” Malik was surprised to see Zarazu and Rinku together. “I didn’t expect you both to be here.”

"You invited us?" Zarazu held a tone of questioning to her voice. "Unless I misunderstood, you wanted to meet with the holders of the Tri-Force?"

"Hey, I've heard worse from you, Ganondad." Rinku pointed a finger at Ganondorf.

“I did.”

“What is this all about?” Malik stiffened, uncertainty filling his being. His words said otherwise, but deep down his heart knew why they were all gathered now.

Ganondorf changed his gaze over to Malik, a deep and heavy look falling on him. “We are here to talk about The Triforce of Power’s new owner.”

Silence was cast over the room, and a shocking realization hit Malik now it was in the open air. “Me?”

"...?! WHAT?!" Rinku shook her head. "Wait, I thought Covarog was supposed to get the Tri-Force? He's next in line, no offense, Malik."

"I am... surprised myself." Zarazu stated slowly, not expecting this. "Might I ask why?"

“Rinku...” Ganondorf waiter until his eldest daughter was a little calmer before continuing. “Every child of mine, with the exception of you, carries a seed of darkness that I share. I fear the Triforce might corrupt them as it corrupted me.”

"Corrupt them?!" Rinku took offense to that. "All your kids are the best of you and Mom. Do you truly think that if you give the Tri-Force to Covarog that he'll turn dark?" She then said, "If you don't want to trust Covarog with it, then give it to Ralnor. Hell, give it to Orana or Kanisa, even Teb! They're not going to be corrupted! None of them are part of this curse that you, Mom, and I have repeated!"

“No. They both struggle with darkness in their choices. And I won’t expose Orana, Kanisa, or Tebanem to temptation of abuse. I need someone who’s motives are incorruptible. That knows the weight of true magic and power.”

"You have so little faith in them! Look at how much they all have overcome!" Rinku frowned and gestured to Zarazu. "They're married. They have families. They're happy! And not once ounce of lust for power within them! And you think Malik is the one? Good goddesses, look at what you both have done in the past!" Rinku exclaimed. "Look at how much bloodshed both of you have on your hands! He's a carbon copy of you, Ganondorf! This is not a good idea!"

“Have we not redeemed ourselves? Has he not suffered enough under my hands as much as any of my other past victims? He rose from being my tool to regaining his humanity.” Ganondorf sent a penetrating look at his daughter. “What’s more, he has never broken my trust. Even in the deepest depths of depravity he was always honest with his intentions.”

"Yeah, he regained his humanity, but not due to you." Rinku remarked with a glare of her own. "Due to her," She motioned to Zarazu, and then added, "And his wife. What do you think will happen if they're no longer around to keep him in check? Do you want me to have to strike him down like I had to do you in our past lives if he loses control?"

“I regained it due to me wanting my humanity back. I worked hard for it. I earned it.” Malik was about done with the hero talking down on him. “You speak as though you aren’t without blood on your hands. So many of your past lives ended entire bloodlines due and the ramifications can still be felt today. We keep each other in check. I was kept around to keep you in check since you were a child. So don’t patronize me.”

"I know I have blood on my hands and I regret my actions. Yet, I've never been influenced by power. That's your lot. You still seek it today, and you're blind to it." Rinku shook her head. "I don't agree with this. When Chaos comes, he'll use it against you to turn you to his side and you'll end up fighting with Luimaya instead of with her. I'm out of here." The heroine tromped out of the cave, steaming. Zarazu, on the other hand, had remained silent the entire time. Thinking.

Malik couldn’t help but laugh at the old Princess. Even now, she still had a young spirit. “You’re going down to a dead end.”

As she stomped around, Ganondorf was less amused. “Rinku. You aren’t being fair here. As Zelda trusted Zarazu, I trust Malik. Please... sit.” The old king was also tired. He didn’t want to argue this point.

Rinku was done with this conversation and refused to be a part of it further. She turned around, found another tunnel, and exited the cave to prove her point and kept walking.

"Maybe we should give her some space to think as well." Zarazu suggested, trying to keep Rinku and Ganondorf from arguing again as her sister-in-law left the temple.

“She’ll have to accept it.” With Rinku gone, Ganondorf sighed. “She’s in the dark, but I know you’re no fool to Ralnor’s darker actions in protecting Hyrule, even now. And for my eldest, I wasn’t completely sure until I heard Malik show Zannah respect where Covarog couldn’t let go of it his hatred of the Hasai. That is ultimately why I choose Malik over your husband Zarazu. Malik has shed his hate.”

Malik looked softly at Zarazu, wondering what she was thinking. “Rupee for your thoughts?”

"I can understand Rinku's view and your view, because I'm trying to be fair from a standpoint." Zarazu admitted to the men. "I'm well aware that my husband has flaws. Everyone does, we're human. However, I do think you should tell Covarog why he is not getting the Tri-Force of power. I won't lie, I'm sure it will hurt him. He has been looking forward to succeeding you in being a carrier because he wants to make you proud." She then continued, "Though, if Malik has the Tri-Force, I know you trust him and I know that he has more respect for the Hasai than my husband. I cannot help but wonder if you too will be immune to the temptation of power, my oldest friend." The queen was wise, for sure, though still cautious. "Many times in history, power has corrupted... are you sure that it's temptation will not affect you like it has Ganondorf?"

“I don’t know for sure. That’s why I want my friends and family to keep me honest. To use a seat and source of power for the betterment of all people.” Malik glanced over to Ganondorf, a sudden frown on his face. “If you give me your greatest source of power, you will lose your immortality. You might not live for long.”

“Who wants to live forever? No. Not me. As for Covarog, he knows how plenty proud I am of him.”

Finally, Ganondorf stood up from his bench. “Zarazu. I want your support on this. Do you think Malik is a good man? Do you think he can wield power in the name of peace?”

"... I do believe Malik is a good man. I do believe he sincerely wants the best for our people, for the Gerudo as well. Though, as said previously, there is always temptation." Zarazu looked at her own hand. There she saw the slight glow of the Tri-Force piece of Wisdom, reminding her there were always two sides to every tale. Those years ago before Zelda's death, she entrusted the Lorleidian queen with the Tri-Force of Wisdom. She did not want her daughters to carry the burden and trusted Zarazu to keep it safe. "Though we are only human, Ganondorf. Sometimes, even I feel the slight pull of the Tri-Force, calling me to use it. To dip into that magical essence that is so pure and addictive, that I have to be careful. I resist it for the sake of my family, my friends, and my kingdom." She held up her fingers glowing with magic. "If you want my support, and my utmost trust... then I must ask that we form a bind. This way, no matter where these pieces may end up... we will not let them fight against one another again." The queen then stated. "We'll revoke this curse."

“I can agree to that. If the pieces of the Triforce, ever, ever need to come together, then it will be for a wish of healing to the people.” Malik’s breath didn’t hitch as he reached a hand out to Zarazu to shake on this sacred pact.

"Not to destroy, but for peace." Zarazu took Malik's hand. "No longer destruction, but healing."

“For love, not hatred.”

"Agreed." Zarazu used her magic to implement the contract of the binding. A ring of runes in the Lorleidian language formed on her wrist and Malik's, identical in nature. "And if we break it... we die."

Malik nodded. When finished, he seemed almost somber when he spoke. Perhaps now was the time to tell his friend. “You should know that I’m not coming back to Hyrule. This is my home. With my people. They want to elect me to the position of Gerudo King. The sworn guardian. I’ve waited to be here again since I was a boy.”

"... I know." Zarazu simply replied to her friend. "I want you to be happy. Though I must be blunt with my next question." She took a small breath and said, "When the time comes... you will still remain loyal to my daughter?"

“I will be a friend that she can rely on.”

"She will need you." Zarazu actually looked... concerned. "As much as that snake gives me the creeps, I cannot deny his magic or his status. He said it will be soon... and I am worried."

“The Triforce bearers and the sages will need to protect the world.” Ganondorf stretched out, taking a deep breath. “Are you both prepared for that?”

"I am prepared for that. I am ready to give my life if it means my family will be safe." Zarazu clasped her hands together, her gaze downcast. "I am not ready to... to sacrifice my daughter. If what Bonegrinder says is true, and... his prophecy is correct..." It was hard for her to speak the words. "I've seen what has happened to Bonegrinder's mind. It is warped. He shares two souls in one body. He is a host for a deity and no longer his original self... if that happens to my Luimaya..."

“Bonegrinder is a freak. I won’t let him or anyone else hurt your daughter Zarazu.”

"... I trust you." Zarazu sighed, still thinking of what the future could hold. "I do think you need to check on Asa, Malik. From what Nakeso overheard when she went to take your wife some food from Gail, Revan and Donoma were... disagreeing."

“It is.” Ganondorf took a few sound breaths. Opening his right palm, a feint and soft glow emerged as a small golden triangle appeared. There was no celebration of grand ceremony behind it. The earth didn’t shake, and the sky didn’t change colour. It simply appeared. Ganondorf gently handed it to Malik to hold with both hands. “Take it.”

Zarazu simply waited in slight apprehension. She did not know what would occur once Malik took the piece.

Ganondorf stepped back as his cousin held the Triforce. Malik didn’t expect it to feel so warm, like a campfire. But with a squeeze of his right fist around it, he felt his heart light in a blaze of might. The Triforce connected to him physically, mentally, and spiritually. His breath felt freer, and he felt more alive then ever. One his palm, the triangle of the Triforce emerged from nothing, looking like tattoo. The top triangle lightly glowed, signifying the merger was a success. Malik, son of the desert and blade of the Gerudo, was now the weirder of Power.

"... Malik?" Zarazu finally spoke. "Are you all right?"

"I can relate." Zarazu took a slow inhale. It seemed he was still himself... for now. Maybe the fail-safe spell was keeping everything in check. Maybe Rinku was wrong and Malik would not be corrupted. Yet, personally, though she might not admit it, Zarazu was not willing to take that chance when it came to her daughter. If he tried to use it for evil... no, it was best not to think about it.

Malik took a few moments to self reflect. With the Triforce, he felt connected to life and magic on a deeper level in a near instant. To be truthful, it suddenly became overbearing. “I think I need to sit down.”

Zarazu formed a chair of ice for him to sit upon in the cave. "... the magic is overwhelming for a new holder." The queen then offered. "I can help you channel it for a bit to get you used to it."

“Give me a moment. I just need to adjust.”

"Close your eyes and try to imagine the flow of the magic." Zarazu instructed Malik, trying to make it easier for him. "You feel it within you, within your surroundings, and others... let it talk to you."

“Cousin, imagine the Triforce as a heart within you. It beats within you as a generator of life and magic. Ease into it. Should be similar to the magic you know.”

Malik nodded, feeling deep within and focusing on himself. Over the course of five minutes the man finally felt he had control over the new weight of his soul. “I’ll be fine now.”

"All right... let's just walk slow then. We'll need to help Ganondorf."

Malik took another breath, looking down at the yellow triangle burned upon his hand. He knew in his heart of hearts this was the key to bringing glory to the Gerudo and all of Hyrule.  

________________________________________________________________

Previous Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/622576982282141697/the-rising-sun-ch-4-uncertain-future

Next Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/622772431507062784/the-rising-sun-ch-6-like-father-like-son

Crossover with @ridersoftheapocalypse

[thehollowprince]

I will maintain til my dying breath that Rey was supposed to be Luke's daughter, and the sequel trilogy would have been about two cousins fighting over the Skywalker legacy (she wouldn't have been able to be his sister a la Jacen and Jaina. Ben and Han and Leia would have known her immediately, but her being his cousin would have made them not really knowing her but knowing her make sense) Hell the script sets it up with Luke, knowing who she is (so say her mother/ Luke's SO took her away - 1/?

her way from the Jedi Temple because she feared Ben, and then something happened, and she was killed on Jakku, and like her death hit something Luke in a force wave and that’s why he can’t sense Rey is his daughter or whatever - look I reject the Sequel trilogy and replace it with my head canon okay?- all the callbacks: including the way Rey resembles Padme, Leia and Shmi- would have made sense. Her being a Palpatine doesn’t. But when Rian made her a “nobody” and stared pushing Reylo and 2/? all the mainstream commentators started talking about their connection ( isn’t it interesting they ignore that Finn was set up as Rey’s love interest? I wonder why),it does feel like J.J was forced into a corner, and this was the mess he came up with, cause I don’t know how he could have fixed the mess that TLJ was

Sorry I didn’t answer this right away.  I got these at the end of my night shift and I wanted to be rested and awake before I answered it.  With that, let’s get to it.

The problem with Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm back in 2012 was first and foremost the fact that they completely disregarded and dismissed the thirty plus years of extra material they had in the form of books, comics, television shows and video games.  We had so much material to draw from for this sequel trilogy - George Lucas was even still alive so they could have consulted him on any kind of plan he had for his supposed nine film arc.

Even if we were to just focus on the material we got post-RoTJ, we still have so much to draw from.  As you mentioned, Jacen and Jaina Solo, or Luke’s relationship with with Mara Jade, Jacen’s fall to the dark side, the Yuuzhan Vong war or even venturing further into the future to look at the rise of the One Sith, and dealing with Cade Skywalker’s flirtation with the dark side.

The fact that Disney discarded all of this and then cherry-picked from it to Frankenstein together some of these characters for the sequel trilogy.

For example, and as you and many others have pointed out since The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren/Ben Solo is just a cheap version of Jacen Solo from the Expanded Universe/Legends continuity, with some added elements of Darth Revan from the Knights of the Old Republic and a hint of Cade Skywalker from the Legacy Era, particularly this last little bit involving Force Healing at the eleventh hour.  And in a similar vein, Rey is based off of Jaina… to an extent.

I don’t think their intention was ever quite so simple as a copy-and-paste by taking those two characters and making them the center of this new trilogy.  If anything, watching this new trilogy, it’s very clear that they never had any plan for all three films.  Disney went into this knowing they were going to be producing a trilogy, but approached it more like the original, on a movie-to-movie basis, pretending that they weren’t going to move forward unless the first one (TFA) was a success, which as we all know is bullshit.  They ended that movie on a cliffhanger with the company announcing the Episode VIII before Episode VII even aired.  So, while I believe that maybe someone on the production team, maybe J.J. or Kennedy or someone else high up came up with these characters that were mosaics of their Legends characters, that was only for that first movie.  Then Rian did what he wanted with them, until we got to this last film where they were their own “fleshed-out” characters, while still relying heavily upon the original source material.

Personally, I would have loved for Rey to have been Luke’s daughter, though I don’t think Disney ever would have gone the route of your theory.  If there’s one thing we’ve learned from them since they took over all of these big franchises, its that they don’t care to put much thought or effort into it.  Everything is the cheapest and laziest writing possible, taking the quickest and easiest path to the end without putting any actual thought into it, just imagining all the zeros on the check they’re trying to get.

Having her and Kylo/Ben be cousins would have nicely mirrored the original franchise where the father and son (Vader and Luke) were both trying to turn the other to their side.  That would have been a nice parallel for these films, given how much they went out of their way to make these new characters being just copies of the originals.  Kylo was obviously supposed to be Vadar, with Rey being Luke, Poe being Leia, Finn being Han, BB8 being R2, Hux as Tarkin, etc.  It was fairly evident that not a lot of effort was put into this series aside from an effort to grab money.

Even the big reveal that Rey was a Palpatine was cheap and lazy, an attempt to walk back The Last Jedi, but still give those loud and annoyingly persistent Reylos what they wanted, even if only the briefest of moments.  Although J.J. coming out later and saying the kiss was like that between siblings was weird and I’m begging him to shut up.

At the end of the day, all we can do is either accept this steaming pile of garbage as canon, or rely entirely on our own headcanons.  Despite how lazy Disney and Lucasfilm was when it came to the creation of these new characters, I, like many others, latched onto them.  I connected with them and I’ve decided to completely ignore what I don’t like about canon, something I do quite a lot anymore in this era of “subverting expectations”, and just use them how I want.  In my headcanon, Luke didn’t give up and become a Space Hobo like Rian made him.  Finn was the protagonist along with Rey, as well as being in a relationship with Poe.  Rose had a prominent role in the story and Kylo died unredeemed.  I’m planning on doing what I started to do with the MCU’s Civil War and I’m going to try and fix it to match what I feel like it should have been originally.

[captainmazzic]

Well I finally completed all eight main character story arcs in SWTOR. Whew. What a ride.

I gotta say I’m pretty damn attached to the Sith Inquisitor, Sith Warrior, and Imperial Agent stories. They’re damn good.

The Sith Inquisitor was my first playthrough, and has everything I ever wanted in a Sith Lord - tiny, gleefully destructive, yet fiercely defensive of anything and anyone he cares about (which is a lot). He even has the violent, intensely loyal subordinate whose devotion is either thinly veiled intent at erotica or homicide and there’s no telling which it is at any given moment. Mm. Yes. Exactly what I signed up for.

The Sith Warrior is an absolutely lovely story arc that I had a blast playing through, but since I’m so very smitten with Char’s Evren as the canonical Sith Warrior, I kept having it in my head throughout the entire time that Darth Baras must have had another apprentice out there (my character), wandering around doing secondary, slightly-less-galaxy-shattering-important things instead. I... had no idea how much I would end up loving both Vette and Quinn, they’ve managed to make the top 30 of my favourite Star Wars characters in general, not just in swtor. That’s a feat. XD

The Agent storyline is stressful and upsetting, but it’s also very good and that’s a combination that made me become extremely protective of my poor agent. He only gets Good Things now, and I’ll probably end up writing a little story for him just to give him some nice endings. Mostly involving my agent and Transman!Hunter and better closure for their little cat-and-mouse game.

I liked playing through the Jedi Knight storyline too, despite beating my head against a wall every five seconds due to the dizzying amount of stupidity. My knight is a relentlessly adorable cream puff without a violent or mean-spirited bone in his body, so that made him... challenging to play, being as I avoided him killing anyone at all costs. It also made it challenging for him to get Scourge’s approval, so there was a lot of gift-giving going on, lol. That’s ok considering how intensely I ship them ahahahahaaaaaa (long-suffering sigh).

The Jedi Councilor arc is one I really need to play twice, because my councilor is a horrible, horrible man at the same time he is an exemplary Jedi. He’s practically the opposite of my knight, killing anyone and everyone who crosses him. It’d be interesting to see a playthrough that DOESN’T involve slaughtering the masses. He had a storyline all his own before I ever plunked him in swtor, but he fit the councilor arc so well I actually tweaked a few things in his tale to make it fit better. XD

The smuggler storyline was... entirely forgettable, but my character is cute (and is also in stories I’ve outlined but haven’t finished or posted), and I liked some of the characters you meet along the way.

The Bounty Hunter arc was also bordering on forgettable, but it was also a rollicking good time so I can’t really say it was bad. I liked a lot of the characters you meet (mmmm, Darth Tormen.), and the bounty hunter’s mentor is absolutely charming (honestly any time I hear a southern accent in Star Wars, no matter how badly done, I still clap my hands and feel represented, lol). My bounty hunter is actually my Jedi Councilor’s older sister, so that makes everything more interesting from my pov, ahaha.

The Republic Soldier storyline made me want to strangle the commanding officer every step of the way, and I was furious that I never got to shove my foot down her throat at the end but... oh well. Even though my canon soldier character is Basrel from Opening Dialogue, I still wasn’t terribly attached to what happened in the soldier’s storyline.

I have more characters than these, but these eight are my first completed playthroughs for each arc. \o/ I have yet to completely play through anything past the Hutt Cartel and the Revan expansions too, so that’ll be another ride once I get there.

[ergomaria]

If you're still doing this- For Cath and Vann 💌, 💍, 💔, and just for hilarity sake 💞. I wanna know what Dustil really makes of all this both before Vann disappeared and after he did. Atton and Meetra: Not sure if it's going to ruin anything for the current fic so I shall keep this one minimal for now, 💜

💌 Write a love letter from your OC to their partner(s). BONUS: write a reply!

(I decided to write a “missing scene” from Miles to Go from Carth’s perspective.)

The Rakata night was warm and balmy, not that Carth could tell from within the walls of his office where the air scrubbers kept everything almost uncomfortably cool. He was working late, as he’d been doing for the past few months, mostly because there wasn’t anything for him to go home to. His quarters were empty since he no longer shared them with another person.

No, that wasn’t true. His quarters were full of Vann’s things, which made it feel like the ghost of his partner was still lurking around every corner. A pile of unfinished projects sat on their workbench and various sets of black clothing still hung in their closet. Part of him knew that he should box everything up so that he didn’t have to look at it on a daily basis, but the sentimental side of his personality wouldn’t allow it. Vann could come back tomorrow and then what? It would seem like Carth had just forgotten him in a matter of months, tossing their life together into a plastisteel bin.

Scrubbing his hands across his face Carth sighed. His mind was too preoccupied for him to focus on reports, his melancholy overtaking his productivity. Setting aside the datapad he was reviewing, his hand drifted towards the top drawer of his desk, the only one with a lock. It would be masochist of him to open it and dig out the holovid that he kept hidden there, but at the same time the prospect of hearing Vann’s voice again was too alluring to resist. That was why he found himself replaying the message that Canderous had sent for what felt like the hundredth time.

There was fear in Vann’s eyes as he bid everyone goodbye, even as his expression filled with durasteel determination. He was a man who knew his mission and accepted whatever fate came of it. A hero. Leaning forward Carth studied the curve of his partner’s jaw, memorizing the lines of his cheek and the way that the light played off of his dark eyes making them appear almost black. The captain committed each detail to memory, just as he’d done every time before. As he watched he began composing a response that he knew he’d never send. Who would see it? Canderous? That idea was laughable.

“Vann, I think I know why you left. I don’t pretend to understand your reasons, but there are a dozen things about you that I’ll never understand but that I love without question. I love you and wherever you are, I need you to remember that. I don’t know what dark place you’ve found yourself in, but maybe I can be the light that guides you out again. The beacon that leads you home.

“I also know why you asked me to guard the Republic and the Star Forge for you, though I really wish you hadn’t. I’m doing my job, but there are a hundred other naval commanders who could do this work equally well, probably better. My job should be to be with you, flying you out of whatever mynock nest you’ve gotten yourself into and  guarding your back while you charge straight into the fray. You’re the hero the Republic needs, even if you only see yourself as a mercenary who got lucky once and saved the day. You don’t realize it, but you’re the most heroic person I’ve ever known.

“Saying that, I understand that I should have told you about Malachor sooner. You deserve to know the truth, and it wasn’t my duty to hide it from you. I thought I was protecting you when really I was just hurting you. Your past isn’t perfect, nobody’s is, but it’s yours and you have a right to know all of the details. I don’t know what else to say about my mistake, other than I’m sorry.

“Is that why you didn’t take me with you? Why you left me on this beach while you go off to fight another war all by yourself? I know that I’m not capable of fighting like a Force user, that I’m not as useful as someone like Bastila or Jolee. But if I can fly you out of danger one last time that would be enough for me. If we can soar into the stars together just once more I could be happy with whatever happens next. 

“I never thought I’d be lucky enough to have two loves of my life. Or unlucky enough to lose both of them. Don’t let me mourn for you. Come back and prove to everyone that you’re the toughest damn son of a kath hound in the galaxy, that it will take more than a Sith Emperor to kill you. I know you’re still out there because I can feel it through the crystal you gave me. I look at it every night and hope to the Force that the pulse of life never leaves it. I don’t know what I’ll do if that happens.

“No, I do know. I’ll keep fighting for the Republic because I made a promise to you and I intend to keep it. I know that you don’t think you’ll survive whatever you’re up against, but I believe in you. You’re stronger than you realize. So save the day and come home, because I need you. And I love you. So, hurry up and find your way back.”

💍 Which one of them would propose? How would it happen? (or write if you feel like it!)

Carth is definitely the first one to have the idea, only to immediately discard it. The idea of trying to talk Vann into something as binding as marriage feels impossible, like catching lightning in a bottle. His partner just doesn’t seem like the marrying type and that’s alright. They don’t need a ceremony or an official document to make their relationship meaningful.

Vann is the first one to mention the idea, but it happens at the worst possible moment. The pair are in the middle of a firefight or trying to out-fly a group of GenoHaradan members when Vann says something like, “There’s damage to the starboard engine and the hull armor is at 80%. If you can keep them off our tail for another thirty seconds the hyperdrive will be warmed up and we can make the jump to hyperspace. Also, do you want to get married?”

Naturally, it takes Carth a while to completely process what happened. When he does, he immediately starts planning something formal and romantic where he can get down on one knee and pop the question properly. He even gets Bastila in on it. But before that can happen, Vann barges into his office in the middle of a workday, slams both hands on his desk, and yells, “You never answered my question, asshole!”

The answer, of course, is yes. 

💔 Has your OC had a bad breakup or nasty ex? If so does this have any affect on their current relationship?

Technically, Carth is Vann’s first serious relationship and definitely the only relationship that Vann remembers with any real clarity. In the words of Canderous, Vann just isn’t wired to feel or notice attraction in most situations. (It’s implied that he’s somewhere on the Ace spectrum.) Though, this presents its own problems. The more Vann realizes that what’s normal for him isn’t normal for everyone else, the more he suspects that he’s probably missed a few cues throughout his relationship with Carth. This does impact his confidence a bit, while also making him grateful that Carth accepts all of his romantic quirks without question or concern.

(The marriage proposal scenario is a great example of Vann taking a somewhat sideways approach to life and Carth just rolling with the punches.)

💞 What do their respective families think of their relationship?

Dustil’s feelings towards his father’s relationship are complicated. The death of his mom is still a bit of an open wound, and the fact that his reintroduction to his father also involved his father’s new boyfriend only added to the resentment. But then, Vann also saved Dustil’s life, so it’s hard to hold a grudge. 

At first Dustil is noticeably standoffish, partially because he’s still a bit starstruck at Vann being Revan. That fades, leaving behind genuine admiration for all of Vann’s impressive Force and combat skills. While Dustil makes it abundantly clear that he’s not about to call Vann “Dad,” it’s also made obvious that Vann isn’t looking to become a parent. Eventually, the pair form a tenuous friendship based around Dustil’s training and the fact that they both love Carth.

And then Vann does something stupid and disappears. This doesn’t help Dustil’s abandonment issues, though in the end he’s angrier that Vann left Carth behind (and miserable). Yet, Dustil understands why Vann left since he can also sense the darkness on the horizon. He lives with the fear that he’ll be the next Force user killed by whatever’s out there, so he can respect the fact that Vann is trying to protect them all. But that doesn’t mean he’s not angry about it.

Meetra is the closest thing Vann has to family, as she was almost like a sister to him during the war. While she’s initially surprised to learn that Revan left behind a partner, she’s also delighted. It’s less delight over her friend being in a relationship and more joy over the fact that there’s someone who understands all of Revan’s nuisances and loves him because of those complexities. Carth seems like the type of steadfast, genuinely good human being who can help Revan sort through all of his darkness and doubts. They’re probably very good for each other. Really, it’s a shame that Revan kriffed things up so spectacularly.

💜 Give a random fact about their daily life together!

Atton and Meetra have a no-judgment rule regarding nightmares because they both have them and it can be pretty awful. They’re both Force-sensitive enough to wake-up when the other is in distress, so one nightmare usually means that they’re both awake at least for a little while. The rule is that they don’t have to talk about their dreams if they don’t want to, but if someone does want to tell a disturbing war story the other only gets to listen. Some of the things they admit to are pretty dark, especially when it comes to Atton’s assassinations. But there’s also something cathartic about curling up together beneath the covers, close and warm in the darkness. It’s safe, which is a feeling that neither one of them has experienced in a long time.

There’s also something comforting about the fact that even after the nightmares and the confessions the other person is always there in the morning. Yes, they’re flawed individuals, but they can still love and be loved in return.

FIND THE MEME HERE!

[olde-tamriel]

Do you have any backstory for Geralt yet? How did he come to join the Blades?

@friendowldesign I have been coming up with his backstory since day 1! I am glad you asked because I was not entirely sure how I wanted to bring it into the sub. (TL;DR at bottom)

Geralt Revanborn was born and raised in the town of Olde Haven in northeast Cyrodiil. His father and mother were both Nords, with his father being a legionnaire in the Imperial military while his mother was a housewife. Growing up, young Geralt was best friends with an Imperial girl born of the same town - Claudia. The two of them were inseparable for as long as anyone could remember. They did everything together, and any time there was trouble in the town, you could almost guarantee those two were behind it. They would adventure into the forests, climb hills and mountains, adventure together. They had aspirations of growing up and exploring Tamriel together. As they grew alongside one another into their teenage years, Geralt developed a deep love for Claudia. And while she felt similarly, she was relunctant to peruse it romantically. At one midsummer festival in their late teen years, the two drank a bit too much, and ended up bedding each other for the night. This experience both made them feel awkward, which brought feelings of shame to Geralt who felt he had done something wrong. A few months later at a carnival, Geralt expressed his feelings towards Claudia, placing his hand on her thigh. She turned away from him and told him that their romance wasn’t meant to last. Geralt, being young, stupid, and hotheaded in the face of rejection, stormed off, toppling carts as he headed home for the night.

Around this time, the war with the Aldmeri Dominion was beginning. Conflicts began to spring up along Cyrodiil’s southern border. Despite Geralt’s father’s old age, he reenlisted and was sent to lead troops against the Altmer invaders. Geralt, now 19, decided to follow his father’s footsteps and join the military. With his fallout with Claudia, he felt that he had little left for himself here in Olde Haven. He left and would not return for many, many years. Whether he had enlisted in the military out of sense of patriotism or to hurt Claudia, he was not sure. Perhaps a mix of both, in a silly act of retaliation.

In the Imperial army, his combat skills caught the attention of generals and, along with his father’s recommendation, he was recruited to join the Blades - the Empire’s legion of spies and protectors of the Emperor. Geralt accepted and was trained to become of the Empire’s best. His duties mostly required him to protect the Emperor and other lead officials, but with the war raging on, he found himself and his fellow Blades facing Thalmor and Dominion soldiers in combat. Many an Altmer fell by the blade of Geralt Revanborn, but it seemed that for every High Elf he slayed, three Blades were killed. The Blades numbers continued to dwindle as the war prolonged. The Altmer had made it a mission to eradicate their order, it had seemed.

In 4E 174, what seemed like the entirety of the Dominion forces closed in on the Imperial City. The Emperor was persuaded by the Blades to flee the city, as the city’s fall seemed imminent. A legion of Blades led the Emperor from the city, as the white walls of the ancient city fell and the Altmer took the White-Gold tower. News of the fall of the capital spread fast throughout the land, reaching Geralt and other Blades stationed near Leyawin. It was not the only bad news to reach his ears that day, though: his father was also slain defending the city. Hope seemed lost for the Empire.

Weeks later, the Imperial army led a surprise attack on the Imperial City to reclaim the capital city. It was led by none other than the Emperor himself! The attack worked, and the Empire forced the Dominion invaders out of the city. This inspired the legions throughout Cyrodiil, who fought with a newfound purpose. In 4E 175, the White-Gold Concordat was signed, bringing an end to the war. While many breathed a sigh of relief, Geralt and the Blades did not. As part of the peace treaty, the Blades as an organization were outlawed. The Empire’s hand was forced, and it turned those it once sought out for protection.

One last official message from the Grandmaster of the Blades made its way to Geralt, which read:

“This message is a warning and a reminder for any surviving Blade: trust in your training. Do not return to Cloud Ruler Temple; that time has passed, and our future is uncertain. We will each be challenged: our trust, our faith, our friendships. But, we must persevere. In time, a new hope will emerge. May the gods be with us.”

With help from local governments, the Thalmor hunted down and exterminated the remaining Blades. Geralt went into hiding, and survived in various towns in Cyrodiil and Skyrim, doing odd jobs to get by. No one was to ever know his true history.

After being gone for so long, Geralt made the venture home to Olde Haven with little to his name but the haunting memories of the war. Upon arrival, he found his hometown in ruins. He decided this was to be his new calling: rebuild his city and lead them into a new era of prosperity. Geralt, and the remaining citizens of the town, renamed Olde Haven to Revanant, in honor Geralt and his father, who gave his life in defense of his country.

While the citizens of the town knew Geralt was a soldier, none by his mentor Henrik Seven-Swords knew of his Blades identity. Geralt presented himself as the new leader of Revanant, quickly rebuilding from the ruins his once childhood city. With this came many memories, and also Claudia. She had survived the city’s ruin, and wanted to stay and help rebuild. Geralt had thought of Claudia nearly every day he was away, and the sight of her again left him frozen. He had grown up and changed so much while he was away. Would she even remember him, or like this version of himself? Over the months, Geralt and Claudia reconnected and reminisced, filling each other in on all they had missed while they were apart. 

All the while, the main story of Blades was playing out as well, so I don’t want to spoil anything! But that is where I am at currently with Geralt. Overall, Geralt is a stern man, but a caring person. He cares about his city, his empire, its people. He is a simple person, and wants nothing more than to rebuild Revanant and protect its citizens. He is a romantic, at his core. TL;DR - 

- Grew up in northeast Cyrodiil- Childhood bestfriends with Claudia, whom he fell in love with and was rejected by- Joined the Imperial military to fight in the Great War- Was recruited into the Blades- Hunted down by Thalmor, along with his fellow Blades brothers and sisters- Returned to his hometown to find it in ruin; rebuilt it and founded the city of Revanant- Reconnected with Claudia- [Blades main story - no spoilers]

I will be adding onto this headcanon as I continue to play. I am on the final mission of the mainstory, so from there, there will be a lot of headcanon material. Also, I used “The Trapeze Swinger” by Iron & Wine as a template for Geralt’s youth and feelings.

[visionmarred-archive]

Amethylia shuffled nervously in the doorway to the men’s dormitory, her hands fiddling with her jacket pockets while she looked for her voice. Lock looked up before she could say anything, the ex-Jedi quirking an eyebrow at her and regarding her with a neutral expression.

Finally, she spoke. “Quill. Uh. Mind if I...?” She asked, pointing at the bottle of Corellian whiskey that was sitting on the floor besides him.

Lock raised the glass in his hands and tilted his head towards the spot beside him on the bed. Muttering her thanks, Amethylia moved and sat next to him, pulling a glass out of her pockets that she had grabbed for just the occasion. Neither of them spoke while she filled it with a generous amount, then taking a hearty gulp. The Corellian whiskey burned as it went down, but so pleasantly that she understood why this was more-or-less the man’s hobby.

“So.” She said, looking down at the booze in her hands. “You knew who I was the whole time.”

“Yep.” Lock replied, too nonchalantly for it to be genuine. “The second I saw you in my apartment, I knew who you were. Hard not to know the woman you served under.”

“...Huh.” Revan took another drink - it had been a couple days since Malak and Bastila had told her who she really was, and her mind had been a maelstrom of both reconciliation of truth and a failure to comprehend ever since. A couple days since Bastila had been captured, and the absence of the woman she loved burned Revan more than the whiskey did.

“Look, Amy - Revan - Revathylia.” She snorted at the last name, raising her eyes to look at his. “I’m sure you wanna know why I didn’t say anything, right? So do it.” Lock shrugged, taking another drink. “Ask.”

Amethylia’s gaze softened, and she shook her head slightly. “It was for Bastila, right? I know you care about her.”

Lock sighed, taking another drink before looking back at her. “I doubt you remember yet - or if you will - but yeah. She’s like a little sister to me. I find Malak, I’m gonna tear him apart for hurting her. No offense.” He added, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “You two used to be close, after all.”

Amethylia bit her lip, polishing off the rest of the glass and refilling it before continuing. “Still hard to believe. Not the part where I used to be a Sith Lord - always knew I was one of the worst schuttas in the galaxy - but the fact that Malak and I used to be friends. That I was your commander once.” She shook her head, brow furrowing together as she blinked away sudden tears. “Lock, you knew who I was the second you saw me. I get why you didn’t tell me. What I wanna know is... why didn’t you kill me when you had the chance?”

She could feel Lock staring at her for a long moment, the man humming as he considered his words. 

“That’s a fair question,” He finally said, “and one that requires some backstory, I guess.” Lock took another drink of his whiskey before continuing, and Amethylia looked back over to him. “When the war ended after Malachor V, the Jedi that you and Malak rallied stayed with you. Only ones I can think of that didn’t were me and a general named Skysargas. Think maybe she was 24, 23? Young woman. Nice, sweet. Sky wanted us to go back to the Jedi, face punishment - I never knew her very well, but I know that the war hurt her in a way I couldn’t understand. Me?” He shook his head. “I just wanted to disappear, run away. I didn’t want anything to do with the Jedi or the Republic. I knew something had changed about you, that the Dark Side was rising in you, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to run away. You were getting ready for something, something that almost everybody was supporting, but like I said, I didn’t care. I didn’t want a part in it, and Sky didn’t either. So we told you and Malak that we were leaving. And do you know what you did, Revan?”

He asked the last question casually, meeting her eyes as he did so, and Revan swallowed hard, her hands suddenly shaking.

“Lock... did I... did I hurt you?” She whispered, terrified of the answer and yet needing to know more than anything.

Lock simply gave her a half-smile, shaking his head. “Actually, you just nodded and thanked us for our hard work. Even paid for our transportation to the planet of our choosing. You didn’t get why Sky wanted to go back to the Jedi, but you still did that for her anyway. Malak, on the other hand?” His half-smile turned into a full-blown grin. “He was furious. Said we were traitors to your cause. You told him to be quiet. ‘Keep your mouth shut, Malak, they’ve done more than enough!’” 

His imitation of her voice was enough to startle her into a laugh, and Revan exhaled in shaky relief.

“Thank the Force I did something right, at least.” She said, a small smile on her face.

Lock placed a hand on her shoulder, pulling his friend a little closer.. “Why didn’t I kill you? Well...” he trailed off, finishing the last of his drink. “I thought about it, not gonna lie. But I saw you there, helpless and thrashing in your sleep, and I remembered how you showed me mercy when your best friend was screaming for my head, and... I couldn’t. I wondered if I was making a mistake, if you were going to kill me when you woke up. But I couldn’t do it.”

“That was one kriffing gamble you took, Quill.” Amethylia scowled, her eyes narrowing. “I mean... I’m grateful. But - ”

“It paid off, didn’t it?” Lock shrugged. “Revameth, I’m not gonna lie and tell you that you secretly had a heart of gold. You... you did bad things. You already know that. But the person you are now? I trust her enough to help her see this through to the end. Even if you’ve got all the charm of a stuck rancor.”

“Oh, thanks.” She rolled her eyes.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to you sooner.” He said. “I made a promise to Bastila. Told her I’d keep her secret, then told myself that I’d keep her safe - didn’t think the Council cared about her, figured somebody should. Then I got to know you and realized that whoever you were isn’t who you are now.” He reached down and grabbed the bottle, refilling his glass and topping off hers. “So I told myself I’d keep you safe too, let you try and make things right.  Everyone deserves a chance to start over, right?”

He didn’t say anything else after that, for which Revan was grateful - he merely clinked his glass against hers, leaving the two in contemplative and companionable silence.

[darth-salem-emperor-of-earth]

My Top Ten Favorite Characters: Fandom/Character Meme!

I got tagged by @tessa1972 months and months ago for this and figured I stalled on this meme long enough. So finally, I’m getting around to posting this. None of these characters are in particular order and none of the gifs belong to me. 

Dorian Pavus:

There were way too many possible gifs for him to show how awesome, witty, clever, expressive and beautiful he is. I love his character and backstory, he’s a great companion to have around in battles and his romance with M!Inquisitor overloads me with feels. Dorian never fails to amuse me with his wit and comebacks.

Carth Onasi:

So much sass, humor, fight, and emotion all wrapped up in this angstmuffin of trust issues, accompanied by a sexy voice. He was my first video game love ever, I will never forget how his voice made me melt and simply wanted to listen him talk forever. I like his romance with Revan (F!Revan in the game but I like the idea of him falling for Revan of both genders because their interactions and the story behind them falling in love are just so beautiful). They say you’ll never forget your first. They’re right, I’ll never forget Carth Onasi. 

Éowyn of Rohan:

You tell them, Eowyn. I loved her character both in the books and the movie and when my dad always told me the whole story of the Lord of Rings (way before the movies came out), I was always fascinated with Eowyn and wanted to be just like her, to slay the Witch King, continue to kick ass, and be a warrior. She is my baby, I’ll defend her ‘til the very end. 

King Gangrel:

Where do I begin with this ginger trash king? He was such a riot and so unapologetically terrible while enjoying every minute of it. His history and reasoning behind his motives (at least, what small amounts the game shared with us) were fascinating and I was soooo glad we could recruit him later. And he totally shoved my plan to support/romance Walhart out the door (I’ll wait for my fourth playthrough) because his conversations and general personality were such a pleasure to read and laugh over. I love chaotic, goofy characters like him and it sweetened the deal where one of my Avatars could romance him. XD

Varric Tethras:

He stole my heart the moment he made his first appearance in Dragon Age 2. Stupid swagger, chest hair, charming grin and wit, and crafty mind ruining my life! A wonderful, faithful friend, a successful writer and storyteller, and a wicked shot with a crossbow--he has it all and so much more! Bioware let me romance him or dwarves again, I need this.

Garrus Vakarian:

Garrus, my man, you are a wonderful friend and romance option, you keep stealing my heart every time I read your lines to Shepard. XD

I loved his growth from ME1 to ME2 and then, ME3, showing how far he has come and how much he has achieved. I loved his loyalty to Shepard no matter how difficult or harrowing things became and was such a reliable, supportive comrade-in-arms. He had those moments were he could one smooth operator and then turn around to be an adorkable cutie pie. And still be a badass sniper no matter what. 

Catelyn Stark:

She is one of my favorite characters in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. Catelyn is a flawed character, and her story, her journey, and overall character gripped every time I read her chapters. This woman as underwent through so much, even as a young girl, and lost even more as well. She is such a strong character who tries to keep her family safe, balance multiple roles as mother, wife, protector, emissary, sister, etc., recognize and point out the unfairness of the patriarchy in Westeros’s society, and is one of the few voices of reason in this whole series. I know she has made some mistakes and isn’t perfect and that’s what I want. Favorite characters of mine are never perfect, they struggle and don’t always do the right thing according to a modern perspective, but their overall character psyche compels me regardless. And Catelyn Stark is one of those characters and because of her complexity, she gets a lot of hate for it. But not here, not on my blog. I love Catelyn Stark, who was such a force in life that now, in her undead life, she wreaking havoc on those who betrayed her, her son, and the House Stark and Tully. I just hope she can find some peace at the series (yeah, fuck you, Game of Thrones, I won’t forget your crappy depiction of her and Stannis). 

Vernon Roche:

One of these days I will actually play The Witcher 2 in its entirety and read the books but that won’t stop me from basking in the glory that is Vernon Roche. His complex, flawed character fascinated me and I really liked how his friendship with Geralt grows in the game, even if you pick Iorveth’s route, he still goes out of his way to help Geralt out. I also liked how he immediately suspected Geralt was innocent of Foltest’s death and his training, care, and relationship with Ves, his most trusted soldier. I just love what a BAMF he is and his route was my JAM! I loved how little Anais trusts him and how he will do everything in his power to keep her safe and win her crown and throne back for her. Uggh, so many feels!

Also, if you want to know when I realized how much I loved this character, I’ll tell you. It was near the end of the second game, where Vernon Roche brutally castrates Dethmold with his bare hands and then gives him a bloody end. I kid you not, my mind whispered, “I think I’m in love.” XD

Dettlaff:

Apparently in the Witcher universe, I like the hot tempered men. XD

Oh how I love this broody, tormented, and romantic High vampire so much that I can’t even imagine going through the endings where he dies and Regis is an outcast among his own kind, doomed to be hunted. Nope, nope, nope!

Anyway, I loved watching his struggles, his friendship with Regis and how he saved him from being a pile of goo, how deep and far he loves go for love or to protect those he cherishes--even for a woman who clearly doesn’t deserve him--, and down the little things, like his creativity (like his toy shops) or how fond he is with kids and they to them. I just want my high vampire to happy, okay? 

Haruno Sakura

Canon screwed her over so hard and she deserved better than what Kishi gave her (I’m sorry I will never not be over this and will be salty even when I’m dead). Her character arc and development in the beginning was interesting to watch, especially when Shippuden came around and we saw the fruits of her labor under the apprenticeship of Tsunade. I’m amazed how hard Sakura had to work be seen and treated as a shinobi, especially when her training was neglected when she was young and a mere genin. I really liked her personality, how far she came since the first volume, and Sakura could have had the proper story and ending if Kishi knew how to write women and actually cared about his main heroine in Naruto. Will I be bitter about this like 100 percent dark chocolate and revel in fanfictions and fanon ideas? You betcha!

I’m tagging anyone who wants to do this!

[renegade-skywalker]

13, 15, 16 for nevarra, eden, and aiden, if you like (i find the fact theyre siblings really cool!!). also 11 and 12 for them if you want and it's applicable, but only if you want bc i'm aware that's a lot then

Thanks for all the asks and the interest! I’m always happy to answer questions but since this got so long-winded it’ll have to go under the cut :)

11. What is your OC’s relationship with his/her mother?

Nevarra - Nevarra remembers little of her mother, but she remembers her scent the most. It’s one of the few memories she can recall instantly, and if she passes anyone with a similar scent/perfume, Nevarra is brought right back to nights she drifted off to sleep as her mother sat beside her, reading usually. Before heading out to the Unknown Regions, I head canoned that Nevarra found her mother and reconnected with her. In my story, the circumstances under which Revan was found by the Jedi eventually ties into the True Sith plot and her taking up the Sith mantle after the Mandalorian Wars, so recovering her memories and finishing what she started involves finding her family again and figuring out what happened.

Eden - Eden and her mother were very close, very kindred spirits. They look the most alike, as well. They have similar views, similar reactions to things, and tend to have the same mannerisms. 

Aiden - Loves his mother utterly and completely, he was a total momma’s boy as a child. While Eden was more like their mother, Aiden was perhaps the most doted on by her. She had a soft spot for him, realizing he was sensitive and needed a little more emotional support growing up, but also being the only son (and technically the youngest) he tended to get some extra attention.

12. What is your OC’s relationship with his/her father?

Nevarra - Of her parents, she was always the closest with her father. She’d often travel with him on business trips and help him close deals (she was not only a cute kid, but a clever one, too) but it was on one of his trips that she happened to be found by the Jedi.

Eden/Aiden - Both have very little memory of their father. He went missing around the time Nevarra/Revan was taken to the Jedi and never heard from again, though the family had come to accept that he likely died, though they have no idea how. They know their mother loved their father, but once he disappeared they lived with their mother’s parents who didn’t happen to be big fans of the man, so they heard a lot of conflicting stories growing up.

13. How many siblings does your OC and what is his/her relationship with them?

Nevarra - She doesn’t quite remember her family before the Jedi, since she was taken rather young, but she has a vague recollection of them. She remembers Eden and Aiden as infants, but not much beyond that. She develops a mentor-like relationship with Eden during the Mandalorian Wars not realizing they’re related, but knowing that something else is there, only she can’t tell if it’s Eden’s Force bond abilities or something different. The same goes for Eden about Nevarra. I don’t imagine they make the connection until Nevarra revisits their mother before heading out to the Unknown Regions.

Eden - She was extremely close to her brother growing up. She was more of the protective-slightly-older sister while Aiden was more of the practical/rational one, always playing it safe. They grow apart once their training becomes disparate, Aiden sticking to a single devoted Master while Eden gets juggled around like a bomb about to go off. But what begins as Eden’s jealousy turns into Aiden’s resentment once his Master, Atris, takes a liking to Eden and takes her going to war more personally than anyone really expected. I have this idea for them to reconnect during the course of Out of the Abyss that will be a bit like Rey and Kylo connecting in Last Jedi in the sense that it’s via Force bond over a great distance and neither are sure if they can trust the other given their history, but realizing they could use each others’ help.

Aiden - He has more memories of Nevarra as a child than Eden did, and often feels a fool because he wonders if he made her up or not, but was always afraid to ask their mother if they ever had another sister because it feels like a sensitive subject. I think once he finds out he was right and that the child he thought he had potentially made up turned out to be Revan of all people, he has a good “you’ve got to be kidding me” sort of laugh.

15. What was your OC’s childhood like?

Nevarra - It was a bit unconventional, traveling with her father on business, but I think it was very formative for her at the same time. She saw so much of the galaxy at such a young age, and she also learned to negotiate like a motherfucker.

Eden/Aiden - They have a lot of memories playing pretend together, exploring the jungle that surrounded their village, and hearing stories from kids in town and travelers. Living on the Outer Rim meant they heard a lot about the skirmishes in the early Mandalorian Wars and even got to see some Jedi in action, which left some lasting romanticized impressions. But it also meant that their homeworld was one of the first targeted and really hit hard, so the split decision between Eden and Aiden about joining the war effort really solidified the schism already separating them

16. What is your OC’s strongest childhood memory? Why and how as that impacted him/her?

Nevarra has the most memories of her father, but I think one of her strongest memories was saying goodbye to her mother for the last time. It wasn’t necessarily meant to be the last time, but it was the first time she was leaving home after her siblings were born and something in her mother just sort of… snapped? She didn’t lose it, but what would have otherwise been a normal goodbye turned into an extremely emotional one, and it was the first time she thought that things may change…

Eden’s strongest memory is an amalgamation of smaller moments, mostly her mother trying to hold it together as they got older, bringing Eden and her brother up alone despite the worry about what happened to their father and sister (though no one ever spoke of it). It was very much a mirror to how Eden would handle herself in exile, and even after joining the Jedi and everything that happened after, she realizes later that her mother was very much always a role model for her in many ways.

Aiden’s strongest memory is being brought before the Jedi on Nespis VIII. Aiden was always scared but intrigued by stories of Exar Kun and Ulic Qel Droma (as well as Jedi in general), and there happened to be a mural outside that particular temple that depicted both fallen Jedi. It now seems like an omen, but as a child it was also a warning. As much as he was interested in the tales, the fear Aiden took away from it at first inspired him to become a steadfast Jedi, only his curiosity would ultimately lead him down a darker path just as it did Kun and Qel Droma.