#baby yoda is innocent

[betheboo55]

Put together these shelves to store all our board games. I still need to get some bins for the smaller card games that the cats can’t destroy. Also set up all my little Grogu dolls and all of my manga books I’ve been collecting this past year. And my husband printed a resin bust of mando for me! I guess I need to paint it now like I don’t have a hundred other project to do.

[david-talks-sw]

Debunking more myths in the GFFA: the Jedi and the clones.

I wrote a post debunking the various myths about how "the Jedi condone slavery", a while ago. Something I had omitted (because it's such a big topic) was the following two statements that concern the clone troopers' relations with the Jedi:

"The clones were genetically bred to have accelerated growth, so they're technically child soldiers."

"The clones were slaves of the Jedi."

Both the above statements are inaccurate, let's explore why. 

"The clones were child soldiers"

Let's get the easy one out of the way first, because it's a logic that cuts both ways. If age is our only determination of the maturity of a Star Wars character, then Grogu is not a baby. He is aged 50, and is thus a middle-aged man.

Who cruelly eats the babies of a woman...

... and knowingly tortures animals for his own sadistic pleasure.

Of course, I'm kidding. Grogu's none of the above things.

The narrative frames him as a cute baby who does innocent baby stuff. Him eating the eggs is played off as comedic, as is him lifting with the frog. To this day, some fans still call him "Baby Yoda".

Conversely, despite the clones being 10/14-years-old, their actions, behaviors, way of thinking, sense of humor, morals etc, are all those of an adult.

Like, Ahsoka is technically older than Rex in this scene.

The scene doesn't portray them as peers, though. This isn't written as "a teen and a tween talking". No, Rex looks, acts and behaves like a grown-up and is thus framed as such by the narrative.

You can make the argument "they're child soldiers", but (unless you're doing so in bad faith) you'd also have to argue that "Grogu's an adult".

"The clones were the Jedi's slaves"

Nope. For all intents and purposes, they're in the same boat as the Jedi, who George Lucas stated multiple times had been drafted to fight in the war.

Again: both the Jedi (monk/diplomats untrained for fighting on a battlefield) and clones (literally bred en masse only to fight) are being forced to fight by Palpatine and the Senate.

Though, on paper, the clones were commissioned by Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas, it was actually done by the Sith (who either manipulated or assassinated Sifo-Dyas then stole his identity, depending on the continuity you choose to adhere to). The rest of the Jedi had no idea these clones were being created.

So while the clones are slaves... they're not owned by the Jedi.

They're the army of the Republic, they belong to the Senate. This isn't exactly a scoop, they refer to the clones as something to purchase...

... and manufacture.

As far as the Senate’s concerned, clones are property, like droids. 

Like there's a whole subplot in The Bad Batch about this very point: after the war, the clones are decommissioned and left out to dry because they literally have no rights, they served their purpose.

The only trooper to ever canonically blame the Jedi for the clones' enslavement is Slick, who the narrative frames as having been bribed and manipulated by Asajj Ventress into betraying his comrades.

Also, the only canonical Jedi shown to ever be mean, dismissive or mistreating the clones in any way, is Pong Krell.

And it's eventually revealed he’s in fact a full-on traitor, hence why the story frames him as an antagonistic dick from the moment he's introduced. He doesn’t represent the Jedi in any way.

We know this because the other Jedi we’ve been shown are always prioritizing their clones’ lives over theirs, if given the chance.

Finally, if we wanna get even more specific... as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), the clones belong to Palpatine. 

Palpatine who is a Sith Lord. 

Palpatine who arranged for the creation of the clones and had them all injected with a chip that would activate upon hearing a code-word...

... and forced them to murder their Jedi without hesitation or remorse.

When you bear all that  ⬆️  in mind and when you read this quote by George Lucas...

"The Jedi won't lead droids. Their whole basis is connecting with the life force. They'd just say, 'That's not the way we operate. We don't function with non-life-forms.” So if there is to be a Republic army, it would have to be an army of humans."    - The Star Wars Archives: 1999-2005, 2020  

... narratively-speaking, everything falls into place.

Sidious knows that:

If he orchestrates a war designed to thin the Jedi's numbers, corrupt their values and plunge the galaxy into chaos...

If he wants to draft the Jedi - peace-keeping diplomats who’d never willingly join the fray - to fight in his war...

... then the only way they won't resist the draft and abstain from fighting is if they think joining the conflict will save lives.

So he creates a set of cruel, sadistic villains for them to face, opponents who will target innocent civilians at every turn...

... and instead of lifeless droids, he prepares for the Jedi an army of men... living, mortal people who, despite being well-trained, will be completely out of their league when facing the likes of Dooku...

... Ventress...

... Grievous...

... Savage Opress...

... or the defoliator, a tank that annihilates organic matter.

Thus, in order to save as many clone and civilian lives, the Jedi join the fray despite knowing that doing so will corrupt their values. 

And as the war rages on, a bond of respect is formed between the two groups.

Clearly, the Jedi don't like the fact that the Republic is using the clones to fight a war, but for that matter, they don't like being in a war, in fact they advocated against it.

However, it's happening regardless of their issues with the idea or personal philosophies. Said The Clone Wars writer Henry Gilroy:

"I’d rather not get into the Jedi’s philosophical issues about an army of living beings created to fight, but the Jedi are in a tough spot themselves, being peacekeepers turned warriors trying to save the Republic."

And bear in mind, the Jedi are basically space psychics, the clones are living beings that they can individually feel in the Force... 

... so the Jedi feel every death but need to move on, regardless, only being able to mourn the troopers at the end of every battle.

We see this in the Legends continuity too, by the way.

(that is, when the writers actually try to engage with the narrative)

Also, if you ask the clones, they’re grateful the Jedi have their backs.

When Depa Billaba voices her concerns about how the war is impacting the Jedi's principles, troopers Grey and Styles are quick to make it clear how grateful they all are for the Jedi's involvement:

So the clones aren't the Jedi's slaves. If anything, they're both slaves of the Republic (considering how low the Jedi's status actually is in the hierarchy).

Only I'd argue the clones have it much, much worse. 

The Senate sees the Jedi as "ugh, the holier-than-thou space-monk lapdogs who work for us"... but a Jedi has the option to give up that responsibility. They can leave the Order, no fuss or stigma. 

A clone trooper cannot leave the GAR! If they do, they’re marked for treason and execution. Again, they’re not perceived as “people”.

And it doesn’t help that the Kaminoans, the clones’ very creators, see the troopers as products/units/merchandise. A notion that the Jedi are quick to correct whenever they get the chance.

How The Clone Wars writers describe the clones' relationship with the Jedi.

George Lucas hasn’t spoken much about this subject aside from the quote from further up. But to be fair... the Prequels aren’t about the clones’ dynamic with the Jedi, so it makes sense that he wouldn’t talk on that subject so much.

He did mention that part of The Clone Wars’ perks is that he could:

“Do stories about some of the individual clones and get to know them.”

But that’s as far as it gets. 

So for this part, I'm just gonna let Dave Filoni, showrunner of The Clone Wars and the upcoming series Ahsoka, and TCW writer Henry Gilroy - both of whom worked closely with Lucas - take the wheel. They make themselves pretty clear on how the clone/Jedi dynamic is meant to be viewed. 

Here’s Henry Gilroy:

"In my mind, the Jedi see the clones as individuals, living beings that have the same right to life as any other being, but understand that they have a job to do."

"The clones see the Jedi as their commanding officers on one hand, but also, at least subconsciously, they look to them for clues to social/moral behavior."    

"Some clones may find themselves getting philosophical leadership from the Jedi that helps them answer some of the deeper questions of life."    

"We thought this was a great opportunity to show how the Jedi interact with clones. Specifically, Yoda in a teaching role of the clones, who were socially new, who kind of grew up— who were created to fight, and he really broadened their horizons and helped them realize there was a great big universe out there that was bigger than just fighting and killing."    

And here’s Dave Filoni’s comments:

"I truly believe that the Jedi try to humanize their clones and make them more individual, as Henry says."    

"I think we saw that in Revenge of the Sith, when the Clones were colorful and named under the Jedi Generals, and then in the final shots of the film with Palpatine and Vader near the new Death Star, the ships are grey, the color and life is sucked out. The Stormtroopers are only numbers and identified by black and white armor or uniforms in A New Hope." 

"The soldiers have become disposable to the Emperor."    

"That is something the Jedi would never do."    

"Yoda teaching the clones much like he taught Luke. ‘Cause that was kind of natural for [the Jedi], a natural instinct to take to these clones like they’re students."    

None of the above quotes from two different writers of The Clone Wars, who had many interactions with George Lucas, frame the Jedi and the clones’ relationship in a negative way. 

How much more proof do we need that "the clones were slaves of the Jedi” isn’t the intended narrative?

My point being that while the clones' ordeal is indeed horrible, the Jedi have nothing to do with it. The narrative of The Clone Wars always frames it as the fault of the Sith, the Senate and the Kaminoans.

If you go by the intended narrative, the Jedi were the clones' teachers and brothers-in-arms. The clones and the Jedi were not just comrades.

They were friends.

[sanjifucker42069]

Hit Me? Sanji x Reader

Word count: about 1.2k 

Bro….the dodgeball game…sanji is so stupid, pathetic wet cat of a man coded...I wanted to throttle him. I want to hit this man with my 2003 ford prius yoda style. I want to chew on him like a squeaky toy

Warnings: fem!reader, heavy handed teasing, you wanna make sanji cry apparently, VERY SUGGESTIVE, use of the word cock lol, semi-nsfw, no fucking tho…unless? 👀👀👀 sanji might be semi ooc, I am obsessed with the idea of a reader that sanji doesn't have the usual chivalry towards?? Like bless him he'd try, but you're just such a shit.

“Why yeah it'd be my pleasure ma'am, you can hit me wherever you like!”

Oh. Now wasn't that intriguing?

-----

Sanji sulked on the sidelines, fiddling with a lightly crumpled cigarette. Taking pity on him you sat down next to him. Sanji shot you a lazy grin, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. You smiled back, lightly pushing his shoulder.

“I should be mad at you, you could cost us the match.” You joked. Sanji grumbled, his words unintelligible. He could barely make out that ‘you wouldn't understand’ and ‘that he was weak okay!’

You laughed, eyes turning back to watch the match in front of you. You didn't feel too defeated, you trusted your captain. 

“It's okay Ji. I don't think anyone could've gotten out faster than I did! You still did good!”

Sanji turned to you, hearts dancing in his eyes. “And who would dare throw balls at such beauty?! A lovely lady such as yourself shouldn't have even had to partake in such a barbaric display.”

“You saying I can't handle some balls? I happen to be very good at handling them.” You teased. The result was instantaneous, Sanji biting back a perverted laugh, a cute blush on his cheeks.

“Oh angel, really? I didn't expect you to be so saucy.”

There were many things that were undeniably true about you; You were in no way one of the stronger straw hats, you loved a good dirty joke, and you loved nothing more than making your little love cook squirm. If Sanji wanted to pretend all women were angels capable of no wrong, well, who were you to take advantage of that?

You feigned innocence, even cocking your head. “What do you mean? I didn't drop it once.”  

Sanji squirmed, avoiding your gaze. You wanted to crack and snort loudly at his cute face. Instead you pursed your lips in thought.

“Love! I…uh-” he cut off when you couldn't hold it in anymore, a raucous laugh escaping you. He watched you slap your knee like it was the funniest thing in the world. He pouted. “(Name) that's not fair.”

“Oh relax, you big baby.” You cooed. 

A steady silence resumed between you two, watching the match with bated breath. Things weren't looking so good. As the enemies advanced on Zoro, Chopper, and Luffy, so did you with your own attack.

“So.” You began. Sanji hummed in acknowledgement, eyes focused on the field. You paused. Was this really the time to flirt with the man? Probably not, but you were nothing if not an opportunist. You grinned at him, exaggerating his swooning.

“It'd be my pleasure ma'am, you can hit me wherever you like, hmm?”

‘You were a lady!’ Sanji reminded himself, trying to bite back a growl. You just loved to get under his skin, didn't you? He was flushed in embarrassment. It's not like he wanted to lose the match! It's not his fault he had a weakness for pretty women! 

The crowd was aroar, you could hear your crew shouting. Oh. Zoro was out. Sanji began yelling at the swordsman, before he turned his attention back to you.

“So?” Sanji tried to sound unaffected. Your cute giggles reached his ears. Seriously! You were such a little tease, so cute, but so unattainable. You seemed to love riling him up, and he wanted nothing more than to make you his. He wasn't used to women not only reciprocating, but flirting back at a rate that made him dizzy. 

Honestly, the both of you needed to stop being cowards and just confess already.

“Who's the ‘saucy’ one now? You're out here parading your little masochist streak.”

“I am not!” He blustered.

“Where were you hoping they'd hit anyway?” You purred out the question. Sanji tried ignoring you, focusing on the match, but he was one man! One currently very weak man.

You pouted. “I was just joking, Ji. Your kinks are your own. I'm not here to shame you for it.”

“It's not a kink!” He argued. You were relishing this. Sanji was always such a gentleman, so giving and dedicated to worshipping women. And yet, you, you were one of the only women you'd ever seen him snap at and lose his cool with, his hot temper getting the better of him.

Taking advantage of this you leant closer, your thighs touching. Sanji snapped out of his anger, eyes darting to where your half naked leg pressed against his long suit trouser-clad one. Too caught up in where you were touching him, he didn't notice how close your lips were to his ear.

“So you wouldn't like it if that pretty Porche lady pelted you with those dodgeballs? Or tied you up? Or manhandled you to make you be a good boy?”

Sanji was sweating, his heart eyes betraying him. Yeah, you knew your chef. You dropped your voice lower, bracing one hand on his chest.

“Forget hitting, what if she stepped on you? Would you like that, Sanji?”

The man in question whined, quiet pants escaped him, his eyes swirling with lust. He let his eyes fall closed, the dodgeball match long forgotten. Bingo! You felt yourself grow wet. Yes, you were a bad guy! It's just so easy to rile him up. Besides, Sanji would never spare you a passing glance, clear that you annoyed him. So what was the harm in airing out your frustrations like this?

“Love.” He gulped, shuffling around to change how he sat. You grinned at him wickedly. His reactions were so cute, you definitely overstepped the line.

“You didn't answer the question, cook. What if she stepped on your cock, hmm? Only lightly, of course, wouldn't wanna damage the goods.”

Sanji made a noise halfway between a groan and a choking sound, his hand darting up to grab the one you had pressed against his chest. You startled. You could see it in his eyes, the disgust, that unmistakable look of discomfort. Of course he wouldn't want to discuss this kind of stuff with you! You were one of the guys!

“Shit.” You withdrew your hand, not noticing how Sanji's tried to grab you. You'd definitely overstepped the line! “I'm so sorry Sanji, that was completely uncalled for.”

“Love.” He rasped. You were flustered, trying desperately not to stare at him.

The crowd was aroar, people around you jumping and shouting. You looked for a way out. 

Wait? What the fuck?

A brown ball of fluff was lying crumpled on the court lines. 

“Chopper! Oh shit!” You yelled, hurriedly getting to your feet. “Sanji I'm so sorry, I- you can yell at me about this later, I promise.” 

Sanji watched you speed off, hurriedly running to their youngest member. He sighed out a breath he didn't realise he was holding. You were going to be the death of him! You'd made him so hard, so quick, and then, like a true tease dashed off before he could properly engage anything. When would you realise that it was you he wanted to treat him like that?

Later? 

Yeah. Yeah he could yell about it later. 

Right now, he needed a fucking smoke and a cold shower.

-----------

Looks like lingerie part 3 is coming i promise ;-; I'm just having trouble writing it ;-; here's a little drabble instead I do have SOOOOO many drabbles I've worked on in the mean time though?

[hastalavistabyebye]

Holos #4

Ao3 version

Jedi Council Groupchat :

Mace : [sent an image]

[Image description : A holo of Commander Ponds from behind, the angle and slight blur indicate that it has been taken quickly and discreetly. The Commander is carefully crouching behind a mossy log, in a thick forest. He is holding up his comm to take a holo of a space duck and its row of playful ducklings swimming in the river, beyond the log.]

Mace : don’t worry if your commander is a bit distracted later, @Ki-Adi

Depa : oh, the light looks wonderful ! Ponds must have taken a beautiful picture :D

Mace : he is getting quite talented isn't he ?

Ki-Adi : I was going to send you the same message. 

Ki-Adi : [sent an image]

[Image description : from a similar angle as the precedent image, Commander Bacara is face to face with a frilled-neck lizard of impressive size. The animal seems to be showing off its beautiful collar to the Commander who’s dutifully taking a holo of it.]

Kit : the spots on that lizard’s scales are a shade quite reminiscent of Lighting’s paint, isn't it ?

Depa : oh yes. Ponds started that tradition from what he told me :)

Ki-Adi : Commander Ponds’ message had been well received.

Ki-Adi : [sent an image]

[Image description : Bacara is looking down at his comm. He doesn't seem aware of his surroundings in the slightest. A small, private smile is softening his face.]

Shaak : aww oh cute ! He looks very handsome like that.

Ki-Adi : I have managed to get a glimpse of Ponds’ holo, @Mace @Depa. It’s a beautiful display of talent, indeed. Do send my admiration to your Commander. 

Baby-Wan : I wasn't aware that Commanders Ponds and Bacara were particularly close. They weren't squadmates from what I've heard. Are they exchanging holos often ? 

Mace : [sent an image]

[Image description : Ponds can be seen standing in a clearing. He is smiling brightly at his own comm and seems to be bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. Around him, a few troopers are doing their best to look away as innocently as possible. Some can still be caught taking discret pictures of their Commander.]

Mace : @Ki-Adi message well received here too :)

Stass : @Baby-Wan you should know by now that Bacara is part of the very tight circle of Vode of whom not much can be learned in the Rumor Mill. 

Stass : @Ki-Adi @Mace, Neyo is thanking you both for the blackmail material.

Ki-Adi : of course.

Mace : our pleasure. 

Depa : @Baby-Wan is our renown Negotiator not on top of the latest gossip ?? *gasp*

Depa : Pondsy and Commander Bacara have been courting each other for close to a year now :D 

Depa : they’re being very cute about it too <3

Plo : it is good to see them both so happy.

Yoda : nature admirers, are they both mmh ?

Ki-Adi : Bacara is a very competent bird-watcher. I have understood that Ponds is fascinated by reptiles and amphibians but generally likes to exercise himself at wildlife photography. 

Stass : Neyo told me that Ponds started his courting by sending a holo of a gecko to Bacara. It had become their thing since then :D

Stass : @All both Commanders are missing their shared breakfasts in the Temple by the way. We need to give a well-earned leave to the marines stat. 

Ki-Adi : it would be greatly appreciated indeed. I haven't seen Commander Bacara this happy and relaxed in well past a month.

Ki-Adi : [send an image]

[Image description : Bacara is still looking at his comm but the focus of the holo has changed slightly. It shows a little group of marines smiling brightly among themselves, their posture relaxed. The direction of their warm gaze makes the source of their pleasure evident.]

Ki-Adi : it’s one of their favorite topics of conversation. 

Shaak : aawww

Plo : I agree with Shaak, they're very adorable. 

Baby-Wan : and me who thought that the marines weren't much for gossiping…

Yoda : rusty, your informers are, my grand-padawan. Not careful with knowledge, you are. Better, I thought of you. 

Kit : master you shouldn't burn Obi like that when you know he won't go to the medbay. 

Baby-Wan : understood. Please excuse me, dear masters. I have some matters to take care of. 

Baby-Wan : @Mace @Ki-Adi rest assured that I will be utterly careful to not share Commanders Ponds and Bacara’s courting to anyone before they had the time to do it themselves. 

Stass : oh, so Commander Cody really does not know about it ? Neyo had his suspicions that the rest of their batchers hadn't caught up but I still believed it was too big to be true…

Plo : should we now proceed in the next leaves planification ? 

Plo : and do you have holos of the Commanders together ?

Shaak : I concur with Plo. 

Mace : absolutely.

Mace : every master needed for this is already present, we should start now. 

Depa : I have an amazing picture of them in the Hall of a Thousand Fountains, hold on !

[bluewinnerangel]

i am so confused with this lightbulb posts 😂

WOULD YOU LIKE AN EXPLAINER?

During Saturdays, Louis picks up his mic stand and walks over to the left side of the stage. He then sings like the first half of the song lit by a single lightbulb. It’s lonely. It’s soft. It’s mournful.

IN SOME VENUES (or AT LEAST ONE??) the lightbulb gracefully lowers from a very VERY long extension cord, and hangs there above him. Very “hiding in the walk in closet” vibes (not the closet in the rainbow way, the closet in the “My childhood bedroom where I would go when I was sad” way). She is beauty she is grace.

IN OTHER VENUES (at least Columbus and Iowa and MAYBE cinci?) the lightbulb is just. At the end of a mic stand. She gets carried to the front of the stage for the song, and then carried back when her job is done. She’s giving “It was too windy and we didn’t trust her not to start swinging like she’s looking for a fight”.

Anyway.

Why should you care about this little lightbulb?

Well because I have developed a parasocial relationship with the lightbulb. Because Saturdays makes me sad and so I hyper focus on the lightbulb instead. SHE IS A STAR AND WE LOVE HER. SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME FUTURE UPDATES ON HER ADVENTURES.

Cuyahoga, Columbus, Council Bluffs

[teamchasezwrites]

The Stocking

Word count: 5,908

Genre: Christmas Fluff

Characters: Damian Priest x OC

Summary: Damian does something no one else thought to do.

Author’s Note: First time trying out posting fanfic to tumblr. Been lurking for a bit. I had this idea and as always, my muses seem to swerve and do what they want. Cross posted on A03. Un beta. Enjoy!

The bed shifted, rousing Rachel from sleep. She blinked her eyes open. The room was swatched in darkness. No hint of the sun peeking through the edges of the curtains. Rolling her eyes upward she was able to just catch the soft glow of the clock on the bedside table.

3:23.

Delight swept through her as she realized she still had plenty of time remaining for sleep.

Maybe.

It was technically Christmas and that meant her kids could wake any second with shouted “Santa came!” or sleep until 8. Each year was different.

The bed behind her shifted again and she felt the mattress dip down behind her before a warm body pressed against her and strong arms wrapped around her.

“I didn’t mean to wake you…” Damian whispered in her ear as he pulled her more securely to him.

“I thought maybe one of the kids was sneaking downstairs.” Rachel brought her arm from beneath the blanket to entwine her fingers with Damian’s where it lay on her hip. She then brought their hands to her chest, hugging his arm to her. He responded by tightening his hold.

“All tucked in their beds,” Damian confirmed. A smile graced his lips as he thought about Isaac and Amelia. He just peeked in their rooms before crawling back into bed. Isaac’s room with its dark blue and grey and sports theme. He was a budding sports junkie and Damian already couldn’t wait for him to open the Aaron Judge jersey wrapped beneath the tree. The ten year old boy lay curled beneath the bedspread an arm tossed over the Baby Yoda Cuddleez plushie he made Damian swear to never tell his friends he slept with. The plushie, a purchase on a summer trip to Disney, was never far from Isaac’s side when he was in the house.

Across the hall from Isaac, was his sister’s room. Only younger by a year, nine year old Amelia had climbed right into his heart from the very first crooked smile she sent him over a year ago when she jumped out from underneath a slide at a city playground where he was chasing after his nieces and nephews to give his sisters a chance to wrap Christmas presents without worry.

Normally his big stature and tattoos were a little off putting to kids. Most kids at the playground steered clear because he was big and bulky. Not Amelia. She simply smiled at him, her bright blue eyes shining.

“I bet you don’t need a ladder to put the angel on top of the Christmas tree.”

“Amelia!”

The girl -Amelia – took her eyes off him to stare to his right where he’d felt someone come up behind him. His laughter died, but the smile stayed on his lips. He watched as the little girl smiled innocently.

“What? It’s not like I asked him how the weather was up there.”

Another laugh escaped him and he bit his lip to try to stifle it. Amelia grinned triumphantly at him as his niece, Gabriela popped out of the slide.

Amelia introduced herself and the two had run off to the monkey bars holding hands and laughing as if they’d been friends for years.

“What’s so funny?” Rachel mumbled just on this side of sleep. She felt Damian’s body shake behind her.

“Amelia.”

“She’s a pistol.”

“Just remembering when I first met her.”

Rachel laughed softly. “I was mortified.”

He’d been in love when he turned around to find the grown up version on Amelia. Shining bright blue eyes. Long strawberry-blonde hair. A red hue of embarrassment on her cheeks. They spent the rest of the time talking as they watched the kids play. Amelia and Gabriela racing across the monkey bars. Two more of his nieces, Sofia and Bella, on the swings laughing and giggling as they wondered how fast they needed to go to completely do a loop. His nephews, Julian, Michael, and Ivan eventually teamed up with Rachel’s son Isaac and a couple other boys playing some version of cops and robbers. Though his nephews argued it was different than what he used to play growing up. This was the Fortnite version. He still wasn’t sure what made it different even after listening to five boys talking over themselves in an attempt at explanation.

When it was time to leave, Damian was sure he was just as disappointed as his nieces and nephews when he rounded them up. Then he felt as awkward as a teenager asking a girl out for the first time. He mustered up the courage to ask for Rachel’s number and withstood the teasing he endured from his sisters and mom later on when Gabriela spilled the beans on Tio’s new girlfriend. Though the term didn’t officially apply until three months later in March.

“I love you,” he whispered and pressed a kiss into her hair.

Rachel tightened her hold on his arm and was rewarded by Damian tightening his. Warmth enveloped her. It was a quick second before she scooted away just enough so she could turn over in his arms to face him. Burrowing closer, she laid her head next to his on the pillow. Her hand rested on his bare chest; his skin warm beneath her fingers. She felt the muscle twitch as his arm moved. A warm hand worked its way beneath her sleep shirt to the small of her back. With applied pressure she scooted even closer. Their legs tangled together.

Even this close she could barely make out his face. Only able to see the soft smile on his lips, with just a hint of teeth. His chocolate eyes were lost in the darkness of the night. Trailing her hand up his chest, she pressed her palm against his cheek. The coarseness of his neatly trimmed beard scratched at the soft skin of her hand. Her thumb caressed over his cheek bone, rubbing back and forth. The softness of the area a contrast to his jaw line.

Arching her neck, she pressed her lips against Damian’s. The kiss was soft and gentle, unlike the ones they shared earlier in the evening after the kids were asleep and the presents under the tree. Their lips moved in unison and she shifted closer, helped by the firm hand on her back. The kiss broke slowly in a series of smaller kisses.

When they parted the last time, Rachel ducked her head down and snuggled into Damian’s warmth. As her eyes drifted close, she felt the press of his lips on her head.

“I love you,” she whispered softly as sleep overtook her.

*~*

Christmas dawned to the excited shrieks of Isaac and Amelia declaring that Santa had in fact come. Their yells echoed through the house rousing both Damian and Rachel from slumber.

“How much time do we have before they simply start without us?” Damian asked, his voice heavy with sleep.

“Five minutes…maybe less,” Rachel answered as she sat up in bed rubbing a hand across her face. A yawn escaped.

“Would they?” Damian asked incredulously. He picked up his glasses from the bedside table and slipped them on his face.

“I don’t think so, but better not test it.” Rachel threw back the covers and climbed from the bed.

While Damian went into the bathroom, she grabbed the buffalo plaid pajama pants from the dresser drawer. A red long sleeve shirt with Santa Claus’s face replaced her night shirt. She slid her phone in the pocket of her pants and headed to the bathroom where she went through a quick version of her morning routine. The basics: peeing, brushing her teeth, washing her face, brushing and pulling her hair into a high messy bun.

She was exiting the bathroom, when the bedroom door flung open.

“Mommy! Hurry up!” Amelia cried, hanging onto the doorknob. Her hair was a tangled mess, haphazardly pushed out of her face. One pant leg of her white Santa face print snug fit Christmas pajamas rested halfway up her calf.

Rachel’s eyes quickly swept the room before sighing in relief. Damian already pulled his own buffalo plaid pajama pants over the black briefs he slept in. A grey t-shirt with a script ‘Merry Christmas’ written on the front with a Santa hat hanging off the top of the y covered his expansive chest. “Amelia,” she scolded. “What did I say about knocking?”

“I know…” Amelia drew out as she danced in the doorway. Excitement coursed through her. She was unable to stand still. “But it’s Christmas!” The little girl said as if that answered everything.

Rachel supposed it did to a nine year old.

Damian chuckled as he stood up from where he was perched on the edge of the bed waiting for Rachel to finish in the bathroom. His phone, already filled up with notifications wishing him a Merry Christmas, went into his pocket. “I guess we don’t have to worry about the naughty list anymore do we?”

Amelia grinned and hit Damian with a high five. “Right!”

“Santa’s always watching!” Rachel called after her daughter when she ran from the room. “Don’t encourage her.”

Damian laughed and caught her hand in his. He pulled her to him. “You know Santa is probably laying facedown on his bed. His jacket tossed in the direction of the laundry basket where Mrs Claus will no doubt scold him later for not putting it in the hamper. His pants around his ankles because he was so tired he forgot to take his boots off as he face planted on his bed.”

The image made Rachel laugh. Doing all what Santa did in twenty four hours, she probably wouldn’t even make it to her bed before collapsing. She probably would end up putting the reindeer on autopilot to make their way back home while she passed out in the sleigh using the sack like a sleeping bag.

Damian leaned down and kissed her. He chased the taste of toothpaste from his mouth to hers. Their tongues matching stroke for stroke. When he finally released her, they were both breathing heavily. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas,” Rachel’s murmured, leaning up on tiptoes to kiss him again. This time, just a small peck on the lips. She took his hand and pulled him from the room.

“Can we start Mom?” Isaac pleaded from his position in front of the tree. Packages of different shapes and sizes were poised behind him all wrapped in different colors and prints. His crocked smile promised braces in the near future. His brown eyes and equally brown hair were a painful reminder of the past.

“Of course.”

The words were barely out of her mouth before Isaac and Amelia dove toward the presents. “Just make sure they have your name on them!” She grabbed the remote to the TV from the coffee table. Within a few moments, the YuleLog appeared and instrumental Christmas music filled the room. Mixed in with music, an occasional crackling and popping from the fake fire. One of these days, they could maybe open presents in front of a real fireplace but living in Florida where she was sure it was already in the 70s outside, a fake fire was the way to go. Taking a seat on the couch, she folded a leg beneath her. A hand appeared next to her, holding a coffee mug.

Rachel followed the hand, smiling up at Damian. She hadn’t even noticed him breaking away to the kitchen. He took a seat next to her with his own mug. She threaded her arm through his and shifted closer, balancing her coffee cup on her leg with her right hand. He placed his hand on her leg as they both settled into the couch.

It didn’t take long for wrapping paper and bows to cover the floor like a blanket of snow. Rachel remembered those days from her own childhood. The excitement of Christmas morning and tearing through gifts in nanoseconds eager to get to the awaiting treasure. As she grew older and toys became a thing of the past, she opened presents much slower, hoping to draw out the excitement.

She tried not to overdo it in her Christmas shopping, but it was the first Christmas with Damian. She had a hard time reigning the man in. He drug her to nearly every toy store in a 40 mile radius and that was when he wasn’t bringing something home from whatever city he happened to be in for work. As they began to wrap, he sheepishly admitted that he may have gone overboard. Together they selected gifts from each child and sat them aside to drop off at the Salvation Army.

“No way!”

Rachel pulled her attention from Amelia, who had opened a box set of the tween book series, ‘The Crowns of Croswald’. Her daughter hadn’t been much of a reader until she randomly chose the first book in the series at the school library the beginning of the year. A reviewer called the series a cross between Cinderella, Harry Potter, and Alice in Wonderland. Amelia must have checked the same book out three times since, gobbling it up each time. It warmed her heart to see her love for reading passed down.

She looked at Isaac who had jumped up from the floor, an iconic pinstripe jersey in his hands. The number 99 was big and large on the back with ‘Judge’ across the top.

“It’s just like yours!” Isaac exclaimed looking at Damian. The smile on his face big and wide much like his eyes. He wasted no time pulling it on over his pajama top claiming ‘I tried’ on whether he was naughty or nice. The buttons weren’t even undone on the jersey. “This is so cool!”

Damian laughed and quickly found the boy in his lap giving him an enthusiastic hug. He held the coffee mug out to the side as Isaac’s small arms gripped him. “You’re welcome,” he chuckled, returning Isaac’s hug. He picked up the jersey a couple months ago in October during the playoffs. The crowds were absolutely insane and the store at the stadium was packed so full one could barely move. His friends begged off choosing to instead meet him at their seats while he fought off overzealous fans looking to buy their ALDS merchandise. He took countless photos that day but it was all worth it for the current moment. “Maybe we’ll be able to catch a spring training game in March.”

“I’d miss school for that!” Isaac declared causing Rachel and Damian to laugh.

“You’ve corrupted him,” Rachel turned to look at Damian after Isaac went back to sit on the floor in the midst of wrapping paper and toys. Jersey still in place. “We’ll never get that off him. My dad won’t even let us in the house later when he sees him.”

Florida had no Major League Baseball teams when her father was growing up. The closest team to their Venice, Florida home were the Atlanta Braves. By the time baseball expanded into Florida with the Marlins and then the Rays, no one could pry the Braves from her dad’s heart.

It was one of the reservations she had about introducing Damian to her parents. Her dad could forgive a lot of things, but she wasn’t sure if he could forgive her for dating a Yankee fan. At the beginning, her father called him ‘The Yankee’ and she was sure it was a dig, but over the months it had melded into almost a term of endearment. There wasn’t a big of a bite in the words anymore. Her mother even told her that’s how Damian was stored in his phone.

“I can’t wait to see the look on his face when Isaac gives him a ‘hi grandpa’.” Damian laughed, tickled at the prospect of needling Rachel’s father. It would be a little payback at the jokes and slander her dad threw his way after the Yankees lost in the World Series to the Dodgers. Though he had thrown a lot of teasing and needling his way after the Braves were eliminating from the playoffs.

‘Could have been worse. She could have brought home a Mets fan.’

A ringing endorsement if he ever heard one. He and her father both were able to come together and set aside differences over their mutual hatred at the New York Mets.

“Maybe he’d like to catch that spring training game with us?”

Rachel turned her head, sending him a smile. “He’d love that. As long as you’re okay with him in that dirty Braves hat and faded out jersey mom keeps threatening to throw out.”

An undignified sound came from Damian but his heart was warm. He couldn’t wait for the spring months and spring training baseball. He could take Isaac and Rachel’s father up to Tampa for Yankees spring training or maybe he could give in and head just around the corner to North Port where the Braves facility was located. Nothing soothed the disappointed of the previous season like the optimistic birth of a brand new season. Maybe this time, they could place a small wager on the season.

He already knew what he wanted.

Damian glanced at Rachel from the corner of his eye. Probably not the way to go about being gifted that particular hand. No matter his feelings he wouldn’t survive if his sisters found out he wagered Rachel’s hand in marriage on a baseball season. And if his mother found out…

“Mom, you gotta open your presents!”

Amelia saved Damian from thoughts of his mother taking skin off his hide. A glance at the tree told him the kids still had presents to unwrap, especially Isaac’s PS5 he argued with Rachel over purchasing which led to Amelia’s iPad. He wanted to buy a Nintendo Switch but the little girl wasn’t into video games as her older brother. The blonde headed sunshine was into reading, drawing, friendship bracelets, and Taylor Swift. He definitely felt a little out of his comfort zone. If Taylor would have worked with him and scheduled her already two year long tour into three, he could have gotten Amelia tickets but The Eras Tour ended a few weeks ago. Instead he purchased an iPad with an Apple Pencil and one of the best drawing apps recommended to him by a couple of people in the graphics department at WWE.

“Did Santa bring me presents?”

It was the wavering note in Rachel’s voice that had Damian turning his attention to her.

“Of course he did mom!” Isaac sent a wink to Damian. It wasn’t as sly as the little boy thought. Just last week, while he and Damien were tossing the baseball outside in the fading sunlight, he told Damian he knew Santa wasn’t real. Damian struggled with the conversation because he didn’t want to be the one to spoil the magic of Christmas and Santa.

“Here mom!” Amelia carried two rectangle shaped clothing boxes with a couple smaller rectangle boxes on top. Isaac followed behind his own arms filled with a few boxes of various shapes.

“These aren’t all from the big guy,” Isaac stated as he sat his own boxes down on the ones already in Rachel’s lap. “Damian took us shopping and made us promise not to tell you.”

“It was soooo hard!” Amelia groaned. “Keeping secrets is a tough business.”

Rachel laughed. She took her eyes off her children’s smiling faces to the presents resting in her lap. A lump rose in her throat as she took in the blue paper with silver snowflakes. She could tell the kids wrapped them or at least helped. The paper wasn’t tight on the boxes. Tape barely keeping the edges together. The smaller sides were folded crookedly and she could see folds from previous attempts before tape was just thrown on. Tears welled in her eyes.

They were the best wrapped presents she’d ever seen.

“Oh! I almost forgot!” Amelia jumped up from her spot kneeling at Rachel’s feet and rushed back to the Christmas tree. She threw paper up in the air as she dug beneath the mess. “Found it!”

There in her daughter’s small hands was a cream knit stocking with a dark red cuff. Rachel embroidered in cream thread centered on the cuff. The stocking, a gift from her grandmother on her first Christmas as a married woman, matched her ex-husband’s. Her grandmother was then able to make one for Isaac and Amelia before she passed away. Isaac’s was a hunter green with a cream cuff while Amelia’s a matching dark red with a cream cuff.

She reached for the stocking, her hands shaking. Items inside shifted beneath her grasp.

For the last twelve years the cream colored stocking stating her name remained unfilled. A lonely vessel empty of favorite candy, lip gloss, travel sized lotion bottles and hand sanitizers. All those oft overlooked small tokens that get stuffed in stockings too small to be wrapped but just as important as those perfectly wrapped presents beneath the tree.

A feeling of being overwhelmed slammed into her. Her children’s faces blurred before her as her eyes filled with tears. She blinked rapidly in a losing effort to keep them at bay. A sob traveled up and escaped. She quickly lifted the packages off her lap to Damian’s. The stocking fell to the floor when she stood up and rushed from the room, a hand over her mouth to muffle the sobs.

“Mommy?” Amelia’s excited smile fell from her face.

Damian stared in shock toward the hall where Rachel disappeared. Confusion set in. He had no idea what happened. It couldn’t even be a reaction to a bad present, though he doubted Rachel would ever react to a gift in this manner. Not in front of her kids. The room was silent except for the low music coming through the TV. The Yule Log still burning faithfully on the screen. He turned his head back to the room and his eyes met Isaac and Amelia. Both standing in front of him staring at him with confusion filled eyes much like his own. He could see the tears starting to well in Amelia’s blue eyes.

Quickly sitting the presents Rachel nearly shoved in his lap on the cushion beside him, he scooted forward toward the kids who looked at him for answers.

Answers he didn’t have.

“Sometimes,” he started as he quickly searched for words to ease the situation but he fell short. “You guys stay here okay? I’m gonna go and see what’s wrong.”

“Didn’t mommy like our presents?” Amelia asked, sniffling softly.

“Oh dulce niña,” Damian pulled her into a hug. Her hands gripped at his shirt as she climbed in his lap. Her arms wound around his neck. “I’m sure she’s gonna love her presents okay.”

“You wanna make a bracelet?”

Damian was gonna buy Isaac that puppy he kept asking his mother about. “That’s a good idea.” He swiped his thumbs beneath Amelia’s eyes erasing her tears when she lifted her head. “You make me a kick ass bracelet to wear, Princesa. I’ll get mommy back out here and we maybe see if there are any more presents hidden under the tree with your name on them okay?”

Damian placed Amelia back on the floor and as he stood up, he ruffled Isaac’s hair. He left them gathering around the coffee table with Amelia’s new bracelet kit. The door to the master bedroom was shut when he reached it. He knocked softly but didn’t wait for an answer before entering the room.

Rachel lay in the middle of the bed curled up in a ball. Her knees were nearly to her chest; her arms clutching at one of the pillows, holding it to her. The pillow did little to muffle her quiet cries.

“Talk to me, Cariño,” Damien spoke quietly. He took a seat behind her leaning on his arm while he placed a hand on her hip. Her breath hitched at the contact. “I’m sorry if I overstepped taking the kids Christmas shopping for you.” He wasn’t sure if that is what caused her to be upset or not. He wasn’t sure what it could be. What happened to send her smiling and laughing to a ball of tears?

“No,” Rachel turned toward Damian and sat up. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and buried her face in his neck. She felt his arms wrap around her waist pulling her as close as he could get her.

Damian felt the wetness of her tears on his neck and he hugged her tighter. He moved back on the bed, keeping her in his arms until he was able to lean against the headboard. He ran his hands up and down her back in a soothing manner, his touch light. He whispered hushes against her hair as he placed a kiss on her head. “Tell me what’s wrong… how can I fix it Bebé if I don’t know what’s wrong?”

“You did… you are…” Rachel whispered as her cries slowed and quieted. She pressed closer to Damian’s side, seeking his strength and warmth.

“I’m what?”

“Fixing it.” She moved her head to Damian’s chest. Her fingers caressed his chest until his hand captured hers. He brought her hand to his mouth pressing a kiss to her fingers.

“Well I’m glad I’m fixing it, but please tell me what happened?”

Rachel was quiet. The house held a type of silence that shouldn’t happen on Christmas Day and she felt awful for having been the cause. What her kids must think… “Isaac and Amelia?”

“Isaac is making bracelets with Amelia.”

“He’s gonna end up getting that puppy isn’t he?” Her body shook as Damian laughed. When his laughter died, she blew out a shuddering breath.

“Tell me,” Damian gently prodded, tracing random lines on her back with his fingers.

“The stocking…”

“I had to sneak out of bed last night to pull the items from where I had them hidden. I thought you caught me when you woke up as I was crawling back into bed last night.”

“I never had a stocking once I got married.” Rachel confessed.

Damian froze. Surely he didn’t hear correctly. Not have a stocking? How was that possible? “Like it was just a tradition you didn’t do?”

Rachel shook her head. “No. I hung them. Mine. Dan’s. Then Isaac’s and Amelia’s. Each year I would fill Dan’s with his favorite candy, a lottery ticket like my Grandma used to do, a brain teaser puzzle block for his desk, high quality pens for the office. Gift card to the café he would often go to for lunch because it was close to his office. Cologne. Random stuff. When the kids were little, I’d put small toys and teething rings. Rattles. Little puffs and yogurt melts. As they got older so did the items. Pokémon cards. Fidget spinners. Chapstick. Those punching balloons. Funky pens. The first Christmas Dan and I spent together as a married couple, I figured he was gonna sneak items into my stocking while I was sleeping…”

“But he didn’t.” It was a weird to feel both anger and sadness at the same time. Anger over a man who couldn’t do the simplest of tasks. Sadness for a woman who didn’t have someone to fulfill a simple task.

It was heartbreaking to think about knowing how much thought and effort she put into Isaac and Amelia’s stocking; into the whole holiday season. From present shopping to decorations. Fun events like The Polar Express Train ride and even going up to Sarasota to ice skate at the Sports Complex. Complete with photos with Santa Claus. The baking was beyond reproach and Damian tried to hit the gym more because he apparently lacked discipline when Christmas cookies were involved.

“He never did. Each year, stockings would be stuffed with favorites but mine would be laying there empty. As time went on I just became numb to it. If I didn’t expect anything, I couldn’t be let down.”

Damian cursed softly. Rachel spent the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas making sure the Christmas magic was alive and everyone’s wishes came true. While no one was making sure her’s did.

“When they put those presents in my lap… with that wrapping paper so messy and imperfect…” Tears filled her eyes again.

“You don’t want to even know how much tape we went through that day,” Damian chuckled. It was truly a test of patience helping Isaac and Amelia wrap presents.

“Damian… I never have presents under the tree. At least not the ones I didn’t put under there myself,” she confessed.

“That miserable asshole never bought you Christmas presents?” At Rachel’s head shake, Damian let loose a long tirade in Spanish.

“When Amelia handed me my stocking and I could see there was something in it… I just…”

Damian cupped Rachel’s face with both of his hands. He lifted her chin so he could stare into her eyes. Much like he did with Amelia earlier, he ran his thumbs across the soft skin of her cheeks, erasing the tear stains. “Cariño, you will never have to worry about an empty stocking ever again. I will make sure it is stuffed to the brim. Because you deserve it. You think I didn’t notice everything you’ve done, I did. Today is going to be a great day because of you. I love you.”

With his hand still cupping her cheeks, he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. He kept the kiss soft and gentle, using it to convey how much he loved her. Her lips parted on an equally soft sigh and he couldn’t resist the invitation. His tongue swept into her mouth with gentle licks and soft nips. His hand eased to the back of her head, tangling into the strands caught up in a bun. Her hand fisted in his shirt, pulling the cotton tight across his chest as he used his hand to press her more firmly against his lips.

The heat turned up just a minute or two before his strokes turned more languid. He withdrew from her mouth, his lips turning up at the small noise of protest she made as she chased his lips.

“Mi vida, mi amor,” he whispered against her lips. “Let’s go back.”

The soft colored lights of the Christmas tree offered the only light in the house. A contented quietness laid over the house. Amelia and Isaac long since in bed after a full day of excitement, first in the magic of Christmas morning and then in the afternoon to early evening at her parents’ house with her siblings and their cousins. Isaac did in fact wear his new Yankees jersey much to the chagrin of her father.

‘You’re corrupting that boy!’

He was able to be coerced into taking it off for family photos in front of her parents’ tree as was the tradition dating back as far as she could remember. The four of them stood there while her mother morphed into a drill sergeant making them move a little to the left, back to the right. Angle this way. Turn that way. Stop smiling like that… she and her siblings suffered through it for many years. They learned to go with it. Not without some teasing.

She stood in front of the nine foot tree her mother spent hours decorating and nitpicking for days after - to make it perfect, smiling the biggest smile she could remember having on Christmas Day in years. Tucked into Damian’s side. His arm behind her back, his hand resting on her hip. Her bent behind his back. Amelia standing in front of her. Isaac in front of Damian.

‘You look happy Baby.’ Her mother murmured softly after pictures were through and conversation started back up. A dull roar that slowly grew louder as people fought to be heard and laughter broke out between her brother, brother-in-law and Damian.

Rachel knew her eyes were sparkling when she took her eyes off Damian to look at her mother. ‘The happiest I’ve ever been.’

With the kids tucked safely in bed, Rachel knew she was headed in that direction soon but she wanted to hold on to the day just a little longer.

“The day always seems to go by so fast,” she said softly as she stared at the Christmas tree with its twinkling lights. There was almost a sad look to the tree like it knew its job was done and was able to finally rest. “The build up seems to take so long getting here and then you blink and it’s over.”

Damian rubbed her shoulder. He sat on the end of the couch with Rachel curled up against his side under his arm. The dress shirt and pants he wore to her parents’ got traded in for a soft t-shirt and grey sweatpants. She changed as well, removing the make up and throwing her hair back up into a messy bun from the waves of curls she had it styled in, and putting on an oversized shirt with Frosty on it and shorts. A cream Sherpa throw covered her legs.

“Growing up I thought Christmas lasted forever. It always felt that way.”

“The older the kids get, the faster it seems to go.” Her fingers moved to play at the beaded bracelet wrapped around his wrist. The beads alternated in a pattern of red and black – the current colors of Damian’s ring gear. She tugged it gently so the white letter beads were visible.

‘Amelia <3 Damian’

“If I’m not careful, she might steal you away from me,” Rachel teased. “I saw the look on your face when she gave this to you this morning.”

Damian laughed as he flexed his wrist showing off the best piece of jewelry he owned. Amelia made a big production over presenting the bracelet, making him close his eyes and hold out his arm. When he was allowed to open his eyes and saw the upside down letters resting against his wrist, his heart stumbled to a stop. The little girl once again burrowing deeper into his heart. He knew in that moment, staring down at the innocent proclamation, his heart would shatter beyond repair if his relationship with Rachel didn’t work out.

“And you couldn’t wait to show it off.”

That was true. He snapped a photo of the bracelet sending it off in the group chat he shared with Rhea, Finn, and Dom.

‘You’re gonna be Papi for real in no time.’

Rhea’s response came after she sent a couple heart eye emojis.

The response warmed his heart. It was never far from his mind the rest of the day. So much so, when opportunity struck and he found himself alone with Rachel’s father he took the chance to ask the man if he could marry his daughter.

“You know you’re my best girl,” Damian wrapped his arms around her pulling her further into his body. “Just don’t tell her that.”

Rachel laughed and settled against him with her head on his chest. He adjusted the throw to cover them both. She stared at the lights of the Christmas tree as his heart thumped in her ear.

It had truly been the best Christmas.

[beasanfi1997]

The differents between Jedi, Grey Jedi, Dark Jedi and Sith:

-Anakin Skywalker becomed a real Jedi Knight especially during the Galactic Empire because he didn't hurt nobody and for his all life was a truely innocence. He protect Ezra from Maul, Thrawn and the Empire to not reveals him that he calls the Loth-Cats. He hidden the Bad Batch and Martez Sisters on Naboo from Empire. He hidden Ahsoka on Malachor to believe Palpatine that She Is dead. He hidden too Ezra and Ahsoka on Naboo until Anakin sacrifices himself killing Palpatine for good.

- Ezra Bridger and Ahsoka Tano becomed Grey Jedi because they didn't becomed Jedi Knight but the Force Is strong inside like a real Jedi Knight unlike Grogu and Jacen Syndulla because Grogu becomed Hermit like Yoda before him while Jacen follow the steps of his parents Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla becoming a Cowboy Jedi and Pilot and Is that because out Four Heroes will be becomes witnesses After the Battle of Exegol like the real sages(Ahsoka Is the elderly of 71 while Jacen Is the youngest of 35)

- Barriss Offee choose to be a Dark Jedi, instead to be a Jedi Knight as her master Luminara Unduli did It, because She sense that Palpatine Is a liar and She realize that he Is a Sith Lord and She notices that he takes Maul, Dooku and even Anakin like their Apprentice and Is that because She tried to frame Ahsoka to stay away from Anakin and She notices too that Thrawn tried to kill Ezra because he was Born on Empire Day(if Anakin Is a truely Chosen One that Qui-Gon Jinn said It) that Maul help him because he want that the baby will be his Apprentice as Palpatine did It with Anakin.

-Palpatine was obessed with the Dark Side of the Force because First he was the Apprentice of Darth Plagueis and then he killed him becoming a horrible Sith Lord and he want to takes the Children of the Force to be his Apprentice including Maul, Dooku and Anakin

[rebeltigera]

" Is that baby yoda? why he look like a monkey sis?" - my little sister (she talking abt bald mac)

Poor innocent child

[tteokokki]

I don't have anything super specific but could you do something with cg Jihyo and little Tzuyu or chaeyoung with nursing?

Sleep Tight, Goodnight

Little🍼: Tzuyu - 4-6 months (non-verbal)

Caregiver🧸: Jihyo

| TW: Comfort breastfeeding, crying |

Tzuyu stopped herself from ringing Jihyo's apartment door bell. Even though it was what she wanted the most right now. The adult Chou Tzuyu is extremely exhausted she needed something to help her slip into her Baby Space she needed peace.

"I AM COMING! PLEASE STOP RINGING THE BELL!" She heard Jihyo's screams, taking her off of the trance she didn't even know she was in, her finger was pressing non-stop the door's bell.

"What do you wan- Tzu? What are you doing here Baby Yoda? Do you want to come in, its freezing and you came all the way here..." Jihyo's voice softened after she saw it was Tzuyu the person in front of her door. The taller entered and took her shoes off staying with the socks she had.

"Um..Hm" Tzuyu didn't know what to say, she was...embarrassed? She just lowered her head looking at the fluffy green socks that protected her feet from the cold.

"Do you need something sweetheart?"

"I-i..."

She didn't feel when everything started to be too much for her, maybe it was the stress, or the pressure she felt with Jihyo's questions. Small sobs started to fall from youngest lips.

"Bear..do you want Mama to help you?" Jihyo quickly hugged the tall girl trying to calm her down, feeling a small nod from the younger.

"Let's take a bath, than Mama will cuddle with you, Okay Bear?" Jihyo wasn't receiving verbal answer so she just concluded that Tzuyu was slipping to her Baby Space.

The leader bathed the girl and dressed her with a blue hoodie, sweatpants in the same color, she topped of with the little one's beige pacifier and got to bed with her. Tzuyu had that pure innocent look in her eyes showing to Jihyo in every move she made that she slipped, and probably was beetwen 4-6 months old.

Tzuyu was scattered on the bed looking at her mama's face. Jihyo was dressing her pajamas up to go put the baby to sleep.

Jihyo caught the Baby's doe eyes staring at her, the leader chuckled and finished dressing up. She then quickly laid down and pulled Tzuyu closer to her neck.

The oldest between both fixed her shirt letting one of her breasts free. Tzuyu quickly connected to the older starting to feel sleepy by the second she started to be breastfeeded.

She sleeped fast, jihyo just kept the younger on her breast caressing the girl's head.

[vodika-vibes]

Older Ahsoka reunited with TCW Obi-wan 😭

(How many other reunions will end in tears for her?? QAQ)

Like, a lot of them.

Remeeting Master Plo. Seeing Master Yoda. Seeing baby Bariss.

Ahsoka stares down at the face of baby Ahsoka, and she tries, really hard, to not grimace at the outfit that baby her is wearing. The fact that Skyguy let her get away with wearing a tube top is, franking, concerning. It's also not the most concerning thing about her former apprenticeship, now that she's thinking about it. "You feel sad." Baby Ahsoka says, "Would you like a hug?" "I am sad." Older Ahsoka replies, "And yes, I would like a hug, thank you." Baby Ahsoka jumps up and wraps her arms tightly around Older Ahsoka's neck, "I don't know why your sad." She says with a childlike innocence that Older Ahsoka hasn't felt since that one time her master made her dress up like a slave, "But Master Obi-Wan will fix it! He's amazing like that!" Older Ahsoka sighs and hugs her much younger self tightly, "He might just."

[ooops-i-arted]

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the Season 3 premiere from your child development POV!

And I am excited to write them! I will try to get them out in a timely manner during the season. As always, there will be spoilers in this post.

For me, the biggest takeaway from the episode as a whole is what I already touched on in my previous post: Grogu is acting like a happy, healthy, normal child. He is happy to interact with familiar people and even with strangers, provided a trusted adult is nearby. He's peeking out of his pod, engaged in whatever's going on. He's friendly and waves greetings. Even when Din is talking to the Armorer or Greef, we see him playing like a kid or even paying attention to what's going on and adding his own "commentary" of cooes and babbling. Compare that to season 1 when he hides in his pod and is very quiet most of the time! (Not to mention acting ashamed of stealing the ball in The Sin, and now he's known in the fandom for Baby Crimes lol.)

Regarding the ball, it doesn't make an appearance yet but I hope it does. (The necklace too.) I assume Din is carrying it safely in his belt pouch or perhaps Grogu has a special compartment in his pod, but I would guess Din makes sure it's safe and sound. My own parents certainly went to great lengths to make sure my blankie was safe and accounted for when I was a kid, because they knew the upset should it be lost!

Speaking of my own experience, I also loved Grogu entertaining himself in Greef's office with the chair and candy. It just felt so authentic and natural because it's exactly what I did as a kid in my dad's office! (My dad even said the same thing when I made him watch the clip.) Children engage in their environment and learn through play. This is another way Grogu is acting like a normal child - we saw much less casual play and it was usually involving other children (Sorgan) or a familiar item (the ball). Here he is exploring the motion of the chair, the sensation of spinning and how fun it is, using his Force skills to nab himself his candy. He also minds when Din makes the chair stop spinning. He no longer has to misbehave to get Din's attention. He knows that one noise, and Dad will be right there. Din is the safe, secure caretaker he needs and he knows he will be cared for the moment he needs it. We also see this when IG-11 activates - notably, Grogu isn't particularly perturbed (and we know the puppet + sound engineers can make him be so) as he's tossed between Greef and Din. He knows he's with safe people and they will protect him. It may also be some misplaced trust in IG-11 - a childlike innocence and belief that IG won't really hurt him, this is a friend. Luckily we didn't find out.

Din is really stepping up as a parent and fully embracing the role. We see him talking to and educating Grogu, involving him in things like it's second nature. (Because it's good in general, and how else are you gonna entertain a kid on those long flights?) Din is really comfortable with the role and it shows. Grogu instantly using Din's bandolier as a seatbelt, and crawling into Din's lap when he wants for cuddles, also seems familiar and a regular habit for them. This suggests Din is teaching Grogu to be safe as well as welcoming affection from Grogu so much it's become natural and comfortable for them both. (Side note but I am SO RELIEVED Grogu's bubble and the pilot compartment are connected. What if Grogu had choked on something when they were in hyperspace and Din couldn't get to him????)

Of course we gotta address the big Cute Baby Yoda Moment of the episode: No squeezie! It was really cute that Grogu was so excited his droid friend could be fixed and I'm sure he meant well, but this here is what we call "a teachable moment" in the education field. Grogu is old enough to learn about consent. When one of my students goes in for a hug that isn't wanted, I stop them and remind them they need to ask first. Their friend may not want a hug. I always assure them it's nice they asked, but their friend can say no thank you. Sometimes people want space, and that's okay. It's good Din stopped Grogu and I hope that offscreen he took the next step of teaching Grogu to ask first - and, of course, offering Grogu a hug himself if Grogu still needed one.

(TEACH HIM SIGN LANGUAGE, DIN, SO HE CAN ASK FOR THINGS. OR AT LEAST TAKE HIM TO A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST.)

The only other child in the episode is the Mandalorian one at the beginning. (Fun fact: he's the actor who was Boba's Tusken kid friend!) In Legends Mandalorians were considered "of age" at 13 so I wonder if they're keeping this aspect. Obviously a 13-year-old is not anywhere near an adult irl. (With apologies to any 13-year-olds following me: I know you don't wanna hear it, but I promise you'll get it when you're older.) But like I've said before, it's just A Thing in Star Wars to have kids doing grown-up stuff and it's what makes it so enduring for all ages, so it doesn't really bother me in this context.

We do see the adult Mandalorians protect and look out for the kid still, and his helmet has a wider visor than anyone else's and is sized for a kid, perhaps suggesting it's a "training" version and not a full one. These seem to imply that Mandalorian youths aren't thrown to the wolves as soon as they swear the Creed but it's part of their culture's rituals and a coming-of-age thing. I guess the closest comparison I have is going through confirmation through my family's church when I was maybe 13 or 14ish. I'm not going to touch on religious/cultural headgear or apparel because I was raised Methodist Christian, am now atheist, and neither require anything like that and I don't feel knowledgeable enough to have an informative commentary on it.

We are definitely off to a good start with the child development aspect! I could go on for days about how lovely Grogu's behavior as a regular, curious child and his warm and loving relationship with Din is, and I hope I get to do so for every episode!

(FYI these posts are tagged "baby yoda meta" if you want to search them on my blog.)

[bebe-benzenheimer]

why are there porn bots flooding THE BABY YODA TAG OF ALL THINGS HE IS A PURE INNOCENT FOUNDLING A POX ON ALL YOUR HOUSES

[burnwater13]

That’s right. That’s just what he did. While he was hiding, he hid. Yup. Amazing that it took an almost Jedi to figure that out. 

That’s right Grogu was kind of salty about that comment. He knew that Ahsoka Tano didn’t mean anything by it. She wasn’t calling him a coward for instance. She wasn’t saying that he should have just stayed at the Jedi Temple and fought the Clone Troopers and her former Master Anakin Skywalker tooth and nail. Nope. She wasn’t saying that at all. 

Grogu’s guilt was saying that and it made him angry that he felt guilty about surviving and that made him sad because that’s what he thought Jedi were supposed to do. Survive to fight another day. Ahsoka had somehow managed to do that too. 

Grogu wondered if she said that to the Mandalorian so Din Djarin would have some inkling of how bad things had been for Grogu. Mostly that proved that Ahsoka knew nothing about the Mandalorian. Din’s early life had been just as awful as Grogu’s and it didn’t seem like Mandalorians had a good way of hiding who they were. Sort of like you were a Mandalorian or you were not. There was no hide.

Which made Grogu wonder if he and the Mandalorian knew enough about Ahsoka. Grogu knew she had been brought to the Jedi Temple when she was a small child, practically a baby. That’s the way things were done until Anakin showed up with Master Obi-Wan. 

Grogu had been fine with that. Anakin had been a pretty cheerful child and he liked droids and mechs and was very handy with them. He spent a lot of his time with Obi-Wan because he was a padawan already. It was kind of a pity because if he’d been a youngling, then he would have spent a lot more time with Grogu and Ian and Grogu thought that would have been pretty cool. But that was not how things went. 

Nope. Ahsoka grew up with the younglings and then ended up as Anakin’s padawan. Grogu knew that was unique as well. Anakin had certainly done enough to become a Jedi Knight, but making him a Master as such a young age was almost unprecedented. Just like not calling him a Master when he had a padawan. Grogu had always thought that was odd as well, but then he had other things to worry about. 

It wasn’t easy being the same species as Master Yoda. People had a lot of expectations for him. He tried to always do his best, but everything was complicated when you were viewed as being too powerful to need help and too young looking to not be ignored. He had done the best he could, but that hadn’t been enough. That made him sad.

In his heart he knew he would have saved everyone if he could have, but the best he could do was save himself with the help of Master Kelleran, as his friends fell, either to the Darkside or to the blasters that aimed in their direction. So he survived and many of them did not. Sigh.

Because some of those children he had played games with, learned with, swapped lunches with, would grow up and become Inquisitors, Grogu had to hide in more ways than one. As he understood it, they had been trained to detect not just the Force itself, but the change in concentration of the Force’s energy. It was like looking at a cloud and knowing that the darker it became the more water was in it (yup that’s a real thing). So just using the Force to heal a stubbed toe because you didn’t have shoes or boots to protect them could give away your position and cause a lot of trouble for the people nearby. 

Grogu wasn’t that worried about himself, but he really didn’t want people just buying fruit at the market to have to deal with the Inquisitors. He was always shocked to see how the people he had known when he was a child hurt other folks just because they could. Because they had power and no accountability that mattered. So for those innocents, he’d let his toe bleed rather than heal it with the Force. It was the least he could do. 

When he was finally rescued by the Mandalorian he’d seen how much things had changed and knew that he could take risks with and for the Mandalorian that he could not take with other people. First, Din Djarin had armor that protected him from a lot of damage (maybe not a mudhorn’s worth of damage, but still a lot otherwise). Then, Din had been trained to fight. That was very clear with how he managed to get Grogu away from the Nikto gang to begin with. Finally, Din had been able to work with a wide variety of people in order to get to Corvus and help Grogu meet another of his kind. 

That showed just how honorable Din Djarin was and Grogu hoped that by doing small things like healing his injuries, or lifting up a really heavy mudhorn, he was honoring the Mandalorian and all the people he hadn’t been able to help over the years, because he had to hide who he was.

[iamscoby]

I posted 2,180 times in 2022

That's 1,438 more posts than 2021!

199 posts created (9%)

1,981 posts reblogged (91%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@calkestiis

@vanishedangels

@positivityjediprince

@movietimegirl

@mandobogwitch

I tagged 1,185 of my posts in 2022

Only 46% of my posts had no tags

#dinluke - 494 posts

#din djarin - 219 posts

#grogu - 167 posts

#luke skywalker - 147 posts

#the book of boba fett - 129 posts

#din and grogu - 88 posts

#dinluke fic - 72 posts

#scoby writes - 70 posts

#the mandalorian - 68 posts

#tbobf spoilers - 54 posts

Longest Tag: 131 characters

#luke says that with very innocent eyes after he himself just put the kid into a starfighter with no one but artoo in the droid port

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I can't stand it when this scene is read plainly as Yoda and Obi-Wan sending Luke to kill Vader. They specifically use words 'confront' and 'face' to convey that Luke has to confront him, and when it happens, he'll know what to do. It's Luke himself who voices out the interpretation that they expect him to kill his own father.

Heck, Yoda even goes as far as to remind Luke to resist anger, fear and aggression, instructing precisely how he should act with his father. And Luke ends up striving for following this teaching exactly.

Okay, Obi-Wan does say that the Empire has already won if their only hope Luke isn't ready to kill Darth Vader. But to me, it could as well mean that Obi-Wan expects Luke to face Vader in a state where he's ready for any outcome. Luke's instincts and the Force are going to tell him what to do, and he has to be ready to follow that guidance, whether it's to kill his father or not.

Conclusion: *stands up on a soapbox* Obi-Wan and Yoda did nothing wrong, ever! (or Yoda maybe sometimes during his 900 years of existence - who wouldn't? - but not in this moment, not in this moment!)

628 notes - Posted July 14, 2022

#4

Luke: Which do you choose?

Grogu: ???

Luke: That was a demonstration of how the Jedi Order used to work in the past. Now, take off your coat so we can dress you in your armour and comm your dad to show him how it looks on you

668 notes - Posted February 8, 2022

#3

Din: I don't know how to use the Darksaber

Luke: Don't worry, I'll teach you

Din: I don't know how to kiss either

767 notes - Posted March 2, 2022

#2

Anakin: It was a dream. Like I used to have about my mother. It was about you and the babies

Padmé: Tell me

Anakin: You’ll die in childbirth. Our children will kiss. Our daughter will marry a smuggler. Our son will marry a bounty hunter. And my lightsaber will be buried in the sand on Tatooine

Padmé: It was only a dream

*Imperial March plays*

774 notes - Posted March 9, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

See the full post

784 notes - Posted February 5, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[tallulahchanel]

a, k, n, s, t, and y for the "Fanfic Ask Game" if you'd like to answer. No pressure at all.

A: How did you come up with the title to [insert fic]? - Gonna answer this for Beautiful Ones (my first multi-chaptered Everkia fic). Kind of long, so buckle up. First, Savannah was inspired by Sharon Carter, not the character herself, but in an Everett x Reader fic, the reader seemed jealous of Sharon because she would often go in his office and close the door (spoiler alert: Nothing happened). So I thought it would be fun to create an antagonist for Nakia, except this woman throws herself at Everett, hence how I first came up with Flying Rings. Beautiful Ones is a song by Prince and I loved the line when he says "Do you want him or do you want me?" and I wanted to hear the song from a female perspective and I found Beyonce's cover and later H.E.R.'s cover. When I found B's cover, I sent it to my friend and said "This is Nakia to Everett about Savannah." That inspired me to do a oneshot. However, the dynamics between Nakia x Everett x Savannah were so interesting to me that I decided to expand it into a mini-series. We obviously know who Everett has feelings for, but it's fun writing about Savannah trying and failing to get in the way of that.

K: What's the angstiest idea you've ever come up with? - My OC Kya getting both of her arms blown off and having them replaced with vibranium bionics. While going through the transition, she learns that she's pregnant, but she is devastated because the bionic arms prevent her from feeling the babies move. Cool idea, but not going to pursue it because I don't think I can handle it.

N: Is there a fic you wish someone else would write (or finish) for you? - No, but I wish more people would write Everkia so I can be trash for them. However, I am concerned about a non-black writer writing for Nakia because there are some things with writing black characters that not all of them have the nuance to understand

S: Any fandom tropes you can't resist? - Everkia is always gonna be friends-to-lovers. That's my second favorite trope, behind enemies-to-lovers, but only few can write that trope right

T: Any fandom tropes you can't stand? - Incest, inappropriate age gaps, and when people try to write enemies-to-lovers, but they're shipping someone with their bully/abuser.

Y: A character you want to protect. - Always been Shuri (and baby Yoda to an extent). That's why I felt so bad that she went through so much trauma in the second movie. . IN the AU fic I'm writing for WF, I wrote how my self-insert OC Kya wanted to protect her innocence and she failed at doing so. That's how I feel.

Fanfiction Asks

[gch1995]

The Luke training Grogu sequence started off so well. For a second, I thought the writers were actually going to do his character justice by staying true to the roots of OT and Legends Luke Skywalker, he’d let Mando pick up his baby after school every day, and then bring him back every morning. At the very least, I hoped he’d give Grogu the opportunity to join the new Jedi Order as a normal boarding school student. Yeah, he wouldn’t get to see Mando every day anymore in that scenario, but they could still keep in touch with each other, see each other on weekends and holidays, and send and receive gifts from each other.

Instead, they decided to make him Obi-Wan/Yoda 2.0 because they needed to still justify the fact that they lazily copied and pasted Anakin’s and Luke’s arcs, character development, and stories in the OT and PT sagas onto MaRey Sue and Crylo Ren in the ST films by bringing back Palpatine and having the Skywalker and Jedi Order fail again.

The Din Djarin and Grogu scenes are all really adorable. What they’ve done to the Jedi and Skywalker legacy in the current canon really disappoints me, though. It’s not staying true to their previously established storyline of the Skywalkers bringing balance to the force at all.

If nothing else, at the very least Luke is much more honest, fair, and kind than his predecessors as a teacher. He offers a much more honest choice to Grogu between being a Jedi or going back to Mando. He gives him the resources to safely travel back home with food, that space ship filled with R4, communication devices, and other technology when he choose Mando instead.

He’s far less cold, critical, deceitful, dismissive, and manipulative of a teacher to Grogu than Obi-Wan was to either him or his father. Anakin was a slave child who Qui Gonn freed without his or his mother’s consent, he read his Midichlorian level without Anakin’s knowledge, and he deliberately neglected to tell Anakin the fact that he could very likely never have any close relationships again by becoming a Jedi. Obi-Wan and Yoda disowned Luke as a student, told him he was doomed to fail for not listening to them about “letting go of attachments” to focus on training when he had a force vision of his friends potentially being in life-threatening danger, and refused to offer him any sort of resources that would have allowed this to this innocent and inexperienced young Luke to feel safe going off on his own without their guidance or support. Not to mention the fact that Obi-Wan and Yoda deceived and manipulated him in their recruitment of him to destroy Vader for their own ends until Luke found out the truth from Vaderkin himself, and they didn’t even seem to feel that bad about it when he called them out on their shit.

I still expected a Luke who realized that “no attachments” creed was dysfunctionally obsessive bullshit that led to his predecessors downfall, so he wasn’t going to be like them with it in his new Order. That was the Luke we got in the OT films and Legends. This Luke is still better than Obi-Wan and Yoda, but he’s still missing what was supposed to make him such a game changer for the Jedi Order in the OT films by instead obsessing over that “no attachments” garbage.

Grogu with Din Djarin & Luke Skywalker