#caradin royalty au

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With Mandalore reclaimed, Din and his partner Cara lead their people and their own clan into a new age of peace and prosperity.

CaraDin Royalty AU Aesthetic, requested by @jennadknowsbest-blog

CaraDin Moodboards 2/?

[littlemissmarshal]

--;☆ 𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃'𝓉 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝓃𝑜 𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓊𝓃 𝑔𝑜𝑒𝓈 𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝐼 𝓁𝑒𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓁 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒹𝒾𝓈𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 𝒾𝓂𝓅𝓁𝑜𝒹𝑒𝓈 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝑜𝓃𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝑜𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇𝒻𝓊𝓁…

This spicy little number was started way back in Spring of 2021 and finished late November of 2022. This drawing was inspired by Mia_Zelko's AO3 story called Death is a Girl (And She's Only One Dance Away) . Please Do not take my art and repost it. A reblog is preferred. Thank you! Give this a like if you want to see the finished piece ♡

[redheadedteatotaler]

4.8.21

A little news, a little fan art, and fan fic, and a couple of pieces to make you giggle. Also, our MOTD is another blast from the past.

Onto your daily dose of Conviction...

So there's a rumor going round that there are talks of bringing Gina back to Star Wars, and Force of Light Entertainment takes a look at it, and breaks it all down...

Keep in mind this is based off something said by Mike Zeroh.

We have a new CaraDin writer among us!

An Unwanted Match - KTarra

CaraDin

Arranged Marriage

Enemies to Lovers

Royalty AU

Check out this adorable piece by @drowsydoodlerart (who I hope is okay with this....I scoured her blog and didn't see anything that said not to...but if it is a no, I apologize and will stop from this point on)

Another from Cassic Concepts....this one goes behind the scenes of Daughter of the Wolf...

And finally, I leave you with a couple of images to hopefully put a smile on your face...

Til Our Paths Cross...

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Posted some details on Insta so I thought I'd repost here because I had SO much fun working in those little details. Also I forgot to mention the double ring in the second picture is based on her dropper tattoo, possibly a gift from New Alderaan or from Din. The others were designed to echo the neckpiece, but now that I think about it maybe they're recovered pieces from Alderaan that Din got for her for that odd occasion where she needs to be fancy.

The piece is majority beskar but some pieces would have to be a material that looks the same but is flexible, to allow movement. I was heavily inspired by Priyanka Chopra's 2018 Met Gala dress with the hooded and jeweled head/neckpiece contrasted with a simpler dress (though I picture Cara's as midnight blue velvet). The hairpiece was inspired a bit by some of Satine's and some traditional Asian hairstyles. I almost added a cape but I wanted the neck and shoulder piece to be the big statement, both fashion wise and in-universe: like I said in the other post, Cara is showing that Mandalore no longer has to focus solely on war, they are so prosperous that their armorers have time for luxury and art now - but it's still a reminder of beskar's main purpose and that it can be turned back into armor if needed.

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Wedding Gifts

After a moment Cara stepped out, just as beautiful in a simple robe as she’d been in her wedding gown yesterday. She carried a long narrow box in her hands.  “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

“Good morning.  What’s this?” Din asked, nodding at the box.

She smiled broadly.  “Your wedding present.”

Read on AO3

Thanks @velvetblackness for giving me the nudge to get back to writing these two. :)

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Mandalore may not be part of the New Republic, but sometimes Diplomatic Stuff must be done, and when it's Cara's turn, she's going to do it well. After all, what better way to show that Mandalore is thriving by showing off a custom beskar piece from one of their artisans (which includes references to her own tattoo and her husband's armor if you look close) over a dress decorated with beskar chips? See, we're doing so well that our sacred beskar can be used for mere decoration on our queen. (Cara's just glad she can still look up to see the kids' jetpack practice before she goes.)

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Inktober 22: The other half of @glamorousgamine's request, the trials of puberty with the Caradin Royalty AU kiddos.

(Grogu has already cornered the offender in a dark alley)

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Inktober: The trials and tribulations of when each princess in the Royalty AU went through puberty

Inktober 14: The result of a 45-minute conversation where Din tried to figure out why Alanne was suddenly so hellbent on refusing to show her face and wanting to swear the Creed

Brizsa coming soon!

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Inktober #13: Can't stop drawing characters who don't wear dresses in pretty dresses lol.

Jokes aside, I do wonder how Cara feels about efforts to rebuild Alderaan. We get hints that Canon!Cara is still grieving and suffering from the trauma of losing her home and loved ones, and seems to be motivated more by avenging Alderaan on any Imperials in range rather than rebuilding a home for her people. A Cara who is Queen of Mandalore, though, would have the opportunity to be a big influence in helping her people, and would likely be more emotionally secure with support from a loving husband (who also lost his own people in the attack on Aq Vetina and Mandalore and can uniquely understand how she feels) and possibly they have their own children she wants to make a future for, and make sure they know about their heritage.

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Inktober 7 & 8: Brizsa and Alanne Dune-Djarin, as young adults.

Brizsa loves more alternative styles and even makes some of her own jewelry. ("Moooom that armband totally wasn't inspired by you" she insists.) She likes stuff that fits the club and cantina and street and still allows her to move while still looking cool. ("Folding down your boots is totally in style." "That's stupid." "You don't even wear boots, Grogu!")

Alanne, meanwhile, prefers practical clothes and that classic Star Wars spacer-with-a-bit-of-Western look with Mandalorian flair. Her culture and heritage are deeply important to her and she's never without her clan's signet and the necklace her father gave her at least. She also remembers a comm wherever she goes ("unlike my SIBLINGS") and overall cares more about being able to move and fight in what she wears rather than how it looks.

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Daughter of the Mudhorn

Alanne tried to wipe her eyes but her hands were just far enough away, cuffed and magnetized to the wall of her tiny cell.  She sniffled and then swallowed, trying not to make a sound.  They would come in and hit her again, hard, and had taken her armor pieces so she had no protection.  There was already dried blood itching at her temple and wetter stuff still dripping from her nose, which hurt with every twitch.

They were quiet now in the other room.  She tried to listen.  She had heard them already, talking about the New Alderaan Consulate and the Mand’alor and ransom money and asking for beskar.  She tried not to cry but tears dripped down as she thought of her beautiful beskar shoulder plate with the mudhorn signet on it, pure shining silver just like her father’s armor and newly forged to fit her growing shoulder now that she was almost eleven.  She had promised the Armorer she would wear it with pride, and when her dad took off his helmet to see it again later he was beaming and told her she was truly Mando’ad.  But she’d just gone into the Hosnian Prime market to look around and get a snack while her mother met with some New Alderaan officials and she’d been disarmed, captured, and her armor taken.  It was a durasteel light set, more form than function, but how could she ever earn a real set of armor if she had already been disgraced like this?

A loud bang and she jumped, her aching nose and her bruised wrists hurting under the sudden movement.  She didn’t know who had taken her, but she knew enough about the underworld.  There were the Hutts, and the Exchange, and the Pyke Syndicate, and more she had probably never heard of, and she was a princess of Mandalore.  She was worth a lot of credits.  Whoever took her, they might have competition.  Not to mention that every pretty girl in the galaxy heard sooner or later how Hutts got their dancers.

Loud blaster fire roared in the next room and Alanne hid her face in her arms, crying.  Crying like a coward, a daughter of Mandalore afraid of blaster fire!  Her mom and dad would never cry, they would fight.  But how could she fight?  She wasn’t as strong as them and she didn't even have any weapons or armor.  She couldn’t even get herself uncuffed from the wall, thought her wrists were mottled with bruises from trying.

She tried to cover her ears with her arms, trying to block out the sounds of fighting in the next room and failing.  She just wanted to go home.  She wanted her mom and dad, her own room, even her annoying siblings.  She just wanted to go home.

“WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!”

Alanne’s head popped up.  Was it - was it really -?

The door was forced open, and her mother was there.

“MOM!” Alanne cried out, trying to get up and falling back against the wall.

“Alanne!”  Cara rushed forward, disengaging the cuffs and breaking them off at their weak point.

She should have thought of that.  Alanne didn’t say it as her mother held her tight.  “Mom - Mom -”

“Are you hurt?  Did they hurt you?” Cara asked, tilting Alanne’s head back to inspect her.  “Your nose looks broken, oh my poor girl -”

Alanne couldn’t stop the tears pouring out of her eyes.  She tried to speak but all she could say was, “Mom…”

Cara held her close and tight.  “I’m here, baby girl.  You’re safe.”

Alanne gave up and sobbed into her shoulder.  “M-mom… they g-grabbed me in the m-market…”

Cara rocked her gently, like she was a baby again.  “Someone saw.  They recognized your armor and called the Mandalorian embassy.  They told me right away.”

Her armor, her beautiful new armor.  “Th-they took m-my armor…”

“We’ll find it, don’t worry.  You’re safe now.  We need to call your father and tell him you’re safe, and get you to a medical droid.”

Her father!  What would he think?  “My new b-beskar p-pauldron…”

“If it’s not still here, the Armorer can forge you a new one,” Cara said, kissing her head.  “Come on, sweetie.”

“B-but…”  She started crying harder, unable to stop.  “B-but I l-lost beskar.  D-dad will be… he’ll think…”

Cara’s brow furrowed.  “He’ll think what?  He’ll be happy you’re safe, Alanne.”

“I lost my first piece of real armor.  I lost beskar.  I’m not worthy.  I’m not… I’m not a real Mando’ad,” Alanne said, the words pouring out in a rush.

Cara stilled, and for a moment Alanne thought her mother would be angry at her.  Cara cupped her cheek gently.  “No, Alanne.  Don’t ever think that.”

“But I lost my beskar!  It was taken away from me by someone who was a victor in combat!”

“You are ten.  You’re still in training.  At ten I couldn’t take on all six of those people over there.  I did now because of my years of training and practice.”

“I’m almost old enough to swear the Creed!”

“Swearing the Creed at thirteen is the old way that you may or may not choose to follow.  And even when your father swore it at thirteen, he was still training.  He went on missions with a mentor, not by himself.  Being a Mandalorian warrior, or any kind of fighter, takes years of discipline and training.  Think of your brother, he’s over seventy and just now starting with a training saber after years working on other Jedi skills.”

Alanne sniffled; now snot was draining out her nose like she was a baby and not a princess of Mandalore.  “I’m not… I failed.  I failed and I’m not a good Mandalorian.  I’m not a warrior.”

“You are a warrior.  You’re brave.  I know you tried to fight them, and then you tried to escape,” Cara said, gently brushing her fingers across Alanne’s broken nose and bruised wrists.  “You did the best you could with what you have, like any Mandalorian.”

“But you and Dad would’ve beat them… you never would’ve been caught.  You wouldn’t even be scared.  I’ll never… what if I am never a true Mandalorian warrior?”

“Look at me,” Cara said, and Alanne obeyed.  “I already told you that being a warrior like me or your father takes years of training.  But the other thing is, you are a member of Clan Djarin.  Do you remember the stories we told you?  About how we found and protected your brother?”

Alanne nodded; everyone on Mandalore knew about how Mand’alor the Reluctant had been a simple bounty hunter until he found a Jedi child, decided to protect him, and in the process won the Darksaber and became leader of their people.

“You know the part where we went back to Nevarro so Uncle Greef could help us keep Grogu safe from the Empire?  When we fought Moff Gideon the first time?  There were so many soldiers, dozens of them.  We fought every one until the Moff hurt your father with an explosion.  I carried him back inside but the building was starting to burn.  I couldn’t see a way out.  I was afraid we were going to die.”

Alanne blinked in surprise.  “You were afraid, Mom?”

“I was.  We were trapped, your father was hurt, there was fire all around us… and then what happened?”

She knew the story well since her brother liked this part a lot.  “Grogu saved you.  He made the firetrooper stop attacking you.”

Cara nodded.  “He saved us.  Even two fighters like me and your father, with all our years of training, would’ve been defeated without him.”  She cupped Alanne’s face.  “You are a Mandalorian, Alanne.  And you are also a member of Clan Djarin.  When one of us cannot stand, another protects them until they can again.”

Alanne nodded, sniffling again, but this time no more fresh tears came.  Cara wiped away the ones already on her cheek.  “Your father and I love you more than anything else in the galaxy.  Your brother and sister too.  We will always be there for you when you need us.”

Alanne hugged her mother again, but this time it truly made her feel safe and calm again.  Cara kissed her head.  “Can you walk, sweetheart?”

“Yes, Mom.”  Alanne stood, a little wobbly from the hours forced to sit down, but able to keep her feet.

“My speeder is outside.  Let’s get on and we can call your dad as we head to the medcenter, all right?”  Cara put an arm around her protectively as they walked out into the next room, where six bodies of various species were sprawled around the room, unmoving.

Alanne spotted a gleam and moved before her mother could stop her, grabbing a dirty bag.  Inside were all her armor pieces, and on top the beskar pauldron.

“See?  All good,” Cara said with a smile.  “I can carry it for you, if you need me to.”

“It’s okay, Mom,” Alanne said, hoisting it on her shoulder.  “I can carry this now.”

-

Also on AO3 | Part of the Caradin Royalty AU

I watched Daughter of the Wolf (free on YouTube if you're interested) and was filled with such a need for Mama Bear Cara it overcame my writer's block.

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whichever question you most want to answer for each of them: Alanne, Brizsa, Ika’ika

7. What triggers nostalgia for them, most often? Do they enjoy that feeling?

Alanne grew up in a reclaimed Mandalore, safe and happy without knowing the loss of culture or fear of genocide that her parents and Grogu experienced. To them, Mandalore was won with blood sweat and tears, a precious treasure to be protected and uplifted. But to her, it's just home. She doesn't have the baggage they do: Cara seeing the garden of lost Aldereaanian flora attempting to be regrown, Din seeing statues and art honoring former heroes, Grogu participating in a Jedi outreach program - to them, all of that is something that was hard-earned and could so easily be taken away again because they've experienced it. She sees it all with unfettered eyes; she's not unaware, but she didn't experience the loss like they did. She just sees beautiful flowers and pretty art and a cool place for her big brother to show off his skills. It makes her feel warm and happy and safe inside with no tinge of bittersweet feelings. She's the kid that always calls home or scrolls the HoloNet for updates on her favorite places when she's been away for too long.

26. What is their preferred mode of transportation?

Once Brizsa got a jetpack she was never going to put her feet on the ground or a train or anything else EVER AGAIN. It doesn't matter she was supposed to accompany Mom and Dad to a Senate hearing and look extra nice and presentable, JETPACK. Grogu has an upset stomach and needs a quick trip to a medic? JETPACK and don't you DARE throw up! Point A to Point B are less than fifty yards away? JETPACK. Mom and Dad grounded me? LOL, JETPACK. Finally got a proper suit for under the armor that seals and is safe for space? I'M GONNA JETPACK TO THE MOON, LEWZERS

3. How do they put themselves to bed at night (reading, singing, thinking?)

Ika'ika's most favorite way to go to sleep is nestled in a scarf at Dad's neck, soothed by the sounds and physical vibrations of Dad humming. (Din does not mind the tiny claws that leave the tiniest barest scratches all over his neck.) If that is not an option, a vibrating toy and the noise it makes in his crib will also help. He will also accept being curled up in Dad's palm or nestled in blankets (though Din is so afraid of him being smothered this only happens when Ika'ika can run away and find his own blanket nest).

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My son loves it when I sing “Bunny bunny hophopHOP!” while bouncing around on my toes like a maniac. I can’t help but imagine Din doing the same, whether in main continuity, 101 Yoditos, or the Royalty AU

Omg that's so cute. Din would probably get way more into it than people who see the stoic bounty hunter would ever guess. Hopping around the hold of the Razor Crest with Grogu following behind, making it a game of all the animals they've encountered. ("Charge like a mudhorn! Oh, you got me!") The 101 AU would expand this to an entire train of Yoditos after Din; the Babysitting Brigade shakes their heads in fond exasperation at first but gradually give in and join the train. Alanne, Brizsa, and Grogu love when Din helps them with their studies. It's easier to remember different animals when you flap your arms to fly, crawl, hop, or pretend to swim all over your rooms. (From experience, that's also a great game if you're stuck with indoor recess at a place with no adequate indoor gross motor space. Add in flippers = swim, legs = walk, and wings = fly and you also got a basic sorting game.)

Also not to get too sappy, even if he doesn't remember this specific memory, your son will remember how you played with him and gave him time. I remember my own parents doing that for me and it's so important. You sound like a great mom. :)

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Given the angst and drama of Alanne’s kidnapping, I wonder whether Briesza could drive her kidnappers insane by being her worst, brattiest self on purpose.

Alanne is more of a thinker. She knew what kind of danger she was in. Brisza charges into pretty much everything like a reek and does the thinky part later. So yes she absolutely would be biting, kicking, snarking, anything to get away and drive them insane. Of course the flip side of that is if she gets caught by people with no qualms hurting kids, she could be in serious trouble and get hurt bad. The kidnappers would lose in the end though as mama and papa bear would absolutely destroy them and any organization they were part of, and make an example the underworld would never forget.

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Brizsa in any situation getting the slightest bit awkward or boring: I must go, Mandalore needs me. [jetpacks away] unlike Poochie, Brizsa does not die on the way to her home planet.

100%. It drives Alanne fucking nuts whenever she tries to do some Responsible Duty To Their People Thing/Event and Brizsa is like, that's boring I'm out. *ZOOOOOOOOOM* (Grogu is a wild card on who he will side with but refuses to say anything about it except "The Force guided me, I swear.")

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Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck Inktober is tomorrow and as usual it snuck up on me lol.

Same deal as last year - I am opening the floor to ideas and prompts all October! All I ask is keep it simple/open-ended/with some wiggle room for creativity, if that makes sense. Here's my guidelines for requests.

Some things I'm already thinking about drawing if you need a springboard:

101 Yoditos AU

Caradin in any form (canon-compliant, Royalty AU, modern AU, I'm thirsty feed me)

The Caradin kiddos too

Cara Dune

Star Wars in general (including The Mandalorian obvs, KOTOR, Rebels, Legends, OT/PT, no Ahsoka or TCW please)

Miles Morales/Into & Across the Spider-verse

LotR

My own OCs