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jetii · 3 months ago

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Event Horizon

Chapter Five: From the Ashes

Chapter WC: 7,131

Chapter Warnings: None

A/N: me: i'm not writing a love triangle. also me: writes this chapter.

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They made you a General.

After the battle on Geonosis, the Senate and the Jedi Council came to an agreement. With the Separatist threat looming larger than ever, and the Clone Wars officially begun, the Senate agreed that the Jedi would lead the Grand Army of the Republic, and that the Council would appoint the Jedi Generals to command the troops.

And they chose you.

The Council believed that your skill and experience was more than enough to merit the title, but you didn't believe that for a moment. You were one of the few left standing, and the fact that you'd been there on the front lines, fighting against Dooku and his droids, likely had more of a role to play in the decision than any supposed skill of yours.

You were one of the youngest to be given such a rank, and even Obi-Wan was shocked when they informed you. You’d tried not to let your bitterness at his lack of confidence show, but it was difficult. After everything, after what had happened, you weren’t sure you were up to the task, and Obi-Wan seemed to agree.

But it was more than that.

You were among the many who suddenly found themselves elevated above their station in the aftermath. There was a whole score of Padawans who were now Knights as well as Generals with their own command, and Anakin was among them. You agreed that it was well-deserved, but you also knew, deep down, that it was the Council's attempt to keep him under their control. To give Anakin the responsibility, and the power, that he craved without giving him too much freedom.

You can't help but wonder if it was the same with you, or if the Council saw something different in you. They hadn't always been particularly supportive of your skills, but now, they were quick to put their faith in you. You don't know what to think, or how to feel. You're honored, of course, but there's a part of you that can't help but feel as if they're just using you. That you're nothing more than a pawn to move about the board as they please.

It's a feeling that you've been struggling with ever since you were named a Knight, and now, as a Master, the doubt has only grown.

The other Knights are congratulating each other, some even embracing, but you stay on the outskirts, your hands clasped behind your back and your head bowed. You can't bring yourself to celebrate, not with so many having lost their lives, and the weight of your new responsibilities settling heavily upon your shoulders.

The loss of life is a staggering number. Of the two hundred and twelve Jedi who had arrived on Geonosis with you, only thirty had made it out alive, and those survivors were scarred and battered, many not even fully healed from their ordeals. That wasn’t even considering the death toll of the clone ranks, numbering in the thousands.

You were lucky to have had that clone, Rex, save you, and you were grateful for his assistance, but you still feel the guilt gnawing at you. You wonder if he went back to the fight, if he perished like so many of his brothers, or if he too is nursing the pain of survival that you are.

There's a tap on your shoulder, pulling you suddenly from your thoughts, and you glance up to see Anakin standing next to you, a grin on his face.

“Well, are you going to congratulate me?” he asks.

You roll your eyes before you step forward and embrace him. He lets out a chuckle, wrapping his arms around your shoulders and squeezing gently. His new metal hand is a strange weight against your back, and a cold reminder of how much things have changed.

"Congratulations," you tell him as you pull away. "I'm happy for you."

"You don't sound very happy," he replies, his brow furrowing.

"I think you deserve it, Anakin," you say truthfully. "It's about time the Council realized how skilled you are."

“But…?”

"But nothing," you reply.

"Come on," he insists, his tone light, "tell me what's bothering you."

No one around is listening, but you can’t help but cast a glance around the chamber. You lower your voice, stepping closer to him. "I'm worried about what this all means.”

“It means you and I are finally getting the recognition we deserve," Anakin says, as if it were obvious. "Why are you so against that?"

You sigh, running a hand through your hair. It catches on the tangled strands, and you grimace, forcing your hand down.

"It's just not how I imagined things going," you tell him with a sigh. "I was always taught that a Jedi is supposed to serve, and now, we're leading soldiers into battle."

"We're fighting for a good cause, and we'll be helping people," he replies easily. "That's what we've always wanted to do."

You frown, your lips pressing into a thin line. Anakin is right, and you know it. But the thought of leading an army, and the idea of all the lives that will be lost, makes your stomach turn.

"You don't agree," he says in the face of your silence, a note of disappointment in his voice. You can see him deflating, and you quickly rush to reassure him.

"No, I do," you insist, forcing a smile. "It's just...a lot to take in, that's all."

"It's because of Master Yaddle, isn't it?"

The mention of her name makes your heart ache. You haven't spoken to anyone about her death in years, and you've never discussed it with Anakin. It's easy to forget, sometimes, just how much you two have in common. How many losses and tragedies the both of you have had to endure.

"Partly," you admit, the words sticking in your throat.

"You don't think she'd approve," Anakin says, his gaze softening.

"It doesn't matter what she would've thought," you say sharply. At the look on his face, you sigh and force yourself to calm down. "Sorry, Anakin. I'm just...I'm not sure if we're really ready for this."

"Well, I know I am," he replies, and his grin is back, and as always, it’s infectious. He gives you a nudge, and you can't help but smile back, some of the weight lifting from your shoulders. “And I know you are, too."

His confidence in you is overwhelming, and you have to fight the urge to scoff. You wish you had even half of his conviction, his sense of certainty.

You look at the others, the joyful conversations and laughter filling the room. And for a moment, you allow yourself to relax, to bask in the celebration and the relief that comes with it. But you can't forget the reason for it, and the weight returns, a heavy pressure against your chest.

"It's going to be okay," Anakin says, resting a hand on your shoulder. "This whole thing will be over before we know it, and we'll go back to doing what we were meant to."

"Thanks, Anakin," you say, softly. "You always know how to make me feel better."

You smile at him, and he smiles back. He gives your shoulder a squeeze, and then he's gone, lost in the crowd of Knights and Padawans and Masters. Your shoulders slump as you watch him go, and you're struck by how much he's changed.

The Anakin you knew would have scoffed at the idea of leadership, of being the head of an army. But now, he's embraced it, and his passion, his eagerness, is almost frightening. It’s hard to reconcile the boy who was so reluctant to grow up with the man standing before you. You're not sure what's changed, or what's made him so determined to accept the title, but it worries you.

The celebration is still ongoing, but you slip out unnoticed, the voices of the other Jedi fading into the background. You have a lot to think about, and a lot to consider, and you need some time alone.

You make your way through the halls of the Temple, the marble walls and floors reflecting the light from the windows. It's quiet, and peaceful, and for a moment, you can almost forget the chaos that's raging outside. Of the battles already being fought across the galaxy in the name of the Republic.

As you walk, the doubts start to creep back in. Are you really ready for this? You're barely older than the other Knights, and your experience as a Jedi is limited, compared to the others. You've had a few successes, but more failures. Your track record is hardly exemplary, and your relationship with the Council has always been strained.

They hadn't even offered you your own batallion, not that you wanted one. Not that you were ready for it. Instead, they'd simply told you that your place on the battlefield, whenever it was needed, would be alongside Obi-Wan. You were still expected to carry out your usual duties as an investigator and a peacekeeper, but the war took precedence, and your assignments had been scaled back significantly.

You were glad that you were able to remain a part of the investigative branch of the Jedi, and that you weren't being pulled entirely away from your normal duties. But it still didn't sit well with you, and the thought of being placed at the forefront of the conflict made you uneasy. It didn't help that the entire time the Council had spoken to you of it, Obi-Wan sat quietly, his hands folded in his lap, and his expression carefully neutral.

You still weren't sure how to feel about that.

The two of you have been at odds for a long time, and his refusal to support you had always been a sore spot. It was the main reason you'd pushed him away, and you'd both kept your distance ever since. But now, you would have to work together. There would be no choice, no alternative.

He'd accepted the decision with no hesitation, though as a member of the Council himself, he likely could've declined. But he'd remained silent, his gaze fixed firmly ahead, and his voice carefully controlled. You'd felt his eyes on you, the frayed remnants of your bond in the Force tugging at the edge of your awareness. But he'd said nothing, and his silence was as damning as his disapproval.

It had stung, and you'd spent the rest of the meeting glaring at him, and trying not to let your frustration show. It was petty, and you knew it, but it was also easier than letting your feelings out in the open. Years had passed since the two of you had had any sort of meaningful conversation, and the last thing either of you needed was to have it out in front of the Council.

You let out a frustrated sigh and turn down another corridor, your steps echoing against the marble floor. The sun is starting to set, and the shadows are growing longer, the light slowly fading. It's peaceful, and quiet, and for a moment, you let yourself relax.

You stop when you reach the training rooms, and the doors slide open with a hiss. There's no better place to burn off your nervous energy than here, and a few rounds with the training droids should do the trick.

You're halfway across the room when a voice rings out.

"What are you doing here?"

Your eyes widen, and your steps falter. You'd been so focused on your destination that you hadn't noticed that the room wasn't empty. Standing by the far wall, his back to you, is Obi-Wan. His arms are folded across his chest, and his gaze is fixed on the window, the skyline of Coruscant stretched out below.

You curse yourself for being so careless, and for not sensing him sooner. You're normally more alert, more aware of your surroundings, and Obi-Wan's presence is easily distinguishable. But the shock of the day, and the chaos of the celebration, must have left you distracted.

You steel yourself, and then continue forward, keeping your pace even and steady.

"I should ask you the same question," you reply, a hint of annoyance in your voice.

He glances over his shoulder at you, and his eyes narrow. You can't help but notice the faint lines around them, the evidence of his years of stress.

"I came here to clear my head," he says, his voice tight. "And you?"

"Same," you reply, your tone clipped.

"Ah, so the promotion is weighing on you, then," he says, turning to face you. "I wondered if it might."

You glare at him, the tension between you mounting. His tone is condescending, and it sets your teeth on edge.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" you snap.

"Nothing," he replies evenly. "Only that this will be a challenging new position for the both of us."

You shake your head, and then turn away from him. The anger is boiling in your chest, and you have to take a deep breath before you speak.

"If you have something to say, just say it," you tell him, trying to keep your voice level. "You've never had a problem telling me exactly how you feel before."

Obi-Wan lets out a frustrated sigh, and then turns, crossing the distance between you. You tense, but he stops several feet away, his hands clasped behind his back. He's always been the epitome of restraint, but you can see the anger in his eyes, and it's clear he's struggling to maintain his composure. You feel a flash of satisfaction at the fact that you've managed to get under his skin.

"Spar with me," he says suddenly. "Perhaps we can get this out of our systems."

"You want to fight me?" you ask, incredulous.

"Why not?" he retorts. "It's worked for us in the past."

You snort, but he has a point. The two of you have often sparred together over the years, and it has always been cathartic. The familiarity of the activity, the way it brings out the competitiveness in both of you, has always helped ease the tension between you. And after the events of the past few days, you could use the release.

"You and I may be remembering the outcome of those matches differently," you reply archly.

He raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. You're reminded of the countless times you've seen him use the same expression, the smugness and self-assurance infuriating and endearing in equal measure.

"Is that so?" Obi-Wan asks, his voice teasing. "Because I seem to recall winning a majority of those."

"A majority, not all.”

You push your robes off your shoulders and let them fall to the floor, leaving you in your leggings and tunic.

"And those that you did win were hardly decisive," he replies. "If memory serves, you had the upper hand on occasion, but never enough to guarantee victory."

"I'm fairly certain there were several instances where I was on top," you shoot back. You immediately wince at the words, the innuendo hitting you a moment too late.

"Yes, you certainly were," he murmurs, his voice low enough that you're not sure if you were meant to hear.

You feel a flush rising on your cheeks, and you quickly avert your eyes. It had been a mistake to provoke him, and now, the tension in the room is suffocating you. You can't even look at him, but Obi-Wan seems immune to the awkwardness, the very picture of stoicism.

"Well?" he asks, his tone businesslike once again. "Do we have an agreement, or not?"

You let out a sigh, and then nod. He takes a step back, and then removes his robe, his movements deliberate and careful. He folds it neatly and sets it on a nearby bench, and then he returns to the center of the room, his eyes never leaving yours.

You roll your shoulders, stretching your arms, and then move to meet him. You're not sure if this is the right thing to do, but it's a chance to finally get some of the frustrations and tensions out of your system. And if it gets too heated, well, that's a risk you're willing to take.

Obi-Wan draws his lightsaber from his belt and activates it, the blue blade humming as it springs to life. You can't help but notice that it's different from the one he had when the two of you were younger, different from the one he built after Naboo. The hilt is more slender, the emitter guard wider, and the color darker. There’s a twinge of regret building in your chest, the memory of the two of you making your first lightsabers together suddenly fresh in your mind.

He seems to notice the change in your demeanor, and he tilts his head.

"Problem?" he asks.

"No," you say, drawing your own weapon. The yellow blade hums as you ignite it, and Obi-Wan nods, seemingly satisfied. "First blood?"

"Or surrender," he counters. "Either will suffice."

"Very well.”

You nod, and then settle into a defensive stance, your lightsaber held at the ready. You don't want to fight him, not really. Not with everything else that's happening, and the emotions that are still bubbling to the surface. But if he wants a match, he'll get one.

Obi-Wan steps forward, his weapon raised, and then launches himself into a flurry of strikes. He's fast, and precise, and his technique is flawless. Back in your Padawan days, Obi-Wan had always been the better fighter, the better everything. And even now, with your skills more closely matched, his superior strength and experience are a challenge to overcome.

But he's not as quick as you are, and he doesn't have your stamina. After the day the two of you have had, you have the advantage, and you press it, your lightsaber flashing through the air as you counter his blows. He's taken aback by your ferocity, and it doesn't take long for him to realize that you're not holding back.

The two of you dance around the room, the sounds of clashing blades echoing off the walls. It's been so long since the two of you have sparred, and you'd forgotten how much you missed it. The rush of adrenaline, the thrill of the fight, the closeness of his presence, the way the Force hums between you. It's almost like the old days, before things went bad, before Yaddle died, before everything.

Back when things were simpler.

Back when you had a family.

Your blades collide with a shower of sparks, and the two of you hold there for a moment, his eyes boring into yours. Your breathing is heavy, and you can see the sweat beading on his brow.

"Not bad," he says, his tone casual.

You grunt, pushing him away, and then swing again, your lightsaber flashing through the air.

"Not bad, yourself," you reply grudgingly.

Obi-Wan smirks, and then ducks under your blade, bringing his own up and around. You jump back, barely avoiding the blow, and then spin, the tip of your blade slicing through the air.

He blocks, and the two of you stand, locked together again. Your arms tremble with the strain, and his gaze locks onto yours.

"You know, I think this is the first time we've spoken in months."

You scoff, pushing him back, and then launch into another attack. "And whose fault is that?"

His blade deflects your blow, and the two of you go back and forth, trading strike for parry, block for counterattack.

"You've been avoiding me," he replies, his tone accusing.

"I'm not," you insist, deflecting a blow and dodging to the side.

"You are," he says, and he strikes at your back. You duck under the swing, and come up behind him, your blade singing as you strike. He darts out of the way, narrowly avoiding the blow, and then turns, bringing his lightsaber up to block. "Ever since Yaddle, you've done nothing but avoid me."

You growl, and the anger flares. "Don't."

He presses his advantage, his blows coming faster, harder, and you're forced on the defensive. You backpedal, trying to put space between the two of you, but his blade is relentless.

"Tell me I'm wrong," he challenges.

"You're wrong," you retort, blocking a particularly vicious blow.

"Then why have you been avoiding me?" he demands. "Why won't you talk to me?"

"And say what?" you say, your voice rising. "We have nothing to say to each other, Obi-Wan!"

He grits his teeth, and then swings again, and the two of you dance across the floor, lightsabers flashing as they clash. The sound echoes off the walls, and the heat from the blades makes the air around you shimmer. You're sweating, and your muscles are burning, but you're not willing to concede. You're not willing to lose.

The anger, the frustration, and the years of hurt and pain boil to the surface, and you lose yourself in the rhythm of the fight. Your limbs are moving of their own accord, your body acting on instinct, and you give in to the emotions, letting them fuel you.

You're not sure how long the two of you fight, but the fatigue is starting to take its toll. Your attacks are slower, your blocks sloppier, and you can tell that Obi-Wan is flagging, as well.

"We used to talk," he says, his voice strained. "What happened?"

"Nothing," you retort. "Everything is fine."

"Nothing is fine!" he yells.

His blade comes down hard, and you block, the impact sending you reeling. He follows up with a series of fast, short strikes, and you're on the back foot, barely keeping up. He's angry, and that makes him reckless, and you can see the opening. You feint left, and then swing low, your lightsaber cutting a path through the air. He ducks, the blade missing him by inches, and then stumbles, his back hitting the wall.

"You're not the only one who lost someone, you know," he pants, his eyes blazing. "You said you would be there for me, and then you shut me out. Why?"

You're seething, and the words pour out before you can stop them.

"Because you didn't understand!" you snap. "You didn't understand how I was feeling, and you didn't try to. You just kept pushing, and pushing, and you never listened!"

"And you were so busy wallowing in your own self-pity that you didn't realize I was hurting, too," he shoots back. "All you could think about was yourself, and what you were going through, and you couldn't even see what was right in front of you!"

You shake your head, and the anger is boiling in your chest, the words spilling out before you can stop them.

"I needed you, Obi-Wan, and you weren't there," you say, the anger making your voice quiver. "I needed you, and you chose the Council, you chose the Jedi, over me. You abandoned me."

He shakes his head, his eyes filled with sadness. "That's not fair."

"Isn't it?" you ask. "You were my best friend, and you let me down."

"So did you," he says softly.

His words hit you like a punch to the gut, and you step back, your breath leaving you in a rush. He's right. You did let him down, and you have no excuse. You'd been so wrapped up in your own grief, your own pain, that you'd completely missed his, and you've been paying for it ever since.

You're not sure how long the two of you have stood there, the room falling into silence. The anger and the hurt are still there, simmering just below the surface, but it's been tempered by a different kind of pain.

You look at him, and the memories come flooding back. Of the two of you as children, running through the halls of the Temple, getting into trouble, causing mischief. Of the countless hours spent sparring and meditating, working together to hone your skills. Of the late night conversations and whispered secrets, the friendship and the closeness. Of the love.

You'd been so close, once. So inseparable. But now, the chasm between the two of you feels wider than ever, and the bridge is crumbling beneath your feet.

"I felt the darkness in you, that day," Obi-Wan says, his voice low. “And again on Geonosis.”

You look away, unable to meet his eyes.

"I was upset," you reply. "And I let my emotions get the best of me."

"It's more than that," he insists. "You've changed. You've become angry, and resentful, and those are dangerous emotions to carry with you. Especially now."

You grit your teeth, the frustration building. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I know what I've seen," he counters. "I've been watching, and I know there's something going on with you. Something I haven't been able to figure out."

You glare at him, the tension mounting between the two of you. You don't want to argue with him, not anymore, but the way he's looking at you makes your skin crawl. It's almost as if he can see right through you, and it unnerves you.

Your blade raises, the yellow glow casting strange shadows across his face, and you take a deep breath.

"This conversation is over," you say, your tone clipped.

You turn, but he's faster. Obi-Wan’s blade slashes out, catching yours, and you're forced back. You block, and then counter, your lightsabers colliding in a shower of sparks. He pushes you further, his blows coming faster, stronger, and you struggle to keep up.

"You can't run away from this," he says, his tone sharp.

"Watch me," you retort.

He's angry, and frustrated, and it shows in his fighting style. His movements are rough, and he's sloppy, and you're able to keep pace with him, pushing him further and further as he struggles to regain control.

"Just stop!" he shouts.

"No!"

The two of you dance across the floor, your blades flashing in the dim light. You're both tired, and it shows, your movements slowing, and the fatigue wearing at your defenses. You're not sure how much longer you can keep this up, but you can't let him win, and you won't.

Your blade slices through the air, and his lightsaber flashes, deflecting the blow. You lunge, and his blade arcs up, meeting yours.

"Yaddle would want you to move on," he says. "She wouldn't want you to carry this anger with you, this resentment."

"Shut up," you snap, your lightsaber striking his, the sound ringing out through the room. "You don't get to talk about her. You didn't even believe me."

He grits his teeth, his jaw clenched. "I know."

His blade flashes, and you dodge, narrowly avoiding the strike.

"You said she was murdered, and I didn't listen," he continues. "And for that, I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't good enough," you say.

"I know," he replies sadly. "But we have a chance to make a difference, now. To do what Yaddle would have wanted."

Your blade clashes with his, the impact sending a shiver down your spine. You're tired, and sore, and you can feel the ache settling into your muscles, but something inside you compels you to keep going.

"She would want me to find her killer, and bring them to justice," you say, the words coming out in a rush.

You launch into a series of rapid-fire attacks, pouring every bit of your energy into the assault. You're desperate, and furious, and the emotions are boiling inside you, threatening to overwhelm.

Obi-Wan blocks, and counters, but he's tiring, and he's not quick enough. He stumbles, and you seize the opportunity, your blade coming down in a powerful swing that sends him sprawling. He hits the ground, hard, and his lightsaber clatters to the floor, the blade deactivating. You stand over him, your blade humming and his eyes wide with shock.

You’ve never been able to best him before, and the knowledge is satisfying. You raise your lightsaber, the blade poised to strike, and then stop, your hand trembling. You could do it. You could end this, right here, right now. You could end the conflict, and the fighting, and the tension.

You could end it all.

"And then what?" Obi-Wan asks, his voice hoarse.

You look down at him, and his gaze locks onto yours. He's not afraid, but there's a flicker of something else in his eyes. Sadness? Resignation?

You hesitate, your blade poised inches from his chest. "What?"

"Then what?" he repeats. "Once you find her killer, what will you do? Kill them?"

You recoil, as if struck. The realization of what you're about to do, of what you've almost done, hits you, and the anger is replaced by a fear so deep and so primal that it makes your bones ache.

You're horrified, and ashamed.

"No," you whisper. "No, of course not."

"Really?" he asks. He's looking at you with a mix of surprise and disappointment, and you know that he doesn't believe you.

"No, I..." You shake your head, and the blade wavers, your grip faltering. You're not sure what's worse: the idea that he thinks you're capable of such a thing, or the fact that part of you actually considered it. "You know me better than that."

"I thought I did," he replies, softly.

"I would never do that," you say, and the words come out as a plea. "You know that."

"How can I believe that, when I don't even know who you are anymore?" he asks, his eyes never leaving yours, and the words are like a dagger to your heart. "When you've hidden so much from me?"

You flinch, the truth of his words cutting you to the bone.

You've shut him out, and pushed him away, and it's not just the anger and the resentment. It's because you've been afraid, and ashamed, and you couldn't bear the thought of him seeing you for who you really are. For who you've become.

But now, the mask is slipping, and the façade is cracking, and you can't hide any longer.

You lower your blade, the anger draining from you, and the weight of everything crashes down on you.

"I don't know," you admit. "I...I don't know."

"I can feel it now, the darkness in you, your anger," he says. "The others may be blind to it, but I'm not. It's like a shadow around you, and it's growing stronger by the day."

You look away, the shame and the guilt washing over you. You don't know what's wrong with you, or why you're so angry all the time. All you know is that it's getting harder and harder to control, and you're terrified of what it might mean.

Your lightsaber falls from your hand, the blade deactivating as it hits the floor. It rolls away and then comes to a stop, the hilt resting against the wall. You can feel the tears pricking at the corners of your eyes, and you fight them back, willing yourself not to cry.

“What if you're wrong? What if it's not darkness, what if it's just me?" You turn and look at him, the emotions bubbling to the surface, and your voice breaks. "What if it's always been me?"

He sits up, his brow furrowed, and his gaze is soft, but intent.

"Why would you say that?" he asks quietly.

"I've always been different," you say, the words coming out in a rush. “You said so yourself. I was never able to meditate properly, or to find balance. I've always had trouble with my emotions, and now, I can't seem to control them, no matter how hard I try."

You feel the tears spilling down your cheeks, and you wipe them away, angrily. “What if this is who I really am, Obi-Wan? What if I’m not meant to be a Jedi?"

You're afraid to look at him, to see the disappointment and the disgust in his eyes as he rises to his feet. But his arms wrap around you, his hand stroking your hair, and the warmth of his body seeps into your bones, soothing the ache that has taken root. You rest your head on his shoulder, your eyes closed, and the tears finally fall, hot and heavy.

"Don't say that," he murmurs. "There's nothing wrong with you. You're just...different. Unique. It's one of the things I've always loved about you."

You snort, but his words strike a chord, and the tension starts to bleed from your body.

"I mean it," he says. "You have a strength, a passion, that most Jedi lack. And that's not a bad thing. It's just something to be mindful of, to be careful with."

You nod, and he pulls back, his hands resting on your shoulders. He searches your face, his gaze lingering on your cheeks, and his thumb brushes the tear tracks, wiping them away.

"You're a good person," Obi-Wan says, his voice gentle. "No matter what happens, or what you may feel, I will always believe that. But I think it's important for you to understand, and to acknowledge, that the path you're on isn't one that's easily walked."

He reaches down, and his fingers brush the hilt of your lightsaber. He picks it up, his eyes never leaving yours, and then slowly, deliberately, offers it to you.

"The choice is yours in the end. But no matter what you choose, I will be here. I will always be here."

You take the lightsaber, and then his hand, and the two of you hold there for a moment, the air still and silent around you. The tears are drying, and the ache in your chest is starting to fade, the anger and the hurt slowly melting away.

"Thank you," you whisper.

"Of course," he says. He offers you a small smile. “And truth be told, I’m not sure I could bear it if you left. I...I think I would miss you, terribly."

"I would, too," you admit.

You squeeze his hand, and he returns the gesture. The bond between the two of you, the frayed remnants of a connection long since lost, stirs to life. The emotions that swirl through it are complicated, the tangled threads of years of pain and loss and longing weaving together into something new, something deeper.

And for the first time, the idea of rebuilding it, of trying again, doesn't seem so impossible.

You wrap your arms around him, and he does the same, the two of you standing there, your foreheads touching. You can feel the exhaustion in him, the fatigue from the sparring match, and you can tell he's feeling the same from you. The feedback loop of emotions is confusing, but it's also reassuring, and you find yourself leaning into it.

"I'm sorry," you whisper.

"I know," he replies.

"I shouldn't have said the things I did," you continue. "I don't want to be angry. I just...I miss her. I miss her so much."

"I know," he repeats. "We all do. She was a great woman, a great Jedi, and her loss was a tragedy."

You nod, and he pulls back, his eyes searching yours.

"You know, she always believed in you," he says, softly. "She knew you would make a difference. That you would be one of the best."

"That's a lot to live up to," you murmur.

"Yes, it is," he agrees. "But I think she knew you would be able to handle it."

"I hope so," you say. "I really, really hope so."

Obi-Wan smiles, and the expression is so genuine, so kind, that it takes your breath away.

"I know so," he says, his voice firm.

You look away, your cheeks flushing, and you can't help the smile that tugs at your lips. It's the first time he's smiled at you in years, and the familiarity, the comfort, of it warms you to your core.

You turn to him, the words coming out before you can stop them. "Do you think we can still fix this? Us, I mean?"

"I don't know," he admits. "But I'm willing to try, if you are."

You nod, and he pulls you closer, the two of you standing there, holding each other, as the shadows lengthen and the evening draws in. It's been a long time since the two of you have been so close, and the ache in your heart is tempered by the joy, the happiness, of having him back. Of knowing that there's still a chance, a glimmer of hope, that things might be okay, in the end.

"I nearly forgot," Obi-Wan begins as he pulls away, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. "I have something for you."

You tilt your head, confused.

"For me?" you ask. "What is it?"

He chuckles, and then he turns to unfold the bundle of his robes. A familiar, glinting metal catches your eye, and your gaze is drawn to the hilt of a lightsaber, the gold and chrome finish gleaming in the dim light.

You beam at the sight of your shoto, the one you loaned to Obi-Wan on Geonosis. You'd completely forgotten about it.

"I thought you might want this back," he says, his eyes dancing with amusement. "I was going to return it sooner, but, well..."

"Thank you," you say, and you can't keep the giddiness out of your voice.

You take the hilt from his hands, and the weight of it is comforting, the metal cool against your palm. It feels like home, like coming full circle, and you can't help the rush of gratitude and affection that flows through you.

"It's a good blade," Obi-Wan continues, watching you closely. “Perhaps not one worth nearly dying over, but good all the same.”

You scoff as you clip the weapon to your belt, the familiarity of it making you smile.

"You’re never going to let that go, are you?"

"I'm afraid not," he says, grinning. "That was a rather dramatic stunt you pulled, after all. You were lucky I was there to catch you before you fell."

You roll your eyes, but you can’t help the warmth that spreads through you at his words. They feel truer now than they’d ever been.

“Yes, I suppose I was,” you admit, your voice soft.

Obi-Wan nods, and you look away, the emotion in his eyes suddenly too much.

"In any case, thank you," you say. "For keeping it safe, and for giving it back. It means a lot."

He tilts his head, his expression thoughtful.

"You're welcome," he says, quietly.

He pauses, and you can tell there's something he wants to say, but he hesitates, the words catching in his throat.

You wait, patiently, and then, after a moment, he speaks.

"I want you to know, that if there is anything you need, anything at all, you can come to me," he says. His tone is earnest, and his gaze is steady. "I know we have a lot to work through, a lot of old wounds to heal, but I am here for you, always. No matter what."

The words hit you square in the chest, and the tears are threatening again. You take a deep breath, and then look up, your eyes locking with his.

"I know," you say, your voice thick with emotion. "And I want you to know, the same goes for you. Whatever happens, whatever you need, I'm here for you. Always."

He smiles, and the relief is clear on his face.

"Thank you," he says, the words carrying a weight that you understand all too well. He moves back to collect his robes and yours, helping you slip them back on.

Once they're settled on your shoulders, the warmth and comfort of the fabric easing the last bit of tension, the two of you stand facing each other. The moment hangs in the still air, neither of you willing to move, to break the spell. It's not the awkward, uncomfortable silence that has plagued your relationship these past few years, but a peaceful one. It's a start.

"Come,” he says after a moment, placing a hand on your shoulder and steering you toward the door. “I’ll walk you back to your quarters.”

“That’s not necessary—“

"It is," he says, firmly. "I have no intention of letting you out of my sight, at least not tonight."

You glance at him, your eyebrow raised, and his cheeks flush, the words registering a beat too late.

"Oh, I mean—"

You burst out laughing, and the sound fills the room. He looks at you, bewildered, and then, to your surprise, starts to laugh, as well. The two of you stand there, giggling like a pair of children, and it feels like the weight that's been pressing down on you, on both of you, has finally lifted.

It's a good start, and the hope of more to come is enough to warm you from the inside

"Well, I wouldn't mind the company," you say at last, still smiling.

"Good," he replies, and the two of you walk side-by-side, your shoulders brushing. "Someone needs to make sure you actually get some rest, and you don't go wandering off again. You look dreadful."

"Hey," you say, swatting his arm. "That's not very nice."

"Only speaking the truth," he teases.

"Well, if you're going to be like that," you say, trying, and failing, to hide your smile as you cross your arms over your chest, "then I'm not sure I want to go anywhere with you."

"Too late," he says, and his hand slips to your back, pushing you gently forward. "You're stuck with me."

The two of you walk the hallways of the Temple, the silence between you comfortable, and familiar. As you walk, you feel the heaviness in your heart lifting, and the darkness in the Force retreating. For the first time in a long time, you feel at peace.

You glance over at Obi-Wan, his profile bathed in the dim light, his hair glowing in the soft radiance. He smiles down at you, and your heart swells with warmth.

"Thank you," you say. The words aren't enough, but they're all you can say.

"Anytime," he says, and his arm slips around your shoulders, pulling you into his side.

You lean into his warmth, and as the two of you walk, the halls of the Temple a familiar, comforting sight, you realize that, no matter what happens, no matter what trials and tribulations await, you're not alone.

You have a family.

And nothing will ever change that.

taglist: @baddest-batchers @lolwey @chocolatewastelandtriumph @hobbititties @mere-bear

@thegreatpipster @lordofthenerds97 @tentakelspektakel @notslaybabes @aynavaano

@ayyyy-le-simp @mali-777 @schrodingersraven @megmegalodondon @dangraccoon

@heavenseed76 @dreamie411 @sukithebean @bimboshaggy @bunny7567

@lostqueenofegypt @9902sgirl @jedi-dreea @salaminus

#the clone wars #captain rex x reader #captain rex #clone captain rex #rex x reader #obi wan x reader #roy writes #star wars #trying to combine aotc anakin and tcw anakin is harder than i thought #so sorry if he's a lil ooc #i ended up deciding to lean hard on tcw anakin #also promise there will be less exposition in future chapters

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adragonsfriend · 5 months ago

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Shooting Anakin like Padmé

So I've mentioned this before, but for most of ROTS, Padmé is shown pretty much only in her own apartment, and she's only allowed to leave to (1) go to see Anakin to tell him about the baby, (2) go to the Senate to deliver an (admittedly devastating) line about Palpatine declaring himself Emperor, and then (3) go to Mustafar to find Anakin. Besides those times, the camera only looks at her when Anakin goes to see her in her apartment, or when Obi-Wan goes to her apartment to see her about Anakin.

This relegation of Padmé to the domestic sphere--even if it's less obvious in that it's not a cooking or cleaning domestic space--is strange for a character who is obviously active and present in the previous movies. Why isn't she in the Senate building before the last scene? Why doesn't she have an office? Paperwork to do at least? Why don't we see her preparing to give birth? Hell why can't she and Anakin just talk somewhere else for once?

The answers to these questions are not ones I'm going to bother with right now. Whilst they are probably complex and interesting on some level, ultimately, they largely start and end with and "the narrative stopped being interested in its main female character other than in how she affects its male lead." Instead, I'd like to demonstrate how stupid it is by imagining ROTS scenes if Anakin was shot the same way Padmé is.

Rescuing the Chancellor

Start by cutting the whole space battle and rescue. We open on Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Palpatine returning to the ground and being greeted by the Senators and the press. Padmé pulls Anakin aside as in the movie. Since we didn't get to see Anakin execute Dooku, Anakin summarizes those events to Padmé, during which he tells her that he's not sure he should've killed Dooku and that he's afraid Obi-Wan would be disappointed in him. Padmé avoids confronting/is distracted from this revelation by her own news--she's pregnant. Continue the scene as written, with Anakin dismissing her worries to tell her to be as happy as he is.

Impact

Because it would probably reveal too much plot-wise for Anakin to tell Padmé that Palpatine directly ordered him to execute Dooku, this would deeply minimize how much Palpatine has over Anakin's decision making, as well as obscure how Dooku being executed even happened when Obi-Wan should've been right there to stop him (audience has no idea he was knocked out). Also, the audience would not see Anakin disagree with Palpatine to save Obi-Wan, and would therefore be deprived of the understanding that Obi-Wan is important to Anakin.

Even if all of this information was included in Anakin's summary of events, it would replace all of the showing done in the rescue scenes with telling, thereby destroying all of the emotional weight the audience experiences actually witnessing the events.

Appointment to the Council & The Opera

Instead of seeing Anakin talk to Palpatine and Obi-Wan, and throwing his fit to the Council, we instead get Anakin sitting in his quarters in the temple after the council meeting. He gets angry, standing up and pacing the room, talking to either himself or R2-D2 about how annoyed he is about not being made a master and that Obi-Wan would ask him to spy on Palpatine.

Instead of Anakin sitting with Palpatine in the Opera, we are treated to another scene of him in his quarters, this time we see him in his quarters, reading some texts, maybe muttering about trying to find the story Palpatine told him about.

Impact

Instead of seeing Anakin being manipulated, being inept at politics, his inability to manage his emotions in front of the Council, the tension of his argument with Obi-Wan about spying, and the way he's immediately drawn in by Palpatine's story about darth Plageuis, we just get him pitching a fit in private. Pitching a fit in private is a pretty reasonable thing to do--most people do it at some point--and so on top of doing nothing to show any of his interpersonal relationships with Obi-Wan, the Council, or Palpatine, it also shows very little of the complete breakdown he's headed toward.

Order 66

Instead of seeing Anakin go into the Temple, leading the clones, we are instead shown him getting dressed in his new sith cloak, which matches Palpatine's.

Impact

The audience gets none of the horror of seeing Anakin about to kill people. They only gain the information that he killed the Jedi children when Obi-Wan tells Padmé--there is none of the symbolism of him being shown to kill that one kid who looks just like his younger self. It reduces a horrific act and character decision to less than a news headline, and--especially with Padmé's later denial about it--makes it sound like more of a rumor than anything.

Mustafar

After Anakin puts on his new sith cloak, we cut to him on a ship to Mustafar. Only it's not his fighter, it's a ship large enough to have sleeping quarters, or maybe a kitchen. We see Anakin in one of those two spaces, again pacing, but this time he has set his lightsaber on a table, and keeps glancing at it agitatedly. On arrival, he picks it up and leaves the ship. Cut to him announcing over comm to Palpatine that the Separatist leaders are dead, without showing any of the killing involved. Then he sees Padmé landing and goes to greet her.

Then, keep the strangling Padmé and dueling Obi-Wan the same as the movie.

Impact

Now imagine seeing that final duel after an entire movie in which we have hardly seen Anakin and Obi-Wan interact, never seen them fight together, and only witnessed Anakin draw his saber once, to cut off Mace's hand in one wild swipe. It wouldn't mean nearly as much. We wouldn't know where Anakin suddenly got all these crazy lightsaber skills from--it would be crazy that he can go toe to toe with Obi-Wan who we just saw fight Grevious. We wouldn't know that Obi-wan's death was something Anakin would've died to prevent only days earlier.

Overall Impact

While some of these altered scenes do have potential to communicate some important things about Anakin (staring at lightsaber = guilt, picking it back up = choosing violence), on their own, they fail to tell his story well, and give little depth to his character.

He doesn't really talk to anyone on screen -> seems like a total loner who doesn't talk to anyone but Padmé. What do you mean Obi-Wan is supposed to be his best friend-brother-dad-teacher? (Why does Obi-Wan say he loved Anakin at the end or bother to personally look over Luke?)

Anakin doesn't really do anything for anyone but himself -> what do you mean he's supposed to have been a caring person who was corrupted?

Anakin is called a General and a war hero, but we never see him lead troops or even fight -> was he just given the title to make him seem more important?

Anakin and Palpatine only interact for like two seconds -> why does Anakin believe him about the Sith story or follow his orders to commit atrocities?

Anakin doesn't have any strong feelings about the Jedi, positive or negative (let alone both simultaneously) -> why do we care that he betrayed and killed them? why didn't Palpatine just let the clones do it?

Basically, it makes him seem stupid and inactive, and completely fails to show the audience his ongoing struggle with violence and torn loyalties, unless of course the audience is willing to go to lengths to imagine the depth he might've had if the narrative had prioritized him a little more.

There's lots of fic and meta that does that for Padmé, but the movie itself does not force the average view to see her as anything but Anakin's girlfriend who loves him more than anything, for some reason (he's pretty?) and is a Senator for some reason (she talks about politics for a minute?).

Like, I'm being a bit reductive, but all the scenes I cut of Anakin doing violence? Those are the equivalent of Padmé doing politics. All the interactions with Obi-Wan, Palpatine, and the Council? Those are Padme talking to other senators, her handmaidens, maybe even her parents. Anakin's mounting stress? That's a bit about Padmé seeing a doctor, worrying about her own health.

Padme isn't the main character, but she's not a side character either. The screen time she got could've been better used, even simply by letting her look busy when Anakin talks at her. ROTS makes her seem silly and inactive, and fails to show the audience the full depth of the ongoing conflict between her duty as a political power and her relationship with Anakin.

#star wars #padme amidala #anakin skywalker #revenge of the sith #star wars prequels #star wars meta #rewrite

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fandom-shitposter · 10 months ago

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Why do we have to slog through 50 layers of heavily applied references in every current Star Wars show?

Because it's a smokescreen trying to make us dismiss the ones which point out the actual underlying story. Which is the exact same story we already know only from a slightly different angle and using clones and technology instead of Jedi since, you know, that's not really an option anymore

The story of a child living on a backwater planet who lives solely with their mother, a child who has an amazing talent for machinery and builds their own droid(s), who gets to run off with a bunch of men (their new 'family') for a far more exciting life which ultimately leads to devastation after they made some really bad life choices because they don't want to accept death as a factor of life

And yeah, I do realise how basically stripped down that description is

First we meet the small child, then we meet them again when they're older and getting all trained up (even if it is done as more of a Dooku/Ventress thing second time around)

And then they hit their final stage where they never ever take their helmet off until the very end of things, and neither of them are using their own speaking voice

Cue the supposed 'shock' ending and a bunch of Disney execs patting themselves on the back for no one seeing it coming

Each OG role has been divided up between 2-3 current characters so Omega can help Mommy out by building a cyborg to mimic Anakin building C3PO but she hasn't had the opportunity or ability to do the equivalent of killing the Jedi in the temple, that part was farmed out to someone else regardless of whether they stated it on that specific show yet. It already happened and we saw it previously

Tech can stand in for Obi-Wan disliking her flying style, teaching her the skills she'll need to survive and dealing with her on an emotional level (with the assistance of the rest of the 'family' like the Jedi would have supported Anakin), but the big Anakin vs Obi-Wan fight at the end of season 1 was acted out by Hunter and Crosshair instead and since Echo already lost the appropriate number of limbs which that fight claimed before becoming a cyborg there was no need to repeat it

Unfortunately they've spent so much time on cramming in the surface level references into all of these shows, bending existing characters into shapes that don't fit them (*cough* Ahsoka show *cough*), obscuring the details and dropping any inconvenient parts of former canon they don't like that it's all become a little bit overblown and boring.

The makers of Star Wars just can't get past the Anakin Skywalker story no matter how big the SWU is or how many far more interesting tales there are to tell in it. How many promising looking shows have been cancelled or lost to development hell to focus on this instead?

Just last year Dave Filoni claimed that Anakin was the best Jedi ever (or something like that) and we all laughed at him for it. So why did he claim it in the first place? Who was he trying to convince? Are we just supposed to watch these shows and decide that Disney are doing it better than Lucas ever could? Just what is the point here?

Apart from money, obviously

#the bad batch #ahsoka show #the mandalorian #anakin skywalker #tbb omega #star wars #ambitious but ultimately bloated and a little bit dull #she's playing palpatine as well #but due to the divided role thing she isn't the only one #all the key players are represented though #ventress grievous mace windu hondo ohnaka etc

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rochenn · 8 months ago

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#16 for the choose violence ask game :3c (anyone else miss when everyone and their mother actively participated in these? no? just me?)

16. you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

Ask culture is declining but hey, we're preserving it right now! :D Anyway:

the dudebro side of the fandom saying that they liked the clones better before the chip reveal. Like HUH??

Dark Disciple by Christie Golden (look how they massacred my girl...)

"Qui-Gon would've been a better teacher for Anakin" would he though? Really? Cause I kinda don't think so

"Mace is an asshole" HE WAS DOING HIS JOB

"Dooku was right" HE WASN'T DOING HIS JOB

treating the RotS novelization by Matthew Stover as gospel. Yes yes the writing is very pretty. Some passages are funny. Now get it out of my face pls 🙏 thanks

Anakin as a stand-alone character. I have difficulty caring abt Anakin-centric works or Anidala tbh? I find it very difficult to read anything from his POV when other characters aren't also very directly and prominently involved

"And you, Master. What does your heart tell you you're meant for?" "Infinite sadness" SIGHH

#ask #choose violence ask game

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antianakin · 9 months ago

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@theneutralmime

I mean, if you're just going for a crack scenario then you can do whatever you want lol, that's kind-of the point of crack in a lot of ways. So for humor reasons, sure, Anakin could call Obi-Wan and have that distract him enough that he ends up not siding with Palpatine if you wanted. If you want to take the crack scenario slightly more realistically, Obi-Wan is currently involved in a battle with Grievous on Utapau at the same time that Anakin is making that choice, so the chances he picks up are pretty minimal at best, and even if he DID get through, the chances that Anakin LISTENS to Obi-Wan are equally minimal, especially if he can just hang up if he doesn't like the answer he gets. But the distraction of calling at all, even if he doesn't get through, MIGHT be enough for Mace to finish off the job of killing Palpatine anyway.

If you want a more serious opinion on what would have happened if Obi-Wan had been in the office with Mace and Anakin when he made that decision and if I think Anakin would've legitimately listened to Obi-Wan if he tried to talk him out of it, I will point out that Anakin ROUTINELY shows that Obi-Wan's disapproval means very little to him when he's desperate, passionate, and upset about something. If we look solely at the films, you can look at the scene in the gunship when Padme falls and it's not until Obi-Wan tells Anakin to think of what PADME would do that Anakin chooses to stay, not when Obi-Wan points out he won't survive the fight against Dooku alone or when threatened with expulsion from the Order. And even after that, like 2 minutes later, Anakin rushes into the fight with Dooku despite Obi-Wan explicitly yelling at him not to.

Within ROTS, the best example I have is the Council sequence where Anakin throws a temper tantrum about not being made a master, and Obi-Wan's clear nonverbal disapproval of his actions don't seem to have any impact on Anakin's childish behavior. In their conversation immediately afterwards, Obi-Wan tries to very patiently explain the situation to Anakin and get him to view things logically and Anakin refuses and continues to blame the Council for being unfair and unreasonable. Even when he apologizes to Obi-Wan later, he is really only apologizing for being a little bratty TO OBI-WAN and still firmly believes he's in the right about the Council acting unfair to him about, you know, everything. So nothing Obi-Wan has said to him has actually truly gotten through and Anakin has learned next to nothing except like... maybe to act less bratty when called out by the Council? I don't know.

If I branch out a little, the only example I can really come up with where Obi-Wan's disapproval seems to really mean something to him is when he thinks Obi-Wan's DEAD and he makes the claim that he won't kill "Rako Hardeen" specifically because Obi-Wan wouldn't have wanted him to.

But that is ONE MOMENT among many others, even in TCW, where Anakin makes it pretty clear that Obi-Wan's disapproval is not going to stop him from doing whatever he wants, especially if he's upset or desperate to save someone he cares about.

So, personally, while I think you could argue that the same thing as was true in the crack scenario would be true here, that having Obi-Wan there to try to hold Anakin back might provide just long enough of a distraction for Mace to finish the job, I don't honestly think it would have any real impact on Anakin's choice. Anakin would side with Palpatine to save Padme's life, regardless of whether Obi-Wan was standing there or not. Anakin is presumably told about Order 66 before he marches on the Temple, which means he KNOWS Obi-Wan is about to be killed, and he weighs Obi-Wan's life against Padme's in that moment, and decides it's a worthwhile exchange. I can't see that changing just because Obi-Wan is standing in front of him instead of on Utapau. He just does not care about Obi-Wan enough for it to make a real difference.

#star wars #obi-wan kenobi #anti anakin #anti anakin skywalker #anakin critical #anakin skywalker critical

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tennessoui · 2 months ago

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"Sidious is trying to turn him completely into an uncaring death machine but his padawan is also insinuating that he’s going to cut his hair and go for a romantic walk in the gardens of coruscant with Quinlan fucking Vos. Total evilness has got to wait." LOL. I like how Obi-Wan's simultaneously torturing 3 Sith: Anakin, Sidious, and Dooku (who I am assuming has to hear about it from Sidious during what is supposed to be *Dooku's* annual evil performance review).

[in reference to this post about obi-wan and anakin in "hold my heart more gently than you do my throat"]

it's what throat fic obi-wan deserves <3 most hated jedi in all the galaxy by all the sith (except for one, who is just off his rocker about him. debatably worse)

in the original throat fic, i really wanted to have the main "present" storyline be about how obi-wan was kidnapped by darth maul or something because maul is fascinated by the amount darth vader clearly cares about this kid. and then anakin like. cuts him into little pieces in front of obi-wan who, obviously, has never seen so much blood lmao

but the prompt did call for anakin being captured and obi-wan rescuing him and i'd already gotten attached to talking about melida/daan framed as obi-wan is in trouble/away and anakin goes to him to bring him back so i liked the idea of obi-wan rescuing him for the "present" part of the fic.

but man imagine if darth maul had captured obi-wan. obi-wan suddenly is torturing 4 sith just because maul can't stand him and his smart mouth and also how slippery he is. and then master skywalker kills him. brutally. and, par for the course, bloodily

#asks #throat fic #squick tag: a/b/o dynamics

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pyrrhicraven · 4 months ago

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The fic ships are walked in on while they’re kissing - who walked in and how do they react?

Anakin flipped out, how dare Count Dooku touch Obi-Wan! He threw himself into the room and darted straight for them, both pushing away from one another as Anakin moved to activate his lightsaber to slash at Dooku.

"Anakin no!" Obi-Wan shouted, reminding him of the terrible day that Dooku cut his arm off. That panicked voice the terror on Obi-Wan's face.

"How kriffing dare you!" Anakin roared but then suddenly he was being pushed away from them, his back colliding painfully with the ground.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan shouted harshly, standing in front of Dooku who was saying something in a hissing tone, probably trying to turn Obi-Wan against him like he was always trying!

"Why are you protecting him! He's just trying to turn you!" Obi-Wan looked hesitant at that comment, his eyes straying away from Anakin. Dooku placed a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder, whispering still in his ear. Anakin vibrated ready to attack but far too aware that Obi-Wan was in the way…

"He's not what you think he is Anakin please, trust me if you can't trust him." Trust-he would never in a million years trust Dooku!

💚👻💚👻💚 Vlad/Danny💚👻💚👻💚

Danny's heart lept into his throat as the door was slammed open while he was mid kiss with Vlad who jumped away from him they both turned and found his father Jack staring at them a little confused but then just continued to rant about whatever he was on now, Slinging an arm around Vlad’s shoulders and dragging him out the door to Vlad's protests.

Danny followed, hoping that somehow his father hadn't actually caught them before they were ready to tell his folks… Jack set Vlad on some science thing and strolled up to him with a smile, leading him from the room and into the office his mother had insisted on. Waiting for Danny to settle into the single chair in the room before scaring the daylights out of him with a simple question, his father’s voice was lower than normal, but he didn't sound mad just… Curious? "How long have you and Vlad been seeing each other?" how did he answer that? Because they didn't agree on that themselves.

"I'd say about a month, Vlad says otherwise." Jack sighed and sat on the corner of the desk, eyes roaming over Danny.

"It's completely consensual?" Danny flushed because yeah, Vlad hadn't forced him or anything.

"Yeah? I think so?" They still hadn't told his folks that Vlad was halfa either…They had accepted him as phantom but honestly, he hadn't hurt them or embarrassed them in that form. Vlad was nervous about telling them either thing not that he blamed him, Danny was just as nervous and worried still that this could just be Vlad's obsession still somehow even though it had seemed to change when his did.

"Well good, I would hate to have to bury my old friend." Danny snorted because Vlad would say Jack kind of did already.

💚❤️💚❤️💚 Bowser froze as he noticed something not good, Luigi still oblivious to the fact that his brother and princess Peach had caught them kissing.

"Well now I know how that would work." Peach said dryly and Luigi sprang away from him, face cherry red. He turned and let out a squeak at the sight of his brother and the princess.

"I didn't want to see that. Yuck." Mario said with a nervous laugh, Bowser frowned because that wasn't…Luigi would be devastated by that comment, that Mario wouldn't want them to see each other even though they truly cared for each other. Or was it just the kissing part? Could Mario be okay with a former enemy who had just signed a peace treaty dating his brother? Could Luigi be alright with his brother’s disapproval?

"Mario." Luigi sounded terrified and how could he blame Luigi? This wasn't how either of them had wanted these two to find out.

"Bro what are you doing? I know he's not an enemy anymore but seriously you could do so much better." Bowser snorted at the same time as Peach did, well. That was interesting in his opinion, maybe she'd be better about it or just holding in what she really wanted to say till she could yell at either of them in private.

"I never judged you on any of the people you dated even when I didn't like them." Luigi said in a soft voice, hands clutching the front of his overalls, eyes downcast and Mario frowned at the comment.

"You aren't dating though." They were. They had been for a week, just biding their time when they both weren't busy so they could tell these two. That was out the window now, and honestly, he wasn't sure what was about to happen but given the scent of ozone in the air…Luigi was upset, his lightening reacting to his emotions.

The half glance in his direction gave Bowser a shiver through his shell because that was a determined look on his boyfriend’s face, he gave a small nod. Knowing exactly what Luigi was asking permission for. “We are dating Mario; we have been for a while now-that was the reason I asked you and Peach to come here-I just didn’t expect you to get here so fast.” They had thought they had at least ten more minutes for them to show up-that was their first mistake. The second was that they thought they could get away with a last second kiss. “What did you do to my brother?” Mario said with a glare and Bowser snorted because what did he do?

“I treated him with respect and apologized to him for all the stuff I did to him personally.” Unlike those bastard toads who scoffed and insulted him with every chance they got, basically any time Luigi was without Mario. Didn’t the so-called hero even notice how sad his brother could be some days? How alone Luigi had been surrounded by toads that hated him? The only breath of fresh air for Luigi had been toadette, and they rarely got to see each other.

Mario scoffed at his words, but Bowser was speaking the truth no matter how blind Mario wanted to be about his brother’s life. Peach stepped forward, she looked tranquil, but he knew better. Bowser was more than aware how harsh she could be some days. She moved to Luigi taking his hands in hers, from his angle he couldn’t see much more than her taking his hands from his clothes and holding them, their words too quiet even for his hearing.

#fanfiction #creative writing #writing #my writing #answering asks #asks #a03 writer #star wars the clone wars #Dooku/Obi-Wan #danny phantom #pompous pep #super mario bros #bowigi

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high-fantasy-sw · 8 months ago

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Heroforge: Jedi (Part One)

I'm back- with JEDI! Well, actually, only about half of them. I still need to make a few (like Kit Fisto, Quinlan, Barris, Jocasta Nu, etc; they're going to be in another post). But I think you'll enjoy who I have so far!

Also. I forgot to do honorifics for the Clones, because this is a fantasy world, and everyone has honorifics. Mea culpa, I'll edit that post as soon as I'm done with this one, so you can go check that out if you want.

Tagging: @whyoneartheven @anime-obsessed @majorproblems77

Sir Anakin Skywalker, the Valiant. His lightsaber is a dark-blue greatsword, with the Kyber Crystal embedded in the pommel. I chose it to represent the facts that his attacks are very aggressive but leave room for little defense- as it's a two-handed weapon, he has to defend by using offensive measures. (Also, it's a double-edged blade. *coughs in foreshadowing*.) In addition- his prosthetic arm is an enchanted golden gauntlet, to reference Clone Wars (2003), because I am a sucker for Clone Wars (2003) as much as I am a sucker for The Clone Wars (2008).

Sir Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Noble (alternatively: the Silver-Tongued). Okay, shut up for a second and let me nerd about his lightsaber. You may notice that he fights with a sword-and-shield combo. This is to reference his mastery of Soresu, a defense-heavy form of lightsaber combat. His crossguard- in which is embedded his light-blue kyber crystal- and his shield shape also reference the Jedi Crest. (And his hair is dark red because I said so, that's why.)

Squire Ahsoka Tano (later to be granted the honorary title of Lady Ahsoka the Perseverant). SHE'S FINALLY DONE! As you can see, she's differed slightly from her original concept (which I will link here)- her headscarf is now blue, and she has a different skirt (which I realize you can't see in the original picture, but I assure you, it was different), which I changed to match the simpler tastes of the Jedi (sidenote: as you will see, Jedi do have a loose habit, or the uniform dress of a monastic order, but padawans are allowed to be a bit more liberal with their clothing because they are not fully professed members of the order yet). For lightsabers, she wields two Togrutan daggers with the kyber crystals embedded in the pommels, just like Anakin :) Since she dual-wields, I thought it would be more practical for them to be shortblades, so she doesn't accidentally slice herself; her fighting style is still highly acrobatic, just like in canon. ALSO! Her facial markings! I mentioned in the original sneak peek that I'd be writing lore on the different races, because most of them are just different human cultures in this AU, so I'll expand on those now! Togruta have a rich tradition of facial painting (and later tattooing, when a child comes of age) and each Togruta wears a unique pattern that blends elements of the markings of their family. Since Ahsoka is a Temple Youngling and thus doesn't remember her family's markings, she made her own based on the family she found in the Jedi Order. Her markings on Heroforge don't exactly match up to her canon markings but this explanation would work in either universe: her cheek markings represent Plo Koon and resemble the horns on his helmet; her forehead markings resemble Anakin's lightsaber, because he taught her to stand up and fight for herself and others; and her eyeliner markings represent Obi-Wan and how he taught her to be observant to the Force and to always look with empathy towards others.

Archprior Yoda, the Wise. Sci-Fi creatures are actually quite easy to adapt into fantasy creatures- I just gave him hooves, horns, and a tail. The most intersting thing I want to point out is that he wields a fencing rapier as his lightsaber (you can't see it in these pictures, but his kyber crystal is in the pommel)- and, as you'll see when I post his pictures, so does his apprentice Dooku. Yoda's habit also has some additional accents, to denote his status as Archprior.

Sir Mace Windu, the Eternally Stressed Just. Mace might just be my favorite redesign, because LOOK AT HIS ARMOR! It's all tinged purple, and his pauldrons and gauntlets are lionesque, referencing his creation and mastery of Vaapad. Additionally, and I know you can't really see it from these angles but trust me on this one, he wields an executioner's sword. These have a blunted end as they were not supposed to be used in combat, and Mace wields one to represent his statues as an arbiter of justice >:) This means he has to be extremely skilled with it to make it work effectively. His kyber crystal seems to be embedded in the pommel, but in actuality it runs all the way up the blade. This was for no particular reason, I just thought it looked cool.

Sir Plo Koon, the Compassionate. His helmet is meant to reference his canon counterpart's head silhouette, and these helmets are a mark of pride for the Kel Dor- they're passed down through the paternal line and can be thousands of generations old. So, not exactly like Children of the Watch Mandos- they're not forbidden to remove their helmets, but they rarely do, to show pride in their lineage. Also, Plo wears a Wolfpack pauldron and a wolf fur cape, because he is a proud father :) His lightsaber has its kyber crystals embedded in its hand-guard and the base of the blade.

Sir Ki-Adi-Mundi, the Insightful. Much like the Kel Dor, the Cereans have familial helmets, but they aren't necessarily heirlooms, and they're matrilineal- each Cerean will make his or her own unique helmet against the pattern of his or her mother. (Kel Dor, Cereans, and Togruta are all fiercely tribal- it's speculated they share a common ancestor culture.) He wields a dark blue cutlass, that burns light blue, with its kyber crystal in the pommel.

Lady Shaak Ti, the Merciful. Like all fully-fledged adult Togruta, her facial markings are tattooed, and she wears a horned headdress over her headscarf. In addition, she wears a cape (to mimic her much longer, adult lekku). Her skirt features the same braided detailing as the braid on her headscarf, and she wields an aquamarine-colored scimitar, with the kyber crystal in the crossguard.

Lady Aayla Secura, the Forthright. She wields a violet-blue shortsword, with the kyber crystal making up the pommel. She also wears the traditional Twi'lek kerchief. (I'm sorry there's not much to say about her, I haven't deeply explored the Twi'lek culture in this AU yet. I'll have more probably when I do my Rebels set.)

Lady Luminara Unduli, the Honorable. She wields a seafoam-green blade with the kyber crystal in the crossguard. Unlike Togruta markings, Mirialan markings are completely personal and need not bear any resemblance to one's family's markings. They are, however, still tattooed. The front panel of her skirt also boasts a traditional Mirialan pattern, in the same metallic colors as the metal of her Mirialan gauntlets. (I think now is a good time to mention that, as you may have seen, while there is a habit enforced for the order, individual Jedi are allowed- and in fact, encouraged- to also import features of their traditional dress into the habit. So while they all wear similar clothes, the colors, skirts, shoes, and armor/jewelry/facial markings are unique from Jedi to Jedi.)

Bonus: The Disaster Duos (I would have made a singular one with all three of them, but Heroforge is stupid and won't let me do that >:( )

I hope you enjoyed! Questions and comments are always welcome, and I'd love to hear them! They really help with characterization and worldbuilding, but more importantly, it makes me so happy to know you enjoyed! Next week, I'll probably have the Villains to post. I'm looking forward to it!

#prequels #tcw #heroforge #the jedi #once again i'd love to know who's canonically your favorite and who your favorite design is!#this is probably clear but my favorite canonically is obi-wan; and as stated mace has my favorite redesign :)

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disastertriowriting · 1 year ago

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Disaster Lineage Appreciation Gift Exchange

Fanfics:

A shower a day keeps the self-loathing spirit away by egeria - Obi-Wan gets hurt on a mission and Anakin can't mentally handle it. Snuggles ensue.

A Talk Under the Veil of the Night by StarxRox - Fives was executed in front of his eyes. Anakin can't forget what happened. He has nightmares. He hopes that they are just nightmares. But they aren't. Also Obi-Wan is the inconspicuous casual disaster child everybody believes is perfect.

Acch-To Soul, Korriban Body by Sinvulkt (Wakare) - The hound - for it had no name but hound, beast, mutant - collapsed in the dark alley, its small paws folding underneath it. Its chest felt heavy, and its breath came ragged, pained. Blood sang loudly to its ears, as did the loud men that were after it. Its muzzle was still wet from the time they tried to drown it.

Acolyte by Courtesy Trefflin - The mission to Ringo Vinda spirals downward when Tup tries to kill Luminara and Ahsoka confronts, and is injured by, Dooku's unknown assassin, called the Acolyte. There is a conspiracy involving the clones, and Anakin will do anything to uncover it when it means protecting the only people he has had left since Obi-Wan's death many months ago. (Winter Soldier AU)

Crisis of Faith by Courtesy Trefflin (Tirana Sorki) - Qui-Gon's loss isn't the only thing Obi-Wan struggles with after the battle of Naboo. The entire Order worships him as the Sith killer now, but it means having standards he doesn't know he can reach. He can't forget his master. He used the Dark Side. And he has the Chosen One to train, a padawan who is nothing like what Jedi ought to be.

Do Not Stand at My Grave by ReadingBlueWolf - After saving Naboo, Obi-Wan, and Anakin are kidnapped in broad daylight by Dooku. Frustrated by the Council's lack of response (and the old coot insisting on being called "buir"), Obi-Wan pens a few letters to Qui-Gon about the situation.

Flight Path by Courtesy Trefflin (Amina Gila) - Sidious never let him fly, preferring to keep him chained, and even though Anakin was trapped as a dragon for decades, losing his humanity and memories for a time, he has not lost his love for flying. It’s taken months for him to recover, and now that he and his family are taking a trip to Alderaan, he has the perfect opportunity to test his wings again.

Freefall by InsertSthMeaningful - Rey’s Jedi training on Ahch-To entails many things, like swimming, running, lightsaber duelling – and scaling high cliffs. One day, however she falls, and Master Luke doesn’t catch her. Instead, the Force does.

I dream of water by IceyGemini - For a long time, Luke's dreams nightmares were about heat and fire. This one was different...

Mashaw Bros, Sunset Circus by DragonflyonBreak - Come to the circus and witness what you've never seen before.

Multiples - Leia in ANH by Courtesy Trefflin - On the bridge of the Death Star, moments before Alderaan's destruction, Darth Vader is caught off-guard when a shift in the Force causes four more versions of Leia Organa to appear. Leia, who is... his daughter, apparently, the daughter he never knew he had. And Vader will do anything for his family.

Multiples - Luke in TESB by Courtesy Trefflin (Tirana Sorki) - For months now, Vader has waited for the day when he can tell Luke that he's his father. If Luke will join him, they can make the galaxy a better place. That day has finally arrived, except moments before Vader can reveal the truth, the Force suddenly, and unexpectedly, drops four other versions of Luke in front of him as well.

Multiples - Obi-Wan in ROTS by Courtesy Trefflin - Anakin and Obi-Wan have just landed aboard the Invisible Hand to rescue Chancellor Palpatine when suddenly, four other versions of Obi-Wan appear with them. One Obi-Wan is hard enough sometimes, but five? That is a whole other story. It doesn't help that they're not terribly fond of each other... or that the eldest are hiding things about the future.

Of Lineages and Hope by MiaSirtnev - Obi-Wan Kenobi never had a daughter but did have a very special Grandpadawan in Ahsoka Tano. And in matters large and small, they will always be there for each other. Always.

Ready to Respond (Do Not React) by Kefalion - After the events on Cloud City, Luke has been working on his ability to meditate. In a dream, he reaches the right frame of mind and he speaks with Yoda who shares some wisdom.

Relief by hayam - In retrospect, Dooku probably should have gone to the healers the first time he felt that sore tickle in his throat. Or that slight bit of nausea. It would have saved a lot of trouble..

Skywalker Snared by Writer_Patriot - Verifying Dooku's live capture didn't go as planned. Anakin blames himself.

Successor by Courtesy Trefflin (Tirana Sorki) - Traveling into Wild Space in search of ancient Jedi Temples and holocrons to learn from, in the hopes of rebuilding the Jedi Order, Rey stumbles onto something else entirely: the ancient world of Mortis, except... it's now inhabited by Force ghosts?

Swimming Lessons by Kittona writes (kittona) - Ahsoka plots to get her master to take a vacation; they're going to go to the beach. Sun, sand, relaxation, and most importantly, swimming. There's only one problem, Anakin didn't tell her he never learned to swim

The Time Where Anakin Became Yoda's New Padawan by StarxRox - Basically just another time travel story.

With Me As I Go by Courtesy Trefflin - When Qui-Gon died, becoming one with the Force, he could only watch. Watch as everyone in the lineage mourned him, and as the galaxy fell. But he is not about to let his master die. Or, the five times Qui-Gon tried and failed to help his family, and the one time he succeeded.

Fanart:

Just a Little Family Nap by lulek(szalik)

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radiosummons · 2 years ago

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I don't think Obi-Wan would ever have become a Sith. Literally, one of the biggest points about him as a character is that despite all the bullshit and absolute insanity he goes through, he never gives in to the Dark Side.

BUT--

A part of me can't help but wonder what would have happened if Obi-Wan--for whatever absolutely character breaking reason--took Dooku up on his offer and joined the Sith/Separatist, how differently things would have gone down in the Clone Wars.

Because from where I'm standing, we all already know that Obi-Wan's biggest things is never half-assing literally anything he does. He always puts himself into any task he's given. He's just incapable of not seeing things to their absolute finish and then some.

I've read a few Sith!Obi-Wan AU fics and fan comics with this exact premise and I do find it fascinating how people have gone about exploring this sort of concept. There are, of course, quite a number of powerhouse Sith!Obi-Wan AUs where he just straight decimates the GAR and the Republic (usually with the intent of killing Darth Sidious in the end). But I'm also fascinated by the handful of stories I've seen where Obi-Wan doesn't necessarily become an actual Sith, but joins Dooku (whether as a voluntary double agent or due to time-travel shenanigans) in order to 1) Find out who the true Sith Lord is and take them down and/or 2) To attempt stymieing the overall devastation the war has on the entire galaxy.

So as OOC as Sith!Obi-Wan feels to me, I can't help but share the fascination that others do with the endless "What ifs?" scenarios that can spring to mind with an AU like this.

Especially, when you start thinking about the potential ways Darth Sidious would react to having a hypercompetent Force User and experienced military general "on his side."

Yeah, Sheev was hyperfocused on Anakin for reasons. But I can't help but sorta vibe with some of Sith!Obi-Wan AUs I've seen where Mister Sidious either 1) Realizes what an actual threat Obi-Wan is to his ultimate goal of becoming Emperor of the entire galaxy, and tries to get Dooku to get rid of him as result (similar to what he ordered Dooku to do with Asajj) or 2) Realizes that while Anakin is an absolute powerhouse in the force, Obi-Wan is sort of next level due to not having the copious, never ending layers of unstable emotional drama that Anakin is.

(Of course, being emotionally unstable is sort of the prime requirement for any powerful Dark Sider, but I raise you this--the amount of traumatic bullshit Obi-Wan has gone through is just about as insane, if not a little more, than Anakin. It would just take someone immorally depraved enough, like Mister Sidious, to really torture and drag all that trauma out of Obi-Wan to the point that he'd use said trauma to fuel his Sith abilities. Again, I don't think Obi-Wan would ever give in to the Dark Side even if Sheev was his main tormentor, but we're playing around in the Sith!Obi-Wan AU right now. After all, "The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural").

I do feel obligated to sort of mention that sheer amount of angst that naturally comes with this sort of AU, but I don't feel the actual need to go super in depth with it. Just because, well, Obi-Wan in his natural canon state is already a bottomless well of angst and sadness pfffttt

Making him a Sith doesn't really change much in that regard for me, other than for other artists and fic writers to explore the darker elements of SW. Mainly, the horrific and outright torture that comes with being trained as a Sith and, you know, the atrocities of a galaxy wide war (just typically in more graphic detail and from a far more bleak perspective).

Tldr: I don't have an issue with Sith!Obi-Wan despite how horribly OOC it feels to me. I am absolutely and utterly impressed with the writers and artists who have fleshed out this AU in the detail and depths that they have. Y'all are so much stronger than me and I am grateful to everyone who was able to answer some of the questions bouncing around in my head through their art.

*fic recs underneath*

Yeah, I went on a Sith!Obi-Wan/Separatist AU spree a while back just out of curiousity and these are what I personally consider to be some of best (or at the very least, the ones I enjoyed most). Keep in mind, these fics range everywhere from Gen to Explicit/Mature and some do pertain to particular ships. That being said, I find the way these authors go about tackling Dark Sider/Sith/Separatist Obi-Wan to be pretty compelling. So approach these fics with all of that in mind, but do give extra kudos and comments to these writers. They did all the heavy lifting here, and they deserve all the attention and praise they're owed. So in no particular order, here are the fics I'd recommend for this particular AU:

Rank, Designation, Unit Name by soft_but_gremlin

You Shall Become (Me) by jedipati

Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ambassador of Mandalore series by alexjana91

I Got My Head Checked by frostbitebakery

What came after by galateaGalvanized

Name of the Game by esama

Certain Point by esama

Cuy'kaysh Dar by mneiai

Feel free to add your own personal recommendations in the tags, if you'd like. I know there's so much more of this AU out there, but I am in no way an expert. So I leave the additional fic recs in your hands.

#sith obi wan #obi wan kenobi #separatist obi wan #fic rec #star wars meta #i suppose this could count as a mini meta post #i'll get rid of the tag if people think otherwise though #obi wan meta

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jedi-enthusiast · 1 year ago

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Note: If I were to start writing more than one fic, then I would need to stretch the updates for The Great War to once a month instead of once every two weeks, although I would keep updating it.

If it matters at all, Arcane Paths is the fic I could probably finish the fastest out of these 5 and either When Stars Collide or A Lesson in Murder Mystery would take the longest.

A Lesson in Murder Mystery

Cody is the new Engineering professor at the University of Coruscant and Obi-Wan is the long-standing English professor. When Obi-Wan is attacked one night, they both get pulled into a conspiracy surrounding the death of the late Dean and the deaths of several others connected to the University. The two have to work together to solve the mystery before whoever's after Obi-Wan finally succeeds in their mission.

When Stars Collide

After many years of war and many more years of tension, the Jedi and Mandalore finally decide to make peace. To guarantee that the still-fresh peace treaty will not be broken, however, each side must offer up one member of their respective groups to be married to each other. Manda'lor Jango Fett offers his heir, Cody Fett. The Council offers Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Some tensions cannot simply be put to rest by treaties, however, and both sides must learn to understand each other--or risk losing to an even greater enemy that threatens both sides.

Welcome to the Temple

Scientist Cody Fett and his brothers move to a small town in the middle of nowhere in order to investigate the weird shit that seems to always be going on there. A town the locals simply refer to as the "Temple." Things get a little more complicated for him when he starts dating the town's odd radio host, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and one of his brothers witnesses something and becomes a target of SithCorp.

A Sith's Sense of Humor

A very pissy and recently deceased Count Dooku decides that things just aren't entertaining enough in his reality, and the Son agrees. So, to stir the pot a little, they decide to send some of the Jedi into another reality to see what happens. There's only one problem... The spell hits all of their commanders instead.

Arcane Paths

A year prior, Magician Obi-Wan Kenobi woke up in a strange room next to a strange man with no memory to speak of. Now, he works side by side with the man--Cody Fett--in their small shop in the city and, although Cody seems to keep many secrets, things are nice...at least until Cody leaves and Obi-Wan is visited by two people. The Duchess Satine Kryze, who asks him to solve a mystery for her, and murderer Anakin Skywalker, who seems to be looking for Cody--or, at least, something Cody has.

During the investigation, however, Cody reappears and it starts to seem like the secrets he's keeping are connected to Obi-Wan's investigation...and the memories that he can't seem to recall.

#star wars #sw prequels #the clone wars #ao3 fanfic #codywan fanfic #codywan #fanfic #commander cody #obi wan kenobi #pro jedi

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rexscanonwife · 1 month ago

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3rd AU! Also could I "steal" (with credit) this idea from you, I also have several AUs I would like to talk about 👀 - clownie

@circusgoth-dotcom yes ABSOLUTELY you can take it! And I invite anyone else who wants to do it to feel free :3

send me a number between 1-7 and I'll tell you about a self ship AU!

Number 3 is...ROYALTY/BODYGUARD AU! 👑

UGH this is one of my favorites that I really wanna do more art for sometime soon! Essentially in this AU, Brea is not a Jedi but instead the force-sensitive queen of a planet that I've decided to call Helios (subtle, I know). They're a neutral system, but due to being rich in valuable resources, probably some sort of hydrogen-like element that can be refined and used for weapons or money, Count Dooku and his army invade and intend to bully them into submission.

Enter Anakin and the 501st!

After arriving, however. they find that Dooku's forces were a little more well-equipped than they were prepared for 😅 the boys in blue are overwhelmed and the planet is taken, but they manage to rescue the queen! She obviously doesn't want to leave her citizens behind, but they insist that she accompany them to Coruscant so that she can plead her case to the Senate for more assistance in liberating her planet. In the meantime, Dooku could potentially still be after her or even send his minions out to make an attempt on her life...so she'll need to be guarded, right?

Palpatine probably personally asks Anakin to spare one or two of his own men to guard her, his BEST if he can part with them...and Anakin would never refuse Palpatine directly > _ > not sure what Palpie's endgame is, maybe to weaken the 501st a little bit to give the separatists an edge, maybe just for a laugh and to see what happens! Who knows, but Anakin asks Rex to be the one to look after her who, albeit reluctantly, agrees.

You can imagine he's none too pleased about it either 😅😅 he's extremely formal and professional at first, only speaking when necessary and following close behind her but not TOO close. It's not that he isn't honored and stuff but he feels that his place should be on the battlefield! He can't help but think about his men out there without him, putting their lives on the line. And after spending quite a bit more time together (basically 24/7 being that he stands outside her door while she sleeps) he realizes that she feels the SAME way about her people, who she'd do anything for. That's when the feelings start to develop :3c

I think it starts one night while she's having dinner, she's invited him to join her at the table before but he usually insists he's fine standing and having rations instead. This time she kinda ORDERS him to sit, and for the first time like...ever he takes off his helmet and she sees his face for the first time. I don't think she's seen a clone's face before, so she probably mentions that he's very handsome and he probably shoots back like "what, did you think I looked like a Hutt under there?" Which shows he has a funny side, and they finally start to connect on a deeper level. From there you know how slippery a slope it is to romantic feelings and longing gazes and probably even stolen kisses!! I haven't thought too much about all that yet but I want to, and I've rambled on long enough > u <

#jane journals #self insert talk #💙 oh captain my captain 💙#ask game #clownie! 🃏#thanks so much for asking clownie!! :3 #also for those of u who are pnf fans i imagined the one song from the ep where buford owes baljeet a life debt #the 'hes standing there at a respectful distance~' bit 😂😂 I COULDNT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT WHILE WRITING THIS

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adragonsfriend · 11 months ago

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On Writing Ekkreth Stories

So you want to write an Ekkreth story, but it's not working. You can't figure out how to start, it doesn't sound right, it just doesn't feel like Fialleril's do.

I am obviously not the expert on this, but I've have seen one or two people comment on Biting His Own Tale that they struggle to write Ekkreth stories and/or think mine are neat, so I thought I'd take a stab at writing a guide/conglomeration of tips I've figured out.

(This is also intended as an exercise for me to articulate why I make the decisions I do as a writer, because I think that's a good thing to do once in a while, so spoilers for my fic, Biting His Own Tale)

Connect to "Real" Events

Reading Double Agent Vader the first time (it was one of the first Star Wars fics I ever read), I was instantly enamored with the Ekkreth stories. I wanted to read them, understand them, write them. Problem being, no matter how long an hard I thought, I couldn't come up with a single idea. It felt like Ekkreth's tricks were all way too clever and neat for me to ever come up with something comparable and the style was so cool and mysterious that I didn't know how to copy it.

Then I committed myself writing Biting His Own Tale. I started writing down notes and then drafting my main story, and the ideas started pouring out. I had two different ideas for Ekkreth stories to go along with Glittering Chains, I had other ideas for other sections as well. Sometimes the ideas for Ekkreth stories influence my main plot--the story of Ekkreth being beaten inspired both This Story Can Kill You and the section I'm currently posting.

I am echoing Fialleril when I say I don't really think it's possible to write these stories without having some "real" fictional events to relate them to. So pick a fic idea you've always wanted to write, and start writing it. Personally, I'm kind of obsessed with time travel fics. You probably don't even have to actually write that fic, just starting to plot it out will give you ground to stand on.

The Moral of the Story

Ekkreth stories have a point. They're not historical tales meant to accurately recount a true event, though they may do that too. They're not novels, meant to entertain, though they may do that too. They're not comedies, meant to make you laugh, though they may do that too. Ekkreth stories have messages for the Amavikkan people who are telling them and listening to them and creating them.

What do Amavikka people in general need to understand to survive?

What do your characters need to understand to survive?

Are your main story characters living up to the lessons and values of Amavikka culture, or are they failing to do so?

What is the point of your main story? Why are you writing it? What do you want your reader to learn from it?

The intersection of these answers is where your story's moral lies. In Glittering Chains:

Amavikka people in general need to remember that no matter if their depur sometimes appears nice for a moment or favors them over other slaves he is always cruel, and he'll never make them free.

Anakin needs to understand that Ventress is keekta-du and therefore a fellow slave. He also needs to be reminded that all Sith apprentices are slaves to their masters in some way or other. This understanding will influence how he interacts with both Ventress and Dooku later on. Slick needs to understand why the way he went about trying to free himself was cruel to his brothers, and that while Ventress could not help him, Anakin can.

Anakin is living up to the role of Ekkreth by recognizing both Ventress and Slick as fellow slaves he can help. Ventress is very explicitly failing by continuing to follow Dooku's orders and refusing to think on Anakin's warning that Dooku has not freed her. Slick was failing by dooming his brothers for his own freedom, but is moving toward Amavikka values by taking Anakin's offer to help free other slaves.

My point with Glittering Chains was to clarify Slick and Ventress' decisions, and to force Anakin into having a more complicated plan than just "kill Sidious and all the Sith," because I think it's important for him and the audience to consider redemption whenever there is the opportunity.

So my Ekkreth story needs to be about Ekkreth guiding someone to realize they are keekta-du and then show that person deciding to do something about their situation once they understand it.

Figuring out the moral of your story early will help you figure out its structure. I knew I wanted my story to talk about being keekta-du, so I came up with a situation where I thought someone might become keekta-du (a sex slave convinced her owner loves her), and from there I came up with the mechanism of Ekkreth's trick (Ay'leli has to be the one to steal the keys because she has access to Depur's quarters), and Ekkreth's method (getting Ay'leli to empathize with her fellow slaves by getting her to care for one child). From there, I thought up some symbolism that fit both the situation and the moral (Ay'leli is going to have to steal some keys, so there needs to be some chains for her to steal the keys to. Also, Ay'leli's chains are prettier than the others, but just as strong).

Doing it this way, you can get the thematic and literal elements of your Ekkreth story and your "real" story to overlap in interesting ways, because the thematic elements are most important, while the literal elements can, ultimately, be whatever you need them to be. For an example of a connection of literal elements from Fialleril, Ekkreth steals pieces of the actual moon while Anakin steals the death star plans, a connection which comes directly from the "That's no moon," line in the Phantom Menace.

Doing it this way, with the moral first, you can get the thematic and literal elements of your Ekkreth story and your "real" story to overlap in interesting ways, and this kind of connection can also help justify why your Amavikka character would be thinking/telling of this particular story in their real situation.

I promise you your thoughts about how the world works, and how people should act, and what we should value are important and valuable and interesting. You can and should write about them if you feel driven to.

Values you're passionate about are far more fertile ground for cool world building and deep metaphors than quirky world building and random metaphors are for good values.

(P.S. This is not to say it can't ever happen the other way around, it absolutely can.)

(P.P.S. It's okay if you pick your moral and then you realize it needs to change after you start writing. This happens to me all the time, that's why it's called a first draft.)

Consider the Medium: Oral Storytelling

This is a lesson straight from the mouth of my epically cool high school humanities teacher when we read the Iliad. Other real examples of the things I'm about to talk about include the Vedas and aboriginal American stories, so they're not unique to European tradition. When a story is being told outloud, the listeners have to be able to keep track of who is who and who is doing what, and they can't go back and read a section again like you can with a written story. Also, in oral traditions, stories are passed down by memory, and repetition makes memorization easier. We are writing our stories down, but both of these circumstances must still affect the way we write them, if we want them to sound like they are from an oral tradition.

Clarify speakers often, and do it before they start speaking/acting rather than after or in the middle of their dialogue to avoid the pronoun game even more than you would in other writing you do.

Refer to characters the same way multiple times. Their titles can be quick ways to give your audience information about them.

Consider how your words sound. Words that sound good and share a rhythm and vibe are easier to remember. There often multiple different epithets for the characters in the myths to help keep the meter of poetic sections.

Read your story out loud! This is how Ekkreth stories were meant to be experienced. Better yet, have someone else read it out loud and listen for places where they stumble. If you're not comfortable reading aloud, or you don't have a private space to do so, you can use text to speech to listen to it.

Prototypes have to be tested by the people who are going to be using them, in the way they are meant to be used if they are to become useful to those people. You can treat your stories the same way.

Real World References & Questioning your Muse

Consider fairy tales, religious stories, poetry, children's books, bedtime stories, etc. What tools to they use?

What parts of them sound the best? (Do they repeat certain phrases? Do they rhyme? Are they written in meter?)

What kind of stories to they tell? (Are they complicated or simple? Are they super realistic, or kind of mystical?)

How do they introduce characters? (What do they include descriptions of? Physical traits? Character traits? Actions they often take? Their role in relation to other characters?)

Does the character's reasoning always follow real world logic? (If they do, how does their world influence the way they act? If not, what rules are they following instead?)

Ask all the questions you can about setting, characters, plot, style, etc. The answers to the above questions with regard to Ekkreth stories are, as I see them,

There is lots of repetition of descriptions and titles. There is repetition in structure where there is repetition in the story (if Ekkerth asks five different animals for advice, they will ask questions phrased in similar ways, and get responses phrased in similar ways). The beginnings and endings of each story have several repeated phrases, lending a sense of familiarity no matter how wacky the middle gets.

The stories are relatively simple. Ekkreth is going along, finds Depur has done something bad, Ekkreth does something to fix the bad thing, the people run away, Ekkreth taunts Depur and then flies away, this story can save your life.

Characters are introduced by their names and titles and something of the way they act. Ekkreth is trickster, sky walker, wandering traveler; no chain can hold them forever. Depur is the master, the slave owner; he is Ekkreth's enemy. Leia is elder sister, mighty one, Ekkreth's daughter; she can endure anything.

The character's reasoning doesn't really follow real world logic. Otherwise, Leia would just step on Depur in every story. Otherwise, Ekkreth's tricks coudn't work every time. Otherwise, there's no way Depur would be that dumb every single time. They are following a set of rules that teach the lessons and values of Amavikka people while acknowledging their limitations. They can't kill their owners, so Leia can't kill Depur. There are always small opportunities to defy Depur, so Ekkreth always has another trick. Every depur is both cruel and prideful in someway, so Depur will always be fooled by flattery.

Looking at real world examples can also be the inspiration for the structure and plot of your story, Ekkreth's tricks (heist movies might be good for this), or characters (there's a Norse myth about Loki catching a fish which inspired the way I wrote Umakkar).

Try mapping out Kadee's favorite story, "Depur's new clothes." See what changes happen when the person trying to sell the Emperor intangible clothes isn't a random tailor trying to make a fool of him, but instead Ekkreth trying to free the people from Depur. How would Cinderella's story change if instead of a girl looking for a night of freedom from her awful family she was Ekkreth disguised to get into Depur's party? Are they there to steal something? To trick Depur into marrying them? To distract him from the people escaping out the back of his palace?

Use references. Study them, copy them, improve them. In exactly the same way a visual artist must observe real humans to learn how to draw humans, you must observe real fairy tales, folk tales, movies, religious stories, poetry, books, children's books, songs, bedtime stories, etc, to learn how to write your own.

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition...

Repetition is a tool of meaning in any kind of story. The things a storyteller chooses to mention more than once, the things they return to again and again, build meaning and change it with every echo. I've talked a bit about aesthetic repetition (repeated titles, names, phrases), but not about thematic repetition. Making these match up is one of the greatest tricks you can play as an author.

Knowing the intended moral of your story is going to come in handy here. It is repeated at the end of every Ekkreth story that "this story can save your life," not just because it's a good line, but also because that is what Fialleril considers the essential message for Anakin, every slave on Tatooine, and us, the audience.

In my story Elder Sister, Umakkar asks Leia three times, “Who are you, who would stand in the path of the storm?” not just because she keeps standing there, but because it gives Leia the opportunity to change her answer time. Her changing answer shows her figuring out her own identity through the trial of outlasting the storm, and it also displays what I believe is her most essential trait: the strength to endure.

Stories are something you can add to your main story to repeat the themes in the main plot. As Anakin defies Sidious, Ekkreth defies Depur. As the scanner comes to Tatooine, Ekkreth delivers the wisdom of the animals to the people. As Pooja interprets a secret flower language to save the rebel senators, Queen Polana uses a secret flower language to warn her people.

Like wearing the right color shirt can bring out the color of your eyes, the right Ekkreth story is a chance to echo the point of your main story, drawing it into the light.

Review the Source Material

Go back and read Double Agent Vader again, with a critical eye. Pay attention to the way mythology is woven into characters understanding of the world and their emotional journeys. Leia musing on how Ekkreth reminds her of Torhu, one of Alderan's spirits, was a big inspiration for me in writing Rex thinking of Anakin as being like a sea monster. Neither Rex nor Leia is Amavikka or even close to as deeply entrenched in their respective mythologies as Anakin is (his narrative is almost always accompanied by an active story being told whereas they mainly just think about their mythologies), but even they are actively using mythology to interpret their real world.

Also, I meant what I said about listening to Ekkreth stories aloud. There are wonderful podfics of DAV by @darlingsweet that can help you get a feel for how Ekkreth stories are meant to sound.

Finally, Commit to the Bit!

When fics have their own plot and then randomly mention "blah blah blah Ekkreth! blah blah," it actually tends to take me out of the story rather than drawing me deeper in. It's a distraction. It makes me think, wow I should go reread DAV again instead of this.

It's much the same form of imitation that makes a lot of sequels fall flat--where the creators knew they did something good with the original, but failed to appreciate what exactly it was, and so end up including all the surface elements without creating depth (think a lot of Disney's Star Wars content: lots of flashy lightsabers, big space battles, anyone can have the force now, not so much for consistent themes, or the Pirates of the Caribean sequels [or for an even worse example, the Avatar the Last Airbender movie]). It's saying, "Well whenever Fialleril wrote the name Ekkreth it gave me lots of feelings, so I'm going to also write the name Ekkreth in my story. That will cause people to have feelings about my story." I promise you, it won't. Not on its own.

Where Fialleril's writing excels most is in making the mythology matter to the characters. Making it affect the way they think and act. Anakin takes responsibility for his actions and turns his back on Sidious twenty years early, without Luke or anyone else around to guide him towards doing good because of these stories. That is the singular, most basic, and most powerful premise of DAV. It is an argument, not just for the power of Amavikka culture in Anakin's situation, but the power of storytelling and beliefs in general.

Writing full Ekkreth stories is much, much harder than including surface level references. I absolutely do not claim to have mastered any of these tips, my own stories are all works in progress, but effort and connection are the cost of depth, and depth is what creates all those wonderful and terrible feelings you feel when you read the name of Ekkreth.

In Conclusion

These are, so far, my guiding principles when I write Ekkreth stories. I hope they are interesting, and helpful to someone. They are also, I hope, applicable to any story that tries to intertwine myth with reality. Please feel free to add/argue anything I've missed, I'm sure there's lots, especially with the number of people who have taken to interacting with Fialleril's mythology.

(P.S. Obvious disclaimer, but this is the internet: when I say things like "Fialleril does blah blah blah because...," I am guessing. I'm not in their head, I've just read lots of their fics and posts. I'm interpreting the data I have as best I can, and then phrasing my guesses very confidently.)

(P.P.S. Happy Christmas if you celebrate, happy holidays to everyone else. All the holidays I've ever heard of, religious and otherwise, have fascinating stories behind them which you can analyze in depth, if that's anyone else's idea of holiday fun.)

#star wars #tatooine slave culture #fialleril #biting his own tale #writing #oral storytelling #writing guide #star wars yeeteth

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