#goddamn anakin looks dashing

[aigoos]

Piratekin + Merwan Obikin Art

Several weeks ago, I was hit with this Piratekin and Merwan Obikin idea. The idea wouldn't leave me alone, so I reached out to @kana7o to bring my visions to life, and she did an amazing job!

The first art shows their first meeting, where Captain Anakin Seawalker takes over Palpatine's ship (and makes him walk the plank to feed him to gigantic piranhas) and meets a captive merman prince -- Prince Obi-Wan of Stewjon Kingdom. They fall in love at first sight. Anakin reluctantly frees him, but to his delight, Obi-Wan stays near his side.

The second art showcases them adventuring the Seven Seas. I seriously could not get rid of the cheesy Harlequin romance novel cover out of my head, so I also requested Kana to draw this. Needless to say, I'm very happy by this piece.

It has been one year since I started commissioning art with Kana, so these two pieces mean a lot to me. Hope you all like this!

[anakin-skybreaker]

How They Handle Spicy Food: Clone Wars Edition

Padme Amidala:

Like everything else she does in her life, Padme is downright regal with her spicy foods. She’s not a fan, per say, but she does consume more spice than the average person due to her position as a senator political dinners and all that and being married to Anakin. And she always handles it with grace. 

Padme has a good understanding of her limits and usually sticks within them. She might shed a tear or have a cough here and there, but there are no freak outs, no getting sick, no screaming, no wailing - true queen behavior.

Ahsoka Tano:

So Ahsoka’s introduction to spice is entirely her own fault but she’ll tell the story as if it’s Anakin’s. 

Whenever it’s mealtime, whether they’re at Dex’s or on the go, Anakin will leave his food. He’ll get up to go to the bathroom or call Padme and he leaves his food unattended. As a Padawan, it is Ahsoka’s Force-given right to steal his food. So she does. Frequently. 

Until one day, while Anakin’s back is turned, she takes a bite of his mashed potatoes of all things and her mouth lights on fire. He was nice about it though and bought her ice cream in between his laughing fits. This incident, however, was not enough to deter Ahsoka. She continues to steal his food. It’s like a game of roulette and that’s where her tolerance comes from. She’s a fan.

Obi Wan Kenobi:

This is the quickest way to get Obi Wan cursing. He usually doesn’t like to since he considers it uncouth so he’ll swear in anything but Basic. It’s quite a spectacle. That being said, it’s hilarious how bad he is with spicy food. Sriracha would kill him. Certain people have innate talents for certain things; Obi Wan Kenobi was not built for spice. 

There’s a rumor among the Jedi that a medic had to be called because his and Anakin’s orders got switched. This rumor is true. He thought he was dying. It’s unfair how often this man gets clowned on for his poor tolerance. And, although it may have been cruel, Anakin did dose Obi Wan’s tea with pepper flakes once in revenge while he was a Padawan. He regrets it weekly, in that, he regrets how hard it made him laugh.

Anakin Skywalker:

An expert, a connoisseur, a fanatic, the Jedi Order’s one and only Spice King. It’s not exactly that Anakin has high tolerance. He does, but that’s not the main takeaway. Anakin just likes spicy food. He loves it. He adores it. He lives for the burn, the sweats, the high that you get afterward. He’s all in, all the time. He’s even developed a method to minimize the gastric distress while maximizing spice. He carries a packet of pepper flakes with him everywhere he goes. Occasionally, he’ll use it as a weapon. 

This man will drink veritable battery acid and enjoy it. He might actually have a problem.

“But the burn means it’s good, Obi Wan.”

Commander Cody:

Cody, on his own, is middle of the road. He’ll add some generic hot sauce to his meals every now and then. He’ll add a dash of pepper and have a couple dips of salsa. The thing is, this is one of the many areas where Cody applies his fine-tuned common sense and refuses to engage his peers in their tomfoolery. He just watches it all go down. When holovids pop up with Obi Wan speaking in tongues or Rex sobbing into his plate while he bravely soldiers on, 9/10 times it’s Cody.

Captain Rex:

I believe it’s pretty much canon that Rex has the heart of a lion. He’s brave and loyal and a good man, goddamn it. If there’s one thing Rex has going for him, it’s willpower. He sweats and shakes and has to do some form of calisthenics or maybe even a crossword to get through the meal, but he gets through it. Poor guy has no tolerance. He’s actually worse than Obi Wan but he’s got heart and that’s all that matters.

Darth Maul:

He’s the one you actually want to watch consume obscenely spicy food because he’s so overconfident. He’s had his legs cut off, after all. He’s a Sith Lord, after all. He knows pain, after all. What’s a pepper or two? and yes he’s the dumbass who eats the thing whole. 

Maul is the guy who takes a huge bite and gets the look. You know, the I have made a critical error look. He’s the one with the dramatics; screaming, cursing, sweating, threats of violence. He powers through it though and gets horribly sick afterward. It’s never not funny.

Bo Katan Kryze:

An actual monster with no pain receptors it’s actually a genetic mutation do not challenge her you will rue the day.

[twilightofthe]

I posted 725 times in 2021

114 posts created (16%)

611 posts reblogged (84%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 5.4 posts.

I added 760 tags in 2021

#one (1) hot mess - 155 posts

#our only ho - 135 posts

#sw stuff - 89 posts

#sw prequels - 62 posts

#star wars - 57 posts

#sw spoilers - 54 posts

#twin sun - 54 posts

#sw the clone wars - 53 posts

#sw rebels - 52 posts

#sw the bad batch - 49 posts

Longest Tag: 135 characters

#‘​ohhh but that’s the way george lucas spells it’ buddy my guy if you haven’t figured out by now that lucas is wrong about many things—

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

Y’all the reason why Disney keeps releasing a bunch of new Marvel stuff and is stingy as all hell on the Star Wars shite is because Star Wars is arguably a much larger risk. On account of, of course, we as a SW fanbase being feral as all hell and more ready to bite their hand straight off in spite rather than accept the food that’s offered.

Star Wars fans are bitter as hell, suspicious as hell, and entirely too snobby about their opinions with a side of nasty personality. We gotta be tricked into liking stuff, by getting fan favorite characters tentatively waved in front of our faces like “hey, hey, pss pss pss look, *soft whistling noises*, look, Obiwabobahsoka! You LIKE this character, remember? Right? You LIKE them. Good feelings! Happy feelings! You can see them again if you just get in the cage nicely—”

1443 notes • Posted 2021-11-13 01:32:45 GMT

#4

Once again I am lamenting how Cool and Sexy it would have been if Force Users had glowing eyes when using the Force. Like imagine, maybe they glow the same shade as their saber but yeah, every time they fight or they lift a rock or they meditate, their eyes just ✨glow✨

Would it have ruined any and all chances of them using it subtly? Yes. Would it have been hot as hell? ALSO YES

1897 notes • Posted 2021-07-02 12:42:39 GMT

#3

Every so often sometimes I’ll see posts pop up on my dash talking about the scene in ESB where Yoda and Obi Wan are trying to keep Luke from flying off to Bespin after Han and Leia and everyone’s always lauding Luke for being a “TRUE hero who sticks it to the meanie evil Jedi who just want him to blindly obey their evil oppressive orders and let his friends die >:(”

And it’s like. Okay. Okay, that sure is a funny way of saying “Luke blatantly ignoring his masters trying to tell him not to walk into the Obvious Fucking Trap Vader is purposefully using his friends’ pain to set for him, walks smack into it anyway, fails to rescue one friend and needs to have the other rescue herself and then HIM after he gets his arm amputated and loses his lightsaber and nearly dies” but OKAY.

o k a y . . .

2184 notes • Posted 2021-10-31 21:05:44 GMT

#2

One thing the Star Wars fandom did that I really like is that we looked at the two established “lineages” amongst the Jedi, that being a number of people who can all connect their Jedi training back through one another. Those ones with enough people being: the line that starts with Mace, and the line that starts with Yoda/Dooku. And the fandom said:

Mace >> Depa >> Caleb/Kanan >> Ezra: A talented lineage of hardworking intelligent generous people always ready to make sacrifices and do what’s right. They’re especially talented at seeing all the angles and spotting and making connections with other beings. We will call them the Shatterpoint Lineage ☺️✨

Yoda >> Dooku >> Qui Gon >> Obi Wan >> Anakin >> Ahsoka >> It’s complicated, ok?: We don’t give two shits if y’all are the “main characters of the franchise” or whatever, NONE OF YOU can go anywhere without a broken limb, something being lit on fire, and at least five people crying, you’re the goddamn Disaster Lineage and you all need help

3952 notes • Posted 2021-05-12 19:44:47 GMT

#1

Ok I’ve decided I’ll accept Obi Wan and Vader meeting in-person during the Kenobi show ONLY if it goes like this

Obi Wan: *Has infiltrated wherever Vader is while dressed in stolen stormtrooper armor. He kicks down Vader’s door*

Vader: A stormtrooper?

Obi Wan: *Tosses aside his uncivilized blaster and ignites his lightsaber*

Vader: A Jedi stormtrooper?

Obi Wan: *Yanks the helmet off*

Vader: A Jed— OBI WAN?!?

4358 notes • Posted 2021-03-29 18:39:46 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[hermansheartyslice]

After years of listening to people around me talking about star Wars I've finally decided to watch it, right? And I start on episode I because it seemed like the logical thing to do, and you know what? I love Anakin Skywalker with all my whole damn heart.

Episode III broke my heart and that's all I have to say about that because somehow, through all these years seeing Star Wars stuff on my dash I still somehow didn't know about T H A T. And by that I mean I didn't know Anakin was Darth Vader. !!!!!

Now, not even twenty minutes into episode V and every time Luke looks at Leia I just want to scream. I mean I knew they were siblings before, I knew there was some sort of ""romance"" but I didn't know it went that far.

She has kissed him. In. The. Mouth.

I've been screaming at my laptop screen for ten minutes now because I just had to pause because they are goddamn TWINS!!

[archiveofidentityconstellations]

this isn’t ready and it’s only the roughest of drafts hngggh but who cares not me maybe folks can see it and whatever idk it’s made but not done and needs to be changed idk frick im tired

the room is freezing.

the hotel room overlooks the water. she keeps the window open.

-

(she remembers burning.

he was a star, big and bright and powerful that it hurt to look at him and it ached to be near him

and she would stand stand stand beside him,

forever)

-

(she winds her hand in his, fingers streaming in his spaces, and he. he jolts)

-

he took what he wanted and she let him.

anything, anything, she whispered

day in, day in

she’d give him anything

(he was hungry for everything, hungry and aching and starving and—)

-

(this isn’t—this was—

this isn’t what she wanted. she wanted him)

 “i just…” the phone line keeps blinking. she closes her eyes. they’re dry. dry because it’s 3 in the morning and she’s spent all her tears for tonight. “it’s been six months. please, Anakin.”

-

“please!”

this was too much, oh god, this was too much—

“Anakin, you’re breaking my heart!”

and he turns to look at her, look without seeing her, eyes glowing ember red

she can’t swallow—

-

they’re sitting on the porch step and her lips are stained cherry red

(her teeth still white, never red. she was too padme for that)

and he’s staring at her mouth, her mouth kissing the popsicle, and the syrup drips and suddenly—

.

“you shouldn’t have done that” she tells him, eyes wide.

he shrugs, unabashed and glowing. “i wanted to.”

-

(ferocious sunlight at the back of his neck and cracked lips on his forehead

“i love you, no matter what they do, i love you, i do i do i do”)

-

“Ben won’t like it.”

“when i was with mom,” he says, pale eyes glaring out into the street, “there were certain ways of showing someone you loved them. that was one.”

“i don’t think you understand how you love me, Ani.”

-

(long shadows that call themselves saviors,

whispers in his ear—

“i love you, i do i do i do”)

-

he looks at her. dark eyes still wide.

“i think i do.”

-

(“it hurts.”

“then stop touching it.”

“ben, it hurts—”

“what did i just say.”

but he puts his hand underneath the faucet, and Ben pretends not to see Anakin’s look in the corner of his eye.

(“he can be great,” the professor says, voice taking up the small office. he peers closely at Ben. “provided he’s given the tools to succeed.

Ben understands.)

Anakin doesn’t get it. Anakin lays his head against Ben’s hip, because he’s nine and it hurts and—

Ben moves away.)

-

(she doesn’t know what he’s on. she’s dragging him into the shower, so different from an earlier point in their marriage. he keeps slipping because he’s not cognizant and so she holds him up. he towers over her and she’s not strong enough to keep him standing but she holds him up. the water is beating against his skin, she’s still in her jeans. he’s slipping, the shower is steaming hot but she feels cold and the water is on her face is—it’s—

“oh Ani.”

she’s crying.)

-

“What did you do to him?!” she screams. and this isn’t the calm representative he knows, serene and immovable. she barely knows herself right now, all she knows is that she is here and Anakin isn’t

Ben blinks at the crack in her voice, façade shattering for a brief instant and oh—

(s tu tt e r)

—he is hurt.

“nothing,” he says after a moment, voice too thick to be diplomatic. “i—” he cuts himself off.

 (“do you think Watto will let my mom go?”

a high pitched voice, young. annoying. a frown mars his brow, he doesn’t like kids, he said no kids—)

 (dashing down the sidewalk, concrete burning his feet—

“shit, shit!”

why did he have to get ice cream, of all things? and why did he agree to it?

“wait, i think i can—” and Anakin is off in a burst of speed, moments before Ben’s protest can rise and die in his throat.

Anakin was so far, so ahead of him.)

-

(“I HATE YOU!”

“NO, YOU DON’T! YOU HATE YOURSELF!”

Anakin screams and throws the last trinket the professor had given him. it shatters behind Ben and he doesn’t move. the ten year old sobs openly now, hands flailing out in fists one instant and the next curling into his chest.

Ben swallows.

he still throws the college packet onto the desk, and the action snaps through the room. “And you can keep hating yourself until you sit down and FINISH IT!”)

 -

(“he will be the best. he has an unparalleled mind. don’t let him stop.”)

-

(“this entire world just wants to use me! Ben, LOOK AT ME!”)

-

(“he has me.”

“people don’t fix other people, Padme.”

“yes, they do. people can have compassion and compassion makes anything possible!”)

-

(“i love you, no matter what they do, i do i do i do”)

-

“Ani, please!”

he pushes her away. it feels like a limb has been wrenched from the both of them. he pushes her away and he begins to cry at the same time.

-

(“go with them, Ani. they’ll keep you safe.”

“wait! mom!”

“go. please.”)

 (do you suppose he ever forgave himself for that?

i don’t. i don’t think he ever has. i don’t think he ever will.)

-

padme hits the door. the lock chain bites into her head, whipping around. she sees stars and it snakes down her neck.

and she’s reminded of the necklace he bought her on her seventeenth birthday—

-

(sunlight and shrieks and anakin’s lips on her cheek)

“i love you, angel”)

(love, love, love)

-

from the look in his eyes, she knows he can remember it too.

-

he took what he wanted and she let him.

anything, anything, she whispered

day in, day in

she’d give him anything

(he was hungry for everything, hungry and aching and starving and—)

 (padme had never known what it was like to be hungry

but he made her feel filled, like she never knew was empty for something until he was there and he burned but she felt alive, alive for one goddamn moment and she would laugh with the burning, burn alive for all she cared, she had him, him him him)

-

the room is freezing.

-

“please. i just…i want to know you’re okay.”

the sun peeks over the horizon.

the phone line goes dead.

[whatthefoucault]

Dear the art and chitchat getting rebageled all over my tumblr dash for the past day or two:

WOULD IT KILL YOU TO MAKE SOME HAPPIER INFINITY WAR PREDICTIONS OH MY GOD

like I don’t care about spoilers but can you tag your sad?  *whispers* I’ve got anxiety

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO and bc I don’t have time to draw all of them tonight, have some Soft Infinity War Predictions:

After Gamora and Nebula swiftly dispatch Purple Joss Whedon (and everybody helps I guess) everybody goes to a little taqueria where the quesadillas are OFF THE HOOK.

Hawkeye is there.  He’s fine.  He’s adopted a very special dog.

Loki is also fine.  The Grandmaster is there.  Sitting in Loki’s lap.  Parker offered to get an extra chair from another table, but the Grandmaster’s face was coinciding most ardently with Loki’s face before he could finish the question.  Tony’s attempting to shield his eyes, as though he’s never seen two ancient space wizards engaged in an amorous embrace before.  He hasn’t.  It’s the least traumatic part of his day, though.

Steve is fine.  Bucky is also fine.  His new arm is very comfortable, thank you for asking.  They finally kissed the first moment they had just to themselves; after all, there’s nothing to spur on a long-budding love to blossom quite like the prospect of the end of the world.  There’s no question that they’ll move in together.  T’Challa has already enquired about whether they’ve set a wedding date.  He’s a busy man, what with a country to run and all that, but it’d be nice if he can clear a day in his diary and get cake out of it.

Thor’s eye grows back?  At least that’s what a ton of the promo stuff and Pop Vinyl figures are telling me.

Aunt May gets to say fuck.  Also, she’s a lesbian.  Also, I’m in love with Aunt May.

Nat breathes a sigh of relief as she uncoils her hair from the dye-stained towel, and she’s that familiar shade of fiery ginger again.

Peter Parker is fine.  Ned is also fine.  Michelle is fine.  They’ve got a second movie to be being in at some point.

Sam continues to be a goddamn ray of sunshine.

Scott exists?  People care about Scott?  Ant Man is there and he’s Paul Rudd and if he specifically asked for a second straw in his horchata it definitely wasn’t in the hope that Sam would share it with him, because goddamn that man is a ray of sunshine

I am Groot, says Groot, which means “I’m livestreaming this on instagram and Quill thinks I’m just taking a nice photo of him, but I’ve placed a large poop emoji where his face is and I can barely contain my amusement.”

Tony and Strange are conversating in hushed tones about something.  Tony’s wearing Strange’s cloak for some reason.  They might be holding hands.  Rhodey has surreptitiously changed all of the branding everywhere in the company to read Stank Industries.

Shuri has brazenly stolen one of M’Baku’s nopales, but he gets his own back and eats like half of her churros when she’s not looking.

Also, Deadpool is there.  And Squirrel Girl.  And the force-ghosts of Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi and the proper, Old Dude Anakin Skywalker.  None of this remastered-in Prequel Anakin nonsense.  None of that.  This is a quality production.

[meandmyechoes]

The more I think about my first romance novel, the more I find something odd.

[28th March 17:46]

I keep referring to it as a ‘favourable experience’, and there is no question the writing is what made me fall totally head over heels about quin tress, but I also just, can't?

I mean, yes. It's very passionate, dramatic, scenes and gestures I can only dream of. And it's all very bisexual and fantastical of me. But I also, don't really see it in that 'omg they totally belong together here are my sixty headcanons of them' sense?

I am very involved in the pairing, but also don't really, actively 'ship' it — like the way I have the ability to with Rhayme or Latts (since it's the same author that indoctrinated me to Captain Rhayme). I could imagine them being happily ever after and silly shenanigans and slow-burn. But the concept of a quin tress fairytale ending is so wild. I can only ask if this has to do with my personal view on relationships. Does this tie back to how I say the hottest thing a heterosexual couple can do is fuck (and the spiritual experience is emphasized with a same-sex partner)? - anyway, ace brain (probably) speaking.

I know the plot leaves little room for 'the future' and fed me well on all tropes possible. But, it just never occurred to me to put them in any other clichés or invent a missing scene.

Winding up, I don't think their relationship is 'weak', but it's very motivated by circumstances and once you take that out of them, you are a little bit lost. For example even during the illicit affairs month, I… can't really propose one date that does not seem tonally insensitive. (I can think of them being cloak dorks and Vos bringing her to ice-cream, that's it, after a long hard moment) Really, all I possibly want is that sweet, sweet angst and canon is already there so I have no complaint.

It's just… I don't really get why it has to be the two of them that fall for each other. I understand why they did, and I believe it— Perhaps it's much more a physical attraction thing that I don't really have personal experience with.

I don't know if quin tress classify as slow-burn because 10 chapters still seem a little quick in the grand scheme of things. (aside: I'm quite disappointed Ventress wasn't doing much in the last quarter of the book.) My point is, they do feel a little bit puppet to tropes, and while it's deliciously written, there's not much potential outside of canon. And that lack of inspiration makes me grimace a little.

[3rd April, 01:39]

I’ve scrolled through the dd tag and let the book sank a little. I am better articulated to talk about the sexist criticism now.

It's a romance story, and when I judge it by that (lower) standard, it ticks the boxes. However, it might be a weakness as well, due to the projectability of the heroes. And yes, the whole assassination is dumb. Yet, tcw has been consistently this dumb at us. The last two times when she's more rooted in the dark she failed, sent Savage and failed, so she's gonna do it again with Vos… after she put down her desire for revenge. right. ans surprise! Our "assassination" plan is to find Dooku and duel him directly. right…

I've read a review that says the romance takes away from the plot. However, the romance IS the plot. The book IS supposed to revolve around the two of them. I do agree them becoming begrudging allies then partners is a more unique approach, more rewarding as foils as well. but I guess a romance is easier for the convention to process ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

With the "Ventress lose agency in falling for Vos". Now, I can't dictate how each of us buy into their physical attraction and chemistry (or lack thereof), and there's no denial that a conscious human being is making that choice for the fictional character, I think the stance on this topic is really tinted by the above two factors, which are very different starting points.

I kept Katie. Lucas's foreword vividly in mind while reading. She said this is a story about people seizing chances to rebuild. That there's always a choice. Cliché as it is, I believe ~the power of love~. I believe there exists someone you're willing to sacrifice everything for, to overlook everything for, to forgive - to love them, warts and all. So, yes whether you think Ventress loses her agency to the romance, or if that's a conscious choice on her behalf, is swayed heavily by how much you buy that they are the one.

[10th April, 10:30]

So Mr. Partner has finished the book too. He didn't offer particular insights, but we discussed briefly the overall pace and bits of characterization. He did made me rolled with laughter describing Vos through a childish, tropey lens. Regarding the topic of this documentation - the quin tress relationship, I've been more or less really enjoying it as a guilty pleasure. I don't read romance novels at all, and this is tooth-rotting sweet angst. 

Yesterday I’ve been thinking a bit more about this. I do love this ship, I just don’t believe they’d be two people who find each other again and again in every life time, in every universe. That’s why, as magnificent as fireworks, it also won’t last.

It's very nostalgic to indulge in a heterosexual relationship, and pair it up with taylor swift songs. If I have a boyfriend as devoted as Vos, I'd fall one hundred percent. And if I'm faced with an bombshell like Ventress, I would not be able to have any agency I swear. Either way, in my headcanon, Ventress is happily away on adventures with Lassa :3

To explore this, it’s not entire impossible for quin tress to separate peacefully after this incident, but would that cheapen the build before? The entire motivation of dark!Quinlan hinges on his vision of their future. And say, Ventress did saved him and survived. How would he balance being a Jedi and his feelings - that’s publicly exposed to the Council? (sidenote: i really don’t like Ch. 27 where a bunch of old men are questioning their love life, but uhhh yes, I’m a sensible person!) For now, I’m seeing another Obitine situation. And honestly how bad that an outcome is. It’s not like Ventress died for her war crimes! The show gave her a full pardon! So Idk man. Why can’t she leaves him because she loves him and she exiled herself and they never see each other again WHY NOT FILONI WHY NOT.

Now I’m lamenting more what could’ve been with the two arcs. In Filoni’s original sketch, Aayla and Maul were involved. Man, that could’ve been the dream. I skipped to translating the last two chapters and all the way I was just fuming at how stupid it was. There are difficult technical terms but I really enjoy voicing the characters. But it just takes away bit of that formality and Shakespearean tragic factor having them talk in my native tongue???? haha

Prelude: [12th March 22:37]

since dark disciple heteronormatively gave Rhayme and Ventress boyfriends, I'm gonna go ahead and sign the charter that says "all sw characters are bi"

which got me thinking, I insist that Quinlan and Ventress must fuck (and I insist they did, with the implication from when Quinlan "had seen her by starlight, just her"), but why didn't I think that way with Rhayme and her? Maybe it's because the story never pushed me there. I'd wish it indeed have more to do with I'm aspec than internalized homophobia (that I look down on everyone), but I also think, fucking is literally the hottest thing a heterosexual relationship can do? Every selling point, either be appearance or intellect, leads up to the ultimate goal of reproduction?

But oh my god, space lesbians, beating up pirates, sharing a wine, teasing hairs and finger tips. That's so goddamn romantic

[edit: i know that is an extremely skewered and unfair view, but i’ve met maybe, one, boy on my intellectual level. it’s a game of probability ok]

~~~

Part 2: [26th April, 15:15]

It has been… a month, since I finished Dark Disciple and I feel like it’s time to conclude all the thinking this book has made me do.

On the wider reflection about attachment and the Order, I still have to do more reading on it to form a concrete opinion. This theme won’t be touched on in this post yet, but I cannot shake how intriguing it is to compare “falling” in love to falling to the dark side. The temptation, and the submission to their emotions, the irrationality, the newfound curiosity, it all incites. Very curiously, it was Anakin. Skywalker who commented that one is “blinded by love”

Okay, so what I’ve been scratching my head off the past two weeks is how I look at the romance between Asajj. Ventress and Quinlan. Vos. How would I define it?

Now this is as much as an exploration of how I view romantic relationships. Well, I’ve decided it wasn’t “love”, it was an “affair”. It was an affair because it’s a rush of passion, it’s a secret, it won’t last. Before I chop my own head off for bluntness, I mean it in, of course they are hopelessly in love with each other, that’s the exact premise of why it moved me so. But it wasn’t a complete relationship, wasn’t a healthy, sustainable one by any objective standards. Then, that’s the exact contradiction. Oh to throw caution in the wind with you, or to build a future with you?

Both are things I want a lot, and the ideal is of course one after the other. What quin tress had (in the end) is definitely not something I’d want for myself, but it’s so fantastical, it’s alluring, just like the concept of falling in love - opening up yourself and trusting another person, is - it’s risky. That’s why it’s a sweet, sweet drug.

I’ve been so angry at all the red flags in this relationship. Reading this book, getting into both of their shoes, yelling NO like their best friends. But ultimately, what they had is unique to them and I can’t influence it in any way. Re-reading, I find myself holding myself back at all the places I was furious about going ‘You are smarter than this!’. Because it’s a tragedy, and the beautiful thing is they chose each other (I guess).

The other day something on the dash inspired me to really think about ship dynamics. I, unashamedly admit, I’m VERY into Obi/Quin/Ventress in any and all combinations. *cough* I will not explain further.

Aside, the elephant was I’ve never been in a relationship or felt physically attracted to any person in my life. I suppose that’s a reason it took some time for me to really buy into them more than friends. I do accept the premise and I did discover they share quite a bunch of traits, but it confused me a while what made them cross the boundary, and it was, physical attraction (that the book was selling so hard I was blushing hot). But what really frustrates me, not that I couldn’t invest into two paper people’s love story, but was why my body is governed by hormones so bad. I could say things I wouldn’t dare depending on the day of the month. I have to be honest, I love them both a lot, and I would like to date them both, and I can see myself in either of them. Again comes another contradiction, is it a good thing to have characters so easily projectable, or do I want to see myself in more complex characters like them?

I probably lost quite a few cars stalling this train of thought. This book brought me a lot of emotional upheavals and a lot of food for thought. It brought me down to reflect on my romantic worldview and sexuality because I have nothing better to do. It totally challenged me as a writer and it’s just a really good novel by its right, regardless of the absurdity that is The Clone Wars. It’s a lot of firsts for me. And I really should find something better to do.

[saranel]

The Last Jedi review, sorta

I don’t think I’ve talked enough (if at all) about what a huge Star Wars nerd I am on this blog, mostly because I didn’t love TFA as much as most people seemed to and I just never joined in the renewed fandom frenzy.

TL;DR on my views on TFA: It was fun enough, some interesting new characters, beautiful visuals, but I’d seen that movie before.  It came out in ‘77 and it was much better then.  Homage is one thing, rip off is completely another.  Mostly, I guess I was just disappointed that they didn’t dare to try and move the universe forward a bit, beyond the already trodden path.

Say what you will about the prequels, but I will always, always maintain there’s nothing wrong with them a better script and director couldn’t fix.  George tries, bless him, but he can’t write dialogue worth a damn.  Not even Meryl Streep could’ve made the line “So love has blinded you” any better than Natalie Portman did, and both she and Hayden have proven themselves to be much better actors than they were in Star Wars.  I’m not bothering with Ewan because he was one of the few really great things about the Prequels. 

That having been said, what George can do is weave a decent background story, and the Prequel Trilogy’s story is much, much richer than the OT’s.  Taking off our nostalgia-colored glasses for a moment, let us be honest: the OT was so successful because it did a very simple thing, and did it well, and had a cast with wonderful chemistry. The story itself is nothing to rave about: just your simple Evil Empire vs Plucky Rebels story.  But the Prequels actually got political and much darker than the OT did, they just did it clumsily.  Still, it was something new in the Star Wars universe and George always tried to expand the known worlds by giving us even small glimpses of other cultures and planets.  Don’t forget that Star Wars was never meant to be high-brow Science Fiction a la Philip Dick, but a space adventure.  This doesn’t mean that the story can’t have nuance, but the point of Star Wars was always to be a fairytale exploration of a fictional galaxy.

Compared to that, the new trilogy seemed extremely lacking to me.  And seeing The Last Jedi a few days ago really cemented that.  Never before have I seen so many things happening in one movie while nothing really happens at all.  It makes Attack of the Clones look interesting in comparison, and that’s saying a lot.  ALSO LUKE, WTF HAS THE MOUSE DONE TO MY SPACE SON, THE FUCKING GALL.

So yes, surprise-surprise, TLJ manages to rip off Empire (with a dash of Battlestar Galactica thrown in for good measure) and does so poorly.  It was not a terrible film by any means, but I honestly thought it was no better than Phantom Menace. And Phantom Menace had the Duel of Fates.  So. 

(okay, to be fair, TLJ didn’t have Jar Jar so that’s one point in its favor)

In a nutshell:

(cut for spoilers)

THE GOOD

- Poe.  Poe was good. Moar Poe, there was a serious lack of Poe in TFA and it has been rectified, this was a very good decision. 

- The silent scene.  Y’all know the one.  People in my theater literally gasped in unison.  I was bored outta my skull up until then and as soon as I realized what Holdo was about to do, I sat up, all ‘oshit’ and it was amazing.  Beautifully shot, beautifully clever, and the most badass hero death in the SW universe.  Only comes in second in terms of best scene in the movie because the other one involved a more established and beloved character.

- MY SON LUKE KICKING HIS NEPHEW’S ASS LIKE IT AIN’T NO BIG THANG.  In full disagreement over how shit went down between them in the past, but Luke showing Kylo who’s the most goddamn powerful Jedi in the galaxy (which Luke did canonically become in later years btw) was such a rewarding scene.  Also, he was dressed in black.  Like in ROTJ. Because fuck yeah.

- Rey’s parentage.  Most people probably hated that she’s not a Skywalker but I just... kinda loved the suggestion that she was the Force’s answer to Kylo?  It’s happened before with Anakin, so this isn’t exactly new, and Anakin, too, came from ‘nothing.’ I liked it.  She doesn’t have to have illustrious parentage to be important in the series, and as much as I love my Space Drama Queen clan, it’s time the universe moves on from the Kardashians of the galaxy.

- Luke’s death.  I don’t agree with 99% of what went down with Luke in this trilogy, I think it was deeply out of character, but his ending?  That was spot on.  Did I want more out of his storyline? Obviously, but examined in a vacuum, his ending was beautiful to me.  Especially that last scene.  Best scene in the movie from start to end.

- Yoda manipulating the goddamn heavens to rain thunder upon the ancient tree.  Ilu Yoda

- Leia and Holdo discussing Poe.  This was an A+++ short scene. Get it, ladies.

- Snoke is gone, thank the heavens.  Worst-named villain in movie history, I couldn’t stop laughing every time someone said SUPREME LEADER snoke.

- CRYSTAL FOXES OMG

- Luke getting his kicks in that boring-ass island via EXTREME ROD FISHING, lmao the nerd

THE MEH

- So, um... Kylo and Rey?  ....ew? (did they not think Finn and Rey were super cute or)

- So, um... Finn and Rose?  ....ookaaaay? (did they not see Poe biting down on his lip when he saw Finn in his jacket or)

- I don’t really care for ships in this trilogy tbh, whatever.  Guess I’m steering clear from attachment until I know who’s related to whom (THIS IS A DANGEROUS UNIVERSE TO SHIP IN OKAY).  Plus, not really feeling particularly strong toward any couple, just... not Kylo and Rey, ew.

- Rose.  I liked her, but... they hardly gave her anything to do.  That casino storyline was such a mess, made it seem like she was there just to be there.

- Finn’s storyline. Snoozefest.  I like him, but... see above.

- lol wtf happened to Chewie...? He was just... there?

THE BAD

- SPACE-WALKING LEIA.  I’M SORRY, OKAY, I know this scene will be big with many people, and lord knows I wanted to see Space Mom use the Force beyond that Spidey Sense shit, but this was just so dumb. 

- All the ‘humor.’ My god, just... no.  Not every scene needs to be steeped in Whedon-speak, please stahp.  I will admit the first scene got a chuckle out of me, but the rest...

- The ‘plot.’  This was literally an extended car chase scene in space with some Sense8 type shit thrown in. Rey hardly even did any training, ffs.  

- so the force-sensitive member of the trio goes on to be trained by a wise, isolated mentor and finds herself drawn to a place steeped in the dark side and ends up seeing only herself reflected in there, meanwhile the rest of the characters are involved in a chase across the galaxy, running away from the evil empire, and at some point decide to ask for help form a well-known swindler who betrays them and in the end everything seems bleak with just a tiny glimmer of hope. HMMMMMM. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. 

- quite frankly, I’m still in shock Rey finished the film with two fully biological arms

- O hei, look, it’s The Salty planet Hoth.  With pod-racing.

- Really? Rey blushing at shirtless Kylo? Really

- WHERE IS FORCE GHOST ANAKIN TO GO “BINCH I REDEEMED MYSELF IN THE END STOP THIS SHIT, ALSO I DID THIS FIRST AND I DID IT BETTER” TO HIS WANNABE GRANDSON

- The whole damn Casino storyline.  I don’t care if it’s meant to set up something for the last movie (probably not) but it was long, boring, and a clumsily written attempt at a storyline that could’ve been more nuanced and a good addition.

- why did we have to see Luke milk that alien Y

- NOT ONE DECENT LIGHTSABER FIGHT THE FUQ.  

- Leia (and Han in TFA) giving up on her son instead of beating some sense into his ass with a space slipper. Y’ALL KNOW SHE WOULD.  Baaaaad characterization. Space Mom would never.

- Also, fuck whoever decided that Leia, who canonically has the exact same force potential as Luke because they’re twins, never developed her powers beyond Force Sense or whatever.  If you’re not gonna give the woman a lightsaber, at least have her Force Push fools out of her way. 

- Wtf Rey you obliterated that nice alien’s cart and didn’t even apologize they work hard every day you should be ashamed

- why was it meant to be funny when porgs were slapped around wtf

- “what’s that canon?”  “Basically a small death star” kjashKLAFJSHSAJKDFSADFHSAK 

- Kylo. Can he just die, plz, the expanded universe did the Evil Solo son storyline so much better.  Yet another way in which this trilogy is totes an ~*homage*~  No shade on the actor though, he did a great job.  It’s just the violent manchild character I cannot stand.

- So like... we’re never gonna learn what Snoke’s deal was...? Or how he got to Kylo...? ....Okay then.

- This movie was 2 and a half hours long.

[flukeoffate]

Governor Pryce Appreciation

(Contains spoilers for the Thrawn Novel)

There has been a few anti-Pryce posts on my dash this week and My thoughts on her spiraled out of control. I just wanted to throw my two cents in without making a mess of those posts. This is in no way meant to attack other people’s opinions, just studying what I like and dislike and considering reasons for the various reactions she gets.

(Extremely long character examination essay that I may have spent the better part of three or four hours on under the cut.)

I like Pryce. And I admit, the more I thought about her story and personality while writing this, I have maybe even grown to love her.

Is she a likeable person? Well, by the time of Rebels: no. Definitely not. But how many villains are likeable within the time of their introductory story? Few, I think. What I believe makes a villain likeable is their backstory, and also how charismatic they are during their screentime.

I want to examine some famous Star Wars villains. IMO there are very few Star Wars villains that are interesting until you dig deeper into their characters.

Unpopular opinion time: Vader and Tarkin are stupidly boring characters in A New Hope. They show up, kill some people, then lose a battle. We don’t know about Vader being Anakin Skywalker. He just looks cool. And Tarkin-well, I frankly think his interest came more from Peter Cushing’s acting more than the character itself. It is no secret that I’m a huge Hux fan, but the thing that drew me to him initially was his screaming speech. Other than being the ‘Tarkin’ of TFA, (and I use this description begrudgingly for the comparison) Hux doesn’t do much more than Tarkin ever did. All three of these guys are boring cardboard villains until you delve into their histories. Vader=Anakin? Holy shit, tell me more! Tarkin is classy AF and came from Space Australia? Sign me the fuck up! Hux has an abusive father and the weight of the First Order’s future on his shoulders? Damn, that is something to examine!

Pryce has the same problem as the above three: when they are introduced, they are already fully formed villains. You don’t see their developement. It’s done. Their story is pretty much over. No development is expected within their initial debut, their sob stories are not the focus of the plot. Like the aforementioned three, Pryce is 2D boring until you read her backstory. Why is she singled out as terrible compared to the others?

Well, without playing the gender card, I want to say it’s because she doesn’t display the charisma of the others. She is cold, doesn’t look flashy, and lacks charisma in Rebels. She just has one thing going for her: a generally evil and contemptuous thirst for authority and control. It’s standard and boring. I will grant that.

Where I differ from a lot of readers: I think she is a fantastic villain after reading the Thrawn book.

The most popular villains are either someone who has characteristics that you either identify with, or you aspire to have. And the more I think about Pryce, the more I realize that her story is actually very relatable, at least to me.

Pryce starts out as a member of a prominent family with a profitable mining company. She has aspirations of getting away from her backwater planet. Fuck, a lot of people have that urge. It’s not an evil trait in itself. When it the mine is forcibly taken from her family (more specifically her parents are threatened) she vows revenge, and it catipults her into motion. She gets out of there and to Coruscant. Ok, pretty basic. A lot of people hold grudges, it’s not super villain stuff yet. It’s a pretty simple vendetta focused on destroying one obviously corrupt and dislikable government official. (Which, seeing as the entirety of Star Wars is based on fighting evil and corruption, I find it ironic that her initial motive has come under scrutiny.)

All things considered, Pryce is pretty crafty in her plans. Sure, she can be devious. She has the makings of a good spy if she were properly trained. But for the most part, her plan revolves around using the established system against her enemies. THAT is a direct parallel to Thrawn himself. He makes his plans work through ingenuity and finding loopholes. But where Thrawn lacks the ability to manipulate the politics of the system, she can. But more importantly, she grows: she isn’t perfect at navigating the political system to start. It takes a fall from grace to lead her there.

And here we come to the crux of her relatability: her biggest downfall was betrayal from those she trusted the most. People she worked with, people who claimed she was their friend, people who claimed the friendship was genuine even after their schemes had been revealed.

I have had ‘friends’ betray me. Let me tell you it is a mind-blowing and traumatic experience. My therapist actively made me recognize my ex-friend drama as a real traumatic event that should not be trivialized. 

And Pryce faces trauma. She was betrayed in the worst of ways, systematically and over a period of years. Pryce was physically, emotionally, and professionally assaulted. When she was drugged during ascension week and threatened? Holy shit, that is the kind of scenario associated with kidnapping and rape. And it was used as blackmail. You don’t shrug something like that off. I felt genuine disgust and fear for her in that scene. Then later, her ‘friends’ involve her in a plot that mixes her up with SAME PERSON who attacked her? Holy shit, wonderful way to reinforce that trauma. And then her friends bring her deeper into their plot by actually endangering her in order to manufacture more trust. And that same plot was made to FRAME Pryce in the event of a take down. She could have been imprisoned or worse, all because of her ‘friends’.

But you know what? Pryce overcame all of this. She fought any fear and pushed it down. She took control of the situation with grace and dignity. She knew what she wanted and how to get it. She manipulated her attackers, destroyed them with cleverly obtained evidence, and took them down with the law at her side. And she never forgives them.

I think that is something people don’t like. That she doesn’t forgive.

Frankly, she doesn’t owe her ‘friends’ a goddamn thing. They are as brutal and manipulative as Pryce becomes. They don’t get a free pass on this for being on the “right” side of things. They are horrible people. Good on Pryce for letting them rot. They fucking deserve it.

I often find myself wishing I could do the same to the people who hurt me. I’m glad she got the opportunity and took it. I would not have the same courage. Fuck all that nonsense about forgiveness being the brave thing to do. In my experience, forgiveness is a lip service phrase followed by a societal pressure to ‘be nice’. Fuck that. I want to be angry. I want them to suffer. But I don’t follow through—because revenge is seen as a negative trait, especially for a woman. There is a reason women resort to sneaky tactics for revenge: it is unbecoming to outwardly express our rage.

Pryce is never shown to have more than a few friends. All of them betrayed her trust.

I relate to that. Viscerally.

You know who has not betrayed her?

Her parents.

We don’t have the full scope of their relationship, but from the getgo we see that Pryce is ready to pounce on anyone threatening her parents. That is a constant through the book. And her parents obviously love her at least as much as any parent should be expected. They are concerned for her wellbeing, and are generally in touch with her. And by the end of the book, she isn’t the same person who vowed to ruin a corrupt official. She has taken up her mantle of anger and distrust. She discovers that she is ready, willing, and able to kill for her family and damn the casualties. She doesn’t care about other people. Other people never cared about her. Her life has proven to her one truth: trust no one. Beyond her parents, she has no love for anyone. The times she tried were a disaster.

There is a tragedy in that. I have experienced betrayal. But I have also had true friendship. We have no indication she ever had the good with the bad. I’m pretty sure that if I can pity Hux for having a shitty childhood, I can pity her for the events that left her so jaded.

So, yes. I like Pryce. I think she has damn good reasons for being the way she is. Do I condone her actions at Batonn? Hell no. Do I hate how she affects Thrawn? Yes. But Batonn is her Anakin to Darth Vader moment, the point where she truly goes to ‘the dark side’. I’m glad to have been given the opportunity to see it unfold. She can continue to be the frigid flat villain in Rebels, because now we know where she comes from. Rewatching Rebels shows her in a new light just as much as it changes how we see Thrawn. And we might see her comments now and think: you evil bitch! But damn, if that doesn’t make me like her more. Before the book, she was a generic Imperial baddie. Now I actually have an emotional response to back it up, and that is WAYYYYY more interesting.

I think the one big thing that prevents her from getting more love is that she doesn’t have the traits that fans typically like to explore in fanfic. She is closed off, and has no real big candidate for shipping purposes. And she doesn’t have any meaningful commonality with the heroes in Rebels beyond being the Governor of Lothal and therefore the enemy. She doesn’t have a specific vendetta driving her actions, she is just doing her job. By the time Rebels takes place, Pryce is not making impressive plans of destruction and she is done with any self reflection that might garner sympathy. But I don’t think she needs it. The book is enough.

With characters like Kallus, you could see than he had a sort of joy for the hunt in the first seasons. Then you learned more about his personality and he grew. Pryce doesn’t get the same treatment. Some people love Phasma for being an absolutely cold monster with no emotion. But Pryce isn’t cold or monsterous enough to have the same level of ‘wtf?’ that makes Phasma interesting (again, adding to the list of boring characters that are only great with their backstory considered...) Most of us can’t relate to the sheer heartlessness of Phasma and are compelled by it. Both Pryce and Phasma are self centered and power hungry individuals. But where Phasma has no conscience or hint or moral code, Pryce does have the capacity for such things, and that make readers see her selfishness as a negative trait to be hated instead of studied.

Maybe people find Pryce’s motivations too easy—a lot of us have friends who aren’t friends, and love our parents. Maybe her relatability is so common that we forget that these still qualify as three dimensional traits. Maybe we are afraid to admit that we have anything in common with her.

Pryce is a good character. I liked her parts in Thrawn. I was scared for her when she was drugged. I felt her loneliness when she couldn’t confide in her friends. I laughed my ass off at the unemployment office scene. I felt her shock and sorrow when she realized no one could be trusted. I envy her tenacity and bold resolve. I don’t have half her courage.

I like Pryce.

[gffa]

cyclesofsaturn reblogged this from darthluminescent and added:

*adds books to list* Great! Thanks!

Yeah, I grew up with the “old” EU, so there’s a lot of the Disney!SW that’s taking some adjustment. Like, I read Bloodlines and was….. less than impressed. I get that they’re trying not to give a lot away, but… I’ve read fanfic better than this. And it reads like not-polished-fanfic.

(I also laughed my head off about the List of Star Wars Books in the front, going from 3 pages of tiny font to a half-dozen in 16-20pt font)

Kenobi is good, though I need to sit down and properly devour it. I’m only a couple chapters in, and you are very right. Pure pain in a good way.

I read Jedi Apprentice/Jedi Quest WAY back as a young Padawan, long before all the Jedi Quest books were written, and I liked them then. Should probably reread them as an adult. I’ve heard some people saying they’re written with a really awful power imbalance and Qui-Gon being an ass and expecting WAY too much of Obi-Wan (which I did not notice, but I was also younger than Obi, so…). Was there anything in particular that infuriated you about Watson’s stuff?

Did you ever read Yoda: Dark Rendezvous? It’s set shortly before Ep:III, and the interaction between Dooku and Yoda is just amazing. (also, fyi? Sith!Yoda would be terrifying)

evaceratops said: 

The second I saw “novel recs” I was like, “PICK ME!!!” I have read… so much Star Wars. SO MUCH. (Almost all canon stuff, but still.) A New Dawn (by John Jackson Miller, the same guy who wrote Kenobi) is REALLY GOOD; it’s a prequel to Rebels and it’s about how Hera and Kanan met, and it’s GOOD. Tarkin is also good, and… I’m forgetting something, I know I’m- OH! Heir to the Jedi! Which is Luke-centric, and has a lot of really great stuff about the Force.

(Continued from this post.)  Starting a new post because the other one would have been a bit of a dash killer! I second @evaceratops‘ recs, who has read a lot of novels and is knowledgeable about these things!  I’ve not read any of them yet, but I’ve heard good about A New Dawn especially.  ♥ re: Bloodline -- I feel much the same way, as well.  I liked it as a Leia story, I felt like it was truly her story, but the worldbuilding did not hold together well at all (the logic of “we can’t have a centralized government because we might get another Palpatine!” just makes no sense if you’re still going to have planetary level leaders or country level leaders or, hell, any kind of leaders at all, I say looking at you, General Organa, leading people in the Resistance) and none of the new characters really stuck with me and also apparently indentured servitude is fine and dandy in the New Republic??  Okay then.  But also that it was set only a handful of years before TFA, but they couldn’t give away any backstory, so Han and Luke and Ben are all just completely absent from a story where they should have been present, and so it felt very light plot-wise, when it should have been more solid, about the origins of the First Order. (I had the same remark--”I’ve read more satisfying Leia fic than this.”  And that’s because fic is allowed to do things, this novel wasn’t really.) re: Jedi Apprentice/Jedi Quest -- I read the first few when they started coming out, when I was a wee thing and I enjoyed them a lot!  But as an adult... none of the Jedi worldbuilding makes any goddamned sense (aging out by 13 makes NO SENSE and I’m glad TCW explicitly contradicts that) and everyone is written as a jerk and Anakin is written as inherently evil and Dooku was written as inherently evil as well.  Watson writes some interesting stuff about Obi-Wan (”The Last One Standing” really hit me in the feelings place, exactly as it was supposed to) but just about everyone else is god-awful and I’m glad they’ve been tossed out, especially as I don’t think they were compatible with actual canon after TCW.  That said, they definitely had their appeal when they first came out, I ate them up and never really thought much about it, they’re good for a person if you’re an Obi-Wan fan, I think.  And I do love the characters, I would love to see Bant and Siri and Tahl especially rescued from those books! (So, basically, I’m cranky because everyone is such an ass in those books, as you’ve read criticism about, combined with worldbuilding that I greatly dislike and think was really pretty shoddily done.  But I don’t want to take away from anyone who enjoys them!  It’s been a long time since I read them all the way through properly, so I may be missing some good stuff in them!) re: other books -- I haven’t read Dark Rendezvous yet, but it’s on my list!  I haven’t read a lot of the PT-era novels, but I’m slowly making my way through the current canon books first, then picking up the PT novels.  (Which is relatively slow going, because I also read fic at the same time!) As mentioned, the Ahsoka novel is probably my favorite of the new canon so far, it does a solid job of bridging the gap between ROTS and Ahsoka joining the Rebellion, it can’t really do anything majorly surprising, but it’s a lovely look at her character and the sense of loss she feels and her struggling to find her purpose again, as well as I’m easy to please because there’s f/f subtext (possibly actual text??) that’s pretty great.  The mentions of Obi-Wan and Anakin are spot on as well. I’ve read Catalyst, which was hilarious for the Tarkin vs Krennic catfights, but also interesting to give depth and connection to the Rogue One part of the galaxy, where it drew on a lot of previously established SW stuff, instead of just making up all new stuff.  I also thought it did a really good job of giving a bit more weight to Galen and Lyra’s characters, as well as Krennic was hilarious in every scene.  The building of the Death Star stuff was also genuinely interesting!  I liked the plot a lot and it was a great book for bridging things together. I’ve also read the Rogue One novelization by Alexander Freed and I highly recommend it.  It’s what novelizations should be--it takes the canon and gives it so much more depth, I really found that Jyn Erso as a character made a ton more sense to me after reading it, where she’s so jaded and damaged and not emotionally stable.  All the characters get some really good bonus stuff, but Jyn especially benefits from it. I’m almost finished with the Thrawn novel that just came out about a week ago and I think I would definitely recommend it if you’re at all interested in the character.  Zahn writes really well, it’s super engaging, and it feels connected to the rest of the Star Wars universe in that way I like and I find Thrawn charismatic under his pen.  I don’t know that it would appeal if you hate the character or are bored by him, but if you have a vague interest, it’s a really good re-canonizing of the character, I find that I really want more of this author writing this character. (As always, anyone should feel free to jump in with novel recs/thoughts!  ♥)

[eleutheriana-archive]

🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊

SQUAD UP ( i’m also gonna combine i got another anon with just one so i’m adding that one to here )

@jedibetrayer - my main boo, loml, chloe is a MENACE and she must be STOPPED but also if you’re looking for some great anakin content look no further bc she is one of my fave blogs and most certainly one of my fave anakin blogs so there you go ( but also she’s a fuckin menace i’m warning u right now )

@kybersung - space daughter !!! keelyn’s ahsoka is !!! so excellent !! and keelyn herself is such a goddamn joy to have on my dash and in my life like she’s so sweet and excited all the time, her passion for ahsoka is like a shining light in my life and i lov

@kybercore - i’m pretty sure sen is like sent down from the heavens specifically to ruin my life at any given point in time but she is !! such a good obi-wan !! i die !! her characterization is never NOT on point and her verses are all fantastic, i love stalking her writing even when it doesn’t involve me so go follow

@crdered - my....pure son....zach’s got an excellent multi with wonderful canon and oc star wars characters so please go support my son’s content !!! zach has such a way with words and such an excellent grasp of literally every character ever, and also ??? is such a nice and sweet mun ??? 10/10 would follow to the ends of the earth

@demandpeace - beautiful satine, 10/10 would recommend. haley is so lovely and her understanding of her muse is unbelievably on point. i trust her significantly more with satine than i trust ANY of the clone wars writers and even though she’s got a penchant for writing lengthy angsty death scenes to make up for the nonsense we were given in canon, she’s still a joy to have on my dash

@masterofcraft​ - lilie is !!! fantastic !!! i die !!!! good obi-wan content, good writing, and lilie puts out her replies like a fuckin machine like when she gets on a roll she doesn’t stop and it’s just boom boom boom with her replies, which is always excellent to have on the dash bc it inspires me to do more with my own muse

FOR EVERY 🎊 I GET, I’LL RECOMMEND A BLOG.

[macguires]

I'm so late but I sure hope you're still doing that ask meme because if you are I'm giving you Hannibal and Star Wars. Because I know you too well and I know you'd be waiting ;D - tattlecrimc

YESSSSSSS EDEN BLESS U (i’m assuming you mean this one bc that’s the only one i’ve reblogged recently)

i will ramble horribly on the hannibal one and i’m very sorry about it so i’ll leave that for last so i can put it under a read more

i should probably warn u that the only movie fresh in my memory is the force awakens so all of this is gonna be answered through a v tfa-heavy lens but ok

star wars

three favourite male characters: poe dameron, kylo ren & general hux (DON’T KILL ME i know kylo & hux are awful, the fandom paired w/ my pre-existing love for domhnall gleeson did this to me and i am v ashamed). finn, han solo, bodhi rook, cassian andor, chirrut imwe & luke skywalker are also v dear to me. listen i just have a lot of love to givethree favourite female characters: jessika pava (i’d better see So Much of her in ep8), phasma & padme amidala. & also rey! ‘Needs More Girls’ is my opinion on most franchises but especially star warsfavourite pairing(s): finn/poe, kylo/hux, rey/jessika & han/luke! i also like obi-wan/anakin in the sense that i don’t actively go looking for stuff abt it but when i do see it on my dash my heart does a lil “!!”notp(s): r*ylo is like one of the only ships on my blacklist so that probably tells u something. i’m also p Ew about rey with any of the villains, so that also rules out rey/hux & rey/kylo/hux which i see way too often all over the place. also you wouldn’t think snoke/kylo would be a thing but i’ve seen fics & i’ve seen art and i’ve like cried every single time, experiencing that was my tragic backstory and now i’m a jaded & cynical anti-hero who’s seen Too Much™least favourite character: snoke who’s like me: i’ll hesitantly say padme amidala? i saw the prequels when i was too young to be properly interested in them and i haven’t rewatched them yet so 99% of my knowledge is secondhand, but from what i’ve seen she’s the most relatable most attractive: jessika pava tbh, yet another reason behind me hoping she’s around a lot in the next movie, i am Absolutely in love alreadyfavourite moment/scene: THAT’S MY JACKET(also lowkey the whole starkiller/hosnian system scene, that was shot so impressively w/ the whole ~greatcoat blowing dramatically in wind~ and the brief reaction shot of the people on hosnian prime and the lights shooting across the sky and damn)favourite quote(s): LOTS

“so this is how liberty dies. with thunderous applause.” - padme

“if you live long enough, you see the same eyes in different people.” - maz

“mm. lost a planet, master obi-wan has. how embarrassing.” - yoda

“are you kidding me? i’m blind!” - chirrut 

“there’s a problem on the horizon. …there is no horizon.” - k2-so

“so you’re with the resistance?”“obviously. yes, i am. i am with the resistance, yeah. i’m with the resistance.”“i’ve never met a resistance fighter before.”“well, this is what we look like. some of us. others look different.” - rey & finn

“lieutenant, get back to your station!”“just look! we won’t survive. even hux is gone!” - rodinon

“through the ages, i’ve seen evil take many forms: the sith. the empire. today, it is the first order.” - maz

“where is my boyfriend? […] i like that wookiee.” - maz

ok right. now for my favourite thing in the world. the show i don’t shut up about. the universe to which my heart belongs

hannibal

three favourite male characters: will graham, hannibal lecter & anthony dimmondthree favourite female characters: chiyoh, molly graham & reba mcclane (also beverly katz. and freddie lounds. and abigail hobbs. and literally every other girl)favourite pairing(s): hannibal/will, margot/alana, reba/molly, abigail/marissa & jimmy/brian are the ones i pay most attention to, but i’m honestly also down for literally any other f/f ship u can imagine from this shownotp(s): there isn’t anything i would specifically call a notp, but i’m not a huge fan of will/alana or hannibal/alana i guess? just bc as much as i love will & hannibal, alana deserves 1000x better and i lovelovelove her with margot. i also dislike mason with literally anyone for what i would hope are obvious reasons. i also tend to be kinda cringey about abigail with will or hannibal in a romantic/sexual sense bc it’s made very clear that their relationship with her is parent/child and that she’s a teenager so it feels v creepy to meleast favourite character: i like them enough as characters but i’ll say francis dolarhyde & mason verger. bc everything mason does ever makes me feel vaguely ill and my first impression of francis dolarhyde was him stretching and grunting @ his mirror in briefs w/ Glistening Muscles and i was done with That and ready to move on in under 0.00002 seconds but it just….. kept happeningwho’s most like me: peter bernardone, abigail hobbs & s1!will graham most attractive: chiyoh! i was literally Gone from the second we saw her through will’s goddamn binoculars favourite moment/scene: literally every second of dark!will i am so here for that. every moment from when he attacked freddie in the barn and then. u know. ate randall tier with hannibal, the whole ~i’ve given up good & evil for behaviourism~ conversation and the knife exchange in the kitchen. also him bringing randall’s body to hannibal in the middle of the night like some dog looking for approval wtf. and obviously him & hannibal double-teaming & killing francis in the season finale and running the fuck away together and then coming back to eat bedelia like I JUST REALLY LOVE DARK!WILLfavourite quote(s): i have SO MANY. some of them i just think are gorgeous and thought-provoking, some i like for shippy reasons or bc they were super chilling or Ominous on a rewatch/paired with later context, and some i just find straight-up hilarious

hannibal: “i’ve always found the idea of death comforting. the thought that my life could end at any moment frees me to fully appreciate the beauty and art and horror of everything this world has to offer.”

hannibal: “the essence of the worst in the human spirit is not found in the crazy sons-of-bitches. ugliness is found in the faces of the crowd.”  

jack: “you remember when you decided to call hannibal?”will: “i wasn’t decided when i called him. i just called him. i deliberated while the phone rang… i decided when i heard his voice.”jack: “you told him we knew.” will: “i told him to leave, because i wanted him to run.”jack: “why?”will: “because… because he was my friend. and because i wanted to run away with him.” 

hannibal: “you cannot control with respect to whom you fall in love.” 

will: “i’ve never known myself as well as i know myself… when i’m with him.” 

hannibal: “when the fox hears the rabbit scream, he comes a-running. but not to help. when you hear jack scream, why will you come running?”

chiyoh: “you have a taste for it now.”will: “for what?”chiyoh: “harm.”will: “do you?”chiyoh: “i was violent when it was the right thing to do. but i think you like it. […] if you don’t kill him, you’re afraid you’re going to become him.”will: “yes.”

freddie: “i’ve interviewed enough serial killers to know one when i see one. […] a very specific brand of hostility. i see it every time i look at will graham.” 

gray: “there is no god.”hannibal: “well, not with that attitude.” 

hannibal: “hello! i love your work.” (YOU NEED CONTEXT FOR THIS ONE BUT I LOVE IT)

guest: “it smells divine!”hannibal: “it is! i say that without ego. i don’t require conventional reinforcement.” 

hannibal: “that may have been impulsive.”

hannibal: “a paradox.”alana: “freddie lounds thinks the two of you are a paradox. she sees something no one else sees.”will: “and what’s that?”alana: “that neither of you is the killer she’s writing about… but together you might be.” 

will: “i’d pack my bags if i were you, bedelia. meat’s back on the menu. […] ready or not, here he comes.” 

freddie: “what will understands is that if you can’t beat hannibal lecter… join him.” 

hannibal: “what’s the meat? veal? pork?”will: “she was a slim and delicate pig.”hannibal: “i’ll make you lomo soltado. we’ll make it together. …you slice the ginger.” […]hannibal: “this meat is not pork.”will: “it’s long pig.” (RIDICULOUS. now they’re both making puns while eating people)

will: “is hannibal in love with me?”bedelia: “could he daily feel a stab of hunger for you and find nourishment at the very sight of you? yes. but do you ache for him?”  

[eleutheriana-archive]

THIS IS A CALL OUT POST 

@aftcrshocks is beautiful and talented and continually amazes me with her sense of humor and her talent in regards to writing and editing and theme making !!! what kinda photoshop goals nonsense !!! she also listens to me rant about star wars without a single complaint what a woman !!! i’m so blessed to be her best friend !!!!

@jedibetrayer is currently ranting about her muse as we speak and it’s got me so hype and pumped and crying about my otp and her anakin like !!! she understands her muse so much and she loves her muse so much and her writing is so beautiful and she churns it out like a fucking machine holy god idk how she does it but i want to be on her level always

@murderfiend is so lovely i just !!! her writing is such a joy to read, it’s always so fun –– her narration has that kinda ‘wink and an aside’ to the reader quality to it that makes it never boring to read and always such a joy like i read all of her threads, even when i’m not involved, and i’m so blessed, so moved, so grateful that she’s in my life

@rcbelborn is probably one of the most talented writers i’ve seen in a really long time, and the fact that val manages to continually blow me away with her writing in a language that is not her native one just fucking....blows my fuckin mind.....i can’t believe.....her headcanons and characterization are so on the money and so in depth i just !!! die !!!!

@masterofcraft is such a joy and genuinely so awesome and lovely and just so !!! i look forward to reading lilie’s threads all the time and the dynamics she can whip up and work on just make me so weak like i love how she takes small things from canon and blows them up into big things that shape her characterization of her muse and i’m always so inspired by her stuff

@rebelsacrifice literally fucking blows me away every time she puts out ic content which is like literally every five minutes which i just ??? how ???? lyssa is like a fucking machine with her replies and it is just such literal goals for me i can’t believe ?? she gets jyn so much and i love that she has never once tried to shy away from any of the heartbreaking / shitty / angsty / awful parts of jyn like way to make a realistic characterization circa a fucking war GOD I DIE

@kybercore is so unbelievably fucking talented at everything she sets out to do i. cannot. believe. i am in awe. at all times. i feel like every time i see sen posting on my dash i’m like BEAUTIFUL. INCREDIBLE. SHOW STOPPING. AMAZING. FANTASTIC. 10/10. and i just !!! she’s so talented, such an excellent writer, and so sweet out of character anD ON TOP OF THAT SHE’S BEAUTIFUL LIKE !! UNACCEPTABLE !! U CAN’T HAVE IT ALL !! HOW DARE U !!

@tachiisms is such a fantastic writer and so unbelievably knowledgable about her muse(s) and so goddamned supportive of everyone on the dash that it is just. goals. i can’t even tell you how many times she’s made me feel welcome and loved and like i’m doing a good job and just !!!! you can’t be both supportive and also talented it’s too much i cry too much 

@demandpeace is so talented, so lovely, such goals, i die every time !!! my inner padme is always so in awe of her satine and i just cannot believe how lucky we are to be blessed with her fire insults and her fantastic writing and her excellent characterization and the fact that she wants to kiss padme like yes. thank you. this is the wholesome content i signed up for.

@coughbot is great but honestly grievous can fuckin choke 

also @ the entire dash i love each and every single one of you and i am continually amazed by your characterizations and your writing and if you’re reading this right now i hope your day is fantastic. i hope you find twenty dollars on the ground. i hope your skin is clear and your anxiety does not bother you. i love you. all of you.