#i also thought about having ahsoka be the other tribute

[tennessoui]

the hunger games au! anakins confidence! obi-wan being the mentor! the fact that they’re together BEFORE anakin even gets picked!

poor robin tho lol :( but you know the games go on for like 12 hours longer while Anakin waits for someone else to kill her. In theory it’s because of his ruse with the capital, but it’s definitely just for obi-wan. So really, obi-wan did help her live longer than she would have otherwise, from a certain point of view.

also obi-wan definitely finds it romantic that anakin let someone else kill her & rewards him for it after the games ;)

(also for a sec i thought maybe the other girl would be padme & maybe anakin used to like her and is briefly sad & padme is a master manipulator and makes obi-feel like shit for choosing to let her die (making anakin hate her lol) and also making obi-wan feel super insecure about the ruse and also maybe really petty and bitchy? and she’s also really popular in the capital and canon padme isn’t a terrible fighter either)(maybe padme pretends to be (or is) pregnant and she pretends their anakins and obi-wan is SO insecure and/or seeing red)

lmao sorry for the massive ask the hunger games awaken something terrible in me

oo i think maybe a braver writer would probably have made anakin's other tribute padmé, and i guess there's still time for that, but i didn't want to for a couple of reasons, hence using a made up oc instead

i think the tug of guilt obi-wan would feel over having a preferred victor (anakin) and giving them both trainings but then really carefully only campaigning for sponsors to take a look at anakin, not the other tribute.....because anakin needs funds for a blanket, anakin needs food, obi-wan is watching anakin suffer and any second he may have to watch him die.... he feels guilty about the other tribute but he cannot watch anakin die....like that's enough guilt for obi-wan, i don't think specifically padmé could make him feel worse

also i think another reason i didn't choose padmé was because i didn't want anyone to think anakin used to like her lol this anakin is not normal this anakin is a creep this anakin was like. fourteen, saw obi-wan being all pathetic and sad and decided if obi-wan wasn't going to take advantage of him anakin was going to take advantage of obi-wan, worm his way into his confidences and affections and then never ever leave like this is not a boy who had a crush on any sort of padmé amidala he would not be sad he is not capable of being sad about the other tribute this is not a normal dude and tbh its easier to just. not have her in the story than to push back against that all the time

or i think i'd have her as part of the capitol who works with obi-wan to overturn palpatine once the rebellion is going on, but i think she would find anakin off-putting because he's 100% creep but not a creep who is in love with her and it just actually makes her uncomfortable to be in a room with him. asks obi-wan to blink twice if he needs rescuing. obi-wan blinks a lot of times because he's confused as to how anyone could ever need saving from anakin

anakin wouldn't hurt a fly

[lightwise]

Ahsoka Show Episode 2 - Spoilers/Thoughts

Okay, now for episode 2 thoughts. (I've posted my reaction to *that* moment at the end of episode 1, and it's resulting consequences in this episode, in another post).

SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT! DO NOT SCROLL IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THE EPISODE YET! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Okay, I ranted about my dislike for Sabine's injury here. Moving on.

Literal chaos child. Sabine is the natural successor of the disaster lineage force sensitivity or not lolol. "I uh, I unlocked the map. And then lost it. And then lost all my backups. But everything's fine I swear!" Anakin would be proud.

I gotta say it, Baylon's ship makes me think of the Marauder just a bit.

I am loving these nightsister temples. So cool. Very Celtic/stone circle/mapping the planets and stars vibes.

Ahsoka trying to trace the fight between Shin and Sabine almost felt like she had some Psychometry skills ala Quinlan Voss going on??

AHSOKA PET THE DANG LOTHCAT. YOU MUST PAY TRIBUTE BEFORE ENTERING THE ABODE.

Love that she's so calm feeling that droid coming down behind her before taking it out.

Huyang vs Hera as Sabine almost blows them all to pieces...gotta love it. I need to see Tech and Huyang hanging out together. They would either be besties or drive each other insane.

I really love the practical effects of all the droid and machine builds in this show. It feels even more detailed and realistic than props in Mando.

Hera just still doesn't quite feel like Hera to me :/ And it's not MEW's fault at all. It feels like costuming and dialogue choices. Love her talk with Sabine though. I'm fascinated to know what viewers who have never seen Rebels are thinking of these scenes, bc they have no idea the backstory behind these two and the mother/daughter, older sister/younger sister nature of their relationship.

The CGI here is absolutely gorgeous when Morgan opens the star map. I also love how it is much more extensive and detailed than what Sabine was able to get. And the hint of green nightsister magic!

It will be really interesting to see if she's referring to the Chiss homeworld, the Yuuzhan Vong, or something else by "other galaxy".

I really want to see more of Baylon and Shin's history. She is attached to his every word and obeys his commands very seriously. How did he come to take her on as his padawan? When did he find her? What made him abandon the Jedi order (did he have doubts before the Clone Wars? Or just found a way to survive after?) So many questionssss.

Ahsoka and Hera, on the detective trail. Love it. When this series was announced, long before it was apparent that it would be Rebels season 5, I had hoped it would be Ahsoka hopping around the galaxy solving mysteries. This is fun to see.

Guys. I am trying SO HARD to not fall down the "imperial remnants and new republic politics as the galaxy tries to rebuild" rabbit hole that my brain eagerly wants to fall down whenever they start bringing up these dynamics. I was almost losing my mind during the Dr. Pershing episode in Mando season 3, and this is whetting my appetite again. Idk if I will someday need to write fanfiction about this or copious amounts of tumblr posts, but you have been warned. Star Wars and politics and the navigation of the collapse of empire and the redistribution of status and wealth and goods and the devious ways that can all quickly start to fall apart...okay I'll stop myself. When we get to the Mon Mothma episode...heaven help me.

Again, the subtle facial expressions in this show are so good. Not all of the dialogue is escaping cheesiness, but the facial expressions are conveying a wealth of emotions that is backing and grounding each line of dialogue.

This scene. THIS SCENE. Okay, I promised I would talk about Sabine's Jedi training and supposed Force sensitivity that we all have been wondering about since the trailers. I was not thrilled about the idea of Sabine being retconned to be force-sensitive. There's no hint of it in Rebels, and it would feel like a shocking contrast to her lineage as a Mandalorian if it wasn't handled properly. That said, I went into it with a relatively open mind, and have not been overly bothered (more just confused and wanting the backstory) on her and Ahsoka all of a sudden having this master/apprentice relationship that has taken place off screen and that obviously did not go well. Sabine has trained with lightsabers before (the Darksaber and Ezra's lightsaber), and it did make sense to me that she could want to know how to use it more effectively and want to be closer to the practices of what made Ezra who he is in his absence. Why Ahsoka would have agreed to train her...that I am unclear on. I wonder if her failure in that also contributed to her telling Din that she couldn't train Grogu. Anyway, all of this has been a "what the heck are you up to Dave," but I haven't hated it.

All that said, I didn't really want Sabine to be Force sensitive bc I also hate when Star Wars, or Star Wars fans, try to make everyone have latent force abilities in ways that feel like a cop out, like it's the only explanation for a character being cool, or having value, or tying into the plot (I am not trying to call out anyone in particular here, just the concept). Star Wars is not only about Jedi, and while it is almost always about the Force, that doesn't always happen in the highly specialized, exclusive ways we see from force users like the Jedi and the Sith. So, I was hoping, let's see Sabine trying to tap into the fact that the Force is inside everyone, but not everyone can access it to the same capability. Let's see her trying to gain certain skills and practice a way of existing in the world that goes beyond some fancy lightsaber moves and meditation rituals. Let's see a Mandalorian who already has a distinct and powerful way of fighting and philosophy in the world, attempt to mold it with another, almost opposite, approach. And I think that's what we are getting! (maybe this should have been it's own post, oops).

Huyang's no nonsense talk to Sabine is exactly what she needs to hear. For all his sass and directness, he doesn't lack compassion in how he chooses his words with her. And yet he also isn't afraid to eviscerate her (lack of) Force abilities with the most Jedi worthy burn I've ever heard "your skills would fall short of them all." He's been around for 2500 years. I don't think Sabine is force sensitive ya'll. At least not in a conventional way. And yet, Huyang, who has been the keeper of lightsabers and Jedi youngling training for generations, is not at all discouraging her from applying herself to try. His tone is exceedingly gentle with the words "the only time you are wasting, is your own." Is it possible to marry a droid? Pretty sure he's husband material lol.

Also his hands look like medieval gauntlets. So cool. They outdid themselves on the practical effects here.

Star Wars has Solid State Drives?? (Sorry the SSD reference was kind of funny).

Alright, Ahsoka against a droid and a former Inquisitor. Easy peasy.

Hera and Chopper (who looks FANTASTIC btw, there is no distinction between Choppper animation and Chopper live action LOL), in the Phantom and their dialogue back and forth was perfection.

That lil force push and lil backflip midair and lil shoulder turn to miss the lightsaber from behind 👀 please more force usage from Ahsoka! In her own show!

Very interested to learn more about Marrok too. Their stunt actor is really good.

Girlie is pulling out the Mando armor. We're getting serious now.

"It's not loyalty. It's greed."

I liked Sabine's part in this recreation of the end of Rebels, but I didn't really love the retcon on Ahsoka's. Where is her staff? Why is her cloak a different color? Where is Morai? It just fell kind of flat for me. Like the live action hasn't earned the emotional gravitas and hope that this scene held in Rebels. Again Dave, really fascinated to see where you're going with all this.

Finally, Ahsoka's ship is cool. I would travel around the galaxy with her for sure. And, the unique way that holograms show up on Morgan's ship is very, very cool. Can't wait to see what next week holds!

[firefly-fez]

even though ahsoka is my favourite star wars character of all time, i have a feeling i’m just not going to like the ahsoka show. i have watched this character develop since i was a child, i grew up with her, i relate to her a lot. i was very much the target demigraphic for ahsoka’s character when she first came on-screen.

Aside from one scene with Rex to confirm he does, in fact, know that she survived Malachor, I don’t expect it to explore a story I really want to see her in. I know where I would take the direction of Ahsoka’s story if I were writing it — explore her young adult years hiding from the empire, and the mental health themes that come with it, deal with her survivor’s guilt that comes from being one of the only ones left who can protect and train force-sensitive children, even though she had forsaken the jedi order herself. As an (almost) fully trained Jedi, she’s pretty much carrying the only legacy the Jedi have (aside from other survivors like Quinlan Voss), but it’s a legacy she feels unworthy to carry because she gave it up. Explore her journey being able to forgive the Order only after they’re all dead and gone. Explore her how her approach to Jedi matters changes and why she comes to the mindset of being able to aid Ezra and Kanan. Then learning about Anakin and re-evaluating her time in the Jedi Order all over again. That was her master, the Jedi who trained her, who at one point in time, she held in high regard above all other Jedi, who she once thought was the only Jedi who didn’t let her down…only to realise what he became. Show her realtionship with Obi-Wan in the Rebellion era, the absolute divide between them, his grief, his loss, how his depression took from her the man she once knew, how desperate she is to help Obi Wan, give him any comfort, any hope, only to be forced to walk away all over again because you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped. Show them both dealing with Vader; in different ways; show Obi Wan healing, little by little, at the second chance he gets with Luke and Leia and Ahsoka’s mixed feelings of relief, hope, and regret that they could help him in a way she couldn’t. Explain why Obi Wan never told Luke about her. Show her helping Luke rebuild the Jedi school, giving the Jedi their second chance, their opportunity for redemption, and that is her gift of forgiveness for the Jedi; her reconciliation with the Order. She watches the Jedi younglings, many of whom she rescued and delivered herself; some she’s had a hand in training, and she watches Luke support them, loyally. It is a safe place. And she stays a while, watching to ensure the new school finds its feet, and it does. And there are a new generation of Padawans, and none of them are sent to war. And she allows the creation of the new Jedi Order, and it becomes what the Jedi Order never were for her. And she walks away again, because it is too late for her. Because you don’t get that time back. And she goes on, on her own journey through the galaxy, until she has done her part and, burying Rex at a ripe old age and paying tribute to the fallen of the 332nd, she walks away, again. She journeys on to Mortis, and the Daughter is born again

Of course, that’s just what I want to see from her story. I was the little girl Ahsoka’s journey was aimed at, and growing up alongside her, I think her story is about what it is to grow up, all the difficult parts of it, especially growing up too quickly, and realising the adults aren’t actually the all-perfect people you thought they were. I want to see her story of growing up go into navigating young adulthood, and how to be the adult trying to give something to the children of the word that you never knew yourself. (as a young adult diagnosed with ADHD who never received any support for it in childhood trying to stumble around blindly and build those supports now, who also works with disabled children and wants them to have it easier than I did… there’s just something beautiful and painful about giving someone else something you needed, deserved and never had)

Star Wars has been told by so many people in so many ways and it’s still being told, I think it’s the closest modern-day equivalent we have to the oral storytelling traditions of the past, like Arthuriana and the Greek mythology, and every iteration of Shakespeare’s works.

With copyright law being the way it is, stories that are told collectively by many people, across different movies, but still owned by one for-profit company, I think our storytelling ability has become relegated into official “canon” (for profit) stories and “non-canon” (fanworks, and generally not for profit) stories. That distinction has more nuance to it, of course, there are some for profit star wars stories that are not canon, EU stuff, for example, but generally speaking when a story is so expansive and told in so many ways by so mang people, it gets to a point where I think we just shouldn’t expect the lore of that story to be internally consistent. The insistence in the star wars fandom of what’s canon and not-canon, whether the last jedi contradicted the ahsoka novel, etc…. It’s basically just a by-product of copyright law. It seems sad that we distinguish the validity of a particular story by whether or not it was produced for profit, and by how much profit it made.

Anyway, all this is to say that I expect the Ahsoka series to serve as a sequel to Star Wars rebels, which feels like a choice I would not make - she seems the wrong character for a rebels sequel to focus on, and it seems the wrong era for an Ahsoka story to focus on, especially if it deals with themes of her dealin with Anakin’s fall (since their fight on Malachor was many years prior and I would hate for her character growth to be stagnant during that time) and it seems, as a live-action series, the wrong medium for BOTH and Ahsoka series and a rebels sequel. I have no idea what possessed then to do it in live-action and I will continue being annoyed by this choice.

But in all likelihood, the design choices going into the Ahsoka story will be targeting an audience other than the one Ahsoka’s character was initially created for. Because the story is made with different creative ideas in mind. I know where I would take the story, and perhaps I will write that story, just for myself, and maybe one day I might right an EU-type novel or graphic novel or comic or whatever, or maybe it only exists as a fanwork. And that’s okay. Different writers create difgerent stories with different themes in mind. And I will not approach the Ahsoka show expecting it to be the way I would tell her story. Because characters mean differeng things to different people, and all those things are meaningful.

We make our own meaning with stories, and I will keep making mine with the story of Ahsoka, and other people will keep making theirs and they will be different, and contradict each other. And that’s okay.

That’s just humans telling stories. That’s just what we do.

[mercurydancer]

It Happened Quiet Pt. 9

Kind Mistakes 

 I’m super stoked for some of this stuff guys~ Got a few exciting things in this chapter. Featuring the Return of Plo, the introduction of a certain someone, the Liquor of the Sands, and Space Lord of the Rings. Because I’m shameless. Though...references to Space Lord of the Rings LOL. I’m probably not going to spend much time on that.

This is also the chapter where things.

Get.

Interesting~

____________________

        Plo walked away from the small bunk where the little Togruta had been laid, a careful last brush to small montrals given as he had laid her down. She had been tuckered out, the excitement of a new place, a new ship, and a new life letting her buzz for longer than she probably should have, but she had nodded off in Plo’s lap, so he had brought her to bed in the small ship. It was finally time to go home.

        Plo was no longer raw and he had found a new youngling to take back to the Temple.

        Plo guided the ship into the necessary hyperspace lane that would take them to Coruscant, shifting to hyperspace with the usual blue blur of stars. He would rest as well, he thought, setting the ship in autopilot, when a sudden hail was made.

        Plo stood up, walking over to the holoprojector, and took a moment to realize that the call over the holonet line was from the Jedi Temple. Plo hesitated, before finally accepting it, and realizing as the holograms sprung into being, that he was not the only one in a starship. Master Mace Windu was also visible with the grainy quality caused from two relays, his expression firm.

        Plo took them all in for a moment, looking for a sign that something had gone wrong, but outside of Mace’s hard gaze, there looked as though nothing had gone wrong. It was a relief.

        “Master Plo,” Mace stated, “it is good to see you.”

        “It’s good to see you all as well,” Plo said.

        “Successful, I hope your mission was,” Yoda said, his voice warm, and Plo found himself smiling, his eyes wrinkling just so.

        “Yes,” he said, and he knew by the way Yoda closed his eyes with a small nod, that he knew he was talking about more than the youngling he had found. Even so, “I found a Togruta youngling on Shili. Her name is Ahsoka Tano.”

        “Good this is,” Yaddle smiled, and Plo smiled as well.

        “We look forward to meeting her,” Ki-Adi stated with a slight bow of his head, and Plo gave another smile.

        “She is a very brave, very kind girl,” he said. “She will bring us great joy.”

        “Look forward to it, we do,” Yaddle nodded, and there was a brief agreement from the rest of the Council, before their attention slowly shifted towards Mace.

        “Successful your mission was?” Yoda asked, turning to the severe Jedi.

        Plo felt himself stiffen slightly.

        He had heard about what they planned to discover, about Mace’s mission to Dathomir to find out what he could about a missing Nightbrother. It had been on the back of his mind ever since the first transmission that they had sent, knowing that they would find out more – one way or the other – about the Blood Slave they had in their midst.

        Mace laced his fingers in front of him, his expression grave, and finally, “Maul was stolen from his mother.” There was a brief swell of grief in Plo’s heart, but before any of them could say a word, Mace continued, leaning further forward, “his mother is Mother Talzin herself.”

        “Talzin,” Saesee breathed.

        “The Mother herself?” Eeth asked.

        “Yes,” Mace answered heavily.

        “Then how are we going to proceed?” Plo found himself asking. “If he is her son, would she not want…?” Plo found himself trailing off as Mace shook his head.

        “Mother Talzin assured me that Maul…was not a gift to the man who took him,” Mace explained slowly, artfully dodging the original question, but his expression, the tone of his voice… “The one who stole Maul sought to learn from the Nightsisters, or so he originally claimed, offering to pay tribute to them in order to get their knowledge. Instead, Maul was stolen from them, a score of Nightsisters slaughtered in his escape with the infant Nightbrother. They didn’t have time to clean him, and even his name is one his Master gave him.” Mace closed his eyes, letting them take everything in, before quietly, a repetition, “Maul had no name when he was taken.”

       Plo felt the knife in his chest twist, slowly sitting down on the seat near the holoprojector, breathing through the grief.

        “Mother Talzin also wishes for me to inform the Council that while Maul was not a gift to the man who stole him,” Mace closed his eyes, leaning further back in his chair, “while Maul was not a gift to the man… Mother Talzin is fully willing to use him as a gift to our Order. She would prefer that we…keep him after we rehabilitate him. That he would be a token of peace between Dathomir and the Jedi Temple.”

        “She has no right!” Eeth’s words were loud and sudden and utterly furious in a way that had not been heard in the Council Room in a very long time. Eeth stood up then, taking a few steps away. “Apologies, Masters,” he said finally, quietly.

        “It is alright,” Depa said softly. “It is not as though it is a reaction that is misplaced.”

        “Though you should be careful of your Zabrak tendencies,” there was a gentle tease in Even’s voice, no sting to be had in the words. Eeth laughed quietly, taking a breath, and finally returned to his seat, sinking into it.

        “Well,” Oppo sighed, shaking his great bearded head, “at least we are not beholden to return him from slavery as a Blood Slave to slavery among the Sisters.”

        Plo found himself concurring, his eyes closing, a moment of painful relief sweeping through him before he breathed it out.

        “Maul is a son,” Mace concurred quietly, his expression heavy, “which is precisely the reason why the Mother does not wish to accept him.”

        There was a pause after that pronouncement before they shook their heads quietly.

        “It is a shame that we do not have the power to challenge the Nightsisters over their treatment of the Brothers,” Even’s voice was quiet but full of a soft sort of sneer.

        “Even,” Adi challenged softly and Even gave a brief nod.

        “You are right of course,” he sighed. “I will not invite war. Not after having received such a wonderful gift.”

        Adi’s expression darkened slightly, and she looked down. “It is a disgustingly vile move to use her son like that.”

        “It would be nothing Maul has not already experienced,” Eeth said quietly. “I have a thought that he was perhaps more…expendable than we originally thought.”

        “Your mission, Eeth,” Yoda said then, turning to him, “successful it was?”

        “Yes,” Eeth nodded. “I have managed to file his horns down, and I did it without injury on either part.”

        “That is good,” Depa said, her voice softly relieved.

        Eeth was quiet for a moment.

        “More to say have you?” Yaddle asked.

        “Maul has been…neglected to a sickening degree,” he finally said softly. “Initially he did try and headbutt me, which was a move I was expecting and I…caught his horns in mine. The sensation was so completely unfamiliar he literally fell against me.”

        There was a quiet pause as this statement slowly registered among the Council Members, Plo finding himself slumping further in his seat.

        Eeth was quiet for another moment before, “Dathomirian Zabraks are even more social than Iridionian. Their horns are used primarily for social purposes and for him to react in that way means that he has never once interlocked his horns with another, nor even had them touched outside of filing, perhaps. Maul was…completely unaware of their effect. He did not know until I told him why it had happened.”

        There was a pause as they took this in before Saesee gave a low rumbling sound and finally, quietly, “I second Qui-Gon’s motion for the Mind Healers to see to him,” he said. “I have a feeling that there is a great deal more that we can do to help him than we have done.”

        “Though perhaps we should wait until he recognizes that he needs help,” Plo said softly. “From what I understand we have attempted to send them in twice and he has not said a word to them.”

        “Forgive me Masters,” Eeth said suddenly, standing up. “I had forgotten in the wake of my other news; Maul has finally begun speaking again. I will state I do not know if that means he is likely to speak to the Mind Healers, but…well he has been speaking.”

        “What did he say?” Mace Windu asked.

        Eeth’s expression shifted, before he smiled, and then looked to Plo. “He asked two questions. He asked where you went,” he took a breath, “and he realized that you had likely left as a consequence of his own actions.”

        Plo was silent for a moment, taking that in, realizing that that meant Maul had… “We will return to the Temple in roughly two days’ time. Will you pass on the message for me?”

        “I shall,” Eeth smiled.

        “His other question what was?” Yoda asked.

        Eeth’s smile shifted, widening, and finally, “He asked where the smaller brat had gone.”

        There was a brief laugh that spread, a few calls of surprise and wonder, but that was all broken when Eeth finally burst out laughing, covering his mouth, “I’m sorry, Masters,” he said again, “I had realized that the smaller brat was Anakin Skywalker, but I had been wondering who the obviously larger brat that Maul was referring to was. I have come to the realization that he meant Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

        The laugh spread then, and Plo’s heart was warm.

        There was hope yet, he found, and he carried some with him in the back of the ship, and some within a prison.

        It was interesting how hope seemed to appear when least expected.

        But Plo was always thankful.

___________________________________

        Anakin had not meant to stay away from the prison for as long as he had.

        Once he had decided to be a Jedi it had been a nonstop parade of tests, haircuts, fittings, and lessons, and while initially he had struggled with the guilt, he had managed with Obi-Wan’s help to fully put away all of that lingering grief. It had been expediated by a talk with his mother who reminded him that the one rule when dealing with Blood Slaves was there was no guilt.

        It was a lesson she hadn’t thought to tell him, a lesson he would have learned as he was exposed to more, as he was brought into the talks more fully, as he got older. He had to learn fast, and so his mother had talked him through some of the finer details, had reminded him that in the end they must begin to show the Blood Slave that his actions were his own. They had to show him consequence and accountability, that his own actions had weight outside of what his Master told him, and while staying away as long as Anakin had was not something he wanted to do, it was likely something that needed to be done.

        Teacher Eeth Koth approaching and telling him that Maul had been asking about him was the thing that finally made Anakin look to Obi-Wan with wide eyes, and the older boy gave an immediate nod, suspending their Aurebesh lesson for the day.

        It was what led to Anakin finally bringing along a bowl of soup that he had been waiting for the recipe for.

        Anakin held before him the Liquor of the Sands.

        Obi-Wan had taken him down to the kitchens, bringing him to meet a few of the Jedi, Padawans, and Initiates that worked there, as well as giving him the ability to talk to the Head Cook for the Carnivorous Jedi, a male Togruta named Dormosh Silon. Silon had looked at Anakin with warm fondness in purple eyes when Anakin had asked him if he could use the kitchen. When the reason it was needed was given Silon had looked to Obi-Wan, and then back to Anakin with that warmth fading slightly to be replaced by something a good deal more…

        Determined?

        Either way, Silon had smiled and spread his arms, “What is mine is ours,” he said, “Would you permit me to help you?”

        Anakin had hesitated at the idea of giving this unknown the recipe, but at the realization that he wouldn’t be able to make it on his own he had nodded, sworn the man to secrecy, and started working with him and a couple of older Padawans that didn’t need to stand on stools to see the counter, and didn’t mind that they weren’t given the full recipe. Originally Silon had been very against the creation, suggesting that it would create a very bitter flavor, but as Anakin explained softly, that was the entire point. He also promised that it had a secret, and Silon would be allowed to taste it before Anakin brought it to Maul. After a long pause, the Togruta had agreed.

       Silon had cut the required meats into squares, seasoning them with the concoction Anakin had prepared and searing them lightly as Anakin worked on mixing the broth. Shmi had told Anakin how to properly prepare it without the necessary herbs that Qui-Gon would be bringing soon.

        Anakin was looking forward to Qui-Gon returning.

        The kitchens had been enjoyable overall, all of the Padawans and Initiates helping each other, and Anakin when he needed an ingredient he couldn’t find. It was the most integrated he had ever felt, as he was able to help them as well and they were able to practice lifting things with the Force and handing them to each other. It had been warm in the kitchens as well, a heat that Anakin had missed since Tatooine.

        Anakin rather thought he liked being in the Kitchens.

       Finally, Anakin had finished the soup base, giving it to Silon to pour into the pot and heat it, mixing the meats within it. When it was finally finished, the Togruta poured a bit of heated blood into the broth, stirring it until it was crimson.

        “Taste it,” Anakin smiled.

       Silon gave him a slight frown, before finally doing so. Anakin watched as Silon’s face scrunched in the same expression he had seen other Blood Slaves make, before smoothing over in shock, and then thoughtful curiosity, looking back at the soup. “I see why you call it a Liquor,” he finally said, before looking to Anakin. “There is a significance to the flavor?”

        “It always starts out bitter,” Anakin answered primly, looking into those purple eyes. “It never starts enjoyable, but the aftertaste is worth the wait.”

       Silon paused, thinking, looking to the soup before him, before finally giving Anakin a nod and a smile, ladling him a bowl to give to Maul. “We will save the rest and give it to him periodically. How often should it be presented?”

        “Once a week,” Anakin explained.

        “Very well. You have permission to come to the kitchens and make it with me, I will contact your Teachers when we are low.”

        And so, Anakin had thanked him and now carried the crimson soup into the Sith prison, Obi-Wan walking beside him.

        Maul was lying on his back in a way that Anakin had never seen and for a moment he was almost worried. He had never seen Maul as anything other than active, either in stretching or actively practicing his katas, so to see him lying in such a position made something knot in his belly. It was only when he saw the flimsi that Maul was holding above himself that he came to the realization that Maul was reading. It was the oddest position Anakin had ever seen to read, but he wasn’t really judging.

       Maul finally looked up from his flimsi, taking in both Anakin and Obi-Wan and giving a brief sigh, before rolling upright from his prone position. He looked at the bowl Anakin was holding with interest before also looking to Obi-Wan, who was holding the rest of a meal. Frankly, Obi-Wan was holding an entire meal if Maul decided not to eat the soup. The goal wasn’t to starve them, and it often took Blood Slaves a few weeks before they ate the soup entirely, recognizing that it would keep coming.

        Anakin expected that, and had told Silon of the fact, which had led to Obi-Wan carrying a tray.

        Maul took them both in, frowning at the bowl of soup and then the tray, and Anakin had a moment where he wondered how the food would be getting to him. Anakin had not seen the new prison, and it had taken a few Temple Guards to direct him properly, and now that he was standing before it… Anakin found it undeniably sad.

        One of the guards opened a small slot that Anakin saw sent food in along a small channel to the right of the prison itself, and Maul hesitated before walking over to stand before it. Anakin put the food on the floor of that little channel, which closed and blended seamlessly into the wall after it was placed with Obi-Wan’s, and then the slot opened for Maul.

        Maul took the tray and the bowl, balancing them both with a practiced ease and walked over to where he had been reading and placing them both down to either side, sitting down between them.

        Anakin watched as he looked them both over, taking in the soup with its natural blood-red color, and then looked to the tray, before looking up at them. His eyes narrowed at Anakin for a moment, his expression strange, before he finally tilted his head and with usual blunt matter-of-factness, “Your hair looks ridiculous.”

        Anakin laughed aloud, even as Obi-Wan scolded him for being rude.

        “It is different!” Anakin agreed, tugging at the small ponytail that was at the back of his skull and indicating the even smaller padawan braid that Obi-Wan had helped him create. “But I’ll grow into it.”

        “Do you want to?”

        Anakin smiled, “More than I can say,” he answered.

        Maul’s nose wrinkled, “shame.”

        Anakin just smiled wider. He had missed Maul, he realized with a jolt that was almost painful. They hadn’t ever really spoken much, and the conversations had been awkward and stilted, but there was a kinship he felt that he couldn’t shake. Anakin took a breath and blew it out in a sigh. Anakin finally indicated the soup.

        He had a lot of explaining to do.

_________________________________

        Maul did not know the feeling that was currently buzzing in his chest.

        Maul did not know why he cared.

        Maul looked to the smaller brat that he now remembered was named Anakin Skywalker, and found his gaze shifting to the brat that was still nameless. He rather hoped he stayed that way. His attention though was quickly drawn back to the food. The bowl of soup was…strange, the smell an odd tang. He could smell the fresh blood within it, which had been missing in a lot of his meals, but at the same time…

        “The Liquor of the Sands,” Skywalker said, indicating the soup. “It’s from my birth planet. It’s from Tatooine.”

        Maul narrowed his eyes at it, thinking of the rolling dunes and the equally rolling heat. He also found himself looking up to Skywalker with a slight raise of his brows.

        Maul had been around Skywalker long enough to know that there was always some sort of ulterior motive for what he was doing. There was some lesson that they wanted to give him. Maul would wait.

        Skywalker seemed to recognize that Maul wasn’t going to touch it until he revealed his angle, so he took a breath. “It’s traditionally prepared for Blood Slaves.”

        Maul tilted his head, taking this in for a moment. Blood Slaves? If nothing else, it sounded interesting.

        “It’s…meant for Slaves that were given the duty of getting more blood,” Skywalker said, his mouth in a fine line. “Slaves that were told to kill as their only mission. They give blood to their Masters.”

        Maul remained perfectly still.

        It was not a…wrong description of what Maul had done. Maul was an Assassin for his Master… Maul would kill the men and women that his Master pointed to. He would present his Master with blood. It was his job, his…duty. But Maul was not a slave to it. Even so, the similarity had struck. Very well.

        So, the Youngling had a point, though he missed the mark.

        Maul would try the soup.

       Maul picked it up, taking it in for a moment, Anakin watching with wide eyes as he hesitated, took in another breath of that smell, and carefully took the spoon up and took a bite.

        Maul’s first impression was it was bitter.

       The flavor was almost an assault on his senses and while a part of him wanted to spit it back, the rest of him took it as a challenge, swallowing it thickly. It was then that something very…strange happened. What Maul had expected to be a disgusting and unpalatable aftertaste rose as something sweet and light, better than anything he had frankly ever tasted. Maul stared at the bowl with abject confusion, not entirely certain whether or not he wanted to take another bite or not.

        Maul looked over to Skywalker, taking in the way he stared at him, almost… Expectant?

        Maul did not understand, but the more he thought of it the more he thought it had to be some sort of test. The bitter flavor had been an assault, but it was nothing that he couldn’t handle. He didn’t understand why they would give it to these ‘Blood Slaves’ unless it was some sort of test. They had to want them for something, after all. There was no reason they’d spend this much time with someone who dealt with blood if there was nothing to gain.

        Surely, they meant to use them in some way to gain more blood. That was their only use.

        Maul looked at them, looked back to the soup and decided he was going to eat it. He’d pass their little test.

        It didn’t matter anyway.

        They wouldn’t get anything from him.

        Maul worked his way through with the single-minded determination that had gotten him through the worst of his training. The pleasant taste at the end, that feeling of satisfaction that followed when he finally scraped it clean and sat there feeling genuinely full was… Perhaps worth it.

        He looked over to see Skywalker staring at him in absolute shock. Maul looked at the bowl. Maybe he hadn’t been meant to eat it?

        “I’ve never seen anyone finish it the first time they’ve been given it?” Skywalker said, his eyes still so wide.

        Maul would take that as an accomplishment.

        “Do you even think you can eat the rest of that?” the brat asked.

       Maul hesitated, looking to the tray next to him, before taking the fruit from it as well as the water. The meat he left, taking the tray with the empty bowl to the slot, which was opened for him to return the food, setting it in the slot and stepping back, biting through the sweet flesh of the jogan fruit as it closed and the brat collected the tray. “I wish I could eat this,” the brat said. “It feels like a waste…”

        “I will take it,” one of the Guards said with a brief bow.

        “Ah, good! Please enjoy it.”

        “Thank you, Knight Kenobi.”

        Maul felt a slight annoyance rise up. Apparently, the brat’s name was Kenobi.

        Didn’t matter.

       Maul worked his way through the fruit, not caring about the seeds which were perfectly edible, frankly, and sipped at the water while listening idly to Skywalker talking to the brat quietly, not really paying attention. This was a sort of routine he had noticed, Maul would eat, and they would wait patiently until he had finished, when the talking would start.

        Maul’s least favorite part was the talking, but he was willing to follow the rules so long as he was able to get the strength to make another escape attempt. Eventually, Maul would get out. He knew that his Master was on Coruscant and he would find him. He had hoped that his escape initially had been enough to bring his Master’s attention, but it was possible that the shielding here was too good.

        Eventually Maul would try again.

        Eventually Maul would be free.

       Finally, he had finished the fruit, and the only thing left was the water, which Maul was content to sip at. The brat gave a brief clear of his throat to get Maul’s attention, nodding to the flimsi that he had been reading. “What were you reading?”

        Maul looked to the frankly strange story he had been reading, his nose wrinkling slightly, before instead of a more vocal answer, he picked it up and threw it with a perfect spin, letting it smack against the transparisteel and flop down in front of the brat, who gave a surprised noise. When it didn’t fall backwards, the brat let out a laugh, scooting closer to read it through the two layers of protection.

        “‘Home is Behind,’” the brat read, before his expression brightened, “oh! This is a wonderful book! I do love this series; did they give you the other two?”

        Maul frowned, looking to his stack of flimsi before giving a slight shrug. “Not that I have noticed.”

        “That’s a travesty, I’ll find my copies and bring them to you so you can finish,” the brat stated with a nod, before looking to Skywalker. “Have you ever read them?”

        “No,” Skywalker answered.

       “Hmm,” the brat’s expression shifted slightly, thoughtfully, “I have an idea then, we’ll work our way through the first one while Maul can read the other two, after he finishes the first of course. Discussing it would likely be fun.”

        Maul frowned, “why does everyone here wish to discuss fiction?”

        “You do not find it inspiring?” the brat asked.

        “I find it laughable.”

        The brat’s expression shifted, surprise in his gaze before it changed, softening somehow and… “I’m sorry,” he said. “I have never read a more beautiful tale.”

        Maul sneered at him, “and in what way would you call it ‘beautiful’? The characters are unbelievable, the…”

        “In what way are they unbelievable?” the brat challenged, looking surprisingly unsettled.

       “You cannot expect me to believe that…” Maul reached towards the flimsi, only to hiss when it did not return to him, when the collar burned in warning. Maul stood up deliberately, walking forward and taking the flimsi in his hands, ignoring the way Skywalker and the brat’s face both seemed to pinch. Maul flicked through the pages once more, before finally, “you cannot expect me to believe that this… Wiseam would truly be as noble as to sacrifice his own wellbeing, that he would be so devoted to Fordin that he would give so much with absolutely nothing wanted in return? Such a thing does not exist.”

        “But it does,” the brat insisted, and Skywalker was nodding as well, his expression wide-eyed and insistent. “That sort of love and selflessness is shown all over the Galaxy…”

        “By the easily misguided and the naïve.”

        “No! It’s…truly, Maul, it’s not that unknown.”

        “My family has freed so many Blood Slaves without any thought of what they can give back to us,” Skywalker added, nodding.

        “Like you aim to free me,” Maul sneered.

        “Well…” the brat hesitated, “yes, of course. We don’t expect or want anything from you. We merely…we just wish to free you.”

        Maul felt it rising within him, something that had happened so rarely he was still a little unused to the feeling, but when the loud peals of laughter escaped his chest to ring in the cell around him, causing both the brat and Skywalker to flinch back, the Guards to shift their grip on their saberstaffs… “Truly?” Maul asked when he had gained control, “truly you are going to sit here before me, Kenobi and suggest that your Order has nothing to gain from my ‘rehabilitation’ that you plan on just…freeing me and leaving me to my own devices.”

        “Yes,” Kenobi stated immediately giving a sharp nod. “Of course.”

        “And tell me, Kenobi,” Maul stood then, looking down at him, his lips curling into a sneer, “if I were to continue with my practice of the Dark Arts, to use the power of the Sith…would you let me leave this Temple?”

        The brat, who had stood up to meet his look, to glare down at him…faltered. Maul saw it in the way his eyes darted to the side, the way his head lowered slightly, and Maul gave a soft, “ah,” and took another step forward, until his nose was mere centimeters from the transparisteel, looking up slightly into the eyes before him. “There is the crux of your freedom, isn’t it, Master Kenobi?” he hissed the words out softly, watching as Kenobi flinched slightly at the tone, the way his eyes darted once more. “So long as I act within the boundaries that you and your Order provide you will call me rehabilitated, you will even set me free… But we both know that your freedom is a lie, is it not? For you offer me no choice.”

        “But you do not know the Light Side of the Force, you do not know what you are missing,” Kenobi protested, and Maul let out another laugh.

        “Just as you don’t know the Power of the Dark Side, just as you do not know what you have given up in your effort to spurn power. You speak of choice, do you not, but ultimately you will give me none. You will rehabilitate me and bring me within your Order as a Jedi, or I will be released once again gutted of my ability to utilize the Force because otherwise I would be too dangerous.”

        “No, that’s not true, it…”

        “Is it not?” Maul interrupted, “tell me then, Jedi, you would allow me to use the Dark Side? You would give me the power of Choice?”

        “But is it true choice if you do not know what you are choosing from!” Kenobi finally called out, his voice ringing along the halls. “Is it a choice if you do not know any other way? I do not wish to cage you Maul, no one in this Order does… We…we just wish to give you the ability to learn, to…”

        “And tell me,” Maul asked, his words deliberately smooth, his tone completely level, “when I learn of your Light Side, when I give up my Sith Arts for however long it takes me to understand… What should happen if I decide I do not wish to give up the Dark? What would happen if I decide I prefer my Sith Arts to your Jedi niceties?”

        Kenobi stared at him and there was horror in his gaze, horror and something that was cracked and aching. “I…” he started, and then slowly trailed off.

        “And here, then, is where your lies crumble, is it not, Master Kenobi?” Maul sneered. “Here is where it is revealed that the Jedi Order is as full of hypocrisy as it is of lies. You speak of finding this work of fiction beautiful, of the loyalty and sacrifice given without ulterior motive as something that happens here, that will be gifted to me… And yet…” Maul smiled. “And yet all I hear is more lies from a bloated Order, and truths from a Slave boy that has never known anything of worth.”

        Kenobi froze, staring at him with wide and horrified eyes, darting, and then softly,

        “That’s not true,” Skywalker said then, his voice loud and strong, and Maul turned to look at him.

        “Oh, please, tell me how I am mistaken,” Maul said, waving a hand, “by all means.”

        “I do know worth,” Skywalker said, looking up at him with his eyes so… “I know what my mom is worth, I know what I am worth,” he said, “I have had a number for as long as I can remember, and I know that the love that my mother gave me was worth more than all of the credits in the Galaxy. My mother let me go when she herself was still enslaved. My mother gave me my freedom…”

        “And tell me, Skywalker,” Maul said softly, “did you have a choice of what you would become? Did you choose to be a Jedi?”         Skywalker was quiet for a moment, “When they first freed me, they didn’t tell me that I had a choice. They took me with them and brought me to the Council and… And when I first was asked about being a Jedi I didn’t…I didn’t know that I had a choice. They didn’t give me any options.”

        Maul watched with smug satisfaction as Kenobi’s eyes closed, his expression turning pained.

        “But they learned,” Skywalker rallied, frowning, stomping his foot. “They came back, and they told me that I dohave options. They freed my mom, they freed me, and they will free you. I don’t…I don’t know what they’ll do if you decide you want to return to the Dark Side, but…” Skywalker’s nose wrinkled. “I don’t think that it’s a question they ever thought to ask themselves? I know that a lot of the problems have come from not asking questions. Maybe they should talk about it.”

        “And when they tell you I am right?” Maul asked softly, “What then?”

        Skywalker frowned for a moment, before looking up at him with those sad, sad eyes. “I don’t think you’re right, but I can’t prove you wrong. Give me, give us the opportunity.”

        Maul’s lips curled into a sneer before he gave a slight wave of his hand. “Please,” he said.

        They left then, leaving Maul with the stirrings of satisfaction in his chest.

       After a long moment where he carved their reactions into his skull, Maul left the flimsi where it lay and turned to begin working on his katas.

        Maul had no use for something that did not exist.

___________________________

        Obi-Wan was reeling.      

        The thought of Maul reforming and yet somehow still utilizing the Dark Side had not even occurred to him. He had not even thought that that would be possible, but placed in the framework Maul had… Would it not still be…

        Obi-Wan couldn’t catch hold of the wayward thoughts they tumbled through his mind so quickly. He was aware of Anakin’s presence next to him, the single-minded determination burning in him brightly at the desire to prove Maul wrong, but… Obi-Wan genuinely wasn’t sure if he would be able to. Obi-Wan could not see the Council ever allowing the continued use of the Dark Side, but… If they did not, then were they not as bad as the one who had chained Maul to the Dark to begin with? They were merely chaining him to another prison.

        Of course, that was assuming that Maul did decide to learn how to follow their arts, did become a Jedi and pass their Trials, and then still decide that he’d rather be a Sith.

        Obi-Wan didn’t truly see that ever being the case, but that almost didn’t matter in the face of the principle of the thing. The principle being that if they trapped Maul in this… Then Maul was right.

        They removed Maul’s ability to choose, and thus forced the prospect of either foreswearing the Force entirely – which would be a fate worse than death, Obi-Wan knew – or they would force him to become a Jedi he did not wish to be. Either way he was enslaved to their will.

        Either way, Maul was still not free. Either way they would place him in just another prison, though one that was meant to be gilded this time.

        But a cage was ultimately still a cage.

       Obi-Wan led Anakin back into the Temple, shortening his stride after a moment so Anakin could keep up without running. It wasn’t fair for the much smaller boy after all, even if he did look a bit like he wanted to start running for the Council room as well.

        As they entered the main Atrium, though, Obi-Wan found his step slowing, spotting Mace Windu, Yoda and…

        “Chancellor Palpatine?” Obi-Wan whispered.

        Chancellor Palpatine himself stood there, his hands perfectly clasped just so in front of him as he smiled at the two Senior-most of the Jedi Order, receiving a warm look in return. They looked as though they were just finishing up a conversation, and that was when the Chancellor turned and saw the both of them.

        The warm look he sent their way reminded him of the way Qui-Gon looked at him, full of a subtle pride and a great deal of care. Obi-Wan ducked his head reflexively, seeing Anakin doing much the same, and they both approached.

        “Well,” the Chancellor said, looking them both over with that warm smile on his face, “do my eyes deceive me or do we have Knight Kenobi and a young Padawan Skywalker.”

        “Yes, sir,” Obi-Wan responded, with a nod and a returning smile. “I passed my Trials recently. Anakin was taken as my old Master’s Apprentice, but he is on a mission that we felt was too dangerous for a new Padawan. I am therefore taking over temporary duty as his Teacher.”

        “Oh, how marvelous,” Chancellor Palpatine smiled, clapping his hands, “you must both be very proud of yourselves. I am certain that once Master Jinn returns your teaching will be quite enjoyable. How is Master Kenobi doing at teaching?” he sent a teasingly sly look towards Obi-Wan, before looking back to Anakin, “this is his first Apprenticeship is it not, regardless of how informal?”

        “Good,” Anakin chirped, smiling back. “It is his first job as a Teacher, but I think he’s doing very well.”

        Obi-Wan had to fight not to duck his head again. “I have had good Teachers,” Obi-Wan rallied, “that are willing to help when I ask for it, which…” he paused, looking to Masters Yoda and Windu, trying to think about how to close the topic of current conversation and bring his problem to them. “I actually…I would seek your advice now, Masters,” he said with a bow.

        “It is good that you call upon older wisdom when your own fails you,” the Chancellor said with a smile, “it is why I have my aids, of course. They have been there for much longer than I have…” he trailed off, before quietly, “If I might make an odd request?” There was a pause, the Jedi regarding each other before looking back to the Chancellor, who smiled at them before looking down at Anakin, “I do not wish to talk over you as though you are not here, my dear boy,” he said, “but I do believe I need to get approval first.” With that small statement he looked up at Obi-Wan and the two Masters. “I had hoped to get some time with Anakin to properly thank him for the saving of my home planet, and to see how well he was fitting in at your Temple.”

        There was a pause, Obi-Wan looking over to the Masters, who in turn looked to Anakin.

        Yoda’s gaze was firm as he stared at the Chancellor, “Know we shall, if anything were to occur.” His words were soft, but there was duracrete beneath them, and the Chancellor’s expression fell into a warm smile.

        “Of course,” he stated, “I would be quite worried if you did not impose some sort of boundary. Would you permit me to move the conversation to that corner?” he asked, nodding to it. “If, of course,” he said then, looking to Anakin, “you do not mind, my boy. It is only that I realized that I had not had a moment to properly converse with you, and I realize that so much has changed it might be nice to get an ear that is… Ah…distant, perhaps, to everything that is happening. It must seem rather overwhelming.”

        Anakin paused, looking to the others, before looking back at the Chancellor, his expression curious, and… Obi-Wan thought that might be a bit of interest. Well…

        Obi-Wan hesitated, looking to both Master Yoda and Master Windu, who after a moment gave a quiet, “I do not see why not,” Master Windu said, looking to Anakin, “unless you have any objections?”

        “No,” Anakin answered, looking back to the Chancellor. “I’m sure I could take him,” the grin he gave was bright and amused and the Chancellor laughed aloud.

        “I’m rather sure you could as well,” he agreed, “walk with me?”

       Obi-Wan watched the two of them walk towards the corner that had been indicated, all of them watching carefully, listening as the Chancellor opened in the exact way he had suggested: an inquiry of how Anakin was liking his training. As soon as Obi-Wan was sure they were out of earshot he looked back to Masters Windu and Yoda, who turned their attention to him expectantly.

        Obi-Wan took a breath, trying to compartmentalize everything and quietly began speaking, bringing up all of the points that Maul had made, watching as their gazes shuttered, burned, and finally the way they looked at each other.

        “Meditate on this, we will,” Master Yoda said softly. “Agree we do with Maul’s assessment. A difficult choice this is.”

       “But…” Obi-Wan closed his eyes, “is that not the problem? We are always coming back to this, on potentially throwing him back into uncertainty… We cannot keep doing this, Masters.”

        “You are right,” Master Windu agreed, “and we will not. No matter the answer, Maul will be freed.” He closed his eyes, “though I wish to do more research into the Sith before we bring this to the Council.”

        Obi-Wan nearly fell in relief, “are you sure, Master?”

       “Yes,” Master Windu stated with a nod. “But it will take time. We will not bring it to the Council until I have more information, I believe,” he said, looking to Master Yoda, who gave a nod of agreement. “But the Nightsisters and Brothers are both very aligned with the Dark Side of the Force, and none of them have been a threat to the Galaxy outside of their own World. Maul would be acting according to his nature. Have faith Obi-Wan. We still do not know if that will be his choice.”

        Obi-Wan’s eyes closed and he took this in for a moment before smiling.

        He’d be able to prove Maul wrong after all.

___________________________________

        Anakin smiled up at the Chancellor as he asked him about his training, how the Jedi were treating him, what he thought about the Temple, answering everything with a feeling of content. The Chancellor smiled, asked follow-up questions, laughed at his jokes, and generally seemed as though he really cared about his answers.

        There was a small part of Anakin, the part that still could not believe that a Slave Boy from Tatooine was able to do so much, that part was in awe as the Chancellor listened to that Slave Boy.

        “So, tell me, what is your favorite part about being in the Temple?” Chancellor Palpatine asked, “it must be exciting being amongst the Jedi. I could have sworn there was a commotion a couple weeks ago.”

        “There was, sir,” Anakin answered, “but it’s alright, we’re taking care of him.”

        “That’s very good to hear, Anakin,” the Chancellor said with a very wide smile, “I am pleased to hear that you are taking care of it, now, please, what is your favorite part?”

        “Well…” Anakin said, smiling, and answered, speaking of the kitchens, which Anakin had enjoyed more than he had thought, and then finally with a smile, the Chancellor wished him well, telling him that he was grateful that Anakin was settling in so well.

        “I enjoyed our chat,” Chancellor Palpatine said with a smile finally, “we shall have to have another later on, should of course, your Masters deem it acceptable.”

        “They’re not my Masters, sir,” Anakin responded with a smile, “they’re my Teachers.”

        Anakin didn’t notice the slight flicker in the Chancellor’s smile as he turned and headed back to the other three, leading Chancellor Palpatine with him and saying goodbye with the rest of them, bidding him a pleasant morning. Then he looked back to Obi-Wan and the rest, his eyes wide.

        “It’ll be okay, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said with a smile. “Everything will be okay.”

        Anakin could have cried in relief.

[ninastarkov]

Ahsoka and the clones

I’ll talk about what we know in canon/what can reasonably be predicted based off that, as well as what we as a fandom have decided (lol) and my own takes. I’m holding off on talking about Rex and ahsoka until a separate post because I have A Lot To Say. Buckle up, this is gonna be a long one.

Ok first off, I am forever sad that we don’t get much interaction between Ahsoka and the clones, except for ahsoka and Rex. There’s little throwaway moments that have led to us assuming that she’s close with the troopers, but until season 7 (“loyalty means everything to the clones” and their heLMETS AHH) we don’t see much of that trust.

Some small times we get hints of ahsoka’s relationships with various clones are in the Brain Invaders ep where she talks about how the troopers would never try to kill them because they’re friends (nevermind the order 66 parallels i’m not ok). Also, on Ryloth when she loses most of her squad and is crushed.

It’s sort of strange how we’ve actually gotten so little on this, and still we were sure (even pre-s7!) that she was close with the troopers. I think part of this is because, even though the moments we get aren’t much, they’re more than we get from almost any other character (except plo my icon). We realize that these little snippets get it? I think i’m funny are part of a larger story that we just don’t get onscreen. This assumption is also because of her personality as a whole. We see she has great care for the people around her in general, and this isn’t overshadowed by clear flaws that lead to disaster later, ANAKIN.

And now...season 7. Where we get more interaction than all the rest of the seasons combined. Anakin’s line! The helmets! Rex and ahsoka bonding! Vaughn! Sterling! Jesse! All of the horrible sadness after order 66!

“Loyalty means everything to the clones:”

They all. Salute her. In the hallway. And it’s not even just the 501st, it’s the 212th! They know and respect her, even after being gone—further proof that she cared so much for the clones. She was always loyal to them, so they are always loyal to her.

THE HELMETS

NO JEDI EVER GOT THIS HONOR. Enough said. It was a sign of loyalty and trust, a sign that even though she left, they understood and missed her, and of course would trust her again. This must have hit especially hard for ahsoka after her trial, even though she wasn’t guilty.

The pilot (i’m sad we don’t know his name. anyone got ideas?)

When she’s jumping from gunships and cuts that pilot out from one that’s going to crash? A very deliberate moment to show, to tell us that she cares for these people as people that should live, not soldiers.

Vaughn

Sadness. Ahsoka realizes something’s wrong and she calls out for Vaughn to wait, but it’s too late. And of course, the: “I’m sorry, commander.” Ughhhhh even dying Vaughn believes in her, APOLOGIZES TO HER WHILE DYING

Sterling

This is a small one but she recognizes him instantly!! Meaning she took the time to get to know all her troopers on the way to mandalore, because i’m pretty sure he was new.

Jesse

Alright y’all this one is a little more speculation and my own take, but. We know that maul took Jesse because he’s older, but for that to really be helpful to him, Jesse had to know ahsoka as more than just the commander. Yeah, learning basic info on ahsoka is helpful, but he needs personal information if he’s going to convince her to help him defeat sidious. Also, when she faces off with maul in the throne room, maul says that the Jedi cast her aside!!! We know that she left of her own free will, but all of Maul’s information is coming from Jesse’s thoughts/memories—meaning, Jesse’s opinion of her whole trial was that the Jedi cast her aside.

The order

And the horrible awfulness that is when she says she won’t be the one to kill the troopers on the star destroyer. the MEANING! the SADNESS. To understand why this is so important, I want to go back to how throughout this season, ahsoka has been a bit more ruthless than she has been before. She’s no longer a Jedi, and it shows with some of her interactions (“Bo, help him remember!” is one example). But this. She still refuses to kill these men that she cares about, though they won’t hesitate to kill her. I also need to mention that she did let out maul and did inadvertently cause the death of a lot of troopers, but she knew that she wouldn’t be able to save any of them unless there was a distraction.

And death

Graves in the earth. They took the time to bury them. Rex lost his family, his brothers, almost everyone he cared about. Ahsoka, too, lost part of her family that day. I like to think that part of the reason she left her lightsaber there was as a tribute to the clones. The clones, who were used, who never had a choice, because of one man’s hatred for the Jedi. She left a part of herself with them.

I’ve made myself super sad, and that’s all I’ve got. I’m not trying to paint ahsoka as some kind of perfect person, but she was definitely one of the few who saw them as people, not just soldiers.

[rishi-eel]

Hello, Am I the only one who got a cold feeling when I saw Ahaoka's markings on the clone's helmets? Like, I wanted to give it a chance, bc I thought those were the older clones but these were young ones? The ones who didn't even meet her??? And why does that feels so undeserved for Ahsoka???? Every sort of respect from the other clones feel... Undeserved?

You definitely aren’t. This is something that came up in a discord server I’m in, before the first episode of the Siege of Mandalore arc was even released, if I remember correctly.

Something we discussed, and that I very much agree with, was that the clones almost looked like stormtroopers, standing like that with identical helmets. In making a tribute to Ahsoka, they covered up the helmet markings that indicates each clones’ identity and individuality.

While I’m certain there were those among them who served in the 501st before Ahsoka left the Jedi order, that’s more of a gut feeling than what canon indicates. After all, Maul went through a whole group of clones in search of someone who had information on Ahsoka, only finding what he was looking for in Jesse, who Sterling noted as being older than the rest.

So you’re right, these are young clones for the most part who have never met Ahsoka beforehand. If anything, I imagine these clones heard stories about her, ones that likely embellished the truth. They could have also seen how important this was to Rex and committed to the gesture for his sake.

I also feel that, for Rex, this is as much of a welcome as it is an apology for his part in the events that lead to her leaving both the order and the army. Similarly, I wonder if any of those clones felt like they also needed to apologize, by proxy of being 501st clones, even though they weren’t part of the search party that went after her on Coruscant. As if they think they need to go through this huge gesture to regain her trust and respect. 

I agree with you completely, this level of devotion feels very undeserved, especially on behalf of the younger clones, and I think, while definitely touched, Ahsoka knows this too. So much of what the clones give is undeserved, seeing the little they get back.

[spaceasianmillennial]

I had a great time at the REMEMBERING REBELS panel at Celebration

Dave Filoni, Taylor Gray, Tiya Sircar, Vanessa Marshall were interviewed

A few things

Filoni talked about wolves. “I like wolves.” He also said he brought up wolves early in the process of The Clone Wars and that George Lucas made fun of him.

Someone in the crowd shouted, “Where’s Jacen?” There were no talks about Jacen’s whereabouts but there was a long talk about the secrecy of Jacen himself and Vanessa Marshall, Hera’s voice actress, recounting her shocked reaction to Jacen. Sabine’s voice actress, Tiyar Sircar, mentioned that on the final recording day, everyone else was released except her. It was just her, Filoni, and the sound engineer. She thought she was in trouble. Then she was handed Filoni’s handwritten script. She cried. 

Marshall also testified that at the wrap party, Sircar came in “like she saw a ghost.”

Filoni talked about the World Between Worlds. He said he enjoyed listening to fans’ theories about it more than the others. I believe he brought up the possibility that the world was a lot more abstracted, taking place in Ezra’s mindscape, rather than the concrete scape we saw.

There was a tribute video to Ezra’s growth.

A fan was able to apparently ask if Hydan could have used the World Between Worlds and try to prevent Palpatine’s death. Filoni doesn’t think so, since Hydan doesn’t have the Force. But Filoni really enjoyed that fan’s thought process.

The last fan, well a family of fans, allowed to ask a question had a Dave Filoni doll for Dave Filoni. Filoni commented that he felt like it could be used for evil purposes.

He even did this.

  Filoni: You think Ahsoka gonna live in Clone Wars or you change continuity?

 Little Filoni: it’s your story you can do what you want

[caddy-crystal-queen]

Wolf’s Heart

So I got a new story idea I wanted to show you guys. If you like it, I’ll continue it. It’s basically a fantasy AU where Ezra is captured by a werewolf and has to learn more about it in order to save the village he grows up in. It’ll swap character’s POV, but it’ll be in first person. Hope you guys like it. Enjoy! :D 

Chapter 1. Ezra

Everyone who grew up in the village knew about the wolf. The village elders claimed the land was cursed, that a deal with a demon of sorts had been made. Once a month, the wolf would take a tribute, a sacrifice of sorts, and in exchange leave the villagers at peace. For years, it went that way. Some say the uneasy peace lasted centuries even. But after so many years, the wolf added another condition. Once every seven years, on the night of the Blood Moon, a human had to be offered to the wolf from a family of its choosing. It was usually at random and the wolf would only accept young children. The village lived in fear of the night before the blood moon, when a newborn or toddler was to be taken from the poor family. 

Nobody to this day knows what happened to those kids. Most assume they’re eaten. The families with lost loved ones grieved, but like in all things, life went on. Besides the whole haunted by a wolf thing, the village itself was rather safe. The population wasn’t all that big and everyone knew everyone. We have festivals and fairs, and we celebrate special occasions. All in all, it was actually a nice place to live. 

I was adopted when i was eight by Kanan and Hera Jarrus, who ran their own farm in the village. While we were relatively well off, we preferred to do all the work ourselves. Sometimes we got help from relatives who were just coming to visit, like uncle Zeb and Aunt Ahsoka. But visits from there were rare and far between. We liked keeping busy, despite the time consuming work. I loved the animals too. We had horses, a few cows, a small herd of goats, and even a couple pigs. My job was mostly cleaning out pens and feeding the animals. Every so often I’d also collect some eggs for Hera from the small flock of chickens we had. I sometimes even got to help Kanan with repairs on pens and some machinery. Those were the best times to me really. 

But when I wasn’t working, I sometimes took walks around the village or spent time with my friend Sabine. She came from a family of hunters and they themselves had a personal vendetta against the Wolf. From what I heard, one of her mother’s closest friends was killed by the Wolf. It had marked her door the night before a Blood Moon, but she refused to give the baby to it. The village learned what happened when you didn’t obey the wolf. It killed the mother and stole the son by force, and the boy hadn’t been seen since. The woman and her child were Sabine’s godmother and god brother. Ever since, it was clan Wren’s mission to find and kill the beast. 

Our door was marked last month, and everyone knew it. My family and I were shunned for the most part, but Clan Wren didn’t. Ursa Wren, Sabine’s mother, knew how close we were, and offered to help our family if we needed anything. So far though we were making it. I found Sabine training as usual after a hard day’s work with the animals. 

“So...are you guys ready for tonight?” Sabine asked when she saw me and put her new silver blade away.  “We’ll be alright. It’s just Wolf Night. The Blood Moon isn’t for another year” I remembered, “Kanan’s putting a goat to the post for tonight”. 

In the center of the village were a pair of man made structures. The first was huge, sturdy wooden pole where animals were tied to once a month. The other was an altar like structure where kids and babies were left every seven years. In all the years I lived here, I never once saw grass grow in that area, not even in the best seasons. 

“Hopefully that all stops tonight” Sabine gazed at the pole intensely, “No one should have to lose anything to that monster”.  “Are you sure you guys are ready?” I asked, “I mean that thing’s probably ancient and seen all the traps in the books”.  “We have actual silver this time. A cut from a blade or dagger should be more than enough. We may not even have to actually stab it or anything”.  “Sometimes I wonder why it hunts us”.  “Because it’s a cowardly monster”.  “Well yeah I know that but have you ever wondered why it’s here, what it wants? Some actually say it can talk”.  “Ezra, I hate to tell you this, but it doesn’t want to talk. If it did, I’m sure a better understanding could possibly be made but for us it’s a monster, a beast that needs slaying”.  “But what if it actually did? I think it’d be kinda interesting to hear its side of things. I’m not saying I like what it does, I’m just curious I guess”.  “Well you know what they say about curiosity...just don’t tell that to Chopper” Sabine joked and I cracked a smile, “But in all seriousness, this isn’t some dog that can be captured and tamed. It’s a giant wolf that feasts on the flesh of the innocent. It has to be stopped, and if not by us then who?” 

I wanted to say something else but Hera called for me. “Ezra! It’s time to come in! Sun’s almost down”.  “Alright, be there in a minute” I turned and hugged Sabine, “Just be safe okay? Try not to get killed”.  “I’ll be fine” she hugged me back. “I’ve been training for this for years. I promise I’ll bring the village back its head”. 

I believed it but I still worried for Sabine. I watched from my room as Kanan tied a goat to the pole. Tonight I hoped to see the Wolf, alive or dead. The sun went down and a haunted eerie silence fell over the village. The silence was only broken as a single lonely howl sounded from the forest of coniferous trees somewhere in the distance. I sighed and worry made my stomach turn. It wasn’t that I didn’t have faith in Sabine or her training. I just couldn’t bear the thought of my friend dying by the creature’s fangs. When I was sure Kanan and Hera were asleep, I grabbed the hunting knife Kanan gave me for my birthday and carefully climbed out the window. I heard a harsh meow and turned to see Chopper staring at me on the front porch. Chopper was our resident mouse catcher, an orange tabby who wandered freely around the farm, and he seemed to be berating me. 

“What? You expect me let Sabine get killed? If things get to be too bad, I’ll run straight inside okay? I promise”. 

Chopper meowed and blinked, unconvinced. I sighed and facepalmed. 

“Whatever...” I took off with only the big full moon as my only light. 

The goat was still secured to the pole when I hid behind the altar. All I could possibly do now is wait and see what happened...

[witwerlove]

OK, first thing’s first, so hyped for The Last Jedi. I have watched the trailer so many times today. I say we just skip the rest of the year and make it December. BECAUSE I NEED THAT MOVIE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second, there sadly was not as much Sam content today. Like nothing tbh. He did do an interview segment with Andi Gutierez and Vanessa Marshall this morning after The Last Jedi panel. Talking about the trailer and other SW related things and just being his nerd self. But the livestream cut it off so it’s pretty much gone forever (unless they actually upload the interviews and panels to the channel like last year). It sucks that the livestream cuts off pieces when it’s done streaming. And it loses like 2 hours worth. The only reason I got Sam’s snippet yesterday was because I downloaded what was left of the stream and his part was still there. But today’s is gone. And I’m so upset.

I’m sorry. I tried recording it, but my program screwed it up. And it totally sucks. But fingers crossed that they upload it to the channel. If not, it’s okay. There’s also the Schmoedown to look forward to to those who weren’t there. Very excited to watch that whenever it’ll be up on Collider.

Tomorrow is sure to be better because there’s the Rebels panel (which I’m holding out for him to be a part of it) and the Smuggler’s Revenge audio drama. And if Sam pops up on the livestream, I’ll be sure to record it. I’ll record everything he’s in just to be safe.

AND GUYS I STG IF SAM DOESN’T WEAR A STAR WARS SHIRT TOMORROW I’M DONE WITH HIM. I’M UNSTANNING. I’M SO DISAPPOINTED IN HIM BECAUSE IF PEOPLE AREN’T IN COSPLAY, THEY’RE PROBABLY WEARING A STAR WARS SHIRT. IT’S JUST COMMON SENSE. COME ON DUDE. GET WITH IT WITWER.

I’m joking about unstanning him. Obviously...XD

I hope those of you who are Star Wars fans enjoyed all the content from today. I think today’s panels were incredible. Especially Mark Hamill’s tribute to Carrie. I cried so much. It was so touching. The Heroines panel was amazing! I love all the focus on the female characters in Star Wars. Really looking forward to that new animated series, Forces of Destiny. And I kid you not, I will buy all those dolls (or at least Ahsoka and Rey). And of course, THE LAST JEDI! THE HYPE IS SO REAL. I hope we get to hear Sam talk about his reaction and thoughts on the trailer and his hopes for the movie.

One last thing, a special shoutout to my friend @podracing-on-lothal/@celtic-romulan who gets to meet Sam tomorrow! I’m so happy for you, Ann Marie! You are always so sweet and you deserve it so much. Hope you’re having the best time at Celebration. Have fun meeting Sam! Give him a big hug for me. You’re awesome! :D <33333

Anyways, I’m sorry for rambling. I’m just really happy. It’s been an awesome two days. And we still have 2 more to go! Lots of awesome stuff to come tomorrow. :D

I hope you’re all having an awesome weekend!

[dream-about-dancing]

#padme: wait sorry are you saying that you cant understand how anyone could find the guy who murdered 20 people in 2 days offputting#obi-wan: that wasn't his choice :( i asked him to#padme: im gonna stop you right there because this revolution isgoing to be really hard to carry out#if i don't feel comfortable in a room with you too#also just spare padme from that in general lol#i also thought about having ahsoka be the other tribute#but i didnt think people were ready for that#like there wouldnt be a happy ending where anakin grows to care for her and then they both get out of the arena (via @tennessoui)

the hunger games au! anakins confidence! obi-wan being the mentor! the fact that they’re together BEFORE anakin even gets picked!

poor robin tho lol :( but you know the games go on for like 12 hours longer while Anakin waits for someone else to kill her. In theory it’s because of his ruse with the capital, but it’s definitely just for obi-wan. So really, obi-wan did help her live longer than she would have otherwise, from a certain point of view.

also obi-wan definitely finds it romantic that anakin let someone else kill her & rewards him for it after the games ;)

(also for a sec i thought maybe the other girl would be padme & maybe anakin used to like her and is briefly sad & padme is a master manipulator and makes obi-feel like shit for choosing to let her die (making anakin hate her lol) and also making obi-wan feel super insecure about the ruse and also maybe really petty and bitchy? and she’s also really popular in the capital and canon padme isn’t a terrible fighter either)(maybe padme pretends to be (or is) pregnant and she pretends their anakins and obi-wan is SO insecure and/or seeing red)

lmao sorry for the massive ask the hunger games awaken something terrible in me

oo i think maybe a braver writer would probably have made anakin's other tribute padmé, and i guess there's still time for that, but i didn't want to for a couple of reasons, hence using a made up oc instead

i think the tug of guilt obi-wan would feel over having a preferred victor (anakin) and giving them both trainings but then really carefully only campaigning for sponsors to take a look at anakin, not the other tribute.....because anakin needs funds for a blanket, anakin needs food, obi-wan is watching anakin suffer and any second he may have to watch him die.... he feels guilty about the other tribute but he cannot watch anakin die....like that's enough guilt for obi-wan, i don't think specifically padmé could make him feel worse

also i think another reason i didn't choose padmé was because i didn't want anyone to think anakin used to like her lol this anakin is not normal this anakin is a creep this anakin was like. fourteen, saw obi-wan being all pathetic and sad and decided if obi-wan wasn't going to take advantage of him anakin was going to take advantage of obi-wan, worm his way into his confidences and affections and then never ever leave like this is not a boy who had a crush on any sort of padmé amidala he would not be sad he is not capable of being sad about the other tribute this is not a normal dude and tbh its easier to just. not have her in the story than to push back against that all the time

or i think i'd have her as part of the capitol who works with obi-wan to overturn palpatine once the rebellion is going on, but i think she would find anakin off-putting because he's 100% creep but not a creep who is in love with her and it just actually makes her uncomfortable to be in a room with him. asks obi-wan to blink twice if he needs rescuing. obi-wan blinks a lot of times because he's confused as to how anyone could ever need saving from anakin

anakin wouldn't hurt a fly