#i love you anidala i hate you anidala I LOVE YOU ANIDALA

[lesbosisle]

if they havent tried to kill each other at least once then i dont want it!!

lesbians and bisexuals, always remember this: whenever you like a delicious, complex toxic yuri ship, especially a non-canon or non-endgame one, there will be people in fandom crying about how you have no taste. these people, self proclaimed champions of healthy lesbian fiction, will wonder why you condone abuse and ask you why you don't ship the better™ yuri ship. then they will point you to the aforementioned better™ yuri: it will be the blandest friends to lovers taylor swift cottagecore soft sapphic pairing the fandom can offer. you WILL be guilt tripped into shipping these mozzarella sticks instead of your toxic yuri.

remember: resist the urge. a truly good lesbian ship is one where they try to murder each other. thank you. have a nice night. subscribe to my channel for more inspirational speeches.

[ note: whomsoever brings up their personal traumas on a tumblr post about fictional women shall be blocked ]

[thebenjiblackwoodexpress]

Devil's Snare: Part. 11

Aemond Targaryen x reader

Description: Y/N is pregnant with Aemond's child. Of that she is certain. What she can't seem to figure out is how to tell him in the midst of a bloody war that has already cost them so much.

Previous part Dividers kindly provided by @zaldritzosrose

Writer's note: I literally can't apologise enough for the biggest hiatus of all time! I completely lost the ability to write at all and hated everything I did write. Then I met Ewan Mitchell and died for a bit, so finally I'm back resurrected. I have no idea if anyone will still want to read this story as it's been sooooo long but here's another part anyway. I said it would be the last but I've had to split it because of the length, so they'll be at least another one before I wrap it up. Thank you to all you lovely readers who made me want to finish this story xxx

Warnings: Female reader, mentions of vomiting for people with emetophobia, mix of fluff and angst, some suggestive content, a scene straight out of Star Wars Attack of the clones (Anidala for the win) Aemond being emotionally constipated but making up for it with grand gestures.

It was becoming increasingly difficult for Y/N to hide her condition from Aemond, who had become even more protective if that were possible. Under his ever perceptive eyes she had to make a concerted effort to conceal the waves of nausea that seemed to overcome her at the most inconvenient of moments. It had been a month since Y/N had first taken note of the absence of her womanly cycle and she could no longer prevaricate on the matter...she was pregnant with Aemond's child. At first she'd felt a pleasant warmth spread through her at the realisation, a spark of joy at the thought of seeing Aemond as a father. She'd even been excited to tell him as soon as she was certain of the fact, but each time she tried he seemed to be called away to an urgent council meeting or to scout the skies on Vhagar.

The perfect moment never presented itself as she'd hoped, allowing her anxieties to build and a new fear to rise up within her. As the war continued to consume Aemond's every waking hour, worsened by the splitting of the Blacks' cause into two fronts as Daemon pursued his own claim, Y/N feared Aemond would not be pleased with her news. After all, surely this was the worst possible time to bring a child into the world. They'd never even discussed children, and Y/N had no idea how her husband felt about becoming a father. Without his words to soothe her fears, Y/N grew more and more uneasy with her condition, particularly as she finally felt her stomach begin to swell. She feared for Aemond's reaction, for herself having heard many stories of the pains of chidlbirth. But mostly, she feared for the child she now carried. What would happen if Rhaenyra won the war. Would the child survive. Would any of them?

She was sure Aemond had noticed something was amiss by now by the way she constantly felt his gaze on her, following her every move, not unaware of the look of gentle concern his one eye held. Sleep regularly evaded her, evidenced by the dark hollows that now shaded her eyes. And Y/N had lost her appetite, plagued by bouts of sickness, which had her running to the nearest chamber pot. In the middle of the night, she regularly woke up in a sweat and had to prise Aemond's arms from her body, a difficult feat as he instinctively tightened his iron grip on her in his sleep. In a sense, she was lucky Aemond had normally already left their chambers by the time she felt the sharp tug in her abdomen that sent her running before the wretching started.

But she did miss him during the day when he was detained by the small council and their interactions were limited to stolen kisses and glimpses of one another in the gloomy halls of the Keep. It was selfish, she thought, to wish they could simply return to the way it had been before when they'd spent nearly all of their time together, whilst the war continued to loom over the Red Keep. But she sometimes she found herself longing for simpler times when they would spend hours sitting and talking together, when she was just his handmaiden and he a handsome Prince who'd deigned to grant her his attentions.

Y/N rested discreetly against a column just before the small council chamber. She'd hoped to at least catch a glimpse of her husband as the council dispersed for the morning, but even crossing the short distance from their chambers to this part of the Keep had tired her considerably, likely only a sign of the fatigue she should expect to experience in pregnancy. As the kingsguard opened the doors to the chambers and her eyes met Aemond's, she forgot her weary limbs and smiled as he immediately rushed to meet her. A few moments later, his arms were wrapped around her as he held her to him, spinning her before letting her down gently. He kept a light hold on her waist, grinning down at her.

"You've come to see your husband? I am glad of it. I was in need of seeing something beautiful."

Y/N blushed "I missed you." Aemond squeezed her waist gently, his expression sympathetic.

"I know. But once the war is won, we will always be together. I give you my word."

Y/N nodded, trying to push down her feelings of loneliness and her anxieties around the child she was now certain she carried. She hadn't realised she'd been staring steadfastly at the ground until Aemond tipped her chin up with a single elegant finger and pressed their lips together. The kiss was one of barely repressed hunger that spoke to Aemond's passion for her, she was glad had never seemed to dwindle. But she lightly pushed him away with a startled laugh, aware this was not the sort of kiss appropriate for members of the small council to see as they left the chamber.

"Not here, Aemond."

Aemond's gaze turned steely, his voice commanding.

"Yes, here."

And then he was kissing her again, just as feverishly as the first time, one large hand on the small of her back so she was pressed against him. Sighing and finding it increasingly difficult to care who saw them at the intoxicating feeling of Aemond's soft lips on hers, Y/N gave in fully and melted against Aemond. It was a cough that startled them both enough for the couple to break apart.

Aemond directed the full force of his icy gaze on Ser Criston Cole, an eyebrow raised expectantly.

"We have matters to discuss, my Prince."

To Y/N's slight disappointment, Aemond reluctantly released her, briefly pressing his lips to her forehead and whispering an apology before following the hand of the king back down the hall away from her.

Aemond rapped his fingers against the council table with irritation and barely repressed impatience. He felt he had only just won his wife back to him after his transgressions, and yet he was still separated from her, trapped for hours at a time within these same four walls. He understood that he was needed as the strongest sword in the Kingdom and the rider of Vhagar, and he did not intend to shirk his duty to his family in this war. But his eagerness to prove himself, his lust for vengeance, had both diminished as he was forced to bear witness first hand to the consequences of war. Now he wished to end the war as soon as possible, whatever this required of him. His hope that the war would soon come to an end was renewed by the estrangement of Rhaenyra and Daemon. Together, as a united front, they were stronger. Their separation had weakened both their claims and their stances in the war. Aemond was also aware of ravens passing between his mother and Rhaenyra each day, and he began to think it would not be long until Rhaenyra realised her cause was a hopeless one without Daemon and his dragon. Without Caraxes, she had no dragon to counter Vhagar. His uncle Daemon posed the greater threat. Each day brought news of the castles he had taken in the crown lands, and Aemond knew he would have to face his uncle soon to put an end to the war. Part of him relished the challenge, though he feared for his love and his family, should he fail.

"We will reconvene once I have had time to consider your arguments." Aemond realised he had let his mind wander as Aegon dismissed the small council, rising quickly to try and catch a moment with his wife before other matters inevitably called him away from her. He briefly considered running in the direction of their chambers, though he could not be certain to find her there. But was pleased to see his wife already waiting outside the council chamber for him, saving him the trouble. He felt incredulous of the sheepish smile she sent his way, as if she could believe even for a moment that he wouldn't always be pleased to see her. It was a false presumption he would have to remedy. Crossing the distance between them at lightning speed, he immediately took Y/N into his arms, her light giggle as he lifted her off her feet like a warming balm to his troubled mind. He refused to let go of her even once he'd placed her back down, running his hands up and down the dip in her waist. Having to spend so much time away from her side had made him miss her soft timidity and the rosy glow of her cheeks when she blushed. He was sure he had never seen a prettier sight, and he told her as much.

"I've missed you..."

It was difficult for Aemond to hear, to know she felt his absence so keenly. But he wished her to know it was not his desire to part from her side. He recalled expressing this to her when she'd rushed to his chambers to check on an injury he'd received in training. How he'd pulled her onto his knee and told her he always wanted her that close. He had meant it then and he was determined to finish what he had begun when he had slain Luke, to put an end to this war so Y/N would never have to doubt it again.

"I know. But once the war is won, we will always be together. I give you my word."

Though Y/N nodded, he could see the sadness her eyes held, the loneliness swimming in them, and he so desperately wanted to comfort her. Lightly tipping her chin up he pressed their lips together, trying to express with this kiss that he missed her too, that he loved her more than it was possible to say. Aemond felt himself groan in frustration as Y/N pushed him away with a laugh, despite the sweeteness of the sound to him.

"Not here, Aemond."

Was that all that concerned his wife? That people might see them? Aemond was a prince of the realm. They would just have to accept it as far as he was concerned or turn away if they did not. He wouldn't waste the precious few opportunities he had with Y/N of late worrying about tempering his affectation for her to meet the standards of others. And he would not allow her to feel any shame from the ardency of his love for her either. He was resolute on this matter.

"Yes, here."

He captured her soft lips again before she could raise any other ridiculous objections about him expressing his love for her, trying to convince her with each brush of his lips against hers how little the opinion of others mattered. He was glad this did not seem to take long as she pressed herself closer to him and sighed against his lips. Aemond could barely repress his anger at Ser Criston when he interrupted their embrace with his ill timed cough, trying what little patience he had left.

But, much to Aemond's chagrin, the hand of the king was right, they had pressing matters to discuss that could not wait. If Rhaenyra would not cede her claim, then they had plans to take Rook's Rest. This did not make it any easier for him to walk away from his wife when he could so plainly see her disappointment as he stepped away from her.

Aemond cursed as he faltered slightly midstep, hurrying back to his chambers for the evening. Darkness had long since cloaked the Red Keep in it's cold embrace, but he'd had no chance to escape from his duties until the hour had grown far too late for him to reasonably hope to spend any time with his beloved wife. He opened the door to their chambers tentatively, his tread quiet, the silence within a clear sign that Y/N had already retired for the evening. Aemond smiled at the image of Y/N curled up on the chaise, the book she'd been reading now sprawled on the ground, as if she'd been trying to stay awake for him. His heart warmed at the gesture, realising this must be true. Stepping forward, he crossed the room in measured strides, determined not to wake her but to situate her more comfortably if he could. Gathering her up into his arms, he'd only taken a few steps towards placing her on the bed before she was blinking up at him with bleary eyes. Any residual sleepiness was quickly replaced by a look of panic Aemond couldn't understand as Y/N urgently patted his shoulder.

"Put me down. Quickly."

Confused and a little put out by the less than warm reception, Aemond nonetheless placed Y/N back on her feet. Not a moment later, she had wrenched herself from his grip entirely, doubling over and holding her hand over her mouth. Alarmed, Aemond made to move towards Y/N only to be stopped in his tracks when she held a hand up to him.

"No don't, I'll be alright in a moment."

"If you are unwell, I shall call for a maestor."

Aemond was already moving towards the door, his own anxiety rising at the thought of his love being taken from him by some illness. Y/N's hand gripping his halted him once again as she weakly tugged him back towards her. "I'm not ill, Aemond."

Though Y/N had lowered her hand from her mouth and was now standing up straight, he was unconvinced by the greenish tinge of her pallor, frowning at her disregard for her health. It was not something he could so easily dismiss.

"I find that difficult to believe, my love."

Y/N closed her eyes, breathing deeply perhaps to fight off any remaining nausea.

Stepping closer to her and taking both her hands in his, Aemond lowered his voice to a gentle and encouraging whisper.

"Whatever is the matter, you can tell me my darling girl."

Y/N nodded, though her features only grew more pained and anxious by the second and he noted that she would not meet his eye though he tried to chase hers.

And then he felt his heart momentarily stop.

"I'm pregnant."

Y/N awoke with a start as she felt herself being lifted into the air, followed seconds later by a sharp pain shooting through her abdomen. Her brief confusion was short lived as she came to terms with two important facts. She'd fallen asleep in her attempt to wait for Aemond to return..and now she was going to throw up on him.

That thought had her frantically attempting to pull away from him in a frenzy of flurried movement and urgent cries for him to put her down, leaving him looking more than a little perplexed and put out with her. As soon as she was placed upright, Y/N launched herself away from Aemond, clamping a hand over her mouth in a desperate attempt to push down the bile she could feel rising in her throat. She didn't want this to be the way he found out about her condition. By the grace of the Seven, her concerted effort to take deep breaths was reducing the overwhelming nausea that had washed over her, leaving behind the realisation that she'd have to explain her strange behaviour to her husband, who seemed seconds away from bolting from the room to fetch the nearest maester. That didn't make it any easier to reveal the truth, and just like every other time she'd attempted to share her secret with Aemond, she became tongue-tied and nervous about his reaction. But when he held her hands so gently, squeezing them encouragingly, and spoke to her so softly, she lost control of her speech entirely.

"I'm pregnant."

As soon as she blurted out her confession she regretted it, for every muscle in Aemond's body seemed to freeze as his mouth fell open...and though several seconds passed in agonising silence he said nothing, only staring at her, frozen in either shock or horror.

Ripping her hands from Aemond's hold, Y/N turned her back to him, covering her face with her hands and ineffectively pressing her palms against her eyes to staunch the flow of tears and her crushing dissapointment at her husband's reaction. It had been worse than she had even feared. Her soft sniffles must have broken the spell that had frozen Aemond in place as she soon heard his boots clicking against the cold marble floor as he moved around her, warm large hands wrapping around her own to prise them from her face. Y/N fought against his attempts, not wanting to see the look of disappointment on his face she was sure she'd find.

"Look at me, please." He did not sound angry at least, rather uncertain. Did he think she'd lied to him? Would he have rather she had?

Reluctantly allowing Aemond to pull her hands back down to her sides, she was surprised to see what looked much more like wonder than horror in Aemond's eye, an almost dreamlike expression on his handsome features.

"Are you quite certain?" Y/N heard a definite tremble in his voice, and she nodded simply in response, not understanding his sudden change in demeanour. When he said nothing still, the only change being the widening of his eye, she felt her heart break a little more.

"Are you very unhappy with me?"

Aemond looked like he'd had a bucket of ice water thrown on him and had been abruptly woken from a dream. Reaching for her again and cupping each side of her face, he gazed at her with the utmost tenderness.

"Unhappy with you? I have never been more happy. Hush, my love. Don't cry. I did not mean to make you feel as if I were unhappy."

Y/N shook Aemond's hands off her and turned away from him again. She imagined she must look petulant, but she still felt hurt. Aemond's words did not reflect the fact that only moments before he'd looked completely stricken, and she feared he was only trying to appease her now.

"You looked horrified. I know it isn't the best time to bring a child into the world and there are more important matters you must attend to..."

"Nothing matters more now than you and our child."

Aemond cut her off in her ramblings, wrapping his arms around her and resting his head on her shoulder, though she remained turned away from him.

"I was surprised, but certainly not horrified. I've thought of you as a mother before when I saw you getting along so handsomly with my niece and nephew. I thought of you as the mother of my child. Even before we were married, the image was clear in my mind."

Aemond stroked a hand down her abdomen as if to convey the truth of his words, though her bump was still barely visible. Y/N twisted in his hold to face him, surprised by Aemond's admission. Seeming to sense an onslaught of questions, he continued before she could even pose one.

"I don't want you to worry about the war now. This is the happiest of news. This child...our child, is the greatest gift you could ever have given me and I will love them fiercely. I will not allow any harm to come to you or our child."

Y/N smiled, her heart warming as she observed that Aemond's one good eye glistened slightly. She could see now that she'd mistaken his reaction and nearly sighed with relief. But their shared happiness couldn't qwell her curiosity.

"You said you had thought about us having children together before."

Aemond quirked an eyebrow up at her train of thought.

"Yes." He answered, almost like a question.

Y/N swallowed thickly, thinking of how to ask her question.

"You never mentioned a wish to have children to me before. How long have you thought of it?"

Aemond's expression softened as he tenderly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, grazing his knuckles along her cheek as he did so.

"If I'm understanding what I think your truly asking, then I'll simply tell you that as soon as I realised I loved you, I knew I wanted you to be my wife and the mother of my children. It's not a thought I had before you, everything I wish for my life begins and ends with you."

Cursing her heated cheeks, Y/N all but barrelled into Aemond, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her cheek into his doublet. Aemond responded to her embrace quickly, laughing at the suddeness of her actions, and began to stroke her hair softly.

Y/N was embroidering a blanket for the baby in the hazy afternoon light when Aemond bounded into their chambers grinning at her. She could tell he was brimming with excitement and had his hands curiosuly clasped behind him as if he were trying to conceal something from her view.

"I've brought you something, my love."

Y/N rose from her seat and tried to peer around him, but Aemond continuously thwarted her efforts until she finally agreed to close her eyes and hold her hands out.

"I went to the Dragon pit this morning to choose an egg for our little dragon. This one was hatched by Dreamfyre. I thought it fitting since you and Helaena are so close." Y/N felt a burst of affection rise within her at Aemond's excitement, and this act of affection towards their unborn child. She knew that it was customary for a dragon egg to be placed in the cradle of a Targaryen prince or princess, but she also understood this tradition must have a special significance for Aemond whose dragon egg had failed to hatch. The corner of her lips lifted at the nickname Aemond had given their baby.

Once the surprise object was placed into her hands she almost dropped it from the heat it exuded, almost as if it were a very large boiled egg. But eggs were never so tough and scaley...except for dragon eggs. She opened her eyes to meet Aemond's expectant look.

"Little dragon?"

Aemond's smile only widened. He knelt before her, placing his hands on either side of her waist and resting his cheek against her now noticeable bump.

"Yes, our little dragon. She'll be a fiersome dragon rider just like her father."

Y/N placed their child's dragon egg on the seat she'd just vacated. Each scale was tipped with a dark blue hue that almost blended in with it's coal black surface, ensuring that it unmistakably belonged to Helaena's dragon. She couldn't help but feel it was perfect, and she raised her hands to tangle them in Aemond's hair, running her fingers through the silver strands.

"A princess then?' Y/N asked, amused by his confidence.

Aemond nodded resolutely in her arms, tickling her abdomen as his eyepatch grazed across it.

"I am sure of it. A Targaryen princess with all the beauty and kindness of her mother."

Aemond had spent far longer than he truly had time for carefully selecting a dragon egg for his baby. It was an important tradition for his House, but to him it felt like more. He never wanted his child to feel like an outsider as he had done all his childhood with no dragon of his own. He was determined his child should never face the loneliness he had, the jeers from his own brother and cousins, that instead they should feel loved and secure, that they truly belonged.

Aemond had spoken to Y/N many times of Targaryen traditions, but he did not know until he placed the dragon egg in her hands if she would understand fully how much this simple tradition meant to him. But when she graced him with a resplendent smile, he immediately knew that somehow she did.

I want someone to spin me around like that. It just looks so fun! Also Ewan Mitchell is the nicest person ever and I briefly held his hand and I'm deceased aaaah

@ateliefloresdaprimavera

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@truly-abysmal

[galactic-rhea]

I think that despite aaaaaaall the very obvious problems about the whole Tuskens plot in AOTC (that also come from IRL bias); something people seem to be hung at is about Padmé's romance being unbelieveable after Anakin confesses the massacre to her; and like I can understand why, since not everyone thinks too hard about her character, but I do, and it's just kind of annoying to have most people saying it was character assasination for and that she shouldn't have known about the fact. BUT! I think it shows quite a lot of deepness and the dynamic about their relationship.

Is a very, very morally gray moment of Padmé, I would say is one of the most charged moments for her, her response is "To be angry is to be human"; Padmé had been, since she was presented, going through ungodly amounts of stress, her people was dying and being taken to camps when she was 14, at the start of AOTC one of her handmaids died in front of her eyes, and through none of these moments she has been able to express much more than some veiled, some composed, some acceptable, anger, I don't believe this to be coincidencce.

Padmé pretty much represents the justice and the good ideals of the Republic, she's pretty much a source of light in the story; this isn't to say she can't do wrong, or that she isn't flawed. She's giving Anakin a chance to do better, even though isn't within her right to decide so, but she's also kind of the only character that does seem to understand Anakin the best, almost beat for beat and she knows he's coming from a very very bad place, with a terrible childhood, she knows how he was when he was nine, she knows of her past.

She isn't oblivious or naive about how terrible Anakin's actiones were, she's just aware of his reasons, she's just able to sympathize with him, she's able to see he feels inmense guilt, and she also is sure he can still be able to do better (and he did! As an audience we know he was capable of much better and of being a force of good very needed. His fall doesn't undo the fact Anakin did went through great lengths to help others) Her reaction, honestly, just puts her in league with Luke imo. "Hey, that's terrible, awful, beyond , but you know, I still love you, because you're still a person I care about. You can do better."

But it also shows how her love is, in many ways, similar to Anakin's, in the sense that's very encompasing, very loyal, very "Follow you to hell and back", she's able to offer him the sympathy and the belief of his ultimate good nature that she wouldn't offer to others (she fell in love with him before going to Tatooine). It can be see as hypocritical, but she's also kind of right, she's proven right. She's still shocked and heartbroken in ROTS because the situation was much more different, because there wasn't any reason for her to believe he would commit something like that again after he clearly expresses so much guilt and trauma over it.

And, when it comens to the relationship with Anakin, I think it makes some senses; it means there is honestity between them, he confessed to her one of the most evil deeds he had commited yet, there's something about it that makes all of Anakin's others relationships different: Obi-Wan and Ahsoka didn't know about this In Anakin's POV, is probable that any kind of love or appreciation Obi-Wan and Ahsoka showed him came with a layer of guilt and distrust because he thinks they don't really know him, probably thinks they would hate him or think he deserves punishment.

And yeah, like, morally talking, he should've gone to jail or at least have a trial or something, but like, what exactly would that manage, or fix in your little fantasy-sci-fi movies? But you know who knew and still loved him? Padmé and Palpatine. In one had, you have Padmé who truly, does love him and believes in his ultimate capacity for goodness. On the other...

So yeah, I think knowing of what he's capable is actually a very integral part of the anidala relationship, and it does give Padmé some deepness you wouldn't usually see in other female characters, and the narrative does tell you she was kind of right.

Because, if I'm honest with you, Padmé and Anakin marrying with Anakin keeping the secret of murdering a whole village, wouldn't do it for me, would actually make me not like or not care for the relationship at all, at least not in their 'romance' sense, because it would be just kind of a Blue Beard, kind of your average "Woman finds out Her Wonderful husband/boyfriend is secretly a Serial Murdered and keeps it hidden for her". That, and also that Anakin is actually very honest, maybe a bit too honest for his own good, when it comes to Padmé and Palpatine, he spills at the edges all the time.

It's meaningful, for them both, that they met each other when they were under extremelly bad circumstances, she knew him as a literal child slave that risked his life to save strangers, and he knew her first as a servant, a handmaid, and then as a queen. And then she knows of his crimes, and he knows he can be fully honest with her, and now he knows how she felt about being a queen, about being a politician, things she never says to anyone else. They're kinda in equal footing and that's why it's meaningfull, as inmoral and messy and kinda selfish it can be.

But yeah, yeah, I ramble a lot, sorry this is very very messy and idk kind of badly written i just wrote as it came to me,I was sleepy and saw yet another youtuber trying to explain why padmé's character was assasinated or something. Because when it comes to her is a flaw and her being irrational, but when it comes to Luke is all encompassing goodness and proof of undying love, siiigh.

[revenge-of-the-shit]

So after seeing some more rancid takes + after seeing the results of my previous poll, I need to ask:

For what it's worth, if you think attachment DOES equal love, take a look at this post.

Second edit:

Attachment is defined as possessive love. If you start the conversation by assuming that attachment = regular, healthy love, we're already on a different page.

Nowhere in this post does it say that Luke/Leia/Han were perfect or even great parents/guardians

In any case, you can keep talking in good faith, I don't mind. I'm not replying any more though, I'm returning to my Star Wars divorce

[darth-jess]

Hello there! Care to share with me what got you into star wars (Anidala/Vaderdala, particularly)? And I'm currently reading Beauty & Rage, and let me tell you; Friday is one of the days of the week I look forward to along with Wednesdays (iykyk)

Thank you so much! I'm so happy you're enjoying Beauty & Rage, it's been so much fun for me to write it! Sorry it's taken me so long to get to your question, things have been a little crazy for me!

I'm going to start by answering your question of what got me into Star Wars:

I honestly don't remember the first time I watched Star Wars. Both of my parents were born in 1972, so they were 5 when Star Wars: A New Hope came out for the first time. They grew up as the Original Trilogy was coming out and became pretty big fans of the movies.

My first Star Wars memories weren't even of the movies– they are of my sister and I pretending to be Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader (I was Darth Vader, of course) and fighting with imaginary lightsabers. I must have been 3 or 4?

Star Wars was just a part of me for as long as I can remember.

Alright, what got me into Anidala/Vaderdala?

When I was 3, The Phantom Menace came out. I don't remember watching it, but as I got a little older, I remember thinking Padmé was awesome and she became my favorite female SW character (it was previously Leia and my favorite character overall was Vader).

I was 6 when Attack of the Clones came out and Anakin immediately became my first love.

Like instantly.

Second he was on screen?

Boom.

I was in love.

Anakin was my favorite character from that moment on.

And then when I was 9, Revenge of the Sith came out and it broke my heart. (ROTS is also what made me realize I wanted to be a writer.)

Even though I already knew Darth Vader had been Anakin Skywalker, seeing it happen, seeing why he became what he became and how it was all for love and then how all amounted to nothing… it just destroyed me, and I hated it and I loved it and it immediately became my favorite thing ever.

To this day, Revenge of the Sith is my favorite movie– in Star Wars, and in general.

When it comes to Anidala, I have never seen true love in any movie or book so all-encompassing, so pure, so transcendent. I love how Anakin and Padmé's love for each other never faltered. Even as Palpatine tried to poison it, he never succeeded in turning Anakin against Padmé.

I love (and hate) that scene in ROTS where Anakin and Padmé meet one final time, and they both hurt each other so deeply that neither of them ever recover, and it's all just a terrible misunderstanding. They both love each other too much to see through their own pain.

Padmé has gone to him, and is willing to forgive Anakin for the horrible things he's done ("Come away with me, leave everything else behind while we still can"). The understanding they have for each other is boundless. She understands why he's done what he's done, and yet he hurts her, and this is something Anakin would never do. This is so unlike the man she knows, he would never ever hurt her. And the fact that he's hurting her means that in some way, she has lost him– the only person she has ever truly loved, the only person who truly knows her– and this breaks her.*

Anakin has just sold his soul– he even cries as he stares down upon the lava rivers of Mustafar, and my interpretation is that he's crying because he's dealing with the terrible things he's done. But it's worth it, because now he'll be strong enough to save the only person in the galaxy who matters, the only person who truly knows him. And then she arrives, and looks at him with horror in her eyes and says she doesn't know him anymore. And he looks up, and there's Obi-Wan. And he realizes that the woman he's just sold his soul for, the woman he's committed atrocities for wants him dead. This is more than he can bear. He has not stopped loving her, he is just so consumed in his own pain– the pain of realizing that Padmé brought Obi-Wan there to kill him, the pain of realizing that maybe she doesn't love him anymore– and it hurts so much and he just can't listen to her excuses and her lies, because every word breaks him more.**

In my opinion, even in this terrible, heartbreaking scene, George Lucas (along with Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen) did a fantastic job of showing that they still loved each other more than anything, even here.

But everything around them was falling apart.

I loved it because– even at the end, both of them were trying so hard to save each other that they destroyed themselves in the process.

I hope that answers your questions!

Also you can read below for notes.

*Padmé is aware that Anakin is still in there, but what happened was so traumatic and terrible that she can't recover.

**I say this every time I talk about this, but I am not defending Vader's actions in this scene. I am merely providing context, because context does matter. His actions are absolutely indefensible, but it is important to remember he is not acting out of hatred, he is acting out of such unbelievable pain.

[piglet26]

Top Five Reylo Scenes

Before I start I do want to add why Reylo means so much to me. Recently I went through a really deep depression and part of what pulled me out of it was Reylo. I was able to write essays and do analysis about this OTP. Rewatching the films and focusing on theirs scenes helped get my mind off of some pretty deep stuff. I was also able to receive love and connection through the Reylo community. It's meant a lot to me! Also, I know that Tumblr is very supportive to anyone going through a tough time and directing people to self help lines. If you are going through a time that is really dark or challenging I Love You in Reylo.

Now my top three scenes is tough cause I love them all, but if I had to focus on an order to the game I'd say........

5 " You Need a Teacher"

“There’s a history in Star Wars of the attraction between the light and dark…”

Truth be told I'm surprised this scenes ranked as high as it did with me because I do not like that she beat him. The more I thought about it I realized why I did want to rank it. There is something raw and dirty about them here. The look of sheer amazement he gives her after that lightsaber flew to her was everything. The force theme beginning to play. Then when she lit the lightsaber and he was like "oh, you wanna duel? ok, let's duel then." The moment they found the force together with their faces beautifully lit up. It really is great.

There is nothing violent really about their fight, like I don't fear for their lives. Resembling the scene where Kylo Ren said could “take whatever he wants” and “Don’t be afraid, I feel it too” while looking at her lips. The chemistry took me by complete surprise and I shifted in my seat uncertainly watching this the first time. Surely I shouldn’t like a murderer and a villain with Rey, but I couldn’t help it. This very chemistry, though probably amounting to less than ten minutes of actual interaction between each other, leaves the audience with a hungry desire for more.

Reylo and Anidala could be mirrors of each other with Anakin falling to the Dark Side because of his selfish love for Padme and Kylo coming back to the Light because of his selfless love for Rey.

When Kylo is with Rey, he is calmer, and calculating. For Kylo, the seduction is to the Light. However, when Rey first searches out the Force with her feelings, she immediately ends up in the Dark Side, and is unafraid to take what she wants from it. In battle, she is furious, screaming and bent on destruction. As I mentioned above, Anidala and Reylo could be the Force’s attempts at balancing itself. Where Anidala was destined to fail, Reylo is destined to prevail and finally balance the Force.

4 "You'll turn........I'll help you"

“The Abduction,” the song in TFA when the “bridal carry” happens, has a very similar ascending line of notes to a recurring theme in Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet overture.

I love everything about this. The infamous elevator scene. Reylo once again dominates the screen in The Last Jedi, easily rendering Finn’s growing romance with Rose bland and tedious in comparison. Rian Johnson is a Reylo stan so I stan him. This is the first time Rey and Kylo are physically side by side since she tried to kill him in the forest on Star killer Base. It's the most sexually charged body language! They spiffed up for one another. She’s changed her clothes, put on makeup and decided to leave her hair down. His hair is freshly washed with a spritz.

“Ben” She’s using his real name now and like in every scene with her now he's calm. He hates his name, but when she says it he hears her. She's appealing to his true nature, or, what she believes it to be. It's possessive as well. He is HER Ben. The way he tried not to have a reaction to her until she said his name. He's trying to stay blank and not give away what he intends to do, but none the less has a reaction to her.

Rian Johnson basically confirmed that Kylo / Ben wanted to kiss Rey in the elevator scene. It’s canon so I am prepared to fight. Not to mention, Johnson tells us that Adam Driver, as Kylo / Ben, seriously considered kissing Rey in this scene. He is, indeed, staring at her lips in the elevator with the most intense eye contact.

Reylo speaks to me, and many others, on a spiritual level. Like many stories of both maiden and monster, Reylo shows us what it means to be a heroine. A heroine reaches her hand out to monsters and says: you deserve love and compassion, no matter the mistakes you’ve made. We're in a movement where women are tired of "fixing" men and I'm here for it. I honestly think that's why so many woman found it difficult that Reylo is not soft and sweet.

3 ........Ben?"

Adam Driver says Kylo Ren can’t help but harbor admiration for Daisy Ridley’s Rey in the Last Jedi. “I think there’s something familiar there, as well as something to be feared, or something… that he (Kylo) can’t quite place.”

Let me go ahead and say that I'm going to cheat.... I'm including the novelization in this because that mixed with novel is what gives me life. TROS brought such mixed Reylo emotions. We got great stuff! In small doses *eye roll* In the novel. She was glad to see him. Glad to be with him in this moment. It was the greatest gift she could have given him. His heart was full as Rey reached for his face, let her fingers linger against his cheek. And then, wonder of wonders, she leaned forward and kissed him.

The way Rey sits in wonder...... never mind she was borderline dead..... Ben is there, really there and she's just staring in wonder. Ben is looking at her in painful awe and relief. They are both almost child-like in their affection. The way Rey hesitates, after years alone, it takes her a moment to work up the courage for her first kiss. Ben just lets her take her time. The way he waits patiently for her to work up the courage and then the moment the kiss, he pulls her to him like she is the air he breathes for his first kiss. Oh! The smiles. Seriously?! Ben and Rey are happy! There was fireworks, champagne and pussy power! Rey’s hand. Ben gave his very life essence to Rey because his love is that absolute.

And let’s not forget the novelization of TLJ had this quote “They will never have to be alone again”.

Now this is where things get messy as hell. Adam was on the set of Tatooine..... but as they cut that ending. Daisy stated regarding the ending “the crew was shaken in a way I had not seen before. and I thought, ‘my god if this is people’s immediate reaction when the scene isn’t even ready, imagine what it will be like to see it in the movies, with the John Williams soundtrack and all that." When Ben faded into the force...... no one felt anything for a moment then there was just confusion and disappointment. You cannot nor will you ever have me believing that this janky ending was the real deal.

2 "Join Me.......... Please"

“He (Kylo) sensed his and Rey’s destinies were intertwined, but how?......"

The Throne Room Proposal! Kylo premeditated in the purest Sith way regarding the murdering of his Master for his bae. Then he gives Rey a furious speech on killing the past in a bid to win her over and fulfill his dark Queen fantasy. “You come from nothing, you’re nothing—but not to me,” Kylo tells Rey, in one of the most beautifully twisted declarations of love ever uttered in a family blockbuster, before quietly pleading with her to join him like he’s the most desperately lonely person in the universe. The duo’s visions of their future together—Rey sees Kylo turning to the Light, and Kylo witnesses Rey joining him in the Dark. However, upon Snoke’s death, the bond still stands. Kylo offers Rey a place at his side and his hand in marriage, but it is the proposal of an awkward boy, grasping desperately at a relationship he has only begun to understand.

And you can see it in her face, that she’s torn, there is a part of her that wants to take his hand, not to rule the galaxy, that’s not her ambition, but to simply stay with someone who truly understands her as well. But it’s the ‘please’ Adam Driver showed that Julliard education with that one word. Both actors just brough it. You can see how far they've come and yet still so far away from each other.

1 "You're Not Alone.......Neither are You"

“When Rey feels rejected by Luke Skywalker, who also sees parallels between the power in her and the abilities of his estranged nephew, the old Jedi master inadvertently pushes the two towards each other.”

You knew it was coming. In TLJ, Kylo is at his most sympathetic and tempting; Rey at her most understanding. Both are outcasts because of their power, they are both lonely, whispering to each other comfortingly “you’re not alone” and “neither are you.” Kylo sees more in Rey than she does within herself. He also challenges her as an equal. Ben ultimately encourages her to not only expand her mind, but in embrace her womanhood. It is no wonder that Rey goes to him. After experiencing Luke and his failings as a master and failing to find the answer's she's been looking for....... Rey ends up relating to Kylo. Kylo, for once, has put the whole of misery and life lessons into something productive.

When we find them alone in a dark hut, slowly lean towards each other, and very hesitantly touch hands in a scene fraught with romantic tension. Notably, the Force music plays during the scene, signaling their relationship’s importance. A tear crawls down Rey’s face as the two connect and understand each other on a level so deep that it is reminiscent of sex, and causes Luke Skywalker to pull the ultimate Dad move and blow up the hut.

As Rey and Kylo develop their bond we see the force attempting to balance itself. Yin and Yang....... the imagery littered throughout the sequel trilogy is drawn heavily from those belief systems. We see continuous parallel shots with Rey and Ben to represent this duality. Both are presented in contrasting surroundings that represent the duality of the masculine and the feminine. In many shots half of their figure is bathed in light and the other half is bathed in the darkness.

This connection is as spiritual as it is romantic. As Jason Fry explained, romance is merely the analog we have in the living force for this deep spiritual bond.

[shrinkthisviolet]

1, 7, 8, 9, 19, 21 for Star Wars for the ask game please?

1: the character everyone gets wrong

Luke Skywalker. Everyone writes him as naïve and happy-go-lucky, but like…no?? Even in ANH, he’s snarky and impatient, and he develops throughout the OT into a badass who suffers no fools. Yes, he’s kind and generous towards his loved ones, and he’s very friendly, there’s no doubt about that, but like?? Writing him as an innocent ball of sunshine who can do no harm is just wrong. Luke is kind, but he’s not naïve—he knows fully well what Vader has done and how evil he is, he just also knows, has felt, that there’s good deep down in Vader. He believes when no one else does because he knows he can get through to Vader and change his heart, and he’s right!!

7: what character did you begin to hate not because of canon but because how how the fandom acts about them?

Kylo Ren. The way some parts of fandom used to (probably still do, but I wouldn’t know) paint Han and Leia as abusive/awful parents and make Kylo the perpetual victim who was forced into every decision he made…as if he wasn’t like 23 when he destroyed(?) the Jedi Academy* and joined Snoke, as if every decision after that wasn’t his own decision—like, come on guys.

*I know there’s a comic that said apparently a lightning storm caused the fire that destroyed the Academy? But Wookieepedia said he’s the one who summoned the storm in the first place, so 🤷‍♀️ who knows. In any case, the distinction is irrelevant to my point

8: common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

Anidala isn’t abusive, and I’m sick of people saying that.

“Oh but he choked her!!” Yes, that’s what happens when you fall to the Dark Side and your good traits are twisted/corrupted. You act in ways that are not like you! This is how the Dark Side works (despite what some Star Wars media would have you believe, the Dark Side corrupts, it’s not freeing. It’s an illusion of freedom, but it’s just a trap)

“Oh but Anakin forced her into it!” Nope! He confessed to her, and she turned him down initially, but she made the first move, and there’s no indication that she was forced into marriage.

You don’t have to like them, but saying they’re toxic/abusive is incorrect and I’m tired of seeing that take.

On that note, everyone attributes Vader’s salvation to Luke, and says he’s the person who always believed in Vader…but don’t forget that Padmé did first!! Padmé was the first one to always believe in Anakin, even after the worst had happened, because that’s how strong their love is! Because Anidala was true love!

9: worst part of canon

If not for the sequels, the Luke/Leia kiss would be here. I still hate that so much.

Taking the sequels into account though…the Rey/Kylo kiss. Absolutely awful. Putting aside the fact that I don’t like the ship, there isn’t really much development for this as a ship. Sure, there are some hints of chemistry here and there (mostly in TLJ with Rey slowly developing an interest in redeeming him), but they’re far outweighed by: Kylo kidnapping and torturing Rey, Rey trying to kill Kylo, Rey metaphorically closing the door on Kylo at the end of TLJ, and Rey killing Kylo in TROS and only undoing it because she felt Leia die.

Rey appears to have a change of heart about Kylo in TLJ, but that’s very clearly undone when he refuses to turn back to the Light Side (again, she metaphorically/telepathically slams the door on him)! And she literally kills him in TROS and only undoes it for his mom’s sake! And yet suddenly in the final scene she’s calling him “Ben” and putting her trust in him?? Nope. Not buying it. If I did ship this, I’d be very disappointed about how it was handled, because that’s just sad

19: you're mad/ashamed/horrified you actually kind of like…

I'm intrigued by Vaderdala as a concept 😅 not in a genuine healthy relationship way, I think that bridge is burned post-ROTS, but I find the idea of them in a Padmé Lives AU very intriguing. Vader ofc would still harbor feelings for Padmé, and deep down, she would too (she does canonically believe in his goodness), but her loyalty would be first and foremost to the Rebellion and her kids…but also those feelings keep drawing her back to Vaderkin, because a not-so-small part of her wants to redeem him and get her husband back. And he, ofc, wants her by his side as his Empress. It’s just fascinating to me imo

21: part of canon you think is overhyped

ROTS. Listen, listen, I love it too, okay? I love all 3 of the prequels in their own ways. But…even people who hate the prequels claim ROTS is “the good one”, and I just…don’t get it? What exactly makes ROTS sooo much better than the other two? It’s not like ROTS is a perfect movie by any means, it has flaws too, just like TPM and AOTC do. It even has a similar tone. People seem to love it because it’s the moment of Anakin’s descent into Vader, and believe me, I love it too, but…some people love it disingenuously, I feel. One of its big flaws is the lack of Padmé scenes in it, with them all being deleted, so the fact that it’s the most loved of the prequels despite having the least amount of Padmé in it is…weird, ngl

And yes, I know people have complained about those scenes being deleted, this is a common complaint, but that doesn’t seem to have dulled the general consensus that this movie is (one of) The Best Ever.

(On that note though, if you haven’t read the ROTS novelization, please do, it’s absolutely amazing and tbh I’m enjoying it more than the movies, simply because it has more space to expand on certain characters and what they’re thinking, and thus expand on certain scenes. AND it adds the Padmé deleted scenes back!!)

choose violence ask game!

[skywalkr-nberrie]

I love how with literally any Anidala anti whom ships Anakin or Padmé with other characters tend to reek of jealousy and insecurity. We Anidalas don’t have to belittle any character to know that our pair is the best. We love, enjoy, and celebrate them for all that they are, without dragging another character into it and belittling them to somehow show that our pair is better. Only time we ever bring up another character is when an ANTI does and starts a fight, but what would they expect in a situation like that? However, on the flip side? We’ll find that “those shippers” always say things like “but who would go for a whiny angsty teenager like Anakin when OW was right there???” or “Anakin choked Padmé, he didn’t truly love her. And Anakin obviously cherished OW more than her.” Lol.

You won’t find a lot of posts of theirs that doesn’t in some way mention how “awful” Anakin is for Padmé because they prefer him with another character or ship Padmé with another as well. Like sure, you’re entitled to your wrong opinion, but why feel the need to reiterate yourself at any given moment?? If Anakin is sooo awful like you claim, and you also claim to know that XYZ character would be better for Anakin/Padmé then why not waltz along and focus on your preferred pairings rather then constantly bring up Anakin and Padmé? The fact that you can’t even focus on your own ship entirely and instead use that energy to always hate on another pairing which is canon seems interesting to me. It sounds to me like you’re not actually confident in what you claim, and you’re just trying to convince yourselves of it (and possibly others, too) because, deep down, you know you’re actually wrong 🤷🏾‍♀️

[anidaladefencelawyer]

It is important to understand that, regarding romantic relationships...

No romantic relationship is inherently toxic from the get-go, barring those that started out with a massive exertion of intimidation or force against one partner(and then it can't be truly seen as "romantic" at all outside of say YA, which I will give more leeway to deal with stuff like that, and even then a lot hinges on the execution and to what extent can any coercive patterns be effectively overcome). Rather a relationship is just as much shaped by social and material conditions that can make or break it.

And Anidala is no exception.

A lot of the things that Jedi uncriticals like to hold against Anakin and Padme as a couple(ie: never knowing eacn other, “over-idealization”, “two marriages”) and even some legitimate flaws(ie: weak communication, secrecy and paranoia, lack of "preparedness" in a relationship) have more do with a combination of how they were raised, combined with being literally separated for most of their three years together by a war, a war which broke Anakin's mind. They never have any time to even define themselves as a couple or talk about what boundaries are.

Even some of the "OOC" stuff that Anidalas hate and Jedi uncriticals point as the "smoking gun" evidence that Anidala would never work at all like the Clovis arc could be explained by this: Anakin lost Ahsoka and having witnessed the death of his mother, not having a good mindset to deal with loss because it never was imparted onto him properly, and this would only worsen his possessive tendencies. And that's not even getting into headcanons that Anakin was being exposed to far-right toxic gender norms from Palpatine and the even more plausible headcanon that Anakin saw some hutt or crime lord rape his mother and it traumatized him seeing Clovis behave like that.

Not only that, but Anakin is a character that has been confirmed tries his best to treat his Clones like human beings and the death of each Clone is confirmed to hit him hard. While it dosen't justify entirely him trying to make Padme his escape from reality when she is pushing through bills that could hinder Palpatine's consolidation of power, it at least explains why he behaves the way he did in Hostage Crisis, which is another "smoking gun" Jedi uncriticals like to use--he was likely getting traumatized by the war and has a two weeks "mindfulness break" to say the least, and he turned to one of the only people that could give him peace of mind. It dosen't justify him trying to prioritize their love above Padme's commitments, but both canon and the Legends EU makes it clear that the Clone Wars actually traumatized him considerably, and there is enough room to explain that behavior from Anakin via headcanon knowing what we know in expanded material.

In order to run the thesis that "Anidala was inherently toxic" you need to prove that they'd implode in peacetime and Anakin would behave at his worst on a daily basis even without a war or creeping fascistic influence into his mind. However, there is very little that supports this theory outside of an interpretation only Hidalgo has, even if you draw on the most negative headcanons of Anakin.

Actually, I wouldn't say "very little" or even "scant", I'd say there's literally no evidence that Anidala would implode in peacetime. The closest we get to how "Anidala would behave in peacetime" is AOTC, with Anakin and Padme happily running around the fields and trying to enjoy each other in Varykino, along with the first few minutes of ROTS where they express hope of being a happy family before the visions drove Anakin to the edge. And the argument that Anakin would behave poorly in peacetime falls apart even further if you consider the deleted scenes as canon--we see him getting to catch up with Padme while walking through Naboo, expressing interest in her political career(these outright shatter the assumption that Anakin didn't even get to know Padme at all, when the actual anwser is that "he did try, but he didn't get time to"), meeting her family and having a nice talk with her father, and her entire family has a lot of fun with him and actually root for him and Padme together. So that thesis gets entirely blown to pieces with the deleted scenes.

And this is not even considering the fact that whenever they can team up during the war in TCW and in the canon-era EU, they make a pretty good team.

So it's clear that the entire relationship was shaped by social and material conditions rather than a single choice to be selfish(and frankly from the outside looking in, I wouldn't even call that choice selfish until ROTS on Anakin's part, more "shortsighted" at the very worst), and a lot of what brought down the relationship or prevented it from "maturing" has more to do with external factors than some inherent incompatibility between the two.

Even E.K. Johnston, who is pretty polarizing in Anidala circles because while she made it clear in her books that Clovis was actually the mismatched one with Padme and gave them some cute moments and some decent payoff in Queen's Hope, she at best finds Anakin hard to write because of what he would become and at worst, dosen't even find Anakin redeemable, had this to say about Anidala:

"He’s kind of….not happy go-lucky because Jedi don’t really do that. But like his life has literally never been better than it is right now. He’s really good at fighting. He really likes clear-cut “these people are good, these people are bad” conflicts. And he’s married to the love of his life so, ya know, everything’s coming up Anakin at this point, which does make him very interesting to write because, of course, we all know what’s coming. But you get these sort of moments with them where they do have a genuine love. They like each other so much, they just never have any time and that’s their tragedy. They never have any time to talk, they never have any time to work things out, and I got to write a very, very small sliver of that time, which is something I think people have been looking forward to seeing for a while now."

If someone who is potentially pretty harsh on Anakin could see that structural factors and lack of time brought down Anidala, I don't know how modern day Jedi fans and Jedi uncriticals can ignore this nuances.

[darkcrowprincess]

Stranger Things thoughts:

If I had to compare Mike and Will to star wars characters, to me it would be Anakin and Padme( though I'm probably bias because I love the prequels. Not saying I dont love the originals I just grew up loving the prequels more)

Mike Wheeler would be Anakin Skywalker, both smart, both have depression, both have trouble with their emotions, both incredibly angry, both with tons of trauma and issues. Plus they are both knights/paladins/jedi protectors:

And Will is so Padme Amidala. Hes so is. He has her deep sadness, her beauty, her inner strength. Will just screams royalty in the way he acts to me. And thats Padme to a T. Something graceful and tragic.

And when Byler are together they have this tragic sweetness to them( yes I know its because its the being gay in the 80s thing. But its not obly that) that totally reminds me of Anakin and Padme. Not to mention the whole yin and yang, darkness and light, blue and yellow theme they have going on thatvis shared with Anakin and Padme.

Lets just hope that byler has a happier ending that anidala. Please let this dark and light ship have a happier ending.

(Don't like don't read. Post hate and I'll block you)

[wreckedhoney]

still thinking about that bts shot "looks like Obi wan has hijacked Anakin and padme's honeymoon" and the tag "#necessary third party obi-wan kenobi my beloved. invited to the honeymoon the way a couple would bring their dog with them" and imagining a universe where soon-to-be-newlyweds anidala just let themselves (particularly anakin lbr) be weird with it early on. padmé recognizes that anakin is enamored and Not Normal about obi-wan, anakin grapples with what obi-wan really means to him, and the way this is executed is, naturally, to kidnap obi-wan, but like softly. like clumsily dropping a frog into water already boiling.

Obi-wan, come with us, we just want to share something with you very quickly. Yes, of course, Senator, Anakin, what is it exactly? and boom, it's their wedding. obi-wan standing as witness with the droids thinking, No…Are they serious? But why? But I'll have to snitch though. Is that the plan? Do they want me to snitch? but as soon as the ceremony is done they each take him by the arms, and start walking. What is the meaning of this, he says, and Do you know you'll have to leave the Order, Anakin, and Where are we going? obi-wan gradually feeling more panicked while padmé tries for pleasantries and anakin tries for apologies and promises that he'll take care of the issue on his own, and soon enough obi-wan realizes that they and padmé's attendants are leading him quite forcefully towards a craft. Oh, you'll love it there, padmé says. Where? obi-wan doesn't ask shrilly. Help, he says next, to someone they pass by, but he isn't sure exactly how or from what yet and so the plea doesn't come across as serious enough to act on. It'll be a good place to help you relax, anakin consoles. Where? obi-wan asks again. everyone is now inside the craft. they do not let go of his arms. Unhand me, he says, probably calmly, except no one does. surely he's not actually in any danger. WHERE are we GOING, Anakin- and the craft is up. the land he sees out the window appears farther and farther away. he's considering breaking and jumping right out of the window. anakin holds onto him tighter. Are you going to kill me to keep me quiet, obi-wan asks, because he has always been eloquent and clear. Of course not, anakin answers, and with an odd inflection adds, We're going to our honeymoon.

OUR honeymoon…?

Our honeymoon, it's confirmed, matter-of-factly.

in a few hours, obi-wan will be facing a beautiful shore, and whether or not he is anywhere close to relaxing is, well, up in the air.

BONUS: it doesn't take long for obi-wan to feel less like an outsider and more like it really is a honeymoon, one that he's an unwilling participant of, not separate but wholly part of it. the romantic dinners, the stay-in holovid nights, and perhaps most crucially, the scenic stroll on the beach.

except what "stroll on the beach" truly means is obi-wan is making his best attempt at an escape yet, gunning full-sprint on the shore where anakin's most hated type of surface should come in obi-wan's favor. still, anakin and a handful of attendants and droids are at his heels, but obi-wan is able to make it to a boat, one that could reach the shipyard, and he starts it before any of his pursuers can climb aboard as well. It's over, Anakin, he'll scream from his position at the wheel, because he can see the stubborn gleam in anakin's eyes. I have the high ground - which is to say, the boat's dock is too high for anakin to jump without the risk of obi-wan disrupting his landing in some way. and yet- anakin makes the leap, hurling high and far, reaching over the dock- where obi-wan throws the rope that the boat came with so that it tangles around anakin's legs and he stacks it. obi-wan quickly tries to wrestle the other so he can toss him over the side while simultaneously undoing the tangle so anakin doesn't just, like, drown.

it doesn't work, and as soon as anakin is free, they wrestle one another on a moving boat that neither of them are steering. You were the chosen one, obi-wan begins to roar, frustrations at last reaching a peak. You were supposed to bring balance to the force, not- not whatever this is-! ("this" being bring obi-wan to a holiday against his will to form an obtrusively romantic attachment post-"illegal marriage" while convincing him not to snitch; very unbalanced) at which point anakin may respond with something equally frazzled and dramatic as they pause to catch their breathes, something like, I hate you, and You always do this, to which obi-wan might say something like, Do what?

This! You never just let yourself go, you never let yourself be with who you love and admit you love them, and obi-wan might give an exasperated sigh that sounds like he's reconsidering the not-drowning and say, Anakin, i do love- love you, I never hid that- and anakin would likely cut him off to clarify that he doesn't mean that love, the one he can tell obi-wan is talking about, that generic and too-distant love that insists he always keep anakin and all else at arms length. he wants more than that, he has always wanted more than that. the kind of love that padmé tries and is willing to give him. the kind he's learned he wants from obi-wan and has for quite some time.

which is, of course, all well and good, and all things that need to be said; the beginning of a conversation and road that will take time for them to navigate now that the situation has come to this kind of head. still, it doesn't stop obi-wan from taking advantage of anakin being momentarily caught up in the moment. he has since before the start of the confession gone back to steering the boat to the honeymoon's exit.

once it's noticed and before obi-wan can try to get a word in response, anakin lunges.

[lazerswordweilder]

I have a headcanon about Anidala (Anakin x Padmé) which is that they got married after Ventress gave Anakin the scar over his eye not at the start of the clone wars, this is for many reasons.

1. Anakin was distraught with grief and a war had just started which was heavily involved with both Padmé and Anakin, neither were in their right minds to be making such a big decision

2. It allows some time between when they started dating and when they get married

3. It’s right after he got his scar because it was a reminder how they might die at any point and they wanted to be married

4. They got to be a little bit older before making such a big commitment even though they were still young

5. They have enough time to put together cool outfits, Anakin just wore his Jedi outfit and WHY. I’d imagine Padmés dress and hair is much more elaborate and Anakin puts on a suit (I’d imagine a darker colour but it could be anything from deep blue to look like space, to 501st blue, to red if he wanted to) and Padmé totally did Anakins hair up all dramatic

6. I’m not sure quite how the timelines match up but it means that the 501st (probably some of the 212th due to them knowing Anakin as a Padawan) will be able to get an invite and possibly Obi-Wan or maybe other Jedi or Senators depending on your other headcanons. For this post I’m just going to include the clones and a few others because I think it’s cool but it’s writers pick really.

And my favourite reason:

It means that they can be kidnapped.

They got kidnapped on their first date (when Anakin had to protect Padmé during AOTC (Attack Of The Clones), it was a horrendous date but a date nonetheless) and they can get kidnapped before their marriage (as I don’t want to ruin their big day by having a fight in the middle of it).

There are so many comparisons we can get through this

3PO and R2 having another grand old time together like in AOTC, more tolerable of each others presence, and dare I say friends, this time around

Instead of them going to rescue Obi-Wan they complain to each other while waiting for their rescue which consists of an absolutely livid battalion (probably more if some of the 212th want to come along) of battle hardened soldiers, at least one Jedi, a few Senators, and some droids who have scarily good programming and an intimate knowledge of Star Fighters and weapon systems.

You can see how Anakin and Padmé mature and their relationship gets healthier (I hate it when they’re relationship is toxic, I love them so much, if you can’t give them have a happy ending let them have a happy story, please). Which is shown in many different ways which I couldn’t possibly list all of them.

[galactic-rhea]

Hello there!

Since you seem to like Anidala is there a chance you'll be drawing Reylo? Their dynamics are quite similar but without the terrible ending

General Anonnobi.

I do love Padmé and Anakin! I love them in a very specific way (and i hope my art shows that lol)

That said, I have only watched the first movie from the sequel trilogy, so I don't really know the characters that well. Actually I watched it the 4th and somehow I feel like I forgot several bits of it 😆 But in that movie i didn't see.... anything pointing any relationship? Yet, at least???

And fun fact, I, for the longest time, thought Reylo was a character from some fandom unknown to me and that everyone hated....not a ship, IN FACT, I still from time to time just say Reylo instead of Kylo because my brain refuses to register it 😂😂

So, it all depends if I end liking them after watching the movies hahaha

[jessequinnfirstofhername]

controversial star wars opinion - I think anisoka gets too much of a bad rap. like honestly im surprised at how disliked (or outright despised) the ship is in the fandom. like yes I do see how there's a notable power imbalance since they are teacher/student, but I don't get the whole "age difference" point because they have basically the same age difference as padme and anakin. also, its not like anyone can't explore the idea of a romantic relationship between them when they're older. ahsoka didn't stop aging at 17. sorry that this is long, I just see a lot of untapped potential in their dynamic and im salty that theres such a stigma surrounding a fairly tame ship

Oh Anon, it's like you read my mind.

I'm extra salty that Anisoka has such a stigma attached to it, to the point where the it's practically radioactive when compared to ships like Obikin or even Anidala.

If we're going to start treating ships as radioactive because they have an unhealthy power imbalance, the SW fandom better invest in some heavy-duty hazmat suits.

Padme and Anakin have the same age gap, and Padme met Anakin when he was nine. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan raised Anakin from that same age, meeting him for the first time when he was in his twenties.

(I'm very aware that there are Obikin antis, but Anisoka seems to be treated as even more toxic)

I'm not saying that Obikin and Anidala deserve hate, they don't, I'm just saying it's strange that Anisoka is so disproportionately targeted.

Also, as you said, Ahsoka didn't stop aging at seventeen. In Ahsoka (the series) she's in her forties.

But, I'll be fair and briefly try to see it from the other side's point of view.

Unlike Anidala and Obikin, most of Anakin and Ahsoka's canon interactions happen when he's a grown man and she's an underage girl, and yes, the teacher/student aspect is understandably squicky to a lot of people.

Also, unfortunately, there is a lot of utterly revolting stuff out there depicting Anakin and Ahsoka that's set during The Clone Wars. I don't consider this garbage to be fan art, or representative of Anisoka fans. It's genuinely horrific and vile, and I think it really poisoned the well as far as perception of Anisoka goes.

(...and trust me, when I say something is horrific, I'm not exaggerating)

Anyway, time to ramble about my own Anisoka feelings!

I loved seeing Anakin growing fonder and fonder of Ahsoka in a completely platonic way over the course of The Clone Wars. It was a highlight of the series for me.

...but, my first introduction to Ahsoka Tano was through Rosario Dawson playing her in live-action, starting with The Mandalorian.

Part of me will always see Ahsoka Tano as a grown woman, played by an actress who has incredible chemistry with Hayden Christensen.

So can you blame me for shipping them?!

That's not even going into all the potential of their relationship.

I've got four Anisoka WIPs in my drafts right now, and they all approach the relationship from different angles. I found crafting each dynamic completely fascinating.

But I also find their platonic dynamic fascinating too. Across the Stars uses Anakin and Ahsoka's relationship to trigger a turning point in the plot, and another WIP of mine is a cute and platonic Clone Wars-era prompt that I'm loving as much as the Anisoka WIPs.

Now I need to apologize for rambling on too long!

...anyway, everyone please read my fics ;)

-Jesse xx

(...also is it just me, or can anyone else hear a hornet's nest buzzing?)

[darth-jess]

Which couple from another text, narrative, and story most reminds you of Anidala and why?

This prompt was posted by @skywalkr-nberrie in our lovely Anidala Forever Support Group.

This took me a while to think about, and it was SO HARD. Partly because there are so many great fictional couples that share similarities, but also because let’s be honest… there really aren’t many couples (at all) that can live up to the epic romance of Anidala.

But I finally settled on another of my favorite fictional couples as a great comparison to answer this question.

Paul Atreides and Chani Kynes from Dune.

(The book, please read the book, not the movie. The movie does a decent job, but the book is far better.)

Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family, is thrust into a treacherous power struggle over the desert planet Arrakis, the sole source of the galaxy’s most valuable substance, spice. Betrayed by the Emperor and other rival houses, Paul allies with the natives of Arrakis– the Fremen– and masters their ways so that he can embrace his destiny as their prophesied leader. Paul often struggles against his destiny, because he has visions that his actions will lead to the deaths (and genocide) of billions across many worlds (which is exactly what happens), but he also cannot escape it.

Chani Kynes is a Fremen warrior, and becomes Paul’s confidant and guide to the ways of the desert. She helps him navigate Fremen culture and helps him adapt to life on Arrakis. She is a grounding presence for Paul, supporting his transformation into the prophesied leader.

Paul and Chani fall in love and are married according to Fremen custom, but this marriage is not recognized by the Imperium. Because of the political situation, it becomes important for Paul to enter a political marriage with the Princess Irulan, daughter of the Emperor– which makes Paul the next Emperor of the known galaxy. He hates doing this, because he only wants to be with Chani, who officially (in the eyes of the Imperium) becomes Paul's concubine– but Paul only ever sees her as his true wife.

The Princess Irulan becomes jealous, because Paul never “goes to bed with her” and he is only ever with Chani. So she ends up poisoning Chani so that Chani cannot get pregnant. This makes Chani so upset, so she uses the powerful drug spice to counteract the poison. This allows her to get pregnant, but she uses the spice so much she ends up overdosing and Chani dies giving birth to twins. This devastates Paul, blinding him both emotionally and literally, then he wanders out into the desert in his grief to die.

Paul and Chani, like Anakin and Padmé, share a love that knows know bounds. Both couples share a love that is pure, and unwavering, all consuming and never ending. Both couples are surrounded by people and circumstances trying to pull them apart, both Anakin and Paul are deeply surrounded and troubled by prophecy. Both Chani and Padmé die in childbirth to twins. Both couples would do anything for each other, even destroy themselves– which they all do.

In the end, death is the only place where both couples are able to be together in peace.

Also, yes, George Lucas was absolutely inspired by Frank Herbert's Dune. You think it's pure coincidence that spice is also a drug in Star Wars? That Luke and Anakin came from a desert planet?

[flower1622]

I'm a big Percabeth stan here but I think your point of view is interesting. Is there a specific moment between them that made you "nope" out of it or was it just in general?

I think the couple is pretty cool. My real problem was with Annabeth. I just don't like whenever she calls him Seaweed Brain or kinda end up underestimating Percy. If it wasn't for this, they would still be one of my biggest ships. I don't think Annabeth is a bad person. She seems to really love and care about Percy, her friends and family. That's why I liked Annabeth from the movies and the series a little bit. They seem more mature and Annabeth from the series don't call him by the nickname very much and the one from the movie, none at all. I actually think the ship Percabeth reminds me of Lois Lane and Superman a little bit! The strong intelligent woman and the nice guy! They can be kinda dependent on each other many times, like they can't live without the other, but I would be a hypocrite if I said I really hate it since I like fanfics about Naruhina and Anidala that give the same vibe: the guy gets crazy if something happens to the girl or both are dependent on each other. So, yeah...I could say that I prefer Percabeth from the series and from some fanfics. Even though I like Annabeth from the movies a little bit more since she doesn't make fun of Percy, both actors had no chemistry at all. Percy had more chemistry with the actress who played Clarisse than with the girl he dated in real life (I didn't know about that 😅).