#i understand the anakin padme parallel

[chalupaswanswarm]

girls.

I was looking up some stuff when I found out about Etain Tur-Mukan, a jedi knight. And it turns out she married a clone. And I looked more into this. And you know what I find??

Look familiar?

...I dont think i can do this anymore

[padmestrilogy]

padme saying “i don’t know you anymore” the key to it all maybe..she’s fought with anakin before, she’s witnessed him do terrible things, but she’s never felt like she didn’t know him. their backstories parallel each other, they both had stolen childhoods, padme would’ve felt like anakin was one of the few people in the galaxy who could understand her—and in turn, she one of the few who could understand him. her “i don’t know you anymore” comes with an implied “and you must not have known me as as well as i thought, because this isn’t what i want.” she’s mourning the loss of her first (and really, only) real connection to another human in that scene. is it a little fucked for her prioritize that connection over the suffering of others? well yes . but also very romantic ...

[groove-on-boogie-down]

Just watched Attack of the Clones and noticed more parallels between Anakin Skywalker and Osha Aniseya.

(Long post ahead, with visuals!)

In AotC, Anakin's mother dies before she can tell him, "I love you," and Anakin descends down a path of destruction out of grief.

Osha force-chokes her father figure before he can say, "I love you," because she grieves his betrayal and the loss of her family.

Now these are very different forms of paternal love by Shmi and Sol, but I LOVE comparing and contrasting Anakin and Osha because these situations lead to different outcomes and reactions. Yet at the core, they have these strong emotions they hold inside. In the simplest form, they have both lost parents and both lost their mothers.

Both Osha and Anakin are born with the help of the Force, we know this. Anakin is born completely of the Force. Osha and Mae are born through their mother's magic augmented by the Force. Anakin didn't care for his home planet. He was born into slavery and trauma. But his mother loved him dearly. He left because he dreamt of better. To be a Jedi and return to free her too.

Osha came from a family that loved and protected her, but she longed for individuality and to explore the galaxy outside of their coven walls. Anakin finds his mother in her last moments, and the dark side takes over him. He seeks revenge and kills the Tusken camp out of rage.

Osha learns the man who raised her killed her mother. Her silent anger is simmering. She doesn't lash out the exact same way, she's in shock.

Their reactions work for both of them. Anakin had his emotions building inside of him. In his feelings of inadequacy, he tells Padme that he is used to fixing everything, but this is the one time he failed. Anakin thinks he lost his mother due to his own weakness and believes more power will prevent it in the future. However, he is also ashamed of how his anger manifests and the act he committed in the camp. Padme tells him, "To be angry is to be human." (And as I am typing this RotS is on and Palpatine tells him the same, that seeking revenge on Dooku is natural despite his unease). But because of his training, Anakin says, "I'm a Jedi. I know, I'm better than this."

Osha has power, but she doesn't realize it. Striking out at Qimir catches her off guard. Killing her master startles her to shock. She's not seeking power. Osha seeks an understanding of herself and to be understood. Just like Anakin, Osha believes she failed as a Jedi for showing her anger. For not being able to accept loss. Qimir pushes her to confront his realization, and similar to Padme, he tells her, "This anger, this pain. This is who you are."

Anakin and Osha descend to darkness in similar ways. They feel and emote in similar ways. The Jedi are not successful in teaching them how to healthily deal with their feelings. So these experiences mirror, but they are still distinct examples of Jedi that are seduced to the dark side.

To me, Anakin Skywalker and Osha Aniseya are incredibly compelling characters that are only strengthened when analyzed together. End.

[the-far-bright-center]

Re: Obitine and Anidala

I originally wrote this in response to @marvelstars' excellent post on the subject, but I wanted to share it again because it's one of many topics in which I have a differing view from the prevailing fandom perspective.

Above all, it truly drives me nuts how the fandom pits these two relationships against each other. I'm a die-hard Anidala shipper and when I first watched TCW, I was DELIGHTED by the Obitine ship. I saw nothing about it that made me think it was supposed to be viewed as somehow 'better' or more 'ideal' than Anidala. I only ever saw it as a relationship that was more suited to Obi-Wan's character and personality. Not to mention that Padme and Satine are presented as friends who get along well and go on adventures together to right political wrongs, much in the same vein that Anakin and Obi-Wan go on their many military exploits together. The story sets them up as two couples who, in an a more ideal timeline, would be besties who go on double dates together. In my opinion, fandom's insistence on viewing them through the lens of 'which one is a 'morally better couple' is completely missing the point. Personally, I see them as two sides of the same coin.

Since @marvelstars' post was specifically about these two couples as they relate to the idea of commitment to the Jedi Order, I also focused on that angle. Imo, the way Obitine's relationship panned out made sense for their characters and context. Just like Anidala's makes sense for theirs. Obi-Wan and Satine met each other as young adults and had a whole year 'on the run' together before having to say their farewells, whereas Anakin and Padme first meet as children, then re-meet and fall in love over a short span of time, and then suddenly their world is at war and they are facing imminent, possibly indefinite, separation. That's why they marry while still remaining in their respective Jedi and Senator roles, because they feel it might be their only chance to have anything resembling the family they both long for. They understand that they might not survive the war. Whereas Obi-Wan and Satine had first met when Satine's world was already enmeshed in civil war, and then they parted once peace was reestablished and their lives were no longer in immediate danger. And when they meet again during the Clone Wars, it's a wholly different scenario and things have drastically changed (she is the head of a neutral system, he is already established as a general in a war she is opposed to). They are also older, in their 30s, while Anakin and Padme embody the headstrong impetuosity and passion of young love. So it's not as though Obi-Wan and Satine are going to drop everything and enter a committed relationship/marriage in that context in the same way Anakin and Padme do in theirs (when, notably, Anakin is still a padawan and about to be sent to the frontlines to fight in a war for the first time).

As mentioned above, when I was watching TCW I never thought that the purpose of showing both of these relationships in contrasting-parallel to one another was somehow to demonstrate that one was more 'sacrificial' for remaining in the Order and giving up the relationship while the other was more 'selfish' for trying to have both at the same time. Rather, what I feel the story is actually saying is something completely different. It's important to remember that both of these relationships involve a Jedi and the political leader to whom he had originally been assigned as a bodyguard. What is the significance of that? Well, I would argue it's more than just a romantic trope. When I watch Lucas-era Star Wars, I'm always aware that the characters have both an immediate role in-story as well as a symbolic function. Satine, a pacifist, can be seen to represent Peace. Padme, as a Senator, stands for Justice and the rights of the people. And what is it that Obi-Wan says to Luke all those years later? That the Jedi were 'the guardians of Peace and Justice in the old Republic'. This strikes me as hugely significant. Especially if we understand that the Jedi Order had lost its way as of the Prequels-era. While the fandom focuses on which couple is 'better' because of how their relationship affects each Jedi's respective commitment to the Order, I see it from a completely different angle. My understanding is that the Jedi's TRUE purpose (in relation to their role within the Republic) was actually to dedicate their lives to protecting Peace and Justice and those who truly upheld these ideals in the galaxy. Obi-Wan and Anakin's actual callings in life should have been to protect Satine and Padme, whom they loved. Whether this manifested in a more chivalric, courtly love scenario or an outright marriage is immaterial. Rather, what matters is that being a Jedi and dedicating their lives to these women due to their love for them was not incompatible with their role as protectors and defenders of the galaxy, but was in fact the truest expression of it. The so-called 'commitment' to the Order itself was never truly the point, and that's the tragedy of the Prequels-era. Because it was the Order that had by this point forbidden love and family, and which had embroiled Obi-Wan and Anakin and the rest of the Jedi in a war that went against their own principles. A war that, it could be argued, ultimately lead to the deaths of both Satine and Padme, and with them Peace and Justice—the very values that the Jedi were supposed to protect and serve.

[marvelstars]

Does it bothers you when people are like "Leia is so Anakin coded" or "Leia is so alike both Ani and Padme" while completely reducing Luke to "Padme in a boy's body". I have seen a few edits of the twins on tik tok lately and always when the video is about the parallels between Anakin and Luke the comments go "No. That is wrong. Luke is like Padme and Leia is like Anakin", or "you get the twins right, anakin-Leia, luke-padme".

And I have tbh, that pisses me off a bit, mostly on Luke's behalf since he is my fave, cause while I totally agree Luke has a lot of similarities with Padme, he also is alike Anakin in so many ways. And it upsets me a little people just trying to erase everything they have in common just to support this narrative. (Main reason why I don't like the reverse AU, or Senator Luke fics. The ones I have read just straigh up pushed this narrative, putting his love to fly, his passion, and many things that makes Luke be Luke to the side only to make him be a version of Padme)

It is also upsetting for Leia, since she is far away from being 100% like Anakin. They are both passionate and determined people, yes, but this doesn't make her be "Ani 2.0". And this narrative also completely dismiss the existence of Bail and Breha on her upbringing.

Both twins share a lot of similarities with both of their parents in different and intricated ways, with a lot of their own personality on the mix, what makes them unique. It baffles me see them being reduced to charicatures of their parents.

I agree with you, I understand fandom wants to have fun with memes but sometimes they go too far, Leia and Luke ultimately are their own persons and tbh those takes also do a big disservice to Anakin and Padme characters´reducing their arc and personality terribly and ignoring Owen, Beru, Bail and Breha influence on the twins emotional development.

But I will focus on Luke and his relationship to Anakin here.

Luke is a strong force sensitive with a good aptitude towards mechanical work, he is passionate, short tempered, idealist, has big dreams for the future, excellent pilot and soldier who cares more than anything for friends and family and causes he considers just, he is also kind and compassionate even if this doesn´t come easily to him, just like Anakin was at his age.

That said, he is also down to earth, pragmatic and has a no non-sense actitude when it comes to other people, see his reaction to Han trying to scam them on their travel to Alderaan, he doesn´t suffer people trying to make him feel inferior because he knows his own personal value, those are characteristics he got for being raised by his uncle and aunt, sure they lived on a desert planet full of Hutts, slavers, criminals and bounty hunters but they lived an honest way of life and didn´t believe they owned either group an ounce of their honest work, they only ever owned it to their family.

Anakin´s experiences shaped him differently on this matter, given his life as slave his mother teached him the art of bend,dont break by keeping his identity intact, this made him more susceptible to be ordered around by the Chancellor, the Jedi Council, the Republic sometimes even Padme even if this meant sacrificing his original hopes of freeing his mother, the slaves of tatooine and having a family.

Anakin developed low self esteem issues when he got separated from his mother because he no longer had her unconditional support and knew the reason why he was trained by the Jedi was contingent to his habilities and what he could do for the Order, not because he as a person, was important or would have been chosen for himself as a Jedi if he wasn´t so strong in the force but he learned to keep his real self buried and protected from outside forces while using the systems controlling him to his advantage. Palpatine managed to break him but even Vader was able to keep part of his real self alive despite the Emperor´s many efforts to turn him completely to the darkside ,which Luke noticed thanks to his bond to his father.

Those characteristics Luke got from his Uncle and Aunt served Luke well when he confronted the Emperor, Obi-Wan and Yoda, he already was interested in being a Jedi because of his father but this didn´t mean he was going to blindly follow whatever order Yoda and Obi-Wan gave him as much as he personaly appreciated and loved them as people and masters in the force and he certainly wasn´t going to act as if the Emperor wasn´t trying to destroy his familiar bond to his father when he didn´t even know the guy, took his father from him before he was born and was the rebellion´s main adversary, all Palpatine was for Luke was an objetive to kill on sight and Palpatine knew this, that´s why he temped him to the darkside by giving him the oportunity to kill him. Luke is also of the mind that if he doesn´t agree with something and that something is the source of great pain for others he is 100% justified in destroying it, see Jabba´s palace, the death star, the Empire. Anakin´s style is more "I know the system doesn´t work, it sucks but I will be damned if I don´t try to fix it or work around it" because he often feel as if he had no other choice.

Many fans take for granted the fact Luke forgave his father as his main personality trait when the opposite is the truth, Luke wasn´t a stranger to violence because he lived on a planet in which if you didn´t learn to take care of yourself you could die and as part of the rebellion he wasn´t a stranger to killing imperials and losing loved ones to the cause, the interesting thing about Luke´s CHOICE of saving his father isn´t that it was part of his nature all along, it´s the fact that´s pretty much agaisn´t his natural temperament, saving Vader went agaisn´t his natural care for family, Vader may be his father but he hurt his friends and Leia, saving Vader was the least pragmatic choice acording to his identity as a rebel and Jedi, saving Vader went agaisn´t his own feelings of abandoment and yearning for a father feeling betrayed by Anakin´s turn to the darkside.

Still Luke made this choice because he felt how utterly isolated and broken Vader was and he cared enough for the image of the father he never knew, a father he knew could still be there, to show him some uncomplicated, familiar love once again, the kind his aunt and uncle showed him, if only for Luke´s own peace of mind that he truly tried everything to make his father feel better, while his pragmatic side took care of things by letting Leia know about his mission and telling her they had to attack the DSII anyway even if he was there because the cause of freeing the galaxy from the Empire was still more important than his personal feelings and issues with his father.

The narrative gives Luke the victory, saving his father from the darkside which lead to the destruction of the Emperor and the Empire, for being loving and compassionate despite this not coming natural to him but as part of his personal grow and maybe, as the legacy of the two women who shaped his family without him meeting them, Shmi and Padme and the person his father used to be.

Luke and the Skywalker family in general are waaay more than some fans give them credit.

Thanks for the question anon

[imanopossum]

since some people somehow think she’s abusive, what are your thoughts on creelby?

excellent question op i’m gonna talk about star wars

so actually first off we look at the overarching theme of the play: love conquers evil

this theme is present throughout stranger things when it’s related to the mind flayer. the gang got will to communicate with them by reminding him of happy memories. el was able to get through to billy by talking about his mother.

the difference with henry is he didn’t have anyone to help him fight the mind flayer, until patty. and he didn’t have anyone after patty. the tragedy of his story is it could have ended very differently if he had someone to love him. after patty he just sort of had nothing left to fight for (see his line “i’m tired of fighting it”) and the mind flayer just consumed him

ok now i’m gonna get autistic about star wars

there are so many parallels between henry and anakin, that’s probably another post in and of itself, so i’m just gonna focus on anakin and padme and henry and patty. (i 100% believe anakin was an inspiration when the duffers wrote henry)

for starters it’s both “forbidden love” with virginia and father newby not wanting henry and patty to be together. it’s the same with ani and padme, he’s a jedi and she’s a senator so it’s frowned upon to be in a relationship.

henry and ani are both very troubled souls, gifted with abilities they don’t fully understand sometimes, mommy issues, and are being manipulated by someone promising them greater power. (the mind flayer/brenner and palpatine)

their shared downfall: wanting to save their loved ones

as we all know if we’ve seen star wars ani has a dream vision of padme dying in childbirth and is obsessed with preventing this from happening. palpatine convinces him to kill to gain more power to save her. obviously, palpatine lied and padme still died. and this broke anakin, leaving him with nothing to fight for, forever in palpatines service.

and now with henry: henry has a vision of the mind flayer telling him he will kill patty. he desperately tries to prevent this. he tells her to run away out of town to protect her. meanwhile brenner is egging him on to kill to gain more power. and of course, patty still “dies” and henry is left with nothing to fight for, forever in brenner’s captivity.

remarkably similar, no?

patty and padme both act as a calming voice of reason for henry and ani. they are a source of comfort in their awful lives. and they’re the only ones able to counteract who’s manipulating them. patty telling henry “i love you” allowed henry to fight off the mind flayer and save father newby. padme was attempting to make anakin see reason about palpatine overthrowing the republic for before obi-wan showed up and set him off again.

but in the end, henry and ani both lost who they were trying to save through desperate measures and ended up in the servitude of the one manipulating them.

now…as for why some people think patty is abusive? no clue my friend, i have racked my brain for what could possibly be perceived as abuse or assault and can find nothing that makes any sense whatsoever. so yeah

anyways, thanks for the ask, i love any chance to talk about anakin to henry pipeline!

[theisleisfullofnoises]

STAR WARS RANT INCOMING!

If I could change two things about the entire Star Wars canon, I would firstly make Anakin Skywalker 14 years old in The Phantom Menace.

It fixes so much that doesn’t work about the prequels.

The Jedi Council evaluation: He’s too angry? A kind, empathetic boy who had been raised a slave on a hard world run by the biggest criminal empire in the galaxy - of course. Of course he would be. That kind of injustice would burn so deeply - at 14, he would not just be a witness to the wrongs, he would understand them, and that’s why he would be “too old”. The Jedi Council would clock immediately that this boy had learned how to hate, in a way so deeply entrenched that no amount of training and meditation would wash that away.

Make him 14, and the Jedi Council goes from a bunch of dicks to instead a bunch of misguided dicks in a way that makes mores sense with the Clone Wars portrayals.

At 14, Anakin would be YOUNG but believable as a genius pilot. Qui Gon gambling on the pod race, him defeating the Trade Federation control ship? An incredible feat! But not ridiculous, as it kinda is in the movie. Also, 13-14 is older enough that I believe he could convince his mother to let him compete at all. If my 8-9 year old was flying in homicidal death races, I would lose my shit. No. Just no.

It’s also more believable (and significantly less creepy) that a 14 year old Anakin could meet Padme, 17-18yo herself, bond innocently in the circumstances and have that develop into a deep love and admiration when they meet again older. So much less cringe!!!

That’s #1 what I would change.

#2 is that I would rewrite Anakin and Padme’s entire doomed narrative.

Padme and Anakin needed parallel character arcs over the course of the wars up until RotS, as the war pushed them father and farther from each other ideologically until finally ending with him tearing down the Republic as she raised the Rebellion to fight the Empire put in its place (which is canon and got cut).

Lucas wrote the tragedy that Anakin killed her because he thought she had betrayed him when she hadn’t - the tragedy should have been because she HAD.

Also, stfu with whole “she has lost the will to live”, I defy you to say Padme would not cling screaming to life every second she could to leave her children a safer galaxy.

Anyway, these aren’t the only things one could change to improve the Star Wars canon, but I think they would have the biggest overall positive impact. We get left with an older Anakin, heroic, full of the desire to do good, and only too aware of the injustices and hypocrisy that surround him in the Order, already walking the knife edge of love and bitterness.

What dya think? I would love to hear other opinions!

[sithaari]

Somebody really said that "Padme is the dollar store version of Leia"... I'm ready to throw hands, but most of all: why compare the two when we can just like the BOTH OF THEM??? They are both similar but also have unique characteristics.

female characters in any piece of media are often pitted against each other, but people get really uppity about feminine women. they're almost always more heavily criticized. padme likes fashion, is romantic, and wants to get married and have children. and star wars fans don't know how to handle that because padme is also intelligent, brave, and a capable leader. but, y'know, she wears dresses, so the fandom will use the most backwards logic to explain why padme is actually a horrible, selfish person. and then they'll frame it as some kind of feminist hot take.

and to compare padme negatively to leia is wild because they share so many similar traits, often acting as parallels to one another. but star wars fans don't like that either because padme is too much of a girly girl. leia is the cool action girl. she doesn't like wearing dresses (except when she does). she's not interested in romance (except when she is). she doesn't care about all that boring political shit (except she was literally a senator and the crown princess of alderaan). and it's not like padme was much of a fighter or a rebel (except when she was both of those things).

but i came to the conclusion a long time ago that many fans simply don't understand either padme or leia. they're often not treated like actual characters but self-inserts for fans to project onto. so-called padme fans who hate anakin will argue that she deserved better, but their version of 'better' includes padme trying to kill anakin on mustafar. which goes against everything padme is as a person. or she should have fallen in love with obi-wan or sabe. she should have survived to raise her children. she should have survived to lead the rebellion and kill vader. she should have suspected that palpatine was a sith lord. she should have expected anakin's fall to the dark side. so many people in this fandom have an idea on what they think padme should be rather than just empathizing with who she actually is in the damn movies.

and leia has become a mix of everything. she would never fall to the dark side because she's so morally superior, except she's even more drawn to the dark side than luke is. she'd be a better jedi than luke and a more powerful sith than vader. except she'd be neither of those things because all that force nonsense is stupid. like this fandom doesn't even know who the fuck leia is because people turn her into whatever they want to fit a particular narrative. and ngl sometimes it comes across as bitterness over luke and anakin being the main focus of the story. and i'm saying this as someone who really does like leia. but it's annoying how leia is often praised at the expense of other characters, particularly padme because she's not some nerd's idea of a 'strong' female character.

[rakatan]

the thing about comparing anakin and elzar is…we’re doing it wrong. their minor parallels don’t serve to highlight their similarities but rather they serve to emphasize their significant differences.

upon reading that elzar has yet to reach masterhood naturally our minds will gravitate toward anakin. it gives us the readers something to base elzar against while we watch his character unfold. elzar’s continued knighthood is surprising due to this innate comparison. he’s not too young, he’s not inexperienced, he’s not troubled, he’s not being manipulated into the council by the chancellor…elzar is simply not the easiest to work with. that’s all. his sporadic explorations without explanations lead his fellows to find him difficult and to the council, that reason is enough. while anakin’s masterhood being delayed is understandable, reasonable, and not unfair, elzar’s is. the difference here emphasizes that even within the jedi, those who do not fit into perfected molds are often inherently punished for doing so.

he thought it was unfair. he didn’t care about other jedi’s paths through the force—why should they concern themselves with his? he just wanted to follow his road where it led.

their reactions to this delayed masterhood also differ. this mistreatment irritates elzar since none of his innovations put others in harm's way, but his willingness to fail outshines the incredible knowledge he contributes to the order. and although he might disagree with the council’s decision he will still abide by them and listen to their judgment. it again emphasizes that elzar is older and has a level of emotional maturity that anakin was never allowed to reach.

when we learn that elzar and avar had a romantic relationship in the past our minds also jump to the forbidden relationship between a jedi and republic senator. especially considering one of elzar and avar’s first scenes elzar suggests retirement on the same island anakin and padme got married on. elzar’s differences from anakin are highlighted again when we watch him let go of avar in the epilogue of light of the jedi. elzar loves avar and he always will, but his attachment to her at this moment was not consuming him completely. avar reaches out to hold his hand and he reminds her that “we are jedi,” she invites him to dance and he declines until later, elzar describes his emotions with intensity but elzar also lets go. their relationship was never dangerous and the emotional intimacy they do maintain is enough for him.

avar was a friend. a fellow jedi master. they’d agreed long ago that’s all they would ever be. and it was enough. truly, it was.

the most common comparison i see drawn between these two is the usage of the dark side. understandably so, elzar is one of the only jedi in the high republic to tap into the dark side but the reason why he does differentiates him from anakin and even his closest peers. elzar doesn’t use the dark side to take lives, he doesn’t use the dark side to appease his own selfish desires, elzar uses the dark side to save a group of jedi. in his typical fashion elzar finds solutions and at his lowest point, in the middle of a battlefield, elzar sees that he can use his emotions to save lives. the build-up to this moment was written incredibly well, it combines elzar’s innovative mind, overly compassionate heart, and the emotional anguish that has been plaguing him for months. in contrast to other jedi and anakin, elzar has pure intentions even though his actions may not result in the best of outcomes.

"we have a jedi who does flirt to the dark side and realizes what road he's going down, where instead of embracing it, goes to a friend and says, "i need help." we didn't want elzar to be anakin 2.0." - cavan scott

the generalizations between these two often do their characters a disservice by ignoring their defining differences. differences that are intentionally being highlighted to further the contrast of each era and the contrast of the two as individuals.

[padawansuggest]

I’m pretty sure a lot of people read “these two people don’t understand each other” as “these two people hate each other” most of the time. No, they just need to be given the chance to actually communicate in a language they both fully understand (violence).

They don’t understand each other. But I bet you anything that if Cody and Anakin were sitting down in a tense moment (maybe Obi-Wan getting hurt maybe he’s just not available but they’re both worried for some reason, maybe he was the only person Padme allowed in the birthing room it seems possible that Padme would want Anakin a little bit away to lessen their bond and following canon Obi-Wan WAS the first to hold the twins and I think even Anakin would be pleased with that and I like thematic parallels sometimes, but their Obi-Buffer isn’t there rn but I like a lot of ideas for this) and Anakin just suddenly blurts out something concerning like that the chancellor had told him he’d be kicked from the order for being in love or rambling on about being alone with Palps as a kid while Cody on the other hand knows the chancellor sorta forced the council into that one, and Cody just sorta… softens.

It’s not that he’s all ‘oh poor baby’ at that so much as ‘this seems a lot like how the alphas and older clones would get the little ones away from one-on-one time with the trainers at all costs’ or something of the sort and they just sorta talk a bit and Cody is all ‘holy shit this child is very lied to and scared’ and as an older brother of children who are constantly lied to and scared but being old enough to be one of the clones that remembers the mess ups and the bad conduct at the beginning he knows he KNOWS that a lot of what Anakin is saying is messed up and he needs some help, someone that GETS it if nothing, and just sorta talks to him a bit.

Honestly it wouldn’t take much talking too get Anakin to see some things and put Cody in a sibling/parent place in his life but the cement is the sparring they get into later where Cody kicks his ass but instead of Obi-Wan’s (as much as I love him) poetic talk about his flaws and strengths he gets a talking to about exactly how he gets cocky and why that needs to change and Ani is all ‘🥺 daddy?’ And Cody is all *scoff* ‘do I LOOK like your daddy-‘ and it’s beautiful. Cody has a new baby brother now.

[padme-amitabha]

In retrospect, it makes sense why GL spent so much time focusing on the romance in the movies. In fact, his earliest concepts in the prequels all involve Anakin and Padme when he could have just introduced her as someone Anakin had an affair with in later life or as a love interest. But the narrative does treat them as one. I think it's easier to understand and explain character choices if we view them as Anakin-Padme rather than Anakin and Padme. I think when you do see them as Anakin-Padme instead of Anakin and Padme there's not too much discourse about their characters (like why would Anakin/Padme choose each other or act this way etc etc).

Even when Anakin did some questionable things (like the Tusken massacre) Padme is always on his side unflinchingly. Always agreeing with him. Instead of at least asking his reasoning when he admits to these things, she says it's natural to feel that way. She seems like the voice of his psyche trying to rationalize it. The fact that she is always on his side is strange for a regular love interest. At least to me when I was watching the movies sometimes Padme's responses to him feels like what Anakin himself is thinking or already knows (like when he is ranting about Obi-Wan and she gently reminds him he means well which I think Anakin already knows so he calms down). That's why we barely see them fighting or disagreeing in the movies (save for Mustafar). And even the AOTC novelization highlights much of their similarities. Their differences lie in their roles but they are individuals who share core values. They value loyalty to people over duty (remember Padme wanted to let everything else go if Anakin came with her on Mustafar) and I have already delved into the similarities between Vader and Amidala and how they influenced each other.

Then there's the mystical nature of the force introduced in the OT that is similar to how Anakin at 9 knew for sure he would marry Padme. Wouldn't any love interest question that rather than agreeing with him? It's very likely he has a crush but Padme in her journal does believe the same. Padme even after their marriage is aware of his flaws but she still considers him too personal to ever hold him accountable for anything. We also see a lot of parallels of their deaths - when Anakin and Padme are simultaneously "dying". Although Anakin survives it, he refuses to be Anakin anymore and I think part of the reason Vader lived is because he dissociated and stopped viewing himself as Anakin because there was no Padme. Again, when he sees Luke doing the same for him as Padme does he realizes a part of Padme exists and he himself feels like he could be Anakin again (and also interestingly he dies soon enough after he becomes Anakin to join her with the Force). So, as long as he considered himself as Anakin there was always a Padme beside him - rationalizing him, supporting him, knowing all his flaws and loving and validating him. Vader was almost a ghost of Anakin - not as he used to be but Anakin nonetheless) and he is shown to be haunted by Padme's ghost (not the Padme he knew but Padme nonetheless). So when Anakin is afraid of losing her it can be a metaphor for losing himself - which he does by selling his soul to the devil (Palpatine).

Then we see an almost telepathic connection/force bond in ROTS novelization where they can hear each other's thoughts and send messages. They must be there in the story for a reason. And the even fire-water parallels for their funerals do establish the yin/yang aspect of their relationship. And it's beautiful to establish that, I think, as they would go on to make children who would save the galaxy.

I love that Lucas included mythology in Star Wars. Is it only based on Greek/Roman mythology though?

John Williams referred to Star Wars as a “cross-cultural mythology” and I completely agree with that.

In regards to Anidala, I can definitely see some parallels from Indian mythology. The concept of “Ardhagini” or soulmates/two halves of one soul is taken very seriously in Hinduism compared to other religions. Most (eastern) religions don’t see passionate love as a positive thing since it may be a distraction from the spiritual path while others are indifferent to it but attachment is always seen in a positive light in Hinduism (such as in The Ramayana) rather than showing that it has tragic consequences.

The concept of avatar or incarnation is mostly associated with Vishnu (God of the heavens) who is reborn into the world to restore balance in the universe (very much like Anakin) and in every lifetime, he falls in love with the avatar of his heavenly consort Lakshmi (the mother goddess of wealth, love and beauty). One of Lakshmi's epithets is Padmā, meaning ‘she who is mounted upon or dwelling in a lotus’. Well, most of her epithets are associated with a lotus, which is the meaning of Padme’s name. Naboo culture, in general, is very much based on Indian and South Asian culture so it’s not improbable that Indian mythology partly inspired the love story. Vishnu is also associated with the color blue since he’s the God of the heavens and the skies and the name Skywalker may also be inspired by that and the fact that Anakin is also frequently associated with the color blue (blue lightsaber, the blue side of the dice representing him in TPM).

Vishnu and Lakshmi fall in love at first sight as Rama and Sita because they are destined to be together in every lifetime, even though they are unaware that they are a divine couple in heaven. I think Anakin falling in love with Padme the moment he saw her in TPM is similar to that. Anakin immediately recognizes there’s something divine about Padme and he knows for certain she’s the one he’s going to marry. While this line did not make the cut in the movie, it is present in the script and also the novelization. While the gods in Greek/Roman mythology aren’t exactly known to be faithful, Hinduism gives great emphasis on fidelity and the fact that there is only one person destined for someone and it’s impossible to fall in love with a different soul.

The most well-known incarnation of Vishnu, Krishna, also falls in love with Radha, one of the Avatars of Lakshmi. Even though they marry different people in their lifetime (though Krishna did marry another avatar of Lakshmi since it is possible to have multiple avatars), they are considered to be spiritually married because they are equals and soulmates. The story of Krishna and Radha is one of the most well-known and transcendental romances in South Asia. There are also different interpretations of marriage and since worldly marriage refers to the union of two souls, it is quite different for them since they were one soul. Radha never consummated her marriage with her husband for what she shared with Krishna was an eternal and spiritual love that defied all social norms. Radha was also about 5 years older than Krishna which is why their (worldly) marriage was also discouraged by others but they had loved each other since they were children. In TPM, Anakin is in love with Padme and while Padme does not reciprocate his romantic feelings, she is certain that their fates are bound together (in Queen Amidala’s journal). She also tells Anakin her love for him is a puzzle - which may refer to the fact that it was inevitable and the will of the Force. Since Star Wars is heavily based on mythology, I always saw Anakin and Padme sharing the same kind of devotional love in the sense they were destined to be and they were truly soulmates who completed each other. Hence, we don’t ever see Clovis or other love interests or love triangles in the movies because that would be very unnecessary.

Krishna tells Radha he is her and she is him and they are considered to be the yin and the yang. They also represent different ideologies (such as Radha represents the human soul and Krishna the god, as well as other ideologies in Hinduism while some argue Radha wasn’t real and just the ideal feminine, other half of Krishna) so it is not just about two people. Krishna and Radha would often switch clothes too since they considered themselves to be the same person. Krishna would not be Krishna without Radha and in one sense, Anakin was not the same without Padme. I still believe Anakin and Vader is the same person and not different identities but Anakin lost his true identity after he lost Padme.

I don’t have a vast knowledge of Norse mythology but a follower pointed out there’s some connection with the name Skywalker here. There are some influences from Egyptian mythology too IMO since Anakin married Padme using the pseudonym of Set who is the Egyptian God of deserts, chaos, and destruction. His sister-wife Nepthys is associated with mourning, childbirth, and the dead, which would be fitting for Padme in ROTS.

[padmestrilogy]

about your 'the idea of Padme choosing to die remains a huge taboo' post, I suppose is because it just doesn't make much sense to just die like she did, or at least not with everything that happened. There were no signs of Padme being close to give birth before she went to Mustafar, all that stress that happened and to make things worse, Anakin quite literally choked her until she feel unconscious, a pregnant woman! It's a bit weird for jer to go through that and then finding out that wasn't the direct cause of her death, it might even be a bit of taking some of the blame from Anakin just to lessen the disgusting crime'.

I don't doubt some fans are actually being unfair to padme 's character, but I think many are just upset with lucas choices with her death, because it could have been very easy to just say the choking was the cause of death, or the pain of going to a double partum, or complications at birth, just anything but the heart broken thing. There's a reason why is always a 'Anakin killed her' in ppl's memory, or the 'Sidius sucked her life ', rather than what happened in the movie, because the first one makes more sense and is more logical than the other and it changes very, very little for the movies. Vader already thinks he killed her and in a emotional sense it is what happened, so what would change if he actually killed her? Besides making him just slightly less terrible

well i'm working on a lengthy essay about this, and hopefully in the future i can just paste that whenever people have questions. but in the meantime i will say:

-i would absolutely call anakin padme's murderer. i have, plenty of times. it is his actions that drive her to suicide. even if he does not kill her in the most literal sense, he kills her hope for the future, which in star wars is the most sacred thing of all.

-i don't think it's "lessening" anakin's "crime" to say his force choking isn't the exact cause of her death. anakin's force choking is still treated as the height of villainy within the narrative and what completes his fall to the dark side.

-i'm not against people being upset with lucas' writing choices. i am that, every day of my stupid life. i am upset with people denying padme autonomy in their readings of the text, refusing to engage with the character as written, and acting like the logic of padme's death doesn't fit perfectly within the prequel's stylistic reality: allegorical space opera, where big things happen fast.

-all of the alternatives you list, from choking to a difficult birth to sidious, deny padme autonomy and agency over her death. with her rebellion founding scenes cut, padme only makes three active choices in revenge of the sith: to have children, to go to anakin on mustafar, and to die. i wish she made more choices than these, of course. i don't think the answer here is erasing any of these choices or refusing to think about why she might make them.

-i also don't think it's helpful to go "well this would've been easier to understand, so it's the correct artistic choice." that's a non-starter. not to mention the facts of padme's death are explained to us very straightforwardly. the real illogical stretches here are the sidious theory or the anakin misunderstanding. you have to actively ignore huge swathes of the text to come to either of those conclusions.

-padme's death is perfectly logical once you accept the story on it's own terms. anakin's rage sustains his difficult rebirth as vader; padme's overwhelming grief kills her. these scenes are paralleled for a reason. it's abstract, image-reliant filmmaking that prioritizes emotion and movement. it's star war. we see the personification of unconditional love die as we see the personification of violent hate rise. this would not be improved by a space gynecologist .

[thatswhatsushesaid]

k i'm gonna just put a pin in the whole "was jgy actually massacring multiple sects of 40+ people just for demonic cultivation date nights with xue yang" ('meat cute' anyone? ..I'll see myself out) or the "is wwx's capacity for gruesome violence inherently morally[1] inferior/superior to jgy's" disc horse for another time and move on

no one criticizing willfully bad faith takes about jin guangyao is trying to turn wei wuxian into the novel's villain when they bring up his actions in relation to what jin guangyao has done. no one is actually saying that jgy is not the principle antagonist in the novel. we can read. that is his role in the story, his goals and priorities end up in opposition to wwx's, and wwx is the protagonist. and, to my knowledge, there are no legit wen chao simps chomping at the bit to justify his eradication of the jiang sect at lotus pier. unless there are! in which case apologies to any wen chao simps who may read this post, your simping is valid. (also: bold choice. weird, but bold.)

what we are saying: the text intentionally sets up jgy and wwx as narrative parallels to each other. the text intentionally provides us with unreliable narrators as our lens through which we must view 95% of jgy's actions, first in the form of wwx (please don't @ me about his reliability, this man's spotty memory is meme-worthy, contentious legislation pass through parliament with more alacrity than his self-awareness wrt his relationship with lan wangji), then through wwx's interpretation of nmj's resentment-fuelled recollection of the past as a literal fierce corpse, then through sect leader yao formulating his extemporaneous[2] magnum opus of a condemnation narrative about jin rusong's death, after the witness testimony about jgy's marriage to qin su and super fucked up murder of his father. like, I hope it is understood why no one should be using testimony from sect leader yao as the foundation of their understanding for any character in this novel, period. /rattles the bars of my enclosure, do not trust sect leader yao!! he is the weathervane conservative mp, any time you end up in agreement with him should make you p a u s e and re-evaluate.

my point: mdzs is a fucked up little world filled with fucked up cultivation world politics and crimes and atrocities, and our most reliable window into this world is, unfortunately, wei "oh yeah I forgot about that plot detail" wuxian. more than that, his priority in the narrative is understandably not focused on solving the mystery (read: not a mystery) of why all of jgy's motivations, actions, and decisions are measured against a standard set so much higher than the one the rest of the cultivation world has to contend with (spoilers, it's classism). it's up to the reader to spot the context clues, often in the form of bits of overheard commentary provided by the common people in the background of some other major plot event that is unfolding, or in an aside by wwx himself where he reflects, "huh, maybe it's my own bias impacting my ability to read this situation clearly." I'm paraphrasing here but you get what I'm saying.

tl;dr the least interesting discussion we could possibly have about jgy and wwx is whether either of them are Good or Bad Guys Deep Down, particularly when evidence for either of these positions are provided by the novel's unreliable narrators and witnesses, but for some reason that's the discussion the jgy antis seem hellbent on having, and it's boring.

--

[1] I cannot stress to you how microscopic my interest is in some bible study-adjacent debate on morality in a danmei novel about necromancy, revenge killing, and the willful desecration of human remains. the extent to which I just do not give a fuck about this particular brand of disc horse is vast and limitless.

[2] inserts the padme amidala and anakin skywalker square meme here like we all understand that sect leader yao's statement about jin rusong's murder is based on speculation and not even circumstantial evidence, right? ...we understand that, right?

[girlrandomstuff]

Leia Organa in Obi Wan Kenobi is the best thing

Okay I'm bringing this back because Leia in Kenobi has been reducted (by some fans) to “Leia and Anakin & Padme parallels” only.

When Leia in Obi Wan Kenobi has so much meaning, so much dept, so much importance than just being the rhyme of Anakin and Padme.

Her arc: Leia through all the episodes is just her taking her parents advices to the heart.

“There are many ways to lead, Leia, you just have to find yours” —Bail Organa

Then sh*t happens and Leia is dragged through this crussade with Obi Wan and she indeed finds many ways how she can become a leader and ends up adapting it into her own way of leadership.

“You get out what you put into it” —Breha Organa

In all this Leia, little by little, realize that she just needs will and effort to make a real change and help, everything else will come alone.

We can see such a beautiful arc in this 10 year old Leia Organa. She started as a little girl who doesn't know exactly what to do in general (not in a bad way, just normal doubt as anyone at any age could have), she seems a little bit conflicted about how to get to do things because she still pretty young and of course is understandable, but she ends up understanding her parents words, that she just needs to watch carefuly to what happens around and start taking steps.

Her arc in Kenobi keep beautifully proving that Leia is the best character in Star Wars.

Also this.

Her future: Bail and Breha's words being some kind of look into Leia's future and who she will become in a few years.

When Bail says “She's as important as he is” he's not overreacting, he's complete and absolubtly right, she became one of the most important members of the rebelion before and again after Bail and Breha's death, she striked the Empire down, she also mastered the force just like Luke, she was the one to bring the last (blood) Skywalker back to the light and who trained Rey and help her become the great jedi she became by the end of TROS.

When Bail tells her “you’ll probably be one of the best [senators]” again right, she became just as famous and respected senator like her father before her, she worked so hard alongside Mon Mothma to rebuild the Republic and she was one of the few to point the weakness and mistakes of it, the only one who really attacked the first order in the Senate.

When Breha says “I know who she's like” she's joking with Bail, telling him Leia is just like him, and she's quite right, because Leia is just the perfect mash up of them both, she really is just as much as Breha as she is just like Bail, she really took her leadership from both, being the one to found and fund the Resistence 30 years after the Rebelion and the Empire, being one of the strategic brains just like her father and leading with wisdom just like her mother.

Bonus: Obi Wan Kenobi saying Leia is the future of the galaxy, of the Rebelion, he was completly right

The deepening: the development of her relationship with Obi Wan is beautiful and it just adds so much depp not only to A New Hope but also to Leia naming her only son after him

[seaofsunberries]

OKAY I’M FINALLY CAUGHT UP! This story is so good!

Also since canonically Rex knows about Anakin and Padme, if Goldie and Rex get into a relationship, I wonder if Anakin will learn about them. If he does, then omfg poor Obi-Wan in this case lmao

Anakin and Padme 🤝 Goldie and Rex

Keeping their forbidden relationships a secret from Obi-Wan even though he probably already knows

Also, I know I keep referencing the dynamic between reader and Anakin when I should really be focusing on the “love triangle(?)” between her, Obi-Wan, and Rex, but DAMMIT WHEN I SEE PARALLELS I GOTTA TALK ABOUT THEM

It really just shows how similar Goldie and Anakin are that they both (understandably) have intense frustrations with the council and would put the people they love and care for above the order, they both have feelings that are forbidden in the order, Obi-Wan is important to them and vice versa, and I’m sure there’s a lot more that I’m missing or haven’t seen yet. I wonder if Obi-Wan realizes how alike the two are at this point in time. Or maybe if this is just me lmao

It also makes me have some kind of dread that, like with Anakin (fucking “pretend to be dead and emotionally traumatize everyone who cares about you” arc), something else will happen that really hurts their relationship, and even though they’ll say it’s fine and they’ll still care for one another, there’s a certain amount of trust that Goldie/Obi-Wan can never get back.

Event Horizon

Chapter Nine: Sacrifice

Chapter WC: 7,533

Chapter Tags/Warnings: canon-typical violence

A/N: We're getting somewhere! Kinda!

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Felucia, 21 BBY

Morning comes, and with it, a new day, and a new wave of attacks. You're woken early by the sounds of the blaster fire, the shouts and screams of the men echoing through the jungle. There's barely enough time to get your armor on before you're running out into the battlefield, lightsabers already ignited. The same thing happens the next day, and the next.

On the third day, you find yourself standing shoulder to shoulder with Rex, the two of you fighting a retreating battle. The droids are advancing, and you're struggling to hold them off. This part of the planet is sparser than the others, with giant blooms acting as cover. You and Rex are crouched behind a particularly large flower, its petals the size of a star cruiser.

"This is a bad position," Rex yells over the sound of the battle.

"I know!" you shout back, and you duck down, the blast narrowly missing your head.

"What are your orders?"

You curse, and you reach out, your mind searching for the other Jedi. You connect with Obi-Wan almost instantaneously, the bond thrumming between the two of you, and you realize he's reaching for you too. The feeling of his presence washes over you, and his thoughts flood your mind, the concern and the urgency bleeding into your own emotions.

"We're falling back to your position," Obi-Wan tells you. "Hold your ground until we get there."

"Understood," you reply, and the connection is severed, the bond dissolving. You open your eyes and turn to Rex, the worry etched on your face. "We're not going anywhere."

"Yes, sir," he says, and he rises and shoots, taking out several of the droids, the bolts slamming into the metal bodies. They collapse in a pile of twisted metal, but the others continue their approach, unphased. Rex curses and ducks back down. "This isn't going to be easy."

"Nothing ever is," you mutter. "Cover me."

"What are you—" He cuts himself off when he realizes you're already gone. You rush forward, throwing your shoto in an arc as you leap over the droids. The blade slices through them like butter, and they fall, the clattering sound filling the air. You land on the other side and turn, the saber returning to your hand. 

The droids have turned their attention to you, and you can hear Rex shouting. You ignore him, and the incoming shots, and you charge, lightsabers swinging. The frustration and the panic fuel you to keep fighting, to push forward, to win. The rage burns hotter with each passing second, and the darkness at the edge of your consciousness threatens to engulf you. You fight against the urge, pushing it back, but the control is slipping through your fingers.

And then, just as suddenly, the pressure is released, and the energy around you changes. You don't have to look to know who has arrived, but you do anyway, watching as Obi-Wan and Anakin descend upon the droids, their blades flashing in the sunlight. They cut through the metal army, and you take the opportunity to catch your breath, the first respite you've had in what feels like hours.

"You good?" Anakin asks as he stops next to you, and he glances at the carnage, his eyes wide.

"Yeah," you pant. "You?"

He gives you a look that clearly communicates how ridiculous a question it is. "Are you serious?"

"Sorry," you huff. "Forgot who I was talking to."

Anakin smirks and looks at Obi-Wan, who's still slashing through the droids, his blade a blur. "You think he needs any help?"

You shake your head. "He seems fine to me."

Obi-Wan's movements are swift and precise, and there's a ferocity, a desperation, to them that has your eyebrows raising. He's cutting down the droids like they're made of paper, and there's a fire in his eyes, the anger visible. You can't help but wonder what happened, what triggered his sudden surge of aggression, and you make a note to ask him later. But for now, you focus on keeping up, on staying alive.

Anakin and Obi-Wan hold the front of the line, and you let them, keeping your attention on the forces trying to flank. Ahsoka is still off with a small contingent, sent away to patrol the jungle, much to her displeasure. You'd tried to argue on her behalf, but Anakin had insisted, and in the end, she'd left, a sullen expression on her face. You can only pray she's faring better than the rest of you.

You push that thought away, and you turn, lightsaber swinging. A blast hits the ground near your feet, and you curse, the dirt and smoke kicking up. You lunge, and your blade sinks into the droid, the metal melting under the heat. It collapses, and you pull your blade free, the metal glowing red. The others keep firing, and you duck and roll, the bolts whizzing over your head.

The battle rages on, and the minutes bleed together, the blood pounding in your ears and your lungs burning. The exhaustion is creeping in, and you're struggling to hold onto the hope that you'll survive this. 

Every night since you've arrived, you've had the same nightmare, and every night, you wake up, gasping and sweating. You don't remember what it was about, but the feeling of dread lingers, and the sense of foreboding weighs heavily on you. And, even though the sun is shining, and the air is warm, the chill hasn't left you, and you're afraid. Afraid that something terrible is coming, that something is going to happen. You're not sure if it's the Force or the fatigue or the stress, but the feeling has grown, and it's getting harder to ignore.

You try to put the thoughts aside, to focus on the battle, but the unease refuses to fade. You can feel it in the air, and in the energy around you. The battle is turning, and you can sense it, the shift in the tide. 

"We have to move," Rex says over the comm, his voice firm. "We're exposed."

"Rex is right," you tell Anakin. "We can't hold this position."

Anakin curses, and he glances over, his gaze finding yours. His eyes are wild, and his breathing is ragged, his hair matted to his forehead with sweat. You know he doesn't want to retreat any more than you do, but it's the only option, and the both of you know it. You hold his gaze, and you nod, the understanding passing between the two of you.

"Fall back," he orders, and the words echo through the comms. "We're retreating."

The men are reluctant to abandon their positions, and there's a murmur of protest, but they obey, moving back in a steady retreat. You fall back with them, keeping an eye on the enemy, and on Anakin and Obi-Wan. The battle continues to rage, and the droids are relentless, pursuing you even as the clones shoot them down.

"The 104th has broken through the blockade," Cody reports over the comms. "They're en route to the surface."

The news is a welcome relief, and the anxiety in your chest eases, if only slightly. It's taken them far too long to reach you, and you know that it's no longer a matter of reinforcement, but of evacuation. The battle is lost, and you need to get off the planet, and soon. If not, you'll be trapped, and you'll all die. It's a reality you can't afford to ignore.

"It's about damn time," Anakin growls. "I was starting to think the Council had forgotten about us."

"Don't count on their help just yet," Obi-Wan responds grimly. "If things are as bad as we think they are, then the 104th won't be able to hold the line for long."

"So what's the plan?" you ask, your eyes focused on the approaching droids, and the destruction they're leaving in their wake. The jungle is burning, the smell of smoke and ash heavy in the air. You can't see far, but you know that the planet will not recover, not after this. Everything is on fire, and the heat is intense, the flames licking the sky. "We can't wait much longer."

"I'm aware," Obi-Wan snaps. He seems to think the better of it immediately, and his voice softens. "For now, we keep moving, and we get as many men out of here as we can. That's our priority."

"Then, what?"

"We'll figure it out."

"Fine," you huff, and you turn, throwing yourself into the fight. Your lightsabers flash, and you cut down the droids, their metal bodies falling at your feet. You're not sure how long you fight, but you push through the exhaustion, and the pain, and the fear. You focus on surviving, on staying alive, and the minutes pass in a blur.

You can't help but wonder how many times you're going to have to fight these battles, how many lives will be lost before the Republic finally ends the war. And you're beginning to realize that there's no end in sight. You've been fighting for months, and the conflict seems to be escalating. The stakes are higher, the losses more devastating. You can't keep doing this, and yet, there's no choice.

The battle rages, and the minutes drag by. You've fallen back to Rex's side at the feet of an AT-TE, its cannons firing and its legs stomping down droids as the enemy tries to advance. You're barely able to keep your focus, your body aching and your mind exhausted. All you can think about is the men who have died, the lives that have been lost, the pointless nature of it all. The frustration, and the despair, are overwhelming, and you're barely able to keep it together.

"Rex," you call out. "Have you heard from Ahsoka?"

"No," he replies. "The last I heard, she was engaged in combat, and was trying to regroup."

The worry settles in, and you can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. Whatever it is, it can't be good. Your eyes scan the battlefield, and the anxiety grows. The air is thick with smoke and the smell of burning metal, and it's hard to see through the haze. "And the 104th?"

"They're en route," he says. His voice is calm despite the chaos around you, and you try to focus on it, to channel his energy, but it's not working. "ETA is five minutes."

"That's too long," you mutter, shaking your head. Your breath catches in your throat, and the panic rises, the feeling of impending doom growing stronger. "Something's not right. We need to get out of here."

"What?"

"I don't know," you admit, and you glance at Rex, your eyes meeting through the visor of his helmet. "They need to get here now."

"What's wrong?" he asks as he takes a step towards you. The concern radiates off him, and the intensity of his stare, even through the helmet, is overwhelming. "Talk to me."

"I'm not sure," you reply, and you swallow. You've never felt this way before, and it's making it hard to concentrate. You barely manage to dodge a blaster shot, and Rex swears, pulling you behind the tank.

“Sir, you need to focus," Rex tells you, his tone urgent. "I need you here, and not wherever you are right now."

You nod, and you take a deep breath, trying to ground yourself, but the worry is still there. You're not sure what's causing it, and the uncertainty is almost worse, the anxiety clawing at your chest.

"It's alright," he soothes. "We'll figure it out, but you have to stay focused."

"I can't," you whisper, your eyes wide and your hands shaking. You can't get your heart rate under control, and you can feel the sweat running down your neck, the tremors wracking your body. It's as if someone has reached into your chest and squeezed the air from your lungs. It's like someone is standing over you, watching, waiting. "I can't, Rex."

"Hey, it's okay," he reassures, and his voice is calm, the sound a balm to your senses. "We'll get through this, and we'll get everyone out of here. I promise."

You want to believe him, and you're desperately clinging to his words, to the strength of his voice, to the warmth of his hand. You nod, and you try to slow your breathing, to force the panic down. You can't break, not now, not when there are so many lives depending on you. Not when you're needed.

"I'm okay," you say, more to yourself than anyone, and you straighten, your lightsabers igniting. "I'm fine."

The words are hollow, and you're not sure if you believe them, but you have no other choice. Rex lets go of your arm, and you're surprised, your brow furrowing. You hadn't even realized he was still holding you. He doesn't apologize, and he doesn't give any indication that anything happened, but you can sense his concern, his fear. He's worried about you, and the guilt settles in. You have no idea what's going on, but it's obviously affecting you more than you'd thought.

"Rex, I'm..." You trail off, unsure of what to say, and you let out a shaky breath, the anxiety rising. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize," he tells you, his voice soft despite how loud the battle is. "Just...be careful, sir. Please."

"I will."

His helmet is still turned towards you, and you can feel the weight of his gaze. You want to reassure him, to tell him that everything will be fine, that he has nothing to worry about. But the words are stuck in your throat, and the lie won't come.

And then you look up.

There’s barely enough time to react as the burning remains of a Vulture droid hurdle toward you, its engine roaring and the smoke billowing. You're not sure how it made it past the AT-TE's defenses, or why the ship isn't firing, but you have no time to think. 

You push with all your might, using the Force to send Rex flying out of the path of the falling droid. It crashes to the ground and explodes, sending dirt and debris into the air, the shock wave reverberating. The explosion knocks you off your feet, and you're thrown several meters away. The pain shoots through your body as you slam into the ground, and your lightsabers fly out of your hands, the blades blinking out of existence as they skid across the dirt. Your head smashes against the hard surface, and you roll a few times before coming to a stop, dazed.

The world is spinning, and you're struggling to get your bearings, your vision blurry and dark. There's a ringing in your ears, and you can't hear anything else, not even the sound of the battle. All you can see is the burning wreckage, and the thick, black smoke. You cough, the air filled with the acrid scent of burning metal and plastic. Your entire body aches, and you're having a hard time catching your breath.

You feel something warm and sticky trickling down your face, and you lift your hand to wipe it away. When you pull it back, your palm is stained with blood, and you're momentarily confused, your thoughts disjointed and scattered. Then, the realization sets in, and the panic returns. You try to stand, but your legs give out, and you collapse, your body hitting the ground with a thud.

Everything hurts, and the ringing is getting louder, and all you can think about is the blood on your hands, and the burning droid, and Rex. You need to find Rex, to make sure he's okay, to get him to safety. You need to—

There's a shadow in front of you, and it takes a moment for your eyes to focus, the image swimming in your vision. When it finally does, you see Rex kneeling over you, his helmet gone and his face covered in dirt. 

He's shouting something, but you can't hear him, the words garbled and distorted. His expression is panicked, and his eyes are wide, his mouth moving rapidly. You can see the fear in his gaze, and you try to respond, but the words are stuck in your throat. You want to tell him that you're fine, that everything is going to be okay, but you can't.

All you can do is watch as he slips his arms under your body and lifts you. You try to protest, but the words come out as a moan, the sound weak and pained. Rex doesn't seem to notice, and he holds you tightly against his chest as he begins to run. You cling to him, your fingers digging into his armor, and you press your face into his neck, tears stinging your eyes. You don't know where he's taking you, or what he's going to do, but you trust him, and you have no other choice.

The pain is becoming too much to bear, and you close your eyes, letting the darkness take over.

The last thing you hear is Rex shouting your name. And then, nothing.

Hyperspace, 21 BBY

Your eyes fly open, and you gasp for air, your body lurching forward violently. A scream dies on your lips, and you fall, your knees hitting the floor of the ship with a thud. You can feel the cold, hard metal against your palms as you grip the edge of the table in front of you, the blood roaring in your ears. 

You try to steady your breathing, but the fear, and the panic, are threatening to consume you. You can't get the images out of your mind. You can't get the feeling of the pain, or the heat of the flames, out of your body. You can't forget the smell of the burning jungle, or the sounds of the screams, or the look in Rex's eyes as he held you.

The tears sting, and you squeeze your eyes shut, trying to force them back. When you open them again, you wince as the lights of the medbay assault your senses. It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust, and when they do, you see the sterile, white walls, and the curtain drawn around you, and the bacta patches on your arms and legs. 

You blink, and the reality sinks in. You're on the floor next to a hospital bed, on a Republic cruiser, somewhere in the vastness of space. And you're alive.

A voice calls your name, and you turn to see Obi-Wan rushing toward you, his robes billowing behind him. You try to stand, but your legs give out, and you collapse. Your body is wracked with tremors that won’t still, and your vision is blurred, the colors bleeding together. Only then do you realize you’re crying, tears rolling down your cheeks, hot and fast.

"Easy," Obi-Wan soothes as he crouches down next to you. He gently lifts you and places you back on the bed. His eyes are wide and filled with worry, his hands gripping your arms tightly, and he takes a moment to examine you. You can feel the panic, and the fear, emanating from him, and you swallow, trying to control your emotions, to reign in the chaos that is consuming your thoughts. 

"Just breathe, my dear," he says. His voice is gentle, and he's still looking at you, his eyes searching yours. "Breathe."

You inhale, and the air fills your lungs, the oxygen soothing the ache in your chest. The tears fall harder, and you let them, too exhausted to fight, and too tired to care. Obi-Wan doesn't seem to mind, and he doesn't push you to stop. He pulls you into his arms, and he holds you, his chin resting on the top of your head. You bury your face into his shoulder, and you clutch his robe, your fingers twisting in the fabric. He whispers soft words of comfort, his hand moving in slow, steady circles on your back. His touch is familiar, and you allow yourself to lean into him, to let him take some of the weight.

You're not sure how long you sit there, lost in the warmth of his embrace. But, eventually, the tears subside, and your breathing evens, and you feel a little less broken. He seems to sense the change, and he pulls back, his eyes finding yours. He brushes the hair out of your face, his fingers tender.

"Better?" he asks. You nod, and he smiles, the relief washing over his features. "Good. I was afraid we were going to have to sedate you."

The joke is unexpected, and you huff a small laugh, the sound coming out as a choked sob.

"I'm sorry," you murmur, your voice hoarse. You're not sure what you're apologizing for, or why, but the words come out anyway. "I don't...I'm sorry."

Obi-Wan frowns, his brow furrowing, and his gaze grows serious, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about? There's nothing to be sorry for." He pauses, and the silence stretches, his eyes searching yours.

"Do you know where you are?" he asks after a moment.

You nod again, and his frown deepens, the worry still present.

"And do you know why you're here?"

Another nod. "I got hurt. During the battle."

He nods slowly, his eyes never leaving yours.

“Yes, you did,” he says slowly. He hesitates, and he seems to debate what he wants to say, the silence heavy between the two of you. You know he's concerned, and he has every right to be. You know what he's going to ask, and the question hangs in the air, the answer on the tip of your tongue. But the words won't come, and you're afraid, the fear still lingering. And so, you remain silent, and you wait, the tension mounting.

"Tell me what happened," Obi-Wan finally says, his voice quiet. He doesn't sound angry, or upset, just curious, and a little apprehensive. "Start at the beginning."

"We were retreating," you begin. Your voice is rough, and you have to force the words out, the emotions swirling in your chest. You hesitate, and he waits, giving you time. You take a deep breath, and you continue, telling him about the Vulture droid, and the explosion, and how Rex saved you. When you're finished, you look up, your gaze finding his. "And then I woke up."

Obi-Wan is silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful, his jaw clenched.

"I see," he says softly, his tone unreadable. He pulls away and sits down next to the bed, his posture rigid, his shoulders tense. You can feel the anger, and the frustration, radiating off him, and it's unnerving, the feelings so at odds with the calm demeanor he usually projects. You try to delve further, but he pushes back, blocking you, and then you feel nothing at all. 

It's not malicious, but you know it's deliberate. And it hurts. A lot. The realization of it hits you like a blow, and your eyes sting, the tears threatening to fall. You bite back the pain, and you keep your expression neutral, the mask slipping into place.

You sit there, waiting for him to speak, to say something, anything. But he doesn't. The silence stretches on, and it's suffocating, the tension building. Finally, you can't take it anymore.

"Please," you plead, the desperation creeping into your voice. "Please talk to me."

“I…” Obi-Wan pauses and shakes his head, his brow furrowed, his jaw set. 

"I don't know what to say," he admits. He rubs his face and lets out a sigh, his shoulders sagging. "I'm so tired of losing people."

The words are unexpected, and they hit you hard, the sadness weighing heavily on your heart. You hadn't realized just how much this was affecting him. You reach out, and he flinches, but he doesn't pull away, and you cover his hand with yours. The gesture is simple, but the meaning is not, the contact an anchor. "I'm sorry."

"So am I," he murmurs, and he turns his hand, his fingers intertwining with yours. His eyes are bright with unshed tears, and his grip is tight, the tension visible in his posture. "So am I." 

He takes a breath and looks at you, his expression unreadable, and he seems to steel himself. "You shouldn’t have done that.”

You're taken aback by the sudden change in tone, and the anger in his voice, and your eyes widen, your head jerking back. You hadn't been expecting that.

"I didn't have a choice," you say quietly, and you try to pull your hand away, but his grip tightens, and you can't.

"You did," he counters. He's staring at you, his gaze piercing, his eyes narrowed. "You made a choice."

"Obi-Wan..."

"No," he snaps, his tone sharp, and he pulls his hand away. The sudden loss of contact sends a jolt through you, and you can't help the hurt that crosses your features. "You risked your life, and you didn't think about the consequences."

"I didn't—"

"Yes, you did," he interrupts, his voice rising. "You didn't think, and now, we're both here, and I'm not going to lose anyone else. I can't."

"Obi-Wan, listen to me," you insist, and your voice cracks, the emotion bleeding through. "I couldn't just let him die."

His eyes widen, and he shakes his head, his lips pressing into a thin line. "You didn’t have to. He would've been able to move. You didn't have to push him."

You don't respond.

"You didn't have to," he repeats, and his voice breaks, the anger giving way to sorrow.

"But, I did," you whisper. You look at him, your gaze unwavering. "I couldn't let him die."

Obi-Wan falls silent. The grief, and the pain, is plain on his face, and you can't bear it.

"I'm sorry," you tell him. "But—“

"I know," he says softly. He runs a hand over his jaw, smoothing his beard, and he lets out a sigh, the weariness returning. "I know."

The silence stretches on, the minutes passing by. You sit there, watching him, the emotions playing out on his face. The frustration, and the anger, fade, and all that's left is exhaustion, a resignation.

"Why did you do it?" he finally asks. He looks at you, his eyes searching yours. "Why did you push him, when you knew that it could cost you your life?"

"I don’t know,” you say quietly.

“I don’t believe you.”

You can't meet his gaze, and you focus on the ground, your fingers fidgeting with the blankets. "It doesn't matter why," you say softly. "I did what I had to do, and it worked."

Obi-Wan shakes his head and rises from his chair, his face contorted in disbelief, the hurt palpable.

"It matters to me," he tells you.

"It doesn't have to."

"It does," he insists. His eyes are hard, and his mouth is set, the determination written on his features. "There was a hundred things you could’ve done. A hundred different ways to get out of that situation. Why did you choose the one that put you at the greatest risk?"

"Because he's important."

The confession is sudden, and it catches you off guard, the words leaving your mouth before you can stop them. 

You don't mean to say it, and you want to take it back, but the damage is done. You're not sure why, but the truth is there, and it's out, the realization dawning on the both of you.

Obi-Wan is looking at you, his expression a mixture of surprise and understanding, and there's a softness, a fondness, in his eyes, and you know. You know he's figured it out. You can see it in his face, and in the way he's looking at you.

"Important," he repeats.

"Yes."

"Important enough to die for?"

"Yes."

He sighs and turns, his hands behind his back, his shoulders squared. He paces the length of the room, eyes fixed on the ground. He's silent for a long moment, and you watch him, waiting, the nerves rising. You know what he's thinking, and you know what he's going to say. But you don't want to hear it, and you can't stand the tension, the silence. It's too much.

"Just say it," you say. “Please."

Obi-Wan stops. He turns, and his gaze meets yours, the sadness written on his face.

"This is a dangerous path," he tells you. "One that I've walked before."

"I'm aware."

"Are you?" he asks, his eyes searching yours. "Because I don't think you are."

You don't respond, and he continues, his voice growing softer, his expression more pained. "It's not fair to him, or to yourself. And, I fear, if you're not careful, then the both of you will be paying the price."

The words sting, and they cut deep, but the truth in them is undeniable. You can't deny it, and the guilt settles in, the reality hitting you like a slap in the face. You've been selfish, and reckless, and the consequences of your actions have weighed heavily on everyone around you. And now you’ve only made things worse.

"I'm sorry," you whisper. The tears are hot on your cheeks, and you look down, trying to hide them, but it's too late, and you know Obi-Wan has already seen them. He lets out a sigh and walks over to you, his hand gently squeezing your shoulder.

"There's nothing to apologize for," he says softly, his voice filled with empathy. "I just want you to be careful. I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did."

"What do I do?"

"You keep moving," he replies. "You carry on."

You nod, and you wipe away the tears, your breathing ragged. Obi-Wan pulls you into his arms, and he holds you, the weight of his words still heavy on your shoulders. He doesn't say anything else, and the silence stretches, the minutes passing. And then, he pulls away, his hand cupping your cheek, his eyes meeting yours.

"Now, get some rest," he tells you, and he smiles, the sadness still present, but the worry fading. "We'll talk later."

You nod, and he turns, heading for the door. He pauses in the doorway, his hand gripping the frame, and he glances back at you.

"I'm proud of you," he says. His gaze lingers for a moment, and then, he's gone, the door closing behind him. You're alone in the room, and the quiet settles in, the air thick with the aftermath of the conversation.

You lean back and close your eyes, scrubbing at your face. The guilt is still there, and it's still heavy, but you feel better, and you're starting to see a little clearer. Obi-Wan is right. You need to carry on, to not allow this attachment, or whatever it is, to affect your judgment, or to control your actions. And you need to be careful. You can't put Rex in any more danger than he already is. He deserves better. They all do.

And you can do that. You can.

You take a breath and exhale, pushing the emotions away, burying them deep. When you open your eyes again, they're dry, and your breathing has steadied, and the weight, while not gone, has lessened. It's a start. You can work with that. You can.

And then you hear it.

"Sir."

You turn, and your eyes land on Rex, standing in the doorway, his helmet tucked under his arm. Your heart stutters in your chest, and you force yourself to take a deep breath, to push the feelings aside. To pretend. You can do that, right?

"Captain," you greet, and you smile, your expression masking the turmoil that's raging within you. "I'm glad you're alright."

Rex nods, and his lips twitch, a hint of a smile playing on his features. He doesn't seem surprised, and you realize, with a start, that Obi-Wan must have sent him a message before he'd even left the room. That man always has a plan.

"I should be the one telling you that," he says. He walks over to you and stands at attention, his posture rigid, his shoulders straight. His armor is covered in dirt, and there are a few new dents and scratches, but he's intact. And that's what matters. "How are you feeling, sir?"

"Better, thanks."

"I'm glad to hear it," he replies, and his gaze meets yours, his eyes searching yours. "You gave us quite a scare."

"Yeah, well, I've had worse," you say with a shrug. You lean forward and rest your elbows on your knees, your gaze never leaving his. "I'll be fine. It's going to take more than a little explosion to keep me down."

Rex chuckles and shakes his head, his shoulders relaxing. He places his helmet on the foot of the bed, and he takes a step towards you, the distance between the two of you narrowing. His eyes find yours, and he hesitates, the emotions flashing across his face, his mouth opening and closing. He seems conflicted, and there's something there, a question that he wants to ask, but he can't. You can see it in the way he's looking at you, the worry plain on his features. And so, you decide to give him an out.

"Come on," you say. You jerk your head toward the empty chair next to you. "Have a seat."

He frowns, but he does as you ask, taking a seat next to the bed. The silence stretches on, the tension mounting, and you can tell he's still debating what he wants to say, his brow furrowed. He doesn't seem to be getting anywhere with his internal battle, and you sigh, the impatience rising. "Rex."

"Permission to speak freely, sir," he blurts out. The words come out in a rush, and he winces before squaring his shoulders and looking you straight in the eye.

"Of course," you tell him, and your brow furrows, the worry starting to seep through. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," he says. He pauses, and his frown deepens. "No. No, it's not. I...I wanted to apologize, sir."

You're taken aback, and you blink, the surprise registering on your face. "For what?"

"For putting you in harm's way," he says, and his expression is serious, his jaw set, his eyes never leaving yours. "For not believing you, when you tried to tell me about the danger. For not trusting you. If I had, we could've avoided the entire situation, and none of us would've been in any danger. And, if you hadn't pushed me out of the way, then—"

"Hey, stop," you interrupt. You reach over and cover his hand with yours, and he stops, his eyes widening. You smile, and you squeeze his fingers, hoping that the touch will reassure him. "It's okay."

"But, I—"

"No," you say firmly. You let go, and you sit up straight, the mask slipping back into place. "This isn't your fault, Rex. It was mine."

"Sir," he protests.

"I'm serious," you insist. "I could've told you what was happening, and I didn't. I kept it to myself, and I made the wrong decision, and it nearly got us both killed. So, if anything, I should be the one apologizing to you."

"You were trying to protect me."

"And look where it got us," you snap. The frustration is creeping back, and you squeeze your eyes shut, forcing the emotions down, the anger and the hurt. "I'm sorry. I just...I should've been more careful."

"Maybe," he concedes. He's silent for a moment, his gaze drifting, and he shifts in his chair. "Or maybe not. We might not be here, if you had."

You're not sure what to say, and you can't help the guilt, the regret. You could've done something different, could've done more. But in that moment, the only thing you'd been able to think about was saving Rex. Saving him, even if it meant risking your own life. And, deep down, you can't bring yourself to regret that. Not entirely.

"I guess we'll never know," you say softly.

"I guess not."

You sit there, staring at each other, the silence stretching. Neither of you seems to know what to say, the awkwardness hanging in the air.

Finally, Rex breaks the tension, clearing his throat. "In any case, thank you. For saving my life."

"Don't mention it," you reply, and you grin, the smile coming easily. "Besides, I told you I owed you one. Two, actually."

"You didn't," he insists, and he gives you a small, crooked smile, his eyes sparkling. "You still don't."

"If you say so."

You glance around the room and take in your surroundings. The space is quiet, and the ship is flying through hyperspace, the blue light flickering over the walls. It's peaceful, and for the first time since the battle, you feel a sense of calm settling in.

You turn back to Rex to find him watching you, his expression soft, and you smile. "So, tell me what I've missed. What happened after I passed out?"

Rex spends the next hour telling you about the battle. The 104th had arrived mere moments after you fell unconscious, and most of the men on the ground were able to retreat. Ahsoka had resisted orders to abandon her push into the center of the battle, and it had nearly cost the lives of her and her men. She was awaiting punishment at the hands of the Council upon your return, and Rex could tell that Anakin was still fuming over the disobedience. The planet had been lost, and the casualties were mounting. It was a disheartening end to what had begun as such a hopeful mission.

You had barely escaped the carnage, the ships limping back through the blockade and into the safety of hyperspace. Now, you were on your way back to Coruscant, and the trip would take several days. You weren't looking forward to facing the Council, but there was nothing else to be done. You would deal with the fallout, and move on. You had to.

"I'm sure the Jedi Council will be lenient with her," Rex says, his voice pulling you out of your thoughts. "She's still young, and she's a good soldier."

"That's not going to matter," you sigh. "Ahsoka disobeyed direct orders. There are consequences for that. I'm not sure what they'll do, but..." Your voice trails off, and you look away, your jaw clenched. "They'll do what they think is necessary. They always do."

Rex's expression grows concerned, and his brow furrows, his gaze searching yours. "Have you spoken to them about what happened?"

"No."

"Then, how do you know what they'll do?" he asks, his frown deepening. "Do you think they'll punish you, too?"

"Probably."

"What?"

"Look," you say. You pause, and you take a breath, the weariness settling in. "I know the Council, and I know how they work. They're not going to let this go. They're not going to be happy about what happened."

"That doesn't mean they'll punish you," Rex counters. "You're one of the best fighters they have. You've helped them countless times."

"That doesn't matter," you say. You shake your head and look down at your hands, your fingers intertwined, your thumbs rubbing together. "It's not about the work. It's about the principle. The fact that I made a choice that they wouldn't have. That I put myself before the mission. They're not going to like that."

"You put me before the mission," he says quietly.

"Yes," you agree. You meet his gaze, and you hold it, the honesty written on your face. "I did."

He stares at you, his eyes wide, his mouth open. He looks as though he's seen a ghost, and you can't help the chuckle, the sound escaping before you can stop it.

"Are you...are you laughing?" he asks. His tone is incredulous, and he seems torn between being offended and joining you, a smile tugging at his lips. "This is not funny."

"It is a little," you say, and the laugh grows, the mirth bubbling up. "Just a bit."

"It's not," he says. But his voice is lighter, and the corners of his mouth are turning upward, and he can't quite hide the smile. "Stop laughing. It's not funny."

"Okay, okay," you concede, and you hold up your hands in surrender, the laughter dying. "It's not funny."

He glares at you, his lips twitching, and the expression sends another round of giggles through you, and you have to bite your lip, the grin spreading across your face. "I'm sorry. Really."

He lets out a sigh and shakes his head, and then, he's smiling, his eyes sparkling, and you can't help but think how handsome he is. How the laughter suits him, and how much happier, and younger, it makes him look. You wish you could see it more often.

"You're something else," he mutters. But his tone is fond, and the look he gives you is warm, his eyes soft. "Really."

"Thanks," you reply, and your smile grows. "So are you."

"Thanks." He chuckles and looks away, and you're not sure, but you think you catch the hint of a blush coloring his cheeks. He takes a breath, and his expression sobers, his eyes meeting yours. "Seriously, though, you didn't have to do that."

"I know."

"You didn't have to put yourself in danger," he continues.

"I know," you say again.

"You shouldn't have," he insists. "You shouldn't have risked your life for mine."

"I would've done the same for any one of the men," you reply. "Or anyone else who was in trouble. I'm a Jedi. It's my job."

"Still," he says softly. "You didn't have to."

"I did," you tell him. You meet his gaze, and you hold it, the truth written on your face. "And I would do it again."

Rex doesn't respond. He doesn't say anything. Instead, he looks at you, and you stare back, neither of you speaking. It's not uncomfortable, and there's no tension. Just the quiet, and the understanding. He knows why you did what you did, and, while he may not like it, or approve of it, he's grateful. And that's enough.

After a moment, he nods. And that's the end of the conversation.

He stands, and he picks up his helmet, turning to leave. But something keeps him from going. He looks at you, his expression hesitant, and then he reaches into one of the pouches of his utility belt.

"I almost forgot," he says. Rex walks back over to you, and his fingers withdraw a gold chain. Your breath catches at the familiar sight of the blue stone pendant dangling in front of you. "The medics found this on you when they were transferring you to bacta. Kix asked me to hold onto it for you.”

You swallow and take the necklace, running your fingers over the smooth surface, the cool metal a comforting weight in your palm. You feel a flash of guilt, and your heart sinks. You hadn't even thought about it.

"A gift from General Kenobi, sir?” he asks quietly.

“Hm?” you hum, nearly missing his words in your distraction. You look up, and Rex is watching you, a strange look on his face. "Oh. No, no this was my Master’s. It’s…the only thing I have left of her. Thank you, Rex."

Rex nods, and the tension in his shoulders relaxes slightly. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

You blink, caught off guard by the sincerity and sympathy in his tone. You wrack your memory of the last ten years, and you realize you can't remember a single time anyone had said those words to you, not even Obi-Wan. They mean more than you ever thought they would, and you’re not prepared for the rush of gratitude and affection that falls over you in a wave.

"Thank you," you say again. "For everything."

"You're welcome," he replies. His gaze is still locked on yours, and there's a flicker of something, a shadow of an emotion that crosses his face. He hesitates, his fingers tapping his helmet, and then he takes a step back. "Just, be careful, sir."

"I will."

He nods and turns to leave. As he steps out into the corridor, he stops, and he glances back at you. "And...thank you again.”

"You would've done the same for me,” you point out.

"That doesn't matter," he replies. There's an edge to his voice, a stubbornness, but then he smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Get some rest. We'll talk later."

The door slides closed behind him, and the room falls silent.

You lean back and close your eyes, the necklace still clutched in your fist. You feel something inside of you, a fluttering in your chest, a lightness, that feels almost foreign. You wonder if he felt it too.

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[shinylitwick94]

Kenobi Ep.6 thoughts before the internet gets to me

.

Honestly? Almost absolutely perfect. Loved it to pieces.

I’ll need a couple of rewatches for it all to sink in, but a few thoughts:

- I did not expect them to actually let Obi-Wan get a clear win in the fight. Given the circumstances, I love it, it allows him to hit Vader enough that he ceases to be the monster for the audience and becomes Anakin again; Vader with the cracked mask and OW apologising had me in tears and Anakin somewhow simultaneously absolving him and making it worse; ‘Goodbye, Darth’  is a bigger burn than Mustafar

- Th fun action bits of the fight were also fun, great to see OW back in shape and kicking ass, in love with that stupid pose, you all know the one

-They’re doubling down HARD on the ‘Anakin made his own fucked up choices’ and I’m here for it - the entire purpose of Reva here is this basically, and like in the previous episode the parallels, while heavy handed, were well done;

- Reva was very good in this one and I loved the choice to have her face Luke alone, and choose to back down alone - there’s no one there to pressure her, no Vader, no OW, no Inquisitors - just her and this child and her choices. Predictable? Sure, but this entire show was predictable to anyone with half a brain but that doesn’t make it bad. It just means it’s delivering on beats it has clearly set up.

- Leia in what is basically a cross between her ANH outfit and a jedi outfit was wonderful; love the holster and what it symbolises in terms of her choices moving forward; seeing Bail and Breha was a delight; loved that we got to have some closure on Ben and Leia, even if it is all a little tinged with the tragedy of what will happen later (and of the past of course with OW’s words about Padme and Anakin)

-Owen and Beru defending the homestead! Loved it! Unfailingly brave those two, and good to hear Owen expressly claim Luke as his own

- Vader getting chewed out by Sheev for obsessing about Kenobi had me in stitches

- Owen and Ben somewhat reconciling was also good, and Obi-Wan in pristine jedi white robes was lovely to see;

- ‘Hello there’ was done in such a way that I can’t even complain about that bit of fanservice

- Qui-Gon was another bit of expected fanservice, which was ok, though I do wish we’d had a little more time here, but I understand why they chose to place it at the end of OW’s journey, it makes more sense that way

- I know there are rumours going around about a second season, but to me this is great as it is and tells a nice, complete, cohesive story. I would prefer if it is left alone, but I understand in the current media climate that won’t necessarily be possible.

Nitpicks that don’t matter but angry youtubers who make money from rageclicks will care a lot about I’m sure:

- floating rocks attack looked a little silly, i wished Obi-Wan and Vader had talked a little more, OW gets to Tattooine a liiittle too quickly, Luke sees Reva’s lightsaber, but then he hits his head 5 minutes later and will forget about it obviously,