#in the clone wars there was nothing about how mandalorian names could also be family name first and personal name last

[oloreaa]

I know that there is something about how Din is apparently the family name and Djarin his first name but have you considered that canon a sandbox and I am throwing that handful out

[furious-blueberry0]

I have to say, I love the idea of the Clones slowly creating their own culture by interacting with their trainers on Kamino, with their Jedi Generals during the war and by just talking with the people they save from the Seppies, instead of just using the Mandalorian culture of Jango.

Don’t get me wrong, I really like when authors integrate Mando things in fanfictions or fanarts, I basically learned Mandalorian by how many fanfictions I read with it in it. 

But at the same time the idea of a Clone unique culture is more appealing, and I really wish fancreators would toy with it more, it has so many possibilities!

Imagine:

A Twi’lek trainer is in charge of a class of cadets, he is an ex-bounty hunter who can’t stand his old job anymore, not after one of his failed assignments killed his son for revenge.

And now he is here, on a secret planet, being tasked to train little perfect child soldiers, who look at him with such wide and curious eyes just like his boy. But his mind is plagued by the sight of his son’s body, and the last conversation he had with him: the meaning of the Kalikori. 

It always felt like a cruel destiny that the last thing he would talk to his son about was the Totem of his family history, where there were also his parents and his wife's deaths depicted on it.

And now his boy too.

It was on the day of his Death Anniversary that he had this conversation again, but with a different boy this time. A cadet had come to search for him, because he was late for the morning lesson, unaware that his trainer had drunk so much that he could barely stand on his feet, let alone teach. 

And it was probably because of his drunken state that he decided to just talk to this boy, identical to all the others, with no real name, that possessed nothing but the clothes on his back, his brothers and the knowledge that was taught to him, knowledge about war and nothing else.

And so he talked to him, and gave him the last lesson he would ever teach on that planet, a lesson not about war but love:

He talked about the Kalikori, about its meaning, how it works and why it is made. 

Every time he indicates a segment he talks about what it represents: his marriage, the birth of his son, his first job as a bounty hunter, the death of his parents, the death of his wife’s parents and so on… until his finger lands on the last one, his son's death. 

“It’s a way to remember your loved ones” he says, looking into the dark and curious eyes of the cadet, so so similar to his eyes.

“so that even if you’re gone, if no one who knew them is still alive, whoever will see this, they’ll know that they must have been special to someone, and that they were loved, like nothing else in this universe. It’s a testament of your love for them, eyan bou. So that they may be remembered until the stars break.”

He was never seen again.

Some say that Jango himself threw him out of the planet after discovering his drinking tendencies, some say he just leaved on his own because he missed his home.

But there is a story of an older cadet who saw him on the platform outside, standing on the limit, looking at the waves below, and the moment the cadet looked away, and then turned back to the trainer… he was nowhere to be seen. 

All his things were thrown away, including the Kalikori, and then a new trainer replaced him just a few days after, and everybody forgot about him.

But not the little cadet, he remembered his last lesson, and so he talked about it to his batchmates, and they talked about it to their friends, and by the time of the start of the war every single clone knew about it, about the testament of love, the one used to make the memory of your loved ones eternal.

After the start of the war this knowledge transformed itself into something new: in the little side pouch of every clone there was now a beaded cord, and on every bead there was a different drawing, sometimes a number, sometimes the initial of a name, or a symbol. 

No cord was ever left behind, there were multiple clones who risked their life or lost it to retrieve it, to bring on the memory of their brothers. Some symbols were familiar to them, and some were not, some were for the soldiers who died by their side, and some were for those who never got out of Kamino, clones that no one cared about and were taught to forget they ever existed, but they just couldn’t.

It was not rare to have cords full of strangers, or to attach your own cord to that of a fallen Vod, or to have more than one bead dedicated to the same clone.

And it was not rare to die surrounded by droids while clutching the cord, and not the blaster, because the presence of those fallen brothers just made them feel safer and more invincible than any weapon they could ever have.

[scottysketches]

Since the excerpt from my Korkie/Amis story seems to have people interested, I thought I might share some of my headcanons for the cadets :)

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Oldest to youngest goes: Amis, Soniee, Korkie and Lagos (Soniee and Korkie's birthdays are literally just a couple weeks apart and she holds it over his head lmao)

Amis is from a poorer family in the lower districts of Sundari (which is still leagues better than some parts of Coruscant). His biological parents are divorced and he hardly ever sees his bio father - which is fine by him, because his stepdad is a better father than his actual father ever could or would be. He has an older sister (Daisa) and a younger half-brother (Denn). His family's name is Kar'jor

Soniee's family are from Harswee (and her maternal grandparents were the weavers who crafted the carpets and tapestries that are displayed on the Coronet). Like Korkie, she's an only child, but she has lots of cousins that she's close with. Her family's name is Bevehn

Lagos comes from a family of warriors who all fought on the side of the New Mandalorians during the civil war. Her ancestors originally hailed from Concord Dawn. She's the youngest of ten children - five sisters and four brothers. Her family's name is Agol'dade

Amis and Soniee were the first to meet each other on their first day at the academy and very quickly became besties because they're both repressed gays you can pry this one out of my cold dead hands

Amis and Soniee actually met Satine on their first day at the academy; Lagos didn't meet her until the end of the second term/semester, when Satine came to pick up Korkie for the holiday break

Korkie broke his arm falling out of a hammock once as a young child while he and Satine were visiting family on Kalevala because he tosses and turns a lot in his sleep, so he quickly picks out one of the lower bunks in their dorm room

Lagos snores. It's bad. (Korkie also snores, but not as bad as Lagos.) Soniee and Amis invest in some comfortable earplugs for sleeping so that they can actually get some rest at night, rather than have to survive on caf

At the end of the first term/semester, all first-year cadets get to choose a selection of elective subjects to take in order to fill out their timetables (this also includes extra-curricular activities like sports teams and clubs)

Korkie takes three languages (Rodese, Shyriiwook and Twi'leki), dance, cookery, additional political history and additional debate classes (because unfortunately for Satine he inherited Obi-Wan's restlessness and constant need to be busy - basically the Eleventh Doctor in The Power of Three, skip ahead to 2:28)

Amis takes one language (Twi'leki), architecture, cookery and martial arts. He's also part of the academy's shockball and fencing teams and enjoys free-climbing in his spare time

Lagos takes three languages (Durese, Kaminoan and Twi'leki), martial arts and the Mandalorian equivalent of religious studies

Soniee takes three languages (Durese, Rodese and Twi'leki), robotics, hacking and additional debate classes

Out of the four of them, Lagos is the only straight kid - Korkie is openly bi from the age of 14, Soniee and Amis are both gay but repressing throughout their time at the academy (Soniee until the outbreak of the Clone Wars, and Amis until the year leading up to the Death Watch coup)

Korkie bunks off school one day to visit Satine at the palace, which is when he comes out to her; she reassures him that there's nothing he could do, say or be that would change how much she loves him (before scolding him for sneaking out of school)

Amis and Soniee both bond over their sexualities, as they're each the first person the other came out to

Lagos and Amis both think they're being subtle about their crushes on Korkie. He knows

When he's 16, Amis's stepdad passes away; he gets pulled out of class to be told, and Daisa also has to break the uncomfortable news that their mother found the letter Amis wrote to their stepdad where he comes out, and she subsequently disowns Amis because he's gay. Daisa promises to stay in contact with him, and sets up a separate bank account that she deposits a set amount of credits in every month so that Amis has some money once he graduates from the academy

Satine is absolutely disgusted when Korkie tells her what happened, and promptly declares that Amis can stay with her and Korkie at the palace during the term breaks when the rest of the students go home

When they're almost 17, Korkie tells Amis that Satine is actually his mother, not his aunt - but because they're both stoned at the time, Amis doesn't take him seriously

As they get older and more confident in themselves and their identities, all four cadets start to explore different aspects of themselves around each other

Korkie wears traditionally masculine clothing a majority of the time, but he also likes to mix it up with high-waisted trousers, shirts in various colours/patterns/etc. that would be considered feminine, and crop tops

Amis wears masculine clothes all the time but starts to experiment with small amounts of make-up (eyeliner, nail polish, etc.) in their last year at the academy before the Death Watch coup; his signature clothing item is jeans with carpenter detailing on them (extra pockets, a loop for a hammer, padded panels at the knees, etc.)

Lagos is quite feminine, but she enjoys the comfy aspect of lounging around in sweats; she's also a big fan of cargo trousers (so! many! pockets!)

Soniee fully embraces her feminine side, whereas when she was younger she was more androgynous; she's the go-to for make-up advice (and was the one to teach Amis how to paint his nails and draw the perfect vintage wing)

At the end of every year at the academy, each year group has a school dance that gets more sophisticated the older the students are (think more like a disco for the younger years, and the older students have more black/white tie coded events)

As a joke, Soniee suggests going to what would be their last school dance in drag to Amis; he's 100% serious when he says yes

Poor Korkie suddenly has a gay crisis when he realises that the "girl" chatting with some of their other classmates across the room is Amis

[aeon2407]

Pyro's Pyrotechnic Love Life - Chapter 9: Lesser Evil

For @contentment-of-cats. Also on AO3.

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Imperial Palace, Coruscant

Palpatine was... worried. It wasn’t a feeling he experienced often, but there it was. Vader, his most utilized enforcer, was nowhere to be found, once again chasing down Kenobi, this time somewhere in the Deep Core, right after the initial battle on Krownest was over. That damn obsession the weakling Skywalker had for his old Master would be Vader’s downfall, and Palpatine needed to find a backup apprentice soon. That redheaded boy that’d been harassing his operations would be quite a Sith from what he’d seen, he’d be a suitable replacement.

Thrawn was occupied with Krownest, and until that portion of Mandalorian Space was stabilized he’d be indisposed. Palpatine was aware enough to recognize the Mandalorians for the threat they were. Thrawn was the best option, even if he’d rather have him elsewhere.

And then there were the Tagges. It was no secret to anyone that Domina Tagge was making moves at every moment of every day. He’d hope that having Killian and Sanya Tagge be high-ranking Separatists would’ve weakened The House when the CIS inevitably lost the war, and he’d be able to nationalize TaggeCo as part of the reparations.

He did not foresee Cassio and Domina Tagge committing parricide and completely cutting out the Separatist leadership, or TaggeCo starving the entirety of Serreno when Dooku decided to move on Tagge Space by force. He ruled the galaxy, but the Tagges controlled it, and nothing short of a brutal and public incursion to seize TaggeCo would take that control from them. They were a problem, a problem he didn’t know how to solve.

And was that dread in his stomach? Something was about to happen, he could feel it in the Force, but what?

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Containment Cell Two, The Levinbolt, Task Force Spearhead

Hera was thinking over the offer. If what Lapin Tagge said was true, the Tagges fully intended to remove Palpatine from power, one way or another. Should they succeed, the Rebellion would be rendered irrelevant and unnecessary unless the Dynasty proved to be just as bad or worse than the Empire. The offer was simple. Join the Armada or any department of their operations and they would guarantee amnesty for her. She’d get a stable paying job no matter which department she chose, along with healthcare and other benefits.

But what made her truly consider it was them saying TaggeCo could restore Kanan’s vision, and that they had an hour to decide before the ISB’s Major Partagaz came to interrogate them and the offer expired. She’d heard of Partagaz before, a Clone Wars hero that was involved in so many secrets his name had to be redacted, leaving only ‘Partagaz’ on his illustrious, medal-filled record. She’d also heard horror stories about his interrogation techniques. The man was psychological warfare personified.

Hera caressed her stomach. She was deciding for two. The offer was made almost an hour ago. She was running out of time. The toggle was flicked. “Tell Lapin Tagge that I accept the offer.”

If any of her family rejected it, she would only be able to watch as they were taken away. The child inside her was the priority now.

It took ten minutes for a guard component to arrive and release her. She looked down the hallway to see Sabine, Kanan, Zeb, and Tristan being guided out of their cells. Chopper was nowhere to be seen, and Ezra was looking at them with stubborn eyes through the ray shields. She wanted to talk to him, to beg that he accepted before it was too late, but that was the moment two ISB officers arrived. She recognized Wullf Yularen, and the other must be Partagaz.

Hera stared back at Ezra with pleading eyes as she was escorted away and the two officers made their way over to her son.

“Where are you taking us?”

“To The Lady. The specifics of your arrangements still need to be made.”

Well then, time to see what her future would look like.

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Recovery Room, The Levinbolt, Task Force Spearhead

“Wait, you two were engaged?” Yana was looking between Yissa and Artur in shock, all three of them now somewhat dressed and on a different bed while Merri blissfully twitched on the other one, barely conscious. Yissa was blushing lightly and Artur just shrugged.

“Our families arranged it. Yissa chose me out of a lineup and Aunt Mina gladly paid the bride price to get the Hammerlys into the blood web. By the way, Yissa, six million was criminally low.”

“Well, I didn’t have much of a say in things, Artur.”

“Alright, cut it out, both of you. What happened after you got engaged?” Yana interrupted before they could argue again. She’d only just managed to make them get along.

Yissa looked at her wyf. “Well, we got engaged, went on a few dates mostly for the publicity, and then on my wedding day I found a note detailing the best route out of the building to the nearest recruiting station. The rest you already know.”

Yana did know. It was broadcasted live a week after the Youth Corps placed her on Corulag. The Runaway Bride, climbing down the side of the Hall of Citizens with no less than thirty kilos of jewelry on her dress, hotwiring a speeder, and gunning it for the nearest Imperial recruiting station will forever be imprinted in her mind. Yissa had inadvertently inspired her.

“Who placed that note there? Did you know?”

“I don’t. Whoever it was didn’t leave a name.”

Artur spoke up. “I do.”

Both women looked at him, and Yissa’s eyes widen as she registered the look on his face. She tackled him in a hug. “Thank you. Thank you so much. Thankyouthankyouthankyou.”

Yana was connecting the dots. Artur left that note, making sure to keep himself from suspicion in the process. Why? Did he not like Yissa? Or was it the arranged marriage he didn’t want? Did he not want to get married? To anyone? To her? What if he-

No. Stop. Bad brain. He loved her, that much she knew. That was enough. Now, just one last thing.

“What are we gonna do about Merri?”

Before any of them could deliberate on it, Lapin poked their head in. “Everyone, check your personal message stack. Artur, Operation Titanfall is a go. Get dressed, you’re needed on the bridge.”

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Conference Room One, The Acquisitor, Tagge Armada

The trip from the Levinbolt to the Acquisitor was silent, save for Lapin relaying instructions to the pilot and giving a clearance code on approach. The Spectres were all huddled in one corner, heads down. They all took the deal. They were selling out. They were leaving the rebels, leaving the cause, behind to save themselves. Chopper was missed, but Lapin had assured her that the droid was safe and untouched, and that she’d get him back eventually. Ezra, on the other hand…

Why was he so damn stubborn? Hera knew why, but this was unwinnable. You didn’t go up against the Tagges and expected to survive. You just didn’t. If it was the Empire she would’ve been right there with him, ready to die before giving up or giving in, but it wasn’t. Unlike the Empire, the Tagges realized that while not everyone could be threatened into submission, anyone could be bought, you just needed to find the right currency.

She had been bought. They offered her a damn good life, and even promised new eyes for Kanan as a ‘signing bonus’. In the end, she was selfish. For once in her damn life, she chose the selfish, self-serving option.

Did she regret it? Maybe. Too late to back away now.

Sabine was staring at her boots, leaning on Tristan for support. Her father was still in the brig, so was her riduur. She needed to use this opportunity to negotiate their releases, secure them protection like what they offered her. Some cynical part of her brain told her to leave her mother out of it. Ursa Wren abandoned her own family, let her see what it felt like. That line of thought did nothing for her guilt.

She was running away again. First her family, now the Alliance. Once a coward, always a coward, she supposed.

A voice snapped them out of their thoughts. “We’re here. Landing now.”

A squad of guards in gray, red, and gold escorted them from the moment they left the shuttle to the moment they walked through the doors of the conference room. Lady Domina was there, sitting at the head of a long table, datapad in hand.

“Captain Syndulla, Commander Dume, Captain Orrelios, Lord and Lady Wren. Sit down, if you please.”

Eyebrows raised at the formal address of their ranks, or title in Sabine’s and Tristan’s cases, but the five of them sat down at the other end of the table.

“I’ve been told that you five have accepted my offer. This meeting is just to finalize some finer details and give each of you a chance to… negotiate.” Her eyes turned to Sabine. “Your parents, in particular, can still be spared, if you can offer me something equally valuable in return.”

Sabine and Tristan both glared at her, rage bubbling up. Their parents were people, not bargaining chips. But to this woman that’s exactly what they were. “What do you want?” Sabine growled.

A smile, deceptively sweet. “A life for a life. Your father, mother, and husband, for Jan Dodona, Gial Ackbar, and Saw Gererra.”

All four sets of eyes widened. “Why Saw? What’s so special about him?”

Sabine felt, rather than saw, Domina’s eyes hardened. A screen appeared in the middle of the table and a news report from HNN was played.

“Controversy from the Senate Building today as Senator Ulric Tagge of Tepasi accused several other senators, including Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Bana Breemu, of colluding with notorious terrorist Saw Gererra to cover up a planetwide genocide on Jegsziv, a world in the Expansion Region that has long been classified as a Class-4 bioweapon after a supposed mining disaster infected the planet’s atmosphere. Along with that, new evidence from the ISB has apparently been brought to light on supposed connections between several senators and the insurgent organization known as the Rebellion or the Alliance. All of the accused senators have, at this point, refused to comment on the allegations. This is Alton Kastle, reporting live on HoloNet News.”

She looked at the four stunned rebels. “Before you ask, no, that wasn’t propaganda. The allegations are real. Every single one of them.”

Kanan could feel the truth from Domina Tagge, so at least she fully believed what she was saying, and he told the rest of them as much. Hera was disgusted. Not exactly surprised, not with Saw, but she was surprised about Senator Organa or Mon Mothma covering it up.

Regardless, there were also the connections between the senators and the Alliance. If those charges stuck, and the ISB being confident enough to arrest two prominent senators publicly was alarming, the Alliance would lose their best assets in the Core, their eyes and voices in the Senate, and would also have to mount a rescue mission that was likely an ambush.

No matter which way this went, the Alliance just took a possibly lethal blow. Morale would be low, and if either of the senators talked the Empire would have enough information to rout the entire rebellion.

Sabine was… glad. Shamefully, she was glad. If the Alliance was doomed, then there was almost no reason for her to stay when there was an alternative that would end up overthrowing the current regime anyway, and with many more resources under them. Wait. Idea.

“How would you feel about including Alliance personnel into the deal? My parents, Ezra, and the Alliance. The same deal you offered me.”

Domina raised an eyebrow. Bold, this one. Expectedly so, but still bold. “Unlike your Alliance, Lady Wren, I operate on guarantees, not hope. Defined terms. Hard boundaries. So, make me a proposal, and I will consider it. Until then, this negotiation will be strictly focusing on your immediate family.”

Shoulders sagging, Sabine nodded regardless. It was objectively reasonable. The Lady was being generous enough. Testing that generosity was not the best idea, not right now. “Fine, but I’m coming back to that later. I’m not leaving them to fend for themselves, not if I can help them.”

A nod. “Fair enough, although you understand that you need to betray two important rebel commanders to get your parents back, don’t you?”

Hera took control of the situation before Sabine could answer. “We need some time to discuss. And some privacy.”

Lapin looked at Domina, got a nod, and escorted the four rebels into a side room. “You have five minutes. Again, I hope you choose wisely.”

Hera waited until the door is shut before turning around. “I’m going to ask this very seriously. Are we going to give up Admiral Ackbar and General Dodona to save the Wrens and Ezra?”

Sabine looked around. If it was just up to her, she would do it in a heartbeat. At least Dodona and Ackbar had a chance to escape whatever ambush was coming their way. The others were doomed if they couldn’t help them, right here, right now. Her found family seemed to share that line of thought, and Kanan confirmed that Domina was being truthful.

“I’m not part of this Alliance, and this is a choice between two strangers and my parents for me. I’m choosing my parents.” Sabine nodded in agreement at her brother’s statement. Despite what her mother’s actions might have indicated, family truly was everything to a Mandalorian.

It came to a vote. Zeb was hesitant, but eventually he relented that at least the two rebel commanders had a chance to evade capture. Hera looked around. “Alright, we’ll tell Domina where to find them. Hopefully they can escape. Now, what about Gererra?”

Sabine looked at Tristan. “I have an idea, but I need you to agree to it.”

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“So, do you have a proposal for me?”

Sabine stared at those eyes, those icy blue eyes, and almost buckled. Somehow, the woman looking at her was more terrifying than most of the beings she’d encountered so far. “Yes. We’ll give you intel on Ackbar and Dodona, in exchange for my father, Ezra, and protection for any Alliance personnel that wants it.”

“And Gererra?”

“We don’t know where he is.”

“Shame. Amnesty for your father, Commander Bridger, and consideration for any defecting Alliance personnel in exchange for Ackbar and Dodona. That’s my final offer.”

Sabine looked around, getting one last round of confirmation. “Done, but we need to get them back before you get your intel.”

“Perfectly reasonable. What about your mother?”

A second of hesitation. Domina analyzed it. Ah, so that was how she wanted to do this. If her guess turned out to be correct then Wren was more ruthless than she thought.

Her guess was proven right when Sabine turned back to her. “She abandoned her son. Her family. Let see how she likes it.”

Domina smiled. “As you wish. Lapin, arrange transport for Alrich Wren and Ezra Bridger from the Levinbolt. Now, regarding your positions within TaggeCo, have any of you given any thought as to what you want to do?”

Hera was the first to speak. “Piloting. I want to fly, and none of that orbital nerfshit either. I want to travel deep space.”

Lapin checked their datapad. “There’s always a cargo pilot position open at TaggeCo, and 3rd Scout Platoon on the Enterprise is requesting a new pilot. I’m guessing you’d want a job away from combat?”

Hera frowned. “How’d you figure?”

A pointed glance at her stomach. Of course they knew. Of course. “Yes, I’d like something calm for a while at least. I’m guessing I’ll be hauling cargo across the galaxy?”

“Not right away. There’s a training course on procedures and protocol, then you’ll fly shorter deliveries first. Understand that all of you are effectively on parole, and you will be treated as such. You will be under surveillance, your movements and access will be restricted, and you can be subject to randomized check-ins from a TaggeCo enforcer at any time. This is the only way to peacefully keep Great Uncle Wullf off your backs.”

Hearing Colonel Yularen, Scourge of the Rebellion, referred to as ‘Great Uncle Wullf’ was jarring, but Hera forced herself to move on. “I’ll also need the Ghost back. It’s a modified freighter, I can use it for deliveries.”

Went unsaid was that the Ghost has been her home for over a decade, and she didn’t want to lose it too.

Domina shook her head. “TaggeCo has very strict standards for the vessels in our fleet. Besides speed, the Ghost doesn’t meet any of them. You can have it back as a personal spacecraft after the ISB is done examining it.”

The tone left no room for debate. Once again, Hera had no desire to get on this woman’s bad side. Domina turned her gaze to Kanan. “Every freighter requires a copilot and a security officer. Once we restore your sight you can get both certificates in three months. Would that be acceptable, Commander Dume?”

Kanan frowned. “It is, but how did you know-?”

“Your original name? We have access to the Jedi Archives, Commander, including the list of members and their blood samples. A simple DNA test was sufficient.”

His brows shot up. “You have access to the Archives!?”

“A replica of it, yes.”

“How!?”

A chuckle. “A Lady needs her secrets, Commander. A Tagge even more so. Now, your surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, and you all will be processed into our system a week later.”

Her eyes turned to Sabine and Tristan. “If either of you want to join the Armada, there are positions available for you both in either Weapons or Engineering. All enlisted, no officer posting. The next intake for the NCO Academy is full so you both will have to start at Private E-1. Not to worry, with your skill you’ll be promoted to Spec-4 soon enough. Any further and you’ll have to take the NCO exam.”

Sabine thought about the ranks for a second. “Wait, you-“

“Use the same rank structure as the Imperial Army? Yes, up to Marshal. No sense fixing a system that works. The Navy ranks are similar.”

Sabine thought about it. “And you’re sure there are no officer posts for us?” Being an officer would come with privileges and authority, and they’d also get paid more.

Domina shook her head. “No, but even if there were neither of you have a baccalaureate, so you’re both ineligible for commission. You’ll be given the opportunity to earn one as you serve, but I’d recommend rising through the enlisted ranks first before you go for a commission.”

Sabine looked at Tristan. He nodded. He wanted to keep fighting. “We’ll enlist.”

Lapin tapped their datapad. “You’ll be sent to our primary facility on Tepasi for basic training, then assigned to a ship or a planetside base. We’ll make sure you two are assigned together. I’m classing you both as Weapons Engineers. Your new uniforms and rank devices will be provided before you leave. Here are your contracts, take your time reading, feel free to ask any questions.”

While Sabine and Tristan read through the contracts, Lapin shifted to Zeb, who was offered the chance to become a Dax by Master Ordis and was eager to take it. While the Armada patrolled and protected Tagge Space, the Dax acted as protectors of Tepasi itself. The elite warrior sect of the Temple of Lotus, the symbol of Tepasi faith, and under the command of the revered Grandmaster Teshin, who was once a Dax himself, they protect and serve Tepasi, not any family or faction.

Zeb had met them before, when he escorted the Royal Family to Tepasi for a diplomatic trip. They were honorable and just. To be a Dax would be an honor.

Lapin finalized some of the paperwork. “Well, if you’d come with me, Commander Dume, we’ll get you prepped for surgery. Any preferences on eye color?”

Kanan turned his head to Hera, feeling her out in the Force. “Blue. Bright blue.”

“Done. Follow me. You can accompany him, Captain Syndulla. Captain Orrelios, you’ll need to swear in and be initiated into the Tepasi faith. Seeker Rell will guide you to the ship’s prayer room to get the process started.”

A short man in a white set of leather armor approach the door, hood drawn up to the forehead and head bowed. “Follow me, Initiate Garazeb. I will guide you on the first few steps of your new journey.”

Zeb shot one last look at Tristan and Sabine, still sitting at the table. He waved them goodbye, nodded at Kanan, saluted Hera, then followed the Seeker out. A new journey. An honorable one.

Sabine waved him off. “Will we get to see him again?”

“That depends on scheduling. You’re allowed leave while on duty, and the Dax have ample free time between shifts and missions. Captain, Commander, if you two will stay here a while more, your exchanged prisoners are docking now.”

The door opened five minutes later, both Ezra and Alrich escorted through the threshold in cuffs. Ezra was also sporting a Force dampener around his neck. Kanan felt a chill through his spine. He could hear his apprentice, and by tomorrow he would be able to see him, but he couldn’t feel him. Where there should’ve been a bright conduit of the Force, there was only… a Human. A normal Human. It was jarring, and terrifying, and… stop. Stop that line of thought. As long as Ezra could behave, he’d be just fine.

Things would be just fine. As long as The House kept its word and there were no other complications.

…

He just jinxed them all, didn’t he?

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Docking Bay 74, Coruscant Spaceport, Coruscant

One ‘Codi Lerobi’ checked through customs at the spaceport and made his way to the central hub. He needed to get information, reorient himself with the Core, then make it back to Bay 81 in time for his flight to Tepasi. He didn’t notice the plainclothes ISB spoof sending a message through his comms.

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The Stinger Mantis, Tanalorr, Koboh Abyss

Life was good for Cal Kestis. He had an integral part in the Hidden Path, he had a daughter to care for, friends to hang out with, a safe world to settle on, and, after a slip up with Merrin about using his last name on her citizenship forms since she didn’t have one of her own, he had a very scary and very loving wife.

So of course the galaxy decided that now was the perfect time to drop a bomb in his lap.

“Kestis? It’s Jung. Obi-Wan Kenobi is on Coruscant. He has a ticket to Tepasi at 2115 today under ‘Codi Lerobi’. I got a holo enclosed with this message as proof. Thought you’d want to know. Gonna try to keep ISB away from this as long as I can. Jung out.”

Cal tried his best to not get his hopes up as he opened the file and looked at the holo. That… that was Master Kenobi. No doubt about it. Older and rougher, but that was him. He should… he should go meet him, right? At the very least Master Kenobi would be safe on Tanalorr, and a Jedi like him surely had many things to teach.

But he promised Kata he’d be there for her natal day next week, and Merrin was so excited about it…

“BD, calculate travel time for me. Here to Coruscant.”

“Beep boop.”

He winces. “How about to Tepasi?”

“Beep beep boop.”

“That’s better. We’re going there. Extraction job, quick and easy. No one needs to know, right?”

“Boop boop bah.”

“Don’t be like that. She won’t even notice! Come on, get the engines started.”

They were just lifting off when his comms cackled to life. “Cal, where are you going?”

Cal froze. Shit. She was supposed to be busy with some ritual in the basement. “Just a quick check in with a contact, making sure everything’s still safe over there.”

“Over where?”

“Uhhhh…. Naboo. Yeah, the cell on Naboo. I’ll be back in two, three days tops. Tell Kata I love her?”

“…You don’t need backup?”

“Uh, no. No, it’s okay. Just a standard check in, shouldn’t be any trouble. Besides, one of us needs to arrange things for Kata’s natal day and we both know I’m useless.”

“Yes you are. Alright, be safe. You take care of him, BD.”

“Beep boop.”

“Alright, gotta go. I love you, Merrin.”

“Love you too, Cal.”

“Beep beep bah!”

“Yes, and you, BD.”

Cal laughed as the comms cut off. “Alright BD, set course for Tepasi and take us out.”

Time to get a Jedi Councilor back. What could possibly go wrong?

[engagemythrusters]

okay. ahsoka ep 3.

i already know jacen is in this bc i got SPOILED but let me tell you im gonna still be shocked anyway skldjflkd

k here we go

These introductions are pointless. Like we saw the last ep last week. If we forgot we can just look it up.

OH WOW she’s hot

“Not bad but not good” WOW HUYANG. Oh wow this guys comin for Sabines whole LIFE here damn

Um ig Ahsoka forgot that Mandalorians can hold their own against jedi just damn fine? Sabine once beat KANAN

Ahsoka: okay time to pretend to be Kanan

UH OKAY. UM. “I can’t see how am I supposed to fight” WAS A STUPID LINE TO GIVE TO SABINE WREN, THE WOMAN RAISED BY KANAN JARRUS, A NOTABLE BLIND JEDI

God can you imagine being stupid enough to give that line to her? Did filoni or Favreau write that line? Sounds on par with how idiotic those two dipshits are. Like that is so stupid. Who is that STUPID.

That’s like an anti-Kanan reference. That’s fucking Kanan retconning.

God I’m so MAD.

Honest to god I’m kinda glad this is only 30 mins long this time. I’m fucjing mad.

She fights like Sabine though. I love this actress for her. She’s doing Sabine so well. Thank you <3

Nyooooom

is mON MOT—SHE IS

Hooray chancellor mothma

JACEN!!!!!

I mean in name only so far but still. My lil snow pea boy

“Causing trouble with chopper” I’m so glad that droid is giving the galaxy hell with multiple generations of syndullas. Here’s to chopper outliving us all

HEY SHUT UP ABOUT HRR FINDING HER SON

She should be allowed to find her son the war hero at any costs

GET HIS ASS

“People who were like family to me” okay uh so that’s a workaround for saying Kanan? But Kanan wasn’t even killed by

JACEN

“Aunt” WHAT

She’s his SISTER

He looks a little like Kanan would have looked. AND NOTHING LIKE HERA (enter usual rant about PISS POOR CHARACTER DESIGN)

Also like. He wants to be a jedi 😭

LIKE HIS FATHER BEFORE HIM 😭

God that look. She’s thinking of Kanan 😭😭😭

“Everyone could be a jedi” is the STUPIDEST TAKE

God i hate this fucking show

And I fucking hate filoni and Favreau so. Fuckingn. Much.

Huyang does NOT like Sabine

And he’s right about jedi and force wielders

She’s so cute I love u Sabeeen <3

T-6 shuttle shot

I love u T-6 shuttles

Wow those are fuckin… old ass ships. Clone war era.

I mean T-6 is even older but I love it so. I do not care.

Also hang on rewind a sec to the “few mandalorians have ever been jedi” okay how do you KNOW that. The two of you have been at odds so much for so long that I’m sure millions went by unnoticed by the jedi

Downgraded from Spheres In Space to fucking Circle In Space 🙄

I love Huyang he’s a bitch

Oh T-6 shuttle they’re really in it now

Oop floaty in space

Huyang out for the count again xoxo

Shin Hati is such a little shit and I ADORE her

She space-suited up in 3 seconds or some shit. God I hate sci fi.

Get yourself ahsoka you’re the dumbass who chose to stand outside

Shin Hati 👁 👁 fr

Oh

My

God

P U R R G I L

Ezra are u there?! 😭😭😭😭

okay after the initial AAAA umm yeah I’m thoroughly disappointed

The purrgil looked so BEAUTIFUL in design and colour and pattern in Rebels… only to be Giant Grey Things in this show?

God I fucking HATE this show.

Anyway half this episode is literally just space fighting. That’s so stupid.

I do like tbis planet. It’s dull and drab like everything else this show has done BUT at least the aesthetic of this one is meant to be dark and drab and dull

Anyway can they go back and follow the fucking purrgil yet

Mr Inquisitor I kind of hope you’re someone cool we already know. That’s a cool trope that I want to see in canon. If not that’s okay I want a cool inquisitor anyway.

So they’re meant to pick up thrawns ship? Like the way Jedi ships used to—

The way DT says purrgil has shocked me to near silence

That’s so funny it’s great and hard in his voice

So yeah that was stupid and awful and it’s good that was only 30 mins of disappointment rather than fucking 50 or whatever

Still love the vibes of this outtro tho. Wish the rest of the show was this cool.

now we just need -rex - ezra - direct kanan mention (like NAMED)

[thimbil]

Having some thoughts about the references and inspirations used for the Bad Batch’s designs.

So Boba Fett is my absolute favorite character and Temeura Morrison was perfect casting. I went to see the 2008 TCW movie in theaters because I was so excited to see him again, even if he was animated. You can imagine my disappointment. Whoever was on screen was not Temeura Morrison. You could sort of see a resemblance if you squinted and didn’t think too hard about it. They replaced Temeura with Racially Ambiguous G.I. Joe. If I didn’t know better and someone told me the animated clones are space Italians from the moon of New Jersey I would buy it. One Million Brothers Pizzeria and Italian Bistro. Not that there’s something wrong with being space Italian, I just don’t think it’s the right choice for the Fetts. The design got slightly improved by season 7 but it still bugs the hell out of me.

I did eventually get into the show later and (of course) got invested in the clones. Unfortunately, they were largely sidelined by the Jedi storylines. Out of the two new main characters created for TCW, Ahsoka definitely got more development and focus than Rex. When they announced The Bad Batch, I was excited to see a show specifically devoted to the clones… at least that’s what it said on the tin. We have all seen what lurks beneath those stylish helmets.

Jango Fett, you are NOT the father.

So who is?

Based on interviews with Filoni, it sounds like the Bad Batch was a George Lucas idea. And like all his ideas, it’s super derivative. The original trilogy directly lifted elements from sci fi serials, westerns, and samurai movies, more specifically Kurosawa films like The Hidden Fortress. For The Bad Batch character designs, the influence is obviously American action and adventure movies.

Now let’s get specific. Bad Batch, who’s your daddy?

Hunter

Sylvester Stallone as Rambo in First Blood 1982. That bandana has become an integral part of the iconic action hero look. You see a character wearing one and it’s a visual shorthand for either “this character is a tough guy” like Billy played by Sonny Landham in Predator 1987, or “this character thinks he is/wants to be a tough guy” like Brand played by Josh Brolin in The Goonies 1985 or Edward Frog played by Corey Feldman in The Lost Boys 1987.

Hunter’s model is closest to the original clone base. If you look closely you will see the eyebrows are straighter with a much lower angle to the arch. His nose is also not the same shape as a standard clone like Rex, including a narrower bridge. It’s certainly not Temeura Morrison’s nose. Remember what I said about space Italians? It didn’t take much to push the existing clone design to resemble an specific Italian man instead of a specific Māori man. The 23&Me came back, and Hunter inherited more than the bandana from Sylvester.

Crosshair

The long narrow nose, the sharp cheekbones, the scowl. That’s no clone, that’s just animated Clint Eastwood. Not even Young and Hot Clint Eastwood from Rawhide 1959-1965. With that hair, I’m talking Gran Torino 2008. The man of few words schtick and family friendly toothpick in lieu of cigar are pure Eastwood as The Man With No Name from Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns A Fist Full of Dollars 1964, For a Few Dollars More 1965, and The Good the Bad and the Ugly 1966.

In a way, this is full circle because the actor Jeremy Bulloch took inspiration from Clint Eastwood for his performance as Boba Fett in ESB.

Wrecker

In an interview Filoni lists the Hulk as an (obvious) inspiration for Wrecker. Ever seen the old Hulk tv show from 1978? Well take a look at the actor who played him, Lou Ferrigno. Would you look at that. Even has his papa’s nose.

You could make the argument that Wrecker was influenced by The Rock, an appropriately buff ‘n bald Polynesian (Samoan, not Maori) man. But look at him next his Fast and Furious costar Vin Diesel and tell me which one resembles Wrecker’s character model more.

Tech

Tech is a little trickier for me to place. If he has a more direct inspiration it must be something I haven’t seen. That said, his hairline is very Bruce Willis as John McClane in Die Hard 1988. His quippiness and large glasses remind me of Shane Black as Hawkins from Predator 1987. In terms of his face, he looks a but like the result of McClane and Hawkins deciding to settle down and start a family. Although, Tech’s biggest contributors are probably just everyone on TV Trope’s list for Smart People Wear Glasses.

And finally,

Echo

Oh Echo. Considering he wasn’t created for the Bad Batch, he probably wasn’t based on a particular character or movie. But if I had to guess, his situation and appearance remind me a lot of Alex Murphy played by Peter Weller in Robocop 1987. However, Robocop explored the Man or Machine Identity Crisis with more nuance, depth, and dignity. Yikes.

The exact tropes and references used in The Bad Batch have been done successfully with characters who aren’t even human. Gizmo from Gremlins 2: The New Batch 1990 had a brief stint with the Rambo bandana. I could have picked any number of characters for Defining Feature Is Glasses but here is the most cursed version of Simon of Alvin and the Chipmunks. Suffer as I have. Marc Antony with his beloved Pussyfoot from Looney Tunes has the same tough guy with a soft center vibe as Wrecker and his Lula (also a kind of cat). Hell, in the same show we have Cad Bane sharing Cowboy Clint Eastwood with Crosshair. I actually think Bane makes a better Eastwood which is wild considering Crosshair has Eastwood’s entire face and Bane is blue.

So we’ve established you don’t need your characters to look exactly like their inspirations to match their vibe. So why go through the trouble and cost of creating completely new character designs instead of recycling and altering assets they already had on hand? Just slap on a bandana, toothpick, goggles, and make Wrecker bigger than the others while he does a Hulk pose and you’re done. Based on the general reaction to Howzer it would have been a low effort slam dunk crowd pleaser.

But they didn’t do that.

So here’s the thing. I like the tropes used in The Bad Batch. I am a fan of action adventure movies from the 80s-90s, the sillier the better. I am part of the Bad Batch’s target audience. Considering what I know about Disney and Lucasfilm, I went in with low expectations. I genuinely don’t hate the idea of seeing references to these actors and media in The Bad Batch. I don’t think basing these characters on tropes was a bad idea. If anything it’s a solid starting point for building the characters.

The trouble is nothing got built on the foundation. The plot is directionless, the pacing is wacky, and the characters have nearly no emotional depth or defining character arcs. They just sort of exist without reacting much while the story happens around them. But I can excuse all of that. You don’t stay a fan of Star Wars as long as I have not being able to cherrypick and fill in the gaps. This show has a deeper issue that shouldn’t be ignored.

Why do the animated clones bear at best only a passing resemblance to their live action actor? In interviews, Filoni wouldn’t shut up but the technological advancements in the animation for season 7. So if they are updating things, why not try to make the clones a closer match to their source material? Why did they have to look like completely different people in The Bad Batch to be “unique”? Looking like Temeura Morrison would have no bearing on their special abilities and TCW proved you can have identical looking characters and still have them be distinct. In fact, that’s a powerful theme and the source of tragedy for the clones’ narrative overall.

Here’s Filoni’s early concept art of Crosshair, Wrecker, Tech, and Hunter. (Interesting but irrelevant: Wrecker seems to have a cog tattoo similar to Jesse’s instead of a scar. Wouldn’t it have been funny if they kept that so when they met in season 7 one if them could say something like “Hey we’re twins!” That’s a little clone humor. Just for you guys 😘)

None of these drawings look like the clones in TCW, much less Temeura Morrison. Let’s be generous. Maybe Filoni struggles with drawing a real person’s likeness, as many people do. But he had to hand this off to other artists down the line whose job specifically involves making a stylized character resemble their actor. Yet the final designs missed the mark almost as much as this initial concept. Starting to seem as if the clones looking more like Temeura Morrison was never even on the table. It wasn’t a lack of creativity, skill or technical limitations on the part of the creative team. I don’t think there is an innocent explanation. They went out of their way to make the final product exactly how we got it.

This goes beyond homage. They could have made the same pop culture references and character tropes without completely stripping Temeura Morrison from the role he originated. It was a very purposeful choice to replace him with more immediately familiar actors from established franchises and films. It wouldn’t shock me if Filoni, Lucas, and anyone else calling the shots didn’t even think hard or care enough about the decision to immediately recognize a problem. And I don’t think they believed anyone else would either. At least no one whose opinion they cared about. Those faces are comfortingly familiar and proven bankable. They are what we’re all used to seeing after all. They’re white.

Lack of imagination, bad intentions, or simple ignorance doesn’t really matter in the end. The result is the same. Call it what it is. They replaced a man of color with a bunch of white guys. That’s by the book garden variety run of the mill whitewashing. There’s no debate worth having about it. For a fanbase that loves to nitpick things like whether or not it’s in character for Han to shoot first or Jeans Guy in the Mandalorian, we sure are quick to find excuses for clones who look nothing like their template. Why is that? If you don’t see the problem, congratulations. Your ass is showing. Pull your jeans up.

[phoenixyfriend]

hey i read through your Anakin and Jedi babies au, and got to the part about Shmi eventually having a kid and Ani being supportive and listen man i just have emotions bc i realized that her daughter would be the first freeborn child in the Skywalker family. like god knows how many generations of slavery on Tatooine, and this tiny baby is the first one born free. of course, while everyone knows this is a big deal, i feel like Anakin and Shmi are the only ones who truly Know how much of a big deal this is. tiny new baby skywalker draped in japor charms and whispered desert blessings

Context: Anakin and the Jedi Babies, chrono, how Shmi ended up on Mandalore, the post about Jango/Shmi.

YEP.

I’m thinking her name is something like Amika or Amyas? I’ve come to the conclusion that she is the result of Shmi and Jango getting into a relationship, but not actually planned. Anakin absolutely offers to fight Jango for Shmi, and she scolds him for it despite being a solid ten years younger than him.

Jango and Shmi do get married, after a bit more fumbling to make sure this is what they really want.

I imagine that the disaster lineage moves back to the Temple a year or so after that, when Ben is eleven or twelve. The Force just said it was a good time, and Mandalore seemed to be in good shape, etc. There’s a lot of sidelong glances and questioning looks because Soka and Ben still insistently refer to Anakin as buir (or Skyguy, on Soka’s part), and there’s a variety of conspiracy theories, and Ben acts Very Grown Up for a child his age, etc. They actually tell the council the full truth and cause a number of headaches. Mace isn’t amused. There’s rumors everywhere about Obi-Wan and Ben being related but nobody has the guts to ask after the first Scary Skywalker Smile.

What’s really relevant, though, is what that move does to relations between Mandalore, the Jedi, and the Republic.

"Okay, so if the Jedi Order does any negotiation with Mandalore, it has to be through Skywalker." "Why?" "The Mand'alor is his brother-in-law and they met when Fett was fifteen; I've seen Skywalker give this man a noogie and suffer zero consequences for it."

Like, please understand: Jango becomes Mand’alor in his late-twenties even while Jaster is alive, a few years after the Shmi thing, just because he’s Very Good At It. But also, he’s Anakin’s brother-in-law. Anakin, who knows that Shmi can take care of herself but is very protective anyway, and made a hobby of kicking Jango’s ass when he was younger, and has always had Weird Vibes around Jango, and at least once made veiled comments about how he didn’t trust Jango’s ability to be a father.

Jango, of course, doesn’t know that this is because Anakin judges him on the fact that he had three million clone sons that he didn’t give a shit about in a future that won’t happen.

So Jango is actually very concerned with maintaining Anakin’s good favor, something that he feasibly had for a few years but is struggling to hold onto after getting with Shmi and having a kid.

If it were almost anyone else, Anakin probably would have been very “she can make her own choices” about Shmi, but it’s Jango Fett and Anakin has concerns.

A few years later, let’s say Ben is fifteen, the Temple gets notified that the king of Mandalore is coming. The Mand’alor is going to be here, and hasn’t told anyone why. He’s bringing his spouse and several other people, but not a full guard or anything for a formal visit with the Republic.

The ship lands. The Mand’alor exits in full armor. There’s a woman next to him, a small brunette with a toddler in her arms, not wearing much armor, but she has enough to make it clear that she is Mandalorian. Vambraces, greaves, a gorget,  and there’s a sigil on it somewhere declaring her the the spouse of the Mand’alor.

The Jedi Council is mostly polite. Mostly hesitant. Confused. Diplomatic. Dooku is there, and asks, “Did anyone inform Master Skywalker of our visitors?”

“He recently returned from a mission and is likely asleep,” someone tells him.

The Queen of Mandalore sighs. “Oh dear.”

This is when a recently-woken Anakin Skywalker, age thirty-seven but looking like he stalled out on aging in his late twenties, strides out into the hangar and yells, “Shmi!”

The queen gives her toddler to her husband and sprints to Master Skywalker, throwing herself into his arms and letting him spin her around with a laugh. “Ori’vod!”

Dooku’s smile could be, at a stretch, described as ‘shit-eating.’ He turns to the councilors. “You didn’t forget that Skywalker has a sister, did you?”

They didn’t, but they clearly hadn’t expected it to matter.

“Let me see my niece,” Skywalker says, with a grin out of a holo film. “Fett, gimme.”

“Hi, hello, it’s good to see you’re alive too,” the Mand’alor grumbles. “Oh, I’m doing well, and--”

“Yeah, yeah, su cuy'gar and all, let me see my niece.”

The Mand’alor, one of the most influentially dangerous men in the galaxy, sighs and hands over the toddler to Master Skywalker, who immediately starts cooing over the little girl and otherwise making it clear just why he ends up in the creche so often.

“Master Skywalker,” Dooku calls over, as the only person to have encountered the Mando contingent often enough to get away with saying something right now. “You knew they were coming?”

“Nope! Felt ‘em arrive,” Skywalker cheerily replies. “Did someone tell my kids? Somebody tell my kids, they’ll want to see Shmi.”

“Has Ben gotten any taller?” the woman stage-whispers, and Skywalker grins at her.

“Not as much as he’d hoped.”

The Skywalker teenagers in question come sprinting out with less decorum than even their father had. Ben at least tries to slow down and greet the contingent politely, but Soka just barrels into Shmi like there’s nothing in the galaxy that could stop her. There’s laughter and hugs, and Skywalker hands the toddler off to his daughter and steps back to watch his family interact.

(They get justification for the visit eventually: the child is terrifyingly force-sensitive, and the queen has only just managed to convince Fett to let them take her to the Temple. The Council knows just how tenuous their guardianship here is, in that they’re sure this child would have been kept away from them if not for Skywalker’s presence here. Mandalore’s warriors and Tatooine’s slaves hold family to be of utmost importance. Skywalker is the only reason this is happening.)

“You know, I was getting respect from your High Council before you showed up,” Fett grouses, now without his helmet. “I’m the Mand’alor, the first in centuries to step foot here without war in mind. This moment should be historic. People should respect and fear my presence.”

Skywalker looks at him, pitying.

"Fett, I don't care that you're Mand'alor. I've known you since you were fifteen, and you're married to my little sister. You know you don't scare me."

“Anakin--”

“Also you’re short.”

“Oh, get kriffed, you asshole.”

[generallynerdy]

Uncalled they come to me, and told, they still won’t leave me (Din Djarin/Soulmate!Reader)

Spoilers for Chapter 9 (S2E1) of the Mandalorian

Summary: After the ambitious Toro Calican turns on you, his hired mechanic, in hopes of winning favour with the Guild, the mysterious Mandalorian saves your life. Now that you owe him a life debt, he’s stuck with you until you can save him back. It’s not so bad, having a free mechanic and babysitter for the kid, but things take a turn for the worse when both of you realise you might be catching feelings. For someone that might not even be your Soulmate.

Requested by Anon: Hello! How’re you doing? May I please request a Din x reader soulmate au? The one where you don’t see color until you touch your soulmate? It would be very difficult for Din to find his soulmate and I’ve always wanted to see how it played out. If not that’s ok! Thank you and have a wonderful day ❤️

Key: (Y/N) - your name, (h/c) - hair colour, (e/c) - eye colour Translations: vode - siblings, Ret’urcye mhi - goodbye (literally: may we meet again), mirshmure’cya - brain-kiss (Basic term, is Keldabe kiss. This is the soft one as opposed to the literal headbutt term) Asked to be tagged in this disaster: @pearlll09 Word Count: remember when i said this would be 4k? Yeah. It’s 6,478 words. What. The. Fuck.

Author’s Note: this is way longer than I intended it to be but I think u deserve it since u were the only one who saw my post begging for mando requests and actually sent one hksjlfdkj tysm!! I’m so happy I got to write a Soulmate AU for him tbh. Btw, I have it in my head that Yodito would’ve given him the ability to see green, as a familial Soulmate bond, but it wouldn’t work for this if your eyes are green so I just left it out. (Also wtf is up with the Cobb/Din shit, Cobb is clearly in a dedicated relationship with the bartender Weequay. I named them Sala :D) The title is from The Teller of Tales by Gabriela Mistral.

Read On AO3

*

“Do you wear those gloves all the time?”

The Mando gives you a look—one that you can’t read, obviously, but you get the idea that it’s drier than the desert you’re in.

Calican snorts, but you shoot him a glare and he shuts up. You’re only here because he’s paying well for your mechanical skills, enough that his request of an extra hand on his first bounty seemed reasonable. Finding out that he’s hunting Fennec Shand was...less than pleasing, but now that the Mando is onboard, you’re not quite so worried about the outcome. They’re supposed to be fearsome warriors, after all. And he was smart enough to figure out how to wait out Shand, which is what the three of you have been doing for hours.

“I’m just saying,” you continue, “between the armour and the gloves, it must be damn near impossible to find your Soulmate.”

He shrugs. Sort of. It’s kind of hard to tell, to be honest.

“Haven’t you heard the stories?” Calican asks, flopping back onto the sand. “Mandalorians don’t have Soulmates. They start seeing colour after their first battle; war is their only destiny.”

You roll your eyes. They’re folk tales, really, and ridiculous ones at that. Every sentient has at least one Soulmate, romantic, platonic, familial, or otherwise, and there’s no reason for Mandalorians to be any different. Still, the stories make their rounds. There are specific ones, too, like the one about the Mandalorian Jedi who made the Darksaber; he was said to see colour when he lit his weapon for the first time. Fett, too, was said to have seen a new colour with every clone that was decanted—which is mildly ridiculous.

“Maybe the Mandalorians of old,” Mando comments with a scoff. “Not many of us see battle these days.”

“Well, if you’re looking for it, I know a krayt dragon a few hundred klicks away,” you suggest lightly.

He snorts. “No thanks. I’ll take the assassin.”

“Speaking of,” you said, “you guys know I’m just a mechanic, right?”

There’s a pause. Calican nods, but the Mando is still.

“What?” he asks, displeasure in his voice.

“I mean, I’m pretty good with a blaster, but I’m gonna be useless against Fennec Shand.”

Mando whirls on Calican. “You paid a mechanic to be your back-up? Are you insane?”

He shrugs. “(Y/N) has a mean right hook.”

“That’s not reassuring,” Mando huffs. He looks over at you and you can almost feel him glaring through the visor. “Are you crazy?”

“I’m broke,” you scoff. “Same thing. Oh, hey, do you need repairs on that hunk of junk you pilot? I’ll be more thorough than that lady at the hangar.”

He hesitates. “We’ll see.”

You grin. That’s not a no.

*

“You’re a prick, did I mention that?” you hiss over your shoulder.

Calican shoves the blaster into your side. “Shut up and keep walking.”

The Mandalorian stands on the other side of the hangar, waiting for Calican to make his move. Seriously, this day could not be going any worse. After killing Shand, Toro Calican, certified dumbass, decided that kidnapping you and the Mandalorian’s—pet? Child?—passenger was the best way to go. Whatever the little weird thing that’s in your arms is, it’s pretty cute, and you’d rather he shoot you than the baby holding tightly onto your shirt. In fact, he probably will, because the kid is his ticket into the Guild—you’re just dead weight.

“Looks like I’m calling the shots now. Huh, partner?” Calican asks the Mando. “Drop your blaster and raise ‘em.”

The Mandalorian puts his hands behind his head. Next to you, Calican pushes Peli forward and instructs her to cuff him. With a huff, she moves behind the Mandalorian with the intent to follow orders.

“You’re a Guild traitor, Mando,” Calican begins. You consider sighing. This sounds like the start of a villain monologue. “And I’m willing to bet that this here is the target you helped escape. Fennec was right. Bringing you in won’t just make me a member of the Guild, it’ll make me legendary.”

In a burst of light, the Mandalorian sets off a flash grenade.

You yelp and tuck the little thing into your arms before tucking yourself over into a roll down the ramp of the ship. You fall into the sand just in front of the Mandalorian, who’s moved to fire a shot at Calican, sending him flying off the other side, smouldering.

Breathing heavily, you sit up, the child still in your arms.

“Are you okay? Is the child?”

You look up. The Mandalorian has his gloved hand held out, offering to help you up. Hesitantly, you take it and pull yourself off the ground.

“We’re both okay—I think,” you say hesitantly, holding the baby out to him. “Is he—?”

“Dead,” the Mando confirms, taking the child from you.

You frown. “Good riddance. Thank you,” you tell him hesitantly, though your tone is genuine.

“It’s nothing,” he murmurs.

He distracts himself by checking on the child, who coos up at him contentedly. You smile a little at the interaction, but put yourself back into focus.

“It’s not nothing,” you say firmly. “I owe you a life debt.”

He freezes. “What?”

“Where I come from, if someone saves your life, you owe it to them. Until I can save your life, I owe you,” you explain.

“That’s—you don’t need to do that,” he says quickly.

You cross your arms. “It’s like your Way. It’s my culture, my honour on the line. You’re stuck with me, Mando.”

“What? No. Can’t you...pay me, or something?”

“I’m broke, remember?”

“You saved the child’s life, doesn’t that count?”

Your eyebrows shoot up. “I rolled with him. You did the work, so, no, it doesn’t count, even though he’s your…” You hesitate, remembering the word. “...foundling.”

“You know, you’re kind of getting the better end of the deal here,” Peli pipes up, directing the thought at the Mandalorian. “A free mechanic, babysitter, and an extra blaster? That’s a bargain.”

“Uh...pre-warning, I don’t know much about child care,” you warn immediately.

He snorts. “Neither do I.” After a moment, he sighs deeply. “Fine. But we’re going to work on those blaster skills before you become a liability.”

“Fair enough.”

*

Sticking with the Mandalorian is probably the worst decision of your life.

Almost immediately after Tatooine, in need of more funds, he drags you into trouble with another group of bounty hunters and the New Republic, of all groups.

“Who is this?” someone asks, her voice sing-song as she enters the Mandalorian’s ship.

You don’t bother turning around, continuing your repairs on a hull panel. “The mechanic. Don’t touch anything.”

“You have a personal mechanic?”

A few people enter the ship, making you finally turn around. The first speaker is a Twi’lek woman and the second a Human, who squints disdainfully. From behind him, Mando pushes past their little crew—including a protocol droid and a massive Devaronian—to approach you, deciding to stand next to you rather than them, which brings you immense pleasure for some reason.

“No. (Y/N) owes me a life debt and, apparently, credits don’t cut it,” he explains shortly, sounding frustrated and exhausted.

You nudge him companionably—it’s an argument you’ve had a few times, the paying of your debt. He doesn’t want to be free of you, per se, but he doesn’t want you to be in his debt. Having that kind of power or hold over you makes him uncomfortable, you can tell, as every time it comes up he gets twitchy.

“Kinky,” the Twi’lek snickers.

You grimace. That would explain why Mando sounds like he wants to die. “Fun group. What’s the job?”

“One of theirs got caught. We’re getting him out,” he says. “And we’re using our ship.”

Our ship. Maybe it’s a slip of the tongue or maybe he’s making it clear that you’re with him, but either way, it brings a smirk to your face. The Twi’lek looks disgusted.

“Well, at least my hard work won’t be going to waste,” you huff.

“Mando,” the Twi’lek interrupts, “you haven’t introduced us.”

You can feel him rolling his eyes. “(Y/N), meet Mayfeld, Burg, Xi’an. Mayfeld is running point, the droid is flying, and the target is a New Republic transport ship.”

“Ugh. You guys better be good; I’m not getting arrested.”

“Mayfeld’s former Imperial,” Mando says before any of them can answer.

You scoff. “A stormtrooper? My shitty blaster skills would be better than his.”

“I wasn’t a stormtrooper,” Mayfeld spits, annoyed enough that he must’ve said it once already. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

All but the droid stay, scattered around the hull. Mando follows soon after the jump to hyperspace, having hovered over the droid while it set their course. He stops Burg from getting into the weapons cache right after he hops down the ladder and the two look like they want to kill each other.

“Someone tell me why we even need a Mandalorian,” the Devaronian grunts.

Mayfeld huffs. “Well, apparently, they’re the greatest warriors in the galaxy. So they say.”

“Then why are they all dead?”

They all laugh at that—Xi’an with a particularly nasal one, which is irritating beyond belief. You frown deeply, but try not to show how pissed their laughter makes you. That sort of shit isn’t to be made fun of; a dying race. It’s all too familiar these days, what with the death of Alderaan and the crater on Scarif.

When you come back into focus, Xi’an is talking in low tones.

“See, I know who you really are,” she says to the Mando.

You roll your eyes. Unlikely.

(Something in your brain goes: I do, which is stupid. You don’t know who he is, under that helmet, sure, but you’ve seen a lot of him through his actions. He’s reckless, terrifying, and a badass, but he’s also patient and...kind, in his own way. The way he treats the child is like nothing you’ve seen in another bounty hunter. It’s gentle, caring. The kid has really grown on him, you think. And the way he treats you is just straight up polite, even though you’re practically his servant in terms of a life debt. Still, he treats you like a person and doesn’t ask you to do unreasonable favours just because he saved your life. He doesn’t hold it over your head.)

And then they start goading him about the helmet.

Burg actually goes for it, which Mando beats him back for. You jump forward, but just as you do, the door to the sleeping cot flies open, revealing the child.

Instead, you rush to the child, pulling him into your arms.

“What is that?” Mayfeld asks, approaching.

“Back off,” you hiss.

He looks between you and Mando. “Wait, did you two make that?” When you scoff, he frowns. “What is it, like a pet or somethin’?”

“Yeah. Something like that,” Mando says quickly.

Xi’an frowns. “Didn’t take you for the type. Maybe that code of yours has made you soft.”

You snort. Soft. That isn’t a word you’d use to describe him, ever. You haven’t seen very much action since Tatooine, but you saw enough there.

Mayfeld reaches for the child and, without hesitation, you lift your blaster. The way he’s looking at the little guy makes you uneasy.

“Fuck off,” you warn instantly.

“Aw, c’mon, I just wanna hold him,” he teases.

Over the comms, the droid’s voice echoes. “Dropping out of hyperspace. Now.”

The entire ship shudders and shakes, sending everyone flying off their feet. You happen to ram into beskar, your face slamming into the metal, which makes you yelp. The baby wails in your arms as gravity makes to tug you away again. Before it can, Mando grabs your arms and holds you in place against him until the ship is steady once more.

“You okay?” he asks, helping you to your feet—again, you think miserably.

“Ugh, no,” you groan, putting a hand on the left side of your face. “That’s gonna bruise.”

Mando takes the child from you. “Sorry. We’ll deal with it after.”

You wave him off. “I’ve had worse. You worry about the job, I’ll watch the kid,” you say, taking the child back. You can’t help but smile when he coos happily.

“Right,” Mando mutters. For a moment, he watches you both, considering.

“Mando!” calls Mayfeld. “Let’s go!”

Before he goes, he puts a hand on your shoulder. “Be careful. I have a bad feeling about this.” You nod, which seems to appease him, and watch him leave.

Petting the child’s floppy ears, you wonder if he meant that to be as comforting as it was.

*

I should’ve known, Din thinks when Qin walks out of that cell.

I definitely should’ve known, he decides, returning to the Razor Crest to find a sparking droid corpse and a shaking child in your arms.

He tosses the cuffed Twi’lek to the side and rushes to yours, stepping over Zero’s limp form. You look relatively unfazed, for someone who’s just ripped a droid’s head off with their bare hands, but the child is rather distressed. The kid squeaks at the sight of Din and, much to his surprise, lifts your hand to show him.

It’s bleeding.

“What did you do?” Din questions, crossing the hull for his medical kit.

“I...may have tried to punch the droid,” you admit hesitantly. “It didn’t work.”

He scoffs, returning to kneel in front of you with bacta patches in his hands. “No karking shit.”

Your face falls as he reaches for your hand, pulling it toward him so he can patch it up. “It was gonna hurt the kid.”

“You did good,” he murmurs. “Stupid, but good.”

It never occurred to him that you might save the child again. You’re here out of necessity, after all, because you owe him, because your honour depends on paying that debt. The child is just another being in the vicinity, but you still saved him. Again. You’re either very stupid or very kind and he can’t decide which one is more concerning.

“Maybe you should teach me a bit of hand to hand, too,” you suggest warmly, wincing at the bacta’s sting.

Din makes a noise that’s sort of a laugh. “I’ll add it to the list.”

He moves to put bacta on the bruise his beskar gave you—He feels ridiculously guilty for that; here you are, paying off a life debt to him, and he still manages to hurt you—but with a hand, you stop him.

“Don’t waste it,” you say immediately. “I’ve had worse bruises, seriously.”

He frowns. “It’s not a waste.” Before you can protest, he puts the patch on top of the bruise.

You huff. “You’re a worrier, aren’t you, Mando?”

“Apparently,” he replies dryly. He hadn’t realised it, either.

“Will you stop flirting and get us out of here!?” Qin shouts from the other side of the hull. “The New Republic will be on our asses!”

You roll your eyes. “I hate to say it, but he has a point. Where are the others?”

“Dealt with,” he says simply. “It was a double-cross.”

“Well, I figured,” you shoot back with a knowing look. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

The drop is easy enough, especially since Din knows that New Republic signal is beeping steadily from Qin’s pocket. He escapes quickly, dipping back into the Razor Crest, where you wait at the top of the ramp, the child hanging onto your boot.

“Let’s go,” he declares, the ramp shutting behind him as he enters.

“Already?” you question with a raised eyebrow. “There are a few repairs I could make out of hyperspace that might be useful.”

He waves you toward the cockpit. “Later. We need to leave.”

“Oookay.” You frown but do as he says, plucking the child from off your foot. “C’mon, little guy,” you mutter to him.

Din waves away all your questions as he starts the take-off. Finally, when the Razor Crest is a safe distance away from the space station and X-Wings appear out of hyperspace, he glances back at you.

“Holy shit!” you cry as they open fire. You look back at him with a slack jaw, which makes him smile underneath the helmet. “That was you, wasn’t it?”

He shrugs half-heartedly, but it’s enough of an answer.

“You’re a maniac, Mando,” you laugh, watching the scene through the transparisteel.

Din thinks over it, staring at you for a long moment. There’s light in your eyes—maybe it’s the reflection of the explosion, but it’s captivating.

“Din,” he says.

You look over. “Hm?”

He clears his throat, trying to shove aside nerves. “My name. It’s Din.”

“Oh. Oh,” you repeat, eyes wide. Then, you smile, more genuine than he’s ever seen from you, he thinks. “You’re crazy, Din. You know that, right?”

He laughs—and that’s the first time you’ve heard a proper one from him. “Yeah. Yeah, I know.”

*

When Din drops a pair of gloves in front of you, you laugh.

“You’re telling me the gloves are out of convenience?” you ask him disbelievingly.

“The more skin you cover, the less likely you are to get cut up by a vibroblade,” he replies dryly. “Put them on.”

You raise your hands in surrender and take them, slipping them over your fingers. “Surprisingly comfy.”

It occurs to you that this is...sort of a big deal. You’ve kept your hands bare for as long as you can remember, mostly because you’re a romantic and finding your Soulmate has been at the forefront of your mind for a long time. But now, you think, it’s not such a big deal. You have a debt to pay and, besides that, you’re pretty happy with how things are now.

Life isn’t exactly nice with Din and the kid, so to say, but you’re content. You love the child and he adores you. The Razor Crest feels more like home than any planet ever has. And Din is...well, he’s something. Being around him is mildly addicting and whenever he’s gone, something feels incomplete.

“Better?” you ask, lifting your gloved hands.

“Much,” he says. Then, he holds out his own hand. “C’mon, up.”

You take the hand without thought, but before you know it, he’s swinging you around and shoving you to the ground.

“Ow!” you cry. “What the hell, Din?”

He huffs. “Lesson 1: Never take anything for granted.”

“Rude.” You hit his arm meaningfully, but he just rolls his eyes; just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean you can’t tell it’s happening.

“You’ll thank me someday.”

“But not today.”

“Nope. Today, you’re gonna hate my guts.”

*

He’s dying.

It feels unreal, what with everything you’ve watched him survive so far. A newbie bounty hunter, a group of pissed off bounty hunters, lots of bounty hunters, and the New Republic but a group of stormtroopers is what gets him?

Moff Gideon is what really gets him, though. The bastard that helped destroy his people is going to destroy Din Djarin. Hearing him speak Din’s name makes you nauseous, furious, even. He gave you that name in confidence, trusted it to you, the only one of his handful of friends to even use it, and Gideon decides to declare it to Nevaroo in its entirety. It makes your blood boil, enough that you get out of the initial firefight mostly unscathed.

But Din doesn’t. And now he’s dying in your arms and you feel like you failed.

“Go with them,” he tells you, all croaky and half-assed.

“No. No, I’m not leaving you here,” you declare, carefully leaning him against the rubble.

Flames flicker all around the room and the child is crying. It’s not loud or consistent, but it’s enough to break your heart.

“You have to go,” Din says again. “You’ll die.”

You laugh ruefully. “That’s kind of the point. A life debt means I save your life or I die trying.”

A pause.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” he hisses through the pain.

“Afraid not, dumbass. You’re stuck with me, remember?”

He grasps your arm, his hands still gloved. If you’re going to die here, maybe you should ask him to take off the gloves. A part of you has wondered…

“C’mon, tell me it’s transferable—some ‘dying wish’ shit like that.”

You nod, though the action sinks uncomfortably into your chest. Leaving him here...that doesn’t sit well with you. But if he asks, then you’ll do it. “Yeah, you name it, but it’d better be a big one, something equivalent.”

The breath he lets out is one of relief. “Take care of the kid. Go find his people and return him to them. Protect him.”

“With my dying breath,” you swear, the words holding an air of ceremony.

Din grasps your arm tighter and pulls you down, your forehead meeting his helmet. You’re not sure what it means, but it must mean something because he mutters words in his own language, which you’ve never heard him do before.

“Ret’urcye mhi.”

May we meet again.

Din does what little he can in saying goodbye to you, as deeply as that cuts. You’ve grown on him, a little too much maybe, and it kills him to think that you’ll be without him now. You still can’t hit a headshot, he realises, suddenly worried for how you’ll fare.

And so he gives you what he can: a Keldabe kiss and a goodbye, instead of the action he wants to take. He wants to take off his gloves and see if he can figure out the colour of your eyes. On the other hand, though, he doesn’t want to leave you with that, of all things, to leave you seeing the red of his blood and the blue-tinged orange of the flames before any other colours.

You take the child in your arms and, with one last glance at Din, leave the room for the covert’s tunnels underground.

The child whimpers up at you.

You look down, sniffling, and pet his ears gently. “I know, little one. I’m so sorry.” You place a gentle kiss to his forehead.

Cara appears, tugging on your wrist. “C’mon,” she says gently. “We need to get out of here.”

It occurs to you, as the three of you and Greef move on, that Cara might help you with the child. For Din, obviously. She’s a good person and, frankly, she and Din seem pretty friendly. The second she saw you, she’d offered her bare hand and bemoaned the fact that her vision was still black and white, much to your amusement. It was all in good fun, but Din had looked a little uncomfortable, for reasons you didn’t know.

“(Y/N),” Cara says quietly, calling your attention back.

You shake yourself from your thoughts. “Sorry.”

She smiles sadly. “It’s okay. Just keep up.”

The small group turns a few corners before footsteps sound from behind. You immediately place the child in the bag hanging from Cara’s shoulder and draw your blaster, watching her and Greef do the same.

From the distant hall, two figures approach: IG-11 and—

“Din!” you half-cry, half-breathe out. Holstering your blaster, you meet them halfway to take more of Din’s weight from IG. “How—?”

“No living thing can see me without my helmet. IG isn’t alive,” Din says dryly.

You laugh, a partly manic sound. “Thank kark. You’re not getting out of this that easy.”

The noise he makes is both amused and resigned. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Where’s the—?”

“He’s with Cara,” you say, finishing the thought before even he can, in his groggy state.

It’s safe to say that when the Armourer gives him his sigil, Din almost considers correcting the Clan of two to a Clan of three. He doesn’t, reminding himself that you’re here because of a debt and nothing else, but the thought is there.

*

The months after Nevarro are more peaceful than the first week of your time with Din. 

You finally get to pull a proper sleeping space together for yourself. Well, it’s a hammock in the hull, but it’s better than the seats in the cockpit. The child gets his own hammock, too, though it’s in the cot space with Din. He loves it, so much so that he squeals when he sees it. That’s your proudest moment, for sure.

Most days, you tend to forget that you still owe a life debt. To be honest, it just feels like the three of you are normal. Din takes bounties, you take short mechanic jobs on different planets, and the two of you trade off on child-duty. It’s pretty regular, more than what your life used to be, anyway.

Din is still training you in hand-to-hand and blasters, of course. You’re getting better with the latter, but the first is difficult. On the way to Tatooine, where there’s supposedly another Mandalorian, he decides to have another training session.

“Fists higher, do it again.”

Huffing, you wipe your wrist across your sweaty forehead. It’s easy enough to obey the order—the first part, anyway. Getting into his guard is difficult, though.

One hit, two blocks—there. You slip under his guard and make an abrupt drop to the ground, sweeping his legs out under him with a fierce movement. He goes down in a tumble of beskar, joining you on the floor. As soon as he’s down, you flip over and straddle his hips, an arm over his neck in false threat.

He barks out a laugh. “Much better.”

“I’m not entirely hopeless!” you declare joyfully before bursting into snickers.

Leaning down, you thunk your forehead against his helmet. The gesture is fond, you’ve learned, something shared between close companions—or at least you think. Din told you that it’s called a mirshmure’cya in Mando’a, that it doesn’t have an equivalent word in Basic.

(Which is technically true. Literally, it means brain-kiss, but the outsider term for it is Keldabe kiss. It can be used for close companions—vode in arms, family—but it’s also used for romantic partners, so he’s mildly horrified at the idea of explaining its cultural significance to you and having to face his feelings for someone that may or may not be his Soulmate. He hasn’t gotten up the courage to ask if he can check. Or try to do it discreetly.)

A distant beeping starts up, coming from the cockpit. It’s the approach warning, which means the training session is over.

“I’ll get the kid,” you say, climbing off Din and offering a hand.

He takes it without hesitation, dragging himself up and making a beeline for the cockpit.

Tatooine is about what you remember. That is, it’s dry, sandy, and the worst planet you’ve ever been on. Stepping out of the ship and into the hangar makes you smile, though, at the not-so-distant memory of Din saving your life. It hasn’t been that long, but it feels like it’s been years.

“Oh, hey!” says Peli, after greeting the child—which is fair, he’s adorable. “You’re still with him! Haven’t repaid that debt yet, huh?”

Your face falls. “Uh, no, not really.”

On the way to Mos Pelgo, your thoughts linger on the life debt. One of these days, you’re going to save Din’s life—then where will you be? Will he want you to leave? What will you do if you have to leave? Your old life was nowhere near as interesting as this, nor did you have anyone close to what Din and the child are to you.

The dreary grey slopes of sand only make it easier to think of the worst possible outcomes. Now you remember why you hated Tatooine so much.

You don’t even realise the speeder is approaching the small town until Din taps your arm, which is wrapped around his waist. Jumping at the touch, you loosen your grip sheepishly and glance at the child, who looks like he’s enjoying himself immensely.

After the speeder comes to a stop, you take the kid while Din enters the cantina.

When you enter yourself, you find that he’s about to shoot someone, while the Weequay behind the bar looks rather distressed.

“Perfect timing, as always,” Din remarks without a glance.

You raise your free hand. “You’re the bad luck charm, I’m just here for the ride,” you retort teasingly.

“You brought a kid to a gunfight?” his opponent asks, raising an eyebrow.

Finally, you glance over at him and see why Din looks ready to kill him. He’s in Mandalorian armour but his helmet is off—clearly, he’s not Mandalorian. “You’re wearing beskar and you’re not a Mandalorian, buddy. I think you’re in more trouble than the kid is.”

“He is,” Din gets out, a twinge of viciousness in his voice.

Before they can even reach for their blasters, though, the ground starts to shake.

You grab onto the doorway for support, eyes wide as you grip the child. Din and the Mandalorian poser move toward the door, joining you and staring out at the street outside.

The entire planet feels like it rumbles and chaos reigns outside.

Something is moving the sand—coming toward the town.

“Holy fuck,” you whisper as it goes by, shifting the sand like it’s an ocean rather than earth. It flies out of the ground, sharp teeth the only thing you see as it consumes a bantha whole.

When it’s gone, the poser huffs. “Maybe we can work something out.” He turns to you, offering a hand, which is covered by fingerless gloves. “Cobb Vanth. I’m the Marshal here.”

You take it hesitantly, glad that things are still black and white when you make contact. “(Y/N).”

He notices your hesitation and chuckles. “The Weequay in there is Sala, my Soulmate. I’ll see if they can’t whip up something for the kid; I’m sure he’s starving.”

“Very,” you say, just before he goes to leave.

When it’s just you and Din, you look over at your companion. “Krayt dragon, huh?”

“Yep,” he sighs, already sounding tired.

You laugh. “I know I said I could bring you to one when we met, but I was totally kidding.”

He looks over at you and you can feel the low-level glare behind the visor, but it only makes you snicker. “I hate you.”

“You’re so full of shit,” you retort immediately.

*

You finally get to repay your debt.

It’s not what you’re thinking about when you shove Din out of the way of the krayt’s projectile venom, but it’s repaid nonetheless.

Din doesn’t think of it immediately, either, as he’s rather more concerned with the fact that you’re sent flying across the desert into a pile of debris and sharp rocks.

“(Y/N)!”

Before he can run to you, Cobb grabs his arm. “The dragon!”

To be honest, killing the dragon feels like a bonus when he pulls himself together and figures out a plan. When the great beast explodes, the Tuskens and the villagers cheer, but Din races back to the place he saw you last. He pushes aside the remains of one of those massive weapons they built to find you, laying on the ground. For a moment, panic clutches his heart, but then you groan.

“Am I dead?” you ask.

Din lets out a breath, hardly managing it, as he kneels next to you. “Dumbass.”

“Because it feels like I’m dead.”

“Dumbass,” he repeats, ripping your shirt away to find a deep cut in your side, just above your hip. “Of all the ways to pay your debt—”

You sit up, wincing. “Oh,” you say, as if you hadn’t realised it, “I guess I did that, too.”

Din’s heart is still beating a million klicks a second at how close you were to being dead, but for a second, it flips, realising that you hadn’t saved him just to pay the debt. And then, as he’s helping you off the ground and bringing you toward the others, who have bacta patches ready, his heart sinks.

Your debt is paid. You don’t have any reason to stay with him and the kid. As soon as you get back to the city, he’s going to have to watch you leave.

Shit. He didn’t think this through.

Meanwhile, you’re on the same train of thought. Does he really think you saved him for the debt? Does he want you gone that bad? It makes sense. You’re a pain in the ass, with all the training you need. But...well, you thought he might’ve—

“I’ve changed my mind,” you declare.

Din, terrified, attempts to sound neutral. “About?”

“The worst job we’ve ever taken. This is definitely it,” you huff as he helps you down onto a smoother boulder, taking patches from a Tusken.

He goes to use them, but you raise a hand.

“If you even think about getting near my wound with those nasty gloves, I’m going to skin you,” you threaten.

Frankly, Din is too shaken to even laugh. The silence lays there, stilted, as he removes his gloves and sits somewhat behind you, on another close stone. You’ve taken yours off, too, seeing as one is ripped all the way through.

He’s careful with the bacta patch and his bare hands, making sure not to touch your skin.

Now, of all moments, would be the worst time to find out that you really don’t have a reason to stay.

While he works, he thinks, briefly, that he should say something. “(Y/N),” he starts to say. “I—”

But that happens to be the moment he’s putting the bacta patch on. You suck in a sharp breath through your teeth, wincing. Your hand flies out, reaching for something to ground you. Of course, because something out there has it out for you, you grab his hand, forgetting that his gloves are, for once in his life, not there.

You realise, ridiculously, that his hand is warm.

And then the world around you explodes into colour.

The faded yellow of the surrounding desert is overwhelming with how it burns into your eyes alongside the brilliant blue of the sky. The surrounding Tuskens are in browns and greys, simple things, but so, so beautiful to your new sight. You breathe out, a shaky action.

Behind you, Din comes to see the same, but his gaze is stuck on the back of your head—the (h/c) of your hair and how the light catches in it, despite it being a complete mess.

You barely have the breath to gasp, but you do, whirling around to face him.

His beskar is beyond what you’d pictured: a shining, sparkling silver that could stand out on a star. No wonder rooms fall silent at the sight of him.

Din has the same thought about your eyes. On death’s door, all he’d wanted was to know what colour they are and now he knows, but it feels so useless now. He doesn’t even know what to call them. Sure, (e/c) would work, however weakly. You are...something else. You always have been, but now it’s like he can see it, the beauty of who you are so plainly painted into your features.

Din doesn’t even have the time to be afraid of your reaction before the words are slipping out. “I don’t want you to go.”

You just stare at him for a long moment, words processing.

It...kind of freaks him out.

He jumps when you fling yourself at him, arms wrapped around his shoulders in the tightest hug he’s ever gotten. Immediately, he responds, clutching the back of your shirt like it’ll save his life.

“Thank the Force,” you breathe out, just beside where his ear is under the helmet. “I don’t wanna leave.”

Din lets out a breath of relief and tugs you closer so you’re practically sitting on his lap. It can’t be comfortable, but you don’t seem to mind. When you do finally pull away, it’s to press your forehead against his helmet. It sends a swell of affection through him again, your constant Keldabe kisses. He taught you something important to his culture, to him, and here you are, using it without thought.

“Is it too late to tell you that this is the Mandalorian equivalent of a kiss?” he murmurs, more than a little embarrassed.

You laugh softly, arms reaching to rest around his neck. “And I thought you were so cool.”

“I just blew up a krayt dragon,” he argues.

“Oh, you’re plenty badass, Din,” you tease back, “just...not smooth.”

He huffs. “I’m gonna kick your ass next training session.”

A grin comes over your face and, for a second, he can’t comprehend why that would make you smile—until he realises that he just promised a next time. You’d genuinely believed he wanted you gone and Din thought you wanted to leave, but neither of you were right. 

A whine from below catches both your attention.

The child reaches up from the ground, making grabby hands.

You laugh, a noise Din echoes quietly, and pluck him from the ground, holding him in your careful hands. “Hey, buddy. Feeling left out?”

He squeaks a confirmation, his little hands—green hands, you realise, deeply amused—reaching for Din’s helmet. Once he has a comfortable hand, he bashes his head against the helmet.

Din yelps, not out of pain, but concern, grabbing for the kid, who wobbles dizzily.

“Oh, shit—” Din says.

“Woah, woah,” you get out between wheezing laughs. “Don’t do that! His head is much harder than yours.”

The kid makes a weak huff and curls against Din’s chest stubbornly.

“I think that was an attempted kiss,” you suggest to Din.

Underneath his helmet, he grins. Petting the child’s head with a gentle finger, he looks back up at you. “It was cute.”

“Very,” you agree.

Without prompting, Din reaches for your hand again, a little hesitant. You take his gladly, running your thumb across his knuckles, which makes him shiver.

“Clan of three,” he whispers.

You lift your gaze. “Hm?”

“The Armourer, she said, ‘Clan of two’ when she gave me my sigil,” he explains. “I wanted to correct her then.”

The smile on your face is beyond words. “Clan of three has a ring to it. You’re stuck with me for good now, Din Djarin.”

He snorts and raises your hand to his helmet, touching it briefly to the metal in lieu of kissing it.

Tatooine might be the worst place in the universe, Din thinks that it doesn’t matter so much where he is. Sitting here, with you and the kid, he thinks that this might be home.

*

River’s Tags: @hahaboop & @mystoragehatesme

Masterlist

[pretchatta]

forging

The Armorer stands at her forge, her hammer striking the white-hot metal with an almost musical ringing, over and over and over. It comforts her; the familiar motions, the rhythmic noise, the heat of the flames. And of course, she is protecting the old ways, the Way of the Mandalore. That warmth reaches further, through her armour and all the way to her heart.

She can still remember the Split, now thirty years past. She had been young, then, and eager, her blood singing for battle. She had wanted what they had all wanted, to return to the old ways, to be strong again. They had thought Mandalore was the key to it all.

Then that armourless Duchess had managed to thwart Death Watch’s plan to set the stage for their uprising, and the enemy Dooku had withdrawn from their temporary alliance as a result. Without the support of the Separatists and their droid army, retaking their home was suddenly out of reach. For many, this had been the time to reconsider their priorities.

Governor Vizsla and Lady Kryze had of course advocated for a new plan. Regroup, rebuild, and find new allies to try again. Mandalore was the key to everything. All they needed to do was to turn the people’s opinion of their New Mandalorian government sour, and there would be nothing those weak fools in power could do to stop the revolution.

For the Armorer and her clan, it wasn’t so straightforward. Why was there such a need to go through so much effort? Were they not Mandalorians now, even without their precious planet? Why couldn’t they simply accept Mandalore as lost and start again, and rebuild their society somewhere else in the galaxy? They still had their armour, their culture, their traditions; they didn’t need something so plain as a ball of rock to keep their way of life alive.

And so they Split. House Vizsla and its allies remained on Krownest -- presumably only as long as until the New Mandalorians chased them somewhere else -- but those who felt they had suffered enough meaningless struggle found someplace new to settle down. They called themselves simply The Watch; someone joked that they left the Death behind with those who so clearly wanted to meet it. They found their own corner of the galaxy to make their home, and they started to rebuild.

It was true that their homeworld held a strong connection to their history, with its cities, ruling Houses and beskar mines. Therefore, without it, the old ways became all the more important to the Watch, and they found themselves clinging tighter than ever to their culture. They wore their armour for longer periods; they recited the key tenets of Mandalorian traditions often; they sparred frequently, making use of the full array of weaponry each warrior possessed.

Of course, it wasn’t as easy as all that. The Mandalorian wars may have ceased (albeit temporarily, as these were Mandalorian wars, after all) but the great Clone Wars still raged across the galaxy. The Watch could not escape it, and being Mandalorian, neither could they stand idly by. There were many worlds that the Separatists sought to claim, worlds the Republic did not deem worthy or tactical to protect, and so the Watch stepped in. They fought, they shielded, they saved. They also lost, and mourned, and remembered. With civilian casualties so high, foundlings were common, and the Watch's numbers grew. Children were always the future, and the Children of the Watch were just as Mandalorian as those who adopted them.

Throughout, the Watch remained aware of events on Mandalore. When Viszla invaded Sundari, they were surprised by his apparent success, until news reached them of the events that followed. The insurrection by the outsider Maul, who wielded the ancient Darksaber in a mockery of its true symbol, forcing Mandalorians to kneel before his crime syndicates, brought them only a grim sense of vindication. It was painful to hear, but that was why the Watch had Split; they had known that nothing good would ever have come of that single-minded focus on Mandalore.

The Armorer had been warmed to hear of the Siege of Mandalore, of Lady Kryze ousting Maul and the criminals, even if it was done with the Republic’s soldiers and -- worst of all -- Jedi. Kryze was doing what she had to for the good of their people; perhaps she had not strayed so far from the true ways after all. But then the Empire had come and she had allowed them to take over completely, not strong enough to stop them, and the Armorer had stopped paying attention. The Watch had had their own problems with the Empire to deal with.

Clan Saxon knew of their existence, and what they were capable of. The Watch and its Children were seen as a threat to the stability of Imperial Mandalore, even if they had no intention of ever going back, and they knew their choices were to stand and fight a battle they would lose, or save what they had and run. With the war ended, they retreated to the Outer Rim, avoiding the Empire's ever-growing reach. For safety, those who had once been part of Death Watch shed their names completely, and warriors stopped removing their helmets except in front of members of their own clan. The Way of the Mandalore was recited aloud in a constant reminder of who they were, so that if any of them fell, the others would carry the memories. They still gathered foundlings, and sometimes, the Watch would divide, their Children creating new tribes that spread out in hidden coverts across the galaxy. There was safety in numbers, but it was dangerous for too many of them to live together at once, lest they draw attention to themselves.

Then had come the Great Purge. Her Tribe had gone underground as soon as the chilling news reached them, living in caves and sewers and abandoned buildings, rarely leaving the covert at all. The number of new foundlings dropped dramatically; it was hard to come across children when only one of you was amongst the other beings in the galaxy at any given time. Helmets were no longer removed even in front of one's clan, if any of the clan were even alive. Mandalorians became lucrative targets for bounty hunters, the beskar in their armour a valuable commodity now that its rightful keepers were no longer limiting its trade. Even with fewer foundlings, there was no longer enough beskar to sponsor them all, and even the older ones couldn't have more than a helmet. It was a cruel tragedy that the Empire was denying them their inheritance, even after it fell.

Looking back, it was obvious what the differences were between her own formative experience of Mandalorian culture and that of, say, the foundling Din Djarin. As the Watch clung to their ways, so too did the Children, and indeed that almost desperate grip of the culture was all they knew. The Tribe elders hadn’t even told the younger foundlings about their distant cousins; if any survived, they were no longer Mandalorian, and so not worthy of being part of their history. Only the fact that other coverts existed, and were to be helped should they ever cross paths, was taught to them. It wasn't important, not compared to their other lessons; how to fight, how to survive, how to live with honour.

As the Armorer worked, she reflected on the years that had passed, on the losses she had suffered. Even before Din Djarin had crossed blasters with those remnants of the Empire, she was the last in their Tribe who had any memories of simply being in the Mandalore system itself. Back then she had had a name, and a family, and a foolish cause she thought was worthy. That woman was an entirely different person. Now, she had been hardened by true warfare, had seen a thousand hopeful futures blossom and shatter before her eyes, and had learned what was important; what must be protected above all else.  

The sharp clang of her hammer on the metal was a heartbeat. She wasn’t just reclaiming beskar; with every blow, she kept the Way of the Mandalore alive. When she was finished, she would take what was rightfully theirs to the Children of the Watch, and it would protect them, as they would protect the Way, and the Way would keep them all safe.

[clonewarslover55]

Walon Vau’s story

I decided to write out Walon Vau’s story, especially his home life and childhood. Why is Walon Vau the way he is? Read this and find out why. 

Notes: I used my own headcanons mixed with the small details Karen Traviss gave us in the Republic Commando books. Please don’t steal this because you think it’s all hers! 

Warnings: Bad childhood, abuse, child abuse, wounds, whipping, exile, royal drama, evil in the form of a man, thoughts of suicide, angst, 

Let’s start this off with a little bit of planet information and backstory! 

 The planet Irmenu is a small ocean world, the only land masses being large rocky islands. Most seem like mountains, with dangerous cliffs leading into the cold unforgiving sea. The ocean is riddled with beasts and monsters, but the only way of life is to sail. There are some valleys for livestock or farming, but not many. The valleys usually flood anyways, the storms always ruthless. So the Irmenu people fish and sail, searching for months on end just to survive and feed their family. 

Sailing is easy enough. The winds are strong and the seas rough. It’s cold year around, but the people have learned to adapt and survive. Wearing the fur of the air breathing sea beasts, making larger boats, etc. 

The kingdoms are clusters of islands, not one large land mass. Many islands are in large clusters, huge oceans between each cluster. The islands are all under the rule of the religious leaders, but sometimes there is still conflict. Conflict never lasts long on Irmenu though. 

This oceanic planet is in the Outer Rim, in the Belsmuth sector. Their planet is in the middle of the Crombach Nebula, which is extremely hazardous. This gives Irmenu a very good excuse to be so isolated. The leaders of the world use this to their advantage.  

This planet is a Feudal world, which means it’s controlled by a strict religion that also runs the powerful military. This means his world is very close minded and far behind on certain technologies and such. They still have spaceships and holopads, yes, but they’re out of date and ancient. 

The Imperius Priesthood runs the planet under very strict rules. They control what leaves and goes, along with who. They control the nobles and their money, using the Count’s as their marionettes. If you didn’t follow their rules/beliefs, you were either publicly executed, exiled, or sent to a nunnery. All depends on the situation. 

They’re everywhere, spying on their people and arresting whoever they please. Being so strict and ruling by fear affected the Irmenu people terribly. Most were religious fanatics, which means religion dictates every single part of their lives. They read the Irmenu Bible over and over instead of other books, and they follow the rules like good puppets. 

This planet is clearly terrible on it’s own, which only made Walon Vau’s childhood even worse. 

Walon Vau was born around 79 BBY on the planet Irmenu. He was the first and only son of the Count of Gesl, who was also an admiral in the very large Irmenu navy. Walon was raised like any royal, so he didn’t have much of a childhood.

Every second of every day was planned out by his father. He was highly educated, classes every day of the week and all day long. He rarely saw his parents, and when he did it was never under good circumstances. 

Walon learned proper etiquette, dancing, poetry, politics, and many other things he’d need to know for his future as a ruler. He was taught by a number of tutors, each brutal and cruel. He either learned, or was beaten. 

Once he reached the age of ten he began to work harder, practicing and studying for the navy. He didn’t want to follow in his fathers footsteps, but Walon had no choice. Plus he loved sailing, the ocean was calming and vast. The navy was his only hope for a better life. 

Pa Vau, Walon’s father was a harsh man. He was described as domineering, cold hearted, and unpleasable. He beat Walon when he didn’t do perfect on his lessons or training. He wanted Walon to be like him, so he tried to beat all emotion and feeling from his son. He almost succeeded. 

 A good ruler in Irmenu has no heart or soul in Pa’s eyes. 

He would never hit Walon on the face or anywhere visible, he had to have a good face as a royal. As Walon got older the beatings became more often and more brutal, because he wasn’t doing good enough in Pa’s eyes. 

When Walon was fourteen and tried out for the navy his own father rejected him, saying he was not good enough. Walon continued to train, the beatings even worse. The training didn’t help, Walon never made it into the navy. Pa was so unpleasable his only child was never good enough for him. This caused Walon to quickly lose hope, the thought of suicide seeming more appealing by the day. 

Walon only ever got to see his mother at nights, when she would come clean up his bloody lashing marks and other wounds. She was a soft gentle woman, but timid. Pa beat her as well, making sure she didn’t see her son for too long. She was never allowed to see Walon alone, because Pa didn’t want Vau to go soft by a mothers love. 

She was a religious fanatic just like his father, so she would lecture him as well. He had to be better, he had to. He was royalty, he was better than how he acted. Her words were often more cruel than intended. 

When she finished cleaning his wounds she’d read him a chapter of the Irmenu Bible, a book Walon was forced to know every last word to. He never listened though, he would always zone out and dream of a better life…….Or even of ending his life.  

His parents were never in love, their marriage arranged. His father married his mother because of her wealth and bloodline. His mother had rare golden eyes, a symbol of high status to his people. He got her eyes, but his father said that the color of his eyes meant nothing compared to how much of a failure he is. 

When Walon turned sixteen he was at a ball for some religious holiday, where we meant a beautiful princess of a neighboring province. After a few dances they quickly hit it off, and grew close rather fast. She basically saved his life, keeping him from ending it once and for all. She also changed his future for the better. 

He would sneak out as often as he could to meet her under the stars, but more often than not they wrote love letters on flimsy back and forth. Each letter, written with the finest penmanship and finest poetic words was kept by the princess. Walon kept hers as well, in a box under his bed.  

When Walon was eighteen, he asked his father if he could marry the princess. His father and her father both rejected the marriage, along with the Priesthood. Not because of politics or religion, but because Walon was not good enough or worthy to marry such a beautiful woman. 

His father was enraged that he had dared to ask such a question, so he was beaten worse than ever and nearly died. All because his father was embarrassed. When Walon healed a little he learned his love had been shipped away across the planet, to a nunnery. She would learn her lesson for sneaking out and falling in love with someone who was not of an arranged marriage. 

He knew he’d never see her again. 

Walon was exiled temporarily aftwards, being sent to some neighboring shit hole of a planet. He was eighteen and alone, with no idea of the outside world. His mother sobbed for days, her only child and her last hope gone. She prayed every night that he would be allowed back soon. 

Luckily for Walon Vau, he used to sneak out to the large library every night to read books. They had no fiction books, so he just learned about other societies and their ways. Most books pointed out how “bad” they were, but Walon always thought they were so much better than his planet's society. 

Thanks to reading, he knew a bit about the real galaxy. 

Walon had nothing but the clothes on his back. He had no money or possessions. No title, no name. So he wandered. 

Soon he ran into a group of Mandalorians, one by the name of Jaster Mereel. They quickly took in a teenage Walon, teaching him a new way. The way of the Mandalorian warriors. He never believed his home world's ludicrous ideas, so switching religions and cultures was very easy for Walon.

His family found out and disowned Walon for giving up his culture and religion. He lost his title and broke his mothers heart. His mother apparently died of a broken heart, after she heard the news that he would never return. But he knows deep down that his father finally snapped and killed her.

Walon became a perfect warrior, his body and mind already scarred from years and years of abuse. He was cold, calm, and calculated. Walon was also highly educated and very intelligent. So much so that some other Mandalorians taught him how to torture and dismember. He learned about the medical field and could have even been a doctor, but he preferred dead bodies and torturing. 

Jedi could hardly sense him in the force, his soul too broken. He was a perfect Mandalorian Warrior, fighting along with his friend Jango Fett and many others for years.  He fought in the Mandalorian Civil Wars, killing Jedi with no issue. 

Early in his time with the Mandalorians, Walon met a Strill. The Strill could sense Walon’s shattered soul and broken mind, so it adopted him. The Strill was named Lord Mirdalan, jokingly after his favorite uncle. The uncle that had beaten him the less, and had been executed when Walon was ten. Walon did not miss him, or anyone from his home world. 

That’s Walon Vau’s childhood story. He’s ice cold, calm, and utterly detached for a reason. His body is scarred, as is his shattered soul. He was so traumatized and beaten down into the way of the soulless that he had a hard time trying to escape that pit. 

He was cruel to his Clone Commandos, but every day he would be up all night thinking. He wanted them to survive the war, that's all he wanted. He didn’t want them to be failures like him, he couldn’t allow it. Failures never survived.

Walon Vau hardly ever sleeps at night, his mind plagued by nightmares. Not of the wars, but of his home life. 

Mird held Vau together a little better, but his soul never healed. He could never escape the hole of his traumatic past, and it ruined his life forever. 

They call him a psychopath but he really isn’t. Walon Vau can still feel, he just doesn’t know how to. Walon Vau is just a shattered and traumatized man, one who never got proper help. One who never had a childhood. 

(Please reblog this if you like it! I worked very hard on it!) 

Tags: @leias-left-hair-bun @iamassbuttkingofhell @catsnkooks @mxndalorians @colorfulloverbatturkey @ahsokatano-thetogruta @jedi-mando @peacefulwizardfox @hounding-around @julyzaa @feathersforclones @chr0nicbackpain @strangebroadwaykinks @jedi-nila-rhyn @crimson-dxwn @detroitbydark @passionofthesith

[jasontoddiefor]

Hello! I was reading the « fic rec » question and i would be reeeeaaaallly glad to have a look at what you liked! Anything Anakin-related, and preferably AU or fix it (the nile ain’t just a river yada yada...) Thaaaaaanks

Anakin fix-its? You’ve come to the right place. These are all the stories in my bookmarks tagged as “fix it”! There are more but I do not have the patience to search for all of them rn. Not all of these are as Jedi positive as I like my fanfic, but they’re all 10/10 reads regardless.

Title: The Giver Summary: Anakin had pretty much adjusted to life at the Jedi temple. He went to class, he trained with his master, and he had begun to have strange dreams. A friendly figure would meet him at night when he closed his eyes and went to sleep. As they build up their friendship, Anakin begins to slowly confide in them, telling him about his worries, hopes, and dreams. They offer guidance and wisdom, watching Anakin grow to be a Jedi Knight, and trying to figure out where everything went wrong. Sometimes, the answers that you're looking for aren't ahead of you, they're behind. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/22790647

Title: If you could love the flame Summary: And Anakin knows suddenly and irrevocably that they will always be this: his two royals, his two diplomats, his two myths come to life Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/25100827

Title: Sabbatical Summary: Anakin decides to leave the Jedi as a child, and Obi-Wan goes with him. When Palpatine sends Dooku to find them, things don't go as planned. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/22801789

Title: where the light won’t find you Summary: Or maybe Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka do turn to the Dark Side after Mortis. And maybe they accidentally save the galaxy anyways? (But that doesn't mean they still don't cause a headache for the rest of the galaxy.) Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24460300

Title: Family is more than Blood Summary:Two souls go into a sandstorm to change their fates. They find each other instead.Or the slightly cracky AU where a bounty hunter is the one that gives the Chosen One a proper family. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/24469039

Title: Twin Sons Summary: “He…” Anakin took a breath, trying to force his heart to stop hammering into his ribs, and he looked back at the man kneeling behind him, trying to apologize with his eyes, “he’s like me, sir. He’s like me, he’s a slave! His Master made him do this, his Master caused him…don’t hurt him. Not when we have him here, not when…not when we can free him.” - On Slavery, Freedom, and bringing Balance to the Force. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/24449365

Title: Aay’han Summary: Obi-Wan Kenobi sees what the Jedi Temple is doing to his Padawan, and he acts.This affects the galaxy in ways he never could have imagined. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/24280987

Title: if only i knew Summary:Newly knighted Obi-Wan Kenobi and his padawan, Anakin Skywalker, have been sent to Ryloth on a simple diplomatic envoy. While there, an unsettling incident causes Obi-Wan to look at Anakin in a new light and re-evaluate...everything.The Galaxy will never be the same.aka: "come for the obikin, stay for the tzai and deep emotional discussions that dismantle every single misunderstanding in the prequels." Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/24353887

Title:  Ib'tuur Jatne Tuur Ash'ad Kyr'amur Summary: No one knows what the Council is hiding, but the effects ripple throughout the galaxy. Anakin knows he is loved. Former slaves are freed. A long-lost Master and his Padawan are returned to the Temple. No one understands how Obi-Wan Kenobi does these things, but they are grateful for it anyway. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/23581780

Coruscanti Regency The thing is, when Anakin figures it out, is that it all obviously has been there, if he’d only cared to look for it.And, admittedly, he is angry. Mostly at himself, which isn’t something that happens very often, so it’s an especially harrowing realization.All these years, he thinks, I’ve been so blind. I was so busy ignoring everything I didn’t want to think about and blaming everyone else for things not under their control that I didn’t stop to look at the bigger picture.He sighs and leans back in his chair to gaze at the ceiling.If only, he laments, true remorse coloring his thoughts, I had started watching period holodramas earlier.OR, how Plo Koon watching and subsequently introducing Ahsoka to Star Wars’ version of Downton Abbey changes Anakin's life path like nothing else could.

Reading Into Things When Ahsoka first meets the Supreme Chancellor, she gets a sense of his less than wholesome interest in her Master. Her intuition will go a long way.

Simple Steps Galaxy changing events don't just suddenly occur. They are the result of a series of small steps.

like someone bereft and lied to Anakin has a weird feeling in his stomach as he walks away from the Chancellor’s office.Who would have thought that Chancellor Palpatine would be a student of the Sith? Only to know how to keep the Republic safe from them, of course. All those priceless artifacts and holocrons that he’s collected to keep safe, hidden in his private rooms.It’s a good thing that he isn’t Force-sensitive, Anakin thinks with a small laugh, because the energy coming from all those things would have driven the poor man mad in a day. He only spent maybe twenty minutes in the room, just long enough to look at the piece the Chancellor thought might be of use to him, and his head was still spinning.

Deliver Us Jango Fett cannot save all his clones, but he can save five. He can save five, if he's willing to entrust them to the Jedi. Not just any Jedi, though. One who has already defied their Code for a child. One who knows Mandalorian culture. It is worth it, to save five innocent lives. He had no way of knowing it would change the galaxy and throw the proverbial spanner in one Sith Lord's plans.

we are all just trying to be holy  There was something warm and gentle in Depa’s voice, the way there always was, the way that was starting to sound like home to Anakin, though it would be awhile now before he recognized it. “Let me tell you a secret, my young Padawan: every Jedi has attachments.” He blinked up at her, eyes wide and confused. “Even Master Windu?” She laughed, nodding. “Even Master Windu.” -- An AU where Depa Billaba takes Anakin Skywalker as her Padawan, Obi Wan Kenobi interferes just a little bit, and Mace Windu is very, very tired.

The Price of a Name Anakin isn't quite sure how to deal with the clones he now commands, especially given that they refuse any attempts to individualize themselves. The quest to help the clones is going to go further than Anakin ever imagined.

Pebble in a River He woke up. And everything changed, but of course, that's what life does. It changes. There are so many options, so many things that seem right. And yet each of those things also feels wrong. Failure isn't an option, not again. But there is no outline for success, and he's hardly the only one in the game. He's tired, and exhausted, and so very lonely. But force help him, he's going to save as many people as he can. Really, Force, he needs the help.

Entirely of the Light With Palpatine unveiled as Sidious, Anakin manages to defeat him but ends up severely injured. As he recovers, Obi-Wan finds himself helping Padmé raise her and Anakin's children while he struggles with his feelings for both Anakin and Padmé.

Aggressive Negotiations  Everything about Skywalker was unorthodox. Even his parenting skills. A war meeting was the last place Rex expected to find a pair of toddlers, but there they were. But Rex is an officer, and a professional, and he will absolutely hold a child's hand if they ask. He's not a monster.

I had a vision! Mace Windu gets thrown back in time right to the point where Anakin is first presented to the Council. He remembers the horrors of the Clone Wars and he will do everything to change the oncoming future. "I had a vision" is becoming his most used phrase, he earns himself a Padawan with a penchant for trouble and Qui-Gon lives. All is going well, isn't it? No, there's still a republic to save, an army to deal with and most certainly a timeline to unfuck. Based on the tumblr posts by suzukiblu.

The Same Hope You will come to me sooner or later, Chosen One.Maybe once, when he was in the middle of a war that seemed like it would never end, a secret relationship dividing him between two of the people he loved most, juggling the guilt of failing his padawan. Maybe the Anakin back then had felt beholden to destiny, had had no choices, had felt like he would never have any choices.But the Anakin of now is a different person, because of his choices.He chose to leave the Order. He chose a new start.He chose acceptance, and understanding, and sometimes even forgiveness.He chose Obi-Wan. Always Obi-Wan.[[ The story of how we got here and everything that happens after. ]]

A Mind Always Free "Observe. Learn what you can. Keep everything secret. Don't be emotionless, but don't allow your emotions to show. And most importantly, take what you can get when you can get it, but let it go when it is taken away from you," Shmi Skywalker said softly, caressing the face of her son.(Anakin remembers what's like to be a slave and the Galaxy is better for it.)

Home  Time travel fix-it story with a bit of a twist. After his death, Obi-Wan wakes up on Tatooine, in the body of his padawan self. But instead of trying to prevent Anakin from Falling, he decides to change the future by stopping Qui-Gon from ever meeting the little Ani. If Anakin lives like a civilian, away from the Temple and Palpatine, the world will be a better place... right?A story in which Obi-Wan learns that Anakin Skywalker will always be his home--and his ultimate weakness--regardless of his attempts to do the right thing and stay away.

You Shall Become (Me) The Guardian of the Sith Temple doesn’t particularly care for the new breed of Sith, for all that they’ve been around for 1,000 years. But they’re the only Sith the Guardian knows about. Until one day…Alternately, "How to accidentally join the Sith without really trying."

Elements The words “Yes, Master,” come out of Anakin’s mouth so naturally that Obi-Wan suspects they were his first words. The realization comes to him so suddenly: his Padawan still has the mindset of a slave. When he decides to fix that, everything changes.

The Chosen Anakin is found by Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan when he's a newborn. It changes things.

The Sun and the Ocean Five things that happened when the twins were born early.hint: threesomes happen and assholes die.

A Time For A Yes, a Time For A Hell No The Council comes to him with a stupid, asinine plan that will only work if Anakin is in on it. Only to tell them that Anakin isn't going to be in on it.That's the moment Obi-wan decides he's had enough.[Prequel to my story "Go on, Go! Walk out that door" or 'The Scene' that started it all]

Magic Blankets C-3PO accidentally saves the galaxy by teaching a young Ani Skywalker how to crochet.Or in which the power of love and crafts solve a lot of problems and the Jedi Creche is about two inches away from kidnapping Anakin at any given moment.

[choppersconfirmedkills]

Comfort Care

This was requested by @generic-geek-girl​! I absolutely loved doing this, and Kix deserves the world. I also hope its okay if the request was twisted a little bit.

Pairing: Kix x Reader

Word Count: 1.3k

Warnings: Swearing, grief, survivor’s guilt, some angst, but a lot of sad fluff, (spoilers)

A/N: This is my first Star Wars fic, and I can’t believe it has taken me so long to finally get around to this but I truly hope it is good!

You knew he wasn't going to get the answers he wanted, but yet still he wanted to go down to the surface and scour the Venator for supplies and anything worth value.

You hadn’t known the clone very long, a few months maybe.You lost quite a few friends trying to rescue him. You knew what you signed up for when agreed to become the pilot for the crew of the Crimson Corsair, but you never expected to pick up a clone long after their extinction. You also didn’t expect the clone to withhold almost every detail about himself except for two things: he was a medic and his birth number was 6116. 

With the information you had received from the crashed Separatist ship (the one you found the clone in) you learned that there was a Republic ship that crashed on a remote moon, carrying weapons, medical supplies, and an ancient Mandalorian Vault, the last one in existence. The price of that thing could keep the crew of the Crimson Corsair afloat for a minimum of two years. The Empire had looted the ship, but found no use in the vault. Well, that was what your research had indicated. 

“6116 to L/N, over.” You heard the clone patch in through your wrist comlink, his voice gruff and sour. Every sentence he uttered was similar to this, short and curt, and he never talked about anything other than the job at hand. If there wasn’t one, he holed up in his bunk until there was one.

“Go for L/N,” you responded, stopping your search for ship parts that could be handy. 

“I have recovered medical supplies. Some bacta patches, antiseptic wash, neuroblockers, and stim pouches. I also found an old R4 droid that may be of some use to us. Meet me at the Crimson and help me see if it’s reparable,” that was the most he’s ever spoken to you. However, you weren’t going to deter him, that astromech could really be of some help on the ship. You discarded your search for a power coupling and found yourself meandering back to the ship.

Upon entering you saw what you had expected to see, 6116 was barely holding it together. He was disheveled, his face wet, and his eyes were bloodshot from obvious tears. You knew why he was upset, your love of research led you to discovering so much about this Venator, including things that you shouldn’t have found. 

“Hey,” you squeaked out leaning against the frame of the ship, “how are you holding up?”

“What do you mean?” He sniffled wiping his nose with the back of his hand. 

“I’m, uh, sorry. Sorry for everything.”

“Do you know what happened?” He asked through a puff of breath. “I know you do a lot of research. Will you tell me what happened here?” 

“Do you really want to know?” you looked up at him, your hesitance very clear in your mannerisms. 

“Please,” he sighed.

The atmosphere was tense, agonizingly so. It was a subconscious battle inside your mind: to tell him what happened to his brothers and crush his soul or to refrain and let his mind slowly eat away at himself from the inside out. You didn’t even know the man, how could you be the one to ruin him? You knew grief. How it ripped people apart. How it ate at people until there was nothing but a husk of their former selves. How it followed like a storm throughout eternity, a typhoon. 

“Please!” He cried out slamming his fist into the durasteel sliding onto the ground. You could feel his pain, it was something that had been etched onto your heart like a brand. 

“They were on a mission to Mandalore, to capture Darth Maul,” you breathed shrinking into yourself beside him, “when Order 66 was put into place.”

You had to take a moment to collect yourself, knowing there were never going to be the right words to tell this man what happened to his brothers. Hoping that somehow you wouldn’t rip his heart into shreds upon relaying the knowledge of their betrayal and ultimate demise.

“How many survived.” He chewed on his lip, trying to prevent the tears welling up in his eyes from releasing.

“Three. Maul was one of them.” You didn’t know what to do with your hands anymore. Do you reach out to comfort him? Hold his hand? Fiddle with your fingers? 

“And the other two?” His eyes turned up to you, hopeful, but you knew your answer wouldn’t change much.

“Ahsoka Tano and CT-7567, Captain Rex,” you sighed, choosing to look away from his gaze and onto your fiddling thumbs. 

“Jesse...” you heard him breathlessly cry out between soul wrenching sobs. “He turned on them, didn’t he?”

“He did. He had no choice. None of them did,” you sighed before reaching up to cradle his face in your hands. “I’m so sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” He shot up, his eyes fueled with anger, pain, suffering. “They’re all gone! My brothers, the Jedi, everything I fought for is gone. And I couldn’t do anything to save them. You couldn’t know how that feels! To lose everything, to have to start over again knowing you couldn’t save even one of them. What right do you have to pity me?” His voice was shaky but his tone conveyed everything, he was bitter and he felt alone. A feeling you knew all too well.

“Because I do know exactly what it’s like! I lost everything. My friends, my family, the only life I knew! All of it gone!” You didn’t mean to yell back at him, but you were in pain too. 

“What do you mean?” He was still angry but his voice was starting to relinquish, faltering even. However the only answer you could muster was to reach out, connecting yourself with yourself and surroundings and lifting the astromech off the ground. Using nothing but the Force.

“You’re a Jedi?” He asked, his face craned. 

“I was a part of the New Order, after the Empire had fallen. It was what I knew, all I knew. And one day my friend and fellow padawan, gave into his anger, the dark side, and burnt everything to the ground. I watched in horror as everything I knew crumbled. I sat there and watched as everyone I knew died, frozen in grief. All that was left of the Jedi, everything we had rebuilt after the purge, turned to ashes. The only thing I managed to save, was this,” you reached down to your toolbelt, grabbing two metal devices and connecting them. Igniting the blade you hadn’t held in years, you felt like a Jedi again, a proper one, the you you were without this burden you were carrying. “It belonged to Kanan Jarrus, one of the last surviving Jedi of the Republic. My Master’s Master.” You disengaged the blade, returning it to its spot on your toolbelt, to collect dust once again. Returning to the moment, you caught his gaze. His eyes were soft, full of empathy, looking at you.

 Before you could even process everything he pulled you into his embrace, softly crying into your neck. You in turn finally let yourself grieve, releasing your emotions into his warm aura. “I’m sorry for being so quick to judge,” he breathed out, “I just don’t know how to handle all of this.”

“I understand Kix,” His face rose to look at you, incredulous. Of course you were able to figure out his name. A little research goes a long way. “Just know you have someone in your corner from now on.” 

This is how you spend until Ithano and the rest of the crew returned. Basking in the warmth of each other’s comfort knowing that somehow you two would be able to start anew, as here they were 50 years later, Jedi and Clone fighting side by side once again.

A/N (again): Mayhaps I made myself cry? But I honestly loved this prompt so much, and had to run with the idea in my head. Kix is babie and deserves love and support, especially after all he went through.

[mandoalorian]

Brave Girl [Din Djarin x Reader]

Summary:  Murphy’s Law— “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”

You’re full term and your little one will be here any day now. You and Din plan on leaving Nevarro and starting a new life together... but maybe some things just aren’t mean to be.

Warnings: Major character death, brief mention of injury. A lot of heartache.

Ship: Fem! Reader x Din Djarin

Based on this tweet:

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Enjoy!<3

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This shouldn’t have gone wrong – and yet it had.

Everything that could have gone wrong, did.

They had a plan. One last bounty, they agreed, and then they would finally have enough credits to leave Nevarro and start a peaceful life as a clan of three on Bakura. Bakura was the rich green planet you were brought up on, located in the outer rim of Wild Space and it served as one of the largest commercial hubs in the region. It was home, and you were so excited to start a new life there with the love of your life, and your newborn. But it wasn’t perfect. There was someone missing. Someone you and Din missed so dearly, The Child, who had passed away a year prior after sacrificing himself to save his father’s life. After Din had lost his son, he felt responsible. No matter how much you reassured the Mandalorian, he couldn’t escape the memory of the Child’s final moments. That was another reason you had to leave Nevarro. Too many bad memories. Too much pain. You believed that Din’s heart would heal upon the birth of his daughter. A new life with him and your newborn was everything you needed.

Being a bounty hunter was dangerous work, but you knew that Din was a professional. As Greef Karga would always say, “The best bounty hunter in the parsec.” He always came home safe, minus a few scratches and cuts. But he didn’t need this job anymore and he was finally ready to leave. Not only leave Nevarro. Not only leave the bounty hunter Guild. But also, leave the Mandalorian Creed.

Becoming a Mandalorian was never a choice for Din. He was orphaned at such a young age after his parents died during the Clone Wars. However shortly after his parents’ untimely demise he was rescued by the Death Watch. If he wanted any chance of survival, Din Djarin knew he had to swear to the Creed, and so he did. But he was getting older now, and tired, and if he wanted a solid chance of a fresh, peaceful life he knew he had to give up ‘the way’. He would hate for his newborn to become a foundling like he was, he would hate to see her taken against her will and forced to join the Creed. It was a dangerous life. No life for a daughter of Din Djarin’s. Din was going to be the best father and he was so excited to meet his little girl. He counted down the days to her arrival.

Only one more week.

You stood on your tippy toes and placed your palms on either side of his beskar helmet. “I can’t wait to take this off,” you chuckled eagerly, tracing your fingers in the dents and sculpts of the mask. Although you and Din had been together for a long time and had an extremely intimate relationship, you had never seen his face. No living thing had seen the Mandalorian without his helmet since he had sworn to the Creed. But Din had promised you that you would be the person to take off his mask. You dreamt everyday about his face, imagining how he would look. You thought about the colour of his hair, the pigment of his cheeks and the shade of his eyes. “I can’t wait to see you, look into your eyes. I can’t wait…” you let your voice trail off. He linked his fingers into yours.

“I love you Cyar’ika,” he told you as he guided you into the garden.

“I love you too Mando,” you beamed back at him.

Din crouched to his knees and put his gloved hand on your full term stomach. “And I love you, Ad’ika.”

You and Din felt her kick, resulting in you both falling into a fit of giggles. “I think that means she loves you too.” You laughed. Din was calling the child Ad’ika which was Mando’a for “little one”, only temporarily until you had both figured out a name for her – but the nickname had grown on you too. You knew you would always be Din’s Cyar’ika and no matter how old your daughter got, she would always be her father’s Ad’ika.

“Yeah.” Din agreed, unable to contain his grin under his helmet. “Are you ready to do this?” He asked, bring his hand up to cup your cheek.

You looked up at the clear blue sky above you, hearing the birds tweet and chirp, and then looked back at Din. It was untraditional, that’s for sure. Never in a million years did you think you would have an impromptu Mandalorian wedding ceremony in your quaint back garden. “I am.”

“So just repeat after me,” The Mandalorian instructed, but his tone was gentle and filled with compassion. “Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar’tome, mhi me’dinui an, mhi ba’juri verde.”

 You obliged. “Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar’tome, mhi me’dinui an, mhi ba’juri verde.”

 Din pulled you into his chest. “So… wife?”

 “Mm, I guess so.” You laughed again. “But why the Mando’a wedding vows when you’re leaving the Creed so soon? I told you Din, we could’ve just waited until we got to Bakura and had a big ceremony with my family.”

 “We can still have a ceremony when we get to Bakura, Cyar’ika,” Din reassured you with a tight squeeze of your hand. “You know I will give you anything you want. But I couldn’t wait another day without making you mine.”

 “I’ll always be yours.” You told him with a warm smile that lit a fire in his stomach. He was weak for you and only you.

 “So… the Mando’a wedding vows,” Din continued his initial statement. “I’m a Mandalorian. Maybe next week I won’t be a Mandalorian, but right now, I’m a Mandalorian. And this is-“

 “This is the way.” You cut him off and Din’s grin grew even bigger at your words. He loved how you respected the Creed as it had been his way of life for so long. You kissed his forehead, the cool beskar of his helmet stinging your lips. “You’ll be safe, right?”

 “Always.” Din promised you.

 “You’re so brave.” You admired your new husband.

 “Kotep.” Din replied and you looked up at him in confusion. “It means brave, in Mando’a. My two girls are…”

 “Kotep.” You completed his sentence and Din nodded his head slowly, pulling you into his body of armour.

 “Brave.” His voice was barely above a whisper.

 You rested your head into his chest and he held you for a few moments before he had to leave for his final bounty. Something didn’t feel right. Maybe it was the stress of being so near to your due date, or the fact you had planned to move to a whole new planet in a whole new system, or maybe the fact you had just gotten married. A cloud of unease and apprehension hung over you, and you wondered if the Mandalorian felt the same. You chose not to tell him your feelings. You didn’t want to worry him.

 Leaving the house that morning was the first thing to go wrong. He should have never took a bounty so dangerous – not at his age, and not for his last one.

 Not long after Din had left you felt an intense pain in your lower stomach, a pulling feeling. You let out a scream of agony, almost falling to your knees but grabbing on to your bed post to keep you upright. You knew instantly. Contractions. Ad’ika had decided she wanted to come early. You dragged yourself over to Din’s bedside table and scrambled to find one of his Comm links, before patching yourself through to The Armorer.

 “Din…” as you said his name the pain started again, but this time more intense. You let out a scream. “He’s… bounty.” You breathed out. “Baby…”

 The Armorer knew immediately you had fallen into an early labour. “I’m sending a med droid your way,” She informed. You let out a strained hum in response, unable to form words as the contractions grew more and more intense. “Tell me, where is Din Djarin? Did he tell you where his bounty was?”

 “Lava… lava fields.” You were struggling to catch your breath.

 “Okay,” the Armorer said. “You hang in there, a med droid will be over soon and I will send Paz Vizla to the lava fields to inform Din Djarin of the good news. The birth of a foundling… I congratulate you both.” And then the comm went silent.

 Neither you nor Din had told anyone of your plans to leave the Guild, leave Nevarro and leave the Creed. It was your little secret. And so, as far as The Mandalorian Cohort were concerned, your little one, would become a foundling, trained under her father. But you and Din both agreed that wasn’t the life you wanted for your little girl. Perhaps your daughter’s birth meant that you and Din had to pack up and leave earlier than you had initially planned.

 Your contractions came in waves, and as they calmed down you climbed into your bed, shivering and feeling restless. You needed Din. You needed the healing touch of your husband, his calm words and soothing voice. You needed him more than you ever had and still, this cloud of anxiety hung over you. A dark energy surrounding you. You couldn’t describe it. You just had to hold on until the med droid arrived. As the contractions became closer together, you processed many different thoughts, trying to find your happy place. You remembered that it wouldn’t be long until you were able to see your husband’s beautiful face for the first time. You imagined yourself taking his helmet off under the moonlight, in the isolated fields of Bakura. You rubbed your tummy gently, closing your eyes, trying to remember the Mando’a words of the lullaby that Din would always sing to calm the Ad’ika down. You must have been getting it wrong because the pain only grew worse and worse. You needed your husband and your child needed her father.

  When Paz Vizla arrived at the lava fields, it was empty – not a soul in sight. He walked to the tunnel entrance where the underground Mandalorian cohort was located and saw his friend’s lifeless corpse on the ground. Paz ran to him, and fell to his knees, picking up Din Djarin’s body and nursing it in his arms. Paz felt for pulse, but there was nothing. Din wasn’t wearing armour. He wasn’t wearing his helmet. They had been removed. His skin was bruised and it looked as though he had definitely put up a fight. Paz immediately thought of the Jawa’s who might have scrapped his corpse for the beskar. But as Paz looked over Din’s ripped tunic and blood stained garments, he found the fatal wound made by what could only be the ancient Mandalorian weapon. The darksaber. It was more malicious than the work of Jawa’s.

 “Moff Gideon,” Vizla hissed under his breath. Moff Gideon had been on the hunt for Din Djarin for the longest time, and only he had hold of that weapon. He picked up Din’s body and took him underground to the cohort, presenting him to the Armorer. Paz went to open his mouth, but no words could come out. The Armorer, who had been crafting a Clan of Three signet for Din Djarin, dropped her tools and slowly approached Din, placing a hand on his cold forehead. “What do we do?” Paz asked the Armorer, his heart wrenching in pain as he remembered you were carrying Din Djarin’s child.

 “By creed, the child is a foundling.” The Armorer said. “You are to be the bearer of bad news, and tell Y/N about the passing of her love,” Paz shifted uncomfortably. “And then, you are to take the child.”

 Paz hesitated. “And the mother?” It felt wrong, to separate the daughter from her mother upon her father’s death – but the Armorer just shook her head.

 “This is the way.” She stated. “Leave Djarin’s body with me, and I will give him the Mandalorian send off. You are to collect the child and bring her to the cohort where we will begin the adoption ceremony.”

 Silence filled the tunnels.

 “Din Djarin was like my brother.” Paz said softy.

 “And so, his child will be in your care. I trust you Paz. You are to train young Djarin until she is old enough to be sworn to the Creed. It is what Din would have wanted.”

 Paz nodded his head, following the Armorer’s instruction. “This is the way.” He replied, before placing Din Djarin’s body down and leaving the cohort.

    “Push.” The med droid commanded, and you followed their instruction.

“Breathe.” The med droid told you, and you shakily exhaled, wiping the beads of sweat from your forehead.

Your glazed eyes met the silhouetted figure who stood by the doorframe of your bedroom, in full bodied Mandalorian armour. “Din!” You exclaimed, reaching out your hand for him to hold. The Mandalorian entered the room, his walk mellow and slow. He took your hand, and sat by your bed. With your other hand, you wiped the tears from your eyes, your vision focusing on the Mandalorian. “Paz?” You asked, confused and hurt to see it was not your beloved. Paz was silent but squeezed your hand as you were commanded by the med droid to push again. As you exhaled, you ripped your hand away from Paz’s grip. “Why… why are you here?” You said, your voice shaky. “Where is Din?”

Paz didn’t reply. You pushed more. Exhaled. Repeated the process. “Where… is… he?” You said frustrated through gritted teeth. “Paz… what is going… on?” Paz didn’t say anything – but you felt it. The dark energy around you. Your heart sank into your chest and tears brimmed your eyes, not letting your mind wander to those bad places, you persisted.

“The Armorer said you’d bring him to me,” You told Paz after what felt like your hundredth round of pushing and exhaling. “So why are you here, and he isn’t? Are you going to tell me anything?”

“Keep pushing.” Paz said, his voice gentle.

“Where is he?!” You cried out in rage, feeling your cheeks burn red with anger. “Where is he Paz?!”

“Push.” The med droid commanded and you shook your head angrily.

“Is he hurt? Is he injured?” You quizzed.

“No.” Paz replied. “Keep push-“

“Is he…” you couldn’t even bring yourself to say the word. You felt sick, you felt empty. Paz’s response was delayed, but eventually he slowly nodded his head. You felt your spirit leave your body. You felt your heart shatter into a million pieces. You felt a deep, dark, stabbing pain. All the pain from the labour had disappeared and you were filled with something much worse. You froze, staring at the wall behind Paz, blinking away the tears as they fell down your cheeks.

“Push.” The med droid interrupted your thoughts but you stayed frozen.

“I can’t.” You whispered. You had lost all hope.

“Hey,” Paz said. “Hey look at me.” Your dead eyes met with his visor and if you had the energy or the muscle you would have killed him in that very moment. “In a few minutes, you are going to have a daughter. You are going to be a mother, of a beautiful baby girl.” The sensitive words of that nature weren’t typically spoken by the Heavy Infantry Mandalorian.

“My daughter,” you repeated him, remembering that you were in the middle of a delivery.

“Din’s daughter.” Paz reminded you and you nodded your head slowly. This was Din Djarin’s daughter.

“Push.” The med droid commanded again and you focused all your pent up anger on pushing hard, letting out a scream of pain as you gave birth to your daughter. Paz stood up and walked by your legs, taking your daughter from the med droid’s arms and holding her in his. The child let out soft and gentle whimpers, but her eyes were open. Paz brought her to you and as you held her, it was like you fell in love all over again.

Her complexion was tan, she had big chocolate brown eyes and locks of curly brown hair. A little curve in her nose and small pink lips. You sniffed. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

“She looks like her father.” Paz commented and you grinned as quiet tears streamed down your face.

“She does?” You asked him. “How did he look? Tell me.”

Without hesitation Paz replied “Identical.” And your smile grew even wider. You looked down at Ad’ika in your arms, being careful not to let your tears fall on her delicate face.

“I love you so much. Daddy loves you so much. Our brave little girl,” You beamed at your daughter. You remembered the Mando’a word for brave, what Din had taught you earlier. “Kotep.” You looked up at Paz and smiled. “Brave, right?” Paz nodded. “Her name is Kotep’ika.”

“It’s beautiful.” Paz said.

“Mm,” you hummed. “Daddy’s brave little girl.”

“Push.” The med droid said and you remembered your delivery process wasn’t yet over. Paz took the child from your arms.

“The Armorer has placed Kotep’ika in my care. She is to be trained as a Mandalorian like her father, sworn to the creed.”

“No.” Your head snapped to Paz who was holding your daughter. He had swaddled her in a blanket. “No Paz, she stays here. With me.”

“By creed-“

“No Paz!” You shouted and went to get out of bed but the pain of your labour pushed you back down as the med droid ordered you to push.

“I will tell her the stories of her father, Din Djarin.”

“You can’t, you can’t do this. Paz. Paz please…” you felt yourself begin to slip out of consciousness.

The pain, the heartbreak. You couldn’t take it. The darkness enveloped you as you fell passed out in your bed.

“We are losing her,” the med droid informed Paz. “It seems that she is losing the will to live.”

Paz looked at Kotep’ika. He couldn’t help but think this was his fault. “This is the way.” He told himself, his decision final. Betraying the orders of the Armorer would be betraying the Creed. He could never do that. He held the little girl tight in his arms and the child screamed as he left the house, as she left her mother.

Paz followed his orders and went through with the plan, and you never awoke. You passed away hours after your husband and the child was in the hands of the Mandalorian’s, the one thing you and Din did not want. Your beautiful, brave daughter was orphaned and sworn into a dangerous life where she would grow up wishing to be half the fighter her father was, not ever knowing the side to her father that you knew. Not ever knowing his warm embrace or his gentle heart. But if you and Din Djarin were right about one thing; Kotep’ika was in fact the bravest of girls.

[mightydragoon]

Suitless Vader and Luke Fic Recommendations

@silvereddaye Hey you asked for it. 

1. Sent Out for Safety - Chapter 1 - throwawayflames - Star W...

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22659655/chapters/54159751

At the age of eight, Luke Skywalker and his sister, Leia, are split up for their safety. Leia stays with their Uncle Ben, and their mother, to learn how to be a Jedi. Luke, on the other hand, is sent to the Organa's, where he will pretend to be their adoptive son who was orphaned. Ben had only given Luke one rule to live by while he was away from his family, don't tell anyone his last name, and he followed that.

It wasn't his fault that Darth Vader sensed that he was a Force Sensitive and now he wants to train him, as a Jedi no less. That's the complete opposite of what Ben had told Luke. And after asking Darth Vader about his dad, Luke can't help but say yes to Darth Vader training him. After all, Luke's always wanted to be a Jedi like his father.

 2. Another Empire -   Theace1

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14666787/chapters/33883572

Another Empire - Chapter 1 - Theace1 - Star Wars - All Med...

The Battle of Yavin had a surprising outcome with the death of Emperor Palpatine. Luke Skywalker's confrontation on Bespin has a much different outcome in the AU story, meeting someone he never expected to see: The Empress Vader.

3. Oceans Across- planningconquest

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15176468/chapters/35194499

Oceans Across - Chapter 1 - planningconquest - Star Wars -...

Star Wars on the high seas! Doesn't get more simple than that.

4. Burning Mother planningconquest

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11952459/chapters/27024234

Burning Mother - Chapter 1 - planningconquest - Star Wars ...

A Jedi Luke emerges onto the galactic scene over a decade after the Jedi temple burned. Joining with Cassian Andor, rebel spy, they attempt to return to the Rebellion to attempt to full fill his destiny as the Chosen One. Sidetracked by pirates, farmers, and blind monks. All the while hunted by a vengeful Lady Vader who would see the young Jedi dead with the rest of his Order.

5. Dynasty  Valerie_Vancollie

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13111908/chapters/29997507

Dynasty - Chapter 1 - Valerie_Vancollie - Star Wars - All ...

Hit in the leg by a stormtrooper's blaster bolt, Luke falls in the Death Star hanger bay and is unable to escape on the Falcon along with Han and Leia. During the subsequent interrogation, his true heritage is revealed and Vader instantly takes him to Coruscant, determined to reclaim the son the Jedi stole from him. But the glory of the Imperial capital belies its true nature, where politics and power are everything and anything is fair game in the never ending game to reach the top. Not lying, not betrayal, assassination, sabotage, blackmail, nor seduction. As he commences his Sith training, Luke must also learn the rules and etiquette of the Imperial Court if he is to survive as most of his enemies fight their battles with words and political maneuverings rather than military force. Yet, even as he struggles to gain his place within the Empire, Luke learns that his best friend has joined the Alliance...

6. Possibilities of If May Be Valerie_Vancollie

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12946578

Possibilities of If May Be - Valerie_Vancollie - Star Wars...

Co-authored by Selinthia Avenchesca.

What if two different Star Wars realities started to merge?

7. We are all in the gutterarcticapple

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7070698/chapters/16072126

We are all in the gutter - Chapter 1 - arcticapple - Star ...

Vader gets caught by the Rebellion and eight years old Luke gets tossed into the mix. Observe and discuss.

8. new cornerstone: a reconstruction mandalorianed ( Private) 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5308523

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5308523

When Luke had imagined finding out who his parents were, he had never imagined this.

9. Revenge Leads to Karma, and Karma Bites Darikiema

 https://archiveofourown.org/works/9055873/chapters/20601586

Darth Vader created them for his revenge; the clones of Obi-Wan Kenobi were his to torture and kill. But when something goes wrong and one of them isn't grown before being released from the pod, he's met with a dilemma that could change the face of the Galaxy.

Or:

Karma sucks and if Darth Vader ever meets her, he's going punch her in her damn face.

10. The Reckoning.  SpaceTrashCanFan (Sketchandcomicbookperson)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21597067/chapters/51495820

After Darth Vader goes missing after an failed attempt to assassinate the emperor, he was presumed to be dead.

Years later, a few Jedi and a child show up at the front door of the rebellion with an mysterious defector in tow. And they have big plans...

11. Bright Binary sunset in Dark Times SpaceTrashCanFan (Sketchandcomicbookperson)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19711126/chapters/46648030

A.k.a Vader got frozen in Carbonite, somehow.

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Since Vader went missing, years ago somewhere in the outer rim...when Leia was very young (5 years) . Leia Organa gets years later when she was seventeen a bodyguard assigned to her after an attempt on her. Normally, she would protest.

But this man is not like the others. Something that was eating him and her parents were keeping a secret. Wielding a weapon of a Jedi... Using the Force and having secret meetings with spies and her father..

Leia is determined to find out what is going on and discovers how her bodyguard is a reformed Sith-Lord who went missing several years ago.

12. Tumblr Prompts  KaelinaLovesLomaris

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9179176/chapters/20834479

A collection of unrelated Star Wars ficlets, from tumblr prompts. New "chapters" will be added as I get new prompts, and I'll update tags as I go too. Almost all of these revolve around Luke and Vader's father-son relationship, aside from the first few.

13. No Distance Far Enough KaelinaLovesLomaris

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17549516#main

Imperial Prince Luke Skywalker is kidnapped by the Rebellion. His father is not happy.

14. Those Who Walk The Paths Of The Sky (Must Learn To Fly) antebunny

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13771092/chapters/31651179

In which Leia is seven when her only friend Dijan dies. Her grief tears apart the shields Obi-Wan Kenobi put up on her mind to hide her adeptness with the Force, and is felt by two other residents in the galaxy: her father and her brother.

Or: The Skywalkers have a mental conversation from opposite sides of the galaxy because they're Skywalkers.

It also changes the course of the galaxy, but that's just to be expected.

EDIT: the second work is all part of this work!

15. Those Who Walk Series  antebunny

https://archiveofourown.org/series/1176827

Skywalker family fluff.

16. Those Who Walk The Paths Of The Sky (Must Learn To Fly) II --antebunny

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13779084/chapters/31673112

Sequel to Those Who Walk The Paths Of The Sky (Must Learn To Fly), because there are still a lot of things that need to happen. But they're Skywalkers, so it has to be dramatic as possible. Including old friends, Organa Family Drama, Skywalker Shenanigans, and Hutts. Also, don't mind Obi-Wan. He's busy moping.

EDIT: THIS IS NOW ALL PART OF THE FIRST WORK

17.  the shifting light of stars  freefan1412

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20904197/chapters/49692206

Obi-Wan never needed to ask Padme for Anakin's location. That has consequences.

18. Fulfilling a Prophecy KianRai_Delcam (orphan_account)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13466274/chapters/30871740

Qui-Gon's eyes are gentle when he replies, "Changing fate is not always best, Vader. Whatever happens is as the Force wills it to be." Vader scoffs, "I'm hardly a youngling to be lectured, Jedi. My knowledge of the Force is more complete than yours. You have not walked both sides of the Force as I have. The Force is neither an ally nor a slave, as the Jedi and Sith see it." After Darth Vader's death and Anakin's redemption on the second Death Star, both Luke Skywalker and Vader are more than surprised when they find themselves alive on Coruscant in the Jedi Temple. Of course, Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi are a bit perplexed as well. Follow the Chosen One and company as they journey across the galaxy once more, discovering their true selves and fulfilling a prophecy as it was meant to be. Fic takes place over a few years, and may possibly go into the Clone Wars. Not just another time travel fix-it AU. You have been warned.

19. Cloak And Dagger  dorenamryn

https://archiveofourown.org/series/613946

“...and those that endeavour to dissolve it [the Union of Great Britain], carry a dagger under the cloak of patriotism, to stab their country in the heart."

In which everything changes, but also nothing does. (aka: the one where Anakin Skywalker is a Jedi Knight pretending to be a Sith, Emperor Palpatine thinks he's won, Obi-Wan Kenobi thinks his best friend's betrayed him, and Leia Organa is stuck in the middle of it.)

20. The Good Temptation Sinclairchap

https://archiveofourown.org/works/4740410/chapters/10834520

The Force is out of Balance. Unfortunately, it's Chosen One has done little to fix this, and has even Turned to the Dark Side, furthering the Unbalance. The entities created directly by the Force, who guide those who use it, have decided he requires a nudge in the right direction. A rather large nudge.

But not everybody, or even the Chosen One himself, agrees with this plan.

(Previously titled "Path to Redemption")

21. Misguided Light Skylanian_Writer

:https://archiveofourown.org/works/4572396/chapters/10413042

Vader survived Mustafar unharmed, but believes everyone he holds dear is gone. Except his son, who he would do anything for, so long as Luke stayed by his father's side.

Padmé managed to survive childbirth, and lived to see everything she fought for be deystroyed. Except her daughter, who Padmé would die for in a heart beat.

Unfortunately, Luke and Leia are not willing to sit quietly as their parents fight a war. The twins actions shake the entire galaxy to its core.

The Force really hated the Skywalker family.

22. In the Past  SilverDaye

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16597682/chapters/38898149

It's been two months after Bespin, and Luke Skywalker is trying to come to terms with the events that happened there. During a dogfight with Darth Vader, both of their fighters crash. When they recover, they both find themselves on Coruscant at the end of the Clone Wars. Vader still aims to claim his son, but Luke has been taken to the Jedi Temple where he meets Anakin Skywalker.

23. Runaway SilverDaye

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14630196/chapters/33813027

Imperial Prince Luke runs away from home to escape his overprotective father Emperor Vader. Jumping from planet to planet he finds himself creditless on Tatooine. While working for more money to leave the planet, Luke meets an old man named Ben Kenobi. But Luke knows he can't stay in one place for long for surely his father is hunting him down.

24. The Bargain SilverDaye

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13722573/chapters/31525827

Vader has killed off his master and claimed the throne as Galactic Emperor. Padmé has become an outspoken figure head and leader of the Rebellion. Vader captures his wife. Now she must figure out a way to be free for not only herself, but her children as well. She's fighting against Vader, who will stop at nothing and use anything means necessary to bring his family together.

[levitatingbiscuits]

accidentally posted the original response too quick and had to delete the ask oops

here’s the prompt from an anon: “For Jangobi prompts? ...War prize Kenobi Au? Honestly anything more with that dynamic from the end of your last prompt fill, where Obi's drugged/vulnerable and Jango's the one in control and being creepy but also on the surface being reassuring and gentle and protective but like... is the one who drugged him or messed him up. Bonus points if Obi's getting cognitive dissonance on top of everything because his lightsaber crystal is freaking out at him.”

ok so there’s gonna be some potentially triggering stuff so im putting this under a cut. im not super experienced writing really creepy dark stuff but we’ll see!

Obi-Wan doesn’t know where he is.

He groans softly. He feels like he’s in the vacuum, floating aimlessly, with no sense of direction or purpose. In the distance there’s something singing indistinctly, high and sharp and distressed. He wants it to stop. He wants it to get closer.

“Shh, you’re all right,” someone says softly, brushing a bare hand over his skull. It drags strangely against the skin there--stubble? He shouldn’t...

Right. Hardeen. He’s Rako Hardeen. He’s in prison.

Right?

“Wha’ ‘appen?” he slurs, jaw too slack to fully close his mouth. He has to work hard to maintain Hardeen’s lower, raspier tones; they don’t come as easily as they should. “Who...”

“None of that, now, Kenobi,” the person chuckles, fingers tracing over one heavy eyelid. “Hardeen’s tats didn’t suit you, and neither did his voice.”

Obi-Wan’s stomach turns to lead. He knows he should be reacting, denying, but he feels too foggy to work up anything other than dread.

“You look younger without the beard. Kind of miss the hair, though.”

What did every Mandalorian he knows have against beards?

Ah. He recognizes this person, after all. Even if his eyes won’t open, he hears his husky voice every day, even if his signature is as wholly unique as each one of his clones. Deeper in a way that only comes with age.

Obi-Wan is excruciatingly aware that Melida/Daan was not his only time leading an army of children.

“Fett...?”

“Got it in one,” Fett confirms smugly. He’s still touching his face. Obi-Wan wishes he still had a beard to hide behind; no one’s touched him like this since he last saw Satine, and that skin to skin contact is overwhelming.

“Thought you defected from the Separatists,” he mumbles, trying to turn his face away from that warm, broad hand. It just falls to the side of his neck. 

Obi-Wan had told Fett to leave Geonosis, to take his child and run from whatever Dooku had planned for them. He could sense Dooku’s intentions for the boy were nothing good. Fett hadn’t listened until the battle in the arena, when Obi-Wan found the boy hidden on the sidelines and watching, and yelled for him to leave before he got hurt. Fett had been fighting Windu, and turned when he heard Boba’s name; Obi-Wan managed to deflect the master of Vaapad’s saber right before it went through his neck. He couldn’t let a child witness their father’s death. The family of two vanished, and Obi-Wan figured that was the last he’d see of Jango Fett.

He was wrong. He seemed to encounter Fett everywhere; on the battlefield, on diplomatic visits, with kriffing Hondo Ohnaka. The worst time was when he’d had to deal with Fett and Quinlan Vos on the same horrible mission. It was uncanny. Anakin sometimes joked that Fett was following him.

He has the sinking suspicion that Anakin’s jokes might not be far off the mark.

“Heard you died,” Fett says, as if that answers his question. He presses his fingers a little more firmly into Obi-Wan’s throat, as if to feel his pulse. “Wasn’t happy about it.”

“Why?” he asks, unthinkingly. Fett loathes Jedi; he killed six of them with his bare hands. He could so easily make that number seven.

Fett’s grip on his throat gets just a little tighter, then relaxes and moves to curl around the hinge of his jaw. He stays silent.

Obi-Wan wets his dry lips with his tongue, and tries again. “How did you find me?” His eyes finally manage to crack open, though his vision is hazy and unfocused. He can’t make out Fett’s facial features.

“Broke into the temple for a souvenir. Overheard you calling Windu.” Fett sets a thumb into the cleft of Obi-Wan’s chin, tilts his head up just a little bit. “You gotta stop using the same name when you’re undercover, Ben.”

Obi-Wan’s pulse jumps against Fett’s fingers, and he laughs almost fondly. “Don’t worry, I didn’t break your cover. It worked too well for me. I just broke you out of prison and let everyone else think you’re still dead. Fixed your face while you were out, too. Hardeen’s a rough looking ge’hutuun, ‘specially compared to you.”

Obi-Wan takes a breath to respond and Fett’s thumb moves to his bottom lip, stroking it just a little. His voice catches in his throat.

“Got the souvenir anyway, just in case. Had to keep Boba from chopping a leg off. Maybe you can teach us how to use it; Vizsla’s getting a little too comfortable with my Darksaber.” He sets a heavy, familiar hilt on Obi-Wan’s chest, keeps it from rolling off when Obi-Wan’s limbs refuse to cooperate.

The kyber crystal sings shrilly, urging him to run, but he can barely make sense of the song, can barely sense anything at all in the Force.

“We’re gonna land soon,” Fett says, his other hand still splayed on Obi-Wan’s chest, over his saber. Over his heart. “Gonna put you back under till I can get you fitted for a collar. Boba’s excited to see you again; I don’t let him around spice, so he’ll have to wait. You’ll be shaky for a while, but you’ll get clean easy.” His voice darkened with rage and old hurt. “I know plenty about spice, thanks to Kyr’tsad and Dooku. You’ll be fine with me.

I’ll make sure of it.”

[ninastarkov]

top 5 pieces of star wars content?

(ask me my top five anything)

oooh this is a REALLY good one i have so much to say. first off that there are a lot of other pieces of content i wish i could have included but this is the final list. it also got a little long so placing it under the cut:

1. siege of mandalore arc, tcw

it’s so good. all of maul’s lines (‘there is no justice, no order except the one that replaces it!’ that’s a movie line right there). the disaster lineage pain is unparalleled. every obi wan and ahsoka interaction makes me wan to cry. and this is the last we see of anakin as anakin in tcw. that last conversation between him and ahsoka before malachor in rebels.

also, my favorite duo is ahsoka and rex and this is the arc that fed my clowning. chaotic siblings. they work together so flawlessly in shattered and victory and death it’s so clear they’ve been fighting together for years and they’re family and ahhsjdjdjsjsh—

plus jesse! i’m so glad we got more of him but also not glad because :(( you know :(( and that last scene with vader and the venator wreckage?? one of the best shots in all of tcw i will fight anyone on this.

2. fives’ s6 chip arc in tcw

(does this arc have an actual name?) honestly i can barely watch this arc (i skipped it the last time i rewatched tcw) because it frustrates me so much but it deserves its spot here, because it’s a perfect and heartbreaking insight into why palpatine won. fives did everything right—he tried to save tup, he found out about the chip and removed his own, he went back to coruscant to try and let people know of it, when that went wrong he went to his captain and general. and he still died.

yes, palpatine was pulling the strings behind it all, but there were so many other factors in the republic and clones and jedi’s demise and this arc pointed them out. how the kaminoans saw the clones as products. how anakin was unwilling to believe the chancellor could do wrong. how the jedi didn’t investigate at all (they had opportunity to look into it and chose not to. even if they couldn’t have prevented the order, they knew of the possibility of chips inside the clones heads that would take away their free will and decided to do nothing.) it points out how the jedi have become beholden to the politics of the republic. and above all it is the tragedy of the clones, dying for a republic that betrays them. but also, fives dies yes, but not for nothing. without him, ahsoka and rex would have died. it’s not all we hoped for but it’s something and it’s because of him.

3. season one finale of the mandalorian

oooh this was almost 2 because i think it is really good but tcw is first in my heart. this could be top five for just that one line “mandalorian isn’t a race, it’s a creed” absolutely incredible i love it. i could go on about it for days. so glad they moved away from what happened in tcw with it being a race and everyone being white. also that scene at the beginning with the scout troopers like ‘gideon just killed another trooper for interrupting him it’s gonna be a while’ why was that so funny. and gideon introduction!! he’s a very interesting villain. and finally, last scene with gideon and the darksaber because it was me and everyone else who watched tcw going bonkers over here.

4. the force awakens (HEAR ME OUT)

a controversial one i know—but for me personally, the setup in this movie was great, even if the rest of the sequels didn’t deliver. i could see the setup for force sensitive finn, rey as a queen who takes down kylo ren, poe as an up and coming leader of the rebellion. force sensitive finn is such a thing for me because i thought it was such a good idea and i was hoping that leia or something would end up training him and he’d use it and try to free other stormtroopers like. wouldn’t that have been so good? and i could see that in the future based on this movie. also the comedy is amazing (‘stay calm stay calm. i’m talking to myself’)

5. malachor in star wars rebels

GAH. absolutely amazing. starting from the beginning, the cool sith rock and how they fell through the ground? i love seeing obscure bits of past history that aren’t really explained and malachor is such a good example of that. all the jedi and sith remains of lightsabers and stuff, like you know there was a huge battle but what for? when? we don’t know. i love that stuff. maul comes back again i love that it’s almost a running joke at this point. he works with the jedi and you’re like oh maybe he’s better, but you get the reminder that he’ll do anything in search for revenge when he blinds kanan. just really good insight into his character.

the way ahsoka cuts part of vader’s helmet and the ‘ahsoka’ that’s half anakin voice and half vader voice is gut-wrenching. and the ‘i won’t leave you, not this time’ says SO MUCH about the guilt ahsoka has been carrying around like. such a well written episode. and when they come off the ship back on the base and rex just knows ahsoka is gone that honestly ripped my heart in two. his expression. you get all of this old pain in a new context (rebels) and it’s done so well.