#kind of a rushed obi character study really

[into-daylight-hope]

Qui-Gon Jinn: Certified Hypocrite, Fascinating Failure, Mass of Contradictions

For starters, I am just going to let direct quotes from the man speak for itself.

Some excerpts from Master & Apprentice

Wise words.

Wait a minute...

😯😯 What the hell is happening here? All quotes are from the same man in one book.

Qui-Gon Jinn doesn't have an ounce of self-awareness and it is so hilariously terrible.

What is even better (or worse), this is perfectly in line with The Phantom Menace characterization .

I mean,

Remember when he said all this than spent the rest of the movie obsessing over prophecies, the chosen one and literally the future?

"He still has so much to learn of the living force." Qui-Gon Jinn about Obi-Wan in the council scene

After that scene

"The boy is dangerous. They all sense it why can't you?" Obi-Wan Kenobi about Anakin Skywalker to Qui-Gon Jinn

You see Obi-Wan, Master Jinn here has completely lost any sense of "here and now" between his crusade against darkness and divine mission to save the Galaxy.

This in turn, unsurprisingly blinds him to the fact Anakin is not suitable to become a Jedi. Or at least not ready to directly move on to becoming a padawan.

Anakin himself would suffer in a road that is not meant for him. But he is not planning for Anakin the child. He is thinking about The Glorious Chose One.

He is the chosen one. You all must, see it.

And yet from Qui-Gon's perspective it is Obi-Wan who doesn't understand the Living Force.

I have to say if he is truly a student of the living force as many fans claim he has been failing the class for at least 8 years.

Let's move on to another set of entertaining and horrifyingly oblivious quotes from M&A.

If you look upward you can observe Mr. Here and Now in his natural habitat.

He really acts like future is set in stone than thinks he is the right person to talk about about concentrating in the moment. Unbelievable.

Let's look at this dialogue again. In contrast with the excerpt from above.

He is all about the future when it suits him. But when Obi-Wan makes a remark on it he obviously should just focus on the moment. This is actually the third time in this post where he contradicts himself while specifically chastising or criticizing Obi-Wan for something Qui-Gon actually does.

Now I don't think Qui-Gon acts with malice. But it is important to point out his obliviousness has become a way of ensuring he is never in the wrong.

He suffers from an immense hubris. And a man obsessed with prophecies and chosen ones definitely has some kind of savior complex.

But notably Jinn doesn't actually want to put any effort into enacting real change with his limited yet existent capabilities.

He turns down a council seat in M&A because he thinks it would hold him down. From what? Dear God, the reason they offered him a seat was for different opinions. Qui-Gon can complain all he wants but one time he actually had a chance to make his opinions a reality he freaking bailed.

Why? He doesn't want to face his own limits. He can't bare to try and fail. It is much easier to sustain a superiority complex when you are complaining from the sidewalk.

So he fixates all this belief onto prophecies, visions that will magically cure the Galaxy. And of course his place to help fulfill them. To the point where it is the one thing that keeps him standing.

He has binded meaning of his life and belief for goodness dangerously close to his supposed importance in the Galaxy. (You can feel the influences of his former master)

His absolute refusal to engage with reality turns him into mass of contradictions. Cause he doesn't know what he will find or become if he is mistaken in his belief of himself.

He can't face reinvention on the event of defeat.

But this situation was different. It had to be, because the only thing Qui-Gon knew to be absolutely true was that his vision was real.

Oh by the way, it turned out he misunderstood the vision. But when does being wrong ever stopped Qui-Gon Jinn?

No words.

Only Qui-Gon could have come near declaring himself a prophet after making a mistake. Maybe stop and reflect man? Just stop and think about your actions.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: I have a bad feeling about this.

Qui-Gon Jinn: I don't sense anything.

Of course you don't.

Honestly he doesn't have much to speak for in the cosmic force department either.

(There is the whole force ghost thing I guess. But I have no idea if that is more connected with living or cosmic force. It seems to be more about spiritual enlightenment. Which is ridiculous when you consider Yoda had go through so many trials, face his darkside, learn to truly let go just for Force priestesses to deem him worthy enough to study immortality. Yes Qui-Gon never became a force ghost but he had started his training before he died. And much of Yoda's tests on TCW was about self-awareness. It is not just about being a good person. How did Force Priestesses approve Qui-Gon "I was meant to misinterpret this vision." Jinn? I would understand if he became wiser after death and faced his flaws and all but he never was on that level before he died. You might say even Anakin became a force ghost. But I would remind you, Anakin in the end broke out of denial, acknowledged the wrong of his ways and took that leap to the light side. Self-awareness seems such an important key to becoming a force ghost. Right there with selflessness. Personally it doesn't quite feel right for a character whose biggest flaws are their lack of introspection and hubris which we never see him rise above to be the one that discovers immortality again. It feels more like a rushed plot point to explain how we get from A to B.)

This post got out of control 😂. I honestly just wanted to point out lack of communication might be one of the reasons Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon have trouble understanding each other but it is sometimes even harder to understand Qui-Gon when he actually says something. Cause ration is not what drives him.

Qui-Gon is such a complex character. He is undeniably good especially compared to other SW characters. Yet for all fandom's deifying he might be the most flawed Jedi we see on the franchise. (The ones that fell to the dark side not included.)

It is a shame wider fandom completely write off his flaws to the degree I can't even recognize the character when they talk about Jinn. Cause that Qui-Gon is so hard to feel empathy for.

When people constantly make statements like "He is The Wisest sw character." his hypocrisy stops being amusing. It doesn't end on screen or page instead often used to bash other characters.

An unbelievable analysis from Wookiepedia:

When Jinn saved the Gungan exile Jar Jar Binks, who in turn swore a life-debt to him, his compassionate nature was such that Jinn took the hapless Gungan under his wing, much to Kenobi's dismay. His empathy toward all life forms, including the most pitiful and unfortunate, was Jinn's greatest strength. Additionally, he remained understanding and patient with Queen Padmé Amidala. During the short time they knew each other, he never asked for her to do more than she was willing to.

You know out of the two, Qui-Gon was the one who insulted Jar Jar to his face. And he didn't took Jar Jar under his wing. They forced him to take them to a city where Jar Jar could have been punished for entering. Now it was the pragmatic thing to do. For all three's survival not for their own gain. Understandable. But compassion is just pushing it.

Also he never asked Padme to do more than she was willing to do?

Padmé : Are you sure about this? Trusting our fate to a boy we hardly know? The Queen will not approve.

Qui-Gon Jinn : The Queen does not need to know.

Padmé : Well, I don't approve.

And he is aware she is the queen, herself. Padme was nearly tearing out her because of this man in TPM.

What is weird, Jinn in his bewildering hypocrisy probably thinks he is being admirably compassionate with Jar Jar, highly understanding and patient with Padme. We clearly see he is not.

Out of universe he has been a force ghost for decades now but fandom is nowhere near acknowledging his flaws than he is.

And honestly SW doesn't have that many major morally complex characters. People like Maul, Palpatine, Anakin,Ventress don't think they are serving a higher purpose or oblivious to the evils they commit.

Emotionally complicated, yes. Going through moral dilemmas, no.

Three major characters come to mind who make huge mistakes, condone or commit atrocities while thinking they are in the right/with good intentions/for a greater cause. With varying degrees of culpability.

Qui-Gon. Padme. Dooku.

In that order.

Let these characters be interesting instead of demonizing nearly inhumanly selfless Jedi characters. (They make mistakes too but funnily enough they are still way better beings than most people on our planet.)

By the way I found the epitaph "Fascinating Failure" from the article here. Especially the last paragraphs make some interesting points. ⬇️

👀

This post might seem harsh but that is expected since it focuses on Qui-Gon's flaws.

"People are more than their worst act,” Quote from Qui-Gon Jinn in Master & Apprentice

[gffa]

I have often given Qui-Gon Jinn a hard time because he’s so often used in STAR WARS fandom as a weapon to beat on other characters I love and it makes it difficult to like him, as well as it overshadows who the character himself is. So, to help balance that out some, I wanted to do a set of recs to remind myself–and just share some happiness in!–that I actually do very much like Qui-Gon! He’s a good person who really loved the people around him, he cared very deeply, he had an amazing friendship with Yoda (seriously, that Yoda’s the one he reaches out to when he becomes a Force Ghost, that even after death, Qui-Gon loves his Jedi family, it gives me feelings in my feelings place every single time), and one of my favorite things about Master & Apprentice is that I often got the impression that he knew he was kind of obnoxious sometimes, but he was at peace with it, he was fine with that. That was a straight shot to my heart, I love that dude! So, here have some fics that celebrate that Qui-Gon is actually a really great character. He may not always be the central character, but I remember him being well portrayed in these and they gave me good Qui-Gon feelings! STAR WARS - QUI-GON JINN FIC RECS: ✦ Reprise by Elfpen, obi-wan & qui-gon & anakin & dooku & mace & cast, time travel, 491.1k wip    Ben Kenobi dies aboard the Death Star in the year 0 BBY. He wakes up shortly thereafter in the Jedi temple in the year 41 BBY. Haunted by memories and regret, Ben must forge a new path for himself in the Jedi Order of his youth while navigating the murky waters of time travel. Crafting a better future from bitter experience is hard, but learning to heal is even harder. Major AU. ✦ The Way Back Home by Anakinstopyourpanakin, happygiraffe, obi-wan & qui-gon & bant & tahl, 39.5k wip    He had been missing for nearly four years. How could Obi-Wan be alive? It was too good to be true, and simultaneously too horrifying. What had been done to the innocent child who was currently falling asleep against his shoulder, and did his wounds run too deep for Qui-Gon to mend? ✦ When the world gets too heavy put it on my back by nematoda, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon, 29.8k    Obi-Wan is different when it comes to relationships. Not in a bad way, just… different. Studies of platonic love in the life of Obi-Wan Kenobi, exploring the master/padawan relationship with Qui-Gon and eventually with Anakin. ✦ Shadows of the Future by stormqueen873, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon & cast, 129.3k    ObiWan lost the duel on Mustafar, but instead of dying, he finds himself on a ship leaving Tatooine, with his old Master and a familiar young boy. As events begin to unfold, can he stop the future he knows from occuring? ✦ No Galaxy for Good Jedi by Annie_Walker, obi-wan & anakin & padme & qui-gon & dooku & yoda & cast, some obi-wan/satine, sith!qui-gon, 124.8k wip    Obi-Wan Kenobi was only a young padawan when he ran away with three-year old Anakin. He had no choice after his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, fell to the Dark Side by Master Dooku’s manipulations. ✦ Masters and Padawans: Three Generations by GirlwithCurls98, qui-gon & obi-wan + obi-wan & anakin + anakin & ahsoka, 24.6k    Three generations of incredible bonds. ✦ What Is My Heritage? by Marnie, qui-gon & yoda, 7.7k    Qui-Gon, age 13, tries to find a place to belong. ✦ Coming Home by Marnie, qui-gon & yoda & dooku, 18.1k    A story telling how Qui-Gon comes to be Dooku’s apprentice. ✦ Trust Me by Charmisjess, dooku & qui-gon, 2k    A certain Jedi Master is less than pleased about being laid up with the flu. ✦ Triviality and QuiGon by Charmisjess, dooku & qui-gon, 4.1k    The Council’s infinite cruelty gives Dooku the most brutal of punishments: quality time with the Padawan and his plantlife! ✦ Rainy by Charmisjess, dooku & qui-gon, 26.8k wip    A seemingly easy mission goes horribly wrong for Padawan Qui and Master Dooku as they struggle to battle an insane adversary, poisons and curses, and an awful lot of rain. ✦ The Luckiest Man Alive + Letting Go by Elfpen, obi-wan & qui-gon & dooku & yoda, 7.9k    Yoda, Dooku, and a twenty four year old QuiGon go to the small planet of Omartia to pick up a forcesensitive infant. + Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan go to pick up a Force-sensitive child. On the way back, Qui-Gon is faced with the fact that someday very soon, he will have to let Obi-Wan go. ✦ Lineage by ruth baulding, obi-wan & qui-gon & xanatos & cast, 35.9k    AU!Jedi Apprentice. Book I: In which master and apprentice meet for the first time, enjoy a disastrous adventure courtesy of Xanatos DuCrion, and reap the fruits of patience and fortitude. A fanciful retelling of the original. ✦ Lineage II by ruth baulding, obi-wan & qui-gon & cast, 40.9k    A year or so has elapsed since the last time we saw our heroes. BOOK 2: In which master and apprentice investigate an evil brainwashing plot, attend a boisterous wedding, and battle the enemy within. ✦ Lineage III by ruth baulding, obi-wan & qui-gon & dooku & xanatos & bant & cast, 49.4k    AU!Jedi Apprentice. Book III: Master and apprentice face an important rite of passage, grapple with a traitorous plot within the Temple’s walls, and discover the limits of obedience and intuition. Appearances by Bant Eerin, Xanatos DuCrion, Yan Dooku, and others. ✦ Lineage IV by ruth baulding, obi-wan & qui-gon & siri & adi gallia, 39.3k    Master and apprentice endure a stint with the Agri-Corps, and find that trouble has a way of coming home to haunt them. Featuring a pile of bantha poodoo, a tentacled carnivorous plant, a desperate escaped convict, and a highly provocative young woman. ✦ Lineage V by ruth baulding, obi-wan & qui-gon & tahl (& some qui-gon/tahl) & dooku & cast, 50.7k    An evil scientist wreaks havoc when she captures Jedi Knight Tahl Uvain for purposes of obscure research; Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan rush to the rescue, only to be embroiled in further trouble; and Master Dooku joins in the hunt with characteristic aplomb. ✦ Lineage VI by ruth baulding, obi-wan & qui-gon & cast, 66.2k    Master and apprentice undertake a risky undercover mission to expose conspiracy in a far-flung sector; a comedy of manners abruptly transforms into a nightmare when their cover is blown; and a desperate escape gambit strikes deep at the foundations of trust. ✦ Lineage VII by ruth baulding, obi-wan & qui-gon & siri & adi gallia & some obi-wan/siri, 74.5k    Sent to the aid of their fellow Jedi on a disastrous mission to New Apsolon, master and apprentice contend with brainwashing, genocide, conspiracy, and the perilous realm of the heart. ✦ Lineage VIII by ruth baulding, obi-wan & qui-gon & cast, 83.4k    Hard on the heels of the mission to Apsolon, master and apprentice find new troubles - in their own backyard. Jenna Zan Arbor faces prosecution for her crimes; the Jedi grapple with the disastrous realities of corruption and personal loss; Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon undertake perilous and disparate quests. ✦ Lineage IX by ruth baulding, obi-wan & qui-gon & dooku & cast, 61k    A year after parting ways, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon struggle to complete their self-appointed quests for enlightenment and justice. ✦ Lineage X by ruth baulding, obi-wan & qui-gon & dooku, 49.2k    The war-ravaged world Melida-Daan is backdrop to a manhunt, an occult conspiracy, a bitter guerilla conflict, and a test of ultimate loyalties. ✦ Lineage XI by ruth baulding, obi-qan & qui-gon & cast, 56k    The disastrous situation on Melida-Daan takes a turn for the worse; the Jedi dispatch a team to capture a dangerous murderer; and Qui-Gon Jinn and his former apprentice face the consequences of their rebellion. Series finale. ✦ Snakefic by esama, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon & yoda & cast, 6k    It was only the matter of time before the egg hatched. ✦ Strokes of Colored Grey by Elfpen, obi-wan & qui-gon, 9.5k    ObiWan has been drawing since he was a small youngling, but only a few people know, including his teacher, Vianro Dleka, and the elderly, trustworthy archivist, KinWan Terius. But what happens when his master discovers his secret? ✦ Pies, Books, and Swords, obi-wan & qui-gon/tahl, 1.2k    Qui-Gon Jinn has made quite a good name for himself, as far as holonet cooking shows go. ✦ They Are by Charmisjess, dooku & qui-gon, 1.7k    This is their moment, their eternity. They think its going to be like this forever. ✦ Strongest Stars by Elfpen, obi-wan & qui-gon & chirrut & cast, 2.6k    The Force works in mysterious ways. A few quiet moments in the dark create a touchstone spanning across three generations, two orthodoxies, a war, time, space, and the galaxy. A maverick meets a visionary and listens for a song. Spoilers for Rogue One, sort of? ✦ Anecdotally by Elfpen, obi-wan & qui-gon & cast, 14.6k    The biggest stories are always made up of smaller ones. Here are some of the forgotten moments in the life of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Will feature a wide variety of genres, characters, eras, and AUs. Oneshots from whenever inspiration strikes. ✦ the floor under our feet by FoxGlade, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & qui-gon & dooku + background pairings, 4.5k wip    or, the adventures and exploits of Qui-Gon’s three adopted children. ✦ A Long, Long Time Ago by ruth baulding, dooku & qui-gon + qui-gon & obi-wan + obi-wan & anakin + anakin & ahsoka, 5.8k    A wisdom tale handed passed down through the generations poses troublesome questions for a line of masters and Padawans, from Dooku to Ahsoka Tano. ✦ Family by lilyconrad, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon & darth maul & cast, sith!obi-wan, 6.8k    Seven years after the duel on Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi has turned to the dark, Maul has turned to the light, and young Anakin is caught somewhere in-between. Can Qui-Gon rescue his Padawan before it’s too late? ✦ Fountain of Force by esama, qui-gon & cast, final fantasy 7 crossover, 8.9k    In which Qui-Gon Jinn comes from Gaia. ✦ Midwinter Sun by orphan_account, dooku & qui-gon, 4.2k    Padawan Jinn is a rebel and Dooku is very much not ready. ✦ Jedi In Winter by bluedragoninamber, obi-wan & qui-gon & dooku & yoda, 12.3k    In which Yan Dooku understands regret and tries to make things right. Something new will be born from the ashes of the old but exactly what remains to be seen. ✦ A New History by Annie Walker, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon & dooku & cast, time travel, 533.4k wip    During a heated battle, Dooku escaped into the past! Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker follow to stop him, but discover that Dooku went to the past where Obi-Wan is a young padawan to a very much alive Qui-Gon Jinn. Now, the two must go undercover to stop Dooku’s plans from coming to fruition in order to save not only the future, but also young Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. ✦ In the Heart of the Force by ReneeoftheStars, ahsoka & qui-gon, 1.7k    Ahsoka Tano travels back to the world between world’s. Searching for answers, she comes across a past event that only makes her question the past even more. ✦ Stitches and Time by ladyarcherfan3, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon & ocs, 4k    Alara Nel is a seamstress who keeps getting an unusually large number of orders for Jedi robes from an Obi-Wan Kenobi. Over the years, she learns why and gets to know the Jedi a little bit better. ✦ The Uses of a Sandwich by Laura Kaye (laurakaye), obi-wan & qui-gon & oc & cast, 17.6k    A few months after being taken as a Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi faces a challenge: meeting his Master’s first apprentice. ✦ untitled by elfpen, obi-wan & qui-gon, 3.1k    Anonymous asked: if you’re still accepting prompts: smol padawan obi-wan letting slip his law abiding exterior and letting loose the terrifying intensity beneath it. preferably in defense of qui-gon or something. ✦ The will of the Force by Lysore, obi-wan & yoda & qui-gon, 2.7k    Obi-Wan piqued Yoda’s interest early on, except the Grand Master of the Order had known for just as long that the Initiate was destined to be Qui-Gon Jinn’s Padawan. ✦ I thought I fought this war alone by stonefreeak, obi-wan & qui-gon & cast, time travel, 3.7k    Obi-Wan is thirteen years old, just about to start learning Ataru from his Master. Obi-Wan is sixty-one years old, dead and one with the Force since four years back. Obi-Wan is both, and neither. ✦ The First Trial by Raven_Knight, obi-wan & qui-gon, 2k    Accompanied by his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, young Obi-Wan Kenobi undergoes his first trial and rite as a Padawan Learner on the frozen planet of Ilum. ✦ Hearts Entwined by KeeperofSeeds, obi-wan & shmi & qui-gon, time travel, 6.5k wip    stolen moments between Padawan Kenobi and Shmi Skywalker, glimpsed by Qui Gon Jinn, and his continued attempts to understand both this strange new addition to the Temple and the unexplained relationship between the pair ✦ The Orchards by Raven_Knight, obi-wan & qui-gon & cast, 3.6k    When young Obi-Wan Kenobi is injured on a previous mission, Qui-Gon Jinn refuses to accept further off-planet missions until his Padawan’s recovery. Yoda assigns the pair an in-Temple mission of utmost importance while Obi-Wan heals. Master and Padawan welcome the change of pace. ✦ The Path of Totality by Raven_Knight, obi-wan & yoda & qui-gon & cast, 1.8k    Before going their separate ways into exile, Obi-Wan Kenobi shares with Yoda a lesson of wisdom he’d learned from his late Master, Qui-Gon Jinn. A lesson of darkness, light, and hope. ✦ Finding Balance by Raven_Knight, qui-gon & dooku & jocasta, 1.4k    Eleven-year-old Padawan Jinn is left behind while his Master goes on a mission off-planet. Qui-Gon is left in the care of Jocasta Nu, and he’s not exactly enthusiastic about it. ✦ Warmth by Tomatosoupful, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon & xanatos & tahl & shmi & cast, child endangerment, time travel, 59.8k wip    Time Travel AU. Anakin has woken up in the past. Time to say hello to past friends, right? Only problem, Anakin is a walking talking human disaster and makes a lot of stupid decisions. Stealing a Jedi baby from the temple certainly isn’t the smartest thing he’s done. ✦ Abducted by devilinthedetails, obi-wan & qui-gon, 1.6k    In trying to rescue the kidnapped daughter of a planetary leader, Qui-Gon finds himself abducted and in need of Obi-Wan’s rescue. ✦ Trust Fall by devilinthedetails, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon, 1.4k    Two generations of Masters and Padawans. Two generations of trust falls. ✦ Something Borrowed, Something New by Raven_Knight, qui-gon & dooku/jocasta, 1.6k    Qui-Gon Jinn had only been claimed as Knight Dooku’s Padawan for three weeks before he’d managed to get himself into trouble with his Master. ✦ In Memoriam by ruth baulding, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon & evan piell, 6.4k    In the midst of a desperate escape from the Citadel, Obi Wan mourns a friendship. A tribute to Jedi Master Evan Piell. ✦ One Day by ruth baulding, obi-wan & qui-gon & mace & shmi & bail/breha & palpatine, 9.9k    A single moment in time, on five different planets. A birth, an election, a discovery, a marriage, and a mission. Because all things are mysteriously united in the Force. ✦ They Are by Charmisjess, dooku & qui-gon, 1.7k    This is their moment, their eternity. They think its going to be like this forever. ✦ The Exchange by MissLearn, obi-wan & anakin & some anakin/padme & ahsoka & qui-gon & rex & cast, time travel, 77k wip    ROTS Obi-Wan and Anakin are swapped with their younger, TPM, selves. It changes things, in both parallels. ✦ Family by lilyconrad, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon & darth maul & cast, sith!obi-wan, 6.8k    Seven years after the duel on Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi has turned to the dark, Maul has turned to the light, and young Anakin is caught somewhere in-between. Can Qui-Gon rescue his Padawan before it’s too late? ✦ Fountain of Force by esama, qui-gon & cast, final fantasy 7 crossover, 8.9k    In which Qui-Gon Jinn comes from Gaia. ✦ Rewrought by esama, obi-wan & qui-gon & maul, time travel, 4.4k    Bit o time travel ✦ Lion Jinn by esama, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon & cast, 5.7k wip    Qui-Gon Jinn reincarnates as a lion. ✦ Brothers (working title) by Charity_Angel, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon & padme & shmi & yoda & cast, 17.3k wip    In which Qui-Gon has a very near miss on Naboo, Obi-Wan is very stubborn, and they end up breaking a lot of rules accidentally as a result. All because of that kid they picked up on Tatooine. ✦ untitled by legobiwan, yoda & dooku & qui-gon, 1.5k    Yan Dooku was getting too old for this type of thing. He had rushed into the healer’s ward, Qui-gon’s limp body in his arms. That in itself had been a feat, as the boy’s gangly limbs were everywhere, but somehow the older Jedi Master had been able to deposit his wayward Padawan on a bed before an errant arm took his nose off. ✦ Drifting Starlight by Pandora151, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & qui-gon & cast, time travel, 60.3k    Just before the fateful Battle of Naboo, Qui-Gon Jinn is brought to the future, to the Clone Wars. He doesn’t know why or how, but he knows one thing for sure: He never, in a million years, expected the galaxy to end up like this. ✦ Although He Smiles by AutumnChild22, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & padme & qui-gon & cast, time travel, 86.9k wip    She’d counted the 750 steps down from the Temple. She’d said her goodbyes, and left Master Anakin standing below the great pillars. What more could the Force want from her? ‘Everything’ sums it up nicely. Waking 13 years in the past, Ahsoka faces a harsh reality. As events begin to unfold, she faces a ticking clock that times a galaxy’s end. ✦ A New History by Annie Walker, obi-wan & anakin & qui-gon & dooku & cast, time travel, 533.4k wip    During a heated battle, Dooku escaped into the past! Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker follow to stop him, but discover that Dooku went to the past where Obi-Wan is a young padawan to a very much alive Qui-Gon Jinn. Now, the two must go undercover to stop Dooku’s plans from coming to fruition in order to save not only the future, but also young Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. ✦ The First Trial by Raven_Knight, obi-wan & qui-gon, 2k    Accompanied by his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, young Obi-Wan Kenobi undergoes his first trial and rite as a Padawan Learner on the frozen planet of Ilum. ✦ Hearts Entwined by KeeperofSeeds, obi-wan & shmi & qui-gon, time travel, 6.5k wip    stolen moments between Padawan Kenobi and Shmi Skywalker, glimpsed by Qui Gon Jinn, and his continued attempts to understand both this strange new addition to the Temple and the unexplained relationship between the pair ✦ Highly Dissatisfied by Raven_Knight, obi-wan & qui-gon, 1.1k    Obi-Wan enters the quarters he shares with his Master, intending to ask for help in preparation for his exams. Qui-Gon, however, is dealing with a far more urgent matter. ✦ playing yourself like a red three by EclipseMidnight (EternalEclipse), obi-wan & xanatos & qui-gon, 7.7k    As usual, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon’s mission has gone spectacularly sideways, this time before they even reach the planet they are meant to be helping. Luckily for them, they get some help from an unexpected source. ✦ so far the suns by blackkat, mace & qui-gon, 1.3k    “My old friend,” Qui-Gon tells Mace, quiet, and his presence comes closer. “I fear I made several mistakes in the past weeks, and I would ask you to correct them for me.” ✦ The Cry by batsojopo, obi-wan & qui-gon & xanatos & ocs & cast, 4.2k    This is my version of how Obi-Wan Kenobi arrived at the Jedi Temple. ✦ kybersong by Shadaras, obi-wan & qui-gon, 1.6k    Obi-Wan Kenobi goes in search of his lightsaber’s crystal heart. ✦ What Have We Become by Batsutousai, feemor & qui-gon & obi-wan & anakin & cast, time travel, 43.7k    One of Feemor’s greatest regrets, was that he never had the chance to get to know his brother-padawan, but the Force is willing to give him one more chance. And maybe, if he’s lucky, he can finally make amends with his former master and save them all in the process. ✦ We Start and End With Family by Batsutousai, feemor & qui-gon & obi-wan & yoda & cast, time travel, 8.8k    Qui-Gon had been mostly joking when he’d originally brought up the idea of a lineage dinner, but when his former padawan grabbed for the idea with both hands and a desperation Qui-Gon didn’t understand (and privately hoped he never would), he knew he would never be able to refuse. ✦ turning dust right into gold by blackkat, mace/qui-gon & depa & cast, 1.3k    Mace knows Depa too well. She’s absolutely going to do something terrible, particularly for Mace’s dignity. ✦ A Price to Be Paid by Peach_Bitters (Starf), qui-gon & dooku & cast, 3.1k    Young Qui-Gon learns there’s a price to be paid for his curiosity. ✦ For the Future of the Order by thetorontokid, obi-wan & qui-gon & cast, 3.9k    There are important lessons to be found in the Jedi Temple crèche.

[grumpyhedgehogs]

our bones are old but this tragedy is so new

Summary: Ahsoka takes Cody to Rex. Cody gives Rex a gift. AO3.  Part 3 of the “scraps” series. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5. Warnings: Canonical character death, discussions of death and suicide. 

Cody has not seen his own face for years. He knows he looks very different. He’s grown old faster than he should have and the Kaminoans messed with the clones’ genes too much and for too long for the Empire to see reversing the advanced aging process as economically viable. He still thinks he’s avoided the worst of it: his limbs aren’t twisted, his spine is straight, his shoulders don’t droop under exhaustion. He moves a little slower, a little stiffer. His hands are weaker than they used to be but they don’t tremble when he grips a blaster. He’s tired more often, sicker than he ever was when he manages to catch a bug, but that’s really all. He’ll die sooner than natborns, but Cody’s always known that. Besides, he’s outlived the one person he always hoped he’d die before; the only thing worse than going to Obi-Wan’s funeral is the fact there is no funeral at all. Old age, no matter how much he hates it, is pretty kind to Cody.

So it’s not something that bothered him until he’s seeing his reflection in Rex’s face.

“Since when did you get so old, little brother?” Cody wants to slap his own forehead as soon as the words are out of his mouth, but he can’t help it. Teasing Rex is second nature. Rex’s face twists comically, mouth working in complicated motions before he throws himself forward.

His brother’s arms around him are a balm Cody realizes he never wants to let go of. Rex is older too, and tougher, and bigger than Cody remembers. They hold on for a long time; Cody doesn’t feel any shame in tucking his face into Rex’s neck. He lets out a shuddering breath and Rex sighs against him, laying a heavy hand on the back of Cody’s neck. He knocks their foreheads together when he pulls back. Cody keeps ahold of his shoulder, sure he’ll disappear the second he lets go, just vanish into thin air. He’s seen others do it before, after all.

“ Kote .” Rex says, affectionate, awed. “ Kote .”

“Yes,” Cody agrees, a little wetly. “It’s me.” His brother’s hair is stark white. Ahsoka smiles at them over her shoulder before ducking discretely out of the room. Cody lets her go.

“I thought you were dead, Cody. Thank everything out there you’re not.”

Cody nods past the lump in his throat. Rex curls his fingers into the edges of Cody’s poncho, lifting the fabric to see the armor beneath. Cody doesn’t even realize he’s doing it when he reacts; he comes back to himself with a hand clamped around Rex’s wrist, squeezing too tight. Rex lifts a brow at him and slowly pulls back. “Sorry,” Cody apologizes. He almost starts shaking; he didn’t know he was doing it until it was done. He’d lost himself. He can’t-- “I’m sorry. Just. Please don’t touch this.”

Rex, the best vod in the entire batch, lets it go without comment. He nods at Cody’s chest. “You kept the trooper armor.”

Cody lays his hand over his sternum, where the insignia he’d made blazes across his cuirass . “With a few modifications. You’re suited up too. I didn’t want to be left out.”

Rex smiles. “Wouldn’t mind one of those designs myself.”

“It’s a good reminder.”

Rex’s arm is heavy and solid and comforting across his shoulders as they sit at the table in the small ship Ahsoka led Cody to when they'd gotten to this planet after a week's hyperspace travel. He’s sure she’s making changes to the navigation system somewhere; she’d told him she’d introduce him to the rebels she knew, people who could give him a job. But first she took him to Rex. Gratitude chokes Cody.  Still, the idea that someday in the near future he’ll get to pick off some Imperial officers makes his blood rush like it hasn’t since the last time the 212th got together.

Cody leans against his brother and breathes shallowly. He could sleep for a week; he’s been running on adrenaline and bad decisions, just keeping one step ahead of the Imps and following in his brother’s footsteps for weeks, maybe months now. He has Rex now. He has Ahsoka. Sleep wells up against the backs of his eyes but he forces it away; he might wake up and find this was all a dream.

“You could sleep here.” Rex was always too good at reading him. “I’d wake you if anything exciting happened.”

“In a little while. Just. Give me a minute.”

He fiddles with the edges of the robe to stay awake. For a few moments silence stretches between them like a warm blanket. Rex’s hand catches his. “What’s with this?”

“It’s...” Cody pulls away a little, clutching at a corner of the robe that drapes over his shoulder. He’s having a hard time meeting Rex’s eyes. “It’s his. Kenobi’s.”

“Oh. Oh, Cody .”

“Yeah,” Cody says tightly. His throat narrows to the width of a straw. “Yeah.”

Rex pauses delicately. “What happened?”

“I was still under, you know. Stationed on the Death Star with--with him. I think he liked seeing what happened to me. Like it--it gave him a thrill to see how much he’s taken from the Jedi.” How much he’s taken from Obi-Wan, Cody means. Rex nods jerkily and Cody remembers very suddenly that Skywalker used to be Rex’s general. He doesn’t have to wonder if Rex knows he’s Vader; Rex’s face is stony, his eyes smoldering. He knows. “Anyway, this princess from Alderaan, we picked her up after that fiasco on Scarif.”

“We lost a lot of good people in that battle,” Rex murmurs. Cody doesn’t doubt it. He’d seen the power it took to wipe that beach off the map. It makes him shudder just thinking about it.

“Yeah. So, this princess, she’s Organa’s daughter and she’s suspected of being a rebel. That’s confirmed now. She was being interrogated by Vader and some rebels, a small contingency, showed up to get her out.”

“They stormed Vader on his own turf?” He sounds vaguely impressed. “Why do I not like where this is headed?”

Cody swallows hard. “Because who do we both know who’s crazy enough to come up with a plan like facing Vader head on without backup?” Rex thinks for a split second and then curses vehemently. “Yeah, that’s pretty much what I said. Obi-Wan showed his face right when the rebels were about to get caught. I was--was one of the troopers shooting at them.”

“It wasn’t you,” Rex says. He shakes Cody’s shoulder when Cody refuses to look up from where he’s studying his hands. “It wasn’t you, Kote .”

“Sure.” Cody agrees, voice flat. His chest twinges but he continues. “So, Obi-Wan showed up and he must have sabotaged the ship’s system because the bay door opened and he held Vader off long enough for the rebels--three humans and a Wookie, and it looked like only one of the humans, this kid, actually knew Kenobi--to get away. But Vader--Vader killed him, Rex. It woke me up. He killed Obi-Wan right in front of me.”

He sits there, mouth cottony, throat clogged, eyes wet, and realizes he can’t breathe. His chest twinges again and now the pain won’t leave and his lungs burn but he can’t breathe. He’s struggling, cheeks soaked, but he can’t breathe and there are hands on his shoulders--they might be Rex, but they could be Obi-Wan’s, he used to hold Cody like this after a bad battle, it could be, it could--and he still can’t breathe but he can speak and he keep repeating it, repeating, “He killed him. He killed him. Right in front--in front of me, he killed him.”

It’s only when his head is shoved between his knees and held there that Cody starts to come back to himself. He taps at Rex’s knee until he lets up. Rex’s eyes are sharp and vigilant; one wrong move and Cody thinks he may get a hypo full of sedative to the throat. He hasn't had a good night’s sleep since Obi-Wan died, so he wouldn’t mind if it came down to that.

“You’re okay, Cody,” Rex murmurs, hand still on the back of his neck. “You’re okay.”

Cody says nothing, wiping at his sodden face as best he can. His chest still hitches with every breath.

“Kenobi--Obi-Wan was a good man,” Rex continues, and now his voice is tight too. He clears his throat gruffly. “He was a good friend and a fantastic general and the best Jedi, and I’m so, so sorry Cody.”

“I saw him die Rex. I tried to kill him when the Order went out.”

“It wasn’t you. You’re here now.”

“Do you--do you miss Skywalker, Rex?”

It’s a cheap shot, a low blow. Cody shouldn’t ask it. He does. Rex stiffens beside him but doesn’t pull away. “I miss who he was before he became what he is,” Rex whispers back. “But I--I worked with you and Kenobi for a long time too, Cody. I can’t miss him like you can, not when I know you loved him. But I can miss him with you, too.”

“I wanted to die with him.”

“I know. I wanted to die when I found out about Vader.”

Cody guesses that’s fair.

Obi-Wan would tell him this is healthy, that letting his grief out is the first step to getting rid of it. He’d give Cody tea, probably, and let him talk until it was all out, like expelling sickness from the body. He wouldn’t judge, just like Rex doesn’t judge. He’d hold Cody when he cries. He’d do all of that, if the Jedi weren’t dead, if the Republic weren’t dead, if Obi-Wan weren’t dead.

Cody blinks suddenly, and pulls away quickly. Rex startles but doesn’t draw back. He watches, bewildered, as Cody rummages through his rucksack. Beneath their feet, engines roar to life; Ahsoka’s getting ready for take-off, then. Making a small sound of triumph, Cody pulls something out of his pack and holds it aloft towards his brother.

Rex takes the scrap of fabric with both hands, gingerly, and looks to Cody for an explanation. “It’s his sleeve,” Cody tells him, hoarse still. The tears just keep coming back, so he doesn’t bother to wipe them away again. “Ahsoka’s got the other one. I’ve got the rest, obviously. He--he wasn’t your general, but you’re right. He was a good friend of the clones.”

“Cody…” Rex turns the cloth over and over in his palms. He holds it like something precious. Cody’s heart swells a little. When he looks up, Rex’s eyes are wide and overbright. “Are you sure?”

“You’re the only one who understands,” Cody says, honesty making him lightheaded. “The only one. I’d be honored. Obi-Wan would be too.”

Rex curls his hands into fists around the offering and nods, solemn. His face is old now, and weathered, and matches Cody down to the last detail. There are tears in his eyes as Rex answers in their mother tongue, “ I will carry it, always .”

Cody bites his lip, breathes in, out, in, and finishes the Mando’a phrase every clone knows as acknowledgement of a gift. “ May it give you strength in battle .”

“ May it protect us both ,” Rex amends, and Cody curls his hands around his brother’s. They hold the fabric together and let it begin to heal them, stitch by stitch.

[1-whitemanswhore]

Who’s Your Daddy

Summary: You’re promoting your new sexy film with costar Tom Holland while your boyfriend, Jake Gyllenhaal, promotes his own film on the same talk show

Warnings: Some cursing, daddy kink mention, implied smut

A/N: First fic ever. Needed more Jake G content. Sorry it’s longer than intended. Hope someone out there enjoys it <3

You found yourself strategically placed on Graham Norton’s couch between your costar Tom Holland and your boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal. The show’s producers knew exactly what they were doing sitting the three of you together. In their minds it would be comedy gold. Tom and you had been on the road promoting your new film. It was a smaller and more adult project than Tom had done as of late, since he mostly spent the past few years consumed with the MCU. Meanwhile your career had been on the rise. You had made the transition from stage to the big screen. Well, the kinda big screen. Mostly indie films like this one. In this movie you played a college student in the 90’s majoring in Psychology and minoring in women’s studies. Your character came from a conservative family and had a backstory that made the way she viewed and experienced sex...complicated. After leaving her family behind to go to college she aspires to pursue a career in sex therapy to help others and also find herself...sexually. She meets up with Tom’s character and lots of sex, feelings, and emotional healing follow. 

The time on the road promoting the film had been fun, but you had really been missing Jake who was out promoting his own movie. You didn’t know how you would survive another 3 weeks without seeing him in person, but as luck would have it, someone had to cancel their spot on The Graham Norton Show the night you were going to be on. Jake who was also doing press was only a train ride away and was asked to fill the spot. So now there you were on sitting with Jake to your left, Tom to your right, and Ewan McGregor to the right of Tom. All of you with your alcoholic drink of choice sitting in front of you.

“Hello everyone, welcome,” Graham began. “And I feel like we should get this out of the way now. Jake is this a bit awkward for you?”

Jake scrunched his face, feigning confusion. “I don’t know what you mean. Are you talking about you singling me out first? Cuz, yeah, I'm a little uncomfortable,” he said letting out a small chuckle.

Graham smirked as he attempted to stir up some trouble. “I only ask because as we all know, you and Tom had quite the broman-excuse me- romance while filming Spider-Man. And a few months ago we found out you’ve been dating (Y/N) for the past year. And now (Y/N) and Tom are promoting a film where they’re engaging in a lot of...”

“Physical activity,” you interject while raising your left eyebrow with a smirk.

“Sure,” graham said. “Let’s stick with that.”

“You know this isn’t American television. You’re free to say ‘Fuck’” Ewan chimed in and the audience began to laugh. “The characters fuck.”

“Actually it wasn’t uncomfortable until this conversation began,” Jake laughed.

“I’m a little hurt you’re only asking about Jake’s feelings and not ours,” Tom added.

“(Y/N), nothing to add?” Graham inquired.

“I mean, I’ve gotten to make out with both of them, so I don’t really have any complaints. I consider myself to be pretty lucky in this situation.” Jake and Tom both chuckled along with the audience.

“Kind of making Tom seem like a side piece here.” Ewan said while giving Tom a sympathetic look.

“No I would say we’re more of a throuple.” You surprised yourself by saying it so deadpan. Tom sheepishly smiled. Jake choked on his drink but quickly recovered.

“True love.” Jake took another sip of his drink and looked directly at the camera before rolling his eyes.

“Must admit I’m feeling quiet excluded up here with them,” Ewan laughed.

“Tom you’ve had trouble in the past with breaking during scenes,” Graham stated. Jake laughed as he remembered trying to shoot a scene where he and Tom merely had to shake hands. Take, after take, after take, they could never get it down. “Did you have trouble with this movie as well?”

“To be fair, Jake and (Y/N) are both very funny people. I think that’s one thing that makes them such great scene partners, but...I think....well it’s also what makes them such terrible scene partners. It’s torture. I just can’t help myself sometimes.”

“Is there one particular scene that gave you trouble with (Y/N)?” 

The smile on your face grew as Tom tried to figure out how to navigate his way through this question without embarrassing himself, you, and Jake too much. You on the other hand, were loving this moment. Jake was cool with the somewhat awkward situation of his girlfriend filming sex scenes with a close friend of his. It was work and he was a sweet, supportive, and loving boyfriend. He was absolutely perfect, but he was also a little shit. Before the show you met up for a, not as silent as you intended, quickie in your dressing room. Then he proceeded to tease you about the staff knowing what y’all did. But you enjoyed teasing each other and boy was this a great chance for you to get him good. And shit, you hadn’t eaten all day, so the alcohol was going to your head.

“I can think of a scene,” you said boldly. “Tom and I were shooting one of the sex scenes...” you paused as everyone around you snickered. You turned to glance at Jake to see his reaction. He was smirking back at you. He was curious to see where you were going to take this. “And during this scene I had to,” you couldn’t help but laugh at your own story, “I had to call Tom’s character ‘Daddy.’” 

Jakes eyes widened as he leaned back on the couch and touched his beard. That’s not what he was expecting to hear. He let out a quick chuckle before making his face as serious as possible and sitting up straight. You were trying to get the words out but your own small laughs kept interrupting you. 

“And I was having a hard enough time getting through the scene because I felt kinda ridiculous. Like no judgement, that’s some people’s thing but I was having a hard time keeping a straight face while doing it and...” 

“‘Doing it.’” Ewan looked up at the audience giving them a funny look.

“She’s the one that usually prefers to be called daddy so it was a weird situation.” Jake interrupted with a deadpan delivery which only made you laugh at his joke harder. Your plan was beginning to backfire. You had been so ready to fluster him, but it was you and Tom who were now blushing and laughing uncomfortably.  

You regained your poise and continued with your story. “So I’m having a hard time but I’m pushing through it and Tom was on the verge of losing it, probably, oh I don’t know...about every take.”

“Ok but you would change up the way you said it every single time! And you’d say it funny on purpose. How am I supposed to keep up with that?” Tom gestured to the audience looking for support.

“It’s called acting, Thomas,” Jake said with an eye roll.

“So we do a couple takes and Tom just keeps laughing. And I feel like I should mention that when I have to call him ‘daddy’ our characters are, well, they’re in the middle of fucking.” Your voice raised in pitch as you rushed through saying the word “fucking.” You took a moment to turn to Jake once again. The smirk reappeared on his face. He was leaning forward, waiting for you to continue your anecdote. 

“So Tom’s on top of me and our bodies are pressed together so even when I can’t hear him laughing I can feel it. Eventually he decides that he should bury his face in my neck when I say the line so we can finally wrap up the scene. So we’re...going at it... I get to my line and before I can say ‘Daddy’ he pushes his face into my neck, and when I say finally said it he laughed,” the memory was make you crack up. Tom sat there slightly embarrassed as Jake continuously shook his head. “But this time his mouth was against my neck when he laughed and he just went ‘pfffffffft’ and basically blew a raspberry into my neck and spit on me and oh my god I fucking lost it. The whole crew lost it.” 

With that the audience, Graham, and the entire couch busted out laughing. Tom put his face in his hands while you and Jake turned to each other laughing. Jake leaned forward so he could see Tom. “I see right through you, man. ‘Oh I just can’t seem to make it through this sex scene. Guess we’ll have to do it again and again.’ Is that why you and I couldn’t film a scene shaking hands? You just wanted to hold my hand for the day?”

You put your left hand on Jakes chest just under his gold chain. Your right hand finds itself on Tom’s shoulder. “Boys. Boys, please. Remember we are a throuple now. There’s no room for jealousy anymore.” You were joking, but also thought maybe if you innocently joked about it enough it might plant a seed you could harvest one day. 

“Can I just promote my movie now?” Jake put his face in his hands to act annoyed and embarrassed, but was really just trying to hide his giggles.

Graham took back control over the interview asking Ewan about the upcoming Obi Wan show. You moved your hand to rest on Jake’s thigh as you thought about fucking him later in your hotel room and making him call you ‘Daddy.’

[coruscantguard]

Jedi June - Days 1 & 2 - Compassion and Lightsaber

Quinlan Vos, Luminara Unduli, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rael Averross, Nim Pianna

TW for past canonical child character death, and the resulting angst because of that.

@jedijune

They’re in The Room of a Thousand Fountains when it happens.

“Okay, fine, I just don’t get why Master Nu would only let you in.”

Obi-Wan’s voice is just shy of a whine, and Quinlan carefully doesn’t make eye contact with Lumi, because he doesn’t trust himself not to start laughing. Obi-Wan has sharp elbows, and Quinlan's not about to give him a reason to use them.

(Master Nu’s refusal to allow Obi-Wan and him access to the ancient flimsi records that Lumi has been studying isn’t something that Quinlan is taking personally. Obi-Wan, however...

Well, there’s a reason they’re not in the Archives right now.)

“Both of you are still initiates,” Lumi points out, completely ignoring the fact that she’d started studying the records when she was also an initiate.

There’s a sense of pride and smugness around her in the Force, and Quinlan sticks his tongue out at her. She pretends not to see.

“You’ve been a padawan for like, three days,” Obi-Wan shoots back, and his leg kicks out to hit her in the shins. Seemingly expecting the blow, Lumi jumps over it easily, and her face is serene as she moves to Quinlan’s other side so she can use him as a blockade.

Well, he can’t have that.

“Come on, Obi, don’t mock the elderly,” Quinlan says, and instinctively covers his head as he ducks down into a forward roll, propelling himself away from Lumi and her retaliation. “Have respect for Padawan Unduli. You could learn a lot from her.”

“Oh, of course,” Obi-Wan replies, his voice agreeable. “I mean, as Master Yoda always says, the sign of infinite wisdom, a padawan braid is.”

Quinlan has never heard Master Yoda say that. The glare Lumi sends Obi-Wan indicates that she’s also never been treated to that particular nugget of wisdom.

Obi-Wan manages to keep his face serene for about two standard seconds, before he bursts out laughing at their faces. Lumi huffs.

“Both of you are the worst,” Lumi informs them, matter-of-factly. “The worst, and I hope Instructor G’raeche fails you so you have to sit through xyr lecture on the Ruusan Reformation again.”

“I’m sorry, Luminara,” Quinlan says, but he’s snickering through the apology despite himself.

“The. Absolute. Worst.” She empathizes each individual word, but there’s no anger in the Force around her, just waves of the light green of her eternal spring. Quinlan is moving to get up from his crouch in the grass when he sees a flash of something purple directly on his right. His hand is touching it before he even realizes--

The world spins, just like it always does when this happens, a nauseating swirl of colors that has him four and shaking in Master Tholme’s arms, the image of his parents burned behind his eyes, breathe, he has to breathe, I am one with the Force and the Force is with me, I am one with the Force and the Force is with me--

When the image stabilizes out again, he’s standing on an unfamiliar planet, the wind howling in his ears. There’s ice as far out as he can see, cliffs and caves of it, an image he dimly recognizes from the holoprojectors displaying worlds in Instructor Daagir’s classroom. Ilum.

Wow. He’s on Ilum.

In the distance, he can see two people exiting a cave-- other Jedi, probably-- and he heads towards them, the image bending with him, unusually life-like when compared to his usual pyschometric visions. The taller of the two looks to be humanoid, but they have their hood up, so he can’t make out any distinguishing features. The smaller one is Tholothian, her headdress and tendrils easy to distinguish, and when he gets closer, he can see that there’s a short padawan braid behind her ear.

“Don’t deliberately be obtuse, Master,” the Tholothian says, one hand twisted in the taller Jedi’s robe, the other in a fist that she holds close to her chest. “You know what I meant.”

“Young Padawan of mine, I can assure you that I would never deliberately be obtuse.” There’s humor in the Jedi’s voice, and Quinlan recognizes it, knows it from the recordings of that Jedi’s recent testimony. Padawan Kit had been in so much trouble when Master Windu figured out that he’d sliced it from the Archives. “You’re telling me that the Force wants you to include a lilac purple ribbon in your lightsaber design. Might I remind you that your lightsaber is your life?”

That’s Master Rael Averross’s voice. Master Averross.

And if that’s Master Averross, then the girl must be--

“Okay, now you’re just doing your Master Yan impression.” Nim Pianna protests, letting go of Master Averross robe, her eye roll practically audible. She opens her hand, and a blue kyber crystal rises from it to hover in the air. The glow the crystal emits is partially covered, as there’s a purple ribbon wrapped around it. It’s been tied into a delicate bow, and it flutters in the wind. “I'm just gonna wrap it around the hilt! You don’t need to channel him and be all--”

Nim Pianna pauses, and Nim Pianna crosses her arms, the crystal and ribbon still hovering in the air in front of her. Nim Pianna gives Master Averross a snooty look, tosses her tendrils back with a flick of her head and lowers her voice to say, “Padawan Pianna, the galaxy will end if you do not learn to cut a fish in the exact way they did on Serenno a thousand years ago. Knowing the history of a planet you’ll probably never visit is important, as is properly cutting fish--”

Quinlan’s yanked out of the vision abruptly, his stomach swirling uncomfortably as he’s brought back to the present, dumped back onto the grass of The Room of a Thousand Fountains. He comes back to his body in a rush.

He feels like he’s going to be sick.

“Quinlan?” Lumi asks, her voice low and worried. “Quinlan? Are you with us?”

Lumi is sitting on the ground next to him, her legs folded under her, worry rolling off her in waves. Obi-Wan is nowhere in sight. “Mm’fine,” Quinlan manages, pushing himself into a sitting position. Hands reach out to steady him, and he forces down the automatic embarrassment and insistence that he doesn’t need help, instead focuses on grounding himself in the present.

“Obi-Wan went to go get Master Tholme,” she says, and he nods in response, doesn’t look up to meet her eyes. “You were out of it for a lot longer than usual.”

She doesn’t say that she was worried. He feels it anyways. Lumi’s shields are always a mess when she’s distressed. She’s a lot like Obi in that way.

“Thanks,” he manages after a few seconds. He looks to the side, and sees the ribbon on the grass. His hand is still on it.

Quinlan picks the ribbon up, and wraps his fingers around it. There’s an idea starting to form in his mind. It might be a really bad idea, but just maybe...

*

It’s years later when he sees Master Averross again.

Quinlan is a Padawan when there’s an event in Pijal, some kind of celebration, and it’s large enough that coverage of it makes the news channels. Master Tholme and him are on Ringo Vinda at the time, crammed into a diner booth as they try to figure out which groups are most likely to make trouble at the upcoming trade negotiations the planet is hosting. He’s almost halfway through his iced cream when he looks up from the report he’s been scanning, and sees a familiar figure on a nearby viewscreen.

The viewscreen shows Master Averross standing outside, in front of what looks to be a palace. It’s windy in Pijal, and Master Averross’s hood is down this time, so the Jedi Master’s hair looks a lot like Master Tholme’s hair looks in the morning before he gets his hands on a hairbrush.

Master Averross’s hand is on the shoulder of a youngling that the newscaster announces to be Crown Princess Fanry, but after a particularly strong gust of wind hits, he visibly sighs and lets go of the princess’s shoulder to pat down his hair. The Crown Princess twists her head backwards, and she brings her hands up to her face to hide her giggles at his disgruntled expression-- but that’s not what catches Quinlan’s eyes.

What catches his eyes is the flash of color revealed by the movement of Master Averross’s robes, the flash of color he hasn’t seen since Master Windu had a mission to the Pijal system, and Quinlan had pulled him aside, pressed an envelope into his hands.  

There’s a lilac purple ribbon tied around the hilt of lightsaber at Master Averross’s hip, and the sight of it has Quinlan releasing a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

It happens in an instant, just a flicker of movement and the twist of light. Quinlan turns, his eyes following it, and in the crowd outside the diner window, he sees something like an apparition, a shimmer of blue in the shape of a girl. He breathes in, and there’s a whisper of thank you, he breathes out, and the image is gone, leaving behind nothing but a feeling of fleeting warmth.

On the viewscreen behind him, Nim’s ribbon flutters in the wind.

[rebelsofshield]

Star Wars: Queen’s Peril- Review

EK Johnston follows up her stellar young adult novel, Queen’s Shadow, with a prequel following the early days of Naboo’s most famous monarch. While fans of The Phantom Menace and Amidala will likely be pleased, Queen’s Peril disappoints with awkward structure and lack of focus.

(Review contains minor spoilers)

Padme Amidala has just been elected queen of Naboo. One of the youngest queens in years and the first in a generation to make galactic politics a major platform of her administration, Amidala looks to change Naboo for a more hopeful future. Captain of the Royal Guard Quarsh Panaka finds himself in new territory as he tries his best to shield this willful new queen from harm. Together, the two devise a support group of talented women that will function as both aides and bodyguards. These handmaidens become fast friends and invaluable assets to Padme as she navigates being a young woman and a head of state. However, when invasion makes its way to Naboo, this ragtag team is put to the limits to protect their queen and their planet.

For many, myself included, Queen’s Shadow was the shot in the arm that the character of Padme needed. After being such a standout in The Phantom Menace, Amidala had become mired in a nonstop parade of awkwardly executed romance, damsel in distress plots, and a death scene that has been rightfully criticized over the years for its melodrama and misogyny. E.K. Johnston’s young adult love letter to all things Padme reminded many of just what made this character, and her associates, special. Queen’s Shadow managed to make an emotionally complex and mature character study of Padme’s transition from planetary to galactic government in a way that felt politically prescient without sacrificing the fun and pathos. It transformed the various handmaidens, Sabe in particular, into compelling individuals in their own right. Even Padme’s iconic and intricate outfits were rendered with attention to detail and given their own on page beauty.

Johnston has a palpable affection for Padme and for The Phantom Menace and the decision to tell a prequel to her previous novel seemed like a natural idea for success. Just as the transition from girl queen to adult senator proved dramatically and thematically rich, surely the story of the turbulent start to Padme’s reign would prove just as interesting? I really wish that were the case. There are many things about Queen’s Peril that do work, but the end result proves surprisingly clunky and awkward.

As always, Johnston’s writing is sharpest when centering on the dynamics between the young women at its center. There’s a certain joy in seeing a group of friends form out of professional relationships. Discovering and building the emotional bonds between Padme, Sabe, and the rest is a highlight. While none of the handmaidens prove as dramatically rich as they did in Johnston’s prior novel, there’s a parade of iconic girlhood moments that give Queen’s Peril, at its strongest moments, a coming of age vibe of the best kind. The handmaidens help each other with periods and social awkwardness. Escape from the Naboo castle to dance at a local concert. And get in each other’s way as they test out the waters of early (and refreshingly queer) romance. It’s light and fun and offers a more down to earth and playful side to the Star Wars universe.

Outside of these individual moments of relationship dynamics, much of Queen’s Peril finds itself building towards and dealing with the climactic events of The Phantom Menace. Lore hounds are sure to enjoy the inner workings of the political crisis that lead to the Battle of Naboo, and Johnston gets to play with voice and style as different bit players get brief moments in the sun. The point of view rotates throughout the novel to characters such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jar Jar Binks, Typho, Darth Maul, and most surprisingly Darth Sidious himself. They don’t necessarily provide anything revolutionary in their understandings of the different characters, but there’s a novelty in seeing Johnston adapt her voice so fluidly to each vignette.

However, it’s this preoccupation with The Phantom Menace that ends up being Queen’s Peril’s downfall. For over half of the novel, Johnston spends her time putting the various pieces into place and ratcheting up a feeling of tension and even foreboding. It works as a constant reminder that all the preparation our young queen has gone through is going to be put to the test. However, once The Phantom Menace arrives, the carefully laid pacing deteriorates.

While Johnston makes, the likely correct, assumption that most readers will be familiar with the events of the film, her barebones approach to describing the overlap can’t help but feel rushed and disjointed. Large swaths of the movie are skimmed over or summarized. On one level, it makes sense to tell the story from the perspective of Padme and her handmaidens. They wouldn’t be privy to the inner workings of the Jedi Council or specifics of the larger conflict. However, instead of keeping us anchored in a continuous perspective, Queen’s Peril opts for an approach that skims over story elements that it deems inessential and drops in for moments hidden in the nooks and crannies of George Lucas’s original script. It’s not unlike watching a movie and fast forwarding only to the scenes you want. Even then, the selection of which scenes to skip and which scenes to show is bizarre. Key moments such as Padme’s call for no confidence in Chancellor Valorum or her first meeting with Anakin are more or less relegated to footnotes. It’s understandable that Johnston wouldn’t want to double back over moments that we have already seen, but this approach has the unintended consequence of obscuring what information is important to the reader and ends up severing much of the novel’s building tension. When key parts of character and plot are quite literally off the page, Queen’s Peril transforms from a good, if inessential prequel, to a clunky and awkward collage of deleted scenes.

The end result is something that’s more than a little disappointing. Queen’s Shadow was a mature and lovingly crafted delight that was one of my favorite Star Wars media from last year and arguably one of my favorite young adult novels in the canon. There’s even the potential for a good book in the structure of Queen’s Peril, but its inescapably messy final third clouds over what joys were present. For fansof the character or the early eras of the Prequel Trilogy Queen’s Peril is likely to please in small bursts, but regrettably, most readers can let this one pass.

Score: C+

[queencanaries]

That's the horrible thing about Internet fandom. Creators want to take the bullies for the whole thing. The same thing happened with the last Star Wars trilogy which why Finn got sidelined for Kylo Ren -- and that made nobody happy

That’s why there’s something special about shows that drop all of their episodes in one go, but even then they see reactions and can adjust for future seasons. I feel like creators need to just start seeing any discourse as just discourse and not weigh things up as something being more popular than another, and one thing being more anticipated than another. 

I feel like it’s super visible with ‘Arrow’ because for the first two seasons, it’s clear that Oliver and Laurel are the main love story -- even with that finale, which realistically has Oliver willingly allow Felicity to put her life on the line in order to save Laurel’s life because it’s the woman he truly does love -- but then after all the tweets and tumblr posts that’s being studied and the fan reaction to a certain ship, the third season starts out by retconning everything and having Oliver act like he’s been in love with Felicity this whole time and does everything it can to reconfigure that as the main love story. With that comes rushing the story for the original leading lady with a simultaneous sidelining (because the writers can’t figure out how she can help move the main character’s story forward anymore) and an eventual conflict between the two that seems to be the only natural place to pull the two characters into together -- that ultimately results in them killing the character off, but not before they have them bless the new love story in an effort to tell viewers that it’s okay to forget how everything started and the history of the show and to now embrace where things are going. I feel like everything that happened with LL should be studied in film/tv courses in regards to authors reshaping their work to satisfy a readers (collective or otherwise) interpretation of the art itself, and how it negatively affects the final “product.” It’s literally the same as having a unique vision/perspective, hearing someone else’s opinion on it, and then just changing it to suit theirs. 

Also talking about Star Wars for a second -- I’m so in that boat, too. I feel like ignoring Finn/Kylo for a second... I loved the character of Rose, and her introduction in The Last Jedi. For some reason, she received so much hate, and the result was a notable absence from the next (and last) film. I’ve always hated when shit like that happens. I understand there’s different people in that trilogy making the films, but when the previous story makes a character so important in another character’s world, it’s obvious when they’re suddenly absent from it in the next story. 

Anyway, onto Finn now -- I’m also pretty upset with how things ended up in the sequel trilogy. Personally, I was mostly interested in the new movies because of getting more Leia content and I was thoroughly happy with what we got on that end, so I’m not anti-sequel trilogy at all. I also feel like so much goes into these movies I’m of a mindset where I just accept it all as “canon” and allow it to exist the way it does, rather than factor in erased comic-canon or anything else that told a potentially better or more satisfying story. But Finn literally had one of the most fascinating premises with his stormtrooper background and they really did just kind of relegate him to being just another “rebel” character. I will say, though, I always felt The Force Awakens was setting up Kylo/Rey/Finn as the trio (in terms of Luke/Leia/Han and Obi/Padme/Anakin), and Poe wouldn’t be as big a character in the continuing trilogy, rather than Kylo just being the villain to a Finn/Rey/Poe trio where Finn is sidelined so much. 

Anyway, I’m so keen to talk Arrow or DC or Star Wars anytime. 

[strrne]

Give Me a Signal, Ch.8

Chapters: 8/?

Word count (so far): 21220

AO3  Ch.1 Ch.2  Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Ch.7

Summary: When Padmé Amidala is unable to contact Coruscant while negotiating a loan on Scipio, the Senate suspects trouble, and sends Anakin Skywalker to go check on her. Of course, the resourceful senator isn’t really in any trouble – don’t flatter yourself, Rush Clovis – but there’s definitely some brewing.

(or; rewrite of the tcw S6 Clovis arc; anidala + gen)

”A little bird tells me you're planning to do something 'ill-advised'. Would this be a Geonosis, or rather a Vanqor kind of ill-advised?”

Anakin did not much enjoy being forced to guess which one of his consecutive mess-ups Obi-Wan meant by 'Geonosis', and why he seemed to think that his apprentice had at least made slightly better decisions on their plentiful misadventures on Vanqor. Should he take this as a compliment? Well, he didn't have time, and that was not the point anyway.

”I'm going back to Scipio,” Anakin answered truthfully, whirling around on the ramp to the Twilight. ”Right now.”

Obi-Wan nodded. ”So… the Scipio kind.”

”Very clever, Master,” Anakin sighed. ”Are you not going to ask why? Try to stop me… do what you do best.”

”Oh, I find that what I do best is give you advice.”

Anakin nodded slowly, drumming his fingers against the box of supplies he was holding, then gesturing with his other arm towards the ship.

”Can't you tell me on the way? The more the merrier. We can be arrest buddies again.”

Of course, the two of them had been arrest buddies plenty of times, but somehow, in the Scipio-gate, Obi-Wan's brief arrest had become a mere footnote, while Anakin's extended one had ended up the talk of the town. Curiously, Anakin no longer blamed his Master for the incident – having recently been made to face how his own boiling anger often contributed to situations escalating.

”I'll respectfully decline your kind invitation.”

Anakin narrowed his eyes at him. Obi-Wan appeared to be in a strange mood – he sounded almost jovial – as though he was, for once, feeling optimistic about something. Anakin was almost sorry he could only give him a tired look, preparing to sit through whatever wisdom the older Jedi had to provide today – and risk being found out before he could set off. But he could do this much for Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan's features suddenly grew tenser.

”I sense so much anger in you. You know what Master Yoda says about that.”

”Fear… suffering… bad feelings. Bad things,” Anakin listed wearily, with somewhat loose vocabulary. He was suddenly starting to miss going to missions with Obi-Wan, and listen to his nagging about the immediate danger they were facing, instead of Anakin's character flaws. ”First thing he ever said to me.”

”And you remember what I usually tell you?”

”Harmony… control… I know the teachings, Master.”

”And you know what I'm telling you now?”

Anakin gave him a scowl, not greatly appreciating the structure of this conversation.

”What, Master?”

Obi-Wan pressed a thoughtful hand to his beard, casting Anakin a long gaze. There was something of a softness in his eyes.

”That perhaps… what you're feeling is not just anger.”

Anakin shifted. That was something new – and it seemed to strike something of a chord with him. His shoulders relaxed, and he inclined his head with cautious curiosity.

”Perhaps it is just what you said… a bad feeling.”

Anakin studied his master.

”Kinda like the one you had?”

”Yes…”

”And did that pass, Master?”

”Yes,” Obi-Wan said slowly. ”But only after it became reality.”

Anakin looked away. If Obi-Wan meant what he thought he meant, it wasn't something he had expected his Master to have sensed. The worst part was, Obi-Wan didn't know the details – Anakin didn't know the details. He must have only sensed his murderous rage, his darkness.

”The curious thing is,” Obi-Wan went on, ”I thought I felt something bigger – of greater consequence – than merely… whatever you did to that poor man.”

Anakin swallowed, as Obi-Wan mumbled something about Clovis still being alive, at least. Obi-Wan then hurried to clarify, as though it could help Anakin feel better, ”I only sensed your regret afterward. I was on my way to see you–” he momentarily stumbled upon his words. ”I know something happened. But I was not spying on you.”

But he had been on his way to see him on that day – apparently moments before Padmé had appeared and claimed first turn. Something of a bad feeling, indeed. Anakin tried to imagine how differently things would have played out if it had been Obi-Wan running into Clovis in the hangar and Obi-Wan staring at the busted control table.

”I'm getting sidetracked,” Obi-Wan said apologetically. ”What I'm saying is, I think this is something else. I can't seem to get a grasp on it… because, I think, it does not directly involve me. While you, the Chosen One,” he said the last words with an affectionate sneer, his tone strangely cheerful again, ”can feel the full impact of whatever will soon come to pass. But due to your… immaturity, you're mistaking it for anger at this person who has done very little to you.”

Anakin opened his mouth to speak, but Obi-Wan wouldn't let him.

”Yes, we all know he has caused plenty of trouble for your wife.”

For a second, Anakin started, before remembering he had risked everything in a throwaway joke not too long ago, and now Obi-Wan was at the very least in a position to give the two of them heart attacks for the rest of eternity. And again, he had no time for this.

Anakin rubbed his forehead, confused like never before.

”Let me get this straight. I am, once again, feeling too much for Jedi standards… but for once it's also good, because you think it's some kind of premonition?”

Obi-Wan paused. He seemed to be considering just how comfortably what he had said, and what Anakin was suggesting now, fit into the Jedi principles, and Master Yoda's views on premonitions and visions. Then he got on the ramp and walked over to Anakin, to place a gentle hand on his shoulder and look him in the eye.

”Search your feelings, Anakin. And if you can… do channel them into something good. Don't settle for just anger and fear. I know you're better than that.”

Anakin stared at him.

The Jedi Master then whirled around with one final look at his apprentice, and left without waiting for a response.

-

Padmé had often been accused of being a workaholic, but this time around she had thought she’d enjoy the bit of respite that her stepping down from the negotiations would bring. Instead she found herself quite uneasy after her call with Clovis, and not even 12 hours had passed before she contacted Bail again. The call barely got through, and she nearly had to press an ear to the speaker of her holo projector to be able to make out the familiar voice.

Bail spoke first, and with some rare, thinly veiled urgency.

“Padmé, I am so glad you called. I couldn’t get through to you from here. Padmé, something very odd is going on here. It has been two days, and we have yet to be presented with the new loan agreement. There is a very shady Separatist Representative staying at the–“

“What?” Padmé echoed. “The new Separatist contract is being negotiated at the same time?”

Bail nodded, almost drowning into the gray, rasping rain of interference.

“Yes... I was willing to let that – there is something – Representative Clovis does seem troubled – I wish I knew what it –“

With that, the signal was dead, and Padmé’s resurrection attempts proved futile.

Suddenly she felt guilty – she should have gone to Scipio. She would have gotten through to Clovis, whatever he was hiding. Hiding…

Padmé bit her lip. She had had enough of hiding. It was time for the truth to come out.

Teckla came in with some tea and imported Nabooian biscuits. Her expression indicated that she had overheard the conversation.

”My Lady…”

”I know, Teckla. Something very strange is going on.” The Senator gave her a trusting look. ”I know you're always up for another adventure, Teckla, but I'm sorry, I'm going to have to ask you to stay behind instead, and cancel all my appointments for the next few days. If it's urgent, please have Representative Binks cover for me.”

”Right away, My Lady.” She gave a bow and a warm smile. ”Good luck.”

-

”Anakin!” Padmé sprinted into the hangar, looking around for her husband’s freighter. She was surprised to find Anakin on his way to meet her. “Oh, I'm so glad you're still here,” she sighed, clasping both his hands in hers.

”I was about to take flight,” Anakin explained, “but then I sensed you… like really sensed you. Your urgency…”

”To come with you,” Padmé announced. “No, scratch that, to kidnap you.”

”Kidnap me?” Anakin echoed with sudden curiosity, smirking as though he had never heard of an idea more wonderful.

”Yeah, come on,” Padmé hurried, grabbing his wrist like a proper crook should, still panting. ”To my star skiff.”

”Wait, wait, wait –”

”I don't care what kind of lousy plan you've come up with. Mine is better. And frankly,” she gestured towards whatever barely functional scraps were left of the Twilight this week, ”so is my ship.”

”You'll… smuggle me to Scipio? Why? I thought you disapproved,” Anakin reminded her, following her outside and to her skyspeeder.

”I changed my mind,” she explained. ”I'll explain it when we reach hyperspace. And smuggling is the right word, yes.”

”What do you mean?”

”Well,” Padmé said, shoving him onto the speeder and grabbing the yoke, ”have I mentioned there is an anti-thermal-scanner compartment in the back of my ship?”

”What?” Anakin uttered. ”Why haven't you?”

”Now that I think of it, you specifically told me never to introduce you to any more of my ship's special features… after – ” She turned towards him momentarily, flushing and chuckling, ”ahem, do you remem–”

”Oh, that.” He gave a laughter, his nose scrunching up with either disgust or delight. ”No, that's not what I said.”

-

In hyperspace, Anakin listened to Padmé’s recount of the situation, her concerns, Bail’s messages and Clovis’ odd behavior - without interrupting, still a little incredulous that he was actually taking this risky and nonsensical trip with Obi-Wan’s blessing and his wife for company. But once she’d finished, he found himself only vaguely worried about the bigger picture - there was only so much room in his brain for politics and finances - and left with that one name he so despised.

“So… you’ll probably cross paths with Clovis again.”

Padmé did not look happy with his response.

“Anakin, it is my intention to ‘cross paths’ with Clovis – and demand answers."

Anakin gave a vague nod.

“And I need your help,” she then added, to Anakin’s surprise. Padmé momentarily took her eyes off the display screen and focused on her words. “Something for your own little excursion. Look, I don’t know much about these things, but since you are breaking into their holo tower… would you maybe be able to… spy on any covert networks?”

Anakin gave a nod again, an enthusiastic one. If there were any covert networks to be found, he had doubt in his ability to hack into them.

“Again, I thought you disapproved.”

Padmé shook her head.  

“I’ve been a major hypocrite, Anakin. You said it yourself. I do this all the time – unauthorized missions, breaking less than useful laws in the name of justice. And since it doesn’t look like there is going to be any new contract for you to ruin–“

“Hey!”

They gave a hearty laughter in unison, and Padmé playfully struck him on the arm, rather more forcefully than needed.

A long silence followed, and the air between them tightened again. But Anakin knew it was mostly the Force radiating off him and his darkened thoughts. Darkened – but no longer dark.

”Padmé,” Anakin said in a quiet voice, ”You know what I was going to ask of you?”

”What, Anakin?”

He shifted in his seat.

”To…” He looked away. “If I… If I'm ever about to snap again, and you happen to be there, to… give me a signal. To make me stop.”

Padmé was silent. Engine sounds filled the cockpit.

“But now I understand…” he drew a deep breath, feeling like he had already forgotten whatever Obi-Wan had said to him this morning. “I can’t ask that of you. You might not be there. And a Jedi is supposed to be able to control his emotions."

Keeping her eyes on the screen, but gently stealing a glance at her husband, Padmé softly laid her hand on his shoulder, gliding it along the side of his arm.

”Let me teach you an alternative to that Jedi philosophy of 'controlling your emotions'. You see, the emotions are always going to be there. But you can control your impulses. Your actions are never an inevitability."

She smiled at him.

"Too lecture-y?"

"It's a nice change of pace from Obi-Wan."

-

This time, it was Anakin's turn to that fall asleep on the journey. Padmé was reminded of Obi-Wan’s extended nap on their first fateful adventure on the banking planet. Before she had married Anakin, she had actually been under the impression that the Jedi did not sleep. Even now - it was a strange thing to witness. Chest moving up and down on his seat, Anakin looked almost too tranquil and innocent to be a General of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Nearing the end of the hyperspace journey, Padmé’s holo projector activated. Bail appeared as a bare wavering outline to inform her that the signal was currently so unstable, he’d have to keep this brief. He had just notified the Supreme Chancellor that the new loan agreement was a complete disaster – with increased interest rates for the Republic, as well as completely unreasonable terms and conditions. Meanwhile, the Separatists were to be given a contract with decreased loan interest, and complete forgiveness for their past transgressions, and – something that Padmé could no longer make out, as the connection shut down with a scratch.

Padmé took her hand off the yoke and plunged it into the ornate composition on her head, scratching at her scalp. This was worth ruining a perfect hairstyle for.

What in the world was Rush Clovis doing?

[atamascolily]

So, in lieu of anything finished, here's another excerpt from my JAT fix-it fic. In which Kyp throws a temper tantrum because Cilghal gets to advance before he does, and Luke handles it in his usual way, i.e., with an Infuriatingly Calm Discussion of Wholesome Principles.

"Master Skywalker, I AM ready!" Kyp shouted, giving up all pretext of controlling his emotions. He recovered quickly, smoothing his expression back to neutral, but it was too late; Luke had already seen the anger through him, and the intensity of the emotion, coupled with the sheer amount of power Kyp was generating, was worrisome.

He sent up a silent prayer of forgiveness to Yoda for his master's patience during his own training on Dagobah almost two decades ago. It felt like several lifetimes ago. Yoda, was I ever this bad?

No, I was probably worse, he decided after a moment or two of reflection. Compared to Kyp's concerns, most of Luke's grievances seemed petty in retrospect.

"Your technique is improving," he said aloud. "But there's more to being a Jedi than technique. You're moving so quickly, Kyp, and I know this isn't what you want to hear, but going too fast won't help you in this. It simply can't be rushed."

And here he was about to quote Yoda's favorite aphorism, the same one that had frustrated him to no end during his own training. Oh, this was going to hurt. I hope you're watching this, Yoda. Consider this long overdue penance for all the hell I gave you. "A Jedi feels the Force best when calm. At peace. Still. Open to the Force, rather than trying to control it."

"But--" Kyp protested.

Luke held up a hand, cutting him off. "No, Kyp. Not right now. We can talk more when you've let go of your anger, but right now you are so agitated--"

Kyp's mouth twisted in an ugly sneer that Luke didn't like. "This is all her doing, isn't it? She turned you against me. That bitch doesn't even feel the Force, yet she thinks she knows everything about me--"

"Kyp, I understand you're upset, but insulting Tor will not support your case," Luke said.  "Her teaching style may not agree with you, but she has studied the Force for longer than you've been alive, and whatever she says is worth considering."

Now to drive the point home even further. "And even if it wasn't, you should still treat her with respect. Your ability to manipulate the Force doesn't make you inherently better than anybody else--it merely amplifies the qualities you already possess, for better or worse. The Jedi Knights were guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, not its masters--"

"Well, perhaps they should have been," Kyp said.

There was no way he was going to give Kyp the satisfaction of a reaction. Not to that thermal detonator of a declaration. He said nothing, calmly meeting Kyp's gaze until Kyp looked away first.

"We had that," Luke said, after a sufficiently long pause. "It was called the Empire, and it destroyed my family and yours, too. Do you really want to go back to that? The strong ruling the weak, and damn compassion and joy?"

"No," Kyp said faintly. For the first time, Luke thought he might be listening, rather than mindlessly reacting to whatever Luke was saying. "No, I don't."

Luke patted his shoulder. "I know it's hard, Kyp, but each of us has our own path, our own journey. It does no good to compare yourself to others. It doesn't help you improve, and everyone struggles in their own ways, even if it's not visible on the surface.

"But I will say this. Here on Yavin, character matters more than skill. Kindness may not be as dramatic or flashy as lifting rocks, but it is far more powerful in its own way."

The embers flared up in Kyp's eyes. "That's bullshit," he said.

"Han was kind to you, wasn't he?" Luke asked. "If it weren't for him and Chewie, you'd still be back in the spice mines, harvesting glitterstim."

"Self-interest. He needed my skills if he wanted to save his own skin."

Luke sighed. "That's not fair to Han, and you know it. Why are you being so harsh with everyone, Kyp? I can't feel good to live that way. There's something you're avoiding, deep down inside, and you won't feel right until you face it. No one can do it for you."

"I don't need your pity."

"This isn't pity, Kyp." Kyp had been a slave for so long, trapped in a dark world where any show of kindness could be taken for weakness. He'd been forced to toughen up, to hide his emotions, to do what he had to do to survive.

And he had. The problem was that the skills he'd learned as a slave wouldn't help him as a free man, or as a Jedi. He had to let go of them - and right now, he was resisting all of Luke's efforts to show him the way.

If Anakin Skywalker had been a slave before Obi-wan had found him, perhaps that would explain why he had chosen the path of anger. But it was not a road Luke wanted for Kyp.

"How will I know when I'm ready?" Kyp asked.

The million-credit question. How many times had Luke asked Yoda this on Dagobah? And always the same answer - You will be ready when you know who you are.

"When you acknowledge and accept your anger, your fear, when you stop letting them drive your actions, you will feel calm, at peace. When you let go of your fixed ideas about what the Jedi are, or what your path will look like. Trust me, Kyp, I know how much this means to you. I'm not doing this to torment you. It may feel arbitrary, but it's not. Whether you realize it or not right now, it's the most important part of being a Jedi."

Kyp nodded, the violet amulet around his neck glinting in the light. "Yes, Master Skywalker," he said, though his tone of voice suggested he was far from convinced by Luke's lecture.

Fine. Let him stew over it for a few days, and think it over. Despite his stubborn insistence to the contrary, Kyp was a good person; he'd figure out where he'd gone wrong and learn from the experience. He just wasn't used to being bested at something, and his ego would need a few days to recover from the bruising Cilghal's promotion had given him. No doubt he'd adjust with time.

Still, given how agitated Kyp had been, it was worth keeping an eye on him for now.

[grumpyhedgehogs]

something old, something new

Summary:  Cody meets Luke. It stirs up mixed emotions. Cody also gets a mission; it's not any more straightforward. AO3. Part 4 of the “scraps” series. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 5.

Warnings: Grief/mourning, anger, canonical character death.

Cody meets Obi-Wan’s last padawan on a rebel base after he’s just signed up for a covert mission onto the Death Star.

His limbs shake. His spine tingles; heat and chills flash alternately over his skin. Cody feels sick bubble up his throat but swallows it as best he can. His vision is blurry around the edges. He can’t quite believe what he’s agreed to. He’s been running from the Empire for months, picking off Imps at a distance for months, avoiding the void in space that is the Death Star for months. But the rebel commanders are right; Cody is the best person to go back in. He’s the best undercover operative they have on hand. He’s already familiar with trooper regs, and he’s used to filling out the armor. His face, while recognizable as Jango Fett’s copy, is not uncommon among Imps. Cody is the best choice. It still turns his stomach.

He wonders if this is how Obi-Wan felt before the Hardeen incident. General Windu had told Ponds offhandedly that Kenobi had asked to veto the mission but was overruled by the need to save Chancellor Palpatine, and Ponds had let Cody know too. Cody wishes they’d just let him die.

He’ll have to leave behind his armor. His own logo has spread, first to Rex's chest piece, then Ahsoka had carved it into her vambraces, then any clone the rebels rescued seem to have the lightsaber and 212th insignias overlapping on their armor somewhere. It makes it a little easier to strip off his own armor, knowing the symbol will still be upheld when Cody isn’t wearing it. It still feels like a betrayal.

“I’m sorry,” Cody whispers to any Jedi spirits who might still be listening. “I’m sorry. I keep failing you.”

“Who are you talking to?”

Cody doesn’t jump, but his hand is on his blaster when he turns. A man not much older than boyhood stands at the entrance to Cody’s bunk; it’s not odd to see strangers on the base, everyone moves in and out as needed, but most people don’t stop to chat. Especially not with Cody. He thinks they might not be used to seeing someone so old fighting with them.

“You ever knock?”

The kid’s face, round and tanned and youthful, falls a little. “There’s no door,” he mutters, petulant. Cody is reminded absurdly of General Skywalker at the beginning of the wars. He shakes it off.

“What’d you need?” He has to get to packing. Cody bends down and picks up the repurposed trooper armor he’d been given for the assignment. The stark, empty whiteness mocks him. He longs for his own armor; his own trooper stuff or his 212th outfit, it doesn’t matter. At least they’re his . This costume he must don belongs to a dead man.

“I just heard you talking and wanted to know if you needed to talk to someone.”

“You go looking for conversations with strangers often, kid?”

The kid shakes his head, blond hair flopping in his face as he does. There’s a strange, familiar little smile on his face as he says, “Sometimes I just get these feelings about things.”

The smile is what does it, it's so like Obi-Wan's. It hits Cody like a blaster bolt between the eyes. He wobbles on his feet and the kid takes a surprised step forward, ready to assist, but Cody holds up his hand and regains his balance. He still feels shaky, and he ends up lowering himself onto his bunk. It’s reminiscent of all those months ago when he made the decision to desert; reflexively, he reaches over and tugs the robe from where he’d folded it after removing it from his armor. Cody pulls it into his lap and tries not to look directly at the young man. “You--Kenobi saved you from the Death Star. You and the Alderaanian princess.”

“Wh--yes,” the kid says. “How did you know that?”

“I was there.”

Blue eyes dart to his discarded armor, to his weathered face, to the new stormtrooper armor he’ll have to wear. He can see the gears turning before the kid blurts out, “You deserted?”

That's one way to look at the chip deactivating. Cody nods. The blond grins widely. “That’s great! Gosh, I knew not all of the Empire could be evil.”

“Enough of it is.”

He seems to shrug this off as he steps further into the room. He sticks his hand out to Cody. “I’m glad to meet you. My name’s Luke Skywalker.”

It takes everything in Cody not to crush his hand in surprise. He lets go hastily. “Where’d you get a name like that?”

“Tatooine. I’m named after my father, but I never met him. If you--you knew Kenobi?” Cody nods, numb. “He was from Tatooine too. He trained me in the ways of the Jedi before we got to the Death Star.”

No he’s not , Cody wants to say. He’s from Coruscant. He’s Stewjoni but he doesn’t remember any of that place and he grew up in the Temple on Coruscant. His padawan was Anakin Skywalker. Who are you?

But it’s all clicking in his head the minute he thinks of these questions. Skywalker, the former slave. He used to avoid sand like the plague. He never talked about his home planet. Amidala had been pregnant. Obi-Wan disappeared, presumed dead by most of the Empire, for years.

What was the one place Skywalker would never return to on pain of death?

“Clever,” Cody mutters. He waves off Luke’s confused expression. Cody focuses, evaluating, and Luke shifts on his feet, ducks his head. He’s wearing the orange flight suit of the rebel pilots, but he’s too skinny and it’s baggy on him. He certainly doesn’t look like he’s going to follow in his father’s footsteps to the Dark side. “I knew Obi-Wan in the wars, before the Empire. He was my general and I was his commander.”

“Really? That's so wizard! Can you tell me more about him?” Luke asks eagerly. His intensity is a little overwhelming. Cody picks up the new armor and starts strapping it to his legs over his blacks. He can’t stand to put on the new chest piece before he has to.

“I’ve got a mission.” He cuts Luke off shortly. His head pounds, his heart pounds. Obi-Wan would say he’s being rude. He is being rude. “Sorry.”

“Oh. Okay. That’s okay.” Cody doesn’t look up. Luke sounds like the shinies used to, all nervous and fearful of rejection. The sound clamps tight around his lungs. “It’s just that he knew my father but he didn't talk a lot about him. I was hoping…”

Cody looks up then, and rage blazes through him. He remembers Vader’s saber slicing through someone beloved, he remembers the black cloud of misery and death sweeping away, he remembers those loathed hands curling around the hilt of a trusted weapon. He looks up and Cody is ready to scream, to fight, to sink his teeth in and hold on.

He meets guileless blue eyes and a slight, kind smile. It’s a smile he’s used to seeing on a dead face. Cody’s mouth shuts with a click.

(This child doesn’t know his father. This child barely knew Obi-Wan. Cody trusts Obi-Wan still, at least enough not to break this child’s trusting idealism. There’s a reason for everything Obi-Wan did.)

“I didn’t know Skywalker personally.” He mutters, looking away. When he catches Luke sagging out of the corner of his eye, guilt gnaws at Cody. He amends, “I only met him during missions. He was a good fighter. Obi-Wan cared a lot about him. They were--people called them The Team, they were so good together.”

“Wow,” Luke breathes. There’s a ruckus outside, a group of fellow pilots and soldiers rushing past, but he doesn’t waver from his study of Cody’s tight expression. “Thank you.”

“Obi-Wan raised you, then?” Any topic is better than Skywalker. He wishes Rex were here, but he and Ahsoka have to deal with some mess the rebels had made for them on the other side of the universe.

“Oh, no,” Luke laughs. He scrubs a hand across the back of his neck and Cody’s heart twists. “No, but he was around the whole time. I think maybe he was watching out for me, in memory of my father, you know.”

“Sounds like something Obi-Wan would do.”

A taller man in a vest swings into the open doorway and crosses his arms over his chest when he sees Luke. Squinting, Cody thinks maybe he remembers this man from the Death Star too. Small galaxy. “Luke. It’s time to go.”

“Sure thing, Han!” Luke waits until Han has left with a grumble before turning around and holding his hand out to Cody again. Cody rises and shakes it; his skin doesn’t burst into flames from touching a Skywalker a second time. “Thank you for your time. If you--if you ever want to talk some more about Obi-Wan…?”

“You know where to find me.” Cody offers and hopes the words don’t sound too wooden. Then, moving as if he is deep underwater, he pauses and turns back to his bunk. The edges of the robe are even more frayed now, and there's one corner with a hole in it. Cody begins to lift the scrap of cloth up, because he loves Obi-Wan, he does, and he knows without a shadow of a doubt that Obi-Wan would want a Skywalker taken care of. His whole being rejects the notion, grief and heartache and longing screaming at him to stop, yet Cody offers it anyway, words dry on his tongue. But Luke's eyes are wide, and he shakes his head mutely. Relief floods through him. When Cody drops the cloth back to the cot, Luke carries on like nothing has happened.

“You’re going undercover on the Death Star, right? That’s you?”

Cody nudges the new trooper bucket near his foot and grunts. “Scarif helped us get schematics of the place, but the command wants to make sure we’re not leaving anybody--or anything useful--behind. So they’re sending me in to make sure, minimize collateral damage.”

“That sounds like a dangerous job.”

“I’m used to it.”

Luke pauses for a long moment. He doesn’t look directly at Cody, his eyes far away. Suddenly the kid turns back, continence even brighter than it's been for the entire conversation. “Keep your own armor on,” he advises. Then, with a sly glace to the cloth bundle on Cody's cot, he adds, “And the poncho. I think it might help you soon. It certainly couldn't hurt, right?”

Cody nods, a little uncertain. Luke smiles again and wanders out. Pensive, Cody turns back to his bunk and spreads his fingers over the fabric of Obi-Wan’s robe, trails them over the insignia on his armor. “Another Skywalker, huh? You sure know how to pick ‘em, Obi-Wan.”