#live action sabine is everything

[crosshairslongasslegs]

I’M SO EMOTIONAL OVER THIS

[itsthegirlinthebowtie]

fulcrum….sabine finally wearing her armor…!!! ahsoka flexing and using only one lightsaber against the inquisitor because she only needs one to absolutely destroy them…very snips of her…. “funny, he never mentioned you”!!! carson teva my boy…the way sabine caved because she loves Ezra and couldn’t bring herself to risk losing the opportunity to get him back…fucking ANAKIN AND AHSOKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT FUCKING HAPPENED FUCK I’M NOT OKAY. HER FACE WHEN SHE HEARD HIS VOICE NOBODy TALK TO ME

[tending-the-hearth]

zeb being the first ghost crew member in live action the zeb stans are winning today

[plowolffe]

.

[illuminatedquill]

YO.

I’m watching Sabine’s Mandalore arc in Rebels season 3 and there’s some CRAZY foreshadowing here for her in Ahsoka.

I’m at the scene where Ursa betrays Sabine and hands over Kanan, Ezra, and the Darksaber to Gar Saxon on the promise that he not harm her daughter.

And Gar Saxon - voiced by RAY STEVENSON who played Baylon Skoll in Ahsoka - drops this line to Sabine.

“Your mother betrayed everything you believe in to save you.”

Maybe foreshadowing isn’t quite the right word (since Filoni hadn’t even written Ahsoka yet) here, but what Ursa did basically being the template for Sabine’s actions to save Ezra ten plus years later is BONKERS.

Sabine’s actions echo her mother’s in such an uncanny way. It has to be a coincidence since this was written way before Ahsoka but, damn, what a striking parallel.

Ursa practically handed Mandalore and two of the last living Jedi over to the Empire’s rule. And Sabine gave Thrawn the key to his return and the potential resurgence of the Empire.

They both made the same choice: exchanging innocent lives for a loved one’s safety (albeit Sabine’s choice was on a galactic scale).

You could literally use that same line Gar Saxon delivers with one minor change - this time to a devastated Ezra.

“Sabine betrayed everything you believe in to save you.”

Like mother, like daughter.

I’m losing my marbles over this. It’s like poetry, it rhymes.

[cosmichoneibeee]

Hey, since requests are open, may I ask for hcs or something for Viper x female reader working together in the lab? Kind of strangers to a mutual secret crush? Thank you~ <3

Being Viper's laboratory colleague and secret crush

Words count: +/- 4.8k

A/N: Hi anon, maybe I got a little carried away on this topic. I love Viper so much and everything that involves her, I always end up losing a little bit of the notion of how much has already been done when I write to her. Also, ladies, take your eyes off her, she's my wife

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•٠

It wasn't meant to be like this, it wasn’t meant to happen

Viper doesn't usually hire new scientists to work with her, but she made an exception after seeing your resume

For you, just having the opportunity to work for Sabine Callas is like winning the jackpot

And for her, it's great to see at least one person as interested in what she does as you are - unlike other people she has to deal with on a daily basis, as she says

She started to really realize you existed when she realized how much you looked like herself when she was younger: eager and euphoric to make the world different

But that doesn't mean she'll go easy on you.

From day 1 you knew how strict she was with the work you were supposed to do, perfect wouldn't be near enough

You'd expect her to be short and to the point, but she seemed to nag you a little too much.

Expects you to work overtime virtually every day

You didn't like her from the beginning, despite her being an extremely beautiful and intelligent woman

It's not hard to imagine that you almost regretted applying for this job after all the demands and care you had to take just to make a report and then having to hear how bad it was from Sabine herself every single time

She really made your life hell

Until the day where just you and her stayed late

After being told to redo all the work you have made for almost a month, you broke down and exploded, asking why she was so mean

She watched you in silence as you babbled angrily, with that look of superiority, of always being ready to end your life in a few words

But she didn't do that, she just sighed

"I just don't want you to become like me." "And your work was…reasonable."

Were the only things she said that night, aside from her usual commands

After that day, you noticed that she had become less strict with you and that was an incredible relief, knowing that your job wasn't so bad after all

She liked the change, you were much more productive that way and you smiled more

God only knows how much she enjoyed seeing a less stressed, always on the edge, side of yours

And suddenly, she found herself counting the minutes for you to get to the lab, to walk in radiant, like the first brightest ray of morning sunlight, to ask how a reaction worked or to ask for help with something, that she “unfortunately” had to be almost glued to you to show how it was done

You've been her protégé, since your first day, you just didn't realize it yet

Of course, she would like to see you a better version than the day before, but she always overlooked the little mistakes you made in your reports and she will continue to.

And no one will dare say anything about you, ever, because Sabine has ears everywhere and she doesn't mind having a live subject to try her toxins

She may have fallen in love first, but you'll fall in love harder

Prince Sabine

Such a gentleman and elegant

Already keep in mind that she will never say outright that she likes you, but she will let her actions speak for you to realize someday

Blanket over your shoulders when you stay late to research and end up sleeping in your own notes

And if she finds out that you drink coffee, every morning your favorite cup will already be full

Sabine has a lot of money, it is natural for her to drink good quality (and very expensive) coffee, you will start drinking too because you deserve it.

She gets extra gentle after disappearing for a few days to do her “personal project” stuff

She likes to watch you, almost admiring from afar, but you'll never catch her looking, she hides it very well

You on the other hand is always caught staring at her, it’s like she has a sixth sense and always knows when you’re looking

She gets sooo confident after these moments

You'll just see a discreet smirk and her going back to work as if nothing had happened, but inside? She is holding back from shaking her hands in euphoria and blushing like a teen.

The only time you can pick up tidbits of information about her personal life is during your overtime, when only the two of you are working.

She won’t say much, but hey, any information is information

And she gets more...touchy in those moments when you two are alone - as touchy as Viper can be

She snakes a hand up your back, soft and slow, looking for any reaction of disgust or fear from you.

She notices the way you look at her when you two are working, she's not stupid

But she can't believe that life would be so kind as to give her someone as perfect as you.

Not after all she have done

She makes baby steps in your “relationship”

Part of her hopes you'll get tired of waiting and go find someone else

Part of her expects you to stick with her and keep coming after her, because she will come after you...someday.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•٠

@ Do not copy any of my works, translate and/or post it on others websites.

[darkside-skyguy]

Ahsoka Part 5 thoughts (spoilers)

For me, this finally felt like an episode of Ahsoka, rather than a Rebels sequel series. I love Rebels but if you're going to call this the Ahsoka show then you damn well better center the title character!!! Anyway, this episode was all about her and her trauma and we needed this deep exploration in order for the character to grow. She could not have continued on this journey without confronting Anakin. I only wish there was more of this exploration!!!

On that note, I'm glad Hera isn't going with Ahsoka to find Ezra and Sabine. As much as I love Hera, this is Ahsoka's journey and the show is stronger for focusing on her rather than splitting its focus between all these different characters.

HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN IN CLONE WARS ARMOR

I've always been a Hayden Christensen fan but good god Hayden Christensen was amazing in this episode. Just so so SO good. It was so exciting to see him embody the Anakin of TCW that I literally sat up in my seat and screamed every time he was on screen. Really, it was magical to watch <3

The shot of Anakin transforming into Vader and back again in the fog was EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!

Sith eyes sith eyes sith eyes sith eyes

I loved the flashbacks and I loved little Ahsoka. Seeing these scenes in live action really emphasized just how young Ahsoka was when the Clone Wars began in a way that animation never really did. It was so cool to see this side of Anakin in his role as mentor at the very beginning of Ahsoka's training. I want 50 more episodes of scenes like this, please.

REX MY BELOVED

"You are more because I am more" I am WEEPING

The only thing I was a little disappointed about was the World Between Worlds. We didn't actually see any portals or how the WBW works. The fight between Ahsoka and Anakin could have taken place anywhere and I'm still not quite clear on why they were in the WBW. Was Anakin a Force ghost? A memory? Is he like the Son now, but instead of Mortis he lives in the WBW? I would like more information, but I don't think we're going to get more and that saddens me.

Very excited to see where the purgill take them. I love that they are leaving the galaxy far far away for the first time (outside of the EU, anyway)

Can't wait for next week :) :)

[jasmine-the-fox]

Saved by technology

azv2448 sent me a very... interesting request... let us all see how it goes yes?

Here we go!

Markov has been suspicious towards Lila Rossi since her first day. While her stories interested the class… Markov noticed she would never show pictures or videos or anything to confirm her stories at all.

Because of this Markov did the one thing no one who believed Lila’s stories ever did… research her online, he found nothing, in fact he only found Alya’s blog as a result on Lila in the end… which told him she was a liar in the end. He tried to inform Max of his research but his best friend and creator ignores him… and then Markov uncovers something horrible and cruel.

After a while, the little robot discovers that not only is the class bullying Marinette while accusing her of doing horrible things to Lila that were simply not true, but Adrien was also harassing her to force her to date him.

Markov knew that what they were all doing was wrong… but it was clear that they were all too blinded to care about it so he took it upon himself to record all of there actions… who harms her physically, mentally, who steals her things, who destroys her things and each time Marinette rejected Adrien and told him she already has a boyfriend… which angered Markov greatly.

For a whole week he records everything… once he believed he had enough… Markov decided to go one last time to Max “Max? Please listen to me… Lila Rossi has done nothing but lie 100% of the time she speaks to you! If you continue down this path you will be no better then Hawkmoth!” he pleaded… but Max instead shut him down “Lila was right. Markov was a failure, I’ll to redo the entire work for the next one so this doesn’t happen again” he says as he throws Markov out the window of his room.

He didn’t care that Tim Drake was walking by when Markov hit him on the head before he caught him “Huh? Isn’t this a little like the little robot Nettie spoke about?” he mumbled to himself before heading to Marinette’s place. When he arrived Mari wasn’t there… instead it was her parent’s and the Kent’s who greeted him before together they got Markov to turn on once more.

“Where am I? Wait… is the Marinette Dupain-Cheng’s parents’ bakery?” he asked making Sabine confirm it… Markov quickly began to tell them everything he knew… Damian and Jason sadly came over at that moment… and had to quickly be restrained from going out to “talk��� to the class and Adrien.

Bruce who was there contacted his lawyers while Clark and Louise began talking with Markov to get the footage he collected for an entire week, it was then that Chloe ran into the bakery in a panic “Quick! It’s Mari!” she cried out just as Kagami and Luka brought in Marinette who was injured “What happened!?” Jon asked as they brought her up to the couch to be examined and treated.

“It was Adrien. He ran over to us as we were on our way back and asked to speak to Marinette alone. We moved a little away and heard him trying to pressure her into dating him, she rejected him of course… and then Adrien attacked her. We rushed over to help her and then rushed here” Kagami explained as they discovered that Mari’s injuries weren’t severe.

Tim began to work to look at the data in Markov for the footage and added his own work “I updated your coding with my own… it should protect you from anyone who might try to hack you to wipe everything” he explained making Markov thank him.

It takes a while, but Mari wakes up to Markov apologizing to her for not getting Max to see the truth about Lila, of course Mari forgives him and offers him to live in her home “It’s not perfect but I hope it’s alright” she explained and the robot agreed to the offer. Within a few days, Markov has greatly improved Mari’s life… she wakes up early, is able to schedule different commissions she needs to work on, is able to quickly what she’s running out of and many more things including helping her parents at the bakery.

Soon, Louise and Clark go public with the fact that Lila Rossi is a liar, Adrein harassing Marinette and the footage of everything the class has done to her. Chloe helped by getting the police involved to investigate the entire thing while Bruce makes sure his lawyers help where they can… of course though… there is chaos… in which case Lila once more becomes Volpina who claimed all of this was a lie.

“I have proof!” she claimed as Ladybug, Queen Bee, Ryuko, Viperion, Superman, Superboy and the entire Batfam appeared before her “You mean you have an illusion ready to lie your way out?” Red Hood said as Nightwing knocked her out and released her akuma so Ladybug could purify it… of course Cat Noir wasn’t there… it wasn’t that hard for him to be hit with venom so his ring could be taken… revealing him as Adrien.

Hawkmoth reveals himself to akumatized her but the gang surrounds him and takes him down… revealing him to be Gabriel Agreste. He is quickly arrested for his crimes against Paris, Damocles, Caline and the class get sued for there actions towards Marinette. Due to there beliefs towards Lila, none of them think they did anything wrong to her at all, the lawsuits ruined all of them of course.

Chloe, Kagami, Luka and Marinette all moved to the states where they would be safe and away from the bad guys, they became so famous and popular that news spread all the way to Paris about them. The class of course regretted their actions… but Alya was worse, she tried calling Mari in the hopes she would be forgiven and helped but quickly received a cease-and-desist letter to never contact Mari again which broke her heart as she like the class wondered how their lives would have been had they not bullied her.

The last thing they heard… were Mari to Damien, Chloe to Jon and Kagami to Luka’s weddings. It was the top of the talk and the one thing people kept talking about. Of course the class often heard about it and deeply regretted there actions even more… each of them picturing what they would have been doing for Marinette’s big day had they not bullied her… Alya imagined the post she would have made for her blog (without Mari’s permission like always) Adrien imagined himself marrying Marinette, some imagined the party they have had for her while others imagined helping her pick her dress or what she would have made them to wear for her big day.

Meanwhile… Lila was seething with rage; it wasn’t fair that her life was ruined while Marinette soared into fame! It should be her marrying a rich and famous person, she should be the one having an amazing wedding… but instead Marinette was happy and enjoying her happy ending while Lila suffered for her crimes.

Good thing Max threw Markov out though! It was all thanks to him that Marinette got justice and is now happy!

[kanansdume]

Look, I love Kanan Jarrus, I literally named this blog after him. I loved his relationship with Ezra and I AM glad that there was significant mention of Kanan from Ezra.

But.

I hate that Ezra's new lightsaber ended up just... a copy of Kanan's, both in its emitter and its color.

It's lazy. And it's so insulting to just... let Ezra make himself a new one and he just COPIES Kanan's rather than being able to make a saber that was uniquely his and spoke to the person he has become after everything he's been through, from losing Kanan to having to sacrifice himself to surviving Thrawn to spending so long on his own.

Ezra could have had a purple lightsaber, the first live action Jedi since Mace Windu to be given one, which allows him to stand out against Sabine and emphasizes that connection to his lineage through Kanan without being an exact copy of someone else's.

Or Ezra could've had white. This could've been an interesting and meaningful way of actually explaining the white sabers in mainstream Star Wars. Most casual viewers are going to have NO IDEA that the white sabers are "healed" crystals from red sabers. That lore is lost on people who aren't deep in this fandom. Ahsoka just wanders around with white sabers because... it's unique and it makes her look cool. No one's stopped in any of the shows she's been in so far to explain what they are or why she has them. (Yes, I know it came from the book but again, not EVERYONE has read the damn book and if they're going to use that particular piece of worldbuilding in the shows, I feel like they could go to the effort of explaining it on the shows, too.)

Ezra could've found a crystal somewhere on Peridea that had been corrupted by the dark forces of the Nightsisters that permeate the planet (which would also add to the lore of the planet just a little and actually connect it to the Nightsisters better given that it's apparently THEIR homeworld). Maybe he could feel just how broken it was and he could see that it was either red or a really sickly witchy green color and even though the darkness in it repulsed him, the crystal also called to him, so he took it and has been fiddling around with it ever since, for years. Over time, it started to lose its sickly red or green color and became a pure white, but he'd never been able to acquire the right parts to actually make a new saber, so he'd just been carrying around the crystal for a while.

Or Ezra could've used some cool Force powers to yoink away Shin's saber from her during the fight with the bandits and when either Sabine or Ahsoka suggests he keep it since he refuses to take his old one back from Sabine, he says that it just feels... wrong. Something about it feels dark and full of pain and anger. And Ahsoka can explain how she was able to heal the crystals in her own saber so that Ezra is able to do something similar.

Literally anything OTHER than just giving Ezra Kanan's saber recreated would've been more interesting and said something new about Ezra's character and how he's grown and changed.

But nope. They couldn't be bothered to come up with a new design, so he just gets Kanan's saber now. How inspired.

[jedimandalorian]

Fifth Letter to the Church of Ezrabine at Tumblr:

Behold! Today I will share with you my findings from another of the ancient sacred texts, the book Star Wars Rebels: A New Hero by Pablo Hidalgo.

The book is written from the point of view of our hero, Ezra Bridger, a fourteen year old Force sensitive street rat from the planet Lothal.

In his own words, Ezra Bridger tells us (and tries not to admit to himself) his first impression of and his own true feelings for Sabine Wren:

“Sabine is the weapons expert of the team. She’s a real know-it-all and not afraid to show it. She’s an artist, and that’s someone you don’t meet every day on Lothal. She’s really talented, too. It’s like the Empire wants to paint over everything with its boring shades of gray, black, and white. Sabine puts the color back. I think TIE fighters look a lot better after one of her paint bombs has gone off. Yeah, I guess you can say I really admire her. That is, I admire her work. Let’s be clear: she’s gifted. I mean anyone with a good eye would say so, right? I have no idea what she thinks of me. Not that I care…”

“She’s a real know-it-all and not afraid to show it.”—Ezra Bridger, about Sabine Wren.

You know who else thought this way as a young boy with regards to a girl he liked and eventually fell in love with? Ron Weasley.

I am talking about Ron Weasley, who had a crush on, fell in love with, and later married Hermione Granger. This is a scene from when Ron and Hermione were around 13-14 years old in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:

"That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger," said Snape coolly. "Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all."

Hermione went very red, put down her hand, and stared at the floor with her eyes full of tears. It was a mark of how much the class loathed Snape that they were all glaring at him, because every one of them had called Hermione a know-it-all at least once, and Ron, who told Hermione she was a know-it-all at least twice a week, said loudly, "You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?"

(Weasley got detention for telling off Snape on Hermione’s behalf. Sadly, the film version did not get this scene correct.)

“Yeah, I guess you could say I really admire her” is an admission of truth.

“That is, I admire her work” is Ezra trying to convince himself that this is all he admires about Sabine. 😉

“I have no idea what she thinks of me” is also true.

But that “not that I care” is Ezra deceiving himself. He does care, and he will continue to care more and more as they grow up together and grow closer to each other until Sabine becomes the person he cares about the most in the universe.

In Ahsoka Season 1, even after years of being apart, Ezra still admires Sabine and still has strong feelings for her.

“I missed you.” Eman Esfandi delivered that line in a hoarse heartfelt whisper as if Ezra wants to say “I love you” to Sabine. I am looking forward to when he finally does tell her.

The story of Sabine and Ezra is far from over. The Ahsoka series is just introducing adult Ezra, Sabine, and their complicated relationship to the live action audience.

Their song is not yet written. I will ship them until it is, and forevermore.

I have spoken.

[just-prime]

Ahsoka is so slow I could cry. She was trained by Anakin and presumably Obi-wan and several other Jedi, and Rosario can hardly do an actual lightsaber twirl, let alone make me believe she could survive Ventress, Maul, Grievous, or Vader, survive order 66, or run in a way that looks fast. Bo-Katan moves faster, Shin moves faster, Sabine moves faster, Ezra moves faster, even Ewan's lazy twirls while walking around and not actively engaged in battle in the prequels were roughly as fast as Rosario's in an actual duel.

It's also canon that in this era, in a less prequels flashy version of standard Jedi abilities, a Jedi can leap SEVERAL feet. Luke in ROTJ- even GROGU can jump higher, while Rosario's feet are consistently glued to the ground. Her choreography and speed are so inconsistent with this established era and people keep writing it off and praising it as her fighting like a samurai now, even though it makes NO sense for her to, given who trained her. She isn't A New Hope Obi-wan, nor sad cave dwelling Obi-wan who hasn't stretched or lifted a weapon in a decade, and a 44 year old Jedi is still supposed to be in their prime.

I truly wonder if part of it is that they can't keep her lekku on properly if she does a flip, and they are shorter because they were meant to be more practical, but I'm really not seeing a character agile enough to need stunt modified lekku.

If they couldn't bring this to life in live action convincingly, it should have remained animated and each passing week demonstrates this more and more.

I'm sorry to anon into your inbox like this, but your post about the last episode has been so refreshing, and I've felt like I've been watching a completely different show than other people and don't know how they considered any of the actors ready. (Rosario has said she was training during filming). Thank you for your brutally honest take, you're spot on on all counts.

Couple of things.

A) I agree with everything you just said. Always feel free to come and rant into my asks.

B) I HAVE BEEN ANTI TINY LEKKU SINCE MANDO S2. It's laughable that we've seen cosplayers with more Rebels accurate headpieces. And of course everyone defends it with the 'it wouldn't be fair to the stunt person to have them try and do flips in that' and it's like NEWSFLASH Ahsoka isn't doing flips anyway!!! And sure, they probably stuck Rosario in a 5 week sword training class, but she's clearly not had to do any serious combat training given how clunky her fights are. And again, this was also a problem back in Mando s2, only she was in the middle of a foggy woods, so it was easier to hide the fact that she is incompetent when it comes to fight choreography.

C) "If they couldn't bring this to life in live action convincingly, it should have remained animated" Exactly. This is why every passing day I am increasingly pissed that this show killed and ate the animated Rebels sequel series that was in fucking development. Everything about this show, from Ahsoka, to Hera (hell, even TBoBF cameos like Cad Banes) prove that Disney is not willing to shell out for a decent makeup and/or CG designer. No shade to the artists that are currently working on it, they are doing their jobs to the best of their abilities. What I mean is they didn't have anyone on set that was in a high enough positions to say 'Hey, have any of you heard of contouring?' Like, just looking at the alien makeup of the OT...which somehow holds up better than state of the art Disney budget makeup. It's just fucking embarrassing at this point. There is no reason everyone should look as flat as they do, but it's no surprise that they do when mary elizabeth winstead is celebrating that her makeup only took an hour. Sure, it's understandable that you don't want to be sitting in the makeup chair every morning of hours on end, but in the end you are an actor who signed up to play an alien...Suck it up buttercup.

D) I totally understand how hard it is to be not liking this show right now. The amount of people who've told me that "well, clearly it's just not made for you" after I point out a simple fact that a character is out of character is painful. Looking at twitter after each episode as everyone seems to think Filoni is creating the second coming is painful. Because it really does feel like we're watching a different show than them.

Okay, I think I covered everything. Thank you again for your kind words and your wonderful rant!!!

[itsthegirlinthebowtie]

hi hello I am spontaneously combusting after that ahsoka premiere it was everything I ever wanted. sabine was perfect. hera was perfect. ahsoka was perfect. chopper was perfect. the loth cats? perfect. david tennant being back as huyang and having a predominate role in the show, not just in the sidelines? perfect. seeing the phantom in a space battle in live action? perfect. the way ezra touched the back of his neck in the hologram like he always did in animation? perfect. sabine having ezra’s lightsaber? perfect. sabine living in ezra’s old communications tower home? crying. going to the corellia shipyard? perfect. the mention of an HK droid????? fucking perfect. the thing the empire remnants are building being called the eye of sion? flawless. morgan being a dathomir witch? screaming. the inquisitor being back with that helicopter lightsaber move?? iconic. I need to stop listing everything I loved about this premiere because this post will never end. I cannot wait for the next episode I have so many theories can’t wait to see how this pans out.

[bluntblade]

I've got a theory about why this happened, and I think the other Mandoverse shows support it, especially Mando S3. Basically, these shows have over-committed to using the Volume to the point that it hurts their action scenes. Not just in terms of how they look and feel, but what can even be put in front of the camera.

As Greig Fraser (the brilliant DoP who worked on early Mando as well as Rogue One, Dune and The Batman, and first got the Volume to work) has said, the Volume comes with pretty steep limitations. Spielberg has managed to do some things with it that Fraser hadn't thought possible, but for the most part it restricts what angles you can shoot at and also what movement you can have. Film Crit Hulk talks about it in more detail re Mando back in 2020:

Note HOW MANY times they’re standing relatively flat and the camera angle is directly parallel to a ground so that it puts the horizon in the same 1/3 of the frame spot behind them. They do this because if they raise the camera higher (as many shots should and would) it would reveal the “boxy” angle of the stage. It may seem small, but it REALLY de-emphasizes the natural surrounding and I’m worried it’s hurting the overall look of the show.

And it occurs to me that arguably the best-shot action of that series is probably the one where they went out and just filmed in the California hills. Note how Boba gets to tower over that one Stormtrooper and how there's a real sense of wham when he lands.

If you're shooting everything in a context where nothing can move all that fast, though, it really hurts your most kinetic characters. When Kelleran Beq gets his showcase in Mando S3, the camera can't move to add oomph to his strikes or give him a hero shot (in Kenobi you see them trying this with Vader, but they have to stop short of an angle which will actually give the image punch). If you've seen Dune Part Two, think of how the camera races along with Paul and Chani in some of their fights with the Harkonnens. That's wholly missing here.

And this also impacts the old jet packs (and Jedi acrobatics, for the most part). Whereas Jango could rocket around merrily, it's notable that the Children and the Nite Owls alike only really use their packs for dedicated aerial scenes. In the pirate fight, you can easily imagine them boosting from rooftop to rooftop and sparking even more "high ground" memes, but instead they conduct the fight entirely at a walking pace and on the ground.

And all of this hurts Sabine in particular, because like Ahsoka, she originated in animation and has previously been depicted in a really kinetic way. Even without a jetpack, she's a very acrobatic fighter in Rebels, and it's one of the things which makes her a really fun character. But in the process of moving to live-action, Filoni and co opted to change the characters to fit the Mandoverse style, instead of changing the style to fit the characters. The result is that lots of the things that first made Sabine so cool and fun just aren't really possible now.

[skelefied]

Sabine thought we wouldn't notice

In rebels, Sabine has an aurebesh 5 on her right pauldron as she is specter 5. However in both the animated and live action Mural she has put an E on her shoulder instead. Sabine did tell Ezra that everything in art has meaning, I wonder what she is trying to subtly convey here.

[smokeybrandreviews]

Lack of Conviction

Episode five of Ahsoka really hammered home how goddamn ridiculous the entire Clone War situation truly was. Watching Ahsoka on the front lines of that Geonosis battle, a fight where she was canonically fourteen or fifteen, was ludicrous back in the original show, but seeing the character in that situation portrayed by the age appropriate Ariana Greenblatt was f*cking jarring. Greenblatt is sixteen years old, splitting the difference of Aksoka’s age range throughout the Clone Wars. She’s as close to a real, teenage, Tano, that we’re going to get and it is wildly apparent that she is a CHILD. The goddamn Jedi Order, was sending child soldiers to fight in a trade war against an analogous Sith overlord and his army of drones. I don’t care how good at space wizarding your teenager is, they are still just a goddamn teenager! And Ahsoka wasn’t the only one. Barris Offee immediately comes to mind! The age you become a Padawan Learner to a Master Jedi is around twelve. That means there were children as young as twelve taking laser shots to the face, not to mention the wholesale slaughter of these cats during Order Sixty-Six, because of a goddamn trade dispute. How f*cking ridiculous is that? Anakin even said the quiet part out loud when addressing Ahsoka’s hesitation. He told her that Obi-Wan trained him to be a peacekeeper, but Anakin was training Ahsoka to be a soldier. That sh*t was the intent. That was the plan. That was the whole dynamic; Train an army of child astro-sorcerers in the ways of war, by throwing them headlong into one. From anyone’s point of view, that’s f*cked up and lends credence to everything Poppa Paps was talking about. Imagine trying to convince the ludicrously powerful Chosen One you’re in the right, when the only other person outside of his mom and wife whom he genuinely loved, was put in his charge to turn her into a weapon. And then when she turned out to be a fantastic one, they cast her aside the second someone gets murdered in those hallowed Council halls. Cats give Anakin sh*t for slaying them Younglings but how are the Jedi any goddamn different? They literally use children until they are used up. I can only imagine the trauma the kids who survived will have to endure. Hell, we’ve seen a few of them already. Ahsoka, Cade from those absolutely dope games, Hera's dead baby daddy, and that one chick from Kenobi; None of who are healthy, well adjusted, stand-up adults! Absolutely emotional train wrecks, the lot of them!

More than that, this episode proved to me just how much of Anakin is in Ahsoka. They mirror each other as much as Ahsoka and Sabine. It's wild to see in live action, especially getting that from Hayden who finally got to play a complex version of Anakin. Clone Wars went a long way to redeeming that character but seeing him actually force a catharsis in Ahsoka was rough. I've seen them cross lightsabers before and it broke my f*cking heart. I've spoken at length about that, but seeing it here? Knowing this is training from a fully fledged Jedi Master Anakin? I cannot articulate how amazing that is. He pushed Ahsoka to her limits. Forced her to confront the grief and guilt she had for being a weapon, for abandoning Anakin. Hayden gave this role so much depth, so much emotion, it was just breathtaking to witness. Seeing him flit between Vader and Sky Guy was almost too much but it very necessary. It was necessary for Ahsoka. She had to see that, to come to terms with that, in order to move forward. She is everything Anakin is, even Vader, as demonstrated by those Sith eyes when she contemplated the unthinkable. Interestingly enough, even channeling the Dark Side like a champ, you can tell Anakin was concerned for his Padawan. Not that he would be killed, Anakin is beyond even that at this point, but that his Padawan, would fall like he did. Ahsoka did not. She chose life and Sky Guy gave her that smirk, telling Snips there was hope for her yet. F*cking everything. That last exchange was f*cking everything. Especially when you take into account that Anakin pulled her into the World Between Worlds to save her life. As a goddamn Force Ghost. What the f*ck does THAT even mean??

[hhighkey]

Decode // Chapter Seven, Sweet Nothings

Dracule Mihawk (opla) x OC (female)

Rating: mature

Story Contains: live action characters, related and non-related one piece plots, unspecified religion, OC is a nun on sabbatical, trauma, violence, age gap (40 v 23), insecurities and self doubts, possessive / protective behavior, kidnapping, true loves, eventual smut

Masterlist

-

As thunder rumbled through the island, rain pelted the roofs of the city’s buildings with such force it sounded like a hail storm. Distant jolts of lightning lit up the sky in a dance of fraught intensity between each quickly occuring strike. A sweet yet pungent odor of petrichor wafted through the air as the rain disturbed the ground, the trees, the odoriferous molecules that encapsulated everything that made up the sleeping city.

But one stirred amongst the early hours, before dawn could break through the dark clouds. Sabine flinched in her sleep, a whimper left her lips, brows furrowed as her dream caused her restlessness. Sweat beaded along her hairline as a more complete cry came passed her lips, legs beginning to quiver under the quilt that did little to release the overwhelming heat she absorbed in.

As if one with a flash of lightning, Sabine awoke with a gasp as the sky glitter a blinding white. Hand over her heart as she heaved, glancing along what her eyes could make out in the dark. Her fingers ran along her skin, felt the fabric of her night gown, pinched at her legs just to make sure she was truly awake. To feel that she was present in this moment surrounded by the dense pattering of raindrops that sounded like an onslaught against the window panes. 

Overwhelmed with the memories of her nightmare, choking from the heat that consumed her, she flung herself out of bed racing to the bathroom. She flinched at the sound of the door slamming but couldn’t be bothered. Crumbling to a heap on the tile floor she mewled at the coolness against her reddened skin. Splaying her palms flat, Sabine let her tears flow freely as she felt everything. The tightening of her chest in anxiety as her heart thumped wildly. The mixing temperatures of her body made her go lightheaded. And the pounding behind her temple from the pathetic tears she couldn’t stop. 

Her cries woke him instantly from the daze his body had been in the second she went to the bathroom. A worried demeanor along his features, stomach twisting at the thought of her pain. Mihawk was attuned to her now; Every breath, step, or quirk he’d memorized and could acquaint them with an emotion. How she cracked her knuckles when bored, shoved a fingernail behind another to cause pain when stressed, or how her cheeks would grow pink when embarrassed. But it didn’t stop him from second guessing how to react to each emotion she cycled through, not wanting to overstep any boundaries or pry too hard. 

The sound of her sobs made him feel like he was being gutted from the inside out. Like a knife pierced his chest, twisting and slicing him open so he knew he couldn’t stay pliant on his cot.

A sharp knock against the door dragged Sabine back to reality of the bathroom floor where her tears welled into mini pools. 

“Sabine.”

Oh no no, she panicked. He couldn’t see her like this! She thought she was quick to barricade herself into the bathroom so he couldn’t hear her. But she guessed nothing ever got past him. 

“May I come in?” Mihawk’s drowsy voice spoke again.

‘No’ sat on the tip of her tongue out of embarrassment, but more than anything did she want him by her side. 

“Yes.” She eventually croaked out, resituating herself on the floor so she sat against one of the walls. Wiping at her face, she knew she must look ridiculous and ugly. 

Mihawk said nothing of how she looked, nor did she see any pity in his eyes. He simply took the empty space beside her against the bathroom wall, his much bigger form causing her to squish into him. His warmth was different that the suffocating one she woke up with, his was inviting and comforting and she subconsciously moved closer. 

They sat there in silence for a bit. Sabine wasn’t sure exactly how long, but one of his hands took one of hers into it and his thumb dragged along her skin. The monotonous motion grounded her as she focused on the pleasant electricity that shot up her arm from his touch. How it was a light in the darkness that currently surrounded her. 

“Mihawk.. I’m sorry, I woke you.” Sabine sniffled. The only place she couldn’t bring herself to look was his eyes, perhaps scared what she’d see. No one at the Monastery would speak it, but she knew her night terrors annoyed them more than anything. An inconvenience. And Sabine couldn’t fathom being one to him. 

“Don’t apologize my dear, I don’t mind. Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, thank you.” 

“Nightmare?”

“Mhmm, guess you and the hotel guests are lucky I haven’t shrieked like a damn banshee yet.” A joking tone passed her lips with a huff and that frankly surprised her. It would take her hours to come down from these nighttime episodes. Especially since it’d been weeks since she had a proper one even without the screaming. 

His lips quirked up as he stared straight at the sink, “I suppose we are.”

It felt bold to move even closer, to try to force herself into Mihawk’s hold. But for some reason she did so, nuzzled her head into his shirt as if she were a child needing comfort. Her actions with him were awkward and uncertain, her lack of experience and sheltered nature rather apparent. The scent of soapy rose water that swirled in the bathroom from all her constant soaks, seeped up into her head. She tried to focus on that instead of the gloom that threatened to spill out again. 

When Mihawk shifted her so she lounged in his lap, head in the crook of his neck, she thought she’d simply pass out. Her hairs stood straight up on her body as tingling contentment spread throughout her. Mind racing, yet racing because of his musk and his touch and not the dark figure from her dreams. 

“You’re safe here,” Mihawk whispered into her hair, “At least with me you are. While dreams may terrorize us, they don’t follow us into the real world once we wake up.”

She nodded.

“Would you like to talk about it?” 

“Maybe.”

“Take your time.” 

Squeezing her eyes shut as she buried her face deeper into him as if she could disappear, inhaling his natural masculine scent that was truly intoxicating to her. There were thoughts at the forefront of her mind she wanted to spew, and maybe now from her heightened pulse and stress riddled body she’d be able to say them. In this moment of vulnerability she felt doubt and anger, a mix of regret and melancholy. She had no idea how to wade through it, her body simply wanted to thrash and scream as its way to handle the boiling fervor within her. 

“I- Why me? Why sit here with me?” Her voice cracked, “Aren’t I pathetic? I’ve dragged you into a mess with no proof of my claims besides a newly dead person. Isn’t it all my fault? You must think I’m mental.”

“I don’t think of you as a crazy woman if that’s what you’re saying. Sure this work has been boring compared to being at sea, taking on pirates and doing the marine’s biddings. Can you imagine me scouring libraries for information on my foes?”

That made her spit out a laugh, surprised by the sudden thought of Mihawk having to find information from an archive rather than utilizing his sword against a foe. It was a good point he made that eased the clawing from within her ribs that he hated each day with her, in secret. 

“But I don’t mind,” He continued, “I didn’t expect to have time with you like this. Selfishly, I’m glad I get to be the one to assist you, that you thought of calling.” 

“We’ve learned a lot about each other, you’re still a mystery though, little up there in age,” A poor attempt at teasing, “And we don’t hate each other after sharing a space and I'm glad for that as well.”

“That is also true.” 

Mihawk wiped the tears along her cheekbone, a gentle look on his face as he carefully studied her. She looked just as beautiful as ever, even with splotchy red eyes and cheeks, with a sniffly nose that attempted to stop snot from running. The glassiness of her eyes told a story of deeper sadness in them, that there were still dangerous thoughts lingering inside. And Mihawk wanted all of it for himself to know, wanted to take any burden off of her as a man like him could never feel the weight of it. 

Delicate, so tiny and breakable, he thought of her time and time again. All he wanted was to wrap Sabine up from the evils that plagued her. Yet with odds stacked harshly against her as she waded through the waters at night unable to see, she still fought. Admirable, even if misguided from a desolate life of experience. 

“Mihawk.” Her voice back to that of on the verge of tears, “I can’t go back to my Monastery. I will die if I do, it’s sucking my soul dry.”

There were no proper words to say in response. Nothing besides a simple hum, to tell her he was listening and understood. He was not the person to give advice, to console her on such a personal matter she needed to solve herself. And it seemed she was surprised she said it, or maybe it was a surprise that she felt lighter. He saw it. How Sabine physically relaxed as if she shared a dark secret pent up for years, finally able to tell another. 

“I thought this life was what I wanted. But right now as I sit here with every bone in my body wanting to scream and hurt myself to feel something- I know I had to adapt. I had to want to be a nun or else I wouldn’t have survived.” Sabine sighed, “How can that be? Can there be Stockholm syndrome for a whole religion rather than a captor? A whole place? I’ve kept it in because to say such words is blasphemous yet I felt it while with Luffy everyday, the excitement to get out of bed and talk to others.”

Sabine faltered, tears fresh once again as she stared into his eyes, 

“I pushed it all down! Let time morph into one. I can barely recount time or know what year something took place! Isolated and going through the motions I was a shell and now I dread my sabbatical ending.”

Her body was like a furnace upon him, while goosebumps littered up her arms and legs, so Mihawk assumed it was him burning. A tight, clawing sensation within him that felt like he was being ripped open made its home in his chest. He knew he needed to keep his head on straight, best not to touch her anymore than the situation their bodies were in now. How she perched on his lap, he wanted to touch her body for himself to know she existed in this moment all for him. He wanted her to feel alright amidst her disheartening confession, which when had he ever wanted that for anyone?

“Ease my mind Sabine, tell me I’m not corrupting the thoughts that will need to make your decision at the end of this sabbatical. I am not religious, sometimes I say things that may be unfair to you, I cannot give good advice, I have to bite my tongue.”

“I told… I had to make myself a promise that I wouldn’t let you play a part in my decision. And you weren’t. But that was before I actually knew you, how can I not think of you? After what? Two weeks and how with each passing moment we grow closer! But I can promise you that nothing you say affects my beliefs, or would cause me to suddenly become faithless. I’ve had men come in and spew disgusting, hateful things at me that honestly- are probably true about the church, but it didn’t change my mind. I’m the only one who can affect my own beliefs, analyze and pick them apart. I let myself stifle things I never believed in as a child so I could survive, this sabbatical thrusted me from that dark blanket I was under. You affect my decisions because of the emotions I feel for you; nothing you say can make me leave the church if I knew I wanted to stay.”

Mihawk took one of her hands into his own, “It seems you have admitted much to yourself you could never say before, and I admire that, you shouldn’t discount the bravery it took. But let's get you back to bed my dear, rest and think on it all again when you’ve eaten and are properly awake.”

“Thank you, Mihawk.” She whispered as her head pulsed from sleep exhaustion and her tears, nodding at his words that brought her comfort. She liked how intently he listened, how he was mature about her outburst not making her feel childish or stupid. 

As Mihawk helped her weak form into her bed, she vowed to herself that tomorrow she’d tell him about the deacon. The one she thought was the man she’d love, only to be hellbent on destroying her. 

-

An apology was on the tip of her tongue, feeling heavy with shame and nerves as she attempted to steel herself. Replays of the early morning hours as she sat in tears in the bathroom while he consoled her, played over and over. Mortified. The only word that described the embarrassing turmoil of fluttering butterflies in her chest, how with each movement he made, her innards lurched. 

Sabine wanted him to see her better sides, as unreasonable as it was. Wanted to carefully craft what he saw so as not to see her as weak or disgusting. Yet this had all been a mess up until now. Incompetence swirled around her actions and ideas on how to fix this, how to fix this damn island, and what to do about her decision. Any facades she’d been able to build up or believe in were gone. 

She did not regret the things she said. She regretted how it all came out, sitting there in his arms crying with snot running down her face. How unladylike! Horrified with herself, convinced he hated her now, that he was judging her as they went on with their new morning routine.

“Mihawk.” Sabine finally said, a slight itch in her throat as she coughed in discomfort. They paired well in silence, it could be comfortable between them without needing conversation. 

“Hmm?”

“I-” She stopped for a second, “I apologize for last night, well technically earlier this morning.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.” Mihawk responded without missing a beat. 

“But I did- to burden you…”

“You’re no burden.” 

Frustration bubbled up into her chest and throat, unable to formulate the words to describe her feelings; it took all her strength to stop an involuntary fit that tried to come over her. She stood next to her bed, rocking on the balls of her feet as Mihawk sat at the window, a book in hand. But he closed it to focus on her, arms crossing along his broad chest. 

She pressed her palms into her brow, pushing to try to stifle the swirling thoughts and pain. Their age difference was noticeable to her as her responses to stress were to cry, shut down, barely speak in complete sentences! More embarrassment fueled her fire thinking how he must look down on her insecure childish behavior, even if she’d once prided herself on the elegance she carried. 

“I am struggling.” Her legs buckled and she fell to the bed, sighing as she slouched sitting on the edge of it, “I don’t want someone else to die, but I can’t stop thinking about the Monastery.”

“Can I ask- if your loyalty or faith in your religion and its teachings, or is it in the Monastery as you feel you owe it your life?”

For a second it didn’t register as her head cocked to the side, Sabine frowning as she replayed what he said again. Oh. 

“That’s… An interesting question, one I can’t answer right now, one I’ve never even considered.”

There were a plentiful number of women she loved back on the island, from her roommates whether present or past, to younger girls to mentor, to even the matriarchs that once scared her as a teenager. With peers her age she’d experienced growth with highs and lows of the isolation of dedicating yourself to the Father at an unusual age. And it was the older nuns that taught her how to cook, to sew, to plant gardens of herbs and vegetables, how to do basic numbers and understand complex texts. In a way, Sabine wasn’t there for the religion due to her own beliefs, but because life landed her there without a second thought. 

A cruel wave of nostalgia came over her as she recalled happier memories. But how much longer would they last upon her return now that she has experienced the world? Before, she’d been an isolated girl who never left her town or journeys were strictly supervised by religious leaders. She’d never be able to remain silent there now, to go with the flow simply because she knew no better. 

It made her sick to think about as a longing, an anger replaced those bittersweet feelings. A heavy unease settled in her stomach as a sour note took its place in her mouth. 

His heavy footsteps on the floorboards made her stomach lurch with excitement as her eyes followed him. Waiting. He sat beside her, the mattress dipping due to his larger size. 

“I mentioned a deacon in my note a few weeks ago, he’s why I got sent on the job last year per my head being in the clouds. Matriarch said that. This whole thing is turning into some sappy emotional journey,” She shook her head as amusement flittered through her words, “I want to tell you about him, how I think he started my disillusionment with the Father.”  

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posted: july 29 2024

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