#snowy mando

[thefrogdalorian]

Hello and welcome to my masterlist!

You can find most of my fics on my AO3, if you prefer to read over there, and I reblog all new fics on @thefrogdalorianfics if you want to be notified here on tumblr when I post something new!

Ongoing Works:

Modern AU!Din x F!Reader: The Best of Both Worlds

Newest Work:

The Bake Sale: When Grogu brings news of an upcoming Bake Sale hosted by the little school he attends between missions with the New Republic on Nevarro, his father enthusiastically throws himself into baking the the sweetest treats to impress his classmates. Even though Din's devotion to the task makes you feel like there is a third person in your marriage, you are charmed by his determination. While the fruits of his labour are delicious, but you discover that Din Djarin's love is the sweetest treat of them all...

Requests:

Currently open, here. No guarantees but if you have anything you'd like to see, feel free to let me know!

I write: Din x Reader, Din x Bo-Katan (but as long as it's Mando related I'm open to giving it a shot!)

I don't write: smut (on request) some ships (ask if unsure!)

Note:

Most of my fics are for general audiences and GN!Reader

I tag my fics thoroughly, please look at the specific warnings for each fic before you read!

I do not own any of these characters (I wish I did). However, this writing is my work and I do not give permission for any part of it to be reposted without prior consent from me.

All headers/dividers are created by me, I do not give permission for them to be reused.

The Best of Both Worlds [ongoing]

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Mature ✯ 84k+ ✯

Modern!AU Din x Female Reader: To maintain his privacy and his son Grogu's well-being, Din Djarin agreed to the role of The Mandalorian on one condition: complete anonymity. He has never engaged with fans of the hit Star Wars show... until the day he visits a convention and crosses paths with you...

General:

Dincember 2023

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 54k ✯

Summary: Snapshots from your first chance-meeting with Din Djarin on your homeworld, to the life you are building together with Grogu in his cabin on Nevarro and ultimately your preparations to celebrate Life Day together for the first time, including a trip to a snowy mountain paradise.

Downpour

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 1k ✯

Summary: Leading a solitary, nomadic existence for much of his life means that Din Djarin has never cuddled up to someone he loves during a rainstorm. Until one night in his cabin on Nevarro, when unseasonably poor weather introduces him to one of life’s simple pleasures.

My Pain Fits In The Palm Of Your Freezing Hand

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 2.2k ✯

Summary: When you and your Mandalorian companion are ambushed by a group of bandits, you hope that his stubborn nature will not make the task of treating his wounds any more difficult than it needs to be. But that is not the only obstacle. You also hope that the depth of your unrequited feelings for Din will not impact on your ability to care for him...

The Bake Sale

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 3.8k✯

Summary: When Grogu brings news of an upcoming Bake Sale hosted by the little school he attends between missions with the New Republic on Nevarro, his father enthusiastically throws himself into baking the the sweetest treats to impress his classmates. Even though Din's devotion to the task makes you feel like there is a third person in your marriage, you are charmed by his determination. While the fruits of his labour are delicious, but you discover that Din Djarin's love is the sweetest treat of them all...

Hold You in My Arms

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 2k✯

Summary: Even with its outdated interior and the limitations that entails, The Razor Crest is your home. You find there is a certain charm about the old ship even if the bunk is a little uncomfortable. Though, it's even better when there is a Mandalorian to cuddle, armour and all.

Rest

✯ General ✯ 3.1k ✯

Summary: Despite how often you have pleaded with Din to stop and rest, your calls have gone unheeded. Your stubborn Mandalorian will not stop and take care of himself. So, when he arrives back from his latest job with the New Republic utterly exhausted, you take matters into your own hands and ensure he gets the rest he so desperately needs.

Sanctuary

✯ General ✯ 1.2k ✯

Summary: It's one of those days when your emotions threaten to overwhelm you. Despite the horrible day you're having, you try your best to keep it together. A feat you manage, until a certain Mandalorian arrives home and takes you into his arms.

Hold Me Close

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 3.4k ✯

Summary:  In the aftermath of Grogu's departure to be with his own kind, your riduur is nowhere to be found, with little indication - other than a message disk - as to his whereabouts. You anxiously await his return. Yet the man who eventually comes back to you is a broken, shadow of the man you fell in love with.

Always

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 1.5k ✯

Summary: You wake up from an incredibly distressing nightmare in which Din and Grogu had suddenly vanished from your life without a trace. Fortunately, Din is there to console you with his comforting embrace and soothing words. He leaves you feeling optimistic about the future, rather than dreading what lies ahead for the pair of you.

Such a Heavenly View

✯ General ✯ 2.3k ✯

Summary: For the past few months you've been babysitting the child of a mysterious Mandalorian who lives on Nevarro. One day, to your surprise, he wants to spend the day with you and hike to the top of a volcano. After an unfortunate mishap on the way, you discover that the man beneath the armour is surprisingly gentle and sentimental...

All The Nice Things In Life

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 2.5k ✯

Summary: During a weekly trip to your favourite Market on Nevarro, you get a little overwhelmed by all the crowds and noise. Fortunately, you have an exceptionally caring and attentive Mandalorian for a partner, who manages to calm you down and make you see that you are not a burden to him, despite your worries.

Even Your Worst Days

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 4.3k ✯

Summary: After returning from a recent job with the New Republic, Din finds you feeling overwhelmed and burnt out due to his absence. Din had not realised how much you were struggling and when he realises how upset you are he moves to reassure you, lifting your spirit and boosting your confidence in the way that only he is capable of. You realise that Din loves you unconditionally... even on your worst days.

From Now Until The End

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 5.4k ✯

Summary: After being away from you as part of his job with the New Republic, your partner Din surprises you with a trip to the Boonta Eve Classic on Tatooine to make up for it. But instead of the fun-filled day he had planned, you are overwhelmed by the many sights, sounds and noises. It leads you to finally share a part of yourself with Din that you had been hiding from him until now.

Teen:

Candles

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Teen ✯ 3.8k ✯

Summary: Even though Din insists he doesn't want you to make a fuss over his birthday, you cannot resist spoiling him in your own special way. Although your perfect day does not go entirely to plan, you are determined to make the best of it...

Nowhere Else To Run

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Teen ✯ 3.4k ✯

Summary: Despite the fact that sharing a cabin with you and Grogu on Nevarro has given him the peaceful life he was searching for, Din cannot escape the nightmares of his past which haunt him most nights. Although he feels unworthy of your love, the only time things make sense is when you take him in your arms and dutifully put his pieces back together. Even on nights when he feels he does not deserve it.

Ner Aliit

✯ Read on AO3✯ Teen ✯ 5k✯

Summary: Travelling through the galaxy in the Razor Crest with a formidable Mandalorian is a harsh, unforgiving life. The feelings you have developed for him as you soar through the stars together have mitigated the unpleasant aspects. Still, you know it can't last. After all, you and Din are from different worlds. He follows a strict Creed and you know that you do not have what it takes to be Mandalorian. Journeying with the best bounty hunter in the parsec has often brought you face to face with danger. It has never fazed you before. Until one day you come face to face with danger without Din's reassuring presence at your side, and everything changes.

A Crisis of Faith

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Teen ✯ 6k ✯

Summary: Although travelling through the galaxy with a Mandalorian bounty hunter was a daunting prospect at first, you were pleasantly surprised by how swiftly the two of you bonded. However, despite your initial closeness, the man who you were thought enjoyed your presence in his life now seems disgusted by his every encounter with you. When you finally land on Nevarro after weeks of being confined to the Razor Crest together, you hope that perhaps, something might fix your fractured relationship...

A New Dawn

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Teen ✯ 5.1k ✯

Summary: Travelling through the galaxy with a mysterious nameless and faceless Mandalorian with a reputation as the best bounty hunter in the parsec would probably terrify most people. Instead, over the months you have known Mando, you have discovered his gentler, more affectionate side. Living in such proximity to the man you have an enormous crush on threatens to suffocate you as you determine that he must never find out. But after a job seemingly goes badly wrong on a forest planet, the fear of losing him will perhaps finally be the tipping point for a new dawn in your relationship...

Pieces

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Teen ✯ 3k ✯

Summary: Your worst fears are almost realised when Din returns from his latest job with the New Republic injured and distressed. Despite your emotions, you diligently tend to his wounds and put his pieces back together.

Mature:

Across The Stars

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Mature 18+ ✯ 5.8k ✯

Summary:  Your riduur, Din Djarin, whisks you away to Naboo to enjoy the Festival of Love celebrations on the bountiful planet. While there, you reflect on just how much the formidable man, who chose you to be his, truly means to you.

Explicit:

The Arrangement

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ 18+ MDNI ✯ 7.1k ✯

Summary: You entered into an arrangement with Mando find some physical relief from the monotony of hyperspace as you travel through the galaxy together as a formidable team of bounty hunters. When you did so, there were three clear rules: that it would not impact your professional relationship, that there were no strings attached and most importantly of all: that Mando would never, ever remove his helmet. When you carelessly let your emotions get the better of you and undermine those rules, you fear you have lost the man who means everything to you and discover that you miss much more than merely the physical encounters…

Din Djarin Headcanons/Imagines

Din Djarin + Falling In Love

Flowers for My Mandalorian (Valentine's Day imagines)

Booping Din Djarin

Only The Father You'll Be

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 1.7k ✯

Summary: As he sits on the porch of his new cabin, looking on proudly as Grogu entertains himself with frogs outside their new home on Nevarro, the moment awakens old memories in Din Djarin. He reflects back to a moment when he watched The Child playing with other children in the idyllic village on Sorgan. Back then, Din wanted something very different for him and The Child… it was an occasion when their fates could so easily have diverged from their destiny. But now Din has the one thing that had always eluded him, that he never imagined for himself: a family.

Welcome Home, Son

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Teen ✯ 4.1k ✯

Summary: Din Djarin finds himself back on a mysterious planet that is strangely familiar to him, despite the years that have passed since he last stepped foot on it. A visit to the cabin he once shared with his family brings Din face-to-face with someone he never imagined he would again encounter for the rest of his days. Content Warnings: Grief, PTSD, survivor's guilt, grieving for parents.

Soon, I Will Be Back With You

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Teen ✯ 1.2k ✯

Summary: Centuries after the last time he saw his buir, Grogu reflects on memories of the life they shared together until it ended in devastating circumstances. MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH.

You Are Eternal

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Teen ✯ 1.4k ✯

Summary: When devastating news that High Magistrate Karga has become one with the Force reaches Din in his cabin on Nevarro, he reflects on the complicated nature of their relationship. Din pays his own tribute to the man who witnessed firsthand his shift from bounty hunter to father. MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH.

Some of these fics are explicit so no minors, please.

Carry Your Throne

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Explicit ✯ 182k ✯

Summary: Set one year post-Mando season 3. Mand'alor Bo-Katan Kryze is struggling to contend with the pressure of living up to the Kryze name and her dark past, while also bearing the responsibility of leading her planet and overseeing its continued stability. Plagued with feelings of guilt and unworthiness - and a suspicion that not everyone supports her claim to the throne - she is haunted by nightmares as she relives her past mistakes. Those around her are concerned for her wellbeing, including Bo-Katan's loyal friend and advisor, Koska Reeves. News of Din Djarin and Grogu's return to Mandalore sets off a chain of events that will change both the course of Bo-Katan's reign and possibly her life, too.

With Every Atom of His Being

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 1.6k ✯

Summary: Din Djarin's increasing closeness to Bo-Katan Kryze causes an accidental slip of his tongue during a picnic the two share with Grogu during one of Bo-Katan's visits to Nevarro. Din's choice of language has profound consequences, not just for the two of them but also the child they love so much.

Written In The Stars

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Mature✯ 11k ✯

Summary: Din Djarin hoped that by pledging to serve Bo-Katan Kryze until her song was written, he had clued her into the depths of his feelings for her. As the months pass after Din left to train his new apprentice with still no word from the Mand'alor, he begins to accept that his feelings are unrequited. Din wishes he could stop dwelling on his feelings, but at night visions of red hair and shimmering green eyes haunt him. His aversion to returning to Mandalore continues until one day, his son takes matters into his own tiny hands and forces Din to confront his fears...

To Being Together Again

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Mature✯ 10k ✯

Summary: When Din Djarin returns to his cabin on Nevarro after some time away he finds something he would never have expected, that will change his life forever. It seems that the woman he pledged to serve until her song was written has finally acknowledged her feelings and found her way back home to him. He can't even be too angry that it cost him a bottle of expensive wine. Or: Peli Motto and Bo-Katan Kryze get wine drunk and overshare... fluff and smut ensues.

The Worm Conundrum

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General✯ 2k ✯

Summary: When Mand'alor Bo-Katan Kryze hears about a recent conversation Koska Reeves had with her new girlfriend one night, instead of finding its premise cringeworthy, she instead finds that the ridiculous question will not leave her mind no matter how hard she tries. There is just one thought, turning in her mind, over and over...: Would Din Djarin still love her if she was a worm?

Red Hair, White Cake and Nite Owl Blue

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General✯ 27k ✯

Summary: After retaking Mandalore, Din Djarin abruptly leaves the Mandalorian homeworld with his new apprentice and throws himself into his work with the New Republic in order to avoid dwelling on the nature of his relationship to Bo-Katan Kryze. But a job several months after Mandalore was retaken changes everything for him. When Din is sent to Plazir-15 to track down an old troublemaker, his return to the planet brings back fond memories of time spent with Bo-Katan and causes Din to reflect on his lingering feelings for the woman who he once shared such a special bond with. But before he has a chance to act, a surprise feast thrown in honour of Bo-Katan's recently-announced engagement destroys not only Din's heart but an extravagant white cake too. Has Din left it too late to claim the heart of the red-haired woman he loves? Or will the Mandalorian foundling and the Nite Owl finally find their way to each other?

A New Year on Mandalore

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 2.2k ✯

Summary: It's almost the start of a new year on Mandalore and Bo-Katan Kryze is feeling the absence of a certain Mandalorian, despite the elaborate celebrations that have been planned. The Mand'alor is feeling lonely... until Koska Reeves brings news that a familiar starship has landed at the spaceport.

Dinbo Week 2024

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ Teen ✯ 14k ✯

At The Water's Edge ✯ Teen ✯ 4k ✯

Take My Whole Life, Too ✯ Teen ✯ 2.7k ✯

A More Noble Calling ✯ Teen ✯ 2.4k✯

A Sense Of Belonging ✯ Teen ✯ 3k ✯

The Meiloorun Fiasco ✯ General ✯ 2.5k ✯

Dinbo Drabbles

✯ Read on AO3 ✯ General ✯ 0.4k ✯

Summary: Series of drabbles based on specfic episodes from Season three.

Hello again!

Thanks so much if you made it this far, happy reading! I really hope you find enjoyment somewhere in something I've written.

I would love to know if you did, you can always come and chat to me about anything I've written, I would love to know your thoughts!

[blueberry-ry]

Aq Vetina and their Mando'ade

Aq Vetina is a cold small planet found in the Breshig System of the Mandalorian Sector, and has 3 small moons rotating around it.

The emerged lands of the planet are mostly composed of tall mountains, crossed by long rivers that end up forming the large lakes on whose banks many Vetini villages are then born.

These villages are composed by white pristine buldings, and they are often born on river or lake banks, with some rare ones living more isolated up on the mountains, near underground aquifers.

The people of Aq Vetina are standard humans, but they are born with a much higher tolerance to the cold, which lets them walk around in the snow in a sleeveless tunic.

Other than their national language, the Vetini also communicate with another one made of whistles, which reverberate thanks to the mountains, and allows them to communicate to long distances. They also use huge trumpets to communicate imminent dangers to the entire village (and sometimes those that are near them), or for the start of celebrations and festivities etc.

There isn't a government or a capital city or things like that, it's a very communal style of living and the villages are pretty isolated from each other due to the mountains.

Their traditional red clothes come from one of the most domisticated animal on the planet, the Vetini Sheep, whose wool is naturally red. Another animal they have domasticated is a type of white fox-dog, which helps them to guard their sheep, their home, and to keep them warm during the night by sleeping near them. Another animal is a horse-sixed mountain goat, which they use to travel on the mountains.

All genders wear the same type of clothing, with some slight changes that vary from person to person. All their jewels are made of stones, which is considered the material that connects all the souls of the Vetini, in the same way the rocks of the mountain unite the world. For work tools they either use bones or metals;

The majority of the people there are either artisans, shepherds or farmers, and thanks to the effort of the whole community, they can easily live a self sufficient life. Parents typically have to work a lot, so kids are often taken care of by relatives or other members of the community, who are often older people, teachers or members of the religious order.

Since the planet is in Mandalorian space, the Jedi could not go and meet them freely, so the force sensitive Vetini, over the millennia, created their own Force related religion and order;

Force sensitive Vetini often use a particular rare herb (which is strongly force-connected), which if inhaled through smoke can make their connection to the Force stronger, and trigger visions of the future, but unfortunately it has the nasty side effect of making the user extremely paranoid and, if used too much, can provoke the death of brain cells, leading to irreversible and even deathly brain damages, so it needs to not be used that much.

The Mandalorians of Aq Vetina, unlike the vast majority of mandos, do not paint their armor, but they decorate it with engravings.

This happens because in Vetini culture metal (of any type) is seen as the material of labor, fatigue and survival, and to honor its existence they engrave religious symbols into it, like prayers of good luck, of endurance etc. so the beskar'gam since it's made of beskar, a metal, gets the same treatment.

So instead of using the paint to showcase their life experiences, their beliefs, or their affiliations, they do so with their clothing. They all use the traditional Vetini red, and they then embroider symbols and/or writings onto the clothing. The symbols can either be Clan insignia, various mandalorian symbols, Vetini prayers, songs, names etc.

Vetini mandalorians also prefer a more sedentary type of life. No flying across the stars or fighting on battle grounds, just a rather peaceful existence on the snowy mountains of the planet.

Mando villages and Vetini villages have almost no differences between each others when it comes to life-style and routines, the few changes can be seen in how Mandalorians tend to prefer hunting trips, and celebrate more fight-based festivals, which are often a mix between traditional Vetini ones and some taken by Mandalorian culture. They also have differences in their cuisine, with the mandos often mixing the ingredients and recipes of the two cultures together, creating something entirely new in the process!

Since the first Mandalorians, that came into contact with the planet many centuries ago, followed the rule of "the helmet stays on", many Mando Vetini communities started to follow the same creed, with some changes. Like how they can take it off when in mortal peril (head injuries etc.) or in front of close family members, otherwise it stays on, especially around strangers or off-world people.

[sinisterexaggerator]

Stars Above! | Cad Bane

Chapter 14

Explicit: Semi-slow burn, gratuitous smut /pwp, canon-typical violence, mildly dubious consent, angst, Tatooine Slave Culture.

This chapter: Flashbacks / nightmares, whump, mild-medical procedure involving a needle/dispenser and sedatives.

Word count: 5.3k+

Notes: It only took me TWO YEARS TO UPDATE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I promise that I will try to update more regularly from now on.

[ Ao3 ] - [ Masterpost ]

《 Previous chapter || Next chapter 》

“Supposin’ us bein’ partners don’ mean nothin’,” Bane flippantly offered. Though feeling despondent, he masked it well. The two men were a lot alike in that respect; Bane hardly knew what went on inside the Mando’s over-complicated mind.

“You’ve learned everything there is to know, Cad. And what you don’t know, you don’t want to learn, even if given the opportunity.”

“What’s dhat even mean,” the Duros asked bitingly, throwing down the butt of his cigarra on the cold, hard ground. The two began to make their way, Jango sighing under the beskar helmet that hid his face, Bane trudging along behind, albeit slowly; he was freezing.

Vandor was an icy planet, located in the Sloo Sector of the Mid Rim, currently home to a target that had made his home in Fort Ypso, a snowy village that lay sequestered in the foothills of the Iridium mountains, only crossable by bridge. The wooden planks groaned under their feet as the pair of hunters ventured onward, Slave I left beyond its borders so as not to attract attention and give the game away.

“It means you are stubborn,” Fett returned, his voice carrying over the blistering wind. “Perhaps it is time for you to branch out on your own; be your own man. I am beginning to think I cramp your style.”

The Duros sneered, offended in more ways than one, fangs chattering even though he wore specialized gear meant to curtail the cold from leeching through to his very bones. “Says de man who don’ know when te turn down a job; if Ah had nips, dhey’d already be frozen off.”

“You didn’t have to come with me,” Jango informed him, his joke lost on the dour man. He wasn’t in the mood for Bane’s attitude, much less his complaints.

“As fer style, Ah got plenty,  naht countin’ dhis ridiculous ‘fit ye’ made me wear.”

Bane frowned despite himself, feeling each minor movement of his facial muscles; they were stiff from the frigid temperature, the younger man desiring to find a place of warmth. At least his body glove was able to retain some heat, otherwise he was sure to succumb to this positively ridiculous weather within mere minutes, seconds.

“Fine; maybe Ah should leave ye te it dhen; wait in de ship, if yer so keen on gettin’ rid of me.”

Then, his sour expression deepened, Bane’s footfalls ceasing as he came to a full stop. “It’s ‘cause Ah don’ agree with ye, ain’t it.”

“It’s not your life, nor your decision,” the Mandalorian shot back without delay, unable to hide his bitterness. “I know what I want, even if you don’t.”

Bane braced himself, realizing this was about to become more personal than he had bargained for, Fett having never bothered to explain his motives. All Bane knew was he had won some contest, proving he was the best bounty hunter in all the galaxy—a title he assumed might one day rightfully be his.

Fett had trained him, after all. More than that; he had become his friend, his confidant. Bane might go so far as to think he even loved the man, though never voicing those sentiments out loud; he buried them, like everything else he felt.

Perhaps it was fear that kept him quiet. Fear, or maybe anxiety. They both lived in the same place—inside his chest. The chest that currently housed a heart beating furiously behind a wall of ribs, even as Bane reached out to touched Fett’s shoulder.

What he couldn’t understand was why he needed a million of himself; Jango would be tasked to train an army for an unknown benefactor, an army of clones.

The idea sent shivers down Bane’s scales. He understood there were credits to be made, and lots of them. But even so, this was a line Bane himself would never cross—playing God by ignoring ethics, by ignoring quandaries he thought might only come about in science labs. Not in the field; not in the relatively short life of a bounty hunter.

“Ah know what Ah want,” he muttered softly, “de one of ye.”

The Mando whisked around, batting his companion’s hand away. He could not see his face, but Fett’s annoyance easily radiated out beyond his suit of armor. He thought Bane would never understand his hatred for the Jedi; the duty he had assigned himself that consumed half his personality. “Come off it.”

Bane hesitated. The sky began to darken; he thought he had been to this place before.

“You’re a fool,”Fett’s voice, a low baritone, seeped into Bane’s ears, in turn causing the Duros to tremble. It was not out of the coldness of the weather, but the coldness of his words, that Bane’s body involuntarily shuddered, wide, red eyes blinking away flecks of snowflakes as they floated toward the ground; they were gossamer, each one intricate by its own design.

“But Fett-”

“Shut up,” the Mando cut him off. Something wasn’t right. Bane gazed around himself, even as Fett continued. “You really think I care about what you think?”

Bane stared at him, a wounded look taking over his already glum face. Even so, he thought to follow-up, wondering if he had said these words before. “Just dhat-”

Flames were birthed from blankets of white snow, shooting up as pillars of an all-consuming heat, Bane taking a step back as he watched the fire cast a shadow on Jango’s beskar helmet. Those little flecks, those tiny snowflakes, were now tendrils of hot ash, the icy ground nearby the bridge they stood on a carpet of dirt and soot.

“Ja-Jango?” Bane stuttered out; the man approached, deliberate, even as his voice rose in his anger.

“You are nothing to me, Cad. You are nothing.”

The fire blazed more luminous than a main-sequence star; the heavens were black as pitch and no sun shone; Bane heard another sound, this one the creak of weakening ropes as the Duros realized the bridge they stood upon was near to collapse. It was old, rickety, and the only way into town.

“You are not my friend, and you will never be my family,” Fett assured, his vehemence laced with mockery. The Mando laughed, dry, and borderline sadistic; it was out of character for him. Bane grimaced.

“Fett, we gotta go back!” Bane ignored his hurtful remarks, noticing the bridge was starting to sink and give beneath their weight and the onslaught of the flames. The youth would peer over the side, eyes set to broaden as he realized the mountain valley was now nothing but a pit of hellfire.

“You are weak; pathetic; worthless-”

“-stop it!”

“-just a frightened little boy.”

“Enough!” the Duros shouted; he could hear the panic in his voice. He cursed himself, wanting to be brave; wanting to prove to Fett that everything he said was erroneous, inaccurate – but he was right; Bane was frightened.

Suddenly, Bane had nothing below his feet, just a gaping hole and a river of bright flames. Fett was hovering; he had activated the thrusters of his jetpack; Bane aimed to do the same, pressing a button on his wrist gauntlet, except his boots wouldn’t fire; they sputtered and died out.

He kept on falling.

“Jango!” He heard his voice crack, Bane reaching out and up toward the Mando. The man only laughed that wry, cruel laugh, even as Bane fell to what he knew would be his death.

With hands grasping, arms flailing, and legs kicking erratically, Bane yelled one last time as his body was engulfed, swallowed by the void.

“Ah’m sorry!”

---

“Oh, no!” Todo 360 articulated. “I was afraid this might happen!” the droid verbalized in a mild state of panic. He began zooming around the room, peeking into cabinets and pulling out various tools, utensils, and medical implements. It appeared to Zulara that he might be looking for something in particular, so hurried were his movements in his haste.

“Can I help?” she asked quietly, though eager, not sure what was even wrong or what it was she would be looking for. The girl had been seated on the floor, tinkering with one of Bane’s fancy vambraces; it was sparking.

The girl glanced to the bacta pod where Cad Bane slumbered, but something was amiss; his eyelids twitched. She stood, then approached with caution, peering down into the coffin-like contrivance – that’s when she noticed.

The Duros trembled, the muscles of his face distorting into what looked like fear, then pain. His head shifted back and forth from side to side, though not awake. Zulara’s heart ached for the man.

“What’s wrong with him?” she asked, turning to stare at the frantic Todo. He was too busy in his search to hear her, muttering his many grievances and even a few expletives.

“Todo?” she asked again, the concern apparent in her voice. She stepped forward toward the little droid, tapping him gently on his tiny shoulder.

Todo whirled on her, having forgotten momentarily that she was even aboard the ship, Zulara noting she had startled him by the widening of his citrine eyes.

“Do not do that!” he proclaimed, immediately taking back up the search. Zulara’s lower lip quivered as she turned on her heel, refacing the injured man; he at least seemed calmer now, which Zulara pointed out.

“He’s stopped moving,” she whispered.

Todo zipped on by, a cool rush of air tickling her arm. He observed his master through the glass, a pane of two-inch thick transparisteel.

The droid sighed a human sigh, then rounded on his thrusters. He stared up at the girl, finally managing to find the time to give her a halfhearted story of some kind.

“When in the bacta pod, Bane’s subconscious is left totally unguarded! He is vulnerable to whatever it is his mind can conjure up, and I will have you know these things are not pleasant.”

“He had a nightmare,” Zulara stated, though the end of her phrase had a questioning lilt to it.

Todo nodded in assent, then added: “He has a lot of those, I am afraid.” He wondered if he should be telling all Bane’s secrets. Was this a secret? Nightmares were common among organics. He was unsure.

Zulara frowned at him, then looked down at her boots. She often had nightmares herself, a reoccurring one; the one where she was stripped from her mother’s arms by her drunken father; the one where she was ushered off like chattel into a life of slavery.

Her gaze returned to Todo once she had repressed that bit of sordid memory. “Will he be all right?” she questioned anxiously.

“You are humorous, human. Mister Bane has endured much worse. But I must find this pneumatic dispenser! It holds a sedative we may need; it is only a precaution.”

“You are going to sedate him?” Zulara asked, perplexed.

“Well, it is better than what Bane would do!” Todo scolded, continuing his rummaging. “I, for one, do not wish to suppress my memories, but in all likelihood Bane will hurt himself in this state, and he is already wounded.”

Zulara seemed confused. “What do you mean?”

Todo was becoming irritated. If this woman was not present, he could work in peace! Just who did Boba think he was, leaving her with him! Granted, she seemed to care about his master, but she was still a nuisance! Perhaps the droid was now beginning to understand why Bane called him that on limitless occasions - and when he meant well.

He started to have a change of heart, though his metal shell was empty besides his circuitry; his own thought process set him straight. Todo simply sighed again, though trying to be patient. “Mister Bane seems to think that libations will solve his problems. Why, ever since Boba Fett shot him in the head, he has never been the same!”

Zulara’s frown remained fixated, though deepening. She had heard this mentioned once before as they had dragged Bane inside his ship. Why would the man that had helped to rescue him want him dead instead? It made no sense. She thought to ask, but wondered if the droid would answer her.

Todo seemed two things: high-strung and untrusting, though Zulara’s interest was not self-serving, she was only curious. It was hard not to want to learn all she could about the Duros, his history, and those things that made him tick.

“What happened?” she finally managed, fingers trailing a path down the outside of the convex, transparent glass. “Boba would not tell me how he knew Bane,” she added, studying the curves and angles of the hunter’s face despite the mask he wore that fed him oxygen.

“Because then Boba would be admitting to attempted murder!” the incensed droid piped up, rounding on her. He was flustered by the question, and even more so aggravated by the answer he was about to give. Young Fett was a traitor and a deserter in his opinion; a fly-by-night, disreputable scoundrel to say the very least!

“When one commits to a job, or when one is given a home and specialized training - for free might I add – with only the expectancy of loyalty, and then for that person to defect, to try Mister Bane’s patience after all he did for him!”

Todo scoffed, turning back around. He opened up a lower cabinet, somehow sticking his large head inside, so his words were muffled. “To question his authority is one thing, but to shoot him?!” Todo’s voice was elevated, despite being dampened within the cupboard he was scouring. “Simply because you do not agree with his methods!?”

Zulara watched Todo’s metal chassis shift back and forth as his upper half continued with its plundering, tossing things haphazardly behind him. The girl would lift one leg, dodging something sharp that vibrated—a sonic scalpel? What did Cad Bane need that for?

Zulara bent down to pick it up; she switched it off. Her eyebrows furrowed as she thought about the head plate Bane always sported. “So, then Boba betrayed him? He shot him at point-blank range?”

Her thoughts drifted to the man whose comlink was in her pocket. The youthful face, the curly hair, the deep brown eyes – so soft and rich – she could not imagine him to be a killer, yet he was another bounty hunter. A bounty hunter like the Duros she had feelings for, the one who left her, the one who desired her dead for the sand she had thrown into his stark garnet eyes.

“Well, no,” Todo admitted. He had been there, after all, observing it all unfold. “There was a duel. It was a tie-” the little droid emerged to swivel toward her once again, “-but Boba cheated! A Mandalorian’s helmet is made of beskar! And while Boba is no Mandalorian, his -er- father was.”

Todo 360 made an irritated harumph. “A solitary clone should have been grateful to have Mister Bane mentor him! I know I  would be. Of course, he did owe Jango many favors, or so Mister Bane has said…”

His voice trailed off; Zulara realized something. It was no matter that this droid was comprised of ones and zeros, or its many servos. Something clicked inside her brain—Todo had no bolt, no way in which he was restrained. He loved his master, and to some extent, Cad Bane must love him.

She could only imagine this Fett harbored some kind of guilt, as well he should. If she ever saw him, if he ever commed her…yet it was not her business.

Zulara refocused her attention, “a pneumatic dispenser, no?” Her inquiry was soft, calming. Todo perceptibly unwound, as the organic’s voice was somehow soothing.

He was not used to women hanging around; he had only known those that Bane kept on retainer for one reason or another, namely Aurra Sing; she had not one gentle bone in her whole body. In fact, he might blame her for the way young Boba had turned out. While Mister Bane had a hand in it, it was not until he had been abandoned and thrown in prison thanks to the Palliduvan that his master had offered Fett his guidance.

“Yes,” the exhausted droid replied, returning to his work. He kept one eye on her, but he was thankful for the girl’s assistance, however wary. One could never be too careful.

---

“Boba?” Bane had heard the name, floating out in empty space, inside his mind, or spoken by a God. It lingered, the two syllables leeching their way into his cerebral cortex, even as pure darkness surrounded him, enveloping his cold flesh like a thickset, heavy blanket of unease.

His stomach lurched; he felt like throwing up. Instead, he sat upright and was faced with a nearly obscene brightness. Someone had unveiled the stars, but one shown more luminous than all the others; the one that warmed the desert planet he was now stationed on.

“Bane!”

The Duros’ eyes rolled to his left, spying within his hand a bottle of dark liquor, Bane ascertaining this might be the reason for his sickness; the empty feeling that tarried in his guts. But still, nothing was making sense.

Bane dropped the bottle, glancing up. Some distance away was a teenaged Boba Fett.

How many times would the kid shout his name in anger? How many times would he have to remember his father’s face when looking into his? That armor, that helmet – all a cruel reminder.

“You should have been there.”  That’s what the boy had said that fateful day.

Bane stood, gazing out. He was supposed to say something, words that had been repeated time and time again. The outcome would never be any different, he suspected, but the hunter was caught in a web of his own delusions. Maybe this time he could make it right; maybe this time Bane would not lose his self-respect or his dignity to a fourteen-year-old brat.

“Ah wouldn’ be so-” Bane’s voice dropped; he said the rest quietly and to himself, “-hasty now, boy…”

No. This wasn’t at all accurate. This had happened once before. Bane studied his surroundings, noting the placement of the buildings, a fire that burned in the distance, wisps of dark-colored smoke emanating in tight curls.

Fire.

There was a fire.

He had fallen.

Boba turned his head; Bane followed his lead, spying C-21 Highsinger and his faithful droid companion. Held prisoner in their grasp was a white-haired old man. The child - Fett’s offspring - demanded that he be released along with all the other hostages.

What hostages.

“Let them go, Bane.”

What had he done? He could not remember, the Duros craning his hat and head to stare down at both of his blue hands.

“This isn’t their fight anymore.”

Bane knit his brow in thought, his gaze returning to the boy. He took a new approach, or at least he thought. He was unsure, second-guessing, caught in a place that resembled reality, yet Bane was positive none of this was real.

“Yer daddy ain’t here, boy. Ah knowit. But ye gonna go ‘head an’ bite de hand dhat feeds?”

Bane took two steps forward, somehow knowing what came next. He had always wondered if there was some other way than this, something he could have done to change Fett’s mind. But in the end, he had it out for him; it was a part of history that could never be rewritten. Boba had got it in his head that Cad Bane was his enemy, and the sole executioner of the people here, as if he was the only one who was unscrupulous among those present.

“Yer gonna wind up poor, or dead, out on yer own – dhis galaxy is harsh. Ye think Jango was perfect? Ye think he wouldn’ do whateva’ it takes te get de job done?”

“Shut up! I am not my father!” Boba scolded beneath his helmet; Bane ground his teeth as he glared at him, his expression full of venom. Always such an impudent, brazen child.  He hated Jango then – all of them – and his clone army; his poor decision.

“No more innocent people are going to die, or be locked up, or live in fear,” Fett reiterated, brandishing a finger. It was ironic, all this talk, when Boba Fett was supposed to be a bounty hunter.

“Did ye ferget what profession ye’s in? We’re hunters, Boba. Unless ye ain’t one. Maybe yer just soft.”

A poor choice of words, considering the circumstances. Bane was sure he had only made things worse. He did not have the time to contemplate anything beyond that, for Bossk and Embo had arrived.

At least they were fairly trustworthy, the Kyuzo only second to Bane himself. Bossk knew how to take directions, even though he had connections, strong ones, to the Guild. Bane had thought, incorrectly, that they might back him up and take his side, but the blood that ran through Boba’s veins was a testament to his skill and to his mounting leadership, despite his age and stature.

Bane smiled a crooked smile. “Looks like yer lil’ insurrection has failed.”

Boba looked behind himself and to the others; Bane’s smile faltered. He glanced around as the thin shroud separating this world from the next shimmered and disjoined. He saw stars; realspace; a depthless abyss of nothing, like a curtain had been pulled back to reveal the stage, and he was the main character.

“I say we give the kid his shot,” he heard the Trandoshan rasp.

Bane dug his boots into the sandy earth. There was a suction pulling him, like a vacuum, toward a gaping hole that now stretched so wide the entire town was gone. The only thing that remained were the other hunters; Bossk and Embo had stood down, and Boba was rounding on him.

Bane realized they did not seem to be affected; it was like none of this was happening. He knew what he was supposed to say, as if only reciting his own name.

“So, dhat’s it – just ye and me dhen, Boba Fett.”

“I guess it is,”the boy would reply.

Their eyes met, or at least he thought they did. That damned bucket was in the way, Bane mentally cursing its utility – it’s why he hated them – it was a place to hide.

And kark the others; their loyalty was forfeit, Bane reminded of a most important lesson: he was alone, and he always had been. Always would be, save his droid for company.

A sharp wind picked up, yet Bane’s hat did not fly off—not yet. He fought with all his might against an invisible adversary, even as his fingers danced above one LL-30 BlasTech pistol. If he could only be a fraction faster, if he could only put this disgruntled adolescent in his rightful place, his anger, his heartache, his headaches—they all might vanish.

His quick draw was the cause of his notoriety. To be outdone - to lose to a snot-nosed kid - it would be an embarrassment, though highly understated. The only thing he had left to him was his reputation, and Fett was out to steal it from him, albeit fair and square. He couldn’t – wouldn’t – let that happen.

Bane pulled his weapon; he squeezed the trigger. Simultaneously, another shot was fired. Superheated plasma - imbued with an explosive quality - transferred kinetic and thermal force to the armor plating that lined his signature bolero.

It was not enough to stay the bolt; he felt a searing pain on the left side of his head, radiating across his brow and the upper part of his domed skull. He fell back flat, staring up at a now starless, barren sky. He was out of breath, and he thought this is where he ought to die.

Bane would close his eyes, legs stretched out and arms taut at his sides. He had no idea the outcome; that it had been a tie; that Boba Fett had saved himself from his demise by wearing that accursed beskar, yet the young hunter’s aim had not betrayed him.

“Mister Bane!” he would hear his droid call aloud in a worried tone. He had repeated it three times now, though the Duros found he could not move. The only thing he could perceive in this state was a scathing ache; an excruciating, endless throbbing, right where the bolt made contact with his hat and ricocheted.

The plasma had been so hot, so volatile, it had dissolved his scales clean off and scorched him to the bone—the durasteel panel had dented inward before his hat rebounded off his head and fluttered to the ground, molten metal boring easily through flesh and osseous tissue, slowed only partially.

Tears welled behind shut eyelids, as in that moment, he wished the boy had killed him.

---

Zulara, hours later, had traversed Mos Eisley’s streets. She had been looking for something, something good to eat. While she was not hungry, she imagined Bane would be the moment he awoke. The girl had not strayed far in her search for the right ingredients.

She aimed to concoct a Twi’lek dish, though she would modify it. Her palette did not enjoy the fungi that accompanied the rycrit meat. She would add carrots and potatoes, along with various other root vegetables, to cook a hearty stew, a thing to keep Bane’s strength up and paid for with her own meager credits.

Todo had confirmed there was nothing much edible aboard Bane’s ship; she had found out shortly that its name was the Justifier; curious, though she would not mention it. Once they had found the lost dispenser, Zulara made it her new objective to prepare a home-cooked meal for the healing Duros. Perhaps he would be appreciative and would not mind that she was here, doing her best to look out for him.

To think, she could still be napping in Ohnaka’s arms if Fett had not sounded the alarm. It was something more complicated than a mere regret; she did not feel that way. In fact, it pleased her. It had scratched an itch Cad Bane had left behind. Still, she had been hurt, a stupid thing, as the youth had asked how long she had known this man; her answer proved unsatisfactory, even to herself.

Why? Why care? As if his attempt to free her was not enough, though Bane had made her feel things she had never felt before. Maybe Zulara has naïve, a woman with no sense, but what sense could she have considering her circumstances? Some might call it a learning curve, though that did not mean she was not harboring intelligence.  In this case, she was thinking with her heart and not her head, but she could not help it; all she cared for was Bane’s good health.

Zulara absentmindedly stirred a pot; it was something she had located in a cabinet by the conservator. It barely appeared used; she wondered if Bane ever liked to cook, or if his starship had come equipped with those things he needed, whether utilized or not.

Once the rycrit stew was at a simmer, she lowered its heat setting and placed a lid on top of it. With this accomplished, she thought to find Todo and pose another question: where was there a workroom, a space with tools? She had it in her mind to fix Bane’s gauntlet, wanting to feel useful.

Now, just where had that droid gone off to?

---

Glowing embers of crimson red bothered to open up again as Cad’s body began to move of its own volition.

No – it was the wind, that suction. It had gained momentum; it was stronger, rolling him like a tumbleweed toward the open maw of nothing!

The hat went first, vanishing beyond the veil. Bane grimaced as he dug his fingers into the pliant earth. There was no stopping it, head pounding as his legs thrashed violently. He was like a fish out of water, surrounded by only grit and sand. Death, once more, seemed imminent.

The Duros panicked.

---

Zulara heard a crash, like something falling. She rushed back to where Bane rested, Todo’s mental state in a disarray as he had dropped something. Her eyes traveled toward the pod; Bane was seizing. The girl would gasp as she ran for the tank at lightspeed.

It wasn’t that the droid was clumsy, he had simply moved too quickly. Seeing his master at the mercy of his nightmares had drawn out all his worry; it must have been preprogrammed, but by who was an unsolved mystery—unless it was Vertseth Automata. Surely, Bane would have preferred a model with more strengths than weaknesses, but he had his purpose. Currently, it was to act as nurse, though he was not one; he had been built for techo-service.

By the time Todo arrived, Zulara had already pried open the bacta pod. Bane was coughing, sputtering, even while unconscious. The girl tried lifting him, cupping his upper back as he broached the surface; the sticky gel still held him, her face strained with the effort, though Zulara kept him aloft, fighting the weakness of her arms—Bane was too heavy for her alone.

“Todo, do something!” she pleaded, though she needn’t ask. The droid had readied the dispenser that housed the sedative mid-dash.

“I am sorry, Bane, but this will only hurt a moment!” he said in warning, still somehow afraid of incurring his master’s wrath, no matter that he was incapacitated. He aligned the needle and pressed with all his might; the medicine was injected directly into the site; it would disperse and travel throughout his bloodstream, suppressing his dark memories to the best of its ability.

Todo sighed, dropping his hand and arm. He let the empty dispenser fall onto the floor. Bane had noticeably relaxed; his breathing evened out. Zulara finally felt convinced enough to lie him back down within the healing gel.

“Is-is that it? Will he settle now?” the girl asked fretfully, adjusting Bane’s breathing mask for him; it had become somewhat crooked.

“I do believe so, yes,” Todo stated, though his confidence was shaken. He backed up a foot to let her work, watching how Zulara tended to his master carefully.

It was then Todo wobbled on his axis, believing himself to be tuckered out. For a droid to feel this way was like when organics suffered from lack of sleep. He could not remember the last time he had plugged in, knowing that his power supply was finally dwindling. “I do not feel so good,” he reluctantly admitted.

“What?” Zulara appeared alarmed, turning now upon the droid. He placed his feet down on the ground - too much time spent hovering was another drain on his internal generator – knowing he had only a few minutes left.

“It is not..hi..ng…to worry a..bo..ut,” Todo’s speech came out garbled and slowed down, “I am in need of a re..ch..ar..ge…There is a sta..tion…do..wn the ha.ll.”

Bane’s companion’s eyes flickered, like two glowing yellow fireflies, flashing her at intervals. What would she do without him? What if Bane woke up again? She ran to his aid as he began a make his way, albeit awkwardly.

“You can’t leave me! What if the tank malfunctions, or what if Bane has another nightmare!” Zulara begged of him.

“Bane will most likely be remain un..con..scious for se..veral hours n..ow,” he tried to reassure, his tiny, robotic hands trailing the wall to his right side; his eyesight was no longer reliable, and he had to feel for it: the door that would lead him to his charging bay where he would gladly sit and wait to be replenished. “Do not wor..ry, he is safe. You can always ca..ll… Bo…ba.” He could not believe he was saying this.

“Are you sure? But I don’t want to call him!” Zulara argued, watching as Todo ambulated toward another room. It was the place with all their tools, the one she had been searching for. Todo had nearly made it to his recharge station when he stopped dead.

“Todo?” Zulara whimpered.

There was no response; he had lost all power.

[malakia215]

@its-kinda-snowy did it again!!!!! 😭😭😭😭💜💙 (Reminder that they are having a special price going on for sketch commissions. Get them before they are gone!)

JEDI DIN, BY BELOVED!!!!

Snowy even drew him his pike weapon! I didn't even ask for them to do that!!! might change later but so happy he has one!!!

It is a companion piece to the Mando Luke sketch Snowy also did! Tied to the story 'Revealing My Heart'

Thank you again Snowy for the commissions!!!

[darlin-djarin]

people i'd like to get to know better

tagged by @rochenn

last song: secret door by arctic monkeys (though if you wanna get REAL technical, i was listening to ayatul kursi after that)

favorite color: yellow

last movie/tv show: demon slayer (which is why i had to listen to ayatul kursi lol)

sweet/spicy/savory: spicy

relationship status: single

last thing i googled: eman esfandi (lmao)

current obsession: nothing really, other than star wars which i have been slowing down on to focus on other more important stuff in my life. i'd like to get back into it soon though

tagging: @ashlanoree @moonsika @stealingpotatoes @death-by-ladybug @mando-din-lorian @kuiilandtorch @its-kinda-snowy

[elesianne]

So I did manage to finish a little fic (or a chapter of a fic, if inspiration keeps coming and I write more later) in 2023! Here it is for you guys on Tumblr.

About a version of Caranthir who married a Sindarin woman in Beleriand while lord of Thargelion; technically a sequel to these fics but can be read on its own, no problem. Rating G.

Caranthir steps out of his fortress as dusk gives way to night and walk to the ramparts, to the ones that face the frozen, snow-covered dark waters of Lake Helevorn. He walks very carefully on the icy stone on top of the wall, cradling close to him the precious bundle he carries.

It is midwinter, and his son is so swaddled up in warm clothes and furs that only his face is visible. All the guards Caranthir passes try peer at the child anyway, eager to catch of a glimpse of their lord's firstborn. Aramdir blinks up at the sky, sleepy, unaware of the interest in him.

In between greeting the guards, Caranthir takes deep breaths of the fresh, cold air that smells of coming snow as well as woodsmoke. He has not been outside since Aramdir was born a week ago. He has been supporting Cedweril and caring for Aramdir, and the past week has been perhaps the best time of his  life, but he has missed fresh air and seeing more of his realm than the bedchamber.

Cedweril is sleeping deeply now, and Caranthir decided to take Aramdir out with him to show him more of the world he was born into.

He stops by a brazier, close enough to warm him and Aramdir but not so close it'll be uncomfortable for the child, he hopes.

He lifts Aramdir a little, showing him the land. The lake, the woods beyond it, the mountains behind the fortress.

'All this is ours', he says to him. He speaks quietly enough for the closest guards not to hear. 'Ours to keep and protect.'

'It is a rather cold land, windy and snowy. Wolves from the mountains, ice in the lake for months of the year. But it is a fair land, even the dark lake. I will teach you to swim there, or your mother will. She is a better swimmer than I. We will ride and hunt in the forest, and climb the mountains, and I will take you to meet the dwarves near their mountain-cities.'

If he ever prayed, Caranthir would pray for peaceful times for his son to grow up in. Instead he makes a silent vow to do all he can to make the coming years peaceful, to fight as many battles as he has to, to slay all the monsters that creep close to the fortress.

His son's will not be a childhood like his was, with tree-light and six brothers and a society wholly unlike what Caranthir has built in Thargelion with his loyal Noldor and his brave Sindar, but it still can be a good one.

Caranthir has to believe so. He may be damned and oath-sworn, but his son isn't him and isn't doomed – surely he cannot be – his half-Noldorin, half-Sindarin son born many years after Mandos's doom. Little Aramdir is his own person, full of possibilities, full of light that Caranthir can see shine brighter than starlight even though his eyes don't shine with the light of the Trees like Caranthir's do.

As he stands there in the cold, clear, evening with his son, they watch the stars come out. The stars and their light, cool but beloved and reassuring, have ever been there even for the banished Noldor. After the trees were gone and before the sun and moon rose, the stars brought light and hope to the world. In spite of everything the Noldor had done, the stars lit their way as they travelled and fought and hunted to keep away evil and hunger and hopelessness alike.

The lord of Thargelion whispers to his child, 'May starlight always light your path, my son, whatever roads and hidden paths of the world you take.'

[creature-beast]

Starting off the new blog with my star wars creature the Or'shorna

These guys live on my silly Mando planet, Diskin, and are inspired by orcas, bears, big cats, and a lil bunny mixed in

I'll be making posts about anatomy for them later

But quick run down

The local mandalorian population uses them primarily for hunting, they are naturally wild but the mandos have a couple packs that have been living side by side with them for generations, so these guys would basically be domesticated but the mandos still make sure they are capable of living completely independent if needed.

The Or'shorna use their "ears" to help detect vibrations in the snowy environment, along with the flaps on their necks. The flaps on their sides act more as auxiliary paddles when swimming and help keep warmth in when out of water. The males have an extra set of nubbins at the base of their tails, this is the only real sexual dimorphism within the species, they can be a Bilateral Gynandromorph, meaning they can be half male and half female down the middle (like a lobster,butterfly, or cardinal), this results in having 1 nubbin at the base of the tail.

They can be extremely friendly and puppy-like but due to their enormous size this can lead to the occasional squishing injury, but they usually back off if you make a loud enough noise.

I have many more drawings of them these are just older ones to get them out

[twoidiotwriters1]

Snowy stop (Din Djarin x Fem! Reader)

A/N:  And we start with little Christmas stories! Merry early Christmas, everyone!

P.S. The only reason I did this taking it for a Christmas thing, is because it has snow. Enjoy

P.S. 2. Yes, I am still crying for the end of the second season of The Mandalorian. 

Warnings: Spoiler not spoiler of season 2, I guess.

"Where do we go now?" I sit in the passenger seat.

"There are still three days to reach Nevarro,” answers the Mandalorian.

"But we've been wandering in space for over two weeks," I complain.

"If we make fewer stops, we’ll get there faster.”

"And the food will end faster too," I reply.

He sighs, presses a few buttons, and turns his chair to see me through his helmet visor.

"You know how this is, Y/N.”

“We have never been so long on the ship. We can get to a nearby planet, buy food, and that's it. Surely it won't take long–“

“We don't have enough credits for food. Which means I have to find a job and it would take more time."

I bite my lower lip hiding a smile.

"You know how this works, Din.”

He sighs again.

"We won’t make stops,” he says and returns to the control panel.

"Oh, come on. Aren't you tired of being in front of those buttons, walking just to go to the bathroom, eat or go to sleep?" He ignores me. "I don't even know when was the last time you slept on your cot!”

I see how he tenses.

"I'm trying to continue the journey so that we can get there faster and you stop complaining," He growls.

"I would complain less if you even rested like a normal person.”

“I am not a normal person. I am a Mandalorian.”

"Yes of course, now you’re going to tell me that not sleeping is the rule that follows after not removing the helmet–”

"Why don't you go see how the child is?"

I roll my eyes.

“I hate when you’re so stubborn. That happens to you for not breathing fresh air…”

"Stop complaining and go with the child.”

"Alright, grumpy,” I say getting up.

I go down the metal staircase and walk down the small hallway until I reach the 'rooms'. Two capsules, in one Mando and the baby sleep, in the other there is only me, although it also depends on the baby's mood, sometimes wants to be with me and others with him.

As I get closer I hear the happy cooing of the little green creature, who is sitting in the little makeshift hammock. I smile and take him in my arms.

"Good morning, my little bean,” I pat his huge ears and he babbles happily. “Let's make you something to eat. I'm sorry, it’ll be the same as the whole week, your father is a disinterested grump who doesn't want to buy you anything else,” the baby babbles again as if he were answering. "I know, you should tell him something…”

But before he could coo anything, the ship shakes brutally and a crash is heard outside of it. The movement makes me fall and I do my best not to hurt the baby. I hug him against my chest and approach a wall. The alarm sounds and for a few seconds the light goes out. Then all is quiet and the ship stops.

"You're good?" I ask the baby.

Strong footsteps are heard approaching us and the imposing figure of Mando crouches in front of me.

“Are you okay?" He asks agitated. I nod and move my arm so the baby comes out of hiding. Din sighs in relief when he sees us.

"What happened?”

He sighs and taps his helmet.

"Something happened to the engine.”

I frown. He knows I don't know anything about ships, so he doesn't bother using big words, but he always tries to explain it to me so I can learn. This time it is different. He wants to avoid it. He stands up and offers his hand to help me.

"Something with the motor?" I ask suspicious.

“It's nothing, I can fix it.”

"Did someone attack us?" An idea crosses my mind and I can't help but smile. "The engine overheated, didn't it?"

He doesn't respond, which makes me laugh.

"There is nothing funny about it.”

"Of course not, grumpy," I say sarcastically. I lift the baby a little. "Did you hear that? Now we’ll have to land on a planet. You’ll finally be able to see the sun again!” The green creature just laughs.

Din growls.

"Don't be so dramatic.”

"Come on, Little bean. We’ll have something for breakfast and then explore a new planet,” I say ignoring the man's comment and walk to the kitchen.

***

"You have to be kidding me,” I say seeing the great landscape in front of me.

"What's going on?" Din asks next to me. I'm sure he's grinning like an asshole now. "You wanted to make a stop, right?"

All terrain is covered in an extremely thick layer of snow. Some bare trees surround the horizon and in the distance are some cabins, perhaps a town.

"But, you can hardly see the sun!” I complain seeing the cloudy sky.

"Now you complain about the planet?"

I sigh.

"Oh well. I'll go for more clothes…”

It doesn't take me that long to choose something more ‘appropriate’, but no matter how much I put on another layer of clothing, the wind cuts through my bones, making me shiver.

"If I become an ice sculture, it will remain on your conscience,” I say returning to the ramp.

"Come on," he says laughing.

Din keeps the baby warm in a bag and hides him with his cape so as not to attract attention. As always, he leaves me behind. But something besides my short legs is stopping me: the snow is so thick that it’s difficult for me to raise my legs again with each step and when I look up to see Din, I am infuriated to see that he has no problem.

"Hey, wait for me!" I yell at him, but he never turns around. I curse under my breath. And as if my luck couldn't get worse, after taking another step, I don't feel anything solid and I fall into the snow, leaving only my head in view. I complain and try to get up, but any movement makes it worse. It's like I'm in quicksand. "Din!" I screech.

I remove the snow from my body, but nothing works, only after a few minutes the Mandalorian returns. He looks at me from above with his arms crossed.

"Do you have a problem, princess?"

"I'm stuck," I say, pouting.

"I thought so,” he says taking my hand.

The rest of the way was better as Din had no choice but to carry me on his back. Only until we got to town, was I able to get off and feel the stable cobbled ground.

The three of us went into the first restaurant and sat at a table.

"I'll go find a job,” he informs us and he goes to talk to other people.

I sigh and remove my scarf. I put the baby in his high chair. A waitress comes over and I order two plates of soup, it's the only thing we can have.

"Do you like this place, Grogu?" The baby babbles and trembles slightly so I put my scarf around him.

The waitress comes back and we both eat until Din arrives.

“I got something. It shouldn't take more than two days.”

I nod and finish my soup. When we pay we return to the cold.

"Do you think that with the money from your work we can get more clothes?" I ask him, hugging my body.

“Maybe,” He tilts his helmet. “The ship is too far to return. They gave me an advance, we’ll stay in a cabin tonight.”

The room is big enough to have a double bed and the capsule where the baby sleeps. It’s nothing out of the ordinary and it doesn’t even bother us that it doesn’t have two beds, at this point we have gotten used to sleeping anywhere.

Also, I could never complain about sleeping near Din and neither does he.

The baby falls asleep as soon as he touches his pillow and I run to the warm blankets on the bed.

“I will go find information. Is it okay if you stay here alone?" says the Mandalorian preparing his blaster.

Normally, where he goes we go with him, but it’s not difficult to see that both the baby and I prefer to stay.

Din leaves and I spend at least two hours alone doing nothing more than getting some sleep and distracting me with some hologram videos that the hostel offers, but a bang disrupts our peace. In the corridors of the hostel gunshots and screams are heard causing the baby to wake up.

Instinctively, I close the curtains and turn to the capsule. A new shot is heard and the baby presses the button to close the crib. I laugh and push him into a corner, pull out my blaster and open the door a little. I slowly went out until I reached the stairs, went down to the first floor and crouched down reaching the corner that overlooks the hall.

"The child and the girl with the Mandalorian!" yells a Twi'lek pointing at the receptionist. She answers with our room number.

The machine nods and turns to the front door. Then a group of at least eight Twi'leks and other unfriendly creatures enter the hall ready to go in search of us.

“Shit…” I ran back to our room, closed the door and pushed a piece of furniture against it. We take my things and bring the capsule closer. From my bag I take out the emergency intercom. "Mando!" I call and while I wait I look around the room for some other way out.

“Y/N?" He answers back.

"There is a group of Twi'leks in the hostel, I counted six and other creatures, but I'm sure more are coming,” screams and more shots are heard. "I will not be able to deal with all!” I say agitated.

"Get out of there!”

I roll my eyes-

"Great idea, how did I not think of it?" I go into the bathroom and find a tall window. “Bingo."

"Cyar'ika?"

"I found a way out, but…” Someone knocks on our door. I take the baby and go out the window very carefully.

Only that this time I do appreciate the thick layer of snow. Grogu and I go down smoothly, although running is hard for me.

I return to town and problems chase us. More enemies gen here from every part of the place.

"There!" Someone yells pointing at us.

I don't wait any longer, I put Grogu in my bag and run towards the nearby woods, where at least the snow lets me run more easily.

I hear screams behind me and some shots graze my body. I dodge attacks and trees, but I know this won't work for long. No tree is thick enough to hide us. Only until I get to a recognized part does an idea occur to me.

I deviate from the forest and in the distance I see the Razor Crest, now I just hope not to be wrong.

***

Every part of my body is about to freeze. Inside my sweater, the baby moves and his head pops out.

“I-I don't hear n-nothing. T-it's your turn…” I raise my arm and with what little strength I have left I push the snow around us a little. As soon as any light is visible, I push the baby out so he can get out. "G-g-go f-for-” I complain. “He-help…”

The light increases and I can only feel the little hands of the child trying to remove the snow, at one point he even uses his powers, but it doesn’t take long for a shadow to arrive and now the snow moves with more force.

I raise my head and see the Mandalorian armor.

“Cyar'ika."

"I- I’m- I’m stuck.”

***

As soon as Din scooped me up to the Razor Crest along with the baby, he did his best to warm us up. After a quick, hot shower, I now find myself in front of the radiator with both my and Din's clothes and a warm blanket. But even so, my body doesn't stop shaking.

Grogu is asleep in his hammock, he didn't have so much trouble, I kept him safe before falling into the snow.

Din's footsteps come closer and he sits next to me on the floor in front of the radiator. He raises an arm behind me, but I jump away.

“You'll be better with my body heat.”

I smile thinking of a comment that would make him uncomfortable, but I decide to lose the opportunity for now.

"Y-you, your b-beskar is frozen,” I say pointing to the armor.

“Oh."

Din leaves and after what was maybe half an hour, he returns to his place next to me wearing only a black sweater and pants. This time I let him hold me.

He leans against the wall behind us, settling in to sit me on his lap and wrap me in his arms. I sigh resting my head on his chest.

“It was a great idea what you did. Dangerous and stupid, but it worked,” He says hoarsely without his helmet modulator. Although I have already seen him without it, sometimes he still uses it and only when he’s comfortable does he take it off. Like now.

"N-no, I didn't know what else to do,” I reply. "I-I'm sorry about your work."

"It doesn’t matter. I thought I had lost you,” He tells me tightening his hug. “But I also knew that you would find some way to escape. When I saw Grogu moving the snow, I could breathe again.”

I lift my head and he looks back at me.

"N-no, you won't get rid of u-us so e-easily,” We both laugh and Din leans in to kiss me.

"I don't plan on doing it for a long time, my ka’rta," he replies. Din kisses my forehead and I return to his chest. "Ni kar'tayli gar darasuum, Cyar'ika"

I smile.

"I love you too, Din.”

[youareunbearable]

Im really fond of the idea, that before the light of the Two Trees went out, it was encouraged that young Elves (especially those of the royal families) would apprentice in one the Houses of the Valar. They might learn from the Valar themselves, but they mostly work with the Maiar and the older Elves that work or study there

The Noldor normally apprentice with Aluë, for they share love and talent for crafting and smithing, or they go to Tulkas, for they also have a love of using the weapons and armour they create

When the time for apprenticeship was upon Maedhros, the first grandchild of Finwë and future ruler of the Noldor, everyone expected him to follow in his family's footsteps. Both his father and mother were brilliant artists and they were Aulë's favourite craftsmen and he would gladly love to tutor and guide their child in whatever field he chooses, if its gold work, jewelry, smithing, or masonry

So everyone was shocked when Maedhros instead chose to work alongside Nienna

People whispered and gossiped about why the Youngest Noldor Prince would choose to work alongside the Winter One, he seemed too cheerful and beautiful and full of life and joy to be working for the Mistress of Death

But then they see him comfort and coo at his younger siblings and cousins when they tumble and teach them to push through their fear and hurt and keep moving forward, or act as peace maker between his uncle and father, or just always be there for a sympathetic ear, the people understand and forget that it was ever an issue

It wasn't until later that those same people quaked upon the sight of Maedhros, Eldest Son of Fëanor, the one who has grief and world ending sorrow embeded into his very marrow and uses it as the strongest armour ever crafted so that blows and deep cuts that would wreck others hardly makes him stumble, who can take the burning of tears and the fire of a throat scraped raw from wailing and use it to rend whole cities into ash and ruin

Yes, Maedhros, Eldest Son of Fëanor, Oath Taker, Kinslayer, and former High King of the Noldor knew Grief well. He worked and labored under her for most of his life, was reunited with her frequently and with great intensity many time both on the shores of Valanor and off, and in the end, he was the first and only of the Elven to embrace her so fully he willing let her curl up into his heart and mind and threw himself into the Mistress of Death's open and waiting arms

[ladypepperofdavenshire-archives]

A frosty, fiesty Corvan for ya

[sepialunaris]

Tython is both "old legends reference, holy Jedi planet" and "site of Darth Vader's ultimate clown moment, where Ani's homophobic ass gets handed to him by a non-force sensitive (only canon and significant) gay icon"

[pheedraws]

Me, for the last month and a half: I miss snow :( we never get any snow :( it would be really cool if it snowed for christmas :( 

The weather, the one (1) day this month I actually have somewhere important to be:  :) 

[words-are-fireproof]

Red Ribbons - (Din Djarin x f!reader)

Summary: After seeing his face, you and the Mandalorian end up in a snowy town with the kid and red ribbon.

Rating: T, just to be safe

Word Count: 3.1k

A/N: I don't celebrate the holidays but I started this as part of @toomanystoriessolittletime's December challenge and I finally finished it so...here you go! As always, my work is unedited. Whoops. And, also, as always, I can't write short stuff to save my life. Double whoops.

This is a sequel, of sorts, to Haalur but I don't think you'll have had to read that one to understand this one. Still gonna link that one, though.

[Masterlist] || [Part One]

-----

The minute he saw you, he had two questions–one, why was the kid wrapped in a bow; two, why were you wearing almost the same bow in your hair?

Holidays weren’t exactly something that he understood. The Outer Rim had festivals to honor gods and different tribes had different celebrations for harvests and the like, but you’d come from a place that chose to exchange gifts at the end of every year to encourage an uptick in morale. The morale sustained your culture through the long, harsh winters, and often the gifts were practical in nature. You’d explained it a few times, but he still didn’t understand the significance or why you couldn’t just exchange gifts all year long. If they were practical gifts, wouldn’t they be better suited to give at any time instead of the end of the year?

He never argued, though. He just nodded and went on, tending to the repairs of a newly rebuilt gunship that Peli Motto had found when he’d complained about the lack of space on the N-1. He knew of only one holiday on Tatooine–Boonta Eve–but he never celebrated it, and he made it a point to not be on the planet when the celebration happened. Mandalorians and celebrations weren’t exactly good bedfellows. However, he didn’t exactly mind. He also was careful to avoid most places during Life Day celebrations. What could he say? He wasn’t big on celebrations.

But he still was curious about why Grogu looked pleased as punch in a bright red bow and why you looked far too cheerful for a normal day on an almost deserted planet. Thankfully it wasn’t too deserted. You still managed to procure a rather nice room in town, framed by a big window that opened to a panorama of a snowy forest. He didn’t think he’d ever seen that much snow that wasn’t mostly ice, but you weren’t complaining and, strangely enough, neither was Grogu.

The little bog goblin toddled around the warm, enclosed landing pad. Only a sliver of cold air filtered to them through a small crack between the overhead bay doors. It barely ruffled the bow around his little neck. Mando couldn’t believe he was keeping the bow on. Sometimes changes in his routine threw the little tyke off. Most of the time, he went with the flow with small squeals of excitement that filled the Mandalorian’s chest with happiness, a strange and foreign feeling even now. He’s sure what he felt squeezing underneath his sternum– as he fiddled with a bolt cutter–was that ever elusive emotion. He couldn’t be so sure.

“Where did you get that?” He asked, crouching down to see under the chassis of his ship and to be more on Grogu’s level.

The kid pointed in your direction. His breath hitched, the sound crackling through his modulator. You didn’t hear it, but the kid glanced over him, his head tilted curiously.

You’d found a stash of wooly sweaters Mando had recently filched from a bounty. You were surprised they fit, but you were grateful, especially when his ship required emergency maintenance in the snowiest planet possible. The red ribbon had been acquired from the inn owner. Something about being easy to see in the snow. Maybe. You couldn’t understand half of what the woman–or you assumed it was a woman–said. She spoke in a language you didn’t understand. At least you had him to procure the room.

You took it upon yourself to do your hair in the room, curling it delicately in long ringlets one lock of hair at a time. When you’d finished, you pulled on one of the sweaters, a deep maroon one that brought out your eyes. You ignored the way it itched and clung to your body. You never wore form fitting stuff. You preferred loose clothing, and you rarely wore colors, preferring the browns and tans that you usually wore on Tatooine. And you were fairly certain he’d never seen you with your hair down like this, which might explain why the ‘t’ of his visor was trained on you, head tilted, Grogu making little squeaks of confusion at the change in you. But, as soon as you smiled, he came toddling over to you happily, asking silently to be picked up and you obliged. You settle the little green bean on your hip as you regard Mando closely.

The ‘t’ of his helmet was still trained on you. You couldn’t be sure what he was thinking. Ever since that night on Tatooine when he asked you to take off his helmet, he’d been different. You enjoyed that night, and you made sure to tell him, especially when he took you to bed without his armor and held you in his broad frame like you were the best thing to ever happen to him. Maybe you were. You weren’t about to argue with him, not as he held you like that. But after that night, after he’d flown away, he seemed to grow distant, intent on not touching you, intent on doing other things and not giving you the time of day.

It hurt, but you weren’t so easily swayed in your affections and you’d like to think that he wasn’t either, whatever those affections might be.

“What’s the occasion?” His voice came through the modulator, quiet and uncertain.

“I thought I’d dress up for you.”

His helmet tilted to the side. “Why?”

“Why not?”

He stood slowly, his entire frame raising smoothly, even with the heavy beskar on. “You’ve never done it before.”

“It’s too hot to dress up on Tatooine.”

He snorted. “I noticed.”

You shifted Grogu onto your other hip as he played with a ringlet of your hair. “And maybe I wanted to entice you away from your ship.”

The kid cooed and looked between the two of you, dark eyes catching the dim light of the landing bay, his little fist curled into your hair.

He shifted on his feet, his helmet straightening as he peered at you. “You don’t want to get out of here?”

You shook your head as you said, “Why would I have had you get us a room if I wanted to leave?”

That seemed to flummox him. He didn’t have an answer for that. He just stared at you and his kid. He hated to admit it, but Grogu liked you as much as he liked him. The two of you weren’t attached like he was to Mando, but you knew he missed you when you were gone. Mando would tell you when he inevitably came back for a visit, Tatooine in his veins, calling like a siren’s song, pulling him in.

“You…like the snow?”

You shrugged elaborately. “I’ve never really been in snow like this. It’s nice.”

“The kid and I’ve mostly just seen ice planets. Haven’t we, little guy?”

Grogu cooed and continued to look between the two of you intently, like he could feel the shift in the two of you, like he knew something had happened while he was gone. You couldn’t be sure if he registered the time apart from Mando. You were sure he had, though. When the two of them came staggering back to your door after the fight with the rancor and the Pykes, you’d tended his wounds while Grogu remained attached to Mando’s hip. The kid’s eyes were trained on you as you stitched Mando up, having been out of bacta spray and other modern medical miracles. You prefered the old fashioned way. You’d been raised that way. That’s when Mando told you about the little green guy. Fully told you. He didn’t skirt around it like he had before. He’d told you the kid was actually fifty. You barely believed it, but when he told you about Grogu’s life before, the memories he’d suppressed, the power he had… a lot of things suddenly made sense.

“Ice planets can be pretty, too.”

Mando snorted softly and shook his head. “Not when you’re getting chased by ice spiders.”

You make a face, a shudder sliding down your spine. “Oh, god, no thank you.”

“I think Grogu made them mad.”

You lifted an eyebrow and peered at the kid. “Did you eat some of them?��� The kid giggled and babbled which gave you all the confirmation you needed. “Of course, you did.”

Silence flowed between the two of you for a moment longer than it should’ve. Your eyes trained on him and you wished he would take off his helmet. You longed to see his deep, soulful eyes again. You wanted to drown in his gaze. Maybe you even wanted to drown in him but then you thought about the fact that the kid was there with him this time and there was no one to watch him but the two of you.

“You really want to stick around?”

You nodded. “You should see the room you got,” you said by way of answering him. “It’s beautiful.”

He heaved a heavy sigh, turning to survey the raggedy gunship. “I’ll get a pack together.”

“No need,” you sing songed happily. “I grabbed what you needed already. Same with the kid. It’s in the room.”

He turned back to face you. Once again, the ‘t’ of his helmet trained on you, but you couldn’t be sure what the Mandalorian was thinking. You wished you could see his face. You pushed that thought away. You couldn’t get attached. Not like that. It was inevitable that he’d leave you again, and this time, maybe he’d leave you for good. You pushed that thought aside. You wouldn’t let him do that.

“Come on, then,” his voice sounded different through the modulator. You couldn’t put your finger on it, but you followed him regardless, Grogu still settled on your hip.

The chill of the air cut through your desert acclimated body. It settled deep in your bones despite the cozy sweater you wore. You wondered how he could possibly be warm but then you remembered he often wore many layers under that beskar. You selfishly hoped he would take off some of those layers just in case anything happened. You didn’t relish the idea of the cold metal brushing against your bare skin.

When you finally made it back to the inn and to your room, your curls were all over the place thanks to the wind. Snow clung to Grogu’s little face and without even thinking, you took care of him first, making sure he was all clean and dry and changed into warmer clothes. But you made sure to re-tie the ribbon around his collar. He started to make a fit when he thought you weren’t going to give it back to him.

Mando watched the two of you closely through his visor. A strange feeling percolated in his chest. It wasn’t the normal happiness he usually felt when he saw the two of you. It tightened under his sternum. His heart pounded under the wide breastplate of his armor. What was this feeling that seemed to fill him up with pain and warmth all at once? He didn’t understand it. He wasn’t even sure if he liked it.

He cleared his throat softly. “He likes that bow.”

“I know. It surprised me.” Your gaze settled on him as you sat him down in his pram. Almost immediately, the little bog goblin settled down into his blankets, yawned, then began to doze, his little snores filling the ensuing silence.

You shifted on your feet, unsure of what to do now, unsure of what you could get away with, unsure if you even wanted to get away with something. It was your turn to clear your throat, stepping away from Grogu to let him sleep as you ran your fingers through your knotted curls. You winced with discomfort when you found a particularly big knot, but before you could do anything about it, you felt his large, strong hands brush away your small, slender ones as he picked almost timidly at the tangle. You still couldn’t believe you’d forgotten to pack a brush from home.

“It’s your turn to feel different, you know?” His smooth voice slid down her spine like molten lava, warming her from the inside out.

“I do?” You could almost feel him nod behind you.

“You’re uncertain.”

A wild laugh strains its way out of your chest and throat. “Uncertain?”

His hands and fingers pause in your hair. “Yes.”

Here you thought you’d done such a good job hiding it. “I’m not uncertain.”

His fingers continue their work on the knot, gently teasing it apart. “Are you afraid I'll be upset if you are?”

“No,” you answered far too quickly.

The truth was, you weren’t scared of him being upset. Uncertainties happen all the time. You both know they happen. You both know that being upset at uncertainties was the quick way to arguments and little resentments that would tear the two of you apart. You didn’t want that, and you imagined he didn’t either.

“Don’t lie to me, mesh’la.”

“I’m not,” you answer honestly.

“Then why–”

You cut him off quickly with a finished question of your own. “Why did you show me your face and then disappear for months?”

You swear you can hear him swallow thickly behind you, his fingers pausing again in your hair before they fall away completely.

“I had to see the kid, remember?”

“Yeah, but when you came back…” You still remember the exact time he came back. Down to the very minute, the noise of the N-1 was far different than the Razor Crest as it settled in the landing pad.

“I was hurt. Maybe that had something to do with it.”

You shake your head. “You and I both know that’s not the truth.”

This time, you did hear as he sighed and stood to get away from you. At least that’s what you reckoned in your mind. He was getting away from you because he really didn’t want to be close to you anymore.

“I shouldn’t have done what I did.”

“Show me your face?” You snap bitterly.

“Let you in.”

Your brief flare of anger deflates. “You regret letting me in?”

“I regret not letting you in sooner.”

You blinked in confusion as you turned to face him. “I don’t–”

“You’re great with the kid. You’re great with me. You make me feel…special, cyare.”

You breathed in a shaky breath, unable to look at him. Instead, you focus on the snowy expanse out the window as big, fat, fluffy flakes begin to fall from the grey-blue sky. Special? You made him feel special? What did that mean? Beyond the pet name in Mando’a, beyond the fact that you took care of the kid rather well when you were allowed to be around him, beyond all that–what exactly did it mean? What did he mean? Special? How special? Less like a killer? More like a man? Your mind reeled. You didn’t even know why it did. You just wanted it to stop.

“Then, why–”

“It scared me.”

That you understood. You finally turned to face him, gazing into the darkened expanse of his helmet.

“I won’t tell anybody.”

He shook his head. “I don’t care about that.”

“But your Creed…” you found yourself foundering again, much like you had so many months ago.

“I broke my Creed a long time ago.” He tilted his head in the direction of the pram. “For him.”

Your gaze fell to the pram with a soft smile. For some reason, that didn’t surprise you. Of course he’d do that for Grogu. The little tyke was worth it, and you knew the attachment you both had to each other transcended everything else, even whatever attachment they both had for you.

With a soft hitch of his breath, he gently removed his helmet, setting it down on the bed to fully tune his gaze to you. You tried to hide the happiness as it bubbled inside of you, but it broke across your face in a wide smile and a bright pink blush. You ducked your head against it, but his fingers quickly settled on your chin, tilting your head back up to face him.

“It scared me,” he continued, “because I’ve never felt like this before. Not with anyone. Not like this.”

The blush deepened as you chewed on your bottom lip. He brushed his thumb over your upper lip gently, your teeth yielding and releasing before his mouth slotted gently and briefly against yours. A happy little shriek from Grogu made you both jump away from each other. You laughed as you watched him clap excitedly.

“I think he’s happy about this new development.”

He chuckled, his turn to turn pink, the tops of his ears a deeper color than his cheeks. “I think you might be right about that.”

You shake your head, leaning in to steal another kiss, properly this time, tongues tangling together as you deepen the kiss, wrapping your arms around his neck to tug him closer. But you immediately frown and pull back, shivering at the chill coming from his beskar.

“You going to take this all off and get comfortable?”

He turned to survey the plush bed, adorned with sheets as white as the snow outside the window. “Maybe. Are you going to join me?”

You grinned, eyes shining as you slowly began to undress, peeling off the sweater you put on just for him until all you wore were your bra and underwear.

“Can I see your wrist?”

He still hadn’t taken off his flight suit or his beskar, too enthralled with watching you get ready for bed. You chuckled as he quickly took off the arm armor, letting it fall on the floor with a heavy thud before he divested himself of his heavy woolen flight suit. The scratchy material found its way to the floor as well. It was only then that he offered you his wrist readily. You wound the red ribbon around his wrist and tied it in a pretty bow to match the one around Grogu’s neck.

“There you go. Both my boys are my Life Day presents.”

He wrinkled his nose. “I don’t celebrate Life Day.”

You shrugged. “Neither do I. But I do love having the both of you around.”

He fell quiet for a long moment before he murmured, “We love having you around, too.”

And you knew as soon as he spoke those words that he meant more by it than what he said. You let it fill you up and give you light and warmth, especially as you both tumble into bed, the snow falling heavily as Grogu hides in his pram, seeming to know exactly what’s about to happen.

[malakia215]

I did an overhaul on Luke's Mando armor

So for my Mando Luke/Jedi Din AU. I did a complete redesign for Luke's armor. Here is the new look:

Art is done by the lovely @its-kinda-snowy (ppsssttttt, they are having a super deal on sketches if you want to commission them). Bless them for taking this:

And being able to make it into some super amazing art!!!! Thank you so much!!!! (reminder this is what Luke's armor looked like before and the new look is super better.)

If you want to read the fic associated with this AU, here ya go!

Technically it is a sequel to a fic that has yet to be written but don't look too hard into that.

[gravvitywritestrash]

Dincember Day 2, Promp: Snow

Gender neutral reader. Let me know if I need to fix anything!

Warnings: none!

Prompt Masterlist

The snow crunched under your boots as you made your way off the ramp and onto the white covered planet you had landed on. Mando stomped ahead of you, doing yet another perimeter sweep of the area, after you had insisted on coming off the ship with the kid. It had been so long since you had seen actual snow. After leaving your home planet all those years ago, your travels never lead you to a snowy planet. Snowy planets didn’t have shipyards big enough for a new mechanic, at least not one you've come across. You had traveled to ocean planets, desert planets, and even ship stations for work, but none of the places you had briefly settled on snowed, not like home, and certainly not like this.

You weren’t sure if the kid had ever seen snow, but based on his reaction when he saw the white covered planet come into view through the viewport, you doubted it. He was curious, climbing onto the console so he had a better view, babbling incoherently and pointing out at the snow below. He wanted to go outside, and explore what caused the planet to be covered in the white blanket. You wanted to go outside too, and though you knew Mando would be hesitant to let you outside on a planet he was hunting a quarry, especially since you’d be alone in the middle of a tundra forest, but you knew he’d crack after some light convincing.

“It’s snowing, Mando. You think the kid has ever seen it?” You gestured to the kid, who was still sitting on the console, hands and face pressed against the transparisteel. Din turned away heading to the ladder that led to the hull of the ship. Without looking back at you following him, he answered. “I’m not sure if it’s safe. It’s freezing, and we can’t be sure that we’re alone.” He began busying himself with preparing for his hunt, opening the weapons locker and ensuring he had enough charges for his blaster. “Just for a bit, to let the kid see.” You were already dressing the kid up in his warmer clothes, setting him down to wrestle a pair of socks on his feet before moving over to your crate of clothes and slipping on a parka. Din sighed to himself, knowing that arguing with you would lead to nowhere. He couldn’t force you to stay on the ship, and he didn’t want to confine you inside either. He never used to get this anxious, but since the addition of the kid, and later you, he has to worry about more than himself. Not that he was upset with either of your presence, the complete opposite in fact. He knew you were relatively capable of handling yourself and protecting the kid, but there was this instinct burning inside of him to protect you. Prevent any harm from reaching the kid or you, a desire to keep you both safe.

Din did a perimeter check before letting you come out. You had bargained with him, promising that you’d stay inside of the ship until he came back with the quarry if he let you and the kid check out the snow before he left. You didn’t plan on spending too long outside, as traveling on a ship meant you had very little clothes, nothing that would keep either you or the kid warm enough to stay out for too long. You also knew he probably wanted to start his hunt soon, and you appreciated the time he was taking to ensure yours and the kids safety and happiness before he left. While you were happy to travel with the mandalorian and the kid, sitting inside for long periods of time was not yours, or the kids', strong suit. You stopped only a few steps away from the ramp and tilted your head back. Despite the clouds covering the sun, it still felt nice against your face, and the little flakes of snow slowly descending from the sky had that nostalgic bite when it made contact with your cheeks.

-

Din stopped pacing when he heard your boots stop crunching in the snow. He turned slightly, looking back at you, and he sharply inhaled at the sight of you and the kid. You had your head tilted back, eyes closed and face upturned towards the sky. The kid was held tightly to your chest, copying your posture, watching as flakes of snow fell towards his face

 Din was stuck watching you, watching as your hood fell back and revealed more of your face, which was perfectly lit from the sun filtering through the clouds. His attention only moved away from you when the kid squealed in delight after a snowflake landed on his cheek, and his hands raised above his head in an attempt to catch more falling flakes. You looked down at the child, who was now babbling and stretching his hands up to the air.

Din knew he needed to focus, he had already swept the area checking for any threats. He didn’t find any, and he knew it was very unlikely for anything to become a threat. He had chosen the landing spot specifically because there were no people or native species that could pose a threat. He still felt anxious, worried that if he slacked for even a minute, he’d be too late in spotting a threat. He turned his back to you, blocking the site of you crouching in the snow with the child in your lap, and returned his attention to the sparse forest.

It wasn’t until something collided with the back of his helmet, knocking his head forward, did he turn back around. You were still crouched in the snow with the kid in your lap, looking away from him. Din was almost worried there was a threat in the area he had missed, but when he reached back and touched the back of his helmet, he knew what had happened when his fingers became cold and the tips of his gloves became wet with snow. Now that he was paying more attention, you were making a point to look away from him, trying to hide the grin on your face. The kid was giggling, leaning over the side of your lap and playing with snow on the opposite side of your body. Even though your body shielded what you and the kid were doing, Din was sure another snowball was in the making. He couldn’t fight the smile pulling on his lips at your antics.

Maybe he could relax for a few minutes. Clearly, you and the kid were enjoying the snow, and maybe, he could too. So, as quietly as he could, he walked over the snow, using his past footprints to muffle the crunch of snow under his boots as he made his way over to your crouched form. He stopped just a foot behind you, facing the sun so his shadow didn’t alert you to his new position. Now that he was closer, he could hear you and the kid quietly giggling, and rolling a large snowball on the ground.

His chest vibrated with the laughter he tried to contain, not wanting to alert you of his presence right behind you. He waited until you picked up the ball in your hand, winding up and turning slightly to throw it where he was previously standing. He saw the look of realization on your face when you realized he wasn’t there, and you yelped when you finally noticed him standing behind you. You stood quickly, clutching the kid to your chest with one arm, and still holding the snowball in your other hand.

He should have gotten a snowball for himself. Din couldn’t help thinking to himself. He had thought that the surprise would cause you to drop your weapon, but was very wrong, and incredibly aware of how you still held it in your hand.

“Woah, you move way too quietly.” You were trying to fight the grin on your face, hiding the snowball behind your back. Din was very aware of what was coming, if the shameless grin on the kid’s face was anything to go off of. Still, he entertained it, wanting to join in on your fun, wanting to spend even a little bit of time with you before he was gone for a bit.

“What are you going to do with that thing behind your back?” He tried to keep the smile out of his tone, tilting his head slightly downward and to the right in an attempt to appear intimidating, daring you to throw it at him.

“Oh, this little thing?” You produced the snowball from behind your back, shrugging your shoulders and giving him your own head tilt. You made no move to throw it, instead holding steady eye contact with him. Unknowingly to you, he was matching your smile, waiting for your next move. He doubted you would back down, not now, and hopefully not ever. He enjoyed your lack of fear of him, your bravery in any setting, and the fun you brought to not only the kid, but himself.

You were quick when you wound up your arm and threw the snowball at him, he expected that. He also expected you to maybe throw it at his shoulder, or his chest. But when the snowball landed on the front of his helmet with a ‘thwump’ and his visor was blocked by the offending weapon, he realized he should have expected this instead. He found himself laughing as he lifted his hand up to wipe the snow off, both you and the kid laughing loudly as you disappeared inside the hull of the ship.

His laughter died quickly, the realization that this, that you and the kid, meant something that he wasn’t quite ready to confront, the way he felt today, in that moment, was a feeling he didn’t know he’d ever feel, didn’t know himself capable of. And it scared him, and it excited him. It made something bloom in his chest, and he knew he’d remember this snow covered planet, not because of a quarry that might do something rememberable, but because right here, right now, standing in snow that reached his ankles, on a planet that was cold enough to seep past his armor and layers, he felt hope.

[layce2015]

The Mandalorian (Din Djarin x Female!Reader)

Chapter 1: The Mandalorian And The Dar'manda

Next Chapter

(A/N: Now I did have this story on here but I kept having comments on doing the "Read More" to shorten my post. At the time, I didn't know how to do it and I kept asking those people how and they never would reply back. So I got annoyed and took down the chapters. But now that I know how to do that, I'm bringing this story back. So I hope you enjoy!

There might be times where I use Mando'a, or language of the Mandalorian, from time to time but I will make sure to put the translations of them at the end of the chapter.)

Snow was fallen from the cloudy sky on to the already icy and snowy planet. One large building was the only thing that stood out among the ice and snow. One lone armored figure, a Mandalorian, walks up towards the building, holding a tracking fob. The device beeped, letting him know that his bounty was here.

Inside, the cantina was bustling with people drinking and talking amongst each other, including two trawlers who were messing with a Mythrol. "Look at his glands!" One Trawler to his friend as they continue to mess with the Mythrol. "I bet we could sell them at the port!" the second Trawler pointed out. "Please! Please! I have credits! Take them!" the Mythrol pleaded to them as he shows them the credits. But the second Trawler shoves him against the table

"He's young. The musk will be sweet." The Alpha Trawler laughs as his partner pulls the Mythrol up, making the Alpha Trawler's drink fall over. Then the Trawler pulls out his blade. "And now for the real prize..." he said but before he could do anything, the doors open and the Mandalorian stands there for a moment before he enters.

The Trawlers and every other patron all turn to see the newcomer but the Trawler was not impressed. The Alpha Trawler yells at the Mandalorian as the Mandalorian walks past him, ignoring him. "You spilled my drink..." The Alpha Trawler said, angrily, to the Mandalorian but the gunslinger doesn't respond to him.

"Hey, Mando!" The Trawler calls out and the Mandalorian turns his head to him then turns away as he walks up to the bar. The Alpha Trawler then walks up to him. "I said, you spilled, my drink..." The Alpha Tralwer tells him but Mando doesn't even look at him. Then the second Trawler shoves the Mythrol down against the table while the other patrons stare at the Mandalorian.

"He says you spilled his drink." the Bartender said but Mando never speaks. "That's fine! It's on me." The Bartender said and he goes behind the bar while the Trawler looks over the Mandalorian. "Is that real Beskar Steel?" He asked the Mandalorian just as the second Trawler comes up to the Mandalorian.

"Here." The Bartender said as he picks up a cup then slides it across the bar. But before the cup could get to the Alpha Trawler, Mando stops the cup, grabs it then used it to hit the Alpha Trawler in the head and the second Trawler in the face, making him fall back unconscious. The Alpha Trawler stumbles back as Mando grabs the third accomplice by the head and slams him onto the bar.

The Alpha Trawler pulls out a blade and tries to stab Mando, but he grabs his arms, punches it under his arm and twists it behind the Alpha Trawler. The third guy tries to flee but Mando shoots out a grappling hook and it wraps around the creature's legs. Mando began pulling the grapple towards and the guy pulls out his blaster and fires at the Mandalorian, which hits his shoulder armor.

Mando fires his own blaster at the door panel; which made the door close on the guy, cutting him in half. Everyone watched in shock and horror at this but nobody dared to go near the Mandalorian 

The Mythrol started to chuckle as Mando walks up to him. "Thank you. Thank you very much. You got my heartfelt gratitude." the Mythrol said as Mando just stares at him. "You know what...here, you take my credits. Buy yourself a drink." he tells the Mandalorian as he pushes a pile of credits to him.

But the Mandalorian places a hologram puck on the table, which shows a hologram image of the Mythrol. "Uh...Is that a bounty puck? Is that me?" The Mythrol said, nervously, but the Mandalorian doesn't say a word. "Look...uh...there must be some mistake. I can get you more credits." the Mythrol said, a bit panicked, until the Mandalorian finally speaks.

"I can bring you in warm...or I can bring you in cold." The Mandalorian said as he places his hand on his holstered blaster, getting ready to fire it, if needed be. The Mythrol looks up at him and gulps, nervously.

After surrendering, the Mandalorian handcuffs the Mythrol and they began to walk out of the cantina and towards a speeder stop where a ferryman stands by. "I need passage to the yards." Mando said and the ferryman calls a speeder which arrives with an R2 unit as the pilot.

"No droids." Mando said, firmly. "I assure you, this speeder is brand new. It's the latest model..." the Ferryman said, in its own language, but Mando tosses the ferryman a coin. "At your pleasure." the ferryman said and he calls another speeder. It arrives in rough shape but with a human pilot. "Where to?" the pilot asked.

Sometime later, the speeder flies across the icy plains and the Mythrol begins to speak. "You know what he's looking for..." the Mythrol said to the Mandalorian but he still doesn't respond to him. So the Mythrol looks at the pilot. "You're looking for Ravinaks, right?" He asked. "It's clear right now. But be careful near the port. Everyone dumps their gray holds out. They think the whole entire planet is their own personal stink pit." the pilot warned just as the speeder arrives at a large ship, the Razer Crest.

"Here you are." the pilot said once he stops and the Mythrol looks up at the ship. "You're kidding me, right?" he said as he looks back at the Mandalorian. "Get out." Mando ordered and the two get out of the speeder.

"I'll hire us a Livery Cruiser. No big deal. It won't come out of your end. I'll pay for it." The Mythrol bargained to the Mandalorian, who turns his head towards him almost like he was telling him to shut up. "I'm just trying to make it pleasant." The Mythrol said as he walks towards the Razer Crest.

"Hey, it's time to go, so let's settle up." The pilot said and the Mandalorian pays the pilot. "I'd stay off the ice if I were you." the pilot warns before he takes off. The Mandalorian and the Mythrol get ready to board the Razer Crest. "You think there's really something to worry about?" the Mythrol asked Mando before he turns and watches the speeder, just in time to see it get eaten by a beast that busted out of the ice.

"Oh! Oh! Open the hatch! Open the hatch!" The Mythrol exclaimed in a panic as the Ravinak breaks through the ice and towards the Razer Crest. The Mandalorian grabs the Mythrol and drags him into the ship. "Dank farrik, that was close!" The Mythrol said as they get into the cockpit. Then the Ravinak grabs the Razer Crest's leg.

"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Stay off the ice. That's the understatement of the millennium." the Mythrol said, panicked as Mando attempts to take off. But the Ravinak holds onto the ship's leg. "It's taking us down." the Mythrol screamed as the Mandalorian tried to maneuver the ship but the beast wouldn't let go. "What're you doing? It's got us! It's gonna take us under!" The Mythrol screamed and the Mandalorian leaves the cockpit.

"Where you going? You gotta do something! We gotta get out of here!" The Mythrol shouted as the Mandalorian walks up to the hatched door, pulls out his long rifle and used it to electrocute the Ravinak, which finally let's go of the leg.

"Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Yes. All right. Whew." The Mythrol exclaimed in excitement as the Mandalorian comes back and steers the ship off of the planet.

"I like your ship. She's a classic." the Mythrol said, trying to make conversation after they left the ice planet. "Razor Crest, am I right? Pre-Empire?" He asked the Mandalorian, who doesn't respond. "I have a lot of credits, by the way. That's why I offered to hail a Cruiser." the Mythrol said. 

No response.

"How much are they paying you?" he asked Mando.

No response.

"Is it true that you guys never take off your helmets?" 

No response.

"Oh... Boy." The Mythrol muttered as he looks around. "I think I have to use the vacc tube. I mean I can do it here, but if you've never seen a Fledgling Mythrol evacuate their thorax, you're a lucky guy, trust me." The Mythrol said but no response from the Mandalorian so the blue skinned creature gets up.

"Clearly, there's nowhere for me to go. So, uh...I'm gonna look for that vacc tube if it's all the same to you?" The Mythrol said but silence. "Great." he said and he leaves the cockpit and gets down into the belly of the ship.

"Found it! Thanks. It might take a while. I'm molting" the Mythrol calls out to the Mandalorian as he looks around. At one point, he opens the weapons hold and sees the various weapon that the Mandalorian had. He panicked and quickly closes it again.

"Oh, this feels a lot better. I haven't evacuated since the solstice. Yeah. I was hoping to be free for...uh...Life Day. Maybe even, uh..." the Mythrol blathers on until he discovers the bounty hold with several carbon-frozen bounties. "Get home to the...family. But I guess that's not gonna happen this year." he said as he backs away.

"Probably not." A voice said and the Mythrol turns to see the Mandalorian standing behind him. He grabs the Mythrol and shoves him in the on-board carbon-freezimg chamber, which adds him to the line of the carbon-frozen bounties.

After arriving in Nevarro, the Mandalorian walks into a cantina and walks up to a man, Greef Karga who is the Bounty Hunter Guild. "Ah, that was fast." Greef said as Mando walks up to him. "Did you catch them all?" Greef asked and the Mandalorian places the tracking fobs on the table. "Good. I'll begin the off-load." Greef said before he turns to some of his people and gives them an order in a different language.

The Mandalorian sits across from Greef, who places credits on the table. "These are Imperial Credits." the Mandalorian noted as he looks at them. "They still spend." Greef assures him. "I don't know if you heard, but the Empire is gone." said the Mandalorian. "It's all I've got." Greef said, shrugging. 

The Mandalorian grabs the tracking fobs back but Greef stops him. "Save the theatrics. Fine, I'll..." he said and he places different credits on the table. "I can do Calamari Flan But I can only pay half." he said. "Fine." the Mandalorian said and he places the tracker fobs back on the table and grabs the credits.

"Hmm. I have a bail jumper, a bail jumper, another bail jumper, a wanted smuggler." Greef said as he looks over the hologram files. "I'll take them all." Mando said and Greef looks up at him. "Nah, hold on. There are other members of the Guild, and this is all I have." he said.

"Why so slow?" Mando asked him. "It's not slow at all. Actually, very busy. They just don't want to pay Guild rates. They don't mind if things get sloppy." Greef replied. "What's your highest bounty?" Mando asked him. "Not much. Five thousand." Greef said. "That won't even cover fuel these days." Mando grumbles and Greef smirks as he thinks.

Hmm. There is one job." He said. "Let's see the puck." Mando said. "No puck. Face to face. Direct commission. Deep pocket." Greef tells him. "Underworld?" asked Mando. "All I know is no chain code." Greef said and he pulls out a chit card. "Do you want the chit or not?" Greef asked him. Mando grabs the chit card and leaves.

He walks through the town to a building then knocks on the door of said building. A sensor eye appears and asked for identification in a foreign language. Mando shows the chit card and the sensor reads it and lets the door open.

Mando makes his way into the building and walks into a room where an older man and about four stormtroopers stood. "Greef Karga said you were coming." the client said. "What else did he say?" Mando asked him. "He said you were the best in the parsec." replied the client.

Suddenly, a door opens and, before the man could even enter, Mando draws his weapons as do the stormtroopers. "Freeze!" one of the Stormtroopers ordered Mando as the new guest jumps back. "No!" the new guest said while one of the Stormtrooper said, still aiming their guns at Mando. "Drop your weapons!" 

"No, no, no, no. Pardon. Uh, sorry. I...didn't...mean to alarm." The new guy said and the client gets up and walks around the table to stand in front of Mando. "This is Doctor Pershing." the client said as he points at the man.  Please excuse his lack of decorum. His enthusiasm outweighs his discretion. Please lower your blaster." he said to Mando.

"Have them lower theirs first." Mando said, referring to the Stormtroopers. "We have you four to one." One of the Stormtroopers said but Mando keeps his weapons up and steady. "I like those odds." Mando said, confidently.

"He also said you were expensive. Very expensive. Please sit." The client said as he steps closer to Mando. On a sign from the client, the stormtroopers lower their weapons as does Mando. He and the client sit as the client unpacks a cloth package, revealing a brick sized silver metal.

"Beskar?" Mando asked and the client smiles. "Go ahead. It's real." the client said and Mando inspects the ingot. "This is only a down payment. I have a camtono of Beskar waiting for you upon delivery of the asset." said the Client. "Alive." Pershing added, quickly. "Yes. Alive. Although, I acknowledge that bounty hunting is a complicated profession. This being the case, proof of termination is also acceptable for a lower fee." the client said and Pershing looks at him.

"That is not what we agreed upon." Pershing said. "I'm simply being pragmatic." The client said. "Let's see the puck." Mando said but the client shakes his head, slightly. "I'm afraid discretion dictates a less traditional agreement. We can only offer you a tracking fob." the client said and Pershing hands Mando a tracking fob.

"What's the chain code?" Mando asked. "We can only provide the last four digits." said the Client. "Their age? That's all you can give me?" Mando asked, confused. "Yes. They're 50 years old. We can also give you last reported positional data. Between that and the fob, a man of your skill should make short work of this." the client said. 

Mando gets up and moves to leave. "The Beskar belongs back into the hands of a Mandalorian. It is good to restore the natural order of things after a period of such disarray, don't you agree?" the client asked as Mando stops. He looks over his shoulder before he walks out and leaves.

He walks through the town again and covertly enters an underground facility, where there were many other Mandalorians. Mando walks past many of them until he comes up to the forge room where the Armorer was standing. Mando places the credits and the beskar ingot on the table.

The Armorer picks up the ingot and inspects it. "This was gathered in the Great Purge. It is good it is back with the Tribe." she said. "Yes." Mando said, plainly. "A pauldron would be in order." Armorer said then she looks over at Mando.

"Has your signet been revealed?" She asked. "Not yet." he replies. "Soon." the Armorer said and she prepares to forge the pauldron. "This is extremely generous. The excess will sponsor many Foundlings." she said. "That's good. I was once a Foundling." Mando said. "I know." the Armorer said and begins to forge.

While she forges the pauldron, Mando started to think back to his childhood. Probably his worst memories of his childhood. It was the day when his parents made their way through this village, he originally lived in. They were running as the village had been attacked, people were fighting and explosions were going off. It was utter chaos that day.

Then his parents found a large storage unit and they began to open it. That's when another family came up to them, also carrying a child. His parents and these other set of parents talked among each other before they set both kids inside the large storage unit.

He remembers looking over to his right to see that the other kid was a girl around his age, who looked just as terrified as he did. The two kids share a look before they look up and out towards their parents. 

Mando pulled himself out of the memories as the Armorer places the pauldronon his shoulder.

Later, the Razer Crest approaches Arvala-7 then lands on the desert island. After he lands, Mando sits back for a bit then looks at his dashboard for a moment. The memory of his childhood kept coming back to him, especially the moment with the girl.

He hadn't seen her since that day where she got her helmet pulled off by an enemy. He'd never forget that day when this guy, they were hunting down for a bounty, got into a fight with her and he was able to get the upperhand on her. Mando tried to get to her but the guy had friends and he had to take care of them.

By the time Mando was able to make it to her, her helmet was already yanked off. He took out the guy and was able to cuff him but he would never forget the look of fear on her face when she realized her helmet was off. There was another Mandalorian with them during this hunt and he had gone and told the Armorer.

She was exiled and became, what they called, a Dar'manda, a former Mandalorian that has lost one's identity. And even though this is the way of the Mandalorian, he felt a pang of anger and hurt that she was leaving.

The last time he talked to her was after she was exiled. She had walked out of the facility and was just a few miles outside of the town when he came up behind her. "Where will you go?" He asked her. She smirked a bit as she turns back to him. "I'm not sure. The galaxy is a pretty vast place..." she replied before she let's out a sigh.

She could tell by his stance and body language that he didn't like that she was exiled. She gave a sympathetic look before she walks up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll be fine, Din." She said, softly. She slides her hand off of his shoulder and down his arm until she got to his hand and held onto his hand for a moment.

She stared up at his masked face then said. “We’ll see each other again. Don’t hesitate to call if you’re in need of help.” then slowly, reluctantly, she let's go of his hand and walked away.

That was about ten years ago and he hadn't heard much from her. He had heard a few things here and there about her, like she had started to call herself Manda instead of giving out her real name. And she had stuck with the bounty hunter life style but other than that, he hadn't heard anything from her.

But those last words she said kept ringing in his ears.

Don’t hesitate to call if you’re in need of help.

He sighs then shakes his head as he gets ready to make the call. Part of him wanted her to answer but part of him didn't want her to answer. He figured since that it's been so long, she wouldn't answer.

She didn't seem to respond to his call, so he sent out a transmission to her. "I know it's been years since we've talked but....I might need your help on this one. I'm sending you my coordinates now." He said as he presses a few buttons on his dashboard console. "If you can't make it....I understand." He said then he ends the transmission and gets up and leaves the cockpit.

Mando starts to walk out of the Razer Crest and goes to scan the landscape with the scope that was atop of his rifle. He looks around until a large creature comes out of nowhere. 

Startled by this, Mando quickly turns on his flame thrower but the creature knocks him down and grabs his arm with its jaw. The creature tosses him around while Mando punches it a few times on the side of its face. It finally let's go and Mando stands up to regain his composure but the creature charged at him again.

It clamped its jaw on his other arm when a device hits the creature and electrocutes it. The creature falls over and stops moving and Mando starts to pull his arm out when he heard another one of those creatures coming.

He looks up and sees it charging towards him but another device hits it on the side, making the creature fall over. Mando sits up and sees an Ugnaught, holding a rifle, riding one of those creatures.

Mando pulls his arm out of the creatures mouth and looks up at the Ugnaught. "Thank you." He said, appreciatively. "You are a bounty hunter." the Ugnaught said. "Yes." Mando replied and he looks down at his arm. The Ugnaught looks over the Mandalorian before he says. "I will help you."

Mando looks up at him for a moment. "I have spoken." the Ugnaught said and Mando starts to get up on his feet.

"Many have passed through." the Ugnaught, Kuiil as he introduced himself, explained after he and Mando arrived at his residence. "They seek the same one as you." He said. "Did you help them?" Mando asked him. "Yes. They died." Kuiil said. "Well, then I don't know if I want your help." Mando said. "You do. I can show you to the encampment." Kuill said.

"What's your cut?" Mando asked him. "Half." Kuiil replied. "Half the bounty to guide? Seems steep." Mando said, questioning. "No. Half of the blurrg you helped capture." Kuiil said. "The blurrg? You can keep them both." Mando grumbled.

"No, you will need one. To ride. The way is impossible to pass without a blurrg mount." Kuiil said as he started to walk out of his home. "I don't know how to ride blurrg." Mando told him. "I have spoken." Kuiil said.

Next thing he knew, Mando was being thrown by a blurrg. He lands on his back then slowly sits up as the Blurrg stares at him and lets put a noise. "Perhaps if you removed your helmet." Kuiil tells Mando. "Perhaps he remembers I tried to roast him." Mando said.

"This is a female. The males are all eaten during mating." Kuiil informs him and Mando sighs as he gets up and tries again. But once again, he was tossed backwards again. "I don't have time for this." Mando said, impatiently, as he gets up and walks over to Kuiil. "Do you have a Landspeeder or Speeder bike that I could hire?" he asked. "You are Mandalorian! Your ancestors rode the great Mythosaur. Surely you can ride this young foal." Kuiil said and Mando stands there for a moment before turning back to the Blurrg.

"Easy. Easy. Now, all right." Mando said to the Blurrg as he slowly approaches it. It bucks a bit and he steps back for a moment. "Settle down. Whoa! Settle. Settle." He said, calmly, then he continues to approach it with caution. "That's good. That's good. Easy. Okay. That's good. All right." He said as he comes up to it and pets it before he finally mounts the creature. Luckily, it doesn't throw him.

So Kuiil went to mount his Blurrg and the two take off and made their way across the desert landscape. Eventually, they make it towards this ridge to see a small village with a large building in the center of it.

"That is where you'll find your quarry." Kuiil said and Mando hands him a bag of credits. Kuiil waves him off. "Please. You deserve this." Mando tells him. "Since these ones arrived, this territory has been an endless stream of mercenaries seeking reward and bringing destruction." Kuiil tells him.

"Then why did you guide me?" Mando asked him, curiously. "They do not belong here. Those that live here come to seek peace. There will be no peace until they're gone." Kuiil replied. "Then why do you help?" Mando asked him. "I have never met a Mandalorian. I've only read the stories. If they are true, you will make quick work of it. Then there will again be peace." Kuiil said then he raised his hand

"I have spoken." he said and he steers the blurrg and sets off back to his home.

Later, Mando was scoping out the encampment from a far off cliff. He scans the area with his binoculars when he noticed a droid walking up towards the encampment. "Oh, no. Bounty Droid." he mutters in disappointment while the droid walks up to the people that were in the encampment.

"Subparagraph 16 of the Bondsman Guild protocol waiver compels you to immediately produce said asset." the droid, IG-11, said to the people. But they started firing at him and of course he fired back until the rest of the people hole up. "Droids." Mando said, exasperated, as he stands up and makes his way down to the encampment.

"Subparagraph 16 of the Bondsman Guild protocol waiver compels you to immediately produce said asset." IG-11 said as he kept firing his blasters. Then Mando appears from behind a pillar.

"IG Unit! Stand down." Mando shouts then the droid fires a shot at Mando, making him fall backward. The droid then comes towards him but Mando holds his hands up. "I'm in the Guild!" He shouts and IG-11 stops firing. "You are a Guild member?" the droid asked. "I thought I was the only one on assignment."

"That makes two of us. So much for the element of surprise." Mando said to the droid. "Sadly, I must ask for your fob. I have already issued the writ of seizure. The bounty is mine." IG-11 tells him. "Unless I'm mistaken, you are, as of yet, empty-handed." Mando said. "This is true." IG-11 replied 

"I have a suggestion." Mando said. "Proceed." IG-11 encourages. "We split the reward." Mando said and the droid thinks for a quick moment. "This is acceptable." The droid said. "Great. Now let's regroup, out of harm's way, and form a plan." Mando tells him.

"I will of course receive the reputation merits associated with the mission." IG-11 said. "Can we talk about this later?" Mando asked, a bit impatientl. "I require an answer if I am to proceed--" IG-11 started to say when there was a gunshot sounded out and hit the droid. But it didn't harm him, just turned on his alarm bell.

"Oh, no. Alert. Alert. Alert." IG-11 said and both the droid and Mando take cover as the guards started firing at them. "Let's go!" Mando said as they run and dodge gunfire. Mando pulls out the fob and points it to a steel door, which let's out a ping.

"He's in there!" Mando exclaimed. "Affirmative." IG-11 said but the guards then continued on with the gunfire. Mando and the droid fired back. "Up top!" Mando tells the droid and the droid aims his gun towards the roof of one of the small buildings and shoots one of the gunman.

Mando and the droid then took cover behind pillars while the enemies began to surround them. "It appears we are trapped. I will initiate self-destruct sequencing." IG-11 said and Mando, quickly, turned to him.

"Whoa! You're what?" Mando asked, shocked and confused. "Manufacturers Protocol dictates I cannot be captured. I must self-destruct." the droid informed him. "Do not self-destruct." Mando tells him then he looks out towards the enemies before turning to the droid. "Cover me!" He tells the droid and he goes to open the door while IG-11 fires at the guards and tries to take out as many as he could.

Unfortunately, Mando couldn't open the door then he looks back at the droid. "Go! Go! Go!" he yells and they go back behind the pillars. "There's too many!" Mando shouts as gunfire continued. Mando tried to get a shot but there was so many guards and thousands of gunshots off it was hard to keep up.

"They got us pinned." Mando said just as the guards bring out a heavy gun. "I will initiate self-destruct." IG-11 said as a little red light started to come on his chest. "Do not self-destruct! We're shooting our way out." Mando shouts and the droid goes back to normal.

They come out of hiding until they saw the heavy gun. "Okay..." Mando said, worried, and they take cover again. "New plan!" he shouts as the heavy gun began to fire. "Beginning self-destruct countdown." IG-11 said once again. "No! Stop it!" Mando yells just as he hears the gunfire stop.

Puzzled, he looks over and sees that the guns were aiming somewhere else beside them. "What the...?" Mando asked when one of the gunman vaporized. "It appears we have company." IG-11 said as the other gunmen started to fire while a couple more people got vaporized.

Then a figure flew in and knocked the guy off of the heavy gun. The figure and the gunman fall onto the ground then the figure starts to get up and the gunman started to attack the figure, which Mando could tell was a woman.

She had dark blue pants and a long sleeve black shirt with familiar Mandalorian armor covering her legs, arms, shoulders and chest but she didn't have a helmet on. And she was wearing a brown leather jacket over her clothes.

A couple of gunmen started to aim at her as her and the other gunman fought, making Mando realize he need to make a plan, fast. He turns to the droid and said. "Draw their fire, I'll take them out." 

"Acceptable." The droid said and Mando nods. "Go!" Mando shouts and the Droid runs out to draw fire while Mando grapples the heavy gun, jumps on it and shoots all the remaining enemies. After punching one of the gunmen a few times, the woman takes cover as Mando finished taking out the enemies.

"Well done. I will disengage self-destruct initiative." The droid said as Mando helps him up. "You know, you're not so bad. For a droid." he said. "Agreed." said the droid and Mando looks over the droid. "That blaster hit looks nasty. You okay?" Mando asked the droid. "Running a quick diagnostic. It has missed my central wiring harness." the droid replied.

"Is that good?" Mando asked. "Yes." replied the droid.

"Never thought I'd see the day where you teamed up with a droid." A female voice replied and the droid and Mando look over to see the woman who came to the rescue. Now that he was able to get a clear look at her, he could see the familiar (h/c) and the (e/c) eyes.

"(Y/n)." Mando greets, calmly, and she smirks at him. "Hello, Mando." She said then she looks around her until she pulls out her own tracking fob. "I'm guessing this is the job you ask my help for?" She asked as she holds up the fob. "You too?" He asked her and she nods.

"Yep. I was on my way here when I got your transmission. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole Guild got this job." (Y/n) said, shrugging. "Neither would I." Mando said and (y/n) looks over at the droid. "Guessing, you're part of the Guild?" She said. "That is correct." IG-11 replied and (y/n) looks over at her old friend with smirk.

"Thanks for saving us." Mando tells her and her smile grew wider. "Just like old times, huh?" She said with a bit of sarcasm in her voice. Mando chuckles a little before he said. "Yeah, like old times."

She winks at him then the two share a look before (y/n) speaks up. "So, now what?" She asked. "Now we just need to get the door open." Mando said and the three shoot the door open with the heavy gun. Inside, a lone enemy jumps out but was immediately shot down by the droid.

"Anyone else?" Mando asked and (y/n) looks down at her fob. "The tracking fob is still active." She said as it continued to beep.

"My sensors indicate that there is a life form present." IG-11 said and Mando scans the room. The tracking fob leads them to an egg shaped container and (y/n) goes to open it. "Wait. They said 50 years old." Mando said as they stare at the lifeform in the container.

"Species age differently. Perhaps it could live many centuries." IG-11 said as a little green hand moves away its blanket, revealing a small green long-eared child. Suddenly, (y/n) had a wave of curiosity overcome her as she stares at the little one's big brown eyes. She didn't know why but...she felt something for the little one, like some sort've connection.

"Sadly, we'll never know." IG-11 said as it starts to raise its gun but (y/n) speaks up, quickly. "No. We'll bring it in alive." She said to the droid. "The commission was quite specific. The asset was to be terminated." IG-11 said as the child looks between the trio.

(Y/n) and Mando stare at the child just as a shot rings out, which made (y/n) flinch a bit. She turns her head and sees that Mando had shot the droid as it fell over dead.

Then the two look back at the child and the Mandalorian and Dar'manda raise their pointer fingers towards the child and he raises both of his little claws out to them.