#so i was not even aware of reva before I saw people bringing her up in comparison to shin

[argonapricot]

I think it's important to point out the hate Reva & other characters of color got vs the (mostly) love Shin has gotten, but calling out fandom racism doesn't need to turn into shitting on Shin. Of course I want her to be fleshed out more as a character, but acting like there isn't anything there just because she doesn't talk a lot? Like, sorry to people who don't bother to read between the lines & need everything spoon fed, but I'm built different. This is a VISUAL medium, after all. Also, this is Star Wars, the only quality you need to be a beloved character is to look cool, lol.

I agree! I think fandom racism in Star Wars is obviously a huge problem, and the way that a lot of the general public reacts to SW characters/actors of color is consistently racist and awful. It makes complete sense for people to be annoyed watching the double standard in action, and it's definitely worthwhile to point that out. It's true that if Shin were black or asian, she would be receiving a huge amount of racist backlash and hate, so many more people would be constantly complaining about her being a poorly written character, etc. I think it's valid for anyone to express frustration about that.

But at the same time, I think it's still always okay for people to enjoy the characters that they enjoy. I completely agree that Star Wars is a heavily visual medium - and an auditory medium as well! Good visual design and soundtrack can be enough to make a Star Wars character beloved, it always has been, and imo Baylan and Shin have some of of the best visual design that I've ever seen from a Star War. They are just extremely memorable and exciting from the moment you lay eyes on them, from the moment you see them in action at the start of the show. They are wearing knightly armor, that is so cool. It is unavoidably a really good idea to have a Norse-themed knight-coded dark side-wielding master-apprentice duo with matching robes and hair and lightsabers! They are both so cool to watch on screen, especially at the same time! It can't be helped!

Reading between the lines and speculating about a character is normal, fun and valid. That's what fandom is about! In the silm fandom, there are usually only a handful of canon attributes and actions that you know about any given character. Those limited actions and attributes are already enough to capture people's hearts and attention. But in addition to that, imagining different ways to fill in the gaps and weave together a fully-realized character who would fit those canon attributes/actions is a fun and interesting challenge! You end up with a lot of different interpretations of the same characters, each one as canon-compliant and plausible and compelling and fascinating as the next. I think that that's fun! I think that that's a really cool multimedia way for a character to exist in fandom, and also in my brain! I don't expect everyone to want to enjoy characters that way, but there's nothing wrong with it.

It's fine if not everyone likes Shin or has the patience to try to figure her out like a puzzle, but sometimes the way people criticize her is unnecessarily harsh and silly. We obviously don't know her full story yet! There is a lot very obviously going on with her and Baylan that the show just hasn't had the time/priority to reveal to us yet. Shows like Star Wars The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels took plenty of time to get around to fleshing out some of their side characters, so I think people are being way too hard on Shin.

[stormoftara]

52 Short Stories in 52 Weeks

Week 4

Today’s story follows Reva, a former Guardian of the people of Draore, on a mission against the evil Dark creatures who steal memories 

Reva swept her free hand through her hair as she looked at her phone. She was lounging on her couch, unable to sleep from a combination of excitement for tomorrow and the three cups of coffee she had just drank. It wasn't that late yet, and she could sleep later! She was an adult who only made the best, most rational decisions.

Her phone buzzed at her as she was caught up in her thoughts of being so mature and starting a real job. Reva pulled down the notification tray. A Guardian alert was shown there. She opened up the Guardian app to see what the problem was, and if she could even help. It wasn't like she could do much anymore, since her own team had dissolved.

Reva’s eyes scanned over the text for the mission. It was a simple one, just a simple light replacement at the nearby barrier. It didn't require a team, so she quickly hit accept without even looking to see how much the pay was. That didn't matter, what mattered was going out and blowing off some energy. She hardly even got to go out on missions anymore, there were hardly any for mercenaries. Reva liked that word, “mercenary.” It sounded way cooler than Guardian without a team.

Reva packed her bag and started to head out to the closest telebooth, but she heard Mason’s voice echoing in her head, “Reva...why did you go on a mission alone again? You could've been hurt, or lost your mind, or been blah blah blah…” Even in her mind she couldn't escape his lectures. She took out her phone and considered texting him or Marley, but they were both so busy with their shops and probably had to sleep like a normal person. Pffft, sleep, who needs that? Well Reva could think of two individuals who slept about as much as she did.

Reva clicked on Shade’s name in her contacts. The phone rang twice before a familiar voice picked up, “Hello?”

“Yo! So you guys up for a mission? I'll split the payment?” Reva said quickly, as she started walking towards the telebooth at the end of the street.

“I suppose.” Shade replied slowly.

“Cool, thanks buddy, I'll text you the details.” Reva hung up without waiting for a reply. She finished texting Shade the information just as she reached the telebooth. She put her phone back in her pocket, and selected her location to teleport to.

Within seconds she was whisked away towards the barrier. She opened the door and walked out. She stretched her arms above her head, not even a little shocked that Shade and Blaze were standing in front of her. They were the two strangest people that Reva knew. Both wore a mask over their faces, both had skin as white as the dead, both had hair as black as the Dark. They were reliable in combat however. “Yo.” Reva gave them a wave and a smile.

“Let's go. We don't want to get attacked. It's awfully dark out here.” Shade said simply, heading towards the barrier.

“Yeah, yeah.” Reva said, but secretly she hoped they'd get attacked. Some action would be fun. The trio walked up towards the barrier, silence falling between them. Shade was short on words and Reva was certain she had never heard Blaze speak. Not that she saw him that often. Frankly she was surprised he had agreed to come with.

The barrier of light that illuminated a tall stone wall had faded to black at one point. Shade nodded and placed her hands on the wall. Reva and Blaze followed suit. Reva concentrated on bringing the light back to life, to making the city safe again. She was concentrating so hard, she hardly heard a yell from her left side.

“Look out!” Blaze shouted. Reva stared at him in shock for a moment then turned her attention towards the direction he was looking. She was too slow. A shadow was falling quickly towards her. Blaze grabbed Reva around the middle and suddenly they were somewhere else entirely.

Reva blinked, trying to reorient herself. Ahead of her Shade still had her hands on the wall, trying to light it once again. Blaze was gone from Reva’s side, and instead appeared next to Shade. The Dark was however, was making it’s way towards Reva now. “Guys! I'll distract it. Light the wall so no more get in!”

The Dark was slinking towards Reva, it's form now vaguely human looking, but without any kind of defining features. She gathered up her magic in her hand, a blue mist appearing the turned into a large ice shard. Her specialty. Reva lobbed the ice shard at the Dark, while shouting at it to keep it’s attention on her. “C’mon you fucker. You wanna play? Let's play.”

The Dark sunk into the ground before the ice could strike. It re-emerged with an inhuman shriek. Reva started summoning more ice shards around her in quick succession, hoping to catch it off guard. As the ice crashed around it, the creature disappeared into the shadows nearby.

Reva spun on the spot, her eyes swiveling back and forth for any sign of it. The Dark could appear anywhere now, she couldn't let it escape into the city. People could be hurt. “Ey! Come out fuck face. I'm not done playing yet.”

A sharp pain racked Reva on her left arm and side. She was knocked off balance by the sudden strike, falling directly on the pocket watch she used as her Charm. “Oh fuck.” Reva looked up at the Dark now looming over her. She quickly attempted to summon her magic, but nothing happened. Reva kicked at it hard with her right leg, feeling it dig something like claws in as she pushed it back.

...

Why was she out here anyway? Reva felt like her thoughts were slowly drifting away before she had a chance to think them. It almost felt peaceful. She looked up at the large creature in front of her, no longer trying to push it away. Wasn't there something she was supposed to be doing though?

In a snap the creature was whisked away. Reva saw Blaze, his hands glowing with a yellow light, throw the Dark back over the now re-illuminated wall with some type of wind magic. Shade was at Reva’s side now. “Are you alright? Can you remember who I am?”

Reva gave a chuckle, “Yer my weird pal who won't even give me her real name.”

“She’s alright.” Shade yelled over to Blaze. “We should take her to a healer just in case though. The Dark scratched her.”

Blaze nodded and started walking back towards the other two. “Nah, I'll be alright. Just bring me to Mason, I need to fix my Charm.”

Shade and Blaze looked at each other, as if silently communicating with just their eyes. Shade loomed back at Reva. “Are you sure? You are bleeding and may have lost some memories you aren't aware of.”

“I'll be fine.” Reva smiled at her friends. “Let's just go.” With a moment of hesitation, Blaze grabbed ahold of Reva’s uninjured arm, helping her up. He took Shade’s hand in his other, and just like that, they weren't there anymore.