#their hair having been part of their identity and the gradual transition of dying it turning from a choice into a chore

[elfroot-and-laurels]

I'm so glad they cut off their bleach fried hair in their moment of anguished desperation the look is really good for them

[padme-amitabha]

Anidala Week 2021

 Day 1: Missing Scene or Favorite Scene(s)

Anakin Skywalker could not take his eyes off the girl. He noticed her the moment he entered Watto’s shop, even before Watto said anything, and he hadn’t been able to stop looking at her since. He barely heard what Watto said to him about watching the shop. He barely noticed the strange-looking creature that had come in with her and was poking around in the shelves and bins. Even after she noticed he was staring at her, he could not help himself. He moved now to an open space on the counter, hoisted himself up, and sat watching her while pretending to clean a transmitter cell. She was looking back at him now, embarrassment turning to curiosity. She was small and slender with long, braided brown hair, brown eyes, and a face he found so beautiful that he had nothing to which he could compare it. She was dressed in rough peasant’s clothing, but she seemed very self-possessed. She gave him an amused smile, and he felt himself melting in confusion and wonder. He took a deep breath. 

“Are you an angel?” he asked quietly. The girl stared. “What?” 

“An angel.” Anakin straightened a bit. “They live on the moons of Iego, I think. They are the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They are good and kind, and so pretty they make even the most hardened space pirates cry like small children.” 

She gave him a confused look. “I’ve never heard of angels,” she said. “You must be one of them,” Anakin insisted. “Maybe you just don’t know it.” “You’re a funny little boy.” The amused smile returned.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, looking upset and embarrassed. “I don’t fully understand, I guess. This is a strange world to me.” He studied her intently for a moment, thinking of other things, wanting to tell her of them. “You are a strange girl to me,” he said instead. He swung his legs out from the counter. “My name is Anakin Skywalker.” She brushed at her hair. “Padmé Naberrie.”

Both Anakin and Padmé were laughing now, and their laughter increased as they saw the look on the unfortunate creature’s long billed face. Anakin looked at Padmé and the girl at him. Their laughter died away. The girl reached up to touch her hair self-consciously, but she did not divert her gaze. “I’m going to marry you,” the boy said suddenly. There was a moment of silence, and she began laughing again, a sweet musical sound he didn’t mind at all. “I mean it,” he insisted. “You are an odd one,” she said, her laughter dying away. “Why do you say that?” He hesitated. ” I guess because it’s what I believe…” Her smile was dazzling. “Well, I’m afraid I can’t marry you..” She paused, searching her memory for his name. “Anakin,” he said. “Anakin.” She cocked her head. “You’re just a little boy.” His gaze was intense as he faced her. “I won’t always be…” he said quietly.”

— Terry Brooks, Star Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace

This is one of my favorite Anidala scenes ever because their story starts so sweetly. This scene is so unique to them and after watching the OT, it’s fascinating to see a young Darth Vader as a sweet and innocent child. His interactions as a slave boy with a young queen in disguise is also fits with the fairytale-ish tone and themes in Star Wars. Anakin and Padmé’s first meeting is just precious. 

This is probably the only time, Anakin and Padmé can be themselves without older figures telling them what to do. This is one of the few times Padmé is Padmé Naberrie - not Queen Amidala or Padmé Amidala. It’s interesting to see two young people from different social classes and vastly different cultures and worlds sharing a genuine moment of connection. 

I can add very little to this scene but Anakin proves he has enough clairvoyance (as Admiral Motti mocks him in ANH) to be certain he has met the girl he would marry someday. Even in TPM, little Anakin Skywalker is just as much a slave to Watto as he is to the Emperor in ANH. 

Even Padmé is somewhat surprised by his intensity at such an young age. Anakin also emphasizes on his identity as a person so this scene has dark undertones and references to Darth Vader.  

Another scene I love is the chilling visual parallels with Vader and Padmé in ROTS. The stark contrast between their “deaths” but also the similarities show that they are still connected even while their lives hang in balance. 

Padmé gives birth to life and Anakin loses his humanity. She is in a well-lit medical facility and he is in a cold, dark one. Even their heartbeats are in sync as if they are connected via the Force (which could very well be true, since she was slightly force-sensitive from carrying the twins). 

As the mask lowers on Vader, he whispers (since his vocal cords are badly burnt), “Padmé, help me” and Padmé, always on Anakin’s side, hears his plea and tries to tell that to Obi-Wan with her dying breath. It’s very likely that she heard him through the connection they shared like their connection during the ruminations scene and how Leia felt Luke in ESB and but she was unable to respond as she had given birth and probably lost the temporary force sensitivity. 

 As Anakin takes his first breath as Vader, Padmé takes her last. 

Vader rises like Frankenstein’s monster and Sidious marvels at his new “creation”. Padmé dies all in white, like the angel Anakin believed her to be. The parallels are also reminiscent of the “Death and the Maiden” motif.

Anakin has always felt connected to Padmé since he met her and this is the last time he feels their connection. And that’s how he knows Padmé is truly dead and he has lost her forever.  

Even the chorus “I am a Sith Lord but I could not save her” (even though the lyrics are actually Sanskrit) is haunting. This is where the colors of the republic fade and the black and white symbolism of the empire begins. 

Anakin is now Vader - more machine than man - and stands beside Sidious to assist him in building a tyrannical empire while Padmé dies and takes with her all the colors, love, laughter, cultural beauty, and freedom of the Republic era. Padmé was the personification of the Republic - a flawed but well-intended system and her death represents the democracy whereas Vader represents the Empire. 

Her funeral arrangement makes it seem like she’s drowning like Ophelia - implying that she’s returning to where she belongs. (Her planet Naboo is mostly associated with water and Padmé has often expressed her love for water and lakes in AOTC).

Padmé dying of a broken heart is also fits in with the fairytale whereas Anakin finds himself in a very different world after he wakes up - a world where most of the Jedi had been slaughtered and the survivors were declared traitors, a world where democracy doesn’t exist anymore. And he finds himself kept alive my machinery and he cannot die like his beloved, even if he wishes to. He is now very much a part of the new empire - with his humanity and limbs lost - and he gradually accepts his role as the imperial enforcer. 

Anakin and Padme’s story comes to a conclusion here as their reverse arcs are completed. They have both come a long way since TPM and Padme’s experiences mold her into becoming more emotional and in touch with her feelings from the stoic, reserved Queen Amidala whereas Anakin’s dreams, compassion and search for his identity are lost as he becomes his master’s servant and becomes colder and more stoic. Padmé’s journey was to become more human and learning to put love and family over duty and transition from Amidala to Padmé as Anakin’s unfortunately was to become more inhuman and machine-like, from Anakin to Vader. 

These scenes are where the prequel trilogy ends and the originals begin. 

[angelharness]

oooh my fave ladies. im transmasc so this made me happy aha. going with a pre-entity narrative.

WARNINGS: none

AMANDA YOUNG / THE PIG

• Thinks “I don’t care, I don’t see you any different,” is a supportive and reassuring statement. She’s not unaccepting by any means, but her approach of indifference is understandably a little off-putting. 

• In most contexts, Amanda reacts to being corrected with an only barely-passive ferocity, but with you, who she doesn’t feel she needs to constantly defend herself around, she’s more open to addressing her mistakes.

• Likely the type to apologize excessively after using the wrong name, and though you have to assure her it isn’t a big deal, just to correct herself afterward, she gets through this personal hurdle easily enough. She starts using nicknames indicative of your real name to help remind herself, which also functions as a way for her to comfortably express affection. 

• Amanda will do some research and a fair amount of reading on her own; she understands that constantly having to correct and inform others about your identity is horribly tiring, and while she knows she can always go to you with any questions, she genuinely wants to be well informed and to be able to be supportive girlfriend. 

• If you operate as an apprentice of John’s teachings, she would be open to privately inform John on the matter so he can address you properly going forward. Though a core principle of his faith, judgement will not be directed your way. If you’d rather notify him yourself, or not at all, she respects your choice and will know not to intrude. 

• Though known (at least by those close) as the queen of awful, post-breakdown haircuts, when calm and of mind, she has a steady, articulate hand and would cut your hair if you ever wanted, already possessing the instruments for such an occasion. Don’t expect anything stylish, though; her experience comes exclusively from regular trims to keep her hair out of the way while working, not for stylish purposes.

• You bring it up in an evidently joking manner, but Amanda seriously considers kidnapping a doctor to perform any surgeries you’d want. You appreciate the gesture, or the consideration behind it, but you’re likely to turn the idea down. While you may construct brutal instruments of torture and experiment on very unwilling subjects, you still have some standards.

• Amanda will make sure to tell you how handsome you are at any given chance (though never in the presence of company, attributed to her embarrassment over expressing endearment of any sort). Now matter how often she says it, it never loses its sentiment or genuinity. It’s always spoken with a tender authenticity. Despite this, there’s still an aching in her chest at times, wondering so often if you’re aware of just how much she cares for you and how dearly she wishes she could express that. 

SUSIE / THE LEGION

• More than understanding. While she originates from a time, not even terribly long ago, where matters like that weren’t very publicly addressed, she’s quickly accepting and very open to learning.

• Zero tolerance for assholes. She knows not to speak over you on matters that she has no part in, but will not stand for dickheads who knowingly and repeatedly misgender or deadname you. She’s quick to alert strangers, too, even if they meant well.  

• Pretty fast to adjust to using your correct name. Uses lovey nicknames often, somewhat like Amanda, which also helps to remind her. 

• Susie’s incredibly thrilled to call you her boyfriend. The change of title comes easy. Some nicknames she likes as well include cookie, babes, and hotshot—anything exceedingly tacky and sounds like it comes from a fifties high school romcom.

• None of the rest of the Legion give you any trouble, and are surprisingly but welcomingly supportive. Most deriving from unstable home lives and having faced some degree of ostracization themselves, they’re fairly understanding, even the hard-assed Frank. Bigots are usually the subject of their teenage exploits, and if they catch anyone giving you a hard time they make a point to jot them down as a future target. 

• Susie would love to help you dye your hair if you ever wanted to (and she’d pushed you to consider it before), though despite routinely dying her own, she’s not very good at it, usually depending on Julie’s directions. Expect your bathroom counter and sink to be stained for some weeks afterward.

• Transitioning in school is never fun, and it’s an extensive process to formally change your name and gender on official records. Your deadname, sadly, will be a constant during the school day, but Susie makes a point to use your correct name, no matter if she’s with you or not. If you’re alright with it, she’ll correct other students. 

• With a surprising effort of strength, she peels off the yellowed tape she had used to write your name on her personalized mixtape for you, redressing it with the proper name. Returning it to you, you see the case has been updated with a dressing of glitter stickers and a heart in pink pen. 

• Will gladly go clothes shop(lifting) with you, but also is just as ok if you’re fine with your current wardrobe or ever ask to borrow from hers. Either way, keep a constant eye on your hoodies—any she finds lying around are considered up-for-grabs. 

• Susie is cautiously worried about having to now compete for your attention when your female classmates gradually start expressing interest in you. It’s a little illogical, considering you two were already officially dating; still, some reassurance is always appreciated, whether or not she expresses it.

• While she will inevitably slip up from time to time, you always feel comfortable bringing that up with her. You’re never met with sudden defensiveness or hostile confusion, but rather an open and considerate mind, even if she doesn’t understand entirely. She learns quickly and is thankful for your input, even more so that you feel like you’re able to talk to her about such matters. Susie would never want you to stay silent on issues like that.