#they could’ve been more but circumstances said no ❤️

[yuripira4e]

Shaking my head and wagging my finger as I like ivantill art so people know I don’t think anything about the romantic aspect of their relationship was requited

[hargreeves-duncan]

Hey, I read your last Five fics which I absolutely loved and I was wondering if I could request a (Five x Reader) or (Five x OC) in which Five betrays the MC with Lila in the subway and when they come back MC leaves him and meets someone else who she falls deeply in love with (probably married her new partner and even has children) and years later Five finds her and he tries to fix everything because he realized that whatever happened with Lila was not real love and then he witnesses MC with her new family and realizes that it could’ve been him if only he would’ve treasured her love and stayed loyal to her?

I just love angst with a happy ending for the person who was betrayed and a miserable life for the traitor.

a/n: i’m inclined to agree, bad people deserve to get what’s coming to them!! i know everyone really wanted a pt. 2 to the cheating!Five fic and that’s what this turned into so… hope you enjoy!❤️

summary: you’ve moved on, five’s still recovering from the life that could’ve been

warnings: cheating

word count: 2.2k

tags: @snixx2088

pt. 1

Five checked the address in his notepad for the hundredth time since he’d left his apartment. He looked back up at the house with its neat entryway and wide, glorious front garden. There were cream roses spiralling around the white picket fences and he wondered if you were the one who’d painted them. You'd always had a knack for fixing things up and making them shine better than they had without you, himself included. Your entire house, no, home, was beautiful - but what else did he expect? It was yours, after all.

He took a deep breath, wringing out his hands that were already sweating profusely. He hadn’t felt nerves like these in years. It had been so long since you’d last seen him and your life looked so perfect and picturesque without him in it that he felt selfish for dirtying your lawn with his presence.

Things had been difficult during the split, you couldn’t even hold his eye or be alone in the same room as him after the events of Christmas Eve. But even after everything, you’d still been straight with him, and civil too, when you told him that you were going to stay somewhere else for a while. You'd needed some time before the two of you could be close again and, of course, he’d agreed. To tell the truth, at the time he hadn’t even minded. He had Lila then. Why was there any need for you to stay around?

But after a while, she had left too. For Lila, their seven years together really only had been a fling, a spur of the moment. She went back to her husband, her family. And Diego, being softer than you were, let her, no matter what she’d done or how badly she’d hurt him. The two of them had pushed forward and eventually they’d made it to the other side. They weren’t the same couple as they had been, but they were doing better, and for them that was enough.

After that, Five had grown bitter towards you and the way you’d reacted. Why couldn’t you see things the way Diego had? Why hadn’t you taken him back and reassured him that you would fix it all, like his brother had done for Lila? That was how things were supposed to go.

He was angry at Lila for a while too, for choosing her family over the future he wanted with her. He hadn't understood how their affair was formed by circumstance, not love. He knew better now.

Looking back, a small part of him actually respected you more for turning him away. It was strong of you to choose yourself for once and he was proud of how you’d pushed through, even when he had begged and pleaded for you to take him back. 

He wouldn’t do that today, he promised himself, as he marched on and up the steps of your front porch. He brushed his hair out of his face and then he reached up, knocking on the door. He heard the soft thump of feet on the hardwood floors draw closer.

The door opened and there you stood, smiling, “Hi!” You paused as you registered who it was that stood in front of you. Shocked, you said, “Oh! You are not the mail.”

Five laughed softly, shaking his head, “Uh… I am not, no.” He silently looked over you, taking in the ways you’d changed since he last saw you. Your hair was slightly longer than it used to be, but it looked good, suited you. As did the outfit you were wearing. He didn't dare to say that out loud though.

“I… Hi, Five. What can I do for you?” You asked, stepping out onto the porch and gently closing the door behind you. He’d missed your soft-spoken voice and hearing it made a dreamy smile form on his face.

“I wanted to check on you, see how you’ve been.” He gestured to your front door, “May I…?”

You hesitated for a moment but then you sighed, nodding and smiling weakly, “Yeah, of course. Come on in.” You say, opening the door again and leading him inside. You’re walking three strides ahead of him as you ask, “Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee?”

“Uh, yeah. Coffee would be great, actually.” He says, blinking up at you in slight surprise as he steps into your home. He was expecting more resistance. The interior of your home is just as nice as the outside. It’s warm and so clearly full of the love that you’ve put into it. His eyes are drawn to the pictures on the shelf in the walkway.

There are a few of you with his siblings. He’s not surprised about that. In the wake of your divorce, it was you that they’d sided with and, even now, they were still treading lightly around Lila and him at family functions. What does surprise him are the two children that Klaus has his arms wrapped around in the family portrait at some celebration or other. They feature in several photos, dressed in pretty dresses and sporting toothy grins in almost every one.

Before he can overthink it, your voice is calling out to him, “Five?” You poke your head out of the kitchen door and he smiles resignedly. He stands up and follows you into the kitchen. He sits on one of the stools at the island.

The only sound comes from you, pouring out his coffee. You fetch yourself a water and then slide his mug towards him. He smiles gently, taking the warm beverage into his hands, “Thank you, love.”

Leaning on the counter, opposite him, your head snaps up to look at him as you laugh nervously. Catching his mistake, Five shakes his head, laughing a little himself, “Sorry. I guess it's still a force of habit.”

“It’s fine.” You say with a small smile, sipping from your own glass. The silence becomes comfortable. There was something familiar about this routine, enjoying the quiet company of one another and it settles any nerves left in Five.

Steadying his breath, his eyes search the kitchen for answers of what your life has looked like these last few years. More than a few times, he’d asked his siblings and they’d given little or sometimes even nothing to work with. He wished he still knew your ins and outs like he used to.

He finds his answers hanging up in a frame on the far wall. It’s a nice photo of you, your happiness shines out of it and watches over the room. There’s someone else in it too. Five doesn’t recognise him but by the placement of his hands, he knows what he must mean to you.

Five clears his throat, pointing to the photo with his mug, “Who’s the guy?”

You look up and feel your cheeks flame as you find the photo you had taken on your last vacation, “He’s my partner.” You say and your smile is shy as you talk about him. One mention of this guy and you’re already indescribably smile-y.

It makes Five’s stomach churn when you say, “We’ve been together for nearly five years now.”

“Oh, wow…” He says, eyebrows raising. He’s trying and failing miserably to mask his surprise and pain. It’s not as if he expected you to come running back into his arms with some crazy love confession or anything, but he didn’t think you’d have moved on either.

What hurts the most is how happy you look to be talking about your new partner, your eyes lit up with affection that used to be reserved for him, “That’s… that’s amazing, congratulations.”

You smile softly, wrapping your arms around yourself as you set your glass down, “Thank you.”

“And the kids in those photos in the hallway…?” Five says, glancing over his shoulder as if they’ll come barreling in at any second. He’s not sure he could face two girls with eyes just like yours staring back at him.

You nod, “They’re mine, yeah. They’re three. At pre-school right now, but, you know…” You answer, shrugging and smiling at the thought of your twin little girls.

After your time at The Commission, you’d been terrified of the mother you'd be. Some days it still felt like you were waiting for the other shoe to drop and for you to turn into a cruel, awful person. But, you hadn't so far and your partner was always there to soothe you when those thoughts started to creep up on you.

You were still learning that it was okay to be a mother and have had your own life before that as an assassin. Being a good killer didn’t stop you from being a good mother and you were more than capable of giving your girls the love they deserved. Everything you did was for the good of them and you were doing an amazing job at giving them a happy and completely normal life.

“Jesus, wow…” Five laughs to himself, running a hand over his face as he looks back at you. He’s speechless, hearing about the wonderful life that you’ve built yourself. He feels a deep-rooted guilt spring up in him. He never gave you that life but it was plain to see how much you craved it and how you were thriving in it.

He’d spent so long saying that maybe, one day, in between all of the chaos of your lives, you’d find time for a quiet life like this. He’d spent every waking moment pushing the future and its commitments as far away as he could, arguing that all he wanted was to focus on you whilst he had you in his arms. But he had never given you what you wanted and now you’d found it with someone else.

Swallowing down the ache in his chest, he pulled his mug closer to himself, seeking out the warmth of it on his palms to ground him, “You look really happy.”

“I am, I really am.” You say, smiling softly at him. You were happy that Five had come here today, that you could get some true closure on your time together, it felt like a lifetime ago now. Sunlight poured into the kitchen and your bracelet shimmered under its rays, a dazzling silver.

A strained smile makes its way onto Five’s face at the sight of it, yet another symbol of the fact that didn’t belong to him anymore. It hurt to admit it but silver suited you far better than gold ever did, and he’s sure that there’s a metaphor somewhere in there but he wasn't ready to face the truth behind it yet.

You take another sip of water and there’s a peaceful silence that falls over the room that gives you both the chance to absorb everything that’s passed between you in the last two decades. You look over his features and tilt your head to the side, “What about you, though? How’re you doing?”

Five could answer with what he’s really thinking - that he’s sorry for putting your dreams on the back-burner and that he didn't treasure you the way should've the first time around. He wants to tell you that if you go with him right now and give it all up that he can be the one to provide for you instead and he wants to tell you that he would be so much better than your new partner ever could - but he won’t, he promised he wouldn't.

Instead, he smiles weakly, shrugging his shoulders as he sits up, “I’m doing okay.”

You’ve said it yourself, you’re happy as you are and, unlike him, you're not hung up on the 'what ifs' and the 'could've beens'. You don't need him anymore and he's not selfish enough to risk ruining your happiness just to make some pathetic promise that you both know he won't keep.

“Yeah? That’s good. I’m glad.” You smile and the genuinity in your voice is the real kicker. You’re such a good person that you still care enough to want to know that he’s alright after everything, when he's still weighing up whether he should ruin your relationship or not.

He can’t help but question if he ever deserved you in the first place.

There’s a knock at the door and the both of you jump slightly. You laugh, “That must be the mail.” You set your glass down, padding out of the room.

He chuckles to himself, nodding, “Looks like it.” He mutters, finishing the dregs of his coffee and places the mug down on the counter as he stands up. He has to get out before he ruins your life all over again with words that you don't want to hear.

Walking back into the room with two boxes on your hip, you watch as he picks up his coat, “Oh! Please, don’t feel rushed, you don’t have to leave yet. I don’t have to go get the girls for another few hours.”

Five shakes his head, “No, it's alright. I’ll get out of your hair.” He says, walking into the hallway, “Thank you, by the way, for the coffee.”

“Of course, you’re welcome.” You say, following behind him as he walks out of the door.

He hovers on the porch and you smile kindly at him, “Just... please, don’t be a stranger, Five.”

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to."

[icouldntfindquiet]

I just saw your post and thought I’d give a little more context! Sorry for the length 🫣

Under certain circumstances and work related reasons, musicians can stay longer than 90 days. Think it’s up to a full year. Labels and/or management can provide documents for longer stays if international musicians are working. Van likely has a working visa and Benji probably has either a spouse visa or green card. I believe you have to stay in the country for a certain amount of time for both and it depends how long they’ve been married.

Catfish didn’t really need management from late 2021 till showtime was released as they were inactive. Yes it would’ve helped but again, not necessarily needed and they would’ve needed to be paid which either the label or Van could’ve been unwilling to pay for the time being. Management doesn’t take long to find and Van very well could be in the US interviewing management companies. I hate dunking on UK management cause some are really good but US management is generally better overall. I’ve worked with and experienced both as a fan. Really hoping they sign with Q Prime as they manage loads of solid acts. Look at their website!

Not sure what the situation is with the album but I would’ve assumed it was done and records have been pressed therefore ready to be announced. It takes 6-9 months for copies to be pressed (vinyl is in high demand and there are very limited factories so it’s backed up for roughly another decade). IMO I don’t think the album is being worked on for this reason but if it’s not pressed (which could explain the delay in the album announcement cause vinyl is a huge part of sales) then I guess it could be album related work with Sardy. Could also be doing press stuff out here. Doubt it but always a possibility.

He could also be in the US for privacy since Catfish are so unknown here. I can only imagine he’s pissed off and possibly embarrassed about what’s happened. Really feeling for all of them at the moment. None of this was really any of the band’s fault. You never know how management will play out either. Can’t imagine how disappointed they are but they’ll (hopefully) come back stronger. I wish we could all give them a big hug!

No worries! Thanks for the insight. It was interesting to read. I don’t know much about visas but it looks like Van has some nice music industry perks. 😁👍 I don’t know how often Benji goes to the US. His wife used to post stories when they were together in the US but hasn’t for a long time now.

Yeah, it’d be a waste of money paying for management if there’s no work. I realized lots of people think he’s in the US now but I don’t think he’s currently there. I noticed his account said US on 9th August. Van was clearly back in the UK for R&L but it’s been stuck saying the US so either he’s not logged in for a while or it’s stuck. Their statement says they’ve seen a doctor and I’m assuming it’s in the UK. I can’t imagine how complex it is to seek medical treatment in the US as a UK citizen but maybe he has music industry perks. 🤷‍♀️ I see Q Prime manages Foals, The Last Dinner Party, and Declan McKenna from the UK! All artists I’m a fan of.

I’m not sure what’s holding up the album either. Sardy’s been hyping it up for so long, I’m starting to think we imagined it. 😭 Remember RSD ‘24 and how they might’ve sent the prototype for the 10 year anniversary album instead? 🤡 Well that was April so did it take 5 months to make the 10 year anniversary vinyl?

Yeah, I feel bad for him and hope he’s not too hard on himself. I can’t imagine him catching a flight to the US if he’s really unwell though. My hope is that he’s resting and being kind to himself. ❤️

[ahsokathegray]

I Bleed the Same || Thirty-Nine

Pairing: Rexsoka

Summary: Ahsoka and Rex try and make sense of who and what they are after Order 66 occurs. Figuring out what to do with themselves, they remain together for a period of time before parting in their own directions.

Warnings: slow burn, mentions of Order 66, ptsd, injury, death, and future nsfw situations

Word Count: 4,319

A/N: hiiii, it's been forever. thank you all for being so patient! as promised, here is the next IBTS chapter! updates will be every other tuesday as usual. i've also updated some earlier chapters of this fic to better reflect my writing style and make it not feel so disjointed. anyways, thanks for following along! I have a goal to complete this fic this year so I hope you all enjoy the ride ❤️

read on ao3! / series masterlist

Rex wanted to blast the smug look off Saw’s face. 

Now that the two of you are more… friendly.

He shifted in his tight seat, fists and jaw flexing until a careful hand was placed over his bouncing knee. The devilish curl in Saw’s smile only deepend at the confirmation of his passing comment. Ahsoka’s simple gesture had told the man all he needed to know. 

Turning her sharp gaze back to Saw, she spit venom. “That’s hardly relevant. If you called us here for a mission briefing, get on with it or else stop wasting our time.”

It was Rex’s turn to be smug, relishing in the way Ahsoka wiped Gerrera of his haughty expression with nothing but her words. Jango help him, he loved her. 

“I received intel from a contact of mine that one of your clones wants out,” he continued.

Rex sat up in his chair and Ahsoka stared the Onderonian down. If he sent Rex on a wild nuna chase, so help her—

Saw produced a datapad and placed it in Rex’s hands. “Coordinates. I don’t know names. I don’t know circumstances. It’s up to you if you take it or not. The two of you stepped up more than I could’ve asked on Kashyyyk. More than I deserved.”

“What’s the catch?” Ahsoka asked, crossing her arms, not buying the flattery.

The man flipped a vibroblade in his hand, sounding wounded, “Does there have to be a catch?”

Rex handed the datapad to Ahsoka. If the galaxy had retained any semblance of itself from before, it was its sense of irony. The clone in question was on Carlac. A small Imperial presence had bloomed on the snowy planet, taking up residence not far from where Ahsoka had been dragged against her will into an encounter with Death Watch. Her relationships with Bo-Katan and the forgotten senator’s son a few levels below had shifted considerably since then.

“I take it you’re familiar with the location?” Saw asked, watching the color drain from Ahsoka’s face. 

“Too much so,” she replied. “And I’m still waiting for that catch.”

Saw sheathed his blade. “I can’t offer you many forces. My people are fighting the Empire. The two of you are rescuing clones. There’s a difference.”

Rex stood from his chair and gripped the desk, his knuckles paling. “And if we blow their base to hell? They haven’t had long to form anything with strong enough defenses. We go in, extract what we can, get our guy, and get out before we’re reduced to ash. I’ve done more with less people. Two of your fighters maximum. We all benefit,” Rex gritted. 

“I like the way you negotiate, Captain,” their host laughed, lifting a bisected brow. “Fine. Two fighters. You come back without them? Without intel? I can ensure the Empire finds you both and that’s a fate worse than death.”

“That’s one way to make friends,” Ahsoka called.

Saw shrugged his shoulders, “Friends get you killed. Allies don’t.”

He knew precisely where to stick the blade in her heart, twisting it in the spot that still felt the guilt of Steela’s death. “Allies then,” she said, withdrawing any emotion from her voice.

“We’ll soon see,” Saw returned. “You leave in the morning.”

Ahsoka spent the evening knocking on doors, asking any fighters if they had coats to spare. She helped herself into the empty quarters, rummaging through closets and wardrobes, finding nothing but dust and old dressing robes. If they were going on some undercover senatorial mission, they’d be more than well equipped. 

Searching for about an hour with no luck, Ahsoka was ready to throw in the towel. She’d made it to the last stretch of quarters and knocked slowly on yet another gray door. It slid aside and she prepared her spiel, but was not met with another sleepy or disgruntled fighter, nor was she met with a fighter at all upon first glance.

“Ahsoka!” a tiny voice cheered, smiling brightly in the doorway. Lilla beamed up at her friend, lurching to hug her around the waist until her apologizing mother appeared behind her. “Mom! This is my new friend Ahsoka. Where’s Rex?”

“Lilla,” her mother laughed. “Sorry about that. It’s lovely to meet you, Ahsoka. She’s talked quite a bit about you and your friend. I’m Rallani. What can I do for you?” The human woman had the kindest, sad green eyes she’d ever seen. Lilla’s were the perfect copy of them, only brighter, happier. It saddened Ahsoka that the mother’s had dulled — wondering if herself and her own mother had once been like this family. 

If Ahsoka’s had ever been bright, their color was long since desaturated. 

She just laughed, the sweet hug doing wonders for her cracked heart. “You as well, and I don’t mind at all,” she said. “I hope I’m not intruding. I know it’s late, but I’m preparing for a last minute mission and was wondering if you had any coats to spare.”

The woman nodded knowingly, “Carlac, right?”

“Right. I take it Saw assigned you to the mission, then?”

“About an hour ago actually,” she yawned. “He’s not known for his punctuality, is he?” She ushered the Togruta inside the small quarters and led her to the wardrobe. “I unfortunately don’t have a men’s coat, but I do have a one that I think might fit you. Here, try it on.”

Lilla took a seat on a small sofa and swung her legs patiently, stubby lekku following, just happy to have a visitor. “Do you not have a coat, Ahsoka?”

Fitting one arm into the thick material, she answered the young girl’s question, “I don’t unfortunately. Funny thing is that I recently had the opportunity to grab one, but Rex and I had to hurry back here before someone saw us.”

“Oh? Was it that stinky shop here on Nar Shaddaa? Mom and Dad found that one!”

The woman laughed, “And we grabbed an extra for this exact purpose. Does it fit okay in the arms?”

“It’s perfect,” Ahsoka said, buttoning the ensemble to check and tossing the hood over her montrals.

Lilla squealed, “It’s like it was made for you! You look so pretty!”

Rallani nodded in agreement, “I was thinking the same exact thing, love. I’ll see you and Rex in the morning then, Ahsoka?”

“Bright and early. Thank you again. I was running out of doors to knock on and this is exactly what I was needing. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“I’m glad we could help. And don’t worry about it. Your friendship to my Lilla is thanks enough — more than I could’ve asked for, honestly. There’s not many kids or young people fighting for the cause just yet so my girl is finding friends wherever she can.”

Ahsoka smiled, bidding them both goodnight and hoping the final inhabitant on the hallway had a men’s coat for Rex. She rapped on the door beside the stairwell, ready to face swift disappointment and meet back up with Rex only to deliver bad news. They’d struck a deal earlier that he’d collect their dinner and pack whilst she searched for gear. 

The door opened and as soon as the fighter on the other end answered, Ahsoka regretted the action. In her exhaustion and desperation, she’d completely forgotten the directions Lux had given her to find his room. She’d actively avoided the area ever since he’d told her where she could find him.

“Ahsoka,” he said, running a hand through his unkempt hair. “I wasn’t expecting you at this hour. What can I do for you?”

She did her best to swallow her distaste in this instance. “Actually, I’m hoping it’s what you can do for me.”

His eyes lit up.

“Do you have a men’s coat to spare by any chance?”

His face fell and he ushered her in. She remained outside his door. “Your Captain couldn’t come ask himself?”

Ahsoka ground her teeth together. “He’s actually grabbing our dinner from the mess and was going to meet me back in our bedroom. We’ll be up early for a mission. On Carlac, actually, of all places,” she added.

“Oh, I see. Are the clones you rescued going along?”

“Fireball’s arm is broken and they’re both still in the medbay, so no. Saw assigned Rallani and someone else to accompany Rex and I.”

Lux joined her outside in the corridor, “Rallani is great. I’ve seen her in action but she doesn’t know Carlac. If Saw— If I were able to go on missions, I’m sure Saw would send me with you. I’m the only one here who’s been on the planet besides you.” His eyes swam with the recollection of memories and her stomach bubbled sickeningly. “If you want, I can still help from here. Four people isn’t a lot and I’m sure if Saw’s sending you with his fighters then has to do with the Empire.”

She wanted to turn down his request but knew better than to deny any additional aid, especially since their forces would be so limited. As much as she didn’t care for him, having Lux involved might be exactly what determines their success or failure on the harsh planet. “Thanks. That would be greatly appreciated from all of us,” she settled with. “Did you have that coa—”

“I’m happy to do it. And no, sorry, I don’t even have a coat for myself. Not that he would fit in it if I did,” he said, inhaling deeply and preparing himself for his next words. “Listen, Ahsoka, I just wanted to say that if you ever need to escape that room, I’m here. I’d love to catch up and, well, I can’t lie and say I don’t wonder what might’ve happened if…”

“Lux, we all grieve differently. Maybe when we were still on Onderon I had wondered, too, but we were kids trying to make sense of the war and our place in it. You can’t search for yourself in someone else — you help each other grow, to be better, you find yourself through who you are when you’re with them. Steela brought out the best in you and I’m sorry that she’s not here. She helped you grow into who you’re supposed to be and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that she’d be proud of where you’re headed. Rex wasn’t wrong when he said that she was a natural born leader. Even in her death, she’s led others to do the same,” Ahsoka said. 

He slumped in the door. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, you know. It’s not just in his eyes but everything he does — everything he is. I’d die for you, but not in the way he’s ready to. He’s in love with you, Ahsoka.”

“I know,” she nodded, a silent beat passing between them. “And it took me until recently to admit how much I’m in love with him, too.” 

He smiled weakly, still looking at her with a longing she no longer pitied. Ahsoka knew well just how lost she’d be if Rex hadn’t left that fateful moon with her. She pulled her old friend in for a quick embrace and bid him goodnight, turning into the stairwell to find her beaming Captain with his arms full of food and miscellaneous gear. Ahsoka pressed a gentle kiss to his lips and held his arm as they ascended the stairs to their shared quarters for the night.

The small squad left early the following morning with sleepy introductions between members and wheels up before breakfast could even be thought of. Lilla and her father waved up at everyone as the ship took off, beginning its day and a half journey to Carlac. It was a less cramped trek this time around, though Rex and Ahsoka still found themselves elbow to elbow, taking their meals together and alternating turns sleeping on the other’s shoulder. 

Rallani told them how she met Lilla’s father on a trip to Ryloth before the war, and how he’d relocated to Onderon once he’d built a ship so that he could leave home to be with her. Rex, in turn, told her about the Lawquane’s and their children. If their new comrade suspected anything about he and Ahsoka being together, she did not voice it, but they both had a feeling. 

“Coming out of hyperspace,” the fourth fighter announced the following day as he returned them to sublight speeds. The Tognath, Benthic, had introduced himself as an experienced pilot, tactician, and engineer with a personal vendetta against the Empire. 

Carlac filled the viewports and Ahsoka was already remembering the last time she’d visited the frostbitten planet. She’d never before gotten to see it approach. Rex held her hand as they descended into the atmosphere, rubbing soothing circles on the back of her glove until the surface was in view. 

A dark shuttle they didn’t recognize flew overhead once they were already under the cover of the frozen forest. Everyone in the U-wing shared a look of apprehension, wondering if they’d just bitten off more than they could chew. Any kind of air traffic didn’t bode well. For a base of small proportion, no traffic at all was preferable. Ahsoka fastened her cloak over her newly acquired coat for the added warmth, trying not to think about the clone here and the horrors he might be going through — what he’s undoubtedly gone through already. 

“It’ll be dark soon,” Ahsoka said as they stepped out of the craft. “Snow’s coming in from the north. Both of these factors will be to our advantage. Keep warm and stay close. I know the area.” 

The charred roofs of the Ming Po town were just beyond the trees. She shivered, the reminder of the way she’d been dragged to the neighboring Death Watch camp just a few klicks east crept back into her skin. Rex’s cloak billowed around his helmet and he was still, observing her, nodding in a silent ask if she was okay. She nodded back. 

“We’ll survey the area — split up into two teams and get eyes on all ends of the facility. Benthic, you can tap into the system?” Rex asked.

“I can. Saw prefers me for my record times, Captain,” the man responded. He was proving to be a jack of all trades and Ahsoka was thankful that Saw had been particular in the fighters he’d assigned to this mission. “I should be able to extract a map of the base as well as some more encrypted files once we get inside. If you hear or see anything about Imperial refineries or supply lines, make sure it gets back to me.”

Rex nodded and looked to Ahsoka, following her lead on this one. She took one more glance back towards the village before pressing on, following the provided coordinates and gaining on the Empire’s facility. “See anything yet?” she asked Rex once they split into teams. Her senses were returning at a gradual pace. She didn’t dare trust their accuracy just yet.

“Oh, yes,” Rex reported, flipping down his rangefinder. “And I like it a whole lot less than I anticipated.”

“What is it?” she asked, watching her breaths materialize in front of her.

“Troopers guarding the entrances… and they’re wearing new armor.” His blood congealed in his veins, fully freezing over. 

The harsh wind whipped at Ahsoka’s lekku, each pump of her heart felt in her montrals. “Are they clones?” 

“I— I can’t tell.”

Ahsoka closed her eyes and pressed her blue lips into a thin line. She couldn’t kill another clone. She refused. Rex may be willing but she was incapable, unwilling. “We have to get closer. I’ll need to hear their voices to be sure. I won’t—”

“Ahsoka.”

“I won’t, Rex,” she doubled down. 

His rangefinder was returned to its upright position and he stood, gently taking hold of her lekku and tucking them into her coat so they didn’t get windburn. “Okay. We’ll find a way. We did it before and under worse circumstances than these.” The comm on his wrist gauntlet lit up. “Talk to me, Benthic.”

“Captain, we’ve extracted the designs of the facility. Prison block is underground and that’s where our guy is being held. Cell 5940. How do the two of you wish to proceed?” the Tognath asked, breathing tubes whirring with the weather. 

They rendezvoused with their forces and crafted a plan to infiltrate, each of them memorizing different parts of the Imperial base and assigned an individual task. Carlac’s biting cold was all but forgotten as they readied themselves in the cover of the forest. The snow had caught up with them, falling much harder now and setting their plan in motion.

Rex gave the go-ahead motion with his hand. Now. 

With the brief assistance of the Force, Ahsoka pushed the snow from a low hanging tree branch at the left of the facility. The two troopers in their unscuffed armor turned to where the noise came from, looked at one another, and each shrugged. Ahsoka inhaled deeply and pushed again, this time snapping several larger branches. Her fingers retracted, not having meant to apply so much pressure.

“What was that?” the first trooper asked. Not a clone.

“You should go take a look,” said the second. Not a clone. 

“Alone?”

“You’re the one who heard it.”

The first trooper sighed and left to investigate. Rex should’ve been ashamed of the slight upturn that teased at the corner of his lips. Both of the men were shivering. The Empire might’ve been quick to issue new armor for its soldiers, but it hadn’t yet had the time to craft a version adequate enough for such extreme weather. 

Ahsoka was the first to hurdle forward. She was the fastest, most agile, most experienced member on the squad. She rushed the trooper by the entrance as Lilla’s mother took out the surveillance cams with her rifle, with Rex taking care of the trooper at the treeline. 

Both comms were extracted from the fallen troopers and Benthic directed them to the ventilation system, opening the large icy grate and allowing them inside. “Rex. Ahsoka. You need to catch a lift to the level below. Expect the holding cells to be guarded. Be ready for anything. We don’t know what the Empire wants on Carlac,” the man detailed. “Rallani you and I will go up a level. I’m going to tap into the system while you’re on guard. We’ll meet back on this level in thirty.”

“Understood,” they all agreed, hopping inside the ducts with Benthic at the back, sealing them inside. 

A single trooper patrolled the corridor they came out in and was soon eliminated and relocated to a nearby supply closet. She’d been the only one present — the only trooper between them and the two lifts that now stared back at them. Both the up and down buttons were activated. It felt too easy.

The weight in the air was suffocating, wrapped tightly around their throats as they waited on the lifts to arrive. It took no time at all for the indicators to ding, two sets of doors sliding aside for the pairs to enter. Rex, Ahsoka, Benthic, and Rallani all shared tight nods as they stepped into their respective lifts, not uttering a word as the mechanisms took them in opposite directions. 

Ahsoka and Rex each drew their blasters, pointing them at the closed door and ready to down anyone or anything that stood in their way. The lift settled beneath the ground and groaned, the air growing colder with the descent. Rex’s vocoder emphasized his heavy breathing, nerves running high at the possibility of rescuing another clone. It put her at ease, the familiar sound, reminding her that they’ve been in this together since the start and that they’d continue to be until the job was done — no matter how many years it took.

Plasma was already shooting across the room as the door slid aside, striking down the only trooper in the room and sending them into the controls. Ahsoka’s heart had jumped into her throat as the pieces started falling together. There were too few forces here. Even for a base of this size, that wasn’t standard. Her fingers trembled and she helped Rex do a quick sweep of the area. Nothing. No one else. 

“Rex.”

“I know.”

She could see cell 5940 from where she stood, situated at the back of the rightmost hallway. The diagram on the screen by the controls showed which cells were occupied — more of them filled than not. Ahsoka felt bile rise in her esophagus, keeping her heart afloat. She recalled the Chieftain, his trusting people, and Tryla. If they weren’t already dead, she feared that it was them that occupied these cells if they weren’t all filled with clone troopers. Either way, she knew what she and Rex would have to do.

A door in an adjacent hallway lit up, voices gaining from behind it. Rex pulled them into a small communications room with no door, hiding them behind a wall and switching out the light. 

It was then that his comm lit up, but it wasn’t the same frequency that Saw’s fighters had been using. They both recognized the button on his gauntlet as the one he programmed for the Alderaanian Senator. Ahsoka looked at him expectantly, pulling them deeper into the room where they were taking refuge. He answered quietly, waiting with baited breath for the person on the other line to speak first.

“Captain? Can you confirm it’s you that I’m speaking with,” Bail said from the other line.

“Yes, Senator. This is Rex. What can I do for you? I can’t talk for long.”

Bail nodded, “Of course. I’ll be brief, then. Your friend on Daro — I was able to provide the clone with a rescue beacon some rotations ago. Its distress signal has just been activated. I’ll transfer you the information. He can be extracted at the location that it’s supplying. I wish you the best of luck, Captain. May the Force be with you.”

The yellow light on Rex’s wrist dimmed and another light took its place. Gregor. 

Outside of the room, the voices became clearer, entering the cell block and nearing where Rex and Ahsoka were hiding in the shadows. Five— no, six pairs of shoes echoed against the solid ground. Ahsoka could feel each and every one of them, the beat of their hearts, their intentions, their… She clutched her chest. The temperature in the room remained the same but Ahsoka began to feel a deep chill bloom in her veins. It was worse than cold, it was dark, it was sinister, it was—

Ahsoka pressed herself against the wall and Rex silently ripped his helmet off, taking her hands in his. He breathed hot air over her fingers, eyes pouring deeply into hers. Over and over again he mouthed the three words he’d waited far too long to say, fearful he’d already said them out loud for the final time. His hot breaths fanned between them, swirling in the frigid air and helping Ahsoka to calm her own breathing. 

The voices came and went, passing by the door and the dead trooper entirely. It unsettled her, the oddity of all of this. The dark was untrue, unconvincing. She inhaled deeply, trying to pinpoint the one voice in the hallway that she recognized. There’d been too many HoloNet reportings she’d listened to back at the Martez’s and she was too preoccupied to place it just yet. It could wait. It was nothing. This mission — the clone in that cell — took complete precedence. 

And as soon as the voices had come, they disappeared, another door sealing them away and leaving Rex and Ahsoka alone once more. She swallowed down her heart, her bile, and her assumptions. “Gregor,” was all she said, searching Rex’s eyes and finding nothing but raw hope. “You did it. You got him.”

He let out a huff of air, briefly forgetting his brother in the midst of whatever Ahsoka had just experienced. “We did it,” Rex breathed, wondering just how he could repay Bail Organa for making true on his promise. That solidified it for him. The Senator could be trusted. His pull, his influence could be instrumental in their efforts against the Empire. With people like Bail and Saw taking the risks they were taking, Rex felt like their small efforts might eventually make the waves it needed in order to restore the Republic. The thought of how powerful they could be as a unit caused his heart to thump to fast for its own good. 

Ahsoka picked up her blaster once more and Rex pulled the holoprojector out of his helmet before they proceeded, calling in the biggest favor he had yet. His call was answered almost immediately. “Hello, boys. Sorry to cut right to it, but I could use your help.”

“What do you need, Captain?” Hunter asked.

Rex scanned his surroundings. “I received a distress signal from a clone trooper, but I’m a bit tied up at the moment to retrieve him.”

The projection wavered before the Sergeant's response came through, “You want us to recover a reg?”

“He’s an old friend, and he’s in trouble,” Rex stressed. “I need you to get him out.”

The other end of the call was silent for a moment. Time was of the essence, causing Rex’s brow to sweat. Ahsoka was about to make her move, finding a comfortable grip on her borrowed pistol. 

“Out of what exactly?” the Sergeant asked finally. 

She darted from cover, moving with determination to the intended cell.

“Can’t talk right now. Sending you his signal. I’ll be in touch,” Rex hurried, transferring the information to his brothers and following hot on Ahsoka’s heels to the imprisoned clone, covering her the entire way.

[tentative-wanderer]

Reviews: Homophobic Cop Marries Gay Ghost, President’s Son Gets Together with Prince

Recently watched 2 movies with gay main characters in different genres. One was Red, White & Royal Blue (available on Amazon), one was 🌟 Marry My Dead Body 关于我和鬼变成家人的那件事 (available on Netflix). Spoiler-free thoughts below 😊:

❤️🤍💙 Red, White & Royal Blue is an American romcom. It has a 10/10 trailer—incredibly inviting. The movie depicts many women in power, I love that! Many witty jokes, nice! The movie might be better if it were a drama series instead; to save time, it zoomed through the falling-in-love part with the use of text messages—the production team packaged that as well as they could, but it was still too rushed. The ending left me wondering if there could’ve been a tiny bit more to make it feel more complete. Though the movie doesn’t score as highly as its trailer in my opinion, it’s still a decent movie.

(That reminds me of how That Musical Montage in episode 1 of the Heaven Official’s Blessing donghua made me super keen to watch the rest of the series, but it turns out that that was the best part. Quality-wise, Red, White & Royal Blue is overall better than the TGCF donghua though.)

👻👮‍♂️💓 Marry My Dead Body is a Taiwanese mystery + comedy + supernatural movie. Let me copy the blurb from Google: “Wu Ming-Han, a straight policeman who is homophobic and ghost-phobic, accidentally picks up a red wedding envelope while collecting evidence. He finds himself betrothed to the envelope's owner Mao Pang-Yu, a gay man who died under mysterious circumstances. The duo must work through their differences and join forces to solve the case, seeking justice for Mao.” (Real-life context: marriages between dead people and live ones are/were an actual thing in Chinese culture.)

I’ve just finished watching this movie, love it! Let me get the “con” out of the way first: I wish the movie ended differently! The ending was not unsatisfying, it’s just that I personally could have been more satisfied.

Okay, now I am free to gush.

This movie is HILARIOUS. Won’t describe the humour here, you can see it in the trailers on YouTube.

I love the unravelling of the mysteries (police cases). The feelings would not have hit half as hard without them and the exploration of Maomao’s non-romantic relationships (formed during his life) after his death. Even though I highly value a good plot apart from the romance when I read/watch something, I like talking about feelings more, so that’s what I’ll do.

I have Intense Feelings about these guys. They went from being Not Keen about getting stuck with each other to being really cute together—I notice that the movie managed to do this EVEN WITHOUT having them hold hands or do anything physical beyond that. That is crazy. Romantic physical contact is great, but if you can show chemistry without it, and with minimal flirting—that is exceptional.

(Side note: I think it would be harder to convincingly depict a heterosexual pair arriving at romantic feelings the way Wu Ming-Han and Maomao did: (partly) through constant banter and trading barbs. A man looking down on a woman would have come across as a lot meaner because the threat that poses is larger in the patriarchal society we live in.)

Wu Minghan went from casually homophobic to being on track for bisexuality for a ghost, such character development. The scene where Wu Minghan genuinely calls Maomao “my husband” for the first time is AMAZING, unexpected. At that moment I was like, oh my god, he loves him. Or at the very least, he has good potential. It had taken a series of hilarious strong-arming, including a close call with the loss of Wu Minghan’s family jewels, to make this dude marry Maomao, but now he’s calling Maomao husband—in that particular state, at that timing. I cried. I was smiling at many points throughout the movie, I also cried at some points. I said something similar when I wrote my review for Merman’s Fall: a book/movie that makes me laugh and cry will go at the top of my favourites list. Unlike my danmei list, my favourite movies list is too short for me to put Marry My Dead Body at the top or bottom, but it’s definitely in there.

[jentlemahae]

Jisoo said in an interview they hadn’t started working on her music before tour which says to me that it was a last minute decision to have her debut after they found out they were headlining coachella. It would be weird for her to perform a cover or not have a solo stage, so they had to rush it. So if we look at the timeline, tour started in October and she had to film the mv in February. With that in mind she had 3-4 months to make a solo during a world tour with 41 shows so far on 3 continents as well as other work commitments, all while the producing/creative teams are still in seoul. I’m not sure how much more she could’ve done in those circumstances. And people have been criticising YG for doing the same things over and over so, like you said, any similarities aren’t really Jisoo’s fault. I also don’t think Jennie herself thinks flower is a copy of solo.

I’m not sure why anyone would blame the weirdo behavior of her akgaes on Jisoo when literally yesterday she said she thinks they’re stupid and they all laugh at them. @ anon I think your frustrations are misdirected.

yes exactly! also from the song credits and what she herself said/hinted at, i dont think she had much input into the actual making of the song so getting angry at her makes absolutely zero sense. and yeah i promise u jennie thinks ur a dummy ❤️

[3416]

the HC i was referring to is sander seeing robbe in the mirror of erised! but i loved your rant about them too❤️ ur so right, especially in the last part where you said no one deny their pure love. yeah they did some shitty things to each other but they’ve grown so much as individuals and as a couple. they’re literally the least toxic and imo the healthiest (or one of) skam couple ever. and seeing robbe just blossom in s4 is a testament to that! (1/2)

(2/2) it’s so exciting that robbes at a point in his life that he can pursue his passions and just relax with friends, selfishly and freely like a teen should. also side note I saw this quote that was like “did u like ur ex as a person or were u just in love?” the comments on it were so sad but it reminded me of sobbe in a good way. i love how clear it is in everything they do that sander and robbe ADORE and admire each other sm as individuals beyond any relationship. bffs and lovers❤️

YEA H I KNOW, I SAW IT TOO LATE... the rant was already typed out, so i apologize or you may have gotten more hp hcs if i wasn’t in this mood rn KFJDSF i’m sorry about that but glad you agree!!!

they did shitty things to each other and went through shitty things WITH each other, but when you turn around and look at your life... how many people have you had deep connections with for a long time where shitty things DIDN’T happen between you? where you didn’t have to overcome fights or circumstances or each other’s moods? that’s like. part of life as a human and growth. the willingness to forgive, not necessarily to forget (but also not hold as a grudge either bc.. resentment is an ugly beast lmao), but to learn and be better for it? we’re all just doing our best honestly, and i’m so happy we got to see them do that together. some of the shit that happens in s3 is like. so dramatic, it WOULD feel earth-shattering and life-altering if we were all back in our teens too, but the fact that they found a way through it is very telling of how they’ll grow together in the future as a couple, i think!!

GOD I KNOW .... I LOVE SEEING ROBBE THIS SEASON because he is jsut so happy and content as it stands (who knows if there’s incoming drama or not but i PRAY lmao)... clearly he and sander are thriving, and he’s just getting to explore his hobbies and hang out and finish out his time at school in a good place mentally? which is so different from normal for him, but WHAT a way to go into the next chapter of your life. wish i could’ve related fresh outta high school, lol, but i don’t know that i’ve ever been so happy for a fictional character. i know that’s goofy but he litekrjaldjfkld means the world to me. 

robbe and sander are very much like......... best friends too. which. tbh i don’t think i’ve ever realistically seen a couple work out who didn’t approach and tackle life like that, so that’s a positive. even if the base for their relationship didn’t start out as just friendship (bc lbr they had the hots for each other from the jump), they ARE friends. my costar lil catchphrase thing yesterday was “compatibility is just as important as chemistry” and HONESTLY..... YEAH. i thought of them immediately with that too. i think they’re wonderful together, and i hope that continues to grow into next season when they hopefulyl get more screen time instead of some petty drama. BEST FRIENDS AND LOVERS IS RIGHT... wtfock has given us a whole treat with them.

[bunnylouisegrimes]

Excellent analysis!!! Even if you only used season one as evidence, you’ve pointed out the things that are less discussed when critiquing how the show wrote Charlie’s character. While season one was better for Charlie’s character compared to season two, it still had the moments you described above which weren’t the best. Season two’s reasons have been discussed multiple times, pointing these things out from season one is important too! While the book had aspects of Charlie that were questionably morally worse than TV Charlie, these are far and few, at least from what I’ve seen.

The whole thing with Mittens I thought was stupid too. I theorize that Charlie ends the lives of certain animals to prevent them from suffering and dying slowly (putting them out of their misery before they are met with a terrible fate). This relates heavily with a theme following Charlie: preventing those from falling into an even worse fate, like his kids. Perhaps Mittens would’ve been hit by a car and left to suffer as road kill had Charlie not put him out right then and there. This is only a theory, of course, as I’m sure the writers’ true intent was as you described, to make Charlie an even worse villain. This sort of thing, however, happened occasionally with book Charlie as well. If I remember correctly, there was a scene where he randomly hits over a hedgehog. I think this is a lazy part on Joe to make him look like an even worse villain, and the writers, wanting to make Charlie as bad as possible, latched onto this concept. I still think my theory could hold up tho, even if it isn’t canon, but that’s just me lmao.

I definitely noticed book Charlie and TV Charlie’s differences in humor. Book Charlie I find pretty funny. He’s louder than TV Charlie, which can be annoying. I’m kind of glad they made TV Charlie quieter and almost smarter, but with this, he does lose some extra charm as you described. I’m mixed on this myself, because I love how funny and goofy book Charlie is (even if at times he could be annoying), but I also love how serious TV Charlie is. He can still be funny, yeah... but it’s weird lol. I agree with you tho 100%. If they had made Charlie worse, but given him more of an upbeat nature, it might’ve been just a bit better, but they added insult to injury by making him less comical. (I still love both Charlie’s oddly enough XD).

I’ll be honest that I kind of like the change to having Charlie have an interest in Vic, as burning his house down (which, btw, regardless if he was doing it somewhat randomly like in the book, or out of heartbreak in the show, I always still found the idea of him deciding to burn his house down a little overkill lol), it makes just a bit more sense for him to do it out of spite for someone who broke his heart, but still, I think it could’ve maybe be written better too. He seems to be a little rushed with asking her, which isn’t gentlemanly (he is a gentleman for sure). I could see why he did it, because he wanted to try something different as far as romantic interests go, but at the same time, it is a little awkward. He was a bit of a bachelor in the book, which I kind of really liked too 😂 His comment on perhaps him and Vic getting to like each other had they met under different circumstances was certainly funny and kinda sexy XD I’m a little mixed with this myself, but I see where you’re coming from and agree that it probably could’ve been written just a bit better.

All in all, great analysis! Both the book and show (especially show) aren’t perfect, but I agree with you that one thing that is near perfect from the book is Charlie being a morally gray villain with a strict moral code that the show failed in multiple different areas to present successfully, and as you said, he’s almost unlikable. But we will always have him written as the villain he truly is through our fanfiction! The writers won’t take that away from us! ❤️❤️❤️

My name is Hannah and in this essay I will be utilizing the skills I learned in AP lit for the first time ever to explain how the AMC TV show NOS4A2 did Charles Talent Manx dirty. Now, I have only seen season 1 (because I’m poor and can’t afford cable) so just keep that in mind.

~FIRST AND FOREMOST, this has nothing to do with acting. Zachary Quinto is a great actor and was absolutely perfect for this role.~

To begin with, in the novel of the same name by Joe Hill, Charlie was borderline a morally grey character. (For the sake of the argument, let’s ignore the fact that he kidnapped children and turned them into small vampires for the time being). He was mild mannered unless provoked, and even then only acted in defense. In the show, one of the first things Charlie does on screen is kill Haley’s cat, Mittens, without reason. (In the novel, Mittens wandered off and was hit by a car, which is how Vic found it using her shorter way.) The show vilified him and made it hard to root for him as a character, because no one wants to root for an antagonist who’s cruel to animals.

Another key difference in character is TV Charlie’s lack of humor. In the novel, Charlie is witty and snarky, even after Bing shoots him in the ear. In the show, his humor is much more dry, and used only to get a cheap laugh. He’s portrayed as a more serious character, and one could argue that in the novel, Charlie’s charm and good nature is part of what makes him such a likable antagonist. Most of those redeeming qualities were stripped away.

My third and final point is, perhaps, the most controversial: his relationship with the protagonist, Vic McQueen. When Charlie first meets Vic in the novel, he chases her into Sleigh House and tries to burn her alive. In the show, the second Charlie sees Vic, he starts simping over her. Like, third line out of his mouth is “my kids need a mother... you’d be very welcome in Christmasland.” He then proceeds to simp over her for the next few episodes. WHAT?! Where did that come from? (Let’s keep in mind that Vic is 18 and Charlie is, like, a hundred.) He only stops simping when he realizes that Vic slept with her boyfriend, and then we finally(!) get to the whole “light her up!” bits. I don’t even know where to begin to unpack this. In the novel, Charlie is (happily) a bachelor, after being married twice to two horrible women. He also hates women in general, after having a neglectful mother and being married to two awful women. Towards the end of the novel, he implies that he and Vic might have had chemistry in another life, but that’s the extent of their “romance”. He prefers his women to not be heavily tattooed and swearing like sailors, apparently.

In conclusion, for these reasons (and so many others, let’s be real here), the TV series portrayed Charlie Manx in a way that made him almost unlikable. The show was entertaining, don’t get me wrong, but NOS4A2 is one of my all time favorite books, and I just think the show could have kept certain elements in.