#HIS ATTACHMENT TO PADME DRAGGED HER AND THEM AND EVERYONE ELSE DOWN WITH HIM | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

nevertheless-moving · 3 years

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Turtle person PLEASE give us more of the gift from the force au

Anakin’s just so happy. He’s radiant, okay? This is, literally, the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Becoming freed was tainted by his Mother’s bondage, becoming a Jedi was shadowed by Qui-Gon’s death, becoming a Knight was rushed by the war, becoming a Husband was clouded by secrets, but this? Becoming a father? A miracle not even the Council could deny was willed by the force? Nothing can ruin this, not the vindicating bafflement of Vokare Che and Kix, not the food cravings that Ahsoka and Obi-Wan scrambled to oblige, not the aches that Padme lovingly massaged away, not the pressures of the battlefield that Rex fretted needlessly over.

Everyone else is...someone less radiant, but mostly just by comparison.

The 501st are 110% behind their General, who, to their relief, has gotten at least slightly more cautious with himself on the battlefield. He’s also started projecting mood swings. It was slightly unnerving at first, but honestly morale skyrocketed after the last sobbing puppy pile where veterans and shinies alike couldn’t help but weep over the beauty of life. In any case, anything that can get a Jedi to wear more armor instead of less is great. They were a little uncertain about the future immediately before and after decanting, but General Skywalker has assured them that he wouldn’t abandon them, returning after paternity leave. There was a grim set to his jaw as he assured them that he would be ending the war as soon as soon as possible.

It was hard not to believe him.

Padme is excited too, if even more worried about long missions and brutal fights than she was before. Fortunately he acquiesced to her requests to take better care of himself, accepting the reduced mission-load with only minor grumbling. Not that she needed it, but a simple blood test confirmed that she was, in fact, biologically the baby’s other parent. There was some muttering on the Council about attachment but eventually the council admitted that, ah, fraternization wasn’t forbidden, and there’s not exactly a way to prevent pregnancy when it’s medically impossible anyway. The force willed it. Padme felt a little guilty about the pained expression Master Windu got on his face over the repeated use of that phrase.

Obi-Wan is fine. He’s doing fine. This is fine. Great, even! Why wouldn’t it be fine? Why do people keep asking him that? It’s not as though, for a literal decade, he had desperately and obsessively attempted to prepare for every possible form of trouble his over-powered, deeply-emotional, and tirelessly-fiery padawan could get into. Ha, imagine if, in a fit of insanity, he had stayed awake late the night of Anakin’s 13th birthday meticulously transcribing every possible applicable form of teenage rebellion documented in ancient tomes and hyperweb parenting forms! Haha! How absurd would it be if at 4am barely 7 years ago he had clung desperately to the thought that at least he can’t get pregnant at least he can’t get pregnant like a pool noodle in a hurricane, even as he added ‘safe-sex talk’ to his growing list of must do’s! Imagine if, when bailing his padawan out of jail (number 105 on list of teenage rebellion), or dragging him from a ill-picked fight (number 49) or pulling him out of a flaming speeder (number 77) or holding back his braid while puking up a night’s drinking (number 7), he had repeated like a mantra the list of trouble that Anakin, physically couldn’t get in! He might have inadvertently pissed of a drug trafficking ring (number 219), but he couldn’t get mange! His padawan might might be inexplicably naked and panicked in another royal palace (number 344) but his skin sheds would never get moldy! And he might have modified the toaster into a flamethrower (number ???) but at least he would never end up pregnant! Obi-Wan is definitely fine with the force deciding it wants grandchildren now, leading to his 20 year old padawan, no knight, they knighted him so he could be a General faster Anakin waddling his way into active warzones. Obi-Wan’s fine. Obi-Wan’s especially fine when Anakin bluntly states his intention to raise the child himself, not leave him to the creche, with Padme’s help, of course. Obi-Wan is absolutely fine when Anakin breaks down crying immediately after the declaration, not stopping until Obi-Wan desperately assures him that he’ll help, of course he’ll help, he’s honored to be the godfather, please calm down, he’ll help with the baby, whatever Anakin wants, does Anakin want more frozen beetles? He’s extra, definitely fine when Anakin excitedly informs him at 7 months pregnant that it’s actually twins.

#star wars #ask #gift from the force au #star wars au #wrinklecat #i love being named turtle person #my au #star wars au no 37

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bedlamsbard · 3 years

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I got a couple of different asks about Luke and Ahsoka in other side AU 10, so I guess I will just make it a regular post after all so I can answer all of them at once.

@slecnaztemnot:

Okay i just read your latest other side chapter and I wanted to ask about Ahsoka and Luke dynamics. I wonder what exactly where their heretics disagreemts about the jedi doctrine? while i can guess some of the stuff like attachements i guess i mostly see ahsoka as nonjedi and therefore someone who should not be attached to doctrine about attachements (haha) so i am wondering how you see her. i would actually love your take on how their first meetings went. continued in next ask, 1/2

1/2 continuation since most people write them as Ashoka immediately spilling the beans about the whole Vader situation to Luke and yours Ahsoka didn't. So I am curious what do you think Ahsoka feels about it. I got of course lot of it from the fic itself so i am mostly asking about how did you base your interpretation, if that makes sense and what led you to the narrative choices to portray their relationship in such way.

@comentter:

I'm most interested in what Luke and Ahsoka know about each other. Luke doesn't know much about Ahsoka obviously, but does he have any idea why she seems to hate him? He must be desperate lol. And how much does Ahsoka know about what happened on the DS2? And how much does Kanan know about these events? What was Hera able to tell him and what else did Luke and Ahsoka tell him? I always figure that everyone but Luke and a few people he told (like Leia) think the Emperor and Vader from the DS2 explosion.

I now have this image in my head of Ahsoka spending time with Rex and her laughing as Rex does something like tell a joke or a specific gesture. Then Luke walks by, does the exact same thing and Ahsoka is like "Of course, you'd do this stupid thing, you idiot!" :D

I think shortly before I started writing this sequence I had seen some cute art of Luke and Ahsoka hugging, which is a pretty common art trope and which has never sat quite right with me. I also have the tendency to want to do the opposite of common fanon, which I can’t leave out either. I also wanted to logic out what the hell was going on with Ahsoka’s charaterization in her Mando episode on a Watsonian level rather than a Doylist one (which I did a few weeks ago), even if other side takes place well before Mando and doesn’t intersect with it in any meaningful way.

When it came to the Luke and Ahsoka relationship (or lack thereof), it came down to three questions for me:

Who knows what?

What do they know?

When do they know it?

I made the decision early on in the chapter to leave Leia out of this relationship entirely, since the new canon seems to at this point in time (within a year of RotJ) be keeping it relatively quiet that she and Luke are siblings, and it’s not something that Hera would have a reason to know. (Note also that this entire sequence is told from Hera’s POV, which plays into the “who knows what when” angle.)

As per Rebels S4 (not the epilogue, because Mando’s thrown that out the window), Ahsoka knows (or has good reason to believe) the following:

Anakin Skywalker is Darth Vader, Sith Lord

Darth Vader was directly or indirectly responsible for the genocide of the Jedi Order and the deaths of any Jedi who survived the Purge (”you and your Inquisitors saw to that”)

Padme Amidala is dead

Obi-Wan Kenobi is dead (Obi-Wan was not dead, but she has no way to know this)

no Darksider can return to the Light side

At the end of RotJ (not taking into account anything that happened in the comics or ancillary novels, which I’m not up to date on), Luke knows (or has good reason to believe) the following:

Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker

everyone Anakin ever knew is dead, mostly because of him

Vader returned to being Anakin Skywalker at the end of his life

(Leia presumably also knows all of this, perhaps with a few more details based on things her parents might have told her, but her feelings about Darth Vader are: Bad, Do Not Want, to be glib about it.)

Now, there’s one other factor here, which is Rex. Rex knew Anakin and knew Ahsoka and was in the Rebel Alliance -- we know that he was on Yavin IV prior to Luke’s arrival and we know that he fought in the Battle of Endor. (And turns up in a couple of scattered art panels from the comics.) If we want to take his brief appearance in Galaxy of Adventures with Han Solo’s strike force as canon, then he may have also known Han and probably Luke -- certainly his ears would have pricked up at the name “Skywalker.” (Okay, there’s one other factor, which is R2-D2, but Artoo never tells anyone anything despite knowing...everything. Or most things, anyway.) Rex doesn’t seem to know that Anakin became Darth Vader (I believe there’s an interview somewhere where Dave or Pablo or someone says that a meeting between Rex and Vader would be “awkward,” but there’s no canonical reason to believe that he knew about the Anakin/Vader connection), but he probably found out at some point that the 501st was the battalion involved in the assault on the Jedi Temple. He also, as of Rebels S3-4, assumes that Vader killed Ahsoka -- presumably Ezra would have told him as much as he could. (And Ezra does know that Vader is Anakin, so he may have told Rex that as well.) Rex also knows that Anakin Skywalker was having an affair with Padme Amidala, but presumably didn’t know about (a) the marriage or (b) the pregnancy, because how would he know?

Then we come to Ahsoka’s return and unfortunately the current canon gives us no time point for when it actually happened: presumably Ahsoka did not or could not return to the greater galaxy at the point she “left”, during the fight on Malachor (3 BBY), because as of Rebels S3-4 everyone still believes she’s dead. Maybe she’s still stuck on Malachor without a way to get off, who knows; maybe after S4 Ezra grabbed her into the World Between Worlds she decided to stay on Malachor until she ~caught up with the main timeline, which...you then have to believe that Ahsoka is going to deliberately remove herself from the war, which I can get to, but is not something I’m totally comfortable with. Or she pops out in the timeline at the same time that Ezra returns to the main timeline and is able to more or less immediately return to the main timeline narrative, plus or minus a few weeks. (There are, after all, still a couple of Advanced TIE fighters parked in the Sith temple, even if they were potentially damaged in the temple collapse. Ahsoka could have repaired them or used the comms systems to call for a pick-up -- this is, btw, what happens in Crown.) We don’t know when the S2 finale scene/S4 WBW scene of Ahsoka walking back into the temple actually takes place in the timeline; it doesn’t have to be at the exact same time as the rest of the S2 finale sequence (since obvs Vader dragging himself out, Maul flying off, and the Rebels crew looking sad doesn’t all take place at the exact same time).

Other side AU is deliberately vague about when Ahsoka returns from the World Between Worlds/Malachor/to the Rebel Alliance; it’s not stated in the story, but I made the assumption that she came back shortly after the (non-epilogue) end of the Rebels finale, but was still deeply messed up from her Malachor revelations. (Also, like, Sidious, I guess, but she was probably so messed up about Anakin/Vader that Sidious being around barely registered.) Since she never seems to have held a formal position in the Rebel Alliance, I assumed that after she returned and let everyone know she was still alive, she then immediately took off to try and figure out what the hell happened with Anakin at the end of the Clone Wars, since she saw him like a week before he snapped and at the time he seemed fine.

The problem is that almost everyone involved is dead.

Now, at this point (shortly before Scarif and ANH), a few people are still alive who then die shortly, but whom Ahsoka may have no reason to believe were involved. Bail Organa, for example, is still around, but aside from him being Padme’s friend Ahsoka doesn’t have a reason to know that Bail was there when Padme died -- and since they were in contact for the nineteen years preceding there’s no reason for her to assume now that he was keeping something for her. Back in the comics (before I stopped reading them), Vader did some digging to figure out what was going on with Padme and his child; Ahsoka probably would have done the same digging (without having to torture anyone), but without necessarily knowing that Padme was pregnant. Knowing the date of Padme’s death (same as the Republic, essentially), she may have had a previous assumption that Padme was assassinated on Palpatine’s orders, but knowing that Vader is Anakin probably moves that assumption closer to the truth, that Anakin was somehow involved in Padme’s death one way or another. Sooner or later Ahsoka will turn up the fact that Padme was pregnant, come to the obvious conclusion that Anakin was the father, and possibly find out the same thing that Vader does in the comics -- that the child was born before Padme died. (But also probably not that Padme was carrying twins, but even if she found that out, it wouldn’t make a difference.)

While Ahsoka is doing her digging (and there really isn’t much information out there to find), the events of Rogue One and ANH happen, and Ahsoka comes back to the Rebel Alliance to find out which of her friends are still alive. (Maybe Rex is with her at this point, who knows.)

Everyone in the Rebel Alliance is talking about some young hotshot named Luke Skywalker.

Luke Skywalker who has a very familiar lightsaber, who claims his father was Anakin Skywalker, and who had some kind of relationship with Obi-Wan Kenobi, who turned up on the Death Star, fought Darth Vader, and died.

Ahsoka has just spent the past few months trying to figure out what happened with Anakin, and as best she can reassemble the facts it mostly comes down to “Anakin did something dumb for Padme, that something dumb was ‘turn to the Dark Side and kill literally everyone,’ and then Padme died, the Republic was overturned, and the Jedi Order was wiped out.” Ahsoka presumably walks into a room, hears the name Luke Skywalker -- maybe sees him -- and is all at once face to face with the living evidence of just how badly Anakin fucked up.

This is just too much for Ahsoka to deal with at the moment, so she takes off again, and spends the next five years brushing in and out of the Rebel Alliance doing odd missions that can really only be done by a trained Force-user. Rex, who seems to have a more stable position in the Alliance, is always going to side with Ahsoka over anyone else; if she tells him not to tell Luke that she knew Anakin, he won’t. (And for that matter, he may have somewhat fraught feelings about Luke himself.) She may have the odd interaction with Luke -- who has heard that there’s another Jedi in the Alliance and wants to be friends/get real training -- but Ahsoka just does not want any part of this. It’s irrational! She knows it’s irrational! But this is the living evidence of Anakin’s failure, Anakin who last she saw him TRIED TO KILL HER, who was at least partially responsible for the deaths of everyone she ever knew. (And honestly, finding out that Vader topped it all off by killing Obi-Wan is not going to help.)

Ahsoka may also be feeling a certain amount of survivor’s guilt: if Ezra had not pulled her out of the Malachor temple at that exact moment, she came pretty close to bringing the temple down on both herself and Vader, and may have succeeded in killing him. She did not do so, and who knows how many people died because of that in the years between Malachor and Yavin? (Just because Tarkin was the one who gave the order doesn’t mean that Ahsoka may at least partially blame Alderaan’s destruction on Vader, if she knew he was on the Death Star then.) She knows he killed Obi-Wan.

The Yoda lineage is very good at going “yikes, I am going off to live alone and beat myself up over my failure for years” and Ahsoka is very much an example of that lineage.

She and Luke have a relationship of “Hi, I’m Luke Skywalker, do you want to talk?” and “I have to leave immediately,” maybe with the odd “please stop using that lightsaber grip it is physically painful for me to watch, do it like this instead, okay, bye.” Luke probably told all of two other people about what happened with Vader on the Death Star, Leia and Han; he has no reason to tell anyone else about it because it won’t matter to them. Why would he tell Ahsoka, whom he has no relationship with? He doesn’t know that Ahsoka knew Anakin Skywalker and would only know if one of four people told him: Ahsoka herself (no), Rex (no), R2-D2 (maybe), or Admiral Ackbar (would never have occurred to Luke to ask, might have occurred to Ackbar to say). (We also don’t know that Mon Mothma knew Ahsoka very well, or at all, for that matter; they never interacted in TCW.)

As for her swinging harder into overt Jedi-ness by Mando after her blatant “I am no Jedi” of Rebels, it reads to me as a response to the Anakin/Vader revelation (especially the attachment thing). She had made certain assumptions in the TCW period (see her saving Rex in the TCW finale) and prior to Rebels; Kanan’s method of Jediness was something she could accept in the time period and in those circumstances; the Anakin/Vader revelation shattered all of that, followed immediately as it was by Kanan apparently going full Jedi self-sacrifice despite his attachments. (Her reaction to Ezra being a trauma response about two very different circumstances.) All of a sudden what she thought might have been mutable based on the circumstances became something that had to be adhered to in case of dangerous results, which she had just had brought home to her in extremely bad circumstances.

I made a crack somewhere about Mando’s central tension being between “being Mandalorian” and “being doing Mandalorianness”; I think in the post-OT period with Ahsoka and Luke we’re seeing something similar with “being Jedi” and “being doing Jediness.” Even if Ahsoka isn’t actively claiming the title Jedi anymore (because what does that accomplish in most contexts?), she’s leaning far more into the tenets of the Jedi Order -- which Luke doesn’t know and doesn’t know he doesn’t know.

Thus the doctrinal dispute.

Ahsoka grew up in the Jedi Order. That’s what she knows, that’s how she knows how to be a Jedi; for her being a Jedi is being part of the Jedi Order, whether or not the actions associated with performing Jediness are being actively practiced. Luke doesn’t have that context. For Luke, being a Jedi is...being doing Jediness. (This is super awkward phrasing.) Performing the actions of a Jedi. Luke has a few holocrons, but I’m guessing that a lot of what is on those holocrons makes the assumption that whoever is opening with them has the context of being a part of the Jedi Order and doesn’t explain really basic stuff about the Order or what that means. Luke’s Jedi Order is not going to be the Republic Jedi Order made anew; it’s going to be something that has a resemblance to it and is based on a similar view of the Force, even arguably its heir, but is just not going to be the same thing. It can’t be. Luke doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

Kanan, of course, is coming into all of this from a similar context as Ahsoka: he grew up in the Jedi Order, it’s what he knows, it’s who he is. Except Kanan never walked away from the Order, so while Ahsoka had been disconnected from her Jediness at the time of the Purge, he never lost his -- part of Ahsoka’s tension from TCW S7-Rebels was “I can’t be a Jedi because the Order is gone” and Kanan’s was “can I be a Jedi without the Jedi Order?” (Ezra is a whole ‘nother thing but is somewhat outside the scope of this.) The Jedi Order never factors in Luke’s Jediness at all. (There’s some lineage doctrinal dispute here as well -- the Yoda lineage seems to be very closely connected to the Order as the font of Jediness, the Windu-Billaba lineage somewhat less so. The Yoda lineage is like...the hardcore conservatives of the Jedi Order, though, and are probably not typical.)

Poor Kanan came back from the dead, after a week in another universe (which had its own problems; he’s been trying to very gently convince his counterpart that even after being an Inquisitor for months he can still be a Jedi), into Luke trying to build a new Jedi Order from scratch, Ahsoka firmly believing it couldn’t and shouldn’t be done and not wanting to be in the same room as Luke at all (not to mention that she really did not believe that they should have gone for “hey, let’s send Hera Syndulla to another universe” as even being an option), and both of them having essentially incompatible notions of being a Jedi at each other -- this is probably the most time Luke and Ahsoka ever spent in each other’s presence. They’ve probably never articulated their problems at each other, just assumed that the other knew them. And Kanan has his own “how to be a Jedi” approach, which is from a very different than either Ahsoka or Luke because despite originating from the same context as Ahsoka, he had a very different path to get to his present position.

As for what Kanan knows -- uh, pretty much only what Hera knew, and Hera knew very little? She was friendly with Luke and Leia, but didn’t have much interaction with them -- she states that she had a tendency to avoid Luke because even if she would never say it to Luke’s face, she silently believes that if any Jedi should have been in the Rebel Alliance, it should have been Kanan and Ezra and not this relative newcomer. If the Death Star 2 news about Vader and Palps was never common knowledge, then Hera wouldn’t have known it. Kanan’s in a position of having to play catch-up, but also having a completely different priority (finding Ezra). He sat through this meeting where after they’d finished grilling him on “you were in ANOTHER UNIVERSE and also you CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD?” they politely sniped at each other with a bunch of context he didn’t have and flat out decided that wow, he did not want to deal with this at all, whatsoever.

(This is also not stated in the story, but Luke and Ahsoka also disagreed about whether Jacen should be trained or not: Luke said, yeah, of course, when he’s a little older! and Ahsoka said nope, he’ll be fine, it will go away. Hera was just very “...I will deal with this later” about it since it wasn’t an urgent issue.)

#also thanks to reena-jenkins and isweedan for talking this out with me #other side au tag

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ladyvader23 · 4 years

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An Analysis Of "Missing And Presumed Dead" by HeartofStars

This was submitted as a submission, and honestly, as an author, I have never felt so honored. I do not cry, but I cried. To know something you’ve written has touched someone so much to write such a lovely, in-depth, super thoughtful analysis of it without being asked or forced to by a teacher... I’m completely blown away.

I felt that HeartofStars put so much effort into this and it really touched me so I’m reposting, if only for my own self to look at in the future.

And to my readers, thank you. I’m just writing because I love the drama that is the Skywalker family. If it brings any sort of enjoyment, especially during the insanity that surrounds us, I’m happy to share.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As you know, I’ve been reading your wonderful story Missing And Presumed Dead since around the end of October, and have gushed at you about it in the comments and on Discord ever since. But instead of just squeeing about it for the millionth time, I thought I’d do something more: while I wait to find out whether Vader will indeed find Luke in time, I’m going to analyze just why the story is so good, using all my knowledge of film, media, philosophy, and Star Wars canon.

Ultimately, Missing And Presumed Dead is so good because it does several things well: it creates tension and conflict almost effortlessly, it places the idea of characters before plot without dragging down the plot,and finally, it is not only perfectly compliant with the characters the way they are in Star Wars canon; unconsciously or not, the story actually delves deeper into the characters, creates emotional moments that make us cry, and heightens our love of these characters.

For those who haven’t read this amazing story–and WHY haven’t you?–many, many spoilers follow.

First of all, let’s tackle the “characters before plot” issue. Before I dive into this, I want to make clear that I am in no way saying that Missing has no plot, or that plot is bad. It is chock full of plot, in fact; but the important thing to note is that the plot, first and foremost, is incredibly simple. In stories, the simpler the plot, the better; and the more the audience(the reader) can keep track of it and what is going on. Missing does that, and it also does something else: the hook is strong. A question often asked of screenwriters or filmmakers when pitching a story is, “Could you describe it in one sentence?” And in this case, the answer is, “absolutely.” In one sentence, the story is: following the events of The Empire Strikes Back, Luke is so determined to keep Vader from pursuing him that he fakes his death. There are other things wrapped up in this:

Does Leia know? Answer: Yes. She helps Luke fake his death.

How will Vader respond? Answer: Terribly.

But the reader will find those out as he or she goes along; maybe those questions are at the back of our minds already. They may even drive our interest in reading the story. But regardless, we only need that one hook: Luke fakes his death. That’s enough.

So we’ve established that you create a simple, powerful plot; and from there, what you do is essentially to good storytelling. You put the characters first. You allow them to drive the plot, instead of the other way around; and that, in the end, is what makes it so addicting to read. Luke’s selflessness is what motivates the plot point of him being captured by Black Sun. Leia’s love for her brother is what drives her to travel to Dagobah. Darth Vader’s twisted love for Luke and desire to get revenge motivates him to follow Leia to Dagobah, which in turn leads father and daughter to learn the truth of their relationship…and so on and so forth. Character motivates plot, at every turn; and yet, simultaneously, the plot is never forgotten. It is never “loose,” to use the term; the plotting is tight, leaving no room for plotholes, and yet there are none. (Much as I love the story, I did look for them.) Character and plot are woven together seamlessly, keeping us attached to the story and begging you to know what happens next.

Following on the first point, Missing And Presumed Dead uses this intermingling of character and plot to create intense conflict and tension. Seriously. I’ve read the comments, and everyone–including me–is BEGGING for another update as soon as the chapter is finished. That’s a sign of great writing! As the “guru of screenwriting,” Syd Field, says in his now-famous book on screenwriting, “drama is conflict.” And you sure love your drama. But there are two kinds of conflict that this creates; for the sake of this paragraph, we’ll focus on Darth Vader’s character. In the Hero’s Journey, there are two types of conflicts: internal and external, both different forces working on the character. The external forces are the easiest to create; they’re in the plot. Some of the external forces, for example, are Luke’s apparent death and learning that Leia is his daughter. But what drives him to take action in first trying to get revenge for Luke’s death, and then in finding Luke, are the internal forces. For this story, those are as follows: his guilt–over what happened at Bespin, and over what he did to Leia before he knew she was his daughter–his love for Padme, turned into intense self-loathing, a desire to keep his children from this fate, and finally, his conflicting duties as Sith and father. Eventually, these external and internal forces lead him to express to Luke that he cares about him, in one of the best scenes of the story, which moves the plot forward yet again.

And this leads into my last point, which has to do with the Star Wars characters themselves. What George Lucas wanted to do, in the 1970s, was created a fun adventure film based on serials he’d loved as a kid. And, on the outside, that’s what it looked like. Star Wars looked like a “kid’s thing,” which has led people to dismiss it as such; however, that is far from the truth. Lucas made it for kids; but he also poured themes of psychology and philosophy, stories from myths and universal truths that we all believe, into the story, so that when the same children who watched it in the ‘70s grew up, they suddenly saw those deeper themes, and loved Star Wars even more. This is, no doubt, why so many of us are writing Star Wars fanfiction…but I digress. You have an incredibly deep understanding of these characters, and the philosophy behind them; and THAT is the reason why we’ve kept reading this story, and why it’s grown in popularity.

Let me give you an example. Sigmund Freud, a psychologist in the early 20th century, invented a rather disgusting theory of the relationship between parent and child(namely, father and son because people were sexist back then): that a man’s deep, unconscious desire is to marry his mother and kill his father. It is called the Oedipus Complex, because those two disgusting things are in fact the plot of the ancient Greek story, “Oedipus Rex.” This, Freud claims, is the reason behind the rivalry that exists between a father and his son. Lucas, in the Original Trilogy, at first seems to comply with that; Luke’s greatest enemy was his father, in both a physical and a psychological sense. No doubt any young men who’d been forced by their dads to fight in Vietnam felt vindicated. But then, in the following film, Lucas flipped that idea on its head; the goal of the son, he says, is not to kill his father, but to reconcile with him. At the beginning of Return Of The Jedi, Luke has a need–this is another of those internal forces–to find humanity in his father, because that will mean there is humanity in him as well. It’s like in Lord Of The Rings; Frodo decides to try to redeem Gollum because it will mean that when the Ring is destroyed he, too, can come back.

And you play this out spectacularly. At the beginning of your story, Luke is terrified of Vader, horrified by him; but there is an unconscious need to know that his father is a good person, and more importantly, that he cares about him. So soon after ESB, however, he is tormented by memories of Bespin and ruled by fear; so, even when he is injured beyond belief he still believes that Vader is a terrible person, and rightly so, because Vader has given him no reason to believe otherwise. This ties into Vader’s character; as said before, he struggles with his duty as a Sith and his duty as a father. Essentially, it is the struggle between remaining controlled and becoming free, which is the belief of one philosophy of determinism; we are unfree, our choices determined by everything else, until the motives change and we are aware that we are being controlled. Vader, due to his characteristic stubbornness and self-loathing, does not believe he can become free; he only makes further demands of Luke, trying to tell him that he loves him, yet the words do not quite come out. But thanks to Vader’s relationship with Leia–which, by the way, is a fantastic subplot I did not in the least expect when I started reading this last October, as it delves into a relationship less explored in fanfiction–Vader is eventually able to “stop being a Sith for five minutes” and really talk to Luke. I think I mentioned this moment before, but it is beautiful; it is the moment when both Vader’s and Luke’s arcs reach their full crescendo. Luke learns that his father loves him, as he has unconsciously hoped for the whole time; and Vader learns to put aside fear and Palpatine’s influence and become a father. It made me cry, and it’s a moment built on everything I’ve mentioned thus far: your interweaving of character and plot, the dramatic tension of the story, and the way you stay true to the Star Wars characters. This specific dynamic between them inspired their dynamic in my own story, Family Finds A Way, that Luke and Vader both need these things from one another, they both need to become son and father, but have no way of expressing it because they know nothing about one another.

I believe Kierkegaard said it best: “In ethical terms, Abraham’s relation to Isaac is quite simply this: the father shall love the son more than himself.” This ethical duty is what Vader achieves; and, in turn, begins to improve on his relationships with both Luke and Leia(though he still has a long way to go).

I wish I could say more about this story; I want to say more about how you nail Leia’s character more than I’ve seen before, how you weave Han into the story in a way that is both dramatic and hilarious, how absolutely funny some of the lines are, how human the characters act. But I think I’ve said all this to you on Discord to you or in the comment section; and I wanted to touch on how this is not just fanfiction, what you’ve written. This is art, and I hope you know that it has helped all of us a lot, especially in these trying times, with the coronavirus and all.

So, maybe that was waay too long, but I am not ashamed! I’ve wanted to do a meta analysis of this story for the longest time, and since I’m not on Tumblr, this is the only way I could do it.

Looking forward to the next chapter, and hoping Vader finally manages to find Luke!

-HeartOfStars

#never expected this #idk what to call it #fan review #maybe?#analysis #MPD #Star wars #fanfiction #other people's fantastic writing #crying #submission

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nny11writes · 5 years

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My Padawan- Chapter 2

<-Previous

Ahsoka froze and pressed herself into a small alcove near the corner of the hallway listening to the conversation happening just around the turn. She had been planning on speaking with Petro today, to understand where the two of them stood. He had, after all, completed the Initiate Trials and she had promised him they would speak. She had been almost excited, six months after their first conversation she’d gotten the message from him. Ahsoka had sheepishly explained to Anakin and Master Obi-Wan why she needed to skip a few missions around that time and had, very begrudgingly, accepted the teasing that came immediately afterwards.

Ah Snips! May your Padawan be just like you!

Anakin, that is terrible to say. May your Padawan be just like your Master young one.

Good luck.

Rex was truly her only friend.

Still she’d gotten their blessing and here she was. Here she had gone only to hear the voice of Master Aayla Secura from around the corner, talking to Petro.

“So what do you think Petro, would you be willing to be my Padawan?”

Ahsoka had been the one to ask for time, she had even purposefully delayed asking him directly after the trials to make sure it wasn’t just her own adrenaline pumping from the excitement of seeing this particular group of younglings pass. Her gathering group, her first one. Each of them held a special place to her and not just for the timely rescue. Of course someone was going to ask him, Petro was nearly always at the top of his class, he had great potential and skill. She just wished it could have been someone like Knight Paabuqi who would be too wishy washy to make a decision. Master Aayla was practically a legend already, her skills and achievements well known, and her experience speaking where her humbleness could not. Ahsoka had held out a little hope of being Aayla’s Padawan herself when she’d been younger. After having completed a few missions with her, Ahsoka could also say that Aayla was twice the Jedi she was and more than ready for another Padawan.

It was ridiculous to feel so cheated, worried, and proud in the same breath. She had all but turned him down flat after all. Slowing her breathing Ahsoka reminded herself that eavesdropping was wrong moments before she stretched her hearing to its limits trying to hear every last word.

“Master Secura, I…” Petro paused before continuing, “Thank you, but I can’t accept your offer at this time.”

Can’t accept your offer? Ahsoka briefly wondered if a youngling had even turned down an offer to be someone’s Padawan. Especially someone as well known and liked as Aayla Secura. The implications left her feeling a bit like she’d been zapped by an electro staff.

“Oh, may I ask why? If you have concerns about me as your teacher, I would be happy to discuss them with you.” Aayla’s voice was musical and light.

“No! No Master Secura, it’s not that. I think anyone would be fortunate to have you as a teacher. I, there’s just someone else who I think is supposed to be my Master and I haven’t spoken to her yet.”

Oh. Oh.

Aayla’s laughter was subdued but honest. “Ah, that would be Knight Tano yes? I could see the way she watched your performances, and Master Kenobi told me she’s been keeping an eye on you.”

“Really?!” Petro’s voice was full of excitement.

Ahsoka echoed the sentiment, but also reminded herself to return the favor in kind to Master Obi-Wan. She wasn’t sure yet if that meant owing him a favor or conspiring with Anakin to prank him, she’d probably decide the next time she saw him. He had been gossiping about her to the other Masters after all.

“Yes, in fact I believe she was on her way here to speak to you.” There was a pregnant pause before Aayla continued, “Tell you what. If she doesn’t ask you or if you change your mind, my offer still stands. You have great potential Petro, no matter who you train with it will be an honor to serve with you.”

Ahsoka was sure her stripes had darkened significantly at the unsaid compliment, and wasn’t sure what to think about this. Her Padawan was being targeted by head hunters! It was crazy, and the better Jedi had managed to withdraw her request without invalidating anyone.

Then the first comment Master Secura made clicked, and Ahsoka tried to not die of sheer embarrassment from being caught listening. It was balanced out by her gratitude at being allowed to ask Petro if he would be her Padawan.

…to ask her Padawan. She could get used to the sound of that.

Stepping from around the corner Ahsoka looked at Petro’s back before clearing her throat. He whirled around, smiled, and then tried to suppress his smile. Probably trying to look like a ‘Mature Padawan’. She was pretty familiar with the maneuver after having used it for the last several years. Aayla smiled warmly at them both before turning and taking her leave.

“Congratulations on completing your trials Petro, you did very well.” Ahsoka spoke with as mild of a tone as she could muster. It was still awkward and stilted.

“Thank you Knight Tano, I’m glad you could make it back.” He bowed and Ahsoka managed to not laugh at the way his emotions had shot near through the roof in excitement.

“Walk with me?” She motioned down the hallway, no real destination in mind as he practically skipped a few steps to be in stride with her. “How have your classes been Petro?”

Petro glanced up at her before snapping his attention back down the hallway. “Good, I’ve been doing better in in dueling, and history has gone really well. I, uh, I could probably apply myself a bit more to politics.”

Ahsoka smiled as she imagined Padme’s sparkling eyes, another student to study and learn about politics. She might even be inspired to have him sit in on a few senate sessions. Of course, she’d drag Ahsoka in too but that was a bridge to cross later.

“Everyone has at least one subject that they struggle with in the classroom. Perhaps a different perspective on politics could help you.” Ahsoka turned a corner to avoid putting them too close to the other Initiates. “How about meditation? I know you have the forms down, but how has it been?”

Petro answered slowly this time, “Well enough, I’ve gotten better at controlling my breathing but sometimes my mind wanders too much. But—I am working to improve that!”

She wasn’t surprised in the least, most Initiates enjoyed meditation but struggled to maintain it for any significant length of time.

“I understand, I’m only able to meditate for certain stretches of time,” She opted to not mention their dismal length specifically, “but it’s good you’re working on it. One more question, I promise.”

Petro practically bounced on his next step, excitement and anxiety flaring before being spooled back up behind his shields.

Ahsoka gave him a small smile, “If you are still interested in being my Padawan that is.”

“Yes!” His voice cracked and Petro tried again to school himself into something approximating the ‘Mature Padawan’ look. “Yes, I am.”

“Why?” She asked.

His confusion flew out before he caught it, and for the first time Ahsoka felt him trying to hide his emotions from her in a more significant way. Out of respect, she didn’t pry. Letting the silence sit for several minutes as they walked while he considered his answer, their pace still slow and leisurely. He quietly followed her lead around the temple even as he squinted mostly at the ground in thought.

“Because, well, because you’re kind.” Petro answered slowly but with certainty. “You always wait for us to figure out what you’re talking about, and you don’t talk down to people. And, you’re patient.”

Ahsoka spared his feelings by not snorting in amusement. She half wished Anakin was here to witness this. Patient!

“If someone doesn’t get it done the first time or is struggling to understand something, you give us time to figure it out and you try to help us without telling us the answer. Some people snap when we don’t know and others spoon feed you. I don’t want someone to hold my hand like a baby, but I do need help. Oh! You’re not afraid to ask for help from younglings!” This was said with special conviction. “You treat us like equals instead of like idiots or little kids! That’s ace! On top of all of that you are really brave, and strong, and you defend people, and, uh, you…”

Ahsoka waited for him to finish, already feeling equally proud and completely embarrassed that this had weirdly turned into fishing for compliments.

“You’re really good with lightsabers?” Petro cleared his throat. “I think that we would work well together. I think you would push and challenge me, and not treat me like a personal servant or like a little kid.”

Ahsoka nodded lightly as she led them down a path in the room of a thousand fountains. In silence they walked to a small spot surrounded by bushes and flowers, before she slowly sat cross legged on the ground. Petro only paused for a moment before sitting across from her. Holding out her hands Ahsoka waited until he placed his hands lightly on her palms before allowing her emotions to seep across the force to him. Excited, nervous, proud, sheepish, uncertain and certain in the same moment. His eyes became two green plates as he stared at her.

“I’m not sure I can be the perfect Master Petro, despite what you think I can be very impatient. I’m too aggressive and passionate, I attach too easily. My bad habits, and my bad traits, may get passed down to you and hinder you. You may feel that I am overbearing at times or that I’m asking too much of you. I can’t be the perfect Master you just described.” She gently squeezed his hands, which had gone from resting to nearly holding hers in a death grip. Focusing her gaze back to his, she smiled, “But, I would like to try to be a good Master, if I can’t be a perfect one.”

“YES!” His shout was swallowed by the leaves. “Yes, thank you, you won’t regret this!”

She laughed as he shot to his feet and pumped a fist into the air. No she didn’t think she’d regret this either.

#fanfiction #fanfic #star wars #star wars the clone wars #Ahsoka Tano #Petro (star wars)#Petro #My Padawan #the one where they finally get this thing going #there is more to this but not as complete as these two chapters were #will post more as I feel like #not sure where tho #No Editing We Die Like Meh

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nevertheless-moving · 3 years

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Star Wars AU #20: MacenJar AU

Inspired by this meme and with permission from @simpskywalker

This au is dedicated to everyone who told me that this concept ‘gave them a headache’ or ‘psychic damage’. Especially that special someone who begged me to ‘please stop’ because ‘i hate this, i hate this so much’ and told me ‘please don’t say more words about this.’

Crack Lies Ahead, enough to consume a man. I have spoken.

“Ani. Ani. Anakin Skywalker.”

“Hmm?” The dulcet sounds of Padme calling his name dragged Anakin from sleep against his will.

“Anakin, you have to get up.”

He groaned, rolling over. “...here’s my face...I’ll...be awake in a second...just sit down...I’m awake...”

“No, Anakin you have to leave, remember. You have a 5 AM take-off scheduled, and you made me promise I would get you up early this time, come on.”

She cruelly yanked the covers away. He gasped in betrayal.

“My own wife...how could you.”

“Anakin if you’re not out of bed in the next 30 seconds the next time you beg to stay the night because ‘you can get up early, you swear’ I am kicking you out before anyone sits anywhere near anyone’s face, do you understand.”

He sat bolt upright and stumbled out of bed. “Ok, Ok, I’m up I- Padme!”

“Yes?” She asked sweetly, brushing her hair at the vanity.

“It’s 3 AM!”

“Yes I know, you were going to stop at that bakery I recommended, remember?”

“You woke me up an hour and half early so I could stop at a bakery,” he asked, disbelieving.

“Yes, Anakin, it was your idea. It was going to be your cover, in case anyone wondered what you were doing in the building.”

“That is-” before he could call it the stupidest idea he had ever heard, the memory of promising Padme that staying the night was a good idea because it would facilitate his cunning ruse (he was distracted, ok? Padme was wearing a lot of layers) came rushing back.

“-right,” he finished lamely.

Padme just hummed and began braiding in her cosmetic forcefields.

Anakin managed to stretch, complete his morning refresher run, and arrange his robes in a suitably decorous fashion by the time Padme had established the base layer of her hairstyle for the day.

A quick kiss- no goodbye, it hurt too much to say goodbyes in war - and Anakin was out the door.

He idly scratched his chin, vacantly looking out the lift and vaguely considering growing a beard. The pre-dawn view was quickly replaced by metal walls as the ride dropped below the skyline.

The transparisteel pod began to slow scarcely one third of the way down. Anakin suppressed a groan and tried to arrange his expression in Jedi-stoic manner, hoping that whoever got in the lift with him would be too intimidated by seeing a Jedi close-up to think about what they were doing in a Senatorial Apartment building at 3:15 in the morning. If they ask, I’m visiting the famous Bebbisun Bakery. Bennison? BELLASAN. I’m visiting the Bellasan Bakery.

Actually, anyone getting into the elevator this early was probably also doing the walk of shame so it’s probably fi-KRIFFING SITH SPIT THAT’S

“Master Windu!” Anakin cleared his throat, trying to lower his voice an octave. “Good- Good Morning!”

Windu’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly. “Ah. Knight Skywalker. Good morning to you as well,” he replied, stepping in the elevator, doors closing behind.

The lift descended as Anakin’s heart rate skyrocketed. This was it. Windu had to be here for Anakin. What other possible explanation could there be? WHY WASN’T HE SAYING ANYTHING?

Wait.

What other possible explanation...could...why wasn’t he saying ANYTHING?

Anakin scrutinized Master Windu out of the corner of his eye. Were those...the same robes he was wearing yesterday? They looked like the same robes but then again...pretty much all robes looked the same so this was probably a stupid way to figure things out. Fuck, it was too early for this.

Unsurprisingly, he couldn’t get a sense of the Master’s surface emotions. But his underlying aura seemed...happy? Typically Windu's serene presence had a tinge of righteous fury (something that had frightened him back when he was a child). But now that ever present vaapad edge was... softened? Anakin wracked his tired brain for a more reasonable explanation than- than the obvious but obviously impossible. He had to projecting. Right? Then again...couplings weren’t forbidden (even if Anakin couldn’t quite understand how people enjoyed just- having sex without any attachment).

The corners of Anakin’s lips twitched. The Master of the Order. Getting laid. Master Windu. In the Senatorial apartments. Mace Windu. What level had he gotten on? Above aides...diplomats probably. Should he ask? Force, this was too good- he couldn’t not ask.

Windu stared at him cooly and the knight instantly sobered. What was he thinking? Windu was obviously trying to trick him! If he said anything, Windu would turn it against him! Well, he wouldn’t be fooled so easily. Anakin spent the next several levels of descent staring forward, determined not to be the one to break the silence.

He was so focused that he didn’t notice the lift slowing prematurely again until the doors opened; an elderly Rodian hobbled in. The two Jedi moved even further apart to allow the man some space. The lift closed and newcomer glanced at the humans curiously.

“Aren’t you Jedi? What are two Jedi doing here so early?”

“Bakery,” Mace and Anakin responded in unison, heads snapping to stare at the other in surprise.

The Rodian chuckled. “Oh, that Bellasan place, right?”

“Yes,” Windu replied smoothly. “They have a famously unique caf blend.”

“And you can’t get Sweesonberry rolls anywhere else,” Anakin added quickly, not letting the opportunity to firm up his cover go to waste.

“You mammals and your carbohydrates,” The elderly reptilian clucked, bemused.

Knight Skywalker and Master Windu exchanged wary looks. The door pinged open on level 4848.

“Enjoy!” the overly entertained Rodian called out as they stepped out from the closing doors.

Anakin cleared his throat. “After you, Master Windu,” he said politely. CHECKMATE FUCKER.

But Windu just nodded serenely, striding confidently ahead, past the checkpoints and into the attached upper-crust market. After a very short walk, Anakin found himself in line behind Mace Windu at a pastry shop in the basement of his wife’s apartment building.

Anakin blearily thought that sentence through again, then subtly pinched the inside of his arm.

Nope, he was awake.

Every second that passed Anakin had to fight the steadily increasing urge to blurt out something stupid, and possibly incriminating, if not both. Just say something bland! Nothing about why they’re both here so early. Nothing about coming here before. Something casual.

“Smells good,” Anakin said.

Nailed it!

“Indeed,” Mace replied.

I’m a genius! He actually thinks I’m here for the bakery! He’s never going to suspect a thing! He was probably here for some boring pre-dawn meeting, and now I’ve got the perfect excuse to come visit Padme whenever! I can probably start sneaking off more often, I’ve just got to remember to bring back a pasty or something. And he can’t even say shit about un-Jedi like consumption!

“Skywalker-”

Oh no. Please be about the bakery. Pleasebeaboutthe

“Believe me when I tell you that I’d rather not ask-”

Oh NO. THIS ISN’T GOING TO BE ABOUT THE BAKERY. I’M AN IDIOT.

“-But did you fly here in a temple speeder?”

Cold sweat started to trickle down Anakin’s back as they shuffled forward automatically in the surprisingly long queue. Guess that’s why Padme woke me up so early.

“Knight Skywalker? Did you hear me?”

“Yes, Master Windu, sorry- I was, uh, distracted by the specials board. I, um, have my own hoverbike. Built it myself. No temple resources involved.”

“Sounds...distinctive.” Windu’s tone seemed neutral, but the way he pinched the bridge of his nose was obviously irritated. They stepped forward again. Why are so many people at this bakery so early? Guess we’re far enough down that day/night cycles don’t matter so much. Oh kriff, he’s massaging his temples now. Why is he mad about the bike? Is he going to ask where I landed it? Fuck.

Anakin swallowed the lump in his throat. “I- I thought it would be better to take personal property. Since this isn’t exactly order business.”

“That’s very responsible of you. Such...separation of personal from professional is an important skill for a Jedi.”

The trickle of sweat down his spine increased. The Chosen One discretely wiped his sweaty palms on the inside of his sleeves and prayed that his outer robe was hiding any growing pit stains.

Are we...actually talking about this? Is he going to admit to having an affair? Is he going to tell me to keep this quiet? I CAN BARELY KEEP MY OWN RELATIONSHIP SECRET! Does he know about Padme? Does he know we’re married? Is this conversation still about the bakery visit? Is HE married?

“However...such a vehicle might not be the most discrete. And discretion is also an important skill.”

Is he giving me permission to use the temple landspeeders to visit padme? Is he telling me to take the bus? WAIT! IS THIS A METAPHOR? Is he telling me to come here less? Is this still about the bakery? Did I actually check that I wasn’t still asleep or did I just dream that I checked?

“Do you understand, Knight Skywalker”

“I- uhh. I mean- well, ummm- OH look, it’s your turn to order!”

Master Windu stepped up to the counter.

“Hello, again! Same as last time?”

OH FORCE GODS HE’S A REGULAR. THIS IS IT. I’M NEVER GOING TO GET TO SEE OBI-WAN OR ASHOKA AGAIN AND PADME’S CAREER IS GOING TO BE RUINED AND

“The same blend please, but please add on one of your Sweesonberry rolls- a friend recommended them.”

...Did Mace Windu just call me his friend?

“Excellent choice! Your friend has good taste!”

Mace Windu stepped to the side and Anakin Skywalker stepped up. “...I’ll have what he had.”

A minute or two later, they were walking back to the lift, matching disposamugs and flimsibags in hand.

To try and delay the inevitable, the pale and now very sweaty young Jedi took a sip of caf. He raised both brows involuntary. “This is...really good. Holy kriff. I don’t usually drink caf for the flavor but...wow.”

“Worth the trip?” Windu asked. Anakin choked a little but successfully managed to swallow. He took another sip to avoid answering.

Windu took a bite of his roll, making a small noise of appreciation, “The pastry is also excellent. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth but this is remarkably smooth...I can’t say I’ve ever had anything quite like it.”

“Floral, right?” Anakin said, grinning into his cup.

“Yes, that’s a good description.” Ha! I told Padme I was paying attention.

They drank companionably as the lift indicator dinged closer.

“Skywalker...you’re parked on 4970, right?”

The knight nodded, too afraid to speak. The force seemed to swirl at the precipice of something.

The Master sighed. “Look- I’ve got an unregistered van- this one time only, stow the speeder, and I’ll give you a ride back. If you’re visiting the bakery in the future- please take something with a closed cab. Last thing we need is the tabloids wondering where you’re going...”

Anakin nodded again, more eagerly again. He was practically being given permission to visit Padme! That was totally worth an excruciatingly awkward flight back to the temple! He just had to chew slowly so he couldn’t blurt out anything marriage related! He was a genius!

The lift opened.

“Jar-Jar!” Anakin said, surprised and pleased. “Wow, are you also here for the bakery? This place really is popular!”

“Ani! Little Ani! Wassa you doin here?” Jar-Jar looked around wildly, then stumbled out, foot catching at the gap. Windu darted forward and effortlessly saved the Gungan before he hit the floor, while Anakin stuck his arm forward to catch the closing door.

“Bakery, Jar Jar!” he said as he stepped inside. “I’d love to talk, but we’ve actually got to get back to the temple!”

Windu struggled to untangle himself from Jar-Jar, who was being particularly unhelpful about it, even for him. Wow he’s even clingier than usual this early in the morning. It’s nice how patient Master Windu is being; I feel like even Obi-Wan can be too hard on Jar-Jar sometimes.

“Actually Skywalker, why don’t you go on ahead and stow the bike- I just remembered I meant to pick something up for Council; I won’t take long.”

“Uh. Alright,” Anakin said, catching the keys. I guess I can’t really be late if I arrive with Master Windu.

“Ossa no!” Jar-Jar exclaimed sadly. “I was justa saying to Macey lassa night thatsa I missed talkin wit little Ani!”

Anakin smiled reassuringly as the lift began to close. “Don’t worry Jar-Jar! We’ll- catch uh-HOLD ON did you say LAST NIGHT?!”

Mace’s eyes closed in resignation as the door shut on the pair, Jar-Jar still tangled around the Jedi.

AND MACE WASN’T EVEN TRYING TO PUT HIM BACK UPRIGHT ANYMORE HOLY KRIFF JUST PUT THAT TOGETHER.

Anakin stared blankly at the metal walls as they rushed past. The lone Jedi Knight took a long sip of caff, then carefully placed the pastry bag and drink on the floor. He systematically wadded up the sleeve of his robe and shoved in his mouth. He then spent the next few minutes squealing with unholy glee while literally bouncing off the walls in a manner only accessible to a force sensitive in an elevator. He was still panting slightly when the lift opened on the primary parking level.

We can double date! Padme and I can host! I can help Mace and Jar-Jar plan their wedding! We can reform the order to allow for romantic love! I can be Jar-Jar’s best man! Padme and I can have another ceremony and Obi-Wan can give me away while Mace officiates and and then we’ll all have sweesonbury cake and Jar-Jar can help teach our kids how to swim!

With those dreamy thoughts running through his mind, it was child’s work to follow the the force to the unremarkable hovervan. He was humming to himself when Master Windu opened the door.

He beamed at the older Jedi. Windu scowled in reply. Anakin smiled wider, unintimidated. He genuinely liked the Gungan, but anyone who could spend hours with Jar-Jar had to have a soft side.

“You know, Jar-Jar is a long time friend of Senator-”

“No.” Windu cut the eager words brusquely.

Anakin shrank back, a little hurt.

(Maybe a lot hurt.)

Mace glanced over at the obviously crestfallen young General and sighed before amending his words.

“Not- Not right now, alright? Maybe if you’re miraculously more discrete about this than you are about your affection for Senator Amidala, then we can talk, understood?”

Anakin nodded with absolute determination, glimmering images of fairytale weddings visible once more. Distant, perhaps- but the chance was worth any amount of tongue biting. Now that there was a real, possible future where he could have it all, now that he knew Windu had a heart somewhere under his robes- he could be patient.

He could be very patient.

Anakin calmed his grin down to a smaller, more Jedi-like smile, taking a sip of the cool but still really good caf. He channeled Obi-Wan’s most neutral diplomatic grace.

“Thank you for the ride, Master Windu. I appreciate it.”

Windu gave him an approving glance. “You’re more than welcome, Knight Skywalker.”

Feeling bold, he continued on with his best non-mocking impression of Obi-Wan.

"Have you had a chance to read the latest report on helmet redesigns? I think they might really improve peripheral vision without compromising concussive resistance.”

Mace hummed thoughtfully. “I have. I’m somewhat concerned about deploying such a radical change mid-campaign. Even better gear requires an adjustment period, and I’d rather minimize needless deaths while the troops readjust to hud flow.”

“Yes, that’s a reasonable concern, I was talking to Captain Rex-”

They spent the remainder of the flight chatting comfortably about troop safety and absentmindedly eating (or possibly stress eating in response to the prolonged absence of interpersonal conflict) the box of pastries Mace had picked up. When they arrived at the temple, they divvied up the remainder between them, quietly agreeing that there weren’t enough to share anyway.

They continued their conversation, Master Windu accompanying him to the orbital loading bay.

Obi-Wan rushed over in alarm at the sight of them approaching. “Anakin, there you are- I was starting to wonder if you’d make it. Terribly sorry Master Windu- I hope he wasn’t too much of a bother-”

“He’s not your padawan anymore, you don’t have to apologize for him. Though I do appreciate the reflex.”

“I suppose the concern isn’t completely baseless.” Anakin said, tone deliberately mildly. Mace chuckled slightly and Obi-Wan took a step back, slightly frightened by the sudden camaraderie. Anakin pretended to take a sip from his now empty disposamug to avoid fist pumping the air or cheering.

“I- Yes well- the important thing is you’re here in time for departure. What- what is that in the bag.”

Moment of Truth. Don’t freak out. Focus. Prove you can be discrete, THEN double dates, THEN Jedi Wedding Ceremony.

“Sweesonbury Roll,” Anakin answered placidly. He pretended to take another sip of caf. “Master Windu was kind enough to give me a ride from the bakery.”

“That’s- I’m sorry, what?” Anakin bit the inside of cheek to keep himself from reacting to Obi-Wan’s palpable bewilderment.

“I had to double back and get more, but we came straight here after,” Mace added helpfully, with zero hint of intentional mischief. “Oh and Skywalker- you can call me Mace if we’re not discussing temple business.”

Anakin SCREAMED (internally, of course). Outwardly, he simply bowed politely. “And you’re welcome to call me Anakin, of course.”

He deliberately avoided looking directly at Obi-Wan, his former Master’s bug-eyed reaction already pushing him to the edge, even just visible as it was out of the corner of his eye.

Windu nodded in return. “Safe travels you two. May the force with you.”

“And with you.” Anakin replied.

“May the force be with you,” Obi-Wan rushed to say, after a short delay.

Master Windu turned and exited the cargo bay doors. Anakin threw out the mug in a nearby bin, pulling out a roll and biting into it before turning to face Obi-Wan. They made eye-contact, each waiting for the other to break first. Usually that would be Anakin, but he had goals now. The Knight chewed. His Master’s eyes narrowed. The older man (who may have aged significantly in the last 5 minutes) finally broke.

“Who are you?”

Anakin just sighed, maintaining the Kenobi impression. “Come on Master, we don’t want to keep the troops waiting.” With that, he walked forward, hiding his smile as Obi-Wan followed closely at his heels.

“Since when does my apprentice visit bakeries with Mace Windu?” Obi-Wan asked, almost desperately.

“You’re making it sound like a bigger deal than it is.”

Master Kenobi sputtered as the pair opened the airlock for the short-range shuttle.

Anakin mustered up an earnest smile. “Master? Would you mind flying- I’m still eating and-”

Obi-Wan made an incoherent noise of horrified outrage before fumbling for his communicator.

“What are you doing?”

“NOTHING IS MAKING SENSE RIGHT NOW. EITHER YOU AND MACE NEED TO GO TO THE HEALING HALLS OR I DO!”

Anakin burst out laughing. “Relax Obi-Wan, I’m messing with you, holy shit. Obviously I’m flying.”

Obi-Wan slumped into the co-pilot seat, rubbing at his eyes. “Don’t do that Anakin! My nerves are stretched thin enough by the war as it is-”

“Sorry, Sorry!”

They strapped in and took off, Anakin still chuckling occasionally, Obi-Wan scowling in irritation each time.

They ascended above the towering skyline alongside the first rays of sunlight.

“So you didn’t go to a bakery with Master Windu this morning?”

“Uhh-”

#star wars #my au #macenjar au #star wars au no 20 #crack treated seriously #mace windu #macenjar #ok i KNOW this is crack but i actually worked really hard on it and im very proud #so i would appreciate if you gave it a chance before forming judgements #NOTHING GRAPHIC OH MY GOD #star wars au #crack #crackship #anakin and padme wake up in bed together and have a married couple anidala conversation and then its PG after that i SWEAR #G RATED EVEN #Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker #becoming friends is my comfort trope ok

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nny11writes · 6 years

Text

Passing- AKA the College AU/Fake Relationship AU 3

Ahsoka slumped down in her seat, letting her butt slide to the edge of the booth and jamming her knees ruefully into Anakin’s hip. “That’s not real advice Skyguy!”

Anakin glared at her over the dregs of his milkshake. “It is, in fact real advice Snips! Just actually ask her out and see what shakes out.”

Ahsoka crossed her arms and pouted as she grumbled, “Dude she said fake dating. That’s actual dating, like, having to actually be a couple. She doesn’t want that.”

“How do you know?” Anakin asked before taking one last, annoying slurp out of his drink. “Maybe she’s into you.”

“If she’s into me, why didn’t she ask me out instead of asking if I’d be her shaker?” Ahsoka pushed her knees harder into his hip and earned a stinging slap on them for the effort.

The droid server paused at their table, it’s optics flashing a few warnings at their antics. Anakin smiled brightly at it until it rolled along to the next table. Then he glared at her as if she was the one being difficult. The gall!

Anakin hissed at her, pointing at her even as he fumbled for his credit chit. “I don’t care what the hell a shaker is, but have you considered that she’s a nerdy, socially inept, shut in?”

“She’s not a shut in!” Ahsoka managed to not wince as she picked the hardest thing to defend. Barriss was a brilliant, well liked, and well behaved person. She was also something of a shut in.

Anakin smirked at her as he asked, “Oh really? When’s the last time she went out for fun?”

“Yesterday,” she said while mentally patting herself on the back. It wasn’t even a lie!

“...was this a solo outing to the library?”

Ahsoka opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to explain that it still counted.

“Ha!” Anakin crowed as he dragged her up out of the booth. “She’s a loser Snips, and if you want to date her then you need to ask her out.”

Ugh, that was sensible and sounded like a responsible thing to do. Ahsoka would literally rather contradict Dr. Nu in galactic history than force Barriss to awkwardly shoot her down. In thanks for her best friend paying for her lunch, Ahsoka flopped half boneless onto him and whined. Anakin was thankfully closer to her height than most of her friends, otherwise she would have happily thrown them both onto the floor of the SUB via melodramatic faint. When Anakin’s response was to grunt and drag her along Ahsoka whined even more pitifully, adding in a faint distressed trilling.

“That has never worked in your life.” Anakin groused as he elbowed her.

“Ow! Skyguy, I am already emotionally vulnerable, you don’t need to add tenderized.”

Anakin held the door open for her before cutting off a group of ithorians to follow her outside. “Don’t lie. Emotionally vulnerable is what you’ll be after Obi-Wan’s test today. Besides what’s the worst that can happen, she’s not Lux.”

Ahsoka felt zero remorse for punching the back of his head. “Leave Lux alone! He meant well.”

“Lux,” Anakin growled as he unlocked his speeder bike and rubbing furiously at the lump on his head, “was a barve.”

The problem with Anakin was that he was all for Ahsoka exploring her romantic feelings until she was dating someone. Then whoever it was just instantly got on his shit list for no apparent reason. Another good reason to not ask Barriss out actually. “Lux is not an asshole. He’s, Lux is five tooka cats in a tailored greatcoat.”

Anakin glared at her before jamming his helmet on. His voice crackling as the modifier kicked in, giving him a ridiculous deep voice. He claimed it was to get out of speeding tickets. Ahsoka would argue that CSF had never been able to catch him to issue a ticket, and that Anakin was a drama king.

“Lux,” his stupid deep voice came out, “ditched you at every opportunity and then broke up through message. He was most disappointing and it is unfortunate I did not see him before he returned to Onderon. Lessons could have been learned.”

“Alright, well as soon as you stop pretending you’re scarier than you are, and remember how to not be a schutta we can talk.” Ahsoka was done with his bantha fodder.

Anakin’s voice followed her for a moment before she ducked into the lunchtime crowds. “Rude!”

Ahsoka weaved through the crowd, slipping through every gap she could to put a little space between her and her stupid friend. As soon as she hit the crossroads, Ahsoka made her way off the main paths. She needed to think, or clear her head, or something. There was no way she’d be able to concentrate and hopefully pass Obi-Wan’s exam like this. Ahsoka needed to focus on the political fallout from the Ruusan Reformations, and not on the way her heart had fluttered when Barriss had leaned into her for support during the holocall. Her heart did another two step at the memory. Barriss isn’t a touchy feely person and she was totally leaning into you and flopped all over you. Ahsoka could feel that stupid smile growing on her face again. She wants to fake date you through the holidays!

Wow, of all the pathetic things to get this excited over, giving someone else a cover story for a few months was one of the most pathetic she could think of.

Still.

Ahsoka huffed and rubbed the back of her head. Ruusan Reformations. Grade. For class. Important!

Would it have killed Anakin to just agree that she was wasting her time and shoot her down gently before she ruined her friendship with Barriss? Maybe she should have cancelled and had lunch with Kalifa. Kalifa was always good for reality checks.

Or call Padme and get better relationship advice. Ahsoka rolled her eyes as she ducked into the PoliSci building. She needed to stop herself, or pay someone to follow her around with a water bottle to spray her every few minutes. She managed to focus on that image until cramming herself into one of the tiny desks in the lecture hall. Any other class and she would have luxuriated in the over sized seats for larger students, but there was a wookie in this class and Ahsoka valued having both arms attached thank you. Adjusting herself around until her thighs didn’t feel like they’d snap from the pressure Ahsoka pulled out her datapad and pulled up her notes.

She even managed to focus on them for a whole five minutes before catching the reflection of a mirialan in her screen. He even had diamond tattoos, but she felt they suited Barriss’s face better. UGH! I am such a laserbrain!

Ahsoka crumpled over into a stupid lump and lightly smacked her forehead onto the desk a few times. “Calm down Tano.”

“I do not know why, but yes. You should calm down.” O-Mer smiled softly at her as Ahsoka twisted to look up at him. “Perhaps you can start by sitting up properly? Increased air flow and less back pain.”

She grumbled as she straightened up and twisted to let him slide into her row. “I’ve got twice as many vertebrae.”

“Yes, but they can still hurt.” O-Mer nodded sagely, the beads threaded into his braided hair clicked softly against one another with the motion. “There is no need to worry about this exam Ahsoka, Professor Kenobi lets you drop your lowest score.”

Ahsoka rolled her eyes and glared at him. “I’m not worried about the exam. Mostly. It’s personal.”

He looked thoughtful even as he turned to study his own notes. Kriffing cereans and their kriffing politeness! She kind of wanted him to ask? But not really? Ugh. Ahsoka had barely begun to stew when she suddenly remembered that O-Mer literally had three girlfriends.

“It’s girl trouble actually.” Ahsoka tried to keep herself composed.

Two sunflower yellow eyes locked onto hers with pure sympathy radiating from them in nearly visible waves. “Oh, I am sorry to hear it. Did Barriss turn you down?”

Ahsoka spluttered, “N-no! That’s not-who said anything about Barriss?”

“She is practically the only person you speak of.” O-Mer had the grace to not laugh in her face.

The nerve!

Lekku twitching with indignation, Ahsoka huffed, “I’ll have you know that I speak of many people. Like, uh, Anakin, and Kalifa...and uhm, Riyo? Anyways! No, she didn’t turn me down! I’ll have you know she asked me out actually!”

Her brain caught up just in time to laugh at her, while O-Mer smiled in confusion.

Kriff.

“I just didn’t expect it? And-I said yes of course, I’m not stupid ok, but, like, you know?” What in the actual ten corellian hells was she trying to say?

“I cannot say that I do, but congratulations.”

“Yeah congrats! What are we celebrating?” Jinx half flopped on his boyfriend from the row behind them startling Ahsoka half to death.

So much for predator instincts!

“Barriss asked her out and Ahsoka said yes.” O-Mer provided, unhelpfully spreading the lie that Ahsoka had blurted out.

Jinx looked between them suspiciously while Ahsoka hunched in on herself. “So why do you look like death? Cute girl said yes, or, well, you know what I meant.”

Caught between an earnest romantic sop and his cute asshole boyfriend, Ahsoka knew she was in too deep. This was over her head. Fess up time. “I don’t know what to do because-”

“Take her to the gardens, I mean it’s a cliche first date but probably more her speed than watching illegal pod races.” Jinx cut her off with a shrug, “It’s not that hard honestly. You overthink everything.” O-Mer half lifted his hand, as if this was some sort of deranged class question than an unasked for bit of advice. “I heard the fine arts building is having an opening for Twi’Lek golden age tapestries. Those are both beautiful to behold and erotic.”

“Hot.” Jinx said with a wink and a set of finger blasters.

If death would like to just take her now, Ahsoka would welcome it.

“Alright everyone, please put away your notes. Bags under your seats and hats off as you can.” Obi-Wan called out, smiling as he made eye contact with her.

Not what she’d meant but Ahsoka hadn’t exactly been specific with her prayer.

It took more willpower than she’d expected to stop envisioning the tapestries and her fool ass trying to justify why this was a Mature and Sophisticated date. Ten minutes in Ahsoka decided that the gardens was a much better hypothetical choice for all parties involved and shortly after was engrossed in her paper.

#fanfiction #fanfic #star wars the clone wars #Ahsoka Tano #Anakin Skywalker #barrissoka #college au #fake relationship au #the WiP continues #stop giving me good advice like an asshole skyguy #bisexual disaster meet a demi disaster #also a perfectly put together poly and his gay disaster boyfriend #seriously get some friends who aren't all compromised for adivice #smooth as sand #O-Mer #SW: Jinx

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