#and the 'even stars die' mantra (fun fact: meant to be an informational trip by Obi Wan. Nice job there)

[anakinh]

sw brotherhood ramblings (spoilers!)

okay so SW Brotherhood was really good. The plot was weak at times but the characterizations and character relationships (esp between Anakin and Obi Wan) is A+++. And isn’t that why we’re here? To read about the characters? It’s not called Star Wars: Good Plot (although the plot itself is fine enough)

I just finished it so I haven’t had time to stew, and I haven’t read anyone’s opinion on it or read much from the author with the exception of the acknowledgements (surprisingly informative) and one (1) tweet explaining that blitzball is from Final Fantasy X which is the most important piece of canonical Star Wars lore of all time. Anyway. Spoilers below the cut since I wrote a lot.

Overall I love it.

There were several weak spots, especially in the plot - for example, why did Obi Wan accept such a bad bargain in the first place? I guess he was desperate, but the investigation never would’ve worked with what he had. Ketar was also the weakest character imo. His descent into villainy is obviously supposed to mirror Anakin and I think also be a reference to the "angry young man without support or healthy emotional outlet” to “we’re all domestic terrorists” pipeline irl but it was very rushed and happened very quickly. Like this dude went from angry to terrorist in a few days? And we never really got to hear his Tragic Backstory until the trial, which didn’t help in his favour (although the nuance on how badly the Republic treated Cato Nemoidia was well done). It does, however, in a rushed way, show us how people exploit angry young men for terrible purposes, and how leaving them aside and assuming everything’s fine without affirming that you care or checking leads to terrible consequences which, hey, in this political environment probably helps. To be fair to Ruug, she did try at first before she got busy. Also the be fair to her she was only busy for a few days, but this whole thing took several days which, again, feels like it’s a bit too fast to be realistic. The final confrontation with Ketar was also quite heavy handed and messy, since Mill was narrating his emotions at every turn (we know he’s angry, thank you Mill, that’s been obvious for a while now) while Obi Wan and Anakin often talked to each other on the side... while Ketar was holding a detonator for a bomb and monologuing? Where did they have the time.

Another weak part is that imo it relies far too heavily on Anakin-related dramatic irony. Now, to be fair, what’s the clone wars without increasingly heavy handed Anakin-related dramatic irony? [deep sigh] It also mentions the memes a lot. Like, I get that technically Anakin is right and sand is, in fact, coarse and rough and irritating and it does, in fact, get everywhere, but every time you mention it I remember the meme and it makes things funny. Is this part supposed to be funny, Mike?

The golden, shining spotlight is the characterizations (barring Ketar) and the Anakin and Obi Wan relationship, though. And to a lesser extent the Anakin and Mill Alibeth relationship, which is adorable and Mill is the light of my life. Astonishingly, Obi Wan isn’t characterized as a perfect being who can do no wrong and Anakin isn’t characterized as a dumb impulsive idiot! I mean, don’t get me wrong, Anakin is both dumb and impulsive, but he’s also compassionate and caring and he loves so fiercely and he’s a genius who likes to fix things. And Obi Wan level-headed and eloquent but he also acknowledges mistakes he made with training Anakin (and he’s not gonna fix them, as we know) and he has blind spots he doesn’t consider. I have become so jaded with the way fandom portrays the two of them lmao. Even a tiny smidgen of Obi Wan not being perfect is enough to make me happy. Anakin’s relationship with his new arm is also nicely done. In the Prequels (specifically, in side notes) there was this very ableist idea given by George Lucas (and said to be believed by the Jedi Council) that his arm being cut off means that he is weaker in the Force due to the lack of midichlorians. Luckily, the Jedi Council never mentions this here and Anakin does have problems with his arm (understandable, it’s a new prosthetic) but he comes to accept it as a part of him and useful. What a breath of fresh air. Another very good reference to the difference between the more expressive TCW Anakin and the less expressive Prequels Anakin is the explicit note that Anakin puts on a monotone when he speaks to the Jedi. This ... fits. Anakin in TCW tends to be more expressive, Anakin in the Prequels is less, yes, but he sounds the most natural in the first 20 mins of Revenge of the Sith and when alone with Padme. It’s a very good tidbit to fill in.

Anakin and Obi Wan’s relationship is wonderfully done. They obviously care and love each other. The ways they work with each other, the ways the reign each other in, highlight their good parts and mitigate their bad, their slow acceptance that they’re equals now, both of them chilling out with regards to each other. The banter... it’s a great way to show them sliding into their Clone Wars relationship while acknowledging the friction (but care!) in AOTC. The way Obi Wan wishes Anakin was here to get him out of the mess because Anakin always manages to find a way but when Anakin shows up he immediately protests about having a plan that Anakin ruined. Anakin trusting Obi Wan to take care of himself and focusing instead on the bigger picture instead of his loved ones. Genuinely unprecedented for this boy, we love to see some growth. ([stares out into the distance])

Anakin and Mill are adorable, he’s always been good with kids (heavy...handed...Anakin-based...dramatic...irony....) and it shows in how he cares about her and encourages her to follow her heart. And he tells her that he’s learning from her and he does! He notes some things that he wished Obi Wan did for him and he does it for her! Genuinely so cute.

Obi Wan and Ruug... is probably something we should have more of. She seems like a rougher, more cynical version of Obi Wan - clearly meant to parallel him the same way Ketar parallels Anakin, except he could also see bits of Anakin in her. She’s also just a very cool character. Brave and good, but also cynical and pragmatic and hardened by war. We don’t get to see her interactions with Ketar as much, especially after he starts talking to Ventress, which is on purpose but still to both of their detriment. I also like how Ventress is more of a manipulator than a fighter here. Good to remember all of her skills, and good to remember that she also has reasons to dislike the Republic.

Side note, while I am talking about relationships: Anakin and Padme are so obviously in their Honeymoon Phase and it’s so funny. Obi Wan suspects but each time he’s like “are they... nah. No. I am going to think about something else.”

There are also some legit criticisms of the Jedi that I like being delivered. Like obviously they’re good, they’re trying to be good while the Republic is asking them to stray further from their vows, but lookat little Mill Alibeth pointing out that for a peacekeeping force, the Jedi place way too much value on their swords. Also Ventress pointed out some stuff but that’s was more in the manner of a creative use of the truth to make a better lie. It’s a well done piece of manipulation, certainly, but it’s not as impactful.

Lastly, author Mike Chen noted that he read the Revenge of the Sith novelization in his acknowledgements. Based and it shows and I love him for it. Literally bits in the narration that ties directly into that novel. The continuity of it all. [Chefs kiss].

#me.txt #sw brotherhood #sw brotherhood spoilers #okay that's it for now #I actually have a lot more on how it ties into the Revenge of the Sith novelization #especially with the burning furnace heart and the sun dragon #and the 'even stars die' mantra (fun fact: meant to be an informational trip by Obi Wan. Nice job there) #but it's been a while since i've read it and i honestly don't know if I really want to read it again #¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #i had to hit post on this because it was making my computer wheeze

[ughthatimagineblog]

mates

azriel x reader

warnings; fluff? a kind of traumatic reference and some implied angst?

word count; 2672

requested; then anonymous but revealed to be @sippy--sippy also @smileylaurens expressed interest in this (even tho this be hella long a most likely trash)

prompt; the reader is an archeron sister and is mates w azriel but doesnt know :o

a/n; bruh so i kind of leave this off at a vEry bad spoT lmaooo kind of implying smut? but like ill do a part 2 of smut if yall want

your dress (in blue and black instead)

feyre's (in black and silver instead)

If tripping over one’s feet while dancing was a sport, you were an Oympian. A little over a month had gone by since you had made it back from Hybern. From the horrid day you were changed, like your sisters. Feyre tells you her transition was rough, you saw Nesta and Elain’s was harder. As Nesta barely slept and Elain never ate, you had made a smoother transition.

Sure, it was hard to deal with. Humans were taught to fear the kind you had been turned into. All you had known were horror stories. But the kindness Rhysand and Mor and Cassian and Azriel had shown you in your first few days back had told you different.

There were days you felt guilty, as you ate and spent time with them. You felt like a traitor; what Nesta had made you out to be. She was angry and her anger was festering as she found it unbelievable you would ever side with them, you understanding exactly who “them” was. When she said this, you had corrected her.

“We are them, now.” You had told her. This didn’t sit well with her at all.

You found the best company in Cassian and Azriel. Amren, who you had learned was more than ancient, was indeed the cranky aunt. Mor was always busy and Rhys was off finding the next thing to do about the Hybern situation, all while trying not to worry about Feyre.

You, on the other hand, never worried of your sister. She was smart and cunning and hard to kill. She helped keep you and your sisters alive and you were confident she could very well keep herself alive.

So on nights you spent wandering the streets of Velaris with your newfound friends, the guilt eased. It’s waves that would crash against the shores of your mind calmed to instead lap at the edges.

Cassian distracted you with light humor as Azriel. . . Azriel was a different kind of comfort. He was there in ways Cassian couldn’t be. Sure, Azriel had a sense of humor only showing it around just Cassian and you, but on nights you couldn’t sleep or Nesta’s accusations became too harsh to ignore, he would be two doors down, outside his room, waiting to help you, like he knew.

Those were the nights you spent walked the silent streets. The ones where no one went three hours past midnight. Some of these nights, you didn’t even speak save two words that were spoken in the House of Wind. “Take me.” And he would.

When Feyre returned you were foolishly enraptured by him. The foolish part because you saw how in-love he was with Mor. They had known each other for longer than you had even been alive. How could you compete?

When the nightmares came you stopped opening your door, even as Azriel could hear your screams through the walls. Even as he waited in the hallways until the screaming stopped long after he realized you wouldn't come.

When Feyre returned, you helped ease her heart. At least one of her sisters were doing well. Almost. She noticed your bags that didn’t seem as bad as Nesta’s or Elain’s, indicating they were a new occurrence and she noticed the way you avoided certain rooms or areas of the city.

She had spoke with Cassian and he informed that you had begun acting reclusive only recently. It had begun to worry him. And Azriel too.

But Feyre confronted you about it after Rhys had dropped you off at the door. While Feyre truly didn’t need to ask, as Daemati, she made herself and Rhys promise to never look into any of her family’s minds. Rhys respected this. So she asked you anyways. And you told her. You had no reason to lie. You trusted her. Trusted she would respect the fact you were no longer a child and could deal with your feelings as you are capable. But she felt for you. She felt sorry that you couldn't see the worry practically enveloping the man you had become smitten with. Feyre tasted it off the air around him when he greeted her on the ice and she could tell it wasn’t just because of her.

Worried about my sister despite a war about to rage and being preoccupied with thee Lord's sons to deal with. Feyre had thought to herself. This had sparked a hunch she later shared with Rhys that night. He didn’t shoot it down.

If he were to be completely honest, Azriel would always love Mor. That would never change. Just as he would always love Rhysand or Cassian or Amren or Feyre. And if he were to go back in time and tell himself, ‘There's someone else.’ he probably would have scoffed. But he believed it now.

Azriel had grown to love you as well, despite past feelings for Mor. But the nights he spent with you and Cassian, he had fallen for your smile, your laugh, your voice. Everything. And if he didn’t think that he wasn’t worthy of you, he would tell you the truth. That it was far more than an infatuation.

Rhys talked to him instead. He did not inform Azriel of your feelings, but let it be known Rhys knew of his for you. And Az had to be the one to tell you. No one else, despite that after a month and a half, everyone else already knew. The conversation was nothing short of a quarrel between friends.

“Rhys, you know I can’t. Has she not figured it out yet?” Azriel asked his High Lord. Rhys shook his head. “She was human before, she wouldn’t know how to tell. Feyre was the same way.” Rhys promised him. Azriel knew now that his suspicions were confirmed. He was a shadowsinger after all. “I’m giving you one big shot. I will hold a party two nights from now in honor of Feyre’s return.” Rhys suggested and Azriel gave him a look.

“Not truly. We need an excuse. Take your opportunity on that night however it comes but you and I both know it may not come again anytime soon. War is on our shores, Az.” Rhys told him. “That’s another reason why I wish to not tell her. If I die,” Rhys gave Az a look. “If I die, I don’t want her to know.” Azriel finished. Rhys crossed his arms. “The moment you die is the moment she will know if she had not figured it out already and it will hurt that much more."

The sound of Feyre’s neck snapping replayed in his mind and he shuddered. Azriel knew what he meant and left him without another word.

The party came and you were thrilled. Many people. Many distractions. You devoted yourself to one mantra that simply stated to focus on your friends to distract from your feelings. Your feelings that seemed to be so strong you couldn't ignore them.

You knew the party was in favor of Feyre which confused you were you saw yourself in the mirror. You were wearing things far more beautiful than anything you had ever worn while it still held the hint of Night Court. The top was more of a necklace of gold and blue jewels that was large enough to cover part of your neck and drape over your shoulders, cutting off right at the edge of your shoulder. It came further down in a point on your chest that connected to a single piece of fabric that drooped and reconnected with the piece in the back and if flowed all the way to your feet. The edge just brushed the floor. About a quarter of the way up, it began to grow transparent as it went down, turning into falling starlight, becoming completely invisible at your feet. You saw cuffs of fabric that dropped on your shoulders and again, reconnected at the back.

You looked like a walking embodiment of the Night Court and began to grow grateful they allowed their neck jewelry to be flexible as you turned your head to look at your dressers.

Your hair had been set to frame your face and show the blue statement earrings you wore. You could have sworn you had seen the blue elsewhere.

Entering the main part of the House, you found crowds upon crowds that grew hushed upon your entrance. Feyre was wearing an equally stunning gown as she approached you. “Everyone thinks you look stunning.” She whispered and you smiled. “What do Elain and Nesta think of this?” You asked and she tapped your forearm. “Nevermind them.” She told you and begun the festivities again.

Cassian danced with you a few times, poking fun of how you look like royalty for once and you tried hard not to notice Azriel on the balcony outside, his back turned to the stars. On guard as usual. You told yourself.

He was busy.

You danced until your feet hurt, realizing that was why your dressers left your feet untouched.

You stumbled all the time but you didn’t care. You had counted your blessings that night to discover you had many. Your sister was back, your friends were safe, Lucien was behaving, everything was nice. You just wished Azriel would let himself have fun.

The music was full in your ears and your free dancing persisted, even if your feet began to ask you to stop.

You looked regal and felt it too.

You were so caught up in the beautiful night that you didn’t notice the way people cleared the dance floor. You only looked up when the upbeat live music began to lull into a soft slow song. Not for dancing. For intermission.

You looked up in the direction of Feyre and Rhysand, then noticing as everyone else had cleared. Your friends were grinning. And looking behind you.

You heard footsteps approach you from behind and turned to see Azriel approaching you. If you were him, you would have seen the nervousness seeping off of him.

“Y/N.” Your name rolled off of his lips sounding like a song to your ears. “A-Az.” You managed. “Will you dance with me?” He asked, voice not wavering despite the heart bursting from his chest. “O-of course.” You agreed and looked to Mor who looked more than happy this was happening. "Don’t worry about her.” You heard Az whisper to you and you whipped your head to look at him in confusion.

You took his hands, feeling the burns and you felt your chest tighten. In the moment you swore to rip his step brothers to shreds if you ever got the chance. Without hesitation, you might add.

You must have not been thinking because you brought one of his hands to your lips in a kind of apology. It wasn’t the reaction Az was expecting, but it made his shadowsinger heart melt nonetheless.

The music began again to a sort of slow song. Az had been watching you all night and he knew your feet were tired. “Step on my toes.” He whispered, slowly beginning to sway. “What?” You asked, still going over why the hell you did that in front of everyone. “Step on my toes, your feet hurt.” He offered and your heart lurched as you stepped on his shoes. Your height was that of a mouse this close to him.

When he began properly dancing he leaned into your ear. “I hope you don’t mind being this close to me. We can stop if you like.”

It took everything Azriel had to not smile at the way your grip tightened at the suggestion.

“N-no no, I’m alright.” You said as you carefully set your head on his chest. Something more intimate, something to test the waters with. He had no objection. His right hand on your waist, your left hand curled around his shoulder. You were watching the way his fingers interlocked with yours when you noticed his Siphon.

‘Oh,’ you thought. ‘That blue.’

“Y/N,” Azriel began. “This night isn’t for Feyre.” He told you and he gulped. You mirrored the action. He went into detail about how Rhys had told him to tell you the truth, all without telling you what this ‘truth’ was.

You pulled away to look into his hazel eyes. “What is it?” You asked, noticing everyone was still watching. Rhys on his end, was silently praying these reactions didn’t run in the family.

“You’re my mate.”

A mix of emotions flooded over you like a fire that had once been struggling to even get a spark had now erupted into a bright flame.

You knew the basics of what “mates” were. They were a higher, closer bond than marriage. Bound by stars and fate and they belonged to only each other.

You had heard of Feyre’s story about how she found out Rhys was her mate. She told you of some of the customs. And you knew that mates saw each other as equals in every way.

Looking at Azriel now, you knew that was true.

It was truer than everything you’d ever known, actually.

You had never thought that of any of your relationships before. Any of them. Thinking back you always, subconsciously or consciously, thought either higher or lower of yourself. But with Azriel, it was equal.

He treated you the same way. Of course, when the mating bond had snapped into place for him, he then knew why he always felt you deserved the best treatment. Not that he thought he was less. It was just who he was.

Azriel had been noting your facial expressions that were, as of now, both shock and happiness.

“This whole party was meant for me to ask whether or not you accept.” He told you truthfully. You looked around again.

Mor was smiling, Cassian was grinning with his arms crossed, Lucien looked royal and was half smiling and Rhys and Feyre. . . Your sister had tears in her eyes as Rhysand looked more than proud, but also cautious.

You had a choice.

You could say no. You could say you didn’t accept. But if you did, Feyre had told you there was a platter of food untouched for you, “Later.” She had told you. You knew what it was for now.

You scanned the room and found it sitting there. It seemed to be some sort of meat, elegantly placed with other side dishes.

Azriel followed your gaze and knew you were weighing your options.

You looked back to his hands. He said nothing but the shadows swirling around his feet told you he was beyond nervous.

“It’s my choice.”

“Now and forever.” No hesitation.

You released his hands, looking into his eyes you could have sworn there was a flash of hurt.

The steps you took to grab the platter echoed. People stared. The way back was longer. The plate was light. When you reached Az’s feet again, you retracted your arms a bit.

“Only if you promise to make it official in less than twenty four hours. I was human first you know. I do like rings.” You joked with him and you heard a choked laugh. Probably from Mor, who looked as though she would cry earlier.

“Done.” Azriel smiled. Actually smiled.

You handed the platter over to him and the crowd cheered as you both walked towards the large dining table and he took a seat to begin eating.

The dancing resumed and you probably got a thousand congratulations from your close friends. Feyre was proudest. In the times you weren’t chatting, you watched your mate eat and in occasionally speak to people or hold your hand or speak to you.

In those moments you watched him. And remembered something.

Feyre, always having been more open to you, described what the first. . . Twenty four hours of being mated was like. You looked to her and Rhys and cringed. You looked back to Azriel and felt your heart stop.

This was going to be a fun next few days.

#azriel x reader #azriel acotar x reader #azriel imagine #acotar #acomaf #acowar #acofas #acotar imagines