#minor spoilers for the high republic under the cut !

[tremendouskoalachild]

Status of High Republic kids post-Phase I

(including main and side characters that are children, teens, or equivalent in thr books and comics. spoilers for everything published, including Tales of Light and Life and Starlight Coda, with additional spoilers for upcoming media under the cut)

(SB - Starlight Beacon, SBF - Starlight Beacon's Fall)

I. main Jedi kiddos (plus Zeen, a member of the Padawan squad)

Bell Zettifar – present on SB. survived. spent months on Eiram afterwards helping the relief efforts and searching for Burryaga. learned to fish.

Burryaga Agaburry – present during SBF, presumed dead in its aftermath. actually survived and was stranded in inaccessible part of Eiram’s ocean. eventually found and recovered by Bell. malnourished and with patchy fur.

Farzala Tarabal – helped evacuate younglings off SB. last seen unconscious after confrontation with Nameless, still on SB. presumed dead in the immediate aftermath of SBF. status unknown.

Lula Talisola – helped evacuate younglings off SB, then went after escaped prisoner Krix. last seen still on SB as it is on fire in Eiram’s atmosphere, thinking of Zeen. presumed dead in the immediate aftermath of SBF. status unknown.

Qort – present on SB. successfully evacuated with group of rescued younglings. sole confirmed survivor of the original Starhopper Padawan squad.

Ram Jomaram – on Corellia during SBF. survived battle with Nihil. all in all one of the least traumatized teens in the series despite his home being destroyed by Nihil.

Reath Silas – on Corellia during SBF. survived battle, got knighted and lost his replacement master right after. otherwise fine though.

Vernestra Rwoh – on Eiram during SBF. lost Stellan and, as far as we know, Imri and Avon. traumatized beyond belief. months post-SBF following the Force as a Wayseeker without official approval. now headed to Ibbe to recover.

Zeen Mrala – on Corellia during SBF. survived battle with Nihil. last seen thinking of Lula, determined to find her in the aftermath.

II. non-Jedi heroes

Affie Hollow - present during SBF, evacuated. helped with disaster relief on Eiram for a month afterwards. started work on rebuilding the Guild. has been seventeen for several years now.

Avon Starros - apparently presumed dead by Vernestra months after SBF. had very correct suspicions about her mom's Nihil connections the last time we saw her. status unknown.

Crash and Svi’no – maybe I’d know if Lucasfilm weren’t releasing stories exclusively in print in one region only. survived battle on Corellia and got together so yay?

Honesty Weft - ehh he's probably fine? no real reason to believe otherwise. including him for completeness tbh

Jordanna Sparkburn and Sylvestri Yarrow – probably fine since we have no reason to think they were anywhere near SB or Corellia. might have to deal with Sylvestri's mother’s horrible death by Elzar during SBF. also got together so yay. also also if we can't have art of them together why don't the backgrounds of their concept art at least match up cleanly

III. minor Jedi characters

Amadeo Azzazzo – somehow matrix dodged all the death flags. don’t know if we’ll see him again but I’m proud of him and wish there was art of him.

Bibs and Rardal – present on SB. last seen squaring off against the Nameless. strongly implied to be dead.

Gabino and Kaimo – they better be okay!! a group of younglings were successfully evacuated off SB, though we didn’t see these 2 specifically.

Imri Cantaros – apparently was present on SB. presumed dead by Vernestra months later. status unknown.

Nima and Viv’nia – present on SB for a bit but got sent away a while before SBF. presumably fine on Coruscant.

Ruu – the summary I found says he’s okay on Corellia. he also seems extremely cool and I hope I get to meet him. wish there was art.

Zint – present on SB. successfully evacuated with Qort.

IV. Nihil kids

Krix Kamerat – last seen still on SB as it is on fire in Eiram’s atmosphere, fighting Lula. status unknown.

Nan – present on SB. tried and failed to prevent its fall. evacuated in Koley Linn’s ship, returning to the Nihil.

Sabata Krill – last seen on the bridge of a crashing ship over Corellia. status unknown.

what we know from announcements of upcoming media:

Avon – confirmed for Defy the Storm so alive (which we knew anyway due to her connection to Sana’s storyline during the OT).

Imri, Jordanna – confirmed for Defy the Storm so alive. I would guess the same goes for Sylvestri but I haven’t seen any info about that.

Lula – still MIA, presumed dead one whole year after SBF. the same probably goes for Farzala but he isn’t mentioned by name.

#the high republic #the high republic spoilers #tales of light and life #tales of light and life spoilers #the high republic adventures #midnight horizon #the fallen star #bell zettifar #burryaga agaburry #lula talisola #zeen mrala #avon starros #vernestra rwoh #affie hollow #qort

[hetzalshero]

― sunbeam-painted, she sings in the force, melody humming & binding the threads of the galaxy, stitching the seams & songs. starlight fills her eyes, the hum of green kyber a crescendo & a hope for those long-lost. as stars & moons fall, the hero of hetzal rises to meet them.

EVAN RACHEL WOOD // have you met AVAR KRISS yet? SHE/THEY is a 30 year old DEMIWOMAN HUMAN. they’re originally from CORUSCANT and now show loyalty to THE JEDI ORDER. they are best known for being a JEDI MASTER, and i hear they’re pretty COMPASSIONATE yet also IMPETUOUS at times; i hope they survive the galactic civil war.

the past ; the golden age.

avar kriss, the masters would murmur. prodigy, as she apprenticed under cherff maota. light, as she was knighted, alongside stellan gios & elzar mann. but never hope - for they did not need one then. did not think of needing one.

but when they did, she became it.

in the year 232 bby, when the emergences began, avar kriss sang the song of the force & united the jedi above hetzal and beyond, saving the planet from near-destruction.

given the role of marshal of starlight beacon, the light of the jedi defended the outer rim from the villainous nihil & parasitic drengir alongside blazing blades of every color; jedi united in harmony & destiny.

into danger in that service, away from another. chasing the great progenitor, her light is not there to be extinguished at the republic fair on valo - nor to shine as a beacon & unite the forces. searching for lourna dee, the believed eye of the nihil, her song in the force does not echo through the whole halls of starlight when her station called.

& then, the call comes. and with it, unprecedented disaster that no jedi can stop. not even the marshal, split by disaster & ambush & anguish, helpless but to hear the notes of friends fade.

the present ; 8 aby.

as starlight beacon falls, space closes in. a cacophony of discordant notes & systems out-of-tune floods the force . . . then it is silent.

a beat, blissful. a bell tolls midnight on a system far from here. & then the screams begin again.

standing on hetzal, the planet they had saved now-centuries ago once-again growing grains, avar kriss can do nothing but listen as an unfamiliar enemy butchers hundreds, songs silenced in an instant by a rest in the music, a haunted, twisted silence.

no familiar tune thrums through the force, just harsh death of beings she cannot name nor will ever be able to. and a void, pressing & dark. and all too familiar.

#THE HERO OF HETZAL ; info #galactics.intro #minor spoilers for the high republic under the cut !

[natolesims]

Same anon here, thank you!!! Do you have any specific worlbuilding in your story? Are you only playing with the disney princesses or do you have other disney characters mixed up? And I loved how you made this HUUUUGE plot twist with Cinderella! Are you doing the same with the next princesses? And about the side stories!! Are there more to come? I'm sorry if I'm being annoying, but I'm so loving all you do!!

My, these are important questions xD This is way too long to answer normally, so I'm writing all you want to know under the cut! I'm sorry, It is really long. I apologize in advance :')

If you have some spare time and are curious about this stuff of my legacy story, check this out. It my explain some things, hehe.

1. WORLDBUILDING

There is a "complex and connected" universe in this, yes, but I do not limit a story to the same sim world. I imagine certain game worlds as specific areas with their own social problems, forms of government and characteristic population. Still, I jump from world to world using specific lots or scenery places thay might complement the current chapters or, if I happen to need it, I'll rebuild the whole world again for upcoming generations if I'm already done with the previous ones.

For example:

In Snow White (the H.E.A. founder) the story developed in Windenburg and Windenburg only. Not even the whole world was used for the story, only three lots (The White Manor, Eis' cottage and the flower shop).

Cinderella and The Princess and The Frog develop in Willow Creek, but it's not the same Willow Creek. The only permanent lots are the royal palace and a couple of residential lots (the Tremaine and Bonfamille manors), but I redesigned the whole world for each arc. Ella's story took place in a more high-class victorian part of the kingdom, and Tiana's will be in a New Orlean-ish, humble zone with some vip spots. The townies are different and the social situation changes as well. I'll be also using specific locations from Windenburg, implying those scenes are still having place in some other unknown part of Willow Creek.

In some upcoming generations, I'm merging worlds into a whole area. In Rapunzel and The Beauty and The Beast, Glimmerbrook, Granite Falls and Henford-On-Bagley, as well as specific Windenburg areas, share the same territory.

This is a bit confusing, but it works for me :'D So far, this is how I've organized the story world in the save (mild spoilers):

Willow Creek + Magnolia Promenade: Kingdom ruled by a strong monarchy. Population: Humans and Hybrids** Connections with: Britechester, Newcrest.

Oasis Springs + Strangerville: Emirate and local mayoralties. Population: Humans, spellcasters, undercover aliens. No near connections.

Brindleton Bay: Mayoralty. Population: Humans and Hybrids. Connections with: Henford-On-Bagley, San Myshuno (not that close, but reachable).

Mt. Komorebi: Parlamentarism. Isolated area of the mountains. Population: Humans. Connections with: Granite Falls (veeeery lightly).

San Myshuno + Del Sol Valley: Presidency and Mayoralty. Population: Humans and undercover occults (Gods**, Spellcasters, Hybrids). Connections: Newcrest.

Windenburg: Parlamentarism. Population: Humans, Hybrids, Vampires. Connections with: Henford-On-Bagley, Glimmerbrook, Granite Falls.

Sulani: Principality and local chiefdoms. Population: Humans, Mermaids, Gods. No near connections.

Forgotten Hollow: Mayoralty. Population: Vampires and Spellcasters. No near connections.

Selvadorada: Republic. Population: Humans, Hybrids and Spellcasters. No near connections.

Evergreen Harbor: Mayoralty. Population: Humans, undercover aliens, cyborgs. Connections with: San Myshuno. If there is ever a future-like pack, it will be related to this area.

Britechester: Grand Duchy. Population: Humans. Connections with: Willow Creek, Windenburg.

2. CHARACTERS

I will mainly play with the "princesses", yes! I'm following these Disney Legacy Challenge rules as a main guideline, so the heirs are related to that. Even so, they won't always have the same looks or gender like the cartoon ones, nor the spouses. Since I'm a nerd, I try to surround the heirs with familiar characters from their stories, but they might be ooc or don't have the same role as they do in the movies. I just want to create the vibes, but give them my own twist!

I thought it would be fun to create a Disney movie themed save for this challenge, and I'm stil adding recreations of a lot of characters thay may fit in the world. Since I really enjoy rotational gameplay, I thought it would be fun to create mini challenges for certain households and play them aside from the main legacy to have a little change and relax. Buuuuuuuuut every single time I play this game a story pops up in my head, and yes, so far there is one side story with some of the minor characters. I'm afraid my save has turned into a graphic feverdream disney fanfiction, but here we are :'D It is important to say I also play with the EA premade townies, so this is a weeeeirddd mashup :')

Since I have the characters roaming around freely, they also interact with the main legacy and, in some cases, they even gain some importance. In Cinderella's case, I never planned Mr. La Bouff to become Ella's friend. My original plan was to have Tia and Lottie meet at university. Also! I created two fake occults: the Hybrids (think of were!Sims. Like Werecats, Werefishes, Werewolves, Werebirds... you get the idea... it'll be properly explained in the future. No, they don't turn into animals.) and the Gods (squish vampires, mermaids and spellcasters together. Now make them OP and immortal).

So far, I've included characters from:

The Aristocats, Finding Nemo, Peter Pan, 101 Dalmatians, Tarzan, Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Coco, Pinocchio, Big Hero 6, Lilo & Stitch, Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Jungle Book, Toy Story, Cars, The Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis.

I had the intention of presenting them all and giving them out for download. I've been slowly makeovering them, so I hope I can manage to do so in the near future.

3. STORYTELLING

The plot twist was kind of a happy accident xD It wasn't planed at all! It's just I find it not-that-exciting to retell the same old story again and again. Cinderella is poor and mistreated, but then marries the prince and she's happy. We all know that, right? I don't intend to follow the same path... I need chaos to keep me entertained in my own game xD that's why I went like "welll.... what IF the prince is a bit of an ass?" I didn't see the whole load of drama that would come.

In the upcoming chapters, things are being similar. I don't say everything is going to be bittersweet, but I'll take elements from the main story and shape them differently. I'm taking a lot of creative liberties here!

4. SIDE STORIES

Im so glad you like them!! I get attached to my characters as soon as I start playing with them and can't help myself from giving them a story, even a little one. It's like... they're in my save for a reason, right? Not only as townie fillers, even if that was the main purpose in the beginning. It's safe to say there is one WIP side story with the Tremaine descendants involving some of the characters I mentioned before. I have another one in mind, but since it is not related with the main legacy at all I'm still not sure how to include it... but I'm working on it.

You can bet I'll keep telling these silly little stories because I really can't help it, hehe.

Thank you so much for asking! I'm really sorry for writing a lot, I hope this is what you were looking for!! And I'm so glad to have you as a reader ^^

#djsadjklasd #THIS IS LONGS #ask #anon #happily ever after extras

[cartoonnonsensegirl]

Justice, Excellence, Defense, Intelligence (J.E.D.I.) Finale a.k.a. the SW Prequel Happy Ending AU

Since I see some people are interested, I’ll share what I’ve got. I’m working on the fanfic, but it’s stuck in the prologue.

First of all, I’ll have you know that this is a real world AU with several key differences. Most of the alien characters are human (except the Wookiees, who are Bigfeet in this version), everyone has more realistic-sounding names, and Palpatine is female in this version. Here’s a guide to the main cast:

Alexis Tano = Ahsoka Tano

Anatole Spacewalker = Anakin Skywalker

Obadiah Kenoly = Obi-Wan Kenobi

Patrice Amaretti = Padmé Amidala

Mace Windham = Mace Windu

Yo Fu Wei = Yoda

Sidonia “Sidney” Palpatine = Palpatine

Major Grievances = General Grievous

Tyrannical Tyrant = Count Dooku

Bail Organic = Bail Organa

Moira Morgan = Mon Mothma

“Jetpack Bo” = Bo-Katan Kryze

Mauling Mauler = Darth Maul

Captain Regis = Rex

There’s a ton of other characters but I won’t list them here; some will probably be in the description. It’s also a pretty lengthy idea; I don’t really know how to condense it anymore than what I’ve written here without just writing the whole fanfic already.

The plot of this AU begins in Spring 2057, with Alexis in Hungary with Jetpack Bo, planning their mission to capture the Mauling Mauler and free Satinka (Satine) from prison (she’s alive in this AU). The first half of this story is pretty much the same as ROTS with the added context of the Siege of Mandalore, and goes up to the Sunset Scene™/Ahsoka and Rex on the bridge of the star destroyer before Order 66 happens. There are some added elements, however, in the first half:

Alexis, Anatole, Obadiah, and Patrice all happen to have dreams that seem to symbolize either the good or bad ending of the narrative. The strangest of these is Patrice, since she’s the only one of the main four who isn’t Force-sensitive (or so we think; spoilers under the cut), and she shares dreams with Anatole.

Minor characters such as Bail Organic and Moira Morgan have actually seen the SW Prequels and TCW, and are aware that the events are unfolding like the movies. Unfortunately, they have no idea how to stop it. However, one character does succeed in changing the narrative, and it’s Sheila Ti (Shaak Ti).

It’s at the Sunset Scene where the story changes completely. Actually, a bit before that; Sidonia reveals that she is the “Insidious One” to Anatole, and also reveals that she’s known about his marriage to Patrice. Anatole gets furious and wants to kill Sidonia, but doesn’t as she tells him “Isn’t killing against the J.E.D.I. way?”, to which he replies, “How would you know anything about the J.E.D.I. way if you’re a S.I.T.H. Lady?”, and decides to turn her over to Mace.

Sheila Ti is watching the ROTS Sunset Scene on her laptop, when she senses a disaster about to happen. She goes up to the seemingly vacant Council Room and finds Anatole on his iPhone. She asks him if he misses Alexis and Obadiah, and he replies that he has forgotten about them until she mentioned them. Sheila discusses with Anatole that it’s not good to be sad or afraid, and cites them as the reason that Darth Vader fell in Star Wars (Anatole has never seen the prequels, only the originals). Anatole also mentions that he cut off his toxic friendship with Sidonia. After their conversation, Sheila advises Anatole to leave the Council room and go either supervise some younglings or see some friends and get dinner with them; she’ll cover for him for when Mace returns. Anatole heeds Sheila’s advice and leaves to buy takeout for Patrice, spending the rest of the night with his beloved wife. Meanwhile, Mace and his J.E.D.I. backup assassinate Sidonia, but it appears all too easy. Alexis captures the Mauling Mauler, and she and Regis are on a one-way flight back to NYC after bidding farewell to Jetpack Bo.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. Sidonia has been assassinated, but her spirit goes on to make one final attempt to turn Anatole to the Dark Side--by possessing Patrice and threatening to kill her if he doesn’t turn. Anatole sees right through Sidonia’s scheme--she was going to kill Patrice all along for being a roadblock to world domination. Anatole brings Patrice before Mace and Yo Fu to help expel the Insidious One. At the same time, all the J.E.D.I. have returned with their troops since the war is over. Sheila comes to tell Alexis of the terrible tragedy involving Patrice, and rushes to Patrice’s aid at the Academy. Surprisingly, Alexis is strong enough to expel the Insidious One due to her strong light power, but senses an energy in Patrice’s belly assisting her.

Defeated, Sidonia’s spirit influences her Personal Guard Troops to take her body from it’s autopsy room and fly it to Mount Agung, where she zaps the life force of the remaining Separatist leaders to revive herself. And it’s here that she also commands her troops to Execute Order 150: the Final Contingency Order that states that in the event of the Supreme Chancellor’s death, a Giant Mecha shall be deployed over NYC to enforce order.

Meanwhile in New York, everyone lives life as normal. Alexis gets adopted by Anatole and Patrice and is told that she is to become a big sister. Also, Satinka gets married to Obadiah, while Anatole and Patrice renew their vows. Everything is fine in New York, until the Giant Mecha arrives, piloted by the Insidious One and zombified versions of the Separatist leaders. The J.E.D.I. apparently have to deploy their experimental Mecha to combat with the S.I.T.H. Mecha. Patrice apparently remains at the infirmary at the J.E.D.I. Academy (this part is really important!). For the most part, the J.E.D.I. appear to win the battle until the Insidious Mecha finds a weak spot in the J.E.D.I. Mecha. Alexis and several other female J.E.D.I. activate their magical girl transformations to continue fighting, but are barely able to weaken the Insidious Mecha. And that’s when the deus ex machina of the story finally activates.

Back at the Academy, Patrice starts sensing Anatole in danger, and electrical appliances start exploding around her. A J.E.D.I. nurse tells her that she has Gestational ESP; a condition in which a non-Esper mother that is pregnant with an Esper child develops temporary powers of her own, losing them when her child(ren) is born. Most mothers with this condition have low-level powers, but Patrice’s power level is unusually high due to 1) having two buns in the oven, and 2) the paternal DNA being that of the Chosen One. Patrice uses her newfound powers of expectant motherhood to undergo a magical fashion change and creates a flowy, water-themed dress and adorns her hair with flowers. She chooses to manifest her powers as lotus flowers, specifically Nelumbo nucifera lotuses (her favorite flower).

The J.E.D.I. are overlooking the Upper New York Bay, when what appears to be a shooting star falls into the bay, causing a garden of giant lotuses to bloom and a glowing floral design to appear in the water, shooting a beam of light into the sky to finally reveal the super-powered Patrice, who has also gained glowing wings that appear to be resemble lotus petals. She attacks the Insidious Mecha with two glowing lotuses; one blue and one pink (her children are providing her the power), destroying it in the process. However, the Insidious One transforms into a terrifying final form with fire, lightning, and wind storms surrounding her. The J.E.D.I. realize that although Anatole is the Chosen One, he has only half the power required to defeat the Insidious One; the other half of the power is in Patrice. The two, the “Hero with No Fear” and the “Lotus of Florence”, must combine their powers to ultimately defeat the S.I.T.H. Lady forever.

The story ends with many J.E.D.I. and Republic Senators summoned to a hospital, where Alexis is throwing a party to celebrate becoming a big sister.  Anatole is with Patrice in the delivery room. A while later, Alexis, Obadiah, and Regis are called by Anatole to the room Patrice is resting in, where Alexis is introduced to her baby brother and sister. They all take a commemorative photo.

BONUS: Moira Morgan becomes Supreme Chancellor.

#star wars #revenge of the sith #star wars prequels #the clone wars #anakin skywalker #padme amidala #obi-wan kenobi #ahsoka tano #AniDala #ObiTine #satine kryze #mace windu #yoda #palpatine #justice excellence defense intelligence #happy ending AU #bo-katan kryze #shaak ti #basically she saves the world/galaxy #but it's AniDala that finishes the job #sw prequels #prequel au #tcw au #jedi

[darnloveablecharacters]

Universal, Part Three: The Hotel

Series Summary: Simply a multi-part, self indulgent reader insert with John Wick universe kinda plumbed in. Fair warning…. SLOWWW BURN. Ignore canon and timing and crap, that’s not important….  Gifs and recognizable characters are not mine, but the story and all of the mistakes are!

The Universal - Masterlist

Chapter Notes: Interwebs are back and we are in business! Eh, it gave me time to edit this chapter some more so here we go! This is actually the chapter that started it all! I had so much fun writing this that it prompted this whole stinking mess. Speaking of mess, I actually had to cut A LOT out of it because while it was fun, the extra parts didn’t really work with the chapter. Stupid flow anyway... there is one piece that didn’t make the final cut that I think I’ll post as a bonus, just for the hell of it lol.

Warnings for this chapter: Spoiler alert for the Jedi Apprentice series (it’s small but there), drinking (drink choices are probably not Canon but I honestly couldn’t bring myself to give Obi Wan a bright blue drink.... then the gif wouldn’t have worked.)

R2 tracked the Sith to a system with no name. The only occupied planet was home to a massive hotel. The Universal.

Obi Wan and Anakin entered the hotel and to their immediate shock, the Sith was sitting in front of the reception desk patting a whimpering hound gently. Obi Wan caught the end of her statement as they slowly approached. “He’ll be back soon.” She was saying. He didn’t catch any more of her conversation with the hound as the concierge stood in their path.

“Good evening Jedi, my name is Charon. How may I assist you this evening?” The concierge said politely.

“We are here on business, we are looking for Lady Y/L/N.” Obi Wan said, watching as the Sith stood and winked at him before leaving the lobby.

“No ‘business’ may be conducted on Universal grounds, Master Jedi. I must ask that if that is your only purpose, then please leave.” Charon stated calmly, bringing Obi Wan’s full attention back to him.

Anakin bristled. “Who exactly do you think you are? You can’t…”

“What my padawan is trying to say Charon” Obi Wan began, shooting Anakin a warning glance. “Is that we are here on behalf of the Galactic Senate. We have been tasked with bringing Lady Y/L/N in for questioning for crimes against the Republic.”

“With all due respect, Master Jedi, we do not recognize Republic laws in our establishment.” Charon replied, eyeing the Jedi suspiciously as they glanced at each other. “I can see that you do not understand, perhaps you wish to meet with the Owner?”

“We will speak with the Owner.” Obi Wan agreed reluctantly.

Charon bowed respectfully. “Follow me, Gentlemen.” He said as he turned on his heel and headed in the same direction that Y/N had walked.

Obi Wan placed a reassuring hand on Anakin’s shoulder before following the concierge. He led them into a dimly lit bar toward a man who was contentedly swirling a glass of bourbon while watching the other patrons. He glanced up as they approached and smiled. “Why Charon, you’ve brought me Jedi! This is surely an unexpected surprise!” He exclaimed cheerfully as he stood to greet them. “Please sit and tell me your story!”

Winston gestured to the chairs opposite him and they took their seats. Charon bowed and left them as Obi Wan began. “We are here to take Lady Y/L/N in for questioning.” He stated simply.

Winston’s smile never faltered, but Obi Wan could feel his tension. “That is unfortunate as I am sure my concierge informed you that no ‘business’ shall be conducted on Universal grounds?”

“He did, but surely you would be willing to help bring justice to our Galaxy?” Obi Wan said, discreetly waving his hand under the table.

Winston narrowed his eyes. “Surely, you must be joking.” He said, catching them both off-guard. “Mind tricks will not work here Jedi. If this is all that you are here for, I will have to ask you to…”

Suddenly, two gold coins landed on the table in front of them. Obi Wan and Anakin tensed as the Sith stood over them; however, she ignored them and directly addressed the Owner. “I’ll vouch for them. Deadly killers, these ones… But, they will follow the rules as any Jedi does.”

Winston scooped up the coins and nodded, “So be it, but their actions will reflect solely on you. Should they bring any disruption to my establishment, it will fall on you Lady Y/L/N.”

“Understood.” Y/N conceded with a polite bow.

Winston nodded in return and turned back to the two Jedi. “I will leave you to it.” He glanced at the coins for a moment then back at the Jedi. “This will pay for room and board for two days. Please enjoy the full extent of our hospitalities while you are here, but be warned: The Universal does not condone any violence within our territory. This one rule is sacred and you do not want to witness the consequences of breaking it. Jedi or no, this is a place of peace and we recognize no formal laws. We are far more efficient than that.” With that, he stood and gave a curt bow before glancing up at a dark figure entering the room with the hound at his heels. “Covered in blood, why is he always tracking blood into the hotel.” He muttered grimly as he headed toward the new arrival.

Anakin was enraged, he knew a threat when he heard it and wanted to retaliate. Obi Wan tensed as he felt the anger within his padawan and reached out with the Force to calm his spirit. When he sensed his padawan was under control, he turned to the Sith. “I thank you, but I must admit I do not understand. Every time we have encountered each other, you have tried to kill us. I’m sure you understand my unease.”

Y/N smirked as if expecting this response. “You’re not wrong Master Kenobi, but I’m on holiday. I don’t particularly feel like fighting right now.

Obi Wan had expected many things when they entered the hotel, but this turn of events was not any of them. He reached out to the Force again and was surprised to feel that the dark ripples that had surrounded her before had been replaced with an overwhelming sense of contentment.

She raised an eyebrow at him but shrugged it off as she turned to Anakin. “By the way Padawan, I found the homing device shortly after arriving here.” She tossed the small sensor to him and grinned. “That was a great trick, perhaps if you decide to leave the Jedi you can show me how you pulled it off?”

This time Anakin was caught slightly off guard as his joy for the praise battled with the annoyance at the insult that he may ever leave the Jedi. Much to Obi Wan’s shock, Anakin took a calming breath before he responded. “Thank you for the compliment, Lady Y/L/N. But as I won’t be leaving the Jedi I guess you’ll have just have to teach yourself to fly better.”

Y/N laughed at that, and both Jedi finally relaxed. “Enjoy the amenities Gentlemen, I’m sure you will be well… entertained.” Y/N said with a bow and turning in the direction of the bar.

“I suppose we need a new plan.” Obi Wan said rubbing his beard thoughtfully. He glanced at Anakin after a few moments of silence and followed his distracted padawan’s gaze to a stage where a few exotic dancers were beginning their routine.

He stood with an exasperated sigh and left Anakin to his amusement. Scanning the room, he saw an overwhelming collection of high-power individuals. Senators, bounty hunters, gangsters and all types of individuals he would normally have a run-in with. I suppose this place is a haven for criminals, and there appears to be nothing I can do about it. He thought with a touch of annoyance. He continued his scan of the room until his gaze fell on Y/N nursing a drink at the bar. He rolled his eyes in frustration and headed in her direction.

“You’re troubled, Master Jedi.” She said, as he silently took the stool next to her.

“That is not your concern, Lady Y/L/N.” he said in an undertone. “Whiskey, please.” The droid tending the bar began to poor immediately after his request. He took the drink gratefully, feeling the warmth flow through him immediately after took a sip.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” She said, turning to watch Anakin be entertained by the dancers with an amused expression. “Everyone needs a break, even the heroes of the Galaxy.”

“We do not need a break, we will always fight for Justice.” He said, regarding her coolly. He took another sip before adding, “We do not take kindly to cold-blooded murder.”

She focused on him then, piercing him with her gaze. “Don’t you? Tell me something, Master Jedi. How many people have you killed in your life?”

He opened his mouth to protest but stopped when the image of Bruck Chun’s hands slipping through his fingers was pulled from his memory. The pain was in his eyes was there for only a moment, but Y/N didn’t miss it. She simply nodded and continued. “Now, tell me how many people that you know for a fact that I’ve killed.”

Again, Obi Wan tried to speak but couldn’t. Reviewing their encounters, no sentient being had died in either. Only droids had been destroyed. The ships protecting the transport had been shot out of the air, but every single one of the pilots had miraculously survived only with minor injuries. He dropped his gaze back to his drink as he considered her point. “You do seem to be extraordinarily careful, for a Sith.” He finally conceded.

Y/N choked on her drink. “You really think I’m a Sith Lord?” She said after recovering from her laughter. Obi Wan just shrugged uncomfortably and she laughed again. Her eyes twinkled as she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Oh, my dear sweet Jedi. I am no Sith. I have no hate for the Jedi, we simply have opposing views and get in each other’s way.” She removed her hand, smile never fading as she finished the remainder of her drink while he mulled over what she told him. “You have a few days’ respite here.  Enjoy it while you can, Jedi.” With that, she placed her glass delicately on the bar and stood. She leaned close to him and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek before lowering her voice so that only he would be able to hear. “Always a pleasure, Master Kenobi. I’m sure we’ll be fighting each other again shortly.”

The abrupt loss off contact left Obi Wan slightly staggered, though he would never admit it. He watched her leave the room feeling a mixture of shame and a frustration that seemed to be reserved for his encounters with her. “I’m sure we will, Lady Y/L/N.” He said quietly to the empty space. He downed the last of his drink and worked his way to the stage to “rescue” his padawan from the dancers.

As he all but dragged Anakin through the lobby, he was certain that they were being watched but continued toward the elevators without turning. After ensuring that Anakin would stay in his room, Obi Wan retired to his own and collapsed on the sleep couch. He closed his eyes and attempted to meditate but was unable to clear his thoughts. He thought of how she spoke, of her lingering touch and the ghost of the kiss that he could still feel against his cheek. As he drifted to a fitful sleep, the memory that had been plaguing him since their first meeting consumed him.

“That was… unexpected.” She admitted breathlessly.

“Yes, well I do like to keep a duel interesting.” Obi Wan said, still straining against her. Her strength didn’t waver.

It was too dark to see her, but he could feel her leaning into him. Her breath caressed him as she spoke. “You’ve accomplished that. I do wonder what you plan to do next.”

They were at a stalemate. Neither of them would be able to pull their lightsabers without her releasing her hold on him. Obi Wan relaxed and stared back into the darkness, feeling her energy. “I suppose we are at an impasse.” He said, choosing to bide his time until Anakin arrived.

“I suppose so.” She said sensually, leaning in close enough that her lips brushed his own.

A shocking wave of desire flooded through him. The feeling was strong and he wasn’t entirely certain that it was only his. He instinctively tilted his head to meet her in the kiss.

Before he could reach her, the room suddenly flooded with light as the bay doors exploded open and Y/N was forced off him. Obi Wan scrambled to his feet pulled his lightsaber to him as Anakin ran in but froze when he turned and finally saw her. In the heat of that moment, he couldn’t help but notice that she was undeniably beautiful.

She had moved to her feet as well and her lightsaber was in her hands, the red glow accenting her features in the best ways. She glanced toward his padawan running toward them then back at him and deactivated her lightsaber. “Until next time, Master Kenobi.” She said with a smile. She turned and disappeared into another hallway with an inexplicable speed.

“Until next time.” Obi Wan choked out in awe.

Obi Wan awoke with a start to the sound of his comlink buzzing. He ran a hand through his hair and tried to shake off lustful thoughts in his mind. When he was finally able to center himself, he checked the comlink and saw that it was the Council.

“Obi Wan, we have a new mission for you.” Came the stern voice of Mace Windu.

“That is good news.” Obi Wan said with relief. He would need a distraction.

“We need you to travel to Ansion to settle a border dispute.”

Authors Notes: Kudos if you caught the cameo! I wasn’t exactly trying to hide it lol. Also, Star Wars universe hounds are ah.... yeah, just not what I pictured when I wrote it. I actually googled it when I wrote him in and immediately said “nope, I’ll just write and think of John’s dog. lol

ALSO, for those of you who are not full blown Star Wars nerds (it’s okay, I love you anyway) the border dispute on Ansion is the mission they were sent to just prior to the events of Attack of the Clones.

#obi wan x reader #obi wan kenobi #obi wan x sith!reader #obi wan imagine #anakin skywalker #charon #winston #john wick universe

[freakypumpkin]

Books I enjoyed

I don’t want to call this a list of book recommendations, because everybody’s taste is different and if something from this list catches your eye, check out the summary and other details first. Don’t go blind on my ‘recommendation’ as you might be looking for something else than what I found enjoyable in one of these books. 

These are also in no particular order: 1. The Others by Anne Bishop (fictional world, but modern technology) 2. Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat (medieval fantasy) 3. Princess Novels by Jim C. Hines (medieval fantasy, fairytale elements) 4. The Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch  (medieval fantasy with ‘fantasy tech’) 5. The Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling  (medieval fantasy)

More information with possible minor spoilers under the cut. 

If you have questions feel free to ask. If you have tips what to improve or things I should add, let me know. (Especially when it comes to trigger warnings)

I’m lately in the mood for some High Fantasy again, so if you have recommendations, hit up my inbox! :)

1. The Others by Anne Bishop It has strong parallels to the real world with a focus on the relationship between humans, that came as pilgrims and the native people of the continent with fantasy elements (the second book has a free look into the first pages of the book with a summary of the world’s history, there you can get an impression of how it is build) + great World-Building and consequent changes to that world after plot events unfold + Great development of character relationships  + Shapeshifters, that have no qualm to bite and aren’t overly sexualized + strong emotional tones + slow burn romance with a focus on building a friendship first + soft humor

- weaker writing in terms of action (final conflicts seem to be over surprisingly quick) - So far no LGBT+ characters/relationships :( - Etched in Bone was a bit weak plot-wise and the villain cartoon-y, but the emotional pay-off in the end was still good, I give it a pass

Warnings: MC cuts in order to speak prophecy, but the characters are working towards the goal, that it’s possible for her to live and speak prophecy without cutting, but be careful if the topic is triggering because it’s a slow development over several books.  Order of the books published so far:

Written in Red Murder of Crows Vision in Silver  Marked in Flesh Etched in Bone

Additional books in the same world:  Lake Silence Wild Country

2. The Captive Prince Series by C.S. Pacat My recommendation for this one as I know it’s a very controversial series is to NOT read it as a romance, but as a political thriller with eventually a romantic subplot.  I would also say, it’s one story split in three books instead of three books following each other. (if that makes sense) + well-plotted with great twists  + strong villain + well developed relationship between Laurent and Damen + same sex relationships, LGBT+ MC + well-written + exploration of grey moral tones + biting humor + Laurent to me was a fascinating example of an intelligent character

- sometimes Laurent is a bit too good (only some scenes) - ‘lucky coincidences’ happen when the planning needs them (not often)

All the content warnings

The order of books Captive Prince Prince’s Gambit Kings Rising

3. Princess Novels by Jim C. Hines Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty live in one castle and go on adventures together. It’s based on the original fairytales and not the Disney Version, therefore a bit darker.

+ great female characters + lesbian character, wlw relationship  (- though it’s the ‘pining after the straight woman’ and even though there’s a ‘happy’ ending, I in hindsight I do think it’s controversial and depends on your personal taste if you’re fine with that conclusion) + POC MC + fun dark twists on several fairytales  

+/- so many emotions, I bawled my eyes out at the end, but it was still so good

- controversial ‘Happy End’ conclusion to the wlw-arc

Warnings: Mentions of abuse and rape. Major and minor character death.(the lesbian character does not die)

The Order of Books: The Stepsister Scheme Mermaid’s Madness Red Hood’s Revenge The Snow Queen’s Shadow

4. The Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch Amazon Summary: An orphan’s life is harsh—and often short—in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges death and slavery, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly.

+ great writing + fun characters + well-plotted + twists for the bad guys and the ‘good guys’ (+ not going to lie, I started the first book because I really liked the covers)

- the world-building might take some time to get used to - the second book seems to take a few too many detours, imo (I’m only halfway through it, so I have no impressions of the later books yet, maybe the plot will pull together in the end) - no LGBT+ characters so far :( (there was a minor mention of one, I think, but it was like half a sentence)

Warnings: mentions of animal cruelty (something I could have lived without in this world and it’s not even plot relevant, but therefore also not at the forefront), major and minor character death.

The Order of books published so far:  The Lies of Locke Lamora Red Seas under Red Skies (I’m currently halfway through this) The Republic of Thieves The Thorn of Emberlain

5. The Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling A thief and an archer meet in a prison after they manage to break out, the thief takes on the archer as apprentice ... sort of. -> the first two books are one story, pretty much, split into two books.

+ fun characters + great writing  + detailed world-building + some characters stay surprisingly alive + LGBT+ MC, mlm relationship

- a bit of a cliche climax at the end of the second book - if you’re not into major war plot and war strategies, it might have some slow moments

I’m still not sure what I should think of the villain ... 

Warnings: dubious consent in a sex scene, could be considered rape, I’d say, but without violence (not sure if that makes it better though), minor character death

The Order of Books: Luck in the Shadows Stalking Darkness Traitor’s Moon (haven’t started this one yet) Shadows Return The White Road Casket of Souls Shards of Time

#captive prince #princess series #the others #anne bishop #lynn flewelling #scott lynch #gentleman bastards #book rec #book list #fantasy #jim c hines #the nightrunner series #c. s. pacat

[junker-town]

Here’s what’s wrong with the World Baseball Classic, and here’s what can be done to fix it.

The WBC is meaningful baseball in March, and it’s fantastic. There are some problems, though.

Right now I’m watching a taut, tense game between two baseball powers. Both rosters are filled with some of the best baseball players alive, which by extension makes them some of the best baseball players to ever live. There are guys throwing 95, but that might mean it’s an off day for them. There are dingers and stolen bases and defensive marvels, and it’s, well, I’ll just come out and say it, it’s baseball. And it’s really good.

So I feel guilty writing this. The premise is whiny, the headline is too self-assured, and it’s not like I’ve put 30-plus hours into the World Baseball Classic this year, so I haven’t earned the right to complain. I’ve watched a few games, and they’ve been quite fun. I like the tall guy.

But if I had to write a one-sentence review of the WBC, it would go like this:

The World Baseball Classic is fun, but it always feels like there’s just a little something missing.

I don’t think that’s unfair. The positives are obvious — talented baseball players playing talented baseball — and that’s enough to watch. That’s enough of an argument to keep it all going. It’s an irregular respite from the winter doldrums, it comes in baseball’s worst month, and it’s fun to see baseball’s superstars sorted into different permutations. Also, it’s baseball. And if you don’t think they really care, allow me to present Tony Peña, manager of the Dominican Republic:

I’m not even sure if that does it justice. He was mad about a strike call. Mad enough to inhale a USB cable and get it stuck in his neck. Yeah, they care, which makes it that much more fun.

There’s still something missing, though. Lucky for you, I’ve isolated these problems and have determined what can be done about them. Hopefully this helps

Problem: The best players don’t always play

Every team has a story. Johnny Cueto spent time with his ailing father, which cut into his spring training, which made it harder for him to get into game shape. There were complications with Russell Martin that I can’t begin to comprehend:

Russell Martin will not play for Team Canada in the WBC due to not being cleared for contract insurance.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 9, 2017

And Mike Trout is probably standing shirtless on a Washington D.C. street corner right now, yelling words of encouragement at nimbostratus clouds. Or maybe he just didn’t want to participate in the WBC, and now he’s regretting it a bit. It’s still fair to legitimately wonder if various teams would be better if they could chose from the players who aren’t participating. Before you dismiss that as hyperbole, note that Trout and Clayton Kershaw aren’t participating. Chris Sale. Madison Bumgarner. Mookie Betts. Bryce Harper. Kris Bryant. Now that would be a heckuva start to a team.

If you’re perceptive, you’ll notice that those are all players who declined to play for the United States. When you rank players who were born outside of the U.S. by their 2016 WAR, the top active hitter who declined to participate was Canada’s Joey Votto, who was 44th. After that was Jose Ramirez, who wouldn’t come close to cracking the Dominican Republic’s loaded lineup.

It’s this country that has the problem, then. Things just haven’t been the same since Zenith stopped making TVs here, man. When will we ever get a full-strength US team?

Solution:

Nothing. There is absolutely no way to make players squeeze an extra month of hyper-competitive baseball in if they don’t want to. They know what’s best for their careers, their psyches, their bodies. They’re cogs in a billion-dollar industry that makes them millions of dollars, and the idea of interrupting their fine-tuned routine to play for national pride appeals to some more than others. That’s how it’s always going to be, and that’s fine.

That’s before you get to the owners and general managers, some of whom secretly wish the WBC would crawl under a rock and die.

Problem: There are a bunch of games that start in the dead of night

One of these years, I’m going to stay up. The opening game, Israel vs. Korea, was at 1:30 a.m. PT, which is way too late. I happened to be in Washington DC, where it was at 4:30 a.m., which is way too early. One of these years, though, I’m going to stay up.

I wanted to watch the pomp, and I was hoping for a smattering of circumstance, but there’s just no way. And if you miss the opening, it’s a lot harder to get hooked for the the rest of the tournament. There have been important games played on the other side of the world at times that are absurdly inconvenient for this side of the world, and other important games played on this side of the world that are absurdly inconvenient for everyone else.

And good luck avoiding spoilers if you want to DVR a game or two. They crawl out of my phone and whisper into my ear.

Solution:

Nothing. Yep, time zones exist. They suck. There’s nothing like being on the East Coast on a work trip, powering through a 2:00 p.m. hamburger coma, patiently waiting to not care about anything, and realizing that people are just getting started on the West Coast. When it’s 5:00, forget it, you’re already six martinis in, and it’s just so cute that there are people back home pretending that the rest of their day matters.

The world is round, and time zones are a thing. Pretending that they aren’t and starting a Japan/Cuba game at 3:00 a.m. local time to appease your dumb schedule doesn’t make sense. That means that when the WBC kicks off in Japan, it’s going to be at a time that’s convenient for one part of the world — a part that happens to be as interested in the WBC as anywhere else.

It’s the World Baseball Classic. There’s no fixing the start times without messing with that first word in the tournament.

Problem: The crowds might be lackluster or non-existent for certain matchups

During Monday’s Italy-Venezuela game, Gary Thorne remarked on how it was possible to hear Venezuela manager Omar Vizquel yelling from the dugout. The listed attendance was 1,783, which means there were probably fewer people than that.

It’s hard to get into any sporting event in a stadium that big and a crowd that small.

It turned out to be a fantastic game, with Venezuela coming back in the ninth inning, and Italy rallying furiously in the bottom half of the ninth, but it was played in front of a smattering of fans, and I’m pretty sure not all of them were of the painted-face or homemade-sign set. If you could get something like Japan has enjoyed throughout the WBC ...

... for every game, well, now you’re building the sport and making the games that much more exciting.

Solution:

Nothing. There is absolutely no way to make a tournament where the advancing teams get to play in their home countries. Think of the logistics. It’s not like Jean-Paul World Baseball rolled over in bed one morning and declared there should be a rousing tournament in his honor. This has been in the works for years. There are passports to consider for everyone involved.

There isn’t an international tournament in the world where you’ll hear the words, “Well, I guess it’s off to Italy for us!” after the end of a game. If it were feasible, soccer would have figured out a money-making tournament by now. So you’ll cross your fingers and hope for the United States or Mexico to make it to Dodger Stadium this time around, and for Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, or Cuba to make the finals the next time they’re in Miami. Or maybe have the finals in Japan next time, even if that would be a wee bit unfair to visiting teams.

But you’re not going to guarantee raucous home crowds, regardless of what you try.

Problem: The tournament format is cruel, short, and prone to sample-size shenanigans

Yeah, that’s baseball for you.

But even compared to the postseason, the chances of getting bounced after a couple of off games are high. Two hiccups from two different starting pitchers might ruin everything. A lineup hitting into bad luck might ruin everything. It’s the inherent unfairness of the Wild Card Game, just stretched out and weaponized.

It’s a lot of fun, don’t get me wrong. But I’m pretty sure Korea just showed up to a ballpark in uniform, ready to get the real WBC started. That’s a drag for a lot of teams in the tournament.

Solution:

Nothing. Either fewer participants (nope) or more games (nope). Embrace the chaos and ride it downstream while eating the paddle. It’s the only option.

Problem: March is too early, and players aren’t ready

Jose Quintana was throwing a no-hitter last week, and there wasn’t a lot of drama because there was no way he was going to complete a no-hitter under the 65-pitch limit. The pitch count is there because million-dollar players playing for billion-dollar teams don’t want to get hurt in a fun, well-meaning exhibition, and rightfully so.

A bulk of the participants of the WBC would usually be somewhere else right now, getting a handful of low-pressure at-bats or innings, working on different things and fine-tuning their mechanics. It’s only logical that they wouldn’t want to play as if it were the end of October, and it’s supremely logical that they wouldn’t want to.

Solution:

Nothing. Forget about November, when players are gassed and rest is a necessity for everyone who isn’t 22 or an eager minor-league free agent. December might work — it’s when the Caribbean World Series happens, and that’s a lot of fun — but it’s not better than March.

And you need to really, really, really forget about the idea of Major League Baseball shutting down for a couple weeks during the season. That would be a great way to set money on fire, and you could almost justify it if there were evidence that, say, Italy, was going bonkers for baseball, solely because of the tournament. Building the sport internationally is a reward worth sacrificing for. But not millions of dollars in expected revenue-sacrificing.

Billy Beane: [burning old Compaq computers to stay warm]

Rob Manfred: We’re gonna need to shut you down for three weeks in the middle of summer, when the kids are out of school and your attendance usually peaks.

Beane: ok

Japan will do it for the Olympics when they’re in Tokyo in 2020, but that’s an outlier. Expecting 30 owners to agree on a loss of revenues seems farfetched, and that’s being polite.

What have we learned? That the WBC is kind of awesome. Look at this danged home run:

I love Thorne’s sultry call on that one. It was a serious champagne-by-the-fireplace home run, and we are blessed to have seen it. The WBC is fun, and you should watch it.

But if you’re having the feeling that it’s a little different, that it’s missing something that keeps it from being as exciting as your average postseason series, you’re not alone. Just know that there’s not a whole lot that can be done.

Not unless someone invents supersonic jets that get people around the world in an hour. That would fix just about every complaint up there. If you’re reading this, and you are smart enough to invent something like that, you should do it. Not just for the WBC, but because it would make you a multi-billionaire. Think it over.

Until then, the WBC is flawed but marvelous. That’s how it’s been since its birth. That’s how it’ll be until it stops existing. I’m fine with that.