#write your senators

[thoughtportal]

This is a crucial bill. Even if the research finds that everything we know about long COVID is wrong, this work has ramifications for Lyme, POTS, ME/CFS, and other postviral diseases, which have long been ignored.

Please write to or call your senators.

[the-pumpkween]

hell yeah!

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday told hospitals that they would be violating state law if they stop offering gender-affirming care for people under age 19 in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at curtailing federal funding for such treatments.

In a letter, James, a Democrat, told health care facilities that refusing to provide the treatments would violate New York’s anti-discrimination laws.

“Regardless of the availability of federal funding, we write to further remind you of your obligations to comply with New York State laws,” her letter reads.

Everyone say thank you to NY Attorney General Letitia James!!!

[wayward-haze]

Email sent to Senators Hassan & Shaheen this morning:

Senator, I need you to know that I and many other NH residents are severely disappointed in you for confirming Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary. Bessent's ability to give (Mark Beaks) & DOGE access to funds is absolutely deplorable. Tens of millions of people across the country rely on the systems the Treasury governs, including Social Security and Medicare benefits, salaries for federal personnel, payments to government contractors and grant recipients, and tax refunds, among tens of thousands of other functions.

(Tang Slime) has already issued orders that aim to stop foreign aid, freeze hiring, shutter diversity programs across dozens of agencies, and reclassify federal workers to make them easier to fire while offering financial incentives to millions more to resign to shrink the government's size. Even if a judge has paused the executive order directly tied to the federal spending freeze, having Bessent in a position of power creates a loophole large enough to drive Fort Knox through, straight to Mar-A-Lago. Your confirmation vote has endangered the rightful funds and freedoms of millions of Americans.

SHAME ON YOU. I hope you're happy with what chaos follows.

[nevertheless-moving]

So You Just Killed Palpatine

In Which, Much To Obi-Wan Kenobi's Surprise, While Dealing With The Consequences of One's Own Action's Can Be A Lot, It Isn't Always Entirely A Bad Thing

originally inspired by this and this from anon and husborth Part One, Part Two, Part Three ... Part Fo ... uh ... there's memes somewhere... Anyway Here's Part Five:

Obi-Wan blinked awake, head cloudy and body heavy, as if under unusually high gravity. But no, there was the all-too-recognizable ceiling of the temple healing halls, its mosaic ceiling drifting in lazy, clockwise circles.

What did I do this time? Wait, there was something I had to tell the rest of the Jedi...something important...

Oh dear, he was on the good painkillers, wasn't he?

“Obi-Wan?” someone familiar asked, voice and force presence ringing with a startling jab of hope.

“Bant?” he tried to reply, only to be met with burning pain in his throat. The only thing he managed to get out was an unintelligible coughing fit which pulled sharply at his gut.

“Take it easy!” she urged, moving into his blurry line of sight. “You’ve had extensive abdominal surgery, and your throat was — was crushed rather severely — it’s going to take more time for the grafts to heal.”

Obi-Wan nodded, chastened, before cautiously starting the process of pushing himself up in bed, Bant hovering nervously all the while. The effort made his muscles ache and the room spin faster, but things settled down once he was sitting up.

He looked around, sagging in relief at a small oily handprint on one of the otherwise sterile visitor chairs. Anakin had been here recently, and was in good enough health to be tinkering. Good, that was good. That was important.

He suddenly realized half his vision was obscured and sluggishly raised a hand to his face, only to find heavy cloth.

“I’m sorry, we weren’t able to save your eye,” Bant said softly. “Once you’re a little more healed we can discuss artificial or bioengineered replacement options.”

She plucked a cup off a counter overcrowded with a dizzying array of flowers. “Here, drink some of this if you’re feeling up to it, it’ll make talking a little easier.”

Obi-Wan accepted the drink, only to feel it slide out of numb hands. Bant gently closed her hands around his, helping to guide the drink to his lips. He grimaced at the taste.

“Bacta infused water,” she apologized. “You’re going to be drinking bacta infused liquids for some time, I’m afraid.”

A wave of exhaustion swept over him and Bant set the cup down as Obi-Wan sagged.

“Anakin?” he managed to rasp out.

“Anakin’s fine, he’s completely safe,” Bant said with a comforting squeeze of his shoulder. “He’ll be annoyed to know he missed you waking up, he very much wanted to be there.”

Obi-Wan was going to say something else, but sleep dragged him under first.

//

Obi-Wan opened his eyes — his eye — to the sight of Quinlan Vos scowling over a datapad. The dark spot on the left side of his vision was more noticeable than before. What the kriff did I do to myself?

He shifted, irritated at how lethargically his body responded. The pad fell to the ground with a clatter as Quinlan lurched towards the bed.

“Obi-Wan! Hold on, let me — you’re supposed to have the water before you try to talk.”

Quinlan helped hold up a cup and straw so Obi-Wan could take several short sips of the unpleasantly viscous and vaguely pineapple flavored water.

“How are you feeling?” Quinlan asked, hovering with uncharacteristic anxiousness.

Obi-Wan paused to think. “Weak,” he replied in a hoarse whisper. “How long have I been...”

Guilt flashed over Vos’s face. “You were in and out of Bacta tanks and surgery for a full two weeks. And then another week in an induced coma. And then another week in a self-healing trance. You had...a lot of internal injuries. I’m so sorry Obi-Wan—this is all my fault.”

Obi-Wan stared at Quinlan blankly for a moment. His face helped the memories to start trickling in.

"Yes..." he said slowly. "Yes — you knocked on my door... you said... Vos... please just... just tell me if I hallucinated anything — did I try to assassinate the Chancellor of the Republic?"

"I'd say you succeeded," Quinlan replied, half-smiling, half-grimacing.

"Did I — did we think he was a pedophile, only—”

He had to pause, throat burning as he fought a coughing fit. He swallowed more disgustingly flavored water before finishing the thought.

“—only to discover that he was in fact not sexually grooming Anakin, but was doing a number of other terrible things? And did he... did he — did he electrocute me...”

Obi-Wan’s voice trailed off and he took several more sips, throat filled with an uncomfortable fizzing sensation.

Quinlan nodded, wincing. “I mean parts of that you know better than me but yeah, that matches with what I understand.”

“Hm.” Obi-Wan finished the cup, mulling it over.

Quinlan Vos muttered something under his breath that Obi-Wan couldn't quite make out, but the word "dramatic" almost definitely featured.

Grey crept in around the corners of his vision, then black.

//

When he opened his eyes — his eye, he'd have to get used to that — next, he was greeted by a convenient and increasingly familiar cup at his bedside, as well as Master Windu. Obi-Wan quickly reached for the water, clutching it in both hands and taking a long drink.

Spurred on by the sight of the Master of the Order, he also reached for the urgent thought from earlier, wanting to get it out before he slipped back under —

“Chancellor Palpatine’s a Sith Lord!!”

The corners of Mace’s eyes crinkled. “Yes, Knight Kenobi," he said. "We’re aware of that now. You’ve proved it to be the case quite publicly. And ended the threat with remarkable... thoroughness.”

Obi-Wan head fell back. “A Sith Lord... the Chancellor!” he said in amazement. He was relieved to find his throat only barely twinging at his outburst.

“It truly stretches the imagination,” Mace agreed tolerantly.

“You’re telling me!” Obi-Wan took another long drink, head spinning.

Master Windu smoothed a crease from his robe before saying, with extreme delicacy, “I don't wish to pressure you into speaking before you've healed... but I admit, we’ve all been wondering how exactly you knew.”

"He force choked me and electrocuted me with Sith Lightning. Lighting! I thought that was a myth!” He drained the cup, hands shaking slightly.

“Yes,” Mace said quietly. “The healers were amazed you survived so long... let alone had the strength to fight back with such strength. We’re all extremely grateful to the Force for keeping you alive long enough for us to reach you.”

Obi-Wan made a mental note to feel grateful later, but his mental space was a bit of a mess at the moment, and he wasn't entirely certain he had filed it away correctly.

Master Windu sighed. “We would have been there sooner but I’m afraid none of us had any idea that you were going to confront a Sith.” A twinge of reproach crept into Windu's voice, but Obi-Wan set it aside along with the gratitude, to be examined at some later date. Ideally when his head felt less full of bantha wool.

“I had no idea,” Obi-Wan said numbly.

“Well you figured it out before the Council at least,” Mace replied, not without humor.

He couldn't help but snort. “Yes, because he shot lightning at me. I mean the force choking happened first but... lightning. Lightning!”

Lines formed between Master Windu's brows as he looked down at him. “As much as it pains me, I understand the risk assessment in not telling the High Council about a Sith Chancellor of the Republic, and goading a public fight was probably the best political move possible. But why start the confrontation so privately? It seemed rather — apologies, we can debrief on that when you're rested. I presume you were trying to get a confession about the droid and clone armies?”

Obi-Wan stared at Mace Windu wide-eyed.

“The what.”

The lines on Master Windu’s face deepened. “The... Kamonian clone army — the clones of Jango Fett...”

Obi-Wan’s eyes got wider. “Jango Fett—you mean Galidrean Jango Fett? The Jedi Killer? Palpatine made a clone army of him?”

Mace was silent for a long while, staring at Obi-Wan as though he were a particularly concerning puzzle. Obi-Wan chewed on the straw, mind wandering to whether or not it would be appropriate to ask Master Windu for a refill. As unpleasant as the flavor was, the fizzing did make his throat feel better.

“Knight Kenobi...” Mace finally said, speaking very slowly. “Do you remember why Chancellor Palpatine attacked you? The soul healers were quite certain the Sith Lord didn’t breach your inner shields but I think you might be suffering from some memory loss...”

His left eye itched; he resisted the urge to reach for it. Obi-Wan sank further into the cushions behind him, trying to think. Were there gaps in his memory? No, as usual, it all seemed a fairly clear path from Quinlan Vos knocking on his door to Obi-Wan ending up unconscious in the healing halls.

“Why Palpatine starting attacking?" he mused. "I suppose he wasn't going to just dance around forever — force, when he dodged my blaster shot, I simply could not understand how — it all happened so fast, but the next thing I knew I was pinned against the wall by a Dark —”

“Stop,” Master Windu ordered, raising his hand. He took a deep breath, radiating calm into the force.

“Do you remember what Palpatine said immediately before you shot him?” he asked patiently.

Obi-Wan shifted, feeling a pang of awkwardness as he muttered the answer guiltily under his breath.

“I’m sorry, Knight Kenobi, I didn’t quite catch that.”

“He said, ah, ‘you’re a Jedi’ and ‘you can’t kill an unarmed man.’”

Mace Windu stared at Obi-Wan.

There was a long pause while Obi-Wan fidgeted with the straw. He was starting to feel that perhaps his thoughts were even less clear than he had assumed them to be, and he was not handling this conversation particularly well.

Windu took another deep breath, radiating slightly less calm then before.

“Knight Kenobi. Why did you shoot the Chancellor of the Republic?”

“...I was trying to kill him,” Obi-Wan said, looking down.

“Why?”

Obi-Wan mumbled.

“Kenobi, speak clearly.”

“Well—ah—it actually turns out that I had misunderstood...I mean it had certainly seemed like...but he wasn’t actually...doing exactly what I thought...”

Windu stared at the recumbent Knight, who flushed.

It occurred to Obi-Wan for the first time, that, considering his plan of running away and becoming a bounty hunter was no longer possible nor, perhaps necessary, he could have misrepresented some of the timeline of events vis a vis sith slaying. Or better yet, pretended to have memory loss.

In his defense, the whole experience had been extremely unnerving! For all that weeks had clearly elapsed for everyone else, Obi-Wan was still processing Chancellor Palpatine shooting lightning out of his fingers.

A wave of exhaustion flooded over him, and he sank into it with relief, recognizing now the sickly sweet painkillers pulsing through his blood, clouding his thoughts and pulling him under.

//

Unfortunately, Mace Windu was still there when he woke up. Kriff.

He opened his mouth to try and backtrack, but Windu raised his hand, cutting off any poorly thought out explanations.

Master Windu took a deep breath, radiating very little calm by this point.

“Let me get this clear. Nod if yes, shake your head if no, did you go into the Chancellor’s office with the intent to assassinate the Chancellor of the Republic?”

Obi-Wan nodded.

“Did you know he was a Sith before you went into his office?”

Obi-Wan shook his head.

“Did you suspect he was a Sith?" Mace asked, slightly desperate.

Obi-Wan shook his head, cringing in apology.

“Before you went into the Chancellor’s office, were you aware that he was working with the Kaminoians to commission a clone army?”

Obi-Wan shook his head, biting back questions.

“Did you know he was working with the trade federation to commission a droid army?”

Another no.

“Did you suspect anything about these armies? Anything about a larger plot to destabilize the Republic? Destroy the Jedi? Become Emperor?”

Obi-Wan shook his head at each question, eyes widening with shock.

Mace Windu was radiating absolutely no calm at this point.

“Knight Kenobi...” he asked with a pained expression. “Did you... attempt to assassinate the Chancellor of the republic for personal reasons born out of some sort of misunderstanding? Only to inadvertently save the Republic?”

“I mean once I found out that he was a Sith... I of course changed tactics... and personal is a bit... but... that... Well. More or less sums the situation up, yes.”

Mace WIndu stared at Obi-Wan Kenobi, who wasn’t sure if he should keep talking or not. He didn't entirely trust his ability to explain things well at the moment, and ultimately decided to err on the side of silence.

Obi-Wan vaguely wished he could slip into sleep, but was fairly sure that it would be rude and possibly obvious to do twice in one conversation. His throat itched and he considered once again asking for more water, ultimately deciding against it.

Minutes passed, Master Windu staring blankly at the wall above Obi-Wan’s shoulders, while Obi-Wan's mind started to wander.

Who on earth had been paying to feed a clone army? How was Quinlan doing at getting Anakin to brush his teeth? Am I going to prison? Ohh that’s why the force was so insistent on killing Palpatine. Maybe that would help explain things to Master Windu? Though 'the force told me to' is  generally not considered a good excuse, in of itself, for acts of violence...though this is a rather unique situation...

Eventually Master Plo walked in, letting out a pleased noise.

“There he is! The Hero of the Republic!”

Mace Windu closed his eyes.

“Is that what they’re calling me?” Obi-Wan asked weakly, when it became clear Master Windu wasn’t ready to address everything wrong with that.

“Oh! Your drink is empty! Mace, Vokara was very clear with her instructions!” Master Plo scolded.

Mace Windu didn’t reply.

Plo-Koon snatched the cup, filling it up from a pitcher across the room and talking boisterously. “Well, the public is throwing around a lot of titles, but since you already had Sith Slayer...”

“Oh dear,” Obi-Wan said faintly, accepting the terrible water and drinking it for lack of anything better to do.

Plo-Koon patted him on the shoulder reassuringly. “I’m afraid to tell you it’s going to be very difficult for you to dodge commendations for your actions. Now that you’re awake you’re going to be faced with quite a backlog of requests for ceremonies and interviews—”

Obi-Wan choked. “Ceremonies?” he repeated in a higher pitch. He snuck a look at Master Windu. His eyes were closed, though he didn't appear to be meditating.

That probably wasn't a good sign.

"Yes, ceremonies," Plo-Koon said with far too much relish. "Turns out there are quite a lot of old traditions on the books regarding —"

Master Healer Vokara Che entered the room at brisk pace. “I thought I heard voices — I will remind you that before he is the ‘Sith Slayer Returned’ or ‘The True Chosen One’ or any such nonsense he is first and foremost my patient.”

She gave a sharp look to both Council Members. Plo-Koon nodded contritely while Master Windu continued to not say or do anything.

“The — no, no Anakin’s the chosen one —" Obi-Wan sputtered. "Anakin’s the reason — people aren’t actually calling me that, right?” he asked, drugs doing an admirable job at suppressing the panic he was fairly sure he was going to feel later. The device in Master Che's hand beeped faintly in answer.

“That and more, young Kenobi,” another familiar voice suddenly added, below his field of vision. “To collect your honors, expect to survive, you did not, mmn?”

“Master Yoda! No, I—I really didn’t expect... any honors... at most I was hoping that people would understand...” Obi-Wan protested weakly, shooting Windu a beseeching look which yet again failed to garner a response.

Che rolled her eyes, flipping a lek behind her somewhat sarcastically as she attached a glowing device to his chest. "Of course you didn't."

He barely refrained from wincing as several needles bit into him.

“Perhaps we would have had a better chance of understanding had you left us any of your evidence,” Master Koon chided gently.

“Put together the pieces we did, in our time,” Yoda added, hopping up on the nightstand to affectionately poke his shoulder.

Obi-Wan leaned back, feeling increasingly light-headed.

“Your vitals look good, all things considered,” Master Che said, sounding smug. “You should be back to getting into trouble in a year or so.”

Obi-Wan jerked his head in her direction, aghast. “A year?!”

“Busy, you will be, if work you wish. A seat, open there is for you. Comfortable chair, good company, important duties.”

Master Windu’s eyes squeezed further closed.

“What?” Obi-Wan asked, bewildered.

The healer scowled. “You were bleeding heavily into more or less all your major organs, including your brain. Really, it would be faster for me to list organs that weren't damaged. The fact that you recovered at all is only because Master Gallia conducted ill-advised on-scene amateur healing—"

"Is she alright?" Obi-Wan asked.

"—ill-advised, but successfully non-self-detrimental amateur healing, and I’m a miracle worker, and, credit where credit is due, you’re a stubborn bastard; not to mention your padawan has far too much energy to throw around — you really should consider enrolling him some healer’s courses—”

“Is he alright?” Obi-Wan asked, more urgently.

“He’s fine,” Master Plo reassured him with a gentle hand on the shoulder. “Everyone is fine except for you. He just tired himself out a few times, but Knight Vos has been keeping a close eye on him, and Anakin understands that the best thing at this point is to let you heal under your own power."

“Can I see him?” he asked. His voice was growing hoarse despite the dutifully refilled cup.

Vokara’s face softened. “Of course. He’ll be stopping by after class, in another hour or so. He’s been very punctual.”

“Master Windu? Alright are you? Silent, you have been.” Mace flinched upon being prodded with a stick. He opened his eyes, pinning Knight Kenobi with a steely gaze. Obi-Wan shrunk back, but Windu just sighed.

“You...” he trailed off. He stood up slowly, as if the movement pained him.

"I —" he said authoritatively, quieting the room. "—am taking a sabbatical. Call me when—” Windu gestured vaguely. “—you all sort out this mess.”

He walked out.

A long moment passed. “What did you tell him?” Master Plo finally asked in a hushed whisper.

"Ah..." Obi-Wan paused, limbs heavy with fatigue. "Well — you see— " He closed his eyes, feeling slightly cowardly as he did so.

//

When he opened them again, the light hadn't shifted nearly as much as other inbetweens, and his bandages hadn't been changed. Master Plo was still there, speaking quietly with Yoda.

Shit.

"Not too long that time," Vokara said, pleased. "I've lowered the dose on some of your medications, it should make it easier to stay awake."

"Oh. Good," Obi-Wan replied.

"Young Kenobi." Plo-Koon moved closer. "I dislike pressuring you in your current state, but... Master Windu appears to have left the temple. We were wondering..."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth, then closed it again, considering. His mind was, at last, starting to catch up with mouth. “He asked me... some questions. About how I came to suspect Palpatine," Obi-Wan said carefully. "It would appear I may have forgotten some details. About the evidence...Master Windu was — distressed regarding what I did and did not recall."

Vokara nodded. "Memory loss is completely understandable with the type of injuries you recieved."

"Alright, it is, if remember everything, you cannot," Yoda added kindly. "Our own investigations, ongoing are."

"So if I, ah, can't quite remember everything that led up to our fight," Obi-Wan asked, feeling guilty, but force, that blank look in Master Windu's eyes. "I mean I definitely remember the force willing me to decisively seek his end — really it was unusually loud about it," he added hastily. "If that helps."

Yoda nodded slowly. "This reason, understand we do. But, present to the public, perhaps not a good idea would be."

"Yes," Obi-Wan said. "I think — I'm not certain but I believe Quinlan Vos may have helped me collect some evidence..."

"Said as much, he did. Wait to confer with you, he wanted."

Obi-Wan sagged backwards with relief. "Yes. Yes! We had security concerns... Palpatine was so highly placed..." he trailed off.

"Considering Sifo-Dyas's and Count Dooku's entanglement in all this I can hardly blame you for hesitating to reach out to the council," Plo-Koon said, exhaustion audible even through his vocoder.

Obi-Wan choked on his spit; the following coughing fit was soon rewarded with a fresh bacta drink from Vokara.

Dooku?? Sifo-Dyas??

"Perhaps after I speak with him I'll be able to better assist with the current investigations," he offered hoarsely after recovering.

"Of course," Plo-Koon said gently. "Again, we apologize for interrogating you so early into your recovery but you really can't imagine the public and political scrutiny we've all been under —" He hesitated. "Master Windu was joking about taking a sabbatical right now, was he not?" he asked, sounding strained. "I know he's been under a lot of pressure, but surely you having memory issues couldn't—"

He was thankfully interrupted by the sound of small feet moving rapidly and a gangly body launching itself at highspeeds through the doorway.

Vokara just managed to snag the back of Anakin's robes before he crashed into Obi-Wan's medbed.

"Padawan Skywalker," she said, voice tight. "I believe I have mentioned the numerous injuries your master is recovering from and the need for —"

"Care in my movements," he said sheepishly. "Apologies, master, thank you."

"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, something in his chest relaxing at the sight of his dangling student.

"Obi-Wan." His padawan's eyes immediately started filling with tears.

Obi-Wan reached out instinctively. "Oh, Anakin."

"Give you a moment, we will," Yoda said, hobbling out, as Vokara sighed, then gently placed his pupil on the floor.

"Of course," Plo-Koon agreed. "Take all the time you need." He hurried to catch up with Yoda. Obi-Wan heard him begin to say, "Mace can't actually be leaving us to deal with this clusterfu—'' Then the door closed, and Anakin was weeping at his bedside.

"Shh," Obi-Wan said, tugging his padawan up, ignoring the protestations of his abdomen. "There, there, it will be alright."

Anakin crawled up, movements ginger and uncertain around Obi-Wan's numerous injuries. Together, they somehow managed to shift Obi-Wan enough for Anakin to fit beside him. His padawan shook with suppressed sobs, and parts of him were almost certainly hanging awkwardly off the edge of the bed.

Obi-Wan ran one hand through Anakin's hair, the other hand gently resting where he could reach without twisting too much, probably an elbow, though the boy was pointy enough these days that he couldn't be sure. If Obi-Wan was also shaking, well. There was reason enough.

"Sheev," Anakin finally said, oozing misery and an overwhelming tangle of other unpleasant emotions into the force.

"...I know he was your friend—" Obi-Wan said, after what was hopefully not too long a pause. This was another conversation that probably wouldn't be helped by painkillers.

"But he wasn't, really." Anakin curled up, even more miserable. "I know. I should let go."

The side of Obi-Wan's head throbbed. On second thought, painkillers were the way to go here. "That's not what I meant," he said. "He was a friend to you. He's gone now. Because of me, your master. And... I'm sure you've found out a lot while I've been asleep. I can't imagine a single padawan learner who wouldn't be struggling with their emotions right now. I'm struggling."

"I'm angry," Anakin said into his side. "Master, I'm so full of anger."

"You think I wasn't?" Obi-Wan asked dryly.

Anakin hiccuped a sob. "I'm angry at everyone."

"It's alright, Anakin," Obi-Wan soothed. "You'll work through it in time. I'll be here to help, whenever you want. Even when I'm the one you're angry with."

Anakin sobbed another minute, force presence roiling, before finally pulling himself in with a deep breath, and wiping his nose on the sheets. "You looked so cool when you were angry," he mumbled into Obi-Wan's side.

"Oh force," Obi-Wan groaned. "Of course there was holofootage. Of course you watched."

"Are you... still angry?" Anakin asked.

Fuck.

Obi-Wan tried to think of the right answer for a padawan learner. His head throbbed again.

"Honestly? Right now I'm mostly just tired. I feel like I was run over by a pack of bantha. It's never a good idea to try and deal with large emotional gnarls while you're this exhausted, remember that my young padawan."

"You've been asleep for years," Anakin whined. "How are you still tired?"

"Years?" he asked, amused.

"At least three," Anakin huffed, curling up against him.

Obi-Wan stroked his hair in peaceful silence for a moment.

"...Did you really smash in his skull with a metal chair to protect me?"

"I would do a lot of things to protect you," he confessed. "I'm sorry Anakin — I should have talked with you when I grew concerned with his behavior. I felt at the time I had to act swiftly, but I worry I only caused you more pain."

"It was a really cool fight."

"...Thank you, padawan."

"Can you teach me how to choke people with my ankles like that?" he sniffled.

Obi-Wan groaned internally. "Of course, as a Jedi, violence—" 

"Violence is our last resort," Anakin interrupted. "Right, yeah —but if it is needed—"

"—Such as when someone," Obi-Wan said over him. "After careful consideration, is found to be both politically insulated and positioned to commit great further harm—"

"Actually, I think you, the person who killed my trusted friend, lecturing me on why he was ultra especially irredeemably evil is traumatizing, even more traumatizing than all those holo compilations of you —"

"Oh force above, of course there's — oh. Oh no — please don't tell me—"

"The latest Jizz music," Anakin said, far too gleeful.

Obi-Wan groaned. Unfortunately, the extra movement in his chest triggered an admittedly ghastly sounding coughing fit and Anakin immediately lost the small edge of grace he had managed to cultivate during their back and forth.

"Master?" he asked urgently. "Master — hold on — I'll go get—"

"I'm fine," Obi-Wan rasped. "Any more of that —"

Anakin was already scrambling to fetch the pitcher.

Such a good boy, he thought affectionately, watching him pour and carry over a glass with the same care others might have when handling molten gold.

Obi-Wan drank with a reciprocal amount of delicacy, knowing his padawan was watching falcon-eyed for any wasted drops.

"Perhaps we should finish this conversation a little later," Obi-Wan said, once his airways calmed down.

Coughing should not be this exhausting.

"Of course," Anakin said, subdued, but he crawled back into bed readily enough when Obi-Wan patted it.

“Really, though —” Obi-Wan started to say, feeling it was duty to try and wrap up the lesson, but he was fortunately cut off before he was forced to figure out exactly what that lesson was.

“It’s alright,” Anakin chimed comfortingly. “We have time to talk about it, master. Can’t you tell?”

“Hm?” Obi-Wan replied, fighting the droop of his eyelids. 

“The force clears,” Anakin said, voice sonorous. “The dark retreats.”

“Oh.” Obi-Wan’s eyes started falling closed. “That’s nice.”

“So we have time. To figure out the rest.”

 “Very nice,” Obi-Wan murmured.

His padawan curled against him, force presence like ocean waves rocking him to sleep.

“The force says it’s going to be alright,” Anakin whispered, wonderingly. “It’s going to be alright.”

Obi-Wan smiled, then once again slipped back to sleep.

[martyr-mayhem]

Please call your Representatives and Senators TODAY to let them know that you are looking to them to vote NO on the Republican budget proposal, and that you will stand behind them for standing strong, even if a government shutdown results.

Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass anything, but instead of negotiating in good faith, they’re pushing a MAGA budget disaster. On Saturday, House Republicans introduced a new continuing resolution (CR) that would run through the end of the 2025 fiscal year.

Their proposed long-term CR would slash essential programs, attack basic rights, and – worst of all – hand unchecked power over federal spending to Trump, Elon Musk, and their billionaire allies.

Democrats must not fold. They must stand firm and publicly demand a government funding deal that:

1. Guarantees there won’t be any extreme funding cuts in essential programs and any MAGA poison pills attacking abortion rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and immigrant communities

2. Guarantees real, ironclad protections to stop Trump and Musk from hijacking federal spending. The lawlessness must end.

We need to communicate to our Members of Congress our insistence that they vote AGAINST the Republican CR. They need to hear from us because they’re undoubtedly feeling pressure to vote for it. They know that Republicans and some of the media will try to pin the blame for a government shutdown on Democrats if the CR doesn’t pass. We need to let our MOCs know that we will stand behind them for their vote against that CR, even if that means a temporary government shutdown.

[degradingnostalgia]

they sent anakin on his first mission

it was his first time not under close watch or guidance

and the first things he does when he is left to his own devices

is proposition a senator and commit a massacre

[dionysiaproductions]

It's a beautiful day in Ancient Rome and... you want to kill Julius Caesar.

[djkerr]

Genevieve O'Reilly speaking about how Mon Mothma's senate speech in s2e9 came together, starting from the writing of Dan Gilroy and Tony Gilroy.

Andor FYC event (May 31, 2025)

🎥 davidboudreauartworks Threads

[itsabeautifuldayinancientrome]

It's a beautiful day in Ancient Rome and... you want to kill Julius Caesar.

made by @dionysiaproductions

[thoughtportal]

ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids are terrorizing immigrants across the United States. Federal agents are violating immigrants’ constitutional rights by arresting people without reasonable suspicion. Even though being here as an undocumented person is a civil violation and not a crime, federal agents are arresting undocumented people who have no criminal records.

Trump’s mass deportation policies are also harming people with valid visas and U.S. citizens who are impacted by racial profiling, including people from Puerto Rico and people who are Indigenous to these lands, because they are brown. For example, some Native residents of Arizona and New Mexico have already reportedly been questioned or detained by federal immigration agents, so Tribal leaders are encouraging people to carry identification documentation and sharing Know Your Rights information for encounters with agents.

The Trump administration has also challenged the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, including Native people’s citizenship -- ignoring the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and 100 years of case law in addition to the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. The administration is emboldening federal agencies (including ICE, Customs & Border Patrol, and the FBI) to disregard laws and abuse power across the United States, which endangers all of our communities.

Government officials around the country are joining organizations to challenge many of these actions in court. Now, members of Congress must also step up and do more to push back. They can refuse to fund immigration raids or detention centers, reject Trump nominees, vote no on xenophobic policies, conduct oversight visits of immigration detention centers, and speak out forcefully to pressure the Trump administration to walk back their illegal actions. But they need to hear from us.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

MESSAGE WE SENT TO SENATOR CORNYN THIS MORNING

We suggest that you pass a budget that raises taxes on those making at least $400,000 that is enough to increase each Social Security recipient's monthly check by 20% and enough to expand Medicaid in order to provide insurance to 100% of the U.S. population. You will find yourself a VERY popular senator in Texas and certain to be reelected. Please don't be afraid of Trump. He's a convicted felon who has lost lots of support because he pardoned cop beaters for 1/6 and is selling pardons to those giving him millions. This is not playing well in my neighborhood.

[from a friend in Texas]

[short-wooloo]

"I do hate the republicans"

Yet the first thing you do is blame the Democrats-the party who lacks a majority in either chamber of congress-for not "stopping him"

And then proceed with the tired old "Democrats don't do anything when they're President" and "they didn't codify abortion" bits

I don't think you hate republicans

[lightscamerabitchsmileee]

A hot take here: but can we all agree that it's not an artist or actor or athlete or any other celebrities' responsibility to be a political activist on every single goddamn issue?? Like for fuck sakes guys give it a rest...I'm sick of it

[bigmilkymantatas]

BOOST THIS AND CALL YOUR REPS LITERALLY DO ANYTHING MAKE POSTS AND TELL PEOPLE JUST SPREAD THE WORD

[martyr-mayhem]

GOALS FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL RECESS AND WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Make Republicans hold a town hall. Every Republican owes their constituents answers for why they’re willing to risk a government shutdown to enable Trump and Musk’s power grab, and why they support ripping away Medicaid and other essential programs. If they truly believe that their MAGA agenda will benefit our country, they should be eager to face the people they claim to fight for at a public town hall.

If they won’t hold a town hall, turn their silence into a story. Even if Republican MoCs go out of their way to avoid public confrontation during this recess, we’ll be organizing hard-hitting events in their district, with or without them.

Expose their government funding deal for what it truly is: a tax break on the backs of their own constituents. They’re planning to slash funding to Medicaid, SNAP, early education, housing assistance, and countless other programs that working families rely on in order to give the wealthiest massive handouts. It’s up to us to tell their constituents the truth about this outrageous betrayal so Republicans are forced to own the public backlash.

Call out their corrupt alliance with Musk. Republicans are enabling Musk to make decisions and push policies that directly hurt working families while enriching billionaires like himself. We cannot allow Republicans to abandon their responsibility to uphold our constitution and serve their constituents in order to curry favor with Musk.

Call on Democrats to hold a town hall. We need Democrats to demonstrate to their constituents that they’re doing everything they can to block, obstruct and disrupt Republicans’ plans to ram through the Trump Tax Scam.

Call out any missing-in-action Democrats who refuse to host a town hall. Democrats who aren’t boldly speaking out and engaging their communities this recess must be put on notice.

Ensure that Democrats publicly hold the line on government funding. Democrats must not support anything beyond a clean, two-week continuing resolution — keeping the government open without giving Trump and Musk a blank check — until Republicans agree to their terms:

Reject extreme funding cuts and MAGA poison pills attacking abortion rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and immigrant communities.

Include real, ironclad protections to stop Trump and Musk from hijacking federal spending.

[seasunstarwars]

and the voices of the millions and the hopes of a whole lot more

there’s a change in the wind and a split in the road (you can do what’s right or you can do what you are told): chapter 7

read on ao3 along with the rest of my ikio'yth au clone wars collection

tumblr masterlist

cw: discussions of slavery; implied/referenced canon-typical violence, death, & injury; canon-typical dehumanisation; playing fast and loose with canon in ways i have yet to explain; canon-typical corruption & references to the imminent decline into fascism

🟣 26894 AJF | Jedai Temple, Coruscant

The Jedai Temple hangar has always seemed a cavernous space, never containing more than a dozen small ships and a handful of Master mechanics and curious youths at once. Tavi’s never quite understood why it was so big. To see it now, teeming with armoured men squashed in amongst the massive troop carriers they are temporarily calling home, xie hardly recognises the space. 

“Generals!” Both men hovering by the door salute as the Council and their reluctant tag-along enter and it sets off a chain reaction: the hangar falls silent, thousands of eyes turning their way. Tavi ducks instinctively behind Kit, slipping beneath his cloak until only her head is visible, peaking out around the massive Nautolan. 

“At ease, men.” Obi-Wan is the one among them with the most familiarity with war leadership, and the troops respond well to it, dropping into what Tavi recognises as Galactic standard parade rest. “I’m Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, and these are my colleagues: Jedi Knight Tavi and the Jedi High Council. We were hoping to speak with some of your representatives regarding our next steps.” 

“Oh! You’ll be wanting the Commanders then, sir,” one of the troopers assures, glancing back over his shoulder. “Hey! They’re looking for the Command reps!” The crowd parts for the five men that emerge at that – four of them identical to the others, while the fifth stands a couple of inches taller, about the same height as Plo. 

“Generals.” They speak and salute eerily as one, though their Force essences are each so very different. All of them are wary, but the tallest one’s Dai’ania is positively jagged with distrust. The one closest beside him is cool and steadfast, despite the bitter tang of anxiety mingling with the unerring love that reaches for each of his brothers. The third is protective, fiercely, in the same way Tyvokka is of the younglings. He would make a fine crèchemaster, Tavi thinks. The fourth… well, his Dai’ania is eerily similar to Qui-Gon’s. Serene, but unpredictable. A little more grounded than the maverick Master’s, less arrogant and assured, but a close match nonetheless. The last is warm, but dry, like desert sands. Dangerous to those who do not learn his paths. 

“And accompanying us is Jedi Knight Tavi,” Mace is saying, as Kit lifts his arm to offer xem an amused look where xie huddles within his cloak. She offers a meek bow to the blank visors that fall on her, then squeezes back into Kit’s side as he drops his arm. “She accompanied Master Kenobi on his mission to Geonosis and was able to gather some intel while Master Kenobi, Guardian Skywalker, and Padawan Tano provided their… unique distraction.” Obi-Wan shuffles, awkwardly.

“Daisha, xie is. Close to the Force,” Yoda adds, from his perch on Shaak’s shoulder. “Valuable insight xie may offer.” Skepticism radiates around the five troopers, but none of them speak it, even as the tallest continues to study what little he can see of her outside Kit’s cloak. 

“Please forgive her reticence,” Plo offers, drawing their attention to him. “Geonosis was difficult for us all, but Tavi felt it more than most.” 

“If you are comfortable, perhaps we could move this meeting to the Council chambers?” Shaak suggests, folding her hands together beneath her sleeves. “We can all sit there, and avoid disrupting your men?” 

There’s a small break, then, as Tyvokka leads a few curious Initiates into the chambers with extra chairs and then has to herd them out again while they stare at the troopers. Master N’tira repeats the performance, moments later, shooing their little kitchen assistants out so the meeting can resume, but the delay is worth it, Tavi thinks, for the bewildered warmth chipping away at the carefully calculated caution clouding around the troopers. 

“Now, Commanders, we understand that the Kaminoans viewed you all as… property ,” Mace spits the last word like it’s poisonous, and now that the commanders have removed their helmets, it’s far easier to see when they exchange a look. “But I want to assure you that will not continue here. If you would be willing, we’d prefer to address you by your names. After all, as representatives of your men, you are of equal standing to us, as representatives of the Jedi.” There’s a long, stretching silence and the largest of the men narrows his eyes.

“Cody,” the cool-steadfast one says, finally. His voice is quiet, like he’s almost ashamed to say it. The tall one snaps his head around to glare at him. “But my brothers sometimes call me Kote.” He’s still looking at the floor, head bowed as though sure if he raises his eyes he’ll realise this is some kind of sick trick.

“Jate urcir gar, Cody.” His head snaps up to find Obi-Wan smiling softly. “Olarom bah yaim be jetii.” 

“Master Kenobi and I spent a good deal of time on Mandalore when he was a student,” Plo explains, as the clones gape. “Along with Master Yoda and his Padawan at the time. Obi-Wan and Nova both picked up quite a fluency in Mando’a, which Obi-Wan has also passed on to his own Padawan.” 

“Ni gan gai,” Tavi gripes, from where xie is curled in Kit’s lap, still half-hidden by his cloak. “Su’cuy, Cody. Tion’kar’tayl mhi gai’e be gar vod’e?” 

“Ner gai cuyi Colt,” protective-Dai’ania says, stepping forward beside Cody. “Commander Colt.” 

“I’m Fluke,” Jinn-vibes adds, with a shrug. “This is Iron.” Dry-Dai’ania jabs his brother in the side, scowling. The tallest one folds his arms, studying the room.

“Call me 17,” he grumbles, finally. 

“We are honoured to meet you all,” Shaak smiles, closed-lipped, because far too many humans find Togruta fangs intimidating. “Now, may I ask if any of you watched the Senate session last night?” 

As it turns out, all five of them watched the Senate session, which certainly makes things simpler, despite their lingering disbelief. 

“The Senate certainly seemed displeased with you all,” Fluke observes, with the same bewildering bluntness that so often got Qui-Gon in trouble during negotiations, despite all of Dooku’s best efforts to train it out of him. Cody and Colt, on either side of him, jab armoured elbows into his side. 

“They sure were,” Eeth agrees, brimming with amusement. “Fortunately, however, they have no legal avenue through which to exercise this displeasure.” 

“Yet.” The word is out of Tavi’s mouth before xie can think better of it, and all eyes turn to xem. “It will take time for the wheels of the Senate to turn, Padhenan. But not so long that we should not prepare ourselves.” 

“You think the Senate will come after you?” Colt sounds concerned, now, dark eyes wide. “They can do that?” 

“With enough time and intention, there is little the Senate cannot do, Commander,” Depa admits, grimly. “But I believe we have enough allies therein to remain one step ahead.” 

“So, what, you want us to fight for you? How does that make us any less slaves than–?” Cody and Colt hiss something that sounds suspiciously like ori’vod!, jostling to shut 17 up. He blocks the attack swiftly, but when Iron kicks his knee out from behind him, he goes down with a thump, still growling.

“Now, please, it’s a reasonable question!” Shaak protests, halfway out of her seat. “There’s no need for this.” All five of them pause to blink up at her.

“A… reasonable question?” Cody repeats, tentatively. 

“While I perhaps wouldn’t have worded it quite that way,” Saesee agrees, though he does nothing to hide the laughter in his voice, “It is more than understandable that you would be suspicious, given the circumstances.” 17 snorts, derisively, but none of them bother to rise to it. 

“That isss why we’re here,” Oppo adds, tail swishing as he leans forward. “We wisshh to give you choicccessss.”

“Unfortunately,” Adi sighs, “The position of the Senate, at present, does limit your options somewhat.” 

“So, our options are stay with you as free people with equal rights to everyone in your Order, allowing us to train in any of the occupations Jedi take on, not just as soldiers; or serve as the Senate’s slave army?” Iron summarises, flatly, the first full sentence he’s actually spoken in their presence. “That feels like an obvious choice.” 

“Mand’alor Mereel would also like to offer the clones Mandalorian citizenship, but the current state of Mandalore’s biosphere is not capable of housing all of you. While we are working on a partnership between the AgriCorps and Mandalore to help alleviate this, it will likely be quite some time before that comes about,” Obi-Wan adds and Force, what Tavi wouldn’t give to have been a fly on the wall in the conversation between the Fetts, Jaster, and the Kryze sisters when this revelation came out. 

“You know the Mand’alor?” Cody almost-squeaks, then looks extremely embarrassed about it, ducking his head like it will hide the sudden burning in his cheeks. Obi-Wan coughs to hide his chuckle.

“Kaysh cuyi ner ba’vodu.” Tavi has a lot of uncles. The clones all blink at her. 

“In Basic, for those of us not quite so linguistically gifted, if you please, little blue,” Kit teases, ahwey tangling with Tavi’s to tug, chidingly. Xie rolls xir eyes at him.

“Jaster is like my uncle. Jango and his sister, Arla, are his foundlings,” she reiterates, for the rest of the Council. “I expect, whatever happens, we’ll be visited by the three of them.” A light-hearted groan runs through the collected Council. Mandalorian delegations are welcome fun, and a sign of unity that the Galaxy hasn’t seen since Yoda’s youth, if not before. They are, however, also harbingers of chaos. Very popular with the crèche and even more among the Padawans. Introducing them to the young Togruta who is the newest member of their ru’kir’mani rahkadai will surely be trouble enough, let alone introducing them to thousands of clones of the Mand’alor’s heir. 

“You think Prime will visit?” 17 sounds suspiciously choked up at that idea. 

“We cannot promise it,” Obi-Wan admits, apologetically. “But he knows our doors are open to him.” And he knows he’ll be getting an(other) earful if he doesn’t. 17 nods, steeling himself again. 

“We’d also like to apologise for not finding better accommodations for you, as yet,” Ki-Adi adds, dragging them all back onto topic. “Given the… circumstances of the Reformations, we will be making arrangements to house our younglings in some of our older Temples to ensure their safety. This will mean the crèche and Initiate dormitories will be made available for all your men remaining on Coruscant. Likewise, we’ll send word to our Corps outposts to arrange additional accommodation for those of you who wish to join them. From here on, for as long as you wish to be, the– what was the word you used?” The circumstances of the Reformations is certainly a uniquely Mundi way to describe that the Jedi Order will be abandoning their millennia-old service to the Republic. 

“The vod’e,” Tavi clarifies, when the five clones just blink at him, confusedly. “The vod’e will be our rah kat widen’yth. Our family in this fight.” 

“All of you who wish to be will be as much members of this Order as any Jedai,” Mace finishes, firmly. The clones’ eyes gleam in the smoggy Coruscanti light seeping through the windows, glossy with tears. 

DAI BENDU:

Dai’ania = Force signature/presence; lit. Force song/melody

Daisha = Force-Born

Padhenan = Councillor(s)

rahkadai = lineage

rah kat widen’yth = family of the fight

MANDO’A:

jate urcir gar = good to meet you

olarom bah yaim be jetii = welcome to the home of the Jedi

ni gan gai = I have a name

su’cuy = hi (friendly)

tion’kar’tayl mhi gai’e be gar vod’e = may we know the names of your brothers?

ner gai cuyi = my name is

kaysh cuyi ner ba’vodu = he’s my uncle

ru’kir’mani = adopted

vod’e = siblings, comrades