#also Jedi mind tricks work on droids

[aubrey17c]

Since the Lego star wars episodes are canon, then Han Solo has met yoda and had told him he’s ‘alright for a little green dinosaur’, after yoda said he was a good pilot and that he respected him.

Han was also like 12 at the time.

I fucking love Star Wars

[lovegrowsart]

the argument i keep seeing that the choice qimir gives to osha to leave the island in episode six isn't a "real choice" because in the real world it'd maybe be realistically logistically/physically difficult to cross that body of water is driving me up the wall because it's such literal thinking when star wars has never been and will never be concerned with what's realistic or logistically plausible. there's fire in space in the first episode of the show, because fire needed to be there to give osha that moment of flashback to the trauma of her childhood and help further establish her character - it's entirely in service to the story, doesn't matter that that's not how it works irl.

the reason the ship is there is because it needed to be in the distance to facilitate the visual storytelling - osha looking back at the ship, her chance to flee/escape the underworld, then looking back at qimir walking away off screen and making the choice to follow him. that's literally (heh) it. he even suggests waiting for low tide if she wants an easier time of it if we're gonna be that concerned about how oh so terribly hard it'd be for osha - who is an adult ex jedi and a mechanic that does such dangerous jobs on space ships that the republic legit made it illegal for anyone but droids to do them - to manage a bit of a difficult swim :(

ymmv on the qimir being manipulative angle, but i think it'd benefit a lot of people's understanding of the dynamic between osha and qimir in episode six to remember that star wars is fairytale - it is metaphorical and psychological mythology. it is not realistic or grounded in reality, nor is it meant to be read with realism in mind, because then you're simply analysing/critiquing from a position that the story isn't operating from.

you don't have to take a creator's words into consideration when developing your own interpretation, but such things can be helpful and valuable. leslye headland's made her intentions re: osha and qimir's dynamic pretty clear - that it's not meant to be manipulative, that one of the purposes of episode six was to explore qimir's "lighter" side and osha's "darker" side (hence the wholly unsubtle costuming choices, him in natural-looking off-white and osha entirely in solid grey). while qimir isn't being wholly honest with her right off the bat (cause why would he be?), he also isn't deceiving or tricking her about anything re: who he is and what he's about - how could he? she knows his face. she knows entirely what he's capable of and what he did in episode five. he can't play the master and the fool the way he did with mae, he can only be as honest as a man like him can be if he wants her to listen to him. i don't think she's naive about him at all, and i think people struggle with understanding that - that she doesn't have any illusions about his morality or lack thereof - and understanding that she still has the agency and desire to listen to what he has to say. you can believe it isn't "good" for her to listen to him, sure, but that doesn't mean she's being maliciously manipulated maliciously.

[insertmeaningfulusername]

Orange heart + Dinluke?

Thank you for the prompt pixie 💕 it feels like a lifetime since I've written DinLuke adksfjdkas here you go (also on Ao3 if that's more comfortable for reading):

It’s dark when Luke wakes. It always is. He rolls over on the mattress and grabs blindly for the clock on the nightstand, presses it to his ear and toggles the button at the back. In a low, droid-like voice, it tells him the time is two minutes before his alarm. He scrambles to turn the alarm off before it can sound out, shrill and piercing and entirely too loud. Then, he sets the clock back onto the nightstand and sits up, making to swing his legs over the edge of the bed. He’s foiled by a strong, warm pair of arms sneaking around his middle and pulling him back under the covers.

Luke sighs. It’s not exactly unpleasant, the warm weight of a body making him lie back down and crawling into his arms and settling on his chest, but– “I have to get up. I set that alarm for a reason, you know?” Whatever Din mumbles in response, it’s lost to the covers and to the sensitive skin of the crook of Luke’s neck. “Aww.” Luke buries his left hand in a shock of soft locks. He doesn’t know what color they are. He doesn’t care. “I’m sorry, baby. Did I wake you up?” “Hrrmmaybe,” Din rumbles, voice still thick with sleep which only helps to confirm Luke’s suspicion. Din’s a deep sleeper. If asked, he’d deny it, say that the merest shift in somebody’s breath could wake him. That might’ve been true once upon a time, but not so much anymore. Not since he and Luke got this darkened room with a lock on the door and shutters that are always closed. Din also sleeps in a lot. He didn’t use to do that, either, or so he swears, up and down. Considering the many mornings Luke has seen Din emerge from their bedroom well past noon, he sure does sleep in now. “Hey, tell you what.” Luke threads his fingers through the short strands of hair at the nape of Din’s neck before he cups the curve of Din’s skull. “If you let me up now, you can go back to sleep. Doesn’t that sound nice?” If anything, Din only presses his face deeper into the crook of Luke’s neck, his meticulously kept beard scraping against Luke’s sensitive skin. He doesn’t sound any more awake when he mutters, “Your mind tricks won’t work on me, Jedi.” Luke laughs, both from Din’s beard tickling his neck and the impossibility of the situation. “Then maybe this will,” he says, pulls Din up by the hair – gently – and presses a wet kiss to his forehead. Din grunts, going liquid in Luke’s arms. Luke uses the little leverage he’s gained to prop himself up on one elbow as he continues peppering Din’s face with kisses – one to his chin, one to the tip of his nose, three to his cheeks and yet another one against his forehead. With every single one, Din gives more ground – until Luke can flip them over, Din on his back and Luke hovering over him in the dark. The last kiss is a close-lipped, dry thing against Din’s mouth, the gentlest of pressures. Neither of them really appreciates morning breath, anyway, but Luke can’t help it – he stays there for several rises and falls of Din’s chest, flesh-and-blood palm pressed over Din’s chest and the slowly beating heart within. Din hums against him, all sleep-addled, pure, radiant joy. When Luke finally draws back, his cheeks feel so hot he’s surprised they don’t glow in the dark. “Do you yield?” he asks, tracing Din’s collarbone until he’s thumbing the jagged curve of his shoulder. Din’s breath is an almost inaudible thing fluttering through the dark. “Always.” Luke smiles down at him even though neither of them are able to see it. He should really get up, get ready for the day, but– “You’re beautiful.” A sharp intake of breath. A pause. “How do you know that?” “I don’t need to see you to know, Din.” Luke’s hand finds Din’s at first try, brings it up so he can press a dry kiss to the back of it. It’s warm against Luke’s mouth, pulsing with life. “You are kind, discerning, and more generous than you know. You’re a good man. You are you.” There’s a rushed breath, and then, a very, very low “Oh.” And that’s as much as Luke gets. And it’s enough. He gives Din’s hand one last squeeze before he lowers it back down onto Din’s chest, scoots off the mattress and stands to pick his way through the dark to the door. For once, he doesn’t stub his toe. He pauses with one hand on the doorknob and turns his head. “Go back to sleep. And see you in the afternoon.” The only answer he gets is a soft snore. He saves his chuckle until he’s slipped out onto the hallway and has closed the door behind himself.

When he goes to dress in the ‘fresher and looks at the holo chrono there, he finds he’s running ten minutes late.

[ahsoka-in-a-hood]

worse version thursday

Thing is, mind control isn't science fiction to a jedi, it's something they can do, sort of. They learn how to mind trick people- and they know it's limitations. They know it can be resisted. They know it works best when they're suggesting something someone might do anyway. When it doesn't go enough against someone's instincts for them to realize what's happening. That it's not a matter of overcoming resistance, because meeting any resistance at all makes it unlikely to succeed. That brute power isn't all that effective. (It took three of the jedi's most powerful to make Cad Bane sweat.)

I don't recall non magical means of effective mind control coming up, apart from the chips. The chips are very effective, but let's say that's a unique set of circumstances. Bio-engineering with clones. Fetal implantation and infant indoctrination. Possibly unprecedented and not replicated since. Not really on anyone's radar. So that kind of mind control, maybe a bit of a science fiction for them. It's not the kind they know.

In the realm of what someone with that background might think, watching these men turn on them like that, well. I was struck by Kanan's skepticism and mistrust in Rebels, being myself very much in the mindset of the clones as victims. And sure, that was probably because he was all of twelve when it happened and was very traumatized, but also maybe-

(it'd be one thing if the clones had really shut down, you know? Like a droid being reset. But they mostly still seemed like themselves, like people. And the chips kinda maybe wore off after a while. Too natural.)

-maybe if you were a jedi, you might think people can't just be controlled like that. That's not how it works. The force doesn't work like that, and people can't just be programmed like they're droids either. What's more likely, more realistic- the explanation you're familiar with, that you can compel people where there's minimal resistance, or a science fiction chip capable of fully overriding someone's will.

[inklesspen]

A thing you see a lot in Star Wars material is "The Will of the Force". It's simply taken for granted a lot of the time. Oh, Jedi can argue about what the Will of the Force is in a particular situation, but nobody (except Kreia, I suppose) is ever seriously arguing that maybe the Will of the Force shouldn't automatically be obeyed. My guess is that this has something to do with how the Will of the Force is often synonymous with the Direction of the Plot. It's certainly convenient, but it raises ethical issues with which Star Wars rarely if ever bothers to engage.

“Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.”

I was thinking about how you can have a Jedi take direction from the Force in a way that's generally reliable (after accounting for individual error), but which doesn't require setting the Force up as a moral authority, and I came up with this:

To begin, let‘s suppose that part of how the Force interacts with sapient beings is that when you make choices — when you settle on an intent — that creates a sort of “status effect” in your connection to the Force. Even if you have no idea how to wield the Force, you‘re still leaking out that intent. And part of what a Force adept can do is basically query the intent states of sapient beings in her vicinity. This is generally done at a subconscious level. A Jedi wants to be able to intervene in unjust situations? Well, then her connection to the Force is basically running a query across all the nearby Intents, looking for someone Intending to do unwarranted harm (according to the Jedi‘s moral guidelines). This is less a "configure search agent, send it to search the net, read results later" scenario like we‘d see with technology and more like a constant feedback loop between the Jedi‘s moral instincts and the collective Force auras of everyone in town. And this produces what the Jedi senses as "the Will of the Force". (We can also say it‘s slightly acausal, allowing Jedi to react to Intents that haven‘t actually been formed yet.) But the same function that queries Intents can also “broadcast”, which is how Obi-Wan mind-tricks the stormtroopers, and part of how Battle Meditation probably works, and so on.

He called upon the Force, gathering it to himself and wrapping himself within it. He breathed it in and held it whirling inside his heart, clenching down upon it until he could feel the spin of the galaxy around him. Until he became the axis of the Universe. This was the real power of the dark side, the power he had suspected even as a boy, had sought through his long life until Darth Sidious had shown him that it had been his all along. The dark side didn’t bring him to the center of the universe. It made him the center. He drew power into his innermost being until the Force itself existed only to serve his will.

The Sith warrior, of course, has other priorities. He will certainly want to keep abreast of certain Intents in the Force, but he‘s doing a lot more spamming of his own Intent upon others. It won‘t always work, but he only has to overpower someone once, right?

Which brings me to a thing that I‘m pretty sure is just fanon — the idea that beskar‘gam can protect a mando‘ad‘s mind from jetii tricks (or, that someone wearing real Mandalorian armor is effectively a void in the Force). If this is true, then someone wearing beskar‘gam isn‘t radiating their Intent into the Force like everyone else does, though a Jedi can still sense them, if imperfectly, by the way their actions influence other people‘s Intents. Still, if you have to go up against a Force adept it‘s worth it to wear beskar if you can, because it effectively removes their precognitive sense; they can‘t react to your Intents until you‘ve acted on them in a way others can see.

So what about droids? There‘s a lot of stuff in the Clone Wars show about the battle droids being fully sapient, with feelings and fears and individualized reactions. But they‘re still networked, still driven remotely.

And that‘s because, yes, a droid can have an Intent in the Force too. Not every droid; not the little mouse droids, or at least they only have small, simple Intents. But a droid with a complex personality, like Artoo? Sure thing. He presents in the Force like any other living being. And the battle droids are getting up there in complexity.

So what do you think happens when a droid has an Intent aura, but doesn‘t do what that Intent would suggest? When a droid wants to do anything other than run headlong at the lightsaber-wielding maniac and the legion of clone troopers, but is forced to do so anyway by its programming?

I think the result is a lot of Jedi being badly served by their instincts. They know what the droid wants to do, and they want to react to what the droid wants to do, but the droid doesn‘t actually do that thing, so they have to force themselves not to react that way. They have to force themselves not to pay attention to “the Will of the Force”. And doesn‘t that sound just like something Palpatine and Dooku would want for them? The better they get at killing droid armies, the worse they get at being Jedi.

[attonposting]

So KotOR II, when you train your companions into Jedi, I think most of us immediately give our Force Friend Squad healing and lightning and whatever else is gonna make combat go quickest. But looking at them as people, what powers would they actually have an affinity for? What's natural for them to learn and use?

Atton cannot heal to save his life – and it would, given his tendency to get himself into trouble. However, what he does have a knack for is Revitalize, channeling his ability to hang in there and keep fighting no matter what. He's also got a nasty predisposition towards a couple of dark side powers, especially Force Choke. At first Atton is pretty irreverent about how he uses the Force – a blaster bolt or an exploded guy, dead is dead, so what's the difference? - but the issue is that, as before, he likes it. And he doesn't want to feel that anymore. Atton would also be quite good at mind tricks, being both a duplicitous asshole and an ex-assassin with specialized training on how mental domination works, but it's a moot point because he stubbornly refuses to learn them.

Bao-Dur's first foray into the Force involves learning to manipulate the currents in droids – they're the easiest energies for him to connect to, and disabling or overloading machinery from afar comes naturally. What also comes naturally, unfortunately, is Force Scream, especially when they land on Dxun and all his old war wounds are torn open. Canderous joining the crew was not a good time for him, and honestly, when Bao-Dur talks about how he feels calmer in the Exile's presence? I think it makes a lot of difference whether this chat happens before or after Dxun. Bao-Dur's a whirlpool beneath a calm surface, so psychic blasting people with repressed anger and pain hits pretty right from where I'm standing. He has to work a little harder to learn Force healing, but channeling his energy into reconstruction is something he eventually strikes a deep, quiet connection with.

Mira was the hardest for me to peg, at least with the game's power roster. We already know what she's best at through the Force – a strange combination of hunter's instinct and empathy, where she can find people by understanding how they think and what they need. There's no power equivalent to that, though. What I do think she'd excel at is Stun and Stasis. It's part because she always strives to disable people without killing them, and part because that's kind of her whole aesthetic (or at least that's what the design team would like us to believe, smh) – appearing nonthreatening and then taking you down before you ever realized you were in danger. A non-Dark-Side Mira would have a lot of trouble with blatantly lethal powers like Force Lightning and Force Choke, and if she doesn't, that's allll on the Exile's freaky influence warp.

Brianna is a master of combat buffs – at first mastering her own body, and then channeling that near-preternatural surefootedness to her allies. Master Speed, Force Valor, deflecting blaster bolts with her bare hands, it's all in her wheelhouse. Can totally see her in the middle of a pitched fight tossing people around with Force Wave, literally leaping across a battlefield with lightsabers flashing and landing with a shockwave that throws a dozen men back. Girl could go very anime if she wanted. Let's face it, she's earned it.

Mical is absolutely a healer. Guy already had medical training, and more importantly, he is friend-shaped. It's not something that companions can learn or use in-game, but I think that persuasion would also be in his wheelhouse – not for the sake of domination, but out of a sincere desire to seek better solutions where tempers, greed, and pride otherwise rule. Like, c'mon, he becomes a senator in some of his endings – now imagine that, but not completely disillusioned with the galaxy. He could cut you down, but he'd really rather you go home and rethink your life choices. I think there's strong grounds for him getting Force Enlightenment down the road, which is another exclusive-to-PC power that's beyond the scope of many Masters. Mical has about the most complete view of the Jedi Order anyone could aspire to, understanding without excusing its flaws and the easy pitfalls the Code can lead to while still truly believing in the good it can do for the galaxy.

Visas joins the party pre-equipped with a bunch of Dark Side powers, which makes me weep. Like, Force Horror? She's projecting the overwhelming trauma of Katarr. Choke and Lightning? You know Nihilus used them on her liberally. It's awful. But I'd like to think that on a Light Side run, as she grows into her own, she develops different affinities. I get support vibes again, but for Visas, it's about endurance, and sharing what she's gained with those who helped lift her up – Force Barrier and Energy Resistance, Force Aura, maybe Force Resistance. She can still wield her grief and her anger, but it doesn't rule her – she's not like Atton, where those powers hold a real and present danger for his psyche. She still feels that pain, and she's unafraid to use the darkness when necessity calls, but it's not the only thing that fills her heart anymore.

[burnwater13]

The Client discussing the Child with Moff Gideon, on Nevarro. Image from The Mandalorian, Season 1, Episode 7, The Reckoning. Calendar from DataWorks.

Grogu didn’t think about the person who paid Din Djarin to find him very often. He wasn’t Morgan Elsbeth who seemed to live in Grogu’s mind, rent free. But every once in a while Grogu would see an older human walking across the plaza in Nevarro City and do a double take. Was it that gentle sounding man? It couldn’t be. Moff Gideon had ended him. So why was Grogu’s brain playing tricks on him?

First, he asked his dad. The Mandalorian had a lot of life experience and knew a lot about how people behaved under stress. He was a bounty hunter and a Mandalorian. Hunter and hunted. If that wasn’t stressful, what was?

Fat lot of good that did him. 

“Grogu, buddy, he probably reminded you of one of your old Jedi Masters and now you just mix them up with each other. It could happen to any one.”

Uff! No way was that what was happening. That client guy didn’t remind Grogu of any of the Jedi masters. Jedi masters didn’t send other people out to do the work that they were assigned. They did the work themselves. Jedi masters also didn’t kidnap children, or use stolen goods to pay their debts. Grogu was sure there were more differences, but these were the ones that he could think of off the cuff.

So, if the client wasn’t like a Jedi master, why did Grogu think about him from time to time? He decided to check in with his friend, IG-11-M. The droid-marshal had an interesting perspective.

“Humans are not subject to logical processing of data. There is no factual support for non-humans to be bound by logical processing. Your central processor may have a defect that is repairable. Perhaps you should run a re-boot sequence?”

Hmmm. Grogu could appreciate that advice. Why he thought of the man who had been powerful and still so vulnerable didn’t need to make sense. That was a relief. But how would Grogu put his central processing unit through a re-boot sequence? He really didn’t care for meditating, but maybe it could help? Maybe?

Grogu sighed deeply. He needed more help. IG-11-M had made a good suggestion, but Grogu wanted to put off meditating as long as possible. It would just remind him of the time he spent training Luke at the Jedi Sleep Away Camp and that had been pretty frustrating for him. But who should he talk to?

The high magistrate was off planet for a meeting with the New Republic. Cara Dune was still on whatever strange special project she’d been on for the last few years. If only his ba’buir was around. Or Fennec. But they weren’t available either. Dank farrik!

Grogu began to pace around the exterior of the cabin. His dad was taking a nap and didn’t like the sound of Grogu pacing. He said Grogu should either learn to pick up his feet or use the Force to float when he felt like pacing. Apparently the shuffling sound his feet made was just a shade too close to the sound of that weird creature that caught the Mandalorian when they first went to explore the planet. That hadn’t been a fun time for either one of them so Grogu took his pacing outside. 

As he walked by the N-1 for the thirty seventh time he heard the sound of the comms system ‘pinging’. Grogu wondered who could be calling the ship instead of the cabin? Grogu trotted over to the ship and hopped up on the fuselage and listened carefully to the automated system pick up the comm. 

It was Peli! Yippee! She was the just the person who could help Grogu, if he could get the canopy opened in time to transfer the call from ‘record’ to ‘live’. Since this was an urgent need and he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to talk to his friend, he decided that using the Force to help was acceptable. He wasn’t being selfish or tricky after all. He was trying to answer an important question and Jedi were always allowed to use the Force to do work like that. 

So one leaping, twisting, turning vault into the air, accompanied by a wave of his hand, and Grogu was in the N-1 and hitting the proper sequence of buttons and switches to accept that comm.

“Grogu! Buddy! How are ya’? Ya little womp rat!”

Peli Motto was as cheerful and effervescent as always.

Grogu coo’d and grumbled at her.

“Really? Well, I don’t know why your dad couldn’t answer that. He can be such a tin can at times. That old man changed yer life. He sent bounty hunters after ya, for crying out loud. Whadda gundark! But, if he hadn’t, yer dad woulda never found ya. Easy peasy. Some people are a necessary evil. He was an unexpected good. So don’t look a gift fathier in the mouth, kid. It never pays. Any whoo, is yer dad around? I think I gotta line on a Razor Crest for him. Gently used. Not a lotta hours on the engines. Real sweet machine. It is too Treadwell! Quiet! I gotta customer on the line!”

Grogu giggled and trotted off to get his dad. Peli had answered his current question and had answered a question he didn’t even have. How could they be bounty hunters without a ship that could host a carbonite system? Like father, like son, bringing the bad guys in cold was just what he wanted to do. If it hadn’t been for the Client he never would have met his dad, or Peli, or whole bunch of other people. He had been an unexpected good. Who knew you could be warm and cold at the same time?

[thecleverqueer]

Random thoughts during A New Hope:

*Rogue One really did enhance the first scene of this movie for me. They went through such an epic battle to get those plans, and now they must follow through to honor the sacrifice that brave crew made. Get ‘em!

*I just love R2-D2 and C3-PO. Those damned droids have changed hands so many times, and yet, they’ve been kept in the family.

*Leia Organa was the original. She’s such a badass. Smart, snippy, resourceful, all around brilliant character.

*GNK or gonk droids are also amongst my favorite. I wouldn’t want one personally, but I appreciate that they exist.

*I’d forgotten C3-PO’s first job was programming binary load lifters. Holy shit! I’m going to assume because his memory was wiped at the end of The Revenge of the Sith that it wasn’t the same binary load lifters that Ahsoka and Trace chased down in the under city on Coruscant, and none of that was C3-PO’s fault (though it wouldn’t surprise me).

*Owen blatantly telling C3-PO to shut up is peak Star Wars. Seriously.

*That red R2 unit’s motivator blowing at the moment that it did was either a fine example of how coincidentally chaotic the universe is, or how incredibly the force works in mysterious ways… and since this is Star Wars…

*It warms my heart that Luke was still playing with that space ship that Obi-Wan gave him so many years ago.

*C3-PO telling Luke that he’s not good at storytelling is also bullshit. We saw you in The Return of the Jedi telling your story to the Ewoks… with your compelling narrative and your sound effects. Come on.

*Since Owen calls Old Ben a wizard, does this mean Obi-Wan was being ballsy and tinkering around with the force after his rescue of Leia? Is that what the kids are calling Jedi these days? Space wizards?

*I love how Obi-Wan emerges using force scream to frighten off the sand people. That might be a power I would want. I dunno. It wouldn’t be my first choice if choices are given.

*I also wonder why Obi-Wan doesn’t seems to remember R2-D2 and C3-PO. How could he forget them? They were always there running around with him in space…ESPECIALLY, R2-D2.

*Oops. Luke just called the droids “robots”. Close, not quite.

*Leia probably could have resisted it, but I wonder why Vader opted to use drugs to get the location of the Rebel base and not mind probe? That’s a power all good Sith Lords should possess.

*I really wish Disney would release the original versions of the original trilogy before it was digitally remastered. I watched it hundreds, if not thousands, of times on VHS before they did it, but it’s hard to remember and I’d like to.

*Luke’s Intro to Jedi mind tricks.

*Obi-Wan is the undisputed king of chopping off arms.

*You also have to give it to Obi-Wan when he pulls out the lightsaber in the cantina in the first place. Balls. It didn’t seem to bother the majority of the patrons that there was a Jedi in their midst, people looked, the Bith band kicked back up and folks returned to their drinks. Still, there’s always a fascist rat in the crowd someplace that squeals to the Empire. Every. Time.

*”I’m never coming back to this planet again.” -Luke. Don’t be so sure.

*Han shot first.

*One of my least favorite things about the digitally remastered version of A New Hope is the conversation between Han and Jabba in the hangar. Han and Greedo had the exact same conversation in the cantina that he and Jabba had in that hangar verbatim. It’s almost as if Lucas just couldn’t help himself as the Jabba/ Han conversation was probably his original plan that he couldn’t pull off when Star Wars was originally released. And at this point, they couldn’t replace the Han/ Greedo interaction because it is iconic. Now, it all feels like a pointless, redundant afterthought. Also, it’s odd that Han calls a Jabba a wonderful human being. What!?! Jabba is a huge f*^%ing space slug! TF you mean, “human being”?

*The Millennium Falcon is a badass ship. That is all.

*I can’t stand Tarkin. He’s such a f*^%ing fascist asshole.

*Oh Alderaan…. The Empire did that shit on purpose. They blamed / tried to guilt Leia, but I bet they wanted to take out Bail equally bad. RIP Bail.

*”That’s no moon. It’s a space station!” -Obi-Wan. You can feel that HOLY SHIT moment. Yeah. I don’t know. It’s one part Geonosian (because those stupid f*^%ing bugs) and one part Galen Erso… luckily, Galen rigged it to blow. The bugs would have destroyed the galaxy.

*This goes without saying, but stormtroopers are kinda stupid.

*Tarkin says “the Jedi are extinct”. Nah, fam, there are, like, four of them and a part-timer…

*I have to wonder what all the water was in the trash compactor. Was it sewage, or… ? Yuck. Get out of there! There’s some sort of space worm in there amongst human excrements and god knows what else!

*I appreciate the fact that they left the scene where the stormtrooper hits his head on the door in the digitally remastered version.

*Luke tells C3-PO to shut up. See!?! Peak, I’m telling you.

*Vader telling Obi-Wan that he’s the master is laughable. No. You’re still not a master. You’re Palpatine’s bitch.

* Turns out, Anakin was the death of Obi-Wan. Sadly, Obi-Wan becomes one with the cosmic force. It’s okay. He will manifest himself into a force ghost. Now there are three Jedi and a part-timer…

*Does a simulator where you sit in those gunner seats of the Millennium Falcon and blow up tie fighters exist? If it doesn’t, it’s a hugely missed opportunity in every arcade on the planet. What a game that would be! I’d play.

*They’ve got 15 minutes to blow that shit up before it beats them to the punch.

*I feel like Wedge Antilles is an often underrated character. Wedge is an utter badass, and one hell of a pilot.

*Three minutes.

*One minute.

*Thirty seconds.

*”You may fire when ready.” F*^% you, Tarkin.

*Han comes in clutch. Luke blows up the technological terror (and Tarkin). Party on Yavin!!

*I can’t believe that Chewy will have to wait until The Rise of Skywalker to receive his medal.

[stars-n-spice]

Currently going insane over the idea of an Ocean's 11 type group of OCs:

I love the Ocean's Trilogy and thought it would be great to smash that aesthetic of the casinos, be gay do crime, and heists together with that of Star Wars so for the past few days I've had ocs on the brain.

They're still in development but I've got like,, some ideas/basics down for them :D!!

Leader

The Danny Ocean type character

Jedi who survived Order 66 - saw his padawan die - now is on the run 

Wants nothing to do with a Jedi for the sake of being safe but also because of all the pain that brought him so he refuses to ever acknowledge that he’s a Jedi 

Still will use Force for personal gain though - usually just Jedi mind tricks things

Teammates call him out on it and he’ll just say “idk what you mean, I’m just incredibly charming and convincing.” 

You bet I’m going to make him a reluctant space dad 

Basically Kanan - if Kanan had less morales 

Demo Expert 

The Rusty/Basher type character (2nd in command + Demolitions) 

Mandalorian character most likely

Always clashing with Jedi for a multiple of reasons but despite their differences, nobody can deny that they compliment each other wonderfully and work amazingly together 

Cannot stand each other but must do so for sake of doing missions 

Hate/love relationship

Financier 

Rueben type character

Need someone to fund their heists - so this rich guy does it

Maybe he’s some gangster, pirate, business owner, something idk - point is he has a lot of money to spend and doesn’t mind wasting it on this crew

Doesn’t like,, actively participate in the heists unless he has to - he’s basically their boss

Guy in the Chair

Livingston type character 

Of course is going to be a droid because all good star wars groups need a droid - what kind of droid? Idk something modified probably 

Probably would be a mix between Tay-O and K2 (so a ton of sass into one droid) 

Grease Man 

Yen type character

Need someone to squeeze into tight places or perform acrobatic feats 

Gotta find a funky little alien race that might fit 

Driver/Pilot

Turk and Virgil character

Clone pilot who survived Order 66 - got into an accident or something and that got his chip out or made it malfunction or something 

Of course him and the Jedi guy don’t really get along at first - things are tense between them 

For the sake of the jobs they gotta work together 

Maybe has amnesia or something idk

Pitpocketer 

Linus type character

Some kid they picked up on the street or something - basically like Ezra 

Is taken under the wing by the Jedi guy

Of course the Jedi guy doesn’t want to do this because he doesn’t want anything happening to this kid - like what happened with his padawan

But the kid insists on staying after stowing away and has some decent enough skills so they let the kid stick around 

Inside Man

Saul/Frank type character

This is the one who goes on in and gets information or acts as a distraction during missions 

Probably going to make them a Clawdite because that shape shifting works in their favor

That's about all I've got right now! If I find time, I am definitely going to try and develop them a little more, fingers crossed.

[reconstructwriter]

Had Another Breakdown and Watched Attack of the Clones

And wow, what a B-Movie title but I’m already committed to this terrible life decision so I might as well continue. Got through the Phantom Menace so how much worse can this be?

Warning! Another long post! Also tw for Attack of the Clones shit including genocide and slavery.

The Watto scene: Not only does it double down on Watto as a Jewish stereotype – seriously, WHY?!? – but a scene where a former slave meets their enslaver after ten years of growing up and mystic training with a laser sword? I expected a lot more. Watto should’ve voided his bowels because this has to be Worst Case Scenario for a slaver! At best he was a little ‘nervous friendly’. And Anakin is already well-established as ‘man-child who Loses His Shit at the drop of a hat’. Like dude, where’s your angst and teenage fits now cause boy does this situation fit the bill! But nope, NPC fulfills their NPC duty and off they go.

Fanon Anakin vs Canon Anakin: I was introduced to the former and slowly learned what he’s really like and oh wow is he such a terrible mess of a human being no wonder Mace Windu noped his training. His Fascist statement is extra YIKES for Padme since she’s one of those Senators who’d be forced to agree. The first temper tantrum alone sounded way out of line given the relatively professional setting, let alone the creepy boundary-breaking stare. The ‘I’ve been dreaming about you for ten years’, the ‘my feelings are suffering’ speech – also taking place with him in shadow for extra broody effect. And his first genocide (I can’t believe we’re already keeping track here!) And he KNOWS BETTER is the worst thing. He admits, out loud, that he knows better and still does the thing Padme why did you say yes to this mess?

Padme being mind controlled: a fairly common fan theory to answer the above question, but in-movie Padme straight up asks Anakin if he will use a mind-trick on her (in the context of a 20 questions game so not serious). Anakin’s response is ‘mind tricks only work on the weak minded’. On the one hand, implies Padme is too strong-willed for Anakin to influence through the Force – but on the other hand this also suggests to me that he would if he could!?!?

Though Anakin was the one to suggest keeping the relationship a secret, which did surprise me so no guilting Padme about ‘wanting a marriage like a free man’ like I thought. Padme is the one who says she won’t live a lie. Good to know for future reference.

Are droids sentient or not? Dex outright says droids can’t think but I honestly don’t know if this is in-universe how droids work or if Dex is having a Cleigg-on-Tusken-People moment.

Jedi are Arrogant? Lots of people have cited Madame Nu’s confidence in her archive’s integrity as evidence the Jedi are arrogant and horrible justification of Sith crimes follows. But Obi Wan thinks there’s something more going on and Yoda encourages everyone to help find his lost planet in one of the only nods to ‘funny trickster teacher Yoda’ we get in the movie. To me this seems a hint that the Jedi are unprepared for betrayal from within. Which Dooku’s, Anakin’s and the Clones’ mind-controlled betrayals all blindside the Jedi Order.

Jango: I’ve been torn about him since I learned about him. On the one hand, understandable vengeance motive (per legends anyway), on the other hand selling his own kids into slavery and probably knowing something about the chips and genocide order because I can’t otherwise imagine the legends version assisting the Jedi.

Jango does state in-movie ‘they’ll do their job well’ in a way that sounds just a bit ominous but I don’t know if he’s being accidentally vague or deliberately giving a subtle hint he knows about the Jedi betrayal plan. If this version is just in it for Boba and the money and doesn’t have the motive of his Legends counterpart, why would the Sith ever need to tell him? Dunno, but I was surprised to not hear him say anything derogatory about his clones. I mean he’s still selling his children into slavery in a way George Lucas doesn’t grok but he doesn’t actively deride them like I’ve read in fanfic. It’s a low bar but not as low as Anakin’s.

Made for the Jedi? So the Kaminoians confirm the clone army is specifically made for the Republic but commissioned by Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas. Glad the movies cleared that up.

Scene Contrast: Kamino is Dark and Stormy with creepy sterile whiteness everywhere in complete contrast to Naboo’s sunny and lush green paradise. The clone army is grown and trained in creepy white lab while the robotic army built in a dark but organic underground hive. Obi Wan sneaks onto Geonosis through the light of day to investigate galactic concerns. Anakin on Tattooine stalks the Tusken people in the dark of night for personal stakes.

The (Other) Horribly Racist Cliché: Speaking of which, I get we’re supposed to assume Shmi was abducted but, um, Cleigg isn’t even a witness – like I initially thought – but is guessing abduction based on tracks in the desert sand and his incredibly racist bias. Are we supposed to doubt every word out of his mouth? If Shmi had been in a bed (even tied) I’d have assumed patient before prisoner.

Anakin’s Genocide: He goes off to save Shmi as ominous music plays and the suns go down, at which point he doesn’t just walk the fascist talk and do baby-Vader’s first genocide but also foreshadows his betrayal and genocide of the Jedi! Which really reinforces the Sith/Nazi and Jedi/Jewish parallel here – Hitler and the Nazis got their Holocaust ideas from White America’s treatment of our native and PoC counterparts. So too does Anakin the future Sith start his genocidal tendencies with the Native people of Tattooine.

But nobody in-universe seems to get that?!? Blorbo!Anakin authors recognize that thar was some FUCKED UP SHIT!!! (Usually by pretending it didn’t happen or re-writing the scene into something less Moral Event Horizon.) Padme’s response would fit better Anakin murdering the literally disarmed Dooku – morally wrong, against the Jedi Code but somewhat understandable but genocide? Cleigg is narratively supposed to be kind and sympathetic but he practically sent a demon after people who’s land and water he’s stealing! The person acting most realistically is the perpetrator and all Anakin admits (again) is he’s a Jedi and therefore should be better. But this still feels like he should have come back to Padme yellow-eyed and Dark Sided!

Once again, George Lucas’ racism screws up the story he’s trying to tell. Ugh. Okay, enough movie time for now. Sorry I’m a hopeless binger despite my friends and kitties’ best efforts.

[miloscat]

[Review] Star Wars: Jedi Survivor (PS5)

An excellent continuation.

After Fallen Order impressed me so much, I was keen for the sequel. Even more so when I found out a friend had worked on it; from their reports, conditions at Respawn are very healthy and the three-year development went smoothly. The result is a “next episode” that is mechanically iterative, experiments a bit with the structure, and tells a satisfying new story with its cast.

Building off the now-popular template of “like Dark Souls but”, Survivor presents deliberate combat and exploration with encounters designed to test you, but with puzzles and platforming segments layered in. The new Force powers of lift and slam (working through the cardinal directions of movement after the first game’s pull and push) factor into each, while a grappling hook makes for fun traversal options. Additional combat styles include off-handing a gun—which I found too fiddly and underpowered—and my preferred combo: heavy crossguard style offset by the swift, offensive dual-wield style. Mind-tricks can now also turn a difficult multi-enemy engagement into a farcical fracas.

After an opening jaunt in Coruscant, Cal crashes on Koboh, a rocky planet that’s got more going on than first meets the eye. The first game had you returning periodically to Bogano, but Koboh is much more: not just a huge map, but a hub, and a home base. This frontier planet is a site for prospector’s mines, that’s also the base of a bandit troop who have co-opted Clone Wars battle droids, plus it’s a haven for outcasts who gather in the local saloon, not to mention a focal point of scientific Jedi research from the golden era of the Republic. It’s got canyons, forests, swamps, sky-high peaks, run-down outposts and high-tech labs. This rich history gives Koboh a great sense of place, avoiding one-note single-biome planet tropes to create a world that feels real and important in a big and complex galaxy. Also, its open-world design grants a new layer of discovery and exploration beyond the intricate dungeon design (which does still exist here).

Koboh is the real star of this game (with a runner-up recognition to Rogue One’s Jedha with its smaller open-world map and ancient temples). Initially just a stop-off, Cal (now sporting a rugged and customisable stubble alongside an array of outfits) finds ancient terrors, entrancing possibilities, lots of fun nods to Star Wars ephemera, and a motley group of new friends and acquaintances. Special shout out to the queer representation; I thrilled at the non-binary character and I think almost every romantic pairing or allusion is gay, which is awesome! Returning to Greez’s cantina to check in with the patrons and gradually continue conversations as you get to know them was a great feeling, as the derelict dive gets spruced up and populated over the course of the adventure.

When Survivor introduced the High Republic era as a key part of its plot in terms of legacy and flashbacks, I saw it as a cynical Disney marketing ploy. But they won me over because like everything else in the game, it’s well-developed and paid off, with engaging heroes and villains, distinctive visual design, and fun setpieces. The High Republic Jedi chambers are fun self-contained puzzle chambers like the previous game’s Zeffo stuff, and the chaotic crystals and ferrofluid of the exotic “Koboh matter” make for interesting interactions while looking damn cool.

I loved my time with this game. It’s got a strong central thrust and story, lots of fun sidequests and collectibles, and the open-world aspects aren’t overwhelming like I found Elden Ring to be. You’ve got fast travel and an excellent map with unlockable collectible markers. The battle droids are an always charismatic foe with fun dialogue and designs. The story does have some real bummer moments towards the end but cool twists as well. I’m just sad that I now have to wait a few years to see what Respawn comes up with next!

[redemptivexheroics]

Ellis' Abilities [Star Wars Head Canon]

Force Powers

Force Jump: Ellis can use the Force to jump greater heights than any normal person could. This has been quite useful in both duels with other lightsaber wielders and scenarios.

Force Bomb: Ellis can harness Force energy into a bomb, which is useful for crowd control, especially battle droids, and can also clear paths.

Force Bond: A connection that Ellis can make with another Force user; in her particular case, her Force Bond is with Anakin; they can sense each other's feelings and thoughts, and their connection can reach from far distances, though neither has tested the distance they can feel this connection.

Force Lightning: Ellis is able to use Force Lightning, but it's an ability she doesn't resort to as it is usually an ability that users of the Dark Side of the Force tend to use.

Force Choke: Another Force ability that Ellis has knowledge of using but doesn't

Jedi Mind Trick: The ability to suggest actions but only works on weak-minded individuals.

Magic

Halting Time: Ellis, through her magic, can halt time, though not indefinitely; she can use this ability to stop time for up to five minutes, which could be advantageous in fights and other scenarios.

Healing: The ability to heal any injury that isn't fatal; examples include bad burns, loss of limbs, broken bones, and the like. Ellis focused on this particular ability, wanting to master it fully.

Force Enchance: An ability that enhances her Force powers; though this is automatic, the stronger she gets in her magic, the stronger she gets in the Force.

Reality Manipulation: Ellis can warp reality for others, making them see what she wants them to see. She can make it as real as she wants even though it's not.

[whatanoof]

A Push in the Right Direction

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Cal Kestis x Reader

Word Count: ~7.6k

Warnings: fluff, smut, swearing, sexual tension, rough sex, sex pollen so by default it's dubcon, pining

Summary: Healing injured patients? Psh, easy stuff. Force healing? A little more tricky. Confessing your crush to your very close friend? Damn near impossible until a flower bush shoves you in the right direction.

A/N: Happy birthday my friend @marvelassassin221b!! I hope you are staying safe, and that your birthday will bring happiness and wisdom to your life. It's been a blessing talking to you and laughing at memes together <3 Thank you for giving me the push to get this fic done and posted, I couldn't have done it without you. Enjoy some of our favorite redhead Jedi ;)

You’ve always been terrible with directions. Like, it’s a miracle you haven’t gotten lost in more dangerous settings, but even your Jedi Master used to shake their head when you had survival exercises in your Padawan years. Greez too, makes comments about how atrocious you are at navigation. You hadn’t been allowed back to the holomap since a disastrous set of directions landed the Mantis on the more unfriendly side of the Outer Rim.

But even with all of your shortcomings at mapping, you have a solid crisis mode. You need to have one as a medic. It’s not a good idea to freeze when a patient is bleeding out on the ground in front of you, there is only one way that is going to end, and it’s not going to be a happy ending. Under pressure, all of the unsureness that surfaces during your attempts at navigation vanishes, and your body is moving before your mind even consciously thinks to. It’s your zen mode, almost your place of meditation, where you give into the inner instinct and allow the Force to guide you through the process. Too bad you can’t reach that state in any situation other than emergencies, maybe you would be able to navigate your moves in confessing a crush.

You had met Cal Kestis on Bracca. He’d cut his hand open on a jagged edge of wall paneling, and Prauf brought him to you, one of the few healers among the scrappers. You couldn’t tell what exactly it was that gave him away to you, but the instant his eyes met yours, you knew where he had come from.

Of course, you waited until Prauf had gone back to work to reveal yourself. Healing through the Force decreases the chance of infection, is painless, and is essentially instantaneous. While your normal supplies would have done the trick, the drama queen in you realized this would be the perfect way to show Cal he wasn’t alone. Force healing is tricky, but you’d had a surprising knack for it ever since your youngling years. The Order had trained you up in the way of Force healing and given you the tools to take advantage of your aptitudes. Cal’s face had been priceless when you simply waved your hand over his, and the wound closed within seconds.

There was a certain comfort in knowing you weren’t alone. Admittedly, in the long years after the Purge, you’d toyed with the idea that you had been the only Jedi to escape. Those had been dark days, where you could barely scrape together the energy to forage for food and water, laughing that the Jedi Order would die with a single Padawan who had lost her lightsaber along with everything she had known.

But then Cal stumbled into your little cordoned off area. You’d become close friends from that moment to the day Prauf died and the Ninth Sister shoved you both off of the cliff and onto the freight train below. The Mantis crew was surprised, to say the least. They had gotten reports of a single Jedi wreaking havoc on Bracca. But they welcomed you aboard and you had become the team medic, patching up Cal when he got back from missions and finding time in between to try and recover the Force abilities you had lost to time.

---

“Hey.” You look up from your work. Medical supplies lie strewn across the floor of your part of the room, bandages unwound and your meager supply of medication stacked methodically in the corner.

Cal looks down at you from the doorway, a streak of something across his cheekbone. You want to wipe it off, but you just smile back, “Welcome back. Find anything cool?”

His happy grin only widens, “You’ll have to come and find out.”

“What?”

He beckons you towards the main hull, “Come on!”

Cere and Greez are already there and seated around the meal table, and BD is perched on the table, chirruping animatedly as if talking to Cere. You take your place with them, noting the empty chair to your right. Merrin is back on Dathomir, searching for ancient texts about Nightsister magic and rituals. She’s been gone for several days, but you still find yourself seeking out her snarky comments and cool confidence.

“Okay.” Cal stands at the head of the table, rubbing his hands together in a way that makes him seem as if he is playing the adult. “I’m willing to bet you're all wondering why I’ve called you here today…”

“Spit it out Cal, you woke me up from a nap for this.” Greez eyes the redhead grumpily, and you fight to hide a grin. Cere also looks mildly amused, if slightly impatient.

Cal rolls his eyes, but continues, “Cordova left a message, saying something very valuable to our quest is locked in a vault in the Zeffo caves. I found the vault today and it matches Cordova’s description, but we need two Force users to access it.” He nudges BD, and the little droid projects an image of the vault door. It’s massive, with gold decorations swirling across it, and two obvious indents in the ground on either side for said Force users.

Everyone’s gazes flit to Merrin’s empty chair. It’s without question she would have been the best fit for this mission. Her combat style complements Cal’s perfectly, and Cere is still hesitant to use the Force.

Realization strikes you, and you glance up to see everyone’s eyes are now trained on you. You begin to shake your head. “That’s a bad idea--”

“We’ll be fine. I’ll lead us directly to the vault. I have my saber, and you have your Force healing. Worst case scenario, you have to patch me up in the field.” That is definitely not the worst case scenario, but there are no other options. This mission is time-sensitive, and you can’t wait for Merrin to get back from Dathomir.

You fix him with a stern glare. “I will come. But--” You hold up a hand when Cal opens his mouth. “You have to stick with me. No disappearing and popping out to scare me, because I will get lost We go in, and we get out.“

“I wouldn--” Cal protests.

“You would.” You snap.

“Yeah, he would.” Cere agrees.

“Sounds like something you would do.” Greez nods.

BD beeps cheerily from its place in the center of the table, clearly in agreement with you.

Cal shuts his mouth with an audible pop, and you cross your arms while staring him down. Yes he would.

“I need BD back here on the ship. I’m running diagnostics on the navigation programming, and I can’t do it alone.” Cere speaks up.

Cal hesitates. You understand; he never goes on missions without BD. The two are a package deal, but everything needs to be running at peak efficiency before you go to the Fort Inquisitorius. And there’s no way you’re willing to deal with a navigation error en route.

You speak up, “Yeah, it will be fine.”

Cal looks at you, “We need BD to unlock a shortcut. What happened to in and out?”

You wave him off, “We’ll take the scenic route. Cere needs BD back here, and we can manage without. We’ll have our comm units, it will be fine.”

---

Do you know that saying, “Famous last words?”

Yeah. You hadn’t realized just how famous those last words could be. It started when Cal realized he’d left his comm unit on the ship in the charging port. But it was fine, because you had yours. Until you dropped it into a puddle after tripping over a tree root.

The scenic route involved passing through the outskirts of a forest, and the terrain was a little trickier than you had been prepared to handle, obviously. So, commless and armed with a single lightsaber and two shared brain cells, you travel towards the entrance to the Zeffo caves.

A flower bush catches your eye. Its leaves are a shocking shade of red, with gorgeous blue flowers that seem to call you over to them. Cal keeps walking even as you stop and reach for the bush. You pluck the flower in the fullest bloom and turn it over in your hand, admiring the veins of deeper azure spider webbing across the petals.

Cal says your name behind you, “We have to keep moving if we’re going to get back before dark.”

Turning to face your companion, you tuck the blossom behind his ear and step back to admire how the blue contrasts against his hair. The word slips out almost without you noticing. “Cute.”

It’s almost comical how quickly his face blooms red. “Guh--”

“It’s a good look.” You reassure him quickly. “Adorable. Pretty. Cute.”

“--Thanks!” He ducks past you to the bush. “I’m just going to grab a seedling for Greez. He’ll like this one.” Cal grabs one of the large pods and breaks it open, removing a seed and sticking it into the pouch on his harness. “Okay, ready.”

But you’re distracted by the red pollen that explodes in a cloud around his head, dusting him with a fine mist that leaves scarlet traces on his face and shoulders. “What’s that?” You step forward and run a finger across Cal’s poncho, collecting the dust and rubbing it between your fingertips. You hesitate, then raise your hand to your face to smell the substance. The sickly sweet scent and underlying current of spicy musk sticks in your lungs. The back of your throat tickles, and you sneeze.

An echoing sneeze draws your attention. Cal leans against the flowering bush, one arm clamped over his nose as he sneezes over and over again. He glances up at you, coughing with watery eyes, “Wha--”

A spike of dread pierces through you. ‘Stars, was it poison?’ He won’t stop coughing, a dry rattle as his body tries in vain to purge the intruding red dust. You fall to your knees beside him. Panic fills your mind, blotting out logic and reason and you place your hands on his body, intent on Force healing him even though you don’t know what is wrong with him. Then, just as suddenly as the coughing started, it stops and silence rings through the trees.

“Cal!”

You're shoving your hand underneath his poncho in an instant to feel for his heartbeat. You hold your breath. You can’t feel a pulse. You scramble to rip his poncho off completely, dragging it over his limp shoulders and head. You shove your fingers against his throat again. There!

His heartbeat flutters delicately, beating a rapid tattoo against your fingertips. You allow yourself to breath. He’s alive. But his pulse is fast, too fast. You rip open his tunic, though you’re not entirely certain what it is you’re searching for.

Just as your fingers brush over his skin, Cal bolts upright with a gasp. “Wh-- where...?”

You swear you almost pass out from the relief that slaps you across the face. “Stars, I thought you were dead. I’m so sorry about the flower bu-- mmm!”

Cal smashes his lips onto yours, pushing you onto your back with the sheer force of the kiss. His tongue dips into your mouth, searching and probing and damnit you can’t breathe when he’s this close to you, this desperate. His hips jerk against yours with an unpracticed, aborted motion, dragging a very prominent erection against your body that makes you jerk back in surprise.

You push him away from him for a second, propping yourself up on your elbows as you search his face for some indication of… you don’t know what. But this isn’t like him. “Cal, what--?”

“Need you.” He groans, his hands roaming over your body without fear or shame and inspiring a wave of pleasure as he squeezes your breasts. “Maker, you feel so good. Smell so good.” You bite back a moan. This really isn’t the time, not in the middle of an Imperial occupied forest. But to be completely honest, he feels really good too.

You’d imagined this before. Well, not these exact circumstances, but the idea of being under Cal. You’d imagined the feeling of his hands scraping over your skin and squeezing your body wherever he would like. You’d imagined his lips on yours, and other places for sure. But you’d really only ever been able to envision Cal as a gentle lover, all quiet moans and hesitant movements and unsure expressions. But this rougher side? You moan raggedly against Cal’s mouth as he shoves a thigh between your legs, rubbing up against your clothed sex. This is amazing.

Streaks of heat flash through your body, converging between your legs. Everything is amplified, the sounds around you, the grass beneath your knees, the blueness of the sky overhead. But it all seems to pale when your attention lands on Cal, who’s more flushed than earlier. You feel the heat beneath your skin too, but he’s got to have it worse right now, because you’re not the one sweating like you’re stranded on a desert planet. Maker, the pollen was some kind of--

His name escapes your lips in a tiny whisper that morphs into a moan halfway through. You allow your head to fall back, and it thunks against the spongy moss across the ground, knocking you back to the present. Cal’s lost in you, his nose buried in the crook of your neck as he ruts weakly against your thigh.

You shake off the haze clouding your mind, crisis mode kicking into full gear. You have no comms, one horny Jedi, and a completely hopeless sense of direction. “Cal. We have to move.”

He whines high in the back of his throat. “No.” It’s almost pleading, but there is an undercurrent of steel that makes you pause.

“Cal. We’re out in the open. Troopers co-- could--” Stars, you can feel the lust pumping under your skin, so close to the surface that it could burst out at any second. But fear hovers on the edge of your mind, pressing in and suppressing the need to jump Cal and reminding you of the certain torture and death that would occur if you were caught.

Cal doesn’t seem to have any of the same restraints as you. His fingers are carding through your hair, “Just wanna feel you. Maybe more.” His teeth latch into your neck, and the dull pain pierces through the haze more firmly.

He got dosed more heavily with the pollen. You resist the urge to curse as you gently detangle from Cal and sit up, biting back a sigh of relief as his teeth leave your skin. “We have to find shelter.” You begin to look around, but all you can see is the forest. You need something better, a place where you can figure out what exactly is wrong with Cal. You try to stand.

“Noooo…” This isn’t going to work. You actually do curse this time. How are you supposed to find effective shelter while dragging a full grown man around hostile territory without compromising stealth, all while your libido is cottoning to the edge of your mind, clouding your judgment?

“Come here…” Cal’s arm wraps around your neck, dragging you back down to the ground even as you try to stand. Okay that’s enough.

“You’ll forgive me later, Cal.” You press your thumb to his forehead and concentrate. His skin is dry and burning to your touch, and your brow scrunches. That’s going to be an issue. You reach to tap into the Force, but you pause. Your Force connection is… foggy. That’s the only way you can describe it in words, but it’s muted and dimmer than usual.

Your Jedi Master taught you a metaphor for using the Force: a barrier exists between you and access to the Force. It’s a wall, and your mind must become like a sharpened sword to pierce through and reach the Force. You can feel the barrier, just as always, but it’s like a second layer exists around it. If the normal barrier is made of thin glass, the new layer is crafted from paper; it’s strange, and thicker than usual, but still easily pierced with extra… force if you can say that without making yourself laugh at the pun. You summon the strength and press your mental sword forward through the barrier.

Rest. Cal’s eyes roll back in his head and he falls asleep with a gentle exhale. He relaxes against you, and you relax in turn when you see the pained lines smooth out of his forehead. Jedi healing includes your own personal anesthesia on demand. It will keep him under for a little bit, though you can’t tell what kind of effect the pollen will have on the Force sleep.

Through some feat of the stars themselves, you struggle to your feet. Cal’s arm is looped around your neck, and you want nothing more than to just sink down to the ground again and give into the weakness and lust pulling at your legs, coaxing you to collapse and take your pleasure. And stars, Cal’s heavier than you expected him to be.

But you shake yourself awake. Can’t get distracted. You glance at Cal’s drooping head. He’s been strong for you this entire time. The least you can do is be strong now and find some shelter. But where?

Voices filter through the trees, and your head jerks up towards the sources.

“Yeah, she told me to take the bucket off, or she would charge the full payment and…” Stormtroopers. Kriffing hell.

“Come on.” You hiss underneath your breath. You gather your legs underneath your body and push. Your muscles scream in pain, but they ultimately obey and you stumble to your feet and begin to move away from the approaching voices. Cal is dead weight over your shoulders, pulling and urging you to rest. It would be so easy to give in, to sink back to the ground and let Cal do what he wants.

The trees blur together as you move through the forest. The stormtroopers’ voices are getting louder and you grit your teeth. You don’t know their patrol route. How are you going to avoid them? All you can do is place one foot in front of the other. Then the mossy ground turns to stone underneath your feet, and you slow. Caves. Perfect.

You hurry inside, fatigued legs forgotten in your relief. There’s a bend directly beyond the mouth of the cave, and you gently lay Cal against the wall. You’re completely hidden from anyone looking from the entrance. You sit opposite him, your head falling forward to sag against your chest. Now what?

Your comm unit is busted, and Cal’s is sitting back on the Mantis, so you can’t contact the crew. You hold a hand to Cal’s forehead. His temperature is getting worse. You don’t know what infected him, so your Force healing is out of the question. The only bright spot is you’re pretty sure the stormtroopers won’t find you. They’re not exactly recruited for their brains, and you’ll be able to sense their muted Force signatures if they get close.

Speaking of…

You trail off, contemplating Cal’s unconscious face. His head sags against the rock wall and there’s a line of drool leaking out of the corner of his mouth. His brow is finally relaxed, his breathing deep and even and it strikes you that this is the most peaceful you’ve ever seen him.

You reach out through the Force. It has become a habit for you, Merrin, and Cal to find peace in each others’ Force signature. Whether nightmares or difficult missions, the others would be there as a silent comfort.

Merrin’s is a mixture of whites and creams swirling against a dark maroon background. When she uses her Force magic, there is an unmistakable green tinge through it. Hers is powerful, with a sense of underlying safety in her strength. True to form, Merrin has been a protector figure in the Mantis.

But Cal’s is more diverse, a blend of warm colors against a grey background with blue tinging the edge. But while the colors are chaotic, Cal keeps a firm hold on his Force presence at all times, never allowing it to surge violently from emotion. He does not suppress it completely anymore, but you know he has the ability to make it nearly disappear from the senses of another Force user. You should know, because you can do the same. Merrin grew up without fear of having to hide her Force sensitivity, but you and Cal survived the Purge. You both have firm grasps of your thoughts and emotions projected through the Force. So in Cal, you found a kindred spirit that understands you better than almost any other person in the galaxy could. You’ve become more familiar with his presence than even your Master’s before the Purge.

But now, your brow furrows as you search for his Force presence over and over, pushing into every crevice of the surrounding environment without violating his privacy. You’re not mistaken. It’s gone, almost as if he has been turned into a droid before your eyes. Every living thing has a Force presence, no matter how minute. But Cal’s comforting whirl of light is gone, vanished as though he is no longer connected to the--

Cal’s eyes fly open and he sits forward with a quiet gasp. You jump. It’s worn off then. You secure his body with the Force, holding him loosely so as not to cause any lasting damage. You would have to tackle the Force connection problems later.

“I need you to focus.” He pushes against the bonds with a whimper, and you bite your lip as you struggle to hold him still.

“Cal!” Your Force bind tightens, and he stills with a grunt. “Talk to me. Fight through it.”

He shakes his head, eyes screwed shut. “Hurts.”

“What hurts?”

“Every-- ah! Everything. Can’t-- can’t th-think. Only thing-- makes it better… you.”

What? Your concentration lapses and the bonds loose. He lunges forward and buries his nose into your neck again, inhaling you as his hands scrabble at your clothes. “Hurts less with you. Smell so good--soft. Please?”

Stars, you can’t think straight with him touching you like this. You bite back a moan as his hands roughly squeeze your breasts through your shirt. Surely, it wouldn’t hurt to give in. Just for a little. Indulge, and then you can figure out a way back to the Mantis. Then Cal raises your shirt and licks a long stripe up your neck, and that’s all the convincing you need.

You melt into his mouth, your hands running under his shirt and harness. His chest is just as feverishly hot as his forehead, but you can’t bring yourself to care when he swings a leg over yours so he’s hovering over you, knees planted on either side of your body. His hands shove your shirt over your head before setting to work on the button of your pants. You raise your hips to allow him to pull your pants under your butt. Your own hands yank at his clothes, silently begging him to strip with you.

But he doesn’t. He kneels between your legs and pulls your underwear to the side, exposing your wet folds.

“Cal--!” You’re cut off as he drags his tongue over your pussy, flicking against your clit at the end. Your stomach muscles contract, and it’s all you can do to keep quiet as he licks deep into your core.

---

The world is blurred. It’s like something crawled into his head and messed with his brain, dragging his focus away from more important issues… he can’t seem to remember right now. He can’t even feel the Force. His connection is compromised, the colors of the world are off, and there’s this bone deep ache within his body urging him closer to you. And as he’s drinking in your taste, the pain subsides and he can breathe again.

What is this? What’s happening to him? It has to be the pollen, it has to be its effect on his body, that’s why he’s lost all control over his mind and self. It’s why he can’t hold himself back from your body and you.

You’re all he can focus on; you’re so beautiful writhing under him as he tastes you. He’s never done this before. He can’t figure out why he hasn’t done this sooner, because you taste amazing right now and how you sound as he slides his tongue through your folds is doing things to him that he’s never experienced before.

His hips are dragging against the floor unintentionally. The friction of his dick against the rough material of his pants is a small slice of heaven, and he whimpers at the pure electricity spreading down his spine. He doesn’t want this to end so soon, but his body is shoving him towards the edge of release and the relief he knows is going to come with it.

---

A moan keens high in the back of your throat as Cal’s mouth presses against your soaked core. It’s sloppy and clumsy, but Maker if he doesn’t make up for it with enthusiasm. The only sounds coming from him are tiny moans and grunts and you shudder as his fingers dig into the pillowy flesh of your thighs, leveraging them apart and holding them there firmly. Of their own will, your hips roll up into his face, chasing after his touch.

You’re completely unprepared for Cal to growl when you do so. His grip tightens, and you squeak as your thighs are spread even farther apart and his mouth completely envelopes your clit.

Is this what heaven feels like? You can barely manage coherent thought when his tongue is devastating you like this, but thequestion rotates around your lust dumb brain as your toes curl and your back arches. Your release rushes up and sweeps you away, your core clenching as waves of pleasure wash over your body. You hear Cal whine as you cum, and you hear your own moans as you ride out your orgasm.

---

Stars, why hadn’t he done this sooner? The sounds that he’s pulling out of you right now could make him come in his pants on the spot, and the taste of your release has him rutting against the ground all the more insistently as he chases his own high.

But he doesn’t want to come in his pants, he wants to be inside of you. He wants you, your body squeezing tight around him, to feel the wetness seeping around his tongue rather than tasting it, even if it tastes divine.

He grabs your hips and yanks you down so your crotch is flush to his. He nearly loses his mind when your soaked core meets the bulge in his pants. Fuck, he thought he could wait, but he can’t.

But--something is still off with the world’s coloring. Where is the Force? The comforting pressure is gone from the back of his mind, the constant reminder of balance that keeps him in tune with his emotions and surroundings. Panic edges around the perimeter of his mind. In an act of desperation, he reaches for the Force, searching for the whispers of memories that accompany his world. They’re gone. Where did they go?

You whisper his name again, and this time his eyes meet yours.

---

You watch Cal carefully. He’s flushed, trembling as he hovers over your body, hands bare centimeters away from your skin. His eyes are desperate, and you can feel the pain in them as clearly as if it was your own. A bead of sweat tracks down his temple to soak into the collar of his harness, and he fumbles to rip the rest of his clothing off, discarding it on the floor as though it burned against his flesh.

“Cal.” He looks back at you. “Take what you need.”

It’s all the permission he needs. Relief and something else flashes through his eyes before he looks back down and fumbles with his pants fastening. His cock is flushed dark red, and his hands tremble as he pulls it out of his pants, jaw clenched as he lines up with your entrance. He slides into you with a bone-deep sigh of relief, and you cry out at the stretch. Every inch sparks pure electricity up your spine, and your eyes roll back in your head. He bottoms out, and for a heart stopping moment you feel a connection to him you couldn’t describe in words. Your hips roll against his, grinding the head of his cock up against something heavenly. Light explodes behind your eyes at the movement, arching your back and curling your toes.

Cal chokes, a beautiful sound you’ve only heard a few times before; the one that sounds like its been pulled from the deepest parts of his being, like he’s just ascended to another plane above the physical. It’s gorgeous and so insanely hot you’re completely unprepared for his sudden movement when he lunges forward.

Cal’s hand shoots out and presses against your neck, effectively pinning your upper body to the hard ground. You inhale shakily through your nose, but his grip does nothing more than hold you. You can still breathe, but the pressure on your throat sends a shock of heat between your legs with the reminder of the control you just relinquished.

“Stop that.” His other arm slams onto the stone beside your head, and your eyes lock. Cal’s pupils are blown, so dark you can almost see your reflection in the dim light of the cave as he glares down at you.

He doesn’t give you time to respond before he drags his hips away from yours, inch by painstaking inch and rocks back into your body with an easy roll of his hips. He exhales gently as he bottoms back out inside of you, a low moan rumbling out of his throat when he reaches that same depth within your heat.

It’s the eye of a storm; a hurricane you hadn’t known you’d entered. He rocks back and forth again, only there’s fractionally more force and speed to the motion this time. Again, and your body shakes with the force. Another, and you have to bite your lip to stifle the scream when he slams back into your body. It’s like the tide, coming in gradually, but more and more with each passing moment. The force swells, each thrust pushing into you a little harder and making your body shake a little more with each thrust.

A shuddering groan rumbles out of him as he finds the rhythm. The hand not pressed delicately around your throat slams down on the rock next to your head. When you look up towards the cave ceiling, Cal’s flushed skin and tousled hair fills your vision.

His hair, which is usually swept out of his eyes. Cal’s hair has always been so well cared for, usually brushed and slicked back so it doesn’t dangle in his eyes. Now, it’s soaked with sweat and falling into his face as he stares down at you like you’re the only star in the sky.

---

Take what you need? Holy stars, he can barely think enough to comprehend it, but some inner part of him aches at the sentence.

As soon as he realized his heart jumped every time you smiled at something, or that his brain short circuited at the sound of your laugh, he’d sworn he would keep it under wraps. He’d promised himself he would wait until after the galaxy finishes imploding and collapsing around your heads. The first time he’d jerked off to the idea of your body, he vowed to satisfy himself with his hand until it was safe. He’d wait until after the holocron is safe and there’s nothing to worry about, because relationships are messy and complicated and--

Fuck, he doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about that promise, because how can he regret being balls deep in you while you’re whining and squirming underneath him, when you look at him with such trust even as he pins you to the floor by your throat? His eyes gravitate to the mark on your neck, red and irritated with the indent of his teeth, and he feels his cock twitch even as he continues to pound into you. He likes that.

The promise didn’t keep his eyes from wandering to your face at any opportunity. It didn’t prevent the pressure in his chest from growing over the weeks and months. It definitely didn’t keep Cere and Greez from noticing, and that was a conversation he would rather have scrubbed from his mind.

Take what you need. That one sentence is spinning his world on its metaphorical finger. Take what you need. As if he didn’t want it, but he needed to do it. In all honesty, it had really felt like he was going to die. The burning in his throat that caused the coughing fit, then the racing heart and the overheating; he thought he wasn’t going to make it unless he--

Well, unless he fucked you.

But even if he needs it, he wants it even more, had wanted it for too long. But everytime an opportunity presented itself, he pulled back. He remembers how he threw away the flowers he gathered on the mission instead of bringing them back to you on the Mantis. He remembers every time he denied spending time with you, because his emotions were too raw and close to the surface, and he couldn’t predict his control over his own tongue. Because he didn’t think he could have handled it if you didn’t want him back.

But you had offered to help. Maybe you’d wanted it too, because the whole galaxy could be shoving you in one direction and you would defy it. Nothing can make you do anything you didn’t want to, and that applies to Cal Kestis too.

---

Your orgasm swells up sharp and sudden, gripping you in its claws and shoving you into the attack of muscle spasms and searing pleasure that punches into your abdomen. Your body arches, accidentally hitting your head against the ground.

Cal’s rhythm stutters and his hips jerk forward. His hand leaves your throat as he drops to his forearms. His head drops down to press against yours gently, even as he whimpers and continues to grind forward into your soaking heat.

“Fuck.” Cal gasps, eyelids fluttering rapidly. “Fuck. ‘M gonna cum.”

There’s no time to respond before he’s drawing up and tensing against you. His hips piston in and out once, then he’s cumming and all you can do is lie there and take it. Fuck that’s hot.

You can feel him spilling into you, every warm spurt of cum and every twitch of his cock as he spends himself. Even better is the drawn out groan that trails into his upper register, ending in a tiny whimper. The tension drains out of his face and he sags down, sweaty skin pressed against yours. His arms wrap around your body and he hoists your limp body up as he rolls over. He sits against the wall of the cave, seating you on his lap, cock still firmly buried inside you.

You allow your head to sag back against his shoulder, relishing in the feeling of his body pressed so closely to yours. His hand paws weakly at the fabric of your shirt, and you raise your arms to slide it off. It’s better like this, skin to skin contact seems to calm him down. He buries his nose into your bare neck and mumbles something you can’t make out.

You nudge your head against his gently, “Hm?”

“Thank you.” His lips ghost over the delicate juncture between your neck and shoulder. “Thank you thank you thank you...” He continues to mutter the phrase into your skin, tickling your skin as he nuzzles closer to you.

You should say something. Confess, maybe, everything you’ve been hiding. “Cal, I--” You shift slightly, and something feels off. You furrow your brow and glance downwards at your joining point, “Cal are you still hard?”

He props his chin on your shoulder. “Uh--” He thrusts shallowly up into you, and you stifle a whimper. “Ye-yeah. Sorry?”

“N--” You gasp as his cock twitches. “No. Don’t be sorry. Do you need to go again?” Arousal stirs in your core again, burning a slow path through your nerves and reigniting the flames that had dulled to embers. Your breath catches in your chest and you grind your hips back into his.

“I--I think so.” His voice is strained and his breath comes in short gasps next to your ear. “Not-- not as-- as bad though.”

“That--ah!” Cal chooses that exact moment to pick a spot on your neck and latch on. He nips at the skin before soothing it with his tongue. His hands, roughened with callouses from his saber, climbing, and tinkering, scrape over your skin with just the right amount of friction. You bite your bottom lip. “That’s fine. Should I move?”

His hands find your hips and hold you firmly in place. That’s a no then. His hips rock up into yours gently, and you feel your cheeks warm at the wet sounds of your combined release. Cal grunts, “Let me.”

So you do. You lie back against his bare chest and just take what he gives you, whimpering whenever he brushes against that spot inside you that sends electricity up your spine. You’re gripping his arms so hard you’re sure he’s going to have bruises in the shape of your fingers.

---

Stars, you’re fucking perfect. Just lying here and giving yourself to him. He can feel the Force dimly, but it’s there. The pollen is leaving his system as he slowly fucks you on a cave floor in the middle of a dense forest while stormtroopers patrol outside.

You cry out with his next thrust, the head of his cock striking something inside of you that must feel good because you clench around him and--

Did you just come again?

The additional lubrication only increases the lewd squelch with every thrust, the mixture of his cum and yours only making sliding in and out of your channel easier. He can still feel the effects of the pollen at the back of his mind, and it keeps him hard and sensitive as he continues to fuck you.

He’s aware he should be at least a little worried about the implications, starting at the top with how he’s going to complete the mission and ending with what exactly fucking on a cave floor means for your relationship. Somewhere in the middle is the stormtroopers and the pollen, and the oath of the Jedi Order forbidding relationships. But he can’t grasp it.

Even if there are more pressing concerns, all he can do right now is continue pushing his hips up into your soaking core painstakingly slowly. He wants to enjoy this while he can, while he’s able to fool himself that you want him back. Unless…

---

The only solace you could find in the situation was that you could have Cal, even for these few short moments. Because as much as you may want to convince yourself, a tiny voice inside your head keeps whispering: it’s all the pollen. That’s the only reason why he wants you. And you force yourself to believe the voice, because it’s easier to block off any chance for pain and rejection.

But you know you’re in trouble the second Cal opens his mouth. The words are a harsh whisper, rasping out of his dry throat into your ear, “Beautiful. So gorgeous, giving me what I need, what I want.”

You arch against him and stifle the whimper rising in the back of your throat. His mouth is right next to your ear, so there isn’t anywhere for you to escape from the words that rumble into your brain; words you try to convince yourself are empty. You shove your hand against your mouth rather than allow any sound to escape.

He moans, “Want to do this again. Don’t want this to be just once.”

“Th--that--that’s the pollen talking.” You gasp when you feel his fingers graze over your clit, your own hand drifting back to latch into his hair.

Cal hisses when you tug with a little more strength than necessary, but he doesn’t tell you to stop. One hand supports your weight as he moves you up and down on his dick, the other rubbing little circles around your clit. His hips make up for the lost strength everytime they drive up into you at the lowest point of the rhythm, squelching with every thrust.

“Not--not the pollen. All you. All me.”

You blink, all temporarily forgotten when the words register in your hazy mind. “...What?”

“Wanted this. Wanted this for a while.” Cal finds your clit with his fingers, and you can’t prevent the way your legs jerk and your body seizes against his.

Fuck you’re going to cum. If the first orgasm was a flashfire, this one is a slowly simmering blaze. It creeps up slowly, burning a hole through your abdomen, curling around your ribs and inching down your legs. Your eyes roll back, and your head falls back against Cal’s shoulder.

“Cal. I--I thi--” You try to warn him, you really do. But words aren’t forming correctly right now, and it’s all you can do to hunker down and try to prepare yourself for this truly devastating crest that’s preparing to launch you over the edge.

If Cal gets your warning, he doesn’t show it. All he does is turn his head to the side, press a light kiss to your cheek, and groan, “I think I love you.”

Oh shit. Cal’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect if he planned it. Before you can respond, hell, before you can even begin to fucking process that last sentence, you’re coming hard. Maybe it’s the whiff of pollen you got earlier, or the fact that Cal is the one fucking you so sweetly and thoroughly, or the thrill of being mere steps away from discovery, or a combination of all of it, but this orgasm certainly feels like the most intense of your life.

Spasms ripple outward through your belly, curling you up in Cal’s lap as you ride out your high. Your legs straighten and your toes curl and you clamp down hard around Cal’s cock.

Cal shouts raggedly in your ear, pulling your body close. But even as you whimper and shake on the end of his cock, you remember that you can’t make too much sound.

As if he heard you, Cal burrows his face into your shoulder, his teeth once again finding a place in your skin to muffle his voice as he cums deep inside you once more. His body shakes as he spends himself again, the spasms slowly subsiding with every jerk of his hips into yours.

‘I did hear you.’ There’s a tinge of amusement to the nonexistent voice that echoes in your mind, and you relax back against Cal.

‘Feeling better?’ You nudge him back through the Force, revelling in the feeling of his colorful presence swirling around you once again. The pollen has worn off.

He doesn’t say anything in response, only pulls you close with his arms around you. His mind pushes at yours, and you let him in. You’ve done this a million times, usually on the tail end of nighttime panic attacks, but this time is different. This is the most loose he has ever been with his Force presence, and you allow it to fill the empty parts of your mind. Wait, he loves you?

He rushes over you in the same way the tide comes back to land, calming your fear at finally understanding the weight of his last confession. He’s relaxed, and the familiar energy has a new angle to it, a new emotion you hadn’t felt before in another’s Force signature. You grasp it gently, turning it over and admiring it in the eye of your mind. What is it?

The answer rushes to you just as Cal mutters against your skin, “Love.” The same thing you’d been feeling in the pit of your heart every time you looked at Cal, everytime he kept you safe from the nightmares in his arms and stayed with you until morning, every time you made him tea and did maintenance on his gear after a tough mission.

“I love you.”

You blink up at the ceiling of the rock cave, mouth open with the words just on the tip of your tongue. But they won’t come. The words are stuck in your throat, and try as you might, you can’t make yourself say them.

“Hey.” Cal whispers in your ear, and you shut your mouth. “You don’t have to say it back. But you know that I do, and I know a little of what’s going on up here.” His finger taps the side of your head lightly. "You don't have to figure out where to go from here. I'll navigate."

‘Thank you.’ You send the words through the Force, and he acknowledges them. Yeah, you're shit at knowing where to go when it comes to feelings. But at least with Cal, you won't have to worry about getting lost alone. You sit in peaceful silence for a few minutes, before a thought occurs to you.

“Cal.” His name is little more than a weak rasp off your tongue. You clear your throat and try again. “Cal.”

He grunts unintelligibly.

“Don’t bring that seed back to the Mantis.”

A/N: I will be the first to admit that this fic was hard, because I wanted to incorporate some previous feelings into this to make it less dubcon, and I didn't feel that all plot holes were filled. But that didn't make this any less enjoyable for me, and it was fun to explore a new facet of Cal's character.

Thanks for everyone who gave me inspiration and motivation to keep pushing this through the old brain up here. Smut isn't the easiest for me:)

Taglist: @alliterative-albatross

[gffa]

ANYWAY, SO I’M CRYING ABOUT THIS VIDEO FOR OBI-WAN CHARACTERISTICS AND HOW MUCH HE BELIEVED IN THE JEDI AND HOW THEIR BELIEFS MADE HIM SO GREAT. Today's episode is all about Obi-Wan. Let's see what the letters in Obi-Wan's name can teach us about him. O--OPTIMIST:      As a true believer in the Jedi Code, nothing could stop Obi-Wan from believing in a brighter future. His optimism kept him going when he lost the people closest to him and when he chose to live a solitary life on a planet filled with sand.      Oh, this guy has been through a lot. But no matter what, he always manages to look on the light side of things--pun intended.      ("We will each be challenged, but we must persevere. And in time, a new hope will emerge.”)

B--BITING SARCASM:      In his younger years, Obi-Wan was the headstrong and witty apprentice under the tutelage of the unconventional Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. While Obi-Wan refined his Jedi talents, he also perfected the snappy one-liner, quickly cutting down any opponent bold enough to engage in some light banter.      To a lot of people, Obi-Wan is one of the great Jedi masters. But we like to also think of him as the great master of the snarky comeback.     (”How can I become a Jedi master if I'm always getting caught?”      “At least you're a master at getting caught.”)

I--INVINCIBLE SPIRIT:      Let's all take a second to count ourselves lucky that we've never found ourselves standing in Obi-Wan's way. His determination to persevere makes him virtually unstoppable. Whether it's facing off against General Grievous, searching dangerous biolabs, destroying droid factories, or executing daring starship maneuvers, Obi-Wan always manages to persist. Even when his body can't, his spirit still does.      (”If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”)

W--WISE:       During his self-imposed isolation, Obi-Wan had plenty of time to reflect on what life had taught him, which is why he was able to impart so much Jedi wisdom onto everyone's favorite farm boy, even from beyond the grave. And while his first try at being a mentor may not have ended too well--Obi-Wan was still a great teacher to Luke. A--ASSERTIVE:       When it comes to confrontation, Obi-Wan is never one to shy away. As a general in the Grand Army of the Republic, he fearlessly led his battalion behind enemy lines to face the separatist forces head on.       But in true Jedi form, Obi-Wan always made sure to explore other avenues of problem-solving before resorting to combat.      (”Surely, there's no reason we can't be civilized about this.”) N--NEGOTIATOR: Obi-Wan's quick wit, strict adherence to the Jedi teachings, and refusal to give up make him an excellent peacekeeper for the Republic. He was so skilled at the art of bargaining that The Negotiator became his nickname during the Clone Wars.      (”Ah, yes, The Negotiator, General Kenobi.”)      He could get people to agree to almost anything. And if that doesn't work, there's always the Jedi mind trick. With a little help from the letters in Obi-Wan's name, we now know a whole lot more about this legendary Jedi master.

[obiwanobi]

All the sith obi-wan asks have led to a persistent daydream of mine where I basically repurposed the plot of the force awakens (the only somewhat good sequel) and made Anakin essentially be Rey and Obi-Wan is essentially Kylo Ren, but like. As a sith. And competent. Mostly for the drama of like fallen Jedi Obi-Wan being really hot but coming back to the light bc he met a hot twink who knows nothing about the force but is also really good at it. None of the plot follows anything from the force awakens except for the fight in the snow because that was 👀

.............hello, yes, I’m interested, it’s possible that I’ve downloaded and rewatched tfa just because of this ask because,,, the fight in the snow? with Obi-Wan and Anakin? and hot and clueless twink Anakin turning sith!Obi-Wan to the light? is such a good concept?

okay, so listen we’re going to discard most of the plot and only keep the cool things that could work with this idea, let’s GO:

So, Sith!Obi-Wan is the calm but cold Sith lord of the Force Order, looking for the last Jedi in the galaxy (is it Qui-Gon, his former master? or Yoda?) and captures Padmé, one of the symbols of the resistance, to get intel about his location.

Of course, the map he’s looking for is in the care of her loyal droid, Artoo, who’s currently running wild on Tatooine until he meets Anakin, and immediately makes him his new bff. They soon bump into Ahsoka, ex-stormtrooper who just completed her training but couldn’t go through her first real mission, who tried to rescue Padmé before leaving the Order, but thinks she died during their escape.

Things happen like in tfa, the First Order attacks and the A-Team (Anakin, Ahsoka and Artoo) flies away to a cantina owned by pirates and a certain Hondo on Takodana, and that’s when Anakin hears the call from the lightsaber of a Jedi, hidden in the vault there for years after Hondo inexplicably got his hands on it. The visions he gets after touching it are from his past, with his mother disappearing and never coming back, and also from the future, with violence and red sabers and death. He gets scared, and runs away without wanting any part of it.

Then the FO shows up again, and this time, Sith!Obi-Wan is here to see who is the boy who’s messing up his plans, and the traitor who helped Padmé escape. Obi-Wan only has to take one look at Anakin and understands that there’s something here in the Force, something that he can’t clearly see or understand, so after one very short fight and a rapid Force suggestion, Obi-Wan captures Anakin and brings him back to his ship.

Now, Obi-Wan isn’t Kylo Ren, he’s way more composed and pragmatic, and above all, fascinated by the potential of Anakin’s connection to the Force. So, he knows he’s supposed to dig into his mind, torture him, surely, to get the info he needs, and then kills him.

 But. 

 He also really wants to test the limits of Anakin’s power. 

So he takes the time to play with his prey a bit, talks with him, (and, ah, the boy is angry and obstinate, he would make a great Sith,) walks the line between charming smiles and promises of painful consequences, nudges his mind to see how Anakin reacts. Anakin is untrained, and of course, doesn’t know anything about the Force, but... he could.

On a whim, just to satisfy his own curiosity, Obi-Wan starts talking about mind tricks, building his own walls around his mind, feeling the Force around, all the basics of Force 101.  

“It’s not that hard. Anyone who can concentrate for more than a second could do it,” he says to an oblivious Anakin who blinks multiple times because he has no idea why the guy who’s supposed to torture him is suddenly giving him a crash course on the Force. “For example, if I do this...—” Obi-Wan’s mind pokes him, “— picturing a durasteel wall or concentrating on pushing me out would at least make ransacking your mind a bit more difficult.”

Anakin takes a moment to understand what’s happening, and during that time, Obi-Wan thinks that it’s a hopeless cause, and really, what did he expect to happen.

But then there’s a new gleam in Anakin’s eyes, and when Obi-Wan tries to peak at Anakin’s memories of the droid again, he’s violently pushed back to his own mind. He’s impressed, but doesn’t have the time to be more delighted by this sudden development because suddenly Anakin is diving headfirst inside his own mind. 

“Don’t—” he tries to say, but Anakin is strong, and it has been so long since Obi-Wan had to protect himself against such intrusions, that it takes precious seconds to build strong enough shields to shove Anakin out of his mind. 

“You’re…. afraid,” Anakin says to him. “That you will never be strong enough for your master. That you’ll be replaced by someone better. Stronger.” 

Having his deepest fears being thrown at his face by a reckless idiot who didn’t even know what the Force was this morning, is… embarrassing, to say the least. The words are still ringing in his ears a few hours later when he’s standing in front of Sidious, and that’s probably why Obi-Wan casually forgets to mention that the boy has been captured. 

And also that he’s Force-sensitive. 

Sidious really doesn’t need to know.  

This time, he makes sure to build strong shields around his mind before entering the room where Anakin is kept again. And finds it empty. 

He should be angry. He should set off the alarm, and give the order to kill him on sight. But then he talks to the two stromtroopers guarding the corridor, and there is nothing that screams more like 'classic mind trick' than the soldiers looking at him all confused and lost, incapable of recalling what prompted them to release the prisoner. 

Obi-Wan should be furious. Instead, Obi-Wan turns on his heel, and opens himself fully to the Force to find the boy by himself. 

Yes, Obi-Wan should be furious. Instead, he’s almost fascinated by Anakin’s aptitude to learn so quickly. 

And then we get to the fight! in! the! snow! 

 So Ahsoka came to rescue Anakin, and now both of them are running from the FO base until Obi-Wan, who’s starting to get a bit annoyed that these kids just destroyed half of his base, puts himself on their way.

When Anakin tries to shoot him, he does Force-push him a bit too strongly and knock him out. Ahsoka screams at him, and he thinks that this couldn’t get any worse, because he now has in front of him: 1. A former stromtrooper who betrayed the Order and is ready to fight him, her former boss, 2. the same clueless togruta igniting the lightsaber that Obi-Wan can assert is his former master’s and where the hell did she get that, and 3. Clearly force-sensitive too, because this is the kind of day he’s having. 

So here he is, fighting a girl who doesn’t even know how to hold a lightsaber, asking himself why he couldn’t have a normal and boring night for once. It becomes a bit tiresome after a few seconds, and when the girl loses the lightsaber in the snow, he’s ready to end this whole thing and uses his former master’s saber to do it. So he stands above the unconscious girl laying down at his feet, and reaches for the weapon, hand raised towards it. 

The lightsaber doesn’t come. 

Obi-Wan’s day has now progressed from ‘bad’ to ‘this is the last time I let myself get distracted by a hot twink’.

He concentrates a bit more on the weapon, and it finally comes flying in the air. 

To Anakin’s hand. 

And Obi-Wan ‘gets turn on by proficiency’ Kenobi is, once again, and against his will, almost impressed.   

He loses a bit of respect for him when Anakin tries to fight him, because the boy has zero style and no finesse, and Obi-Wan can almost hear what Dooku would say about that. Anakin is just swinging the lightsaber like a maniac with anger issues, violently destroying more trees than necessary in the process. Surprisingly, he’s still not too terrible at it.

“You need a teacher,” Obi-Wan says, between their blades locked together. He’s not sure why he’s telling him that, but deep down, he knows that Sidious will end up knowing about Anakin, about how strong his connection to the Force is, and what a good apprentice he would make. Really, killing Anakin would solve most of his problems right now. So he’s almost surprised to hear himself say, “I can show you the way to the Force.” 

And Anakin hesitates. Until now, he’s always been inflexible about wanting nothing to do with the FO or Obi-Wan, but here, in the middle of the wood, alone and so close that only the buzzing of their sabers separates them, Anakin considers it. 

Obi-Wan can see it in his eyes, the hunger to know more, to learn, to become something, to be someone powerful and capable of protecting what he loves.

The boy wants. Fiercely, and almost violently. 

Then Anakin kicks him right in the chest. 

Obi-Wan falls down in the snow, surprised and breathless. The whole day has turned so bad that he’s now getting his ass kicked by a former slave with zero impulse control and no training. The thought is so ridiculous to him, that Obi-Wan laughs. A genuine and deep laugh. He can’t remember the last time it happened.

“Very good, Anakin,” he chuckles after a while, propping himself up on his elbows and brushing his hair away from his eyes to look at Anakin.

It’s a dark night, and the only lights around are from the distant base on fire and the Jedi’s lightsaber between Anakin’s hands, but Obi-Wan still sees it. Feels it. 

Anakin is flustered and blushing. And oh, that’s interesting. 

It doesn’t matter that Anakin only feels embarrassed in the Force and doesn’t even try to attack again while Obi-Wan is still lying down, breathing hard. Or that they both look at each other without saying anything for a bit too long, even when the whole planet is falling apart around them. Or that Anakin finally turns around to pick up Ahsoka and flee, and Obi-Wan doesn’t stop him. 

The only thing that matters is that before disappearing behind the trees, Anakin looks back at Obi-Wan.

And even brushes against him in the Force.  

So very interesting, Obi-Wan thinks, smiling widely, and lets his head fall back in the snow.  

[feltpool]

Hidden in plain sight

I don’t have much time to deal with this because it’s the school holidays and I’m busy with my kid but I’ll try to make my thinking clear.

Because I’ve spent A LOT of time thinking through all of the many many ways in which Omega is wrong and why she bothers me so very fucking much.

I've been thinking over Omega's influence over the boys again.

I still can't think of a better reason for Hunter's sudden change of mind over going to get her in the first place other than some sort of message relayed to him via the downed droid and his em senses, not without taking other, far worse,  options into consideration.

But we’ll come back to that shortly...

.

Too close for comfort

Omega’s ability to influence the boys being proximity based make more sense the more I think it over.

She all but begs Hunter to take her with him in the first place - even though they just met and he has absolutely no reason to do so.

She gets right up close to Crosshair in the brig

Gets right up in Rex's face in the bar

She never wants to be left behind, or wait with the ship on missions, and throws a proper strop when she's made to stay behind with Cid that one time, and while she's gone Hunter clearly can't shake her from his mind in a way that simply doesn't make sense when he doesn't appear to have thought of Cross even once in that context.

She's always sitting up on Wrecker's shoulder, or passing things to Tech, generally making herself useful but in a very close contact sort of way

There isn't a whole lot of room on the Marauder anyway, but the closer the contact the better - especially if she has to constantly maintain the bond.

Hunter almost never touches her. He stands close to her, he turns the chair she’s sitting on, but he rarely touchs her by choice. But twice now she's thrown herself at him bodily - both times DIRECTLY after they've been apart for an extended period.

We've seen her have a lot less close contact with Echo - but with his brain augments it's possible that she just can't influence him like she can with the others. But Echo goes along with what the others do so he isn't really a threat to her plans. Yet.

Crosshair however... what was it Nala Se said? "CT-9904’s genetic mutations have altered much of his cranial activity, including his inhibitor chip"

So could Omega already feel that he wasn't going to be as susceptible to her influence as the others? or is it simply because he argued with her precious 'lil scribblykins right in front of her?

It remains unclear if it's force based, a chemical/pheromone type thing, some sort of non-force mental ability or what. But my money is currently on proximity being the key factor - and that she has an untrained force ability.

She often makes eye contact with the person she’s just been in close contact with, which in itself doesn’t seem unusual, but is she checking to see if they’ve made the appropriate response to her? Signs of pupil dilation or something?

She checks, then she gives a little nod.

.

Head fuck

There's a theory out there that the Jedi mind trick works in such a way that you can't force someone to do something that they'd never consider, but you can push them towards something that they would.

Like a good security guard wouldn't accept a bribe to let you past him, so a mental suggestion that he might like to wouldn't work on him.

But one who might be inclined to let you through if you offered him a good bribe, could be given that mental nudge to let you walk past. Because he's already inclined in that direction.

Well Crosshair voiced the opinion of 'Republic, Empire... What's the difference?' right at the moment when Omega came up behind them in the corridor between the Emperor's speech and her introducing herself so she heard him say that!

And all it might take is a little push to send him on his way to get him to leave of his own accord.

His own choice - but also not his choice at all.

But whatever he suspects about this he can't say with her standing right there, so he has to rely on subtext and oblique references in the hope that the others, Tech mostly IMO, can work it all out and put a stop to it.

.

Omega’s big mistake with Cross was not knowing him well enough to realise that he loves his brothers far too much to ever want to leave them behind, that he’s miserably put up with Hunter’s overbearing shit for years because he could never turn on them and simply walk away, and he’s been a thorn in her side ever since.

Now that he’s down and out cold she’s going to try to ditch him and leave with just the one(s) she wants to keep.

 .

Lama Drama

In Ep 1, before the training room sequence Hunter says "We've been summoned by the prime minister." But we never find out what for because then they get diverted to the training room.

What if Lama Su wanted to warn them about Omega now being on the loose, and that she posed a threat to them?

Interesting possibility, eh?

.

Not the clone you’re looking for

Also, we only have Omega's word for it that she's a Jango clone.

Ep 1, Tech says "I confirmed my suspicions after analyzing her DNA while we were in the infirmary."

In the infirmary on Kamino where she lives and works and has full control over the equipment and could rig up a false scan to fool someone who is bound to scan her sooner or later?

Later on when Tech further analyses that info and tells us she's pure source clone he's still basing that fact off the same initial scan.

I'm calling bullshit.

Not only does she show that she knows exactly who they are and what they can do when she first meets them in the corridor on Kamino, but it never made any sense in the first place. She's female, she's blonde and she's no clone of Jango's!

Although there is a popular theory out there that she is a clone of Palpatine, and I see no reason to argue with that.

She's a Kaminoan creation, she's far older than she looks, and she's manipulated them all right from the start of their lives.

.

Right from the start? What?

In her desperation to retrieve her what? property? human action figure? meat droid? dearest darling Hunter, Omega has to show some of her hand.

She takes the boys to Kamino and shows them the secret landing platform and the tube tunnels which lead into Tipoca City - which she doesn’t know is currently almost completely empty of Empire troops and poses little risk to them at this time.

She could have done this for Crosshair at any point if she’d ever felt inclined to go and get him - which she never has, and under her influence neither has anybody else.

On the way there she presses A LOT of buttons on that panel for someone controlling a bubble passing through a fixed tube with no intersections.

When they arrive Echo finds all of the system files have been mysteriously wiped clean. Why? The Empire wouldn’t bother to wipe them when they’re about to destroy the city anyway, and Nala Se would be better off giving them all of her files as a show of good faith. Being found to have destroyed them would only get her in trouble with her new ‘employers’

The only person to benefit there is Omega and her desire that the boys not find out what she’s been doing, or for how long. Look at her operating that panel. She pauses just before her last press, like there’s just one last ‘ok’ to wipe the system clean and destroy all record of her hard work.

Only once she presses it does she step back and look sad, and when Echo says 'you alright?' She doesn't say yes, or I'm fine She says 'It doesn't matter. Saving Hunter is what matters.’

Or, Yeah. It’s fine that I just deleted years of research, all of my work, because that isn't what matters. Hunter is.

But why? What makes HIM so fucking important to her? Why doesn’t she see the others as being equally desireable?

Is she in love with him?

Or at least with her idealised version of the man that she wants him to be. That she can make him be? The ultimate in ‘I can fix him’

Her and her little bitty kids body and full adult brain? Ick!

.

And then the focus is on Tech talking and you can barely see her head due to the camera angle shift.

Then she blames it all on Nala Se, not knowing that she's no longer there and defected to the Empire.

That likely is a lab where Nala Se works, think back to Ep 1 and the scene with Echo in the med bay. Azi-3 (offscreen and slightly muffled): “But Mistress Nala Se summoned you to the sub-level medical wing.”

But Azi-3 doesn’t say to *her* medical wing, only to the

Because that’s the lab where Omega works too.

That’s the lab where she enhanced their mutations.

She never says Nala Se did that. She only says it’s where she was created.

She says “Your mutations were enhanced in this room. Experimental Unit 99 began right here. I was there.”

and

“It was only for a short time, before you were sent to be with the other clones.”

‘I was there’ Yeah? On which side of the glass jar?

‘Only for a short time’ Just for a short time before you got told off for fucking with a bunch of clones you weren’t supposed to be messing with and they were taken away from you? For their own safety maybe?

And this is the first opportunity you’ve had to get your hands on them again, and damned if you’re going to let them go without one hell of a fight!

.

So, back to that earlier point

Omega really wanted Hunter’s attention and for him to take her with them.

If she had access to that probe droid’s camera feed so she could pinpoint his location and concentrated on him hard enough she could hit him with a mental blast of ‘must get Omega’ and bring him running right back to her. And he does!

The abilities she has must be untrained so I reckon she only has limited control of them, but she has enough to exert her will over the clones she considers to be HER property. Especially once she engineered them to be more susceptible to her influence in the first place.