#as well as how the clones as a whole were treated by the Republic

[yukipri]

Ngl this is sorta making me queasy with excitement/nervousness...

Especially coming right on the tail of:

So even though I will likely be a clown (again) this time tomorrow, here's what I wrote out in the twitter thread above:

Please @/starwars Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2, this time with Ewan McGregor and Temuera Morrison as co-stars. There's closure now with Obi-Wan & Vader. Next, closure between the Jedi & the clones on Order 66, represented by the 2 we saw experience it first: Obi-Wan and Commander Cody

I know in the latest Obi-Wan comic, Obi-Wan basically goes "I miss Cody to this day, even though he tried to kill me. Ah well." And it just K*LLS me that that's it. Obi-Wan (and most the Jedi) have no clue that the clones were victims too.

Y'all are inserting Order 66 scenes in almost every show, so you can do it one more time, this time in an attempt to understand and gain closure. And this is a story that is genuinely best told through Obi-Wan and Cody. Palpatine sent the Order to Cody, first and most directly.

This is a story that doesn't need to mess with characters like Luke or Leia, who we know we'll see again. Cody is MIA as of TBB S2. Obi-Wan now also has some time after season 1, where we know he can't really be messing with Vader. This story can fit in well.

(heck, you can even insert more Clone Wars flashbacks, including young Ahsoka, you saw how much we all loved that in the Ahsoka show!) This show would let you share more about other clones and Jedi as well. Depending on how TBB S3 ends, we can have some connections there too.

PLUS! Temuera Morrison seems eager for a role. I'd love to see him again as Boba in TBOBF S2 (and have a whole 'nother pitch there), but Cody is a character that Tem personally originated in ROTS. He also had fantastic chemistry with Ewan as Jango!

So I'd love to see them share a screen again. (plus, age-wise, he's kinda closer to double-speed aged Cody than Boba?)

I could go on forever but…yes, please this.

(also can I help write it?😂😭🙏)

~~End Thread

But yeah, I know better than to get my hopes up, and I have been a clown about this many times before (including but not limited for the actual Obi-Wan S1 lmao).

So here I am with my clown mask ready: 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

(Edit: added this in the tags but:

It does occur to me that another very possible route they could take an Obi-Wan Kenobi season 2 is doing something with Quinlan, since they left that very obvious thread open in S1.

BUT I would still prefer Cody & clones centric😭🙏)

[short-wooloo]

You can tell by the way some people criticize the Jedi as military leaders that they do not understand how war and the military works

“The Jedi invaded Umbara for wanting to leave!”

Umbara didn’t just “want to leave”, they were a republic world that switched sides mid-war, when an ally switches sides, you declare war on them, at a minimum this is to say “you can’t just do this and expect no consequences”, but its also simple strategy, you attack your former ally so that you can prevent whatever assets they have from being used by the enemy, but also so you can hopefully regain said assets (umbara has unique and advanced technology)

have people not played Risk?

“The Jedi invaded Geonosis again!”

the separatists retook Geonosis and reactivated/built factories there to produce war material (battle droids specifically), as long as these factories were active the war would be more difficult, the Republic invaded to shut down these factories down, its just good strategy

Related, "the Jedi attacked planets during the war"

Yeah, it's war, that's how it works, you can't fight a war exclusively on the defensive (especially not when the enemy has a manpower/production advantage), you have to go on the offensive so the enemy can't build up their strength to attack (and that doesn't even get into the humanitarian reasons to go on the offensive, the separatists are enslaving and murdering whole populations-WWII parallels anyone?-you can't help them if you only fight defensively

“The Jedi used the Clones as meat shields/cannon fodder!”

cannon fodder has a real definition, usually being poorly trained, poorly equipped soldiers sent out for no other purpose other than to soften up the enemy for the main assault

this is not at all how the Jedi treat/command the Clones

first the Clones are highly trained (10 years of it) and well equipped-probably the best out of any SW military

second, the Jedi fight on the front lines with the Clones, that is not something you do with cannon fodder

third, nothing the Jedi ask of the Clones is really that much more than what would be asked of a soldier in a real world military

I’m sure there are other examples but these are the biggies, please suggest more if you can think of any

[photogirl894]

Congratulations on all of the followers, Morgan 🥳

I'm popping in for a very simple event request. Fem!Reader x Fives with Prompt #6: A hug from behind. Something soft and sweet. I'm a sucker for physical affection 🥰

Please and thank you 💚💚💚

@the-bad-batch-baroness

Thank you so much, @the-bad-batch-baroness , my friend!! 💜

Oooh, I haven't written for Fives yet! This should be fun!! 😊

"Wherever You Are"

6. A hug from behind

Pairing: Fives x fem reader

***

Being a waitress at 79's was definitely one of the best jobs you'd ever had. A good majority of the Clones who frequented the establishment were very friendly and regaled you with plenty of thrilling war stories.

However, the biggest reason why working at 79's was the best job you'd had was because that was where you'd met Fives, your boyfriend and the sweetest, most loving man in existence.

He'd started off trying to flirt with you, just like how a lot of other Clones would, and you thought nothing of it, playfully going along with it, even though you did find him extremely handsome. Then one night, he sincerely told you he thought you were beautiful, kind and fun and he wanted to take you on a proper date since he'd be on Coruscant for a little while. That surprised you in a good way and you'd accepted...and boy, were you glad you did! He was nothing but gentlemanly and charming through your whole first date: opening doors for you, complimenting you and showing interest in you and your life. Which was so much more than any other man you'd gone on dates with.

Since that day, he spent as much time as he could with you when he was back on the planet. Even if you were working, he would just chill at 79's until your shift was over and then you two would go back to your apartment just to have time alone. Sometimes if his squad mates came with him, then you would hang out with them at the bar once you were off the clock and enjoyed a few drinks with him and his brothers. They were a good group of men whose company you enjoyed. They treated you kindly and with respect, seeing how much you meant to Fives. You couldn't be happier.

Fives had been gone on a mission for a while and you found yourself missing him more than usual. It had been a rough few days; you had crashed your speederbike because the other driver wasn't watching, so you had to take a good chunk out of your savings to pay for repairs. Then you'd had to kick out some drunk guys because they were getting too handsy with you and you got called some pretty nasty names. If Fives had been there, he would've beat those guys to a pulp for ever daring to lay a hand on you or for speaking to you in such a way. He would've defended your honor, even if you felt you could handle things yourself. You just wished he was there to talk to, to hold you while you just had a good cry over all the frustrations you were feeling...but you knew that he had more important things to worry about as a soldier. He had a duty to the Republic that he needed to fulfill first before his duty to you. That's what you had to keep reminding yourself.

Finally, your shift ended and the bar cleared out of patrons. It was just you and the music playing over the speakers, so you started cleaning the tables. A few minutes later, you heard the doors swish open behind you.

"We're closed," you stated without looking, continuing to wipe the table in front of you.

There was no response for a second and then all of a sudden, a pair of arms wrapped around your waist as someone hugged you from behind.

You then felt the familiar scratch of a goatee on your skin as the person nuzzled into your neck and said in a low voice you knew well, "Looks like we've got the place all to ourselves, then."

With a gasp, you flipped around in his arms and looked into the handsome, loving eyes of your Fives.

"Fives!" you cried, jumping up and throwing your arms around his neck.

His embrace tightened around, rocking you back and forth. "Oh, I've missed you so much, babe," he said to you.

"I've missed you, too," you replied. "I'm so glad you're back. It's been an awful last few days and I've wished so badly that you were here."

Fives tilted your head up and gave you a sweet kiss on your forehead. "Well, I can't have you feeling down anymore now that I'm here," he said. "Come on, let's go home. We can cuddle on the couch, I'll make you a nice cup of tea and you can tell me everything that's happened."

You tilted your head curiously. "Home? You mean my apartment?"

He snickered. "Babe, my home is wherever you are." Then he cupped your cheek and brought you to him, kissing you in a way that made all your worries and frustrations just fade away.

"You really mean that?" you asked him with a smile.

"Of course, I do. I love you," he confessed to you, touching his forehead to yours.

You'd had a feeling for a while now that he loved you, but the occasion to finally say so just hadn't come up yet, especially with him being gone on missions so much. It made your heart soar to finally hear those words from him at last.

"I love you, too, Fives," you said back, feeling a massive weight lift from you. "Now...let's go home."

Photogirl894's Physical Affection prompts

Photogirl894's 1,300 Followers celebration fics

[gffa]

There’s a thing in Star Wars where installations of the canon tend to fall into one of three categories:

Foundational canon that everything else revolves around

Supportive canon that helps reinforce the structure of the foundation

Connective tissue and knick-knack collections

The movies are the foundation, the TV shows are generally supportive canon, and the novels/comics/games are the connective tissue and window dressing.  And I’m frustrated that I don’t think The Mandalorian knows what it wants to be, because I don’t think Star Wars has any good foundational canon since the prequels movies. The sequels are technically foundational canon, other books and comics refer to them as the unmovable points in history in this world, it was what established where the supportive stories are going, etc.  The problem is that they were so unfocused and actively eschewed worldbuilding that the supportive shows and connective tissue are left to do the heavy lifting and that puts The Mandalorian in a bad place. Because I think it should be allowed to be supportive canon, it should allowed to be like Rebels or The Clone Wars, which were supporting the strong foundations of the movies and thus absolutely flourished, which were stories that knew what themes they wanted to tell, they set the structure of the worlds they lived in, and so the animated shows could build up from there.  The Mandalorian flounders for me because it’s Disney+’s flagship show, so everything else gets spun off from it (except Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor, which is probably why I liked those shows so much better, because they were coming off much stronger foundations), and thus treated like it’s foundational canon. But it’s not.  This episode really struck that for me all over again, because we don’t even see Moff Gideon’s escape, that should be a crucial moment in the story that we should see instead of it happening off-screen!  In the past, we barely even see the destruction of Mandalore, a key moment in the show that they’re building!  Whether this is Din and Grogu’s story of the story of Mandalore as a whole, we’re seeing a smaller scale story than what we should if this is going to be the flagship foundational story. “Yeah, but The Mandalorian isn’t meant to be a foundational canon, it’s about a dude traveling around with his Foundling and figuring out life on the way.”  Agreed, it should be allowed to be supportive canon, but because the sequels did almost no establishing of the galaxy’s setting, now the supportive shows have to do it, which means we have to get multiple episodes that do the work of establishing what’s going on with the New Republic that have little to do with Din or Grogu’s story. The problem is further exacerbated by how those scenes are genuinely good!  Those tend to be the scenes that I focus on the most, like I loved seeing everything happening with Pershing on Coruscant, but the problem is that it contributed to this feeling that The Mandalorian was telling a foundational story, because those scenes had nothing to do with our main characters’ journey, they were establishing the bigger world that’s not really directly related to our characters.  To be fair, I might feel differently if the show had spread those scenes out better, kept them as side info more than stopping the entire show to go into them--like this episode balanced it well, Teva’s trip to Coruscant worked for me!  And last episode’s flashbacks were perfectly relevant to Grogu’s story and his emotional journey, I have no problem with seeing Coruscant and the Jedi Temple again in that context! But the question looms in my mind with every episode:  What is this show about?  Is it about trying to be an anthology series that tells little stories from all across the time period in this era?  Is it about the bigger story of Mandalore?  Is is about a more back alley level story about a single Mandalorian and the journey he and his Foundling go on? I don’t think The Mandalorian itself knows.  Or else it can’t help straying from what it should be--supportive canon too often either trying to establish too much or get away with focusing on something too small despite the extremely limited run time because it thinks this detour is Rule of Cool--and so it’s not really even about anything, other than being about cameos. I don’t see that changing, either, because those cameos are fun.  They’re amazingly cool to get sneak peaks of what those characters are up to, they’re lighting the internet on fire with getting to see these things in live action, I am absolutely going to continue screaming about these same things myself!  It’s fun!  And Star Wars should be fun! But I think it ultimately means that, once the fun is done, that I’m not sure The Mandalorian is a strong story.  It’s a very cool story and extremely fun, but I don’t think it can carry a franchise like the originals or the prequels did and that it shouldn’t have to, but it’s dipping into those waters (sometimes by choice, sometimes by force, I suspect) and then trying to dip back out of them, and it’s just.  The story of the fall of the Republic had its story directly told, you know?  The story of destroying the Empire had its story directly told, you know?  That hasn’t happened for Mandalore, its spread out in too many pieces and half of it isn’t even directly shown to us.  The sequels refused to tell the story of the New Republic, so that onus is put on The Mandalorian and it shouldn’t be, and I wish the show could be allowed to pick a lane and stick to it.

[padfootdaredmetoo]

Attachments

Anakin Skywalker X Padawan Reader

This was purely selfish, but I couldn't get it out of my head. I don't think there is a demand for these sorts of fics. Anyway, this takes place during the Revenge of the Sith. The reader is Anakin's Padawan from the Clone Wars. When she hears that Anakin is fallen to the dark side she decides it's a great time to confess her feelings. (she is legal and he didn't know her as a kid) (I'm not exactly well versed in Star Wars lore so apologies in advance)

Warnings: Kissing

You were not entirely shocked by Obi-Wan’s words. The chancellor's words about the Republic's corruption had drawn you in too. But No way Anakin was a Sith. You had been beside him the whole war. No way he would turn his back on you or Obi-Wan or his life. 

Maybe that was your heart speaking. You could feel darkness clouding him but could still feel him well enough to find him. You landed your ship and walked out. The planet's heat bit at your skin and your eyes burned. 

You felt him acknowledge your presence and your stomach filled with nerves. Anakin had been through a lot in his life and you saw how people often treated him. You knew there was a chance he was so far gone that killing you wouldn't be an issue. 

But your heart held so much hope you were rooted on the path in front of you. You had tried to be a good Padawan, tried to avoid attachment. But avoiding attachment to him was almost impossible. Everything about him puts you at ease. 

He emerged from the shadowy arch onto the bridge you had landed on. His hood was drawn and you wanted nothing more than to rip it off. You wanted see his eyes while he broke your heart. 

“Anakin.” You broke the silence and the hurt was already palpable in your voice. He moved towards you, coming close and grabbing your shoulders. 

“You have to understand. The corruption, all of this war, everything it’s -” 

“All lies, Anakin. Palpatine is playing everyone, I don’t trust him.” 

“The power is necessary to bring balance to the galaxy. It’s necessary to save you.” Anakin’s voice was dark and it caused you to shudder. 

“I don’t want you to be the chosen one.” You whispered raising your hands up slowly and pushing his hood back. His eyes were varying dark shades of red. 

“Who do you want me to be then?” He snapped. Everyone always needed or wanted him to be something, you were no exception. 

“Mine.” You barely got the words out. This confession was going to doom you, yet you knew if there was a way, any chance of bringing him back, you had to take it. His eyes flared. 

“I must master death to keep you alive. My dreams - I won't lose you like my mother.” You could feel his mental blocks fluttering. 

“You saw me dying surrounded by lava.” You waved a hand around. “So save me.” He thought about your words for a moment. 

“Not even the Sith can master death, they can move bodies, do you really want Palpatine inside me?” You raised a brow and he gripped your shoulders tighter in anger. 

“No, but I - I can’t go back now.” You felt his mind move back to the control room behind him. All those separatists dead. 

“Don’t judge me if I don't mourn for them.” You knew you should be more serious about things, but that’s just how you were with Anakin. They could be in the thick of battle still telling jokes. 

“He wants me to go kill the younglings,” Anakin whispered. 

“Good Luck.” You snorted and his eyes flared. “Anakin you cried like a baby when you held Senator Amidala's kids for the first time. You can do a lot of things, but killing children isn't one of them.” 

“Why are you so sure of me?” His voice was breaking and you could feel his emotions radiating off of him more freely.

“Because I love you.” You felt his arms slacken and moved towards him. Grabbing his face. 

“The code-” 

“Had never stopped us from misbehaving before.” You watched the war raging in his mind. You decided to go for it, worst case you would die but at least you would know what it would be like to kiss him. You pulled at his face and raised up on your tiptoes. He didn't make it easy for you, but then again he never did. 

Your lips crashed against his and you felt his arms wrap around you tightly. His head bowed to you and he kissed you back. The attachment forming between you was all-consuming. It took all of you and you could feel his memories and mind pressing against yours. He felt everything inside you. All your emotions about him. There was no space to feel self-conscious as his own love poured against you. Tears spilled down your cheeks and he gripped at your flesh through your robes. 

Mine - Be mine Anakin

Your mind kept saying it over and over and over again before you realized he could probably hear it. His kisses were harsh and consuming and you could feel them in your soul. There is nowhere you wouldn't follow this bond. You prayed he would be kind, if only for your sake, and return to the light. 

A splash of lava washed up on the edge of the bridge as chunks of rocks slid into it. He broke the kiss abruptly. 

“Time to save you.” He motioned towards the ramp of the ship. You went inside and like every mission over the past three years, you resumed your usual positions. His eyes were their usual rich brown and you felt your muscles relax. You took the first easy breath in a long time. 

He chose you. 

“You have a stowaway on this ship.” He said. You stood up and moved in front of Anakin, lightsaber drawn. A move he repeatedly tried to get you to stop. But at the end of the hall, Obi-Wan’s figure revealed itself. 

Anakin struggled with his master occasionally and you hoped that this didn’t set him back. He needed time to rest before coming to terms with everything if he was going to stay in the light. After that, they could lecture him. 

“Master,” Anakin said in a neutral voice. 

“Anakin.” Obi-Wan greeted him with a broken voice. Anakin moved past you and moved towards his master. Obi-Wan grabbed Anakin’s face looking into his eyes before making a choking sound. 

His arms wrapped around Anakin tightly.

“My boy, my son.” The tears were evident in his voice. “I failed you. Anakin -” His voice cut off as Anakin hugged him back. 

“It wasn’t your fault, master.” Anakin was crying too. 

“It was, it is. I should have- I was so focused on doing everything by the code, I forgot some of Qui-Gon’s most important rules.” You decided to resume your spot steering the ship giving them a moment. “He tried to tell me of corruption, I didn’t see it till-” 

“Master no one saw it. I let you down and I’m sorry.” 

“It is behind us now.” He released Anakin and patted him on the back. You looked over your shoulder and watched as he tried to compose himself. Tears were streaming down your own face. 

“Not you too,” Anakin said moving towards you. 

“Dad moments kill me.” You mumbled wiping the tears on the back of your hands. Anakin took his seat and motioned for you to come sit on his lap. You didn't need to be asked twice. You curled up in his lap, tucking your face into his neck. Obi-Wan took your spot. 

“I haven't slept in a very long time.” You yawned “I’m sorry if I doze off.” Anakin only kissed the top of your head. He was just happy to be trusted to hold your sleeping body. To be trusted to watch over you.

[eriexplosion]

Fives: I am not a piece of hardware! I'm a living being. Nala Se: You were created in our laboratories. You are Kaminoan property. Shaak Ti: Correction, technically, he is property of the Republic.

In a change of pace from my Tech Lives posts, this is one of those exchanges that sticks in my mind and hasn't left since I watched season six. Because while I love that TBB is getting into how the Empire views clones as expendable property to be used and discarded, I wish they would engage more with the fact that this is not new.

The Empire treats clones like this, but before them the Republic treated clones like this. I think that engaging with that is pretty vital for the storyline of the clones that are still with the Empire and just why it took so long for so many to leave - Crosshair of course being our primary example but this goes for any clone that stayed in Imperial service past the time their chips started to wear off.

Clones have been equipment the whole time. There wasn't a single line that was crossed where they stopped being people and started being equipment because legally they were never people. They were expendable. That's what they were created and bought for. That is the full life experience of every clone that wasn't lucky enough to get a jedi that happened to treat them like a person. Clones that were treated well are the exception, not the rule - I mean, look at Krell, there's a tendency to treat him as an aberration (not helped by the show making him conveniently not a Jedi anymore) but Fives can pick him out as having the highest casualty ratings of clones. This was a known thing and nothing was done about it. Hell, Dogma was still taken into custody for killing him after he literally made the clones kill each other. We still don't know what was done to him for that.

So the reason that clones take various amounts of time to catch onto how bad the Empire is isn't because some of them just Love Fascism, it's because for clones that is how it has always been. That is what their lives have been like from start to finish, that is what they've been trained to treat as normal. Only when it gets worse and worse and it becomes clear that there will never be relief do more of them start to defect.

In Aftermath, Crosshair says "Republic, Empire, what's the difference?" and it's treated like a strange thing to say but... he is more right than the show lets on.

[mamuzzy-creates-stuff]

Ficlet about a little bit of nothing, corrie guard Blaze and Vorn having a lighthearted conversation during patrol, and oh, there is unhealthy amount of mention of piss.

Wordcount around 700.

Gems of the Republic

(The Clone Wars)

“Hey, LT! CHECK THIS OUT!!!”

Blaze’s overenthusiastic voice screeched through the inner channel of the radio which made Vorn sneer from annoyance. Staying on guard while on patrol duty as your brother relieved himself in a semi-public place was not something he enjoyed nor approved. But here they were. Gems of the Republic. Using Coruscant’s alleyways as their personal fresher. Something to boast about to the starboys.

“I’m not interested seeing your dick, Di’kut!” Answered Lieutenant in the comm. “And don’t shout.”

Blaze ran back from the alleyway, with one hand still readjusting his codpiece, and fingers entwined over some object in the other.

“Sorry, LT, got excited.”

“What? From peeing?”

“Wha- no, ew, no??? Look!” Blaze excitedly held out his hand, a credit chip shined on the top of his palm. “Ten creds!”

The helmet may hid their faces but Vorn knew that his kih’vod grinned like an idiot. He carefully looked around then he reached out and folded Blaze’s fingers over the credit chip to hide it from prying eyes.

“Put away. We shouldn’t have money on us anyway.”

“I will see the civvie who will call me out for owning money found by trash bin.”

Blaze stashed the chip in one of his pockets then proceeded to close the gap between him and Vorn who was already on their established route. Lazy day on Triple Z, they call it. Sometimes the very presence of the Guard was enough to make citizens think twice before acting out.

Vorn spoke in their inner channel.

“You really should check yourself out with Headshot.”

“Why?”

“Peeing during duty? Unacceptable.”

“Are you just shaming me for having bodily needs?”asked Blaze with mild discomfort by the fact that he has to do with anything with the medbay, but also because Vorn was chewing on his skin again.

“I’m shaming you,” said Vorn with such pompous manner he could pass as a senator “because you are supposed to hold it till the shift’s end. Or at least reaching the guard post and not urinating in the middle of the city. When we were deployed to Geonosis, we had to hold back for at least 30 hours, no pee-breaks.”

The anecdote of Vorn made Blaze’s eye roll and blink so hard, the motion activated his helmet screen and his schedule shifted from the right corner before his eyes. He dismissed it with a quick blink as well.

“You are just shitting me” he scoffed.

“Nu draar!”

Old troopers and their mando’a. But Blaze started to get a hang of it now for a while. “Nah, you totally shitting me. How come your balls didn't explode from all that piss?”

“My balls.”

“Duuuh?”

“Fucking hell.”

“Nah, I don’t buy it” declared Blaze and quickly lost interest in Vorn’s warstories, given that Vorn always had something to make it a lesson for a completely unrelated issue. He was pretty sure, half of them aren’t even true. He wanted to ask about it but Vorn was quicker.

“Speaking of buying, what are you going to do with the creds?”

“Hmmm,” Blaze pondered a bit “I always wanted to try that cafshop near the Market. You know, where they sign your name on the cups.”

“That’s nice.” nodded Vorn.

“Yeah! I could buy you one too!”

“Don’t waste your money on me” Vorn scoffed by the idea, but gentle warmness swirled around his whole upperbody, and he was glad the helmet hid his reddened face. Being taken care of is not something he expected but very much welcomed, though his mouth told otherwise. “It’s yours after all.”

“Alright, then I ask Lily” shrugged Blaze, but his voice was full of tease.

“What-! You little shit, that’s how you treat your Ori’vod!”

“SELF-PROCLAIMED Ori’vod! I just let you tag along with me because no one can stand you and your warstories. Speaking of which… I should ask Fox if he ever peed in the sands of Geonosis.”

“Okay I thought we had been over the piss-topic” Vorn sighed. “How about you just don’t.”

“Too late I already asked him.”

“Me’ven?!” gasped Vorn in disbelief.

“CorrieNet. I asked him.”

The hidden application of the CorrieNet appeared as Vorn brought it before his eyes with the very recent post by Blaze, 24 seconds ago.

@Pyromantic - Blaze CT-9133 14:32

[@CommanderCaf, sir, have you ever peed in the sands of Geonosis?]

Yet again, gems of the Republic.

Mando'a Di’kut - Idiot kih’vod - Little brother/sister Nu draar! - No way/absolutely not/not in the world! Ori’vod - Big brother/sister Me’ven?! - What?! (expression of disbelief)

You can read about more about the CorrieNet here, the CG-exclusive social media platform, but because this is a shared concept between me and @ithillia in our stories and RPs, please don't use it under this name. Please reblog, if you enjoyed it, my corrie blorbos will be over and back!!! And I planned to do a little continuation for it with them actually go to that cafshop, if you are interested, throw me a comment so I can tag you when it's finished! :)

[ahsoka-in-a-hood]

Just taking the clone wars into account I honestly was surprised to learn of Filoni’s jedi-critical views. In large part I guess it was just that I watched tcw after reading lots of Obi Wan and Anakin centric fanfic, and in comparison the show barely even registered as critical, since it’s so much milder than like 80% of fanfic was. For one it does something fanfic rarely did, which is treat the council and the larger jedi body as a group of diverse people with differing opinions and constant challenges, and not an almost faceless cold single entity whose narrative function is primarily to cause problems for the protagonist, not to be people in their own right.

And then there was simply the fact that I never took Anakin to be a reliable narrator, especially since he’s covering up naughty war crimes left and right on the show, and I never really took Ahsoka as a speaker of objective truth either, since she’s young and still parsing out her teachings and philosophy by show’s end without ever reaching a conclusion, since her story doesn’t really have a conclusion, just a series of traumatic breaks. If they were meant to be the mouthpieces, it never even occurred to me.

The other big thing was the war and the clones. See, my feelings about the war in the movies were very mixed up with the political commentary it was making about what was happening in real life, and the result was pretty messy. The condensed narration didn’t help- yes, there was the through line with the trade federation’s behavior in Naboo and then their involvement with the Separatists, and the plans they were making that Obi Wan listened in on- but even so, the whole war was off screen, and it was still mixed up in this clunky Iraq war commentary. The movies do also point out more than once that the breakdown of diplomacy was something bad Palpatine did and through him the republic (though I wouldn’t say it holds the jedi to account for that so much as the Senate). Meanwhile the cartoon just uncategorically depicts the separatists as aggressors who are doing cartoonishly evil things, and the need to defend is inescapable. Even more than that, the clones- the chips really do change everything.

The fact that the jedi led these men for three years and earned absolutely no goodwill or loyalty enough for any of them to even hesitate to shoot them in the back just wasn’t a great look for either of them. But of course, that’s not the story anymore. It’s such a different story. The jedi-clone relationship is now one of my absolute favorite things. It’s complex and it’s compelling. Most importantly, it’s not characterized by indifference.

So, yeah, I hadn’t clocked that Filoni was actually much closer to the popular fanon on all this. It’s funny, I got into a conversation with someone recently, one of those people who had earnestly thought the prequels were meant to depict the jedi as arrogant and cold and out of touch, and I mentioned the things Lucas had said on the subject, and they were like- are you telling me Lucas fucked up and accidentally told a different story than the one he intended? But what’s funny is that I’m now sitting here thinking the same about the clone wars. Did Filoni accidentally write a much more nuanced and jedi-friendly story than the one he thought he was writing, or was that just me reading him wrong?

Well at any rate, I’m going to watch the tales of the jedi soooon and I guess I’ll see how that tracks. (though round one at least I might disengage my critical brain and just enjoy)

[clonememesfrikyeah]

I don’t think we talk about the fact that the alpha class clones straight up get stasis chambered until their useful for a little while then put them back again. Like they winter soldiered 100 of our boys and no body ever mentions it. I don’t recall the Nulls getting put in stasis like that and CT’s were never treated like that until the days of the empire probably. The Bad Batch was never stasised like that except for when they were developing. So why do it to the Alphas? We know that they were like the second batch of clones after the nulls right, because they were unsatisfied with how independent and rebellious the nulls turned out. So they made the Alphas more loyal to the republic through rigorous flash training to mold them into being unquestioning loyal to the republic. They were trained by Jango himself so they were the best trained clones Kamino could produce. Sure they didn’t have inhibitor chips and they could have rebelled without that stopping them, but to our knowledge only the prime minister, Palpatine and a couple others could activate them, and the effects wore off with time. But to escape Kamino or desert on the field they would have to escape all of their brothers, and while they may be alpha class they don’t have the sheer numbers the CT’s do. Clones whose chips didn’t work were ordered to executed by other clones as well, so it’s not like the kaminoans didn’t have a back up plan if a few chips didn’t work right. It’s not like the chips were a huge well kept secret, it was just the conspiracy behind it. When Tup broke down and the matter of the chip came out they told the Jedi what they were point blank but they just didn’t tell the whole truth as to why. Meaning the alphas were never really a big part of the order 66 conspiracy, they were just supposed to be test subjects. Like how the unintended oldest child becomes an experiment for parents to learn the right and wrong ways to care for the kids to come. That’s what the alphas are, what they were intended to be. That’s what the nulls ended up being too, though in a bit of a different way. Where the nulls were adopted by their trainers and brought into their family’s then fled the empire with them to settle down all the alphas ever had was Jango. I feel that’s why the nulls and alphas had such a huge rift between them, while created for the same purpose their circumstances were radically different, creating this type of cruel, forced sibling rivalry because they were constantly pitted against each other. And when Jango died the alphas had no one to protect them from being overly exploited (further than what they already were being anyway), had no one to advocate for them, be a parental figure or keep the kaminoans and other viscous trainers from abusing them and putting them through cruel medical procedures. So I suppose that answers the question of why stasis them; it was to be cruel. There was no real significant tactical advantage to keeping them sedated and locked away until they were useful. It was for the purpose of control and keeping fear in the minds of every clone on Kamino. Because if they could do that to the alpha clones who were the republics finest soldiers, the best Kamino ever produced, just imagine what they would do to an expendable CT. Not to mention that we have no canon evidence to what ever happened to the Alphas after the war, their not really mentioned after that they just kinda drop out of the story line. But imagine that when Kamino was being evacuated after the empires take over they were still in stasis and instead of taking them the empire thought they weren’t worth the trouble and left them for dead. Just something to keep on the brain, ya know?

[sshewonders]

ACROSS THE STARS (07/?)

Obi-Wan Kenobi x fem!jedi! reader

summary: ten years passed. you are assigned by the chancellor himself to put the now, new senator padme amidala under your protection. with obi-wan kenobi, the jedi master, and anakin skywalker, the padawan.

warning: nervous!obi-wan, sexual tension, anakin being a kingship, angst if you squint.

a/n: this is the first chapter for episode two: attack of the clones!! please do remember that you(reader) and anakin has the same age. so it means that you and obi-wan has sixteen years age gap. if you're uncomfortable with this, do not proceed to read. thank you!!

word count: exactly 5k.

(gif not mine, but obi-wan is.)

In those years, you became the top priority of the council members. Thanks to the great amount of force you were holding, you were kept hidden from public. Your training went like this: after securing that no one uses the training room in the middle of the night, one member of the council would train you. You don't get to eat with your créchemates, a droid would deliver it to your room. If you needed some information from the archives, the same droid who would deliver your food, would get if for you.

It was hard at first, to adapt the new routine. But in a week, you had grown, and it became your habit. It was hard because no one in the temple, excluding the members of the council and one particular jedi knight, knew where your room was. The council treated you like you were a plague, that would infect everyone so you needed to be kept quarantined.

The Jedi Knight whom the council allowed you to be with, was none other than Quinlan Vos. He was surprised at first but felt relieved when he knew he wouldn't get a goodbye message from you. A lot of things changed to Quinlan, as well. He now had his own padawan, Aayla Secura. He had told you the whole story about him meeting her. Upon realizing that she had an affinity to the Force, Quinlan rescued her from her home planet of Ryloth and took her to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. However, you could not meet her.

Anakin. You missed him dearly. Every night, you wanted to reach up to him using the force but stopped yourself from doing so. Instead of going to him and breaking the law, you would rather play with necklace he had given to you.

Obi-Wan. You missed him dearly, too. In the first two months, not a minute goes by that he wouldn't be inside your mind. You wondered how he was doing while training Anakin. The bond was still there but neither of you opened up to each other, fearing the wrath of the council if they ever find out. Just like what you would do when you missed Anakin, you would cuddle up the one eyed bluish slush Obi-Wan had given to you and cry in your sleep.

But now, ten years had passed. A lot of things had changed to you. You adapted the corustanti accent, and lifestyle of a respectable jedi. You would train yourself in the middle of the night then go back resting for an hour before going with whomever Jedi Master from the council would want you by their side.

Traffic clogged the Coruscant sky, flowing slowly about the meandering smoggy haze. The sun was up, giving the sprawling city an amber glow, but many lights were still on, shining behind the windows of the great skyscrapers.

The massive towers of the Republic Executive Building loomed above it all, seeming as if they would reach the very heavens. And that seemed fitting indeed, for inside, even at this early hour, the events and participants took on godlike stature to the trillions of common folk of the Republic.

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine sat behind his desk in his spacious and tasteful office, staring across at his four Jedi Master, with you as their Padawan, visitors.

You stood straight in the corner of the room. Head high and arms behind your back. Dressed in a Padawan style learner tunic but the big, brown cloak was covering it all. You had your hood, as what the council would always order you.

“I don't know how much longer I can hold off the vote, my friends,” said Chancellor Palpatine. “More and more star systems are joining the separatists.”

“If they do break away,” your Master, Mace Windu, tried but the politician intervened.

“I will not let this Republic, that has stood for a thousand years, be split in two.” Chancellor Palpatine said sternly. “My negotiations will not fail.”

“If they do, you must realize there are not enough Jedi to protect the Republic,” Mace said. “We're the keepers of the peace, not soldiers.”

“Master Yoda,” called the Chancellor as your Master, Yoda, looked at him. “Do you think it will really come to war?”

Master Yoda closed his eyes and hummed. “Mmm. The dark side clouds everything,” he opened his eyes. “Impossible to see the future is.”

A hologram of the Chancellor's minion appeared on his desk. “The Loyalist Committee has arrived, Your Honor.”

“Good. Send them in,” ordered the Chancellor. He then rose from his seat, Master Yoda did as well and the doors opened in a soft hiss.

Senator Padme Amidala walked in with her guards and some allies: Captain Typho, Jar Jar Binks, Senator Bail Organa, Dorme, Mas Amedda, Horox Ryyder, and Orn Free Taa. Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Master Plo Koon rose from their seats but Master Windu stayed.

You can see no lies that the Senator, former Queen of Naboo, had grown a quiet beautiful woman. Her head high and a determined, strong look was shown on her beautiful face.

“Senator Amidala, your tragedy on the landing platform . . . terrible,” Master Yoda shook his head. “Seeing you alive, brings warm feelings to my heart.”

Padme's determined look did not falter. “Do you have any idea was behind this attack?” She asked, determinedly.

Master Windu rose from his seat, approaching the Senator. “Our intelligence points to disgruntled spice miners, on the moons of Naboo,” he said as he stood beside her.

“I think that Count Dooku was behind it,” the former Queen of Naboo stated. There was a stir of surprise in the room, even you, had quirked an eyebrow in surprise.

“He is a political idealist, not a murderer,” said Master Ki-Adi-Mundi calmly.

“You know, M'Lady,” Master Windu said in his resonant and calm voice, “Count Dooku was once a Jedi. He wouldn't assassinate anyone. It's not in his character.”

“But for certain, Senator, in grave danger you are.” Master Yoda said, threateningly.

After gazing out of the window for several moments Palpatine turned around. “Master Jedi, may I suggest that the Senator be placed under the protection of your graces?”

Bail Organa walked forward. “Do you think that is a wise decision during these stressful times?”

Senator Amidala intervened. “Chancellor, if I may comment, I do not believe the--”

“Situation is that serious?” Palpatine finished for her. “No, but I do, Senator. I realize all too well that additional security might be disruptive for you,” he began, and he paused, and then a look came over him as if he had just struck upon a logical and acceptable compromise. “But perhaps someone you are familiar with, an old friend.” Smiling cleverly, Palpatine looked to Mace Windu and Yoda. “Master Kenobi?” he finished with a nod, and his smile only widened when Mace Windu nodded.

You flinched when you heard the name. It had been years since you last heard that . . . sacred name.

“That's possible,” the Master Jedi confirmed. “He has just returned from a border dispute on Ansion.”

“You must remember him, M'Lady,” Palpatine said, grinning as if it was a done deal. “He watched over you during the blockade conflict.”

“This is not necessary, Chancellor,” Padme said determinedly, but Palpatine didn't relinquish his grin in the least, showing clearly that he knew well how to defeat the independent Senator's argument.

“Do it for me, M'Lady. Please. I will rest easier. We had a big scare today. The thought of losing you is unbearable,” said the Chancellor.

Several times, Amidala started to respond, but how could she possibly say anything to deny the Supreme Chancellor's expressed concern? She gave a great defeated sigh, and the Jedi rose and turned to leave.

“I will have Obi-Wan report to you immediately, M'Lady,” Master Windu informed her, he then started walking out.

You gave them a respectable bow, not even daring to look into Padme's eyes as you were afraid that she would recognize you. But then, as you walked passed the Chancellor, his voice stopped you and the rest of the Jedi Masters inside the office.

“What about your Padawan, Master Jedi?” Palpatine asked, grinning.

Your eyes widened as you whipped around to see the Chancellor's proud smile as he looked at you. Padme, who was also surprised, looked at you with a narrowed eyes. Her tight lip then broke out and a soft smile took over.

“What about our Padawan?” Master Windu asked, narrowing his dark eyes at the politician.

“I think she would be a great help protecting the Senator,” said Chancellor Palpatine.

“Padawan Y/N has not yet given an assignment to her own, therefore, it will be her first. I think it would be the Council's decision--” Master Ki-Adi-Mundi was interrupted by the young Senator.

“I've known Y/N, and I would be glad to have her by my side. Guarding me.” Padme said, sternly, chin high up.

“That does not mean that we are going to allow our own Padawan to have her first assignment without someone from the council by her side, M'Lady.” Master Windu said seriously.

“I believe it now depends on your Padawan, Jedi Master, to make her own decisions. She is in the right age, is she not?” Chancellor Palpatine asked, his grin did not relinquish. He then turned to look at you. “Young one, are you capable to protect yourself and the Senator?”

“Uh,” you awkwardly looked at your Masters for help. Master Yoda's sleepy eyes looked at you, almost begging to not answer. Master Windu and Ki-Adi-Mundi did not spare you a glance as they were both looking at the Chancellor. You could see how it was uncomfortable for Master Plo Koon the situation but you knew he would agree to your decision if it means that it would make you over the moon. Master Kit Fisto, on the other hand, gave you his classic wink. You looked back at the Chancellor and straightened yourself. “I am capable indeed, Your Excellency.”

“Do you take an oath to protect her at all costs, even if it means losing your life as well?” Master Windu challenged you, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I assure you, Master, that nothing is more important than her life,” you said.

“How come, so certain on this mission, you are, young one, hmm?” asked Master Yoda as he pointed his cane at you, his sleepy eyes wide open.

“I have been training under your influence for ages now, Master,” you replied. “Though I am not trying to sound like an arrogant person. And this mission, will be my first step on becoming a great Jedi.”

Yoda gave a defeated sigh. “Ready, you are,” he mumbled.

“It is settled then,” bellowed the Chancellor. “Padawan Y/N will accompany the Senator alongside with Master Kenobi.”

Oh. You definitely have a bad feeling about this.

As the lights of Coruscant dimmed, gradually replaced by the natural lights of the few twinkling stars that could get through the nearly continual glare, the great and towering city took on a vastly different appearance. As Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker stood in the turbolift of the Senate apartment complex, the Jedi Master was indeed pondering such profound universal truths as the subtle change of day to night. Beside him, though, his young Padawan certainly was not. Anakin was about to see Padme again, the woman who had captured his heart and soul when he was but ten years old and had never let it go.

“You seem a little on edge, Anakin,” Obi-Wan noted as the lift continued its climb.

“Not at all,” came the unconvincing reply from his Padawan.

“I haven't seen you this nervous since we fell into that nest of gundarks.” Obi-Wan remarked.

Anakin scoffed. “You fell into that nightmare, Master, and I rescued you. Remember?”

Obi-Wan's little distraction seemed to have the desired effect, and the pair shared a much-needed laugh. Coming out of it, though, Anakin remained obviously on edge.

“You're sweating.” Obi-Wan noted. “Take a deep breath. Relax.”

“I haven't seen her in ten years, Master.”

As the pair stepped into the corridor, a door across the way slid open and a well-dressed Gungan, wearing fine red and black robes, stepped into the corridor opposite them. The three regarded each other for just a moment, and then the Gungan diplomat, losing all sense of reserve and propriety, began hopping around like a child.

“Obi! Obi! Obi!” Jar Jar Binks cried, tongue and ears flapping. “Mesa so smilen to see'en yousa! Wahoooo!”

Obi-Wan smiled politely, though his glance at Anakin did show that he was a bit embarrassed, and he patted his hands gently in the air, trying to calm the excitable fellow. “It's good to see you, too, Jar Jar.”

Obi-Wan's polite smile faltered slowly. He was feeling a little bit on edge, just like Anakin, but not from seeing the Queen but rather . . . something between the force. It was shifting. He had never felt this feeling since . . . ten years ago.

The apartment inside was tastefully decorated, with cushiony chairs and a divan set in a circular pattern in the center, and a few, well-placed artworks set about the walls.

“Senator Padme,” called Jar Jar. Obi-Wan and Anakin following behind the Gungan. “Mesa palos here! Lookie, lookie, Senator! Desa Jedi arriven!”

Anakin's eyes roamed the Senator's small and shapely frame in her black and deep purple robes, taking in every detail. He saw her thick brown hair, drawn up high and far at the back of her head in a basketlike accessory, and wanted to lose himself in it. He saw her eyes and wanted to stare into them for eternity.

Obi-Wan bowed. “It's a pleasure to see you again, M'Lady,”

Padme took Obi-Wan's hand in her own. “It has been far too long, Master Kenobi. I'm so glad our paths have crossed again. But I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary.”

“I am sure that the members of the Jedi Council have their reasons.” Obi-Wan replied.

“Oh, no,” Padme shook her head. “I already have enough guards to protect me but, the Chancellor insisted you and the Council's Padawan.” She wore a knowing smile.

“The Council's Padawan?” Obi-Wan asked, quirking an eyebrow. Feeling something in the force, shifting, his breath hitched when he felt a familiar presence. The one he had never thought he was going to see nor feel again. You.

The lift door slid open. A hooded figure merged from the lift, boots echoing to the now silent apartment of the Senator.

“M'Lady, I think I had packed way too many things--” You stopped. Your breath hitched, too. Obi-Wan Kenobi stood before you.

Obi-Wan's auburn-colored hair was longer now, hanging loosely about his shoulders, and a beard, somewhat unkempt, adorned his still-young-looking face. His light brown Jedi traveling clothes, loose fitting and comfortable, seemed to settle on him well. For Obi-Wan had become comfortable, had grown into the skin of Jedi Knight. No longer was he the intense and impulsive Jedi Padawan learner under the training of Qui-Gon Jinn.

As the two of you stared at each other. You then blinked back in reality and cleared your throat, bowing afterwards.

“Hello, Master Kenobi.”

Obi-Wan could feel his heart sank after hearing what you said. He smiled albeit the hurt flashing in bis eyes and turned to the young Senator, masking the hurt in his face to a serious yet calmed one look.

You swallowed your pride as you took a step, and stood beside the Senator, averting your eyes from the Jedi Knight and . . . his companion? Is that Ani?

Padme wore a resigned, accepting expression at that answer, but a look of curiosity replaced it as she glanced again behind the Jedi Knight, to the young Padawan standing patiently. She took a step to the side, so that she was directly in front of Anakin. “Ani?” she asked, her expression purely incredulous. Her smile and the flash in her eyes showed that she needed no answer. “My goodness, you've grown.”

That did little to bolster Anakin's confidence, though, so lost was he in the beauty of Padme. Her smile widened, a clear sign that she was glad to see him, but he missed it, or the implications of it, at least. “So have you,” he answered awkwardly, as if he had to force each word from his mouth. “Grown more beautiful, I mean.” He cleared his throat and stood taller. “For a Senator, I mean.”

You cringed. It is definitely Anakin Skywalker.

Anakin Skywalker looked as if his tall, thin frame simply could not contain his overabundance of energy. He was dressed similarly to Obi-Wan, but his clothing seemed tighter, crisper, and his muscles under it always seemed taut with readiness. His sandy-blond hair was cropped short now, except for the thin braid indicative of his status as a Jedi Padawan.

From the corner of your eye, you noted Obi-Wan's disapproving scowl then you looked back at Padme, who laughed any tension away and shook her head. “Oh, Ani, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine,” she said. Anakin looked down. The rest of you sat on the couch. You sat beside Padme while the other two Jedi sat on the opposite of the couch. You were facing Obi-Wan while Padme's facing Anakin.

“Our presence will be invisible, M'Lady,” Obi-Wan assured Padme.

“I'm very grateful that you're here, Master Kenobi,” Captain Typho put in. “The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit.”

“I don't need any more security,” Padme said, addressing Typho initially, but turning to regard Obi-Wan as she continued. “I need answers. I want to know who is trying to kill me. I believe that there might lie an issue of the utmost importance to the Senate. There is something more here...” She stopped as a frown crossed Obi-Wan Kenobi's face.

“We're here to protect you, Senator, not to start an investigation,” he said in calm and deliberate tones.

“We will find out who's trying to kill you, Padme,” Anakin insisted. “I promise you.”

As soon as he finished, Anakin recognized his error, one that clearly showed on the scowl that Obi-Wan flashed his way.

“We are not going to exceed our mandate, my young Padawan learner.” Obi- Wan said sharply, and sternly.

“I meant, in the interest of protecting her, Master, of course.” His justification sounded inane even to Anakin.

“We are not going through this exercise again, Anakin,” Obi-Wan continued. “You will pay attention to my lead.”

Anakin could hardly believe that Obi-Wan was continuing to do this in front of Padme. "Why?" he asked, turning the question and the debate, trying desperately to regain some footing and credibility.

“What?” Obi-Wan exclaimed, as taken aback as Anakin had ever seen him.

“Why else do you think we were assigned to her, if not to find the killer?” he asked, trying to bring a measure of calm back to the situation. “Protection is a job for local security, not for Jedi. It's overkill, Master, and so an investigation is implied in our mandate.”

“We will do as the Council has instructed,” Obi-Wan countered. “And you will learn your place, young one.”

“Master Kenobi's right,” you said for the first time. Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padme looked at you. “We are tasked to protect her at all costs. Not an investigation. Perhaps you should be more careful to your next words, Padawan Skywalker.”

Anakin, again, looked down. His embarrassment only heightened by the looks he knew that both Obi-Wan and you were throwing his way.

Padme broke the tension away. “Perhaps with merely your presence about me, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed," offered Padme, ever the diplomat. She smiled alternately at Anakin, at Obi-Wan, and at you, “Now, if you will excuse me, I will retire.” She rose from the couch while you, and the other two Jedi did as well.

You all bowed as Padme and Dorm exited the room, and you could feel the burning gaze of Obi-Wan. However, you ignored it as you kept your gaze at Captain Typho.

“Well, I know that I'm glad to have you here,” Captain Typho offered, moving closer to Obi-Wan. “I don't know what's going on here, but the Senator can't have too much security right now. Your friends on the Jedi Council seem to think that miners have something to do with this, but I can't really agree with that.”

“The council have their own reasons, Captain,” you pressed. “But for certain, it's for everyone's own good.”

“And we are not here to guess, but merely to protect.” Obi-Wan said, in tones that showed he was finished with this particular line of discussion.

Captain Typho bowed, hearing you both clearly. “I'll have an officer on every floor, and I'll be at the command center downstairs.” Then, he left.

“-- I've thought about her everyday since we parted, and she's forgotten me completely.” You heard Anakin say and you turned to see him, completely ignoring Obi-Wan.

“Shesa happy,” the Gungan assured him. “Happier than mesa see'en her in a longo time. These are bad times, Annie. Bombad times!” Anakin shook his head and started to repeat his distress, but he noted you coming over his way.

“A lot of people died to protect her, Anakin,” you said. “You are focusing on tge negative side, Ani. Don't. I can assure you that she's very pleased to see y-- I mean, us.”

Anakin smiled widely. “What happened to your accent?” You noted that he had completely ignored what you said but you smiled nonetheless.

“What happened to yours?” You asked back and laughed, opening your arms as he gladly took it and hugged you.

“I've missed you, Y/N,” his voice was muffled by your hair.

“And I, you, Ani.” You leaned your head on his chest. You both pulled away with a smile across each of your faces.

“I love your tunic,” he commented, standing straight as he towered over you. “It's lighter and softer than mine.” Anakin saw his Master over your shoulder, peeking then looking out the big glass window as though he didn't want anyone finding out that he was looking at you. Smirking, he looked at his Master. “I will check the security myself, Master. Come on, Jar Jar,” he said. Jar Jar left, shaking his head.

“Oh, wait, I'll go with you,” you offered, taking every opportunity to get away from Obi-Wan as possible. You deadpanned as Anakin shook his head.

“Oh, no, no,” he said. “I feel the tension between you, and my Master. I'll leave you two alone.”

“No, Anakin, no.” Obi-Wan exclaimed with wide eyes. “I . . . I will check the security myself, and you will stay here.”

“All right,” Anakin shrugged. “Y/N, go with him.”

“What? No,” you shook your head. “I-I will stay here.”

Anakin deadpanned, looking at you then looked at his Master. “What's wrong with you two? It's not like something unforgivable happened between you two.”

You blinked once. Then twice. And so did Obi-Wan.

“Oh, I see,” exclaimed Anakin. “Anyways, you two go check the security. I will stay with Padme.”

“You are not the Master here, Anakin.” “I won't move.”

You and Obi-Wan exclaimed at the same time as Anakin laughed.

“We'll see about that.” Anakin said, smirking.

“You, uh, you've grown up.” Obi-Wan said for the first time as the lift continued its climb.

“So have you,” you replied, averting your eyes.

Anakin, the dipshit, had, unfortunately, successfully convinced you both to go check the security while he remained at the apartment of Padme. He took all his might to make you both go. He even had a formal speech about how he's more important staying in the apartment more than either of you.

“I-I heard, uh, that you are the Council's Padawan? I-I mean, I'm proud of you.”

Is the great Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had killed a Sith Lord ten years ago with a rank of nothing but a Padawan of Jedi Master Qui-gon Jinn . . . nervous?

“Yes, I am,” you nodded in confirmation. “They couldn't decide who will be my Master and therefore, decided that they would train me themselves. I practice with Master Plo Koon most of the time, though.”

Obi-Wan felt his lips forming a wide smile. “That's great, lit- Y/N. That is very great indeed.”

Was he about to call you by the nickname he had given you the first time you two met? Why is the lift taking so long to climb? Did Anakin do something about it, to make it slow? To torture both of you?

“Thank you. What about Anakin? How are the things going on?”

“Well, for certain,” he let out a deep sigh. “Being responsible for training a Padawan, especially one like Anakin, is a hard work and demands a virtuousness. He is a great Padawan. He's just, well, arrogant.”

“You know, you should look on the brighter side.”

Obi-Wan, finally, looked at you for the first time.

“Pardon?”

“He love things intensely. He treat droids like real people. He put others before himself. He, like any other Jedi, believe it's their duty to protect others,” you said.

“I suppose you are right,” he mumbled.

Finally! You both stepped into the corridor, a door across the way slid open, and Anakin was already waiting for you both. He was pacing back and forth. You took off your cloak and passed it to Obi-Wan, who put it on the couch, neatly folded.

Obi-Wan looked about curiously, his gaze settling on Anakin. "Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs," he said. "No assassin will try that way.

“Any activity up here?" You asked Anakin.

"Quiet as a tomb," Anakin replied. "I don't like just waiting here for something to happen."

Obi-Wan gave a little shake of his head, a movement showing his resignation concerning Anakin's predictability, and took a view scanner from his belt, checking his screen. His expression, shifting from curious to confused to concerned.

“What's going on, Master?” You asked Obi-Wan, noticing his concerned look.

Anakin looked at you. “Ah, she covered the cameras,” he turned his head towards the door of the Senator's room. “I don't think she liked me watching her.”

You smacked the back of Anakin's head before you crossed your arms over your chest. “Because you were being creepy, Ani. I told you that she would rather have me here than you.”

“Well first of all, that hurts,” Anakin trailed off with a small pout. “And second, it already happened. And third, there's no third.”

“Silence.” Obi-Wan ordered his face tensed and he let out a little growl. “What is she thinking? Her security is paramount, and is compromised-”

"She programmed Artoo to warn us if there's an intruder," Anakin explained, trying to calm Obi-Wan before his concern could gain any real momentum.

“You do know that there are many ways to kill someone, don't you, Anakin?” You asked, frowning.

“I know, but we also want to catch this assassin,” Anakin said to you, his tone determined, then he looked at Obi-Wan. “Don't we, Master?”

“You're using her as bait?” Obi-Wan asked incredulously, his eyes widening in shock, and disbelief as well as yours.

You sighed, and groaned. “Why are you so stubborn?”

“It was her idea,” Anakin protested, but his sharp tone showed clearly that he agreed with the plan. “Don't worry. No harm will come to her. I can sense everything going on in that room. Trust me.”

“It's too risky,” Obi-Wan scolded. “Besides, your senses aren't that attuned, my young apprentice.”

Anakin parsed his words and his tone carefully, trying to sound not defensive, but rather suggestive. “And yours are?”

Obi-Wan could not deny the look of intrigue that crossed his face. “Possibly,” he admitted.

You rolled your eyes at the two. You walked to the window, unclipped your lightsaber, and sat on the ground with your legs crossed in a mediating form. You then closed your eyes, focusing on the force.

“Uh, what are you doing?” Anakin asked, looking at you with a raising eyebrows.

“Meditating, obviously,” you replied.

“I know that,” said Anakin, annoyed. “Why now?” Much to his dismay, you did not answer. His blue eyes widened as he saw your body, slowly lifting up the ground. Your lightsaber floating as well.

Obi-Wan, with his arms crossed as he leaned on the wall, smiled proudly at you. It took every ounce of willpower he could muster to not merely rush in and crush you in a hug when he saw you enter the apartment.

As he looked at your hair, he notice the way the light catches in it and it shimmers as it flows with your every move. He found himself self wanting to bury his face in your hair, as if to hide from the world and all the problems it holds for him on a daily basis. The slight hint of moisture on your lips making them glisten in the light, causing them to look as though they are really a reflection on the waters of a pond in the gardens of the Jedi Temple. Obi-Wan closed his eyes for just a moment and inhaled deeply, and he could smell you again, the scent that had been burned into him as you.

[ladyzirkonia]

WIP Wednesday

Thank you for the tag @blueink-bluesoul 💕

I take this opportunity to talk a little bit about my little OC project which I really love (and don't has a name yet). The first part I made for cloned eyes was the first thing I EVER wrote. I love Commander Ghoul and my OC Doc and there will be multiple parts with a lot of angst, mention of war trauma (survivors guilt), kind of toxic relationship, drug abuse and in general discussing the question how the clones are treated by the republic.

I'm planning to rewrite the first part and post it here on my blog (because as I wrote this I just wanted to leave a note and never thought it would turn out to something like this)

Part 1

But here is a small insight for Part 3 - feat. (Young) Crosshair

Enhanced senses (Or how Crosshair got his toothpicks)

“Fascinating.”

She murmured softly more to herself as she continued to look at her data pad with fascination. She had stumbled across the term ''defective clones'' before, which made her heart tighten in pain for a moment. This term was not unknown to her, but she had always been reluctant to use it. It deeply disgusted her to catagorise a living being according to these factors. Her thoughts drifted directly back to Jenot, the moment when she had to decide what to do with him.... he was defective in every kind as she first met him and she had ignored all protocol to help him. She didn't notice how her expression automatically darkened and the well known melancholy took possession of her again, the feeling she had been trying to shake off all the time.

While they were caught up in their thoughts, she had almost completely forgotten Crosshair and had not noticed that he had been staring at her the whole time. He finally interrupted her with an annoyed snort.

''You sound like Tech.''

She flinched a little at his voice as she was jolted out of her thoughts, adjusted her googles and looked at him slightly confused, but it wasn't long before she had regained her composure and started typing on her data pad again, muttering.

''Hmm... CT-9903 - enhanced mental capacity.''

She smiled slightly and turned to look up at the young clone again.

''Thank you, that's...''

She was interrupted by an even more annoyed and defiant tone.

''That wasn't a compliment.''

Her brow furrowed slightly and she sighed internally in slight exasperation, thank the maker she really had no need to deal with another rebellious specimen with a certain attitude. This just seemed all too familiar to her.

I think that most of the people I know got already tagged so please ignore if you are ;)

@lightwise @the-bad-batch-baroness @sinfulsalutations @littlemissmanga @enigmaticexplorer @anxiouspineapple99 @starrylothcat

[kill-me-with-a-spoon]

I know I am a bit late to this discussion but I just came across a post that basically said they were so looking forward to the final duel between Obi-Wan and Maul in the Kenobi series and it just angered me.

We had that, we had that done beautifully. Just because it was in a cartoon doesn't mean it has to be done again "for real". Star Wars especially is a franchise that was carried by it's animation for so long, Clone Wars alone is double the run time of all three trilogies combined, because of that Star Wars fans ignoring the animated show or wanting what has been done in them to be done in live action again just feels like an insult to the great stories that were told in these shows.

Ahsoka, Maul's whole character, Bo-Katan, Dark Saber, Saw Gerrera and many more things that were great in the Disney Star Wars all started in animated shows, Clone Wars in particular.

Not to mention animated series can handle themes better than the movies. I will just give two examples of this:

The Last Jedi has a whole subplot about how slavery is bad during the Canto Bite but it says very little besides that. It just shows some sad slave childeren and then they release some animals but not the slaves. In the end of the movie we see one of the childeren still being a slave. The fact that Fin was a former slave soilder wasn’t brought up at all. Meanwhile Clone Wars has Slaves of the Republic arc that focuses on slavery as well but instead of simply saying "slavery is bad" it shows us the horror of it. It shows innocent people being tortured, treated like property and it has lasting effects on people shown through Anakin.

For my 2nd example lets take a look at how the possibility of our main character is handelled in the sequals and Star Wars Rebels. The Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker both tells us Rey is drawn to the dark side and anger(during Rey's meditation scene in TLJ and many times during TRoS) but we never really see Rey deliberitaly use the Dark Side or get consumed by anger. TLJ may have set an interesting start to a Dark!Rey but TRoS didn’t explore that story well in my opinion. Where as in Star Wars Rebels season 3 we explore Ezra's(main character of Rebels) use of the Dark Side and how it effects him. I won’t go into much detail here but we see Ezra is drawn to the Dark Side not because he was just drawn to it but because it gave him power during a time when he needed that power to help others and protect his friends.

Sure Clone Wars and Rebels had more time to focus on these story beats instead of a small part in a 2+ hour movie but I would argue not including the slave childeren would have been better than halfassing the subplot all together.

Not to mention how bigger the animated Star Wars universe is. Star Wars animation intruduced Mortis, World between Worlds, kaijus, brain inwaders, witches and so much more into Star Wars canon. These adition truly makes the Star Wars galaxy feel massive and mysterious, makes it feel like a place where you can encounter anything instead of space battles between two factions that the movies generally show.

These aspects of Star Wars do exist and they shouldn't be ignored just because they are in an animated medium. If you want to see Obi-Wan and Maul face of you can watch Clone Wars and Rebels. If you want to see how the Republic became the Empire you can watch Bad Batch. If you want to see more of the Force you can watch the Mortis Arc and Yoda Arc of CW season 6. If you want to see the early days of the Rebalion you can watch Rebels Andor isn't the only show that tells that story.

This rant has been mainly about Star Wars but it apllies to animation as a whole. Animation is a medium, it can be used to tell stories about anything and for any age range and the stories told through it shouldn't be dismissed just because it doesn't have real life actors.

[cienie-isengardu]

Have you liked the republic commando books? They have great clone lore but I could barely get through the last two because of how they represent/depict the Jedi.

The oversimplified answer would be yes, I like the Republic Commando series but with a long list of objections. My feelings about this book series are very complicated and so far only TCW managed to give me a similar level of conflicting thoughts about any star wars source material.

When the book showed up in my country in 2006, I was already hooked on the clone wars era and clone troopers (alongside Mandalorians and Darth Vader) were my personal niche of interest and then there was the fact that book was tied to the Republic Commando game that I love to this day, so of course I needed to read it. I was a bit disappointed to learn it was not about Delta Squad but Ghez Hokan and the general focus on the clones made up for it for me. The story was quite refreshing after dozens of Jedi-centric comics and books so there is no surprise I welcomed the sequel. Triple Zero and every following part however went deeper not only in presenting the clone trooper’s daily life but also into Mandalorian culture as well into critique of Jedi Order and here my feelings quickly got complicated. There are plenty things I enjoy about this series, starting of course with Walon Vau and Mird who were my main motivation to read all books regardless of their quality, then there is Delta Squad, the general take on clones and their economic and social situation that was rarely brought into question by other sources. There is the military aspect I like and humor that makes me smile everytime I reread certain chapters (mainly just Vau being Vau and irritating Skirata because he can). There is Mandalorian culture that I find amazing in theory but in practice only to some degree for a huge part of it is twisted in a way I do not like at all (which I blame mainly on Skirata's misogyny). 

I will not lie - I do admire the author's guts to bring up to light the lack of proper laws and health care regarding clones but I despite how her own pet characters like Kal Skirata got absolved by almost everyone regardless of the shit he does. And I have a long list of shitty behavior of his to complain about, starting with his awful treatment of pregnant Etain and general misogyny to the way he treats his so-called beloved sons (holding back crucial information regarding Daman’s child is just a tip of the iceberg. His general attitude of treating them as kids instead of men capable of making their own decisions irks me to no end). I can understand Mandalorian biased views on the Jedi Order and Republic even if I don’t agree with everything. I can understand to some degree that other characters share this sentiment once they get under Kal’s influence (albeit to this day I do not understand why everyone seems to fall into the role of Kal Skirata’s loyal fanboy and to be honest, Jusik Bardan is the most annoying in that. Not even as a character but as part of narrative/plotline and another special kid to do the bidding of Skirata. At some point he felt more like Skirata's favorite boy than Ordo, if my memories serves me right and to be honest, I try not to not remember much about Skirata-Nulls-Bardan if there is no need for that, heh).

However what I do not understand and definitely dislike is how women are portrayed and to some degree objectified in contrast to male characters. Which is pretty shame because I like Etain and Laseema and even Besany seems fine (though since she is mainly tied to Ordo-Skirata I’m kinda indifferent to her what comes from my own bias for what I’m not even remotely sorry about) yet if it feels weird that every available adult / relatively attractive woman ends as girlfriend/fiance/wife of clone troopers or main male characters (albeit again, it may be my own bias since romantic subplots rarely kept me interested). The women deserve better than being the “trophy” lover whose whole life orbiting around their men and/or Skirata’s plans for clone troopers. I truly find it annoying how heavily featured is the idea of “man should find himself a nice wife and have kids” that Skirata is projecting on everyone around him. I mean, not every woman must be straight and into clones the same as not every clone must be hooked up with the first - or any at all - female character he met. 

(To be honest, some clone characters felt like having little to none interest in relationships - mainly Delta Squad but they could be unavailable for the author to pair them with anyone? In general, the feeling of asexual/aromantic few clones was intentional, or it is just me or there just weren’t enough female to pair them up is still up to debate I guess)

Similarly, the deeper in the storyline, the more and more clones are pushed to the margin for Skirata’s sake and Mandalorian culture overall. A culture that is pretty neat in theory but somehow works differently in narrative, which is again, related to approach to female characters. This and some weird glorification of Mandalorians, but that may be more the fault of fans who don’t want to acknowledge the brutality of Mandalorian culture? Oh, and I definitely hate how one-sided the books are about True Mandalorians and Death Watch which is really annoying. Understable from Skirata and Vau’s POVs but irritating no less for me.

Personally, I’m not so much offended by critique of Jedi or Republic but I can see why some fans can’t stomach this series, especially since the books don’t give much opportunity and space to discuss controversial matters, there is little to none counterarguments coming from POV of supposedly less biased characters. 

So in general, I liked and still like this series, but I’m also aware of a pretty long list of flaws that are hard to overlook. And to be honest, the fact that after reading the author's ideas / plotlines for the Imperial Commando: 501st’s sequel I was so damn happy that it was in fact the last book speaks a lot about my feelings, isn’t it?

[anakinh]

sw brotherhood ramblings (spoilers!)

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

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

Overall I love it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[phoenixyfriend]

Anakin Assists the Jedi Council While On Medical Leave

AU brainstormed primarily by @atagotiak, @gelpenss, and myself.

Basically, a fix-it based in Anakin getting a peek into the daily life on the Council early, and accidentally Figuring Some Shit Out along the way, mostly because Palps Fucks Up.

So, Anakin gets injured in a way that limits him to Coruscant for a few weeks. He can still walk and talk, but he can't fight. The specific injury doesn't matter, just this:

Anakin runs errands on behalf of the council and sits in on meetings to take minutes as a "you're on medical leave but we need all hands on deck, congrats you get to be the secretary until we can send you on stabbing missions again" thing.

Also, there just aren't a whole lot of people with Anakin's clearance level. They had to send out Stass Allie to handle the mission that was originally next on Anakin's roster, and Anakin's the most convenient person to substitute into her position.

He's not super happy about this but he can more or less understand the point of it. Given that he gets antsy about needing to fight almost immediately, he can acknowledge the worth of having something useful to do, if only as the person who's writing down who says what and making sure everyone has the right file on hand.

(Besides, Obi-Wan jokes in a way that Anakin thinks might be encouraging, this is good practice if Anakin ever wants to be on the High Council himself!)

(This is a very helpful conversation.)

BASICALLY, Anakin is resigned to this but agrees because "Usually we have Master Allie handle this but we need her running that mission that was originally set for the 501st, so you get to fill in for her until you can switch back. Think of it as training for eventual mastery or admin or--listen, we're just really stretched thin."

Here's the key thing, though: Anakin isn't supposed to leave the Temple, for medical reasons, so Palpatine doesn't know Anakin is sitting in on Council meetings. They haven't met up since Anakin's last surgery, and because [muffled hand-wave reason] he didn't find out another way, like Anakin comming him or the Council giving him the heads-up about the change in attendance.

It's fine. He's just taking notes and doing preparatory research, he has the clearance, the Chancellor likes him anyway. Hell, they'd have had someone's Padawan doing this, before the war increased the necessary clearance levels. They'll toss in a quick message in the brief they send to Palps that he never reads anyway, and that's really all they need to do. Skywalker's getting some rounded experience and this way the medics won't be freaking out about him stressing his heart after getting electrocuted by trying to spar too early.

Palpatine doesn't talk directly to the Council, he just sends a recording the first time Anakin is there. It's a bit weird, but nothing goes wrong. Anakin's off-screen from whatever device they use to send a response, since he's not technically a member, just assisting for a bit on the part of Master Allie's duties that he's actually allowed to touch (and not the bits that are getting added to Mace, Plo, and Shaak's stuff).

The first four or so meetings are like that. Anakin starts having a bit of sympathy for the Council as he sees how many things they want to do that are hampered by the need for Senatorial approval, things that he would also want to do and didn't think required this much red tape.

About a week in, still mostly recordings with Anakin just sitting on the side playing paralegal, the wheel of fortune turns a few pegs.

Palpatine hands over a an order on the range of injury that a soldier should be treated for, "to ensure that republic resources aren't being wasted on clones that, while expensive, would actually be cheaper to replace than repair."

Oh, he dresses it up in prettier language than that. Anakin doesn't process it as such first.

The Chancellor manages to couch his phrasing in "prioritizing resources for taxpaying republic citizens and employees of the GAR," which... well.

The natborn commissioned officers pay taxes. The Jedi are employees. The clones are neither, because they're slaves.

Probably he frames it as the employees thing, very much the kinda language that sounds halfway ok unless you’re fluent in political bullshit.

And Anakin is really confused at first about why the council is upset by the order because, okay, he would PREFER to be able to use medical supplies on refugees when possible, but he understands prioritizing the soldiers?

He just looks up, totally lost, when someone groans and goes, "That's the third time this year, is he trying to get us all killed?"

And it vibes as such a genuine, aggrieved, sad reaction that Anakin is completely blindsided because it's not the sarcastic, petty resentment he kind of expected? It's just... desperate depression.

And someone gently has to explain that this is the third time they've had resources restricted to only GAR employees and that it's a polite way of saying "prioritize natborn officers, stop wasting resources on clones, we can replace them easier."

Or maybe he doesn't ask, because he's just there to take notes, not argue, and he can see the masters drawing up a response that amounts to "We would like to remind you that our soldiers do not fall into that classification, and to limit their access to our medical supplies is liable to cause a loss of life that we find unreasonably high. Please see the annotations attached to adjust wording so that the clones may receive the same level of care."

Anakin's internally just like "Yeah, that's phrased nice and addresses the main problem, Palpatine will obviously agree and change it!"

And then he comes in the next day and the response comes in and it's just dripping condescension about considering the clones actual people.

"This is why we can't use the bacta tanks on clones anymore, just the patches. We could use them at first, we had a few of the CCs get through fatal injuries with them, but they cut that off and said we could only use the tanks on Jedi and non-clone officers a few months ago. The Banking Clans keep tightening their belts on the army, and the Chancellor insists we put citizens first, and the clones aren't citizens. We've been arguing back as much as we can, but he keeps going on about the economy and we can't... we just can't, Skywalker. We're trying to save as many of our men as we can, but..."

Something like "Allocation of resources reiterated, the Kaminoans have assured the senate that the Jedi are far from exhausting the resources ordered."

And Anakin's like. He can't blame the council for lying about Palpatine's past or future actions. He just saw Palpatine's actions. Those actions were to order people under his control to throw away lives he saw as replaceable commodities.

These are his friends' lives.

His soldiers are being thrown away by a man in a tower that he trusted.

And then that man has the gall to suggest it's the council's fault.

Palpatine is good at what he does, especially in public, he dresses it up in flowery language and everything, but Anakin's just like "Those are my FRIENDS and also this is??? How slavers talked about their property on Tatooine???? FRIENDPATINE, WHAT THE FUCK."

Anakin can be passive aggressive sometimes as well as outright aggressive. So if he brings up the guidelines and why they make him upset in general terms, and Palpatine says something about how he’s sad the council doesn’t care about the clones...

Anakin, internally, having just watched the council scramble to save as many clones as possible within the guidelines that Palps handed down: Uh-huh.

(Anakin is just the gay horror teeth gif from queer eye.)

Just. “Yeah, funny you say that, Palpatine! Because as I remember, you told the council not to waste more resources than necessary while Mace Windu was arguing to expand the treatment range!”

Palps doesn't even have time to salvage the situation or attack Anakin because Anakin just bulldoze rants for fifteen minutes and then storms out.

Anakin... maybe does a little treason and gets a copy of the orders so he can ask Padme "Hey, can you explain the politics of this?" and doesn't tell her who wrote it so she isn't biased (he tells her that this is why he's not sharing the author's/speaker's name), and just lets Padme pick apart all the 'this is a nice way of saying they don't view the clones as people' details.

Alternately, someone on the Council sees Anakin dithering and manages to get him to admit that he's not great at political language and wants to ask someone to help him understand the full implications. The person--Mace? let's go with Mace--is aware that Anakin is on good terms with Senator Amidala, if not necessarily aware of the depth of said relationship. Mace points out that he's probably going to be seeing her soon just because he usually does and, as a Senator, she can get easy access to these sessions since they're not about specific missions, just allocation of resources, etc. It's not an optimal solution, but she's got a bit more free time than anyone else Anakin knows with the clearance levels, like Order members that are actively involved in the war effort.

Anakin dithers and panics and Mace, trying to be helpful, tells him that plenty of Jedi have made friends among the Senate over the years, didn't you know Qui-Gon Jinn was a personal friend of Former Chancellor Valorum?

At any rate, Anakin goes to Padme and asks her to explain it to him, because she knows how to phrase things so he gets it.

Anakin has to have her pause and he goes outside and destroys some things halfway through.

(Anakin maybe thinks back to the times Padmé or Obi-Wan were really obviously frustrated and when he asked, they said stuff like “I can’t stand Palpatine rn, sorry Anakin I know he’s important to you and you don’t want to talk about politics, let’s just talk about something else.”)

(Obi-Wan: I don’t trust Palpatine Anakin: you just don’t like politicians in general Obi-Wan: yes that is also true)

(Obi-Wan does like Bail and Padme but he does also talk a bit about how politicians generally aren’t to be trusted.)

[clonecyare]

Playing A Dangerous Game

Summary: Joining the GAR as a voluntary medic was supposed to keep you away from galas such as this. But after meeting a certain Captain in the line of duty, perhaps this one wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Pairing: Rex x medic!reader

Tags: drinking, galas, flirting, softness, rex being rex, reader is a tease, implied past sexual activity, kissing

Word Count: 2.1k

A/N: Based on this dress. Also, I can’t find a canon name or the 212th’s medic so I made one up.

A/N 2: I left this one more sfw since it’s my first proper piece but I was thinking of writing a more nsfw part 2 if people would want that?

|| Masterlist || Tag list ||

----

The whole point of joining the Grand Army of the Republic, aside from helping the weary and wounded, was to avoid galas such as these. They were always just so boring and underwhelming. This evening though, this would be different. Because this time you would, hopefully, be in much more enticing company.

You were a volunteer field medic, assigned only 6 months ago to General Kenobi and the 212th Attack Battalion. Their current medic, CT-9878, who you had come to affectionately nickname Patches, was in dire need of assistance following the Republic’s 2nd takeover on Geonosis. After that, the General had taken quite a liking to you and requested you be assigned to him indefinitely.

You were glad for the assignment, truth be told. Working under General Kenobi had been a pleasure. You had gotten to know the men under his command well, and soothe them in their moments of need. This was what you were meant to do.

It was thanks to General’s Kenobi’s personal request that you were invited tonight. That you were able to see him again, for the first time in months, your Captain.

The gala was intended to praise the outstanding efforts of the GAR following the Battle of Saleucami. The General recommended you be commended for your actions planetside during the battle. Not only had you helped soothe his troops in the height of one of their most intensive missions yet, but you had been reckless responsible for breaking protocol to assist Patches in saving the Commander after Grievous’ final stand. You had put yourself between the injured clone Commander and the oncoming fire.

That had been the day you met him. Another clone - a Captain you later learned from Cody - named Rex, who was under the command of your General’s former padawan. The Captain has been badly wounded by a commando droid. Though he had been patched up in the days following his injury, he had still been turned over to your care for further treatment until his troops could be evacuated.

While Patches worked on treating minor ailments, and your Commander slept following treatment, you attended to Rex. He was kind, you noted, as you spent time dressing his wounds every hour. He brought a warmth to your chest and a smile to your lips in a way most couldn't in months, let alone one rotation.

You had given the Captain your private comm link, but thought little of it in the days following the battle. But when you finally arrived back on the Negotiator, physically and emotionally exhausted, you saw a soft blue light in the corner of your datapad and smiled to yourself. He certainly was a charmer.

----

Though you hadn’t seen him in several months you knew, thanks to Cody, that he would be in attendance tonight by request of his own Jedi, General Skywalker. You also learned that your sweet Captain hated these galas almost as much as you did. And you couldn’t have that, not tonight.

Though you exchanged messages, and occasional holo calls late into the calm, quiet nights alone in your respective quarters, you hadn't seen each other in the flesh for months. No, tonight you would do something special.

----

That was how you found yourself swapping the comfort of your blacks and plated armour pieces for an elegant grey formal gown. If you absolutely had to attend, looking the part wouldn’t hurt; especially if it gathered the response you hoped it would. The thought alone brought a pleasant wave of goosebumps along your skin and a warmth deep in your stomach.

Though your outfit of choice was a little out of your comfort zone, you were sure it would be much appreciated.

The soft grey fabric followed every curve of your body in ways you had only dreamed of. Sitting neatly on the curve of your shoulders the fabric slid into a dramatic V shape around your cleavage and tightened ever so slightly around the waist, where it was decorated with intricate rope and floral detailing. The fabric continues to fall down over your hips, barely grazing the ground with a gentle sweep.

The most notable detail was the two large slits in the skirt of your dress, each running from the hem up over the enticing expanse of your legs and stopping at the top of your thighs. The dress concealed everything you needed it to but left the promise of more.

Around your shoulders hung a soft, great cape adorned with delicate floral embellishments, completing your look.

A knock on your door broke you from your pleasant daydream of soft blond hair and inviting honey eyes, and was a welcome distraction for the growing warmth making itself at home in your body.

You crossed the apartment to open it, faced with a smiling Cody, the man who had become almost like a brother to you, and who had asked to escort you to the gala on the 212th’s behalf. Dressed in his formal dress greys, adorning the Republic crest on one shoulder and a beautiful sunburst design on the other, Cody offered his arm.

“Shall we?”

You smiled, sliding your arm through his.

“Lead the way, Commander.”

----

Rex hated formal functions almost as much as you did. He was a Captain, a soldier. He much preferred the familiar chaos aboard the Resolute to being here, surrounded by politicians and high society, many of whom would rather stare blindly out at the city below than speak with him.

You were the only reason he was even here tonight. He hadn’t seen you for months, and it was too long. He had hoped that after Salucemi there would be cause for his men to be reunited on a campaign with the 212th, but so far he hadn’t had much luck.

So he sipped his drink and waited, every so often letting out a disgruntled sigh or fiddling with the medals adorning his dress greys. Maker, he hated these things. He missed his armour.

He felt an elbow dig into his ribs and grunted.

“Stop sulking, you look suspicious.” Kix told him, plastering on his best crowd-pleasing smile.

Rex was very close to muttering something in response when he was interrupted by an announcement somewhere across the room.

“Marshall Commander Cody and representatives of the 212th Attack Battalion.”

Rex looked up so fast he worried he may have given himself whiplash. But it was worth it. Kriff, there you were. Rex could have sworn his heart stopped, you looked breathtaking.

The Captain had seen you several ways before, several months of holo calls and late-night messages would ensure that. But he had never seen you quite like this, commanding the attention of everyone in the room as Cody led you down the staircase in the gala, flanked by several other of his brothers from the 212th.

Wearing a dress like that should be illegal, he thought. The way the delicate material clung to your skin and accentuated every beautiful edge and curve, the way you teased more with each sway of your hips that swung the fabric to and fro across your thighs.

On one particular step, he could have sworn he saw a pretty, delicate band of deep blue lace nestled around your upper thigh. His eyes darted back and forth trying to catch another look, rewarded only with tantalising glimpses at select moments.

Watching you with a gaze that spoke volumes, as if you had single-handedly hung each of the 4 Coruscanti moons, Rex was speechless. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was.

Across the ballroom he caught your eye and tipped his head, a handsome smile curving over his lips. In reply you smiled at him, eyes twinkling in the light. It was a look that you knew was understood perfectly by your captain, turning slowly into a playful smirk at the end as you disappeared into the crowd to keep up appearances.

Kriff, he was lucky.

You were his, and he needed you.

----

Everything so far has gone exactly as you had planned it. The look in Rex’s eyes when he saw you, Force, it was like lighting a spark in your stomach, waiting for the kindling to catch fire and consume everything in its wake.

You knew he was watching you, you could feel darkened amber eyes burning into your skin as you moved through the crowd with Cody, stopping to politely greet members of the Senate or the council as you passed.

You knew there would be formalities to get out of the way before you were free to wander the gala, but what was to stop you from having a little fun in the meantime? The Captain, you had learned the hard way, was a tease by nature. Why not return the favour?

It started with small, little things that only someone paying attention would notice. Laughing innocently as you spoke with a twinkle in your eye, tossing your hair back from your tastefully exposed chest to tumble down your back. Resting a hand on the arm of the senator, soldier, or civilian you were speaking with.

Eventually, you grew a little bolder, pressing lightly up against the Captain’s back with soft hands on his waist as you passed by him, with a gentle, ‘My apologies, Captain’ before breezing past.

When you had finished with your polite introductions and praises, Cody finally led you to where his vod were, speaking with General Kenobi in a quiet corner of the large room. You felt Rex’s full attention shift onto you almost immediately as you approached, the weight of it nearly knocking the wind from your lungs, heat coiling in your belly.

“Ah, you both made it. I trust that wasn’t too harrowing, Commander?”

You heard General Kenobi ask with a light tone, and were vaguely aware of Cody responding. Though you were far too distracted by Rex’s dark gaze to register what he said, caught up in the pleasant thought of the Captain’s large hands guiding you away from the crowded gala and-

“And how are you finding the evening, my dear? I know you dislike these events almost as much as myself.”

It wasn’t until the Jedi addressed you directly, bowing respectfully as he always did, that you snapped back to the present moment.

“I must say this evening has been far more interesting than most, General. I’m eager to see what else is to come.”

You smiled and bowed in response, allowing the pretty blue lace on your thigh to show once more. The quiet grunt you heard made your smile wider, and Cody chuckled.

“You remember Kix and Captain Rex?”

He gestured to each of the men before turning back to speak with the General. You smiled innocently.

“I do indeed, lovely to see you both again.” You smiled and shook Kix’s hand, “Kix.” Then Rex’s, letting your fingertips trail over his wrist. “Sir.”

General Kenobi broke the silence of the moment, “I’m afraid Cody and I must speak with the Chancellor, Kix will you be joining us? The Chancellor is most eager to hear about your research.” He smiled at the clone medic, “Can I trust you to stay out of trouble if I can leave you in Captain Rex’s capable hands?”

The Jedi chuckled and you grinned, the picture of innocence.

“Of course, General.”

You bid them farewell, and while Cody spoke briefly with his brother, you acquired a glass of softly bubbling golden liquid and wandered towards one of the huge windows, admiring the city below.

Thankfully, nobody was paying too much attention to the view, as just as you pressed the glass to your lips to take a sip, you felt a warmth pressing into your back lightly, strong fingers curling around your waist. Though it was the first time you had been able to feel his physical touch, you would know your Captain anywhere.

“Mesh’la.”

His voice had dropped several octaves, quiet and smooth in your ear as your head tilted just enough under his fingers for Rex to press his soft kiss to yours, fingers trailing down your neck. You had imagined this kiss several thousand times over the months, yet nothing could quite prepare you for the real thing.

Once he pulled back, you followed, claiming his lips in another kiss, his tongue moving over your lips, slipping past when you accepted with a gentle gasp. As you did you leaned back subtly into his warmth, back tight to his front. The hand not holding your drink slid down to slot your fingers in between his own where they rested on your waist, slowly moving them down to your hip, feeling his gloves now pressing against both bare skin and grey cotton.

You felt his fingers curl into a ball, taking with it a handful of fabric as he broke away from the kiss to speak with a quiet groan.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, cyare.”

You simply smiled against his lips, pressing back once more.

“Am I winning, Captain?”