#coming back to find the senate on fire is a good possibility

[a-1010-is-speaking]

I heard a report of a fire in the Senate Building.

Commander Tano and @professional-tooka-herder told me about "birthday" traditions earlier and I'm not gonna complain about getting cake today. Thank you ❤️

[haven-of-dusk]

I was rewatching RotS the other day, because I'm guilty of it being probably my favorite Star Wars movie, and one scene in particular struck me in a way I hadn't really thought about before.

Order 66 is already an incredibly tragic scene, with a fantastic score, that never fails to give me chills, but in this case I was particularly hit by the short sequence where Zett Jukassa is killed by the clones right in front of Bail Organa.

At first glance, it's just a fun way to do a cameo by George Lucas' son, and that's likely all it was intended as, without an additional thematic meaning. But the structure of the moment does say something about the Jedi that I think is important.

When Zett appears, he's clearly making a break for Bail's speeder, seeing it as a means of escaping the massacre and inferno inside the temple. Given his youth, it's entirely possible the lightsaber he's holding isn't even his, it might've been his master's, or just one he grabbed from a fallen Jedi to defend himself as he fled. But with the brutal efficiency of Order 66, he's probably seen a lot of people he knows and cares about slaughtered by the clones already, and is more than likely aware of the risks involved in engaging any clones in a fight.

Yet despite all of that, when the clones open fire, Zett's first instinct isn't to duck and hide in the speeder or get himself out of danger, it's to plant himself between Bail and the hail of gunfire and try to protect Bail. It's entirely possible Zett has no idea who Bail is, and at most he probably just knows him as a Senator and occassional visitor to the Temple, but it doesn't matter. When faced with danger his first instinct isn't to protect himself, it's the selfless instinct to protect others. And it cost him his life.

(I had a paragraph here talking about the plot of 'Padawan Lost' and its relation to this moment, but this post is long enough already so I might make a separate post about that).

The reason I find this moment so impactful is that it represents the type of 'light' Palpatine wanted to eradicate. Selfless good, protecting others and putting them before yourself, self-sacrifice, they're all values the Jedi represent, and they're all values Palpatine needs the galaxy to lose hold of if he wants his grip on power to remain.

It's a running theme throughout the OT, Andor, the Clone Wars, and more, that fighting FOR others gives people a strength they wouldn't otherwise have. Han chose to come back and help the rebels in A New Hope, Luke and Anakin defeated Palpatine because they were fighting for each other instead of for themselves, etc. Tyrants like Palpatine thrive when people distrust each other, when they're driven to look out solely for their own interests, because it keeps the people separated, oppressed, and severely lacking in morale.

Palpatine didn't just kill the Jedi, he symbolically slaughtered the galaxy's hope and selflessness, setting the perfect stage for his own power. And to take it even farther, he framed the Jedi as dangerous traitors. The symbols of good were, if one believed his words, revealed to be crafty villains who had fooled the Republic into trusting them just so they could gain power. He framed the Jedi as doing the very thing he did, so that he could be the galaxy's hope, putting a stop to the 'threat' and protecting the Republic. But if you can't trust the Jedi, who can you trust? Your neighbors? Your friends? Your senators? It's terrifying how Palpatine successfully generated the environment of fear and paranoia that would keep him in power while exterminating the organization representing everything that would ideologically undermine him.

And it's even more terrifying that some viewers of Star Wars have essentially bought Palpatine's lies and uncritically act as though the Jedi were some ultra-corrupt, morally reprehensible organization.

[reconstructwriter]

Neighbors

The apartment was a good price for its level here in Coruscant. Rent to own. You don't see anything wrong with the foundation or the piping or the paint to indicate expensive trouble. Most of the neighbors seem fine. It’s right next to the Jedi Temple and its weird wizard monks. But the price…

You move in and nothing happens. You've heard all manner of rumors about the Jedi but the only encounter you have is a normal, neighborly delivery of home-made treats. Everything is amazing, do the Jedi put crack in all their food or something?

Half a year later there's a plumbing issue. It behaves itself only when somebody else comes by. You’re at wits ends. They’re your neighbors, that means they should help you out right? So you go to one of the temple guards.

Umm excuse me, my house, my apartment there's something wrong with the plumbing but no one seems to figure out what it is or believe me. Can you check on it? The Temple Guard might as well be made of stone. But minutes later another Jedi comes.

She does indeed check the problem and fix it. It would have cost you who knows how much. You insist on feeding her. Afterwards you take meals to the Temple for a week. They really did save you a lot of money and it's neighborly.

When Qui-Gon Jinn's death appears on the news, you give your condolences. And your gratitude they stopped that awful Naboo invasion. The Trade Federation is awful. But the new chancellor sounds like he will do right thing and kick them out of the Senate.

He never does.

When the war comes, you give the Jedi some good luck victory herbs you grew in your kitchen and thank them for their service. And find out they were drafted into that service. The one you meet would much rather negotiate for peace. You’re sorry.

The Jedi grow weary. You bring them what you can and help what you can. So does everyone in your building. The Jedi are constantly injured, tired, and the war only grows worse. Others say they're warmongers. You and yours post the truth on the holo net.

The truth doesn't seem to matter to anyone else, even when the Jedi defend Coruscant itself and everyone near the Temple takes shelter during the invasion. You help deliver things to their Infirmary, to the Jedi and the clones there. They are too kind for war.

One night you wake to screams. To blaster fire. You grab your pepper spray in one hand and a hammer in the other and peek out your apartment door. The temple is on fire. Awful sounds within. You should help them. That is neighborly. You are afraid.

You finally work up the courage to get to the door. There is no familiar guard. You knock very quietly. No one answers. You swallow and nudge the door open. “Hello,” you whisper “Are you alright?” You can only hear more screams and shots.

Finally a Jedi appears. They look awful. They beg you to help the little ones in their arms. “I’ll be right back,” they assure as you take the little ones. They lied. They never come back. You learn about the treason later, but that's not possible. And even if it is…

They didn’t deserve THIS.

The new emperor moves in. The wiser of your neighbors move out. You hide the little ones and feed them. When the clones come looking for Jedi you lie. The laws pass and the neighborly aid you give becomes illegal. They’re so young. You hope they’ll be okay.

Some people didn't want to be around the Jedi temple. No one really wanted to be around Palpatine’s palace. Not even his cronies. You are caught because you can't get anything for your place and you can't afford to move.

There is something wrong with the emperor's palace. It's haunted they say. He does unnatural things there. You can feel the cold coming from that place. You don't dare welcome them with food. They don’t bring you any. Some nights you still hear screams

one night you swear you see the ghost of a temple guard, several burned holes in them, blood dribbling down their robes. The ghost looks at you at points away. You can't afford to move but you go anyway. Afterward you learned the building and inhabitants were…confiscated.

[goldensunartinitiative]

A pitch for a new Golden Sun game

If you were not aware, the first two Golden Sun games are now available on the Switch. My personal stance is to abstain until an actual new game is made, but to help celebrate, here is a pitch for a new Golden Sun game.

This may be a bit unorthodox, but it would tell the second half of the story, but would radically differ from The Lost Age. And be warned, there are massive spoilers for the first two in this pitch.

Isaac and company battle Saturos and Menardi, but once the Fusion Dragon forms, Felix sneaks up and kills Isaac. The rest of the team kill Felix, but are wiped out by the Dragon. Once they separate, Saturos and Menardi also succumb to the effects of fusion, so they all end up dead as the Venus Lighthouse beacon is fired. Sheba still falls, but does not survive without Felix. Jenna and Kraden are swept away into the ocean and drown. Who does that leave us with?

Alex.

And now a new team is needed. Hamma saw the future and combines forces with this possibly evil manipulator. So Mercury and Jupiter both have an adept on this new team. With no one to prove Piers is innocent, he is executed. The Great Gabomba spirit sees how the jewel came from a now dead man, and tells Akafubu that to atone for the death of the man who owned the jewel he used in the ceremony, Akafubu must take a new test: he must join the quest to become the witch doctor. Now we have a Mars adept.

Briggs made out well from the situation, escaping Alhafra to Champa with the boat, the food, and the money. But when he learns of Piers, Briggs agrees to join the quest to help as a navigator at sea. Maha from Garoh joins as an additional Jupiter support, and you team up with Susa to kill the serpent. Susa joins as your Venus adept.

The group still gets to Lemuria, but with no Piers it gets awkward. Piers uncle goes with you, in defiance of the senate. Second Mercury adept!

Karst and Agatio still appear, but they turn on Alex for letting Saturos and Mendardi die. Fighting ensues? And perhaps Maopa could join. He learns of your quest, and comes along to ensure the power of Anemos would be used wisely. Then parties could be 5 instead of 4 (always with one non-adept; Briggs or Maopa).

Reaching Prox, Karst and Agatio are missing (same fate as The Lost Age). You need help to find them and finish the quest. Puelle becomes your second Mars adept, and upon learning his son has died, Kyle also joins. Yeah, in this version, no parent abduction because their kids are already dead!!!

Now you have 8 adepts, many of whom are severely under-powered non-fighters (Pier's Uncle, Pulle, Kyle) plus two non-adepts susceptible to the elements. And with no Doom Dragon, your final boss?

The Wise One! You are no match, but at a critical moment it is possible for Alex to warp away. Instead, Alex stays and willingly gets wrecked by The Wise One (as is tradition) who then…willingly backs off? The Wise One allows Alex to light the last beacon and heals this united band of misfits. Because The Wise One has seen who they have become on this journey:

-Alex realizing that there is more than power, and he legitimately wants to help Weyard now. -Akafubu becoming a strong leader to his people, worthy of the title of Witch Doctor. -Maha transforming from a hermit to an ambassador for Beastmen across the world, and allowing Beastmen to be open in the world. -Piers' Uncle and Kyle complete what their relatives died trying to do and can return home to honor their memories. -Maopa reestablishes open and good relations between the people of Atteka and Hespiria. -Susa becomes a better equipped leader for Izumo, more capable than just they guy who stabbed an already dying serpent. -Puelle gets better character development, and becomes the actual hero of Prox. -Hamma completes what Ivan was supposed to have done, and can now focus on the return of the Anemos to honor her fallen brother and restore her people's heritage. -Briggs gets booty. Both treasure and Chaucha. He's a pirate, what do you expect? Some things don't change too much.

Everyone gets character growth and the stakes are high since both parties are gone. But all in all it is a satisfying experience, made up by a group even more fragmented and desperate than the Lost Age crew, but just as noble.

Now, obviously this would never happen due to tone alone, but I hope this outline demonstrates not only the interesting possibilities in the scenario of "what would happen if everyone you play as completely died" but also its feasibility as a game. It would follow The Lost Age in terms of geography and would use the same mechanics, but with changes to story and unexpected character moments this would be a unique game. No doubt about it, perhaps a little too unique and controversial.

Of course, even better than this would be a 4th Golden Sun game. So what are you waiting for Camelot?

[creativestorylove]

Thank you, Lucilla

'Come on, don't stop walking, this is none of your business' I thought, while carrying food to Lucius, the nephew of our new Ceasar. The senate and him were holding the first meeting discussing everything important for Rome. They chose to gather around him.

I didn't dare to look, I had to serve Lucius some snacks because he didn't eat much for breakfast. I knew Marcus Aurelius' son wasn't so fond of working together with the senate, so I almost had to chuckle because I only heard Gracchus talking. With an amused smile, I entered the room of Lucius. He was playing with his wooden sword, and he was bored because he didn't have a friend to play with. "Lucius? Here's the food you ordered. Is there anything else I can do for you?" I asked, bowing down to give him his order. He grabbed the sandwich and looked at me pouting. "I'm bored...stupid meeting, even my mum had to attend! Can you play with me instead?" Startled, I smiled. "I'm unfortunately not allowed to do that little man. But what I can do is hide myself, and you can seek me and find me coincidentally." My smile grew wider as his eyes lit up. I looked at him waiting, so he covered his eyes with his arm, eating his sandwich and muffling a countdown for me. Quickly but not too obvious, I went away through the large corridors into his playing room. I decided to hide behind the door. I waited a while until Lucius tapped into the room, looking around. I watched him grinning. I wasn't used to so much fun. Suddenly, he turned around, so I hid myself completely. "Ha! There you are!" he laughed and pulled me out of my hiding place. I chuckled and ruffled through his hair. "Very good." He smiled and begged me for another round. Having my work in mind, I grimaced and shook my head. "Maybe another day, little man. I have to do important work for your uncle. He's a busy man and needs help with some stuff, I'm so sorry..." He sighed disappointed but then smiled at me. "Thank you for playing with me. You may go now." I nodded, touching his shoulder and leaving for the kitchen again. On my way, I overheard the conversation of Gracchus and the Ceasar. "-and I shall hold them to my bosom and embrace them tightly," I noticed the Ceasar saying. "Have you ever embraced someone dying of plague sire?" Gracchus replied, taunting, disrespecting him. I held my breath and stopped to get the Ceasars answer. I watched the emperor turning around, letting down his sword he played with. His eyebrows raised as he looked at Gracchus, who was standing in front of me, facing him. "No," he paused, his gaze getting more dangerous and threatening, "but if you interrupt me again, I assure you that you shall." Gracchus understood the warning and bowed to him and left the firing line, letting the Ceasars gaze fall on me. Not able to move, I stared back at him like a deer in front of blinding lights. He detailed me annoyed but somehow curious, and before he could say anything, Lucilla turned him away from me, signaling me to go behind her back. Blinking nervously, I stumbled backward, and just in the moment I turned to go, the Ceasar looked over his shoulder to see me again. I held my breath. Lucilla laid an arm around his shoulders, not allowing him to look back. She distracted him and the senate, making suggestions for the solution of the problem. I did as she demanded and went to the kitchen. I felt my heart racing of fear. I wasn't allowed to listen and not even overhear something, and the young Ceasar was known for his unpredictability and anger. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, silently thanking Lucilla for possibly saving my life.

[warsamongstthestar-keen]

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The team of Force-sensitives and Clones glance worriedly at each other. Is there any guarantee that Keen is even still alive?

"Why would they take her to the Capital, and not Mustafar? You'd think they'd want her as far away from the Emperor as possible," Ezra muses, as the two groups trek back to their ships.

"They'll want to find out what sort of information Ari is privy to," Leia states, starting to feel as if this mission is hopeless. Standing behind the two Padawans, Ahsoka, Rex, and Kanan are in a hushed conversation with the other rebels over the comm. "She is a high-ranking member of the Rebellion. She knows more than most of us."

"That won't matter," Omega insists, coming to stand beside the two, "She won't break. She trained herself to withstand torture."

"But who knows what the Empire will do, they won't stop until they get what they want."

The Bad Batch was listening to the devastating conversation, and Echo takes this chance to butt in, "You postulating what is happening to her will do absolutely nothing to help, so buck up. I believe in the General, she'll hold out until we find a way to get her back."

***

The group of rebels quickly get back to their ship, Rex choosing to take the Havoc Marauder back to the base. "So," Leia begins, the Phantom slowly lifting off the rocky terrain, "Do they have a plan?"

"Mostly," Ahsoka answers. "They're ironing out the final details, now that we have the ship. Chopper and Echo are going to work together to find the coordinates of Vader's cruiser."

"Viceroy Organa is going to cause a distraction of some kind, while a few of us sneak in. Hera is going to stage a Rebel attack on the ship, to cause a further distraction, enough to distract Vader from his new toy."

"The small group will sneak into the prison cells, unlock them, and grab Keen. They'll escape. Senator Organa will stay while 'repairs' are made to his ship, and the small band of Rebels firing at his ship are thwarted, and retreat, all of us safely aboard."

Leia seems a bit worried about her fathers safety, so Ezra takes it upon himself to distract her. "I bet they put me on the infiltration ship, and you'll be stuck with Hera."

"As if, more than likely I'll go with the infiltrators, as she's my Master."

"Yeah, maybe, but who has more training, and known her longer?"

Leia protests the boys statement again, and a smile actually cuts it's way across Kanan's face.

***

The two ships find themselves on the head Phoenix ship a while later. The Bad Batch exiting after the other members of the Ghost Crew, Hera immediately approaching them. She smiles, as the Clones, save Rex, salute her. "Sergeant Hunter, Clone Force 99."

"Captain Hera Syndulla. It's a pleasure to see you again, and I'm glad to have you joining us."

"We owe the General our lives, so there ain't much we wouldn't do for her."

"That's good to hear, Sergeant, as you'll be part of the boarding party."

Hunter nods at Hera, glancing over at the other crew, as they approach the surrounding rebels. "What do we know, Hera?" Kanan asks.

"What I think is the most solid plan we can create, given the circumstances. Ezra, Leia, Sergeant Hunter, Omega, and Echo will board the cruiser in this shuttle that Keen has been working on for weeks to make undetectable to rader., while Senator Organa, and his droids cause a distraction. Chopper will go in on the Senator's ship, undercover, and get us as much information on the Empire's movements as he can. To further the distraction, the rest of us will engage the cruiser in a space battle, because nothing greater than that will cause the Sith Lord to leave the cell."

Ezra and Leia glance at each other, then at Kanan and Ahsoka, then back at each other, silently cheering. Hunter glances over at the kids, and can't help the smile that slides across his face.

***

The mission starts out well. Commander Wolffe accompanies Senator Organa, tasked with making sure Chopper succeeds, although he'd rather kill someone, than have to deal with the viceroy's droids. The beginning of the mission relies to C-3PO, R2-D2, and Bail's ability to come up with excuses, and lies on the spot. Thankfully, one is a politician, one is a politicians droid, and then there's threepio.

Chopper lets out a signal, once the Imperials are well and truly distracted by the appearance of a disgruntled Senator who had recently had his ship 'attacked by insurgents' and having to make an 'unexpected' landing due to the damages.

Once the rebels receive the signal, and Chopper trundles off into the cruiser to download any information he can discover. The other rebel vessels jump out of hyperspace, just out of range of the cruisers missiles, but knowing they're getting the full attention of the ship.

Ari'abel is confused as alarms all over the ship begin to sound, and she can sense the Troopers who had been stationed outside of her cell from run off, and Vader, who had once again been threatening her, turns to glare at the ceiling. He turns dramatically, growling angrily, as he storms from the cell.

The Jedi, although ashamed to admit it, is relieved when Vader leaves her alone. She's not sure how much longer she can hold back on the information he wants so desperately for her to reveal, although, she'd gladly sacrifice her life to keep Obi-Wan, and Luke safe. And death is looking more, and more likely.

It seems whatever distraction pulled Vader away didn't distract him for long, as the distorted Force-signature of her old friend glides back toward the cell. Ari'abel prepares herself for more pain, and torture. He storms angrily back, his heavy breathing causing an assault to her ears. The Sith Lord gets as close to her face as possible, his anger almost strangling. "You will give me Obi-Wan's location. You had an agreement with the Emperor, and you will stick to it."

"Whatever tenuous agreement I made with Sheev doesn't matter here. Sheev Palpatine is a kriffing lunatic, and idiot. And Anakin Skywalker seems to be no better than him. That agreement, it was made under duress, and is therefore not legally binding, and seeing as it was never written down, nor was there an unbias witness. So, run back up your little leash, and tell your Master that no matter what, I can't tell him what I don't know. And, if that little collar you're wearing starts to get to tight, you can always come back to us."

It looks as if Vader is finally going to put her out of her misery, when the alarms increase in pitch, and intensity, and the Sith Lord grumbles tenaciously under the deep, manufactured breathing of his helmet. He marches through the doorway, his anger stifling.

The doors shut behind him, and almost immediately slide open. Although, the Force signatures are different, and familiar. She forces her neck to move to look at the small group of people in front of her. "Now, I may be on the verge of unconsciousness, so correct me if I'm wrong. I'm fairly certain I'm looking at a group of Rebels who went against the orders I gave them."

"Well," Leia says, "They were a stupid set of orders, and we all deigned to ignore them."

She lets out a quiet chuckle. Hunter steps forward, Echo crouching in the corner, working to quickly unlock her binds. She promptly drops as the energy holding her closes off, and Hunter catches her, hoisting her over his shoulder. "I can't say I've ever been in this much pain," she says quietly, "but, I gotta admit, the view ain't bad."

Hunter rolls his eyes, "And that's just the pain talking."

[newagesispage]

                                                                      MARCH 2024 

THE RIB PAGE 

It seems Disney has wedding dresses to celebrate your favorite evil Disney gal. Hey Pixie: It’s time to renew those vows! 

***** 

Every year about 7 people in this country get diagnosed with the plague. An Oregon resident has just been diagnosed. 

***** 

The Senate passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The house killed it.  Proof positive that Trump and Mike Johnson etc do not want to fix this country at all. It is all about the power! * * Mitch McConnell has announced that he will step down in November. 

***** 

It looks like the 1% have moved on from space to the underground. Billionaires all over the globe are getting their underground bunkers ready! This is not new , but it seems to be in overdrive right now. The $ people are so important and I wonder what they’ll do when they find out that humans do not live forever. 

***** 

A very complete fossil of the Triassic’s Dinocephalosaurus Orientalis was discovered in South China. The beauty has 32 separate vertebrae to possibly look for food in crevices under water and was first discovered in 2003. 

***** 

Alabama says that embryos are children. Drop a test tube and it could be murder. So.. People don’t need IVF anymore?? 

***** 

Barry Tubb has sued Paramount for their use of his image in Top Gun: Maverick 

***** 

There is trouble on the set of Sherri. Matt Uzzle, a top exec passed away amid a financial investigation into the show. 

***** 

The Odysseus landed on the moon and fell over. 

***** 

There was apparently a big cell phone outage and I didn’t even know it. Just one more plus to not having a cell phone. 

***** 

Molly Shannon is joining Only Murders in the Building. 

***** 

John Cleese and Eric Idle are sparring a bit on X. Eric seems disgruntled at Holly Gilliam who manages the Python biz now. The rest of the crew are good with her. Eric’s daughter Lily posted that she’s proud of her Dad for speaking out against bullies. Cleese has reported that he and Idle always hated each other. 

***** 

Everything comes back around. Abe Lincoln talked of how Stephen Douglas was, “warping the public mind.” That is the perfect way to describe Scary Clown 45.** Come to think of it, it feels a bit like 1865 what with all the hate being pushed in this country. With elections in like 80 countries this year, there could be big changes. 

***** 

Support the Max Gruber Foundation that is all about hazing in college. 

***** 

Bullfighting is back. UGH! 

***** 

Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with aphasia and Frontotemporal dementia. 

***** 

Abbott Elementary, Celebrity Family Feud, Jeopardy Masters and Dancing with the Stars have been renewed. 

***** 

The 2024 noms for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are out. This year there is Mary J. Blige, Cher, Mariah Carey, Dave Matthews Band, Eric B and Rakim, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Jane’s Addiction, Lenny Kravitz, Kool and the Gang, Oasis, Sinead O’Connor, Ozzy Osbourne, Sade and A Tribe Called Quest. I mean, Geils? Zevon? C’mon stop it! 

***** 

Ozzy is threatening legal action against Ye for sampling ‘Iron Man’. Permission was refused since Ozzy said, “I want no association with this man. He was refused permission because he is an anti- semit and has caused untold heartache to many.” ** Ye also used a sample from Donna Summer’s I feel love. He didn’t have permission for this either. These men and their egos. Yikes!! 

***** 

A woman named Genesse Moreno opened fire on Lakewood church with an AR-15. She was killed. 

***** 

RFK Jr. Is pissing his own kin off again with his ad filled with old Kennedy pics. 

***** 

It’s the year of the Dragon! 

***** 

123.7 million people watched the Super Bowl. This beats the moon landing as the most watched program ever. ** Marshawn Lynch had fun after the game by walking up to 49er fans and giving them a “fuck you.” 

***** 

Watch for the new Doc, Kiss the Future. 

***** 

The RNC may be run by Michael Watley and Lara Trump. ** Political candidate Valentina Gomez took a flamethrower to books she didn’t like. ** Trump was booed at sneakercon as he was pushing his golden shoes. He wasn’t used to a crowd that does not adore him. He should get out of his comfort zone more often. ** We’re here to overthrow democracy.-Jack Posoblec, a speaker at CPAC.** Trump tried to negotiate one of his penalties in court. 

***** 

Days alert: Bring back Jen Lilley!!** Burnin’ down the Horton house?? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO**First , a permanent move to Peacock then Jen then Arianna then burning the Horton  house?? They are just blowing the whole thing up, aren’t they?? I know the people in charge at NBC don’t give a flying fuck about elderly people but I still hear the elderly complain about not being able to see Days on NBC anymore. 

***** 

For the second time, a memorial to the Pulse nightclub victims was defaced. A 19 year old did burnouts on the LGBTQ Pride crosswalk. Of course, the truck had a big American flag on it. Why is it this particular type of person feels the need to prove they are Americans all the time? A 22 year old genius did the same thing at an earlier date. 

***** 

NY Dem Tom Suozzi won the house seat to replace George Santos. 

***** 

Donald Glover has said that the script for the Community movie is finished. 

***** 

The Chiefs won the Superbowl. Usher was the halftime show and that stage sure was bouncing. A 30 second ad went for $7mil. The Super Bowl went into overtime for only the second time in history. The parade to celebrate was interrupted with a shooting and a fan was killed. ** Are men really breaking a lot of tv’s because of sports? 

***** 

Chris Coons tells us that the EU has approved a support package for Ukraine and wonders what the Hell we are doing in the U.S. Europe has already spent more on Ukraine than us. They are very concerned about Trump and his calling out NATO and discarding the hard worked for bill for aid. 

***** 

The Oglala Sioux tribe has banned SD Gov. Christi Noem from their reservation. She told the South Dakota state legislature that she wants to send more state resources to Texas. ** Calling the U.S. southern border in Texas an invasion by illegal immigrants and criminal groups to justify sending South Dakota’s National Guard troops there is a red herring that the Oglala Sioux tribe doesn’t support . They don’t need to be put in cages, separated from their children like during the Trump administration or be cut up by razor wire furnished by, of all places, South Dakota.”- Frank Star 

*****  

King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer. 

***** 

Abortion providers filed a lawsuit in 2019 against the law that prohibits Medicaid from being used to pay for abortions. And now: To treat a woman differently based on a characteristic unique to her sex is to treat her differently because of her sex which triggers the enforcement of our ERA. - Judge Donohue 

***** 

I’m beginning to think that all the hatred evangelicals have towards Taylor Swift is because everyone can see that she’s for more like Jesus than they are. - Chris Kratzer ** Taylor donated $50 mil to truckers, $50 mil to food banks and $20 mil to animals, not to mention that she gave $ to the victims family after the Chiefs parade. 

***** 

Tesla has recalled 2.2 million vehicles to fix a warning light.** The investigation into Tesla is becoming more aggressive as they look deeper into safety problems of crashes with auto pilot. ** According to the NY Times, terrorists may be paying for the blue check mark on twitter. (I refuse to call it X.) -Stephen King.... Stop deadnaming X. respect our transition. - Elon Musk...  Why? You never respected your daughter’s transition. -transgender atty. Alejandra Caraballo..(Musk’s child Vivian Wilson filed for a name change to reflect her gender identity).... twitter twitter twitter and so on. Fuck your need to put your personal brand on everything.- Stephen King.....The NY article went on that X may be violating U.S. sanctions because the company accepted payments from individuals or organization that are forbidden from engaging in business with U.S. companies like state-run media organizations and terrorists from Russia and Iran. ** Leaders of Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels have subscriptions with blue check marks. 

***** 

Tim Burton is to direct the remake of attack of the 50 ft. Woman. We need another one of those? 

***** 

The Grammys came and went. My best dressed were: Taylor Swift (winner! ) , Chrissy Tiegand, Janelle Monae, Coco Jones, Gina Alice Redlinger, Romy Madley Croft, Caroline Polachek, Vic Lentaigne and Dawn Richard was a tree! Miley looked like Cher and Madonna put together. ** Killer Mike was arrested at the show for misdemeanor battery, but soon released. He won 3 Grammys.** Someone else had to make a stink about Beyonce. Her husband called out the voters for not giving all the awards to his wife, I guess?? Jay-Z won the global impact award. Why do all these people feel the need to talk for her. She is a grown woman, I think she can speak for herself. Are we supposed to expect macho declarations at every award show now?? ** Miley yelled at the crowd to get more into her song. What? 

***** 

Look for Unfrosted: The Pop Tart Story with Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, Amy Schumer, Hugh Grant, Bill Burr, Daniel Levy, Jack McBrayer, Thomas Lennon, Bobby Moynihan and Fred Thomas. Did Jerry just call all the funny people he knew? 

***** 

Aneurin Barnard, Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden will star in Rogue Trooper for Duncan Jones. 

***** 

The SAG awards were great with the fashion. My best were Emma Stone, Lily Gladstone, Da’Vine Joy Randolph,E lizabeth Debicki, Tony Shalhoub, Alex Borstein, Laverne Cox, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kathryn Hahn, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Louisa Jacobson and Ali Wong and the dudes from Abbott who were amazing. Tan France had a horizontal tie that I couldn’t stop staring at. ** Jen Aniston presented Barbra Streisand the life achievement award. ** My favorite part was when Tantoo Cardinal was on stage. I adore her!!! ** Pedro got back at Kieran by winning. Succession came back for ensemble drama. The Bear still cleaned up as well as Lily Gladstone. 

***** 

Hooray for Shawn Fain leading the UAW. We need more workers rights and less billionaires. EAT THE RICH!!!!!.. Order this shirt to support the UAW. 

***** 

The Spirit awards were pretty much The Holdovers awards. There was a protestor outside the tent yelling, “Free Palestine” and “Ceasefire now “ all night. 

***** 

The monarch population is down 60%. 

***** 

It looks like the housewives are starting to sue Andy Cohen and Bravo. It was only a matter of time. 

***** 

Aaron Bushnell. A U.S. Air Force member set himself on fire at the Israeli embassy. 

***** 

Amy Poehler and Joe Biden helped Seth Meyers celebrate 10 years on the air. 

***** 

Richard Tornetta sued Elon Musk in 2018 and won when a judge voided the $56 billion pay package.** Bill Maher admitted he can’t help it, he likes Elon. It was too funny that he told jokes about multiple things but when he got to Elon, he said, “just kidding.” What? 

***** 

Larry David caused a stir when he when he grabbed Elmo on the Today show. He also insulted a drummer on Seth Meyers when he told him it was easy and he could do that. Just Larry being Larry. 

***** 

The enhanced games are games with steroids. Peter Thiel is shelling out big $. The things that rich boys find to do with their $ is fucking unbelievable. Their statement is: The athletes will be unencumbered by anachronistic legacy systems that are anti science and stigmatize enhanced athletes. Oh my. Sounds like some people don’t want to believe in themselves. Nothing but phonies. Wouldn’t it be nice if all that $ went to children and animals that really need the help?  

***** 

I was not raised with grown men who whine all the time. I will never understand these people who forever talk about the strength they get from God and then whine about everything in the world. Is God telling you this is the way to solve the problems? What about turn the other cheek? Forgiveness? These people are not like any conservatives or Christians that I knew. Gas prices and unemployment numbers keep dropping and wages are up. Quit bitching and let’s fix the other things that need fixing! ** I see a lot of the red hats that remind me of the brown shirts. Same gang??** A 3 judge panel said that there is no immunity for Trump. ** A judge ordered Trump to pay a $364 mil penalty. He is also barred from serving as an officer or director of any NY corporation for 3 years. ** A year long scheme to dupe banks and others with financial statements that inflated Trump’s wealth. It borders on pathological. - Judge Engoron ** Don Jr. And Eric were fined $4 mil each and are out of the NY biz for 2 years and no bank loans for 3 years. ** The hush money trill will start on March 25. 

***** 

Jacob Elordi got into an altercation with a radio producer. 

***** 

Carson Hocevar is driving # 77 in the Cup Race this year!! And.. Go Bell!!! 

***** 

Tyne Daly was hospitalized and had to drop out of Doubt: A Parable on Broadway. Amy Ryan is taking over. 

***** 

The BAFTA’s were held and Oppenheimer won big as well as Poor Things and Da’vine Joy Randolph. My best dressed were Sophie Ellis Bextor, Daisy Edgar- Jones, Claire Foy and Emma Corrin. 

***** 

George Santos has sued Jimmy Kimmel. I wondered how he was getting away with airing his cameos but I assumed contracts had been signed. No. Kimmel and his staff used fake names to order cameos then put them o the show. And why would you want to give Santos the $? Didn’t he grift enough? 

***** 

New Hampshire’s Chris Sununu is so dismissive of others. He tells us that Trump has done this awful thing and that but I would vote for him. It seems this is a mantra for them. What dicks! ** Lindsey Graham called Zuckerberg and other big tech guys, “bastards.” Others said that after they grilled these guys, the Senators probably patted themselves on the back and went right out and used social media. ** Alex Smirnov, an FBI informant, has been charged with fabricating a multi million $ bribery scheme. Jamie Raskin has called for an end to the impeachment inquiry since Smirnov started all this. His story about the “Biden crime family” and the Ukranian energy company was all Russian BS. Jim Jordan does not care and keeps pushing. Putin must be so happy that he has these operatives in our Government. ** Russia has been hit with 500 new sanctions. 

***** 

Early spring?? 

***** 

Lauren Boebert’s son, Tyler has been arrested. There are 22 counts including theft and trespassing with multiple victims. 

***** 

We are seeing the SNL 1975 cast come together. Cory Michael Smith is Chevy, Matt Wood is Belushi, Ella Hunt is Gilda, Dylan O’Brien is Akroyd, Lamorne Morris is Garrett (that is perfect), Kim Matula is Jane and Emily Fairn is Laraine. ** Is it me or does this cold foam ad seem like a fake SNL ad? 

***** 

Sam Waterston is leaving Law and Order at the end of February and Tony Goldwyn is taking over. 

***** 

For the first time in the republican campaign, Nikki Haley has outraised Trump. A big portion of Trump’s small donors have gone away. 

***** 

DeSantis and company spent over $168 mil on his campaign. ** Could he be Trump’s VP pick?? He is throwing that name around, along with Tim Scott and a few others. ** The difference between humans and animals is animals would never let the dumbest animal lead the pack. ** DHS Secretary Mayorkas was impeached for no reason.* * Trump is always talking about water. That seems like a dementia thing. ** An Illinois judge barred Trump from the Republican primary ballot. Just waiting on the Supreme Court. 

***** 

So.. The Michigan chair of the RNC refuses to accept the results of her RNC election and Trump wants her out. Will republicans ever again accept results when they lose? 

***** 

Word came down that Wendy’s was spending $20 mil to add fluctuating price boards. The goal seemed to be jacking up prices during peak hours. Burger King decided they would use that and give away free whoppers for 3 days. Of course, you have to make a purchase and have an app. So.. A lot of people are left out of that “free whopper.” Wendy’s has since said that they were not using the boards that way. They may use them to give discounts at slow times and they swear they did not use the phrase, “surge pricing.” 

***** 

Karl Jordan Jr. and Ron Washington were found guilty of killing Jam Master Jay after being cut out of a drug deal. 

***** 

El Chapos grandaughter is looking for the Loch Ness Monster. 

***** 

The Geico ad that skewers conspiracies is cute. Insurance company commercials usually suck. 

***** 

A new book about first ladies tells us Melania was much detached from first lady business. A lot of her time was spent with lawyers and finance people. All tvs were tuned to Fox in the White House. 

***** 

The Supreme Court is looking into Bump stocks and Presidential immunity. They will stay paused until April 22. 

***** 

Oprah is leaving Weight Watchers since she admits she is using drugs to lose weight. 

***** 

We now produce more oil that Saudi Arabia. 

***** 

We have sent air strikes to Syria and Iraq after 3 U.S. military deaths. 

***** 

Brian Wilson’s family is looking into conservatorship due to a neurocognitive disorder. 

***** 

Sexual assault news: Kolchiro Ito was arrested on child porn charges. ** Sean Combs has a fifth accuser, Rod Jones. 

***** 

Bob Odenkirk will star in Normal. 

***** 

Beyonce is the first black woman to have a #1 country hit with Texas hold ‘em.!!! 

***** 

A shipwreck showed up on the shore of Newfoundland. Work was proceeding quickly before the waves take it back. 

***** 

R.I.P. Isabelle Thomas, Adele Springsteen, Henry Fambrough, Carl Weathers, Elmore Nickleberry, Wayne Kramer, Don Murray, Chita Rivera, Aston Barrett, Hage Geingob, Hinton Battle, N. Scott Momaday, Pamela Salem, Flaco, Claude Montana, Randy Sparks, Joe Louis Dudley, Dan Wilcox, Chris Gauthier, Jackie Loughery, Lynda Gravatt, Mickey Gilbert, Cecilia Gentili, Kelvin Kiptum, Alexei Navalny, Bob Edwards, William Post, Steven Ostrow, Ben Lanzarone, Alice Mackler, Tony Ganios, Ewen Macintosh, Charles Dierkop, Eddie Driscoll. Anne Whitfield, Toby Keith, Richrd Lewis and Denise I. McCabe. 

[thezanyarthropleura]

March 15 (1967)

Happy 56 years to Gamera vs. Gyaos, the third film in the Showa era. Strange coincidence that in going by release dates, we’ve hit the three most Gyaos-centric movies in reverse chronological order.

We’re getting into the ‘mainline Showa’ films now, a term I’m using to refer to the first 7 Showa era films produced contiguously every year from 1965 to 1971 (excluding Gamera: Super Monster, which was produced nine years later in 1980 and in my eyes, is distinct enough in its story and characters to have earned its own category).

These are the earliest Gamera films, often regarded as bottom-of-the-barrel Kaiju cinema and almost always originally produced for a target audience of exclusively children. The storylines tend to have relatively little depth, and you aren’t going to find many women in these movies beyond the mothers and occasionally sisters of the child protagonists – and later, scary space villains (there are a few notable exceptions I’ll mention when we get to those particular films). Thus, I’m left with ranking these ones on very different merits than the later films, usually coming down to how much Showa Charmᵀᴹ they have or how entertaining I find the giant turtle antics. And personally, I do find that these films are a whole lot of fun once you’ve committed to them.

With all that said, I’ll admit I’m someone who, up until now, has only bothered to watch the Mystery Science Theater 3000 versions of these movies (with the exception of Gamera vs. Viras, the sole mainline Showa film to have eluded the MST3K treatment as of 2022). However, the film versions presented on MST3K are usually heavily edited for time and utilize some of the infamously subpar Sandy Frank English dubbing, so for this month I’ve made it a point to track down and watch more complete versions of all of them – something I have in fact done for this movie here, and in my opinion, it’s definitely a worthwhile kaiju film to see in full.

First of all, Gamera vs. Gyaos is a very, very interesting film to watch as a fan of Guardian of the Universe, since that film takes many of its beats from this one – Gyaos taking foot damage, Gamera burrowing up from underground in an ambush, the inclusion of a sports stadium, etc. I’ll bring special attention to Gamera healing an arm injury underwater, because this scene fades back and forth in a surreal manner with scenes featuring child protagonist Eiichi, who even is shown to be sleeping at the same time Gamera sleeps, implying possible subtext of some kind of mental link that would be made definitive text with Asagi in the later film.

Unlike that film, however, this one’s only female character of note is Eiichi’s older sister Sumiko, who doesn’t get to do much besides chaperone Eiichi around military conferences and dutifully defend the men in her family from wholly legitimate criticism.

Aside from scientists’ and the military’s (ultimately futile) efforts to combat the monster, which is the main staple of quite a few of these movies, the bulk of the human story surrounds the conflict between a road construction crew and a group of villagers refusing to sell their land – not because they have any particular attachment to the land or objection to the road, no, they want the road to be built, but Eiichi’s grandfather has convinced them all to hold out for a higher buying price. This comes back to bite them when Gyaos attacks, the work is halted, and the company starts considering an alternate route for the road. The villagers turn on him, but despite the film’s release date, do not in fact stab him twenty-three times on the senate floor. Instead, Sumiko intervenes with an impassioned speech from the heart and gets them to leave. Eiichi’s grandfather realizes his error, has a moment of reflection inspired by his grandson, and decides to… burn an entire forest down so the fire attracts Gamera, framing this as a sacrifice of his townspeople’s resources for the greater good of stopping Gyaos. And I have to imagine this probably worked better as an Aesop in the 1960s than it does today.

Now, it’s no secret that these early Gamera movies were made to cash in on the trend started by Ishiro Honda’s arguably more famous and enduring kaiju films, even if Gamera eventually shifted the goalposts and styled itself for a younger audience. I bring this up because Gamera vs. Gyaos is one of only two films in this series that I feel successfully replicated Ishiro Honda’s work both thematically and stylistically, the other being the previous film Gamera vs. Barugon. While Barugon has a moral center that works better today than Gyaos’ does, I feel Gyaos has better pacing, with three monster encounters spaced well throughout the film and a captivating narrative woven in between to great effect. There are, of course, moments where it errs toward the ridiculous (for instance, the military using a fountain of fake blood to lure Gyaos onto a giant merry-go-round to try to make it dizzy) but it’s nowhere near the extent of the later films, and there’s a certain quiet ambience to the village scenes (especially the film opener you would have missed by only watching the MST3K edition) that brings to mind the similar atmosphere in some of Honda’s greats.

For me, this movie ranks somewhere in the middle of the Showa films. There are others I’ve found to be more fun, or that get a slight edge from their characters and themes, and there are quite a few issues that weigh Gamera vs. Gyaos down, but purely as a classic tokusatsu film, it’s one that’s broadly enjoyable, and I suspect just about every kaiju fan who takes the time to watch it will find something to love.

Enjoy this movie with your favorite ballpark snack, Oreo cookies, and fruit punch.

[troubatrain]

twisted in bedsheets - m. tkachuk

a/n: this is straight up smut.... like minimal plot mostly filth. but i hope you guys like it, i may give it a part two if anyone wants to see it but i don't know yet. big shoutout to my resident whores @hookingminor & @tkafuckit ily both sm

taglist : @barzysreputation

warnings: it's smush time (smut)

You almost wanted to make fun of him.

A part of you wondered, what did a single, twenty three year old, professional athlete who lived in a different country most of year need a house this big for? That wasn’t your business, and really neither was showing up two days after Matthew moved in with a bottle of wine and silly housewarming gift to make yourself feel better about where his little brother, also known as your best friend, was. You knocked loudly, hoping the car in the driveway meant Matthew was home and you weren’t wasting your time.

Matthew was inside, finally getting some peace and quiet after spending the day listening to his mother and the interior designer he hired argue about throw pillows. He jumped at the knock of his door, not used to the way it echoed through the house he bought on a whim. You were standing on the other side, bouncing on your heels with a bag in your hand and Matthew couldn’t help but smile.

Matthew always had a soft spot for you, Brady was your best friend and just like Matthew found himself watching out for Brady, he did the same for you. It was easy to keep it like that for years, Brady being far more possessive because you were his friend and not Matthew’s and not everything needs to be about you Matt, but it’d gotten harder lately. It was sudden, one summer Matthew came home and you were lounging by the pool and he swore his dick twitched in his pants, and it just wasn’t getting easier. It wasn’t easier when he tried to convince himself that there was an age gap between the both of you, even though it was barely two years and no one would blink an eye. It wasn’t easier when he beat the Senators and you quietly told him he had a good game because if Brady caught wind of it he’d lose his mind. And it sure as hell wasn’t easier when Brady mentioned your boyfriend constantly.

Your boyfriend who was having a party that Matthew knew for a fact Brady was at, but why weren’t you? Matthew couldn’t possibly get his hopes up, knowing if you were single he’d find some way to break your heart and you didn’t deserve that. That was the thing, Matthew ruined people and you were a far better person than he was to begin with. Matthew opens the door regardless, a smile on his face when he meets your eyes.

“Hi,” You beam, trying to play off like you were happy when you were just looking for a distraction that didn’t involve driving around and crying to Taylor Swift, “I, uh, congrats?”

Matthew chuckles, cocking his head to the side and opening his door a little further for you to come in, “Thank you, you really didn’t have to bring a gift.”

“It’s rude not too,” You scold, tapping Matthew in the arm and forgetting for a second you weren’t talking to Brady.

You pretended like you couldn’t feel it, the way his arms felt like a solid fucking rock and it was getting harder and harder to shove down that silly crush you’ve had since high school. You remember it so clearly, the moment Matthew went from Brady’s brother to just Matthew. You were a freshman, a dorky quiet kid who everyone knew not to mess with exclusively because Brady would kick the shit out of them, and you overheard a few girls in Matthew’s gossiping about how cute he was. Then it hit you, just as Matthew was leaning against his car to drive you home - he was cute. Cute turned into hot quickly, and you spent summer after summer wondering if you’d be bold enough to make a move.

You watched as Matthew pulled out the picture you’d framed for him, one his mother had taken of the three of you as kids. You were at the same ice cream shop you went to after every Blue’s game, chocolate ice cream smiles on your faces.

“You dropped your ice cream right after my mom took this,” Matthew hums, smiling at the memory himself.

“And you gave me yours because you felt bad for me,” You finish, hence the reason you chose that photo in the first place.

“You were crying,” Matthew nods, remembering the way his heart broke when he saw tears well up in your eyes. Even then, Matthew was a protector, constantly defending the people he held close to his heart, “Brady wouldn’t even share his… speaking of, isn’t there a huge rager you could be at right now?”

“Something about a party at my ex boyfriend’s doesn’t sound fun to me at all,” You sigh, hoping you wouldn’t have to explain it any further.

You didn’t have a boyfriend anymore.

It was all Matthew could process, his brain malfunctioning because he couldn’t believe it. Matthew gave you a sympathetic smile, “Let’s crack that bottle open then?”

You agreed, following Matthew into his yard to sit out by his fire pit, an early summer breeze making St. Louis unseasonably cold. He came back with two glasses, and you tried simply to ignore that his hands were big enough to hold both glasses in one, “So, Brady’s at a party at your ex-boyfriend’s place and you’re not mad at him at all?”

“I can’t be mad at Brady,” You explain, pouring yourself a glass of wine that was just a bit too big, “He doesn’t know what happened.”

“I thought you had no secrets,” Matthew questions, knowing that Brady knew everything about you and you were the same way. You turned your attention to the glass, swirling it in your hand while you seemed to shut down under Matthew’s gaze, “Y/N… it’s me, you know you can tell me.”

“It’s really embarrassing,” You whisper, “He cheated on me…”

“That’s not your fault,” Matthew scoffs, throwing an arm around your shoulders, “Why didn’t you tell-”

“He told me it was because the girl he was hooking up with was better in bed than me,” You whisper, Matthew closing his mouth immediately. He took a deep breath, his fingers scratching against your scalp while he looked straight ahead, “Please don’t tell Brady.”

“Your secret’s safe with me,” Matthew nods, his bottom lip between his teeth, “You’re perfect, and if he doesn’t see that he can go fuck himself.”

“What if he’s right?” You ask, taking a gulp of your drink. Matthew knew what road you were headed towards, one that was going to leave you insecure about this for the rest of your life if Matthew didn’t choose his next words carefully.

“He’s not,” Matthew shakes his head, hopping off the outdoor sofa you were on and kneeling down in front of you, “And you don’t need some douchebags opinion to make yourself feel good.”

“Would you sleep with me?” You ask, Matthew’s hand that had been rubbing your thighs gently stopped. You craved the validation, and a part of you always wondered if you had a shot with Matthew. If you were both able to drown out the noise from your friends and family, would he want you? Matthew’s hand crept up to your cheek, his thumb tracing your lip. You looked at him like this was the most important question he’d ever have to answer, and like if he said yes your lips would be on his, “And tell me I’m good.”

Matthew shut his eyes, running every possible scenerio knowing all of them include him fucking this up and hurting your feelings, but he couldn’t stop himself from trying. His lips ghosted over yours, stubble rough against your skin, “You’re sure about this?”

“Please,” You pout, not even bothering to give Matthew your best sexy face. You’d faked it enough, a year of trying to be something you weren’t to please some asshole who left for someone else anyways. Matthew’s hands slid on either side of you, his lips against yours and your hands on the back of his neck.

“Inside,” Matthew mutters against your lips, knowing if he didn’t stop himself now his new neighbors would get a show they didn’t ask for. You deserved better than that anyways. You snuck inside, your lips pressing kisses to Matthew’s neck while his arm stayed around your waist until you ended up in his bedroom. The back of your knees hit the edge of the bed, Matthew crawling on top of you, “I cannot believe that asshole let you slip through his fingers like that.”

“Make me forget about him then,” You let out a breath, Matthew smirking against your skin when you lit up that competitive fire he’d always had. You tugged at the bottom of his shirt, Matthew taking the hint and grabbing it from the back of his neck to toss off. Matthew’s hands slid under your shirt, unhooking your bra and swirling his finger around your nipples, pulling a moan from you.

“You even moan pretty,” Matthew could believe it, knowing just how many dreams like this, but really hearing it was something else entirely. Matthew shed your clothes quickly, leaving you just in your panties while he pressed kisses against your skin, murmurs of praise left in their wake.

“Matty,” You whimper, tilting Matthew’s chin up from where it was nestling between your thighs, “No one’s ever made me cum like this before.”

Matthew swore he was going to blow right there. The way your eyes looked into his, a trust that you were giving him that it was becoming clear you’d never given anyone. If it was anyone else, Matthew’s cocky nature would have broken through, a challenge accepted attitude that he couldn’t have with you.

You weren’t nervous but it wasn’t some secret that Matthew got around, and admitting something that seemed as trivial as what you’d told him was a big deal to you. Matthew’s blue eyes were soft, a small smile on his face, “We’ll go slow baby.”

And slow it was, Matthew was patient, trying to figure out what was going to get you off. His tongue was lapping at your core slowly, smirking at the way you squirmed whenever he got close to your clit. Your hands were in his hair, curling his overgrown hair around your fingers. Matthew’s tongue flicked your clit, your soft grip on his curls tighter, “Fuck, sorry-”

“Keep tugging on them,” Matthew groans against you, the vibrations sending a chill up your spine. His fingers were digging into your thighs, undoubtedly leaving a mark to worry about later, but you didn’t care. Matthew was eating your pussy like it was his last fucking meal, growing harder from the way you were moaning his name. You were close, your hips lifting off the bed and Matthew’s hands against your stomach to keep you right where you were. The only sounds echoing through that house were the ones from your orgasm, washing over you while Matthew finally pulled away. His finger swiped your core, sucking your cum off his finger, “Fucking delicious…”

You could feel the heat on your cheeks, holding your arm over your face from Matthew’s praise. He let out a light laugh, pulling your arm down and pressing a kiss to your forehead, “Don’t be insecure, when you’re with me you don’t have to be.”

You didn’t have a second to process his words, the way say with me like this was something meant to last more than a night, because Matthew’s lips were back on yours. Your hand snuck between you, palming him through his sweats and swallowing the groan with your lips, “I want to try something.”

Matthew’s brows raised, letting you push him onto his back without a fight. You’d never been the most confident in the bedroom, and you really never tried anything that wasn’t missionary, but something about Matthew’s praise had your head held high. You grind your hips against him, a smug smile on Matthew’s face, “You’ve never been on top before?”

You shook your head no, biting your lip and waiting for why have you had the most boring sex life imaginable laugh that should have followed. It never came, instead Matthew’s hands gripped your hips and lifted you up so he could kick off his sweats and boxers. His hand fell, searching through his bedside table for a condom, tearing it open with his teeth and rolling it onto his cock. He tapped your clit with the head, his thumb that was still gripping you was rubbing softly against your skin, “Whenever you’re ready babe.”

Matthew watched you sink yourself onto him slowly, biting his lip to stop himself from cumming too soon because this was hotter than anything he could have imagined. All of those fantasies included finding out you were secretly dirty as hell, but finding out you weren’t and the trust you seemed to give Matthew because he’d never done you wrong was even sexier. Matthew’s hands guided your hips slowly, his head thrown back from the pleasure, “Am I doing good?”

“You’re doing fucking wonderful baby,” Matthew groans, grabbing a fistful of your ass. You moan, falling forward and kissing Matthew’s jaw lightly. He threw his arm around your back, fucking up into you at faster pace, “I want you cum again, c’mon.”

“Matty, I-” You whimper, a protest that you didn’t think you had another one in you until your pussy clenched around him. Your legs were shaking, Matthew stopping himself before he got too rough with you. You caught your breath for a second, Matthew pushing your hair away from your face so he could kiss you. His kisses were gentle, a stark contrast from the fact that his cock was still buried inside of you. You tried to move, grind your hips against his to get him off like he’d just done to you, but your hips bucked from the sensitivity.

“Slow down babe,” Matthew hums, his large hand rubbing your back gently, “We’ll get there.”

Getting there wasn’t hard at all. Not after Matthew had you on your back so he could keep fucking you. You looked beautiful, moaning his own name below him like you’d never said anyone’s name like that. Matthew’s head was tucked into your neck, the sounds of his skin slapping against yours filling the room until he finally came with a loud groan.

When you finally came down from the after sex high, a realization washed over you. You’d had sex with your best friend’s brother. The same brother you’d spend years of your life with. Matthew walked into his bathroom, grabbing you a warm washcloth and a clean shirt from his closet. He got back into his room, glancing at the way you were looking around his room with his sheets over your chest unsure of whether or not you should leave. Matthew leans down, pressing a kiss to your lips, “I want you to stay.”

“You don’t have to let me-” You start to protest, a weird feeling in your chest you couldn’t quite describe. You were a relationship type, hook ups weren’t your playing field and you knew Matthew lived by them. You never forgot it either, the way he slugged back a beer and looked Brady and yourself dead in the eyes and told you he swore he wasn’t built to last more than a night. Matthew chuckles, cleaning you up and throwing his shirt over your frame. He laid down next to you, pulling you against his chest and kissing your shoulder.

“I want you to stay here,” Matthew assures you, smiling wide when you tucked yourself into his side.

Hey Matty?

Yeah?

Don’t tell Brady about this.

Secret’s safe with me Y/N.

[stolen-pen-name23]

for your prompts list, how about #3 for obi-wan & anakin & padmé?

Oh boy, it's been a hot minute since I answered my prompts! Apologies for the delay, I've been kept quite busy these days!

Prompts now closed // from these angst prompts

Here ya go:

---

A cold drop of water lands on Obi-Wan’s head and a shiver racks his frame. Obi-Wan grimaces and hopes he didn’t stir Anakin from his light and much-needed sleep. The young knight had finally fallen asleep with his head on Obi-Wan’s shoulder after hours of pacing around their tiny little cage in anger and frustration. The movement, much to Obi-Wan’s displeasure, was enough to shake Anakin from sleep. He lifted his head up.

“Master?” he asks, his voice hoarse from sleep and from all the shouting he had been doing earlier. “Where are—” Anakin cuts himself off as realization appears to hit him. He scrambles back to his feet and begins pacing again. Obi-Wan sighs.

“Hey!” Anakin shouts. “You can’t keep us here! The Republic is going to come for us and you’re going to pay!”

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan says softly.

“Do you hear me? You’re going to pay for keeping us here!”

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan says more forcefully. “Please stop yelling.”

“No! They can’t keep us here, we’re Generals in the Grand Army of the Republic and this is a neutral planet.”

Obi-Wan winces as Anakin’s words echo off the walls. His head is pounding and he just needs Anakin to shut up for just a little while. “Anakin…” Obi-Wan says. “Please just for five minutes…”

The pleading tone of his voice gets Anakin’s attention. “Master?” he asks, concerned. He kneels next to Obi-Wan. “Are you all right?”

Obi-Wan hums, trying to fight off the nausea from what he is sure is a minor concussion at best. “You’re so loud. Give it a rest.”

“But…”

“As you said,” Obi-Wan says, “this is a neutral planet. They will realize this is a mistake and that we are being held here on accident. They don’t want problems with the Republic.”

“What if they’ve actually partnered with the Separatists.”

“That’s a possibility. But either way, I think the Republic is already looking for us.”

“But how—”

“We haven’t checked in anywhere in what? 48 hours at least? Maybe more? Someone will have noticed by now.”

Anakin looks slightly more at ease. “Does anyone know where we are?”

“Cody knows we were coming here. I’m sure he’s already contacted the Council.”

“We’re saved,” Anakin says sarcastically.

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan admonishes.

“What? They are so slow at decision-making. They have to deal with all this red-tape in the senate and their own internal debates and yeah, I think we’re going to be stuck here for a little while.”

“Then be a little more patient, would you? Conserve your energy Anakin, you don’t know how long we’re going to be here or how they’re going to treat us.”

The pair of Jedi had been given water, but no food. Obi-Wan feels too nauseous to eat even if there was food available, but from experience, he knows Anakin does not exactly do well with skipping meals.

Anakin huffs and sits back down next to Obi-Wan. He leans his head back on Obi-Wan’s shoulder.

“Talk to me, Anakin,” Obi-Wan says softly. “Tell me what’s going through your head.”

“I just—” Anakin hesitates.

“It’s all right. You can tell me,” Obi-Wan says.

“I just want to go home,” Anakin says quietly. All of the anger has left his voice. He sounds like the scared Padawan he was when Obi-Wan first took him under his wing.

Obi-Wan finds Anakin’s hand and squeezes it. “I know,” he says. “Trust in the Force, Padawan.”

Anakin looks at him quizically. “Are you doing alright, Master? You haven’t called me that since… well, since you knighted me.”

“Oh,” Obi-Wan says. “Forget I said it.”

“No, it’s okay. It just took me off guard,” Anakin says. “How’s your head?”

“I’ve had worse.”

“So not good, huh?”

“No, not good, but I’ll manage.”

“Do you think we’ll get out of here soon?”

“Depends,” Obi-Wan says. “Why don’t you just try to sleep?”

“I’m hungry,” Anakin complains.

“Then meditate with me. We’ll take your mind off of it.”

Anakin huffs out a breath. “Fine. Nothing better to do anyway.”

Obi-Wan coaches Anakin through some of the breathing exercises he knew worked best with him. He can sense Anakin calming slightly.

“Just go to sleep,” Obi-Wan whispers. Anakin’s breathing evens out and his eyes flutter closed.

Obi-Wan tilts his head back and hopes he’ll remain asleep just for a little while. As much as Obi-Wan would like to sleep too, he knows he probably shouldn’t with a potential concussion. He resolves to meditate instead.

But try as he might, Obi-Wan still dozes off. He doesn’t realize he’s fallen asleep until Anakin is shaking his shoulders.

“Do you hear that?” Anakin asks, excitement dripping off his question.

Obi-Wan lifts his head and listens. A loud banging sound erupts from the hallways, followed by the sound of blaster fire.

“Now I do,” Obi-Wan says. Anakin stands and hovers at the edge of the ray shield, so close Obi-Wan fears he’ll touch it. “Do you see anything?”

“No, not yet,” Anakin says. “Wait! A guard just got shot, he fell over.”

Obi-Wan looks over with mild interest.

“Oh, another guard just fell! Wait… is that?” Anakin stops and squints. His eyes widen in shock. “Padmé?”

Padmé takes out the last guard and rushes over to their cage. She presses a button and the red ray shield in between them dissolves.

“Ani,” Padmé breathes, running up to him and putting her hands on his chest. “Are you okay? You’ve have been missing for two days.”

Padmé runs a hand through his tangled curls and runs her eyes over his body.

“I’m fine, Padmé. I’m just glad you’re here.”

Obi-Wan rolls his eyes. “I’m also fine if anyone cared to ask,” he mutters.

Anakin flushes, but Padmé is unphased. “Master Kenobi,” she says good-naturedly. She extends a hand to him and helps pull him to his feet. “It’s good to see you.”

“The feeling is more than mutual, Senator,” Obi-Wan says. He looks around. “Did you come here alone?”

“Yes,” Padmé answers simply. “I thought it best to be discreet.”

“Padmé!” Anakin exclaims. “Did you really just take on all those guards by yourself?”

“I had my blaster!” she retorts.

Anakin scoffs and Obi-Wan just offers her an impressed smile. “Only you, Senator,” he says.

“It’s my duty to serve the Republic. I think saving two of its best Generals is a good way of serving it.”

“Not that I’m ungrateful for you being here,” Obi-Wan says, “but how did you even know to come here? How did you find us?”

“Cody contacted me. The Council was moving too slow for his taste,” Padmé says. “So he found me and we worked out a plan. He’s flying the getaway shuttle.”

Anakin smirks. “I told you they were too slow. Even your Commander agrees.”

“No matter. Let’s just get out of here.”

“Oh, I almost forgot!” Padmé digs around in a small satchel that she has slung around her shoulders. “Here.” She hands them their lightsabers.

Obi-Wan lights up at the return of his weapon. He always felt naked without it. Vulnerability was never a pleasant feeling for him.

The sound of heavy footsteps echoes through the hallway. “I’m guessing you didn’t kill all of the guards?” Obi-Wan asks.

“Not quite. I was hoping you two could help with that?”

“Senator,” Obi-Wan says. “It would be my pleasure.”

Obi-Wan and Anakin ignite their sabers and with Padmé at their side, they charge down the hall.

[candlestickbud]

Worthy of Betrayal Pt.1

Howzer x Jedi!GN:Reader [Ep.11 Spoilers]

Description: After the bad batch drop off the weapons to a client of Cid’s, she calls them in for a favor and asks them to help some royal Twi’leks on Ryloth.

Warnings/Notes: I'm predicting that this fic will have 5 parts. Possible smut in the future. Mentions of guns and child kidnapping, minor cussing. Sorry if the story is a little off, I was in a rush to finish. Hope you still like it though!

“What do you mean we have to go back!”

Hunter rose his voice at Cid from the comms on the ship. We were on our way back to Ord Mantel after dropping off weapons to some Twi’leks, a client of Cids. As they were already halfway to the destination, Cid called up the batch to inform us that we had to go back, but this time the location was on Ryloth.

“Hey, you still owe me, remember? Now tell goggles over there to get to Ryloth. I need you to rescue this kid named Hera Syndula, the twi’leks, her parents run Ryloth so we’ll be getting some big bucks, so I suggest you get moving, got that?”

Hunter sighed, “Mind telling us what we have to do to get out of dept?”

“Tell you what, let's say you don't mess this up, and you'll be out of debt. Just fell the big guy to ease up on the mantel mix, wouldya, ” Cid said before hanging up.

Hunter rubbed his face trying to shake off his tiredness.

“What's the word, Sargent, ” Wrecker asked.

“Tell Tech to relocate the route to Ryloth. We have another mission, but this is a mission we can't mess up. We need to save some senators kid.”

“Another senator? They aren't a separatist, are they? There's no way-”

“I didn't ask, and either way we have to take this job to get us out of that debt, ” Hunter cut off Echo, “and besides it's not a senator, just their kid.”

Echo glared at Hunter, “Well you should understand why I plan to not work with separatists, ” he said pointing his cybernetic socket arm at Hunter.

“Wait so who are we saving, ” Omega asked from her room.

Hunter pushed his way past Echo to talk to Omega, hearing Echo scoff as he walked away.

“That kid from earlier,” Hunter said softly.

“Hera? I knew she was in trouble! How can I help,” Onega exclaimed excitedly?

“I’ll let up know once we land. The empire will be there based on what that client said earlier. That's what they needed those weapons for.”

“That could mean that Crosshair would be there, ” Tech yelled from the piloting seat.

“Good! We need to talk some sense into him, get him home, ” Wrecker said.

“I don't think he wants to come home, ” Hunter said coldly.

“Doesn't matter, we need to get him back and remove his chip or whatever.”

Hunter opener his mouth to say something back, but instead walked away to the pilot's seat.

“We should at least try to save him, ” you said sternly.

“Cant save someone that doesn't want to be saved, ” Hunter barked back.

“In case to haven't noticed, we don't know what he wants. That chip is controlling him!”

“I agree with Y/N, ” Wrecker barged in.

“That's not the mission.”

•••

Howzer took off his helmet to ruffle his hair. It was a humid night on the planet of Ryloth, and he's been running around trying to capture a child named Hera with a squad of clone troopers.

“Hey boss, do we stun her or shoot.”

“Stun! She's a child, has some empathy. Besides, I'm sure they want her alive, otherwise, we have no leverage over Cham.”

“You got it, captain.”

There was silence as the squad walked through the place, flashlight in hands and visors on night vision mode as they searched for the child. This seemed very wrong to Howzer. What would the empire want with a child if they already have Cham? Leverage, but for what? They don't plan on hurting the kid, do they?

“What do you think they'll do with the kid, ” Howzer asked his squad.

“Who cared, she's a traitor to the empire. She's lucky she isn't dead yet. Speaking of traitors, don't we have orders to kill whoever betrays the empire?”

“What? That's ridiculous, we should just imprison them, and still, she's a child, soldier. We aren't killing her, ” Howzer scoffed.

The squad quietly whispered to each other. Suddenly a ship hovered over them, landing a few feet behind where they were.

“Stay cautious, that could be their backup.”

“Shoot to kill or stun, ” a trooper asked.

“Stun. I won't tell you again, ” Howser said through gritted teeth.

“Whatever you say, Captain, ” the trooper said with an annoyed tone.

Howzer placed his helmet back onto his head, getting his gun ready and placing it in stun mode.

“I have eyes on them!”

The troopers began shooting blindly at a group of troopers, a Jedi standing in front of then reflecting the shots with a child behind them.

“Hold your fire, ��� Howzer exclaimed.

The troopers ignore him.

“I said, hold your fire!”

The troopers looked at each other in confusion and disgust.

“They're wanted by the empire! We need to kill them, they're traitors.”

The troopers began shooting live rounds at the squad.

“But they have a child with them! Stop!”

Howzer put his gun in the gun holder that held itself on his waist, pushing a trooper back. One by one, the trooper squad of 5 became the squad of 2.

“You're not fit enough to be Captain! You're a trait of to the empire! We have to kill them, now!”

“No! This is wrong and you know it! Snap out of it how can you not see that this is wrong, ” Howzer said before being pushed to the ground by Hunter.

“See what you did! You're a traitor, ” the trooper said trying to shake out of Wrecker's grasp.

“You, be quiet, ” you yelled at the trooper.

You walked up to Howzer, cocking your head to the side slightly.

“Hunter, there's something wrong with his chip.”

Hunter looked up at you, scrunching his eyebrows together, “How can you be so sure?”

“He seems...different I can feel it.”

Hunter looked at you and then back ah Howzer, grabbed him by the shoulders, and pushed him up to his feet. You walked towards Howzer and removed his helmet, eyes widening, surprised with how attractive the clone was. You looked at him, placing your hands on his face, inspecting him. Howzer attempted to back off, but Hunter held him in place. He flinched as you placed a hand near the left side of his head, closing your eyes as you felt his chip through the force. You opened your eyes, staring into his eyes, only for him to nervously look away.

“He has his chip, but it's damaged, ” you looked at Hunter as if you were asked for permission.

“Fine. You deal with him. We cat have him running back to the empire to inform them of our arrival. We can't have any attention, this is a stealth mission. We need to focus on saving the kid, ” Hunter said, shoving Howzer towards you.

You caught Howzer and placed your lightsaber close to his face, only for him to flinch against it, his head laying on your shoulder, “Try anything stupid and I'll kill you on sight, got that?”

“I thought that wasn't the Jedi way, ” he said with caution.

You retracted your saber and placed it back on your holders, “There is no Jedi way, ” you scoffed, putting his helmet back on. You knew it would possibly be a distraction to you.

“What do I do with him, ” Wrecker asked, picking up the trooper he held captive.

“Woah, ” the trooper yelped.

Hunter looked at Howzer and then the trooper.

“His chip is active,” you said.

Hunter paused for a second in thought, “Stun him. Look, we’ll look over here, you and Omega look over there, that way we’ll have a better chance of finding the kid.”

“You got it. Cmon, Omega, let's get ahead of them. I think Hera will be pleased to see that you're the one rescuing her, ” you said as you pushed Howzer forward, grabbing Omega’s hand as you led her away, Hunter stunning the clone from behind.

You and Omega stared at Howzer as you walked through the gravel trail.

“Uhm...Why do you two keep starring at me,” he asked.

“To make sure you don't try anything funny, ” you lied.

“Your chip isn't working. That's pretty rare for a clone, ” Omega explained.

“What is this chip that you guys keep talking about?”

You sighed, ” Well, the clones, you included, have these chips that were implanted in you when you were, I think a stage 1 embryo?”

“Stage 2,” Omega corrected.

You chuckled, “A stage 2 embryo, and these chips were implanted in you by the Emperor to have you murder the Jedi. Nearly all of them were killed during order 66. I survived it by chance.”

“Oh…so that’s what that was. I’m sorry.”

You looked at Howzer in confusion, “W-What?”

“I’m sorry. That must’ve been hard to go through I had no idea. When I was out on a mission, we were working with a Jedi and just out of no where, everyone aimed their blasters at the General. They had told us they were traitors to the republic, betrayed the Chancellor.”

“Yeah, that’s because we found out he betrayed us. He was working with Count Dooku.”

Howzer shook his head in disappointment, “You must hate us then, clones.”

You looked at Howzer, sighing as you let go of his shoulder, “No, I don’t. The clones, it’s not their fault, what they did. They’re all being controlled by these chips, being controlled by the empire. I made my peace with the clones once I got informed of this by the batch.”

Howzer walked by your side, “So those troops back there, their chips are also defected?”

“They were, but we got help with removing them. Having the chips mean that’s you’re still a threat. They could activate at any time.”

“Why not stun me? Like him back there.”

You thought for a moment, “Just because your chip isn’t activated doesn’t mean your not with the empire. For all we know you could still be loyal to them. We didn’t wanna risk the possibility of activating your chip, and we couldn't have you go off to the empire.”

“Oh. What do you uh plan on doing with me once you find the kid?”

“If I’m being completely honest with you, I’m not sure.”

“Well, that’s reassuring,” he chuckled nervously.

He scratched the back of his neck, looking at you as if hesitant to ask a question.

“I can feel you looking at me. What is it?”

Howzer looked away, “U-Uhm I was just uh…” he stuttered, “Uhm, where were you? During order 66.”

You smiled at his struggle, a smile still placed on your face when he asked the question.

“I uh I was actually in my ship. It was on a mission I was in with my droid to Ord Mantel, I was supposed to get intel on this bounty Hunter I’ve been hunting down. My droid saved me from the clones.”

“Lucky you weren’t assigned with a squad.”

You chuckled, “Yeah really.”

You and Howzer heard rustling from a bush that was up ahead. Howzer got in front of you, trying to take a closer look.

“Come out! We know you're there,” Howzer yelled.

You grabbed Howzer’s shoulder, “Maybe you should keep it down. If it’s Hera, she could be scared since you are supposed to be hunting her down,” you rolled your eyes in his idiocy.

“Oh, uh, right, ” he backed up.

Howzer removed his helmet. He's very well aware that citizens are often scared of the armor rather than what's underneath it. You glanced and him in admiration until you heard the bush rustle again.

“Hera? It's me and Omega, remember? We were selling those weapons to your uncle, ” you said calmly.

Slowly peaking out from the bush, you saw Hera’s head, “Omega?”

Omega waved at her, “Hello,” she smiled.

Hera got out from the bush, “What are you doing here?”

“We’re here to rescue you.”

Hera looked at Howzer with wide eyes, “H-He’s”

“Not with the empire,” Howzer said confidently, “Not anymore that is.”

“They’ll kill you,” Hera said walking towards Howzer.

“Not unless they catch me,” He smiled, patting her head.

You smiled at his kind act, “Hunter, we found Hera. We’re on our way back,” you looked at Howzer, “What are we going to do with...,” you whispered into your commlink.

“Hey! I never got your name, ” you said nervously.

“Oh! Uh, the name’s Howzer, ” he smiled, “What about you?”

You chuckled, “In your dreams, pal.”

“What are we going to do with Howzer, the clone.”

You heard Hunter sigh into his commlink, “We’ll stun him when we leave. Take him back with you in case we get spotted.”

“Hunter, we can't just leave him here. Hera knows him, he could be useful to us.”

There was no reply.

“Hunter?”

“Yeah, ” he sighed, “I'm here. Look just get over here we’ll talk when you get back.”

You walked over to Howzer with a smirk on your face, “Lucky you, Hunter doesn't want to kill you, ” you swung your arm over his shoulders, “Now you're really fucked.”

Howzer looked at you like a confused dog, “What do you mean? What you think I can’t handle a couple of clones and a Jedi?”

You laughed, “We ain’t your typical squad,” you smirked.

He got in your face, “Try me. I’ve been with many squads. What’s so different about you guys?”

You inched closer to his face, “I guess you’ll have to find out.”

There was a pause until the both of you burst out laughing.

“Cmon, we gotta get back to them.”

“You got it, General.”

You stopped in your tracks, looking back at Howzer. You were going to say something but decided to let it go.

“Cmon girls. We have to get back to the ship.”

“Coming, ” they said laughing.

•••

“I never noticed how nice your hair is, ” you said ruffling Howzer’s hair.

He kindly swatted your hand away, “Thanks, ” he said while rolling his eyes.

You looked at his face, eyes scanning over his scars. You choose not to ask him about them. Not yet anyway. The girls whispered and giggles to each other throughout the walk to the marauder.

“What are you two talking about?”

“Nothing, ” they chuckled devilishly.

Both you and Howzer looked at them questionably, the at each other.

You shook your head, “Kids, huh?”

“Reminds me of my younger days, making fun of brothers for having a crush. Of course, that was before order 66. Good memories.”

The four of you continued to walk and began to see the ship, with Hunter sitting at the entrance of the ship.

“Took you long enough, ” he said as he got up, “We need to talk.”

You nodded, “Ladies, ” you smiled down at Omega and Hera, “into the ship. Omega show Hera our little secret since she’ll be with us for a bit.”

“Ooh! Good idea. Hera, follow me.”

The two children ran their way into the marauder, Howzer squatting down on the floor, patiently waiting for an invitation inside. Hunter grabbed you and pulled you off to the side, away from Howzer.

“Look I don't want to take him with us. He seems sketchy.”

You sighed and nodded in agreement, “Yes, I know but I'm sure he means well. I'll look after him but Hunter, something tells me that we can trust him. Howzer seems like a good guy. Hera seems to trust him and she knew him when he was working with her dad.”

Hunter looked at Howzer to see him awkwardly wave at him.

Hunter cursed, “Fine, but if anything and I mean anything, happens, he's off the ship.”

You nodded, giddily walking over to Howzer, then clapping your hand on his shoulder.

“What’re you doing just standing here like an idiot? C’mon,” you snickered.

“Well, excuse me for trying to be polite, ” he smiled, Hunter glaring him down as you all entered the ship.

[nanagoswife]

Congrats on 100! I was wondering if I could request something?

I was thinking obi wan and padawan reader could be out on a mission, and then reader accidentally gets themselves in a dangerous situation; Obi wan comes in and saves them, ofc, but then scolds them because they could've gotten seriously hurt, and how could you have done something like that without thinking?? But then he realizes reader just went through a really scary experience, so he gives them a hug and comforts them and tells them how much they mean to him, and how badly it would hurt if he lost them 🥺

Romantic (reader is over 18, ofc) or platonic, totally up to you! ((if you go for romantic, bonus points if the comforting leads to obi wan to confessing his feelings!))

Thank you! And of course! Also, it was almost a no brainer that I did something romantically 😜 without further or do, here is the story...

Hanging From The Cliff

W/C: 2.5k

Warnings: violence, mention of attempted assassination, mention of blood, angst?

Tree branches and leaves whipped at your face as you ran through the forest after a bounty hunter that you and your master had been tracking. They had made a move against the senator from Kashyyyk that had narrowly been avoided thanks to you and your master.

Your master happened to be none other than Obi-Wan Kenobi. In reality, he wasn’t much older than you. The two of you did a lot of training together when you were both padawans still. With your previous master’s passing, though, the council put you under the supervision of Obi-Wan for your last couple years of training.

The two of you were very close friends and you both worked extremely well together. That was why the council paired you with Obi-Wan. Though, some members of council disproved of the pairing for a time, due to how the two of you seemed a little too close. That was something you had to hide. You had always convinced yourself that, not only was it against the code, but that there was no way he felt the same about you.

It had been strange at first, calling him your master, but soon enough, it hadn’t mattered. The situation made for a good joke quite often.

Now, you weren’t focused on that, but rather the masked bounty hunter that you could faintly see through the brush. Obi-Wan had got caught in the rush of traffic, meaning that you were the only one to do this.

Slowly, you were gaining on them. Give it another bit, and you’d have them in binders, ready to be brought back to Coruscant. 

That was the plan as you got ready to break out into the clearing ahead. It was the plan, until you were met by at least ten more bounty hunters all gathered together by a cliff. How did you not sense this?

Desperately, you skidded to a halt so that you could stay close enough to the trees for any potential cover. This proved to be useless as every blaster shot had you blocking and moving ever closer to the cliff.

All you had to do was keep this up until Obi-Wan showed up. You could only hope that he was almost here.

Suddenly, a wire spun and wrapped around your wrist that did not hold your lightsaber. Slightly turning your head, you saw that one of the bounty hunters had snuck his way so that he was just out of your vision.

With the wire around your wrist, he tugged at it to throw you off balance. Although it did make you take a step, you kept your attention on blocking the blaster fire. 

Noticing this, the bounty hunter tugged at the wire harder, pain shooting through your wrist as it started to dig into your flesh. 

As you kept this up, you kept drawing closer to the cliff until you were struggling to not shift your foot over the steep ledge. Catching a glance downwards, it was higher than you anticipated. Even with aid from the force, you wouldn’t survive.

Your hope for Obi-Wan’s aid started to dwindle. It had been quite a while since this all started. Surprisingly, you were only escaping with the scratches from the chase, the agonizing chafing from the wire, and a slight graze of a blaster that did more damage to your robes than it did your shoulder.

All of this considered, you didn’t know how much longer you could keep this up. There were no less of them than when this all started. You were more focused on staying unscathed than trying to lessen the numbers.

That’s when you saw five more bounty hunters join in. The once manageable task was now one that was mere impossible. Not only that, but it distracted you from the one that was still tugging at the wire.

What you hadn’t noticed was that they had managed to tie the other end of the wire to a tree. They had then snuck closer to you, enough that you still wouldn’t notice. Even when he kicked one of your legs out from under you.

Desperately, you tried to maintain balance. You desperately tried not to follow your instinct to plant your foot behind you. Despite your best efforts, you could not gain your balance back. So, you fell.

It was almost as if your heart temporarily left your body. That was, until searing pain shot through your wrist as your fall was abruptly stopped by the wire. It caused you to slam up against the cliff face fiercely. After a moment, your swinging stopped and you were left dangling vulnerably. 

You tried to figure out a way to get out of this, but there were no solid footholds on the cliff. Then, if you tried to swing, you didn’t know if the tree that this wire was tied to would be strong enough. Not only that, but the bounty hunters were all still up there.

“Not so tough now, are you Jedi?” one leaned over the edge and yelled.

In response, you grimaced as they managed to jiggle the wire, causing pain to shoot through you again.

“As much as we would love to watch you fall, we think we’re going to leave you hanging. The pain must be excruciating!”

It really was, but you weren’t going to tell that to the very ones who were using this as entertainment. All you did was stay silent, afraid that the pain you felt would echo in your words. Not only that, but you were terrified. You had been this whole time, but none more so than now. On top of that, you were starting to lose hope that Obi-Wan would find you here.

Distantly, you heard more voices yelling about another Jedi that was approaching. You could only hear as they all scrambled to their ships and watched as they took off. Even though this meant that your mission had failed, you were relieved to know that he actually was almost here.

So, you dangled helplessly from your wrist until he got here. It was screaming in pain as the wire had now dug into your flesh and now was just irritating it further with any movement. You could feel as blood was starting to drip down your arm.

You waited for what felt like an eternity until you heard, “Y/N?” 

“Obi-Wan,” you tried to yell as loud as you could. You could sense his worry as he could hear you but didn’t see you. “The wire,” you called out, trying to help him find out where you were.

After a moment, you saw his head pop out over the edge of the cliff.

“What are you doing?” he asked teasingly.

“Hanging out until you came to find me,” you quipped back only to wince as you moved too much. 

Seeing this, Obi-Wan saw how the blood was running down your arm. “Okay, I’m going to pull you up but it’s going to hurt.”

All you could manage was a nod as you mentally prepared yourself, using the force to help brace yourself. You could feel as Obi-Wan had grabbed the wire and only slightly tugged at it. Although even that hurt, it was an indicator for you to prepare for much worse.

When he began to pull you up, everything happened in a blur. There was so much pain, but it seemed almost as though it took no time at all until you were laying on solid ground. 

So much relief filled you as the pressure from your wrist loosened and wasn’t constantly rubbing.

Obi-Wan was by your side in an instant, checking how badly your wrist was cut up. It was bad, but it wasn’t bad enough that it would cause permanent damage with the aid of the bacta patches he had on him combined with further treatment later.

Carefully, he sat you up so that he could properly tend to your wrist with a gentle touch. You couldn’t help but be soothed by his fingers softly grasping your arm to hold it steady. His touch had always made you feel a comfort that you knew shouldn’t be there.

He had also seen the blaster graze on your shoulder, but that was a mere scratch compared to your wrist. Obi-Wan wouldn’t be surprised if your wrist was even possibly fractured or at least sprained from your obvious fall.

The treatment of your wound didn’t take long, as he didn’t have much with him in the first place. Not only that, but he started to think about how hasty you had been about this. He knew that you were too caught up with catching the single bounty hunter to think about how they were leading you to a trap.

“What in the blazes were you thinking?” he blurted out. “Did you ever think to stop and think about what was ahead of you?” 

His tone was reprimanding and you didn’t know how to react. Obi-Wan was your teacher, your friend, the one that you had more feelings for than what was allowed. Now, he went from being gentle to hard in a single second. You were now hanging from a different cliff, this time unsure if he would pull you up or leave you to hang.

“I-I…” you struggled to find words. Not only was his tone hurting you, but everything came flooding back to you. From how you stumbled into the group of bounty hunters, how you were starting to tire out and let a blaster bolt graze you, how the wire had wrapped around your wrist, then finally falling and thinking it was all over.

Obi-Wan watched you and immediately regretted the way he had said that. He had seen how many ships had flown away before he got to you. Not only that, how you were helplessly dangling over the tallest cliff he had ever seen, it was a sign that showed just how bad the situation must have been. He had even sensed how terrified you were during many different moments.

Then, he saw as tears started to flow from your eyes. 

“Hey,” he said more softly, placing a hand on your good shoulder before pulling you into an embrace. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not though,” you cried out, “I did everything you said. I didn’t stop to think-”

“That’s not what I really meant,” he cut you off. 

You pulled back and looked at him with a confused gaze. How was that not what he meant? He was your master, afterall. It was his duty to correct you on what you did wrong, no matter the fact that you were only a few years his junior.

“How is it not,” you said in a broken voice. Not only was the terror from the previous events in your mind, but you started to think about how he didn’t seem as worried as you hoped he would be.

Little did you know, he was. Obi-Wan wasn’t thinking of how you didn’t think the situation through, he was thinking about how he could’ve lost you. He was thinking how, if he had lost you, he wouldn’t know what to do.

Looking into your eyes, he carefully brushed a loose hair behind your ear. With the same hand, he brought it to cup your cheek as he took a moment to gauge your feelings. He could feel all of the obvious ones, but he was searching for the one thing that he had felt from you for a long time. Something that he felt too, but never acted on because of the code.

After some time, he found it but could feel how it felt sadder than before. What caused this? Then, he thought about his reaction. He was more wrapped up in your strategy than your actual well being. How would you read his subtle nod to how he felt.

“That’s not what I meant, because,” he paused. 

Was he really going to tell you now? If he didn’t, would that mean he would lose you before he could tell you how much he loved you? Feeling your love for him all these years only empowered him to push through, especially in the days after the events that led to his knighting. 

That’s when he decided, “What I meant is that I don’t know what I would do without you.”

I took you a moment to realise what he was saying. Did this mean that Obi-Wan Kenobi actually felt the same way about you as you have about him all these years? Then, you took in the moment. His hand on your cheek, gently, and his cerulean gaze meeting yours, lovingly.

You were frozen. You never thought that this moment would ever come. Obi-Wan was finally admitting that he cared for you.

“W-what… I mean, I-” you couldn’t find the words. In this moment, one of the scariest you’ve faced in both the actual near-death experience and this quiet moment, you were unsure of what to say.

Obi-Wan watched your rapid thoughts and gave you a comforting smile. Then, to calm you further, he traced gentle circles with his thumb into your cheek. His heart started to pick up speed as he thought about how much he loved you. How in every moment he saw your smile, his heart warmed and sent a lighter tone his way every day.

He couldn’t help himself. Easily, while making sure he wouldn’t hurt you, he pulled you against him, wrapping his arms around you. 

His embrace soothed your many racing thoughts. Even though you were trying to soothe yourself with his words before this, your encounter with the bounty hunters persisted. Now, it washed away all of those thoughts as you were enveloped in his arms. Without any hesitation, you hugged him back.

“I love you, Y/N. I don’t know how I could’ve lived with myself if anything had happened.”

You were shocked at his words and, out of instinct, you pulled away and met his eyes. Something in you expected to see he was joking, but his eyes were filled with sincerity. This was the moment you had been waiting for for years.

Now, it was your turn to bring a hand up to his cheek. Overwhelming happiness filled you as you looked into his expectant and hopeful eyes.

“I love you too, Obi,” you said, almost in a whisper. 

Without realising it, you both leaned closer towards the other. There was no time to think about how the rest of this would go. Right now it was just this moment. Right now, he had pulled you up from the cliff. Right now, it was just feeling the sensation of his lips against yours.

[dindjarins04]

CHAPTER THREE

I AM NO JEDI MASTERLIST

Still curled up on the small chair in Padme's living area, Anakin paces back and forth. He sighs and stops in the middle of the room while you calmly respond to the onslaught of Qui-Gon's messages.

"It's too quiet,"

"That's a good thing," You reply. "I'd rather not have to deal with blasters," You look and see him looking down at you. "Perhaps if you sat down, you wouldn't be so anxious,"

"Can you at least pay some attention to me rather than your holopad?" He asks with a huff. You roll your eyes and place it down.

"You're such a child,"

"Maybe I just need a distraction,"

"Oh and I'm the perfect fit for your distraction?" You tease as he sits down in the chair opposite you.

"Yes," He says. "So...why do you think we weren't allowed to see each other for 10 years?"

"Well, those 10 years were the most vital part of our training, maybe we were just too busy with training to make friends," You shrug as you stand to pour yourself a glass of water. Anakin stays silent as he thinks of different reasons for the Jedi keeping you separate. "Enough about us...what's your story with Padme?" You cringe at yourself. Smooth, (Y/N), that was real smooth.

"We met on Tatooine, I saved her planet and that's it," You quirk a brow and turn around, leaning against the table you got your water from.

"Really? I thought you two had something more, considering the way you talk to her," You say, sipping your water.

"Heh, jealous?" You choke on the water at the question.

"That's absurd," Anakin chuckles and shakes his head.

"Whatever you say, princess,"

"Quiet, mudscuffer," Then, Obi-Wan strolls in.

"Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs. No assassin will try that way. Any activity up here?" He asks as you move back to your holopad to send your last couple of messages to your master.

"Quiet as a tomb. I don't like just waiting here for something to happen to her," Anakin complains as Obi-Wan checks a palm-sized view scanner he has pulled out of his utility belt. It shows a shot of R2 by the door, but no sign of Padme on the bed.

"What's going on?" Obi-Wan asks.

"She covered that camera. I don't think she liked us watching her," You roll your eyes.

"What is she thinking?"

"Actually, all of this was (Y/N)'s idea," You look to see the men staring at you.

"I programmed R2 to warn us if there's an intruder,"

"It's not an intruder I'm worried about. There are many other ways to kill a Senator,"

"I know, but we also want to catch this assassin. Don't we, master Jedi?" You respond with a smirk.

"You're using her as bait??"

"It was her idea... No harm will come to her,"

"I can sense everything going on in that room. Trust me," Anakin adds on as you finish your last message and put down your holopad.

"It's too risky... and your senses aren't that attuned, young apprentice,"

"And yours are?"

"Possibly," You roll your eyes at the duo.

"You know, I can sense everything too, Qui-Gon has been teaching me well,"

"I do not disagree, I was his padawan as well," Obi-Wan says as he moves to look out of the window.

"The water is empty, I'll get some more, comm me if anything happens," Obi-Wan nods as Anakin walks beside him.

"You look tired," Obi-Wan states as he examines Anakin.

"I don't sleep well, anymore," He responds truthfully.

"Because of your mother?"

"I don't know why I keep dreaming about her now. I haven't seen her since I was little,"

"Dreams pass in time,"

"I'd rather dream of (Y/N). Just being around her again is...intoxicating," He smiles to himself but Obi-Wan gives him a look of disapproval.

"Mind your thoughts, Anakin, they betray you. You and (Y/N) have made a commitment to the Jedi order... a commitment not easily broken...and remember she is also a Jedi,"

"I understand Master...but there's just something about her. Being around her again...it brings a forgotten but familiar feeling back," Anakin grins, gently touching his chest.

"Anakin, (Y/N) is already on thin ice with the Jedi Council, please don't try and ruin this for her," Anakin looks up at his master.

"I...I won't," You return with a sigh.

"I couldn't get any water!" You exclaim. "Too many procedures to fill up one jug of water," You sigh placing it down. "Anything interesting happen while I was gone?" Anakin and Obi-Wan share a discreet glance.

"No, it's been very quiet," Obi-Wan answers to Anakin's relief. But then, you all stop and look at each other.

"Is it just me?"

"No, I can sense it too," All three of you run and burst into Padme's room. Two creatures stand on their hind legs as Padme lays deadly still. Anakin springs onto the bed and slices the creatures in half with his lightsaber. You see a droid outside and race after it, crashing through the blinds and window. Okay. Bad idea. You did NOT think that through.

You fly through the glass window and fling yourself at the probe droid, grabbing onto the deadly machine before it can flee. The droid sinks under the weight of you but manages to stay afloat and fly away, with you hanging on for dear life, a hundred stories above the city. The droid sends several protective electrical shocks across its surface, causing you to almost lose your grip. As you dart in and out of the speeder traffic, you disconnect a wire on the back of the droid. Its power shuts off. Shit! You and the droid drop like rocks. You realise the error of your ways and quickly puts the wire back. The droid's systems light up again and it takes off.

Sweat begins to build on your forehead. You did not think this through what so ever and you have no idea where Anakin or Obi-Wan is. The last thing you remember is Padme's deadly still body. Is she dead? That sudden thought sends a pang of regret in your gut. Did you allow your best and only friend to die?

The droid bumps against a wall, hoping to knock you loose. It moves behind a speeder afterburner to scorch you. It takes you wildly between buildings and finally skims across a rooftop and you are forced to lift your legs, tenaciously hanging onto the droid.

"Would you stop?!" You growl as the droid heads for a dirty, beat-up speeder hidden in an alcove of a building about twenty stories up. When the pilot of the speeder, a scruffy looking person who is most likely a bounty hunter, sees the droid approach with you hanging on, she pulls a long rifle out of the speeder and starts to fire at you. Explosions burst all around you. "I have a bad feeling about this," You say.

Finally, the droid suffers a direct hit and blows up and you fall fifty stories until a speeder drops down next to you, and you manage to grab onto the back end of the speeder and haul yourself toward the cockpit. You struggle to climb into the seat and you sigh in relief when seeing Anakin driver and Obi-Wan in the passenger seat.

"That was wacky! I almost lost you in the traffic," Anakin said.

"What took you so long?" You ask as you finally sit correctly in the seat you tumbled into.

"Oh, you know, princess, I couldn't find a speeder I really liked, with an open cockpit... and with the right speed capabilities...and then you know I had to get a really gonzo colour..."

"Qui-Gon will not be happy about your recklessness," Obi-Wan chimes in.

"Well, I know who to follow now," Anakin zooms upward in hot pursuit of the bounty hunter as she fires out the open window at you with her laser pistol.

"And Anakin, if you'd spend as much time working on your saber skills as you do on your wit, young Padawan, you would rival Master Yoda as a swordsman," Obi-Wan says, scolding both of you.

"I thought I already did," Anakin replies smugly.

"Only in your mind, my very young apprentice. Careful!! Hey, easy!!" Obi-Wan says as he grips the sides of the speeder as Anakin deftly moves in and out of the oncoming traffic, across lanes, between buildings, and miraculously through a construction site, the bounty hunter still firing at you.

"Sorry, I forgot you don't like flying, Master," You watch with a small smile at the way these two communicate. It reminds you of how you and Lumarina shared a lot of jokes and banter just like these two.

"I don't mind flying... but what you're doing is suicide!" You barely miss a commuter train.

"I agree with Obi-Wan on that account," You say as you duck.

"Master, you know I've been flying since before I could walk. I'm very good at this and (Y/N)...just trust me," You roll your eyes as he laughs and Obi-Wan gasps as Anakin makes another narrow turn.

"Just slow down!" The bounty hunter and Anakin race through a line of cross-traffic made up of giant trucks. The speeders bank sideways as they slide around right-angle turns between buildings. The bounty hunter races into a tram tunnel. "Wait! Don't go in there!" Obi-Wan says but Anakin zooms into the tunnel after the hunter. You see a tram coming at you. Anakin brakes, turns around, and race out, barely ahead of the charging commuter transport."You know I don't like it when you do that!" Obi-Wan growls. "We also have another person with us, try not to kill three Jedi!"

"Sorry, Master. Don't worry, this guy's gonna kill himself any minute now!"

"No, you're going to kill us!" You scold, slapping his head. The hunter turns into oncoming traffic, deliberately trying to throw Anakin off. Oncoming speeders swerve, trying to avoid the hunter and three Jedi. The hunter does a quick, tight loop-over and ends up behind all of you. She is now in a much better position to fire at you all with her laser pistol. To avoid being hit by the laser bolts, Anakin slams on the brakes and moves alongside her. She now fires point-blank at Obi-Wan.

"What are you doing? He's gonna blast me!"

"Right, not a good idea," Anakin quickly turns and swerves away. Suddenly, the hunter throws a bunch of explosives in your direction. You stand and use the force to hold them away from your speeder as they explode. Out of a cloud of smoke and ball of flames Anakin tears after the hunter.

"(Y/N), that didn't do much help!" Obi-Wan slaps out the small fire on the dashboard.

"At least we're not dead!" You exclaim, sitting back down. The hunter goes up and down, through cross-traffic. There is a near miss as a speeder almost hits you. The hunter turns down and left between two buildings. Anakin pulls up and to the right

"Where are you going?! He went down there, the other way,"

"This is a shortcut... I think,"

"What do you mean, 'You think?' What kind of shortcut?! He went completely the other way! You've lost him!" You exclaim from behind him.

"Guys, if we keep this chase going, that creep's gonna end up deep-fried personally, I'd very much like to find out who in the hell he is and who he's working for..."

"Oh, so that's why we're going in the wrong direction," Obi-Wan says sarcastically. Anakin turns up a side street, zooming up several small passageways, then stops, hovering about fifty stories up. Obi-Wan folds his arms. "Well, you lost him,"

"I'm deeply sorry, Master,"

"Great job Anakin, he went completely the other way," You groan, unhappy for losing the bounty hunter. Anakin looks around front and back. He spots something. He seems to start counting to himself as he watches something below approach.

"Excuse me for a moment," Anakin then jumps out of the speeder. You and Obi-Wan watch as he jumps on the hunter's speeder about five stories below you. You quickly jump into the driver's seat and follow after them. You deftly gain on the rogue speeder. The two speeders dive through oncoming traffic and then through cross traffic. You then see Anakin drop something and you quickly catch it. You then notice it's his lightsaber. You sigh and hand it to Obi-Wan.

"I'm going to have to admit, this has been the most fun I've had since Naboo," You say as you follow the speeder as it crashes onto the ground.

"Naboo? You mean with Maul?"

"Well, everything leading up to that," You say as you talently spin around oncoming vehicles.

"Spinning is not flying!" Obi-Wan groans. "This is the first time I've ridden with you and your already matching Anakin's recklessness," You chuckle as you land. You grin as you land and wipe the sweat from your head. Obi-Wan looks at you before chuckling. You also laugh as he gets out and helps you out. "I will have to admit, that was something different,"

"Probably something the council will frown upon," You joke before seeing him. "Anakin!"

"She went into that club," Anakin said, pointing to the bright sign.

"Patience," Obi-Wa reminds as he hands Anakin his lightsaber. "Here. Next time try not to lose it,"

"Sorry, Master," Anakin reaches for the lightsaber, but Obi-Wan holds it back. "A Jedi's saber is his most precious possession,"

"Yes, Master," He reaches for his lightsaber again, but Obi-Wan pulls it back.

"He must keep it with him at all times,"

"I know, Master,"

"This weapon is your life!"

"I've heard this lesson before..." You and Anakin say at the same time. Obi-Wan finally holds out his lightsaber and Anakin grabs it.

"But unlike (Y/N), you haven't learned anything, Anakin,"

"I try, Master,"

"However, you should thank (Y/N) for catching it for you," Obi-Wan says before stepping away.

"Thank you...you've lost your lightsaber?" He teases as you follow Obi-Wan.

"Yeah, but I found it," You defend.

"How long did it take you?"

"3 lectures from my master and one full rotation,"

"Really? Where was it?" You look down. "(Y/N)," He says in a sing-song voice.

"It was under my bed," Anakin laughs loudly and you also chuckle as all three of you enter the nightclub.

[deannaroxannewrites]

Tropetember Day 1: Friends to lovers

The Day After

Pairing: Poe Dameron x GN!Reader

Fandom: Star Wars (Sequel trilogy)

Rating: General Audiences

TW: Alcohol (mentioned), drinking

AN: So, I finally pulled myself together and started properly writing! I'm hoping to do most of @tropetember with various x reader stories but if anyone has requests/thoughts please do share.

Find this story on Ao3 here.

Word Count: 1.5k

We'd won! The Resistance had won! We'd managed to take down the Final Order fleet and Palpatine in the nick of time.

That's great. All good.

Sadly, life doesn't suddenly stop simply because you win the war.

As the rest of the base slept off their hangovers/started day drinking in continued celebration, you sat at your console in the empty main command centre. You were in the process of going over supply runs, inventory and other important yet dull tasks necessary to keep the base afloat. It didn't matter that the majority of personnel were consuming alcohol and nothing else. Even that would run out eventually.

You made it through most of the day, getting through the 'essential for survival' task list and starting on the 'urgent but could do tomorrow' list, before you were disturbed. At least, disturbed by more than the celebratory ruckus outside the building.

"Colonel Y/L/N"

You sigh quietly to yourself. And it had been going so well.

"Can I help you General?"

You don't look up as you respond. You've spent enough time with Poe Dameron to know his voice anywhere. Plus, eye contact only encouraged him. And distracted you if you were honest, but that involved crawling out of that deep pit of denial you were currently living in so you weren't going to do that.

“Well, I don’t know if you noticed,” he drawled, propping himself lazily up against the workstation next to you, “but we won the war yesterday. Could you maybe, I don’t know, chill out and stop working for 10 seconds?”

You scoff quietly to yourself. You understood why Leia had made him General. Despite his bluster and cocky flyboy attitude, he was a calculating strategist whose tactics snatched victory from the jaws of defeat time and again. As a professional with advanced military training though, you had occasionally doubted that he had it in him to deal with the day-to-day aspects of commanding the Resistance. (Was it still the Resistance if the enemy was destroyed? Hmm, pin that thought for later. There might be a full rebrand on the horizon.) At least, he might not be able to manage without support. Good job he had you really.

“I was aware, yes” you respond, continuing to draft a message to the Senate, “bit hard to miss with the sheer volume at the moment”.

That makes Poe laugh. Mirth lights up his eyes and he gets that intolerably cheeky grin upon his handsome face.

"What do I have to do to drag you away from your console?"

"Let me finish my work? Or, you know, since you're here, maybe you could help"

With a fond shake of his head he moves behind you, wraps his arms around you and drags your chair away from the console. You squeak with indignation.

"Unhand me you beast!" You laugh, trying to be stern. It's not very successful.

"Nope. Not a chance. You're coming with me. That's an order."

You grumble under your breath as he stands you up and drags you out of the command centre. You're not convincing anyone that you're not exactly where you want to be though, and eventually allow yourself to be tucked under his arm and led towards the celebrations.

‐------

You're a little overwhelmed by the celebration. Poe had led you straight outside to the bonfire and as soon you had stepped into the clearing, you'd been spotted. You turn yourself into Poe slightly to try and hide yourself. He wasn't having it though, pressing a quick kiss to your forehead before dragging you into the ruckus.

You were immediately accosted by your overly cheerful (and slightly drunk) friends. All of them take a moment to thank you for keeping everything together. It was all very overwhelming, it's not like you felt that you had done anything particularly special.

"Ladies, gentlemen, non-binary individuals and droids of the Resistance" came Poe's voice. You look over to him where he stands on a nearby table. Finn stood relaxed at his side, a bright blue drink in hand.

"We have been through a very difficult time these last few weeks and we have lost many people." Poe pauses for a moment, taking a steadying breath. "Losing General Organa could have been the end for us, even with myself and Finn taking over her role".

A somber silence has overtaken the crowd but many of them are nodding gently or holding onto their neighbours for support. The fire crackles in the background as Finn takes over.

"Generals are only as good as their team, and there is one specific person who has held our efforts together." Finn waves his arm in your direction as he continues. "Colonel Y/N has been an absolute rock, no aspect of this extraordinary success would have been possible without their impressive and dedicated work behind the scenes".

You straighten your spine, keeping yourself tall as all eyes fall on you. You, however, keep yours trained on Poe as he gestures you up onto the table.

"In the coming weeks, we will have a proper ceremony to celebrate all of those who have gone above and beyond. But we felt that we should take a moment to celebrate the backbone of the resistance."

Poe takes back over from his co-General as he notes that "We would have done this earlier but they were busy organising resupplying the alcohol". The crowd laughs at that and Poe turns his sparkling grin toward you. Gosh, he is handsome. All cheekbones and curly brown hair. It's rude, quite frankly.

He wraps his arm around you as he calls out to the crowd. "Let's hear it for Colonel Y/N!"

The crowd erupts and you can't control the grin, leaning into Poe slightly for support. Your entire career you've been in the background, this sudden recognition is a bit much.

Everyone cheers, lifting their drinks in salute.

You take a moment to soak it in, before swiftly climbing down and attempting to blend into the background. Your attempt is dashed by Poe though as he grabs you again, gently tugging you towards the makeshift dance floor.

The music, which had paused momentarily for the Generals’ impromptu speech, had recommenced and there was currently a Nabooian love song drifting across the party. It was an interesting contrast to the boisterous conversations surrounding the clearing.

When you arrive at your destination you once again find yourself in Poe’s arms, this time slowly swaying to the beat. He’s such an affectionate man that it is sometimes really difficult to remember that you’re not together. That he’s not interested in you. You’d met Zorii in her brief visit after the battle and had heard enough from Ray to bring your insecurities to the fore.

You rest your head against Poe’s chest, tucking yourself into him and quietly sighing to yourself. You’re a Colonel of the Resistance, this pining nonsense is not helpful and you really need to get over him. He obviously hears you though and pulls back a little, aiming a questioning glance your way.

You shake your head slightly, smiling to try and deflect but now, with the war basically finished, he seems to have decided you have the time to unpack this.

“You can tell me you know?” he whispers.

You smile a self-deprecating smile and choose not to respond, but he isn’t having it.

“You’re the bravest person I know. You can say it”

You move to pull away but he doesn’t let you. Instead, he pulls you closer and for the first time, you see the way he looks at you.

It’s all it takes to break your self-restraint as you push yourself up onto your tiptoes and press your lips against his. He immediately deepens the kiss, holding you close before slowing the pace and breaking away. He doesn’t go far, resting his forehead against yours.

As first kisses go, it’s the best you’ve ever had.

It’s as you try to return your breathing to normal that you tune back into the rest of the world. You hear the whooping and what sounds like Finn shouting “finally” at the top of his voice. It’s the only warning you get before the other General crashes into you both, wrapping you in a bone-crushing hug.

BB-8 starts beeping wildly as he zooms around you in circles and, in the centre of all the people you love, you whisper gently against his lips, "I love you".

His answering smile is blinding as he repeats the sentiment before your best friend dips you and snogs the life out of you.

And on the evening after the final battle, in the firelight and surrounded by the celebrating members of the resistance, you wonder, as you wrap your arms around Poe, if life gets any better than this.

You doubt it.

[wickedscribbles]

Come What May, Chapter Four

Masterlist

Pairing: Obi-Wan Kenobi x Original Female Character (Second Person Perspective)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: brief description of panic attack -- there is a warning in the body of the chapter as well! Don’t worry. 

Tags: main character has social anxiety, teaching a class with Obi-Wan, sexual tension, lightsaber fights, Obi-Wan continues with the cute pet names, some teacher/student fantasizing, Obi-Wan is still a massive tease, fucking in a supply closet

Word Count: 6.9 K

It's infuriating to know that Obi-Wan is back in the Temple, but that he's too busy to see you. Between Council meetings that drag for hours, more private gatherings with members of the Senate to discuss what the next move in the war should be, and allowing the poor man time to rest, Obi-Wan has been home for more than a week. You've barely caught more than a glimpse of him. Still, it's nice to have him present in your mind.

You know he's still in the Temple every day you wake up to a glowing good morning, love, his happiness to be near you radiating like sunshine even if you haven't had the time to see one another. It’s not safe to talk back and forth, but sometimes if one of you is particularly bored, you’ll trade a few sentences.

Master Yoda is on a roll today. Send help. Starting to think backwards I am.

Pity you I do.

Very funny, petal.

Then he’d be gone again, fading out before anyone got suspicious. The sudden absence hurts, but not as much as having him gone from the Temple entirely. At least here, you can feel him. You know he's safe.

In contrast to Obi-Wan's breakneck schedule, you've had almost nothing to do. It's full-on spring on Coruscant now, the warmth driving cold and flu season away. You have no colicky little ones in the creche to fuss over, no sick Padawans. The most you might see are some old Masters who need their aching bones tended to, or a quick training accident that needs mended. You haven't shipped out to a war-stricken planet in a while, either. It's strange to have downtime. Strange and frustrating, knowing Obi-Wan is nearby but still not close enough. Having a spare moment between all the illness and injuries is a good thing, and you're grateful. If only you weren't so restless.

-----

It’s rare -- almost impossible -- that you get to take the entire day off, but that’s exactly what you’ve been told to do. The medbay sits empty except for a couple of droids, instructed to deep clean while there are no patients. Even Master Allie appears to be taking it easy; her Force is calm as she bids you goodbye. She insists that if anyone turns up in need of healing, she and Barriss Offee would be on call to take care of it. You bow to her and leave, excited about what possibilities this could open up.

The first thing you do is check for Obi-Wan. Of course, he’s preoccupied. You duck out after feeling the level of concentration he’s exerting at something-or-other; it’s mixed with frustration and you don’t want to distract him. Like you, he’s getting more and more impatient with how busy the Council has kept him. You try not to let yourself be disappointed; it would be too lucky for both of you to be free at the same time, on the same day. All you can do is hope that you can find the time to be together before he has to leave again.

With your schedule more open than ever, you head to your favorite courtyard. The least you can do is soak up some Coruscanti sunshine. But only a quarter of an hour passes before you’re interrupted by the sound of footsteps on cobblestones, headed fast in your direction. Around the corner, scattering the kiros birds, comes a youngling you recognize. It's Gil Graven, a spitfire of a youngling you see in the medbay far more than others his age. He drives his minders crazy with his recklessness, but he’s a sweetheart. Even if you swear you have him admitted once a month for sprains and cuts.

Even now he trips and topples, would have earned the Halls of Healing their first visitor of the day, if you hadn't righted him with a quick pull of the Force.

"Easy, Gil. Where's the fire?" You smile, watching the kid tug his too-large tunic back onto his shoulder.

"Fire? There's no fire, miss. I was looking for you!"

His eyes go round with confusion, cheeks red from running. You forgot how literal younglings could be.

"I meant -- wait, looking for me? What's wrong? Who's hurt?"

Kriff. You should've known taking a day off would backfire. Something had happened in the fifteen minutes you’d had your butt parked in the grass. You get to your feet, gripping the pouch of emergency bacta on your belt.

"Oh! It's not a healer thing." Gil bounces in place, thinking. "But you're needed in the training halls! And they told me to find you quick!"

"Gil, calm down for a minute, okay?" The training halls? Why on Ryloth were you wanted there? "Who told you?"

He shrugs, unhelpful. “I dunno. I’ve never met ‘im before. But he told me to go get the Knight from the Healing Halls ‘cause no one’s been admitted today, and you’d be able to help him.”

You’re still not sure if this is a healer problem, or a matter of simple confusion. Gil’s got a touch of what healers like to call bouncy brain. Sweet as he is, he talks at lightspeed and can’t seem to concentrate if he isn’t moving. There’s a real possibility that he’s got something mixed up here. Still, it’s not as if you’re doing anything else. The Force must have decided that you need to keep busy.

You decide to see what he’s going on about. “Okay, Gil. Lead the way.”

-----

Lingering outside one of the larger training rooms is Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, who smiles when he spots Gil leading you over by the hand.

“There you are!” He crouches down to greet your youngling escort, clapping him on the shoulder. “Thank you, Gil, I am so glad you found our friend. You may go now.”

Gil bows to him, his Force blooming under the praise. “Yes, Master.” You both watch as he takes off the way he came, speeding back up to a run.

“No running!” You scold after him. He barely slows before he’s out of sight.

Master Ki-Adi-Mundi chuckles. “That one reminds me of our own Anakin Skywalker.”

You nod, seeing the resemblance. Anakin is five years your junior, but he was still notorious when you were Padawans. Always turning up where he shouldn’t have been, Obi-Wan always three steps behind. Nothing’s changed, Obi-Wan often tells you.

“Master,” you say, hearing the low buzz of voices coming from the room you’re standing in front of. “Gil said you needed me? Is someone injured?”

“Hm? Oh! Oh stars, no.” Master Ki-Adi shakes his head, looking sheepish. “But I was rather hoping you’d be able to help me with a little problem I’ve run into.”

“Of course.” Okay, now I'm suspicious.

Ki-Adi tugs the end of his beard. “My squadron is being called out to fight on very short notice, I’m afraid. I was meant to teach today’s lesson, and was lucky enough to find a substitute for myself on short notice. But my instruction partner is leaving as well, and I haven’t yet found them a suitable replacement.”

“O-oh,” you hear yourself squeak.

Karabast. He wants you to teach? Your stomach drops somewhere near your ankles. This is so far from what you were expecting when Gil led you here. You can’t do this. You can’t.

Ki-Adi must feel your panic, because he continues quickly. “Don’t fret, my dear! My substitute is a very capable instructor. Follow his lead, and everything will be fine.” He claps a hand on your shoulder, turning away.

“Thank you again -- and now I really must be off.” And with that, he’s gone, walking at a brisk pace down the corridor.

CW starts here!

You’re so anxious that you feel like you’re about to be sick. You’ve done many things on behalf of the Council, often without knowing what they even were, but this? You can’t do this. There’s too many people. You lean against the doorframe, struggling for breath.

What’s the matter? Obi-Wan’s concern comes rushing in, and you’re grateful you have him to latch onto, to focus on.

Someone's asked a favor of me -- and I don’t think I can do it. You’re gripping your saber hilt too tight, the metal biting into your hand.

Please try to calm down. Find somewhere to sit and meditate, collect yourself --

Your anxiety is affecting him, making his own thoughts race even if he doesn’t know the cause. This sometimes happens. You’ve jolted awake in the middle of the night more than once with nightmares that weren’t your own, or had thoughts that didn’t make sense ‘til you realized they weren’t yours.

I can’t.

Why not?

You don’t reply. You have to go in there. Master Ki-Adi said that he was already late. Remembering your breathing, you focus on a count of four in through your nose, then hold the breath for a count of seven. When you exhale, you count to eight. After repeating the exercise several times, you can think straight. It’s not the more in-depth meditation Obi-Wan would have preferred, but it helps. All you can do is hope that the instructor carries much of the class, as Master Ki-Adi said he would.

When it feels like you’ve released much of your fear and uncertainty to the Force, you open the door and step in.

CW ends here!

Immediately, twenty pairs of curious Padawan eyes move to follow you, and you cringe. They all sit cross-legged on the padded floor. Three of the walls are lined with mirrors, the better for students to see fighting forms and sparring matches from every angle. On a side wall, a flimsi depicting each form of saber combat stretches the length of the room, cut off only by the supply closet where training accessories are stored. You’ve been in this room and its adjacent siblings dozens of times. But all that isn’t as important to you as the instructor, who’s turned to see why the room’s gone quiet.

It’s Obi-Wan.

Standing bare-foot on one of room-length training mats, in the middle of handing out sparring sticks to the class, he freezes when you lock eyes.

Oh, he says, equal parts shock and happiness.

Yeah.

I say this with the greatest respect, darling -- why did Master Ki-Adi send you?

Because the Healing Halls are completely empty. Also to torture me. You grimace, joining him at the front of the room. He nods to you in greeting, as if you aren’t having a mental conversation.

“Knight Courtee. Glad to see you could join us.”

“I apologize, Master. It was short notice for me, as well.” You bow to him.

Is this what you were so worked up about? They’re only Padawans. They don’t bite -- much.

Once the group realizes that you’re the other instructor that Obi-Wan’s been waiting for, the chatter resumes. They stop ogling you. From the looks of the group, they’re all in the late teens, and bubbling over with energy. Right in the middle of Padawan and Knight, but with all the arrogance to think they’re already the latter. Away from their Masters in a group like this, they tend to get far rowdier than they would otherwise. Each has a lightsaber strapped to their belt.

“Run me through the lesson?” you say, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

“Quiet!” Obi-Wan demands over his shoulder, and you jump. The loudest cluster of Padawans instantly falls silent behind you.

Sorry, he thinks at you. I’m starting to see why Ki-Adi jumped on the first ship leaving the system.

“Amina, lose the gum. Did you think I wouldn’t notice? Yes, now. Navo, do I have to move you to the other side of the room? Don’t think I won’t.”

Mumbles of yes, Master, break out before he turns back to you, satisfied. You don’t smile but know he feels your amusement.

“We’ll be running through some more advanced katas,” Obi-Wan says. “Then we’ll break them into pairs and focus on the saber technique of each pair. At the end of the lesson, you and I will give a demonstration on a chosen form. Perhaps more than one, if the class requests it.”

“Doesn’t sound too bad,” you admit, thinking back to your own group Padawan lessons. You’d dreaded the paired sparring sessions, having your own form broken down and scrutinized. In the end, though, it had improved your skills. Being able to do the same for this group would be an honor. This is a big piece of being a Jedi, after all; skills passed down from Master to Knight to Padawan.

“It isn’t. Just don’t let them smell your fear,” he grins. “Let’s get started.”

As noisy as the group is, you can tell they’re genuinely excited to be in a session led by Master Kenobi. And Obi-Wan really knows how to lead the room. While you stand stiffly off to the side, nodding whenever he finishes saying something and hoping you don’t look like an idiot, he uses the space. He explains the lesson to them as he explained it to you, then asks if anyone has any questions.

The girl who’d been caught with gum earlier, Amina, raises her hand. Her other hand is busy twirling her long Padawan braid, like she can’t help but fidget with it. “Um, Master Kenobi, why are we using sparring sticks? We’ve had lightsabers for a while now.”

A murmur of agreement washes through the crowd, and Obi-Wan smirks.

“Good question, Padawan. Everyone, close your eyes and reach through the Force. Do you feel how tumultuous the energy in this room is? How excitable? If any one of you lit your saber in this room, I fear someone would lose a limb. And that’s something that Knight Courtee can’t fix for you. So we play it safe.”

Another hand punctuates the air, from the very front of the crowd. This Padawan seems younger than the rest, with hair that sticks up everywhere and eyes focused only on Obi-Wan. He starts speaking before he can be called on.

“All due respect, Master,” he says, in a way that makes you think that he’s used to sharing unorthodox opinions. The corner of Obi-Wan’s mouth quirks up as he fights a smile, and you feel him think of Anakin.

“Why are we here? We’re fighting a war. Many of us have already seen combat alongside our Masters.” He lowers his eyes to the mat, afraid he’s gone too far. When his fellow Padawans start nodding and whispering, he tugs on the end of his nerf-tail, as if unsure of what to do.

Obi-Wan takes a moment to consider this question, hand going to his beard as it often does when he’s thinking.

“I appreciate your honesty, Caleb. And you’re correct. It might seem...redundant to spend your time here when even now fellow Jedi are fighting real battles.”

He pauses, thinking of how to continue. The Padawans are hanging onto his every word, the room silent. “But that’s why it’s so important to refine your technique when we can spare the time, in a secure environment. It will make you stronger when you face a real opponent. It might even save your life. Does that make sense?”

Wow, you think to yourself. He’d handled that beautifully. Even though Caleb had spoken out of turn, Obi-Wan hadn’t belittled him or made the teen feel bad about what was an honest and important question. He’d taken the time to consider the Padawan’s feelings, and had given him an equally honest answer, not something to pacify him. It takes you back to your own Padawan training, when Obi-Wan had been your instructor.

“Yes, Master,” Caleb ducks his head, looking relieved. “thank you.”

Obi-Wan’s eyes search the room. “Anything else?”

After a pause, another hand goes up, toward the back.

“Millu?” You love that he knows everyone by name. Some Padawans turn around to reveal a burly Mon Calamari boy.

“Yeah.” His bright yellow eyes dart over to you. “Uh, speaking of Knight Courtee. Why are you teaching us? I thought you were just, like, a healer.” There’s no real malice in his tone, more like an off-handed curiosity, but Obi-wan stiffens.

Luckily you think of something to say before he can open his mouth. It wouldn’t look good for him to get upset defending you.

“That’s an excellent question, Millu, thank you.” You shoot him a smile, and you swear his scales darken with a blush.

“Being a Jedi with healing abilities does not mean that you get to neglect other aspects of your training. On the contrary, your connection with the Force must be powerful at all times. Healing will swamp you physically and emotionally, so you must keep both body and mind strong to withstand it.”

Your smile widens. “Of course, if you’re asking if you can best me in a fight, we’ll see how you match up during paired spars. Sound good?”

Laughter breaks out, and Millu blushes even darker before muttering, “Sure,” and looking away. Even if it seemed like he was questioning your ability to teach them (as you yourself are), you’re grateful the interaction’s lightened the mood.

Nicely done, says Obi-Wan.

“Very good,” he says aloud, clapping his hands together. “Now if we’re done heckling Knight Courtee, let’s begin with some stretches, please.”

------

Obi-Wan was right, you think, walking around the room. This...isn’t bad at all. You walk from pair to pair, taking in the angle of their weapon, how they hold their bodies, making minor corrections and leaving comments as you go. They look up when you come by, eager to see what you’re going to say to them. It’s much easier to interact with the Padawans on this smaller scale, and you find yourself joking with them, smiling. After a while, they even start asking for you, looking to see if you can demonstrate a move or if they’re holding the training stick the correct way. They aren’t scary at all -- just excitable kids who want to learn.

I’m sorry, Obi-Wan was what?

Looking up, you see Obi-Wan grinning across the room, demonstrating his own correction. In the middle of all this excitable teen Force energy, it’s easy for you to have a conversation and go unnoticed.

You were right. I like this.

And you’re good at it; they adore you. You’re going to make a wonderful Master. He shows you a brief image of a happy Padawan trailing behind you, eager to follow wherever you lead. It’s the best feeling, love.

Unexpected emotion rises in your chest at his pure sincerity. He knows how insecure you are about the fact that you’ll soon have your own Padawan to look after, but he doesn’t have a single doubt that you can do it. For the first time, you let yourself think of the situation in a hopeful light. It was a path you never pictured for yourself, but one that you know you have to follow. Obi-Wan makes it look so easy. Anakin, and even Anakin’s Padawan Ahsoka, look at him like he hung the stars. Of course, so do you.

“Last twenty minutes!” Obi-Wan calls over the noise of sparring sticks clacking together. “Take a seat, class.”

The Padawans rush to do as they’re told, everyone clamoring for the best spot to view your spar with Master Kenobi. They go completely silent, waiting for you to join him. A hush even falls over the Force energy in the room, like they’re all holding their breath.

Obi-Wan sinks into a bow when you’re opposite him, one hand on his saber. When you glance down in confusion, he sends a wave of amusement.

I said I didn’t trust the Padawans, darling. Not you.

Not sure if that’s wise. You bow in return, unclipping your saber also. He ignites his blade, the blue glow casting light over all the reflections of the mirrors. Taking a deep breath, trusting the familiar feeling of your own weapon, you ignite your lightsaber. The bright green light shimmers over your hands, crackling with your energy.

You’re surprised at how nervous you are. It’s one thing to watch him from across the room, to be taught by him as a Padawan yourself, but to spar with Obi-Wan as an equal? He’s going to wipe the floor with you.

“What form does Knight Courtee use?” You hear somebody whisper.

“Form five -- she told me.”

“Oooh, really? That’ll be fun to see against Master Kenobi.”

“Shhh!”

Obi-Wan waits until the group is quiet again to ask if you’re ready to start. Your saber hums hot in your hand, a little less controlled than you’d like it.

“Ready as I can be, Master.”

“Then let’s begin.”

No sooner are the words out of his mouth than he’s in your space, much closer than you want him with a lightsaber in hand. You strike out instinctively and he expected that, anticipated it. He was baiting you. Your blade bounces off of his far more harshly than you like, the zyoom echoing through the room. You take a step back, try to calculate an opening. He mirrors you, waiting to react. It takes you longer than it should to realize that he’s shielded the bond up tight, not giving anything away. The only thing you can hear is your heartbeat and the crackling of the sabers, each one fueled by its master’s adrenaline.

He keeps his blade held at eye level, and you lunge in for a mid-range attack. Obi-Wan blocks but you keep it coming, getting back into the groove of Djem So after spending so long out of combat. It feels good to have the saber be a part of you, to have it grow lighter as it remembers your touch.

Strike, block, strike, block. You’re working at a breakneck rhythm trying to get through his defenses, but Obi-Wan won’t give an inch. Sweat pours down your temple but still you press, using the Force to try and search for a weak point but finding none. He’s too kriffing fast.

There’s a reason they call him Master of this form. It’s infuriating, the almost lazy way he flicks your lightsaber aside every time, using your energy against you. There’s not a hair out of place on him. Every time you lower your blade, wondering what to do, he simply resets, content to wait again. You can tell from the look in his eyes that he knows you’re getting tired.

The Padawans are anything but quiet now -- some shouting Get her, Master Kenobi! while others insist that you can hold your own. Your eyes flick over to them once. Some lean forward towards the fight as far as they dare, a few are even on their feet in support.

When Obi-Wan finally tips his saber in retaliation, you barely manage to block, caught off guard at the change from defense to offense. He strikes again, again, again -- each blow more brutal than the last, each one so close to your skin that you can feel his blue saber’s sizzling heat. He’s driving you back against the wall. Despite your best effort, you’re losing ground where you’d previously held it. When you feel your back slam against the wall he was driving you toward, you gasp and fumble a block -- your last move. The blade of Obi-Wan’s saber hovers near your throat, a win.

“And that’s your head,” he says easily. You lower your saber and extinguish the blade, holding your hands up in a show of defeat.

The room erupts.

“Master Kenobi, that was so wizard --”

“Knight Courtee was letting him have it! Did you see --?”

“I wish I could have recorded that for the holo!”

“Settle down,” Obi-Wan says, but he’s smiling. “I’m glad that you all have found this lesson so illuminating.” He bows to you, signalling the end of the match, and you follow suit.

“You’re dismissed,” he says to the room. The declaration is met with mixed reactions; half are glad to be free, half don’t want the lesson to be over yet.

“No need to hang around and help tidy this time. You were such a good group that Knight Courtee and I are glad to take care of it.” It’s traditional for students to stick around after the lesson is done and help roll up the training mats, collect the sparring sticks, and clean the room in any other way that needs it.

That statement really gets them out the door, though several of them whine about him being far cooler than their regular teacher and why can't he teach them all the time?

Once everyone’s filed out, Obi-Wan locks the door behind them. He turns to you with a long sigh, relieved that the loudness of all those teenagers in one place has dispersed.

“Well,” you say. “That’s not how I expected my morning to go.”

“I’m glad,” Obi-Wan replies. “I was beginning to think that I wouldn’t see you at all in my time home, yet here we are.”

“Like the Force willed it.”

He beams at that, drawing you tight against him. “C’mere. My bright little instructor.”

You grumble, cheek pressed against his chest. “You flayed me within an inch of my life, Obi-Wan.”

All he does in response to your grumpiness is chuckle, placing warm kisses everywhere he can reach on your face. “Yes. I did.”

“It was embarrassing.”

“I couldn’t exactly go easy on you, could I?”

No, he couldn’t. Everyone knows the extent of Obi-Wan’s skill, and while you aren't untalented with a saber, winning or even overcoming him would be unlikely. You’d fought honestly, and so had he. Anything else would have invoked suspicion.

He takes your silence for the correct answer, then gently pries your cheek from his body.

“Would it help if you got kisses as a consolation prize?” He’s looking at you so fondly, like you’re his favorite thing in the galaxy. You nod, already leaning on your tiptoes to reach.

Obi-Wan hums against your lips, sinking against you like he’s been waiting for this -- because you both have. The kisses stay close-mouthed, but he’s pressing them onto you fast, his hands roaming you urgently. Your bond tells you that he wants to take his time with you, would have each moment stretch out for as long as possible, if he could. He wants to savor you. But arousal is winning out.

“Sweetheart,” he murmurs, pulling back to brush his nose against yours. “Do you know how much restraint it took not to pin you against the wall and have you, at the end of our fight? To resist sending all the little Padawans away right then?”

You gasp, feeling heat stirring deep in your stomach. The honey-sweetness of his tone contrasts with his words, but he’s just getting started.

“There was such fire in your eyes when we sparred, kitten." Kitten. Yet another pet name to add to your already large collection. This one makes you blush, and you don't miss Obi-Wan's pleased grin. "I had to shut you out so that you wouldn’t get distracted by my, er, distraction.”

His distraction presses up against your leg now, thick and hot. Obi-Wan tugs the end of your braid hard, tilting your head back to expose your neck. You whimper against him, all but letting him hold you up at this point. He loves it -- going to work at once nipping and kissing everywhere he can get to. His breath is heavy on your skin as he ruts against your thigh, trying and failing to bite back his own ecstatic moans.

“We’re alone now,” you choke out, hardly aware enough to string the sentence together. “s-so you can -- do whatever you want with me.”

This makes him pause. “Is that so?” Obi-Wan’s tone is still so light, like you’re having a conversation about what they’re serving in the refectory today, not how badly you want him to fuck you.

“Yes,” you say, embarrassed at how desperate you sound, how easily you melt for him. You can see yourself over his shoulder in the mirrors, and you blush, burying your face.

He laughs a little at your reaction. “What if I want to take you into that supply closet and bend you over?” His hand roams down your body, landing on your crotch. Two fingers rub a strong circle through the material, and you lean into it. “What if I want to take you from behind, make up for all the time we haven’t been together?��

“I’d ask why -- aren’t we already there,” you huff, blinking up at him.

That’s all the answer he needs. In one motion, he grabs you round the middle and hauls you over his shoulder like a sack of meilooruns. Your breath whooshes out, surprise and a lack of air keeping you from forming a sentence as he marches you to the closet as promised. The ground bounces and sways in your vision as you’re jostled -- it’s a strange sensation, being carried. Thankfully, it only lasts a few seconds.

Obi-Wan opens the door and closes it just as quickly once you’re both inside, making you aware of how small, how dark, the space is. You find yourself deposited on the storage bin that the mats are kept in, your legs dangling high in the air. He leans in to kiss you, nothing but hot breath and hungry hands, and you fist your own in the front of his tunic. It spurs him on, and soon his tongue is pressing into your open mouth, exploring every corner.

You moan into him, your fingers going beyond clothes to scratch against his chest. Obi-Wan picks you up again and you lift your legs around his waist, rubbing tight against his cock. He bears your entire weight like it’s nothing, continuing to kiss you as if your legs are planted on the ground. Stars, the strength, the eagerness of him, is overwhelming. His arms are pillars, holding you steady, crossed firm around your back.

"I thought you said," you gasp out, shivering when his tongue flicks out to catch your earlobe, "something about -- bending me over --"

“So eager today,” he says, his voice a tantalizing purr.

“Can you blame me?” you blurt.

"And what does that mean, dearest?"

He already knows what you mean. It’s everywhere in your mind. You can’t hide how you feel when you’ve been this close to him for so long, forbidden to touch him, to even think about it until you’ve reached your breaking point.

Obi-Wan, hands behind his back, patiently watching the Padawans demonstrate their forms. Nodding and sometimes stepping in to correct, placing his hand casually on an arm or leg to shift the balance of their weight. Then the Padawan he’s correcting becomes you, and his touch is no longer innocent. The group is melting away, and his mouth is trailing down your neck, whispering things that have little to do with the kata you’re struggling through.

“Oh,” he chuckles. “I see.”

You bump your head into his shoulder, too embarrassed to answer. As if to reassure you, Obi-Wan sends you an image back.

Both of you in the same training room, but you stand among your fellow Padawans, now all Knights, shuffling anxiously from foot to foot. You don't look that much different from the way you do now, but for the traditional Padawan's hairstyle.

Though you're seeing things from his perspective, the mirrors give him away; Obi-Wan looks younger, too. There are no lines around his eyes here, he holds himself more loosely. Like there isn't a galaxy-wide war. And he's less certain as he flits from student to student, new at this.

"You were always a pleasure to speak to, you know," Obi-Wan tells you, low voice right in your ear. He knows that he's teasing you, knows exactly the effect it's having on your body. You squirm in his tight grip, unable to go anywhere to get away from the softness of his voice.

"Polite and passionate. Made your Master very proud. But…" he trails off, and you shiver, anticipating his next words.

"So anxious whenever you saw me, weren't you?" He muses, fingers flexing on the curve of your ass. "And now I finally understand why."

"Obi-Wan…" you protest, unsure of what you're going to say next but just knowing that you need the teasing to stop. Both mental and physical -- he's hard against your abdomen, almost painful with how tight you're wedged against him.

"Down, love," he says. With effort, you extract your legs from around his waist and plant your feet on the floor, with his hands to guide you. "Turn around."

For a moment, you get excited, thinking that he's done teasing you. Obi-Wan makes quick work of your belt, dropping it to the floor seconds before your pants and underwear. You step out of them, breathing heavily, feeling his chest against your back. There's a clink, and you realize that he's dropped his belt as well, one hand bracing on your shoulder as he fumbles out of his own bottoms.

There's nothing between you now. Obi-Wan's bare dick rubs against your tailbone, leaving a warm dribble of pre-come.

"Now bend forward for me, darling -- that's it --"

You lean on the storage bin, heart thumping a tattoo in your throat. Obi-Wan lines himself up behind you, breath ragged, and sinks inside you in one long push.

"Obi-Wan, oh," you cry out, not expecting how full you'd feel from this angle.

"I know, sweetheart, I know," he says, taking a moment to adjust to the sensation. His mind is a high buzz of pleasure, looking forward to taking you apart in this new, delicious way.

Then he moves. So, so deep and slow. You let out a broken whine, toes curling. He pauses, holds his breath. Then thrusts again, just as unhurried as the first time, and your fingers scrabble for purchase on the smooth material of the bin in front of you.

“Hmm,” Obi-Wan sighs. “Do you know, this reminds me of something.”

You groan, not out of pleasure, but because he’s stopped. How? Where and how did he find the restraint to torment you like this? You’re not sure which part of today’s interaction set him off, but you sorely wish that he’d get down to business and fuck you.

“What does it remind you of?” you ask tightly, figuring that playing along will get you where you want to be faster. As if rewarding you, Obi-Wan’s hands come around to find your breasts, teasing your nipples with the barest of touches. Gods if he doesn’t go faster --

He can hear your mind loud and clear, but says nothing, only sending a feeling of amusement back before answering your question.

"Watching you go through katas in this very room. Or, well, the room outside." Obi-Wan presses into your back, finally starting to push into you in a slow but satiating rhythm.

"Mmm," you manage, pressing your lips together hard to avoid reaching an inappropriate volume.

“Do you remember the criticism I had for you, little Padawan? You were so tense. Why was that?” All the while he’s languidly thrusting into you from behind. As if he expects you to form a coherent response.

“I l-liked you,” you stammer out, bracing yourself on the edge of the storage bin.

"Oh? Well, I liked you too. You were a wonderful student."

"That's not what I --" Thank the Maker that it's pitch black in this closet, because your face is burning.

"But for some reason," he continues, enjoying himself, "you always needed correction in solo practice. The other Masters told me, several times, that that was not an issue in their own lessons."

You can only whimper as he bears into you deeper. He knows exactly what he's doing to you. When you place a hand on your stomach, just above your belly button, you can feel him inside you.

"Tell me, sweetheart. Did you need my hands on your body, as desperately as you do now?"

"Yes, Master," you all but sob. "I need, I n-need --"

"Need me to fuck you?" Obi-Wan supplies, voice going rough and breathy. "Need me to wreck you, the way your mind is screaming for it?"

You slam the palm of your hand on the top of the bin, and it makes a hollow thud, sending pain shooting up your arm.

"Obi-Wan, yes! Please, please fuck me, I need it!" You're aware that your words border on incoherence, but not enough to care.

And he doesn't either.

Just as you've reached your limit, so does Obi-Wan. One of his hands grabs your wrist and pins it, hard, while the other squeezes your hip.

"Are you ready?" He pants in your ear, pausing only to nip at your shoulder blade. Already he's fucking you deeper, so good so thick inside you, that you're writhing under his every touch.

"Wanted to do this -- for s-so long --" Obi-Wan gasps out and so do you, the heat of orgasm reaching a crescendo in your thighs as you feel him come apart in your mind.

"Want to come so deep inside you, darling, oh please, please --"

You know that he's barely hanging on, waiting for your permission.

"Gods, Master, yes --" Like you could deny him this, when you want it so desperately too.

His forehead drops to your shoulder as he rams into you, shoving you against the bin. It takes everything you have not to scream his name when you come, gripping his arm -- the only part of him you can reach from this angle.

Obi-Wan isn't far behind, moaning loud behind you as your orgasm makes your pussy clamp down even tighter on him.

"Yes, yes, oh my Gods --"

The bond flares up sudden and white-hot between you, carrying the sensation of Obi-Wan's pleasure just as it had that night on Odryn.

"Kriff," you say weakly, clutching his arm like it's the only thing connecting you to the planet.

Sweetheart, I'm there, I'm right there

I know, and I'm -- me too --

Again?

Yes

Oh fuck, fuck -- I'm coming, stars, I'm coming, oh --

You come a second time when Obi-Wan starts to spurt inside you, tears spilling from the intensity of it all. With him this tight against your body, you swear you can feel every hot spurt of come shoot up inside you. Obi-Wan's teeth are caught in the material of your tunic, muffling his shout. It feels like you stand there, taking his come for minutes, as he shudders against you.

When it's over you whimper, leaning against his chest on aftershock-weak legs. Slowly, as if his head is one step behind, Obi-Wan puts his arms around you.

"Stars above, Obi-Wan," you mutter, every coherent thought fucked out of your head. Your brain feels like static, but your body's floating. Pulling out and turning you gently to face him again, Obi-Wan plants a line of soft kisses from your forehead to your mouth. His release runs heavy down your thighs, but there's not much you can do about it here.

"Not tense now, are you?" he says, tracing slow, wet circles over your sensitive clit.

You laugh. "You're unbelievable."

"No, I'm committed to a scene," Obi-Wan corrects, as if this was all an elaborate game.

You consider saying something along the lines of, I'm going to commit my boot to your rear end if you don't quit it, but think better of it.

Instead you re-dress, wincing at the mess you'll have to tolerate down your crotch and legs until you can get to the nearest fresher. This is the downfall of spontaneous sex. No easy cleanup.

"Next time, would you like to come with me?" Obi-Wan's asking. You snort, buckling your belt back into place.

"Pretty sure I just did. You didn't notice?"

He pauses, then opens the closet door, letting in a blinding slice of light. Though he's dressed, Obi-Wan looks disheveled and wide-eyed still in a way that you always adore.

"That's...no. That's not what I'm talking about, love," he says, a hint of amusement in his tone.

"I mean, the next time I have to leave. Come with me. I think we've both come to realize that being apart is painful. And that being together isn't just a physical concept anymore."

His voice has dropped to a near-whisper, but you're hanging on to every word. Though you'd never admit it aloud, this is exactly what you want. To follow him instead of lying awake every night, worrying he won't come back from the last distant system he's shipped away to. You want to be beside him, no matter how rough things are.

You are a Jedi, not a housewife. And frankly, being kept in the Temple while he's away risking his neck, the bond blocked for days or weeks at a time, is torture.

Obi-Wan listens to all this, your outpouring of emotion through the bond you never meant to forge with him. He shows his understanding, his respect, his compassion for you, in return.

"Okay. Okay," he says, more to himself than you. "I'll speak to the Council. Knowing them, it may take some time to get an answer, but --"

You cut him off with a kiss. It doesn't matter. As long as you're together.

[hockeyisit]

Auston and Amelia after he scores the hat trick!!

A.N. Hii hope this was good. Sorry, it took so long to get out I’ve been pretty busy with school. Also, the ending is a bit abrupt so I apologize for that.

Word Count: 1,607

Master List

I grinned as Auston scored the first goal of the night. I was curled up on the couch cuddling Felix as I watched the home game. Auston had been on such a roll lately and I had been trying to catch every game that I could considering it felt like he was always doing something, usually scoring a goal.

“See that Felix. Papi scored a goal!” I cheered as they showed the replay. I ran my hand through Felix's fluffy fur. It amazed me how awesome Auston had been playing especially after he had been coming off his wrist injury. We had talked so much when he was injured and he was afraid that he wasn't going to be able to produce but that certainly hadn't been a problem when he started playing again. The game continued and not even a minute later Auston was scoring another goal. I screamed as I jumped up from the couch.

“Yeah!” I cheered as I danced around the living room. Felix got excited from all my excitement and sat up on the couch barking at me.

“Baby! Papi just scored again!” I reached down and grabbed Felix's front paws so that he was leaning against me. I danced a little before letting him down. I sat back down on the couch and pulled out my phone. The Matthews Family group chat that I was in was going off consistently with new messages from Bre and Alex as well as a few from Ema. I giggled as I read through the messages that Bre had sent making fun of Auston. The first period ended with the score 2-0 Leafs.

I sent Auston a text letting him know that I was watching the game and I saw his two goals and I was proud of him. I knew that he wouldn't respond until the game was over but I still wanted him to know that I was thinking of him. Just as I was about to lock my phone an incoming call from Ema came through.

“Hi Ema,” I said warmth seeping into my voice.

“Amelia! Hi, are you seeing Auston play?” she asked excitedly. I looked up at the tv which was showing replays of the goals scored in the first period.

“Yeah! I have the game turned on. I'm sitting with Felix,” I grinned down at the puppy as I answered her.

“Auston scored two goals! Brian Alex and Bre are watching with me,” she said cheerfully. I grinned to myself. Neither Alex nor Bre lived at home right now. With Alex in an apartment with a few of her friends and Bre away at college. They were all close enough that they still tried to go over for dinner and the games as often as possible.

“Aw I wish I was watching with you guys,” I said wistfully.

“We do too! We're glad you'll be there for Auston when the game is over,” she told me. I felt myself get emotional at that. Ema was one of the most supportive person I have ever met. She had been one of the only people who had always been supportive of our relationship the whole time. A lot of people thought that we had been moving really fast when we decided to start living together but not her. She told us how happy and proud she was of him for finding someone like me.

“Will do. We miss you greatly though,” I told her as I glanced back at the tv, the second period about to start.

“We miss you guys too but will come visit soon,” Ema reassured.

“That’ll be really good,” I said as I focused on the tv to watch the game.

“The game is starting so will talk to you guys later tonight,” Ema said gently. I smiled to myself as I said goodbye and then focused in on the game. Not much happened for the first ten minutes of the game but as the time started going down the Senators scored and not even a minute later another goal was scored and the game was tied. I anxiously watched as the Senators scored again giving them the 3-2 lead.

“They better not blow this,” I muttered as I anxiously pet Felix. He had cuddled up to me on the couch when he noticed that I was moving around. Just 30 seconds later the puck was in the back of the net but this time it was scored by Mitchell Marner. I cheered as I pulled out my phone to send a text to Steph, Mitchy with the goal. Tied once again. The game calmed down for a few minutes causing me to pull my phone out. As I was reading Steph’s response, Austons on firee.

I heard the announcer’s voice start to fill with excitement, causing me to look up just in time to see Auston score his third goal of the night. I jumped up from the couch as I cheered loudly. Felix got started but then started barking along. I jumped around for a second as I watched the replay and Auston celebrate. He always looked so vibrant when he scored. When the play continued I pulled my phone out to text Auston.

The second period ended with no more goals but a whole nother period of play was to come. I made myself a snack as I waited for it to start and pulled my phone out to send Auston a text about how proud I was of him. Once my snack was ready I made my way back over to the couch. I sat down on the couch but then suddenly had an idea I couldn't ignore. I stood up and made my way to our bedroom and into the bathroom to shave my legs as quickly as I could. When I finished that I walked over to the dresser.

“Fuck. where's my lingerie,” I mumbled as I shuffled around in the drawer. I had a sexy black two-piece that Auston absolutely loved on me. After searching around for another few moments I finally found it shoved in the back. It had been a while since I had worn lingerie for Auston. I pulled it on quickly and then made myself comfortable on the bed as I turned the tv on to the game. There were only a few minutes left in the period so I pulled a blanket on and got comfortable. When the game ended I left the channel on so I could watch the post-game interviews.

“It felt really good, it felt really good. Um you know like I said uh,” Auston’s voice spoke through the tv. I knew that he was going to be later because he was going to have to do the post-game interview but as I stared at the screen I couldn't help but get a bit emotional. Auston had been doing really well lately but I knew that the pressure was always sitting in the back of his mind and on top of that his injury had been hurting on and off. He looked so incredibly happy as he continued his post-game interview. Happy was such a good look on him. Once Auston was done with his interview I got a text from Auston letting me know that he would be home soon. I turned the tv off and hopped up from the bed. I lit a few candles and then connected my phone to our Alexa in our room. I put on my favorite playlist and scrolled through Instagram as I waited for Auston to come home.

After thirty minutes or so of waiting, I heard the sound of the door opening and Auston dropping something to the ground. I tried to pose myself on the bed as I waited for him to make his way into the bedroom. I listened closely as I heard the sound of him open the fridge and then it shut.

“Hi buddy,” he said gently.

“Amelia?” he called out after a moment.

“In the bedroom,” I shouted, not getting up. His footsteps got louder the closer he got to the room. He stopped in his tracks when his eyes fell on me laying on the bed. His breath hitched as his eyes roamed up and down my body.

“Nice game tonight babe,” I grinned at him as I moved my hand up my body and cupped my breath. He took a step forward shutting the door behind him and leaning against it.

“Thanks. You look,” he started to say before running his eyes over my body again.

“Stunning,” he breathed out, taking a step closer to the bed.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” I grinned as I moved my hand down my body slowly. Auston’s eyes followed the movement with his eyes.

“Oh god babe,” he mumbled as he took off his sweatshirt.

“3 goals babe,” I mumbled as I pushed myself up so I was still laying on my back but my arms were prepping me up. He grinned as he pushed his pants down. I pushed myself up when he took another step closer to the bed. I pulled him in by his hips and gave him a hug around his midsection.

“4 points,” I mumbled against his skin. He laughed lightly before moving his hands to run them over my body.

“You look so sexy,” he whispered as he leaned down to kiss me on the lips.

We spent the remainder of that night celebrating Auston’s hat trick as well as him being the leader in the NHL for goals.