#learning about the lore is what keeps me hooked

[gifti3]

Levi and orias's backstory and relationship is quite interesting...

Also the excessive soul eating has to be orias's way of coping with the trauma

[fatallyfalling]

Strawberry Wine ~ 𖤓

“ safe & sound “

{{ Peeta Mellark Headcanons }}

warnings: mentions of alcohol, canon Hunger Games violence/trauma, wholesome fluff, etc.

{{ word count }} 487

{{ prompt }} fluffy headcanons for our beloved bread boy !!

{{ a/n }} this is short & sweet while i test out Peeta’s character! I’m not sure what i exactly want to write with him since i’ve adored everlark for forever but for now please enjoy my silly happy thoughts! Some of these i’ve heard around the internet i think but i can’t remember where :[

Peeta Mellark, the ashy blonde from District 12 who stole the hearts of the Capital with his charms and sweet, boyish nature while also managing to tame a stubborn Mockingjay - Katniss Everdeen, and poured out his heart and soul to get back to her any way he could.

- Peeta is a morning person. He'll get up early and have breakfast ready by the time Katniss pulls out of bed (she learns to sleep in post-rebellion).

- His favorite type of bread/pastry is croissants. The tedious labor of laminating the cold butter block into the fluffy dough is cathartic in a way.

- Once, he tried to teach Katniss to paint. Once. Her attempt at trees looked more like crazy brown and green spiders but he still kissed her temple and had the painting framed, much to the girl on fire's dismay.

- Peeta doesn't like hard liquor - he never did. Effie hooks him on a strawberry wine made special in what used to be District 11, he's gifted at least one bottle every birthday or holiday.

- He's such a housewife no questions asked, hands down. Hungry? He'll cook. Thirsty? Anything you want. This man has to be physically removed from the kitchen during friendly gatherings so he can actually relax and enjoy the company.

- Also, his Dad lore is insane.

(speaking to his kids when they're older) "Oh yeah, your Mom tried to kill me once. but it's okay I made it even the next year so we're good now."

"One time I almost got eaten by a monkey in a fight to the death."

"Another time I took a spontaneous road trip, got held hostage, and then led a rebellion to victory alongside your Mom."

- Peeta teaches himself guitar so he can play along while Katniss sings. His chords are wildly out of tune at first, but he gets it eventually.

- Peeta doesn't like store-bought bread, saying his homemade loaves taste better (they do).

- He's a hugger, every hello and goodbye is met by a bear hug. His hugs are amazing as well, nice and tight but also comforting and warm.

- For a while after the war Peeta kept a journal on his nightstand to record his dreams/nightmares. Even if the text turns out to be chicken scratch in the morning Katniss still helps him decipher and work through it to solidify reality.

“What does that say ?”

“Uh… I think… no - wait, I have no idea,”

- Effie and Peeta definitely have wine nights to talk about their scary guard dog partners and how much they love them.

- Speaking of paint - it’s everywhere, all the time, mainly his hands. Oil paint is next to impossible to clean so almost all of Peeta’s shirts have some amount of color speckled on the sleeves or the thighs of his pants.

- Peeta also keeps a cookie jar of homemade cookies in the kitchen, they’re replenished every week with regular flavor swaps.

{{ tags }}

[pearlywritings]

Okay, BUT

Just imagine a reader with mannerism of Shellsea from Fish Hooks in Fontaine

(Tik tok did it to me)

Written before Fontaine's release

First of all - she is some kind of sea creature but under human disguise - pretty much like Neuvillette. She can be a Genshin lore-accurate mermaid if they have one for all I care, but currently with legs and residing in the nation of Hydro.

Trendy, flashy, yet classy. Works as an attorney in the Court - which she is actually good at. But mostly her role is entertaining Furina with her wit and way of advocating, which gradually reduces the number of executions, and gains her a bit of unspoken gratitude from the Chief Judge, even though sometimes his eye twitches from some of her comments. Which the Archon also finds hilarious.

Like, listening to the defendant’s case, and then just going “wow, ma’am, I think you just dropped something. My jaw. Now to the evidence…”

Or “Neuv, relaaaaax. I wanna do it this way, and if I am wrong, I don’t wanna be right.”

Just causing manageable chaos and being iconic.

Feel like being besties with Navia is a given.

And the blondie is so pretty that she probably gets asked out at least once a week.

“Oh, this man is gonna have his heart smashed in a minute. I wanna watch it.”

Also going all “Girl, you’re craaaaaazy. I like it!” the moment the reader learns that she wields a hecking claymore.

No matter what probably spends quite some time in the Chief Judge’s office, reviewing some of the cases and actually coming up with ideas on how to keep Focalors content.

“Ew, this man’s case is actually concerning. He is so dead, this little creep. You know, that’s actually what I’m gonna tell him. And then smack his head with one of these books on your shelves.”

“Y/n, you can’t hit him.”

“When did that stop me? Which volume 5 of Fontaine laws is heavier - the 23th edition or the 35th one? Both look so thick.”

“sigh”

Most likely wears a new attire every single hearing. One time Neuvillette even questioned her after seeing the report of her spendings where the big portion was dedicated to clothes. It was just a few decades ago, after her decision to permanently stay on land and take over what she is so good at now. He won’t admit it, but maybe he was a bit concerned about her having a hard time handling her budget.

“Listen, Sir. I got those pretty walking legs to dress them up nicely as the rest of my body. Speaking of which, now I am craving a Natlan lava hot dress with ¾ sleeves, off-the-shoulder, a fixed box pleat skirt and embroidery on my girls,” casually motions to the chest.

As shameless as she is, nothing shocked the poor man more, than when three days later she arrived in exactly that dress. After this he almost never questioned her abilities.

Speaking of abilities, probably good at gathering intel. Unintentionally.

Also so chill, that when Furina threatened to turn her into water, she just stared at her point blank and went “Loooook, milady, it’s nothing personal, but I had to stop you. I read it in Neuv’s eyes, he was pleading for it. Don’t turn him into water though, I like him. Besides, Fontaine's waters might turn sour if he replenishes its volumes.”

She is Furina’s personal favorite.

When shit starts further down the Archon quest and everyone is panicking, reader, standing next to Neuvillette and Furina, just smacking her lips and exclaiming “we’re all gonna die! And if some of us actually do, Neuv, I’m stealing your coats,” not taking it seriously enough.

Would be so funny if she and the Chief Judge got together at some point lol. But staying sarcastic colleagues borderline a different kind of besties is also hysterical. But they do unintentionally "parent" Furina.

[anxiousdreamcore]

Frontiers of Pandora story review ✨

BEWARE! Heavy spoilers ahead.

Alright, since I don’t see people talking about this game as much as I’d want on my socials, I decided to put together a little review where I talk about the story, what spoke to me, as well as some critiques.

To summarise my opinion; I love it! The story knows where it’s taking place and takes advantage of it. It covers dark topics and succeeds in staying as serious in tone as the movie franchise, which makes the campaign feel like it truly belongs in the world of Pandora.

To speak more in-depth; the plot of a Na’vi residential school had me hooked from the first moment. I think residential schools that native children were forced into are a topic not talked about often enough, so I appreciated the developers and writers bringing awareness to such facilities, even if it’s in sci-fi form. reconnecting with Na’vi heritage that was stolen from the main character and their family is executed quite well, as playing frontiers lets you get immersed into the feeling of exploration and discovery. The player is as un-knowledgeable about the world around them as the protagonist, and being able to experience new connections, abilities, places, stories and traditions side-by-side with them has been an amazing ride.

The different Na’vi cultures shown in the game are written organically. They each possess an intricate fashion based on their values, environment and history, but that is not all. Every clan has a cast of characters, bigger or smaller, who bring further life into the western frontier, help expand on the lore and provide entertainment. My personal favourites of these characters have to be Nefika and Kin, both elderly Na’vi with a welcoming presence and charm. Second to them come Eetu and Okul!

Then there is the main cast, which is MC, their three found family siblings, a.k.a the surviving Sarentu children, So’lek, Alma and Priya. We consistently stay in contact with them, both as part of the campaign and as part of our explorations, sharing experiences with them. The protagonist character is righteous, brave and endlessly adorable in their reactions to the world around them, and the trio of Sarentu forever have a place in my heart. I liked the concept of each one of the Sarentu children representing a different reaction to their past abuse and toxic relationship with John Mercer.

Nor, who had most luxury of remembering his life before being taken by the RDA, tries to distance himself as far as possible from everything human, and progressively adopts an antagonistic mindset towards his human allies, as well as a growing feeling of resentment and vengeance. I do not blame him for it and I believe it makes sense. After him comes Ri’nela, who, during Mercer’s captivity, tried staying out of sight but protecting her siblings where she could. Without Mercer, she feels insecure, constantly stumbling and at first, regularly looks guidance from Alma. She beats herself up for things that happen to Teylan and A’hari, despite being unable to have fixed them, but eventually grows into a stronger person, being able to take on the role of a Tsahik in the clan. Lastly, there is Teylan and he has to be my favorite character in the game. His bond to Mercer is strong, as T.A.P is all he ever knew, so without John, he begins falling apart. Lack of constant control and lack of ""affection"" from Tey’s "father figure" leave him feeling ten times as insecure as Ri’nela. He has a hard time learning Na’vi ways, keeps lagging behind and ultimately sticks to technology and hacking, which is worsened by So’lek’s nagging, as he obviously doesn’t know how severe Teylan’s abuse was and simply assumes that he is "lost" in the new world. Eventually, Teylan does what many abuse victims do, and returns to his abuser. An action I kind of predicted, but which still really hit me. His voice actor did an incredible job of portraying this character and the rest of the campaign I spent praying that I’ll get to bring him back home. In the end, I’m happy he’s at home and safe. 🥹💖🫶

Now to the grown ups. I don’t have much to say about Priya, but I grew fond of her. I liked her development from an awkward girl that sparks horrific second-hand embarrassment in the viewer to a resistance member who actively puts herself in the line of fire to help her friends. I found myself getting worried for her whenever she didn’t respond or was in danger.

So’lek is a character who I was immediately fond of, and I liked his growth as well. He saw himself as completely separate from human resistance members, and his thoughts are often occupied by revenge, but he comes to care for MC, the Sarentu and eventually the humans. Seeing him protect Alma when Nor attacks her was a brilliant moment.

Lastly, there is Alma herself. A very grey character who did horrible things in the past, like leading the program side-by-side with John Mercer. I liked her development, from an aloof and seemingly supportive teacher at T.A.P, to a person that orchestrated the entire project. Her grief and guilt feel organic, and I found myself having a lot of difficult feelings about her as it is obvious she cares for the Sarentu children, but her sins cannot be forgiven. I’m happy Ri’nela made the choice to simply part ways with her in peace, instead of trying to build a new bridge.

Now, for what I believe was executed badly. It’s quite unfortunate, but the game suffers from the same problem as Avatar the way of water, only quadrupled and that is; we don’t get enough time with the characters.

It feels even worse because in comparison to the movies, games don’t have to worry about pacing or time limits. The campaign can be as long as developers wish, but it came out rushed anyway. Part of the reason I got as attached to the characters as I did was because I spent time getting emotionally invested into everything they said, their minor behavioural cues and voicelines, but not everyone is as dedicated, and those people should have the right to experience a good story as well. They shouldn’t have to seek it out between the lines.

The only characters who I felt were properly developed are Teylan and Alma. They had the most extensive arcs and their growth was tied into a nice bow. But what about Ri’nela, Nor and So’lek? Nor suffers from Metkayina syndrome gets completely scrapped shortly before the finale, So’lek only gets crumbs of growth and Ri’nela is at times forgotten about completely. Her development as a character is too off-screen and between the lines for most people to catch it, and I find that sad because she’s such a sweet character when you actually get invested into her.

In the end, Frontiers of Pandora’s story feels like a good joke with all the necessary setup but only half-delivered punchline. I had very reasonable expectations and a lot of them were not fulfilled. This project is definitely miles better than whatever Ubisoft has been releasing in these last years, but I really hope that the DLCs will expand on the story further.

Verdict on the campaign; 7 out of 10. The setup and the beginning of the story were just perfect, but in the end, the characters didn’t get the treatment they deserved. Thank you for reading.

[sirenjose]

So I've been really into your analysis lately and I'm a huge fan now, wanted to ask some questions, feel free to not answer any

1- what was your favourite idv story/event to analyze?

2- your least fav of the latter?

3- are you into anything else besides idv?

4-how do you find the motivation to analyze stuff? I've tried before and it was very draining :')

Thanks for your time, hope you have a lovely day

I'm very happy to hear you're enjoying yourself despite my own low opinion about much of what I put out. I'll do my best to answer!

Hmm I always dislike picking favorites because I'm bad at picking eheh... But the ones I liked most... I honestly enjoy T&I and COA (1-5) even more than the main story. So I think I might pick... Atropos' Ropes for T&I and for COA, thats harder... 3-5 are my faves but I might pick 4 just because of how it felt it had the most story/details given than all the rest. Even the *SONG* had story. I loved it.

Least fave, eh... Orfeo and Zinaida immediately come to mind, though Orfeo I'd say was worse... COA 1 is another primarily because of how DIFFICULT it was for me to figure it out enough to put together an analysis. And I had to rewrite that thing at LEAST 3 times to the point I'm just hoping it's good enough and leaving it alone. Time of Reunion I think is another that comes to mind, mainly because I didn't appreciate how they treated Norton in there, especially in the videos (but at least those aren't canon like the in-game event was). So based on all that, I might say Orfeo if I really had to pick 1. Then rank ToR 2nd and Zinaida/COA1 3rd.

FF14 and Honkai Star Rail especially I'm playing actively these days, but I honestly like a lot of stuff. Like Persona (espeially 4), 999 aka Zero Escape, and Star Ocean Til the End of Time. Least in terms of games.

Hmm... Maybe because the 1st reason I play a game is because of the story, and gameplay is always 2nd to me. If the story and characters are good, that gets me interested. Issue with IDV is we only get bits and pieces. Really need to look deeper to really understand some of the characters. I actually only started analyzing because I challenged myself (partially out of curiosity for the answer) to see if I could prove if Norton wasn't as evil as people thought (based on all the comments I saw when I 1st joined the fandom a long while ago). From there, there was Jose who I wanted to analyze because he honestly had so many plot holes I couldn't (and still can't completely) solve. So I get the most enjoyment analyzing something that doesn't have a clear answer. Which is why I don't always post for every letter. A big part of it is I enjoy history and culture and such, so it's fun for me to learn about different foods, or time periods, or how bad the environment was for miners or sailors back in the day, etc... I dont think I have an easy answer (I can see I'm rambling). Norton I actually only began to like because I was spending so long working on my 1st analysis for him (and my perfectionism made me analyze all of Norton's essences before i could call it finished). Jose was because I love Captain Hook, and then after because of the plot holes that bothered me. Then for others, I think I enjoy making analyses to... try to sometimes change people's opinoions/beliefs. Like with Margaretha or Vera. With Edgar was because I was more interested in his story and him as a character only once I put together all his lore. Sort of goes on from there. I could ramble on but I'm going to get even more guilty. I hope this helps somewhat, but let me know if it doesn't and I'll keep going. Maybe the simple is A) I like history/culture/research, B) I like to convince people that certain characters arent as evil as they think or change beliefs I think aren't quite accurate, C) I like solving puzzles and I love story, D) I already think too hard about literally everything, and combined with my perfectionism, we get analysis

[moongothic]

Hey so also have Sir Crocodile brainrot and have recently reread Impel Down. This is probably nothing at all but it made me question the artistic choice made. Like we dont see Crocodiles full face until Luffy recognizes him. Before that tho he joins in on Jinbei & Ace's convo about Whitebeard and is shown to (non-)react to Boa Hancocks visit. But we only get his face in shadows or see the hook. Which. Why. Oda we know what he looks like and who the guy with the stitches on his face and the hook is. WHY OBSCURE HIM.

My friend, this is what we call a "cocktease"

Okay jokes aside, yes it was an artistic choise. More specifically, a storytelling technique Oda masterfully used to build up hype and excitement to Crocodile's eventual reveal and re-introduction into the story.

So thanks to Ms Goldenweek's cover story (which ran back during Water 7/Enies Lobby) we already knew Crocodile along with Daz, Bon-chan and Galdino had all been sent to Impel Down, when we also learned about Impel Down, Marineford and the Gates of Justice (+ the giant whirlpool between the three locations) to some extent. ((Now of course, if you were an anime-only then you would've had no idea about the former BW members being in Impel Down. And even if you had read the manga you still would've had to actually pay attention to the cover story and its lore, and not forgotten all about it))

So even before Luffy decides he's going to head to Impel Down to save Ace, we know Crocodile's going to be somewhere down there. The second Luffy arrives there, we are immidiately reminded of the fact when Domino mentions Crocodile taking the traditional "bath" new inmates take at the entrance. And as we descend deeper and deeper into Impel Down, with those cuts to what's happening down at Level 6 every now and then, as well as with the Baroque Works Countdown, Oda time and time again keeps on reminding of us of Crocodile's looming presence in the background. This is all absolutely deliberate. Crocodile was arguably the most iconic (maybe not most popular but iconic) One Piece villian at the time, if given an opportunity of course the readers wanted to see him again. But just letting us see him right away would be anti-climactic, and distracting from what's actually important (Ace, and Luffy getting to him as fast as possible). So keeping him hidden could serve multiple purposes:

For one, Crocodile doesn't get to steal the spotlight from the other characters (at least not too early). We can focus on Luffy, Ace, all the new Impel Down characters and the other returning characters in peace, while Crocodile waits for his turn. Another thing is that Crocodile's presence being downplayed gives off the impression that perhaps him being there isn't that important to the story. Thus, him teaming up with Luffy to break out isn't such an obvious twist (and so when that happens, it's ever more hype as a result)

But indeed, the most important part is that by teasing us constantly through out Impel Down, Oda creates hype. He makes us the readers excited if/when we might get to see the bastard, even if it was just a quick little cameo. So when Luffy finally reaches Level 6 and we finally do get that reveal, everyone loses their fucking marbles over the HISASHIBURI DANA MUGIWARA when we finally get to see The Motherfucker Himself. (And indeed, then getting to see him fight alongside Luffy is cool as fucking hell, completely unexpected and absolutely delightful)

But there's also another thing building up to Crocodile's reveal does. Compare his original introduction to the re-introduction

Compare Crocodile at the height of his power and influence, to the absolute rock bottom he has hit. No longer happily laughing while looking down on people (literally), he's filthy, he has given up on life, with sunken eyes and a hollow look on his face, only moved by a thirst for petty revenge (/an opportunity to go out with a bang). He doesn't even get the whole page for his grand reveal anymore, he's been shuffled to the side so the plot can progress on the same page.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

And to some degree, this is kind of meant to be a shocking realization to the readers. That this is not the same Crocodile we remember from Alabasta, that Crocodile died when Luffy defeated him. This is just the husk that remains, a shadow of what was once there. It's a sad sight, and probably not what the readers who loved Crocodile The Villian wanted to see. It's not the epic Return of the (Evil) King they wanted. And that juxtaposition helps, because Crocodile doesn't return into the story as a villian, but as a frenemy/ally-on-thin-ice. And that idea is easier to signal to the readers in a lowkey manner when you do his re-introduction like this.

So yes, Oda refusing to show Crocodile's face until Luffy found him was 100% a deliberate artistic choise. This is fantastic storytelling

[roomsofangel]

CHAPTER SEVEN

the act of holding on and letting go .ᐟ

wc 1.1k

if you’d like to be added to the taglist please either send an ask in my inbox or leave a comment to be added to the taglist! reblogs and comments are also very appreciated!

chapter warnings metaphor of torture. hint/talk of depression and suicidal ideation without it fully being expressed outright. y/n learns their feelings were manipulated at one point.

other with the further we get into this — the more warnings that will be more prominent — the lore and y/n uncovering everything alongside the way they all handle / go about things aren’t exactly what a healthy person would immediately go towards. ( and maybe, that one line you read in a previous chapter that didn’t seem like much, was actually a key thing for a later time x )

other 2.0 bringing my forever first baby back! i tagged those who i can remember asking to be on the taglist but no hard feelings if you want to be removed! i just deeply missed this series and it’s nowhere near done so i want to bring it back to finish it! at the moment, the masterlist was taken down so i’m in the process of redoing it so its not linked! however, click here to be directed to my old blog and the intro for this work! it’s all my work, i just moved over when that blog got shadowbanned!

“you’re absolutely fucking insane if you think i’d just sit here after hearing the stunt he pulled—“

seonghwa’s pitch and tone could make any grown man cower into submission, tears swelled up in their eyes while asking if he wanted them to bleed on his shoes or in his hands, seonghwa stared ahead focusing on hongjoong who was only speechless — how could you run into the arms that put you in harms way?

well, if he looked at it through an outsider point of view, that’s what you did with seonghwa constantly.

something told hongjoong you didn’t go to san with seductive undertones, that just wasn’t you. in every life, you still held the same morals. it was something he knew would never change.

“why did they go?” seonghwa’s voice began to lower, softly raspy when his emotions began fully processing, allowing himself to sit on the armrest chair and put his head in his hands, pushing his hair out of his face that draped over his forehead, “was it my fault?”

hongjoong shook his head, “though, i really want to say it is,” he coughed, attempting to cover the laugh he wanted to let out because he knew it wasn’t a comedic matter. “has anyone seen them?” he changed the subject, his skin crawling with unease after noticing the suffocating silence with himself and seonghwa in his living room

“besides san?” seonghwa sneered, fixing his posture before standing, dusting off imaginary dirt from his clothes, “i have to pay a visit to cupid,” he scoffed

hongjoong followed alongside, “something tells me this isn’t a usual business call,” he amused while catching up with seonghwa’s pace who made his way to the door, swiftly grabbing his car keys that hung from the wall storage hooks, “san knows all about those.”

seonghwa stopped for a moment, glancing over his shoulder to shake his head, though, his small peeking smile showed he found the reference amusing — opening the door, he swallowed his nerves.

he wanted to trust you. but how could he when you were surrounded by people he didn’t?

‎

‎

‎

‎

the room was cold, goosebumps illuminating each part of your skin that was more exposed than the other — you curled up on the couch with a heavy weighted blanket and a mug of hot chocolate — wooyoung only seemed to have a sweet taste, everything he owned in the food department was a major hint at his severe sweet tooth

you learned wooyoung was the god of love — though, most humans knew him as cupid despite some not fully believing on his reliability and existence, he seemed warm and inviting. he made sure you changed clothes and let you keep the dagger you swiped, clutched next to you.

it didn’t make sense that wooyoung was considered an enemy.

recalling san saying he met wooyoung however, had alarms going off in your head — what was his involvement? san never elaborated on the so called help.

but it was enough for him to be punished. how did you die the first time?

“if you keep frowning like that you’ll have wrinkles,” wooyoung prompted, taking a seat across from you with a strawberry cupcake in his hand, “at least, that’s what humans say — i never had any.”

you scoffed, biting back your laugh, “how lucky you must be.”

he nodded, smiling, “i mean, yn, i’m stuck as twenty three forever,” he kept a light hearted tone and facade, but you saw through it.

his eyes screamed of something you could recall as despair — desperate for an ending, he was tired. anyone with two eyes that struggled with choosing if they should stay or go, could see he was holding on by a thread.

because right now, wooyoung may have had the brightest smile — but you saw he also had the most saddest eyes.

“how did you get involved in this?” you asked, tone soft — you hoped you didn’t overstep a boundary, but wooyoung looked back at you with understanding

clearing his throat, “san told you he came to me, didn’t he?” he amused

you nodded in response.

“it was inevitable really, if san didn’t drag me in, one of the others would’ve,” he sighed, cleaning his fingers with his lips and tongue from the frosting excess of the cupcake he finished, “i felt bad for him, he was desperate for love and specifically from you.”

frowning, heart swelling, you knew if you were going to get the full story, you had to get your hands dirty and go to those who were all involved

it wasn’t smart in a sense — but with everyone telling different sides and their point of views, it was your job to pin point the consistency and bring it altogether.

for your final life.

‎‎

‎

“seonghwa is looking for you,” wooyoung mentioned, helping you wash the dishes — his eyes glancing to the side you resided, wet rag in hand focusing on the mug you drank from, “i can feel he’ll be here soon,” he frowned

“with hongjoong.”

your eyes lifted, attention gained fully, “do you know how long it’ll be?”

wooyoung shook his head, “i just wanted to tell you, give a heads up,” he pressed his lips together

you could see he was holding back, the same expression of wanting to say more than he was — was evident — you understood it all too well, that was your constant default.

words left unsaid.

“tell me what you want to, wooyoung,” you turned to face him

defeated, he smiled, “you made me feel human today, y/n,” his cheeks flushed and he looked away from you, “domestic even,” he teased which earned a small laugh from you

“i don’t know if i like it yet, but it’s not a bad feeling,” he briefed, finishing the last dish, “i just… want this with someone in particular..”

now this.

this was something you didn’t expect to hear.

“is it okay if i ask who?”

wooyoung laughed, “just as nosy as me, huh?” teasing, he cleared his throat and the amusement he held faded, recognizing the one thing you noticed, wanting the one thing you could never have.

“it’ll never happen, he’s been chasing after the same person for centuries,” he shook his head, “i can be blamed though.”

“i always helped him.”

then it made sense.

if wooyoung helped someone else, you weren’t aware of such — but something told you, whoever you thought of — was that person.

“why stay?” you asked

wooyoung contemplated on admitting it, tears swelling in his eyes before he whispered, “anything is better than being alone again, y/n.”

‎

‎

‎

you sat outside the porch, the talk with wooyoung left the two of you with overwhelming emotions — they weren’t directed at each other, but towards the confession and why wooyoung even got involved.

giving him time to adjust himself, you let wooyoung shower while you stared up at the full moon that shined down on you, appearing to slowly fade— nostalgic, you smiled.

you don’t know how long you had been staying with wooyoung, assuming half a night — at least, until the sunrise.

swallowing your nerves, you attempted to gather the information you received.

san didn’t give you an exact timeline but something told you he knew — you’d gather that later.

hongjoong and you had already been best friends — every life.

seonghwa was never meant to be your lover but somehow always made it happen.

and wooyoung helped san with you.

your expressions showed your progress and you couldn’t help but audibly gasp, “that fucking asshole.”

my yn never let a man control them.

“what a hypocrite you are, choi san,” you bitterly whispered under your breath

before you could stand and let wooyoung know you should be heading out soon, your nose twitched and felt a hand wrap around your wrist to pull you back

“yn, you have explaining to do.”

PREVIOUS . . MASTERLIST . . NEXT

taglist (open)

@onedumbho3 @chngbnwf

[y-rhywbeth2]

Clothes and Fashion

Link: Disclaimer regarding D&D "canon" & Index [tldr: D&D lore is a giant conflicting mess. Larian's lore is also a conflicting mess. There's a lot of lore; I don't know everything. You learn to take what you want and leave the rest, etc etc etc]

Clothes in general; underwear; not wasting trousers on children who'll only outgrow them within the week; pockets! Sparkly hats; the word for hair care products; etc.

Demihuman cultures might vary slightly from this, but will generally follow the gist of it and they're all noted to be far less fashion conscious than humans. Dwarves, gnomes and orcs as a norm like to dress practically is durable clothes. Halflings, goblins and kobolds will blend in quietly until special occasions, where they'll dress as brightly and colourfully as possibly. Elves have their own various culture-specific fashion trends, but mostly tend to wear whatever the hell they personally feel like wearing, be that human fashion, diaphanous gowns, or just living plants trained to be worn as garments with some jewellery.

-

Underwear:

Dethmas: '...a tight cloth breast-binding or sling (the equivalent of a modern sports bra, although instead of stretchy fabric covering a lot of skin, the Realms version is more like a trough or shelf of tightly-stretched cloth sewn to cords (precisely because elastic fabric is largely unknown in the Realms). The concept of wire for breast support and shaping is unknown in the Realms, but corsets (laced-up, tight boiled hide, not whalebone or any sort of stiffeners) and stomachers that cinch the waist tight are popular, and many of them have shaped panels for the hips and a top ‘shelf’ to thrust out and support the breasts.

Clouts: '...a very tight leather, cloth, or cord (listed here in descending order of perceived quality and durability) belt worn around the hips, and usually held tight by multiple hooks (like a modern bra) at the front. Then a long, diaper-like strip of rectangular cloth (usually cotton) is passed between the legs, up through the front of the belt to dangle down, and up through the back of the belt to dangle down. [...] In many cases, the dangling front and back ends are designed to be tied together, and the cloth may be folded in on itself for absorbency [menstruation] and padding [horse riding].' Clouts come in fancy lingerie styles and are easily available in cities. Those who menstruate place extra layers of thick red cloth in and change as necessary.

Codpieces are also normally worn.

Black - and especially red - are considered the 'sexy' colours, especially when applied to undergarments. I'm going to make a different post about dating and so on in Faerûn though, so I'll talk about dressing sexy there instead.

-

Children:

Nobody wastes money getting complicated clothes for growing children who are going to outgrow their garments in a matter of weeks or months. All children wear smocks, usually hand-me-downs, ‘with leggings or pull-on hose (long stockings tied to an underbelt to keep them from “riding down”) with boots, clogs, slippers for indoor wear, or bare feet.’

Nevertheless, customisation is common enough in children’s clothes. Things such as belts, scarves, deliberately arranging a too-big smock to bare one shoulder in a way that I do remember doing myself as a child, curiously.

-

General:

The majority of people in the Realms can afford a sizable wardrobe. Daily wear tends to be practical, but almost everyone has some kind of fine clothing they’ll bring out on special occasions. Noble and the wealthy women are often seen in fancy gowns, but will likely be wearing practical garb underneath and be prepared to pin up their hems if need be. Nobles also really like their cloaks

All cities and markets will have tailors and seamstresses for altering garments as necessary, whether as repairs and maintenance or for aesthetics like dyes and adornments. Almost all clothiers found in cities are prepared to do on-the-spot alterations. Enameled metals, coloured cut-glass and painted wire are popular amongst the working glass who want to look flashy but can’t afford genuine fancy stuff. Many outfits may be modified, so that armour such as breastplates and gorgets are disguised within fabric and bodices, or jerkins reinforced with armour plating.

Breeches and tunics, the former usually made of leather, are the most common garment on all genders in most of the continent. Skirts are rarely seen, though gowns are common enough. Bare arms, a low neckline that exposes a ‘little bosom’, and a hemline at the mid-calf or lower is considered dressing conservatively. 'Low-cut peasant blouses and even lace trimmings are widely used.'

The commons style of jerkin on Faerun is a heavy, fitted garment that goes down to the knees and fastens down the front or side by a sustem of toggles and loops. Shoulder padding and a stand-up collar are common, and they usually have pockets (internal or external)

Most people will be wearing belts and baldrics (belts that go diagonally across the chest, over the shoulder) for holding clothes up and carrying items.

A tammalar is a type of baldric with many pouches attached.

Bracelars are leather braces with pouches, popular with merchants.

'...and the scrip, which in recent centuries has come to mean a large piece of leather or cloth with sewn-on ties or thongs, and sewn-on loop or sleeves for those ties to go through. It is gathered up (around goods, to form a carrysack) into a bundle, and kept that way by threading ties through the sleeves (and a user’s belt, to carry it at the hip or hanging from the rear waist).'

Typical shoes are either boots or open-toed sandals.

Hat fashions come and go rapidly. A ‘fancy-me’ or ‘dee’ is a hat that’s been augmented with several feathers, gauze, gemstones and various sparkly things, usually worn by those concerned with fashion.

-

Outdoors wear:

Weathercloaks are ankle-length cloaks made from a light material held together by a brooch. They’re noted to not be much use at keeping the cold out, but are better than nothing. Those with more coin can afford leather longcoats that keep the rain off and greatcloaks for the cold.

-

Piercings:

Ear piercings and naval piercings are common, but other piercings are much more rarely seen outside of some priests who have ritual piercings for religious reasons. In the Western Heartlands (including the Gate) piercing your nostrils is also normal.

.

Hair:

Thurdrixes are hair products that work as dyes or to encourage hair growth (up to several inches a day). These treatments are also expensive, and may not be widely trusted due to being arcane magic. These products usually have long, fanciful sounding names.

Barbers and trained hairdressers aren't much of a thing, though they do exist. Usually you ask a family member to cut it for you, so there's not much call for professionals in the market

Plucking and shaving body hair is a fashion in the Southern hemisphere, but not really present in the rest of Faerûn (so not common in Baldur's Gate).

The fashion for men in the Heartlands is to have facial hair, though no particular style is more popular than others. Illuskans favour long beards, provided that they're not too impractical. Calishite fashion involves oils and perfumes to keep lice out, and a popular fashion in the South is for bare chins and long moustaches and sideburns which may well be seen further north due to trade and migration.

[pixiedust-poppers]

Battle for the book makes me question 4 things

1- Jake and his friends MUST be from here (neverland) as they have never seen what’s beyond the second star and they don’t travel that far out beyond neverland’s borders. Can they not travel out there? Or do they never desire too? They didn’t even know what London was till this episode… how much did Peter never bother to tell them? (I don’t expect hook to tell them because let’s be real..why would he.)

2- this must be a universe where Wendy and her brothers met Peter but Wendy didn’t learn her lesson from the movie and still stays in the nursery (I think?). The episode has to take place in the same year, because if it didn’t then how would you explain the darlings not aging?

3- Peter never told them about his adventures with Wendy for some reason?? I would think that would be pretty important but I guess not?

4- WHAT FUCKING YEAR DOES THIS SHOW TAKE PLACE IN??? In London it’s supposedly still 1906. In neverland, it’s the pirate era but then what fuck why does the crew have modern day objects like cameras that can print photos in HD color, a 3 person bicycle, a baseball, a basketball, a bass guitar. Why can hook build a submarine where did he get the parts for it and knows how keep air in it stable, yet he doesn’t know what certain things are that the crew has?

What is lore in this show.

[voloslobotomyservice]

thank you @necroticyuzu for the tag! 💫 and thank you everyone who participated in my poll! I love talking about my little Tavs and I can’t stop making them so I’m always down to be tagged in these sorta things!

no pressure tags: @beesht @grandmother-goblin @auspex-author (yk I’m always down for Shior lore)

Name: Saoirse Nic’Phaid

Gender: female

Pronouns: she/her

Sexuality: mostly straight (but she’s working on defining it)

OTHER

Family: A complicated conversation. Older human father who’s unable to work, younger wood elf mother who abandons the family often, and an older brother Arthur who was tragically murdered five years before the events of BG3 took place.

Birthplace: Lower City of Baldur’s Gate.

Job: Criminal, I suppose? She doesn’t really have a traditional job. Instead, she’s spent most of her life stealing and then selling items to make a living. It even brought in more money than Arthur was making when he was alive and working.

Phobia: Thalassaphobia. She never learned how to swim.

Guilty Pleasure: Hooking up with problematic men. They oh-so-bad but oh-so-good in bed. Her own ex-boyfriend was a member of the Zhentarim, after all.

MORALS

Alignment: Neutral Evil - rather selfish in her actions, yet will help others who are similar her.

Sins: Theft. Lots of it. Jealousy, coveting what others may have knowing she could never have it. Will usually say whatever pops in her head without thinking it through first, which gets her in trouble. Can be very self-centered in different situations (ex. she refused to take poison from Nettie at the Grove after she didn’t help the party cure their tadpole)

Virtues: Loyal to those she loves, almost to a fault. When able to, very much a “steal from the rich to give to the poor” type. Believes honesty is the best policy (unless your life is at risk, then lying to save yourself is acceptable). Family is also very important to her, especially her father, and she tried to make sure he had well over a years worth of gold before going on the run.

THIS OR THAT

Introvert/Extrovert/Ambivert - Likes to be social but also enjoys time to herself. Tries to keep a healthy balance of both.

Organized/Disorganized - in some aspects of her life, at least. When it comes to her money, she’s very organized.

Close Minded/Open Minded - No defining reason. She just is.

Calm/Anxious/Restless - Being on the run for a crime she may (or may not) have committed, she is constantly looking over her shoulder to make sure she and her companions are safe (but mostly her).

Disagreeable/Agreeable - That is, if you see eye to eye with her.

Cautious/Reckless/In Between - After the loss of her brother, she was very reckless in her crimes and overall behavior, but she has calmed down a bit. She will still do risky things for the fun of it, though.

Patient/Impatient/In Between - Do not test her.

Outspoken/Reserved - Almost too outspoken for her own good.

Leader/Follower/Flexible - Because she’s very headstrong, she easily fell into the leader position of the party.

Empathetic/Unemphathetic - To those that are like her: who’ve struggled, who understand how hard life can be. Won’t listen to the sob story of some upper class elitist.

Optimistic/Pessimistic/Realist

Traditional/Modern/In Between

Hardworking/Lazy - But hardworking in the way that she’s taking from others… yeah I don’t like to think about the logistics of it too much.

RELATIONSHIPS

OTP: Don’t hate me. But. Saoirse is absolutely crushing on Aradin, despite how much of an ass he is. She thinks she can fix him. Maybe she can.

Other Ships: Hooks up with Rugan after rescuing him from the gnolls, which leads to an interesting throuple dynamic when they’re all in Baldur’s Gate.

BroTP: Surprisingly, she and Lae’zel get along swimmingly. Maybe it’s because they have similar personalities. She and Astarion also gossip about the drama between their camp companions, as well as tease each other over their romantic pursuits. Also apparently she and Shadowheart get along very well!

NoTP: Gale annoys her, but she also sees him as a powerful ally and a good companion. Thoroughly rejects any of his advances.

[thebarontheabyss]

Hiya! Now I can finally say how much I enjoyed this game!

I really enjoy how casual the game feels while still using flowery language, I think you also do a great job of providing a variety of options where I don't feel limited in what I can say. The lore for the Abyss has me hook, line, and sinker! It's really open and available for creativity and provides such a diverse cast of characters.

Speaking of characters I think my top 3 right now are He Without Name, Hastur, and Death. He Without Name really has my attention he's such an interesting character and he's so sweet! I can't wait for more conversations with him. Hastur has me determined to make Home a real home for him, he's so nice and tries so hard. I just want him safe, happy, and comfortable. As for Death, they're so cute. I'm excited to build my relationship with them and learn more about them. I also hope they will keep using me as a support in the future.

I'm so curious about the voices and the curse super hyped to learn more about them and see their impacts on the story and my precious bar.

In conclusion, I really love this game and will be patiently waiting for more! :]

Sidenote: I will eventually remember how to pronounce Peisinoe and won't need to keep open a youtube tab lol

Happy to hear you enjoyed your time at the Abyss :D Yeah, Peisinoe's name is so tricky for some reason, the number of times I suddenly forgot how to even write it mid-session 😭 I'm glad that the lore resonates with you! I have big plans for it 👀

[kyberblade]

Back To You (Din x Reader) - Part 11

A/N: Woo-hooooooooooooo!!!!! Here we are, a part with entirely original content, absolutely no show dialogue or plot lines. Whew. I did it. I had about 3k then all of a sudden it was 10k and I went to wrap it up with a few paragraphs and then we had 13k. I had a lot to sayyy, okaayyy??? I fully expect screaming at me when this is done. We have revelations, discussions, action…. Is that vague enough? Oh! And we have Mando’a again in this one. Lots of it. If the reader doesn’t understand it, it will look like this. (Bold and italic.) If she understands and/or says it, it’ll look like this. (Just italic.) The translations are at the end of the respective sentences in parentheses. Also, once again, there is some lore in this that @writerlyhabits​​​ wrote in a fantastic short, and I loved it so much, I asked if I could use it.

(This takes place right where the other one left off and goes into the first part of episode 2x4/12, The Siege.)

I do not own Star Wars or it’s characters. Sadly. But I carry them in my heart. Does that count for something? My soul says yes.

Warnings: Tooth rotting fluff, Grogu being the cutest thing you ever did see, and Din is once again a warning in and of himself in this one. Typical show violence. Maybe like one or two light swear words? Space swearing, and a general sense of you’re going to scream at me, I know it.

Word count: 13,238

As always, thanks to @grippingbeskar​​ for encouraging me, looking over this for me, and being the one to introduce me to Din fanfiction in the first place, getting me hooked. You are fantastic and I always love our chats.

Thank you to @blondiwankenobi​ who brainstormed the premise of the flashback with me just during a chat, @what-the-heckin-heck​ who helped me with language decisions while shooting the breeze, and @deceiverofgodss​ who is the ruler of all Mando’a knowledge, showed me the error of my ways, and was kind enough to help me fix it.

Previous | Series Masterlist | Next

Xxx

Landing on the dusty planet, you tried to peer through the viewport over Din’s shoulder. A cloud of dirt kicked up from the ship quickly obscured your view, dissipating much too slowly for your liking.

“Why are we going there?” You’d asked him as he initiated the landing sequence, the Crest shuddering with the effort.

“We need to make some repairs before we can make it all the way to Nevarro, and it’s quiet and out of the way. It’s where I found the kid. No one will think to look for him where he originally was.”

Nodding, you hesitated before you asked the next question. “Wasn’t this where you met Kuiil? Your burc'ya, your friend.”

Din only nodded in answer.

A silence stretched on between you, filling the cabin with a heavy air before finally it was broken when Din sighed.

His voice was quiet, but compared to the silence you’d just left, it nearly startled you. “We’re going to be landing right by his house. He has- had-” He let out a quick breath. “There is a work bench near the back we can use, and keeping the ship in sight will help keep the Jawas away.” He growled a little when he mentioned the little thieves, making you smile. “Plus, I figured the kid could stretch his legs for a while, you could use the space and privacy to work with your lightsaber, and learn your vambraces.”

“Y-you’re going to let me set stuff on fire? Like on purpose?”

He turned his chair to face you. “It better be on purpose, otherwise you’re doing it wrong.”

You laughed. “How do you say fire in Mando’a?”

Din shook his head at you. “Tracyn.” Continuing to shake his head incredulously at you, he began to mutter as he turned back to the console. “Nehutyc dala, gar mirdi tracyn bid emuurla, ni chabaa gar.” (“Feisty woman, you think fire is so pleasing, I fear you.”)

“That’s not fair,” you grumbled, crossing your arms over your chest and glaring out the viewport as the surface of the planet loomed closer.

“Cuy aay'han bal'bin.” (“It is indeed bittersweet.”)

You had humphed in frustration, slumping further into your chair, making him chuckle.

Now as you made your way down the ramp, Din beside you and the kid in tow, you took in your surroundings as you squinted against the bright sunlight. A small structure that looked like a home sat in the middle, a small shop to the back, a windmill out front, and a large pen in front of it all for some kind of animals, but it was empty.

“Why don’t you go get the kid settled in while I grab our stuff from the ship, then go get parts from his workshop and get started on the repairs,” Din said once you’d all reached the bottom of the ramp, turning to face you.

“I can help,” you offered, taking one step back up the ramp, but stopped when he lightly grabbed your arm.

“I’ve got it. Really, it’s okay. Keep a close eye on the kid. He loves to eat the frogs around here.”

You nodded once, looking down at the kid with a raised brow. He just squealed in response, giggling when you scooped him up off the ground and into your arms. “Come on, little one. We’re going on a frog hunt,” you winked at Din before making your way towards the house, the child letting out a shrill screech of excitement.

Xxx

Din POV

He watched the two of you walk off for just a moment before he sprung into action, climbing the ramp up into the ship. Going straight to your bag, he rifled through the contents until he found the papers he was looking for. Glancing around the doorframe to make sure you were still headed the other way, he flipped through them until he found the document he wanted. The training remote instructions. Folding them in half he tucked them into his belt, returning the others to your bag before sliding it over his shoulder.

Next, he went to his weapons cabinet, punching in the code on his vambrace to make the doors hiss open. Quickly surveying his options, he grabbed the one he wanted, studying it in his hand for a moment before pressing the buttons to close the storage back up.

It wasn’t a spectacular blaster, but it was important to him. It was one of the first ones he’d ever acquired, bought with the credits from his first bounty. He hardly used it anymore, kept it around mostly for sentimental reasons, one of the few things he allowed for that, and he could think of no better use for it than as part of your training remote.

He may not have forged the knife but he’s going to forge the training ball.

No more loopholes.

Grabbing the last few things, he made his way back down the ramp and over to the little shop bench, depositing the blaster and instructions before making his way to the hut with the rest of the gear.

Xxx

Regular POV

The kid was chasing after a frog when you saw Din making his way around from the workbench. Walking the few steps between you, meeting in the middle, you took your bag off his shoulder, and another miscellaneous bag in his grasp.

He leaned around you to look at the kid, sighing. “I told you he’d chase the frogs.”

You looked over your shoulder at the child as he let out a squeal, lunging after the amphibian, and shrugged. “It keeps him out of trouble.”

“He is trouble,” Din grumbled.

Before you could react, a bellowing sound came from over by the ship, the sound of heavy and fast footfalls rapidly getting closer. Looking over, you saw large two legged creatures that looked almost like blobs with teeth charging toward the three of you.

“Get the kid!” Din yelled, dropping every bag he was carrying, and pushing lightly on your back to get you to move in the kids direction.

Dropping your own gear, you ran and scooped the child up in your arms and held him close, turning to watch as the beasts drew closer.

They were so close you could see yourself reflected in their large eyes, and you pulled up your arm, the mechanisms of your vambrace whirring as the flamethrower prepared to fire. Before you could point and shoot, electricity danced over the creatures in a quick flash before they fell to the ground, sliding to a stop right in front of you, the nose of one tapping the tip of your shoe.

The child giggled as he looked down at the walking blobs, making you look at him before you pulled your gaze up to Din, finding him just lowering a rifle, and that’s when you noticed the darts sticking out of the side of their thick skin.

“What…”

“They’re blurrgs,” Din explained, walking up to stand on the other side of the creatures. “It’s how Kuiil got around on this planet. That’s what the pen is for.” He tilted his head to the side at the large vacant enclosure.

“It’s called a blurrg? Its name sounds like how it looks. Blech.”

Din laughed. “Yeah, they aren’t the best looking creatures, but they were loyal and helpful. I’m going to get them in the pen so when they wake up they are contained, and then I can show you how Kuiil taught me to ride them.”

You were still staring at the creatures, their slow easy breaths rising and falling deeply as they slept. “That’s what you say when you don’t know what to say. Blurrg.” You shook your head, looking up at him. “Wait, what, ride them?”

Din nodded slowly with a gentle chuckle. “Don’t worry. If I can get the hang of it, then surely you can, too.”

You swallowed roughly, looking back down to the blurrgs. “We can only hope.”

Xxx

“So you just point like this,” Din adjusted your arms from his spot behind you, moving around to your side to adjust your arms further. “And then flick your wrist down, and that should engage the whipcord.” Before you could move your wrist, he reached out and held it tight, shaking his head at you slowly. “I told you, not yet. This is still the basics. You do it now, you're going to turn yourself into a cocoon, and yes, before you ask again, I speak from experience.”

You rolled your eyes but still laughed at his antics. “Fine.”

He moved to the arm directly in front of him. “Now, this is where your whistling birds are.”

“My what?” You blinked at him.

“Small projectile explosives that track all nearby enemies automatically and before you say anything, no, absolutely in no way am I letting you have tiny flying explosives.” You dropped your jaw at him. “These are blanks, more of a deterrent, so you have time to get away.”

“What is your problem with me and heavier firepower?” You whined, dropping your arms to your sides and standing up straight to look up into his visor.

He sighed. “Do you remember the first time we met?”

“Din, don’t change the subject-”

“I’m not,” he countered, his hands going to his belt as his weight shifted to one side, his head tilting the opposite side yours was. “Answer the question.”

You sighed. “Yeah, at the bar. You got a drink to meet an informant, and they didn’t show-”

“Okay, okay,” he held up a hand to stop you, returning it to his belt when you let out a huff. “Actually, it was before that. A few weeks before.”

Your eyebrows shot up in question before they narrowed, your hands going to your hips.

Din shook his head gently, looking down at the ground before he brought his gaze back to your face. “It was a few weeks before….”

Din stalked down the dirty streets of the lower levels of Coruscant, huffing out an aggravated breath under his helmet, fogging the display briefly. The bounty had given him the slip, jumping on a transport right before the doors closed, grinning at him in triumph through the grimy window. The fob was still beeping, so the bounty was still on the planet, but the beeps were becoming fewer and farther between, meaning it was only a matter of time before the quarry was on an entirely different planet.

Making his way back to the Razor Crest, Din was eager to get back and get off this metropolis hell, the crushing weight of people at every turn making him feel like he was sinking.

Coming around a corner, a group of people were gathered on the street, shouting in various languages, pushing and shoving one another, in what looked like the beginnings of a fight.

Don’t get involved, Din thought, drifting to the side of the streets to continue on in the shadows, undetected.

The crowd began to part as someone shouldered their way through, arguments coming to a halt as they all turned to look at the newcomer with wide eyes. Curious, Din slowed his steps, coming to a stop as he watched the scene unfold, a disbelieving scoff passing through his modulator when he saw what had everyone suddenly on edge.

A woman, bottle of alcohol with a scrap of material sticking out of the top in one hand, and lit torch of some kind in the other. She began to speak in Basic, but everyone seemed to understand her. “Okay, look everybody! I have had enough! This whole thing is so stupid, I don’t want to hear anymore about it!” A few in the crowd began to protest, stopping when she called out. “Hey! You want back into my bar? You shut up!” She looked around, meeting the eyes of every creature without flinching. “No more.” Looking at one large creature in particular, she leveled one of the most severe glares Din had ever seen on him, making the creature that was easily twice her size shrink away. “You understand?”

Agreement went around the crowd in grumbles, and she nodded. “Good.” She sighed, relaxing her shoulders now that the confrontation was over, the movement inadvertently lighting the fuse of the fiery cocktail, and making her eyes go wide, her mouth into a tight line. “Oops,” was all she said as she stared at it a second longer before winding her arm back and lobbing the bottle at a dumpster across the street. In the chaos that followed, even though he looked away to follow the impact for only a second, Din lost track of the woman in the crowd, catching just a glimpse of her apron dashing into one of the storefronts the direction she had entered the crowd from. Looking up to the sign, Din saw it was a bar, and things began to make a little more sense. Emphasis on a little.

One older man stood out as the crowd dispersed, smiling and shaking his head as he turned to move in Din’s direction. Spotting the Mandalorian, he paused, tilting his head in question, and Din decided to get some info if he could. Purely for his own curiosity. Nothing else. Or so he told himself.

“Is she going to be okay?” He cuts right to the chase, stepping up a few feet from the old man.

“How do you mean, Mando?” The senior’s voice has a lilt to it that hints at another meaning entirely, and Din doesn’t know what he thinks about that.

“I mean, that was an accident, it was obvious, but is she still going to get in trouble? I don’t see any law enforcement, but surely there are cameras or something.”

The man smiled warmly. “There’s no security or surveillance down here.” He grinned up at the Mandalorian, eyes darting over toward the bar before coming back and twinkling with something mischievous. “Unless…. You’re offering to keep an eye on her.”

Mumbling his thanks, Din turned away from the old man, drifting closer to the bar as he weighed his options. He wasn’t anywhere near the bounty anymore, the fob barely blinking when he checked it. His ship was still a ways off, and, if he was being honest, after that spectacle, he was more than a little curious about the girl who dispersed bar fights with alcohol bombs. Staring at the flaming dumpster, he chuckled softly.

Deciding he could do with a drink before he goes back to his ship, Din made his way into the small hole in the wall cantina he must have passed by a million times on his many trips here. Stepping into the doorway he paused, looking around. It’s small, not that impressive, but it’s clean, which is more than a lot of places this far down can say. People from the crowd trickle in around him, casting him sideways glances as his beskar catches the lights of some neon signs in the street.

The girl is behind the bar, working as if nothing had happened, but Din notices the way her eyes dart up to the door and to the flaming dumpster across the street every so often. Opting against a drink, he slides into a corner booth bathed in shadows and just watches for the rest of the evening, observing everyone, making sure there is no more trouble.

He slips away at the end of the night, without a name to put to the face, but he still has a smile climbing his cheeks as he makes his way back to the Crest, thinking of her bravery and her various little mannerisms he observed throughout the evening. He didn’t often want to get to know people he came across, but he had been tempted to get to know her. It was simply that she seemed so flustered after everything, he didn’t want to throw meeting a Mandalorian into the mix. People often balked when they first saw him, the stories and the beskar making an intimidating cocktail. But something told him, deep down, if he had just said hello, she’d have met the introduction with the ease of the top shelf drinks she was serving.

It’s only pure coincidence when a contact wants to meet up somewhere under the radar a few weeks later, and he knows just the place.

“And that’s when I actually finally said hello,” he concluded, staring off at the horizon.

“Actually, what you first said to me was,” you grunted deeply, imitating his voice as best you could.

His visor snapped down to look at you. “I did not!”

“Yes! Yes, you did! I asked, ‘Are you here by yourself?’ and you grunted at me.” You smiled. “And you’ve been grunting ever since.”

“I don’t-”

“You do, and it’s fine,” you laughed, reaching out a hand to place on his forearm. “It’s kinda endearing.”

Din grunted in response, both of you tilting your heads at the realization, making you chuckle while Din let out a heavy sigh.

“I can’t believe you saw that,” you mumbled, hiding your face in your palm. “That was truly not my best moment. I only meant to scare them, they were fighting about the stupidest thing, I can’t even remember, and…. And that was a really good top shelf bottle of liquor. What a waste.” You let your hand fall down to your side with a slap against your leg.

“I wouldn’t call it a waste,” Din mused. “Got my attention.”

“Oh, well then I guess it was all worthwhile,” you teased, rolling your eyes.

“It was! Because now I know not to give you anything explosive.”

You glared at him. “You’re mean.”

“No, I just don’t have a death wish,” he chuckled as he moved behind you and ushered you forward.

Xxx

“And why did I take away your flamethrowers?”

Hands behind your back, you looked down at your feet, fiddling the toe of your shoe pointlessly into the ground, mumbling. “Because I roasted your cape on accident. .…But to be fair, it was already really full of holes and next to your jet pack, so really, who was the fire hazard there?”

Din said nothing in response, and you tapped your shoe into the dirt with a little more aggression, staring down at it with a sour expression.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got to adjust some stuff on them for you, anyway, the calibration is a little off.”

“Fine,” you mumbled, still staring at the ground.

“In the meantime, why don’t you try and use this.”

Glancing up quickly with no intention of keeping your eyes on whatever it is for long, you do a double take, your eyes going wide when you see what’s in his hands.

“A training remote…. But how?” You look up at him with wide eyes, not even daring to blink, lest it all disappear.

“You were right, we had most of the parts already, and Kuiil happened to have the rest in his shop. He would have helped you build it if he was here, he was an excellent mechanic.” Din stared down at the ball in his hand, his voice distant. Clearing his throat he tossed the ball up before catching it, bringing his gaze back to you. “I used an old blaster of mine, one of the first ones I ever got from the payout of my first job. It’s reliable and not too powerful, so if you end up getting stung by a bolt, it shouldn’t be too much-”

“Din, this is too much,” you put your hands over his, one under his hand the other cradling the ball in his palm, trapping his hand in between. “That….” Your voice cracked with emotion, and you cleared your throat in an effort to continue. “Thank you,” you finally settled on, looking up into the dark T of his visor, smiling when he tilted his head just slightly to the side.

“Don’t thank me yet. Let’s make sure it works first.” Taking a step back, he flicked it on, and it began to hover close to you, just above your head level.

Pulling the saber from your hip where it has been living since you found it, you pressed the button and ignited the blade, letting the hum wash over you and center your focus on the floating orb.

Settling into a sturdier stance, you waited, reaching out to try and connect with everything around you, to simply feel. Before you realize what you’re doing, you’d lifted the saber at an angle as the ball shoots out a bolt of light. It bounced off the blade, ricocheting into the hills in the distance, and you felt a smile climbing your face.

“I think it works.”

Xxx

You found it hard not to peek when trying to train with your eyes closed. Finally getting so fed up with yourself, you marched over to your bag and pulled out the scarf you had gotten on Tatooine, wrapping it around your head and tying it tight to create a blindfold.

Settling back into a ready stance, you reached out with the Force and turned the trainer back on, immediately tuning in to everything around you as the ball buzzed above your head.

One of the blurrgs bellowed off to your side from its place in the pen, distracting you, and causing the trainer to just catch the side of your arm with a bolt, stinging just enough that you hissed. Reaching out and switching it off again, you lowered the blindfold with a huff, turning to face the pen and lean on one of its poles to watch.

Din had already gotten the blurrgs to calm down, and was even able to ride them for a short time. They still didn’t entirely trust you, but the feeling was mutual. Turning your head just slightly, you saw Din at the edge of the pen filling up the feeding trough with a disgusting looking slop that had the creatures in an excited tizzy.

A few yards behind him the Crest glimmered in the sunlight, looking slightly better than when you had landed, repairs going slow but steady.

You’d taken a break to sit inside and eat something, and Din was supposed to teach you some Mando’a while the three of you ate, but he instead just said a few more sentences in Mando’a and offered no translations, though his teasing tone told you enough to know he’d earned an eye roll.

You all ate at the same table, but you kept your eyes trained on the tabletop when his helmet was tilted back, still not completely okay with the idea of seeing part of his face. The few phrases of Mando’a he uttered when the modulator was out of the way had you completely distracted, lost in the sound of his voice without the creed in the way.

The sun was beginning to set, and you sat a few feet in front of the entry to the house, meditating with the kid. Really you were just resting your eyes while the kid was meditating, but so long as he was still and not eating another frog- you’d lost count at this point and it hadn’t even been a day yet- you’d count it as a win.

You heard the crunch of footsteps coming around from behind you, and smiled, cracking one eye open to peek at Din when he came around in front of you. The smile quickly melted back to something neutral, both eyes opening to take in the sight you were greeted with.

Standing behind the kid, about three feet in front of you, was Din, the sun setting behind him making him almost look like a shadow, but it was still blatantly obvious he wasn’t wearing any beskar aside from his helmet. A simple long sleeved black shirt and black pants was in place where shiny metal usually was, and your brain took a minute to wrap around that fact.

“Not that I’m complaining or anything, it’s a good- it’s a great look for you,” you swallowed, staring at his shirt and the way it pulled across his chest a moment too long before continuing. “But what are you doing?” You craned your neck back to look up into his visor, squinting at the bright sunlight behind him.

Holding out his hand for you, you took it, letting him help you to your feet. Brushing off the dirt from your pants, you froze at his next words.

“You don’t have your vambraces,” he reached out and unclipped your belt that held your saber, blaster, and knife, taking it and gently setting it to the side. “And you have no weapons. Something happens and you need to defend yourself. What do you do?”

“Yell for you and run away.”

A snort of laughter passed through the vocoder, making you smile. Din picked up the kid and set him over by your belt, lowering onto his haunches and producing the little round ball from on the Crest from some secret pocket to keep him entertained. The child took it with an enthusiastic squeal, plopping back to sit on the ground and watch the both of you as he munched on his toy.

Rising to his feet and turning back to you, Din pushed the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows. “You asked on Tatooine to learn how to fight, and I think you’re right. Nothing major, just how to land a hit without hurting yourself, and how to take one with the least amount of damage.”

You swallowed roughly, nodding as you studied the ground around you. “Okay. Sounds easy enough.”

“It’s not.”

You scoffed, locking your gaze on the T of his visor. “Don’t be rude.”

“I’m not! It’s the truth. If it were that easy, I wouldn’t need to show you, would I?”

You grumbled something as he walked a few paces away before turning back around.

“It’s just like anything else, it’s a skill you have to learn, and once you do, you’ll be great. You’ve already learned everything else extremely fast, this will be the same.”

You hesitated. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

A moment passed before Din burst out laughing, bending over at the waist and clutching his stomach, ignoring your glare. “You-” another wave of laughter cut him off. “You won’t hurt me, mesh’la, I promise.”

“You don’t know that,” you said lowly, failing in your attempt to fight the grin desperately trying to break free.

His laughter reduced to chuckles, he shook his head at you. “You’re right, I don’t. You get the crazy visions, not me. Maybe you’ve already seen how this plays out, but I can almost one hundred percent guarantee that you won’t hurt me. Do you trust me?”

Your glare turned into an obvious look. “Of course I do.”

“Then what can I…. Okay, how about for every successful hit you land on me, I teach you a word in Mando’a?”

You narrowed your eyes at him. “Deal,” you said slowly. “And,” you added, his head tilting at your conditions, “if I end up taking you down, you tell me what all that Mando’a you said on the ship and at dinner was.”

He scoffed. “That’s cheating, mesh’la.”

“Oh, and bribing your student isn’t?”

Din groaned, tilting his head back and turning in a small circle before facing you again and nodding. “Fine. Whatever you say, cyar'ika.”

“I need to hear the words, Din,” you cupped a hand around your ear as if you couldn’t hear him.

“I’ll tell you what the Mando’a means if you end up dropping me, but it would take a kriffing miracle for that to happen.”

“I don’t need a miracle,” you stretched your neck side to side before walking up to stand across from him. “I just need to beat you.”

“Careful,” he warned. “Don’t get cocky. That’s a sure fire way to end up flat on your ass.”

“That works both ways, Din.”

Din chuckled, settling into a wider stance, bending his knees to demonstrate, and you mirrored him.

“Now, some basics. Good places to hit are,” he took your hand and laid it flat on the middle of his chest, both of his hands closing over it and pressing it into the fabric of his shirt. It’s only now you realize he isn’t wearing gloves either, the warmth of his hands bleeding into yours, rough calluses contrasting with soft skin brush softly against your knuckles, and the thudding of his heart under your palm making you dizzy. “Here,” he continued, his voice seemingly unaffected, unlike you. “The solar plexus. This’ll knock the wind out of someone.”

He lifted your hand off his chest, pulling you slightly closer and resting your hand on his left lower ribcage. “Here. Rib shots always hurt, but if you place it right,” he drug your hand further back, effectively moving you even closer to him, “you’ll get a kidney shot, which can drop someone if done right.” He took your left hand and put it over his right side just below the ribcage. “Same for over here. A well placed kidney shot can mean you getting away or not.”

You’re so close you have to tilt your head back to maintain eye contact, trying to not get lost in the surrealness of the soft weave of material in place of the usual armor.

Suddenly you’re facing the other direction, your arms crossed over your chest, wrists held firmly in his hands, and your spine is sealed along his chest. Trying to catch your breath, your eyes dart all around until his voice comes right up beside your ear, the modulator popping at the proximity. Staring straight ahead, your eyes narrow as he speaks. “Don’t let your guard down. It’s easy enough for someone to take advantage of one small lapse and then you end up incapacitated.” You let out a huff of annoyance. “How would you get out of this?”

The real question is, would you really want to? He’s so warm, and without the beskar, his shirt is so soft. You’ve always known he was strong, but you can finally feel every muscle as it flexes behind you, keeping you still. His grip on your wrists is firm, but not too tight. His heartbeat steady in his chest, if a little elevated, is a rhythm against your own that makes you want to dance. And there is an overwhelming sense of just wanting to relax and melt into his hold on you, close your eyes, and just be.

“Mesh’la?”

Your eyes that were drifting shut snap open, your head snapping up from where it had begun to loll back against his shoulder. Fighting. Pain. Attack. Right.

“If I could get my arms free, I could easily elbow you in the kidneys.”

“Correct.” His voice sounded pleased. “And how do you get your grip free?”

“I want to say I could headbutt whoever is behind me, but right now with that beskar, that doesn’t sound like a good idea.”

He chuckled. “Good. Okay, moving on.”

He let go of your wrists and you rounded on him.

“Where is my Mando’a?”

“You didn’t land a hit.” He said it so simply, you don’t respond for a minute.

“I did figuratively.”

“Oh. Well in that case, Ni ven'rejorhaa'i gar naas.” (“I will tell you nothing.”)

Your jaw dropped. “Sometimes I want to strangle you.”

Xxx

You’d landed a few hits in the following few hours, Din making good on his promise and teaching you a word for each one. Ni, cuyi, utreekov. It wasn’t until you strung them all together that you launched at him, batting at his arms in frustration. “I am an idiot. Really? That’s what you teach me?!”

Din was laughing, simply raising his arms up to block your feeble blows, taking small steps back. “Hey, you said you wanted to learn. Is that not learning?”

You stopped with a huff, glaring at him as you grumbled. “Utreekov.”

“See? You’re learning.”

The sun was just finishing its set, twilight painting the area in shadows and purple hues. Stars began to twinkle overhead, and they reflected in his helmet, distracting you for a moment.

“I want to try something,” he said, breaking your absent stare at his beskar, and bringing your gaze back to his visor. “Since it’s dark anyway, put your blindfold on and try to sense me like you sense the training remote.”

“Why do I feel like a party trick all of a sudden?” You groaned, your eyes following him as he began to slowly circle you.

“No tricks, I just want to try it.”

“Fine,” you mumbled, walking over to your belt where it still sat with the kid, smiling at him and scratching between his ears as he slept before pulling the scarf out of a pocket on the belt. Turning to walk back, you fold it up properly, and go to tie it, but stop when you notice Din’s extended hands.

“May I?”

Looking down to the scarf briefly, you quickly look back up at him and nod. “Yeah.” Handing him the thin material, he slowly goes around behind you, delicately draping the cloth over your eyes before cinching it at the back of your head.

“Is that too tight?”

His voice right by your ear made you jump before you chuckled nervously.

“No.”

He finished off the knot gently before you heard his footsteps come around in front of you like earlier. You were about to say something when you heard the seal of his helmet disengaging, your mouth snapping shut at the sound. Shortly after, the clunk of beskar being set on the ground makes everything shift slightly.

“I had to take it off,” he said, his voice without the modulator disarming you as usual. “Something is glitching in my display, and since it’s dark, I figured why not.”

You let out a breathy chuckle. “Yeah. Why not.”

“So no headbutts,” he joked, earning a more substantial chuckle from you.

You held your hands up in surrender. “Fine. No headbutts.”

He continued to circle you, coming in quickly after a few seconds, and you successfully blocked him.

“Good,” he mused, backing away.

You smiled as you let everything flow through you, letting the Force guide you instead of trying to make it tell you something.

This goes on a few times, he came in, you blocked, he went back out, until you were breathing heavily. There was a shift in the air before he came in again, and you were unable to place it until the last minute, and by then it was too late, the sharp tip of a blade pressed close to your neck. He holds you closer than before, your noses almost touching, and you can feel his warm breath fanning out across your face.

“Never assume people will play fair,” he said lowly, his lips brushing against your cheek as he spoke, he’s so close.

His forehead rests against your temple softly, and your mind went utterly blank at the contact.

After a moment he pulled away, and you were left trying to find your breath. You heard the helmet reengage, and you pulled the blindfold down, turning to face him to find him looking up at the sky.

“There’s a meteor shower. I bet you’ve never seen one of those, have you?”

You gasped, turning to look up at the stars. “No,” you breathed, holding your breath until you saw a light streak across the sky and you gasped. Quickly dropping to the ground and laying flat on your back, you watched with wide eyes. “No, I haven’t. The lights are too bright on Coruscant, and that’s if you’re lucky enough to be on the upper levels. From the lower levels you can’t even see the sky most of the time.”

After a few more flew by, you sighed. “It’s beautiful.”

Din sat beside you, his head tilted back to watch, but when you glanced at him out of the corner of your eye, you found his visor trained squarely on you.

“Yes, it is.”

Xxx

Din POV

He’d almost kissed you.

As he sat there watching the stars shoot across the sky, his mind wandered back to just a few minutes ago.

They were so close. It would be so easy to just…. Just breathe a little deeper and close the distance. It’s right there…. His lips had brushed against your cheek as he spoke and it took everything in him not to move just an inch to the left so they could brush against yours.

But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. If he was being honest, for two very blaring obvious reasons. One being he hadn’t told you yet how he feels. Well, not technically. He had, but you didn’t know that.

The other…. He wants to see your eyes when he does.

He wants to see your eyes with his own eyes.

Looking down at you as you laid in the dirt without a care, staring up at the stars in awe, he smiled.

There was nothing wrong with his helmet. He just wanted a moment with you without it. Something he hadn’t felt before, and it caught him off guard. He thought if he gave in and appeased the temptation, maybe the urge would go away, but the opposite had happened. Now he just felt contained and cut off inside the beskar, and he itched to once again be that close to you without anything in the way.

Someday.

“It’s beautiful,” you breathed, staring at the show in the sky.

Din smiled as he looked at you.

“Yes, it is.”

Xxx

Regular POV

Din had shown mercy on you and taught you a word for every shooting star you saw.

Ka'ra, ca, kebii'tra, ca'tra, dral…. Stars, night, sky, night sky, bright, there was a theme. Nothing he taught you would help translate anything he’d already said, and you knew that was on purpose.

You must have drifted off after a while, because soon you were being woken up by his hand on your shoulder, gently shaking you.

“Mesh’la,” he tried softly. “Wake up, mesh’la. You’re having a bad dream.”

Groaning, you sat up, holding your knees close with your arms wrapped tightly around them.

“Must be the stress of everything. I don’t usually have nightmares.” You blearily rubbed one eye with the palm of your hand.

“Wanna talk about it?”

You brought your arm back around your knee and stared off at the horizon. “Well, at first I thought it was a vision of some sort, everything was normal, but then….” You shuddered as you trailed off. “Then the fire….”

“Fire?”

You nodded slowly, eyes wide. “The kid, he- He had his own miniature flamethrowers and was running around lighting stuff on fire, and we couldn’t stop him! And- Why are you laughing?”

Din was laughing so hard almost no sound was coming through the helmet. You whacked his arm with the back of your hand, quickly regretting it as your hand landed firmly on his pauldron, a smile climbing your face unbidden.

“What’s so funny?!”

“You qualify it as a nightmare because the kid was misusing his own vambraces? I’m sorry, I mean, misusing the flames from his mini vambraces?” He chuckled through every word.

“Yes!” Your eyes were wide and so was your smile. “Anything that puts those things in a bad light just can’t be true- Oh, will you shut up, you big oaf!” Reaching out, you shoved his shoulder as hard as you could, barely moving him an inch, making you huff in frustration.

His laughter had reduced to giggles as he tried to right himself, clutching his stomach with one hand, and shaking his head gently. “You’re something else.”

Xxx

The next day you rode the blurrgs a bit around the pen. They still didn’t entirely trust you, but the feeling was still mutual, and you were more than happy to leave it at that.

You watched with a sense of pride as Din worked with the creatures, all of this seeming to come so easily to him. “So are you just good at everything, or….?”

Din scoffed. “What do you mean?”

You gestured to the walking blobs. “You’re just so good with them.”

He chuckled. “Thanks. The first time I tried with Kuiil I got bucked off or head butted across the pen more times than I could count.” You smiled. “But I finally got the hang of it.” He shrugged, going back to petting the head of the closest blob.

Din showed you a few things on the Crest, explaining how the basics of piloting worked, should you ever need to take over in case of an emergency. He promised once the ship was repaired he’d let you try flying if you wanted, and you expected the thought to scare you, but you smiled and began to bounce in place where you sat in the pilot’s chair, making him chuckle.

Later in the day, you and the child got into some shenanigans that resulted in a puff of smoke rising from a tool Din had been using on the ship and had set down for a moment.

When Din turned and saw the damage, he put his hands on his hips and tossed his gaze between the two of you in silence.

Admitting nothing, you pointed at the child who just said “Eh?” and tilted his head as he looked up at you.

Din let out a heavy sigh. “I hate it when the children fight.”

You scoffed, jaw dropped in shock as the child giggled.

After some more hand to hand training, this time without the blindfold, and he wore his beskar again, you sat beside the child while you took a break, sipping some water.

Din reached down to pick up his own container of water, only for it to slide away from his outstretched hand at the last second. Tilting his head, he closed the distance and reached again, the container just out of his grip as it slid across the dirt again. Huffing, he lunged, only for the container to shoot several feet in front of him, stopping when he did.

He turned abruptly to you and the child, hands on his hips. “Okay. Who was it?”

The kid was walking off aimlessly, hands behind his back innocently as he blinked his big eyes to try and deceive the Mandalorian.

Watching the little green menace enact his scene, you scoffed. “Traitor.”

The child turned to you, and let out a mighty, “Patu!”

“Don’t ‘patu’ me!” You chuckled disbelievingly. “You little gremlin.”

Sighing, Din threw his hands up in defeat, turning away from the two of you and beginning to walk away. After a few steps he pointed his arm toward the water container and used his whipcord to finally retrieve it.

The days unfolded slowly and soon you’d been on Arvala-7 a week. You knew enough Mando’a to stumble your way through a conversation with Din, and still get supremely frustrated when he rattled off complete sentences to you in response.

The child kept getting into mischief and you were convinced there was something in the frogs that made him do it.

The Crest was looking better and better, still falling apart and shuddering every time the engine was turned on, but improvement was being made.

You’d just tucked the child in for a nap inside the hut when a glint on the horizon caught your eye as you stepped back outside.

Narrowing your eyes to try and see better, you reached out with the Force to try and sense anything as you fiddled with your vambraces absently. Din had polished them before giving them back to you, and you smiled as you glanced at him a few yards to your right by the pen. He’d seemed so flustered- You snapped your head back toward the flash in the hillside, picking up on several life forms and waves of…. Aggression?

A surge began to roll toward you, and everything seemed to move in slow motion. “Get down!” You yelled at Din, dropping to the ground as a shot tore through the air where you had been standing. Another came lightning fast and pinged off his beskar, making him groan softly.

Rolling your eyes at him, still standing, you got to your feet and dashed toward him, lunging at the last second and tackling him to the ground as three more rapid fire shots tore through the air.

“Stupid Mandalorian. Di’kut,” You hissed, looking around for any signs of the life forces you felt. (More emphatic form of idiot.)

“You’re learning,” Din mused quietly, his tone sounded like he was smiling as he looked up at you from where you’d landed over him, hovering over his chest to stay low.

Looking at his visor you smiled. “I am. Aren’t you glad you taught me how to say idiot?”

“Among other things,” he chuckled, turning his head to look for the shooter as well.

“Do you see anything?” You asked.

He reached up and pressed something on the side of his helmet. “Three bodies, moving this way fast. All of them have rifles. Go get to cover, I’ll take care of this.”

“Are you really that stupid?” You look down at his visor again, and he whips his head back to look up at you. “Gar cuyi utreekov,” you mumble. “A ori solus.” (“You are an idiot.”) (”A big one.”)

“Ni copaani gar slanar-” (“I want you to go-”)

“K'atini!” (“Suck it up!”)

Din tossed his head slightly side to side in disbelief.

“I’m helping,” you said lowly, staring into his visor before you turned to look toward the incoming bodies. “And that’s final.” Pushing off his chest, you uncliped the saber from your belt and ignited it, standing over your Mandalorian, waiting.

Shots flew towards you, and it was just like with the training remote. Letting yourself simply feel everything around you, you suddenly felt like you had all the time in the world, moving into place between the bolts and their target. Sending beams of light back towards your attackers, you heard Din get to his feet behind you and draw his blaster, adding to the flying bolts sent the enemies direction. One of them fell, wounded, and Din took off on his jet pack, landed beside him a minute later and dispatched him quickly. Only seconds later he was back by your side as the other two closed in, laying down heavy fire.

Dodging behind some crates, you disengaged the saber, clipping it back to your belt. “I can’t repel that much fire,” you mumbled, ducking when a shot made the crate splinter close to your head.

Glancing over the edge quickly before ducking back down, Din looked at you and nodded once. “You take the one on the left, and I’ll take the one on the right?”

You smile and nod. “Perfect.”

Waiting until the bandits were close enough, you and Din stayed silent, popping out at the last second and launching toward your designated targets.

In order to buy some time without rapid blaster fire, you blasted a wall of flames at your attacker, making him stumble back, dropping his rifle in the process. Striding closer with each step, as soon as the flames died out, you punched him in the face, disorienting him.

He was quick to recover, however, and began to throw blow after blow. He was sloppy, compared to Din, but he obviously knew where to try and hit, landing a punch square to your chest, knocking the wind out of you. Stumbling back, you heard Din yelling your name from somewhere to your right. Shaking your head to clear the fog, you jumped back in, landing a punch to the guy’s ribs and earning a moan.

“Sur'ar!” You yelled, hoping Din could hear you. (“Focus!”)

“Gar sur'a!” He yelled back, making you groan before it melted into a chuckle. You landed a punch to the guy's face again, then got a kidney shot, and a knee to the groin, making him fall to his knees. (“You focus!”)

“Shut up!” He yelled at you between moans, trying to kill you with only a look.

Staring down at him in amusement, you heard one blaster shot from Din’s direction before the sound of a body landing on the ground, then the tell-tale jingle of the Mandalorian’s boots as he made his way over to you.

“Gar k'uu,” you countered. “Ne shab'rud'ni,” you said easily to the man on his knees. (“You hush.”) (“Don't mess with me.”)

“I said shut up!” The man hissed, trying to rise to his feet, only to sink back to his knees when Din clocked him on the side of his face with his fist. “We can make a deal,” he whined, looking up at the Mandalorian with his one good eye that hadn’t swollen shut. “Keep the child, go on your way,” he looked at you, a twisted smile climbing his face. “Just leave the bitch.”

You looked at Din, and he looked at you. “Kaysh mirsh solus.” You smiled and Din laughed at your comment. (“His brain cell's lonely.”)

Suddenly the man pulled a knife from his boot and leapt forward towards you with a growl.

Wasting no time, you twisted his grip so he was wrapped firmly in your hold, slamming his hand down on his chest and making him drop the blade with a cry. Using the momentum to continue moving him over, you flipped him over your shoulders and onto his back with a thud, and pinned him down with your foot on his chest.

Drawing your blaster, you pointed it at the man. “Ni copaani gar cuyir k'uu.” (“I want you to be quiet.”)

Before you could think any further, you faintly registered Din’s cry of protest at your side before you were pulling the trigger, and the man was lying lifeless at your feet. Holstering your blaster, you noticed a second blaster entry right beside yours, and you turned to see Din with his blaster aimed at the man, smoke still rising from the barrel. You blink once. Twice. Din’s head tilted at you in concern.

“Are you okay, mesh’la?” He holstered his blaster, reaching out a hand to rest on your arm, but you shrugged out of his hold, eyes falling to look at the ground by his feet. He hesitated. “Mesh’la?”

You began to shake, the reality of what you’ve done sinking in. “Don’t…. Just please don’t touch me right now. I can’t….” You took a deep breath, your voice quivering with emotion. “I can’t believe I just killed someone,” you whispered, looking up into his visor.

He put his hands on your upper arms and held firmly when you tried to slip back out of his grasp. “Mesh’la, mesh’la….” He shook you gently to get you to look up at him again, and he sighed when you did. “Mesh’la, we don’t know if it was your shot or mine that killed him. There’s no way to know.”

“But he’s still dead, Din.” You whispered, tears racing silently down your face.

“And if we didn’t kill him, he would have killed you. Or me. Or the kid.” He pointed to the house behind him where the kid was still sleeping. “Or all three of us.” Your face grew more sour with each name he listed.

“I thought you said they wouldn’t find him here!” You turned the subject around, swiping angrily at your tears and kicked at the fob that had fallen out of the man’s pocket in the tussle.

Din picked it up, pointing it toward you, and the beeping went absolutely nuts, almost becoming one constant sound before Din clicked it off.

“They weren’t here for him,” he mumbled softly.

You began to hyperventilate, your breath coming in shallow pants in and out, and everything started to spin. “I can’t- This- This is- Too much! I-” Din grabbed your arms again, and you looked up at him with wide eyes. “I’m a danger to him, I’ll just attract more attention, get him and you and myself- Everyone in the galaxy killed-”

Din tried to calm you down, shushing you softly, and just listened to your ranting, until finally he had to cut in. “You can’t go.”

“Why?!”

He hesitated. “Because.”

You scoffed. “Oh, that’s a great answer, Din.”

“Because I have to tell you something.”

He sighed again, letting the heavy breath in and out carry any trepidation he still had away from him, and any courage he could summon into him.

“That knife…. It’s more than just a symbol of my clan.”

“What do you mean, Din?” Your voice was soft, your tears drying as you stared at him in confusion.

He didn’t say anything. He couldn’t. The words were stuck in his throat.

“You say I can’t leave because you have to say something then you say nothing, I don’t-”

As you turned to walk away, he grabbed you softly and pressed your foreheads together, more forcefully than normal.

He took a deep breath. “I’ve been so stupid. I should have told you, and I’m sorry. Technically I told you, but it was in Mando’a and you didn’t understand….”

“What?” Your voice was a deadpan, beginning to connect some dots, and getting lost in others.

He sighed again. “The sigil on a knife, it’s…. It’s a symbol of courting in Mandalorian culture.”

You said nothing. Not because you wanted to, but because nothing would come. Nothing seemed enough.

“Technically the one who gives it is supposed to forge the blade and I kept using that as a loophole to not tell you-”

“Why?” You suddenly found something to say.

He paused. “Because I didn’t know what I would do if you walked away completely.” The two of you just breathed for a moment. You let your eyes fall shut as the soothing sensation of cool beskar against your forehead began to calm your nerves. “I…. I couldn’t take the thought of not having a you to come back to.”

Your eyes flew open, and you reached up to cup his cheeks, looking into his visor through your lashes. “Oh, you stupid, stupid Tin Can, that would never happen.”

“You don’t know that….”

“I know,” you cut him off firmly, using your hands on the sides of his helmet to tilt his forehead more securely into yours.

He took a breath then paused, letting it out on a huff before he finally spoke again. “As long as we’re being honest and everything, polishing the other’s armor is also a symbol of….”

You dropped your jaw and lightly shoved his shoulder, quickly cupping your hand behind his helmet to pull it back to you, and he did the same, his gloved fingers threading through your hair as he did.

“And here I thought you were just being nice.”

“Well, technically I was being really nice,” he teased, both of you laughing softly.

“Oh yeah? I’ll polish your armor,” you teased lowly, laughing when Din began to cough in response.

“Yes,” you said softly after a moment, chuckling when his head tilted just slightly in question. “Yes, I accept, wholeheartedly, whatever. Help me out here, Din.”

“That’s all you needed to say,” he mumbled softly, sounding like he had a broad smile turning up his features. “Gar gotal'u ni bid briikase,” he added even more softly. (“You make me so happy.”)

“Gar nau'u ner oya'cye, Din.” (“You light up my life, Din.”)

A sharp breath through his modulator caught in his chest, his head tilted just slightly against yours, and you smiled.

“Am I dreaming?” He asked, barely above a whisper. “Was I shot earlier and I’m dead right now?” His free hand not in your hair came up to pat down his chest anxiously, looking for a wound, and you laughed, the sound making his movements fade slowly, his hand coming to rest on your cheek.

“No, you utreekov. In the interest of being honest with each other, I may have found a holopad buried in Kuiil’s stuff, and I may have looked up some Mando’a.” His head tilted even further to the side. “But! To be fair,” you’re quick to add, “you were being so annoying and not telling me anything, so I opted for a more peaceful solution than murdering you in your sleep.” (“Idiot.”)

He snorted a laugh. “Good to know.”

You nodded once, smiling. “I thought so.”

“So, then….” He paused. “Do you know what I said on the ship?”

You sucked air in through your teeth. “Unfortunately, there was only so much Mando’a I could find, and that wasn’t part of it. Bits and pieces, yes, but no, I still don’t know entirely what you said.”

“Good,” Din said with a firm nod, chuckling when you gasp at the remark.

“Mir’sheb,” you grumbled. “See, I told you I figured some of it out.” You laughed softly. “I like to think they are the important parts.” (“Smartass.”)

“For now,” Din mused, slowly brushing the apple of your cheek with his thumb. “The important parts for now.”

Xxx

Strapping each body to the back of one of the blurrgs by an ankle, Din dragged them off into the hills after stripping them of their credits, weapons, and fobs.

Handing all three of the trackers to you, you stared at them with disdain, holding them loosely by the antennas between your thumb and index finger.

“What do we do with them?” You asked, eyeing the little tattletales.

“Well, there’s one sure way to get rid of them,” Din mused, hopping off of the blurrg and walking up to you.

“And that would be….?”

Taking one fob he threw it on the ground and smashed it under his heel, sparks shooting out to the side as the inner mechanics broke apart.

Looking up into his visor with a grin, you dropped another on the ground. “Works for me.” Stomping down as hard as you could, you ground your heel into what was left after the sparks subsided. “That felt good.”

Nodding your head toward the waiting blurrg, you lightly pushed his arm. “Go. Get rid of these di’kut chakaar. Get them out of here.” (“Idiotic bastards.”)

“What are you going to do with the last fob?”

You felt your smile turn toward the mischievous side. “Let’s have a campfire tonight.”

Once he had come back from disposing of the bodies, he began to get things set up for the fire. The child ambled around the area where he worked, chasing another frog.

As you made your way over and spotted the little troublemaker, you shook your head, reaching down when he was close enough to try and stop him, but he lunged right as you did, evading your grasp. Once he got back to his feet and tried to scramble away, you reached out with the Force, holding him still until you could reach him.

He squealed in protest, looking around with a sour expression, as he flailed in one place until you scooped him into your arms, holding him tight. “Leave the poor frogs alone.” The child grumbled gibberish at you. “If you eat too many more you might just turn into one.”

Din chuckled as you made your way over to him. “You heard your buir. You need to listen, ad'ika.” (“Mother.”) (“Little one.”)

The sun was beginning to set, painting the world in oranges and pinks, purples and blues, the stars beginning to make their appearance, twinkling through the darkening blanket above.

Turning his head to look at you, Din pointed at the waiting fire pit. “Care to do the honors?”

You grinned up at him. “Don’t mind if I do.”

Aiming your vambrace towards the pit, you flicked your wrist to ignite the flamethrower, only for it to sputter out, barely a spark shooting out of the end. Shaking your arm a little, you tried again, but to no avail.

“You’re already out of fuel?” Din asked incredulously.

“Well, excuse me, mirsh’kyramud, I had someone who wanted me to practice with it a lot over the last week, and I had to use it to save our lives earlier, in case you forgot.” Din just hung his head in response, chuckling softly. “But don’t worry,” you continued, jostling the kid to your other arm as Din turned his visor just slightly to look at you. “I have two of them.” (“Boring person.”)

“Showoff,” he mumbled, mimicking what you had said to him about the same thing on Tatooine.

Extending your arm, you gestured with your wrist again, and sent a wall of flame toward the waiting pit. The wood crackled as it caught fire, hisses and pops filling the silence when you shut it off.

“Nicely done,” Din said, groaning as he sat on the ground.

“Thank you,” you offered quietly, pulling the last fob from your pocket and examining it before tossing it in the flames. “Goodbye.” The little device let off a whistle that increased in pitch until it finally combusted, sparks flying within the little fire pit, and the flames turning bright blue around it as it burned.

Settling onto the ground next to him, you sat the child on your lap, holding onto him as you watched the flames dance. You hadn’t left much space between the two of you to begin with, but Din soon made sure there was none left, scootching over until his side was pressed firmly against yours.

Staring into the fire, your mind began to wander. It must have shown on your face, because Din was soon asking you about it.

“You okay, mesh’la?”

“Kind of. ….I guess,” was all you had to offer. Pondering on it a bit longer, you finally let out a loud huff before starting again. “I just didn’t like going to that dark place again.”

“How do you mean?”

“Right before I- we shot that guy, it’s like I wasn’t myself. It’s like this darkness is always lurking just underneath and comes out at quite possibly the worst times.”

“There’s a Mandalorian proverb. Haatyc or'arue jate'shya ori'sol aru'ike nuhaatyc. It means ‘Better one big enemy that you can see than many small ones that you can't.’”

“Wait, hold on a second. I’m just in shock that you actually told me what a sentence you just said in Mando’a actually means.” Patting down your chest with one hand like he had on himself earlier, you mimicked his words back at him. “Am I dreaming?” Your voice was barely above a whisper. “Was I shot earlier and I’m dead right now?”

Chuckling, he leaned his shoulder into you more heavily, making you fall to the side slightly.

“I’m just saying,” he continued pointedly, “that maybe it’s okay that that’s your problem. You’re aware of it, and you’re trying to fix it, and as far as I can tell, that’s really the only one.”

“Are you saying I’m basically perfect?”

“I’m saying you're pretty kriffing close.”

You bit your lip and looked back into the fire, willing yourself to not do something stupid like tackle him and smoosh your foreheads together just because he said something nice.

The meteor shower had continued throughout the week, painting streaks of light across the sky above you. There was no need for more Mando’a, or any other exchange of words. Relaxing into the warrior beside you, you leaned your head on his shoulder and looked up at the stars. You knit your eyebrows at him when he quickly pushed you off of him, just enough that he could slip his pauldron off before lightly tugging you back into place.

The rest of the night was spent in silence, closeness, and finally peaceful sleep.

You woke with the sun, its bright rays trickling down onto your face as it broke over the hilltop in the distance. Blinking your eyes open, quick to squint them at the incoming light, and holding a hand up to block what you could, you glanced to your side and saw a sleeping Din. You were in the exact same spots as the night before, your head on his shoulder, his on your head, the fire a few feet in front of you now ashes and a thin wisp of smoke curling up into the morning air.

Even though you’d moved when you had woken up, Din stayed asleep, his head tilted to the side at an uncomfortable angle, and soft snores coming out of his modulator, making you smile.

Peeling yourself away from his side slowly so as not to wake him, you finally succeeded after a few stop-starts. Grabbing your scarf off to the side, you wadded it up into a ball and gently tucked it where your head had been on his shoulder as a makeshift pillow.

The kid let out a big yawn, blinking up at you blearily before he crawled up into Din’s lap and curled back up into a ball, fast asleep in seconds.

Ducking into the house, you grabbed a few satchels of tea you had seen along with two cups, heated up some water and grabbed a few ration packs, tossing them all in a basket that sat on Kuiil’s counter to carry out in one trip. As you passed back over the threshold you paused, smiling at the sight in front of you. Din fast asleep with the kid in his lap, the sun just cresting the hill behind them, the Razor Crest standing proudly to the side.

Building the fire back up into something useful, you paused, looking over your shoulder when you heard Din take a deep breath through his nose, the modulator popping with the sound. He looked around, seemingly disoriented for a few seconds, hand coming up to catch the scarf before it fell, visor falling down to look at the kid briefly before landing on you, a slight tilt finishing out the sequence.

“Good morning,” you smiled.

“Good morning,” he rasped, his voice still heavy with sleep. “How long have you been awake?” He reattached his pauldron he’d removed the night before as he looked at you, waiting.

“Not long.” You turned back to the fire, taking the cup of tea you had steeping for him over some coals off the little grate, turning and handing it to him. “Just long enough to make some tea, really.”

He ran a hand over the top of his helmet like he was ruffling his hair, the absent gesture making you chuckle. “The kid’s going to want something to eat, I’ll go-”

Reaching out wordlessly, you handed him a ration packet, tending to the little warm meal you were cooking from your own packet with your other hand.

He hesitated. “Thanks.” Taking the packet, the crinkle of the packaging must have been the child’s alarm clock, because he was suddenly wide awake and reaching expectantly for the snack.

Turning your focus back to your little warm pastry bread thing, or whatever this dehydrated meal was supposed to be, you heard his helmet disengage before he blew on the hot tea to cool it, then took a quiet sip before the mechanism reengaged. Smiling as you stirred the powdery mix, you were suddenly back at the bar, weeks ago when this all started, and even before, turning away from your nameless Mandalorian friend so he could adhere to his creed and you could still enjoy his company over a drink.

Did you think then that you’d ever be here? On another planet with, arguably, your best friend, and a tiny former Jedi, while learning new languages, new skills, amassing a small arsenal along your belt, beskar on your arms, and a mudhorn on your blade?

No, you probably didn’t. In fact, you’d probably have laughed in your face if you had said that a little over a month ago. But now? Now, there was nowhere else you needed to be. Not a place in the galaxy was better than the one you had right here, wherever these two travel companions, their raggedy ship and your travels took you. Nowhere was quite like home.

One of the blurrgs bellowed from their pen, drawing both of your gazes their way.

Din sighed. “I should go feed them. Let them have a few minutes before I open the pen so they can leave.”

Nodding, you pulled your meal from the grate, settling down beside the kid once Din had gotten up. The two of you watched as he spoke to the creatures in a low, soothing voice, reaching out a hand to pet the middle of their large heads. Looking down at the kid, he stared with wide eyes, his hand in the ration pack frozen as his attention was pulled away from eating for once.

You hadn’t gotten to ride the blurrgs outside of the pen but once, you used the time to focus on training, but Din and the kid had gone on a ride at least once a day. They always took off toward the hills with the child giggling loudly, squealing when Din would urge the blurrg to go faster, the sound coming out in little bursts because of the bouncy gait of the creature.

They’d bring you back little ‘treasures’, the child presenting it to you with a proud smile each time. It was usually just a rock, nothing particularly special, but to you it was. One day it was a bug that had shiny iridescent wings. You’d cringed slightly when you accepted it, trying desperately to hide the grimace from the kid, his eyes shining with excitement.

“I tried to tell him not to give you that, but I think that’s why he gave you that,” Din had huffed from atop the blurrg, making you chuckle.

Every single one, aside from the little beetle you had convinced the kid needed to be released and not eaten, sat in the bottom of your bag, ready to continue on your journey with you.

Din came over and sat on his haunches beside you, turning back to face the blurrgs.

“How did you learn to do that?” You asked before popping a bite of food into your mouth.

The kid opened his mouth expectantly, a belated “Eh?” sounding when you didn’t immediately share. Rolling your eyes, you gave him a bite.

He looked at you. “Do what?”

You swallowed your bite before offering the kid another, much to his joy, gesturing toward the pen with a nod of your head. “Handle creatures so easily.” You looked up into his visor. “Your voice is just so soothing, I don’t know. It just seems like you’ve had a lot of practice or something.”

“I do.” He tilted his head. “It’s the same voice I have to use on a very stubborn friend of mine.”

Your face fell into a deadpan. “You better not mean me.”

“Who else?” He teased. “Gar cuyi ori'atin.” (“You are very stubborn.”)

You scoffed before it melted into a disbelieving chuckle. “Am I, now?”

“The most stubborn.” He sounded like he was smiling. “But I’ve come to expect nothing less. It’s part of what makes you you. Makes you vutyc.” (“Special.”)

You grumbled something unintelligible, making him chuckle as you turned your glare on him. “Sheb’urcyin.” (“Kiss ass.”)

“Only for you.”

“Oh, really now?” You chuckled. “Careful, Din. Don’t get cocky. Your ego can’t get any bigger. Ori’buyce, kih’kovid.” (“Big helmet, small head.”)

Din grunted, angling his visor at your face.

You suddenly felt like prey.

“No, Din, don’t,” you warned, handing the kid the rest of your breakfast before scrambling to your feet, taking a few steps back before Din slowly stood to his full height.

“Don’t what, mesh’la?” He began to stalk slowly toward you, each one of his steps as long as two of yours.

“Don’t make me defend myself. You won’t like the outcome.”

“And what would the outcome be?” He stopped, head tilting further as he stared at you.

“Untangling me from my whipcord most likely.”

The two of you stared in silence for a long moment before you both burst out laughing.

You took off running towards him, catching him off guard, dodging his attempt to grab you and running toward the child. “Kid! Help!”

“Eh?” He squeaked, watching you run past with a turn of his head, then doing the same when Din followed shortly after.

“No one can save you now, cyar’ika.”

Both of you were laughing as you ran half heartedly around the blurrg pen, dodging his attempts to catch you and doing your best to trip him up.

Stumbling back towards the fire, you leaned your back up against one of the large poles making up the circumference of the pen, and stared at the ground as you tried to catch your breath. “I yield, I yield! I give up! Din, I-” Looking up, you stopped short with a startled yelp when you found him right in front of you. “Kriffing hell, you startled me!” He didn’t say anything. “Dank farrik, Din!” You swatted at his chest, trying to create more space between you, but it had the opposite effect, and he crowded in closer. You huffed, your voice quiet. “I surrender.”

“Not accepted,” he finally said, holding still for a moment longer as your brows knit at him in confusion, then he surged forward, his fingers digging into your sides mercilessly, ignoring your screech of protest.

Your cries for mercy soon turned into nothing but laughter as he continued to poke at your sides in the spots he knew were the worst.

It felt like forever, but he finally stopped, easing forward the last few inches left between you, his body gently knocking yours back against the pole, and his coming to meet your front.

Trying to catch your breath yet again, it’s stolen from you when his movements stop after his forehead is firmly pressed against yours.

Leaning your head forward slightly, you melt into the embrace, his hands that had been relentlessly prodding your sides now gently smoothed over them, coming to rest on either side of your waist.

Standing in the silence, you simply share the moment, letting it wrap around you and forge memories for another time.

“We need to get going,” Din finally broke the silence, slowly pulling away from you.

“Okay,” you agree, reaching forward and pulling him back into you. Your hands found purchase in his cowl like they always seemed to do, holding him close. “Just…. Just another minute?” Your breath fogged up the T of his visor when you spoke.

“At least,” he mused quietly, making you both chuckle softly.

A while later, Din slowly rolled his helmet back and forth as if shaking his head. “We really need to get going, mesh’la.”

You sighed. “I know.” You focused on your grip on the material around his neck. “I like it here.”

“I do, too.”

“Quiet, simple…. I think Kuiil was onto something.”

Din let out a soft huff. “He probably was.” The following silence was comfortable. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to know him.”

You pulled away just enough to look up into his visor. “I’m glad you did.”

Finally pulling apart from one another, you double checked everything was packed up while Din went with the kid to get the ship ready to go. You did one last glance around the room, turning in a circle to see it all, and stopping when you saw Din leaning in the doorway watching you.

“Ready to go?”

You nodded, glancing around the inside of the house fondly.

“I’ll open the pen on our way back to the ship. They’ll find their own way out.” He held out his hand to take the bag you were carrying, pulling it over his shoulders before turning to leave the space. He paused after a few steps, looking over his shoulder at you. “Coming?”

You nodded again, not trusting your voice very far with the catch in your throat you were currently trying to swallow down. Walking out of the small home, Din let you walk past him before he fell in step with you on the way to the pen.

He propped the gates open, gave the blurrgs one more slow pet on the head each, then you both were on your way back to the ship, walking up the ramp feeling foreign after so long on solid ground.

After settling in the cockpit, you watched Kuiil’s little homestead disappearing as the ship rose higher and higher. “Thank you, Kuiil,” you whispered. “I had a lovely time.”

The little house was almost too small to be seen when Din spoke. “He would always say, ‘I have spoken’. It was his answer to everything. You couldn’t argue with it. No matter how small or large a matter was, that was the end of the discussion.” He chuckled fondly.

“When you’re as wise as he was, you're allowed to.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

The cabin was silent until the Crest slipped into hyperspace, the mesmerizing streaks never failing to amaze you.

“Din?”

“Yeah?” He turned his pilot’s chair to face you, glancing over to the kid fast asleep in his seat to your right before he looked back at you.

“I’ve been thinking, and-”

“Uh-oh.”

“Every time!” You raised your eyebrows at him as you scoffed. “I do have good ideas, you know. It has been known to happen.”

“I’m sorry, I just hear you say that, and my mind automatically flashes to you hurling a flaming bottle of alcohol in a dim alley saying ‘oops’, and I go to a whole different place.”

Your jaw snapped shut. “Fine. Never mind.” You turned to stare out the viewport, arms coming up to cross over your chest.

“I’m sorry, mesh’la. What have you been thinking?”

You sighed, rolling your head to look at him. “My blaster doesn’t have a mudhorn yet.”

There was a beat where Din didn’t move or make a sound, he just sat frozen in his seat, and you smirked smugly at his reaction.

“Are you….” His voice died off, his head cocking at an angle in a jerky motion. “Are you saying you want my aliik, my sigil on your blaster?”

“Do you want it on my-”

“Of course I do, don’t be a smartass.”

“Only for you,” you smirked, taking your blaster off your belt and putting it in his waiting palm.

He took it delicately, looking down at it like you had the rocks the child had given you.

Like he was holding something precious. A treasure. And in a way, it kind of was.

A sigil is symbol of clan, of family. Something sacred to Mandalorian culture.

But somewhere along the way, it became sacred to you, too. Somewhere along the way this giant shiny man and his tiny green son had gotten under your skin, into your veins, and became part of your reason for living, the very essence of what kept you going, circulating your system day after day. With adventure, with companionship, with a home.

Xxx

Tags: @ren-ni, @hoodedbirdie, @rennalouise, @kurlyfrasier, @what-the-heckin-heck, @deceiverofgodss, @Littleshadow17, @nghtwngs, @yourcoolauntie, @queenmalhinewahine, @lam-ila, @jesseeka, @come-hell-or-eldren-fire, @creativeautistic, @lemonsandraspberries, @heyitsaloy, @987coley, @marvel-sw-lover, @just-shut-up-kid, @1800-get-alife, @multifandomsw, @oliviajdjarin​, @eeopxlt​, @tomskookie​, @venusacrossthestars​, @sanscas​, @veralii​, @a-rose-of-amber​, @i-own-loki​, @lil-writer-523​, @starry-supernova​, @qweenrogerina​, @darkenwolfie​, @mischiefnevermanaged94, @tragerlover​ What’s This?

[nights-nonsensical-ramblings]

okay so I watched the knuckles series (by following the example of the pirates of course ) and I have to say while it was a very enjoyable watch, I have no clue what I watched and I’m mostly confused and have come away feeling mostly neutral. I don’t hate it, but it hasn’t dug its hooks in like other sonic things have for me.

Like some bits I very much enjoyed watching and would happily see again and others I couldn’t stand and dread the idea of watching again.

there were plenty of moments where Knuckles went against what I adore about him, and others that perfectly capture what I adore about him. Boy was so adorable though. Loved lots of the expressions he made.

okay I’m gonna get a bit more specific from here and cuz I got no clue what’s going on with the tagging and it gets long I’ll put it under a cut.

So it’s kinda hard for me to remember what happened, but I will say I love wades mother, she was amazing, loved her and Knuckles’ dynamic and would welcome it if she appeared again. (Also, new headcanon unlocked that knuckles is such a mamas boy he’s a magnet for motherly figures)

I really am not a fan of his sister Wanda tho. The childish sibling banter did entertain me at first (and made me think that knuckles was going to reflect on his relationship with his brothers) but it went on too long and just made Wanda feel like she never matured past being a bratty teenager. (And judging by what I’ve seen I think she’s gonna be on ‘top _ worst sonic characters’ lists for a while)

my opinion on Wade himself hasn’t really changed. I have no strong feelings towards the guy

We didn’t get as much as I wanted, but I loved the Wachowski family stuff. I needed so much more of knuckles being the trouble kid and the family trying to help.

It’s pretty annoying that the start of the show set up Knuckles learning to chill, be a kid on earth and settle in with his new family. Only to drop it basically immediately and the closest thing it has to a resolution is Knuckles finding his jam.

and yeah, I could see plenty of moments where they had the perfect opportunity to explore knuckles on a deeper level but chose not to. But I am glad they at least hinted at it with those expressions I keep raving about

On that. Cuz Pachacamacs appearance was what springboreded what was going on in a different direction. What is going on here? Is this a Knuckles thing? But Wade speaks to him to, but that was under knuckles’ guidance? I think? So can anyone in this world talk to spirits? Can only certain people be spirits? I mean. One Knuckles got over the initial shock he accepted the fact he was talking to a dead tribe member (I’m also sad that nothing was done with the idea that in this universe Knuckles and Pachacamac were alive at the same time) I got so many more questions on how spirits work in here, but I’m just gonna move on. (Although, maybe this sets up knuckles speaking to Tikal 👀. Or maybe his dad or even his mum.)

But considering what Pachacamac’s role is in the games making him so comedicly focused felt weird. Yeah this universe has different events. But still feels weird cuz of how we know Pachacamac.

I don’t even know what to say about the whole fire powers fire demon (who’s heavily implied to be iblis) I need way more time to think what is going on. Like does any of the pre existing lore apply? If so those are some WILD implications. If not, did that mean they just made this guy like iblis cuz it’s a fire creature that fans will recognize??

A minor thing but I can’t hear our house without thinking of the chemist warehouse add. And a few of the other songs are strongly associated with other things and I couldn’t help but think of them when they played. I don’t see this as a good or bad thing. It is just a thing.

hmm. I had more thoughts but after that ghost tangent I can’t really remember them. I guess I’ll have to come back later with another post if I get them back.

So, for now my closing thoughts are: it’s not a terrible show. Lots of writing choices I disagree with, but I don’t nessicaily think they’re bad. And there’s definitely enjoyment to be found (more if you watch it with some friends) but it’s not really to my taste. Especially with how much irs advertise as about knuckles and then not. Some moments made me very happy some made me want to nope out some I don’t even know.

congratulations to Wade fans, I’m gonna find what bits I wanna cherry pick and I’ll be on my merry way.

[lunicho]

600 YIPPEEE!!!! Bunny 600 party I’ll bring cookies !!! You deserve all the love 🥺❤️❤️

Thank you for lowkey keeping Lunétumblr alive🫡 I know you don’t write big stuff a lot but all of the drabbles and even agreeing with anon thoughts means a lot to me and I’m sure it means a lot to other Lunés too 🥺

Wishing the best for u as a person and for the blog too 🙏🙏 if things ever get slow don’t worry there’s no rush we’ll always be here 🫡❤️

Would you be ok sharing the story behind how/why u started stanning all the groups you do? Like how you got into BND,RIIZE, etc? Some Bunny lore would be cute 😋

-😵‍💫

600 PARTY LETS GO!!! tysm pookie, you've been here supporting the blog soso much and it means the world to me. i look forward to seeing u around on my blog all the time. i love u so so much!! also what kind of cookies are you bringing!! :o ALSO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG I TALK SO FUCKING MUCH 😭

i'm so glad im able to contribute to lunéblr, i genuinely have had so so much fun with all of the teamies anons on here like u guys are hilarious 😭 u guys are also so so consistent here and it means soo much to me seriously <3

i'm wishing the best for you as well, i hope that whatever you decide to do in this world goes well and i hope life treats u well always!

BUNNY LORE!! i love talking so yes, i stan like 89 million groups so i'll do the ones i write for and then u can ask abt other groups i didn't mention if you're curious! also prewarning that literally every group i stan started with me trying not to stan them LMAODGSJ

bnd - i didn't stan them when they first debuted cuz for some reason i always try to stop stanning groups knowing im an addict smh. i also like to give groups a bit to Marinate before i stan so i held off! then in like august last year i started getting funnextdoor tik toks abt leehan and his fishtank and i decided i wanted to watch it for funsies cuz leehan was sooo pretty and so cute so i was curious and uh... yeah that was my first mistake 😭 i full on thought leehan was gonna be my bias but then taesan walked in and snatched me up and bnd is just so addictive i just had to stan. i stuck with bnd because they genuinely make me so happy, they're so fun and they remind me of all the best things about kpop, like i just love them so bad 😖😖 but i officially started stanning them the week after but sometimes came out cuz that song had me hooked 😭 omg i just remembered that their videos kept coming up on my youtube too like the universe was trying to get me to stan since like july 😭

riize - i didn't even attempt to not stan them actually 😭 sungtaro were my nct biases when they debuted so i really really wanted to support them on their new endeavors so i already had plans to at least become acquainted with riize but siren had me MOVINGGGGG 😭😭😭 like i haddd to get in on that like i was Hooked. i couldn't even give them the time to marinate cuz of sungtaro so i just hopped right in 😞 and then my sister started biasing wonbin QUICK and i started biasing anton for like a week and then seunghan collected me 😖 and riize gives me heavy nostalgia so like idk i just love them a lot

&team - i've been supporting them since debut bc enha are one of my ults and ive been familiar with kei since then (i didn't watch iland i just knew abt kei and was familiar with some of the other boys names) and i was so obsessed with under the skin but i didn't end up fully stanning them for a while. i started to learn their names just so i'd know who they were when i see them around and things like that. i didn't start to stan them more until like july last year when i watched more of their content and then i fell off again until like october i think and they quickly became one of my top groups cuz they're so fun idk

zb1 - um i fully wasn't supposed to stan cuz wanna one and jbj disbanding hurted bad enough but while bp was going on i kept seeing clips and THEY HAD ME ROLLINGGG 😭😭 but i was having self restraint ☝🏾🤨 but then sol (adoresol go follow her and send her asks) she told me to watch zb1 content on july 12th 2023 ☝🏾😌 im able to see it in our ig messages LMAODGSJ but i started watching them and learning their names that day, i even told her i liked jiwoong 😖 but yeah then they stuck after that day cuz they make me laugh and they're so fun idk

[marthawrites]

It's that time again 😁 Here's what I read during May! Thoughts below the cut!

Lone Women: This book was so refreshingly different! Wow! Set in 1915, the story follows our main character, Adelaide Henry, as she moves to Montana to try to make a fresh start (all by herself) on a homestead. She has a trunk with her the whole time and that's where the horror is. This story has monstrous humans, a haunting past, and a brighter future ahead. Historical fiction, women fiction, horror, this story was super interesting and had me hooked throughout!

1984: This is another "classic" book that I never read during middle or high school. It's been on my TBR list forever!! So glad I finally made the time for it. It was extremely creepy, unsettling, and horrific. The end had me both screaming with rage and laying in the rain crying. AGH. It's so hard to believe this was wrote in 1949! It hits a little too close to home on multiple occasions and... wow. Just, holy shit. Incredibly disturbing

Make A Scene: I keep an eye on the audible daily deals and bought this one for $1. It was a cute and entertaining read! It wasn't anything deep, or crazy, or thought provoking haha, but it was entertaining and sometimes I just love those kinds of stories so much!

The Serpent and the Wings of Night: Book one of the "Crown of Nyaxia" series. A mouthful of a title, I know! But dudes hooooly shit!!! I am OBSESSED with this book! I loved it so so so much and have NO idea why it doesn't get talked about as much as other books. I love the lore. It has brutal vampires, badass women, terrifying Goddess' (Nyaxia? Helloooo she's so scary and awesome!), and an epic story of all of them combined. HIGHLY recommend! Oraya is such a great character with layers of complexity, and Raihn is AHHH, I love him

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King: This is the second part of the "Crown of Nyaxia". I loved it as much as the first! Book 3 when!?! I can't flippin wait to read more!

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror: This is a standalone book in the Crown of Nyaxia universe. With how much I loved the other two I knew I'd like this one also. I ate it up just as quickly! Again, there's brutal vampires, badass women, and you learn more lore about different parts of the world, Goddess', and characters. I'm invested in this world and will be reading any and everything the author puts out for it!!

-

Overall it was a great month of books and I recommend all of these!!

I've officially read 24 books so far this year and for me that's AWESOME. Loving it!

[basedkikuenjoyer]

If Only There Were a Word to Describe the Enormity

Big doesn't quite cut it. So things went a different route, but walking a line along what our less recent arrivals did. This is a big, huge (no that isn't it) chapter for the Nika mythos. Sets the stage for a divine presence to cap off the end of another's story. I definitely feel that vibe with Bonney's role in all this, what a turning point and one that definitely reminds me a lot of little Otama. We've been here before with trying to predict Egghead. Opting for repetition of core themes, doubling down on what we had and making it bigger in scope over moving towards resolution. Interesting crossroads. This could swiftly turn towards that surface-level resolution but honestly I wouldn't be surprised at this point if we spin our wheels for a little more then go into that third cutaway, ending up with an arc around WCI-length.

The hook is an idea we're familiar with. Keep your eye on Luffy. Never see his eyes, how he just kinda leaps back in leaving this little gap about being fed and ending up downstairs unresolved. Mostly though, he's full-blown teeheemaxxing in a dire moment. Which is on brand for Nika but our whole idea is there's an undertone based on the notion the drawback to G5 is losing control. It all goes back to that observation our finale could be constructed a little more like a YuYu Hakusho type series than other shonen; you've gotten your ultimate power a little early because our ending will be more about learning to control it.

Oh hey, these guys. Seriously...nice. The Giants are very important to my fandom. Y'all know how much I love Miss Goldenweek and by extension Little Garden. Oimo & Kashi are where I caught up the first time. I remember being about two weeks away from starting freshman year of high school at the tail end of a summer binging the hell out of so many anime thanks to this newfangled DSL high speed internet. The way that came up again blew my mind, and seeing Dorry & Brogy almost twenty years later is so damn cool it makes me forget all about the not being the Grand Fleet aspect.

I mean, that was always just a specific and early guess. They still have sprinkled into these cutaway segments though. This pair just saw the paper and hurried over. Maybe they were expecting Luffy to head to Elbaf next after his time in Wano? Which is a very interesting concept when we've talked about Egghead being a somewhat "lateral" move with no clear goal set to advance our main progress through the Grand Line.

It's also pretty interesting to blend two long-running threads through this Nika lore. How do Bonney/Kuma & the giants intersect? Does it reinforce the need to pop the mystique of the spectacle? Does Luffy jump from one legendary story to another? The Fleet was the way to end it here. The giants tease it out more. At least as long as Shanks isn't following. But there's one last little element that makes me interested in the undertone like always, as we started off pointing out how that's still very much an element if you watch for it:

Robonosuke! Interesting how he's finally coming back around. It does look like he's reacting to the heartbeat but I'd point out we did let most of the chapter roll before showing this when Luffy went G5 at the start. The idea was always asking if that's a potential blip of something weird. The kicker with the Giants to me is how Dorry and Brogy seem to both be coming for Luffy and for the Sun God. We'll talk a lot more about them tomorrow and especially a titanic (oooh, yeah that's the stuff) wrinkle all around our beloved Strawhat Sniper Usopp I feel silly for not thinking of already. It's justified through what we learn of Elbaf in the Big Mom flashback.

Oddly enough, gets me right back to where I felt about Bonney right around the time this arc started. Remember? We're puzzled about Kiku's odd ending to Wano and all of a sudden Bonney picks up those threads in a big way. Now moving into more of that alternate protag space a lot like Yamato. Never forget, we know there was a rewrite behind that hiatus for a reason. So now...even if it's not the Fleet I can't help but notice how Dorry and Brogy specifically amplify the same ideas.

Either way, Robonosuke is coming online. We still have a little weirdness in the gaps. I'm curious as hell were it's all leading so bring on the big bois.