#mentioned death watch manifesto

[mrfandomwars]

Fans: True Mandalorians and Death Watch hate the New Mandalorians! It says here in the Death Watch Manifesto!

A Literal Fact File: Actually, they got along reasonably well. They were content to let each other exist in their own spaces, the True Mandalorians going off and being nomad bounty hunters and keeping the warrior traditions alive while the New Mandalorians rebuild the Mandalorian Sector.

Fans: Lalalala! I can't hear you!

[mariocki]

Fat Man on a Beach (HTV, 1974)

"I'm going to read some more poems now. Erm. It may be that if you want to go and have a cup of tea, this would be a good time. I know that's what you masses are like. The mention of poetry and off you go."

[akajustmerry]

do you have a top 5 richonne moments?

hell YEA. 💕

In Alexandria when they first get there and rick has one of his classic covered in blood madman monologues and she comes up behind him and knocks him tf out mid sentence and later, he's basically like thank you for not letting me lose my mind <3 it's hot because 1) rick is so hot when he's in maniac mode 2) michonne is so hot when she steals scenes and 3) you know if anyone else did that to him he would NOT have thanked them lol. true LOVE. (I also love this scene cos the first time I watched it was with my then bestie and he was like "rick got MICH-OWNED" and we laughed for ages)

would be remiss not to mention that moment in season 3ish (???) when michonne tries to cheer rick up by letting him know she too also used to talk to her dead ex so she's not bothered by him seeing things and rick smiles for pretty much the first and only time that season hehehe.

it's not really a richonne moment in that way, but danai and Andrew's performances while Carl is dying are so good. like there's a lot of stuff in twd that's forgettable but not that. All the love that's there between the 3 of them in that scene is so guttwrenching and there's the added element of how the cast knew the death was for such bullshit reasons idk. for a death that was so unscrupulous, their performances made it mean something so full of love.

on a lighter note, that bit in I don't rmr what season when rick is gonna head off to do something insane about the junk people or the saviours or whatever and michonne kisses him Like That™ sksksksnsnsndn it's not just because I love them and they love each other so much but also that I'm bi and wanna be them both so badly I could chew on titanium bricks. like that's what mitski is singing about when she's like, "give me one good movie kiss and I'll be alright"

honestly, a lot of people talk about horny and cute they are in say yes and amen 🫡 BUT since that episode is also the richonne thesis statement and manifesto the combat scenes are also SO GOOD. like, richonne isn't just a hot couple madly in love, they are an undefeatable combat duo. even before they were together when they go on their first runs and fight off the governor and terminus etc, they're so (I'm sorry I have no other phrase) drift compatible. they don't even need to speak most of the time they just know what to anticipate from each other. the way rick and michonne fight as such a seemless team with so much trust. unparalleled. genuinely, hope I know a love like that someday (minus undead shit).

this doesn't count because it's just a danai/Andrew moment but that episode in season 8ish when rick's imagining life growing old in Alexandria with michonne? anyway, I think it was in talking dead or something and danai and andrew were being asked about how the make up department aged them and andrew is like, "it was so RUDE. I had to spend hours getting all this old man make up and then I walk on set and all they've done is give danai grey hair!" and she's just like, "well, Black don't crack, baby" they're so funny 🥹

[cienie-isengardu]

I have already complained about the lack of sources and character development for Jaster Mereel, the supposed important figure in Mandalorian modern history. At the same time, I’m genuinely fascinated by how he was seen by Dooku, Jango Fett and Tor Vizsla. Which is not really that they have some drastically different opinions that exclude each other but rather what those characters identify with Jaster.

Let’s start with Count Dooku. The man did a great research about Jango Fett’s past before he hired the Mandalorian to become a DNA donor for the clone army. As he said to Darth Sidious, Dooku "interrogated a number of his former associates"

So, obviously, Dooku's opinion is by no means objective, literally colored by what he learned from Jaster/Jango’s allies and followers. Surprisingly there is no mention about honor that tie-in materials like to bring in regard to Jaster Mereel even though this should be the logical conclusion as the difference between True Mandalorians and barbaric Death Watch. For Dooku alone, Jaster Mereel was “reformed murderer” who "held that the Mandalorians were merely highly-paid soldiers" [JF:OS#1]

Then we have Jango who knew Jaster personally, saw him as family and held in great respect. Whale reading the Death Watch Manifesto that at some point he had in his possession, Fett wrote this:

These are lies. Jaster sought true honor, not the right to ignore laws and moral codes. Vizsla's Death Watch was nothing but a license for murder [Jango]

Jaster was an important person for Jango - so much he wanted his unalerted clone to carry on Mereel’s legacy and without doubt Jango idealized the man.

At the same time, Jango’s opinion doesn’t exactly tell us what kind of person Jaster was, more what was his goal and what he represents for Fett and other True Mandalorians.

And then we have Tor Vizsla and look, the Manifesto was written years after Jaster’s death and some time after the destruction of the True Mandalorians on Galidraan. Tor could write anything, literally any lie and slander that comes to his mind, because there were not many people around anymore who knew Jaster and even if they were remains of True Mandalorians, the book wasn’t intended to fall into their hands anyway. And what of all possible things Tor identified with Jaster? Passion.

And yes, this is very subjective point of view and opinion about Jaster - albeit I would argue Tor’s words aren’t detached from reality that much because it easily ties up with Dooku’s statement “merely high-paid soldiers” and let's be real here, no matter how much Jango or other True Mandalorians (sources) will bring honor into discussion, honor itself is not synonymous with being morally right. But I’m gonna leave mandalorian morality for another time. 

I’m furious that Tor didn't elaborate what Jaster was so passionate about - the order and laws? Work ethics? Religion? - that he couldn’t contain passions in himself and tried to “eliminate them in everyone else”. At the same time it amazes me, because this short paragraph may imply that Tor knew Jaster from a different, maybe much more personal side. And I won’t lie, Jaster being a passionate man speaks to me, an introvert, on a very specific level (as in: not showing that side to every person around you), especially since he doesn’t appear like that in comics? For the little we could observe him through two issues, he was rather cool-headed and down to earth type of person? Being sympathetic to Jango and showing anger only once, at Montross (whom he still personally rescued despite Montross openly disobeying his orders). Passion is not something I would call comics!Mereel and in a way Tor’s words, for me, brings more humanity to Jaster than Dooku’s understanding and Jango’s glorification did.

This does not mean that Jango didn’t know Mereel well but Fett understandably idolized his mentor, especially since he was still pretty young (~14) when Jaster died and this “nostalgia” definitely affected how he remembered Mereel in his adult life. In a way I feel Jango’s opinion is for what Mereel strived (virtues) while Tor’s present humanity (flaws).

And let's not forget the History of the Mandalorians - the supposedly objective article - describes Jaster Mereel as a “deeply pious human”.

The oxford and cambridge online dictionaries say pious means “deeply religious” what I find very intrigued yet another overlooked detail. And hey, a person wouldn't fight tooth-and-nail to become reigning Mandalore without being passionate and devoted to his ideals, right? So I like to think that Jango and Tor opinions about Jaster don't contradict each other but simply present Mereel from different angles that add more depth to his otherwise not exploited character.

[persimminwrites]

thinking about the portrayal of grief in andor

thinking about cassian traveling to morlana one to search for his sister. his determination to find her even though deep down (i believe) he knows it's futile. even though he knows it's reckless to mention kenari and his connection to it. there's a dogged insistence to continue looking for her - a desperation to his actions that he may not be fully aware of because it would be so much harder to come to terms with her death than it is to put himself in danger.

thinking about a young Cassian getting on that crashed ship after one of his people is killed. his anger and frustration and grief spilling out as he begins destroying the thing that brought death to his life. he's confused and distraught and he lashes out physically.

thinking about bix chained to a wall as she's forced to stare at timm's body, unable to go to him - to hold him, forced to be at a distance from him, forced to grieve for him at the tail end of being angry with him for his actions.

thinking about cassian choosing 'clem' as his cover name when he joins the aldhani mission. he picks it on instinct even though he knows that a cover name isn't supposed to have a connection to your personal life. he can't help but reach for the comfort of his father's name when pushed into an uncertain situation.

thinking about lieutenant gorn aiding the rebel alliance. an imperial officer whose love was killed by the empire that he serves. he grieves his love and he grieves for the aldhani people. he carries the weight of his own past actions that played a part in the tragedies that have befallen the aldhani people and he becomes vengeful, knowing and not caring that his actions will likely lead to his death. he only cares about hurting the empire on his way down.

thinking about vel shouting a broken 'no' when taramyn dies in front of her. she never gets to go to him and is forced to leave his body there to finish the mission. she has to harden herself to the loss of the people around her because everyone is always at risk of dying. vel is always grieving. she grieves for her friends even when they are still alive and standing in front of her because she knows that death isn't a matter of if but when.

thinking about cassian and vel watching nemik be crushed by the weight of imperial credits they just stole. vel is forced to decide between the surety of mission success and potentially saving nemik - sweet, wonderful nemik who has more hope and faith than anyone else. Cassian making the decision for her to find the doctor because he told nemik he would sleep when it was over but not like this.

thinking about cassian sitting outside while the doctor tries to save nemik, unable to be at his side, to watch, but unwilling to abandon him even though the job is over.

thinking about vel staying by nemik's side until his death, being forced to listen to and carry his dying wish. her insistence in carrying it out. she holds out his manifesto to cassian and won't back down until he takes it even when there are other concerning things going on.

thinking about cassian immediately refusing nemik's manifesto. he doesn't want a reminder. he does not want to carry the weight of someone's dying wish with him, someone who was so bright and full of life and hope in the short time that he knew him. when vel insists, he takes it. and we see him carry it with him for the rest of the show. he carries that manifesto even when he runs away, seeking an escape. he returns for that manifesto after escaping prison. he listens to that manifesto the night before breaking bix out and it gives him purpose. it gives him comfort. it reminds him of a man who he only knew for a short time but who impacted him deeply. and even though cassian does not carry the physical manifesto again, he carries nemik's words with him for the rest of his life.

thinking about cassian returning to ferrix, his home, and being reminded of clem's death as he walks through the streets avoiding imperial troopers. he is helpless against the onslaught of memories just as he was helpless to do anything but watch all those years ago.

thinking about maarva being unable to walk through the main square where clem was hung. she walks the long way around. until aldhani. aldhani gives her hope and she is able to walk somewhere she wasn't able to before and she is able to face that street and think of clem and she is able to smile.

thinking about all of the prisoners on narkina 5. they are forced to come to terms with the fact that they're already dead, dead men walking. they grieve for themselves. they grieve for those around them. they are pushed to desperation, and they turn that grief into defiance. they fight for their freedom because there is only one way out and they're already dead so what does it hurt to fight to live.

thinking about cassian learning about maarva's death. he is quiet. he is unmoored. he was coming back for her.

thinking about B2EMO not wanting to be alone. he just wants maarva.

thinking about ferrix's funeral traditions, about a community surrounded by grief. it's in the walls that house them. the people of ferrix are surrounded by the dead and their memories become their strength.

thinking about the portrayal of grief in andor and how it shows so many reactions and coping mechanisms and journeys of healing and acceptance along with those who can't find acceptance.

grief is a weight and andor shows us that there are so many ways to carry it.

[killsandthrills]

✨ my last minute andor predictions ✨

everyone descends on ferrix except for saw, kleya, and mon

maarva and her funeral are the catalyst for the riot on ferrix somehow

maarva’s left a message for cassian

someone will secretly enter/leave through the tunnel under the hotel

bix lied about who axis is

bix gets rescued

anto kreeygr and his crew die

none of the main characters (luthen, dedra, syril, bix, kleya, vel, or cinta) die… cassian, mon, and saw are obviously safe

cassian and syril have a confrontation that ends more or less the same way ep 3 did… one of them lets the other go and there’s consequences for their choice (it’s all about the circular narrative, y’all!)

cassian finally reads nemik’s manifesto

kleya uses her go pack because someone has traced luthen’s fondor back to the shop

corv recognizes syril on ferrix

partagaz’s warning to dedra to “watch your back” comes back to haunt her

syril recognizes luthen’s voice

neither vel nor cinta try to kill cassian, instead they help the rebels with the riot… cinta kills a stormtrooper

mon agrees to davo’s deal and leida is betrothed to be married… perrin is possibly upset, leida is most likely thrilled, and mon gets her money

we will get a flashback… either having to do with luthen or cassian’s missing sister

one of the characters will mention the word “climb”

it’s revealed that cassian & co. were building parts for the death star

[medusasbush]

read in march 2023

articles (ones behind a paywall are linked through webpage archive):

articles

Reverse boundaries How good are we at respecting when someone else says 'no'?

"Slow Pleasure" in a Fast World

Should People Be Allowed to Like Things? Are we discoursing ourselves to death?

The Divine Delusion of Gender: On "Energy" and the TikTokification of Spirituality

Spiritual misogyny is flourishing on TikTok

How ‘Poker Face’s’ Stop-Motion Animation Episode Was Brought to Life

Are there too many sex scenes in movies?

Man Says BetterHelp Referred Him to Conversion Therapy Supporter

Who's Afraid of Mark Rothko?

When Everything Becomes an Event

Meet the Lipsdick: A Dick Shaped Lipstick

How Do We Define the Female Gaze in 2018?

Do Words Mean Anything Anymore?

It’s Been Over Two Decades Since We’ve Had a Non-White Best Actress Winner. Will That Change in 2023?

I'm Coming Clean about Friend Envy & You Should Too

A Friend Doesn't Have to be "Toxic" to be Bad for You

Does Anyone Mend Clothes Anymore?

The Moral Case Against Equity Language

Inspiration Is Everywhere. Literally: The "We're Not Really Strangers"-ification of social media.

Men Are Lonely. But Women Are Being Attacked: Male Loneliness is Not Women's Problem to Solve

Romance isn't Just for Dating

What is Romantic Friendship?

The Case of the Missing Perpetrator: On Mysterious Pregnancies, the Passive Voice, and Disappearing Men

Dingus of the Week: Women’s History Month

Friends and mentees remember Judy Heumann, mother of the disability rights movement

The Language of Place

One of Walgreens biggest stockholders commissioned Fearless Girl

Fine I'll admit it. I Like Titanic.

A Plan Forms in Mexico: Help Americans Get Abortions

Can Nostalgia Be Sinister?

The Stay-At-Home Girlfriend Phenomenon

A Conversation With Stay-At-Home Girlfriend & Content Creator Kendel Kay

The Soft Boy Brigade: Was He “Written By a Woman” or Is He Just Wearing Nail Polish?

The Scientific Reason You Love Watching Reruns

Take Some Pills for Your Hysteria, Lady: America's Long History of Drugging Women Up

Everybody’s a Critic. So Stop Hating Critics.

A League of Their Own Is The First Great Gay Movie-to-TV Reboot

The Bear: At Last, A Chicago Show For People Who Are Not From Chicago And Have Never Stepped Foot There

the science of giving pain

i bet she has a nice scream: in praise of X, the new novel by Davey Davis

the persistent desire: on erotic identification

leatherdyke gender technology

‘The Last of Us’ Finale: First-Person Shooter

The ‘Last of Us’ Finale Is Just as Ambiguous and Agonizing as the Game’s Indelible Ending

What Exactly Is the Point of ‘The Last of Us’?

Do We Need Another ‘Love Letter to Cinema’?

Everyone needs to grow up: Whether it’s people who mention their Hogwarts house on their Hinge profile or literal white supremacists, culture is awash with adult babies

Instagram Store Core: A Manifesto Against Avant-Basic Home Design

Who Gets Care and Who Gets to Die?

Shoppers say secondhand stores like Goodwill are getting too expensive as Gen Z makes thrifting cool

Where Does Discarded Clothing Go?

How ‘travel aesthetics’ are ruining travel for everyone

Why is everyone so obsessed with frontal lobe development?

the sinking pleasure of a bath

Love, Sex, and Disabled Women: we want to be sexy too.

“Nope” Perfectly Encapsulates My Disappointment with the Biden Administration

What really killed Jane Austen?

On (Not) Discovering Disability in the World of Jane Austen: Disabled characters are present in Austen’s novels, but largely invisible in her cinematic remakes

Nathan Lane: Robin Williams ‘Protected Me’ From Coming Out as Gay on ‘Oprah’ in 1996 Because ‘He Was a Saint’

'The Last of Us’ finale isn’t controversial, it’s correct

The Oscars are beyond repair. Let’s make something better.

The House That Mr. Mayer Built: Inside the Union-Busting Birth of the Academy Awards

‘A League of Their Own’ is based on the 1992 movie, but has an identity all its own

Black Southern food isn’t killing us:The ‘plate’ is not the real problem

In the history of hip-hop fashion, there’s no ignoring Lil’ Kim

The next first ladies of rap

books:

Wear, Repair, Repurpose: A Maker's Guide to Mending & Upcycling Clothes by Lily Fulop

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

Identity: Part Two

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~1.5k

Warnings: canon violence, canon language, canon talk of death, methods of kill

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Criminal Minds. All credit goes to their respective owners. If there is any warnings that exceed the normal death/kills from the show, I will list them. If you’ve seen the show, then it’s the same level of angst unless otherwise stated

"An earthly kingdom cannot exist without the inequality of persons," Francis says on one of his videos. You already sent them to Penelope, and you're watching them at the station with the others. "Martin Luther understood the weak will always serve the strong. Like me. He had dreams and ideas."

Francis is sitting on a chair while talking to the camera, but he's sitting in the chair as if he's better than everyone else.

"It's funny, he uses the chair like it's a throne, and he's framing himself intentionally with a low angle to give him power and dominance in the frame," Spencer points out.

"In feudal times, the lord lived on high ground to spot the invader," Francis continues. "He had serfs to serve his kingdom. The lord never had to leave his castle. The serfs would bring him everything. They were the appendages of his will."

"There are eleven more tapes of this?" Emily asks in shock.

"It's his manifesto."

"First, I will build a compound, a kingdom. Second, I will arm, protect and fortify my kingdom. Third, I will keep women as serfs to serve my every need. This is my right. As a man with free will in America, I will make my kingdom a reality."

"Hey, he talks about keeping women to serve him. It's possible all these women are still alive."

"I don't think so, Emily," you say quietly.

"Excuse me. Goehring's wife is here."

"Excuse me."

You get up and follow JJ out to Diane who clearly doesn't want to be here. Everyone voted that you talk to her, and you give her a gentle smile as you take a seat next to her.

"Thank you for coming to speak with us, Mrs. Goehring."

"Did I have a choice?" she says, clearly uncomfortable.

"Everyone has a choice, Diane, but we'd really appreciate your help."

"If I don't have to be here, goodbye."

She moves to get up, but you quickly remove a picture of her and Francis that must have been taken at the beginning of their relationship.

"Is this you?"

"Where did you get this?" she gasps softly and grabs the picture gently.

Instead of answering her questions, you lay out the pictures of the missing women, noticing that they all look like her.

"Have you seen any of these women before?"

"Today on the news," she sighs.

"We believe all these women share one thing in common... they all look like you. That's what we like to call a pattern or a type. You and these women are Francis' type. When did you last see your husband?"

"I... I haven't seen him since we threw him out. The militia, I mean. What he did to me... when they found out... they threw him out."

You look to your right and up at Rossi without saying a word.

"Listen to me, Diane. Francis killed himself the other day after being caught driving this woman's car," you point to Angela's picture. "Is there anywhere you can think of that he might have taken these women?"

Diane opens her mouth and closes it a few times like a fish. She clearly knows something, and it's your job to help her get there.

"Diane, I need you to think really hard on this one. The things he did to you, he did to these women. The only difference is, that they didn't have the militia to protect them. We got a hold of Francis' tapes and he mentioned something about a place with nine acres. Do you know what he's talking about?"

"My parent's land," she says immediately when she recognizes what you're saying. "He made me give it to him when they died."

"Where is it?"

Spencer walks over with the map he drew, and with one look at it, Diane points out the plot of land.

"I know it's hard to live with the things he's put you through, but you really helped us today. Thank you so much. You're free to go home." She is already out of her seat before you can finish your last sentence. "Let's hope they're there."

Your team drops everything to go out to this plot of land. Everyone went with shovels in case they needed to dig up spots, and you have a feeling you'll be needing them very soon. As soon as you step out of the car, you know that the women are all here, but they aren't alive. You can feel their spirits.

"Sheriff, let me know when they've swept the house for explosives. In the meantime, check the perimeter. Let's find her," Hotch says to the sheriff.

You look around and spot a woman standing off in the distance, and after a few moments of staring at her, you recognize her to be Angela.

"Rossi, you need more proof that I know what I'm doing? Follow me."

You really don't mean to sound like a know-it-all, but you can see Rossi teetering on the edge of disbelief and belief. You lead him over to where Angela's spirit is, and she looks at the ground beneath her feet, and you know this is the spot where she is buried.

"How many acres is this?" you ask him.

"Nine."

"I've never been here before, Rossi. I've never met any of these people. Nine acres of land, and I should have no clue where she is buried, much less where she is. Four feet below your feet is Angela, and if you have these officers dig in this spot, you'll see that I'm right. I know there are people who claim to be psychics and con people to give them money, but I'm not that. I'm real, and all I want to do is give justice to people like Angela and the other women that Francis has killed."

Rossi believes that you believe everything you're saying, and yes, you know things that he can't explain, but it's hard for him to believe in what you can do. He's been around too many people who have done nothing but bad, and until he can know for certain you're not one of those people, he will continue to have doubts.

However, Angela deserves better, so he opts to believe you this one time.

"We might have something! I need shovels!"

A few officers rush over with shovels and begin digging in the spot where you told them to, and you look up to see Angela's spirit mist away. All spirits stay on Earth because they have unfinished business, but you know Angela's spirit has found peace. She needed to know that someone found her body, and now that you have, she is free to move on.

Three minutes later, Angela's body is recovered from the site. Everyone crowds around her to examine her, and it looks like she didn't suffer much.

"Two exit wounds, upper torso," Derek says.

Francis shot her, so she died quickly.

"I promised her son we'd find her alive," Will, the sheriff, sighs.

"She's still warm. Look at the blood, it hasn't dried yet. This is recent. Very recent."

"How is that possible?"

"Francis didn't do this. He has a partner," you say. "If his partner just killed Angela, then he isn't far. He could still be somewhere close."

"We set up roadblocks within a forty-mile radius," Will says.

"Sheriff, somebody around here must know who Goehring's partner is. We should try Goehring's pals, the militia. Maybe they can help."

"The Militia leader is Harris Townsend. He owns a bar called The Horse Post. "

"I'd suggest sending Morgan," Rossi says.

"What? All due respect, Rossi, but you've got an entire team to pick from. You're choosing me? Are you serious?"

"No offense, but do you really want to do that?" Will asks Rossi.

Derek is black, and this is a redneck county. They won't take well to Derek whether he is a good person or not. Not all rednecks residing here are racist, but the ones waving the Confederate flag might be.

"Take JJ with you. They know we're here, but you're the last face they expect."

"Let's do it, JJ," Derek sighs.

Both of them leave, and you send them a silent "good luck".

"Sheriff, we need to get into the house," Hotch says.

"Not until I get the all-clear. Goehring blew himself up. God knows what else he's got in there."

"Search what you can until we get in. Anything to build a workable profile," he says to his team.

The team splits up as Will's team searches the house. You're not coming up with anything good, but Rossi and Reid found something that could make this search a lot more dangerous. They found a gun locker with all the weapons missing which means whoever Francis' partner is, he's heavily armed. He's got at least an assault rifle, you know that much. Hotch found two sets of men's shoes in different sizes, and Will found fresh tire marks that belonged to a car around the size of a small pick-up truck.

"If he's as prepared as Goehring, he'll have a police scanner and a two-way radio."

"We can tune into the state geological survey frequency. Nobody ever listens to that," Will suggests.

You focus on the surrounding area outside of the house, and your eyes lock onto a bed of roses. There are four rows of roses in all different stages of growth. You look past the bushes and see four women who look like Angela and Diane, and you know they are four more victims of Francis. One of them points to the rose bushes before misting away.

"Guys, we need to dig up the rose bushes," you announce loudly, heading over to the flowers.

"What did you see?" Hotch asks.

"Four more victims," you say with tears in your eyes.

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[starlight-edith]

You got blocked by a Trekkie for being ridiculous and wrong. You say replace Israel with any other country under a picture with other countries mentioned in the same vein as Israel and dare claim people would be mad at that. And then decide to put Palestine as an alternative as if that hasn't been the Zionist manifesto for over a century, and plenty of influential people and entities haven't erased Palestine from their maps already, like Google, and the way Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram censor and suppress information related to Palestine so hard that when a toxic chemicals spill happened in the US, it didn't trend because the place is called East Palestine. Incredulous. And then you say that you're not against Palestine, but its people weren't even a part of it, they were Jordanians, and they should go to Jordan, and leave Palestine to the people who got there roundabouts 100yrs ago to colonise it, and it's antisemitic to hate those people, and anyway the Palestinians were Jordanians and should go to Jordan. To a Trekkie. Why do you even watch Star Trek if everything it's about goes over your head and leads you to criticise those who understand what's wrong with Israel, the US, and the UK, and want their demise? Just supporting colonialism and imperialism, and getting upset at those who don't. Understand that Palestine and Palestinians have been around for thousands of years. In those thousands of years, and they were Jews(Samaritans and Judeans), Zoroastrians, Christians, Buddhists, Muslims amongst others. They were Asians, Africans, and Europeans. When the Brits and French came through, there was Palestine, not Jordan. Jordan came after Palestine, because White Europeans decided to mess with the region for control and malice. Israel came after Palestine and Jordan because White Europeans decided to mess with Palestine for control and malice. The zionists deemed the founders of Israel were very vocal about Israel being a colonial project to dispossess Palestinians of Palestine, when Palestine included present-day Jordan, and parts of Lebanon, and Syria. That's why Israel keeps bombing Lebanon and Syria. That's why one of Netanyahu's ministers keeps talking about greater Israel including those regions. Israel wasn't for safety reasons, it was for colonialism. If those zionists were about safety, they would've negotiated with Palestinians as those who'd moved to Palestine prior to the late 1800s had, and settled in Palestine as Palestinians, as those who'd moved prior to the late 1800s did. But they didn't. And the current generation of zionists like yourself continue to uphold that colonial basis for Israel existing, and it shows in your talking about Israel being all you have and Palestinians should just move. But then complain about Israel being done away with, and call anyone who wants Israel to stop existing antisemitic. Well, while you continue supporting a brutal colonial project, and want Palestinians to just go away from their homelands so your colonizer self can be comfortable and not disturbed by the effects of your colonial project on Palestinians, know that you don't have a right to Palestine and directing Palestinians to leave their lands and homes so you can feel safe from things Palestinians didn't do to you and yours in the first place. You can keep your so-called respectful advices that deem opposition to colonizers as bigotry to yourself.

I literally just asked them not to make death threats but ok.

As for why Israel is important to me even though the government sucks, I highly suggest you watch this video by George Takei (aka Hikaru Sulu)

It represents my feelings about Israel very well. The government sucks, but the people, the opportunity, the safety — that’s what matters.

-

I honestly don’t understand why you seem to think that Israelis are not also native to Israel? Where do you think Judaism came from? Both Jews and Muslims have claim to Israel (as do the canaanites if they still existed but I digress)

You seemed to also completely ignore the fact that I said we should have a two state solution OR Jordan should repatriate — as in, if everybody refuses to agree as has been going on for decades, we have Jordan make good on their word (whether it’s accurate or not).

X (I couldn’t find the post where the leader of Jordan said Palestine was Jordan and Jordan was Palestine that I saw like a week ago so have this article with statistics instead)

Again, to make it PERFECTLY clear — my opinion is that BOTH Israelis AND Palestinians have a right to live in Israel/Palestine but this has been hindered by the GOVERNMENTS of both!

This is also important to take into consideration:

Post here by @hero-israel

Maybe learn some actual history before endorsing death on innocent people?

[du04]

February Wrap-Up

Hi everyone, hope February has treated you well. Hope you've been up to some cool things.

This month’s wrap-up is, in the manner of this very same month, rather short (at least on paper, it felt like 5 years to me). Hope you enjoy it nonetheless <3

Games

On the first of this month, I woke up to the trailer of Death Stranding 2. Being a fan of the original one, this was great news, and the release date being foreseen in 2024, I will definitely find a proper time to replay it before the second instalment, since it will probably come to PC ‘only’ in 2026. Regarding the trailer itself, I was surprised at how different it is from the first teaser and my mind was blown. I also can’t wait for the film :)

For what I actually, played, here goes:

Powerwash Simulator, as mentioned in my 2023 Wrap-Up, I have been playing this game (only) while listening to audiobooks and podcasts, which is a perfect combination, as it helps me to release steam/pressure while listening to a long passage of something stressful and/or awful happening.

Played some more Immortal Fenyx (see last month’s review, still a great game)

Made a spreadsheet of games I haven’t finished, to try and complete them, so I played some Hue (last opened on 27th December 2022!) and I think I’m close to finishing it but also not feeling bothered. Same reason for playing a little bit of The House of Da Vinci, which I last opened in June 2023.

I don’t think this method of forcing myself to play was a great idea because if you take the latter, it is a well-made game, but my mindset is to just finish as quickly as possible, which is hindering my enjoyment

Books

Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is a dark mystery set in a small Australian rural town. A 12-year-old girl does not come home, the investigation on her disappearance digs up collateral secrets.

I found this to be a complete page-turner. In terms of structure and even themes, I found it similar to Beartown, which is an (audio)book I really enjoyed too. Revolving third-person POVs, small-town inhabitants and their secrets, a crime at the centre of the story, the name of the place consisting of an adjective related to the place + town (lol). Just a couple of funny similarities, the story is wildly different with unique characters.

Dirtown is more of a character study with a mystery at its centre, rather than the opposite. The events unravelling in the narrators lives as we’re going through the investigation are the main thrilling events. This makes for an easy re-read. I absolutely loved learning about the different characters, and it’s been a while since a book has made me impatient and excited to go home to continue reading.

The last few pages really made me cry.

4.75/5

I will be looking forward to Hayley Scrivenor’s next book; I’ve heard she’ll keep her characters’ depth and fullness at the centre of her writing, which is a great thing, and that it’ll be happening in a small town, which is a setting I tend to love.

I started but did not finish Internet for the People. A subtitled “manifesto” that talks about how technology and capitalism affect the internet and society. It explores different ideas for making the internet more democratic. This book focuses specifically on why and how the internet came to be a privatised business tool, focusing on the United States. I tend to skim synopsis, and picking this up, I thought it would be about how the internet and the web are being reappropriated by small communities, which it is not.

I would have liked a different angle than this one took, but that’s just due to my own expectations and interests. DNF at 30%.

I really thought I would have finished my current graphic novel read and the first volume of Crime and Punishment, or any other book, but I didn’t; I haven’t felt like doing much at all but binge-watch Gilmore girls.

Podcasts

Overthink. I stumbled upon this lovely podcast where the two hosts, who are Doctors in Philosophy, discuss contemporary, everyday topics through a philosophical lens. I’ve listened to the episodes on anxiety (the best episode so far), nostalgia (a few insightful comments) and cottagecore (big fan of David’s points in this one). I highly recommand, it is entertaining, smart, and very accessible.

Music

Discovered 1001 Albums, I can’t commit to doing anything every single day so it’s not for me, but it’s a brilliant idea: everyday it gives you one album to listen to, I did it for one day, and it was (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, I thought most of the songs sounded the same lol, but they are fine nonetheless. I’ve always liked the song Don’t Look Back in Anger.

I also bought a cheap concert ticket for Nils Frahm in May :)

Series

In the second half of the month, I wasn’t so much in a gaming mood (or anything mood), and feeling quite low, I ended up continuing Gilmore girls after a 2-month break. I’m glad I took such a break because I believe ‘binge-watching’ it made me feel too accustomed. Coming back to the humour made me laugh again, just like at the beginning.

Also, happy to hear Evil season 4 is releasing in May! So glad it’s getting a proper ending, and I’m sure it will be well-rounded.

Films

Saltburn (2023) was aesthetically strong but highly underwhelming in its narrative. It started out great, but is So Empty, it really shocked me. I thought it was the perfect example of the word “pretentious”, that is, it pretends to be something it is not (too often I feel like this word is not employed the right way, used as a synonym for snobbish or highbrow when it really should not be). Barry Keoghan truly shines in this, and I still had a relatively entertaining time.

I watched Heat (1995) without knowing much about it, it was on MUBI and about to leave, and was vaguely aware of it because of this thing:

And wow! The tension is perfect, capturing my attention completely, I loved all the silence, as well as the minimalist soundtrack and dialogues. I would rewatch it if the occasion presented itself.

Passages (2023) was fine, and I want to see more messy and emotionally impulsive main characters like in this film.

Birdman (2014), I remember my mum raving about it when it first came out, and as it was leaving MUBI (you can see a pattern here) I gave it a try. Some shots were truly ingenious, and storywise, I always love a touch of magical realism. I feel, had I been more familiar with the Broadway scene, I would have more to think about.

Misc

Philosophy

I’ve been looking online for remote-learning certificates (1 year max) in Philosophy from regular universities but didn’t find anything that I found interesting, affordable, completely remote and part-time (I mean, with those criteria I’m not surprised). I ended up enrolling in the EDX course on Introduction to Philosophy, and it’s a lot of fun. The approach to teaching is satisfying and I appreciate the humour. The topic of God’s non/existence is taken as a canvas to learn about philosophical “grammar”, as well as learning about existing arguments, which I find highly enjoyable. There’s still a lot to learn with this course and beyond: exciting :)

Quiz: MLQ

I stumbled upon this very short questionnaire that assesses your level of “Presence”(feeling of meaning in life) and “Search” (active exploration and pursuit of meaning). I took it just for fun as my attitude towards meaning is “be busy, enjoy things” and I’m the last person to think about the significance of my life, as it is non-existent, and I think this concept is a little bit ridiculous, just a little bit.

If you’re interested in trying it out, go directly to the last page and only after read the results on the 2nd page. > Here <

Cooking

I used to be a self-described cook and food enjoyer until January 2023 when the spirit of Auguste Gusteau decided it had enough of me and left my body. From then on, I had to be on my own, which consisted of me making pasta salads, some protein with rice, and later on Basic Bagels, tortellini, and instant noodles for 6 months straight. Well, this month changed a little bit as I made 1 recipe! Woo-hoo! Thanks to this recipe with 5 ingredients: bread, sour cream, jalapeños, egg and chorizo. Easy, filling and relatively healthy? And that’s it… one step at a time, right?

Life

This month felt so long. When I realised that early January was only two months ago, I could sense a feeling of existential crisis peeking out of my heart (which I promptly whacked back in 👍).

Broke up with the BF.

Been feeling mentally tired. Didn’t feel like doing anything, nor felt like reviewing anything. Hence, why this month’s post is relatively succinct.

Started learning how to dance a bit. Loving the warm days and the collapse of humanity they’re bringing with them. Enjoying my solitude. Planned a trip to Budapest with a friend.

[youryanderedaddy]

The First Shot Is A Warning

Tw: Authoritarian Regime AU, female reader, Activist!reader, non - con, dub - con, violence, blood, minor character death, possessive behavior, controlling behavior, imprisonment, objectification, political dystopia setting, mention of drugs, unrealistic potrayal of left - wing totalitarianism

chapter i, chapter ii, chapter iii, chapter v, chapter vi, chapter vii, chapter viii, chapter ix, chapter x, chapter xi

chapter iv

The following days were peaceful, as peaceful as living in captivity could be. It was a golden cage, but still a cage none the less. Oscar would come early in the morning when you were still asleep to bring you food. The meals were more than decent, they were everything you had missed during your life on the run – warm, fresh, and not scrabs taken from the trash cans.

In the last 48 hours you had managed to get their hands on stuff they had mentally prepared to never taste again - tofu, oat cereal, even hazelnuts. You weren’t sure where the commander was getting all the ingredients from (was he even allowed to buy such expensive products?), or whether it was even a good idea to accept handouts from the statist, but you didn’t really care. You were stuck in a room with nothing much to do, other than read the few books, left on top of the drawer – all either biographies or manifestos you had little interest in. So eating became your new favorite pastime, three times a day when you could finally stop over – analyzing everything for half an hour, at most. It was such a weird feeling to drink water on a full stomach after so long.

Another little hobby that you had picked up was pretending the accident hadn’t happened, your strategy to spur the authoritarian on quickly dismissed after the atrocious outcome. You couldn’t bear to think about it, each attempt to do so resulting in torn sheets, wet pillows and rapid heartbeat. It felt like Oscar was avoiding you in his own way – speaking as little as possible, trying everything in his power to become a ghost as soon as he stepped into the room and only ever looking at you when it was absolutely necessary. You wondered what he saw in you - a grave mistake, a lingering threat or a deadly temptation. You weren’t sure whether you wanted to know, even though your survival laid in the answer.

It was the fifth day of that unspoken arrangement when you decided you had to escape, not only because you were in the lion’s mouth, but because the silence and isolation were enough to drive you insane. It was somewhat risky – you didn’t know where you were, whether it was even remotely close to Kaligho, whether there were other people in the building, what the general would do if—

You had to stop with the questions or you would never leave the room. There were too many ifs, too many blind spots, uncertainties, and you weren’t usually one to plan ahead. You hoped from the bottom of your heart that your impulsive intuition wouldn’t betray you now of all times, so you waited. It was exactly one o’clock when Oscar came to bring you lunch. He was even quieter today, his long black hair in a tight braid, eyes cold and distant, lips pursed in one line, a frown perhaps. The man didn’t even greet you like he would usually do, instead settling for simply putting the plate on the drawer and heading out as quickly as possible.

Something was up. You felt uneasy as you watched his pitiful expression, but you had to attack now, while he was distraught, or you might never get that chance again. You had finally gained the courage, it was time to make your move, you couldn’t afford to just stay and stare at his back, and ask yourself whether the uneven raise of the general’s shoulders and the single tear on his pale cheek were real, or just an imagination your mind had created to sabotage your own escape. It didn’t matter, it couldn’t matter. Not now, not anymore.

So you rushed towards the door still barefoot, basically throwing yourself at it, then ran outside and didn't look back even once. It all happened too fast, like a daydream - the screams behind you, the hushed step echoing in the long corridor, the inhuman speed your feet were mustering. You weren’t sure where you were going, but you hoped it would be somewhere far, far away.

You were getting tired, but didn’t dare stop to rest, despite the fact that Oscar had lost your traces two turns ago. You looked through the window for just a second to make sure you were locates on the first floor, which ended up being a huge mistake - suddenly you hit something soft, unmoving and very angry – looking. It was a tall woman, dressed in a tight black uniform, a single red brooch depicting a yellow symbol you couldn't recognise pinned on her chest, close to her heart. She sized you up and down before grabbing your wrist and twisting it behind your back, then kicked it so you would fall on your knees, the dust sticking to your exposed ankles. It hurt like a bitch, and you couldn't help, but grimace at the way your hand throbbed from the sting.

“What are you doing here, you damn traitor?” The leader hissed with venom as she pressed the heel of her boot further into your skin. She knew you, and you knew her too, but you couldn't recall her name even if your life depended on it. Maybe in some distant life the two of you were friends, allies, comrades even. Not anymore.

You remained quiet, the words stuck at your throat like stones at the bottom of a river. Unfortunately this only seemed to incense the woman further and she gripped your hair, pulling on it so harshly you had to arch your back to ease the strain in your neck. “I only left you alive, because Oscar begged me to.” She scoffed, eyebrows narrowed into a deep scowl. “He is an exceptional man.” The woman paused to give you a dirty look. “Graceful in battle, yet fierce. Fearless. This revolution wouldn’t have happened without him as a driving force.” You squirmed uncomfortably at the image, which went on unnoticed, thankfully. “That’s why I let him keep a little trophy of his own.” You were going to vomit all over the floor if not for the sharp pain in your scalp, keeping you too distracted. “But that doesn’t mean I want you roaming around the senate freely like a rat.” She added cruelly, actively enjoying the pained expression on your face.

“Let her go.” Oscar’s stern tone rang in your ears like an alarm, signaling you to wake up. Simultaneously putting the final nail in your coffin and an end to your horrible humiliation at the hands of the dictator. Her steps were getting heavier and heavier as she drew closer. “Please, Sophia...” The general’s voice softened, coming off as a desperate plea once the initial adrenaline had worn off. The woman finally let you go, scoffing along the way, and the man had to stop himself from rushing to take you into his arms.

“You should keep her on a tighter leash, lieutenant.” The party leader commented mockingly, leaving you to wonder which part made you feel more dehumanized – the objectification or the fact that she didn't even look at you while speaking of you. “Or she might cause some trouble.” Sophia continued, unbothered by the arisen tense atmosphere. “And you know what you would have to do then.” She stated, squinting her eyes like a predator, ready to pounce on its defenseless pray. Oscar simply nodded, staring at the floor much like a child who had just got scolded by a strict cruel teacher.

“We’ll be going now, Miss.” The general mumbled under his breath, already pulling you by the wrist and walking in the opposite direction, silently praying that the partisan would be satisfied with the answer and leave it at that. Fortunately, that was indeed the case and he didn’t hear her calling them back, which meant they were free to go, at least for now.

The two of you marched in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. You knew that deep down you were scared, possibly even horrified of the way the authoritarian would react once you were alone in that dark warm room, but the encounter with the woman who had looked so familiar yet turned out to be so eerily different than you remembered had drained the very last drop of energy in your body, so now you felt numbness more than anything. Still you decided to test the waters - there wasn't much else to be done now.

“Well, it’s official. Your boss fucking hates me.” You started off, hoping it would lighten the mood, which only seemed to have the opposite effect. The general stayed completely quiet, eyes darker than ever and fixed entirely on you. Only now you we realized that you were shaking violently, like a leaf in the wind. At that very moment you wanted nothing more than to lay in bed, wrap your hands around your knees and cry your lungs out. Until you couldn’t breathe anymore. Until you choked on your sobs.

“Y/N, why did you do that?” Oscar whispered, reaching out to cup your cheek, slowly, lightly as not to scare you off, as if he hadn't already. You flinched regardless, even when everything in you was screaming for some, for any, intimacy. The man's palm was hot against your ice cold bruised up skin, and it slowly resumed its soft pink color. “Why did you try to escape from me?” The soldier gulped dry. Somewhat vulnerable. “This wouldn’t have happened if you had stayed put like I told you to.” He remarked shortly after, a hint of blame mixed with a bitter aftertaste in his monotone voice.

At that point you pulled away, rolling your eyes. “In case you've already forgotten, let me remind you that you kidnapped me. You used the lives of the survivors against me.” You could feel the hot tears burning at the back of your throat once again, but you didn’t let it show on your face. This wasn’t the time to get emotional. “You... you wanted to… to...” You uttered weakly, your voice breaking into a sob at the end. You couldn't bear say it out loud. After that you couldn’t hold back the wretching cries from ripping your chest apart, and the general felt like someone had just stabbed him in between the lungs.

He drew you into a tight, desperate embrace, one of regret and pain, gently pushing your head into his shoulder, your miserable wails shaking his whole torso up and down. You thrashed and twisted for a while, but eventually wrapped your hands around him, breathing in the sweet, dusty smell of gunpowder and caramel. “I’m sorry.” The commander muttered more to himself than to you, his lips barely touching your tear - stained cheek. It was himself he wanted to reassure - guilty conscience certainly works in mysterious ways.

“I want to go home.” You breathed, the sound almost completely muffled by the sheer exhaustion radiating off your warm body. You felt heavy, yet somewhat weightless. Surreal, yet vivid. “Why can’t you let me go, S?” You asked suddenly, whiney, all child – like, using that stupid nickname he hadn't heard come out of your mouth since the two of you were just young, careless kids playing in the dirt. It felt out of place, in a bitter way. The man couldn’t stand to see you so wretched, his love who had been a ray of sunshine since day one. Had he broken you already, just like that, without even trying?

“Because I can’t live without you.” The authoritarian answered after a while, little hesitation in his stern raspy voice. These exact words had been bottling inside him for months on end, just waiting to spill out. The fontan was in shatters now, overflowing. He should have kept the water in, should have let it burst inside and not out like an old loose faucet. It was him, the one who had been broken all along. The one who so desperately needed fixing.

And for the first time there was something you couldn’t simply laugh off.

[tennessoui]

Ok this may sound like a weird question, but I've been seeing the Obi-wan/Anakin ship around a lot, you being one of them, and I was wondering why you ship them? /genq. You know, instead of thinking of them as friends or whatever. Since this ship is so big in the fandom, I'd like to hear the thoughs behind it?

Alright I don’t think I’m the most eloquent or best person to do a sort of…manifesto or anything, but I can give you a few reasons why I like the ship!

I think first of all I do think of them as friends! I don’t think I’d like the ship half as much if they weren’t friends! Their relationship as what it is in canon I think is one of the most compelling and tragic Ive encountered in modern media. They have a very, very strong friendship littered with half truths and mistakes on both their parts. There’s a very strong sense of love there in the movies, the novelizations, the tv show. Palpable fondness and a willingness to do anything for each other. They’re more than master & padawan, more than just friends. Brothers maybe, but even that I think almost falls short.

I like the romance aspect because I think it adds another layer to the story. I think they could have been everything the other needed if things were slightly different, but they’re not and that sucks but it’s so good to interact with, to pin down what could have changed if this one thing had changed.

To me, they have the most important and fleshed out relationship in the prequels. I love seeing Obi-Wan in A New Hope, watching over Luke and reminiscing about his father to him as if his father isn’t Darth Vader as well as Anakin. But Obi-Wan has kept Anakin’s lightsaber all these years. That always hits me as just. Tragic. Sentiment and regret that it had to be the way it had to be, but that’s a tragedy. The characters have their parts, etc etc

Not to mention that people (and me) find the actors attractive, and the forbidden aspect of a relationship between master & padawan as an interesting power dynamic to explore. When I’m writing, I toe the line of caution and don’t write about them getting together until sometime in the Clone Wars, because their age difference and power balance isn’t the biggest draw for me. But it’s a huge draw for others, which I think is understandable.

I like that they’re unreasonable about each other, I like that they defend each other both physically and to others. I like that they were fundamental to each other’s life so much that even in the original trilogy, both still feels the absence of the other. I don’t want to devalue that bond or that friendship by labeling it romance, but it’s fun to label it romance. It’s genuinely a good time to think of Obi-Wan pining away on Tatooine while Darth Vader tears apart the galaxy looking for Kenobi. It makes me laugh almost as much as it makes me sad.

And I especially like that they become Force ghosts together at the end of ROTS, that they are reunited in death and get to spend the afterlife together for as long as they want because Obi-Wan needed Anakin with him so much he taught him one last thing while he was dying: how to come home.

[swanandphoenixsong]

Aliit - Ao3

Chapter 10: Bounty Hunters

Series: Part 2 of the Star Wars - Nouveau AU series

Chapter Summary: Outside the Mandalore Sector, bounty hunters and agents of the criminal underworld make movements across Hutt Space.

Notes: This chapter begins in Boba Fett’s POV, then introduces two new POVs from original characters. It also begins right after Satine is recaptured and Saxon contracts the Krayt’s Claw bounty hunters– so, more non-linear storytelling. I also make several references to the Clone Wars episodes “Bounty” and “Eminence”. See the Endnotes for more details.

Translations of Mando’a: Kyr’tsad – Mando’a name for Death Watch; literally: "Death Society" Cuy’val dar – Mandalorian warriors who disappeared with Jango Fett between 32-30 BBY; meaning “those who no longer exist” Ba’jurne Kyr’stad Mando’ad – the manifesto shared by Death Watch recruiters, written by Tor Vizsla before 42 BBY; literally: “teachings of the Death Watch Mandalorians”

– –

19 BBY – Mos Eisley, Tatooine, Krayt’s Claw bounty hunters’ headquarters

After ending the call with Saxon, Boba had sat lower at his desk, irritation seething under his skin. He hadn’t been a part of defending the Hutts from Death Watch and those destructive Dathomirian Force-users, but he had heard about it extensively from Dengar, for days afterward. Latts had told him off more than once, tired of his griping. Embo was as antisocial as usual, if not more so. The latter two had spent more time away from Krayt’s Claw, Embo with his loyalty to Sugi’s Crew, and Latts off with that backstabbing Force-user Bossk had hired for the Quarzite job. Boba had never gotten her name, and just thinking about her ticked him off even more.

And now Bossk was insisting they work with Death Watch, those terrorist brutes who plagued Mandalorian Space like a cancer. Whatever money they had stolen from Sundari’s vaults couldn’t be worth the annoyance he’d suffer in their presence.

Just then, Bossk returned, pushing Aurra Sing into the dim light of their makeshift office. She had turned up on Tatooine around the same time he and Bossk set up Krayt’s Claw, but Boba had avoided working with her as much as possible. She was still ruffled from her stint in Oova IV’s prison, after her defeat by a Jedi more than a year ago. She shoved away from Bossk, crossing her arms tightly as she fumed.

“What’s this really about?” Boba asked, “and what’s Sing got to do with it?”

Bossk ignored him as he turned toward the disorganized stacks of flimsi piled on their neglected, malfunctioning holotable. “Did Saxon ssend over th’ detailss?”

Boba sighed, retrieving his holocomm and displaying the bounty contract they’d received just minutes ago. Sing scrutinized it as Boba and Bossk filled her in on what they knew of Death Watch’s schemes. Attached to the contract was a meager rundown of the situation on Mandalore. Vizsla was dead and former Prime Minister Almec was now the face of their takeover. The crime syndicate forces were still on their side, but considered untrustworthy. There was no mention of the Sith, but Boba doubted they weren’t still involved.

As for the contract itself, the full bounty would be awarded to them upon capture and delivery of the four cadets to Sundari, as well as the hefty bonus for killing Bo-Katan Kryze. Saxon had no stipulations for their compliance, just that they would be given travel clearance to Concordia, Mandalore’s moon, and supplied with any intel they had on the renegades’ whereabouts. It would be their job to set up the right crew, as well as acquiring transportation and weaponry. It wasn’t unusual conditions for a bounty hunt, but it would take a larger team, which meant reaching out to other syndicates or allies. Boba was not keen on trusting strangers to have his back, but he knew, on their own, Krayt’s Claw’s chances against trained and fully outfitted Mandalorian warriors would be slim.

Yet, Sing seemed just as interested as Bossk had, smirking as if she thought they’d forgotten her betrayal on Florrum.

Bossk turned toward him then, having given up looking through the files. “Where’ss Jango’s bookss?” he asked directly.

Boba raised an eyebrow skeptically, leaning forward to pull open the slightly busted bottom drawer of his desk, taking out a handful of books and pamphlets, aged and practically falling apart. Bossk spread them out on the desk, pulling out the weathered, blue and gray manifesto Jango once stole from a Kyr’tsad recruiter. Boba remembered his father showing it to him, before often throwing it against a wall, upset by the treachery of Vizsla’s schemes, or the distorted misrepresentations of his ancestral traditions. Boba hadn’t picked it up in years, having little care for the convoluted politics of a culture he hardly claimed as his own.

His father had tried to instill in him the honor of his heritage, while the Cuy’val dar had taught the earliest clones their fighting styles, and they picked it up twice as fast as he did. Even after the Cuy’val dar were suspended, he could never dispel the resentment he carried toward the clones. Even when his father insisted Boba was his legacy, he couldn’t help focusing on his shortcomings, especially after his father’s death, and even more so after he failed to take revenge on his Jedi killers.

Boba shook his head, breaking his reverie as he stood and braced his hands against the desk, while Bossk began to speak.

Bossk slammed down the Ba’jurne Kyr’stad Mando’ad pamphlet, pointing at it emphatically. “Before Pre Viszla led Death Watch, Tor Viszla wass their leader, and thiss bookk describess how he led th’ Death Watch to ssurvive in th’ shadowss – before Jango finally kkilled him, little more than twenty yearss ago.”

“We can assume then,” Sing continued, “that Pre Viszla followed in Tor’s footsteps, learning from his tactics and spreading the same lies he did.”

“Now, Saxon sayss Pre Vizsla’s dead, and we know that th’ Sith brought th’ Death Watch and th’ crime families together for their own purposes. That meanss change is coming, not only for Mandalorianss, but alsso for th’ criminal underworld. Jango would rather uss be prepared against any opposition, esspecially th’ enemies of his people.”

“Well, he’s not around anymore, is he?” Boba replied sarcastically.

Sing made a noncommittal sound, picking up the pamphlet and shuffling through its pages. “Jango may not be around, but it’s not a bad idea. By working with Saxon now, we can avoid trouble later, and use Death Watch’s resources to our advantage.”

Boba grit his teeth. “We do fine on our own. I want nothing to do with the Mandalore Sector. And last I checked, this is my syndicate.”

Bossk looked toward Boba pointedly. “We owe it to Jango, to do thiss in his sstead.”

It was a half-baked plan riddled with unknowns, but the both of them seemed adamant enough that Boba knew arguing would be pointless. He let out a sound of frustration, flopping back down in his seat. Sing grinned at his exasperation, and Boba wanted nothing more than to throw her back out on the sunsbeaten sands of the Dune Sea.

He deliberated over their odds. By his estimate, they’d be up against the Nite Owl renegades – making up a force of at least a dozen soldiers, even if he didn’t include the cadets. Which, considering the trouble he’d had with that bratty hostage girl on Quarzite, he really should. Besides that, who knew what other resources they might have, or if they wouldn’t rally other Mandalorian clans to their cause? Could they truly rival Death Watch exiles and get an upper hand on Saxon, all while securing four rebellious runaways?

Bossk seemed to pick up on his doubts. “Don’ be sso pessimistic, Boss.” He hissed with a grin towards Sing, “We know ssomeone all-too-willing to hunt down pessky Mandalorianss.”

Boba had grabbed his helmet and followed Bossk and Sing to the Mos Eisley Cantina, where their contact had agreed to meet with them. It seemed that they just happened to already be in a nearby system, but Boba suspected luck had nothing to do with it. He groaned inwardly as they stepped inside, faced by the rank smell of spilt spirits, smuggled death-sticks, and faint wafts of spice. As slave-girls danced and the kloo-band played, he pulled on his helmet and the bounty hunters made their way to a secluded alcove to await their anticipated allies.

Some time later, after a song or two had played and Sing’s blue-tinted drink had been refilled twice, Bossk got their attention with the words, “There they are.” The lead latecomer was a yellow Trandoshan male with brown mottling, who Boba might’ve met before, if he cared to remember all the ‘friends’ Bossk had introduced him to over the past months. He was followed by a towering red-scaled Trandoshan female, with striking yellow eyes and bold, black stripes down her face and arms; her mismatched, gold-painted armor was adorned with a varactyl’s vibrant, feathery mane, Wookiee braids, and a necklace of various tooth and claw trophies. Bossk waved them over and Sing drained the remainder of her drink with a smirk.

Bossk stood and grasped the arm of the yellow Trandoshan. “Ramy,” he hissed, almost brotherly, before turning back toward them. “Come meet our merry band of bounty hunterss.”

Ramy acknowledged them briefly, opting to stand beside Bossk while the other sat before them. “And thiss is Koukussa Varas,” Bossk continued, “She once had a reputation for hunting Mandalorianss. Castus introduced us yearss ago, on Vlemoth Port. Nowadayss she’s employed by th’ guild on Nar Shaddaa, to hunt down debtorss and bounty hunterss who don’ fulfill their contractss.”

Varas grinned widely, showcasing her razor-sharp teeth, and Boba scowled, knowing how inferior he looked next to Sing and the Trandoshans. All of them were ridiculously tall compared to his teenage human stature, not to mention their nonhuman characteristics. He was at least glad for his helmet, hiding his boyish features from the menacing reptilian.

“Varas,” Bossk continued his introductions, “We are of th’ Krayt’s Claw ssyndicate. You already know of Aurra, yess? But Boba there actss as our guild leader.”

She barely glanced over him. “Aurra Sing,” Varas hissed gleefully, “I wass beginning to thinkk I’d heard th’ lasst of you, what with th’ storiess Ohnaka’s pirates told.” Her voice was raspy and dissonant, making Boba wish his helm had a proper sonic nullifier.

“Not a chance,” Sing laughed, raising her drink as Ramy ordered another round.

Bossk enlightened the newcomers with a brief overview of Death Watch’s victories over the crime families and their invasion on Mandalore, then explained the details of the contract issued to them by Gar Saxon. Varas bristled with hunger in her eyes at Vizsla’s demise, and Ramy seemed excited at the prospect of hunting down four escaped cadets.

“Sso,” Bossk asked then, “what do you ssuppose?”

Varas gave a pleased hiss before she spoke. “I do appreciate th’ opportunity to lead ssuch a hunt. But first, I musst return to Nar Shaddaa to ssettle with my employerss.”

“Can’t you just comm them?” Boba snapped, his impatience festering. Sing gave him a disparaging glare, which he ignored.

Varas growled sharply, looking toward Bossk. “Th’ guild’ss personnel officerss don’ take kkindly to ssudden absences. Besidess, I thought you wanted my assistance.”

“It dependss. Do you have th’ resourcess?” he asked.

She nodded curtly. “They can be arranged, if we take th’ job.”

“We can sstop by Hutta,” Ramy chimed in, “to pickk up Smug and Krix.”

Bossk gave a throaty chuckle. “Where would we rendezvouss with your forcess?”

“Klatooine. I’ll ssend th’ coordinatess after we leave for Nal Hutta.” Her eyes glinted in the dim light as she measured Boba and Sing with her zealous gaze. “Sso,” she raised her hand between them, comprised of four clawed, curling digits, compared to Bossk and Ramy’s robust three, “do we have a deal?”

Boba held back a sound of disgust. Sing moved first, securing their agreement with her own pale, spindly fingered hand, while Varas grinned like the Tooka who’d caught the bulabird.

They left soon after, her impish delight still haunting the back of his mind.

Back at their headquarters as the first sun had set beyond the sands, while Bossk led the way inside, Boba stopped on the threshold, turning toward Sing as he threw down his helmet.

“What was that?” He snarled at her, “Who do you think you are, making deals for my syndicate?”

She rolled her eyes. “You hesitated, just like before.”

He scowled, his fists shaking at his sides. Bossk came up behind him then, having realized their absence. “Have Sing sign Saxon’s contract,” Boba ordered them, “As far as I’m concerned, this is your hunt, not mine.” He turned away, retreating inside before they could say anything more.

Boba was fed up, already dreading the innumerable ways this job could go wrong.

– –

19 BBY – Bilbousa Bazaar, Nal Hutta

Hutta was a noxious, scum-ridden swamp, aptly fitting for its namesake. Spacers and vagrants browsed Bilbousa Bazaar like scavenger-birds, with shifty eyes and sticky fingers, eager to nab some gear for a cheap deal, or have a drink among fellow scoundrels and miscreants at the saloon. Smug and Krix weren’t much different, but there were other reasons a curious, streetwise Twi’lek might seek their confidence.

Trysor Dwyn was a charmer, a gunslinger, and a pilot, all-in-one. She didn’t like bounty hunters and smugglers much, but she didn’t mind meddling in their businesses. So, she sat with Smug and Krix, letting them eye her enticing, freckled yellow skin, bared above her neck and down her arms, as well as her attractive figure, only just masked by her form-fitting street-clothes. While they ogled and drank, she asked them her questions, and gleaned more than they had intended to reveal.

As far as new information, she had learned they had a job with a fellow bounty hunting Trandoshan named Koukussa Varas, and it was sure to be a thrilling chase, not to mention the big payoff. Aside that, they’d be reuniting with Ramy and Bossk, and were animated at the prospect of a classic, space-faring Trandoshan hunt, assuredly with a comparable crew to match. If what they said was true, and Varas was as deadly as she surmised from their regard for her, then their information could be valuable to her Core World employers.

“So, what would the hunt entail?” she asked, toying with the last dregs of her raider-brewed spotchka. It wasn’t as palatable as the farmers’ blend, but the saloon’s owner seemed to favor its cheaper price.

Krix grinned sharply. “Varas’s crew is on Klatooine, and she’s ssure to hire more hunterss,” He admitted, turning toward Smug. “What wass Varas known for hunting, backk in th’ day?”

“Mandalorianss.” Smug proudly boasted, taking another swig of his drink.

Trysor looked up at him skeptically, her interest certainly piqued. With the gossip of Death Watch’s subjugation over the crime syndicates, and the speculation of an undisclosed usurper of power on Mandalore, it seemed that trouble was afoot for Mandalorian Space, and it would have rippling ramifications throughout the Outer Rim. This, along with intel from previous excursions during the past week or so, would add up to the complex picture that was the current state of the criminal underworld.

It was time she got back to her ship and updated her crewmates on the situation.

“Well, this was fun, boys,” she said, stretching as she stood, her bare midriff catching their gazes. “It’s too bad you’ll be so far off, but good luck with your hunt.”

“Oh, come on now,” Smug jeered, his wandering hand extended toward her. “One more drinkk–”

In a spur of the moment, a vibroshiv was struck down between them, puncturing the wooden table. The weapon was wielded by a muscular, sallow green-skinned Twi’lek, fashioned as a fellow bounty hunter and brandishing a threatening smile.

“These two bothering you, Dwyn?” he teased in his heavy Ryl accent.

“Not at all,” she placated him, throwing an apologetic gesture toward the wary bartender eyeing the slight damage to his furniture.

“Aw, come off it, Hyde,” Krix responded, humoring her colleague. “It’s not like she’s interessted in you anywayss.”

“What’s this I hear about a hunt?” Hyde asked, ignoring his jibe as Trysor twisted his shiv upward and fiddled with it absentmindedly.

“I ssuppose you could tag along to Klatooine,” Krix offered, “Varas may even allow you to join in on th’ hunt. And we could–”

“–put in a good word for you,” Smug followed, “That iss, if Trysor comess too.”

She laughed jovially, truly amused by their persistence. “I’ll consider it.” She turned toward Hyde with a crooked smile, handing back his vibroshiv. Then she wrapped her jangling scarf closer around her shoulders and tossed a few creds on the table for her bill. She waved at her scaly companions as Hyde led her away, and she suppressed the urge to hightail it back to the spaceport.

The Golden Wingmaw, an Anaxes Shipyards light freighter, had been supplied and outfitted, as per Republic Naval Intelligence regulations for a Covert Operations unit, such as theirs. Although Trysor was assigned as an acting field agent and stealth operative, she was also the ship’s usual pilot, and among its crew, she was the most knowledgeable of its specs and modifications.

She boarded the ship, Hyde heading to the workshop while she immediately went for the shared crew’s quarters in order to grab her dark longcoat – concealing the bare skin she had revealed for the purpose of peeling intel from those slippery-scaled and hard-headed Trandoshans. She fastened it tight around her, finally releasing the buried tension she had held behind a taunting smirk and her veiled scrutiny. She did enjoy her work – the mystery, the intrigue, the secrets – but she was always thankful to return to the solace of her ship, where no one hungered for her beauty or objectified her species and gender.

She took a steadying breath and left the bunk-room, trailing a gloved hand fondly over the curved metallic wall. The crews’ quarters weren’t far from the engines, the subtle hum of them thrumming up her legs as she walked. She could hear faint tinkering and accompanying droid-speak coming from the workshop, where her crewmates awaited her.

Captain Jaromir Coburn, as Special Agent in Charge for the CO unit, was not quite the formidable, seasoned soldier one might expect to lead RNI’s investigations in the Outer Rim. However, with his discipline and honesty, he had earned the crew’s loyalty, without any influence from his father, the veteran Admiral Barton Coburn, of the Galactic Republic Navy. Jaromir, by contrast, was barely in his thirties, Trysor guessed, his handsome, human face hinting at the carefree starfighter pilot he could have been, had he not inherited his father’s harsh demeanor. He stood just inside the entrance of the workshop, his arms crossed, and the crew’s faithful astromech whirring at his side.

JR-89 was a R4-series astromech droid that dutifully followed Capt. Coburn everywhere he went, thus warranting the affectionate nickname, “Junior”. The red and gold-plated droid had previously served aboard Adm. Coburn’s Venator-class Star Destroyer within the Open Circle Fleet, before the Admiral was reassigned under General Plo Koon’s command. Shortly thereafter, Junior was issued to Jaromir when he was promoted to the rank of SAC. Thus, the droid had been upgraded with transceiver and courier modifications to manage their advanced database of encrypted information.

Focused over the holotable was her adoptive human sister, Veda Nerys, psychoanalyst and handler for their so-called CO-Burn unit. They had first met during one of Veda’s rebellious excursions down into the shady lower levels of Coruscant, back when Trysor had been a street orphan, struggling to survive all on her own. As the Nerys family were well-known for supporting relief campaigns in the Republic Senate, they had subsequently adopted Trysor, but she had suspected their true purpose was to distract Veda from her reckless impulses. Nonetheless, they were inseparable, whether they were sneaking out on grand adventures or attending glamorous banquets and galas. Even though she had been expected to follow in her family’s footsteps, Veda had never cared for the encumbered, sluggish world of politics, and would not be convinced otherwise. Instead, when the Clone Wars broke out, the two sisters had enlisted in the RNI and were hastily trained for their respective fields in Covert Ops.

The last and most recent addition to their unit was Hideric Ertay, or ‘Hyde’, contracted as a hired gun to replace their former weapons specialist, and acting undercover as a bounty hunter at her behest. While serving in the Twi'lek Resistance, he’d learned a resourceful arsenal of strategic stealth tactics under General Cham Syndulla. When he decided to leave his homeworld and dedicate himself to the Republic, his skills and experience afforded him his position in their unit. Having only left Ryloth recently, he was unaccustomed to their fast-paced space-faring lifestyle, but he was pragmatic and adaptable, quickly learning his role and gaining the respect of their contacts. Although Trysor had been relieved to have another nonhuman on the team, their interactions outside undercover espionage had been stiff and precarious, her flighty, playful nonchalance opposing his no-nonsense professionalism.

“Welcome back,” Veda greeted her enthusiastically as she entered, Junior echoing the sentiment as he spun on his wheels. Trysor patted him as Veda pulled up their research, connecting her recordings with files on Varas and her Bounty Hunters’ Guild employers, as well as their growing array of information on the so-called “Shadow Collective”, comprised of Death Watch, Black Sun, the Pykes, and the Hutt families, and led by the outcast Sith, Maul and Savage Opress.

“How’s it lookin’?” Trysor asked, leaning against the holotable and sparing a glance at their enigmatic leader.

Capt. Coburn sighed, shaking his head. “It’s good work, but I don’t know if we have reason enough to follow-up on Death Watch’s activities.”

Hyde smacked a hand on the holotable. “Isn’t it enough we know the crime syndicates are making a move on the Mandalore Sector? If they’re invading on Mandalorian planets–”

“The Republic has no jurisdiction in Mandalorian Space without the involvement of the Separatists. Besides, we don’t even know if Varas and the other hunters have actually been hired to contend with Mandalorians. We can’t run the risk of intruding upon neutral territories, even just to confirm our suspicions.”

“But they’re still in Hutt Space, for the time being,” Veda added, “we could take up their offer– head to Klatooine and gather more information?”

Coburn pinched the bridge of his nose. “We’re already on thin ice with our inquiries to this alliance between the crime syndicates. If we impose on their feeble invitation and join in on this hunt, we may risk taking on more than we can handle alone.”

They went silent for the moment, stumped by their predicament.

Just then, Junior made an alarmed trill, catching their attention.

“Hang on,” said Veda, “I had Junior probing the holonet for outgoing transmissions from Mandalorian Space. We had almost missed this one, since it was encrypted and sent directly to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant–”

Junior began playing the holo-recording, displaying Duchess Satine on Mandalore:

“This is a message for Obi-Wan Kenobi. I’ve lost Mandalore. My people have been massacred, and Almec is now the Prime Minister. I can’t explain everything now, but Almec has the support of the crime families.

“Obi-Wan, I need your help.”

The recording ended as the Duchess was surrounded by former Death Watch soldiers, now sporting Maul’s colors.

“Kriff,” Trysor muttered, her lekku twitching with emotion.

“Well, there’s our proof,” Hyde said, his expression grim.

Capt. Coburn’s gaze narrowed, his stance rigid and restrained. “This changes nothing,” he whispered, “The Jedi will have given the message to the Senate, and they will be deciding whether or not to intervene. The higher ups would never approve of submitting our intel to sway the Senate’s decision.”

“As if they would care for our opinion anyway.” Trysor scoffed.

“So we take it to the Neutral Systems,” Hyde argued, “Surely they’d want to protect the Mandalore Sector.”

Coburn eyed him skeptically. “Again, this is outside our jurisdiction, and taking any action within the Neutral Systems would be a direct violation of our orders. What happens when the Republic discovers our interference?”

“We can’t just stand back and do nothing,” Trysor pleaded.

“It may be a longshot,” said Veda, “but we do have allies on neutral worlds. Taris would be our best bet, since it isn’t far from Mandalorian Space, and they’ve coordinated with both the Republic Senate and the New Mandalorians before.”

Coburn ran a hand over his face, nodding begrudgingly. “Very well. Draft a cover job for our activities and begin making the necessary arrangements.”

Junior chirruped cheerfully and Veda smiled affably at the droid. “Ha, between the two of us, it’ll almost be too easy, won’t it, Junior?”

Coburn chuckled darkly, seemingly unconvinced by their confidence. “I’ll look into current military campaigns along our route. In the meantime, I suppose we’ll make our way to Klatooine. Hyde, notify our Trandoshan friends that you intend to take up their offer. Trysor, prepare for departure and stay alert, we don’t need any surprises from the locals.”

She nodded, avoiding Hyde’s questioning glance as he followed her to the cockpit. He contacted Krix and Smug, while she relaxed into the pilot’s seat and started the computations for trajectory, occasionally looking upwards, as if she could see the stars beyond the foul, gas-stained atmosphere.

– –

Elsewhere on Hutta, Smug and Krix weren’t the only bounty hunters to hear of the impending, portentous rendezvous on Klatooine. However, this bounty hunter had no interest in joining the perilous misadventures of the rancorous and vile Koukussa Varas. The Twi’lek tapped her fingers on the bounty-board kiosk, considering what she was prepared to risk in following up on her suspicions. She closed the missive, moving on to public postings. Her right-side lek twitched in irritation, the offered jobs failing to meet her expectations. She sighed, skipping through until she glimpsed a familiar face among the wanted smugglers list. Andraste Zhan grinned, claiming the mark and leaving the kiosk, tucking the dispensed bounty puck into her pocket.

Andra then moved throughout the streets of Jiguuna, waving at slum orphans who recognized her. She had been like them once, born as a slave and hounded by the volatile nature of a demanding master. But several years ago, when the debt-ridden shopkeep had learned of a bounty for his head, he hoped to sell her off to the local Hutt crime lord as a ripe, young slave dancer, in order to earn his protection. Instead, she’d escaped her bonds, killed the bastard and collected on his bounty herself.

Now she was free, running bounties and taking odd jobs between Nal Hutta and Nar Shaddaa. Never standing still, boarding dingy shuttles at the meager, grimy spaceport, and peering at every passing vagrant, her other hand resting near the concealed blaster at her hip. She wasn’t any double-dealing scoundrel with a target on her back, nor had she yet earned a respected, formidable reputation either. But just because she was some sultry Twi’lek with sour, green-yellow skin and alluring blue eyes, didn’t mean she wouldn’t stand her ground. She was determined to prove her worth, and never be held back by the circumstances of her past.

She just had to keep moving, heedless of the incessant, gnawing bitterness that plagued her wherever she went.

Endnotes: Ramy, Krix, and Smug were from episodes “Padawan Lost” and “Wookie Hunt” and were briefly seen in “Friends and Enemies.” 

If you’ve read my fanfic “Jedi Scholar”, then you’ll recognize Veda from the Maiden’s Sanctuary. There’s some more information about her in my “Original Characters” at https://archiveofourown.org/works/30579254/chapters/75763145.

As with previous chapters, original characters from this chapter will also be posted there.

[cienie-isengardu]

Jaster & Tor

For me, one of the most hilarious and no less furious aspects of Jaster Mereel’s treatment in the sources is how he is hailed as the great figure in Mandalorian history that brought back honor between Mandalorian Mercs and all but like, not getting any real development for over two decades. Sure, he got here and there mini encyclopedia entries and some mention in regard to Jango Fett, but never anything truly expanding his characterization beyond the general image of “good” Mandalorian created by tie-in sources - an image I find a pretty bland one compared to retconned “The Last One Standing: The Tale of Boba Fett” (in which Jaster Mereel originated from) and Jango Fett: Open Seasons comics series.

This is hilarious, because Tor Vizsla got a personal entry in Fact Files - an article biased as hell but still acknowledging both him as character and his impact on Jango & Mandalorians - and a whole section of Bounty Hunter Code for himself and Death Watch. And though I will forever stand with Jango that the Manifesto doesn’t sound much like him (but I like the idea the Manifesto is based on Tor’s notes just edited by someone to be more reader-friendly), there is like 30 pages expanding history and his person while Jaster is once again reduced to small mention here and there. And look, it is hilarious to me that Vizsla and Death Watch is the Mandalorians that Lucas wanted to keep for The Clone Wars, throwing out of window the supposedly great Jaster Mereel and True Mandalorians without any second thought but good damn, it is so frustrating we can’t get any solid material on him even though Bounty Hunter Code was the perfect opportunity to bring him back, as it would make a perfect sense for Jango to keep Jaster’s notes if not the whole Codex.

It is also frustrating because Tor and Jaster are like the two Mandalorians officially writting down important stuff and apparently both were versed in Mandalorian history & lore and I for one would love to compare their notes to get the feeling of middle-ground and see their ideas from the proper perspective not from biased sources that clearly favores Jaster - even if in JF:OS, after making research and interrogating Jango’s allies, Dooku’s only conclusion was that for Mereel Mandalorians were “merely highly-paid soldiers”. Which is hardly the same as bringing work ethic to your group (not that it does cross out the possibility of having actual moral standards, but it does not automatically mean the same). It is frustrating, because we don’t get that often Mandalorians with literary tendencies - hell, we didn’t get any other Mandalorian like that for years because almost everything is about the oral culture which makes Tor Vizsla and Jaster Mereel’s existence even more hilarious, as the two literature nerds that at some point sit down and write their own input - Tor about history and political goals for new members of Death Watch, Jaster about work ethics for True Mandalorians. And it is even more hilarious than that, because Jango Fett presumably read both works and HE DOESN’T READ BOOKS BECAUSE HE THINKS THEY ARE WASTE OF TIME:

Boba's father didn't read much. "Books? A waste of time," he said. "Read maps, Boba. Instructions. Warnings. Important stuff." [Boba Fett Book 1: The Fight to Survive by Terry Bisson]

[spike-and-faye]

Hello, I require your infinite wisdom please!! :O So I just finished cowboy bebop and I am so confused like who the fuck was Julia. WHAT was Faye's past. I literally never process tv shows and the bebop was not immune to my stupidity LMAO like... I guess the ending just really confused me, from what I gathered Spike and Vicious were friends? But then they weren't? And Julia dated Vicious but also Spike? And he? Went after Vicious even after Julia had died? I am Confusion. Please help. Thank u...

Oh BABEY I am so glad you asked! :) Be prepared for a long answer and I apologize in advance for how incoherent it will probably be.

ALSO Please note: this show is fucking complicated. I have watched it all the way through several times a year, every single year, for over a decade now, and I am *STILL* finding new shit every time I watch it. It's packed with symbols, motifs, allusions and underlying themes that are just so rich. It is so extraordinarily well-written that it could give a lot of classic literature a run for its money. I'm literally working on an in depth literary/film analysis my husband lovingly calls my Manifesto on the series right now. SO PLEASE don't beat yourself up about not catching everything on the first go round.

HEY BTW for anyone who hasn't finished the show, please know there will be MANY spoilers ahead!

Anyways ~

1.     Spike / Julia / Vicious:

The information we get on Spike's past, including Vicious and Julia, is pretty limited considering how big of an impact they have on the story. We get our first glimpse in Session 1: Asteroid Blues, then again in Session 5: Ballad of Fallen Angels, Sessions 12 + 13: Jupiter Jazz, and Sessions 25 + 26: Real Folk Blues. I recommend reviewing these episodes for you Julia and Vicious fix.

What we know:

Spike and Vicious were both members of an organized crime syndicate called the Red Dragons, which is roughly analogous to the Yakuza or the Mafia. Their positions in the organization are not clear, but there are some images alluding to them being hitmen, and they likely rose up in the ranks as they were close acquaintances of Mao Yenrai, a Capo of the Red Dragon.

Spike and Vicious were close comrades. Spike taught Vicious everything he knew about fighting, and the two had a deep trust in each other. Which Spike fucked up ….

^^Vicious looks hot asf here

Julia was Vicious' lover/girlfriend. One night in 2068 (three years prior to the time we watch in the Bebop) Spike is injured, presumably from a syndicate-related fight and he passes out in front of her door. She takes him in and nurses him back to health and he SIMPS HARD for her. We’re all but told he's in LOVE love with her. They start an affair, and Spike tells her he's ready to abandon the whole life - the syndicate, Vicious, Mao, all of it - and they could run away together.

WELL Vicious finds out about this whole affair, and is DOUBLY betrayed because his literal best friend and girlfriend have been having an affair, and tbh I think he was just as jealous of Spike's attentions as he was of Julia's. (Whether or not it’s a sexual thing for Spike … well … I have my own headcanons about that). SO when he finds out they're going to run away together, he gives Julia an ultimatum: you can either kill him, or I'll just kill you both. Spike had written her a letter about meeting him in the graveyard to start their new life together, which she tears up to hide his location from Vicious. (This is the falling ripped up pieces of paper we see in Spike's flash back in Session 5).

^^ r/gifsyoucanhear

**NOTE: There are those who disagree with this view, (looking at you Cowboy Bebop wiki) instead suggesting Vicious and Spike were buds in the past, but then hated each other once they were both considered as potential successors to Mao. That's why Vicious wanted him dead, and he was enlisting Julia (who he didn't necessarily have a romantic connection to) to help kill Spike since he knew Spike loved her. Personally, I think there is plenty of evidence that Vicious also wanted Julia, and in fact was already with her, when Spike started seeing her. If you want me to cite my sources please send an me an ask about it :)

Spike gets the idea, whether by her just not showing up or word around the syndicate being like YO Vicious wants you dead. Despite Vicious' ultimatum to Julia, he was gunna kill Spike either way. SO he sets up an ambush, and SadBoy™ Spike walks intentionally into their trap. Somehow, he doesn't die, though the entire syndicate thinks he did. (Note Annie's reaction to seeing him alive in Session 5). It’s also implied that this is where he lost his eye.

HIS EYE - possibly the most important symbol in the show so I do have to mention it. In episode 26, he explicitly explains to Faye that one of his eyes only sees the past. (PS this isn't dissimilar to Jet's arm… we can get into that another time). Basically, he's constantly living halfway in the past and halfway in the present, and describes the past like a dream he can never wake up from. Because dysfunctional or not - the syndicate WAS his family. (Again - see his relationship with Annie, Mao, and Vicious (prior to Spike's betrayal)). It's his reminder that Julia didn't run away with him, and that he'd left behind that life for her. (He didn’t know she was being threatened until the final episode). Basically Spike is hyper-fixated on what he had and what could've been.

Not long after this, Spike starts bounty hunting because like? What else is he going to do. He doesn't care if he lives or dies but if he has to be alive, he may as well be able to eat. He joins up with Jet Black on the Bebop.

TL; DR: Spike stole Vicious' lover, Julia, so Vicious made Julia choose between her killing Spike or Vicious killing them both. She instead went into hiding and Spike thought he'd been stood up. He fake died and got the hell outta dodge.

2.     What was Faye's past?

Ok let me start by saying Faye is my wife and my life. HOWEVER I hated her the first time I watched this show circa age 13 because I thought she was annoying/vain/shallow (also because #internalizedmisogyny lol am I right fam). Good news! She is all those things! But she's also very lonely and scared and an amnesiac and secretly a sweetie and she realizes she loves the crew of the Bebop like family.

SO my wife's backstory:

she was born in the 1990s (#only90skidsremember). There's some debate over her race/nationality, but due to the images of her hanging out in Merlion Park in Singapore, my bet is that she's Singaporean. She comes from a wealthy family with a big house, and we see some utterly *adorable* film of her as a child/young adolescent in Session 18: Speak Like a Child. I cry everytime </3

^^ Holla for the representation

In 2014, circa age 20, she and her parents were going into space when the shuttle they were on had some kind of malfunction/accident and it killed an unknown number of people, including her parents. At the time, the technology didn’t exist to be able to save her, so she was put into a cryogenic sleep state. Meanwhile, the Lunar Gate accident occurs, breaking up the moon and causing rock showers on Earth's surface. Most people died, moved to Mars, or settled underground.

She wakes up from her cryogenic sleep in 2068. (Also the year Spike leaves the syndicate.) She's 'woken' by the corrupt Dr. Bacchus who plans on charging her for the years and years of medical debt she's accrued. (See Session 15: My Funny Valentine.) Luckily a lawyer takes interest in her case (Whitney Haggus Matsumoto) and tries to help get rid of her debt. The two fall in love, but turns out Whitney is a Scumbag. He's actually Dr. Bacchus's nephew, and faked his death, writing Faye as the sole inheritor to his will. This means she'll take on all his debts. So baby girl has LOTS of debt at this point.

In the intervening years prior to her joining the Bebop, she gambles, cheats, gains a lot of street smarts, and adopts a very seductive character to get her way. She joins the crew on the Bebop in Session 3: Honky Tonk Women.

TL;DR: Faye is Austin powers

YIKES this is so long I am so sorry. Bitches are obsessed with this show. (I am bitches)

3.     The Ending

Okay I'm going to present this in the way, in my scholarly opinion, would be correct, though there are SO many interpretations other than simply 'Spike died :/".

To understand the plot of the last couple episodes we actually have to go back to Session 5: Mao is instructed* to sign a treaty with a rival syndicate called the White Tigers. (*He's instructed by The Van (Council of identical creepy old men) who are the actual head of the dragon. I think we only see them in Session 26.) Well - Vicious is a Bastard Man and he and his fellow mutineers blow up the White Tiger guys' ship and slit Mao's throat. Before he dies, Mao is like "Gotdamnit if Spike was still here this shit wouldn't have happened." Later in the Cathedral battle, Vicious explains to Spike he killed Mao because Mao 'lost his fangs'. He planned on killing Spike for good her, IMO, so there'd be no rival to take over as Capo for the Dragons.

^^These guys are The Van btw

THEN in Session 25, the Van basically catches Vicious and is like “you killed Mao and now you have to go to Time Out.” The Van also decides to just kill everyone associated with Vicious, just 2 B safe. That's why there's a big ass shootout at the Loser Bar where Jet and Spike are chilling, drinking, (missing Faye and Ed and Ein lol) and Shin (younger brother to Lin, who's helping Vicious overthrow the Dragon) explains all this to Spike. OH and PS JULIA IS ALIVE AND HERE IS HER LOCATION :). (**Notice Spike's reaction at this point is different than his reaction in Jupiter Jazz when he hears there's a Julia on Calisto. Much less excited… hmm…).

SO THEN you know we get some flashbacks of the past as previously explained *and* Julia just happens to run into Faye. She recognizes that Faye is one of Spike's friends from the Bebop (she was keeping tabs on him it seems) and picks her up. Faye doesn't know who Julia is but is like damn bitch I'm a little gay for you. (I mean … that may just be my bi ass projecting, but Faye is REALLY struck with her. Look at how she describes her to Jet, I mean come on.)

 Faye's like, 'we should team up' and Julia says 'no thanks but also tell Spike to meet me at *the place*'. Meanwhile back on the Bebop Spike and Jet are talking and Spike goes on about some dream woman who was his other half. (We assume he means Julia … I have my reasons to doubt this … I have a lot of angry DMs about my opinion here lol but I just do not give a fuck (: I can expand on this in another post or you can refer to the title of my fucking blog haha) Personally, I think Watanabe personally left this specific scene open ended, the same way he does with the ending and various other things.

more like SIMP Spiegel

ANYWAY Faye comes back to the Bebop to tell Spike about Julia, and Jet gets intel from a former cop buddy that there's some shit going down with the Dragons. (Again, the Van is hunting down everyone ever associated with Vicious, including your pal Spike). Bebop is attacked, Faye tells Spike what's up with Julia, and he heads out.

 PAN TO VICIOUS chained up - about to be executed - but what's that!? It's a bird!? It's a pla- no it's just a bird. (With one glowing red eye … hm … reminds me of Spike, also the drug Red Eye. Pls let me know if you have any thoughts on this). Just a bird with a BOMB! Explosion (RIP bird c. 2065 - too soon), Vicious kills the elders, his buddies show up and are ready to go fuck shit up.

this show could not be more of an aesthetic

MMMPhhh okay RAINY CEMETERY. Spike and Julia. She draws a gun, explains why she didn't meet him that day, and then hugs him. Now Spike is not *great* at showing his emotions but he literally just stands there. Maybe it's a stoic expression of how sad he is that he never knew she still cared, when it seemed like she dumped him. Maybe he's finally getting some closure on his past. Maybe the past doesn't mean the same thing it used to. (I'll elaborate later on this).

They go to Annie's to get stocked up on stuff, she lets them know she denied knowing Spike was still alive and hey also the Van was assassinated by Vicious and his guys so. Watch out for that. Then her shop is surrounded by Vicious' guys and she dies :(. Spike and Julia escape to the roof, but she's shot and dies in Spike's arms, and says 'it's all just a dream' :(. (Refer to: Spike living in a dream of the past).

Anyway Jet SAID he wasn't gunna go after Spike but. Jet's parental instincts kick in (oh yeah he was shot in the leg earlier btw) and he goes to Sitting Bull to see if he knows where Spike is. He basically says yeah Spike's about to die somewhere. (I want to do a further analysis on all the Sitting Bull scenes.) Well conveniently Spike returns to the Bebop, eats, tells his story about a tiger-striped cat. (At one point Jet asks if he's going there for her, and Spike is like well she's dead now so whatever). THEN we get to the scene where Faye is like HEY YOU CAN'T GO OFF AND DIE ASSHOLE and he's like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I 've been living in the past so I might as well see if I'm living now. (**This will play heavily into my interpretation of the ending). Faye is pissed, shoots the ceiling and he goes off to the syndicate headquarters to fuck shit up.

He basically John Wicks his way through the building, Shin dies, he and Vicious have the big boss battle and whatnot. He kills Vicious and stumbles back out down the stairs and says "Bang!" and collapses. We pan to the sky and see a star fade away.

Well that explains the plot … now here's what I think happened!!! ALSO may I mention, anon - you picked up on something I feel like a lot of people miss out on. Why *did* Spike go back to kill Vicious if Julia was already dead??

Basically, once it became clear that anyone associated with Vicious was being killed, Spike knew they'd hunt him down, and they weren't beneath Kill-Billing their way to him, (i.e. systematically destroying this companions to get to him). And for all his apparent indifference - he really loves his new found family. Jet is literally like an older brother to him. Ed is a little sister. Ein is well … a very good boy. And Faye? Well the relationship is complicated, and I'm not going to get into the 69,420 reasons I ship them here, but I think it is beyond argument that he really does care for her, even if that just in a filial way. He didn't want the syndicates to kill them for their association to him, or in order to get to him. So he did what he had to do to protect them. *AND NO* I am not saying that he didn't love Julia. But it was clear that his desire was no longer to run away with her. I think he genuinely loved and cared about her, but at some point between Jupiter Jazz Pt 2 and now, he accepted that their time together was over. Now he had a new raison d'etre, which is the Bebop.

I think at this point Spike has 'woken up' to reality (as he implied to Faye in their final conversation in episode 26: "Look at these eyes. One of them is a fake, because I lost it in an accident. Since then, I have been seeing the past in one eye, and the present in the other. I had believed that what I saw was not all of reality...I thought I was watching a dream that I would never awaken from. Before I knew it, the dream was all over." (This is from the sub btw I'm too lazy to look up the dub transcript.) He wasn't going there to die, he's going to find out if he's really alive. This line is fucking cool and everything - but it's implications are multitude. I won't go into them all here but basically : what makes him alive now is that he's free from his past. He's alive because he has this new family and protecting them is all he really wants now. Spike was protecting Jet, Faye, Ed, (and Ein) by going and facing the entire syndicate, knowing that their lives would all be in danger.

SO - did Spike die? Well again - Watanabe has purposely and artfully left this open ended. Well, if we're following the symbolism from Sitting Bull, then yeah, the man is as dead as disco, and wouldn't that be a fitting ending? BUT at the same time, Spike always refers to having 'died' before (meaning when he was ambushed by the syndicate, and they all thought he died, and he pretty much did). Don't forget that in  movie (takes places roughly between episodes 22 + 23, and yes, was made AFTER the series but whatever) he like .. DIES dies. He goes to the afterlife and everything. He wakes up to find he's chilling with Sitting Bull, who's like nah it wasn't your time to die yet. So the fact Sitting Bull confirms Spike will die in the final episode, means yeah, Spike is pretty much dead.

BUT -- okay now hear me out -- could this death in the final episode be a death to his previous life? The person he was in the syndicate? Now that he's extinguished the Red Dragons for good, is it not possible that its merely *that* life which has ended? That's the optimist in me saying that, but if it keeps me from staying up all night crying, I guess it'll have to do. Watanabe definitely wants to leave it up to the viewer, so whatever you think, I feel like there's validity to it.

WELL any anon, sorry for the fucking lecture - and believe me, I could've said MUCH, MUCH more - but I enjoyed this question. I always love talking about this show so please all you fuckers feel free to message me or send an ask about anything any time. I am really slow at replying because #life'sAbitch.

Love you all.

SY,SCB <3

[gdcee]

Hm. The Mandalorian Gods are only mentioned in that Death Watch manifesto right?

Now I'm wondering just how reliable or complete the info on them is. I think it's already sort of fanon that Kad Ha'rangir is a force of creative destruction but the manifesto just says Destroyer God. From what I've seen in rl religions it's not uncommon for destruction deities to also have aspects related to creation or protection. Would make sense for DW and the earlier Mandalorian Empire to focus entirely on the destruction and war aspects though.