TAG DROP: SANDAIME KAZEKAGE.

DEFAULT CANON VERSE.

verse: elegies are my forms — i erase and await the one who will erase me. truly‚ i am death. ( default )  /  /   default verse. covers the sandaime’s canon time-span.  

arc one:  i live in the heart of a coming sun. i seek shelter in the childhood of night‚ resting my head on the lap of morning.  ( youth ) /  /    extends from childhood to the days leading up to his coronation.

arc two:   this will be the age of beauty: an age that crumbles like sand and fuses like zinc; an age in perpetual decline.  ( reign )  /  /   covers kelela’s reign as sandaime kazekage.

arc three:  the guilty always return to the places that made them. guilt is a place; it may possess you. ( puppet )  /  /   the marionette years.

arc four:  sometimes what keeps you alive is a mystery. ( wandering )  /  /   kelela remains animated after the war by sheer force of will. he wanders wind country observing his people, protecting the borders, and dreaming always of the life and lives he lost.

alternate universe tags.

verse:  and i shall remain‚ for my own self hedges me in.  ( au )  /  /    alternate universe: kelela never dies.

verse:   i attack and uproot. i know i am in the spring of death. i delve into the grave but the soil knows i am alive. ( au )  /  /   alternate universe: kelela makes a deal with a desert spirit and achieves eternal life in exchange for a dark promise.

verse tag drop: kelela ( sandaime kazekage ).

default verse tags.

verse: elegies are my forms — i erase and await the one who will erase me. truly‚ i am death.   /  /   default verse. covers the sandaime's canon time-span.  

arc one:  i live covertly in the heart of a coming sun. i seek shelter in the childhood of night‚ resting my head on the lap of morning.   /  /    extends from childhood to the days leading up to his coronation.

arc two:   this will be the age of beauty: an age that crumbles like sand and fuses like zinc; an age in perpetual decline.   /  /   covers kelela’s reign as sandaime kazekage.

arc three:  the guilty always return to the places that made them. these places are what you can possess and what in the end possesses you.   /  /   the marionette years.

arc four:  sometimes what keeps you alive is a mystery.   /  /   kelela remains animated after the war by sheer force of will. he wanders wind country observing his people, protecting the borders, and dreaming always of the life and lives he lost.

alternate universe tags.

verse:  and i shall remain‚ for my own self hedges me in.   /  /    alternate universe: kelela never dies.

verse:   i attack and uproot. i know i am in the spring of death. i delve into the grave but the soil knows i am alive.   /  /   alternate universe: kelela makes a deal with a desert spirit and achieves eternal life in exchange for a dark promise.

Tale of a Forest

Prompt: *Freebie* for @14daysdalovers

Pairing: M!Fenhawke

They seek refuge in the embrace of the tree.

The rain, decisive withal light, descended upon them at no notice.

In one moment, the forget-me-not-blue and snowdrop-white sky an exuberant brightness, in another handfuls of ashen-grey clouds were summoned by the wind to befall the lands with astonishing rains.

Fenris espied the riven tree first. Born from one root it stretches its triplet-trunks luxuriously like a three-fingered hand. Above, their crowns reach to rejoice again and, while still bereft of their leafy dress, numberless limbs entwine twistingly as if to warm each other. It stands alone, as if left behind by its comrades.

So they are hurrying towards it with quick steps, their rebounding feet falling lightly on the springy gras spraying larksome drops of rain every which way.

Between the three bough-branched, moss-matted trunks Hawke and Fenris shed their cloaks to put them up. If not drying they would at least provide a woolen canopy fending off most of the hoydenish rain. The wetness is not fancying itself a storm, yet prevents the toilsome start of a fire.

Under this they settle, Hawke leaning against the inner side of one of the three tilted trunks, and soon he reaches for Fenris who is still busy with the arrangements of their makeshift roof, dauntless rain drops tugging at the white strands of his hair, afly now and then in the welling wind. In one well-practiced, fluid motion Fenris sinks down on Hawke’s lap, his arms around his waist.

Thus huddled midst the three-faced tree they listen to the quiet weeping of the skies.

After a while, Hawke reclines his head and smiles, eyes aglitter. “You wish to continue our fight from earlier on?” 

“I did not fight with you,” Fenris answers, “You did not yet know you were wrong.”

Roaring, Hawke throws back his head, his throat resonate with laughter. “They do not know where to go. They are refugees now.” he says after a moment, smiling appreciatively up at the man sitting in his lap, anticipating the game.

“Which did not prevent the man from attacking me with blood magic when we drew closer.” Fenris counters with arid readiness.

“I was assailed by the Templar first.” Hawke retorts slyly.

Fenris’ response is instantaneous and fast: “Whereas the blood mage attacked me behind my back.”

“Of course he did, you cannot expect the poor lad to attack you to your face.” Hawke replies, candid.  

“I was bending down for some badges to help him.” Fenris indignantly snorts.

“Well,” Hawke continues with relishing insolence, “you forgot to shed your murder-face first.”

Slightly Fenris’ eyes narrow, pondering this for a time while leaning back. “He was trying, if only amateurishly, to use my blood, Hawke.”

“Yes, and that is very outrageous,” Hawke concedes in serious graveness, “but the boy was only sixteen and, I think, he was far too afraid to cut his own little finger.”

Fenris grimaces and therefore Hawke, sensing advantage, is quick to plunge on: “Whereas the Templar I was to try and talk out of threatening the poor boy – “

“You mocked her.” Fenris interjects dryly.

“ – whereas the Templar I was trying to jolly along”, Hawke insists, “with her sword nearly hew off my arm.” he ends with a gleeful triumph.

Head slanted, Fenris raises a dark, versatile eyebrow. “The Templar who was about eighty years? At least?”

“She was a very agile eighty-year-old.”

“She,” Fenris dissents with blithe stubbornness, “did not use blood magic.”

“Because she did not know how to. Neither did the boy.” Hawke explains mock-gravely.

“He meant to.  Although I even smiled at him.” invokes Fenris displeased, his eyes an emerald conflagration.

“Baring your teeth at a mage is not smiling, Fenris. It is murder-face.” Then, as though adding an afterthought, Hawke impishly grins. “I, of all people, should know.”

At this the tension shatters and this time it is Fenris’ turn to give a low laugh, Hawke can feel it spiraling in his chest, a plumbless, youthful sound, his chesty voice vibrantly flying up to bead between hundreds of lucent drops of rain.

Gently, Hawke bows his head. Thus, Fenris forehead comes to rest upon his, their breaths mingling.

They listen again for the soft thuds and whispers of the rain.

After a while they kiss. Both hungry and savoring, a tender, silent game of questions and answers of lips. They graze each other’s skin, seek softly for familiar spots, a patch of rough skin, an unfamiliar and late bite, slightly swollen.

A little later Fenris and Hawke talk, dripping clouds lazily passing by, their voices quiet and clear to each other.

Hawke tells Fenris of his mother, the feel of her hard, rounded belly which he touched with young hands as a small boy, of his brother and sister, how they were born in the midnight blue middle of a storm-wrapped night, how he used to play hide-and-seek with tiny Carver and climbed ancient trees with little Bethany, and the fire the two of them once started, unwittingly, in his mother’s prized flower bed.

Hawke tells him stories of his childhood, stories of white-capped mountains which send their frigid howls down into snow-swirling dells in a Ferelden white, of forests so dark and mystical, moss-green and bark-brown, brimming with tales of walking trees and talking wolves hidden between shades of innumerable greens in short summer, every conceivable shade of white in winter. Lands, fields and streams still ruled by chilling winters and long-dead kings.

How did you survive, Fenris asks as the pads of his fingertips trace along the arcs of Hawke’s cheekbones and scrub against the defying black of his beard, in this threatening cold?  What does a frozen sea look like, Hawke?

Hot meals, Fenris, long-burning, flame-red fires from crepitant logs and twigs during long nights, and warm, heavy furs like the wild men wear in the south.

Fenris, in turn, talks then of dense jungles and tangled vegetation, the unmatched feeling of overwhelmingness in opaque, dark, colossal jungles of towering trees, giant green leaves, spear-like sunrays that pierce the otherwise impenetrable green, smoothing darkness. Of tall stone pagodas overrun with twining vines. Of roaring cataract waterfalls amidst lushes of leafy, muggy forest pervading the sight, the sun a remote memory under the eclipsing canopy of virescent leaves, a luminous baldachin shrilly alive with all manner of cries, chatters, chirrups and sundry shrieks. Of a turquoise blue ocean which sheds its color to a cryptic midnight blue after sunset, leaving a taste of salt on skins. Of a stupefying onslaught of water, dripping, drenching, dousing during incessant rains permeating for weeks on end. Inbetween these onrushs the continual dripping of beads on ferns and creepers like a sheet of crystals, mixing up with the pervasive thin layer of sweat on the skin, adding to the moisture in the air. Of the everlasting, impermeable, out-reaching fog veiling warriors of egregious stealth and skill, who harbor but secrets of the origin of the legendary Griffons from the vast mountains tangy with cinnamon and nutmeg, a fragrance that weaves in and out of the luscious greenery of ferns. Here, Fenris pauses. Somewhat lost in reflection, contemplation. As always.

At first, this was difficult for Fenris.

Speaking. Talking. About good things, too. Things worth to remember.

Testing the power of your tongue. Letting your voice fly out of your chest and settle somewhere within another heart.

Letting lose things, of birds and beasts, flowers and thorns, things you are not sure you dare to examine yourself, things that bear both blossoms and poison. Power indwelling and evoked in both. And by letting them lose, that power transfers into the listener.

So Hawke started it. By letting fly small stories. Kirkwall, the first year he lived there, Ferelden, his hometown Lothering. Short tales that grew larger eventually, as Fenris tried, hesitantly, warily, distrustfully the power of his own voice. Hitherto he had spoken, oh yes, words burst forth from within by runaway emotions, unbridled, only to be shackled again and frowned upon afterwards. So, with incredible difficulty, tentatively, cautiously, with a lot of faltering and long considering pauses between words while Hawke listened to him in silence, Fenris tried.

What does a white beach look like, asks Hawke, rubbing Fenris’ arm lightly as his quiet stretches on, how does a warm sea leaping at your naked toes feel like? How does it taste, the moist sky and jungle air?

And Fenris tells Hawke, under the shelter of softly padding rain drops, of ensanguined beaches and mossy ground trembling under the everlasting combat of Tevinter soldiers and Qunari warriors. Fenris tells, his voice clear and quiet, after great consideration, also of Minrathous, a city of marvels and terrors alike. Of how he endured nights of stomach-punching, mind-dulling hunger in a palatial, marble-pillared place brimming with food, of nights filled with the heart-pounding, ceaseless listening for hunting pursuers, of the guilt and pleasure of stolen crumbs of bread over a dead body.

There are stories, yes, stories Fenris does not talk about which Hawke hears in the mute, overpowering echo of his silence. Stories Hawke both fears and yearns for.

Therefore, Hawke talks of his father.

The tickle and scratchiness of his father’s ebony beard under his boyish fingers The way his mouth curved, sagged and arched into infectious grins. The reverberation of his resonating laughter when no one else would laugh but anyone be provoked into it by his quiet smile in a fuliginous hut. . The smell of tender arms. Of his father taking him for walks by hours on end into the winding forests, teaching him magic, pure simple magic, and considerably more.  His father whom Hawke invariably, ineradicably venerated and revered, a man of such kindness and protectiveness that he would help anyone who stumbled across his path. A man of unparalleled strength of will who wielded his magic before Hawke’s admiring boyish eyes with skill unrivaled, a man who seemed not to draw magic from the elements but rather be flooded by it from nature itself, while Fenris’ gaze lingers upon Hawke’s features with a softening, gentle expression whereas Hawke’s voice deliquesces to a throaty hoarseness.

Thus, a forest of stories arises, familiar ones they have shared many times before to one another so that they sound like lullabies from forgotten childhood days to either Fenris or Hawke. A forest grows of stories which they find new aspects to each time they tell the other again, a fresh point of view to ponder, a new silver light in the snow of a cold morning to behold, an almost forgotten, dusty taste to palpate in their mouths. And new stories as well. Stories which they are strangers to themselves until they have finished telling, somewhat scared, their gaze intend and steady upon the other’s face.

Inbetween stories they kiss again, patient and slow and between hushed words, indignant laughter and childlike giggles to find them.

The rain obscuring their sight, they have not seen the sun riding low in the sky and being pulled below the earth, illumined with streaks of light threading their way through the clouds. On the opposite side the moon rises behind the horizon as a vast, unbelievably sublime coin. It is aglow in ember-colored tones.

Meanwhile the rain has stopped, the clouds somehow, somewhen drifted along, revealing a welkin unsullied. Along the branches of the three-fingered tree buds glister lightly with the occasional drop, each heavy with the power of a rainforest’s monsoon, falling with a dead Ferelden king’s immortal might. A pale pink brushes the skies in the early evening, enchanting the horizon into a silky teal flowing into dainty rosy hues, dissolving to mysterious lilacs and, ultimately, velvety cobalt blue, their pastel shades disintegrating into one another.

The rain over, they rise from the embrace of the tree. Hawke tastes the squishy ground first with his boot, the grass springy and spongy underneath him. They bring down the almost soaking cloak which sustained shelter for them all the same.

Albeit smudged with winter dirt, the rain has bestrewn the wet ground with a scatter of shyly budding blossoms. But lying on a green bed of silk, violet crocus flowers wreathe among snowdrops of impeccable ivory and valorous-greened, saffron-yellow daffodils. Once night descends and soars again, hidden birds will begin their songs of time-old tales in every direction despite the cold dawn.

As of yet, Hawke and Fenris listen into the evening air, indicative of battle and fear, fading at last. The barely interrupted fighting has stopped to an exhausted stupor.

The lake from which they ran around midday lies shimmering and serene, struck by spring twilight, its depth wrought in the remembrance of a waning winter, not yet radiant with the lapis blue it will don to bedazzle its entranced surroundings.

With the cease of daylight, the war cries gradually cease too with tired people soon returning to their makeshift camps and jealously guarded camp fires, holding their enemies at bay by the threat of a night ambush, and a sort of weary silence returns to this once tranquil land.

Hawke’s boots squelch and Fenris’ incorrigibly bare feet slap onto the wet grass. Both of them look up to glance not at the spectacular fulgent full moon but westwards.

Behind them, under an unblemished plum-purple firmament, the low horizon would emanate a peach-colored, splendid glow, were it not for the bilious green exuded in the sky above. As both Fenris and Hawke look in its direction, upon their faces is cast a haunting light which throws their features into unfamiliar shapes, rifts and cracks, defacing, distorting them almost into unrecognizability.

Tentatively, Fenris hand touches Hawke’s chest.

“No news from Varric yet.”

Almost absent-mindedly, Hawke’s hand comes to rest on the pocket underneath his armor, too, where a carefully folded, thin package of swiftly-written and often-read letters rests, not speaking at once.

“I would never have believed to say this: No.”

Thoughtful, Fenris looks back at eerie sky. They both appraise it for a while.

This night, although they do not yet know of it, they will spend with rare company, sharing their food and secureness despite Hawke’s being careful of unearthing his name and self. Young and unkempt, a girl of maybe ten years will observe Fenris with curious child’s eyes, after setting fire to a winter-brown scrub, whom he calls witch. She, consequently, proudly informs him when I grow up I will become a witch of the wilds. They thereupon continue staring at each other, she peering, he glaring, till the girl lifts her dirty hands to snatch the apple in mid-air, revealing a gap between her teeth with her grinning at his gift.

For now, however Fenris’ hand easily slides into Hawke’s with well-practiced ease, a modest squeeze tiding through Hawke’s fingers, filling the chill which has descended upon them with warmth, a breathlessness and contentment flaring up inside him, as they set off for the winter-worn, mage-marked, templar-torn, spring-awaiting lake.

Behind them the solitary, three-stemmed tree slowly becomes one with the sinking crocus-purple night, a forest of trees fading with it.

______________________________________________________

😄 Okay, normally I don’t show drafts and I really don’t feel comfortable sharing  things I feel are not only unrevised but still rough, blurred and incomplete BUT I really, really, REALLY wanted to contribute something to this last day of February and @14daysdalovers so I’ve worked through this for the last three days on end and I'm deciding now to simply bury my face in my hands and be done with it! 😆😅🙈

💗 Thank you so much @scharoux for your invariable efforts and considerate kindness! With your help what would have been a disheartening, quarantine-ridden February was transformed into weeks of pleasure, creativity and love! 💗

🌹 THANK YOU!!! 🌹

PS. A million thanks, too, to all those incredible, invisible people who actually bother to read my stuff!!!

Chapters: 6/6 Fandom: Destiny (Video Games) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Eris Morn/Ikora Rey Characters: Eris Morn, Ikora Rey Additional Tags: 5+1 Things, Hello destiny sapphics; allow me to introduce myself, Femslash, if nobody is going to write the content i want to see then i will create it myself, listen. it's about perceiving the weak and wounded places in someone you love, and lavishing love and care upon them even when they won't admit they need it, it's about the Mutual Support, it's about being kind to them even when you don't know how to be kind to yourself, Light Angst, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, oh and ikora has the most Distinguished Bisexual energy i've ever seen so jot that down, it doesn't come up but you needed to know, this is all just a bunch of softness and tenderness don't @ me okay

Summary:

Five storms Eris and Ikora weathered and one they didn't need to.

The Shadowkeep weblore lives in my head rent free. Set post-Taken King and mostly during Shadowkeep.

“As I told Asher, there is a storm coming...” “Oryx is dead. We’ve weathered the storm.” Ikora is upset. She has yet to understand the bigger picture. “Yet his sisters would see his will done. There will always be another storm.” “Then let’s weather it together.” -Shadowkeep Narrative Preview #1

Many thanks to @hencegoodfortune for the beta read and of course for the memes.

Chapter: |  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  +1  |

Set just after The Taken King.

Eris knows she is not in the Hellmouth. Although the Tower has never felt the same since her ordeal on Luna, she recognizes it easily nonetheless. At every moment, the freshness of the open air reminds her that she is here, she is on Earth. She has been for some time now.

However, she has never forgotten how to move like a ribbon through the darkness, arcing undetected round predator and prey alike. She doubts that she ever will. Sometimes the habit returns of its own accord, and she’ll find her feet and hands floating weightless as she moves. Joints and muscle and sinew flex in careful concert to absorb every sound before it is made. The lines of lightly tensed limbs spiral seamlessly into the coiled core of her, tethering her in perfect silence. At the same time, she remains ever ready to fight, ready to flee. How often has Eris’ last, Lightless life lay along the knife’s edge of a split-second choice, the divergence between action and stillness, vengeance or survival?

Somehow, the smooth stone of the Tower’s level floors is harder to walk quietly on than the rough winding warrens through Luna’s porous rock. There are no edges to test with the edge of her boot, no uneven surface to ease her soles onto by swift and silent increments. There is only the unsubtle strike of heels on a flat, unforgiving surface. She makes the most of it, as every Hunter here does. Still, it leaves her uneasy. Her feet cannot quite keep to the ground.

Consequently, she often finds herself pacing, wandering from her post in the heart of the Tower whenever she grows restless. Every step falls lighter than the last, chasing silence in a meditation on weightlessness. It does not make her feel any better.

After so long underground, she is unaccustomed to the plenitude of open space here. While she has traced much of the Tower’s perimeters, the negative spaces in the centers of broad rooms and vaulted halls she leaves less frequented. She is too exposed there.

Yet maybe she is less affected by the empty space than the sheer number of souls that so often fill it. After so long so alone, they are simply so many, pressing at her survival-sharpened awareness from every angle. Not to mention she attracts too many of their stares in the crowded plazas. Although detection here is not followed by shrieking howls or the lightning strike of boomers, distrustful eyes still make her hunger for shelter. The choice to endure or to withdraw still needs to be be made. And whether well-meaning or ill-intentioned, a close approach still makes her instinctively recoil.

Eris has scraped out a place for herself here, lingering close enough to share with those who will listen the knowledge she has gained at a terrible price. But it has been made clear enough that she does not belong here anymore, not as she once did. If the condemnation of the Speaker and the only begrudging trust of the Vanguard’s Commander were not enough to tell her that, then the wary regard of most of the Tower’s populace would. So she holds herself back, toward the edges of things. It is difficult to do so at her station so near the Hall of Guardians, the greatest locus of Guardian activity on the planet. She draws herself to her full height and stands there proud, but never takes the ground she stands on for granted. When it becomes too much, like now, she paces.

This time, her pacing has led her to the edge of the Tower where her ship was once tethered. With how wary she has grown of exposed spaces, the open sky above that lays bare every courtyard and balcony should send her seeking cover - and yet, it does not. If anything, its incomprehensibly vast expanse calls to her. Strange.

Eris has traversed the spaces between planets with her own fragile body, with only a ship’s hull to keep the cold from swallowing what remains of her. Yet from Earth’s surface, a few mere miles of atmosphere transforms that emptiness, and its beauty holds her spellbound. It scatters sun into prismatic slices of light. The stars’ unblinking gaze softens into a flutter of eyelashes. No longer can she see the narrow spectrum of colors that humans evolved to discern; it has all faded into endless shades of the same hue. But the contrast of such brightnesses against the dark have become sharper than ever. Indeed, daylight has become a blaze to truly blind her. These stolen eyes of hers were made instead for depths and shadows.

Even so, she often finds herself staring out into the searing sky until her head aches. The sensations make her remember. She is no longer buried beneath stone, lost to this cosmos. She is free now, in some ways.

Eventually, her wanderings bring her back to the shaded refuge beneath the stairs just outside the Hall of Guardians. She is glad for this, too. Her station provides some small respite for her sensitive, ever-weeping eyes. And there she stays, until exhaustion drives her to rest, or else grief or fear or restlessness or her ever-smoldering rage drive her to pacing once again.

It’s true that many other eyes pass by that shadowed alcove of hers. Guardians constantly sweep in and out on either side of her, running and jumping and gliding up and down the stairs with urgent reports and important orders and burning questions for the Vanguard. They are so bright. Few of them spare a glance for her, these days, save for startled new Lights.

There are a few, though, who look upon her not with distrust or fear or begrudging tolerance, but with recognition. Once in a great while, cousin Asher will grace her with his inimitable company. It gladdens her heart, even when he merely stops to exchange research notes or brief insults. He cleaves to his research with a passionate vengeance, as does she. Unlike most, he pays more attention to her knowledge and her current work than her past. With the way he helped care for her in the months after her escape from Luna, she has come to hold him in close confidence.

On occasion, her friend the Guardian, who avenged her fireteam upon the very souls of Crota and Oryx, stops to greet her. Sometimes they bring her news from Luna or Mars. Words are few with that one lately, though. These days, their outgoing ghost is the one who relays whatever tidings they carry. The change leaves a cold shadow over Eris’ heart. Therefore, she values their quiet presence all the more. She fears for them.

Of course, Ikora’s is the kind regard she is subject to most often. Eris has never forgotten that Ikora believed her since the beginning. Most met her genuine warnings of inbound danger from the Hive with distrust, dismissal, or fear. Ikora not only listened, but met her with endless kindness. Even now, as the Warlock Vanguard steps into nearer chamber of the Hall for a brief consultation with Lord Shaxx, she spares a moment and a smile for Eris.

Ikora’s smile has always been warm and real and reassuring, a balm on the fibers of frayed nerves. Among the very few who welcomed Eris back to Earth, that smile was a signal of genuine care and safety that she homed in on immediately. The one directed at Eris now is subtle, a mere quirk of the lips. Yet it hints at the vast depths of passion and compassion below the surface, like a ripple that disappears swiftly on the surface of a deep, deep pool.

Ikora’s outward cool composure that obscures that intensity is not a façade. It is more an ingenius piece of architecture, a mighty aqueduct capable of holding and channelling the endless font of her inner immensities. It is an elegant and functional work of art well-kept and expanded over centuries.

The warmth that must be behind such a small yet genuine smile is palpable; it falls on Eris like the creeping warmth of sunlight, sinking in deep even though it scarcely touches her skin. Even the lower half of her face, where her many layers do not shield her from long-lost Sol, is still sallow and nearly as grayed as the dust of Luna. She hadn’t known at first, with the changes to her vision, not until Asher had told her. He never does shy away from the speaking of truth. In those endless years of darkness, the lack of light and loss of Light took something from Eris, sapped something vital, and left something strange in its place.

Yet Eris can feel the sun again, now. She can walk out into the courtyard at any time of day, find a south-facing wall to lean on, and bask in the radiating warmth like an ectothermic reptile.

Even without leaving the cool shadows of her post, another warmth still reaches her. Ikora offers her one more smile as she goes to return to her own station. Eris stands a little taller under the aegis of her regard, her spine the stem of a sunflower lifting her toward its steady kindness.

Eris takes not a single one of these boons for granted. Each one is a precious gift far beyond what she ever expected to experience again, after her descent into the Hellmouth. Yet none of it can quell her restlessness, for it springs from the same source as her gratefulness. It always comes back to what happened to her on Luna.

Each time she returns to her pacing, the Tower feels a little smaller. The scope of the sky distracts her for a shorter time. Now, even after her sworn vengeance upon the Hive has been fulfilled twice over in double deicide, the path of her vow still pulls her feet forward. She does not know where its shrouded course leads, only that there is still a threat yet to be met along it. More and more, she is certain that she cannot wait here to meet it, or it will be too late.

However, she never expected to leave behind wounds when she leaves. After she departs to sight the next storm on the horizon, she is haunted as often by the surprised hurt that she left in Ikora’s eyes as by the memory of her smile.

Written in Stone (Jonawagon AU)

(hey gingerreggg it’s desiree237, i found your tumblr! i commented on your post on AO3 about a jonawagon fic that your Hands of Life AU reminded me of, but as i don’t have a working AO3 as of the moment i searched for your account so you can see it as i found it. enjoy :D )

**resending this cause i think tumblr ate it the first time T_T**

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“Isn’t he magnificent?” said Speedwagon with a sigh, as he overlooked the plot of land that was once the Joestar Mansion. This old, hallowed ground had seen greater days, long since forgotten, as times had changed in the fifty years that had passed, and, formerly the site of a desperate struggle of good against evil, was now but an unassuming public park– a park where children played blissfully unaware of the drama that had played out here many decades ago.

Speedwagon’s tired old eyes, however, focused on the park’s centerpiece: a towering monument of none other than the truest friend and noblest soul Speedwagon had ever known: Jonathan Joestar. Carved of polished white marble by Speedwagon himself and standing over eight feet in height– far taller than Jonathan had been in life– the monument was sculpted in his perfect likeness, his noble, handsome face gazing bravely into the distance as he brandished a sword, a chrome-tinted replica of the one Jonathan bore, silently posed in a stance of fearless combat.

It took years, many years, of hard labor from Speedwagon’s part. But he felt it was all worth it. Carefully, lovingly, he had chipped away at the marble block bit by miniscule bit, slowly but surely recreating the figure, the face, of a man so worthy of admiration.

Of a man who, by his own selflessness, was gone forever– but deserved to be remembered by those who were not fortunate enough to have known him as closely as Speedwagon had.

A tear streamed from Speedwagon’s eye as eight-year old Joseph, Jonathan’s grandson, tugged at Speedwagon’s sleeve. “Uncle Speedy? Who is that statue, anyway?”

His query broke Speedwagon’s heart a little. Poor Joseph never knew his grandfather. And Jonathan…he perished on the day of his honeymoon: never to hear his child’s voice, see his face, or partake in the joy of his son becoming a father himself. A family who had to grow in his absence.

So much had been lost that day.

Speedwagon wiped away a tear with a sniffle. “That, Joseph, is your grandpa, Jonathan. He was the strongest, bravest, gentlest man I ever knew. He would have loved to have met you,” he said to Joseph, lovingly ruffling the little boy’s messy brown hair.

“I wish I’d met him too,” little Joseph piped up.

“I wish…” Speedwagon sighed, gazing at the gorgeous, but lifeless, face that stared blankly into nothingness. “I wish he was still here.”

The sun was setting, and Speedwagon knew Joseph had to go home soon, as at his age he was still going to school, and thus needed to go to bed early.

“Jorge?” Speedwagon called out to his companion at the park. “Would you mind taking Joseph home with you? I just…need to stay a little longer,” he sighed, sadly.

“Sure thing, Uncle Robbie,” grinned Jorge. “Joseph? Jojo! It’s time for us to come home!” he hollered, calling his son back to return home for the night, after a long day at the park.

And soon, Speedwagon was all alone, as night began to fall.

Fifty years. It had been fifty years since he had lost Jonathan. He had left that fateful day, on what had been meant to be the happiest day of his life, with Erina, and Speedwagon couldn’t have been more proud to see him off. But then came the tragic news: that the ship had gone down in flames– and that Jonathan was dead. Speedwagon felt a heavy guilt in his heart. That he had been absent when Jonathan needed him. And now, he would never see his face again, only in stone, and in his memories.

It was so long ago, but his heart still hurt. He loved Jonathan more than anyone else. Perhaps as a true friend. And perhaps…even more.

Sitting sadly by the statue’s pedestal, he gazed up at his marble creation. He marveled at its perfection, and reveled in Jonathan’s memory, so fresh and bright in his mind, that had allowed him to shape such a facsimile of his fallen friend. How could someone forget somebody like Jonathan? So beautiful in both body and heart, forever etched as a tantalizing, bittersweet memory in Speedwagon’s soul.

“If only you could see us now, Jojo,” he whispered to the statue, running his hand mournfully over its smooth, marble fingers. “If only you could talk, and tell me how you feel about all I’d done in your honor.” He began to weep, his tears landing on the statue’s polished feet. “I miss you, old chap.”

“I wish you were still with us.”

Unknown to Speedwagon, a brilliant streak of light arced across the heavens above, flashing for a moment and vanishing in the darkness. Some called them meteors. But to others, they were known by a more hopeful moniker: wishing stars.

“I wish I had you back, Jojo.”

Suddenly, to Speedwagon’s surprise, the ground began to shake, rumbling beneath him and rustling the trees of the park, which swayed ominously as the terrified old man glanced around in a panic.

“An earthquake…” Speedwagon gasped. He had to get to safety, somehow. Seeking shelter beneath a sturdy bench, Speedwagon dashed for cover, crouching down in terror under the bench as the entire park was rocked by tremors of the earth itself. He hoped Jorge and Joseph were somewhere safe.

And then, he heard a loud cracking noise, and his heart sank like a stone at sea.

Before his horrified eyes, the feet of Jonathan’s statue broke loose from the pedestal. For a moment the statue remained upright, as defiant and proud as Jonathan had been– and then slowly, it began to tilt and fall, and Speedwagon could only watch in grief and horror as his magnum opus, his tribute to a lost beloved, came crashing down to the ground with a colossal thud.

“No,” Speedwagon tried to say, but no sound came out of his lips.

As the shaking came to a halt Speedwagon scrambled out of his hiding spot and rushed to the pedestal, his heart pounding, his chest heaving. Years of work, destroyed in moments. Just like Jonathan had been. Gone in an instant.

But as he bent over to assess the damage, he saw something that he couldn’t have forseen. The statue was intact, save for the sword that had fallen from its grasp, but it seemed to have changed its position. He had carved his figure in noble repose, but now it lay sprawled pitifully upon the ground. Speedwagon blinked. Perhaps he was just imagining things. Perhaps he was hallucinating from his emotional pain.

And right at that moment, he heard a voice– a voice he never thought he would ever hear again.

“W-where…am I?” came a deep, rich voice that seemed to emanate from the statue itself.

Jonathan’s voice.

And before his eyes, as his jaw dropped in a mixture of fear and amazement, he beheld something that should have been impossible, by all rational means: the statue began to move on its own.

Massive marble hands gripped onto the ground while powerful stony arms heaved his bulk upward. His feet, once fixed to the pedestal, had come off clean at the soles, and with two stumbling strides the statue found its footing and rose to its full height: towering above Speedwagon as its head turned to face Speedwagon, a magical, ethereal blue glow illuminating the figure’s eyes. 

Speedwagon froze in fright as the stony colossus towered over him. Was the statue possessed by some dark magic, strange wizardry, a demon perhaps? Speedwagon knew, after having witnessed things like a mask that transformed men into vampires, that supernatural happenings were certainly not out of the question. This could be something bad.

And yet, as the statue spoke again, with a familiar, oddly comforting voice, he began to doubt that to be the case.

“S-Speedwagon?” came the voice, as tender and soothing as he’d always remembered it. “Is that…you?” it, or rather, he, asked with hesitant confusion. “Why are you…so small? And…old?”

The statue gazed at his own hands in bewilderment. “What…am I?” he cried out with a note of concern.

Speedwagon glanced up at the towering stony giant, tears welling up in his eyes. “J-Jonathan? Is that you? Is that really you? Please, tell me! Say something only Jonathan would say. Only something he would know! Prove it!” Speedwagon yelled with imcreasing desperation choking up his voice.

“Ogre Street…the mansion…the ship…” mumbled the statue incoherently. “Erina…Dio…the fire…”

Speedwagon began to heave heavy sobs of grief and joy as he listened to the statue listing in confusion, who had sat down onto the pedestal in a state of shock.

“Jonathan…” he wept. “It…it is you…”

He rushed to the statue at once without hesitation and embraced him tightly. His body was hard, and cold, unlike the soft, warm flesh that he knew from Jonathan’s loving embrace, and yet, deep within his heart, in his soul, in the reassuring warmth that rushed through his body upon feeling its touch, that this ponderous being that was before him truly was Jonathan all the same.

“Jojo…Jojo…”, Speedwagon gasped between uncontrollable sobs. “It’s you. You’re back. I don’t know why, or how this is even happening…but you’re back, Jonathan. You’re here.”

Jonathan, still seated on his marble pedestal, shifted one massive marble arm and held Speedwagon close by. His stone grip was hard and strong, and yet Speedwagon felt the same gentle tenderness that he had yearned for for many long decades.

“Where am I?” Jonathan asked again. “My body…it feels like stone. And I am…alive? But…but I died…”

Speedwagon looked up at the living stone figure and met his gaze. His eyes burned bright like a dull azure flame, but even in their ethereal otherworldiness, there was no mistaking the same noble spirit behind the flickering glow.

“I don’t know how to explain this to you, Jonathan, but you indeed are…dead. And it has been fifty years hence since that day. Things have changed, times have passed. I know it’s a lot to take in, Jojo. It surely is for me. Perhaps I can explain later.”

“I…I remember nothing after the fire,” Jonathan replied. “But Erina is safe? And Dio…gone?”

“Yes, Jonathan. Everything is well and good. And we have you to thank.”

As Jonathan sat in silence in the middle of the nighttime park, trying to process his sudden, unusual newfound existence, Speedwagon tightly gripped his hard marble hand and rested his head on his shoulder, closing his eyes in a strange relief.

“Welcome back to this world, Jonathan,” he sighed with a dreamy smile.

“Welcome home.”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

⏪ P J’s PokéAni Rewind 2019

Hello, yes I’m still alive for those wondering or care at all :] Just been taking an indefinite leave from all my social media accounts (though you can still see me on Discord: PokémonJesus#2495) since mid-November going through some personal self-discovery journey...nobody misses me anyways. I’ll address that maybe in a future post, but let’s not make this about me...because RIGHT NOW it is time for my 4th annual year-end (and favorite) Tumblr tradition! 2019 was a stressful year for me personally (as you can tell I’ve been on and off  here), and I appreciate all of the friends I’ve made within this fandom who’ve stuck with me through it. It was also the year of the successful launch of my new PokéAni exclusive side-blog @pokeaniepisodes​ where I would do my weekly episode blogging/screen-caps/GIFs for the #pokeani tag. Within the span of 10 months, I would gain over 1,000 followers! Thank you to those who have followed me there as well. Obviously due to my current circumstances, that has been put on halt as well after Sun & Moon ended. Apologies, but I’ll be back in 2020 hopefully. As for PokéAni, it was bittersweet as we bid Alola farewell with the Sun & Moon series ending heading into the next generation series. If you’re curious to hear what I have to say about the new series, well here’s your post! The Pokémon anime has officially wrapped up for this year with Ash & Go in the Hoenn region earlier today, in where he WON another tournament showing Go how it’s done! But now, it is time to highlight some of the best episodes (this post will be following the original Japanese release dates, but will still be using the English/game dub names for a universal understanding by all) I personally found noteworthy from each month. Without further ado, let’s take a look back at what the Pokémon anime had to offer in 2019. 1, 2, 3. LET’S GO!

JANUARY - Hello Hapu

The Poni Island adventures begin! And also, the road to Ash’s final grand trial to complete. This mini-arc started a very fun series of character-centric episodes among the main cast and their Pokémon while they were in the island without Professor Kukui’s guidance. From Sophocles’s Charjabug evolving to a Vikavolt, and Lana’s Popplio evolving to Brionne (plus getting Primarium Z!). But the highlight out of all of this was the character arc of the soon-to-be Poni Island Kahuna, Hapu! She was a stubborn trainer who didn’t want to interact with anyone or battle Ash. She eventually opened up to him and his friends slowly after getting back her stolen radishes from Team Skull (the first appearance of Plumeria as well). She was a key figure on the class’ expedition throughout  Poni for their respective research projects, while Tapu Fini and her late grandfather keep an eye on her progress. Eventually when she did became Kahuna, Ash finally had his rightful battle with her for a grand trial. She didn’t gain only a new set of confidence, but a new set of friends too.

FEBRUARY - Mama Mallow makes us cry

As the group continues doing their personal research projects in Poni Island, and after Kiawe clears his own trial with Tapu Fini, we get a feels trip to Mallow’s past. Thanks to Tapu Fini’s mysterious mist that allows people to see the departed, Mallow relives her childhood days with her mother. We not only get a teary backstory of what Mallow said to her ill mother before passing away, but also Lillie & Gladion’s attempt to see their “deceased” father, Mohn. Mallow seeking proper closure, finally reunites with her mother in the mist as they spend as much time catching up with one another ever since their improper argument at the hospital. We then discovered that Bounsweet was actually caught by her mom before gifting it to Mallow as her first Pokémon...who is now a fully evolved Tsareena. There were a lot of good moments like seeing the Stoutland that (as if this wasn’t enough of a feels trip) help raised Ash’s Torracat when it was still a Litten, and that Mohn is nowhere to be found in the mist meaning that he’s still alive! Stoutland’s final gift to Torracat was upgrading its Ember move to eventually learning to use Fire Blast. But the most important thing about this episode, is that it teaches us to be grateful to our parents (or those who raised us) even when it looks like they don’t seem to care, we misunderstand and overlook how much they truly care for us. Never take things for granted and live in the moment. In the end, Mallow’s mom gave her one final gift before going back to the afterlife, a Shaymin to care for. Thanks mom :’)

MARCH - Ya boi is never too late!

All we can just say when he was first announced was...finally...or about time! Team Skull boss Guzma’s long awaited appearance in the Pokémon anime happened when he and the rest of his gang visited the Pokémon School to confront Professor Kukui. After hearing about the official announcement that the first Alola League was going to happen, Guzma is determined to eliminate everything for what it stands for. Meanwhile, everyone in Alola wanted to get in on the action for an opportunity to become a champion, that includes Ash who stood up to Guzma for Kukui. After wiping the floor with Team Rocket, Guzma battles Ash taking interest with his utilization of the Z-Power Ring. Despite newly perfecting Corkscrew Crash, it had almost no damage on Guzma’s Golisopod. As the battle rages on, Golisopod’s Emergency Exit activates when Pikachu starts to get an upper hand. A stubborn Guzma not wanting to admit what really happened leaves and berates Ash as he sends a clear message on his vow to destroy the Alola League. Guzma and Kukui went face-to-face before Team Skull left, and it’s clear that his intentions were more personal. There’s always a reason behind of it all, and Guzma was seeking for vengeance.

APRIL - Mohn is missing

After discovering that their father may still be alive (as mentioned in my February highlight), Lillie and her family are searching for answers with the help of the Aether Foundation. Lusamine then confesses to her kids about an Ultra Wormhole incident that caused Mohn to disappear. As they continue to get more info, they stumble upon Mohn’s room and discovered two very important treasures. A Z-Ring which he used to wear, and a Magearna that doesn’t seem to be responsive. Lillie decides to wear and use her Z-Ring until her father is found, while also finding away to bring the Magearna he left back to life. With the blessing of Kahuna Hala and her friends’ support, she deicides to finally put her Icium-Z to good use by practicing the Subzero Slammer Z-move with Snowy now that she finally has a Z-Ring at hand. She fails at her first attempt, it won’t keep her down from practicing until she gets it right. The episode ends on a very touching note with Lillie reading an entry from her father’s old journal revealing that Mohn did in fact bought an inactive Magearna in hopes to restore it to give it to his one and only daughter as a gift <3

MAY - Lana’s lure of fate

In one of my personal favorite episodes (totally not because she’s my favorite and the best girl), I got shut up for even doubting that her Brionne would evolve this soon (don’t you just hate it when anime previews spoil?). Lana finally decides to make her dream a reality (referenced in previous episodes) to hook a Kyogre at sea! With the help of Ash, they were able to track down a Kyogre that suddenly appeared while the class were fishing. When they discovered that the Kyogre had been poisoned by Pokémon hunters, Lana decides to cure it with an antidote hooked to a special Misty lure she had been given while Ash deals with the troublemakers. Even after curing the poison, the hunters attempting to catch Kyogre made it rage even more. Lana tries to save it by trying to hook him out of the Hunter’s capturing device. She was successful in freeing it but ended up dragging her to the ocean rapidly as a storm develops from an angered Kyogre. And it was at that moment when Brionne wanted to save her  trainer from getting dragged all over, evolving to Primarina was the only way to end this perfect storm. Primarina’s singing calmed down Kyogre, as Lana lifts up her rod graciously with Kyogre in the sky. Dream achieved, and a moment has been made with new sea friend. Now when Lana tells this story, it’s actually the truth and there will be no one laughing now! Later on another episode, Lana & Primarina would learn how to use and master the Oceanic Operatta Z-move, and it’s all thanks to the hook of this Kyogre. I’m sure Misty is proud as well :)

JUNE - Kid Kukui and Little Litten

There’s a Celebi in this episode...you know what that means. Back to the past! While Ash was training with his Pokémon for the Alola League, a Celebi stumbles upon them and transport Ash & Torracat to the same place where they were at, but only many years ago. They meet this little kid that had Litten with him and it was clearly obvious that his was younger Kukui and his (The Masked Royal’s) Incineroar who hasn’t evolved yet. However, Ash still had no idea he was in the past and treated little Kukui like any other kid he’d meet traveling. The two bond throughout the episode with their similar attitude when it comes to battling, and Ash gladly guided the little kid on executing Z-moves with their Pokémon. The two even worked together assisting a Totem Trevenant in sheltering all the nearby Pokémon as a rainstorm approaches. Thanks to the good heart of Ash helping out everyone, he receives his own Firium Z from the same Trevenant that gave Kukui his Firium Z. He eventually gets back to his timeline where it seemed to have an effect on the present day Kukui. If it wasn’t for that meeting, maybe the professor would’ve had his vision of forming an Alola Pokémon League if it wasn’t for that mysterious older boy he met with his Torracat. A Pokémon time paradox? Maybe...but what I loved about this story is that it repeats itself for the next episode but from the perspectives of Ash’s Pokémon that were left behind in hopes of finding their trainer. Really reminds me of that time Pokémon got separated from their trainers during S.S. Anne arc in the original series, only difference is that the perspectives of the trainers and Pokémon were happening at the same time. But you gotta love a pure whacky Pokémon adventure! Pretty much like a Pikachu short you see before movies.

JULY - Let the League begin!

The moment everyone has been waiting for...the Alola League has officially begun! With everyone prepared to unleash their Z-Power, it’s time for the qualifying round to start. Unlike previous Leagues, this starts off with a free-for-all Battle Royal with a total of 151 competitors but only 16 will advance to the next round. Most of the trainers in this League are recognizable characters if you have watched Sun & Moon in its entirety up to this point. From Mina to Kahili to Acerola to the entire Team Skull gang to Hiroki and even Pikala, every Alola character is here! While all the Island Kahunas serves as the officials for the event. It was fun way to kick-off a 4-month long League arc and they couldn’t have it done any other way. The top 16 has been decided and it gave us good match-ups to follow in the next couple of episodes such as, Mallow vs. Lana, a childhood friend clash which also tests Mallow’s courage in battling. Our favorite Team Rocket duo in disguise facing off against one another (can’t remember when was the last time we saw that). A sibling battle and a trial on how far Lillie has gone as a Pokémon trainer facing off against her strong big brother, Gladion. And of course, the friendly birby rematch between Ash and Hau. The line-up of matches is stacked! I could not remember how hyped I was for this long-awaited League arc. Some battles might’ve been short and quick, but every participant mattered! How can you not love the Sun & Moon series?

AUGUST - The Alola Final Four

And then, there were four. In the semi-finals bracket, we first have Gladion facing off against Kiawe who defeated Acerola and bested a friend in Sophocles. He’s pretty much the dark horse in this, but he’s been working hard all series with his battling to get to this point. As Lillie and Mimo (Hoshi) cheer on their big brothers, it was Gladion who got the upper hand and the two exchange in a very meaningful handshake of sportsmanship. Meanwhile on the other side of the semi-finals, Guzma, who blasted through Ilima and Lana, getting his rematch with Ash seeking for retribution after his soft defeat the last time they faced off. It was a clash of personalities as the Team Skull boss vows to get to Kukui by destroying someone who resembles him in Ash and get a big W for his fellow Team Skull outcasts. This battle was more than just advancing through the semi-finals but also the integrity of what the League will become if Guzma is successful in his ploy. Guzma was very aggressive during this match to the point of even scolding his Golisopod. But when you mad, you don’t focus well and that became Guzma’s downfall eventually resulting in his defeat against Ash who battled with his heart. Guzma had to learn the hard way, maybe softened his mindset a bit, but even after losing Plumeria and the rest of the grunts still want to be by his side improving their own skills in battle to be like their fearless leader. You never see a heartwarming ending for a “villainous” team in Pokémon before, but I think Team Skull had their own happy ending.

SEPTEMBER - The “Curse” is finally broken

Ash vs. Gladion. Here we go, the League finals to determine the inaugural champion of Alola. I mean I already made solo-post last September about how BIG this episode/moment was for our capped hero. Their rivalry has been amazing from the get-go. From their first meeting at the beach by Kukui’s place with a feisty Rockruff that wanted to battle, to the Manalo Stadium battling for a prestigious championship title with Ash’s Lycanroc fully controlled over its rage with dirt. It wasn’t a full battle, but 3-on-3 showdown served us one heck of battle! It may not be considered the best by many, but it was still an amazing and fun bout between two trainers who promised each other to meet in the finals of the big stage. The laugh they shared, the flashbacks that was shown to us (with the awesome Type: Wild! music playing in the background), and the storytelling of who wants it more makes you get to the edge of your seat, cheering for Ash to finally win a major Pokémon League. Ash’s newly evolved Melmetal showcased it’s new strength but still wasn’t able to beat Gladion’s  Silvally. Then, when Zoroark and Pikachu knocked each other out, it was the 1v1 Lycanroc battle that really put this friendly and competitive rivalry full circle.

Ash has NEVER defeated Gladion...until this moment. He’s been training for this, and it finally paid off. The two Lycanroc’s took no prisoners and went back and forth with one another. In the final blow of that match, Gladion’s Lycanroc used Counter against Ash’s Lycanroc that was charging towards it, but then our big brained hero fights back with their own Counter attack. Never have I heard of Countering a Counter in the Pokémon universe, but using it in this one moment nobody expects, it was the HYPEST way to swerve fans from almost losing the match but ultimately gave an epic counterattack that would knock out Gladion’s Lycanroc. And for the first time since the Orange League, Ash is a Champion. Only this time it is a way bigger deal! Mostly because this is a game-based series which has more meaning when it comes to the Pokémon League.

Old fans, new fans, and casual viewers a like were buzzing within 24 hours after this episode released in Japan that caught mainstream media attention. People who have never seen a Pokémon anime episode in their life (or a subbed episode for that matter) past the original series, wanted to see how this episode went down to see a childhood hero achieve a major trophy. This is how big of a pop-culture icon Ash & Pikachu was among many generations of fans since the show’s launch internationally. This was truly THE PokéAni moment of 2019. Again, big congratulations to our Alola Champion, Ash Ketchum/Satoshi! Too bad Guzzlord had to ruin the closing ceremony afterparty... 

OCTOBER - A fiery full final battle

So after becoming Alola Champion, sending three Guzzlords back to where they came from, reuniting with Poipole who evolved into a Naganadel, and The Masked Royal’s identity publicly revealed as Professor Kukui ALL IN THE SAME NIGHT! We finally get our exhibition match between Ash and The Masked Royal, who would like to go under his real identity. This is the final battle, and the promised reward the first Alola Champion gets. This is honestly also reward to the fans giving us one final hoorah for the Alola region with a full 6-on-6 Pokémon battle! I believe this is the only full battle we got to see in Alola and it was definitely worth the anticipation and surprise. Kukui had a lot of secret Pokémon up his sleeve that the viewers don’t know about (unless you get spoiled by freakin’ Oha Suta), and it is also the first and only official battle that Naganadel will be part of under Ash’s team. So the excitement levels of this fun 5-PART episode battle were off the roof! Kukui had amazing Pokémon that he kept a secret, but what I do want to focus in this spotlight is the showdown between Incineroar and Torracat. Just like with the Lycanroc duel, these two have similar stories with Torracat never being able to beat The Masked Royal/Kukui’s Incineroar. Ever since it was still a Litten, the desire to battle strong opponents still burns inside. As the two fiery cats clash in this epic battle, both sides have the same intensity when receiving and taking attacks.

As the battle worn out, both Kukui and Ash activated their Z-Rings together to use Inferno Overdrive against each other. After a gigantic explosion from the Z-move collision it was Torracat who was the last Pokémon standing finally beating its personal battle rival. After a victory screech, I was surprised as everyone seeing it fully evolve into Incineroar. Unfortunately, that evolution took a toll on the newly evolved Pokémon and is unable to continue further. Rest well big kitty, you beat who you wanted to beat and deserve a good rest.

As if that wasn’t epic enough, in the final phase of this full battle, Tapu Koko steps in and serves as Kukui’s last Pokémon and even granting both parties to be able to use Z-moves once again. Fast forward, Ash and Pikachu finally defeated their first opponent when they first set foot in the Alola region with the Z-Ring Tapo Koko gave them in the first place. It clearly now knows that Ash was a worthy holder of using Z-Power and a Champion that everyone can look  up to. What a battle. What a series. Thank you Alola. Thank you Sun & Moon.

NOVEMBER - Pikachu Origins

Enter the next chapter. The new era of the Pokémon anime finally launched this in a very different way. The first episode basically serves as the prequel to the Pokémon anime series before Ash had set out on his quest to become a Pokémon Master. Long story short, we can Pikachu’s background story on how he came to be the loving mascot recognized everywhere on paper. I mean who would’ve thunk it? I just love the fact that we’re getting an origin story of how Ash’s Pikachu when it was still a wild Pichu. Although it wasn’t explained how Professor Oak ended up catching the little guy, Pikachu always had a good heart (you know despite rejecting Ash at first lol). The most adorable thing about this episode was the family bond Pichu temporarily shared with this little Kangaskhan family. The little guy was an outcast not really sure where to go or what to do except survive and find food. When that Kangaskhan picked him up as if it was one of its babies, and gained a new caring sibling in the process. It was a wholesome story of calling someone family even though there is no blood relation. Pichu was literally not their kind, but they still loved him as it was them!

Meanwhile, we get a little preview of our new characters from seeing their childhood and setting up the premise for them to cross paths with Ash in the future. The newest protagonist, Go, was a little know-it-all about Pokémon, and he sure bragged a lot of his knowledge on it during one of Professor Oak’s camp (in which Ash failed to wake up for). Along with his worrisome friend, Koharu, they spotted a Mew while going off course in Oak’s tour around their campsite. It would also be the saving grace of the lost baby Kangaskhan who accidentally fell off a cliff after attempting to play with the Mew. After seeing Mew’s psychic abilities, it was clear for Go that he needed to catch Mew one day. This is the initial goal that Go wanted to set out for when he’s old enough.

After the incident with his Kangaskhan sibling, Pichu had to re-think if he wants to continue being a part of a pack that he doesn’t even properly belong it in the first place. When the herd of Kangaskhan took shelter in cave during heavy rain, Pichu had to make a tough decision and leave his foster family behind while they were asleep because he knew that the mother Kangaskhan would not let go of someone who it sees as a child of her own. Pichu knew that was the only way, but despite his sad decision he was grateful for the happiness they provided for a lone wolf Pokémon that wandered in the wild looking belong somewhere. It was that same happiness that gave Pichu the strength to evolve to the Pikachu we all know today, and found a forever home with a certain tardy boy a couple of years later that they both formed an inseparable friendship.

DECEMBER - The Great Gigantamax in Galar

Of course, you can’t have a new series without showing off a new region?! As our “research fellows” Ash & Go continue their exploration in the Galar region learning more about the Dynamax phenomenon that causes Pokémon to grow bigger in size, they are about to be in for one gigantic dilemma. They had some trouble when they met a bunch of trickster Pokémon in those Nickit and a dirty Scorbunny trying to steal their food, but that wasn’t the last they saw of that Scorbunny. When they took the train to explore the Wild Area, Scorbunny secretly tagged along in hopes to be partners with Go after feeling a connection with the trainer during their first encounter. After MANY attempts of trying get Go’s attention, he finally notices Scorbunny after it kicks a rock to knock down fruit on top of a Snorlax they were observing (that hits Ash’s head first oof). Scorbunny attempts to get caught by Go, but he declined due to his vow for Mew to be his first catch. After the sad rejection, red lights then start to surround the Snorlax that ended up Dynamaxing it to Gigantamax Snorlax! This caused a big road blockage that affects a train line in that area. Ash, Pikachu, Go and Scorbunny decide to team up and move the Snorlax before the next train comes by to avoid a disaster from happening. Ash and Pikachu were able  to cut down a big fruit from the Gigantamax Snorlax’s body and pass it on to Go and Scorbunny to make sure he jumps (just like earlier from Scorbunny’s accidental fruit pick) for that fruit in time for the train to pass by without anyone getting hurt. It was a tough task getting all the way up to the belly of beast, but thanks the Double Kick boost Scorbunny gave that big fruit, Snorlax not only moved in time for the next train to stop by, but return back to normal (big) size.

Unfortunately, Scorbunny was also swallowed in that big gulp, but it was a good thing that Snorlax didn’t munch it all the way. After the teamwork Go felt with Scorbunny during all that, he decides to modify his dream a bit and wants Scorbunny to now be his first Pokémon catch. Both are happy to be with one another, and we all know this was going to be the start of wonderful friendship. With this addition to the group, the main cast for the new anime series is now fully-set. Let the true adventures around the Pokémon world begin!

Some honorable mentions…

2019 for PokéAni marked an end of an era, but a start of a new one too! No doubt one of the most impactful years the show has had in the world since the XY&Z arc. Besides the historic Alola League, we also saw the continuation of Brock & Misty’s trip to Alola (not to mention Brock & Olivia’s adorkable interactions together), the class’ crash-course golf lessons with none other than Kahili! Ash catching a rare Meltan that appeared out of nowhere, The Sparkling Trio of Mallow, Lana & Lillie uniting as Alola DrinKyun (’Refreshing Trio: Alola Idols’ in the English dub), Ash challenging Ryuki’s Kantonian Gym, the high-speed Vikavolt race, Mallow’s vision in opening her Pokémon café, Matori’s unexpected visit to the Team Rocket base in Alola, and let’s not for get about the Ultra Guardians finishing up their final missions in capturing the remaining UBs: Pheromosa and Kartana. And honestly, after seeing all of Sun & Moon, can everyone just agree that Kukui is the BEST Pokémon professor?!

Of course, how can I not mention the final episode of Sun & Moon? In what was probably one of the most emotional farewell episodes in the anime’s history. If you don’t have bias from the original goodbye with Brock & Misty in Johto, this would probably be the best one. It was executed perfectly with Ash’s class figuring out what to do in the future with Ash himself not sure what to do moving forward. Naganadel had to return back to its homeworld, the Rockets had to say leave their Alola Pokémon with Bewear as she sends them off one final time, Nebby returns to see Ash one final time, and Lillie decides to search for her father away from Alola after brining Magearna to life. With everyone deciding what to do, Ash heads back home to explore the world (which transitions to the new series) leaving all his Alola Pokémon behind in Kukui’s lab, while Rotom Dex decides to work for the Aether Foundation. The boat scene with Lillie was a good touch on how her character evolved thanks to Ash’s help, and the departing airport scene with Kukui, Burnet, and Ash group hugging was touching. Even Ash teared up as he gets in the air leaving Alola as his friends and Pokémon he left behind wave goodbye. If that wasn’t a good send off for the Sun & Moon series, Mallow’s Shaymin finally achieved its Sky Forme (which have her mother’s eyes...could be a touching symbolism that she was always watching her ;_;) from a Gracidea flower before taking off, AND ON TOP OF THAT, the final shot of the series no less, we find out that Professor Burnet is pregnant. Never in the history of this anime has ever done that to a major character in the supporting cast. The Sun & Moon series continues to break ground as one of the best Pokémon series.

Other than that, we got the new series (which I still wish we had a proper sub-title for -_-) giving us a taste of what to expect in the new Generation VIII era. Our newly appointed research fellows, Ash & Go are at Professor Sakuragi’s Institute helping with his research along with Mimey and Koharu helping out with the household chores. Lugia brought these two together, and are now living under the same roof. And, can we talk about Mimey?! I’m so glad a classic character from this anime is being used as a permanent supporting character for this series. Not to mention that he battled alongside Ash in the Hoenn tournament and won! It’s also refreshing to see updated animation within Kanto where they’re home base is at, and I absolutely cannot wait for them to go back to other regions with this fresh new art style. With Go’s goal to catch every Pokémon there is for him to index, he’s bound to meet Mew again one day! He’s literally every Pokémon games’ protagonist and I’m glad we have a main character like him who actually focuses on catching them all. As for Ash, he’s still our Ash carving his own unique path on his continuing journey to become a Pokémon Master because it’s more than being the strongest trainer and more than just catching Pokémon. I’m going to take his word for it! I don’t know if you noticed, but Go kinda looks up to him a bit due to his experiences in battle. Just look how shy he was just wanting to be his friend. You just gotta love it when they make Ash this mentor-type friend especially now coming off a huge victory in the Alola League becoming a champion.

Overall, the Sun & Moon anime gave us a variety of different set of stories every week leading up to the anticipated Alola League. Everyone had a story to tell building up to the Alola League, and just look at the list of episodes we’ve had this year that went back and forth with characters that get a main focus other than Ash (or even Lillie). Most of these episodes I’m talking about are either development for a Pokémon in their team evolving, or a perfecting a Z-move with their respective Z-Crystals. This shows much the writers care about each main character gets enough screen-time before they’re ready to take on the League with Ash. If you are still thinking on whether or not to continue/finish watching the series if you haven’t yet, I would still recommend to please watch until the end! It’s a really fun ride to sit through it all in my humble opinion, unless you want to just bolt straight into the League episodes only caring about Ash’s story. You do you. As for the new series, it will definitely pick up the pace sooner or later with the initial episodes are setting up to lead into something bigger. If you aren’t hooked in yet, definitely be patient because I’m expecting a lot of good opportunities for them to pull off in this cross-region based format. Sure it isn’t based 100% on the latest games in the franchise Sword & Shield, but that’s what separates the anime and the games. The anime is doing its own thing with an original story, but I’m pretty sure they will mix-in some of the interesting storylines and feature important characters from Sword & Shield every time they revisit Galar because it’s the new region on the block. They should feature/market a lot of episodes from all the new content Galar has. So I would definitely still keep my eyes on the Pocket Monsters series 👀

And there you have it! This post as long as it already is, so I’ll stop here. If you’ve read everything I had to say (maybe a few typos here and there lol), then thank you for your time! Feel free share your own favorite PokéAni moment 2019 with a reblog or a reply if you choose to do so. Thanks so much for an amazing year, and it’s time for us to GO to 2020. More moments await for us, and maybe even some surprises we might see since Ash is returning to previous regions he already visited in the past. See everyone in 2020 for the first full year of the new ‘Pocket Monsters’ series. Let’s go (with Go heh) and have some fun! Yes, I think used the word ‘go’ here too many freakin’ times lol

Happy New Year to all my followers, and the rest of the Pokémon fandom!

If you haven’t seen these yet, and you are new to my blog, check out all the previous year-end PokéAni Rewinds I did in the past: 2016 | 2017 | 2018

DO YOU WANT TO CRY about some STAR WARS characters and relationships and feelings? But you’re not quite sure specifically what you want to cry about today?  Not sure if you want to cry about what Anakin Skywalker could have been?  Want to cry about Vader and his kids?  Want to cry about EVERYTHING ABOUT OBI-WAN KENOBI’S LIFE?  Want to cry about Rex or Ahsoka?  Want to cry about time travel?  Want to cry about the Phoenix crew? BOY, CAN I HELP YOU OUT, FRIEND.  Because fandom brought theri A-game in just about every possible way this time! STAR WARS FIC RECS: PREQUELS RECS: ✦ untitled Supreme Chancellor Obi-Wan fic by stonefreeak, anakin & ahsoka (& obi-wan) & cast, 1.8k    Anakin sits on the floor in his room, back against the bed and face buried in his knees. He didn’t bother to turn the lights on when he came back, the darkness too soothing, too comfortable to disrupt. ✦ untitled Supreme Chancellor Obi-Wan fic by stonefreeak part one + part two, padme & cast, 2.6k    The Senate has a crisis meeting to react to the bombing of the Senate Office Building. Dun dun dunnnnnn… ✦ Suffer Not the Children by ambiguously, katooni & cast, 2k    “The Temple has fallen. We must go now.” ✦ we were born for better days by FireflysLove, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka, 3.6k wip    Obi-Wan attempts to save Vader from the Dark Side, but the Rebellion, especially Bail Organa and Ahsoka Tano, are not going to believe that after a decade of terrorizing the galaxy, Anakin Skywalker can possibly be saved. ✦ Free Agent by countessofbiscuit, ahsoka & boba & cast (& background rex/ahsoka), 9.5k    In which Ahsoka falls in with more misguided youth, drinks to forget (it doesn’t work), and wastes no time broadening her career horizons with her boyfriend’s delinquent kid brother. ✦ Don’t Go Gently Into This Darkness by ThatDamnKennedyKid, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & cody & rex & cast, 5.6k wip    When Cody awoke, his General was sitting next to his bed, body still and stare distant. He was thinking, planning, readying. That meant a disaster was coming down the line, and when Kenobi got to it, it would not be pretty for whoever was on the other side. ✦ Captain and Commander by Elfpen, ahsoka & rex & cast, 3.2k    A look into the special camaraderie shared by Captain Rex and Ahsoka Tano, arcing from the issuance of Order 66 to past the end of Rebels. A story told in three parts. Rated for death and violence. ✦ Caught in the Tide by brinnanza, obi-wan & anakin, ~1k    He takes one look at the boy, his pale skin, the dark bags under his red-rimmed eyes, and breathes a soft sigh. “Oh, Anakin,” he says gently and steps aside to let his former padawan into the room. ✦ O Captain! by naberiie, rex, 1.5k    Rex is the last of Torrent Company. The ghosts of his brothers - their words - haunt him still. ✦ I Found You pt2 by KeeperofSeeds, obi-wan & shmi & cast, ~1k    She looks up and meets the eyes of Qui Gon Jinn. Her son’s grand Master. ✦ we found us a home by shiningjedi, shaak & adi & yaddle, 1k wip    Scenes showcasing the bonds of friendship and family between the Jedi of the Clone Wars and Prequel eras. ✦ In Time by Ripki, obi-wan & anakin, time travel, 18.8k wip    As the Clone Wars drags on and the secrets between them grow, Anakin and Obi-Wan have begun to drift apart. When a mysterious holocron sends them through time, they don’t only have to confront their past and future – but the present as well. (Or the Force, frustrated and tired with all their bullshit, sends the Team to an unconventional couple’s therapy.) ✦ Y'AIN’T SHIT, WITCH by subtropicalStenella, wolffe & kit & asajj & cast, 1.1k    The Clone Wars: Asajj/Wolffe/Kit Fisto, the fight which costs the Commander his eye. An Explicit Trash Talking No Holds Barred Brawl. ✦ Under a purple sun… by Perspicacia, obi-wan & ahsoka, ~1k    Ahsoka hadn’t been happy when Skyguy had left her with Master Kenobi for this mission, but it was still good to spend time with her Grand Master. ✦ Queen Under the Ocean by BloodyMary, padme, ~1k    Once upon a time, the people of Naboo had elected a queen. She had fought for her people, and she would not be forgotten. People like her did not die–they lived on in stories long after those who knew them had died. ✦ To tell you the truth, I’m relieved by Petra, obi-wan & anakin & death, discworld crossover, ~1k    When you die, you have to walk a desert. Obi-Wan and Anakin are dead, and they’ve been to deserts before. ✦ Rumour Has It by Ripki, obi-wan & anakin/padme & ahsoka & cast, 5.2k    Rumour has it that the distinguished Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi is seeking a new apprentice after successfully training the Chosen One into Knighthood. The whole Temple seems to be in a flutter of excitement; Anakin, less so. He sets himself the task of reviewing every single one of the hopeful Initiates. After all, it is not just anyone, who can survive being Obi-Wan’s Padawan. ✦ Fire by EwanMcGregorIsMyHomeboy12, obi-wan/satine, NSFW, 1.7k    Between the incident with Tal Merrick on the Coronet and the long ride back to Coruscant, there are plenty of things that a certain Jedi Master and Duchess can get into… ✦ Help Me by FireflyFish, obi-wan & anakin, 2.5k    All seemed lost, light, love, and hope. And then Anakin cried out for help… ✦ A Good Time by daily_nightly, obi-wan & anakin, 1.4k    A story about a padawan who always gets in trouble and needs his master to rescue him. Typical Anakin Skywalker and Obi-wan Kenobi. ✦ Hondo Kenobi by StarWarsSyl, obi-wan & hondo & cast, 2.6k    It’s not every day the pirate Hondo calls Obi-Wan in to give him a baby. ✦ Recovery by Perspicacia, obi-wan & ahsoka & cast, 1.8k    Ahsoka came back alive from her fight with Vader but not exactly in good shape. Bail Organa promptly sent her for some recovery time with one of his most mysterious contacts in the Outer Rim. ✦ Oft Falling by kylohen, obi-wan/padme, NSFW, 10.5k    Every few months, whenever he can, Obi-Wan sends flowers to the Coruscant apartments of Senator Padmé Amidala. There’s a reason for this that he can never explain, except to her. If anyone else knew, it would ruin him. ✦ To lay your heart and head upon by ambiguously, ahsoka/barriss, 1.5k    Ahsoka is on a mission when she runs into an old friend. OBI-WAN/ANAKIN RECS: ✦ Equinox by lilyconrad, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, sith!obi-wan (sort of), d/s, 84.1k wip    During the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan and Anakin crash on a remote planet and take shelter in the ruins of a grand estate only to find they are not alone. ✦ all spaces are liminal by Kierkegarden, obi-wan/anakin & sidious, & cast, nsfw, sith!obi-wan, 35.9k    Three years after the fall of the Republic, Obi-Wan Kenobi hasn’t come any closer to making peace with his new life. Three years after the fall of the Republic, Vader wants the gratification of forgiveness. Three years after the fall of the Republic, time doesn’t bend or break or alter. It simply rushes past those who cannot learn to embrace it. ✦ Return to the Point of No Return by cthene, obi-wan/anakin, time travel, touch starved, 26.7k    He turns around, his tunic soaked with blood, and holds the gorgon’s head up by its wispy hair. “Anakin, please-” “Don’t beg me, Master,” says the last of the Sith, tenderly reaching to cup Obi Wan’s hot cheek with a gore-stained hand. “Command me.” ✦ My Moon After the Tide by LemonTwister, obi-wan/anakin & cast, NSFW, some d/s, 38.8k    After being inflicted with a paralytic toxin, Anakin is unable to care for himself until he recovers. Obi-Wan promises to provide his Padawan with everything he needs. ✦ starbird by imaginarykat, obi-wan/anakin, 8.8k    As far as Anakin’s concerned, Obi-Wan is the picture of a perfect Jedi. ✦ To Lose My Mind and Find My Soul by Glare, obi-wan/anakin & cast, fairy tale au, 3.2k wip    Anakin Skywalker is not allowed past the boundaries of the village, is not allowed to walk the path through the wood that leads to the world beyond, but sometimes he finds himself slipping away anyways, inexplicably drawn to the forest and the monstrous creature that stalks it. ✦ Eyes Wide Like Cherry Pies by Darlings (FromDreamstoEmpires), FromDreamstoEmpires, obi-wan/anakin & padme & cast, NSFW, modern au, 6.7k wip    Anakin is a typical struggling college student studying art. Obi-Wan is a successful lawyer he meets one night through Padme and Staine. He doesn’t think he’ll ever see him again but neither of them can deny their attraction to each other. ✦ Last breath by Arctii, obi-wan/anakin & cast, 7.9k wip    Anakin leaves. Obi-Wan decides, reluctantly, knowing it’s probably not the smartest thing he has done, to try and track him down. That, surprisingly, proves to be a difficult task. Especially since there are so many realisations he doesn’t want to face, and since Anakin seemingly does everything he can to disappear. ✦ Star Birth by thatsakitkat, obi-wan/anakin & cast, NSFW, a/b/o, dark themes, 7k wip    "Am I going to die, Master?” Anakin asks. Obi-Wan looks at him sharply. “No. You will not die, Anakin.” “I’m burning,” Anakin says. He blinks slowly and strains to concentrate. “You set me on fire.” ✦ Tumblr Prompt Drabbles by Adelphrexia, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, various themes, ~1k wip (sort of)    A collection of Obikin drabble requests originally posted on my Tumblr. Mostly smut, any warnings will be posted on the chapter they apply to. ✦ The Team by writegowrite, obi-wan/anakin, human au, mafia au, ~1k    Behind a warehouse long abandoned by everything but rats, beneath a blue sky smudged brown by pollution, a pristine black Mercedes sat idling like a wraith. ✦ Almost Lost by aphorisnt, obi-wan/anakin & kix, 3k    Anakin gets injured and Obi-Wan does not handle it well. ✦ i didn’t want this thing called living by dorenamryn, obi-wan/anakin, 4.8k wip (sort of)    Alternatively: Obi-wan’s heart is forever shattered, and Anakin always burns. (A collection of ficlets cataloguing the tragedy of two lives both before and after the fall that was never supposed to happen.) ✦ Tumblr Prompts by Darlings (FromDreamstoEmpires), obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, d/s, 6.6k (each chapter is separate)    A collection of prompts that I’ve filled on Tumblr. ✦ WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE by anecdotalist, obi-wan/anakin & cast, 13k wip    War has broken out between the Republic and the Separatists. But that is of no concern to Ben, one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy. All he’s focused on is his next target…until he’s invited to a tournament of hunters on Serenno. There, he meets a young Jedi Knight—the Hero With No Fear, Anakin Skywalker—who’s disguised as bounty hunter Rako Hardeen. ✦ My Anakin by DonkerRood, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, bondage, some d/s, 1.1k    Obi-Wan is back from a mission and realizes Anakin always gets what he wants. ORIGINAL TRILOGY RECS: ✦ Master and Padawan by Katharos, obi-wan & luke & cast, 15.5k wip    What if Luke was raised by Obi-Wan as his Padawan? ✦ Ritual by ambiguously, bail & breha & leia & luke & han, ~1k    Two funerals Leia attended. ✦ Ben Whitesun by Perspicacia, obi-wan/beru & cast, 6k    When Obi-Wan brought Luke to the Lars’ farm, he found only a struggling grieving widow and not the young, happy couple he hoped. This is how Ben Kenobi became a moisture farmer instead of a hermit… ✦ Carmine by AceQueenKing, anakin & leia, 2.7k    The Princess stirs, waking; her eyes catch him at her door and her face darkens, ready for a fight. ✦ Useful by igrockspock, leia & luke & han, 1.4k    To earn her place on the Falcon, Leia has to be useful, so she tries to learn everything she can. ✦ Paper Trails; A Triptych of Leia Organa by glorious_clio, leia & cast, 7.9k    By the time she was 19, Leia has three defined roles that she slots in and out of, some are more obvious to outsiders than others. But Leia Organa is also more than the sum of her parts. ✦ Entail by Domenika Marzione (domarzione), leia & luke & ahsoka & cast, 2.4k    Families of all sorts come with obligations. And baggage. ✦ The Trick is to Keep Breathing by AceQueenKing, anakin & leia, 3.3k    She’s older now, and so is he. Far older now. She wonders: will he have lost any power with his age? Will he be shorter, weaker? An old man on a ventilator? It’s hard to imagine that he won’t still be dangerous. But then, that’s exactly what she’s counting on. ✦ Minor Counterintelligence Operations by igrockspock, han/leia & ben, 2.5k    Ben Solo knows three things: he loves his parents, they are weird, and they have a lot of secrets. He intends to find them out. CROSSING THE GENERATIONS: ✦ GrandMasters & GrandPadawans by ShadeCrawler, ezra & mace, background time travel, 2.2k    AKA. Where Ezra Bridger and Mace Windu have a discussion over juice. ✦ Round Two by ambiguously, ahsoka/sabine & cast, time travel, 1.4k    Sabine and Ahsoka get stranded in the past together. ✦ How to Kill a Ghost by saiditallbefore, kylo & yoda, 1.6k    “Fuck. I’m being followed by a dead Jedi.” “Jedi master, I was,” he says, tapping Kylo with his cane again. ✦ Spectre by Magical_Destiny, anakin & kylo, 2.2k    In the aftermath of Crait, Kylo Ren finally meets his grandfather. ✦ another city (better than this one) by notbecauseofvictories, lando & ben solo, 5.8k    The kid is sitting cross-legged on a drum of tibanna gas, picking at a hole in his leggings despite the bulky stun-cuffs binding his wrists together. He keeps darting black looks at the patrolmen flanking him on either side, and scowling. REBELS RECS: ✦ Mating Rituals by Velvedere, zeb/kallus & sabine & cast, 4.7k    Zeb has been acting weird lately. Kallus vents to Sabine about it. ✦ Seven by ambiguously, kanan & jacen, time travel (sort of), 3.8k    Kanan asks the wolves a question. The wolves bring him someone with a different question. ✦ The Care and Keeping of Ex-Imperials Who Need Coffee, a Nap, and a Hug in That Order by akaparalian, kallus & phoenix crew (& some zeb/kallus), 8.8k    Five Ghost crew members who helped Alexsandr Kallus, and one who he helped in return. ✦ When we have peace by apocrypha73, zeb/kallus, 2.9k    After the Battle of Endor, Kallus and Zeb enjoy the celebration. ✦ The First Day of the Rest of Your Life by ambiguously, kanan/hera & ocs, 6.7k    Kanan and Hera, from point A to point B, and all the places between. ✦ Without, Inferno | Within, Peace by auraelys, kanan/hera & sabine & ezra & depa, ~1k    In that moment, Kanan knows the choice he has to make, no matter how much it hurts. ✦ In the Middle of the Night by bar2d2s, hera & kallus (background kanan/hera & zeb/kallus), 1.8k    When one member of your self-made family is pregnant, you’re all pregnant. ✦ A Moment to Breathe by Mirror and Image, kanan & kallus & hera & ezra & sabine & zeb & cast, 8.9k    Everyone struggles to come to terms with the Season 3 finale - Kallus most of all - and in their grief and defeat one blind man gives them a moment to breathe. ✦ And a Million Years Gone By by ambiguously, hera & jacen, 5.7k    Hera worries about Jacen a lot. ✦ Morning Light by SweetSinger2010, kanan/hera & sabine & ezra & zeb & cast, 8k    He’d long since figured out he was in bacta. He was able to orient himself to the sound of voices in the room, sometimes. When it was Hera speaking, always. And he could sense that little flicker of light and life she carried with her–their child. AU. full details + recs under the cut! 

PREQUELS RECS: ✦ untitled Supreme Chancellor Obi-Wan fic by stonefreeak, anakin & ahsoka (& obi-wan) & cast, 1.8k    Anakin sits on the floor in his room, back against the bed and face buried in his knees. He didn’t bother to turn the lights on when he came back, the darkness too soothing, too comfortable to disrupt.    Note: This fic is part of a larger series that should probably be read in order by this point. This rec will contain some spoilers for earlier chapters at the very least. This is a gorgeous look at Anakin’s character after Obi-Wan has been injured, how deeply he feels things and how much of an absolute mess he is when he descends into a panic attack about it. There’s something so painful about it and makes me care all the more about Anakin’s suffering, how badly he handles things, and how he slips and slides around when trying to understand what people are saying to him, what they mean–when he has a choice in front of him, it’s so easy to be suspicious of the Jedi, because Anakin just doesn’t know how to trust, but when this universe gives them a chance to better communicate, when it gives them all the breathing room to have addressed some of these things, when it takes Palpatine’s influence to a better distance, we get to see just how they would handle it. And that’s what I love, why this fic is so beautifully characterized and really gets this universe, because it doesn’t magically make everything better, things still hurt, characters are still a mess, things aren’t easy, but it shows that their internal problems were surmountable, it was the external ones that really fucked them over. It’s gorgeous for illustrating that in such a comprelling, heart-wrenching way (oh, Anakin, I can’t read this and not want to wrap him up in the biggest hug ever, the panic attack he has is so beautifully done that it physically hurts me), but also being just so warm and good. Another of my favorite pieces for this story! ✦ untitled Supreme Chancellor Obi-Wan fic by stonefreeak part one + part two, padme & cast, 2.6k    The Senate has a crisis meeting to react to the bombing of the Senate Office Building. Dun dun dunnnnnn…    Note: This fic is part of a larger series that should probably be read in order by this point. This rec will contain some spoilers for earlier chapters at the very least. Putting these two together, since they’re part of the same piece of the story and, oh, I really loved these as well, it’s another gorgeous illustration of the state of the galaxy as it was in canon, but with enough breathing room (and Palpatine’s influence at just enough of a distance) to allow characters better clarity and to change things just enough. It’s a great fic for Padme as a Senator, the little details of how she’s given the breathing room to put things together, the better space from which to observe just how corrupt and selfish the Senate really is, all of it is so satisfying as a way to show that internal problems were overcomable when the external problems are at just enough of a distance to let the characters breathe a little. But also seriously it’s a great Padme fic at the same time and it was such a treasure to read! Her horror at what was happening around her, her disbelief and shock at just how selfish people could be, was really impactful on a visceral level, I felt it with her. ✦ Suffer Not the Children by ambiguously, katooni & cast, 2k    “The Temple has fallen. We must go now.”    Oh, my god, this fic was heartbreaking but so gorgeously written and did a stunning job of driving home just how much Order 66 hurt and was mind-numbingly awful. The sheer amount of loss and danger these children face, that it’s just 2k of the worst day of their lives, but it left me feeling exhausted afterwards because it’s so beautifully told and shows what these kids face just because they were Jedi. Sometimes it can get to be a little OTT, what Order 66 meant, but here it’s told exactly how the author means it to come across and it’s horrifying for it, even as I became so invested in these kids and the sheer soul-hurting pain of what they had to suffer through and what they have to face next. Just the sheer amount of loss, isolation, uncertainty, and yet the bravery and innate goodness of these children. Oh, my heart. ✦ we were born for better days by FireflysLove, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka, 3.6k wip    Obi-Wan attempts to save Vader from the Dark Side, but the Rebellion, especially Bail Organa and Ahsoka Tano, are not going to believe that after a decade of terrorizing the galaxy, Anakin Skywalker can possibly be saved.    I’m a sucker for canon-divergent fics where Obi-Wan and Vader meet earlier and this one really got its hooks in me with the second chapter, where their confrontation happens in a way I didn’t expect. I love Anakin having to face up to the enormous truth, there’s something so satisfying about it, even as it breaks my heart for him (and for Obi-Wan and for Ahsoka and for Padme) all over again, so I’m hoping that the next chapter will continue on with that because I am here for it. There’s also some nice stuff between Obi-Wan & Ahsoka in the first chapter as well! I’m definitely ready to see where this one goes! ✦ Free Agent by countessofbiscuit, ahsoka & boba & cast (& background rex/ahsoka), 9.5k    In which Ahsoka falls in with more misguided youth, drinks to forget (it doesn’t work), and wastes no time broadening her career horizons with her boyfriend’s delinquent kid brother.    This was a fun, irreverent caper fic that was half about Ahsoka trying to figure out how to not be such a mess (not that she’s too much of a mess, just that she has some things to figure out and isn’t in a great place) while interacting with Boba, on a mission to go rescue someone they’re getting paid for. I wouldn’t say it’s light-hearted, but it is sarcastic and impudent in tone, it’s messy in all the ways it’s meant to be, and a fun romp to read! ✦ Don’t Go Gently Into This Darkness by ThatDamnKennedyKid, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & cody & rex & cast, 5.6k wip    When Cody awoke, his General was sitting next to his bed, body still and stare distant. He was thinking, planning, readying. It was a look generally reserved for when Skywalker or Tano were going to need defending in the Council. Insofar as he could recall, they’d been good. That meant a disaster was coming down the line, and when Kenobi got to it, it would not be pretty for whoever was on the other side.    This is a fic that’s definitely a WIP, not much has happened yet, but if you’re like me you’re absolutely here for Obi-Wan getting a heads up and starting to plan and that means people are going to be fucked, because Obi-Wan is actually pretty great when he has enough information to put the pieces together and formulate something, and it’s going to be super satisfying to read. It’s just the start of it for now, but there’s lots of fun little scenes, the ones with Obi-Wan & Anakin are a highlight, but also just the Jedi finding out about the chips in the clones’ heads and getting a chance to do something about it! HELL YEAH. ✦ Captain and Commander by Elfpen, ahsoka & rex & cast, 3.2k    A look into the special camaraderie shared by Captain Rex and Ahsoka Tano, arcing from the issuance of Order 66 to past the end of Rebels. A story told in three parts. Rated for death and violence.    A gorgeous look at Ahsoka and Rex during Order 66, based on what we know of what was planned for those moments. It’s good for both characters, it’s aching for what they’ve both been through and what they’re going to suffer in the future, like I have so many feelings about both of them separately here, but it’s also a great look at their friendship, too. It’s a heartachingly beautiful piece to read and really shows how much they both meant. ✦ Caught in the Tide by brinnanza, obi-wan & anakin, ~1k    He takes one look at the boy, his pale skin, the dark bags under his red-rimmed eyes, and breathes a soft sigh. “Oh, Anakin,” he says gently and steps aside to let his former padawan into the room.    A short but really solid piece that shows what a mess Anakin Skywalker is, but also how deeply Obi-Wan cares about him, how it balances Obi-Wan’s reactions (his own losses, how he’s truly lost people, while Anakin can still see those he cares about, the urge to be angry, one that he acknowledges and then lets go, the way that allows him to remain so balanced, so steady, while still being so human) with his being a Jedi, there’s just such a solidity to his character, a warmth to the iron foundations he has, and such deep care. That even when he’s out of his depth, you get why Anakin leans on him so much. I picked it up for the Obi-Wan & Anakin interaction (which is the highlight of it) but got some solid Obi-Wan characterization out of it as well. ✦ O Captain! by naberiie, rex, 1.5k    Rex is the last of Torrent Company. The ghosts of his brothers - their words - haunt him still.    This is a heartbreaking Rex piece, who has no idea just how brave he is to have lived through everything he has. It’s non-stop pain, but that’s pretty true to Star Wars in general and just gave me so many Rex feelings, because, wow, when you step back, that guy has Been Through Some Shit. A lovely piece for a character that deserved better! ✦ I Found You pt2 by KeeperofSeeds, obi-wan & shmi & cast, ~1k    She looks up and meets the eyes of Qui Gon Jinn. Her son’s grand Master.    You should probably read the rest of the series before this one, it won’t make much sense without it, and while this fic series doesn’t entirely work with canon, it’s one that’s really dear to me because Shmi and Obi-Wan and someday Anakin will get here and this is a really short piece, but IT HAS HUGS. I am always a sucker for more hugs! ✦ we found us a home by shiningjedi, shaak & adi & yaddle, 1k wip    Scenes showcasing the bonds of friendship and family between the Jedi of the Clone Wars and Prequel eras.    A series of short but lovely, warm (and sometimes bittersweet, as it’s set during the backdrop of the Clone Wars) interactions between various Jedi that aren’t always showcased front and center. I loved the kindness and care shown in these pieces, it fits so well with them, and I love the way each of them feels natural, like these characters would of course have these relationships, that Adi would comfort Shaak when she needs it, that Shaak would seek out Yaddle to connect with her, and I love that these two chapters happened to focus on women, but mostly just I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS AHHH. ✦ In Time by Ripki, obi-wan & anakin, time travel, 18.8k wip    As the Clone Wars drags on and the secrets between them grow, Anakin and Obi-Wan have begun to drift apart. When a mysterious holocron sends them through time, they don’t only have to confront their past and future – but the present as well. (Or the Force, frustrated and tired with all their bullshit, sends the Team to an unconventional couple’s therapy.)    Chapters 7-8: I’ve done a more generalized rec for this fic here, which I link because I really want people to read this fic with me, as well as because this will be an update rec and focus on the current chapters, rather than the fic as a whole. These two chapters continue what the fic is showing us (and doing a really great job of not just telling us, but instead really showing the reader and the characters) the things that they don’t really understand about the other person, especially Anakin seeing just how much Obi-Wan has been through, as that’s always something he’s had trouble understanding. It’s this really great combination of time-travel, protectiveness between the characters for the other, seeing things with fresh eyes, character whump, and to really illustrate how much these two care about each other, through their complicated, difficult relationship.    In chapter 7, Anakin sees what Obi-Wan went through on Zigoola from Wild Space, then in chapter 8 dropped them back into the same place again for awhile, as Obi-Wan is having much more difficulty with this whole time travel thing, which feeds my desire for whump AND comfort fic AND the further sense of building up of Anakin getting that Obi-Wan has Been Through Some Shit, which hasn’t hit the payoff yet, but is clearly building towards understanding that his Master hasn’t had an easy life (and this is why I don’t mind the borrowing from the Legends stuff that can’t work with canon, because it’s used really well here! delicious, delicious physical and emotional whump! in such kind-hearted ways towards the characters!) and yet has still managed to make peace with it. I’m eagerly rubbing my hands together with each chapter that comes out because it’s so satisfying on an iddy level, but also satisfying for something that’s legitimately being built up in a way that does the heavy lifting of getting Anakin to understand, that it shows how deeply entwined these characters are in each others’ lives, and really shows the epic span of these characters’ lives. It also hits a good place between being shippy and being gen, that you can read more into it or you can read it on a purely platonic or familial level, that it’s the relationship between these two that’s important (and gives me so many feelingsevery time they worry about each other or run into a piece of the other’s past, how clear it is that they love each other so much) no matter what form it takes. I love this fic a lot and look forward to every chapter! ✦ Y'AIN’T SHIT, WITCH by subtropicalStenella, wolffe & kit & asajj & cast, 1.1k    The Clone Wars: Asajj/Wolffe/Kit Fisto, the fight which costs the Commander his eye. An Explicit Trash Talking No Holds Barred Brawl.    This was a really fun, delightful piece about the clones’ reactions to some footage of a fight between Asajj and some of the brothers, that there’s this great sense of joking around and how of course they have reactions to the crazy shit they see constantly via Force users (and aren’t necessarily immune to it themselves!), just really FUN, hilarious reactions to the wildness of the stuff you see on just another regular day in the GFFA. ✦ Under a purple sun… by Perspicacia, obi-wan & ahsoka, ~1k    Ahsoka hadn’t been happy when Skyguy had left her with Master Kenobi for this mission, but it was still good to spend time with her Grand Master.    I really loved this piece, because Obi-Wan & Ahsoka scenes are always lovely, especially when the fic really does great at showing Ahsoka’s youth and restlessness (that is perfectly normal for her age, something she will grow out of as she ages) against Obi-Wan feeling much more settled, that he teaches her by being both teasing and warm, that there’s little touches of what a Jedi apprentice’s life is like, and it just really, really sparkles. I love the poetry elective, the way Ahsoka doesn’t really get it, until Obi-Wan illustrates something for her, like way to get a straight shot to my teacher!Obi-Wan feelings AND my worldbuilding feelings! ✦ Queen Under the Ocean by BloodyMary, padme, ~1k    Once upon a time, the people of Naboo had elected a queen. She had fought for her people, and she would not be forgotten. People like her did not die–they lived on in stories long after those who knew them had died.    One of the things I always want more of is Padme’s story as Padme’s story, that I want more of her connection to Naboo and how her people saw her. You mix that with a beautiful sense of myth or fairy tale, some lovely imagery, and the sadness of her death touched on just the right amount, and you have a gorgeous piece for her character. ✦ To tell you the truth, I’m relieved by Petra, obi-wan & anakin & death, discworld crossover, ~1k    When you die, you have to walk a desert. Obi-Wan and Anakin are dead, and they’ve been to deserts before.    I would definitely have read at least another 10k of this, of Obi-Wan being settled and focused, while Anakin is just a mess of all the shit he needs to work through (because he never did in life, and because he’s a Forever Mess, that’s just who he is), while the two of them walked across a desert as a way to untangle the knots of their lives and relationship. This is a brief glance at that, as they have a conversation with Death, as Obi-Wan is as good with words as ever, making it a lovely little read that I enjoyed a lot! ✦ Rumour Has It by Ripki, obi-wan & anakin/padme & ahsoka & cast, 5.2k    Rumour has it that the distinguished Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi is seeking a new apprentice after successfully training the Chosen One into Knighthood. The whole Temple seems to be in a flutter of excitement; Anakin, less so. He sets himself the task of reviewing every single one of the hopeful Initiates. After all, it is not just anyone, who can survive being Obi-Wan’s Padawan.    Oh, I loved this fic so very much, it’s so much fun and sharp and hilarious, all the things a premise like this should be, but it’s also warm and heartfelt and really kind of sweet in a “Anakin why are you like this” kind of way, which is exactly what I want. I love that Anakin is such a dweeb when it comes to Obi-Wan, that he’s torn between how Obi-Wan is the best ever and deserves the best Padawan again versus how there’s that underlying sense of how he’s absolutely not ready to let Obi-Wan’s attention move on from him. So he goes about it in the most Anakin way ever, by obsessing over it and kind of terrorizing the poor younglings, while everyone else around him is exasperated. It’s a fic that clearly loves all these characters, that makes me love Anakin Skywalker even more than I did before (because he’s a relatable kind of disaster, not over the top about it, just that he’s not exactly put together) and it has so many great details and a fun sense of timing and then finishes it all off with Obi-Wan finally making Anakin actually talk to him, so I got my Obi-Wan&Anakin feelings in there as well. Honestly, I smile just thinking about this one all over again! ✦ Fire by EwanMcGregorIsMyHomeboy12, obi-wan/satine, NSFW, 1.7k    Between the incident with Tal Merrick on the Coronet and the long ride back to Coruscant, there are plenty of things that a certain Jedi Master and Duchess can get into…    This was a lovely Obitine piece, which is mostly pwp, but in the way I like, that it’s a moment of dramatic intimacy, that it captures their voices and their relationship well, and it’s some satisfying kissing and sex! I really enjoyed the sense of history there between them, that there’s such a connection, while also that they’re not entirely entwined in each others’ lives, that they’re separate, even as they care deeply and share something special, because that’s exactly how I see them in canon, too. A very satisfying piece for a pairing I’m slowly starting to read more for! ✦ Help Me by FireflyFish, obi-wan & anakin, 2.5k    All seemed lost, light, love, and hope. And then Anakin cried out for help…    Oh, this fic gave me all the feelings, that it’s a canon divergence from the fight on Mustafar, where it almost goes like it did in canon, except here Anakin cried out for help and that changed everything. It’s just a few moments in this scene, it’s about this specific moment in time, but it does a beautiful job of showing how it completely changed the tracks of the future, this one tiny thing Anakin could do to change it all, because Obi-Wan could never resist Anakin asking him for help. And it’s gorgeously done in how it doesn’t sweep aside the weight of Anakin’s actions, the betrayal he committed, but it still shows that Obi-Wan loves him even through that, that it may take time, it won’t be easy, but of course he will eventually forgive Anakin in time. It’s a painful read, but in the exact, lovely way it’s supposed to be. ✦ A Good Time by daily_nightly, obi-wan & anakin, 1.4k    A story about a padawan who always gets in trouble and needs his master to rescue him. Typical Anakin Skywalker and Obi-wan Kenobi.    This was a cute little piece about Anakin getting himself captured and needing his Master to rescue him, who of course accomplishes this through the most flirtatious way possible and it’s just solidly fun and a great bite-sized fic to read when you want one! ✦ Hondo Kenobi by StarWarsSyl, obi-wan & hondo & cast, 2.6k    It’s not every day the pirate Hondo calls Obi-Wan in to give him a baby.    This was a cute piece where the highlight of it was JEDI WORLDBUILDING YAY, in which Obi-Wan is given a baby and delivers it to the Temple, trying to find the right place for it, the Force telling him each place wasn’t quite right. I liked the blend of the Force and more mundane ways of organizing things, the clan mothers that Obi-Wan meets along the way, the brief glimpses we get into how warm and adorable Jedi younglings are, it fit really well with what we’ve seen in canon and I’m always here for well done Jedi worldbuilding! ✦ Recovery by Perspicacia, obi-wan & ahsoka & cast, 1.8k    Ahsoka came back alive from her fight with Vader but not exactly in good shape. Bail Organa promptly sent her for some recovery time with one of his most mysterious contacts in the Outer Rim.    I’m very much a sucker for Obi-Wan & Ahsoka interaction in fic and I really liked Ahsoka having a chance to see Obi-Wan again after all that happened in the Jedi Purge, there’s something hopeful in amongst all the hurt that’s been piled onto them, which is what I was hoping for when I picked this one up. It’s a nice look at Ahsoka’s character, a nice look at their relationship, and the hints of how she might be introduced to Qui-Gon and maybe learn a few things, a potential way to pave a future path for her, also delighted me. ✦ Oft Falling by kylohen, obi-wan/padme, NSFW, 10.5k    Every few months, whenever he can, Obi-Wan sends flowers to the Coruscant apartments of Senator Padmé Amidala. There’s a reason for this that he can never explain, except to her. If anyone else knew, it would ruin him.    There’s something really lush and gorgeous about the writing of this piece, which is the real highlight of it. Obi-Wan isn’t really his sharp, focused canon self here (I’m chalking it up to this being set pre-AOTC, but even then I think he’s less focused than he should be) but the descriptions of Naboo, the way the writing gently touches on his connection to the Force and the sort of mystical feel he has as a character, as a psychic space wizard monk, is really lovely. The entire fic felt like a painting come to life in so many ways, that it doesn’t overdo the descriptions, but it’s also very much about those details, the clothes they wear and feel in their hands and the rain on their skin and the buildings they walk past and the food they eat, all of it contributes towards this really intimate, immediate feeling, that they’re the only two people in the world, connected as they are through these things they share. The writing is beautiful and the brief moments of sex, the physical attraction and the way Padme is described as he sees her in the garden in an intimate moment, are all also beautiful and really hot. I don’t often go for this pairing, but there’s something really entrancing about the way this was written, almost like a dream, and I really enjoyed it for that! ✦ To lay your heart and head upon by ambiguously, ahsoka/barriss, 1.5k    Ahsoka is on a mission when she runs into an old friend.    Oh, this was a lovely piece about Ahsoka and Barriss meeting again, just this one moment of the intersection of their lives and we can only guess where they go from here, but it’s that feeling of hope in the darkness again, that they’ve both suffered so much, and that, oh, my beautiful Ahsoka, she may not be a Jedi, but she certainly has the heart of one and it’s beautifully done here. OBI-WAN/ANAKIN RECS: ✦ Equinox by lilyconrad, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, sith!obi-wan (sort of), d/s, 84.1k wip    During the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan and Anakin crash on a remote planet and take shelter in the ruins of a grand estate only to find they are not alone.    Chapter 17: This is an update rec and will focus on this chapter, rather than the fic as a whole. Also, by this point there will be spoilers for the entire fic and likely this chapter as well! I have feelings and I need to talk about them! So, this is another chapter that sort of scrambled my thoughts because there’s so many little details I loved and for the ridiculously satisfying sex that happens and the big plot stuff that comes up, I hardly know where to begin! At the beginning, I suppose, which is a brief scene between Veris and Isten (after Anakin destroyed the datapads in a fit of pique), where it’s this quiet moment between them, where we get to see Isten’s jealousy, the brattiness that’s somehow so charming, one of those moments where it’s a little bit childish, but in a way that shows his vulnerability, so that I can see how much of Anakin Skywalker is still woven into the foundations of this character, but also how he’s different, like it’s not quite Anakin, but it’s definitely an Anakin, which just makes me fall in love with him all over again. When he’s rattled, he gets petulant, when he thinks he has to share Veris’ attention even for a moment, he gets sullen, when he’s uneasy about just how powerful the real Anakin is, even more than both him and Veris (which I love, by the way, because, yesss, nobody is ever as powerful as Anakin Skywalker), it’s so very easy to see Anakin’s face saying those things, to picture a version of Anakin being upset by these very things, and makes the contrast (or, well, frankly, comparison) against actual Anakin all the more intriguing for it, because they’re not that different in a lot of important ways–and that’s what this whole chapter is about, how much they both need reassurance and attention focused on them. And having that brief moment with Isten, as much as I enjoy it just for being charming, leads into what’s going on with Obi-Wan and Anakin as well.    We go from Isten and Veris curled up together to Anakin and Obi-Wan spending time in a little clearing, just laying together and talking (in conversations that aren’t terribly different to each other–but both are also adorable, Obi-Wan and Anakin’s banter is both sharp and adorable! I love the snappiness of the conversation about the bike, but that it’s also used to show that, yes, Obi-Wan does pay attention to him) in a quiet moment that’s just for them. For all that there’s a plot going on with this story, it’s also very much structured to be an intimate drama story, they’re isolated on this planet, it’s just them and themselves (of a sort), so these quiet moments between the characters are the journey, they’re what make the story worth reading. Also, they’re just really, really charming as all get out, as they go from sweet and teasing and content to the way they touch hands, that I can feel the shift in the air, as Obi-Wan gently touches his hands, contrasted against the memory of how brutal they can be in war. And the way the entire scene is sweet and kind and comforting, even while the building sex takes on some slightly rough edges (in ways that they both aim for) is perfect to what has been built between these characters–that’s the other appeal of the fic and I find that every time they come together physically, it really highlights how this relationship has been built in this fic, that they’ve spent time together, they’ve overcome obstacles together, that they keep revealing new pieces of themselves that the situation has brought up, that this sex scene couldn’t have taken place in a previous chapter, it couldn’t have been their first time, because it shows how much trust has been built, how much Anakin has been able to show the darker parts of himself and what he wants.    And, oh, the sex was beautiful, because it was the kind that pleased my id (I had no idea the spanking moments were coming, only that it would have some bondage, so that kind of sent me into happy orbit maybe kind of a lot) but also because this fic does such a gorgeous job of balancing the physical with the emotional. Yes, it’s super hot that Anakin kneels in the grass and has his hands bound behind his back and is bent over, taking whatever Obi-Wan will give him, but it’s also about how Anakin feels about this, how it’s very clear to both of them that this is what he wants every step of the way, that there’s something freeing for him in being able to give this trust to someone else, that he can get out of it any time he wants, but there’s a freedom in letting it go. There’s peace for Anakin here, someone who so very desperately needs it. And the fic doesn’t just immediately have him sink into submission, because that’s not who Anakin is, he has to work at it–the moments of Obi-Wan standing over him and watching him, noting the way Anakin’s gaze keeps flickering back up to him, the way he’s still very much Anakin working through something, that goes hand in hand with how wary Obi-Wan is about all of this, because he doesn’t want to hurt Anakin. That it shows Anakin wants this, rather than that it’s something alien stealing over him! Just let me lay here and breathe that in for awhile, as it’s beautifully perfect for both of them, because it shows how these characters would move towards this kind of dynamic, how they would have to work to get there, how thesecharacters would express their wariness and consent and desire about putting Anakin in this position. But every little happy sigh Anakin gives when Obi-Wan puts a hand in his hair or the way they can feel the rise and roil of Anakin’s lust when Obi-Wan binds his hands behind his back and how Anakin keeps asking for more and more, all of that shows that this is what he very much wants.    That doesn’t make it perfect, he’s still anxious, he still slams the bond shut when sending over a secret desire, still feels like he might be judged for what how helpless he is–and the fic is beautifully clear (without having to say it, you just feel it in every moment, every word they both say or think) that it’s Anakin’s own fears that he’s working through here, his own demons that he’s struggling to let go of, that it’s not about whether or not he has been rejected by Obi-Wan before, but that he still fears it, even now. Because that’s something that will stay with him for a long time and I love that it’s woven into this scene as well, not in a way that feels like a retread of what’s already happened, but that it’s something to be slowly chipped away at, which is exactly how that kind of thing works. That each time they come together like this, Anakin lets go of a sliver more of it, that Obi-Wan makes him be patient, that turning more of himself over to Obi-Wan lets the rest of the world fade into the background, there’s just this moment in his head, and it’s almost blissful for me to read how settled he is right here. Which is all the more satisfying for how it’s not a smooth, straight line–Anakin comes and goes with that peace. He starts to sink into that haze, to trust everything of himself to Obi-Wan, but then has a moment of being too worried or too honest about how he’s coming across, pulled back into that sharp anxiety, until Obi-Wan accepts him and continues to adore him. So when Anakin’s secret, hidden desire almost surfaces, he tries to hide it, but Obi-Wan sharply tells him to say it, and it’s that he wants to be punished, wants to have his Master’s attention on him and his disobedience forgiven by having it spanked out of him? Oh, shit, that was hot and got me right in the feelings place.    All of the sex was like that, having Anakin in this position was satisfying on a physical level, but when Obi-Wan says to tell him what he’s done to deserve this, it’s this moment of Anakin’s scrambled thoughts just pouring out all that stuff that he feels so guilty about, that he doesn’t listen, that he’s selfish and arrogant, that he doesn’t deserve Obi-Wan, all these things that haunt him even when he tries to deny that they exist. This moment is purging them out of Anakin, this moment is Obi-Wan truly seeing Anakin and accepting him, desiring him, and moving in sync with him, his hand coming sharply down on Anakin again and again, no judgement, just acknowlegement and a desire rising between them. That, yes, this is a lot about Anakin’s issues (because he’s the one that has so many of them) but that Obi-Wan isn’t just a passive presence here, he worries about how this will affect Anakin, he wants to put down these boundaries and structure and punishment/absolution for Anakin, he hungers for this beautiful man who is bent over and turned up against Obi-Wan’s hand, who has shown him this vulnerability and is the most precious person Obi-Wan has ever known. I almost didn’t even need the rest of the sex (that’s a lie, I absolutely did need it!), because the emotional buildup was so delicious, but when Obi-Wan finally pushes into him, how much Obi-Wan was possessive of this man who had given himself in such a vulnerable way (because one of the hills I will die on is that Obi-Wan’s Type is about those who are vulnerable underneath their bluster, the kind that he wants to help protect, to give them what would help them and make them feel safe and happy), it’s so good. It’s been built up over the last 80k, it’s been stoked from hidden embers into a fire, how much Obi-Wan has him, that Anakin is his, just as much as Anakin wants Obi-Wan in return. It’s not jumped into immediately, it took time to get there, but when Obi-Wan is finally buried into that pretty heat of Anakin’s and thinks how much his boy is his? This fic earned it.    And I’m still only just past the halfway mark on the chapter! (I know, I know, but NSFW chapters of this fic really bring out the verbosity in me and I like to run with that.) Because there’s a lovely, sweet scene afterwards, such care from Obi-Wan, who wants to make sure that Anakin is all right, because there’s not precisely guilt here but always a wariness (a deserved one, given that this is Anakin) and a recognition that, while Anakin is balanced in this moment (that he’s been able to acknowledge and let go of so much that he held inside! of course it would come via Obi-Wan giving him these boundaries and structure) it won’t last, it never does with him, but that makes it no less wonderful in this moment or no less absolutely amazing that they’ve gotten here in the first place. And I love that, I love that it took 80k of them being stranded in the middle of nowhere, their Sith versions (of a sort) there to stir up things they normally wouldn’t have time to look at, no war to pull them away from dealing with these things, and this is where they get. This is what I love about them–their problems are both internal and external, but I firmly believe that it was the external problems that kept them from dealing with the internal ones, so seeing a novel-length fic about getting them to where they have the space to deal with the internal ones and they do? Yes, no wonder I’ve practically written half a novel in response to the fic. (There’s a moment in the next scene, where Anakin thinks, Nothing ever changes here. The same forest. Same weather. Same stars. and I side-eye it as part of whatever Ugly is doing to this place, but it also fits with how I have seen this fic from the beginning–it’s a place almost out of time, which allows for all those external problems to fade into the background and thus let them focus on the internal problems that they are capable of clearing away. That the two–like so very many things in this fic do–go hand in hand together!)    There’s still more, of course, and the chapter ends on a killer cliffhanger (ONLY ONE CHAPTER LEFT HOW AM I GOING TO DEAL WITH THE END OF IT??) and I love the little details of the bigger world intruding with Rex’s call–that Anakin is more settled now that he has more proof of the depth of Obi-Wan’s feelings, that Isten still isn’t happy about being parted from Veris and turns into his embrace to hide from it, that part of Obi-Wan would still like to just be rid of the Sith duo, but he holds himself to better standards because they’ve done nothing to deserve that. That it’s this complicated knot of his own personal morals versus his discomfort with them, made all the worse by how he doesn’t think he could strike down someone with Anakin’s face. Which is truly about Anakin, but also makes me think of Obi-Wan and Isten’s moments together, that even when they’re different versions, there’s still something of Obi-Wan and Anakin in their interactions. The way both duos sleep curled up against each other (which I love purely for iddy reasons in addition to the more narrative reasons) really highlights that, too.    And then the ending. Anakin with his dream (oh, Anakin, of course you fall asleep because you think nothing can get past you and your ridiculous power levels) that’s this beautiful, dark, gothic dream about flowers and the desert and a voice calling for him, and a garden of bones that he can’t quite seem to find to matter. All of which is really creepy, dreamy imagery that works so well for this fic (there really is a rich, lush feeling to the imagery used, the fic is really good at knowing when and how to use it! I love the use of the heavy flowers that I can practically feel the soft yet weighty feel of in my hand, the rich color of them against the black backdrop, it makes for beautiful pictures in my head) and you know exactly what some of those things mean and are left wondering and puzzling over others (in the way you’re supposed to be left wondering) and I lovethat, too. And while I cannot wait for the next chapter (THAT CLIFFHANGER, which comes out of nowhere for Anakin, except it really doesn’t, something has always been waiting, and, oh, it was so creepy to have his dream and the mansion come back up again, the little details, like with the descriptions of the relief on the wall, make it shivery and terrible, that sense of something almost elegant about the darkness that was waiting for him) I’m also really satisfied by this chapter and just very, very much in love with this fic. ✦ all spaces are liminal by Kierkegarden, obi-wan/anakin & sidious, & cast, nsfw, sith!obi-wan, 35.9k    Three years after the fall of the Republic, Obi-Wan Kenobi hasn’t come any closer to making peace with his new life. Three years after the fall of the Republic, Vader wants the gratification of forgiveness. Three years after the fall of the Republic, time doesn’t bend or break or alter. It simply rushes past those who cannot learn to embrace it.    I read this fic in just about two or three sittings because I really could not put it down, it just swept me up in it and carried me along and wouldn’t let me go until I was finished with it! It’s an AU where Vader finds Obi-Wan on Tatooine five years after ROTS and decides he wants to try to make his former Master Fall, but of course it doesn’t go as he plans. And it’s a fic that’s exactly the right length for what it is, that there’s a balance between the intimate drama (where it might as well be just the two of them in the entire galaxy, that nothing else really exists in their little bubble) and the looming events of the bigger plot (Sidious lurking in the background, the Rebellion that they eventually make their way to), so it satisfied both my want for something with plot and my desire to just read about these two characters who are trying so hard to put everything to rest just enough to give them some breathing room. And I love that it never really goes away, that even when Obi-Wan loves Anakin, he cannot forget what’s happened, that there’s no going back, only forwards. That even when they find balance, even when they are intertwined again, those bad things can never be fully banished.    Which is also what makes the thread of Anakin redemption work so well here, that he’s really trying, that it’s also balanced between Anakin still being a mess, wanting redemption only for halfway the right reason (because it’s a lot about Obi-Wan, just as much as it is an internal want), and that it’s not something so easily granted. It’s complicated and can never be wiped away. But also! Anakin Skywalker: Wants An Emperor To Follow, the way he can be so stubborn and aggressive, but it’s layered over this lifelong desperate desire to have someone to follow, to lead the path to taming the galaxy, that he can be guided by, that when you strip away the things Anakin tries to make himself be or the swirling storm of rage that takes over his brain sometimes, what he really wants is his Master back, both because he loves Obi-Wan and because he wants to follow him. It’s threaded underneath the plot of the story, which made it so satisfying for me to read.    And I didn’t realize that, going into this fic, it was going to be Sith!Obi-Wan (apparently I skimmed the tags, so that’s on me XD) but I did really enjoy it here, because the only way I can ever be convinced that Obi-Wan might possibly fall, is if it’s for Anakin, that he would be walking toward something, not breaking from the loss. Because that’s exactly how this fic sees Obi-Wan, that when he’s Anakin’s captive, he’s resolute and iron willed, but when something bad happens to Anakin, that’s when he steps over the line, when that rage and fear are focused on this person that he loves so much. It worked for me, Obi-Wan going from this person who is so good, this person who has unbreakable morals, to this version of a Fallen!Obi-Wan, that it’s probably kinda Soft Sith (which you will pry from my cold, dead hands!) and that works the best.    It also has a lot of things that worked really well within the story–a satisfying confrontation with Sidious about all of this, a fun plot where they join the Rebellion for awhile, a lovely sex scene where Anakin is just starved for Obi-Wan’s touch, no matter how much it hurts his partially burned body, he will take anything to have his Master touch him, no matter the pain, until Obi-Wan turns him over onto his hands and knees and steadily fucks into him that way, that it’s not just the physical part (though, that was very nice, Anakin getting that contact, getting that noise pushed out of his head because he’s filled with other things), but that it was wound together with the emotional beats, that it was used to show that quiet intimate drama between them, to show the state of their relationship, made it all the better.    I really enjoyed this fic, it was one of those that was this lovely experiencereading it, there was something very emotional about it (not over the top dramatic emotional, but an underlying quiet emotional way that was ever-present, that it was a mix of mutual pining, but also mutual “not being sure how to be with this person anymore” and mutual “I love him so much that being parted from him one more time is impossible to live without, I cannot do it again”, all of this without being hammered home with words, but instead shown through their actions, the tension between them, but also the way they stayed near each other, the way they looked at each other, the way they touched each other). It was exactly the kind of read I wanted from this fandom! ✦ Return to the Point of No Return by cthene, obi-wan/anakin, time travel, touch starved, 26.7k    He turns around, his tunic soaked with blood, and holds the gorgon’s head up by its wispy hair. “Anakin, please-” “Don’t beg me, Master,” says the last of the Sith, tenderly reaching to cup Obi Wan’s hot cheek with a gore-stained hand. “Command me.”    I cannot talk about this fic without some vague spoilers, to talk about the bit of a twist the concept of the fic has, so while I think it’s still totally a readable rec to someone who hasn’t read it yet, I do want to warn for that! Okay! There are a couple of caveats to this fic, in that it writes the Jedi as celibate and chaste and "no love allowed at all” in a way that directly contradicts canon, as well as I will never believe that Obi-Wan doesn’t know exactly when he’s flirting and that he was handsome as hell, but if you can roll with those things (and it’s pretty warm-hearted about them!) you’ll get a fic that’s super engaging and fun to read and satisfying. Because this fic just kind of lit up my brain in the way that I wanted to give it a high five, where Anakin comes back and he’s really more Vader than he is Anakin, but Vader is Anakin, and I really felt that in the story, that his issues stem from taking Anakin Skywalker’s issues up to a hundred, then dumping him into touch starvation mode and further dialing up his desperation to have someone to follow, someone to devote himself to, someone to tell him what to do, someone to take care of him, in all his murderous fury and unfair ragings.    The thing that was so great is that it didn’t ignore just how volatile and powerful and dangerous that Vader is here, but it also understood where that volalitly came from, that Anakin Skywalker is a giant walking bottomless pit of need and hunger, that he’ll sacrifice anything, no matter how much he wants to be part of the bigger galactic events, no matter how much he wants to just do what he wants to do, he’ll throw it all away for the touch of the person he loves, for them to fill him up with love. And he finally knows that about himself. Well, half-knows it. Knows it enough to tell Obi-Wan that he needs someone with a stronger hand than what he’s been given so far, someone who will commandhim and love him at the same time. That was so goddamned satisfying. And Obi-Wan reacts to this in a very understandable way, there’s something there that pulls at him, but also he has a bigger galaxy to think of and that informs his choices, that he’s lived his life once and he’ll do again what needs to be done (whatever that might be) but that it’s complicated.    And so when the fic is really ultimately about Anakin being locked away, that the greater theme of this fic (both before that and after) is about how these two characters feel like the only ones left in the world, that the time travel has isolated them from anyone but each other, that even literally they are the only two people they can feel in the Force, that’s just super well done and so satisfying. Anakin being willing to give up even his bigger plans for Obi-Wan to touch him again (because it’s such a marvel, it’s something he can’t believe he’d forgotten about, that perhaps he’d been made to forget, but also that the wayObi-Wan touches him is incredible), to desperately wrap arms and legs around Obi-Wan, not even necessarily wanting sex, just wanting to feel his Master’s touch, wanting to be consumed by feelings, it’s really well balanced with how intense and unbalanced he is, but that there’s something charismatic and magnetic about him, even when he’s really kind of so, so awful.    The whole fic is like this low-key d/s scenario and these characters flinging themselves into co-dependency because they do keep each other grounded and it’s the most important relationship in either of their lives, which makes it super satisfying to ship, because it hits all those iddy places (Anakin recognizing that he’s Anakin again, when he throws fits that are this close to being tantrums, when the power level he has is genuinely terrifying, when he wants so badly for Obi-Wan to just hold him down and be his Master again, even has he fights against it, so much conflict wrapped up in that stellar, brilliant idiot) but also plays on traits that Anakin has, that explores his character really well. Anakin was the highlight of this fic for me, it just got me right back into everything I felt about this idiot who has more power and anger than he knows what to do with, but also a praise kink and undercurrent of a sub kink a mile wide, it got me right in the feelings place every time he would wrap arms and legs around his Master to try to keep him there, would just settle any time Obi-Wan would grab his hair or kiss him. Yes, make the murder boy happy, okay!! ✦ My Moon After the Tide by LemonTwister, obi-wan/anakin & cast, NSFW, some d/s, 38.8k    After being inflicted with a paralytic toxin, Anakin is unable to care for himself until he recovers. Obi-Wan promises to provide his Padawan with everything he needs.    This is another fic that I just could not put down because it hit my iddy wants just so very nicely! I do have a couple of caveats–it veers briefly into “Jedi aren’t allowed feelings” territory (though, it’s very brief and contradicted by how there’s a very thorough point being made about how attachments are dangerous because of exactly what’s happening with them, as well as they show their feelings right from the beginning) and Mace is more antagonistic than he is in canon, but they’re small moments in an otherwise solidly long fic that is exactlywhat it aims to be: A fun story about mutual pining even while they’re together and some goddamned fantastic sex. This is a story that whole-heartedly embraces that sort of nostalgic feeling I have for why I first started reading fic in the first place, that feeling that gets straight at my feelings being ramped up to eleventy over these characters and how much I want them to be together and the embracing of the tropes that keep them apart (that Anakin is his student–though, he’s 19 or 20 here, so he’s very much an adult–that there’s so much internal drama over the emotions, that they have to slog through their misunderstandings of where the other person stands, etc.) and it’s so much fun.    This fic really had a way of keeping me sailing right along, so that it hardly felt like an almost 40k fic, because it did so well with exploring the central roadblocks between Obi-Wan and Anakin getting together, it was one of those that was just easy to slide right into again every time I picked it up because it had such a charm to the writing of it, it was smooth and solid and easy. And it was stuff I loved! Anakin being paralyzed from poison, so he can’t move and needs someone to take care of him! That they both kind of revel in it, even when there are thornier issues that come up because of it, what they both want from it and why they do/don’t hold back. And, oh, the undercurrent of this fic, where Obi-Wan tries so hard to respect Anakin’s agency, because he’s trying to be so very aware of not putting Anakin under his thumb, not just ordering him around, that there’s this tension because Anakin does want his Master to just take him already, to do what he’s going to do, to take firm hold of Anakin and fuck him already. To the point that he gets frustrated and a little angry when Obi-Wan won’t just do it, because Obi-Wan keeps asking him what he wants. And that’s what I’m here for, I’m here for Anakin Skywalker not really knowing how to express that he wants this specific thing, that he wants to be loved and cherished and touched and guided. He wants Obi-Wan to tell him what to do, to put him where Obi-Wan wants him, wants to be filled up with him instead of his own annoying, buzzing thoughts. And it’s never really directly remarked on too much, instead it’s just there, it’s shown through frustration and understated words and satisfaction when Anakin finally gets what he wants.    Because, oh, the sex in this fic is fantastic for me, where the first time Obi-Wan opens Anakin up with his fingers, asking if this is what Anakin did to himself, how many did he usually fit in, while questing inside of Anakin, it was ridiculously smoking hot. Because Anakin got off on being held in place, having his Master’s hand inside him, having those fingers rubbing the right spot and undoing his thoughts and asking him these personal questions while just prying him open, emotionally and physically. He craved that kind of closeness. Or the next time when Obi-Wan pushes his legs back so he’s up in the air and rims the hell out of him, that sense of being held still, having to just take what his Master gives him, because that’s what he’s always wanted, to be taken apart like that! Or when Obi-Wan finally, finally fucks into him, when they’re finally joined in that manner, Anakin is this giant mess of emotions and wants and desires, that this is everything he wanted! I am here for that again and again, because it’s never enough for this needy idiot that I love so much.    So this is one of those fics for when you’re in the mood for something to really please you, something that will walk right up to your id and embrace it, something when you want a fun romp with a ton of charisma! It has some plot to it, it has a really lovely OC Jedi who fits right in with the Jedi of canon, it’s incredibly warm-hearted (and really ultimately nicely kind to nearly everyone!), and is nearly 40k of Obi-Wan and Anakin being ridiculously in love with each other and wading through those feelings in a way they both needed to work through, until they get where they need to be, making the whole fic just one of the most satisfying I’ve read in awhile. I think that’s the feeling I keep walking away with, that made me write like four paragraphs for a rec–I was so satisfiedby this fic, which I cannot thank it enough for. ✦ starbird by imaginarykat, obi-wan/anakin, 8.8k    As far as Anakin’s concerned, Obi-Wan is the picture of a perfect Jedi.    I’m pretty sure I’ve recommended this fic before, but I wanted to do a reread of it because I remember it being one of my favorite portrayals of the Obi-Wan/Anakin dynamic, that it really spoke to me and sung for me, so I wanted to see if it held up. And it very much does, I still think this is one of the best intro-to-Obikin fics I could suggest. There’s a lot of great stuff that’s going on under the surface here, that it’s how these characters work, that Anakin really has no chill, so Obi-Wan tries to chill him out and poke at him in understated ways, how he’s direct in all the right moments and indirect in all the other right moments. There’s a strength and focus to Obi-Wan’s character that is spot on to the canon, there’s such fondness for Anakin in everything he says and does, in that way you feel down to your bones, even if it’s just from a smile or a teasing comment. And what really gets me with Anakin–aside from how there’s this sense of how his anxieties and fears and doubts just cling to him, like a cloak settled over his shoulders–is that he’s absolutely boggled by Obi-Wan’s actions sometimes, despite that they’re perfectly in character for him, that there’s the undercurrent of how Anakin sometimes gets lost in his own perceptions of the galaxy that aren’t quite true. This is why the dinner scene is probably my favorite, the one I always think of first when I think of this fic. That there’s such a great, flirty dynamic between them that fits with how they are in canon, how it could almost be gen for how well it fits, and yet there’s still something more. There’s just a slight change in the undercurrent, the way Anakin thinks about Obi-Wan and looks at him (though, I would argue could fit with the canon), that makes this piece really shine, gives it a sharpness that makes my favorite of the author’s, even over the more famous fic. It’s just gorgeously written and hits my id just right and illustrates why I ship these two so hard and how there’s that solidity to these characters, especially Obi-Wan, that’s so genuinely good. ✦ To Lose My Mind and Find My Soul by Glare, obi-wan/anakin & cast, fairy tale au, 3.2k wip    Anakin Skywalker was born and raised in Jedha, and has not known anything of the world beyond the superstitions of his isolated village. He is not allowed past the boundaries of the village, is not allowed to walk the path through the wood that leads to the world beyond, but sometimes he finds himself slipping away anyways, inexplicably drawn to the forest and the monstrous creature that stalks it.    I love fairy tale themed AUs! And while this one is only the first chapter so far, I’m already delighted by it and would love to see more of it, that it really captures a sense of mysterious woods and a monster who haunts them, a sense of the supernatural with a beautiful backdrop. Honestly, as I was reading it, I couldn’t stop thinking about something like the woods from anime series like Mononoke or Mushishi, something otherworldly living right next to the human world, something old and not quite understood, maybe friendly, maybe dangerous, you can never quite tell. It’s a lovely start and I’m looking forward to more of it! ✦ Eyes Wide Like Cherry Pies by Darlings (FromDreamstoEmpires), FromDreamstoEmpires, obi-wan/anakin & padme & cast, NSFW, modern au, 6.7k wip    Anakin is a typical struggling college student studying art. Obi-Wan is a successful lawyer he meets one night through Padme and Staine. He doesn’t think he’ll ever see him again but neither of them can deny their attraction to each other.    Chapter 2: This is an update rec and will focus on this chapter, rather than the fic as a whole. This is another chapter in this fic that just goes straight for what I want–the start of a sugar baby AU where Anakin is a mess and Ben is charmed by this adorable guy and then flirt some more, there’s some lap-sitting, and then they go home and fuck for a second time, where Ben nicely rims him for awhile and denies him the chance to come (edging Anakin to teach him patience and really help along that shorting out of his anxious thoughts! gimme that for always!) until finally he fucks into Anakin, like they’ve both been wanting. It’s one of those fics that appeals to what I want from it, that sometimes I just want to read some fluff in a modern AU where they can just bang it out until I feel better, and this fic happily does that for me, it just whole-heartedly embraces all the tropes I enjoy (Anakin being greedy and desperate for more, Obi-Wan adoring him but making him wait so that it shorts out his awful thoughts, the mild d/s undercurrents to their interactions, Anakin’s cock being left untouched because he’d come too quickly if it was, Anakin tightening around him as he comes, all things I love) and just satisfies me. This chapter was such a treat for me and it just made me happy and I need all the fic I can get that will make me happy! ✦ Last breath by Arctii, obi-wan/anakin & cast, 7.9k wip    Anakin leaves. Obi-Wan decides, reluctantly, knowing it’s probably not the smartest thing he has done, to try and track him down. That, surprisingly, proves to be a difficult task. Especially since there are so many realisations he doesn’t want to face, and since Anakin seemingly does everything he can to disappear.    I’m often wary of picking up fic like this, where Obi-Wan or Anakin decide to leave the Jedi, because it’s hard to get that right and keep them in character, but I wound up sucked into this one and really enjoyed the five chapters that are here, because it knows exactly what to focus on–that mutual pining that’s delicous and the most fun to read about! Anakin just disappearing without notice, then Obi-Wan just unable to stop thinking about him, and the near misses they have when they almost meet up again, both of them wanting to see the other, Anakin being an absolute mess, while Obi-Wan is reasonably well put together but misses him? Yes, that’s what I’m here for. I’m really enjoying Anakin’s grief and how much of a disaster he is, because of course he is, and the fic definitely knows how to keep me interested even while making me wait for them to finally find each other again. Well, for Obi-Wan to finally pin that little shit down, but same difference! ✦ Star Birth by thatsakitkat, obi-wan/anakin & cast, NSFW, a/b/o, dark themes, 7k wip    “Am I going to die, Master?” Anakin asks. Obi-Wan looks at him sharply. “No. You will not die, Anakin.” “I’m burning,” Anakin says. He blinks slowly and strains to concentrate. “You set me on fire.”    You should definitely read the warnings on this fic, it’s a darker look at the characters and the trope of a/b/o in fic, which I find has to be done carefully for my personal tastes, but I read this one and am definitely greatly intrigued by it. One of the things that helped me is that it notes right upfront that the Jedi here aren’t like they are in canon, which allowed that voice in the back of my head to just shut up about how this isn’t how the Jedi actually are and just roll with them being more awful here (though, if you’re sensitive to that like me, heads up that it will likely play more of a role as the fic goes on!) and instead I focused on what the story was actually about. Because it’s a fic about omega!Anakin burning up with his first heat, that it’s actually a legit terrifying thing for someone who has such a strong connection to the Force and so much power and so little control of himself normally, much less when he’s in the middle of a fever this intense. It was this really satisfying dive into Anakin being just out of it, this sense of how worrying that really was, how much he was suffering through this, and how very much Obi-Wan cared about him, how much he felt the pull towards him, how intensely protective of Anakin he was, and how this is really worrying and unsettling and dangerous.    It’s a difficult situation because Anakin can so very, very easily hurt other people around him, but also taking him out of a structured environment can hurt him as well, that Obi-Wan has to try to balance what’s best for Anakin versus what’s best for everyone, that the two don’t always overlap, and that this is not an easy problem with a simple solution. It’s a much harsher world for the a/b/o dynamics, but there’s something really super engaging about the set-up here, the way Obi-Wan and Anakin interact with each other. Part of it is my iddy enjoyment of the trope and their co-depending dynamic, but part of it is also that there’s something surprisingly warm here even when they’re suffering, even when terrible things are done. ✦ Tumblr Prompt Drabbles by Adelphrexia, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, various themes, ~1k wip (sort of)    A collection of Obikin drabble requests originally posted on my Tumblr. Mostly smut, any warnings will be posted on the chapter they apply to.    Pretty much exactly what it says on the tin, this is a nice little collection of porny snippets, for when you’re in the mood for some resolution! With all the gen or low-rated fic I’ve been reading lately, sometimes I just really need some “getting straight to the point” sex snippets and these gave me some ridiculously hot imagery and thus satisfying for exactly what I wanted from it! ✦ The Team by writegowrite, obi-wan/anakin, human au, mafia au, ~1k    Behind a warehouse long abandoned by everything but rats, beneath a blue sky smudged brown by pollution, a pristine black Mercedes sat idling like a wraith.    I really love the idea of Mafia AUs (as the author’s notes say, it’s basically a Sith AU with three piece suits!) and there’s some gorgeous imagery here (“a pristine black Mercedes sat idling like a wraith” is one of my favorite pieces of description I’ve read in awhile!) and this really lovely intimate moment of Obi-Wan thinking about Anakin, as he’s off doing some dirty work. It’s a neat way to map Anakin’s desire to be the Knight to someone else’s leader, to work in all those monstrous things he’s capable of, while also keeping Obi-Wan’s refined point of view. I like that it doesn’t need to be more than what it is, even though I’d have read another 50k or more of it, and it ends on a really lovely image as well, which says so much about who Anakin Skywalker is, with just a few words. ✦ Almost Lost by aphorisnt, obi-wan/anakin & kix, 3k    Anakin gets injured and Obi-Wan does not handle it well.    This was a very nice piece of Anakin whump and Obi-Wan actually handles it reasonably well, just not for Obi-Wan because, you know, it’s Anakin. I really enjoyed that this was just whole-heartedly embracing the hurt/comfort trope, that Anakin gets hurt, Obi-Wan’s thoughts get scrambled because he cares so much about this person, so there’s a lot of waiting and restlessness, and then everything breaks open from there. It was one of those fics that just really scratched an itch I had for this kind of thing, it was just so solidly satisfying for that! ✦ i didn’t want this thing called living by dorenamryn, obi-wan/anakin, 4.8k wip (sort of)    Alternatively: Obi-wan’s heart is forever shattered, and Anakin always burns. (A collection of ficlets cataloguing the tragedy of two lives both before and after the fall that was never supposed to happen.)    This is a collection of various ficlets, set at different points in their lives, sometimes when they’re fighting during the Clone War, sometimes after Mustafar has happened, sometimes things are a mix of bittersweet and hopeful, sometimes things are just sad, and it’s a lovely set of pieces that gave me a lot of feelings about how much was ruined between them, how much it hurts because it was good once upon a time. Another fic of “please stop punching me in the feelings (no, don’t, it’s really good)”! ✦ Tumblr Prompts by Darlings (FromDreamstoEmpires), obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, d/s, 6.6k (each chapter is separate)    A collection of prompts that I’ve filled on Tumblr.    I think I may have recommended this collection before? But I wanted to make a special rec for Chapter 4: He Hurt Me (And It Felt Like True Love), because it’s 2.7k by itself and because it was based on a prompt of mine and, boy, is it one of those fics that I enjoyed because it just gleefully embraces the tropes and iddiness of it, that it just goes right for Emperor!Sith!Obi-Wan who binds Anakin and fucks the noise out of his head, like it knows what I want from fic when I need some resolution after all the other non-shippy fic/novels I’ve been reading. It’s nicely satisfying sex, it’s Obi-Wan teaching Anakin patience through sex and making him wait to come and domming the hell out of him before finally fucking into him and blanking out Anakin’s mind. Listen. Listen, I am always here for that, okay. And this one was just fun and hit me exactly as it was supposed to! ✦ WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE by anecdotalist, obi-wan/anakin & cast, 13k wip    War has broken out between the Republic and the Separatists. But that is of no concern to Ben, one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy. All he’s focused on is his next target…until he’s invited to a tournament of hunters on Serenno. There, he meets a young Jedi Knight—the Hero With No Fear, Anakin Skywalker—who’s disguised as bounty hunter Rako Hardeen.    Chapters 3-4: I keep meaning to let this fic build up for a bit more (because every time I read it, I get to the end of the chapter and desperately want more!) but I can never resist, I have to read it pretty much right away, because it’s so goddamned charming, there’s such a charisma to the interactions between Ben and Anakin here, you can feel the chemistry they have with each other! I’m enjoying the set-up, I really like the way these characters’ lives are different in this universe, that Ben has so many elements of Obi-Wan (that sharpness and focus and presence especially!) and that Anakin has so many elements of his canon self (kind of a mess, leads with his feelings, so much talent with his skills!), so that the instant connection between them makes perfect sense to me, they just somehow vibe on each other, that all versions of them always will.    It helps that the writing is really sharp, that the attraction between them (even while they know they should be wary, Anakin especially just can’t help being wildly attracted to Ben and WITH GOOD REASON) and that Ben is an incredible bounty-hunter, I love that I’m sure the underlying meaning is that he’s Force-sensitive and lightly tapping into those abilities without knowing it, but it’s still really hot when he’s sniping targets from so far away or leading the other bounty hunters in an obstacle course or refusing to back down in front of Dooku, but without being a hot head about it. No wonder Anakin is all hot and bothered, it’s clear that he’s brilliant himself but Ben is just really, really hot and really, really good at what he does, and so it makes their natural chemistry work. And I lovethat Anakin continues to be absolute shit at flirting, if Obi-Wan Kenobi couldn’t teach him that in canon, no one could. Seeing Obi-Wan all cool and collected, while Anakin is a mess? Yes, gimme that combination always, it never gets old! I love that there’s also a plot going on, I’m genuinely intrigued by it, the mission they’re assigned to, whatever happened in the past with Qui-Gon, what’s going on with Palpatine, all of that, but also the charm of these two is so well done that I can’t help it, I want more of them in this universe! ✦ My Anakin by DonkerRood, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, bondage, some d/s, 1.1k    Obi-Wan is back from a mission and realizes Anakin always gets what he wants.    This was a lovely piece that I picked up for the sexy times and the tying Anakin up, but wound up enjoying it just as much for the “fuck the noise out of Anakin Skywalker’s head” aspect, that it was about Obi-Wan trying to find the balance of their relationship, because Anakin is so needy, that it’s next to impossible to resist him when he’s begging Obi-Wan for more. That it’s about getting Anakin to a better headspace, that this helps settle and calm him, just as much as it’s about the soft touches and comfort Anakin gets from being tied up and loved, that it’s about Obi-Wan teaching Anakin a bit of patience before finallyfucking him properly and I’m just so very here for that. ORIGINAL TRILOGY RECS: ✦ Master and Padawan by Katharos, obi-wan & luke & cast, 15.5k wip    What if Luke was raised by Obi-Wan as his Padawan?    This was a fic written post-TPM, but pre-AOTC or ROTS, so a lot of stuff is going to be different here, but it doesn’t really matter that much, because it’s a story about Obi-Wan raising Luke, halfway as his son and halfway as his apprentice, in a story that’s just CUTENESS ALL THE WAY AROUND. I really loved tearing through it and I don’t mind that it’s a wip that hasn’t been updated in ~15 years because it’s not one that’s about resolution, it’s about the slice of life dynamic between these characters as Luke (who is a ball of sunshine, of course, even as he’s also a little shit sometimes) grows up and Obi-Wan adores him and loves him. That it’s a heartwarming fic set on Tatooine, with Luke making friends with Biggs and they go to see a podrace with Obi-Wan as the exasperated dad chasing after energetic kids, with teaching Luke to be patient and let go of his anger and frustration, all of it was just really sweet and a nice read. ✦ Ritual by ambiguously, bail & breha & leia & luke & han, ~1k    Two funerals Leia attended.    This was a short but lovely piece that’s a look at Leia’s character, the way she approaches mourning, the impact it’s had on her life, as seen through two scenes of loss–one as a child that she doesn’t really feel that connected to, the other as a young adult that’s too massive for her to wrap her head around at once. All the while showing her resilience and strength. ✦ Carmine by AceQueenKing, anakin & leia, 2.7k    The Princess stirs, waking; her eyes catch him at her door and her face darkens, ready for a fight.    Another gorgeous look at Vader and Leia, that the fire and steel in her veins teases at something in the back of his mind, but also just simply that he recognizes someone it would be a shame to waste, someone who would be so much more valuable put to better uses. I love the strength of Leia’s character here, that she’s human and nineteen, but also that she’s so sharp she’s very nearly cutting just to look at her. The deft characterization and the way they interact with each other is spot on and it’s a really aching, hard piece to read, but also graceful and fascinating. ✦ Useful by igrockspock, leia & luke & han, 1.4k    To earn her place on the Falcon, Leia has to be useful, so she tries to learn everything she can.    Another lovely look at Leia’s character, during her time on the Falcon and how hard she pushes herself, the kind of impossible standards she holds herself to. It makes me ache a little for her, she’s so very hard on herself, always pushing more and more, but also so tremendously happy for her that she has Luke and Han, who are there for her. ✦ Paper Trails; A Triptych of Leia Organa by glorious_clio, leia & cast, 7.9k    By the time she was 19, Leia has three defined roles that she slots in and out of, some are more obvious to outsiders than others. But Leia Organa is also more than the sum of her parts.    Sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t be able to read such an endless parade of Leia fics, that eventually character pieces should feel like they’ve covered all the ground of her, but I never seem to get tired of them, not when fic like this exists that are such a lovely look at the larger span of her life, the fire she has and the losses she suffers and just how much there is to her, all told through so many little scenes and little details given to flesh her out. It’s a really fantastic read if you’re interested in her character and her life! ✦ Entail by Domenika Marzione (domarzione), leia & luke & ahsoka & cast, 2.4k    Families of all sorts come with obligations. And baggage.    Another lovely look at Leia’s character (which I will never get tired of!) with a highlight on the Skywalker family and the Jedi and how it’s this really kind, goodexploration of what those things mean. I especially adored the conversation between Leia and Ahsoka, the introspection Ahsoka has clearly done over the years about what happened to her former Master, her part in all of it, and how it really gets how these characters related to each other and how things were beyond them sometimes. That Anakin maybe wasn’t meant to be a Jedi, but that didn’t mean anything bad about him in an inherent way or that the Jedi were bad, either, and that was perfect, that it understood and that this is how these characters actually would feel and realize things. It’s a story about Leia struggling to find her way through the Skywalker legacy and her connection to the Force, the connections her loved ones have, and how the past came to be, and it’s kind-hearted and charming, all while being sad and heartbreaking. I enjoyed this a lot! ✦ The Trick is to Keep Breathing by AceQueenKing, anakin & leia, 3.3k    She’s older now, and so is he. Far older now. She wonders: will he have lost any power with his age? Will he be shorter, weaker? An old man on a ventilator? It’s hard to imagine that he won’t still be dangerous. But then, that’s exactly what she’s counting on.    Oh, this fic was wrenching. There’s something so incredibly sharp and aching about this piece, one that’s exactly the length it needed to be (though, I would read an entire novel’s worth set in this story) and does an incredible, painful job of capturing Leia’s character, as she goes to see her biological father after the events of TLJ. There’s so many gorgeous details here (the life he lives, wherehe lives, how he lives, the people around him, the way he spends his time, the people in his sketchbook, the clothes) that I loved, but also just the sheer “please stop punching me in the feelings (no, please keep going)” feeling of it. It’s the most gorgeous Vader & Leia fic I’ve read in awhile, it really gets both these characters and how they would be in this situation, how there’s an undeniable connection there, but without removing Leia’s anger or her connection to her real parents. All of it is incredibly painful, especially Anakin, with his hope and his eagerness and his world-weariness all in equal measure, like, yes, that is Anakin Skywalker right there. I practically felt physically sore after reading this, just exactly as I was supposed to feel. ✦ Minor Counterintelligence Operations by igrockspock, han/leia & ben, 2.5k    Ben Solo knows three things: he loves his parents, they are weird, and they have a lot of secrets. He intends to find them out.    Oh, this was so adorable! Young Ben asking his parents about stuff kids ask about, except they’re not quite a normal family, so there’s a lot in Han and Leia’s past that has to be delicately approached, but they do such a sharp, charming job of it, even as you can see kidlet Ben getting a little too focused on them. The fic does a great job of not going too far in any one direction, but instead there’s all this hope and light and joy in their family, it’s genuinely darling and charismatic in how cute the kid is, while also being legitimately hilarious in moments. The comedic timing of the dialogue is really great and it just absolutely charmed the pants off me. CROSSING THE GENERATIONS: ✦ GrandMasters & GrandPadawans by ShadeCrawler, ezra & mace, background time travel, 2.2k    AKA. Where Ezra Bridger and Mace Windu have a discussion over juice.    I had a moment of wondering how these two characters would be thrown together in the same time and place, but then realized it was a time travel fic where Ezra gets to go back and meet this legendary Jedi of his lineage and, oh, I didn’t know how much I needed it until I had it. It’s so good, it’s a beautiful look at a quiet conversation between them (of course Ezra has a million questions, he’s definitely Kanan’s padawan in that) and Mace’s answers are spot on for him, that this is a fic that really gets the Jedi and the actual balance they strive for, Mace’s answer about attachment was perfect. I could have cried happy tears over how warm-hearted and good this fic was, but it’s also one that gave me a tremendous amount of feelings because EZRA GETTING TO SEE THE GOLDEN DAYS OF THE JEDI, I didn’t know how much that was going to mean to me. ✦ Round Two by ambiguously, ahsoka/sabine & cast, time travel, 1.4k    Sabine and Ahsoka get stranded in the past together.    This is a fic that drops you into the middle of the story and it’s not really aboutthe time travel, it’s about the more intimate personal dynamic between Ahsoka and Sabine, that they’ve been set outside of time, in a sense, and it’s a glimpse into how they deal with that, just moments of them stepping outside their own lives. I don’t know that I necessarily shipped it before this, but I found it to be a lovely piece and I could definitely see it here, and it was just a cool, neat read! ✦ How to Kill a Ghost by saiditallbefore, kylo & yoda, 1.6k    “Fuck. I’m being followed by a dead Jedi.” “Jedi master, I was,” he says, tapping Kylo with his cane again.    I would read at least a dozen fics of Yoda as a Force Ghost haunting Kylo Ren, basically annoying him into turning at least somewhat back to the light. I love the little touches in the fic, none are too heavy handed, but the loss of the Jedi, the hurt of everything with Anakin Skywalker, the passage of time, all of it is really nicely done, this isn’t just a crack fic, it has moments of genuine sadness and bittersweetness. But it’s also entirely hilarious and I would read the galaxy’s most fuck-awful road trip with these two for AT LEAST an entire novel’s worth! ✦ Spectre by Magical_Destiny, anakin & kylo, 2.2k    In the aftermath of Crait, Kylo Ren finally meets his grandfather.    This was a really great post-TLJ fic that hit all the notes just right for me, it wasn’t too over the top, it wasn’t too understated, it was just the right amount of Skywalker Drama with Anakin also still trying here and having achieved something better in death, more clarity that allows him to see better. And the fic doesn’t try to swing the characters too far one way or the other, while still allowing them reactions, and so it just kind of sucker-punched me in a way that felt perfect to the movies and where the characters are at this point in time. The conversation between them is satisfying for the brief moments they’ve given and thisssss is what I want from Force Ghost Anakin, yes. ✦ another city (better than this one) by notbecauseofvictories, lando & ben solo, 5.8k    The kid is sitting cross-legged on a drum of tibanna gas, picking at a hole in his leggings despite the bulky stun-cuffs binding his wrists together. He keeps darting black looks at the patrolmen flanking him on either side, and scowling.    I really loved the conflicted feelings this fic gave me, that it was easy to see the bad path Ben was on here, that Lando had to put the safety of others first, but also he handled it really kind of badly when he just shut Ben down the first time something (admittedly something really huge) happened, despite that he saw that Ben didn’t do it out of malice. And yet that this was a problem farbeyond Lando and he did the right thing. It’s a crappy situation all the way around and it was perfectly done for that! It is a fic that doesn’t really fit with canon but that doesn’t matter because it’s illustrating how Ben Solo could have gone so wrong, how he was loved and how he wasn’t just an evil chariacture, how a person can feel for him and be deeply disturbed by him, that it’s not just his power that’s frightening, but the morality behind it, the lack of understanding of how he uses it and how it hurts people. It really was a fascinating read! REBELS RECS: ✦ Mating Rituals by Velvedere, zeb/kallus & sabine & cast, 4.7k    Zeb has been acting weird lately. Kallus vents to Sabine about it.    With the brief exception of Kallus’ name, this fic could easily fit into the later parts of Rebels (which is one of the big hesitations I have with reading Kalluzeb fic, because I love that ending and want stuff that’s compatible with it!) and, even more importantly, it’s delightful as all get out. The writing is really sharp, it’s funny in that sort of understated, not directly a joke, just a hilarious circumstance kind of way, just the way Sabine is so dry about Kallus’ awkwardness, but not mean about it, is so her. And the dynamic between Zeb and Kallus is really charming and sharp, it’s a scream to read for the hilarity, but also because I ship those two so hard and it just really sparkled off the page here. An absolute scream of a fic! ✦ Seven by ambiguously, kanan & jacen, time travel (sort of), 3.8k    Kanan asks the wolves a question. The wolves bring him someone with a different question.    Another fic that I never knew I needed, this one just punched me right in the feelings with how it was absolutely perfect and so, so fitting with Star Wars and these characters’ relationship with each other. It’s perfect for Kanan, I have no trouble believing this fits into his story, just as much as it fits perfectly into what I would love to see for Jacen, it makes everything feel all the more settled, it provides a bit of resolution/closure in exactly the way it intends, it’s painful but in a cathartic way, and it works so, so well as something understated and meaningful without trying too hard. That it’s a brief few moments in time only increases it’s importance, that it doesn’t need confessions, they just get it, is so incredibly true to the characters that I could have cried a little at how much it made me feel. Gorgeous and everything I wanted from Kanan & Jacen fic. ✦ Ben Whitesun by Perspicacia, obi-wan/beru & cast, 6k    When Obi-Wan brought Luke to the Lars’ farm, he found only a struggling grieving widow and not the young, happy couple he hoped. This is how Ben Kenobi became a moisture farmer instead of a hermit…    This is really more of a Beru piece than anything, Obi-Wan is just kind of there and lacks the focus of his character, but I loved it for being an alternate storyline, for being such a great Beru piece. That Owen died and so Obi-Wan’s path became a little different, that their relationship isn’t this grand, passionate thing for either of them, they’re both too much about other things, too grounded and down to earth, but it is something comforting and solid and real, the fic balances that really well and made me care about them and really able to see that this could have happened for them. It’s a lovely picture of what life on Tatooine is like as well, that it’s hard and exhausting and dangerous, but there’s life and love and warmth there as well, that both of these people heal around each other, because of each other and Luke. It really charmed me to read this story! ✦ The Care and Keeping of Ex-Imperials Who Need Coffee, a Nap, and a Hug in That Order by akaparalian, kallus & phoenix crew (& some zeb/kallus), 8.8k    Five Ghost crew members who helped Alexsandr Kallus, and one who he helped in return.    This is a really satisfying piece about the Phoenix crew and Kallus and his slow adjustment to being part of them, a really great look at Alexandr Kallus as a character and where he’s at with all of them. That he holds himself back in ways that really fit with the character, that aren’t trying too hard or over the top about it, but instead that are pretty understandable and reasonable ways, that the fic is about the crew slowly warming up to him and him slowly learning to trust that he can tease back or admit to when he needs food or medical attention or even just trust that this is all real. I love the voices for the characters (Chopper just chucking food at him in frustration is a highlight, but also the back and forth with Ezra is probably my favorite), each one of them is different and sharp and true to who they are. It’s just exactly the kind of fic I really wanted to read! ✦ When we have peace by apocrypha73, zeb/kallus, 2.9k    After the Battle of Endor, Kallus and Zeb enjoy the celebration.    This was just a nice, solid piece of post-Rebels fic where Zeb and Kallus outlast the war, having these little moments along the way, whether discussing bigger events (like the hotshot pilot who destroyed the Death Star) or more personal, quieter and intimate moments (like discussing their lives) and it just helped satisfy that itch I had for more of them! Sweet and very nice to read. ✦ The First Day of the Rest of Your Life by ambiguously, kanan/hera & ocs, 6.7k    Kanan and Hera, from point A to point B, and all the places between.    This is the other Kanan/Hera fic I didn’t know I needed until I had it in my hands and was swept away into it. It’s the perfect length for a sort of slice-of-life (that spans a fair amount of time) post-A New Dawn and pre-series, as Kanan and Hera start to settle into this new friendship (and something more) of theirs, but I also could have read another 50k of it, because it’s so sharp and sparkling and charming. It fits them both so well for this time in their lives and really gets their ridiculous amount of chemistry down and even has original characters that I adored, who were perfectly used as they needed to be for this story. It’s a great read whether you’re full on diehard OTP for these or just more casually interested in them, I really loved it a lot. ✦ Without, Inferno | Within, Peace by auraelys, kanan/hera & sabine & ezra & depa, ~1k    In that moment, Kanan knows the choice he has to make, no matter how much it hurts.    This is a really gorgeous look at Kanan’s point of view from Jedi Night and really nails his thoughts and what he was going through and the connective web of his entire life and the path he walked. The sense of peace, the purpose just struck me really hard, they’re perfectly done and beautifully written. ✦ In the Middle of the Night by bar2d2s, hera & kallus (background kanan/hera & zeb/kallus), 1.8k    When one member of your self-made family is pregnant, you’re all pregnant.    A lovely post-series look at Kallus still trying to fit in with the Phoenix crew, as he interacts with Hera in a slightly awkward (but getting less awkward) run-in during the middle of the night. It’s sort of a Kallus-focused piece, but it’s also a family-focused piece, with the right amounts of cute and bittersweet woven together. ✦ A Moment to Breathe by Mirror and Image, kanan & kallus & hera & ezra & sabine & zeb & cast, 8.9k    Everyone struggles to come to terms with the Season 3 finale - Kallus most of all - and in their grief and defeat one blind man gives them a moment to breathe.    This was a lovely post-season 3 finale fic where Kanan wanders around and gently nudges various Phoenix crew and Rebels into feeling better, that he’s so Jedi about it, that he’s so Kanan about it, that it’s these wonderful moments of connection between all these different characters at a difficult moment in their lives, the moments of breathing room they get after everything that’s happened. I love that it fits with how a Jedi is someone who can create these moments to help others, that they get a little breathing room because of him, but I love it even more for being a piece about family, for being a piece about Kanan finding his path in life. The scene with Kallus at the end is probably definitely my favorite, but I really loved all of them, it was a lovely read. ✦ And a Million Years Gone By by ambiguously, hera & jacen, 5.7k    Hera worries about Jacen a lot.    Oh, I loved this fic, it was such a great piece for Jacen growing up and being a little strange and what that means and how Hera deals with it. It’s a series of scenes across the early years of his life, as Hera balances raising him with still fighting in the rebellion, as Jacen gets into the occasional situation here and there. That it can’t be an easy life, growing up in the midst of all that fighting and not many other kids his age around, but he’s no less loved by the people around him for it, that this is a piece about the family they’ve forged and chosen for themselves, and the ending brought that misty-eyed, “my chest is having those feelings things again” feel to me, it was beautiful for all these moments from Hera, who loves her son but worries about him, especially after she’s lost both the Jedi in her life already for a higher purpose, that the war has strained everything in her life. This is the fic I wanted to read about these moments in Hera and Jacen’s lives. ✦ Morning Light by SweetSinger2010, kanan/hera & sabine & ezra & zeb & cast, 8k    He’d long since figured out he was in bacta. He was able to orient himself to the sound of voices in the room, sometimes. When it was Hera speaking, always. And he could sense that little flicker of light and life she carried with her–their child. AU.    I am at peace with the way Rebels’ story went, it was obviously built up from a very long time ago, and the sacrifice Kanan made was a good one. That said, apparently I needed just the one AU where he lives and this one scratched that itch absolutely perfectly. The writing is lovely and the characterization is really solid, it has just the right amounts of both Hera being stubborn and reckless with how much heart and care she has, that once things settle she can put aside things and be soft again, too. It’s definitely a softer, kinder AU, but it’s not sugary sweet and I really appreciated that blend as well, because it takes Kanan time to recover, there’s a lot of shit going down in the background with the Rebellion, there’s a lot of worry about Hera pushing herself too far, etc. It hit the right notes of “I can see this fitting the Rebels canon” and “just fix everything already and give me the soft Kanera ending!!!”, which I greatly appreciated.

LF RP Connections~

It's been a long while since I've done this, so here goes! I’m currently looking for more personal RP connections / contacts / partners! I am open for both discord and in-game RP, though because of a sometimes-erratic schedule IRL and running an RP FC, discord often works better for me.

(More details under the cut!)

I am looking for a wide range of RP, from one-off encounters, casual rp, to longer term plots.  My interests range from slice-of-life to adventure to horror & darker themes with a good dash of drama and angst. While I am not particularly looking for romantic story-arcs / RP - I am not opposed to it on my currently unattached characters should a connection form and it makes sense within the context of the story.

If you want an enthusiastic & engaged rp partner that loves discussing plotting & stories, and that values communication, please contact me!  I can be reached here on tumblr, or on discord:  snarksonomy#5640 Please note: I am primarily located on the Balmung Server, though for the sake of discord RP that doesn’t matter much.

The characters:

Milloux Allard Shroudborn Duskwight - raised primarily in La Noscea. Advocate of the Ashen Enclave, Humanitarian, Reluctant Noble & sometimes-vigilante. Age: 26 (give or take one or two. She doesn’t know her nameday) Orientation: bisexual Tumblr: http://aethersmoke-and-ash.tumblr.com Playlist: Spotify~

Milloux is a complicated woman with a complicated past - someone currently caught at a crossroads in life. More and more, the face she presents to the world is divorced from the woman she once was; the kind and enigmatic humanitarian eclipsing the once rough-and-tumble 'Good Samaritan' and mark hunter.  Not as quick to throw a punch, she can still hold her own -- though these days it's more likely to be a gala than a bar brawl.

She wears her secrets-- and there are many-- like a second skin, and while her methods may sometimes be questionable, her intentions are nearly always good.

Looking for -

Allies / Friends (Both past and present! Milloux has lead a colorful, eventful, and not always 'legitimate' life in her relatives short 26 years. There are whispers of her former involvement with a notorious smuggling & piracy ring in Vylbrand, to say nothing her experiences as a markhunter...and most recently, noblewoman and humanitarian.)

A tutor in thaumaturgy / Black magic (or an associated cabal/coven / etc. She acquired a black mage's stone some time ago now, and is largely self-taught. A novice at best, learning to properly harness the power that whispers to and tempts her is something I really want to pursue)

Antagonists / Adversaries ( Past and present. Running a charity in Thanalan is bound to ruffle some monetarist feathers, to say nothing of Ishgardians skeptical of her claims to nobility. Or those those from the past she’s left behind - both those she had been bound to, those she might have wronged, and those she hunted.)

Nalette Rainteaux - Gridanian & Ishgardian, Wildwood.  Arcanist, alchemist, scholar. Age: 30 Orientation: bi-curious (largely inexperienced.) Tumblr: summon-the-rain.tumblr.com Playlist: Spotify

Born of an Ishgardian noblewoman and a Gridanian merchant, Nalette is a quietly composed scholar, coming off to most as stern, dismissive and aloof. Mostly, she's just shy and self-interested.  She took to studying arcanima over conjury when proved to be of only middling talent with the latter - something that remains a sore point.

As an arcanist, she is devoted to combining the art with her understanding and study of alchemy, perhaps as a means to distill her greatest aims, that of recapturing and emulating the summoners of ages past.

She is hesitant and sheltered in many respects, restless and dissatisfied with her current life - but not entirely certain how to change things. She may also be writing 'romance' novels under a thoroughly secret pseudonym.

Looking for -

Academic peers, colleagues, etc

Adventure. Disaster. Someone or something to disrupt the quiet order of her life. Nalette tends to work best with folks that contrast sharply to her and challenge her.

Childhood friends / past contacts!  Nalette is Gridanian raised, but spent childhood summers and holidays in Ishgard proper with her family there until the gates closed. Friend might be an overstatement, she is a loner, a bookworm and a wallflower.

Failed suitors - Notoriously fickle and disinterested, she has spurned her fair share of those seeking her hand - both Ishgardian and Gridanian.

Possible suitors? Good luck, of course.

Amelie Sophenaux - Shroudborn? duskwight - Singing & Gunslinging - the rebel without a clue. Age: 23 Orientation: bisexual Tumblr: http://aetherial-sonata.tumblr.com Playlist: Spotify

Broad grins and confident swagger, Amelie makes a show of portraying someone far more worldly and experienced with life than she truly is.  She has a thousand and one reasons and excuses for why she left home at a young age, and none of them have more than a glimmer of truth to them. Most have less than that.

She spent the past few years since the Calamity with a small traveling carnival - a natural flair for acrobatics and performance translating well to the stage.  She has no small surfeit of talent, she learns new skills quickly and has an almost insatiable desire to learn more.

She recently parted ways with her former employers to look into other possibilities. Right now, that means trying her hand at mark hunting. And she may well be over her head, this time.

(Amelie is a newer character and I haven't done anything with her yet, really! She's a blank slate waiting to see how she develops through RP and experience. I am truly up for pretty much whatever with her, to see where the chips fall!)

Looking for:

Misfits, performers, other circus folk to spend time / perform with

Adventure! Excitement!

Childhood friends / contacts.   Especially those that might have been working to learn conjury before she suddenly stopped her studies.

Companions, friends, family, etc

Open plots needing more participants, etc

Emiyyah Lyehga -Keeper of the Moon - Courtesan, Coquette, Counsel. Age: 34 Orientation: bisexual Tumblr: http://rose-and-thorns.tumblr.com Playlist: (none yet!)

Elegant and refined, Emiyyah Lyehga is a shroudrose cultivated and nurtured in Ul'dah.  The former proprietress of the Rose and Thorn, an exclusive pillowhouse catering to the the tastes and desires of discerning clientele - she now serves the Ashen Enclave as a counselor and counsel to the Advocate.

Sweetly spoken, she is ever the picture of poise and politeness - making it difficult to discern where the image she portrays and the woman she truly is begins or ends.  Far from a mere coquette or companion, however - Emiyyah's true intentions lay with her operations funded by the profits of the Rose and Thorn and her own inheritances.  Quiet whispers speak of a rosy-haired Keeper buying up the contracts of the downtrodden, liberating them and offering them safe refuge.  ... and those she has employed over the years to rid the realm of those that would shackle others.

Looking for:

(Former) Clientele - (While no no longer accepting new clients or actively working as a courtesan, Emiyyah maintains friendly relationships with many of those she saw on a regular basis and will likely still (happily) act as social escort and offer companionship to them.)

Friends / Companions / Apprentices

Emotional support / Physical therapy- Emiyyah works as a counselor for the Ashen Enclave, specializing in helping others overcome past traumas and emotional imbalances.

Antagonists - Certain activities have ruffled many feathers over the years, earning the rose-colored catte a good many enemies among those seeking to harm others.

T'many Allowe - Seeker of the Sun, The best damn courier in Ul'dah. Age: 19 (or so) Orientation: pansexual Tumblr: http://tams-catte.tumblr.com Playlist: Spotify

Loud, impulsive and raucous - Tams is nothing short of (and she is short) a trouble-maker with a heart of gold.  Until fairly recently, she lived on the streets of Ul'dah - working piecemeal as a courier. She has a talent for instigating fights and slinging playful insults. If she gives you a nickname, it means she likes you.

She comes from a particularly precarious offshoot of the Condor Tribe; superstitious scavengers from the Southern Sagolii fallen on particularly hard times and unfavorable auspice.  She escaped the fate the tribe had in mind for her, and the portents they believed she would bring to them, and seems particularly reluctant to speak about that time in her life.  She's also fairly terrified they're still looking for her to bring her "home" - willingly or not.

Looking for:

Drinking buddies / partners in "crime" / casual friends / other strays

Adventure / Hijinks / Light-hearted RP

Work! Need something delivered discreetly and quickly around Thanalan? She's your courier.

Tribal shaman / those acquainted with the Echo.  Tams has the Echo, and is still learning how to cope and harness those abilities.  Hers has manifested in an eidtic memory, and the ability to see snippets of those belonging to others.

I have two other characters as well - Jordain Allard and Leandre Mercier! You can see a snippet of them here.

Today’s reading in the ancient book of Proverbs and Psalms

for Tuesday, may 19 of 2020 with Proverbs 19 and Psalm 19 accompanied by Psalm 62 for the 62nd day of Spring and Psalm 140 for day 140 of the year

[Psalm 19]

For the worship leader. A song of David.

The celestial realms announce God’s glory;

the skies testify of His hands’ great work.

Each day pours out more of their sayings;

each night, more to hear and more to learn.

Inaudible words are their manner of speech,

and silence, their means to convey.

Yet from here to the ends of the earth, their voices have gone out;

the whole world can hear what they say.

God stretched out in these heavens a tent for the sun,

And the sun is like a groom

who, after leaving his room, arrives at the wedding in splendor;

He is the strong runner

who, favored to win in his race, is eager to face his challenge.

He rises at one end of the skies

and runs in an arc overhead;

nothing can hide from his heat, from the swelter of his daily tread.

The Eternal’s law is perfect,

turning lives around.

His words are reliable and true,

instilling wisdom to open minds.

The Eternal’s directions are correct,

giving satisfaction to the heart.

God’s commandments are clear,

lending clarity to the eyes.

The awe of the Eternal is clean,

sustaining for all of eternity.

The Eternal’s decisions are sound;

they are right through and through.

They are worth more than gold—

even more than abundant, pure gold.

They are sweeter to the tongue than honey

or the drippings of the honeycomb.

In addition to all that has been said,

Your servant will find, hidden in Your commandments, both a strong warning

and a great reward for keeping them.

Who could possibly know all that he has done wrong?

Forgive my hidden and unknown faults.

As I am Your servant, protect me from my bent toward pride,

and keep sin from ruling my life.

If You do this, I will be without blame,

innocent of the great breach.

May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart

meet with Your gracious approval,

O Eternal, my Rock,

O Eternal, my Redeemer.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 19 (The Voice)

[Psalm 62]

For the worship leader, Jeduthun. A song of David.

My soul quietly waits for the True God alone;

my salvation comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and my deliverance,

my citadel high on the hill; I will not be shaken.

How long will you attack a man?

How long will all of you strive to crush your prey

when he’s like a leaning fence or a wall on the verge of collapse?

Their only purpose in life is to knock him down from his prominent position;

they love deceit.

When others are around, they speak a blessing on someone,

but inwardly they are mumbling a curse.

[pause]

My soul quietly waits for the True God alone

because I hope only in Him.

He alone is my rock and deliverance,

my citadel high on a hill;

I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my significance depend ultimately on God;

the core of my strength, my shelter, is in the True God.

Have faith in Him in all circumstances, dear people.

Open up your heart to Him;

the True God shelters us in His arms.

[pause]

Human beings disappear like a breath;

even people of rank live artificial lives.

Their weight is that of a breath in a balance—nothing.

Added together, they’re still lighter than air.

Do not resort to oppression;

resist the temptation of ill-gotten gain.

If you achieve wealth, don’t let your heart get attached.

The True God spoke this once,

and twice I’ve heard:

That You, the True God, hold all power;

Your love never fails, O Lord,

for You pay every person back

according to his deeds.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 62 (The Voice)

[Psalm 140]

For the worship leader. A song of David.

Save me, O Eternal One, from the evil men who seek my life.

Shield me from this band of violent men.

Their hearts devise evil! They conspire against me;

they are constantly causing a storm of war.

These snakes have sharpened their tongues;

viper venom hides beneath their lips.

[pause]

Keep me from the grip of these cruel men, O Eternal One.

Shield me from this band of violent men

whose only intention is to trip me up and undermine all I do.

Those arrogant people are trying to catch me;

they’ve laid their trap, hiding a net along my path;

their traps are set, and I am the prey.

[pause]

“Eternal One,” I said, “You are my one and only God.

Hear me, O Eternal, hear my humble cry for rescue.

O Lord, Eternal One, power of my deliverance,

You are my helmet in the day of battle.

So do not fulfill the desires of these evildoers, Eternal One;

do not advance their evil schemes, lest they brag about their successes.

[pause]

“As for the gang leader of those who surround me,

let their mischievous words cover them; smother them in trouble.

Let hot coals fall from heaven upon them

and cast them into the roaring fires.

May they sink into the muddy marsh from which there is no return.

Let no liar find a home anywhere in the land;

let evil hunt down the violent man and do him in quickly.”

I am certain the Eternal supports the cause of the distressed;

the poor will receive the justice they deserve.

Indeed, the just-living will glorify Your name,

and honorable people will be at home in Your presence.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 140 (The Voice)

[Proverbs 19]

It’s better to be honest, even if it leads to poverty,

than to live as a dishonest fool.

The best way to live is with revelation-knowledge,

for without it, you’ll grow impatient and run right into error.

There are some people who ruin their own lives

and then blame it all on God.

Being wealthy means having lots of “friends,”

but the poor can’t keep the ones they have.

Perjury won’t go unpunished,

and liars will get all that they deserve.

Everyone wants to be close to the rich and famous,

but a generous person has all the friends he wants!

When a man is poor, even his family has no use for him.

How much more will his “friends” avoid him—

for though he begs for help, they won’t respond.

Do yourself a favor and love wisdom.

Learn all you can,

then watch your life flourish and prosper!

Tell lies and you’re going to get caught,

and the habitual liar is doomed.

It doesn’t seem right when you see a fool

living in the lap of luxury

or a prideful servant ruling over princes.

A wise person demonstrates patience,

for mercy means holding your tongue.

When you are insulted,

be quick to forgive and forget it,

for you are virtuous when you overlook an offense.

The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion,

but his sweet favor is like a gentle, refreshing rain.

A rebellious son breaks a father’s heart,

and a nagging wife can drive you crazy!

You can inherit houses and land from your parents,

but a good wife only comes as a gracious gift from God!

Go ahead—be lazy and passive.

But you’ll go hungry if you live that way.

Honor God’s holy instructions

and life will go well for you.

But if you despise his ways and choose your own plans,

you will die.

Every time you give to the poor you make a loan to the Lord.

Don’t worry—you’ll be repaid in full for all the good you’ve done.

Don’t be afraid to discipline your children

while they’re still young enough to learn.

Don’t indulge your children or be swayed by their protests.

A hot-tempered man has to pay the price for his anger.

If you bail him out once,

you’ll do it a dozen times.

Listen well to wise counsel

and be willing to learn from correction

so that by the end of your life

you’ll be known for your wisdom.

A person may have many ideas concerning God’s plan for his life,

but only the designs of his purpose will succeed in the end.

A man is charming when he displays tender mercies to others.

And a lover of God who is poor and promises nothing

is better than a rich liar who never keeps his promises.

When you live a life of abandoned love,

surrendered before the awe of God,

here’s what you’ll experience:

Abundant life. Continual protection.

And complete satisfaction!

There are some people who pretend they’re hurt—

deadbeats who won’t even work to feed themselves.

If you punish the insolent who don’t know any better,

they will learn not to mock.

But if you correct a wise man,

he will grow even wiser.

Children who mistreat their parents

are an embarrassment to their family and a public disgrace.

So listen, my child.

Don’t reject correction

or you will certainly wander from the ways of truth.

A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice,

for the wicked never play by the rules.

Judgment is waiting for those who mock the truth,

and foolish living invites a beating.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 19 (The Passion Translation)

Arc of the Little Saint

Demi moved aside as a passing cart kicked up a cloud of dust. She kept her veil over her face, until the river wind blew away the dust. Kurone, the village she was in, was larger than she had thought, and more lively. It might have been because the people here were preparing for Sol’s Day. The solstice had never been an important God Day for the nomads, but for those whose lives were ruled by the movement of the sun it was a day of celebration. She hadn’t planned on spending so many days here, but the next barge wasn’t due until Sol’s Day.

Her musings were interrupted by another cart passing by her on the dusty road, going at a steady gallop. Here the men rode carts and donkeys, their worldly goods too much to be carried by singular beasts.

“I wonder if I was ever so rash in my youth,” Huro said sadly as he shook the dust from his kaftan. The Rootmen was elderly, his back bent from his life of labor, dark skin stretched thin over the frame of his bones. His henna was hard to read, he had only a few signs drawn of growth.

He had lent Demi the use of his lean-to in exchange for errands and a young hand to aid him on his small spit of land. He was a date farmer, and Demi thought his skin resembled a dried date.

He was a kind man though, and Demi liked the elderly date farmer. She was getting tired of dates though; it seemed it was all Huro ate, along with the occasional tuber or squash. Now they carried Huro’s crop to market, many farmers taking advantage of the God’s Day to sell their product at a premium and free of taxes.

“We all are,” Demi answered Huro and the old man smiled at her.

“You are not Demi,” he said affectionately. “You are a steady light while all others blaze and flicker.”

Demi blushed under the compliment, balancing her basket of dates on her head. Sol’s light was bright and strong on his day; already his heat was warming the air. It was just after their rising hour prayers, Demi glad that Huro honored the gods as much as her. Dust was strong in the air and the dry season in full swing with the dwindling of the crops. For other kingdoms this was a time of warmth and celebration, for Xin it was a time of hardship and drought.

Demi followed Huro from the road into the main settlement of Kurone. The buildings here were all made of a plaster of river reeds mixed with river mud. They left little to the imagination of architecture, simple doors and windows without embellishment. There were thousands of these towns along the Ark River, some came and went and others were more permanent. None were as old or as large as Evalon, but Kurone was a good size village. Here colorful awnings provided shade through the winding streets, the crowds of people becoming thicker as they walked.

The tide led them into the bazaar. More like a tent than an open ground, the square was shaded entirely with a patchwork canopy of colored cloth. There were many other Rootmen setting their goods out to sell to passing travelers, or to the many Lonemen.  

She was startled to see outlanders among those here, people with pale skin and or hair. It had been a long time since she had seen an outlander, remembering the first time she had cried because she had thought they were the dead come to take her away.

Huro set his basket down in a small corner and Demi set hers next to his. There were many already selling produce, even a few selling dates, so she wondered if he would make a profit at all.

“Here little Demi,” he said and held out two copper pieces. “Go and buy something sweet to eat. It is a festival after all.”

“But…”

“Go, I will be fine, let me rest these old bones,” Huro said, rubbing his knees. Demi took the coins, bowing to him respectfully.

“I will bring you back a sweet bun,” she said and he smiled at her. She walked away, her pace slowed by the milling crowd. There were many people here, all for the bazaar and festival. There were stalls full of spices, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, curry, and saffron, all announcing their presence louder with their smells than any shouts could. The colors and shapes of the fruits was as varied as the spices, neat piles of oranges, lemons, pineapples, bananas, pomegranates, melons, and papayas. The other produce of corn, rice, or squashes seemed poor in comparison.

Textiles and cloth rivaled with jewels of rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. The wealth of those was all closely guarded, Demi noting many Dunesmen standing idle about those booths. Demi paid more attention to the vendors selling prepared food. There were kebabs of goat meat roasting over coals, salted bread, honey combs, fried pineapple and banana, and sweet rolls flavored with nuts and sugar.

She at last found a vendor selling sweet buns and bought two. The pastry was flaky rolled with chopped almonds and honey. She ate hers with relish licking every crumb from her fingers. Finished she decided to seek a cool drink, wrapping Huro’s share in a handy corn husk and pocketing it.

All towns had a free well for anyone to drink from; denying such a thing by charge of coin in Xin was a curse to the gods. The well was not hard to find, and Demi gratefully drank. There were many people by the well, none that paid any mind to a child like her. Finished she lingered watching the crowd with fascination.

An outlander caught her eye and she watched him amazed. He was tall, the tallest she had ever seen, and with hair the color of Sol’s rays and eyes Cael’s blue. His skin was flushed red, probably burned from Sol’s rays. He was clean shaven, his long hair tied back in a tail, and features handsome if not noble. He was dressed in pale robes; unlike the Xinian kaftans his were undecorated except for a touch of gold along the hem. He wore about his neck Sol’s circle, and Demi realized he was a holy man.

Enthused, and hoping a holy man might aid her in her pilgrimage to the holy city, she followed him. The crowd was thick, but the holy man was easy to see in the press. He moved through the crowd faster than Demi, two outlander guards aiding him in his pursuit. He left the square and Demi followed him through the streets into another open courtyard. This one was open to the full wrath of Sol, who was burning even brighter on his auspicious day.

Ten men knelt in the middle of the yard, chained so they knelt in Sol’s light. A contingent of Dunesmen stood under the shelter of a tent, a few wealthy looking Lonemen standing with them. Demi did not recognize the Dunesmen as any she had traveled with, or the Lonemen. She then realized she was alone in the courtyard with these men, none of the crowds had ventured here. Startled and scared she hurried back to the street entrance, hiding in the shadow of the building.

No one had noticed her though, the holy man approaching the tent. Words were spoken, but Demi was too far to hear much other than they were speaking in the trade tongue. She knew the tongue well enough to speak in it, but understanding an outlander and their strange accents was beyond her capabilities. Her attention went to the men chained to stakes in the dirt.

All were marked as Chainmen, chain brands on their bodies marking their status. There were ten in all, seven Xinian and three outlanders. The Xinians were Chainmen now, all signs of their previous lives wiped away as their spirits had broken. The outlanders were stranger. One was the biggest man Demi had ever seen, his pale skin dripping sweat over his muscular frame. His beard and hair were brown, as was much of the hair that covered his chest and arms. The second was small in comparison, his wiry frame thin and bent. His skin was olive, his hair silky black, and eyes pointed, all signs that he hailed from over the Spine Mountains.

The last man was strangest of all and one that sent fear into Demi’s heart. He was once wrapped in bandages; Demi could see the taters hanging from his limbs. His disease was full in Sol’s light, rotting flesh and boils festering and collecting flies. The man was an outlander of some kind, but Demi did not know what. He was the most disconcerting of all there; his dark eyes were hollow with a madness that matched his rotten flesh.

The holy man turned from the pavilion and walked out to the prisoners. They were chained in a line with the rotten man at the end. The holy man walked along the line unconcerned of all the others until he reached the last. There he stopped and glared down at the man.

“And so I meet one of the Bandaged Brothers,” the holy man said mildly. He was close enough now that Demi could hear, and he spoke in measured tones she could follow. She understood though his slow speech was not to benefit her or even his captive, it was to contain a rage that burned like Sol’s mighty eye above.

“And so I meet one of the High Sects himself,” the man answered with a laugh. Demi swallowed bile; his laugh was high and keening like the laugh of a hyena. “Sept Bernard I take it?”

“Do not speak my name filth,” Bernard hissed. “I have had reports of your kind for some time now, blasphemy against the gods and praise for a false god are the worst sins of this world. The Legion of the Creed has much to answer for and many sins to pay for. Do you Jerimiah of Delton deny your association with this cult?”

“I do not as you well know,” Jerimiah answered. “You have come here to speak to a full Bandaged Brother, to know the truth of the gods.”

“I have come here to hear your confession,” Bernard said through clenched teeth. “So I might learn where more of those mislead by the lies of this false good resides.”

“Kal Ba’el is mighty,” Jerimiah said his voice low and wet. “Hunger he does for the ripe maidens and those who call themselves wise. He will rise and devour us all and so be our great end at the blessed darkness of his belly.”

“I’ve heard enough!” Bernard said unnerved, but the man continued to rant. Demi shut out his words, easily ignored now that he was speaking faster and with more fervent. Bernard signaled to the pavilion and the Dunesmen moved out. They did not move towards the prisoners but towards the other side of the courtyard. They fetched a basket, carrying it over to the middle of the yard.

One opened it and reached in with a pair of tongs. He lifted out a pale squirming thing, Demi squinting to make out a larva. The basket was quickly closed and the Dunesmen carried the larva to the man at the far end of the yard. The Xinian finally showed signs of life, gasping and struggling against his chains. The Dunesmen dropped the larva onto him and the creature moved quickly into the man’s ear.

He started to scream, writhing around against his chains. Demi felt sick as she realized what the larva was. Epomis, a type of beetle that fed on flesh, was rumored to be bred by Dunesmen as weapons. The larva was small enough to burrow through ears or mouths to feed on the flesh within, eating their way out of their host. The adults were more deadly, growing to the size of a pomegranate the adults could tear away eyes or even the bellies of their hosts to burrow within and eat their fill.

It was a slow and painful way to die. She turned and fled before the next larva was applied to the next man; she didn’t have the stomach to watch such slaughter. She ran away from the screams until she couldn’t run any more, her limbs shaking and covering in cold sweat. She looked up and realized she was now along the banks of the Ark, well outside of the village.

The Ark spread before her in a muddy brown smooth flow. The other bank was far distant, nearly as far as the distant hills. Demi knew though that when flooded and full the Ark would be a league wide. The shrunken banks were barren and dry, the mud cracked and bleached.

She had heard disturbing whispers from some of the farmers that the Ark was getting dryer each year. Many refused to admit it, but many could not deny that the banks of the great river were shrinking. Demi wondered if it had to do with the oases slowing their travels. It sounded like the Ark shrinking had been happening for years when the oases had slowed only recently.

She looked to the sky and saw Vega wheeling down to her.

She held out her arm and Vega alit, but did not close her wings. She was bobbing her head, chirping and clicking an alarm. Demi looked back to the village, and the desert beyond. The hills rose over the village and on the crest of the furthest she could see a figure standing there. Her blood ran colder than when she had heard the screams of the dying man only moments ago. Despite the distance she knew the silhouette that stood on that hill, Zar Ne Zar. Demi doubted he had hunted her down and found her, it was just her ill luck to be caught in the village he was about to plunder.

She wasted no time; she turned and fled for the river, Vega taking to the sky. She only got a few steps before she realized there would be no recourse there. The only craft within view was a barge far down the banks. Even if she reached the barge they would not let her on even if she explained. She moved up river, walking fast with her heart pounding.

She dared a look back and saw the single figure was joined by many. She could tell by the size of those around it that Zar Ne Zar was riding with male Panthra, now with his warriors rather than his hunters. Demi turned and kept walking; though she wanted to run she dared not waste her strength.

She had only covered a hill and a half before the shouts began. Others had noticed the Pridesmen, and word was starting to spread. Demi looked back again and nearly screamed. It seemed the entire horizon was covered with the Pridesmen, a writhing line of blurred shapes from here. The line broke and Zar Ne Zar led the charge. The Panthra’s charge was quiet, unlike the thunder of horse hooves or the whisper of Tylidae. The Pridesmen were not silent, they roared their challenges as the charged.

Demi could no longer just walk, she ran. She was soon winded, but the sound of the Pridesmen drove her. She heard them hit the village, screams and shouts echoing with the battle roar of the Pridesmen. Demi felt tears as she thought of poor kind Huro, she prayed he died quickly and that the gods would welcome him warmly. She cleared another hill and paused to catch her breath just below the crest. She crawled up and looked out to the village.

Smoke was rising over Kurone, greasy black plumes that were snatched away by the wind. People were fleeing the buildings, running for the river. Some ran out to the barge which was trying to break its moorings and head out into open waters. Demi saw a Pridesmen break from the banks and leap aboard in a terrifying jump. Screams came from the barge and men shouted. Demi saw a struggle and then the Pridesmen and his Panthra were shoved into the river.

Crocodiles thrashed in the water, turning it red with blood as they swarmed over the kill. They were bigger than even the Panthra and had an appetite to match. Demi turned from the slaughter and continued on her way. River reeds started to grow as she moved away from the village, Demi was glad for the cover. She heard the reeds stir and turned just in time to dodge a Panthra’s lunge.

The Pridesmen was grinning, his teeth filed like Zar Ne Zar’s. He wielded a glaive but it was clean, Demi guessing this man was a guard against fleeing prey. Her guess was supported by his thin frame and the starved look of his Panthra; he was not an honored warrior. The Panthra was slow and Demi dodged another lunge. It was driving her towards the bank, and Demi knew she had only one choice.

She turned and flung herself into the river, running out into the water. When the bank sank below her reach Demi was glad that she had learned to swim. She kicked out, sure that any moment she would feel the jaws of a crocodile close on her. A shout drew her attention and Demi turned to see the Pridesmen leap in with his Panthra. Startled she kicked out harder, trying to hasten her swim.

She felt something pass by her under the water, the rough scales of the crocodile brushing her leg. She was not their goal, the Panthra roared as the crocodiles attacked, swarming it and turning the water red. Demi swam, her heart hammering, while she felt the river pulling her downstream towards the barge and the battle that went on there. She couldn’t see beyond the water around her, kicking and praying to the gods for deliverance.

The gods answered her. A hand appeared from above her and pulled her from the river gasping. Demi clung to the springy soft floor of the reed canoe, her limbs twitching. Only then did her legs begin to cramp and her breathing hurt. She coughed and felt her chest burn with liquid; it felt like she had swallowed half the river. A soothing hand rubbed her back and she at last caught her breath enough to look up at her savior.

He was of the Wickerfolk, his skin dark and eyes slanted. He wore a cloak and sandals wovern of grass, a loin cloth, and a straw woven cone hat. His henna was in signs like ripples upon water. He nodded to her before turning his attention back to poling his craft up stream. Demi turned to the town and felt her heart rend. Half the buildings were on fire; the barge had broken free and was fleeing downstream. She could see Panthra and Pridesmen swarming over everything in an orgy of blood and death.

Demi shivered and turned away back to her savior. His vessel was small and poor, woven out of bundles of river reeds it was hardly dry. Still it floated and he poled it up with expert care. Despite the fragility of the craft the feeding crocodiles didn’t seem to pay it any mind. Demi shifted and felt something squish in her pocket.

Sadly she drew out Huro’s sweet bun she had promised him, it was ruined from the water. Feeling tears swell she dropped it into the water, saying a prayer for the dead. She looked to the sky and was relieved to see Vega flying overhead.

“Sol has not been kind this day,” the Wickerfolk said sadly. “I am called Ores.”

“Demi,” she answered sadly.

“You are god touched,” Ores said it as simply and cleanly as if he were stating the color of her hair.

“I do not wish to be,” Demi said painfully. “Always I escape while others suffer; I fear I brought this upon them.”

“Zar Ne Zar brought this upon them,” Ores said kindly. “You are not to blame.”

Demi only nodded, lost to her misery. Slowly the smoke and screams were left behind and soon distance along the river erased the signs of the battle. Sol rose higher in Empyia and Demi realized it was already time for the Pale Hour prayers. She knelt and offered her signs to the gods; choosing only Sol to pray to as this was his day.

She turned to Ores and saw he was praying too, but his signs were not made with his hands. He splashed the water, sending ripples over the water as tribute to the gods. Demi could tell this was what he meant as his head bobbed in the traditional manor of prayer. She let him pray as he willed; through her travels she had never seen any of the other nomads pray in such a way. All had offered hand signs in tribute to the gods, forming their fingers in ways that conveyed their love to the gods.

“Where are we going?” Demi asked as Ores poled along up the river.

“To a proper celebration to honor the gods,” Ores answered. “Sol will be pleased with the offering.”

“What about Zar Ne Zar?” Demi said worried. Part of her was horrified that this man was considering a celebration when people were dying just down river of them.

“There is nothing we can do,” Ores said soothingly. “He will be there all through Sol’s day, maybe even longer. We are going to a safe, hidden, place. Just because death has happened does not mean we cannot still honor the gods.”

He was right, death happened every day, had she not been in Kurone she would have just continued with the celebration as if nothing had happened. And Sol would be displeased to be shunned on his day. She decided to put her mourning for Huro into her honor of Sol, she would be happy for him.

“I thank you for your wisdom and guidance,” Demi said solemnly as she bowed to Ores.

“You are most welcome,” Ores said pleased. “I can tell you are not a Rootmen little bird, was your caravan back in Kurone?”

“No,” Demi said realizing she had not thought of her mother in weeks, and felt a pang for her. “No, my caravan travels to Evalon.” She continued to tell her story as they traveled up river.

The dry season of the Ark may have shrunk it, but it also slowed the flow of the river so that going up stream against the flow was easier. Demi was surprised by the speed that Ores could push them along; he was an expert at the life on a boat. The Wickerfolk lived their lives traveling along the Ark; it was their guide through the Ró-Ark. They were poor though, trading little and living off of only what the Ark could provide.

Sol’s day passed and Demi prayed again for the high hour prayers. She worried about getting out of the sun; Sol was high and fierce on his day. Ores passed her his hat, but even then she was not settled. He seemed unbothered and continued to pole them along.

“Why were you near Kurone?” Demi asked.

“I was fetching some food,” he answered, indicating a bundle near his feet. “A pomegranate for my love, Lura.”

Demi smiled then at the look on his face, a sweet smile that lit his eyes.

“You will see her at this festival?” Demi asked.

“I will, I only hope my offering is enough for her,” he said. “We must hurry though if we are to reach the reed beds in time for the burning.”

“Burning?” Demi asked afraid to be in a dry reed bed with fire.

“You will see,” Ores said with a quick grin. Demi let him have his fun and looked back to the river. The banks were far from them; pale hills of dry grass, sand, and bleached earth. She could see a few wild antelope scampering away and then later a herd of water buffalo stopping to drink. Sol beat down, Demi reaching into the river to draw water out and cool her head. She soaked a rag and gave it to Ores who nodded his thanks to her.

Just as Sol was reaching the time of the burning hour prayers they arrived at the reed beds. A fleet of reed boats swarmed the bank, nearly lining up to the middle of the Ark. Beyond the banks were stripped of reeds, the bank empty. Beyond the hills Demi guess there to be a crowd of people, voices and music drifting on the wind.

There was no room for Ores to leave his boat by the bank so he poled along to the nearest boat. He lashed his vessel to one and then leapt aboard it. Demi carefully followed him, but she wasn’t nearly as graceful or easy with her leaps. Luckily she never got a ducking, but she came close several times. She was relieved when they reached the bank, about to sit and rest but Ores kept going.

“Hurry,” he said practically bouncing on his feet. “The burning will start soon.”

Demi went after him, his energy getting to her. They walked up the hill that lay before them and Demi gasped as they stopped at the crest. A good sized crowd of Wickerfolk spread below them standing still in anticipation. Standing over the crowd was a giant effigy woven of reeds. The effigy took the form of a man, woven with rays coming from its head. It was a rough almost ancient seeming representation of a man, but its purpose was clear.

“Sol, He Who Burns,” Ores said. Just as he said those words the fire caught. Demi cried out as the fire roared over the effigy and she fell to her knees. It was indeed like she was looking at Sol himself for they had positioned the effigy so that the sun rested above it. The Wickerfolk moaned and bowed as well, offering up their prayers to the burning effigy. Demi copied them, her hands shaking over the signs.

She knelt for some time watching the fire burn; it seemed to last much longer than normal. She had never been up during the burning hours and on Sol’s Day they lasted longer. The heat of the sun and the fire made the air ripple and cook, Demi’s head swimming with the heat. She watched as the air around her swam, colors blurred, and the fire burned into another shape. She was looking again at the burning tree, the mists around it swirling.

She got to her feet, her mind bemused and slow. She turned again from the tree and walked into the swirling mist. She was lost, she thought there should be shadows of trees around her, yet there was nothing but the mist. Afraid she walked faster and the mist around her swirled and parted. She came upon the gates, startled and shaking. The arch rose over her, dripping moss and dew, hidden shapes holding the secrets of the arch. A figure marched along the entrance of the arch, keeping always in line between its arms.

The woman was gorgeous, yet unlike any other Demi had ever seen. Her hair of fire and pale skin was only set stranger with her elegant features and long ears. Demi flinched at the bright green of her eyes; they saw her even through the mists. She did not leave the line of the arch however, keeping to her march. Her eyes flickered into the mists and she stopped, hefting her spear.

Demi turned and fell back afraid. A shadow emerged from the mists strides away from her. Its form was cloaked in darkness; any limb she could see was malformed and twisting into other shapes. Its breath stank of carrion, panting out of its maw in wet gulps. Demi could not see its face past its cowl; it was turned away from her to the woman with the spear.

“A lost one,” the shadow breathed like a popping bubble of slime. “Like me.”

“I am nothing like you filth,” the woman answered disgusted. “I am guardian of the Gateway of Bone and Horn, A Beast in My Heart. I am Aoife!” Her voice was mighty and loud, defiant against the creature. The shadow rippled and shrank away from her voice, yet did not flee.

“Aoife, I have heard of you,” it said bobbing its head.

“And I have heard of you,” she said fiercely. “I have lived the upon the lines, and seen others pass through here. They speak of you in fear, Soul Eater! You hunt lost souls to feed your broken spirit. I name thee Crippled One! Be gone!”

It laughed a sound that shuddered through the air like warped music.

“You name me false Aoife,” he said. “Not true enough for that is what I am known to be not what I truly am. Do you know what I truly am?”

“I banish thee!” Aoife shouted, banishing her spear. The bright blade bit into the shadow and then it shrieked shrinking back. “Gáe Bulg’s bite is strong Crippled One!”

“And so is mine witch!” the thing hissed back at her, the darkness boiling around it. “You defend naught but crumbling stones, certainly not your virtue which you have given to many before.”

“And never to you slime,” she hissed like a cat. “The Gateway is more than crumbling stone; it lies between truth and lies.”

The shadow paused as if frozen and Demi saw Aoife flinch, she had said more than she meant to. The thing laughed again, high and wailing like the laugh of a dead man.

“Truth and Lies! You have given me much little guardian.”

“Leave!” Aoife shouted. “Be gone!”

“I will, for now I have plans to weave as another piece of the puzzle has come. But mark this oath Aoife, you and your gate will be mine.”

With that he turned into the warped mist, disappearing into the folds. Demi looked to the face of the guardian and saw a single silver tear fall from her eyes. She then noticed Demi and her blazing green eyes burned towards her. Demi woke startled, feeling a cool cloth pressed over her eyes.

She pushed it away and sat up, seeing she was in a rude hut woven of river reeds on a pallet of reeds. She could smell smoke and heard voices and songs. She crawled out of the hut and into the night. She was surprised to see it was already well past the Ebbing Hour, Isra now ruling Empyria. The Wickerfolk still celebrated even though Sol had long since set. Demi looked and saw there was a bonfire, but the effigy had burned away.

“You are awake, how do you feel?” Demi turned to see a woman sitting by the hut. She was a Wickerfolk too, and wore just as little as the men, a loin cloth and reed sandals, hat and cloak. Her bare breasts were supple and tanned making her figure alluring.

“You are Lura?” Demi ventured and the woman smiled her teeth white against her darker skin. Her hair was only tight tiny curls against her skull, her golden eyes bright.

“I am, Ores asked me to look after you when you fainted,” she said. “I admit I only took you here and put a cool cloth on you before joining him again.”

Demi felt a blush burn her cheeks, not needing any help guessing what they had done. She could still see a few love bites along Lura’s neck; it seemed Ores’ pomegranate was successful.

“Where is he?” Demi asked instead. Lura laughed and pointed with her thumb behind her. Demi took a few steps to look around the hut and saw Ores asleep on his back. He was fully naked and Demi quickly looked away. Her ears burned to know they had been just on the other side of a thin reed wall from her while she slept.

“You are young still,” Lura said kindly. “Did your parents not couple while you were in your tents?”

“My father died while I was young,” Demi answered. “A bee sting in the desert.”

“I am sorry,” Lura said sobered now. “You must be hungry.”

Demi had not eaten since her sweet bun that morning. She sat and Lura handed her a covered basket. Demi removed the woven reed covering to find a bean paste with rice, diced pineapple, and grilled tilapia with coconut sauce. She ate gratefully, the trout flavored heavily with cumin and curry, grilled with slices of lemons. Lura offered her kallu, but Demi politely declined.

“We fed the bird that came to you when you fainted,” Lura said pointing and Demi was glad to see Vega still picking over the remains of a tilapia. “Is that your guide?”

“My guardian,” Demi answered.

“Ores said little of your story,” Lura said. “I would much like to hear it.”

So once again Demi told her tale, Ores waking in the middle and joining them after he had donned his loin cloth again.

“I had hoped to get on a barge to travel to Evalon,” Demi said. “But I doubt many will come this way now.”

“The Lonemen will not let the barges stop,” Ores said past a bite of fish. He was drinking kallu, but did not seem overly drunk. “It is what feeds the holy city.”

“Then I can still get there by the Ark,” Demi said, but Ores shook his head.

“Not now in this season, especially after Kurone fell. The barges will not stop anywhere near here; the Ark is too low for them to stop near the banks but for the docks of Kurone.”

“And Kurone is over run,” Demi said sadly. “Can you take me to the next landing?”

“That is weeks away,” Ores said with a frown. “Through much of the Pridesmen territory, they have been claiming ports like Kurone for weeks now. It is not safe on those sides of the Ark.”

“We keep to the rougher parts where farming and the Rootmen cannot plant,” Lura answered. “Those places only attract the Pridesmen, the only thing they can get from us are our bodies to become Chainmen.”

“And they have been hungry for slaves,” Ores said.

“I thank you then for taking me out of their arms,” Demi said, knowing she could not ask these people to ferry her up river and risk their own lives and safety for her.

“What will you do then?” Ores asked.

“Might I have one of your reed boats?” Demi asked.

“We would give you one freely but not if you planned to go alone,” Lura said shaking her head. “It is against the gods.”

Demi couldn’t speak then, it would take her months to walk along the banks, and it would be twice as dangerous.

“From here I know a place we can go,” Lura said leaning forward. Demi noticed Ores’ eyes linger on her chest, but she didn’t seem to care. “If I take you up stream a few days we can reach the edge of the Ró-Dre.”

The Ró-Dre was the sands of giants a maze of giant stones and sands that covered the land between the Ark and the Spine Mountains. It was a short cut rather than traveling over the twisting trail of the Ark, but she did not know how to navigate the Ró-Dre

“Going through the Ró-Dre will be pointless without a guide,” Demi said shaking her head.

“That is why you must find the Dontamen,” Lura said with a grin. The Dontamen were the elusive inhabitants of the Ró-Dre. They rode upon great elephants, rarely leaving their shelter of the maze of the Ró-Dre but to trade rare ivory. “They will be your guides.”

“Do you know how to find them?” Demi asked. Lura looked away guiltily, she did not obviously. “It is a great risk.”

“It is the only way to the holy city,” Lura said. “Unless you wish to risk the Pridesmen.”

Zar Ne Zar’s grin came back to her then and she shivered. He would not be so kind if he captured her again. He may not care for young girls, but she did not doubt he would lend her to his men to teach her a lesson.

“I will take your offer and brave the Ró-Dre,” she said. Lura smiled and nodded.

“The Ark is dangerous at night,” she said. “We will set out at Eha’s time.”

“Get some rest little one,” Ores said, putting his arm around Lura. Demi blushed and quickly ducked into the reed hut, hearing Lura giggle as Ores began to take his pleasure with her. She sat up, listening and unable to sleep. Ores and Lura were not the only couple taking their pleasure that night, and Demi could hear several other grunts and groans.

She remembered Talib who had taken her first kiss, and wondered if he would have taken more if she had given him the chance. She was far too young to have children; she did not need the prestige of it yet. But Ores and Lura didn’t seem to be interested in children, only in the pleasure of love making. She wondered then if it was that pleasurable, kissing had been interesting enough.

Daringly she peeked out of the hut and saw Ores and Lura entangled in an embrace. Ores’ hips were moving up and down, his head buried in Lura’s breasts. She was holding onto him, her legs wrapped around his hips.

Demi hurried back into the hut, her skin feeling hot and not just on her face. It seemed like hours before the Wickerfolk grew quiet and she finally was able to get some sleep. She did not dream this time and woke just at Eha’s time. Coming out of the hut she found Lura and Ores entwined together still naked. Blushing she shook Lura’s arm and she woke Ores joining her.

They broke their fast on almonds and oranges before going to the river. Lura led the way, Ores close behind her. Demi was glad Ores was coming; he seemed a bit more stable than the daring Lura. They reached the bank and Ores walked out to his boat. Lura either didn’t have her own boat, or they were taking Ores’. Demi had an easier time walking over the boats without Ores hurrying to get to a festival and his lover.

Out on the river the morning was cool and crisp, a breeze blowing over the water. Ores took the pole and she and Lura lounged in the craft, watching the banks drift by. Crocodiles lounged on the banks in droves, cranes walking between them peacefully. Demi stared at the giant creatures, their spiky tails as long and thick as their bodies. She looked away, memories of bloody water and screaming men making the peaceful sight darker. Vega still paced her overhead, wheeling and diving to keep her in sight.

Impala wandered along the river to drink, but never lingered. Wild dogs hunted here, colored in orange and black markings with great big ears. Other hawks and falcons joined Vega in the sky occasionally but gave the bigger palm nut vulture her space. The banks remained the bleached earth or tinder dry grass, only a few reed banks added to the variety. Lura weaved a hat for her which kept off the sun.

Hours turned to days which became a week. They never traveled the Ark at night; it was too dangerous according to Lura. Demi thought though it was because Ores and Lura liked to stop every night to make love. She slept away from them, Vega sometimes roosting next to her. They traveled all day even in the burning hours.

At last they stopped along the banks, the hills barren and dry. Demi looked to the horizon and could just see strangely shaped shadows.

“The Ró-Dre lays several leagues that way,” Lura said pointing. “You should rest before you set out on the marrow.”

“I will rest now, but I will set out after Sol sets,” Demi answered. “I can travel by night.”

“It is not wise,” Lura said. “There are hyenas out on the flats.”

“Thank you for your aid,” she said bowing to Lura and Ores.

“Good luck to you little one,” Ores said with a smile. “We would wait with you but these waters are dangerous.”

“Go then and may the gods be with you,” Demi said.

“And with you,” Lura said. They left along the river, Demi waving to them. She sat by the banks of the Ark and ate some pecans and dried papaya. She had enough food and water to last her a week, Lura giving her the supplies and an extra water skin. Taking shelter in the river reeds she slept until she woke at dusk.

The days were longer so it was still light when it was time for her ebbing hour prayers. She prayed and then stood, walking to face the flats, and search for the elusive Dontamen.