#which is why Obi-Wan makes sure they never actually see any of these kinds of picture
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I just saw this take in a collection of Star Wars videos I was watching and just…… what even:
where do people come up with stuff like this. Also I needn’t say it but this makes me so angry
This is what happens when fans try too hard to make something "make sense" in universe rather than accepting a meta/out-of-universe explanation for it.
So sure, if the ST introduces the idea that you can "Force heal" by learning it from some sort of Jedi text, it begs the question of why we never see any of the Prequels Jedi using it. Did they know about it and simply chose not to use it? Was it restricted to Jedi HEALERS for some reason? Did they NOT know about it because it was in a really obscure text that nobody even remembered anymore? And the ST chose not to answer any of those questions, which leaves the fans to try to come up with their own answers.
And the real answer is that the people who made the ST had no fucking idea what they were doing and quite honestly don't seem to have cared much about narrative continuity much at all. There's Force healing in the ST and not in any of the others because Force healing like what we see in the ST would kind-of ruin the entire POINT of the other stories. Luke could just... save Anakin. Anakin could just save Padme. Obi-Wan could just save Qui-Gon. Then where would the story be? Force healing is unsatisfying within the narratives we've been given and ruins the entire point of the message Lucas was sending with them.
But nobody who was making the Sequels fucking cared, so. Now we have Force healing from some random Jedi texts. Cool. Whatever. People who hate the Jedi are just going to hate the Jedi, they'll find whatever reason they want to do so, regardless of what the actual films show and regardless of what Lucas says. As someone who DOES like the Jedi, my explanation for why there's suddenly Force healing that can be learned from a text is that the people making the ST were fucking stupid and nobody realized or cared that it broke a lot of the narratives from the prior two trilogies and went against the themes of those films. That's it.
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First, I love your art and your fics so much! Second, you seem like someone who has very good Codywan headcanons, and I’d love to hear some of them if you have any you’d like to share 🙂 (No pressure at all though!)
Tysm anon!!! I don't know what kind of headcanons you're looking for but I have soooo many always haha! They live in the nebulous realm of headcanons in which they are applied to every iteration of codywan unless they are not--for no reason other than vibes. All sfw but I always have thots (very intentional spelling) if anyone would like to hear about the nsfw things.
- Cody has spreadsheets for everything. It calms and organizes his mind. Helps him visualize and put the chaos to rights. When Obi-Wan notices Cody getting antsy and agitated, he gently asks him if he's made a spreadsheet recently. If that doesn't solve things, he'll offer to look over the charts together. If that doesn't solve the issue, he'll pull Cody into his lap, tenderly kiss any available real estate that needs kissing, and twirl fingers through his head of curls and massage away the tension. For all that Cody hates when his hair gets messed up, he does love being pet like a cat.
(the rest is going under the cut because I'm rather verbose)
- SPEAKING OF CATS! Cody is a cat person. This is nothing new, I just wholeheartedly know it to be true. It's only because he wants a cat so badly that he acts like he doesn't care for them. Obi-Wan sees through the facade. He saw how Cody looked at the stray tooka they rescued from the rubble one somber evening. How he cradled the lump of fluff and ran his thumb back between ears as if the lightest of touches would hurt the poor dear. How palpable was the anguish in his eyes after handing off the tooka to the surviving locals of the city. Even after he said, "Glad that's over with. Would hate to get cat hair on my blacks." Obi-Wan knows. So the next time he's on Coruscant, he buys a little orange plush tooka. It's tiny, only just bigger than his hand, but perfect. He ties a piece of flimsi reading '- OWK' to its neck with a ribbon and tucks it under the covers of Cody's bed so its head and front paws peek out. Perhaps he's a coward, perhaps he's just being gracious in letting Cody have some privacy in receiving his gift. What he does know is the next time he feels Cody staring long at the side of his face, he looks back and Cody blushes and smiles ever so slightly- shy. Oh, Obi-Wan loves him.
- Obi-Wan doesn't hate caf. It's simply not his favorite. When he does drink it, he likes it black. There could be many reasons for this but Cody thinks it's a superiority complex thing. Cody likes his caf with cream and two packets of sweetener. Sure, he'll drink any caf shoved his way, but what he truly enjoys? Yeah, it's not the shit coming straight from the dark depths of a Sith Lord's ass crack.
- Cody likes when Obi-Wan drives. Could be a ship, speeder--any mode of transport, really. It's not a secret that Obi-Wan does not like driving. With how calm and steady he remains at the wheel, there is tension in his jaw, bitten into his cheek, and clenched white into his knuckles. It stresses him out. But he is good at it. And he makes Cody feel safe. Cody doesn't get to feel safe a whole lot in the midst of war.
- Cody will never tell a living soul this (except maybe when he gets so sloshed he can't remember his name or all the reasons why he really should not lay out his honest bleeding truths) but his favorite color is not 212th gold. Yes, 212th gold is Cody's color. It's his. But blue is what he finds most aesthetically beautiful. It's the color of a certain Jedi's eyes in the sunlight and the unnatural glow of that same Jedi's lightsaber. It's the color of that Jedi's eyes in a dim room when he looks looks soft and tired, a blue that's more grey than anything resembling an actual blue. It's not one color and yet it is because he loves that color just like he loves that Jedi. He doesn't love the color just when it's pretty in one vibrant idealistic shade. He falls in love again and again when he sees it in new lights. Just like Obi-Wan.
- not to cozywan truth on main or anything but There's not a place Cody and Obi-Wan sleep better than in each other's arms. Or maybe not arms, per se, but sprawled across one another in some fashion. Touching. More often than not, in the tiny cots onboard The Negotiator, Cody ends up plastered to Obi-Wan's back, arm possessively wrapped round his front to keep him from falling off the edge. With the luxury of a bed actually made to fit two grown men, things aren't much better. Cody wakes to find he's being suffocated by Obi-Wan who, in his sleep, discovered the joys of lying directly on top of Cody. Cody's not innocent. He can count multiple occasions where he's buried his face in Obi-Wan's belly and woken up to being gently shoved away from his heated pillow because, oops, his resting place was a full bladder. Neither of them complain too much, not when it's so easy to be lulled into the warm, liquidy loose and easy clutches of cozy sleep in close quarters to the person they love. Something deep in the brain unlocks and says, 'everything's alright now, relax, let it all go--safe, safe, safe,' when Obi-Wan's cold nose finds the column of Cody's throat who's hand comes up to indulgently cards through silky hair. There's a resonating hum of rightness in their chests that says, 'home'.
#codywan#lasagna rambles#and boy did i ramble. jesus. diagnose me with long-winded bitch disease.#i love getting asks btw. poke me with a codywan stick and I'll love you forever <333#ask box
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ALRIGHT FOLKS, as I'm getting started on my Obikin BB fic, here's a snippet of another fic I considered for the fest but decided it would be too long; it's a WIP you've seen me mention before and that I hope to actually write and complete one day (the one where Nabooian culture has the fucked up tradition of lending one's spouse to esteemed guests --- Anakin is the spouse, Obi-Wan the guest)
“You think you’re doing me a kindness? That, by refusing to touch me, you’re saving me?”
Obi-Wan blinks, taken aback. Before, Anakin had seemed — fearful and shy, perhaps. Now, the Force brims with bitterness and anger around him.
“I’m not sure I would call it a kindness,” Obi-Wan hazards cautiously, despite his confusion. He’d expected the Force to bloom with sweet, if anxious, relief. Surely it is — basic decency. Surely this boy must have known guests who refused the offer, who were equally appalled by these archaic practices, and less beholden to appealing to his husband’s sense of pride, to stroking Palpatine’s ego, to flattering him until he let himself be moved whichever which way than Obi-Wan is.
“It isn’t.”
Obi-Wan doesn’t understand.
“I don’t understand,” he admits. “I don’t believe you want me to touch you.”
“It doesn’t matter!” The boy explodes. “It never matters! He’ll know, you see, he always does, and this is — this is a punishment.” He buries his face in his hand, and he might be crying and —
Obi-Wan is so in over his head.
“I was led to believe that in Nabooian culture — in its very traditional, almost antiquated culture, that is – that it is seen as a great privilege to, ah —” he stumbles. “Well. That the husband sees it as something to take pride in, a generosity upon his guest, not — not —”
“It is,” Anakin sniffs. “It’s a mark of hospitality, and plenty of people here still follow this tradition; Hells, plenty of wives enjoy and support it, Nabooians aren’t exactly monogamous, but — but I’m —”
Anakin swallows heavily, squares his shoulders, and when he lifts his head, his expression is resigned. Only a slight redness around his eyes betrays his feelings; when he continues, it’s very matter of fact.
“I displeased him, earlier. Knowingly. I shouldn’t have, I should’ve known better, but I — I didn’t think. I relied too much on him liking you, liking the Jedi, thinking that you were important, so that he would not want to offend you. I didn’t think he’d — but it’s perfect, you see. I get my punishment, and you get taken down a peg. And by tomorrow, you’ll feel so guilty about breaking your vows that you’ll grant him more in the negotiations than you planned to, and he’ll have won, again.”
Obi-Wan doesn’t even know where to begin: The allusion to frequent spousal abuse? The delicate nature of negotiations? The accusation that he would be swayed by bribes offered, especially ones as crude as this one? Correcting the boy on the notion that Jedi take vows of celibacy?
“I beg your pardon,” he says. Better to focus on the most pressing issue. The others are probably best shoved aside until he has time and peace of mind for a solid, lengthy meditation session. “But I don’t think I understand why you dismiss my solution so easily. You’re welcome to spend the night, of course, even though I won’t touch you, and that should be enough to do away with any suspicions your husband might have.”
Anakin only glares at him. “I told you,” he spits, “I told you, he’ll know. He always does. Your squeamishness won’t be an excuse — it’s not about what you do, it’s about me. I didn’t do as he told me to, and he sent me to be fucked by you, knowing how much I hate it every time he makes me do it.” He turns, then, looking Obi-Wan straight in the eyes, his blue eyes burning like kyber on Ilum — except there’s none of the peace, none of the anticipation. Only hurt. “What do you think he’ll do to me, if I go back to him without doing as I was told, when he’s already angry with me?”
Obi-Wan opens his mouth, and then closes it with an audible click.
“I promise you, it’ll be much worse than this,” Anakin continues. “You’re not ugly, and I don’t think you want to hurt me. That’s leagues better than I usually get. So if you want to save me,” he says, every word dripping with derision, ”you need to get over your religious guilt.”
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1, 2, 31, 43, 46, and 48 For the Jedi Ask and Leia for all because Jedi Leia is BA 💙
yesss Jedi Leia is awesome!! fun fact this is actually my first ask ever (despite the fact that I've been on tumblr for years) so I'm very excited. thank you for all the great questions!! this got long fast, whoops?
Jedi Ask Game by @jedimasterbailey
1. How did they find their kyber crystal?
I really struggled with this question! all the kyber crystal lore is so fascinating and I want to do it justice, you know? my favorite scenario might be Leia just stumbling across her crystal seemingly by chance. in short, it's more likely her crystal found her than she found it. when we see the younglings finding their crystals in The Clone Wars, they all have to overcome some aspect of themself standing in their way. for Leia, I think that aspect would be her determination and independence. those are some of her best qualities, but too much of a good thing is still a bad thing.
once she and Luke decide it's time for her to build her own saber, she'll probably try really hard to find her crystal, doing everything she can, but she's just not having any luck. she won't ask for Luke's help or find some files about crystal locations because she wants to do it herself and prove her own capability. she goes at it logically, but she's not meditating or trying to use the Force to help her because she's stubborn as hell. she's basically at the point of giving up, so she puts it in the back of her mind while she goes off on some other mission. but in the middle of said mission, her crystal finally calls to her. (bonus points if it's in the middle of a high stakes chase cause that would be funny.) it's on some random planet she never would have thought to look and she wasn't even trying to find it in that moment.
she only finds the crystal when she stops trying to have total control over the situation. she wants to be independent, but she has to learn to make that independence coexist with sometimes letting go of her own convictions and logic and allowing the Force to guide her. there's no situation in which she can have complete agency over everything, which is the lesson she has to learn to find her crystal. but I don’t know, that’s just one idea.
2. Why did they build their lightsaber hilt the way they did?
Leia's hilt definitely resembles Obi-Wan's, which I don't doubt was intentional. one thing I love about the Obi-Wan series is the relationship between him and Leia; it's so sweet. he's not only an important person to her, but other than Luke, he's basically the only Force-user with whom she's had a positive relationship, so it makes sense that she would want to model her saber after his. hers is still unique though -- it's very polished and elegant (just like her). the color of the non-silvery metal seems to look different in every photo, but I choose to believe it's rose gold because that's just so extra in the best way possible. she's very stylish, so her lightsaber should be too, right?
31. A Jedi they look up to the most?
I already talked about him a little bit, but probably Obi-Wan. I mean, her options are pretty limited, assuming she doesn't have access to much knowledge about pre-Order 66 Jedi. a bit of a tangent, but I find it kind of funny that the Jedi Buddy™ of her parents (both bio and adoptive, actually) she knows best is Obi-Wan, because she is so much more like Ahsoka. but she probably looks up to Obi-Wan not in spite of their differences, but because of them. I imagine she admires his patience and ability to see the good in everyone, both things she (understandably) struggles with. however, they share a lot of virtues too -- compassion, strength, and a never-ending supply of sarcasm and snark -- so he likely serves as a source for inspiration in that sense as well. Leia admires Luke for similar reasons, but I'm not sure I'd say she looks up to him, since sometimes he can be a little clueless (and I say that with the utmost affection), so Obi-Wan is definitely more of a role model for her.
43. If they could talk to any deceased Jedi who would it be and why?
for all the reasons I've already discussed, she would probably want to talk to Obi-Wan. she'd spend a few minutes yelling at him, of course, and I can't say I blame her. but since I've already talked about Obi-Wan a lot, I'll suggest another.
Leia deserves to have a nice talk with a fellow Jedi girlboss, and it was hard to pick one, but I'll go with Aayla Secura. I think they would get along well. they're both very compassionate and always aim to do the right thing. they're pragmatic and strategic but also extremely loyal and caring toward the people they care about, but not to the point of it being possessive or unhealthy. Leia could probably learn more from a Jedi less similar to her, but like... she's been through it. let her just chill and have some girl talk with Aayla, especially since she essentially has no Jedi "peers," since even her brother/bestie serves as her teacher (at least in the Jedi department). it's great that people like Obi-Wan and Luke are different from her, so they can all learn from each other, but I also like the idea of her having someone she can see more eye-to-eye with. plus Aayla is just awesome and very underappreciated.
46. Your favorite headcanon about them.
okay I have several. the first is I love the theory that Leia has psychometry as a Force ability. for one thing, it's a super cool ability, but it's also a clever in-universe explanation for how Leia has memories of Padmé. of course, it could have just been some kind of Force vision, but I think psychometry would be more interesting. it also fits in well with Leia's other characteristics like her intuition, how easily she can read other people, and how she quickly forms strong emotional connections.
second, Beru would adore her and they would get along so well.
and then the last is that she's sapphic, probably bi. that's it that's the headcanon. no one can change my mind (I may or may not just be projecting). shoutout to the rarepair Sabine/Leia shippers, they get me. I'm always on that wlw Leia agenda.
48. A crack headcanon about them.
I have multiple for this one too sorry. she will vehemently deny it, but she loves a good rom-com. I'm thinking very much Nora Ephron vibes, as well as a lot of the late 90s/early 2000s classics (10 Things I Hate About You, 13 Going on 30, etc)
this one is definitely crack because I don't think she'd ever be so out of touch with reality... but she literally grew up as royalty, so it's funny to imagine her having rich kid tendencies. come on, just think about her saying that one Arrested Development line: "it's one banana, Luke, what could it cost? ten credits?" that would be hilarious.
and lastly, she and Leida Mothma have met but they hate each other's guts. Mon Mothma and Bail Organa are homies so their daughters should be too, right? nah. they grew up in basically the same circumstances, they're only about a year apart in age, their names are only different by a single letter, but they could not be more different. at 15, Leia is already her wonderful justice-seeking, politically active, rebellious, independent self. meanwhile Leida is going down the tradwife rabbithole on Reddit.
thanks again for the ask and for making the ask game! :) it was very fun!! if anyone wants to suggest another question feel free to drop it in my asks <3
#my posts#sky speaks#star wars#leia#leia organa#princess leia#ask game#jedi ask game#jedi#star wars headcanons#leia headcanons#leia organa headcanons#kyber crystal#kyber crystal lore#lightsabers#lightsaber designs#obi wan kenobi#luke skywalker#space twins#skywalker twins#luke and leia#aayla secura#psychometry#leida mothma#star wars discussion
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I KEEP FORGETTING TO ASK.
You've got this bit in the funny Niche fic about himbo Anakin's understanding of sex "Which is a convergence of the remnants of what he, as a 9 year old, understood of Sex in a culture where one being can own others with all of the trauma entails and the Naboo human cultural attitude of monogamous, soul mates for life, no sex before marriage." And I wanted to ask if you were still willing to talk about? Cause I can kinda see how those two would converge but am interested.
I am so happy you asked, no one ever asks me about this kind of stuff and that sometimes make me sad.
So we start with 9 year old slave in a slave culture. In the slave part of the culture sex, and frankly most forms of affection, are very much kept behind closed doors so that the Masters do not know who to target. By contrast Master that choose to find sexual release with their slave is very much not behind closed door. Yeah there it may be frowned on to find it happening in the open but more from the 'Dude your dick is out' kind of vibe, rather than a 'you are assaulting someone behind a dumpster and that isn't cool' kind of way.
So all of young Anakin's exposure to the act of Sex is violent and traumatizing. He wants nothing to do with such act and associates all sex with those acts. Had he been part of that culture he would have been introduce to actual sex instead of assault as he got older. The Jedi focus before everything on consent, and have not one but a whole series of sex ed type classes. Of them the first is the only required class, and they focus heavily on consent but don't really tie it to sex in a way that would have made it clear that what Anakin had seen wasn't sex until one of the later classes. Anakin was so sure he wanted nothing to do with sex, that he chose not to take any of the additional classes. He was not the only Padawan to decide to do so, so the Jedi shrugged and moved on. Neither party ever really managed to figure out that they meant vastly different things when they said sex.
Which also contributed to Anakin's idea that Obi Wan had never had sex. Because Obi Wan would never be associated with the acts that Anakin was thinking of, which is not entirely wrong.
Now we fast forward to meeting Padme again. At some point before they get married Padme gently explains to him that sex before marriage is immoral. A way of telling him that they would not be having sex then, which Anakin is fine with. So after they marry and do have sex, Anakin spends a few moment silently freaking out about why this is so different from what he remembered witnessing as a child and if that makes him as bad as the masters that he wanted to do it again, before what Padme had told him about sex outside of marriage and it just clicks for him. He figures that the horror and violence of the acts in his memories was due to sex being outside of marriage, as slaves could not legally get married, instead it being horrifying and violent and an assault, not sex.
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Some structure notes on the ADA (or: Why Dazai's In The Middle of Everything)
One of the first things Atsushi learns about the ADA is that there's really only one detective in the place - Ranpo. The ADA was built for his sake, is run for his sake; Fukuzawa's way of giving Ranpo purpose.
Most of what everyone else does is 'assist the police' or bodyguard/delivery work, something where a Gifted's skills make the task easier or safer. Officially, anyway. Less-officially, we followers of the story know that the ADA is also basically the group that takes care of threats to Yokohama so that the government agents don't have to be called in; at the 'citywide threat' level they're basically the city's first responders.
This kind of means they need someone smart to strategize and manipulate and plan, because the ADA is less than a dozen Gifted in a city where the Mafia has easily got four to five times that many Gifted (all combat trained and willing to kill) and without some SERIOUS strategizing, the ADA should logically be steamrollered in any kind of conflict.
The ADA has Ranpo, but while Ranpo is one of the older members of the ADA, he's also majorly immature for his age - otherwise Fukuzawa wouldn't have needed to create an entire agency just to make sure Ranpo had a job. Part of the maturation process is giving Ranpo people he can care about even if they're not on his intellectual level. Give Ranpo a reason to put that brain of his to work.
For Ranpo, the entire conflict with Decay of Angels has been one massive wake-up call; that if he's not paying attention his friends, his mentor, will die. I'm actually looking forward to seeing where Ranpo goes after this arc, because it's been a lot of kicks in the head for him.
But back to the point. While Ranpo is (slowly) waking up to the idea that he has friends and he should maybe learn to use his unparalleled intellect to protect them, the ADA needed a strategist. A genius strategist.
Enter Dazai.
In story terms, Dazai is not the hero. Not the sidekick, or the villain. In story terms he's the Mentor; that's how Atsushi sees him, and that's the story role he fulfills. (Don't get on me about how well he mentors, that's a totally separate discussion.) You've seen Dazai's role in a hundred other stories.
In Star Wars, he's Obi-Wan, filling Luke in on the world he's entering, teaching the basics of what it is to be Jedi, with a history that allows for relative wisdom to be passed on.
In Arthurian terms, Dazai is the Merlin to Atsushi's "young Arthur". (Although structurally, he's also the Merlin to Ranpo's 'young Arthur', in that he shows Ranpo ways to use his great intelligence to deal with threats). This is why Dazai's always in the middle of things, but the story's never about him. Functionally, his role isn't to be the hero - it's to show other characters how they can be the hero. And, really, that they need to be the hero.
Structurally, the ultimate fulfilment of this role requires the Mentor to step back, so that the hero can step up into that void and fulfil their potential. In most cases, the Mentor does this by dying - which I have to say has made the choice of Dazai to fill the role kind of intriguing. But it's worthwhile to note that not every Mentor dies as part of the story - all that's really required is that they be unable to help the budding hero. (Merlin, forex, got trapped in caves of ice.)
Dazai's already been taken away from Atsushi by being in Muersault. Ranpo got messages, but really Ranpo is a lot less 'along the path' than Atsushi is on his hero-journey; I mean, Decay of Angels is really where Ranpo seems to have finally learned he needs to pay constant attention or his friends get hurt. Atsushi, by contrast, is nearly ready to work on his own. (Not quite ready. But, otoh, about as ready as Luke was when Obi-wan got killed, so...)
Because Dazai's doing a kind of double-mentor role, he's always in the middle of everything while never being the Point of anything. And I wish I could know whether he's going to die or not, because he's pretty interesting and I'd rather he didn't (but then, that too is part of the Mentor role, isn't it? you don't WANT them to go...)
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Thug Life? This is Unkar's Thug, and he was sold in a $15 3-pack with BB-8 and the also technically unnamed Jakku Scavenger. And it came with a rocket-firing net launcher, and it's down to $11 on Amazon. I joke - sort of - that Hasbro would probably charge you for BB-8 alone in 2022. The "sort of" is that it probably would actually be $14.
It's fun reading my old reviews - I got to write a lot of predictions since the figures used to come out before the new movies or TV shows! - and I assumed that this was kind of a nobody. But he looks neat - simple clothes and a wild cobbled-together mask and goggles means he could be a human, or an alien, or maybe even a droid in disguise under there. He never got a name as far as I know, but he looks good with other action figures on a shelf.
Weird guys like this are why I collect this toy line. I don't need a metallic Darth Vader or Mandalorian with even more mud, but if they crank out an obscure thug figure I absolutely want one. This kind of character is perfect to flesh out dioramas on other planets, and it's also kind of amazing considering what we get when we buy figures today. You can't get $5 figures right now. You can't get $10 figures anymore at mass market stores, either. There are no $10-$15 2-packs to be had, and it's mostly just a parade of expensive main characters - some of which are very welcome, and admittedly, many of which are among the very best figures Hasbro has ever done. (See the new 3 3/4-inch Bo-Katan Kryze and Fennec Shand.) This thug is just a cool-looking 4-inch generic nobody, and I really do believe this is what the line needs today to deliver the goods to fans of all ages.
I really enjoyed the designs in The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian (and to a lesser extent, Obi-Wan Kenobi) and it stings a little that we may never get a 3 3/4-inch Krrsantan, or the Mon Calamari mechanic, or Peli Moto. I know some fans are ride or die The Vintage Collection fans, but I'd also be very happy to get figures in this format if a) they can keep them around $10 or under, and b) it means "I get a figure" vs. "we never get this figure." I'm sure some fans would be eager to only get this guy as a The Black Series or The Vintage Collection release, but elbows wouldn't make me like this any more - he's perfect as he is, and I'm happy to have him.
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I wish you would write a fic where Obi-Wan sort of forgets to tell Anakin what actually happened on Zigoola. Bail is over for dinner or something one night and just starts casually bringing it up like Anakin knows the whole story and what happened to Obi-Wan’s knee. Maybe after the dinner Anakin accosts Obi-Wan about it and finds out that Obi-Wan has had chronic pain for a year or so and hasn’t mentioned it once. I am a sucker for your hurt/comfort fics if you could not tell, lol. Thanks for consistently writing my favorite fics of all time!
It wasn’t that Anakin didn’t like Bail Organa. He knew he was quite a respectable man–a rarity in the Senate, that was for sure. And Padmé certainly liked him. Obi-Wan, too. He knew they were all good friends, and that was perfectly fine. Completely, totally fine.
And Anakin wasn’t jealous at all.
So when the dinner invitation came, he acted blasé enough. Obi-Wan was striding into their quarter one afternoon during their brief leave from the front, looking down at his comm.
“Bail invited us to dinner,” he said.
Anakin dropped the droid parts he’d been working on and tried his hardest not to whirl around.
“What?”
“This evening,” Obi-Wan replied. “If you’re available.”
“He invited me?”
“Yes, and me,” Obi-Wan said. “That is the meaning of the word ‘us,’ you know.”
“I–well, yeah. I just–isn’t he your friend?”
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. “Well, forgive me. I didn’t realize we weren’t allowed any mutual friends. I’ll have to tell Rex and Kit and Quin I won’t be seeing them anymore, then–”
Anakin rolled his eyes, ignoring the jest. “Fine. Yeah, I’m free. I guess.” He looked down at his hands, which were still stained with grease. “I’ll get cleaned up.”
And for reasons he couldn’t explain, during the ride over and the walk to Bail’s door, and the whole introduction and small talk and drinks–Anakin felt nervous.
Bail was just–well, he was intimidating. He was twenty years older than Anakin, probably, and so well-spoken and calm. He and Obi-Wan and Padmé would make good friends actually, come to think of it. But Anakin had never been good at this side of things–give him a lightsaber, give him a droid, and he was fine. But put him at a dinner party?
“Anakin, what’s your drink of choice?”
They were seated on the couch now, and Bail was looking at him.
“Oh, um…I’m not picky,” Anakin replied. “I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
“Corellian Brandy? You sure?” Bail replied, raising an eyebrow. “Obi-Wan’s favorite, though.”
“Oh, please,” Obi-Wan said, rolling his eyes. “After…well, the last time you made me drink Corellian Brandy, I think I’ll pass.”
“Trust me, it tastes much better when you’re not on the brink of death.”
Obi-Wan laughed, but there was a darkness there. A joke Anakin didn’t understand. He knew the two of them had been on a mission recently, while he and Ahsoka were away. Obi-Wan had been pretty beat up afterward, but told him not to worry about it. But ‘brink of death’ didn’t sound like a “don’t worry about it” kind of situation. ‘Brink of death’ sounded like–
“What are you talking about?” Anakin blurted.
Bail and Obi-Wan met eyes. “Just an inside joke,” Bail murmured.
He disappeared into the liquor cabinet.
They drank their brandy mostly quietly, with Bail and Obi-Wan chattering about politics. Anakin watched them–studying the way they seemed to know each other, the ease in Obi-Wan’s posture he only displayed with people like Cody, or Quinlan, or Anakin himself. And it made his chest tight, somehow. What was it they shared that Anakin didn’t know?
But he also noticed something else–the way Obi-Wan’s eyebrows were pinched slightly in the middle. His tell for headaches and migraines, usually.
In the Force, Anakin nudged him. Obi-Wan looked his way. “What?”
Anakin’s face lightly burned. So much for being discreet. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,”Obi-Wan said. “Why would you say that?”
“You look–you’re–”
Because now that he thought about it, Obi-Wan had looked wrong for a while. He was always tired, and recently when they sparred he always seemed slow, too easily bested. He didn’t eat as much, or sleep as much, and sometimes he limped. And if the headaches had been bad before, then now…
“Is it your knee again, Obi-Wan?” Bail said.
Both of them turned.
And Obi-Wan’s gaze sent a warning. “I don’t know what you mean. My knee is, and has always been, fine.”
The words were icy. Anakin’s eyes widened.
“Is that so,” Bail said, leaning forward. “It wasn’t fine the last time I saw you.”
“It was. I’m perfectly alright–then and now,” he replied, setting his brandy down on the table. “I suppose I have a bit of a headache. But, as you taught me once, it’s nothing a drink won’t fix.”
“You know that’s not true,” Anakin said. “Your head’s been worse ever since…well, ever since you went with him on that mission a few months ago.”
“Well, of course it has,” Bail said. “Because–”
“No,” Obi-Wan said. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Because Zigoola did a number on both of us, but you’re the one who’s gonna feel the after effects of a Sith Planet–”
Anakin’s head whirled. “A Sith planet?”
“No–”
But he didn’t get to finish. Because, just as he was about to repeat that nothing was wrong, Obi-Wan sucked in a breath. He squeezed his eyes shut.
Anakin shook his head. This was one scenario where he hated to be right.
Obi-Wan leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and ran his hands across his face. Anakin looked at Bail. “His migraines are–”
“I know,” said Bail. Not sharply, but still, Anakin felt…well, he was supposed to know Obi-Wan best.
“Yeah,” Anakin said. “Um, is there somewhere dark and quiet he could go?”
“I’m alright, Anakin,” Obi-Wan replied, voice coming from somewhere between his hands. “It…came on suddenly, but it isn’t…well, I’ve had worse.”
Anakin nodded. If he could talk at all, that was good. He noticed, abruptly, that Bail had a hand on his shoulder.
“Well, then we should probably get you home,” Anakin said. “Can you–”
But Bail was already helping him stand, slipping an arm beneath his shoulders. Anakin rushed to the other side.
They helped him to the speeder. Anakin opened the door, while Bail lowered him into the passenger’s seat and closed it behind him. Anakin was about to say goodbye and climb in the driver’s side, but a hand on his arm stopped him.
“Anakin,” Bail said. “Can we talk inside?”
Anakin looked through the speeder window. Obi-Wan’s head lolled back against the seat, his eyes closed tight.
“I should get him home–”
“It won’t be long. But there’s…something you should know.”
Anakin stared at him, long and hard. Something you should know. After months of being told that everything was fine, don’t worry about it, nothing happened while he was away. Something you should know, at long last.
He tried his best not to storm back into Bail’s house.
Inside, they didn’t sit down. Anakin folded his arms across his chest, face drawn as he waited.
“I’m listening.”
Bail walked past him, as if starting to pace. But he stopped, some distance away, face drawn as he looked back at Anakin.
“I did it on purpose.”
Anakin turned his head. “What?”
“I knew he hadn’t told you,” Bail said, nodding at a sleeping Obi-Wan. “About what happened on Zigoola. But someone needed to know, someone besides me, and maybe Master Yoda. He needs someone looking out for him. I could do that, when we were together, but we aren’t now.” He exhaled. “He needs you.”
Anakin could think of about a million things to say to that. But what actually came out was, “What happened, then? On Zigoola?”
Bail looked far away. Like he was looking at Anakin, but he wasn’t. And when he finally spoke, his voice was soft.
“I don’t think I should be the one to tell you,” Bail said. “It should come from him.”
“He won’t tell me.”
“He will now, I think,” Bail almost smiled. “I forced his hand. Because someone has to know. I have Breha looking out for me at home. Your w–I mean, Padmé looking out for me here. And now, he’ll have you.”
Anakin’s eyes flickered down, whether from embarrassment or worry he couldn’t say. He did need to leave–Obi-Wan was waiting.
But he fought the urge to run out right away. He looked at Bail, saw the genuine care there. The worry. Maybe it was the years Bail had on him, but he almost looked…fatherly. He didn’t know if Bail had children. But he bet he’d make a good one, one day.
Anakin did have to go. Obi-Wan was waiting out there, hurting. But he did pause. Shook Bail’s hand, however awkwardly.
“Thanks,” he said. “For telling me. And…and for looking out for him, then and now.” He exhaled. “I’m glad to know he has a friend in you. That we both do.”
As he stepped back outside, Bail watching from the door, Obi-Wan's words echoed back to him from this afternoon. Well. Maybe we are friends, after all.
He drove home as slowly and gently as possible–for once, taking care to follow the speed limits and traffic laws. Obi-Wan was a little worse now, he could tell from the pinch in his face and the way he inhaled sharply whenever they passed brighter lights. But they made it home without incident, and soon enough they were walking back into Obi-Wan’s quarters.
Anakin darkened the room. Got him water, his meds, sleep clothes. And when he was situated, and Anakin knew he could leave him to sleep it off, he paused. Sat down on the edge of the bed.
“You should’ve told me, you know,” he said quietly. “I’m not gonna argue it out with you right now. But I just need you to know you’re an idiot.”
From beneath the sheets, Obi-Wan hummed. “Thanks,” he mumbled.
“Yeah, well.” He shifted, so he was sitting up against the headboard in Obi-Wan’s bed. “You’ll tell me the truth, then? When you’re better?”
A pause. Then, a nod.
“Good. Otherwise, I’d have to go back to Bail and squeeze it out of him with a little more Corellian Brandy.”
Obi-Wan hummed again. His voice was raspy and soft. “Glad to see you two have bonded over my idiocy.”
“The best of friends do,” he said. “But anyway. I’m just…glad he’s there for you, is all.”
Anakin stood from the bed, pausing just once to lay a hand gently on Obi-Wan’s hair.
“I’ll be in the kitchen. Call if you need anything.”
Though he expected Obi-Wan wouldn’t even need to. If it got worse, he’d sense it from anywhere on Coruscant.
He shut the door behind him, and resolved to make some caf and pick a holo to watch until the worst had passed. Until the worst had passed, and they could talk.
Soon. Soon, the truth.
For now, he was content to wait. And be there.
#ANON your forced my hand I had to write it#you KNOW i am a SUCKER for Zigoola fics okay--ALSO thank you so much for the compliment omg!! much appreciated <3 :)))#obi wan kenobi#bail organa#anakin skywalker#zigoola#wild space#my fic#prompt#whump
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Anakin Assists the Jedi Council While On Medical Leave
AU brainstormed primarily by @atagotiak, @gelpenss, and myself.
Basically, a fix-it based in Anakin getting a peek into the daily life on the Council early, and accidentally Figuring Some Shit Out along the way, mostly because Palps Fucks Up.
So, Anakin gets injured in a way that limits him to Coruscant for a few weeks. He can still walk and talk, but he can't fight. The specific injury doesn't matter, just this:
Anakin runs errands on behalf of the council and sits in on meetings to take minutes as a "you're on medical leave but we need all hands on deck, congrats you get to be the secretary until we can send you on stabbing missions again" thing.
Also, there just aren't a whole lot of people with Anakin's clearance level. They had to send out Stass Allie to handle the mission that was originally next on Anakin's roster, and Anakin's the most convenient person to substitute into her position.
He's not super happy about this but he can more or less understand the point of it. Given that he gets antsy about needing to fight almost immediately, he can acknowledge the worth of having something useful to do, if only as the person who's writing down who says what and making sure everyone has the right file on hand.
(Besides, Obi-Wan jokes in a way that Anakin thinks might be encouraging, this is good practice if Anakin ever wants to be on the High Council himself!)
(This is a very helpful conversation.)
BASICALLY, Anakin is resigned to this but agrees because "Usually we have Master Allie handle this but we need her running that mission that was originally set for the 501st, so you get to fill in for her until you can switch back. Think of it as training for eventual mastery or admin or--listen, we're just really stretched thin."
Here's the key thing, though: Anakin isn't supposed to leave the Temple, for medical reasons, so Palpatine doesn't know Anakin is sitting in on Council meetings. They haven't met up since Anakin's last surgery, and because [muffled hand-wave reason] he didn't find out another way, like Anakin comming him or the Council giving him the heads-up about the change in attendance.
It's fine. He's just taking notes and doing preparatory research, he has the clearance, the Chancellor likes him anyway. Hell, they'd have had someone's Padawan doing this, before the war increased the necessary clearance levels. They'll toss in a quick message in the brief they send to Palps that he never reads anyway, and that's really all they need to do. Skywalker's getting some rounded experience and this way the medics won't be freaking out about him stressing his heart after getting electrocuted by trying to spar too early.
Palpatine doesn't talk directly to the Council, he just sends a recording the first time Anakin is there. It's a bit weird, but nothing goes wrong. Anakin's off-screen from whatever device they use to send a response, since he's not technically a member, just assisting for a bit on the part of Master Allie's duties that he's actually allowed to touch (and not the bits that are getting added to Mace, Plo, and Shaak's stuff).
The first four or so meetings are like that. Anakin starts having a bit of sympathy for the Council as he sees how many things they want to do that are hampered by the need for Senatorial approval, things that he would also want to do and didn't think required this much red tape.
About a week in, still mostly recordings with Anakin just sitting on the side playing paralegal, the wheel of fortune turns a few pegs.
Palpatine hands over a an order on the range of injury that a soldier should be treated for, "to ensure that republic resources aren't being wasted on clones that, while expensive, would actually be cheaper to replace than repair."
Oh, he dresses it up in prettier language than that. Anakin doesn't process it as such first.
The Chancellor manages to couch his phrasing in "prioritizing resources for taxpaying republic citizens and employees of the GAR," which... well.
The natborn commissioned officers pay taxes. The Jedi are employees. The clones are neither, because they're slaves.
Probably he frames it as the employees thing, very much the kinda language that sounds halfway ok unless you’re fluent in political bullshit.
And Anakin is really confused at first about why the council is upset by the order because, okay, he would PREFER to be able to use medical supplies on refugees when possible, but he understands prioritizing the soldiers?
He just looks up, totally lost, when someone groans and goes, "That's the third time this year, is he trying to get us all killed?"
And it vibes as such a genuine, aggrieved, sad reaction that Anakin is completely blindsided because it's not the sarcastic, petty resentment he kind of expected? It's just... desperate depression.
And someone gently has to explain that this is the third time they've had resources restricted to only GAR employees and that it's a polite way of saying "prioritize natborn officers, stop wasting resources on clones, we can replace them easier."
Or maybe he doesn't ask, because he's just there to take notes, not argue, and he can see the masters drawing up a response that amounts to "We would like to remind you that our soldiers do not fall into that classification, and to limit their access to our medical supplies is liable to cause a loss of life that we find unreasonably high. Please see the annotations attached to adjust wording so that the clones may receive the same level of care."
Anakin's internally just like "Yeah, that's phrased nice and addresses the main problem, Palpatine will obviously agree and change it!"
And then he comes in the next day and the response comes in and it's just dripping condescension about considering the clones actual people.
"This is why we can't use the bacta tanks on clones anymore, just the patches. We could use them at first, we had a few of the CCs get through fatal injuries with them, but they cut that off and said we could only use the tanks on Jedi and non-clone officers a few months ago. The Banking Clans keep tightening their belts on the army, and the Chancellor insists we put citizens first, and the clones aren't citizens. We've been arguing back as much as we can, but he keeps going on about the economy and we can't... we just can't, Skywalker. We're trying to save as many of our men as we can, but..."
Something like "Allocation of resources reiterated, the Kaminoans have assured the senate that the Jedi are far from exhausting the resources ordered."
And Anakin's like. He can't blame the council for lying about Palpatine's past or future actions. He just saw Palpatine's actions. Those actions were to order people under his control to throw away lives he saw as replaceable commodities.
These are his friends' lives.
His soldiers are being thrown away by a man in a tower that he trusted.
And then that man has the gall to suggest it's the council's fault.
Palpatine is good at what he does, especially in public, he dresses it up in flowery language and everything, but Anakin's just like "Those are my FRIENDS and also this is??? How slavers talked about their property on Tatooine???? FRIENDPATINE, WHAT THE FUCK."
Anakin can be passive aggressive sometimes as well as outright aggressive. So if he brings up the guidelines and why they make him upset in general terms, and Palpatine says something about how he’s sad the council doesn’t care about the clones...
Anakin, internally, having just watched the council scramble to save as many clones as possible within the guidelines that Palps handed down: Uh-huh.
(Anakin is just the gay horror teeth gif from queer eye.)
Just. “Yeah, funny you say that, Palpatine! Because as I remember, you told the council not to waste more resources than necessary while Mace Windu was arguing to expand the treatment range!”
Palps doesn't even have time to salvage the situation or attack Anakin because Anakin just bulldoze rants for fifteen minutes and then storms out.
Anakin... maybe does a little treason and gets a copy of the orders so he can ask Padme "Hey, can you explain the politics of this?" and doesn't tell her who wrote it so she isn't biased (he tells her that this is why he's not sharing the author's/speaker's name), and just lets Padme pick apart all the 'this is a nice way of saying they don't view the clones as people' details.
Alternately, someone on the Council sees Anakin dithering and manages to get him to admit that he's not great at political language and wants to ask someone to help him understand the full implications. The person--Mace? let's go with Mace--is aware that Anakin is on good terms with Senator Amidala, if not necessarily aware of the depth of said relationship. Mace points out that he's probably going to be seeing her soon just because he usually does and, as a Senator, she can get easy access to these sessions since they're not about specific missions, just allocation of resources, etc. It's not an optimal solution, but she's got a bit more free time than anyone else Anakin knows with the clearance levels, like Order members that are actively involved in the war effort.
Anakin dithers and panics and Mace, trying to be helpful, tells him that plenty of Jedi have made friends among the Senate over the years, didn't you know Qui-Gon Jinn was a personal friend of Former Chancellor Valorum?
At any rate, Anakin goes to Padme and asks her to explain it to him, because she knows how to phrase things so he gets it.
Anakin has to have her pause and he goes outside and destroys some things halfway through.
(Anakin maybe thinks back to the times Padmé or Obi-Wan were really obviously frustrated and when he asked, they said stuff like “I can’t stand Palpatine rn, sorry Anakin I know he’s important to you and you don’t want to talk about politics, let’s just talk about something else.”)
(Obi-Wan: I don’t trust Palpatine
Anakin: you just don’t like politicians in general
Obi-Wan: yes that is also true)
(Obi-Wan does like Bail and Padme but he does also talk a bit about how politicians generally aren’t to be trusted.)
#Anakin Skywalker#Sheev Palpatine#Jedi High Council#Mace Windu#fix it fic#star wars#star wars prequels#Phoenix Posts#Padme Naberrie
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is it self indulgent to write a time travel story about my extremely specific au? yes. but also it's my story and I choose the degrees of separation from canon
Obi-Wan wakes in a warm bed in a warm apartment. This is unusual because he’s sure that when he went to sleep he was alone in an attic on war-torn Melida/Daan.
There is a man sitting next to the bed. He’s an adult, but not too old, probably barely into his twenties. There is a mask covering his mouth and nose but his sad gray eyes look vaguely familiar.
"Where am I?" Obi-Wan asks.
"You're in my apartment on Coruscant," the man says.
"Who are you?"
"Nobody. Just a local private investigator."
"What's your name?" Obi-Wan asks.
"Not important. Don’t worry about it."
And that's that.
---
Apparently, the detective had found Obi-Wan passed out in an undercity alley with no idea how he got there and brought him inside because he was worried about a kid being all alone in Coruscant. In that case, it’s probably for the best the detective doesn't know where Obi-Wan was just yesterday.
The more important thing, even more important than the fact that he somehow traveled across the galaxy overnight, is that he also seems to have traveled seventeen years into the future. Melida/Daan's war is over and has been for over a decade. Official sources never mention him, so Obi-Wan can only assume he either disappeared or died.
He feels...conflicted about that. He's glad they have peace now, but after fighting tooth and nail for months, to have it suddenly be over like this is terribly anticlimactic.
"Do you have anywhere to go?" the detective asks. "Any family? Friends? A home?"
Obi-Wan hesitates. If Melida/Daan’s war is over and he’s been missing for seventeen years, then they probably won’t recognize him, and they probably won’t want him back. And if he doesn’t go back to Melida/Daan, then there’s really only the Jedi Temple, but the Temple...he abandoned them, too. He gave Master Jinn his lightsaber and turned his back on the Jedi. They would probably accept him back, but Master Jinn wouldn’t, and Obi-Wan isn’t strong enough to face that.
He shakes his head. “No. I don’t have anywhere to go.”
The detective lets out a long sigh. “Okay. Then I guess you can stay with me for a while.”
---
Obi-Wan doesn’t know what to think of the detective. The detective is as kind and patient as Obi-Wan could ever hope for--he gets Obi-Wan clean new clothes, cooks good food with meat and vegetables and gives Obi-Wan second helpings, and doesn’t ask questions about where Obi-Wan came from or how he got where he is. He insists that Obi-Wan sleeps on the only bed while he takes the couch, and it’s...not bad. It’s warm and comfortable, and Obi-Wan isn’t sure how to deal with that. The two of them talk a little bit here in there, but not about anything useful. Just to fill the silence, the detective tells Obi-Wan a bit about his job as a private investigator, which seems to involve a lot of looking through tax records and invoices. It seems peaceful compared to what Obi-Wan was doing, but anything would be.
He can’t help but distrust the detective, though. For some reason, he can’t properly sense the detective with the Force, and it’s obvious the detective is hiding things, besides--Obi-Wan might only be thirteen, but he’s not stupid. There’s no other reason the detective would be so cagey. The detective refuses to tell Obi-Wan his name, he wears thick black gloves all the time even though they’re in his home, and the closest Obi-Wan gets to seeing the detective’s face is when the detective takes meals in the kitchen alone--the apartment is so small there’s nowhere to eat in actual privacy besides the fresher. He faces away when he pulls his mask off so Obi-Wan can only really make out a full beard.
There’s a grim air about the detective. He’s quiet and tired and he’s got the air of someone who doesn’t really spend a lot of time around other people. Obi-Wan gets the feeling that he’s...really unhappy.
“Why are you doing all this?” Obi-Wan asks over a late meal. The detective sits opposite him, though he doesn’t have any food for himself--he’ll take his meal later after Obi-Wan goes to sleep. “You could have given me to a foster care system or dropped me back on the street. You don’t have to do all this. You don’t even know me.”
“I knew someone a lot like you. He didn’t have anyone to help him, and he didn’t know how to ask.” The detective gets a faraway look in his eyes. “He was just a kid. I wish I could have done more for him.”
So that’s all it is. The detective used to have some kind of little brother and something terrible happened to him, so he’s trying to make up for it with Obi-Wan now. It’s kind of a relief, to know it’s for a selfish reason like that--that, at least, Obi-Wan can understand.
Still, Obi-Wan says, “I’m not him.”
The detective looks at him for a long moment, then shakes his head. “No, I guess not.”
---
Three days pass in a blur. It’s almost like a dream, one moment blending into the next. Obi-Wan eats well, sleeps well, and recovers, but nothing really happens. Obi-Wan doesn’t do much except rest and read about all the things that have happened in the last seventeen years. Outside of the resolution of Melida/Daan’s war, he finds out that Master Jinn is still alive and running missions. Not only that, but it seems he has a new Padawan now, and that’s...it stings, Obi-Wan won’t pretend it doesn’t. It crushes the last hope Obi-Wan had that he could still be a Padawan--it was a silly hope after he’d given it all up at Melida/Daan, but somewhere deep in his heart he’d had the childish idea that maybe he could go back and things would be okay. That maybe, Qui-Gon would come back for him.
Obi-Wan, officially no longer a Jedi, officially without a Master, sequesters himself in the fresher and cuts his braid off. It’s a sorry excuse of a braid--stubby and without any beads to indicate any kinds of achievements, but it was his. He stares at the severed strip of hair for a long time, feeling very unreal. Everything seems to hit him all at once--the displacement in time and space, the loss of his home and his dreams and everyone he’s ever known. He feels like he can’t breathe, and he doubles over in the shower stall, sobbing.
The detective knocks on the door. “Kid? Are you okay?”
Obi-Wan doesn’t know if he says anything.
“I’m coming in,” the detective says.
The door slides open, and the detective comes in. He looks at Obi-Wan and at the braid clenched in his fist and lets out a long breath. “Oh, kid.”
He scoops Obi-Wan up out of the shower and sets him down on the bed. Obi-Wan clings to the detective, crying into his chest, and the detective hugs him tight, rubbing slow circles across his back.
“You’ll be okay,” the detective murmurs softly. “Things are hard now, but they won’t be forever. Just let it out. You’ll be okay.”
Obi-Wan lets it out. It takes a while.
He doesn’t really feel okay.
---
The detective takes Obi-Wan downtown, and he lives close enough to the Senate district that Obi-Wan can see the Jedi Temple in the distance when they reach surface level. Just seeing it so close yet so out of reach makes something in Obi-Wan’s chest feel like it’s collapsing.
He wants it more than he’s ever wanted anything, but he can’t have it. That’s the choice he made, and he won’t go back on it now. He doesn’t have much, but he’s at least got enough dignity for that.
They walk around the city, and the detective treats Obi-Wan to some fried dumplings from a food stall. They’re not as good as the dumplings at the Temple, but they’re still pretty good, so Obi-Wan accepts them with thanks. The detective takes him to a couple of stores, too, so he can choose some clothes for himself and other small things he needs, and a few things he doesn’t.
“What am I supposed to do with this?” Obi-Wan asks when the detective gives him a striped tooka plushie. “I’m not a kid. I’m too old for toys.”
“You don’t have to be a kid to have a toy,” the detective says. “You can do whatever you want with it, but if you really don’t want it I can take it back.”
Obi-Wan thinks about it, then shakes his head and squeezes the plush in his arms. He had a stuffed tooka like this when he was an Initiate--it’s not too bad to have some reminder of home. He tucks it under his arm when he sleeps that night and he doesn’t have any nightmares at all.
Neither Obi-Wan nor the detective bring up what Obi-Wan thinks of as The Question--What are they going to do with him? They both know this transitional period won’t last, and soon, they’ll have to make a decision.
There’s not a lot of places for a thirteen-year-old human to go. Obi-Wan can’t stay here with the detective indefinitely--it’s obvious the detective doesn’t have the space, time, or resources to take care of a youngling, and Obi-Wan can’t hide forever that he’s Force-sensitive or time traveled from the past. Maybe he’ll get a place on a spacer crew--sometimes mechanical teams will hire kids because of the small crawl spaces, and Obi-Wan is good with his hands. Or maybe he can get put into a foster care system or get adopted and stay with a family for a few years until he’s old enough to go places on his own.
He’s not really excited about any of those options.
Things come to a head one week in, when Obi-Wan wakes in the middle of the night and hears voices in the fresher.
“--don’t want to ask you out of the blue like this, but it’s kind of an emergency,” the detective says, muffled through the door. “I don’t need a lot, just enough to keep going. Enough for food and clothes and still cover the rent.”
Money. He’s talking about money--but with who?
“He’s a good kid. I’ve done my best with him but I’m really not the one who should be doing this.” A pause. "Bail, you don't understand. He's a Force-sensitive youngling, I can't just leave him here."
Obi-Wan goes cold all at once. The detective knows he's Force-sensitive. How? And more importantly, if he knows, then why didn't he bring Obi-Wan to the Jedi Temple? That's what any reasonable person would do--what any reasonable person should do, especially when they're a stone's throw away from the Temple to begin with, because why would there be a Force-sensitive kid in Coruscant if not because they're a lost Padawan?
"What, do you think I'm lying to you? Bail, believe me, if I was trying to scam you I would come up with a much better story. I'm just..." The detective sighs. After another pause, he says, "Okay, fine. I can bring him around tomorrow so you can see for yourself."
Obi-Wan recoils from the door. The detective is trying to sell him. That's why he didn't take Obi-Wan to the Temple and worked so hard to get Obi-Wan clean and clothed and fed, because healthy Force sensitives are more valuable in the slave markets.
The detective keeps talking on the commlink, oblivious to Obi-Wan's presence, but Obi-Wan isn't listening anymore. He has to protect himself, and that means getting away from here before the detective can hock him off to whoever this Bail person is.
Obi-Wan grabs his jacket and a handful of credits from the detective's coat pocket, then leaves. He just needs to get to the Jedi Temple--they won't like him but they'll protect him, and maybe they'll be able to send him somewhere safe. He'll take AgriCorps over slavery any day.
The Force is loud as he hits the streets. Coruscant has always been a psychic cesspool and it feels like being battered from the inside of his mind as he goes down the dark streets trying to find his way up to the surface. He feels the Force's urgency under his skin, like there's a monster on his tail with jaws ready to snap shut. He knows it won't be long until the detective finishes his comm and realizes Obi-Wan has flown the coop.
He's so preoccupied with getting away that he ends up running straight into a very tall Quarren.
"I'm sorry!" Obi-Wan says. "I wasn't looking where I was going, I'm really sorry!"
The Quarren looks down at him disapprovingly, or maybe their face just looks like that. "What's a kid doing out here this late at night all on their lonesome?"
Obi-Wan presses his lips shut. He knows a bad situation when he sees one and he has definitely reached a bad situation.
"A runaway, are you?" the Quarren asks, a definitely predatory edge to their voice. "Why don't I help you get someplace safe?"
"No, thank you," Obi-Wan says, because he's not stupid. "I have to be somewhere right now."
"It wasn't a request," the Quarren says, stepping closer.
Obi-Wan decides it's time to break and run, but a moment too late because someone grabs him from behind and jabs something in his neck.
Unconsciousness follows swiftly and not gently.
---
Obi-Wan wakes on a cold floor in a cold room. This is not unusual because he remembers exactly how he got here, despite the throbbing headache between his temples. His hands are cuffed and he appears to be in some kind of warehouse. He can still feel the Force, which is a good sign.
There is a man sitting on a nearby crate, smoking a stick of something that smells absolutely foul.
"Where am I?" Obi-Wan asks.
"Shut up. You're not here to ask questions," the man says.
"Who are you?"
"Someone who will be a lot happier if you stop making so much noise."
“What’s your name?” Obi-Wan asks.
The man walks over to Obi-Wan’s side and kicks him in the stomach.
So that’s that.
---
Apparently, Obi-Wan has been kidnapped with the intention of being ransomed, though good luck to his kidnappers finding anyone to ransom him to. If that falls through, plan B is to sell him to a slave market, which, while a very bad thing to happen, probably won’t happen for at least a couple of days, which gives Obi-Wan plenty of time to orchestrate an escape. Especially because these people, unlike the detective, don’t know he’s Force-sensitive and can pop his cuffs literally any time he chooses to. He just has to wait for the right moment, especially because the kidnappers keep him on constant watch, which makes it hard to use the Force without anyone noticing.
This isn’t the first time Obi-Wan’s been kidnapped, so he takes a deep breath and tries to figure out what to do next--nobody knows he’s here, and nobody’s looking for him, so if he wants to be rescued he’s going to have to do it himself. His kidnappers don’t treat him kindly, not that he expected to be--he’s barely given anything to eat, and he’s made to sleep on what appears to be a literal door mat, and nobody really talks to him except to make vague threats and occasionally hit him. On the bright side, they’re not actively torturing him, so it’s definitely not the worst captivity Obi-Wan has ever endured.
Obi-Wan bides his time, tracking the kidnappers through the building with the Force. There seems to be about eight of them in total, and his understanding is that they do this kidnap for ransom song and dance every so often for cash and haven’t been caught because they haven’t tried it with anyone important enough yet. Obi-Wan doesn’t find them too intimidating. He knows how to fight adults with his bare hands, and these are no different--he can’t take them all at once, but he could get them down one by one. As long as he plays his cards right, he should be able to escape.
He makes his move on the second day while one of his captors is escorting him to the fresher. He snaps his cuffs open and jams an elbow directly into the man’s stomach, and the man doubles over, gagging. Obi-Wan slams him in the ankle, sweeping him to the ground, then cuffs him, wrist to ankle behind his back so he won’t be going anywhere any time soon. The man shouts and swears at Obi-Wan, loud enough that someone definitely hears him, and Obi-Wan breaks for it, grabbing a length of old pipe to use as a weapon.
He takes down three more goons on his search for the exit, swinging the pipe into their knees with a sickening crack. One of the kidnappers cuffs him on the side of the head, hard enough to make him see stars, but Obi-Wan hits him in the jaw just as hard, and the man goes down shrieking in pain.
The fifth man is the Quarren who had gotten him into this mess, who snarls and twists the pipe from his grip. Obi-Wan dodges the kick at his side and calls the Force to his aid. It swells and ripples outwards, forcefully throwing the Quarren back into the wall.
“You little Jedi rat!” the Quarren roars at him. “I’m going to kill you!”
He pulls out a primed blaster. The Force screeches out a warning, but Obi-Wan is too close to dodge, and without a weapon to deflect it. He closes his eyes, bracing for the burn, and then--
The Quarren screams, then abruptly stops.
Obi-Wan opens his eyes. The Quarren is slumped against the wall, thoroughly unconscious...no, dead, Obi-Wan corrects. Or will be soon. There’s a blaster bolt straight through his chest--a perfect shot. Obi-Wan looks through the doorway where the shot must have come from, and...
The detective is there, a smoking blaster in his hand. His eyes widen when he sees Obi-Wan.
“Obi-Wan,” the detective says, running to meet him. “Obi-Wan, are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
Obi-Wan snatches the Quarren’s blaster and levels it at the detective. He doesn’t want to kill anyone, but he’ll do what he has to if it means he gets out of this alive. “Don’t come any closer,” he says. “Put the blaster down.”
The detective drops the blaster and holds his hands up.
“Why are you here?” Obi-Wan asks.
“I was looking for you,” the detective says. “You ran away in the middle of the night in the undercity--I was scared something had happened to you.”
“How did you find me?”
The detective’s brow furrows. “I’m a detective. Finding missing people is one of my main marketable skills.”
Okay, Obi-Wan kind of forgot that. That’s on him. “How do you know my name? I never told you.”
The detective looks at him a long moment, then sighs. “That’s...a long story. One that should probably wait until we get you out of here.”
“Why should I trust you?” Obi-Wan asks. “You killed that man. Why wouldn’t you do the same to me?”
A pained look flashes across the detective’s face. “I wouldn’t hurt you,” he says softly. “I know you don’t have any reason to believe me, but please, Obi-wan. I want what’s best for you, I really do.”
Obi-Wan tries to get a sense for what the detective is feeling through the Force, but as always, it’s like trying to grab smoke with his hands--his senses just pass through.
“I’ll answer everything you want,” the detective says. “But please, let’s get out of here first.”
Obi-Wan nods. He’s not eager to be here, and there’s still three more kidnappers prowling around, presumably. “Okay. But I get to hold onto your blaster.”
The detective agrees, and the two of them leave.
---
There is a man in a speeder waiting about a block away. The man is taller than the detective and has darker skin and short black hair. He is also dressed much nicer than either of them. He looks at the detective with a sort of fond exasperation when he sees the two of them.
“Why do you always get into trouble like this?” the man asks.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the detective says. “I’ve never got into trouble like this before.”
“Well, it sounds like you get plenty of other types of trouble,” the man says. He looks at Obi-Wan and smiles softly. He looks like a kind man, but Obi-Wan’s met a lot of people who looked kind but aren’t. “Hello, Obi-Wan. My name is Bail Organa. I’m a friend of your, um.” He glances over at the detective.
“I’m not anything to him,” the detective says. “I’m just trying to get him somewhere safe.”
“Organa?” Obi-Wan asks. “Like the royal family of Alderaan?”
Bail nods. “I’m from Alderaan. I married into the royal family and I do some work for them.”
The detective snorts. “He means he’s the Viceroy and Senator. We might as well not dance around it.” To Obi-Wan, he says, “Bail’s a good man. I helped him out with a case a few years ago, so he’s paying me back the favor. He should be able to help you.”
Obi-Wan isn’t really sure what’s going on, but Alderaan is a good planet with a lot of social support. If Bail really is the Senator like he claims--and the Force gives no indication that he is lying--then he should have some connections to put Obi-Wan somewhere that isn’t too terrible. He nods his assent and Bail drives them away.
This is how the three of them end up in a very cushy apartment in that really expensive building where all the important people stay. The detective seems to find the building unpleasant to be in, but Obi-Wan likes it well enough. Bail gets Obi-Wan a glass of sparkling fruit juice and it’s sweet with a little fizzy sensation that he doesn’t find too unpleasant.
“I’ll let the two of you talk,” Bail says. “Let me know if you need anything.”
The detective nods and sits down opposite Obi-Wan. He looks more tired than usual--his hair’s in disarray and his eyes are slightly bloodshot. “You had questions, and I don’t blame you,” he says. “But before I let you get to all of them, I want to start with asking you: How old do you think I am?”
Obi-Wan’s brow furrows. “Like twenty-three?”
The detective shakes his head. “I’m thirty.”
Obi-Wan blinks. He wouldn’t have guessed that at all.
“I’m sure you want to know why that’s important,” the detective says. “Well, it’s probably easier to just show you.”
He reaches up and pulls his face mask off.
A lot of things make sense rather quickly, after that.
---
The detective’s name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Seventeen years ago, he was a Padawan who left the Order to fight a war in Melida/Daan. Now, he is a private investigator in Coruscant because he cannot go back to the Jedi.
“So that whole time, you knew,” Obi-Wan says. “You knew who I was, and where I’d come from, and what I was.”
The detective nods.
“Why didn’t you take me to the Temple?” Obi-Wan asks. “Is it because you knew I’m not a Jedi anymore?”
“I didn’t take you to the Temple because I can’t make that choice for you,” the detective replies. “You chose to leave the Jedi, so you have to make the choice to go back.”
“You didn’t go back,” Obi-Wan says.
“We’re not the same person,” the detective says. “You are who I was once. But I’ve done things you haven’t and hopefully never will. You don’t have to grow up to be me. I sincerely hope you don’t.”
Obi-Wan looks down at his juice. He wonders what it must be like for the detective, to look at a past version of himself and realize they’ll never really understand each other. “Why can’t I sense you?” he asks. “In the Force, you’re...you feel empty. It’s like I can’t even touch you.”
“I lost the Force a long time ago,” the detective says simply, like that isn’t something that would kill just about anyone.
“But even people who are Force null can be sensed,” Obi-Wan presses. “Even if you...somehow lost your Force sensitivity, that doesn’t mean you should be like this.”
The detective scrubs a hand over their face. “I guess I should have known that wouldn’t get past you.” He looks up. “You can’t sense me because I haven’t been letting you. I didn’t want you to, because then you would know, and I didn’t want to burden you with that.”
“Oh,” Obi-Wan says. “But I know who you are now. Can you let me sense you?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You said you would answer my questions,” Obi-Wan says.
The detective seems to think about that for a long time, then says. “Okay. Just this once.”
He takes a deep breath, and Obi-Wan feels the detective’s presence shift like it’s coming into focus. Obi-Wan reaches out to touch it, and--
There’s nothing there. It’s like the endless void of space, a black hole from which nothing can escape. The detective’s presence is so small yet impossibly vast, an infinity stretching out to the edges of the universe that’s trapped in the soul of a single man. There’s hurt trapped in that infinity, a crushing loneliness and feeling of insignificance, the feeling of being the only creature drifting in a sea of dead stars and who will swiftly pass, unmourned and unloved.
Just as quickly as the sensation had come, it shifts out of focus once again, pulling away from Obi-Wan’s reach. Obi-Wan blinks rapidly, realizing only now that there are tears in his eyes. His chest hurts like there’s a fist squeezed around his heart, the yearning for someone to reach out to him, to touch him, to keep him grounded and here and alive.
Does the detective feel like this all the time? Obi-Wan can’t even imagine it. He would go insane--he doesn’t know how the detective hasn’t.
Obi-Wan wipes his eyes. “You said...you said you knew someone like me. And that he didn’t have anyone to help, and didn’t know how to ask.”
“There are people who care about you, Obi-Wan,” the detective says. “It’s not bad to ask for help sometimes, and not take everything on yourself.”
There’s weight behind those words, a kind of loneliness that makes Obi-Wan’s heart hurt just to think about. He wonders just how long the detective has been alone and trying to fend for himself. He wonders if the detective isn’t still that way now.
“Is that why you’re so unhappy?” Obi-Wan asks. “You needed help and nobody was ever there for you?”
The detective looks at him for a long time, then looks away. “I don’t think you need me to answer that.”
---
That night, they stay at Bail’s apartment. It is much larger than the detective’s little shoebox studio in the undercity, and it even includes a guest room with a huge bed.
“You can share with me,” Obi-Wan says. “There’s a lot of space.”
“I’ll be fine on the couch,” the detective replies. “It’s large enough to drown someone on, anyways.”
Obi-Wan shakes his head. Ever since he found out who the detective is and felt the depth of emptiness in his soul, he’s noticed how much the detective...doesn’t reach out. He does what he can for others, then relegates himself to the sidelines. Easily forgotten. Obi-Wan doesn’t want that. He wants the detective to be...better. To have something good and kind and soft. To have someone give him a striped tooka plushie and say it’s okay to have something frivolous just because it makes him feel better.
“Can you share with me?” Obi-Wan tries. “It’s been a long time since I’ve slept on a big bed like this. I think it would be better if there was someone else, too.”
The detective looks at him like he knows what Obi-Wan is trying to do, then huffs and says, “All right. If you insist, I suppose I won’t mind.”
The two of them settle under the plush blankets side-by-side and Obi-Wan marvels at how much larger the detective is than him. There’s seventeen years between the two of them, longer than Obi-Wan’s entire life, and Obi-Wan can feel it. It’s a distance that can never be bridged, and the detective clearly doesn’t want it to be. Maybe that’s for the best, but it doesn’t mean Obi-Wan shouldn’t at least try.
The detective settles an arm over Obi-Wan’s side. He’s warm, and Obi-Wan goes to sleep wrapped in that warmth.
For the first time since he left the Temple, he feels safe.
---
The next morning, the two of them have a large breakfast courtesy of Bail, and Obi-Wan sees Bail make some eyes at the detective which raises a lot of questions about their relationship. Bail provides the detective a change of clothes which is much nicer than anything the detective owns, and later on, Obi-Wan sees Bail pass the detective a credit chip, which is...
Obi-Wan’s not sure how to feel about the fact that his future self apparently has some kind of...sugar baby arrangement with a Senator. He decides to ignore it--it’s none of his business anyways.
“What do you want to do?” the detective asks Obi-Wan as they leave.
“I want to go back to the Temple.”
Obi-Wan’s thought about it for a while now, ever since he got kidnapped. In the end, the Temple is still his home. His family is still there, even if they’re all so much older than him now. Maybe he isn’t a Padawan anymore and he never will be, but he can still have a good life there, surrounded by people he cares about. One setback isn’t the end of the world--not even one as big as what Obi-Wan did--the detective has proven that much.
The detective smiles. “Okay. We can go there today.”
“But can we wait a little?” Obi-Wan asks. “I just wanna...be with you today.”
The detective doesn’t seem to know how to answer that.
“It would make me happy,” Obi-Wan says.
The detective laughs. “You can’t use that to always get your way, kid.”
Obi-Wan makes big tooka eyes at the detective. “Please?”
“All right,” the detective says. “Just today, and then I’ll take you to the Temple.”
They spend the day in downtown Coruscant, seeing the sights. The detective takes him to a diner that’s run by a very cheerful Besalisk and Obi-Wan gets to eat a nerfburger the size of his head, then they visit one of the many aquariums and Obi-Wan looks at the colorful fish from so many different worlds. Obi-Wan drags the detective into a holo booth and he makes silly faces at the detective’s side. In that tiny little holo reel, the two of them really do look like brothers, and Obi-Wan gets two copies so he can slip one into the detective’s coat pocket when he isn’t looking.
For the first time since he became a Padawan, he feels like a kid in a good way--carefree and not having to worry about anything further than arm’s length. Nobody’s lives are depending on him, nobody’s judging his skills or his knowledge or if he’s making the right decisions. It’s just him and the detective in a city that’s so big and colorful and new.
When the sun goes down, the detective walks Obi-Wan to the Jedi Temple. Obi-Wan holds the detective’s hand tightly, hard enough to feel the hard metal hiding under the detective’s right glove--something else the detective has chosen not to explain.
“This is as far as I can go,” the detective says when they reach the Temple’s threshold. The gates are not even five minutes’ walk away.
“You won’t go with me?” Obi-Wan asks.
“The Force doesn’t work for me the way it works for you,” the detective says. “And it feels like it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to enter the Temple grounds. I’m not a Jedi besides.”
Obi-Wan makes big eyes, but on this, the detective won’t budge.
The detective ruffles his hair. “Sorry, kid.”
Obi-Wan flings his arms around the detective and squeezes him tight. “Thank you,” he says. “Thank you for being there for me. And for looking for me when I ran away. And for--for everything.”
“It’s the least I could do,” the detective says. “I want you to be happy, Obi-Wan. Live a good life, find the people you want to be with, do something that is important to you. Be something better than me.”
“You’re not so bad,” Obi-Wan says. “You’re a good person, still. You helped me and did all those things even though you didn’t have to. You got through all those things that happened to you, and you’re still so kind. That’s important.”
The detective smiles sadly. “I’m glad you think so highly of me.”
“I just wish you weren’t so unhappy,” Obi-Wan says. “Isn’t there anything I can do to help?”
The detective shakes his head. “I made my choices a long time ago. You can’t change any of them. It’s not your job to take care of me, kid. Just look after yourself, okay? That’s all I want.”
Obi-Wan nods. “Okay. I will.”
He stays there for a while longer, clinging to the detective because he doesn’t want the moment to end, but eventually he has to go.
“What if they’re angry with me?” Obi-Wan asks. “What if they don’t want me back?”
“I don’t think that’ll happen,” the detective says. “The Jedi are kind and understanding people, and you were in a situation where you made a choice that was unfair and never should have happened. Maybe you won’t be able to have all the things you wanted, but that doesn’t mean things can’t still be good.”
That all makes sense, but Obi-Wan can’t help but think what if. “You should come with me.”
“The Temple is your home, not mine,” the detective says. “Now, go on. I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you alive and well.”
Obi-Wan takes a deep breath. “Okay,” he says. “Okay, I’m ready.”
“Goodbye, Obi-Wan,” the detective says. “May the Force be with you.”
“Goodbye, Obi-Wan,” Obi-Wan replies, squeezing the detective’s hand one last time. “May the Force be with you always.”
With that, Obi-Wan turns and walks up to the Temple’s gates.
---
Obi-Wan’s appearance causes a bit of a stir in the Temple. And why not? He left the Order seventeen years ago and now he’s here again, still the youngling he was when he left.
He gets questioned by a lot of people who look a lot older than Obi-Wan expected them to. He even meets some of his old friends--namely Quinlan who happens to be on planet--who nearly bursts into tears to see him. He squeezes Obi-Wan tight in his arms just to see that he’s here and alive, gives him his old lightsaber back (and why Quinlan had it in the first place is a question for a later date), and introduces Obi-Wan to Aayla, his new Padawan. Obi-Wan greets her happily while trying not to think about how so much has changed since he last saw Quinlan that he doesn’t really even know him anymore.
He even sees Master Jinn once, who looks like his heart shatters the moment he sets eyes on Obi-Wan. He apologizes for what he did, for having so much pride that he made Obi-Wan make the choice he did, and for never going back. It’s a cold comfort, because he knows from the detective that for all of Master Jinn’s remorse, he never would have gone back.
Master Jinn introduces Obi-Wan to his new Padawan, whose name is Anakin and who is a little bit older than Obi-Wan. He’s got a Force presence like a sun, powerful and blinding, and Obi-Wan supposes he can see why Master Jinn would want a Padawan like that--someone skilled and strong and who isn’t tripping over their own feet.
Anakin looks at him up and down and seems to find him wanting. “Master Qui-Gon is my Master,” he says.
“I know,” Obi-Wan says. He supposes he would feel a little threatened, too, if he’d been a Padawan and his Master’s old Padawan had appeared out of nowhere. Anakin needn’t worry, though, because Obi-Wan’s not a Padawan at all anymore--he’s got no braid or anything.
Anakin nods. “Just so long as that’s clear.”
Obi-Wan decides he does not like Anakin very much. It’s obviously petty--it’s not like it’s Anakin’s fault that Master Jinn chose him, and he’s happy to be there--but Obi-Wan doesn’t like how proprietary Anakin is about Master Jinn, nor how it seems to come out every time Obi-Wan is near him.
Obi-Wan doesn’t like Anakin and that’s okay. There’s plenty of other people in the Temple.
After some very long days, Obi-Wan finds himself in front of the Jedi Council, awaiting their judgement. He’s scared, but it’ll be okay. No matter what happens, he can make something work, and worst case scenario he can probably go talk to Bail again and get some help, not that he expects to need it.
“Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Master Windu says. He has more wrinkles than the last time Obi-Wan saw him, just over three months ago, but he looks as dignified as ever. “We believed you were lost to us forever. Perhaps it’s the Will of the Force that you were able to return to us.”
Obi-Wan doesn’t respond. He still doesn’t know how he came to be here, now, but he doesn’t think it’s very important.
“Between the assumptions we made about your fate and what appears to be time travel, we find ourselves in an unprecedented situation,” Master Windu says. “So I must ask, Kenobi. What do you want to do?”
Obi-Wan takes a deep breath. “I want to be a Jedi Knight, Master.”
“Master Jinn reported that you chose to leave the Order at Melida/Daan because you felt were unable to uphold its principles. Has this changed?” Master Windu asks.
“I...chose to leave the Order because I believed that I could help the war in Melida/Daan,” Obi-Wan says. “I understand that war is not the Jedi way, and that I have done things that I should not have, but I did those things believing they would result in the least harm, and because they were the best choices I had. I still believe in the principles of the Jedi Order, and want to live by them, and if you will welcome me back, I hope to continue my training and become a Knight that the Order can be proud of, Master.”
“Well said, young one,” Master Koon says.
“I understand Master Jinn can no longer be my Master, because he has taken on a new Padawan,” Obi-Wan continues. “But I would like to petition for another Master. I understand I may need a firmer hand of guidance to correct my past mistakes, so I humbly request that Master Windu or another member of the Council takes me on as a Padawan.”
Master Windu’s brows go up. “That’s a bold request.”
“If I am a Councilor’s Padawan, I will be sent on fewer off-world missions,” Obi-Wan explains. “It will reduce the risk that something like what happened at Melida/Daan will happen again, and you will be able to closely monitor my progress. I thought--it’s just...” Obi-Wan swallows nervously. “It made sense to me. I apologize if I overstepped, Masters.”
There’s a long silence as the Council deliberates, then Master Windu lets out a long sigh. “Well, it’s not that I don’t want to take you on as a Padawan...”
Obi-Wan’s heart sinks. He came on too strong--they’ll never let him be a Padawan now.
“But as it turns out, you’re already spoken for,” Master Windu says. “A Knight has already requested to be your Master, if you’ll accept them.”
“A Knight?” Obi-Wan asks. “Who?”
Master Windu gestures to the door, which swings open on cue. There’s a Mon Calamari in Healer’s robes there, and she smiles at Obi-Wan. It’s Bant. She’s so tall now, and she looks good and healthy and strong. She’s grown up into a real Knight, and it makes Obi-Wan’s eyes tear up to think of how much time has passed. Her presence in the Force is steady and warm, like it always was, like the crisp smell of the Room of a Thousand Fountains, and she reaches out to him with joy and relief.
“Obi,” Bant says. Her voice is lower than it used to be, but she still says his name the same way. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my Padawan learner?”
Obi-Wan says yes. Of course he does--there’s nothing else he’s ever wanted more.
---
Obi-Wan spends his first day of being a Padawan for the second time not doing much at all. He helps Bant move into a set of rooms which has a Padawan suite--Obi-Wan himself has nothing to move, of course. He spends the rest of the day shadowing her work in the Halls of Healing and talking to her without words. He tells her about all the things that happened after he went to Melida/Daan, and she tells him about what she had done in the years since his disappearance.
A lot has changed in seventeen years. Master Tahl is dead, for one thing, and all of Obi-Wan’s old friends are Knighted now, or chosen different paths. There’s also a new Chancellor, which makes sense--it has been seventeen years, and politics are hardly going to wait for Obi-Wan’s time travel mishaps.
Bant is a Knight Healer, which means she does most of her work in the Halls of Healing, but also she helps with archival work under Master Nu and coordinates relief work with MedCorps and AgriCorps. It’s good work, and Bant has settled into it like she was born for it. This, at least, is not unexpected--Obi-Wan always knew Bant would find the right place for her. Obi-Wan isn’t sure if this is the place for him, but he’s willing to try.
“You’ll have some off-world missions,” Bant says. “They won’t be like the ones you had with Master Jinn--I mostly work relief missions, like administering vaccines, disaster reconstruction, or evacuations. Some of them, you’ll work with Service Corps members more than you’ll work with me--it’ll be a lot to handle at once, but you’ll pick it up quickly, I know it.
“Other than that, I can teach you about Archivist work or Healing, or if there’s something else you want to learn I can help find a Master who can work with you on that,” Bant says. “I want you to be the best you can be, Obi. Just let me know how I can help.”
Obi-Wan nods. The whole world is open to him now, and he just needs to choose a path. If only it were that easy.
“Obi?” Bant asks. “Is everything okay?”
“You’re so...talented, Bant,” Obi-Wan says. “You know so many things now and you’re so strong and kind and good. I don’t know if I can be like that.”
“You don’t have to be perfect,” Bant says. “All you have to do is try your best, and I know you will, because you always do. I’ve had all these years to learn everything I know now, and I’m still learning. I think it’ll be the same for you, too.”
“Yeah,” Obi-Wan says. “It’s just a lot.”
“It is,” Bant agrees. “But we’ll make it through this together.”
---
A tenday after returning to the Temple, Obi-Wan finally asks the question he’s had ever since he found out who the detective was.
“Why didn’t anyone ever come back for me?”
Bant looks at him, takes a deep breath, and puts her tea down. “We didn’t know how bad it was, Obi. Master Jinn didn’t think you were going to be in the war the way you were, and he thought you would contact us again for help. He didn’t expect that you would fall off the map the way you did.”
“But even if I hadn’t engage in the fighting, it was still a war,” Obi-Wan says. “I wouldn’t have been safe.”
Bant shakes her head. “No, you wouldn’t.” She moves the food around on her plate a bit, then says, “I had dreams after you left for a long time. Dreams of battlefields and blood and death. I tried to tell people about what I saw, but I don’t think anyone ever could have expected that you would...do what you did. You were just a youngling, after all.”
“The war went on for three and a half years after I left,” Obi-Wan says. “Why didn’t anyone at least try to check on me or see what happened?”
“At first, we didn’t know there was anything we had to check on, and after we realized how bad it was, we thought you were dead,” Bant says. “Your bonds all snapped, and we--we thought you were gone. Maybe that’s when you traveled through time.”
That seems like a reasonable assumption, but Obi-Wan remembers the emptiness in the detective’s soul and doesn’t think that’s right at all.
“When did that happen? The bonds snapping?” Obi-Wan asks.
“Just a bit after your fourteenth birthday, I think,” Bant says. “We held a pyre for you--your name is on the memorial.”
Realization floods through Obi-Wan. They...don’t know the detective is alive. They have no idea. All these years, the detective has been drifting through the galaxy, believing the Jedi didn’t want him, and all this time they’ve missed him and let him go because they thought he was dead.
“Bant,” Obi-Wan says tightly. “Bant, I need to tell you something.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“I’m not fourteen yet,” Obi-Wan says. “That thing you felt, that wasn’t me.”
Bant looks at him. “Obi?”
Obi-Wan takes a deep breath. “There’s someone you need to talk to.”
---
“Are you sure this is the right place?” Bant asks as Obi-Wan leads her up the stairs to a small undercity apartment. The two of them look very out of place, but it’s the place they need to be.
“I’m certain,” Obi-Wan says. “Just trust me, okay?”
“I trust you,” Bant says. “But I hope you’re not bothering some random civilian.”
“I’m not,” Obi-Wan replies. He stops in front of the door he remembers and presses the door comm.
There’s a long silence, then static. “Who is it?” the detective asks.
“It’s me,” Obi-Wan says. “Obi-Wan. I have someone you need to talk to.”
There’s a burst of static that is probably a sigh. “Kid. Didn’t I tell you not to get in trouble?”
“No, you told me to look after myself. That’s not the same thing,” Obi-Wan says. “Can you open the door please? It’s important.”
“Fine, just give me a second to make myself presentable,” the detective says, then shuts the door comm off.
Bant glances at Obi-Wan curiously, but doesn’t say anything. She’s patient enough to wait and see what happens.
Soon enough, Obi-Wan hears footsteps inside the apartment, and the door slides open. “All right, here I am,” the detective says. He’s clipped his hair up and put on one of those shirts that Bail probably gave to him--it looks too expensive for the detective’s usual budget. “When I dropped you off at the Temple, I didn’t mean you should come back, and--” He sees Bant and abruptly cuts himself off. There’s an awkward silence as they measure each other up. eventually, the detective seems to gather his thoughts and says, “...I see. Maybe the two of you should come in.”
---
The detective’s apartment looks just like Obi-Wan remembers--small and neat. The detective brews a pot of tea and in the meantime, Bant seems to take it all in, trying to find some meaning in the arrangement of the furniture and the trinkets, like she can unearth the detective’s secrets just by seeing the place where he lives.
Eventually, the tea is finished and the detective pours three mugs for them and pulls up a box to the table to sit down on--he only has two chairs. “All right,” he says. “What do you want from me?”
“Obi-Wan,” Bant says. “You’re...alive?”
“Of course I’m alive,” the detective says. “I’m too stubborn to die.”
“But I thought...with Obi...” Bant glances at Obi-Wan. “So you’ve been out here this whole time? How long have you been in Coruscant?”
The detective shrugs. “About five years now. I was out in the Outer Rim for a while, but I didn’t like how it was going and wanted to come back somewhere more familiar.”
“But you didn’t come to the Temple?” Bant asks.
“Didn’t seem like a good idea,” the detective says. “I’m not a Jedi by any metric anymore, and it didn’t seem like anyone would want me back.”
“Obi, no, that’s not true,” Bant says. “I’ve missed you ever since you left, all those years ago. I used to go up to the spire and look up at the stars and wonder if you were out there, and--” She lets out a long breath. “Obi-Wan. I’m so sorry we abandoned you.”
“It’s a little late to say sorry,” the detective says. “But I’ll accept the apology in the spirit it’s made.”
The two of them talk for a while, and piece by piece, Bant gets the story out of the detective--of the war at Melida/Daan, the crimes he committed in an effort to end the war, trying to come back to the Temple and being sent away by the Force, going to Jedha and then drifting around the galaxy with a notorious bounty hunter before coming back home to Coruscant. Obi-Wan can’t even imagine going through all of that, especially with nobody to support him.
“Don’t tell me to come back to the Temple,” the detective says. “I don’t belong there anymore, and I think it’s best for everyone that I don’t try.”
“Is that what you really want?” Bant asks.
The detective nods. “The way I use the Force now, I don’t think the Temple is good for me anymore, and I don’t want to see all the things I’ve lost. You can’t begrudge me that, can you?”
“If that’s your choice, I’ll respect it,” Bant says. “But you should at least let your friends know you’re alive. Quinlan especially would be thrilled.”
“He has a Padawan now,” Obi-Wan says. “Her name is Aayla and she’s a Twi’lek.”
“They let Quinlan have a Padawan?” the detective asks. “What is the world coming to?”
“Aayla’s a good kid,” Bant says. “Quinlan hasn’t corrupted her, somehow. They’re good for each other.”
The detective’s expression softens. “That’s good to hear. I’m glad everyone’s doing well in my absence.”
Bant frowns. “Obi-Wan...”
“I mean it sincerely,” the detective says. “It would be insane to expect you all to not move on. That’s not the Jedi way, and it’s not a good way to live, either. I’m glad you’re happy, even if I wasn’t there to see it.”
“Oh, Obi,” Bant says, and pulls the detective into a hug. “I missed you. I missed you so much, Obi.”
The detective goes stiff for a second, then relaxes into the hug and wraps his arms around Bant. “I missed you too, Bant. I’m glad you’re doing okay.”
---
Obi-Wan and Bant stay over with the detective for a couple of hours, talking and eating and playing a few rounds of cards where Obi-Wan loses very badly. It’s a good time, but it can only ever be temporary, and eventually they have to leave.
“Wait,” Obi-Wan says. “Can I...talk to him a little bit? Just on my own?”
Bant looks at the detective, then at Obi-Wan, and nods. “Okay. But don’t take too long--we’ve already taken enough of his time.”
Obi-Wan nods and goes back into the apartment, where the detective is washing dishes.
“Why are you back in here? Did you forget something?” the detective asks.
“I wanted to talk to you,” Obi-Wan says.
The detective runs a dish under the sink, then puts it on the drying rack. “Well, we’re both here. Say whatever you want to say.”
“I think you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself,” Obi-Wan says. “I think you should forgive yourself a little more, and not feel so guilty about all the things that happened when you were in an unfair situation.”
“You want me to forgive myself for killing people?” the detective asks. “That’s not a very Jedi-like thing to do.”
“I get the feeling that you’re so unhappy because you’re...not the best version of you you could be, because you left the Order and aren’t a Jedi and can’t be a Jedi,” Obi-Wan says. “And because you’re lonely, and nobody was there for you, and you had to go through all those really hard things on your own.”
“I’m not the best version of you,” the detective says. “I’m not even the second or third or fourth best versions of you, because I decided to throw everything away when things got hard.”
“You’re the alive version of me,” Obi-Wan says. “And maybe it could have ended up better, but you’re here now and you’re still trying to be good and that matters a lot.”
The detective doesn’t answer right away. He scrubs the last dish and rinses it off, his expression as flat as it ever is. He sets it aside and shuts the faucet off. “Obi-Wan. I don’t need you to absolve me of what I did. That’s not your job.”
Obi-Wan balls up his fists. It feels like he’s talking to a wall--the detective won’t open up even the slightest amount. “Why--Why do you feel like you need absolution at all? Why do you feel so guilty about me? You are me.”
“I’m not,” the detective says. “I’m not, because sixteen years ago in a hellhole of a battlefield, I killed you. I killed you, an innocent youngling who was trying to do his best to help people because I was desperate and didn’t see any better way out but to get rid of everything that made me me. I ripped the Force out of my chest, I went back on all my vows, and I murdered you so I could live, and sometimes it feels like the only reason I’m still alive is so that your sacrifice isn’t wasted. If I could take it back, I would, because you deserve so much better than to become someone like me.”
Obi-Wan takes a deep breath. He doesn’t know what to say to that--what can he say to that? The detective isn’t what Obi-Wan ever wished to be, but he’s still so strong and kind and trying so hard to keep everything together, and it hurts to think that the detective would trade his existence for Obi-Wan’s in a heartbeat.
“I don’t--I don’t know what circumstances you were in,” Obi-Wan says. “Or the choices you had to make, or if you made the right or wrong ones. But if I...if I gave my life for you...I wouldn’t want you to beat yourself up for it forever. I would want you to be happy.”
The detective looks at him a long moment, then turns away and rubs his eyes. “Obi-Wan,” he says, and he sounds a bit choked. “You shouldn’t have come back here, much less brought back a Jedi. Just go home and forget about me. It’ll be easier for everyone that way.”
“I brought Bant here because you deserved to know,” Obi-Wan says. “The Temple didn’t abandon you because they didn’t want you--they thought you were dead, and didn’t know they could do anything.”
“Their reasons don’t change that they weren’t there for me when I needed them,” the detective says. “And now they’re not a part of my life at all.”
“But you still deserve to know,” Obi-Wan says. “They still love you. Even Master Jinn, who made all those mistakes when he didn’t go back, he’s sorry for what happened.”
“I don’t need or want his apologies. I spent years hating Master Jinn--and years getting over it,” the detective replies. “I don’t need to rip those wounds back open.”
Obi-Wan looks at him. He can’t read the detective’s expression at all, and his presence in the Force is just as ghostly as ever. “So you don’t want to go back to your family at all?”
“I don’t have a family,” the detective says, and that hurts. “You know what I’ve done, you know what’s happened to me. You know as well as I do that I can’t be a Jedi anymore. I know you want to help, Obi-Wan, but there’s nothing you can do. Let it go.”
But Obi-Wan can’t let it go. Not now, not like this. He steps up to the detective and hugs him tightly around the waist. “Maybe you aren’t a Jedi anymore and you never will be again,” he says. “And maybe you don’t have a family anymore. But you can have a new one. I’ll be your family, and Bant too, and probably a lot of other people.”
“Obi-Wan...”
“I know it’s...hard for you to ask for help, because you don’t know how,” Obi-Wan says.
“You shouldn’t use my words against me. That’s not fair.”
“So this is me telling you you’re not alone anymore. Because I’m here for you,” Obi-Wan says. “And maybe it’s not my job to make you stop being unhappy, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be with you, because I like you, Obi-Wan. I forgive you. Even if you’re not who you wanted to be, I’m glad you’re here and alive and that I was able to meet you.”
The detective sets a hand on Obi-Wan’s shoulder. “Well, you were always a better person than me.”
Obi-Wan headbutts the detective in the chest. “Don’t talk like that.”
The detective pushes Obi-Wan away. “You should go. Bant’s waiting for you.”
“Promise me you’ll take care of yourself,” Obi-Wan says. “Because I’m gonna come see you again, and I’ll be really sad if you get hurt or something happens to you.”
“You can’t emotionally blackmail me for everything,” the detective says.
“Will you promise?”
The detective looks at him, then sighs. “I have a dangerous job, you know.” Then, at Obi-Wan’s mulish look, he adds, “But okay. I promise I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you,” Obi-Wan says. He gives the detective another quick hug, then goes to the door.
“And Obi-Wan?” the detective calls out.
“Yeah?”
“If you’re going to bring a Jedi to my apartment again, can you comm ahead first?”
Obi-Wan grins. “Yeah, I’ll do that next time. I’ll see you then!”
The detective waves him goodbye, and Obi-Wan goes out into the hall where Bant is waiting for him.
“Is everything okay?” she asks.
“I think so,” Obi-Wan says.
“I’m worried about him,” Bant says as they head back down the stairs. “He’s so sad, I don’t even know how he stands it.”
“He is,” Obi-Wan agrees. “But I think he’ll get better. We’re here, and we’ll help him.”
Obi-Wan will never be able to understand what the detective went through, and that’s probably a good thing. All those years he suffered, all those trials he endured, the marks they’ve left on the detective will never go away. He’s carried so much guilt and remorse and anger over the years, mourning his own death and his own innocence, and Obi-Wan can’t change any of that, but he can make it better. The detective won’t have to face all those things alone anymore.
That much, Obi-Wan can be certain of.
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So someone just left some tags on a post I reblogged about Kanera stating that if Kanan and Hera had been able to get together in a world that still had a Jedi Order and a Republic in it, that their relationship would've been considered a political scandal. Why, though? What would MAKE it a political scandal?
Of the two genuine romantic relationships between a Jedi and a non-Jedi that we know of in high canon, BOTH involve someone who is actively a political leader of their planet or system (Satine as Duchess of Mandalore and Padme as Senator for Naboo's system). The part that makes it a political scandal is the POLITICIAN part, not necessarily the Jedi part. And even that is not necessarily that big of a deal on the Jedi's end since clearly Mace and Yoda, two very veteran Council members, are very much aware that Anakin is at least sleeping with Padme if not in a romantic relationship with her and make zero attempt at trying to talk him out of it or even force him to admit to it. Obi-Wan is the singular person to do something like that and he only does so when he can tell Anakin is literally starting to fly off the handle with rage.
All Obi-Wan ever says is that the feelings are natural and we know via Lucas that the Jedi are not celibate, so it seems as though the Jedi ARE allowed to act on their feelings to some degree so long as the relationship remains somewhat casual. The Jedi can't really commit fully to any romantic relationship and the person they're in that relationship with would have to be willing to accept whatever that ended up looking like for them. I imagine the reason the Jedi DON'T end up in relationships very often, especially with people outside of the Order, is because most people who are looking for romantic relationships are simultaneously looking for a commitment that the Jedi just aren't offering. So it's easier to just bow out of the entire relationship and let it remain completely platonic than to try to work something out that isn't really meeting the other person's needs and guaranteed to go badly down the line.
Which leads us to Kanan and Hera. There's no real reason Kanan COULDN'T act on his feelings for Hera so long as they kept it relatively casual so that Kanan wasn't breaking any vows. And Hera's not a politician or a leader of any kind. Even Cham doesn't appear to be a real political leader, he's chosen to lead a small local rebellion, sure, but he explicitly never actually runs for any kind of political office the way Orn Free Taa seems terrified of. We never hear him given any title but General to my knowledge, so even though the Syndullas are clearly WEALTHY just based on their house, I'm not sure if he's actually considered a local political leader, a mayor or a governor of some kind. There's certainly no discussion of Hera taking over that responsibility within Rebels, a responsibility she would've abandoned when she left Ryloth. So I don't see that there would be any actual political scandal within their relationship since Hera's family just isn't politically important enough for there to BE a scandal.
Jedi having relationships isn't a political scandal in and of itself, it just isn't. Nobody in the Republic gives enough of a shit for that to be true.
#star wars#jedi#jedi order#kanan jarrus#caleb dume#hera syndulla#kanera#pro jedi#pro jedi order#jedi appreciation#jedi culture appreciation#jedi order appreciation
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Qui-Gon Jinn: Certified Hypocrite, Fascinating Failure, Mass of Contradictions
For starters, I am just going to let direct quotes from the man speak for itself.
Some excerpts from Master & Apprentice
Wise words.
Wait a minute...
😯😯 What the hell is happening here? All quotes are from the same man in one book.
Qui-Gon Jinn doesn't have an ounce of self-awareness and it is so hilariously terrible.
What is even better (or worse), this is perfectly in line with The Phantom Menace characterization .
I mean,
Remember when he said all this than spent the rest of the movie obsessing over prophecies, the chosen one and literally the future?
"He still has so much to learn of the living force." Qui-Gon Jinn about Obi-Wan in the council scene
After that scene
"The boy is dangerous. They all sense it why can't you?" Obi-Wan Kenobi about Anakin Skywalker to Qui-Gon Jinn
You see Obi-Wan, Master Jinn here has completely lost any sense of "here and now" between his crusade against darkness and divine mission to save the Galaxy.
This in turn, unsurprisingly blinds him to the fact Anakin is not suitable to become a Jedi. Or at least not ready to directly move on to becoming a padawan.
Anakin himself would suffer in a road that is not meant for him. But he is not planning for Anakin the child. He is thinking about The Glorious Chose One.
He is the chosen one. You all must, see it.
And yet from Qui-Gon's perspective it is Obi-Wan who doesn't understand the Living Force.
I have to say if he is truly a student of the living force as many fans claim he has been failing the class for at least 8 years.
Let's move on to another set of entertaining and horrifyingly oblivious quotes from M&A.
If you look upward you can observe Mr. Here and Now in his natural habitat.
He really acts like future is set in stone than thinks he is the right person to talk about about concentrating in the moment. Unbelievable.
Let's look at this dialogue again. In contrast with the excerpt from above.
He is all about the future when it suits him. But when Obi-Wan makes a remark on it he obviously should just focus on the moment. This is actually the third time in this post where he contradicts himself while specifically chastising or criticizing Obi-Wan for something Qui-Gon actually does.
Now I don't think Qui-Gon acts with malice. But it is important to point out his obliviousness has become a way of ensuring he is never in the wrong.
He suffers from an immense hubris. And a man obsessed with prophecies and chosen ones definitely has some kind of savior complex.
But notably Jinn doesn't actually want to put any effort into enacting real change with his limited yet existent capabilities.
He turns down a council seat in M&A because he thinks it would hold him down. From what? Dear God, the reason they offered him a seat was for different opinions. Qui-Gon can complain all he wants but one time he actually had a chance to make his opinions a reality he freaking bailed.
Why? He doesn't want to face his own limits. He can't bare to try and fail. It is much easier to sustain a superiority complex when you are complaining from the sidewalk.
So he fixates all this belief onto prophecies, visions that will magically cure the Galaxy. And of course his place to help fulfill them. To the point where it is the one thing that keeps him standing.
He has binded meaning of his life and belief for goodness dangerously close to his supposed importance in the Galaxy. (You can feel the influences of his former master)
His absolute refusal to engage with reality turns him into mass of contradictions. Cause he doesn't know what he will find or become if he is mistaken in his belief of himself.
He can't face reinvention on the event of defeat.
But this situation was different. It had to be, because the only thing Qui-Gon knew to be absolutely true was that his vision was real.
Oh by the way, it turned out he misunderstood the vision. But when does being wrong ever stopped Qui-Gon Jinn?
No words.
Only Qui-Gon could have come near declaring himself a prophet after making a mistake. Maybe stop and reflect man? Just stop and think about your actions.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: I have a bad feeling about this.
Qui-Gon Jinn: I don't sense anything.
Of course you don't.
Honestly he doesn't have much to speak for in the cosmic force department either.
(There is the whole force ghost thing I guess. But I have no idea if that is more connected with living or cosmic force. It seems to be more about spiritual enlightenment. Which is ridiculous when you consider Yoda had go through so many trials, face his darkside, learn to truly let go just for Force priestesses to deem him worthy enough to study immortality. Yes Qui-Gon never became a force ghost but he had started his training before he died. And much of Yoda's tests on TCW was about self-awareness. It is not just about being a good person. How did Force Priestesses approve Qui-Gon "I was meant to misinterpret this vision." Jinn? I would understand if he became wiser after death and faced his flaws and all but he never was on that level before he died. You might say even Anakin became a force ghost. But I would remind you, Anakin in the end broke out of denial, acknowledged the wrong of his ways and took that leap to the light side. Self-awareness seems such an important key to becoming a force ghost. Right there with selflessness. Personally it doesn't quite feel right for a character whose biggest flaws are their lack of introspection and hubris which we never see him rise above to be the one that discovers immortality again. It feels more like a rushed plot point to explain how we get from A to B.)
This post got out of control 😂. I honestly just wanted to point out lack of communication might be one of the reasons Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon have trouble understanding each other but it is sometimes even harder to understand Qui-Gon when he actually says something. Cause ration is not what drives him.
Qui-Gon is such a complex character. He is undeniably good especially compared to other SW characters. Yet for all fandom's deifying he might be the most flawed Jedi we see on the franchise. (The ones that fell to the dark side not included.)
It is a shame wider fandom completely write off his flaws to the degree I can't even recognize the character when they talk about Jinn. Cause that Qui-Gon is so hard to feel empathy for.
When people constantly make statements like "He is The Wisest sw character." his hypocrisy stops being amusing. It doesn't end on screen or page instead often used to bash other characters.
An unbelievable analysis from Wookiepedia:
When Jinn saved the Gungan exile Jar Jar Binks, who in turn swore a life-debt to him, his compassionate nature was such that Jinn took the hapless Gungan under his wing, much to Kenobi's dismay. His empathy toward all life forms, including the most pitiful and unfortunate, was Jinn's greatest strength. Additionally, he remained understanding and patient with Queen Padmé Amidala. During the short time they knew each other, he never asked for her to do more than she was willing to.
You know out of the two, Qui-Gon was the one who insulted Jar Jar to his face. And he didn't took Jar Jar under his wing. They forced him to take them to a city where Jar Jar could have been punished for entering. Now it was the pragmatic thing to do. For all three's survival not for their own gain. Understandable. But compassion is just pushing it.
Also he never asked Padme to do more than she was willing to do?
Padmé : Are you sure about this? Trusting our fate to a boy we hardly know? The Queen will not approve.
Qui-Gon Jinn : The Queen does not need to know.
Padmé : Well, I don't approve.
And he is aware she is the queen, herself. Padme was nearly tearing out her because of this man in TPM.
What is weird, Jinn in his bewildering hypocrisy probably thinks he is being admirably compassionate with Jar Jar, highly understanding and patient with Padme. We clearly see he is not.
Out of universe he has been a force ghost for decades now but fandom is nowhere near acknowledging his flaws than he is.
And honestly SW doesn't have that many major morally complex characters. People like Maul, Palpatine, Anakin,Ventress don't think they are serving a higher purpose or oblivious to the evils they commit.
Emotionally complicated, yes. Going through moral dilemmas, no.
Three major characters come to mind who make huge mistakes, condone or commit atrocities while thinking they are in the right/with good intentions/for a greater cause. With varying degrees of culpability.
Qui-Gon. Padme. Dooku.
In that order.
Let these characters be interesting instead of demonizing nearly inhumanly selfless Jedi characters. (They make mistakes too but funnily enough they are still way better beings than most people on our planet.)
By the way I found the epitaph "Fascinating Failure" from the article here. Especially the last paragraphs make some interesting points. ⬇️
👀
This post might seem harsh but that is expected since it focuses on Qui-Gon's flaws.
"People are more than their worst act,” Quote from Qui-Gon Jinn in Master & Apprentice
#qui gon jinn#Qui-Gon Jinn#obi wan kenobi#Obi-Wan Kenobi#meta#character analysis#pro jedi#in defense of the jedi#long post
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If you're up up to it, how about obikin and 42?
yes!!! Prompt 42 is Star-Crossed Lovers, but star-crossed lovers are soooooo out now. 'Crossed the stars to be lovers' is IN, baby!!
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Someone has left a letter on his bunk. Obi-Wan as a rule doesn’t get letters. Actually, as a rule, Obi-Wan has never wanted to receive a letter in his entire life. They all have datapads for a reason, and it’s because they’ve evolved past the need for flimsi and ink when there are means at their disposal to deliver messages near instantly.
So no, Obi-Wan has never wanted to see a letter sitting on his bunk. He finds the whole thing rather trying, actually, the Flimsi Friends program the Jedi Order established fifty standard years ago in an attempt to connect their Jedi with others across the branches through letters. Obi-Wan had scorned the idea as an Initiate living comfortably in the Temple on Coruscant, and his opinion hadn’t really changed once he began his tenure at the AgriCorps.
Kabre notices before anyone else. “Oh, hey! Obi-Wan’s got a letter.”
“Finally,” Aldran grins, craning his neck from where he’s collapsed on his bunk. “We only signed you up months ago.”
“Really, you shouldn’t have,” Obi-Wan says. “Really.”
“Oh, come now, little Obi,” Kabre pats him on the head. Obi-Wan is twenty-five and of a perfectly average height, but Kabre is close to three heads taller than him and of an indeterminable age. “Think of it as an opportunity to strengthen your connection to the living Force.”
“Through the Flimsi Friends program,” Obi-Wan deadpans, raising an eyebrow up at his peer.
“Getting letters from Susa is the highlight of my week,” Aldran tells the ceiling dreamily.
Obi-Wan shares a commiserating eyeroll with Kabre. “That’s because you’re in love with her.”
“Who wouldn’t be? She’s so sweet and kind and pretty and she has all these stories from her adventures in the ExploraCorps--”
“Alright, who got him talking about Susa?” Lathrum asks from the door, sighing in exasperation as he makes his way over to his own bunk. “It’ll be a standard day before he’s done.”
“Hey!” Aldran gasps, offended and already close to sulking. “Whatever. Fine. Everyone’s just jealous that Susa and I are in love because y’all are never going to find something nearly as good as we have.”
“Obi-Wan finally got a letter from the program,” Kabre announces to Lathrum. “We were just saying that he should at least try to be excited.”
“Yes, perhaps you’ll meet your own Susa,” Lathrum smirks, peeling off his dirt-covered tunic. His next words come out muffled. “Force help us if that happens.”
“No need to worry,” Obi-Wan says dryly, picking up the letter and studying it. “They appear to be a youngling.”
“A youngling wrote you?” Kabre asks, barely restrained glee in his deep baritone.
Aldran guffaws from his bunk. “Well now you have to write back!”
“Knowing your luck, it’s probably a youngling from the Jedi Temple,” Lathrum says. “Dear Obi-Wan, Today someone chose me to be their Padawan and I’m one step closer to being a Jedi Knight. How are your plants doing?”
“Yes, alright,” Obi-Wan shakes his head, smiling slightly. He had met Lathrum when he was fourteen and still bitterly disappointed about his new position at the AgriCorps, and Lathrum has never let him forget it even after all these years.
He sits down on his mattress and pulls out the letter. It’s short at least. The handwriting is atrocious but the spelling is worse.
Dear Obi-Wan,
Hi! My name is Anakin Skywalker. I am nine years old. How are you doing today? My master says I have to write this to practice my spelling. I think not everyone can learn Basic, but he says I have to and that all Jedi masters know how. I didn’t ever know there was all this stuff I have to do to be a Jedi. I’ve been here for weeks now and I still don’t have my lightsaber!
I think the temple is really weird. It’s so big and cold. I miss my friends back home. Me and Kitster would go crazy exploring this place but no one here wants to play with me. Master Jinn says not to worry and I’m not! The temple is just really big and I’m cold all the time and I miss my mom. Master Jinn found me on Tatooine and took me here to make me a Jedi which is great, but everyone here already knows each other and I don’t think they like me much. I know the Jedi Council doesn’t. They didn’t even want to train me but Master Jinn inzi--incis--said he would.
Do you want to be friends?
Would you explore the temple with me?
Write back soon please,
Anakin
“Well?” Kabre asks, when Obi-Wan finishes silently reading the letter.
Obi-Wan sighs and rubs a hand over the jagged penmanship. It’s all too obvious that this Anakin Skywalker is...painfully young, churlish and childish and achingly lonely.
Obi-Wan sighs again, harder, as he looks up at his bunkmates. “Where do we keep the blasted flimsi?”
---
Dear Anakin,
Thank you for your letter, it was very nice to read. My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi, and I’m 25 years old. I hope you are settling in at the Temple better by the time this letter finds you. I have to admit I was very surprised to hear that you are nine years old and have been allowed to train to be a Jedi. That’s unheard of. I’m sure you’ll be an excellent Jedi. There must have been a reason your master chose you. The Force wills it and it will be.
It is understandable to miss your mother and your old home. When I became a member of the AgriCorps, I spent the first few months missing the Jedi temple on Coruscant a lot. It was the only home I ever had. But we make others as we go. The Temple is big and I suppose very cold compared to a desert planet--I looked up Tatooine here and there wasn’t much information, but I could never live somewhere with two suns! I’d be burned to a crisp in a matter of hours.
The upside to the Temple being big is that there are a lot of hiding spots and footholds for climbing. Try the pillars in the entrance hall. They connect to each other. My friends and I would run around on top of them for hours, although I think that was mostly because we were too scared to get down. You should ask Knight Eerin about it, or Knight Vos. They’re usually in the Mess Hall if not the Halls of Healing.
I’m sure Master Jinn has you busy with meditation and classes, but I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best,
Obi-Wan Kenobi
---
Dear Obi-Wan,
I was really excited to get your letter! I didn’t know it would take so long but it’s been ages! So much stuff has happened. I finally finished my remedial classes and Master says we can focus more time of katas now! I can’t wait to learn how to fight! And Master Windu smiled at me the other day when he saw me in the hall because Master told him about my grades!
I asked Knight Eerin about you and she showed me some pictures she had on her datapad of you when you lived at the Temple. You look really pretty cool! I have blond hair and blue eyes if you were wondering. My mom always said she thought I was going to be really tall. What do you look like now? What do you do at the AgriCorps? Why did you leave the Temple? Knight Eerin says you need to give her a comm call soon. She didn’t sound very happy.
I made a friend! Knight Vos’ padawan was there when I talked to him about what you told me, and she came with me to go exploring! She’s so cool. She’s been helping me with my katas too.
Apparently I won’t get my lightsaber for years! That’s so long!
Anyway I have to go and do my reading now but please write back faster this time, Obi-Wan!
--Ani
----
Obi-Wan never reacts quite as happily and dramatically as Aldrin does when he sees a letter from Anakin on his bunk in the evenings, but over the years everyone learns not to disturb Obi-Wan on those nights.
The first letter Obi-Wan receives from Anakin after the boy turns eighteen includes his commlink frequency hastily crammed at the bottom of the page. If you want, Anakin has scribbled.
“Finally,” Obi-Wan jokes when the line connects and Anakin answers breathlessly. “No offense to you, dear one, and you have come quite a ways since you were a youngling, but your handwriting is still atrocious. I’d much rather talk to you like this than try to puzzle out what you’ve written.”
Anakin splutters and then stutters out in a voice slower and deeper than Obi-Wan had expected, “I didn’t know you had an accent, Obi-Wan.”
Obi-Wan finds that he likes that voice saying his name in that way.
That’s the first sign of trouble.
----
Anakin sends a photo of his knighting ceremony. Obi-Wan wants to cry with pride. His friends tease him about it relentlessly. “You look like I did the day I married Susa,” Aldrin crows and takes a picture of Obi-Wan’s blushing, laughing face. Later, Obi-Wan reluctantly sends it to Anakin.
“I’m jealous of your friends,” Anakin confesses with an exhale of static. “They get to see you everyday.”
“Oh, Anakin,” Obi-Wan says, unable to say more. Unable to admit that he’s thought the same thing about Anakin’s master at the Temple. Unable to deny it though.
They move onto safer topics, ones that make Obi-Wan’s chest feel less tight.
----
“Jedi Knights are forbidden to have romantic attachments,” Kabre tells him apropos of nothing one late evening when they’re leaning against the railings of their cabin.
Obi-Wan doesn’t even try to pretend to not know what his friend is talking about. Anakin is twenty-three now. They call each other as often as possible, whenever they have enough free time. Thinking about Anakin, somewhere out in the galaxy, makes Obi-Wan feel dangerous things. Dangerous, insidious, illogical things.
“Yes,” he agrees.
“Everything you’ve ever told me about this boy makes me think he’s in love with you,” Kabre says. “And the way you tell it makes me think you’re in love with him too.”
“Kabre, I…”
“I’m not asking you to deny it to me, Obi-Wan. You don’t need to defend yourself. You know no one cares if you’ve gone and fallen in love with your flimsi friend. It happens. And Force knows there’s no way you could be more insufferable than Aldrin and Susa.”
“He’s a Jedi Knight, Kabre,” Obi-Wan looks away, off over the fields. “I know what that means.”
----
When Anakin is twenty-four, Obi-Wan walks into his room to see a letter on his pillow. He blinks in surprise. He hasn’t gotten a letter since they petered out in favor of comm calls with Anakin.
But he’d recognize that handwriting anywhere.
He sits down to read it.
Dear Obi-Wan,
I find myself growing weary of Knighthood. I love my Padawan, I love the missions, I love the fighting. But I love something else more. I have for almost as long as I can remember.
I’ve been looking through the old letters from you. I’ve kept them all. I know Jedi should not have material attachments, but I found that I could no more throw them away than give my lightsaber to a Sith. They make up our story.
You were the first friend I ever had at the Temple. I don’t quite think you realized that then, and you may not even realize it now. But you were. I would get a letter from you and feel warm for weeks afterwards.
Actually, everything I love about the Temple and the Jedi you gave to me. My friends now, indirectly. All the hiding spots. Moving meditation.
When I got my kyber crystal, I wanted to tell you before anyone else. When my Padawan braid was cut, I gave it to my master, but wished I had something I could give to you too.
That was the day I really admitted to myself that you already have all of me.
Obi-Wan, I’m in love with you. I love you more every time we talk. Disengaging the comms at the end of the night hurts like losing my hand all over again. I love you, I love you.
And I have been a coward about it for too many years. I was afraid that you would reject me, think me too rash and young and foolish. But I know what I want. You told me in one of your letters that you believed I lived off of a single-minded desire to achieve my goals and that I would let nothing stand in the way.
I do not plan on starting now, if you will have me that is. I dream of nothing more than to feel your hands on my face, to listen to the sound of your heart beating in your chest.
I will not disrespect the ways of the Jedi by loving you quietly, when I know you are my deepest, strongest attachment. One that I will not shake, even if I lived to be as old as Master Yoda himself.
If you find that you feel the same way, I will leave the Jedi Order tomorrow and meet you on Bandomeer. If you do not, then I understand and will never speak of this again. I am something of an expert after all these years of loving you silently from afar.
Yours sincerely, yours always, yours completely,
Anakin
Obi-Wan traces the words with a shaking hand. He doesn’t know he’s crying until a tear falls onto the flimsi. Oh, Anakin. Oh, his brave, foolish Anakin.
Will he really be so selfish as to allow Anakin to leave his Knighthood for him? His padawan, his home?
But the knowledge that Anakin loves him is a heady, addictive feeling. Obi-Wan has never truly gotten the things he wants. He loves his life now, of course. But he hadn’t wanted it.
And he loves Anakin.
He loves him terribly.
He reaches for a piece of flimsi and a pen.
----
Anakin will be the first to admit he’s been in a foul mood for a few standard weeks now. He’d sent that letter to Obi-Wan--Force, why had he sent that letter to Obi-Wan, obviously the man will never want to talk to him again now--and then immediately Ahsoka and him had been called in for a mission.
It had been awful and disgusting. Anakin is covered in mud from head to toe, and his padawan doesn’t look any better. And worst of all, he had had no time at all to comm Obi-Wan. No time at all to see how the man had taken his confession. It feels like he’s been holding his breath for days.
But he’s at the Temple now. He can clean himself off and call Obi-Wan incessantly until the man answers. Anakin can’t keep living like this.
“Letter for you, Master,” Ahsoka says as he enters their quarters. She’d been sent ahead while Anakin had finished docking the ship, and now she’s sitting at the table perfectly clean.
Anakin thinks his heart stops at these words and then it starts beating as fast as it ever has before. “Where?”
“I put it on your bed,” Ahsoka peers up at him with a furrowed brow. “Are you okay, Skyguy? You look a bit--”
But Anakin’s gone, already tearing into his room. There on the bedspread is a letter. Obi-Wan’s written him a letter.
Anakin has to try opening it three times before he finally gets his fingers to cooperate. It’s very short.
Dearest One, Obi-Wan has written.
I’ll meet you here tomorrow on Bandomeer. I will be waiting.
Forever yours,
Obi-Wan
Anakin smiles and feels like he could cry or sing or dance or scream from all the joy that’s welled up in his chest at this small handful of words Obi-Wan has given him. They’re everything and more.
Mindful of the mud on his person, he puts the letter gently on his bed and walks back out to the common area. Ahsoka is right where he left her.
“Okay, now you just look scary,” she says, pointing a fork at him. “Stop smiling like that.”
Anakin lets his grin die. He won’t relish this next part, but it’s for Obi-Wan. It’s so he can be with Obi-Wan. It's necessary. “Snips,” he says, sitting down opposite her. “We need to talk.”
#asks#prompt fill#i could literally write like 20k of this tbh#i had a few more letters planned but i knew i needed to hurry it up#anyway#sw#obikin#this is also as usual highly unedited all mistakes are artistic and actually great
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The Jedi
Obi-Wan Kenobi x Reader
Rating: 18+
Word Count: 4.8k
Summary: (Direct sequel to this maul x reader fic) After the events of the day you have to reconcile what happened with your master. Obi-Wan for a change expresses himself through actions instead of words
Warnings: Master and Padawan relationship (Padawan is of age and I never write with the thought that the master has known them for a long time or since they were not of age), mentions of bruises and bite marks, Fem reader, oral (fem recieving), piv sex, unprotected sex, creampie, inappropriate use of the force
Masterlist -- Tags (send an ask or message me if you’d like to be added): @fishswimbetterunderwater @a-dorin @blxwjobsforclones @lynnie51 @katrynec @mistermiraclee @theelvenvalkyrie @crazycatladyjenga @stonegoldsecret-v2 @blackirisposts
You paced around the room aimlessly as you waited for your master to show up, nothing to distract you from your thoughts. You tried to squash down the fear inside you for what lay ahead not wanting to add to your already long list of un-Jedi like behavior from that day. When the sudden noise of a second set of footsteps joined yours you froze. The sounds grew to a thunderous level in your head before silence fell through the room, your back was to the entrance and a pit formed in your gut as you slowly turned around. Obi-Wan stood there in his usual attire, looking as composed as ever and yet as his cerulean eyes took in your form you felt yourself tremble under his gaze. You were the first to break the silence with a quiet, "I'm sorry," not knowing what else to say.
Obi-Wan shifted and took an audible inhale, the breath catching in his chest before he could say anything. His exhale was equally as loud as he shook his head, looking away briefly, your heart was in your stomach as you felt tears gather in your eyes. When his gaze turned back to you he noticeably softened as he called out to you, "Oh no, none of that. Come here darling."
His arms opened and in seconds you were across the room slamming into him and pulling him close to you. Obi-Wan returned your tight embrace one hand coming to grasp the back of your head firmly as he pressed a kiss to the top of your head, his other arm firmly wrapped around your waist. You weren't even aware that you were crying until you gasped for air and Obi pulled away enough that he could cup your face softly. His thumb brushed away your tears as his eyes roamed your face, "It's alright, I'm here, it's ok."
You bit your lip as you took deep breaths mimicking his breathing in an attempt to calm yourself. Once you had stopped your tears Obi-Wan offered you a toothy smile and your eyes darted to his mouth before locking eyes with him.
"You aren't angry with me?" You questioned hesitantly, almost afraid to hear the answer. Obi's countenance darkened for just a second, you would have missed it if you did not know him so well, before switching back to a more neutral look - though he couldn't hide the relief in his eyes.
"No little one, I'm not angry with you. I am relieved that Maul didn't hurt or kill you...I don't know what I would have done." Obi-Wan's admission came a surprise to you, though it was obvious the both of you cared about each other a great deal it wasn't a fact the two of you often discussed. Especially when your feelings for him ran far deeper than a simple master and padawan bond should. You offered Obi-Wan a small smile as he continued, "We can deal with what happened here later, for now let's get you back to the ship."
His words gave you pause as you remembered the whole reason for being on-planet in the first place, for a moment you panicked as you gasped out, "The troopers!"
Obi once again soothed you, his hand slipping down your spine to rub gently at your back, "They're fine, they contacted me when you didn't make contact with them and they all have been picked up and are back on the capital ship. I had come down myself with a few men to look for you when you..."
Trailing off Obi-Wan abruptly pulled away from you, his face red, as he cleared his throat and straightened up, nodding towards the door, "Like I said we can discuss that later. Why don't we go back to the ship for now."
The speeder ride back to the troopers was silent and awkward, as was the ride back to the main ship. Obi was quick to escort you back to your quarters and away from prying ears, something which you were immensely grateful for. When you entered your room there was another spot of silence until both of you were speaking at once, “I don’t know how it happened and I-”
“You moaned my name. Twice.” Obi-Wan’s words intercut with yours and you froze as your brain processed what he was saying. Eyes wide you sputtered for a moment until you managed to spit out a lame, “Yes.”
You could see Obi-Wan’s cheeks reddening through his well groomed beard and you felt your own face heating as well. Looking down at the ground you mumbled, “I did. I- when I heard your voice all I could think about was you and I....”
Trailing off you really hoped he understood what you were going for and didn’t ask you to elaborate. A surprised little ‘oh’ left Obi-Wan’s mouth before he cleared his throat and questioned, “Have you thought about...you and I before those moments?”
You were sure his question was innocent, there was no way Obi-Wan felt the same way you did. He had never shown any outward interest - always the picture perfect Master, however you felt shame rising in you at the sheer amount of times you had thought about Obi in that light. You nodded and heard Obi-Wan take a deep breath before letting out a long sigh, it was then that it all became too much. You didn’t want to hear his rejection of you and you didn’t want to hear another lecture about the ways of the order, and you especially didn’t want to have to talk about having fucked your Master’s worst enemy. Instead you glanced at Obi-Wan muttering, ‘I need a shower,’ and fleeing to the bathroom.
The mirror was finally defogging from your extremely long and probably too hot, but much needed, shower. You stared at your appearance in the mirror, fingers brushing over the faint bruises blossoming on your hips, only just noticeable, before you tugged your underwear up. The room was hot from your near scalding shower but you pulled a spare undershirt over your body anyway. Your fingers lingered on your neck, 3 large marks decorating the skin there and you sighed lightly. The shirt did little to conceal the marks and so you tugged on the robe you had thrown on the floor earlier, pulling it tight around your body. A knock on the door startled you from your thoughts and you responded with a short “Come in.”
Attempting to find something to busy yourself with you found yourself picking at imaginary dirt from under your fingernails. Obi-Wan’s call of your name had your eyes darting to meet his in the mirror. Your breath hitched at his face etched with worry.
“Are you sure your alright little one? I-I know you said you were alright but it would make me feel better if I could check you for injuries myself.”
Your eyes hardened for just a second, fully prepared to say no, but the pure desperation you found in his eyes had you giving in. Giving him a short nod you whispered, “go ahead,” so quietly Obi-Wan nearly missed it. Looking down at the floor you slowly turned to face him, his hands landed on your arms trailing down to lace fingers with you. A soft squeeze had you finally glancing up to meet Obi’s eyes. Though just moments ago looking him in the eye had seemed terrifying now that your gaze locked with his it was the only thing convincing you that everything was going to be alright.
You were the one who unclasped your robe, shrugging it off your shoulders and allowing it to fall to the ground again. Obi-Wan’s breathing stuttered as he caught a glimpse of your neck, his fingers immediately hovering over the marks almost touching them. His hands dropped quickly as he seemingly realized they were made by Maul’s mouth and a displeased look covered his face. Obi’s eyes trailed down your body and his hands settled on the hem of your shirt. When you gave him a slight nod his palms began sliding up your shirt baring your upper thighs to him, once the shirt made it over your hips he paused. Blue eyes picked up on the faint marks on your hips and his fingers brushed over your left side causing a small hiccup in your breathing as your face heated at his tender touch. Obi-Wan’s eyes darted to your face and he whispered out, “Does that hurt little one?”
You nodded and Obi-Wan started to bend down as if he was going to examine it further until you spoke, “It’s not necessarily the bad kind of hurt though. It’s uh, more just sore.”
You offered, not wanting him to trouble himself over something so insignificant. However Obi-Wan continued his path downwards and as he settled on his knees in front of you a teasing glint entered his eyes as he questioned, “So, you don’t want me to kiss it better?”
Your jaw dropped at his brazen words, face burning hot as a squeak escaped you. Swallowing deeply you glanced down at your master while he stared expectantly up at you, waiting for a response. You nodded again though all that earned you was a slight head tilt and you pouted lightly realizing that you would actually have to admit what you wanted. Taking a deep breath your hand reached over to cup his cheek, fingers brushing through his scruff lightly as you breathily requested, “Kiss it better, please Obi-Wan.”
Your words came out a bit more sensually than you had planned but with the way Obi-Wan’s eyes darkened you couldn’t find it in you to care. Obi’s eyes trailed back down to his target, a spot just above where your panties ended, and suddenly he was pressing forward and placing a hot open mouthed kiss the the bruised area. A gasp flew from you as Obi-Wan suckled lightly at the affected area, sending a pleasurable shiver down your spine. His tongue lapped gently in between sucking and experimentally he nipped at the area causing a startled yelp to fill the room. As Obi-Wan made his way down the area, beard scratching at your stomach and leaving your hips to buck unconsciously, his hands slid to your ass - groping firmly. His mouth made its way to hover just over your clothed and absolutely soaked pussy. Taking a moment Obi-Wan looked up at you once again as he cooed out, “And what about here, darling? Are you sore here too?”
Truth be told you were sore from the thorough fucking that you had received from the former sith lord but there was a part of you that was aching for this so strongly that you couldn't hold back any longer. Gliding your hands to your panties you grasped the edges and pulled them off, muttering sweetly, “I bet you could make my cunt feel so much better Obi-Wan, it’s aching for you.”
Obi audibly choked at your words, his hands settling on your thigh as he guided your legs open and exposed your slick swollen lips to him. A low groan slid from his throat as he took in just how soaked you were for him and you caught the way his tongue darted out to wet his lips. Moments later it was you who was letting out a groan as Obi-Wan flattened his tongue and licked a broad stroke up your lips, catching on your clit and causing your legs to tremble. Repeating the motion Obi took in your taste, your freshly bathed scent, everything about you that he could take in he did - desperate for every part of you. As he repeated the long lick a third time his hands squeezed your thighs gently and before you knew it Obi-Wan was diving in, lapping and sucking at your clit like a man starved. You cried out, partially in surprise partially in pleasure, and your hand buried in his hair as bliss shot through your body.
Your hips canted towards him unconsciously, enraptured with the pleasure you were receiving and delighting in the way his scruff rubbed against you. The way you continually ground against his face along with the perfect little whimpers and whines you were causing Obi-Wan to harden, cock swelling with need, desperate for you. As he continued his ministrations one of his hands left your thigh to grasp at his aching length over his pants, needing some form of contact. When his hand left you, curiously you had looked down and you could immediately tell what was going on.
Your breath hitched and though Obi had worked you up so close to reaching your peak you decided there was another place you’d rather cum. Reaching down you tugged lightly on his hair urging him away from your dripping lips with a cry of his name to draw his attention to you. His dazed expression almost tipped you right over the edge - his beard and lips glistening with your juices, the way his tongue darted out to clean his lips, and the way he stared up at you like you held all the stars in the galaxy. A breathless smile covered your face as you guided Obi to stand again and crashing your lips together once again. His arms were wrapped around you in and instant, pulling you close as if he were worried you would disappear. You could taste your tang on his lips and on his tongue when you parted your lips for him, the taste combined with his causing you to whimper into his mouth. When you finally broke apart with a soft moan you trailed your hand down to stroke his cock as you pleaded, “Please fuck me, Obi.”
A deep pleased rumble left Obi-Wan’s chest and he captured your hand to tug you out of the bathroom to the small bed within your quarters. Sitting down on the bed he tugged you onto his lap, legs on either side of his thighs and your cunt just barely brushing his bulge. Obi kissed you soft and sweet this time while your hands made quick work of undoing his breeches to tug his thick length out. As you hands brushed against his cock Obi-Wan let out a strangle sort of groan as his head jerked back, eyes squeezing shut for just a moment. His reaction had your lips parting before curving into a soft smirk and you ran your fingers up and down the length of his rigid dick, eyes watching his reactions intently wanting to commit each one to memory. After a particularly needy gasp of your name you took mercy on your master and lined his tip up with your entrance, your hips brushed back and forth slightly, coating his tip in your juices before you sank down onto him. The first few inches took your breath away and you could tell Obi-Wan was feeling it too as his hands landed firmly on your hips. You let out a small hiss as his hands squeezed over the bruised areas and quickly he relocated his hands to your waist with an apology. Your hands landed on his shoulders and you gave them a squeeze as you whispered out, “It’s alright Obi-Wan.”
Taking a few deep breaths you raised yourself up slightly before sinking back down onto the hard cock below you, taking a little more of him into you each time you repeated the motion. When you felt like you could take him all you allowed yourself to sit hard on his length and he bottomed out deep within you. Your walls fluttered hard around him as you nuzzled into his neck, smothering the moans that flew from your mouth. Obi’s hands tightened as he breathed out your name and swearing seconds later when you clamped down on him. As you adjusted to the feeling you slowly started to grind your hips against his, whimpering while his cock brushed up against your most sensitive spots. Gasps filled the air as both of you took in the pleasure and you leaned back in order to start bouncing on Obi-Wan’s length.
Your Master guided you, using his hands to help you keep your rhythm, and this time he was burying his face in your neck. He left light kisses and gentle nips over the areas where Maul’s teeth had bruised, soft and gentle where Maul was rough. Obi-Wan didn’t seek to mark you as his only to soothe and comfort, he hoped to let you know that it was alright and that he still loved you despite what had happened. His softness had your walls clenching at every brush of his beard and every time his lips touched your neck, it was all so overwhelming you found you were barely able to keep your pace. Obi-Wan must have sensed your struggle as he lifted you off of him, despite your protests, in order to lay you down on the bed below him. Settling in front of you he lined back up with your entrance while your legs wrapped around his hips - urging him forward. A light laugh filled the air as Obi-Wan smiled down at you and teasingly chided, “Patience, little one.”
You couldn’t help the pout that covered your lips until Obi-Wan leaned forward to kiss it away. You giggled softly against his lips, unable to stay annoyed with him especially when he was kissing your thoughts away. His hand that wasn’t holding his weight found the edge of your shirt and slid under it, forging a path up your stomach and sternum before settling on your breasts. Gasping as Obi-Wan’s lithe fingers tweaked at your nipple he took the opportunity to slip his tongue into your mouth while you arched your back below him. In the midst of this Obi’s hips finally relented and his cock prodded at your entrance before you reached down to angle him properly so as he shifted forward his cock pushed into your depths.
Your cunt clenched around his tip desperate for more and Obi-Wan was happy to oblige, pressing forwards as he he broke apart from your lips to sit up straight. His hips thrust forward the rest of the way until his hips were flush with yours and you were both sighing in pleasure. You whimpered under him and bucked your hips with a soft cry of his name, Obi-Wan smiled down at you as his hips dragged backwards. The slow pull of his cock against your sensitive entrance had you whining below him as your hips chased after his only to loudly cry out when his hips snapped forward again. He repeated these slow drags and quick thrusts for several long minutes until you were writhing beneath him, babbling and pleading for more. Obi-Wan teased until a cry of, “Master, Please!”, left your lips and he finally caved.
Your words had him growling out your name as his hips sped up to a steady rhythm, the sounds of him dicking you down filling the air. His grip on your waist tightened slightly as his cock pounded away and you were shocked by the fast pace he had set. You had expected Obi-Wan to want to take things slow but after all the buildup it seemed he was as desperate for you as you were for him. His grip on your waist had pulled your shirt tight against your body showing off the way your tits bounced on every thrust into your slick cunt. Obi’s eyes were trained on them and his hips sped up as he adjusted his grip, one hand fisting your shirt to keep it tight while his other grabbed one of your tits. Squeezing softly he ran his thumb over your peak, quickly finding your nipple and rolling it between two fingers, causing it to stiffen and for a squeak to fly from your lips. Your hand shot down to your clit as a deep thrust hit something that had you seeing stars and your orgasm fast approached while Obi toyed with your nipples. Panting your fingers rubbed tight circles on your clit until both your arms were wrenched over your head and pinned there by unseen hands. Obi-Wan’s use of the force had your walls tightening around him as he growled out, “Let me take care of you little one.”
His hand which had been wrapped in your shirt slid down your tummy to find your clit, mimicking you movements and rubbing in tight circles that had you crying out for more. Your hips bucked in time with his thrusts as his cock slammed into you over and over. You were so close to tipping over the edge and your eyes met Obi-Wan's as you simpered out, “Obi, please I’m so close. I need you Obi.”
Shifting his weight his pace slowed as his arm slid under your body to grasp at the back of your neck and he leaned down, his chest pressing into yours as his lips captured yours. His adjusted position allowed him to press deeper into your tight cunt, once again brushing up against your g-spot and hitting it consistently on each thrust. He swallowed down your cries as you tipped over the edge, pussy spasming and clenching around his length, his fingers working you through the orgasm. Your chest expanded as you wiggled below him, pressing the two of you together impossibly close, and you whined into his mouth as his fingers continued toying with your clit, prolonging your pleasure. Muttering a protest against his lips at the overstimulation you were silenced by him pulling back just enough to whisper, “It’s alright darling, I have you. You can give me one more, I know you can do it my good girl.”
His words sent a heavy aftershock through your body and your walls fluttered much to Obi-Wan’s delight as he let out a light moan. His slow, sensual pace continued and your cunt squeezed constantly around his length as the stimulation on your little bundle of nerves got to be too much. Your hands clenched, fingers digging into your palm, as you attempted to smother your noises as they grew in both frequency and volume the closer you got to your second orgasm. As Obi slammed into you particularly hard you couldn’t hold back the blissed out noise that slipped between your lips as your eyes unfocused for a brief moment. Obi-Wan repeated the motion causing the same reaction as you lost yourself in the pleasure, Obi grunting as you clamped down on him.
“You like that little one? Want me to fuck you like that until you cum for me darling?” He questioned, continuing the same motion and increasing his speed without waiting for a response. Though it was just as well since you were fairly incapable of responding to him as your eyes glazed over and you cried his name out as you were swept up in your second release. As if determined to blind you with pleasure Obi’s fingers sped up against your clit, rubbing furiously and causing your whole body to tighten - spiraling higher and higher until it was all too much and your body went limp. You felt a rush of liquid as you gushed around his thick cock and the obscene squelching noise that filled the air as your Master fucked you through your orgasm caused an embarrassed moan to escape you. The slick tickled at your clit and soaked his fingers, which he finally removed from your aching nub, and you whimpered when you felt it slide down your asshole to land on the bed. At the feeling your weak cunt clenched and Obi thrust a few more times, until he stilled deep within you as he reached his own peak. His cum shot out in ribbons, painting your walls and filling you up more than you thought possible. As he came inside you up his grip on your hands through the force faltered and your arms were free, instantly clinging to his shoulders as soon as you realized you could move, tugging him to you for a soft kiss.
The two of you lay together for a long moment, him nuzzling into your neck and you laying there thoroughly exhausted as you stroked his hair gently, arms still wrapped around his shoulder. Obi-Wan was the first to move with a regretful groan as he separated from your heat, you flinched as he withdrew and for the second time in 24 standard hours you felt cum sliding from your sated pussy. A whimper left you but you were far to exhausted to do anything about it, not even noticing that Obi-Wan had disappeared to grab a warm damp cloth along with a meal bar and water. Having removed his outer layers he came back with just his undershirt and underwear on as he knelt by the edge of the bed. Tenderly he moved your legs so he could clean up the mess of your combined cum in slow gentle strokes. When he was finished he helped you sit up in order to eat and drink, sliding back onto the bed behind you and his arms winding around you waist. You eased back into him with a contented sigh and he accepted your glass and trash, laying them on the floor, when you were finished. The two of you maneuvered until you were comfortable, Obi-Wan laying on his back with an arm tugging you close while you used his chest as a pillow and pressed yourself to his side. After all the recent events your brain was running a mile a minute and yet you could barely keep your eyes open. Drowsily you went to ask Obi-Wan a question but all you got out was his name before your eyes fluttered shut. That last thing you heard before drifting off was, “Just rest now sweet little one, I’ll be here when you wake.”
It was dark. Pitch black, and yet someone else was there - you could sense them. Cautiously spinning around you attempted to peer through the darkness to no avail. Your hand reached unconsciously for your lightsaber only to find it missing and you tensed. Finally something broke the silence, a recognizable deep angry low growl that sent a shiver down your spine.
“You’ve been very bad my little Jedi. Such a little slut you let your Master fuck you not even a day after I did. Do you really have such a greedy cunt?” The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time and you spun trying to locate him. You could feel your annoyance at the Sith build as he refused to show himself until you froze as his golden eyes glowed at you in the darkness. You had to bite back a whimper as he stalked towards you, a mix of arousal and anger filling you. His voice echoed towards you, reverberating off of nothing in a way that had you quivering, “Don’t worry my little whore, the next time I see you...I’ll make sure you get what you need.”
In a sudden flurry of movement he was inches from you, his hand pulling your head back harshly as his teeth bared in a fierce scowl, “I’ll have to remind you that you belong to me.”
A yelp flew from your lips at the unexpected closeness and suddenly you were shooting forward, sitting up quickly. Blinking blearily you tried to regain your bearings as you looked around for Maul frantically. It wasn't until a sleep filled call of your name met your ears that you convinced yourself it was just a dream. Obi-Wan’s hand met your spine as he called to you again and you turned to meet his furrowed brow and concerned blue eyes. Smiling you nodded with a whisper of, “Just a bad dream, that’s all.”, before you allowed him to pull you back down to him. Nuzzling into his chest you allowed yourself to relax as you repeated softly, “It was just a dream. Just a dream.”
Maul’s piercing yellow gaze bore into the ceiling above his bed. A smirk tugged at his lips, he had never planned on fucking you again - figuring he would use you against Kenobi the next time he found you, and then disposing of you. But now? Now that he knew your Master had feelings for you it was going to be so much more delicious to ruin you for him. He groaned as he felt his cock twitch as recalled all the depraved things you and he had done last time before thinking of all the things he was going to do to you the next time he found you. Maul’s eyes slid shut as his hand wrapped around his aching length, for now he’d just have to be content with his own imagination.
#Obi-wan Kenobi X Reader#obi-wan kenobi x you#obi-wan kenobi x y/n#obi-wan kenobi smut#obi-wan kenobi fanfiction#maul x reader#maul x you#maul x y/n#darth maul x reader#star wars fanfiction#star wars smut#reader insert smut#fem!reader#obi wan x reader#obi wan x you#obi wan x y/n#darth maul x you#darth maul x y/n
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Clone Wars Character on TikTok
Anakin- Poor Anakin, man does not have a that many creative ideas, but his life and ideas are strange enough that he gets a lot of followers easily. He’s also almost constantly videoing things too, so he’s able to get real time. There are so so many videos showing the reactions that Obi-Wan has because of his dumbass plans.
Everyone, literally everyone, thought he was an f-boy until he made a post, super confused, saying that he has a wife?? That he loves so much? So, coincidentally, the next videos he posts are him and his wife, who doesn’t show her face but there’s a poll going on about who it is. Most people have figured it, though, because some of his videos are him just listening to Mrs. Skywalker rant about people in the Senate when she comes home to him.
He also tries to convince everyone that he’s the best husband in the world by videoing himself cooking her dinner, which he always burns. In those videos, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, staples on Anakin’s account, are heard in the background giving him absolutely terrible advice on how to fix it. They usually end up with burnt pans and a whole bunch of frantic clips of Obi-Wan trying to turn off the oven, “My dear, your time is up.” And Anakin in the background “Force, that’s not going to kriffing work, Master. I’m coming in with the water gun.” (No one questions why there’s a water gun.) Ahsoka is just….chilling in the background. She’s just as clueless as the rest of them, but it’s funnier to watch them almost burn down Padame’s kitchen before she tries to step in and make things worse.
Ahsoka-Her feed is a more controlled chaos than Anakin’s, but chaos nonetheless. She does a lot of dance challenges with Fives, and is sometimes able to rope in Anakin, who tries really hard but is terrible at it, and Rex, who doesn’t actually dance and just stands there staring at the camera. There was one time she got Obi-Wan to do it with her, and he absolutely crushed it. All that grace has to help him somewhere else, right? Because she does dance videos, though, sometimes she get inappropriate comments or duets, which Rex, Obi-Wan, Plo, Fives, and Anakin all duet or make a video about explaining that she’s a minor and how unacceptable this is. Well, that’s what every but Rex does. Rex won’t let anyone, anyone, talk to his little sister like that, so he makes a super menacing video of him cleaning his guns.
Needless to say, she does a lot of videos with Rex. They do a lot of random videos of their conversations and pointless arguments. They also do so a lot of competitions with each other, rather it’s staring contests or sparring matches. Their sparring match videos are actually super popular, and they get more and more intense and complicated as they go on. There are never any weapons involved, but they get to show off combat skills and have huge fights across the ship or compound. Their usually filmed by a hysterical Anakin or Fives. Obi-Wan has made his disapproval clear, but there’s a video on Ahsoka’s account of him betting on the outcome.
Obi-Wan- Mostly on Cottagecore TikTok and posts aesthetic videos of him meditating, making fancy, pretty tea drinks, or any other mundane thing he does. He also posts self-defense videos to teach people how to protect themselves, and gives tips of how to use the force and how to help meditate. I think he posts once a week, but posts a bunch at one time because he’ll have one day of silence where he can get stuff for himself done. Basically, his account is to comfort people, to help people, in perfect Obi-Wan fashion.
He also posts encouraging videos to cheer people up when they need it. Cute messages like “Today’s going to be a good day” with that award winning Negotiator smile that get galaxy wide comments and duets. Sometimes the messages border on him illegally sharing decisions that the Senate’s made, like when he announced on his feed that a certain Planet should get ready to party because a certain vote had gone a certain way.
Sometimes, though, he posts videos of Ahsoka, Anakin, or Cody doing incredibly stupid things. It’s become a series, he shows the person do or say the stupidest things, and then he zooms in on someone else’s face. The most common duo is Anakin and Rex, but sometimes there’s Waxer and Cody, once or twice, Obi-Wan and Cody.
Rex- He doesn’t post a lot, and when he does he’s usually not really in them. People only know him specifically because he’s in so many of Ahsoka’s videos. His are mostly “the stuff I have to deal with videos” showing petty fights between some of the 501st or some animal that a soldier decided they wanted to sneak into the ship. That, of course, lead to a blowup on his account, so he started posting lots of content with his brothers. Ahsoka has the notion that he’s doing it to help the way people see Clones, but he does seem to enjoy it a lot.
He, like Obi-Wan, posts hand to hand combat training video to help people in the galaxy, put his training to more use. He makes sure to show how to hold your first in a punch, how to safely clean a blaster, how to take a punch. Some of his posts are to teach people about clones and mando’a traditions. But he’s not all serious. He likes making videos of him and his brothers when they go out to do things for fun or they go out to 79’s.
This one might be a bit far fetched, but I think he would also post videos of him and Ahsoka doing mundane things together, repainting their armour, making bracelets or some stuff on the floors of the bunks during hyperspace. It’s calmer than what Ahsoka posts, and purposely so.
Fives-Oh man. Fives’ account is a wreck. Half of the videos are him running away from something he’s done and the other half are him running into things that he shouldn’t about to be doing. Shakily filmed, someone (usually himself) screaming in the background, you can hear him panting and out of breath. A lot of the times Anakin is with him or chasing after him, and as you can almost always hear Rex cursing and yelling at them to stop, especially if they haven’t done the thing yet because that means they have a plan. When Fives has a plan it ends up being worse than when he makes it up on the spot. 
He also posts videos of him giving people in the streets compliments, because he’s sweet like that. He usually gets pretty funny reactions most of the time, and the few times they’re bad reactions he simply flips the camera and grimaces, then, of course, starts laughing because he’s not going to let one person put him down.
He also has a series of him painting the Bi flag all over the ship and waiting to see people’s reactions. The cutest was that one time Ahsoka walked past and ran her fingers along it softly and smiling. Also notable was the time Obi-Wan caught him midway through and just pretended he didn’t see him. All of those are posted with the persons permission, of course.
Aayla and Bly- They share an account where they do ALL of the couple-y stuff. Any couples challenge that they’re asked to do, they do. It’s hard to do the challenges like “You could’ve been nicer to me today” because they’re both on it all the time and have definitely heard of it, but they make do with all kinds of others. Aayla and Bly are definitely one of those couples that adopts all the kids that follow their account, and they’re ready to fight anyone who says anything bad the Clones or the Jedi.
There’s also a large amount of videos that some of the 327th takes of them cuddling together, training together, polishing weapons together. Basically, their account is them being cute and the rest of the 327th either being incredibly supportive of them or gagging at all the PDA. They start a trend where they go up in front of random people around the ship and start making out to get the reaction. Some examples of the best reactions are franticly running outside of the room, slapping Bly across the back of the head, and wild cheering.
Cody: You’re kidding, right? He does not have time to do the TikTok, nor does he understand TikTok at all. He is in most of Obi-Wan’s videos, and he’s sometimes in Rex’s too. Most of the time he’s telling all of them not to do whatever they’re about to do, or he’s sitting on the floor and crying with Rex.
Anakin actually started making videos called “When you see your dad and your other dad be romantic.” Where it’s just him finding Obi-Wan and Cody doing cute things in random places, followed by Anakin or Ahsoka making faces at the camera.
Plo- Parent side of TikTok for sure. His account features so many, so many, videos of him doing fun things with the 104th. He may seem like an extremely serious man, but put him with all of his kids and has almost no impulse control. They ask to stop at that restaurant they saw on the way to their mission, and he makes it happen. Everyone pretends not to notice because they wouldn’t dare go against him.
This account is also mostly run by everyone in the 104th because A. Plo doesn’t have a password and B. That’s how they get a bunch of footage. The phone is passed around throughout the day, but all of the content focuses on the Plo’s Bros relationships. Anything that he does, from giving a shiny a thumbs up when he comes up with a new plan, to teaching some of the older clones who are a little overworked how to take deep breaths. All the followers also a learn the Plo is absolutely terrible at any kind of card games, which is shown when they post video after video of the bets he looses.
Next for Star Wars I’ll be doing Bad Batch, then, because this got so long, I’ll do one with some more characters! Sorry it’s so long, this ran away from me a bit.
Some clone wars beautiful mutuals @radbatch (Who is the absolute best person to talk to about Ahsoka ever period end of story) of course and @maiseey (Who is now my my mutual? How?)
#bad batch is the next sw one I’m doing#this went…..a lot longer than I though it would be#then I have the rest of the characters lined up cause this got long#clone wars#anakin skywalker#clone wars anakin#the clone wars#ahsoka tano hcs#ahsoka tano#ahsoka tano is not straight lol#obi wan#obi wan kenobi#obi wan clone wars#clone wars obi wan#Tiktok#clone wars hc#clone wars headcanons#captain rex#commander rex#nxvna writing
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Alright, let's talk about attachment
I can’t find clear information on when exactly the non-attachment rule was added to the code. It was either soon before or soon after the great sith war. Either way, for the VAST majority of the existence of the Jedi, it wasn’t a thing. Jedi got married and had families for over 20000 years, then added the non-attachment rule, which ultimately led to their destruction. And before anyone tries to tell me I believe they deserved to be genocided, I don’t. I have never actually seen anyone say that, but I see people argue against it constantly, and imply anyone who doesn’t think the Jedi were perfect and blameless thinks that. I don’t think they deserved to die, I think they needed to change. And Yoda says that himself, many times. The Jedi weren’t prepared for the return of the sith, or the war. They had separated from the military 1000 years before, and the galaxy was in relative peace all this time, so the order’s role changed to one that worked very well with their rules. Detachment meant they could be impartial when overseeing political disagreements, lack of possessions meant they would be focused on the mission at hand and not prone to taking bribes, and distancing themselves from the general population meant they were more or less uniform, and could be trusted not to side with someone for personal reasons.
All of this falls apart once they become an army again. Impartiality is a flaw when they have to defend one side at all cost and not even allow themselves to consider compromise. Lack of possessions and attachment to people means they are prone to taking unnecessary risks, because they have nothing to lose, and do things like send 14 year olds into battle, thinking of the “greater good” over the safety of children. And the order being a monolith, with set rules and philosophy distinct from the rest of the population meant the Jedi trusted Dooku long after they should have stopped, because he used to be a Jedi after all, surely he still follows the code.
Now, I am not saying non-attachment is always bad, I think it served a very specific purpose in the order, and to some extent worked for many years. However.
Humans are a social species. Human babies NEED physical contact and affection to develop physically. Children need a stable, strong, and supportive relationship to their caregiver to properly develop psychologically. And after last year I don’t think anyone will argue that adults don't need connection with other people just as much. And not just shallow interactions, but open affection and love. Love of any kind, because claiming that the Jedi only forbid romantic love is just untrue. I think people tend to forget that "Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is essential to a Jedi's life. So you might say, that we are encouraged to love." isn’t the actual doctrine, it’s a literal pick up line that Anakin uses on Padme.
Ahsoka and Obi-Wan both get criticized by other Jedi for their entirely platonic attachment to Anakin, and vice versa. Now, humans are the most common species in the galaxy, and in the Jedi order. Many other species are near-human, so it’s safe to assume at least some, if not most of them also need that companionship and affection to develop and live happy and stable lives. I do believe that non-attachment is a valid philosophy and chosen path in life if done carefully and within reason, I just don’t think we have a single major character that actually applies to. And chosen is an important word here. Jedi don’t get much of a choice. I’m not trying to start the baby-stealing debate here. I hear the argument of ‘force sensitives are dangerous if left untrained, and said training should start as early as possible’. I think finding a way to deal with that problem was an insanely complicated decision, and taking children into the temple as young as possible is not a bad solution. I don’t entirely agree with not letting them see their families later, (especially since in legends Obi-Wan was allowed to visit his family, which implies Anakin couldn’t go free his mother specifically because he was already too attached), but the idea is sound. I do also understand that no one is forcing Jedi to stay in the order and they can leave for whatever reason at any time. But that isn’t exactly a free choice either. Leaving the order means leaving the only home you remember, the only people you know to make your own way in the galaxy, and staying with those people means you can never fully love them. It’s a difficult solution to a complicated question, and for the most part, it worked (not always, and not exactly as intended, but I’ll come back to that.) Children grew up in the order, were trained to control themselves and the force, and became Jedi who were impartial, patient, and balanced. But everything falls apart when you introduce someone who wasn’t raised in the temple.
In The Rising Force, 13 year old Obi-Wan had barely been off Coruscant in his life. He describes himself as sheltered and unaware of all the pain in the galaxy, and says it was done on purpose, so younglings wouldn’t have to face the dark side before they were ready for it. But Anakin had seen nothing but darkness, pain and injustice before he joined the order. He was severely traumatized, and while the temple might have had some ways of dealing with trauma and PTSD in adults, they had no experience in treating the same in a child, because their children were kept safe and protected. The idea of letting go of your pain and fear only works if you know you have a safe place to come back to, if you’ve spent the first decade or so of your life in the most protected place in the galaxy. Anakin spent the first decade of his life as a slave. He couldn’t let go of his fear, because fear was what kept him alive. Fear is not irrational if you are constantly in danger, it’s what protects you, keeps you aware of the limits you can push before you get punished. And that mindset doesn’t fade just because you’re out of that situation, especially if your only family, the closest person to you, is still facing that danger every day.
I’ve seen people use every excuse possible to explain why Anakin didn’t see his mother again to avoid blaming the council, including, and I shit you not, “He just didn’t have her comm number”. But to me that seems disingenuous, when we see in his first meeting with the council that they already consider him too attached. It's one of the main reasons they don’t want him to be trained, so it seems logical that they wouldn’t allow him to see her once he became a padawan. I also want to mention that what Yoda says, “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” Is just… blatant catastrophizing. Right? Like we can all see that the escalation is not rational there at all. Maybe it could apply to something else, but not to a child who just left his mother for the first time in his life and went from a tiny dustball in the middle of nowhere to the most populated planet in the galaxy, and is now being tested by a bunch of old people with the power to decide his future. Obviously he’s afraid, and obviously he’s not dealing with it the way Jedi younglings do. That, in and of itself doesn't doom him to fall. Also what Yoda misses there is that suffering leads to fear. This is a closed loop, and one that has defined Anakin’s entire childhood.
Let’s come back to how the system doesn’t always work. The way I see it, most of the characters we see are attached. Obi-Wan is considered one of the greatest Jedi of his time. Windu describes him as “our most cunning and insightful Master—and our most tenacious”. And yet, he was not insightful enough to look past his love for Anakin, his attachment, and see how close to falling he was. Ahsoka was so attached to Anakin she refused to listen to Maul on Mandalore, refused to even consider the posibility he could fall. She was arguably the person with the best shot at preventing the empire forming at that point, and she loved anakin so much she doomed him and the entire galaxy. Aayla admitted to thinking of Quinlan as her father, and also, apparently in legends had a long relationship with Kit. Even Mace didn’t follow the code when he decided to kill Palpatine, which directly led to his death and the empire. He also indirectly caused the war to start. According to wookiepedia “Windu viewed Dooku as the shatterpoint of the entire Separatist movement, which meant striking Dooku down would theoretically end the imminent clone war before it even began. However, Windu's prior attachments to Dooku clouded his judgment.” I’m not even going to mention Kanan and Ezra, who are obviously family.
So basically everyone is attached and lying about it. How has no one thought that maybe this isn’t the healthiest way to live and tried to change the code? Well, I have a theory, and it’s Yoda. He was 900 years old when he died, and was on the council for the vast majority of his life. I can’t find when exactly he became grand master, but it’s safe to assume he held some degree of power over the entire order for most of a millennium. At the end of TPM he tells Obi-Wan “Confer on you the level of Jedi knight, the council does. But agree with your taking this boy as your padawan learner, I do not.” Then he reverses that decision by himself. So either he has the power to veto the council’s word, or who gets trained is entirely up to him. Either way, not great, considering his lifespan is so much longer than most Jedi, and therefore his approach to life is vastly different. Humans need love and closeness to live. However, while we don’t know much about Yoda’s species, it probably isn’t a social one. You could count all the characters of this species on two (human) hands, and Yoda lived in complete isolation for 20 years on Dagobah, and only went a little bit insane. They are naturally rare, and therefore probably lead solitary lives in nature. Moreover, Yoda outlived every master who trained him, and almost every padawan he trained himself, (there’s a great post about that here) so even if he wasn’t naturally predisposed to non-attachment, he would have had to learn it to deal with all the loss he had to live through over the years.
A lot of people think that Anakin fell because he had attachments, which is not true. He fell because of how his attachments played out and/or ended. The most obvious example being Palpatine, who used Anakin’s trust and friendship to groom him for over a decade and actively undermine Anakin’s trust towards anyone else, especially the order. (more on that here). Obi-Wan refused to take on the role of a father figure that Anakin tried to shove him into, so he turned to someone who did accept it. It’s not Anakin’s fault that it turned out to be the worst person alive, nor can we expect him to notice when he’s known Palpatine since he was a child. Another failure of jedi non-attachment, because a loving parent or guardian would not let their child be used as a bargaining chip when the most powerful politician in the galaxy blackmailed the order into allowing him to meet Anakin regularly, but a distant teacher and detached knight thinking of the greater good might. The other attachments Anakin had were taken from him (Shmi and Ahsoka, the last orchestrated by Palpatine who was fully ready to give her the death penalty to make Anakin more unstable), or he was forced to lie and hide them, compromising his vows as a Jedi (Padme) or refused to choose Anakin over the order/their principles (Obi-Wan, and again Ahsoka, and to some extent Padme, but he’d already fallen then). All these people had every right to make the choices they made, but it wasn’t the act of loving them that made Anakin turn to the dark side, it was how those attachments played out.
I think everyone agrees that Yoda is as detached as a Jedi should, if not can, be, and that didn’t prevent Dooku from falling. We see that explored in more detail with Barriss and Luminara. Luminara is detached and distant, she’s fond of Barriss, but their relationship is not familial in the slightest, and she repeatedly shows her willingness to put the greater good and the mission before Barriss’ safety and even life. And yet Barriss still falls. A complex combination of events and choices caused each of those characters to fall, not the simple presence or absence of attachment.
And lastly, just as attachment can make you unstable if your relationship with that person is unstable, it can also make you stronger. There is a reason Anakin and Obi-Wan were the face of the army. Not only did their obvious attachment (the strongest between two jedi we are shown) make them more relatable to the public, but they, when working as a team, are shown repeatedly to be more or less undefeatable. They spend half of aotc flinging themselves off great heights because they know the other will be there to catch them. They know from years of experience that they have backup and they know each other well enough (or force bond communicate) that they can trust the other will be where he needs to be to help/save them. Contrast that to how Windu and Palpatine fight in rots once the window breaks- very carefully, clearly holding back to keep themselves safe. Neither of them has backup until Anakin arrives, but until the last second they can't be sure which one he will choose. Anakin and Obi-Wan fight the same way on Mustafar, especially when balancing on that thin bridge. No acrobatics, swinging arms to keep balance, keeping their distance, being almost uncharacteristically careful compared to how they treated heights in aotc, in tcw, and on the invisible hand in rots, because they both know the other won't catch them if they fall this time.
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