#NOT MARA AND LIGHT HOPE IN THE BACKGROUND

[mimdecisive]

I had fun making that one background so I made a couple more.

#spop #she ra #castaspella #glimmer #adora #mara #light hope #catra #Scorpia #perfuma #Frosta #marahope #scorfuma #catradora #bow #huntara #maralight #swift wind #backgrounds #edits

[theprincessofpowerremake]

no one asked, but here we go:

.

every spop-centered AU i have so far ( most of them are not public and just live in my brain or in some discord chat )

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Virtues Universe - A universe that centers around Adora and Catra's ( positive ) sisterly relationship, Catra joining the Rebellion alongside her sister. Includes Adonnie and Catfuma ( Adora x Lonnie, Catra x Perfuma ) and Adora becoming a Rebellion Leader before becoming She-Ra ( in s2 ). I think this is the one AU I have where Catra isn't a bad person, lol.

Her Heart Universe - A universe where Adora is an alien on Earth, and is in the care of Mara and Razz. Includes learning values, social struggles, and episodic stories turning into a serialized "we gotta get our shit together or die" story.

Two Suns Universe - A universe where the key sibling relationship is Adora and Kyle, rather than Adora and Catra. Includes loving siblings, redemption arcs, Crimson Waste Kyle, and Kyle x Rogelio x Bow. Lots of Kyle love.

The Wilted Flower Universe - A universe where Adora's 'dead' ( bc Catra ), but her spirit resides, and She-Ra has taken over her form, desperate to keep her wielder alive. Includes a lot of violence, arguing, and blood, as She-Ra is unhinged in this universe and I love it. Not self-cest or a She-Ra x Adora AU, don't be weird.

Pearl Of The Sea Universe - A universe where Adora is a mermaid and Entrapta finds her in her boss' lab. Includes lovers to enemies to ??? ( entrapdak ), found family, and typical corrupted workforce.

Until It Ends Universe - A universe where Adora suffers from amnesia, She-Ra is an unknown entity, and the only thing she remembers is the Sword of Protection and is meant to serve it and its legacy. Includes folklore, forming friendships, ??? to enemies ( catra ), and discovering lost memories. Inspired by BOTW.

Ready To Go Universe - A modern universe where Adora and co use social media to boost their cafe's reputation. Includes Angella being Adora's mother figure, long distance relationships, found family ( again ), and cutting ties.

The Ghost Of Her Universe - A universe where Adora is a ghost, and a friend of hers tries to figure out how she died. And Glimmer and Bow are there too. Includes abusive background, manipulation of the higher-ups ( SW and Catra don't talk about why she died ), and friendly, but sad ghost.

To Be Loved Universe - A universe in the process of being reworked, but is essentially a s5 rewrite ( with some rewritten details of previous seasons ), and Adora is allowed to swear. Incluces Catra being a cunt and getting told to fuck off, rebuilding friendships, and an unexpected pairing.

Can't Sleep Universe - A universe focused around my c*tradora kid, Elizabeth Randor ( Izzy ), who is very bitter and angry with her parents ( mostly Catra ). Includes abuse, divorce arc ( that's a thing, apparently ), and healing.

The Whispering Woods Universe - A universe where Adora is raised by Madame Razz and Light Hope and is a fierce protector of the Whispering Woods, setting up traps and making spells. She-Ra most likely doesn't exist in this AU. Includes learning about the past, Grandma // Grandkid dynamic, and Adora being a nerd.

Desert's Flowers Universe - A universe where Entrapta raises Adora instead after the little one runs away from the Horde. Includes loving mother, family to complicated, strangers to allies to friends to ??? to enemies ( entrapdak again ), and Horde Prime being a douche.

The Lightning's Song Universe - A universe where Adora was locked away in the Prison Dimension for 100 years, and is considered a 'corrupted heroine'. However, Glimmer and Bow decide to unleash her, hoping she'd be their best bet against the Horde. Includes discovering the truth, unhinged rageful Adora ( we stan ), and earning trust.

The Soulmates Universe - A more historian universe where Adora and Bow have to fake-marry for social reasons, and struggle with internalized queerphobia as they fall in love with people that aren't each other. Includes best friends, what love really means, and identity metaphors.

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Cross-Over Universes

Danganronpa - Adora is the Ultimate Warrior, who may be considered the 'second Mukuro', depending on who you ask. Is best friends with Sakura and Hina ( including others ).

Teen Titans - Adora gets involved in a freak accident and is sent to the TT universe and joins the group. Adora x Starfire is a thing.

Sonic the Hedgehog - Light-hearted fun, mainly just Adora thinking Sonic is really cool and vice-versa.

Mario - Again, simply light-hearted fun, Adora thinks Peach is amazing and has her as an idol.

Voltron - I know. I know. But she'd be best friends with Lance, and that's all the reason I need.

almost all AUs feature Catra getting her ass whooped.

#spop #she ra #spop adora #she ra adora #adora #adora deserves better #adoradeservedbetter #spop catra #she ra catra #catra #anti catra #anticatra #anti catradora #anticatradora #spop kyle #she ra kyle #kyle #spop aus

[feastonkings]

【 keiynan lonsdale //. non-binary //. they/them 】 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠… SEBASTIAN ‘BASH’ OWENS into The Hub. You are registered to be TWENTY-SEVEN and have been given citizenship for FIFTEEN YEARS under the Expatriate Act. According to the data compiled, your most notable qualities seem to be WITTY & ANTAGONISTIC. Please confirm that you are CHAOTIC NEUTRAL. From what we’ve gathered your place of employ is currently for the MARA as a DEALER. We strongly advise that you provide the correct information pertaining to your background to ensure proper safety precautions: are you a _HOST_ or _HUMAN_? A deeper dive into our archive suggests that you are ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO GET UNDERNEATH SOMEONE’S SKIN, POPPING OUT OF DARK CORNERS TO MAKE TRANSACTIONS, ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, BOHEMIAN STYLE CLOTHING UNIRONICALLY. Though we noticed you, too, are similar to JESPER FEHEY (SHADOW & BONE), JESSE PINKMAN (BREAKING BAD), JJ MAYBANK (OUTER BANKS), BENDER BENDING RODRIGUEZ (FUTURAMA), . ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ᴠᴇʀɪғɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ 100% ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ! Please comply to all regulations and laws. It is our hope that you enjoy your stay.

GENERAL.

full name: sebastian ashley owens

nicknames: bash, zebby, baz

birthplace: sunshine coast, queensland, australia

gender / pronouns: non-binary, they/them

age / birthday: twenty-seven, dec 2nd

orientation: pansexual

occupation: dealer, being a pain in the ass

affiliation: mara, dealer

family: charlotte owens ( mother, deceased ), lachlan owens ( father, deceased ), lux hernandez ( found family, alive )

strengths: funny, clever, adaptable, playful, adventurous

weaknesses: reckless, needy, impulsive, rebellious, obnoxious

character inspo: jj maybank (outer banks), jesper fahey (shadow & bone), jesse pinkman (breaking bad), flynn rider (tangled), bender bending rodriguez (futurama), pamela poovey (archer)

pinterest.

playlist.

BIOGRAPHY.

tw: death, drugs, violence

born in austrailia the only child ( not for lack of their parents trying ) to loving parents. most of their younger years were spent outside as much as possible. their mother constantly trying to wear them out. bash doesn't remember much of it, but they do remember being happy then despite how long ago it feels now. at twelve years old their parents were granted entry to japan, little did they know this would be the beginning to their end.

bash doesn't know if their parents had links to the criminal world or they were just caught at the wrong place at the wrong time. either way, bash returned from school one day to find both of their parent's bodies lifeless amidst a gruesome scene. law enforcement didn't do anything, at least that's how bash felt. then again, they didn't stick around very long to find out if there were any further leads. instead they opted to slip into the darkness of the city, rather than be placed in government care. it was cold there and for the first time in their life, they were alone.

it took awhile for the fifteen year old to adapt and learn. bash had always been swayed more to delinquent behavior. on fact their mother used to say they were ninety percent mischief and ten percent sunshine. stealing food, clothes, and pickpocketing anything valuable to pawn off later in hopes of getting a room somewhere out of the cold. eventually they got better, great in fact. on top of that, they'd started to make a network which ( even if the acquaintance didn't last ) gave them a steady couch and bed surfing rotation leaving less time sleeping on concrete and keeping one eye open. ultimately, they learned how to survive.

it was on the night they failed to survive that their life flipped on its axis and they found light in the darkest of places. bash ripped off the wrong person, a yakuza who immediately sent people after them to teach them a lesson. bash received the beating of their life ( no really, they almost died! ) and was left to be devoured by the hungry vermin they shared the street with. that's when that light showed up. lux took pity on them for whatever reason and helped them to a place that could replace ruptured organs and the arm hanging on by a thread. they got them in with mara as a dealer and wouldn't you know it? they were damn good at it. who knew they had so much knowledge about substances locked away in their head? certainly not bash and they were good at moving product, only getting better over time.

they still live life recklessly on the edge, not looking to move from their position ( even in the worst of times like when lux got locked up ). all they want to do is have a good time, never slow down long enough to think, and shake things up.

QUICK CONNECTIONS.

clients and regulars that buy from them ( they prioritize their best clients to the top of their list )

people trying to mess with mara

casual encounters, friends with benefits, hateships

party friends, club regulars, squad

chaos twin

rivals either in the gang or not

more found family, street kids they knew back in the day

people they annoy or hates them because they're insufferable to them

HEADCANONS.

bash is a cuddler and shows affection through touch. will drape their six foot frame over someone and curl up in their lap like a giant cat for a quick nap.

doesn't like to sleep alone ( and still has no home of their own technically ) instead they store stuff with the people they trust and continue to sleep on couches, in beds with people ( platonic or not ), or at parties. they prefer to go to bed with someone close by or wrapped up in at least one person.

more to come.

#bash.intro #anarchicintro. #drugs tw #death tw #violence tw

[full-on-sam]

Character intro post: Katz

Intro and ask game about her under the cut!

This is Katz!

Who is she: a pirate, a brave warrior, a nuisance. Depends on who you ask to! What everyone agrees on, however, is that Katz is one hell of a person

Her main goal throughout the story: participating in raids and assaults by sea and land with the Alliance of Rebels, in order to render Wassermund an independent place

Background: she lives in Hoefenstadt, Wassermund with her fathers (Martin and Adam). After they passed she joined the Alliance.

Age: 17yo

Gender: Katz does not know for sure. Her pronouns can vary, her self perception can vary too. She is amab, uses she/they pronouns (mainly she/her) but hates being called a girl, because she is not one.

Sexuality: Aro/ace

Alignment chart: chaotic neutral/chaotic good

Hobbies: she likes everything sea related. When she is not on Nathair-Mara, the Alliance's galley, she likes taking long walks around Hoefenstadt.

Skills: she knows CSL (Common Sign Language), she can repair almost anything on a ship, she is a great fighter.

Personality: she is witty and charismatic with er peers, but when she tries mixing with adults, she is rejected because seen as loud and annoying. She hasn't great emotional skills in regard to her own feelings, and she is impulsive, hot headed, stubborn, and prone to snapping. On the other hand, she is very empathetic, determined and loyal, great qualities that often aid her in her missions and raids.

Likes: walking, water, being at sea, a warm dish with meat and soup, alcoholic beverages, loud music and ballades, the cloak her fathers left her.

Dislikes: having to wait, having to be patient, not being able to speak her mind, being told she is a girl.

She wears often: a dark blue cloak, and a tunic which once was white. Her black boots buckled up to the knee are another constant. On board she sometimes wears an eyepatch. Not because she has problems with her sight, but because putting one one helps her getting used to the sudden light changes when on deck as opposed to inside the ship

Religious: she is not very religious, but she does believe that Ylan, the god of sea and travels will be on her side if she remembers him and offers him her work and passion.

A few words from her: "Hope y'all are doing well, it was lovely to meet you, now I gotta go! See ya at sea"

If you have any questions for her, see you in the askbox! I will answer as if I am Katz, and we will see what comes out of it.

What can I ask about?

Her life (parents, transition, work with the Alliance, motivation, goals)

Her hobbies (what she likes about them, when does she do them)

Her relationship with the Squad

Her relationship with people from Hofenstadt

What she knows/likes/dislikes about Wassermund/Hoefenstadt/sea/her ship

Whatever else floats your boat!

#tsou #character creation #character intro #character sheet #katz

[tragedicna]

a compilation of all my mihoyo muses (ie: tears of themis, genshin impact, and honkai star rail)

LUMINE ― abyssal princess that witnessed the horrors committed against khaenri'ah  ,  participated in the archon war and holds resentment towards archons and celestia alike  . 

LA SIGNORA ― the crimson witch who lost her lover years ago  ,  a woman full of love and resentment that found a second life with the fatui  .  now retired after her battle with raiden shogun  ,  she is mostly confined to a desk job  .

TSARITSA ― the cryo archon  ,  snezhnaya's tyrant  ,  and the fatui leader  ,  a woman who's said to hold no love for her people  ;  people never heard her story but she doesn't care  ,  as long as she can protect them  ,  that's all that matters  .

KAVEH ― the light of kshahrewar  ,  a man who hides his pains behind a smile  ,  a lonely architect struggling to find his place in life  .  a kind soul who hates to be a burden  ,  but isn't afraid to stand up for what he cares for  .

GUIZHONG ― the archon of dust  ,  a genius inventor that lead those of the guili plains  .  with great love for humans  ,  she taught them her craft and helped them settle in the plains with the help of the lord of geo  ,  morax  .

CASIA ― a mondstadt doctor and former sumeru akademic  ,  currently living on the outskirts of town to continue his research while taking on a small handful of patients  .  can often be found in the woods or at the alchemy table  .

KAEYA ― the beloved calvary captain of mondstadt  ,  a man who has great love for alcohol and large guilt towards his former brother  .  despite his drinking habits  ,  he takes his job seriously and does his best to carry on the mantle of his adoptive father and brother  .

TIGHNARI ― a former sumeru akademic and a current forest ranger with great interest in biology and nature , a man who's both curious and cautious ; a stern ranger who cares greatly of the safety of the people and wouldn't hesitate to chew people out for being careless .

MALIK ― an alumnus of the haravatat darshan  ,  a traveler of the desert  ,  he never understood the rivalries between the akademiya's darshan  ,  finding it pointless and political  .  what point is there to this rivalry when all strands of knowledge is required to understand the world  .

YONGLIANG -- more commonly known by his peers as LIGHT BEARER  ,  he sacrificed himself for the greater good  .  fighting evil and keeping bad karma at bay  ,  he ends up being corrupted by the miasma and succumbs to the corruption  .  to prevent his descent into madness  ,  he was sealed away in a maze while his lover seeks a way to reverse the damage  .

BIMING -- a wandering god of the lost children  ,  he's known to be seen in crowds at fesitvities or marketplaces  ,  a near invisible being that could only be seen by the lost  .  though while he is known as a patron god of the LOST  ,  many find him to be a guardian god of children  ,  often praying to him for protection of one's own offspring  .  he currently resides on the outskirts of town  ,  helping at an orphanage  .

STELLE ― the trailblazer born from a stellaron  ,  with no memories of her past life  ,  she joins the express with hopes of finding the truth of her own existence  .

AREN ― a silvermane guard with a bone to pick  ;  a rich kid that people accuse of being a nepotist  ,  he struggles to have people separate his background from his accomplishments  ,  often angered by rumors spread about himself  .

DAN HENG ― a mysterious young man from xianzhou  ,  a man with a gap to his memories and only knowing that he must not return to the xianzhou fleets  .  a spearsman with great intelligence  ,  his role is often to keep his fellow crewmates from trouble  .

YALING ― an alchemist of the xianzhou luofu with a specialty of studying that of the mara-stricken  .  she believes that if there is an AILMENT  ,  there has to be a CURE  .  a doctor with a drive to reverse the harm of mara  ,  yaling is a dedicated researcher and often found wandering dangerous areas in search of research material  .

HIMEKO ― the captain of the astral express  ,  a woman who enjoys a good book and a cup of coffee  ,  an engineer who loves a good adventure  ,  traverse the universe from one planet to another to follow the path of the nameless  .

LIQIU ― a junior lawyer at the themis firm  ;  the unbreakable  ,  unshakeable  ,  resilient rosa of nxx  ,  deeply entrenched in the mysterious of her city  ,  combating the evil that have overtaken her home and bringing justice to all those who need it  .

#( lore. ) #it got a lot so under the cut! #( and i hope you find catharsis in tragedy ╱ ooc. )

[jedimordsith]

Finally got a break-though on Katana. Trying to finish and post the last chapter of Baatir so I can dig back into Katana now that I know how to fix it. In that vein, have a chunk I cut from the last chapter of Baatir during edits:  

“Uncle Luke!” 

All three Solo children met him at the door in their pajamas, bouncing with curiosity at his unexpected visit. 

“Hey, guys.” Going down on one knee, he scooped them all into a hug.

Jacen pushed away first, a frown on his face and a shadow passing over his sense. “Are you sick?” He demanded, searching Luke’s face. “Why is Jax out?” 

“I’m fine,” Luke assured them, pushing soothing warmth at them through the Force as he managed a half-smile. “But I was hoping you could help me with something.” Holding the stuffed animal in front of his chest, he said seriously, “Mara has to go to see a special doctor soon. She’s okay, but she has to stay for a bit and I thought maybe you could leave nice impressions for her like you do for me. So she doesn’t feel so lonely while she’s there.” 

Jaina eyed him dubiously. “Ms. Mara’s very brave,” she informed him, solemnly. “I don’t think she’s scared of doctors.” 

“You’re right,” Luke agreed. “But do you remember how the room felt when Jacen had to get that cast on his wrist?” 

“It was gross,” Anakin pronounced, his little nose wrinkling. “It felt icky. In the Force.” 

“Yeah.” Jacen nodded his agreement and held out his hands. “But we can make it feel better.” 

Luke handed over the plushie, aware of his sister and Han in the background. They kept their distance, but he knew that behind their carefully modulated emotions, concern lurked. 

Jacen screwed up his face, concentrating hard on pushing good feelings into the stuffed animal. 

“We should make her cards, too,” Jaina announced, imperiously. “We always make cards for you.” 

“I think she’d like that,” Luke concurred. “Maybe you could use those holographic stickers you got,” he added, feeling Leia’s warning in the back of his mind. “Since it’s a little late to get into glitter.” 

Limiting themselves to stickers would be for the best all around, anyway. For all that Mara always carefully rolled up all of the cards he received and tucked them into Artoo’s flare launcher slot for safe-keeping when he was being transferred after a bacta dunk, creating a permanent deposit of glitter across the droid’s insides, he was fairly sure she wouldn’t appreciate having the impossible-to-get-rid-of substance smeared across her own things. 

To his relief — and Leia’s — Jaina’s eyes lit up. 

“Yes! I have ship stickers! Ms. Mara loves ships!” Taking the jax from Jacen, she gave it a quick, tight squeeze, dumping all her feelings into it in a single confident push, then thrust it at Anakin and bolted down the hall toward her room, Jacen on her heels. 

Anakin considered the toy and then regarded Luke before holding out one hand. Luke offered his own and closed his eyes, letting his youngest nephew link their senses in the Force. It was a feather-light touch, but it boosted the boy’s confidence as he hugged the animal one-armed and left a strong, happy impression. Luke got a lump in his throat as he caught fleeting images of Anakin’s memories of Mara — the gravity in her gaze as he explained the project he was ‘helping’ Han with on the Falcon, the way she went carefully still when he crawled into her lap with a book while she was visiting, the way her sense went fuzzy at the edges when Chewie scooped her off her feet into a tremendous hug. 

When the connection dissolved, Anakin handed the jax to Luke, flashed him a smile, and then ran down the hall to join in card-making. 

“Luke,” Leia said as soon as her son was out of earshot, crossing to him quickly and pressing one hand to his arm. “What’s happened?”

“Mara has trihexalophine poisoning.” Luke’s hands tightened around the stuffed animal and he quickly set it aside, unwilling to taint its warm vibes with his own mixed emotions. “She’s been getting treatment,” he added in a rush as his sister’s expression softened with understanding and empathy. “But the last one — the riskiest — is tomorrow. They’re taking good care of her, Talon and her vod, but —”

 “But she’s not well,” Leia finished softly. “I saw her yesterday in passing. I didn’t realize it was so bad, though.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Luke saw Han slip out of the room. 

“I love her, Leia,” he whispered. “And I know she loves me, too, even if she can’t say it. The thought of losing her— ” 

“You won’t,” Leia interrupted firmly. She pulled him into a hug and Luke let himself cling for just a moment. “Mara’s too strong to die of this,” Leia said when he pulled back. “And all the people who love her are too stubborn to let her.” 

Reaching for the jax, Leia closed her eyes. Luke’s heart welled as he caught tendrils of his sister’s message for Mara — hope, encouragement, warmth. 

Han reappeared as Leia opened her eyes again. 

“Your turn, Hotshot.” Leia held the animal out. 

Han waved her off. “Nah. You keep the Force stuff for yourselves. Here.” 

Luke reflexively caught the item Han threw at him. Turning it over, he found it to be a small bag of tart, brightly-colored stormfruit candy. He looked up, curious. 

“They’re hard to get,” Han explained. “But she likes ‘em. I was keeping ‘em until she came by to see the hellions again. But the kids get candy when they’re good at the doctor, so...” he shrugged. 

Luke’s chest went tight and he struggled to keep his emotions from spilling over across the link to Mara. Did she understand how much his family loved her? How completely she’d folded herself into their lives already?

“Thanks, Han,” he managed, his voice rough. 

“Yeah, well, tell her that’s all she’s getting until she gets back here and has another drink with me,” Han ordered gruffly. “An’, you know, if you need us, me an Chewie can be there — wherever they’re taking her — in no time flat, right? We’ll keep the Falcon prepped, just in case.”

Luke nodded, then drew himself up and pushed his feelings down as small feet pounded down the hall in their direction again. 

#luke/mara #solo kids #my fic #Baatir #fic scraps

[skyrim-forever]

Worth: Erandur & TLD OC Theodora

@sheirukitriesfandom here it is! Something short and sweet, can be read as romantic or platonic. Hope you enjoy! I'd definitely like to write more about their dynamic

yes Theo is an ex-sanguine cultist turned divines worshipper, yes she is Martin-coded

The Stars over Nightcaller Temple looked beautiful this time of year, Erandur could see the stars that made up the Lover clearly. With the shining stars above, he turned his attention back to his friend, warming her hands by the fire. 

“You know I don’t mind staying in the temple” 

Erandur shook his head “There is still heavy daedric influence over it, I wouldn’t want you to get affected”

He continued “I already feel regret that you had to clean up my mess, by Mara how I regret my past everyday”

Theodora reached for his hand, squeezing it gently “I do not mind, we all have a past. Besides, you need not worry about me, I’m certainly no stranger to the Daedra.”

She laughed at the end of that sentence, causing Erandur to give her a look. One bot of surprise, but yet intrigued. She returned his look with one of her own. 

“What? Even the Dragonborn has a past.”

“Indulge me, you already know all about mine” He gestures to the Temple, dark and looming over them in the background. Although Vaermina’s presence was no longer in the minds of the people of Dawnstar, the temple still felt uneasy at times. 

Theodora sighs “Alright, I’ll indulge you because you’re my friend, but no judgment, alright?”

“Never, who am I to judge the actions of anyone?” 

“My mother had been a priestess of Dibella prior to meeting my father. She met him when he was on a military campaign in Skyrim, following him back to Cyrodiil. I grew up with a strong faith in the divines and always figured I would follow in her footsteps someday. Train at the temple for a few years before either devoting my life or leaving to get married like she did.”

Erandur studied her face closely, he could tell this was difficult for his friend to talk about, the way her eyes couldn’t meet his. 

“I’ll save this story for another time but by the time I was 12 my parents had already passed and I was moved to an orphanage in Bravil for a few years until I aged out of the system.”

Theodora looks up, seemly blinking back faint tears. 

“The first real friends I had found, after aimlessly wandering around the province, were a group of Sanguine cultists. They offered me a home and a sense of freedom, no longer was I a lowly orphan of a once great house; I had power, they had shown me the dibellan arts I did not know the Goddess of beauty held and transformed me into a tempress. The lines between pain and pleasure blurred and I did things, unspeakable things, all in the name of Lord Sanguine. I even spent time as a vampire”

Theodora’s tears where now gone, replaced with a vacant, thousand yard stare. He had seen this look on her before, whenever they discussed faith, always wondering where her mind went.  Erandur, touched that his friend had been so vulnerable with him, stepped in to help clear her mind. 

“Why did you leave?” 

She comes back to him, looking right at him. 

“I woke up one day, after another night of drunken revelry, and I felt something stir inside me. My soul cried out for more, that I wasn’t on the right path. I packed a bag and left that evening, made my way north figuring Skyrim could be a fresh start, perhaps even go all the way to High Rock. After a few days I made it to the border, got caught in an Imperial ambush and the rest is history…”

“And then the dragon in Helgen?”

“It was an eventful few weeks haha” Theodora laughed, the light coming back into her eyes. “I learned the Divines had not abandoned me, despite everything I had done, they still found me worthy.”

“Indeed my friend, you are more than worthy.”

“Erandur, I promise me you will not think differently of me now.”

Erandur smiles “oh course not my daughter, you and I are not so different. Perhaps if the Divines have found you worthy, Lady Mara may someday find me as well.”

“I have known a lot of priests Erandur, few have been as kind and devoted as you are, you are already forgiven my friend.” 

The dunmer chuckled “I can only hope Lady Mara is as gracious with me as you are my daughter.” 

“Even if she is not, I hope my faith in you will suffice.” Theodora looks at him, with her deep brown eyes staring into him, he feels as though she is seeing him, truly seeing him in a way no one has before. 

“It does my dear friend.”

#skyrim #the elder scrolls #tes #fanfic #erandur #skyrim oc #dragonborn oc #oc theodora #they are besties #besties with religious trauma

[screenwritinggym]

Mara Brock Akil - READ THIS SCREENPLAY written by me. A MEET-CUTE - Muslim woman with a Muslim Alien.

Title: Cosmic Soul Serenade

INT. FANCY DINNER PARTY - NIGHT

We’re at a lavish dinner party. MARA (50s, vibrant and elegant African-American woman) is in her element, dazzling everyone with her charisma. Across the room, a STRANGE FIGURE catches her eye – BLACK PUTIN (a ridiculously handsome ALIEN in a sleek human disguise).

MARA sips her drink, eyes widening as she watches BLACK PUTIN groove effortlessly to the smoothest soul music playing in the background. Their eyes meet across the room. MARA’s heart skips a beat. She’s utterly captivated.

MARA (to herself) Did somebody spike my drink with cosmic vibes?

BLACK PUTIN notices MARA staring and saunters over, effortlessly sliding into the conversation.

BLACK PUTIN (oozing charm) Good evening, Earthling. Enjoying the tunes?

MARA (with a grin) You've got some otherworldly moves, mister…?

BLACK PUTIN. But tonight, you can call me your smoothest serenader.

MARA chuckles, feeling an odd, cosmic high in his presence.

They start talking, bonding over their mutual love for old-school soul, r'n'b and hip hop. BLACK PUTIN’s knowledge of Earth's music baffles MARA, making for some hilarious moments as he hilariously misinterprets lyrics.

BLACK PUTIN (trying to impress) Ah yes, the "rhythm and beats" of your world! I especially admire the song about the "LEMONADE" by BEYONCÉ...

MARA stifles a laugh, charmed by BLACK PUTIN’s intergalactic misunderstanding.

Suddenly, the lights flicker, and the music warps, sending everyone into a dance frenzy. BLACK PUTIN and MARA join in, moving in perfect harmony, turning heads with their cosmic dance moves.

As the night progresses, they bond, sharing stories about their worlds. MARA finds herself falling for BLACK PUTIN's extraterrestrial charm.

MARA (teasingly) So, do aliens have a pick-up line that doesn’t involve cosmic dance moves?

BLACK PUTIN (smiling) Well, on my planet, we just telepathically vibe and hope for the best. But tonight, I’ll stick to Earth customs.

They exchange numbers, promising to meet again soon.

As the party winds down, MARA watches BLACK PUTIN disappear into the night, a starry twinkle in his eye.

MARA(to herself) Well, well, MARA… who knew a night of soulful tunes could lead to an otherworldly romance?

FADE OUT.

P.S.:

Click the link IG of Mara: https://www.instagram.com/maraakil/

Hey, Mara Brock Akil - I hope you enjoyed my amateurish screenplay. I wrote it in 40 minutes. It was exhausting, but I think I did a good job. The story about a handsome Muslim alien who meets an African-American Muslim woman, it was fun.

If you want to become my friend, there is an easy way, you can call my unofficial wife, Tracey Edmonds, she will become your bestie from now on. Your BFF is Tracey now, get with the programme!

Here is her IG, click the link: https://www.instagram.com/traceyeedmonds

Also, you deserve to know that I respect your husband and I respect your marriage. That is why I never made a move. I basically ignored you like you don't exist, it was easier for me. Out of sight, out of mind is my strategy. I forgot you even existed for the past decade and then I suddenly remembered you exist. I can't have a crush on a married woman, it's forbidden, it's a sin. It's haram. So, now you know, how do you like our meet-cute on the web, cool, right?

Slow down, baby-girl! Curb your enthusiasm because you're still married, chill out, this is haram, okay?

Here is the meaning of "curb your enthusiasm" meaning "control your excitement, emotions, as it is not the right time to express such feelings".

I know, I know you're curious, and you want to know since when. Okay, I'll give you this valuable info: I've had a crush on you since 2006. Come to think of it, coincidentally, that's the same year I started crushing on Tracey Edmonds. Small world, huh?😂

You can get all the info from Tracey Edmonds, call her. Bye! Have fun!

[horde-princess]

#thank you noelle 😭😭😭😭😭💖 #she ra #NOT MARA AND LIGHT HOPE IN THE BACKGROUND

[http-03]

NOOOOOO NOELLE THANK YOU THIS IS ADORABLE

#light hope and Mara in the background 🥺🥺🥺 #LOOK AT THEMMMMMM #she ra #spop #she ra and the princesses of power #catradora #she ra anniversary

[ameerahis]

Guys I know where is Hordak on Noelle's anniversary drawing

He's taking a photo!

(and Imp is helping/distracting him)

#i feel conflicted about this drawing #everyone looks so happy and wear beautiful outfits #LIGHT HOPE AND MARA IN THE BACKGROUND #scorpia's family mural #swift wind #emily and her wreath that's so adorable #but i can't see my favourite male character #and i am a little sad about it #i'll move on of course but still #she ra #she ra anniversary #she ra hordak #hordak #oh also Frosta's evolution and hairstyle oh my stars she's amazing

[jonathanirish]

Sometimes you just get lucky. I had hoped to come upon the cheetah cubs in the early morning light that we knew were close by, but never figured I’d be able to get one with the rising sun in the background. One of the four cubs climbed a tree and I seized the moment to capture a pretty special photo (in my humble opinion). (at Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTaVYxzlKZt/?utm_medium=tumblr

[joysmercer]

you show up today, just to ruin things

inspired by this post by @lovelyamneris and this post by @yackers.

______________

Late 2012

Nina groans and rolls over, reaching for her phone. 5:33 AM. Too early to get up, too late to fall back asleep. Brilliant. She clicks the screen off, but something catches her eye just as it fades to black and she immediately unlocks it again. She squints to make out the notification under the harsh light.

Fabian🖤

Missed Phone Call & Voicemail | 4:17 AM

Nina mentally does the math. It would have been 9:17 in the UK when he called. A strange time, especially since he had always been so cognizant of the difference between them. It’s also not like him to leave voicemails—if she missed a call, he usually texted after—but then again, it’s not like him to contact her at all. It hasn’t been for a while.

Curiosity gets the better of her, and she turns her volume down as low as it can go before pressing play on the message.

“Hey, American Girl,” a very un-Fabian-like voice sneers through the phone. Patricia? Nina thinks, wondering what she’s doing with her ex’s phone. 

An old, unpleasant notion pops into her mind—maybe they’re…no. Even if Fabian’s moved on, it wouldn’t be with her. Would it?

“I have something super important to tell you, since Fabian here is too much of a wimp to do it himself,” Patricia continues, taking on a strange tone Nina’s never heard her use before. She begins to wonder if maybe her old housemates got a little too excited with the secret alcohol stash Jerome keeps under his bed.

But then again, at 9 o’clock in the morning? Really?

“I am not!” Fabian’s voice screeches in the background. There’s a rustle, then a distinct thud. 

“Ow, you asshole, that was my elbow!”

“Well, you fucking deserve it, messing with my stuff like that.” Fabian laughs—no, cackles, and Nina stares at her phone, feeling sick. In all the time that she spent with him, he never spoke so harshly, roughhoused enough to hurt someone. Drunk or not, this isn’t the Fabian she knew.

"Anyway, Nina, or what did I used to call you? ‘My Chosen One’?” Fabian continues, pronouncing the last three words like Alfie used to when telling ghost stories. “You know what I discovered? With you being gone—you’re actually not that special. Eddie can do everything you used to, without being nearly as annoying. And at least he's never put us in danger. Some Paragon you were, only good for crying and lying, and even that you always seem to fuck up.” 

Nina presses pause, ignoring the minute and a half left on the message. 

Whatever small part of her regretted her decision to stay away this year, hoped to go back eventually and reconcile with everyone, dies with the remainder of the voicemail.

She made her choice, and clearly, they’ve now made theirs. 

It’s time for her to put that part of her life behind her.

______________

January 2013

“Oh, that’s weird,” Fabian mutters, staring down at his phone screen. “Eddie, do you remember me calling Nina for any reason last semester?” 

“No, why?” 

“It says here I called but she didn’t pick up? Sometime in—oh.” 

“What’s up?” 

“It was right around when we were, you know.” Fabian trails off. “Oh, god, I should probably call her and explain.” 

“What, that we nearly reawakened a crazy Egyptian goddess and destroyed the world, again, when she specifically stayed away so that wouldn’t happen?” Eddie scoffs.

“Yeah.”

Eddie smiles apologetically. “Yep. She should know. Especially for Chosen One Purposes and all.” He pauses, then continues mischievously, “And maybe throw in whatever’s going on between you and Mara for good measure. Really piss her off.”

Fabian flips him off with one hand and raises his phone to the ear with the other. The call fails. He tries again; the same thing happens.

“I think she’s blocked my number,” he says, whacking his phone against the palm of his hand. “Or I just really need to replace this thing.” 

“Dude, calm down. It’s probably an issue on her end,” Eddie suggests. “Like, maybe she doesn’t have an international plan anymore.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Fabian leans back in his chair and groans. “I wish I could just remember why I called her that day.” 

“Sorry, man. Maybe you can ask her when she finally unblocks all of us on ChumChatter.” Eddie thumps him on the shoulder and promptly leaves the room, presumably in search of his own girlfriend.

______________

June 2013

“Amber, are you sure this is a good idea?” Nina asks as she slams the boot of the taxi shut, hoping the response would be different than the one she’s received the million other times she’s asked.

“Trust me, Neens, I wouldn’t have invited you to this soirée if people didn’t want you,” Amber says matter-of-factly. “Plus, daddy’s on a business trip and mum’s gone with, so we have the entire place to ourselves. Worst case, you can just hide out in the opposite side of the house.” 

“Fun. Feeling very welcome here,” Nina grumbles, following Amber up the gravelly pathway leading to the mansion that is the Millington Family Residence. 

Over the next half hour, the girls pick their bedrooms, shower, and unpack a little, waiting for the others to arrive for what Amber called their “Big-Summer-Blowout-Slash-Anubis-Reunion-Slash-Grad-Party”: five days in the fanciest estate Nina’s ever set foot on with a bunch of people she not-so-accidentally ghosted for six months. 

She’d bumped into Amber while touring universities in New York over December break, and to her relief, their friendship picked up exactly where it left off. However, it wasn’t until she received a carefully-worded, heavily apologetic email from Fabian mid-March that Nina unblocked her other friends from across the pond.

Still, memories of that awful voice message plagued her—Fabian hadn’t mentioned any such thing in his email and she’d been too afraid to ask for clarification—so the only lines of communication she kept open with him were strictly confined to the group texts they’d established (upon Amber’s observation that “maybe you lot wouldn’t have had your souls stolen if you talked to each other at the same time instead of playing a life-threatening game of telephone”). Nina was anticipating some frostiness when she finally saw him (and, perhaps, everyone else) in-person, and she was not looking forward to it.

A soft knock on her door shakes her out of her reverie. Amber peeps her head in. “So, our first guests have arrived,” she says, a stressed look on her face.

“Amber, what did you do,” Nina says, purposely phrasing her words as a statement instead of a question.

“Okay, so I may have not explicitly told anyone that you would be here,” Amber starts, blushing slightly. 

“Amber! You promised—”

“I’m not done,” Amber interrupts. “Fabian may or may not have just arrived withmaraonhisarm.” 

“Huh?” Nina asks, confused.

“With Mara. Like, together. Side note, I did not see that coming. Anyway, um, he noticed your suitcase in the hall and didn’t exactly look pleased.” 

“Ugh.” Nina groans and flops back on her bed, covering her face with her hands. 

“In my defense, we did plan all of this in the giant Anubis group chat that you were also in, so I just assumed people knew.” Amber sighs and takes a seat on the edge of the bed. “I’m really sorry, Nina.”

Nina simply sits up and pulls Amber into a hug. She knows her friend only meant well, especially given how much she’d missed home when she first moved away. She can’t fault her for that. Besides, Amber’s right; there was no reason why the others didn’t realize everyone in the group was on the invite list.

Amber pulls away first. “So.”

“So,” Nina echoes. “Come on, it’s time to face the music.” 

The two girls enter the foyer and are greeted with the sight of not only Fabian and Mara but Patricia, Joy, and Eddie as well. They’ve all changed since Nina last saw them; even regular profile-picture updates can’t hide things like Joy’s newfound air of confidence or the fact that the boys have each grown a few inches taller and far more serious over the past year.

“Hey, guys,” she says nervously. “Long time, no see.” 

Eddie raises his chin slightly, Joy and Mara slip her shy smiles, Patricia gives a little wave.

A chill silence fills the air as Fabian’s gaze finally lifts off the ground to meet hers. The room seems to spin around them, closing in and suffocating the breath out of her. Even if Nina had the words to speak, she wouldn’t have been able to.

Finally, Fabian clears his throat and gestures upstairs. “Boys’ rooms are there, right? I’m gonna go, um, freshen up.” He hoists up his suitcase and rushes away.

As the others crowd around her, demanding hugs and gossip, Nina watches him walk around the balcony out of the corner of her eye, unable to let herself relax. 

Not when it’s obvious that her coming here only made things worse for the one person who didn’t deserve to be hurt by her anymore.

Not when that problem worked the other way, too.

#house of anubis #hoa fanfic #fabina #nina martin #fabian rutter #sibuna #ao3 link in the reblogs

[marzena-doe]

The Evil Of Doctor Dark

Thanks to Lothar, Rick and Mara are saved.

Mara is crying and Mandrake hugs her. Last time Kshin was taken by Ming and was brought back by the other kids, Mandrake asked if Kshin was okay but we didn’t see a hug. (But maybe they did hug off-screen, who knows)

Is this a portable version of the Inquisitor? Anyway, the vial of knowledge can only be opened at the Well of Essence, or so they learn.

Ming is not stupid. He knows Dark with betray him but he is ready. I like this about Ming. Is really is a great villain.

Mara connects with her sister and sees what she sees. They are heading for the Well of Essence which is in Antartica. Let’s just hope Mara’s sister doesn’t use their powers to spy on Mara. But nobody seems worried about that.

The Shadow Master still senses good in Damian Dark but Dark says he chose his destiny. Also, where is his ring?

The Well of Essence

Mara and Rick run from Mara’s siblings who then get buried when the building collapses.

Damian Dark kills Vandar.

Mara states “You’re mine, Dark!” and goes all in revenge mode, throwing herself at Dark. Why though? He is not responsible for her siblings’ death. All they did they offered to do on their own. Attacking Dark like this is very strange. It kind of feels like they didn’t know what to do with Mara and ended up doing that:

Both Mara and Damian Dark fall into the well. Rick is shocked but apparently Mandrake senses that Mara is still alive. Does he sense Dark is alive too?

Unfortunately, Mandrake cannot save Vandar. Another person died on this show, which is very unusual for an 80s cartoon. Mandrake is the new Shadowmaster now. What are his responsibilities? What does that all mean? We never know.

Another look at the mansion. They’re all in one room but they’ve left the lights on everywhere. I do not want Mandrake’s electricity bill.

Mandrake’s living room looks a bit different from when we last saw it. But the couch is still pink. Or maybe he has more than one living room in his big mansion.

Mandrake is glad all his friends are here. Question though: were is Kshin? He hasn’t been seen all episode. I didn’t miss him, but... a small scene, maybe giving Mandrake a hug or something? Maybe Kshin off on a school trip or something, who knows. Still sad we didn’t get many bonding scenes between those two.

Flash’s hair is now red as well.

Vandar’s spirit says his goodbyes. “Someone close to you will soon join our ranks” - I was confused at first but I think he means Mara?

Ah, the fall into the well didn’t go that well for Damian Dark... we will see him again!

I did enjoy the episode overall. It was fast paced, we did learn more about Mandrake and nobody was overly annoying. The psychic warriors could have been left out tbh, they didn’t do that much. We never learned what they were in prison for either or any background information. Mara proved useful in the end when she was able to spy on the other group, but I feel they could have done this with Mandrake (or Jedda Gordon, who is also psychic). Or have only Mara, who is forced to help Dark but escapes and joins the other side. A little bit of background knowledge on Mandrake, Vandar and Damian Dark would have been nice. Mandrake was really scared when he saw Damian Dark in the mirror. That would have been nice to explore. The absence of Kshin in the last scene was weird. A lot of new places were introduced that are never to be seen again. But it’s interesting to see them and who knows, maybe fans can re-used those in their fanfictions. Mara and Rick seemed to have formed an instant bond. I think Mara would be an interesting character if we get to know her better. I do enjoy her and Rick. Flash’s reaction to Rick falling I did enjoy - that’s how the parents should react when something happens to their kids. I also liked that the show aknowledged that someone close to Mandrake just had died and at least made a reference to it in having him say he is thankful for his friends being there and Jedda asking what they can do. Rick being worried/sad about Mara until he is reassured that she is still alive somewhere is also nice.

#episode commentary #The Evil Of Doctor Dark

[aromanticmara]

Mara and Light Hope

mara week day 3!! @mara-week

[id: a digital drawing of mara and light hope from she ra princesses of power. they are holding hands and smiling. the background is the whispering woods /end id]

#mara #light hope #marahope #mara week #spop #she ra #my art #they’re gfs idc

[jadelotusflower]

It’s Cold in that Fridge: The Case of Nakari Kelen

Since The Case of Mara Jade has been doing the rounds again, I’ve finally gone back to this post that has been sitting in my drafts for literally years. So let’s honour this absolute badass who deserved better:

Once upon a time, the Star Wars universe was but six films (and a tv series) in the story of the Skywalker family. But beyond George Lucas’ story was an absolute boatload of books, comics, games, and other materials that made up the Expanded Universe. When Disney purchased Lucasfilm and the rights to the Star Wars saga, everything in this universe was decanonised and deemed “Legends” - some aspects of this universe were retained or re-purposed, others sit in Disney’s figurative vault and will likely never see the light of day (and seeing how the ST turned out, maybe that’s for the best).

But this transition between Legends canon and Disney canon was not so simple, because the nature of publishing meant that there were novels approved during the time of Legends canon that would be released in the time of Disney canon. In particular, there had been the planned trilogy “Empire and Rebellion”, set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, with each novel from the perspective of one of The Big Three.  

Razor’s Edge (Leia) and Honor Among Thieves (Han) were released prior to the Great Canon Split of 2014.  But while the Luke-centric novel had been planned, it was not due to be released until well after the Split. So Heir to the Jedi (so called as an homage to the Legends progenitor Heir to the Empire) became one of the first books of the Disney canon.

What does this background have to do with Nakari Kelen?  Perhaps nothing, but I do wonder how the writing process was affected by the shift from Legends to Disney - was the novel a relic of the old EU with any reference the LFL storygroup didn’t like excised during editing, or was it a trendsetter for the new EU, a Sign of Things to Come?  

The most salient point being, of course, that Nakari Kelen - like so many love interests before her - was not allowed to go along her merry way at the conclusion of the novel, but was shoved into the fridge.

If there was one constant of the Legends EU, it was that Luke Skywalker’s love interests couldn’t catch a break. Mara Jade naturally lasted the longest relationship-wise, with almost twenty years of marriage to Luke before some bright spark decided she had to go (as per the aforementioned case study). But before Mara there was Jem, Shira Brie, and Gaeriel Captison (who came close to escaping the curse), and in the Legacy of the Force series they brought back sole survivors Akanah and Callista, only to kill them off for good too (and rather brutally, if I may add).

So perhaps when Kevin Hearne began writing HttJ within the confines of the Legends continuity, he was merely sticking to the status quo, or perhaps once subsumed by Disney they needed to make sure Luke's slate was clean (so to speak).  And I can’t put all the blame on Hearne since I don’t know whether it was his idea, or LFL mandated - but regardless it was a poor decision.

The root cause of fridging, imo, is limited imagination.  How best to cause your male protagonist pain if not kill off someone they love, or at least have strong feelings for? The answer is of course, easily. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The Luke Skywalker of HttJ is fresh from his victory in ANH, a lieutenant in the Rebellion: young, not dumb, and full of...

Nakari Kalen is an absolute Queen a civilian volunteer and crack-shot sniper who loans her ship Desert Jewel to the Alliance. Luke is immediately attracted to her, they bond over a mutual love of fast ships and leaving behind desert home planets, and engage in the inexpert flirting of two nineteen year olds while also risking their lives several times over.

I want to make it clear: I actually really like this book. It's a breezy read, almost serialised as The Early Adventures of Luke Skywalker, and is ofttimes genuinely funny. And credit where it’s due to Hearne, many of of the supporting roles in the novel are female. Other than Nakari, there's Soonta, the Rodian who gives Luke her uncle’s lightsaber, Sakhet the Kupohan spy, and the Givin cryptographer/math genius Drusil Bephorin. In a genre where male characters are often the default for these kind of roles, it was nice to see, but makes the regressive fridging of Nakari even more egregious.

Luke and Nakari make a good team fighting brain-sucking monsters and Imperials, but more importantly they have fun together - she encourages him to work on his Force skills, and he successfully moves objects with his mind for the first time (leading to Nakari adorably dub him "a little noddle scooter"). It's a very sweet, if brief, relationship, and a respite from the danger of the mission. They spend the night together (leaving the reader to decide exactly what happened behind closed doors), and share a kiss before splitting up to try and escape bounty hunters. No prizes for guessing what happens to Nakari immediately after she received the Skywalker Kiss of Death.

I assume there were two motivating factors for why Hearne and/or LFL couldn't let Nakari live:

1. If she survived, fans would wonder why she doesn't appear in ESB/subsequent material.

I recall this bandied about on forums back at the time of the book's release, and to that I say - so what? Fans are always going to wonder, and try to paper over the gaps in canon, to make up their own headcanons to explain any any perceived inconsistencies. It's certainly no reason to kill someone off.

It is in fact possible for two young people to have a romance that just fizzles, or doesn’t work out for whatever reason - it should not require great maneuvering or explanation. If Nakari doesn’t show up in the next book in the timeline, what about it? The reader is smart enough to assume she and Luke broke up, decided to just remain friends, whatever. But it seems that the only way for a female character to exit stage left is for her to die, which is bullshit.

And actually, there's no reason why she couldn't have shown up again. ESB and RoTJ cover a month and a few days, respectively, of Luke's life - just because there was no mention of Nakari doesn't mean she didn't exist at that time, whether or not she and Luke were an item. She could have made an appearance in a subsequent novel, or Rebels, or the comics - she could have become a recurring character, showing up when the Rebellion needed her, or - heaven forbid - even have her own comic/book/show! Her existence in Star Wars canon didn't need to begin and end with Luke Skywalker, merely to service his plotline and backstory and abandoning the richness of her own.

No, the only reason Nakari had to die was to facilitate this:

It was a blow to the gut, realizing what that sudden absence meant. I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, but I had felt Nakari's life snuffed out through the Force, and into that void where she had shone anger rushed in - anger, and a cold sense of raw power and invincibility...I took a step to join in the hunt but stopped, breathing heavily, unaccountably sweating even though I felt so cold inside and the power of the Force roiled within me... I shook with emotion and power, and none of it felt the way the Force had before...I saw what kind of space it was , a black hole that would always be hungry no matter how much I fed it. I might never feel warm again if I didn't get myself under control.

Luke feels the dark side and is tempted by the boost of power it offers him, but immediately identifies it as dangerous and unnatural. I can understand why Hearne wanted to include this - it is a book of firsts after all: Luke's first solo mission, his first time using telekenisis, and ending with story with his first experience of the dark side makes sense. But it wasn't necessary, which leads to:

2. How to push Luke to touch the dark side without killing someone he has romantic feelings for?

Also, obviously, shite of the bull (or nerf, if you prefer). Even if this brush with the dark side was absolutely necessary for the novel's climax, there's any number of ways it could be achieved. At this point, Luke is fresh from losing important people in his life - Owen and Beru, Ben, and Biggs - lumping another death on top of that a narrative trick for Luke to react not only to losing Nakari, but the others as well. But it's cheap, the first card in the deck, and why not show a bit of imagination? Luke is young and inexperienced enough at this point that any number of things could be the catalyst - the whole book he's struggling with his growing powers, why not try and reach too far in the firefight with the bounty hunters, his anger and frustration with himself in not doing enough trigger the dark side temptation? It would work thematically and doesn't involve a fridging that ultimately has very little payoff.

Because Nakari is killed less than ten pages from the end of the book - afterwards Luke grieves, but ultimately chooses to honour her memory and be grateful for what he learned with her, recommitting to becoming a Jedi. It's all very surface level, and once again a female character's death facilitates a male character's development. Was it so imperative that Luke lost someone he cared about as part of this story? Sure, this was a time of galactic civil war, and it's far from unrealistic that these stories have a high body count, but who to make collateral damage remains an authorial choice, and in this case Nakari Kelen was (a) a female character of color, (b) a love interest of the protagonist - not just of this book, but the entire Original Trilogy.

I don't know to what extent (if any) race had to play in the decision. I'm sure there was a segment of the fandom absolutely livid that Luke Skywalker kissed (and maybe had sex with) a black woman. Was her death LFL hedging its bets, or demonstrative of the general lack of attention/respect they show their characters of colour?

In any case this was a chance to stand out from the old EU and it's fridge full of Luke's dead girlfriends, but instead they chose to introduce and kill off Nakari for the sole purpose of Luke's manpain and character development, and that's gross.

And then there's this:

A grisly yet reliable fact about custom bounty hunter ships is that you can always count on them to have body bags stashed somewhere for the easy transport of their kills. They often have built-in refrigerated storage, too.

NAKARI IS KILLED AND LITERALLY STORED IN THE FUCKING FRIDGE I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS READING.

I really hope this was unintentional on Hearne's part, because yikes. He was halfway there, this book was full of interesting female characters who had agency - Drusil in particular was a delight with her super math and inability to understand human interaction. Nakari was full of life and fun - capable but relatable, showing a different side of the Rebellion and those that suffered under the Empire's rule. Fridging her in her first appearance is considerably more vile, because it reduces her to a footnote of Luke's story, a plot device to Help Him Grow, rather than a springboard to tell more of her own story.

Because Nakari was a compelling character ripe for spinoff potential. I would absolutely have read or watched her continued adventures, juggling missions for her father's Biolabs company and trying to aid the Rebellion, shooting her slug rifle and cracking wise, maybe even finding a way to amplify her mother's song Vader's Many Prosthetic Parts to really stick it to the Empire, or try and free the political prisoners on Kessel.

The old EU was made great by allies and enemies of Our Heroes showing up again to help or hinder them, and/or branching out into their own material. We fell in love with them, and followed their stories even as they diverged from the main saga, eager to read more about their lives.

Nakari Kelen never got that chance. In many ways, she exemplified what Disney Star Wars was to become: an exercise in wasted potential.

#star wars #star wars meta #heir to the jedi #nakari kelen #luke skywalker #fridging #it's cold in that fridge #star wars expanded universe #nucanon