𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞                        to see the same eyes in different people.

SHE WAS EASY TO FIND IN THAT CROWD AS A ROSE AMONG NETTLES. EVERYTHING WAS MADE BRIGHT BY HER.

how long have you been sober?

i heard the first 90 days are the toughest.

i know it doesn't add up, but i get something from holding onto this.

we're going the wrong way!

oh please, [ NAME ], could you not patronize me?

hey, can you keep it down please?

you know i hate it when you don't take the things i say seriously.

come on sweetheart, i just had a rough day today.

you're drunk, what a surprise!

that's not it, it never is!

you've been saying that for years!

everything looks okay after ten beers.

i could use a little help.

that's a real low blow.

don't you know how tough this is for me?

at least one of us is having a good time.

reminds me of some creepy cult.

this is a valuable, rare, and sought-after collection.

i'd like to have a bath in peace.

the devil himself would struggle with you.

this place is crazy enough without your two cents.

what's all the noise about?

[ NAME ], help! what should i do?!

stop, it's too late!

i'm sure there's nothing to worry about.

there was nothing you could do.

what's happened has happened.

do you trust your head, or your heart?

my advice, for what it's worth, is... to thine own self be true.

i'm not supposed to interfere.

what do you want me to do, [ NAME ]?!

calm down, genius, i already tried making a call.

hey, [ NAME ], how are you doing?

i don't remember being in any crash.

you're probably in mild shock.

i'm fine, thanks for asking.

think of it as a character building exercise.

teamwork at its finest.

i've got no signal either, must be a dead spot.

– and we've already concluded this conversation.

no need for a vote, decision's been made.

we really don't have time to be arguing.

try to be civil, it costs nothing.

try sticking up for yourself sometime.

i'm not wasting another breath on you.

the last thing we need is you causing trouble.

you wanna come along and wait with me?

i still think the smart move is to stick together.

how'd we end up back here?

there's a rational explanation for what's happening.

i'm doing my best to understand this, just like you.

we're trapped in a nightmare.

we have to get outta here right fucking now.

this isn't helping us find help!

there's nowhere else we can go except into that damn town.

i'm not sure this is such a great idea.

we're really going to get into this now?

i need to know 100% that i can rely on you.

we standing here all night or are we going inside?

life moves on, but we don't all go with it.

there's a phone, but it's been dead for years.

anything you can do would be greatly appreciated.

i saw someone in the woods.

nobody would be out here at this ungodly hour.

okay, very good, i'm freaked. who's there?

[ NAME ]? where are you? this isn't funny!

what is your name, sir?

what treachery is this now, [ NAME ]?

[ NAME ], come back here!

how can you not have seen that?!

"stressed", my ass!

you got a better idea?

i'm just gonna say it ... this is exactly what goes down in horror movies.

what the hell do we do now?

i'll deal with this, you stay right here.

who are you? what are you doing here?

what the hell are you? what do you want?!

a black tongue full of riddles, i'll have none of it.

fix your gaze elsewhere!

i am very far from okay ... i'm terrified and confused.

you're blowing this out of proportion, [ NAME ].

fuck that, i'm going another way.

don't you watch horror movies? you never, ever split up.

those movies are dumb.

can we just take a breath and think about what our next move is?

it's not safe for you to be hanging out here on your own.

thanks for coming after me.

the hell are you doing with a gun?

what we don't need is to get someone killed.

make sure the damn thing stays in your pants.

that "terrifying creature" was, in, fact, a cat.

there must be a radio or a working phone inside.

gimme that, i'll smash the window.

if you're feeling under pressure, let someone else do it.

even if you make it, there's no way i'm following.

i might've made a bad call here.

woah, you can't be doing that!

tell me that didn't just happen.

get away or they'll find me!

let's not hang around here, it's time to go.

seriously? you're going in there?

i don't like the idea of being out here on my own.

i'll be as fast as i can, okay?

[ NAME ], the door won't open.

woah, hey, take it easy.

can you stop reacting to every setback like a child?

we'll find a way out of here. we have to.

i appreciate you checking in with me.

who would want land in this godforsaken town?

tell me that didn't just happen.

who would say such a thing?

you look freaked, what's up?

you saw something else, right?

we're really screwed up, here.

can you tell me what you're upset about?

what's going on with you?

i'm going to help you out here if i can, but i need to know your name.

you cannot talk of our secret.

we have an understanding, do we not?

what more proof is needed that the devil walks among us?

the devil is here in this very room.

what the hell was that shit? was that for real?

like i say, i have no good explanation.

when you first told me, i thought you were messing with me.

let's try to force the handle.

still think splitting up was the right move?

personally, i think we're in deep shit here.

maybe the answer lies down the one path we haven't taken yet.

this is fucking crazy, we have no clue what we're getting ourselves into.

[ NAME ], you need to see this.

we were never meant to make it out of here.

i can't see for shit.

you keep saying you're in charge, so... you first.

we can't stay here.

you ever have any family here?

it's already been a hell of a night, but i'm sure we'll pull through.

you don't know that it's safe.

let us pray in silence.

i've done no wrong!

i do not deserve death, i beg you!

who are you ? and how come you look just like [ NAME ]?

the devil is in the wind, seeking to help his own.

[ NAME ], let us conclude our business here swiftly.

[ LOCATION ] is already lost, shrouded in evil!

the devil takes many forms, you know that better than any!

while [ NAME ] still draws breath, [ LOCATION ] is beyond salvation.

i don't know how to tell you what i just saw.

give me a moment, will you? i've just gone through something pretty rough.

what the hell is that?!

don't leave me behind!

i'm coming back for you, [ NAME ]! hold on!

reach out and grab my hand!

that was really quite close.

not that there's anything particularly wrong with death.

that gun might prove to be a lifesaver. or the precise opposite.

this must be very confusing for you right now.

i dare say we'll find out, hmm?

what in the name of holy fuck was that?

it was like something from a nightmare, did you see how it looked?

whatever that thing was, it's gone now.

thank god we're okay.

you are going to tell me right now what happened.

let's ... stay away from that.

i'm all for putting as much distance between us and that hideous thing as possible.

can't a guy get some peace around here?

i don't think there is another way.

[ LOCATION ] isn't a place i want to revisit.

i'm taking this to protect you.

why can't you leave me alone?

it could be leading us into danger, even a trap!

stay close ... who knows what's up ahead.

what did they do to deserve that?

AHSOKA (2023) Part 5: Shadow Warrior

These  halls  became  the  only  home  he  had.  Slowly,  his  duties  took  over  whatever  free  time  he  had  left.  The  war  became  the  focus,  and  with  it,  he  was  forced  to  see  all  the  pain  and  suffering  left  in  its  destruction.  Hate  was  not  the  Jedi  way,  but  Anakin  hated  every  moment.  It  felt  like  it  was  sucking  what  was  left  of  his  happiness. Lately,  he  found  fewer  reasons  to  smile.  Why  be  happy  when  every  person  he  saved,  two  more  needed  him?  He  tried  to  save  them  all.  War  was  a  painful  lesson,  and  he  was  learning  to  let  go  despite  the  agony  it  caused  him.  It  was  never  enough.  With  every  battle  won,  they  were  not  coming  closer  to  a  resolution. Despite  all  this,  he  still  took  the  lessons  from  the  Grandmaster  to  heart.  All  beings  joined  the  Force.  Do  not  be  sad  about  their  passing.  Anakin  was  a  person  who  wore  his  heart  outside  his  armor.  Every  strike,  his  heart  threatened  to  be  exposed. Anakin's  eyes  stayed  on  Padme.  She  looked  fine  and  healthy.  If  she  wasn't  in  danger,  then  what  brought  her  here?  Breaking  the  silence  they  both  agreed  on,  Ani  felt  his  heart  beating  uncontrollably.  She  was  still  as  beautiful  as  the  last  time  he  saw  her.  An  angel  in  every  right.  "You...  you  wanted  to  see  me?"  He  did  break  her  heart,  even  if  it  was  both  of  their  decision.  It  was  something  he  could  not  forgive  himself  for.  "I  thought  you  hated  me,  to  be  honest."

Hate him? As if she ever could. Only the thought of it made no sense to her. How could she hate someone who once made her feel so warm? Safe? As if nothing could ever go wrong as long as he was around? Sure, he broke her heart. And there was a point where she regretted ever giving it to him —— Thinking that things would have been much better had they remained friends, no not even ... Had they been acquaintances, and nothing else. But that thought didn't linger. No. Because for all the hurt he caused, he also brought her so much happiness.

❛ I could never hate you, Anakin. You're not deserving of it. ❜ Because she understood. He was a Jedi. He had his duties, and with the war ... She knew that their relationship would have been hard to keep on track. Mainly because of the distance, but also because the two of them wouldn't have been able to be fully focused on what they had to do ; too worried about one another. ❛ I heard that General Skywalker was back—— Last time, I was off world so I couldn't come by. ❜

It felt as if the universe was against them. Never on Coruscant at the same time sure made it harder for them to have any kind of reunion. That, and she also didn't feel ready. After all, their breakup was still fresh at the time. Now that she had time to think about everything, it was easier. ❛ You look like you're in one piece, this is good to see. I was worried. ❜

@moonoflego from here

Tarre had been, before the Force had brought him there, a warlord. Not one for long, no, but he had learned to wear the menace and the boisterousness and the quiet appearance of power like a second skin: it was the prerrogative of Jedi to be mysterious, and it was that of Mandalorians to be dangerous. And he could be both, and he let his smile speak of the comfort of arrogance.

"Have I?" He replied, from his position, sitting atop a crate of recovered goods, stolen several times and which he would route, once all was settled, towards a Mandalorian covert he knew of.

"How flattering." He said. And then, "And how welcome, to be recognized by one's actions. But that changes little: what do you mean to do now?"

He had an idea of who she was, what he wasn't entirely sure about were her goals, and there, dressed in beskar and chainmail and with his helmet off, next to him on the crate, he let himself ask.

Time to see what he was dealing with.

Truth was ... She didn't know for sure what to do from here. Her impulses sure didn't help her out this time around. Had it been anything criminal or directly against the New Republic ... Well, she could have done something. Anything. It would have been within her rights. Or so that's what she thought, anyway. She may be acting all high and mighty at times, which might be because of how she was brought upon but —— All in all, she was in powerful position.

The Organa heir was now at an impasse. Perhaps she should have listened and not jump to conclusion too quickly. She could only stare at the strange man, almost calculating. There was something about him she couldn't quite put her finger on —— Training in the force with her twin did help make her see particular things more clearly but she wasn't quite there yet. For now, it was more of a lingering feeling. An intuition.