the reasons you've shared is exactly why velkleya doesn't work for me. kleya is capable of change, but i don't think she and vel are on the same wavelength at all. mon and kleya are willing to give it ALL up for the cause. the parallels between the two are so distinct to me, especially with regard to mon and leida vs kleya and luthen. i could talk about those two scenes and the parallels all day, but i won't because i'll be here all day
that's not to say i don't think vel isn't capable of sacrifice, she is. but cinta's death was inadvertently because of vel being incapable to let go of her love for cinta. even cinta coming to meet her in ghorman was cinta showing herself incapable of letting go of vel. which brings me to my next point why i don't really get velkleya: vel loves cinta so much. so much of her character is tied up in cinta, and i don't see that changing even in death. it reminds me of anidala and sabedala, and sabè and anakin unable to really let go of their love for padmè. that just makes more sense to me. i respect the velkleya vision, i just don't see it for vel or kleya. reluctant friends maybe, but i can't see a romantic connection between the two.
love your monkleya fic btw. do you have more planned?
anon i am eating this UP
I do think the most important aspect is being willing to give it all up, which is a core part of mon and kleya that exists in all their evolutions. I also think a key difference between them and vel (and cinta) is that they're able to maintain that alongside loving very deeply. as you said, vel and cinta loving each other meant not being able to let go, even for the rebellion. I think for cinta that was always possible, but something she was repressing. there's a lot of ways in which mon and kleya have repressed themselves which is a fascinating part of them, but I don't think however much they uncover that and let themselves want things and want people, that it will be something they're incapable of letting go of when it comes down to it
i also think the priorities of love vs the cause would appear in a lot of smaller, every day ways which are just as important to vel and kleya's un/happiness. vel desperately wants to spend all the time she can with cinta and is so hurt when cinta can't put aside even a moment for her in s1. contrast that with cinta then using their mission together specifically to open up to vel and win her back. i can't see any version of kleya (or mon) that would focus so much on carving out time and attention for her relationship as part of her lifestyle. vel would always want something that is literally incompatible with who kleya is. as opposed to mon, whose arc is so much about the consequences of sacrificing her family and relationships to the rebellion and how its ultimately necessary for both her and the alliance. mon and kleya are so compelling to me because of the complexities of finding love in the gaps in between their work, gaps which they didn't think existed, but not ones which would ever expand to what vel and cinta have
absolutely fascinated by the velcinta and anidala/sabedala comparisons. so true and delicious. i don't know if i agree about cinta's death being a consequence of not letting go of vel, but i want to hear more thoughts, and definitely also about mon and leida vs kleya and luthen
and thank you!! i'm currently working on a long oneshot which i'm hoping to finish this week! pining whilst fucking, background velcinta, kleya judging the rebels. all the good stuff
