#captain hera

Kanera Week 2023, day 3: everybody talks!

The Consular AU

Caleb Dume has seen far too much war, fighting alongside his Master Depa Billaba during the last two years of the Clone War.

But now he is no longer a soldier, he is a Jedi Consular: an archaeologist when he can go his own way, a diplomat when the council demands it.

It is during a mission to the former Separatist planet Plazir-15, attending a reception hosted by the extravagant Duchess and her husband, Captain Bombardier, that he first finds the courage to ask Captain Syndulla, no, Hera, to dance with him, seeing her at the edge of the room, uncomfortable in her high uniform amid so much luxury and extravagance.

Not that she is not used to this, her father being the senator from Ryloth, but her chosen life is a different one: defending the galaxy from every possible threat.

And it is at that moment, leading her in graceful circles on the dance floor, that he is forced to admit that, Force! Against all common sense and the code, he loves this woman.

Everyone around them is talking, he can sense their glances and smiles: the Jedi and the Captain?

Let them speak!

Force, what ISN'T my favorite thing about flying? The feeling of freedom, of all the other problems and distractions falling away, the literal feeling of it. Up there, it doesn't matter who I am or where I came from, whether or not I'm a Jedi. There's no place I'd rather be than the sky, especially if I have one of my favorite co-pilots with me *grins* particularly my mom!

THIS ONE IS REALLY GOOD.

Tell me, Captain, did you and Kanan ever talk about Master Windu and your father knowing each other?

Yes, it is!

It’s come up in conversation several times. *raises an eyebrow at Kanan, who’s sitting beside me in the common room with his arm around me* you look like you’d like to contribute, too.

Kanan: yeah. But this is your blog, so I won’t intrude.

Me: Well, isn’t there a phrase that goes “what’s yours is mine”?

Kanan: that doesn’t always apply for us. Like—

Me: *smirks* with the Ghost, for example?

Kanan: yep. *smirks back* that’s all yours, Captain.

Me: you’re right on that one.

Kanan: that’d sound better if you used some colorful language with it.

Me: we have a question to answer, love.

K: and you have a vocabulary to spice up.

Me: Kanan.

K: fine, fine. Yeah, with a last name like that, it was bound to come up that she might be related to the Hammer of Ryloth. I was pretty intimidated when I found out. My Master spoke very highly of him. He was impressed by his ability to work with us—with the Republic, even though he felt betrayed by it. So when I met him—especially since, well…*gestures towards me, then groans* Hera.

Me, smirking at him: yes, love?

K: *sighs* maybe I don’t want to be on this blog.

Me: you’ve already committed. Besides, we both know that you enjoy talking.

K:

Me: We digress. Anyway, @kanerallels—

K: big fan, by the way, @kanerallels. You do a great job flustering the captain. *winces*

Me: *just jabbed him with my elbow* so much for not wanting to be on the blog anymore.

K: *shrugs* I’m allowed to change my mind sometimes. Unless you’re planning on making that illegal on your ship.

Me: ANYWAY. I was always fascinated by the Jedi and constantly asked my father to show me holos of them. So, when he actually got to meet a Jedi, which happened twice, I made him tell me every detail of his experiences with them many times.

K: *squeezes my shoulder* and now you get to share a ship with one. Must be pretty special.

Me: *smiles* when that Jedi isn’t being infuriating, yes. I was in awe of Master Windu myself, so I was more than a little starstruck when Spectre One here told me that he was his master’s master.

K: and you ended up getting all kinds of stories out of me about him.

Me: *narrows eyes* you told me willingly.

K: eh, that’s what you want me to think.

Me: Believe it or not, I don’t have any mind tricks up my sleeve. And they wouldn’t work on you, anyway.

K: *grins* well, I have plenty more stories where those came from. If you ever want to, you know, learn more about it, we could meet up sometime. I’d love to get to know you better, too.

Me: *eyeroll* yeah, somehow, when we live on the same ship, we’ll have to find time to meet up.

K: I meant what I said. I’d love to get to know you better, anyway.

Me: that’s part of the current plan, love. But let’s not bore whoever’s reading this.

K: aw, come on, flirting isn’t boring.

Me: Kanan—

K: *smirking*

Me: *looks away from him* yes, we’ve discussed it. It proves how small the galaxy really is…or maybe it just makes sense that we’d end up fighting against the Empire together, since we had examples to look up to, however imperfect they might have been.

K: *two-fingered salute* may the Force be with you.

Spectres One and Two out.

Done. I think... Well, maybe a little touch up and a bit of powder.

Turns out the lovely, warm sunny day made the Psycho Paint set much faster. So... It went on quite a bit thicker than I wanted, and I had to mix batches more frequently. It resulted in some unevenness to it that I really want to fix, so we'll see what it looks like after curing and after I have a good night's rest.

I've heard a lot of stories about my dad from most of the crew-- and my mom is definitely among them

I know it was hard for her at first, especially when I was little. It would make her sad just thinking about him. But she didn't want his memory to die. So she'd tell me one story every time we saw each other while she was working with the New Republic. And when the Empire was properly defeated and she came home, she told me even more