#mare replies

Oh! You chose a good one! This is an arranged marriage AU in a universe where Order 66 never happened, and the fathers of both Zeb and Kallus are Senators. They arrange their sons' mating to form a political alliance. The fathers are on board with the idea, the grooms-to-be, not so much. Here's a sneak peek!

It speaks volume about Zeb's intentions that he's in his office, catching up on datawork —which he hates to do— long after his shift has ended. He's aware that the tactic fools no one, but that doesn't mean he can't try. The later he gets home, the better.

"Garazeb?"

He shifts his gaze from the datapad in his hand to the person waiting at the door. His eyes widen when he recognizes who it is.

"Your Highness," —he stands quickly and bows, knocking down the stack of datapads on his desktop in his haste— "Sorry, I, um— What are you doing here? Is anything wrong?"

Zaleli, the Queen of Lasan, looks at him with a smile and gives a slight shake of her head. Walking into the office, she carries herself with regal elegance, pausing in front of his desk. "I was looking for you to ask you the same thing. Shouldn't you have gone home hours ago? I thought your father had a special dinner tonight."

Garazeb mutters a curse and rubs his face with his hand. The heat of embarrassment finds its way up to his ears, making them flick with discomfort. Suspicions about the reason for the queen’s presence in his office make his stomach drop to the floor. His little stunt of hiding in his office wasn’t enough for his father to get the hint, to leave him alone. Usually, his dad sticks to the protocol and deference toward the sovereign. However, his sense of property has gone awry with the latest scheme he has in the works, and it has become obvious he’s willing to even involve the queen.

"Please, tell me he did not dare to bother you with this?"

"No, he didn't, but I wouldn't have minded it if he had. He's family. But he's been comming Sergeant Klagg and asking your whereabouts since you're ignoring his calls. And it's getting on my nerves hearing the sergeant's comlink going off every five minutes in the last hour, so I came to know if you're having trouble with yours."

The queen gives a glance toward the door. "I'm sure the Sarge would appreciate not to be disturbed while on duty as well."

Zeb sees the shadow of Sergeant Drales Klagg by the door, unobtrusive in guarding the queen. He says nothing, but Zeb can imagine how annoyed the man is. Zeb surely would've been in his shoes.

“I apologize for my father’s behavior, Your Highness. The excitement of tonight’s event might’ve made him forget his place. I’ll talk to him.”

As if to challenge him, Zeb's comlink pings for the umpteenth time this evening. Zeb ignores it yet again. The queen arches an eyebrow.

"I'm busy. I have work to do," Zeb says defensively, waving his hand vaguely at the messy desk full of datapads. "As you well know, Your Majesty, the work of a Captain in the High Guard never ends. And if you excuse me, I'll return to it. I’ll talk with my father when I’m done."

Zeb sits back on his chair and grabs a datapad, trying to read the report in it, aware that he's been rude, and to the queen, no less! But he's counting on her tendency to relax protocols behind closed doors and the fact that they're indeed family. They're second cousins.

The rustle of her skirt is minimal, but enough to alert him she's moving. For a moment, he believes she's leaving. He should’ve known better. Zaleli goes around his carved desk and sits on the edge, making the worn-out wood creak as she settles down. The burn of her intense glare makes him look at her.

"Why are you hiding, Zeb? I know some of those dinner parties can be boring, but it's unlike you to avoid them."

Zeb closes his eyes and lets out a frustrated sigh. He's not escaping this interrogation, it seems. He better get it over with.

"I do when they have the only purpose of parading me around. My father is determined to use me as an instrument of his political schemes."

The queen frowns, confused.

“He's seeking political alliances in the Galactic Senate through a mating,” he explains. “My mating. Since he's been mated for years, just like the rest of my siblings, I'm the offering."

Zaleli's expression shifts to one of understanding and sympathy. "You don't want a mate?"

"I do, just not right now. And I'm perfectly capable of finding my own when I'm ready for it. Don't need my father's help."

It doesn't happen often but I love when people tell me my characterization is on point. Nothing tops that.

Thanks for the ask @lost-in-derry! 💜

1) When do we receive our prompts?

2) What happens if we don't like our prompts?

3) If we asked for SFW prompts, can we still create something NSFW?

Thank you.

Hi!

1) As I said in the promo posts, everyone who has joined so far will receive their prompts tomorrow at some point during the day. So if you sign up in the next 12 hours or so, yours will be among them. After that and until Jan 31, within the 24 hours after you've joined.

2) If prompts aren't vibing with you, don't do it. There's zero penalty for not participating, not matter the reason (didn't like the prompt, rl got complicated, etc.)

[Nomi Sunrider, Mara Jade Skywalker, Mirax Terrik Horn (all Legends), Lina Soh, Iden Versio, Shara Bey)

Oh m y gosh!! That'd be amazing and extremely helpful!

no, seriously, do it! especially timelines, because that's something that can be confusing at times, and not everyone wants to/can afford to buy Timelines guide book that was released last year I think (or it was this year?), like you said, having lists of coss-reference with characters, places, and/or events would be the best. There are so many things that could be helpful to writers.

Honestly, I don't know what would be the best way to organize all of it, but if there's any other way that I can help you (other than cheering you on) just let me know. I can only imagine how massive a project like this is, and you'll need all the help you can get.

And to my lovely friends, mutuals and followers who are fic writers, what are your suggestions? What would you like to have at your hand's reach for writing your fabulous fics instead of going down the rabbit hole every time you need to research a detail?

Thank you my dearie for letting me gush about my latest wip. I'm so obsessed with this Outlander AU. I swear I find little new details and more parallels to the original story every day.

Here, have a sneak peek!

People often went missing. Midagers wanted to explore the galaxy on their own. Younglings wandered away from their parents and disappear forever. Spouses took credits from the saving jar and a speeder to the spaceport. Most were found.

Eventually.

Each disappearance held a tale. Often, it was a mundane one.

Alexsandr Kallus never expected his story would delve into the world of fantasy. Little did he know that his life would be forever altered when his mate suggested a second honeymoon on Lasan, which held significance for them. It was a morbid one, admittedly, yet it resonated deeply with their families’s history.

The remaining Lasat clung to survival as an endangered species. After the latest war, they banded together to rebuild both their planet homes: Lasan and Lira San. Despite the destruction brought by the Empire centuries ago, and by the Grysk in recent times, the Lasat people showed an enduring spirit. It was a glaring fact for Alexsandr as he stood on the main plaza on Lasan capital city. After months of reconstruction, the place was a pale imitation of its past, yet resilient fresh growth was gradually obscuring the war’s scars. The quality was something he understood and resonated with.

Alexsandr strolled through the street, admiring the old Royal Palace ruins. A haunting reminder of a bygone era. Amidst a sea of broken columns, the townspeople meticulously reconstructed the stone statues; the scent of dust and chipped stone and the rhythmic tap-tap-tap of chisels shaping the cold, smooth surfaces filled the air. In the ancient garden several meters ahead, the rustle of leaves seemed to whisper tales of a poignant and violent past, a stark reminder of the bloodshed.

The ancient temples two blocks away, where the Lasat once venerated the Ashla, shared a similar state of dilapidation. Only leaf rustles and distant bird cries break the silence, contrasting with past hymns that used to fill the halls.

The sight was as beautiful as it was haunting.

Alexsandr felt a deep, searing shame at the destruction of the place, its culture, and its people. It was a shame tied to his ancestors’ actions. Kallus family history as ruthless military people marked their names as synonymous with infamy and cruelty. They were mere attack dogs with misplaced loyalty to powerful, corrupt men. It left a bitter taste of defeat and sacrifice in his tongue, a legacy that felt heavy on his heart, cold and unforgiving like the earth where he stood. The trail of blood and tears his family members left behind, caused by their pursuit of warped beliefs, exposed their supposed honor as a blatant lie.

Alexsandr broke with family tradition. He became the first in generations to join the military, motivated by only a commitment to justice and peace, but never pursued rank and prestige, driven by ego. He was dedicated to doing good, even if it meant remaining a low-ranking soldier. That lack of ambition made him an outcast among his family. His father called him a fool, unworthy to be his son. His siblings berating him for having opposite morals and upsetting their father. Nothing of that mattered; he had no regrets. Though it felt absurd, deep down, all he wanted was to atone for his family’s past wrongdoings.

Every tiny reparation helped to balance the scales. He hoped his sacrifices during the war against the Grysks—sleepless nights and risking his life to save others in battle—meant something; that his name would no longer be spoken with hatred anymore.