#warplanet

❝   you   could   stay   ,   you   know.   ❞   the   comment   leaves   his   lips   before   he   even   has   time   to   mull   it   over.   the   prince   knows   he's   asking   for   too   much   ,   as   the   knight   is   not   one   to   stay   in   one   place   too   long.   even   as   he   turns   to   face   din   ,   there's   regret   in   his   hazel eyes   ,   already   aware   of   the   answer   he   will   no   doubt   give.   ❝   sorry.   i   meant   that   .   .   .   i   wish   you   could   stay.   ❞   mason   closes   the   book   in   his   hands   ,   using   it   to   help   ground   himself   as   he   meets   din's   helmet   ,   but   now   he   no   longer   has   to   imagine   what   might   be   beneath   it.   he's   seen   his   face   .   .   .   he   knows   how   he   looks   at   him.   ❝   i   won't   be   king   forever   you   know. just   until   i   can   help   set   up   a   democracy   among   the   leaders   so   the   kingdom   is   ruled   fairly.   ❞   it's   what   viridis   deserves   ,   but   it   also   leaves   him   free   to   do   as   he   chooses.   in   giving   up   his   power   ,   he   is   trading   it   for   something   far   more   precious   ━━   the   ability   to   choose , to live his life without the stress of a crown.   ❝   when   that's   all   done   .   .   .   could   you   ever   consider   .   .   .   ❞   he   struggles   to   finish   his   sentence   ,   almost   afraid   to   speak   it   aloud.   din   surely knows   what   he   means to say   ,   so   he   leaves   it   all   hanging   up   in   the   air   ,   eyes   watching   him   ,   curious   what   his   response   will   be.

he still can't really wrap his head around it — he even checked his insulin and lithium pumps to make sure they weren't malfunctioning, but this was all real and happening. cars didn't turn into huge talking robots, and yet... he still doesn't quite know why he helped the thing. optimus prime, or whatever it was called, seemed to command respect, and mack was included in that demographic. “ uh, yeah. no problem, man. ” he rubs the back of his neck, head tilted slightly with his eyes narrowed. he'd just said his name and told him where to find an open field. “ sorry, but like... what the hell are you? no offense... i just haven't seen anything like you before. ”

stars flicker out in the distance. almost as if they're waving the normandy by as they continue their journey between systems. despite the danger they face, and the threat of the reapers hanging over them, barbara finds herself feeling at peace. perhaps it's simply that she feels like she belongs once again. ❝ i missed this. ❞ she speaks, not needing to turn her head to know it's garrus crossing the room to sit beside her. a stray finger traces a line down her leg. the last time she was out here she was a different person. her weapon a heavy weight in her hands, rather than words on a screen. ❝ being amongst the stars. ❞

gaze turns to garrus. the stars forgotten in place of the sun. it's almost automatic the way a smile creeps onto her face, turning up each corner of her lips. ❝ so, they finally let you out? ❞ something twists in her gut. the thought that he might have been lost for good. that oracle and archangel may have parted without speaking again, and she would have been left with so many regrets. ❝ dr chakwas did a pretty good job on your face. you almost look more handsome than before. ❞ gentle fingers brush the length of his new scars, soft lips following to press a featherlight kiss. she's not sure who initiates the next, whether it's his had that turns for hers that seeks more, but their lips brush in a chaste kiss. it's enough for her breath to catch. a beat passes, and when he doesn't pull back she finds herself leaning forward for more. cheeks burning when they finally part, their foreheads pressing together. ❝ you know, i've been wanting to do that for a while. ❞

❝ oh, well - uh, ❞ an awkward laugh falls from the druid's lips. her hands grip the ridged wood of her staff, cheeks slowly turning the same red as her hair. ❝ i don't just - that's not all i - nevermind. ❞ one hand releases it's grip on her staff, instead rubbing against the back of her neck. way to go keyleth, now she thinks you're a freak! so maybe her words had come out more . . enthusiastic as she had intended. she only wanted to express her admiration. after all, she hadn't ever met a woman like vex before. so sure of herself, so . . fucking badass. ❝ i just meant that i thought it was cool, what you did back there. you know - ❞ hands mime the act of releasing an arrow from a bow, staff dropping to the grassy floor in the process. an accompanying thwip and thud sound effect emitting from her lips. ❝ i just think you're really uh, . . cool. ❞

@warplanet arra sent: ❝ do you like it here? ❞

lights twinkle in the evening sky. most of them are artificial, glittering buildings, the blinking of vessels zooming through the air traffic lanes. even still, light is good. light means freedom. magnolia smiles softly and looks away from the horizon thick of towers and smog to look at the other woman. she nods. coruscant might be the most beautiful place she has ever stepped foot on. then, she has not seen that many places to begin with outside of padded sells and operation rooms. ❛ i am...close to happy. ❜ she signs slowly, thoughtfully. ❛ i think. ❜

                        the descent is taking far too long than skywalker finds to be tolerable. inside the rumbling dropship, the jedi general paces near the edge of the lowering ramp like a caged predator. every passing second feels to be wasted ... and so naturally, anakin decides he has waited long enough, and launches himself from the ramp. gravity takes him at once, wind tearing through as he plummets toward the battlefield below, freefalling through smoke and blasterfire with defined reckless confidence. all the while, his gloved hand moves for the hilt clipped at his belt.

impact, he crashes down atop a separatist battle droid with such force that metal snaps beneath his boots as it crumples into shattered scrap. in one fluid motion, his lightsaber ignites with violent blue flare, and he moves through the swarm of droids like a storm unleashed. sparks erupt like fireworks, and by time the clones touch ground, little remains of the ambush beside smoking wreckage.