ethelo.

_{❝     who  was  that  ?      ❞    she  was  younger  ,  four years  ,  but  NOT  arguably  she  was  much  more  protective.  she  didn’t  like  that  girl ; she was  too old.  it’s  creepy.  if  you  had  a  babysitter  that’s  fallen  in  love  with  your  brother  ,  you  would  feel  the same  way  she  did  at  this  moment.  now  ,  i  can’t  confirm  whether  or  not  ,  this  was  partially  payback  (  for  events  that  i  am  also  not  allowed  to  discuss  but  was  very  much  like  the scene  she  had  caught  him  and  the  creepy  babysitter in ) ,  but  you  can  decide  on  what  happens  next.   ❝     was  it  her  again  ?  didn’t  you  say  you two  weren’t  anything  ?      ❞}  

                                _{keys lay now forgotten on wooden table ,   lovesick smile previously sported by twisted lips slowly vanishing at the sight of rose.   in its place arrives a smirk   —   followed with an eye roll as heavy jacket is discarded.   ❛   she has a name.   ❜   brows raise in obvious amusement ,   feet carry him towards the younger girl.   ❛   ——   and it’s padmé.   ❜   laughter rings through tense atmosphere   (   simply disregarding her annoyance   )   in a chuckle   :   born of bubbled air beneath his chest ,   an expression of enjoyment.   and his fingers raise ,   quick to ruffle her dark hair affectionately.   ❛   i don’t think i owe you any explanations ,   little sis.   ❜}      

tanriisal.

      ❝ & here I thought you were here on vacation, master skywalker. ❞

      the empress SMIRKS. a jest, of course. she had been expecting the jedi knight, truly, she’s grateful. oh yes, having a jedi to assist her in the investigation would help IMMENSELY. perhaps, with his extra eyes, this will end much more quickly. gods know how much she wants this done & over with. ( however, a part of her fears that this shall not end until the war is over. )

      ❝ please, sit. 

              ——— I’m so grateful to have you here. the attempts have become more frequent & innocent lives have unfortunately come in the crossfire. some of my courtiers have already tried to tell me I made a mistake by staying with the republic. cowards, all of them. ❞  

                                _{gaze twinkles wit appreciative glint   :   it is uncommon   (   yet greatly welcomed   )   to find humor in rulers ,   especially during dangersome times.   another bow   (   less perceptible ,   however still corteous   )   and he’s done what she asked ,   fingers laced ‘neath the sleeves of dark robe.   ❛   the jedi don’t usually go on vacation ,   your highness.   ❜   mirth interwines between each word ,   confident twist of the lips as speech is listened to.   he finds himself agreeing with it ,   nodding while she speaks.   ❛   the separatists   ——   ❜   adjective slips past caged teeth painted by resentment ,   wieghed by years of war.   ❛   are a threat to all of us.   if i may   —   you’ve picked the right side.   ❜   a pause ,   smirk lessening ,   atmosphere perhaps heavier than before.   ❛   i need you to tell me everything you know ,   everything i could use to find the attackers.   ❜}              

democraticqueen.        

                       _{HEART CLENCHES TIGHTLY, CONSTRICTING — leaving her breathless when he cannot even remember the outer rim ( this was his HOME! Not free from cruelty, yet the man she had loved, the boy who had saved them what feels like a lifetime ago, he had come from here. They had met here — this was where it had all began, & it was cruel irony that they were here again now. ) ❛ It’s a part of the galaxy. The largest but — not necessarily the safest. ❜ Or kindest. She sees the confusion warped into alarm as eyes flit around their surroundings, trying to make sense of it all ( yet how can one understand a puzzle when pieces were missing? When all the pieces were gone? ) She feels heavy, a weariness settling over her bones as helplessness rushes through her veins, frustrating in a way she cannot put into words. As if bearing the weight is too much, she takes a few steps ( measured, careful ) towards the chair she had been occupying before ( unable to leave his side for very long. ) ❛ You were in an accident. ❜ The lies choke her ( as if a cruel reminder of the truth, of something else that had wrapped itself around her neck not long ago ) yet she had promised Obi Wan, he had assured her that this was what was best for him.} 

                        _{She doesn’t ask him again of his pain the way she wants to, knowing his disregard had been deliberate ( & it hurts, to know she’s no longer to be trusted. ) Expression softens with a smile she hopes is reassuring. ❛ My friend & I have been taking care of you. ❜ Pain ( naked, raw ) slashes across her features at the question. She had known, had expected it, yet hearing him speak it aloud in tones defensive & so full of mistrust ( & somehow still, so familiar ) had been too much. Features compose themselves, the brief crack in her façade covered, earlier smile trying to find its way back. ❛ I’m Padmé. I’m — ❜ A senator? To what — a broken government? No. Your wife? No, she had been Anakin Skywalker’s wife, not this man’s. A mother — to children he’ll never get to know & love the way he should. ❛ I was there when the accident happened. ❜}

                                _{she speaks and the words should make sense ,   but they don’t.   a galaxy   (   the place he probably called home  !   )   he once was a part of holds absolutely no familiarity ,   each second ticking as adrenaline slides through his chest.   DANGEROUS ,   COLD DREAD PRESENT FROM THE MOMENT HE WOKE.   knot formed at the back of his throat is swallowed ,   head moves in a solemn nod in response to her kind explanation   :   he offers no other reply ,   instead choosing silence as a comforting companion.   eyes remain downcast ,   desperate still to find a solution   —   heavy uncertainty is unnverving him ,   nesting a scream ‘neath his chest.   it does not go unnoticed ,   her movement towards a close chair   (   a source of curiosity   —   who has been sitting besides him  ?   had it been her  ?   alike an angel ,   watching over forgotten frame  ?   )   paired with whispered notes ,   almost pained that fill the atmosphere.   gaze snaps then ,   drawn to her own as shock widens it once again.   ❛   ——   what kind of accident  ?   ❜   distrust colors low voice   ;   not meant to hurt but to protect himself.   until he is certain this place is safe ,   he must not yield ,   must not let his guard down.}   

                                _{❛   WHY  ?   ❜   is this the hundred question sliding past parted lips  ?   bleak world is only a product of doubt ,   gnawning at alabaster bones with astounding intensity ,   preoccupying him   (   a nameless being ,   unprotected   )   until mangled brain is but a shadow itself.   unfriendly mask is siphoned away when her features morph   :   expression twisting into something he wants to vanish ,   a suffering so obvious he feels the need to make it disappear.   I’M SORRY.   apology is stuck between vocal chords ,   for too much dwells inside his mind ,   too convoluted are his emotions.   caged teeth separate ,   however ,   muttered name following their movement.   a caress ,   sweet and melodious in the midst of such tragedy.   ❛   padmé.   ❜   somehow it does not sound strange   —   makes him want to pronounce it a thousand times.   ❛   do i know you  ?   ❜   query will be understood ,   that he is not asking for a name but a connection.   A RELATIONSHIP.   who are you to me  ?   hands buried inside blond curls ,   he now sighs in irritation ,   awaiting her answer with unprecedented eagerness.}      

undcne.

       IT WAS WITH A HUSHED WHISPER   (   from an unknown, yet strikingly familiar voice that once called to him in reveries of the past   )   that he tensed, a solitary syllable lost among shambles of torment and an acute ache to be forgotten   ——   of a NAME that no longer belonged to him. caressed with memories of a time that was once his, he gawked at the sight that since befell him   ——   breath hitched, lips parted, and eyes widened in utter shock. grandfather. he needn’t question his true identity; anakin skywalker stood tall, towering before his presence with a foreign warmth and anguish plaguing the already muddled atmosphere.   ❛  I     ———     I am destined for greatness, grandfather. I have seen and heard many things; your LEGACY is my mission to complete. This is what I must do.  ❜

                                _{unfathomable feelings he experiences are without explanation ,   ethereal emotions beyond the shimmering realm now called home.   they are alike a thousand shreds of ice ,   burning and wounding against his heart   —   such deep pain paired with infinite sadness ,   his former body would not have endured it.   THIS BOY HE HAS WATCHED GROW ,   SMILED AS HIS CHILDREN FINALLY FOUND PEACE.   he knows of it   :   the temptation of darkenss ,   the allure of power.   and of the consequences it brings   —   yes ,   how familiar they are to him  !   ben solo must be stopped ,   before his identity is mangled beyond recognition   ;   before he follows his footsteps.   this is the sole reason for such unexpected visit ,   breeded hope that he will listen.   sigh trickles past faded lips for his words ring archetypal ,   tragically so.   ❛   darth vader’s legacy died along with him ,   ben.   ❜   notes kept soft ,   begging for understanding.   ❛   you must return.   before it’s too late.   ❜}      

ethelo.           

_{she  starts  feeling  empathy  for the  other  child.  rose  knows  a  part  of  who  she  is  meant  to  be  is  compassion  for  all ,  no  matter  how  annoying  they  are. and  of  course  ,  rose  doesn’t  know  if  she  is  meant  to  be a  jedi. this  training  did  cause  her  to  lose  her  family.  but  her conscience, something  she  doesn’t  really  understand  quite  yet ,  tells  her  she’s  doing  the  right  thing.  ❝           i’m …           ❞   pride  blockades her  attempt  ,  but  her  willpower  is  stronger  than  anything  else  in  this  world.  at  this  point   ,  winning  the  argument  is  being  the  first  to  end  it.  ❝          i’m … sorry            ❞.  just  as  the  words  force  past  her  lips  she hugs  him  tight.  ❝           i’ll  get  you  another  one .}            

                                _{blinking ,   blue gaze raises towards her as she begins to speak   —   expectant to hear what will slide past her lips.   brows arched ,   surprise rushes through his veins when an apology is muttered ,   eyes slightly widening ,   mouth opening to reply.   and then she comes closer   :   short arms enveloping his frame.   the embrace fills him with warmth ,   a kind so strange amongst the jedi ,   a shared gesture his mother had gifted him with every single day.   unexpected familiarity creates a knot down his throat   ;   how he has missed such affection  !   it’s enough to melt any remnants of anger ,   his own body moving and patting petite form.   ❛   it’s okay.   ❜   though he is pleased at this outcome ,   emotions he wishes to keep hidden overshadow it.   ❛   i’m sorry ,   too.   i shouldn’t have been so mad.   ❜}    

ethelo.

_{her  lip  begins  to  quiver ;  a WARNING. she  may  be  young  ,  but  she  was  no  less  cunning  than  any  adult. tears  on  demand  were  always  ready . in  this  instance  ,  she refuses  to  acknowledge  the  tears  are  not  completely  derived  from  the  pleasure  of  defeating  anakin. she  has  never  had  her  own  parents. no  chance  to  have any  biological  attachments  of  her  own. unlike  him. do  not  tell  a  word , but  she  often  dreams  of  her  family ,  of  a  family.   before  she  uses  her  secret  weapon , her  voice  recites ,  ❝           passion, yet serenity .  you  broke  the  code  over  a pie  !  how stupid  !          ❞}

                                _{water dwells beneath the dark of her irises yet he pays no mind   —   many hours he has shared with rose ,   knows her enough not to fall prey.   ❛   i’m not stupid  !   ❜   voice is heated by childish anger ,   lips pursed and frown still nested between fair brows.   obi - wan would scold him were he to witness such senseless bickering ,   though that alone is not a motive to cease fighting.   ❛   and it wasn’t just any pie.   it was my favorite.   ❜   annoyance coats each word though wrath has subsided ,   now merely an irritated sigh leaves his lips.   ❛   it wasn’t easy to get.   ❜   it had taken weeks of begging ,   an art anakin had mastered long ago.   with his glare settled on the little girl he sits down ,   legs crossing underneath small body.   ❛   ——   you should apologize.   ❜}              

democraticqueen.     

                   _{SHE WATCHES THE POISON TAKE ROOT within his heart ( her poison ), its path one she can clearly map as he does little to hide his emotions. Or perhaps this Anakin, the one before it all never felt the need to, nor knew how to. The thought hurts her & has her turning around, gaze looking away as the weight of it is seemingly crushing her. She takes in a few shaky breaths ( emotions finally catching up to her, making it hard to breathe, hard to stand here next to him where they were once young & in love & pretend she feels nothing, isn’t aware just how much each deftly aimed blow hits him ) as hands reach for the railing before her ( seeking support, but he needn’t know ) for she CAN’T allow carefully constructed façade to crumble. It had been hard enough the first time, before she had known that their love would bring her such joy ( & so much pain ), when she had tried to be clear-headed. She can feel his anger, back stiffening ( can he feel the flames of it singing her more than it does him? ), her own title on his lips feeling like a CURSE. ❛ Yes but when? How much longer must I — we — wait? ❜ How much more of this does she have to bear?} 

                _{❛ I feel so helpless. ❜ Words are spoken in a lower voice as eyes look down at empty hands — for she has NOTHING to hold onto, had held everything within her fingers only to have them slowly slip away — & now she had to throw them away so it wouldn’t come to that. She turns to face him, still leaning against the railing and her hands that rest upon it. ❛ Surely there must be something we can do? The sooner we find out who it is that’s trying to — ❜ kill her, it should be easy to say ❛ — whoever’s behind this, the sooner you can return to your duties & I to my own. ❜ She’s silent, watching the way his expression has twisted into a shadow of what it had been mere hours ago. ❛ Can I ask you something? ❜}

                                 _{as hard as he tries there is no escaping ,   no hiding from convoluted emotions swirling inside his chest.   they mingle and create a storm difficult to avoid ,   make it hard to breathe with unmatched intensity   :   how laborious it is to navigate them  !   and how dangerous ,   though of this he is not aware.   SERENITY PROVES IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND.   confused brain can almost emulate obi - wan’s stern notes ,   scolding him for failing again   —   yet what he can only do is pretend.   train ashamed features into a cold mask ,   school them into faux peace ,   and such strategy is successful for one heartbeat.   until her tremulous breath is heard ,   back stiffening in immediate response ,   hands turning to clenched fists when her words are spoken.  they are not well received at first   :   his heart takes it as an offense ,   wonders how despicable she must find it here alongside him.   but irrational conclusion quickly dissipates as he remembers who she is   —   a once queen who had done everything to protect her people.   how could the council expect her to remain here and do nothing  ?   kindred feelings of convalescense would fill him as well ,   were anakin in her position ,   that he is able to understand.   had he not been angry when they’d been sent away  ?   ❛   I DON’T KNOW.   ❜   comes his truthful response.   ❛   it’s in the council’s hands now.   ❜}    

                                _{eyes that had looked ‘pon the horizon are drawn back to her frame ,   drawn by her speech   ;   the vulnerability in it.   what he finds incites him to comfort her ,   but he knows not how.   wishes to set a hand on top of her own ,   whisper that things will be alright even if they wont   —   she would not like that.   instead he merely stares ,   unable to stop himself from admiring her beauty ,   ignorant to the glint behind blue irises.   hollowness carves a deep path at the notion of returning to coruscant   (   he to the jedi and she to the senate   ;   paths that ,   although may sporadically cross ,   would alienate them from one another   )   —   he should not care so much.   THIS IS A MISSION LIKE ANY OTHER ,   IS IT NOT  ?   clearing his throat ,   voice carries disappointment.    ❛   i’ve been told to stay with you on naboo until further instruction.   ❜   there is nothing i can do.   he refrains from rolling tense shoulders in an obvious disregard for rules ,   preferring this time to nod   (   perhaps too   )   enthusiastically at her question.   ❛   sure.   ❜}    

ethelo.

 _{face  splashed  with  crumbs  of  pink  &  guilt   ,  she  looked  for  the  only  person ,  the only thing the two children shared ,  for  protection. for  her  own  argument  ,  SHE WAS HERE FIRST.  despite  his  annoyance ,  SHE’S  the  one  who  should  feel  the  fury  that  he  so  often  displays. his  special  skills  aside  ,  she was much  more  worthy  to  be  her own father’s  padawan … but besides  the  point :} 

_{❝          papa ,  gave  it  to  me.            ❞}

                                 _{❛   he’s not your papa.   ❜   comes the whispered grumble ,   eyes burning with irritation.   short arms cross ‘neath his ribs before he speaks again ,   this time louder   —   clearer.   ❛   and we’re not supposed to have attatchments.   ❜   of this he is guilty too ,   every second that dies reminding anakin of his mother   :   her name a constant companion since abandoning tatooine.   DOES HE TRY TO FORGET  !   a shake of the head to vanquish such traitorous thoughts ,   air slides past his lips in one annoyed huff.   ❛   besides ,   that pie wasn’t his to give or yours to eat.   it was mine.   ❜}      

                                                   _{greeted by regality ,   cordial tug of the lips in place as he bows with the utmost respect.   though peaceful in appearance ,   in this planet rules only chaos   —   dangerous waters for its leader to navigate.   ❛   YOUR HIGHNESS.   ❜   words slide past his lips and they’re smooth   ;   confident.   ❛   i’m anakin skywalker   ——   i’m here to find out who’s trying to kill you.   ❜}       

_{❪   @tanriisalliked  !   ❫}  

                                                           _{❛   ——   HEY  !   ❜   as blue gaze narrows his hands are thrown upwards   :   sincere sign of exasperation.   down the pit of his stomach builds ,   not only annoyance but jealousy as well.   will his days be like this from now on  ?   shadowed by a tiny girl who appeared out of thin air  ?   lips purse before he speaks again   —   and then childish notes drip with irritation ,   a tilt of the head to intimidate.   ❛   are you the one who ate my wasaka berry pie  ?   that was from dex’s  !   ❜}    

_{❪   @ethelo  liked  !   ❫}