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Author Topic: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Ch 24 The Right Thing To Do
lost_lauries_grapes  62 posts
Registered: Jun '06
48198_Han and Leia (421091)
Date Posted: 10/3 4:33pm Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Chapter 17 Ramble On
DUN DUN DUUUUUHN! And the plot thickens...

Great job, Preggers. I'm glad that Anakin and Han got to have a talk. Looking forward to next weekend!

 

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*Enjoying Friggin' awesome Strawberry-Banana smoothie*
"The Hidden Harmony is better than the Obvious." --Heraclitus (6th century B.C.)
"You don’t know the power of the cheese ball" - Darth Vader
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TahiriSoloFan  1691 posts
Registered: May '03
19661_Tahiri
Date Posted: 10/3 4:48pm Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Chapter 17 Ramble On
[quote] “Look, I understand and respect that you know your wife, but give me some credit for knowing mine, and, I might add, for a little longer. Yes, your mother does regret what happened, and yes, she does regret what she’s missed, it tears her up that she hasn’t seen you or Will. But you and me fighting about it ain’t gonna help. We’re probably the only two rational members in this family. If you and I don’t step up and do something this could drag out forever, and I want my family back, Anakin. I want my son and my daughter-in-law, but most of all, I want my grandson, and I’m sorry if putting Will ahead of you hurts your feelings, but I’m trying to be honest here.”

Anakin smiled at his father. “That’s okay, he’s pretty amazing. I’d put him ahead of me too.”

“Can you give them a chance? Can’t you see that they’re sorry?”

Anakin grew serious again and sighed. “Frankly, no. Mom’s made no attempt to apologize, and I’m pretty damn sure Jacen isn’t sorry. Tahiri probably saved Jacen’s life today, and could have gotten herself killed doing it, and he’s been nothing but nasty to her since he walked into my hangar. For whatever reason he wasn’t a huge fan of hers before she blamed him for Myrkr, I can’t imagine that he’ll ever like her. In all honestly, I don’t care, but the one thing he’ll have to do, the one thing I will demand, is that he treat her with respect. If today is anything to go by, he’s far from capable of doing that, so I’m far from feeling that a reconciliation is possible. [/quote]

Ok, Anakin....you're being a bit of an ass. tired Somebody has to make the first move and Han has apologized,and Jania too (abeit under the influence...but she was trying even before that) so now you take a step in their direction too.
I love that you have Han remind Anakin that he does have a little more life experience than him too, even if hs doesn't have Jedi powers. Anakin is slipping a little too much into assuming he ALWAYS knows best. Nicely done! applause

 

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Auntie & the Chickens ~ Keepin' hope alive praying
A/T ~ Greater than the sum of their parts
J/J ~ Unstoppable force vs. unmoveable object
AKA ~Auntie ~ Chicken Wrangler Extraordinaire~ chicken
Joshua 1:9
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Jade_eyes  6598 posts
Registered: Aug '04
Date Posted: 10/4 11:36am Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Chapter 17 Ramble On
This rocked!!!!!!! The humor was off the charts & Han with Anakin BRILLIANT BRILLIANT! Better characterizations it would be very near impossible to find!!!!

Bravo and hugs!!!!

applause
grin
p.S. I want the Slord cake recipe LOL!!

mischief

 

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"There was love all around, But I never heard it singing.
No I never heard it at all, Till there was you."--Beatles
Of & for my angel sweeties--Spock/Nyota, of course love love kiss
E-sib to Mira_Jade, aka Mira_Pilot hugs hugs
Cheesecake Squggles! dancing
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JediRowan 
Registered: Jun '04
Date Posted: 10/4 12:50pm Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Chapter 17 Ramble On
Sigh. Maybe I'm just an old fogey already, but I'm kind of disgusted with the so-called adults in charge of that Star Destroyer (Wedge, Tycho and Co.). Anakin and Tahiri and Valin don't need to be drinking and gambling and so on, they need to be smacked and sent to their rooms. Not that Jacen isn't being childish and petulant, but I don't see how Anakin and Tahiri and Co are any better. If they got attacked by Vong right now, they'd be so blow out of the sky and how is that responsible or adult? And no "they're not on duty" isn't an excuse. It's a genocidal war, if you want to stay alive, you're ALWAYS on duty. And yet they get stoned and goof off and that's fine, but Luke's a deserter because he goes after Zonoma Sekot? Please.

WIP or not (and it's alway going to be read chapter by chapter and if you lose a reader because they don't buy characterizaton, they're lost. A WIP argument only applies if you're planning to go back and change something later.) So explanation in chapter 23 or not, I'm afraid I'm so disgusted with the behavior of everybody (including behavior I don't buy, like Leia's, abandon her grandchild, for ANY reason? Not happening), that I don't care how you explain it. Sorry.


Not to say that this isn't well-written on a technical level (it is!) and that it's not the best scenario for using flow-walking to save Anakin that I've read (it absolutely IS!!) and Will's not adorable (because he is). But I just can't enjoy it because I don't believe in the characterizations of most of this crowd, and because I continually want to slap the characters that the author seems to believe are in the right, and I can't take it anymore.

I know I sound harsh, but trust me that it's a compliment that I cared enough about this story at the beginning to post in the first place, and then to complain about it later. And now that it's unequivocal that the direction this story is going in is not working for me, I won't be bothering you anymore.

 
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star_writer24  1086 posts
Registered: Aug '06
49383_Anakin Solo (1005092)
Date Posted: 10/4 2:28pm Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Chapter 17 Ramble On - Date Edited: 10/4 2:39pm (1 edits total) Edited By: star_writer24
Okay sorry I've been out of the Loop for so long...am ready to comment!

First off I want to tell you how much I love your characterizations I think they are very original and refreshing and open up possibilities for the plot of NJO that people haven't really considered before! I loved your characterization of Tahiri when she was a little bit tipsy (not stoned). The Star Food/ Grandpa bit was hysterical and you don't often get to see her or Jaina like that and it is a lot of fun. I also love how the characters in the squad and the so called "Adults" Wedge, Tycho and Co. all tend to gravitate towards A/T in this story. This couple is fun! This couple understand the things that are truly important in life! This couple doesn't believe in handling things exactly like the Jedi/parents/family etc do...and yet they are still successful in doing their part for the war and enjoying every minute they have together I think this story and it's main point go back to what Valin says...and if you don't get that...then you just aren't going to get this story!

Valin shook his head and laughed again; then looked back at Jaina. “You just don’t get it, do you? He’s walked across two planets for her; she refused to give up on him when everyone else was sure he was dead. Demonstrative? They rejoice in every kriffing second they have together. Yes, they’re demonstrative, yes, we tease them about it. None of us would have it any other way. The rest of us pray that we’ll find love like that one day. It’s what we all aspire to, it’s what we’re all fighting to live for.”

“I can’t believe how much he’s changed,” Jaina finally said.

“He hasn’t changed at all,” Valin went on, “you’re just seeing a side of him that he used to only show her.”

This still just completely knocks me over with the gritty truth of it! Wish I had thought of it...green with jealousy!...J/K... you know I love you Preggers!

Also love the heart to heart Han and Anakin have. I appreciate how the characters are willing to face head on the imperfections and problems that their less than pleasant behavior sometimes creates...The black/white light/dark side characterizations get so old for those who are Force sensitive and it's nice to see some of the former Jedi act like real people. I was reading a story recently...can't remember where it was or who wrote it or if it was fanfic or cannon but it was about Syal A. remembering something her father Wedge once said...and that was even though the Jedi are fighting on the same side as you they are often fighting for something completely different then what you are...and Syal begins to appreciate that has she gets to know and understand the Jedi more and more.

This statement rang true to me when I was thinking about how the Jedi are handling this war versus everyone else, and that is because they do have a different agenda and that agenda is different from what Anakin/Tahiri and everyone else is fighting the war for.

Okay as always love the story! And looking forward to more!

E-



 

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If its A/T PM Me!
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frankieskywalker  1045 posts
Registered: Apr '06
46181_Padme Jedi
Date Posted: 10/4 8:21pm Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Chapter 17 Ramble On
i love that Tahiri and Valin fight with each other but dont let any one else diss the other

great update as always

 

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and so the plot bunnies attack
a whole in his heart http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=24122906&brd=10477
my second fic Your sightless eyes have seen too much
http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/24195526/p1/?0
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JediMike2372  62 posts
Registered: Jun '08
Date Posted: 10/6 8:18am Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Chapter 17 Ramble On
Great post. The humor is great and the talk between Han and Anakin is really good. Jason still needs to be smacked down, but Jag looks like he may loosen up a litte. Jaina and Han are the only ones to really see what they are missing out on. Mara might be a little more understanding, but I believe that Luke, Leia and Jason are being a little too stuck up for their own good. And while I might somewhat agree that Tahiri's characterization is almost a little Mary Sue-ish, who cares. It's fun and entertaining and that what doing these are all about. If people want canon, go read the travesty that is LOTF or even FOTJ. Again, great post.

 
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pregnantpadme  1124 posts
Registered: Oct '04
40091_UR breaking my <3
Date Posted: 10/8 6:00pm Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Chapter 17 Ramble On
Considering the absurdly atrocious week I've had... It's funny that when I wrote this I started off with the phrase 'perspective is a funny thing...'


ESP?




Perspective is a very funny thing.

You all read the same update last week, and yet many of you came away with very different takes. Some of you thought Anakin was pompous and unforgiving, or disrespectful. Many of you thought Tahiri continued to be portrayed as a Mary Sue, some thought her irreverence was funny. Some of you found the younglings antics to be disrespectful, others thought it was funny, some just didn’t see any humor in the younger generation poking fun at history, while others found their antics hysterical.

I’d like to take a second to say that while I do tend to skew toward favoring Anakin and Tahiri, they are my favorite characters after all, and the characters my story is about, I have tried to portray them as human, (too many Slord cakes being a questionable choice, as was Tahiri’s not very sensitive imitation of Darth Vader for example) as have I tried to portray the rest of the family as human and not always making stellar choices.

The whole point of the story was to put these people into a difficult emotional situation, and then see how the situation (s) played out.

I never expected them all to make the best decisions, and in fact thought that they’d make mistakes and that those mistakes would contribute to the drama and that that drama would be what would make the story interesting.

Anyway, that was sort of what I was going for and hoped that you, as readers would be interested in what I would come up with in terms of enjoying the ride. I have to say, I’ve been, at various times, happily surprised by some of the reactions, at times, saddened, at times thrilled, at times stunned, and at times simply thrown for a loop.
I appreciate those of you who have hung on and given my little story the benefit of the doubt and hung on even when you didn’t know where I was going and weren’t sure if you wanted to see what was coming next but tuned in on the following Friday anyway; that’s made me very happy.

And, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, here are the individual replies to your comments.


CanisBlack
Welcome Back, and as always; thank you for ready. You know, it’s funny, but it took me a minute to figure out what you were talking about because I never connected Jaina’s tought about running Jacen through with the lightsaber to canon until the like 18th time I read your comment. Silly me. I guess because I try to block out most of canon.

As far as the big deal with Luke and the family, that comes up this week.


Kidan
Good to see you, as always, glad you’re still hanging in and enjoying the show. I do like to hang the ominous-ness right there at the end. I usually do it in hopes that it will keep you coming back for more.


Master_Jaina1011

Ah, Lovey…where to begin? I guess at the start?

I’m just going to paste everything over and cut out what we’ve already beaten to death and go from there:

*wipes hands*
Use anti-bacterial – damn Swine flu… which I swore was a hoax had me flat for 13 days. Trust me when I say you don’t want it.
Would have saved Jaina a lot of grief when all was said and done.

I agree with everything you said. No worries, i was going to go on a rant too.
It’s kismet… we rant about the same things. I still never really got how ZS really helped anything, other than as a place to stash the Vong afterwords. But couldn’t they have found somewhere else?

So i have to wait for things to be explain till chp 23? man....lol.
The ‘magic’ chapter. No, there will be more before that, I promise.

Ok on the the funny and wonderful post...
I’m so glad you liked it, I loved writing it.

Anything to do with SkySolo family drama is always interesting.
I find them a fascinating family. The dynamics are so skewed.

At least he said hi to her first, which kind showed me his first step of trying to talk to his family but also saying at the same time, she's also a part of my life, get used to it. Anakin may not have meant it, but it was the right thing to say to his mother. Basically saying accept me and my wife.
See, that was sort of my feeling. Leia really needs to get off her high horse… or Bantha. They all need to accept each other, Tahiri as much as the others, and they have a lot of work to do. Iv’e worked hard to illustrated that they are all flawed, and that the common denominator is Anakin and if they all want Anakin, then they all need to meet in the middle, because Anakin has made it very clear where his priorites lie.

I absolutely loved everyone's reaction. From Wedge to Jacen to Jag. One being amusement, two being angry and three...well who knows what he was thinking. May be a little dense at times...but I am sure he is thoroughly enjoying the state Jaina is in.
In this particular time frame… did Jag ever really know how to handle Jaina? That didn’t come until years later.

First one of the bunch to apologize. I think Anakin is still mad at his entire family but he does realize that she is making an attempt,
Yes, Anakin does realize. He’s not a dumb bunny. He totally got it, and he got that Jaina was making an effort with Tahiri and he appreciated that to. Jaina was scoring major points. Also, as Anakin explains to Han later, Anakin knows everything that happened on Hapes. Tahiri would never lie to Anakin, and, is not capable of lying, because of their bond, so he knows exactly what everyone said and did. Part of his issue with his mother and brother is that he knows that Leia blamed Tahiri for his ‘death’.

under the influence of who knows what, to say I'm sorry for how she acted. Which goes back to my last review of her not having Anakin is akin to losing a part of herself. Anakin is still a little skeptical and he has a right to be but I have to say Jaina really does miss Anakin and wants to get to know Tahiri and Will.
I think I hit on this above, but yes, they were the most alike. And they are the most like Han, which will be hit on later, and not in Chapter 23.

And you were right Tahiri is a very bad influence. or a good one whichever way you wanna look at it.
Girl bonding is a good thing.

So I have to admit it took me a little while to get what the sim was all about, even after Anakin explained it to Han. After reading the second time I was like ohhhhh.... with the trances and everything. That was quite the entertaining part. Anakin really has built that squad that is like s family. They bicker, tease, die for one another and stand up for one another.
Exactly, and the Antilles and the Celchus are as much a part of that circle that Anakin has built around himself because he knows when to be responsible and all business and he knows when to cut lose. He and Tahiri know when to be adults and do what needs to be done and they are great at what they need to do, and they are great at being part of the gang and making their squad, including the mechanics and tech, feel like they are important and a part of the family feel important too.

I loved the entire what is the word for star food line. Valin. Man, the woman is quite a trip.
In canon, Anakin was a genius, he was wonderboy, he was written by Stackpole (I think it was Stackpole) to be brilliant because Stackpole knew he was slated to die and loved his character and was hoping that if he wrote Anakin well enough maybe the editors would give him an 11th hour reprieve. Sadly for us, they didn’t. But, from my perspective, for Tahiri to have been what she was to Anakin, I can’t see that she was a vapid blonde if she meant so much to him if he was such a genius wonderboy, so I’ve written her to be able to keep up with him. Now, I’ve been accused of making her a Mary Sue, which, ironically, I’ve tried specifically not to do, which is why I’ve tried to show her as flawed. Oh, well.

And the you're not saving his ass this time, kid. OMG, I was laughing so hard. It was quite amusing to see that Han got that remark, whereas Luke and Leia didn't. I think Mara has had to evil sense of humor that I think would get what Valin and Tahiri are doing.
Again, I had her say something grossly inappropriate, to show that she is flawed.

Thank you Jaina. And the under the influence girl bonding begins. Even though they aren't themselves, its nice to see those two making nice. Maybe this will continue and they will talk things out. Maybe by now Jaina realizes that Tahiri isn't perfect and will be a great friend in the future.
Exactly. And, funnily enough, when I made Jaina see her as ‘perfect’ coming out of her x-wing a couple of chapters back, that was pure perception, not actual. That was Jaina feeling bad about herself and tired. Tahiri wasn’t actually looking perfect, I was trying to drive home the point that Jaina was feeling yucky and there was Tahiri, always making things look easy, and having Anakin wrapped around her finger and Anakin would barely give Jaina the time of day. Unfortunaley I didn’t write it well enough for the readers to get that.

And Grandpa? Where did that...ohhhh. Never mind. Now that reference took me the third time to get it! God I can be slow sometimes. As for the trances that is interesting. I would love to her what Luke's reaction is to that!

"Oh, that is not right for a Jedi to do. It will lead to the dark side."
Exactly. ‘Corran refuses to watch anymore’

Now onto the Han/Anakin conversation. It is apparent that Han has been the one to really understand, (I don't know if understand is the right word) or accept Anakin's actions. This conversation proves it. Well kinda.
Han was the one that knew he had to get Tahiri out of there and sent her to Iella to begin with. He made the best of a bad situation. Anakin knows that on some level, even if he still is frustrated.

I loved (umm...how many times can I say loved?) the Han Anakin banter about Tahiri and her throwing herself in front of stuff. In my opinion, I love the fact you made her good at something. In profic, her talents were never mentioned, never built upon. The fact you made her an ace pilot like Jaina, is great. I love what you have done in building each character's personalities and talents. And of course I love the fact you have written Jaina so well. You have captured her well.
I was actually just trying to make her a good pilot who happens to be a Jedi, and that makes her better than most. She’s not as good as Jaina or Anakin or Jag, she as good or better than Valin, but Valin is younger, and she’s a Jedi, and like Anakin said, she’ll through herself in front of anything. So, she compensates for her lack of Ace ability by daring.

Anyways, then the conversation about Will. So cute. I love the fact that Anakin is at least including Han in the pictures of his son and not totally excluding him. Then Han asking about Tahiri, which was sweet on his part. Trying to show Anakin he wants that relationship back.
That was a throw back to when Anakin was missing and Iella was sending pics of Will to Han every week and Tahiri wasn’t supposed to know that Iella was doing it, or that Han had set the whole thing up with her and Iella, but Tahiri knew all along that Han had set Tahiri and Iella up, and Tahiri knew all along that Iella was sending pics of Will to Han. In one draft I had Tahiri sitting across the desk from Iella handing her the pics that Tahiri wanted Iella to transmit to Han, picking out the cutest ones, or the ones where he looked the most like Anakin, but some hoe that didn’t make it into the final draft.

Now Anakin does admit he knows his wife's faults and that he was angry at her for awhile. It was the two most important facets of his life up against each other.
I thought that was really important. I really wanted to show that Anakin wasn’t blindly choosing Tahiri, or that she had lied in anyway, or that he didn’t understand exactly what happened on Hapes. Again, they are Jedi, and they have an incredible connection in the Force. SHE CAN’T LIE TO HIM!!!!!!!

He chose Tahiri, his family didn't get that. Now maybe Han will. Because Anakin was right. Tahiri was alone, no one to care for her, no one to talk to about what happened to Anakin on the mission. She was abandoned, again. And in all truthfulness, I would be angry at my family is something happened like that.
Exactly. And, as I had him think in the beginning, as much as he’d hate to have to be faced with the choice, if he had to make it, he’d choose her with out a second thought. He loves her, she’s his partner, SHE’S HIS WIFE.

And for those who don't like Tahiri, she carried the guilt of ruining that relationship too. She wished she acted better than she did. See!
Which is something that none of them have ever considered.

And I can understand why Anakin says no. Jacen is being a outright prick and doesn't deserve a chance. He needs to pushed out the airlock. I personally think that Leia need a little more time to accept what has happened. War has torn her from her youngest and now maybe her daughter. I think in time she will make the attempt to apologize. Hopefully she does.
All that will be coming up soon, now that they’re on the same ship.

Now Jaina's POV was wonderful. She is the pilot of the group and seems to understand more now of what is going on.
She and Han were outvoted. Remember?

She's not distancing herself anymore. And maybe just maybe she won't go along with whatever Luke has up his sleeve. Whatever you do, my favorite character do not go on the hunt of Sekot!
Anakin seems to think she did.

Uh-oh...is more family drama on the way. Is that why Han was trying to make nice? They were trying to make nice to ask a huge favor of Anakin? Seriously?
Stop, drop and roll…
Duck and cover…
Hide the silver…
Clear the breakfast dishes…
Who here speaks Yuuzhan Vong?

I don't know. Don't underestimate Anakin.
That line will come back to haunt us!

He might surprise you.
Oh… he’ll surprise someone…

Now it makes me wonder exactly why they all arrived to talk to Anakin about. Are they going to include Tahiri or treat her as before? SHe may be an asset to them. As for everything else, Jaina maybe someday they will be. You never know
*evil maniacal laugh*

And btw, nothing is wrong with Led Zepplin!
Continous loop for the last three weeks!

oh and one more thing...the counting of how many cakes Tahiri has only to have both of them say "Forty Two!" at the same time. Nice reference again there!
It had to be done.

Oh and Jaina contemplating running Jacen through with her lightsaber for being such a jerk. Second throw down.
He’s an easy target.

Ok I think I am done now!
Nicely crafted, and I can’t tell you how very much I enjoyed it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!



lost_lauries_grapes
I still laugh whenever I see your screen name.

DUN DUN DUUUUUHN! And the plot thickens...
Like Thanksgiving gravy with too much flour added.

Great job, Preggers.
Thank you. I worked really hard to get as much of the family and all their emotions in as I could.

I'm glad that Anakin and Han got to have a talk.
Thank you. I wanted to get in there that Anakin didn’t think that it was all the family’s fault what happened on Hapes, that he understood that Tahiri contributed to the mayhem, but that he had definite reasons of his own to be upset. Also, I when he said that he wasn’t ready to deal with Leia and Jacen, that was really because of the fact that he was so hurt that they would treat the woman he loved so badly.

Looking forward to next weekend!
I hope I don’t’ disappoint.

TahiriSoloFan
Hmmmmm…. This is a hard one to address. But I’ll give it my best.

Ok, Anakin....you're being a bit of an ass. Somebody has to make the first move and Han has apologized,and Jania too (abeit under the influence...but she was trying even before that) so now you take a step in their direction too.

First off, I thought I illustrated that Anakin’s was fine with Han, he’s been having Iella continue to send pics of Will to Han, as Tahiri was having pics of Will sent to Han before Anakin turned up. They are/were both aware that Han was trying to straddle the line of keeping the rest of the family happy while still keeping tabs on Anakin and Tahiri and Will and don’t seem to be holding that against Han, though Han has made no attempt to actually contact them during any of this.

Anakin was genuinely glad to see his dad, and enjoyed them talking up until Han asked if Tahiri was the reason Anakin hasn’t sought the family out, and Anakin gave Han the benefit of the doubt and made a conscious decision to credit Han with asking a question rather than ‘blame’ Tahiri with trying to ‘keep’ Anakin away from his family.

I love that you have Han remind Anakin that he does have a little more life experience than him too, even if hs doesn't have Jedi powers.
That was more of me trying to write Han as he talks than Han trying to slap Anakin down. My feeling here was that Han respects Anakin and feels for what Anakin has been through. He’s well aware that Anakin has been through a lot, and in my mind, Han has continued to keep tabs on Anakin and Tahiri through Iella, and, as I had Anakin thinking a couple of chapters ago, and as Jacen thought last chapter, everyone knows that Anakin and Tahiri had split up for awhile, so, again, that was more about Han trying to connect to Anakin then Han trying to one up his son. He’s trying to connect after a lot of really crappy stuff has gone on. Also, as I wrote the story, Han did not agree with a lot of the stuff that went down in the family, which is the whole reason he set up Tahiri with the Antilles in the first place, he even ‘thought’ in the chapter where Anakin turned up that he hoped that Tahiri now knew that Han had brokered that deal and that he hoped Tahiri knew whose side Han was on so that he’d get access to Anakin.

Anakin isn’t slipping a little too much into assuming he ALWAYS knows best. He’s trying to protect his wife from his family who treated her really badly during a time when he specifically asked his father to protect her. He’s not mad at Han here, he’s hoping Han will understand his position in a difficult situation. Also, I think I worded one sentence badly. When Han asked ‘can’t you see that they’re sorry?’ Anakin answers “No, Mom’s made no effort to apologize and I’m pretty damn sure Jacen isn’t sorry.”

That was worded badly. Leia had only just arrived, she hadn’t had a chance to even speak to Anakin and Tahiri, Jacen was the one who had acted badly, even after Tahiri had saved his life earlier, so that was bad writing on my part.

I don’t know if that clears anything up, or changes your perspective. But, those are my thoughts.

As always, thanks for checking back in, and I hope this weeks update doesn’t blow the story out of the water for you. Just remember, there is a method to my madness, and Leia and Tahiri will be having a heart to heart sooner rather than later.


Jade_eyes
This rocked!!!!!!! The humor was off the charts & Han with Anakin BRILLIANT BRILLIANT! Better characterizations it would be very near impossible to find!!!!
I’m thrilled beyond words that you enjoyed it! It was a blast to write, though I must admit, I was afraid that people would, and some did, would be insulted. Oh, well. Can’t please everyone.

Bravo and hugs!!!!
Thank you! That is appreciated beyond what the limited number of adjectives in the English language allows me to use.

p.S. I want the Slord cake recipe LOL!!
All the ingredients can be found in any human pantry!


JediRowan
I know you said that you weren’t going to read anymore, but I’ve never not responded to a reader, and as you took the time to leave a message in my thread, I would consider it rude and unbecoming to not address your notes. Hopefully you’ll read, but if not, that’s okay too.

Sigh. Maybe I'm just an old fogey already
Hardly. We all have different tastes. You have already said once that my story was not to your liking, that fact that you came back said something in regards to the fact that you were willing to give it a second change; I considered that a high compliment.

but I'm kind of disgusted with the so-called adults in charge of that Star Destroyer (Wedge, Tycho and Co.). Anakin and Tahiri and Valin don't need to be drinking and gambling and so on, they need to be smacked and sent to their rooms.
I’ve studied a fair amount of history, and know several military, police, firemen/women and other service personal and in every branch of service there is R&R or off duty. It is what keeps them people serving us going. It is what allows them to cut loose and burn off steam because they perform such intensely highpressure jobs. I thought about going through my Rogue Squadron comics to look up examples of times when the actual Rogues were shown doing such things, or digging out my copies of the Rebel Stand and Rebel Dream books for the comments that Wes Jansen and Wedge and Tycho made about the ‘home brewed’ drinks they had on Borelias, or Tahiri and Jaina talking about the makeshift hot tub the Rogue boys had made, but I was too lazy.

Not that Jacen isn't being childish and petulant, but I don't see how Anakin and Tahiri and Co are any better. If they got attacked by Vong right now, they'd be so blow out of the sky and how is that responsible or adult? And no "they're not on duty" isn't an excuse.

Well, luckily, Anakin and Co aren’t they only squadron on that star destroyer, so they may be able to pull a few others together to defend and fight off the Vong while the adrenaline rush rocketed through the partiers, which, history has proved, would happen, and the ones who were parting, and weren’t able to take 30 minutes to do rejuvenation trances while their X-Wings were being fueled up, got into their flightsuits. All in all, I’m sure they’d be okay.

It's a genocidal war, if you want to stay alive, you're ALWAYS on duty. And yet they get stoned and goof off and that's fine,
Here, I’m afraid we do disagree, and see my argument at the top. If one loses sight of what one is fighting for… what is one fighting for? If there is no joy in life, why fight for joy? Or, as Valin said about Anakin and Tahiri, “it’s what we’re all fighting to live for”

but Luke's a deserter because he goes after Zonoma Sekot? Please.
I had issues with how Luke handled the war form day one. Or, rather book one. I dislike most of the series, as I dislikes most of the subsequent series, as far as Luke’s motivations, goals, objectives, rationales… so, yeah, the whole leaving the war, after helping to rig an election and positioning himself to have a place in the galactic government, and then assigning beings he hand picked to vote in his place while he traipsed off to the unknown regions in search of a planet that may or may not have existed, that he only knew about because a crazy chicken told his nephew about it while she was torturing him? Why was it so important that he traipse of to go looking for this planet that may or may not have existed, but never thought to go pay a visit to his son?

I find it interesting that I’ve been getting flak from people who think I’ve characterized the Solos and the Skywalkers poorly, that I’ve painted them as unfairly uncaring for not having paid attention to Will, Anakin and Tahiri’s baby, when Luke and Mara spent years not seeing their own child, and Han and Leia went FIVE YEARS without seeing their son after the Vong war.

And don’t even get me started on the numerous way in which Luke let Tahiri down, or ignored the ways in which she needed help, or needed therapy, or needed to be treated in a way that was vastly different from the way in which she was treated. I could write a freaken book.

Oh, wait, I am.

WIP or not (and it's alway going to be read chapter by chapter
That phraseology makes me think that by WIP, you are implying that the term means that if a reader is not happy with a chapter, than a writer should go back and change something that has been written. What I mean by WIP, is that the plot is slowly revealed over time as the chapters are posted. That aspects of the story take on new meaning as more information is doled out over time. If all the information was laid out at one time, it would be a vignette. If work was changed because a reader didn’t like something, it would be a ‘choose your own ending’. This is neither of those things.

and if you lose a reader because they don't buy characterizaton, they're lost.
I’m not sure what that means.

A WIP argument only applies if you're planning to go back and change something later.)
I think I already answered that.

So explanation in chapter 23 or not, I'm afraid I'm so disgusted with the behavior of everybody (including behavior I don't buy, like Leia's, abandon her grandchild, for ANY reason? Not happening),
Again… Luke and Mara… don’t see their own child for three years, Han and Leia don’t see their own son for five years… why, in the middle of a war, would you be so disgusted by my writing Leia not seeing Will. I find it fascinating that you find that so hard to believe, and find it so insulting. In fact, Han and Leia go months in canon without seeing their own children during the war. I have to admit, I am genuinely flummoxed my your taking such exception with this.

that I don't care how you explain it. Sorry.
Okay.


Not to say that this isn't well-written on a technical level (it is!)
Okay.

and that it's not the best scenario for using flow-walking to save Anakin that I've read (it absolutely IS!!)
Somewhat empty, as far as compliments go, but okay.

and Will's not adorable (because he is).
Again, somewhat empty, but, okay.

But I just can't enjoy it because I don't believe in the characterizations of most of this crowd, and because I continually want to slap the characters that the author seems to believe are in the right, and I can't take it anymore.
Here, is where I think the crux of the issue truly lies, Never have I said that any of the characters are in the right.

I do not believe that Tahiri was ‘right’ to have said that things to Leia that she said on Hapes.

I do not believe that Leia was ‘right’ to blame Tahiri for Anakin’s death.

I do not believe that it is ‘right’ for Anakin to freeze his family out.

I do not believe it is ‘right’ for Jacen to hate Tahiri so passionately.

I do not believe it is ‘right’ for Luke and Mara to have left their infant son in the Maw for three years.

I do not believe it was ‘right’ for Older Tahiri to have used flow walking to go back in time to have told Younger Tahiri and Younger Anakin about the mission to Myrkr in order to help them change what came before.

The point of this story was to explore what the possibilities of Older Tahiri’s choices could have brought about, and then explore the possibilities and the emotions that could have come into play as a result of Older Tahiri’s actions.

I’ve never claimed that any of these characters were ‘right’ or ‘better’ than any of the other characters, I’ve simply tried to explore a series of possibilities and have a little fun while doing so.

I know I sound harsh, but trust me that it's a compliment that I cared enough about this story at the beginning to post in the first place, and then to complain about it later. And now that it's unequivocal that the direction this story is going in is not working for me, I won't be bothering you anymore.

The only thing that saddens me is that you won’t be given the story the chance to see were it goes. You may find at the end that there was actually a point. That in the end that characters learned something about themselves and each other and that their journey was worth it. From my perspective, if the characters were exactly the way we wanted them to be from page one to page 300, then where would the fun be? Where would the tension be? Where would the journey be? Would they learn anything about themselves or each other? What would the point of reading be if these people were the same at theh end as they were at the beginning?

Okay, like I said, I highly doubt that you’ll even have read this, but it made me feel better getting it off my chest, and if any of the rest of you read it, thank you for that.

Star_writer24
Look what you’re following my friend!
And thank you for batting clean up! You made me feel a lot better after the shock of that one.

Okay sorry I've been out of the Loop for so long...am ready to comment!
understandable, and you couldn’t have picked a better time to show up.

First off I want to tell you how much I love your characterizations I think they are very original and refreshing and open up possibilities for the plot of NJO that people haven't really considered before!
Thank you. I was trying really hard to do something original, and not fall back on characterizations that have been seen before.

I loved your characterization of Tahiri when she was a little bit tipsy (not stoned). The Star Food/ Grandpa bit was hysterical and you don't often get to see her or Jaina like that and it is a lot of fun.
Thank you, Jaina doesn’t get to cut lose enough, and I was really trying to make the case that Han and Jaina were there for Anakin and Tahiri, that they saw all points of view, and that they wanted the family brought back together.

I also love how the characters in the squad and the so called "Adults" Wedge, Tycho and Co. all tend to gravitate towards A/T in this story. This couple is fun! This couple understand the things that are truly important in life!
True, they’ve been stripped of everything, and then found what’s important to them. Although, all of these people have, its just that some of them are more in touch with the idea of appreciating the now than others are.

This couple doesn't believe in handling things exactly like the Jedi/parents/family etc do...and yet they are still successful in doing their part for the war and enjoying every minute they have together I think this story and it's main point go back to what Valin says...and if you don't get that...then you just aren't going to get this story!
Exactly. They are more than pulling their weight. They are more than doing their share in fighting, but everyone needs to cut lose and have fun and remember what they are fighting to live for. Even the Chiss know that.


This still just completely knocks me over with the gritty truth of it! Wish I had thought of it...green with jealousy!...J/K... you know I love you Preggers!
I was channeling… even I can’t take credit… Valin wrote that himself.

Also love the heart to heart Han and Anakin have. I appreciate how the characters are willing to face head on the imperfections and problems that their less than pleasant behavior sometimes creates...
If we can all remember back to that day in the med center when Anakin was found… Han brokered the deal with Iella to get Tahiri away form the family, Han kept tabs on Tahiri throughout her pregnancy and afterwards on her and Will, and, as Anakin obviously knows, based on the discussion about the pics of Will, Iella is still sending pics of Will to Han, or, Anakin himself is, and yet still, Leia is not openly apart of this. So Han is in the unenviable position of trying to maintain some sort of relationship with his son and daughter-in-law, while his other son and wife are refusing to budge on their positions in the situation.

Han is stuck in the middle. At least Anakin is open to Han and the two have a nice talk, up until Han tries to get Anakin to forgive everyone.

The black/white light/dark side characterizations get so old for those who are Force sensitive and it's nice to see some of the former Jedi act like real people. I was reading a story recently...can't remember where it was or who wrote it or if it was fanfic or cannon but it was about Syal A. remembering something her father Wedge once said...and that was even though the Jedi are fighting on the same side as you they are often fighting for something completely different then what you are...and Syal begins to appreciate that has she gets to know and understand the Jedi more and more.
It’s true, they really do have a lot more weight on their shoulders because of the inherent power and their inherent ability to wreak havoc. Sort of makes you think that Jacen wasn’t totally wrong, he just went about spouting his concerns in such a pompous way no one wanted to listen to him.

This statement rang true to me when I was thinking about how the Jedi are handling this war versus everyone else, and that is because they do have a different agenda and that agenda is different from what Anakin/Tahiri and everyone else is fighting the war for.
Ah… yes… Anakin and Tahiri’s agenda… we’ll be seing more of that soon. And we won’t even have to wait for chapter 23… though Rowan won’t be here to complain about that so, it won’t matter.

Okay as always love the story! And looking forward to more!

As always… thank you.

L


frankieskywalker
i love that Tahiri and Valin fight with each other but don’t let any one else diss the other
Remember… they’ve been through a lot together. Valin was Tahiri’s closest friend at the academy when Anakin was gone, he was there when she was captured, and here, clearly he escaped the Maw… or Corran let him escape… though I haven’t quite worked out for story purposes why on earth Corran would let him loose with Anakin and Tahiri… I’ve sort of decided in my head that Mirax overruled Corran and decided, “Honestly, Corran how much trouble can he get into? He’ll be with Wedge and Iella. And Winter and Tycho.” While Anakin and Tahiri are giving Corran innocent looks and Corran is glaring at them.

But yeah, Tahiri and Valin would be like siblings.

great update as always
I’m glad you enjoyed it, see you next week.




JediMike2372
Great post. The humor is great
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

and the talk between Han and Anakin is really good.
Thank you, I really wanted to show that Anakin knew where Han stood with what was going on.

Jason still needs to be smacked down,
Jacen is still Jacen.

but Jag looks like he may loosen up a litte.
He didn’t earn the name ‘Captian Cardboard for nothing. Maybe Yorg will get that recipe and Jaina will get a few cakes in him.

Jaina and Han are the only ones to really see what they are missing out on.
I think maybe the other do… but it’s often hard to reach out.

And while I might somewhat agree that Tahiri's characterization is almost a little Mary Sue-ish, who cares.
No matter how hard I try… I had her make questionable choices (how many Slord cakes does a woman need? How inappropriate where those Darth Vader breathing sounds? And I still get accused of making her Mary Sue-ish? I refuse to have her Bar-B-Que Will!!!!)

It's fun and entertaining and that what doing these are all about. If people want canon, go read the travesty that is LOTF or even FOTJ. Again, great post.
Okay!!!! I’ll take that! Especially since the very genesis of this story was my thumbing my nose at the travesty that is what was done to Tahiri in canon, especially her being turned into a flow ho. I actually specifically used flow walking, which I thought was a ridiculous and obscene device as the basis of my story because I hated it so very much, so, yeah, this is me trying to have fun here, after all! But, aside from that, I’m also trying to explore what these characters would do and feel if put in a difficult set of circumstances. I wanted to see how they would handle themselves, and what their reactions would be. I didn’t intend them to be perfect, I intended them to be flawed and make questionable choices, but I also had no interest in making Tahiri a vapid blonde who walked around barefoot calling Anakin dummy, so if in taking those parameters out I ended up making her a Mary-Sue… oh well.

As always, thank you for ready, and I’m glad you’re enjoying it, even if you think Tahiri is bordering on being too perfect.

I’ll try to screw her up a little this week.

 

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Is Anakin still dead?
Not in my new story: Fragile
Oh, look... there's a link right there
http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/30173930/p1/?69
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frankieskywalker  1045 posts
Registered: Apr '06
46181_Padme Jedi
Date Posted: 10/9 11:28am Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story responses to 'Ramble On' replies
i think JediRowan should get over it that seemed like a very nasty and unneeded post glad not going to be around

i very much like where this story is going i disliked how the NJO screwed all the characters up so i stoped reading them

i dont think your tahiri is mary sue ish she has problems and she's not perfect

 

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and so the plot bunnies attack
a whole in his heart http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=24122906&brd=10477
my second fic Your sightless eyes have seen too much
http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/24195526/p1/?0
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JediRowan 
Registered: Jun '04
Date Posted: 10/9 1:41pm Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story responses to 'Ramble On' replies
pregnantpadme

I know you said that you weren’t going to read anymore, but I’ve never not responded to a reader, and as you took the time to leave a message in my thread, I would consider it rude and unbecoming to not address your notes. Hopefully you’ll read, but if not, that’s okay too.


I'm sorry. I meant I was no longer going to read chapters and criticize them when I already know they're not going to be something I enjoy. Not that I wasn't going to read and acknowledge your reply, should you give one.


I’ve studied a fair amount of history, and know several military, police, firemen/women and other service personal and in every branch of service there is R&R or off duty. It is what keeps them people serving us going. It is what allows them to cut loose and burn off steam because they perform such intensely highpressure jobs. I thought about going through my Rogue Squadron comics to look up examples of times when the actual Rogues were shown doing such things, or digging out my copies of the Rebel Stand and Rebel Dream books for the comments that Wes Jansen and Wedge and Tycho made about the ‘home brewed’ drinks they had on Borelias, or Tahiri and Jaina talking about the makeshift hot tub the Rogue boys had made, but I was too lazy.



I can't argue with your perspective on this. (Though I also have studied history and have military family and acquaintances.) And my reaction to Anakin and Tahiri's wild partying as opposed to the Rogues doing the same sort of thing probably has a lot to do with already being annoyed by what I see as very childish, self-centered and obnoxious behavior from them. But as always this is only my perspective, my reactions to the characters and their situations which is how I was taught to give descriptive criticism for fiction. You're always free to do with you like with that criticism, including ignore it.

Well, luckily, Anakin and Co aren’t they only squadron on that star destroyer, so they may be able to pull a few others together to defend and fight off the Vong while the adrenaline rush rocketed through the partiers, which, history has proved, would happen, and the ones who were parting, and weren’t able to take 30 minutes to do rejuvenation trances while their X-Wings were being fueled up, got into their flightsuits. All in all, I’m sure they’d be okay.

Maybe so, maybe no, but my reaction to their partying on top of their previous behavior struck me the way it struck me.


Here, I’m afraid we do disagree, and see my argument at the top. If one loses sight of what one is fighting for… what is one fighting for? If there is no joy in life, why fight for joy? Or, as Valin said about Anakin and Tahiri, “it’s what we’re all fighting to live for”

::shrugs:: It's just my personal reaction. Seeing my commanding officers act like that would really tick me off. I think it's unprofessional. And what they were doing really doesn't read as "joy" to me. That kind of party certainly isn't what I live for. That's all.

I had issues with how Luke handled the war form day one. Or, rather book one. I dislike most of the series, as I dislikes most of the subsequent series, as far as Luke’s motivations, goals, objectives, rationales… so, yeah, the whole leaving the war, after helping to rig an election and positioning himself to have a place in the galactic government, and then assigning beings he hand picked to vote in his place while he traipsed off to the unknown regions in search of a planet that may or may not have existed, that he only knew about because a crazy chicken told his nephew about it while she was torturing him? Why was it so important that he traipse of to go looking for this planet that may or may not have existed, but never thought to go pay a visit to his son?

Oh I wasn't happy with Luke either. The trick is that I didn't think his characterization by the pro-authors was anymore faithful to his previous portrayals, by the movies especially but earlier EU as well, than your characterizations are of some of the other characters. That's my problem with the story. Various aspects of it make it no more satisfying to me than the pro-fic was, albeit for different reasons. But again, and as I thought would be taken for granted, this is only my personal opinion. Whether or not anybody else reading this shares my reactions or not, I have no idea, and how seriously to take that is up to you as the author of course.

I find it interesting that I’ve been getting flak from people who think I’ve characterized the Solos and the Skywalkers poorly, that I’ve painted them as unfairly uncaring for not having paid attention to Will, Anakin and Tahiri’s baby, when Luke and Mara spent years not seeing their own child, and Han and Leia went FIVE YEARS without seeing their son after the Vong war.

And don’t even get me started on the numerous way in which Luke let Tahiri down, or ignored the ways in which she needed help, or needed therapy, or needed to be treated in a way that was vastly different from the way in which she was treated. I could write a freaken book.


Again, it's entirely possible to dislike THOSE characterizations from the EU and also dislike yours. Which is what I've been saying.


WIP or not (and it's alway going to be read chapter by chapter

That phraseology makes me think that by WIP, you are implying that the term means that if a reader is not happy with a chapter, than a writer should go back and change something that has been written.


Not at all. Unless you choose to.

What I mean by WIP, is that the plot is slowly revealed over time as the chapters are posted. That aspects of the story take on new meaning as more information is doled out over time. If all the information was laid out at one time, it would be a vignette.

And what I mean is that saying it's a WIP by that definition is neither a response to, nor a refutation of my criticisms, because whether your story is already finished when a reader comes to it or not, it's always going to be read chronologically, over time. The plot is always going to be slowly revealed over time as a reader reads it. And if that plot (or characterizations) stop working for a reader at some point, and stop working badly enough that the story itself stops working, then the story is a failure for that reader, whether the rest of the chapters are currently available at that moment or not.

"It's a WIP" would only be a legitimate response to my criticisms IF you were still intending to revise and therefore might choose to address issues raised by various readers . You're clearly not (Which is not a problem, I'm not saying it is.) And I certainly never expected you to change something just to suit me. So I guess it really was a mistake on my part to even offer feedback other than "This is great". I apologize for that.



So explanation in chapter 23 or not, I'm afraid I'm so disgusted with the behavior of everybody (including behavior I don't buy, like Leia's, abandon her grandchild, for ANY reason? Not happening),

Again… Luke and Mara… don’t see their own child for three years, Han and Leia don’t see their own son for five years… why, in the middle of a war, would you be so disgusted by my writing Leia not seeing Will. I find it fascinating that you find that so hard to believe, and find it so insulting. In fact, Han and Leia go months in canon without seeing their own children during the war. I have to admit, I am genuinely flummoxed my your taking such exception with this.


Leia and Han turned their young children over to Winter and Luke's care for pressing reasons of safety. It's not a parenting decision I can imagine making, but there was never any question that they cared for their children's welfare and loved them. Luke and Mara made a similiar decision with Ben, for even more pressing reasons. Han and Leia not seeing their adult children for long stretches of time during a galactic war, because everyone involved is fighting that war is highly unfortunate, but understandable.

Leia refusing to acknowledge, see, or have anything to do with an infant who is child of her (presumed) dead son, to the point of not giving a flip whether he's alive or dead, just because his mother is acting like a *****, is a completely different kettle of fish and nothing like any characterization of Leia I've ever read aside from her being a Sith.

But you of course are free to write Leia however you like.


[i]Not to say that this isn't well-written on a technical level (it is!)
Okay.

and that it's not the best scenario for using flow-walking to save Anakin that I've read (it absolutely IS!!)
Somewhat empty, as far as compliments go, but okay.

and Will's not adorable (because he is).
Again, somewhat empty, but, okay.[/i]

My point was that I never said "This story stinks!" because it doesn't. Or that you're not a talented writer. Just that this story doesn't work for me, because I find flaws in your characterization of characters who (Because this is a fanfic) have already established ones. That's all.


Here, is where I think the crux of the issue truly lies, Never have I said that any of the characters are in the right.


Ahhh. But have you offered any alternative POVs of their actions (by anyone other than Jacen, who lacks some credibility as a future Sith)? Have any characters been allowed to criticize those characters without being completely discredited by the narrative? No. If you want to argue that your narrators are unreliable (which you have implied repeatedly in posts) than you still need to somehow show that within the story if you want to hang on to readers who disagree vehemently with those narrators' perspectives. If I'm supposed to be hanging on waiting for the characters I disagree with to get set straight, I've got to get some tidbits within the story to give me hope that that's going to happen, or I'm going to give up at some point and quit reading. Which I have.


The point of this story was to explore what the possibilities of Older Tahiri’s choices could have brought about, and then explore the possibilities and the emotions that could have come into play as a result of Older Tahiri’s actions.

I’ve never claimed that any of these characters were ‘right’ or ‘better’ than any of the other characters, I’ve simply tried to explore a series of possibilities and have a little fun while doing so.


See above about the question of "right" or "better". More power to you about the rest.


The only thing that saddens me is that you won’t be given the story the chance to see were it goes. You may find at the end that there was actually a point. That in the end that characters learned something about themselves and each other and that their journey was worth it. From my perspective, if the characters were exactly the way we wanted them to be from page one to page 300, then where would the fun be? Where would the tension be? Where would the journey be? Would they learn anything about themselves or each other? What would the point of reading be if these people were the same at theh end as they were at the beginning?

I HAVE given this story a chance. I've read how many chapters now? Do you read every book/story you pick up all the way to the end whether you're enjoying it or not? When I get to the point where I'm continually annoyed with just about every character (and in a fanfic, where some of them are unrecognizable as the characters I care about), and I've been given NO hints within the story that any of that is going to change, why should I continue reading? The story doesn't work for me, so I'll go about my business, but because of the conversations we had earlier and because I DID enjoy this story so much at the beginning and because I think you're a good enough writer to be worth giving feedback to, I thought I owed it to you to explain why the story no longer worked for me. NOT with any expectation of you changing the story to suit me, but because in my experience feedback (both positive and negative) about my writing is always helpful to my future writing.

I'm very happy for you that so many people are clearly enjoying your work. And I'll certainly drop in to read (though maybe not comment on) on any future stories by you that I notice. Maybe one of them will work better for me than this one has come to.

Rowan

 
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pregnantpadme  1124 posts
Registered: Oct '04
40091_UR breaking my <3
Date Posted: 10/9 9:04pm Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story responses to 'Ramble On' replies - Date Edited: 10/10 2:17pm (1 edits total) Edited By: pregnantpadme
After an excruciating week, I am unable to reply to the last couple of responses tonight, I'll get to them tomorrow, I apologize. It's all I can do to get the post up.

Here it is. I hope a few of you enjoy it.







Fragile

Chapter 18

Brothers In Arms



Jaina wasn’t feeling particularly good. Not anywhere near as good as she’d been feeling last night, and she couldn’t help but wonder what Yorg put in those Slord Cakes.

Anakin swore that the ingredients could be found in human pantry, and Tahiri seemed no worse for wear, but then, Tahiri had done that rejuvenation trance, and Jaina hadn’t. She was thinking that that may have been a big mistake, and vowed that as soon as breakfast was over she was going to crawl off to the nearest hole she could find and fix that.

If breakfast didn’t turn into the disaster that she feared.

They’d all sat down an hour ago, the Antilles, the Celchus, the Skywalkers, Jag, the entire Solo family, minus Will; this was supposed to be an informal meeting. Luke and Mara giving Wedge a brief overview of what the Jedi Masters had planned for the ground assault; what they wanted to do while Wedge’s naval forces where ripping through Shimmra’s air defenses.

The plan wasn’t complicated; Han and Leia, flying the Falcon, would take the Jedi team planetside so they could penetrate the citadel and attack the Supreme Overlord himself while GA ground troops kept the warriors busy and out of the citadel. What the Jedi would need from Wedge was for one of his squadrons to fly cover for the Falcon.

The Skywalkers hadn’t imagined that Wedge would have a problem with that. They were right.

Tycho didn’t have a problem with that either. All of his and Wedge’s squads were good, any one of them should do.

“Actually,” Luke began, a calm tone to his voice. He looked down the long table to Wedge, sitting directly opposite him; then flicked his gaze to Anakin, half way down the table, dead center between the two old friends.

Jaina’s brother was leaning back, head turned towards Luke; elbow on the arm of his chair, two fingers pressed into his chin, two more against his cheek; he had one eyebrow cocked, studying their uncle expectantly, and Jaina suddenly realized that Anakin was just waiting for Luke to say the words, but that he already knew what those words would be. Anakin already knew that Luke was going to ask specifically for his squadron to fly cover for the Jedi.

Luke met his gaze for a moment, smiled, then nodded, first to Tycho, then Wedge, and finished with; “I’d like it to be Anakin’s squadron.”

Anakin didn’t move, didn’t blink, but Jaina felt a surge of emotion flare in the Force. Almost instantly, before she could even define what that emotion was, she felt something else; from Tahiri – the equivalent of a wall surrounding her brother – blocking him off from the rest of the people in the room – protecting him from his family or his family from him, she wasn’t sure… but after a moment, the wall disappeared and Anakin was in control again, placid, or as close as he’d been before Luke had spoken. Anakin turned to Tahiri, smiled tightly, then turned to Wedge.

“I have no problem with that, General.”

It struck Jaina that Anakin hadn’t waited for a command from his superior, but rather had informed his superior that he had permission to give Anakin a command. In any case, Anakin and Tahiri both relaxed visibly, and Jaina became more sure that they had known all along that Luke was going to ask them to do something – but they thought that that had been it; they thought that they’d just faced and dealt with the big request that Anakin’s family had come to make.

Wedge pushed his breakfast plate away, wiped his mouth with his napkin, threw it down, then raised his caf cup as he commented, “Well, Luke, I have to admit, that was easy; I expected you to ask for more.”

Jaina closed her eyes and dropped her chin slightly as Mara shifted and Luke cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the table back to himself.

“There is another issue we’d like to address… Iella.”

Jaina opened her eyes and looked up at the Intelligence Agent, watched her eyes widen in surprise that Luke would be making a request of her.

Jaina’s stomach lurched as the tension in the room grew again.

Anakin’s shoulders tensed, and Tahiri’s eyes flicked toward him. She was sitting across the table from him, not directly though. She was next to Iella, Iella was next to Jacen; Jacen was across from Anakin.

Wedge was flanked by Winter and Tycho. The three of them, and Iella, all glanced quickly at Anakin, then back down to Luke. The tension continued to rise, everyone seemed to know that something was about to be said that Anakin wasn’t going to be happy about—and Jaina had a flash to the day before, to Valin’s comment about not wanting to make Anakin unhappy, and she wished Luke could see that this was a really bad idea.

Iella finally smiled down to Luke and said, “What is it you’d like from Intel?”

Mara was the one who stepped in with, “We need a translator on the ground with us.”

“No.”

Mara had barely finished her sentence before Anakin cut in, but his voice didn’t carry the anger that Jaina had feared. He didn’t stand up or scream or shout or call anyone in the family names or demand to know why they would ever begin to think he’d allow his wife to go with them, which surprised Jaina.

Then Jacen opened his mouth.

“Anakin…”

And that made Anakin angry.

“You,” he started, leaning forward and pointing at their brother, “keep your mouth shut so I don’t throw you into a wall.” Then, turning back to Luke; “After specifically requesting that I be in the air, you request that Tahiri be on the ground with you? I wouldn’t trust you to walk her from here to the end of the hall, there is no way in hell I’m going to trust you to keep her safe in the middle of Yuuzhan’tar.”

Mara spoke up again, clearly thinking that she could soothe her nephew. “Anakin, Tahiri is the best translator we’ve got…”

“No, she’s the best translator we’ve got,” Anakin snapped, “and I’d expect better from you, of all people.” Then, turning back to Luke, he kept going. “And you are so out of your mind that its sort of hard to even be angry at you for asking. I’m more inclined to feel pity because this war has clearly warped any sense of decency you had left.

“You wouldn’t let me go to Yavin for her, you tried to banish her to the Maw when she was pregnant and I was gone, and now you want me sit back and let you take her to ground zero without me? No – kriffing - way.”

“Anakin.” Tahiri’s voice was calm and steady and no one seemed more surprised than Anakin to hear her speak. “Can I have a word with you outside?” she asked as she stood up from the table.

He started to object, but closed his eyes and let out a short huff when she raised an eyebrow at him, before turning from the table. He was still muttering something about ‘out of your kriffing minds’ when the door hissed shut behind them.

The room was dead silent after they left, and Jaina finally worked up the nerve to look at Wedge, then Iella and Winter and Tycho. All were glaring at various members of her family, and all the members of her family were looking at their plates, or each other, clearly trying to pretend that their long-time friends weren’t appalled by the request that had just been made.

When the door opened a few minutes later, Tahiri poked her head in and said, “Agent Wessiri, General Antilles, a moment, please?”

Wedge and Iella glanced at each other, then at Winter and Tycho, and all four stood up; a silent understanding having passed between them – no discussions were going to be had without all four of them present and Jaina understood why; they’d become parents to Tahiri, and maybe even to Anakin as well, as much as mentors and superior officers and agents. Whatever it was that Anakin and Tahiri had decided, whatever they were thinking of doing and wanted to run by Iella and Wedge, Winter and Tycho were going to have a say in as well.

When the door closed again Jaina looked at her father, saw the hurt in his eyes, saw how much he hated all of this, saw that he knew too that Anakin had just been pushed further away from them and that Han would never forgive Luke and Mara if they didn’t get Anakin back.

Several more minutes passed, an eternity it seemed to Jaina, before the door to the dining room hissed open once more, and the six who’d left filed back in.

They all seemed resigned, unhappy, but they were all too used to serving - to giving to the greater good - to ultimately put their personal feelings ahead of what needed to be done. Of course her parents and her aunt and uncle thought that that was what they were doing here too – putting what needed to be done ahead of their personal feelings – and they couldn’t understand why Anakin was holding that against them.

As everyone resumed their seats, Anakin addressed the table.

“I go with Tahiri or she doesn’t go.”

Luke looked up, nodded his head a bit before saying to Anakin, “Do you think you will be able to control your anger towards Jacen during the mission?”

Anakin’s mouth fell open as he looked at Luke, shock radiating off of him both in the Force and to the naked eye.

“My anger? Are you kidding me? Is that why you wanted me in the air? Because you were afraid I’d get angry at Jacen and blow the mission?”

“This is important Anakin, we can’t afford to have you two at each other’s throats.”

Anakin barked out an un-amused laugh. “Can I make a suggestion then? Why don’t you glue his mouth shut so he can’t say anything stupid. That should prevent a problem before there is one.”

“Forgive me for not thinking the solution to everything is to shoot it or slice it in half.” Jacen scowled.

“There is a time and a place for everything, Jacen. If you want to preach non-aggression go find a rock somewhere and have at it, but when we’re standing in the middle of a battle field staring down a couple hundred Yuuzhan Vong warriors the solution is to shoot it or slice it in half.”

“Boys,” Leia cut in, “There is a time and a place for everything, and this is not the time or the place.”

Anakin shook his head in disgust, “Well it’s your brother and your son who always seem to have an issue with me and how I do things, and yet everyone blames me for not wanting anything to do with you people. And this is so much fun. To think, I could have spent the last year of my life fighting with them instead of being here, enjoying myself and shooting and slicing Vong.”

Tahiri cleared her throat gently and Anakin shot her a look.

“Time and place.”

Tahiri bit her lower lip, trying to suppress a grin, and mouthed ‘sorry’ before turning to Luke, her smile disappearing as she became all business.

“Alright Master Skywalker, what is it, precisely, that you want from me?”

Luke nodded at her, making it clear that he appreciated her forthrightness. “Well, from what I’ve seen of your reports, you’ve had a large number of Yuuzhan Vong surrender, to you, specifically.”

“To groups that I work with, yes.”

“And you’re fairly well known amongst the Shamed Ones and the Shaper and Priest Classes.”

“There is evidence that stories are circulating that I may be thought to be of some importance, but we’ve know that since Yag’Dhul. They also think Will’s important, and thought Anakin was important before they thought he died. What is your point?”

“We’re thinking that if we make it known that you’re with us, than maybe that will galvanize the…”

His explanation was cut off by Anakin’s yelling; “You said you wanted a translator, you’re not using her as bait!”

“We want the Shamed Ones to work with us, Anakin.” Luke said.

“Find another way. You’re not holding Tahiri up in front of a mob to incite a riot against Shimmra.”

“Anakin.” This time it was Tahiri trying to calm him down. “He’s right, it could work, but it will only work if any of them recognize me. There’s every possibility that they won’t, in which case I won’t be in any more danger than I would be to begin with. And besides,” she smiled, “you’ll be there to protect me.”

Anakin glared at her, clearly furious for her siding with Luke, but she held his gaze.

Then, Jacen said possibly the most stupid thing Jaina had ever heard him say in their lives.

“You know what might be even better than taking Tahiri, is if we took Will…”

He didn’t get in farther.

Jaina barely saw the blur that was Anakin as he dove across the table, sending plates, glasses, and silverware flying and crashing, and his hands were around Jacen’s neck and the two were on the floor before anyone else had even made it out of their own chairs.

Tahiri was the first to reach Jaina’s brothers, having pushed Iella out of the way, sending her rolling backwards on the wheels of her chair. She had one arm over Anakin’s shoulder, the other around his waist, trying to pull him up, screaming his name and for him to stop.

Han had grabbed Leia and pulled her away, was holding her back from the boys, and Jaina thought vaguely that that was smart, because their mother would surely have been crushed between her sons. Luke and Mara reached Anakin and Jacen at almost the same time, Luke ripping Tahiri away, throwing her against Tycho, who did a decent job of throwing her off to Winter and Iella, who were doing a decent job of holding her back.

Luke dove in after Mara, as soon as he’d passed off Tahiri, and they were both trying to pull Anakin off Jacen, but they were having a hard time prying Anakin’s fingers off of Jacen’s neck.

Jaina watched as Jacen’s head hit the floor over and over again, watched as he wedged his hand up into Anakin’s face and tried to push his brother off of him, and it took her a while to figure out why she couldn’t help, why she seemed to be running in place; Jag’s arms were around her and he was whispering in her ear, telling her to stop, but he wasn’t whispering, he was yelling, it just sounded like whispering because of how loud everyone else’s screams were.

Then she realized that the loudest voice was Anakin’s and he was saying the same thing over and over again to Jacen, I’m going to kriffing kill you, I’m going to kriffing kill you, and for a horrible moment Jaina thought that maybe Anakin would.

After what felt like hours, soldiers came running in, Jaina wasn’t sure how many, ten, twelve, fifteen… or how they even knew to be there, but they were there, peeling Luke and Mara away, then finally, finally they had Anakin up, a bunch of them had Anakin up, holding his arms and his legs and wrapping themselves around his body and yelling, ‘Colonel Solo, stop’ but he was kicking and thrashing and trying to pull away and trying to get at Jacen again and still screaming, I’m going to kriffing kill you.

Wedge was shouting at the soldiers to get Anakin and Tahiri out of there, and Iella and Winter were right on their heels, but another group of soldiers, the ones that had hauled Jacen up from the floor and were holding their blasters in his already bruised face, were waiting for Wedge’s next set of orders, and finally a tense hush fell over the room and with the quiet, the words that had set the last few terrible moments into motion repeated themselves in Jaina’s head.

“You know what might be even better than taking Tahiri, is if we took Will…”

Wedge walked up to Jacen and gave him a look that made his disgust absolutely clear, then, without moving his gaze he addressed one of the soldiers, “Tibbetts, escort the Skywalkers and the Solos to the hangar their docked in. Open the mag con barrier in thirty minutes, whether they’re in their ships or not.”

Then Jaina watched Wedge Antilles and Tycho Celchu leave the room, and as they walked away another thought struck her, one that stunned her almost as much as the sight of one of her brothers trying to kill the other; at no point in the last fifteen minutes had anyone in her family used the Force.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Tycho followed Wedge down the corridor and into his office, trying to remember when he’d last seen the boss this angry; tried to remember when he’d last been this angry.

He’d never been extremely fond of Jacen, not like he’d always been fond of Anakin, but this was just remarkably stupid.

Remarkably stupid.

He was relatively sure that none of the rest of the family had anything to do with Jacen’s remarkably stupid idea – they all seemed as horrified as he and Wedge and Winter and Iella, though it was hard to tell given that Anakin had flown across the table before anyone else really had a chance to process Jacen’s words.

They were in Wedge’s office, and Wedge had thrown a datapad into the wall, before five minutes had passed, and Tycho stood back, waiting for Wedge to get it out of his system.

Wedge adored Anakin and Tahiri; simply couldn’t understand how the situation between them and Han and Leia had gotten so bad, couldn’t understand how Han had allowed the whole thing with Jacen and Leia and Tahiri to get so out of control.

Tycho knew Tahiri had her issues – the girl could be a real pain in the thrusters at times, she had a mind of her own and didn’t always take orders well, but she was a good kid, was smart, had the makings of great agent as far as Winter and Iella were concerned, had never once given either one of them lip. Besides all that; she was a wonderful mother to Will and she adored Anakin.

What parent wouldn’t want their boy married to a girl who was that devoted to their son?

Evidently Leia Organa Solo.

But all that aside, what happened this morning - even before Jacen shot his mouth off - was not on the up and up. Luke had been underhanded in how he asked for Tahiri’s help, and that didn’t fit with the Jedi Master Tycho had known for thirty years and he wondered if this war had something to do with it, or if it was more fallout from the family’s issues with Tahiri.

Wedge finally turned around, scrubbed a hand down his face.

“Lock down Lumbont’s hangar.”

“Already done,” Tycho informed him, but Wedge didn’t seem to hear, he just kept going.

“Han’s not going to go far. He’s going to stick close and wait for kid to cool his jets and see if I let him back in, so we better make sure Anakin doesn’t have access to anything with a weapons system or any means of getting near the Falcon or the Shadow while he’s this angry.”

Tycho smiled wanly. “And when he’s calmed down?”

“I’ll give him the firing solutions myself, but I want him to have a clear head and total focus when he pulls the trigger: Jacen’s not on the Falcon or the Shadow, he’s in an X-Wing.”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Tahiri had been sitting against the wall of the hangar for nearly seven hours - waiting for Anakin.

It had taken a very long time for him to give up on flight control opening the mag con barrier, or persuading Fiver to patch him into the flight control computers so he could slice open the force field himself. He’d eventually stopped threatening to shoot his way out of the hangar but hadn’t actually powered down the X-Wing for two more hours. It had taken another two after that before he’d popped the canopy.

When he’d taken his helmet off ninety minutes ago he’d chucked it through the air, sending it careening into Tahiri’s portable workstation so hard that Tahiri had heard the screen of her computer shatter and watched as flimsy and paint canisters had flown as though propelled by an explosion. Black paint had splattered everything within a five meter radius.

Anakin hadn’t actually gotten out of his ship until thirty minutes ago, and he’d been rhythmically knocking his head against his arm, which was resting against the fuselage, since then.

Tahiri had no intention of stopping him, knew that he’d come to her when he was ready; knew that he’d be incapable of talking about what had happened until he’d calmed down, and even then, she wasn’t sure Jacen’s words were anything that really required talking about; what was there to say?

They both knew that Jacen was an ignorant bastard. They both knew that it wasn’t malice that had prompted Anakin’s brother’s incredibly insensitive suggestion that they flaunt their toddler son in front of the merciless warmonger who’d been hunting him since his birth. They both knew that Jacen simply had no frame of reference for the feelings that Anakin had for Will. Jacen would be at a loss to understand why his ‘idea’ would prompt the reaction from Anakin that it had, and would likely have walked away from the morning’s events thinking that Anakin’s behavior was an indicator that he was unbalanced or that Tahiri had some kind of evil control over him, or, that Jacen was still being punished for the ‘unfortunate mistake’ of leaving Anakin on the worldship.

The part that was worth talking about, that Anakin needed to get out, and that he’d need her help with, was his heartache over his belief that his family thought his wife and son were expendable, but that might need to wait. That was okay – when the time was right they’d discuss it, they’d gotten very good at discussing difficult things.

Some of the hardest discussions they’d ever had, the ones that had propelled them forever and irrevocably into adulthood, were the ones that had taken place during those dark days after Anakin had forced Tahiri to tell him all that had happened on Hapes after Jaina and Jacen had returned without him.

There had been moments during those days when she was certain Anakin would never forgive her for her part in what had happened with his family. She still wasn’t certain she’d ever really forgive herself; but, as a couple, they had worked through that time, and, ultimately come out the other end stronger - each accepting that their view of the other had been significantly idealized by youth and inexperience, each having to learn to accept the other’s faults and weaknesses, each finally realizing that they’d known the other’s faults and weaknesses all along, and that accepting them wasn’t as frightening as they’d thought, as damaging as they’d feared, because when all was said and done, they were still Anakin and Tahiri; they still loved each other no matter what, and they were still each other’s best friend.

Anakin finally stopped banging his head against his arm, turned, and shuffled over to Tahiri, though he didn’t bother to look up, just turned and sat next to her with his back against the wall, then leaned over and rested his head in her lap.

She cradled him, ran her fingers through his hair and kissed the top of his head, and waited.

“Why?” he finally asked, heartache clear in his voice.

She kissed him again.

“I thought maybe, after last night, at least Jaina understood.”

“I think she does. I think your father does. I think your mother might, even if she doesn’t want to admit it. I think the issue is that none of them like to be wrong, and they are so far down a certain path that they don’t know how to turn around and reach out to you. And I also think that they’ve spent their entire lives living a certain way, sacrificing themselves for the sake of the galaxy, and they don’t see us behaving exactly the way they do and don’t understand us.”

“And Jacen?”

“Is an ignorant bastard. I think he doesn’t have any idea how much what he says hurts you. I think he’s at a complete loss. And I think Luke and Mara are so focused on getting out of this war and getting back to their own son that they aren’t thinking of anything but that, which I completely understand, because everything I do is filtered through how I feel about our son.”

“When did you become so understanding? Where’s my real wife?”

Tahiri chuckled. “You mean the immature hothead ready to tear into anyone at the slightest hint of injustice or misstep?”

Now it was Anakin’s turn to chuckle. “Yeah, that’s the one.”

“You got her pregnant, you big dumb gundark.”

Anakin’s arm shot up and he flexed his bicep and stated in a faux deep voice, “No birth control can stop my Super Solo Sperm.”

“You better pray you’re wrong Hero-boy, or I’m cutting you off.”

“You say that now…” he rolled over in her arms and began to nuzzle her chest and neck, telling her, in between nips, “but you won’t be saying that later.”

“Wow, those statistics everyone talks about really are true.”

Anakin looked up at her innocently, “What statistics?”

She grinned. “The ones that claim that men spend ninety-five percent of every waking hour thinking about sex, regardless of what’s happening around them.”

“Only ninety-five?” he asked, as he wagged his eyebrows.

“Big… dumb… gundark…” she mouthed, though she couldn’t help but smile as she did.

“Yeah, but I’m your big… dumb… gundark…”

Tahiri leaned down and placed a gentle kiss against his lips, then another on his forehead before sitting back up and brushing his hair some more.

“You know what we have to do?” she asked quietly.

Anakin closed his eyes for a long moment, then nodded his head. “I was beginning to believe that we were going to make it through this without having to.”

“I know. Me too. But we can trust them.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust them, I just didn’t want to have to burden them with it.”

“I know, but I can’t see that we have a choice. We need them if we’re going to do this and the Holds would do anything for us and Will.”

“Kriff. How’s Will? I feel terrible, he must have felt all of that.”

“He’s okay. Paloma said he freaked, but she commed Valin right away and he used the Force to put him to sleep, and then brought him back up after you and I cooled off some. It was only a little worse then when he felt you react to me going EV.”

“Great, that makes me feel tons better.”

“We’re human Anakin, we’re going to make mistakes. And considering that we’re Force freaks - to have only felt two outbursts like this from his highly emotional parents in almost two years, I’d say we’re doing pretty good, especially given that he was born in the middle of a war.”

“So you don’t think we’re doing him any lasting damage?”

“I’m sure the MD droid will tell us if we are.”

“You’re cute.”

“I know.”

“So, how many hours you think I’ll spend in the brig for this one?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe telling Wedge about flow walking will buy you a pass.”

Anakin sighed again, before asking, and Tahiri could tell he really didn’t want to ask, “Where’d the family go?”

“Bram said he heard that Wedge threatened to vac them if they weren’t off his ship ten minutes after you and I were hauled out of the dining room. Stoker said he heard twenty minutes. Junip said he heard they’re hanging out in a system nearby, waiting for Wedge to let them back in.”

Anakin snorted, “And Hodge is probably running the bets on all of it and on whether or not I shoot Jacen on sight when we sit down for the next planning session.”

“And on whether there is a next planning session.”

“Like we could avoid it.” Anakin rubbed a hand through his hair, then switched gears. “Thanks for locking the hangar down. I don’t want to think about what I would have done if I had gotten out of here as soon as I got the greens.”

“Don’t thank me, it didn’t occur to me to ground you until I found out it was locked, and then I realized it was a good idea.”

“Tycho?”

“Or Wedge. By the time I shook Iella and Winter and doubled back around to find you, the hangar was already closed.”

“Hodge was probably running that bet before you lost your tail.”

“I would think. I’m sure half the ship knew what was going on and was placing wagers on who you’d shoot first before you were in the lift. Must have really disappointed a lot of people when the lockdown order came in.”

“You’d think we were living with a bunch of Hutts with the way these guys gamble.”

“And all their bets seem to revolve around us.”

“If we ever lose our jobs we can set up shop in the Outer Rim, racing and betting.”

“Would I get to fly or collect?”

“What ever makes you happy, Grandpa.”

“I’ll tell you what… as much as I’d love to spend another seven hours on this duracrete floor with your head in my lap, my butt’s numb, so why don’t you get off me and go find our son, I’ll round up the Holds and meet you in Wedge and Iella’s quarters, and we’ll tell them and nice long story about Older Tahiri and flow walking and what came before and what we want to do, and when we’re done scraping their jaws up off the floor, I’ll wear black for you.”

“And I don’t have to call you Grandpa again?”

Tahiri leaned down and smiled against Anakin’s lips. “Nope, tonight’s a freebie.”

Anakin reached up and cupped the side of her head, wound his fingers into her hair to hold her close and whispered, “Forty-two, my love.”

“Mmmmm… forty-two.”






Chapter title Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits

Tahiri’s quote to Luke about her and Anakin’s importance to Yuuzhan Vong is a direct reference from Keyes book Rebirth, but, clearly, I added Will’s significance to that story line.

 

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Is Anakin still dead?
Not in my new story: Fragile
Oh, look... there's a link right there
http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/30173930/p1/?69
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JediMike2372  62 posts
Registered: Jun '08
Date Posted: 10/10 7:37am Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story responses to 'Ramble On' replies
Oh my! Jacen should not even show his face to Anakin ever again. I think that he was lucky that it was just Anakin who actually attacked him. I think that Tahiri had only just registered what was said. To be that stupendously stupid. The fact that Anakin did not use the force to attack him is very telling. Of course no one else new about what Jacen would say, but they all knew about what they were going to ask of Tahiri. I think you said it right with Luke and Mara just wanting to get out of the war and get back to Ben. And the "Holds" have got to be disgusted with the SkySolo clan. It's funny how things can change with people who can be closer than family. And I think that is what had them so mad about it. I think that in that moment they didn't recognize those who had been there friends for 30 years. I think that Anakin may be able to forgive everyone else but his brother. And I think that Jason may have put himself at odds with the rest of his family for what he said. Stupendous update. I can't wait to see how this all plays out.

 
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lost_lauries_grapes  62 posts
Registered: Jun '06
48198_Han and Leia (421091)
Date Posted: 10/10 12:44pm Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Chapter 18 Brothers In Arms - Date Edited: 10/10 12:48pm (1 edits total) Edited By: lost_lauries_grapes
Jacen, you kriffing idiot! And Wedge threatening to space 'em! Wow! I'm really looking forward to this Older!Tahiri discussion with the Holds.

Preggers, you write their emotions so well, it's just amazing. Great job, looking forward to next week. peace


Anakin shook his head in disgust, “Well it’s your brother and your son who always seem to have an issue with me and how I do things, and yet everyone blames me for not wanting anything to do with you people. And this is so much fun. Too think, I could have spent the last year of my life fighting with them instead of being here, enjoying myself and shooting and slicing Vong.

Yiiiiikes, he's pissed! Also, you've got the wrong form of 'to' there.

 

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*Enjoying Friggin' awesome Strawberry-Banana smoothie*
"The Hidden Harmony is better than the Obvious." --Heraclitus (6th century B.C.)
"You don’t know the power of the cheese ball" - Darth Vader
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pregnantpadme  1124 posts
Registered: Oct '04
40091_UR breaking my <3
Date Posted: 10/10 2:18pm Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Chapter 18 Brothers In Arms
Thank you grammar nazi... I fixed it

 

-----signature-----
Is Anakin still dead?
Not in my new story: Fragile
Oh, look... there's a link right there
http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/30173930/p1/?69
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Master_Jaina1011  3289 posts
Registered: May '02
23793_Jaina Solo
Date Posted: 10/10 7:53pm Subject: Fragile: An Anakin and Tahiri Story Chapter 18 Brothers In Arms
First off...wow. That was an intense post. shock

Secondly, I have to put it out there but I have wanted that fight between Jacen and Anakin since the beginning of the NJO. Thank you preggers!

Now on the nitty gritty stuff, and while watching my Gators play I kept thinking Tim Tebow as Anakin. That is who I imagine how he looks like...

Grr... I am bad.

Anyways, first off I think Jaina's POV was perfect for that scene. To sense her guilt, to sense her sadness and shock. You nailed it! Period. Perfecto.

As for Luke asking for Anakin's squadron, not that surprising one I found out what the mission was about. But what was Anakin thinking that Tahiri had to block from everyone else?

The tension continued to rise, everyone seemed to know that something was about to be said that Anakin wasn’t going to be happy about—and Jaina had a flash to the day before, to Valin’s comment about not wanting to make Anakin unhappy, and she wished Luke could see that this was a really bad idea.

Of course, he's got that Solo temper just like someone else I know. I could just imagine the tension in the room, feeling sorry for not only Anakin and Tahiri but for Han and Jaina to as they know this request could push the one they want the most back away again.

Mara had barely finished her sentence before Anakin cut in, but his voice didn’t carry the anger that Jaina had feared. He didn’t stand up or scream or shout or call anyone in the family names or demand to know why they would ever begin to think he’d allow his wife to go with them, which surprised Jaina.

Not just Jaina, my dear. It kinda surprised me too. Though... maybe his shields are up or he knows that he must go with Tahiri. Truthfully I wouldn't trust Jacen with her either if I were him. Or Luke.. but Jaina I would.

Oh wait, another throw down for Jacen and to Luke. And my points above are pointed out.

And then... Tahiri wants to talk to him outside, away from the tension of his family. And I have to say, it seems to be Jaina who understands the emotions of Anakin the most. Maybe more than even Han IMO. I think after fighting and fighting and fighting she realized that what they have is what she wants. (ok I am done I swear) She knows the she hasn't been the sister she should have been, and that the Holds are his family right now

When the door closed again Jaina looked at her father, saw the hurt in his eyes, saw how much he hated all of this, saw that he knew too that Anakin had just been pushed further away from them and that Han would never forgive Luke and Mara if they didn’t get Anakin back.


It seems that Han is mirroring what Jaina is feeling and despite her closeness to Mara and Luke, she won't forgive them either if she loses her brother even more. I would not be surprised if she let her feeling show soon.

Anakin's anger toward Jacen, hell I don't know if I wouldn't throttle the arrogant jerk if I was on a mission with him. I wonder how Jaina puts up with it.

"Time and Place" I would say def the time and placed to put Jacen down...again. God this is getting so easy.

Now Tahiri has the importance to the Yuuzhan Vong that can be understandable and I keep forgetting Jaina hasn't pulled off the Goddess stunt. (which in my opinion would be amazing to have Anakin included in on that. They make an awesome team. Hell, taunt them with Tahiri, Anakin and the Goddess. Yes that would be amazing) praying

Now Tahiri is siding with Luke. Obviously she is thinking somewhat clearly, so they could possibly end the war. It could possibly be the only way.

Then, Jacen said possibly the most stupid thing Jaina had ever heard him say in their lives.

“You know what might be even better than taking Tahiri, is if we took Will…”

shock

All I can do is shake my head at Jacen's ignorance and stupidity. It wouldn't surprise me that he would say that. I think in pro fic, Jacen changed when in captivity. Here, he hasn't gone through that hell to understand what the Yuuzhan Vong stand for. And to try to include a toddler, his own nephew in a plan is beyond crazy. Gawd I wanted to slap him.

Or do what Anakin did. Now I can imagine the entire scene enfolding in slow motion. From Tahiri to Luke and Mara passing her off to Tycho and Wedge to Han holding Leia back. It took me the second time for me to realize that Jag was holding Jaina back, because this obviously was a heartbreaking scene for her. To me the only person who could hold her back from either pummeling Jacen or breaking up the fight would be Jag.

I mean for me it was heartbreaking. And the fact the no one had used the force was amazing. How the hell did they do that?

As for Wedge and Tycho, I can understand why they wanted the SkySolos out. Though I do wish they let Jaina stay at least. I think it there was one family member A/T should tell about the flow walking is her. I think she would understand it the most. or maybe thats my fantasy again.

But getting them out of there was one of the best ideas ever. Despite the anger.

How Han let it get out of control? Hasn't her tried his hardest with his wife and son to see A/T? At least Tycho knew Jaina was trying. Or maybe Han is so family oriented and so dedicated to Leia that he would let his family fall apart?

i really don't know. He did it after Chewie died, why would he make the same mistake again?

I loved the fact that Tahiri let anger simmer down. I think she has learned her lesson and how the two of them have grown past everything. Especially her part in the family downfall.

“I thought maybe, after last night, at least Jaina understood.”

“I think she does. I think your father does. I think your mother might, even if she doesn’t want to admit it. I think the issue is that none of them like to be wrong, and they are so far down a certain path that they don’t know how to turn around and reach out to you. And I also think that they’ve spent their entire lives living a certain way, sacrificing themselves for the sake of the galaxy, and they don’t see us behaving exactly the way they do and don’t understand us.”

“And Jacen?”

“Is an ignorant bastard. I think he doesn’t have any idea how much what he says hurts you. I think he’s at a complete loss. And I think Luke and Mara are so focused on getting out of this war and getting back to their own son that they aren’t thinking of anything but that, which I completely understand, because everything I do is filtered through how I feel about our son.”

Ah, the meat of the story really. I think Anakin was most hurt by thinking Jaina betrayed him. She did in a way but she would probably give Jacen a huge dressing down if she ever had him alone. I think its time for Jaina to lash out at her family. Maybe its her that could get them to understand. And I like the fact that Tahiri actually stood up for her and Han, trying to get Anakin to see the bigger picture. She does have it right though. They don't understand them because they are tired from fighting day after day after day and not getting anywhere.

And she is right about Jacen. I don't think he comprehends that sometimes the littlest actions and things he say can hurt deeply. As for Luke and Mara...yeah I can see that. But i think they are trying to keep everyone united and its not working. He can't make everyone agree with him. And it was underhanded the way he asked for Tahiri. Again I think he underestimated Anakin and his feelings for his family. He saw it now.

As for telling the Holds about their story, this should be interesting. I now have to wait another week for another update! *sigh*

Again, I think you hit everything head on!


 

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