Saga - Legends “A light exists in spring”, Story 1 for the Spring Bingo Challenge 2025

Story: “A light exists in spring”

Author: AzureAngel2

Co-editor and muse: @DarthUncle

Length: at least 5.611 words, using: stream, forest, journey, fish, fruit

Summary: On Chandrila, the transition from winter to spring results in storm clouds over the Silver Sea. Those clouds release rain and lightning. But on Mustafar the arrival of spring is a different matter all together as two very different personalities are about to find out.

Time frame: The story takes place in 2 ABY.

Planet of choice: Mustafar

Disclaimer: SW is owned by George Lucas, Lucas Ltd. and now The Walt Disney Company


There’s no line on the horizon
You’re like a lion and a lamb
Is it a tragedy or triumph?
You’re so good, it’s sick
Why did you swallow down my poison?
Now I’m your number one fan
Naked on a desert island, yeah
You’re so good, it’s sick

Now it feels like beautiful madness, feels like never enough
Don’t you know that you are the baddest?
My love, my love, my love
Yeah, it feels like beautiful madness
I just can’t get enough
Don’t you know that you’re leaving me breathless?
My love, my love, my love

Ooh, what a beautiful madness
Ooh, what a beautiful madness

Now we don’t care ’bout the cash flow
We got another kinda gold, we keep it hot, no tabasco
No sleep, no sleep
Plenty sharks in the ocean
But we still dive deep
Come and take a sip of the potion
No sleep, no sleep

Now it feels like beautiful madness
Feels like never enough
Don’t you know that you are the baddest?
My love, my love, my love
Yeah, it feels like beautiful madness
I just can’t get enough
Don’t you know that you’re leaving me breathless?
My love, my love, my love

Ooh, what a beautiful madness
Ooh, what a beautiful madness

You’re my love, my love, my love
My love, my love, my love
You’re my love, my love, my love

You’re my love, my love, my love
My love, my love, my love
You’re my love, my love, my love

And now it feels like beautiful madness
Feels like never enough
Don’t you know that you are the baddest?
My love, my love, my love
Yeah, it feels like beautiful madness
I just can’t get enough
Don’t you know that you’re leaving me breathless?
My love, my love, my love

Ooh, what a beautiful madness
Ooh, what a beautiful madness


Her chamber was a complete mess. There were junk yards throughout the known galaxy that were more neat and clean. It seemed as a fully grown rancor had taken up residence in here.

The music, once more a Jizz score by that dreadful Max Rebo and his band, was way too loud in his ears. Not even the sound filter of his helmet was able to make it more bearable.

But what annoyed Darth Vader the most, what really got to him, was her actual choice of clothing.

“What did I say to you, Cassandra?”

There was no response. The girl remained in front of her looking-glass like some statue frozen in time and space.

“Open everything, and go everywhere except into that little closet, which I forbid you to enter, and I forbid you so strictly, that if you should venture to open the door, there is nothing that you may not have to dread from my anger!”

Cassandra was not in her Imperial uniform. Instead she was dressed in a hooded green velvet dress and a purple silk sash. The garments were a replica he had ordered fourteen years ago, together with fifty-one other pieces of clothing. About that time there still had been a chance to retrieve Padmé from the Netherworld of the Force. But Momin had disappointed him in many ways.

“Have you been listening to any word that I have just said?” he inquired, his voice dangerously low. “To any word that ever came out of my mouth?”

Sometimes the dark lord felt like throwing the impossible girl straight into the lava stream above. There was no doubt she deserved it and much, much worse.

The young woman continued to gaze at her reflection. “You filed a complaint.” She shrugged her frail shoulders. “Sort of. It’s hard to say with you, really. Sometimes you simply talk to yourself. Like some mad hermit in the desert. Ups, desert. You dislike sand right? Because it has the bad habit getting straight into your...”

With measured steps Darth Vader was right next to her. It happened in less than two heart beats.

“Woah!” she pressed out. “Personal space! Plus you stand on my hem.”

“You will listen to me!” he thundered, his poise breaking apart into a thousand shards.

The looking-glass trembled dangerously.

“Touch me and I will make your armour bend like a Fozbeer can!” Cassandra shrieked not at least afraid but absolutely mad with him.

The dark lord stepped so close to his ward that they stood just an inch apart. “Stay out of her closet.” Then he remembered why he had come here in the first place and added, “And stay out of my forest!”

“Your forest, black unicorn? Really?” she scoffed and her face contorted into an ugly mask. “I’ll have your silly horn for that.”

An invisible hand ripped his light saber from his utility belt and threw it through the chamber.

Baffled, he let it happen.

“The forest of Corvax Fen belongs to the natives, Darth! You owe them as much.”

He frowned deeply, even though the pain of doing so nearly made him pass out. Inside him a much younger personality took over. “I owe them for disowning them? That makes no sense! I am so glad you have no political bone in you at all. All the bad speeches that will never take place.”

Now Cassandra had the look of a mythological beast. A harpy or a gorgon. Her eyes were like hot steel, the voice like a cracking whip. She lived up to her Palpatine roots. “Jerk!” she hissed.

“You waste your powers on growing Irontrees!” he accused her. “I cannot, will not allow that.”

Besides, Consitor Sato was a light side Force power. It also irked him that Cassandra had been successful so close to his stronghold. Fortress Vader was supposed to be a dark side locus. Those saplings should not have succeeded the way that they had.

“Guess, what!” she threw in for consideration. “I am so not on a journey towards the dark side. I know exactly who I am. And, compared to you, I have a life still. Things that I want to achieve. In a good way. Not because I am mental like you. All I can hear of late is Skywalker this, Skywalker that. He is not even your kid. You are not his father.”

The leather of his gloved creaked, while he fisted both of his hands.

Instead of using the Force, he would use the sash to strangle his cousin. Very slow and very concentrated.

All of a sudden a memory came up, unbidden and painful. Padmé’s face, looking horrified straight at him. “Anakin…!” she wheezed.

Shaken to the core Darth Vader raced towards the door. There he paused and leaned his helmet against the durasteel. “Do us both a favour, Cassandra! Play spring goddess somewhere else!” He carefully considered his next words. “I have no need for greenery, light or fresh fruit.”

“Just for self-loathing and further acts of self-destruction?” Cassandra stated somewhere behind him. “You know that you mean the universe to me, you tool.”

In teen slang that meant she believed him to be stupid, obnoxious, rude, and/or somebody who embarrassed himself. Perhaps he was. At present he could not tell. He was just angry beyond any means.

“Take some days off,” he suggested her. “Visit your grandfather’s apple orchard! Your father’s grave even!”

The dark lord had no trouble thinking about Director Krennic in a benevolent way. When that man had been alive, he had considered him spoiled and insufferable. But he had managed to do something that was out of question for a sith lord: to raise a child properly.

“What about the Dantooine Spring Abundance Festival?” Cassandra piped up, sounding a bit shy.

“Not included in your security detail.”

“The Holi festival in the old town of Theed?” she suggested instead, now hopeful. “We could both go.”

“Of late you have delusions of grandeur!” He opened his right hand and his light saber came flying towards him. He refrained from switching it on.

She sang, “Must be the reason why I’m king of my castle
Must be the reason why I’m freeing my trapped soul
Must be the reason why I’m king of my castle
Must be the reason why…”

“I’m making examples of you,” he finished for her, even though it strained his vocal cords.

To have her speechless was a triumph. His chest swelled with pride. And Cassandra was still standing her ground, not lying dead on the floor like some broken toy. He needed her around him. For the better or the worse.

“I give you half an hour sharp to bring order back to that chaos you caused here.” He lifted an ominous finger and turned around. “Plus another ten minutes to get your luggage packed. None of her clothing is to vanish in your suitcase. Stay out of the room that I intended for her a long time ago. Is that understood?”

Cassandra closed her eyes, trying to sort out the chaos of her teenage hormones. She succeeded. “Roger that, sir!”

Her military term meant that his order was met with both acknowledgement and action by her side. He wished that she would be always that reasonable and compilable. But if she had survived him so far, it meant that there was hope for Luke.

Military term:
“Roger that, sir!” = all right; O.K. message received and understood

Sources:
The song “Beautiful madness” by Michael Patrick Kelly (2021)
Text bits taken out of “The Story of Blue Beard”, a French folktale published by Charles Perrault (1895)
“King of my castle” by Wamdue-Project (1997)
Wookieepedia – The Star Wars Wiki
Hidden quotes from SW movies and the SW universe

 

Nice to see you back writing againg about Cassandra and Darth Vader with snark and banter between them

 

What a lovely title and a great foray into Vader/Cassandra snarkness. She knows exactly which buttons to push and he knows how far he can afford to go with her.

 

And here comes the next instalment/ story, dear @earlybird-obi-wan & @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha. I did not even write @Kahara via email what I was up to. But on Thursday evening I felt like writing all of a sudden. Must be spring fever, really!

Story 2 for the Spring Bingo Challenge 2025


Story: “Lines written in spring”

Author: AzureAngel2

Co-editor and muse: @DarthUncle

Length: at least 4.563 words, using: industry, moth, fertility, culture, nature

Summary: Spring fever is something that seldom occurs inside a military compound. Plus pretty females should not dress around seasoned soldiers like colourful butterflies. Especially when they are on a most wanted list.

Time frame: The story takes place in 2 ABY.

Planet of choice: Coruscant

Disclaimer: SW is owned by George Lucas, Lucas Ltd. and now The Walt Disney Company


I can see your thousand doubts
Written on your face right now
Your reflection fading in and out
Lately it’s been getting you down

You tell me you’re okay
But your voice don’t match the words you said
I hate that you’re pushing me away
Fighting so hard to take a breath, so

Oh love, when the river runs dry
It’s hard to see through blurry eyes
Don’t say you’re not strong enough
To let me love you just the way you are
Oh love, when the river runs high
It’s hard for me to watch you cry
Don’t say you’re not strong enough
To let me love you just the way you are

So distant when you’re next to me
Hiding all I wanna see
The silence in the air we breathe
Echoing so hopelessly

I called you yesterday
And your voice didn’t match the words you said
I hate you keep pushing me away
Fighting so hard not to break, so

Oh love, when the river runs dry
It’s hard to see through blurry eyes
Don’t say you’re not strong enough
To let me love you just the way you are
Oh love, when the river runs high
It’s hard for me to watch you cry
Don’t say you’re not strong enough
To let me love you just the way you are


All through the highs and the lows
When you are drowning in shallow waters
I held you close (oh)
Oh, when you feel all alone
And it’s weighting heavy on your shoulders
I hope you know

Oh love, when the river runs dry
It’s hard to see through blurry eyes
Don’t say you’re not strong enough
To let me love you just the way you are
Oh love, when the river runs high
It’s hard for me to watch you cry
Don’t say you’re not strong enough
To let me love you just the way you are

Oh love, the way you are
Don’t say you’re not strong enough
To let me love you just the way you are



The steel industry had gained a fortune constructing places like the COMPNOR arcology. All divisions of the organisation, that was located in planet’s the Federal District, were housed within the massive building.

The officers' mess had been built to impress. It was a wide hall, mainly constructed with Quadanium.

Spouses and other guests were subject to the rules of the mess and were the responsibility of the member who introduced them.

Slightly uncomfortable with this fact, Zevulon Veers tucked at the collar of his white uniform. His eyes darted from his surprise visitor through the hall and back again non-stop. He felt like having a large moth right under his tongue. It twitched uncomfortably, making it hard to speak.

The lunch rush was just over. More and more seats began to empty. But curious glances were thrown into their direction any where. For a jolly good reason. His girl-friend was dressed to kill.

Instead of wearing an Imperial uniform as usual, Cassandra was in rather sophisticated civvies. She wore a lavender-grey overdress, that he had never seen on her before. It had flared sleeves over a fitted turquoise garment, and a purple hooded cloak with fabric draped across her chest. Her ginger coloured hair was done in a long ponytail, coiled into a knot close to the head. It gave her the look of some with great importance. Such as a rich Coruscanti from a family of means or even an Imperial princess.

“I wanted to ask you to join me at a local spring fertility festival on Chandrilla once you are off hours,” she grinned.

“Is your holonet broken?” he wondered.

“Why?”

“You should have called me beforehand. There was no need coming here.” He moved closer to the table, trying to choose his words as careful as possible. “Are you sure that he wants you to be within in the vicinity of the Imperial Palace and the Naval Intelligence headquarters?”

To pronounce the name of her stern guardian, Darth Vader, would add to more attention within this mess hall. He was sure of it.

His girl-friend’s brown eyes narrowed and he detected a spark of defiance in them.

“Cas, my question is legit,” Zevulon said with a hint of humour.

Her chin rose. “This is the last time, I will ever make an effort dressing up for you. Suck it up, nerf-herder!”

He caught Cassandra’s left hand before she could manage to rise and walk out on him. “I really appreciate all the pains that you went through for me, baby. I really do. But I fear that you draw all the attention to your pretty face. A face that is still stored within in the ISB data banks, together with your biological data.”

She rolled her eyes. “I am hidden in plain public. Nobody really does see the real me. These days many public servants have become quite arrogant and careless. This is why the other side will win eventually. We lose efficiency, pick on our own.”

Zevulon could have said a lot about that, but he pressed his lips together. Even Agent Kallus, her god father, would be on the same page with him right now. Unfortunately, ISB-021 had deflected to the rebel cause a couple of years ago.

Since her father’s death during the infamous Battle of Scarif his girl-friend was basically on the run from the authorities.

Director Krennic had been a key figure in the Empire’s development of the Death Star. Since he had staked his reputation on the delivery of a functional battle station to the Emperor, Moff Tarkin and cronies had tainted his heritage. Rumour in some places was that he and Galen Erso had worked together on the fatal flaw that let to the destruction of the battle station.

Cassandra shook off his hand and grabbed her beaker. “Next time I will not look like Princess Leia of Alderaan, but like the daughter of some Tatooine moisture farmer. Or even worse: like a female Tusken raider.”

He chuckled, while he watched her drink hot chocolate. “Princess Leia Organa? One of the most renowned it-girls of society would never lower herself to love somebody like me.”

She raised a quizzical brow. “You would be surprise what some women would do for a guy like you! I like scoundrels.”

Zevulon could not help to blush.

“Do you know why I took this gown from his secret cabinet and rushed in today?”

He paled within a single heartbeat. “Wait a sec! You stole? From him?”

“Stole? I simply borrow this and will put it back later.”

“Still sounds like stealing to me.”

His girl-friend threw up her hands in defiance. “He will not even notice. has all those dresses in store. For a person that is not likely to ever come back from the dead.”

“Cas!” he sighed. “This is so not done.”

“What? They incinerated her more than twenty years ago on Naboo. As it is custom in her culture. She is ash.”

Zevulon shook his head, disappointed. “Did it ever occur that he has feelings, too? Strong feelings still attached to her? Even though some might say that it is not in his nature to have human emotions?” He pressed a hand against his brow, feeling a severe headache coming in. “This is like grave robbery.”

Her face was stony, but her hand was not. It moved with light speed. Zevulon got slapped pretty hard.

“A good day to you, too, sir!” Her voice hitched. “I humbly take my leave of you!”

Saying thus, she bumped straight into a brown haired man in an Imperial Navy uniform.

“Ah, Mistress Kinnear,” said the newcomer and gallantly took her right arm. “You have been badly missed at home. Especially since you did not show up for the opening act of the Apple Blossom Festival in the West Country this morning.”

Who ever that man was, Zevulon was sure that Lord Vader had sent him here to fetch Cassandra. Not many people knew the new family name that was assigned to her.


Sources:
The song “Blurry eyes” by Michael Patrick Kelly (2021)
Wookieepedia – The Star Wars Wiki
Hidden quotes from SW movies and the SW universe

 

Sheesh! Zevulon just can't say the right thing.

 

Zevulon and his love for Cassandra arguing and not getting why she is there

 

I'm light-years behind on Cassandra's story, and this is the first time I see her as a teenager... and wow! She's Darth Vader's ward? As in, Vader-Vader? And she's sassing him? That was quite a sight to behold, and even thought I don't know much about this 'verse, all the elements were in place, most importantly the idea that Vader would have a room for Padmé on Mustafar... and that he'd have copies of her outfits there, supposedly in case he was able to bring her back from the dead, but more likely IMO because he can't bring himself to not have her around. And of course Cassandra would want to borrow those outfits, what teenage girl wouldn't? I never expected that I'd be writing these words, but in taking her as his ward Vader bit off more than he can chew.

Which brings me to the second story, because Zevulon Veers, too, has clearly bitten off more than he could chew when he chose to become her boyfriend As Nyota said, he simply cannot say the right thing, and while his heart is in the right place, he kinda put his foot in his mouth a few times there. And of course, Vader would send in a guardian angel to recover her just at the right time. Poor Zevulon really got himself into a very complicated romance!

It's wonderful seeing you writing and posting on the boards again! Thiese two ficlets were a lovely beginning to your Spring Bingo run, and knowing you I'm sure you have more in store for us.

 

@WarmNyota_SweetAyesha: Well, men. Trust them to say the wrong thing at the right time. Even Mister Darcy does so in "Pride and Prejudice" when making his love known to Elisabeth Bennett.

Besides, Zevulon knows Cassandra since they are kids. But being her best childhood friend had always been much easier than being her lover. And ever since her father´s death she behaves more & more complicated. The dark side locus of Mustafar really gets to her, makes her greedy, sneaky & hard to predict at times.

@earlybird-obi-wan: Well, Cas turning into a young woman more and more gets her interested in pretty dresses and other things that Zev has a hard time to wrap his (military) mind around.

@Chyntuck: I feel very honoured that you left such a beautiful feedback for me. In return I have something for you.

Let me help you with the catching up on how Cassandra Krennic became Vader´s ward after the Battle of Scarif. Here is the right order, up to now anyway.

I am starting with the prequel fanfics from 0 BBY that let to her getting a chamber at Fortress Vader:
"A question of time"/ "Now that day bleeds into night fall"
"Fly on the windscreen"
"People disappear all the time"

Her first days in 0 ABY as an inhabitant of the Mustafar stronghold:
"Happens to the heart"
"Pavor nocturnus"
"The inmost light"

Here a side story from 0 ABY:
"Tea time"

More fun between Vader and Cassandra in 1 ABY can be found within the Autumn Bingo 2022 fic complilation:
"At the stroke of midnight" plus “No murder in the library”, “The smile of the dead”, “Conquering the demons” & “The Gift”

There are of course more fun stories from 2 ABY in my mind and some 3 ABY stuff is already here on the fanfic boards, such as:

= “Beautiful madness” (1500 Word Dash, Star Wars Decathlon)
= “Girl” (Single Sentence Shot Put)
= “Cover me in sunshine” (110 Word Hurdle)
= “I, too can command the wind, sir!” (400 Word Cross Country)
= “(I just) Died in your arms tonight” (4x100 Relay)
= “Pali sikkhāpada” (100 Word Sprint)
= "Moon hunt" (Fantastical Fencing, at least 100 words)
= “Lost place” (200 Freestyle)
= “Blackbird” (Prime Time Coverage)
= “Good-bye, cousin” (Water Polo)
= “Once upon a time...” (AU Archery)

Oh and here is a short extract from "Rotten", a multi-view answer to the Monster Challenge 2020, showing that Vader and Zevulon are not the only ones suffering from Cassandra. There is another:

9. Vaneé, several weeks after the Battle of Yavin, Mustafar, O ABY:

In itself lava was mostly totally odourless to humans. But the countless volcanoes of Mustafar had a certain smell about them: sulphur. A sign of decay, as in rotten eggs. It was a powerful stimulus to stay away. Not only was that element actively damaging to a body. Kren Blista-Vanee, once an Imperial advisor, had learned this the hard way. Twelve years ago madness had seized him, though he was seldom aware of his deranged state of mind. To serve Lord Vader, his master, was all he ever wanted ever since.

But then she had come along, the blasted Krennic girl. A true affliction. Worse than the Mustafarian plague. For her his master finally had the environmental filters installed that he once had asked about in vein.

Vaneé sulked in the shadows he preferred to linger in.

Bit by bit, the Dark Lord had turned the stronghold into a more inhabitable and less hostile place. There were even parts that looked like a Coruscanti apartment for the upper class. Audio equipment, an expensive Alderaniaan relaxa bed, gym equipment, an in-door swimming pool. That was a waste of money uncalled for.

Who was that girl to his master? What had she done to deserve such splendour and attention?

The worst of it was the music that filled the castle. No, not music. Nerve-wrecking noise.

“Ab queck zenick fesi
Zong jup col im in na hiz jal, ooh
Wow!
Wa toc peg qui dos gee pif, aah
Joc jarraz bas deg zorze zot
Jer wih tuster mo vey
Qui neb be og ezen on
Wok lapti nek seb not van
Goc jarraz bas deg zorze zot

Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jeppi qaff
Wow!

Ab queck zenick fesi
Jem wih tuster mo vey
Qui neb be og ezen on
Wok lapti nek seb not van
Wah toc peg qui doz gee pif ezact
Goc jarraz bas deg zorze zot

Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qoff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Wow!

Deg zorze zot

Jem with tuster mo vey
Qui neb be og ezen on
Wok lapti nek seb not van
Goc jarraz bas deg zorze zot

Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qoff
Lapti nek, kiv ba ha top wep jex pi va bep
Lapti nek, rat a ran wim joct co jappi qaff
Deg zorze zot
Wow!

Lapti nek lapti nek
Lapti nek lapti nek
Lapti nek lapti nek
Wow!

Lapti nek lapti nek
Lapti nek lapti nek
Lapti nek lapti nek
Wow!”

He folded his arms in front of his bony chest.

Not on any terms was jizz a musical genre, leave alone an art form. And Huttese was not a language on its own rights, but an insult on the ears.

Feel my body growing
My bones have started glowing, ooh
Wow!
The time has come for showing
That I'll shape you up and work you out
My body feels excitin'
My soul is synthesizin'
My whole frame is jumpin'
I'm workin' out and havin' fun

Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Work it out, you've got to feel the heat
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Wow!

Feel my body growing
My body feels excitin'
My soul is synthesizin'
My whole frame is jumpin'
The time has come for showing
I'll shape you up and work you out

Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Work it out, you've got to feel the heat
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Wow!

Work you out

My body feels excitin'
My soul is synthesizin'
My whole frame is jumpin'
I'll shape you up and work you out

Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Work it out, you've got to feel the heat
Work it out, you've got to move your soul
Work you out
Wow!

Work it out work it out
Work it out work it out
Work it out work it out
Wow!

Work it out work it out
Work it out work it out
Work it out work it out
Wow!

Vaneé had tried to discuss the matter with the Dark Lord as he had rested in his bacta tank. But there had be no indignation on his side. Instead a little smile had formed on his pale lips and dismissed Vaneé with the swish of his right hand. Just like that.

With grim determination, the elderly man marched up towards the large chamber door and banged on the door with his fists.

Unannounced, the Krennic girl opened. She was only in her underwear, obviously working out. Sweat covered most of her skin. Her eyes were wild flames. And her face, her beautiful face, was a mask of disgust. “Creep!” she shouted. “Get stuffed!”

With that she smashed the doors shut again.

Vaneé heard the key turning around in the keyhole several times.

Such behaviour smelled to high heaven! And it was uncalled for. There would be retribution one day.




And sorry, that I gave you no hint for having fan fics of mine popping up like spring flowers, dear @Kahara ! I actually surprised myself.

But of late I was worried for my Dutch mother-in-law, angry about all the recent problems changing the internet provider (including our telephone line & the digital TV) plus the political situation in many countries worldwide. That lead me to writing some snark & banter.

Kindergarten kids cannot deal with irony & her cousin sarcasm plus my new, wonderful team is stressed enough thanks to the "nice" ideas our local senate has.

So writing it is!

 

Of all the many things that have changed since her earlier teens... this is not one! Still living in chaos and starring in her own musical. Which is somewhat of a contrast with her increased acting-out, which goes way beyond anything she tried with Krennic.

Hoo boy... Hard to think of a more guaranteed way to infuriate Vader than this. I can imagine the draw to that cache from her side though; there is literally no way Vader could have (however unintentionally) baited a better Cassie-trap. Pretty things and bright colors? Check. Hints into the past that she picks up on some part of and has an insatiable curiosity about, because Vader is probably her closest human contact these days? Yup. Forbidden space that she knows will upset him to pry into? Irresistible! All of which is to say, the mere existence of such a room and Cassie in the same vicinity almost guaranteed this to happen.

Whoa, that surprised me! (Also, that's quite a threat. Very descriptive. ) Though maybe it shouldn't be so shocking to me as her temper seems to be getting more unpredictable. Vader is the one that I'd expected to be the most furious in the circumstances, but there seems to be more going on than meets the eye with Cassie's foray into poking at her guardian's wounds. She's got some real Issues on boil at this moment.

Hmm, and yet they seem to be taking place anyway, just to an audience of one. Even though she's being cranky about it here, her attempts at making the forest thrive hint that she does have some soft spots left. After all, it's not exactly Sithly to help out with the local ecology, much less as an attempt to help the planet's intelligent species.

Okay, Cassie is not holding back her words; pretty sure people on Hoth felt that burn.

Well, that was a close one. And it says a lot about the closeness of their odd little family that he's terrified to have almost let a near-repeat of that memory play out.

I love the idea of him completely flummoxing Cassie by joining her in a singalong. That definitely earned him a moment of tongue-tied confusion. And it's heartwarming that even amidst all their dysfunctional antics, they both acknowledge how important they are to one another.