Characters "That's Two You Owe Me, Junior"- Han and Luke characterization, friendship

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[i]A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a farmboy and a smuggler met in a run-down cantina, in the vile city of Mos Eisley on the outer-rim planet, Tatooine.

What started out as a charter for a quick passage to Alderaan, ended up in the destruction of the first Death Star. Thrown together in life-threatening situations, Skywalker and Solo quickly bonded. Over the years, they risked their lives for each other several times, securing their lifelong friendship even more.[/i]

If you're a fan of Han and Luke and the brotherly friendship between them, then you've come to the right place! :D In this thread you can submit stories about our favorite farmboy and smuggler, discuss their character and personalities, talk about any challenges one faces when writing them, share helpful tips, etc... Pretty much anything about Han and Luke and their friendship is welcome! :)

I'll keep an index here for any stories you might find. Hope this proves to be an enjoyable thread with lots of discussion of our favorite heroes! [face_happy]
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[i]"Thanks for comin' after
me. Now I owe you one."[/i]- Han Solo, Return of the Jedi

 

You go Star!!!! You're something else starting a discussion thread and index. Kudos and bravo!!! I'll be watching this thread for sure!!!! Huggles!!!!!!

 

Jade_eyes: Aww, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You're wonderful!

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Note: This index is currently under construction! [face_wink]
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[color=royalblue][b]Aiel
[/b][/color]
[link=http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/26022301/p1/?295]Title: A Slight Disruption[/link]
Characters: Many, but lot's of wonderful Han and Luke brother/friendship interaction
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[color=royalblue][b]ardavenport
[/b][/color]
Title: His Father's Lightsaber
Timeframe: Saga, Post ANH
Genre: Mush
Characters: Luke, Han, Chewie, R2
Keywords Luke, Han, Chewie, R2, Jedi, lightsaber
Summary: Luke takes a good look at his father's legacy. Han and Chewie look as well.
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[color=royalblue][b]brodiew[/b][/color]

Title:[link=http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=28243485&brd=10477&start=28244324] Animation Desolation [/link]
Characters: Han, Luke
Summary: Luke and Han have an early morning workout.

Title: [link=http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26632069/p1/?3] Friends by Choice, Family by Destiny [/link]
Characters: Luke, Han
Timeframe: ANH to LOTF

Title: [link=http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/29136571/p1/?8]Hangover[/link]
Timeframe: between ANH and ESB
Characters: Han, Luke
Summary: Luke over indulges and Han keeps him company during the ensuing consequences.
Notes: This is response for the "That's Two You Owe Me, Junior" Challenge #5.

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[color=royalblue][b]DaenaBenjen42[/b][/color]

Title: [link=http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/22432482/p1/?9]To Hope for More (Between the Moments series #4)[/link]
Character: Han Solo
Time line: end of Courtship of Princess Leia
Genre: internal angst?

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[b][color=royalblue]dancing_star[/color][/b]


Title:[link=http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28241675/p1/?7] Don't Look Back[/link]
Characters: Han, Luke, bit of Ben Kenobi
Timeframe: sometime after ROTJ
Summary: Han and Luke are forced to say goodbye, oneshot, Han's POV, AU
Genre: Angst

Title: [link=http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28983906/p1/?7]Family[/link]
Characters: Han, Luke
Timeframe: immediately after ROTJ
Summary: A family lost can mean a family found.

Title: [link=http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=29110316&brd=10476&start=29155957]Frozen Together[/link]
Timeframe: ESB
Characters: Han, Luke,
Summary: That one night on Hoth

Title: [link=http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=28298541&brd=10477&replies=23]Help My Little Brother[/link]
Characters: Han, Leia, Luke
Time Frame: post-ROTJ AU
Summary: Starts off as Han's POV while Luke is in a fever-induced coma

Title:[link=http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/27619926/p1/?46] Slowpoke Star's Drabble Thread [/link]
Characters: mainly Luke, Han & Leia,
Time Frame: varies
Summary: I put this in the index because there are A LOT of drabbles focusing on the Han and Luke friendship here.

Title: [link=http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28537359/p1/?11]Taking a Stab[/link]
Characters: Luke, Han
Genre: Humor, friendship
Summary: Han wonders why Luke is so terrified of something.

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[color=royalblue][b]DarthIshtar[/b][/color]

Title: [link=http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28193318/p1/?1]A Virtue of Bad Habits[/link]
Characters: Han, Luke
Summary: response to a challenge

Title:[link=http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/23773102/p1/?13] The Wasteland [/link]
Timeframe: ESB
Characters: Han
Summary: Han looks for Luke on Hoth

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[color=royalblue][b]Golden_Jedi[/b][/color]

Title: [link=http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/21052803/p1] Afterthoughts [/link]
Timeframe: ESB
Characters: Luke, Leia, Han
Genre: Drama. I took some data from the novelizations, and made up some details, but I think this is almost cannon.
Summary: Luke learns of Han and Leia relationship.

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[color=royalblue][b]JadeLotus[/b][/color]

Title: [link=http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28347394/p

 

Reserving this one too, just in case!

 

This is a great discussion thread idea. I write a lot of Han and Luke in various fics and it's somewhat of a challenge, but always interesting.

 

This is an awesome idea! The relationship between Han and Luke always fascinated me in the movies, and I was sad to see it just disappear during the later years of the books. It was almost non-existent during the NJO, and was still sorely lacking in Legacy, even after the big Solo family revelation.

I'll definitely be keeping my eye on this thread.

 

Cool idea for a discussion! Luke and Han are always fun to read about.

 

So, do we have a discussion topic? And to index, should we PM you?

 

Hey everyone! Working on a discussion topic... I have something in mind that I'd like to discuss, but first I've got lots of schoolwork that needs finishing In the meantime and always, feel free to start a topic.
And sorry I didn't mention it before, but yes PM me with the fics! That'd be great! Thanks you guys!!

 

I finally finished some of my schoolwork so lets get a discussion topic going!!

Okay, there's one part in ESB that I've never understood and has always bothered me (and perhaps I'm the only one )- When Han decides he's going back to pay Jabba because "that bounty hunter he ran onto in Ord Mantell changed his mind", was he really leaving for good?
Leia's reaction makes me think so. And what Han told General Reikkan. But I still can't accept it. I have more reason to think he wasn't. Hear me out now.

For one, in ANH, when Han didn't even know Leia and Luke all that well, he still cared enough to come back to the rescue. They were already bonding as best friends, and they hadn't even known each other very long. The short time they knew each other didn't stop Han from risking his very life for them. By the end of the movie you could tell a strong friendship was formed and the three (four counting Chewie) seemed inseparable.

Now flash forward to ESB. Han has had three years to be around Leia and Luke. He's had even more of a chance to get to know them and bond with them. The fact that he stuck around that long is even more proof of his loyalty. And his going out to rescue Luke is the icing on the cake. Again, he puts his life before Luke's, and obviously cares about him and Leia.

And then there's the quiet conversation between Luke and Han in the hangar, before Luke is going into battle. To me, it doesn't sound like a "Bye,-I'm-leaving-and-I'll-never-see-you-again" conversation. It sounds more like a "Be-careful,-I-care-about-you-and-I'll-see-you-later-after-we-get-off-this-snowball" conversation. Something like that. We saw how much of a fuss Luke put up in ANH when Han was considering leaving. And now that Han's been his friend for three years, I think he'd be even more devastated if Solo decided to pack up and go. Along with Leia, Han was Luke's best friend. I don't think he'd accept his departure so easily. Yes, he was more mature, but to me that doesn't make enough of a difference.

I think Luke knew he'd be back, and Han knew it too. And don't forget the worried look on Han's face as he watched "the kid" leave. I totally believe Han was going only long enough to pay Jabba, get the price off his head, and then he'd be back to his two friends. What else would he do? Would he really stay in the smuggling business, risking his life all the time, when he had the opportunity to risk his life with his new best friends?

Am I just being silly? Am I totally and completely wrong? Or am I on to something? I'd love to hear everyone's opinion about this topic, whether in agreement or disagreement with mine!

 

Wriggle--I love these kinds of discussions. I think you're right... but I also think maybe he was testing himself in a: I don't wanna get too attached or show that I care too much; in other words, I can leave any time; he was testing it to see how much he would miss them, especially Leia--or perhaps he wanted to have her ask him to stay for her own ... personal reasons

 

For me, I always viewed the exchange in the hangar from a slightly fatalistic POV, in that Han was thinking he might not be coming back. Maybe he thought, just a bit in the back of his mind on certain sleepless nights, that the bounty hunters *might* catch up to him. He wanted Luke to be careful because, hey, that's his kid brother, but Luke's comment (I think, again) triggered a certain concern in Han that he probably hadn't dared acknowledge to himself until that point.

 

Han still would call Luke "kid" even after Luke matured. Han and Luke's relationship is like a big brother concerned for his little brother, at least years later after Han stayed with the Rebellion / New Republic.

 

In the Hyperspace webstrips, the Ord Mantell follows a storyline about a hostage situation on Ord Mantell and basically, my thought is that he believed that he could either cut his losses and get out of there or stay around and make things worse. Plus Leia wasn't exactly returning his affections, so frustration there.

 

I always had the sensation that the tension between Luke and Han in this scene is more about Han's behavious with Leia than Han's departure.

Luke is obvioulsy grown up since ANH and he understands now what Leia told him there, that sometimes a man has to follow his own path. He himself is, after all, already planning to leave the Rebels to seek Yoda. So I think he understands perfectly that if Han feels the need to leave, he is in his right to do so, even if he doesn't like it.

So, I think this exchange goes more along the 'I wish things had gone different between you and Leia/Yeah, me too, kid/You totally blew it back there/I know' line than what is really spoken, but hey, they're men after all, they never talk about what's important! And of course they know Luke is going into battle and he may die, etc, etc.

 

Yay!! Got some good discussion here! Thanks guys! I agree with a lot of the stuff everyone posted.

Han still would call Luke "kid" even after Luke matured. Han and Luke's relationship is like a big brother concerned for his little brother, at least years later after Han stayed with the Rebellion / New Republic.
Totally!! That's how I see it too! Which brings me to another topic... And please excuse me if I ramble. I know I will!

Now I'm relatively new to fan fiction (It'll be a year since I've been writing on Sunday), and I've written some pretty out-of-character fics, especially at the beginning.

Many of them feature Han and Luke and many just make me cringe. I'd like to think with time and experience I've gotten a little better at writing the dynamic between the two. Hopefully. Maybe.

Anyhow, a theme that frequently comes up in my writing is the big-brother-looking-out-for-his -little-brother relationship, and I seem to portray Han as Luke's comforter. Is this reasonable?

Now, I know for sure it depends on the timeframe. I certainly can't see ANH Han really comforting Luke, except making some jokes or something, trying to lighten the situation. But as time progresses, Han's character changes and he softens.

By the time of ESB even, I think he's changed quite considerably and definitely by the end of ROTJ, he's much more mature, softer, selfless. He signs on with the Alliance as a General, willingly lets Lando take the Falcon!,- and just little subtle things you notice. Concerned glances, smiles, the hugs he gives to Leia and Luke at the end of the movie. Ever notice in both ESB and ROTJ, how Luke and Han can talk without actually saying anything? In both movies Han gives Luke a concerned/caring look, and Luke gives a little nod and smiles, reassuring him that he's okay.

I also know the movies never spent much time on emotion. They were fast-paced and meant to tell a story. After all the emotional and physical torture Luke went through, the only time was saw him cry was in ROTJ for his father. However, the lack of emotion on-screen doesn't mean emotion wasn't there. I'm sure there were plenty of off-screen times where the characters dealt with their feelings and grieved.

Luke, at least I think, is a lot like Leia and Han in that he isn't the type to let emotion show very easily. Especially as the movies progress, he tends to hide behind the hardened Jedi Knight mask, although the vulnerability is still there. The only people I can see him coming to when he's upset are Han and Leia. I see them close as family (Leia and Luke really are related) and also being totally honest with one another, and looking out for each other. When it's just them, I think Luke is the type to run without hesitation to his "big brother" for support, when he needs a shoulder to cry on, and I think Han would be the one to without hesitation provide that shoulder and comfort his "little brother".

I've read several wonderful fics on various websites that display the brother relationship between Han and Luke. They portray Han's softer side, and Luke's vulnerability and never seem OOC to me. They're real, poignant, and some of the best interpretations of the characters I've ever come across.

Okay, guess I'd better wrap this up. (told you I'd ramble) In conclusion, the way I see Han and Luke's relationship, especially ESB and after, is a big-brother little-brother type of relationship. When I see Han I totally see right through the hard exterior to his softer side. Yes he's tough, but he's also very wise, and very kind to his friends. And I can also see Luke not being afraid to run to Han, or even show emotion in front of him. I see them as best friends, always there for one another.

Han as Luke's comforter. Skywalker's rock. Agree or disagree? I'd love to hear everyone's opinions!

 

I agree completely. It's what I've always wanted to see & believe to be there. & star, you portray it so gorgeously without it being over the top. Thanks for giving this mush lover some great friendship yummies.

 

I feel like such a bloody idiot for not seeing this until you mentioned it. Now I can think of two occasions from the films where this type of nonverbal interplay occurs: the scene at the Falcon on Hoth, and at the end of ROTJ. (Look in the background when Luke sees The Dead Jedi Trio materialize. Han's looking in his direction for about thirty seconds in what I interpret to be a concerned manner. No, I am not crazy, it's there).

The whole words-without-words is such an underused method of showing an emotional connection between characters. Either a bond is shown through ridiculous sounding dialogue, or it's never acknowledged. Even in an movie that is predominantly action based, this can be done. It's a wonderful way of portraying character development. (One of the many virtues of the A&E rendition of Horatio Hornblower is the relationship between Horatio and Archie. There's a certain amount of this unspoken meaningful glances thing between those two characters. It's glorious ).

 

OK, I'll grant that's probably true. After all, who is Luke left with at the end of ROTJ? Leia, Chewie and Han. His relationship with Leia is defined. That's his twin sister. (He clearly is protective of her, and of that sibling relationship, since it's the trigger that Vader uses to compel Luke to fight.)

Han and Chewie are his friends. They are the last link to Tatooine, the "people who knew him when." I think there's a very strong friendship there. What concerns me about this "big brother" relationship, though, is that it shouldn't negate the basic story: Luke has grown up by the end of ROTJ. He's a man, not a boy. The whole story arc that Lucas created was to show how Luke went on his hero's journey as a boy and came out of it a man.

It would be incongruous, IMHO, to have Han treat Leia as a grown woman (in fact, a woman with whom he wants to have a mature, committed relationship), then turn around and treat Luke (who is exactly the same age as Leia) as a boy.

 

I don't think the "big brother" relationship has to be portrayed as one where Han assumes the role of the older guy treating the younger guy like a kid. The relationship could be more like an adviser type situation in addition to the friendship. I'd like to think that even after he achieves the vaunted rank of Jedi Master, Luke would never feel the need to isolate himself from those who knew him at the beginning. The "Man Alone" angle can be very hard to pull off in a story, because the author usually defaults to writing from the POV of that character. For such a character in a unique position like Luke, it can be rather sad to see a man so removed from the workaday galaxy.

 

divapilot: What concerns me about this "big brother" relationship, though, is that it shouldn't negate the basic story: Luke has grown up by the end of ROTJ. He's a man, not a boy. The whole story arc that Lucas created was to show how Luke went on his hero's journey as a boy and came out of it a man.

Yes, but is it required for every single character to acknowledge the fact for it to be true? Keep in mind that Luke leaves just before the Battle of Endor. I doubt Han saw this as something a responsible adult would do. Which sort of ties in with the next bit -

It would be incongruous, IMHO, to have Han treat Leia as a grown woman (in fact, a woman with whom he wants to have a mature, committed relationship), then turn around and treat Luke (who is exactly the same age as Leia) as a boy.

To quote Padmé from AotC: You'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine.

One thing I've noticed over the years is that people rarely change their opinions of others. With Leia, there are hints from ANH that Han is interested in her, so there's no change there. With Luke, though -

* ESB: Luke gets attacked by a Wampa and nearly freezes to death.
* RotJ: Luke leads a harebrained rescue that almost gets everyone killed.
* RotJ: Luke goes AWOL after the rescue.
* RotJ: Luke floats Threepio around instead of seriously pwning Ewoks.
* RotJ: Luke runs off by himself just before the big battle.

As fans, we know Luke was justified in doing those things. But from Han's limited perspective, is there any reason for him to think Luke is no longer the reckless kid he was in ANH?

- lazy

 

LOL, lazy, after that list of 'crazy' stunts that Luke pulls, Han should think of Luke as reckless and still a kid. POVs are a marvelous thing!


Oh, a further note. As an older sister with a younger brother, heck he's 55, I still think of him as a kid. But he's kriffing 55 years old.... So take that what you will. I think Han will always think of Luke as a younger brother and a kid to be protected, Grandmaster or not.

 

*comes out of lurker mode*

I can just see a geriatric Han and Luke:

"Hey, kid, pass me the prune juice, please?"

"I told you a thousand times, don't call me 'kid'! I'm seventy-four years old for kriffin' sake!"

"Huh? What was that? Speak up, will ya kid? I hate when you mumble."

 

Images of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy... That's what I get for having a kid who's into Spongebob Squarepants.

Ok, Han will always think of himself as the big brother, and there will always be some level at which Han sees himself as Luke's protector of sorts. I'll go with that. After all, Han's got about 10 years on Luke.

And let's face it, Luke was incredibly immature in ANH. (Even his "friends" felt that way.)So he deserved to be treated as a kid there. He was a kid.

But there has to be some point where Han recognizes that Luke isn't just "that kid from Tatooine." Each of the characters evolves in the movies, and Luke especially so. I really think that the dynamic between the two characters does change. Luke is pretty much so childlike in ANH as to be in Han's way at times. But after Luke rescues Han from Jabba's palace, I think Han reconsiders who Luke is. Han starts to treat him, well, more like a grown-up.

Can he still be protective and affectionate, like a big brother? Sure. But their friendship at that point is less "I'll watch out for you because you're incapable of taking care of yourself" and more "I'll watch out for you because I care about what happens to you." I like what you said, leiamoody, about it being kind of like a mentor or advisor.

 

I agree completely, specially with the last part. For me the 'growing up' (in Han's mind) starts when Han realizes that Luke was the key player to his rescue and ends when he offers Leia to step down in Luke's favor... He's clearly recognizing him there as a man, even maybe THE man that can make Leia happy.