Eli Vanto Week 2018

[pushkins]

(I exist here.)

FANDOM: Star Wars: Thrawn // Clover 

SUMMARY: outside it rains. he says, (I exist here.)

@elivantoweek​ Day 7: Alternate Universe || ☕||

AO3 HERE.

[elivantoweek]

Thank so much for all of those who participated in Eli week! I hope to do this again next year, to celebrate one of our most beloved characters. I would like to extend a special thank you for those who actively fought racism within the week.

While I wanted a week to celebrate Eli, I also wanted a week to combat the racism within his fandom and within certain bloggers. It’s not secrets that from the moment conversation about his skin color broke out, Eli bloggers used it as an opportunity to let their true colors show. Since then it’s hard to talk about Eli or enjoy him as a character without being bombarded by racism.

I'm sad to say that the week was still doused in racial discourse, and as a result, I lost my enthusiasm midway.

But needless to say, I wasn't disappointed by the wonderful art and content you all posted. Again, I'd love to do this week again, and hopefully next time it can be a racism free week.

For now, I'll occasionally use this blog to reblog Eli content (sparingly though, as i'm busy).

Thank you all again!

[geekygirlexperience]

Probably my last for Eli Week

Ahhh Eli Vanto week! You have been fun! Thanks to @elivantoweek for coming up with prompts.

Again, this is an exercise to create something, little editing, and shoving art (I guess it’s art) out into the internet world. 

Day Day 6: Csilla/Post-Empire/Rules

Title: The Floor is Lava

Summary: Eli discovers that the Chiss don’t like games.

WARNING: MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR THRAWN: ALLIANCES

Enjoy it!

[corazonheartpirate]

Day 6: Csilla/Post-Empire/Rules for @elivantoweek

Ahhh this is supposed to be a selfie with the chiss cuties. So Eli’s just being silly with the girls ;v;….that’s all i got..lol.

With @yalaki permission using their chiss ocs:

Left: Terru’ten’bintrano  

Right: Hess’tasvi’nuruodo 

[insideoutnose]

For the last day of Eli Week…a quick drawing of the dynamic duo themselves! Hate that I had so many exams this week that prevented me from participating more, but better something than nothing to celebrate my man Eli. Love his and Thrawn’s relationship.

[geekygirlexperience]

For Eli Vanto week!

I’ve never done quick prompts before. If you read my other work “Forces of Gravity,” you know I’m not a short form writer. I also read over chapters multiple times to edit them. This is an exercise to create something and release it into the wild without a lot of editing. I wanted to try something new, and I saw the prompts for Eli Week on Tumblr. I might not do all of them, but I’ll try to bang a couple out.

Day One: Family/Friendships/Relationships

Title: Cowlicks

Summary: Eli learns a family secret

Enjoy!

@elivantoweek

[huxfanblog]

Eli and the strange moon part 1

For Eli Vanto Week Day 5 -  Piloting/Ships/Traveling @elivantoweek

(A/N: Sorry I missed the first half of the event, I will write a short story for the themes of next three prompts!! I think Eli is one of the best characters that Zahn has introduced to the star wars franchise along with my other favorites, Thrawn and Mara Jade (plus Thrass and all of the other Chiss). This story takes place in the universe of my Chiss Affairs series, but you don’t need to have read any of it to follow this.

The Ice Dragon passed the same command station for the third time. Eli glanced at the coordinates with bewilderment. He had been sure that he had gone the right way. Syndic Mitth'ras'safis gave a slight sigh from his seat next to Eli, the only sign that Thrawn’s brother usually gave when he was starting to get infuriated. 

“Commander Vanto,” said Thrass, keeping his tone polite. “Should I perhaps take over the navigation? It seems as if we have been travelling in a circle for the past two hours.”

Eli grimaced. In the almost two years since he had come to Chiss space, he had noticed only three things that could really set off the typically mild-mannered Thrass: insulting his brother, which Eli did not have to worry about; making any sort of remark about how Thrass had married a commoner, though she was a rich commoner so Eli did not really understand the issue; and finally, doing anything that might harm his precious ship - The Ice Dragon. Eli was now treading a thin line in regards to the ship that had belonged to Thrawn and Thrass’ father and which Thrass had meticulously kept in working condition even if most of the original parts had been replaced. 

“I think something strange is happening,” said Eli. “I am following the directions that Thrawn gave us exactly.”

Eli looked down at this holopad, going through the complex instructions one-by-one. He wore his black Defense Fleet uniform with a burgundy stripe on the collar. Eli would also be soon marrying into the Mitth Clan. His alliance with the Eighth Family had proven advantageous as he had found his place in Admiral Ar'alani’s fleet and navigated the ridiculously convoluted politics of the Chiss Ruling Families. However, he still did not want to sour Thrass’ good opinion of him. 

He looked back at the syndic. The man was elegantly attired in a burgundy tunic and a long plait of black hair rested on one shoulder. Eli’s brown hair had also grown slightly longer in the last few years, but he still did not want to wear it as long as was fashionable among some of the Chiss elite. 

“Every time I make it to the sixth turn, we end up back at this command station,” said Eli. “Something is not quite right.”

He handed the holopad to Thrass, who studied the directions.

“I also don’t understand why Thrawn and Stent asked to be picked up in a civilian ship,” said Eli.

“Perhaps for less witnesses,” said Thrass. 

“Do you have any idea what they were doing on an abandoned moon colony?” asked Eli. 

“I thought you knew,” said Thrass. “These days I am the last person my brother confides in.”

“I don’t think that’s really true,” said Eli. “It seems that he wants to protect you by telling you only what is necessary.”

“Protecting this family is part of my job,” said Thrass. “And Thrawn continues to make it more complicated regardless if he means well or not.”

Eli wanted to point out that it wasn’t the syndic’s job to single-handedly protect the Mitth Clan, but he figured he had better just leave it for now. 

“And what should we do now?” asked Eli.

“You have misread the directions I believe,” said Thrass. 

“What do you mean?” asked Eli.

“These directions aren’t meant to be followed literally,” said Thrass. “There is a hidden message if you read between the lines.”

“It didn’t seem like there was,” said Eli, surprised.

“When my brother and I were younger, our father asked us to take his ship to run some engine parts to a friend who was a mechanic,” said Thrass. “Thrawn was on shoreleave from the Defense Fleet, and I of course wanted to show off for him.”

Thrass turned his glowing eyes towards the twinkling stars wistfully, as if longing for simpler times to return. 

“These directions are how to get to where our father’s friend was staying at the time,” Thrass continued. “We dropped off the parts, but then took a detour. We ended up near a moon that emitted a strange red hue.”

“Could that be where Thrawn and Stent went?” said Eli. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I didn’t realize until I saw these directions,” said Thrass. 

“I get it now,” said Eli. “That is why Thrawn wanted me to take you and the Ice Dragon. You are the only one who can find him.”

Thrass swallowed heavily as the realization set in. He may not speak to Thrass as often as some of the others he confided in, but Thrawn and Thrass had a bond that could not be replicated. Eli smiled at him. 

“Would you like to take over from here?” asked Eli.

“No, Commander Vanto,” said Thrass. “You are an excellent pilot, and I apologize for questioning your abilities. I will enter our new course and you may proceed.”

Eli nodded, looking back out to the stars. Like many times in his life, he was once again flying into the unknown, but the faith he had in himself and those around him would always guide him the right way.

[bengesko]

I’m awful, I didn’t really stick to the schedule/plan, but I guess this falls under Csilla/Post-Empire/Rules. I have a rather… pronounced Southern (Alabamian Deep South) accent that I usually suppress due to stereotypes, but I kinda enjoyed cutting loose with it with this!

Eli decides to do a journal like Thrawn did, and records the experiences of his first few days in the Ascendancy- and how he’s starting to understand how Thrawn felt when he first came to Coruscant. 

[ysalamiri-queen]

Eli Week Day 2: Wild Space/Culture/Heritage

AO3

500 Words

-

“Ensign Vanto, this is not a micro converter.”

Eli looked down to the sight before him, Lieutenant Thrawn bent over one of his prized Buzz Droids, with a hand extended. He peered back at Eli curiously. Looking down, Eli saw that in the extended hand was a battery.

“Right, sorry.” Eli replied, digging around in the box of parts before him for a micro converter. Finding one, he took the battery and gave the proper piece to Thrawn.

Thrawn took the micro converter with a subtle nod and turned, reaching into the core of the droid to perform the repair.

Eli’s mind quickly wandered back to his occupying thought, a memory of his home on Lysatra. As a child, he remembered vividly the annual Harvest Festival. At the end of the growing season, right before it was time to begin the harvest, the nearby rural district would host the event. Beings from the rural and urban areas alike would flock to the celebration.

Eli may of grew up in the outskirts of the city on his parent’s shipping base, but his favorite part of Lysatra as a child was the far off rural district, visible on the horizon from the second story of his home.

He looked forward to the event, and traveling there his eyes would be glued to the landscape when riding in his family’s landspeeder. His parents would rent a room from a local farmer, the huge plantation estate housing many of the families from the city. Eli often found his classmates in the hall, and they would race out to the festival grounds as soon as they opened each morning.

There would be game booths, all sorts of fresh made foods, and simple rides. Children would line up for nearly an hour for a chance to ride the harvester-powered swings, all excited for the experience and vibrating from a sugar rush. Live music would be projected across the fields, showcasing the latest teenage basement band or senior center instrument class.

Eli’s favorite aspect of the Harvest Festival, however, was the last day, as the closing of the event coincided with his birthday! His parents would treat him to all the credits he would like for sweets and games, and anything won by his friends would usually end up in his own pockets as near everyone forgot to bring a gift. Eli did not mind, however, as with this came a special memory attached to each trinket.

Looking down at the battery now in his hand, Eli remembered many similarly sized figures gained over the years.

“Is there something on your mind, Ensign Vanto?”

Eli quickly snapped back to attention, “I’m sorry?”

Thrawn turned his head to face him, “You are distracted?”

“Oh, just thinking about…” Eli paused, should he just tell the truth? He must of taken too long as Thrawn began again.

“The battery?”

Eli passed the small device over, “Thinking about home.” He decided on.

Thrawn gave him an almost understanding glance, “I see.”

[corazonheartpirate]

Day 3: Mathematics/Hidden Talents/Intelligence for @elivantoweek

Alright, this one is a bit a stretch but I love a good meme. Well, I had to do this one for Eli. We all know Thrawn confuses the hell out his aide so it just fit for me.

[corazonheartpirate]

Day 4:  Thrawn/The Empire/Morality for @elivantoweek

Eli comes and visits Thrawn once in a while. 

[orange-helius-deactivated201912]

There will never be enough of Eli and his daughters little sisters navigators.

I feel Eli as a commander “outlived” several pilots - they just grew up, lost their power and left his side. I also feel, that Eli stayed in touch with all of his kids, ready to come and help if they needed him. 

…I also think, that one of these girls had a crush on him - and thankfully that feeling vaporized till the end of her adolescence.

[corazonheartpirate]

Day 2: Wild Space/Culture/Heritage for @elivantoweek

Can you believe this the first time I’m drawing Eli in an official cowboy outfit? I feel disgusted with myself for not doing this soonet….lol.

A lil bit of heritage in this one too. He’s wearing a huayruro bracelet since I’m Peruvian, I headcanon Eli is of Latino descent. Huayruro bracelet is meant to be worn for positive energy, happiness, fertility, good luck and wards off negative energy. (I wear mine every day.)

[alizrak]

Eli Week

Day 2 - Wild Space culture

Eli plays traditional Lysatran songs on the guitar during a festival back home. Thrawn had come along because he was very interested on this particular celebration. Eli was nervous because he hadn’t played since before entering the Academy… but it all came back to him as his fingers danced over the strings. Thrawn was… surprised.

[archistratego]

Lysatra is located in Wild Space but it is by no means uncivilised. It might not compete with the massive metropolis of Coruscant but its singular position makes it a prime location for commerce and culture, a melting-pot of sorts.

Lysatra has a long history of textile making. Their style and use are significant in both day-to-day life and for special occasions. There are a variety of patterns, symbols, and colours, as well as a wide array of materials used. The choice  depends on  the intended use. Eli keeps an Ikiti that was gifted to him by his grandmother.  

The Vanto’s shipping company is a family run business and well known in Wild Space. Eli wouldn’t be in the league of the wealthy elite from Coruscant but within Lysatra they are considered to be rich. While Eli didn’t grow up with meaningless wealth, he was certainly better off than most.

Lysatran food is rich in spices. Eli loves spicy food — he grew up eating it and can tolerate hot food easily. When serving within the Imperial Navy, he considered keeping a can of Lysatran spices but dismissed the idea because he didn’t want to stand out more.

In the area of Wild Space Eli grew up in, alien/human relationships are not viewed negatively. They’re also very common to the point that it’s not Thrawn being an alien that alarms Eli’s parents. It’s the fact he’s a Chiss. Too bad their son’s isn’t going to change his mind about Thrawn.

Family is at the centre of Lysatran culture. It is customary for most family members to share a meal at least once a week. Everyone is expected to contribute a dish. When Eli left for Myomar he was relieved not to have to attend these anymore, but as the years passed he began missing and appreciating those times.

Celebration and commemoration of death and the dead is incredibly important to Lysatrans. There are traditions involving lights, flowers, food, and visiting graveyards as part of it. To Lysatrans, the dead should always be remembered. Eli is fond of the light displays, and found himself looking forward to them.

Singing and dancing are another prominent part of Lysatran culture. Most people can dance, rarely is someone a bad dancer. However, Eli can’t dance to save his life but he can sing. He can sing very, very well.

Myths told on Lysatra are pulled from a variety of sources within Wild Space. Given its status as a cultural hub in this area of the galaxy, myths are constantly evolving. Whether they are embellished or simplified, Chiss usually play a significant role in them, and while some have become twisted beyond recognition, others hold truth. As a child, Eli loved hearing all myths, learnt them by heart, and is still adept at retelling them.

@elivantoweek day 2 | headcanons with @yalakid |   ↳   Wild Space/Culture/Heritage

[podracing-on-lothal]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Eli Vanto Week 2018, Day 1: Family/Relationships. 

Thrawn: Alliances spoilers in that first chapter. 

[iskelan]

I’ve spotted a pan flute in Thrawn’s office and I HC that was actually a gift from Eli. Some kind of very simple but cute local cultural object which he used to play back in his younger days when he was growing up on Lysatra.