even stars burn out.

this is how it feels to be anakin skywalker, forever: the first dawn of light in your universe brings pain.

[finalcruelty-arch]

independent, friends only, often gotham city - based anakin skywalker. sideblog.

you killed her because, finally, when you could have saved her, when you could have gone away with her, when you could have been thinking about her, you were thinking about yourself. it is in this blazing moment that you finally understand the trap of the dark side, the final cruelty of the sith ⸺ because now your self is all you will ever have.

[finalcruelty-arch]

off the sideblog - @finalcruelty

[finalcruelty-arch]

just saw a tiktok that said "anakin died in his son's arms the same way his mother died in his all those years ago" so i guess i'm just going to die then

[lightendures]

for a moment obi-wan has to wrestle with the instinctive urge to refuse him. it is petty and he knows it. just as he knows that the twins will sooner or later sense the resentment festering between himself and their father, if they haven't already. instead he sighs. " i don't know what you want me to say, anakin. it's been a long time. you never said anything. " he doesn't really mean to say it, but he is thinking of all the unanswered calls when he does. eventually, he had stopped making those calls.

[finalcruelty-arch]

" and i'm sorry for it. " he means that, but he wouldn't change it. if he'd stayed, he's not sure he would be alive. he wishes he could change that. wishes he could make himself into the kind of person who could have stayed. " but i'm here now, obi-wan. i get that you're not ready to trust me, but i'm not going anywhere, this time. "

[lightendures]

obi-wan has to make an effort not to frown. once, anakin would have just allowed him to deflect. " no to what? to hitting you? alright, no. i don't want to hit you. " which is true, most of the time. " it wouldn't do any of us any good. it wouldn't fix anything. "

[finalcruelty-arch]

" okay. great! now we've established something. " anakin knows he isn't helping, but he can't let silence hang between the two of them. it's too unnatural, too much a reminder of what he's lost. " so let's find another way, then. let's fix this. "

[lightendures]

his head tilts, just a little, but obi-wan does not press the issue. he thinks that he can hazard a guess as to what troubles anakin now, but in truth he does not want to. " they did not, but it will not be quick. the situation there is -- troubling. it will take time. "

[finalcruelty-arch]

" alright. " what else can he say? the jedi own him. that is not new ⸺ but perhaps his awareness of it is. his resentment of it. " i suppose they wouldn't send us if it were easy, master. "

[geryone]

Erou, Maya Phillips

[lightendures]

familiar ground. obi-wan isn't sure if it helps or not. " do you want to hit me, anakin? " the question is flat, but he wonders if there is something -- something that would explain why anakin had gone so abruptly and without a word of explanation. he had thought... but it doesn't matter now. it can't be undone. " i'm not sure padme would appreciate it here. the neighbors talk. "

[finalcruelty-arch]

" no, and i don't think my therapist would encourage it, but i thought it might speed things along. " get everything out in the open, at least. anakin wishes it could be as simple as that. a black eye for his life back. " that's not a no, obi-wan. "

[dhomochevski]

Anakin turned, and found within Obi-Wan’s eyes a depth of feeling he had only rarely glimpsed in all their years together; and the pure uncomplicated love that rose up within him then felt like a promise from the Force itself.

[lightendures]

' i didn't say it was. " his tone is still too sharp. obi-wan has always been known for his even temper, but he cannot seem to make himself soften it, years of wounded resentment bleeding through. " i said that i don't think it's wise. " in an effort to regain his composure, " but it was not my place to have an opinion. " anakin's words are a stark reminder; whatever obi-wan's feelings on the matter are, regardless of how much he cares for the children, anakin is here now, and he is their father. if that lasts. it is an uncharitable thought, but a nagging one. " my temper got the best of me. "

[finalcruelty-arch]

" you were thinking it. " they've known each other too long to pretend, even if they're little more than strangers now. anakin taps his fingers against his leg, resisting the smirk that wants to play on his lips. playing at familiarity will be dangerous for both of them. " it would be easier if you just tried to hit me, you know. we could go outside. kids probably wouldn't even notice. padmé might. "

and yet, anakin can't help it.

[lightendures]

it is that smile that weakens his resolve. yes, anakin is being insolent, but these moments have become far and few. he may never know what had happened on tatooine, but anakin had come back with something vital missing. obi-wan still has the distinct sense that some part of anakin blames him for it. " oh, very well, anakin," he returns, voice flat, but still conceding without the usual argument. " go to bed, then. the council spoke with me while you were out. we leave for rattatak in the morning. "

[finalcruelty-arch]

there's a flash of something on his face, so fast it's unreadable. if it weren't for their bond . . . obi-wan will catch a flash of anxiety. something anakin doesn't want to leave behind. still, he forces a smile ⸺ enjoying his victory. " good. we can't keep sitting around on coruscant waiting for the senate to make up their minds while people are dying. did they say how long they expect us to be away? " casual.

[finalcruelty-arch]

" it's not your decision. " it's cruel, but anakin doesn't mean it to be, even if he knows it cuts just the same. padmé has full custody. it's her choice until the twins are old enough to decide for themselves. still, he extends grace. it's something he's learning, little by little. " but i know you're only trying to protect them. "

@lightendures

[finalcruelty-arch]

i'm soooooo normal about anakin skywalker being partial inspo for father figure ( then i showed you all the tricks of the trade . . . it's all leading to a battle between darth vader & luke skywalker ) ( max or shellback was then like 'or vader and palpatine' )

[lightendures]

" i know where you've been. do you take me for a fool, anakin? " while irritating, his padawan's evident lack of remorse is not unexpected. it has been -- a challenging year, marked by more and more arguing, more and more sullen rebelliousness. " you must. unless you have another reason for the disrespect you insist on displaying recently. "

[finalcruelty-arch]

" only sometimes, master. " that smile still crinkles at his eyes, a hint at the pure joy that had overtaken him so often in his boyhood. it's been dampened since shmi died, only showing through in glimmers where it used to shine. " they'll knight me soon enough and you won't have to concern yourself with my disrespect. "

[lightendures]

" good morning, anakin. " it is well past midnight, coruscant as close as it ever gets to stillness, and obi-wan has been up waiting for his wayward padawan. as the door slides shut behind anakin, obi-wan stands, folding his arms across his chest. " yes, i know you've been sneaking out and yes, i know you've been doing so for weeks. again. " for this is far from the first time; in fact, it had begun when anakin was quite young. @finalcruelty

[finalcruelty-arch]

dank farrik. anakin can't keep the grin off his face as he makes a sweeping upwards motion with his hands. " then you already know i'm not going to tell you where i was. " even if it isn't hard to tell ⸺ there are no smudges of dirt or grease like there are when he's racing on coruscant's bottom levels. " this has been fun, obi-wan, but i'm going to bed. "

[ohisms]

✱˚｡⋆ ↪ 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍 𝐏𝐓 𝟏.    (  a collection of  dialogue prompts originating from pt. 1 of twilight: breaking dawn. adjust as desired.  )

you probably saved more lives than you took.

that's what i told myself. but they were all human beings.

i saw what i was, & what i was capable of.

why are you telling me this tonight?

i know i can do this. let me tell you why: because you did.

so this party ... will there be strippers?

i'll meet you at the altar.

what did i say about beauty sleep?

sorry. bad dream.

weddings – they bring everyone together!

oh my gosh, you're so beautiful!

it's your first family heirloom.

no – ! no smudging my masterpiece!

just don't let me fall.

we were just saying how pretty everything is.

you don't think it's too much?

i hope you'll be happy, [ name ].

well, i plan on getting drunk.

they're serving up some pretty fancy champagne, can i get you a glass?

what's a wedding without some family drama?

uh, i'd like to propose a toast!

i know things. like how to hunt somebody to the ends of the earth.

it's an extraordinary thing, to meet someone you can bare your soul to.

i've been waiting ... what seems like a very long time, to get beyond what i am.

no measure of time with you will be long enough. but let's start with forever.

'kind' is my middle name.

dance with me?

where have you been? we were going to put your face on a milk carton.

it's weird to back on two legs again ... in clothes.

gotten out of practice with the whole human thing.

you'd think i'd be used to telling you goodbye by now.

you're not supposed to be the one crying, [ name ].

this is how i'm going to remember you.

because what, soon i'm going to be dead to you?

tell me you're not that stupid.

i mean, it's really none of your business.

people are probably missing us, let's go back.

wear a hat. sunscreen ... take care of yourself.

everything's packed & ready to go.

you know this will always be your home, right?

go on, you don't wanna miss your plane. wherever it's going.

i am nothing if not traditional.

you want to take a look around?

i could use a few human minutes.

how badly are you hurt?

[ name ], i can't tell you how sorry i am.

now i'm sort of pissed off, actually.

i mean, it was amazing for me.

that's what you're worried about?

last night was the best night of my existence.

let me make you breakfast.

i mean, being any kind of happy is better than being miserable.

my period, it's late.

i think that i'm pregnant.

i'm begging you, i'll do anything.

listen, just give it to me straight.

we've been researching legends, but there isn't much to go on.

this is none of your business, dog.

[ name ], you've gotta do something.

it's not his decision, it's not any of yours.

look, [ name ], i need you to do something for me.

you'll get what you always wanted. to kill me.

you don't fool me.

i can see what that thing's doing to you.

and when you die, what was the point?

listen to me, [ name ], please. don't do this. live.

i know how this ends, & i'm not sticking around to watch.

don't you even care that it's killing you?

we can't allow it.

every human will be in danger.

we have real enemies to fight tonight.

you will fight with us, [ name ].

i wasn't born to follow you, or anyone else.

don't worry, they're not following us.

what do you think you're doing here?

i'm not kidding. get out of here.

is that an order? you gonna make me bow down, too?

are you really ready to fight your own family?

if it's the right thing to do.

do what you want.

man, i can smell them from all the way out here.

go away, [ name ]! i can take care of myself.

did [ name ] send you?

we won't be the ones to break the treaty.

you've done us a great service, [ name ]. thank you.

i know they're out there somewhere.

you know you can't stay here.

you don't even like me.

i don't have to like you, i just have to follow you.

being unwanted isn't exactly a new thing for me.

look, i'll stay out of your way. i'll do whatever you want.

i'm gonna do a perimeter run.

[ name ], tell me. it's alright.

i can't stop it, & i can't slow it down.

i can't live without you.

you decided this on your own.

i have no other way to see it.

it wasn't an idea, it was a snide comment.

your pulse is already getting stronger.

i'm sorry i've been so angry.

i've left you alone in this.

they won't hesitate, you will be slaughtered.

this really is a family. as strong as the one i was born into.

how's the new family working out?

stay focused, keep your heart beating.

i won't kill you. that'd be too easy. you deserve to live with this.

[screenshotsofdespair]

[wearepaladin]