#aelirra

[pentacass]

"hey. you're finally here."

[pentacass]

"Things have been busy lately, haven't they?" "They always are. If you need to get back..." "I'm right where I want to be."

[pentacass]

ok it was so, so, SOOOO cathartic to pick 'Let me do my job' instead of 'We need to work together' cos by this point, Aelirra is fucking done with the Republic, and it's such a key turning point for her character.

She's been so loyal, such an ardent believer in the Republic since the class story, that even the Republic's inaction during the Zakuul arc and what they did on Iokath didn't make her hesitate returning to them.

She gains some self-awareness during her time in the Alliance though, and realises how much the Republic had been using her, this one Jedi Knight, to quell so many crises that she is undeniably exhausted and emotionally spent. She entertains the idea of maintaining some distance from the Republic and the Jedi Order, just to sort herself out. When she's alright, she'll surely be back in a position to help her allies, right?

Then 7.8.1 hits. The Republic practically invades Odessen to put her on house arrest. Blames her for the mess she was trying to stop. And she's forced to admit that the Republic is no longer what she recognises and fought for, that her own ideals and belief in helping others, no matter how good, chafes against the Republic's need for control. Over her.

So she snaps. Takes a leap of faith to live her own life, her own way. She disobeys the Republic and sends Ves to investigate Jadus in her stead. Doesn't back down when the Chancellor confronts her about it.

And now, when they try to raise a ruckus upon Ves' return, Ael finally tells the Republic to know their fucking place, because she was the one who'd kept them there. She'd bled, sacrificed, suffered all those decades for their sake, to keep them from falling apart, keep them safe. Now they try to pin the blame for their current crisis on her? Fuck off. 'Avriss, tear them apart for me please. I'm a Jedi so I can't do it :)'

If there was a choice to break off from your faction in this update, Ael would've taken it. She needs no reward or recognition, but to receive vitriol and be accused of being a traitor, of all things? She's had enough.

(also op gratuitously inserting her opinion that the whole faction turning against the commander thing was so contrived ohhhmygodd but we are where we are at the moment)

[pentacass]

aelirra 5/x

[pentacass]

[pentacass]

"You distract them, I'll find us a way outta this mess."

"Alright, but be subtle."

[pentacass]

[pentacass]

galaxy's sweetest angel this👌close to exploding in rage