#class participation

[anxiety-culture-is]

anxiety culture is being totally fine performing in a musical, but having a panic attack every time you have to raise your hand in class

Being in a musical is something you enjoy (I assume) so it makes sense why you’d have less anxiety with it

[professorkenobi]

psst who proposes in the forest twunk AU? And if it's professor kenobi, does he do it with a poem :O :O?

They both propose, dear anon! 

But Obi-Wan proposes first.

There’s a lot of weight behind this proposal, because Obi-Wan’s last relationship ended over the marriage discussion. With Anakin, he didn’t allow himself to think about the long-term too early in their relationship. 

Well, he tried not to. He realized during their first trip up to Rattlesnake Summit, a couple months after the weekend they met, that he was in love with Anakin Skywalker, and that—given Anakin felt the same way—he would very much like to spend the rest of his life with him. 

He always brings up the future as a question—while they cook, while they take a stroll around his block, while they lay in bed together—and Obi-Wan’s never felt more loved than in those moments when Anakin says, I can’t imagine life without you, Obi-Wan, so the answer’s always going to be yes, to everything. 

The proposal comes later, though, after many happy years of dating and adventure. After Obi-Wan’s published a collection of poems about Anakin that was met with critical acclaim and national awards. After Anakin’s started grad school at Obi-Wan’s university to finally earn the Masters in biology he always wanted to pursue. 

After Anakin gets placed across the country for field work and becomes petrified that he’ll lose Obi-Wan.

So he tells him, with bated breath, and of course Obi-Wan responds with love and support. An incredible opportunity, Anakin. You’ve spoken about wanting to get out to the west coast for so long… And Anakin wants to say Yeah, but not without you! but it’s hard to get the words out. Obi-Wan’s right... he can’t turn this down.

A few days later, Obi-Wan checks the forecast and declares Saturday a wonderful day for a hike up to their favorite spot for a picnic. To Anakin, it’s a relief that Obi-Wan still wants to see him this weekend. 

Of course, Anakin’s being ridiculous about all this.

Anakin greets Obi-Wan at the trailhead, and Obi-Wan’s brought fresh strawberries from the very same farmstand that he visited on a whim before their first picnic together.

They hike Rattlesnake Trail up to the summit like they have so many times before, talking about everything and nothing—Obi-Wan asks lots of questions about Anakin’s field work, and Anakin does his best not to let his sadness seep into his answers, his lingering fear that over a year apart will be too much for Obi-Wan to accept.

The view at the summit is as gorgeous as ever, valleys of summer-green stretching on for miles. It’s quiet, too, their little sanctuary, far from the main path. 

They picnic on the bench Anakin had crafted and hauled up to the best lookout spot as a junior ranger. Their lookout spot, now.

Obi-Wan waits patiently for the right moment, and it happens when Anakin spots an albino squirrel and decides he needs to catalogue his unique new friend.

“Obi-Wan, did you bring your notebook?” 

Of course it’s a squirrel, Obi-Wan scoffs to himself, as he pulls out the worn and well-loved college-ruled notebook that Anakin gifted him so many years ago. 

Anakin hesitates as he takes it from his grasp, his face twisted in confusion. Obi-Wan hasn’t carried this notebook around in years, but he made very certain to tuck it into his backpack today.

And of course, the notebook opens to the page he’s dog-eared, the last blank page in the notebook, the page where he’s poured all of his love and hope and devotion into a poem. 

A follow-up, of sorts, to Trail Safety. 

Anakin reads the title of this new, unfamiliar poem and says cautiously, “What’s this?”

Obi-Wan nods in invitation. He’s ready. “Go ahead and read it.”

Anakin’s eyes well with tears long before he’s even finished the poem, and when he’s done taking in every beautiful word he looks up at Obi-Wan, his heart a hummingbird in his chest, tears spilling down his cheeks and blurring his vision. 

“This makes it sound like you wanna spend forever with me.” And his lips quiver a little around the words, almost as if he’s scared of them. Or maybe, as if he’s scared of what follows, if he’s reading this all wrong. 

But Obi-Wan has waited a long time for this moment, and he has never felt more sure of any step he’s taken in his life than the step he takes to get down on one knee in front of Anakin.

Anakin, who’s holding the notebook open in his lap, who’s never looked more beautiful than he does now, the sun illuminating his flushed cheeks and glassy doe eyes.

He pulls the little velvet box out of his pocket and opens it, and he can’t help but smile as he watches those gorgeous eyes grow impossibly wider.

“My darling, I love you. I know this upcoming year will be difficult, but there’s nothing I want more than in this life than to spend forever with you, and no amount of time apart could change that.” 

He grabs one of Anakin’s trembling hands in his own and squeezes tightly, as if they’re about to enter freefall together. 

“Anakin Skywalker, will you marry me?”

His back thumps against the ground as Anakin crashes into him, Anakin’s “YES DUH I’LL MARRY YOU” echoing in the valley below. They wind up rolling around in the dirt, kissing each other frantically, passionately, desperately. 

The notebook falls to the ground in the joyful chaos, and the page gets a little dirty, a little rumpled, but it was fitting for their love story, for a proposal made on the mountaintop. 

Obi-Wan couldn’t really regret proposing to the love of his life while wearing something as uncivilized as technical fabrics. Not when Anakin’s resounding YES was the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard and filled him with the most overwhelming happiness he’d ever felt.

Anakin wanted Obi-Wan to have an engagement ring, too, so that Obi-Wan would know he was wholly devoted to marrying him. And also so everyone knew that Obi-Wan was definitely, absolutely, one-hundred-percent taken. Including the people in line at Trader Joe’s.

So Anakin proposes a few months later. In the most Anakin way imaginable.

[prscphones]

I understand what you are teaching me but I can’t speak in front of people due to my mental illness and therefor I am punished?

Fuck class participation grades. Grading me on something that gives me anxiety only makes my anxiety worse. Read my god damn papers and grade my tests. I usually know what’s going on, but because of something I can’t control my grade suffers.

[professorkenobi]

1 and 12 for obikin? :)

Thank you dear!! We already answered 1 so here’s 12. 

who brings home little gifts like flowers/chocolates more often

Anakin is very much one for things like that. He loves bringing home gifts for any occasion or no occasion, just to see Obi-Wan smile. Sometimes he gets a little over the top with them. 

Obi-Wan, on the other hand, is more for quiet gestures and acts of service. Making Anakin coffee right before he wakes up... bringing over a blanket when he notices him shivering but too wrapped up in whatever he’s doing to get it himself... washing Anakin’s glasses for him when he wears them. That sort of thing.

Maybe Anakin is having a stressful time at his job, working long hours to meet a deadline. When he has spare time he likes to unwind by tinkering with little engineering projects, but his workbench has gotten to be such a mess that trying to find what he needs has him nearly crying with frustration. Obi-Wan notices and knows what an important outlet it is, so one day he quietly goes through the drawers and organizes them, neatly labelling each one, careful to avoid disturbing any of the projects that Anakin is currently working on.  The same day, Anakin is really missing Obi-Wan, regretting how little time together they’ve had lately. He does his best to show his love for Obi-Wan whenever he can, but he has to make sure he knows. So he places an order for flowers during his lunchbreak and swings by the bakery after work to get Obi-Wan’s favorite tiramisu.  Everything gets a little squashed when Anakin dips Obi-Wan at the door, but it doesn’t matter. Anakin would do anything to see that small satisfied smile on Obi-Wan’s face as he arranges the flowers in their vase just so, or to hear the tiny involuntary noise of pleasure as he takes the first bite of his dessert. 

Obi-Wan is reading on the couch when Anakin finds his gift. He hears an excited yell and the pounding of feet down the stairs, and before he knows it he has a lap is full of his very enthusiastic husband. Between Anakin raining down kisses on his face, he tries to say that he did his best, he can explain the system, if any of it is wrong he’s happy to— Anakin shuts him up with another kiss and pushes him back into the couch, intent on showing him just how grateful he is. 

[professorkenobi]

if you're still doing the ask game, 10 and 11?

how do they let each other know they’re leaving the house

Honestly, they leave the house together a lot. They’re pretty inseparable. But, of course, sometimes they have to part ways. 

When Anakin’s leaving the house, he’ll always make absolutely SURE that Obi-Wan can’t come with before he sets out.

Anakin: I'm leaving now... are you sure you don't wanna come with? 

Anakin, 30 minutes later: Okay I’m really leaving now... are you sure—

When Obi-Wan’s leaving the house, again, Anakin tries to drag it out (and Obi-Wan absolutely enables him because he doesn’t like parting either). Wait, Obi-Wan, I’ve gotta show you what’s happening on Twitter. Wait, I forgot, I packed you something for lunch. Wait—! 

And every morning before work, Obi-Wan kisses his husband soundly, cradles his face in his hands, and says I love you. Because Anakin loves to hear it as much as he loves to say it back.

In stray catboy au specifically, it’s even more of an ordeal for Obi-Wan to head to campus and leave Anakin alone at home. The first few times Obi-Wan left the house without him, he made double and triple sure that Anakin was comfy and had everything he needed for the day. It slowly evolves into a little ritual of petting through Anakin’s curls at the door while asking Do you have everything you need? followed by Anakin’s I will when you get back.

how do they greet each other when one of them gets home

Anakin likes to give bone-crushing hugs when he gets home. They were apart for too long, it’s always too long, and now that he’s reunited with Obi-Wan, he’s gonna hold him for at least a minute. Doesn’t matter if Obi-Wan’s in the middle of making dinner, grading papers, or in the shower, Anakin will find him and he will hug him.

It's the same when Obi-Wan comes home, except Anakin likes to scare him. Hide somewhere in the house to sneak up on him with one of those bone-crushing hugs. Obi-Wan’s used to it but he’ll still say Oh dear, you got me just for Anakin’s triumphant little laugh.

Because Obi-Wan’s so predictably punctual, sometimes he gets to surprise Obi-Wan with a kiss as soon as he gets home. They might end up making out against the door before Obi-Wan’s even set his messenger bag down... often.

[professorkenobi]

#1, for Forrest ranger AU?

who reaches out to new neighbors

Anakin meets the new neighbors first, but Obi-Wan is the one who initiates going next door to bring their new neighbors a welcome gift.

Anakin’s always doing something in the yard, so it’s no surprise that he’s out watering plants when he spies a new fern in the neighbor’s front yard. Anakin’s never seen one like it before and he’s curious, so he casually steps over into their yard to inspect this strange new specimen.

As he’s trying to classify it, a woman wearing a hijab steps out the front door and gives him a confused look. “Hello?”

“Hi,” Anakin says. “Where is this fern native to? Do you know?”

His new neighbor actually knows a lot about plants, and so does her partner, who steps out a few minutes later when it was taking her wife too long to get the mail. 

They’re all chatting away animatedly, and Anakin’s even got a couple fresh clippings in his hands, when Obi-Wan steps out trying to find his partner. Obi-Wan’s first panicked thought is Fuck, if Anakin was caught stealing clippings... But lucky for him, when he introduces himself to the new neighbors they’re plenty friendly and already quite fond of his very talkative husband. 

The next day, Obi-Wan says they should bake a pie to welcome them (and to apologize for his husband inspecting their foliage uninvited). So they spend the afternoon baking together (with some kissing and slow dancing mixed in) and bring the pie next door. Their kind new lesbian neighbors invite them in for dinner.

The Halloween decorations rivalry starts later.

[professorkenobi]

18 and 19 please for catboy au if y’all still doing it

who falls asleep first

Obi-Wan lied awake for hours. Around two in the morning he padded downstairs for water. He paced the kitchen, peering out the window and into the darkness. There was no shadowy figure asleep on his deck, so he just had to believe that the boy was somewhere safe and warm... 

He showed up to campus that morning with dark circles under his eyes. 

But he still fell asleep before Anakin, who was freezing in the cold night air just paces away, hidden by the brambles. Every time he got close to sleep, his shivers woke him up.

who is big spoon/little spoon

Obi-Wan has a nice king-sized bed, but he sleeps alone. Always on his back, until worrying about the boy had him tossing and turning, getting tangled up in his sheets. 

Anakin was trying to spoon himself, in a way, by wrapping his arms tightly around chest, but he was alone too. Curling his tail around his waist, trying to stay warm. Thorny bushes surrounded him, but they didn’t quite feel like a warm embrace.

—

Okay, we’re so sorry for answering your kind ask this way, but we had to! Otherwise we’d be spoiling a 'plot point’ of stray catboy that we’re really excited about. The good news is we’ll have the next part out soon. And we’ll actually answer who is big spoon and who is little spoon... eventually :)

[professorkenobi]

so i googled ‘do cats know what love is’ and i stumbled across an article with this phrase: If he naps on you at any point, then that's the best indicator that he knows you care for him. He trusts you at his most vulnerable, which means he feels secure when he's with you. That is love. and you bet i immediately thought of your catboy au!! honestly how happy would obi-wan be when anakin finally falls asleep on him?? <3

That is the SWEETEST thing ever 🥺❤️

Trusting someone when you’re at your most vulnerable is love, and that’s why it’s such a special thing that Anakin ran to Obi-Wan in his time of need.

Anakin definitely has some trust issues. He’s had a rough few years, and he’s not used to kindness like Obi-Wan’s shown him. There’s always a catch. It takes lots of those selfless, earnest gestures for Anakin to realize that there’s no catch with Obi-Wan.

But when he does, it’s such a wonderful moment. Poor Obi would end up stuck on the couch for hours, his leg falling asleep, not wanting to disturb this delicate moment where Anakin has finally relaxed around him. But it’s not so bad... reaching down, stroking his ears as his nose twitches in his sleep... both of them safe, warm, and together.