#obibi kenobibi

[burning-river]

It’s interesting seeing you list out the exact reasons that Anakin is considered “special” by Obi-Wan. At first Anakin was just a little kid who was dealing with his own trauma that didn’t really have anything to do with Obi. Anakin lost his mom and was taken away from the only home he ever knew and was a slave who was abused, and Qui-Gon died even if he and Anakin didn’t get a chance to get close and the council outright rejected Anakin but Obi-Wan wasn’t responsible for any of THAT trauma. In fact Obi-Wan was the most stable and secure thing in Anakin’s life. Or should have been. Because at the end of the day a good chunk of Obi-Wan’s trauma was completely centered on Anakin. The reason that Obi-Wan was feeling abandoned by his Master. The reason Qui-Gon died. Obi-Wan felt pressure by Qui-Gon’s dying wish to take on a Padawn he wasn’t ready for. Dealing with his grief while having to spend all of his energy taking care of this small person he got stuck with. Lots of reasons to resent Anakin even though none of it was actually his fault. He was just a kid who happened to be at the epicenter of Obi-Wan’s trauma. And deep down Obi knows that. It’s why he feels guilt. Anakin is just a convenient outlet for all his frustrations but also his good feelings. So while Obi didn’t start out as much in regards to Anakin’s trauma, he eventually became one of the biggest sources, if not the biggest source. First by being so emotionally closed off that Anakin felt the need to make up for his shortcomings. Then by pushing and taking and hurting and never stopping.

It’s interesting how Obi-Wan has taken all his trauma and made Anakin’s life so so so much worse with the neverending abuse, and how Anakin is breaking that cycle with Ashoka. Anakin would burn the world to protect his loved ones and right now they aren’t in danger and he doesn’t believe he’s worth it to fall to the dark side. So right now all Anakin wants to do is protect those he loves. He worries about his own shortcomings as a Master but he doesn’t blame Ashoka when she’s struggling. He doesn’t make her feel like she’s not worthy of her Master caring. Even the way that Obi-Wan gets so annoyed with her for complaining. She’s just acting like a normal teenager and Anakin lets her because he wants to help her keep whatever innocence she has in the middle of a war. While it’s obvious Obi-Wan would have been more demanding of Anakin for acting like a teenager and probably used his influence to demean and abuse Anakin. Obi is very selfish in that he didn’t care if his abuse caused Anakin to fail as long as Obi-Wan had his needs and wants fulfilled. While even with the excuse of a war, Anakin wants to figure out what he can do to help Ashoka succeed. Anakin out there subconsciously wanting to break the cycle of abuse. Subconsciously because he hasn’t even admitted to himself that he’s being abused.

I mean, if we put the sexual abuse in this AU aside, that's pretty much a summary of Obi-Wan and Anakin's relationship!

The prequels are a tragedy, everyone has their fair reasons for how they act, but the consequences and timing doom them. Obi-Wan struggled, and was put in a position no one would want to be, he was an adult but still young and privileged, spoiled in a way, but also with very little skills outside his religion. His entire world was the order and Qui-Gon and suddenly it was all gone with no preparation.

Anakin is at the center of this, and is not his fault, but is very hard for Obi-Wan to not harbor resentment towards him. He also loved him, too, but never showed it.

Obi-Wan didn't start to get his own self together until about ROTS, it was too late by then.

And you would be right about Ahsoka! Anakin doesn't even realize it, but he's mentoring her in a way that allows her to be her own person. He's annoyed sometimes, sure. But he mostly ignores it. I think from Ahsoka's pov, he's a very strange master, compared to other Jedi and Obi-Wan himself but also because he goes from being sort like a cool older brother, to an annoying dad trying to tell her to do homework.

In the AU, Obi-Wan's hypocrisy is very fun to write. Even though he has guilt, he thinks Anakin is the one doing this to him. In a very "he's there tempting me and i fell for it" lmao. Very catholic of you, Obi-Wan. But there's more to it, I think Obi-Wan also justifies himself by thinking he is also bringing something for Anakin to enjoy. When he was younger, he would make sure to give Anakin gifts, or "spoil him", give him free time off of duties, hugs, etc. He offers Anakin to top (taught him, actually, oof), he makes sure Anakin enjoys himself, he does the aftercare.

It might seem like love bombing, and tbh sometimrs it is, but I think Obi-Wan is genuinely doing it from a place of care, affection , and "to make it up". He doesn't realize is just another form of control.

Actually, Obi-Wan doesn't realize he has control of the situation 99% of the time lol

[burning-river]

Do you think that if Qui-Gon had survived that there’s still the potential of Obi-Wan becoming a creeper on Anakin? Like how would that go? Obi-Wan is like, supremely jealous of this Padawan whom he feels like has usurped his place in Qui-Gon’s heart and life. So Obi becomes overly obsessed with Anakin and starts stalking him. But because Obi-Wan appears so unaffected by things, he doesn’t give off unhinged stalker vibes the way he should. Maybe offers to help Qui-Gon with Anakin’s training. And while Obi-Wan feels terrible about, that obsession and jealousy leads to him doing things he regrets yet can’t stop. Also a way of touching something that Qui-Gon cares about as a way of ‘connecting’ with his former Master. Anakin still feels like his place in the Temple is tenuous because of the Council’s initial reaction and while Qui-Gon did step up and take Anakin on anyway, Obi-Wan says that finding out that Anakin is a depraved and vile individual would definitely get Qui-Gon to drop him. Especially since didn’t Anakin see how Qui-Gon dumped his last Padawn when someone new and shiny came along. Of course none of the other Jedi notice. And Qui-Gon feels something is off but he never makes that leap because he can’t bring his mind to actually accept that Obi-Wan, whom he does care about, could do something so heinous. Like a parent who subconsciously knows it’s happening but can’t bring themselves to admit it. And if Qui-Gon does admit it, then what does that make him since he raised Obi-Wan who becomes this awful person.

oh i think you answered your own question just fine, hahaha. Like justified it in a way that makes sense to me.

I would say that because Qui-Gon Jinn made a huge deal out of the prophecy, this Anakin would have a heightened sense of duty even worse. I can see him swinging from one extreme of self importance to the other. From massive pride to nothing, so, worse than in canon. But because Qui-Gon is less prone to be distant and cold, I think Anakin has a better chance of never getting in Palpatine's clutches. Not that that would save him from big cool wise brother Obi, by your version haha

[burning-river]

Anon who sent the ask about Evil Stepmom Obi where Obi isolates Anakin after losing Padme. I suppose the question is also, how would this AU happen in a world where Palpatine successfully takes over the Empire? Like does Anakin still go towards the Dark Side and he loses Padme but comes back to the Light for his kids? And Obi abandons the rest of the galaxy the way he did in canon and they end up living in isolation so Obi can keep Anakin to himself. Or as much to himself as possible since the twins are there. And Anakin’s near fall would be something that Obi could use to keep Anakin in line. Like “Anakin you shouldn’t be near people cause you might be dangerous. You’re only okay around us because your love keeps you from going off the deep end but who knows how you would be around others?” Or even worse, Obi leaks the info to the rebels that Anakin sided with the Sith (or even just straight up lied to Anakin that the rebels believe this even though they think he’s just dead, like in canon). And Anakin doesn’t want to go back to the Empire so Anakin thinks he has to hide cause Obi has convinced him that BOTH the Empire and Rebels are hunting him. So Anakin stays in hiding while Obi takes care of everything. Like a Rapunzel situation where Anakin lives in his hidden tower to ensure the twins are safe and Obi controls the information they get. Then one day a scoundrel shows up with his Wookiee and helps the twins escape for a few days only to find out that no one is actually hunting them and that Obi has been lying to control Anakin. Maybe the Empire doesn’t even exist cause Palpatine was defeated and the Jedi are still around. Just for the extra angst.

I suppose the isolation thing would happen in a scenario where Palpatine is defeated but Padme still dies and both are kicked out of the order for breaking the no attachment rule, Obi would want still want to live the hermit lifestyle. Because living far from any neighbors would be beneficial to him keeping Anakin isolated. No support system to help him realize what’s happening.

Honestly the Evil Stepmom scenario has a million possibilities! The only thing that’s consistent is that Obi is not a good person!

Omg hahahahaha the evil stepmom Obi-Wan is mostly so a joke, or a parody, of all these AUs that have him raising the twins, or just Luke like he's a wonderful and very femenine guy that would be a great parent vs Anakin being an abusive shithead one lol

As such, I never thought about it seriously, but indeed it would mean Padmé must be dead, and yes it's got many possibilities, and the only consistent things is dark Obi-Wan

On the other ask, something I wanted to address is that while Anakin would totally love to be a stay at home dad, I think it wouldn't work. Obi-Wan is the one that doesn't know how to function outside the order and hasn't any skills that aren't related to being a jedi. Anakin only lived 9 years outside the order but boy got skills and he knows how to have a job. That already changed the dynamic, Anakin is the versatile, flexible one. Obi-Wan is rigid.

If I had to give it a shot, it would probably work better in a modern AU, for the "send them to a boarding school" joke to land lololol