a @starwarsfandomfests valentine's day gift for @arcjesse
it's always a joy to write these three, I hope you enjoy Howzer getting to dress up nice!
rating: teen || howzer/cham/eleni || 1k words || AO3
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It was mid-morning when the news reached Ryloth.
General Grievous is dead. The Separatist leadership is in disarray. The war is over.
Even out in the Outer Rim they noticed the change within hours. The droids stopped coming, both on the ground and in the air, and the respite from the fighting was a welcome one. There were even reports of retreats, of leaders fleeing their armies sure that retribution for their actions was coming.
In the Tann Province, the atmosphere was one of celebration. No-one had foreseen such a quick end to the war but everyone was embracing it. By early evening, plans had been made and the city was a hive of activity. The past three years had not been the longest war their people had suffered but it had been one of the harshest.
The air was alive with excited voices. The Jedi had done it! The Republic had won! True, it had been expected that Dooku and Grievous would be arrested and tried for their crimes before the Senate, but any end to the conflict was a good one. It would only be a matter of time before the other Separatist leaders were rounded up and put in front of a court.
From his position at one of the many windows of his home, Cham Syndulla watched his people thronging the streets, seeing how they walked lighter than they had in years. He understood that sometimes distasteful actions were necessary in warfare. He knew there were Jedi politics involved, given Dooku's history and Grievous' weapon collection, but it was something he put from his mind.
Tonight was a night for joy .
The sound of a door opening caused him to turn from the window. Before him stepped his wife, looking radiant as ever, but tonight even more so. Like him, she was dressed in the traditional brightly coloured stripes of celebration. Her dress was long and figure-hugging, and the colours made the jade of her skin even more vibrant than it was normally.
"You look beautiful," he told her.
She smiled, and somehow shone even brighter in his eyes. "As do you, love."
His own attire was just as multicoloured as hers, and in a palette specifically chosen to compliment that of his wife. The Twi'leks were a colourful people and that was how they liked to celebrate: washing off the dust of their desert world to shine and dance under the stars.
"Shall we?"
He offered her his arm and they descended to the atrium of their house. Hera was already outside, watching the aerial displays from overjoyed combat pilots. Cham could picture exactly the excited, longing look she would have on her face. If he didn't keep an eye on her there was a good chance she'd try to sneak off for some celebratory flying by the end of the night.
His attention was brought back to his surroundings by the presence of someone waiting just inside the front door. The man was dressed in neat GAR-issue formalwear and standing to attention for his general.
"Captain Howzer," Cham greeted him, "at ease. I thought we had dispensed with formalities when you are in this house?"
"I'm sorry, sir," Howzer replied, relaxing. "I've been making sure everything's running on schedule. Today's a big one for all the boys."
"It is important for everyone," Eleni agreed. "Fortunately there is still time for you to change, dear."
"Change?" Howzer gave her a confused look.
Cham chuckled. "You are about to attend a party, not a court martial!"
"Come." Eleni beckoned and led the way into the next room. "We'll start by removing this grey, boring thing."
She gave a faintly distasteful look to his dress uniform as she started unbuttoning the tunic. Howzer's brain was still catching up to what was happening and he only belatedly realised he should help her. The stiff material was sent tumbling to the floor along with the hat and gloves as Cham fetched the hangar that had been set out with Howzer's new outfit.
First, there was the long, sleeveless tunic that Eleni helped him into like a coat. Like what she and Cham wore it was multicoloured, and the stripes matched those on both of their outfits so that the three of them were a beautifully balanced masterpiece. It went over his vest and slacks much like his dress uniform had, but it felt much more flexible and breathable.
Eleni cinched the tunic at his waist with a braided belt as Cham slid the matching lekku bands over his wrists. They were just as important, and neither of them had wanted to let a simple thing like anatomy get in the way of including Howzer in their traditions. Cham secured them around the thick muscles of the man's arms.
There was a mirror leaning against one wall that had been brought in specifically. The Syndullas led Howzer in front of it so that he could get a good look at himself.
"Gener– Cham… Eleni…" Howzer started. "I – I've never –"
I've never worn anything that wasn't standard issue.
I've never had something with any significance beyond the military.
I've never felt like I belonged somewhere that wasn't a facility.
He choked off what sounded like a sob. Cham merely waited for the emotions to pass through him, a tender look in his eyes.
"You are a part of this family, Howzer. What you have done for us, what you are to us – that will never change. You will always belong here."
"We love you," Eleni added softly.
Howzer took a deep breath, centering himself. He looked away from the mirror and took each of their hands in both of his own, loving the contrasts of green and orange skin against brown.
"I love you too," he told them, his voice only a little shaky.
Eleni cupped his cheek in her palm and leaned in to press her softly smiling lips against his. She drew back to allow Cham to do the same, and Howzer accepted their kisses with tears in his eyes. The three of them pressed their foreheads together, a silent expression of the strength and depth of their feelings.
"Come now," Cham murmured. "We have a victory to celebrate and a freedom to enjoy."
With his wife on one arm and his captain on the other, General Cham Syndulla strode from his residence towards the festivities, calling for his daughter to join them. Ryloth was safe, his family was together, and all was well.
The CloneNet - media au, outside POV, clone-centric, jedi-centric, eventual fix-it, 14/33
Into the Endless Sky - ObiMaul raising Anakin and Feral post-Naboo Savage replaced Maul in the Phantom Menace events, 1/?
Of Beroyas and Pacifists, the Children of Mandalore - Boba/Korkie fic, alternating POVs, the rarest of rare pairs this is literally the first and only fic, 3/?
Our Paths They Will Converge - roleswap senator skywalker/jedi padme au, alternating POVs, heavy tatooine slave culture, 7/?
Rebels In Our Imagination - kylux, essentially the only way my brain likes seeing the sequels, 1/?
where there are almosts, there are things that just were - Obi-Wan was never saved from the slavers on Bandomeer and ends up on Tatooine w/ the Skywalkers and his many children, 3/?
I Am Not A Prophet - Luke Skywalker-centric, Tatooine Slave Culture, 1/1
secret spouses and child - Clone Wars era chat fic between (predominantly) clones, essentially the revealling of the Syndulla polycule to the other CC clones, 1/1
Today is the Day Nobody Dies - a one-shot centered around an alternate scene in a fic that I really like, Qui-Gon POV, time travel where Maul and Obi-Wan have a shared vision of their future while fighting in Phantom Menace, 1/1
trouble comes in pairs - the non omegaverse version of “Trouble Comes in Pairs, and it’s Not Always Bad”, no babies were born, 1/1
Trouble Comes in Pairs, and it’s Not Always Bad - leia/han, luke/han, alternating POV, omegaverse, the most melodramatic thing like two babies are born in a broom closet it’s a lot, Vader redemption, 2/2
Series:
A Crinkle in the Void - think of it as a spiderverse type au, only the alternate selves only cross over one at a time and sometimes with a few guests
Only A Baby - essentially canon 5yo Obi-Wan, 5/5
One Girl Didn't Die - Cerasi didn't die so Obi-Wan never left Melidaan 1/?
If Only We Listened - alternate version of canon where Ahsoka listens to Maul’s warning before Order 66 is given, although Anakin still falls and the order still goes through
Dearly do I sorrow for you. - space travel takes time and Obi-Wan and Padme don’t have much of it after leaving Mustafar, 1/5
Concern - Obi-Wan and Ahsoka have a chat about Obi-Wan’s bad decisions, 1/1
Companion of the Ancestors - time travel au, 19-20yo lineage members meet each other plus baby Luke and Leia because alternate future timeline, 10/?
Prisms - soulmate au where most people have multiple soulmates, determined by gaining a color in black-and-white vision
Traditions are usually built over generations. In times of war and great upheaval, however, new customs are created and clung to like lifelines.
One such tradition was formed on Ryloth, when Cham Syndulla brought his captain home to his wife.
may i introduce you all to my new ot3? (no spoilers for TBB – set pre-o66)
rating: teen; howzer/cham syndulla/eleni syndulla; 1.4k words
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Twenty-one twi’lek faces looked at Cham Syndulla from around the table. Twenty-one twi’leks, and one human.
The celebratory meal with his captains and commanders had become a traditional ending to the brief, intense periods of fighting that still plagued Ryloth. Every time they sat together, Cham would wonder when the next time they would be called up to fight would be. Even though the Battle of Lessu had resulted in Ryloth’s liberation from Wat Tambor, the Separatists weren’t giving up so easily. It often felt like for every attack they repelled two more would follow. There was no end to the fighting, only periods of respite after which they would return to the front lines.
But they were holding, for now.
And as the meal was becoming tradition, so too was Cham remaining seated until, one by one, each of the others rose and left, bidding him farewell until their next battle. The food was not noteworthy, the drink non-existent, and there was little to talk about other than war, so few lingered when their families and homes awaited. Only one stayed behind, and this was also their tradition.
The only human at the table, Captain Howzer led the clone battalion that the Republic had left behind to aid Ryloth following the Battle of Lessu. A clone himself, Howzer had proved himself worthy of Cham’s trust and respect a thousand times over. He was the only non-twi’lek other than Mace Windu to have sat at Cham’s table. But Howzer was more than just a soldier.
Cham knew the clones that the Republic had bought from Kamino were more than just mindless war machines. How could he not, after fighting with them for so long? Howzer was no different. He was his own person, as different to his brothers as Cham was to any twi’lek. Their time fighting together had made them understandably close, but something else had grown during the weeks of life-or-death situations. Now, there was more to their relationship than only the chain of command.
The two men stood to leave together, making the journey back to the Syndulla residence in a comfortable silence. Darkness was falling over the Tann province as the night drew closer and warm light spilled from the windows of the houses they passed. It was comforting to walk these familiar streets, but for Cham nothing was as comforting as reaching his own home.
It was different to how he had left it only a week ago. Some of the fighting had strayed uncomfortably close to civillian settlements, and one of their own Y-wing bombers had been shot down from the skies overhead. As General, Cham had received the impersonal, matter-of-fact report on the incident; they lost the pilot and the Y-wing, but with minimal structural damage at the crash site and no civilian casualties. It was a relief, but not enough information to sate his personal needs.
Later that evening, when he had made his usual holocall to his family (another new tradition) he had listened to Eleni tell him that the fighter had crashed mere meters from their own home. She and Hera had been on the other side of the house, thank the Goddess, and no-one had been hurt. No-one except the clone pilot, who was already dead when they pulled him out of the smashed cockpit.
He had told Eleni that he would deal with the wreckage when he returned, but seeing it now, he wondered if he would. It was a painful reminder of just how vital his fight for Ryloth’s freedom was. His eyes lingered on it as they crossed the courtyard to the front of the house, and he could tell Howzer was looking at it too. Howzer would have received the report on which brother he had lost that day. He would have mourned his loss in the barracks with his men, and then rallied them all to keep going, as the clones always did.
On the other side of the front door was a much more welcome sight. Eleni was waiting for them in the atrium wearing only a simple dress, but to Cham she looked radiant.
“Right on time,” she greeted them, crossing the room from where she had been sitting to meet them. Cham embraced his wife and kissed her, sweet and slow. He wasn’t truly home until he was in her arms. Here, he was not a General, and Howzer was not a Captain; the three of them could just be people enjoying respite from the war raging outside.
He drew back only far enough to press his forehead against hers. “It is good to be home,” he murmured.
“It is good to have you both back,” Eleni replied. She left the final word implied and unspoken: alive. Cham knew it was difficult for her to stay behind. She had been an active participant in the fighting following the Separatist’s first invasion of Ryloth, but fewer soldiers were needed to hold their retaken lands and someone needed to stay with Hera now that they had a house for her to live in again.
“I take it Hera’s asleep?” Howzer asked as Eleni slipped from Cham’s arms to his.
She twined her arms around the clone’s neck but paused before answering. “She was sent to bed,” she said finally with a hint of a smile. “Whether she is still there is another matter.”
“Is this something I need to worry about?” Cham asked over his shoulder as he crossed the room. From the cabinet there he drew three glasses and a bottle of amber liquid. As he removed the stopper from the bottle he glanced back to see Eleni greeting Howzer in the same way she had done him. It was a good sight.
“No, love,” she replied when she drew back, her hands moving to Howzer’s plastoid armour. Howzer was more than capable of removing his own armour but this, too, was now tradition. Cham poured their drinks.
“She pulled the astromech droid out of that wreck outside,” Eleni continued, her nimble fingers making quick work of the fastenings on Howzer’s shoulder plates, “and every night since she has been staying up to work on it. She thinks I have not noticed, but she forgets I can see the light from her room from the stairs.”
“You don’t tell her to stop?” Howzer asked, taking his armour from her as she moved to his vambraces.
“Of course not. There are much worse things she could be doing, and this way I know about it.” Eleni took the bundle of armour from him to set to one side. “Besides, I haven’t seen her this happy in a while. That little droid is good for her.”
Cham took a sip from his drink. “Then tomorrow I will ask her to show me what she has done. Perhaps this is something we can work on together, as father and daughter.”
“Tomorrow,” his wife said firmly. “Tonight there is something else you can work on.”
“The first being passing me my drink,” Howzer added.
Cham answered Howzer’s smile with his own as he brought the clone his drink. Eleni had knelt on the floor to work on his leg armour and Cham took advantage of her absence and Howzer’s immobility to take a kiss of his own. He’d only meant it to be brief, but that first sip of his drink was seeping warmth through his body and Howzer’s mouth was only adding to that. He was home, with the people he trusted and loved. Howzer’s blunt teeth nipped at his lower lip and the warmth solidified into a burning heat in Cham’s lower belly.
“As much as we are all enjoying this,” Eleni murmured from much closer than Cham expected, “you are getting in the way.”
Cham drew back, taking in Howzer’s dark eyes and flushed complexion that matched how he no doubt looked. Eleni had finished removing most of the clone’s armour and was now standing behind him; all that remained was his chestplate. Once Cham had given her space, that too was placed carefully to the side, and Howzer stood in only his blacks.
“How about we move upstairs,” he suggested, taking his drink from Cham.
Cham and Howzer have been away for a week. Eleni welcomes them home.
rating: explicit; howzer/cham syndulla/eleni syndulla; 3.3k words
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Eleni led the way with a small lantern as the three of them ascended the stairs in silence. The upper floor of the house was dark, but Howzer noticed a light as he climbed the first few steps. Then one of them stood on a loose floorboard which creaked and the light winked out. Howzer saw Cham and Eleni sharing a knowing smile; Hera must still be working on her droid.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
“Cold, tonight,” Cham said.
“Yes,” Howzer agreed, leaving out the one crucial word that fell out of his mouth so frequently it was almost a challenge to bite it back. But Cham wasn’t a superior on the nights that they spent together. Howzer didn't need to call him sir.
3, 4, 6, 7, 11 and 13 for Permissive Environment? sorry i really like this story! 😳
Haha, thank you so much! I like it too and am happy to talk about it, though I'll only be talking below about the first chapter, which is the original fic (as apposed to the addendum drabbles).
Link to Permissive Environment
3. What’s your favorite line of narration?
This is tough! Not sure if it was playing in a different story ‘environment’ or working with totally new characters, but the prose in this one is some of my strongest, I think. I'll pick three lines:
Desert glass had nothing on the penetration of Eleni Syndulla’s eyes, Howzer decided, though it had bored through earth and sky.
Like the scent between his lekku under the midday sun, the shape of Cham’s cock was embedded in Howzer’s mind.
When it came time for drawdown, Howzer was determined to be on the last larty out of Lessu.
4. What’s your favorite line of dialogue?
Eleni chuckled and tutted. “Don’t flatter him, Howzer — or any Rylman. It will go straight to his lek and make him dangerous.”
6: What makes this fic special or different from all your other fics?
I don’t normally write such detailed stories for new ships on the back of an unexpected prompt. How quickly this fic flowed out really impressed me. I remember needing a good project at the time and immersing myself in the worldbuilding — watching obscure videos on mosaics and Greco-Roman architecture and ancient cosmetics and and and (you get the idea) — brought maximum escapism.
It’s also dear to me for the hotwifing element … my favorite kink and one I should write more of.
7: Where did the title come from?
The DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms (Jan, 2021) :p
permissive environment — Operational environment in which host nation military and law enforcement agencies have control, as well as the intent and capability to assist operations that a unit intends to conduct.
Obviously, there’s a double-meaning in there about the Syndullas as very permissive hosts; but the fic was just as much about what might have brought Howzer's unit to Ryloth and what the aftermath of a successful GAR operation on friendly soil would have looked like. So, the military pun.
11: What do you like best about this fic?
It’s a well-textured story, studded with detail and sensory notes. If that reads like a wine bottle label, well this is one of the few fics I like better with age :p
13: What music did you listen to, if any, to get in the mood for writing this story? Or if you didn’t listen to anything, what do you think readers should listen to to accompany us while reading?
The soundtrack to Black Hawk Down — the instrumentation and often plaintive melodies work for the vibe — and "Gortoz a Ran" especially, which is weirdly perfect because it’s a song in Breton about waiting for a storm. Given the whole twi’leks-as-space!French-Resistance thing, it was easy to imagine the song belonging to twi’leks who speak an ancient tongue that's quite different from modern Ryl.
And also Oh What A Mess I’m In by Hayden Calnin
I know this might seem a little less alright /
But here I find a little place to hide /
Oh, what a mess I'm in
