I love Mace, but when I heard about this comic where Mace was apparently chill with Creepatine forcing him to let Palpatine spend time with Anakin alone, it just sent me into this spiral. This entire chapter is just me explaining to myself how Mace could have jumped to "I WILL NOW KIDNAP THE CHOSEN ONE" with what was, let's be real, very little proof or evidence to speak of. We have the benefit of hindsight to know 100% that Palpatine is a Sith and wouldn't have stopped just because the Jedi Council asked him politely, but Mace doesn't. I think Mace is actually the only Jedi who could have realised the gravity of the situation, because of his ability to see Shatterpoints, which is basically the Force screaming "Some Shit Is ABout To Go Down My Dude" at him.
The rest of the chapter is Mace having to interact with Anakin 1 on 1, in a resonable manner, which is not something he has a lot of experience with. And Anakin thinks Mace hates him. And Mace has to convince him to do the one thing Anakin really doesn't want to do. Or else the Galaxy/Republic/Jedi are doomed. Maybe. The Force is still screaming at him very loudly.
But also, WHAT WAS PALPATINE THINKING. He had to know what this looked like, right? I don't understand how Mace and Obi-Wan didn't think this was a sex thing.
Mace offers a very interesting perspective on both Obi-Wan and Anakin, I think. I do genuinely think he likes Obi-Wan and considers him a friend. And I think Mace Windu, the person who was close enough to the Dark Side on a daily basis to invent Vapaad, probably has the best understand of how Anakin Skywalker works when it comes to his emotions, and his desires, and he's kept himself away from the boy for that reason. He and Yoda thought Anakin needed someone who could balance him, like Obi-Wan, instead of someone who could sympathise with him, like Mace. In hindsight, _both_ would probably have been ideal, but hey. He is protective of Anakin though, because he does take the Order's responsability to it's younglings and Padawans very seriously. And also, as stated, Anakin is a time-bomb. Who he may or may not grow to care a lot about in the next few years. No one can resist the Anakin Skywalker charm. Spend enough time with him and you either want to care for him forever or you want to kill him. Mace is in the first camp. Most days.
SHMI. SHMIIIIII. Someone who might actually recognize Anakin's trauma responses for what they are and help him gain some sort of healthy emotional state!!! The Jedi are great, but not always at Feelings! SHMIIIIIII.
And look. Mace can sigh and grumble about the Code as long as he wants, but Mace is also a man who needs a mission in life, he's a goddamn Jedi. So if the two ex-slaves he's somehow gotten himself stuck to in the last 48h want to start a Slave Rebellion, well, he suddenly has a lot of free time, and he will curse and groan all the while making it the best goddamn Slave Rebellion in the goddamn galaxy. These goddamn Skywalkers, swear to the Force.
ps. I am really so happy to read your amazing comment, it made my day as usual, and I hope the rest of the fic will hold up <3 <3 <3 <3
Happy to be here!! (And good timing on my part lol!)
I no longer know Palpatine, I only know Creepatine. Perfect name, honestly. AND FOR REAL. WHAT. WAS. COMIC. MACE. THINKING.
LOL karma's a bastard, Mace, and it'll get ya. Of all the people to try to convince Anakin that he needs to run away... Mace definitely has not put himself in the best position to do that XD (maybe he'll rethink some of his interpersonal techniques after this, hmm??) I am still floored by the fact that, shatterpoints and Force warnings aside, it occurred to nobody that a request of an old, powerful man to have one-on-one time with a young boy could be anything untoward... and seriously, Palpatine, that was NOT subtle. Maybe he was too focused on engineering a war and hiding his Force presence to think too much about how creepy that looked. Or maybe the attitude towards sex in the Jedi Order is one where it's not talked about, creating a culture where sexual abuse is seen as something shameful for the victim, swept under the rug, and ignored... and Palpatine just took advantage of that...
That's a really cool perspective - that Mace's relationship to the dark side would've placed him in a position where he understood Anakin and the risks around him better than a lot of the other Jedi, and that was the basis for his attitude - as opposed to a holier-than-thou, city on a hill kind of thing. (He's totally going to end up caring about Anakin. I believe it. TOTALLY. And probably want to kill him at times, too XD)
THE JEDI ARE NOT ALWAYS GREAT AT FEELINGS. (In fact, often they're downright terrible.) I think the Jedi have a very specific attitude and approach to strong emotions, and that approach just does not work for Anakin. He needs support from someone who has shared experiences and who works through the same feelings he experiences instead of just trying to let them go. And who he trusts and loves and loves him. (Anakin deserves to be loved, dang it, that poor boy needs it!)
I can totally see Mace moaning about the Code and the "Jedi way" but at the same time throwing himself into this slave rebellion with everything he's got. He's been a man of action, for crying out loud, his entire life has been devoted to making a difference. And this is a pretty worth cause. And one most Jedi won't touch.
Thank you so much for writing this!! And for your awesome reply to my comment (I have WAY too many thoughts XD) I'm soooo here for emotionally healthy Anakin!! And "Mace Anakin and Shmi start a Slave Rebellion as a coping mecanism" when I saw that tag I CHOKED XD
Comment on Hunting the Homeward Light
GreenQueenofClubs on Chapter 1 Thu 13 May 2021 03:53PM UTC
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koax_koax on Chapter 1 Thu 13 May 2021 06:09PM UTC
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