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English
Series:
Part 26 of For I Still Live
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Published:
2021-06-17
Updated:
2022-05-04
Words:
67,724
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10/?
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15 - when i walk into a room something dies

Summary:

Ben returns to Coruscant.

This takes place months after 13.

Notes:

The title is taken from Noor Hindi's poem, Fuck Your Lecture on Craft, My People are Dying.

Chapter 1: Metaphors about death

Summary:

Ben arrives on Coruscanta.

Notes:

I said I wouldn't post a WIP again but I'm hoping this will give me the push I need to corral this monster. I've told myself I can't post any more AUs until I get a handle on 'canon' ಥ‿ಥ

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The seedy underbelly of Coruscanta was like seedy metropolis underbellies everywhere: dank, grimy, and singularly uninspiring. There were, however, a pack of half-trained anoobas whose minds became welcoming and docile at a touch of Manda. Or Force, as he would have to get used to calling it, if he didn’t want to give up the game too soon.

Ben dropped to one knee and let furry snout after furry snout shove its way in front of his visor, whining for an ear rub or 5. He had no idea how they’d gotten here, but he wasn’t going to look a gift-anooba in the face.

(He was decidedly not thinking about how often he ate anooba kebabs while on Melidaan.)

When he stood to continue on, the anooabas slunk in his shadow, their bulk sending more than one sentient scurrying away.

Ben stepped into the first cantina on his list. The Yarkorian behind the bar tilted their head back, all the better to see him.

“Mando,” they said in greeting. “You’re a long way from home. I didn’t know your kind even came to the Core anymore.”

“Not usually,” Ben agreed, dipping his head. The noise in the cantina dimmed slightly as others turned to watch; Mandalorians truly were rather scarce in the Core these days.

“You see, I’m here for answers.”

He activated his comr’k. Ben’s blood had boiled after he’d seen what had been done to their friend, when Garen had brought him every last scrap of information he could get his hands on before his last big blow-out with Rhara.

The Yarkorian caught sight of the holo of Reeft’s body and exhaled heavily, sending their whiskers flying. At a mental nudge, an anooba began to growl. Soon enough, the sound was taken up by the rest of the pack. The cantina went deathly silent.

“Those answers? I’m not leaving without them.”

Notes:

EDIT: Soz yall, let me clarify - where do the trained anoobas appear in the FiSL? 'verse :DDD