A Little Too Late For The Bad Batch Finale And May The 4th, But I Had To Get This Out Of My System. Both

devout curly!tech truther coming atcha w/ work drabbles and wu-tang lyrics (unrelated)

Max Beebo ♡

⚠️Flash⚠️

tcw/bb fandom i promise i haven't abandoned you but the book of bill came out right before i went on vacation soz

BUT

i have a 5 hour flight on tuesday. so i'm gonna hope and pray i can come up with an echo snippet for yall 🕺

ballpoint pen brush scratches my brain like a scomp (which ive ironically not gotten to, yet)

part of a larger sketchbook-like piece im doing (x) but yk being overworked and underpaid isnt very conducive to creativity 🤌

No more forced Fiddleford feminisation, he has rabies now

they're lesbians, harold

why does Bo smack Ahsoka's ass when she calls her skinny

vetted fundraisers from today. please please keep sharing and donating as you're able. even the smallest contribution of time, effort, or resources is worthwhile!

july 1st:

Tahani Shorbajee, her husband, their three children, and six other family members ($15,423/$50,000) - @tahanishorbaje2, verified by @/el-shab-hussein

The Ayyad family of eight, including four children ($16,222/$35,000) - @aymanayyad82, verified by @/nabulsi

Muhammad Al-Azayza and family, including two children, one of whom has Down syndrome (kr7,590 SEK/kr200,000 SEK) - @hamouda-az, verified by @/sayruq

Basel Ayyad and his family of eight, including sick daughter whose condition is deteriorating without treatment (CHF1,828/CHF60,000) - @basel-1995, verified by @/sayruq

Shahed Muhammad and her family, including several children, one of whom needs treatment for hepatitis ($7,555/$50,000) - @shahednhall, verified by @/nabulsi

Ahmed Abu Shammala's family of eight (€9,694/€100,000) - @ahmed8311, verified by @/ibtisams

Ahmed Alanqer, his wife Dina, and their four young children, one a newborn (€22,711/€35,000) - @ahmednimer, @dinaalanqar, verified by @/nabulsi

Dina, her husband, and their three young children (one is a newborn and another needs urgent hepatitis treatment) ($587 CAD/$20,000 CAD) - @dina179, verified by @/ibtisams

Two families with 12 members in total, eight of them children (€2,953/€80,000) - @jrk85, verified by @/nabulsi

Mohammed Al Manasra, his wife, and their three young children (Mohammed needs treatment for chronic respiratory illness) (€7,533/€40,000) - @save-mohammad-family, verified by @/ibtisams

Reuniting four young siblings, one of whom has diabetes, with their parents ($3,405 CAD/$50,000 CAD) - @burningnightgiver, @ahmed79ss, verified by @/90-ghost

Photojournalist Muhammad Al-Thalateeni, his wife Safaa Al Khatib, and their two young children (€21,021/€35,000) - @mohammed-123, verified by @/sayruq

Ahmed Baalousha, his wife Islam, their three children (one a newborn), and three other family members (€14,314/€50,000) - @5735765, #124 on @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi's spreadsheet

The Al Zaeem family of seven, including four children and their severely injured grandfather ($18,263 CAD/$50,000 CAD) - @malkzaeem, @yosofzaeem, verified by @/nabulsi

Hadeel Adnan Abu Nasser and her family of 12 (she is responsible for everyone after the loss of her father and brother) (€1,314/€20,000) - @hadeelgaza, verified by @/90-ghost

Helping Siraj, his wife, and their three young children rebuild their beloved home ($1,924 CAD/$82,000 CAD) - @siraj2024, #219 on @/nabulsi and @/el-shab-hussein's spreadsheet

Noor Ayman and her family of nine, including a young child who needs treatment for hepatitis (kr1,163 NOK/kr700,000 NOK) - @new25hour2, verified by @/90-ghost

Amal Ashour, her husband, and their one-year-old daughter (€747/€30,000) - @amalashuor, verified by @/ibtisams

Newlyweds Noor and Alaa (€37/€25,000) - @nouralaagaza, verified by @/90-ghost

Nael Khalid and his family - @islampalestinegaza, verified by @/90-ghost

not yet vetted:

Moamen Majed, his four brothers, and their parents ($40/$30,000) - @moamenmajed-gaza

i know this is a long list, but a donation to even one of these campaigns can provide continued life and hope to so many people. if you pause on one post today, let it be here - these families urgently need our support.

i love you purple ass horse

You can’t go to a 70s-themed disco bash at the Shack without a vintage 70s shirt and a gold chain.

HALLO :D

i do apologize that i didn't have a snippet out like i wanted but, compromise, here's the whole damn thing. i also switched some stuff around in ch2 for continuity reasons :3

i got very very busy with prepping for an art faire (if anyone knows where to get cheap high quality prints let a mf know PLSSS) and i was muy busy. but we're back. and echo's a sweet dork.

mando'a translations!

ke'pare - wait/hold on

ge'tal - red

vor'e - thanks

udesii - chill out/its okay

gender neutral pronouns, no y/n usage, only main descriptor im sticking to about the reader is that you're ginger. cus i am. sorry nerds.

-immediately follows the events of the preceding chapter-

You were fighting back a smile. You had no idea that some of the clones knew Mando’a, let alone that the Mandolorian-adoptee turned clone-donor Jango Fett was taught during his short time on your home planet. You wondered if it was something the Kaminoans decided or if they all went about teaching themselves in Jango’s honor. The idea of a bunch of clone soldiers sitting around a Mando’a children’s dictionary makes the smile stitching onto your face that much harder to fight.

“I’m sorry about Tech. He can be, ah, a lot.” Echo grimaced while swiveling around the copilot’s seat, presenting it to you.

You obliged, and sat down. “Oh he’s fine. There’s plenty of topics I could infodump about, just as annoyingly. I just have a bad habit of my thoughts becoming verbal.” You shook your head, soft auburn tresses flicking about. The lights from the cockpit glinted around the natural highlights of your hair, and it didn’t escape Echo’s gaze.

The man cleared his throat. “Still, I appreciate you being so accommodating of my brothers. Nat-borns don’t seem to get it, you know?”

You furrowed your brow and cocked your head slightly to the left, looking him in the eyes. While he didn’t physically shudder, you could see the slight panic pulse in his iris when you met his gaze.

“Where do you think clones get their camaraderie and brotherhood from?”

Echo shrugged. “Kaminoans, I presume?”

You barked a laugh. “Well, yes. Ke’pare, what did they tell you guys about Mandalore?”

“Not much. Jango was around for the first few years, but I rarely saw him. He didn’t seem to hold much emotion for the regs. He seemed to like the higher ups, but I didn’t become an ARC Trooper until I was shipped off that wet rock.” Echo finally slumped into his chair opposing you. As he spoke, he slowly relaxed into his seat, his hinges quietly scraping together as he moved. Once again his amber eyes met yours, a new twinkle seeming to arrive.

“You know more than you let on, ge’tal.” Echo said, narrowing his gaze.

He seemed to be sizing you up. Trying to parse out his next line of questioning. Truthfully, you were better at it than him. While his observation skills have been battle-tested, the ease in which you peppered questions at him showed years of practice he was simply unable to acquire. Outside of the occasional conversation at 79’s or a senator he was required to escort, Echo’s entire social sphere only extends to his brothers. You made him nervous. In a very good way.

You blushed at the newly acquired nickname. “I prefer to call it ‘not showing my full hand’, but I’ll slide a few cards your way since you seem cute.”

The back of Echo’s neck started to bloom a soft red. He rubbed a palm on his knee, mindlessly self soothing. “Seem? What, the gray skin and hollow cheeks not working their magic?” He joked, gesturing to each feature respectively with a pointed index finger.

“You seem to deflect compliments because you can’t believe them, so I was starting small.” You extended your own index finger and poked at his shoulder, annunciating the seem.

The now-scarlet tint of Echo’s neck began to creep towards his face. Eyes darting towards the floor, he opened his mouth to speak, but closed it. He pressed his lips together for a moment. The only thing he got out was a weak “Vor’e.”

“Udesii. I came here, didn’t I?” Your face softened. Echo’s almost immediate vulnerability around you made your knees feel like jelly, and you were sending a silent prayer somewhere that you were both sitting down. “You’re not gonna scare me off, but you can’t immediately go cracking jokes just ‘cus I said you’re handsome.” You continued. Soft, yet firm. You weren’t allowing Echo to talk poorly of himself, even in jest.

Echo nodded, meeting your gaze once more. He looked off for a moment, seemingly in thought, before returning your gaze and asking softly: “How do you always know what to say?”

You let out one quick heh. “Since I found someone to give the words to.” You reply cheekily.

Echo smiled once more and dipped his head. “Walked into that one huh?”

You both smiled, and a comfortable silence began to envelope the two of you. Both of you were looking out on the horizon. The sky was a deep pink and purple haze, stippled with the indigo hues of the impending twilight. Echo was scanning the distance, as if anything alive would be out there, let alone a threat. You were content watching the 2 ½ clouds in the sky move millimeters at a time, but something told you to look at your companion. Gazing at him, your eyes slowly roved up his face. His jaw was set in a defined line, lightly gritted in concentration. His cheeks were hollow, but his cheekbones sat quite prominently, catching the light. This, juxtaposed with his deep set eyes, allowed the light to dance right at the forefront of his face. As if a candle was eye level with him, across the room.

“See anything cool?” You finally speak, hoping Echo didn’t catch you staring.

“Nah, perimeter check. I’m sure all I’ll see is bones and dirt but, old habits die hard.” He replied, not looking away. After a beat, he nodded, and seemingly relaxed the scrutinous gaze he had moments ago.

“Huh. So, what makes your squad different from the other clones, other than haircuts, tattoos, and builds?” You change the subject.

“Being experimental meant the Kaminoans could enhance certain characteristics. Wrecker’s strength, Tech’s smarts, Crosshair’s accuracy, and Hunter’s senses.” Echo spun his chair to face you and threw one leg over the other.

“Huh.” You think for a moment before replying. “So you think Hunter heard us approach?”

Echo nodded. “And I’m willing to bet he’s going to call me a serf for the next 3 rotations.”

You barked out a laugh before realizing his implication. A hand shot over your mouth and your eyes grew wide.

The man laughed. “Just be glad he’s not close enough to hear your heartbeat.”

“What CAN’T he hear?” You said, mildly exasperated. “How do you get any privacy?”

“He’s got noise canceling headphones but that’s mainly for his own sanity. Wrecker got them for him after his snoring kept him up for 3 days in a row.” You laughed at that, and Echo felt a twinge of pride before continuing. “He showed up in the cockpit one morning with his bandana over his nose and Omega had to ask him about his new fashion choices.”

You let out a series of giggles at that, holding your stomach slightly as you lean forward into it. If your eyes weren’t scrunched shut, you would’ve seen Echo’s face bloom in 4 different shades of pink. Every single part of him was committing this to memory. The way your eyes crinkled at the sides. The way your cheeks almost wanted to push your eyes out of their sockets. He never wanted this to end, the sounds of your joy echoing across the hold of the Marauder.

——————

Hours had passed, the sun well below the horizon by this hour. The sky was peppered with numerous constellations and star systems, the names of which always seeming to escape you. The deep blue sea of sky felt more vast than ever in your little perch aboard the Marauder.

You and Echo went back and forth, sharing tidbits from your respective lives up until this point. You learned about the Rishi Moon incident that gave Echo his ARC status, he learned about the Siege that gave way to your arrival here. He told you about the Domino Squad, you told him about your own clan’s untimely demise. Hours of stories shared back and forth, as if you were both once stationed on the same battlefield and then whisked away, only to be brought back together once more after all these years. But there was no mutual history to draw upon this familiarity from. The two of you just fell into a steady rhythm. One that you’d individually practiced and honed for years, like a song that was never intended for a duet, only for the two to sound identical.

“...And that’s where I learned Keldabe Handshakes are applicable as a neutralizing tactic across species.” You finished, explaining the first and only time a Shriek-Hawk has successfully taken you off guard.

“Charming.” A voice hissed, and then a pair of boots dropped to the ground with a soft thunk. “Echo, shouldn't you be putting your toys away? It’s late.” Crosshair slunked into the cockpit, seemingly from the shadows. You scoffed and rolled your eyes. “I must be a pretty expensive toy to trade for speeder brakes.”

“I can’t say I’m surprised you’ve never been with someone and lost track of time, Cross. That does tend to require social skills and, y’know, liking people?” Echo crossed his arms and stared his brother down.

“Well unless they’re taking your bunk, you should tell Tech someone’s joining him in the cockpit tonight. It’s too late to take them back now.” Crosshair seemed to spit the last part of the sentence, annoyed that someone else is in his space and bothering his brothers. While you understood hesitancy, you felt as if he reveled in his current position rather than proceeding with caution.

Echo turned to you and looked into your eyes softly. “It’s up to you.”

“I’m already cramping an already small ship. I can kick it up here with Tech for the night.” You said, smiling. While you very badly wanted to just crawl into Echo’s bunk with him, you weren’t doing that the first day. Plus, you don’t know how Echo feels about his personal space, or his sleeping positions, or if he prefers one side of the b—

“How touching.” Crosshair cut off your thoughts with the remark. He spun on his heel, and disappeared just as quickly as he appeared. Echo sneered at the doorway.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind sleeping up here. Like I said, Tech can be a lot sometimes.” Echo looked back at you, eyes full of worry.

“Tell you what, I’ll come get you if he’s being too much and we can switch, okay?” You compromise, getting the understanding that Echo’s going to worry either way.

“Deal.” Echo said firmly with a nod, and stands up. “For as much of a dick as he is, Crosshair’s right, it is rather late.” You nod and shrug slightly in agreement.

Echo turns to you and leans down. “Try and get some rest.” He gives you a quick peck on the cheek before turning on his heel and borderline speeding out of the room.

When the door shuts automatically, you ghost your hand along your cheek, and an uncontrollable smile breaks across your face.

I think he likes me.