+28 [closed]*

[jedimindtrick]

Who: Obi-Wan Kenobi (jedimindtrick) and ???
When: March 28th
Where: Mess Hall Bar
What: Unable to find suitable rest, Obi-Wan takes his thoughts to the bar.
Warnings: Alcohol. Grumpiness, probably. The usual.
Note*: Currently closed to previous plotters, but if you're interested in tagging in, hit me up via PM or at blakeroo  via PP.

The march of time has never bothered Obi-Wan so much as it does here on the Moria. In so few days — arguably a handful — it has been one challenge after another. To say the Jedi Master feels powerless against it would be an extreme underestimation. In fact, he feels downright steamrolled by the force of everything he's learned since leaving his home.

Finding respite from it has become harder and harder, too. Without the support structure, without the Jedi Council, many of Kenobi's decisions have left him questioning himself, left him questioning his ability to handle extreme circumstances without a crutch. No amount of meditation can free him of this concern, even if he believes he's doing the best he can in the face of adversity.

That, among other things, preys on him. Particularly when he's tired. It's the only reason he turns to the bar, to a few drinks in the name of personal sanity. It does little to lift his spirits, but it's more than enough to warm him, and with luck, it will eventually fall away to a more restful sleep.

Comments

[pickingup]

Natasha isn't one to drown her sorrows, but she can often be found nursing a single drink for hours on end at the bar. Drinks loosen lips, after all.

Mostly, she looks for new people, even important-looking ones, but when she spots Obi-Wan this time, she opts to slide into the seat next to his instead. She likes Obi-Wan. He's calm in a way she rarely sees, like he has a strong sense of self. It's so unlike her own fluidity that she can't help but find him fascinating.

"What's a guy like you doing in a place like this?" She leans forward on her elbows and smiles at him slyly.

[jedimindtrick]

He's been here a while. All night, it seems, drinking with those that happen to wander by and ask or offer. It's not the most dignified way of conducting himself he realizes, but the last several weeks have been trying in a way that Obi-Wan has yet to acclimate to. It's one hard conversation after another. It's one crisis after another. It's a million implications breeding a million questions and there's hardly an answer to be seen.

But now he's pleasantly drunk. Not all that far gone. There's plenty of recognition in his eyes when he lifts his chin from his hand and glances over at her.

"Waiting for a girl like you, of course," he responds, reflecting back that same sly smile in return. It might be the most genuine and heartfelt smile of the night despite the jest.

[pickingup]

"Oh, of course." She chuckles gently at the easy flirtation. Sometimes it's nice to know that no one means it and she really doesn't see an ounce of promise in his words. It's good, because there's no promise behind hers, either. There would be, if she thought it would get her anywhere, but she doubts that that's the right approach for him. It's never worked on her, either. It's hard to trick someone with sex when they already use it as a tool.

"You know just how a girl likes 'em, too: drunk and in desperate need of a shaving."

[jedimindtrick]

Kenobi practically recoils at that, his hand massaging his beard into a bit of a messy state. It's a little longer than he'd like but he doesn't exactly have ready access to anything but the communal bath, and he's not fond of grooming himself in front of his bunkmates.

"Desperate need? I think that's being a little unfair, Natalie," he scolds, and still there are unaddressed quotation marks around the name he uses for her. Even drunk he's convinced that's not right. He's back to smoothing his beard, practically primping it. "It's dignified. And I look like a child without it." Not quite, but try convincing Obi-Wan of that.

[pickingup]

"Maybe a little unfair." Her smile only grows at his reaction. It's funny, but she can't quite tell if he's exactly like her or the exact opposite. "It does suit you."

And then she flicks his glass with her long nails and it makes a soft ping, playful as ever. Some people are easier with seriousness and others with playfulness, but she suspects that what he prefers most is honesty in whichever form it takes. She can't give him that, but she can give some false approximation of someone else's honesty. "What are you drinking?"

[jedimindtrick]

As long as she's not aiming to deceive him with much more than a name, Obi-Wan doesn't appear to mind the dodging he senses from her. Especially not when he's had a few drinks.

"It's some type of ale," he says with a shrug. After a point he'd just taken what was given to him. Something stronger was intermingled in there as well, but he'd begun to slow down a little in anticipation of heading back to his bunk.

Kenobi hitches a thumb behind him. "I could order you one." And another for himself as he considers changing his mind and staying a while longer.

[pickingup]

"Ale's not really my thing. Vodka or whiskey would be great." But he's still welcome to order for her if he likes and she gives him a cheeky smile just to make sure that he knows that.

Normally, she'll go for the drink they're having. People subconsciously find themselves drawn towards others who mirror their behavior, but again that doesn't seem like him. He's the sort of person that she knows she's going to slip up in front of eventually, in fact, because she knows that he's just a little different, even if she's not entirely sure why yet.

[jedimindtrick]

He is a little different, yes, but he won't be admitting that any time soon. In fact, he's better off appearing as typical as possible, particularly to those who aren't sensitive to the Force. It gives him an advantage, or so he likes to think (and at times like this, he needs all the advantages he can get).

"Vodka or whiskey. Sounds fine." Honestly, more and more things are starting to feel fine as he continues to drink, so he turns to the tender and negotiates his way to a couple more beverages. What he returns with — a shot glass in each hand, one clear the other amber — is probably a close approximation. "Take your pick; I'll have what's left."

[pickingup]

She takes the whiskey with a smirk and waits for him to settle before holding it up for a toast. "To figuring out the mysteries of this place."

It's the most neutral thing she can think of, though she's pretty sure that they'd all like to go home, too, but this seems safer.

[jedimindtrick]

Left with the vodka, he takes a moment to smell the drink — very attractive — but it doesn't inspire any sort of expression, so he must find it to be all right. The glass is lifted in salute and he smiles in response. "And to making friends in unlikely places," he adds, guessing that she won't take exception to the assumption. As far as Obi-Wan's concerned, they're friends until they're not. Which is to say, when they're not, they'll both know it.

Dipping back the shot of alcohol, he reflects back on all of the terrible drinks he'd had in his life, and admits to himself this might be the worst. But if its burn is any indication, it's certain to do the trick.

"Good choice." He doesn't mean that. It may be obvious by the slight curl of his lip. Awful taste.

[pickingup]

Natasha doesn't really have friends most of the time. There are a few, but her real friendship is hard-won and they haven't saved each other's lives or saved the world together lately. She likes him enough, but there are plenty of people she likes until she has to screw them over. It's just life, really.

"To making friends."

She toasts anyway, because Natasha's a liar at heart and a good one, and when she notices his reaction to the drink, she puts the whisky down in front of him with a wry grin and goes to pry the vodka from his hand.

[jedimindtrick]

The appearance of the whiskey boggles him a little bit, but Obi-Wan merely looks down at it with a detached wonder. Okay, yes.

He lifts the whiskey and thinks that perhaps he's already had too much, but if Obi-Wan can't occasionally throw caution to the wind, he might as well call himself Master Windu.

"And the—" He hiccups and then covers his mouth briefly in surprise before mouthing a sorry. "And the universal constant of the local dive bar."