thisavrou_log | + 98~ [closed]

[ It's taken some time and some coaxing to get to a place where Obi-Wan feels at home with himself, but now that he has, he thinks of someone else who might enjoy a diversion.

He tidies his hotel room before he invites Satine, but only so much. Picking up his clothes and the kitchen, he leaves out his books and drawings, including one of her. He still hasn't fully made his bed despite changing the sheets to get rid of unwelcome sand. It's far more space than his apartment on Coruscant, and he has to admit it doesn't feel entirely right that he's the only one who should use it.

Obi-Wan has plans for food and drink, for a quiet night together, but he's worried Satine will want something a bit more glamorous, so he sets himself to having a backup plan, too. One way or another, he'll be prepared to show the Duchess he's not as stuffy as he often characterizes himself to be. ]

[ Satine is in all honesty happy enough to spend time with Obi-Wan that she would do it just about anywhere, and a quiet night for just the two of them sounds pretty much perfect.

She is as Mandalorian as they come, and has her people's taste for pomp and circumstance, but sometimes simplicity is far more fitting. Besides, if she wanted constant grandeur she wouldn't have fallen in love with a jedi, would she?

She should probably knock before enterting, but since she was invited she simply lets herself into the room. A lingering habit from their younger days, when she would sometimes try to sneak up on him in the hopes of catching him off guard, just to put a few dents in that jedi composure. ]

[ The constant grandeur varies depending on which Jedi you fall in love with, honestly. In this case, even a desire for pomp and circumstance is overwritten by a hefty exhaustion that has less to do with physical properties so much as mental ones at this point.

He thinks he can feel her approaching — a familiar shimmer of excitement that feels decades old — but there's too much interference with so many visitors to the collective, and so she finds him somewhat off guard, just as she was hoping. Dragging a broom across the planked floor, he hums to himself as he coaxes sand back out the patio door where it rightfully belongs. ]

[ It's taken Obi-Wan a day — a full day — to reassemble the pieces, and even now what's left hardly resembles something recognizable. The life that he had once known — a life of servitude — while far from uncomplicated, had a sense of stability that he no longer feels here. With Anakin at war with himself, it's as if the gravity's been changed, as if the world's turned entirely askew.

Placing Skywalker under Ahsoka's care, the Jedi Master leaves his friend's side for the first time since arriving to witness the aftermath of Anakin's breakdown. In that time he's learned of the catalyst — that excessively hard to swallow truth spat out like venom — and while he hasn't had time to sleep, he has had plenty of time to think (dangerous enough in its own right).

How they got to this point he doesn't know — beyond Organa's concise confession, there's no obvious trigger — but he intends to find out what brought this on. And to provide appropriate damage control considering all of them will have to live together again when they return to the Moira.

For the purpose of meeting the twins, Obi-Wan asks them to a quiet park — one he (thinly) hopes to inspire the spirit of serenity and cooperation in them all. Sadly, he doesn't hold his breath as he paces in front of a bench, stroking his beard in the twilight, emotions as solidly in check as they could possibly be in this moment.

He will get to the bottom of this, even if it means he needs to create a solid and uncompromising lecture to get to that point. ]

You came.

[ A little icy, perhaps a bit of an accusation in its own right. Although he tries not to make it sound like one, it's clear the toll this is taking when Kenobi can't even turn his eyes away from the horizon to offer his typically warm greeting. ]

[Luke arrives nervously, unready to be in his sister's presence before she's forgiven him, but unwilling to ignore Ben's summons. He's still rolling in his own guilt over everything, and forgotten one of the first Jedi tenets in the midst of this: look outside yourself.]

[He mulls around without sitting, hands in his pockets.] Um. Yes.

[He takes a deep breath.] I can guess what this is about, and I'm sorry. Truly.

Of course.

[Why wouldn't I come?

...All right, there are plenty of answers there, all of them unpleasant. But Leia knew, on some level, from the moment she gave into Anakin's badgering that she'd have to answer for her claims. She won't shirk that duty, even coming from someone she cares for as much as Obi-Wan--especially from Obi-Wan. She has the conviction of truth and years of righteous anger on her side; while she's certain this won't be an enjoyable conversation for any of them, she knows her part in the proceedings.

She waits beside her brother, not quite petulant as she looks up at Obi-Wan. This isn't information she'd prefer to volunteer, given the situation.]

[ Obi-Wan would have liked to have not come here at all, although he knows he thinks that now because everything that's happened. A few days ago, he would have jumped at an opportunity to spend time with any of them. Instead, he feels so much at a loss as to what to say, dreading the possibility that resolution may not be within their grasp. ]

The current approach has yielded unfortunate results.

[ He turns to look at them, blue eyes finally searching their unhappy faces. An ache creeps in at the sight of them, mostly because he hates the idea that they're hurting, that they have been hurt, that they're still hurting. In such a short time he's grown so attached that this perceived distance creates an unpleasant darkness within him. He only wishes he didn't already know how much worse it is for the rest of them. ]

Did you think you couldn't come to us with this? If not to him, then why not to me?

[ It's almost practiced, as if he's asked it over and over in his head too many times. ]

[ Seeing him like this makes her heart ache with fondness, but rather than announce herself she decides to push her luck a little further.

She doesn't consider her chances to be particularly good, but she still attempts to sneak up on him.

She has done a fair bit of shopping, and is currently wearing one of her finds. A long summer dress in blue held up by thin straps. The thin fabric whirls pleasantly around her legs as she moves, almost covering her sandal-clad feet.

For once she has decided to leave her hair be, and as always when she does that it is looking a little tousled. Much like the rest of her, it has a mind of its own, and a stubbornly rebellious one. ]

[ He's late to notice her physical presence, surprised as he turns to put away the broom. His humming stops as his eyes catch sight of her, dressed as commonly as he's ever seen, but more beautifully than ever before. ]

Satine—! [ Obi-Wan stammers briefly, trying to collect himself.

Eyebrows shooting up, he quickly hides the broom behind his back for no discernible reason, head then dipping slightly to avoid showing her how piqued he's become at her appearance. ]

You've caught me be surprise, I'm afraid; I wasn't fully prepared for you to be so stealthy.

[ It's been a long time since she saw Obi-Wan quite this flustered, and the way he tries to hide the broom makes her laugh. ]

That's quite alright. There is great satisfaction in startling a jedi.

[Luke starts the parade of excuses immediately:] I couldn't tell you! You didn't- [Didn't tell me. But he can't say that, at least not in front of Leia. He shakes his head, muttering in an undertone.]

It's more complicated than that.

Some of us-- [icily, without a glance towards her brother] --have been in the dark for some time now.

[She's still angry, and this conversation is doing nothing to soothe that anger. (Han had, briefly, but she can't exactly burrow under the covers of a hotel-room bed for this conversation.) She couldn't have talked to Obi-Wan about anything she'd learned, even if she'd wanted to; he has no business demanding explanations like this, as though they're children who broke a window and tried to hide it. Did you think you couldn't come to us with this?]

Why don't you tell us just what it is we should have brought to you, Master Kenobi?

[ His expression darkens slightly and he looks at them both with a burning sincerity, one that betrays just how much emotion he can't suppress about what's happening. ]

Answers. Even inconvenient, horrific answers.

[ Which, honestly, might be entirely contrary to what he'd really been hoping at the start of this. Every new piece of knowledge passed between them has made things more and more difficult, but Kenobi's beginning to believe that there's no escaping it if they are to fix things. ]

What did you both hope to accomplish? In keeping this a secret, in applying it like a weapon? Do you even know?

I didn't- I'd never use it like-

[Oh.]

[Suddenly everything makes sense.]

[Anyone who is sensitive in the Force might feel it. A sudden flash of heat, lively rising anger. His mouth twists into a thin line, and his eyes widen. He turns away from Ben, having forgotten his former master entirely in the span of a second. His fists clench. His brows narrow.]

[He can't remember ever having felt this way before, certainly not ever toward-] Leia. What happened?

He asked.

[Leia knew it was coming--knew that, soon, she'd have to face up to what she did--but feeling Luke's anger spike makes her stomach drop. Obi-Wan's disappointment is no concern compared to her twin's; she turns to him, shaking her head.]

I told him not to contact me again.

[It's because it's Leia that he doesn't explode into loud, raging anger. He keeps himself still, just barely. His words come out in curt whispers.]

He asked if he became a sith?

[He doubts it.]

Of course not.

[But that's not reason enough to discount her choices. She'd been furious enough with Anakin before he'd contacted her--Luke's revelations were still raw, painful to think on--and he'd pushed her. How to convey that trapped feeling, she's not sure, but it rises in her again now. It's a sharp twinge in her ribcage, tightening as she glares up at him.]

He asked why I didn't want to speak to him again. What was I supposed to say?

Anything! [He shouts, finally.] Anything but that! Do you know what you- [But of course she does. Leia is clever, unreasonably so. She knows exactly what she did, and why she did it.]

[He just doesn't understand it himself.]

Why are we here? [He turns to Ben for a futile moment.] How is he- does he understand? How much?

[There's real concern in his voice.]

[ Obi-Wan feels sick to his stomach. He doesn't appreciate seeing anyone go through this kind of sorrow, particularly those he's only just admitted to caring for. Luke and Leia have meant so much to the lot of them since the moment they'd realized the connection. ]

What may have once been a puzzle is now a clear picture to him.

[ Arms disappearing into his robes, Kenobi dips his head, taken by the upset he feels, the flare of his anger quickly burning out at this moment. ]

He's taken all of the blame.

I told him the truth! [She's not above shouting back at Luke. Her fingernails dig hard into her palms.] If you think I'm going to let him try to bother me into telling him Alderaan didn't matter--

[But of course Luke doesn't think that, and she manages to stop herself before she goes any further.]

He can have it. [Her voice has grown quieter, but the anger is still there, weighing her words down as she looks over at Obi-Wan.] He told you everything, didn't he? You know what Vader's done.

Vader. What Vader did, not- [His anger falters, trips, dies.] Not our father.

[Quietly, almost to himself,] We can't try someone for something they haven't done yet.

Edited (bleuflgdf) 2016-06-20 03:03 (UTC)

[ He holds up his hands as if to signal them to stop. Hopefully they'll listen, although he won't be surprised if they don't. They really are so much like their father — like Anakin. ]

Please. If we could control ourselves...

[ Again, if they can't he won't be surprised, but Kenobi is running thin on patience for even himself and he doesn't want to stand here and watch more of this family falling apart. ]

I've heard the details — Anakin shared them with me. I asked him to. I needed know so that I could understand what was wrong with him.

[ Kenobi shudders out a breath. ]

We must tread carefully. I cannot emphasize this enough. [ He settles his eyes on Leia in particular. ] No one should be blamed for something they haven't done. My opinion hasn't changed on that. Luke's right.

Edited (not to gang up on you, princess....) 2016-06-20 03:31 (UTC)

Vader is our father. [One last quiet snipe before Obi-Wan can demand control of them.

She can control herself, after all; she does control herself, every minute of the day when she has to. And sometimes she really has to. Now, for instance, when her basest desire is to sharpen her tongue on everyone around her, she meets Obi-Wan's eyes with a hard, unyielding gaze.]

On a technicality. [The words come out with blaster-bolt precision. He's also a liar, she wants to shout, but that didn't bother you, either, did it? More things that have only happened for some of us.] You can tread carefully all you want. I'm not speaking with him again.

I'll bet there is.

[ He moves away just long enough to put the broom int he corner and then he returns back to her, his hand reaching out to takes hers. ]

You've been shopping. Not... as Mandalorian as I'm used to seeing. [ He turns her in a circle to see the full picture. ] I like it.

[ She lets herself be spun with a quiet little chuckle. ]

There isn't exactly a large supply of Mandalorian clothing on hand here. It'seems still nice to have something other to wear than the uniforms.

I hadn't even considered the option.

[ Which is not surprising, as he hasn't really considered the uniforms either, not unless he'd been forced to.

Releasing her hand, he gestures for her to make herself at home. ]

Tea? Or would you rather head out instead?

Tea would be lovely.

[ For a start, at least. There is an appeal to going out somewhere, being a couple in a public way that has never been possible for them before.

But she is still getting used to their new dynamic, one step at a time seems like a good way to travel down this somewhat unfamiliar path.

Which is why she finds herself a seat and gets comfortable. ]

[ He was hoping she'd choose the tea, mostly because he'd taken this room just to be away from people. It's not the man he presents to everyone, but if someone here besides Anakin is to understand his desire for a quiet existence, it's certain to be Satine. ]

I have some things to nibble on, too.

[ Fruits and cheeses and other such finger foods, he means. Clearly Obi-Wan needs to work on his wording. ]

[ Considering how much time she has spent trying (and often failing) to understand him, it is perhaps not entirely unexpected that she gets one or two things right about him every now and then.

She could let his wording pass without comment, since she understands perfectly what he means... but she's not going to. ]

Do you, now?

Oh, yes.

[ Woosh! Right over his head.

But maybe he makes up for it by enthusiastically going to grab the nibbles he mentioned. The first plate is fruit, the second cheese and bread, both of which he brings over to set down within Kryze's reach. ]

I'll get the water boiling. Take whatever you like.

[ Situations like this almost always require Obi-Wan to give ground (particularly when this bloodline is involved), but something about Leia's assumptions and tone rankle Kenobi in a way few have managed to touch. He's hurt just as much by Leia's declarations as can be, and that's all without being the direct target of them.

His anger flares in response, uncharacteristically bright and hot, like the lick of a solar flare. ]

Darth Vader may have been Anakin Skywalker, but Anakin Skywalker is not Darth Vader.

[ Semantics, perhaps. A technicality, which he admits is the sometimes the best kind of right when it comes to negotiation. Too bad Leia's equally adept at wielding such a fine weapon. ]

You would damn a man — a man who has done nothing — who has committed none of the atrocities in his time that you've suffered in yours. [ Less a question, more a statement, as he worries the damage might already be done. ]

Pain is not a transaction — it can't be traded away. You may feel vindicated, and perhaps you have a right to that on a technicality but you've been— [ His jaw works and he shakes his head. ] You've been quite charitable with your father already. Perhaps it's better if you do avoid him for some time.

[It takes all her training not to gape at Obi-Wan. Somehow, in all her childish imaginings, she'd never envisioned a hero of the Clone Wars reprimanding her with that clipped, tight voice.

Anakin is his dearest friend, she reminds herself, though the words feel. He has every reason to be furious on his behalf.

But his condemnation is still hard to hear. She's glad, suddenly, that her father (her real father, the one who raised her) hasn't been pulled into the Moira's grasp.]

If you think this is about damning him, you aren't nearly as observant as I thought.

[I can't hear his voice without remembering Vader's. The hard floor of my cell, the click of his voice, always asking in the same flat tone, the interrogation droid's serum burning through her veins, her throat closing under the pressure of an invisible power I recognized but didn't understand. He could drag me up with the Force, but by then, I could hardly focus on the mask he called a face. I was too busy trying to drag air into my lungs.

When I wouldn't break, I was supposed to die under his watch. I remember all of it.

Obi-Wan doesn't understand, and she won't--no, can't--put the words together to explain it to him. There aren't words for the way old threads of fear and grief slip in with the anger, how three years of rebellion haven't dulled the memory of her home crumbling before her eyes. In that moment, it was about hurting Anakin, and she wouldn't care if she hurt him again. But that wasn't all of it.

If she wanted him to pay, she'd form a tribunal. She wants not to care what he feels. She wants to escape him.]

Did he play for you the way I told him not to ask? I warned him. He didn't have to know any of this!

"Don't ask for explanations you don't want to hear," you said. You practically baited him, and then you stand here and suggest he could have just walked away?!

[ The heat from his upset is stifling. Obi-Wan knows that he's far too emotional about this than he has a right to be, and yet he can't stop himself from pressing ahead. ]

Did you stop wanting to listen the moment your child pushed you away?

[ It's cold, but maybe that's fitting. Something to douse the flames. ]

Don't bring Ben into this.

[Maybe it cools Obi-Wan's anger, but it only sends sparks flying up through Leia's, like a bough thrown onto a bonfire. Her son is not the man under discussion here; as far as she's concerned, her attempts to talk with him have been completely different from Anakin's demands to know why she wants nothing to do with him.]

I thought Jedi of your order were supposed to have self-control. Or doesn't that apply to Anakin?

[Luke is, inevitably, biased. He's angry at himself for what he did to his sister. He's still, in some small and weak-willed way, angry at what Ben did to him.]

[Luke is rarely a quiet man, but he usually doesn't yell and shout in anger. Today, he does, though it's mostly out of shock.]

Stop it! [He holds up his hands.] I don't care who's fault it is!

[He hopes he has their attention now.] If you need someone to blame, blame me. It doesn't matter. What does matter is- is... what do we do next?

I think the more accurate question is what will you and I do about it?

[ A long look at Leia's all he has in him and then he turns his attention to Luke. He would never (will never) think to cut Leia from his life, or from his heart, but he will allow her to remove herself from this scenario. If she doesn't want to help, Kenobi's not going to make her.

Whatever the outcome, he won't be abandoning Anakin. Particularly not to this fate. ]

[Leia gives Obi-Wan a baleful look before turning her attention to her brother. She's angry with both of them right now, but she's a hair less annoyed with Luke.]

What do you think we should do?

[She might want nothing to do with Anakin, but that doesn't mean she's leaving them here. To the contrary, she'd like to ensure she knows exactly what's coming--the better to avoid it.]

Damage control.

[ It's abrupt and added in without Leia's prompting. ]

His room was his focus to start, but he's turned inward, twisting in on himself.

[ He looks between them, particularly bad at hiding his fear over this all of a sudden. ]

He's out to destroy himself now — to push everyone away — and I don't intend to let the damage get any worse.

No one's getting pushed away. [Which means he has no intention of excluding Leia until she excludes herself.]

If he destroys himself, he'll... [Luke thinks of the darkness he felt in Bespin, boiling itself over in frozen rage.] He'll destroy us all. I wanted to keep him from knowing to keep everyone safe, I... [He shakes his head. No time for regrets, now.]

I won't abandon him.

[ She can't resist the temptation to take advantage of the opening he once again gives her, and so she gets to her feet with a quiet chuckle to step close to him. ]

And so I shall.

[ It just so happens that what she wants is a kiss. ]

[ It's another move he's not quite expecting, and a smooth one at that, because he's right there with his lips pressed against hers before he even realizes how this really went down.

He melts into it, his hands wrapping around her back, holding her close. Not what he's expecting, no, but it's certainly not unwelcome — any opportunity to be close to Satine feels like a good opportunity. ]

[ Her arms wrap around his neck in response, and she smiles when the kiss breaks, stroking his cheek affectionately. ]

You look tired, my darling.

Mm. I think that's mostly why I've been trying to rest.

[ Why else would he pay for a room? Why else would he hide himself away from the collective? He's trying to rest. Maybe not succeeding, but trying. ]

Not too tired to call it a night, at least. Have you figured out what you'd like to do?

[ She raises an eyebrow a little at him, but much as it is tempting to make a somewhat suggestive remark there, she decides against it. ]

No, got a little distracted.

[ By a certain very handsome Jedi. ]

How about we take a walk and see what catches our fancy?

I think I'd like that very much.

[ And it would be nice enough to get out and enjoy the air while they can. After they return to the Moira, they'll have to deal with recycled air, and it's never quite so sweet.

He offers his hand to her and with it a bright smile. ]

Shall we, then?

[ He has such a beautiful smile. It is sad how seldomly it gets the opportunity to light up his features.

She takes his hand with an equally brilliant smile, and pulls him toward the door, grabbing a piece of cheese on the way. ]

We absolutely shall, my dear.

+ 98~ [closed]

+ 98 CLF5 - Satine

I RETURN

8'D

+ 105 CLF5 - Leia & Luke

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