On Rebels, A New Dawn, and surprising friends, old and new.

[morecivilizedage]

I am proud of Kanan. Or, perhaps, I am glad of what decisions he has made, and the decisions he continues to make.

Yes, I do remember him in that classroom, and I will never not be thankful for the idea to warn the Jedi away from the temple. Sometimes I wonder if things might have gone... differently, if us old masters were more willing to listen to the words of our students. ( There had been an uproar, he remembers, but he is glad that Caleb had asked, anyways. It was, time has shown, a question that needed answering. )

However, I do doubt much more of an appearance in what comes next. It is not my story, after all, though perhaps there are parts I simply don't remember. ( A wry smile. Old age is a great excuse for not knowing every last iota of canon dodging around memories that haven't "happened" yet. )

It was good to see Bail, given how last we parted... ( He still feels it, that echo of lives cut short so suddenly. It was almost like the Purge, and yet not. The Purge was alike stars dying, blinking out in the Force, each loss another phantom pain. Alderaan was instead a great pain that rocked him, and then to look up into the night sky and suddenly see nothing. Sudden and complete. But he will not dwell upon that now. ) Always up to things, my old friend. And R2-D2, of course.

But we will see. ( That enigmatic smile is back. Mun is torn between irritation and amusement. )

As for the rest, I confess, I was not expecting to find so many friends, old and new, here. It is... good, to have someone other than myself and the dead. ( Looking at you, Qui-Gon. ) I am glad of that, as well. So, I suppose I must forgive you for disturbing my peace.

Comments

[bewareyourheart]

He's tenacious, if nothing else. He's probably going to cause my future self a lot of frustration. [he sounds immensely pleased about this]

[morecivilizedage]

Anakin, I suspect there are a great many things in the Galaxy that will give your future self a lot of frustration. ( He can name off the top of his head, oh, at least twenty. There's still a smile on his face as he says it, though. ) I confess, however, that I expect him to be very very good at it. Not unlike another young, reckless Jedi I used to know. One who would never stop when presented with the opportunity to do the right thing. ( hmmm wonder who that might be... )

I wouldn't blame yourself for things that have yet to happen, Anakin. Strive to change them, and if you cannot, accept that they are. ( And you are. Luke will show him that there was still something of Anakin in that shell after all, and there is nothing in the galaxy that can crush the hope in his heart for that. )

[angelofnaboo]

Yes, it is always good to see old friends, no matter the length of separation. [She smiles sadly, softly.] There is no better friend to ask for than Bail Organa.

Other than yourself, Obi-Wan.

[morecivilizedage]

They say that separation can make the heart grow fonder, though I suspect more that such friends never quite leave us the way we fear they do. ( Have an equally sad smile from a very old man who has failed so many dear friends in so many ways. )

And how do you fair, now that I see you again? ( It has been such a long time. And a wry twist of lips. ) Much better, I hope.

[angelofnaboo]

I hope that is true, though I fear you may know the answer to that better than I do. I can only speak from my own limited experiences.

[Her smile fades a little and she takes a deep breath before speaking again.]

I fear that I can only be better since we parted, old friend. It was rather desperate the last time we spoke.

[spectreone]

[Advice he's glad to see Obi-Wan took, to be honest.]

Uh...

[Praise, Kanan. It's praise.]

Thank you, Master.

[It's been awhile since he adhered to old Jedi customs, but he's not going to go without a bow of respect. Especially for the one Jedi who took his advice. Who listened when everyone else cast a glare.]

[morecivilizedage]

( Kenobi is old, and it has been equally long, if not longer, that he has even been around other Jedi to choose to so structure himself. But it does him good to see the younger ones, and he smiles as he offers Kanan a bow in return. )

It is I who should thank you, Knight Kanan. ( He'd been a padawan, last Kenobi had ever heard of him, but after surviving the Purge, and what he has seen now of Kanan's actions... the man before him has definitely shown that he has passed his Trials: Skill, Flesh, Courage, Spirit, Insight. Not to mention training a padawan, young Ezra—and if the flashes of some of those moments remind Kenobi a little too painfully of Anakin, it is a good pain.

Indeed, Obi-Wan would not be surprised to see Kana become a true Jedi Master in his own right, before the end of his tale, and he hopes that someone will be able to grant him the title properly, when the time arises. )

You have saved a great many lives. ( And he's not just talking about the Beacon. ) And you have set yourself upon a difficult path, for the good of a great many—even those who would not thank you for it.

( Kenobi is proud. As proud as any Jedi can be, truly. He has had little part in Kanan's life, by his reckoning, but to see a young man grow up and into wisdom... He is very proud. And thankful. )

[spectreone]

Whoa, Knight?? Master Obi-Wan--

[His hands go up in defense, as if the jedi were giving him far too much credit for his own good. Sure, he'd survived--but it'd been achieved by giving up everything the Jedi were known for. To hide for survival. Knights...the knights HE knew, at least...they would have stood and fought. Not bounced from rock to rock, avoiding the Empire as it seeped its way through the galaxy.

Some of that had changed, with Hera and Ezra now in his life. The Force, like the nagging little tug at the back of his mind it had become, could not be eradicated from him forever.

In his eyes, he was still a Padawan.

He bites his lip at that statement, though. Figuring there's a more important matter at hand.]

It's doing what's right. Took me a long time to figure that out--but hey, even a guy like me can get a good idea sometimes.

[All it took was a crazed conspiracy theorist and a spark of a rebellion. There's a smirk as he plops himself down next to Obi-Wan, hand rubbing the back of his neck.]

I'm...I'm honoured, though. After you issued the order, I'd thought you--

[Died?]

Just can't believe you're actually here. Alive.

[spectretwo]

( Hera almost doesn't recognize Obi-Wan. He's older, and the last time she saw the Jedi had been on the holograms her father had of the Clone War. The rise of the Empire had made them dangerous to have, but rebellion and resistance ran in her family. Her uncle chose one way, her father another, and she had taken her own path.

But she does recognize him after a moment, and smiles slightly. )

We would be honored to run into you in the future, Master Jedi.

( As for Kanan - well. She's proud of him too. Not in the same way she thinks Obi-Wan must be, but she's seen him change over the six years she's known him. From someone who didn't want anything to do with her cause to someone she can't imagine doing this without. )

[morecivilizedage]

( He is much older, and careworn, but the sight of Hera brings just as much a lightness to him as Kanan has. )

As would I, Captain Syndulla. ( He offers her a polite bow, and a smile. ) Indeed, I owe you just as much thanks, I believe.

( For starting that spark that set Kanan's dampened embers ablaze again. For fighting the fight Obi-Wan can't. For "doing what's right", to echo Kanan's words.

He is proud of Kanan, in a different way simply based on differing knowledge of the man, but perhaps, not in so different a way as Hera might suspect.

And Obi-Wan is honestly just happy for them. Both of them. )

Even so, I suspect this will be the closest we will get to meeting. You have your own important stories to tell, and parts to play, and I doubt they will much intersect with mine.

( There would likely be little need or reason for the Spectre crew to stop at Tatooine, after all, and Kenobi has even less reason to leave it.

Besides, Kanan and Ezra need to grow on their own. They need to know that theycan. The way he knows, and Hera knows. )

[spectretwo]

Only if you're expecting mine in return. Ryloth owes you a debt - one we're not in any place to repay, but we haven't forgotten.

( Sometimes she finds it hard to remember the Republic - she was only ten when it fell, after all, and her own memories of the Clone Wars are more in snatches of feelings than images. But at the time it had been a saving grace from a worse fate, and Hera thinks her uncle still would have fought the Separatists off even if he had known what would have become of the Republic in a few short years.

Resisting the Empire had taken even more of a toll on Ryloth than the Clone Wars ever did, but Hera took pride in that as well. )

Then I'm glad it's happened, even if it's just this once. ( As much as she thinks Kanan and Ezra would appreciate another Jedi around. She believes in them both - a bright burning hope that her own realism tempers only slightly, and - like Obi-Wan - she knows they have so much potential still. Kanan, as much as she's come to love him, has never found it within him to return to the ways of the Jedi before now, and Ezra is "undisciplined". But there is potential, and it's only a matter of time before they both shine. ) Two Jedi are enough trouble, and I don't think a third one will make it better.

( Even a Jedi like Ob-Wan Kenobi.

As for her future? Even that's uncertain past a point where death or disillusionment drives her from the picture. Hera'd rather it be the former, because losing faith, breaking with her ideals - she can't stand the thought of it. )

maximum heartbreak go

[212th]

...

[He knew that he hadn't killed Obi-Wan when he had issued the Order. After working so long side-by-side, you just knew things about each other. Your breaking points, your thresholds.

It's a mix of relief and regret. A grey muddled mix of feelings, wondering if he should even say anything.

If he even deserved to.]

Your presence has always been a noticeable one, General.

[His head ducks at that moment, realizing that slip of the tongue. It seemed so natural, but...he couldn't really call him his General anymore, could he?]

wow rude so many feelings

[morecivilizedage]

I do seem to have a particular knack for drawing attention. ( Even his first settling out into the wilds of Tatooine had proved... rather notable, even when he was trying to be a good hermit and stay out of things.

The corner Obi-Wan's lips twitch upwards at the title, but he is an old man, and glad to see old friends, all the same. He has had a very long time to learn to deal with those initial feelings of betrayal, and in the end, Cody has likely trespassed the least against those Obi-Wan has forgiven. )

Perhaps less so, now. I seem to have finally mastered the art of seeming old, harmless, and just a little cracked. ( Which is, to be fair, a lot easier now, since he has always been one of those things, and the many years have since rendered him another.

His voice is warm, and welcoming, if perhaps a little tired. )

You, I am sure, have lead quite the auspicious life, Commander.

[sandhate]

[ side stepping so many things, as you do. ]

You got old, Master. It's not a bad look. It makes you look wise— which you are, of course. You were always wise.

[ or try to do ]

[morecivilizedage]

( His first instinct is to quip back, something teasing, like "And here I thought I would die before I heard those words from your lips" but, well... Those sorts of things are always less funny when they are painfully close to the truth.

So instead he smiles a soft, sad little smile. )

Not so wise as I could have been. ( It is hard; Anakin has made him proud and full of grief in equal measure, and there was quite a long time where even he had lost hope. That Luke had loved his father all the more, even without having known all the good that Anakin could do...

Obi-Wan had never been more glad to be wrong. )

Such things come with time, I have found. With age and wisdom, even sand has it's charms. ( There is that last bit of lightness, half a tease. A call back to a relationship that had once been. )

[psychometry]

Look in the right places and all kinds of familiar faces start coming out of the woodwork...

[ it's an easy observation for Quinlan to make: forever half obscured in shadow, familiar with all the dark cracks and crevices that the beings of the galaxy so often fall in to. Contrary to popular belief, not every Jedi is trained to walk in the light; there are some who make it their mission to work in the shadows, to sink themselves in to darkness and to find those familiar faces.

Even so many years removed, Quinlan knows this face. Obi-Wan was one of the few who trusted that for all the darkness Quinlan surrounded himself with he was not lost to it. A little faith went a long way - decades, maybe, judging by the grey hair and the lines.

Quinlan attempts a smile but it lands more like a wry smirk. ]

You won't be short of friends here, Obi-Wan.

[morecivilizedage]

So I see. I was beginning to think you had rather joined the woodwork, yourself.

( The smile he offers Quinlan is genuine, glad to see yet another old friend. If much... younger, than he expects. But that doesn't seem to be that unusual, here. )

I am glad that I have old friends to rely on, as well as new.

( Quinlan is another face he knows, one whose company he can share without pain other than shared memories of a different time. And he can totally play the 'older and wiser' card, now, and ramp up his teasing game. Seems pretty sweet. )

And you, I hope, have been occupying yourself well enough?

[ignite_the_stars]

You didn't think to see me? How could you ever lose me?

[If he pretends the future isn't there, then it is not, right?

Also - mun is late to the party as always, but hopes there's still snacks to go around.]

always enough snacks for everybody

[morecivilizedage]

I didn't expect to see much of anyone, Anakin. ( Slight amusement in his voice. ) I cannot say I am very well used to it, nowadays.

( Obi-Wan can totally tentatively ignore the future/past. For the moment. He much prefers to.

Which means 'How could you ever lose me' is a question he's not going to attempt an answer to in a million years. )

Instead, I seem to be met with an army of friends.

[dowhatimust]

There was plenty to be learned, my young quite so young any longer padawan.

[morecivilizedage]

( You.... you bloody frustrating, terrible, awful, wonderful, amazing— damn it. He is very glad to see you. In the flesh. And, well very, very surprised. He shouldn't be, given many of the others he has run into but...

It's different with you, master. )

Master. ( He bows, and does his best to temper his emotions and make his joy a little less blinding. And also not to think of all the many 'what if's. What if I had been faster, what if I had taken Maul on instead, what if I had.... )

You are looking surprisingly tangible, given our last chat. ( About watching over Luke. As a Force Ghost. Among other things.

Yeah he's way too happy to be anything remotely serious at the moment. Give him a few minutes. )

you literally asked for this

[karkdestiny]

And I thought I could give mine a hard time.

[mun, that is. then again, she's basically come to terms with him being a pain in the ass.

dear mun; AT LEAST HE DOESN'T PREACH AND/OR RAMBLE ON LIKE THAT]

i did i did /cackles gleefully

[morecivilizedage]

( Perhaps this young gentleman could, but Obi-Wan suspects his talent for double-talking and rambling and cryptic is more annoying than any straight-out stubbornness might be. At least for his particular mun. Who is contractually obligated to love him. Arggggggh. Have that cryptic smile turned on you )

Perks of old age, my friend. And who might you be?

( Blonde shaggy hair, strong force presence and attitude, he's gonna guess Skywalker, but who knows. The Galaxy is full of surprises. )

[darthvader]

So we meet again. It has been a long time.

aw man so excited.

[morecivilizedage]

( Benefits to being old and a muse: Can totally take advantage of a lifetimes worth of 'being a little shit' lessons without too terrible consequences. )

That depends entirely upon your point of view, Darth.

( You force-ghost`d him last time they met, Darth. There is a not-entirely-small part of him that has always wondered how frustrating it must have been for him to have dissipated into thin air right in front of you. It was a very gleeful at the prospect. )