dear_mun | (no subject)

There are many, perhaps not all that you would wish to see.

[ Oh good, she'd been warned of this. Of the terrible, metal-smelling, fiendish possibilities. ]

You can say that again. [ Not that her hackles weren't up. Because, obviously. ] Can I help you with something?

You? No. I need no help from any Jedi. Their help only brings destruction to the innocent.

[ Oh the scoff of her. ]

Destruction? I think you've got your wires crossed. We both know your justifications aren't gonna fly, here.

[From his point of view, the Jedi had destroyed his homeworld. It began his hatred of them that Dooku and Sidious later exploited.]

And you are naive if you cannot see the Jedi's arrogance.

[ Oh sure; but she's been fed the Jedi-centric story, on her side. The entire galactic situation was a bit of a mess. ]

If anyone has arrogance- it's definitely not the Jedi.

[ She might actually be inclined to agree with the statement though, had it come from someone not so willfully steeped in the side of Darkness. ]

I did not come here to fight with you, young one.

[ Now that was an unexpected response. If anything, her defensive, stiffened spine turns just a touch more rigid- despite the sudden curiosity peaking in her spirit. ]

Okay ... I'll bite.

You wondered if others are out there. I assure you that there are.

In these 'games' I have come to certain understandings with ... our situation.

[ Her nose wrinkles; she's not sure if she's happy to hear 'there are others' coming from someone who's supposedly on the 'other side' of things. That could imply it were more of his own. ]

What sort of 'situation'? I get there are games, but-- [ Should she be asking him? Hesitation. ] What's the point of them?

The war. The corruption. The falsehoods.

Perhaps you are unaware, however these games can reveal the future. What you do with that knowledge is up to you.

[ War? Yeah, still working on that. Corruption, definitely. Falsehoods .. Yeahhh, those too. ]

... Isn't it a given rule that if time travel comes in, you're not supposed to reveal anything?

[ Okay, so she hadn't really thought of that. This could actually be problematic. ]

I am not. Not here. Those are things to discover for yourself if you find yourself somewhere other than here...

I am certain that many would be glad to see you.

[ There's a noise that might be a sigh, but it's more drawn out and lowkey agitated. This is troublesome. ]

That's .. Good, I think. [ Another breath, hesitantly, to steady and focus herself. ] Well. Thanks for not, um, spoiling me?

[He nods.]

You will find out on your own soon enough if you remain in this realm.

[ He still somehow manages to sound ominous. ]

Something to look forward to, then.

[ Because of course she'll take it as a challenge. ]

[ Have a familiar face, Ahsoka. One that does it’s best to hide its sadness behind a casual smirk. ]

You don’t believe you’re having all the fun to yourself here, do you Snips?

[ A pause. ]

It’s good to see you...

[ Now that's a welcome sight! Even if she can still smell the emotional turmoil like a bad egg hidden behind his psyche-- she's not going to comment. ]

Why would I go and do a thing like that, Master?

[ She'll grin for him, just a little cheeky with it. ]

I haven't been gone long, have I?

[ If he’s a Master at one thing at least, then it’s at being terrible at hiding his emotions. But Mustafar will freeze over before Anakin would admit that. ]

Well, that depends. It’s been years in one way, months in another.

[ And every time he’s lost her again, it also always hurts again. ]

How have you been doing?

Edited (Iconn) 2018-07-29 07:31 (UTC)

[ And she'd be right there backing him up on that refusal to admit just about anything remotely emotional. He has his reasons. Usually. -- Hold up, years? ]

Yikes. This ... Multiverse? Doesn't pull any punches, huh.

[ She can sense the density of whatever it is he's hiding, and it almost makes her squirm. What was she missing? ]

Oh, you know. Just kicking around the place, stirring up trouble. [ Keep it light, keep it light. ] The- Player here hasn't been around this place in ages. Keeps going back and forth between excited and nervous to the point that I think I'm getting space-sick.

I don't get space-sick.

[ He permits himself a sigh and a brief grimace as he nods. ]

This is a very unusual place and our powers here to affect pretty much anything are... Limited.

[ If existent at all. Which he doesn't like at all. If being here has done one thing to Anakin, then that would be giving him time to think. Which isn't always a good thing for him - Aside from being boring. ]

At least it appears that you have been doing okay so far. Just don't let them push you around too much.

[ She folds her arms and nods, almost sagely, but it's almost a forced attempt. ]

I was wondering about that. My senses have been muddy since I got here.

[ Point taken. If any Jedi who could use less time to be inside his own head, it was probably him. ]

Where's your faith in me? [ Sniff. ] I'm steady as a boulder. [ Except. ] I just wasn't expecting to see ... Well, someone I'm usually defending myself against, offering me advice.

[ Vague gestures to the thread above. What a weird feeling that had been. ]

Is that normal around here?

Don't worry, I have faith in you, Ahsoka. And yet this place can easily throw all of us out of the loop.

[ And yes, he's seen her conversation with Grievous. Anakin offers a small smile at that. ]

I'm familiar with him and- We actually worked together for a while, believe it or not. The rules of our galaxy don't exactly apply here. At the same time we get influenced not only by this place, but also those we are being... Sent to. Beings you know, they change.

[ The smile shifts into a somewhat sadder, yet clearly knowing form. ]

The world I'm currently in... When I first arrived there, I tried to kill Obi-Wan.

[ He pauses again. ]

...and he wanted to let me do it.

It's been almost two years.

[ For a brief moment, she's stuck fighting down a bubbling surge of irrational anger. Not excessive, but one she's immediately clamping down on, biting the inside of her cheek and -- really? They'd worked together? What was this place?

It's a good thing she trusts him. ]

That's definitely one I wouldn't expect to do much changing. [ Finally, she feels her sense of calm return. ] I'm not gonna turn my nose up at someone coming back to the light, in any case.

[ --But then she blanches, that surge of distress punching her right in the gut again. ]

W-What? Hold on, back up. You did- And then he--? [ Slow down, small-fry, take a breath. ]

[ ... It's not happening. Answers are needed. ]

He turned off his lightsaber and waited for me to strike him down.

[ Simple, but the truth. Still a truth Anakin is struggling with as well. ]

I've made some terrible choices shortly before arriving there and Obi-Wan felt responsible for what had happened - And what might happen in our future and...

[ He trails off, waving his hand briefly. ]

I couldn't do it. I wasn't quite myself, but luckily not all the way gone and... He did all he could to help me ever since.

[ Well. It would explain the weight of emotion she'd picked up on, hanging off her Master like a wet cloak. Whatever it was he'd done must have involved those terrible choices. She felt a chill in her skin, but pushed around it.

And whatever it was, Master Obi-Wan knew about it, too. Ahsoka was beginning to feel a bit left out. ]

... I'm sorry Master. That must have been awful. [ She wants to reach out, touch his arm. She does so with the force, instead. ] ... You do sometimes make better decisions when you have people you care about hanging around.

[ Another attempt to lighten the density she feels, but it's soft and well-meaning none the less. ]

[ Sensing her touch through the Force, Anakin can't help but smile faintly at that familiar and much missed sensation. Despite everything their bond persists, and he's thankful for that. ]

You may be right...

[ Unfortunately he has been alone when he made those terrible choices. ]

I'm trying to fix the mess I've created, though. Too bad it's easier said than done.

[ It would be hard pressed to ever mess with this one. In some ways, she was as stubbornly tied to Anakin, as he was to his own Master- the depth of a bond between Padawan and Jedi Master was a thing to behold.

And if anything, they were both the stubborn type. It certainly helped. ]

The right thing is rarely the easy thing. And I've never known you to back down from a challenge, either. [ There's a sly sort of look there, as if she's trying to egg him on, bristle him up. ]

[ Anakin was still there, and hoisting around that big ol' weight might be good for his mental stamina, but if she knew her Master, it was that sometimes he just needed a fire lit under his ass. Often in the form of a bet, a competition. Something to get the blood pumping. Anakin Skywalker was just too mopey if he was forced to slow down. Perhaps that was the irony of it all; but if Ahsoka knew anything, it was that a Jedi didn't have to be slow and meticulous all the time. ]

I know you're heart is in the right place- and that's all that really matters. The rest is gonna come naturally; you'll see.

[ Ahsoka sure isn't someone who's easily pushed over or messed with. She's incredibly strong-willed and a lot more in control of herself than Anakin is at times. Along with Obi-Wan, Ahsoka had always been one of those anchors Anakin had needed so direly.

He sighs softly, then crosses his arms casually. ]

Hardly anything has been easy lately. We were blind to many things that I wish we had seen. And every time I think about it...

I wish I had left the Order with you.

[ She certainly learned from the best, in her opinion. Humbly speaking. ]

[ Actually she was going to say something grossly optimistic again, if somply because the tactic seemed to be (sort of) working. But then he curve-balls her again, and her earlier-canon mind is left just a little bit reeling.

I don't -- I don't have plans to leave the Order.

[ Oh boy oh gee. This isn't that 'future knowledge' Grievous had warned her about, was it? Did her own Master go and break her first fourth-wall? Ahsoka looks positively shook. ]

Neither of us leave the order.

[ There's been no betrayal of the council yet, for her. Sure, the Order isn't necessarily the best, in her opinion, but no body of power was ever completely innocent. This was just something entirely else. ]

[ But then, smaller. ] I don't understand.

You didn't know about that?

[ Oh, kriff. He sure messed this up. ]

Ahsoka, I-- I'm sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned that!

[ Oh you hecked up, SkyGuy. But maybe, somehow, the initial interaction with Grievous might be saving her skin. Or his. ]

Argh. That's-- Now I want to know what you're talking about. But we're not supposed to interfere with time travel, or any mis-given information-- But how am I supposed to unhear this-- [ Wait, come on Ahsoka, you're a Padawan, remember your training. ]

[ So she sucks in a breath, turns halfway from the human with her hands dragging in front of her face and down to her center. Calm down. She's been in plenty of stressful, unfamiliar and potentially dangerous (or outright) situations before. Why was this any different? ]

... [ Side-eying this Jedi. But it looks much more like a Youngling seeking guidance from her Jedi Master than any sort of irritated friend. ] Whatever .. Happened to make me leave -- Does it have to do with these terrible choices you mentioned?

[ Well, she isn't wrong. Now that he told her, it will be difficult not to tell her everything.

Anakin grimaces, then looks away. ]

You... Were falsely accused of bombing the Temple, Ahsoka. The Council wouldn't believe you're innocent.

[ He takes a deep breath and looks back at her. ]

You refused to come back after I managed to prove your innocence.

And I can't blame you for that.

[ It had been almost impossible to conceptualize a reason why she might have wanted to leave the Order- let alone even consider the idea itself. The last thing she could have expected to come out of her Master's mouth was what did. The fear that bubbled in her energy drew a chill into her bones.

She shook her head in disbelief, struggling to accept the ... reality of it. The level of betrayal-- How could they ever think she could do such a horrifying thing as bomb the Temple? How? ]

You .. had to prove my innocence?

[ Her heart felt like it would break, if it hadn't already. Another beat- another struggle with reality, with the ... news of something that was to come. Of course she'd have left. Even with the accelerated thought process of it all, she knew. How could she trust the Order after such a ... ]

The whole council? Everyone thought I .. That I could do something like that?

[ She suddenly felt angry. Furious. And she heard Anakin's words; he didn't blame her for her choice. Would he blame her for being angry? She felt herself taking a step back, as if physically trying to distance herself from the thought of it all, the emotion threatening to boil out of her. The hurt. How could they? ]

Why? Why would they do that?

Edited 2018-08-01 08:59 (UTC)

[ He gives a slow shake of his head. ]

Not the whole council. But the majority. I know Obi-Wan did what he could to speak on your behalf.

[ But he wasn't there himself, and Obi-Wan refrained from telling him which members of the Council wouldn't believe in her innocence - Which might have been for the better, given Anakin's tendency to seek revenge.

It all still bothers him greatly to this very day. ]

I don't know why they wouldn't believe you. They should have trusted you! The whole thing got rushed and there was barely enough time to fins all the evidence and the true culprit!

[ There's anger in his face by now and Anakin clenches his fists before he adds one more thing. ]

It was Barriss. She attacked the Temple and set you up so you would get the blame.

[ A small relief, to know that Kenobi had been on her side of things. It would have crushed her to have ~~Dad #2~~ him fall in step and believe any sort of lie that might have come from whatever BS future she apparently had.

It was also somehow cathartic to see her own Master up in arms about it, feeling his temper flare along with her own. And slightly grounding. She could reign her own emotion in when it was mirrored back with such a presence as that of The Chosen One. Not that she wasn't still upset, by any means, but the burn of it had quelled enough to return her to the present moment. ]

Barriss? [ Another flare of pain; her friend, her colleague. How could Barriss do such a thing? Why? ]

[ Ahsoka turned to storm off- not to leave, but to give her body something, some sort of outlet, kinetic energy to try and alleviate some of the build up within. Her eyes felt wet. ]

Why? [ Whirling back around, montrails and padawan chain lifted from her shoulders with the effort. ] Why did she do it?

[ It's marginally less about anger now. Now she wants to know; what reasons did Barriss Offee have for setting her up out of nowhere? Because it couldn't be out of nowhere- could it? Did they have a falling out? Did they argue just before? Why? ]

Edited 2018-08-03 00:54 (UTC)

I know how that feels. It's like your writer just shoves you to the back of their mind whilst they get on with their lives. It's not fair.

[Of course you haven't been ignored Luke. At all.]

Hm! I think I must be lucky then. I'm new to all ... this- but my writer has been at this a long time. [ Just a slightly skeptical look given in their direction for it. ] I hope I don't end up collecting dust. [ Quiet you. ]

Sounds like you might have though. I'm sorry.

Edited 2018-07-29 21:26 (UTC)

Yeah well, we all have to believe in something, otherwise we'd all just fade away. That's not going to happen.

[Nope. Luke is determined.]

I'm Luke Skywalker. Nice to meet you.

[There was something about her. A strange feeling. It was as if she were connected to him somehow but he didn't quite know it yet.]

[ She likes this kid's spunk. Reminds her of someone, that stubbornness. ]

I'm ... I'm sorry, you said Skywalker? [ Confusion! ] You don't have a brother, do you?

[ Now that she thinks about it, there is a pretty damn strong resemblance. Not just in appearance, either. ]

A brother? No, I don't. I have a sister though, Leia.

[Why would she think he'd have a brother? She seemed surprised at his family name.]

You just look surprised when I said my name.

[ What in the what- A sister? What was Anakin not telling her? Did he have a family out there he didn't know about? Skywalker wasn't that common of a name- actually she's fairly sure she's never heard it anywhere, before. ]

It's just-- My Master is Jedi Skywalker. Anakin Skywalker. You don't know that name, do you?

No, I don't.

[Now he was wondering if she had got the right guy. How many other Skywalkers were there out there? Did Luke have an uncle he didn't know about or a cousin?]

This is pretty weird right now. You have a Jedi Master with the same name as me, yet I'm just a Jedi in training right now.

[ Ahsoka's face scrunches slightly, confusion lacing her energy- but curiosity doing it's better half to edge her on. ]

Hm... I'm not sure. If Master Kenobi were here, he might know. He's known Skywalker since he was a boy. Or either of them-- Where's a Jedi when you need 'em.

[ She couldn't sense either of them nearby, which was equally as frustrating. Though .. not unexpected, given the circumstances. Darn place. ]