[ She didn't want to come here. She also desperately wanted to come. After everything that'd happened, everything that had transpired between them, what had transpired with those they both loved-
The losses they shared...
It's been a long time coming, but now it... is. She slips out of the landspeeder, stepping lightly on the sand as she makes her way to the door. She spends her life hiding, being a shadow and a cipher, but this is one place where she doesn't at all hide. If Obi-Wan uses his senses to know who's knocking on his door, the answer will be plain enough before he ever opens it.
[ There's a clatter of something hitting the floor inside and a muffled curse that follows, but he absolutely opens the door for her - as quickly as he can get to it and given that it's a very small house, that isn't long at all.
Even knowing who she is - or sensing - he almost doesn't believe who he's looking at for a moment. Then he steps back so she can come in.]
[ She's wise enough to know that addressing him as her impulse asks ('Yes, Master Kenobi') may strike a nerve, but she won't hide the somewhat subdued but still impish smile that curls her lips as she walks in, lets him close the door behind her.
She takes a look around; she's intelligence now, and that means observation is second nature. None of it surprises her, and she isn't looking for any secrets. The only secrets she can imagine he'd have, she already knows, and the rest are his own to keep that she'd never press on.
[ That's... fair. And it's really what she should have expected, for any number of reasons. It's been years since they saw each other, after all, and it isn't as if she's come here for no purpose. She'd stayed away for a purpose too, but now, one has overpowered the other.
Her heart would be thankful for that if there wasn't so much to do and so little time. Isn't that always the way? It's been the way as long as she can remember.]
I wish you weren't right, m- [ But that's wrong for more reasons than just his. It's wrong for her too. She is no Jedi, and had chosen not to be, despite what she has ever chosen to be otherwise. ]
I don't know what to call you.
[ Everything I'd choose feels wrong in my mouth. Or wrong in my heart. ]
[ There's something a little wry and a lot warm in his voice, anyway, but it's even more just... tired. Things are what they are, both personally, on Tatooine, and here. If people came here for social hour, he wouldn't have been here, anyway, never mind the rest, but.]
It doesn't matter. Most people here call me Ben. It's as good as anything else.
[ Everything is going to feel wrong, he thinks, because names and titles are about identity and relationships and in very, very real ways he died on Mustafar as much as Anakin had. ]
[ Since they're changing up names. It doesn't change anything important, but it feels right to tell him so. There aren't many secrets she'd ever want to keep from him. More than zero, though. ]
And I need your... guidance. If you'd be willing to give it.
[ He gives her a slight nod to show that he understands, and then gestures her into the small seating area. There are a couple of chairs and sofa there, and he-
[ She can't help that there is a small, much younger voice within her heart that doubts those words. That will never forget watching Obi-Wan turn away from her as the Council made it's decision. She hadn't asked, hadn't had the time nor the heart to find out it was from disgust or regret or something else, something more painful, and that same part wonders if she's made a mistake in coming here.
But she is here. And it can't hurt to try. ]
You were... always good at diplomacy... Ben. And you were very close to- [ she swallows just a little before changing course ] I'm working with some of the Mandalorian clans. Trying to bolster support for the Rebellion. But there's a lot of inter-clan conflict that's getting in the way. I thought if anyone could see a solution...
[ He'd turned away for a lot of reasons, but none of them had anything to do with a lack of trust and love for her. Not that he'd ever be able to openly express as much, even now.
That might actually be more painful - would be more painful - than her caution and wariness with him. ]
There usually is. Do you want to explain the situation or did you want me to come with you?
[ She doesn't hide the surprise. It was one thing to know he'd probably have advice or be willing to advise her on the matter. It was quite enough to know that he was willing to come with her to deal with it. She's not sure whether it will be helpul or harmful, in truth.
She's not sure if his past there will make his presence a boon or a problem. Those in power now were...
Well, Satine's legacy had power, but how it would be used to aid them would have to be navigated carefully. ]
I think it should be best to explain first. Whether you come or not seems like part of the strategy we would decide.
[ What she explains is a complicated knot of personalities, a Mandalorian mistrust of Jedi (which she had used to her advantage as well as it'd been used against her), the remnants of the pacifist movements, the old clans that had never been on board for it, and the Empire (of course) breathing down everyone's throat. It's a right mess, and from what she says, she's been handling it deftly enough but without much forward progress. ]
Senator Organa told me that you might be able to help. And where to find you.
[ He listens to her explanation and asks a few questions but mostly what he thinks is that Mandalorians are a difficult group and always have been and that overall she's done very well.
He blinks at that last remark, just once. ]
I'm glad to know where you found the information. He must have trusted you a good deal.
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 02:16 pm (UTC)The losses they shared...
It's been a long time coming, but now it... is. She slips out of the landspeeder, stepping lightly on the sand as she makes her way to the door. She spends her life hiding, being a shadow and a cipher, but this is one place where she doesn't at all hide. If Obi-Wan uses his senses to know who's knocking on his door, the answer will be plain enough before he ever opens it.
If he opens it. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 02:24 pm (UTC)Even knowing who she is - or sensing - he almost doesn't believe who he's looking at for a moment. Then he steps back so she can come in.]
Get out of the sun.
[ He's going to need a minute. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 02:33 pm (UTC)She takes a look around; she's intelligence now, and that means observation is second nature. None of it surprises her, and she isn't looking for any secrets. The only secrets she can imagine he'd have, she already knows, and the rest are his own to keep that she'd never press on.
She'll give him his minute. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 02:58 pm (UTC)The breath or two he gets is enough to get himself out of disbelieving shock. ]
Sit down and tell me what's wrong. [ he has to assume she's here for a reason. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 03:47 pm (UTC)Her heart would be thankful for that if there wasn't so much to do and so little time. Isn't that always the way? It's been the way as long as she can remember.]
I wish you weren't right, m- [ But that's wrong for more reasons than just his. It's wrong for her too. She is no Jedi, and had chosen not to be, despite what she has ever chosen to be otherwise. ]
I don't know what to call you.
[ Everything I'd choose feels wrong in my mouth. Or wrong in my heart. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 04:18 pm (UTC)[ There's something a little wry and a lot warm in his voice, anyway, but it's even more just... tired. Things are what they are, both personally, on Tatooine, and here. If people came here for social hour, he wouldn't have been here, anyway, never mind the rest, but.]
It doesn't matter. Most people here call me Ben. It's as good as anything else.
[ Everything is going to feel wrong, he thinks, because names and titles are about identity and relationships and in very, very real ways he died on Mustafar as much as Anakin had. ]
Just tell me what you need, please.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 04:30 pm (UTC)[ Since they're changing up names. It doesn't change anything important, but it feels right to tell him so. There aren't many secrets she'd ever want to keep from him. More than zero, though. ]
And I need your... guidance. If you'd be willing to give it.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 05:07 pm (UTC)takes one of the chairs. ]
Of course. If I can help, I will.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 05:16 pm (UTC)But she is here. And it can't hurt to try. ]
You were... always good at diplomacy... Ben. And you were very close to- [ she swallows just a little before changing course ] I'm working with some of the Mandalorian clans. Trying to bolster support for the Rebellion. But there's a lot of inter-clan conflict that's getting in the way. I thought if anyone could see a solution...
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 05:28 pm (UTC)That might actually be more painful - would be more painful - than her caution and wariness with him. ]
There usually is. Do you want to explain the situation or did you want me to come with you?
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 05:39 pm (UTC)She's not sure if his past there will make his presence a boon or a problem. Those in power now were...
Well, Satine's legacy had power, but how it would be used to aid them would have to be navigated carefully. ]
I think it should be best to explain first. Whether you come or not seems like part of the strategy we would decide.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 05:41 pm (UTC)His only response to that is a slight nod of agreement and....
waiting for her to explain. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-07 11:19 pm (UTC)Senator Organa told me that you might be able to help. And where to find you.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-02-09 09:59 pm (UTC)He blinks at that last remark, just once. ]
I'm glad to know where you found the information. He must have trusted you a good deal.