( video | un: kenobi )

[jedies]

[ The stream goes live with two men standing in front of the camera. They both look a little stiff in front of it, though the bearded man seems more relaxed and casual while the taller one seemed a little . . . frowny ]

Greetings, my name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. And this is my compatriot and partner, Anakin Skywalker. We hail from Coruscant and are part of the Jedi Order.

The Jedi are keepers of peace … most of the time.

[ Before Obi-Wan can say anything, Anakin looks over at him with a shrug. ]

I’m just saying.

[ Obi-Wan sighs. ]

Yes. Well, nevertheless. We would like to offer our services to the public. We’ve been trained in negotiation, trade and, yes, the art of a good fight. If you need support or bereft of someone to help you . . . then we’re happy to serve.

And blowing things up. We’re good at that too!

[ Obi-Wan looks skyward as if imploring a higher deity. ]

Yes. We’re good at that too.

Comments

[letoldthingsdie]

Ah. I can see why you wouldn't talk about it then.

[That sort of philosophy reminded him of his uncle. It also made him hesitant to prod for more.]

It's just a suggestion, of course. I don't know the first thing about offering services or goods to these people. The closest I've come to it is helping with a junk shop here in Level 2. The shop owner's name is Rey.

[jedies]

[ he brightens. ]

Yes, we've met.

Honestly, it is not our way to sell or make exchanges. We come in service of the people.

[letoldthingsdie]

[He brightens too, just a fraction.]

Mm. That's true. [Talking about Rey made him feel less restless or anxious he might say the wrong thing.]

She and I are from the same world - the same as the two of you. I guess part of me was hoping I could hear a story or two, but maybe that's more of an 'in person' talk. My uncle had many fond stories of the Jedi when I was growing up. The Jedi Order is practically a myth.

[Considering what he'd done to Luke's attempt to reinstate it.]

[jedies]

[ sorrow flits through his expression. ]

Yes. That does seem to be the theme. To lose the Jedi . . . it is a grave loss.

[letoldthingsdie]

It's not all lost. At least... I don't think it is. Rey honors it in her own way. It may not be the same as its former glory, but I think she does it justice.

[He genuinely meant that too. Had he not let Snoke lead him astray, or had his uncle not tried to kill him, then undoubtedly Luke would have been able to rebuild the Order. For now, Rey was what the Order deserved.]

[jedies]

[ that's fine. the jedi can rebuild, reinvent. but it wouldn't be the same. but obi-wan keeps that to himself with a smile. ]

Nothing is ever truly lost.

[letoldthingsdie]

Exactly. The Jedi - their legacy - it isn't gone.

[He knows it's not the same. What could ever compare to having your friends beside you, alive and whole? What could ever compare to having your family together with you? He knows.]

My family is actually quite entwined with you in particular, General. You might remember a Senator Organa? I'm his grandson.

[It's not a lie, but he knows that familial ties are forbidden to the Jedi. He wants to avoid any mention of his true grand parents if possible. General Kenobi might not mind talking about his mother's adopted father, though.]

I was too young to have met him, but my mother had a treasure trove of stories he'd told her.

[jedies]

[ his brow furrows before clearing up. ]

Oh, Bail! Yes, I'm familiar with Bail Organa. One of the few senators I could tolerate at the Senate. A good man.

I must confess, it is a little odd to hear I'm entwined with any family.

[letoldthingsdie]

Maybe he considered you a friend, then. Or perhaps something changed between what you remember and the future.

[He shrugs. He only has bits and pieces and clearly his mother had respected him enough to name her son after him.]

[jedies]

Jedi do have friends.

[ it is jarring, but oddly touching. ]

And we've always held a healthy respect for one another. Though I rarely interact with senators. The other exception was Senator Amidala.

[letoldthingsdie]

He and my mother certainly seemed to think so.

[He smiles a little more earnestly, though there was a note of sarcasm to his words. It slips a fraction at the mention of his grandmother. He felt regret at having never wanted to hear about her, for Snoke's only reference to her being the source of his grandfather's 'weakness'. His mother had avoided speaking of anything remotely related to Darth Vader and he had been too young to ask her much before he'd joined Luke.]

Ah. My mother did mention her as well, from time to time.

[It was a lie, but it wasn't as if he could ask him about her. It was better to ask his grandfather if he wanted to make amends in that regard.]

[jedies]

[ hmm. obi-wan cocks his head. ]

So your family was involved in the Senate?

[letoldthingsdie]

My mother became a Senator herself, after my Grandfather. He taught her everything she knew.

[He’s trying to be careful, to avoid mention of what happened to Alderaan but he still wanted to know more from him.]

She was just as respected as he was and believed in keeping peace, not unlike your Jedi Order.

[It still wasn’t easy for him to talk to Rey about his own grief and his own losses. It wasn’t as if he was trying to talk about it now. It didn’t even come close to the massacre of the Jedi Order. Obi-wan hadn’t betrayed or abandoned anyone.]

[jedies]

A rare breed.

[ he huffs. ]

I must admit, I'm not very fond of politicians. I never understood the necessities of long-winded bureaucracy. But I do have a healthy amount of respect for people who do and do so in the name of life.

[starsignited]

One of these days you'll realize that not all politicians are bad.

[jedies]

I wasn't aware you were a fan, Anakin?

[starsignited]

Oh come on, Master. Senator Amidala and the chancellor aren't bad people. They are both working for the better of the Republic.

[jedies]

As I said, there are exceptions.

[letoldthingsdie]

Not everyone has the patience for them. I can’t fault him. Some people pretend to be acting in the best interests of the people when it’s really for themselves. My mother dealt with all kinds, as I’m sure your Senator Amidala did.

[He takes a breath, looking at him - really looking at him. This was the person he had idolized most of his life when really it was Palpatine pretending to be him. He felt like he didn’t know a thing about him now.]

I’ve always been more interested in flying, myself.

[letoldthingsdie]

I never had the patience for it either. That was all her. Some politicians would rather act in their own interests or do more harm than good. My mother was always fiercely unwavering in her beliefs. Not all politicians are so difficult to sway towards one thing or another. I never had the patience for that sort of back and forth.

[Leia also wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. That much he remembered.]

I’m more fond of building or tinkering. Ships, droids, and the like. Not that either would most likely function. The only droid from home that’s been here has been Rey’s.

[jedies]

Oh, Anakin would love that.

He's the tinkering sort.

[letoldthingsdie]

I heard something like that from Rey. She told me she invited him to come see her shop.

[jedies]

Excellent. It'll be a good outlet for him.

[ because obi-wan could care less about it. ]