1) Intro/Catch-all

[ezra_of_lothal]

Who: Ezra and OTA + Closed prompt below
What: Ezra getting acquainted with Trench
When: Through the month of January
Where: Throughout Trench

Content Warnings: Will be tagged in subject lines as needed.



1. Some Light Parkour

Ezra has been skulking around urban spaces since he was seven. He's long since figured out that even back then, he must have less than consciously used the Force to climb and jump and hide.

The Force feels a little different here - or his connection to it does. Despite the adage of 'do or do not do', he figures approaching testing what the state of his abilities is now with a little trial and error is best. So, at some point, he just picks a roof to aim for and jumps.

"Still got it," he mutters triumphantly, once he's landed about 12 feet higher than he was a second ago.

And then, later, he tries falling. Obviously, he needs to be a little more careful. Even if he doesn't seriously hurt himself - bleeding's an issue, apparently?

He can't let himself overthink it. He drops from one of the lower overhangs, at least. Ok maybe he should have been little more careful because -

"Sorry! You ok?"

2.Some Adjustment Required

There's more people here. Ok, Capital City had had more people than this, and he's been to plenty of places even more crowded. But still people's feelings here feel....louder.

Which is why he ends curled up with a hand over his face, with what feels awfully like a migraine coming on.

3. Nevermore

Not-human intelligence and interest hovered on the edge of his awareness, so he reaches out mentally a little, looking around physically as well. And then - connection.

He reaches an arm up. "Hello," he says, warmly, to the raven who swoops down to perch on his cloaked forearm.

[OOC:Want to work out a different prompt? Hit me up at skipthedemon

Comments

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He rubs at his eyes. Wow, how much to say.]

Well, he's Maul. And you're here, so my gut reaction is to be concerned, even though one of the dumbest mistakes of my life was trying to warn a future you that he was trying to find you. I do know you can handle him, if you have to.

[jedies]

[ hmm. ]

Thankfully, I don't need to. Maul's life is in his own hands. And he doesn't hold much interest in killing me these days.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[His gaze had wandered toward the floor, in lingering shame for his idiocy years ago. It snaps up at that last statement, his eyes going wide.]

He-

[The padawan's shoulder slump, and mortifyingly, he finds himself trying not to cry.]

Good. That's...good.

He's...way too young to know me.

[So Maul won't go after anyone to get to him, either, right?]

Ok.

[jedies]

[ obi-wan frowns. there is more here than his history with maul it seems. ]

I find it odd that Maul would be interested in a padawan.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Softly-]

He was...lonely.

[He raises his chin, expression firming up, as he decides to one up to more of his mistakes.]

And, I was ignorant and stupid enough to listen to him at first. So, he decided I was his apprentice.

[jedies]

[ ah. that makes a certain amount of sense. ]

The lure of loneliness is a powerful one. As is the one for knowledge. There is no shame in that.

[ gently. ]

Especially if you've already admitted it to yourself.

[ezra_of_lothal]

But Kanan was already teaching me. If he hadn't been- [He grimaces. The stuff of his nightmares, there.]

Maul blinded Kanan. I did blame myself. Things were...really bad for a while. But we made it through all that. I'm pretty sure Kanan would even say he was a better teacher for it all, in the end.

[jedies]

[ obi-wan absorbs that quietly. ]

As I said, there's no shame in that.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He pauses, brow furrowed. But part of him is holding onto shame, isn't it? Maybe even is pushing for a lecture.]

I hear you.

I guess - I guess seeing Maul again stirring up some things that I thought I'd dealt with.

[jedies]

He does have that effect on people.

Will you be all right?

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He's quiet again, actually thinking. This is not what he meant to talk about off the bat, and it came spilling out anyway. Not a great sign.]

Not sure. Obviously, I need to sit with all this for a while.

And then I need to, um, figure out the level of contact I'll be willing to deal with, I think. Set terms, or something, if I'm not going for avoiding as much as possible.

[jedies]

[ very mature. ]

Of course. You should have your boundaries. Is that all that was troubling you?

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He makes a face, chagrined.]

I really didn't mean to come and dump on you.

[But it is, in fact, not everything that was troubling him.

Oh, he's never been as afraid of Vader as maybe he should be. His concern is for Obi-wan, for Anakin, for everyone else- and can't really predict how Obi-wan will react, here, so with as much measured, quiet calm as he can muster-]

Ariadne said Anakin is here.

[jedies]

[ ah. obi-wan nods. ]

He is. He's recuperating at the moment.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[A perfectly civil answer that tells him basically nothing. Maybe he should have expected that. He'd just - well, he'd gotten a little used to that tactic that not being used on him.

Obi-wan has been, is being kind, but doesn't know him, Ezra reminds himself.]

That sounds...not bad? [He eyes Obi-wan.] I wasn't entirely clear on what's been going on.

Look. Just. I don't really know him. But I do know a lot of people who care about him.

Are you ok?

[jedies]

I'm all right.

Anakin had a lapse due to the corruption that pervades this place. And some knowledge of the future made it difficult to see if there was a way out for him. A better future.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Corruption. [He mulls that over a second.]

Well, I knew this place reminded me a little of Dathomir and Malachor, but, um, more people layered on top.

[Then he rubs a hand over the back of his neck.]

I want to help, but is the best thing to do just stay away, then?

[jedies]

I'm not sure if there is any way to help at the moment. Anakin needs to find his own answers and come to terms with the things he did.

But you're welcome to speak to him. Perhaps it'll help to hear that other people are concerned.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Tenses and travel through time and space are making this conversation difficult.]

...if they were here and now, I'm sure they would be, anyway.

Being reminded that my family cared about me helped me.

[jedies]

[ his expression softened. ]

I've always found that to be true.

butting in

[facultative]

[There's a creak as the door is opened and Anakin steps into the room.]

Why are you talking about me?

[He doesn't look happy to hear that he's being gossiped about. He doesn't know how much he's missed and if Obi-Wan has been saying anything bad about him.]

Re: butting in

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He thought he'd sensed that distinct signature in the Force he's started to associated with Skywalkers being around. So, he manages not to startle, and gives Anakin a bow.]

Master Skywalker. [That's the proper address from a padawan to a knight they've just met, right? He thinks that's right. But then he smiles, because he can't keep up formal for long.]

I'm new here. We were talking about people I'm, well, familiar with, at least.

[jedies]

[ obi-wan rolls his eyes briefly at anakin. ]

He's here to say hi. He's a padawan from the Jedi Order.

[facultative]

[None of that makes him any happier and he continues to stare at Ezra with suspicion.] I've never seen you around before.

[While there's no reason to doubt his story, Anakin isn't buying it just yet.]

Who are you? And who's your master?

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He shoots Obi-wan a look somewhere between gratitude and confusion. Anakin isn't asking anything Obi-wan hadn't, but it feels different.]

I'm Ezra Bridger. You- you wouldn't know me. In your native time, I probably haven't even been born yet. Luke and I would be born nearly the same time, I think. [Maybe even the same day - he's not quite sure.]

My master was Kanan Jarrus. You'd know him as Caleb Dume.