deercountry | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Ezra + Obi-wan. Ezra+Michael, Ezra+Ariadne
What: closed prompt in comments.
When: Evening of 2/25, and also general end of the month
Where: Obi-wan's house in Cassandra, Michael's shop, Rooftops of Trench

Content Warnings: Blood, offscreen deaths, aftermath of mass battle, grief, some corruption, others in tags

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He grins, but it's a weak thing.]

Sounds like another one of those life-long goals Master Yoda mentioned.

It is something we all must keep pursuing.

Yeah. [He rubs a hand across his face and pauses with a grimace.]

I kinda came straight here. Can I borrow a change of clothes and make sure I'm not spreading contamination around?

And maybe we can talk some more?

Of course. I'm not sure I have anything your size but we will make do.

[ he leads ezra further inside. ]

Would you like some tea as well?

Thank you.

And yes, please. [He does not care what kind. He barely cares that it's tea, per se. It's more - Obi-wan is making him tea, and therefore things will be ok.]

I'll bring some clothes out shortly. Why don't you get tidied up?

[He shoots Obi-wan a grateful smile, nods, and then disappears into the bathroom. It takes him a while, despite not dawdling. He generally takes the danger of corruption pretty seriously, but it wasn't something he could do much about in a massive melee.

So, he's meticulous about cleaning up now he has the facilities for it, scrubbing down both himself and rinsing out his clothing. Still, as much as doesn't like to think it, since this is a set he was gifted from the Courscant Temple, maybe burning them would be the best option.

They were never going to last forever, he reminds himself.

And then he inspects the bathroom itself, and stops briefly to stare at the changes to his eyes.

Ok. Ok. He needs to deal with that, too. He'll figure it out.]

[ obi-wan returns promptly, sliding the change of clothes to ezra discreetly before taking a seat at the table with some tea. ]

[Eventually, he trails out in the too big set of fresh clothes. While he's pouring himself some tea, he suggests-]

Should probably be liberal with purifying incense for a while.

[And then he slides into a chair across from Obi-wan, hands wrapped around his cup.]

I've been in bigger battles. Worse battles. I don't why one feels so...

Trauma shouldn't be measured on a scale.

[ it doesn't matter how much larger or smaller they may be. they matter. to score them is insulting, but he gets ezra's point. ]

It is what it is.

Yeah.

[He takes a sip of his tea, before he shrugs and puts it down, and glances away.]

I also didn't come here. I thought about just...hiding. Forever, maybe.

...that might be the corruption talking. Not sure.

[ his voice comes out a little sharp. ]

What corruption?

[That makes him flinch, hard. He has to fight the impulse to bolt again.

It's a question, not condemnation. Right?]

Right. Sorry. Thought it was obvious. Or, once I got a good look at myself, I thought it was. Not sure if I picked it up trying to connect to the beast or during the fight.

[He waves a hand to his eyes.]

They should be pure blue.

[ that's not a good sign. ]

Any idea how it happened?

[He blinks.]

Not sure of a specific moment; it was a long and chaotic battle. But, that's the thing with spilling beast blood. It's a pretty quick way to spread corruption. I'd be surprised if I were the only one in the group that took the Leviathan down who's been effected.

That's part of why going looking for beasts to kill doesn't make much sense to me.

Edited 2022-03-05 01:36 (UTC)

[ hmm. perhaps more research into that area is needed. ]

No. It doesn't like something we would do either.

[Ezra's certainly been trying to delve into that sort of research, but it's not easy.]

Well, no, hunting like that's definitely not aligned with the Jedi way, I agree.

But I mean on a...societal level. There's a whole recognized profession called Hunters. Not, oh, defenders or something like that.

[He frowns in annoyance.]

I have heard of them. I've kept my distance.

Hmm, I think some of the Sleepers who fall into that role because they're used to the defending part. It's the only way they see to help.

[He makes an equivocating gesture.]

[ he nods. obi-wan can't criticize them for that. ]

It's a common point of view.

[He shrugs.]

I probably would have, too, when I was younger. [He squints thoughtfully.]

Maybe even up until the first time I met, uh, you.

Untangling Jedi from soldier is definitely a work in progress.

[ a slow nod. ]

Of course. I can't disparage people who choose to follow it. Not in a place like this.

[He eyes Obi-wan, and sighs.]

I'm not worried about your opinion. Disapproval?[Then rolls his eyes - at himself.]

...ok, no that's, that's a lie. I am definitely too...wobbly right now to not care about that.

Still, I think there was another thought, just then?

[ he shakes his head. ]

I'm not disapproving of anyone's actions right now, least of all yours. I was in many wars. The line is . . . thin.

[He straightens in seat, faintly concerned.]

Oh. Fair enough.

Kanan struggled with his feelings about the Clone Wars, too. Like, a decade and half later. Really didn't like it when Rex or his brothers would slip up and call him General.

Definitely preferred Hera being the General, if someone had to be.