table for four

[unrepentant]

CHARACTERS: Toko Fukawa, Cal Kestis, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker
DATE: Early September
WARNINGS: Toko™
SUMMARY: Don't become friends with Jedi because then you'll get invited over for dinner. A cautionary tale.

Comments

[onlyhope]

[ Obi-Wan rolls his eyes and barely restrains from shoving Anakin with his shoulder on the way by. He has a reputation to uphold, however, so instead he gives the impression of a strong nudge through their bond. ]

No, it is not a laxative. Stop making her nervous, Anakin, you're going to chase her off before you've even finished.

[ From an outside perspective it might actually sound like he's chiding Anakin for being improper, but this sort of bantering is a norm between them. Obi-Wan may have a penchant for lecturing his former Padawan, but as the years have gone on it has morphed mostly into exasperated fondness instead of true disciplinary intent. Then, to Fukawa: ]

Do you take sugar?

[unrepentant]

[There's no incoming shoulder knocking his own, or an elbow to the waist- but Obi-Wan nudges him all the same. Unfortunately the reprimand does little more than leave Anakin grinning smugly into their future dinner. He hears Fukawa's voice come again, this time as she moves through the space and picks out a chair of her own. Anakin, at least pretending to be appropriately chastised, doesn't interrupt again.

But he does catch her eye from behind Obi-Wan's back.
And he does throw her a wink.

It's true, cooking is relaxing for him in the way that all physical things are. It demands his attention but in a simple, straight-forward way- and it allows him to see the results of his labor. The major problems in this town are what they are, the sickness and the missing bodies and the monsters attacking. But this small, very basic act helps keep him grounded. He turns back to stirring the dish as tendrils of steam climb towards the ceiling.]

[shiftybladesofcray]

[It does come off as chiding, and perhaps her own age is reflection of that. Coupled with the idea of "Master" and...ah, well, Cal had said that romance was forbidden among the Jedi, so she'd misconstrued their relationship from the start. But Obi-Wan is clearly some sort of authority, perhaps as a teacher more than. Um. You know.

Wow that's a lot of useless thinking. She glances to Anakin just in time to catch his wink. Toko is taken aback a moment (that was for her?) but smiles in return, quick and secretive.]

Ah — no sugar. Just black. [Toko pauses.] Thanks.

[Being waited on was so strange.

Should she come up with conversation? She'd been mulling over what might be interesting on the way over. Nothing she knows of would compare to traversing across the galaxy, and whining more about the conditions of this train car would be beating a dead horse. Talking about herself was not going to happen, and she knows that Anakin doesn't want to talk much about his past. So.]

Um. Hey. N-No one's really told me...what the Jedi's purpose is. [Does that sound accusatory? Toko rushes in with the follow up.] Guh! That is, I mean, I've been told a little about the F-Force, and that you're Knights of sorts. B-but what's their creed? [She looks between the two, just a touch helpless. A lot abashed.] You know. It's l-like a religion, right?

[Please say yes.]

[onlyhope]

[ Blissfully ignorant to the exchange happening between Anakin and Fukawa, Obi-Wan busies himself pouring two mugs of tea. The other two cups will be for Anakin and Cal, but he knows better than to pour Anakin's cup early — his distraction will win out and it'll be cold by the time he really gets to enjoy it.

He's turning around and coming back to the table by the time Fukawa has finished her question. Obi-Wan sets the steaming cup of herbal tea in front of her; some blend he had picked up from the citizens here. He moves to the seat across from her, so he can still see Anakin moving in his periphery. Sitting casually with knees splayed, he leans on the table with both elbows and fingers laced around his mug. ]

The Jedi carry out the will of the Force and serve as guardians of peace and justice throughout the Galactic Republic. From a young age, children will come to the Temple to be raised and trained in the ways of the Jedi.

[ There's the briefest pause, as Obi-Wan's reality and subsequent grief whisper in his ear, before he recovers and goes on without a single break in his inflection or posture. ]

As instruments of the Force, we follow the Jedi Code to ground ourselves in a spiritual existence. We release ourselves of all attachments — personal, physical and emotional — so that we may focus on the concerns of the whole. Our duty is to the people and to the Force itself.

Jumps the Cue

[shiftybladesofcray]

[All right, so she hasn't made some egregious faux pas. Toko takes the mug with both hands, waiting for it to cool as Obi-Wan speaks.

The pause isn't lost on her. Outwardly she remains still, but inwardly she thinks of Cal. He'd all but curled in on himself thinking of the purge, sitting on the grassy knolls of the Corgi car. It hadn't been so long ago for him, something less than ten years. She knows Anakin hasn't encountered it yet, and she's not sure where Obi-Wan lies on the spectrum. Perhaps he's also come out the other side of it, left to scurry about in secrecy. That would explain the sudden shift.

It's gone, just as swift as it comes. And now he's touching on another matter that reminds her of Cal. A more shameful memory. Toko's cheeks feel hot yet again. She wets her lips and hates herself for it, because now she remembers the feel of his too vividly.

Whatever! They agreed, it didn't count! It was an emergency. And besides which, she has a few contentions with the philosophy anyway. Toko has to bite the inner flesh of her lip when she almost spills the beans (Oh yeah, I totally found out about that part after kissing your friend!), rework her wording. Keep it innocuous.]

Th-that part, it's similar to some religious practices back home. But is it really necessary? [She looks to Obi-Wan, then to Anakin. They must have doubts. They're men in their prime, there's no way they wouldn't at least wonder.] Or possible? Life without a-any kind of love is a hellish existence.

[She would know. Not that she wants to get into those particular details, but to choose to live without affection? It's beyond her.

She has other questions of course. Technicalities. But this is the biggest sticking point, by far.]

toko exists outside the laws of man

[unrepentant]

[It isn't unusual to hear questions like these. While Jedi are familiar to those in the Core, that doesn't mean their practices and beliefs are fully understood. It's a pattern that gets larger the further out you go. On a speck of dust in the Outer Rim, Anakin had known Jedi as unbeatable heroes, champions from legends. The sound of their conversation washes over him as he moves around, occupying space with purpose as Fukawa starts following her questions through to completion. There's a vibration in the air, her anxiety he assumes, as she chooses her words; but now that he's busied himself again, Anakin isn't keeping a watchful eye and thus able to meet her own.

She's nervous and this is new. But Anakin believes that she's safe here, among his people, in this place, with Obi-Wan. A small snort of laughter leaves him as he cracks eggs into the pan. More like- safe even with Obi-Wan's idea of dinner conversation.

With his back to them and his world made hazy by steam, he can recall the way Padmé had once asked the same thing. For a moment his eyes close and he allows himself to know it, the way he'd felt then. The way he still feels now.]

We build our lives around compassion.

[His weight shifts, and when Anakin turns at last it's with the first of two bowls in hand- and a soft, helpless smile touching his mouth. Indulgent and unashamed, Anakin approaches their simple wooden table, placing each dish with a subtle thud.] Which I would define- [It's Fukawa he serves first, his gaze sliding easily to her face.] -as unconditional love.

[And then Obi-Wan, mindful of where the man has always liked to place his mug of tea, of which side he's always preferred to lean towards. The shape of Anakin's smile change, curls with familiar fondness.] The Jedi are encouraged to love.

It gives our existence meaning.

[onlyhope]

[ This isn't the first time he's heard this argument, but before Obi-Wan can open his mouth to make his counter point Anakin interjects. He lifts his gaze, turning to the sound of his former Padawan's voice and following him as he comes to the table with food.

And this — this is the man he knew. Not the horrible vision on a holorecorder, a black wraith of a person. Compassion, and love, caring for others. He remembers Anakin being small, their training only just begun, the way his heart swelled when he told him his mother always said The biggest problem in the universe is that nobody helps each other. For all their fears surrounding Anakin's training, for all his own doubt about his own ability as a teacher — that alone was how he knew Anakin would be a great Jedi.

He meets Anakin's eyes, warming under that fond smile and the sure conviction in his voice, and knows with clarity that there will always be light in him. Obi-Wan is struck with the intense urge to reach out and wrap him against his chest.

Instead, he looks over his bowl and his tea to Fukawa. ]

Love is not forbidden. Attachment, possessiveness — those are the things we are meant to avoid.

[ His eyes flick back to Anakin. ]

It does not mean we cannot love.

i'm sorry for her libido

[shiftybladesofcray]

[Anakin slides the plate to her first, and Toko can't help ducking her head. It makes her nervous, being in their home, eating their food, sitting as their guest and not some begrudging tagalong that can't be shaken off. The food smells delicious though, especially considering what they had to work with in this landfill of a train car.]

S-so it's more like — [Like Buddhist monks, or the Christian kind. She's no expert on either, and she doubts they'd ever heard of stuff like that to begin with.] — just putting your t-time into community service?

[Not her best allegory. She clears her throat and tries again.]

Or putting your love into the whole world, or whatever.

[Then Obi-Wan adds his two cents. It's very clear at once that there is deep affection between these two. If she hadn't had her theory debunked already this moment would have been cemented proof they were an item.]

Oh, I d-don't know, being possessed doesn't sound so bad... [Her head is still bowed and she's covered her mouth with her hand, attempting modesty, but the private grin is probably obvious. She's happy to belong to Master Byakuya. It gives her purpose, a reason to live. When she gets back home, he's sure to greet her with a lover's tearful reunion.

She hopes he's not pining too much without her.]

I just. Well. There's a precedence for things going wrong if you c-cut off parts of yourself. Isn't stifling a natural desire dangerous?

[What should happen if one of them snaps one day?

What if she were

nearby?

...Again, she belongs to Master, but like. She'd be flattered! And vulnerable.]