hadthehighground | Folkmore Inbox

When Satine first sees him, she is struck silent and still for a moment. She drinks in details - he's in his full robes, not the armor she rather loathed as a symbol of the direction his duty had taken him, of the war that was tearing the galaxy apart.

There are hints of silver, in his hair. That's new, isn't it? A sadness that seems to weigh on him, even more than the last times they've spoken.

Then she takes a small step towards him, lifting her hands a little, wanting to run to him, and embrace him, but uncertain how welcome it would be. "Obi?"

Obi-Wan had been out for a walk near the lakes when he saw her. At first, he wondered if he was hallucinating. She was a vision, standing there with the sunlight illuminating her golden hair. The Jedi couldn't help but stare, but upon reaching out in the Force, he soon realized his eyes weren't deceiving him. His breath catching when she eventually noticed him. She looked the same as the last time he saw her. Except, you know, alive.

Finally his feet started to move, her name on his lips as he gained momentum. Though he slowed as he drew near, a mixture of emotion flitting across his face and in his blue eyes. He had never dared to hope to see her again, and yet here she was. Like a gift put before him by the fox.

“My dear… it is good to see you.”

"Ben." She takes a final step closer, dropping her hands to her arms.

"This is certainly not how I expected to see you again - I don't even know exactly, where I am."

She glanced around again. It is a lovely area, she notes. "You don't happen to know, do you? You've spoken with that...Fox, as well?"

He’s quiet for a moment. Simply taking her in. Obi-Wan can’t help himself as he tentatively raises a hand to brush his fingertips across her hair. Again making sure that she was real. Just the faintest glimmer in his eyes.

“Oh… yes. We all have.”

While others might hate the Fox, Obi-Wan mentally whispers his gratitude to the being.

“You’re in Folkmore. A world beyond our galaxy.”

"Yes, my dear, assuming I didn't hallucinate the whole thing, I rather meant where in this fantastical sounding land," she replies. But not quite as dryly as she might usually manage. She might have Force-sensitivity only slightly higher than a brick, but even she can tell there are layers to his emotions beyond simply being pleased to see her.

"Have you been here a while?" she asks, softly.

He looks a little sheepish at that, a hand rubbing at the back of his neck. “Oh… um.” Excuse his momentary brain fart. Seeing her does things to him.

“Willow,” he finally gets out. “Specifically just outside the village of Gram.”

A pause as he has to think on her other question. “In all I believe it’s been nine months or so.” He then smiles and offers her his arm. “And I would be happy to tell you all about it.”

She can't help but being a little pleased at being able to make him slightly tongue tied, even after all these years. And even more pleased, and not even trying to hide it, at the offered arm, which she takes.

"Please do. Are we headed anywhere in particular?"

“My home. I was just out for a walk and the scenery turned out to be lovelier than I was expecting.”

He gave her a little cheeky grin.

She smiles warmly back at him, and replies, tone an exaggerated diplomat's polish, although she means every word, "Then I am delighted to be able to brighten your day. And look forward to seeing your home."

Truly, a welcome but strange feeling. She'd made her peace, as much as she could, about being apart, a very long time ago. And then, lately, it had seemed whenever their duties had brought them together, it had simply brought each of them more worry and strife.

It will take a while, she is beginning to slowly realize, to work out what the difference in circumstances here mean.

"Is all of Folkmore this charming?"

And those words make him smile, a genuine look of joy as his eyes met hers. She had indeed brightened his day, more than she knew. Things had been... a bit challenging as of late, but being reunited with her more than made up for it.

"In their own way. There's the snowy mountains of Wintermute, the underwater city of Tides, the floating island of Never Fade, and more. I could take you on a tour."

Getting out of the house for a bit and seeing the sights of Folkmore didn't sound like a bad idea at all. Especially if he had some company.

Satine finds herself holding her breath, as unguarded joy dawns on Obi-Wan's face - a sight that she has only a few precious memories of, tucked away. When is the last time she let herself entertain the thought she might see it again?Probably about the last time she let herself daydream about going somewhere together with him, just because they wanted to. Which was to say, many years ago.

"I would like that," she says, her voice hushed and a little rough with honesty. She pauses, torn between not wanting to ruin the moment, and not wanting to get caught up and ahead of themselves.

Better to be practical, she decides.

"If it wouldn't tear you away from anything pressing?" she adds, meeting his gaze, and forcing her voice back into poised.

Whatever life here is actually like, no matter how peaceful it might be, she can't imagine he's let himself stay truly idle for long. Anywhere there are people, there will be some troubles. The work necessary for a community.

He chuckled softly at that. Always a practical one, and something he appreciated about her. It didn't surprise him that she would ask about that. Always putting other matters before what her heart truly desired. It was just like Satine.

"My dear, there is nothing more pressing than having you here."

There were few that he would just drop everything for, but she was one of them.

"I'll have to make a few arrangements, but nothing that can't be handled quickly. Though I would like you to meet my... family."

He wasn't just going to run off without making introductions, arrangements, and getting her settled. As tempting as it might be. Like a pair of young teenagers going off to elope.

An eyebrow ticks up, a touch, at the first statement; it's both nice to hear and discomforting, at the same time. Should she really be his priority?

That he does have arrangements to make eases her mind. She contemplates the bit about family, a beat.

"Are there other Jedi here?" she asks, because she's not sure what else he could mean. "...others you've grown close with?"

"There are," he says easily, with a bit more warmth than he might have had before. After all, there had been thousands of them in her time.

"Though allow me to explain. I was actually brought to another world before coming to this one. I met a boy named Ezra there. It's a long story but, I took him as my Padawan, and we had an experience that brought us closer together. You could say we're like brothers."

Perhaps he would tell her the whole thing later, when they had the time, but for now she gets the cliff's notes.

"And there's a young girl here, her name is Leia. She's my current Padawan. You're actually well acquainted with her mother, Padme Amidala. All three of them are staying with me. There's Ahsoka as well, and another Jedi named Cal Kestis. Both of them are living separately, at least for the time being."

She listens, brow furrowed in concentration (something she might have smoother out, in conversation with someone else, but not with him), as she makes note of names.

Another world? Alright, the important part was a second padawan. And then a third one? She's sure she's missing some details, because her impression was an apprenticeship usually took a decade or more.

Her mind stutters a little over the news that this Leia is Padmé's daughter. She's nearly certain Padmé had no children, yet, when Satine last saw her.

"I would like to see both Padmé and Ahsoka again, of course," she says with a nod. Then more carefully, she prods, "Padmé is staying with you, your former and current padawan, and Ahsoka is...not?"

That seems backwards?

Edited 2024-04-02 02:21 (UTC)

He knows it’s a lot to take in, which is why he tries to keep it short. Obi-Wan can elaborate more on the finer points later. When they have a quiet moment in a private place.

“Yes, that’s right.”

The way she words it is not lost on him though, and the Jedi hesitates for a moment before continuing. “Things are… complicated with Ahsoka. Something happened that I’m not at all proud of. It tainted our relationship and it still hadn’t completely recovered.”

He wanted Ahsoka there with them of course, but it was her decision. One that he would let her make in her own time. On her terms.

Edited 2024-04-02 02:55 (UTC)

Clearly Obi-Wan doesn't want to go into the details right now.

"I'm so very sorry to hear that, Obi. She was brilliant, if a bit reckless, on her mission to Mandalore. I thought at the time, how proud you must have been of her."

“Oh I am proud. I still am. She’s strong and resilient and has overcome a great deal of hardship. She even comes to Mandalore’s aid again.”

But he doesn’t go into detail on that either. Because that would be stepping into territory after Satine’s death. And talking about her death with her is not something he’s quite prepared for yet.

"Oh?" Satine says, glancing sideways at him. She's hesitant to ask more detail about Mandalore.

"And Padmé staying with you and your students - I would not have expected that, either. Although I know you and she are old friends."

No jealousy, in her tone, but she is confused.

"We are old friends, and she's now practically family. It's... a long story. One I will tell you in time. Let's just say, I feel that I owe it to her and her children to look after them."

He knows its confusing. She's missing a lot of context. Though going into it right now would undoubtably spoil the mood. It may have been a bit selfish but he wanted to enjoy some time with her before going into all of that, and to spare her the knowledge of certain things for at least a little while.

"Alright," she accepts, for the moment, then laughs lightly. "So you have a little...clan almost."

A Mandalorian clan, she means, with bonds that are very real, an even formal in a way, when there are vows involved, but may not strictly follow blood kin or what other cultures might see as being obviously family.

"Something like that," he says with a smile.

"It's no Jedi Order, but it is something, and I'm glad for it."

It would be much lonelier if he didn't have his little found family of sorts.

"And I would be honored if you would join us."

She sucks in a sharp breath, and visibly flounders, at that.

"Of course I would be honored to be part of your little community." That part she manages to get out, diplomat steady.

There are many ways to be part of such a informal group, though. A pause, and she continues, sounding more uncertain. "...at your house?"

Her reaction brings a little smile. She may be trying to keep it together, but she can't really hide it from him.

"Of course. There's plenty of space, my dear. You can have your own room with as much privacy as you wish."

Or don't wish.

Her grip on his at tightens a little. "That would be...I've never truly lived alone, you know."

Felt lonely in her rooms, as the Duchess, yes. But always surrounded by people.

Her voice drops low, but fervent. "I would like that very much, Ben."

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hadthehighground - 2024-04-10 15:42 (UTC) - Expand

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action (a slight AU of arrival, before emotional bombs get dropped)

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