hadthehighground | Empatheias IC Inbox

[If he were only looking for someone in all black, Obi-Wan would sadly miss Kylo Ren entirely. He's in more Verenthian clothing rather than his robes, and is dressed in more neutral colors so as to not stick out and get anyone's attention more than he might usually.

He's sitting at one of the picnic tables there when he spots the older man in his Jedi robes, and rather than waiting to be seen, he gets to his feet and begins to approach.]

[Because of that, no, he didn't pick him out right away. But Obi-Wan could sense that he was nearby.

Plus when Kylo started walking towards him it was hard to miss that recognizeable hair. The Jedi taking a moment to look the other man up and down.]

It suits you.

[He gestures, referring to the clothes.]

You wanted to speak with me?

Edited 2017-04-17 22:46 (UTC)

[There's a brief quirk of Ren's eyebrow at the comment, and he has to wonder if he's really never worn "normal" clothing around Obi-Wan. Well... it's possible, he supposes. Either way, it's irrelevant.

It's best to get to the point, in his mind, so a gloved hand reaches inside his coat to retrieve a folded piece of thick paper, and holds it between two fingers to offer it to the other man.]

I meant to do this a while ago. I'd gotten distracted.

[It's a document, drafted by the Enforcers and signed by a man Obi-Wan likely recognizes as a superior officer. In it, Kylo Ren is granted a provisional allowance to hold a weapon. In other words, it means if he messes up at all he'll get that right revoked immediately.]

[Taking the paper, Obi-Wan unfolded it carefully. He recognized what it was and who it was signed by. Still, he took a moment to read it over. The Jedi's mouth pulling into a thin line.]

I see.

[He then refolded the paper and offered it back.]

Congratulations.

[There was certainly a lack of enthusiasm there as recent issues still weighed heavily on his mind.]

[It's not that he expected Obi-Wan to be bright and cheery about it, but the flat response is enough to get Kylo to reexamine the man in front of him, even as he tucks the ruling back into his coat. There's something a bit... off, from when they spoke last, but it's hard to pinpoint.]

You seem... [What's the right word for this?] ... tired.

[It's not quite the right one, but it's close enough for now.]

It has been a long week.

[Which is Obi-Wan trying downplay it. A lot. Considering he had been quite ill, with Anakin trying to kill him with his terrible cooking, and all the drama surrounding a certain lightsaber.

Yes, Obi-Wan was very tired. Worn out was more like it. He may have added a few more grey hairs to his collection.]

[After a moment of watching Obi-Wan—which is to say, leaning a bit closer and getting in his personal space to examine him—Kylo half turns and gestures with his head towards the table where he was sitting.]

I can't imagine that crowded house of yours has helped.

[With the gesture, Obi-Wan turned his attention to the table and would follow Ren there to sit down. This was better than just standing there at least.]

It's not the amount of people that bother me.

[In fact it was actually comforting. He was fated to living the next 20 years of his life alone back home. He would rather spend his time here surrounded by the people he cares for.]

It''s when we don't get along that does.

[Ren sits and makes himself comfortable without any preamble, resting his elbows on the table and focusing his attention on the Jedi again.]

I've found that occurs more often the more people you live with, strangely enough.

[There's some trademark Organa-Solo sarcasm.]

Should I ask?

[A small smile comes to the Jedi's lips.]

Most of the time it's not a problem.

[They mostly coexisted just fine together. The smile then faded.]

But there has been little peace in my house since I last spoke to you.

[It shouldn't be hard to figure out why.]

[A heavy, disgruntled sigh leaves Kylo as his expression darkens a bit, though he at least doesn't direct his irritation at Obi-Wan, and nothing catches on fire or anything. (He got to pummel the traitor a bit, so his rage has partly abated, in addition to the stretch of time since then helping it fade.)]

I'm sure it'll be a comfort for you to hear that it's no longer in my possession.

[He's frowning into the distance in an almost petulant way, the fingers of his left hand tapping at the table.]

What?

[That was... not something that he had expected to hear. Leaving the Jedi to stare at Ren in stunned silence after his intial reaction?

Ren is obviously not happy about the turn of events so there's no reason to doubt him.]

What happened?

It vanished.

[He's still not looking at Obi-Wan, and instead glaring as if at the entity responsible for this.]

As soon as that— [Ooooh, he has a lot of words for FN-2187, and his clenched teeth are bared briefly as he thinks of which to use. Maybe the ones he was thinking of aren't the best for this conversation, however, so he reconsiders.] ... its previous owner appeared again, it was gone.

[It gets a bit muggy around them, but it could be worse.]

[Well it was no secret that Finn was back. Rey's mood had suddenly improved. Though Obi-Wan hadn't seen him yet personally. But the fact that the lightsaber apparently disappeared when he returned drew a puzzled frown from the Jedi.]

That is odd. I've never had that happen in my experience.

[Lightsabers disappearing with their owners sure. But being left behind and then disappearing when they return? Not so much.]

What this planet does as far as bringing us here and sending us away makes little sense.

[His hand is in a fist, and he briefly thinks about pounding it on the table in his frustration, but he doesn't. He simply takes an aggravated breath in the hopes that he can cool off slightly.]

I've stopped trying to understand it.

[There was a moment of silence, Obi-Wan's gaze falling on the fist Ren has made. He sighed a bit to himself, because he had a point there. Just when things started to make sense in this place, something strange would happen that completely turned it around.

After a moment though, he reached out to place his hand on Ren's. An effort to calm him down should he allow it.]

Tell me. Why was it so important to you?

Is it just because it was linked to Ana- Darth Vader?

Edited 2017-04-18 04:16 (UTC)

[Kylo's eyes go to the Jedi when that hand covers his own, and though the gaze is an intense, "what are you doing" one, he doesn't move. It only takes a moment before he looks away, as well, so he doesn't even continue with the uncomfortable stare to get Obi-Wan to stop touching him, like one might expect him to.

He takes a slow breath, and when he replies, his voice is low.]

"Just." You say it like it's somehow insignificant.

[As if his connection to Darth Vader doesn't mean something.]

I searched for everything I could find of his. After realizing everything that was kept from me, even into adulthood, I wanted to have things to remind me of that connection.

I made a terrible Jedi. Having those relics... they made me feel like I had a place in the galaxy. If someone who tried and failed to be a Jedi, who was attuned to the darkness, could make that sort of mark...

[Then he could too. It was a comfort.]

You can tell me to try to connect with Anakin here, but I've tried and he keeps rejecting who I am and comparing me to the Jedi.

[He bites his lip, frowning at himself for speaking so much about this, but... well, he's shared more personal moments with Obi-Wan.]

It's easier to have the ideal than the person. I guess you're never supposed to meet your idols.

[Obi-Wan listened quietly as Kylo Ren explained. There was a thoughtful pause before he spoke softly.]

Not insignificant. That lightsaber has meaning to many, but in different ways.

[It meant something to Rey, to Luke, and even Obi-Wan himself.]

Darth Vader... He took everything I knew and loved away from me. So it is difficult for me to understand why you idolize him.

What I do know is that lightsaber is not his. It is a Jedi weapon that belonged to Anakin Skywalker.

[Obi-Wan's hand had started to tighten around Ren's, until he realized what he was doing and pulled away. Yes, he saw the two as completely different people.]

And Anakin is struggling to find his own place, much like you are. While his destiny in our galaxy might be set, that is not what he wants for himself here.

[Kylo is silent as Obi-Wan speaks, though his eyes eventually return to the Jedi as he speaks of his loss. There's sympathy there, but it's... difficult to voice it and not seem like a hypocrite, so he doesn't.

Ren gets the urge to scoff, but he's too somber to do much more than let out a quiet huff through his nose.]

He's made that much clear.

[And it's not that... Ren can blame him. It's just the way that Anakin seems to be doing it that feels like a direct insult to him.]

There are so many here who think they can change their future, somehow. [Anakin. His mother. No doubt Rey has some idea of it, as well.]

I know that I'll continue with the First Order when I return, continue to seek out the Jedi to try to destroy them. Even if I can't... think of doing that as I am now, it's something I've accepted. This place is outside of everything in our galaxy, and it should remain that way. I can't imagine trying to struggle against that.

[As much as Obi-Wan would like the future to change, as much as he wanted to believe it was possible, he too was in acceptance. He did not find it likely that such could happen.

But the Jedi suddenly went very still and very silent as he listened to Kylo speak. Blue eyes just staring at him in shock. His face draining of all color.]

Destroy... the Jedi?

[Oh. Oh no.

That clear look of confusion on Obi-Wan's face speaks volumes, and as a result Kylo straightens up, a mild look of alarm on his face.]

Do you... has no one told you?

[It's not that he minds being the one to tell Obi-Wan, but... to have it be this late in the game? It concerns him, that maybe Kenobi was acting under false pretenses this entire time.]

[Obi-Wan just continued to stare at Ren in silence for several moments. His gaze unfocused as memories flashed through his mind.

Bodies. Even children. A battle and despair.

He then leaned forward and covered his face with his hand, saying nothing.

No. No one had told him.

Luke's telling of the future had given him such hope. But now he felt that hope crumbling into dust.

Suddenly he felt very sick.]

[Kylo shakes his head, though mostly to himself and the situation now that Obi-Wan has covered his face. He feels a bit helpless about how to respond, shoulders slumping.]

I'm sorry you had to find out like this.

[He can't really say he's sorry for what he's done, even though that is partly true. But since he knows he'll just return to that goal, an apology would mean nothing.]

[He stayed that way for a minute or two. While he heard what Kylo said, he didn't really respond. That is until Obi-Wan, lowered his hand from his grief stricken face. Unable to look at Kylo.]

Why, Ben?

[His voice almost a whisper. That was the only thing he could think to say. He wanted, needed to understand. If that was even possible.]

[Ren lets out a slow breath, watching the Jedi with a pinched expression and considering him and the question for a long moment.]

Would any answer I gave make a difference?

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