7edacted | IC Inbox

Perfect.

I'm afraid it will have to be a bit rustic but I shall do my best.

I'm sure it will be lovely.

Where shall we meet? I'm not certain if any of the cars available are any more Naboo-like than others.

I'd rather not take my chances in the museum again, if it's all the same to you.

How are you at navigating terrain like this?

I agree wholly. Also I'll be fine. I'm more used to roughing it than I look.

Excellent. There is a lake to the west that I think will make a fine location.

I think I've seen that one. I'll be there with bells on.

[There's a pause and she smiles a little at the device. How long has it been since she accepted a simple social invite. Not since Merle invited her to go on a spa day and that was, hm, well as it could have been given the circumstances.

It's some time later, after she's packed up her My Home and started her trek to the west. It's nostalgic, finding her way, but the little device does a lot to help, and soon enough she finds the lake, and finding Obi-Wan along the side of it is just a matter of walking along the edge until she spots him mid-preparation.

She calls out,] I'm not too soon, am I?

[ When she arrives, Obi-Wan has set things up insofar as his meagre means will allow. There is no Nubian tea here and really, Obi-Wan wouldn't call this any kind of traditional tea; more like a harvested collection of herbs. But it will do the job. There are a few dishes gathered together, including a tea pot and cups — in good condition, and clearly lifted from his own home making app.

Still standing, Obi-Wan raises his hand over his head and waves her over in clear invitation when she calls out. He waits until she's a little bit closer before answering. Like the first time they met, he is still in his Jedi clothes — though the outfit lacks the robe, leaving him wholly in pale linen. ]

Not at all, I've just set the tea on.

[ And it's clear he has, as the tea pot is propped up over a short, smoldering fire next to the flat are he's selected for them. ]

I hope you didn't run into too much trouble.

[As for Lucretia, she looks much like how they first met - although she has both of her hands now, one of which is wrapped around the white-oak staff, using it surreptitiously as a walking stick the rest of the way up the hill. More from exhaustion than enfeeblement.]

Not at all, [She says, then grins when she realizes she echoed him,] I have a lot of walking experience under my belt. Although I think I was much younger the last time I did it so much.

[Which isn't so long ago, she doesn't say. Instead she stretches a little bit, taking a deep breath of the fresh air.] So is there something different about a tea ceremony, or is this just a fancy word for drinking tea together?

It isn't the walking that would cause you trouble, I think.

[ He twinkles at her, then gestures to a spot in the grass. He's manoeuvred a flat rock to act as a table to sit between them and hold the bits and bobs for the ceremony. He takes his own seat across from her and waits patiently for her to join him. ]

Nubian tea ceremonies are used for a variety of reasons, but this one is a symbol of greeting and peace between two peoples as individuals or as a group.

[It feels rude to bring her staff to the table so she'll set it in the grass just behind her. Within reach of course, as she settles to sit with her legs crossed on the opposite side of the "table" - then decides a moment later that maybe that's too immature a sitting position and shifts so that her knees are tucked to the side. Better.]

Is there a difference in the tea or- [She chuckles,] Nevermind, I'll just enjoy without asking a million questions. It's been a long time since I've done something like this.

[ Obi-Wan doesn't seem to notice her fussing as he kneels across from her, sitting back on his heels. He raises one palm to quell her verbal worry, though the way he makes the gesture turns it kindly instead of judgemental. ]

No, please, I'm happy to answer your questions. I'm sharing a skill, aren't I? That usually suggests that one might be learning it. Though I cannot promise I'll have all the answers.

[ That aside, he leans forward and sorts the dishes out. ]

The type of tea matters less than the way it is served, in what order.

[She nods slowly, politely waiting as a good guest.]

Makes sense. I've visited places with similar traditions. Not all tea-related, but they were very big on their food preparation and symbolism connected to that.

[Good ole Tessaralia. She clears her throat.]

You never mentioned what it is you do in your world. I assume it's not all tea ceremonies.

[ He smiles, but the smile is directed at the table and the movement of his hands. It casts his eyes into shadow under ginger lashes, obscuring the sadness that lingers just under the surface of his carefully curated exterior. ]

No. I'm not from Naboo. I am a Jedi, and I lived until recently on a planet called Coruscant at the Jedi Temple.

[ This may be the first time he has used the term with anyone from outside his own universe. It feels strange, but good. Already, he realizes, he's grown accustomed to hiding what he is. He sits back and turns his attention to the bowling water. ]

[She doesn't miss the subtle shift of his expression, and there's a pause as she considers her words. There's a few concepts she's unfamiliar with here, why Jedi apparently do not come from Naboo, but it's clear that it might be sensitive ground being tread upon. Homesickness? Or something more.]

Forgive my ignorance about... everything really. There's a few words in there that I don't recognize. [She taps her fingers.] Is it a religion?

[She guesses, based on temples.]

[ Obi-Wan cants his head side to side with middling agreement. ]

The Jedi were Force users, Knights united in the quest to understand the mysteries of the Force and to serve as guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy. [ He sounds a bit scholarly, like he has taught this to others before. ] We ground ourselves in a spiritual existence and give up individual attachments in order to focus entirely on greater concerns.

[ Theoretically, anyway. He doubts the Jedi of the future will be able to hold to this doctrine the way peace had enabled them to do.

Pausing, he looks at Lucretia and offers a disarming little smile. ]

Normally I would offer you sugar here but I've not found anything remotely close.

[He smiles and she mirrors it back to him before she realizes that she's doing it. Heat creeps up to her ears and then even more so when she realizes that she's flustered for, what? Smiling back at a person? While drinking tea near a beautiful lake.

Glancing behind her to check on the staff (it hasn't gone anywhere) she lifts a hand and shakes her head.]

Not a problem. I like it just as well without.

[But The Force is a familiar statement and she hums and picks up her tea cup.]

Then you know mister Cal Kestis? I've met a few other people who came from the same world as others, so that's awfully lucky.

[ As she glances back at her staff, Obi-Wan goes about lifting the kettle from the smoldering flame to pour first for her then for himself. He makes no effort to point out the flush that's warmed her expression, lovely as it is, and turns to the topic at hand. ]

Yes, he was raised at the Temple as well, though I knew his Master better than I knew him.

[ He waits to take his first sip, watching Lucretia for her take on his incredibly rustic tea. The chief taste seems to be floral, ascribed likely to the little blue petals floating in the cup. ]

There are three of us here as far as I can tell. The third is Anakin Skywalker, my former Padawan learner.

[Masters and Padawans and Temples, all of this is reminding her a lot of the hanging arcanium. One of her favorite places that they'd visited during their long, long journey. She picks up the cup and lets it sit for a moment, watching the petals swirl and the heat from the cup warm her hands.]

That's fortunate, to have three of you here. I haven't yet met anyone from my world yet, although that's just as well-

[She punctuates that with a sip of the tea. A half beat and lips press together in an expression that isn't unpleasant, but surprised. She swallows.]

Damn, this tea slaps.

[ It startles a genuine laugh out of him, an expression that pulls his mouth wide. Obi-Wan may not know the terminology, but he can infer her meaning from the situation and her tone. ]

I'm glad you think so, given the circumstances. If I ever find some real tea out here I'll be sure to share it with you.

[ He gives her a moment to enjoy it before gesturing one hand in question. ]

Why do you say it's just as well?

You know, I'm not traditionally a tea person - unusual, I know, given that I'm an older woman. But I could get used to it.

[She's much more of a wine lady, but she's not going to talk about that and make herself look like a lush. Instead she takes another sip, eyebrow quirking at the question. Ah, she may have said too much.]

It's just that I work fine on my own. And there's important work to be done at home, so it's for the best that only one of us is indisposed.

[It's a clinical, thought out answer, although not untrue. She desperately wants to return home - if the Hunger returns before she gets back... no, she won't think about it.]

[ Obi-Wan twinkles at her after his first sip of tea, rather impressed with himself for his blending. ]

Something stronger next time, then.

[ He sobers some as the conversation continues, nodding in understanding. After all, his mission before finding himself here was... serious. ]

I have a feeling that perhaps it isn't quite so straightforward as that. You see, Anakin is from my past and Cal is from my future. I can only assume that there must be something else at play here.

[ His gaze finally roves for the first time, out over the lake. Now that he's aware of them, he can sense both young men that direction far in the distance. ]

I can only assume the Force expects something of us.

[ Because somewhere in the back of his mind whispers: Mortis. This isn't the first time he has been in this situation, plucked from time. He had assumed it was some kind of dream or hallucination. Maybe he was wrong. ]

Perhaps of all of us.

[Her eyes widen.]

You mean, time travel?

[Immediately she feels a prickling on the back of her neck. New worlds and illusions and the like were all strange, but anything messing with the flow of time...

She thinks of the Temporal Chalice. The chill of understanding that they would never know what havoc it wrought because no one can truly observe a change in time. How many histories had it wiped out?

Realizing that she's sitting frozen, she drags her gaze back down to the tea. Watches the ripples on the water.]

Aren't you worried you're going to change things. By having someone from the past here?

[ Aren't you worried you're going to change things?

The words sit between them, heavy. It is a reminder of what is perceived to be the good and proper choice — and the fact Obi-Wan is deliberately choosing the opposite. What he is worried about is being unable to change anything. To know this Anakin might return the same fall, the Empire rising, the slaughter of the Jedi. And all of this being fully aware he is actively changing the course of history. But how could he not? Knowing what genocide and despair will happen, how could he sit by? That isn't protecting peace. That isn't protecting the people.

That isn't protecting Anakin.

After a long silence, he turns to look at Lucretia again, his expression sad and grave. ]

I could not live with myself if I did not try to change things.

[She feels the weight of his stare - there's no way she can guess what it is he wants to change in his world, but she knows the burden of choice. Knows why time travel is one of the most dangerous powers to bestow upon a world.

There's a long beat and she breaks his gaze, looking out to the water.]

That bad, huh?

[She clears her throat.]

I'm sorry, this isn't a very light topic for a nice tea. My fault.

[ It is the most honest he's been with almost anyone here. He hasn't even divulged to Cal that he intends to change the course of time; not yet, anyway. ]

Your caution is warranted. I think for the most part, your point of view is the correct one.

[ But he shakes his head and shifts the conversation. ]

But yes, enough of this sad talk. What did you do where you come from?

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